Arc 2 Chapter 8 Part 1- Age: 10.03, Year: 14.03

Shorter chapter than usual but I hope the substance makes up for it!

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As I leaned against one of the walls in the Hokage’s office, the sunlight poured in through the windows, illuminating the space with warmth and casting long shadows, I idly hummed a tune in my head. Hashirama was already behind his desk, pouring over the latest mission report from my team.

I could practically sense his growing frustration before he even spoke.

"...You two... You two were supposed to keep each other in line..." The man whispered, a visibly disturbed look to his face. "...A part of me knew you'd probably delve into matters I don't want to hear off but... I didn't... I didn't expect this."

Tobirama to the man's credit, let out a slight cough. "I do believe you're blowing this out of proportion brother."

“You faked the noble’s death." Hashirama remarked with visible disbelief. "By actually killing him.” he exclaimed, incredulous. I could feel my mind ever so slightly feel the need to laugh at the sheer utter stupidity this whole thing had turned into, but I kept my expression calm. “What were you thinking? You were supposed to escort him, not eliminate him!” The man added on with another exclamation.

Tobirama stood up a little straighter at that, unruffled by the criticism. “Like you said, we faked his death, that's what matters."

"But he's dead." Hashirama pointed out, incredulous.

I watched Tobirama let out another cough. "He was a significant threat to Konoha’s peace.” He remarked carefully. "He claimed-"

"Danzo's actions!?" Hashirama cut his brother off, a slightly wild look to his face.

I coughed at that, genuinely.

Hashirama was really annoyed. I've never seen him blatantly throw that in my face before.

Tobirama let out a very slow nod.

"...So put him on trial!" Hashirama exclaimed again. "Not a kunai through him!"

"...As I said, we faked his death."

I watched Hashirama's face twitch at that. "No one will believe us Tobi!"

"They will."

Had... Had he not mentioned the whole Edo Tensei part of the thing in the report?

The two shinobi seemed to be locking eyes and sharing a somewhat confusing conversation through said gaze. Confusing even for my Ninshu at that.

"How exactly do you intend to convince the Fire Court-" Hashirama's mouth snapped shut as the realisation swept through his face. I could see his brow furrow deeper. “You used it didn't you?" A beat passed as the man tilted his head ever so slightly, briefly locked his gaze onto me before he locked it back onto his brother. "You used Edo Tensei."

Tobirama didn't verbally admit to it-

"That's a forbidden jutsu!"

"It technically doesn't exist," I pointed out. "It's just verbally forbidden, there's no-"

"Danzo." Hashirama cut whatever I'd been about to say with a strained smile on his face. "I..." The man briefly closed his eyes. "Honestly, I kinda expect that from you at this point." He turned back towards his brother. "You on the other hand- you’ve crossed a dangerous line!"

"I play jump rope with that line," I deadpanned.

Hashirama raised a finger and pointed it directly at me, a frown on his face. "Quiet!"

I raised both my hands up in mock surrender.

"You must admit," Tobirama's voice brought the focus directly back on him. "That jutsu is perfect for this situation- it allows us to manipulate the outcome without anyone suspecting what really happened. This was about protecting our village, Hashirama.”

Oof government naming your own brother, who happens to be the government?

Bold move sensei, bold ass move.

Hashirama’s gaze was intense and filled with disbelief. “You’re using a technique that raises the dead. You’re sending all the wrong messages about life and death! This could inspire terrible ideas in others!”

I didn't need to look at Tobirama's face to know he was raising an eyebrow at those words. "You gave me a student that has repeatedly changed the map of the elemental countries on a whim." I watched Hashirama blink at that. "That has stolen a clan from another village,"

...Fucker was really throwing me under the bus.

"That is in fact responsible for the claims our dearly departed-"

"-zombie noble-" I interjected with a shit-eating grin, earning a pointed finger from Tobirama to Hashirama's further exesperation

"-claimed and that would've led to, what I imagine, would've been the start of a war." Tobirama promptly leaned his hands on Hashirama's desk. "You'll find, brother, I am doing everything in my powers to mitigate the situations as they come."

I scoffed inwardly at that; he didn’t see things as clearly as I did. “Sometimes, to preserve peace, you have to make hard choices." I deadpanned, earning a pair of raised eyebrows from Hashirama and a Tobirama whose gaze had turned in my direction. "I am just quoting Hashi-sama." I added on.

"...I've never heard my brother say that, Shimura." Tobirama remarked, somewhat confused.

"...Madara said that a lot." Hashirama sighed.

"Oh." I muttered. "Shit, my bad, I guess we might've gone overboard."

The sheer utter frustration that seeped through Hashirama might've actually caused him to grow a gray hair then and there, while Tobirama just palmed his own face.

The room fell into silence for a minute or so following that as Hashirama slowly covered his face with both hands, exesperation still oozing out of him. “Look... I am just saying there were better ways to handle it than... than...” Hashirama pointed at the report in front of him. "This!"  He shook his head. “You created a situation that could lead to escalated tensions with our allies. Do you understand the implications of it at all?”

Tobirama sighed, clearly weighing his words carefully. “I understand the moral implication-" I highly fucking doubted that! "-but we acted decisively to ensure Konoha’s safety. Had we hesitated, we might have faced far worse consequences.”

I noticed Hashirama’s expression begin to fade into concern as he shook his head. “The stakes were higher than either of you realise. You need to operate within the principles we uphold. We cannot lose our moral standing.”

I could see the intensity in his eyes. He wanted us to play fair, but fairness wouldn’t protect Konoha. “You know what’s at risk here. If we don’t establish strength, we jeopardize the future of the village.”

Hashirama looked at me for that, and I could feel practically the weight of his disappointment. “Protecting our home is essential, but how we achieve that matters just as much. We can't be known for this kind of thing!”

Finally, I watched Tobirama nod, acknowledging Hashirama’s stance. “Your point is well taken. We’ll be more cautious and considerate moving forward.” I couldn’t help but feel that Hashirama still didn’t fully grasp the necessity of our actions.

Or that Tobirama was even telling the fucking truth!

Hashirama's voice softened slightly at that. “You both need to understand that every action has consequences, whether it's developing techniques or how every mission is handled- They shape our legacy and influence how others perceive us.”

I felt my resolve harden as my arms crossed, a passive expression on my face. “I assure you, my intention is to protect Konoha." I waited for a beat as I watched Hashirama blink at my words. "Every single action I've taken, Hashi-sama, is entirely to save the future."I emphasised the word again, hopeful he might remember it this time.

Hashirama made to object to my words before he dimly recalled the conversation I'd had about said future.

"I told you Hashi-sama. War's coming whether we like it or not, I just wanna make sure Konoha set's the field."

I watched the frown on Hashirama's face turn somewhat more understanding but even then, I noted the resolve hidden in his eyes as he looked between me and Tobirama. "...War's inevitable with actions like these Danzo-kun."

"But the death toll isn't." I responded back and watched the man stiffen ever so slightly. "You want to create a world where children don't die young?" I narrowed my eyes and sombrely shook my head. "You can't start with the world," I remarked with as much emphasis into each word, "but Konoha? That I can give you, but I can't do it with my hands held behind my back."

"The villages are boundaries, Danzo-kun." Hashirama remarked with a somewhat desperate tint to his voice. "But the same blood runs through all of us."

"But not the same hearts." I pointed out, a hint of guilt filling me at the look that filled his face ever so slightly. "It'd be nice to protect everyone, believe me, I am not against it... But I am not thinking of everyone else, I am thinking of Tsunade and those within these walls." My gaze looked down towards the ground. "...If I can't protect them first, there's no point in reaching for the sky."

"Well said." Tobirama remarked decisively. "Danzo-kun."

Hashirama at the end of it all, just let out a sigh with a slight pout to his face, even if his eyes betrayed the hope in them. The hope that clashed with the reality he'd found himself in. "Low blow, Danzo-kun."

"Eh, I've hit you with worse." I snorted, looking back up at him with a slight grin. "And besides you're the one that said to do anything to stop the rabbits."

Hashirama let out what seemed to be a snort out of his control at that, while Tobirama blinked in slight bemusement.

...

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Will be released on 28/12/2024 (Hopefully)