The Wisteria's Dance

Prologue: The Death of Senju Tobirama

Seven battered bodies stilled in the forest, breathing harshly from the interminable run they had gone through. Sweat decorated their temples, dousing their clothes, and beading down their necks. Adrenaline that had been flowering through the veins was now dead and nonexistent, leaving them weary from their escape of the enemy. There was no hope at the moment, and they all knew it. There were a far number of enemies for the group to survive in total, and it only led to one painful and dreadful decision.

"I'll do it," Sarutobi Hizuren volunteered bravely.

Nobody noticed the trembling of Shimura Danzo's hands coming to a stop.

Surrounded by twenty elite shinobis, bounty hunters, from Kumogakure, along with the two brothers Kinkaku and Ginkaku, it was surely death. Nobody, who would sacrifice themselves for the sake of the team, would survive.

But Hizuren smiled courageously, without a tint of worry or concern on his face. "Heh! Don't worry! I'm the best of all of us. I won't die." He turned to Danzo, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Take care of the others, Danzo. I know you'll-"

It caught everyone off guard when the quiet one man of the group suddenly snarled with such anger that it was brimming his eyes. "Shut up! I was about to raise my hand!" he stated childishly. "Don't try and act like you're so great! I'll be the decoy!" Danzo didn't allow Hizuren to interrupt, stating clearly without a waver in his voice. "My father and grandfather died as ninjas in battle. Self-sacrifice…self-sacrifice is a ninja's duty!"

Before the young man could stand and carry out his words, the leader of the small-formed team stood.

"I will be the decoy," the white haired man said. "You are the bright young shinobis who must protect the village."

"You can't! You're the Hokage! There is no one greater than you in the village!"

Senju Tobirama narrowed those red eyes of his, silencing Danzo not with words, but the power of his eyes. "Danzo, you and Sarutobi have always been rivals in everything, but what we need now is unity. Don't bring your personal squabbles into this."

Danzo make a 'keh' sound, turning his face away from the Nidaime of Konohagakure in shame.

"It's true I was slow with my decision. First you must look within and know yourself without losing your calm. Right now you will just bring danger upon your friends. At any rate, Danzo, Sarutobi, there's no need to be hasty at your age. One day the time will come for your sacrifice. Just stay alive until then." He then turned to Hizuren, face completely serious, as was his demeanor. "Sarutobi, you must protect those who have faith in you and who love the village. And train up those to whom you can entrust the next generation. Tomorrow, you will be Hokage!"

Hizuren looked at his sensei with surprise and awe. A second later, he bowed his head. "Yes, sir!"

Tobirama took a moment to stare into his pupil's eyes. And just as that moment was satisfied, he turned and quickly left.

The Nidaime heard the hesitant calls for him to stop, but thankfully they were not spoken. As Hokage of Konohagakure, this was his duty. This was the ultimate sacrifice he could offer to his village. It will not be in vain. His confidence in Hizuren was greatly immense. That boy will lead Konohagakure to its greatness no doubt.

Tobirama continued to run. When he felt the lightest of raindrops, he cursed and put forth more chakra and power into his legs, bursting through the trees with a speed that no one could compare to. He felt the elite shinobis running faster, catching up to his pace, and knew that within given time he would be required to come to a stop and face them.

As his legs pumped swiftly through the branches of the foreign country, images and memories threaded through his mind. It was as if his mind was aware that this was going to be his last moment upon earth.

Hashirama…

Was the brothers' death fated? Was this how things were meant to be in the eyes of the gods? Both Senju brothers surrendered their lives in order to protect the village they loved.

And if they were both to do it all over again, they would certainly walk the same path.

Rain pittered and pattered upon him lightly. And soon enough, it came down with a vengeance of a raging red-eyed bull. Tobirama's soaked clothes weighted him down, slowly down his movements and speed to a degree where he was heavily uncomfortable. He roughly wiped his face of the rain's water, raking four fingers down his scalp as to prevent his pristine white hair from obscuring his view. His headgear was slipping despite how it was literally molded upon his face.

With all these signs of not only his body's exhaustion, but also weather disadvantages signaled the younger Senju that this was the day of ultimate sacrifice.

Thunder rumbled overheads, making the earth vibrates from its loud protests and groans. Rain continued to fall at a steady pace as the trees whistled and sighed with the passing wind.

Despite the disadvantage of not knowing the landscape he was aimlessly running upon, Tobirama, who was an expert with water jutsus, had a backup plan. And it was one that would give his team enough time to safety run back to the village.

A cackle of laughter made the Nidaime come to a complete stop.

Tobirama winced as he dug his feet into the muddied ground, forced to push his hand into the softness of the dirt lest he barrel straight to the Gold and Silver brothers who had just appeared before him.

It was time.

I've been dying to put up this. I know it's short but there's much more! I haven't seen a Tobirama fanfic anywhere so I decided to along with his character. He's so good-looking too! ^^

Some parts of the dialogue are from the manga of Naruto. I do not own the manga.

Update for The Rose and the Beast will be coming up shortly!