"There's only seven of us, including the Hokage," Homura said, voice taut with tension. "There's no way..."
"They don't know our exact location yet," Utanane said, always the voice of reason. "We should lie in wait for them and take them by surprise, giving us a chance to escape."
"That won't work," Kagami said heavily. "Someone will have to lure them away."
"A decoy, eh?" Torifu said, snorting. "Whoever it is, they won't survive."
There is a heavy pause in the clearing. No one looks at each other.
"Well, I made the suggestion, I might as well carry it through. I think we all know I'm the best with misdirection in our little party, right?"
The others look solemn - except for Lord Tobirama. He's smiling a bit, and Kagami doesn't understand how he can look so joyful at a time like this.
"That won't be necessary, Kagami. I will be the decoy; you six must return to the village to lead it into the future..."
After the succession ceremony, Kagami and his wife skipped town. Well, all right, Kagami skipped town - Himiko had applied for a formal leave-of-absence three weeks before, and persnickety Nori in the scheduling department had finally given formal authorization two days before the ceremony, so technically, it was only Kagami who was absent without leave. On the other hand, Kagami had just retired after over thirty years of service in a position of supreme authority. Couldn't an argument be made that at this point, he had retired from the entire military structure?
"If you have enough time to think of a complex set of rationalizations for Shimura when he inevitably hunts you down and murders you, then you have enough time to wander around to the other side of that encampment for observation," Himiko said, dark eyes holding more than a hint of laughter in their depths.
"That's not what I was thinking about," Kagami firmly denied. "Why do you always say that when I'm just thinking?"
"The first time you ever spoke more than six words to me outside of a formal family event, you stumbled into my assault team's bi-monthly forest melee, dove headfirst into one of my wire traps, and hung there upside down with that exact look on your face," Himiko said, dry as a desert.
"I was thinking about what a great trap I was in, and trying to think of who I know who could have done it, so I could throw myself at their feet and beg for instruction," Kagami protested.
"That's funny," Himiko said, "because I remember you desperately begging me to lie to your honorable teammate and pretend you'd been strung up twice as long - something about a debriefing you'd skipped out early from?"
"That doesn't sound like me," Kagami said. "I'm sure I would never do such an irresponsible thing."
"And I'm sure you would," she shot back. They would have continued in that vein for awhile yet - years of marriage had made their arguments ritualized affairs - if the encampment of rogue nin they were observing hadn't suddenly burst into frenzied activity.
"Hold," Kagami said, serious once again, and both he and Himiko activated their Sharingan and peered into the camp. The source of the disturbance was clear - Susumu, the Third Mizukage, was striding through the camp, a small retinue following in his wake.
"Amaterasu rages," Himiko swore. "I didn't disbelieve the Hatake boy, but I was sure he must have been mistaken. The war is over, and Mist did notcome out the better for it; why would Mist nin be here on the border, instead of retrenching in their own stronghold? It makes no sense."
"I think the better question is - why Susumu would even sanction this mission? He's nearly 70 years old, and he's always been the most cautious of our generation. Sealing the Isobi...well, even if it worked as planned, it would take years for the beast's chakra to re-condense. It's a singularly wasteful way of using a tailed beast, and Mist is in no condition to just throw them away," Kagami muttered. "It really is most curious."
"Don't speak that way, you sound just like Hiruzen when you use that phrase," Himiko complained, her pinwheel eyes spinning counter-clockwise. "Is it just me, is there something strange about his chakra pathways? They look blurry, of all things."
Kagami hummed thoughtfully. "You know, if I didn't know better, I would say Susumu is under a genjutsu of some kind."
"How could that be possible?" Himiko questioned skeptically. "He's the Third Water Shadow; the man is the only still-living attendee of the first Five Kage summit. During the first war, I saw him put a battalion under a mass genjutsu and cut their throats in less than ten minutes!
"I know, but he's also old," Kagami said thoughtfully. "When it comes to withstanding genjutsu, stamina is key; he may simply not have enough anymore. But I still don't know who could put him under in the first place.
"Another Kage?" Himiko suggested intently. "Surely someone of that level could do it."
"...No. Aside from yours truly, how many SS-level nin do you know who have specialized in genjutsu?" Kagami asked sardonically. "Besides that, they'd have to remain quite near him almost constantly to maintain control - and Susumu's coils are starting to show the signs of long-term degradation if I'm diagnosing him right. No, it has to be someone in his personal retinue. Do you recognize the members of his staff?"
"Some of them," Himiko said. "I count four people carrying Mizu's swords; they've filled another slot since the ceasefire started. I think the woman with senbon in her hair is Yamane, the poisoner-"
"-no, I recognize her from Torifu's dossiers. that's Hidaka, the water ninjutsu expert - quite a rising star, as I recall. The woman next to her, with the old-fashioned veils, is Yamane - apparently, they like to switch clothes on diplomatic trips. So that's six out of the nine-"
There is a lengthy pause as they continue to peer at the camp for a few moments, and Himiko sighs silently. "I don't recognize any of the others, but they don't have the look of illusionists about them. You?"
Kagami frowned. "No, I don't recognize any of them, and that's what worries me. I don't recognize any high-level genjutsu experts in the Mizukage's party, and I know most of the good ones by sight, even today. Has Susume ever traveled without at least one of his senior apprentices with him? I don't even see-"
Himiko's hand lightly rested on his wrist, and she lightly tapped the old code for intruder. In an instant, Kagami rolled away from her, and she from him, which was fortunate, because a cloaked maniac wearing rather old-fashioned armor and a mask, of all things, stabbed a naginata right where Kagami's neck used to be. Himiko, bless her, was already activating her traps with the easy skill of four decades of hard-won experience; unfortunately, their attacker evaded them with an almost inhuman agility, using the staff of his naginata to tangle the wires and leap through the openings to come after Kagami.
Well, whoever their assailant was, he certainly recognized Kagami, which wasn't really a surprise, but apparently not his wife, which was. People ignored Himiko as they dared - and not many cared to. He probably assumed the Third Hokage would be the greatest threat, and was acting accordingly after the failure of his sneak attack. Not a bad tactic, although Kagami had to question the self-preservation instincts of anyone going head-on with a Kage. Either their attacker was very stupid, or very good. As Kagami leaped away from another vicious stab, he had to admit it was probably the latter. Not many people trained with pole-arms these days; it was an older weapon, for older wars. Whoever this is, he was trained by a master, and he learned very, very well.
Fortunately, it was also clear that he hadn't yet survived the mistakes that made one a master of an art. One of those mistakes was taking on two high-level nin with no back-up; the other was ignoring the trapping mistress in favor of the illusionist - and then not noticing the illusionist was leading him into a trap. The attacker made one final, impatient step into the crevice between two giant trees - and Himiko released her trap, right on cue. The naginata fell to the forest floor as the masked man was suddenly cocooned in dozens of wires between the trees. That wasn't the true danger, though. The true danger was Himiko, using her Magenkyo Sharingan to set every single wire she had in play alight with eternal black flame.
The forest exploded. That was really the only way to describe it. The forest bordering Mist might be wet and soggy, but it could not even begin to dampen his wife's holy fire. Fifteen years ago, during the height of the second war, she had used this very technique to blow Hanzo the Salamander into about a hundred charred lumps. The trapped soldier should have gone down just as easily; but instead, the fire went right through him.
Kagami didn't even blink, only ran for his wife as she reached a hand out toward him. Below them, the familiar weight of Susumu's chakra rose, unfocused, but very, very angry. The masked attacker was crouched on the ground, already scrabbling for a handhold on his polearm. Himiko's hand was shaking in his; she was no longer a young woman, and using the Magenkyo in such a way was more draining than it was in the past. Kagami, however, was still fine, and still had at least one trick up his sleeve. Somewhere, nearly 50 ri almost directly west, there was a Leaf outpost, a relic from the first war when borders were far more fluid than today. Kagami thought of that outpost; the leaking roofs, the bad food, the stinking latrines he was always being ordered to dig because of some stupid shit Shimura had gotten him into... he thought of them all, and he also thought of a seal he had made, a very long time ago under the supervision of his very exacting teacher.
Between one instant and the next, they arrived in the now-rotting ruins of the outpost, almost entirely consumed by the forest of the land of Fire. Kagami permitted himself one smile; it was true what Lord Tobirama had said, the seal never wore away. Himiko stumbled away from him and retched miserably by the side of the old mess hall. She'd always reacted poorly to sudden shifts in equilibrium. Kagami would hold her hair, except the last time he tried, she damn near removed his hand from his arm. Presently, she stood up, wiping her mouth with the back of her arm.
"Tell me you saw that, too," she demanded, and Kagami grunted in agreement. There were a few droplets of blood below her right eye; Kagami cupped her face and tenderly wiped it away with his thumb.
"If you mean the fact that an unknown fighter just used an ability unique to the Magenkyo Sharingan to negate your attack - oh yes...I most certainly noticed that. We need to get back to Konoha right away and report to the Hokage," he said, tired as hell.
He'd hoped his successor would have more time to settle in, but apparently, the world had other plans.
"Did you ever think we'd grow so old, Kagami?"
Kagami wouldn't have been surprised to hear such a question from Shimura, who vacillated between being contemplative or whiny about old age, depending on how his knees felt on a given morning. It was a bit out of character for Hiruzen, who always preferred to look on the brighter side of life.
"I never thought I'd live to be older than my father," Kagami said dryly. "But I passed that milestone about twenty years ago, and have enjoyed every year since, just as you have - so exactly what is bothering you, old friend?"
"Oh, nothing much," Hiruzen sighed. "Seiichi just eloped with the Amemiya girl. Trying to wrap my head around the fact I might very well be a grandfather soon."
On Kagami's other side, Mikoto, currently Kagami's third-favorite cousin, valiantly suppressed an amused smile.
"I don't think you need to worry about that, Professor," she said, getting to her feet.
"And why do you say that, Mikoto?" Hiruzen inquired. "Isn't the whole point of elopement to deal with life's little accidents?"
"I sometimes forget how old you two truly are," she lamented mildly, brow mildly wrinkled. "Seiichi and Tamiko are eloping because the war is winding down, but Tamiko doesn't want to deal with her mother micromanaging her wedding like she does everything else. She's definitely not pregnant. Now, if you'll please excuse me, I need to supervise the children - the suppression seals are faltering again."
Hiruzen watched Mikoto walk away, waiting until she was out of earshot to mutter, "Why isn't she leading the Uchiha Clan, again?"
"Branch house member," Kagami shrugged. "Her son will be the next leader of the clan, and that's hardly a consolation prize."
"True," Hiruzen said, but it was obviously his mind had already turned back the trouble at hand - namely, the Nohara girl.
"Any luck with a more permanent solution to that massacre of a seal?" Kagami asked deliberately. "How many times can you slap a suppression seal on top of it before is shatters entirely? I'd like to know if I should start submitting evacuation plans at the next Council meeting."
Hiruzen makes a moue of distaste, absent-mindedly fiddling with a twig in his hand. "Jiraiya and Orochimaru have submitted a potential plan to Tsunade, pending her approval after Rin's next chakra coil examination. They're going to try to do a simultaneous sealing; Jiraiya unmakes as Orochimaru remakes, with Tsunade keeping the girl's chakra separate from the Isobu all the while. Minato had some interesting ideas about venting the yin and yang energy separately, but Tsunade refused to approve it until he could create a sturdier barrier against demonic chakra..."
Kagami let the words wash over him like a slow, warm, soporific wave. In many ways, Hashirama was one of the most gifted and brilliant minds of their generation - a double blessing, in fact, for he was just as good a teacher as he was a researcher. Kagami had no doubt that when histories were written of their era, the name Sarutobi Hiruzen would loom large...but gods above and below, he could really drone on when he wanted to!
On the other side of the training field, Kagami saw Mikoto turn and sedately walk back to their seating. The seal couldn't be too worn away, then, or she would have halted the children for the day. Beyond her, the Hatake boy and the Nohara girl restart the twelfth kata of the basic Academy style, this time at double-speed. Even half-blind, Hatake was preternaturally good as he went through the motions, every movement technically perfect. He was an ideal partner for Nohara. At this point, she had so little control over the new chakra in her coils, that if she actually landed a blow, she might very well kill her opponent - or blow off her own arm.
"Honored Elder Cousin, are you ignoring the great Professor Sarutobi?" Mikoto teasingly asked as she came closer. "I never thought I'd see the day!"
Kagami scowled, hearing more than seeing Hiruzen's laughter by his side. But before he can even open his mouth for a scathing lecture on respect for one's elders, Mikoto's eyes sharpened and she frowned as she looked past them. "Minato, why are you here? What's wrong?"
Kagami and Hiruzen both twisted around to look at the entrance to look behind them. Hiruzen's students (and their students, and their student's students) all seemed to have a large streak of whimsy hidden deep within - the Hatake boy's dogs were proof enough of that - but in Minato, it wasn't so much hidden. But the expression on his face was rather fierce and intense, given his usual demeanor.
Minato stopped near them, bowing first to Kagami, then Hiruzen, before turning to Mikoto. "I'm sorry, but could I borrow Rin and Kakashi for a moment? I have some news for them."
"Of course you can, Minato," Mikoto said, still a little off-kilter, and she raised a questioning eyebrow at Kagami and Hiruzen as the man strode over to the sparring pair. Hiruzen shrugged a little helplessly - apparently, he had no idea what was going on, either. Well, it couldn't be mission-related if Minato was going to speak to his students in the open like this...
"Guys, I've just gotten the most wonderful news!" Minato said eagerly, and without even waiting to see if his students were paying attention, he stated, "Kushina and I are having a baby!"
There was a moment of dead silence, and then Kagami heard Hatake shout "Rin, NO!" before a wave of terrible heat and light emanated from the girl.
It was a sorry crowd that walked towards the Hokage's office a spare hour later. Minato and Hiruzen had rushed Nohara to the warded surgery right after the incident, and even now, Tsunade was probably blistering her teammates' ears as they stabilized the seal again. Hopefully, she was directing some of her invective towards Minato, given how he had instigated the event in the first place.
Kagami, Mikoto, and the Hatake boy were accompanied by three others instead: Akimichi Torifu (visibly steaming), Nara Shikaku (probably wishing he were anyplace but here) and Kato Shizune (profoundly unimpressed). Kato was at least being useful and doing a quick field check on Hatake. Mikoto was side-eyeing Shikaku with a particularly penetrating stare - some sort of old schoolyard rivalry if Kagami was recalling correctly. For his own part, Kagami firmly ignored Torifu stewing beside him. The man would say what he wanted to say in whatever place he wanted to say it, and Kagami would just have to stand there and take it.
Sure enough, once they crossed the threshold of the Hokage's private chamber, Torifu made a perfunctory bow of respect t the master, paying no mind to the honor guard, and then spun around to snap at Kagami. "What happened out there? That training ground was created especially to deal with the chakra of the Nine-Tails, how the hell could Nohara blow it up?"
Hatake didn't do anything so obvious as verbally protest, but the boy tensed up like a stretched bowstring and glared at Torifu with his one dark eye. Mikoto didn't look much happier; she'd transferred her poisonous glare from Shikaku to Torifu, but Torifu paid both of them no mind: he'd been training with Danzo Shimura for over 40 decades, and no one in the five elemental countries, living or dead, could give a stink eye like him.
"I need an explanation," he insisted. "That training ground was planned by the greatest sealing master of the Founding Era, and the Research Division inspects it every six months. What Nohara did should not be possible. So please, explain to me how she managed to do it under yoursupervision?"
"I don't like your tone, Commander, and I humbly request you moderate it," Mikoto snapped irritably. "Neither of us was in any way negligent; Rin was doing fine under the suppression seals until Minato arrived. You should ask him how she did it, given he instigated the whole thing!"
Torifu was hardly mollified by that statement. "I plan to, as well as Hiruzen and Nohara herself," he growled. "But currently he - and every other person qualified to assist Tsunade - is acting in concert at the warded surgery, and I won't be able to interview him until they're through. In the meantime, I still need to interview the other witnesses, so-"
"Enough."
It was a single word, but it was enough to silence both the combatants. Kushina, Kagami thought wistfully, had really grown into her new role. Every time he'd seen her since the ascension ceremony, she'd grown more and more comfortable wearing the traditional robes of office. It was a good look on her.
"It strikes me," Kushina stated once she had the attention of everyone in the room, "that there was one other eyewitness who was closer to Rin than Minato. Isn't that right, Kakashi?"
The boy nodded sharply, and she grinned at him. "Good. Please report what happened to the best of your knowledge, Jounin Hatake."
Hatake was a good soldier, and had been a good soldier since the age of five; he straightened his back, stood at attention, and gave a textbook after-action report.
"At approximately two hours past noon today, Chuunin Nohara Rin and I met at restricted training ground 3WF. We were testing her current level of reflex readiness in preparation for re-certification under the supervision of jounin Uchiha Mikoto. Also in attendance were Director Sarutobi Hiruzen and former Hokage Uchiha Kagami," Hatake said, before pausing. He didn't look pained, but truthfully, Kagami barely knew the boy - certainly not well enough to tell when he was working through any amount of pain. Shizune, however, had years of hospital experience to fall on and expertly shoved a chair under his knees right as they buckled. When he tried to get up, the girl lightly placed one deceptively delicate hand on his shoulder, right next to his artery.
Hatake was no fool: he froze, then looked at Kushina beseechingly. The Hokage just smiled at him encouragingly. The boy only hesitated a moment more before continuing.
"We drilled in the academy style for about ninety minutes, advancing from the first to the twelfth form, with periodic interruptions from Jounin Uchiha. Upon commencing the twelfth form for the fourth time, Jounin Namikaze entered the training grounds and proceeded to halt our drills. Once we paused, he informed us of his and your upcoming child. Upon hearing this news, Chuunin Nohara had an unexpected break in control," he said, and at that point in the narrative, an uncharacteristic frown appeared on his brow.
The room waited while he gathered his thoughts; even Shikaku was paying attention at this point. Hatake had been right next to Nohara when she'd vented the chakra, but he'd escaped virtually unscathed from the experience, save for what appeared to be mild chakra exhaustion. Frankly, it was a miracle: he should be dead.
"It's hard for me to explain," Hatake said, hesitating. "I could feel the Isobu's chakra welling up within her, so I took off my eyepatch and looked at her with the Sharingan when it exploded. I know Master Minato tried to grab me when he fled out of range, but he went right through me...and so did the chakra. I know it sounds unbelievable, but it's true. I just don't understand how it happened," he said, wondering.
Kushina and Kagami exchanged a glance, and Kagami gave her an infinitesimal nod of acknowledgment; Kushina then looked at Hatake and smiled. "I believe you, Kakashi. From what I've heard from my illustrious teacher, you've simply uncovered another talent of the Sharingan, one which may very well have saved your life. Thank you for the report," she concluded warmly. "Please report with Shizune to the hospital for a thorough inspection; I'm sure Rin's touch-ups will be complete by the time you're finished, and she'll want to see you when she wakes up."
And with that, the Hatake boy was dismissed. Kato, too much like her teacher for anyone's comfort, literally picked up the chair the boy was sitting in by the arms and walked out the door with him still in it. The sound of his feeble protests faded away. Once the children left, Kushina dropped her own smile, motioned for the guards to leave the room, and then raised some really quite excellent security seals.
"Well? Has Kakashi managed to awaken the Magenkyo Sharingan?" she asked urgently.
Mikoto didn't bother to prevaricate, just nodded tightly. Kagami didn't envy her; this was going to cause an uproar like no other at the next clan meeting.
"Great," Kushina said tightly. "Wonderful. Now he can kill himself by overworking even faster."
Torifu clicked his tongue against his teeth, and whip-fast, Kushina's attention turned to him. "Is there something you'd like to say, Commander?" she asked, venomously sweet.
"You coddle him," he rumbled, utterly unimpressed. "He can't join ANBU with you hovering over him like a-"
"-a woman? Yes, I'm aware of your opinions, Commander," Kushina snapped. "But you needn't worry about me hovering over him in ANBU, as I've already rejected his application."
Torifu clicked his tongue again and shook his head, but didn't say anything. Kushina waited another moment, just to be sure, then bared her teeth at him in a poor facsimile of a smile. "Please see yourself out, Commander. I know you have a busy schedule; I wouldn't want to keep you from it."
Torifu shrugged, and turned to leave. As he walked into the ante-chamber, she called out to him one more time. "Also, I expect that list of potential successors on my desk in two days, Commander. Mandatory retirement is less than two years away; I want to start the process of training your replacement sooner rather than later."
As Torifu's footsteps faded away, Kagami already resigned himself to at least one bitching session later in the week. Oh well. At least the food would be good. Shikaku wasn't nearly so blase; he had really profound look of exhaustion on his face, and with a few quick flicks of his fingers, shadows cocooned them all.
"Do you have to provoke him at any opportunity, Kushina?" he asked plaintively. "I have to work with him almost every day, and he has not been pleasant to work with since your ascension."
"Was he ever?" Kushina asked flippantly.
"Not that I have ever seen," Mikoto responded, just as flippantly. Kagami would be horrified at their disrespect, but the enmity between Torifu and Kushina's party was long-standing and almost impossible to mediate. As long as they don't snipe at each other in public, he'll consider it a job well-done.
"Children," he said wearily and pauses to ensure he has their attention. "In light of Kakashi's new ability, I think we need to consider excavating Uchiha Obito's body from that rockfall near the Kannabi Bridge."
"I agree," Mikoto stated plainly. "The results of my research are clear: he's the only Uchiha whose body has not been recovered in three decades. His is the body most likely to have been harvested by Kagami's mysterious ashigaru; confirmation would be invaluable."
"What, exactly, do you think we'll find from the boy's mangled corpse, Mikoto?" Shikaku asked, and flinched back as she turned to glare at him. "I'm not being disrespectful! But I was there when both Rin and Kakashi were debriefed by Intel, and Yamanaka Michi was very clear in her descriptions: it was a miracle Obito could even give consent to give away his remaining eye. Whatever was left under the rocks was turned to so much pulp, and it's been over a year since then. We'll be lucky to find his crushed bones."
Mikoto's eyes narrowed dangerously, and Kagami decided to step in before she literally murders the other man. "Does it matter, Shikaku? He's our kin, and a Konoha shinobi who died in the line of duty; if we can bring his body back home for honorable cremation, I would appreciate it. We do the same for any others when possible."
"And how are we going to do it? Iwa forces still control that part of Grass, and the peace negotiations are still in the early stages. I can't advise any kind of mission to that area until we get a peace treaty signed, and at the rate that's going, Kushina's child might very well be walking and talking at that point," Shikaku said. He looked quite exasperated.
"Well, maybe that's the answer!" Kushina exclaimed brightly. "I'll send some new directions to our beloved ambassador. Obito is hardly the only body I want to recover, and I'm sure we have more than a few corpses they'd like returned as well."
Shikaku sighed heavily. "Wonderful. I look forward to the angry ranting letters Ambassador Danzo will send to both Commander Akimichi and Lady Utanane. They will be such a pleasure to work with over the next few months. Any chance that the honorable ambassador will be retiring as well?"
"Oh, I'm never letting Danzo retire," Kushina said, smiling impishly. "He's going to negotiate peace treaties until this damn war is officially over and after that, I'm going to make him do the whole thing over again with trade agreements. I'm never letting him have a single moment of rest ever again."
Well. That was one way to non-lethally neutralize a problem.
"All right, everyone who isn't supposed to be here, clear out!" Tsunade shouted into the room. "I'm inducing labor in five minutes, and I want everyone in their position by that time."
"All right, I suppose it's time for me to leave it to the professionals. Now, I'd tell you that it's going to be all right, but frankly, you probably know better than me what happens next," Kagami confessed, chuckling. "Himiko always kicked me out at this part."
"I remember when Shisui was born," Kushina replied, squeezing his hand in hers. "You were such a bother to her, but I thought it was strange when she kicked you out. It wasn't that frightening, though."
"I'd say it's a bit different when you're a man, but unfortunately, I know it's just me," he said, standing up. "Good luck, my dear. Remember that I'll be just outside the hospital, praying for you and the child."
"Oh, Master Kagami," she sighed, lips quirking affectionately. "It really will be fine. In just a few hours, I'm going to introduce you to the loudest kid in the Elemental Countries, you'll see."
Kagami could only smile at her a little helplessly before he left the room.
The west wing of the hospital was evacuated two days ago, and even now, Kagami could see containment seals activating as the teams dedicated to the wards began raising them. The honor guard was nowhere to be seen, but if Kagami had to take a guess, he would say Kushina had sent them home for the night. Childbirth was a danger that no guard can protect against, although that doesn't mean they won't try; if the signatures currently clustered on the roof weren't the current guard rotation, Kagami would eat his former hat.
Well, Kushina had her husband with her, and the Legendary Numbskulls, and even Hiruzen was by her side: Kushina might very well get through this night intact. Still. Still. Kagami was not so old he couldn't linger outside the hospital garden awhile, at least until the babe was born. It was nice night; the moon was bright and clear in its waxing form and leaves rustled in the wind. Autumn had always been his favorite season; hopefully, Kushina's child will feel the same way.
An hour later, right when the moon was at its zenith, an armored figure stepped out of thin air, carrying a naginata and wearing a mask.
It was an understatement to say that Kagami was unpleasantly shocked and surprised: the issue of the potential bloodline thief had been on a backburner for months now, ever since excavations had turned up only some bloodied, half-rotten rags. That Uchiha Obito's body had been harvested was a given; the purpose, however, was still elusive. The Sharingan was hardly as stable as the Byakugan; implanting an active Sharingan into the socket of a non-Uchiha would be crippling in terms of the sheer chakra drain. Why would anyone risk it?
Right now, however, Kagami had a very bad idea of what that purpose was. Why risk it...unless you could use it to obtain power beyond all imagination?
"Good evening," Kagami said genially, pitching his voice so it could be heard in every corner of the grounds The masked man stood absolutely still, but Kagami was sure he was ready to attack as needed. "I must admit, I didn't quite have time to introduce myself last time we met. I am Uchiha Kagami, former leader of this village; may I have your name in return?"
"I'm Uchiha Madara," the masked figure fairly snarled at him, naginata already at the ready. "And you are a traitor!"
Well. Very many things suddenly became clear. Kagami slowly smiled and didn't bother to hide it, enjoying how the figure fidgeted in confusion. "That's an interesting name to use, but not your true name, I think. I remember Madara Uchiha, and I remember what his eyes looked like as well; your eye isn't remotely similar."
The boy - because Kagami was increasingly convinced it was only a boy behind the mask - snarled at him again and tensed, Magenkyo spinning faster. It really did look identical to its twin...
"Ah! I wouldn't do that if I were you," Kagami said, conversationally. "Kushina is rather busy right now - childbirth tends to take all of a woman's attention - but I prepared a little guard of my own, just in case her guest decided to break free alongside the child. I never thought I'd need to use it on an intruder, though..."
And one by one, Kagami let the illusions blanketing the grounds fall. Danzo and Torifu had always sworn a blue streak when he used this on them, called it cheating, of all things. Kagami preferred to think of it as cultivating a strength: the ability to be unseen, even in the sight of the Sharingan, was nothing to sneer at. As Uchiha after Uchiha suddenly appeared, finally visible to the naked eye, the boy flinched, uncertain, and as Kagami let the last two illusions fade, the masked figure couldn't quite choke back his gasp. On Kagami's right, stood Kakashi; on his left, stood Rin. Both of them were as strong and straight as new saplings. He was very proud of them.
"Chuunin Uchiha," he said mildly. "I think you should give us your report, now."
I love Tobirama, but I will not stop laughing at the fact that he essentially chose his successor on a split-second whim. Here are some stories where that whim was quite different than canon...
I'm hanging out on tumblr as elenathehun - feel free to chat with me there. I spend most of my time raging about Kishimoto's poor narrative choices, crying about My Hero Academia, and reblogging pretty stuff.
Originally posted on AO3 on 7/4/2016.