Chosen Few

Koomahana

Chapter 3: a name that ends wars

Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine; you want the real stuff get off this site

Thoughts

Paragraphs are memories

…

…

He had first seen her in the middle of a raging storm, crouching beside one of his many fallen comrades, at the time she appeared to be nothing more than a large yellow burr. Even with his sharingan activated. He went running over to her as fast as he could but he was at the far edge of the field and she was all the way on the other side, reaching out to his downed relative with one pale hand.

He shouted, she turned, his eyes forced and for a moment time stopped

Then with a blinding flash of lightning, striking and charring the ground just feet away from him, forcing him into a stumbled stopped that ended with his face landing in a mud puddle. He jumped back up, crimson eyes wide, and searched for that strange girl again but he only found his relative laying alone in a perfect wind swept circular divot in the field, as if the girl had made the wind bend the grass into a perfect circle before disappearing. He hurried over and leaned over his relative, his red iris's connected with another pair and he felt relieve at seeing his favorite uncle still living. He wanted to speak, but his voice wouldn't sound and his eyes were suddenly starting to blur, his knees grew weak until he collapsed beside the elder man. His uncle smiled sadly at him, understanding gleaming brightly in his eyes, he too was about to speak when something strange interrupted him. A sound almost like a whistle, or the excited chirping of a talkative bird, sounded through the air, soft and sharp like the strings of a violin. It sounded so nice that for a moment he believed that it was only his imagination but it was soon revealed that his other relatives, spread out over the field searching for any survivors, had all stopped to listen as if finding comfort in the strange sound. He turned to search the surrounding area, looking for the source of the strange sound, but he only found the field slowly filling with his relatives. Looking closely he found all of them looking towards the sky, tears filling their eyes and in some cases, rolling down their cheeks. Instead of just acknowledging the sound, he closed his eyes and listened closely, memorizing every high and low pitch of the strange sound and, like a tune of boulders, it hit him. If a sound could describe what words couldn't, then the tune playing now was sad, lonely and weeping; as if it were crying for the loss of life and the bodies that now littered the field.

What a strange sound... he made sure to tell his big brother all about it and soon that sad mourning song was played at every funeral and for some strange reason, when it was heard no one dared to attack them. Even their greatest and coldest of enemies simply looked at them and turned away, as if silently understanding the funeral procession and were unwilling to case any more harm.

...

...

It had been many years since he last saw the strange pale girl who once hovered over his wounded uncle, the man later survived his wounds but they caused major problems so it determined that he would never return to the war front. He was however able to teach the children who were preparing to enter the war themselves, none of them liked sending their children to the war front but after Madara became clan head, no one had to worry about that anymore. It was the only thing Madara and the Senju clan leader had in common, anyone under the age of thirteen was forbidden from the war front. Speaking of war fronts, that's where he was right now, rushing through the tall grass dodging explosions and kunai alike. Nearly fifty meters in front of him was a familiar blue and white blur rushing towards him, looking almost like a mirror to his own rushing movements. He growled lowly, his black eyes bleeding bright glowing crimson and his enemy met his eyes unafraid, his own irises a matching bloody red. His enemy was Tobirama Senju, the one and only albino in his entire clan; it was said by his own relatives that the ice-cube-wanna-be took after his mother who was thought to be a woman of the Yukimaru clan from the east, which would also explain his appearance. With little more than twenty meters between them, he took a deep breath and blew out a large fire ball as big as a house straight at the biggest pain in his life. His fire was quickly evaporated by the albino's own rush of water that he summoned from the air around himself, that was another thing he hated about the white haired man. Whenever he summoned fire to attack the Senju, said man would summon water to counter it and more often than not his fire would be put out. He growled as he saw that the distance had shrunk down to five meters between them, which was quickly closed into three when Tobirama summoned a water dragon and road it into the air. Barely managing to evade the attack he quickly landed and threw out another fireball, which met the water dragon head on. His fire and Tobirama's water clashed and evaporated, not giving in, once their elements dissipated they charged into the mist and steam. He let out an annoyed shout as he drew his sword and charged at Tobirama who was anything but slow and met him strike for strike within the hot mist they created. They attacked, retreated, charged, slashed and dodged, every block was met with a strike and every strike was met with a block. Every block and slash created a current that was quickly pushing the hot mist away from them, their relatives hissed and growled in annoyance as they fought. It was a silent rule in both clans that the only one aloud to fight Tobirama was Izuna and the only one aloud to fight Izuna was Tobirama, the same could be said about their respective elder brothers.

"Why don't you give up Izuna?" Tobirama said blandly as they clashed again, swords braced against each other as they glared at each other, "you're not going to win, like usual."

"Oh and you do?" Izuna growled, "Neither of us has ever won against the other. You're stupid brother always drags you away just before I can kill you."

"Oh and your brother doesn't grab you by the ear every now and again?" Tobirama smirked back, making Izuna blush at the memory, "yeah, I saw that one. Who knew you were such an unruly child?"

"Who knew you were such a peeping-bastard?" Izuna growled, "We happen to have been in the hot-springs when that happen." Tobirama raised an eyebrow at him, making Izuna wonder if they were talking about the same thing.

"I was talking about last week in the village when Madara dragged you away before we could fight," Tobirama drawled, amusement twitching at his lips as he pushed back only to quickly block the next furious strike, "Nice to know you're a child all the time though. Makes me smile that Madara has an annoyance following him around too."

"That's no way to talk about yourself," Izuna said with his own annoyed smirk

"I was talking about me dealing with Hashirama," Tobirama glared

"Really?" Izuna asked in fake amazement, "I didn't know he had enough brains to be annoying." Izuna quickly jumped back only to block a few quick kunai before trading blows with the albino again, "Guess neither one of you are worth a second look at."

"You'll regret that," Tobirama hissed, "I'm a better swordsman then you, don't forget that."

"If you had any skill you wouldn't be losing the war," Izuna smirked as he jumped back and readied himself

"You're so dead," Tobirama growled as he readied himself to charge

"Not before you are," Izuna replied, rolling his eyes. Tobirama snorted and charged forward, Izuna readied himself to block and strike, Tobirama's blade lowered and he moved to counter the strike. Two meters separated them; Tobirama put a sudden and surprising burst of speed into his steps, nearly doubling his speed in seconds, closing the distance between them almost instantaneously. Izuna realized in horror that he didn't have the time or speed to counter the sudden boost of power, Tobirama's blade seemed to phase right through his own sword as it crept ever closer to his own vitals. Then, suddenly there was something between them, blocking the strike with their own body, Izuna watched in horrified realization as elegantly long platinum blonde hair fluttered into his vision. Tobirama's eyes widened, Izuna could tell that he tried to pull back, to divert his blade, but it was too late—the woman was struck in the lung, she would not survive. Before either could even think of jumping away, a bright and brilliant white light surrounded them, and just as sudden they were in another place all together. Izuna stiffened as he found himself staring at an equally bewildered looking Tobirama standing across from him, blinking he turned to examin his new surroundings and to his far left stood the woman he just witness get stabbed in the chest.

"I... I'm sorry," the woman whispered, tears gathering in her pale blue-green eyes, "please forgive me brother." Izuna took in a sharp deep breath, his crimson eyes widening as he memorized the young woman's face, she couldn't have been very old, barely old enough to gather dead from the fields."I couldn't let him kill you… not again," she took in a deep breath and turned towards Tobirama, a pained smile pulling at her lips. "I'm sorry love," she whispered as she stared at Tobirama, "I'm so sorry, but I... I couldn't let it happen, not again."

"What are you talking about?" Tobirama asked softly, slowly, as if he was afraid to speak. The young woman gave a sad sounding chuckle, as she let a tear roll down her cheek. The young woman was dressed in a deep violet battle kimono, slit at her hips with pants covering her legs, and her sleeves ended just shy of her elbows, her ever constant pale yellow cloak fluttered off her shoulders.

"I guess, I should've known you wouldn't remember," she whispered sorrow etching itself on her face, she held out one hand to each of them, as if she expected them to take one. "In the very beginning we were kin," they watched in amazement as suddenly another image behind the woman appeared, that of a pretty young woman with long onyx hair and almost blind looking black eyes floated into existence just behind the blonde. Curious, Izuna turned to look at Tobirama and found that another image behind him had taken form, that of a tall brown haired young man with overly bewildered white-purple eyes. Izuna didn't need to look back to know that the image behind him wasn't completely different from the way he appeared to be now, at least he didn't think that it was significantly different.

"Once long ago," the woman pulled his attention back to her and Izuna found himself drowning in pools of teal, "we were the grandchildren of the great sage of six paths." She turned to look lovingly at Tobirama, a warm smile slipping onto her face, "and before his death I was proud to be married to you." Tobirama easily ignored the livid glare Izuna gave him, his own surprise taking the front seat at the information.

"The next time we meet, we will not recognize each other at all," the woman sighed and released their hands, the image of her first-self fading from existence, "it is entirely possible that we won't look as we do now."

"No," Izuna snapped out, earning a surprised look from the blonde, "I will always recognize my sister! No matter what!" He buried several other siblings, one of whom was a sister who didn't live to see her first day; he will not bury another! She blinked at him before giving a soft smile, sad acceptance echoing in her eyes. "I will," Izuna insisted, "I'll never forget you!"

"It's not a matter about forgetting," she told him softly as she started to fade, "It's about love and hate and war. Nothing lasts forever, even the love between us faded into hate and regret."

"I'll never hate you!" Izuna cried, tears flying out of his eyes as he squeezed them closed, refusing to belief he could ever hate this woman who has only ever shown his clan mercy. "I'll never let anything happen to you!" he wont bury another sibling.

"Some things can't be changed," she whispered, closing her eyes and fading into the brilliant white-gold abyss surrounding them.

"I refuse to believe that!" Izuna shouted, "I refuse to be your enemy!" he turned to give Tobirama a scathing remark, his hated, regret, sorrow all bubbling to the surface and blinding him, but for a moment it wasn't Tobirama staring back at him. A young man with pasty white skin, almost sickly in color, and dull black eyes with flat black hair was staring back at him. His emotionless face was tilted to the side, as if he wasn't sure how to express his own confusion. It took him only a moment to realize that the face staring back at him would be the face that Tobirama would wear next in the life after this.

What did Tobirama see when he looked at him?

…

"Thank you child," she whispered, wrapping her arms around the warm golden light, "Your friend was right, you were truly the only one capable of ending the war." The golden orb snuggled in close, like a child seeking comfort from their mother, "What a fascinating outcome."

"Am I to return now?" another voice whispered beside her

"Soon, child, soon," she stroked the soft pink orb lovingly, "You'll be reborn soon enough."

"Can I go with her?" the golden orb whispered, "if they don't make peace we could be twins in the next life."

"I'll think about it," she chuckled, hugging the two feminine orbs close to her chest.

She's always wanted daughters

…

"Izuna!" He jerked, blinking wildly as he felt a sudden weight in his arms, something wet was rolling down his cheeks and he was kneeling in the field he was just fighting in just moments ago. His brother Madara was standing just behind him, crimson eyes wide in terror before relaxing into worry and confusion.

"Izuna… who is she?" Izuna blinked dumbly at his brother before looking around himself once more, Tobirama was standing not far away with his head bowed in shame and his eyes clued down at the person in his arms, Hashirama was near him, fussing over minor scraps. Then he remembered the weight in his arms and he looked down, renewed horror filling him as he stared at the sleeping face of the woman who just called him brother, the woman who refused to let him die at the hand of her once husband. She had perfectly golden almost curly locks as long as she was tall, her unfocused baby-blue eyes stared dully at the cloudy sky over head, blood dripped just past her pale blossom pink lips, rolling down porcelain white skin to stain her pretty purple yukata. She was as beautiful in this life as she was in her previous life, he didn't know if he truly believed them to be siblings from another life, but right now he didn't question it because she said it. The girl he's been chasing since childhood, the girl who mourned for their loss while they gathered their dead, the girl who was always running just out of reach. He will believe her because she has never harmed them.

"Izuna?" Madara called softly, turning slightly to star down at the woman curiously. There resting silently on her chest, keeping her pale golden cloak wrapped around her, sat a familiar looking design he had seen long ago. "Hashirama!" Madara barked, "get over here!" Not questioning the sudden order, the brunet hurried over and imminently set two glowing palms over her wound. Hashirama stiffened, his eyes widening as he realized everything that was wrong, slowly he pulled away and bowed his head in shame.

"What is it?" Madara asked, "why aren't you healing her? You know how rare she is."

"Despite the praise you just gave me, I can't revive the dead," Hashirama replied heavily, his shoulders slumping as he carefully set his bloody hands in his lap.

"What did you mean by that?" Tobirama asked as he came to stop just behind his big brother, "what did you mean by how rare she is? What dose that have to do with anything?" Madara and Hashirama shared a look, the later sighing heavily and bowing his head in regret, the misery settling on his heart preventing him from answering.

"She belongs to the Ōtsutsuki clan," Madara answered, straightening to stare into Tobirama's eyes unafraid of its eerie color matching his own crimson glowing orbs. "That crest on her chest is the same crest Hashirama and I saw on two boys from our childhood, they claimed to be from the Ōtsutsuki clan. According to them their compound had been attacked and destroyed leaving the two of them as the only survivors."

"That was ten years ago," Hashirama added softly, "in our time of war, it's doubtful they're still living… so finding her…" no one spoke as the sky started to cry, splashing everyone present with warm wet drops the size of their pinkies. Tobirama walked forward and took his brother's place as he rose and backed away, together with Izuna he watched the rain roll down the cheeks of his previous life's wife's face. The two warring clans stilled, slowly retreating back to their clan heads, wondering silently why they were no longer bickering or fighting. They each slowly approached, saw the woman, saw the misery on Izuna's and Tobirama's face and wondered who the woman was if she could have such an effect on the two lifelong rivals who didn't even let their brother's friendship stop them from fighting.

So who was the woman who could stop the two enemies and create a bond that no one else understood?

Not even their brothers could answer that

"We should stop fighting," Izuna whispered, ignoring the pelting rain that numbed his skin, "She didn't like us fighting…"

"I agree," Tobirama nodded, Izuna gently pulled the woman into his arms and stood to his full height, Tobirama watched him for a moment, almost as if he was going to question him.

"She was my sister," Izuna said, not looking at Tobirama, "She should be buried on our grounds."

"She claimed to be your sister," Tobirama replied, not standing as he stared into Izuna's dark eyes, "She should be buried—"

"She also claimed to be your wife," Izuna growled, not seeing the surprised and horrified look on Hashirama's face, "She's not going to be buried in your lands."

"I was going to say she should be buried in neutral territory," Tobirama replied calmly, "That way we can both visit her without crossing boundaries and starting another fight."

"I wasn't worried about a fight," Izuna drawled

"Yes because I'd show up and one of your clan's men would misunderstand and try to kill me," Tobirama rolled his eyes as he stood, "Which would start up another battle between our clans and get dozens more innocents killed."

"That shouldn't have been a problem either," Izuna said dismissively, "I was going to bury her on Kyobi Mountain."

"Kyobi Mountain?" Tobirama questioned in bewilderment

"It's the mountain that was once home to the Kyobi," Izuna answered him, "Supposedly he slept in the valley just before it and so long as you didn't piss him off, you could travel past without harm."

"Um, that sounds a little too convenient," Hashirama said, "If the demon did sleep there, what's stopped anyone from sealing it away like the others?"

"It's just a legend," Madara answered him. "The demon doesn't actually exist and he if he does, he certainly doesn't reside in that valley."

"I've never head of Kyobi Mountain," Tobirama frowned at them, "Where is it?"

"That's just the name we Uchiha call it," Izuna answered, "You might recognize the name Crescent Valley."

"Oh hay I know that place," Hashirama perked at the title, "It's supposed to be the place where our two clans originated from right?"

"Right," Madara nodded, "it's the one place where neither one of our clans fights even when their supposed to."

"There's something in the valley that takes away all the negative emotions," Izuna told them, "and replaces them with positive emotions."

"That sounds like the perfect place to bury her," Tobirama said calmly, "she has that same effect on us."

The two clans traveled together to Kiyobi Mountain, Madara and Hashirama never strayed from their brothers, who of course never strayed from the corpse they carried to the mountain. The two clans were silent, slowly their numbers trickled down as they traveled, eventually there were only a dozen people standing with their clan heads at the base of the mountain. Tobirama made the hole at the top of the mountain, letting his previous life's wife rest in a place that would allow her to watch every sunset and every sunrise. Izuna carefully laid her preserved body in the earthen hole, standing back he set her remains ablaze; as was the Uchiha custom. Waiting only a moment, Madara and Hashirama both shared their own looks and nodded their heads in silent agreement. Hashirama waited until the fire died of its own accord, leaving behind nothing but ashes of the mysterious woman. Then he moved the earth to surround her ashes in a comforting dome of clay and carefully erected roots and stone alike to take shape over the urn. Madara quickly did his own set of hand signs and blew out a ball of fire that looked more like a ball of magma. Izuna and Tobirama watched in bewilderment as their elder brothers combined their efforts to do something unique for once. Once the fire ended and the two once-friends stepped away, Izuna and Tobirama both approached the mound of cooling earth and root.

"What did you do?" Izuna asked as h e turned to look back at his elder brother

"Kaname-chan, can you please remove the dust?" Hashirama replied instead, calling forth a kunochi of his clan with a pleasant smile. the woman blinked in bewilderment before shrugging carelessly and approaching the mound of earth. She observed it carefully for a moment before using three hand signs to build up her chakra and bellow out a gust of powerful wind. the dust shifted, the roots fell and the statue beneath was revealed. The Uchiha and Senju clans remained standing in awe of their clan leaders, their eyes wide in wonder as they stared at the beautiful statue of the woman who saved them. She was dressed as they had last seen her, her long cloak bellowed out behind her as her soft face was turned to the sky, smiling contently as if finally achieving a long since forgotten dream.

"I don't know about you two," Hashirama murmured as he turned to look out at the setting sun, turning the valley below into a vision of a flaming ocean. "but I think this is the perfect place for a shinobi village. a place where both of our clans can stand side by side without fear." he turned to look at Madara, his smile wide and his eyes closed as a dusting of pink tinted his cheeks.

"Right Madara?"

"hmm," Madara agreed, his smile was soft as he stared out at the setting sun. "The village hidden in embers..."

"Nokoribigakure no sato?" Hashirama questioned, he looked out at the setting sun and how all the trees appeared to be on fire. "I like it!"

...

...

I just realized that I hadn't updated and a like, half a chapter written. I finished what was left of this chapter and posted it. I hope you all like it :)

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