CHAPTER NINE

The Shinobi Way

Madara was dead.

That was the first thing she heard when she opened her eyes the following morning, whispered among the Uchiha clan. The sheer impossible idea of the Madara dying had shocked her enough to make her think that the entire world was against her and that if there was a god, he was laughing at her. It seemed like everyone she knew was dying so maybe the true curse was that everyone she cared for would die. Her father, mother, Hikaku and now her uncle. It was a terrible, irrational thought and yet she indulged in it. From leaning on the tree, she allowed herself to fall over so that her face was against the damp, dewy grass. She closed her eyes, and simply -

- stopped.

It was another day where nobody had heard from Uchiha Sayuri. Some said she had killed herself.

And she thought about it.

There was something about the lack of drive, the lack of anyone close to her that suddenly dropped her spirit. Days ago, she had a life – am ambition. She had a mother to look after her, an idol to train her, a man to keep her on edge. And then that all crashed and burned. And then she talked to Tobirama, and things were okay. And then her mother died. But then she was driven, the opportunity of power and family an option again – yet Madara died too. And now, here she was. Completely alone with this blinding eye and no idea what to do next.

Tobirama had been right. He always was. She was just feeling too much – and now, all that energy had drained her. "I don't know what to do," she whispered, talking to herself.

Maybe she should die too. Catch up with the others.

Maybe death would be a solution.

And somehow, mid-thought, she drifted into sleep for the first time in days.

xxx

"Tobirama, perhaps you should go home and rest," weary pupiless red eyes looked up to equally tired, grey and flat ones, "I'll stay with him," Uzumaki Mito said kindly, her hand running down her sleeping husband's face.

He could hear his brother's steady breathing, but it wasn't too much of a comfort for him. All Tobirama could remember was Hashirama whispering, "He's gone, brother...Madara's gone," in a broken voice. He remembered that defeated look in his brother's eye - something he could not understand since Hashirama had won the battle and ensured the safety. But he was torn. He remembered Hashirama's arm around his shoulders as he helped his older brother out of the destroyed valley on one side, and his wife – the jinchuriki – on the other.

Three days had passed since then and Hashirama was still recovering. "I think you should rest, Mito," he said stubbornly, "you just had a very...traumatizing seal."

Mito sighed. She was bothered, and she was very, very aware of the beast that was trapped inside of her but her worry for her husband beat the whispers and growls she heard in her mind. "I will be fine, being next to him helps me," she said quietly, her hands now in Hashirama's, holding on tightly. She felt him squeeze her fingers and a smile lit her face, softening her eyes. Tobirama felt the moment coming upon him and gave up, leaving the couple together.

"Fine, be care -" He abruptly stopped, his head snapping up and moving to look at the door where he felt a familiar chakra enter the hospital. "Be careful," he finished quickly before walking out the room. He did not hurry his pace, nor did he seem as if he was in a rush but the thought had popped into his mind with that same urgency.

Was that Sayu?

He followed the flickering, too small amount of chakra that he sensed before he ended up in a room where a recently hired and still learning medic-nin saw him and stopped him immediately. "You can't go in there!"

His eyes narrowed at her and she faltered slightly. "And why not?"

"The patient is in critical care, her body deprived of – wait, are you the Hokage's brother?"

He had a name, of course, and a very well known one at that and it irritated him that she did not recognize him. He didn't answer her, deciding that the glance he gave her was an obvious enough answer. He walked into the room anyway and was astonished to see not a single familiar face there. They were all barely good and learning medic-nins, none of them the skilled ones of his clan or another that helped his brother. If she was sick, shouldn't she get the most proficient help?

And she was sick. He was surprised when he saw the girl laying on the bed. It had only been four days since he had last seen her, but the weight she lost was clear in the way her skin stretched tightly over her cheeks. There were shadows beneath her eyes that had not been there two weeks ago since he had met her, and her hair was oily and matted with dirt. "I'm sorry, you can't be in this room right now -"

"He's the Hokage's brother," the earlier nurse whispered urgently to the man that was examining Sayuri.

"Please excuse yourselves." Tobirama said in a stern voice, no longer feeling like entertaining these people. He did not want to sound like a dictator, but yet..."Now, preferably." They look shocked and wary, but they held no stand against the Senju and nodded, leaving the room quietly. He closed the door behind him and then slowly, forced himself to face Sayuri.

Sure, she had stabbed him. Warned him – threatened him, rather. But it wasn't that he took her lightly or thought her weak, but the idea of him dying by her hands was implausible. Sayuri could not truly hurt him. Curse aside, she could hate him and hate the village but her and murderer did not go together. After having time to think about it, perhaps Hashirama had been right. Perhaps she was just being over emotional at that point, and she would settle afterwards. Besides, he knew that emotions triggered a stronger Sharingan, but hers had already reached the third stage.

But if she had been completely serious, then so be it. Let her try to kill him. Her unpredictable mental being would just be another enemy to him. If he absolutely had to, if it came to her or the village, then he would have to -

"Mom?"

He blinked, and looked at the girl. Then he sighed and really looked at her, imagining her chakra flow. He predicted it would be weak and minimal given her state of health and the fact that even with this proximity, it was barely enough for him to pick up on it. It would take at least two days of complete deprivation while maintaining a jutsu – he was guessing her Sharingan – to bring it that low. "It's Tobirama," he said. It may have been stupid giving away his identity given her feelings towards him but he would rather her becoming murderous and attack him so that he could knock her unconscious and work on her than her becoming all soft and affectionate towards him, deluded into thinking he was her dead mother.

"Tobirama?" Her voice was barely a whisper, and ears that had not been attuned to that name would never understand it from the hoarseness of her voice. But he had, and he heard a quiet plea in it as well. It was the same tone she had when she was squeezing his hand as she learned about the death of her mother. "Oh, God," she threw a hand over her face, covering it.

"Should I leave?" he asked hesitantly. Now, he was not so sure if he was the one most qualified to help her.

"No."

For some reason, that answer surprised him. He breathed in deeply and nodded. "All right," he said quietly, "let's get a look at you -"

"I'm sorry."

Her voice was so quiet, so pathetically quiet and defeated sounding that it made him wonder what had happened in these short amount of days. Did this girl really stab him? Did she really went on a mission with him, was she really even an Uchiha? Something had turned around her attitude towards him completely. But then again, maybe that anger was fleeting as it would be for many those who recently found out their parents were murdered. "It's fine."

"You're not hurt, are you?"

"Don't worry about me, Sayuri," he sighed with a shake of his head. Wielding his chakra from his hands, he hovered over her head closely. "Just rest, we can discuss matters later."

"I'm really sorry." She said again, her eyes closed. "I was just...angry. Please understand."

"I do," his voice was quiet too. Something felt too intimate about this situation, he was too close to her. This room was too quiet, too small. The sound of her breathing, her heartbeat was too loud and he just felt too close. And yet he felt...alienated. "But don't talk."

"Okay."

He sighed again. "Sayuri," he said, firmer now and in a sterner tone, "stop talking." At last, she simply nodded. But then -

"Will I be okay?" she asked and he sighed again although he wasn't frustrated. He was not so much as glad or relieved but satisfied that she was strong enough to talk without getting worse. Talking. It was then he realized that he had not said much to anybody the days after Izumi's death. To Mito, and his brother - but most of his words had been spoken to Sayu. When did his life become so...involved with hers? Had she not just been a passing face, waiting to tell him that her clan could not make it to a meeting?

Strange how things worked out. "You ask a lot of questions."

The corners of her lips turned up, a ghost of a smile that once had been so bright and determined but now was tired and barely there. Barely, but enough. A few more moments when her chakra became steady and her health wasn't visibly deteriorating any more, he drew his hands away. "When was the last time you've eaten?"

"I don't remember." She said after a thought. "I had tea."

"Tea." He repeated. "Is this by any chance the tea I gave you the day you stabbed me?'

She winced at the rightly justified accusation. "Yes," her voice was small. His eye twitched with annoyance. That had been over three days ago, and she had only a sip of it. She was going to die like that.

"I'll bring you some food."

Her stomach curled at the idea of suddenly being filled up. She had gone too long without food. "No!" she said quickly. "I'm not hungry, really. I don't want -"

"You need food," he said, his hands on the door knob and her stomach fluttered nervously. He was leaving?

"Wait!" she called out again, and he tilted his head just slightly to acknowledge her but he still didn't turn around. "Don't go." He didn't know why he was always so surprised at her quiet, tiny tone when it was perhaps the most definable one he knew from her but something about it struck him and he closed his eyes, shaking his head.

He opened the door and she sat up straighter, alarmed, but he simply called out and asked for food before returning back to her side. He took a seat in the chair by the wall, closing his eyes and crossing his arms. With a sigh, she fell deeper into the bed and rolled onto her side to look at him. "Thank you."

"Just sleep, Sayuri. We'll talk later."

Silence, and then:

"Okay."

xxx

When she woke up after a very short, uncomfortable sleep, she restlessly got up and stopped herself when she realized that Tobirama had fallen asleep. As silently as she could, she drew back her blankets and crept out of the bed, one foot at a time on the cold floor. She was still wearing the dirty clothing from days ago and wrinkled her nose, wondering why Tobirama with his blunt personality had not told her that she stunk. There were fresh clothing at the foot of her bed but she decided to clean herself first before putting them on.

As soon as she stepped into the hallway, someone called out her name. Feeling like she was caught doing something, she attempted to hide until - "Hashirama?" She groaned and rubbed her face. She had thought it was someone who would get her into trouble - and although he was the Hokage, she just didn't feel like he would do anything of that sort. Not to mention that she had not done anything wrong anyway. "Lord Hokage!" She corrected herself quickly.

He held a finger to his lips and pointed into the room behind him. She leaned to the aside and saw a sleeping red-haired woman. And then his eyes softened. "I'm sorry, about your mother, Sayuri," he whispered still, "I'm sure that she did whatever she possibly could have. She was trying to protect the village and you, especially after -" He stopped when he saw her face turn red and her eyes glaze over. "And you are also Madara's -" And once again he stopped, this time when she couldn't even look at him. Hearing those names and titles in another's mouth, proclaiming that they were gone made it all too real. He cleared his throat and looked like the powerful Hokage, the God of Shinobi, that she had always heard of. "I'm too understand you want a mission to find these Kumo-nin."

Her eyes flashed up, wide and with the first real spark for what seemed like an extremely long time. "What – really?" And then she forced herself to suppress the excitement, knowing that it may just lead to disappointment. Her voice dropped again. "Can...can I take it?"

"Of course." And then his face turned friendly again. "I'm the Hokage, after all, and I'm assigning it to you."

She let out a breath. "Thank you," she had the Hokage on her side, miraculously, "so much."

"But it isn't one that should involve casualties," he said, holding up a finger and looking at her false sternness, "just a recon mission. I want to find out why those ninja were here, and if it has anything to do with the recent Tailed Beast attack."

"There was a Tailed Beast attack?" she asked automatically, a flutter of panic arising. He suddenly went rigid, looking away from her.

"I know you're new at this," his voice was quiet and she felt as if in some way, she had disappointed him, "but you do not question the authority. All you need to know is that there was a Tailed Beast attack close to the time those Kumo-nin were here. I want you to find out if there's any relationships, and if they are searching for one of the Tailed Beasts as well. Come back immediately, with or without information. You have three days. Understood?"

She could only stare down at her feet, her cheeks flaming. She didn't know why she felt like a scolded child – all Hashirama had said was that she was new at this and was telling her protocol of being a shinobi, and she really should know better. She would never have questioned an Uchiha elder like that, let alone Hashirama.

And for some reason, she thought about the village and the Hokage. This was like a clan, only bigger. And like how she respected the Uchiha way – evident from her blinding eye, her injuries day in and out to meet the Uchiha's standards – she should also respect the village's. And that meant being a kunoichi, an abiding one. She had nothing left for her with that clan name, and it suddenly hit her that Konoha was all she had left. She had no family, but she would make a new one here.

Konoha would be her family.

"Okay," she said quietly, "understood. I apologize."

And like a flip of a switch, Hashirama was bright and cheery again. His laugh echoed down the hallway as his hand clamped down on her shoulder. "Don't be like that, Sayuri," he said lightly, "we're still setting up all the systems. Just follow through the mission, and if -"

"Sayuri."

They froze.

The voice was almost sarcastic as he continued. "Brother."

They both slowly turned around, caught red-handed. It was the action of two prey knowing that they were going to get attacked and only wanted to prolong the moment before their imminent deaths. Tobirama was there, frowning, his arms crossed and eyes hard. He exuded disappointment. "You should be in bed." His crimson eyes flashed to his older brother, who was in the process of trying to sneak away but - "and do you think me a fool, brother?"

"Well -"

"I can clearly see you. Where's Mito?"

"Asleep. I just need to talk to Sayuri about her -" But then her face stilled and her eyes went wide, her fist clenching. Her eyes flickered away from him uncomfortably, turning back to Tobirama whose face was unreadable as his gaze levelled with his brother. "Hokage business, you wouldn't understand." Hashirama laughed sheepishly, touching his long dark hair.

"Another day." It sounded more like a command than a suggestion. "Now both of you, return to your rooms." Tobirama said with a tone of authority, his arms crossed. Hashirama muttered something about bossy control freak while Sayuri just stared at him. Gape, was a better word. His expression had the slightest spark of a challenge as an eyebrow rose and his mouth tighten to something that wasn't quite a frown or a smile. "Yes?" When she didn't respond, his mouth twitched slightly and he turned away, proceeding to walk down the hallway.

"Wait!" She called out, but then she felt light headed and shut her eyes quickly before her vision blacked out. She felt unsteady – and then a hand was firmly beneath her elbow, the other just over her waist. Tobirama stared at her with that same exasperated expression, as if she was a bother to him but his mouth was parted, about to say her name. She flinched before pulling back slowly. "Sorry," she said quietly. And something about her voice changed the expression on his face, opening it up almost and he looked away almost regretfully.

He didn't know how to begin. "We didn't get to talk, earlier, about..."

She froze all over again. "Not here," she pleaded, "I don't -"

"Will you kill me?" His tone was guarded, expectant. It wasn't mocking or challenging or curious, he simply wanted an answer. That was the thing about Tobirama – he could actually live his life pushing back any emotions and bias when he wanted to. There was no affliction, no personal touch to it. She glanced up at him, at his flat, dull red eyes.

She wouldn't kill him. She didn't know why she said it. Perhaps she was angry. Most likely, she was frustrated – frustrated that everyone was dying and that he was the cause of one of them. And yet, Madara was gone now too. But although she was not sure why she knew it had something to do with his position in the village. And her father was a shinobi. And so was Tobirama. And so was her mother, and so was she. She would be one. She decided. She took a deep breath and shook her head and he seemed to release the breath he had been holding. His eyes closed briefly before he turned to face her again. "Good," he said in a stiff voice, "don't let prior anger colour your -"

"Save it." She interrupted rather abruptly. "I know I was being childish and I'm...I'm sorry for stabbing you and threatening you but I think that now, we're fair." She was going to be rational. She was going to be a kunoichi – a real one. She was going to take Tobirama's example and behave and will do whatever it took to help Konoha come together. She was going to bring pride to the Uchiha name while still being a Hidden Leaf ninja. She raised a hand to him, trying to copy his steady gaze and she wasn't sure if she succeeded or not because, of course, Tobirama's expression did not allow his thoughts to slip. "From now on," she continued, "we're equals."

He appraised her carefully. Something changed in her. Seconds ago, she was quiet and meek and inferior. Now she was putting her foot down and declaring that they were equal? Sayuri, who usually ended her statement with the intonation of a question for his assurance, was suddenly making the calls? He frowned slightly but he was not displeased. Slowly, he took her hands – the same, thin, calloused hands; he could still feel the blisters, and even a slightly crooked finger – and shook it. "I'll agree to that."

"Okay." She let him go, her dark eyes remained on him.

"Okay." He didn't move and her eyes flicker across his face, as if trying to desperately memorize it but just as quick, they steadied and became flat. Still. Not at all passionate or moved. She turned away first, limping back into her room.

And even though he had gained a comrade, Tobirama could not help but feel as if he had lost a friend.

Woah. This story reached a hundred reviews already! Good Lord.

Thank you for sticking with me through the hiatus and thank you for reading! I know this chapter is a bit...slow but the next ones are going to be eventful and I am so excited to get the next couple chapters out for you all. Reviews would be lovely :)