Otouto

This is a big, big time AU fic. Certainly off canon a lot so give it a try before deciding to hate, but if you don't like…let me know.

Please read if you want. Review if you want.

Still own nothing. Nothing.

Chapter Eleven

"Hello?" a voice called out as Genma stuck his head through the front door with Raidou Namiashi following him, "May we come in, Senju-samas?"

"Hai," Tobirama agreed as the two removed their sandals and were offered a place to sit as Madi skipped into the room and grinned as he ran to Genma.

"Genny-kun, look at my calligraphy," Madi grinned out as Genma stood to see his latest work, "Did I do good?"

"Very good, Madi-chan, but I need to talk with you," Genma began as he lifted the child to sit the boy in his lap once he walked back to the couch, "Madi, Raidou here saw you practicing something in field three today. Can you tell me what you were doing?"

"Um," Madi hummed, lowering his gaze as his elder brothers picked up on the child's reluctance, "Trying to be like Genny-kun."

"How so?" Hashirama asked, "What did Raidou-san see you doing that you don't want to talk about, Madirama?"

"Um…well…I was trying to spit senbon like Genny-kun," Madi slowly admitted as his brothers choked, "I was being really careful."

"I told you I thought I saw him with a senbon, but when I got close to Madirama the weapons got hidden away and I started doubting what I saw," Raidou said as Genma frowned.

"Madi-chan, that is too dangerous for you to do right now," Genma fussed as the boy hung his head, "Now I understand why you've been asking me to show you how I use senbon so much lately. Go and get all the senbon you have and then you are going to tell your brothers and I where you got them from, Madi. Go on."

"Yes, Sir," Madi sighed as he hopped from the couch and dragged his feet on the way towards his room.

Hashirama hurried after the child to see the hiding place and returned a few seconds later holding Madi's hand. The other shinobi didn't miss that the eldest Senju had a box of senbon clutched with apparent anger in his fist.

"A whole box," Genma breathed as Hashirama tapped an angry foot at the repentant child as he allowed Madi to sit next to Genma, "Where did you get these, Madi-chan?"

"Eiji Kondo has been giving away his neesan's things because she is an angel now and he gave me the box since I said I'd wanted to learn how to use senbon like my Genny-kun," Madi admitted, hanging his head, "I only practiced a little bit and was really, really careful the whole time. I promise I was."

"You could have sucked that senbon straight down your throat," Tobirama fussed, "That is dangerous to try to do when you are untrained, Madi. I want the whole truth now. Do you have any other real, nin weapons?"

"Hai. I found a kunai in the woods," Madi stated as he hopped up and pulled the weapon from his school bag to hand to Tobirama, "That's all. I promise, Bima-nini, but I did treat everything with respect like you and Hama taught me. I didn't break the rules."

Hashirama and Tobirama exchanged looks with one another. Madi's statement was correct. Neither elder brothers had said no real weapons since they hadn't seen any interest by the child as of yet besides the boy's enjoyment of watching fully trained shinobi with their chosen weapons. That had certainly seemed to have changed.

"New rule to the original," Hashirama decided as Tobirama nodded along, "No real, nin weapons unless Bima and I give them to you or you are practicing with weapons in school. That won't happen for another two years anyway. If you find a weapon, you give it to the closest adult nearby. Do you hear me, Young Man?"

"Hai, Aniki," Madi agreed, "I promise I wasn't trying to be naughty. I just wanted to be cool like Genny-kun."

Genma blushed at his little admirer as Raidou hid a snort of laughter.

"Well then, I promise to teach you to use senbon just like me once you are a genin," Genma vowed as the boy perked up, "However, Madi, you knew you were doing something a little wrong because you hid the senbon from Raidou when he approached. That wasn't becoming of your clan, Madi-chan."

"I'm sorry," Madi apologized, turning to his brothers, looking troubled, "I won't do that again. I just wanted to surprise you two and Genny-kun. I wasn't trying to be sneaky. I promise. Oh. Oh, Bima!"

Raidou laughed at the sneeze, fire, and water surge that happened simultaneously.

"Now that brings back memories," the scarred jonin chuckled as Genma nodded with a wide grin, "Gen, remember when Sasuke set the mission desk ablaze when his brother was showing him around the Hokage tower when he was little?"

"Cousin did that?" Madi chirped as he giggled before he sobered at the looks he was getting from his brothers, "I'm really sorry, Anikis."

"We accept your aplogy, but you are grounded for a week from the park for hiding the weapons," Hashirama informed the pouting boy, "However, Bima-nini and I might reduce the sentence if you are on your best behavior since you weren't technically trying to be sneaky, Madi-chan. Do you understand that Bima, Genny-kun, Raidou-san, and I are just trying to keep you safe?"

"Hai, Hama-nini," Madi answered, "Please don't be made at Eiji-kun. He just thought that his friends could use his neesan's things since she is in heaven now."

"I understand that, Madi. I'm not mad at the little Kondo. However, how many other children have weapons?" Genma pressed as Madi blinked.

"Just me since Iruka-sensei found Mai-Mai's shuriken and Jun's kunai," Madi listed off as the adults relaxed a little, "Eiji-kun is trying to be nicer every day and he's a lot of fun to play with now. Plus, I wanted the senbon to be like Genny-kun. I asked for the box when I saw it, but I'll wait until I'm older now. I didn't mean to be naughty."

"Pinky promise to not keep secrets anymore," Tobirama insisted as his brother quickly hooked his pinky around his brother's, "Go apologize to Raidou-san for hiding the weapons from him and then hug your Hama since he's upset."

"I'm sorry, Raidou-san, I wasn't trying to be sneaky," Madi offered as he bowed to the jonin, "I thought I could surprise Genny-kun and my ninis at the student presentations at the end of the year by being able to spit senbon like Genny can or throw a kunai properly, but it was really hard to do and I didn't mean to upset anyone. I promise not to do it again. I give you my word of honor."

"Then I accept your apology," Raidou stated as the boy gave a small smile, "Hurry and hug your oldest brother since he looks so sad."

Madi flew to throw himself at his eldest brother as Hashirama caught him up in a bear hug. All in all, this was pretty typical behavior for a pre-genin. Everyone in the room had snuck weapons at some point in their youth. Raidou and Genma left and agreed to stop by the Kondo estate to talk with the head to make sure that Eiji didn't get ahold of his deceased sister's weapons any longer.

"I'll make sure Aiko-san doesn't punish the boy," Genma promised, "Eiji wasn't technically misbehaving. He thought he was sharing."

"True, but make sure that the Aiko-san knows to explain to the child why having weapons now is too early," Tobirama insisted, "Ah, and make the head think that I uncovered the truth through connections and not because Madi admitted the truth. No reason to make that Kondo kid turn on Madi again."

Late that night, Tobirama was woken by the sound of little feet. He opened his eyes to see a tearful face as Madi clutched Kitty-Boy in his arms.

"Bad dream, Otouto?" Tobirama asked as he allowed the child under the covers of his futon.

"Yeah," Madi agreed, "Do you hate me now, Bima-nini?"

"Hate you?" Tobirama gasped as he sat up on an elbow to gaze down at the child, "Of course not, Madi-chan. I'd never hate you."

"But I-I made a mistake in j-judgement and Iruka-sensei said that a nin has to follow the rules," Madi whimpered, "And you yelled at me for being a bad nin in my dream and told me to go away and I was scared and I was trying to not show my emotions, but I did and that's not being a strong shinobi and Hama-nini was real mad too and…and…I'm scared, Bima!"

"Now, now," Tobirama voiced as he reached to soothe the six year old, "Don't be frightened, Madi-chan. Your dream was wrong because you are not a bad nin and Hama-nini and I would never yell at you or get mad at you for making a mistake in judgement enough to tell you to go away. Your sensei is correct that you have to follow the rules, but I see where you were planning to surprise us with learning a new skill. What is the new rules?"

"No real weapons unless given to me by you or Hama or school," Madi listed off as his brother stroked his hair softly, "And if I find any weapon to give to an adult and not keep it like I did the kunai because weapons are dangerous to use until I'm properly trained."

"That's right," Tobirama agreed, "Are you going to follow the new rules, Otouto?"

"Hai, Bima," Madi nodded out quickly, "I promise."

"Then it's all good," Tobirama assured as his brother sighed and snuggled close to his side, "Close your eyes, Madi-chan. Good boy. Go to sleep now. It's okay."

The child fell asleep immediately and Tobirama was a bit surprised to find that his alarm clock had been turned off so neither he nor Madi woke until late in the morning the next day.

"Don't move," Hashirama ordered from the doorway as he brother glanced to him, "Madi's sleeping on your chest. I nearly freaked when I found his bed empty and was surprised to find him in here with you. Nightmare?"

"Bad one," Tobirama admitted, "Isn't he late for school?"

"I'm giving him a day off," Hashirama whispered, "He looked exhausted and I didn't have the heart to wake him so I let the both of you sleep. He took getting in trouble hard, didn't he?"

"Hn," Tobirama agreed, "I'm stuck and I need to relieve myself, Aniki. Help me."

A quick shift with a pillow and Tobirama was freed from their little brother to handle business. Madi slept peacefully for another hour before sleepily trailing out to the living room.

"Did school get canceled?" Madi questioned while crawling up into Hashirama's lap as his brother smoothed his thick hair down.

"For you since you needed some extra sleep," Hashirama hummed, resting his cheek on the top of the child's head, "Bima-nini went to the academy to get the work you were to do today so you can finish here at home. Are you going to work hard on your school work for me after lunch?"

"Hai, Hama-nini," Madi breathed, snuggling closer.

"I was told of your dream, Otouto," Hashirama admitted as the boy nodded against him, "Know that Bima and I love you very, very much, Madi-chan, and you never have to worry about either of us hating you. You are our dearest baby otouto, but no more trying to surprise us with nin training that isn't chaperoned by an adult, alright?"

"So…if Iruka-sensei or Genny-kun helps me learn something to surprise you and Bima with, then that is okay?" Madi asked with an excited eagerness in his voice.

"Absolutely, Madi-chan. Go get dressed while I start making lunch."

Madi grinned as he ran halfway to his room before careening around the corner to run into his brother's room to gather up his cat.

"Forgot my Kitty-Boy," Madi called at his brother's questioning look, "I'm going now."

Hashirama snorted softly as he pulled out the makings for lunch. Years and years ago, this would have been considered women's work, but he enjoyed the more domestic side of his new life. Plus, he'd discovered a passion for cooking when he had to research different recipes for accommodate Madi's allergy. Neither Tobirama or he had milk that often anymore. He glanced up when he heard the front door slide open as Tobirama arrived.

"Half of Madi's class is home sick," Tobirama stated as his brother frowned, "Seems that being overly tired is the first symptom for a cold that is roaming the school. You specifically stated that Madi seemed to look exhausted to you. How was otouto once he woke?"

"Seems fine, but we'll keep an eye on him," Hashirama said as he threw some vegetables into the wok, "He's getting dressed now. Can you do his braid?"

Tobirama nodded and turned in time to catch the imp as Madi tried to sneak up on him with a leap.

"Flying tackle jutsu a failure," Madi giggled as the two, older brothers chuckled, "Do I have a lot of work to do, Bima-nini?"

"Not much," Tobirama began, quickly braiding the child's hair and fastening it off with a hair tie that was on the counter, "Come here and I'll explain the theory behind a henge jutsu while Hama finishes cooking lunch."

Hashirama nodded as his brother checked the child's temperature and gave a look to say that Madi seemed fine. Tobirama was proud of the child's focus while Madi listened attentively before settling to begin reading his textbook.

"Bima?" Madi called, "Naruto-kun came to class last week and showed us his clone technique. You made that?"

"I did," Tobirama answered as he set the table, "That was a long time ago when there was a lot of war and battles. I am glad that time is over."

"Did you make up the naughty henge that Naruto-kun showed us that made Sensei punch him on the top of the head?" Madi asked as Hashirama hooted with laughter in the kitchen as Tobirama choked.

"No, I did not," Tobirama scowled out, seeing Hashirama suddenly freeze as he realized that possibly their younger brother had been shown something that innocent eyes shouldn't have seen, "That perverted henge was not created by me and I'm none too happy that you were shown that. Was the henge naked?"

"No. She was wearing a bikini," Madi said as the two, older brothers sighed in relief, "Iruka-sensei said that Naruto-kun had been naughty. Is he grounded from the park too?"

"He is now that I've heard about this," Hashirama answered, trying to hide a grin, "Remember the rule "monkey see is not monkey do," Madi-chan? You do? Good. Well, no doing the jutsu that Naruto showed you. Ever. Wash your hands and come eat."

The day was fine until the child's temperature rose to an alarming rate that evening. Hashirama wet another washcloth to fold and place on Madi's forehead as he slept.

"Tsuna said to give Madi this medicine three times daily," Tobirama began as he arrived from talking with the medic nin, "It seems one of the Akimichi clan genins picked up a cold from the Land of Iron and brought it back to his little sister. She spread the illness within the academy by accident. Not a severe cold, but it causes high fevers, chills, and vomiting much like the flu. At least we don't have to worry about sneezing."

"True enough," Hashirama agreed, "Madi so rarely catches a cold that this is a bit surprising to me. It must be a strong germ bug to have invaded our otouto so quickly. Hand me that glass of water on the chest, please. Madi-chan? Wake up, Baby."

"Hama-nini?" Madi whined as he blinked his eyes open before seeing his brother fill a small medicine cup with a thick syrup, "Ew."

"Yeah, I'm sure this doesn't taste great, Madi-chan," Hashirama chuckled, helping the boy lean up so he could swallow the syrup before allowing him to sip some water to wash the taste away, "A lot of your classmates have this same cold so the medicine is important to get better. Are you chilly?"

"Hai," Madi agreed and sighed as Tobirama spread another blanket over him, "Thank you, Bima-nini. My tummy hurts, Aniki."

"I know, Baby. I've brought a bucket that is here by your pillow," Hashirama advised, "If you feel like you need to throw up then do so in the bucket. Try to breathe deeply and go back to sleep for me, okay?"

"I want Bima," Madi whimpered as Tobirama slid to sit beside him to rub the boy's back before the child sighed and drifted to sleep.

"You've still got it, Nappy-Brother," Hashirama teased as Tobirama snorted softly, "I'll start making some rice porridge. Madi will probably need something plain to eat tonight since his stomach is upset. Here is a fresh bowl of water to rewet the cloth on his forehead. Call me if I'm needed."

It was late in the night when the brothers bundled up the youngest and flashed to the hospital only to be greeted by other frantic parents.

To be continued…