Somehow when posting this chapter the first time, it cut off the second half of the text. I must not have copied the whole thing over. I apologize for any confusion. The next chapter will be switching to Sasuke's POV.
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Hiruzen nodded in agreement with Tobirama, letting out a breath. Danzo begrudgingly agreed, arms crossed. They seemed willing to fix what they'd helped to break, though one more than the other, Tobirama noted. Regardless, that wasn't what was important right now. They needed to sort through the known issues and bring out any the two had neglected to tell. Despite their compliance, he didn't quite trust them to be completely honest.
"First of all, why is Sasuke living by himself? Not only is that incredibly dangerous for him, it's a threat to clan security and by extension the village. Itachi could return to finish him or, worse, he could be kidnapped by another village. I'm not sure if it's still a common occurrence or not, but the threat remains. If someone was interested in obtaining the sharingan, Sasuke being left alone would be the ideal situation. He'd be easy to kidnap." Tobirama spoke with his arms crossed in silent disapproval.
Hiruzen nodded, sighing as he agreed, "Kekki genkai thievery has unfortunately continued to be an issue in recent years, though it has become less common. We didn't want to leave him alone, but there wasn't much choice with how the Uchiha clan's contract with the village was arranged."
The contract in question needed no explanation. Tobirama knew it well. After all, he'd spent months with Hashirama and Madara going back and forth over the details of it. While all of the clans had made it clear that they needed a certain degree of self-rule, it had been important to the Uchiha clan in particular. Though not all the clansmen had found it so important, Madara and the elders definitely had. They'd made sure their land, supplies, wealth, and manpower were all but separate from the village. Had they not been one of the founding clans, it would be hard to believe they were part of the village at all. Typical Uchiha, always so untrusting to anyone who wasn't their own.
...Then again, Tobirama reminded himself, it had worked out in their favor this time. The village had tried to turn on them in a sense, by trying to manipulate their heir into giving up their belongings. Had Sasuke been any less stubborn, the village may very well have taken the property and sent him to go live in the dependant's district. As a matter a fact, it might have happened eventually regardless, had he not shown up.
Sure, the mutual sense of distrust probably led to the village's actions, but that didn't make it any less appalling. "I see. So their contract hasn't changed much since I left?" seeing a shake of his student's head, he asked, "Even with the contract, though, I hear you were trying to convince Sasuke to give up the land. I presume this was so he could be placed somewhere easier to supervise?"
"That was my intention, yes." Hiruzen nodded. "I have a nice apartment on hold for him once he's willing. The funds that have been set aside for village dependants will cover his rent and other necessities. This way he can live comfortably near others. There are jonin and ANBU members living in that section of the town as well with orders to keep an eye on the children living there. I believe it would be better for him to live elsewhere for both safety reasons and his mind. I doubt living in the same house as the massacre is good for him."
Nodding, Tobirama gave a small hum of agreement. "I understand that reasoning, but at the same time, I doubt having his home taken from him so soon after he lost his family would help him. From what I've seen, he's very protective of both his compound and clan. He's trying to keep what's left intact. Being made to move into an unfamiliar area would most likely only make him feel like he'd lost even more. Have you considered assigning someone to be there in the afternoon or night when he's home? Even having someone move into one of the empty houses would be preferable to him being alone."
Danzo leaned slightly with his walking stick between his legs, eyeing Tobirama with a tight frown. "Unfortunately, I highly doubt this would end well. Sasuke is not the most sociable of children. This has always been evident, even before the massacre occurred. He's never gotten along very well with those who live outside the compound, tending to stay within its walls when possible. His brother was the one he trusted and cared for most, and as such, his sense of trust must be severely damaged. Having someone there to clearly watch him would only frighten him. Which is why we believe having neighbors discreetly watch him would be for the best."
He noticed the barest flicker of discomfort in Hiruzen's eyes as Danzo spoke. That wasn't the first time his student had seemed unsettled at the mention of the massacre. Still, it wasn't the same sort of distress he himself had felt upon realizing what had happened. There was definitely something going on that they weren't telling him. He'd find out soon enough, though. That much he'd make sure of.
"He seemed to be tolerant enough of me yesterday." Tobirama settled on mentioning for now, quirking a brow. "That may be due to the cover I gave him, though."
Hiruzen's brows furrowed, leaning forward on his desk in interest as he heard this. "Of course, your cover. You couldn't very well expose yourself as a resurrected Hokage without causing alarm. What did you say to him to make him willing to listen? Everyone who has gone to check on him, myself included, has been met with distaste."
Tobirama commented offhandedly, "Yes, I've heard." he couldn't say he blamed Sasuke, though. This was all horribly stressful, he was sure. "As for my cover..." he leaned his elbow on his chair, hand hovering in front of his mouth on instinct as he spoke awkwardly, "I told him that I was from the Land of Water, and had come to check on the Uchiha clan after hearing of a disaster involving them." he started, watching the two eye him expectantly. "The reasoning I gave for being interested was that I was married to an estranged Uchiha who had passed away years ago. I figured this would be a good way to calm him down and find out what was going on."
"You said you were...married to an Uchiha?" Danzo asked, the cloud of arrogance that had been surrounding him all day coming to a standstill as he watched Tobirama.
The white-haired shinobi merely crossed his arms, nodding firmly in confirmation. It was the story he had made, and no matter how awkwardly it clashed with his slowly diminishing views of distaste for the Uchiha, he would stick with it. It was too late to go back on it now. Besides, it had given him a lot of information from Sasuke that he previously wouldn't have had.
He stubbornly ignored the small feeling of guilt for lying to the child, reminding himself that it was for the best as of right now.
Danzo seemed stunned to silence, and Tobirama was momentarily distracted by the hidden surge of satisfaction at the cocky man's lack of words. Hizuren too seemed surprised by the cover story, pausing momentarily before clearing his throat.
"I- yes. Yes, that would give Sasuke reason to consider trusting you. At least a bit. I'm sure he was interested to see another clansman, no matter how vague the connection." frowning slightly as his shock died down into something more melancholy. "The Uchiha do, if nothing else, truely care about each other."
Though he spoke to Tobirama, it was easy for him to see that his student's thoughts were elsewhere. "That they are." he agreed, watching Hiruzen carefully.
He tapped the hat in his lap as a silence fell over the room, Hiruzen suggesting after a moment, "Perhaps...if you've been able to get along with him this long, it should be you to stay with him."
"Me?" Tobirama asked, "I may have been able to handle the situation last night, but I'm hardly the type of person who should be the sole caregiver to young children." he spoke skeptically, though the gears began to turn in his head. "It would also mean I'd have to stay for a while, to make sure I didn't give him hope only to crush it soon after. Though, I suppose I'll be staying for a while regardless if I need to sort out the Hokage situation and any other issues that have arisen."
He rubbed at his chin absent-mindedly, considering it despite his immediate reaction being doubt. "He would need someone strong enough to protect him from Itachi, and I've already made it clear in my story that I came with the express purpose of checking on the clan. No one else seems to be doing any better..." nodding firmly to himself as he didn't pay Hirzuen's inner grimace or Danzo's glare any mind. "You're right. I'm in the perfect position to aid him. I'll have to figure it out. It'd be a waste to let this opportunity go to waste."
Hiruzen seemed somewhere between somber and amused as he listened to his flow of logic, brows pulled together as Tobirama decided on it. "Perfect. I can have you reinstalled into the village and create the necessary files for a believable existence."
"Good. We can go over the details another time, but as of right now, we have something much more important to discuss." he spoke firmly, red eyes focusing in on Hiruzen as he did so. "Itachi Uchiha. You've had squads sent to deal with him, I'm sure? How successful have they been?"
He watched him with a sharp look, eyes narrowed to show his suspicion as his student looked at him with a deadpan expression. He could all but see the wheels turning in Hirzuen's head, no matter how well he had learned to hide his expression. Since he'd been dead for the last few decades, it felt like only days ago that he'd seen his student.
Tobirama watched, silently daring him to omit the information they had clearly been holding back so far.
The air was heavy, Hiruzen letting out a breath and bowing his head as he spoke in a low tone. "...There have been no squads sent out in search of Itachi."
The dark-clad shinobi listened, not taking his eyes off his student even as he heard Danzo cut in easily, "The risk was too high. We lack the shinobi to go after him at the moment. Instead, we've set up a strong defense for the village in case he-"
"That's enough, Danzo." Hiruzen's soft voice cut through Danzo's words, pausing briefly before continuing, "We were untruthful about Itachi's motives."
Tobirama's fingers tightened on the fabric of the hat as he listened, a million possibilities flowing through his mind even as his face remained impassive. "I assumed as much."
He watched as his student admitted, "He didn't snap. He didn't even want to kill those people. He was ordered to. An S-Rank mission to eliminate the entirety of the Uchiha clan, the only exception being Sasuke." his voice nearly a whisper as he finally locked gazes with Tobirama. "It was an idea proposed by Danzo and accepted by the others on the council. They believed it would be the best way to stop the Uchiha clan as they were planning a coup."
Immediately, Tobirama's sharp eyes snapped between Danzo and Hiruzen. "You ordered the mass murder of an entire clan!? Of one of your own clans, at that!?" his voice harsh and cutting. "And you let him!?"
"It was for the best." Danzo met his hard look with one of his own, "Had we not had Itachi end his clan, the entire village would have been at risk. I gave him the option. He never had to accept."
Tobirama was not a violent man. Even so, he had to steady his breath as his hand curled into a fist. "Options, options-! What sort of sick sociopath gives a thirteen-year-old the option to commit mass murder? If he was willing to go this far for the village- I can only imagine the stress he must have been under!"
Fuck, he wouldn't be surprised if Danzo had pressured him or gave some sick twist if what he'd seen with how they were treating Sasuke's property was any indication. "There were innocents in that clan, coup or not! Civilians, children, genin who probably knew nothing of it- you sentenced them to death as well? By the hand of their own kin, nonetheless!"
"It was merciful!" Danzo's voice rose as he watched Tobirama with an unwavering look in his eye. "Had it been someone else, they might not have killed them as quickly. Besides, he had been acting as our double agent for years. He was the best for the mission! Had we spared the innocents, they would have grown hateful in time and we'd have to repeat the situation! By using Itachi, Sasuke will grow to hate him, and one day kill him in the name of the leaf. The Uchiha clan can start anew, so long as Sasuke is molded correctly!"
Tobirama had to withhold his chakra, which was ready to lash out as he heard Danzo's repulsive words. "You utter idiot, they are part of the village! The Uchiha civilians, children, shinobi- all of them. The only ones who could be justifiably killed are the ones actively participating in the coup! Even then, I'm starting to wonder how justified this uprising might have been, with how things are being run."
He snapped his head towards Hiruzen, who looked completely lost and tired, demanding, "Hiruzen, arrest him! For mass murder. For war crimes, if you wish to see the coup as a separation from the village. For abuse of power. For everything he's done!"
"He's already been removed from the council. Action is being taken-" Hiruzen promised, hand to his chest in earnest.
His face fell as Tobirama stood, ordering in a firm and inarguable voice, "I said. Arrest him." a thin veil of threatening chakra surrounding him as he eyed his former student. What the hell had the village done?
A spark of chakra came from Hiruzen, calling the ANBU into the room.
Tobirama sat heavily in his chair, back straightened with a scowl on his face as he watched Hiruzen sit stiffly in his seat. "Take Danzo to the police department. I'll be down there to discuss what is happening later on in the day."
Tobirama didn't listen to Danzo's excuses, not finding them worth his time as the bandaged man was led out of the room. The man was led by the ANBU Hiruzen had called, Tobirama making note of how some of the shinobi seemed more than willing to haul Danzo off while others led him with the utmost respect even as they arrested him. Great, was the ANBU in need of fixing too?
He let out a breath as the door shut heavily behind him, the room filling with weight. His arms remained crossed as he glowered at his student, asking in a more controlled tone, chakra having coiled into his stomach, "What was the purpose to the village?"
Hiruzen's owlish eyes did little to relieve the tension of the room. When Tobirama merely quirked a brow, Hiruzen rubbed at his own hands. "...To protect children from war."
"Precisely. Hashirama and I-" he paused briefly, "As well as Madara were the creators of this village. Hashirama built it up and made it home to many. I worked out the details in the system that he didn't know how to go about. Madara- he protected the village, for a time. We all wanted to ensure the safety of the innocents when this village was created."
As hard as it was, he found himself considering his brother's heartbroken words once more. Right before Madara had left the village, according to Hashirama, he'd said he was worried for the safety of his clan. That he suspected Tobirama would be the second Hokage, thus endangering them. At the time it'd been insulting. Now, he couldn't help but wonder if Madara had somehow foreseen this.
It by no means justified Madara's actions. He had still attacked the village they had worked so hard to make, endangering innocents. Even so, he had to wonder just how much merit the elder shinobi's feelings actually had.
"We wanted to protect the people. Our clans. Our village." he emphasized. "So what made you think it was okay to take an innocent - a child - and have them kill others of the same kind? To kill these people, these clansmen, these villagers. Not only did you hurt those people, you might have hurt him. I can't say for sure, since I don't know him, but it seems like murdering your own kin would be hard on anyone."
Hiruzen nodded lightly, rubbing his fingers together as he admitted, "It did hurt him. He took it on as his personal responsibility. His father was leading a coup. He'd been spying on them for us along with his cousin, Shisui. The two were always watching for us. They were true shinobi of the leaf." he shook his head. "Even so, they loved their clan. They did everything in their power to put a stop to the coup. They tried their best, down to the last moment."
The man paused, as if collecting his thoughts. He explained, "It must have been too much for Shisui-- his suicide was so sudden. He drowned himself in Naka river a few months back. The note he left behind claimed that there was no hope for the Uchiha clan, nor him. He was too worn from his duties. I believe this is what led Itachi to do as Danzo ordered. He was discouraged from following his clan and was unsure he would be able to protect the clan on his own."
Tobirama's eyes narrowed as he was given the truth, his mind flashing to the lie they had given him earlier. "I presume what you told me earlier about Itachi being jealous of Shisui was the story released to the public?"
His chakra coiled and pulled in his stomach, even as he held it back. "So what I'm hearing is that these two put their lives on the line time and time again for the village, only for them to be disgraced with that sorry excuse for a cover? Not only should they have never been in such a position, they should have at least been able to keep their dignity. You made Itachi out to be an absolute sociopath." he rubbed his temples, "Shisui died due to village negligence. You're a disgrace, to sit there with your pipe, turning a blind eye to what was happening. Now Itachi is most likely suffering too, along with Sasuke. They aren't even able to seek aid in each other with how they've been pitted. Shisui is dead, Sasuke is alone, and Itachi is where?"
"He went to join a terrorist organization known as the Akatsuki." Hiruzen pursed his lips, not bothering to argue against Tobirama. It seems he knew he had messed up. "He wanted to spy on them for the leaf as they presented a threat to the village. He is scheduled to send in reports every three months, though more may come if he deems them important enough."
So having him become a kin murderer wasn't enough. He had to become a terrorist too, Tobirama mulled with displeasure. "How soon can you have him return? What steps would he need to take to remove himself from this organization?"
Hiruzen had the gull to look surprised at his words. "We couldn't have him return without giving the truth. It would frighten the villagers too much. Not to mention, if we did that, the Akatsuki would know he was a spy. It's more dangerous to take him out than to leave him in."
"Hiruzen." Tobirama frowned. "I'm not saying we remove him straight away. I'm saying I need to speak to him, hear about the Akatsuki, and formulate a plan to get him away as soon as possible. Whether that means having him try to get missions further away from them, pretending to hold him as a prisoner, or killing the Akatsuki off if it's possible-- we'll find out when we get his report."
Tobirama watched as Hiruzen considered his words, nodding after a moment as he estimated, "A week if we tell him I need to speak to him, three days if I say Sasuke is in danger. If I claim the second one, though, he may end up overworking himself to get here."
"A week, then. Tell him he needs to get here to discuss something of great importance." Tobirama nodded.
He watched as his former student leaned forward, elbows on his desk as he spoke. "Got it. He'll be here in roughly a week. Until then, you'll be with Sasuke. I'll be taking care of your paperwork and telling the apartment owner it's no longer needed. I believe that's all, then?"
Tobirama shook his head, "Correction- we will be arranging my paperwork, keeping an eye on Danzo's interrogation, be going through the events of the village in recent years in case there's anything else we need to work on."
Hiruzen tilted his head at this, asking wearily, "Are you sure you'll be able to do all that on top of keeping an eye on Sasuke?"
"Don't tell me you've forgotten about the shadow clones?" Tobirama merely asked, standing from his chair and performing the jutsu with ease. Just like that, there were three more of him. "I'll take care of Sasuke. You will continue to act as the Hokage, but only act. My clones will instruct you. Do not make any large choices without their agreement. We can't afford any more issues to arise."