DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO
The man might have been called the White flash of Konoha. He was as fast as her Uncle, even though Edo-Tensei Nidaime acknowledged Minato being faster than him. The moment the spar started he threw a shurinken behind her and used Hirashin. She was just lucky she had immediately activated her Sharingan and was expecting him to start with that so she barely could dodge receiving a small cut on her cheek.
'Wha… When did he draw his sword out?' She thought when she wiped the blood on her cheek, and that's when she realized that he must have done it before using the shunshin technique.
"You have good reflexes" Tobirama smirked.
"You're really serious about this" Hikari answered trying hard not to stutter, and charged against him. They engaged in a fierce kunai-katana fight, and though the kunoichi had a weapon disadvantage she sure could handle the little ninja tantō. She took another one from her pouch and crossed it with the other one she already had and stopped the Senju's Katana right in front her face. She had to use all her strength to match the one that he was putting over the sword. Finally she pushed him backwards and jumped a few meters back to adjust her strategy.
"Suiton: Suidanha" he exclaimed and sent a powerful and thin stream of water against her. She had to turn the Mangekyo on to move faster because when she jumped to escape she saw that the floor had been pierced. Tobirama followed her with that technique for almost a minute. She kept dodging and jumping from tree to tree.
The spectators were in awe. Ichigo was cheering for Tobirama and Megumi was doing the same for Hikari. Takato was impressed on how serious the Senju was against the kunoichi, and also surprised about how she hadn't connected an attacked yet.
"She seems scared" Izuna whispered to him.
"I don't think so" his brother said "She is extremely nervous, but I think she's measuring him."
"I think Takato's right" Madara intervened. "Tobirama is strong, but so is she, because if not he wouldn't be interested in sparring with her. We've only seen her using a fire arrow and the Hirashin, aside from Susanoo. I wonder how many cards she as under her sleeve"
"Hope she has a full house" the youngest said his eyes not leaving her figure.
Suddenly the Albino stopped using his jutsu. It seemed he could use it for a certain period of time, because it required of him gathering chakra, the Kunoichi detected that and used all her experience of talking with Shikamaru to come up with a strategy. Even though he used his water jutsu, he never let go of the Katana, and that was a completely disadvantage for her. That's when she threw a fireball to him. Of course he dodged it, he was used to that attack from the Uchiha. He was intrigued when he saw her running towards him at full speed. She was doing some hand signs and suddenly disappeared appearing on a tree behind him.
"Katon Hi No Ya no jutsu" She exclaimed and a huge fire arrow flew directly at him. He moved just in time but the fur of his coat was caught by the fire and burnt on its tips. From the audience a gasp was heard.
"She wasn't just dodging!" Izuna exclaimed "She was marking the trees!"
"Told you so!" Takato smirked proudly. Madara was smirking too, they didn't know her fight style yet and it was intriguing. He suddenly found himself thinking about Sakura's fighting style and imagining her sparring. He shook his head to regain his attention back and then heard Hashirama arriving next to them.
"What did I miss?" he asked.
"Not much yet" the Uchiha patriarch answered him "Your brother is deadly serious in this fight and even though it's been ten minutes or so, she's holding it"
"Wow!" the Senju exclaimed "That's too much, I Had not expected that!"
"She's using the Mangekyo though" Madara added rising an eyebrow "He's damn too fast" they stopped chatting because the albino had an angered look on his face.
"Suiton: Suidanha" the man exclaimed again, and she jumped to another tree. He attacked her there and sensed her next mark. He prepared and when she jumped he attacked her again but she used Hirashin one more time and appeared on his left flank kunai in hand.
"Dammit" he said as in a swift move she cut his sleeve "When did you mark this place?" he added jumping and putting himself on guard again.
"You moved to the spot I was when you first attacked me" she grinned. "I know it's not much, but with the Mangekyo I could follow your movements better, it was a matter of time for you to step there if I continued the jumping patron."
"Smart." He just said in a plain face, but she knew he was complimenting her so she smiled and run towards him again, this time barehanded. "Not so smart now" he said and drew his katana against her. Her right eye was closed and he could sense she was gathering chakra there. 'She might use a special technique, let's see…' he thought.
Tobirama attacked her with his sword and in that moment she opened her right eye and stopped it barehanded. Something strange was happening because the girl wasn't actually using her strength, she was stopping the weapon like she was holding a bamboo stick. No matter how many strength the albino put into the hit, the katana barely moved.
"What is this?" he asked looking at her right now bleeding eye.
"This is my Mangekyo special technique, thought I don't use it much because it consumes a good amount of chakra" she smirked still holding the Katana with her hands like she was praying "I can relent movements of solid at the extent of almost stopping them complete."
Impressed the Senju didn't move, he was curious to see how this might end, she could not use this jutsu much longer.
"I'm afraid this was the only way for you to lose your katana" she innocently said.
"What?" he asked not following.
"Shakuton: Hakunetsu yashi" she exclaimed and the weapon became instantly red, Tobirama had to let go of it because it had burnt his hands. In that moment her stop-motion jutsu was over and she threw the sword next to her cutting her palms in the process because it still had some of the Albino's attack momentum.
"Brilliant and stupid" he said as he used his water jutsu to prevent his hands from blistering. "You've also hurt yourself, if it had gone wrong you might chopped your arms off. And you spent a big amount of Chakra in the process"
"You're right" Hikari acknowledged that, and her hands started to glow green healing herself " The Mangekyo helped there too and made me fast enough, but at least you won't be using kenjutsu anymore."
"Right." He said composed. He couldn't heal his hands because he had not learnt medic ninjutsu 'I forgot about that' he thought, it might be impossible for him to use weapons. However, he was sure that the girl had spent a huge amount of chakra to stand her ground, so he had the upper hand there. "Let's continue, shall we?" he said and attacked her with taijutsu.
"What a wonderful choreography" Sakura said from behind of Madara and Hashirama.
"Sakura-san!" the Senju exclaimed "What are you doing here, shouldn't you be at the hospital?"
"I wanted to watch my friend fight" she said waving her hands "Ryuuji is covering me. Is there something wrong about it?"
"Of course not!" Hashirama answered a bit nervous. He didn't want to upset her, and of course the Pinkette never realize that. She hadn't had another meaning behind her question, well, maybe se felt guilty of leaving her student in charge. 'A little time won't be an issue, right?' She thought.
"You know we actually felt you, right?" Madara said and Sakura raised her eyebrow and then nodded "But how much did you actually witness?" he asked
"Since her using the incandescent palm" The pinkette said "neat trick, risky but neat."
"So she has Fire and Wind affinity?" the Uchiha questioned.
"Her chakra affinity is Fire" Sakura stated "But since she can use senjutusu she sort of has real nature affinity and she mixes it with that."
"Interesting" he said.
"It's the only combination I've seen thought" the kunoichi mentioned. "It's been already twenty minutes, we didn't think she would last this much…" then in a whisper, she added as an afterthought "Maybe it's because he's still young…"
"What did you say?" Madara enquired curious. He had heard right, but he wanted her to elaborate.
"I-I…" Sakura got nervous "Don't mind me, look they are beating the hell out from each other!" she diverted his attention at the fighting duo.
Tobirama connected a punch on her jaw making her stumble. She directed a punch over his nose but he blocked it so she kicked him in the gut cutting his air. He fell on his knees and immediately grabbed her from her ankle to stop her and invert sweep-kicked her knocking her down and jumped backwards. He saw her doing the hand signs.
"Katon Gōkakyū no Jutsu" she shouted and threw a huge fireball to him.
"Suiton: Mizu keimusho" The albino counterattacked, and a large water prison engulfed the fireball. In the meantime Hikari had jumped from her place and did a bunch of hand signs. He could see she was getting tired. "You can't hold this much anymore, and those tricks won't work on me" he said cockily, but actually he was also starting to lower his chakra reserves, using the water stream to follow her movements hadn't been his best shot, but he wanted to show off but still didn't know why.
"Katon: Fukusū no dangan" she said and twenty small fire bullets rained over the Senju.
"Suiton: Suijinheki" Tobirama exclaimed and a big water Wall protected himself creating steam and affecting Hikari's vision.
The Takishima remained on her spot trying to sense her surroundings 'Dammit' she thought 'If I continue using my Mangekyo like this I will go to the hospital again. He has an advantage here. Gotta be quick, he is the best sensor, and with Hirashin, he's extremely dangerous' the moment she ended thinking that, a shurinken stuck on her left shoulder with strength and she stumbled back complained in pain.
"Hikari-sensei!" Megumi exclaimed. She couldn't see or feel what had happened because of the mist the Senju had created, but she could hear her sensei was in pain.
"That's not good" Sora san spoke for the first time. "He's a great sensor, she's doomed"
"Don't claim defeat so soon, Sora-chan" Kido smiled at her wisely. "Don't underestimate a fellow kunoichi" he winked at her, and the woman laughed and shook her head.
'I'm done with this' Hikari thought and deactivated her dojutsu 'let's take out the final card, I'm surprised I've even lasted this long anyway.' she told herself and activated her senjutusu. Right away Tobirama lost her: with the help of the nature chakra and the extra sensorial ability of the Sage Mode she masked her chakra with nature after sensing him and waited for the mist to disappear. When it finally did, she once again charged against him.
The albino was surprised to see her with a changed dojutsu. 'Oh this is getting interesting finally' He thought. Her movements were sharper and she had increased her strength, chakra and speed. He knew as a fact that the senjutsu did that because he had seen it and felt it on his brother. Even thought she was stronger now, he still had not released all his power.
Hikari started to mix her punches with elements nature, her fists and limbs changed color while changing the chakra accompanying them. Tobirama was absorted on how she managed natural energy, the wind made her faster, the earth gave her more strength, Water made her movements more dynamic. His brother couldn't do that. Counting the elements he finally realized something.
'There's one chance to crack this strategy' the Senju said out loud and waited for it to happen. 'But I don't think she'll use lightning if she thinks I have an opening to do a water jutsu.' With every attack he felt he was being pushed to use more chakra, she wasn't an unbeatable rival, but she put it some difficulty and fun. After a while she started to connect more punches and so did he. He wasn't tired per sé, he had stamina and even though it had lowered a bit, he still had plenty of chakra left. But the continue movement of his limbs started to take toll on him. On both of them he could realize. She had started to use more wind related taijutsu to lighten up her body.
"This is an interesting spar" Sakura mentioned "I was sure I would have a lot of work after he finished with her, but maybe we might also need to heal Tobirama-san" she chuckled. Madara snorted and Hashirama looked dumbfounded.
"It seems that she is not nervous anymore" Izuna observed "She needs more practice to beat him, and has the potential though. I would love to see you sparring with him, with your medic ninjutsu."
"I have more stamina and brute force than Hikari-chan" the pinkette answered him "But I don't have as many tricks as she has. I might need to learn one jutsu or two…" she eyed Madara and added "If I remember correctly, I was going to have a teacher regarding that issue"
"Whenever you want, my offer is still standing" The patriarch smirked gallantly. Sora looked at Kido knowingly.
"I know what you are thinking " the elder whispered her. "We'll discuss it later; we need to see how this develops"
"I've never seen him being like that with a woman" she commented in a hushed voice "He is at ease with Hikari-san too, but this feels different". Madara suddenly felt the urge to sneeze.
"Are you feeling alright?" Sakura asked in concern.
"Yes" he simply said "I had an instant itch but it's fine now" he didn't know why, but he turned and looked at the two Uchiha elders that smiled at him innocently.
In the meantime the Taijutsu continued. Every time Tobirama tried to use water Jutsu, Hikari dodge it with Hirashin. They were badly beaten, the kunoichi had a pretty swollen cheek, a cut on her lip, the wound of the shurinken on her shoulder she had not healed, and she was visibly in pain on her left side because she kept grabbing her abdomen near her ribs. Of course the cut on her face from the beginning of the battle was bigger and she had blood over that cheek, from it and from the Mangekyo.
The Albino wasn't unscathed either; he had blood on the corner or his mouth, and also a swollen cheek. He had some cuts on his clothing that hadn't reach skin because he was fast enough to dodge. But he was also in pain on his stomach where she had kicked him a while ago. Also some of her nature punches had connected, so he knew he might be fairly bruised. He wanted to accelerate things, he wanted, no, needed to win. So he increased his seriousness.
Hikari had started a new round of kicks and punches and he jumped backwards creating three shadow clones in the meantime. The clones spread out and started to attack her with water jutsu. She had to dodge and jump throwing shurinken to make them disappear, but they could use Hirashin too and dodge.
'I am fortunate to be witnessing the creator of the Shadow Clone jutsu using it with such expertise in just a simple way' She observed in her mind 'Naruto would be jealous'. She realized the man was trying to stop her to using lighting nature, but she had also been waiting to do that because she knew the risks.
One of the Clones appeared to close to her and kicked her in her back, while she was thrown through the air she did the hand sings and appeared next to one of the Albinos and stabbed him with a kunai. A sudden poof of smoke showed her that that was a clone. 'Two left' she thought.
"Katon: Fukusū no dangan" Hikari exclaimed again and jumped covered by her bullets. She did a pirouette in the air and threw a dozen of shurinken, one of them hit another Tobirama and she shunshined to him punching him in the face. Another 'Poof', another clone.
"Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu" both Senju exclaimed in unison. He was starting to get pissed. Each one formed a water dragon, and then both techniques clashed together merging and creating a huge single water creature that seemed impossible to doge for the Takishima.
'Finally he did a water jutsu, I think I can do this one more time and that's it' she thought and the moment the Dragon was about to hit her she used Hirashin for the last time and appeared right behind the Tobirama on the left. She kicked him in the back, her leg filled with electricity and he was thrown back some meters ahead inside the water dragon creating a big spark.
"Oh my god, I hit the real one!" she exclaimed while landing as the Albino on the right vanished with a 'poof'. That kick really angered the Senju, it seemed she knew him. Maybe it was from the future, and she was taking advantage from that. He didn't like cheating. From his spot and with a speed competing the Hirashin he threw another stream of water that went through her in her injured shoulder sending her some a few meters away. She tried to get up but the pain she felt on her shoulder was unbearable, and she had also twisted an ankle while landing trying to stop her from rolling on the ground. She didn't have enough time to react or chakra to activate Mangekyo and Susanoo like she did with Sakura. Also, her lungs seemed to be closed from the pain.
Tobirama got up and charged towards her, his eyes filled with anger.
"He's gonna kill her!" Izuna exclaimed in worry and took a step in their direction.
"Wait!" Sakura said "Don't interfere, let them finish the spar. If he loses his mind we shall intervene, but he still seems to be right in his senses, he's just angry about something"
"Right in his senses?" the youngest Uchiha exclaimed "What about the intent, his eyes, his whole demeanor?" she watched the scene critically.
"It looks like it's more an emotional issue than a real killing intent" the pinkette observed with clinical eye "This seemed to have activated something on him, maybe it's a post traumatic syndrome. If that's the case, then yes, be prepared to act."
The three Night shifters looked at each other remembering Hikari's words
FLASHBACK
"Mind health?" Takato asked.
"Well, yes" the Takishima answered him "Back in our time Sakura developed a practice to help people with mental problems, not only disabilities but post traumatic syndromes, especially with kids"
"What is post traumatic syndrome?" the middle Uchiha interrupted her.
"It's a syndrome some people develop after experiencing a traumatic experience" she explained "It's mostly related to something violent , like war, loses, or other mean acts committed over the patient or witnessed by them" She made a pause "People that have experienced war tend to have episodes like being insomniac, having violent nightmares, feel anguish or anxiety."
"That sounds dreadful" The Senju expressed.
"It is." The other kunoichi stated "Some times that pain is not seen in plain sight. But the best treatment is something called therapy, where the patient talks with a medic or someone capable of hearing and understand the situations. Talking is the best way to understand things, and when you do you start healing your mind."
END OF FLASHBACK
Hikari couldn't stand, knowing that she wouldn't be able to dodge his attack; she suddenly paled and felt cold, especially when she was able to see his expression. She was scared; he seemed he had lost it.
He was creating a water ball on his right hand and was running towards her. She only could crawl backwards. He was closer and closer and preparing to hit her.
The fear instead of paralyzing her made her recover some reflexes as air reentered in her lungs. With a huge yell she went over the pain and could crawl faster, the water ball hitting her on her swollen ankle. She screamed in agony and looked up to find an Angry Tobirama that was directing his fists towards her to punch her. In desperation, as she continued crawling, she instinctively started to manipulate the nature around her. As she wave her arms and hands desperately, roots emerged from the ground grabbing his legs, tree branches moved and grabbed his arms slowing his movements. She kept crawling without taking her eyes from his as she shrieked in pain and fear. The more he kept trying to walk the more roots and branches surrounded immobilizing him, until he was almost completely covered with vegetation.
"OTOUTO!" Hashirama cried and run towards the beaten sparring field trailed by Sakura, Toka and the Uchiha Siblings.
"SENSEI!" Megumi screamed followed by Ichigo. Kido and Sora held the kids so they won't interfere. They were amazed by the display both shinobi had done, with what had just happened they have realized that Hikari was indeed a powerful kunoichi, given the fact she could survive an actual real fight with Tobirama Senju. Because that was what it had been in the end. It may have started as a Spar, but it had escalated and the shinobi lost his mind.
With all the screaming and shouting –mainly from his anija-, the albino came back to his senses and could finally see the Takishima's expression of fear. She was really beaten up, her shoulder bleeding profusely and her ankle twisted in a weird way, and doing a check up on himself though he was badly beaten too, he still had a long way to go and have chakra reserves left. 'Did I lose my mind?' He thought 'She stopped me with trees and roots? H-How… Dammit I might have killed her if she hadn't stopped me… I…' A tear menaced to fell down from his swollen cheek and Hikari didn't fail to notice that, but she was still breathing hard because of the nervousness.
Hashirama appeared in front of his view and noticed his brother's concerned expression. It seemed he wasn't himself minutes before and now he was back.
"Are you okay Tobi?" he asked worried in a quiet voice. The albino cleared his throat because he wasn't sure his voice wouldn't betray him.
"Yes" he answered serious. "Spar is over" he sentenced, and tried to move but the roots held him even closer. He started coughing because something got tighter around his neck.
"Hikari-chan" Sakura said calmed and smiling at her "Spar is over, can you release Tobirama-san please?" she asked. The kunoichi had already relaxed when she had recognized the Senju's expression before everybody arrived but instinctively haven't broken the connection with nature yet. She closed her eyes and relaxed even more and the braches started to retract. The Roots did the same and the Shinobi was free.
"Look at me" the pinkette talked to her again "Are you okay?"
"Do I look okay?" she tried to joke, but laughing was not an option now, it hurt everywhere. The youngest Uchiha run towards them and kneeled next to the Takishima.
"Can I run a check up on her?" Izuna asked. Sakura looked at her friend who nodded.
"I-It would be a good practice for him" Hikari managed to say in pain with a one sided smile. The pinkette scanned her from head to toe and in plain sight she knew the kunoichi was out of danger. She will need to go to the Hospital later to heal that ankle, but she needed to stop the bleeding to move. Her friend believed in this Uchiha's expertise, and it might be interesting if he could already heal a human instead of a simply fish. She will give him a chance too.
"Sure, I leave her on your hands" She said after a moment when was sure that any injure she might have if the Uchiha couldn't handle it she might sure will. "I'll be at the Hospital if you need anything, I can't leave Ryuuji-kun alone anymore" she shrugged and then smiled "Hikari-chan behave please" she joked and her friend laughed softly with difficulty.
"Hn. Dammit it hurts… Just leave" she waved her healthy arm to her, it was covered in blood because she had been pressing her shoulder wound. The medic-nin smiled again and greeted everybody as she left. Izuna was slightly dumbfounded when he realized Sakura was leaving Hikari to his care, but it didn't last long because in a matter of seconds he was scanning her body and as she had taught him he enumerate out loud what he found.
"I feel lots of bruises, a sprained ankle, a fissured rib, your cheek swollen… the cheekbone is fine fortunately, but your shoulder is badly hurt." He said and she nodded, she sort of knew what was wrong with herself, it was like a test. When she was young when she told Tsunade that she didn't want to become a full medic-nin, the woman instead of getting angry –it might have been because she was a little drunk- decided to taught her how to do a self-scan and be aware of all her biology, it was similar than when you checked another person, but you needed to be cold minded to do it on yourself. Now that she was calmer she found out the Albino did one hell of a number on her. "I would start with the last thing if I were you because it seems you have two problems there" the Uchiha continued taking her out of her ramblings. The kunoichi looked at him expectant and nodded. "What?" he asked.
"I'm waiting for you to start your treatment" she simply said.
"WHAT?" he exclaimed.
"I'm hurt" she pointed herself with her unharmed hand and then pointed him "You heal me"
"B-But I've only treated fish" Izuna said nervous.
"It's the perfect time to start with humans" Hikari grinned. "Do you think Sakura would have left me in your hands if she wasn't sure you could treat some minor stuff?" his eyes widened.
"I-I can't…" he started and she rolled her eyes "What if I hurt you?"
"How could you?" she counter asked.
"If I don't use the exact amount of chakra I…" he started rambling.
"Helloo!" the Takishima called him "I'm bleeding myself out here." She added as she pressed her injury harder to stop the blood from coming out her shoulder. Her pained expression was all he needed to see. He started to use the Mystic Palm and the tissue there started to mend quickly. The wound was deep actually the water attack had pierced over the first shurinken wound, and exited from the back of her shoulder, like if she had been stabbed with a katana. That was why it bled so much. The hemorrhage stopped as the tissue mended. Finally after some minutes he had efficiently healed her. He moved to other cuts she had over her face and arms.
Madara, Hashirama and even Tobirama had seen the whole interaction and where utterly surprised with Izuna's expertise with medic ninjutsu. It had been just a month of learning and he was healing a human for the first time. The three of them remained on their spots. Takato and Toka smiled proudly. They had been witnesses of his exponential growth. The middle Uchiha walked by next to Tobirama.
"Would you want me to run a check up on you?" he offered. The albino looked at him absentmindly. How could he be offering that help. He almost killed Hikari-san, and he was… What would have happened if…? he coughed.
"I am fine, thank you" he grunted, but he hissed in pain. Well maybe he was a bit more injured than he thought. That last kick filled with electricity injured him badly when he reached the water dragon. He was sure that if this was not a spar, and she might put more electricity in the attack, he might be dead by electrocution. It was stupid from him to leave his back open. Sure it had been a stroke of luck that she had actually hit the real Tobirama, but even though he was visibly stronger and with more chakra at his disposal, he could have been finished by the use of logic. Lighting empowered by water. 'That's why she waited to attack me with it. She was aiming that I use a bigger technique so she can force me inside of it. I'm sure she knows my abilities from the future. Was she cheating?' his thoughts were interrupted by his brother.
"Oh Come on Tobi!" Hashirama said "let me check on you too"
"Leave me be" he stopped his brother the moment he saw him move. He might have a broken rib, but he was also fine. He could handle it, and that was what he told the Uchiha. "I'm fine Takato-san, I appreciate your help But I don't need it" 'nor I need your sympathy' he thought. He was very aware of himself right now, and he couldn't stop judging himself or the kunoichi. Even though if she had cheated, that didn't justify his killing intent.
"It's okay" the middle Uchiha said. He was sure the Senju felt somewhat guilty about his actions and he was still a proud man that didn't feel that he deserved any worries. He walked towards the Takishima and his brother, who was finishing healing the wound on her cheek.
"How are you doing Otouto?" he asked.
"Otouto?" Hikari asked rising one brow at him "I'm the one that's badly injured here" she tried to look offended.
"A-Ah" the Uchiha tried to say something and slightly flushed. She realized that, and thought it was cute, so she wouldn't mess with him anymore.
"I'm joking!" she grinned "He's doing wonderful! I'm all healed" Takato smiled at her but his redness didn't leave him.
"You're not 'all healed'" Izuna said "I can't fix your ankle, we need to take you to Sakura-chan, and also even though I've healed your shoulder it doesn't seem right" he said in concern "Did I mess it up?"
"Hn. Uh let me…" She looked at her shoulder and tried to move her arm "AAAAAAAAHGGGG!" she yelled. Everybody looked at her in worry. "OuuuCH! It's ah… It's okay! I-I just…"she patted hard "My shoulder is out of place, I need to rearrange it" She tried to smile over the pain.
"How can we help you with that?" The Uchiha asked looking from her to his brother and Toka that had come by.
"Actually, I need to hit it with something…" she said looking to some trees "It has happened to me twice already" she explained. "The thing is that given the fact that I can't stand, I may need another tactic. Don't worry. I'll think of something. You should check on Tobirama, though I doubt I could do him any big harm" she joked.
"He says he doesn't need any help" Takato intervened serious.
"He is not a doctor to judge that." She answered matching his tone, and that made him smirk. "Izuna, as the medic here, you know what to do" she winked at him.
"But Your shoulder…" The youngest protested.
"Don't Worry, your brother and Toka will help me." She said "Now go" The Uchiha nodded, got up and went straightly to Tobirama.
"I'm here to check up on you" he said in a very professional way when he stood in front of the Senju.
"I don't…" the albino started to say but was cut by Izuna.
"I don't care what you think. Or how unbeatable you think you are." He said serious. "I must check your wounds and heal them, if I can. I want to heal and help people. That's my nindo, and you won't interfere with it because you're being proud." The Senju's eyes widened.
"N-nindo…?" he whispered. Hashirama and Madara were again impressed on how Izuna handled everything.
"Hashirama, could you create a seat for him so he can be more comfortable?" The Uchiha asked him. The man nodded and with his wooden style created a small bench, and then motioned his brother to seat. The albino hadn't agreed to the medic checkup, but he gave up upon hearing that his former rival nindo was to help people. 'What's my Nindo?' he wondered in his mind.
Both patriarch retreated a little to give them space, given Tobirama's stubbornness and Izuna's seriousness, they didn't want to interfere. They went towards the elders and the kids and talked with them about what they have seen on this spar. The children were fine by now, because they could realize at the distance that both their important people were fine.
"Can we spar a little?" Ichigo asked Sora with huge puppy eyes. Megumi matched his expression. The woman looked at the leaders and Kido, and laughed.
"Okay cubs, but don't go too far" she accepted. The kids got up and run some meters away starting to throw punches and having fun.
"Those two sure have energy" Kido said.
"They are a great promise for our future" Hashirama sighed with a glittery smile as he looked at them. Madara sweat dropped at his friends sweetness and resumed talking with the elders.
Meanwhile, Takato and Toka where trying to help the Takishima to rearrange her shoulder.
"Takato-san, could you please grab my wrist firmly?" she tried to move the arm but hissed in pain. The Uchiha gently took her hand and in a swift way he moved to her wrist. Hikari blushed with his touch, he was so gentle. Like he was grabbing a delicate flower. "Hn…" she started a bit aware and uncomfortable "I need you to grab it firmly, like if it was your Katana's tsuka and you are in an incredible fight" she smiled sheepishly. He blinked.
"Like this?" he said and put a lot of pressure round her wrist. It hurt her a little, and he noticed, so he loose it up a bit. "Better?" Takato enquired, and she nodded.
"Now Toka-san, I need you to kneel behind me and just support me" she said and the Senju did as asked "No matter how much I shout, you must not release my wrist until I tell you" she said serious to Takato.
"What are you going to do?" he asked
"I'll do a movement on the count of three, ready?"
"Hai" both said in unison.
"One…" she started "Two…." Takato was surprised when before exclaiming three, the kunoichi moved her whole torso with a turn form her tandem and started screaming in agony. It took him a lot of courage not to release her but he instinctively did it anyway when he heard a 'snap' on her injured shoulder that suggested it had got back to its original place. Hikari fell backwards exhausted and Toka held her.
"I'm sorry" the Uchiha excused himself "Did I do something wrong?" he asked worried.
"HN… N-no" she managed to say while calming herself with deep breaths. "Actually I had forgotten to tell you to release me when you hear a snap. Good Instincts, it might have hurt me worse if you haven't done that" He blinked again and a small silence followed…
"HOW COULD YOU FORGET SOMETHING LIKE THAT!?" he exclaimed in an extremely non Uchiha way and now Hikari and Toka were the ones to blink. Even Izuna and Tobirama, that had heard her screaming and said nothing, looked impressed at the Uchiha's reaction. The elders and the two leaders stop their conversation to check on him. "I-I…" he tried to say something. He had messed it up and needed to apologize.
"HAHAHAHAHA!" The Takishima burst in laughter. He was taken aback by her response. "I'm sorry I worried you!" she added in between laughs and wiping some tears from her face. Toka didn't understand either "Don't look at me like if I am crazy. It was hilarious to see you all worked up like that. I'm sorry! I was pretty stressed and I found your reaction funny, thank you" she now smiled sweetly at him, and he became red. He didn't know if it was because of the embarrassment of his screaming, or because she was smiling that way only for him.
"Anyway…" he said after clearing his voice looking to the side "We should take you to the Hospital to heal that ankle."
"Yes, he is right" Toka said eyeing him. 'Kami they are so cute' she thought.
"Okay" Hikari compelled "Let me complete the healing on my shoulder" she asked and green started to glow there. Once she had finished, she tried to get up but couldn't. The other Kunoichi held her from her back, as the Uchiha grabbed from her armpits, and then passed one of her arms over his neck so she could walk with her non injured foot. "Ahh, t-thank you" she was the embarrassed one now, because Takato was holding the arm over his neck with one of his hands, and the other one was grabbing her waist. He felt aware of his sense of touch too, but succeeded on remaining stoic.
"No problem" he said cool. He was a completely Uchiha now.
"Can we got to them?" she motioned her head towards Tobirama and Izuna.
"Sure, be careful" The shinobi said and guided her in their direction, the other Kunoichi following them behind.
"How are you doing, Hikari-chan?" Izuna asked her. He was just finishing with most of the Senju Injuries, there weren't much, but he will need Sakura to heal a broken rib.
"I'm fine, thanks to you Izuna-chan" she smiled and dropped the honorific for a more affectionate way. The Uchiha blushed and scratched the back of his head nervous.
"Aw! Izuna-chan is so cute!" Toka said playfully "You should call him that way more, his expression is priceless" she elbowed softly to her friend who giggled.
"You're just jealous because she calls me –Chan" he said outraged. "I'm honored to be considered worthy of such treatment." He added looking to the side prideful. Takato, who was still holding Hikari whispered to her.
"You've created a monster, be aware of that" he said. His breath near her ear made her shiver. She knew it wasn't on purpose, but she couldn't stop the motioning. He realized that, and tried to change subject 'Dammit, That was so inappropriate of me. Should I apologize?" he thought. "Nee... Izuna-CHAN" he empathized the honorific "Have you finished with Tobirama-san?" That made his younger brother come back to reality.
"Hn." He eyed Tobirama who returned a plain expression to him "Yes, he's done. But he also needs to go to the Hospital. He has a broken rib." He explained. "You sure kick hard" he joked with Hikari who sweat dropped. The Albino was looking at her serious, and Izuna tried to enlighten the mood, because he didn't want the Senju to say anything about the conversation they've just had.
***FLASHBACK***
"Would you please accept help?" Izuna said to the albino "Stop being so proud, a girl kicked your ass, and you snapped and wanted to kill her. That's something normal" he joked.
"I don't find that funny Izuna" Tobirama answered dead serious. "I would have killed her if she hadn't stopped me."
"She stopped you anyway" he answered bored. "I don't think you could have been able to kill her despite being the almighty Tobirama Senju" the mentioned grunted.
"I don't deserve treatment" the albino said.
"I thought you were smarter than that" The Uchiha said.
"WHAT DID YOU SAID?" he said, his voice raising a little.
"I never thought you were the self-pity type." Izuna explained as he healed his bruised cheek. "You lost it for a moment, I don't know why. But it's pretty obvious that you have some things bottled up and made you snap" The Senju remained silent, and his medic continued to examine him. "You have a broken rib, Hikari-chan sure kicks hard, she must have learnt from Sakura-chan." He sweat dropped.
"You seem to be really familiar with them" Tobirama grunted again.
"I am very fond of them yes, especially with Hikari-chan." He acknowledged. "I feel her like a sister. After I treat her so badly, I could sympathize with her and we could form a bond. They are both good people to have around" The albino raised an brow.
"She cheated" He stated.
"How's so?" Izuna asked. His counterpart sighed.
"She might have known me from the future, it seemed she knew my attacks and also she uses my technique in a very effective way" He stated.
"They both know a little about the 'Founders of Konoha' but not much." The Uchiha explained "They said the history books were very poor. But it's possible that you all left jutsus for the next generations to learn"
"Why…" Tobirama started but then his expression fell deeply as he realized something "You and Takato weren't there right? I really killed you both that day in their reality?"
Izuna's eyes widened, he didn't know what to say. Suddenly they heard Hikari screaming, and Takato reprimanding her.
"He also has a nice relationship with her" The Senju noticed. The Uchiha looked at him with a curious look.
"You're interested in her." He stated.
"Why do you say that?" Tobirama asked not showing any reaction, but Izuna could feel his pulse going a bit faster.
"You asked her to spar." Izuna explained "You don't seem the type that asks to spar to anyone that doesn't seem worthy"
"Did Toka tell you something?" The albino asked directly. He used his sensing ability to check on his chakra but it didn't show any variation.
"No." the Uchiha lied "Should she?"
"No." Tobirama answered. They remained in silence a little more and the albino spoke again "Take good care of her".
"Wha…?" Izuna's eyes opened slightly, but he couldn't finish. Hikari, his Aniki and Toka were close to them.
***END OF FLASHBACK***
"You do kick hard" Tobirama said to Hikari. "I'm sorry I snapped. I thought you were cheating"
"Why would you think that?" she asked surprised.
"You know. You already have my technique" he said serious. Fortunately she got what he implied.
"I know some stuff about you, but there's nothing I have not learnt spending time with you while training Megumi." She explained. "I only was extra-cautious because I know you're the best sensor in the Village, and you're good with strategy. The rest was pure luck"
"Don't underestimate yourself" The albino reprimanded her. "It might have been more interesting for you to use your sage mode from the beginning"
"Yeah, and you would have slaughtered me with your Katana" Hikari joked, but then she got worried after seeing his expression of pain. She looked at Takato and then from Izuna to Toka. The three of them had also a painful expression. She adjusted herself a little, still leaning on the Uchiha, and with her free hand she held Tobirama's shoulder. "Hey" she said pressing a little and lowering her head in sympathy. "I'm here, and nothing happened. Come back to this time"
That phrase made him look at her right in her eyes. Even though he was a stoic man, they were full of emotion, hurt, and something more she couldn't understand yet. Noticing he wasn't speaking, she continued.
"We all have memories that hurt, we all have things bottled up" the Takishima said, and he diverted his sight to Izuna for a second. "The important thing is to open, so they won't consume us. Because they do and they will if we don't act"
"How are you so sure?" Tobirama asked
"Because I've been there" She said with a sad smile. "Just where you're right now, and where you were during your last attack."
"It's hard to believe that" The Senju expressed bitterly.
"You know my past, you can't just assume I lived happily through it" Hikari said in a dry voice. Had he hurt her? He didn't answer that statement. "The thing here is that you're not unique in your pain. All the present have endured something similar."
"If you say that, why is that you seem to be fine?" he asked not thinking rationally. His chest hurt, but it was not from the broken rib.
"Because I was not alone." She now smiled brightly. "I am sure you'll overcome it too"
"WHY?" he asked annoyed, with her, with the pain in his chest, with Izuna and Takato and their sympathy with him.
"Because you are not alone Tobirama". The effect of dropping all the honorifics was huge in him. He fought hard the urge to cry. He remembered his mother, her words before she died. 'You're not alone Tobirama, even if I am not here my special child'. He looked to the floor, not sure if he would contain the tears that menaced to fall.
"That's right you cocky bastard!" Izuna said punching him in the back of his other shoulder. The albino exclaimed in pain. "Oh! I'm sorry I forgot about your rib" he said smiling nervous, scratching the back of his head. The man looked at him with a murderous look, but it helped him release two tears, that passed of physical pain tears. "Man you're really in pain" the Uchiha did an effort to make him sure that he was going to keep his secret. Fortunately the other three didn't notice it. "Let me check again if I didn't worsen it!"
"DON'T TOUCH ME UCHIHA!" he shouted when the youngest tried to grab him from his waist. Toka, Hikari and Takato laughed at the exchange.
"Tobirama-chan is so mean!" Izuna said caressing a big bump on his head; the albino punched him as a reaction, because the damned Uchiha had tickled him on purpose.
"SENSEIII!" Megumi run in their direction yelling in joy. "FROG PRINCESS!" Ichigo followed her. The kids were eager to show them something.
"What's going on with you two?" Hikari asked amused.
"She did it!" the boy exclaimed "Look! She did it!" he grabbed Megumi and took her a few feet away from them "Come on Megu-chan! Concentrate!" The Takishima instinctively looked at Tobirama, whose mood had already changed, and shrugged. The Albino did the same and payed attention to the little girl.
Megumi had her arms extended in front of her with her palms facing each other. She had a concentrated look on her face and it was noticeable for them that she was gathering chakra. 'Oh, Kami… Does she finally…?' The kunoichi asked to herself but couldn't finish. Her Kohai had summoned a fair amount of chakra, and had formed a chakra ball in between her hands.
"I Did it!" She exclaimed "Hikari-sensei I did it!"
"WHOA MEGU THAT'S AWESOME!" the Takishima screamed making Takato gone deaf from one ear "Oh, Sorry about that" she apologized to him, and he chuckled.
"Oh, Kami! That is really something!" Hashirama who was coming towards them with Madara, Sora and Kido exclaimed. "You're awesome Megumi-chan!" he sparkled with joy.
The kid was so happy that for a moment she lost control of the ball and it increased its size.
"AAAhhhh!" she exclaimed "I can't control it!"
"Calm down Megu-chan" Ichigo tried to say and walked towards her.
"Ichigo, stay where you are" Takato said, but it was late. The chakra ball increased its size again and exploded sending the younglings backwards.
"MEGUMI!" Ichigo, Hikari and Tobirama exclaimed in unison. Fortunately the Senju boy had his face was slightly burnt and mostly received a massive eyebrow burn, but the girl seemed unconscious. The albino run towards her and checked her vitals.
"She's fine" he said looking at the Takishima.
"She might pass out due to chakra use" she said "It was a pretty big chakra ball for a little civilian girl like her." Suddenly Megumi started to regain consciousness.
"Anyway, I'm taking her to the hospital" Tobirama said and carried her in princess like style.
"Hey! Watch out your rib!" Izuna said.
"Don't worry doctor, she doesn't weight too much. I'll live" he smirked and shunshined. The Uchiha's face was priceless.
"D-did he…" he started "was he being funny?"
"I don't know what you guys said to him, but he sure feels better!" Hashirama said "Thank you all for taking care of my little brother" he bowed and looked at them all teary.
"You're such a crybaby" Madara said bored.
"SHUT UP! At least I'm in touch with my emotions!" the Senju burst out.
"Yes, and you will dehydrate!" his friend answered. They duo started a verbal fight that nobody cared to follow. Hikari moved slightly making Takato realize she wanted to go check Ichigo. He walked her there and she let go from his neck to grab his arm and crouched a bit to be at his height.
"You're a wonderful friend Ichigo-kun" she smiled "I am sure she could do that because of you."
"B-but she is hurt!" the boy had his face wet with tears.
"She will be fine." She smiled in a motherly way. "She wants to be a Kunoichi, so she needs to get used to chakra injuries." He was still feeling down, so she called him again "Ichigo-kun?" the boy rose his head and opened his big eyes wide when Hikari poked him with her index and middle finger on his forehead in an affectionate way "You were great!". The Little Senju touch his forehead with both hands and blushed. All his sadness gone.
"Ichigo Kun!" Toka said sweetly "Why don't we rush to the Hospital to check on Megumi Chan?" the boy nodded but still looked back to Hikari.
"I'll be there soon!" she told him "I need to heal my ankle anyway" she laughed.
"Hai!" he exclaimed and followed Toka.
"I'll go with you" Izuna said, and left with the two Senju.
"So… let's get going to the hospital" Hikari started to jump on one foot, still grabbing Takato.
"Wait" he said.
"Nani?" she asked. Sora and Kido approached them.
"Kido-san will you help me?" the middle Uchiha said, handling Hikari's arm to the elder . The kunoichi didn't understand what was going on until Takato crouched, his back facing her "Hop on"
"WHAT!?" the Takishima exclaimed embarrassed. "I'm not going to do that!"
"So you want to jump on one foot to the Hospital?" he said.
"Your foot looks pretty bad, Hikari-san" Kido intervened. 'Traitor' Hikari thought.
"It's the quickest way" Sora-san added "Unless he carries you like Tobirama-san did with the little girl".
"Kami, that's embarrassing" she said her face red.
"Well actually he carried you that way when you passed out during the Hyuuga attack…" Takato said in a soft voice. 'Does he…? He sounds down." She spoke in her mind. "If you prefer I can call him for you…"
"Shut up" she said. "Okay, you win let's go" she hopped on his back, and he grabbed her down her knees, careful enough not to touch her further. He might seem cool, but the touch of her body in his back was making him feel dizzy. It got worse when she surrounded his neck with her arms.
"Hold tight" he last said and jumped off with the kunoichi screaming. It was a mixture of fear and Joy.
"Don't you dare to drop me!" she scolded him while re-entering the city.
"I'll never let go" he said and she could see his profile smirking. She didn't know why, but her arms held him tighter over his shoulders. 'It's because I don't want to fall' she said to herself. She was sleepy; it had been a hell of a day. 'fall…' she kept thinking. And Takato felt her body grow heavy, as she fell asleep over him.
***AUTHOR'S NOTES***
Sorry! I had the battle written long time ago, but I had some issues with my Dad's regarding his health, and I'm going through so much stress right now. But I needed this to move on. It's good to me.
Lots of stuff happened here. Little Sakura, but don't worry, some big SasuSaku moments lie ahead. I've written a special chapter a year ago, and I can't believe I actually wrote that.
Tried to do the Battle Logical. There's no way Hikari is stronger than Tobirama, but given the fact he is not the "Nidaime" yet, and has not created the academy and lots of jutsu, he still needs some growth himself, and she took advantage of that. She actually didn't know much about his fighting style, because EdoTensei Nidaime was thousands of times stronger than 22yo Tobirama. Also he is struggling with a lot of things in his mind. I love Tobi.
I also notice Hashirama has not have a lot of scenes yet, but he will! Don't worry. These chapters were important to develop Hikari-Takato-Izuna-Toka-Tobirama relationship and characters. I can't wait to write Madara, also.
Big things are coming! And new clans.
Hope you like this.
Love and keep safe.
Bella.
PS: These are the Jutsus used during the fight:
Katon Hi No Ya no jutsu: Fire arrow (by me)
Suiton: Suidanha: Water severing wave
Shakuton: Hakunetsu yashi: Burn Element: Incandescent palm (by me)
Suiton: Mizu keimusho: Water Prision (by me)
Katon: Fukusū no dangan: Multiple fire bullets (by me)
Suiton: Suijinheki: Water Wall
Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu: Water Dragon