Warnings: mention of personality disorder, slavery, past child abuse, panic attacks, past character deaths, and some of the secrets of the Hatake. This chapter is mostly about Faiashi's past, including the Leaf Village Founders.
Please Enjoy!
"Let's begin," was the last thing Kakashi heard before the world softly faded into a restful nothingness.
A moment passed, as Kakashi's eyes slid shut and he, the two toad guards, and the room changed to a monochromatic blues, as everyone else remade unaffected. Until the room faded away as they started drifting down onto a white glowing path, the Yamanaka then lead the group down what seemed to be an endless path. While Jiraiya and the Third Hokage walked behind the Yamanaka, Kushina holding one of Obito and Rin's hands keep the two students by her side, with Minato following from behind making sure that no one fell behind.
"What is this place?" Obito asked, before quietly adding, "I didn't think being in Kakashi's head would be so blank."
The Yamanakainterrogator, gave a small snort, before politely answering the boy's question, "this is Kakashi's mindscape. Think of it as the space between of conscious and the subconscious. This is the path to the subconscious where all of Kakashi's memories are stored."
The group followed the path that slowly morphed into what appeared to be a solid trail, that was edged with vegetation similar to a wide mountain path that still had the white glow. However, this glow was not eerie in any way, it almost appeared comforting like a warm hand guiding them toward their destination.
While keeping his stride steady, Inoichi couldn't help but feel something was off. Kakashi was not resisting the jutsu, but he feels that there is something hidden. It feels like another presence linked to the mind of the last Hatake. The Yamanaka interrogator, brow slightly frown, knowing that only jinūriki have two mindscapes.
The path stops at a large circular doorway, closed by pair of shoji sliding doors, that slipped open without the Yamanaka's assistance. Revealing a short path to a traditional shoji door that dawned the large outline of the Hatake clan symbol, on the crisp paper screens of the door.
The Yamanaka interrogator grinned as he can feel Kakashi's static yet calm chakra surrounding the door. It lets the Yamanaka understand that this is the entrance into the last Hatake's subconscious and memories. However, to the left of the door was a door frame that to a small empty room that gave off a negative pressure. It was like the darker personality of Kakashi being formed. This highly concerned the Yamanaka since this one could be the start of a personality disorder, like bipolar disorder, or something complex like multiple personality disorder. While he inspects the pressure of the separate door, Inoichi thinks another Yamanaka has influenced and is mentally attacking Kakashi. This would explain Kakashi's confusion when he snap about his father and then grabbed his head right after, and the creation of this pressure and room.
The emotions in the room were rule-bound, merciless, and unconscious loyalty, as the Yamanaka suspects this force influence is probably what Kakashi's attackers believes is how a shinobi should be. It's a form of brainwashing like Inoichi knows the Yamanaka clan used during the Warring States Period. When the Yamanaka would brainwash enemy shinobi into becoming spies for their clan. Inoichi knows that this part of their clan's past has left a scar on his clan, and one that they want to be erased from their clan's history.
Anger quickly swelled up inside him, at the thought of one of his own clansmen attacking and mentally torturing a child. The anger was soon replaced by the determination to catch the perpetrators. For jutsu like this, to be used on someone loyal to the Leaf Village, it is punishable with death.
However, now is not the time to dwell on that. Inoichi turns his attention to the split in the path and continues to a decorated shoji door with a painting, of a large tree and a moon that looked like some kind of eye. The door was as solid as Kakashi's entrance to his memories but this entrance felt like one personality. A completely different mindscape that was connected to hundreds of smaller, more faint personalities. Now Inoichi is afraid for Kakashi's mental health and worried that this intruder was slowly taking over the nine-year-old Hatake's mind.
"Isn't there supposed to be one entrance to a person's mind?" Tsunade asked, knowing that having more than one mindscape meant bad things for Kakashi's mental health.
"Yes, but the empty room is created with tampering of the mind. Although Kakashi does possess two completely separate mindscapes," Inoichi answered with a concerned look.
"Is that normal?" Rin asked softly, as Obito silently watch everything with observant dark eyes.
"It's-" Minato started, trying to find the words that best describe the rarity, and concerns that come with have to mindscapes.
"Like me," Kushina commented in a hushed tone, her grip on Obito's and Rin's hands tightened as violet eyes worryingly narrowed.
The Yamanaka confirmed with a short nod since Kakashi's mindscapes are laid out close to that of a jinūriki. However, Inoichi couldn't help but wonder what is sealed into Kakashi, and by whom? Since the blonde interrogator couldn't feel the presence of other living creatures inside Kakashi. Only a second mindscape and the remnants of a different chakra feel separated from Kakashi's own chakra network. This is a good sign since that means that they can separate Kakashi from this other chakra without threatening his life like it would if Kushina was ever separated from the nine-tailed fox.
"Let's see what is inside," the Hokage added in a firm tone. However, he couldn't shake the feeling that he has felt this chakra before in other Hatake members.
Not giving an answer, Inoichi complied by using a tiny pulse of chakra to open the door, to ensure that they can't be detected. Passing the door's threshold the group stands on still water-like glass. Staring in awe at hundreds of small spheres of water floating in the royal blue void, like bubbles big enough to fit in the palms of your hands. While above them were hundreds of glittering stars, that surrounded a realistic full moon, unlike the strange moon painted on the door. That shined directly above a small patch of land that carried a white glowing tree with elongated branches.
The White leaves glittered in the light of the moon. That then reflected light on the water spheres that all shined with different flashing lights and moving colors. The group watched in amazement as the moving shapes appeared to be projected memories of the ancestors of the Hatake. Judging by how Jiraiya and Tsunade pointed out a sphere that was showing a memory of them and Orochimaru, young genin convincing Tsunade's grand-uncle, Tobirama Senju to take them out for Dango. For successfully completing their first mission, of finding the lost bracelet that belongs to the Land of Fire's Feudal Lord's wife. Who lost the golden piece of jewelry in the shallows part of the Naka River, during her last visit to the village.
"Was the first and second Hokage related to the Hatake?" Inoichi questioned questioned
"Yes, through my great-grandmother, who was a Hatake. She was my grandfather and grand-uncle's mother, but they never mentioned it before." Tsunade answered, still surprised by the fact that she was also part of Hatake, even by a small amount.
The Yamanaka gave an understanding nod as a reply before his pale green eyes still studied the environment around the group. When inspecting another sphere depicting another memory, Inoichi reached out and touched the bubble of water. Only for the spheres to rapidly expand and surround the group, as their vision blackened only for the memory that played out before them.
The crisp scent of the autumn night felt like a jab to the lungs. The evening chill has already settled in, as the full moon shined an eerie orange hue high in the sky and thousands of stars twinkled like distant fireflies. That lit the way for a young woman in her late teens. She wore a wool white kimono embroidered with pink and red sakura flowers, tied by a pitch black belt, but wore no sandals to cover her tan feet from the soft cool-dry soil of the forest floor. In the darkness of the night, her eyes appear to shine like polished gold, and long white hair with red tips, tied in a low ponytail with a stripe of leather.
Silent footsteps, effectively avoiding making any noise from the autumn leaves covering the ground. Golden eyes focus on their target. A large dark grey wolf with red tips on the tops of the shoulders and the tip of its tail and ears. When getting about twenty feet of the creature, which sat calmly gazing at the moon with crimson eyes, its ears twitched and tensed before relaxing.
"I do not interact with that evil race, turn to your true form," A deep voice ring out through the dark as the wolf still stared towards the heavens.
"It has been years since we have last seen one another, and that's the first thing you say... besides this is our true form, our original form is human-" The woman replied with a small smile on her face Before a loud growl interrupted her. "Brother, please! You must hear me!"
"For what reason should I listen to your persist rambling!" The wolf turned towards her with an aggressive snarl as it spoke with deep resentment.
"Persist rambling, or not. You can not ignore that we were once human!" The woman responded in a similar tone as the dark wolf.
"That man took us and turned us into outcasts, Faiashi! And now he has the gull to order us to protect the same people who enslaved and tortured us?" The dark snapped lividly, staring at his elder sister, by twenty-five or so minutes, who is still in her human.
"You're correct, brother," Faiashi replied in a soft manner, remembering the earlier years of her life as nothing more than a slave.
The pain, humiliation, and fear, long before being left at near death by the brutality of their Master, a warlord of a viscous mercenary clan. That was the time when Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki found them, quickly noticing the two twins by their shortly cut red hair and bright hazel eyes. However, after the legendary sage treated them Faiashi's hair turned white with red tips and her eyes turned to a golden hue. While Kiyoshi had black hair with similar red tips and eyes that turned to a deep shade of red. Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki never asked them if they wanted to be saved, or if he could adopt them as his children, as they were designed to protect the human race from the monster that near destroyed the world. Faiashi still remembers the fearful look when people saw her and Kiyoshi transform into their wolf form for the first time, and how their new father explained to them that it was because of the gift and burden sealed within. Kiyoshi did not take the information as well as Faiashi.
Focusing on the topic at hand Faiashi continues in an understanding tone, "Father's words and choices are unfair to our past, and the way he healed us to be more beings of chakra than human... However, you can not blame an entire species for the fault of one clan, Kiyoshi."
Kiyoshi growls turning towards Faiashi, fur on his back rising, "I am not returning sister. I found my pack, Faiashi. They have sheltered, fed, and cared for me," Kiyoshi spoke softly with a small smile, "more than father ever has. More than any human has ever done." Then the dark grey wolf peered into Faiashi's eye with a hint of desperation, for her to understand him. "Even the other chakra beasts don't fully accept us! We are nothing more than a mistake, the failed first attempt for the creations of the other-tailed beasts."
"That may be true," Faiashi replied because that seem like the most likely explanation. Then spoke in a sincere tone, "but it is our gift and burden to protect the world from the terror, pain, and suffer that is sealed within us."
"Indeed, for my pack, I will endure." Kiyoshi replied with his head held high, and steadily adds, "I will not be returning to Hagoromo."
"Then I wish you the best of all." Faiashi replied with a sincere smile, and a short bow."Please know Kiyoshi, that I love you, and wish you a happy prosperous life."
"And I you. Farwell, dear sister," Kiyoshi replied in the same manner. "Also, Faiashi," the dark grey wolf called out to his sister.
"Yes?" The tan skin woman answered, with a half turn.
"I have faith that you will find your own pack, that will cherish you as you cherish them." After that, the wolf disappeared, into the shadows of the night, and Faiashi smiled as she left for home.
Suddenly memory faded, The group felt like they could all breathe again. While the sphere of water shrunk to the size of a small glowing marble and dropped into the water below their feet sinking into one of the many elongated roots. They are barely seen under the water's surface unless you were searching for them.
"Uh, what was that? That was so cool!" The Uchiha boy announced loudly, only for Kushina to let go of his hand to cover his mouth, silently reminding Obito where they are. This made the young Uchiha still as a board, before slightly bowing his head in apologies, making the Yamanaka grin as he nodded back.
"Jiraiya-sensei, was that woman really Lady Faiashi?" Minato questioned, as he stood close to Kushina and his two students, but his blue eyes focused on the Toad Sage.
"I don't know, I have never met her," Jiraiya answered with a simple tone since he has never seen Faiashi.
"It was," Hiruzen solemnly answered, making everyone look at him from his sudden answer.
"Lord Third?" Inoichi questioned, hoping that old Sarutobi would explain more on the matter. He could guess, but based on his answers in Kado's mind, the Yamanaka assumed it has something to do with the first Anbu Commander, Faia Hatake.
Hiruzen let out a small sigh, before he told his tale, "when I was a young child, Konoha was still considered a new village. The Sarutobi clan was one of the first clans to move into the village, and the Hatake clan was one of the last to join the village. The clan head of the Hatake was a woman, named Faia Hatake. She had the same tan skin and golden eyes, but with long silver hair with red tips, it always reminded me and my teammates of a white paintbrush dipped in red ink."
"How well did you know her, Sensei?" Jiraiya asked, noticing that his Sensei is being a little reluctant to continue.
The Third Hokage gave a small solemn grin as he answered, "Faia was the head of the Hatake clan, the first Anbu Commander, and was a close friend to Mito Uzumaki and Tobirama Senju, and was highly respected. Lady Faia was a compassionate and expressive woman full of determination and life. The aspect of family was always valued highly by her."
"Was she not friends with the First Hokage?" Kushina commented in curiosity, she never heard of this from Lady Mito, during all her visits with the old Uzumaki, before the faithful day of her becoming the new jinūriki and Mito's death.
Hiruzen seemed to ponder for a moment before answering, "from what I remember there was always a sense of tension between the two of them, I don't fully understand why. However, one time when Kagami, Danzo, and I was looking for Tobirama-sensei at the Hokage tower, we heard her and Lord Hashirama having what sounded like a very heated argument. I didn't get a chance to hear what they were fighting about because Toka Senju found us and escorted us away."
"What happened to her?" Jiraiya asked, wondering about how long Faiashi actually lived and supported the village.
"She took an S-ranked mission several months after Tobirama's death... and didn't make it back." Hiruzen solemnly answered, before adding, "only a hawk returned with the scroll she was assigned to get and a farewell note."
"Oh," Jiraiya commented, understanding why Faia Hatake is such a hard topic for his Sensei.
"Minato-sensei, do you think she..." Rin quietly asked, before her voice softly trailed off.
Minato softly shakes his head, as he gave the young Nohara an honest response, "I don't know, but we should still honor her memory."
"Speaking of this Lady Faia or Faiashi, this mindscape is similar to the minds of those in my clan. It allows us to branch off and have the mental capacity to sustain multiple memories in one mindscape," the Yamanaka interrogator informed, as he continued studying the mindscape around them.
"Cool! but isn't it bad to have more than one Memory and one mind? No wait, hold on, I mean more than two minds in one memory?" Obito asked in a whispered yell, trying to find the correct wording for his question.
"You mean, 'having more than one mind in one body?' Yes, it can lead to many personality disorders, as well as mental disorders. However, with our clan, and just like this mindscape, we are able to have multiple strands of memories that are divided by a mental barrier. This allows us to hold several memories of other people without losing our own identity and sanity," the Yamanaka explained.
"So it's somewhere to look a hive mind?" Minato questioned, hoping that this is not the cause for some of Kakashi's mental issues.
"Yes, and no. It allows us to contain the massive amounts of memories and personalities we see from the people in a mind reading. But we cannot control or intervene in the memories besides replaying them in our own minds or projecting them for others to see. In simpler terms the memories cannot be altered or controlled, only viewed." The Yamanaka spoke carefully, trying to ease the worries of the Yellow Flash.
"I wonder. Maybe, since she was so close to Lord Second. Maybe, I can pull up one of his memories?" Inoichi wondered aloud, as he kneeled down placing his hand on the watery surface above one of the tree's roots. Giving off a small pulse of chakra the group watched as the Yamanaka's gloved hand sank into the water. Then grabbed the tree root under the surface giving off another small pulse of chakra, before a white light surrounded them. While Inoichi focused on recovering a memory of the Second Hokage.
"Sensei, please, please, PLEASE! you promised to watch me kick Danzo's butt across the training fields!" Pleaded, the young Uchiha boy with black curly hair and wide dark eyes.
The pale Senju couldn't help the faint smile on his face, as his little Uchiha student gave Tobirama his best puppy-dog look. A look that all six students know is a weakness for their normally stoic Sensei. While Kagami's small hands grab the hem of his blue shirt, as Tobirama continues walking through the village market trying to pull him to the training grounds. While Hiruzen and Danzo were followed close behind, Practically bouncing with the same enthusiasm as their Uchiha teammate. Tobirama hoped the red tint in his cheeks was unnoticeable when he spotted some of the women giggling at his students' antics and boundless energy.
"Really? Is that so, Kagami? Interesting, I thought I stated that I would supervise a spar," Tobirama drawled out, Watching Kagami smile bashfully knowing they had been caught red-handed, about the Purpose of the spar. Then just to mess with the three boys more he calmly added, "but if it appears you are only going to fight for your pride, I might as well carry on with my other daily responsibilities."
"What else is there worth fighting for?" Danzo persisted, with a frown.
"There are many important things worth fighting for, Danzo." Tobirama swiftly answered, there has always been a darker tinge in the boy's chakra. Then added, "All you need to do is take time to expand your mind, and observe your surroundings." It worries him. However, with the proper training, mentoring, and a healthy environment, Tobirama is sure the boy will grow into a fine man. He hoped at least, since the Shimura showed great promise as a shinobi, and an asset to the village, but pale Senju still wanted to make sure that Danzo lives a happy prosperous life, like any other of his students or the children the village.
"Sensei, can you help me with my water jutsu? I want to master all five chakra natures, like you and Lord First!" Hiruzen practically yelled, to his Sensei, bouncing with the same energy of a happy little monkey.
"Kiss ass," Danzo muttered under his breath, scowling at his Sarutobi teammate.
"Asshole," Hiruzen retorted, with a sneer.
"Enough, Danzo, Saru. Or do we have another exercise on teamwork? Is that what you want?" Tobirama questions, in a stern tone.
"No sir!" The boys all quickly chimed at once.
"Wise choice," Tobirama drawled out with a slight smirk, glad to see how his students are becoming quick learners.
A sudden rush of flapping wings of one of Madara's hawks caught their attention. Tobirama immediately spot a small scroll tied to the bird's leg, then raised his forearm letting the hawk preach itself on his offered arm. Then gently removed the scroll from the bird's leg and unravel it to see a message from his brother asking requesting his presence at the Hokage Tower. Already knowing what the request is for, the pale Senju could feel his nerves spike but knew he could not delay it.
"Forgive me, you three, but I have been summoned to the Hokage tower. Now if you boys behave well while I'm gone, I promise to teach you all a new jutsu," Tobirama spoke with a hint of sympathy, as he watch his students' brief disappointed expressions fade to excitement.
"Really!" Danzo practically yelled with excitement.
"Yes! Thank you, Sensei!" Hiruzen shouted with his own excitement.
"We'll be good, Sensei!" Kagami promised, with a large smile. Only for it to grow wider when his Sensei gently ruffled his curly hair for a quick moment. Before the pale Senju suddenly disappeared, by using his famous Flying Raijin Jutsu.
The memory paused as it went into a monochromatic blue. Then slightly faded as the members of the group could look at each other, and the surroundings of the memory. Inoichi then turned his attention to the Third Hokage.
"Sorry. for stopping the memory suddenly. I wanted to ask you, Lord Third, since you were in this memory is it accurate?" The Yamanaka interrogator questioned, wanting to be sure before he confirmed his theory of minds with Hatake's blood being subconsciously connected.
"Yes, it's exactly the same," Hiruzen confirmed with a single nod.
"Alright, I'm gonna continue in the memory now," Inoichi answered, before sending a small pulse of chakra to restart the paused memory.
Tobirama teleported appeared in front of the door to his brother's office. Taking great care not to suddenly teleport into Hashirama's office again, remembering that he still has a scar on his left shoulder. Something he didn't want to repeat.
Tobirama remembers the incident and how he got the scar quite well. A moment before, his neck was in that exact spot, but quickly shifts away from the lightning-quick vine only to get a deep cut on his shoulder. Tobirama fell back against the wall, shaken back his brother's sudden attack, frantically wondering what he did wrong. While Hashirama noticed what he thought was an enemy shinobi, was actually his little brother. The recently appointed Hokage started shaking and repeatedly apologizing as he instantly kneeled next to Tobirama and healed the gash, but couldn't stop it from scarring. After ensuring his frightened older brother that he was not mad or upset by the incident, Tobirama vowed to never teleport into the Hokage's office without some kind of notice first, or if it depends on life and death.
Now, as he stands in front of his brother's office, he can feel several chakra signatures inside along with his brother. Tobirama can already sense that Lady Faiashi and Mito were inside the office and one more that he realized was Yuri Hatake. The heir that will be the next clan head, after Faiashi disappears for the next few generations. To ensure that no one catches on to her ability of stagnant aging, make appears to be immortal. Although he and his brother trust the villagers and fellow shinobi, they know that if word got out of what the current Hatake clan head was. Then she would be feared and only become a weapon for the village.
The reason why Tobirama has painstakingly made sure that Hashirama does not tell Madara about the special abilities within the Hatake clan. It was not because he doesn't trust the Uchiha, but because he knows that Madara is slowly sipping into madness. The pale Senju can feel the Uchiha clan head's chakra becoming darker, more unstable, and twisted with every coming day, it makes Tobirama shiver just thinking about it. A subject he and Hikaku Uchiha have talked about quite frequently. The pale Senju does not know how to approach this topic with his brother, without causing Hashirama to see him as someone who is trying to get rid of Madara.
However, nothing can stop Tobirama's worries when he goes through the village and sees the people staring at Madara as if he's some kind of untamable beast. All he can do is just tell the villagers to keep their opinions to themselves when it comes to that matter, and that Madara is a founder of the village just as much as Hashirama is. However, he knows that excuse will only work for so long, and it doesn't help that every time Madara sees Tobirama, he gives him his death glare. As if imagining he was sticking his sword into the younger Senju, which Tobirama understands why, since he did give Izuna the wound that caused Madara's last little brother to die from an infection.
Although, now is not the time to dwell on those thoughts, as Tobirama gives a quick shake of his head clearing his mind, to focus on the task at hand. He is slightly curious as to know why Yuri is in the office as well, but since they are still family and he is the heir of the clan it only makes sense that he would be informed of the findings from this endeavor. After all, he and Hashirama are the closest blood relatives to Faiashi that are human, and there are too many instances where some of the villagers have been talking about their appearance and unnatural strength with their chakra natures. So with a deep breath, Tobirama opens the door steps inside, and locks the door behind them, then activates the privacy seals to ensure their conversation remains private.
"Ah, good afternoon Tobirama," Yuri spoke with his usual grin, showing his sharp Hatake teeth.
"Good afternoon, Yuri. I didn't expect you to be here?" Tobirama questions in curiosity, as he shook the Hatake heir's hand that was extended to him.
"I'm only here to talk to Faiashi about the process, then I will leave to give you and Lord Hokage some privacy for the examination. Lady Faiashi will be informing me of the results," Yuri informs with an understanding expression.
He was well aware that it can be an invasion of privacy when searching for these abilities in clan members. It's an exam that Hatake clan members are only given when there's no other explanation for their abilities, which is usually done within the patient's house or a hospital room. While accompanied by the closest relative members, if the patient is comfortable enough to allow them to be in there for the process.
"I understand, tell Yuma I said 'hi' when you get home," The younger Senju replied. Since Yuri and Yuma were some of his most trusted friends, and just recently got engaged and will be having their wedding next midwinter. Yuri nodded and says his goodbyes to the group before leaving.
"Tobirama are you sure about this? It doesn't seem like the safest way to go about things?" Hashirama questioned, as soon as the Hatake heir left the room.
Even though he already used his wood style to make a long wooden table next to the desk to sever as their examination table. Mito and Faiashi were still painting the complex seal they needed for the exam. The two women paid them no mind, as they made sure there were no mistakes in the seal formula.
"Elder brother, you must have noticed it too, haven't you? You still look like you're in your early twenties when you're already in your mid-thirties. Something's not right, and I'm worried that our Hatake blood is affecting us differently, than the other Hatake members. Which is possible, since we're much closer in blood relation to Lady Faiashi than the majority of the Hatake clan," Tobirama explained but understood his brother's nerves.
After all, he wasn't too keen on this seal, either. It's uncomfortable and highly invasive to the privacy of the patient's chakra. However, he and Hashirama both trust Faiashi to respectfully get the information she needs and leave their chakra systems as quickly as possible without causing any harm.
"I know, but I'm kind of worried about what we're gonna find out. I mean aren't you nervous as well? What am I saying you're always calm," Hashirama answered, his own question. While he missed the slight pain expression on his last little brother's face.
Tobirama was used to people saying he is a heartless monster, a demon. Even though he knows, that he is not the most social of characters, he wants to at least make sure the people he cares about know that he is human and has emotions. He just struggles with expressing it, after all their father was Butsuma. However, Tobirama knows that his elder brother does not say it in malice and that Hashirama is just nervous.
Tobirama does his best to not show the pain and takes a deep breath. Then calmly answers, "I am nervous. Hashirama, if I wasn't worried I wouldn't be asking this of you, I'm doing the same examination as well."
Hashirama winced and gave his younger brother a guilty look. However, right when he was about to say something, Mito called both of them over. Then informed them that Hashirama will be the first one to be examined then Tobirama. Wanting to get this over with Hashirama took off his Hokage robe, as he wore a black shirt and pants underneath, and lay down on the table over the freshly dried seal. Faiashi moved to the head of the table, as Mito went to her husband's right side grabbing his hand, to comfort Hashirama. While Tobirama was a few steps back, careful not to crowd his nervous brother, but close enough to show Hashirama his support.
Faiashi gently placed her forefinger on Hashirama's forehead, and with a soft pulse of chakra, Hashirama fell asleep. Then Faiashi placed the tips of her tan slim fingers on each side of Hashirama's head, right on his temples. Before a soft golden glow formed at her fingertips that transferred to Hashirama's chakra pathways. Which gave a golden shine through Hashirama's tan skin, like veins, as his eyes opened and deep brown eyes turn gold. While the First Hokage winced and grimaced in pain, muscle flexing, tightening his grip on Mito's hand, as his limbs slightly twitched. Tobirama step closer but knew the only thing he could do was stand and watch as a seal had a golden hue glow surround his brother as he lay on the table. For minutes he and Mito watched as Hashirama hissed and try to jerk away from Faiashi, as sweat formed on both of their foreheads. Until the glow faded away as Faiashi's and Hashirama's gold-glowing eyes closed, as Hashirama started gasping for air. As if he has been running for miles, and opens his deep brown eyes in a lazy manner. Carefully, as Hashirama is still slow to wake up, Tobirama helps his drowsy elder brother off the table, and into the Hokage's chair.
However, it was not long before he too was laying down and the table. Faiashi gave him an encouraging smile, before gently putting him asleep. The first thing he realized was his body feel uncomfortable, and his nerves hummed with chakra that wasn't his own, and his body fought against it, similar to an infection. Thankfully, the chakra left his chakra network, and he was exhausted and felt violated as if he was captured and drugged. Then forces opened his ruby eyes and try to get up, as Hashirama help him sit up and offered him some much-needed water. Not all after, Tobirama the drowsiness slowly fade away, as he felt more aware of his surroundings.
"Faiashi what did you find?" He heard Hashirama ask, as his elder brother kept a hand on his shoulder to keep him steady.
"Hashirama, Tobirama's right. You physically have stopped aging," Faiashi replied, making the two Senju and the Uzumaki stare at her in shock. Then added"internally, you are at the correct age, but you stopped physically aging at least, in your mid-twenties."
Hashirama's expression remained blank, as he took a deep breath to process the information. "I see. Well, I guess the good thing is, I don't have to worry about looking old," Hashirama answered with a goofy grin, making Mito and Faiashi snort in amusement, and Tobirama burring his face into the palm of his hand.
"Elder brother, why is that the thing that you focus on the most?" Tobirama questioned with a hint of amusement as well, while he felt strong enough to stand instead of staying seated.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I should be more concerned." Hashirama responded as he jokingly pats his little brother's silver hair, something most people lose a hand when doing. Before, his expression turned serious as he looked at Faiashi and asked, "now, Lady Faiashi. What about Tobirama? Is he going to be aging normally? Or is he the same as me?"
"No. Tobirama is not the same. Tobirama, you may need to sit down for this," Faiashi replied with concern heavy in her tone.
"Faiashi what's wrong? is Toby going to be okay? Is his age-accelerating internally, or is something wrong and he's dying!" Hashirama questioned worryingly, and he practically start flailing.
"Calm yourself, Hashirama. Tobirama, you have stopped aging completely," Faiashi spoke bluntly as if ripping off a bandaid.
"What will you mean I've stopped aging?" Tobirama asked dumbly but was having trouble comprehending the idea that he will never grow old, and eventually see his family in the pure lands.
"It has recently stopped. My guess is it's only been two years since you internally stopped, but you are no longer aging, physically and internally," Faiashi explained with sympathy as if knowing this would be information difficult to accept.
"So are you saying Tobirama's immortal?" Hashirama questioned in a tone Tobirama couldn't quite place.
"No, this ability is not being 'immortal'. It's that you do not age, you can still die but you will not age any older than you are now. It is the same ability that I and most of the wolves in the Hatake pack possess. You can still die from injuries, illness, and so on. However, not by elderly age." The Hatake clan head elaborated, she frowned as she look at the pale Senju and sadly added, "I'm sorry, Tobirama. I was hoping no other human would have to bear this burden of ability that I carry."
All the while, Tobirama stood in shocked silence. He couldn't comprehend the fact that Hashirama, Mito, his students, and everyone else in the village will eventually grow old and die, and he will be left behind. Something that he never wanted to feel, again. The idea of being left completely and utterly alone, as he feels every chakra around him disappear forever. It was a fear he got when he was at Itama's and Kawarama's funeral, and now he's gonna have to watch another brother be buried, again.
"Will you talk about! Tobirama, this is fantastic! This means I'll never have to bury my last little brother!" Hashirama exclaimed practically vibrating with excitement and eyes filled with wonder.
"Hashirama!" Mito hotly retorted, fuming at how her husband was being so insensitive to her brother-in-law's feelings. Knowing that Tobirama may not be the most social person in the village as his older brother, but doesn't like being alone all time.
"Please, excuse me. I need to go meditate on this," Tobirama suddenly blurted out, before using the Flying Raijin to escape.
Tobirama teleported right as Hashirama was about to grab him, the pale Senju found himself standing by the pond near the old Senju compound. That he and his brothers used to train and play during hot summer days. It's always been a place where Tobirama felt safest, a place in the Senju woods surrounded by thick underbrush, that their father seemed to forget where the clear blue pond was located. It allowed him to get away from Butsuma's harsh training, and shade himself from the responsibility that was always being forced upon him. A place where he and his brothers could be the kids they always were, but were never allowed to be.
"I finally found you, so much for that meditating, huh," A familiar female voice spoke out, shaking him from his spiraling thoughts.
"My apologies, I didn't mean to rush out like that. It's just," Tobirama started to explain before trailing off, as he stared off into the water.
"A lot to take?" Faiashi replied filling in the Senju's missing words. While she took a seat on the grass next to him. That was when Tobirama realized that he was not standing but sitting in the grass patch next to the edge of the pond
"Yeah. How did you do it? I always thought I would die before Hashirama, so I'd never have to watch another brother be buried again. And now knowing that he's going to grow old, even if it's just internally, and pass away. While I remain here, it's terrifying. How did you do it? When you keep losing people you love, one by one?" Tobirama questioned, as he feels his mind start to spiral, again. However, he felt almost detached from his body at the same time, was he about to have a panic attack, or was it his anxiety spiking, again? He didn't know.
Faiashi sighed then softly spoke, "you're right. It is hard in the beginning, but the easiest way to handle that pain is by gaining more loved ones. Then when we lose some of them, we have more to lean on. It's to fill ourselves with love. That way when that pain comes it won't be as brutal as I could be, because then you're never truly alone. Life is a very precious thing, and it's precious because of death. It makes us remember them more, and cherish their memory."
"I guess, that's understandable," Tobirama drawled out still feeling a little numb. Before adding in relief, "I'm just thankful that father didn't learn about this when I was still young. I don't even want to know what that monster of a man would have me do if he thought that I was immortal."
Faiashi gave a humorless chuckle, then softly added, "It may sound insensitive on my part, but I am glad that I'm no longer only human with this ability. And that means you're not alone in this Tobirama."
"Yeah, thank you. I'm worried about what's the village gonna do when they find out about this, I can't stay in the village for that long or they'll notice. If anyone knew this, it can cause problems. Not just within the village lands but all of the Land of Fire. What happens if people see us more as monsters and humans? They might even try to hunt us down, as well as the Hatake clan! There's so much uncertainty, and that's the problem I can't read a situation that has so many probabilities." Tobirama swiftly answered as worried red eyes stared into Faiashi's golden eyes.
"Pup, you always focus too much on what's around you. Silence your mind, and calm yourself. There's no need to worry about that just yet. When the time comes, we can fake the death, and then you can stay within the Northern mountains where the chakra crystals are. After all, you and Hashirama made that fantastic little cabin, so you two could come to visit more often." Faiashi replied, as she ruffled Tobirama's silver hair, which he inherited from his mother, who was her great-granddaughter.
"Okay," Tobirama mumbled, as he got into his meditative position, close his eyes, and cleared his mind.
The memory faded away, and everyone could see themselves, again. In the mindscape with the white tree as I stood on the still water under them. The Yamanaka interrogator along with everyone else was shocked, by what has transpired in the memory.
"Lord Third, did you know? About Lord Hashirama's condition, and that Lord Tobirama wasn't aging anymore?" Minato asked, shocked that was even an ability that the Hatake clan possessed.
"No, I didn't. Many of us knew that Tobirama-sensei looked too young for his age, but we never suspected that he wasn't aging at all," Hiruzen confirmed, the only clan he has known for its longevity was the Uzumaki clan.
"It seems like it's a rare gift or ability within the Hatake clan, rare than what's already considered," Jiraiya commented, holding his chin between his thumb and forefinger.
"I see it more as a curse, like my uncle, Tobirama thought. The idea of having to lose every single one of your loved ones, and you'd still be there. As times change and generations pass, I can't imagine the lonely," Tsunade added, remembering the unbelievable pain she felt when Jiraiya and Orochimaru informed her that her brother was killed. Knowing that she is alive and her younger brother will never come back home and smile as he would when greeting her.
"Well, it's the same as Faiashi said, in order to move on from that pain, you must fill yourself with love. It allows you to remain strong for not just the others around you, but for yourself as well," Kushina replied. Still, remember how Lady Mito practically said the same thing to her as a child.
"Are you able to see more of Faiashi's memories?" Hiruzen questioned, wanting to know more.
"Yes, sir," Inoichi answered, with a single nod.
"Show us everything that you can safely gather. I want no harm to come to Kakashi or Lady Faia- I mean Faiashi," the Third Hokage ordered.
"Alright. I'm going to continue unraveling the memories with no pause," Inoichi explained, mostly to the two ten-year-old students. "Is everyone ready?" Only to receive confirming nods, then adds, "okay. Starting in three, two, one." And all went black.
A/N: Hello everyone! I hope you're having a fantastic day, and I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving! Sorry, I was unable to update this story for so long, I was struggling to get the plot right, and then the chapter was getting way too long so I decided to make it into two parts. Plus, I was really busy with my work, so I was finding a hard time to be able to write. Also, I apologize for any grammar or spelling mistakes that are in this chapter, I'm sure they're quite a few. Thank you all so much for taking the time to read this chapter, and if you liked it please leave a favorite and comment to let me know your thoughts on the chapter and any future predictions. That being said I hope you have a wonderful day And are looking forward to the next update. Thanks again!