Aiko had, once she had gotten the story of it being a low-risk training spar (not entirely a lie), corralled all of them to her house where her husband and elder daughter had taken one look at her and scattered. Cowards. Tobirama wants to flee as well. He had also figured out that Torifu had most certainly known about Aiko's approaching presence. He had not been nearly surprised enough when she had burst in, brusque and terrifying. He had at least had the sense to surrender to keep from giving Aiko anything else to use against them.
"Now," the woman says sharply once they've all been seated and had tea shoved into their hands, "I would like an explanation." Tobirama is about to rehash when he had told her before, vague and but detailed enough to keep her from killed him, but she gives him a dark look that has him shutting up.
"Of course, I believe introductions are in order firstly. If I know Senju Tobirama at all-" which she does, with unnerving accuracy, "-then he hasn't actually introduced any of you to each other. Am I correct?"
"Yes Ma'am," Kagami squeaks out, turning red as all the attention turns to him. Aiko quirks her lips in an amused manner.
"Polite- you must not be one of the usual rabble Tobirama has following him around." In his arms, Shukaku looks up at him with a furrowed brow and a pout. He'll have to reassure Shukaku later that he's not rabble and that Tobirama does, in fact, enjoy him tagging along. For now though... "What's your name, young man?"
"Uchiha Kagami," Kagami says promptly, clearly encouraged by Aiko's positive reinforcement of his politeness. His team, who have never seen him like this, are all giving him strange looks. Except Danzo- he's in his chair looking like he took a bite of a lemon.
"Yours, young lady?" Aiko continues, kindly ignoring Shukaku reaching out to begin collecting food. Apparently the bijuu appears young enough to have her go easy on him. Tobirama will need to give him lessons on manners so Aiko doesn't murder him next time around. If that happens, at least Tobirama won't have long to grieve. Matatabi would end him quickly and without mercy.
"I'm Utatane Koharu," his singular female Konoha student says quietly, having apparently realized the terror of civilian mothers. This might actually be a religious awakening for her- she certainly looks starry-eyed enough. One by one, Aiko goes through all the children, landing at last on Shukaku.
"And you, little one?" Shukaku leans forward in Tobirama's lap, eyes wide, and braces himself on the edge of the table. Sand shakes from his hair at the movement and Tobirama can see a slight irritated twitch in Aiko's expression.
"'M Shukaku!"
"Do you have a last name?" Shukaku hesitates, tipping his head back to stare at Tobirama. Then, he grins.
"Senju!" He declares proudly. Aiko arches a brow.
"Oh?" She meets Tobirama's gaze and he offers her a long suffering look instead of a verbal explanation. By her amused smirk, he imagines that she understands. "The explanation?" She... encourages when the children keep quiet a second too long. The entirety of the Konoha team turns to Kagami who looks struck frozen under their combined attention. Unsurprisingly, it's only Miku who manages to gather enough courage to speak. She has been inoculated, after all, being Aiko's daughter.
"We were out in the forest," Miku starts, "just hanging out. We didn't actually mean to start training."
"Yeah!" Atsuko butts in, trying to help Miku. "Tobirama-sensei just sort of... appeared with his Lesser Team."
"Lesser?!" Kagami repeats, affronted. "We're actual shinobi! You're just civilians!"
"Civilians that beat your asses," Sora shoots back.
"Language," Aiko murmurs, but she doesn't seem very intent on actually diffusing the situation. Tobirama guesses that she also feels a bit insulted by Kagami's comment and is willing to sit back and watch the Wave team tear him apart.
"Only because you used underhanded methods," Danzo sneers. Oh no. This is not going to end well. Dishes clatter as Toshiaki rushes to his feet. The only thing keeping rice from spilling was Tobirama's quick reflexes.
"You-"
"Settle down," Aiko breaks in harshly, eyes dark. "I may not know much about shinobi but I know that they are not people to be trusted lightly. Underhanded tactics are their staple; if you're really blaming your loss on that then you need to reevaluate your career." She sweeps her gaze over them all. "You are children, shinobi or not. I can't expect you to be mature but I at least expected you to do your teacher proud." At this, the Wave Team shrinks back. Even Toshiaki returns to his seat, anger diminished. "Regardless, while you are in this house I expect all of you to be able to talk your issues out like the adults your shinobi rules say you are. Now, let's try this again, shall we?" All of the children have backed down- all but Danzo, who seems only more incensed. Tobirama grimaces but doesn't bother stepping in. Aiko has this handled.
"Who are you to tell me what to do?" Danzo demands. "I am the heir to the Shimura Clan and a shinobi; you are just a civilian butting in where you're unwanted." Aiko straightens her back and suddenly seems very tall, almost looming, in the small room.
"You may believe what you wish, Shimura-san, but you are not above others simply because if your station in life. Right now you are in Wave, a province of Uzushiogakure. You have no power here as an heir or a shinobi. You, like your friends and like my daughter and her friends, are a child and I will not have you acting like you are a lord when you are a guest in my house." When it is clear that Danzo won't stand down so easily, Tobirama gives him a sharp look. Kagami drag him back into his seat and he goes if mulish about it all. Perhaps he should leave the Konoha team here with strict orders to listen to Aiko; it would certainly do them all some good. And while they're distracted with that, Tobirama can go visit his ex-husband to use the lab there for the leech. The kids would probably help him keep his true identity a secret and Shukaku would enjoy them traveling alone again. An idea to keep in mind, he supposes.
