This one is inspired by the short scenes I posted before on: s/13912238/1/Glass
It features Naruto who has been raised by ANBU in isolation - and who was rarely allowed outside.
Setting:
- Naruto who has been raised very strictly by ANBU
- Tobirama and Hashirama somehow ended up alive after Orochimaru had botched up Edo Tensei.
- Naruto has inherited his family's intelligence.
That's as much background as I am willing to set, because entirely self-indulgent AU here, and I honestly just want them to start getting fluffy already.
Safety
They had not expected to find a child here. Yet, here he was, passing though the hall, flanked by two masked men.
There was nothing dangerous or threatening about this situation, and yet Hashirama could feel the underlying tension centered around this child and the casual watchfulness the masks emitted.
As if feeling eyes on him, the boy raised his head and for a short moment their gazes met. The child's eyes were a striking blue and shone brightly with jaded innocence.
Hashirama felt himself smiling slightly. "Greetings, little one."
Surprise flashed through the boy's expressive eyes and he got a tentative "Hello," in return.
Hashirama's smile widened, but his good humor evaporated immediately when the mask next to the child immediately struck the boy soundly across his face. "You have not received permission to speak." A gloved hand grabbed the boy's hair and led him away.
"I apologize, Shodai-sama, Nidaime-sama. He is not fully trained yet," the commander told them impassively. "Please rest assured that it will not happen again."
"This child merely returned my brother's greeting," his brother cut in with a light frown on his face. "I do not see how this warrants such a harsh response."
"He knows not to speak unless receiving permission," the commander replied, "and yet he broke this rule in front you and your brother, Nidaime-sama. He needs to be chastised. Please do not mind this incident and allow me to guide you to our training facilities."
Hashirama did mind this incident. He wanted to know why there was a child here and why he was being treated this way. It did not sit well with him that children were being hit inside his village. Especially not for returning a greeting.
"Personally," he interjected, "I would prefer a tour around the village first. I wish to see how our people live. What do you think, brother?" He threw Tobirama a profound look.
Tobirama, being his brother and closest confidant, understood his intention right away. "It would be interesting to see how the village itself has changed first," he agreed. "We can inspect the training facilities at a later date."
"As you wish," the commander replied dutifully, "Then I shall find someone to guide –"
"Send the boy," Tobirama interrupted. "A child's opinion is usually more honest than an adult's, and the prosperity of a community depends on nurturing the next generation – and listening to its needs."
The commander froze. "Nidaime-sama, he-"
"An excellent idea, brother," Hashirama agreed over the man's clear reluctance. "He will do just fine."
In the end, the commander had no choice but to concede.
Naruto was hurting, but he always was, so he was completely fine. He was used to being reprimanded, after all.
But it was still scary to have his overseers looming over his downed body, listening to them announce his punishment in their detached, impassive voices.
Therefore, he was both relieved and a little worried when a third mask entered the room and informed them that his punishment had been remitted because the former Hokage had ordered his presence.
Naruto remembered the black-haired man who had greeted him so kindly. Had it been another test? Had he failed a test issued by a Hokage? He swallowed, already dreading the consequences.
A hand closed around his collar and hoisted him up. "You will behave. You will obey. Confirm your instructions."
"I will behave and obey, sir," Naruto replied.
"Good."
The child looked tiny as it stood before them, head bowed in obedient submission. It did not look up when the commander gave his order. " Lord First and Lord Second wish to be shown through the village. They have called upon you to be their guide. You will see that they want for nothing. Now, you may thank them for showing leniency and waiving your punishment."
Tobirama saw his brother's jaw tighten as the child knelt down. "Thank you for your leniency, Shodai-sama, Nidaime-sama. I apologize for my impertinence."
The words came out serene and practiced. He did not even stumble over 'impertinence.' A feat, not many children his age were capable of. Tobirama absently wondered how often the child had been forced to say this sentence to make it sound so flawless.
"What is your name?" The child twitched slightly at his brother's question. He seemed hesitant and uncertain, probably unsure about the correct course of action.
"You may speak," he added, therefore. Immediately, the child relaxed. It seemed he had been indeed correct about the boy's source of unease.
"It's Naruto, Shodai-sama. But I have been trained to respond to anything you decide to call me. You just need to order it, sir."
Despite the slight darkening of his eyes, Hashirama smiled slightly. "Naruto will do just fine. Shall we get going then?"
Taking the cue, Tobirama turned towards the commander. "We will take it from here. You and your men may return to your duties."
The man hesitated for a second before he nodded shortly. "Understood, Nidaime-sama. Have a pleasant day, Lord Second, Lord First."
The commander made a short sign with his hand and the room cleared instantly, leaving only him, his brother and the still kneeling child behind.
This was a situation that was better taken care of by Hashirama. His brother was much better suited to deal with such things than he was. Tobirama was logic where Hashirama was emotion.
His brother gave him an amused sideways glance as Tobirama stepped back and then turned to face their young companion. Hashirama crouched down in front of the child and gently tilted the bowed head up. "There is no need to lower yourself like this. Stand up, child, and do not be afraid to speak in our presence."
The child's eyes widened, and Tobirama could see the puzzlement in his gaze. Hashirama seemed to have thrown him off. But despite his uncertainty, the boy did not fail to acknowledge his brother's words.
"As you wish, Shodai-sama." Tobirama doubted the boy would actually do what he just agreed to. He recognized conditioning when he saw it. Judging by the hard edge to his brother's smile, he knew it, too.
There was only one way to entice this child into speaking, and that was by reminding him of his duty. "Good," he commented flatly, "after all, a guide who does not speak is completely unsuited to his task."
He stoically withstood his brother's strict gaze. It was only half-hearted anyway, because Hashirama knew exactly what he had been trying to achieve with his words. Hashirama was the only one who never misunderstood Tobirama's intentions.
Naruto tensed at the Second's words. His heart trembled and soared at the same time. He was allowed to go outside. He was allowed to leave these facilities. He was allowed to feel the sun. To breathe fresh air. He was excited and terrified.
Of course, he knew Konoha by heart. He had spent hours bent over detailed maps, memorizing the streets and the placement of every building. He had studied Konoha's history, and sometimes he had even been allowed to watch the village from the roofs.
Now he was supposed to guide these men. The First and Second Hokage. Naruto swallowed. He could not allow himself to make a mistake. No matter what the First Hokage had said if they complained about him, he would probably never get to see the sun again.
'Behave and obey.' Naruto could do that - he could only hope it would be enough. "Is there anything you would like to see, Shodai-sama? Nidaime-sama?"
Young Naruto was a strange child. He was a well of information, had detailed knowledge of the village's workings and yet he got sidetracked by the simplest things.
At first it was nothing too obvious. A light brush against a tree bark. A short stop next to the wildflowers. A deep sniff as they passed the ramen stand. A wince when they walked through the overcrowded streets of people vying for their attention.
Now he had fallen silent in the middle of his explanation. Hashirama turned to see if anything had happened and saw that the child was staring wide-eyed at a butterfly that had decided to land on the bush next to him. His gaze was filled with awe.
"He acts like he has never been outside before," he whispered in Tobirama's direction.
"Perhaps he has not," his brother replied. "I doubt that outings are part of his training plan."
Hashirama pursed his lips. "You think they kept him locked up inside?"
"You saw how closely they monitor him," Tobirama replied simply.
"And this fact alone is extremely peculiar. Why do they go to such immense lengths for this child?"
"This is indeed a valid question, brother. I shall send out a clone to make inquiries - Ah, the butterfly has vanished."
Hashirama turned back to the boy. Judging by his stiff posture, Naruto was obviously aware of his surroundings again.
Slowly, the boy turned around. Hashirama could see a hint of panic in his eyes before the child dropped to his knees in front of them, bowing his head so deeply that it almost touched the ground.
Troubled by his unexpected action, Hashirama walked up to him. "What are you doing, little one?"
"I am sorry, Shodai-sama, Nidaime-sama," the child mumbled, "I did not mean to disregard you." He sounded anxious.
Hashirama took a deep breath in an attempt to calm his raging emotions. This child was part of their village. He was one of their people; he was supposed to feel protected and safe. But instead, he was living in constant fear of being punished. Afraid that he was not obedient enough.
He absently noticed his brother stepping up next to him.
"Naruto," Tobirama finally began, I want you to stand up and look at me."
The boy rose to his feet and tentatively raised his head. Apprehension was written over his face.
"Good," Tobirama praised him."Now tell me, do we look angry to you?"
"…I don't know, Nidaime-sama. You look empty. Like the masks. But you have a face. Is that anger?"
"No, Naruto," Hashirama answered quietly. "It is not."
Naruto had no idea what these men wanted. He had ignored them. Not on purpose, but that did not matter. Why was it important if they looked angry, when they just needed to punish him for disobeying?
What was anger even supposed to be? Naruto was lost.
"I…I don't understand, Shodai-sama, Nidaime-sama."
The two men exchanged a look that seemed…loaded with something he could not decipher.
"We are not going to punish you," Senju Tobirama told him finally. "You did not commit any offence."
Naruto did not know what offence had to do with him being disobedient, but he knew better than to question their decision. Especially if it meant hurting less. "Thank you for your mercy, Nidaime-sama, Shodai-sama," he answered instead. This response should be fine, right?
Then why was Shodai-sama looking so…not blank? And why were his eyes so warm?
He stilled as the man placed his hand on his head. It did not hurt.
It felt nice.
'Thank you for your mercy.' Hashirama felt the urgent need to break something. Preferably the one who had made the child react like that.
What had happened to the boy that he felt he had to thank them for their mercy, as if they had just pardoned him of some crime?
Naruto was a child. It was perfectly natural that his attention would occasionally wander. It was a wonder this boy could keep his composure at all if his brother was right and he was normally not even allowed outside.
Additionally, his reaction to Tobirama's question was alarming. It seemed as though the child had difficulties in identifying human emotions.
He hoped Tobirama's inquiries would give them some answers about Naruto's circumstances. He did not like the idea of handing the boy back.
Sautobi Hiruzen was not alone when the Second entered the office. Danzo was with him, and they were bent over a map that seemed to show a part of Konoha's underground tunnel system.
They raised their heads when they saw him. "Sensei." "Lord Second." Both greeted in unison.
"I am surprised to see you here, Nidaime-sama," Danzo commented, "I was under the impression that you and Lord First were inspecting the ANBU headquarters."
"We are," the Second replied and casually walked up to them. "Or rather, we were until my brother decided he rather wanted to tour the village instead. I am a clone."
The Third laughed. "I see. So, what brings you here, sensei?"
"A child," Tobirama replied and kept a close eye on their reactions. "By the name of Naruto."
The easy atmosphere immediately evaporated, and the air suddenly became tense.
"Did he displease you, Nidaime-sama?" Danzo inquired coolly, "He can be a handful. I shall make sure he is properly disciplined."
Hiruzen threw an acid look at Danzo.
"He did not," Tobirama cut in. "I am not here to complain about his conduct, on the contrary. The child is exceedingly compliant. What I want to know is, why he is being held at ANBU headquarters and treated like a prisoner?"
"He is the jailer of the Nine-tails," Danzo replied blandly. "The Nine Tails is property of the village. We are simply guarding our interests by properly raising its container."
Tobirama's gaze cooled. "So instead of nurturing the child's loyalty, you decided to force him into submission. My brother will not be happy to hear about this." He narrowed his eyes. "What family is this child from?"
The men fell quiet.
"Well?" he demanded when neither of them was willing to answer.
Hiruzen closed his eyes and sighed in defeat. "Yours, sensei. He is your great-grandchild."
Tobirama froze. "He is what?!"
"Hiruzen!" Danzo snapped.
"He deserves to know," Hiruzen shot back ."I was against this from the very beginning."
"And yet you agreed."
"That was before I knew what you did with him!"
"Silence!" Tobirama's voice was eerily quiet."We will talk about this later. But from now on, you will leave your hands off him. If you touch this child again, I will have your heads."
He dispelled.
Hashirama saw his brother pause and assumed that he was receiving his clone's memories. Shock and anger flickered through Tobirama's eyes, followed by indignation and… worry?
He tilted his head in curiosity as Tobirama approached their young guide and lifted the startled child up. Naruto's eyes widened in surprise, but he made no attempt to stop him.
"We are going back home," his brother announced. Hashirama blinked at his abrupt decision but figured that he must have a good reason for putting a sudden end to their outing. "Very well," he agreed easily enough.
They left.
Naruto had no idea why Lord Second had just lifted him up, but he figured that the man must have his reasons. If he wanted to carry Naruto, Naruto had no right to complain. Besides, his hold was surprisingly gentle, and the arms felt comfortable.
So, he did not ask why he had been picked up. He did not ask why they were taking him along and he did not ask anything either, when the Second carried him straight into the living room.
Senju Tobirama lowered him onto a surprisingly comfortable couch and told him they would be back soon.
Not knowing what he was supposed to do, Naruto remained sitting, careful to keep his eyes from straying away from the floor.
Just because they had been surprisingly lenient with him so far did not mean he could relax. He had already made a big mistake by getting distracted once. Another one would probably not be well-received.
It was boring to sit still for so long, but if it meant hurting less, he could deal with it.
Hashirama followed his brother into the kitchen. Tobirama's face was completely expressionless, and yet Hashirama could see the agitation in his eyes.
He was silent as Tobirama leaned against the counter and closed his eyes, obviously trying to sort out his thoughts.
A moment of silence ensued before Tobirama finally began to speak. "His full name is Uzumaki Naruto, and he is the current jailer of the Nine Tails. He was turned over to ANBU because apparently they consider the Nine Tails to be village property and wanted to raise its container appropriately."
Hashirama's jaw tightened. "His container? He is a child, not a thing, an Uzumaki child on top of it. He is almost family."
Tobirama's face hardened. "Not almost, brother. He is family. Naruto is a Senju. In fact, he is my great-grandchild."
Hashirama froze. His brother's descendant? Tobirama's great-grandchild? His nephew?! "I am going to kill them all," he growled. Of course, he would not. But right now, he was certainly angry enough to do it. He could feel his chakra crackling around him. "We are not bringing him back," he decided.
"Of course not," Tobirama replied. "The child will stay with us. I already made that clear."A serious expression appeared on his face."However, it will not be easy to break his conditioning. We need to find out how much damage has been done to him."
"Indeed," Hashirama agreed, feeling happy and sad at the same time. "Let us return. My nephew must be anxious by now."
Tobirama threw him an amused look. "Very well."
Naruto was still in the same position they had left him in. It seemed as if he had not moved once. "Have you just been sitting there all this time?" he inquired.
"Yes, Nidaime-sama," the child replied.
Tobirama raised an eyebrow. "You did not even move once? Why?"
"You placed me here, Nidaime-sama, and I did not receive permission to move, sir."
Hashirama settled down next to the boy and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You do not need permission for that, Naruto."
Naruto, his grandchild, looked confused.
Tobirama sighed. "Naruto, I have something to tell you."
Immediately, the child's attention settled on him, sharp and undivided.
"I have received knowledge about something that concerns all three of us."
He approached the young boy and crouched down in front of him, absently noting the apprehensive look his action elicited. "We are related, young one. I am your great-grandfather."
Naruto tilted his head. He looked lost again. "But I am a property, Nidaime-sama. I belong to the village. To its Hokage. To Lord Third, Lord First and you. I have no relations. "
Tobirama felt his brother's chakra spike furiously in response. He did not fault him for it. He was struggling to keep his own anger under control.
Tobirama clasped the child's chin and tilted his lowered head up. His stern eyes caught Naruto's startled expression. "You are not a possession. You are a human being. A child - and I do not want to hear you referring to yourself as anything less ever again."
"I am sorry, Nidaime-sama I will not mention it again. I will behave however you want."
"And that," Hashirama replied in a strained voice, "is exactly what we don't want. Just be yourself, little one. That is all we expect of you."
A soft smile appeared on his brother's lips as the child threw him a look filled with terrified confusion. "It is alright if you don't know how to do that right now. You can learn slowly. At your own pace, and we will be happy to help you however we can."
"We will not harm you, child," Tobirama added, and the blue, fearful eyes flickered toward him. "You're safe with us, and nothing will change that."
Naruto looked overwhelmed, undoubtedly trying to come up with the correct response and drawing a blank.
Hashirama ruffled his hair. "You only have one task from now on, little one, and that is to be a child. Do not worry about anything. Your grandfather and I will take care of everything."
"I…don't understand, Shodai-sama," Naruto muttered quietly, "But I will do as you say."
"It's uncle, not Shodai-sama," Hashirama corrected in a gentle but firm tone, "and grandfather for my brother."
"And suddenly I became the older one," Tobirama commented drily. His brother grinned unrepentantly at him.
Tobirama shook his head in fond amusement and focused back on the child. "Now to another topic." There was something important he had to make clear. Naruto was in a very vulnerable position, and while he had no intention of letting the child out of his sight anytime soon, it was best to be prepared for any eventualities.
"From now on, I expect you to resist if anyone other than your uncle or me wants to take you anywhere. Do not follow anyone! No matter if they claim that we sent them. Unless you have our express permission, you will not leave with anyone, nor will you follow any instructions that do not come from either of us. If a situation arises where we cannot pick you up ourselves or must leave you in the care of another person, we will agree on a code word to identify that individual. It will be..."
"Butterfly."
Tobirama blinked and looked at his brother. Butterfly. Easy to remember, and meaningful to all of them. He nodded. "Butterfly. Can you remember that, young one?"
Naruto nodded. "Yes Nid-," he broke off and corrected himself, "Grandfather. I won't go with anyone unless he gives the code word, and I'll only listen to your orders or uncle's."
"Good. Hashirama, would you please get the box for me? You know which one."
"Right away."
Naruto was confused. He didn't know what to think or feel. These men unsettled him, and their words contradicted everything he had been taught. They did not want him to kneel before them. They told him he didn't need permission to speak or move, and most confusing of all, they called him a child.
Naruto had always been told he was the property of the village and belonged to the Hokage. His entire life had consisted of training, obedience, and punishment. That was all he had ever known.
Now they had appeared. Two of his non-owners and Naruto didn't know what he was expected to do. They were not punishing him. They weren't giving him orders. They were kind. Their touches were gentle, and their hugs didn't hurt at all. They didn't leave him breathless and in pain.
Naruto caught himself desiring more of those hugs and was shocked by the sudden longing he felt when his uncle took his hand from his head. He wanted to be held again and nestle into their strong, warm arms.
But he said nothing. It was not his place to ask for anything. Instead, he merely watched as uncle carried over an ornate jade box and opened the lid. "Give me your wrist, Naruto," grandfather instructed him.
Naruto instinctively obeyed.
A warm, rough palm took his hand and closed loosely around it. Grandfather pulled something from the box in Uncle's hands and fastened it around Naruto's wrist.
It was a leather strap with a metal plate on it. Naruto looked at the intricately engraved symbols.
"This bracelet is a marker," grandfather informed him. "It allows me to appear instantly at your side wherever you are. Should you find yourself in danger, tear off this bracelet and I will come to you."
"I wear one, too," Uncle raised his right hand and Naruto could see the leather bracelet dangling from it. "Well, actually I don't need it, but your grandfather is a worrywart."
Grandfather threw an unimpressed look at uncle. "I don't want to hear any complaints from you, brother. Do not assume I am unaware of your habit of spiking your chakra whenever you deem me threatened."
"I am the elder brother. I am allowed to be protective."
"And I am the sensible brother. I'm allowed to worry about you doing something foolish because you got a feeling."
Their stare down was interrupted by Naruto's growling stomach.
Uncle threw him an amused look. "It seems, someone is hungry."
Hashirama's gaze fell on the clock on the wall, and he suddenly remembered that they hadn't eaten yet. "I'm famished," he informed them, nodding with exaggerated seriousness. "What about you, little one?"
"You always are," Tobirama replied drily and looked at Naruto. "Be honest, young one," his brother encouraged, when the child hesitated to answer his question.
"A bit, Sho-," he broke off and corrected himself, "uncle."
Hashirama grinned. "Good, then we should find something to eat."
"I hope you are not suggesting wagashi," Tobirama interjected with a pointed look. "Because that does not count as a decent meal."
Hashirama ignored his brother's jibe with practiced ease. "How about sushi?" he suggested because he really felt like having fish right now.
"Excellent idea," Tobirama agreed. "Have you tried sushi yet, young one?"
"No, grandfather." Naruto tilted his head and looked curiously up at them.
Hashirama's mood darkened slightly. "Then it is high time you get to try it. I am sure, you will like it, and if not, do not be afraid to tell us."
A nervous expression appeared on Naruto's face.
"This is part of your job now," Tobirama added upon seeing the child's uncertain look. "We want you to be honest about whether you like something or not without worrying about our approval."
Naruto nodded slowly. "When do you want me to report about that, grandfather?"
"There's no need to report on anything," Hashirama interjected, tapping the child on the nose. "It's perfectly fine if you just say whether you like something or not."
"Now, is there anything you like, child?" Tobirama inquired as they walked towards the door.
Naruto lowered his head. "I like being outside," he answered quietly. "I like the sun tingling on my back and the smell of the flowers, and" he hesitated a little, "I like that it didn't hurt when you touched me. It felt warm."
Hashirama's heart broke, and he quickly bent down to wrap the child in his arms. "You may play outside as much as you want, and from now on, every touch will feel warm."
"You will not be hurt again," his brother agreed. His voice carried steel.
Hashirama felt the child's tiny body relax slightly and smiled as a small head leaned cautiously against his shoulder. Naruto was putting his tentative trust into them. Good.
Time would prove their honest intentions. Until then, they could only reassure and hold this child as often as possible.
Naruto did enjoy eating sushi and ended up trying himself through the entire assortment grandfather's clone had brought in. Although he would have been perfectly fine with eating whatever was put in front of him, Uncle kept filling his plate with things he hadn't tried yet, and Grandpa pointed out anything he might have missed.
Feeling thoroughly stuffed, Naruto's eyes started to droop. He was suddenly very tired. Someone chuckled softly next to him, and Naruto suddenly found himself leaning against a strong chest. "Rest easy, little one, I have you."
Surrounded by warmth, Naruto quickly fell asleep.
The two brothers looked at the child in Hashirama's arms. In his sleep he seemed even younger than he already was. Tobirama reached over and brushed a stray strand out of the boy's face. "He is so tiny."
"That he is." Hashirama shifted slightly and gently bedded the boy across their laps. The child immediately curled up between them and buried his face in Hashirama's stomach. Tobirama's hand came to rest on the small back.
"He reminds me of Itama," Hashirama whispered quietly and absently run his fingers through the blonde hair.
Tobirama stilled. "Aye," he replied, equally soft, "But he will not share his fate."
"No," Hashirama agreed, his voice firm. "He won't."
They would see to that.
Naruto woke feeling very warm and comfortable. Since when was his futon so soft? And had his pillow always been so fluffy? He burrowed himself a bit deeper into his warm, furry cocoon. Someone chuckled quietly above him, and something heavy settled on his head. A hand? He tensed.
"Calm, young one. You are safe," a deep voice rumbled quietly. There was a commanding peacefulness to his tone that made Naruto instantly relax.
"Have you slept well?" the voice inquired.
"Yes, grandfather," Naruto murmured and rubbed his eyes. He still sounded sleepy.
"Good," the man answered, "Your uncle is already up. We have a busy day ahead of us. But first it is time for -"
"Breakfast!" Uncle's voice sounded across the room.
Grandfather snorted. "Speak of the devil…"
"…and your caring brother appears," uncle finished cheerfully. "Good morning, little one." He smiled at Naruto. "You look quite refreshed. I take it you are well-rested?"
"Yes, uncle," Naruto replied, "and good morning, sir."
Uncle grimaced. "Sir? Am I a stranger to my own nephew now? If you address me, use my name or I will feel unloved."
Use his name? Naruto stared at him. "I…I can't do that, sir. It is disrespectful to call adults by their names, and you own me."
A serious expression appeared on the First's face. "No, little one, I do not." Cloth rustled as the man sat down next to him. "I am your uncle. I am your family." He gestured towards grandfather. "We are your family, and while you belong with us, we do not own you."
Naruto tilted his head. "Then who owns me, uncle? Sandaime-sama? Shimura-sama?"
Grandfather placed both hands on Naruto's shoulder. "Look at me, Naruto." He sounded so stern that Naruto immediately raised his head and fixated grandfather's jawline.
A hand moved from his shoulder and tilted his chin up. "My eyes are up here, child. Meet them."
It was disrespectful to look your superiors into their eyes. But grandfather wanted it and uncle said they were family, so it was probably alright.
Grandfather's eyes were red, and they looked very…intense? Naruto did not know what his look meant, but there was something urgent about it.
"Good," grandfather praised, and Naruto relaxed slightly. "Now listen closely. Nobody owns you. Not me, not my brother, and certainly neither Hiruzen nor Danzo. We are not your superiors. We are not your guards. We are your guardians. Your protectors and we want you to feel safe with us, so do not be afraid to come to us if you are in need of anything. Do you understand, young one?"
Naruto bit his lip. It was a strange notion, but he rather liked it. "Yes, grandfather. I will…try."
"That is all we expect from you," his grandfather replied serenely and released his chin.
"And If you happen to get frightened by any monsters hiding under your bed, I will happily chase them away - real or not," uncle added good-humoredly and put his arm around Naruto's shoulders."Or you can hide behind your grandfather. One glare from him would scare even the most stalwart demon away."
Grandfather snorted. "Very funny, brother. I distinctly remember you being the one who can clear a room with a spike of his chakra."
"And you got that braggy vigilante shinobi to surrender just by staring at him," uncle shot back and lifted him up.
"That was hardly impressive considering you made someone lose control over their bladder simply because you stopped joking around."
"Ah, I had almost forgotten about that,"uncle commented easily and stepped into the corridor. Naruto could see the white stone floor and the ornate paneled walls over the man's shoulder. "Yes, that one really was lacking courage."
They reached the kitchen.
Over the next few days Naruto slowly relaxed under his family's protective care.
Tobirama watched with a wry smile as his brother cajoled their young ward into playing hide-and-seek with him. He seemed to have just as much fun running about as the child had.
He was glad about it. Hashirama had been quite subdued since the failed invasion, but now he was finally alive again.
The branches about him rustled, and he saw Naruto's blonde hair before the child melted into his background with the silence and skill of a trained shinobi.
It was during innocuous moments like this that Tobirama was sharply reminded of the boy's past. He threw a cold look at the compound's gates, fully aware of the chakra signatures lurking around outside.
He met his brother's gaze across the clearing and saw the same steely resolve in his eyes that he felt.
Naruto peeked through the closed gates at the people busily passing by. "What are they doing, uncle?" He turned his head to look at the man next to him.
Hashirama placed his hand on the child's shoulder. "They are preparing, little one. O-bon, the Festival of Souls will be held soon. "
"The Festival of Souls?" Naruto repeated. "What's that?"
"It is the time the spirits of the deceased return to the world of the living," his uncle replied quietly. "We honor the dead and reconnect with our ancestors. We will be taking part in it, too. Your grandfather has already placed the orders for our ceremonial gear. Our clan has its own tradition on how to celebrate this occasion. I have been planning to talk to you about it. "
Hashirama smiled at him. "Our numbers might have dwindled, but I am still the clan head, and you are my heir. That means it is my duty and my privilege to educate you on our traditions. So, let me tell you about the Festival of Souls. "
The child nodded. "Yes, uncle."
Brightly lit lanterns adorned the streets and illuminated the darkened sky. People were bustling about the streets and the air tasted like sugar, incense and rice.
The Festival of Souls had arrived.
Naruto knelt between Hashirama and Tobirama on ornate cushions in front of the Senju's ancestral shrine.
All three of them were dressed in elaborate garments that looked like a mixture of ceremonial garb and a samurai armour.
The cloth they had been fashioned from was rich and silky, and when the light hit it from the right angle, the fabric shimmered like twinkling stars.
Hashirama's voice was quiet but serene. "We pray to you, ancestors of old. We pray to those who came before us on this auspicious night. May your wisdom lead our clan, may your strength defend our kin and may your soul's rest be peaceful forevermore."
Naruto's and Tobirama's voices echohed through the stone room. "Ancestors of old, on this holy night, grant me wisdom, join me in honor and lead me through plight."
Hashirama picked up a round and flat candle lying in front of him and held his hand above it.
A tiny flame appeared in his hand. The candle ignited. "I light this candle to enlighten your way."
Tobirama picked up his candle and held it against Hashirama's. The flame overleaped and a second fluttering flame joined the first. "I light this candle to enlighten your way."
He turned towards Naruto. The child repeated the procedure. "I light this candle to enlighten your way."
One after the other they placed the candles into a bowl of water and knelt back down.
Neither of them spoke as they waited for the lights to fade.
It was wondrous. Naruto looked wide-eyed at the many stalls lining up the streets. He saw dozens of differents foods being offered, sweets wherever he looked, and in the middle of the street performers where playing a merry tune.
He had never seen something like this before. It was beautiful but also overwhelming and he was more than thankful that he was could witness this out of the safety of grandfather's arms.
They had changed into more casual clothes and were now wearing dark blue yukatas adorned with their clan's symbol.
People greeted them as they passed by, and even though the street was crowded, everyone made sure to keep a respectful distance towards them.
A stall owner stepped forward as he saw them and bowed deeply. "Greetings, Lord First, Lord Second. I apologize for interrupting your outing, but I want to thank you for your efforts to rebuild this village." He held out a chocolate-covered banana to them. "This is a gift for your boy."
Hashirama accepted the treat with a light smile. "This is very kind of you. Thank you."
The owner bowed again and respectfully stepped out of their way.
"Here." Hashirama extended the banana to Naruto. "Try it."
"Thank you, uncle," Naruto murmured and cautiously received the stick. He took a small bite, and his eyes widened. It tasted heavenly!
He had never eaten something so yummy before. This time, he took a big bite.
"Eat slowly, or you will choke," Tobirama admonished and Naruto immediately slowed down.
Hashirama smiled at the joy on the child's face.
Over the boy's head, Tobirama narrowed his eyes at a rooftop.
Hashirama followed his gaze and saw something white glinting on top of it.
He moved his feet.
The Naka River was covered by liquid light. Hundreds of paper lanterns floated across the surface and painted glittering shadows on the river.
"Toro Nagashi," Tobirama informed the stunned boy in his arms. "Floating Lanterns. They are supposed to show the dead souls their way home. "
"Like the candles, grandfather?" Naruto inquired, so mesmerized by the display that he completely forgot the banana in his hand.
"Yes," Tobirama agreed, "Like the candles." He lowered Naruto gently onto the river bank where Hashirama was standing in front of an unlit paper lantern and absently moved his hand.
Something splashed in close distance, but neither of the threepaid it any mind.
Naruto remained silent as Hashirama lit the lantern and placed it gently ontop of the murmuring river.
The two Senju brothers watched as the lantern became one with the sea of lights.
"Return home soon, Kawarama, Itama."
Naruto was bundled up between his guardians and stared at the colorful rain falling down the night sky.
Red, yellow, green, blue, purple. It was a symphony of colored fire. It looked how Naruto imagined a rainbow exploding on the sky.
Mesmerizing. He curled closer against grandfather and tentatively felt for uncle's hand.
Strong fingers closed around his and Naruto felt himself relax. He felt warm, safe and so very tired.
Naruto yawned and blinked blearily at the sky. His eyes were suddenly so heavy. He yawned again, and his eyes closed on their own.
He fell asleep just as a golden dragon soared through the sky.
The two siblings exchanged a look over the sleeping boy's head.
"This is getting annoying," Tobirama commented.
"Yes," Hashirama agreed, "it is."
"Perhaps it is time we send a message."
Hashirama nodded, the golden dragon reflecting from his dark eyes. "I agree."
"Report," Danzo demanded sharply. His expression was dark as he looked at the mask kneeling in front of him.
"They are not letting him out of their sight, Danzo-sama, and we cannot get close enough to the mark to take him," the mask replied, "Besides, they are starting to lose patience. One of our men tripped over a vine and nearly fell down a roof when he got too close to them, and another one got yanked into the river by a water whip."
The mask pulled something out of his pocket and offered it to him. "Shodai-sama left this with a message."
Danzo took it. It was a document. A very familiar document. Or rather the copy of a very familiar document. It was taken from a file he kept in one of his secret laboratories. "The message?" he asked tightly.
"Do not forget who your teachers are."
There was a moment of silence, then: "Dismissed," Danzo ordered curtly. His grip tightened around the document.
This was a warning. A warning from the first two Hokage, issued by the Shodai himself. It was not something he could take lightly. He would have to back down if he did not want them to become his enemies. Just why did Hiruzen have to tell them about the container's identity? They would have never gotten so involved with the brat if they had remained oblivious.
Damn Hiruzen for suddenly developing his misplaced conscience.
As long as the First and the Second protected him, he would never be able to touch the container.
His plans had been ruined.
He tossed the paper down.
Outside the door, the agent threw a last look at the seal melting into the wall and dispelled.
Inside the Senju compound, Tobirama opened his eyes and smirked. "It is done."
Senju Hashirama nodded.
Above Danzo's head, the sewer broke.
A/N And...finish! :D Yes, I deliberately left the end open after the "message delivery."
And before you ask: Maybe I'll add to it at some point, maybe not. Everything depends on time and inspiration. Officially I consider this story ended, since I have too many story ideas and sadly way too less time to write them all.^^
Still, I hope you enjoyed it. :)