Background infos:
- Naruto is five
- Tobirama and Hashirama were "revived" (Edo Tensei) way earlier.
Naruto was sitting on top of a wall and looked at the stars. They were bright tonight. Tsuzumi boshi, the great drum dominated the night sky.
He loved watching the stars. They were so distant, and yet so close. Somehow, they made him feel less alone.
Something glinted inside the constellation. There was something moving! Naruto squinted.
A piece of starlight broke from the sky and descended upon the earth. Naruto sat straighter and stared wide-eyed at the glowing trail.
A falling star!
This was a falling star!
That meant he could wish for something!
Naruto squinched his eyes shut, and desperately concentrated on the one thing he wanted most.
'A family. Please let me find a family.'
He repeated his wish like a silent mantra, and his heart beat rapidly when he finally found the courage to open his eyes.
The sky was clear.
The shooting star had vanished.
He was still alone.
Naruto's shoulders sagged.
Despondent, the young child turned away from the stars. Of course, they would reject him, too.
Naruto did not feel like returning home just yet. It was only cold and dark in there. So, he wandered aimlessly through the darkened street.
Konoha was different at night. Silent and empty.
His feet carried him down the street and towards the Hokage mountain.
The path was familiar.
He had walked it countless times before.
It was cool on top of the Hokage mountain. But at least here, he was free. Here, he was alone. Of course, he was always alone. But this solitude was by his own choice.
The cool night breeze brushed over his tear-stained cheeks and made him shudder.
Naruto lowered himself on the soft grass on top of the stone and curled into himself.
He was suddenly very tired.
He closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Naruto was not the only restless soul that night. For two figures wandered slowly up the same path, he had taken only an hour before.
The tall figure of Senju Hashirama stopped halfway to the top and turned around to look at the village below. "It has been a long time since we have been up here, brother. This village has changed quite a lot."
Senju Tobirama stopped next to his brother. There was a strange melancholy in his gaze as he joined Hashirama in his observations. "It has been many years," he agreed quietly, "Times change."
"Aye," Hashirama replied, his answer nothing more than a faint whisper, "they do."
For a long moment neither of the men said anything before they turned around and wordlessly resumed their hike.
"There are four now," Hashirama commented, "Even though the last has fallen." He did not need to elaborate on what he meant. His brother understood him just as well.
"I am glad," Hashirama added and fell silent again.
"I am, too," his brother replied.
For a long moment, only quiet crunching steps were heard, as they walked up the stone path.
"The grass was not there," Tobirama remarked.
Hashirama followed his gaze. "Nor were these flowers."
"Shion," Tobirama replied.
"Remembrance, "Hashirama looked away and towards the darkened path. "How fitting."
"It is," Tobirama agreed.
Their steps hastened.
"I do not want to remember," Hashirama whispered.
"And yet, we do," Tobirama commented simply.
They reached the end of the path.
Senju Tobirama sensed the third presence before he saw it. It was powerful but strangely raw, and unpolished. Like a diamond that had yet to be refined.
Who would wander around at such a late hour?
"Brother, we are not alone."
"Is that so?" Hashirama's voice sounded mildly curious, and he looked in the direction his brother had focused his attention on.
Nothing moved.
They exchanged a short, alert look. No words were needed to convey their intentions.
They approached slowly.
Under the watchful gaze of the moon, Senju Hashirama saw the small figure lying at the very edge of the cliff.
Tobirama noticed it shortly after him, and a frown marred his face. "Is that a child?"
They walked closer, less vigilant, and more concerned now.
They had not erred.
It was a child.
A young boy.
He could not be older than five, and he was shivering in his restless sleep.
Hashirama crouched down. "What is he doing here, alone, and at such an hour? Is there someone else with us, brother?"
Tobirama shook his head. "I cannot sense anyone besides you and this child."
"I shall try waking him. This is no place to sleep for a child." Hashirama placed his hand gently on the boy's shoulder. "Little one, can you hear me? Wake up."
Naruto's dreams were twisted. He dreamed of falling stars and burning skies. He walked through a desert of crystalized ice and swam through an ocean of molten fire.
It was scary. He wanted to leave he wanted to…
"Wake up."
The ocean became fainter. Was that a voice he was hearing? Was it calling for him?
"Wake up." The words sounded firmer this time.
The ocean vanished, and slowly his senses returned.
He felt something heavy on his shoulder.
Was that a hand?
He stiffened.
"Calm," a deep voice muttered, "Can you open your eyes, child?"
Naruto did not want to.
But the voice sounded gentle enough.
Maybe…it would be alright if he gave a short peek? Just to see, who was in front of him?
Tentatively, he opened his eyes and squinted at the figure crouching next to him. It was a man. He seemed rather tall and strong.
Naruto froze under his touch and did not dare to itch away.
The man smiled at him. Naruto thought he looked a bit sad. "Hello, little one."
"Um, hello?" Naruto offered timidly.
The stranger seemed to like his answer. His smile widened. "Do you want to sit up? It must be very cold on the ground."
It was cold.
Naruto was freezing. He nodded quietly.
The man removed his hand from his shoulder, and Naruto pushed himself up.
He shivered as he lost the meager protection the grass had given him.
Cloth rustled next to him, and Naruto suddenly felt something heavy and warm being draped over his shoulders. His head shot up and his surprised eyes met the serene gaze of a silver-haired man. "This should warm you up," the man told him evenly.
Naruto lowered his head and buried himself a bit deeper into the fur coat. It was the first time someone had gone out of his way to be kind to him. "Thank you," he muttered, "but aren't you cold now?"
"You do not need to worry about me, child," the silver-haired man replied. Naruto tilted his head and peeked up at him. The moon illuminated his stern features. Naruto thought he looked oddly familiar. But his mind refused to put a name to his face.
"My brother will be fine," the other man, the one with the gentle voice, assured him. "He knows how to keep himself warm."
Naruto nodded mutely. At least that nice man would not be cold because of him.
"Can you tell us what you are doing here, little one?" the one who had woken him inquired, "Where are your parents?"
Naruto froze and lowered his head even further. "I don't have any," he muttered inaudibly.
"I am sorry," the gentle voice replied. He sounded sad. "I was not aware of this. Who are your guardians then?"
Naruto was quiet for a moment. He wanted to cry but he could not. He had to be strong. He needed to be strong. So, he did what he always did. He raised his head and gave his most cheerful smile. "Oh, I don't have any. I live alone."
The men in front of him stiffened.
Naruto blinked. Why did they look so shocked?
'I don't have any. I live alone.' I live alone.
For a moment Hashirama simply stared at the child's overly cheerful smile and he wondered just how many people had mistaken that expression for one of happiness.
He had clearly seen it. The tells of someone donning a mask in front of him. The child had been so shy before and now he was suddenly acting like someone entirely different.
Hashirama never knew that it could physically hurt to see a child smile at him.
"I was under the impression that Konoha had an orphanage for these cases." His brother's voice was calm, but Hashirama knew him well enough to pick up on the repressed anger in his words. Hashirama did not fault him. He was angry, too.
"They don't want me," the child told them simply. "Nobody does."
Hashirama felt his heart breaking at the utter certainty in the child's voice.
The boy tried to untangle himself from the way too long coat, and Hashirama realized with sudden clarity that he wanted to leave.
He exchanged a quick look with his brother, and he saw the firm agreement in his eyes.
There was no way they would let a depressed five-year-old run off on his own in the middle of the night.
Tobirama was more resolute in his actions than he was. He had always been the more decisive one of them.
So, Hashirama was not surprised when his brother simply marched forward and picked the surprised child up.
The child protested loudly but immediately shrunk into himself when Tobirama threw a stern gaze at him and slumped into his brother's arms.
He was now back to the scared young boy they had found.
Hashirama gave him a reassuring smile. "It is very late now, little one. You can stay with us tonight."
The child threw him an anxious look but did not answer.
He sighed.
"Come, brother, we should head back."
The child was oddly silent. He had not spoken once since Tobirama had picked him up. He was taken by literal strangers, and yet he did not even ask a single question.
A normal child would have demanded to know who they were, and why they wanted to take him. This child, however, seemed entirely content with this uncertainty. It was worrying him.
Tobirama placed him carefully in the middle of the spacious bed.
Hashirama switched on the light.
The child stared at them. He still looked very nervous, and very confused. The spark of recognition Tobirama had expected to see never came.
So, the child still did not know who they were. It was unprecedented but a welcome change. It was getting tiresome to be recognized wherever he went.
He met Hashirama's gaze.
His brother silently shook his head.
It was settled. They would not tell the boy just yet. He was already skittish enough. There was no reason to scare him even further by revealing their identities.
He turned towards the boy. "You should go to sleep now. The hour is late. Everything else can wait until the morrow."
Hashirama stepped around the bed and smiled at the child. "Rest well, little one. You are safe here."
They switched off the lights.
A restless night passed under the bright watch of Orion, and the morning dawned in a sea of red and gold.
Naruto's sleep had been uneasy, and he woke the moment the door opened.
Hashirama greeted him with an easy smile on his lips. "Good morning, little one. Have you rested well?"
A wary nod answered the man's question, followed by a quiet: "Good morning."
Hashirama's smile widened. "Excellent. Breakfast is almost ready. I will show you to the bathroom."
The child looked at the man with eager eyes and attempted to untangle himself from the blankets. But he only ended up tying them tighter around him.
Hashirama chuckled in amusement. "Do you require aid?" he inquired.
Naruto paused in consideration. Then he accepted the offer with a tentative nod. "Please."
Hashirama stepped around the bed and grabbed the end of the blanket. "We'll have you free again right away. Arms up your head."
Naruto obeyed, and he was slowly freed from his cuddly prison.
"Brother, what takes you so long?"
Tobirama stared at the scene. His brother was kneeling on the bed, holding one half of the blanket in his hand while the other half was still wrapped around the child. The boy looked like a caterpillar.
"What are you doing?" he asked drily.
"Is it not obvious?" his brother retorted lightly. "I am freeing our valiant hero from his captivity. He must have fought bravely to end up in this state."
Tobirama snorted, and a small giggle came from the trapped boy. Of course, it would be his brother's silliness that broke the child's shell.
"Then go ahead and finish your rescue." He turned around. "I am waiting inside the kitchen with your mission reward."
"I demand S-Rank payment!" His brother yelled after him.
Tobirama shook his head as he heard both Hashirama and the child laughing behind him.
Hiruzen was quite surprised when the Nidaime searched him out during the early morning hours.
"Sensei," he greeted him cordially and went to stand up, but the man waved him off. "I am just a clone. My original is currently busy having breakfast with my brother and a young child."
Tobirama gave him a meaningful look. "He says his name is Naruto."
Hiruzen sagged into his chair. He suddenly felt very tired. "So, you have met him."
"I see you know who I am talking about." His teacher's tone carried no infliction as he continued his clinical report. "My brother and I found him sleeping on the Hokage Mountain in the middle of the night. Apparently, he had been crying himself to sleep there. We asked him after his guardians, but he told us that he lived alone because nobody wants him, and the orphanage apparently threw him out."
Tobirama fixed him with a stern gaze. "Hiruzen, who is this child?"
Hiruzen sighed deeply. "His full name is Uzumaki Naruto. He is the jinchuuriki of the Nine-Tails…and," he closed his eyes, "your great-grandson."
Silence.
Hiruzen winced as the air suddenly become suffocating. "My great-grandchild?" his teacher repeated in a dangerous whisper. "Pray, tell, why am I only hearing of this now?"
"I have always planned on telling you," Hiruzen replied weakly. "I just wanted to wait until the excitement about the attack had calmed down and people became used to seeing you two again."
It sounded awful even to his own ears. This answer would not placate his teacher. He was correct.
Tobirama's voice was cold, and his gaze carried chips of ice. "Leaving my grandson to suffer alone in the meantime. We will be talking about this, Sarutobi Hiruzen. In person."
The clone dissolved.
Hiruzen massaged the bridge of his nose. He was getting too old for this.
He had a great-grandchild.
He had a great-grandchild that had grown up feeling unwanted.
That had suffered even though he had been right there.
Tobirama stared in the direction of the bathroom door and suppressed the urge to make sure the child was alright.
"Hashirama."
His brother placed his hand on his shoulder. Tobirama saw the deep concern in his eyes. "What troubles you, Tobi? What did Hiruzen say that put you in this state?"
The familiar nickname calmed his mind, and the churning anger he felt subsided slightly.
"The child," he began finally, "Uzumaki Naruto. He is the Nine-Tails jinchuuriki and…my great-grandson."
Hashirama's eyes widened. "He is what?!"
"My great-grandson," Tobirama repeated because this was the only part that mattered to him.
"I have a nephew?!" Hashirama's eyes sparkled. "I really have a nephew?!"
Tobirama nodded.
Hashirama grinned in excitement. "These are wonderful news! But…" His face darkened, "why did we only hear about this now?"
"I am not sure," Tobirama replied grimly, his anger sparking again, "but I will be having words with Hiruzen about this. I sincerely hope he has a very good explanation as to why my grandson ended up in this state."
"An explanation I want to hear, too," Hashirama agreed. He was completely calm. Tobirama knew this was a testament to how angry his brother was. Hashirama never got loud when he was really angry. His brother's anger burned like cold flames.
"I am not letting him leave, "Tobirama threw a firm look at his brother.
"I would be disappointed if you did," Hashirama replied evenly. "We are Senju, and we protect our own."
Tobirama nodded.
Naruto was not sure what to think when the two men led him towards the living room. They had been nice enough up until now, and they did not appear angry. So, he supposed, or more likely, hoped, it would not be anything bad.
He blinked as the black-haired man picked him up with a bright smile and placed him gently on the couch.
Then he sat down next to him.
The silver-haired man scrutinized him for a long moment with a look Naruto could not really discern, but it was not a mean one, and it made Naruto feel more curious than scared.
Naruto watched as he slowly sat down on the opposite couch.
There was a moment of silence before the silver-haired man began to speak. "While we were having breakfast," he finally began, "I send one of my clones to talk with the Third Hokage."
Naruto tilted his head. The man had talked with jiji? Why?
"But before I come to that," the man paused to look directly at him, "we should tell you who we are. You did not recognize us at all, did you?"
Naruto scrunched up his face. The men's features did look familiar, but he had been too afraid to think about it. Now that he was sitting here, no longer scared, his mind finally made the connection his subconsciousness had made long ago.
His eyes widened as the realization hit him. "But…You are supposed to be dead."
A wry smile appeared on the lips of the man who could only be Senju Tobirama. "We are dead, child, and yet we are not."
"Do you not remember the invasion on the village?" the man next to him, Senju Hashirama, inquired gently. "We were… revived, in a sense, during this time."
Naruto slowly shook his head. "I don't know much of it," he muttered. "Those animal masks took me away just after it began. They only let me back out two days after things were over."
He played with his sleeve and missed the look the two brothers exchanged over his head.
"I see," Senju Tobirama answered finally. "Well, now that we have covered this, I will tell you what I found out during my meeting with the Third."
Naruto blinked as the man suddenly stood up and crouched down in front of him. "You still have a family, child."
"And this family, " Senju Hashirama added and shifted closer to him, "wants you very much."
Naruto froze.
A family?
Him?
He had a family?
They wanted him?
No. No. No.
This had to be a joke.
A cruel joke.
His jiji had always said everyone was dead. So why? So, how?!
Naruto trembled.
He was scared. So terribly scared.
He did not want to ask, and yet at the same time, he desperately did.
His question finally came out in an unsteady, pained whisper. "Who?"
Senju Tobirama's answer was short and to the point. "Us."
Naruto broke.
Hashirama's heart broke again as the child buried his fingers in his hair and vehemently shook his head. "Not true. Not true," he mumbled over and over again. "I am alone. Always alone."
Hashirama quickly grabbed the small wrists and carefully dislodged the small fingers from the child's hair.
He could see his brother's hand grasping the child's chin. Naruto's eyes were impossibly wide as he was forced to meet Tobirama's intense gaze, and the child went completely still. Hashirama was uncannily reminded of a spooked animal.
"You are not," Tobirama's tone was firm and unyielding, "alone. Not anymore. You are my great-grandchild. I will not abandon you."
"And I will not leave either," Hashirama added equally resolved. "I have just found out that I am uncle," he added more lightly. "I want to spend time with my nephew."
He gently squeezed the child's trapped wrists. "So, I hope you do not plan on running off, because we will not let you."
Naruto's body sagged, and Hashirama knew they had finally gotten the message across. At least for now. They were probably going to have a lot of similar conversations in the future, but time would prove how serious they were about their words.
They shared a long moment of silence as both of them simply held the distressed child.
It was Tobirama who finally broke it. "If you wish to," he offered, "we can collect your belongings and get you settled properly."
His suggestion met happy approval.
Tobirama ignored the disbelieving stares that were being sent in their direction with practiced ease.
But he did not fail to hear the comments some people made under their breath.
"Is that Nidaime-sama? What is he doing with this thing?" an aged woman huffed.
"Is that brat trying to control the First two Hokage now?"
"Don't be daft. It's obvious they are controlling it. Can't you see this thing is scared?"
Tobirama could feel the child tense in his arms, and a small head hid in his fur linen.
He felt a spark of protective anger and turned to reprimand the speakers, but his brother beat him to the punch.
Tobirama watched as Hashirama approached the vendor who had just made that comment with an overly friendly smile.
He almost snorted as he saw the crowd trying, and failing to subtly listen in.
The man bowed hastily, and very deeply in front of his brother. "Shodai-sama, what can I do for you?"
"Please give me the biggest chocolate Imagawayaki you have."
"Of course," the vendor replied eagerly. "This would be this one, sir."
Hashirama eyed the cake. "Can you put some sprinkles on top of it?"
"Certainly, Shodai-sama," the man happily completed the extra order. "You like it sweet?" The vendor asked as he handed the Imagawayaki over.
"Oh, it is not for me," Hashirama answered with a light smile. "It is for my nephew. You see, people have been saying mean things about him, and he is quite distraught. I want to cheer him up."
Hushed whispers broke out around them.
The vendor froze, and his face paled. "I…see," he stuttered. "That's…quite rude …I…I hope he likes it."
Hashirama hummed. "Yes, it is. Very rude," he agreed, "I sincerely hope they will not do it again." He smiled and handed the vendor several bills. "For your troubles."
Tobirama suppressed his smirk when the man hastily refused to take the money. "There is no need to pay me, Shodai-sama. It is a gift to your nephew. I hope he will feel better soon."
Hashirama smiled brightly at him. "How kind of you. I am sure Naruto will appreciate it."
Tobirama gently nudged the child in his arms as his brother returned to their side. "Naruto. Your uncle brought something for you."
The boy lifted his head. "Brought something for me?" he repeated.
"Here," Hashirama raised the napkin with the sweet. "For you."
Naruto's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Really," his brother agreed and raised his free hand to ruffle the boy's hair. "Try."
Tobirama changed his hold on the child, and Naruto happily bit into the cake being held in front of his mouth. His eyes lit up in happiness. "It's so good!"
"I am glad you think so," Hashirama extended the treat towards the child, and small hands received it eagerly. "Thank you!"
"Eat slowly," Tobirama reminded him, "and do not forget to chew."
"I won't," the child assured him seriously.
They moved on.
Hashirama was appalled. "This is where you lived?"
His gaze wandered over the empty instant ramen cups, over the cracks in the wall towards the dripping faucet.
Naruto nodded quietly, still nibbling on the remains of his cake.
Hashirama glanced towards his brother. The man's face was as expressionless as ever, but Hashirama knew he was not pleased. He could read it in his eyes.
Tobirama lowered the child down and placed his hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Collect everything you want to take and bring it into the kitchen."
Naruto hurried off.
"He seems to be quite fond of instant ramen," Hashirama remarked.
"Inexpensive food," Tobirama replied grimly and opened the freezer. It was almost empty. A single shriveled paprika was lying next to a milk carton. "No wonder he is so small. We will have to make sure he gets a more balanced diet."
Hashirama nodded.
Both of them turned around when they heard the patter of small feet coming closer to them.
Naruto came in, his arms loaded with a couple of knick-knacks.
Tobirama unrolled a scroll on the counter. "Place them here."
The child paused and threw a lost look at the counter.
Hashirama grinned when he realized that it was too high for Naruto to unload his cargo.
He swiftly picked the child up with one arm and easily snatched the fluffy sleeping cap Naruto had dropped.
"What is it?" he asked when the boy stared at the sleeping cap.
Naruto blushed. "Nothing," he muttered and carefully dropped his treasures on the scroll. "I just didn't see your hand move."
"Ah," Hashirama chuckled and placed the cap on top of the scroll. "I suppose it must have been confusing for you."
He leaned forward and whispered in the child's ear. "You should see your grandfather. He moves so quickly one would think he can teleport."
Tobirama snorted and sealed the scroll. "I can teleport, dearest brother."
"Semantics, brother, semantics."
Naruto shifted in his hold to look at his brother. "You really can teleport?"
He sounded excited.
Tobirama nodded and pocketed the sealing scroll. "Yes."
"Awesome," the child decided.
Hashirama saw Tobirama smiling slightly in response to Naruto's exclamation, and silently agreed with the child's assessment. His little brother was a very skilled man.
"Is that all you want to take?" Tobirama inquired.
"Um, I need this, too," Naruto pointed at the brown bag hanging from the kitchen chair, and Hashirama set him down so he could scamper over and take it.
"My school things are in there," the child added as he grabbed the bag.
"Your school things?" Tobirama's face darkened. Was this child already attending the academy? He was still so young.
"You are already enrolled?" Hashirama asked, a deep frown on his face.
Naruto tilted his head. "Um, no. The Hokage said I can start next month, though."
Hiruzen had what?
Tobirama was getting increasingly irritated with his student.
There was no way he would let this child anywhere close to the academy for a very long time. Judging by the dark look his brother showed, he was having similar thoughts.
"You will not," he stated decisively.
"You are too young," his brother agreed, equally firm.
The child's face fell. Tobirama's heart hurt at his devastated look.
"But…I want…how else…" Naruto lowered his head. "I just want to learn," he whispered in a barely audible voice.
Hashirama crouched down in front of him. "Is that what you want, little one? To learn?"
Naruto nodded silently.
Tobirama placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "If you wish to learn, child, then we will teach you. There is much we can impart to you, and we shall do so gladly. For this is what family does."
"Precisely," his brother added and brushed a stray strand out of the boy's face. "We will aid you in any way we can, and we will never feel burdened by your needs."
"You really mean that?" The child finally raised his head to look at them. He sounded less hesitant and more hopeful this time.
"Of course," Tobirama agreed and caught the boy's eyes with a solemn look. "Every single word."
"Thank you!" Naruto threw himself at them.
Hashirama nearly toppled over under the sheer force of the child's enthusiasm.
Tobirama laughed and embraced both of them.
For a long time, the newfound family remained joint under the watchful eye of the constellation of Orion that illuminated the darkened sky.
Thus ends the tragic story of an abandoned child with laughter and joy.
The next time you see a falling star, remember Uzumaki Naruto. Remember the child who trusted the stars and was granted his greatest desire.
May your wishes become true.