Hashirama was currently in his training area practicing meditation. It had been nearly six months since Ayumi had told him about the fact that she was pregnant with his new sibling, and the man turned boy was more determined than ever to become strong enough to keep his family safe. His birthday was coming up soon, but the brunette didn't care about that. He wanted to make sure that Tobi-Chan would never be hurt as long as he could do something about it. And on October 23, he would be two years old. He knew that his Tou-San would send him out to the battlefield as soon as he could and he wanted to be ready.

He'd found out that if he focused, he had a passive Sensory ability. It wasn't as useful as Tobirama's would be, but it was good enough for his current needs. Suddenly he sensed someone entering his range, which was about 20 meters. From the Chakra signature, it was one of his older relatives. The boy opened his eyes and came out of his meditation to see his cousin Kaito walking into the clearing. He smiled at the older boy, "is something wrong, Kaito?" he asked. The older boy stared at him impassively, "Senju-Sama wishes to speak with you" he replied, before turning and walking off. Hashirama frowned, why would his Tou-San want to see him so suddenly? He had a very bad feeling about this. The brunette sighed and stood up off the grass, brushing his kimono off and starting on his way back to the compound.

As he walked, the boy admired the beauty and peace of the forest. It really was the only thing besides his Kaa-Chan that could make him feel so calm and at peace at the moment. Upon walking up to the compound, Hashirama bowed to the men guarding the gate. They waved him in once they had verified his identity and the Senju heir continued on his way. As he left the vicinity of the forest and entered into his Clan compound, the peaceful feeling vanished to be replaced by a feeling of foreboding. He knew it was a little strange to feel so at peace outside, but to be so uncomfortable and on edge within the walls of his own home, but he couldn't help it. Hashirama slowed slightly as he walked up to his father's study- well, it wouldn't do to appear nervous right now.

Taking a few deep breathes to calm down and focus, the boy raised his arm slowly and knocked on the hard wood door. "Enter" the stern voice of Butasuma called out. That was another thing that had changed over the year since he had been born. His father had gone from a strict, but still loving father to a strict and harsh father. No matter what happened the man always seemed to put him on edge every time they spoke nowadays. Hashirama silently slid the door open to see the man sitting at his desk with piles of paperwork surrounding him. He guessed that particular plague would always exist as long as there were people in authority to do it. The nearly two year old stepped into the study and closed the door behind him, also silently.

Walking over to the desk, the boy knelt quietly before it and waited for his father and Clan Leader to speak. A few tense moments passed with Butasuma still signing away on pieces of paper without saying a word, the pencil scratching on the paper being the only sound in the room as both occupants had long since learned how to breath silently, even in tense situations. Finally the older of the two placed his pencil down and sighed, before staring at his son directly in the eye. Hashirama tried his hardest not to flinch at the look his father was giving him and focused on staring back with as composed a face as he could. Eventually Butasuma spoke up, the sound echoing around the previously silent room, "Hashirama" he began sternly. This time the brunette did flinch. That was not the warm voice of his father. That was the hard, cold voice of a war leader, commanding his soldiers and demanding respect from those he addressed.

Hashirama gulped imperceptibly and replied in as strong a voice as he could muster: "hai, Tou-San?" he asked. He had no idea that the Shodai's father had been this intimidating, it was like trying to stand up in a hurricane, where every gust of wind was trying to shove you down. As it was he had to struggle not to bow his head and do whatever this man asked. 'Come on Naruto' he thought to himself fiercely, 'if the original Hashirama could stand up to him when he was only 10 years old, you certainly can! After all, you're not really 1, right?' but even as he told himself this, his body was struggling not to submit, to bow down to this overwhelming presence.

"Do you know why so many of our Clan-members leave the compound so often while some don't come back?" he asked sternly. Hashirama frowned, "no Tou-San, I don't" he replied. Butasuma shifted in his sitting position then looked back down at his son, "it is because our Clan is currently at war with another Clan" he explained. The boys frown deepened slightly, "war?" he asked softly. The Clan Head nodded, "that's right, the Clan we are fighting is a powerful and vicious one called the Uchiha Clan- they intend to wipe us out in any way possible and kill as many of us as they can" he said, eyes filling with rage at the very thought of the Sharingan wielding-Clan. Hashirama looked down for a minute, before looking back up again, "but, aren't we doing the same thing then? Killing them and trying to wipe them out- how are we any different from the Uchiha?" he questioned carefully, well aware of his father's short temper.

The Senju Clan Head looked at him sternly, "that is how we honour our opponents- listen to me Hashirama, this war will only end when the very last enemy has been defeated, we cannot show any kind of weakness, if we do, the Uchiha will wipe us out- I am telling you this because I believe that it is time for you to join the ranks of our Shinobi on the battlefield" he explained. Naruto grimaced. One. He was one. He knew that extremely young children were sent out to fight during this time period, but one year old was a little too early, even for his open mind. "But, Tou-San, I'm only one, despite my vocabulary, isn't one year old a bit- inexperienced?" he inquired. Butasuma levelled him with a hard stare, one that made him shrink back into himself despite his determination not to be intimidated.

"Hashirama, do you think I don't know about your Chakra control training, your meditation exercises or your sword training? I am the head of this Clan, and your father, it's my job to know these things, and as such, I know that despite your physical age and size, you are a competent enough Shinobi to fight alongside your fellow Clan members, not to mention your mental growth is high enough to be considered genius level- you are only one year old, and not only are you able to hold an adult level conversation with me, but despite what you said, you didn't seem that curious about the war or what it was, and were able to understand what I was saying almost instantly," Naruto closed his eyes in defeat, damn him and his more mature adult mind. "As such, you are entirely ready to be put into battle, if you can use a weapon, you can fight" the brunette lowered his head in submission. He knew that whatever he tried to say to get him out of this would only prove his father's point that he was ready for battle.

No matter how much he despised this situation, he could do nothing, and that was what he really hated. He'd done all that training because he knew that Butasuma would put him into the warfront soon, but he had assumed that, 'as early as possible' meant, like, five or something- not one for Kami's sake! Not to mention that he wanted to keep his younger brothers safe when they were forced into battle. So, Naruto did the only thing he could. "When?" he almost whispered. The only comfort he had was that his siblings weren't born yet so they couldn't be shoved into battle this way as well. Just the thought of a one or two year old Tobirama, or Kawamara or Itama being in this same situation caused his blood to boil like never before. His father smirked, seemingly pleased with his obedience and Naruto had to physically restrain himself so that he wouldn't react.

"In one month's time- before that I want to observe your training for myself to see your progress, and catch you up on some things that you need to know. I won't have my oldest son, my heir failing me and our Clan on the battlefield, understood?" he asked. Hashirama clenched his fists, but otherwise made no outward reaction, as he kept his face void of all emotion, "hai, Tou-San, may I go now?" he asked in a monotone. Butasuma looked back down to his desk and waved his hand dismissively, "yes, go, I have a lot of work to do" he replied, as the boy stood up. Bowing once in respect, more like forced respect, the Senju heir turned and slowly left the room.

N/Ĥ

As Hashirama left the compound, he began running, deep into the forest so that no one could find and interrupt him. He needed to let his anger and frustration out and he couldn't if anyone was around for fear they would get hurt. As he reached a fair distance away from his home, the brunette growled in anger. He muttered an apology to the trees around him, despite them not being intelligent in any way, before the boy began to furiously beat the trunk of the closest one to him, his enraged eyes staring straight ahead. As he let all his anger out, his other emotions that he had been holding back came rushing out as well.

Tears flowed down from his face as he thought of his soon to be born baby brother, who would have to join him on the battlefield before he'd even gotten out of the toddler years. Those tears only intensified as he thought of his other two little brothers, who he didn't even know what they looked like yet. They would also be forced to fight in this worthless war. They might even die, as despite his promises to himself that he would protect all three of them, Naruto knew that he couldn't do everything, and the chance that they'd die again was actually higher than he wanted to admit. He just felt so useless, why did he have to be reborn as his past self who'd already gone through all of this? Hadn't he already suffered enough in this life?

The brunette shook his head. No, no more crying. He'd promised himself he'd protect his new family and that's what he would do.

N/Ĥ

Hashirama stood in front of his father. He'd been training like crazy the past few weeks, and he'd improved his Kenjutsu, learnt several Earth and Water style jutsu and even learnt a Taijutsu style. While he despised having to participate in this war, that didn't mean he was going to purposely hold himself back from getting stronger. His mother was now six weeks pregnant and due to give birth any day. There was no way he was going to let Tobirama get hurt if there was anything that he could do about it. Unfortunately it had the downside of having to enter the war faster. But if it was a choice of not having to fight or being strong enough to protect his family, he'd choose his precious people, no matter what.

Now he stood dressed in the child version of the Senju Clans Armour. Which was green instead of red. Hashirama stood outside his Clan compound before Butasuma with a blank look on his face, completely masking his rage at this situation. His mother stood to the side, a worried and sad look on her face, one hand on her very pregnant belly. A group of six adult members of his Clan stood nearby, waiting for him to finish speaking with the Clan head. Butasuma stared down at his oldest child. "Hashirama, remember that, as a Shinobi of the Senju Clan, you have a duty to uphold our honour in battle, do not disappoint me" he said sternly. Naruto had to hold back his grimace.

What a load of crap. Honour? What honour? In his mind, this Clan- his Clan threw away any honour they had when they stooped to the level of throwing away their own children for the sake of this worthless war. But he didn't say any of that. He simply stared straight ahead, "hai, Tou-San" he replied. His mother then stepped up. Ayumi had obviously been crying, as evidenced by her red eyes, but she kept up a brave face, "you be careful out there, you wouldn't want your baby brother growing up without his Nii-San, right?" she asked softly. Hashirama managed a small smile at that, "don't worry, Kaa-Chan, I'll be back before my Otouto gets here" he replied as cheerfully as he could. The woman smiled gently and ruffled his hair, getting an indignant mumble for her actions.

Ayumi giggled softly before stepping back. The Senju Clan heir walked over to his fellow clan members and nodded to show that he was ready to go. After nodding back, the group all sped off into the forests, Hashirama among them.

To Be Continued