Today was the 23rd of October, and his Birthday. Hashirama Senju would be turning two years old today. As with his first Birthday, a huge spectacle was made out of it. The toddler found himself dressed up in fine robes of cream and violet silk, the main 'body' of the robe being cream coloured with violet flames decorating all over the cloth. The back of it was of course embellished with a large version of the Senju Clan Crest. The entire Clan was there to celebrate his second Birthday, and they brought well wishes as well as more gifts than he'd ever gotten in his life.
It wasn't that he didn't enjoy the attention, but Hashirama just felt like it was too much. It wasn't that he didn't get why this was such a big deal. In this time period, children as young as one year old were sent out to war as long as they were deemed capable enough. Not only had he survived his first brush with the war, but he was healthy enough to reach two years of age! In this time, that was something to be celebrated. But seriously. A festival for a Birthday? That was just too much! However, as it was his Birthday, he was allowed to spend it as he liked. Mostly. So he sat near his very pregnant mother, a bowl of grilled vegetable Ramen on his lap, and a bowl of mixed mushroom soup next to him. As he ate, he periodically glanced over to check on his mother.
Ayumi giggled, "Hashi-Chan, there is no need to be so over-protective, your baby sibling and I will be fine," she replied. Hashirama nodded, "hai, Kaa-Chan, I know" he replied. "Though your baby sibling has been very active lately, they will be coming very soon" his mother smiled, rubbing her stomach tenderly. The brown haired boy smiled and finished his first meal. Then he moved onto his second. Ayumi giggled again, "my my, you still have such a large appetite my son, and yet you never seem to get full" she replied. Hashirama grinned wide, his messy cheeks splattered with Ramen and mushroom soup stains, his eyes twinkling with mischief. After he'd finished his Birthday meals and cleaned his face, he saw some other young members of his Clan, playing some kind of game together. The young Senju frowned, wanting to go play with them, but not wanting to leave his mother's side.
His mother smiled softly, "go on Hashi-Kun, go have fun baby" she said. Hashirama returned the look, then took off after the other children, being careful not to get his clothes dirty, as his mother had made his outfit herself.
N/Ĥ
Hours later after the party, the young Senju was helping his mother clean up, despite their being plenty of servants around, they were insistent. Ayumi smiled gratefully, "Hashirama, you do not have to go to all this trouble to help me, I will be fine" she tried to dissuade her son. But the boy just shook his head, "you should take this time to rest Kaa-Chan, I can do it!" he replied firmly. The Albino woman frowned slightly, "well, if you insist" she replied. Hashirama nodded quickly, "I do" he said. "Thank you my son" the Senju woman gave him a soft kiss on his forehead, before moving over to the couch to rest. The brown-haired boy continued his work, before he suddenly heard his mother cry out.
"Ahh!" she yelped, before her legs gave way and she collapsed halfway to her destination. His head snapped up, "Kaa-Chan!" he exclaimed, dropping everything and rushing to her side. Ayumi had her hands over her belly and her face scrunched up in an expression of pain. At first the young Senju was worried that something was wrong, before he heard something splash to the ground. Looking down, he saw a puddle of liquid around his mother's knees. "Ha-hashi-Kun, I think y-your baby brother or sister is c-coming!" the white-haired woman managed. Hashirama's eyes widened, 'shit!' just then his father came into the room, "what is going on here?!" he demanded. The newly turned two year old spun around to his father, "call the midwife, hurry, Kaa-Chan is having her baby!" he demanded of his father.
Butasuma instantly flared his Chakra while rushing over to his wife as she cried out and easily lifted and placed her on the couch. Hashirama hovered anxiously, hoping she would be okay. Hoping they would be okay. As the midwife entered the room, his father turned to face him, "Hashirama, leave, let the midwife do her work" he ordered. The boys eyes widened, "what!? But-" he began, but was cut off, "do not disobey me! You are in the way!" The Senju Clan Head snapped. In the way? He was the one who was here when she started to go into labour! Hashirama was about to state this fact, when he felt a soft hand over his own. Looking down he saw his mother smile, "we'll *pant* be fine Hashi-Chan, I'll call you back in *pant* when your new sibling is born, okay? *pant*" she asked, while panting. Hashirama frowned, before he took his mother's hand gently, "hai Kaa-Chan" he replied softly.
The young boy turned and slowly left the room, looking back, he saw Ayumi smile softly at him, which he returned. Then he turned back to face forwards and left through the door.
N/Ĥ
It was a tense few hours of waiting for Hashirama. He knew his Kaa-Chan would be alright, she at least gave birth to three other siblings the first time. However, he didn't want that. He wanted her to live, to continue living to see the new world he would create. Even if it took fifty years for his previous self to really bring peace to this world, he wanted his Kaa-Chan to at least know what peace felt like for a time. He didn't want her to die. During the time he'd spent waiting outside the room, he could hear his mother screaming in pain from her labour, and every cry would tear through him. The midwife had come soon after he'd left, but that didn't help much.
Weren't their plants and herbs that could relieve pain they could use? Well, he didn't really know much about Herbology, but he was sure there were. Speaking of Herbology and healing, the original Hashirama had been known for his Medical Ninjutsu, even more so than Tsunade. The thought made him blanch. One day his Granny Tsunade would be his Granddaughter Tsunade. That just sounded wrong. Anyway, he knew he should start studying medicine and healing, but it would take a while. Suddenly a loud wail broke the stillness that had settled over the house. The sound caused him to jolt. 'Tobirama- my new baby brother, he's finally here!' he thought. His father soon stepped out of the room, "Hashirama, come, your new brother is here" Butasuma said.
Nervous and excited, the two year old shuffled back into the room. There his Kaa-Chan sat, exhausted and flushed, but with a beaming smile on her lips. "Hashi-Kun, come meet your new Otouto" she said softly. The young Senju slowly made his way over to the woman. Held within her arms, wrapped in a blue blanket, a small baby could be seen. As he reached the couch and peered over the blanket, he saw a pale white baby with a tuft of soft white hair, just like his Kaa-Chan. Hashirama felt his heart swell with happiness. This was his Otouto now. His baby brother. He lifted his hand, "hey their baby, I'm your Nii-Sama" he said softly, gently stroking Tobirama's cheek with one finger. The baby moved slightly, making a noise at the new sensation. Hashirama smiled and cooed at the boy. Ayumi smiled at her two children, "would you like to hold him Hashi-Kun?" she asked. The boy's eyes shot up to his mothers, a look of shock and fear present, "n-no, it's okay I'm fine, I-I don't really know how to hold a baby after all, a-and I don't want to hurt him-" he stuttered. However, his Kaa-Chan shook her head, "don't worry, I know you won't hurt him, besides, I can teach you how to hold him" she replied with a soft smile.
The young boy stared at her for a moment, before nodding slightly. Hashirama sat next to Ayumi, while she showed him how to position his arms. When he had been Naruto, he had held his children and Grandchildren when they had been born, but that had been a little while ago now, and besides, his new body was much smaller with less strength, he didn't want to drop his new baby brother. However, as soon as he felt the small weight of his brother enter his arms, he instinctively adjusted his grip and held the baby in his lap. His Kaa-Chan smiled, "see, you're doing so well already- you are going to be a wonderful older brother my son" she said. Hashirama looked down at the baby Tobirama and smiled. He was so small, and soft and warm. His baby Otouto was a tiny fragile thing, but he knew that this infant would grow to be a powerful Shinobi. As would he one day.
The two year old Senju cradled his brother in his arms and barely registered his Tou-Sama come over to them. "What should we name him Butusuma?" his Kaa-Chan asked. "Tobirama" the man said, taking his wife's hand, "Tobirama Senju".
N/Ĥ
Hashirama had had a busy second Birthday. And it wasn't just his Birthday anymore. It was now both his and Tobirama's as well. The two of them had been born on the same day two years apart, but the brown-haired boy didn't care. Just as long as both he and his Kaa-Chan were healthy. That night after the baby had been checked by the Clan Medics, Tobirama was placed into his old crib in the nursery. Hashirama twisted and turned in his bed. No matter what he did, the brunette couldn't fall asleep. He huffed, before climbing out of bed and creeping silently to the nursery. When he got their he peeked over the side of the crib-box his baby brother was lying in.
The white-haired baby was whimpering and twisting in his sleep. Suddenly he woke up with a wail. Quickly making a decision, the two year old reached in and grabbed Tobirama, gently lifting him into his arms. He slowly rocked his baby brother in his arms, but he child wouldn't stop whimpering. He checked the piece of cloth that served for a Nappy, but it was clean and dry. Instead, Hashirama slowly walked over to the rocking chair placed in the room and sat down. Then he began slowly rocking back and forth, "shh, shh, it's okay little one, Nii-Sama is right here" he said softly. Tobi still kept whimpering and squirming, so, Hashirama decided to sing him a song to see if that would calm the baby down. Thinking back on his first life, the young Senju remembered one of the only times he had been mothered before he'd met his own Kaa-Chan.
Looking out the window, the boy saw a bright red star shining in the sky. He smiled softly, closed his eyes and started to sing: "Natsuhiboshi, why are you so red? Because, I had a sad dream, last night. My eyes are red, from the tears I shed, swollen, as I cry. Natsuhiboshi, why've you lost, your way? I'm searching for a child who's gone afar. He can't be found, though I search all day, my sad dreams come once more" opening his eyes, Hashirama looked down at the Albino baby in his arms. He smiled when he saw his brother sleeping deeply, curled up against his chest. The now oldest of the Senju brothers leaned down and kissed his Otouto's cheek, "I love you Tobi, goodnight" he whispered. Outside the Nursery, Ayumi Senju smiled with tears in her eyes. Yes, she had such a wonderful and kind son, and she hoped he would never change.
To Be Continued