The next day the rain had died down to a shower and Hashirama's ribs only ached instead of causing stabbing pain. The two boys started back to the Senju compound. Tobirama decided to speak up after a few minutes of silence, "we failed the mission, didn't we?" he asked quietly. "Uh-hu" Hashirama confirmed. "'Nija, do you think Tou-San will be really mad at us?" the white-haired boy asked. The older boy closed his eyes for a moment, before opening them again, "if he is, I'll make sure that he doesn't punish you for it, after all, it was only your first mission" he replied. Tobi frowned worriedly, but stayed silent until a rumbling sound was heard. Hashirama looked down at his younger brother, who's bright blush stood out against his pale skin, "sorry Hashi-Ani, I haven't eaten since last night" he replied.
Hashirama smiled slightly, "it's fine, as soon as we get home, I'll make sure you have some proper food Otouto" he replied. But the younger boy was still worried. He had a bad feeling about what Tou-San's reaction would be. Never-the-less he stayed quiet and tried to prepare himself for how their Tou-San would react.
N/Ĥ
When they got home, neither one was up for an audience with the Clan Head. However, both knew that if they didn't meet with him as soon as possible, his reaction would be even worse later on. So, slipping past their Kaa-Chan so as not to worry her yet they stood before the Clan Head's door. Neither were very optimistic for the outcome of this meeting. While Tobi may not know just how furious and violent their Tou-San could get just yet, Hashirama had, and he was not looking forwards to it, despite knowing that he would rather take it that let his baby Otouto get hurt. Hashirama took a deep breath and knocked on the door, "Tou-San, we're back" he said quietly. "Enter" Butasuma called.
Tobirama shivered once before his older brother slid open the door and the two boys entered the room. Upon entering the room the Senju brothers promptly sat down. No one made to disturb the silence yet, but the air was heavy and thick. The silence of the room continued for a good 10 minutes, during which both boys fought to keep their composure. Naruto knew that Butasuma was using Killing Intent, but he was determined not to blurt out the news of their failure, as that would probably make Tou-San even angrier. Tobi on the other hand had locked up his whole body, to keep himself still. The boy felt like he was slowly being crushed by the weight.
In fact he barely managed to keep himself from grabbing a kunai and slitting his own throat to get rid of that damnable pressure. "So," the Clan Head began. Hashirama clenched his teeth and fists, "you failed". The brown-haired man stood and walked forwards. When he stood in front of his eldest, the boy looked up at him with a glare. "Do you have anything to say for yourself?" he asked, voice deceptively soft. Hashirama stood and kept his glare pinned on his father, "Tobirama had been captured by the enemy, they said that they would kill him if I didn't give up the scroll" he explained, body tense and waiting. "So you chose a comrade over the mission" he stated. "That's right" The older boy replied softly.
Suddenly and without any warning Butasuma Senju punched his eldest son in the face. The three year old flew backwards to the ground, while Tobirama stood up in shock, "'nija!" the boy exclaimed as he rushed over to his older brother. "Hashi-Ani!" Tobi cried. Their father watched while Hashirama pushed himself up with his younger brothers help, "in this world *pant* those who abandon the mission and break the rules are regarded as scum," he glared defiantly at the man again, "but *pant* those who abandon their commrads and family are worse than scum- I don't give a damn about the mission *cough*- I will never abandon my family and friends! I REFUSE TO BECOME SCUM LIKE YOU!" he screamed. "You worthless brat!" the Senju Clan Head cried, moving to hit his eldest son again. Suddenly the door opened with a slam, "what the heck is going on in here!?" a familiar voice demanded to know. Everyone in the room froze before turning to look at the person in the doorway. Ayumi stood there, looking furious, "just what the hell are you doing Butusuma!?" the Albino woman demanded, rushing forwards, despite her hugely pregnant belly.
"Hashi-Chan, you're hurt!" she cried in concern. The brown-haired boy pushed himself up, "I-I'm okay, you shoun't be exerting, yourself so, m-much Kaa-Chan" he slurred, before wobbling and would have fallen again had it not been for Ayumi catching him, "'nija!" Tobirama went over to them, "are you okay Hashi-'nija?!" the younger boy exclaimed worriedly. "Let's bandage him up and get him into bed" the Albino woman said, lifting her eldest with a bit of trouble, but making no protest as she carried him from the room, completely ignoring her fuming husband.
N/Ĥ
As Ayumi carried Hashirama through the halls, Tobirama stayed close by her side the whole time, staring worriedly up at his Elder Brother, "Kaa-Chan, is 'nija going to be okay?" the toddler asked. The white-haired woman smiled down at her youngest son, "of course he is, Kaa-Chan is going to take care of him- will you help me too?" she asked. Tobirama nodded quickly, "I'll help!" he exclaimed. "thank you baby, I could use it too, what with your baby brother or sister coming soon" she replied. Soon they entered one of the bathrooms and Tobirama helped to strip his Elder Brother of his armour and clothes. Ayumi began running a hot bath for her son after instructing Tobirama to begin scrubbing his older brother's skin ("be gentle through, Anija was hurt after all").
Thankfully, despite being physically smaller and weaker than Hashirama, Tobirama was able to make it work by gently cleaning one part of his Anija at a time. Hashirama, slightly surprisingly, stayed unconscious the whole time, only flinching occasionally whenever a sensitive part of his body was touched, like his ribs. Ayumi frowned sadly 'my poor baby' she thought. After he was thoroughly clean, the two began slowly and carefully washing the soap off Hashirama's body. Then Ayumi lifted her boy out of the tub and gently dried him with a towel. When he was dry, the two took him back to his bedroom where the white-haired woman lay her son down in his bed. "Come Tobi-Chan, let's allow Hashi-Chan to rest now" she said, taking her youngest by the hand.
As the two Albino's left the room, Tobirama looked back over at the brown-haired boy, "I hope you feel better soon 'Nija" he whispered quietly.
N/Ĥ
Broken bones were always a pain, quite literally. While Hashirama was recovering, he and Tobirama helped care for their mother, the older boy often had to take breaks to avoid straining his ribs. As the imminent birth of their third sibling drew closer, the two boys would stay closer to the woman and catered to her every need. The only reason Butusuma allowed this was because his eldest was still recovering. Ayumi was more than happy to care for her two boys and have them care for her.
One day she sat with Hashirama and Tobirama in the small nursery. Hashirama was drawing her something, very carefully and slowly making the lines and colouring in the spaces, while Tobirama was working on his Chakra control with a game of balancing blunt wooden kunai. Butusuma had tried to get him to use real ones, but the woman had countered it saying that getting wounds from battle is one thing because they were unavoidable, but getting injuries simply from a Chakra control exercise was a foolish thing to do. Her husband had eventually conceded- for now at least. So now all three were simply relaxing.
Eventually her eldest came up to her and presented his picture. Ayumi placed her hand over her heart. It was a drawing of many different kinds of flowers, all perfectly drawn and coloured in and, in his neatest Kanji Hashirama had written: 'Kaa-Chan is as beautiful as every flower, ミイラはすべての花のように美しいです'. The white-haired woman's eyes sparkled with happy tears, and she hugged her baby as tight as she would allow herself to, "oh Hashi-Chan, I love it and you so much my wonderful son!" she exclaimed softly. The brown-haired boy smiled, "I love you too Kaa-Chan" he replied. Suddenly she felt something and jolted.
Hashirama looked up at her, "is something wrong?" he asked. Ayumi shook her head "the baby is kicking, I'm mostly used to it by now" she replied with a smile. Hashirama smiled back, "can I feel it?" he asked softly, "me too Kaa-Chan" Tobirama insisted. Their mother giggled, "alright, put your hand gently on my belly and we'll see if baby want to kick for their Nii-San's" she replied. Both boys placed their hands on their mother's stomach, "hey baby, we're you're Nii-San's. I'm Hashirama and this is Tobirama, and we're both very excited to meet you" the Senju Heir said softly. Suddenly they're was a tap against the skin of their Kaa-Chan's belly, startling Tobirama but making the oldest smile. "I felt it Kaa-Chan, the baby kicked!" Tobi exclaimed.
Ayumi beamed, "your baby sibling is excited to meet you both and can't wait to see you in person" she replied. Tobirama seemed amazed at that, while Hashirama smiled fondly. Even after that disaster of a mission, Tobi was still able to show that childish wonder towards the world. He prayed that the boy would get to keep it a while longer.
To Be Continued