The brown-haired Senju blinked. Mito Uzumaki as in the First Hokage's wife? Mito Uzumaki as in his future wife?! 'Well, this just became very awkward, very fast' he thought. Hashirama pushed those thoughts away, "it's nice to meet you Mito-San, thank you for coming to our Birthday" he replied cheerfully, offering a hand to the girl. Mito smiled, "please, just call me Mito and you're very welcome" she replied, taking Hashirama's hand and shaking it. "Then you can call me Hashirama" he said with a nod. After a moment, the red-haired girl pulled away and turned to look at the white-haired boy next to him, "and the same goes for you Tobirama-Sama, you can call me Mito, okay?" she asked. The young boy nodded. Suddenly Hashirama's stomach growled loudly, making the boy blush deeply in embarrassment.
Mito just giggled, "I think it's time for lunch now" the three year old girl said. The brown-haired boy nodded, but before they could leave, a familiar and unwelcome voice cut through the crowd, "Hashirama, come here, there are some people I would like you to meet" his Tou-San said, roughly grabbing the boys wrist and dragging him away, "ah, wait, Tou-San, I-" he tried to say, but was cut off, "not now, these are very important people who will be providing us with funds for the war and we need to be in their good graces!" the man snapped. Hashirama was brought to stand before a group of very rich looking nobles, the kind who wore silk and velvet clothes everywhere and had so many pieces of expensive jewellery on, the sun made them sparkle just by shining on them.
Defiantly not the kind of people Shinobi usually associated with regularly and the kind of people Hashirama had hated when he had been Naruto. Stuck up rich people with sticks so far up their asses they didn't know the meaning of the word humility. But he supressed his groan and beamed up at the men before bowing deeply, "it is an honour to meet you my lords, I hope you are enjoying the festivities?" Hashirama spoke clearly and politely, hoping that it would allow him to leave faster if he did. He was starving and needed some Mixed Mushroom Soup, or at least some ramen soon! "Oh, aren't you such a polite young lad" one man who was fanning himself with what appeared to be merely a decorative fan commented. "Yes, Hashirama is indeed very polite and a true prodigy" Butsuma replied with a proud gleam in his eye.
If it had been Minato to say that about him, Naruto would have leapt for joy. But given who was saying it and the context behind the words, it just caused the Senju heir to grumble and growl inside his head. Speaking of grumbling and growling, Hashirama's stomach chose that moment to let out another loud growl of hunger. Tou-San levelled a glare on him, that promised punishment if he should cause them to lose these benefactors. "Oh, goodness, it seems someone has been training a little too hard today, hm? I think lunch has just been served" another of the rich nobles said, chuckling, "I think we can continue this discussion with just us adults, wouldn't you say Senju-Sama?" he asked. Butsuma's lips thinned into a line, but he nodded his head, "true, Hashirama, you may go and have lunch now" the man said, addressing his eldest son.
The brown-haired boy smiled and bowed in gratitude, "arigato Tou-San" he said, before straightening and making a beeline for where lunch was just beginning to be served up.
N/Ĥ
Hashirama ate four bowls for food, two of Ramen and two of mixed mushroom soup before he was finally satisfied. He leaned back in his chair and sighed in contentment, "ah, now that was a Birthday lunch" he said softly. A little while later he sat with Tobirama. "'nija, you will tell me a story? Like you used to?" he asked softly. Hashirama thought about it for a moment, before nodding, "sure Tobi, let's see, what story should I tell-" he wondered, before deciding. "A long, long time ago, there was a very powerful man who existed in the Elemental Nations. He had very special purple eyes that could many different things. This man, while very strong, never used his power to hurt people or make them serve him" he began. Tobirama blinked up at him cutely. Despite already being "an adult" in the eyes of the Clan, the little boy was still adorably cute. And Hashirama had to stop himself from cooing.
"This man wanted peace more than anything, so he created a teaching called Ninshu. This teaching was all about creating bonds through the sharing of Chakra. He soon gained many friends and taught them all Ninshu. Soon everyone in the world shared a bond through this connective power. But the man's Okaa-Sama wasn't happy about this. She believed that Chakra should only belong to her and though she had allowed her children to possess it, she would not allow more people to have Chakra" the eldest Senju explained. "What happened next 'Nija?" he asked, wide eyed and curious. Hashirama smiled a little sadly, but continued.
"The Okaa-Sama was very powerful herself, and she took her younger son and controlled him with her abilities, then made the two brothers fight each other!" Hashirama exclaimed dramatically. Tobi gasped, "why would she make her own sons fight, didn't she love them?" he asked. Hashirama grew sad, "she had been betrayed by her husband before her children had been born, so she could no longer rust and love anyone- not even her own sons," he replied as he shook his head. "Then what happened?" Tobi demanded. "The older man with the special eyes nearly killed his Otouto, but it did break him out of his Okaa-Sama's control. The older brother healed the younger and together they fought and defeated their Okaa-Sama. Then the man with the special purple eyes continued to spread Chakra and Ninshu to the world, creating peace, the end" he finished.
Hashirama knew that that was nowhere near the end of the story, but that seemed like a good place to end it. "Wow" Tobirama breathed when the story had ended. The older Senju chuckled slightly, before he picked his younger brother up, "shall we go and see how Kaa-Chan and Kawa-Chan are doing?" he asked. Tobi nodded enthusiastically.
N/Ĥ
The two boys found their mother feeding their baby brother under the shade of a house. "Kaa-Chan!" Hashirama exclaimed, running over as fast as his fancy Kimono would allow. Tobi followed behind. Their mother looked up in slight surprise, before smiling, "Hashi-Chan, Tobi-Chan, how are you both?" she asked. Hashirama smiled back, "we're fine, but we wanted to check on you and Kawa-Chan" he replied. The boy looked down at the tiny baby who was sleeping at the moment, "oh, sorry, I didn't realise baby Otouto was asleep. How is he?" the boy asked at a quieter volume. Ayumi smiled a bit more, "that's fine, you didn't know. Kawarama has just been fed and he's having a nap, how are you both doing?" she asked.
"Good for right now, I hope you and Tobi are enjoying your party?" Ayumi asked as Kawarama began to fuss slightly. The woman rubbed his back until he settled again. "We are, for right now at least" Hashirama replied. The Albino woman frowned, "oh? Did something happen?" she asked. "Earlier Tou-San had me meeting with so many of the Clan's allies and benefactors. And I hadn't gotten to eat anything yet. It took one of the men saying something for Tou-San to finally let me go" the eldest Senju boy explained. "Oh, dear, I hope you managed to get enough to eat then" his Kaa-Chan replied. Hashirama nodded, before smiling again, "I did, and it was all delicious, thank you for lunch Kaa-Chan" he replied. Ayumi turned to her second eldest, "and what about you Tobi-Chan? Did you enjoy your lunch?" she asked.
Tobirama nodded, "I did Kaa-Chan, thank you very much for making it" he replied with a small smile. "Hashirama!" a familiar female voice called suddenly. The three turned and looked to see a familiar red-haired girl running towards them. "hello again Mito, sorry about earlier, Tou-San wanted to introduce me to some important benefactors for the Clan" Hashirama explained, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "That's okay, but did you get any lunch? You sounded pretty hungry before" the Uzumaki asked. The long-haired Senju nodded, "I did, Kaa-Chan made me a Birthday lunch" he replied. Upon turning to the woman with the baby, Mito bowed, "it's a pleasure to meet you Senju-Sama" she said formally. Ayumi smiled at the girl, who looked to be the same age as Hashirama, "no need for that dear, my name is Ayumi, and it's very nice to meet you as well. And this is Kawarama" the woman introduced herself before gesturing to the baby in her arms.
Mito's eyes widened, "ah, I didn't know you'd had another child, congratulations" she said with a smile. The girl began cooing at the baby. Hashirama couldn't contain his beaming grin. Ayumi also smiled, though it was a softer and gentler one, "no harm done, he was only born yesterday after all" she replied. The red-haired girl nodded, "I see, he's very cute, and seems very quiet too" she stated. Ayumi smiled proudly, but it was Hashirama who answered, "Kawa-Chan is very well behaved, except for when he's hungry of course" he said, just as proud of his baby Otouto, despite him being one day old. "Well I hope he'll grow up to be just as kind and polite as Hashirama is" she replied. "So, I don't believe you've told me your name dear" the Albino woman stated.
Mito blinked, before blushing, "oops, I'm sorry Ayumi-San, my name is Mito Uzumaki" she introduced herself before bowing. Before anyone could say more, another familiar, but more unwelcome voice interrupted them, "what's going on here?" Everyone turned to see the Head of the Senju Clan walking up. "Ah, Senju-Sama, it's a pleasure to meet you my Lord" Mito said respectfully while bowing. The man stopped next to his wife, before narrowing his eyes slightly at the small girl, "and who is this?" Butusuma asked gruffly. Hshirama took a few deep calming breaths, "Tou-San, this is my new friend, Mito Uzumaki, I was just introducing her to Kaa-Chan and Kawarama" he explained. The mans eyes examined the red-head, "the Heir of the Uzumaki hm? Good job Hashirama, already forging alliances with Clan allies. I'll speak to Ashina Uzumaki about setting up a political marriage. If you two already get along, it would be best to strengthen those ties by marrying their Heir to ours" Butusuma said.
Hashirama's eyes widened, as did Mito's, "but Tou-San, we only just met today, and both of us are only three years old!" he exclaimed. "You will grow older, and one day, the two of you will marry and form a more permanent alliance between the Senju and the Uzumaki" Butsuma paused for a moment, "the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing abilities could prove to useful in battle against the Uchiha, and with their powerful lifeforce, Uzumaki Shinobi won't be able to be killed as easily. Their strength could help tip the balance in our favour- and you will help us to do this Hashirama" the Senju Clan Head said, before turning and walking away. Everyone was silent, even Kawarama didn't make a sound for a few minutes. Eventually Hashirama let out a huge sigh and turned to the red-haired girl beside him, "I'm, sorry about this Mito, really I am" he said, closing his eyes.
Mito shook her head, "no, it's okay Hashirama. I really do like you, even though it's not in that way yet. But maybe it won't be so bad, getting married one day. Who knows, we might even fall in love before or after that happens, so our marriage would end up being a happy one" she replied. Butsuma nodded "now that that's settled, there are more people here who want to speak with you" he said, grabbing Hashirama by the shoulder and pulling him away. The boy sighed. Back to the tedious meetings.
To Be Continued