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CH12

Tobirama was released an hour later. It helped when your sensei was the head medic. It was a minor victory compared to his loss of a teammate. The manner was also unnerving. How could he not have seen something like this coming? Why did it happen? The questions danced in his mind like autumn leaves when they fell making him disoriented. He suppressed a wince as he made his way to his apartment followed by Sasuke.

Whatever it was that had occurred to cause Itachi to behave in such a manner the kid didn't deserve it. He opened the door with a click.

"You'll use the guestroom."

There was a nod in reply. Sasuke hadn't spoken ever since he broke down agreeing to live with Tobirama his eyes the same vacant they had been ever since the massacre. Tobirama sighed as opened the door to Nawaki's room. After his cousins death he hadn't the heart to change or enter the room unless it was for cleaning purposes. The smaller bed was still there as were his cousin's smaller Bonsai which littered the top of the nightstand. His cousin never had the chance to fully develop his skill as he had both water and earth but had a hard time getting the hang of making wood.

"We'll get your things tomorrow." Another nod. He would have to give the kid some time he supposed. After all this wasn't the battlefield where you had to instantly move on where if you stopped to grieve for even a moment you could lose your sense of self completely among the battle torn body strewn field.

He made his way slowly to his bed placing his Anbu outfit into a walk in closet. Sliding the wall door closed he collapsed onto his bed his entire body aching as if it had just been crushed several times over by rocks. He sighed and closed his eyes falling asleep almost instantly.

Tobirama awoke suddenly to someone sniffling. Others might not have heard the sound but years of maneuvering for days on end on the battlefield caused an almost instant chain reaction in his mind. He tried to rise but his body protested. After several attempts he pulled himself into a sitting position.

"Sasuke?" The sniffles paused. He tried to rise who knew what the kid could do? He had heard from Asuma once that Kakashi himself had attempted suicide after his father's death and in all honesty after witnessing the coldblooded massacre he wondered whether he himself would stay sane. He cursed colorfully when his feet refused to budge, they were their but he couldn't feel them much; maybe he should have stayed at the hospital….

But this wasn't about him it was about the kid who lost everyone he held dear in overnight. He tried another tactic. "Sasuke! Get over here now! Don't make me get up."

The order had its effect no doubt the training of obeying elders still ingrained in the boys young mind. He heard shuffling and the door opened.

"Come here."

The boy shuffled slowly as if every move he made was against his will. No evidence of crying graced his young face but Tobirama knew better. If he was awake then there was little else the Uchiha would be doing.

"Look." Tobirama sighed, feeling as if there was some sort of class or book he should have taken or read before dealing with the child. "If you need to talk I'm here, and if you don't want to that's fine too, crying when you lose someone is fine."

He leaned against the wall slowly eyes closing against his will in pain as he tried to figure out where he should go with this. "Look your safe here, alright? Nothing will hurt you." He felt like his words were somehow wrong but that's what he had always wanted to hear ever since his parents died. It was cold in the real world and Sasuke was too young and to alone to be able to live through this experience. Besides he was younger than Tobirama had been when his parents died and even though Tobirama logic kept telling Tobirama crying wouldn't bring them back somehow those first few nights he had cried and he had felt slightly better after it.

"I wasn't crying." The boy evenly replied.

Tobirama nodded. "Alright then I'm sorry I made you wake and come here."

The boy seemed to register the apology and trudged away slowly. "Whatever."

Well no one said this would be easy…Tobirama forced himself to lie down as his body initiated a lockdown probably realizing its owner was a total imbecil when it came to rest. He doubted he would wake for quite a while….

oooo

Anko awoke to a bright day full of sunshine and birds chirping. She pulled herself up and through on her regular clothes bypassing the completely dull Jonin uniform. Who even wore that stuff anyway? After rummaging through her fridge she decided to go raid Tobirama's house for food and heck up on her teammate. Vaguely she wondered whether she would ever catch him unawares such as with a woman per say. She shook out the thought. When had she become so perverse?

Hmm maybe she'd visit Iroko…she frowned when she heard a knock on the door. Tobirama was not a morning person neither was sensei… her face brightened as she thought of Iroko's bashful face when she had kissed him. Yep it had to be him. She bounced toward the door in a fluid motion and through it open only to be met with an Anbu. She froze, slightly taken aback.

"Can I help you?" Damn it all Tobirama had better not have gotten himself killed, he occasionally told her when he would be away but Anbu were always being dragged out of their beds at random times for S ranked missions.

"The Hokage had called every Jonin to attend a meeting immediately." She nodded grabbing her kunai pouch and slipping on her sandals she poofed away to the briefing room.

The room was filled with Jonin. Shukaku, Inoichi and the older Jonin stood at the left while Kakashi, Kurenai and crew stood toward the right with the younger Jonin. Most of the others stood in the middle. She pushed through trying to see Tobirama but he wasn't present. Neither was her Sensei who usually never came to these meetings anyway as he already knew what was going on from the Anbu. She frowned as she made her way toward Kurenai.

"You know what this is about?" Kurenai shook her head. Kakashi's eye narrowed. "There are no Uchiha Jonin." The statement seemed to have already manifested itself on Shukakau's face who was talking in a low voice to both Inoichi and Choza.

"Where's Tobirama?" Asuma asked hiding the cigar as his father entered taking up the Hokage seat.

"Mission?" Anko wondered in a half whisper. Gai looked like he was about to say something but the Hokage held up his hand plunging the room into silence.

"Many of you may not be aware…." The Hokage began…. "But the Uchiha were all massacred last night by one of their own an Uchiha Itachi. There was only one survivor." There were gasps among the other Jonin as the room filled with muttering. The Hokage raised his hand to silence the crowd.

"His whereabouts are currently unknown." The loudness of the room escalated as the Jonin all began speaking amongst themselves. Anko glanced worriedly at Shukaku whose face was always a good indicator of how bad things were according to Orochimaru anyway. He was talking rapidly to his team, which contrary to his usually lazy manner was extremely out of character for him.

Figuring Tobirama must be still asleep from clean up duty the night before she left at the meetings end making her way to her former team mate's apartment. And Iroko she sighed, life was funny that way wasn't it? Ahhh well he wasn't a keeper anyway, though she couldn't exactly say he wouldn't be missed…...