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CH13

Anko knocked once before swinging open the door. "Waiky, Waiky!" she sing songed only to receive a stare from a tiny cute kid sitting on a mat at the low kitchen table. He appeared to have just finished a staring contest with the milk carton. Her first thoughts of course were directed to Tobirama having a secret lover but the symbol on the back of the kid's shirt indicated Uchiha. So he did have an Uchiha lover! Poor Tobi….

"Yo sorry for your loss kid, bet you always wanted to stay at your dad's place though huh?"

"He's not my dad baka." The dead voice replied.

Anko frowned confused. "Why are you here then?" She didn't receive a response, normally she would have shaken the kid up for some respect but he'd probably had enough trauma last night.

"Tobirama! It's like ten your burning daylight!" But there was no response from her team mate who appeared to be in a deep sleep, which usually didn't happen to him unless he was really sick like running a high fever. In a fluid motion she made her way to Tobirama checking his temperature. It was fine. Was he pulling her leg? She shook him only to have his body limp at her command. She frowned.

"What's with him?" There was no response. She frowned shaking him again.

"Itachi hurt him."

"What's that kid?" The boy just stared at her. "I asked you what's wrong with him?" she was seriously thinking of giving the kid a good shake but thankfully Tobirama stirred slits opening crimson eyes glaring at her in displeasure.

"Yes?"

"Are you okay! What's wrong with you? What does the brat mean Itachi hurt you? Were you at the massacre?" She demanded.

"And whoever let you babysit the kid's crazy." Anko added in an afterthought.

"First of all stop yelling and close my shades." The cold tired voice replied. "Secondly I volunteered to take the kid in and thirdly kindly let yourself out." She frowned at the dead to the world Tobirama act closing the shades in irritation.

"Look I'm gonna go get sensei okay? You really don't look that good. And you'd better stop avoiding my questions!" Tobirama hated hospitals but if he was sick too bad.

"No don't get him I'm fine."

"Clearly not! And where are you going brat you can't just leave!" She snapped at the kid who had rudely forgotten to return the milk into the fridge and was now walking out.

"Train." Was the dead reply. Sheesh this kid could make Tobirama sound exciting.

"No, get back in here." Tobirama commanded his eyes opening briefly. She was sure the boy would ignore the order but the boy slowly trudged back dropping onto the mat. "Why do you care anyway." He muttered.

"Alright," she turned back her attention on the awfully pail Tobirama. "Talk and I won't get sensei."

"You're as bad as him." Tobirama muttered. "Fine," he sighed. "I got a dosage of genjutsu."

"Oh… well feel better!" She was about to leave when his eyes snapped open.

"Can you take care of the kid? Just for today? Don't want him doing anything stupid." Tobirama said through gritted teeth. It was rare when Tobirama asked her for anything and truth be told he was right regarding the kid. He needed to let out all that pent up sadness. But she wasn't gonna be proctor of the chunnin exams for nothing. If anyone could make the kid bawl his eyes out it would be her.

"Let's go kid!"

"No!"

"Now!" She demanded. "Or I'll make sure you never graduate the academy." The kid rose slowly following her out. This would be a fun day!

oooo

Tobirama watched as his teammate took the boy out. Hopefully she could make him snap and start talking. Talking was better than silence. He would know though he was at an age that if someone ever tried to make him snap they would regret it. He closed his eyes too tired to move. Suddenly an Anbu Deer appeared on his windowsill. After a few seconds of struggling he forced himself into a sitting position though this action drained him completely.

"Yes?"

The window was opened with a click. "Danzo-sama asks after your health and wishes to express his relief on your staying with the root."

"Tell him I request a three weak leave."

The Anbu nodded. "A month he said if you need that long. Also regarding the request of Cat…"

"Tell him I am finally free to see him and give him my apologies for the delays that have been keeping this long awaited meeting apart."

"A fast recovery to you Wolf." The Anbu nodded clicked the window shut and poofed out.

oooo

Evening came quickly. The book Jiraya wrote was exceedingly captivating. The description of raiding Asuri castle was truly something to behold. The tactics were pure genius with this infiltrating something like the Hidden Rain village would be considerably simpler particularly if someone snuck in through the city's sewage system. He was halfway through the novel when a wrapping caught his ear.

Getting up was out of question, what with him barely able to feel his legs at all. But if the visitor was the man he was expecting then this would not be a problem. "Come in." The visitor walked through the door which was made of wood. It was Anbu Cat. The mask was removed and the man went on one knee. "Senju-sama."

Tobirama raised an eyebrow at the formality. "No need." He waved a hand. "Just Tobirama." The man rose slightly surprised and stared awkwardly at him. The silence lasted only a full minute as Tobirama was used to dispelling such unreasonable and overly emotional pauses.

"I heard that you can use wood."

"Yes Tobirama-sama."

"I do realize that, I have seen you walk through wood but the mission reports say that you can create wood as well?"

"Yes," as a demonstration Cat created a small bonsai. The action hit too close to home a pang of Nostalgia hitting Tobirama as he remembered Nawaki showing him the first tree he ever mustered. It was small and unshapely and withered instantly but it had been made for Tobirama's birthday.

"I see. I wish to know then why you wanted to see me."

"I realize this is a lot to ask for, but I wanted to know if I could consider myself part of the Senju clan." A place to belong? Well he shouldn't have been so surprised after all a person needed to belong somewhere. And this man was also his responsibility. His sensei's research may have eventually brought medical breakthroughs to the village however the fact remained that many people were sacrificed in this journey.

"I know you may think I wish to join the clan for its wealth or for-!"

Tobirama raised a hand instantly silencing the younger man. "As head of the clan I say you are Senju. However…" The man looked at him his face betraying no thoughts waiting expectantly for the conditions.

"Your first loyalty will lie with the village, then the Senju clan, and then the Anbu is that clear?"

"Yes Senju-sama."

"Also am I correct that you still secretly serve in the root?" The man nodded not seeming surprised that he knew the information.

"Yes."

"Your curse mark will be removed."

The almond eyes widened. "Is that even possible?"

This produced a smirk from Tobirama. "The second if you recall was the one who created the Anbu. It was his idea at first to use cursed seals due to the human psyches fragility when under torture. Though Danzo altered the mark to his own uses the basic template is the same."

The eyes narrowed. "I apologize for my bluntness but are you not afraid that I will sell you out?"

Tobirama's smirk deepened. "Firstly after you see the sum the Senju coffers contain you will never have a need to sell out. And secondly." Tobirama's face suddenly turned serious. "I believe you are as I starting to realize that Danzo is extremely power hungry and though what he is doing will benefit the village eventually that power make consume him and ultimately do more harm then good."

The man's eyes stilled as he calculated the offer, desire to belong won out blind obedience. "I accept."

"In my current state I am not capable of removing the mark. I would like to ask something difficult of you." The eyes studied him warily. "My sensei Orochimaru will remove it."

The man paled considerably. "Orochimaru?"

"Yes, he has a lab near the outskirts of Konoha. Tell him I sent you." The man nodded as if in a daze.

Tobirama observed the man's reaction. "I apologize."

"You have shown me only kindness."

"I have sent you to face something you fear."

"I will not fear it since you say I will not be harmed Senju-sama."

"Alright what name would you wish to go by?"

"Yamato."

"Yamato Senju then?"

The man nodded and let himself out. Tobirama watched the man leave. It was strange how brave men became when they felt like someone else was in control. Even now he had the Hokage to depend upon. But how hard was it for a Hokage? To answer only to oneself and have no one else to depend on for failures? He picked up the book and resumed reading it. He just hoped that the next few wars he saw would be from books in his mind's eye and not on a real battlefield.