Birthright
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. For those keeping track, Aiya and Arashi are 22, the triplets are 19, Kenji is 18, Hoshi & Shisui are 16, Emiko is 1, and Minato the second is 4 months. Anyway, I hope that everyone enjoys the Hoshi & Shisui Chapter.
Story Notation: Chapter 33 will be the epilogue. This is not the last chapter. Oh and apologies to any Tobirama Fans in advance.
Chapter 32
The wedding went on for hours and hours. By the time that it was finally over, the Sun was already rising high in the sky. The twins weren't done yet though. They were feeling rather restless.
Well more specifically, Hoshi was. "Come on!" He laughs as he gestures for his brother to follow him. "This is gonna be great!"
Oh boy. Shisui knew his elder brother well enough to realize that phrase meant one thing. Hoshi was going to do something incredibly foolish that while fun in the short-run, was going to be a headache in the long-run.
"Slow down!" He flits off after him. "What crazy idea has gotten into your head this time?!"
There were many benefits of being a twin (or a triplet). One of them was that you were never truly alone. Another was that you had an almost instinctive understanding standing of your twin. Almost psychic really.
Unfortunately, there were also disadvantages. The most problematic of which was that it was very difficult to say no to your twin. It was almost like Hoshi had hit him some Mind Controlling Jutsu or something!
He laughs madly as they continue running across and jumping over roof tops. "You'll see!" Famous last words, Shisui muses to himself as he chases his brother. "This is going to be so awesome!"
Meaning they were both going to get in big trouble. Still, a morbid sense of curiosity had him following his twin. God only knows what Hoshi had come up with this time.
"Right." He rolls his eyes as they finally stop. "What are we doing at the Hokage Mountain?" That didn't make any sense.
That's when he notices that his elder brother had been carrying a bag of tomatoes the whole time. Oh boy. He wasn't sure that he liked where this was going.
"I figured that we'd follow in the footsteps of the Seventh Hokage." He winks at him mischievously. "Just with a more personal touch." Righttt.
This definitely wouldn't end well. Still, it was rather tempting. There was one Hokage in particular, that he wouldn't mind giving a makeover.
Decisions, decisions. "You know that this is a bad idea." It really was a bad idea.
"Yeah." Hoshi nods without any sense of shame. "I know, but come on." Shisui was convinced that his brother was just incapable of feeling embarrassed about well anything.
"Yeah." Hoshi nods. "I know, but it's still going to be fun and he totally deserves it."
Shisui couldn't argue with that. Oh well. They were sixteen. The worst their parents could do at this point was ground them for two years.
"Pass me a tomato." He smiles and Hoshi smirks as he places one in his brother's hand.
Meanwhile Hinata yawns as she is carried off inside the house by Itachi. Ironically enough, he was carrying her Bridal Style. Which was probably what Kami was doing to Miya about now as well.
"Well I don't think they're going to forget their wedding anytime soon." Sasuke chuckles as he follows them inside.
Hinata very much doubted that they would either. Uchiha Weddings were always a grand affair to put it mildly. Though she really hoped that Kami could handle her feistiest daughter.
The bluenette nods though as she snuggles closer to her husband's chest. Well one of her husbands. Hinata was blessed to have two of them.
"That's true." She smiles as Itachi carries her up the stairs and Sasuke follows them.
It was always nice to be carried around. If she wasn't careful though, Hinata would get lazy. Her lovers likely would have indulged her, if she asked to be carried around everywhere. Actually, they might actually prefer it.
Itachi smiles and sets her on the bed while Sasuke shuts the door behind them. "We should all get some rest." They probably should, Hinata thinks to herself as she yawns cutely. "That was quite the celebration."
"That's putting it mildly." Sasuke snorts in amusement. "Well at least there wasn't any glitter or confetti this time." Good point.
That stuff took weeks to really get out of the District. Hinata giggles as she remembers Arashi's and Aiya's first birthday party. A month. That's how long it had taken to truly clear the District of the glitter. Never again. They were never using glitter for celebrations ever again, they had all vowed.
Hinata laughs softly as she curls up into the bed. "Mhm. No glitter." Thank goodness.
"Well judging by how closely Safa and Kenji were dancing, we'll likely be planning another wedding before long." Itachi chuckles as he lays on Hinata's right side and Sasuke takes her left.
She loved sleeping next to them. Cocooned inside both of their embraces, completely protected and cherished. Hinata hadn't had nightmares in years. They were her gorgeous dream catchers.
Sasuke rolls his eyes at that. "It just had to be Suigetu's and Naruto's daughters." She almost wanted to laugh at the utterly forlorn look upon his face. "Couldn't have been someone else's."
"Oh don't look so put out." Itachi pokes Sasuke's forehead. "It could have been far worse."
The younger Uchiha brother raises an eyebrow. Clearly, he wasn't buying that theory. Hinata had noticed a long time ago, that her younger husband's facial expressions could be quite comical when he wanted them to be. Well that or at least when he let his guard down.
"How do you figure?" Sasuke snorts.
Itachi smiles good-naturedly. "Well it's not as though they fell in love with Orochimaru's daughter or something." Hinata privately concedes that was a very good point.
It was difficult to visualize such a thing though. Orochimaru's daughter. Thank goodness that was just a hypocritical or if such a woman did exist, Hinata hoped at the very least she didn't inherit her father's tongue!
"Don't even joke about such a thing!" Sasuke makes a disgusted face!
Itachi chuckles and shrugs. "Well you asked how it could be worse and I told you ." True. That was true. Itachi had him there.
It didn't matter though. Hinata was exhausted. As amusing as this all was, all she wanted to do was curl up next to her husbands and sleep. Preferably for a very, very long time.
Elsewhere Hoshi laughs as they throw their tomatoes at the Second Hokage's face. They were going to get in trouble for this, if they got caught. He didn't care though.
The bastard had it coming, really. It was his fault that they would never know their paternal grandparents or their paternal anything besides Father Itachi and Sasuke.
"You know, if we aim it just right, we could probably make it look like lipstick." Shisui tilts his head thoughfully.
Now, there was a brilliant suggestion. Hoshi wasn't sure why he hadn't thought of it himself first! That was Shisui though.
The man would always pretend that he didn't want to be drug along on adventures, but that was just feigned resistance. Hoshi knew that. He knew his brother better than anyone.
He supposed that was just a product of being twins though. "That's a great idea!" And with that, the two of them begin hurling their tomatoes at Tobirama's face.
Well maybe, his face was exaggerating a bit. The man had been dead for years. This was just his likeness carved into a mountainside. Hoshi had never really understood the tradition.
It struck him as really vain and pointless. That was a lot of work and what were they going to do, after Naruto? He had gotten the last spot. There was no way they'd be able to squeeze in Number Eight!
"Yeah!" Shisui grins. "I know! That's why I thought of it!" Good point.
His brother was a genius, after all. Shisui always came up with really cool ideas. Then again, all of their brothers and sisters were smart. It was just Shisui happened to be the most creative.
He chuckles at the other Uchiha's response though. "So modest." And chuckles a few more tomatoes at Tobirama.
Alright. A few more was an understatement. Probably a couple dozen, but the dead Hokage deserved it.
If he hadn't separated the Uchihas into their own District and put them in charge of the Leaf's Military Police Force, there was a good chance their Uchiha Clansmen and Clanswomen might still be alive.
Idly, he wondered if their parents would still be in a three person marriage. "Of course, modesty is one of my most endearing traits!" Hoshi liked to think they would be. "You know that, dearest Hoshi!"
It was a strange love story, but that didn't make it any less real. Hoshi loved the idea of love. That was probably why he was such a flirt, but he wasn't like Arashi, Aiya, and Miya. He hadn't found the one before puberty freaking hit.
Really, it was a bit ridiculous that they had all paired off so quickly. "Of course, such modesty can only be expected from an Uchiha Prince!" He chuckles though.
Modesty and Uchihas were rarely used in the same sentence. The only exceptions were their mother and perhaps Nara (or Amaya to a lesser degree).
Shisui nods in agreement. "Of course." Though even the young Uchiha Prodigy couldn't keep a straight face at that.
Hoshi and his brother both burst out laughing at once. It was just such a ridiculous thing to say and they both knew it. The Hokages would probably be rolling their eyes in the afterlife, but neither of them cared about at least one of their opinion's.
A few hours later, Itachi wakes up and decides to make a late breakfast or an early lunch. He smiles down at his sleeping wife and brother. They both looked so peaceful. It seemed almost a crime to wake them. So he wouldn't.
"Let's see, everyone else would have wandered off by now." He muses. "Though I probably should make something for Hoshi and Shisui in case they toddle back soon."
Knowing the twins, they were probably off celebrating in a way that should merit them being grounded, but Itachi didn't have the heart to do such a thing any more. That and they were both 16. They were basically grown.
It was strange. Now, it was just the twins, himself, Hinata, and Sasuke living in the house. Aiya had moved to the Sand with her family and their other children had already moved into other houses in the District.
He pauses for a moment as he considers what to make for breakfast. "Perhaps, some omelets will do." That sounded like a good idea.
They were lucky in a way, their children had all stayed close, but for the most part had their own homes now. After a certain age, children just needed to stretch their wings a bit. They had decided that age was eighteen and not a day sooner though!
There were certain benefits to having two teenage boys in the house. There were never any leftovers. Itachi had absolutely no idea why teenage boys had such large appetites, but it was apparently a universal thing. Their elder brothers had been the same way!
"Good thing we still have two cartons." That's about how many would be needed for the five of them.
As he was making his culinary masterpiece, he hears the sound of dainty feet coming down the stairs and smiles. "Good morning." Had to be Hinata.
Sasuke's feet would either make far more noise or not at all. It all depended on whether his foolish little brother was being stealthy or not. Most ninjas could walk silently, if they wished it though. It was just part of the job.
"Morning." She laughs softly as she joins him for breakfast. "Or should I say, good afternoon."
The not so subtle sounds of Sasuke's footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs. His foolish little brother was definitely not trying to hide his presence. Not that it would have mattered. Itachi would have sensed his chakra anyway.
"Afternoon is probably more accurate." Sasuke smiles as he heads inside the kitchen. "Have either of you seen the twins yet?"
Hinata shakes her head. "No. They're probably out and about, causing all kinds of mischief." She giggles.
Sasuke shakes his head and groans. "That's exactly what I was afraid of." Itachi smacks his forehead in frustration upon hearing that.
Mostly because it was true. Hoshi and Shisui were quite the fearsome combination. Both on and off the battlefield. Thanks to Shisui's Flickering and Invisibility Jutsus, Hoshi could trap almost anything or anyone in his crystals.
That was far too much power to put in the hands of two sixteen year old boys. "Whatever they're up to, we'll figure it out sooner or later." Itachi smiles. "So let's not worry about it for now and instead focus on enjoying our breakfast." After all, it seemed the most logical course of action.
Meanwhile Naruto was out shopping when he notices something strange. The Second Hokage's image on the mountain had lipstick on it? He blinks.
"What the Hell?" That didn't make any sense.
Naturally, he decides to investigate. On his way towards the mountain, he noticed many people stumbling around. Half awake. The blonde decides they must have been at Miya's and Kami's wedding the night before. It would certainly explain a lot!
That's when he sees what was going on and shakes his head. "I can't believe you two are throwing tomatoes at the Hokage Mountain." Though Naruto knew that he couldn't be too hard on them.
He had done the same thing in his youth. It would make him a hypocrite. Still, he did have to wonder why they were only aiming at one of the Hokages.
"Tomatoes are father's favorite food." Shisui nods as it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Hoshi nods as well. "And the fact our paternal grandparents aren't alive, is indirectly Tobirama's fault." Oh boy.
Naruto was definitely not going to touch that one with a one hundred foot pole. He wasn't stupid enough to get in the middle of this. Damn. These kids were going to be the absolute death of him!
"Right. I guess you guys can throw your tomatoes." Naruto sighs and shakes his head. "Just make sure to clean it up, when you've had your fun."
The twins beam at him and nod. "A Water Jutsu will wash the tomato juice off easily enough." Hoshi assures him.
The fact that Hoshi had seemingly planned this well in advance, disturbed Naruto. How long had he been thinking about this? "You've been planning this for awhile, haven't you?" He was almost afraid to ask, but curiosity could be a powerful force sometimes.
Hoshi nods his head vigorously as if he was tremendously proud of himself for doing such a thing. "Yes, I figured that everyone would be too tired from Miya's Wedding to notice." Well, Naruto couldn't argue with that.
Back at the Uchiha District, Sasuke smiles as they eat their breakfast. Well maybe, he should call it lunch. Actually, Sasuke wasn't really sure what he should call it, but it didn't matter.
What mattered is that he was eating with Hinata and Itachi. They had done this countless times before, but the action always seemed so much more profound after one of their children got married. Three down and five to go, he supposed.
"So who do you think will be the next one?" He chuckles as he bites into his omelet.
Hinata giggles at that question. "Most likely Kenji and Safa, as we've discussed before. Though Amaya does seem rather fond of Ryo." Right. Ryo.
Sasuke was probably going to have to have to have a talk with this Ryo. The man who worked at the Interrogation Unit. Amaya spoke most highly of him and that was always a concern.
After all, what kind of father would he be, if he didn't look out for their little Uchiha Princesses? A very bad one! That's what kind! Well at least that was the case in Sasuke's mind!
"That's true enough." Sasuke nods in agreement.
"And try not to traumatize the poor boy too much." Itachi chuckles at the thought.
Sasuke raises an eyebrow. Oh that was rich, coming from Itachi. He had nearly made Kaemon and Kami run away screaming and those were exceptional ninjas!
"Mmm maybe, we should go for a walk around the village." Hinata smiles at them. "I imagine most people are still asleep after the wedding." True. That wedding had carried on until the Sunrise.
It was more likely than not, that most people were still asleep. The perfect time for a stroll around the village with his beautiful wife and his brother. Sasuke nods in agreement.
"Yeah." Maybe, they'd check out the hot springs later. "That sounds good." Now, that would be fun.
Itachi smiles as he helps Hinata up. "Why don't you lead the way, My Love?" Ha!
Who did Itachi think he was fooling?! They all knew exactly why Itachi wanted their wife to lead the way. He just wanted to ogle her backside! Not that Sasuke could blame him.
Hinata did have such charming assets. How the woman had managed to keep her figure after having eight children was a mystery to Sasuke. Not that it would have mattered. He would have ravished her either way.
"Of course." She smiles as they head off for a nice stroll around the village.
There were times when Hinata looked like a pufferfish during her pregnancies, especially when she had been carrying the twins. That didn't matter though. Because God Damn, she was a sexy pufferfish. Their sexy pufferfish.
He smiles as they continue on their walk for several minutes. The sway of her hips was rather memorizing and Sasuke had just been about to activate Uchiha Pounce Mode, when she suddenly stops and gasps.
Hinata stares up at the Hokage Mountain in shock. She couldn't believe it. Tobirama's, the Second Hokage's lips, were stained bright red. With lipstick?
"Is the Second Hokage wearing lipstick?" Hinata blinks as she tries to imagine how many tubes of lipstick would be necessary to pull that off.
Itachi blinks as he stares up at it in equal shock as well. "I don't think it's lipstick. And does it smell like tomatoes for some reason?" He tilts his head in confusion.
That's when Hinata hears some laughter. Laughter that she recognized instantly. Hoshi, Shisui, and Naruto? She raises an eyebrow at that last part.
The Uchiha Matriarch now had a sneaking suspicion that she knew exactly where this was going. "Yes, it does." She sighs and drags her husbands after her. "You have to be kidding me."
Sasuke stares at his children and Naruto. Openly gaping at them. "You threw tomatoes at the Second Hokage?" He shakes his head in disbelief. "Naruto, it was one thing to pull that sort of prank when you were in the Academy, but you're a Kage now!"
Hinata was inclined to agree with her youngest husband. What on Earth had they been thinking?! Did Naruto actually encourage her sons to do such a thing?! That was so disrespectful!
"I didn't do it!" Naruto protests.
Shisui smiles and nods. "Yes, Uncle Naruto didn't do it." He smiles more. Only this time more slyly. "He just gave us permission to do it."
Hoshi nods in agreement. "As long as we cleaned up." Hinata blinks. That was the most ridiculous thing that she had ever heard.
Sasuke groans and shakes his head. "And why are you throwing tomatoes at the Hokage Mountain?" Yes, that's exactly what Hinata had been wondering too!
Hoshi smiles at them reassuringly. "Well it's because it's indirectly his fault for the Uchiha Massacre." He nods his head as if this was the most obvious thing in the world.
Hinata blinks. Oh she wasn't touching this one with a one hundred foot pole. On second thought, it was probably better just to let them get it out of their system.
"How do you figure that?" Itachi raises an eyebrow.
Shisui crosses his arms as if he felt a bit miffed at having to explain something that he felt was very, very obvious. "He's the one that made the Uchiha District." He nods feeling more energized as he continues on. "And the Military Police Force." Right. Hinata knew that.
"Which is why our Clan was so isolated in the first place." Shisui nods his head vigorously. "Without that isolation, the mistrust and fear never would have been a problem." Ohhh.
Well when they put it that way, her sons did have a point. Hinata shakes her head and chucks a tomato at Tobirama. She knew that her husbands' and Naruto were likely shocked at her behavior, but oh well. When Shisui and Hoshi put it that way, Tobirama was lucky that a tomato was all she was throwing at his likeness!
"Right." Sasuke rolls his eyes. "On second thought, go ahead." Yes, Hinata's thoughts exactly.
Itachi chuckles as he watches the spectacle play out. Well it was highly improper, but that didn't matter much. After all, if the Leaf wanted a proper Hokage who would conduct himself like a statesmen, they wouldn't have chosen Naruto to be the Seventh Hokage.
In truth, people should have seen this coming. The rest of the afternoon was spent throwing and cleaning up tomatoes. That was one of the beautiful things about having so m any children, Itachi muses. One never knew what you were going to end up doing.
"Well that was amusing, but it's late." He sighs. "And I have a class tomorrow."
Hinata yawns and stretches. "And I have a shift at the hospital." Of course. Their wife was still one of the best medics that the Leaf had ever seen. "With Nara." Well at least in Itachi's opinion.
She was needed at the hospital. Besides, she was also the most beautiful medic the Leaf have ever seen. (Well she was tied with Nara, but Itachi digressed…of course an Uchiha Princess was going to be beautiful)!
Sasuke sighs and shakes his head. "And I have to make sure this loser actually does his job." Itachi couldn't help, but chuckle at that.
"What's that supposed to mean, you bastard?!" Naruto witches.
Some things would never change. The Will of Fire would never burn out. The Sun would always rise and set. His love for his family and his foolish little brother would forever bicker with Naruto.
Suddenly, the image of an elderly Sasuke and Naruto appeared in his mind. They were fighting in wheelchairs and wielding canes against each other. It was a rather comical image.
"He's merely teasing you." He smiles at his wife, brother, and children. "Come on. Let's go home." And with that, the Uchihas quickly departed, leaving a fuming blonde Hokage behind.
"Do we have any ice cream left?" Shisui looks up at Itachi with the Bubble Eyes Jutsu.
That Jutsu was the deadliest Jutsu known to man. Itachi was convinced of it. How could he possibly say not the face? He couldn't. It was just simply impossible!
He chuckles and nods. "Yes, I believe we do." Naruto was still flailing around, but none of them cared.
"Great!" Shisui and Hoshi scurry off back to towards the District. "We'll meet you there!" After all, one had to have their priorities. Apparently, soothing a Hokage was less important than enjoying some ice cream!
He laughs softly at that thought. "Well we should hurry." Itachi smiles at his wife and brother. "If we don't, they'll eat all the ice cream." Well at least in the Uchiha Household, Itachi thinks to himself as the three of them quickly head home.
Home. It was their home. The District was alive again. Alive with the sound of teenage boys trying to "steal" all the ice cream, birds chirping, snake Summons doing God knows what, and their other children were either softly snoring or laughing at something.
Itachi didn't want to know what the girls were giggling about. There were just some things that were better left alone. Sisterly Bonding was just something that as a man, he was never going to understand. A man had to know his limits, after all.
"Do you think there is any left?" Hinata laughs as they head inside the kitchen.
"Probably not." Sasuke sighs. "But what are you going to do? They are growing boys." He shakes his head in disbelief.
And that was most certainly true. Then again, the entire District was growing. It was alive again with the sounds of their children and grandchildren. In some ways, it was easy to believe that the Massacre had never happened.
Though Itachi knew it had, that chapter in their family's history had closed. A sad chapter that he had long ago decided was never going to be repeated. He quickly banishes such thoughts in favor of getting the last scoop of ice cream. After all, the future looked bright. There was no need to dwell on such unpleasant thoughts anymore.
Their Clan had helped to found their village. This was their home. "Our birthright." And that was that. This time, things would be different. Better. He would make sure of it.
"Did you say something, Itachi?" Sasuke tilts head to the side curiously.
He smiles and pokes Sasuke's forehead. "No, foolish little brother." The elder Uchiha shakes his head. "I was just talking to myself." And that was the truth.
"You're really weird sometimes!" Sasuke grumbles as he rubs his forehead. "And stop doing that! I'm a grandfather now!" Yes, Sasuke was. "Grandfathers don't get their foreheads poked!"
Upon hearing this, Hoshi, Shisui, and Hinata all laugh. "They do when their name is Sasuke Uchiha." Itachi smirks. "Best just to accept that fact now, Sasuke. You'll never be too old for forehead pokes!" And much to Sasuke's chagrin, that was just the truth!
After all, Sasuke was his foolish little brother. Forehead pokes were something of a necessity. A time honored Uchiha Tradition that could never be broken. Much like Miya's boops!