Chapter twenty one – Falcon Totem
The Falcon was symbolic of the rising sun in Egypt. It is also the king of all birds where many gods were shown with the head or body of the Falcon. It was thought that the falcon animal totem comes to us when we require higher vision, or higher knowledge in solving current dilemmas in our lives. The Falcon is a solar emblem for success, victory and rising above a situation.
He was sitting next to his brothers in the eerily silent hospital hallway. The nurses had been kind enough to provided them with chairs to sit in while they killed time staring out into thin air. Tobirama had liked to think he was good at reading situations, but yesterday had been the grandest of proofs that his radar could be completely off at times.
At first, time had gone by so fast. Finding Naruto sitting mutely next to Mito in the forest, her kimono ripped up from her leg to her waist and the fabric filled with blood, Tobirama had at first been convinced he was under a genjutsu. Or in a nightmare.
While Itama stayed with the unnaturally silent girl, Tobirama had gone to find the second chakra signature he'd felt not too far away. There he'd found Yasu-dono glowing with Naruto's chakra.
After that time had slowed down. Yasu-dono was alive but weak, and Tobirama had no idea what was wrong with him. He was even awake when he lifted him up, carrying him closer to where Naruto was. But Tobirama made sure to lay him down before coming too close so Yasu wouldn't have to see what had happened to Mito.
It had been painful to seal Mito into a scroll, and Itama had been white as a ghost as he watched on. His hand clutched with Naruto's and leaning against her. No one uttered a sound until Tobirama was finished working.
"I didn't want master Yasu to see her." Had been the first words Naruto had said as she got up to her feet. "My old sensei lost his student once, and he said he was glad he never got to see his body. I didn't want him to see her like this… So I didn't go.. to him." Whispered Naruto looking up at Tobirama.
She wasn't crying, or even looking like she'd been crying. Her make-up was still in place, a little smudged but there were no tear stains. The far away look in her blue eyes told of desperation though. It was the way her pupils were dilated, her eyelids drooping and at the redness to the corners.
Tobirama had only nodded and grabbed her shoulder in a sign of comfort, suddenly feeling for the girl since he knew well how close she was to Mito. Had been.
The worst was to come back at the party though. Naruto and Itama had gone ahead and helped Yasu-dono to the hospital while Tobirama had left them to find his older brother. He'd found him sitting with Ashina-dono and his grandchildren, their parents somewhere else and Tobirama wasn't sure if he was glad about that or not.
"Brother… I'm sending everyone home right now. I'm.. We need to talk." Was all Tobirama had been able to say, seeing the smile on his brothers face disappearing slowly. Hashirama had always been quite intuitive, and he could read the anxiety on Tobirama's face as if he had it written in capital letters on his hitai ate.
He had quickly turned around and told everyone to go home since the feast was finished for the night. He had not wanted to lie, so he didn't give them an explanation when people started protesting. It had taken fifteen minutes to clear out everyone and a few had noticed the serious expression on his face at once.
Before they left Tobirama had stopped the Uzumaki's from leaving, and by this point his brother had grown very anxious.
"Where is my wife, Tobirama? And where is Yasu-dono and Naruto?" He inquired the moment the last Yamanaka had left out of hearing range.
"Yasu-dono is in the hospital. I'm not sure what was wrong with him but Naruto tried to heal him. He was in pain but still awake when we came back. Naruto and Itama is with him right now, but Mito..." He swallowed and focused on his brother. Not wanting to see the expression on her parents face when he said this. "Mito is dead."
The words came out clear and steadily, like he was telling them she had a sore throat.
Hashirama looked like he was more in denial then anything else, and for a few seconds no one had anything to say. It had truly been horrible. Tobirama had been having flash backs to the war, but they were supposed to be in some sort of peace right now. No one had died since the alliance had started, and now Mito was dead.
His brother made a widower before he'd even spent a single day as a husband.
Kurou had for the first time lost his calm. He and his twin brother had soon ran for the hospital, their parents right on their heels.
Hashirama had slowly sat down at a chair shadowed by a building and for the first time ever Tobirama had seen him cry. Whenever his brother was sad he did it privately. When their family members had been killed he'd always gone away and let his agony out in private. This time however he'd broken down completely.
In the end they'd gone in silence up to the hospital and the first thing he'd done was taking Naruto aside. "Naruto-san… I'm really sorry about this, but I will have to seal off your chakra if you're going to wait here with us."
The girl looked surprised and alarmed when he said this. It was with a sinking feeling of unbelievable guilt he continued. "We just lost the Hokage's wife. Yasu-dono is still being treated and we don't know what happened. In other words… You're the only suspect." At this the girl looked both devastated and outraged at the same time, but before she could start shouting, he'd covered her mouth with his hand, hissing out the rest of the information in a hurry.
"I do not believe you've done this, Naruto. I swear. But right now I need to cover all bases. I have to keep my head cool and deal with this and Madara will take over the Hokage work until this has calmed down and my brother is ready to get back to work. Please don't make a fuss. The Yamanaka can clear you tomorrow with their mind technique or Yasu-dono can tell us what happened whenever he wakes up. Please Naruto, just let me seal your chakra and we wont speak of this to the others. After we're finished we can wait here until we hear news of Yasu-dono. Then you will tell me everything that happened."
The words had been urgently told, making Tobirama to drop the use of honorific when addressing Naruto just to get his point through.
Naruto had agreed and Tobirama used the chakra suppressing technique Mito had taught him to seal away Naruto's chakra. A seal on her neck had appeared, glowing faintly red in the dimly lit hallway. Once Tobirama was sure it had been done correctly they quietly walked back to the waiting room.
That's how Tobirama had ended up where he sat now. The minutes passing slower then ever before since all they could do was wait. Take no action and let better suited people do the hard work while they twiddled thumbs in the hallway.
At last one of the healers came out of the patient room with a tired expression. "He will be fine. Yasu-dono suffered a very serious stroke but luckily he's out of the woods now." She said reassuringly and Tobirama felt his eyes close in relief. At least this had ended well.
Naruto looked very surprised and remained speechless while the others enquired how he would get better from here on.
Ashina-dono seemed to be the one with the best composure at this point. He'd remained calm during the whole ordeal. Not to say he wasn't grieving, he was just one of those men who refused to let himself mourn openly. Kind of like Tobirama himself.
With a pointed look towards Naruto they got up and excused themselves, leaving the Uzumaki to mourn in silence while Itama followed Hashirama home.
When Madara was woken up at four in the morning he'd been very bad tempered.
Opening the door to find Senju Tobirama had made it even worse.
The Senju had quickly explained that Madara needed to come with him down to the office because Uzumaki Mito, now Senju Mito, had been killed. At this point the Uchiha leder had not known what to feel anymore. All he knew was that this was the largest shock he'd felt since that day he found Izuna bleeding out on the ground because of the battle between the Uchiha the Senju.
When he then had been informed that Naruto was taken in for a hearing about the murder he'd wanted to ask if this was a very bad and sick joke, or if Tobirama hadn't been drinking a little too much at his brother's wedding party.
Still, Madara had reluctantly come with him up to the Hokage tower, trying desperately to understand what the hell was happening.
"You are suspected of killing Mito?" Was the first thing he said when he barged into the room Naruto was waiting for them in. She was sitting in the window of the office, looking hollow and tired.
"No, not exactly, but she's the only one we know who wasn't injured. I wanted you to be here for the hearing since it will probably be your duty to fill in as Hokage until Hashirama is back." Explained Tobirama and sat down by the table.
"Well, in that case you must have a very bad idea of how to restrain a suspects. Naruto could have waltzed out at any time if she wanted too." He snapped to the Senju while looking back at the door which had not been locked, remembering that the building was empty and noticing that the girl was sitting by an open window.
"I sealed her chakra. If she tried to escape we'd catch her in no time. Call it a test if you like. I also have guards with the order to not let anyone out of here before eight in the morning." He said and pointed to the streets behind the window Naruto was sitting by.
Madara however was looking worriedly at the blonde. He'd never seen her like this. It wasn't like she looked fragile, more like a caged and wild animal on the brink of snapping.
"What happened, Naruto?" Asked Toirama and leaned back in his seat.
"Black Zetsu." Was her short reply. Her voice clipped and eyes focused solely on Tobirama while a shudder ran through Madara.
"I felt his chakra during the reception when I was with Mito and master Yasu, and I ran off to catch him. They followed me. I was so focused on black Zetsu I stopped thinking off their location and when I caught up to him he already had Mito. She had been stabbed and was being used as his hostage to get away. You've seen the result." She said bitterly and her fists were clenched so hard they were drawing blood.
"I see… I've heard of him before. as I understand it you told my brother you were looking for Black Zetsu and have been leaving the village regularly to search. He was the one behind the yōnbi attack, right?" Enquired Tobirama while Madara felt sweat gather on his brow.
He'd stepped in it now, hadn't he? He hadn't told Naruto about their meeting... But since he'd chosen Konoha over that thing he'd thought it didn't matter. "You said he is not human, but do you have any idea how he caught Mito?" Asked Tobirama, trying to stay calm and secure through this hearing. Madara was still standing by the wall, his arms crossed and his face lowered towards the floor.
Naruto shook her head. "I can't be sure excactly how it hapened since I arrived only after she'd been stabbed. But when I did I saw that he had the Sharingan and they were activated. It was a pair of eyes he probably stole..." She explained stonily, her face twisted in an ugly grimace while she spoke into the tense silence.
"What? That's impossible! We always make sure no one with the Sharingan is uncounted for. We have made sure no one can get to them." Interrupted Madara as Tobirama was about to speak up.
"According to Black Zetsu he took them from Indra."
At this there was a ringing silence.
Madara felt incredibly uncomfortable, it couldn't possibly be true? Indra had lived a very long time ago. Could eyes really stay intact for such a long time? "And they were not just the Sharingan, but a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan with a spiral pattern." Naruto told them dead serious, her eyes locking with Madara for the first time. The fury in her eyes was clearly visible to him. He almost activated his Sharingan himself but stopped just in time. This would not be the best time or place for that.
"I see, but no one else has seen this creature before, can you give me a proper discretion? All I have is what you told my brother and I only got that he was a black creature." Said the Senju while he furiously scribbled on his notepad.
"He is a black humanoid shape with yellow eyes, at least usually. There is no definition to him, it's like a smooth black substance formed like a man." Answered Maadara, realizing there was no reason to keep this to himself anymore. Not after what had happened.
The Senju and Namikaze looked up at Madara as he spoke, Tobirama confused and Naruto with narrowed eyes.
"I've seen him. He came to talk to me." Admitted Madara tentatively, watching the blonde like a hawk for her reaction.
Naruto got slowly up from the window frame, her eyes burning with questions and anger at the same time. "When?" She demanded, speaking silently and threateningly at the same time.
"Long ago. Before the alliance started, he came to visit me the last time after Izuna was injured in the yōnbi battle and before that I saw him once in the ruins of Karonichi village." Madara answered truthfully. "He was the one who told me you were a jinchūriki, Naruto."
Tobirama kept silent while Naruto's eyes flashed. Going red for a moment and Madara wondered how that was possible if she was wearing the chakra suppression seal. But then again, Tobirama had no idea before now that she was a jinchūriki. Maybe it wasn't strong enough to keep Naruto's chakra at bay.
"And you didn't think to tell me this?" She said in barely controlled frustration.
"Naruto is a jinchu-" Started Tobirama saying, but was cut off almost at once.
"He never showed up again after I agreed to the alliance! He kept blabbering about how you were an abnormality that popped up into the world, and had the same soul as Hashirama. He seemed more talk than anything else. Trying to rile me up by blending truths and lies together. I concluded you were probably a jinchūriki, but the fact that you're Ashura come back from the dead to thwart the Uchiha seemed a bit far fetched even to me." Defended Madara himself with. Naruto turned and walked back to the window, blood dripping from her fists as she seemingly tried to control herself.
"So then we have two witnesses who's seen this creature." Added Tobirama, trying to break the tension in the room, his face angled towards Naruto with a calculating expression. Madara had to give him props for handling the situation so well.
"It seems we do." Growled Naruto in a low voice.
Master Yasu woke up from his jutsu induced sleep after two days, and by then Ashina had gone back to Uzu since the village couldn't be left unprotected. Someone would also have to break the news to the rest of Mito's family. Some of her siblings had been forced to stay behind in Uzu to keep up the protection. Their relationship with the Uzumaki was easily described as tense now, but at least they knew Naruto was not to blame. It still didn't stop many of them from being bitter.
Most of them went with Ashina except for Kurou and Hachirou who stayed to help master Yasu home whenever he was well enough. It would be a while though, since the medics thought he was at high risk of having another stroke.
The seal master's condition wasn't improving much and the twins spent most of their time in the hospital, hearing the story from their old teacher's point of view. They had already heard what happened from Naruto but they got even more information from Yasu.
Black Zetsu had come up behind them, and when Mito had turned she'd been hit by a genjutsu immediately. The creature had stabbed her and taken possession of her body while threatening Yasu to stay away if he didn't want to see her die. It was then Naruto had showed up.
The old seal master had used most of his time grieving over Mito, and the blonde had been very scared of visiting him. But after a week she got her act together and left for the hospital.
She had been helped by a kind nurse who'd showed her his room before Naruto silently walking inside.
There she found master Yasu propped up in a sitting position on the bed. His skin paler then usual, and his wrinkled face looking up from a book once she entered.
"Ah, Naruto-san." He said seriously, the man looked even thinner then usual, and his white hair was unkempt and in general he just looked very sick. "I've been waiting for you." He said and searched her expression. His eyes feeling like they could drill into her soul as she met his gaze. Seeing just how maimed it was.
"Master Yasu." She replied and sat down in the visitors chair which obtained Kurou's haori already, but the guy was currently at his hotel room, and probably wouldn't show up here for a few more hours.
"I'm glad to see you awake… I..." Started Naruto saying, but trailed off as he continued looking strangely at her.
"I am so sorry… I'm to blame for this, and I can only… Mito always talked highly of you, even when I was bad mouthing you for being so strict, she defended you and I know how much you cared for her. I'm so sorry. I wish I… I wish I could turn back time." She mumbled, barely believing what she'd just said, but not stopping it from being completely true.
"So do I, Naruto-san… and I hope you can forgive me. This was not your fault, I was the one who stopped you from attacking that thing when it had Mito. Maybe if I hadn't been such a coward. If I'd been younger..." He trailed off, and Naruto was struck by how incredibly frail he seemed. All his usual stubbornness gone and only a shell of what she had come to associate with the seal master left. Her old tutor.
"There was no way you could have known… But I did. I knew how traitorous he was, I should never have hesitated, you wouldn't have been able to stop me if I hadn't."
They stayed in silence for a long while, master Yasu leaning deeply into the cushions, and to Naruto's horror she realized tears were running silently down his cheek. But when he spoke his voice was the same sick tone he'd used up until now, if only slightly slower then before.
"You warned us about that creature when you came to Uzushiogakure… I never took you seriously, thinking you were exaggerating black Zetsu's involvement with the sanbi. You were so loud all the time and you seemed so carefree. To me you couldn't possibly be what you claimed to. Someone who'd faced more horrors then even I had, and still come out twice the person with such joy within you. An imposter. That's what I thought of you." He trailed off and looked over at her. His eyes were dimmed, and the usually fiery stare that told Naruto to behave at all time was gone.
"I was wrong. Mito had a wonderful friend in you. I knew from the moment you ran after black Zetsu, and especially now when I can see your pain so clearly. You're a good actor, Naruto. When you want to you fool us all." He whispered without breaking their gaze.
Naruto didn't know what to answer. She was lost for a reply, and only kept looking on until her eyes watered from not blinking for so long.
"I can see now that we both have regrets in our life. I wish I'd understood sooner, Naruto-san, maybe things would have turned out differently." He said while closing his eyes.
"Yes... Maybe..."
Naruto stayed in the hospital room for many hours, even when Yasu fell asleep she stayed and kept watch over him. Feeling oddly at peace in here.
Only when Kurou and Hachirou came in at noon, and after telling them how he was doing did she leave them to go home and prepare.
A new determination burning inside her chest.
It was two weeks since master Yasu had woken up, when they got the news he would probably never be strong enough to leave Konoha.
The medics were worried about his failing health, and Naruto could see his condition worsening every couple of days she visited. The man was so frail he barely had the energy to go to the toilet anymore.
Naruto had been very absent from her usual friends, and was now mainly spending her free time with master Yasu instead of her usual acquaintances or working at home.
This was something Madara quickly grew impatient by, and the same day as the nurse told Naruto that Yasu had maximum a year left to live, was also the day she found Madara waiting in her apartment.
The Uchiha leader had been very busy covering the workload Hashirama usually took responsibility for, and found himself surprisingly relieved he hadn't gotten this job. While there was some aspects he wanted to be involved with, like the threat from the north east, and the smaller clans which kept attacking Konoha.
There was also some things he just didn't give a fuck about.
The day the Senju felt like coming back to work, Madara would be incredibly relieved, he just didn't care what a six year old Nara had in his cooperation grade or come up with suggestion to how he could improve.
That part of the job was just a pile of paperwork, and trying to build on the foundations they'd already laid out. Madara felt like he was babysitting the entire village, making sure everyone showed up for appointments and distributing tasks to lesser ninjas. He preferred being on the front line at all times, not delegating safely in the back during the beginning and stepping up whenever the others couldn't handle the trouble.
All this work was the main reason he had not found too much the time to go see Naruto.
He'd found Naruto at odd places here and there, giving her a wave or greeting whenever he manage to run into her, but that was hardly enough to be called a proper meeting.
She'd been cleared of all suspicion quickly, since Yasu had told everything the moment he woke up.
However, Madara felt he had an argument waiting for him whenever he had time to properly talk to her, and even though he'd never admit it, was a bit frightened to feel her wrath.
He was therefore surprised when she only looked vaguely surprised at seeing him waiting for her in her apartment. Naruto had then greeted him with a wave and asked if he wanted tea, which baffled him even more.
"Why do you have two dead mice in your living room, Naruto?" Was the first thing he'd been able to ask. Pointing to the corner of the room where true enough, two rodents were laid next to one another.
"Because when I was going to use foxes, Kurama got offended." Naruto replied and sat down on the couch while she indicated for him to sit down next to her. This made him even more confused. Naruto sighed and tried to give a short explanation.
"I'm working on a jutsu." She said and crossed her arms with a bored expression. Her ready made tea held in her right hand while the other gestured casually in the direction of the mice.
"I see..." He said uncertainly, peeking back at the mice with one eyebrow raised. "Do you need to store them inside the apartment though?" Madara asked a bit disgusted, thinking of all the flees which had to be in their fur and currently spreading out through the apartment.
"No, but I was in a hurry this morning and was planning on doing it now." She replied. "But I'm guessing you're not here to criticize my housekeeping skills. What do you want, Madara?" She asked while taking a sip of her tea. She didn't look so well. She was thinner and looked less kept then she'd even been when living out in the wild. Her hair tangled and even more uncontrollable then his own.
"Well, I was wondering how you were doing… I haven't really talked to you since..." He trailed off, not knowing how touchy she was about the subject. He hated when women cried. He just didn't know how to deal with it, except suggest they go do it somewhere else.
"I'm alright." She informed defiantly. Her eyes meeting his but they ewre void of the life they used to contain.
"I heard you've been visiting Yasu-dono lately. I'm sorry, I heard about..." He trailed off again, realizing he was making the situation even worse then it had been. Again she didn't react much, just kept looking at him with that flat expression.
"I'll manage, Madara. I always have." She said eventually after the silence had dragged on into an awkward amount of time.
"Good…"
'What the hell were you supposed to say in these types of situations? I'm sorry for your loss? Get a grip? Do you want to spar? Should I help throw out those mice?'He had no idea what to say now that he finally had her attention.
"So about… Black Zetsu… are you still mad?" He inquired after another few minutes of painful silence.
The blonde leaned back into the couch and looked up at the ceiling. "No, I guess I can't be angry about you for not telling me. I've kept secrets hidden from you too and well…" She trailed off without specifying.
Madara wanted very badly to press her on this, but this careless version of Naruto seemed more like barrier separating a furious and mourning Naruto from himself. So he managed to control the urge to start questioning her. Barely.
He got up and stretched his legs.
Readying himself to leave while feeling like this trip was a complete failure he realized Naruto really didn't want him here. The blonde got up with him and wordlessly followed him to the door. He stopped just outside and turned back to her. As he was not exactly sure what to say he instead leaned down and kissed her softly.
She didn't move away, and keeping the kiss short he moved back to study her face. It hadn't changed at all, but he felt encouraged that she hadn't slapped him yet.
"I've said this before, Naruto… If you want to talk… Well, you know where to find me. I'll always listen." He said and stroked her cheek briefly.
Her eyes were still so distant and he didn't like it at all. With a frown he left her by the door frame. Hoping she'd be back to normal soon.
Even Naruto rejecting him was better then this zombie version.
With a careful expression Itama walked up to his older brother sitting in the garden alone, he wasn't sure how to start this conversation, so instead he just sat down silently next to him. Hashirama peaked down at him from the corner of his eye, but didn't comment on his sudden reappearance.
Itama had moved out just before the wedding, feeling like it would be better to give his brother and new wife some privacy while he started his own independent life. It was a tragic and ironic aura lingering over that memory now. Just when things had looked so bright, this just had to happen.
"How are you, brother?" He asked quietly, straightening the hem of his haori while keeping his eyes on the blowing leafs of the tree in front of them.
Hashirama shrugged without answering, his eyes fixed on a similar spot as Itama kept his focus on. "Well… Things are going alright in your office at least, but Madara found out that he hates being Hokage. He's moping about everything, you know. Yesterday, Tōka-san was told really rudely to stick her academy report a place the sun don't shine." He told his brother, a small smile tugging at his lips when he recollected overhearing the conversation.
"I see." Hashirama replied and breathed heavily. His hands were folded in his lap. Fingers intertwined as if in prayer while they rested on the fabric of his yukata.
"Naruto won't talk to me much either. She's been spending all her time with Yasu-dono instead, and when I went to see her, she had dead rabbits in her room. I'm not sure what's she's up to, but I think she's taking this as hard as you are… Probably worse… She's all alone you know. Tobirama and I go to the store for you and get food whenever needed, but well... I guess she's having a relapse to her homeless days in the wild. At least that would explain the rabbits..."
Hashirama looked questionably down at his brother, he had started growing a lot lately, and was a lot taller then he used to be. Itama was glad to see his reaction, as long as he wasn't moping all day and taking an interest in the outside world, then it was alright.
At first Hashirama had seemed fine, he'd left for Uzu for Mito's funeral a couple of days after most of the Uzumaki went. The twins had joined him on the journey, and all three had come back different then when they left.
Hachirou was again making a few jokes here and there, but not as regularly as he'd done before the wedding.
Kurou had been unusually emotional before leaving, but on returning he felt like his old closed off self again, and Hashirama…
Well, Hashirama had continuing working as Hokage the day after his wedding, and kept everyones moral high. A full search party had been sent out, Itama included, and for a few days it seemed he wasn't going to let his wife death get to him.
After the funeral that had changed.
Itama guessed the reality finally settled in, and he took time off, letting Madara handle things in the office. Telling them he just needed time to be by himself for a while, it was the exact same excuse he used every time his brothers overstayed their welcome too.
"Naruto is strong, Itama. Whatever she's doing I'm sure she has her reasons." Replied his brother to Itama's short summary of the happenings outside his home.
"Well… Maybe you two should talk to one another? Who knows, maybe you both would feel better." Tried Itama to tell his eldest brother carefully, and realised he must have said something wrong when his brothers eyes closed and he breathed deeply to calm himself.
For a moment it looked like Hashirama was meditating, and Itama was correct in this impression since the signature red markings of senjutsu appeared around his eyes and forehead.
"Maybe… But more importantly Itama… What's the status on the rebellion?" He asked calmly, the markings growing brighter and more pronounced. His brother had gotten so good in senjutsu, Itama was pretty sure he was better at this then even Naruto by now. At least he could gather nature chakra quicker then she did.
"We're not sure… The last report only said they were threatening the eastern borders… Uzu is more barricaded then ever, and last I heard they fought off a horde of them when they came to close to their village. They won't stop them coming into fire country though… Uzushiogakure has more or less made them run for their lives after the rebellion properly started and we'll probably have to do the same here if they get too rowdy in our land." Itama explained, depressed about how the state of things were developing out there.
Hashirama opened his eyes, the dim glint in his eyes barely visible. "Please leave, Itama. I want to be alone now."
Hashirama walked past Naruto's apartment for the third time. Unsure if he should knock or not.
The blond had been very unsociable for the last two months since the… incident, and barely talked to anyone these days. The only time he'd seen her outside of mission briefings, was back when she'd told him what had happened during the reception, and that was it.
He wanted to talk to her now, though. And not about where she'd go for her A rank.
Gathering up his courage he went to the back of the building, climbed the stairs to her entrance balcony and knocked on the door.
Silence.
He knocked again, and this time he heard soft footsteps coming towards the door. When the door opened a dishevel looking Naruto was leaning against the door frame. She was in her pyjamas and holding a bloody kunai in her hand. Her eyes had rings under it, and Hashirama wondered how much the girl had slept lately.
"You look horrible, Hashirama." Was her greeting, and Hashirama felt his lips twitch at her words.
"You too, can I come in?" He asked, but without waiting for an answer he pushed her aside and strolled in.
Inside the living room a stack of stuff littered the floor, her clothes hadn't been tidied up, and dishes was standing unwashed by the sink. What got his attention the most however was the four dead lambs in the corner.
"I wasn't expecting company." She said and walked up next to him.
"Um..."
"They're for practice. I'm working on a jutsu." She said and looked half interested up at Hashirama.
The Hokage scratched his neck uncomfortably and felt worried for his friends state of mind. "Are you alright?" He asked uncertainly. 'Had she lost it completely?'
"I'm as fine as I've always been, Hashirama." Naruto replied and walked over to the stove. "Want some tea?" She asked curiously and Hashirama declined, right now he wasn't sure if anything inside this apartment was healthy to consume. Especially those bloody dead animals stacked on the side of the room…
"You've been out of the village a lot lately… Even when not doing missions you seem very interested in the outside world. Have you had any luck finding that creature?" He asked straight forwards and felt nauseous just talking mentioning anything related to that thing.
He wanted nothing more then to kill black Zetsu himself, but Naruto had tried for years already, and Hashirama didn't know anyone stronger or more dedicated then her. So what chance could he possibly have?
"No, but I'm working on it. I'll have him gone soon. That's what the practice animals are for." She said in a non nonsense voice while she made herself some tea.
"You're very distant lately… Madara tells me to leave you alone, but well… I feel we have something in common here, and I'd like to talk to you. As Mito's best friend, you loved her almost as much as I do. And… I think we both need to talk to someone about this. Itama and Tobirama has been great you know, but you don't have anyone like that. You're my friend and I don't like seeing you like this, Naruto."
The girl turned towards him slowly, her mug now ready and steaming but she didn't speak.
Hashirama let his hand comb through his hair, and sat down at the edge of the couch furthest away from the lamb corpses.
"I've lost a lot of people, Naruto. The first really painful one was my mother, and she died when she was pregnant with my baby sister. Some Uchihas found her in the forest gathering herbs and took their chance to get rid of one more Senju. She was supposed to help me with chakra exercises that afternoon, and I remember going to our training spot for many days afterwards. Imagining she'd just show up suddenly and tell me it was all a nightmare." He started telling her, not minding her silence and instead giving a bit of himself.
She needed to know there were people here for her. That Konoha was her family, and he was her brother. She didn't have to be so closed off, because there would always be someone to have her back.
"My brother Kawarama was a really happy boy, even more outspoken and energetic then I am. He was seven when he died. That was during one of the harshest battles we've had with the Uchiha." He took a deep breath, not looking forwards to talk about his next point on the list.
"Mito… Mito was amazing. She could be as stern as Tobirama when she wanted too, or as carefree as you. Never afraid of speaking her mind and so kind, I never knew what hit me the most. Her dedication to her family or her spirit. When I realized I was in love with her, she was telling me about her home. Telling me everything she loved about her village which she would die to protect. It was exactly what I felt for Konoha, and I was a goner afterwards. Still, she left Uzu for my sake, Naruto. It's the warmest feeling you can imagine. To think she'd come to Konoha for me, she must have loved me as much as I love her… I miss her so much, Naruto. Not an hour goes by without me wondering what she could have been doing. I wonder how our life would have been, what we would have if she wasn't gone."
He paused when he noticed how pale Naruto had gone. Her eyes were closed and she was gripping her cup tightly, her head bent downwards. For a while all to be heard were their calm breathing and sounds from the street outside. His friend looking troubled while searching for words.
"Mito… It's my fault… I don't understand how I could have failed her. I can't believe I let a comrade die. You and Mito should have grown old together and have children. You were supposed to be happy, I had it all planned. It wasn't supposed to be like this..." She whispered weakly.
"It's not your fault, Naruto. Mito would never have let you go alone to face that creature. Even Yasu-dono wouldn't, and he blames himself as much as you do, but this is black Zetsu's fault. No on else. Is there one thing I've learned by now, it's that I know that the life of ninjas are a fleeting thing. You have to live to the fullest while you still can. I'm doing my best, Naruto. I lost my wife, the woman I love, but I swore to protect our village. I'm back as Hokage now, since I wont let anyone harm Konoha. I will get nowhere if I let her death consume me, it will only harm those depending on me. But I gave my word, and you taught me to never go back on that." He said and smiled weakly to her.
Naruto felt a rush of emotions surge through her.
Hashirama was such a kind and strong person, and always cared about the village before himself. He was the same as her, and in other ways so different. Still the memory of Mito and Tsunade kept flickering through her mind, the vision of what could have been, ripping her up inside.
"I am working for the village's best, Hashirama. My first priority have always been to the village and it always will be. Even if my own family threatened our village, I would stand in between, and I'd die a thousand times before I willingly let anyone harm what we have here." She whispered, hearing words long forgotten inside her mind.
'If anyone dares try and disturb that harmony…Whether it be my own child… Family… or someone I consider a brother… I won't hesitate to strike them down.'
The blonde was visiting master Yasu on his two months anniversary of staying at the hospital. She'd brought Sasuke's old hitai ate and the photo of team seven. Master Yasu was asleep so he wouldn't notice her odd pieces of possession.
Her mind was wrapped around everything which wouldn't be now.
Tsunade would not be born, she would not end up on team Hiruzen with Jiraya and Orochimaru. She would never become a the great medical kunoichi and never become the godaime Hokage.
Naruto had screwed up so much. Who knew how many others had been forced to never be by now? How had she allowed this?
Her baa-chan…
Mito…
Naruto's eyes were filled with tears but they never fell. She hadn't cried since she fell back in time, and even this wasn't enough for her to start. All she felt was broken, and there was a burning inside her gut that demanded that she took action. Forced her to think of nothing but getting rid of black. Fucking. Zetsu.
And she now had a plan.
Because of the murder on Mito there were renewed forces out to look for him, combing the wild for the creature. The people had been both sad and shocked by the news, and those who'd met Mito were outraged something like this had happened.
Naruto however didn't let her mind stay focused on her grief. She knew what could stop that bastard, knew a way for it to stop, two ways in fact.
"You don't have to be so sad, Naruto. We all die eventually you know." Said master Yasu and smiled weakly from the bed. The blond was a bit startled that he was awake, and shifted on the bench and rested her elbows on her knees while letting her head fall into her hands.
"I still can't help it… There's so much violence in the world. Isn't it strange that I've gotten so used to people being taken away from me by force, that the idea of you dying a natural death is something completely foreign. It's just as painful, but unlike someone being killed there isn't the same bitterness. Just… worry..." She said and massaged her forehead slowly with her hand, letting it glide into her spiky bangs and drag it backwards.
"Yes, you've lived a violent life haven't you, Naruto-san? I'm honoured that you will miss me." He said genuinely as he looked closer at her. "But there's something else worrying you too isn't it? I've noticed already of course." He said and trailed off, waiting for her to reply.
"I've got a lot on my mind, master Yasu… I just don't know what to do anymore." Naruto muttered. Voicing her worry to another living being for the first time. Maybe it was because she knew he would join the other dead in not too long that she felt comfortable enough to do so.
"Hmmm… You have every right to say no, Naruto-san. He will have to accept that you know." He said sternly.
Naruto was confused, what on earth was he talking about? Apparently her thoughts was reflected on her face, since Yasu's head tilted to the side studying her. "Or is it not Uchiha-san you're worried about?"
"Uchiha? Who do you mean?" Said Naruto honestly wanting to know.
"Uchiha Madara of course. He keeps trailing after you. I might be very old Naruto-san, and a lot of me has been failing lately, but I'm yet to go blind." He said attempting to lighten the mood by smiling. However, it only made it look like a weak grimace.
"What? Madara isn't the problem. I mean he is, but it's not what you're thinking. We've come to an understanding, don't worry about…. That. There's… other things..." Naruto said and straightened up so master Yasu would think she was recovering from her little confession.
"If it's not his advantages you're worried about, then what is it? You seem so sad Naruto-san, it's very uncharacteristic for someone like you to constantly wander around with that expression. You've had that look in your eyes ever since I got in here you know." Muttered master Yasu, trying to make her open up to him.
Listening to the old man Naruto couldn't concentrate, she was filled with an urgent want to just tell someone. Tell someone who she really was, why she was worried, that she was scared black Zetsu was here, somewhere, but she couldn't take him even if she found him. He was impossible to catch on her own…
"Tell me, child. I might be of some help to your problem. I can't promise of course, but I'll try. You are becoming more and more closed off, Naruto-san. I don't think you're acting like yourself anymore."
Taking a deep breath she stared back at the frail man.
Her mind was screaming for relief, to just tell him, tell him all that had happened to her. Just get it off her chest.
Slowly releasing her hair from her ponytail and calming herself down, she did.
Naruto told him everything.
"That's why I need to seal him. But I… I can't… Not alone, I need Sasuke, or someone with Sasuke's power!" She grimaced and fisted her hands tightly in her lap.
Master Yasu had listened patiently as she told him the important parts, never interrupting her, even though she'd seen it in his eyes often that he wanted to.
"But Sasuke is gone. You only have Madara who might have the potential to achieve that, but you already know he failed." he said slowly, finally uttering a sentence after two hours of Naruto talking herself dry.
"Exactly… I just… I don't know what to do anymore!" She growled frustrated.
"What have you been doing in your room then? Just thinking? Or have you had an idea? It sounded like there was something you've been wondering about for a while." He said and looked hard into her eyes.
He believed every word she said. Yasu somehow knew she was telling the truth, that she was neither mad or confused.
"I was thinking of doing the death reaper seal, like my dad." She said sternly, looking for master Yasu's advice on this. He looked thoughtful for a long time before answering.
"I'm not sure about that… Black Zetsu, from what you have explained, was created by Kaguya, not born. Which means he is just chakra… You can mould chakra and make it take shape, but that doesn't give it a soul, Naruto-san. I might be wrong off course, but I believe from what I know now, that the death ripper seal might not work… "
Naruto's eyes widened. Never having thought like that before. It sort of made sence and in another way not, since Naruto was convinced Kurama had a soul, and he had been made in a similar way. She voiced this opinion, and the old man shrugged weakly. "Maybe not, but I'd still try something else before sacrificing your life for something that only may work." He explained tierdly and looked up at the ceiling. "You said you had two plans to get rid of it. What is the other?"
"I don't think that will work… I thought I could find white Zetsu, but he's not here, and that screws up my plan. I'm starting to wonder if he might actually not exist yet. The other Uchiha Madara referred to him as his clone, so he might not be into the picture yet… " Naruto muttered dejectedly.
"Why do you want him? He sounded like a nasty character from what you've told me, but not nearly as dangerous as black Zetsu. Especially without Hashirama's cells." He said and tilted his head to the side.
"It doesn't matter anyway, he's not here, so I can't use him." Naruto replied, but was starting to feel better anyway.
More light hearted now that master Yasu had listened to her. Knew her better then anyone else. It was nice to share her secrets again, have someone know you properly. It was now absurd to think back to her time in Uzu, and all the hell she'd given him during her lessons.
"What were you going to use him for then?" Master Yasu asked with a strange gleam in his eyes. Like he had already understood where this was going. "You have something don't you? Something of his. You said they needed DNA for it to work, and you are looking for a victim." He said without Naruto replying. She grimaced but nodded.
"Yes… I have his forehead protector… The one I ripped off him when we were thirteen. I never washed the thing, and I started carrying it after I returned to Konoha, that's how I still have it even after being sent back in time. I was hoping I'd be able to give it back you know. When I lived in Uzu I threw out Sasuke's headband from the library window once, it was that day I discovered team seven's photo hidden in it. It lay between the head protector metal and the cloth holding it in place, and there was this picture." She said and rummaged though her pocket. She handed the photo of team seven over to Yasu who looked at it with a warm smile.
"You look a little annoyed with him, Naruto-san." He said while chuckling.
"We were always at each others throat." She replied smiling.
"But this wouldn't be enough would it? I mean, he might have touched it once since it was his, but how many years has this been rubbed against the hitai ate?" He asked questionably.
"There was some hair…. His hair, who else could it have belonged to? I don't have black yaw length hair, and it was stuck there in the same place. I still have it since… Since I was wondering about doing the edo tensei." She muttered looking shamefully down at the ground.
She still had that hair. His DNA inside the hair wrapped in a tightly sealed envelope which again was inside a storage scroll.
The idea had been spinning around in her head for years already, and she had started figuring out how the technique worked. That's what all the dead animals had been sacrificed for, and her home had more activity then the butcher some days. Naruto had the technique explained to her during the war, both from other fighters and some of their enemies.
Kurama knew it too, since he had been within Mito in the original time line who had heard a descriptive summary of how to use it from Tobirama. Together they'd worked on improving it to Kabuto's standard, and she was awfully close to getting it right.
"And he would be here then? The yin would reunite with yang and you could seal black Zetsu together, and this time you wouldn't fail." He finished for her.
Naruto didn't reply, she just stared emptily at the picture now laying up on the covers of Yasu's bed.
"I don't know if it will work… Technically he hasn't even been born yet...In fact, he probably never will be." She whispered looking back at the old frail man.
"The same can be said for you, Naruto-san. The chances of you being born are slim right now, but yet here you are. Does your yang chakra work? The one you got from the sage of the six path?" He asked kindly. Naruto nodded, thinking back to the night she'd passed out after making the barrier around the Uchiha village.
"Not as much… I think I'm slowly draining it. The more I use… the less there's left." She muttered leaning back. "It will never completely go away. At least that's what I feel, but it wont be as potent, I've been saving it. I used it only once after I returned to the past, and that was to heal Izuna." She said thoughtfully. "But I still think the edo tensei might work… It returns the soul to a carrier by using someone's DNA, in other words. Even if I use Sasuke's hair was from when he was only thirteen, he wont come back at that age. Since his soul died older, he'll come back at the age of his death, and it's the soul I'm binding to the world of the living."
For a long time they sat in silence, both lost in thoughts. One of the past, the other of the future.
Yasu stirred and scrambled to sit up, his effort shook Naruto out of her thoughts and she hurried over to help him up. "I've lived a good life, Naruto-san. Compared to the likes of the Uchiha and Senju, not to mention you, I've been very fortunate growing up in Uzushiogakure. Still… I never did the things I dreamed off as a child. I wanted to become a hero, you know. A soldier who did great deeds in battle. Gaining fame and honour from my clansmen." Said master Yasu and smiled wistfully at her, his eyes regaining some of his old spark.
Naruto grinned back, recognising that dream very well.
He looked at her for a long time with a content expression before he nodded to himself. Or maybe it was to her.
"I guess… Yes... Why not? I said I might be off some help, Naruto-san… And I could do this. I could be your sacrifice." Master Yasu said, smiling sadly to the girl now stunned into silence.
Author note: Thank you so much for reading!
About Mito's death: I couldn't write this in the last author note, since that would be a spoiler, but I never killed off Mito because I randomly felt like killing off a character. I felt it was needed to get the story to where I want it.
The story is getting close to the end now, and Mito's death is the trigger that creates what happens later. The only thing I was unsure about was who to kill and made the most sense. Not to mention who I could actually bare to remove from the story. That unfortunately became Mito. I needed Yasu and Naruto to get along through a painful experience, and for him to understand her better.
Yet again I'm going to ask you to forgive any grammar mistakes, I try to avoid them, but they appearer here and there. It's not on purpose, I'm just not fluent in it.