Chapter3
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Naruto was less than pleased with her injuries after being healed by Hashirama with his limited knowledge. Her thoughts were focused on vengeance. Oh, how he would pay! The plans she had now weren't enough. She needed to humiliate him as he had her.
"Aiko, you're not planning, are you? You know it's not safe for you to let anyone know you've been taught shinobi skills. If anyone finds out, aside Madara, you and I will be in trouble." Hashirama fretted on their walk back to clan's dwelling.
"Relax Hashi-kun, no one will know. I promise I won't let anyone find out. You've already taken a huge risk as is, I'd be a terrible sister to let our secret out." She reassured him.
Her brothers meant everything to her, she refused to let anyone find out about Hashirama teaching her any shinobi skills. It spelled disaster for then both! At best he'd be removed from the position as clan Heir, at the worst he'd be executed and one of their brothers would be responsible for the clan instead. No, she didn't care what anyone did to her, after all she was just the bastard child. Her brother's future and life were far more important than her own, he was the Heir! He was destined for great things, she couldn't the cause of his downfall.
Perhaps the other boy was right. She should give up and stick to what she was told a woman should be. Her shoulders slumped slightly at the thought of giving up her dream to stand by her brothers in battle and protect them as they did her every day. Hashirama notice the change in her posture and her stride and chuckled, predicting her thought.
"Aiko-chan, look at me. Please." He paused their trek back and waited for her eyes to meet his. "I don't want you to give up just because of the risks. If our brothers or I gave up every time, there were substantial risks involved we would never grow as people or shinobi. I don't want you to give up your dreams or your own growth just because may look down on it. You are just as capable as we are. Never let anyone tell you otherwise." He drew her into a gentle hug and held her comfortingly.
They stayed like for a little while until she felt better and wiggled out of his hug. "Thank you, Aniki. I promise I won't falter again. I want to stand by you and our brothers, I want to fight be you all and have your backs. Just like you all have mine every day." She gave him a bright smile clasped his rough, calloused hand in hers as they continued their short journey back to the compound.
They walked through the compound and ignored the lustful gazes of the men around and continued to the home. Once they were in the safety of their walls, they released a sigh in relief that no incident occurred. Parting ways they both went back to their rooms and looked forward to the rest they earned.
They next morning Naruto woke up to her second oldest brother Tobirama standing in the door to her room. She looked at him questioningly and opened her mouth to ask him what he wanted. He put a finger to his lips and motioned for her to follow him silently. Not wasting time, she stepped out of bed and crept along with him, curiosity coloring her mind. They made their way to their father's study where he would typically hold meetings with other members of the surrounding various agendas. Standing silently outside the door they listened to the conversation being held.
"I won't tell you again boy. Your sister is to be married for the good of the clan. Not some silly idea you have, that is her purpose in life! Get this notion of woman being allowed to choose out of your head!" their father growled angrily.
"And I won't repeat myself! She will not be married for political reasons! She is more than just someone you can breed father! She is our family, your daughter!" Hashirama spit venomously.
Neither of them had ever heard Hashirama so angry with their father, not even after Kawarama died. For him to challenge their father this vehemently something must have happened to trigger a drastic change. Hashirama was more carefree than his three younger siblings, always looked at the brighter side of things. He was always the first to make them laugh or inspire them when they were upset or disappointed about their progress. His was always far idealistic than Tobirama or their father. It upset Tobirama and Naruto both to hear the hostility in their beloved Aniki's voice.
"You're right Hashirama, but it is what tradition dictates. Her hand is to go to the strongest male that fights for her. I cannot and will not break tradition simply because she is my child. The clan would down on our family as being too sentimental. I have already sacrificed much for us to live as freely as we do." Butsuma sighed feeling the years drag him down. "We are shinobi, Hashirama. We must do whatever it takes to survive. And part of that means marrying you sister off to a strong man who can help her fulfil her obligations as a woman."
"SHE IS MORE THAN A MARE YOU CAN BREED!" Hashirama roared in fury. Never had he felt so furious and hateful towards the man that sired him, but this was a line he would not cross. His sister deserved more than to be used as a breeder for their clan.
"THEN CHALLENGE FOR THE TITLE OF CLAN HEAD AND YOU CAN MAKE THESE DECISIONS BOY!" Butsuma knew which buttons would push his son to action.
Even if it hurt, he was determined to make his son a better clan leader than he was. Even if it meant making him hate his own father. These were sacrifices he needed to make to ensure he never buried another son. He was a shinobi and shinobi never let emotions get the better of themselves. They were to be in control of themselves at all times. But Butsuma knew he couldn't do it anymore; he was too tired mentally to handle these choices now. He was older- not so old he couldn't whip his sons into shape of course -but old enough to see that they were heading down the path of ruin. He himself couldn't change but his children- especially Hashirama -were old enough to make the best decisions that would change the clan's future for the better. They were also young enough to adapt and change to their environment and the consequences of any choice they made.
Hashirama stared in shock at his father. The man that raised him, trained him, and pushed him to be what he believed shinobi were. This man was issuing the challenge of leadership before he was deemed worthy by the council of the clan. He knew he was ready, but the council did not agree yet because of his ideals. Determination set his face in harsh lines, nodding he stepped towards and out the side door to the open area where they all trained. This was where their challenge would take place. It was open enough to prevent unnecessary damage to the compound but was still on the clan lands. This is where his father challenged his own father for the right to lead the clan. This was the only tradition he planned to follow, and it would be the last as well.
Gathering a steady breath, he released and used chakra to amplify his voice just enough for the clan and the council elders to hear him. "I CHALLENGE BUTSUMA SENJU FOR THE RIGHT OF CLAN LEADERSHIP!"
Butsuma looked at his son and couldn't help the pride seeping into his heart. His looked at him as an enemy and that look alone told Butsuma everything he needed to know about how to make this fight look convincing enough. Despite all his gruff talk about shinobi never letting emotions take over, he couldn't but feel pride and affection for his eldest cloud his mind. Butsuma closed his eyes for a brief second before opening them and staring down Hashirama.
"I will not use any jutsu, only the tools I have on me to win this fight. If I win, I lead the clan my way, not as tradition dictates. But if you win, I will step down as clan heir and let Tobirama have the position instead." Hashirama knew this would throw the older man off his game.
Butsuma felt ice running through his veins as he accepted the new terms. Both prepared themselves and launched at the other hoping to end the match quickly. The clan elders came out of their homes and sat in their dedicated spots for these matches. One of the younger men surrounding them stepped up as the proctor for the two fighters. The proctor looked at the clan head and the heir searching for any hesitation in either of them. Butsuma held his sword in a forward stance, the tip of his sword gleamed in the morning sun. Hashirama took a taijutsu stance as be balanced on the balls of his feet ready to move on the proctor's command. the match was called to begin.
Butsuma and Hashirama lunged towards each other. Butsuma thrust his word in a forward attack, Hashirama used his vambrace to parry to his right. Butsuma's right side now left open and Hashirama took advantage of his momentum to thrust a chakra enhanced fist into his side striking hard and abruptly. Butsuma jabbed his elbow into Hashirama's nose in a counterattack. Hashirama jumped back a few feet to regain his footing and analyze his opponent. Realizing his son had been anticipating this fight, he smirked with pride.
Butsuma then moved his katana to a new position on his left hip with sharp side of blade facing the sky. From here he could either block or cut Hashirama. In response Hashirama pulled out two kunai and got into his taijutsu stance once again. Butsuma charged forward once again still holding his sword at his hip. Hashirama threw both kunai, one at Butsuma's head and the other at his upper chest near his left shoulder. Butsuma blocks both kunai in one swing but realizes this impairs his vision just enough to create a blind spot. Hashirama quickly lunges into a slide and kicks Butsuma's legs from under him sending him into a flip over Hashirama who remained crouched.
Pulling put a third kunai he holds it to Butsuma's throat signaling his victory over the veteran shinobi. Butsuma looks at his son in surprise at how easily his eldest has won. Hashirama peers at him with steely dark eyes. Sighing softly and with concealed relief Butsuma concedes and indicates his has been bested by son. The clan elders were feeling a mix of emotions ranging between shock, pride and apprehension over the match's outcome. Suddenly a happy cry sounded throughout the training grounds from the clan members that were watching. Hashirama backed away from his father and offered the man a hand up. Butsuma clasped his son's hand and offered a rare smile as he stood up.
"I'm proud of you, my son. You've grown into a fine shinobi." He offered his praise to his son and clapped his shoulder in a gesture of solidarity between them. Butsuma was truly proud of his son's accomplishment and felt the clan would finally be able to beat the Uchiha once and for all.