XIV - Brothers
The first rays of the morning were shown through the office of the Hokage as Hiruzen sat down. The weight of grief, of regret from days long past had wormed its way from distant memories right back onto his shoulders.
And in his eagerness, his fear and sorrow, he had snubbed the clans of Konoha that had built this esteemed village. The wisps of smoke covered the room, concealing the marks of age on his face. Even now, he was unsure if giving Danzo control of the operation against Orochimaru was a good choice, but his heart had faltered.
He couldn't face the boy he had raised like a son. Not then, and not now. He got up, placed his pipe on the smooth desk, and opened up the cabinet to the side of the room. A case of fresh sake greeted him, which he poured into a set of two saucers.
"I know you are here, Danzo," he spoke to the shadows. There was something quiet and hesitant in his tone that he himself could not fathom.
The Shinobi of the Darkness emerged from the black wall, cane clicking on the floor. Hiruzen chuckled, as he sat down on the chair in front of the desk of the Hokage.
A comfortable silence settled in the room as the two comrades shared a drink.
"And who do you think is responsible for this crime against the clans, old friend?"
The weathered elder swirled his sake, before saying, "The clans have chosen incompetence. It was only a matter of time before the swift hand of justice reached them."
"Danzo." Hiruzen let out a puff of smoke, as he scratched his chin. "Then who would be responsible? Only the Hokage has the authority to transfer funds in such a way." The unspoken accusation weighed on his shoulders, but he had to be sure that Danzo was on his side.
When his friend moved to reply, Hiruzen cut him off, "What would a man like 'Madara' Uchiha, or Orochimaru -" And it did hurt to talk about his former student in such a manner. "-care about money?"
Danzo scratched his chin and appeared deep in thought. "This is not Madara, merely an impersonator Hiruzen. And besides, who are we to comprehend the motives between monsters like them?"
"Do not avoid my question." Hiruzen flared his chakra, and he could see Danzo's visible eye narrow. "You of all people would never allow such a security defect."
"Do not accuse me of such things." Danzo fired back, anger burning in his words. "Everything I have done has been for the good of the Leaf. "
"So you do not even deny it?" Hiruzen spoke, and that same disappointment welled up in his voice. "You are so eager to have war then, are you?"
Danzo chuckled. It was a dry laugh, and Hiruzen could feel the sarcasm in his tone. "I have not raised hand nor body against Konoha, I assure you."
The tension in the room was rising, and the Sandaime knew it. He wished, he hoped that Danzo was still on the path of righteousness, that he was not devoured by the shadow.
That he was the same boy that had been his rival, and honored comrade.
And in that spurt of boyish innocence, spurred by the turmoil of emotions deep within his heart, he spoke. "Then let's spar."
"Against a cripple?" Danzo played it down, but Hiruzen continued onwards.
"You cannot fool me, Danzo. While others believe you have grown weak, I refuse to subscribe to such a theory. "
Danzo was silent, no doubt in deep thought. A smile blossomed on his face, and he looked at Hiruzen dead in the face.
"The world is changing, Hiruzen. Us old men cannot hold back the future for forever."
"Is that a yes?"
His only response was a nod.
The training space for the Hokage was built under the Hokage monument, to ensure a certain level of mystery on the ruling Kage's power.
And it was here that Hiruzen and Danzo faced off, both relics of a time that had long since passed.
Yet they endured, pushing the Leaf forward in their own ways.
One in the light, one in the shadow.
And now, in Konoha's most urgent crisis they would fight once more.
The Darkness gazed at the Fire Shadow, and the two stood at opposite ends of the arena.
Danzo slowly removed his arm from its sling, revealing a black cloth covering the entirety of the arm. It was tightly wrapped, and Hiruzen could make out the seals covering it, along with the mechanical parts at the end.
There was something under there, something that was Danzo's last resort.
The Sandaime was adorned in his traditional battle amor, and the two stood off.
Danzo broke the silence.
"No matter the result, we shall be friends, Hiruzen."
And then the two closed the gap in a single second, the air warping around their bodies as they rushed forward. Danzo brought his sealed arm for a chop, countered by Hiruzen's right block.
They begin to dance like they had so long ago, under the shade of a far different Leaf.
You need to work harder, Danzo! Maybe next time you can beat me!
Hiruzen's fist met Danzo's open grasp, and their eyes widened. Both of them rushed through hand seals, while their minds were lost in the nostalgia of yesteryears.
Futon, huh? That's a pretty cool element! Mine is fire!
"FUTON: Vaccuum Bullets!"
"KATON: Great Fireball!"
I suppose they do work together well, don't they Hiruzen?
The fire collided with the raging wind and spiraled into the very heavens. Both fighters stood in silence as they gazed at each other once more.
Look who won this time, Hiruzen!
Then they moved, feet pattering on the floor as their dance continued. Feet & arms being the weapons of the soul, and the mind unshaking in conviction.
Shuriken flew through the air, as Danzo fired a Wind Jutsu in return, only to be stopped by a Water Jutsu. For each strike of the Shadow, the Professor had an equal.
For he was the God of Shinobi.
But when the God fought his shadow, what would happen?
For as tall and strong as the God was, the shadow was larger while in the Sun. His length varied; his power was not of body but of mind.
For no man could outrun their shadow, and even the Kami was human.
Hiruzen, you are the Third Hokage of the Hidden Leaf.
Danzo, we are still friends, regardless, right?
This job, this title... I never asked for it.
All us shinobi are one family, and we always protect our brothers and sisters of the Land of Fire!
A journey of a boy into a man, into the greatest shinobi of the Elemental Nations.
But as they grappled once more, kunai against hand, the shadow thought.
To be the shadow...
All Danzo desired was that hat, but he never reached it...
There can be no shadow without light.
The story of a man who never once achieved his goal, who was always second.
A man who walked in the shadows for so long he could not recognize the light in his view...
-But I was not that man.
And I never asked to be...
But I'm here anyway.
And then he spoke, as the two faced off for the hundredth time.
"All we can do is carry on."
Hiruzen returned the stare and paused.
"Does that mean punishing the clans?"
"It means CHANGE!"
The disgust was visible in Hiruzen's eyes, as he raised his hands into the air.
"This shinobi world is not the one Hashirama made it out to be, and you know that Hiruzen. The only reason the Shodai was successful was because he had the power to enforce his ideals. And that's what matters at the end, power."
The Sandaime waited, quietly.
"All this time I've been chasing your shadow, hoping to reach your limits! Hoping to be as strong as you were, Hiruzen! But I could never reach it, because I was weak. You kept the clans in check, balancing Konoha between the civilians and clans. You were the God of Shinobi, and not because of any bloodline but because of your hard work!"
Danzo raised his hand, as wind gathered in it. Hiruzen leaped backwards, and lifted his own, fire burning within.
"Minato was the embodiment of what Konoha meant—a land where anyone could succeed! He was changing the clan structure, keeping the balance, but he died. And you know what I see?"
The two waited quietly.
"I see the true goal of Hashirama—not a place where clans can be in peace, but a land without clans! Where every man, woman, and child can live and choose for themselves, where everyone is equal!"
And then Hiruzen spoke.
"You will abolish the Caged Bird Seal?"
For he understood. A council not given to clans, but rather to shinobi. Given by merit, not family.
"I shall."
The balance that Tobirama had spoken off- balancing the village and clan—this was its end, wasn't it?
For at the end, they were shinobi, and to be one was to endure.
"Hunt down Orochimaru. Bring him to justice."
And although Hiruzen's heart hurt, he locked those feelings away. He was the Hokage, not some senile fool who would bend over to meet the demands of the council.
"I shall."
"Then let us do it together, in the light and shadow."
"Just like old times?"
Somewhere in the Pure Lands, a certain white-haired Kage smiled at the tender scene between his two students. For this was the Will of Fire.
And then both men nodded and rushed to meet each other.
"Hiruzen! I will win this time!"
And Hiruzen smiled, a smile from before the pressure of being a Kage had locked away his boyhood innocence. Danzo returned the smile, and the two rushed towards each other.
For through the act of combat, the two showed their very soul, their heart.
Their hands reached for each other, both reaching for what they had been chasing since youth-
-that glimmering shine of Victory.
"That is my current plan." Hiruzen gazed back at the clans and could see their doubt. "I ask of you to do this, for the Leaf and its people."
Shikaku sighed, "How troublesome. You want us to give up our clan seats, and are going to pay us for it?"
He nodded. "I must apologize for my actions before, and my haste. I insulted you and ignored your concerns." He bowed deeply and hoped that it would work.
And to his surprise, it was Fugaku who spoke. "This clan system has only been used against us. We are judged by the majority, and none of us are an individual. I for one believe that I don't need to rely on my father's strength to be strong enough to hold a seat on this council. I support Lord Hokage's decision."
And then Tsume responded. "Y'know, maybe you're on to something. But we have always been a family, and family sticks together. I vote against this proposal."
Inoichi twiddled his thumbs, and finally resolved himself. "I've been reading the news lately. The data about clan-born shinobi given preferential treatment, about us being elitists, and us using orphans and civilian born ninjas as fodder..."
He threw the newspaper on the table.
CLANS 'VOTE' TO INCREASE THEIR POWER!
WHY ARE WE LETTING THEM BEAT US DOWN?
"It hurts. And if this means earning this seat, then I'll do it. Because there might be another Yamanaka, who wants to be clan head. My daughter might not want to be. And that should be their choice."
And in the end, the proposal won. With a final vote of the Hatake, Elders Shimura, Homura, Koharu, the Hokage, the Yamanaka, the Nara, the Akemichi for.
The Aburame and Inzuka voted against it but were given an economic option as an exchange. The resulting reform of the Leaf's highest authority would happen rapidly throughout the following war against Sound.
Later that day, the entire Hidden Leaf gathered to witness a special event.
Kakashi followed Danzo through the tunnels. He had to know, had to meet this other Hatake.
"So Kakashi, have you thought it over?"
"I'm not cut out to be Hokage."
"Maybe one day you'll change your mind." Kakashi sighed and moved forward to be in stride with the elder.
And then, an ANBU descended from the ceiling. He could see the white hair and flinched. It reminded him of his father's.
"Lord Shimura."
"Jin. I would like you to meet someone." Danzo turned towards Kakashi, and continued, "This is Kakashi Hatake, a friend of Tenzo's."
"Play nice." And with those parting words, and a smirk, Danzo disappeared in a swirl of leaves. Kakashi had to admit, he didn't really know what to do.
"Yo!" A good start so far, he thought. 'Jin' removed his mask, and the Copy Ninja was shocked by the similarities between the two. So Orochimaru had been experimenting with the Hatake genes...
Kakashi was thankful that he at least had an excuse to find down that Snake and kill him. The Leaf Jonin had already been briefed on the massive-scale operation to enter the Land of Rice and exterminate the rogue Sannin.
"Hello." Jin nodded back to him, and then waited in the silence of the sewer.
As the silence grew unbearable, Kakashi decided to respond.
"Hello." What was he supposed to say?
"We look awfully similar..." Jin pointed out slowly, his brain coming to conclusions. "Are you my brother?"
Kakashi choked. In reality & biologically, they probably were. "W-we are, at least I think..."
"Where were you?" Jin retorts, and there is only coldness in his voice. "Elder told me I had no family."
"I didn't know." Kakashi says lamely, and he doesn't know what else he can even say.
Jin watches him quietly, before relaxing his shoulders.
"It's okay." He says like he is commenting on the weather.
"Really?"
"You weren't lying." He extends a hand to Kakashi.
"When I was little, I would talk to myself in a mirror. It helped cure my loneliness. Everyone's face shifts when they lie."
Kakashi's face falls at his last sentence, but he leaves it for now. "What made you know my tell?"
"Our faces were similar enough, so I took a guess. Elder told me you were honest though, so that helps as well."
Again, there was that child-like innocence. Kakashi takes his hand, and before he knows what he is doing, he has pulled Jin into a hug. Tears flow down his face, as he thinks of his 'brother's' loneliness. He should have been there, should have looked into Orochimaru more.
But he wasn't. At least now he knows how to deal with little brothers, thanks to Naruto. And didn't Jin help the blonde brat out?
Kakashi smiles at the thought. "Let's get something to eat, Jin."
The boy's face brightens, and the curiosity on his face is shining in its magnitude. "So, we are friends?"
"Not friends." Kakashi eye smiles at him. "Brothers."
He has only known Jin for a few minutes, but the boy has only grown on him. No wonder Tenzo was his friend.
The boy smiles in response, and slings an arm around Kakashi's shoulder, as his ice-blue eyes gaze into Kakashi's twin orbs of coal.
"This is what brothers do, right?"
Kakashi laughs. "No, the little brother calls the other one 'Lord'."
Jin looked surprised. "That wasn't in any of the books I read..."
"There are some things you can't learn in books."
"True..."
"I'll get you some extra sweet ice cream!" Tenzo had told him that was Jin's favorite. The boy was deep in thought, before finally responding.
"All right then, Lord Kakashi." The last two words were uttered with complete seriousness that Kakashi has to fight to stifle the laugh. The joke has to last, after all.
And as the two ascend onto the streets of Konoha, Kakashi looks up to the sun. He knows war is coming. He knows that it will be tough.
But as long as the sun shines, he'll keep fighting. As his gaze turns toward the Hokage monument, he can hear Jin speak.
"The Kage, they were heroes."
Kakashi nods his head, before pausing. He points at the newest stone figure with pride in his eyes. "That's the Yondaime, my teacher."
"Do you want to become Hokage? You are the perfect age, Lord Kakashi." Kakashi turns his head rapidly to hide his grin but considers the first few words.
"Not really. I had a teammate who wanted to become the Hokage, but I never had any real desire to be one."
Jin's gaze pierces through Kakashi. "You have all the talent and reputation to become one. All it takes for evil to grow is for good men to do nothing."
Kakashi looked at the ground. Those words hurt, because it was true. But his thoughts were interrupted by bells tolling – a call for the village to meet in the center, infront of the Hokage's tower.
"We should get going." Jin looks at Kakashi, and then jumps into the air.
"You still owe me the ice cream though." Kakashi shakes his head with a smile before following.
The citizens of the Leaf were shocked by the announcement. The dissolution of the clan system, and a new council formed by the strongest shinobi who represent all of Konoha.
Until the first council is formed, the Sandaime will lead the Leaf.
"We of Konoha will retrieve the Hyuga! We will not abandon our comrades to die!" The people cheer for his heavy-handed rhetoric, eager to strike back.
And the former clan heads are the loudest cheerers. Fugaku Uchiha walks among the civilian merchants, smiling at the children who know him by the 'cool eye' and ruffling their hair. The Yamanakas are patted on the back by some of the other botanists, who can't help but comment.
"Why don't we work together, now that you're one of us, eh?" And Inoichi laughs before rubbing his neck, promising them that they will. For they are all equal citizens of Konoha.
Shikaku takes the stage and announces that the majority of the clan funds will be released to aid the orphanages and the Shinobi academy rebuilt their curriculum along with helping with the war effort, to massive cheers.
And Choza is the one most swamped by hungry kids, all eager to meet their new friend. The parents are much more open—there is no more Lord Akemichi, no more formality. He declares that everyone is invited to his estate, for a complete party.
And everyone shows up.
At the end, even Fugaku wakes up half drunk in his home. The party had lasted well into the night, with the Leaf filled with celebration. How could anyone be scared when so much good had happened?
And the people knew how weak Rice was. It would be a quick war to regain Konoha's lost prestige, and the snobby Hyuga weren't around, so who cared?
But perhaps most happy in this celebration in this celebration was little Naruto Uzumaki.
He rode on Jin's shoulders and got to hang out with old man Kakashi and Tenzo and Bushy Brows! He wasn't alone anymore and was welcomed to the festival!
He even met a nice girl called Hinata later on, who kept on blushing weirdly whenever he talked to her! Oh, and he got ice-cream, and Kakashi had to pay for all of them!
And if some people wandered where the Hokage was, those thoughts were laid to rest by the festivities.
In a distant glade, two old men sat by the shore of a pond, which they had run through so many years ago. They roasted mushrooms and caught fish, like young children scampering through the woods.
For Hiruzen had visited the Hyuga today.
Hiashi stared at him.
"Abolish the Caged Bird?"
He looks towards the ground and grits his teeth.
"It is either that or making me do it myself Hiashi." The Sandaime's words are harsh, and the Hyuga clan head thinks about it.
About his brother Hizashi, and the suffering of the branch. And in this moment, nobody would care if some old elders were killed by Orochimaru, wouldn't they?
"Very well. But in exchange, I want to see my daughters again." And Hiruzen smiles and drops the bombshell. The clans are abolished, gone forever.
And when Hiashi sees his eldest stand in front of Hanabi, and attack anyone come near, he is shocked. Where had such courage come from?
Unless...
And as he embraces her, he can see Hizashi standing nearby with Neji crying as he hugs his father.
He never wants to see that face on his daughter's face.
And when they leave the tunnels into the outskirts of Konoha, Hiruzen tells them to make a dramatic entrance. He leans in, with a spring in his step, "To show the people of Konoha that you are one of them."
And when the Hyuga show in the middle of the festival, tired and covered in sweat, they are shocked by the generosity of the people. Food is pulled up for them, and the children are given plush blankets and free toys.
"Your daughter is too sweet, Hiashi-san." The vendor smiles at him, and Hiashi finds himself smiling back. When he sees Fugaku surrounded by kids dazzled by his fire jutsus, he can't help but smirk. And when he can see little Sasuke brag to Hinata, she turns towards him.
And that is when the people of Konoha finally accepted the Hyuga. The branch seal has been weakened, and Danzo along with Hiashi will create a removal later on. They cheer on their strength, and their courage to escape from the Snake.
But it is not the Hyuga they call as a group, no it is Konoha.
But when he begins moving through the katas of the Gentle Fist and hears the 'oohs' and 'ahhs' of the kids, and Hanabi and Hinata's excited cheers, his thoughts turn towards his wife.
His wife, who would no doubt be so happy to see him making a fool of himself in public.
And Fugaku smirks at him, before bowing politely as he retires, his wife dragging him away while blushing at his antics.
And now there are no clans, there is only Konoha.
And it was hungry for revenge.