Disclaimer: All my love for this saga won't change the fact that I do not own Naruto.
English not being my native language, please forgive me for the eventual errors I might do, I'll do my best to avoid doing them in the first place or remove them after the fact.
Summary: A story of Hashirama Senju, the one who revolutionized the Shinobi world. AU.
Season I
Chapter Three: Fear Itself
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Both children departed toward the Council Hall, the place where all the Clan gathered to hold large meetings, make important announcements, or celebrate big events.
On the flip side, it was also the place where shinobis headed for a mission gathered with their platoon, or where their families came to hold their funeral service if they didn't come back…
A place of both joyous and grim nature.
Speaking of platoons, theirs had already gathered near the entrance of the Council Hall.
Five ninjas and one kunoichi, Hashirama noted distractedly as she saluted everyone.
Most of them were in their twenties - Itama, much more intimidated and silent, was by far the youngest of the party.
She knew their leader, Renji: tall with black short hair and stern eyes, he was one of their cousins, third degree removed if she recalled correctly…
Someone they barely saw, even when it came to family gatherings - and those weren't numerous to begin with either…
Be that as it may, as a result of this parentage, Renji was going to work with her and a burly teenager named Momotama, who was the same generation as her cousin Toka.
She was trying to ignore the somewhat obnoxious stares he kept shooting at her for the time being.
"Alright, everyone is here," Renji said, getting up from the stairs he had been sitting on. "As you know, we'll travel at a good pace today to reach Giru village this evening. There, we'll take charge of the little caravan commissioning the clan and for the next couple of days, we'll be protecting them for their journey to the Province's capital."
Hashirama wondered how long it had taken him to take command of his first platoon: he seemed very academical about things here.
"Once it's done, we'll link-up with Tenma-san and head back home," continued Renji, staring at all of them."This mission is supposed to be a very short one. We are expecting a week-long commitment top, barring any enemy encounter. Any questions?"
Hashirama thought about asking if it was his first command but abstained from doing so, on the basis of not offending her cousin, and not embarassing her little brother by ricochet…
Though the presence of Tenma-san later on was intriguing: he would join them alone? A testimony to their uncle' strength if he was doing solo missions like that!
"No, Renji-san!" the others chorused immediately.
"Then it is time for us to go," said the young man with a small nod and a smile as stern as his eyes.
Those lingered on Itama for a brief instant: her brother didn't blink.
"Let's go!"
At once, they all bounced in the air, reaching the roofs of their village, and soon, the forest itself.
Renji hadn't been bluffing when he spoke about going at a good pace: he was clearly using chakra to keep a smooth speed, darting in and out of the canopy above them at times, with a couple of other members of his platoon.
Hashirama spared a small glance at her little brother as she propelled herself in the air with a balanced throw: Itama was already pearling under the effort but held up the speed all the same.
"Eh, not bad for a kid his age," said one of the shinobi of the other platoon, a blonde whose name Hashirama had barely registered during their introduction.
Was it Funoshima? Funoshita?
"It's Iderama, you brat," snarled Momotama next to Hashirama, as if reading the interrogation on her face. "Funomori is the tall one other there with Topoï-san…
Seriously, you could make an effort."
So not just an obnoxious stare, but a blunt and abrasive personality too, Hashirama realised.
"Sorry," she apologised, genuinely embarrassed. "I am terrible with names in general, it's not on purpose, I guarantee you."
"You're Butsuma-san's kid, you should be better than that," Momotama admonished. "Kids or not, you should learn to show proper respect to your comrades…"
So, he thought they weren't considering them because of who their father was… Why on earth would he feel that way about them?
That came completely out of left field…
"My sister isn't lying, she's not very good with names!" intervened Itama energetically.
Hashirama sighed.
Five minutes into travel and they were already bickering with one another? That was promising…
"Enough fooling around, people," said Renji, looking at them above his shoulder. "The mission has started, you should all be on high alert right now, instead of getting distracted. You're being careless and endangering everyone on this mission!"
Definitely a by-the-book kind of person, Hashirama concluded… Though Tobirama would have probably said the same thing if he had been here with them!
A couple kilometres away from the village, they turned east and properly started their journey.
Time passed and the forest around them slowly changed, with thicker trees and a canopy above them that was letting less and less light reach them, directly or indirectly.
They were still within their clan borders, but Hashirama doubted it would last for more than a couple of hours…
She could tell they were in the less patrolled area of their territory, and, by the end of the morning, that would be it.
Giru village was part of Nakasendo Way, one of the five main roads which innerved the Land of Fire and generally considered into her clan' sphere of influence.
Once they would reach it and take their charge, they would have to travel by the road at a much slower pace, which was dangerous nowadays and exactly why they'd been hired to begin with by the caravan, even though their clan regularly patrolled and made escort missions on it…
Itama smiled.
He had never been outside their village before, it was his first time!
The landscape was pleasantly surprising - even the trees and the air felt different than what he was used to...
He wished Father would let him accompany him outside the village from time to time after this mission… Everything he saw felt both exciting and somewhat intimidating.
But thanks to Hashirama being there with him (from her absorbed air and the frown she harboured, he could tell she was musing over something), he felt confident enough to face the unknown head-on, with determination!
He wouldn't let his big sister down, the same way he wouldn't let Father down too…
That caravan would make it to the Province's Capital, he would make sure of it!
Soon, the group was outside the forest, reaching plains with a couple of isolated farmlands, dispatched left and right.
The fools, Renji thought to himself.
They would make for fine targets for bandits or rogue shinobis… Unless they were under some clan's protection? Doubtful, the Senjus being the strongest presence in the region - even the Uchihas couldn't compare in this territory.
Renji made a sign to Funomori and his own brother Todoroshi, and the two picked up speed to dash ahead of them and scout the area forward.
Behind them, he saw that Topoï had dropped behind to make up the rear of their formation as a result.
Good.
They still had good synergy, even though it had been months since the last time they had all worked together...
Renji wasn't very fond of the unknown.
He considered knowledge as a central tenet of military warfare.
Know your enemies, know yourself! as his father kept saying…
And though on a mission he couldn't control what kind of enemies he would face (though nowadays, a strong bet would be on enemy clans like the Uchihas or the Hagoromos), he could control the teammates he was fighting with, a prerogative of the platoon leader.
Usually controlled, he amended bitterly.
Butsuma-sama was their clan leader.
A legendary shinobi who'd mastered all five elements and a master strategist to boot…
The kind of man one couldn't say no to, no matter what.
So, when he had convoked him to the Council Hall, to inform him he would lead this mission with two of his children, Renji had dutifully accepted the charge.
He had no choice in the matter, the unit he was starting to build would have to adapt to the disruption of having their leader's children amidst them.
"Treat them equally, the same way you would do your own comrades! Don't go easy on them because of me, or family! It will cost you on the field otherwise."
"Yes, Butsuma-sama."
At least, the girl wasn't completely useless…
She must have been talented for her age, having already been on a couple of assignments before this one where Renji knew for a fact there had been fighting with enemy shinobis...
Her brother Itama though?
He was greener than green, and that worried him.
They couldn't afford deadweight if a combat erupted down the line with enemy fighters…
Renji turned his gaze forward.
There was no point in making scenarios and wondering what could happen with them around: Hashirama and Itama were there and part of this mission.
They would carry their duty the same way as all of them: with honor.
"Be careful everyone, now we are exposed to all sides of the land," stated Renji seriously. "Keep running and keep your head down at all times, we don't know when enemies can appear."
"Yes!" chorused everyone.
The afternoon passed that way, with a few back and forth between the scouts and the rest of the group keeping a high level of vigilance.
Thankfully there was no incident, and only when they were approaching dusk, with the sky turning red, did they reach the first stage of their mission: Giru village was in front of them.
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The village was a small, quiet place, as far as Hashirama could tell.
The streets weren't very large, made of dirt and with not much else to embellish them.
The main street was harbouring three wagons, loaded with bags of salt and a variety of items.
The merchant who had hired them was waiting for them, dressed modestly, with a burly physique and a black goatee that poorly suited him.
He was accompanied by a couple of people Hashirama assumed were his assistants.
Or maybe family members? There was a vague resemblance between him and the tallest of the two assistants.
"Ah, Shinobi-san! So, you made it! Good, good, I've been waiting for your arrival all day you know…"
The merchant bounced enthusiastically while talking to them.
"Apologies Oburo-san," said Renji, a bit miffed. "But I thought my clan made clear the arrangements were for a late arrival today, and a departure tomorrow?"
"Sure, sure! But one can't help but hope for the best heh? The sooner you get here, the sooner we can go, maybe haha…"
His laugh died in his mouth as Renji remained silent, turning his attention toward the group.
"Funomori and Itama, I want you to verify the wagons for inventory. Momotama, I want you to secure the perimeter."
"Aye!" they answered, immediately getting a move on.
"Eh? What's this I hear? Verify the wagons? On what ground? You can't do that!" reacted the merchant, stupefied.
His two men looked at each other, hardly masking their surprise.
"We can Oburo-san. Our clan agreed on the goods they'd be protecting for this trip, and we have to make sure it checks-up with the list we have been given," Renji said simply.
"Hmph. And are you sure that one can do that? He's just a small kid."
Itama reacted at once.
"Don't worry about me Oburo-san: as a Senju shinobi, my performance won't disappoint you.
The merchant eyed him suspiciously before shrugging, as if acknowledging this was the kind of thing that was beyond his control.
"Don't break or spoil anything! You're warned," were his only words.
Renji went to discuss with the merchant soon after, and everyone went about the tasks given.
Then they headed to dinner in the village's tavern at nightfall, save for Momotoma and Taderoshi who were on watch-duty with the wagons.
Despite its poor appearance, the tavern was well maintained and clean - Hashirama had already experienced much dingier arrangements in her young life … and the food was good!
"That food is quite something, eh Itama?"
They were sitting in the corner near the kitchen.
The rest of the group was scattered by pairs and positioned in the room so that no angles went uncovered by any of them…
"Yes, I suppose Big Sis', " answered the boy quietly. "They've got nothing over our food's village though."
Hashirama couldn't help but chuckle at the remark, wondering when Itama became so chauvinistic, just as a maid came out to refill their water.
The night arrangements were made rapidly.
Hashirama ended up sharing a room with Itama who, despite quite the pleasing smile, wasn't much of a talker tonight.
Hashirama guessed the mission had started to get on his mind, Itama being very talkative and energetic usually.
In the night, she laid herself thinking about what her father had said about Yin and Yang chakra.
She hoped he would teach them soon; she was eager to discover new avenues with chakra now that she had vouched off experimenting with natural energy…
Her father, who didn't want her to be here in the first place.
He had wanted Itama to be on his own.
More importantly, he hadn't wanted Hashirama to go on a mission outside the clan's borders, despite Nakasendo Way being in their territory and one of their most patrolled routes.
The clan had a tight control over the main portions of it, ensuring a good stream of missions - and therefore revenue.
Hashirama had won the argument by pointing out it had been a good while since she had been on a mission, that she needed this for her development as much as her brothers, that Tobirama would end-up volunteering if she didn't go with Itama anyway…
That had particularly displeased her father, who saw it as a real possibility, rather than for the bluff it blatantly was…
Tobirama was going to wear the mantle of clan's leader someday, Butsuma'd rather keep training him for the time being, than sending him on an errand with the little one…
Hashirama's bet had paid off: her father had finally relented, warning her against stifling Itama's progress during the mission.
She felt so lucky!
And she hoped this trip would alleviate her concern regarding Itama, as much as possible… The road to becoming a shinobi was a long and arduous one.
Hopefully, Itama's first mission would be neither, for all their sake.
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The morning came with a small rain and a cold wind, making their departure most uncomfortable and unpleasant.
Besides, it would make tracking them much easier for enemies, a perspective that Momotama loudly acknowledged, despite all of them being already aware of it.
"I'm sure you'll overcome any enemy you'll face," Oburo-san declared.
Otherwise, you'll have a hard time making it out alive, finished Renji internally.
Nothing came to disturb them on this first morning of the trip though.
Nor on the second one.
Nor on the third.
They travelled at a good pace - as good as what wooden carts allowed to, at least, on such tricky roads.
And, by the end of the third day, they had reached the Province's Capital.
Oburo-san went immediately about doing his business.
"Are you mad!? That's twice the price we paid the last time!"
"Oh dear, oh dear, come now! I was at Sakura's Den this morning, it's clear that you make a lot more money than before with my products, you're bleeding them dry."
The pub's owner coughed up at this, mumbling about the market's uncertainty and "coincidences".
Hashirama stifled a yawn - since their arrival on the previous day, it was the third time she had heard a variation of this argument from Oburo-san, whether it concerned Kitsune's Lair, the Tsukumogami Table or now, Sakura's Den…
Haggling wasn't uninteresting to Hashirama, there was definitely a fun element to it - as long as there was some variety to it too…
But she understood why Oburo-san was using the same batch of recycled arguments: they were working just fine to get him what he wanted.
With Momotama and Itama, she was ensuring the protection of Oburo-san and his caravan at close range, while they were conducting their affairs.
The others had been establishing a perimeter around them, rotating positions regularly and keeping an eye on the crowd around them.
Tanzaku-gai, the Province's Capital, was a busy, sprawling city, being a strong commercial hub in the Land of Fire.
Its castle dominated the landscape, holding a strong regiment of the Daymio's forces and his official governor. "A city in the city," had said Renji as they crossed one of its main gates the day before.
The mission itself was going very smoothly: they had linked-up with Tenma-san in the previous evening, and Oburo-san seemed pretty satisfied with the deals he'd made since arriving.
Though he had been happy to see Itama, Hashirama and Renji, Tenma had kept things very business-like, making his resemblance with Butsuma that more apparent, despite his burlier build.
"- and it will cover your costs, you'll see!"
"Hn. I suppose I can trust you with this..."
Both men shook on the deal and Oburo-san asked his assistants to unload the marchandise the pub's owner had purchased.
Itama was pretty satisfied about it: it was the last stop the merchant was making.
With this, his entire cargo would be traded and delivered, meaning the mission was officialy over!
They would escort the man to his family's quarter in town, then get a move on back to their village.
The young boy couldn't wait: he missed his father and brothers deeply...
The group made their goodbyes with the merchant and what turned out to be his nephews once they reached his family's compound in the afternoon ("That explains their resemblances," had nodded Hashirama).
Tenma-san landed next to them, adressing Renji.
"We should get going. We're crossing through the Red Forest on the return trip, and it is a dangerous place in general, so I'd rather we set up camp there when there's still light to see."
"I agree, Tenma-san," said Renji, turning toward his fellow shinobis. "You heard the man: let's move!"
They dashed to the sky freely, their duty accomplished.
And as the last light of the day was crumbling into dusk, they finally stopped to set up camp in the Red forest: Hashirama helped Funomori set-up the camp' traps, as Tenma took care of cleaning the place with Itama and Topoï.
Soon, a fire sprung to life, just as Todoroshi and Momotama came back from their quick hunt with several rabbits that were quickly skinned and prepared for cooking.
With the food in reserve, that would be enough for everyone tonight, Hashirama thought to herself.
Rather broody, her brother didn't seem to have much appetite: he was supposed to take the first watch after the dinner was done, with Renji of all people.
He didn't say anything, but Hashirama could tell their estranged cousin disapproved of Itama's presence on this mission - maybe he considered her brother not ready for those yet, and who could blame him?
Hashirama herself worried enough about him being here to volunteer for this mission…
And somehow, Itama had picked-up on Renji's opinion somewhere, unless one of the others had come to him with this directly…
"Itama, with me," ordered Renji once they had finished dinner. "Everyone else, time to rest, we'll be making the usual rotation tonight."
Meaning, she would have to do the middle watch with Momotama, Hashirama thought disgruntly to herself.
Great…
She went to sleep in a bad mood, and worried about her brother…
It took her a few minutes to finally reach a light sleep, only punctuated by the small noises of the Red forest.
Everything was quiet.
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A death cry pierced the night; almost at once, chaos fell on the little camp her party had set up.
It was fast.
Suddenly, the air was full of yells, grunts, cries of horror…
Pure chaos.
Darting from her resting place, Hashirama saw the small figure of her brother running deep in the forest, several shadows tailing him immediately at full speed, as Renji collapsed against a tree, immobile, and fights erupted above her head.
"Don't! Itama!" called Hashirama desperately, making her best effort to reach him.
Too late.
His little body had vanished into the forest, pursued by four, maybe five shadows?
That idiot!
Splitting now was the worst thing that could happen! And Renji-
A surge of terror struck Hashirama violently; she fought it off instantly, reflexively dropping to the ground at top speed despite the killing intent pressed upon her...
Kunais sang above her head harmlessly as she instantly pushed back the ground with all her might, imbuing her members with chakra, propelling herself in the air…
Below, another missing volley shrieked past her.
And before she could scan the area properly, the enemy was upon her.
Such speed!
Her kunai clashed with a *KINT!* her opponent's, who had been aiming for her jugular… An Uchiha!
"You have a death wish, boy, shouting like that in the air!" purred the much taller ninja. "Of course, I'll oblige you as a result!"
Snake.
Dragon.
Rabbit.
Tiger.
One-handed?!
"Katon: Ryuuka no Jutsu!"
It was over in an instant.
Potent flames streamed from Roiko's mouth, engulfing the small figure greedily and killing it instantly.
Smirking, the ninja turned around, looking out for the other one, an even smaller kid than the one he had just disposed of - the corpse behind him made a dull sound as it crumbled to the ground.
Roiko froze.
… Logs?!
Curse him!
It was Shunshin no Justu!
Sharingan flaring, the ninja had just the time to see a volley of kunais come his way and tried to dodge them by diving to the side - only to be blocked by a wall that wasn't there moments before.
Their aim was true: Roiko went down, half-way into his desperate attempt to parry the kunais that pierced him from all parts, a strangled scream stuck in his throat…
Jumping from her tree, Hashirama quickly put an end to his misery, ignoring the crying noise and bloody mouth of her would-be killer.
It wasn't the first time she was put in such a position; the fighting having reminded Hashirama of the brutality of her world…
That no matter how strong someone was, only two outcomes were possible in battle: to kill, or to be killed…
There was no middle ground.
Her opponent had been a skilled shinobi; one-handed seals were no joke to handle…
Though her Doton: Doryûheki had been cast with no hand signs at all - a prodigious feat for her, as it was the first time, she ever managed to do so in a combat situation…
She had no time to dwell on it however: the situation remained extremely dire…
Renji had been seriously wounded; Momotoma and the others were now fighting (retreating?) somewhere close on her left; and Itama had disappeared!
Itama…
Checking Renji swiftly, she cursed herself: she couldn't stay, or it would be her brother that would lie on the ground, dying…
Sadness and rage disputed it in her heart as she dashed into the trees above her.
She had poured in Renji what chakra she could, hoping it would stave off the bleeding and nurture his injuries long enough for someone - anyone! - to pick him up and properly tend to him.
It was a gamble, but she had no choice in the matter, her mind was fixated on helping Itama…
And she had been careless, yelling his name like that… That ninja had been right!
She needed to be careful if she wanted to save him!
However, something about his attitude had her thinking hard…
The Uchiha had been so confident in his skills and about his own superiority over her that he hadn't bothered using his Sharingan until it was much too late for him…
Recklessness.
And arrogance.
If it was any indication, their opponents were overconfident and bound to make other vital mistakes: maybe she'd be able to take advantage of those…
Hashirama knew she would need every possible one against enemies like the Uchihas…
They were a powerful clan of Katon specialists, frontliners with the Sharingan, the bane of all Senjus warriors…
Able to anticipate and mimic movements and techniques they only glimpsed once, and casting extremely powerful genjustu that were second-nature to them…
The Uchihas were the worst enemies to face in battle…
Facing one in a duel was basically a death sentence… at least, when they weren't plagued with overconfidence …
Idiot girl! Now wasn't the time for that! She really needed to get to Itama!
Quickly!
Hashirama paced into the general direction she last saw her brother going, fully aware about her fellow clansmen and women fighting teeth and nails their secular enemies in the other direction…
She had to trust in their abilities: they were capable shinobis, they would pull through this battle, she knew it!
The caravan was lost, but her comrades wouldn't be so easily dispatched…
And they would save Renji from certain doom!
Right now, she had to focus on helping her brother - she was the only one in any position to do something for him…
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After several minutes of intense jumping and running, Hashirama stopped, breathing hard, crouched on the tallest branch of one of the Red forest trees.
Trying her best not to give way to a creeping sense of panic, as she thought really hard at what she was supposed to do next.
No trace of Itama…
Where should she look now? Should she go back and try to coordinate with the others?
But as soon as the thought formed in her mind, she dismissed it.
Such a folly to do that now.
It was the middle of the night; the likelihood of another ambush was very high.
Besides… every second she was wasting here was a second wasted to save Itama, and right now time was the most precious thing in the world to her.
Because, as dire the situation of her party was, the situation of her little brother was even worse.
With a little luck, maybe he could have managed to find shelter somewhere up north?
She was pretty certain they were within a couple of days' march from Giru village… maybe if he managed to lay low, he would try to go in that direction given how their return route was now blocked by the enemy…
A loud sense of dread gripped Hashirama in her chest.
Laying low?
She was being delusional.
Itama was a six-year-old, a six-year-old!
She needed to hurry.
She needed to find him fast, she could feel how dangerous the Red forest was at the moment for someone like him, alone, scared…
Hunted.
Never had this place worn the moniker so mightily in her eyes. And Itama –
Someone was coming.
Fast.
She needed to find cover quickly.
Hashirama bent silently very close to her tree, dropping a few notches below the next branch, peering intently at the ground.
Her position offered little protection, but hopefully no one would see her in that obscurity if she sat still, controlled her breathing and suppressed her chakra…
Itama!
He was in full flight mode, his armour hanging loosely on him.
So terrified it almost broke Hashirama's heart to see him like this.
A violent impulse to call her brother to her, to assuage his fear and promise him protection threatened to engulf her, but she forced herself to remain hidden.
There were other rapid footsteps following Itama's.
She coolly took in the allure of the five figures pursuing relentlessly her brother, jeering and laughing as they disappeared behind him out of sight between the trees.
She recognised the crests embroidered in their backs.
More Uchihas.
Nausea filled her.
Their killing intent was unwavering – they were going after her baby brother… the monsters… the monsters!
Always taking people away from her clan!
"Not if I have a say this time!" she swore bitterly as she dashed behind the men.
There was no room for error here.
Those were trained warriors, adults with experience and a powerful dojutsu at their disposal.
Her sole advantage was the element of surprise.
Just like her other opponent, they were confident in their kill, enough to play games and have a lax attitude before going seriously for her brother…
The shouting and mocking and the rush of feet storming the ground somewhere in front of her were testament enough of that.
Those bastards…
Careful now, Hashirama admonished herself.
She needed all her wits to save her brother, to make it out alive with him…
But how?
What could she do alone against five shinobis?
Flying from branch to branch, she soon concluded she needed to make a diversion somehow, possibly remove some of those men out of the equation to even things out, if she were to escape with her brother.
Yes…
This was their only reasonable chance to survive this.
She had some chakra left, enough for one powerful jutsu, smoke bombs, an explosive tag and a dozen of shuriken…
A plan slowly started to form inside her head…
Hashirama reached the last tree before a small clearing opened in the forest and paused.
The monsters hadn't noticed her yet.
Good.
It was taking every ounce of control she could muster to not lash at the sight she was presented with.
They had caught up to Itama.
Swords drawn and kunais, they were surrounding her brother who was backed up against a large mossy boulder.
Face still disfigured by fear and tears...
They, on the other hand, had ceased with their provocations and were slowly approaching him…
This was it.
Hashirama got to her feet as calmly and silently as possible.
Chance was, they had deployed their Sharingan despite their overwhelming advantage…
Timing would be absolutely critical.
She had to perfectly throw her shurikens before using her doton technique while rushing them on the ground…
Hopefully, she would take them into a pinch, scattering them around whilst she seized Itama and covered their retreat with the smoke bomb…
A little distraction would be needed at that moment though.
The tallest Uchiha seized Itama by his shoulder, effectively blocking him while a second shinobi raised a short sword, his killing intent on full display.
A small brush of air made him look up… and swore loudly as he threw himself sideways.
The shuriken grazed his neck before finishing its course in the ground next to the Senju brat.
Hajime wasn't so lucky: his hands clutched for his neck, eyes popping with surprise, as he fell on his knees, a metallic shape protruding from under his desperate hands.
Nishi and Tappura were looking uncertainly at the side of the forest, while Kentarô reached immediately for the bloodied Hajime, already lying unconscious on the ground.
"Doton: Tsuchideppö no Jutsu!"
Kojima turned around at the voice, as a second volley of shurikens sped toward him and the others.
This time his Sharingan clearly saw the flying piece of metal whose trajectory curbed toward him from the side – it was going to shift on the right!
Cursing under his breath, he deflected the shurikens with his sword, scanning the trees at the edge of the clearing.
He barely registered the projectiles who were flying toward him.
"Katon: Gookakyuu no Jutsu!"
A giant ball of fire engulfed the earth bullets – Thank kami for Tappura and his quick reaction! This could have been bad if –
A yell interrupted his train of thought as a brutally close clash of weapons occurred near Kojima, who reacted instinctively.
His sword met the kunai who had been aimed savagely at his neck.
The contact lasted less than a second – his leg shot up toward his assailant who dodged skilfully and pelted toward Kentarô.
There was another clash of metal in the air and, suddenly, Kentarô was pushed back next to him, trying to maintain an awkward balance as Nishin positioned himself near him.
Their opponent was skillful.
Somehow, Tappura was dead too, another metal object searing through the side of his neck.
That doton assault was probably just a decoy to provoke another opening, and cause even more confusion in their midst…
This guy had a flawless shuriken technique, Kojima had to give him that.
Young too, and the way he had positioned himself protectively between the other brat and the remnants of them, surely meant he was related to him directly…
A cousin or a brother, maybe.
That would prove an invaluable advantage, because the other Senju brat was nowhere near that skillful and would be a mouthful to protect given his current state – he was literally pissing himself on the ground behind, incredulity etched on his traits.
"Don't look them into the eyes Itama, and follow my lead," said the other kid calmly, eyes fixed somewhere on Kojima's torso.
That brat!
He was too good on his feet to be allowed to live, otherwise he would become a problem for their clan in the future, Kojima was sure of it...
The way Kentarô and Nishin exchanged knowing glances told him they were more or less reaching that same conclusion: that young plant needed to be cut off immediately.
"Tappura and Hajime won't have died in vain, you Senju brat!" snarled Kojima, pointing his chokuto toward the young shinobi. "Don't get so cocky thinking you'll get away with crossing the Uchihas!"
"Attacking us was the last mistake they ever made," retorted the kid coldly. "I won't hold back on you either, not after this!"
"Arrogant brat! I'll kill you myself!" growled Kentarô.
"I don't think you will," said the kid with a smirk.
A powerful feeling of dread invaded Kojima's chest as the boy changed his stance – a release form! For an explosive tag! But where –
His train of thought was interrupted as several things occurred at once.
His eyes were suddenly drawn to the chakra unnaturally building under Kentarô's left foot, just like the two others; the Senju boy shouted "Kai!", his voice ringing across the clearing; the world became a sea of burning light...
Something hot was leaking on Kojima's face when he landed on the crest of a neighbouring tree.
Was that blood? His blood?
The air drifted again, and he had to shot up further away from the clearing, bouncing off automatically the shurikens flying in his direction.
He landed on the ground, hiding behind a tree.
He had a searing pain in his side, and the blood on his head made things blur and dizzy.
He must have cracked some ribs and his head was probably open messily.
He peered quickly toward the clearing.
It was obscured in black fumes, too much for it to be the result of some explosive tags.
That Senju brat must have shot one smoke grenade to cover for his retreat with the other kid.
As if the explosion wasn't disorienting enough…
Smart.
Way too smart for the sake of his clan.
Three men. Three good shinobis had been killed by that kid.
Damn the Senjus!
When did they start producing this kind of offspring? This was bad…
Nishin landed on the other side of a tree, right next to his. He seemed relatively unscathed, if only ruffled on the sides and his face covered in dirt.
Using hand signs, he conveyed his feelings.
"Who. This. Kid."
"Unknown. We. Check. Kentarô. Alive. Dead. I. Low. You. Above. Acknowledge."
"You. Low. I. Above. Acknowledged."
"On. Mark. GO."
They jumped at the same time, weapons drawn as they rushed at the clearing together, all their senses on alert.
Kojima stifled a grunt when he stopped at the edge of the fumes.
His movements were definitely hindered by the injury, this was going to be problematic if they had to fight again...
But they wouldn't.
There wasn't anyone left here, save for Kentarô who was stirring slowly somewhere in front of them.
The Senju kids were gone.
.
.
.
Author's note: Pheww, another chapter done… had a hard time to set this one up, hopefully the result will satisfy you, dear readers!
Again, thank you all for taking the time reading this new chapter of Hashirama's journey!
Chapter four is scheduled for next week!
See you then.