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
Final Chapter: Uzushio
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The sun was setting, a rose-colored sky battling it out with the inexorable darkness.
Soon, the night would claim its territory.
This seemed to suit everyone perfectly - or at least, not cause anyone to show excessive worry at the propect of travelling by night.
Hashirama had just arrived at the Council Hall, with her affairs packed in a large pouch, her bamboo hat sashed atop of it, like her little brother.
Around them, their travelling companions were waiting.
Her uncle Rambuto slowly pumped on his pipe, a focused expression on the face.
Renji, who was standing next to him, a large cloak covering him and his armour, seemed both focused and eager to go.
And between them, the Uzumaki stranger, his face not completely hidden anymore by his hood, revealing the raw traits of a middle-aged man with thick, red eyebrows, hair just as vibrantly arranged in a bun,
a pointed nose and eyes black as charcoal…
There was something about him behind his appearance, a fierceness that Hashirama hadn't been expecting…
Were all Uzumakis usually this intense? Koki-san looked like someone not to be trifled with…
Butsuma and Tenma were with them, speaking with each other in a low voice.
There was no sign of the three elders or the other Hands, probably preoccupied elsewhere by another situation.
When they noticed their arrival, Butsuma made a sign toward his children, beckoning them to come to him.
"You two will be representing the clan, don't forget it," Butsuma stated without preamble, as a final reminder. "Hashirama. Tobirama. Watch and learn well among the Uzumakis - it's a rare opportunity that is offered to you because our clans have such close ties, and because you are both going to lead our clan in different ways in the future…
Don't squander such an occasion! I'll be monitoring your progress closely. Respect their people as you respect ours.
And do your duties toward them to the utmost of your abilities. Always. Do not disappoint me."
"Aye, father!" chorused the two children, following his lead and trying not to show any unscrupulous emotion.
To their surprise, in a rare display of affection, Butsuma's hands came to rest on their respective heads.
"Everything will be fine, you'll see" he said, without betraying his emotional state. "We will definitely deal with the Uchihas here…" he added, scanning the Council Hall behind them,
as if he was expecting someone from there to appear suddenly.
A mighty feat it would be, Hashirama thought to herself, while doing her utmost to remain stoic.
"Uzumaki-san, take good care of them, " Butsuma added with a small nod toward Koki Uzumaki.
"Of course Lord Senju, it will be our honour" the Uzumaki warrior answered, bowing slightly to Butsuma.
"If everything is in order, we should get going, " stated Tenma, eyeing their party expertly. "I want to head back here with the Uzumakis as soon as possible."
"My lords, if I might be so presomptuous…" cut Koki with a somewhat raised voice.
Surprised, everyone turned toward him, with various degrees of curiosity or wariness.
"Before going, we'll be doing something about your packings, or they'll get in the way," stated Koki Uzumaki.
"Get in the way? What do you mean, Uzumaki-san?" asked Renji, a bit confused.
"For the sake of speed and stealth, I'd like to seal your affairs into independant scrolls. It will allow ease of transportation for you, and permits us to move more freely and rapidly to our destination in general.
It's better to do it now, before departing."
"You can do that?" asked Tobirama with, to Hashirama bewilderment, an unatural level of excitement coming off of him.
"The famous Uzumakis' fuinjutsu techniques used for something so trivial?" noted Tenma with astonishment.
"Senju-san, don't worry," said Koki Uzumaki as he inclined his head in the direction of Tenma. "Some of our techniques have been designed for this very purpose.
This is one of them."
"Let's proceed then," Butsuma allowed. "We all are on a schedule."
Nodding, the Uzumaki ninja kneeled to the ground, and stretched in front of him several scrolls of similar size. In the middle of them, various linear kenjis and formulas could be seen.
"Four scrolls for four persons. Please, place your packings on each of the scrolls."
Hashirama, Tobirama, Renji and Rambuto did as they were told, somewhat intrigued and wary of what would happen to their things.
Koki went immediately through a blur of signs until…
"Funyu no Jutsu!"
His palm slapped the piece of paper he had in front of him, causing the seal in the middle of it to start glowing blue, then green, then white as the brown pouch of Tobirama disappeared completely in a puff of smoke.
Only a symbol in the center of the seal transpired of the success of the technique.
"Wow, amazing!" declared Tobirama with the same uncharacteristic enthusiasm from earlier.
The Uzumaki ninja repeated the operation three other times, with the remaining objects of their party. Once he was done, he gave the scrolls back to their respective owners.
"That's remarkable," said Rambuto, impressed and eyes calculating. "The possibilities of your technique seem incredible..."
"Besides, this will be a tremendous help in terms of logistics here if your shinobis are able to use them as well…" noted Tenma with a certain interest.
"You lot have to go. It's high time", ordered Butsuma, undeterred.
Sparing one last look at their father, Hashirama and Tobirama scattered with the group on the modest roofs and trees around them with speed, before heading to the outskirts of the village.
Tenma was leading them, taking them through one of the secret routes exiting the village, clocking in front of two innocent looking villagers chatting amicably between each other.
Hashirama admired for a small instant the flaw and easiness of the two actors below them - those were remarkable transformation techniques, only the small trum of ambient chakra she could perceive from her senses betrayed them as shinobi sentinels.
They sped throughout the forest for the next half hour, leaving behind them and avoiding other Senju patrols and civilians hurrying back to the village in those early hours of the night.
Koki's men were waiting for them in a small clearing near the frontier of Senju territory, accompanied by several Senju warriors.
Save for one fairly taller and larger individual, all of them were seemingly of the same size and stature, with their cloaks and hood well about them.
After a brief exchange with their leader Koki, six of the Uzumaki figures bowed toward Tenma and joined him with his men: the man made a sign toward Rambuto and then, fast as the wind,
disappeared in the shadows with his new charges…
The only Uzumaki remaining were the giant and his leader, Kiko Uzumaki.
"Now, the fun begins", stated Rambuto while looking at the two remaining Uzumakis. "Gentlemen, lead the way for us, if you'd please…"
Koki nodded and with a simple sign, ordered their party to take flight in the trees around them, just as a crescent moon started to appear above the forest.
Finally, their journey was beginning.
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Uzumaki land wasn't easy to reach.
Hashirama knew only it wasn't on the continent but laid beyond the seas, on some distant island - and that was it.
She wasn't even sure how long the trip would be, given Kiko-san had left little information about it filtered, at least to her and Tobirama.
There had been a debate on whether or not they should make the sea-crossing via Port Ryuk, but the Uzumakis had finally relented after Rambuto pointed out that the city was brimming with military forces and other shinobis under the command of the Daimyo they served.
Their presence flew in the face of the secrecy of their journey.
"In that case, we can use one of the coastal villages to make the journey across the sea to Uzushio, instead of Port Ryuk," stated Kiko Uzumaki, seemingly thinking on the spot.
"That's three days of fast travel instead of two regardless of the village we choose to go to, but we'll be outside the area of Nakasendo, which is what we want."
"Maybe", said Rambuto pensively. "We should be careful though: the way we plotted our course, we're skimming close to the Aburames.
They have a strong presence on Koshu Kaido Way."
The insect dwellers, Hashirama thought to herself. She would be fine with not meeting any of them in the middle of their trip! Some battles were not worth taking…
"This was forecasted, Lord Rambuto", said Koki while inclining his head. "We'll keep to the countryside at all times and will continue travelling by night.
This should limit the risk of encounters with other shinobis. Also, Shingo-san here is an experienced sensor, we'll know if there's trouble ahead of us."
The giant Uzumaki inclined his head toward Rambuto who seemed satisfied. Hashirama noted with amusement how Tobirama seemed to react with interest in learning there was a fellow sensor-type among them.
"Soki should be a good option," proposed said Shingo Uzumaki with a deep voice. "Plenty of fishing boats and the location isn't far from Shigetsu Island. From there, we can plot the final part of the journey."
Shingo Uzumaki was a taciturn man of little words. But his eyes were observant and said words were always sharp and impactful.
His remark was welcomed with a nod of agreement from both Koki Uzumaki and Rambuto Senju, who found themselves aligned in thoughts on this matter.
Soki was one of the numerous fishing villages that littered the eastern shores of Fire Country, but as Shingo Uzumaki had pointed out, its location would favour the transit to Uzushio' sphere of influence,
Shigetsu being one of its southernest island.
From there, they would pick up a different means of transportation to Uzushio mainland - at least, those were what the Uzumakis indicated, not elaborating on what means of transportation they were thinking about...
They traveled at a fast pace, crossing distances that would take days for a civilian to travel.
The Senjus were impressed by the ability and ease with which both Uzumakis evolved in the forest and among the trees.
"Since you are going to spend some time with us, I can tell you we have forests as well in Uzushio…", explained Koki as he flew through the motions between two tall trees.
"Enough of those for tree-hopping being one of our usual ways of travel in the archipelago."
"Archipelago? Uzushio is not just one island in the Land of Whirlpool?" reacted Tobirama a bit surprised at this piece of information.
Koki did not answer, though he graced the Senju heir with a good-natured smile.
"All in time, Lord Tobirama," he simply said to Hashirama's brother.
Traveling by night had a certain charm, Hashirama admitted to herself.
True, footing became much more treacherous, and danger augmented tenfold, since it was a perfect time for ambushes… but the way the land seemed plunged in a balm of mystic light,
with the moon above them bathing the foliage of her light…
Hashirama found it beautiful.
She truly cherished Fire country.
No matter how ugly were the people's mentality living in it, or how brutal the wars waged on one another were… the girl would never exchange their country for any other.
This country deserves peace, she thought to herself simply. Such beauty cannot be forever spoiled by warmongering and hate…
It took them effectively two day and a half to reach the littoral of Fire Country, with the nature of the trees around them changing along the way, and the air taking a different colour and scent.
"Salt," had simply indicated Kiko when Renji had pointed that out. "And seaweed. You'll get used to it Senju-san, no worries."
It was the very end of the night when they laid eyes on the small village of Soki.
It seemed peaceful to the Senjus.
No visible men at arms.
No potent chakras lurking around.
Peaceful, indeed…
The buildings were made of brick instead of wood, with small windows of various shapes and forms maring them, and the village itself was plunged half in the dark, its other half already buzzing with activity.
What they assumed were fishermen, were walking at a steady pace with their familiial aides, going from one errand to another, and transporting materials to what looked like a little pier where most of their boats seemed gathered. A small tavern was even visible near the frontside, with a wooden statue representing one of the Sea kami.
And by the bustling shoots and laughs coming from it, it had to be opened.
"Such a nice atmosphere", noted Tobirama."So, fishermen too have strange schedules, huh?"
"They probably are having breakfast before heading out to sea," said Rambuto. "It's as good a way as any to raise spirit among men before a gruesome workday starts."
Hashirama nodded.
She could easily understand why the fishermen were motivating themselves this way: it was both their livelihood and their lives that they were disputing to the seas every day, maybe for years already…
Rallying around good food and good friends was a way for them to ease the harshness of their lives.
"No women, no children… Most of the village is still sleeping", Renji noted as well. "To avoid gossip, maybe we should deal with the means of our transportation now, while it's still the case… Uzumaki-san."
"Agreed", Tobirama said, less afronted by the sybiline undertone of his cousin's remark than Hashirama. "Uncle, we could set up a position here in the shadows, while you and Kiko-san try and find a patron willing to work for us with his boat?"
"As expected from the future leader of our clan," nodded Rambuto, amused by his little nephew's sudden initiative. "What do you say, Uzumaki-san?"
"It's a good option, let's do it," simply answered the man while putting his hood back on his head.
Rambuto followed suit with his kasa and soon, the two men were walking away, in the general direction of the village's tavern.
"Good job, future leader!" Hashirama playfully said with a wink to her brother, to his great embarassment.
"Whatever," he muttered, bit-red, whilst the four of them hopped into the trees around them. "At least, I proposed something…" he added somewhat scathingly.
That definitely sobered up the elder sister.
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They waited long enough for Koki and Rambuto to come back whilst dawn was coming up, and other civilians started to trickle into the streets.
"Okay, we found someone willing to sail us across the harbour", said Koki looking up to them from the ground. "His name is Hiroshi and he'll have his boat waiting for us near the outskirts of the village,
roughly half a nautical mile from the shore. We'll meet him directly aboard."
Joining the shore without being seen wasn't an issue for the group, and soon they were running low and close on the waves, seeking the boat secured by the leaders of their party.
It didn't take them long before finding it: it was laboriously waiting for them where its owner said it would.
Hiroshi was old.
Old enough to remember the time before the Uzumakis pacified the coast and purged it from its raiders presence.
Old enough to still show gratitude for the islanders.
Gray hair and gray beard were contrasting the pearling smile he had for them when they showed up and boarded his ship, and it was with feverish energy that he helped them settle on the boat before starting to operate it with his eldest son, a man moderately less energetic, but just as appreciative of the shinobi presence.
"We lucked out", admitted in a murmur Koki as they watched a fiery sun slowly emerge on the horizon. "The pirate raids were occuring more than forty years ago… Almost half a century.
That there still are witnesses from that period living to this day is astonishing."
"Pirate raids?" interrogated Tobirama.
"Yes, raiders from the Land of Water", elaborated Koki. "There's a long, troubled history between our clan and those of Water country."
"So they were shinobis", noted Tobirama. "I understand why the civilians around here would still hold your clan in high regard…"
Hashirama found herself in agreement - raids from foreign shinobis must have exacted a heavy toll on the locals.
With powers like theirs, oppressing regular people was a slippery slope easy to fall into…
Soon it was sunrise, and it was magnificent, the sea reflecting bright colors of fire and gold back to the mariners, from circonstances or profession.
They reached Shigetsu island easily thanks to a calm sea and, not wanting to put more constraints on Hiroshi and his son, they disembarked as soon as they caught sight of a little creek on the south side of the island…
They were greeted by five shinobis waiting for them on the shore.
Rambuto turned to Koki, half furious.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"A simple patrol," stated Koki Uzumaki without missing a beat. "We have permanent outposts on several of the islands around Uzushio, or at least, around enough to warrant constant monitoring from our forces."
The newcomers exchanged a few words with Koki before the latter called them.
"A special boat is coming to pick us up from the mainland," the Uzumaki warrior indicated. "We'll board it by the end of the hour, so for now we settle here on the beach."
The five patrolmen didn't mingle with them, remaining at the limit of the beach, each of them apart, yet close enough of his fellow man to be rescued or to intervene instead.
"You heard the man," Rambuto stated. "Waiting here is our next move. So. Since it's the morning, and given we are going to be stuck here and guarded at all times by our … fellow friends over there…
I suggest a little meditation between the four of us. Mandatory."
Mandatory… As if any of us was going to break such a routine", scoffed Tobirama to himself.
Silently, the Senju took place in a quartet, facing one another, under the curious gaze from the Uzumakis, especially Shingo who was scrutinizing them from afar.
Tobirama didn't mind.
He was already away from this beach, away from the heat… Immersed into his chakra.
As usual, he could perceive his elder' sister's chakra, bright as a sun, and close to him.
Ever since the incident with the nature energy, he couldn't help but check for her chakra when they meditated, controlling that nothing was disturbing it and its state - Hashirama included.
So far, he didn't regret his new habit, despite not having been proven right by an eventual relapse from his sister.
He had put a great deal of thought into the reason for the incident too. He was firmly convinced that Yang Chakra was the element needed to balance Hashirama's little 'out of body' experiment.
If it worked, the potential was there to develop a remarkable jutsu… Uncorporeal displacement was appealing, especially when it came to espionnage…
But, what proportion would be enough to achieve that?
And for what concrete result?
Until he could answer those questions serenely, he doubted he'd make any real breakthrough on the matter.
Only incremental testing would be working in such a context.
What dosage he could reastically produce until getting a result? Besides, it's not like the test itself would be harmless…
"Tobi? It's time, the boat is here."
The Senjus' heir had his eyes snap open instantly. Hashirama was looking at him worriedly.
"Sorry sister, I went a little too deep in my thought-process here…."
If there was doubt in her mind, she didn't show it and for that, Tobirama was grateful to her.
They embarked on a much larger boat, with actual sailors mingled with another unit of Uzumaki shinobis: save the travel cloak and the hoods, they were the same as Kiko and Shingo that were with them. The boat departed almost immediately, aiming for reaching the port of Uzushio main island by noon.
Both men were much more at ease, along their fellow clansmen, and onto a real boat - the way they held themselves differently was telling.
"You seem in your element here, Kiko-san", noted Hashirama. "I suppose you are used to sailing a lot across Whirlpool Country?"
"I am", smiled the man, looking afar in the ocean. "Sailing is part of our identity too, as Uzumakis. You'll see once you'll be settled on our island."
"How long until we arrive?" asked Renji, who seemed a bit ill-at-ease with the boat's movements.
"Not long", said Shingo who had been listening."But I doubt you'll avoid sea sickness by the end of the trip."
Renji wanted to respond but a vigorous swinging of the boat dissuaded him.
Once more, the trip went smoothly enough for them to relax, leaving the little they saw of Shigetsu island behind them.
This, until a potent fog started to creep out around the boat, engulfing it completely…
A buzzing tremor and roars of water was also suddenly present, oppressing the anacustomed hearts and ears of the Senjus.
And then…
"Kami! Look at the size of them!" swore Rambuto, astounded.
A whirlpool, twice the size of their boat, had just appeared on the starboard bow of the boat.
And a second one behind it.
Then a third one, port side this time.
All around the boat, gigantic vortexes of various shapes and power were coming to life through the fog, around their embarcation that appeared, suddenly, very frail to some of its inocuppants…
Surprisingly though, they didn't seem to be on a collision course with their boat, quite the countrary: it's as if the whirlpools were losing their vigor whenever their boat was getting close to them. In fact, the waves themselves seemed to be nullified as well, Tobirama realised.
Could this be the doing of another special jutsu?
But how?
Even with his senses, Tobirama couldn't feel any form of chakra at work here… Was it another seal perhaps?
"How are we not dead?" blemished Renji, eyes stunned by the spectacle before him.
"Thanks to proper precautions and appropriate timing", hypothesised Rambuto, somewhat mesmerised by the spectacle too.
Koki nodded in agreement.
"It's a special protection against enemy flottillas and shinobis" he explained while looking at the crushing forces around them. "Deadly and efficient. As Uzumakis, we are the only ones capable of breaking through the great whirlpool barrier. And beyond that, there's another level of protection."
The man didn't elaborate this time, but they all witnessed the second layer of protection: at some point during the parkour through the whirlpools and vortexes, the boath seemingly froze, before shifting through the sea.
One moment, it was there, barely crossing the last whirlpools through the fog.
The next, they were sailing in clear waters, at the feets of what Hashirama instantly acknowledged as the greatest city she had ever seen.
The tallest houses and towers, made of both bricks and a strange, white substance.
The greatest crowd, as the white streets were populated by hundreds, if not thousands of passer-bys.
And behind, a range of spectacular mountains littered with dense forests espoused the contour of the city, dwarfing its towering houses.
The sight was grandiose.
"This is Uzushio", said Koki proudly to his party. "Our motherland, and your adopted home for the next several years…"
They soon were jumping out on a wide dock, made of bricks and that same substance Hashirama couldn't identify…
The ocean smashed helplessly on it, unable to break through the sturdy structures facing it.
Soon, the Senjus and their escort were joining the busy streets.
People leisurely going to the restaurant.
People coming back from the market arms brimming with food and vegetables.
People taking their time to discuss with craftmen and artisans.
People speeding to work and others pointing at the horizon, sightseeing the sun's glory over the island…
"This is true peace", murmured Hashirama to herself, gripped with emotions.
Happiness.
Health.
Wealth.
All gathered in one place and displayed not by just an elite class, but by the commoners themselves!
She couldn't believe such a place existed in the world…
The last time Hashirama had seen such a bustling city was when she went to Tanzaku on that escort mission with Renji.
The thought sent a chill through her spine and she looked guiltily at the young man' scar..
"I never imagined Uzushio was such a wealthy city", Tobirama said next to her, he too fairly impressed. "Nor its inhabitants in such a well-off state! That last jutsu though…
Koki-san, what was that? It felt like a shunshin technique, but at the same time, its speed felt completely different… as if it wasn't us moving, but the world around us…?"
Koki and Shingo exchanged a knowing look.
"It was a special jutsu from the clan", Koki answered non-commitaly. "But it is not my place to speak about it, Lord Tobirama. It ties to the security setup of the mainland itself."
"I see", nodded Tobirama. "Of course, I understand. My apologies."
Though he was bursting with excitement inside.
He never had imagined fuinjutsu was such a powerful tool!
For it had been fuinjutsu that had allowed their boat to navigate the whirlpools, then travel so fast from where they were to the shores of Uzushio - it had to be…
Between that, and the jutsu Koki-san had used to store their packings into scrolls…? The more he thought about it, the more Tobirama felt pulled toward this particuliar art, more than anything else.
Fuinjutsu was amazing.
Riveting, even…
And he would learn the mechanics behind it, there was no way he would miss out on such an opportunity to learn with the masters of this art.
He'd simply have to find someone less cagey than Kiko-san about it…
"I'm taking you to the main family compound. From there, you'll be able to unpack your affairs and settle a little bit. We will go to the White Palatium afterward for your audience with Ashina-sama, and after that?
Probably dinner for you with his Lord's family."
"Understood", stated Rambuto, eyes taking in everything there was to see from the city. Hashirama was sure he was dying to fume his pipe right now.
The group and their escort made their way to the heights of the city, navigating through the crowd and on a ground paved with white stones.
Again, the girl found herself astonished at the opulence of the city.
Soon, high walls became visible, and when they reached them, they were stopped by several Uzumaki guards standing all around a grey door made of iron, Hashirama suspected.
Their garb was a little different than the one of Koki and Shingo, with leather bands around their wrists and a huge kanji sign circled where the heart should be under their olive armors.
They looked fierce, but bowed all the same when their group was close enough to discern each other's eyes' colors.
"Welcome, Lords and Lady Senju", one of them said. "You are expected at the White Palatium. I see Koki-san and Shingo-san are with you, keep with them at all times while you are inside."
The man didn't elaborate why, but it was easy to suspect it tied to the way security worked inside the compound. Just like back then when they were on the boat…
The Uzumakis turned to the gates and two of them put their hands on little protruding rocks next to them.
They glowed almost immediately and suddenly the iron gate split in the middle to open the way for them.
"Chakra-induced mechanism… or maybe, a seal tied to the chakras of the wielder? It's incredible…" Tobirama reacted in a low tone, eyes sucking in everything the same way their uncle had been doing earlier.
"Their techniques are so advanced… It's beyond our scope," muttered Renji.
The group went through the halved door, getting inside what was a small city inside the city.
There was a sense of maze in its organisation and architecture, countrary to the rest of the city outside, with paved archways and roads linking various edifices.
The houses here were both made of wood and bricks, with a quality and finishing touches that rivaled even those of the capital…
And in the middle of them stood what Hashirama assumed was the White Palatium.
It was a castle, unlike any she had ever seen.
The structure was made of platforms of rectangular shape that seemed to stack on one another, with sloping sides made of the white material, and spanning outrageous terraces, each platform slightly smaller than the one below it.
The facade was glazed in both white material and metal threads of both silver and gold reflections…
And on top of it, was what looked like a monument, oval-shaped and harbouring a roaring fire inside.
Hashirama counted ten platforms...
She was pretty sure the building alone could hold the entire population of this compound, it was colossal like that… In fact…
"How come we didn't see THAT building from the shores? It's impossible to miss it…"
Koki chuckled.
"This compound and the White Palatium have special properties and precautions attached to them", said the Uzumaki as they made their way across it.
"Again, I can't elaborate on the hows, but it's for security reasons."
They reached their destination, next to the castle: a squared house of large proportions, one of a group of four, though it was dwarfed by the structure next to it.
"This is where you will be staying for now," Koki stated, designating the house. "You can unpack your things by injecting chakra directly into the scrolls: the seal will rupture easily.
There are resting rooms and hot baths waiting for you inside, and two servants to take care of your preparation. Shingo will stay here at the front door and I suggest you don't wander out of his sight, at least outside: it's for your own safety, trust me.
Suffice it to say the complex is designed for Uzumakis only…
Once you are cleaned up and ready, I'll come pick you up for your audience with Ashina-dono."
The group went in and was immediately greeted by two robust women who grabbed Rambuto, Renji and Tobirama and rushed them to the bathing section of the house, leaving Hashirama laughing to herself at the protesting sight of her brother and cousins.
The laugh turned to grimaces once the women came back for her though dozens of minutes later, taking her to a separate bathing section of the house.
There, she was stripped and pushed in a bath cold as ice.
And before the shock of both cold and embarassment could recede, one of the women started to scrub off her skin raw, whilst the other attacked her hair with raging energy.
The women then dressed her in fine clothing of red and white tissue, while styling her hair with a golden headband.
They then accompanied her to the main room, where the Senju males were waiting, dressed in fine clothing as well, but green and white instead.
Tobirama smirked.
"Not so funny now, eh sister?"
"Shut up you", Hashirama said through gritted teeth, while Rambuto guwaffed at the scene. Even Renji seemed amused.
"We should probably go meet Shingo-san outside", he finally said.
They saluted the servants and went outside, finding the man sitting cross-legged on the front porch.
Koki was with him, refreshed but wearing ceremonial clad armour instead of fine clothing like them. He inclined his head toward them and enjoined them to follow after him.
Accessing the inside of the castle through a volley of marches, they soon found themselves in a gigantic chamber, surprisingly cool countrary to the exterior of the building, and linen with white wood.
Despite high-placed openings that allowed natural light to bathe almost the entire floor from all sides, torches were lighting up the entire place, with two massive statues at the center made of white rock representing twin warriors, arms raised and hand holding large shakujô staffes.
Above them was a fantastic fresco retracing the battle of the twin warriors with a mystical beast, under the watchful cycle of both the sun and the moon…
And Hashirama realised both statues reflected that, with both their outstretched hands showing the same symbols, and their shakujo reflecting them too…
Several Uzumaki guards in the same clothings as those at the main gate of the compound were guarding various accesses inside the chamber.
The Senjus progressed in silence, following the assured walk of Koki.
They took one of the spiral ramps who seemed to connect the base of the castle to the superior floors.
Crossing several rooms and cellars, columned halls and what Hashirama suspected were small shrines, they finally stopped in front of a sturdy door after long minutes of climbing.
"This is the council room", Koki said. "Ashina-sama will be waiting for you inside."
Koki put his palm on the small protruding rock next to the door and just as it did at the main gate, the door halved to let the group pass into the next room.
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The inside was a vast, open terrace with a large block of rock centering the room, and seats of cushioned bamboo and rock aligned around it.
One side was completely open and jutted far outside the exterior, offering a spectacular view from the forest below, and beyond it, the sprawling city and the vast ocean that surrounded the island.
At regular intervals, Uzumaki guards were standing at the ready in the room, and standing next to the biggest seat of the table, made of actual rock and metal, was the man they came to see.
Tall, with long, silky white hairs and a squared off goatee framing a perlee white smile…
Ashina Uzumaki, the leader of the Uzumaki clan, and ruler of Uzushio.
Koki bowed deeply, and the Senjus followed suit after him, as a mark of respect.
"My Senju brothers!" Ashina exclaimed himself, arms opened in a welcome embrace. "And sister," he added, eye twinkling toward Hashirama.
"It is good to see you have arrived here, safe and sound. Welcome to Uzushio! I am Uzumaki Ashina, leader of this humble clan. At your service."
The last sentence was quite humorous, thought Hashirama.
No humble clan would display so ostentatiously its wealth and power, though she supposed visitors weren't many on this land…
"Thank you for having us," answered Rambuto, eyes just as twinkling. Allow me to introduce myself: I am Senju Rambuto, second Hand of our Leader, Senju Butsuma.
This is my aide, and little nephew, Senju Renji. And those two are the future of our noble clan: Senju Hashirama, eldest daughter of our Leader and future First Hand of the Clan;
and Senju Tobirama, his eldest son and first Heir of the Clan."
"Delighted to finally meet you, Senju Tobirama," Ashina said. "You seem to be made of good stock, I can tell you are a promising shinobi! Very good stock indeed, your chakra is so potent…
And you as well, Senju Hashirama! Meeting the next generation of shinobis is always exciting!"
"Thank you for your kind words, Lord Ashina", said Tobirama simply, wondering why he suddenly felt like a cattle being examined by a potential buyer.
"Your father negotiated your presence here", continued the Uzumaki leader. "We have a vested interest in following your progressesses and development.
The Senjus have been our allies for centuries, and the fate of our clans have always been intertwined. This will be the case once more with your generation."
"We look forward to fostering our bonds with the Uzumakis", said Hashirama sincerely. "What you accomplished here… It's outstanding."
Ashina seemed pleased by her words. He turned to the sight outside the terrace, watching the city below and its trumming activity.
"Shinobis used to be wanderers… Some clans still are like this to this day," Ashina started to narrate. "Our ancestors knew what the potential of settling on this island would bring though,
what a boon it would be to both the population supporting us and the clan itself. By doing so, they changed how our clan worked, and revolutionised our traditions.
It started a new age."
He turned to the Senjus who were listening to his words, passion visible in his eyes.
"They built the foundation we are now standing on," he continued, voice booming. "Our houses. Our monuments. Even our economy was made possible thanks to them.
With our mines, we can extract gold and other precious metals to sell. With our quarries, we can export marbles to the greatest noble houses of the continent.
With our agriculture and our merchants, we can trade goods with the continent and have wealth flow back to our shores.
This benefits both the inhabitants and the clan, funding projects for our people, and the operations our shinobis go through on foreign soil.
This system works.
As a result, it made us a target from rival clans who coveted the resources and revenues we exploited."
His eyes roamed from Renji to Rambuto, from Hashirama to finally settle on her brother Tobirama.
"We Uzumakis are accustomed to this, and pride ourselves in our ability to withstand any challenges. We are not the ones picking up fights with others, but we make a point of ending them whenever we are involved.
That is our philosophy, the doctrine laying in the heart of every shinobi born and raised on this island...
Your presence here is precious, it'll allow you to understand our philosophy, the same way your presence will help us understand yours.
It's also a way for us to renew the vows existing between our clans since the early era of the shinobis…
Until we materialise it through the blood of a young heir.
Uzumakis and Senjus are brother clans."
Hashirama had been so engrossed by the adress from the Uzumaki Leader, she didn't immediately realised what had been said.
Her brother did, on the other hand.
…
A young heir?
what
"What do you mean by a young heir, lord Ashina?" he asked, suddenly not so sure about where that speech was going.
Ashina turned to Rambuto, eyebrows raised high on his front.
"Haven't you told them?" he said, surprise colouring his tone.
Rambuto glanced at his nephew and niece, before answering the man standing in front of him.
"The young have no say in the matters of the clan."
"Even when their future is directly concerned?"
"Especially when their future is directly concerned", Rambuto confirmed. "There's only so much leeway they can have, and this is one of those times."
"What does this mean? What future heir?" asked Hashirama, who had finally caught up to Ashina's words.
"Well, hopefully the son your brother will give to both our clans in the future", the man answered easily. "Senju Tobirama, I wanted to have you here because my grand-daughter is betrothed to you.
She's been so since her birth. And - ah! Here she is.
The door by which they had entered the room halved to let a young girl walk in.
An elegant embroidered kimono was drowning her completely, leaving only a small, childish face emerging.
Her glowing skin and silk red hair arranged in an elegant bun had Hashirama feel for the first time a strange twinge of aversion toward another girl…
Ah.
Jealousy.
That was it.
She was almost shocked at her own reaction. Almost.
The girl walked regally toward her grandfather before bowing toward the assembly of stunned Senjus. Tobirama had developped a sudden red complexion, mouth laying agape, as if struck by thunder…
"Senju Tobirama, meet my grand-daughter, Mito Uzumaki… your future wife", declared Ashina proudly, a hand resting on the girl' shoulder.
And the defeaning silence that followed those words was only broken by the astonished words escaping the mouth of Renji Senju.
"… what the fu- "
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Season I
End of Part I
Author's note: And so, this concludes this season's finale!
Thank you for reading the tenth chapter of Hashirama's journey as a shinobi!
This first season of her adventure is over, with a bombshell dropped on the head of her poor little brother, Tobirama...
I've been working on the second season of her adventures for a while now, and I'll keep doing that for the next couple of weeks!
As a result, there won't be an update for the next two weeks, at least not in the usual format of 5K chapters... I might make an interlude if I find something interesting for the story and its characters to tell. No promise though!
Also, as an apology for the late publication of this (difficult) chapter, here is a small glimpse of what you can expect in Season II of Hashirama's adventures!
As always, I hope you all had a good read, dear readers! And see you next time!
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Season II
Preview Chapter: Impures
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Both pairs stopped at once.
"Hyugas", murmured Tobirama, lowering himself into a combat stance, sword heavy on the shoulder.
He was right.
The two shinobis in front of them were displaying their clan' symbol on the headband they wore: a folded fan with a dense flame ablazed in the middle.
And both harboured white-collared vests and pants as clothing…
Definitely Hyugas.
Just like the Uchihas and the Kaguyas, their clan was known to wear little to no kind of armour on battlefields, instead favouring white clothing - a testament to the strength of their kekkei genkai, and to the extreme arrogance who came with it.
The Byakugan.
The most powerful dojutsu in existence with the Sharingan.
It would be the first time they would face it in battle… That eye was unique, nothing like the Sharingan at all.
A ring - a protuberance really - where the pupil should have been, was visibly contracted. Hashirama could see overflooded veins converging around the pupiless eye, pulsing under the flow of blood and chakra, inundating the area completely.
The sight was impressive, and slightly unnerving - freak of nature, that was the term Tôka had employed earlier, and Hashirama could understand where the other girl had come from...
Those eyes were so strange from up close, so different and vibrant with the reverberated light of the sclera that, on an instinctual level, the young Senju heiress knew they couldn't be natural appendices of Man, not at all… but otherworldly tools that fell into his possession instead.
She could almost buy the rumours making the Hyuga relatives to the Sage of the Six Paths.
Almost.
"Take us to your leader," declared Hashirama calmly, eyeing the pair in front of her with curiosity.
It was rumoured the Hyuga were so powerful, they couldn't be touched by any ninjutsu or genjutsu techniques in battle.
Flawless shinobis with perfect defences... "Untouchables", "the Pure Clan" or "Divine warriors" were some of the monikers that commoners used to describe them across the country…
Not a lot of clans had the ability to instillate such widespread admiration or fear - beyond her own clan that is.
Or Madara's.
No wonder their assault had been taken to a standstill.
Hashirama was confident some of those rumours were somewhat exaggerated, but the Hyuga's reputation of being formidable shinobis wasn't - only strong opposition could have stopped her father and his men's assault on this castle. She still couldn't help wondering how much of them were true though .
The two other shinobis exchanged quick glances and mutely switched their own stances.
"You're wasting your breath Hashirama", said Tobirama, still eyeing their opponents. "Hyugas don't address their enemies on the battlefield…
They barely address people who don't belong to the 'Pure Clan'."
"Hmm, I see", said Hashirama thoughtfully.
"Also, don't let them close-up on you," continued Tobirama. "I'm sure you understand what that means."
"Of course Tobi," said Hashirama.
More than with any other clan, Hyuga's bodies were deadly weapons. She'd have to keep them at bay, which was going to be a mouthful in this corridor, and without resorting to ninjutsu or taijutsu [...]
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