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 II
Chapter Two: Aftermath
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The room was quiet.
A small breeze coiling the veils and the faint roll of the waves outside were the only things disturbing it.
The girl opened her eyes.
She felt tired.
Exhausted even.
As if she just had run for the longest of times and, once all energy had been thoroughly spent, run again some more…
She almost wondered why… before memories came back to her, as her slumber was recessing.
The lake.
The technique.
Her brother!
She gasped - Tobirama! He had been mourning her, mourning her loss… because she died!
She died on the shore of the lake, from her own failed jutsu!
She had seen herself: her body had been a proper mess… And the pain she had felt…
Shocked, the thought prompted her to look down, a hand coming to rest on her stomach…
Her ribs… They were back in their place, not piercing her gut anymore… and she could breathe.
Properly.
Jumping out of the bed she had been lying into, she zeroed in on the giant mirror that had found its place in the room, scrutinizing every inch of herself.
This was… impossible.
No injuries.
No scars.
Nothing!
She was… fine. More than fine even.
Looking at herself like this made her realise something incredible had occured to her.
Natural energy.
She had managed to connect with natural energy!
She remembered!
This is how she managed to survive the ordeal…
The young Senju could have almost jumped on the spot if she hadn't felt so cranky and tired: she felt so, so vindicated…
All the years she had spent labouring under their father to control chakra to perfection, and the months spent chasing the ghost of the tail of natural energy…
If it wasn't for those two things, she would have died on that lake, she was sure of it.
Furthermore, despite her tirednesss, she could feel an echo of it, not only surrounding her, but also flowing through her at every instant.
Something that, until now, she only had been aware of while deep in meditation, not staring at her stunned reflection in a mirror…
This was new.
Being constantly attune to it… Would it allow her to grasp it? Seize it on the spot, the same way she did back on the Lake? She was tempted to try it so bad…
"So, you are awake Hashirama."
The young Senju startled: it was her uncle Rambuto, observing her from the door's frame.
"You were this focused, you didn't realise I was here? You must be pretty shaken up indeed!" smiled the older shinobi as he walked in.
"Yeah, sorry about that dear uncle, it's just…"
She hesitated.
"It's just?" encouraged Rambuto.
Hashirama looked at him, smothering the feeling of anticipation and dread that she felt growing in her.
"You know", Rambuto said, not waiting for her answer," your tutor told me a fascinating story about what occured out there."
"I… guess", Hashirama said simply. "I suppose, I've been bedridden for a while, haven't I?"
"You crashed into that bed two nights ago," Rambuto said with an amused expression. "Everyone was shocked, they had almost forgotten what it was like to have some peace and quiet around here…"
Hashirama cracked a smile at her uncle stupid jab.
"Ha! I guess it was time for me to get back on my feet then…"
"Indeed", assured Rambuto. "Maoru-san recounted what happened to you, how you came back from the land of the dead, pristine and in full health… So."
"So?" repeated Hashirama, unsure of where the conversation would be heading.
"I want to hear it from you directly, niece of mine: did you really harness natural energy on that lake?"asked Rambuto seriously.
A flash of being submerged by warmth and her clutching it came to her mind.
She nodded.
"I did… I did and since then, something has changed in me," Hashirama answered slowly. "I can feel things… things that I couldn't before. The natural energy surrounding me, surrounding you, flowing through us and the ripples people are making all around…"
"Oh, is that so?" Rambuto reacted. "How far can you 'feel' ?"
How far indeed?
It was as if the world had become an extension of herself.
Ever present, like the murmur of the waves in the back of her ears, here, on Uzushio.
If she focused a little, she could tell the exact number of persons walking on the southernest beach of the island for example - and this both excited and frightened her.
"I'm… not sure",she answered obliquely. "It feels like as long as there's nature, I'm able to feel everything…"
Her uncle looked at her pensively.
"You have yet to discover the true depth of what you achieved on Lake Okama…" he finally said doctorally.
"I failed a jutsu, uncle Rambuto," cut Hashirama, anguished. "It almost killed Tobirama and Maoru-san. And me? I should have been killed by it - in fact, I'm pretty sure I was dead at some point…"
"Do you want to talk about what happened?" Rambuto said softly, seeing how upset his niece looked.
That was precisely what Hashirama dreaded.
She wasn't sure she wanted to relive the events leading her to harness natural energy.
She only wanted to keep the positive - not dwell on all the horror and pain that came before…
"I get it - you almost died on Okama" Rambuto said. "Maoru-san spared us some details but I know your injuries were really bad… And it's the first time for you, tasting death like this - your own mortality challenged so closely."
He saw the girl's hand twitch reflexively.
Rambuto took out his pipe, stuffed it while the girl scampered to open the large window of her room. The smell of the fumes annoyed her to no end...
"It's easy to forget in a place such as Uzushio, but death is the companion of all shinobis", Rambuto said while lighting up his pipe. "We dispense it, we witness it and, in the end, we receive it - whether as a dear old friend or as a bitter enemy… Whatever it is that you are feeling right now, realise that it's normal - and embrace it. To feel is to be alive my niece, and feeling all of that and still be able to walk down your path, one step at a time, proves how strong is your will to live. And in time, the dread and memories will be eclipsed by it...Trust this."
Hashirama wasn't sure the fear and dread would ever go away, but the words of her uncle made her feel a little bit better.
He was right: death was an integral part of a shinobi's life.
She had known it ever since she had started to train as a kunoichi, but this accident had served as a true reminder of the finality of death. The same way losing Kawarama had done all those years ago…
"For a kunoichi like you, Hashirama, always succeeding at everything new you learn and try… to feel the jaws of death must be tough - coming from a misfired jutsu at that…"
Bit-red, Hashirama lowered her head in shame.
"It was an embarassing failure", she mumbled. "I didn't realise how difficult it is to control this technique…"
"Ah, this is the Hashirama I've come to know…", chuckled Rambuto while puffing on his pipe. "You always take failures as a personal offence… But failures are parts of the journey for any shinobi - anyone in life, really.
As long as it's not in the middle of a battlefield, it's fine for you to fail. Healthy even. What you learn from failure is what makes you better as an individual at the end of the day."
"I suppose you are right", grudgingly admitted Hashirama.
"Well, of course I am: why do you think I came to be this old?" Rambuto said faigning offense. "In our profession, it means I'm pretty good at what I'm doing! It doesn't look like it but I'm pretty wise, you know…"
Hashirama laughed heartily at that: uncle Rambuto was really the best. He was so good at lifting up her spirit, it was outrageous.
"Anyway, the reason I came to see you was to offer you an opportunity," her uncle continued. "Something that will benefit you and our clan greatly in the long run…"
"What kind of opportunity?" the girl asked, her curiosity piqued.
"I want you to accompany me on the continent, to the one place where you'll be able to learn and understand what natural energy is: the Temple of Fire."
Curiosity was replaced by excitement: there was a place where natural energy was studied? How come she had never heard of it before?
Something halved her sudden enthusiasm.
"But, what about Tobirama?"
"Oh, don't worry about your brother," Rambuto said while playfully making rings of fumes above his head. "He's going to be pretty busy in the coming weeks."
Outside, one of the rings was scattered by the sea wind, under the perplexed gaze of the Senju girl.
Busy how?
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"Teach me."
The man turned his sight to the side: the boy was here, hanging on the side of the window, his shadow cutting across the light in the room he was in.
The Senju Heir, Tobirama.
Maoru scoffed.
"What do you think I've been trying to do for the last twelve months, boy…", the ninja said, while continuing to scribble missives on the wooden desk.
It was early in the morning and he had a busy schedule: he was supposed to meet Koki Uzumaki and brief him before his next outing on the continent.
Then escort one of the barrier units as they surveyed the harbour's defenses…
He had no time for the Senju brats this morning.
"I'm not talking about what you've been showing us until now", said the boy casually.
He dropped from the window next to Maoru, undeterred.
"When Hashirama almost died, you made some creature appear out of thin air…" Tobirama started.
"I did."
"Teach me how you did that."
Maoru laughed, as he kept preparing his missives.
"Are shinobis on the mainland so backward they don't know what Summoning jutsus are?" said the red-haired Uzumaki, eyeing the teenager in front of him.
"We both know it's a well guarded secret, don't we?" retorted Tobirama with a sarcastic tone.
The older shinobi's eyes narrowed.
The boy spoke a truth he shouldn't have known…
The jutsu itself was a secret the Uzumakis had traded in the past with other clans on very rare occasions, both in order to gain influence and to obtain commercial exclusivity in some cases...
But the success rate had been so dramatically low, making the adventure so risky for the people attempting to gain a summoning contract, that in fear of damaging their relations with the other clans the Uzumakis had gradually stopped trading the technique with them…
Financially, it had been a very short - but prosperous - endeavour for them though.
But still - how did the boy manage to make the connection?
"I don't see what you are implying, Senju boy," Maoru said simply.
"I saw up close how you executed the technique, the mudras and the kanjis associated with it - it's suspicious how similar fuiinjutsu is to that technique, don't you agree?" Tobirama detailed, gauging the older shinobi's reactions. "The way it's designed to transport and not to seal… It's the type of jutsu that relies on time and space alterations to make the transfer possible, I'm sure of it… the same kind that allows safe navigation to the port of Uzushio. In fact… I bet you Uzumakis derived that technique from the Kuchiyose initially, didn't you?"
"Is that so?" Maoru murmured non-commitally, still scribbling.
"You, Uzumakis, have known how to perform the Kuchiyose for a long time, that's how you developed all your fuinjutsu advancement, didn't you… And that's why other clans became interested in your abilities as a result." Tobirama said confidently. "And on its own, Kuchiyose is a valuable technique, they tried and traded with you over it from time to time - they wanted in. Correct?"
Too close.
"You're reaching boy, I don't see what -" started Maoru while cursing internally.
"Oh, but I'm not reaching", interrupted Tobirama forcefully. "Have you ever heard...of a place called Sora-ku?"
Maoru greeted his teeth, silenced and not writing anymore... Even that, he knew?
"It is said the Uchihas have established a commercial hub with some creatures that are now settled in this city, the Ninnekos… It's come to a point where they have been supporting the Uchihas in their battles, sometimes on the field itself… I wonder how this became possible in the first place? What thinks you, Maoru-san?"
More silence.
"Methink that your clan - our brother clan, the Uzumakis, - spilled the secret of Kuchiyose at some point, either to their allies or to the Uchihas themselves" advanced Tobirama darkly. "So indirectly or not, the Uzumakis are responsible for strengthening our worst enemies. With whom we are at war today… Some could say it played more of a hand in the agreements between our respective clans, and me being bethrothed to Princess Mito, than any previous relationships that already existed between Senjus and Uzumakis… Your involvement came to be known by our leaders and now you are trying to make amends… aren't you? That or they have managed to twist your arm over it…"
Well… he would be damned.
The practice had fallen off decades ago, but still… That kid wasn't just a prodigy in shinobi arts, was he? He was dangerously cunning, Maoru was now realising with a start - to deduce all this on his own…
Still, the Uzumaki decided he would not fold so easily to the accusations the boy threw at him.
No way!
"If the Uchihas are involved, it's more likely that they stole the technique with their Sharingan, rather than whatever grievous accusations you are making!" the man counter-attacked. "Tch, and you deduced all that over me not wanting to teach you the technique?" Maoru tried to chalk it off.
"Well, when I said teach, I mostly meant how the technique works… I'd like you to explain the mechanics to me" Tobirama detailed.
"You want me to teach you how it works. And why exactly would I do that?"
"Why not?"
Maoru crossed his arms. Tobirama decided to elaborate on his point.
"Me and my sister have played along so far, and true, you and Koki-san have taught us a lot of things about chakra, and techniques that we didn't know before… and we are grateful for that, truly.
But the fuinjutsu lessons you provided us were very surface-level, in contrast… Lacklustre. Part of the reason why I relished the perspective of this tutoring was for the opportunity to learn fuinjutsu seriously. It's been a year since we started the studies together and it never materialised.
I still can't kraft a seal on my own to this day! That's something I'm no longer willing to tolerate. Not. Any. More! So. I'm asking you to make due on teaching us this art for real… Our goal is to be capable fuinjutsu users, not glorified scribes. And for that, I provide you with an incentive: after all, it would be better to teach us, than the secret behind the Uzumakis involvement with the Uchihas becoming known in my clan."
Maoru made an angry face at those words which finished to convince Tobirama of his righteousness.
"So I was right, your clan was involved in Sora-ku…" he said with steel in his voice.
"You played me well, boy… but you are wrong about us being involved with the Uchihas!" denied Maoru. "Besides, you wouldn't dare endanger this alliance with no actual evidence to back your theory… Your clan needs us!" argued the man.
"Do not test me Maoru-san", replied Tobirama coldly. "I'm resolute: anyone getting in the way of the Senjus will be dealt with, one way or another. If it comes down to it, I will not hesitate to cut ties with the Uzumakis once I'm in power. And make cooperation difficult until that time comes, regardless of proofs… For everyone's sake, teach me fuinjutsu - for real. I'm destined to be involved with your clan anyway by marrying Mito-chan - you will not be breakin that many rules by agreeing. "
That… BOY.
He could have strangled him…
Furthermore… He was not bluffing.
Tobirama Senju was going to be a problem later on for his clan at this rate...
"It seems like you are the one who shouldn't test me," Maoru said, glaring menacingly at the young teenager.
Gathering his affairs as he got up, he stuffed them in a scroll and sealed them away. Then he walked to the door, and stopped, as he was almost setting foot outside.
"Believe it or not, my mandate is clear when it comes to the two oy you," Maoru said in a dangerous tone. "You can make all the menaces you want little Senju, this won't change what I just told you. You can get lost with your whole clan for all I care…"
Next moment, Tobirama was alone in the room, as the sounds of Maoru's rapid walk faded away.
"You do like to get in the man's crosshair", laughed a familiar voice as a feminine figure entered the room, right where Maoru-san had disappeared.
Tobirama's head tilted to watch Mito sit on the desk where their tutor had been working.
"You heard?"
"Just a little bit, here and there…" the girl said evasively, her eyes twinkling mischieviously.
How long had she been spying on the conversation? Tobirama hadn't felt her presence at all… Nor Maoru-san! And they both were excellent sensors…
"How did you do it?"
"How did I do what?"
"Don't pretend, Mito… You did something to supress your presence from both me and Maoru-san… How did you do it?"
A large smile grew on the girl's face as she looked at him intently, causing some trouble for Tobirama: it had taken some time for him to realise, but he was growing weaker and weaker when Mito manifested some mark of attention toward him.
"Always interrogating and asking questions, I see… You are so hungry for knowledge, Tobi-kun! I actually admire you for that… In that sense, you are more Uzumaki than I…"
"You didn't answer", noted Tobirama, trying to ignore the heat that had suddenly crept up on his cheeks.
"Oh fine, fine! It was some jutsu I was testing out… and given your reaction, it seems to be working."
"Some jutsu, eh? It's always the same with you, I can't get a clean answer…"
"I'll have the rest of my life to play the demure wife at your side Tobi-kun… So, don't spoil my fun here, please?"
The young Senju, at loss of words and bit-red, grumbled away as he walk toward Mito and sat next to her.
"So, you want true training in fuinjutsu, I understand…" the girl said quietly. "This... will never happen Tobirama-kun. My clan's policies won't change just for you, you know… I could have told you that if you had come to me directly; would have spared you this bout with Maoru-san…"
Tobirama grumbled some more.
"In fact", Mito continued, her eyes lighting up, "I could be the one to teach you what you seem so intent on learning!"
"I decline, no thank you", Tobirama cut flatly.
Mito looked at him, somewhat confused at his words.
"Why are you being so difficult?"
"It's a generous offer, princess, but I can't accept it", Tobirama said firmly. "What I want is to work with one of the masters of the art on this island... I won't achieve excellence otherwise."
"This is stupid", Mito said aggravated. "You are stupid", she added while sizing him up, tremendously annoyed. "Why are you refusing? Tobirama! I'll have you know, I'm one of the best students in fuinjutsu on the whole island. That jutsu from earlier? It was a seal of my creation that I was testing… Don't you dare underestimate me!"
She jumped off the desk, and turned a menacing finger at him.
"I shall become your wife in the future; if you think that doesn't come with excellence in shinobi arts, you are sorely mistaken" she stated bluntly. "Stop grumbling and take my help already! I have no interest in a husband who can't do a decent job at fuinjutsu either."
Mito's anger was like a storm brewing on a sea at large: it grew rapidly and exploded on you before you could react. After spending two years alongside the girl, Tobirama knew better than to stoke it and immediately relented.
"Fine… Fine! I apologize, you can teach me, I accept."
"Ah, some progress", smiled Mito, whose sudden anger dissipated instantly. "Don't worry Tobi-kun, I will teach you so that you can become a true fuinjutsu expert, like us, Uzumakis. Don't expect to join the Yokai Trident anytime soon though."
Tobirama scoffed.
The Trident was the name given unofficialy to Uzushio's grandmasters in the three domains of fuinjutsu: the art of sealing, the art of barriers and the art of transportation.
Tobirama had never met the other two, but he knew pretty well the grandmaster of sealing: it was none other than Ashina Uzumaki, the leader of Uzushio and Mito's grandfather…
If he could have landed any of those as a sensei… But there was no point in vocalizing that now, lest he wanted to anger for good his betrothed.
"Join me on the shores after your afternoon spars, we'll start from there" she offered him with a genuine smile.
And before he could react, the girl was strutting out of the room, leaving Tobirama alone and stunned.
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The spars in question were one of the curiosities of Uzushio.
Asymmetrical in nature, they had the participants defy one another with differing shinobi arts: taijutsu with ninjutsu, kenjutsu with genjutsu, fighting with chakra against without…
The purpose was specifically to accustom the participants with various combat situations they could be thrown-in, to learn about their own limitations and to develop efficient strategies…
They were mandatory for all shinobis on the island, two times a week, regardless of their own training or schedules, in the Coliseum, a remote creek nicknamed like this by the inhabitants of the island for its closed form and the high cleefs that surrounded it...
The bouts were as much about forging the shinobis regardless of their age, as holding up tradition.
And the victors were received at the White Palatium for dinner with Ashina and his family, a great honor…
The day sped past Tobirama and soon he was walking with Mito on the beach, nursing a nasty cut on the arm, followed at a prudent distance by Renji Senju and Makoto Uzumaki, Mito's first servant.
Tobirama usually had very good runs in the Coliseum - but not today: he had been bested by Shingo Uzumaki who had responded surprisingly fast to the genjutsu he had trapped him in.
Tobirama was not as prone as his cousin Toka when it came to it, and by the time he had been in position to throw a second genjutsu, he had been harassed by the man' shurikenjutsu.
An unexpected defeat that had both scorned him and prompted him to think about a way to develop stronger genjutsu techniques…
Another thing he would have to deal with, alongside fuinjutsu...
"So", started Mito while side-eyeing him deep in thought. "After what I heard from you this morning, I think I need to clarify a few things beforehand."
"I'm listening", Tobirama shrugged, not sure what Mito wanted to clarify exactly.
"Well, first of all, it's not fuinjutsu that inspired the Kuchiyose technique - but the other way around: the Kuchiyose technique inspired the development of all fuinjutsu techniques, centuries ago...
In that sense, you were correct regarding the technique protecting our shores: it is indeed, a derivative from Kuchiyose. And secondly… Tobi-kun, you need to understand: the Kuchiyose technique is a direct legacy from the Sage of Six Paths.
A legacy that we Uzumakis inherited, and fructified, in order to become the great clan we are today."
Mito turned to the side, looking at the waves crashing on the shores, and the small boats lining the horizon of Uzushio.
When she looked back at Tobirama, her expression was stern.
"I can teach you Kuchiyose if you want it so much, but I'm warning you: it is a dangerous undertaking to try and gain the favour of creatures as summons. They can be fickle and, of course, dangerous.
And before you ask: I don't have any summons so I won't share any with you. It's a path any individual has to walk on by himself. Maoru's Toads are a bit of an exception to that..."
"The Toads? So that's what he invoked the other day" Tobirama realised.
"Indeed. Gamajouki is one of the great toads of Mount Myobyoku, their place of residence. His resilience is legendary - as much as his lack of passion, but I digress… "
Mito looked at Tobirama intently.
"The thing is, all fuinjutsu techniques are articulated around two core concepts: the manipulation of space and the manipulation of time. Manipulating space requires an Anchoring, in whatever location the jutsu is being used, to allow it to stabilize. Manipulating time requires a roadmap to navigate it, and for that, calculations are to be made, hypothesis are to be proposed… "
"Formulae are to be drawn", finished Tobirama. "And chakra serves only as a trigger, the true technicity lies in those two other concepts… Mito, I know all of that already. What I want to know is how the Anchoring works and how the Formulae can be created…"
Mito looked at him with amused eyes.
At this time of the day, the people were slowly leaving the beach, fishermen coming back to the shores and ferries finishing their runs for the day.
The only people outside like them were taking a late stroll, to watch the sun set before heading home.
Eventhough Mito knew this meeting was meant to exchange formally about the subtleties of fuinjutsu and its learning, she secretly hoped the setting would have helped Tobirama relax a little.
Sadly, Hashirama was right: her brother had not one romantic bone in him…
She was okay with that, she was ready to hammer it in him with time and patience… she just wished it wouldn't be needed, sometimes.
"Fine, Impatient-kun…" Mito said, looking above her shoulder the two shinobis that were trailing them.
Renji-san seemed bored out of his mind as usual; it was obvious he hated that assignement with the two Senju heirs.
Makoto on the other hand was watching her suspiciously. Eventhough her servant was her friend… she was a horrible gossip.
Mito smiled and made her a reassuring sign - if only she could have had another chaperonne for this little stroll on the beach, one who wasn't so nosy...
"The Anchoring in a location needs to be physical", Mito said while wondering how much of their conversation Makoto had picked-up. "Generally speaking, it is simpler to use blood which most techniques users do, though in some cases, yin chakra can do the trick and allows the Anchoring by itself. Then, it's a matter of dosing in function of what purpose holds the fuin technique... The Formulae however requires a certain understanding in numbers - mathematics. Excellence is required here, for the merest miscalculation can cause a catastrophic reaction to occur within the jutsu", Mito finished, a little tongue-in-cheek.
Tobirama frowned.
"That's not viable in combat", he said. "No one would have the time -"
"Well yes, obviously" the girl deadpanned. "Fuinjutsu isn't something that can be improvised on battlefields… Any decent fuinjutsu specialist will be doing his or her research beforehand, test the robustness of the Formulae created and verify that the technique is viable here, in Uzushio, long before he or she ever has to use it on the field… But, thankfully for you, the art of fuinjutsu is an ever-evolving occurence in the history of the Uzumakis.
Each generation is building atop what has been made or designed or discovered by the previous one, and all this knowledge is transmitted to the next generation as well."
Mito smirked, looking at the Senju teenager triomphantly.
"So nowadays, no one has to go and learn fuinjutsu from scratch like our ancestors painfully did. Clawing our way back from ignorance would be no joke… One of the greatest treasures Uzushio has is its Great Library, as you know it. There, we can find all the existing Lexicon around fuinjutsu: established formulae regarding time and their relative effect depending on the type of Anchoring occuring. You can see it as an alphabet, made of two types of "characters": the types of Anchoring is one, and the various mathematical Formulae is another. Learning that alphabet is the first step in becoming a true fuinjutsu specialist."
"The Great Library isn't open to non-Uzumaki…" pointed Tobirama.
"We can work around that", assured Mito.
"... and also, what you say means what I did before was really monkey training", finished the Senju heir - and he was looking mad. "A waste of our time! Maoru just made us copy whatever he decided without any background…".
Mito frowned.
"Don't be so harsh, you are lucky you even received that kind of training, Tobi-kun… We have a simple policy in Uzushio: we don't trade the knowledge around the workings of Fuinjutsu. If people need a sealing expert, well they can either hire us or they can try and scrape to do something by themselves. You and Hashirama are one of the rare exceptions we have made in the last decade!"
"I can see how that monopoly would play out financially for your clan," noted Tobirama savagely.
"A prosperous clan can't rely only on its warring skills" Mito stated matter-of-factly. "It's too risky and narrow-minded. What if you are wiped out by stronger shinobis in battle? Then, your clan is doomed…"
She brushed aside a loose strand of hair - that wind! It was doing a number on her hair… A couple attempts later, she renounced fighting it, focusing on a scowling Tobirama instead.
"No, a clan that wants to prosper needs to diversify its source of income… Even on the mainland, I'm sure there are some clans that hold this tenet in high regard… I'm sure your clan does it too!
Also, you complain about monkey training, but the clans on the mainland don't go beyond making explosive tags, which even a four year old could do… My father says clans on the mainland lack the drive to push their understanding of the world, being only driven by warfare and how deadly the jutsus can be… Great things could be achieved if it weren't for that, like we do here in Uzushio."
"Forgive us for not being able to transcend the limitations of our barbarism…" Tobirama said, not hiding his sarcasm. "It's not like we were fighting for our very survival out there..."
The pair stared at one another for an instant, ignoring the waves that were closing in on them.
"Did I upset you?" finally asked Mito as they receded.
"Your casual statements… the prejudice some of your fellows show toward us… I can't help but think sometimes that you Uzumakis are too far removed from the reality of this world" Tobirama explained.
"Out there, everyone is fighting for dominance, if not survival at the very least… Your circumstances have spared you from being embroiled with the territorial wars or the Daymios, but you are drawing the wrong conclusions out of it and have a complacent approach when it comes to other clans… Don't expect the peace you know to last forever. "
"Forgive me Tobi-kun…" Mito said simply. "It's just… There's a reason why Uzushio seldom welcomes strangers on its shores, generally speaking… We try to stay away from the conflicts that are ravaging the continent."
"There will come a time where the Uzumakis won't be able to stay neutral…", warned Tobirama. "The way the clans from the land of water keep testing your defenses, that time might already be upon you actually…"
"We know," the Uzumaki princess admitted. "Why do you think we are going to be married to one another? I'm well aware of the time we are living in, which is why I'm willing to do my duty for my clan through my commitment to you… Though I think I'll grow to love you in time; despite your stern exterior, I know you are all kind of lovable, at least that's what Hashirama told me…" she added mischeviously.
Of course she did, Tobirama thought to himself. The two girls had taken a liking to each other, notably teasing him endlessly for one reason or another…
"Anyway, your training wasn't completely useless countrary to what you are thinking, the Formulae you saw with Maoru-san are some of the building blocks of the techniques you saw used on this island…"
"Hmm… But what about Kuchiyose?"
"Kuchiyose has special circumstances that remove the need for calculations for the Formulae - or rather, the calculations have already been made and proof-tested, so to speak…"
"How?" Tobirama asked, interested.
"Through the Summonses contract", answered Mito. "Something established between the technique user, and the creatures he or she is invoking. Another reason why I warn you against Kuchyose though: most attempts end-up with total failure and sometimes even, the disappearance of the shinobis involved. That kind of privilege is earned in blood."
"I see…" murmured Tobirama.
A risky endeavour, just as what she had indicated earlier…
"Prepare yourself, Tobirama Senju! Once I am done with you, you won't be able to see the world the same way again."
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"On the run again, eh?"
"It seems like I am."
It was a good morning.
The sky was blue with not a hint of clouds, the sun was shining brightly with a strong and breezy wind accompanying it.
The Senju escort was there, accompanied by Ashina Uzumaki and a couple of members of the Uzumaki second family branch.
They were on the docks, amidst a crowd of fishermen, merchants and civilians that were going left and right, boarding ships or discharging them.
The port was brimming with activity.
The crew of the boat that was going to Port Ryuk was finishing the last preparations before setting sail. People were slowly filling it up as families were telling their goodbyes.
"I'm going to miss you so much, Hashirama…" Mito said with a subdued tone. "Make the most of your time on the mainland, then come back to us! We need you."
"Thank you Mito! If my uncle isn't mistaken, I absolutely will… I hope everything goes well for you here too."
"Don't worry, Tobi-kun will keep me busy", Mito said cheekily.
"Ahhh, won't you now, Tobi-kun?" Hashirama teased lightly to Tobirama's growing embarassment.
"How come whenever it's the two of you, my life becomes more difficult?" deadpanned the teenager.
"Well, you used to be so hard to rile up… Mito-chan opened up a new world of possibilities…"
Both girls laughed heartily at that, as Tobirama shook his head with fatalism.
Dealing with that for the rest of his life would be a mouthful…
"Be careful on the mainland", Tobirama said, eyeing the coming and going around them warily. "You've seen the reports, the situation seems to be tensing between our daymio and the governor of Port Ryuk."
It was true. There were rumors that Port Ryuk's governor was growing tired of the constant military presence of the daymio' samurais, and their interference with the local government.
The war had been difficult, their daymio's progress had been halted by the northern troups near the city of Tokugawa.
Positions between conventional troups were frozen - it was shinobi special operations and direct confrontations that allowed progressions or retreats between the different factions at war now, and it had been going this way for months.
Hashirama put a calming hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry Tobi-kun, as long as I am with uncle Rambuto, I'll be fine. Besides, my understanding is that we'll be escorted at least until port Ryuk by Koki-san and his platoon. Apparently, their mission shares part of the journey with our own."
Next to them, Ashina was exchanging words with Rambuto, under the constant watch of the Uzumakis guards.
"Did you receive Maoru's missive?" asked the leader of the Uzumakis simply.
Rambuto nodded: the missive was destined to the sect leader at Fire Temple, a financial compensation for their stay there, and a proposal to allow a visit from the monks to Uzushio.
The Uzumakis were really pushing for this initiative to work out…
"Yes Lord Ashina. Thank you for your generosity. I'm confident this will have a positive impact on the monks' decision."
"Excellent", Ashina smiled, satisfied by what he heard. "As long as the opportunity is offfered, that's all I want to hear… Well, come back to us safe and sound, Rambuto-san. Hashirama's role with us is far from over. "
"We will."
Soon, their party boarded, and Hashirama saw the bright hair of her brother progressively vanish in a sea of red as their ship left the harbour…
"Another trip and this time it's gonna be the two of us, Hashirama! Hope you are up to it my niece. How are you feeling?"
"Better… much better, uncle Rambuto, thanks" answered the teenage girl. "I needed those few days of rest."
"Good. You'll see, that trip will be worth it", the older Senju assured. "The monks at Fire Temple are renowned for their skills and knowledge of chakra and everything touching natural energy.
They'll be the best suited to help you understand those new abilities you developped."
"Aye", Hashirama said, wondering how much of this would come to fruition.
The first part of the journey to the mainland was uneventful.
Rambuto and Hashirama spend most of the time between themselves and Koki Uzumaki with whom they had a good relationship.
He had been sorry to hear Hashirama had been injured on lake Okama, though he had had the tact not to comment on the hows and whys, to the girl's relief.
Ever since she woke up from her sleep two days before, it seemed like people only had that question in mind…
The boat they had taken reached Port Ryuk by the end of the afternoon, and already one could feel the tension in the air.
They passed a lot of ships on their way to the harbour, some of them being gargantuan in size - it seemed like a small flotilla was assembled at this location.
"Reinforcements", noted Koki Uzumaki."There's a siege going at Tokugawa; I suppose those are fresh troops to reinforce it."
Hashirama wondered how many members of her clan were involved in it.
Would Itama come to be part of it? In his last missive, their father Butsuma had notified them about Itama going with him on his first mission outside Senju's territory.
A success.
It hadn't stopped her from being worried though, despite Tobirama's words of reassurance, and seeing now all the troops gathered here, she couldn't help but wonder about Itama's potential involvement.
She knew little about the nature of his progress, but progress had to have been made, if their father was involving him in missions outside, wouldn't it?
Their party disembarked in the very crowded and busy harbour and quickly made its way outside the city to use the Koshu Kaido Way.
They would need to follow it for a while before joining a neighbouring forest to travel south west at full speed.
They finally reached the road and noticed how heavily guarded and patrolled it was.
"Well, we sure aren't in Uzushio anymore now, are we?" noted Rambuto cautiously, as more samurai crossed their path, perched on warhorses.
Koki's group finally split with them around the small village of Ueno, leaving Hashirama and Rambuto alone for the rest of their journey.
At the end of the second day after the split, they reached the last city before the Fire Temple, Suwa, and decided to settle there for the night before headinfg to the temple in the morning.
Rambuto directed them to a tavern that looked correct enough for the two of them to eat, and maybe sleep…
Entering it was like jumping into an impromptu festival.
The place was packed with people, its atmosphere was raucous; a group of men were sleazily drinking their way around the bar, rowdier than everyone else, singing loudly while their hands roamed around the few female servants.
Hashirama noticed they were surprisingly agile, dodging the few attempts with dexterity and graceful smiles to boot.
One of the men was hardly deterred though: he was the loudest out of the entire group, a roaring laugh cascading from a giant frame: Hashirama had never seen a man so tall, nor with a body so powerful.
His muscles were stretching the fabric of his clothes; his grin was predatory, his eyes calculating.
A dangerous combination, she instinctively knew.
Hashirama ignored the ugly look the hulking man threw at her once he noticed their entrance.
"Come on, now girlie! Don't you want to know about life? I can show you", he exclaimed, causing more hilarity among his group.
Hashirama gritted her teeth.
She found everything about this man repulsive.
His ill-mannered attitude, the grotesque arrogance he kept displaying - even that bushy unibrow that was beyond offensive in her eyes… She decidedly didn't like this man at all.
"No thank you," she politely mustered, before quickly following her uncle Rambuto, who had casually swiveled his way to the counter, in order to speak with the barman.
"Is it possible to sleep here tonight?"
"Aye, if you don't mind the loudness."
"We don't", assured Rambuto, to Hashirama's dismay. "How much for a two bed bedroom?"
"Ten thousand ryos per person for the night."
Rambuto scoffed.
"Come on now, chief! Don't be hostile like that… Here is a better deal - "
As her uncle started haggling with the barman for a better price, Hashirama's eyes kept going back to the giant figure that filled the room with his laughter and presence.
The man exsuded such a sense of power… but she could barely feel his chakra…
Who was he?
Hashirama quickly stopped her poking though, intimidated by the man's group demonstration of catcalls and unrulyness… She didn't want that kind of attention directed her way, no way…
So focused she was on her inner thoughts, she didn't notice she was the center of attention from another person.
Sipping tea in one of the shadowy parts of the tavern, the figure observed the kunoichi's demeanour, her uneasyness and the blatant power that bled from her every movement.
Blatant to him and the giant man at least, if the other's roaming eyes were any indications...
And he too wondered who this stranger was…
The coming days would prove to be interesting around Suwa.
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Author's note: Who are those two individuals indeed? Friends or foes? Hashirama is on her way to Fire Temple, and it seems like last week events have started a chain of transformations not just for her, but also Tobirama... How far will they go as a result?
Thank you for taking the time to read the twelth chapter of Hashirama's journey as a shinobi!
It's time for our heroes to grow once more for the sake of their clans, as wars are ramping up in the Land of Fire... and we are going to see how in this second season.
Next chapter scheduled for next week as per usual!
Hope you enjoyed the read, dear readers! See you next week.