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 revolutionised the Shinobi world. AU.
Season II
Chapter Four: Breakthroughs
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Left!
Air grazed Tobirama's ear as he moved away reflexively, his mind geared toward one objective.
Right!
A small piece of tunique was nicked in the swirling movement he executed, a cold sweat sliding down his neck. So close…
Above!
The Senju side-stepped the falling weapon, his calculation completed…
Finally!
The deadly pieces of metal were now flying toward him from all sides, subduing the young teenager's triumph and forcing him to wove his way around them quickly.
"You're too slow!" admonished his attacker worriedly.
Tobirama greeted his teeth, kunai in hand himself.
Should he force an opening?
All of a sudden, a barrage of kunais rained down on him from above.
No time! Now!
His hands flew through the mudras as his weapon laid planted in the ground, abandoned.
"Kekkai: Tengai Hiraishin!"
The tug of his chakra was immediate: it suddenly dilated, pouring out of him like water poured out of a river, expanding all around him quickly…
And just in time too, as the flying weapons made contact with his barrier…
Eyes wide open, hands joined and ready to be stricken, Tobirama pondered on this moment of truth, that would see him either live, or die…
And he would live.
The metal rain left him unscathed, despite the repetitive crunching sounds he swore he could hear.
The barrier… It worked!
His improvised Formulae was correct!
"Well… That was something at least" said the lovely other in a mock tone, though relief was clear on her face.
Mito had a hard time hiding the satisfaction she felt, after the dread that had gripped her heart during the entirety of their spar.
Tobirama had insisted on trying the impossible - to generate a Formulae in the middle of a fight…
Despite her reluctance, he wanted to test his newfound skills in real battle conditions.
So, she obliged him.
And in return, he had succeeded in his endeavour, adapting the transportation jutsu he had been researching, and developing and dreaming about even… for weeks!
Creating a new type of barrier. It was grotesquely slow to set up, but the potential of it…
With time to refine it properly and stabilise the Formulae into something more manageable in terms of use, this technique could revolutionise the way barriers were designed in fuinjutsu…
All that under one month of studying with her the Lexicon at the Great Library of Uzushio.
This was talent at its purest form…
Bordering on genius, if it wasn't just plain that…
And wielded by the fair teenage boy she was going to marry someday.
And have a family with.
The thought sent the girl on the groggily path of imagination, colouring her cheeks and causing Tobirama to look at her sudden change of mood perplexedly…
But only for a time, as she came back to her senses… Now wasn't the time to daydream.
"You did it, Tobi-kun", Mito said, still red.
"It was… laborious", said the Senju while looking at his feet. "Very laborious."
Mito followed his gaze and stiffled a gasp: it had been close! The kunais she had launched had ended planted in the ground, all around Tobirama.
"In the end, I couldn't handle the technique properly - you didn't give me the time to push my Formulae on anything else but the weapon I had in hand…", justified Tobirama in a defensive tone. "I had just the one kunai to do it."
"I see… Well, I can't blame you for improvising! After all, that's what this challenge was about right? To show you how difficult fuinjutsu is to perform on the spot… Though for an ad hoc performance, that was… quite something."
Tobirama didn't answer right away, still considering the ground before him.
He had intended to pour the Formulae through his chakra, and mark the ground as a result: that was one of the aspects of fuinjutsu that seduced him the most, the versatility through which it could be used.
He had used yin chakra to specifically create the physical mark of the formulae, and his usual chakra to power it afterward… on his kunai, instead of on the ground as intended, but the result had seemingly been the same…
Mito had explained to him that creating Formulae physically was quite an advanced technique in fuinjutsu: most practitioners were marking their Formulae at hands, with simple ink, on whatever surface they wanted, before pouring chakra through the formulae and activating the jutsu.
It made sense, as creating the Formulae and activating it in quick succession - meaning transitioning from yin chakra creation to classic chakra moulding - wasn't easily done, even among experienced shinobis.
But Tobirama had been determined to master this skill, for its potential in battle was too great to be ignored: to be able to use fuinjutsu everywhere without the need of auxiliary tools, or preparation beforehand was too great of an advantage.
It was that desire that had led him to master the skill, just as it was that desire that had pushed him to propose this exercise to Mito's great displeasure…
And it had paid off.
Sort of.
The Kekkai Tengai Hiraishin was meant to generate a dome barrier around the caster - a dome barrier that would transport anything hitting it to the other side of the dome, saving the user from onslaught. By marking the ground, Tobirama expected the area of the dome to be all around the Formulae, several feets of large and heights…
And because he couldn't do so, but still marked his weapon before throwing it into the ground, he had assumed that this would still be the case, that the dome barrier would be set up around his weapon planted into the ground instead, still protecting the perimeter within it as it was intended to.
But instead of going from one side of the dome to the other, the kunais had gone from one side of the dome barrier… to the ground beneath his feet, blades facing him like a sea of small daggers emerging from the ground…
This wasn't meant to happen.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
And yet…
Here he was, staring at this new mystery.
Tobirama was confident his Formulae had been correct, the calculations he had made were good… The key lied somewhere else, or, more accurately, it lied in the weapon, a kunai, he had marked before throwing to the ground. The properties involving the link between a Formulae and its jutsu were clear: without the former and an Anchoring, the latter couldn't happen.
The boy grinned, somewhat mystified at his own stupidity…
The Anchoring! Of course, he had created the Formulae with yin chakra, making it the Anchoring of his jutsu as well…
Maybe here, it hadn't just helped stabilise the jutsu.
Maybe, by combining the two, it had unlocked a new property that had influence on the jutsu's execution?
His technique was a transportation-type of fuinjutsu - space-time fuinjutsu was the usual term…
Was it far-fetched to have the Anchoring play a role in said transportation?
To have the marked Formulae become the destination of the jutsu itself?
Mito was observing her betrothed quietly.
She knew this air of concentration: that was the one Tobirama harboured whenever he had an idea of particular importance, focusing all his brain power on it until he came to a conclusion…
And by the way his face was progressively lighting up…
"Lord Tobirama!"
The two teenagers looked at the two figures that had landed next to them; it was Renji, Tobirama's aide, and Makoto Uzumaki, Mito's first handmaiden.
"What is it, Renji-san?"
"You need to come with me at once! This is an emergency!"
"What? Why?"
"One of Uzushio' shore barriers has been tripped, then another one deep in the Sea caves of Ori, next to the island's subsidiaries…"
"Infiltrators", cursed Mito.
Renji nodded.
"Koki-san wants us to run point on the response they'll be sending. We are to meet Shingo Uzumaki at the entrance of the city before heading out to Ori.
Two other platoons will head there as well, they'll be using alternative access points to the caverns."
"Understood."
"Lady Mito, I'll escort you back to the White Palatium", intervened Makoto. "There's already a patrol heading this way to complement your protection."
"I see… So, we are on high alert, aren't we?"
Makoto and Renji nodded sombrely.
The frequency of these incursions was becoming more and more worrying to everyone on the island…
"I suppose… you'll have to figure out a way to not endanger yourself for another time…" said Mito, half jokingly, half-worriedly.
"I will", assured Tobirama.
He felt on the right track.
He would have to test it, of course, but he felt like the hypothesis he had been drawn to was very promising…
A Formulae that served both as an Anchoring but also as a location marker?
From there, the possibilities were incredible…
But now wasn't the time for that; reality was reasserting itself to all of them.
The shinobis launched themselves at top speed, fairly conscious that once more, Uzushio was under threat.
Trouble was on the horizon, they could feel it…
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Life in the monastery was monotonous.
The days were organised around meditation, exercises and doing chores in and around the temple.
The monks had a peaceful philosophy, which meant sparring was non-existent on the temple's ground - only assimilating postures and sequences of moves that somewhat reminded the girl of the katas she practised in the evening for her taijutsu exercises.
The first few days had been not so hard to adjust for the young Senju - she had lived a life thoroughly regimented in her clan, and life with the Uzumakis wasn't leisurely either.
Still.
With little else to do, Hashirama found herself regularly observing the nature around her, the architecture of the temple's edifices or the other people going in the congregation.
And in the evening, after dinner, she took off to do her training, away from the crowd or potential distractions.
She was fond of the Sodo, the place where meditation was favoured by most monks… where the Sixth Path Sage himself had taken solace for years.
A place where one could truly see and be seen in return by the world…
A place of connection.
A place of dreaming.
Hashirama felt at ease in its vicinity. Cajoled by the peaceful atmosphere, she perceived the flow of her own chakra as she executed the various katas she'd learned years ago alongside her family.
Her father, stern and watchful.
Her brothers, diligents and willing.
And in these moments, where she was hyper-aware of the absence of her loved ones, this place came to her rescue, cajoling her some more, leaving her serene and appeased.
And at its centre, laid the brightest object in existence…
Silima.
Hashirama had become fascinated by the strange stone.
It held so much natural energy… Even when she wasn't diving into the Warmth she could feel it pooling in the object! And yet… natural energy flew through it unfettered as well, as if the thing wasn't there at all…
The girl often wondered how the stone could hold - and not hold - natural energy at the same time.
"It is a mystery", had prompted Gido when she had come to him with her questions a couple of weeks after her arrival at the temple. "Silima has unique properties, some of which are still elusive to us through this day… But its greatest one is certainly to reflect back the love we feel for the world around us, don't you think?"
And it was true, connection was so much easier in its vicinity…
"This warmth you are experiencing Hashirama, might just be the essence of life itself, with all of the living being its avatars connected through it… A popular belief among some of us, I have to admit."
"I… have felt that way before", Hashirama admitted, troubled. "As if something was expressing through me, with me feeling like a simple conduit."
"There's nothing simple when it comes to natural energy. To harness it the way you did… It leaves a mark. On you. On the world. Hashirama, you might not have been aware of this until now, but power is radiating off you at all times because of it."
"What? But, I've not harnessed it since… since…"
"Since before you came here?" helped Gido.
Hashirama nodded.
"Yes. There was a bad accident and, if it weren't for natural energy… I wouldn't be here today."
"I see…" Gido murmured.
The Abbot pondered on his next words, as a stream of stars started to appear in the sky above the Temple…
"What you did… has been theorised by the monks of this temple for centuries", the old man finally said. "And was deemed impossible by many."
The Abbot looked at her gravely.
"It is one thing to feel the flow of natural energy - it is, already, a rare ability in itself. It is another to consciously let it flow through you unfettered and free, without perturbing your own chakra flow. And then… There's what you did, what you are still doing right now at such a basic level, you don't even seem to be aware of it: combining the building blocks of your chakra with natural energy to create something new… Something unique."
"A new type of chakra…" realised Hashirama.
Born out of her physical energy… spiritual energy… and the natural energy around her…
All combining to form a new type of chakra that could heal, stimulate life and make you one with the world…
"The clan of a thousand skills… and now a thousand and one. A new art of the Senjus…"
"Senjutsu", Hashirama claimed naturally.
It felt… right.
Gido nodded, his eyes roving to the statue towering over them, silently.
"Senjutsu, the discipline of harnessing natural energy - as the Sixth Path Sage did centuries ago… Truly, it seems your potential knows no bounds, Hashirama…"
The girl reflected on what the Abbot had said. That she was constantly harnessing natural energy…
It made… so much sense.
As to why she felt so attuned to it all the time, feeling it even when she was at rest, not deep in her meditation… And she couldn't explain why.
She wasn't trying.
At all.
And yet, natural energy was now a constant presence, something she could feel deep in herself…
Her body… On Okama's lake, her body had changed. Only now she realised how much it had…
Hashirama watched her hands, wondering how far the change had occurred in her…
Limbs. Muscles. Bones…
It had to be beyond any of those, deeper than she could possibly imagine…
"You said… you said something about not perturbing the chakra flow…" she realised with a start. "Is that what you achieved, Gido-sama? The reason why your presence is so hard to distinguish?
"It is. And this was my point. You achieved something unimaginable… You are maybe the first human since the Sixth Path Sage to create… Senjutsu chakra", Gido completed with a smile. "But, this is akin to you going from crawling to sprinting in instants: what about walking first? I think that's the reason why your power doesn't relent."
He turned to look at her.
"You need to learn to let natural energy flow through you, and more specifically through your chakra."
"That's… impossible", Hashirama reacted immediately. "The chakra… It recedes in the presence of natural energy! They never mingle inside my network…"
"Unless you harness natural energy", noted Gido.
"Unless I harness natural energy", confirmed Hashirama.
"Which is a forceful action…", continued the Abbot smartly.
"Well, I suppose…"
"What if…", prompted the old monk, "...your body, more specifically your chakra flowing in your chakra network, became so… welcoming… that natural energy wouldn't feel the difference between the warmth inside you and the warmth of life itself?"
"Natural energy can feel? Is… Is it sentient?! Alive?"
"Would that make any difference to you if it was?"
"I don't… I suppose, yes… The implication would be incredible…"
"Chakra is… a lot of things", started Gido. "Alive in the sense of you and I being alive isn't one of them. It doesn't mean your questions aren't good questions… Is it of the divine? Who knows? Some legends say the origin of chakra lies even before the Sage of Sixth Paths pilgrimage, to the days of the cataclysm…But let's not digress.
All you need to understand is that natural energy is sensitive to its environment. Silima draws natural energy easily for a reason.
And for the same reason, there are places in this world almost devoid of natural energy."
Gido paused, a hand coming to rest on the girl's shoulder.
"Hashirama, for you to learn to 'walk', you need to make your chakra as agreeable to natural energy as possible… without trying to harness it.
In time, you'll feel natural energy flow alongside your chakra freely in your body. It might even benefit you whenever you try to harness it to create senjutsu chakra."
Holding, and not holding, natural energy…
The task was unfathomable.
"How do I do that? How? Can you help me with this, Gido-sama?"
The monk chuckled, his hands now crossed behind his back.
"As I told you before, the teachings of the Temple are destined to its initiates and those willing to dedicate themselves to this congregation. All I can do for you… is let you watch."
And for that, she was grateful to the leader of the monks.
"From now on, come with us after dinner is done and settled. You will join us as we celebrate the gift of life the day brought forth, and you will observe through the Circle how we connect to one another."
"Yes, Gido-sama."
Thank you, added the girl internally, as she saw the Silima glow softly into the night.
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Despite his annoyance, Madara reminded himself to keep up the facade of serene composure, if not for himself, at least for the sake of his clan's name and furthermore, his own father's prestige.
Tajima sat with the other military council and generals of their employer, Daimyo Imagawa Yoshimoto.
The man was of powerful stature, betraying a life spent warring in the countryside alongside his samurais and warriors - rumours had it he cemented his position as the head of his family through fratricidal warfare.
And it wasn't hard to believe, when seeing how calculating the onyx orbs observing him were, as he walked between the long wooden tables to the area attributed to his clan.
"Welcome all, my distinguished guests", started Lord Yoshimoto, once everyone was settled. "It's a pleasure to receive you all in this momentum of circumstances. As you know, a month ago, a group of elite shinobis managed to overcome the repugnant forces of Daymio Sorin in the Toi area. And as of today, through the previous weeks' pacification campaign and the arrival of regular troops of our army, the Toi gold mine is now completely under our control."
Cheers erupted into the seated crowd as people - from lesser lords, vassals and retainers to the Daimyo's own generals and escorts - congratulated the man in attendance.
"It's a crippling blow to the economy of Lord Sorin and his influence in the South!" continued Lord Yoshimoto with an exalted tone in his voice. "Moreover, his finances won't allow him further engagement in this conflict… As for us, it means a flow of wealth to support our ambition and reorganise this country behind our leadership!"
More celebrations, as several men lost all countenance and roared their approval, despite the breach in convention and proper behaviour. Lord Yoshimoto didn't seem to care, as he looked at them with a pleased expression and a dangerous smile.
Soon decorum was reinstated, as the man raised a hand provoking the immediate silence of his loudest guests.
"And all this was made possible thanks to one shinobi among this elite group."
His hand designated the area where the little group of Uchiha shinobis sat.
"He is my guest of honour for the evening," continued Lord Yoshimoto. "And tomorrow, he'll join the council of my trusted advisors, following Tajima-san steps… To Uchiha Madara!"
"To Uchiha Madara!" chorused the crowd, as Madara rose up and walked forward, the ghost of a smile showing on his face, to receive from Lord Yashimoto's hands a ceremonial sword, finely chiselled and pristine.
What a drag.
Soon, servants appeared amidst the crowd, swirling around with huge plates of food and Madara took the opportunity to slide back among the few shinobis of his clans that were part of that feast.
Somehow, musicians and artists gathered by Lord Yoshimoto had found their ways in every corner of the room, entertaining the guests with feats of acrobatics and marvellous sounds.
The Daimyo's chefs had surpassed themselves, having cooked delicious roasted meat and sending treats of seafood, with the occasional liquor.
The atmosphere was thunderous, contrasting with the formal gatherings Madara had occasionally been part of. Though he supposed a military campment called for a less formal approach of things among the men, even when they were part of "nobility".
"This is a waste of resources - they feast here as our fellow clansmen have been living off scraps for weeks", said Izuna in disgust."Treating us like dogs", the teenager spat as a group of samurais brushed past them, glaring.
Madara refrained from admonishing his little brother for this outburst, for he himself felt the exact same way… How many days of supplies were being wasted tonight on this banquet?
What a waste indeed…
"This is a way for Lord Yoshimoto to cement our clan's position in front of his military commanders", a voice interrupted behind them. "The samurais feel the wind of history swinging in our direction: they know their time is coming to an end."
Both brothers turned around, greeted by the sight of their father Tajima in full ceremonial attire, and their cousin Hikako, regal in an elegant war kimono.
"There is talk of the Iron Country opening its frontiers to all the strays", contributed the kunoichi, a look of disdain on the face, as several samurais wistfully looked at her.
"When this war is won - and through our skills, it will be won - most samurais will find themselves disenfranchised and scraping to survive in useless roles as shinobifolk take further prominence in warfare…
The samurais will either have to decline in silence, or go there to survive in people's memories."
The last sentence was meant to be heard by the observers, as their wistful looks turned to ones of anger at the vitriolic remark.
"Father. Cousin.", saluted Madara, amused.
Hikako and her sharp tongue… Madara was glad his cousin survived the battle with the Akimichis, she was a talented kunoichi and their clan was in need of talented shinobis these days… Talented and astutes.
Izuna refrained from smirking as well, agreeing wholeheartedly with his cousin's assessment.
"Madara, you've earned the approbation of the council", Tajima said quietly. "Once we are home, you will be allowed into the Naka shrine."
Izuna whistled slowly.
"Well-played brother!"
"Thank you father" simply said Madara.
"No need to thank me son, it's yourself you have to thank! You've earned that honour", corrected the patriarch. "Besides, it is more than time for you to have a deeper understanding of the history of our clan."
The Naka shrine was a hidden room in their village, where the secrets of the Uchihas were kept - had been kept! - for centuries...
The true history of the clan…
The secrets of the Sharingan…
Its origins and ways to unlock its prowess…
Only members of the council and the elite warriors of the clans were allowed in it…
It was a huge mark of reconnaissance from the village's council: they were acknowledging his strength for what it was for the first time…
Excellent.
"I'm expecting the two of you to join me in there soon enough", Madara said, eyeing Izuna and Hikako teasingly. Izuna grinned, as Hikako looked amused.
"Of course, brother! I don't intend to fall behind you, you know…"
"I have my own way of doing things, Madara, and dealing with your expectations is not one of them… but I will make an exception this once."
Tajima looked at the three teenagers almost fondly.
The future of the clan would be resting on his eldest son's shoulders, but knowing there would be capable shinobis at his side was tremendous reassurance to him.
He knew Izuna fostered a healthy rivalry with his older brother, and this would push them to new heights in terms of combat prowess!
This would only benefit the clan, to have a powerful leader at its head, and a Hand that could keep him on its toes.
As for Hikako… She was a promising kunoichi in this new generation, one of the few that was able to survive battlefields, like her older sister Rukia…
Madara would need a capable woman with him to lead the clan and shepard the next Uchihas, and that girl was a good candidate in Tajima's eyes.
The patriarch chuckled, as the idea of grandchildren rose in him unexpectedly.
Yes, the future could be bright… and it was his job to make sure it would be.
Not far from him, onyx eyes drifted away, calculating.
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It took the group little time to reach back to the Uzumakis' main family compound.
Even less, for Tobirama to get into his armour, a blue variant to Hashirama's red, and grab his katana and weapons' pouch…
But, as they were heading out, Mito came to a stop in front of them.
"Wait, Tobirama! I have something for you!" she said, breath somewhat short.
In her hands was the softest-looking fur the boy had ever seen.
"If it's in the Sea caves of Ori you are heading, you'll need this - temperature can drop very low there."
"I am a ninja, Mito-san! I can regulate my temperature with chakra, I don't need this", protested the teenager.
"With all due respect, you do, Tobi-kun," insisted Mito simply. "You are dealing with infiltrators; you'll want to limit your use of chakra at all times in order to blindside them while tracking them properly."
The boy bit his lip.
His gamble had not paid off.
He knew all of this but the truth of the matter was, he didn't want to wear that pompous thing while heading to combat…
The only time he ever had seen fur so fancy on someone was during an escort mission, adorned by a prickly merchant with extravagant demands…
Wearing such a thing… What of his dignity?
Already, he could see Renji's lips twitch with suppressed agitation, while Shingo Uzumaki looked at the whole scene with open amusement.
"It's snow fox,'' detailed Mito proudly. "A rare sight in our mountains, its pelt is known to be extremely warm… I thought it would suit you well, betrothed."
Renji's smirk was now apparent too.
Wonderful…
Tobirama nicked the fur to his armour quickly: for the time being, around his neck would do. And Mito wasn't lying, the fur was like a cushioned collar, keeping his neck warm easily.
So.
An undignified but useful gift…
"Thank you, Mito. I will cherish this… gift of yours, I promise", Tobirama mumbled under the two other ninja's heavy stares.
"I know you will", purred Mito. "Now go, and be careful - all of you!"
The three shinobis nodded before leaving the girl where she was and heading out of the Uzumaki compound rapidly.
"With your fair skin, this fur gives you such a precious appearance, Lord Tobirama… I'm sure even our enemies will be awed", Renji-san remarked cheekily.
Tobirama cringed.
He was aware people considered his appearance to be somewhat dollish, the fur would not be helping in that regard…
The Sea caves of Ori were located halfway up to Okama Lake.
Renji took the opportunity to further torment Tobirama with the quiet approval of Shingo all the way to the caves, and then some as the young Senju tried to ascertain the position of the intruders once there.
"All right, all right, you've had your fun…! Now, let me focus", hissed Tobirama, prompting the two other ninjas to finally grow silent.
This was crucial: the barrier seal that prevented the access to the Sea caverns had been broken, alerting the Uzumakis back in the city. To do that required either tremendous skill in fuinjutsu, or brute power to break the seal.
Bad news on all accounts.
Breathing softly, he focused on the chakra circulating in his network.
Flawless.
Serene.
Powerful.
As the rest of his environment faded into the background of his mind, the Senju Heir slowly allowed chakra to accumulate in his right hand, then, evermore slowly, into the tip of his index - Tobirama had noticed a while ago that the technique worked even better that way, leaving less chakra imprint on the surface he came into contact, while concentrating the potency of the pulse it would generate.
The finger came to rest on the ground, and the simple touch led the accumulated chakra to immediately diffuse into the ground, as a wave that had Tobirama at its epicentre.
The wave went far and wide, at tremendous speed, going through hard stone and sturdy wood, deep earth and high waters, cold metal and warm flesh…
Tuning out the other feedback he received, Tobirama focused entirely on the faint sensation of his chakra reverberating into someone else's network… plural.
Shinobis.
Two of them of medium stature, one slightly smaller.
And their chakra build… was nothing to scoff at.
They would need to be careful about how to handle them…
The three were sitting in a circle, not unlike them - probably discussing.
Good.
There was room for an opportunity…
Tobirama turned his gaze toward Renji and Shingo, who were patiently waiting next to him.
From this point. Onward. Hand signs. Only. Acknowledge.
Acknowledged.
Acknowledged.
Three. Enemies. Four hundred. Metres. Shinobis. Chakra. Strong. Dangerous.
Acknowledged.
Confirmed. Plan?
Tobirama opened once more his senses to the rest of the feedback.
The two other platoons were pretty far from their positions.
Logically, they had their own means to track down the enemies, but they wouldn't be there before they themselves made contact… and that was assuming the trio of enemies would stay in place, right where they were…
No, they were in an ideal position to intercept the enemies, so they should be doing just that.
The others would inevitably link-up with them regardless… The risk of such a move backfiring was minimal.
True, the topography of the cavern was pretty shallow where the three others stayed - manoeuvring would be difficult there, unless they managed to drive the shinobis forward?
Maybe fifty metres from their location was a gallery of larger proportions that would be a more appropriate battle site for them and their techniques...
Of course their enemies would certainly benefit from the change of area as well, but they would do so in a numerical inferiority, the young Senju would make sure of it…
I. Distraction. You. Shadows. Strike . No prisoners. Secondary. Attack. Fifty metres. Further. Acknowledge.
No prisoners. Acknowledged.
Secondary. Attack. Fifty metres. Acknowledged.
Good. I. Running point. Go.
The three ninjas moved in unison, their running silenced by the soft layer of chakra that covered their feets.
Then, as they drew closer to the three other shinobis, they split, Renji going above as Shingo suppressed his presence in the shadows of the cavern.
Only Tobirama was left, crouching low on the ground, all his senses on alert - he could feel the chakra coming from the enemies, and now, this close, the humming of their voices.
"... -ped, I said… You are being paranoid", was one of them saying.
The two others exchanged sombre glances.
"Maybe. Maybe not", the closest one retorted. "Those bastards are masters when it comes to elaborate traps… What if you activated something? Some way for them to detect us?"
"Then, we don't have much time before they fall upon us like the rising tide", completed the third one, by far older and uglier than the two others. "Are you done here?"
"I am!" the first one said, now nervous.
"Then be quick about it."
"Kuchiyose no jutsu!" hissed the man and in a small pool of smoke appeared what Tobirama identified as a salamander.
"Bring this directly to Lord Rincho, understood?" ordered the third ninja.
The creature nodded as the second ninja gave it a scroll…
Tobirama had seen enough.
Now.
A kunai flew from his hand quickly; it pierced both the salamander head and the document it had grabbed as the explosive tag attached to it immediately started burning.
Without waiting to see what the others were doing, Tobirama moved right in front of one of the shinobis as they all scattered to dodge the coming explosion.
BOOM!
His sword met the other man's flesh greedily, piercing his gut through and through as the heat of the explosion reached them.
The two of them descended to the ground and, once the smoke dissipated, Tobirama stood above the lifeless body of the man, laying in a pool of his own blood.
Eyeing quickly the two other shinobis engaged with his comrades, Tobirama spurred into action once he saw one of them harbouring a few nasty cuts already and struggling mightily with Renji's kenjutsu…
"Suiton: Suidanha!"
The two years in Uzushio had allowed Tobirama to grow both as a young man and as a shinobi.
His talent in ninjutsu had blossomed, as well as his chakra. With patience and practice, Suiton release had become second nature to him as a result…
A result that the other ninja was discovering intimately, as the high pressured beam of water spewed by Tobirama hit him dead in the side, cutting him and the rock behind through and through.
Renji Senju, who had splattered to the ground as soon as he realised what technique his young Lord was about to use, wouldn't have said the contrary.
But before he could make any sort of witty remark, as his opponent collapsed to the ground in a spray of blood, a yell pierced the cavern, as Shingo Uzumaki collapsed under the maze of a genjutsu.
The two Senjus faced the last shinobi cautiously, for they knew how skilled Shingo was as an opponent: him being brought down in such fashion spoke volumes about their enemy' strength.
"What now?" boasted the last infiltrator.
"It's still the two of us against the one of you, ugly bastard!" spat Renji in response, while moving in the opposite direction to Tobirama.
The other ninja smirked, himself eyeing them cautiously.
"I'll take those odds", the man replied, confidence clear in his tone. "I'll be the one coming out of that cave alive - not the other way around, he he… Trust me there."
Between the razor-sharp teeth that gave him a sinister smile, the oversized moustache above scrunched up and poorly defined traits, and oily eyes that swerved lazily between the two Senjus, the enemy ninja was the stuff of nightmare.
Trustworthy wasn't how Tobirama would have qualified him…
Of course, that was irrelevant when it came to skills as a shinobi.
"Let's deal with him properly, Renji-san."
"Aye aye!" answered the older Senju, adjusting his combat stance.
The other shinobi descended in a fit of laughter, grating both Senjus' nerves.
"You two will only be dealing with death…", promised the other ninja, pulling out something from under his obi,"...and suffering today, he he."
Tobirama felt the spike of cold chakra… before seeing it.
And as a beam of yellow light rose in the hand of their enemy, so did the sense of danger that quickly gripped the heart of the young warrior.
This sound…
This power…
Instinctively, he knew he could not allow that weapon to strike him directly…
No matter what.
"Meet Vajra! Your undoing,"their enemy said, eyeing them both hungrily.
"We shall see", declared Tobirama coldly, mirroring Renji' stance.
His words faintly echoed in the cavern, drowned by the low hum of the energy weapon.
Then, the three shinobis threw themselves at one another, blades igniting in a thunderous clash of strength and will.
The battle of Ori had commenced.
.
.
.
She was plunged in an endless sea - a pit of energy that knew no limit… Battling her senses to stop trying to comprehend the infinite… Trying her best to let the waves of natural energy flow through her without latching onto them.
A difficult task.
It had been days since her conversation with the Abbot; days of experimentation, attempts… failures.
This deep in her meditation, the girl felt the presence looming around her long before she heard his words, stifling on the spot nonetheless.
"It seems you are being wanted somewhere… Hashirama."
This predatory voice and fiery chakra… She turned her head to the side, already knowing the identity of her talker.
Sasuke was there, leaning against the wall of her room, observing her with the same hungry look she had come to despise whenever she found herself in his presence.
Hashirama frowned: though there were no explicit rules forbidding it, access to her quarters had been restrained since her arrival.
Only Gido-sama ever dropped by to fetch her in one of his practices.
"I see… Who's summoning me?"
"Gido-sama."
Hashirama realised Sasuke must have volunteered to go look for her. For what reason, she was unsure, she tended to avoid the man whenever she could.
"Then, I shall be on my way at once."
"I've been wondering…", Sasuke said casually while she walked past him,"...what kind of girl would be travelling the world on her own."
"Ah… and what kind is that, Sasuke-san?" asked Hashirama, posture rigid, hands at the ready.
"The kind looking for trouble… Senju."
Hashirama winced internally, wondering how long the man had been aware of her true identity.
"How?", she asked simply.
Sasuke chuckled, leaning back.
"There is a man in town - the same man that I saw you with months ago in that tavern, in fact - that comes and goes every few weeks to make tranquil inquiries on the temple… He's discreet and his mannerism is impeccable… Never raise anyone's suspicion while probing left and right… but the herbs he uses for his smoking, girlie… Mmmmh…! I'm a creature of pleasure myself, so I can tell: they are the fancy types… Exotic herbs that lords pay thousands of ryos for even a whiff of the stuff… Herbs that are found only on Nanakusa Island, to my extensive knowledge… Uzumaki territory."
Shit.
"I always wondered when the Uzumakis would turn their sights to the mainland", continued Sasuke triumphantly. "They are in a crappy situation, aren't they? Feeling the pressure from Water country's raiders and shinobis, but reluctant to work with the mainlanders and be brought into their wars… of course they would reach to the one clan they are known to be affiliated with: your clan. Only the Senjus would cause them to stir up their activity on the coastline."
Shit, shit, shit! He knew…
"All that, from a puff of smoke?" bluffed Hashirama.
"Aye", assured Sasuke, not taking her bait. "Your clansman was sloppy, he should have killed that habit years ago, or at least, pretended to use the local crap in Suwa for his smoking… Now, I know the Senjus effectively work with the Uzumakis. And I know you are very valuable to both of those clans, if the man riding with you gets fancy herbs that are usually traded to the nobility… Which makes you very valuable to me."
They stared at one another, Hashirama not daring to ask him in what way… She broke off the contest.
"Whatever. You are wasting my time right now."
The words were more defiant than she felt herself internally.
"Hashirama Senju, I'll make inquiries about that name, and once I know who exactly you are to your clan… we'll have a real talk."
She left the man laughing behind her and headed toward the Kondo, at the centre of the compound.
Sasuke-san had a dreadful reputation in the city: a drunkard and loose cannon that sowed chaos wherever he went.
Few monks appreciated him, and Hashirama couldn't fathom the kind of pull his clan had over the Temple's congregation to have them accept his presence amidst them…
And he was the type to pilfer women, being at the source of several incidents that were broken off only thanks to the strong presence of the Aburame.
That this man had his sight on her was a source of dread she wished she wouldn't have to deal with.
Her uncle Rambuto and his stupid habit of smoking! She had never hated it with more passion than in this instant…
Her presence with the Uzumakis was supposed to be a secret, a well-guarded secret at that! Instead, she was under scrutiny of this… of this pig!
Hashirama reached the courtyard distractedly; the monks there were organised in concentric circles, already preparing the ritual that hailed the day to its end, all turned toward the Abbot who stood at the centre.
The young Senju took her place next to one of the monks and started to pool her chakra from the core to her hands, as was her neighbour doing, trying to ignore the heavy stares of Sasuke on the other side of her circle...
She turned her sight toward Gido-sama, who had started his chants, gracing the day for the gift of life and praying for his return on the morrow.
Gently, the monks next to her found her hands; the warmth flooded her senses stronger than before, eclipsing all other sensations.
Despite herself, her breathing spiked and she felt her throat close, overwhelmed by the intensity of the connection they made.
And through him, she could feel the anxiety of the next man slowly fading away… and through the other, the hope settling in the heart of the next monk…
The emotions were coming and going the same way the waves of chakras were mingling with one another in every hand entwined.
Her own worries and disgust at Sasuke dissipated in this soft maelstrom...
She was at peace.
She was loved.
She was alive.
All the monks were now chanting to the rhythm of the Abbot; Hashirama felt herself drifting away, plunged in a trance that resonated deeply with the harmony brought by natural energy.
The words, repeated weeks after weeks, spilled from her naturally.
"In Harmony, there is peace.
In Peace, there is love.
In Love, there is life.
In Life, there is chakra."
They were swaying and dancing, her chakra going through others as others' chakra were going through her, a synchronicity developing with each repetition as natural energy around them grew stronger.
Until the Warmth she felt so powerfully before receded, to settle quietly between her and the person next to her, and every person in the circle after…
Until her own chakra settled in its own serene state, similar to the ones around her…
At ease, Hashirama opened her eyes.
A faint, spectral glow was encompassing all of them, from the end of the circle, to its centre, Gido-sama.
The Gift of the Sage, she heard in her mindscape as his eyes crossed her own, to connect all mankind.
"To connect all mankind…", she heard herself repeat in a murmur.
Gido's chakra was with them all, yet barely distinguishable from the natural energy surrounding them in this place; to Hashirama, this was uncanny.
The Abbot took a specific stance, his left hand making a half-ram, his right hand extending down with his palm a mirror to the ground…
And suddenly, Hashirama couldn't tell where the man stopped and where the world started, as his chakra and natural energy espoused one another at the edge of his form, blurring into an immense spirit that soon towered behind him.
And through the Gift of the Sage, Hashirama felt the Harmony, the Peace and the Love brought by the giant figure to all of the congregation…
Mesmerising.
The Welcoming Approach, prompted Gido's voice in her mind, to the Life preserved today and freely given tomorrow.
The figure's arms extended behind it, and a thousand hands embraced the Senju girl, embraced the monks, embraced the world surrounding them and plunged them in blissfulness…
The feeling would stay with Hashirama until she went to sleep, imprinting deeply in her mind.
The feeling would be gone by the time she opened her eyes, confusedly tense and wary.
Something was wrong.
Quickly changing in her gear, she left the guests' dormitory at pace; as soon as she set foot outside, she was stricken by the cold obscurity of the night around her.
Even the stars above her head seemed dull.
No night so dark had ever occurred since she joined the temple.
The atmosphere itself had shifted…
Anxious, Hashirama walked quickly toward the end of the temple, where a small commotion was occuring.
She stopped, her eyes laying squarely on the two monks on the ground, their faces peaceful in death.
"What happened?" she asked, as the Abbot knelt beside the two bodies.
"The Silima… It's been stolen", he answered, voice sombre.
What?
"How ?? I thought this Temple couldn't be breached!"
"The Temple can't be breached. And he wasn't breached here either…"
"What do you mean?"
"Those two were slaughtered before they could react to defend themselves…", intervened one of the other senior monks. "There is no struggle."
Hashirama understood immediately what it entailed. This situation pointed toward one strongful possibility - a very disheartening one.
Since surprise was a factor…
"They knew their killer", finished Hashirama out loud. "Another monk did this…"
"A traitor!" spat one of the witnesses.
"Greed and deceit did this, Hashirama", corrected Gido while getting up. "No true Fire monk would do this to one of his fellow… It is against the principles of our beliefs. But for the deception to go this deep… I've been a fool."
"Do we know who did this?" the girl asked, with renewed vigour.
"One of the sentinel booths was deserted. We verified: Tanobu was supposed to do tonight' shift in that perimeter."
Hashirama remained silent.
She didn't know the man well, but she was certain Tanobu had been a disciple of the temple since his teenage years… and he was now in his mid-twenties.
Was this possible to hide one's true intention this long in the congregation? Then she crossed the eyes of Sasuke, who looked mildly interested by the event occurring here, having just arrived on the scene, and she realised that wasn't possible…
Not with a monk that had been here for years, at least… There was more to it than met the eyes, and she would make sure to find out what.
"How many did you send to track him?" Hashirama asked, thinking fast. "With my abilities, I think I can help pinpoint Silima's position, maybe Tanobu himself."
People exchanged uneasy looks as Gido firmly moved in front of the girl.
"None."
The silence behind this answer was deafening.
Then…
"Why? Gido-sama, he stole a sacred relic of this temple, maybe the most precious relic left in this country! And he killed some of the monks in the process! The man should be apprehended at the very least."
Those words too had come to Hashirama naturally, though much more sinisters than the mantra she had sung during the evening's ceremony.
"We can't", simply said Gido. "Our art is destined to protect this temple or the future of this realm - not chase after murderous thieves once they have fled. Offensive is not in our mantra."
"Well, it is in mine" retorted Hashirama as she turned toward the gates.
"Then I'm not the only fool around here tonight… as I forbid you to do this! Hashirama!"
The girl turned toward him, a faint smile on the lips.
"You can't, Gido-sama… Don't you remember? I'm not part of the congregation, I'm merely an observer."
The old man bit his lip, caught wrong-footed.
"None the matter! If you set foot outside those gates, you'll never be allowed inside those doors, ever again!"
"Then, I thank you for your kindness and your guidance, Gido-sama… For sometimes, you need to protect that which you love, regardless of one's sacrifices… And this place, you master, deserves to be protected."
Hashirama turned toward the entrance gates that laid open, unlocked by the deceiver to escape the people in the Temple.
"I will track down Tanobu, and I will bring back the Silima at those doors", she said with absolute confidence in her voice. "It belongs in the Fire Temple. Make of that what you will, Gido-sama…"
And before anyone could stop her, she rushed out of the gates, leaving behind the Abbot writhe with worry, and monks divided on the righteousness of her actions...
Soon, her silhouette folded in the shadows.
Hashirama was gone.
.
.
.
Author's note:
Hashirama's real identity is now in the hands of Sasuke! To what sinister end?
And who stole the Silima from the Fire Temple? Seems like Hashirama is heading toward serious trouble...
The same kind Tobirama will be facing in the next chapter as well!
Even Madara isn't out of the woods yet, despite his triumph...
Let's see what happens in the next chapter!
Thank you for reading this fourth chapter of the second season of Hashirama's journey!
And here I thought the last chapter was a tough cookie to break...
Still struggling to keep the pace I intended, mainly because I end up doing much more research than I initially thought I would – still learning on that point.
Again, my apologies for the (very) delayed release as a result, as usual, I don't want to release a chapter I'm not at least satisfied with… At my humble level, I want to provide work I can at least be proud of.
So.
No more promises.
I'll try to provide you with the new chapter next week! But if it doesn't work out, I won't hesitate to take two weeks instead of one to release other chapters until the end of the season.
Hope you've enjoyed this read at least!
See you next week (hopefully), dear readers!