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 Seven – part I: Welcome Home
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"We're getting close."
Tobirama blinked.
Thoughts about Mito and Uzushio's defences had been filling his mind for several hours now, enough to distract him this much. Of course, Hashirama was right.
They were getting closer.
The trees had grown steadily during their travels. Flat-leaved woods had become sparse, leaving place to needle-like giants reaching high in the air, far above the three travelling Senjus, their brown bark now marked with deep red complexion...
Furthermore, despite the cold air, a sweet fragrance had been lingering in the atmosphere for a while now, softly reminiscing the Senju heir of a time years ago made of playful forest games with his younger siblings and sister.
A nostalgia that reinforced that feeling of sudden proximity, Tobirama found.
"The scent?"
Hashirama nodded. She too seemed to remember the fond times they had spent together, when their family was still whole.
"Fresh and sweet… those cedars, they are the type of trees we use in our forestry business... "
Beautiful, tall and strong, the sugi trees were supporting them on their journey back to their village. That he had to have it be pointed out by Hashirama spoke volumes on his current state of mind.
To say that the situation in Uzushio was weighing on him heavily was an understatement…
"Our very own green archipelago…", mused Renji, referring to the true archipelago they had just left days ago, echoing Tobirama's troubling thoughts.
"Our home", agreed Hashirama. "Not that you need that kind of visual cues 'mylord'", said the young Senju looking above her shoulder.
Tobirama chuckled at the playful jab. Their journey had been marked by some of the villagers they met along the way acting with deference toward Tobirama, because "who would wear fine clothes on an armour, if not a lord?"
Tobirama, who saw himself foremost as a warrior, hadn't known how to react beyond wooden acceptance and embarassment when it occured, causing his sister to burst out laughing in a very undignified way in his opinion...
Once her hilarity had subsided, Hashirama had swore she would take the story to Mito's ears once they met one another again - that white-collared fur had been a blessing in disguise in her opinion.
"I suppose not", Tobirama admitted as he pelted from the branch he had just landed on. "In fact…", he realised with a start, "we're going to have company pretty soon."
"How far?" asked Renji, going immediately on high alert.
"Three kilometres, patrol of five."
"Friendly?"
Tobirama smiled, a rare enough occurrence for Renji to notice it at once.
"Very. Tokâ's cousins and some of your brothers, Renji."
At that, the oldest of the trio perked up, noticeably happy at the news.
"Is that so…" he smiled, looking forward with visible eagerness. "In that case, we should pick up the pace - if that's alright with you Lord Tobirama, Lady Hashirama?"
The mirth in his tone was real, and despite the difficult situation they had left behind in Uzushio, a surge of happiness was taking over their hearts.
"Wondering who that is, Renji?" teased Hashirama. "Haha, I'm impatient too. And cold. I could use the burst of speed… What do you say, Tobi?"
"Let's do this", the young Senju heir agreed.
Soon, they were darting at renewed speed through the foliage.
It wouldn't be long now before the cold would truly settle in the land, Tobirama thought to himself. Hashirama was right: the temperature had dropped significantly from what they experienced near the coast or on Uzushio.
Winter was coming to the Land of Fire.
And though it never has been so punishing as to put their village in jeopardy, this would be no joke to handle either.
Tobirama wondered how much this would impact the dynamic of the war.
With less food and logistics becoming generally more difficult, maybe offensives would be slowing down for the next few months?
Maybe they'd be able to spare resources to shore up Uzushio's defences?
A couple of minutes had merely passed before the other group was close enough for them to distinguish the green hue of their armours.
Hashirama grappled the branch she was going to land on and dropped herself to the ground, followed by Tobirama and Renji, and in front of them, the other group did the same, save for two shinobis who remained hidden in the back.
Renji advanced in front of their trio and a hulking figure did the same in front of the other, eyeing them suspiciously.
"What? Never seen real shinobis before?" provoked Renji uncharacteristically.
"Never saw real shinobis with your ugly muck", spat back the giant.
Renji grinned and the other man grinned back. And suddenly, Renji was welcomed with large pats on the back and smiles even larger.
His brothers deduced Hashirama… She hadn't seen them in years. In her memory, they didn't used to be this tall and imposing - and she was much taller now.
She never would have imagined Renji would be the smallest of the lot.
"Can't believe it's you, Renji-kun" said the giant, harbouring the same roguish smile as their companion. "You even managed to dodge adding another scar to your collection. Not that I can talk…" the man said, pointing to his own barred figure.
They laughed uproariously at his humour.
The giant turned his gaze on Tobirama and her, collecting himself somewhat.
"Welcome home, Lord Tobirama!" the man bowed, imitated by the two others flanking them. "How you've grown! And… you too, Lady Hashirama", he added politely, eyes twinkling.
"Thank you," Hashirama said, uneasily.
It felt somewhat strange to have her own clansmen use that moniker - not to mock her but as a genuine reverence toward her. She wondered if she would ever get used to it.
"We don't mean to intrude on your duties, Tonue", prompted Renji, "but can you spare one man to accompany us back to the village?"
"Sure, sure! Bonnotaro will escort you back", waved said Tonue immediately.
As if on cue, a gingerly figure with messy hair dropped from the trees above, greeting the three of them with a deep bow.
A glint of recognition went through Hashirama's eyes.
Bonnotaro… Toka's younger brother!
Talking about growing up, he was beating her and Tobirama easily in that department, towering over them when he used to look just like them in terms of size, before they left for Uzushio!
"Bonnotaro-san, you are a giant now?" exclaimed Tobirama, just as astonished as his sister.
"Well, I've always been older than you two anyway", grimaced the young shinobi."It was a prank of fate that I was stuck at your size for so long… but fate is favouring me again. For, if my eyes aren't deceiving me… Lord Tobirama, Lady Hashirama, you both are smaller than me, so tiny from above…"
And he punctuated those words with such an absurd face and ridiculous smile it prompted general laughter.
"Oh, haha, very funny," reluctantly smiled Hashirama as the laughs settled. "Can we go now?"
"Let's move", agreed Tobirama."There will be time for joyous reunions in better settings later today."
And as they set forth once again, the three Senjus and their escort couldn't help but feel already joyous, from travelling on familiar terrain, to crossing the Naka river itself…
A place of many memories, and heartaches, thought Hashirama to herself.
They were truly getting home!
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Cross-legged, Maoru breathed steadily, echoing the rhythm of the waves coming and going from the shore.
Dulling it under the brutal assault of the sun.
The day was torrid, so much more than what he and the five men escorting him were accustomed to.
Their sweat caused the tissue underneath their armours to stick in uncomfortable ways.
The metal itself was grilling any exposed part of their skins it could reach.
All that pain had to be endured silently - Maoru had forbidden the latent use of chakra among his shinobis, to limit their detection by eventual enemy sensors...
All in all, a difficult day to be fighting as a shinobi.
Yet, the Uzumaki general remained calm and focused.
Focused on the sea...
Filtering away the white noise of marine life.
Listening to the chaotic rook of the seawaves.
Waiting, chakra-fueled tendrils of water ready to snap up at once…
Midday had come and passed, yet his body was still supplying the amount of required chakra steadily, his mind entirely on the task at hand.
A challenging one.
Uzushio was readying itself to war.
Battle plans that had been established a long time ago, for such cases of seafaring invaders, were currently being implemented.
As a result, the commercial routes to Uzushio crossing the whirlpools had been shut down for the time being, on Lord Ashina's orders.
The seals guarding them wouldn't allow transportation anymore, long-maned Komainu Uzumaki, the Crimson Lion of Uzushio and one of the three Youkai of the island, had made sure of it, as soon as he had returned from his travels on the continent...
It meant trying to go through the deadly maze of whirlpools had to be done the old-fashioned way by foolhardy navigators, a feat that was simply not doable as is.
Navigation in and out of the island had been shut down effectively, and no fleet would be able to reach the coasts of Uzushio without facing utter destruction.
There were limits to this defence though.
Rare routes still existed, despite the best efforts of the Uzumakis to hide them, running alongside the various islands of Uzushiogakure... Underwater routes, made of powerful streams and courants existing between the whirlpools and the archipelago, both naturally occurring and the end-products of the Uzumakis tampering with nature.
Those routes were considered to be death traps by the islands' inhabitants, able to shred and tore anything caught up in them for as long as Maoru could remember - but ever since the incidents at Ori cave, the Uzumaki general had had that belief profoundly shaken.
The young Senju brat, Tobirama, had been suggesting what he himself suspected now: that the infiltration of the enemy had succeeded thanks to someone managing to navigate the streams safely, somehow.
Maoru had insisted on strengthening the number of shinobis guarding those routes: if it had been done once, it could be done again, had he argued in front of Ashina Uzumaki… and the old leader had agreed with him.
An oblong figure caressed past the tendrils of water, warm to his senses.
A shark.
How elegant.
Ensconced in the web of his chakra-fueled jutsu, the creature swirled past the current, travelling at unnatural speed despite the odd angles…
Ahhh.
So, this was how they did it…
Clever bastards.
He had been right. And as much as he loathed to admit it, the Senju brat had been right too…
"Get ready", Maoru simply prompted the men behind him, eyes still closed.
He couldn't see their nods, but the appreciative sound of metals glistening past fabrics and leather told him enough: kunais and shuriken were reaching the hands they were supposed to reach.
Now, it was his turn to reach what he was meant to reach.
"Suiton : Daibakufu no Jutsu !"
The water tendrils enlarged by the sudden surge of chakra, cycled at outrageous speed, causing a whirlpool of uncanny proportion to form deep in the water.
Gaining life and speed of its own, at Maoru's urge, it pore through the sea toward surface with a roaring sound filling their ears. A tornado of water erupted high above them in the air, with the force of a stampede, leaving a vortex at the epicentre.
In the maelstrom of thunderous waters, powerless forms could be seen, flailing; they broke horribly on the beach with the crashing water, sand and dirt exploding everywhere, the strength and speed of the impact enough to shake the ground mightily.
The Uzumakis' aim was true, and the three broken figures had their bodies pierced with kunais and shuriken the moment the water receded.
They were limp in death.
"Well, we were pretty useless", commented one of the Uzumaki warriors while looking at the pulverized bodies. "They didn't survive the jutsu to begin with..."
"As expected, that's the power of Maoru-sama!" added another one enthusiastically.
"This is how we handle pest problems in Uzushio," spat another of the Uzumaki warriors.
"That one is still alive", pointed out a fourth.
And indeed, in the newly formed crater, a mangled ninja was still feebly struggling despite his crushed limbs and broken bones.
Maoru closed in on him swiftly, looking at him critically.
With his shattered torso and now oddly-shaped members, it was evident the man was at death's door... but maybe there was a small window of opportunity before he passed away...
"Secure the perimeter, stay vigilant! I'll interrogate him."
And before his men could react, Maoru's hand came firmly to rest on the enemy's shoulder.
Suddenly, the world regained clarity and focus to Samekoshi… What was the meaning of this?
"What have you done to me, Uzumaki scum?" he spat, realising he no longer felt any kind of pain. "My body…"
"Your body is still dying", said Maoru calmly, while sitting on the ground. "I trapped you in my genjutsu."
Looking at his moving hand, and the ease he could suddenly breathe, the dying Samekoshi knew the enemy shinobi was telling the truth. He was at his mercy.
"I see… Eheheh… What are you hoping to accomplish here, Uzumaki? I won't talk to the likes of you, no matter what!"
"I know", calmly answered Marou, focusing. "I don't need you to. We have the means to extract the information out of your mind directly, and this is my way to do just that."
Samekoshi paled.
Was this guy bluffing?
He had heard of one clan being able to read minds like this, and they were in the Land of Fire, not out here in the sea…
But at the same time, this was a shinobi of the fabled land of Uzushio… They were known for their skills in fuinjutsu. Who's to say they hadn't just the right seals to achieve what this guy purpoted?
"I don't believe you."
"I don't care. As we speak, the two other squads your people sent are being executed by my shinobis, just like we did to your squad here."
Samekoshi remained silent, hiding away the surge of happiness he felt.
Of course the enemy had been bluffing. Two other squads uh…? They were twice that number of infiltrators at least, this guy was just throwing numbers in the dark to see what would stick…
As a Hoshigaki, he would do better than to throw away that advantage and needed to clam up until the end any intel he had on his fellow warriors…
Maoru opened his eyes.
The enemy's flow of emotions had been quite telling while being trapped in his genjutsu: there were more squads sent to infiltrate them than they initially thought…
Three underwater routes, but more than that number in squads… That meant at least double the effort, assuming they hadn't gone through a route his clan had yet to discover…?
"Your coordinated strike will fail", Maoru stated sternly, now getting up. "We'll stop you."
"Eh… ehehehe… We'll see about that, Uzumaki scum", chuckled the dying man.
Just as he said those words, an explosion echoed far east… and another one, northern bound… startling the Uzumaki warriors and causing them to exchange worried glances.
Were those the sounds of battles being fought and won… or something with a more sinister end result?
"The tide is coming to you, and it is… starving…", laughed the man on the ground heartily.
Samekoshi was still laughing when Maoru plunged his sword in his heart, his own becoming so heavy.
For he knew the foreign shinobi hadn't been lying.
The enemies of Uzushio were here.
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Their formation was surprisingly efficient.
Ever since Bonnotarô had joined them from Tonue's patrol, they had been progressing at a steady pace despite their increased number.
The older teenager had easily picked up the pace with them, bringing the front of their group, as Renji brought the back.
They should be at the village by the end of the hour. And then...
"We'll need to talk to father immediately," Tobirama said, eyeing his sister from above his shoulder. "With the situation developing in Uzushio, Rambuto-san needs to be supported."
"I'm afraid you won't be able to, Lord Tobirama" , intervened Bonnotaro, drifting from the front to the side next to him.
"What do you mean? Why?" asked Hashirama, crossing their trajectory from above.
"I don't know much of the details", the young ninja continued, dashing through the air behind her resolutely, "only that Lord Butsuma isn't currently in the village. He's leading shinobis of our clan on a large coastal operation, near Jigan."
Hashirama and Tobirama exchanged a surprised look.
Their father, leading an operation this far out in Fire Country? It had to be related to their Daimyo's war, possibly involving regular troops as well…
Was he trying to seize control of that city?
Furthermore…
"Port Jigan is directly in the Hyuga's sphere of influence…" said Hashirama to her brother. "Prying it from their hands must be the objective, but… Tobi…"
"I know", said Tobirama worriedly. "I know…"
The Hyuga clan were one of the most powerful clans in the country.
To dislodge them from that seat of power would require a lot of resources from their own clan - resources that wouldn't be available to support the Uzumakis in their coming conflict.
This was bad…
Unless that battle at Jigan was resolved quickly, they would be stuck!
"An operation this late in the year? In Hyuga's territory no less…", muttered Renji darkly. "That's risky."
"That's precisely why it had to be done", pondered Tobirama, eyeing him above his shoulder. "The first snows won't be far from now, maybe by the next moon…? and when they occur, supplying resources will become too difficult for any form of sustained offensive against a place supported by the Hyugas."
"I agree", added Hashirama, hairs billowing through her flight. "Whatever the reason for targeting Jigan, it had to be done quickly, before the option went off the table."
She caught the perplexed look of Bonnotaro who had remained silent throughout: though left unsaid, they all knew the reason had to be coming from the daimyo's entourage or the daimyo's himself…
Jigan had been in daimyo Ujimasa's family's hands for decades, and the Hyuga's had been the enforcers of their will there for just as long.
A commercial hub and jumping point toward the rest of the country, far in the south east.
"That timing is unfortunate…", remarked Renji. "Lord Butsuma must have gone before your message arrived at the village,"
"Can't say this isn't annoying," admitted Hashirama. "In fact, this isn't good at all."
"It doesn't matter", decided Tobirama. "Regardless of the outcome, we'll have to deal with this situation head-on! I want to go to the Council as soon as we arrive."
"Tobi, I'm not sure about the Council… without Father..."
"We don't have a choice in the matter", sliced Tobirama. "Mito is counting on us… on me! I'll make the Council listen to our pledge."
Hashirama had never seen her brother this tense.
He must be really worried for Mito-chan, the Senju girl thought to herself.
And if she was honest, she was worried too.
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Three days earlier
The leaders and their Hands had assembled early - the day was still young when the words of Ryosuke Fuuma echoed in the Uchihas' Halls.
"I've come here, answering your summoning to tell it to your face: as is, clan Fuuma won't be sending any supplementary troops that you ask for this war."
The words, defiant, hung in the air, as the assembly looked gravely at the figure in front of them.
Ryosuke wasn't a ninja known to be foolish in the way he handled the affairs of his clan.
Long-haired and middle-aged, he had seen his fair share of battles and, by any standard, would be considered a veteran shinobi, capable and level-headed.
And yet, there was nothing level-headed in that statement of his, for many of the Uchihas witnessing it.
In fact, never more foolish words had been spoken in front of the Uchiha leaders.
Refusing to honour their duty?
What folly had seized the man? wondered Madara, silently observing the proceedings from a corner.
Training at the Nekomata shrine in Sora-ku, with their Ninneko allies had been quite the enjoyable experience: the cat-warriors were fast and nimble, with sharp senses and dynamic enough to keep him on his toes while sparring together… Nekomata himself was a hulking figure that showed little interest in humans, but the glimpse of power he displayed to him the first time they met had enticed Madara to no end…
Coming back to a reality where vassal clans were challenging their betters, and other nonsenses of the sort, left a bitter taste in his mouth…
His father's answer came soon after, tainted with a small amount of irony.
"Oh ? And why is that, Fuuma-dono?"
"You were unable to defend your allies, the Hagoromos!" erupted the man. "Look at them! Now all but extinct, only a few of them remain with you and for what? Soon, you will have taken away all that they are and chained them to you forever."
Ryosuke pointed an accusing finger at the Head of the Hagoromos who kept an impassive expression, weathering the insults as the Uchihas hissed with anger.
"I don't want such fate to befall my clan! Maybe you, Uchihas, have become too weak to resist the Senjus?"
"You dare…!" said angrily Daichi, almost jumping to his feet.
"No, let's settle this right now" placated Tajima. "What is it that you are suggesting, Lord Fuuma?"
His eyes were piercing those of Ryosuke who responded in kind, undeterred.
Ryosuke eyed to the side quickly, before addressing Tajima in front of him.
"The guarantee for you to not borrow our strength only when it's convenient for you, but in times of crisis for us as well."
"There are no such things as guarantees in our world", countered Tajima.
"Be that as it may, you have sons, and I have one daughter - one of them should marry into this clan, with her. I'll leave you to decide which one, but it has to be done. I won't send my men to fight your wars otherwise."
All this posturing for the sake of furthering their alliance ? Madara didn't believe it at all. Something else was at play here…
"Your proposal has been heard, now we shall consider it," his father told the man. "Kyoko-san and Deïdo-san will help you back to your quarters as we discuss this among ourselves. We'll summon you here once we have reached a consensus"
On the prompt, the two named Uchihas came next to the Fuuma leader, bowing slightly, as he looked back at Tajima dispassionately.
"Very well."
Once the door was closed and the chakra of the man faded away with his escorts, the room exploded.
"Such impudence !"
"He dares provoke us in our own village ?"
"Lord Tajima!"
"Mylord!"
Tajima made a gesture and the room quieted at once.
He then turned to the figure sitting in the corner lazily, as if bored by the proceedings.
"What do you think of this, Madara?"
The teenager turned his head, looking sideways to the other members of the council gathered there, older shinobis somewhat aggravated to be silenced in favour of a child, before talking.
"Father, it's a steep price to pay for a minor advantage - there are greater clans to ally with than the Fuumas."
"There are historical ties between our two clans ; fundamentally the proposal is not so shocking," pondered Teuchi Uchiha, one of the clan elders.
"Yes, but Teuchi-dono, the disparity in power is too great between the Uchihas and the Fuumas now", countered Daichi, his nephew. "A marriage to strengthen the existing alliance is too much a price to pay for us, and he knows it."
"He expects a rebuttal to cut ties from his obligations toward us," stated Madara.
Silence befell those words, accompanied by murmurs of agreement in the room.
"Madara-kun, what are you suggesting then? Regardless of how self-interested you might be with this issue ?" asked Tran Uchiha, one of the four elders of the village amusedly to the teenager.
Madara played with the hilt of a kunai in his hand, thinking.
"Teach him a lesson. Remind him why the Fuumas defer to the Uchihas and not the other way around…", the teenager stated coldly. "Let's seize family members of his councilmen and fix an ultimatum. He can either work with us and send the troops and support we require, or they can die and he'll have to deal with the fallout."
"Playing with that clan resolve is a dangerous game… what if they call your bluff?" asked Teuchi calmly.
Madara looked at him as if he was telling a particularly foolish thing.
"What bluff ? I'm serious. If they don't cooperate now, then we'll have to deal with the Fuumas anyway. We can't have untrustworthy shinobis operating near our territory, that's impossible. If it comes to killing the hostages and they don't cave, then we'll have to take them out altogether. If we want to cement the position of the Uchihas in the country and defeat the Senjus, we'll have to pacify that kind of attitude from our retainer clans."
A shocked silence welcomed those words.
Then, subdued murmurs.
The Uchihas were no faint of hearts - as shinobis it was something to be expected - but even the most pragmatists among them found the cuthroat nature of this approach somewhat distasteful.
"Your plan is too extreme", said bluntly Tran Uchiha. "It will alienate the Fuumas to us in the long term, it's not an outcome we should strive for."
"I agree," added Teuchi next to her. "At least they should have a way out before things come to... that."
"Which would be...?"
"Removing their current Head to install a new one."
Renewed murmurs and nods accompanied this proposal.
"Can it be done?" asked Tajima, who had remained silent during the previous exchange.
Madara quickly answered.
"With enough hostages and council members motivated to spare them? If it's between the future of your clan or a stubborn leader who puts you in jeopardy to begin with, the choice is easily made…"
He turned his eyes toward his father, a flash of crimson burning in them before vanishing.
"Besides, we are uniquely suited to persuade the most recalcitrant members of that council."
"Shouldn't we brainwash the man into killing himself or make a slip-up at a crucial time ?" asked one of the other elders, Soiku Uchiha. "This idea of kidnapping…"
"…is necessary," said Tajima. "We would want the Fuumas to know it is us who are acting, to remind them not to mess with us, isn't it ? Daichi-san?"
"That could work", said Daichi, approvingly. "No more than six shinobis to infiltrate their village without triggering detection... but that can be done."
"Very well", said Tajima, having come to terms with a decision. "Madara, you'll be the one leading that operation."
The kunai came to rest in the grip of the teenager's hand, stilled.
"Aye!" said Madara, excitement suddenly bubbling to the surface.
"Pick who you want for that mission, but Daichi will be there to ensure everything goes smoothly with the hostages", ordered the Uchiha leader. "This means several days of observation and tracking before proceeding to the captures."
"With the Sharingan, there won't be an issue", assured Madara confidently.
"I know there won't, son. After all, it is you we are talking about... Failure isn't an option."
Tajima's words echoed in the Uchihas' Hall as much as in Madara's heart.
No, it wasn't an option, indeed.
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"Lord Butsuma's children have returned, Tolerama-sama."
"Send them in."
The room turned quiet as Bonnotaro got out before coming back, flanked by Renji, Hashirama and Tobirama at the front.
The last two kneeled before the Council, while Bonnatoro took place to the sides, with Renji.
They immediately noticed the absences of the Hands, behind the elders: not only Tenma, but also Aderama Senju.
"So, you've returned, '' said Tolerama crisply, inclining his head. "Lord Tobirama."
"This is a momentous day for the clan", exclaimed Kojirama, bowing his head slightly as well. "Welcome back."
"The Council is happy to see you at once, Lord Tobirama", added Akenji right next to him. "Given the circumstances and your presence, there's much to discuss."
Tobirama ticked.
Why was he the only one acknowledged here? What was going on?
He could feel a sliver of tension rise in Hashirama, as her chakra flickered for a mere second.
She too was surprised at their obvious snobbism.
"As you can see, Tolerama-sama, Akanji-sama, Kojirama-sama… Hashirama and I have come back from our stay with the Uzumakis."
The three men exchanged knowing looks before the eldest one, Tolerama, turned his attention back on the youngsters in front of them.
"We can see that" the elder man said, his eyes glancing over Hashirama rapidly. "Lady Hashirama, who has certainly grown... No more a child but a young woman of the Senjus."
"Aye", Hashirama said, uneasily. "Councilmen, we've come back with dire news from our Uzumakis brethren…"
"Ah, pardon me Lady Hashirama", interrupted Akanji with a placating gesture,"but it is of importance that duty and ranks are respected within this council".
"As the Clan's Heir and future Head, Lord Tobirama is entitled to a place and a voice in this council", added Tolerama sternly. "For the time being, we will listen to him only."
Temperature couldn't have dropped faster in the room, as the cold stare from Hashirama was unmistakable.
The teenage girl was confused.
She didn't pretend to know all the inner workings of the Council - not as much as Tobirama did - but until now, she had never felt ignored to this point.
Was she dreaming? Why was the council this distant toward her all of a sudden? She wasn't a child anymore, surely the adults couldn't ignore her as easily as a few years ago?
So why did it feel like they did, even more aggressively than before?
Tobirama quickly eyed her, making a calming gesture, before turning toward the men in front of him, a scowl visible on his face.
"You're right. I am the future Head of our clan. Don't forget however that if I'm bound to inherit the leader's position someday, Lady Hashirama is bound to become my Hand - only second in position to me, in our clan. Be mindful of your tone when addressing her."
"Of course," Akanji said in a faux apologetic tone.
"You're right Tobirama-san… Forgive our impertinence", added Kojirama.
The two looked sideways at Tolerama, who feigned to not see them, obviously refusing any form of mea culpa. He stared down at Tobirama, as the young Heir stared back at him with defiance.
"Be that as it may, Lord Tobirama… Lady Hashirama isn't your Hand yet, is she? And even if she was, she wouldn't be allowed to speak in front of this council without permission. This is our way, and as Senjus, you should abide by it."
Tobirama considered responding before deciding against it.
Tolerama-dono was right. The Hands weren't allowed to talk during Council sessions, unless they were specifically called forth to do so - and Hashirama really wasn't one yet…
Besides, they needed to have the Council on their side: they couldn't have this hostility between them if they wanted the elders to accept their request.
Too many lives were riding on it. Hashirama had visibly reached the same conclusion, for this time it was she who appealed to her brother with a little gesture, to let this matter go.
So, he did.
"Very well", Tobirama said, sitting straighter. "As Hashirama started to say… the position of the Uzumakis is becoming difficult. It is expected that enemies from the land of Water will make a major incursion on their territory, possibly targeting Uzushio itself, in the coming days. Rambuto-san stayed there as our liaison, but we still need to send reinforcements their way, to help them in repelling the invaders. To preserve the strength of our alliance, we should do nothing less than that."
Tobirama's words hung in the air, everyone pondering on them.
"We should send reinforcements to the Uzumakis, indeed", admitted Kojirama. "However, our current predicament prevents us from doing so, at least rapidly."
After Bonnotaro's explanations on the way to the village, Tobirama and Hashirama had expected as much.
"Please, explain," asked Tobirama nonetheless.
"The forces of our daimyo have taken over the area near Jigan", stated Akanji simply. "Ten thousand men, plus three thousands joining up from the south. The city is close to total encirclement. Only the resistance of Ujimasa's retainers at Suemori's castle prevents our daimyo's troops from enforcing a complete siege of Jigan."
"We've been ordered to pry open that castle or destroy it completely", stated Tolerama.
Hashirama and Tobirama exchanged a quick look. So, this was happening, Bonnotaro had been right.
"Taking over Suemori's castle will allow our daimyo control over the entire city", the elder man continued. "He'll be able to ground his army in the area, and use the city of Suemori as a base of operation to push back enemy forces even further, and start the siege of Jigan properly. It's an opportunity to strike down Ujimasa's forces and deny him the critical hub that is Jigan for his resources."
"I see", said Tobirama quietly.
Daimyo Ujimasa's domain was currently in turmoil… So if Jigan's fell, Ujimasa's economical prowess would fell with it and that would mean half the region's wealth being taken away from him.
A serious blow.
The conflict would become unsustainable for him, let alone the logistic worsening with the loss of the city's port…
Tobirama could not deny how critical an opportunity it was for their daimyo.
"In other words, our Daimyo wants to force our enemy's hand into either cooperating or face economical collapse", stated Hashirama.
"Exactly."
"That is why this mission is so crucial to our clan, and Lord Butsuma is personally supervising the operation with some of our best", added Kojirama.
So, this is where the likes of Tenma and Aderama went, in the end, told Tobirama to himself.
"We were bound to send him reinforcements, for we have had confirmation of the involvement of the Pure clan in the defence of Suemori." said Akanji, a hand on the chin, eyes glancing at the two young shinobis. "This is a serious development, the Hyugas are some of the finest shinobis in this country… However, we've had some serious development of our own it seems. And that presents an opportunity for us too."
"What do you mean?" asked Tobirama.
"Your sister, Lord Tobirama", Akanji said, calmly. "Hashirama-san. We feel that with her new skill, she is a most appropriate asset to send, alongside a battalion of our warriors, to counter the Hyugas."
"We heard from your exploits regularly, you know… Rambuto was thorough in his reports," added Kojirama, smiling.
"As expected from your son," recognised Tolerama, prompting further happiness from Kojirama. "Hashirama's new skills," he continued, now eyeing Hashirama too,"…they are going to be a strong asset for our clan - if she was able to master those, of course."
Hashirama bowed deeply in front of the Council.
"Tolerama-dono, I am still discovering the possibilities that Mokuton and the wielding of natural energy are offering… but what I have already discovered and tested, I will pledge those skills to the clan."
Tolerama looked at her perplexedly but didn't say anything else, prompting the two others next to him to react.
"Excellent. It's settled then!"exclaimed Kojirama, clapping hands genially. "Lord Tobirama, we ask of you formally the authorization to send Hashirama at Suemori, in order to assist Lord Butsuma."
"You ask?" repeated Tobirama, frowning. "If this is a mission, you don't have to… Hashirama already said she was willing to do it."
"You are the Heir" cut Tolerama. "As long as you are here, we defer to you on the matters concerning your family."
Tobirama glanced at Hashirama. She shrugged uncertainly.
"I won't decide anything on behalf of my sister", Tobirama finally said, irritated. "Brief us, she's the one who'll decide what she will do regarding this mission. If it's necessary, I'll go there myself with her."
"Lord Tobirama, if I may, you are the Heir of the Clan", protested Akanji. "We can't have you on the same battlefield as our leader, your father."
"... My word is final."
"As you wish", relented Akanji, suppressing his frustration quite well.
The two others weren't as successful at that, with Tolerama harbouring a scowl to match his boiling anger, and the disappointed look and worried glance Kojirama sent to Akanji.
Between their sons, and their leaders all concentrated in the same area, the risk for things to derail for the clan in case of disaster was very high…
When the man nodded, Akanji turned his attention back to the Senju girl.
"Lady Hashirama. Two days from now, you will be departing with twenty of our shinobis, alongside some resources that need to be transited to the frontline for lord Butsuma and his troops. We already have sent a caravan ahead with Koji-san, your two groups should link-up before reaching the northern parts of the Red Forest. You will have to be extremely vigilant once there, for we just had word of renewed Uchiha activity in this area. They are relentless, and have been harassing the caravans of supplies sent to support our troops for weeks now…"
"We will", assured Hashirama, causing a nod from Kojirama.
"Renji-san."
"Aye."
"You will be the one leading this mission until joining up with Koji-san", said Tolerama in a tone suffering no challenge. "Most of the shinobis assembled have been working with you before, you should have no issue in joining their unit and reaching Suemori. Make sure the caravans stay unharmed on the journey."
"Aye, Tolerama-sama."
"Hashirama. Tobirama. All this is a way for us to let you acclimate yourself again with the way we do things here, as Senjus", explained Akanji. "You've been working for a long time with Renji-san now, we expect a good level of cooperation between you all."
Hashirama blinked, but didn't say anything and nodded.
It wasn't a few years abroad that would erase her knowledge of how things were done in the village, but she had little interest in challenging the Council's notions… for the time being.
The priorities were to help their father in the battle ahead, and then, help the Uzumakis…
And as they left the elders behind, Hashirama swore she would achieve both of these, no matter what.
.
.
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Author's note: First and foremost, I wish you the best for 2023 dear readers! Hope this will be a good year for you, your friends and your relatives!
Anyhow, for someone who « meant » to finish season 2 by the end of 2022, this is a proper mishap ! No matter the reasons, I apologize for the delay, hopefully I should be able to pick up the pace to not only end season 2 with the tenth chapter coming by the end of the winter, but also do season 3 this year !
Nonetheless, thank you for taking the time to read the seventh chapter of this season of Hashirama's journey as a shinobi!
She made it back with her brother to their village, but the situation both in Uzushio and the Land of Fire is evolving critically…We'll see how they'll handle this in the second part of this chapter.
Next part is scheduled for next week!
Hope you enjoyed the read, dear readers! See you next time.