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A Father's Choice
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It was just past noon when Tobirama was sitting in a conference room together with Inori, Madara and Hashirama. The sun was forcing its way through the blinds that covered the windows, reminding everyone that it was summer outside. Temperatures were high, the forest green, and the laughter of children playing filled the streets. But it all felt distant, and didn't quite reach the insides of Hashirama's conference room. There, it almost felt like a different world entirely.
Hashirama and Madara had been arguing for the last half hour, their voices rising and falling in heated bursts. Hashirama was trying to stay calm, but Madara's anger was clear in every word he spoke, like a storm ready to break at any moment.
Inori sat nearby, occasionally chiming in to defend her proposal of a wedding between her and Tobirama. Despite her efforts, the tension in the room only seemed to grow, each word adding to the strain.
And then there was Tobirama, sitting quietly at the far end of the table, seemingly lost in thought. While the argument raged around him, his mind was somewhere else entirely. With another woman. And another problem.
I am pregnant. Those three words echoed in his mind over and over again.
He didn't notice when the room went quiet, when the others turned their attention to him, waiting for his response.
"What do you think?" Hashirama asked.
It took Tobirama another moment to realise that the question was directed at him. He sat up straighter, trying to shake off the thoughts that had taken over his mind, but they still clung to him, refusing to let go.
"Tobi," Hashirama said again, more insistent this time. "Don't you have anything to say to this?"
"I…" It was the moment Tobirama was supposed to assure his support. Even if he hadn't listened, he knew that they were still discussing whether or not a wedding like that could truly exist.
But somehow, he found himself unable to speak.
"Last time, you called my idea 'reasonable enough'," Inori noted. "If there is anything bothering you, then please tell me. I'm sure we can work it out."
There was too much bothering him.
"It's true that a union like this could benefit both our clans." It felt a bit like he was speaking to himself first of all, reminding him why the wedding was necessary.
But he hardly made it far before his thoughts drifted off once more, back into his own office, back to Akari.
I am pregnant.
Hashirama, Madara and Inori were still looking at him. Inori was waiting for him to support her idea.
"What is it, Tobi?" Hashirama asked again, concerned now.
Tobirama couldn't hold back a sigh. He knew that this meeting wasn't going anywhere. Because there was no use ignoring those three words. Even if Akari had told him she would raise the child alone. That he should marry Inori instead. He couldn't.
So he made a decision.
"I can't agree to this wedding."
The room fell silent, and for a moment, all three of them looked equally surprised.
Madara's eyes narrowed. "What, so after all this talk about marriage, you've decided my niece isn't good enough for you?"
Tobirama just rolled his eyes, which only fueled Madara's anger. Madara shot up from his chair, ready to lunge at Tobirama, but Hashirama was quicker, grabbing his friend's arm and holding him back.
"It's not that I wouldn't marry you," Tobirama said calmly, turning to Inori. "I would. And maybe I should. It was a good idea, and you brought up good points. But I can't, for reasons that have nothing to do with this."
Madara scoffed, arms crossed in front of him. "Good. Nothing in the world would be worth having you in my family."
"Reasons?" Hashirama asked, ignoring Madara's bitterness as he focused on his brother.
Tobirama stayed silent, avoiding eye contact. He couldn't discuss this in front of Inori and Madara.
Inori frowned, confusion and hurt clear on her face. She couldn't understand the sudden change, and a part of her couldn't help but wonder if it was because of who she was - an Uchiha.
"I assume this conversation is over," Madara said abruptly, getting up from his chair. He motioned for Inori to follow him, and she did, quietly, glancing back at Tobirama with lingering uncertainty.
As soon as they were gone, Tobirama stood up as well. He needed to deal with the issue that had been consuming his mind all day.
"Tobirama," his brother called after him as he reached the door, but Tobirama didn't even pause. Hashirama had to hurry after him, catching up and grabbing his shoulder to stop him. "What 'reasons' were you talking about in there?"
Tobirama looked at his brother, at the man who had always tried to find solutions, to fix things for everyone. If he told Hashirama the truth, there would be no turning back. Hashirama would get involved.
But eventually, he'd have to tell him. If Akari kept the child, it wasn't a secret he could hide forever.
He was going to be a father. Whether he wanted to be or not.
Hashirama had to know. Not because he was his brother, but because he was the head of their clan, and the Hokage. And this was not just a personal matter, on the contrary.
So they walked back to the conference room, where they could talk privately. Tobirama used those few extra steps to try to gather his thoughts, to prepare himself for what he was about to say. Until the door closed behind them.
"I'm involved with someone." The words came out awkwardly, his determination faltering quicker than he expected. He added hastily, "Or rather, I used to be. In a way."
"Involved? With whom?" Hashirama asked, surprised.
Tobirama felt the tension in his body, his muscles tight with nerves.
"Akari."
Hashirama's expression didn't change, not even a flicker. For a moment, Tobirama wondered if he'd even spoken the name out loud.
"For how long?" Hashirama asked after a pause. "How long have you two been… involved?"
Tobirama looked away. "It started after Iwa abducted her, and I went to get her back."
"That was a long time ago," Hashirama said. "You've kept this a secret all this time. Why?"
"Because I didn't mean to get involved with her. I wanted to end it. And I did end it."
"You ended it," Hashirama repeated, watching Tobirama nod weakly. "And yet you're telling me now, after over a year. Why?"
Tobirama stayed silent, the words refusing to come out.
"Tobirama," Hashirama said again, the tone of his voice somewhere in between a concerned older brother and a demanding Hokage.
"She's pregnant."
The silence that followed was heavy, almost unbearable. Hashirama turned away, walked slowly to the window to stare outside.
Tobirama couldn't tell if his brother was angry, shocked, or just processing the news.
"What do you plan to do now? Marry her?" Hashirama eventually asked, still facing the window. His tone was calm, almost too calm, and it irritated Tobirama. Usually, his brother was the emotional one, but there was not a hint of that to be found in his voice or posture.
"I don't know," Tobirama admitted.
Hashirama turned to face his brother, observed him when he asked, "Are you in love with her?"
Again, it was a question Tobirama couldn't answer.
Hashirama sighed. "She's the Hyuuga heiress, Tobirama. You know what that means, right?"
"Yes."
"Then why would you get involved with her? To the point where she's now pregnant with your child? You don't do things without reason, Tobirama. So why? Why her?"
"I don't know. I'm sorry."
Hashirama sighed again at all the questions left unanswered. "The Hyuuga won't take this well. Her father will be furious. You know she's his pride and joy."
Tobirama stayed silent. There was nothing he could say. This truly was the worst-case scenario he'd tried to avoid, and now that it was happening, he wasn't sure how to handle it, what the right course of action was.
The Hyuuga's main family had always married within the clan, strictly following their traditions. Their heiress having a child out of wedlock would be scandal enough. Tobirama could hardly imagine the outrage once they learned that the child was his.
"I'll send a messenger to bring her here," Hashirama finally said. "This isn't something that can wait. We need to discuss this and find a solution as soon as possible."
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As soon as Akari's eyes met Hashirama's, she knew that Tobirama had told him everything.
She'd been asked to come to the Hokage office right away, where both Hashirama and Tobirama were waiting for her. The former asked her to sit down opposite of her, while the latter just stood to the side, arms crossed in front of him
"Tobirama told me that you are pregnant," Hashirama said, getting straight to the point as soon as she sat down. "And that he is the father."
He was looking at her for confirmation.
"Yes," Akari replied, her voice just loud enough to be heard, but steady. "That's correct."
"Considering you are already engaged to Shouta Hyuuga, I'd like to discuss the future of you and Tobirama, and of this child."
Hashirama's tone was sober, almost cold, distant in a way that made Akari's chest tighten. She wished that she could have spoken to her gentle, understanding teacher, not the Hokage who continued to question her.
"Do you intend to keep the child? Considering the circumstances, it wouldn't be surprising if you didn't."
Akari's hands tightened in her lap, fingers clutching at the fabric of her kimono. "I do. I'm keeping it."
A silence fell between them, heavy and uncomfortable. Hashirama's eyes remained on her, weighing her words. His expression wasn't harsh, but there was a calculation to it that made Akari feel like she was being measured, judged.
"Does your father know yet? Or your fiancé?"
She shook her head. "They don't."
"If you are intending to keep this child," Hashirama pressed, "then what are you going to do about your betrothal?"
All those questions overwhelmed her. She had no answers, not for Hashirama, not for herself.
"I told Tobirama that I would raise this child alone," she said, trying to avoid answering directly. "I understand that this child's heritage will only cause trouble for the Senju clan. I'll deal with my father and Shouta on my own. I will leave you both out of this. Completely."
Hashirama's gaze flicked to Tobirama for a moment, wondering if he had anything to say. His brother stood a few feet away, silent and stoic as ever. Tobirama's face was unreadable, his usual stern expression giving nothing away, but there was a tension in his posture, a stiffness that Hashirama had learned to notice.
Tobirama never said a word.
"This child is half-Senju too," Hashirama said to Akari, his voice softening just a touch at the thought of his brother as a father. "Of course, we will not just leave you to raise it alone. That's why we are here, to find an arrangement that works for all of us. Frankly, the most obvious course of action would be for Tobirama and you to marry, legitimise the child. But that's not an option with you already engaged to Shouta. That's why I asked."
Akari too glanced at Tobirama now, searching his face for any hint of agreement, any sign that he, too, thought marriage was the best option. But there was none.
When she did not answer, Hashirama made a decision.
"Seeing how this situation affects both our clans and their relationship, I will make an appointment with your father to discuss this matter." His eyes fell on Tobirama again, and he added, "And to apologise for my brother's actions. You should go home, Akari. Talk to your father… prepare him. He should hear this from you, after all."
The mention of her father caused her heart to sink. He was the last person she wanted to know. Because she feared his reaction. But she also knew the conversation was inevitable.
Hashirama looked at both his brother and Akari one last time, his eyes becoming softer, concerned. With a sigh, he said, "I'll leave you two alone. It seems there are a few things you still need to discuss."
He left them alone in his office, closed the door behind him.
The silence that remained in the room together with Akari and Tobirama was heavy. Akari stood up to face him properly, but every time she met his gaze, they both quickly glanced away.
Tobirama closed his eyes briefly, taking a deep breath before speaking. "This child will complicate everything. Your engagement, your future… the politics between our clans."
"I know," she said. "But I'm having this child either way. So my engagement and future are already complicated. Whether or not you are a part of this is up to you."
He took another deep breath, sighed. "Listen. I won't pretend that I agree with your decision to keep the child. But you didn't seriously expect me to just marry another woman while you raise this child alone. Am I just supposed to watch it grow up in Konoha and pretend that it's not my flesh and blood too?"
Akari looked away. "I just wanted what's best for the village. And I thought that you marrying Inori…"
"Well, that one's off the table."
"I'm sorry," she apologised. "I never meant to complicate your life."
"My brother is right," he continued, ignoring the apology. "Getting married would be the proper thing to do."
Akari tried to smile in an attempt to lighten the atmosphere, but it felt forced, strained. "I know that you never wanted to get married. And that if you did, it would be for the village. I don't want you to marry me out of obligation."
He looked at her, completely serious. "You were fine with me getting married to Inori out of obligation. And you yourself are engaged to Shouta out of obligation. How is this any different?"
Was it different? Akari wondered, her thoughts swirling. "But those decisions were for the village, for my clan. This is…"
"About taking responsibility," Tobirama finished the sentence for her, his voice firm but not unkind. "For you, for the child." His eyes shifted away. He wasn't exactly happy about the situation, but he was determined to face it, make the best of it. "It's the least I can do."
And then, their eyes finally met, stayed on the other for a while, and in that shared moment, something unspoken passed between them. Akari still felt the guilt deep inside of her, knowing how much this not only affected their lives, but Konoha too. Yet, alongside the guilt, there was a sense of relief, a small comfort in the knowledge that she wasn't facing this alone. They were in this together, whether it was by choice or circumstance.
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Akari found her father in the family library, a place where the walls were lined with ancient texts and scrolls. He was seated by a large window, the afternoon light casting a golden hue on the parchment he was studying. His back was to her, and for a moment, Akari considered turning around and leaving, postponing the inevitable. But she knew there was no escaping this conversation.
She took a deep breath before stepping into the room. The soft sound of her sandals against the wooden floor caught his attention. He didn't look up immediately, still engrossed in the scroll before him. It gave her a moment to collect her thoughts, though they scattered the moment he finally spoke.
"Is something the matter, child?" her father asked, his voice calm. He hadn't yet looked at her, but he could sense her hesitation, her lingering in the doorway.
When there was no answer, he finally looked up, setting the scroll aside.
Akari took a step forward, but her father's face scared her more than anything. It had always been hard, stern. He was a strict man. And yet there was this warmth in his eyes whenever he looked at his daughter. A warmth Akari feared she would never see again if she told him the truth.
"We need to talk." Her voice was quieter than she intended. She closed the door behind her, the sound echoing in the silence of the library.
He gestured for her to sit across from him, but she remained standing. Part of her was ready to simply flee the situation after all.
"I…" She searched for the right words, but the more she thought about them, the more they refused to be spoken. "I can't marry Shouta"
Her father's brow furrowed slightly, but he didn't seem overly concerned. Not yet. "Where does this suddenly come from?" he asked, his tone even. To him, this was just a sign of nerves before the wedding.
One hand found her belly, gripping the fabric of her kimono as she forced the words out. "I'm with child."
For a moment, her father's expression remained unchanged, as if he hadn't quite registered her words. But when the realisation struck him, he stood abruptly, eyes wide with disbelief.
"You are unwed still, Akari. I thought I'd taught you better than this."
"I'm sorry," she whispered, though she knew it wasn't enough.
"Is Shouta the father?" he demanded.
If only she could say that he was, it would all be so much simpler. Her father would disapprove, be disappointed in her for a while. But her life would continue the way it was supposed to.
"Akari, daughter. I demand an answer. Who is the father of this child?"
Her lips parted, but no sound came out. There was only one right answer to his question. And she couldn't give it to him.
"I'm asking you one last time. Who is the father?"
"Tobirama," she finally confessed, the name barely more than a breath.
"Senju?" he echoed, disbelief again colouring his tone.
She could pinpoint the exact moment when her father realised this was not something that could be easily resolved. The stern lines of his face faltered, his composure slipping for just a second.
"A Senju?" he repeated, with no softness left in his voice. "How could you let a Senju defile you and our clan. All while engaged to one of our own! This is a disgrace."
"I didn't mean for this to happen. I just… I'm sorry. I really am."
"That is all you have to say?"
She wished there was more to say. But nothing she could say would fix this. And she wished for her father to lose the deep bewilderment in his eyes, that he would stop looking at her like she wasn't his daughter. But that too would not happen.
"Tobirama Senju. You know that he'll have a claim on this child. What if he'll take it away from you so that they can acquire the Byakugan? Have you considered that when you-" He abruptly stopped as his mind became too aware of the acts involved in creating a child. Acts that he didn't want to imagine with his daughter involved. "We've not protected our eyes for all these years just to hand them away now with a bastard of a child."
"Tobirama would never-"
"Stop being this naive!" He raised his voice. "Is that what he told you? You were always a smart one, Akari. Can you not see that this child is a threat? A threat to you, our bloodline, and our whole clan."
"The Senju are not like that!" she pleaded. "He doesn't even want the child. This is not about our eyes."
"So he knows!" her father only scoffed. "Who are you, Akari? A Senju or a Hyuuga? I should have never let Hashirama be your sensei."
"Father, please," she kept pleading. "I know I have made a mistake. But all of this happened before I got engaged to Shouta."
"That is no excuse, Akari! This should not have happened at all. Never. You are our heiress. How could you let a man from another clan-" Again, he couldn't finish his thought. Instead, he made a decision. "We have to find your aunt. This child cannot exist."
He walked past her, to the door. Akari grabbed his hand.
"What? No. I don't want that!"
"Your aunt will take care of this. Shouta doesn't have to know. You made a mistake, but we will fix it. If Tobirama truly doesn't want this child, then he will not mind."
"No," she yelled at him, fighting to keep him in the room, to prevent him from going to her aunt. "I'm not killing my child."
"You are not having Tobirama Senju's child!" He was yelling now. Shouted with such intensity and force that the whole house had to be aware of their fight. Then he quickly fell quiet again, realising that this was no conversation he wanted to leave the room. "I am your father. And you will do as I say. You are not having this child."
"But I am."
Her voice was weaker than she would have liked. But this was her father she was speaking to. The person she had been taught to respect the most. More so than the Hokage even. This man had raised her. He'd given her life. She was his flesh and blood, and yet, she couldn't abide by his will. Not this time.
"This is my child. I'm having it. Even if Tobirama is the father."
"My daughter is not having a bastard child. And you certainly won't give our eyes to the Senju. I won't allow it."
"I will not give our eyes to anyone but my child, who will be my flesh and blood."
She had expected consequences. She knew there would be. And she had thought that she was prepared to face them. She was prepared to lose privileges, prepared to be disinherited, no longer be the heiress. She thought she was prepared for everything.
But she was wrong.
"Then you are no longer my daughter."
Akari faltered. She never knew that words could cause such pain. But that one sentence pierced her heart, over and over again.
And for just a second, insecurity and doubt were about to hand her fate into her father's hand after all, let him fix the world for her. After all, Tobirama never wanted the child either.
"This child is your grandchild too, our flesh and blood," she tried.
Because she loved her father.
"It is not," he answered coldly. "And it will never be."
But the one love she'd thought unconditional proved to be conditional after all.
"If you are having this child," he repeated. "Then you are no longer my daughter."
Akari swallowed back the tears that were trying to force their way into her eyes.
She did love her father.
But she was now a mother too.
And with the coldest voice she could find, she too made her final decision.
"Then I am no longer your daughter."
It was the first time her father raised his hand against her, slapped it across her cheek.
Her skin quickly turned red, started to burn. But Akari felt no more than a dull throb.
It was her father's words that hurt her most. They tore at her, left and right, trying to rip her apart. And they kept lingering in the room, filled the empty space between father and daughter.
The conversation ended there.
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A/N
At some point in this story, I'll write actual happy stuff. ... at some point. Eventually.