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Chapter Text

Tobirama is an amazingly gifted sensor. But he's never used it for anything other than people. So he is blind, blind. 

He can't get around without help. 

He can't help with administration any more. He can't write his own reports. 

He finds a way to be useful by having someone record things for him when it comes to work, he is still able to help found an academy, helps come up with interview questions for those wanting to apply to be a teacher. He helps develop a curriculum. 

But he just feels like a burden. 

He requires someone assigned to help him be useful at work, and he can't even do all the work he used to. 

He's had to completely give up his jutsu and seal experiments because he isn't going to waste someone's valuable time on a personal desire.

He can't even read any more. 

So often he just sits home alone in silence. 

Hashirama has been trying to get him to move back in with him, but Tobirama doesn't want to be a burden on Hashirama and Mito. 

He gets more depressed every day.

He is constantly frustrated that all his training so far has only given him the ability to sense water. Which doesn't help him get around the village. 

Madara on the other hand is drowning in guilt.

Every attempt to support Tobirama gets him rebuffed. 

He attempted to help Tobirama with some of his work and it honestly looked like Tobirama might cry. His lips almost seemed to tremble.

It's been two months now and he can see how every day is weighing heavier and heavier on Tobirama. 

He talked to Hashirama about it but apparently Tobirama refused to move back in.

Madara has to do something, but neither Hashirama nor Izuna have any good advice. 

Finally he decides fuck it. I'm going to help even if it pisses Tobirama off. 

So on Tobirama's next day off Madara just shows up on his doorstep at 10 am. Shocking though Tobirama opens the door looking like he just woke up. 

Which can't be right because everyone knows Tobirama wakes up at the crack of dawn.

Except apparently neither Madara or Hashirama had been taking things serious enough.

A look behind Tobirama shows off the disaster his house is. 

He supposed that was why there was so much noise and probably part of why it took so long for Tobirama to open the door. 

Tobirama does his best to run Madara off but he's not having any of that. 

He bulldozes his way into the house, starts cleaning up despite Tobirama's many attempts to get him to leave. Many of which insult Madara, his clan, and his mother. 

Madara ignores it all and just talks about inane things until Tobirama gives up and just flips on the couch. 

Madara then bullies Tobirama into fresh clothes and then scoots him right out of the house.

Grabbing Tobirama's hand he wraps it around his own elbow, using his own hand to keep Tobirama from letting him go, and then walks them into the village. They are going shopping. 

And that's how it goes for months. 

Tobirama stops resisting help so much he does gain enough sensing skills to get an idea of his surroundings by pulsing his chakra out like echo location, not enough to let him resume being a ninja but to help with day to day things. 

Madara and Tobirama find themselves growing closer by the day. 

Until one day Madara realizes he wants more than friendship. 

Madara is not one for openly talking about feelings, so instead he just says can I kiss you? 

And there is

only one answer for Tobirama.

Yes. 

Chapter Text

“So consummation?” Madara questions, he isn't sure if Tobirama will be interested, it's not like they talked about it before. They don't know each other really, but he supposed it was tradition so he thought he better ask. 

Besides Tobirama was very attractive now that he got over his initial dislike (for threatening to kill Izuna for peace). If Tobirama said yes then it was likely he felt the same. And maybe that would mean they could at least develop a fun sex life. Maybe give them a foundation to build on, and if not a loving relationship then at least a friendly one.

“Of course Madara-sama,” Tobirama responds. He had desperately hoped Madara would be interested. That he wouldn't want to further humiliate him by making him a wife in full. But Hashirama had already sold him off, so he supposes Madara would expect him to perform his new wifely duties. He wonders if he will be expected to ‘enjoy’ it. Hopefully Madara would just use his body and leave him be. 

Madara starts to feel a little awkward, he thought the hard part would be asking, but now they actually have to do it. Which means it's probably up to him to initiate it. He's never tried to hook up with someone on such awkward terms. 

“Okay first you cannot call me Madara-sama, you are my husband now, so we are on more equal footing now.”

“Of course goshujin-sama.”

Madara rolls his eyes, his husband is a snarky one! He wonders if Tobirama will be sassy like Izuna. He could get used to that, Hashirama had said Tobirama had a good sense of humor when he let his guard down. Maybe this was a good sign.

“Well how do you want to do this?”

“Whatever you like best.”

Instantly Madara was starting to regret asking. Was Tobirama going to make this whole thing super weird? He didn't even seem that interested. 

“Okay we can do that, but what do you like? Are there any positions you prefer? Any spots I should avoid?” Madara wasn't going to give up yet, he will try once more but if Tobirama still looks uncomfortable he's going to suggest they just go to bed.

Tobirama hates this. He wishes he could go back to his Anija. But he was doing this for him, this is all Hashirama had asked of him. And also he is doing this for his clan, for all the children who won't have to be involved in a war. So as much as he hates this he is going to have to be honest so he doesn't start his marriage off with a lie.  

“I can't tell you what I might like. I've never done any of this before.” He was bright red with mortification, but that was something he was just going to have to get used to. Everything about tonight is going to be mortifying. 

Madara splutters, “never? Wait. Are - are you a virgin?!”

“Yes, I thought that was clear.”

“Okay, well I guess that explains a lot. Let me take the lead and you just tell me if there is anything you don't like, times you want to slow down, or if you just want to stop.”

Tobirama nods, though there is no way he will be doing any of those things. Just because Madara sounds sincere doesn't mean he was, he had no way of knowing if this is all just some trick to find a reason to punish him. Not worth the risk. 

Madara felt so much better, he was really worried this whole idea was a mistake, but it turns out Tobirama was just shy and didn't know what he was doing. That was okay, he will lead his new husband into the wonders of sex.

___________________

Madara is pleased with himself, he very successfully introduced Tobirama to the pleasures of sex with a partner. His new husband is so sensitive and responded so well to everything they tried. He is going to learn what Tobirama likes best so that he never leaves their bed unsatisfied.

Tobirama got back into their shared bed after washing off, he was stiff, and sore in places he never imagined he would be sore.

He consoled himself with the fact that it had actually been pretty good. He didn't have to pretend to enjoy things, Madara was a skilled lover. Though he would still rather not at least it wasn't going to be horrible. 

He sighed, at least it seemed like he wasn't going to have to worry about abuse and rough treatment in bed. He figured if it was going to happen it would have started tonight.

Madara eventually climbs into bed to go to sleep. They bid each other goodnight and roll away from each other. Getting used to someone touching you while you sleep takes time. .

Madara falls asleep imagining a growing bond, even if it's just built on sex he feels like this isn't going to be the horrible marriage he had first assumed.

Tobirama goes to sleep wondering what the future will hold. He wonders if he will be allowed to be a Shinobi, Hashirama had said he was off rotation until Madara decided he could go back on. He thought it would be a bad look if the village saw him taking missions after marriage. Plus it was generally assumed for the wife in the marriage to take over the household. That was probably going to be his role now. Tobirama closes his eyes and tries to push the upsetting thoughts out of his mind so he could sleep. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Chapter Text

Tobirama was done.

It was all too much for him.

Hashirama finally has the brother he always wanted. 

The village was completed. 

The Uchiha all hate him. 

His clan still hates him for the simple fact that he was born with red eyes. 

There are a few in the village that pity him enough that they suffer through his company, but he knows they will appreciate not having to accommodate his request any more. Hashirama made that clear enough last week when he told him his attitude and demeanor made everyone dread being around him.

He had done enough. Given enough. 

So once he finished this last mission he decided it was time. 

He isn't willing to kill himself, but he is going to erase himself. 

He travels for the land of water, where no one will think to look for him. Though he doubts anyone will bother. Hashirama might mourn him for a day or two, but he will get over it fast. Likely with a sense of relief.

It breaks another part of him to know this.

But it's just another reason why it's so important. 

Tobirama wires himself a letter to ensure he won't try going back to find his family. 

He writes to himself explaining the village, explaining why Hashirama will be happier to know he is gone. That he completed his brother's dream of a village. That this was a chance to start over. Maybe to find someone who actually wants him around. 

Assuming his seal works right he will awaken to be about 12 years old. Skilled enough to take care of himself. But he leaves a small contingency, a way to deactivate the seal should he be in danger he can't escape. It will cause him to instantly revert back into his adult self. But he doubts it will be necessary.

______________

Madara was again looking over the mission ranking proposal that had been sitting on his desk for over a week now. 

He wants to approve it, but he has a few questions on how to prove a Shinobi is ranked high enough to take on certain missions. 

All the proposal says it's to evaluate the Shinobi and assign them a rank, genin, chunin and jonin. But no direction on what the testing requirements should be. 

He keeps trying to find Tobirama but no one seems to know where he is. All his projects seem to be progressing as they should so he knows he must be around here somewhere. 

Finally Madara decides he's just going to have to ask Hashirama. He at least will be able to find his brother, if nothing else then at night when they all go home. Madara isn't above camping out at the Senju residence until Tobirama gets home.

“Where is your brother? I've been looking for him all week but I can't find him anywhere. If I didn't know better I would think he wasn't even in the village.”

“Tobirama? I'm not sure, I haven't seen him much lately.”

“Well he must come home at night, doesn't he eat dinner with you and Mito-hime?”

“Well yes, usually, but sometimes he gets distracted with his projects and he comes and goes while we are out or sleeping. Have you checked his lab?”

“You think he would share where his lab is?”

“Ah, that's true, I don't think even I would know if I didn't make it a requirement in case something happened to him.” 

“Well can you take me there? I really want to get this proposal finished so we can implement it.”

“Of course, let's go.”

Only when they get there the door is unsealed, which NEVER happens, and all they find is an empty lab with everything sorted into boxes and files nearly labeled. Along with a fine layer of dust coating everything.

“What the hell?” Hashirama is baffled. “It looks like he packed it all away like he was leaving. Is he leaving?!?!” 

Hashirama is panicking now.

“Calm down, he wouldn't leave the village, he knows we would fall apart without him. Not to mention how many people would miss him. Kagami has been chomping at the bit waiting for things to slow down so Tobirama can mentor him, Izuna has come to see him as a friend, the Nara clan head looks forward to their shogi, and go matches, not to mention all the other people that appreciate his time. He wouldn't leave everyone.”

“I didn't realize he spent so much time with people outside of work.”

Madara gives him a word look but lets it go. 

They search the village more, talking to people on his many project teams and quickly find no one has seen him in over a week. 

They decide to try the mission desk and find that he took a courier mission to the land of Hot water. But that should have been two days at most. 

Not to mention he was grossly over qualified. 

Madara is concerned enough to go look for him. But he finds nothing suspicious, and the recipient of the package confirms that Tobirama left the day after he arrived. 

So where did he go?

It takes two years for anyone to hear any word on Tobirama, and it's only a slight resemblance.

Madara travels to Uzushio where Mito’s sister said she talked a white haired, red-eyed boy to come home with her from the land of Water.

When Madara gets there he comes face to face with a boy maybe 15 at the oldest that is a spitting image of Tobirama. The only thing missing is his facial tattoos and his typical shaggy hair.

"Tobirama?" He asks.

The boy confirms that is his name but he doesn't recognize Madara as anything more than a random Uchiha, only recognizable by his fiery chakra. 

Madara tells him how much they missed him, how Hashirama hasn't stopped looking for him. Asks why he is so young, why did he leave?

Tobirama scoffs and says no one misses him. His adult self left him a detailed letter on why he was unwelcome in Konoha. 

Madara is shocked. 

He asks for more details and the young Tobirama says he doesn't have more. He has no memories of the place, he woke up 12 years old in the land of water with only the letter, clothes, supplies and a hefty amount of money to get by.

Madara tries to convince him to come back but Tobirama refuses. Convinced Hashirama doesn't want him back. 

It takes multiple visits by Hashirama and Madara to convince Tobirama to come back. Though he still refuses to turn back into an adult. Convinced he is better off being 14.

Madara is distraught. Because he has a secret no one knows. He has been in love with Tobirama since shortly after peace was established. He had just been too afraid to admit it. 

It was his biggest regret. Convinced if he had just been honest Tobirama wouldn't have left. 

It takes 6 months for Madara to give up and admit the truth in another attempt to convince Tobirama to become an adult again. 

It takes another few months of Madara telling him stories of the things that made him fall in love, sharing his silly fantasies of marriage and adopting a child, of growing old, but finally Tobirama is convinced and re ages. Though Tobirama comes back into his 24 year old self since he hasn't actually aged since then. 

Madara then has to convince him AGAIN but he did it once he can do it again. 

Hashirama learned his lesson about his treatment of Tobirama and does everything he can to fix his mistakes and prove how much he loves and appreciates his brother.

It doesn't happen overnight. In fact it takes years for Tobirama to fully believe his brother. He has so many years proving to him that Hashirama doesn't like him for anything more than his skills.

Madara has a little more success and after a year Tobirama is convinced to let Madara court him.

Chapter Text

Mito is the first to see the way Tobirama flinches from Butsuma. 

Tobirama is only 15 while she is 18, just like Hashirama. Even though it's only a 3 year age gap he just seems so much younger. Vulnerable in a way no one else seems to see.

When she first tells Hashirama she thinks Butsuma is mistreating Tobirama he waves her off. Insists that Tobirama is the spitting image of their father and clearly Butsuma's favorite. 

Mito is certain Hashirama is wrong, if anything it feels to her like Butsuma dislikes Tobirama entirely.

But there isn't much she can do about any of it, especially if Hashirama refuses to see it.

It only takes her a couple of months to realize the rest of the clan seems to dislike Tobirama as well.

Again she tells Hashirama and he insists that she is wrong, that everyone constantly praises Tobirama for his skills, for the ruthless way he dominates the battlefield. He says this with obvious irritation. 

When she asks him why that upsets him he tells her that he thinks Tobirama is becoming a monster. That he will grow to be just as cruel as their father and never let peace happen. 

Mito again feels that Hashirama is wrong, but what does she know? She has only been here a few months. 

Though in those few months what she saw was a boy that tried his best to please everyone around him, avoided people as much as possible and flinched from his father, and sometimes even from Hashirama. As if just waiting for a cruel word or a physical blow. 

Mito made it her mission to get to know her new little brother. 

It took a while but Tobirama opened up and seemed to thrive under her attention. 

He would smile when it was just the two of them. He made jokes, he loved to show her all his jutsu research and what little he had learned about sealing.

Mito happily taught him everything she knew.

Tobirama was a completely different person when it was just them.

It was something she had to show Hashirama.

So once she was a little more secure in the bond she had created with Tobirama she started telling Hashirama about something funny Tobirama said that day, or about how big he smiled when he figured something out.

At first Hashirama didn't believe her. But the more stories he heard the more he wanted to see this side of his little brother. Mito explained to him how wrong he was in his thinking. Now with proof that Tobirama wasn't unfeeling it made Hashirama look back and see the casual cruel comments he made. He started to see what Mito was talking about with Tobirama flinching from him and their father. He saw the way Tobirama isolated himself. And when he listened hard enough and paid attention to everything being said, he realized his clan didn't prefer Tobirama the way he had always thought. 

The true turning point was when he witnessed Tobirama and their father ‘training’. Only it wasn't training, it was just Butsuma beating Tobirama down and calling him worthless, cursed, weak.

Hashirama wasn't about to let that stand and for the first time ever he truly stood up to their father. He physically got between them and actually punched his father.

Hashirama promised if he ever saw Butsuma harming Tobirama again he would grow a vine around his heart and stop it from taking another beat.

Butsuma was shocked, enraged, and a little fearful. He snarls a few words that Hashirama realized don't hold weight for him any more. Not now. Probably never again.

But he leaves.

Hashirama turned to Tobirama and began healing his wounds. He apologized for overlooking Tobirama. For not being there for him. For every thoughtless and mean word that he ever directed to his little brother.

Tobirama nearly cries. He has dreamt about this moment. Of his brother loving him again. 

Between Mito and Hashirama they put a stop to everyone mistreating Tobirama. They make it clear that an insult against him is an insult against them.

It doesn't get better overnight, but it does change things. Especially when it's seen even Butsuma won't say anything against Tobirama either. 

It's been a year since Hashirama married Mito and Tobirama is living a completely different life. It's not perfect, they are still at war, but most of the things he spent years wishing for are his reality now. 

Hashirama will always be his big brother, he will always have his loyalty. 

But Mito is his big sister, his first confidant, the first person to look at him and only see good, she saw something to live about him when he no longer even liked anything about himself. 

When Hashirama takes his place as the clan head Tobirama swears his loyalty to him, after he looks at Mito. Between the three of them, they all know Tobirama's first loyalty will lie with Mito. 

Tobirama will serve as he always has, unless Mito gives him reason to do otherwise. 

She changed his life and gave him a reason to live, a reason to keep trying and he will forever be thankful for that.

Chapter Text

"So..... Let me make sure I understand this correct. You like Madara, you would like to court him." 

"Yes."

"And today he invited you to go get wagashi with him. But you said no because you don't like wagashi." 

"That is correct, you know I'm not partial to sweets." 

Hashirama runs a hand down his face. "Tobira, you are completely missing the point. Madara asked you out because he wants to spend time with you. And you said no because you didn't like wagashi?" 

"I don't like wagashi." 

"Okay, did you or did you not want to spend more time with Madara." 

"Yes, but I know I don't like wagashi." 

Mito finally has to step in, "otouto, just forget about the wagashi, it's not about wagashi." She would have said more but Tobirama interrupts her first. 

"That's the integral part, I don't like wagashi." 

"You're caught on the wagashi, let go of the wagashi. He wasn't inviting you out for wagashi," Touka added.

"Yes he was, his exact words were 'would you like to get wagashi with me?' how could that be about anything else? That doesn't even make sense, you all are missing the point."  

All three of them share a look of frustration, how is Tobirama not understanding this? 

"When someone asks you out after work it means they want to spend time with you," Mito explains. 

"Wagashi doesn't mean wagashi, it means hanging out one on one," Touka exclaims. 

"How are you not getting this? Madara wants to go out with you," Hashirama hollers. 

"Then why would he ask me out for wagashi? Why would I say yes if I don't like wagashi?" 

At this point they have reached their limit. Tobirama just isn't going to understand. 

"I'm just going to explain this to Madara," Hashirama mutters. "Clearly nothing is going to get through to Tobirama." 

"That might be for the best," Mito replies. 

"Yeah this is just hopeless," Touka bemoans. 

"I honestly don't understand what the issue is." 

"Yes Tobirama, we understand that now." 

Two days later Tobirama is approached by Madara. 

"Would you like to go out with me? I'd like to spend time with you." 

"That would be agreeable. What did you want to do?" 

"Why don't you decide." 

Hashirama watches in the background with a grin splitting his face. Madara had taken his advice and perfectly understood what Tobirama needed. 

He can't wait to tell Mito and Touka. 

Chapter Text

Butsuma is dead, leaving Hashirama as the clan head and Tajima has stepped down after a serious injury he sustained the that last battle with Butsuma.

Now that Hashirama and Madara are clan heads they decide to pursue peace. 

When peace is agreed upon the Uchiha demand a marriage to prove the Senju 's commitment. 

As an omega of the main line Tobirama is the obvious candidate. 

The Uchiha decide that is acceptable and a marriage happens between Tobirama and Madara (an alpha).

Things are going well they have been married for 6 months and Tobirama is already expecting. 

It's Izuna's 19th birthday and there is a big party to celebrate with extended family, friends, and the elders. 

Tobirama ends up telling Madara his is only 9 days later. 

Madara asks him if he is turning 19 or 20? He wasn't sure how old Tobirama actually was. 

Tobirama gives him a weird look and says no, I'm turning 17.

Absolute silence descends. No one is speaking and everyone is staring at Tobirama in horror. 

But none more so than Madara who looks like he might throw up. 

Izuna says he must surely be joking. They joined the battlefield at the same time! They have to be closer in age. 

Tobirama's just tilts his head and says his father had him joining the battlefield when he was 7. He was actually more surprised to hear Izuna was that much older than him. He too assumed they were the same ago. 

Tajima, his face red with rage, asks how could his brother sell him off in a marriage when he is still a minor. That's beyond fucked up. 

Tobirama defends his brother saying that Hashirama was the only thing that had stopped him from being married off when he was 15, he was grateful for the extra year of being a shinobi. 

Everyone looks even more shocked and outraged. 15?!? That's beyond messed up. 

Tobirama says it's a common practice. His mother had been married to his father on her 15th birthday. 

Tajima swears and asks how old his father was, to which Tobirama responds with he was 21. He, like all the clan alphas had to prove they could survive long enough to be gifted an omega wife. 

Tajima clenches his fists and says if he had known he would have tried harder to kill his father. 

Tobirama is completely confused as to why everyone is looking so shocked and angry. How old are the Uchiha when they marry? 

One of the elders inform him that they do not let anyone, alpha, beta or omega Mary before they are 18.

Tobirama is confused. How do they keep their numbers up waiting so long for children? 

Then he is even more shocked to hear some couples even wait a couple of years before having children. Tobirama tells them that in his clan omegas are expected to have a minimum of 3 children in the first 5 years. 

Izuna chokes and asks what if one of the omegas doesn't want to have 3 kids or doesn't feel ready for them when they marry. 

Tobirama simply says it's not for them to decide. That decision rests with their alpha. 

He hears someone in the back actually puke.

Madara, pale as a ghost, asks him if he had actually wanted to have a baby right away or if he would have wanted to wait? 

And his response breaks the Uchiha's hearts. 

Did I have a choice? Tobirama asks with his head cocked to the side. 

Making it clear to all of them that no, he hadn't wanted a baby. Or at least not yet.

Madara looks close to tears. 

Tajima is livid. 

Izuna looks horrified. 

Tajima declares that they will never have a joint village. He will not risk his clan being subjected to such barbaric practices. 

Tobirama is now horrified. He never should have mentioned his birthday. He was shocked the Uchiha clan was so different. Both he and Hashirama had assumed they were the same. 

Tobirama asks why? He tells Tajima that if it's such a big deal his brother will change tradition in the interest of peace and a joint village. The safety of children in all the clans of fire was his priority. 

Tajima, the elders and Madara agree they will discuss it at another time and that they will request more information from Hashirama as well. 

The party is pretty much ruined at this point, thankfully Tobirama's comment came towards the end of it.

The head family all leave for their joint home silently. Madara is having trouble even looking at Tobirama. 

He asks Madara if he is angry with him. 

Madara explains that no, he is angry on his behalf. And that from now on he will do the right thing and remain away until Tobirama is 18 and has had time to decide what he wants. 

Tobirama is horrified, he has come to really like his husband, and he doesn't want to go to an empty nest alone. Why was Madara abandoning him? He was sorry he said anything. 

Madara tries to explain it's not right, but all Tobirama is hearing is rejection. 

Tajima intervenes and tells Madara they are already mates. He needs to continue to be a good and attentive mate. Just because they had different cultural beliefs and that it felt wrong didn't mean he could pick his beliefs over Tobirama and their baby's health and happiness. 

Madara is conflicted, but he sees the hurt written across his mate's face and apologizes for saying he would leave.

Madara spends the next months conflicted by what he knows is wrong and his mates health and mental well-being. In the end he decides he was being selfish and his mate and their baby have to be his priority. 

They have a happy healthy baby, but Madara puts his foot down on having more. They will not until Tobirama is a minimum of 18 and actually wants to. If he wants to. Madara is perfectly content to only have their little girl. She will grow into a wonderful clan head. 

Hashirama doesn't fight Tajima on his demands. After his engagement with Mito, who was 20 and allowed to choose when she married and have children, he started to think that it was a much better practice. And less risky for the mothers health. 

Tobirama ends up being the last omega ever used as an exchange in a marriage and the last one under 18.

Despite what Madara worried about, Tobirama actually dors want a big family. He wants at least 4 children, but if Madara allows it, he would like to still be a shinobi. Madara has no issues with that. He won't go on many missions as the clan head and he can absolutely be a stay at home dad. 

Chapter Text

On Tobirama's 2nd birthday his mother takes him to meet the other half of his family with the Hatake clan. He is an Omega unlike his brothers and so it's very important to present him to the Omega led clan.

She doesn't send them any notice in case it gets intercepted but she tells Butsuma she will be back in two weeks. She takes two guards to ensure the safety of the only omega in the head family.

Before they reach the Hatake they are ambushed by unknown foreign shinobi. 

She quickly stashes Tobirama at the base of a copse of trees. Leaving him in little more than winter clothes and the carrying wrap she had been using. Not suitable for being by himself for long in the crisp February weather. But she is a Hatake and a Senju and she will not be defeated. 

Except she is. And so are her guards. 

Hikaku is 8 and it's just returning from his first courier mission when he hears the most heart rending little sobs. 

He follows them to a dirty toddler walking by himself dragging what appears to be a filthy blanket behind him. 

He looks for any clan markings and sees none, a quick look around shows him no sign of anyone being around the child. 

Trying to talk to the child is paintworks because he doesn't know enough words and just keeps saying he is hungry, thirsty, scared and mostly, he wants his mommy. 

Maybe it makes him a bad ninja but Hikaku isn't about to leave a starving baby in the woods by himself.  

So he takes the dirty little toddler with him. And truly when Hikaku picks him up he realizes the toddler is way worse than he first thought. He can't even tell his hair color. But wow he has adorable red eyes. 

When they get back the clan is shocked to see the toddler with him and his mother quickly whisks away the boy to get him cleaned and fed. 

From then they discover that not only is the boy a blessed child but he is a rare male omega. 

Hikaku's family is elevated in status in the clan after that and Tobirama is raised alongside Hikaku. Though it is heavily emphasized that his training will be for defense only. He is precious and they don't want him risking himself. 

Tobirama grows up cherished and loved, but he is forced to watch as more and more of his clan members come home injured or dead and he decides he had to do something about it.

His big brother is 22 now has come home with a broken leg this time. It will heal but likely he will feel pain from it for the rest of his life. At least he won't be on the battlefield for two or more months. 

Which just means he has to figure out how to stop this war in 2 months. He won't see his brother die for a war he doesn't believe in. No matter what Tajima-sama says, if you can't remember why a war started you shouldn't be in it. 

At least he has Madara as an ally in this.

Chapter Text

Tobirama realizes there is no way to win the war. He doesn't know where Naruto's team is, everyone is trapped in these cocoons except him and his fellow Hokage. They talk it through and it's decided one of them needs to go back. 

In the end it's decided that Tobirama is the best choice, he will be able to actively support the younger Hashirama earlier and can make sure Izuna survives. He knows he will be able to convince his younger self. Whereas if Hashirama goes back Tobirama's younger self would never fully trust him. 

Obviously Sarutobi and Minato aren't an option, no one would know them. 

They pool together their chakra and send Tobirama back. 

Only he doesn't go back to the warring era, he ends up in Konoha. 

They hadn't planned for this. He has no idea what went wrong here. He isn't even sure what time period he is in. Is everything doomed already? 

A quick trip to a mirror reveals him to be in his early 30's, likely the same age he died at. Thankfully not in his Edo Tensei form, but the version of him before death. 

He does some recon and sees familiar faces, Hiruzen is Hokage, he sees a younger Minato, so before Naruto was born. He finds Kakashi, but he's only an adorable little brat in need of affection. He also finds Itachi, the brother Sasuke was avenging. At least he assumes so, the child is only 3. There is only one Itachi in the clan so he thinks that is a safe bet. 

What he wasn't expecting to find was Obito. Happy as can be, in truth, reminding him so much of Naruto. Both of them are so goofy but with such genuine smiles. And loud. He had kind of just assumed the boy was bad from the beginning. 

So Tobirama decides to make a list of goals. 

1. Figure out why Obito joins Madara

1.5 Steal the boy. Seriously. He is such a sweet child and everyone just seems to be over looking. And who lets children live alone at such a young age? 

3. Talk to Hiruzen, while he understands doing whatever to keep the peace in the village, that was a 13 year old boy. How fucking dare he allow that. 

4. Steal Kakashi. That boy was being treated like an adult and he was 11 tops. He shouldn't be a genin let alone a chunin. 

5. Find Madara, probably kill him. 

6. Find Zetsu, definitely kill him. 

7. Find the corruption Sasuke spoke of and eradicate it. Even if it stemmed from his own earlier choices. 

He really wishes he had more information on the village and what went wrong. 

It had never occurred to him the possibility of landing in any other time period than the one he intended to. 

He is able to learn some key information that will help in some of his goals for sure. 

Danzo is without a doubt up to something. He is often seen with that snake Orochimaru disappearing into warded underground bunkers. There is something hidden in the Hokage monument that Danzo is trying to keep hidden. He is certain this is the source of at least some of the corruption. 

The Uchiha police force is definitely a problem. His idea clearly backfired and was instead causing a bigger rift in the village. Though the Uchiha weren't completely innocent in this either. He had witnessed more than one abuse of power already. 

There were numerous children who graduated from the academy too early. He saw an 8 year old Uchiha boy that was being sent on courier missions already, in a war! (He might possibly be adding another goal, as he was sure that this was the grandson of Kagami, to take on an apprentice).

Sarutobi was surprisingly weak. He seemed to let others make decisions for him. 

Orochimaru he knew from the 4th shinobi war could be swayed to be good if it benefited him. So he felt there was a chance at least that he could pry him away from his former student. 

The treatment of orphans was going to have to change. What happened to the orphanage he set up? (Possibly another goal. His list got longer every day.)

Now he just needs to decide where to start. 

Probably the most attainable. Madara and Zetsu could take years to find. He needs to focus on what he can fix today. 

The children then. The two Uchiha boys and the Hatake boy. 

Chapter Text

Tobirama was done being strong, he was done fighting battles away from what he considered his territory. Mostly though, he was done denying that he was an omega.

He was ready to marry and have children. While he was thankful his father had trained him hard enough that he could stand by his brother's side, and that he could guard Hashirama's back, he had always hated being forced to hide his dynamic. He hated being forced to take suppressants at such a young age. Tobirama both resented and appreciated his father's decisions regarding him having to live as a beta. 

Now however, they have peace, not just with the Uchiha but with all of the clans in Fire. They have a unified village where people can be safe, where him being an omega doesn't matter. Now Hashirama has Madara at his side, and Izuna guarding his back. Tobirama's duty to protect his brother was over. 

So he was going to start living as the omega he has always dreamed of being. 

No more would he be stern faced and forced into hiding his emotions. 

Not that he would become a completely different person. He was still as level headed as he had always been, he would still be stubborn, but now he would allow himself to smile when he was happy, not a slight upturn of his lips, but the smile he always had to fight from breaking free in order to maintain his appearance and reputation. 

He knew it wouldn't be easy. And many would have a hard time believing he was an omega, or that his seemingly drastic shift in personality was genuine. But he felt confident with time they would come to understand. 

Which was why he was coming to talk to Hashirama now. 

"Otouto, what brings you here this morning, do you have something I need to sign?" 

"No, I have come to inform you that I stopped taking suppressants a couple of months ago and feel the beginnings of preheat and will need a few days off." 

Hashirama's eyes widen, "you did? That's so wonderful, I had begun to worry you would never feel comfortable doing so. Of course I will give you the time off. I will find someone to take over your duties." 

"Thank you. Also, now that I have confirmed I am able to function as a normal omega should, I would like you to arrange a marriage for me. I know you have held off so that I wouldn't be forced into a role I wasn't ready for, but I am ready to put my focus towards a family." 

"It would be my honor otouto, I will make some inquiries and find you a fitting mate. Is there anything you are looking for in a mate?" 

"Nothing beyond a desire to have children. If you find them agreeable I need little more than that. I have faith in your ability to find me a worthy and appropriate mate." 

"Thank you for the trust Tobira. I will find you someone worthy of you." 

"Of course also find someone that will be advantageous to the clan. I am ranked high enough that a marriage should provide benefits to the clan." 

"That won't be my priority, but I will make an effort to find someone who meets both of those requests." 

Two days later find Hashirama approaching Madara. "Do you know of any higher ranked alphas that are searching for a mate?" 

Madara gives him a weird look, "I thought you were engaged to that omega from Uzushio. And I certainly wouldn't have thought alphas were your type. I don't think you will find many who are looking for an alpha." 

Hashirama laughs, "no for Tobirama, he is in heat and has requested I find him an appropriate alpha. He asked for one that benefits the clan, but I'm more concerned with finding one that will make him happy." 

"Tobirama is an omega?" 

"Yes, he has played at a beta most of his life, but with peace he now wishes for a family." 

Madara's mind is whirling. Tobirama was an omega. 

"I'll think about it and get back to you." 

Madara spends his whole day thinking about it. Not about alphas that might be in want of an omega, but of Tobirama being his omega. 

As soon as he gets home he tells Izuna. 

"The fuck? He's an omega?" 

"That was my reaction too!" 

"Obviously you need to tell Hashirama that I am the best candidate to be Tobirama's mate." Izuna states matter-of-factly. 

"The hell I will. I'm a much better option. I'm a clan head. He would be of near equal standing. Our children would be the future clan heads of this clan." 

"He was my rival! That trump's being a clan head." 

"The fuck it does." 

"Well, we will just have to see who can win his heart." 

Madara snarls, "fine I guess we will." 

Tobirama is shocked to find out that not only will he not have to prove he can be a desirable omega, but that there are multiple alphas who wish to court him. 

Chapter Text

Madara is gifted an ornate mirror from the Daimyo when he takes over as clan head. 

He doesn't really know what to do with it. It's big, and honestly kind of ugly so he doesn't want to put it up in any of the common areas of the house. 

So he decides to put it in his closet behind all of his clothes. 

Occasionally he sees movement in the mirror but dismisses it every time. 

But then one day he is pulling out his heavy winter apparel out to store it for next year when he sees Tobirama. 

His first instinct is to grab a kunai. 

But what he sees isn't Tobirama poised to attack, it's Tobirama laughing and ruffling an Uchiha child, no, not just any child. Kagami. But he looks at least 5 years older. 

Then the image is gone. 

Madara is left in shock. He doesn't even know what to say about it, who would believe this? 

Madara takes the mirror out of the closet for the first time since getting it and leans it against the wall in his room. 

He sits in his bed watching it for hours but nothing shows up again. 

It's another two weeks before he sees something again. 

This time though he sees himself and Hashirama. They are wearing twin metal bands with the same symbol that looks like a leaf on them. 

Madara's is around his bicep while Hashirama has one on his forehead. 

They are smiling about something. He can see based on their body language that they are close. 

It's obviously years in the future, they both look older than they are now. 

He only gets to watch them silently talk before the image is gone again. 

Over the next year he sees so many different lives, and so many moments in these different lives. 

He sees Izuna dying. Struck down by Tobirama 

He sees Izuna laughing and drinking with him, Hashirama and Tobirama, only they are all old enough to have grey hairs. 

He sees himself kissing Tobirama. 

He sees Hashirama stabbing him in the back. 

He watches himself killing hundreds of unknown Shinobi. 

He watches Butsuma beating Tobirama black and and blue after he pulls his attention away from Hashirama. 

He sees his brother as a woman and then getting married to the Senju third in command, Touka, he thinks. 

He sees Hashirama getting married, only Tobirama isn't there. It's just Madara and Izuna. 

He sees Tobirama raised with the Hatake. 

He sees snippets of dozens of lives. He comes to the conclusion that he is seeing all the options his life may have had. 

But the thing he sees most often, in most of these lives, is peace. 

He watches peace happen between the Senju and the Uchiha. He sees a village with clans from all over fire. And they are happy. 

The thing he sees the most in these different lives is Tobirama. 

Through the mirror he comes to fall in love with Tobirama. He seems to be more or less the same person in every variation. 

He wants the love he has seen in several of these alternate worlds. 

So he begins to work harder to convince his brother of peace, to convince his father, his clan mates and the elders. 

Mostly it goes pretty well. Ozuna is the biggest hold out, and his wariness makes many others wary. 

Madara decides the mirror is the only thing that will convince Izuna. 

If he is honest with himself, he doesn't really know why he has been so hesitant to tell anyone. 

He just felt like it was meant for him. 

But for peace he will show Izuna. 

Unfortunately it takes over a week for Izuna to see something in the mirror. 

Izuna sees himself laughing and drinking with Tobirama. He watches as Tobirama playfully pushes him off a chair and then sees Madara swoop in to keep Izuna from falling before grabbing Tobirama and tossing him over his shoulder. He sees Madara playfully smack Tobirama's ass before waving and walking away, the image dissolving. 

Izuna doesn't even know what to think about what he just saw. 

It takes weeks of seeing more scenes for him to agree to give peace a chance. 

He also got to see how good peace could be, but he also got to see Madara going crazy in a cave talking to a goo person. 

Madara, at Izuna's urging, sends a peace proposal instead of waiting for Hashirama to shout about peace next time they clash. 

Both are surprised when they get a letter back the same day with a detailed peace proposal and a suggestion to meet for in person talks. 

Chapter Text

Madara sees Senju Butsuma and his fist coming down to strike him in the head, he feels bone chilling fear and is certain he is about to die. 

In his next blank he is back at the dinner table with his family.

Madara lets out a shuddering breath and chokes on sudden tears. 

Even with the image gone that fear isn't. 

“Madara?” His mother asks.

“I saw through my soulmate's eyes.”

A look of sympathy crosses his older brothers and parents faces. While it isn't unusual seeing in your soulmate's eyes at 8 is pretty young. Most Shinobi don't start doing runs until they are 10, sometimes older. 

“Were they on a mission? How bad was it?”

Sometimes that little glimpse is all you get because that first terrifying moment is also the last your soulmate will see. It's sad but it's the way it was. It felt like a cruel joke to many.

“No, I don't know. I don't think so. I think it was Senju Butsuma that was hitting him,” Madara pauses as he hears his father's sharp intake of breath.

“I’m sorry son. It's an awful thing to see your soulmate's last moments.” 

“It's not right. He was so small.” Madara was only 8 but he was no stranger to death. It was commonplace in a Shinobi compound. But still for that moment he was in his soulmate's eyes he knew that his soulmate was younger than he was. Much younger. Maybe 5 at most based on how low to the ground he was.

Madara watches his mom put a hand to her mouth at the thought that his soulmate was younger than 8. 

Before anyone can say anything else Madara makes another observation. “He wasn't in armor.”

“Your soulmate?” His mother asked softly. 

“No, the Senju. He was in formal clothes. He looked like how you did when we were at the capital.”

His father raises his eyebrows, “I did recall reading a report that Butsuma and his wife were in the capital. So maybe your soulmate is okay. Tell me everything you saw. Maybe we can get a clue as to who it was.”

“I think they were in a cellar or something? Maybe a closet? It was a wooden room but there wasn't any light and then I saw him and he was going to punch me. And I felt sure that at that moment I was going to die.”

“Maybe a servant's child?” His mother wondered. 

“Even so, what kind of man is he to attack a child in such a way? I always knew he was rotten but this is something else. Who could strike a small child so violently they were sure the were going to die?”

“Hear that Madara? Your soulmate is probably okay. If he was punching them then it's unlikely he l they are dead.” Madara older brother said with a smile. 

Madara didn't get how his brother was so sure of that. 

His parents continued talking about how bad Senju Butsuma was but they didn't know. That didn't see the look on his face. That man was pure evil. Madara was sure he was going to have nightmares for the rest of his life. 

__________________

So far his prediction was right. 

Madara frequently saw flickers of the evil Senju.

Constantly beating his soulmate. 

His family has come to the conclusion his soulmate must be some sort of slave to the head family. 

There was no other reason they could come up with for the way Madara's soulmate was treated. 

That and the fact that he never seemed to fear death on a mission or battlefield. 

There was no way that his soulmate could be a Shinobi. 

So Madara grew up hating the Senju head family. Then after the incident with Hashirama he thought he might hate them even more. 

How could Hashirama claim to want peace while having a slave beaten in his own home? Or if not how home then certainly his compound. 

For that reason he denied every request for peace.

Even now that Butsuma was no longer on the field he would get flashes of the man literally stomping on his soulmate. 

Madara's hatred of the Senju grew every year. The only thing that prevented him from truly trying to kill Hashirama was the fact that he never glimpsed him in his soulmate's eyes. 

Last night was brutal, when he watched Butsuma's foot come down and connect with his face, it wasn't the blink that separated him from his soulmate, it was a loss of consciousness.

Madara truly fears that was the last time he was going to see through his soulmate's eyes. So at the next battle he realizes he can't keep silent any more. 

“Hashirama! I swear if your bastard of a father killed my soulmate I'm going to murder him. Even if I have to break down your compound walls to do it! I'm sick of it! I won't stand by and let him abuse my soulmate any more.”

Hashirama blocks Madara's next hit with a confused frown. “What are you talking about? My father doesn't even leave the compound any more! And he's not abusing anyone!”

“Don't lie to me! I see it. I see every time he beats my soulmate bad enough that they are sure they are going to die! I see the evil laughter on that monster's face as he strikes again and again! So who is it? The slave your father must keep, is it some sort of whipping boy? A servant he just abuses?”

“Madara I honestly have no idea what you are talking about, the Senju didn't keep slaves, and my father certainly doesn't have a whipping boy! He's not abusing anyone!”

“I thought you were a better person than this. To think I once thought of you as a friend when even now you lie to my face and allow my soulmate to be so abused. Do you know how many times I have looked up at the stars and seen Butsuma's fist or for coming down on me?”

Hashirama's steps stutter and he almost gets hit in the face for it. “Stars? Outside?”

“I didn't know it never makes sense, it seems like a room but I see the stars constantly.” 

Hashirama doesn't respond, he just looks over at Tobirama. 

Izuna must have gotten him good for his face to be browsing already. 

Hashirama never re-engages, instead he calls for a retreat. 

Madara is pissed, clearly the stars meant something to him but instead of telling Madara he left.

Madara can't help the sliver of fear he has that maybe he just got his soulmate killed. But he tells himself over and over Hashirama wouldn't do that. 

Three days later they receive word that Butsuma is dead. Not only that but apparently at the hands of Hashirama. 

Madara has no idea what it means, but it gives him hope that maybe Hashirama was the person he thought he knew and he didn't know about the abuse his soulmate was facing. Though he couldn't imagine why he would take such drastic measures just for his soulmate. 

Two days later he receives a note asking him to meet. 

Madara knows it isn't the best idea. But he goes anyway, he is clan head now, his father can't tell him not to go. 

Despite that he still sneaks out of his room to avoid his father. 

When he gets to the river Hashirama is sitting on a boulder near the edge. He looks exhausted.

Hashirama looks up when Madara steps loudly to announce himself.

“I didn't know.”

Madara has a guess but still he asks, “didn't know what?”

“That he was abusing him. He always made excuses, you know? Sparing with the older kids, falling out of a tree, messing up a shunshin. I should have known. But he always was good at keeping things from me. He always wanted to protect me. Even when he was old enough and strong enough he didn't fight back. Do you know why?” It's not really a question and Hashirama continues, “he said he was worried that he would hurt father and he didn't want to upset me. Apparently he thought I would pick father over him. But I guess I did, didn't I? I never looked into his excuses. I mean I let him tell me that night before our last fight that he got in a bar fight. He doesn't even drink and I just laughed it off. Teased him even.”

Hashirama was crying now and Madara didn't know what to say. There isn't really anything comforting you can say in response to that. 

“Who?” Maybe it's insensitive but he needs to know. 

Hashirama looks into Madara's eyes, “my brother.”

Chapter Text

Tobirama was doing his best to keep up but these men were stronger than the typical bloodline thieves. He didn't know what to do. He needed time to gather enough nature chakra to gain access to sage mode. 

He bites his thumb to summon forth his primary summon Kuro. 

In a puff of smoke the 250 lb panther burst forth. 

“Tobira-chan, what is going on? What do you need?”

Tobirama grits out “I just need 5 minutes to enter sage mode. I can't continue like this, there are too many of them that are strong enough to be a challenge. I will of course have clones fighting as well but I need you to guard me as I meditate.”

The panther gives him a look of deep concern but nods anyway. “I will guard you with my life.”

Tobirama allows himself to calm, he knows that now that he has Kuro by his side he will prevail. The two of them have never entered a battle without coming out on top. 

He does his best to tune out the sounds of fighting, and the snarls coming from his companion and focus on gathering nature chakra.

Finally he has gathered enough he jumps from his cross-legged position into a crouch with a snarl on his own lips now. 

He strikes an imposing figure now, he has blood red lines looking like sometimes has clawed the sides of his face, and his eye become outlined in red. 

The fight becomes almost one sided as his jutsu are more powerful, do more damage and each of his blows is backed by chakra making each hit devastating. 

Tobirama has finally cleared a path to the man holding the bound little Uchiha boy with a knife to his throat.

He is done playing around, and he has Kuro and a few shadow clones to guard his back, so without even needing a hand sign, just a few gestures with his wrist and hand he takes control of the bloodline hunters body. 

He feels a thrill down his spine at the fear on the man's face as Tobirama manipulates the hand holding the knife to plunge into the man's own leg. Tobirama savors his cry of pain. He deserves it for the terror on the boys face, for each cut and bruise, for the rope burns he sees in the child's ankles and wrists.

Tobirama then forces the man to back away and drop to his knees, the unadulterated fear causing the man to leak tears and snot.

Tobirama takes one last moment to appreciate the irony of this man now facing the end he had planned for the boy he was holding. 

Tobirama slowly plunges his sword into the man's chest. Ensuring he will die choking on his own blood.

Something about sage mode always seemed to make him a little more feral. 

He wants to watch the man die, but there are more men here to fight and he needs to release the boy from his bindings. 

The boy is looking up at him with wide eyes, his face is tear stained, dirty and covered in scratches.

“It's okay, no one will hurt you now, can I cut the ropes?” He tries to keep his voice as soft as he can, which is a little difficult because he voice tends to get more gravely when in sage mode. It doesn't seem to upset the boy as he holds his hands out and a smile takes over the frown that was there just a moment before.

Tobirama hurries to cut the ropes and then with a twist of his wrist water brushes across the boys face wiping away the blood, dirt and tears. 

The boy flinches at the contact and Tobirama hurries to apologize, “I'm sorry I wasn't thinking. I just wanted to clean you up.”

“No it's okay, it just surprised me.”

“Can I clean your wrists and ankles too?”

The boy nods, “yeah, um I mean yes please mister.”

Tobirama smiles up at the boy as he pulls water from the air again and cleans both, “you are very brave. I need you to stay here while I finish fighting these bad guys okay?”

“Uh-huh. Thank you mister.” The boy looks up at him with awe, it's not a look he's ever gotten in sage mode. Usually people seem to find him terrifying, that's why he always avoids using it. Even his own clansmen shrink back in fear. 

Tobirama smiles at him before turning back to the fight, there are still 8 men left. This must have been their main base of operations for there to be 20+ men here. 

While he is so connected to nature energy he doesn't need to be trying in order to sense those around him. So it doesn't go by unnoticed the group of five Uchiha led by Uchiha Madara approaching. 

Shit.

He's not going to finish this fight before they get here at those speeds, and he can't exactly leave the boy unattended with bloodline thieves still here. He's just going to have to hope they appreciate his effort enough to refrain from attacking him.

To his astonishment they not only refrain from attacking him, they don't attack anyone. They just stand there watching at Tobirama, two clones and Kuro rip the remaining men to shreds. The last of which Tobirama finally gets to sink his teeth into as he rips out the man's throat. 

The feeling of the man's blood running down his chin and the taste on his tongue sooth a bit of that feral beast that was clawing it's always out. 

He stands and uses the back of his hand to wipe away some of the blood before addressing the gathered Uchiha. All watching him with strange expressions, one even has his mouth open, in fear or shock Tobirama isn't really sure. 

“I have your wayward child behind me, not as I am holding him hostage, he is just being kept safe with a clone.” Tobirama gestures back where one of his clones is standing behind the boy with a hand on his shoulder. The hold meant to be reassuring not to prevent him from leaving. 

The Uchiha still say nothing, but one of them does move both hands in front of his pants. Perhaps to show he isn't a threat to Tobirama?

“Boy, if you'd like to come here I'm sure your clan head would like to see you back in his care.” Tobirama motions for the boy to come closer so he can bypass Tobirama and reach Madara. 

The boy hurries over, but instead of going around him the boy wraps his arms around his waist. 

“My name is Kagami, will you train me? I want to be just like you when I grow up. Can I summon panthers too? I wanna grow claws and fangs too!!”

The boys excitement is a bit overwhelming, and the genuine happiness is baffling. How does a child go from fearing for their life to…. To this? 

Shock. 

That has to be it.

The boy is in shock and speaking nonsense. Once he gets home he will forget this feeling and realize what a monster Tobirama is.

“It's been an honor meeting you Kagami, but you need to go to your clan head. He will need to get you seen by a healer.”

Kagami cocks his head in confusion, “but you already healed me?”

If possible the Uchiha get even weirder. One has a bloody nose now. And…. Is Madara blushing???

What the hell is he looking at?

Tobirama clears his throat. “Yes, but you should always be checked by a healer at home too. So why don't you go to your clansmen okay?”

Kagami pouts but reluctantly agrees, “okay, but I still want you to train me.”

“If we ever manage to make peace I will happily train you okay? But we are at war right now, so that isn't an option. But I'm sure your clan will find you an appropriate sensei.”

“No one will be as good as you,” Kagami says with a grown, though at least he is finally walking towards the five Uchiha who still have said nothing. 

It's really starting to creep Tobirama out.

“Okay…. Well goodbye Kagami, I wish you the best.” Then with a nod to Madara, “Uchiha,” he starts to back away. 

This seems to be what Madara needed to pull him out of his. Whatever, shock maybe? “Wait! Senju! What did, why?” Madara clears his throat before starting again, “thank you for the rescue of Kagami, did you kill all these men?”

“With the help of Kuro,” he nods to the giant panther standing next to him, “my summon, yes. I ran across a couple of them talking about their plans for the boy and couldn't do nothing.”

“I am in your debt Senju. I don't know if we would have found him in time. The only reason we found you both was after a huge burst of chakra caught my attention, I'm assuming that was you.”

Tobirama inclines his head, “most likely, sometimes that happens when I go straight into battle from sage mode.”

“Is that what that was? I've never seen anything like it. The way you moved. Is that why you have more tattoos?”

Tobirama was getting a bit annoyed with all the questions. Why couldn't they just be thankful and let him leave?

“They aren't tattoos, they are markings granted to me by my pact with my summons.” 

“They are magnificent,” Madara breathes.

Tobirama has gone from weirded out to gotta leave now. He isn't sure what the hell is going on. But that reaction? That's not normal. So he nods one last time, signals Kuro to return home and once he sees the poof of smoke indicating he was gone, Tobirama uses hiraishin to bring himself back home. 

He doesn't get to see the shock in all the Uchiha faces. 

Nor does he get to hear the way they talk about how much they want him, being careful not to dirty clean child ears, as they run home.

All the while Kagami insists he has dibs because Tobirama came to save him, not them. He didn't even talk to any of them.

They kind of agree, and besides they don't want him to train them, they want him under them. 

Chapter Text

Tobirama always did his best to stay out of his father's sight. 

His mother said it was because he looked too much like father's younger brother. 

Tobirama's grandmother had been a Hatake and her youngest son had been a spitting image of her. 

According to his mother, his father was always jealous of Isamu-oji because he was his mother's clear favorite and things just came to him easier. So when Tobirama was born and looked just like his uncle his father was furious, convinced his mother was having an affair with Isamu-oji.

The whole clan was really. No one was surprised when Isamu didn't come home from the next mission he went on. Everyone knew what happened and it was just silently agreed on to never speak of it. After all, who would do any different when betrayed by a brother like that? 

Despite all the rumors around his birth his father still claimed him. Some called it an act of mercy for his mother, but the truth of it was just that he needed a back-up heir until his mother had more sons.

Once his brothers were born though his father's dislike, possibly even hatred was no longer something he contained. 

He thinks he was 6 the first time his father hit him, not a slap but an actual hit. 

They had a little wood shed behind the house and Tobirama loved going there to read. Unfortunately that day his father had been looking for him. Tobirama learned that day that being out of sight could be worse than being out of sight in his father's eyes. 

When that first punch came at him Tobirama had been sure his father was going to kill him. He had never seen rage like that before.

When they walked into the house, well limped in Tobirama's case, his father told his mother that he was taking over Tobirama's training from now on. 

His mother looked horrified, Hashirama who had been sitting at the table though was elated. 

“We can train together now! Oh man Tobira, how did the training dummy hit you so many times?”

Tobirama realized at that moment that Hashirama had a different father. It didn't even occur to him that Tobirama's injuries could have come at the hands of his father. 

Even at 6 Tobirama knew it was his job to keep Hashirama in the dark. He had to protect his brother any way he could. 

Over the years he thought about telling Hashirama. Especially after their mother died, when he no longer had anyone to cry to, no one to wrap his injuries, no one to give him soothing words of comfort. But Hashirama still idolized their father, as did their younger brothers. He couldn't be the cause of them losing that. 

And what would happen if they didn't believe him? He didn't think his heart could take it.

When his younger brothers died he thought about telling Hashirama again. He was so mad at their father, Tobirama figured telling him wouldn't hurt that much more right? Hashirama was starting to lose that idolization so it would be okay right? 

But before he worked up the courage he was forced to spy on his brother. And the fall out from that was catastrophic. 

Tobirama honestly wasn't sure if his brother would ever forgive him. So all thoughts of telling him about his father's abuse went out the window. 

Despite the risk of his father looking for him again Tobirama began to make that shed his, it went from just a place to read to a place to study seals, and then to research and develop new jutsu.

When he is 14 he sees the first flash from his soulmate. One moment he is outside looking into the night sky and the next he is looking through his soulmate's eyes 

The woman (he assumes based on the long hair in his eyes, he's slightly disappointed because he really doesn't like the idea of getting with a woman. It just feels wrong) is facing three men all armed to the teeth. He watches as one lunges forward with his sword raised, and in that brief second Tobirama realizes he recognizes the man. He's a Senju. One of his father's trusted men. 

When the vision disappears Tobirama is filled with fear. What if that was his soulmate's end? What if that was the only time he saw her?

It's hours later that he senses the men returning home. All three of them, they all feel joyful. 

Tobirama allows himself to grieve. The one thing that was supposed to be his, someone who would love him more than anything. 

He stays up the test of the night and paints the night stars on the ceiling of his shed. He wants to have a way to remember his lost soulmate. Now Everytime he looks up he will remember the only moment he ever shared with her. 

Tobirama must do a poor job of hiding his heartbreak because his brother notices right away.

Thankfully his father is away at the capital and isn't there to witness it when Tobirama breaks down and tells Hashirama about the soulmate he lost. About the faces he saw, and the horrible joy they felt coming home. 

Hashirama is devastated with him. He holds Tobirama for the first time in years, in response Tobiama cries for the first time in years. 

He cries for his lost soulmate. 

He cries for years of physical and verbal abuse. 

He cries for the brothers he lost 

He cries for the years spent in cold isolation without Hashirama's affection.

He just cries.

Something he gets to do in the safety of his Anija’s arms. Feeling loved for the first time in years. 

Things change after that. Hashirama is once more the protective, warm, loving brother he used to be. 

Tobirama thinks about telling him about his father. He's 15 now and it doesn't seem like he will ever stop hitting him. 

His father likes to ambush him in his shed. It's almost like he knows when Tobirama isn't ready for him. Maybe he does. 

He doesn't go all out every time. In fact, usually it's only a few hits, just letting off some steam under the guise of punishing Tobirama for some imagined failure. 

But sometimes his father enters his shed and Tobirama can see the hate on his face, and he knows it will be bad.

He sometimes wonders what his excuse to Hashirama will be when he inevitably kills him. 

He wonders if it will be tonight. 

He sleeps in the shed, he can't get up to make the trip into the house. 

Eventually, after a lot of testing and studying Hashirama's innate healing, Tobirama developed his own healing jutsu. 

It's very effective, the healers praise him for his genius. 

He finds out later that his father sees it as an opportunity. He tells Tobirama it will be a test to see what he can heal. It will help Tobirama's learn to heal more.

This time he breaks Tobirama's non-dominant arm. Not by accident, very purposely. His father laughs and Tobirama thinks about killing him. He thinks about it a lot lately. 

Hashirama always stops him. Even though he hates his father's determination to continue this pointless war he still loves their father. Then again Hashirama had a different father. His father praises him, listens to him, rewards him. Tobirama thinks he would love a father like that. But that isn't what he has. His father hates him. 

Tobirama thinks the abuse will finally end now that his father received the leg injury that keeps him from the field.

He's wrong. 

His father might be meaner now and Tobirama hadn't thought that possible. 

Tobirama knows he could fight back. Knows he could stop this. He also knows it would be an actual fight. His father wouldn't stop unless forced to. If they fight Hashirama will know. He will have to pick sides. Tobirama will never forget the way his brother stopped loving him last time. He can't stomach the thought that Hashirama might pick their father, that he might stop loving him again. Maybe even banish him for assaulting the former clan head. 

He says nothing. 

Tobirama is 19 and his father is beating him again. Hit after hit after the hit. 

He just watches the ceiling and reminds himself it could be worse. He could be dead like his soulmate was.

A strike that feels like it broke his arm pulls him away from thoughts of his soulmate.

His father is using his cane this time, the blows just keep coming and Tobirama feels blood filling his mouth. He watches his father's foot come down into his face and then it all goes black. 

He wakes up in agony. There is dried blood on his face. 

His ribs are definitely broken. 

He triages, the ribs first. Then the hairline fracture on his right arm. He heals bruises and cuts all over his body, the ones that might interfere with a fight if he is sent on a mission, or worse into battle. 

His face is a mess still, even after he washes the blood off. 

But his chakra is depleted so it will have to wait until the morning. He drags his wrap l weary body back into the house after taking one more look at the stars.

Hashirama wakes him up to tell him that their patrols are engaging with the Uchiha patrols. 

Hashirama notices his face, but Tobirama covers it up with an excuse of a bar fight. Said he went to the village an hour away from them and drank too much. 

Hashirama laughs and tells him to invite him next time, if Tobirama is going to drink then Hashirama wants to. 

Tobirama smiles and says he will next time. 

Hashirama ruffles his hair and Tobirama wants to melt at the comfort he desperately wants. He always tries to find an excuse to snuggle with his brother after the bad ones. 

‘Accidently’ faking sleep and leaning over until he was resting against Hashirama. Claiming he was cold, so Hashirama would hug him and circulate his blazing chakra to warm him. It wasn't hard to convince Hashirama to be close, he was a very affectionate man. 

Tobirama can't think about that now though. He has to get his gear on.

He decides not to waste chakra healing his face so the bruises are still there. 

Izuna seems to love them, proof that Tobirama isn't as strong as he seems. 

Izuna's not wrong. Just not the way the other man thinks. 

Hashirama calls a retreat early. It feels like they just got there. It's clear everyone else finds it weird too. Even the Uchiha. Madara in particular looks confused. Well and angry. Maybe something went wrong during their flight and his brother is injured?

Tobirama waits until they are home to say anything, it wouldn't do to undermine Hashirama in front of the clan. 

Or at least that was what he intended. Instead his brother drags him to his office and slams done silencing seals in the wall. 

Tobirama is baffled, what would Hashirama need to say that had to be hidden from their father? He didn't look injured. Did Tobirama do something wrong? 

“How long?”

“What?”

“How long has he been hitting you?”

Tobirama takes a step back but Hashirama still had a hand on his arm so he can't go far 

“I don't know what you are talking about. No one hits me.” Tobirama tries to sound firm, assured. 

He must fail because Hashirama looks like crying. 

“Don't - don't lie to me right now Tobirama. Is that what the bruises on your face are from? How bad was it that you didn't heal them?”

Tobirama just opens and closes his mouth. He really doesn't know what to say. He was confident his brother wasn't mad at him right now. So maybe that meant he would take Tobirama's side. Maybe it meant he would believe him. 

“Yes.” It's really all he can say. He doesn't know what else to say. It's too much. 

Hashirama shudders as if a pained breath is forced from his body. 

“How long has this been going on? Don't you dare try lying to me. If I find out I will. Well I don't know but I will be so angry Tobira. Just don't lie.”

“I don't remember my exact age. Maybe 5 or 6?”

“How many times have you feared death at his hands?”

“I'm not sure. It's not usually that bad.”

“I know that's not true. Your soulmate has seen from your eyes so many times. He told me how often he has had to watch father beat you.”

“My soulmate? My soulmate is dead.”

“No, we were wrong, I don't know what happened that night but he didn't die.”

“He? No, that doesn't matter, you are wrong. If I have a soulmate still then why haven't I seen through his eyes in all these years?”

“I doubt he has feared death many times. Madara has always been unusually strong.”

“Now I know you are wrong. My soulmate isn't Madara. I saw it was a woman. The ha-ir.” Tobirama slows, but the hair could have been Madara couldn't it? And Hashirama was right, if anyone was strong enough to not fear death it would be Madara. “No that can't be right, I felt them when they came back. I saw their faces. They wouldn't have been so pleased if they failed.”

“I don't know about that, but I am certain Madara is your soulmate. He described your shed, he saw the stars. He saw Butsuma.”

Tobirama feels his chest freeze. Madara had seen all that? Hashirama said he watches his father beat him often. He hates the idea of someone knowing. Of seeing him at his weakest moment over and over. 

He hadn't ever considered that his soulmate might see that. He always just kind of assumed it would be a battle, a mission, something against an enemy, never did he imagine they would see his father. See the way he just laid there and took every hit.

“Oh.”

“Why didn't you tell me?”

Tobirama shifted and looked away.

Hashirama's heart breaks. 

“Did you? Did you think I would be okay with it?”

“No! I thought if you believed me you wouldn't be okay with it.”

“If I believed you? Did you think I wouldn't?”

Tobirama refuses to look into his eyes.

“Have I always been such a shit brother you thought I wouldn't believe you? That I would what? turn you away?”

“You're not a shit brother. I just know you have had trouble trusting me in the past. So I was never certain you would believe this. That you wouldn't assume I was trying to drive a wedge between you and father. That I was just causing issues.”

Hashirama tilts Tobirama's face up to look him in the eye, “I have always trusted you. I'm sorry that I made you doubt that in my childish selfish anger. I never should have let it affect you. I never should have let it come between us.” Tobirama pulls Tobirama forward until their foreheads are resting together. “I am not so blinded as to not see his faults. I would not have doubted you.”

Tobirama squeezes his eyes shut. “I didn't want to take the faith you had in him away. I didn't want to hurt you. I wanted you to continue to look up to him. I didn't want to be the cause of you not getting his praise anymore.”

Hashirama has to squeeze his eyes shut too. He has been so blind. How could he have failed his brother so much that he didn't know he was Hashirama's priority? That he was more important than their father.

“Tell me everything.”

Tobirama doesn't give him every detail, but Hashirama had noticed more than Tobirama realized, he just didn't have the right information and always came to the wrong conclusions.

Tobirama doesn't hold it against him, he has used it to his advantage. 

But everything is in the open now. 

Hashirama knows everything. 

Tobirama hadn't expected it but it seems his mind and body has been waiting for this moment. He cries himself to sleep for the first time since he was a toddler. 

Hashirama must have moved him to his bed because he wakes up in Hashirama's room, still in his clothes from yesterday but free from his armor. 

The house is silent when he gets up, from the son he can see it is likely early afternoon. He must have slept like 18 hours. He's never done that.

 He has nothing pressing today so he decides to go to his shed and clean the blood from the night before. 

It's where Hashirama finds him.

“Tobira, I need you to know none of this is your fault okay? That and I need you to just listen to what I have to say.”

Tobirama looks at his brother with wide eyes, he wants to ask questions, but Hashirama had asked him to listen first. So that's what he was going to do.

He nods wearily at Hashirama. 

“I confronted Butsuma today. In front of many of our clan members. He admitted to everything, claimed it was justified because you were a bastard. He threatened to kill you. And I just - I snapped. I don't know what happened, one moment he was threatening to cut your throat and the next he had a wooden spear through his chest.” Tobirama gasps but stays quiet, as his brother had asked of him. “It was witnessed by many, including an elder. So a clan meeting was called. I'm sorry but I chose not to have you informed. I didn't want you dealing with the consequences until I knew what they would be. I am fine. It was agreed that I was acting in defense of you. That Butsuma posed a clear imminent danger to you.”

Tobirama couldn't have formed words if he tried. His brother had killed their father for him. Had faced the clan for him. Had no regrets for his actions. 

He grieves for the damage this will surely have on Hashirama once he has time to think about it. He also feels such a deep relief it's like he just discovered breathing for the first time.

This heavy weight he didn't even realize was there was suddenly lifted off him. He almost cried again. 

“I'm sorry to have put such a burden on you Anija.”

“Don't ever apologize for that. You didn't put it on me. I took it off you. You never should have had it, I was only fixing a mistake I helped cause.”

“You didn't cause anything!”

“I did. I wasn't the safe place I should have been, and I didn't show you that you could trust me, that I would put you first. I will never make that mistake again though.”

Tobirama just looked at his brother and watched his face for any sign of deceit or regret. He found neither. 

Hashirama spoke again, “can I tell Madara? He was so worried about you. He wants to know who his soulmate is. He wants to protect you.”

“I doubt he will once he knows it's me.”

“I'm confident you are wrong.”

“If you are sure, then I trust you. Tell him what you wish. If he really does want to pursue our bond we have a lot of work if we are going to make peace happen. Because soulmate or no soulmate I won't leave you.”

Hashirama smiles at him, “and I won't risk not being there for you again.”

Chapter Text

Madara has always known he was gay. 

To be honest he had even had a small crush on Hashirama in the beginning. It went away almost as soon as he opened his mouth though. 

So once the village was built and things were settling he decided to court Tobirama. 

The man was intelligent, dedicated to the village and a hard worker. And then on the softer side, he was great with children, affectionate with his family behind closed doors, and surprisingly funny. 

So after two months of courts, with only kisses exchanged, Madara invited Tobirama to the summer solstice festival. Both agreed to dress formally.

Cue Madara's absolute shock when he meets Tobirama at his house to find the man in a silk kimono. With obvious breasts visible, his hair is not in spikes, but brushed down with a delicate comb pulling his bangs to the side. 

Madara: I don't understand 

Tobirama: understand what? 

Madara: Why are you dressed like a girl? 

Tobirama, confused: why wouldn't I? You said we should dress formally. This is my most formal dress. What did you imagine me wearing?

Madara: uh, men's clothes?

Tobirama: Well that's not appropriate for a formal event. 

Madara: o.O what? 

Tobirama, clearly hurt: do I look so badly dressed up? Would you rather I change back into work clothes? 

Madara: no! You wear whatever. Just um. You have breasts? And you're in a dress so I'm confused? 

Tobirama: ... Madara. Did you not know I was a woman? 

Madara: noooooo. 

Tobirama:

Madara:

Tobirama: 

Madara: I think I might like women. 

Tobirama: Well I had assumed so. But clearly that was wrong. 

Madara: I.... I think I might be bi. 

Madara: internally panicking 

Tobirama: completely lost

Madara: ..... 

Tobirama: Well why don't we go to the festival as planned and after you can decide if you would be willing to give being with a woman a try. 

Madara: slumping in relief. 

Then spending the festival having fun with Tobirama and realizing Tobirama is still the same even if he is a woman. 

When he gets home he dramatically flops on Izuna's bed. 

Madara: I think I might like women. Is that weird? 

Chapter Text

Tobirama chokes and looks down from Izuna's smiling face to the sword piercing his chest. He tries to choke out a cry for his brother. “Ani-ja” he trails off with blood pouring from his mouth. 

He doesn't have another moment to think of his brother, battle anything because within seconds of attempting to call out to his brother his world goes dark. After another second his heart has completely stopped.

Izuna has pulled his sword free and is already moving on to a new opponent, smiling smugly with the knowledge that he had finally beaten the White Demon. 

It's only a few minutes more before Hashirama checks on his brother the way he always does. Only he doesn't see that shock of white hair. 

He disengages a bit from Madara and his former friend lets him, they have always allowed each other time to check on their brothers. 

His eyes find Izuna but he's fighting someone else. 

It's at that moment his stomach drops, because the only way Tobirama wouldn't be standing between their clan mates and Izuna is if he's too injured to do it. 

He pulls away completely from Madara now and goes to where he saw Tobirama last. 

It takes seconds to get there. 

It's right out of Hashirama's nightmares. 

Tobirama lays lifeless on the ground, blood pooled around him and dripping from his mouth.

Hashirama lets out an otherworldly scream that echoes through the trees around them. It's terrifying enough that everyone is pulled away from fighting to watch him. 

Everyone watches in a mix of horror and awe as roots rip from the ground surrounding the brothers, they watch a green glow that doesn't come out of just his hands but his whole body. 

Thin roots seem to wrap around Tobirama until they are lost in his skin. 

No one is certain what is going on until they watch Tobirama sit up. 

They watch him take a breath again.

The Uchiha have never been so terrified of the Senju before. But watching Hashirama being his brother back from the dead is on another level they can't even compute. 

Madara calls a retreat that everyone gleefully follows. None of them have ever moved this fast before.

The Senju on the other hand are in awe of their clan head. 

His powers truly are a gift from the Sage. 

They watch on in relief as Tobirama looks more and more alive, Hashirama's healing replenishing his blood levels.

Everything seems great. Tobirama is alive again and everything will go back the way it was.

At least that was what they all thought.

It doesn't take long though for Hashirama to realize something is wrong. Tobirama isn't the same as he was before he died. It's hard to put his finger on what is wrong though.

After another week the rest of the clan start to catch on too 

Tobirama though? He's living his best life, he has never felt this happy and free before.

He smiles at everyone, he laughs freely, and does things he enjoys. When he works with the Senju children instead of just focusing on training he turns training into a big game. 

He's no longer the harsh man focused on results. It causes concern for the parents and unbridled joy for the children. 

Hashirama catches him reading a fantasy book instead of some sort of research. He doesn't even know how to cope with this. His brother hasn't read for leisure since he was a child.

While Hashirama is of course loving seeing his brother happy, he can't help but feel like who he brought back isn't Tobirama. 

It makes him wonder what he may have brought back. The memories are all clearly Tobirama's, but the behaviors are all wrong. His brother is reserved, cold, unaffectionate, and so serious.

Finally he can't pretend he doesn't see it anymore, so he decides he needs to talk to Tobirama about it. Find out if his brother really is his brother, or maybe a monster in his skin. 

Tobirama however it's completely confused. “I've always been like this?” 

Hashirama shouts, “no you haven't! You don't read for fun, you study. You don't play games, you train, you definitely don't ever laugh and smile in public! I don't think you have ever initiated a hug but you've done it twice this week!”

Tobirama pats Hashirama on the shoulder and says, “I always wanted to.”

Hashirama is stunned into silence. 

After another day of thinking about it he is able to reconcile the two versions of good brother and realize that Tobirama might have been speaking the truth. His actions are all the same as they used to be, just happier, and more free than they used to be. 

Hashirama is a mix of happy, that his brother is feeling like himself now that whatever he did meant Tobirama could be free to be himself, and mourning the brother he grew up with. 

He cherished those small smiles he was able to get from Tobirama. Everytime Tobirama let himself be hugged was a gift. 

It seems silly to mourn someone he gets more of now, but it's just not the same.

Eventually he gets used to this true version of Tobirama, and shortly after the clan gets used to him too. 

The most unexpected part of it all for Hashirama is Tobirama's support of peace. 

Which does happen, mostly because the Uchiha have a new found fear of Hashirama.

But what really cinches it is after this new Tobirama convinces Izuna to accept it. 

(Izuna really only accepts it because he wants to get in Tobirama's pants after seeing him smile and hearing him laugh, yes he does follow his dick but it's going well for him so far.)

Izuna expects it to take some convincing for Tobirama to agree to a date. 

But Tobirama has waited for years to be with someone. He always avoided relationships because it was his duty to put his clan first. 

Tobirama and Izuna shock everyone with how touchy they are. 

They don't care who is around, they kiss, hold hands, hug, Tobirama gives Izuna piggy back rides around the village just because he asks. 

They are happy and everyone knows it. 

Hashirama gets over missing the old Tobirama and just watches with joy in his heart as Tobirama loves and is loved in return by Izuna. 

Madara watches in disgust at their PDA, but he's still happy for his little brother. 

Chapter Text

“Where are you off to?”

“I'm trying to find Tobirama, Hashirama seems to have lost him.”

“Lost him? How the fuck can Hashirama lose his brother? Is he injured? Where was he last seen?”

Izuna rolled his eyes at Madara's initial panic. His older brother was so obvious in his crush on the white haired Senju, of course he would jump to worst case scenarios. 

“At the bar with Hashirama, apparently your friend thought it would be fun to have a drinking contest and somehow he roped Tobirama into it. Can't fathom how that happened, but it did. Anyway these two idiots start trying to out drink each other, a few losers try to keep up but fail miserably. So I step away to use the bathroom and get a new drink and when I come back Tobirama is gone.”

“How long were you in the bathroom for?”

“Okay so maybe I talked to the cute barkeep a bit, I didn't expect him to run off if I wasn't standing next to him. So I get back and Hashirama is talking to a tree, he grew it in Tobirama's empty chair because apparently he ‘missed his adorable otouto who was going to dance with the stars’. Don't ask questions, I didn't want to know so I can't tell you, I just went to look for him.” 

Madara doesn't even know what to say to all that. His best friend is an idiot when drunk, so he definitely wasn't allowed to drink with any dignitaries or other clan heads. 

“How big was the tree?” He knows it's probably the least important piece of information but he just has to know.

“It was as tall as I am if you include the chair legs, which seemed to have become roots.”

“Huh.” Then Madara's eyes blow wide, “Wait, where is Hashirama? Did you leave him? Oh sage who knows what trouble he could be getting into!” 

“He's fine, I sent someone to fetch Mito and left him under the watchful eye of Hikaku,” Izuna waves his hand dismissively.

Madara's shoulders slump, he didn't even realize he got so tense. He did not want to have to find Hashirama too.

“That’s good, that’s not a headache I want to deal with.”

Izuna snorted, “no shit.”

“Okay, how are we going to split this up? You take one side, I take the other?” Madara had no idea where Tobirama would go. His first thought was the Senju compound but even then where would he go other than home? And if he was there surely Mito would have noticed him or ran into him on the way to get Hashirama. 

“I honestly have no clue where to even look, I could go from the Senju compound to the tower and you could go from the Uchiha compound and head to the tower? That would get the whole village covered. It will take a while though, and that's assumimg he isn’t moving into an area we already looked while we are in another area. Ugh this is going to be such a pain,” Izuna moaned and slumped into his chair. 

“Well next time keep a better eye on your companions or get help if they are getting that drunk. Speaking of, I'm surprised you weren’t drinking too. What made you stay sober?”

“Are you joking? Get in a drinking contest with that tree? I’d die. Better to watch and laugh.” 

Madara huffed, “that’s fair, I wouldn’t do it either. I’m surprised Tobirama did. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him drink.”

Izuna nodded gravely, “that’s what I thought, he might be worse than Hashirama though. He drinks like a fish.” Izuna said with the utmost seriousness. 

“I wonder what that means for finding him. Okay enough yacking, we need to go find him. Who knows what trouble he is causing. Probably trying to rewire the electrical grid on his own.”

Izuna’s eyes widened, “that’s exactly the kind of bullshit he would do! Oh no, we have to stop him. He wanted to build a new reservoir, what if he tries it on his own? He could drown us!”

Madara shudders, “that is entirely too plausible, we’ve wasted too much time. We need to go now.”

Madara and Izuna quickly split up looking for their wayward Senju.

Madara started with searching the Uchiha compound, it was unlikely but Tobirama did have two little Uchiha students so there was the possibility he might have come here. 

Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately? He wasn’t able to find Tobirama in the compound. 

Madara made a mental grid of the village and started his search one section at a time.

He went by a creek that went through the Nara compound and it suddenly occurred to him the most likely place that Tobirama had gone. Which also filled him with intense fear for the other man’s safety. 

Madara found himself running at top speed to the Naka river, desperately hoping if Tobirama is there, that he hasn’t drowned.

Upon first look Madara thought it was fine, that Tobirama wasn’t there.

But then he saw a white spot in the river, he felt his heart stop. Oh no. oh no, oh no, oh no.

Madara frantically ran to the river before diving in and swimming to Tobirama’s side.

He pulled the other's body into his arms, terrified he was too late and Tobirama was already dead.

To his relief once he wrapped his arms around Tobirama’s body the white hair man started struggling and flailing.

“You idiot! Do you know how much you just scared me?” Madara yelled, his voice high with the slight hysterics he was feeling.

“Wh? Mada? Wha you doin’ ere?” Tobirama slurred terribly, so very obviously intoxicated.

This idiot man was this drunk and yet he thought floating in the river was a good idea? Madara is pissed, he’s going to kick his ass when he is sober.

“I have been looking all over for you! So has Izuna! Why did you leave the bar?” 

“Bar? Wha barrr?”

If Madara wasn’t too busy swimming them back to the shore he would facepalm. Idiot.

“I can’t even with you. I am so tempted to just push you into the water.”

“Me? Wh? Whad I do?”

Tobirama kept trying to look back at him but the angle wasn’t right and so he just kept rubbing his hair in Madara’s face instead.

Madara was finally able to breathe easy once they were both back on the shore line. It wasn’t so taxing that Madara was exhausted but he flopped to his back as if he was. The stress of the last 10 minutes had exhausted him. 

What If he hadn’t gone to the river? How long would Tobirama have floated? What if he had died? Madara felt his throat tighten at the thought. 

He could have lost Tobirama forever, and he never would have even told him about his feelings for him.

Suddenly his eyes sprung open as he felt a weight sit on his waist. 

“Tobirama? What are you doing?”

“M’ sittin.” Tobirama smiled down at Madara as if this was a totally normal thing to do. 

“I see that. Why?” Madara was so confused, what on earth was Tobirama doing?

“Alw-s wanned to.” Tobirama squirmed a little, getting more comfortable.

And making Madara far less comfortable. His body was having a serious reaction to Tobirama’s ass rubbing him. 

“You always wanted to sit in my lap? Is that what you are trying to say?” Despite telling himself not to, Madara was getting his hopes up. Please let this mean Tobirama wanted him back. The thoughts circled over and over in his head as he was waiting for Tobirama to respond from where he was wiggling, still in his lap, smiling down at him. 

“Ya, I wa you. Fer long ti-me.” Tobirama seemed to be trying to smile seductively down at Madara, but it was kind of silly looking, Madara loved it. 

“Tell me when you’re sober, if you still feel the same.”

Tobirama apparently took that as an invitation because the next second Tobirama kissed him. Very sloppily. But it was the thought that counted.

Madara carefully pushed Tobirama off him, he doesn’t want Tobirama to do anything he might regret.

Tobirama on the other hand disagreed strongly with that and instead bit down on Madara’s shoulder leaving a smarting bruise behind.

“Ther’ yur mi now.” Tobirama sat up with such a satisfied smile on his face.

Getting Tobirama off him was an ordeal and he really fought it, until Madara got tired and just decided to throw Tobirama over his shoulder.

Upside it made getting him home far easier. Downside? He would stop groping Madara’s ass telling him how nice it was, how he wanted to bite it. And then wondering, aloud, if Madara’s dick was as thick as his ass.

Madara had never been so mortified in his life. He had to cast a genjutsu on them to ensure no one saw or heard what was going on. 

He never would have pegged Tobirama as a flirty drunk.

They were going to have a very interesting conversation tomorrow. And assuming it went well madara would be making fun of him for this for the rest of Tobirama’s life. 

Maybe this is why Tobirama never drank. Madara was never going to let Tobirama drink without him. He was not about to find out if Tobirama was flirty with everyone when drunk. 

Chapter Text

“What are you wearing?! You look like a girl!” Izuna shrieks. 

Tobirama looks over at him from where she is stretching and cocks an eyebrow. “I am a girl so that should be surprising to you,” she huffs. 

Izuna splutters, turns bright red and averts his eyes like he's some blushing maiden. “But you look like one!”

Tobirama has to drop her stance and turn to fully address him now, utterly baffled. “By the Sage Izuna, say something that makes sense! I always look like a girl!”

Izuna is still bright red and averting his eyes. “No you don't! You're usually in armor, or in baggy men's clothes! I didn't even know you had tits!”

Tobirama looks at him with a flat expression. “Truly you're an idiot. I wear men's clothes because I use Hashirama's hand-me-downs. Why would I waste money on leisure clothing when I can wear perfectly serviceable clothes.”

“Then why are you dressed like, like this?” Izuna's arms flail in his attempt to point out to Tobirama what she is wearing.

Tobirama looks down at the workout clothes she is wearing and the mesh she is wearing under it. 

“Oh is that the issue? Your delicate sensibilities are offended by the fact that I am wearing fitted clothing? Aneue took it upon herself to purchase a new wardrobe after Sarutobi Sasuke expressed an interest in courting me.”

Izuna goes from embarrassed to pissed in an instant. “That bastard asked to court you??”

Tobirama is shocked by the vehemence in his tone. “I don't see why it should offend you, but yes he requested permission from Anija. Which he has given of course. I already mentor his son, so it wouldn't be a horrible match seeing as we already have a rapport.” Tobirama crosses her arms in irritation, she knew she wasn't the most feminine of women but Izuna's shock hurt her feelings more than she would admit. 

She has long since had a silly infatuation with Izuna since peace was made and she realized how kind he could be, and he was always so good at making her smile, not that she showed it. 

“That's fucking ridiculous. You two would be terrible together. You're way too bold for him.”

Tobirama reared back as if she had been slapped. Izuna had made it clear he didn't think she was pretty enough to be courted, but now he doesn't think she has the right personality for it. 

Fuck him.

“Well if you are done with your shock I will be taking my leave.” She doesn't storm off but it's a near thing. 

****************

Izuna stands there watching Tobirama walk away feeling like he had misstepped horribly just now. 

He still can't think straight after seeing Tobirama dressed like that, with so much of her body exposed. He knows plenty of kunoichi who wear workout clothes like what Tobirama was wearing but he had just never imagined Tobirama wearing them. 

His crush was a poorly kept secret in the clan, they have been teasing him since he was 13 and first realized he liked girls. Madara and Hikaku always gave him shit for his obsession with her. But they weren't wrong. 

He had developed a weird obsession with Tobirama from their first meeting. He was just drawn to her. When they first met he assumed she was a boy based on the very masculine clothing she wore and her short hair. But then when they were 13 she lost her happuri which seemed to yank her hair tie with it when it fell and her hair flew free. He watches as her soft whispy strands blew around her face which, without the mask, turned out to be very soft and feminine. She looked like an angel. 

It was the first time he used the Sharingan for something outside of battle or training. 

Izuna had contented himself with the fact that Tobirama would probably find a nice woman to settle down with, or she would stay single. He's never seen her express an interest in anyone or even relationships. But now she was going to let that slimy Sarutobi court her? He was always taking women home with him. She deserves so much better. 

Not to mention he would never be able to keep up with a woman like her. She needs a partner that can stand up to her when they should but back down to her at the same time. Sarutobi would want her submission, she was too bold and wild to be stifled like that. 

He wishes he could have recorded her just now. Izuna hadn't ever seen her hair in loose braids like that, she usually kept it pulled back in a tight top knot or a low bun, which with the fur just made her look like she had short hair. Part of why so many assumed she was a man at first. 

Oh Sage be damned. He commented on her breast! Izuna felt all the blood drain from his face. He called them tits. Even accounting for the shock at finding out she actually has a very nice set, he can't believe that's what came out of his mouth. 

No wonder she stormed off. 

He is going to have to do some serious damage control. 

But first he needs to go get the courting gift that he definitely hasn't had since he was 15 and imagined bridenapping her. 

Then he needed to find Hashirama and request permission to court her. Which honestly was a little weird, he would have assumed Tobirama would take offense at that. But if that’s the kind of thing she likes Izuna was going to do it! 

Izuna rushes home and digs into the back of his closet until he finds the hand carved box containing a steel bones blades hand fan he had forged himself. 

Once he has it he makes his way to the tower to go speak to Hashirama.

He really hopes she isn't wanting a traditional courtly gift. 

Oh no. 

What if she is?

She just said Mito-hime got her a new wardrobe for courting! That probably means she expects a traditional gift. 

He should have got her a silk fan not a weapon. 

Just as he is considering turning around to go buy a better gift, Hashirama and Madara step out of Hashirama's office. 

“Izuna? What are you doing here?” his brother asks.

“Aniki, I'd love to talk but I need to have a conversation with Hashirama right now.”

Both of them give him dubious looks. 

“Okaaaay.” Madara watches him with concern as he slowly walks away, but he does thankfully leave Izuna alone with Hashirama.

“Is it confidential? Should we go back to my office?”

“No, but we should go into your office.”

“I'm going to be honest Izuna, you're kind of weirding me out. I don't think you have ever sought me out for a conversation unless it was work related,” Hashirama is giving him a judgmental side eye. Clearly trying to piece together what is going on. 

Izuna closes the door behind them and takes a deep breath. “I want to court your sister. I think I will be a much better match than Sarutobi, I'm stronger than him so if she wants my protection I can give it to her. I am a great cook and know she forgets to eat and I will make sure she always has a fresh bento for work. I won't stifle her or make her stop being a Shinobi. If she agrees I will give her whatever she wants and treat her better than any other man can.”

Hashirama stares wide-eyed at Izuna. “That is probably the last thing I expected to come out of your mouth.”

“Is that a yes or a no?”

“It's a yes I guess. I mean it's really up to Tobirama what she wants. We just use me as a scare tactic for anyone not worth her time. If it means anything though it was a beautiful speech and I think you two would be great together.” 

Izuna slumps, he wasn't surprised that Hashirama wasn't actually the gatekeeper for potential suitors. It is nice to hear he thinks he has a shot though! 

Now he just needs to convince Tobirama.

Chapter Text

“I said keep your hands to yourself!” Tobirama snarls as he tosses Izuna to the ground. 

Izuna whines as he falls on his ass. “Hey! No one saw!” Izuna defends with an annoyingly loud whine.

Tobirama narrows his eyes and glares fire at Izuna. He's lucky Tobirama can't shoot flames out of his eyes because he would be ash. 

“Shut up! Must you be so loud, you groped my ass, there are people all over this training ground. I highly doubt your groping went unnoticed,” Tobirama hisses.

Izuna starts to get up and sends a flirty smirk at Tobirama, “I'm sure they are jealous that I get to put my hands on your ass.”

Tobirama snarls again and kicks Izuna right in the face knocking him back to the ground.

“Shit Tobi that hurt!” Izuna wisely doesn't try to get up this time. 

“Good, you deserve worse. What is your obsession with touching me in front of people? I'm sure everyone knows we are together by now,” his tone oscillates between irritated and exasperated. 

“I just can't keep my hands to myself. If I could I would never let you go. Everyone would see you belonged to me. They would wish they could touch you like I can.”

Tobirama resists a shiver. He won't deny he always finds it unbelievably hot when Izuna gets possessive. 

Not enough that he isn't pissed that Izuna was AGAIN groping him in front of people. 

If he wants to grope him in public they need to go on vacation. He will not have the people of Konoha thinking he is going around behaving inappropriately. In any other town he gives no fucks. He would let Izuna fuck in and alley anywhere else. Or he would fuck him in an alley. Either works for Tobirama. 

No! Tobirama needs to stop thinking about this, he's ruining his own point by getting all hot and bothered. 

Izuna gives him a lewd smirk, “why don't you come home with me? We can have some fun instead of sparing before going back to the office.”

Tobirama's cheeks grow hot but he nods, grabs Izuna's hand and teleports them.

Chapter Text

Arranged marriage A/B/O

Tobirama and Madara marry for peace and as expected on their wedding night they consummate their marriage. 

To Madara's surprise Tobirama seems to be fully committed and allows himself to, thus allowing Madara, to fully enjoy himself and the sensations. As they both seem to be getting close Madara finally works up the courage to ask Tobirama if he can bite him now. (He doesn't want to surprise his new mate or make him feel forced in anyway, if they are going to be married he wants Tobirama to feel like he has some power and the ability to say no to things. He's perfectly fine if Tobirama wants to wait until they get to know each other better before properly mating.) 

Tobirama of course says yes, this is his husband he isn't supposed to deny him anything. 

Madara happily bites him and waits for Tobirama to ask to bite him back. 

But he doesn't. So he asks confusedly, “are you-?”

And Tobirama's only response is, “just do it.” He doesn't sound angry, but some of that passion he felt during sex seems to drain out of him. He almost looks resigned.

And Madara can't exactly not do it just because Tobirama doesn't want to bite him back. He asked and if he refuses now he has no idea what that will mean for them. Rejecting an omega has a lot more negative consequences than rejecting an alpha. 

Madara will bite him but he hates it. He hates the idea of an uneven bond. The very concept of it is unheard of. Tobirama will be his mate, but Madara won't be Tobirama's? It's almost enough to kill his erection. Thankfully biting Tobirama gives him enough of an endorphin rush to keep going. But the mood has irreparably shifted. 

Madara hadn't set up separate rooms for them because mates are meant to be together. He wanted them to be together. 

But right now he wants to be alone to lick his wounds. He knows that isn't an option because both he and Tobirama will need them to remain in physical contact as they come down from the effects of his bite. 

They wash up after they finish and Madara climbs in bed first, holding the blanket open for Tobirama to join him. Which he does, but it doesn't give Madara the comfort it was meant to. He feels cold. 

What he doesn't know is that Tobirama is unaware it's even an option to bite Madara back. Both he, Hashirama and their elders were under the impression that Madara would have to take an Uchiha wife as well, so naturally they would be the one to bite Madara. No one can have two bites. They believe this because when they first brought up negotiating a marriage Madara said matches for the clan head were carefully selected for the best chance of producing an heir with strong chakra reserves and ideally a more powerful Sharingan. But they would still agree to an arranged marriage. 

So the Senju assumed that meant that he would simply take another, proper, wife when they found a good match for him. And at that point Tobirama would be downgraded to his concubine. 

It was still agreed in their marriage contract that they would have at least two children. But again the Senju assumed that they wouldn't be Madara's true heirs, that they would instead be surety heirs. Merely there in case Madara's full Uchiha blooded children were unable to become clan head for whatever reason. Which isn't something they expected to happen. 

Tobirama assumed that most likely his children would be raised to protect and guard their younger true Uchiha siblings. It certainly isn't unheard of. 

-.-

Once enough time passes that they don't have to stay together for their continued health Madara asks Tobirama if he would like his own room. Assuming that since Tobirama doesn't want to bite him back that he might want to be away from Madara altogether. That this marriage wasn't going to be anything more than fulfilling an obligation and proving to their clans that they can cooperate and live peacefully together. 

Tobirama however takes this as a dismissal. That Madara is done with his presence now that it's no longer required and he will only be needed or wanted by his husband when Madara wishes to have sex. 

He'd been hopeful that despite the fact that they wouldn't be mates they might still form a romantic bond or at least have some sort of a real relationship even if it could never be on the level that Madara would have with his true Uchiha wife and mate. 

To Tobirama's surprise the only time they have sex after that is when Tobirama goes into heat two months later. It's a bit of a blow that Madara doesn't even want him for sex but there isn't anything he can do about it. He agreed to the terms of their marriage knowing what it could entail. 

Despite only sharing the one heat does become pregnant. Again Tobirama had hoped to get closer while pregnant, he's craving his mates presence while he's so vulnerable. Usually an alpha will become protective and keep to their omegas side during pregnancy. But to Tobirama's disappointment once again that isn't the case. 

It starts to wear on him and everyone can see he’s not doing well. He's staying healthy enough, eating proper meals, and keeping up appearances, but he can't do anything to hide the deeper and darker bags under his eyes and the weary expression on his face. 

Finally Izuna has enough of it. He's going to figure out what the hell is going on with Tobirama and fix it. No one likes to see an omega in distress, but it's made worse because Tobirama has started to become his friend. And Izuna has fully accepted him as pack and family. One doesn't just sit idly by while their family member seems to slowly be wilting. 

It takes very little pushing for Tobirama to end up breaking down about how hard it is for him to have a one sided bond. That he so badly wants Madara to be there for him. To hold him, love him, want him. He didn't know how hard it would be to disregarded like this. 

Izuna who already knows Madara's side of the story is confused, what Tobirama is saying makes sense. “You're the one who refused to bite him.”

Tobirama is now also confused and asks: “what do you mean? It was your clan that told us that Madara needs an Uchiha mate chosen to produce strong heirs.”

Izuna is horrified. “Who would agree to such an uneven marriage??? How could the Senju, how could you, have accepted that?”

Tobirama defends his clan saying “peace is worth more than one person's happiness. I was the clan heir, it is my duty to put my clan's welfare over my own happiness. It's not as if I have any fear of being mistreated. I understand why Madara has no interest in spending time with me when I won't be any more than his concubine once he marries.”

Izuna quickly yells for Madara and explains what Tobirama just told him and Madara is even more horrified than Izuna!

Tobirama is just sitting there confused by this whole exchange. 

Madara can't believe he left his mate feeling this horrible and all because of his own comments! 

“I am so sorry I led you to believe that Tobirama! 

That isn't the case at all. For me there will not and will never be anyone else. You are my one and only mate. When I agreed to our marriage I fully expected for us to mate as equals. Any children of yours, of ours, will be my heirs. I will not marry another or ever have children with anyone else either.”

If Tobirama were a weaker man, or even less composed he might have cried. Instead what he says is, “then you wish for me to bite you back? Am I correct in that assumption?”

“Yes! Please do!”

Izuna high tails it out of there, mating always results in sex and he has absolutely no desire to be around for that. 

They finally mate properly, and without the unnecessary stress and with his mate by his side as he always should have been Tobirama has a healthy pregnancy and gives birth to an adorable little boy with partial albinism that only affects the left side of his head. Leaving him with white hair and a red eye on the left and black hair and a dark grey eye on the right. 

Despite concerns from the elders he grows up to have the Sharingan in both eyes and they are just as strong as his father. 

Chapter Text

Soulmate AU where Tobirama's soulmate is a Yamanaka. And he is super abusive, but their marriage is what sealed the deal with the Trinity clans joining so Tobirama is like okay gotta make this work. Gotta hide the pain. But his soulmate is a straight up sadistic sociopath. He enjoys playing mind games with Tobirama, he's sexually, physically and verbally abusive.

Izuna has been pissed about this since day one. Tobirama is way too good from some random Yamanaka. He's too old for Tobirama and he doesn't have enough status. Mahiro Yamanaka is the youngest brother of the Yamanka clan head and has no status, yet for whatever reason it was demanded that Tobirama marry into the Yamanaka clan. And Hashirama agreed!!

It's bullshit, that's all Izuna is saying. 

But fine whatever, not his problem. Tobirama isn't Izuna's soulmate. Why would he care?

Except he does care. He cares a lot. And when Tobirama shows up again (he joined the Yamanaka clan last month to help them with the move to the village, it's his duty now that he is a member of both the Yamanaka clan and the clan heads family), he looks exhausted, but the kind of exhaustion he sees after a particularly bad battle. Like you've survived something. 

Hashirama joyfully laughs and claps his brother on the back and asks if he's been keeping busy at night? wink wink. 

No one sees Tobirama's flinch. But he does. Over the next year he sees more and more signs that something is wrong. 

He brings it up to Hashirama, who thinks he's stirring up trouble because he doesn't like Tobirama, and Madara, who agrees Izuna's points are valid but they need proof. 

So he decides to talk to Tobirama but he laughs it off. But Izuna sees the darkness in his eyes that seem to scream to Izuna ‘save me, save me’ 

For now all he can do is wait. 

But the day that Hashirama tells him that Mahiro (Tobirama's husband) came to tell him that Tobirama is really sick and will be out today and maybe tomorrow, Izuna has had enough.

He's going to see first hand what the hell is going on.  

Is he breaking into another clan's compound? Yes. 

Does he care about the potential ramifications of that? No.  

He's going to figure out what the hell is going on with Tobirama. It's stupidly easy to get into the house.   

There aren't even any wards!

He isn't sure what he was expecting but Tobirama unconscious on the floor, which is covered in dried blood, with more dried blood clumping his hair wasn't it.  

What the actual fuck is he looking at?!?! His first thought is that Tobirama is dead. He *looks* dead. He checks his pulse and thank fuck he isn't as dead as he looks. 

But man fuck this shit, he was not expecting things to be this bad. Honestly even while he worried about abuse it's hard to imagine a man like Tobirama, who is stronger than his husband, actually being abused and then to this extent. It takes a lot to beat a man like Tobirama unconscious. He would know, he's tried many times. 

He carefully hoists Tobirama onto his back and he's about to rush him to Hashirama when he thinks about what comes next. What if Hashirama values their link with the Yamanka more than Tobirama's safety? What if Tobirama says it was someone else? Na fuck that. He's going to take care of this shit on his own.

He takes Tobirama to Nami, she's an Uchiha healer, well she's an Obstetrician, but she knows how to heal and that's what he needs. 

She's also like WTF, but in a OMG are you getting me into some murder plot or something? Did you kill Tobirama?!?

Izuna is like NO! Well, I'm not plotting Tobirama's murder. 

Buuuut he is planning Mahiro's. It's really easy. He just moves a couple of files around and suddenly Mahiro has an urgent mission to the land of Hot Water for a retrieval mission. If he gets murdered on the way, who could have seen it coming? No one. It's a tragedy.

Nami is able to stabilize Tobirama but he will need a real healer. 

He just needs someone to help him set this plan in motion. Thankfully he has the best big brother and Madara agrees without question.

So once Mahiro is out of the village Izuna ‘discovers’ Tobirama when he goes to check on the poor sick man while his husband is away. And OMG what happened to Tobirama? An intruder? Who knows!? (Because no one would ever expect, or believe that a man like Mahiro could have beat up a man like Tobirama.)

Tobirama is taken to Hashirama who heals him and Tobirama (as expected) says he doesn't know how he came to be injured. (‘Typical abuse victim response’, Izuna thinks to himself. That's why Tobirama needed him and Madara to take care of things for him)

They (Hashirama and the Yamanaka clan head) don't want to risk Mahiro’s mission so they wait for him to get back to tell him. Only he doesn't come back. So they send a back up team to see if he needs help, but instead they find him beaten to death missing multiple teeth and dozens of broken bones. (Izuna thinks Madara went easy on the guy. Knowing what a good healer Tobirama is he can't imagine last week was the first time Mahiro laid hands on him. Not to mention the haunted look Tobirama had gained and the subtle flinches. He's willing to bet this abuse has been going on since they married)

Now they just have to break the news to poor widowed Tobirama.

Chapter Text

Tobirama knits.

Like all the time.

Madara first catches him in Hashirama office testing the fit on a new pair of knit gloves. 

When Tobirama asks Hashirama if he wants them longer Hashirama tells him yes. He would like them to go a little longer than his wrists.

Madara at first assumes Tobirama will take them to wherever he got them and have them adjusted.

But no.

Tobirama sits down on the couch in his brothers office and pulls a pair of knitting needles and a roll of yarn. 

And then he just. Starts knitting.

Like it's normal.

Like he had done it before.

Which he must have. 

The needles move like he has.

Madara is completely mind blown by this.

He doesn't even notice Hashirama trying to get his attention, to find out why he is there.

Which doesn't even matter in light of this discovery.

When Hashirama does finally get his attention he quickly gets the signature he needs and leaves.

It isn't long before he catches Tobirama's knitting at his desk. When Madara asks what he is doing, Tobirama looks at him like he is the strange one and says I'm knitting. Obviously.

Madara stares at him waiting for more.

Tobirama sighs and says he is taking a break so can Madara just leave so he can knit in peace? Then he is back to looking down counting stitches. 

Madara leaves, suppressing the strong desire to record it with the Sharingan.

Tobirama looked so soft. It wasn't a look he ever would have associated Tobirama with.

Madara is obsessed. There was just something about Tobirama happily knitting that made him crave seeing it more.

It was just so domestic. It made Madara crave soft moments with a partner. 

He wakes up one night with an epiphany. He wants Tobirama. He doesn't crave soft moments with a future partner. He wants them with Tobirama.

He wants to sit around the kotatsu doing paperwork while Tobirama knits.

In the winter he wants to proudly wear a hat and scarf knitted by Tobirama.

Madara goes to work with resolve flowing through him. 

The first place he goes is Tobirama's office, but he isn't there.

The obvious next stop is Hashirama's office. 

He bursts through the door silencing the argument Izuna and Tobirama seem to have been engaged in while Hashirama did his best to calm them both.

Everyone is stopped and staring at Madara who has his eyes locked in Tobirama.

"I want to court you. No more than that. I want you in my home knitting around the irori with me. I want to wear the things you knit out to show everyone that you belong to me and I belong to you. I want to adopt and wrap the baby in a blanket made by you, as the child's other dad. I want to wake up to you.”

There is total silence. 

"Could we adopt more than one? I always imagined having a big family." Hashirama and Izuna whip their heads to Tobirama, their jaws dropping. 

"We can adopt as many children as you wish. In fact there is a young boy, Kagami, he's about three and is in desperate need of loving parents.”

“Should I move in first?”

At this point Hashirama's shock has worn off enough that he can no longer keep quiet.

"Wait, wait. I just. Wait. I get courting. Well I don't really, do you two even talk outside of work? No, that doesn't even matter. You can't go from talking about courting to moving in and adopting a child!" 

"I hate to agree with the big tree, but yeah no. This is not happening. you cannot just move in and adopt a child. You haven't even been on one date!”

"I fail to see why any of that could matter. Madara and I do get along fine. If we discover habits we don't appreciate we will simply talk to each other. I find Madara attractive and I think it's safe to assume he finds me attractive. I don't see any reason to wait.”

"You find me attractive?”

"Of course, I think you would be hard pressed to find someone in the village that doesn't share that view.”

"Can I kiss you?”

"Yes, I would like that.”

Neither of them listen to Izuna or Hashirama.

Within a month Tobirama has moved into the head house with Madara, and only Madara because Izuna hightailed it out as soon as he walked in the kitchen and saw Tobirama on the counter sucking face with his brother. It took all of five seconds to decide he never wanted to walk in on that again. 

As soon as Tobirama moved in, Madara brought Kagami home with him. 

It took his clan 3 months to realize Tobirama and Madara were in a relationship and another month to realize Tobirama was living in the compound and actively raising an Uchiha child. 

The Senju didn't know until an Uchiha told them. And even then it took multiple forms of confirmation before they actually believed it. 

Hashirama constantly despaired that Tobirama just left him like that and made his own family. It pushed him to inquire more about that betrothal with the Uzumaki princess. He wanted a family too. 

Madara and Tobirama ended up adopting two Uchiha children, Kagami and a little girl named Mai. They adopted an infant from the Senju clan they decided to name Ayame. Finally they adopted a six year old clanless child named Riku. 

The elders ended up agreeing that they would accept Kagami as Madara's heir, and Mai as his secondary heir. They accepted the other two children but not as heirs seeing as they weren't Uchiha by blood. 

Madara proudly wore everything Tobirama ever knitted him. 

Chapter Text

Tobirama blames this entire thing on Izuna. The little bastard has somehow convinced this entire village he was Tsukuyomi reborn.

Which is why he was dressed in this ridiculous outfit with what amounts to little more than a scarf covering his chest, and harem pants. And that's it. Not even shoes. 

Well, at least he's going to get the last laugh. He can't wait to see Izuna's reaction when he finds out that he is so skilled at suiton jutsu that he doesn't even need hand signs. 

He's fairly certain Izuna is expecting him to fail and get them run out of town so they don't have to complete this mission. 

To be honest he is half tempted to fail on purpose because this mission is ridiculous. And one hundred percent an attempt to get back at them by Hashirama and Madara for the whole walking in on them having sex in the office thing. 

But he's a professional and if his Hokage says they need to build a relationship with this village then that's what he's going to do. On the bright side, this village does need their water reservoir filled and there hasn't been enough rain. 

He can feel plenty of water underground though so that's where he's going to pull from.

So he plants his feet firmly down, lifts his hands as if he's holding an invisible object between them, looks up in a suitably superior deity fashion, (at least he hopes that's how it looks) and pulls the water up until it is swirling around him before continuing up like a tornado of water and then down into the reservoir. 

The only sound is the roar of water as it does his bidding. 

A glance to the side shows him Izuna standing there with his jaw nearly to the floor in shock. 

‘Ha!’ serves him right for messing with him. And doubting his skill. 

As soon as the reservoir is full the townspeople start clapping and cheering. Some are even crying. And they are spewing praise after praise. It's all very uncomfortable. 

He tries to get away by saying he is tired and he's going to go back to their camp, but that leads them to be led to the one and only inn located in the village. 

He tries to insist they don't need it. That they are ready to head home, but they insist he must stay and regain his strength. And then they start talking about throwing a feast in his honor tomorrow!

Every attempt to get Izuna to back him so they can leave fails as his idiot husband just silently nods in agreement with everything the townspeople are saying. 

As soon as they are alone Tobirama is getting ready to rip into him for not backing him so they can leave, but instead he's being shoved into the wall and kissed breathless. 

“Fuck Tobirama,” Izuna leans back to say before he starts kissing from his mouth to his neck. “That was so hot.”

More kissing. “Fuck I didn't know you could,” now he's sucking a bite mark into his throat. “Do that without hand signs.”

Izuna continues to bite, kiss, and lick his entire bare chest while praising how ‘hot’, and ‘sexy,’ he is. 

They strip only enough for Tobirama to get his dick free and oil up and stretch Izuna and then they fuck fast and hard. 

They are both sweaty panting messes when they hear a knock on the door. 

They look at each other with twin horrified looks. Please don't let them get caught again.

But the person doesn't walk in thankfully. 

Izuna quickly straightens his clothes and answers the door while Tobirama tries to retie the scarf/sash thing they put him in. 

He walks to the door as soon as he's presentable enough so he can join the conversation and find out more about this ‘feast’ they are having tomorrow. 

Throughout the entire conversation the town's leader won't stop looking at his chest. It's very strange. More hero worship?

He ignores it, agrees to be there tomorrow and then they both give the man food preferences, because apparently they can't just give him whatever. They have to give him the food he truly desires. He holds back the eye roll until the door is closed. 

But instead of getting to comment on the weirdness of this town, Izuna doubles over laughing hysterically.

“What is your problem? I don't think anything he said was even funny. Did I miss some joke?”

“Oh sage!” Izuna gasps trying to calm his laughter. “Just look down at your chest love.”

Tobirama does and he can feel the way his entire body burns red with his deepest blush ever. 

His chest is covered with hickies. 

He's never been mortified in his life. How is he supposed to look that man in the eyes again? How can he look at anyone? There is no way this doesn't make the rounds in this town. Gossip in small towns spreads like wildfire on a windy day. 

Especially when it's about ‘Tsukuyomi’s’ chosen.

He should have just let himself look like an idiot and got them run out of town. All he can do now is hope that word of this doesn't reach either Hashirama or Madara. They will never let him live this down. 

-.-

Word does get back to Hashirama, and therefore Madara in the form of a letter thanking them for granting the town the use of Tsukuyomi’s chosen to bring stability back to the land. Also to ask if it was common practice for followers to worship him through sex. 

The letter reaches them before Tobirama and Izuna do. 

It's all extremely mortifying and all Izuna's fault. 

Sex on his desk had been Izuna's idea anyway. Bastard.