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Tobirama’s head has been elsewhere ever since he and Izuna started this… thing between them.
It had begun with small things, like what started it all in the first place. Buying apples from the market and being reminded of the red of Izuna’s eyes. Seeing a mop of black hair pass by on the street, letting his eyes linger just to ensure it’s not Izuna, even though his senses have already told him it’s not. Having his cup of hot tea in the morning, and his mind bringing up a memory of Izuna’s warm hands over his.
A momentary blip, yet it will leave him feeling disoriented and disheveled for the rest of the day.
“Are you alright, Tobirama?” his elder brother asks one day, after Tobirama had apparently been staring at the stack of papers in front of him for too long. What it was about, he had already forgotten. Something about a proposal to build in the village that couldn’t be left to Hashirama, with his tendency to say “yes” to everything.
“Fine,” he grits out, followed by a cough, eyes blinking rapidly to regain his focus on the papers. Ah, right. A proposal to build a shrine.
“Are you sure? You look like you’re—”
“What?” he snaps, daring his older brother to continue, though his pulse starts to pick up slightly as he prepares to hear his answer. Infatuated? Lovesick? Foolish?
Hashirama tilts his head to the side and purses his lips, always looking all too plain and innocent for a shinobi of his caliber. After several moments, he merely shrugs. “I don’t know. You just seem distracted lately.”
“Well, as I said, I’m fine,” he barks.
___
This nuisance he’s been facing only worsens the more time he spends together with Izuna. Tobirama seeks him out more these days, hiding it under coincidence, which thankfully neither Hashirama—or worse, Madara—notices.
They still bicker, still don’t hold their punches when sparring, still argue over the big and little things about the village, but there is no longer any bite behind those words, no real intention to hurt when they fight.
Instead, Izuna will tenderly clean the cuts on Tobirama’s skin after their spar, and Tobirama will softly kiss the bruises he leaves on Izuna’s in turn—though he adds to them again come nightfall.
He notices just how much worse the predicament is when his brother asks him to travel to the Hidden Mist Village, to check on a rumor about a small group of shinobi that opposes the founding of their village.
Madara had been eager to confirm the rumor himself, but they couldn’t afford to be reckless and potentially start a war with another village, not when peace in their own village was still new. Sending Madara Uchiha would be an obvious war declaration. It would be more of a stealth and intel-gathering mission, which suited Tobirama better.
Upon hearing the request from his older brother, his brain—the old one, the one that didn’t have constant thoughts of Izuna in it—would have already started to think of various situations and strategies he would need to enact. But instead, the first thing that came to mind was, I hope this mission doesn’t drag on for too long.
He scowls at himself, which doesn’t go unnoticed by Hashirama, who goes on to say, “Well, I mean, I could always go myself.”
“No, you stay,” he grumbles in his usual baritone. “You’re Hokage, so you should be here, protecting our people. I will go early at dawn.”
___
He goes straight to Izuna later that night, not even bothering to stop by the Senju compound to pack for tomorrow, rationalizing that he could pack in less than ten minutes and would drop by just before he needed to leave.
Izuna’s lips twitch in amusement as Tobirama shows up at his porch, just a day after he was last here. Usually, Tobirama tries to space out his visits to Izuna by a couple of days—lest Izuna start to notice how infatuated he has become, but mostly to stop himself from falling deeper into whatever this is between them.
Though Tobirama will soon be away for a couple of weeks at most, so tonight’s an exception.
Izuna doesn’t say anything about it, just steps to the right, and Tobirama lets himself be pulled into Izuna’s gravity.
Later, after Tobirama has poured what he’s been feeling lately into Izuna’s body—lithe, pale, strong, and addictive —he tells him about his mission as he’s brushing Izuna’s damp hair from the bath they took earlier.
“Anija is sending me out on a mission to the Hidden Mist,” Tobirama says, breaking Izuna’s soft humming as he continues to let his hair be brushed by Tobirama, even though they both know all the knots had already been worked out.
“Oh?” he answers, tipping his head slightly to the left to indicate he’s listening. It draws Tobirama’s attention to his neck, and he succumbs to the temptation of kissing it softly, making Izuna shiver. “Does it have anything to do with the rebel group we’ve been hearing about?”
Tobirama hums in affirmation. “He is sending me out to gather intel. Once I return, we can decide on how to deal with them.”
We. The Senju and the Uchiha. Sometimes Tobirama still can’t believe how far they’ve come.
Izuna nods, though he doesn’t say anything else, so Tobirama adds, “I’ll be gone for a few weeks at most.”
Izuna hums again. “Okay.”
“Maybe longer, depending on how fast I can track them. They say they’re very elusive.”
“So I’ve heard.”
At that, Tobirama frowns, though he’s glad Izuna’s back is to him. Because… what? Tobirama had been slowly going crazy the minute his elder brother gave him that mission, dread piling up in his gut at the thought of being gone for weeks on end—his body feeling like it wanted to return to Konoha even before he left—and Izuna is just—
“Tobirama,” Izuna chides, playful, as he leans himself back to Tobirama’s chest, who automatically adjusts his sitting position so that Izuna is more comfortable. “I can just feel you frowning.”
A large arm wraps around Izuna’s waist, drawing him in closer even as his scowl deepens.
“And now you’re frowning even more, even though I have my eyes closed.”
Tobirama looks down at Izuna, and the pretty bastard is closing his eyes, lips smiling in amusement.
Tobirama just grunts, deciding not to say anything else if Izuna is going to behave this way. At that, Izuna peeks a glance at him, tilting his chin upwards.
“You really need to start learning to use your words, Tobirama,” he chastises. “Really, or people will believe you’re just a ninja gorilla who can’t speak—”
“I can speak,” he tries to snap, though it comes out more petulant than anything.
Izuna laughs—bright and airy and awfully gorgeous—which just deepens Tobirama’s scowl even further.
When his laughter dies down, Izuna’s deft fingers touch his chin lightly, tilting it down so Tobirama will meet his eyes.
His eyes are as soft as his voice as he tells him, “I will look forward to your return. Be safe.”
___
Izuna blinks awake the moment Tobirama rises from their futon, no matter how careful Tobirama tries to be. Though, considering the circumstances they grew up in, Tobirama knew by now that the slightest shift could wake both of them up.
“You’re leaving now?” Izuna asks, reaching out to Tobirama, who turns and braces his arm beside Izuna’s mess of dark hair.
He tucks a dark strand behind his ear as he murmurs, “Yes. Go back to sleep now.”
“I’ll see you off,” Izuna says, final. Once Izuna has made up his mind, there is little in this world that can change him. At times, he is strikingly similar to Tobirama.
Izuna lingers at the entrance of the Senju compound as Tobirama packs his things, as he knows it’ll just take Tobirama a short while to gather all he needs for his mission. Izuna smiles at him when Tobirama reappears next to him and, without a word, begins walking towards the direction of the village gates.
The discomfort that Tobirama has been feeling about his departure eases at the knowledge that Izuna and himself could’ve teleported themselves to the gates by now, but here they are, walking at a leisurely pace through the empty streets of Konoha, delaying the time they’ll be apart.
Maybe, just maybe, Tobirama thinks—hopes—Izuna is just as affected by him leaving as he is.
“Is there anyone who will be accompanying you?” Izuna asks after a few moments of comfortable silence.
“Just Kagami and Torifu,” Tobirama answers, casting a glance at Izuna.
“Kagami,” Izuna repeats, and Tobirama notices the exact moment Izuna’s eyes gleam—the kind of gleam that means Tobirama’s in for teasing. “You know, with the amount of time you spend with my cousin, one might think—”
“One might think nothing of it, should they know how much time I spend with you, ” Tobirama cuts off, pleased that his words seem to take effect on Izuna, who snaps his mouth shut. He huffs lightly, tilting his chin upwards in mock displeasure. He’s very much spoiled rotten, Tobirama muses. First by Madara and now, by himself.
They bicker lightly as they continue their way, and it’s not long before the big green gates of the village come into view. Kagami and Torifu are already waiting, talking idly to themselves before turning towards their direction as the crunch of their feet indicates their presence.
Torifu looks taken aback as he sees Izuna walking beside Tobirama, opening and closing his mouth like some fish out of water. Kagami, however, remains as impassive as ever, Sharingan only flickering for less than half a second in surprise.
“Cousin,” he greets, bowing slightly to the second heir to the Uchiha clan. “I didn’t know you were coming with.”
Izuna rolls his eyes at his cousin’s blatant teasing. “Do I look like I’m prepared for a mission?”
“I don’t know, cousin. I’ve seen you kill men with less.”
Tobirama glances curiously at Izuna, mind conjuring up an image of a deadly and beautiful vision of Izuna fighting someone in that soft cotton yukata of his. What a glorious way to die, Tobirama thinks.
“Well, I’m merely here on escort duty,” Izuna says, gesturing to Tobirama. “This fool was afraid to walk the village streets alone, so here I am, roped into accompanying him.”
“I did not—”
“How generous of you, cousin.”
“Thank you, I take after Madara in that way.”
At that, Kagami snorts and huffs a laugh, and Izuna’s grin stretches wider. Torifu’s head snaps back and forth to watch their banter, expression still looking like he can’t believe that Izuna is here.
Tobirama hasn’t stopped looking at Izuna too, wishing for a moment he had some dōjutsu to capture this image in front of him, wishing that he could take it with him for the next few weeks they’ll be apart.
As he remains in his thoughts, dawn starts to break in the distant horizon, and streaks of color start to decorate the dark sky. Ah, he must go now.
“We should get going,” Tobirama says, though his feet remain planted where they are.
Kagami nods, eyes flicking between Izuna and himself one last time before turning to Torifu. “We’ll head out first. It was nice seeing you, cousin.”
“Goodbye,” Izuna replies, waving a little as they watch the two disappear into the trees.
“Shouldn’t you get going?” Izuna asks, turning towards Tobirama, tilting his head up just a fraction to meet his eyes.
“I should,” Tobirama says, nodding as he makes no attempt to move.
“You’ll get left behind.”
“Impossible, I’m the fastest shinobi.”
“Kagami will probably tease you after this.”
“He will.”
“Tobirama,” Izuna says with a little laugh, exasperated but so, so fond. Tobirama’s heart aches again. Is this what it feels like? Having something to look forward to when you come home? “Go.”
“Okay,” Tobirama says softly, finally letting his feet move slowly, inch by inch. “Okay.”
Before he can overthink it—and risk regretting doing nothing—Tobirama makes up his mind. It’s not every day a petty, arrogant, strong, and impossibly beautiful man sees him off at the village gates before a mission. And by now, Tobirama’s fairly certain Izuna feels it too—this unnamed, unshaped thing that’s taken root between them.
So he strides forward, like a man quite literally on a mission, watching the way Izuna takes a sharp breath, preparing himself as Tobirama closes the distance between them and kisses his forehead tenderly, letting his lips linger.
Izuna freezes under him, not expecting the painfully intimate gesture from Tobirama. Tobirama closes his eyes briefly, willing his brain to memorize Izuna’s scent and warmth, for he knows he’ll long for it the second he steps outside the gate.
Izuna melts under his touch after a beat passes, drawing his body closer to Tobirama and snaking his arms around Tobirama’s torso. Tobirama pulls him in closer by the shoulder, pecking his forehead once again.
“Take care, Izuna.”
It takes all of his willpower to finally leave.
___
“So,” Kagumi says as Tobirama catches up to them in a short amount of time. He’s not looking at Tobirama, but he hears the smile in his voice as he teases, “You and Izuna—”
“Shut it,” Tobirama barks, and runs past them fast, leaving Kagumi cackling in the background.
__
With a task in hand, his mind doesn’t drift too often to Izuna, for which he’s grateful. Instead, he focuses on finding bits and pieces of the enemy, jotting down their activities and the little information he can find into his scrolls.
Thoughts of Izuna come back to him at full force during the quieter days of their mission, or when Tobirama is taking turns to rest and sleep. It seems that the minute his mind is unoccupied, Izuna just shows up in his head.
He wonders what Izuna is doing right now, if he’s taking care of himself back home or if he’s busying himself with his duties—both as a prominent member of the Uchiha clan and as a council member of Konoha. Tobirama wonders if by now Izuna has completed the new sword he’s been making, or if he’s had full meals since he left, since he typically has the habit of forgetting so when he fixates on a wield.
When the night gets dark and when Kagumi forces him to sleep for a few hours, just before he drifts off to sleep he wonders if Izuna longs for him as much as he does.
__
Just as Tobirama expected, the mission took them 3 weeks to complete. Though the initial plan was to gather intel through careful observation for 2 weeks, the three of them were confident that the rebel group’s numbers were fabricated, and their might even more so.
It was a waste of resources and time if they only collected intel and returned to the village before devising a plan. By then, what was just the fire from a match would have sparked into a blaze, and it would be best to trample it before it got any larger.
Tobirama was a fearsome shinobi on his own, and his mere presence would have been enough to shake the group, but coupled with the physical strength of Torifu and Kagami’s eyes, the group’s fate was sealed the moment the three made their presence known.
With minimal injuries to all three, Tobirama gruffs out, “Let’s head home.”
It took them another week to finally reach the borders of the Land of Fire, having stopped a couple of times in their journey to rest. Tobirama had half a mind to keep pushing, but at one point Torifu had shouted, “Gods, Tobirama, slow down! What are you rushing home to?” and finally snapped him out of the spell he’d been unaware of.
Because, well.
Technically, he did have Hashirama to come home to, but his elder brother was more than capable of being on his own, and both of their parents had long since passed during the Warring Period. He had no other relative, nor spouse that could be the reason behind his urgency to return.
But now, he does have someone waiting for his return other than his brother. Or at least, Tobirama is hoping that he’s waiting for him—hopes that when he gets to Konoha, he’ll be met with sharp, dark eyes and playful jabs about his lateness, and maybe a few digs at his skills.
He has Izuna now, and isn’t that such a thrilling admonishment. Even more thrilling is the knowledge that as eager as Tobirama is in returning, he’s sure for a fact that Izuna is also waiting for his return, no matter how long.
The knowledge of it eases his mind in an instant, and uncurls the ever-present knot in his stomach. He can slow down, rest with his team, replenish his chakra, take 2 or 3 more days to return, and still, he knows Izuna will be waiting for him.
__
His chakra starts to thrum in erratic waves once he finally makes his return to the village. Though this time it’s mostly because of anticipation, and not restlessness.
“You two are dismissed,” Tobirama says to both Kagami and Torifu, who look to him after they’ve passed the gates. “I will report to my brother.”
Hashirama tackles him in an embrace the minute he steps into his office—thankfully devoid of Madara—and begins fussing over him, checking for any signs of hurt.
“Anija,” he says, pained at being treated like a child still, though he blames it on the long travel that it comes out whinier than he intended. “I am fine. Stop fretting.”
“You are certain? No injuries, no—”
“No,” Tobirama sighs. “I promise you. My chakra hasn't been restored just yet, but all I will need is some rest.”
“Good, good,” Hashirama says, nodding, finally convinced. “Now, tell me. How did it go?”
The question activates a switch in both Hashirama and Tobirama, who—as Tobirama recounts his mission—slips into the role of Hokage and his second in command effortlessly. By the end of Tobirama’s summary of his mission, Hashirama nods once more.
“Well, what had happened had to be done. I’m sure the council will understand the changing nature of the mission and will be grateful that you’ve successfully extinguished the sparks of rebellion.”
Tobirama inclines his head. “I will make sure the written report is at your desk by tomorrow, Anija. If you will excuse me now—”
“Going so soon?” Hashirama asks, tone far too innocent for Tobirama’s liking. Tobirama’s hands twitch at his sides. “Usually you stay for a bit to chat with your older brother after a mission.”
“Oh,” Tobirama answers helplessly. He clears his throat, making the move to sit in one of the chairs in the Hokage’s office. “Of course, Anija. I—”
Seeing him awkwardly navigate his way in the office he’s been in a hundred times makes Hashirama let out a hearty laugh, stopping Tobirama in his tracks.
“Tobirama,” his brother says, shoulders still shaking with laughter. He wipes a tear that had fallen and looks at Tobirama softly. He feels a bead of sweat trickle down his neck from the gaze. “For all that you scold me about wearing my heart on my sleeve, you are just the same. You are truly my brother.”
It wasn’t often that Tobirama was left speechless—his sharp mind and tongue prevented him from coming up blank, always with a retort or a suggestion. But that was usually for war battles, war strategies, and politics, now that the village has been built. But this… on feelings and attachments, he felt himself out of his depth for the first time in a long while.
For all the foolish things that his brother has said and done, the man wasn’t stupid.
“Shall I make a guess?” Hashirama asks, leaning into his chair. “Because I think it’s—”
“Izuna,” Tobirama rushes out, like his very last breath had been taken from him. “It’s Izuna.”
He feels lighter the minute Izuna’s name—and the admission that there is something between them—is out in the open. Technically, only to Hashirama, but Hashirama is the only person whose opinion he truly cares about, and it certainly feels better to acknowledge it rather than keeping it heavily guarded within himself.
Hashirama smiles knowingly. “Ah, it seems that you and I are the same too, in that sense. Unable to stop the pull of magnets that those Uchiha have.”
Tobirama’s eyes widened. Hearing that sentence come from his brother’s mouth was just as much of a confession—that he too had fallen into the Uchiha’s gravitational force. To whom exactly, Tobirama did not even have to guess.
Before Tobirama could say anything, Hashirama continued, “It is best if you do not keep him waiting, then. You know how they are with their temper.”
At that, a smile finally graces Tobirama’s lips once more. It’s a blessing from his brother, a promise that whatever happens from here on out, Hashirama has got his back—as Tobirama does his.
He bows to his brother. “Thank you, Anija.”
___
Izuna’s chakra flares the moment Tobirama teleports to the marker he had left in the tree in Izuna’s backyard garden. It dances ablaze for a moment, responding to Hashirama’s own, before Izuna abruptly controls his chakra back.
He must know that Tobirama’s here, in his home, yet he makes no move to greet him. Tobirama will have to greet him first. That prideful menace.
“Izuna,” he calls, as he steps into the threshold of his home. He stops just short of the door but makes no move to open it just yet.
“Who is it?” Izuna’s bored voice replies, as if he doesn’t recognize Tobirama’s chakra or voice. Cheeky thing. As if he’d let another person just barge into his personal quarters like Tobirama just did.
“Here I thought my beloved would be eager for my return,” Tobirama says, the words of affection—of what Izuna is to him—slipping out of his mouth carelessly. He’s probably still high on the adrenaline, both from his mission and from his recent conversation with his elder brother. “But it seems that he has now forgotten me in a matter of weeks.”
Tobirama hears the soft patter of Izuna’s feet as he makes his way to his back door, opening it harshly to reveal his pretty face that’s been schooled into feigned ignorance. He looks at Tobirama up and down, searching for any signs of injury or hurt, before he mutters, “You’re awfully late.”
“I did say it would take me a few weeks at most,” Tobirama replies, slowly making his way to Izuna, who stays rooted at his spot, eyeing his movements with slanted eyes.
“You would think a shinobi of your caliber would at least try to lessen the time,” Izuna says. How he manages to praise and berate him at the same time is all sorts of wonderful. “I almost died of boredom here.”
Tobirama’s mouth twitches at hearing Izuna’s words—at finally seeing Izuna—before he closes the little distance between them and practically scoops Izuna into his arms. He splays his arms around Izuna’s back and waist, pulling him tightly and burying his face into his hair, letting his senses be overwhelmed with Izuna. He even goes as far as picking him up a little off his feet, an action that would usually have him scolded, but Izuna stays silent and hugs him even tighter.
He brings one of his hands to cup Izuna’s neck, letting his hand linger on his dark mane. “I’ve missed you.”
“Senju and their dramatics,” Izuna tuts as they pull away, though he says it with incredible fondness in his eyes as he cups Tobirama’s cheek. Izuna doesn’t need to say the words back for Tobirama to know that he shares the same sentiment, with the way he’s so gently caressing his face. “You are well?”
Knowing that there is no use to lie and pretend to be invincible to Izuna, he says, “A few cuts and a fracture on my rib.”
At that, Izuna pinches his cheek. “Then you need to go see the healers—”
“Can it be tomorrow?” Tobirama pleads, resting his forehead against Izuna’s to look deep into his eyes. To think that looking into his eyes was nothing short of suicide for him, but now it’s a source of love. “Please.”
Izuna looks at him for a few moments, contemplating if he should drag him to the Senju healers by force. After a while, he sighs and says, “Fine. But you will bathe and eat properly.”
Tobirama kisses him in gratitude.
__
After his bath and the meal he had scarfed down with fervor, Tobirama has his head in Izuna’s lap, eyes blissfully closed as Izuna threads his slender hands through his hair, occasionally giving his head a scratch, melting him little by little into his floor.
He had told Izuna the story of his mission in between bites of the mackerel Izuna had prepared for him, and Izuna listened earnestly, occasionally asking questions. He, too, supplied Tobirama with his activities during his absence: helping Madara with the clan’s police force, attending council, visiting nearby villages for patrol—all of which he said were painfully boring tasks.
He lets Izuna’s voice settle over him like a blanket, something he wished he had during those nights away. It almost lulled him to sleep, being like this, in his used-to-be sworn enemy’s lap, having his hair played with, belly and heart full.
He blinks his eyes open when Izuna’s voice starts to drift off, only to find the man already looking at him. Even when they were still at each other’s throats, no one—and not even Tobirama himself—could deny the beauty that was Izuna Uchiha. He had all the features that made him an Uchiha, of course—pale, with hair as dark as the night—but his features were softer than his brother’s, more lean yet nonetheless deadly.
His eyes are what Tobirama has come to love the most, however. Feline-like in their features, dark like his mane, and so expressive now that Tobirama has had the privilege of staring into them for hours on end. They are both not much for flowery words, Izuna even less so, but Tobirama was truly a fool to not notice the sheer amount of love Izuna’s eyes held when he looked at him.
“Izuna,” he whispers. “Have you put me under a genjutsu? ”
Izuna’s mouth twitches at hearing those words before he full-on laughs when he sees that Tobirama is serious. He bends down and pecks his lips, flashing his Sharingan playfully at him before he asks, “And if I did?”
If the genjutsu was nights in Izuna’s lap, playful banters, little kisses, and a big feeling of contentment, well. “Then I wish to never wake from it.”