Chapter Text
Hallowed
FIVE YEARS AGO:
“This has to stop.”
Naruto looked at his childhood friend, a blond brow quirking in question.
Sakura looked down at the body that lay on the table, hands trembling as her fingers trailed over the cold flesh of her best friend, clasping the hand tightly with her own. “This isn’t right, Naruto! Ino didn’t deserve this!” Tears slid down her cheeks as Sakura bent over the still husk of a body. “Why can’t they just stop?!”
Naruto awkwardly rubbed the back of his head, his normal grin nowhere to be seen. “I’m sorry, Sakura-chan.” His voice lacked the usual boisterous inflection, his own grief prevalent. “I tried to get her out before-“
Sakura stood, turning on him with liquid fire burning in her eyes. “That’s not what I mean!” Her hand jabbed at the corpse of their friend. “This war between the Senju and Uchiha Syndicates has claimed yet another friend of ours, Naruto! Our families are gone, thanks to them!” She gestured to the men that were at the door, unable to hear as she lowered her voice further. “Now they’re trying to take you, too, Naruto!”
Naruto kicked his foot against the ground, not wanting to upset her further, but knowing it was important she know the truth. “Actually, they recruited me right after Ma and Pa were killed.”
Bright blue met shocked green, watching the light fade from her eyes. “You…” Sakura took a step back, flinching when Naruto reached for her. “You became one of them?!”
Naruto balked at the tone she used, his outstretched hand curling into a fist before he pulled back. “Hey, it’s not all that bad-“. He started, but was cut off.
“Not that bad?!” Sakura snarled, taking the three steps forward and shoving him back. In his shock at her outburst, she managed to make him slide back two steps. “You’re an even bigger idiot than I thought! That or you don’t remember what it feels like to lose those closest to you!”
Sakura was positively vibrating with rage, her nerves rattling around as her heartbeat slammed a melody of anguish.
“I mean, I haven’t had to do much of anything, Sakura-chan!” Naruto defended himself as best he could in the situation, knowing that she was right. “I drive stuff from one place to the other. Nothing dangerous.”
“Of course they won’t give you anything too dangerous yet, Dummy.” Sakura tried to temper her anger, knowing that there was nothing she could do, at this point. Naruto had been inducted into the Syndicate, the Senju Syndicate to be precise. “You’re the son of Kushina and Minato, the head of two powerful families loyal to the Senju Main Family. They can’t afford to lose you.”
Naruto shifted uneasily, a part of him knowing he had it easier than any of the other newest members. His grunt work was well rewarded while others hustled through crap, with nothing to show for it but their own pipe dreams that a higher up would notice and give them an opportunity to rise in station.
“I can’t do this.” Sakura spoke quietly, her shift in demeanor scaring Naruto. “I can’t sit by and watch as you subject yourself to this life, Naruto. We had bigger plans than this, you and me and-“
Naruto swallowed hard at the reminder of their first major loss, one shared trauma that had bonded them together so fiercely. Even at thirteen-years-old, Naruto had known it would last forever. “You don’t have to, Sakura-chan.” Naruto pulled her into a large, warm hug, one only he head capable of giving. She clung to him, desperate for things to go back to normal. “You’re going to leave here and you’re not gonna be involved, anymore.” Naruto promised, his lips leaving a warm imprint on her forehead. “I’ll make sure of it.”
“How can I trust that?” She was so small, he realized sadly. So traumatized by a life she did not choose.
“You can trust me.” Naruto pulled back, cupping her cheeks in his large, warm hands. “You have my word, that’s something you can believe, right?”
“Yes, Naruto-kun.” Sakura smiled. “I can believe it.”
X
The pink-haired woman stood in front of the casket, quietly crying as she laid a white rose on the top. She did not linger as many of the Senju Main Family and the lesser aligned houses did, simply running her hand along the surface of the solid wood casket. Her lips moved, the words seeming to harden something inside, as she nodded firmly and turned.
Carmine eyes watched as the woman walked passed him, his head turning to follow as she left the reception hall.
What a strangely fascinating woman, he mused.
“Tobi, pay attention.” The soft command of his elder brother had the white-haired man shifting his focus back to the attendants. “Your focus needs to be here. Please, do not disrespect the deceased, again.”
“Yes, Brother.”
With no living close family, the responsibility of the funeral had fallen to the Senju Main Family. And it was with a heavy heart that the brothers had acknowledged the loss of the last of a great line, loyal to the end of a line that stretched back nearly 100 years in close service.
It was more common than either would like to admit, these days. The deaths had started to stack heavily on both sides of the war, family and civilian alike.
But still…
His mind wandered to the young woman as everyone bowed their head in prayer with the priest, silence reigning in the temple. Who was she to the young man? Tobirama wondered. Perhaps a lover they hadn’t been aware of?
As the service ended, Tobirama followed his brother out to the cars.
Hashirama stopped at the car, dark brown eyes settled on the opposite side of the street. Tense was an understatement as he met the gaze of his former best friend, each somber as they realized the services for their respective families had been settled for the same day.
Without a word, Hashirama entered the backseat of his car, shifting over as he waited for his brother.
Tobirama watched Madara and Izuna respectfully wait at their car, carmine eyes narrowed. He grit his teeth, a hand flexing as if he wanted to grab something.
“Tobi, get in.”
With one last glance at the Uchiha brothers, Tobirama got into the car.
X