The fact that Hashirama had never even considered using his brother’s bond with the Uchiha against Izuna’s clan was telling of his own base nature to be sure. Some people would call him an unredeemable optimist or a naïve fool and Tobirama would probably be counted in that crowd. But that optimism had helped to build this village and had brought peace to two clans that had been at war with each other for centuries.
“You knew…” Tobirama repeated utterly mystified.
“Yes, I knew. And I wanted you two to be happy. For us to reach peace with the Uchiha so that the two of you would have that opportunity.” For years, he’d been so afraid Hashirama would look at him with disapproval or anger…or worse yet with disappointment in his eyes. But no, his brother was a better person than that wasn’t he?
Izuna’s barbs dug in deep and left him bleeding internally. He’d always known the best thing—or perhaps the worst thing—to say to make Tobirama feel awful.
“You weren’t! Izuna I—“ He stumbled over the words that wanted to burst free because of his brother’s presence out of habit more than anything else. Izuna wasn’t the only one who didn’t want to air their dirty laundry out in front of his brother. But the damage was done already. “I love you but you’re going to run off to Madara and join up with him. Then you’re going to start killing the people of this village.”
Izuna’s hands kept him from making the seals and a part of Tobirama wanted to just reach for them. But he knew what he had to do and once Tobirama made up his mind, it was hard to turn him away from it. “I’m sorry, I wish I could have shown you a world of peace like I promised you.” He started to form the last few hand seals needed to complete the release of the jutsu
“Tobirama don’t be hasty here. We can work something out with Izuna. And I haven’t given up on Madara yet.”
“There’s nothing else to do, Anija.” Tobirama said but his eyes never wandered away from Izuna. “I’m sorry.” Whether he was apologizing to the Uchiha or to his brother was uncertain but Tobirama made the last seal. “Kai.” The word lacked any ring of conviction and those red eyes shimmered as they looked at Izuna. “I’m sorry…”
no subject
“You knew…” Tobirama repeated utterly mystified.
“Yes, I knew. And I wanted you two to be happy. For us to reach peace with the Uchiha so that the two of you would have that opportunity.” For years, he’d been so afraid Hashirama would look at him with disapproval or anger…or worse yet with disappointment in his eyes. But no, his brother was a better person than that wasn’t he?
Izuna’s barbs dug in deep and left him bleeding internally. He’d always known the best thing—or perhaps the worst thing—to say to make Tobirama feel awful.
“You weren’t! Izuna I—“ He stumbled over the words that wanted to burst free because of his brother’s presence out of habit more than anything else. Izuna wasn’t the only one who didn’t want to air their dirty laundry out in front of his brother. But the damage was done already. “I love you but you’re going to run off to Madara and join up with him. Then you’re going to start killing the people of this village.”
Izuna’s hands kept him from making the seals and a part of Tobirama wanted to just reach for them. But he knew what he had to do and once Tobirama made up his mind, it was hard to turn him away from it. “I’m sorry, I wish I could have shown you a world of peace like I promised you.” He started to form the last few hand seals needed to complete the release of the jutsu
“Tobirama don’t be hasty here. We can work something out with Izuna. And I haven’t given up on Madara yet.”
“There’s nothing else to do, Anija.” Tobirama said but his eyes never wandered away from Izuna. “I’m sorry.” Whether he was apologizing to the Uchiha or to his brother was uncertain but Tobirama made the last seal. “Kai.” The word lacked any ring of conviction and those red eyes shimmered as they looked at Izuna. “I’m sorry…”