"Hey, there you are! I thought you snuck out of the house again without asking!"
After a few minutes, a black-haired boy showed up at the training ground, looking both happy and anxious about his brother. The moment Madara heard that familiar voice, all the fatigue from his workout seemed to vanish as he gazed fondly at the youthful figure pouting before him.
"Izuna!" Madara shouted.
"Come on, let's fight, brother! I'm sure I can handle the other kids, especially those pesky Senju!" Izuna's competitive fire sparked in his eyes as he dared Madara to a duel.
"Okay, I'm in..." Madara responded, shaking his head but promising to look out for his brother, no matter the outcome.
'Don't worry, Izuna... I'll make sure you're safe!'
While the two enjoyed their time at the Uchiha Estate without any interruptions, Hashirama was busy doing some investigative work and actually made good progress, although he faced one significant issue he wasn't aware of — his brother's keen and sharp instincts.
Tobirama believed his brother wasn't exactly the type to be inquisitive or show interest in others' lives. Sure, some stories could be motivational as one navigated the path of a Shinobi. However, Hashirama overwhelmed their elders with questions that sometimes went off track, but Tobirama grasped the main idea and focus — Yoichi Murakami, the Phantom.
Tobirama was well aware of Yoichi's accomplishments and his reputation. He admired the Phantom's calm demeanor and effectiveness in carrying out missions. Additionally, Yoichi's firm but subtle principles appealed to Tobirama, who was drawn to that kind of practicality and rational thinking.
An example of this would be the absence of constant violence typical of clans like the Uchiha and Senju, or other factions fueled by hatred in the Land of Fire. Yoichi established rules within his clan that kept them from descending into chaos, and Tobirama appreciated that choice, especially in contrast to the mindless elders.
"I need to look out for my brother... just in case something's happened to him." Tobirama crossed his arms, lost in thought. It was clear he didn't want to go through the pain of losing another brother. At the same time, he felt compelled to understand why his brother was so intrigued by someone as well-known as Yoichi Murakami.
Could there be a connection? Possibly...
All his doubts would be cleared up once Tobirama saw the truth for himself.
...
"Ah, this feels amazing..."
By a nearby stream, a black-haired kid was enjoying himself, letting go of his cares as he relieved himself in the tranquility of the forest. But his moment of peace was interrupted when he felt a presence behind him.
"You really can't, huh?"
With a grin, the bowl-cut boy recognized his friend and felt relieved to see he was doing well.
"Quit sneaking up on me!"
Fuming, the black-haired kid turned to face his friend, though there was a hint of happiness in his expression.
When they gathered, they shared their aspirations and ended up sparring against each other as a way to train, eager to showcase their skills while passing the time as they waited for someone else to join them.
"Such promising young people..." Little did they know, their so-called teacher had been observing them right from the start.
The dynamic between Indra and Ashura was definitely a unique one, wasn't it?
"Haha! I won!"
In the open field, Hashirama shouted joyfully, full of energy as he proudly celebrated his amazing stamina in front of Madara, who seemed tired but completely unfazed by Hashirama's enthusiasm.
"Do you really think I could lose that badly? Dream on!"
Out of nowhere, a stone dropped from the sky and hit Hashirama on the head, leading to a draw between them. For a brief moment, both paused, then burst into laughter at the absurdity of the situation, which helped forge a strong friendship between the two rising stars.
"Great job! It's wonderful to see both of you doing well!" With continuous applause, Yoichi stepped in between them, catching them by surprise.
"Sensei! You made it!" Hashirama exclaimed, getting to his feet and bowing slightly, viewing Yoichi as a mentor.
"Wow! Calling someone 'teacher'? What a clueless fool! Where was your awareness before?"
Hashirama's unexpected show of respect caught Madara off guard as he struggled to process the situation right in front of him.
In Hashirama's view, there was no reason to be cautious around Yoichi.
The man had a solid reputation, was a strong shinobi, and was eager to share his knowledge.
What more could Hashirama really ask for?
"Anyway, take it easy and regain your chakra. We're diving into some intense training today—"
As soon as he finished speaking, Yoichi sensed someone else entering his unique awareness, signaling his students who were in the process of recovery.
"Just wait for a bit here."
Before they could exchange any words, Yoichi vanished. Madara and Hashirama raised their eyebrows, intrigued until Madara shut his eyes and refocused on the crucial task at hand.
Training.
"Where do you think he went? What if something's wrong?!" Eager for some gossip, Hashirama leaned closer to Madara and whispered.
"Pipe down! Concentrate on recuperating, or I'll kick you out!"
Hashirama: (╥ᆺ╥;)
Noticing Hashirama's glum expression, Madara facepalmed in exasperation and shook his head.
"What a pain!"
...
"Come on out; I knew you were here."
After parting from the two, Yoichi found himself in a seemingly empty area of the forest. The surroundings appeared typical, much like other green woodlands, but he couldn't miss the scent and tracks left by a young boy.
'What a clever kid! He managed to hide fast when I took off... This level of awareness is impressive!'
In a split second, three needle-like projectiles shot through the air, aimed at Yoichi's vital points.
Blending into the shadows of the trees, the senbons were hard to see.
Yet, Yoichi effortlessly deflected all three.
"Yoichi Murakami, what have you done to my brother?!" A white-haired boy stepped out of the shadows, wielding a kunai and looking both cautious and respectful of his long-time idol.
'Tobirama Senju, the Innovator of Ninjutsu...'
"Take it easy, Little Senju. I haven't harmed your brother," Yoichi sensed Tobirama's determination when it came to his sibling, who was likely lurking somewhere in the forest.
Tobirama raised an eyebrow in disbelief until Yoichi continued, "Don't worry about your reckless brother; I'll take care of things and teach him a lesson. But let's make a deal right here: if you keep this between us, I'll share some foundational techniques I've been developing over the years. Sound good?"
As Tobirama processed Yoichi's words, a sense of skepticism crept in; he couldn't shake the feeling that the offer was too good to be real.
Growing up, recognizing deceit hidden in words was likely a crucial skill for any great shinobi.
Something just felt off.
"What if I made this public?" Tobirama probed, testing Yoichi's limits with the tone of an experienced elder.
"I don't think you would do that… after all, these techniques will help you. Here, take this." Without hesitation, Yoichi tossed the scrolls to Tobirama, who received them with the utmost care, cradling them as if they were fragile.
'From a shrewd old man to a wide-eyed kid.'
"Hey kid, do you know the number one rule for shinobi?" The moment Yoichi spoke, Tobirama instinctively understood and gripped his kunai tightly as the scrolls tumbled to the ground like scattered stones.
'Stay alert, as always!'
Instead of striking, Yoichi gently ran his fingers through Tobirama's hair. In contrast, Tobirama's instincts kicked in, prompting him to attack. However, the kunai he wielded merely grazed Yoichi's wrist, leaving him entirely unharmed, which left Tobirama in a state of shock.
"What?! How is this possible? What's happening?!"
After inspecting both his kunai and Yoichi's wrist a few times, Tobirama stroked his chin, deep in thought.
"Stay safe out there, kid! Keep what you learn from those scrolls to yourself. Anyway, see you later!"
With that, Yoichi took his leave. In his mind, this moment felt familiar because he had seen it unfold before. In the main story, everyone comes to understand the significance of Madara and Hashirama's meetings later on.
As for the scrolls, they contained knowledge on Edo Tensei, the Shadow Clone Technique, Flying Thunder God, Bringer of Darkness, and insights into Yin-Yang Release.
In essence, these were Tobirama's areas of expertise.
He provided them as a means to compensate for what appeared to be his weakness: being a jack of all trades, but master of none.
While Hashirama and Madara excelled in singular skills, Tobirama's strength lay in the power of teamwork and overcoming challenges through numbers or incredible speed.
To sum it up, he was as annoying as a cockroach.
"Maybe he could cook something in the future, it's merely foundational techniques so he can look into the base formula and gradually understand the meaning in the future. I'm excited about his newly developed jutsu!"
Having those scrolls could help Tobirama lessen his time to research his expertise and develop other things. Regardless of that, let him cook.