Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"What's that, Madara-sensei?" Kagami, the young boy with curiosity bubbling in his large dark eyes, inquired, interrupting Madara's lecture. The pair of Uchihas sat on the floor of the older's study hall, surrounded by books brimming with knowledge and ancient scrolls hiding secret techniques, with an open scroll detailing basic genjutsus laid out on the tatami between them. Madara paused his explanation on how to break out of a genjutsu at Kagami's disrupting question, looking down with dark, narrowed eyes and lip quirked in irritation.

"I'll pardon your interruption just this once, Kagami-kun," His deep voice calm, and filling the quiet hall. "What is 'that' which you are referring to?" Usually, Madara wore traditional Uchiha clan attire, an amethyst robe with the Uchiha crest boldly emblazoned on the back and a high collar that covered his neck and shoulders. Today, for whatever reason, he wore a standard sky-blue yukata that was loose around his shoulders and had gradually slid more open throughout the lesson. Kagami pointed to the sliver of Madara's exposed chest, where the skin was inked black. Madara looked down. “I told Hashirama this yukata didn't flatter my form." He grumbled in annoyance and covered the spot with his hand.

"Is it a tattoo?" Kagami asked.

"No tattoo is comparable to Fuuinjutsu motifs."

"Fuuinjutsu?! Please, Madara-sensei, tell me what it is." The young boy pressed, clasping his hands together pleadingly. Madara paused to think.

"… I suppose it's your right as a Uchiha to know." The older Uchiha opened his yukata to show his chest, where dark, intricate lines circled around a spiraling sea serpent. The seal resided over his heart, and Kagami was enraptured by it. "This is a Uchiha Soul Seal."

"Woah, what's it for?"

Madara stood up and grabbed a hefty book from the shelf that had the Uchiha clan crest on its cover. Sitting back down, he flipped to a page that depicted four different seals.

"Mine is one out of the four different seals Uchihas can use to bond other people to themselves." He pointed to the first seal listed. "This is the Lesser Uchiha Seal. It's for when a Uchiha wants to bond with someone out of necessity or survival, such as when they're on a shinobi team and want to stay connected to their teammates. It allows the Uchiha to know where the sealed person is and whether or not they are in any peril. It's a seal that can be broken when its use is up. 

"This one," he pointed to the second picture, "is the Higher Uchiha Seal. An Uchiha can use this for their best comrades and brothers in arms."

"Like a best friend?" Kagami asked, soaking in Madara's every word.

"… Yes, I suppose you can say 'best friend.' It has the same functions as the lesser seal but with a deeper connection. You'll both be able to feel each other's emotional states and even supply chakra to each other if need be. It's saved for the most reliable friends, and the seal is difficult to break. The next seal is unique in its own way," he pointed to the next. 

"It is the Uchiha Commander Seal. An Uchiha places this seal on a trusted leader or authority figure. Its purpose is to allow the sealed to take chakra, information, and bodily status for missions. This seal can only be broken by the seal and not the Uchiha. It's a precarious seal I've never used myself. Now, this final seal," he gestured to the last picture of the page. 

"Is the Uchiha Soul Seal. It's the most powerful and most complex out of the four. It's a seal that bonds a Uchiha to their beloved. They can share emotions, thoughts, pain, and pleasures and blend their chakra together effortlessly. No matter how far apart, they'll know where they are. It's the only unbreakable seal here, with death being the only force to shatter the coupling."

"Who has your soul seal then, Madara-sensei?!" Kagami asked, sitting up on his knees. "Your soulmate?"

"That's best kept a secret," Madara said firmly, recovering his chest. "In the shinobi world, bonds are your strength as much as they are your weakness."

"Oh, that was a bit sad,” the boy mumbled before smiling. “Then can I try and guess your soulmate?"

“No! We’re going back to genjutsus.”

~ 𓃸 ~

Kagami first met Hiruzen quite suddenly. The young Uchiha was walking alone down the street, for the first time in a few months, and was knocked to the ground by a rushing Hiruzen.

"Oops, sorry! Didn't see you there." The energetic boy quickly apologized and dragged a still-stunned Kagami to his feet and dusted the dirt off his shirt. "If I win this, I'll buy us some mochi, and we'll eat it in front of Dan-kun!" Without further explanation, Hiruzen took off down the road, running to who knew where and leaving Kagami behind, staring after him with curiosity through his long, messy bangs.

Kagami never got that mochi from Hiruzen, but the Uchiha boy still followed behind the young Sarutobi with wide, watchful eyes. He quickly learned that the boy had a rebellious streak, often causing mischief with his boisterous and outgoing personality. He also learned that the Sarutobi was enrolled in the Shinobi Academy and liked to play in the nearby woods with a fellow shinobi in training, Danzo.

The shinobi world intrigued and fascinated Kagami to no end, but, like many other things in his life, he kept his distance from it. "For his wellbeing," he was told. 

However, that distance was closed in the blink of an eye one summer afternoon. Kagami peeked his head around a tree, watching Hiruzen and Danzo spar with each other on the pond, analyzing every quick movement of their hands and how they danced across the water. Hiruzen punched, and then Kagami punched. Danzo kicked, and then Kagami kicked. He danced along with them through imitation.

"You've got some good moves," Kagami jumped out of his skin at the voice that tickled behind his ear, and he spun around frightened, his back hitting the tree trunk. Hiruzen laughed as he swung upside down from the tree branch, and Kagami glanced back to the pond to see that Hiruzen burst into a puddle of water when Danzo finally landed a hit. "Well, they're mine, so of course they're awesome."

"… Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt your training," Kagami quietly muttered, looking down and away.

"Nah, it was getting boring beating Dan-kun's butt all day," Hiruzen shrugged off the apology and scrunched his face in thought. "I've seen you before," he suddenly deduced and dropped from the tree, twisting in the air to land on his feet. "But where?" he tapped his chin and got close to Kagami's face to examine him.

"He's the boy that's been stalking us." Kagami flinched and spun around to see Danzo approaching, arms crossed over his chest.

"I know that, but I mean besides that."

"… You knocked me over in the street one time," Kagami supplied, and Hiruzen's eyes flashed with recognition.

"Oh, right! When I beat Dan-kun in the great mochi race."

"Only because I tripped over that dumb rock." Danzo quickly clarified as if the young Uchiha had to know his loss wasn't because of his lack of skill.

"We let him think that." Hiruzen gave a smirk and wink to Kagami. "I never gave you that mochi, did I? You probably came to ask for that. But why didn't you try to ask me at the academy instead of stalking us in the woods."

"The academy?" the young Uchiha muttered.

"Yeah, the shinobi academy. Wait, you're not a student there?" Hiruzen asked, baffled and then shocked, when Kagami shook his head. "How can you not be?! With moves like that, I thought you were one of the top students in your class. We gotta fix this!" he grabbed Kagami's hand and hurriedly dragged him through the woods. "Let's talk to Rei-sensei. She'll definitely let you join our class once she sees your skills."

"Hiru-kun, wait!" Danzo called out as he chased after the two. "You don't even know if he wants to be a shinobi." That made Hiruzen stop in his tracks.

"Oh, right," he turned to Kagami with a sheepish smile. "Did you want to be a shinobi, or are you only here for the mochi?"

"I…" Kagami glanced at Hiruzen's hand, still holding his, the grasp warm and strong on his cold skin. "I'd like both, but… Tosan says I shouldn't be a shinobi."

"Yeah, well, my dad tells me not to play in the woods and look where I am." Hiruzen flashed a bright, mischievous smile. "If you really want to be a shinobi, go for it!" There was something infectious about Hiruzen's bold confidence that clung to Kagami's ego at that moment. He puffed up his small chest and squeezed Hiruzen's hand back. 

"I want to be a shinobi!" He proudly declared. 

"Then what are we waiting for? C'mon!" Hiruzen took off again with Kagami in tow.

"You're not leaving me behind!" Danzo called out and ran after the pair, catching up to them. Kagami found himself with a growing smile as he ran with the other boys.

Since that day, Kagami would forever be intertwined with the shinobi world and all the antics and emotions that would come with being friends with Sarutobi Hiruzen.

~ 𓃸 ~

"The three of you will have two months to get signed contracts for your chosen summons within Kodai Jungle. You will meet us back here on the arrival date, no later, or we'll leave you all to be prey for the jungle. Understand?"

A twelve-year-old Kagami responded with 'yes, Tobirama-sensei' along with Danzo and Hiruzen.

"You three were chosen out of all your teammates because Tobirama-sama and I believe you are fully capable of taming the beasts of this jungle," Sasuke said, the Sarutobi looking over his two students and son with calculating eyes as green as the jungle behind them. "Now, go. Fulfill your mission." Those were his last words before Kagami raced beside his fellow ninjas past the tree line of the vast jungle to find their respective summons within sixty-one days.

Danzo claimed his summon first on the twelfth day. The tapir herd resided in the largest river and lake within the jungle, the chimeric creatures using their elephant-like trunks to shower themselves and their tiger-like claws to catch fish in the river. The elder tapir only allowed Danzo to attempt to get a contract for his own amusement, Kagami quickly deduced. Kagami and Hiruzen kept back as per Danzo's wishes but kept a close eye so the stubborn fool wouldn't get himself killed. The ambitious chuunin first aimed to get a contract from one of the adults, but after days of being ignored, nearly drowned, chased, and almost sucked into one of its mouths with its powerful vacuum, with Kagami having to shoot a fireball at it and Hiruzen trapping it with an earth jutsu, Danzo accepted the contract of the only tapir that showed any interest in him.

He was a young creature about the size of an elephant calf who followed the boy around everywhere, whose claws had yet to fully grow in, and whose wind attacks fell as lovely as a morning breeze but still attempted to help Danzo when he was attacked. Danzo returned the favor of rescuing the juvenile creature when the attacking tapir tried eating him, and the contract was practically signed then.

The tapir's name was Baku, and despite initially having so many gripes with the tapir, Danzo proudly boasted about his newly contracted summon, spurring Hiruzen to throw a mud ball at the boy's smug face and for Danzo to command Baku to tackle the Sarutobi boy who eagerly obliged. Though they had to wash in the river afterward, Kagami enjoyed the ensuing playfight in the mud. Baku joined the trio as they went to retrieve Hiruzen's contract next.

While Kagami and Danzo were given a species to make summons with free reign to choose a specific creature, Hiruzen was given a name. Prince Kan, the firstborn of King Gori, Sasuke's own summon. The royal monkey family reigned from the top of the tallest tree in the jungle, a gigantic structure whose trunk was as wide around as a mansion, and Kagami guessed its top reached the clouds. He wondered if Shodai Hokage could make a tree so grand. The young Uchiha was eager to climb it with his friends, but one of them was less than keen.

"I should stay down here. I'll make a recovery base for when you two get back and take precautions just in case you fall," Danzo said, climbing off Baku's back and already starting to set up a camp.

"Seems like someone's getting cold feet about a small climb," Hiruzen teased.

"Small? It's taller than Hokage Mountain! You may get a thrill dangling from the heavens, fool, but I prefer being safely grounded."

"Are you sure you should be out here alone, Danzo-kun?" Kagami asked.

"He won't be alone," Baku said, waving around his trunk.

"They're gonna be okay," Hiruzen assured the Uchiha. "Here, I'll even leave a clone behind. Shadow Clone Jutsu!" He weaved a clone into existence with a puff of smoke. The two Hiruzens high-fived before the clone joined Danzo's side.

"We'll keep each other updated with messenger birds," The clone said.

"See, he'll be fine." Hiruzen jumped up and attached his feet to the trunk of the tree with chakra, his backpack straps dangling. "As long as Dan-kun doesn't try to fight something quadruple his size."

"Neither of you fall to your death either," Danzo said. "It'll hurt my mission grade."

“Come on, Kagami-kun!” Hiruzen encouraged, already beginning to scale the tree.

"Please be safe, Danzo," Kagami said, a quiet plea.

"I will," Danzo promised. "And you come back with Hiruzen in one piece."

"Got it. See you later!" the Uchiha gave his final goodbye before joining Hiruzen in climbing the titanic tree, using chakra to walk upward until they finally reached the massive branches to take a break on. At that point, the bottom layer of the jungle canopy obscured the ground, and more rays of sunlight peeked through the remaining tall trees. "I doubt we're even close to halfway done," Kagami said, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Nope," Hiruzen shook his head, looking down at the map of the tree. "I say we settle here for tonight and climb all day tomorrow. It's going to take days, if not a week or two, to reach the top. Then we'll have to climb back down."

"Sounds tough, but we still got this, Saru-kun," Kagami flashed a confident grin that Hiruzen returned. They got some rest and started climbing at the crack of dawn, jumping up from branch to branch, with Hiruzen making the first leap and Kagami copying his move with his Sharingan. It was physically demanding to keep up with Hirzuen's agility and stamina, especially with a heavy backpack holding his supplies, but Kagami kept pace. A long rope tied them together just in case one of them fell. By the second day, they broke through the canopy and could finally see the beating sun and vibrant blue skies.

"Excited to get your summon, Saru-kun?" Kagami asked Hiruzen as they climbed up a branchless part of the trunk, using their kunai to dig into the bark to conserve their chakra.

"I gotta be, right?" Hiruzen sighed, not from exertion.

"What's so bad about Prince Kan?"

"If my dad picked him out for me, there's gotta be something. You at least get to pick which cool tiger you want to be your summon. I bet you even get to choose which girls you want to hang out with, too."

"Oh, is that why you've been hanging out with Biwako-chan so much? Everyone thinks you two are courting."

"I wouldn't court that prissy brat if my life depended on it, and she would rather kiss a viper than be anywhere near me. My dad and her mom are pushing us together because I think they want us to get married. Ugh!" He stuck out his tongue in disgust as he stabbed the bark.

"Well, maybe Sasuke-sensei will change his mind and pair you with someone you bond with."

"Maybe," Hiruzen pouted, then smirked. "Like you and Denma-chan?"

"What do you mean?!" Kagami sputtered, almost losing his footing.

"I always see her at your home whenever I come to visit, and you two go off to train alone so much."

"That's because she's friends with my cousin, and Madara-sensei has us working together on the same genjutsu lesson."

"Yeah, sure," Hiruzen winked. "If you gotta your heart on her, I won't tell, but you should go for it. Strike while the iron's hot."

"You give love advice now?"

"Listen, just because my love life is going downhill doesn't mean I can't help my friends with theirs."

A hunk of bark smacking Kagami atop his head startled him, but he kept his composure to keep his grip.

"What the?" Kagami gasped, and the boys looked up just in time to see something else falling toward them, something that cried out. Hiruzen leaned back to catch it, and Kagami grabbed his forest green vest to keep him steady.

"Gotcha!" Hiruzen cheered as he caught the thing and quickly realized it was a monkey. He was just a bit smaller than the Sarutobi boy, with a tan face, hands and feet, and white fur coating the rest of him. Surprisingly, the monkey wore a maroon kimono shirt that was kept shut with a black sash wrapped around his waist.

"Thank you," he said as he clung onto Hiruzen's arms for dear life, relief shining in his light brown eyes.

"You're welcome, Saru-san," Hiruzen smiled, and Kagami pulled his friend back up to grab his embedded kunai, the monkey moving to cling to Hiruzen's backpack. "Going up!" The boys restarted their climb with their monkey passenger.

"What great fortune I have that you ninjas were here. Perhaps the world doesn't spite me so much," the monkey said. "What are your names?"

"I'm Uchiha Kagami, and I'm here to get a tiger summon," Kagami smiled.

"A worthy challenge."

“And I’m Sarutobi Hiruzen.”

"So, you're Sasuke-sama's child?" the monkey got a closer look at him. "Your father told mine you'd be arriving to claim Kan's contract."

"Your father is King Gori?"

"Yes. I am Prince Enma, King Gori's sixth son."

"What are you doing all the way down here?"

"My prince title means little to nothing to my family who respects only strength, so my brothers thought it would be entertaining to hurl me off the town's edge during a game of ape ball."

"Then we gotta get you back up there so you can kick their butts," Hiruzen encouraged as they finally reached a section of branches, getting a chance to rest on one of the large woody limbs.

"You don't have to do such a thing."

"No way, we have to help a prince," Kagami said.

"Yeah, we're all going the same way. Let's stick together," Hirzuen added, putting his hand out for Enma. The prince looked from his hand and then to the boy's smile.

"We'll scale this beast together!" Enma took Hiruzen's hand, and from then on, the monkey prince joined them on their journey. He acted as an extra pair of hands, catching supplies that accidentally fell, and helped guide them to easier and safer paths to climb the tree. On a rather scorching hot day, Enma led them to a large enclave in the trunk where they could find shade to eat the fruit the monkey prince had helped them pluck earlier.

"Ugh, head rush," Hiruzen groaned just before they reached the hollow, pausing on the tree branch and rubbing his head.

“Are you okay, Hiruzen?” Enma asked.

"Yeah, I'm just getting my destroyed clone's information all at once."

"What happened? Is Danzo okay?" Kagami worriedly questioned.

"He's doing just fine, trust me. The idiot tossed a log down to my clone when he wasn't looking and bonked him in the head."

They reached the space, and it would have just been a shady, cozy cavern to relax in if Kagami hadn't noticed the blood trail inside leading to a dark nook in the wood.

"I think there's something injured in there," Kagami said, going to investigate.

"Be careful," Hiruzen warned, taking out his kunai while Enma defensively stood beside him.

 "I know you're in there," Kagami called out as he approached the nook. "Are you hurt? If you are, we can help you." He kneeled down and peered inside, catching a glint of yellow eyes in the dark. Something inside defensively hissed at him. "Please don't be scared. We won't hurt you."  He gestured for Hiruzen and Enma to relax, and they thankfully listened. The Uchiha himself took the kunai strapped to his leg and set it on the ground. "I want to help." The hissing stopped, the nook going silent until something moved inside. Kagami sat back and watched a large baby raven with dirty grey feathers and stunning yellow eyes peek its head out the hole, staring the Uchiha in the eyes.

"That's it. Come on out," Kagami encouraged, and the… not fully raven crawled out, its lower half reptilian in nature with dulled silver scales covering its haunches, clawed paws, and a long swishing tail lined with budding spikes. Its bloodied left wing was missing too many feathers to show the deep slash marks on the wing bone. Kagami gently smiled at the injured creature. "Let's get you patched up." 

Kagami helped the creature get settled on a blanket and started tending to the wound with Hiruzen's assistance. Emma offered the creature some of his fruit to distract him from the pain, and the avian-reptilian creature gladly scarfed it down after a small taste. 

"I'm not a medic-nin, so I did the best I could," Kagami said as he finished bandaging the wing, the creature inspecting it with its beak. "It's not broken, so you should be able to fly again when it's all healed."

"… Thank you. What can I do to repay all of you?" A quiet voice of a young boy asked, seemingly from in Kagami's head. Enma flinched, startled, and hopped over to a surprised Hiruzen's side.

"Tell me you heard that too, Kagami-kun?" Hiruzen asked.

"Yeah, I did," the Uchiha answered, staring at the creature in amazement.

"I let you all touch me," the creature continued in his mind. "I can connect with you now."

"That's awesome," Hiruzen mused. "And you don't have to repay us."

"Are you certain?" The creature tilted his head, confused.

"Yes, we are," Kagami affirmed. "We decided to help you because we wanted to, not to take anything from you. What is your name?"

“I am Itsumade of Akarui Peak.”

"Far away from home, aren't you?" Enma said.

"Indeed. What are your names?"

“I’m Uchiha Kagami, a chuunin of Konohagakure. So, I'm far from home, too."

"I'm a chuunin from there, too, but I'm called Sarutobi Hiruzen."

"I am Prince Enma of the Hajime Tree."

"Prince?" Itsumade chirped. "Aren't you rather small?"

"I'm not fully grown yet," Enma huffed. "You're not very big yourself."

"I still have baby feathers," Itsumade scoffed, fluffing his feathers. 

"My group and I are here on purpose," Kagami said. "I doubt you are, though."

"I fell out of the sky during a terrible storm and landed all the way down here in this great tree," Itsumade said.

"Is that how you injured your wing?"

"No, I was—"

Kagami sensed the incoming attack seconds before it could land, a rushing blur of orange and black, and grabbed the scruff of Itsumade's neck before dashing away; Hiruzen doing the same with Enma, the cavern trembling from the force of their attacker's landing. Even so, Kagami's cheek bled from a sudden slash across it.

"Crap," Hiruzen hissed as he pressed down on his bleeding arm, unable to completely dodge as well.

"Hm, I came for the chimera but found man's blood," the tiger happily growled, the deep scarred slashes across his muzzle wrinkling as he brought his bloody claws to his maw, lapping it up with a red tongue. "Always satisfying." The large beast took over the space with his mere presence, its stripped coat of striking oranges, dark blacks, and faded whites layered over his muscular form. Leather straps wrapped around his back hung various dirtied skulls of various animals, and, frighteningly, a few seemed human. Around his neck were four hitai-ates tied together to form a necklace, one from each of the recently formed villages, except Konoha. His emerald green eyes, as sharp as his messy claws, flickered over to the Konoha-nin. "I've never seen any other child wear a symbol like yours before." He ferociously grinned. "Another trophy." Kagami tightened his grip on his kunai.

"You're out of your territory, Aritora," Enma sneered, hairs raised as he hissed. "Leave or face the consequences."

"Your sister said the same thing, monkey prince," Aritora laughed, the skulls tied to him rattling as he prowled over to block the exit, forcing the group to the other side of the room. "I'd love to repeat our confrontation with you." Kagami and Hiruzen looked at each other and nodded.

"I guess you're not open for contracts, Aritora-san," Kagami said with a wry smirk, sneaking a smoke bomb from his back pocket.

"I only want my prey's blood to drink, not stain my contracts, Uchiha." Aritora crouched down, muscles winding up, ready to pounce.

"Then maybe you have some siblings I can talk to. I'll even take cousins."

"My family—"

Kagami threw the smoke bomb, and Aritora stopped midsentence to reflexively claw it out of the air, a blinding dust cloud of smoke erupting. While Kagami activated his Sharingan to sharpen his senses and grab Enma and Itsumade, Hiruzen attacked, using the smoke cover to throw a barrage of shuriken at the tiger. Aritora hissed, being struck, and reared back to dodge the rest, giving the Sarutobi the opening to rush him, making his small body a chakra-enhanced projectile that rammed into the tiger's chest feet first. Aritora angrily roared as he was knocked back out of the hollow, and Kagami took the chance to escape, dashing out with his animal companions to continue the ascent, albeit with a life-threatening incentive. There was another section of plain bark before branches returned to act as their aid. Kagami glanced down to see Hiruzen further below, catching himself by burring his kunai into the bark and Aritora having caught himself on a lower branch.

"Can you climb, Itsumade?" Kagami asked, knowing the monkey prince could climb just fine on his own.

"Yes." The creature gripped its avian and reptilian claws into the bark, securing himself.

"Then both of you get moving," the Uchiha said before dropping down toward Hiruzen and Aritora, kneading chakra within himself.

"You'll die first, boy!" Aritora growled at Hiruzen as he prepared to pounce up and attack.

"Lighting Combo Three!" Kagami shouted at the Sarutobi, who grinned and planted his feet to stand, immediately signing. Aritora pounced just as Kagami and Hiruzen finished their jutsu.

""Lightning Release: Two Dancing Lions!"" The pair exclaimed as they shot out bright bolts of lightning toward the tiger. The bolts mingled in the air, twisting around each other to form a bigger attack that roared as it collided with Aritora, sending the tiger falling back with a loud crack and singed fur. The Konoha-nin took their chance to escape and ran back up the tree.

“We finally got that attack off!” Kagami cheered.

"All it took was nearly getting eaten,” Hiruzen laughed as the boys high-fived. “Though that tiger was way nicer than the runaway cats Tobirama-sensei made us catch.” They reached the branches where their animal companions were waiting for them and continued to run.

"I apologize for Aritora," Enma apologized. "He's a rogue tiger that hunts for sport. I hate that guests like you would be so viciously attacked in my home."

"I'm still alive," Itsumade proudly hummed.

"And Kagami-kun and I got some field practice on our new technique," Hiruzen said before giving an empathetic look. "I'm sorry about your sister, Enma."

"Thank you, and believe me, I will avenge her one day."

The group didn't stop running until they were robbed of breath, and their bodies screamed at them to stop.

With Itsumade's injury, he was unable to fly home and joined the group with Kagami's persistence. The group of young Konoha-nin, monkey prince, and chimera spent the next week together climbing to reach the summit, though that didn't mean chances for play and rest weren't snuck in. By the time Aritora's cut on Kagami's cheek was a healed faded mark, the top of the tree holding the monkey palace was in sight on a breezy morning. Tired from climbing and famished, there was only one right thing to do at this moment in Hiruzen's mind.

"Race you to the top!" the Sarutobi laughed as he speedily leaped from branch to branch with Enma close behind.

"We can't let them win, Itsumade!" Kagami exclaimed, and Itsumade cawed as they quickly pursued. Though Itsumade's wing wasn't healed enough to fly, he could use it to glide and propel himself when jumping, which he used to help pass the Sarutobi and monkey prince alongside Kagami, the Uchiha tauntingly sticking out his tongue. "We win!" Kagami happily claimed victory as he reached the top, collapsing on the wooden platform and savoring what he could, as his sore body would hate him for pushing himself too hard later.

"At what cost," Itsumade said, plopping down beside the Uchiha.

"We went easy on you," Hiruzen panted as he and Enma climbed up on the wooden platform, laying down beside Kagami.

"A prince mustn't show off too much," Enma smirked, leaning back on Hiruzen.

"Who approaches?!" A deep barking voice demanded as two heavy thuds landed in front of the group. Kagami looked up to see a pair of ape guards glaring down at them.

"I know I'm unkempt, but I'm still a prince," Enma said, standing up and dusting himself off. They were brought inside the lavish palace, a structure made of wood, vines, and, surprisingly, stone that had been hauled up the tree centuries ago. They were allowed to freshen up before seeing the king.

"You can finally get your contract now, Saru-kun," Kagami sighed, relieved, as he leaned back against plush cushions, eating from a bowl of sour-sweet berries he shared with Itsumade beside him. "Bet you're excited."

"Definitely," Hiruzen mumbled, sitting by the window and drumming his fingers on the sill.

"Okay, you're not excited," the Uchiha deduced, feeding another berry to Itsumade. "What's up?"

"… I don't know if this Prince Kan is the right summon for me," Hiruzen exasperated. "I'm sure he's a good monkey, but will we get along."

"If you're doubting this much… maybe don't make a contract with him."

"But he's the one my dad assigned to me. He won't be happy if I disobey his order. He's been so harsh lately."

"I think he'd be even less happy if you make a contract that won't work out."

"I don't know…"

"Well… I don't want a tiger summon."

"You don't?" Hiruzen looked at him, surprised.

"No. I've already met an animal companion I think better suits me." Kagami turned to Itsumade. "I can see us doing so much together in the future. I would like to sign your summoning contract, Itsumade. Only if you agree, of course."

"I do agree," Itsumade nodded, licking the berry juice off his beak. "Not only have you saved me, but I truly enjoyed our journey so far. I wouldn't want it to end so soon."

"You're really doing it?" Hiruzen muttered, wringing his hands together.

"Yep, and you can too if it's what you really want, Saru-kun. Go for it!" The Sarutobi nibbled his lip in thought just as a guard arrived to bring them before the king. Kagami kept to Hiruzen's side as they were led to the throne room, a great hall of polished wood and healthy green vines with a large stone throne at the head of the room where King Gori sat, a large ape draped in greying black fur and a wooden crown around his head. His deep orange eyes scrutinized his guests as they approached. All of his sons fanned out at his side, with Enma being on the far end and, indeed, the smallest out of his brothers.

"Firstborn of Sasuke-sama, you have come for my eldest's summoning contract." Gori's rumbling voice resonated through the hall, vibrating Kagami's bones. Itsumade respectfully bowed his head. Hiruzen glanced at him, unsure, and Kagami gave him a thumbs up. The Sarutobi took in a deep breath and stepped forward.

"Yes, my father sent me to sign Prince Kan's contact, and I truly believe he would make an amazing summon," he nodded toward the large monkey, whose sharp fangs poked out from his lips and arms muscular enough to effortlessly crush stone. "However, there is one who helped me reach your grand palace, so I have changed my mind." He looked at the surprised Enma. "I wish to sign Prince Enma's contract instead."

"My youngest?" Gori sounded taken aback. "I assure you my eldest is much more capable on the battlefield."

"I don't doubt that, Gori-sama, but I know Prince Enma and I will be able to work together as one. If Prince Enma accepts?"

"I accept!" Enma exclaimed excitedly, louder than he meant, and regained his composure. "I accept Hiruzen's signature, Otosan," Gori grumbled, leaning back on his throne and stroking his greying beard.

"Very well, young one."

"You can't allow that, Otosan!" Kan growled, red eyes angrily glaring at the Sarutobi boy who stood firm.

"Leave it, child."

"Is that not an insult to me?!"

"Leave the boy. Unless you desire to face Sasuke-sama's wrath, back down, Kan," Gori firmly said, and Kan huffed but relaxed.

"You are free to sign my youngest's contract, young Sarutobi. I wish your battles are as victorious and grand as mine and your fathers."

Kagami's and Hiruzen's contracts were signed, and it was finally time to leave the forest and meet up with Tobirama and Sasuke. Which would be challenging on its own, but Kagami's fulfillment helped encourage him to climb down the tree. Itsumade and Enma joined the boys to help escort them out. It wouldn't do if their new summoners got eaten before they could step outside the jungle. Thankfully, the climb down was much easier and much more fun than scaling up, leaping off a branch with his group and free-falling until they had to catch themselves on another branch. It was a moment of flight for Kagami, pretending to be soaring through the clear blue skies and a nice way to cool off from the scorching sun. With falling being faster than climbing, they would reach the bottom sooner than the nearly two weeks it took to reach the top.

It was night when Kagami knew they would reach the bottom by morning, and it was also night when Kagami knew they were being stalked. All it took to confirm it was a breaking branch above and a glint of emerald eyes in the dark.

"Run!" He shouted to his equally tensed group, and they made a break for the bottom, Kagami's legs straining from jumping all day.

"We can fight Aritora better on the ground," Hiruzen said, tossing Enma his tanto and throwing back shuriken into the dark, hoping to hit their pursuer.

"Did you think I'd let you go, shinobi?" Aritora sneered above, shrugging off the shuriken in his pursuit, scarring on his chest from their first confrontation. "I either win or die, and I have yet to meet my end."

"Funny, we're the same way!" Kagami countered. Though in midleap, Aritora pounced at him from above, maw wide open. The Uchiha's Sharingan activated reflexively as he saw the tiger barreling down toward him, but they showed him he'd be injured regardless with how worn out his body was.

"Kagami!" Hiruzen cried out as he tackled Kagami out of the way and screamed again in pain as Aritora's jaws latched onto his shoulder, dragging him down. Kagami roughly landed on a branch with Aritora and Hiruzen landing below, the Sarutobi boy stabbing the beast with his kunai, and the tiger refusing to let go.

"Hold on, Saru-kun!" He called down at his friend.

"Kagami!" Itsumade called out to the pair from a higher-up branch, Enma on his back, tanto held firmly. "Destroy the branch they're on, quickly!" Kagami listened, leaping down with his tanto and reinforcing it with a lightning jutsu, coating it in electrifying sparks. He buried it into the base of the branch, splintering and fracturing the thick wood, breaking it, and sending the three of them falling through the air. Aritora twisted himself in the air, still latched onto the struggling Sarutobi. Itsumade dove off his branch as well, with Enma still clinging to his back, falling after the others.

"Fire!" Enma shouted, and Kagami prepared a fireball jutsu but was surprised to see Itsumade acting as well, opening his beak to reveal a bright amber spark in his mouth. He furiously screeched, a stream of hot flames streaming from his mouth to scorch Aritora along with Kagami's fireball, stunning the tiger and forcing him to let go of Hiruzen. Kagami angled himself to catch Hiruzen and kicked off the writhing tiger to get themselves away. Itsumade flapped his wings and propelled himself forward through the smoke, giving Enma a boost as the monkey prince raised Hiruzen's tanto to strike, the blade glinting from Itsumade's flames. Kagami saw Enma slice into Aritora's neck, using Itsumade's momentum to twist the blade through with a determined war cry. The blade was broken off the hilt from the force, and so was Aritora's head from his body.

Kagami and Hiruzen fell through the canopy closest to the group, and the Uchiha's mind went reeling to find a way to catch their fall before they both splattered on the forest floor. However, a springy reassurance soothed his fears as a large vine net tied to the trees harmlessly caught their fall, letting them bounce a bit to ease off their momentum. There was a vibration of Itsumade, Enma, and Aritora's body also hitting the net.

"And we stick the landing," Hiruzen laughed through his panting and winced as he sat up, clutching his wounded shoulder.

“Are you okay, Saru-kun?” Kagami asked.

"Yeah, it just hurts, and I'll have to be stitched up. Thanks, all of you."

"We weren't going to let you be a trophy," Itsumade said, shaking his strained wings and releasing loose feathers.

"And no one else will ever be his prey again," Enma said, white fur splashed dark red under the night canopy. A fast-approaching light of a lantern climbed up one of the trees holding up the net, the illuminated figure coming into view.

"Kagami! Hiru!" Danzo exclaimed, new bandages wrapped around his arms. Perched on his shoulder was a young, dark-furred jackal with its large ears perked up and its rusty red eyes sharply focusing on the group, its small paws wrapped in bandages. The light lantern it held in his mouth jangled as it leaped off Danzo's shoulder before the boy rushed his friends. "You made it back early," Kagami heard the relief in his voice.

"Yeah, we kinda fell the rest of the way down," Kagami chuckled.

"See, I told you you two needed safety nets!" Danzo boasted to Hiruzen.

"Okay, fine, you were right," Hiruzen said, and Danzo seemed to realize the Sarutobi boy was injured, golden eyes going wide.

"You're wounded!"

"Bit by a tiger, but you don't have to worry about him. Our summons took care of him," Hiruzen proudly gestured to Enma and Itsumade. Danzo clearly had questions about Itsumade but kept them to himself for the time being.

"You should have told me you were injured first thing, you fool." He looked at Kagami. "Are you injured too?"

"No, all good here."

"Then help Hiru down. I'll get the recovery station set up." He turned to the jackal. "Help guide them down, Aka-kun."

"Yes, Danzo-san," Aka said around the lantern handle before Danzo took off back down the tree. "Follow me when ready, Danzo-san's friends." Enma and Itsumade helped Hiruzen onto Kagami's back before they all made their careful descent to camp.

…

… …

… … …

Kagami was more than happy to see Tobirama and Sasuke after a few days of camping just outside of the jungle with his teammates and Aka, the young jackal, finding his new home with the Konoha-nin.

"You're all here ahead of schedule," Tobirama sounded pleasantly surprised. "Well done."

"Thank you, Tobirama-sensei," Kagami beamed while Danzo proudly nodded.

"We're just that amazing," Hiruzen smirked.

"You all have your contracts then?" Sasuke asked, a glint of excitement in his green eyes seeing the boys nodding. "You first, Danzo-kun." He glanced down at Aka, the jackal close to Danzo's side. "I see you've made an extra companion."

"Aka-kun helped each other when we needed it the most. He’ll be the latest member of the Shimura clan," Danzo patted Aka on the head before confidently handing over the scroll of Baku's signature and personal note. Sasuke unrolled it for both him and Tobirama to read.

"Quite the young tapir you've contracted," Tobirama mused. "With Baku's excitement, I'm assured you two will be a powerful pair."

"Indeed," Sasuke agreed. "Well done, Danzo-kun," The Sarutobi patted the young Shimura's head, making him smile.

“Your turn, Kagami-kun,” Tobirama said.

"You'll both be surprised," Kagami smiled as he handed over Itsumade's scroll, watching expectantly as his senseis read the scroll.

"A chimera," Tobirama gasped, shocked.

"How did you get Itsumade's signature?" Sasuke asked, examining Itsumade's signature.

"We saved him after he got attacked. He stuck with us after that, and since we worked so well together, he agreed to let me sign his contract. That and the only tiger we met at that point tried killing us, so he wasn't the best option for my summon."

"Itsumade is an excellent choice, Kagami-kun," Tobirama praised.

"It is a welcomed surprise." Sasuke smiled as he patted the Uchiha's head. “Good job, Kagami-kun.” He turned to Hiruzen with an expectant look. "Let us see yours, Hiruzen."

"Here you go," the young Sarutobi handed over the scroll, and Sasuke read it. His smile fell to a neutral line.

"This isn't Kan's signature."

"No, it's Prince Enma's because I like him better. We're going to be amazing, Tosan, just you see!" Hiruzen smiled, and Sasuke's eyes narrowed.

"I trust your judgment, Saru-kun," Tobirama spoke up. "I believe Prince Enma will be the most suitable summon for you at your current level. What do you say, Sasuke-dono?”

"… Very well, Hiruzen," Sasuke smiled softly, handing his son the scroll back. "Prove me wrong."

~ 𓃸 ~

Sparring with Hiruzen was always as fun as it was challenging for Kagami, especially as the years went by for them to grow and hone their abilities. At eighteen years old, hardened by the ongoing war, their current sparring session was the roughest it had been, with the Sarutobi uprooting the earth with the impact of his taijutsu, and the Uchiha burned through the air with the speed of his kenjutsu. No matter how much time had passed, it was always true. If Kagami was really fast, then Hiruzen was really strong.

Kagami held back, though. He didn't want to damage the Sarutobi estate training grounds too much, and he intended for the session to be light-hearted, something to blow off some steam while the escort team was visiting Konoha before heading back out to the bloody war. Especially when they had a social party to go to that night where they would parade around with their betrothed to assure all the clans' fears that Konoha's next generation was guaranteed despite the war. Hiruzen didn't view it the same way, apparently.

"We should avoid any impromptu home renovations," Kagami said as he dodged a volley of rocks that crashed too close to the bathhouse. "Sasuke-sensei wouldn't appreciate a boulder in the bath with him."

"Maybe he would. It'd be the most company he's had in years," Hiruzen laughed, blocking Kagami's sword with his arm bracers, sparks flying as the two forces pushed against each other. "How's your company, Kagami-kun? You make it all the way yet?"

"What do you mean?" Kagami was ready for whatever nonsensical question Hiruzen had to throw him off his game.

"Have you and Denma-chan had sex yet?"

"What?!" Kagami exclaimed, flustered and mind racing at how to retort. Before he knew it, his stance was broken, his legs kicked out underneath him, and he was on his back with Hiruzen standing over him, smirking. "You and your skillful mind tricks, Saru-kun," the Uchiha sarcastically chuckled.

"It's an art, really." Hiruzen held out his hand, and Kagami took it, being helped to his feet. "But… Have you two though?"

"You're really that interested?" Kagami raised a brow as he sheathed his sword.

"Look, I would ask Tobirama-sama, but I've never even seen that man flirt, so I doubt he's ever had a lover."

"Yeah," Kagami agreed, blinking away the memories of catching the albino Senju in Madara's personal study more than close to the Uchiha leader. Those days were best left in the past.

 "Biwako and I aren't exactly the ideal couple. I need to know how off we really are."

"Hopefully not so off you can't smile for the party tonight."

"Since we're going to be spending the rest of our lives together, some stupid party is the last of my worries."

"Well… No, Dema-chan and I haven't gotten there yet. We haven't found the right time."

"You're a virgin then?"

"Yeah. But we fool around when we can." Kagami smirked as he rubbed his collared neck, massaging the dark bruises his Shimura teammate gifted him the previous night, a punishment the Uchiha happily endured for giving Danzo a risqué hickey.

"And you two enjoy loving on each other?"

"Very much. I've gotten many compliments on my chest massages," Kagami flexed his fingers.

"Oh, so you're an expert seducer now," Hiruzen scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Or you just copied techniques from when we visited that Red Light district."

"Give me credit. Some of my moves are self-taught. What about you, Saru-kun? Have you gone all the way?"

"Nah, I don't think so."

"You don't think so? Didn't you whisk away a girl that faithful night at Suna's Red-Light district? Maybe I'm remembering wrong. I put myself in a drunken stupor too soon."

"I'm surprised you can remember anything. We all got so drunk off our asses, it's all a blur, really." Hiruzen paused, tapping his chin. "Except Homura, Koharu, and Danzo, though, cause the lovebirds were too busy ogling each other, and Danzo is a—"

"I'm a what?" Danzo's voice carried through the training ground as he arrived in a casual purple yukata along with Torifu, who left the top of his blue yukata robe open to show his black undershirt.

"Very responsible teammate who is very dear to me," Hiruzen finished with a playful smile, and Danzo scoffed.

"Are you two done beating each other up? I doubt either of you are ready for tonight's spring social."

"We were wrapping up, Danzo-kun," Kagami said and then looked at Hiruzen with a mischievous smile. "Are you going to ask those two the same question you asked me?"

"What question?" Torifu inquired, and Hiruzen smirked at his other teammates.

"Have either of you had sex?" Kagami laughed along with the Sarutobi at Torifu's wide eyes and Danzo's flustered gasps.

"What kind of ludicrous question is that?!" the Shimura hissed. "That's private information, you perverted brat."

"So, that's 'no' from the prude," Hiruzen said and looked at Torifu. "What about you?"

"I've already captained that ship," Torifu gave a slight smirk.

"What?" Hiruzen gasped. "What did you get up to before we met up in Suna?"

"It's a secret for the sands."

"Pfft, fine. You should let Kagami copy some of your techniques then. Minus massages. He says he's already gotten plenty of compliments for his chest massages."

"Chest massages?" Torifu sounded confused. "Denma doesn't like— Oh," he glanced at Danzo. "Never mind, I believe it."

"Kagami!" Danzo growled, face red as he glared daggers at the Uchiha. "Denma wouldn't want you gossiping. It’ll stir up nasty rumors and there’s already enough of those."

"This'll stay between us, promise. I just wanted to boost morale," Kagami said and then flushed red as he smirked. "And prove to Hiruzen that my people-pleasing skills can be more intimate than just words." He rubbed his collared neck, massaging his hidden love bites, and winked.

"You want to test me again, Uchiha. You and Sarutobi." Danzo glared, swiftly unsheathing out his tanto. "Let's put these perverts in their place, Torifu."

"Sure," Torifu gave a slight grin, cracking his knuckles. "For Denma's honor, of course."

"Of course!"

"Uh oh, I think we're in trouble," Hiruzen chuckled, excitedly squaring up to Torifu.

"Not if we fight together, Saru-kun," Kagami grinned as he took out his sword, leveling it at Danzo.

"Always fight together, Kagami-kun."

Chapter Text

"Tell me, what is the Mangekyo Sharingan?" Madara questioned his four young apprentices who were seated around him.

"I haven’t heard about it, Madara-sensei," Kagami answered.

"It's a stronger Sharingan, right?" Denma tapped her chin.

"It's the next evolution of the Sharingan," Eiko explained, the older Uchiha girl side-eyeing the younger.

"It's a reawakening for the Sharingan to gain more abilities," Gakufu added, the boy looking equally proud.

"We basically said the same thing, you just used more words," Denma huffed at the pair's smug expressions.

"All of you have decent answers," Madara said before his appetencies could start arguing. "But it is difficult to describe in mere words the capabilities of the Mangkeyo Sharingan." He opened the large scroll in front of him that gave the secrets and the discovered abilities of the Mangekyo Sharingan. "Wielders of this doujutsu have access to magnificent powers that summon godly guardians, spark ever-burning fire, manipulate time and space, and can completely dominate the minds of any living creature. It is the apex of our clan’s doujutsu." Kagami's eyes widened in wonder, listening to Madara's passionate descriptions while admiring the detailed drawing on the scroll.  "All of you must strive to obtain it to become the next generation of Uchiha leaders. Understand?" He met each of his apprentices' eyes.

"Yes, I do, Madara-ojisan," Gakufu nodded determinedly.

"So do I, Madara-sensei," Eiko said.

"I'll do my best, Madara-ojisan," Denma said.

"I could have power like this?" Kagami asked in disbelief.

"If you have the will to wield it." Madara gave the young Uchiha an encouraging smile. "Your grandmother, Naori, had that will and wielded her Mangekyo to vanquish the One-Tailed Beast and save our budding village. I'm certain she passed that will onto you, Kagami-kun." Kagami grinned.

"Then I'll get my own Mangekyo Sharingan, Madara-sensei! To protect the village and everyone I love!"

~ 𓃸 ~

Kagami had gained mastery over his body throughout the years. With a single thought, he could order every muscle and limb to move exactly how he desired. It made him a vessel of destruction on the battlefield, falling many a foe in a single strike from his honed blade, but he could put his talents to other uses that didn't lead to the bloody end of another life. He danced to the gentle tune of the wind's haisho, hichiriki, and string's biwa with steady percussion and practiced elegance and grace. His silky vermilion yukata, held in place by a black obi, with his clan's crest boldly emblazoned on the back, was loose enough to allow his movements to be skillfully fluid, swaying around him as if in its own dance. His dance partner also had beautiful form, perfectly harmonizing with his movements and letting her body fall to the music as she danced with him.

 Her violet kimono was a shade lighter than her up done hair, though the ruby earrings studded in her ears perfectly matched the striking Sharingan spinning in both of their eyes. Their deep red kekkei genkai was the needed touch to perfectly portray all the passion and desire of a pair of Uchihas displaying their love for one another. They finished their performance with a gradual stop, like a swan gracefully lowering itself into a pond, ending with him dipping her before bringing his face close to hers. He made sure his hand hid their lips, which were a breath apart, but neither dared to drift closer. He brought her back up right to the modest applause of onlookers who were lured away from the monotony of the social gathering to regard the dance.

His searching red eyes scanned the crowd in one swift motion, until they connected with a stunning golden pair from across the Senju clan's great hall, discreetly admiring from the crowd with a hawk-like intensity. Kagami flashed a confident smirk, and Danzo suddenly became more enamored with his drink, an annoyed quirk to his stern lips.

"I think that was our best performance," Denma commented with a sly smirk beside Kagami, holding onto his arm like anyone would with their lover.

"Hold on, the show isn't over yet," he said before greeting nosy clan heads and nobles of Konohagakure and answering their prying questions with rehearsed answers and polite smiles.

"When do you plan on getting married?"

"We must win this war first before planning our marriage."

"How many children will you bear?"

"One to start with, maybe another to ensure our bloodline."

"Do you know who would pair nicely with your future child? My niece has a child on the way."

"If you're willing to take on the Uchiha family name, perhaps they’ll be an option."

"You both danced so beautifully together," Kagami's mother complimented them with a beaming smile, able to rest his strained tongue from spewing more lies. Her long, dark hair ran down her back, and her ruby red eyes happily glinted. "No one will be able to deny it."

"That's why we practice," Denma chuckled.

"I'm impressed by how well you two keep composed," Daika praised the couple, the matriarch of the Shimura clan, as stoic and refined as her son. Her sleek silver eyes constantly surveyed the party goers, and her black hair was pinned in a bun with a golden rose. "The Sarutobi prodigy could learn from you two." She inconspicuously pointed across the room with a painted nail, and he tuned into the conversation bordering on tense.

"Pardon me, Hyuuga-san," Hiruzen said politely through a strained smile. "I didn't hear you correctly. Please repeat?"

"You and Biwako-san are to be wed this winter, yes?" the Hyuuga elder repeated, large white eyes scrutinizing every detail of the couple before him.

"I believe we have yet to announce the date of our official union," Biwako said, maintaining her composure as she loosely held onto Hiruzen's arm.

"No, but I was discussing with Sasuke-dono earlier, and he told me that was when you both planned to be married. Was it supposed to be a surprise?" Kagami saw Hiruzen's fist clenched on his dark green yukata, and his light brown eyes flickered with the embers of toiling emotion. Kagami wearily eyed the exchange. "Keep it together, Saru-kun."

"Yes, it is a surprise," Hiruzen replied calmly, reinforcing his grin. "I'm sure most everyone appreciates a surprise, and my father is certainly the best when it comes to good-natured surprises." Kagami could feel the boiling agitation hidden underneath his teammate's lofty tone.

"Ugh, don't, Saru-kun," he exasperated, preparing to intervene.

"I aspire to be like him that way," Hiruzen continued. "Wouldn't it be a fun surprise if I suddenly—" Thankfully, the Hokage's announcement that dinner was soon to be served interrupted Hiruzen before he finished saying what would have certainly been a distasteful joke to the Hyuuga elder. Kagami breathed a silent sigh of relief.

His teammates and their respective fiancés, if they had already been chosen, took their places near the front of the long table, where the Hokage sat at the head with his advisor and the self-proclaimed leader of his escort team on either side of him. Kagami sat with Denma to his left and Danzo to his right, with Hiruzen, Biwako, Homura, and Koharu across from him. 

"Has your aunt accepted you and Danzo-kun's union, Kaira-chan?" Biwako asked the Hyuuga clan member sitting across from her, absent-mindedly tapping her chopsticks together.

"No, but her say does not matter when I have my clan head's approval," Kaira answered, straight-faced and professional.

"And when do you two plan on eloping?" Hiruzen gestured to Danzo and Kaira with his free hand, the other holding a half-empty cup of sake.

"After we win the current war, like everyone else," Danzo answered.

"Ha, right!" Hiruzen laughed a little too loudly. "Like everyone else," he downed the rest of his sake before holding up his cup to a nearby server for more. "And you'll be ready to pop out a kid by then, too, right?" He took another sip of his drink.

"We'll need more time to prepare before having children," Kaira answered. "We are aiming for three children at least." Hiruzen nearly spat over the table.

"Three?!" Denma gasped, tearing herself away from her conversation with Torifu, to lean over the table and skeptically stare at the white-haired Hyuuga. "You think you can manage three kids, Kaira-chan? You?"

"That sounds like it'll hurt," Biwako muttered into her cup of water.

"The birthing or the conception?" Koharu jokingly inquired.

"I'd say both," Homura added, and Kagami immediately scraped the idea of Danzo and Kaira together in bed before he could visualize it.

"You guys aren't giving these two enough credit," Kagami said, growing a sly smile as he snaked his hand underneath the table to grip Danzo's thigh. His teammate bit down on his chopsticks in response. "It's not like Dan-kun hasn't even kissed a girl, right?" Kagami teasingly squeezed him through his pale blue yukata, which earned him a harsh glare and a harmless jab from Danzo.

"Quiet, Uchiha," Danzo hissed with an embarrassed flush to his cheeks, and Kagami retreated his hand to rub his arm in mock hurt.

"We need to have three kids…" Hiruzen mumbled with wide, frightful eyes.

"You don't need three children, Hiruzen-kun," Danzo rolled his eyes. "There's plenty of Sarutobis running around. You'll be fine with one child. Being the last of my generation means I must ensure my clan's future."

"You sound so excited about it."

"Danzo-kun understands his responsibilities to his clan, Hiruzen. That is all." Sasuke's calm yet commanding voice rumbled from the end of the table, the advisor setting his forest green eyes on his son. "It is admirable for one to acknowledge and fulfill their duties."

"Oh, my bad," Hiruzen, his face flushed pink from alcohol, started in a tone Kagami knew led to trouble. "I didn't realize breeding like horny rabbits with whoever your dad sets you up with was so admirable."

"You should ease up on the sake," Sasuke calmly reprimanded, though his gaze took on a sharp edge. "You're losing your tongue."

"The only thing I've lost is my virginity!" Hiruzen proudly proclaimed. Their end of the table went silent as the outburst grabbed their attention. "I stuck my dick in some chick in Suna's Red-Light district," Hiruzen continued, uncaring about the mess he made or the gossiping eyes he grabbed. "Haven't seen her since. For all I know, she could be waltzing around with a Sarutobi bastard. There's my surprise for you, Tosan!" He slammed his cup on the table and mistakenly shattered it in his chakra-infused grip, spilling its contents over himself and cutting his hand. The pain seemed to bring him back to his senses as he winced and stared at his bleeding hand, eyes clouded with anger slowly clearing to shame.

"Would you like to excuse yourself to clean up, Hiruzen-kun," Tobirama ordered more than offered, having maintained his reserved demeanor throughout the exchange.

"Yes," Hiruzen muttered quietly and bowed his head apologetically. "I'm sorry for all that, Biwako-chan."

"No, it's fine," Biwako said with a neutral expression, retreating to her meal.

"Please, excuse me." He stood up and calmly walked to the nearest exit.

"The sake wasn't up to par this year," Tobirama excused. "Everyone, continue as you were," he ordered the prying nobles and motioned for servants to clean up the mess Hiruzen left behind before eating as if one of his escort unit members hadn't had a drunken outburst.

"My utmost apologies, Tobirama-sama," Sasuke apologized. "You know that boy has his temper."

"Your son has much to carry on his shoulders, Sasuke-dono. I understand if he loses composure once in a blue moon. Hiruzen knows how to compose himself when it matters."

"Yes… But that still isn't a good enough excuse," Sasuke returned to his dinner, though his expression had soured. He tapped his hand on the table, debating whether to get up to find his son. Kagami's eyes met the perturbed Danzo's, and they shared a silent thought. “Help, Hiruzen.”

"Danzo-kun," Sasuke said, keeping his voice quiet. Danzo immediately turned his attention to the shinobi.

"Yes, Sasuke-sensei?" he responded. Kaira leaned back so the two shinobi on either side of her could talk.

"Is what Hiruzen said about galivanting with night ladies true?"

"We did go to the Red-Light district, sir, but I don't remember Hiruzen-kun leaving our side that night. But I want to update you on the new tactic I have been working on to combat Iwa's air units."

"Go on." Sasuke settled back down as Danzo drew out his response, and Kagami looked over the table to Tobirama, who was already looking at him. The Hokage silently nodded, and Kagami quietly excused himself from the table, following where Hiruzen had disappeared. He honed his senses to find Hiruzen's unsteady chakra signature and found his team opening the back door of the Senju home. His cut hand was wrapped with a strip of fabric torn from his robe.

"Where are you sneaking off to, Saru-kun?" Kagami playfully inquired, relieved that Hiruzen wasn't so intoxicated that he punched down a wall to leave.

"Sato's Bar. I need to get the hell out of here," Hiruzen answered, lighting a cigarette with a fire jutsu as he stepped out into the cool night. "Don't stop me." Kagami used his kunai to carve the bar name into the door before following Hiruzen. "I told you don't stop me, Kagami-kun," Hiruzen grumbled, huffing on his cigarette.

"Stop you? I'll tag along. I've been looking for a reason to leave that boring excuse for a party."

"You sure Denma-chan won't mind?"

"Not at all. Now, do you want to race there?" Kagami offered, which sparked an excited glint in Hiruzen's eye that he tried to hide.

"No, we couldn't. It's late and—" Hiruzen suddenly took off without preamble, leaving behind a spray of dirt.

"Cheater!" Kagami called out with a grin and chased after him, silently leaping over rooftops and dashing through Konoha's night streets. He knew Hiruzen would hate it more if Kagami let him win rather than lose, so he easily left the Sarutobi behind in the dust, sticking out his tongue as he passed, and waited for him outside the bar. Hiruzen arrived soon after, congratulating him for his win with his cigarette still in his mouth. They greeted the bartender as they found their usual booth in the corner of the busy bar and ordered drinks and food. They kept their conversation casual, not delving into the social gathering until Hiruzen finished his second shot of shochu, and Kagami was tipsy with his sourly sweet umeshu.

"You are such a good dancer, Kagami-kun," Hiruzen slurred with his head in his hand, the other suffocating the light in his cigarette between his fingers. "And you have the perfect dance partner. The perfect pair. Makes sense, you’re the love expert.”

“Am I really?” Kagami raised a brow.

“Yeah, everyone goes to you for love advice. I guess I will too.” Hiruzen sighed heavily. “What you and Denma have, why can't I have it with Biwako?"

"Are you and Biwako-chan still butting heads that bad?" Kagami asked.

"No, we've gotten better. Biwako's actually a nice girl, but… I don't love her, and she doesn't like me. And I'm supposed to marry her so soon and have a kid with her? How is that fair?"

"… It's not fair, not much of the world is. But we can try and make the most of our crappy situations."

"What are you talking about? You have Denma-chan to love. You guys actually enjoy touching each other."

"Right…" the Uchiha sighed and sipped his drink. "Didn't you and Biwako agree that you could, ya know… see other people?"

"So, I should just be happy with courtesans?" Hiruzen chuckled. "My mom had a boy toy or two wandering the estate, and then one of them tried to kill my old man in his sleep. He wouldn't let me have any lovers unless he approved of them, which means no one I choose. Even then, it just isn't about sex and stuff."

"What do you mean?"

"Even if Biwako-chan let me be with her, I don't know if I'd enjoy it as much as possible. It'll just be like that courtesan." He leaned back in the booth and looked out the window at the passing people, latching onto a couple with their hands intertwined. "Sex is fun and all, but… Just once, I want it to be with a girl I love, with her loving me too. If I'm married to Biwako-chan and then become the great Hokage, I'm sure they'll be people who want to screw me, but," he looked back to Kagami, eyes pink and puffy. "Will I be able to find anyone who loves me?"

"Of course, you will, Saru-kun!" Kagami assured him. "It'd be hard, but it's not impossible. However… I can try to get Sasuke-sensei to postpone your wedding and give you more time to look for somebody."

"He's too stubborn for that."

"Well, I can be very persuasive," he smirked, but it didn't yet raise a smile from the Sarutobi. "Should I go there?... Yeah, I'll go there." "Listen, Saru-kun…" he leaned in close and lowered his voice. "Don't tell Tobirama-sama." That grabbed Hiruzen's attention, and he nodded, leaning in. "Even Tobirama-sama was able to find a lover."

"Really?!" the Sarutobi gasped and quickly lowered his voice. "Tobirama-sensei has someone sweet?"

"Had, but yes. You know how busy and reserved that man is. He found someone to love. If he can do it, I've got high hopes for you."

"Honestly?"

"Yep. Even still, you may not find the right girl on your own, but sometimes the right girl finds you."

"Woah, I never thought about it like that," Hiruzen finally started growing an excited smile. "You know what, you're right, Kagami-kun. If grumpy old Tobi-sensei can find love, so can I." He held up his half-full glass. "To love!"

"To love!" Kagami cheered and raised his glass, clinking it with Hiruzen's before taking a swig. Thankfully, the mood lightened as they continued through the night with laughs and more drinks. They made many contests, ranging from who could hit the center of the dart board with their shuriken, having to stop when one of Hiruzen's ricocheted and nearly struck the bartender, and graduated to include the rest of the bar's customers in an arm-wrestling contest against Hiruzen. Kagami was the first to compete and fail against the Sarutobi's strength, even in his drunken state. It was fun until bets and money got involved and of course someone was going to get pissed they lost.

"How did this pipsqueak beat me?!" The drunk and disgruntled man hollered, easily towering over Hiruzen and Kagami with his imposing frame.

"Who the hell you callin' 'pipsqueak'?!" Hiruzen slurred back, snatching the money from the table. "I'm the average height, damnit!"

"I bet you cheated!"

"I didn't cheat on this. It's all natural, baby!" Hiruzen proudly flexed.

"No," the man angrily stood up, and who Kagami guessed were the man's group of friends perked up. "Give me my money back, before I beat the shit out of you!"

"Hey, you can't talk to Saru-kun like that!" Kagami chimed in, standing up to the big idiot. "He could be the future Hokage, idiot!"

"Yeah, I'm the future Hokage!" Hiruzen exclaimed and leapt onto the table. "And when I'm Hokage, I'm gonna give everyone free drinks and hugs!" he exclaimed, getting the rest of the tipsy and drunken crowd to cheer for him. Kagami didn't see who threw the bottle but knew it was one of the idiot's cronies. It crashed against the back of Hiruzen's head, shattering, and the crowd went silent. Hiruzen didn't stumble, quickly steadying himself. "But before that," he said after spitting out the blood that ran down his face from the fresh cut on his temple. He slowly turned to face the gaggle of drunken idiots, staring down the leader in the eye, who shot him a smug grin. "I'm gonna beat this bastard's ass!" He threw the first successful punch, and Kagami swiftly jumped in when one of the cronies tried hitting Hiruzen from behind.

It quickly dissolved into a brawl full of swinging fists and wild kicks, and Kagami even felt someone try to bite his shoulder before Hiruzen knocked the idiot's tooth out with a kick. Even so, Kagami found himself drunkenly grinning as he fought alongside Hiruzen in the scrap. He had some crony in a mocking headlock when he heard someone clear their throat behind him.

"You wanna mess with the Dire Commander too?!" He glanced over his shoulder with a haughty smirk that quickly fell to shock seeing Danzo standing behind him. His hand was on his hips, and his golden eyes scanned over the crowd with quirked lips.

"Dan-chan!" he gasped, dropping the dazed man.

"Evening," Danzo clicked his tongue. Torifu stood beside him, looking over the scuffle with dull amusement.

"Dumbasses," Torifu muttered underneath his breath, and Kagami wasn't sure if his teammate was referring to him and Hiruzen or the assholes. Either way, he went into the scuffle where Hiruzen was fending off the remaining four idiots, the big one managing to get him in a headlock for his cronies to beat him, and without question, the Akimichi socked one of the drunken bastards in the face.

"Listen, they started it okay!" Kagami tried explaining and stepped on the downed man, making him yelp, as he went to Danzo. "We were having a fun arm-wrestling contest until those assholes accused Hiruzen of cheating— One of them chucked a bottle on Saru-kun's head and tried ganging up on him!"

"I figured as much," was all Danzo said before going to the bar, Kagami right behind him.

"Please, don't be mad at me, Dan-chan!" Kagami pleaded, collapsing onto the bar counter beside his teammate in a fit of dramatic sobs. "I didn't mean to get us wasted. We were just having fun! You should have seen all the fun we were having. It was awesome! Is that why you're mad at me? Because I didn't include you in the fun? I promise to bring you next time, so please don't hate me!"

"I don't hate you, Kagami," Danzo assured as he pulled up Kagami's yukata before it completely fell off his shoulders.

"Really?!" Kagami gasped, immediately brightening up, tears drying. "Thank you! I felt like I was gonna die!" He happily hugged onto the Shimura as Danzo handed the bartender a small jingling sack.

"Apologies for the damage, Sato-san."

"Eh, you boys always make up for it," Sato replied, already counting the handsome sum of ryō in the sack. "But still keep these two out of trouble for the rest of the night."

"Are you about done, Torifu?" Danzo asked, and the Akimichi gave a thumbs up. The remainder of the idiots were a groaning pile on the floor with a happily victorious Hiruzen slung over his shoulder, slobbering on Torifu's dark plum yukata. "Can you walk yourself home, Kagami?" Danzo asked, nudging the ninja still clinging to him.

"Pfft, can I walk home? Ha!" Kagami laughed. "I got two legs, don't I? Just watch me!" He let go of Danzo, took one step, tripped, and blacked out before he hit the ground. When he came to, he felt himself being carried on Danzo's back as he walked down the street, instantly recognizing his teammate's cool chakra. Kagami hummed at the pleasant surprise and wrapped his arms around Danzo's neck, making himself comfortable. Beside them, Torifu was carrying a mumbling Hiruzen over his shoulder, bandages wrapped around the cut on his head. "Hi, Tori-kun," he waved at the Akimichi. "Thanks for punching those idiots."

“Hi, Kagami-kun,” Torifu waved back. "And it's no problem."

"Hi, Saru-kun." Hiruzen groaned back at the Uchiha. "Where are we going?" he asked.

"To the Shimura home," Danzo answered, and Kagami finally heard the tiredness in his voice. "You both will have an unpleasant hangover in the morning."

"Oh, right, sorry."

"You don't need to apologize. You got Hiruzen out of his gloomy state. Going onto the battlefield in that dour mindset will do him no favors. You helped him tonight."

"Of course, I did. Saru-kun's like one of my bestest friends! I couldn't stand seeing him so sad, cause I love him so much."

“Love?” Danzo echoed.

"Yeah, but not like the same way I love you, ya know. Like I wanna kiss you and have you pressed against my chest, but we aren't wearing shirts and—"

"Yes, I get your point!" Danzo interrupted him, glaring at the chuckling Torifu with his chakra flustered and face flushed red.

"But I don't wanna do that with Saru-kun, and I still love him. It's like a… Um… Madara-sensei told me about all these different types of love, but I can't remember them right now."

"You'll have plenty of time to figure it out later. Rest now."

“Hm, okay,” Kagami hummed. “Then, night Saru-kun, Tori-kun.”

"See you in the morning, Kagami-kun," Torifu said, smiling while Hiruzen snored. Kagami then leaned in close to place a sloppy kiss on Danzo's blushing cheek.

“Night, Dan-chan.”

“… Goodnight, Gami-kun.”

~ 𓃸 ~

Kagami wistfully gazed upon the warm amber and pink sky, with the sun setting and soft wispy clouds blanking it as he flew atop Itsumade's back, the chimera's massive black wings cutting through the soft clouds. It was a tranquil sight, but not enough for him to ignore the chaotic wail of the battlefield far below. Hiruzen's chatter with Enma, who sat behind the Uchiha, helped ease his growing doubt.

"Is that a tiger coat, Enma? Looks awesome."

"Thank you. Wearing the coat of my enemy is sure enough to stir fear in my combatants' hearts."

"I think we're already a frightful lot. What do you think, Kagami-kun?" Hiruzen nudged Kagami's stiff shoulder.

"Yeah, frightful," he muttered.

"Got some jitters?" Hiruzen asked.

"… I was out of commission for so long. I'm healed enough, but will my body listen to me… Maybe I should hang back, let you take the charge."

"No way, Tobirama-sensei sent us both to take out Iwa's air unit because he believes we will succeed. I believe in you, too, Kagami-kun. You're one of the strongest shinobi I know. So, stop doubting yourself, okay?"

"… Okay," Kagami nodded, carrying himself higher.

"Have more spirit!" Hiruzen encouraged him. "We're going to take down this air unit and then we're going to win this war, so you can make love to that grouchy sour-face as much as you want!"

"The true reason to win, huh, Saru-kun? Making love?" Kagami smirked.

"Of course. Also, I still can't believe you waited so long to tell me about you and Danzo… Did you think I would start looking down on you? I don't think any less of you guys."

“We know, Saru-kun.” Kagami assured him. "We never really told anybody. They figured it out on their own. You were just the last person to figure it out."

"The last, really?"

"Indeed," Enma informed.

"How the hell did you know before me, Enma?"

"Baku talks plenty," Itsumade chuffed as he smiled with his remaining yellow eye, though it promptly fell to a focused glare with a thrum of icy chakra rumbled in the distance.

"All of you ready?" Hiruzen asked, smile falling to a determined mask.

"I am," Itsumade said.

"Yes," Enma nodded.

"Ready," Kagami took a breath and dipped Itsumade underneath the clouds on the exhale to reveal the bloody battle between Iwa-nin and Konoha-nin below. Kagami remained focused on the sky, on the four flying figures in the distance. Two Iwa-nin were riding the backs of large red-tailed hawks while two other shinobi flew all on their own. "It still baffles me how they can soar like a bird without wings. It must feel so amazing."

"Is that Mūsubi?" Kagami asked, eyeing the mummified Iwa-nin leading the unit. It was strange. He could see the man with his eyes, but his senses told him there was nothing to find, no chakra signature to grasp onto.

"Su and Bi were seen on the west side of Suri valley, so I'm certain that's Mū," Hiruzen said. "I'll take him, and you'll take that short stack, Onoki. Underst—" An immense flood of boiling chakra exploded from the battlefield along with a booming roar, snatching Kagami's attention to below, his eyes widening.

"Shit!" Hiruzen cursed. "Is that—"

"Yonbii," Kagami finished, heart racing, seeing the gigantic ape-like beast pounding its chest as it roared, its four massive tails writhing in the air.

"King of Sage Monkeys," Enma gasped in awe and trepidation.

"Iwa's Four-Tailed Jinchuuriki can fully transform again so soon?"

"War's a great motivator," Hiruzen grumbled.

"The beast can easily destroy our frontline," Kagami said. "It’ll be the bloody battle of Iwaba Hills all over again. We can't let it advance."

"No, we won't," the Sarutobi affirmed. "New plan: Kagami and Itsumade will handle Iwa's air force while Enma and I face Yonbii."

"Got it," Kagami nodded, but glanced back at his fellow Konoha-nin with a hopeful smile. "We'll get victory sake after this."

"Definitely," Hiruzen smiled back. Their smiles fell to grim determination as Hiruzen grabbed Kagami's shoulders and the Uchiha gripped the scruff of Itsumade's neck, ordering: "Dive." Itsumade tilted his ebony wings and dove down toward the battle below, Kagami's insides dancing from the rush and wind racing around him. Kagami activated his Sharigan with a thought. He pushed his Sharingan further, eyes straining as the black tomoe in his crimson irises morphed to form a pinwheel with eight swirling spindly limbs. Hiruzen loosened his hold on Kagami.

"Enma!" Hiruzen shouted before leaping from Itsumade's back alongside the monkey prince, who jumped with a snarling war cry. Enma's body shifted and condensed in the air, forming a long, hefty black staff that fell into Hiruzen's outstretched hand. Itsumade let out an ear-piercing cry that snatched the attention of the battling ninja below, turning their attention to the sky. With his Mangekyo, Kagami could see the faces of the battling shinobi below, relief and exhalation from those donning Konoha's symbol, but doubt and fear from those with Iwa's symbol. Yonbii's beaming yellow eyes centered on the descending chimera, smoke rising from its nostrils as it opened its mouth to attack. Kagami locked eyes with the beast, chakra flooding his Mangekyo. "One out of three, Omoikane."

 "Halt!" He shouted, his voice carried by the wounds and rattling the air, as his Mangekyo clawed into the beast's and Jinchuuriki’s mind. Put together, they were a formitable mind that raged against his order, the beast angrily shaking his head, but it faltered under the mental barrage from Kagami's Omoikane. The beast went still, stopping his attack, and allowed Hiruzen the first blow unimpeded, swinging Enma down as he extended and striking Yonbii atop its head. There was a booming crack from the combined force of Hiruzen's velocity and Enma's extension, and it battered Yonbii down with a tremendous crash, the beast's fall rattling the ground. "Madara-sensei would be proud," Kagami wryly remarked, wiping away the tears in his strained eyes. Itsumade flared his wings to slow his descent and then turned to reascend, following Iwa's air force. Mū looked back and shielded his violet eyes from the rapidly approaching Uchiha, Kagami unsheathing his red-handled sword in response.

"The Dire Commander finally returns to the battlefield," Mū called out, and Onoki went to look back but was stopped by the bandaged man. "Haku, Maru!" The pair of hawk-riding Iwa-nin turned around and dove down to intercept Kagami, their eyes shut closed. Kagami brought his leg up to plant his foot on Itsumade's back. The hawks cawed, flexing their bladed talons, and Itsumade screeched back, breathing a torrent of fire as Kagami jumped off his back. He leaped over Itsumade's flames to reach the singed startled hawks, landing on the left's back and his sword tasting its first blood of the battle when he cut down the Iwa-nin before he could finish his jutsu in one swift motion. Kagami didn't stop, continuing his momentum to leap off the falling hawk and aim to strike the flying Iwa-nin before they could go any further.

"Move!" Mū fiercely chastised as he hauled Onoki out of the way, only slicing the stout shinobi's ear instead of slicing off his head.

"So close," Kagami clicked his tongue in annoyance, and rolled in the air to land feet first on Itsumade's back. His claws were stained red with the remains of the remaining hawk-riding Iwa-nin.

"What's the first rule when fighting an Uchiha of this caliber, Onoki?" Mū questioned.

"Shield your eyes," Onoki quickly answered, blood trickling down from his ear as he moved his hitai-ate to cover his eyes. "One look and we're out of the fight. It'll be like fighting Madara all over again."

"No, it won't because this time, we'll triumph."

"I may not hold a candle to Madara's might," there was a sour taste on Kagami's tongue as he spat his former sensei's name, "but you will fall all the same. Your coverings won't save you from me."

"If that's the case," Mū didn't hesitate to jab his fingers into his eye sockets, gouging out his eyes with a wet pop, to Kagami's shock. "What the hell? There have been reports of the Musubi brothers regaining lost limbs, but blinding himself so easily like that shows disregard for bodily preservation. He could stitch himself up if I sliced him limb from limb, but I doubt Onoki here has that same cushion. He needs to fall first." "Feel the air around you, Onoki, and prepare formation three." Mū made the dust release hand sign, and Onoki followed suit, light glowing spheres forming in their hands.

"Yes, Mū-sensei," Onoki nodded, determined as their attack took the shape of spiraling cylinders that overlapped to conquer the skies.

"Be swift, Itsumade," Kagami said, holding on tight to Itsumade as the chimera weaved through the exploding beams of white energy. Battling in the air was a challenge, but not impossible, using Itsumade as his launch and landing point to slash at the Iwa-nin with his sword and unleash fireballs and lightning jutsus. Mū was surprisingly reactive, twisting in the air to dodge the Uchiha's attacks, and his aim was too close to accurate; the hairs on the back of his neck burned away. Onoki wasn't as agile as his teacher, but his taijutsu was more of a threat; his side still aching with every breath after Onoki landed a kick when he tried snatching off his makeshift blindfold. "Damnit, I can't get a fatal hit. Though, as long as I can keep them from advancing, our shinobi below don't have to fear being turned to dust."

"Kagami!" Itsumade cried out in his mind as Kagami ducked under a cone of annihilation. "Below, Hiruzen and Enma need assistance." Kagami spared a glance downward, seeing scorched earth from Yonbii and Hiruzen pushing against being crushed by the beast's tails with the staff, Enma fighting not to be broken.

"Maneuver Eight," Kagami ordered through gritted teeth, and Itsumade strained his worn wings to dash back and up. Kagami planted his feet and swiftly weaved hand signs, taking a large chunk of chakra reserves, while Itsumade took in a massive breath, chest glowing underneath his ebony feathers. "Chimera Combo, Torrent Firestorm!" Incredible streaks of lightning coiled from the Uchiha's arm and shot out alongside Itsumade's roaring stream of flames, the forces mixing together to form an electrifying torrent of fire that thundered like a raging hurricane. It was aimed toward the Iwa-nin who hurriedly flew out of the way, allowing the torrent to continue to ark downward and rain from the sky. As an ache started creeping in his body, Kagami smirked, seeing the massive explosion of his attack landing squarely on the beast, knocking it back and saving Hiruzen from being crushed.

"Perfect! That attack also separated Mū and Onoki." Kagami turned to the lone Onoki. "Now's our chance!" Itsumade dove toward the Iwa-nin, too fast for Onoki to react and snatch him in his beak, biting into his shoulder. Onoki groaned in pain and punched Itsumade's beak, the chimera hissing as a break spidered across his bill. Kagami swung his sword, aiming to strike through his head, but his blade never reached, halted by a bandaged arm that sprang out from Onoki's back to grab the blade. Kagami's eyes widened with shock at the upper half of a mummified man crawling out from the Iwa-nin's backside, bandages wrapped around his eyes but not his mouth to expose his wide grin.

"Thought you were dead, Uchiha," Su growled, and launched himself at Kagami, tackling him off Itsumade's back and gripping him by the neck as he was left to dangle with no footing. "This must be Su's clone! He would have snapped my neck already otherwise." "Guess we'll have the glory of putting you down."

"Apologies. I couldn't dodge in time," Onoki apologized as he rejoined the group, putting pressure on his bleeding shoulder. Itsumade was nowhere in sight.

"You still have your head. That's good enough, Noki-kun." As Su tightened his grip, Kagami refused to relinquish his sword and kicked his chest while spearing the Iwa-nin's arm with his blade. The grip loosened, but didn't let go. "You've lost your edge, Commander. Should've stayed wherever you were hiding." He taunted before turning to Mū. "Is your aim still up to par, Niisan?!"

"Toss the Uchiha and I'll show you," Mū grumbled and made the dust release hand sign, making Kagami's heart race in panic when Su roughly tossed him high in the sky to be Mū's target. Enma crashed into Mū from behind, knocking him out of the air and off-centering his attack that just grazed past Kagami's head. Hiruzen rode atop the screeching Itsumade's back, armor dented and hands burned, but he still let out a determined war cry, blood spitting from his mouth, as he left Enma with Itsumade to pounce on Onoki wrestling with him to take off the Iwa-nin's hitai-ate.

"Wicked animal," Su sneered and prepared to fire at Itsumade just as Kagami descended. The Uchiha twisted in the air and signed a jutsu, bringing up his sword to coat it in a blanket of flames before angling it to cut down the Iwa-nin, who noticed his attack too late. Su screamed in shock and pain as he failed to completely dodge the attack, a massive chunk of his side cleaved off to tumble to the ground below. They both fell, though, while Kagami was caught by Enma extending for him to grab the end and be flung up onto Itsumade's back, Su was caught by Mū further down.

"Damnit," Su angrily groaned and maneuvered to be on Mu's back, most of his body merging into his brother's with only his arms left out on Mu's shoulders. Mūsu took a moment to steady himself as Kagami heard Hiruzen shout:

"Look here!" Kagami turned around and saw Hiruzen on Onoki's back, holding him in a headlock as he forcibly yanked off his forehead protector. Kagami's Mangekyo found those frightened dark eyes. "Two out of three, Omoikane."

"Fall!" He ordered, and Onoki screamed in pain, clutching his head as he struggled to stay in the air. Hiruzen kicked off the Iwa-nin's back, sending him spiraling toward the ground, and Kagami caught the falling Sarutobi.

"Onoki!" Musu shouted in worry and dove down to rescue his student.

"Are you okay, Saru-kun?!" Kagami questioned, seeing the blood dribbling from the slits of his armor.

"Nope, but we can't stop now," Hiruzen said, spitting out a glob of blood. "Gotta finish the Monkey King. Mind giving me a boost?"

"Are you sure? It'll further rip you apart."

"We're already past that point. We finish this beast here, and we won't give it the chance to kill any more of our shinobi. I'm willing to take that risk."

"So am I," Enma agreed, his mouth forming on the staff. Kagami took a breath.

"Let's finish this, then. One final push, Itsumade!"

"Right!" Itsumade screeched and nosedived toward the injured beast below, two of its tails either cut in half or twisted. It raised its beaten head, recognizing the chimera, and this time shutting its eyes before it powered up a beast bomb. Kagami wasn't looking for its gaze, though.

“I’m ready, Kagami!” Hiruzen exclaimed, preparing to jump with Enma and looking the Uchiha dead in his eyes. "Three out of three, Omoikane."

"Strike down Yonbii!" Kagami ordered, and a clear strain showed on Hiruzen's face. Kagami's Sharingan retreated, strained tears flying from his eyes. The beast bomb unleashed, and Itsumade swerved in the air to avoid the ball of raw chakra. Hiruzen jumped down with Enma, lightning dancing around him, staff and electricity aiming for Yonbii's exposed neck. The bomb exploded behind Kagami and Itsumade in the air, sending out a wave of energy and concussive force. Kagami fought to cling onto Itsumade as the blast hit them like a tidal wave and sent them reeling, the chimera's sore and aching wings unable to fight against the shockwave, leaving him tumbling through the air. Kagami shut his eyes as the world spun around him at a dizzying rate, unable to tell up from down or how close the ground was.

"Kagami-kun!" The worried shout was joined by a sudden, powerful gust of wind underneath them, slowing their rapid descent. He felt cool hands grab his shoulders and pull him away to be carried in strong arms that guided him safely to the ground. "Are you dead?" Kagami smiled at the harsh voice.

"Not yet, Tobirama-sensei." The Uchiha opened his eyes to see the ruby red eyes of the albino Senju looking down at him, relieved. "Hiruzen, though, was someone there to catch him?

"Torifu, Homura, and Koharu were there for Saru." It was the Uchiha's turn to sigh in relief. Looking around, Kagami realized most Iwa-nin had retreated, with more Konoha-nin gathering on the front line, including medic-nin. Tobirama let him stand on the ruined earth and saw that Itsumade had been caught by Baku, the chimera lying exhausted on the tapir's back while Baku's trunk inspected him.

"Kagami!" Danzo called out from Baku's side but swiftly moved to the Uchiha and Senju despite his injuries, with Biwako not too far. "How injured are you?"

"Definitely not as bad as last time. Just chakra exhausted," Kagami softly smiled to reassure the Shimura before turning to Biwako. "Hiruzen's the one that needs medical attention. He told me to use Omoikane on him."

"And you listened to him?!" Biwako exasperated, worry flashing in her eyes as she ran past toward the downed Sarutobi.

"You two did it," Tobirama sounded amazed, gazing upon the defeated beast and Jinchuuriki in the distance, a massive crater in its head. You not only kept the flying destroyers at bay but also fell one of the terrifying Tailed Beasts." He tiredly smiled. You've outgrown my teachings."

"We still need you around, though, Tobirama-sensei," Kagami said.

"Yes," Danzo agreed. "I need help keeping these overpowered fools in check."

"Indeed," Tobirama sighed. "You two go check on Hiruzen. I'll finish organizing the battlefield."

""Yes, Tobirama-sensei,"" Kagami and Danzo said. Kagami tried walking on his own and tripped on his aching legs, though Danzo caught him with a "Don't strain yourself" and helped him walk.

"You truly are strong, Kagami," Danzo quietly praised him, a warm lightness filling the Uchiha's aching chest. "Both you and Hiruzen have unimaginable power. You're amazing."

"I try," Kagami smiled, face warm.

"Just don't tell Hiruzen that. His ego is already inflated enough as is."

"Don't know, Saru could use some praise from you."

Hiruzen was laid out on the ground, with Biwako tending to his wounds and the rest of the escort team, including Enma in his monkey form, crowding around him.

"Don't go into the light, Hiruzen," Homura cried, broken glasses fogging up with tears.

"Yes, you still have a life to live," Koharu pleaded, her tears more muted.

"Calm down, I'm not letting this fool die," Biwako sighed, sweet beating on her dirtied brow as her hands glowed a brilliant healing green pressed on Hiruzen's chest.

"Thanks, Biwako-chan," Hiruzen said with a wheezy breath and tired smile. "Is the Beast down?"

"Yes, you did it, Hiruzen-kun," Torifu assured. "In really awesome fashion, too."

"That's what matters," he chuckled, then hissed in pain. "Yeah, that's a busted rib. How's Kagami?"

"Doing just fine, Saru-kun," Kagami said, watching Hiruzen sigh in relief. Kagami took the time to sit down and catch his breath, regaining chakra with the extra chakra supplements Torifu had. Thankfully, Biwako's medic jutsu kept Hiruzen from sudden death, allowing the Sarutobi to sit up and properly laugh amongst his friends. It didn't take long for a crowd of worn and exhausted Konoha-nin to form around them, gazing at the downed beast in shock and at the shinobi who defeated it in awe.

"Beast slayers!" He heard someone shout in the crowd, and the cheering and chants started.

"Well, that's our cue to take a stand," Hiruzen sighed with a smile, and Biwako helped him to his feet. Kagami went to walk away with the others, but Hiruzen grabbed his hand. "You deserve to stand here like I do."

"Really? I didn't help that much."

"If you didn't help at all, I'd be dead. I could only win with your help. Now get over here." Hiruzen tugged Kagami back to stand beside him, and the pair leaned against each other for support as they took in the praise from the rejuvenated crowd of remaining shinobi.

“Keep that pose,” Danzo said, suddenly holding a camera.

“A picture now?” Hiruzen groaned. “I look like shit.”

“We need proof of this for the history books! Now shut up and smile.”

“Fine,” Hiruzen huffed but smiled, while Kagami chuckled and grinned at the camera as their victory was cemented with film.

~ 𓃸 ~

The Sarutobi clan's courtyard was decorated with red and pink carnations and silk ivory drapery on the trees to celebrate Sarutobi Hiruzen's and Momoto Biwako's official union. The venue was fully packed with Sarutobi and Momoto clan members and guests from other prestigious clans. Kagami had front row seats along with his teammates and their fiancés. The beaming sun above helped warm him in the chill winter air, snowflakes coating the ground in an ivory blanket.

"Would you want a wedding like this?" Denma asked him, leaning against him. "With fanfare and an endless guest list."

"You say that like we'll be organizing the wedding," Kagami dryly chuckled. "But if we did, I'd prefer something smaller, close friends and family mostly. Somewhere by the water. We'll have lots of lavender and roses, so every breath is sweet and floral."

"Sounds cozy. Me? I'd want something indoors, at a homely clan estate with lots of family and friends and yellow and purple poppies. The ceremony will be nice, but the banquet will be the real treat, a table full of savory dishes and delectable desserts for everyone to share. Mm, my mouth waters thinking about it."

"I hope the admired escort team are enjoying themselves so far," Sasuke greeted as he approached the group, though his smile was strained. He continued to speak before they could respond. "As you have noticed, neither the bride nor the groom is present. I believe they may be running late, and I ask that you help them pick up the pace."

"Hiruzen," Danzo sighed, rubbing his temple. "We'll help them, Sasuke-sensei."

"Thank you." Sasuke left, probably to reassure the suspicious clan heads.

"Let me see where they are," Kaira said, using her Byakugan to search through the Sarutobi estate. "Biwako is in the second-floor dressing room, and Hiruzen is in the third-floor master bedroom.

"Kagami and I should go get Hiruzen, while the rest of you keep everyone else distracted."

"And Denma and I will get Biwako-chan," Kaira said. "Those two need to talk to each other."

"We'll meet up in the spare lounge room then," Kagami said before the shinobi left their seats to find their respective teammates. Danzo not so lightly knocked on the bedroom door, Hiruzen yelping on the other side in startled surprise.

"I-I'm still freshening up!"

"It's me and Kagami, Hiruzen," Danzo said. "If you're in there any longer, you'll delay the ceremony."

"Yeah, 'cause that would be the worst thing in the world," the Sarutobi sarcastically responded.

"Look, I understand your hesitancy, but you can't stall this any longer. Sasuke-sensei won't allow it."

"Oh, but what if you hire some mercenaries to kidnap me?! They'll have to delay the wedding then."

"I'm not doing that," Danzo frustratedly clicked his tongue. "I don't have mercenaries on standby."

"Is it really the wedding you're afraid of, Saru-kun?" Kagami suddenly asked, and Hiruzen momentarily went silent.

"What else could he fear?" Danzo quietly asked the Uchiha.

"I'm going to find out," Kagami whispered back before addressing Hiruzen again. "If you let me in, we can talk about it."

"… Fine," Hiruzen agreed, unlocking the door.

"I'll stay out here and keep watch," Danzo said before Kagami entered the bedroom, finding Hiruzen sitting on the bed and looking out of the window, his ceremonial yukata undone and hair unkempt. Kagami sat beside him on the bed, realizing he had something in his lap. A framed picture of a little Hiruzen between his parents, Sasuke and Akie.

"When was that taken?" Kagami asked.

"… A little bit after we arrived in Konoha," Hiruzen sighed. "It was supposed to be a happy day, but Tosan and Kaasan couldn't stop arguing, and I left the estate to hang out at the Shimura home right after the photographer said he was done. I didn't want to be near my parents 'cause I knew my dad would make me train and my mom would find a bottle of sake to nurse."

"It got better, right?"

"My mom, yeah. She cleaned up before the end, and I couldn't be happier for that, but…" his grip tightened on the frame. "When Biwako and I have a child, will we love them as much as we should? Will it just be a repeat of my parents and me? Kami, our kid deserves better than that. They need better. I want to love my kid so bad."

"And you will," Kagami reassured him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "If there's one thing I know about you, Saru-kun, you will love your children. You'll struggle and make mistakes, every father does, but you'll never hate your kids. You'll smile when they're happy, upset when they're mad, and cry when they're sad. You'll love them, Hiruzen."

"… Yeah," Hiruzen nodded, setting the photo on the nightstand. "What about Biwako? Do you think she will?"

"You'll need to talk to her about it. But… I can give you some assurance."

"Like what?"

"Like…" Kagami anxiously bit his lip, his nerves creeping up on him. "Do you know what a Uchiha seal is?"

"I heard of them."

"Well… I'd like to gift you the Higher Uchiha Seal. It'll connect us so we can know if either of us is in trouble and exchange chakra. We'll not only be more cohesive in battle, but in everyday life too. So in the future, if you're ever overwhelmed with one of your kiddos, I can swoop in and be the fun uncle," Kagami chuckled, but faltered when a sudden embarrassment fell over him. "But if you don't want it, that's good too. I won't force it on you or–"

"Force it on me? This Uchiha seal sounds awesome," Hiruzen grinned. 

"Honestly?"

"I'd be honored to receive a seal from you. You're one of my best friends, Kagami." Those words pushed away Kagami's doubts and replaced them with excitement.

"Let me see your arm." Hiruzen showed his left arm, and Kagami pulled down his yukata collar to expose the scarred skin. "This'll sting a bit."

"I'm not wussing out now," Hiruzen flashed a cocky grin. Kagami activated his Sharingan and weaved the Higher Uchiha seal fuuinjutsu, Inu, Tatsu, Tora. Fire burned in his lungs and rose, ready to spew from his mouth, and he grabbed Hiruzen's lower arm to keep it still before placing his mouth on the crest of his bicep and breathing out. He felt Hiruzen tense as the Uchiha's flames marked themselves on his skin, and Kagami also felt the Sarutobi's chakra, both signatures intertwining together to form the seal. Kagami pulled back and admired the circular seal he left behind, a coiling monkey in the center of it. 

"Damn, that's what getting a tattoo must feel like," Hiruzen chuckled and then went to look at the seal in the standing mirror. "Looks like one too."

"Glad you think so. It's my first time doing a Uchiha seal, and I didn't want to mess it up."

"You didn't 'cause it looks amazing, Kagami. Also, don't tell Danzo about this. He'd be so jealous."

"Jealous of what?!" Danzo questioned from the other side of the door.

"Kagami likes my yukata more than yours, sour-face!" Hiruzen called back, laughing.

"Ugh, both of you just get outta there before Sasuke-sensei comes stomping up here. I don't know how long Torifu, Homura, and Koharu can stall."

“We’re coming, Dan-kun!” Kagami called out, getting up from the bed and helping Hiruzen fix his yukata. 

"Thanks, Kagami," Hiruzen said as Kagami finished tying his dark green obi.

"I wasn't going to let you out there with your yukata practically falling off you."

"No, I mean," Hiruzen turned around and suddenly pulled Kagami into a tight hug, surprising the Uchiha. "Thank you for being here." Kagami hugged him back and felt the mutual brotherly love they shared with each other, how it passionately reassured him and promised to be bonded for as long as the warmly fire burned. Kagami walked with Hiruzen to the lounge room, where he met Biwako and waited outside the door for them to speak. Kagami got snippets of their conversation through the door, and thankfully, felt no anger or fear.

"Can we make a promise today, Biwako-chan?"

"What kind of promise?"

"Even if we never love each other, let's please love our children. They deserve as much."

"Yes, they do. I'll make that promise today, to keep."

"I promise, too. Thank you, Biwako-chan."

“Thank you too, Hiru-kun.”

Kagami sensed Hiruzen's overwhelming relief and peeked through the crack in the door to catch Hiruzen and Biwako embracing each other. Kagami smiled.

Chapter Text

Kagami yelped as he was knocked onto his back for the ententh time that day, his sword skidding across the dirt.

"You're not anchoring your feet properly, Kagami-kun," Sasuke corrected again, still holding onto his sword. "That's why I keep knocking you over."

"Or maybe I'm not strong enough," the Uchiha boy pouted, staring at the honeyed afternoon sky. "Torifu wouldn't get knocked over."

"He would if he didn't have the right stance." His sensei blocked his view, quirking his lip as he analyzed the boy with keen forest green eyes. "But some extra muscle on you wouldn't hurt. We'll work on that too."

"Being knocked over won't be that big of a problem if I just put my enemy under a genjutsu. Then I can just sneak over and stab 'em."

"Not all combatants you face will be susceptible to your Sharingan. You need to train your body as well as your mind."

"I don't know, I'm sure I could knock you over if I put you under a genjutsu, Sarutobi-sensei."

"You want to try it?" Sasuke challenged, smirking, and Kagami's confidence fumbled.

"Well, not right now. I'm tired," Kagami excused.

"Whenever you're ready, then, Kagami-kun," Sasuke said, holding out his hand. Kagami took it and was helped to his feet.

"Take Sasuke-dono's words to heart, Kagami-kun." Kagami perked up at the familiar voice and turned to see Madara approaching from across the training ground. "Your body must be as much of a weapon as your mind if you ever want to be a formidable shinobi."

"Yes, Madara-sensei," Kagami nodded.

"Sasuke-dono," Madara properly acknowledged the Sarutobi head.

"Madara-sama," Sasuke respectfully bowed his head back. "You've come just in time to collect the boy. Our training session has ended."

"How is Kagami's training coming along?"

"His genjutsu and ninjutsu are near jounin level, but his taijutsu and kenjutsu are lacking. The Akimichi and Shimura help cover those areas in my genin team, but it's still a weakness for Kagami. I'll correct that."

"I trust you'll keep your word. Good day to you, Sasuke-dono."

“Goodbye, Madara-sama.” The clan heads gave their respective goodbyes before Madara left with a "Follow, Kagami," and the young boy scurried after the older Uchiha.

"Sasuke's training regime is rigorous, isn't it?" Madara questioned Kagami as they walked through the Uchiha estate's streets.

"Yeah, it feels like my legs and arms will fall off any moment. No wonder Saru-kun's so strong if Sasuke-sensei's been training him like this for years."

"So, he's teaching you no less than his son? Perfect," Madara almost smiled. "You'll be ready soon enough."

"Ready for what?"

"Taking your place as one of the Uchiha clan's leaders, and further than that, helping to lead Konoha herself."

"Just like you, Madara-sensei?"

"… Yes, just like me," Madara dryly chuckled. The sweet scent of treats caught Kagami's nose, and he immediately stopped before the mochi vendor, eyeing the dessert. "Kagami-kun, why aren't… oh," the Uchiha head stopped and turned to look at Kagami with a glare. "Keep moving."

"Wait, please, just this once, Madara-sensei. I promise I'll study twice as hard!" Kagami pleaded with big, saddened eyes.

"… Ugh, this once," Madara relented, and Kagami cheered.

"Another victory! Thank you, Madara-sensei!"

~ 𓆉 𓃹 ~

Kagami met Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu on his first day at the Shinobi Academy. Though he arrived in the middle of the school year, there was still a place for him to sit as Hiruzen loudly waved over to him when he saw the shy Uchiha inching into the classroom and hiding his eyes under messy bangs, pointing to the empty seat between him and Danzo. He was anxious about being in a new class, and he was already behind in his studies; however, Hiruzen's outgoing personality helped him settle in with the other students, and Danzo helped him catch up on lessons with his extensive notes he copied with his Sharingan. By lunch, he felt more comfortable in his new setting; however, that stability was stripped away during the afternoon fuuinjutsu lesson, and he no longer had his two friends at his side, being assigned to a three-student group for the assignment.

"Group two will be Uchiha Kagami, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu," the fuuinjutsu instructor announced, and Kagami had no idea who she was talking about, but Hiruzen muttered:

"It's those kids from the clans my dad keeps trying to make deals with." Danzo gave his input as well.

"Koharu's ranked third in our class and Homura's the fourth, behind us. Their brains are worth more than their brawn."

Kagami approached table three with an anxious heart. Koharu and Homura were already seated on either end of the small square table. The boy's eyes were hidden by the glare in his glasses, and the girl's examining gaze looked him up and down.

"Hello, I'm Kagami," he muttered with a small wave, sitting down.

"Homura," the boy greeted, sticking out his hand for Kagami to shake, with a firm grasp.

"Koharu," the girl introduced herself, addressing him after silently examining him. "Let me guess," she closed her eyes, making a hand sign, and Kagami felt a harmless flutter of her chakra pass by him. "You have Fire, Lightning, and Yin nature releases."

"Yeah, and Water release too," Kagami said, amazed.

"One off," she clicked her tongue, annoyed. "You must be talented if they shoved you in this class midway, Kagami-kun."

"I only know the basics, really. I'm just good at copying. I don't know much about fuuinjutsu."

"I guess we'll take the lead then, Koharu-chan," Homura said.

"Yes." Koharu nodded. "Keep up, Kagami-kun, and we'll pass this assignment." Kagami did his best to keep pace with his two classmates in creating a lock seal on a small wooden box for another group to break. He could copy their movements when creating the seal. Though, there was very little verbal communication between the two. Koharu would give a gesture, and Homura would nod in agreement, creating another coupling for the seal, a silent conversation that Kagami was left out of. They only spoke when their hands accidentally brushed against each other as they reached for the box, both pulling away with surprised gasps.

“Oh, sorry, Homura-kun!” Koharu's face was writhing with embarrassment as she apologized, looking down.

"No, i-it's my bad, Koharu-chan." Homura pushed up his fogged-up glasses, clearing his throat. "Kagami-kun should finish the seal."

"I can do that," Kagami accepted and grabbed the box to finish the seal. "So, how do you two know each other?"

"We met here at the academy," Koharu quickly answered. "I was struggling with fuuinjutsu, and Homura offered to tutor me. I agreed."

"And when I couldn't grasp sensory skills, Koharu-chan helped me." Homura's small smile infected Koharu as well.

"How is your lock seal coming along?" Mito asked, the fuuinjutsu instructor coming to their table with a sealed box in her hands.

"We're finished, Mito-sensei," Kagami presented the box. "Koharu-chan and Homura-kun did most of the difficult stuff, though."

"Very well done, all of you," Mito complimented after examining the seal. "This will certainly be a challenge that your classmates will be up for." She kept their box and placed the one she'd been carrying on their table. "Wait until I give the go to start unlocking it."

"Whose box is this?" Koharu asked.

"Group four." Mito pointed at the nearby table where Danzo sat with a quiet boy wearing dark sunglasses and a white-haired girl with a Byakugan, a smug glint in his golden eyes.

"Ugh, not fair," Koharu grumbled. "We got Danzo's seal last time."

"What's so bad about Danzo's seals?" Kagami asked.

"That Shimura has such complicated seals that they're practically cursed!" Homura whined. "I even have a difficult time breaking them."

"It's not cursed, I checked," Mito assured them before giving their box to Hiruzen's table, where the Sarutobi was arguing with Biwako about who would start first, the Hatake across from them having his arms crossed with an annoyed expression. Mito went to the front of the room and got the class's attention by clapping her hands. "Everyone's fuuinjutsu has improved so much, congratulations. After I give my countdown, you may begin opening your classmates' boxes. Understand?" She eyed the Sarutobi's table, and Hiruzen froze before he could grab the box, smiling sheepishly.

"Well, get comfortable. We'll be here for a minute," Homura said, cracking his knuckles.

"… I'd like to try something," Kagami said, and his classmates looked at each other before nodding.

"We're curious to see what you've planned," Koharu said.

"Ready," Mito started. "Three… Two… One!" Kagami grabbed his notebook and flipped to the fuuinjutsu section, crimson eyes peering through his messy bangs to read how to break a lock seal, remembering the Shimura's demonstration. He clasped his hands together and grasped the pool of energy within himself that he knew was always there but had been too scared to dip in, kneading his chakra while examining Danzo's seal for its vulnerable point. He touched the center of the seal, sending a pinpoint burst of chakra through its opening, the first coupling breaking. He continued to bypass the three remaining barriers of the seal, biting his lip from the strain of breaking the last coupling, and the seal broke.

"I get what you mean. That was tough," Kagami sighed in victory and opened the box, Homura and Koharu looking shocked and elated.

"We're done, Mito-sensei!" Homura cheered.

"What, how?!" Danzo gasped from across the classroom, his box just now opening. Kagami held up his notebook to the Shimura and smiled. Danzo's eyes widened in surprise, before an impressed quirk upturned his lips.

"Ha! Beaten by your own notes!" Hiruzen laughed loudly, and Danzo's smile flipped to a scowl.

"Your box isn't even open yet, you idiot!" The boys began arguing from across the room until Mito quieted them with a firm glare, while most of the class giggled.

"I see why you're here, Kagami-kun," Koharu smirked.

"Yes, I don't know where you've been hiding," Homura said.

"Well, you two helped me a lot too," he held up his hand for a high-five. "Good job!" Koharu and Homura glanced at each other, cheeks rosy as they high-fived Kagami.

~ 𓆉 𓃹 ~

Mission: Apprehending Splendid Suki's Spies

Rank: A

Assigned To: Team 1 [Sarutobi Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura] and Team 2 [Shimura Danzo, Uchiha Kagami, Akimichi Torifu]

Type: Undercover, Apprehension

Overview: There have been reports of Taki-affiliated spies planning to meet at Suki's Splendid Service Café to pass sensitive information. The targets have been said to wear matching purple rings to identify each other and are assumed to be armed and dangerous.

Objective: Go undercover as service workers at Suki's Splendid Service café to apprehend the targets and retrieve their information.

Kagami arrived early in the morning with his team and Team 1 at the unique café, which branched off from the usual calm and casual kissaten. It had a classier aesthetic, including a small gagaku ensemble that played music at night, and an unconventional theme that was popular with the customers.

"Thank you all for volunteering to work at our café today. You'll be excellent butlers and maids!" the sweetly smiling hostess excitedly clapped, the black skirt of her maid uniform bouncing. "You've already read over our rules and etiquette, but a quick reminder to always keep your manners in mind, you'll be serving lords and ladies who deserve the highest respect. Understood?"

""Yes, ma'am,"" Kagami nodded with the other undercover shinobi.

"Your uniforms are waiting for you in the changing rooms," The manager said, the older man's mustached lip quirking. "But first, a quick inspection." He moved in front of Hiruzen first, silver eyes narrowed as the taller man looked down at the smiling teenager. "Hm, a bit on the shorter side, but our sandals will give you a couple of inches." Hiruzen kept his smile, though his eye twitched in irritation. The manager moved to Koharu next. "You'll need to lower your bun, and we'll provide you with a more decorative hairpin." Homura was next. "You'll need to remove your glasses."

"I kind of need them to see, sir," Homura replied, adjusting his blue glasses.

"They are cute on him," the hostess said, and the manager huffed.

"We'll provide you with contact lenses." Though Homura looked confused, the manager moved to Torifu, raising a brow. "What's on your cheeks?"

"They're birthmarks, sir," Torifu answered, rubbing the rosy oval markings on his cheeks to prove it wasn't makeup.

"Hm, they're the most eye-catching thing about you, so I'll let them stay." He went to Danzo, and his critique was immediate.

"Your scar," the manager tapped his own chin. You'll need to cover it. We have spare makeup to give you."

"Oh, he shouldn't have to do all that, Moto-san," the hostess said. "It gives him a sharp edge our ladies will fawn over."

"No, it's okay," Danzo said, voice softer than his usual harsh tone as he rubbed his scarred chin. A frown worked onto Kagami's face when Moto moved to examine him.

"Wipe that scowl off your face, and you'll be fine."

They went to the changing rooms to put on their uniforms: black pants, a white long-sleeve shirt with a black vest, gloves, and a tie that Kagami struggled to get right.

"How do you even put these on?" Homura muttered, struggling to put on the thin, near-invisible lenses on his eyes.

"Let me help. My cousin uses these," Hiruzen said, going to his teammate to help put them in. "That manager thinks so little of us, but we'll show him we're the handsomest butlers he's ever had."

"That's not the point of our mission," Danzo said, standing in front of the mirror above the sink area as he put foundation over the X-shaped scar on his chin.

"No, the point of this mission is to take a break from intensive missions and have some fun," Kagami said, standing beside the Shimura. "That's what Moku-sama said, and he's the marvelous Shodai Hokage, so we have to listen to what he says, right?" Danzo grumbled at his own words used against him.

"Fine." The Shimura finished covering his scar and noticed Kagami struggling with his tie. "Here, copy my movements," he said, swiping the Uchiha's fumbling hands out of the way to properly tie the accessory. Kagami activated his Sharingan to memorize the movements.

"You're just grumpy because you think you're average looking, Danzo-kun," Hiruzen teased, finally getting both of Homura's lenses in.

"It's better than thinking I'm taller than I actually am," Danzo grumbled, back and Hiruzen glared at him.

"Sounds like you're posing a challenge. All right, let's see which one of us can get the most official compliments. Prove who is the most handsome!"

"Hm, sounds fun," Torifu hummed with a slight smirk, pulling on his black gloves. The others left the locker room while Danzo finished up with Kagami's tie, the Uchiha feeling his body warming up with his teammate being so close, and the eye-catching sight of him in uniform.

"You don't think your scar is ugly, do you?" Kagami asked.

"No, I'm past that. I'm covering it now because it's a clue to me being a shinobi when we're undercover."

"Good," Kagami sighed in relief, smiling. "Because I think you look handsome with or without it. You're sure to win today's challenge." Danzo's hands quivered as he made the final knot, cheeks turning rosy.

"No, I won't," he breathed, finally looking the Uchiha in his crimson eyes. "You're my competition after all." Kagami's Sharigan pulsed with excitement as his heart fluttered, but Danzo quickly left because Kagami could form a proper response. "He really thinks I'm handsome!" Kagami's frown was no more by the time he left the changing rooms, finding Homura waiting in the hallway that led to both changing rooms.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"I'm just waiting for Koharu-chan to come out," Homura said. The women's changing room door opened, and Kagami looked surprised to see Koharu walk out in her maid uniform, a white apron laid over her black dress with white ruffles, and white gloves. Her low bun was pinned with a silver tulip, and a slim white maid's bonnet was atop her head. She looked confident when walking out, but froze when seeing Homura, both staring at each other in surprise, before looking away with flushed faces.

"I look ridiculous," Koharu huffed.

"No, I-I think you look rather decent," Homura said, rubbing his nose where his glasses used to rest. Koharu couldn't fight the smile spreading on her face.

"Well, I think you look rather decent as well," she complimented, and Homura covered his smile with his hand. Kagami could only chuckle in amusement.

"What do you mean two of our gagaku ensemble members can't perform tonight?" the manager exasperated to the hostess outside the hallway.

"Saki and Haruto told me they were sick. I've been looking for replacements but couldn't find anyone yet." Homura and Koharu looked at each other and nodded before leaving the hallway to approach the manager and hostess.

"Pardon us, but what instruments are you missing?" Koharu asked.

"Our lead biwa and komabue players," the hostess answered.

"Then Koharu-chan and I can fill in for them," Homura offered.

"Really?! Oh, you two are lifesavers," the hostess cheered, pulling them into a hug. "I'll give you the music later."

"I didn't know you two knew how to play instruments," Kagami said to the pair as they entered the dining area.

"Never came up in conversation, I suppose," Homura shrugged.

Kagami helped clean tables and prepare the café for their first customers. It was easy enough to smile politely and bow when he got his first table to wait on, the trio of girls blushing as they ordered their coffees and giggling amongst each other when he left. None of them had the purple rings he was searching for, and he kept an eye out as he continued to serve throughout the morning. After a couple of hours and no luck finding the spies, he went to the employee room for his lunch break. Homura was already present and munching on his tempura.

"So, how many positive reviews have you got, Homura-kun?" Kagami asked, sitting across from him.

"Two. What about you?" 

"Six," the Uchiha proudly smiled, and Homura nodded.

"Makes sense… I have a question for you, Kagami-kun?"

"Sure." "What could he ask me? He is already capable in his area of expertise."

“Do… Do you…” The Mitokado bit his lip before taking in a deep breath and blurting. "Do you think I should ask Koharu to be my lover?"

"Huh?" Kagami gasped, almost dropping his onigiri. "What do you mean? Aren't you two already together?"

"No, we're nothing official," Homura scratched his neck. "I've loved her for a long while now, but haven't said anything. She may not even feel the same about me," he sighed.

"I don't know, something tells me what you're feeling is mutual," Kagami smirked. 

"Really?! That'd be amazing," Homura smiled, eyes drifting off to a lovely thought, but then looked uncertain again. "But if we got together, would our relationship affect our teamwork? It seems to be going well with you and Danzo."

"Pardon?" Kagami sputtered, burning red.

"Oh, aren't you and Danzo together?"

"No, what gave you that idea?" 

"I've seen how you two look at each other, when you think no one is looking. I can pick up on the silent compliments you two give each other. I am very perceptive." Homura pushed up invisible glasses.

"Apparently not with Koharu," Kagami muttered, taking a frowning bite from his onigiri.

"I understand why you'd want to keep your relationship a secret, Kagami-kun. I won't tell another soul."

"Thank you, Homura-kun, but honestly, Danzo and I aren't together like that…" the Uchiha glanced away, cheeks blushing. "Not that I don't feel anything for him, but that's not what we're talking about." He shook off his nerves and looked back at Homura. "I don't think your teamwork will be ruined if you and Koharu get together. If anything, I think it'll be stronger."

"Honestly? It reassures me to hear you say that. Thank you."

"Happy to help. I'm curious, have you asked Hiruzen about this?"

"Ha, no. For the brilliant shinobi Hiruzen is, his love advice is subpar." Homura left once he cleaned up his lunch, and a few minutes later, another volunteer employee entered for her lunch break, sitting across from him.

"I have a question for you, Kagami-kun," she said as soon as she sat down, a serious look on her face.

"I got a few minutes of break left, so hit me." He leaned back in his chair, knowing what she would say.

"I've come to the realization that my affections for Homura are more than a simple infatuation. Should I confess my feelings to him?"

"Absolutely."

"You think so? What if he doesn't love me the same?"

"You'd be surprised how people like you much more than you think."

"Hm… Do you think our relationship would negatively affect our teamwork? You and Danzo still seem to be effective."

"Danzo and I aren't together like that," Kagami flushed, rubbing his neck. "Are we really so obvious?" "It's like we're stuck in limbo, but you don't have to be the same with Homura-kun. Tell him how you feel when you have the opportunity." Koharu's confidence returned as she nodded.

"Yes, I have to take that chance. Thank you, Kagami-kun.”

"You're very welcome."

With his lunch break done, he went back out to cater and search for the purple-ringed spies, though he saw no sign of the target as the hours ticked by. When the sun began to set, he was given a booth of four, and he silently gasped, his eyes widening, when he saw who was seated at the table. He swallowed his surprise when he approached the table.

"Thank you for visiting, distinguished lord and ladies. My name is Kagami, and I'll be your server today." He went with the usual routine and smile.

"Oh, you look absolutely adorable, Kagami," Akane cooed. His cousin's deep red lips curled in amusement, and her curled violet hair bounced off her chuckling shoulders. A golden rose pin kept her fringes pinned back and matched the golden lining of her dark purple kimono. Doesn't he look cute, Gakufu-kun?" Her painted nails drummed on Gakufu's shoulder, who sat beside her. The Uchiha's coal eyes did not look as assumed as Akane's.

"More like a fool," he grumbled. "Is this what Hashirama deems worthy for you to do?"

"Be nice, sourpuss," Akane poked the scowl off his face.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm just a regular volunteer. No secrets here," Kagami chuckled. "We needed a fun break."

"If you wanted a break, you could've spent time with us," Eiko said, cooling herself with a crimson fan. "You've been so distant lately, Kagami-kun. It's…" She reached out a hand to gently grasp his, frowning. "Concerning."

"I'm sorry, Eiko-chan."

"It's 'Eiko-sama'. Stay in character," Denma playfully chastised.

"I apologize, Eiko-sama. This just worked with my schedule, but we can plan something else." He smiled and politely pulled his hand away.

"Yeah, he'll make time for us," Denma assured, lightly nudging Eiko. "But if you're here, that means Torifu is here too, right?" she asked, looking around the café for the shinobi.

"Yep, he's waiting other tables, but there's a rumor he'll be bartending tonight while the gagaku ensemble plays."

"Oh, then I can't miss that." She smiled excitedly. Kagami took their orders and sent them to the kitchen before cleaning a nearby table. He overheard Akane's silky voice call out further behind him.

"Butler-san, your lady requires your service." Kagami heard an exasperated sigh in response, and footsteps approached.

"What do you need? Isn't Kagami your waiter?" Danzo groaned, carrying an empty tray. Kagami tuned into the conversation as he piled the dirty dishes on his tray.

"Aren't you a feisty butler?" she chuckled. "Yes, but I wanted your particular assistance, Dan-san. I'll give you a lovely tip."

"I want a positive review, " he said, pointing to the notes stashed in his front pocket.

"It's done, darling. Now," she spoke smoothly, taking a small slip of paper from the center of the table and writing on it with a pen from her purse. She held the slip of paper up but kept it out of reach. "Recommend me your favorite drink here." Danzo forced a gentle grin.

"That'd be our red eye coffee, Akane-sama. It's strong and gives you a boost of energy."

"Hm, sounds good," she hummed, placing the paper in Danzo's pocket. "I can give you more than a review if you ask nicely, Danzo-san." A deep irritation and ache stirred inside Kagami, and he whipped around with a growl and a tray full of dirty dishes. There was a loud crash as he collided with Koharu and Homura as they just passed by, food and drinks flying and dishes falling to shatter on the ground in a chaotic mess, though Kagami found himself mostly unscathed. His dirty sandals were nothing compared to the juice splashed in Homura's eyes and the pudding plastered on Koharu's head, her hair undone and pin broken on the ground beside her.

"Kami, I am so sorry," Kagami apologized, crouching to help Homura. "Are you okay?"

"Can't see, but fine otherwise," Homura muttered, eyes closed shut.

"Oh dear, that was a tumble!" Akane gasped as she went to Koharu's side and helped her up.

"What was that?" The manager growled as he marched over to the mess, but Torifu and Danzo stood in his way.

"It's only a small collision, Moto-san," Torifu said.

"We'll have this cleaned up right away," Danzo added.

"You better. The ensemble performs soon."

"We have to get you cleaned up then," Kagami said, holding Homura's arm.

"Yes, you must be stunning for your performance," Akane said, taking Koharu to her changing room, and Kagami doing the same for Homura. Kagami found a spare yukata while Homura washed his eyes in the sink.

"Ugh, these are ruined now," Homura sighed and took out his contact lenses, eyes clean but squinting. "I was going to talk to Koharu after we performed, but I can't do that if I can't see her face."

"Thankfully, you've got these to help you out." Kagami took Homura's glasses from his locker and waved them in his hand, the squinting shinobi tilting his head, confused. "Your glasses, " the Uchiha clarified.

"But… I'll look so odd with them."

"Don't let that manager get in your head, Homura-kun. I've always known you with glasses and never thought you were odd. They add to your character." He put Homura's glasses on his fellow shinobi's face, straightening them out. "Plus, Koharu probably thinks they look really good on you." He winked, and Homura flushed with an excited smile.

"I have to make myself presentable then," Homura said with more confidence, taking off his dirty vest, and Kagami left to check on Koharu, knocking on the door.

"Clean up in progress!" Akane called back.

"Is it going well?" Kagami asked through the door. There was a moment of silence before footsteps approached the cracked-open door, and Koharu peeked through.

"I feel gross, but Akane's doing what she can," the kunoichi muttered, deflated. "I can't confess to Homura looking like this… If I should still do it after looking like such a mess."

"Hey, that was my fault. Homura doesn't think you're a 'mess.' You're one of the most well put-together kunoichis I know. You got this, Koharu-chan."

"… Yes, I do," Koharu nodded confidently before closing the door. Akane left the room a few minutes later, missing her golden rose pin.

"Where's your rose?" Kagami asked.

"Koharu-chan needs it more than I do," she answered, putting her fringe behind her ear. "I don't know what you told her, but she's got her fire back, ready to spill her heart. Almost as forward as me," she smirked.

"Yeah, almost," he chuckled, straining his smile.

"Uh oh, what's going on with you?"

"What do you mean? I'm fi—" he was interrupted by his cousin, who squeezed his face.

"Don't finish that dreadful sentence. Something's got you twisted up," Akane released his face and gently patted his cheek. "Tell me what it is."

"Ugh, okay," he sighed, rubbing his neck and looking away. "I crashed into Homura and Koharu like an idiot because I was riled up. Maybe I'm a bit… envious about how forward you can be… with my teammate especially." Akane raised a confused brow before realization flashed in her eyes.

"Oh, you're… I didn't know you felt that way, sweetie." She reassuringly patted his shoulder, smiling softly. "Don't fret, I'll back off, but not everyone will be so generous. Take your own advice that you've been giving these two lovebirds, and make a move when you have the opportunity."

"Well, giving advice is easier than taking it, but… I'll try."

"You better, if I'm backing off."

The Uchihas returned to the main dining room, where the night crowd was pouring in, decked in all kinds of jewelry that caught Kagami's eye. He drifted over to Hiruzen near the back of the café.

"I get the feeling the target will be somewhere in this crowd," Hiruzen whispered to him, easily hidden underneath all the café's chatter. "Let me know if you get eyes on them."

"Got it," Kagami whispered back. "We should apprehend them quietly, though, not cause a scene. There are too many civilians here."

"Ladies and gentlemen," the hostess announced in front of the platform where the musicians were setting up. "There may have been word that we wouldn't have music tonight, but thankfully, two volunteers stepped up to perform. Rest assured, you will have a serenade while you dine with us tonight. Please, enjoy!"

When the hostess stepped back, Koharu, dressed in a white kimono, and Homura, dressed in a dark green yukata, stepped forward onto the stage. Koharu's golden rose pin glittered in the lantern light, and Homura's glasses reflected with a brilliant glare. Homura held a maroon biwa, checking that its strings were tight and tuned, and Koharu checked her komabue, giving the flute-like instrument a test blow.

"Finally, Koharu-chan and Homura-kun are performing in front of an audience," Hiruzen quietly cheered. "I've been telling those two they're amazing musicians."

Koharu and Homura checked with the three other ensemble members, getting thumbs up, before looking at each other and nodding. Koharu began with a long whistling note from her komabue, setting the grounding tune for Homura to join with twanging strums from his biwa, a melodic, calming duo. Homura and Koharu gently swayed with their music, completely involved in the song. They led the way for the other instruments to join, adding to the steady rhythm and creating a whimsical, airy melody. Kagami was so enraptured by it that he almost didn't notice the late arrival of the cafe. An older man in dark clothing and a golden ring around his finger with a purple jewel took a lone seat in the back.

He nudged Hiruzen beside him, and the Sarutobi quickly identified the target. Kagami looked on in shock as the manager took off his glove, revealing a purple ring, and slunk past the table. He inconspicuously grabbed a scroll from the target and slid it into his sleeve.

"I knew that guy was an asshole," Hiruzen quietly hissed. "I'll subdue the target, and you take care of the 'manager.'"

"Gladly," Kagami said, stealthily following the manager as he headed for his back office.

"Why did he get here so damn late?" he grumbled as he shoved the scroll into a wooden box on his desk, joining many others.

"Maybe he wanted to hear the ensemble," Kagami suggested, leaning in the office doorway when the manager spun around to face him in a panic.

"Tch, so you are a shinobi," the manager growled, closing the box, which automatically locked with a seal.

"One of the fastest, I say. So, you can run, but you won't get very far," Kagami smirked, his Sharingan beaming bright.

"Uchiha!" the manager gasped, quickly averting his gaze and throwing a smoke bomb from his pocket onto the floor. The office was engulfed in a foggy smoke, and the manager tried to make his getaway, dashing into the hallway with the box. Kagami let him get a couple of good strides before he caught up with a single leap, kicking his legs out from under him and pinning him to the floor just before he reached the main dining room where Homura's and Koharu's song emanated and Torifu waited.

"Shh, don't ruin the performance, Moto-san," the Akimichi shushed, taking the box out of the manager's reach as Kagami restrained him with the man's belt and gagged him with his cleaning rag. Kagami leaned back with Torifu against the back wall and listened to the last part of the performance. Koharu and Homura gradually drifted closer until they pressed against each other, guiding the last harmonic notes to rest as they gazed into each other's eyes.

"I didn't know Homura and Koharu could play instruments," Torifu said as he clapped with the crowd, the musicians bowing to the applause.

"And so beautifully too," Kagami added.

With the performance over and both targets successfully apprehended, they closed the café early under the pretense of maintenance. They notified the T&I department to collect the targets and any other vital scrolls or clues left behind in the café. While Koharu and Homura had run off who knew where, Kagami met with his team and Hiruzen to stand around a table.

"Finally, the time has come to tally the numbers," Hiruzen giddily said. "We'll finally find out who is the most handsome among us." The four shinobi placed their reviews on the table to count.

"What the—Danzo and I tied?! How?!" Hiruzen exasperated, both he and the Shimura having fifteen. "He was an asshole to most of the customers!"

"Yeah, and you were a dope that kept getting orders wrong," Danzo groused, arms crossed over his chest.

"It's not much of a surprise that I beat both of you," Kagami dramatically bragged with his seventeen reviews. "But Torifu beat us by a long shot!" he pointed to the large stack before the Akimichi.

"I tended the bar and reviews came flooding in," Torifu smirked.

"You can play so dirty, Torifu-kun," Hiruzen remarked.

"Pardon my intrusion," Gakufu grumbled as he approached the group, an unamused glare in his dark eyes and the locked box the manager had tried to escape with. "Where is your locksmith? My team has been unsuccessful in opening this damned thing."

"I don't know where Homura is, but I can tell him to meet you guys at the T&I department," Kagami said.

"Good. Now you all go ahead and get cleaned up and out of here so we can properly investigate."

Kagami went to look for the Mitokado when the group dispersed, sensing his chakra signature out back along with Koharu. He opened the back door and stepped out into the cool night air, his words falling silent when he saw the two figures entangled with each other under the shadow of the canopy.

"Sorry!" He apologized, turning his back to give the pair privacy.

"It's okay, Kagami-kun," Koharu said, breathless.

"Yes, no harm done," Homura agreed, taking a heavy breath.

"Wow, you two work fast," Kagami smirked as he turned around, seeing Koharu leaning back against the wall with Homura pressed against her.

"We took your advice after all," Koharu smiled, rubbing Homura's back.

"I came out here to tell Homura that he's needed at T&I to crack open the box with our target's scroll."

"I'll get that done." Homura glanced at Koharu. "After I'm done with business here."

"Of course." Kagami winked and went to leave.

"Wait," he stopped at Koharu's voice. "We want to thank you, Kagami-kun, for giving us the push we needed."

"We could have been stuck in limbo for who knows how long." Homura quirked his lip. "You should get yourself out of limbo, too, Kagami-kun."

"Though I question your tastes, I urge you to take your own advice," Koharu said.

"Hm, this is the second time I've heard that today. It must mean it's really that important," Kagami quietly hummed. “You two enjoy your night." He waved goodbye and went back inside to change out of his uniform in the locker rooms. He had just finished putting on his casual red yukata with the Uchiha symbol on the back when Danzo entered, immediately heading to the sink to start cleaning his face.

"Did you have fun today, Danzo-kun?" Kagami asked, standing beside his teammate and leaning against the sink counter.

"Today reminded me why I avoid customer service positions like the plague," Danzo started, wetting a rag in the sink. "But I'm grateful I got to spend time with you all without the fear of any of you getting harmed."

"Is that your long way of saying yes?"

"Yes," Danzo clicked his tongue and brought the wet rag to his face.

"Here, let me. You helped me with my tie earlier." Kagami took the rag from him.

"If you must," the Shimura sighed, but didn't recoil when Kagami brought the warm rag to his face. The Uchiha cupped the side of Danzo's cheek to keep his head steady as he wiped away the makeup on his chin, feeling his teammate's face heat up underneath his touch and his golden eyes glancing away.

"Am I making you all heated?" Kagami quietly teased, stroking his thumb over Danzo's cheek.

"Tch, course you are when you're in my space," Danzo grumbled.

"Oh," The Uchiha finished cleaning away all the makeup, rubbing his thumb gently over the scarred skin, close to his bottom lip. "Should I pull away then?" The Shimura's reserved chakra signature flared.

"… I didn't say that." Danzo's eyes finally connected with his, thrumming nervousness but wanting all the same. The excited rush pulsing through him made the Uchiha's Sharigan flare to life in an eager swirl.

"Are you done yet, Kagami-kun?" Gakufu's harsh voice rang through the locker room as he barged in, and Kagami reflexively jumped back.

"Uh, yes, I'm done." He cleared his throat, and his excitement had quickly replaced his anxiousness.

"He was just helping me clean up, is all," Danzo added, turning his back to the two as he took off his vest. "Now, unless you two want to watch me undress, I suggest you get out of here."

"Gladly. Come on, Kagami.” Gakufu kept the door open for Kagami, his glare dancing between the two teammates.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming. Always so pushy, Gakufu." Kagami left with the other Uchiha, doing his best to ignore the disappointment gripping his chest.

~ 𓆉 𓃹 ~

Rubble, charred earth, drying blood, and corpses made up most of the battlefield's aftermath, and unfortunately, it was a sight Kagami had become all too familiar with. Nonetheless, it still made his heart ache with thoughts of "So much needless death and misery," "You should have been here to stop this," "Why aren't you strong enough yet?" Even though he couldn't be of help then, he could give help now. He searched through the small, ruined village for anyone injured he could bring back for medical attention, helping injured Konoha-nin out of the rubble and guiding dazed civilians to the safe area. Though leftover traps were still active and littered across the dead battlefield. Koharu and Homura handled them, the kunoichi sensing them out and the glasses-wearing shinobi disarming them.

"We'll take a look inside the main hall next, Kagami-kun," Homura informed the Uchiha as he cleaned his dirty glasses with his undershirt, Kagami carrying an injured shinobi on his back. "Well, what's left of it."

"Okay. Be careful," Kagami said.

"We've been successful so far. Don't stress," Koharu assured him before the pair headed to clear out the half-demolished three-story building.

"Thank you, Kagami-san," the shinobi on his back thanked as he carried her to the medic tents, the Inuzuka's fangs barred as she gratefully grinned.

"You're welcome. Sorry, I couldn't be here sooner."

"Don't say that. You were probably kicking ass somewhere else. With you and your team, we're sure to win this shitty war."

"I'll assure you that much." He smiled back at her, but his smile promptly fell when his senses suddenly went on edge, telling him something wasn't right.

"What's the matter?" Torifu asked him, leaving the medical tent, and seeing Kagami's worried expression.

"Don't know. Something bad. Homura and Koharu said they were going to clear out the main hall. I'll go check on them." He passed off the injured Inuzuka to Torifu before rushing to the main hall, careful to only cross secure village areas to reach his destination. He sensed nothing wrong on the first floor, seeing Homura's paper tag of approval that the area was safe from traps. The rickety stairs creaked when he walked up them, barely holding together and some sections falling apart, forcing him to leap over large holes that led to the ground below. When he reached the second floor, he finally realized what was wrong. The fierce stench of killing intent radiated from the floor above, along with sounds of a struggle and a child crying.

Kagami didn't waste another breath, dashing up the rest of the stairs and following the screams echoing through the floor to find a final hall leading to the door that contained the source crying out for help. The Uchiha's Sharingan burned in his eyes as he unsheathed his sword and barreled through the door, knocking it down with a loud crash. He immediately analyzed the scene in front of him. The large conference room was in shambles, the table was destroyed, and a large chunk of the back wall was missing, causing the sunlight to beam in. Koharu stood in the corner of the room, with her left arm wired to the wall and the other brandishing a bloody kunai, a deep bleeding cut across her brow. Behind her was a sobbing child, the little girl curled into a defensive ball as she cried, her ankle bent at an odd angle.

In the center of the room, Homura fought on the ground with a Kiri Anbu whose mask was cracked and splattered with blood, the Konoha-nin fending off his attacker's slashing kunai barehanded. Kagami's loud entrance snatched the Kiri-nin's attention, but the Uchiha continued his attack, rushing forward and slicing at his neck. The Kiri-nin blocked with his kunai, and though he was pushed back, he took the chance to strike Kagami in the chest with his hand. Kagami felt a tightening, stinging sensation as a wiry seal crawled across his chest. It didn't have a chance to go far as Homura promptly broke it with a single hand sign, freeing the Uchiha from the entrapping seal.

"The Kiri-nin's preparing a lightning jutsu!" Koharu warned, throwing her kunai at the Kiri-nin now that she had a clear shot. He easily ducked, allowing Kagami to reposition himself for the incoming attack. He aimed his sword so the lightning would strike his blade, shielding Homura as he worked to undo Koharu's entrapment seal. His blade eagerly drank in the chakra from the Kiri-nin's lightning, and Kagami rushed forward once more. This time, however, the Kiri-nin's kunai wasn't enough to stop Kagami's electrified sword, leaving him with a broken kunai and his head rolling away from his collapsing body.

"Are you guys okay?" Kagami asked, flicking the blood from his sword and holstering it.

"Roughed up, but we'll live," Koharu said as she picked up the sniveling girl. "This little one needs medical attention, though." Her eyes suddenly widened, focusing on the Kiri-nin's corpse, where a barely noticeable chakra stirred. "His body's bombed!" All shinobi sprang into action, Koharu shielding the girl while Homura covered them both, and Kagami rushed toward the group. He pushed them all out through the hole in the wall just as the bomb went off, the group falling through the air as the building began to collapse beside them.

"I got ya!" Torifu called out from below, his enlarged hands easily catching them all and cushioning their fall before closing to encase them to shield them from the debris of the collapsing building. Kagami was encased in darkness until the commotion stopped, and Torifu's hands opened to let them out and show the massive pile of rubble that used to be a building.

"Are you okay?" the Akimichi asked, his hands shrinking.

"We'll live. It's this girl that needs help," Koharu said, handing the injured girl over to Torifu. The latter immediately began comforting the frightened child as he headed for the medical tents. Koharu and Homura gave grateful nods to Kagami before the three continued with their rescue efforts.

~ 𓆉 𓃹 ~

"I'm grateful that none of your hands were injured today," Kagami said as he approached the pair of musicians, who serenaded the tired group of shinobis and civilians around the large campfire. "We wouldn't have such lovely music tonight." Homura and Koharu paused their duet from where they sat on the long log.

"Only because you helped us, Kagami-kun," Homura said, with a dark bruise on his left cheek.

"We say it a lot, but still, thank you," Koharu bowed her head, the cut on her brow sewn shut.

"I got lucky this time… But I want to make it so I don't rely on luck."

"What do you mean?" Kagami sat down beside them on the log.

"There's…" He swallowed his nerves, looking his teammates in the eyes. "There's a Uchiha seal I'd like to gift both of you."

"A Uchiha seal?!" Homura gasped, face heating up. "That's uh, very forward." At Kagami's confused expression, Koharu asked:

"Isn't that a traditional marriage seal used in the Uchiha clan?"

"Oh, no, that's a different seal from what I have in mind," Kagami laughed. "I want to give you the Lesser Uchiha Seal. It'll make it so that if you're ever in danger, I'll know immediately. Not leaving your safety to chance. I can take them off whenever, but I'll only give my seal if you want it." Homura and Koharu had calmed from their initial shock, and Kagami anxiously watched the pair look at each other before nodding.

"That is a marvelous idea, Kagami," Koharu said.

"We'd be more than grateful to receive your gift," Homura added, and Kagami was more than relieved.

"Great. I've only done this a couple of times, but I shouldn't be rusty," Kagami spoke as he sighed the fuuinjutsu. "Please hold out your hand. It will sting a bit." The pair complied, holding out one of their hands, and the Uchiha grabbed Homura's hand as flames rose in his throat. He brought his lips to the back of Homura's hand, the shinobi silently wincing as his seal was burned into his skin. Once finished, he promptly moved on to Koharu, bringing the back of her hand to his lips to breathe out the last of his flames, the kunoichi squeezing his hand back. Finished, he pulled back, a little lightheaded, and watched Homura and Koharu examine their seals.

"It's so intricate," Homura awed, a turtle at the center of his seal.

"And beautiful," Koharu added, a huddled hare in the middle of her seal.

The musicians continued their song, boldly showing the seals on their hands, and Kagami sat back and listened with the rest of the crowd, savoring the moment of melodic peace that Koharu and Homura gifted them.

Chapter Text

Kagami followed Madara's movements with his Sharingan, how he moved his body as smoothly as a fresh spring and as agile as a hawk soaring through the sky. Kagami remembered when his father danced with his mother, how his movements were heavy, accentuating his musculature as he spun her in the air. Madara's solo dance was light, his robe fluttering around him in eye-catching rivets, and sharp, each movement slicing through the air like a samurai's blade. Kagami imagined any dance partner the Uchiha head had would have been cut down by his harsh swiftness. When Madara's dance ended, Kagami clapped with his peers in the gated training yard.

"You're amazing, Madara-ojisan!" Denma complimented.

"You reminded me of Otosan," Eiko commented.

"I did dance lessons with Hikaku-kun when we were younger," Madara said, readjusting his robe. "He'll be dancing at the festival, and so will you."

"We'll give you our best, Madara-ojisan," Gakufu said as he puffed out his chest.

"Yeah, we'll try not to embarrass you, Madara-sensei," Kagami smiled. There was a knock on the tall gate door, and Kagami silently cheered while Madara softly groaned.

"Is it time already?" He went over and opened the door with a prepared scowl, glaring at the young teens and Danzo's father on the other side.

"Good afternoon, Madara-dono," Torifu greeted with a mouthful of senbei crackers he had stuffed in his mouth, loudly crinkling the bag with crumbs of his face.

"We're here for Kagami," Danzo said without a greeting, his arms crossed.

"And Dema-chan," Torifu mumbled with a mouthful.

"Both of you show some respect," Danzo's father scolded, patting Torifu's head while smacking Danzo upside the head. The Shimura patriarch wore a black yukata over his lean frame with the Shimura clan symbol on the back. His long white hair was tied back in a low ponytail, and a black bandana was wrapped around his blind eyes. "My apologies, Madara-dono. You know how arrogant young shinobi get after getting promoted. They think they're untouchable."

"I couldn't agree more, Zenkou-san," Madara said lightly, though he maintained a sour expression. "What mission does Sasuke-dono have for you?"

"No, mission, we just wanna hang out… sir," Torifu added the last word after a flick from Zenkou.

"Very well. I'm done with my lesson." Madara turned around to his apprentices. "Your lesson is done for today. Remember to practice, all of you. You are excused." Kagami dashed out of the training yard with Denma close behind, the young kunoichi hopping onto Torifu's back and Kagami joining Danzo's side.

"See you tomorrow, Sasuke-sensei!" The young Uchihas waved goodbye to Madara, who gave a small wave back with calculating eyes.

"I got some senbei," Torifu said, offering to share.

"Oh, what flavor are those?" Denma curiously eyed the green-dusted snacks and licked the crumbs off the Akimichi's cheek birthmark, making Danzo stick out his tongue in disgust and Kagami chuckle at Torifu's stoic blushing. "Mochi," Denma smirked and devoured a cracker from his bag.

"You need to be nicer to Madara-sensei, Danzo-kun," Kagami said, nudging the Shimura as they walked to the exit of the Uchiha district.

"I was, I didn't insult him or anything!"

"Yeah, but you're still cold. Lighten up a bit or at least pretend you're not absolutely miserable." He poked Danzo's frowning cheek, and he swatted away his hand.

"I'm not miserable. Not when you're…" The Shimura bit his tongue and lightly blushed, looking away.

"When I what?" Kagami teasingly inquired, leaning close into Danzo's space.

"N-nothing. We should talk about preparing the festival now!" Danzo loudly announced to change the subject, and Kagami laughed.

~ 𓆣 ~

Kagami met Akimichi Torifu in the aftermath of a thunderstorm that had raged through Konoha. The young Uchiha had huddled in the main bedroom with his parents, aunt, and cousin Akane, listening to the crackling thunder and watching the lightning flash behind the curtains. Many trees had fallen, some on houses, and forest debris and outdoor furniture were strewn across the street. 

Even though he and his class weren't official ninjas yet, and he was only in his second year in the academy, Kagami went out with his classmates to help with the cleanup. Though the academy students easily cleared the smaller debris, hefty tree trunks took ten or more children to move. Even then, with Hiruzen's strength, it was a slow struggle. 

"Come on, lift!" Hiruzen encouraged through gritted teeth as the group moved another tree off an elderly couple's porch, Kagami straining to keep the heavy hunk of wood off the ground. However, the muddy ground made it hard to walk, and splinters jabbed into his hand. "Are you even lifting it, Dan-kun?!"

"Yes, shut up!" Danzo shouted from the other side of the trunk just as Kagami felt the weight slip from their grasp. He was about to yell a warning, watching the truck about to fall and crush their feet, when the weight suddenly lifted as a boy joined Kagami's side. The boy with messy brown hair and red ovals on his cheeks raised the trunk with shocking ease and no sweat on his brow, Kagami's muscles crying with relief as the weight lifted.

"Whoa! Thanks, whoever that was!" Hiruzen said.

"No problem," the new boy said, doing most of the heavy lifting to move the trunk off the street.

"Thank you," Kagami panted, catching his breath. "What's your name?"

"Torifu from the Akimichi clan."

"That explains your strength," Danzo said, wiping his dirty hands on his pants. "Still, you're pretty strong. Even more than Hiru-kun, probably."

"As if!" Hiruzen turned to Torifu, reinvigorated. "C'mon, show me what you got, Torifu of the Akimichi clan!"

"If that means moving more trees than sure," Torifu shrugged. The Akimichi joined the group in clearing large debris, making the process much easier and mildly competing against Hiruzen to see who could lift the most on their own. Torifu ended up stealing the gold when he moved half a tree by himself, and Kagami quietly clapped along with his cheering classmates.

"Hm, you little ones have cleaned up so much already," Sasuke observed as he walked over the children, falling silent, seeing Torifu move the heavy mass of bark and branches single-handedly. "I don't remember that Akimichi being in your class, Hiruzen."

"He isn't. He just came out to help," Hiruzen said, tired from a morning of heavy lifting. "And beat me in a strength contest. I wanna compete against him more," he excitedly grinned.

"I see," Sasuke hummed. "What's his name?"

"It's uh, Torifu, sir," Kagami quietly answered, hiding his eyes behind his bangs.

"Akimichi Torifu," the older Sarutobi repeated, his green eyes lingering on the boy who slowly smiled as he was praised by the ninjas in training.

When the academy reopened a couple of days later, Kagami's class had a new student.

~ 𓆣 ~

'Dear Uchiha Kagami and Shimura Danzo,

You and your families are invited to the residence of Akimichi Torifu for dinner in celebration of our newly formed Team 2! It's this weekend at six in the evening. Let's celebrate then!'

Kagami arrived at Torifu's home in the Akimichi estate with his parents, his aunt, and Akane, a delicious scent wafting from the two-story home.

"Mm, smells good already," his mother, Sayaka, said, taking a deep breath and looking at his father. She put a lock of his messy purple hair behind his ear and grumbled:

"Hopefully, the food's good enough to make up for the company."

"Be nice, Hiro!"

"Yes, let's try and survive this night without mishaps," his aunt said as she fanned herself with an Uchiha fan and readjusted Akane's crimson kimono. "I hope there's no fights either," Kagami silently thought, knocking on the front door.

"Someone's at the door, Ojiisan!" A young girl called out from inside before an old man opened the door, with the signature Akimichi build and the dark green arches on his cheeks creased by his wrinkles when he smiled.

"Welcome, Uchiha family. Thank you for joining us." He bowed respectfully.

"Thank you for inviting us, Souma-san." Hiro bowed his head back.

"Oh, that's all thanks to our Torifu. He wanted to share a proper dinner with his new team, prepared by his own hands." Souma led the family to the large dining room where the Shimura family sat around the long chabudai along with Torifu's younger sister, two twin cousins, and grandmother. "Torifu's still finishing dinner, but the food won't be much longer. I know we're all hungry."

Kagami's family sat across from the Shimuras, and he gave a small smile and wave to his teammate, the scarred boy waving back.

"I'm glad you and your family could make it, Hiro-san," Danzo's father said with a flimsy politeness. "Though your punctuality is less to be desired."

"No, you just got here early because you can't read a clock, or anything for that matter," Hiro retorted, gesturing to the Shimura's bandaged eyes.

"What did I say?" Sayaka smacked his shoulder, who mumbled an apology.

"You said you'd mind your tongue, Zenkou," Danzo's mother said under her breath, and Zenkou frowned apologetically.

"I've heard many good things about you from my son, young Kagami," he said, lightening the subject and Kagami's mood.

"I'm happy to hear that, Zenkou-san," Kagami grinned. "I—" The door to the kitchen creaked open, and Torifu poked his head out, cheeks dusted with flour and a strained smile on his face.

"I'm glad you could make it, Shimura and Uchiha families. I'm sorry for the wait. Dinner will be served shortly."

"Take your time, sweetie," his grandmother reassured Torifu. His eyes darted to the young Uchiha.

"Kagami-kun, would you please taste-test something for me?"

"Sure!" "Torifu definitely needs help with something." Kagami excused himself from the table and joined Torifu in the kitchen. A very chaotic and messy kitchen with many boiling pots on the stove, messy bowls on the counter, and a recipe book in his hands. "What's going on, Torifu-kun? It's like a dog rampaged in here."

"No, just me," Torifu groaned, looking the most stressed Kagami had ever seen. "I don't know what's going on with me. I never get so nervous that I can't cook, let alone think. I'm sorry, I'm asking you to please help me fix this mess, Kagami-kun."

"Hey, don't be embarrassed. Of course, I'll help you, teammate." Kagami assured Torifu, drawing a small smile from the Akimichi. "We could ask Danzo to help, too?"

"No, he's the team leader. I don't want him to think I can't handle making dinner."

"Since when was Danzo the team leader?"

"Well, he's the one leading us on missions when Sasuke-sensei isn't there and bossing us around the other times."

"… Fair enough." Kagami cleaned up, salvaging what food he could, while Torifu prepared fresh ingredients before they began cooking. Kagami memorized the recipe's instructions and used his Sharingan to copy Torifu's movements when molding the sushi rice and slicing the perfect cuts of salmon and tuna. At the same time, Torifu fixed the seasoning for the hot pot broths. They arranged the finished dishes on three trays, putting the final garnishes and sauces.

"Again, thank you a thousand times for helping me, Kagami," Torifu said, wiping sweat from his brow. "Dinner and my reputation are saved."

"I'm happy to help." Kagami turned to grab the serving plates in the drawer. Now, all that's left is to—AHH!" He let out a terrified shriek and jumped back, using his chakra to cling to the far wall.

"What is it, Kagami?!" Torifu asked, startled by the scream, and looked at where Kagami pointed at the center of the kitchen door. He also screamed and joined the Uchiha on the wall, keeping as much distance away from the large bug with spiked legs, long antenna, and wings that shuddered underneath its carapace. "That's where it skittered off to. That monster was terrorizing us this morning. It's trying to ruin our appetites, the awful thing! You need to kill it, Kagami-kun."

"Me?! I'm not going near that gross thing. Ugh! It could be poisonous too."

"We can't let it get away, though. How about we rock, paper, scissors for whoever has nightmares tonight?"

"What's going on in here?" Danzo questioned as he slipped inside the kitchen, looking worried.

"We're being held hostage!" Kagami cried.

"By a horrible monster!" Torifu pointed at the creepy crawly taunting them from the floor. Danzo's worry faded away, replaced with a disappointed stare and frown.

"That's it? I thought one of you guys got burned or something." He grabbed a napkin from the counter, walked over to the bug, and snatched it up with the napkin, crushing it easily in his hand with a loud crunch, making Kagami and Torifu cringe. "There. Your captor is dead." Danzo threw the bug corpse in the trash before washing his hands in the sink. "You can stop crying now, you big babies."

"Thank you for rescuing us, Danzo-kun," Torifu rejoiced.

"Yeah, ye could've been stuck here forever." Kagami jumped off the wall with Torifu and gratefully hugged the Shimura, who rolled his eyes as he dried his hands, but couldn't hide his slight smile.

"You're welcome, cowards. Now, let's get dinner set up."

"On it!" Torifu said, and Kagami nodded. The three teammates grabbed the tray of food and dishes before entering the dining room to applause and cheering. Kagami enjoyed the delicious meal he and Torifu prepared together with their families. Kagami savored his company and the food with a warm heart and full belly as he chatted with his team between bites of sushi.

"I'd like to make a toast," Kagami's father announced later during the dinner, holding up his cup with a smile. "To the union of our Team 2. May all three of our children prosper as shinobi."

"May we prosper," Kagami added, holding up his cup that he clanked with Danzo and Torifu while the adults clicked theirs. "Thank you for the meal, Torifu-kun. Let's be the best genin team Konoha's ever seen!"

~ 𓆣 ~

The day came when Kagami and his team joined the Shinobi World War, which raged through all the lands and villages. He had prepared for this day for a couple of years, training day in and out, earning his spot on Niidame Hokage's new escort team, and ready to lay down his life for his village and loved ones. Even then, it was still painful to say goodbye to family at Konoha's front gates before departing for war. He knew he wasn't the only one hurting.

"Please, take care, Moto-san," Koharu said, her and Homura holding hands with the middle-aged woman who was the ninja academy's librarian.

"Thank you for all you've done," Homura said. All of their faces held a quiet solemness, Moto's grey eyes tearing up as she said:

"You two are smart, you know how to survive. Still, I wish you all the luck in the world. I know you'll do well, both of you." She hugged the pair tightly, and Homura and Koharu embraced her just as tightly back.

"May you bring glory, Hiruzen-dono, and accompany your father in battle," an elder Sarutobi said, shaking Hiruzen's hand.

"I think we're past the handshaking phase, old timer," Hiruzen said, pulling the surprised old man into a hug. "You may have keeled over by the time I get back, Hideo-san, so I gotta hug you now."

"Well, I'll still try to hold on until then." He gently hugged Hiruzen back.

"Fight to survive, and win for Konoha, Danzo," Daika told her son, patting down his uniform.

"I'll fight just as fiercely as Otosan did," Danzo determinedly nodded.

"Make it fiercer. You will return home." She grasped his shoulders, biting her lip.

"Yes, I will, Okaasan," Danzo promised, holding his mother's hands tightly.

“Please stay Niisan!” Momoka begged as she clung to Torifu.

"Yeah, we need you here, Toto," Shouta whined, joining the hug with his twin.

"Who’s gonna move all the heavy things?" Shouhei added.

"It'll have to be you guys for now. I'm sorry," Torifu sorrowfully smiled as he hugged his sister and cousins. I have to fight so you can live with a smile on your face and full bellies. I promise I'll come back."

"Please, keep that promise, Torifu," his grandmother pleaded.

"We don't want to lose anymore…" his grandfather shook his head, wiping a tear from his eye before joining in with his wife to embrace the teary-eyed Torifu.

"You know your father would be proud of the shinobi you have become, right?" Kagami's mother asked him with glossy crimson eyes.

“I know, Okaasan.” Kagami smiled. "I will continue to make him proud."

"You're strong in body and spirit, dear," Akane said, looking solemn herself. "I know you'll find your way home, and we'll be waiting for you." A deep sadness gripped him when hugging his mother and cousin for what would be the last time in a long time. Though that dour emotion lingered, he could still hold his head high and stand tall as he departed with his team with the thought of protecting the home and family he left behind. He noticed Torifu's sniffling beside him as they leapt through the trees.

"We made it pretty far, haven't we, Tori-kun?"

"Yeah, it feels like we were finding lost cats just yesterday," Torifu sighed. "I never thought those small missions would lead us to be commanders of a world war. The time to step up is here, whether we're ready or not… I just want to use my strength the best I can."

"You will. You got the burning heart of a fighter, and it's a big heart," The Uchiha assured his teammate with a friendly nudge. "Remember, you won't be fighting alone. We'll return home, Torifu."

"… Yeah, you're right, Kagami." Torifu wiped away the tears gathering in his eyes and his expression bloomed with determination. "We'll see that this terrible war ends, together."

~ 𓆣 ~

The summer festival was full of the sweet and savory smells of street food, the showy, glittering sights of colorful streamers and decorative kimonos and yukatas, of the festival goers, and the feeling of warm camaraderie and elation. Kagami watched everyone dance around the bonfire like a breathing, twirling mass of movement and colors he had been a part of, while he took a break to catch his breath.

"You're a great dancer, Kagami-kun," Torifu complimented as he sidled up to the Uchiha.

"Thanks. It's nice to know my practice is doing me good. You should dance too, Torifu."

"Mm, yeah, I've been thinking about it," the Akimichi mumbled, twirling his fingers together and staring intently at the dancing crowd, eyeing one kunoichi in particular.

"You wanna ask Denma-chan to dance?" Kagami smirked and playfully nudged his teammate.

"M-maybe," Torifu mumbled. "Should I, though?"

"Of course! Something tells me she likes you, too."

"I can feel that. It's just… I'm not too good a dancer, and she's…" he gestured to Denma as she danced with her fan, her red obi trailing behind her as she twirled. "I'd embarrass her."

"She wouldn't be embarrassed by you. She'd be more than happy you even asked her to dance."

"… You sure?"

"Positive, and if you end up being embarrassed, I'll make a bigger fool of myself to draw attention away from you."

“Tch, thanks, Kagami-kun.” Torifu sighed and smiled. "Get ready to be the biggest fool in the village then." The Akimihi readied himself before entering the dance floor and approaching Denma, catching her on the tail end of her spin. Kagami smiled, watching Denma's excited grin and Torifu wrapping her arms around her as they began to dance. "Another match made… I wonder who Madara-sensei's match is. I could use her to make him go easier on us during training. Where is he actually? He said he was getting something from his office but should be back by now…"

Curiosity got the better of him, and Kagami went in search of his Uchiha sensei, saying it was because he needed help looking for something and not because he wanted to be nosey. Though most of the Uchiha district was celebrated with the rest of the village, Madara's home was in the quieter, unfestive section for those who wanted to turn in early. Knowing where his sensei hid his key, he got through the front gate and into Madara's home, where no lights were turned on, even in his office, where he should have been. Though Kagami couldn't find light, he found music, a slow harmonic melody from the backyard. He reached out his senses, only finding Madara's chakra signature, blazing and fierce. "What's he doing in the backyard?"

Kagami silently crept toward the cracked-open back door, quieting his chakra as much as possible as he peered through the hole. "Maybe he's practicing some secretive jutsu I can… copy?" His mouth fell open in a silent gasp, and his heart stopped for a breath at what he saw. Madara wasn't practicing a jutsu. Instead, he was dancing like Kagami had seen during dancing lessons, except he wasn't alone. His dance partner was a recognizable Senju with snow white hair and piercing crimson eyes, donning his river blue yukata.

"You are rougher tonight, Madara," Tobirama observed with a displeased frown as Madara had a tight grip on his hand and waist, his eyes staring into the Uchiha's Sharingan unafraid. "What, the festival not enough to warm your frigid spirits?"

"Be wary of taunting me on this night, Tobirama," Madara warned with a low growl and spun the Senju out.

"Or what?" Tobirama challenged, narrowing his eyes.

"Fine then," the Uchiha growled and reinvigorated their dance. It appeared more like a competing battle than a unified dance. While Madara maintained the lead, the Senju didn't make it easy. He thrusted his weight against the Uchiha when coming together to push him back a step. He slipped from Madara's grasp to make him chase, swiftly dodging his attempts to grasp the nimble Senju until Madara was lucky enough to snag his hand, pull his back flush against his chest, and wrap an arm around his waist tightly. Madara leaned in close and whispered something in Tobirama's ear that Kagami couldn't catch, but saw the Senju grit his teeth and face flush in reaction. Madara sharply spun Tobirama around to face him, their foreheads pressed together, and eyes locked in a tense, competitive gaze that burned the space between them.

In one seamless motion, Madara leaned forward, capturing Tobirama's lips in a heated embrace as their eyes closed. Kagami was breathless and had a shocked heart. "What—How— When was Tobirama-sensei Madara-sensei's soulmate?! They avoid each other every chance and get into glaring contests whenever they interact! That makes sense considering their history, but this… Maybe all that's a cover-up? I know the Uchiha and Senju elders wouldn't be elated if they saw this dance. Have they made up?... It certainly looks like they kindled something together." Kagami felt intrusive watching Madara's hands pull at Tobirama's yukata, exposing the soul seal of a lion burned into his chest, as the Uchiha tried dominating the Senju's combative tongue.

A single eye opened, and Madara stared directly at Kagami's peeking eye, his Sharingan boring into the younger Uchiha's. Kagami jumped back and bolted like a thief caught with stolen goods, running out of Madara's home and scaling to the rooftops to escape, only stopping when he couldn't sense Madara's chakra signature. After catching his breath, he rejoined the last bits of the festival, keeping his mouth shut about the forbidden dance he witnessed and trying to block the fresh memory blazing into his mind. But a single question kept returning to him

"Why… Why didn't you lie about where you ran off to, Madara-sensei?"