Chapter Text
________
Arriving at the Senju settlement was fairly anticlimactic. Well they had planned it that way. Tobirama was grateful for Hashirama, still felt the relief of having his Anija arrive and make things better when he needed help. But that did not prevent Tobirama from feeling exasperated with him.
Hashirama adored Shisui.
There was nothing wrong with that exactly, the problem lay in Anija's inability to not emote so loudly all the time. Because such immediate fondness wasn't practical for the situation they were trying to engineer for Shisui coming to stay with the Senju officially. Instead of hiding him in Tobirama's lab like he'd initially thought he might have to do.
Also Hashirama was treating Shisui like he was a mix of a precious little sibling, the realization of all his dreams and a beloved pet.
Two of those things were fairly accurate, if you replaced 'precious little sibling' with 'distantly related future relative'.
The beloved pet thing…maybe Hashirama had just overloaded his brain and wasn't functioning properly. Or maybe it's just that Shisui's curls were just too inviting.
The last was probably it. There wasn't anyone in the clan that Tobirama was aware of that had hair anything like Shisui's messy curls. His own fingers sometimes twitch or itch to do what Hashirama frequently did and run through that messy hair. But Tobirama was an adult with self control. So he did not.
It could also be that Shisui looked so young. The natural roundness of his face and the last vestiges of baby fat made him look softer. Younger than fifteen. And he was cheeky, bright and teasing. Apparently those previous traits were the dialed down version.
Shisui was entirely too much like his crow summons. And wasn't that a fun discovery.
Tobirama glanced up at the sky at the crow lazily circling above them. She had been their lookout for the last part of the journey. Akira deciding to head back to the summoning realm unless they absolutely needed her.
Emi was an irreverent, clever and ridiculous bird, and she was just like her summoner. In fact when she cackled and Shisui joined in it gave him goosebumps. Hashirama just praised Shisui and gave him more head pats, which the boy soaked up like a sponge.
"Worried?" Hashirama asked as they approached the walls and gates of their home.
"No, not exactly." Tobirama said.
It was true. He wasn't exactly worried per se. More like he wasn't sure how their initial plan would play out and if they would need to enact any contingencies they had made.
"What are the Senju Clan Elders like?" Shisui asked from Tobirama's back.
Tobirama winced and Hashirama gave a pained smile. "What are any Elder's like?" his brother answered.
Shisui huffed out a laugh. "Fair enough. Are there any in particular that might the hostile or make trouble for me?"
They thought about it. Some of the Elders were reasonable in general. Maybe not when it came to the Uchiha-Senju feud but for the rest of the everyday stuff they were fine. It was only when Uchiha were mentioned that everyone seemed to lose their collective minds and good sense.
"I don't think so." Hashirama said slowly, brow furrowed as he thought about the Elders. "We have a lot of relatives, and without a traditional kekkei genkai and a strong history of adopting talent in whenever we find it your origins are credible. Truthfully if we had found you and you had no Senju ties it wouldn't be hard to adopt.you in. We are the clan of 1000 skills largely because we adopt them in. The main family line has been continuous, but other than that we are a very mixed group."
Shisui's chakra spiked in interest as he mulled the answer over. "So the Senju aren't nearly as insular as the Uchiha."
Hashirama nodded, "Correct, and we have many different family names in the clan. Having the Senju name isn't the important part of our identity. Though we do consider the adopted in relatives true family members. It just isn't always a blood tie."
"No wonder you were able to take the step further and dream of a village of multiple clans." Shisui said, with the air of having figured out a puzzle, "the village is just a larger, more expansive version of traditions the Senju already practice! At least in a way it is."
Thinking about it, Tobirama had to concede that Shisui was correct. From what he had told them about Konoha's history the village did seem to carry on the ideas of integration the way the Senju had for generations. But as they had already discussed the application of some of these ideas on the scale of a village of multiple clans as well as civilians and shinobi with no Clan backing needed adjustment.
With Shisui's hindsight they would be able to plan better, be more firm in the directions they took when planning things out. Shisui had also pointed out that by having Tobirama's support and help from an early stage planning could happen logically and systematically.
This praise was highly pleasing to Tobirama and he was grateful for it. Shisui was a genius of that the had no doubt. A different kind of genius than Tobirama was. Tobirama was a scholar, an inventor, an experimenter. Shisui was a genius in that he excelled at everything he tried or put his mind to. Tobirama looked forward to seeing what that would look like now that Shisui would have time to do serious learning. Instead of that awful nonsense of basically skipping through his schooling.
His aggravated expression when Shisui had explained his own Academy and training experience had been the inspiration for Shisui and Emi's unrepentant cackling. Tobirama had just then informed a horrified Shisui that he would be personally rectifying his education and would begin creating the bones of a curriculum based on working with him.
Shisui had pouted at that and only looked more adorable when Hashirama had cooed, pinched his cheeks and popped a piece of candy he had hidden away, kami knew where, into Shisui's mouth.
_______
Meeting the Senju Clan Elders was…awful but OK at the same time. It seemed like time and Clan of origin did not matter when it came to dealing with Clan Elders. They seemed to all be about the same.
Meaning most of them felt entitled, although there was some variation as to what they felt entitled to. There was a lot of griping and whining about how the younger generation wasn't respectful enough and how in their day this or that was better.
Shisui kind of wondered if there was a secret guidebook all clans shared or some kind of training boot camp Elders were subjected to that made them all come out so similar. He wouldn't be surprised honestly.
He sighed and threw himself face down on the futon he had been given in Tobirama's room.
Tobirama chuckled as he moved around the room putting things away after a long mission and pulling out things that needed to be cleaned, mended and sharpened.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up." Shisui said turning his face to glare at Tobirama.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Tobirama said with a raised brow. Dammit, his poker face game was too op! Please nerf!
"You know what I'm talking about." He glared harder but Tobirama only rolled his eyes and sat down at his kotatsu to start cleaning and polishing his armor and weapons.
"It went well, all things considered." Tobirama said after a few minutes, "we projected the annoyance and frustration at needing to 'waste resources' on an unknown kinsmen. But the idea of gaining at least a decently skilled abinobinwas enough to give you until spring to recover."
Yeah. Shisui thought back to the meeting. For all Tobirama was being positive and Hashirama also thought it went well Shisui was more wary. The Elders and Clan Head were vicious warmongers who liked to have their own ways.
He knew that to them he was cannon fodder until he proved he had some kind of talent or skill. And they weren't at all sold on having him 'complete' his training as a medic. They wanted bodies on the field as soon as possible. Even if it was a stupid long term plan and net loss.
It was something Shisui had never understood about this time period. Why send children out? Why send adolescents out on missions they weren't ready for yet? It made no logical sense whatsoever.
Sure they would have a higher body count actively doing things but long term planning and strategy proved that to be a disaster. It was much better to train children and adolescents properly and not push them out into active duty. Then more lived to an older age, and when they did take to the field they were better qualified and had a better survival rate.
Even from a ruthlessly cold hearted and pragmatic point of view what the Clan's did during this time period was dumb. Maybe he could work with Tobirama to go through their reports and records and do the math to actually show Butsuma Senju and the Elders the truth.
Did Shisui think they would change anything based on those cold hard facts? Absolutely not. They were set in their ways and apparently went to the multi-Clan Elder Bootcamp and therefore were always right.
_______
Shisui met his doom in the form of a pack of children only the second day he was with the Senju.
He knew it was futile to resist such cute adorable faces. He wasn't particularly good with kids. But he did like them, and they seemed to like tormenting him. Which seemed like it was normal for how interaction with children was supposed to go. Right?
So it was only natural that he found himself playing games and being dog piled by the Senju children as soon as they could get close enough to him. He'd be fine right???
_______
"Haha-ue would have loved Shisui." Hashirama said as they watched him disappear into a pile of children.
Tobirama hummed affirmatively. She would have. And she probably would dote on him worse than Hashirama.
They watched as Shisui broke free of the writhing mass of children and with a laugh used his shunshin to create after images all around the children. Who gleefully shrieked and set about trying to catch him, testing each one.
Tobirama and Hashirama loved their Clans children and whatever unease or lingering fears or doubts they had about Shisui and his situation were put to rest after seeing him interact with the children.
Shisui clearly loved them. He played with them, entertained them and asked their questions, prodding, pinching and pulling with the fortitude of a well experienced nanny dog.
They seemed to settle something inside Shisui, let him relax and take a step back from the mess he was in and the mission he had. Tobirama had teased that he could always officially block out time for playing with the children as part of his recovery plan.
Shisui had given him a wide eyed betrayed look, but hadn't really complained when Tobirama had actually done what he threatened. So he was sure it was only to appear like he was protesting the forced time with the kids.
And if the parents of the children benefited from finally having some free time to take care of things on their own….well Shisui would never know about how he was considered the unofficial Clan babysitter.
________
Shisui looked down at the fish inside the circular seal on the lab table. Tobirama had declared his theory acceptable and said that Shisui was ready for real life experience in iryo-ninjutsu.
"So I have to try and revive the fish?" Shisui squinted down at the unfortunate assistant he had procured for learning iryo-ninjutsu.
"Yes." Tobirama said, watching as Shisui poked at the fish on the scroll in the center of the seal. "Just like it says in those medical texts you transcribed for me. It will probably take a while for you to get the proper feel for how to change your chakra."
Shisui pouted and puffed out his cheeks like a kid and Tobirama huffed and rolled his eyes fondly. He walked away back to his own projects, namely deconstructing the Hiraishin based on what Shisui had given him.
Some time later the whole lab filled with the smell of ozone and the fish exploded as it was overloaded with raiton chakra by a frustrated Shisuu.
"SHISUI!"
_________
"I have to read all of these books?" Shisui cried in dismay, looking at the scroll he had been given listing what seemed to be the entire Senju library and Tobirama's own personal collection.
"Yes." Said Tobirama, face blank and words deadpan.
Shisui hissed at him and glared. Wasn't he supposed to be recovering??? Who knew Nidaime-sama was such a slavedriver? Well, ok, Shisui could admit that everyone had seemed to know Nidaime-sama was a slave driver.
He recalled his own grandfather's Kagami's journal's that had massive sections dedicated to whining and complaining about Tobirama's insane worth ethic and schedule that he seemed to expect everyone around him to share.
He huffed and puffed out his cheeks and picked up the armful of reading material and stomped off to find a place in the sun on the engawa. It was cold and it had snowed but there was no reason he couldn't enjoy the sunshine if he had to read all this stuff!
Tobirama watched him stomp off with a chuckle, wondering if Shisui knew how much like a puffed up offended cat he looked like when he did that.
_________
"Anija there is no way that Chichi-ue and the Elders will let Shisui stay off the field. He's fifteen, he's talented. It just isn't possible. And we can only stretch his recovery out so long." Tobirama said, pain in his voice.
Tobirama and Hashirama were watching Shisui run through katas in the snow on a training field. Tobirama's sharp eyes looking for any signs of strain or lingering problems from his recovery.
It seemed that Amaterasu-omikami-sama wasn't paying around when it came to aiding Shisui however she was able. Shisui hadn't reported any more dreams or visions from her since arriving at the Senju Settlement but he had also pointed out that she had explained before that she was weak and crippled on this plane. It was best to plan on doing everything themselves and be grateful if any divine intervention or help was given.
"There must be some way. I'm sure we can. Figure it out." But even an idealist like Hashirama looked doubtful.
"We can't put him in the position of opposing his Clan." Tobirama said. "To ask him to be in a position to potentially kill one of them…"
Hashirama's face pinched in aggravation. "We will figure out something, we still have time."
But how much time? Tobirama wondered. Shisui was cleared for light exercise and training, and was working hard at his iryo-jutsu training. Even holding back he had proven himself a valuable asset at least in his speed and endurance. There was no way Chichi-ue wouldn't take advantage of that.
Shisui had no connections beyond his friendship with Hashirama and Tobirama. He was painfully aware that his Chichi-ue considered Shisui cannon fodder, disposable. It was horrible and he hated him for it, but it was the cold hard truth. No matter how badly Hashirama wished otherwise.
It made Tobirama anxious though he tried to hide it. He knew Shisui suspected something but so far he hadn't said anything to either of them. But Tobirama was sure that someone as bright as Shisui already understood the undercurrents of clan politics happening around him.
He had upped his personal training and conditioning, even when Hashirama had protested. Shisui knew he was viewed as disposable and that the shinobi forces didn't trust him. They didn't know him. He didn't know them. It was a precarious situation.
"I'll figure something out." Shisui said grimly when Tobirama finally broached the topic with him, only a few weeks from spring and the beginning of regular missions.
_________
"Hide me!"
Shisui dove behind the group of older Senju women who had met together to spin thread and weave in companionship.
They clicked at him and laughed. "Hiding from Tobirama-sama again? Or is it your little ducklings you are avoiding, hmmm?" The oldest woman asked. Her sightless eyes staring off as she expertly spun silk thread.
"Miyo-obaa-sama!" Shisui answered in a faux scandalized voice hand over his heart as if she had wounded him. "I would never hide from someone as illustrious and dedicated to my ongoing education and health like Tobirama-sama!"
Miyo only cackled and continued to spin, allowing Shisui to use her and the blankets piled around her to keep her old bones warm as a hiding place. The women settled back into their gossip and work when with a flash and a dark look in his eyes Tobirama appeared in front of them.
"Have you seen Shisui?" He growled.
Miyo spoke up before anyone else could, "No Tobirama-chan. I've not seen Shisui today. Now shoo you're interrupting a very tasty bit of news from young Hina-chan."
Tobirama deflated and shunshin'd away, flushing at Miyo's addressing him as 'Tobirama-chan' as if he was still three years old.
Shisui poked his head out and looked at Miyo in awe. "That was amazing Miyo-obaa-sama!"
"There are benefits to being the oldest thing around this place." She said with a grin. "And I told the complete and whole truth."
Shisui only laughed and from that point on became fast friends with Miyo-obaa-sama. He took special care to find her often and chatter and gossip about things no one else knew. Miyo loved how he was able to gather news better than any woman in her work circle and he was delighted to play the part of her ears and eyes. Feeding her all the best gossip before anyone else knew so she could be the one to tell her circle.
Miyo also had a mischievous streak as wide as Shisui's own and delighted in little pranks and ideas that he came up with. She also taught him how to spin thread and was pleasantly surprised when he took to it like a fish to water.
For his sixteenth birthday she had Hashirama grow several special spindles just for him that she personally carved decorative images into just for him. He was so pleased and warmed that he cried and hugged her blubbering about how she was the best.
She promised that after he had spun enough thread she would get Hashirama to build him a small loom and teach him to weave. And that she had already arranged for him to spend time with the women who did the best embroidery work for him to learn from.
Shisui was delighted, it was only a matter of a small genjutsu to hide his eyes from the Senju who worked with fabric and thread. He quickly looked through their entire patterns collection and dutifully watched each type of stitch demonstrated to him. He was given scrap fabric and thread to practice on and surprised everyone when after only a month he had mastered every kidney of stitch and proved to be a master embroiderer.
Well it didn't surprise Tobirama or Hashirama, but they were both delighted. Tobirama even more so than Hashirama when he discussed the possibilities of combining Shisui's embroidery and weaving with Tobirama's knowledge of seals.
Shisui was enthusiastic about the idea. He enjoyed the work. It was soothing to him, repetitive, and as he quietly confessed one day to Hashirama and Tobirama as he sat at the kotatsu with them, "It's peaceful. It's an industry of peace. I have a valuable skill that doesn't involve killing anyone."
They had both given him sad understanding smiles. Because it was winter, though spring was coming soon. They knew that once it was warm enough Shisui wouldn't have the luxury of working as often with thread, playing with the children, or gossiping with Miyo-obaa-sama. But it did settle him. Helped him remain steady and burning with the desire for this kind of peace all the time.
"At least your new skills and hobbies are easily taken on missions that require waiting or escorts. Those can be very dull." Tobirama said, glancing up at Shisui from his current project.
"True." Shisui said with a grin, "Can you imagine escorting nobles or a group of ladies somewhere and watching their faces as I pull out my embroidery hoop and start to embroider better than any of them?"
Hashirama laughed and Tobirama gave him that rare quirk of the lips that was his true smile.
"Will there be conflict with the Uchiha soon?" Shisui asked more quietly, he sounded strangely vulnerable.
Hashirama looked at him and paused in his own work of reviewing the clan's finances and inventory. "I'm not sure. Part of it will depend on what we are hired to do, and who hires us."
"Many of the people who hire us or the Uchiha take advantage of our well known feud. Which in turn keeps it going." Tobirama said with a frown.
"Maybe we need to come up with some ideas to mitigate that or circumvent that." Shisui proposed as he continued to stitch. He was stitching small seals into all of Tobirama and Hashirama's clothing they wore with their armor. The seals were all designed by Tobirama of course, but tge chakra infused thread and actual sealing work done by embroidering was performed by Shisui.
They were both quite proud and pleased with the success they were having, with tentative plans for expanding their work. Beginning with teaching the others in the clan who already worked with thread and fabric about the process. But they were unsure if it was possible to do that before spring came. And it was too risky to teach something so volatile without supervision and enough time to make sure it was taught well.
So the focus for now was on their individual clothing. And comparing the results after a full season with some of the other shinobi in the clan.
Shisui sighed.
"What is it?" Tobirama asked as he watched him stitch at the tiny seals, sharingan swirling in his eyes as he worked.
"I'm just…nervous I guess? About possible encounters with the Uchiha. And I know I have the knowledge and now I have experience in healing, but I just worry about what I'll do in the moment. Healing is so different from killing." Shisui confessed.
"It is. But I have no doubt that you are skilled enough to be a field medic. And with time and experience you will be better than a field medic. Do not doubt your capabilities." Tobirama saidnsternly.
Shisui laughed and gave him a beautiful smile dimples on full display, telling him warmly, "Thanks Tobi."
Then he went back to quietly stitching, not noticing the faint flush that stole across Tobirama's face at his words. Or how Hashirama's gaze darted between the two quickly before he continued to work with a small pleased smirk on his face.
_________
Omake:
All the old ladies: *adore Shisui and dote on him*
Tobirama: "sHiSuI!!!"
Shisui: *cackles and disappears into the mayhem and chaos he created*
Tobirama: *heavy breathing*
Hashirama: *rolls eyes* "Just kiss already."