Tailed Beasts * Tobirama

"Become friends with... with Tailed Beast? Izuna, I can pretend I didn't hear that kind of wishful thinking..."

Hashirama's tone was filled with disbelief and instinctive resistance.

Tailed Beasts? Those colossal creatures that have symbolized destruction and disaster since ancient times? To "befriend" them? That's even more absurd than Izuna saying he wanted to be king!

Izuna, however, was not at all taken aback by Hashirama's reaction. Instead, as if he had expected it, he smiled and asked in return, "Hey, Hashirama, what do you think Tailed Beast is?"

Hashirama answered without hesitation, "A natural disaster."

Izuna's lips twitched almost imperceptibly, and his expression became somewhat subtle. "... Have you ever seen a natural disaster with its own consciousness, capable of thinking and speaking?"

"Even when they are conscious, don't they still wreak havoc on humanity?"

Izuna clicked his tongue inwardly.

It seems the Tailed Beasts left a worse impression on this world than he imagined. Shukaku, with his penchant for causing trouble and constantly conjuring sandstorms, probably deserves a lot of credit. But...

He stroked his chin, changing his perspective. "Have you asked them why they wreak havoc on humanity? They couldn't have been born to cause destruction, could they?"

Hashirama paused for a moment, "No need to ask, right? They're just creatures that attack anything that's alive; they're pure destroyers."

"... Have you ever confronted them directly? Have you tried to communicate with them?"

Hashirama nodded. "When I was a child, I encountered the Seven-Tails on the border of the Land of Rain during a mission. I almost didn't make it back that time."

Oh dear, it seems he has some kind of psychological trauma.

Seeing Hashirama's still-frightened expression, Izuna sighed Hashirama. It seemed that directly advising him to "befriend the Tailed Beasts " was still too much of an impact on Hashirama at his current Hashirama.

He waved his hand. "Forget it, let's discuss this again. Just pretend I didn't say anything."

However, Hashirama did not stop there.

Although he felt that Izuna's idea was too far-fetched, Izuna's previous seemingly "outlandish" ideas had all ultimately proven to have amazing foresight and feasibility. This made him unable to completely ignore them.

"No, no," Hashirama waved his hand, his brow furrowed, "I didn't mean communication is completely impossible... In fact, ancient texts do record legends of the Sage of Six Paths coexisting with the Tailed Beasts. But..."

He looked up at Izuna, his eyes filled with doubt. "But would such a being... a creature with such immense power and a long lifespan, really be willing to speak to us humans... as equals?"

In Hashirama's understanding, the Tailed Beasts were almost like natural phenomena, high above and indifferent to all living beings.

To them, humans are probably no different from ants. Making friends with ants? How could that be possible?

Upon hearing Izuna's eyes lit up.

Hashirama didn't completely deny the possibility of "communication"! That makes things easier!

He immediately leaned forward, his face breaking into that sly, insinuating smile, and patted Hashirama's shoulder forcefully. "Hmm... that's a good question! So I think the first step is to subdue them!"

Hashirama: "... Huh?"

Izuna clenched his fist, made a "go for it" gesture, and said with blind faith in his brother's Strength, "Knock him down first! Beat him into submission, make him feel pain, and he'll naturally listen to you! Go for it, Hashirama! You and Madara can definitely do it! I believe in you!"

Hashirama: "..."

He felt a throbbing sensation in his temples. First, violently subdue someone, then try to make friends? Isn't there something wrong with that logic? Is this really the proper procedure for making friends?!

Seeing Hashirama's "What the hell are you talking about?" expression, Izuna smiled even more broadly. He leaned back slightly, put his hands behind his head, and spoke in a mysterious yet certain tone.

"And besides, Hashirama- kun, I'm not just making this up."

He lowered his voice, as if sharing a shocking secret.

"I know their 'real names'."

Hashirama: "... Your real name?"

Tailed Beasts... do they even have "real names"?

In all legends and records, Tailed Beasts are usually referred to by codenames such as "One-Tail," "Two-Tails,"... "Nine-Tails." Their real names? What are those? Never heard of them!

Seeing Hashirama's stunned expression, as if his worldview had been shaken once again, Izuna nodded in satisfaction, said nothing more, and simply left with a meaningful smile.

"Anyway, Hashirama- kun, remember about the Tailed Beasts for now. Once Konoha is more stable, the open area is doing well, and you and Madara have officially taken charge of the Hokage duties... then we can slowly work out this plan to make friends, how about that?"

He stood up and stretched.

"As for now... I'd better go finish those budget reports for the Amusement Park outside. Sigh, I'm just making trouble for myself..."

He muttered complaints under his breath as he sauntered toward the door, leaving Hashirama alone in the Office, staring Hashirama into space.

Izuna's words were still echoing in his mind, and he felt that his understanding was undergoing a baptism.

When the day ends and everyone goes home...

Hashirama and Tobirama walked side by side on their way home, the streetlights casting long shadows of the two.

The nights in Konoha were quiet, save for the occasional light footsteps of patrolling Ninjas and the distant barking of dogs.

Tobirama keenly sensed that his elder brother seemed somewhat absent-minded, and his steps were slower than usual.

"Big Brother," Tobirama spoke, his voice exceptionally clear in the quiet night, "Why do you look so distracted? Did your conversation with Izuna not go well?"

Hashirama was pulled back from his thoughts. He glanced at Tobirama and asked abruptly, "Tobirama, do you think... it's possible to be friends with Tailed Beast?"

Tobirama: "...?"

He stopped and looked at Hashirama with a strange expression.

How did the topic jump from "talking with Izuna" to "making friends with Tailed Beasts "? Isn't that a bit too abrupt?

Hashirama stopped too. He sighed and recounted to Tobirama, exactly what Izuna had said that afternoon in the Office.

After listening, Tobirama remained silent for a few seconds, and then...

"Pfft... Haha!"

He suddenly burst into uncontrollable laughter, his shoulders shaking, which sounded particularly jarring on the quiet street.

He laughed so hard he bent over, and even raised his hand to wipe away non-existent tears from the corners of his eyes.

"Haha... Izuna... That Izuna guy! He's so interesting!!" Tobirama laughed so hard he could barely breathe, his voice filled with undisguised joy and surprise. "Making friends with Tailed Beast... first you have to subdue it... and he even knows its real name?! What kind of wildly imaginative things are going on in his head?!"

Hashirama was a little confused and somewhat annoyed by Tobirama's exaggerated reaction. "Tobirama! I'm seriously asking for your opinion!"

"I know, I know..." Tobirama finally managed to stop laughing, but the corners of his mouth were still turned up high, and his crimson eyes sparkled vividly in the moonlight. "It's precisely because you're so serious that it's even funnier, Big Brother."

He straightened up. "As expected of Izuna... his ideas are always so unconventional and unexpected."

Hashirama looked at Tobirama's undisguised admiration for Izuna, a smile that could even be described as "finding it amusing," a sudden, inexplicable sense of unease rose within him.

He blurted out instinctively, "Tobirama... you... you wouldn't... have fallen for Izuna, would you?"

That was a sudden and direct question.

Tobirama's smile froze instantly, then he frowned as if he had heard something utterly absurd, looking at Hashirama with an expression as if he were an idiot.

"Big Brother, what nonsense are you talking about?" Tobirama's tone returned to its usual coldness, tinged with disdain. "We're both men."

"Uh, I know..." Hashirama scratched the back of his head, realizing his question had been a bit absurd, but his doubts hadn't completely disappeared. He muttered under his breath, "Actually, I've always been quite worried about you not getting married... Um, I didn't mean anything by it..."

A vein throbbed faintly on Tobirama's forehead. He took a deep breath, interrupting Hashirama's rambling, and explained stiffly, "I didn't want to be distracted. The village is just getting on the right track, and we need to focus our energy on everything. This is a time to concentrate all our efforts. Getting married would only distract me and affect my judgment."

"Oh..." Hashirama nodded as if he understood, but then quickly remembered something and bluntly retorted, "But, didn't I also marry Mito Uzumaki? We each do our own thing. She handles the Sealing Jutsu for the Uzumaki Clan and the village, and I do my job. I haven't been distracted much, have I?"

Tobirama: "..."

He was speechless for a moment, choked by his Big Brother's example of "setting a good example," and felt a surge of anger rush to his head.

"Big Brother," Tobirama spat out the two words through gritted teeth, his eyes icy cold, "Shut up."

Hashirama shrank back and obediently said, "... Oh."

The two brothers Earth Flow silence for a while longer.

The moonlight was cool and clear, and the evening breeze was slightly chilly.

The little argument and awkwardness from just now seemed to have dissipated with the wind.

After a long while, Tobirama spoke again, his tone now calm, even tinged with inquiry. "So, he really said that? He wants to befriend the Tailed Beasts?"

"Hmm." Hashirama responded sullenly, still finding it a bit unbelievable when he recalled Izuna's matter-of-fact yet mysterious demeanor.

Tobirama chuckled briefly again.

"As expected of Izuna," he muttered, his gaze drifting to the outline of the Uchiha Clan Compound in the distance, shrouded in darkness. "His ideas are always so wildly imaginative."

"What do you think, Big Brother? Is this even possible?"

Hashirama scratched his face. "I do think it's a bit absurd, but it was Izuna who said it..."

"Yes, that's Izuna, after all," Tobirama repeated. "It wouldn't hurt to give it a try after that."

Seeing Hashirama 'Tobirama interested expression, as if he had discovered some interesting new continent, Hashirama's eyes lit up again, and his mischievous smile returned as he moved closer.

"Oh, it's rare to hear you so directly affirm Izuna's thoughts, Tobirama." Hashirama nudged his younger brother with his elbow. "Seriously, you really don't like him? Izuna is good-looking, smart, and has a lively personality. Although he's a boy... but I'm very open-minded, you know, I won't object~"

"Shut up, Big Brother." Tobirama didn't even bother to glance at him.

Hashirama, however, seemed oblivious to the warning and became even more enthusiastic, following Tobirama and chattering, "Oh, don't be shy~ If you like someone, just say so. Do you need your older brother to help create an opportunity? Like arranging a mission for you two together? Or..."

"Tomorrow's documents," Tobirama abruptly stopped, turning around. In the moonlight, a forced smile slowly spread across his cold face, his crimson eyes flashing with a dangerous light. "Big Brother, you can approve them all yourself. The final procedures for the Hokage Appointment Ceremony, the review of the construction details for the open areas, and the calculation reports for last month's clan mission rewards... everything."

The smile on Hashirama's face froze instantly, then shattered like broken porcelain.

"Eh?! Wait, wait! Tobirama! I was wrong! I was really wrong!" Hashirama grabbed Tobirama's arm, pleading, "I was just joking! Don't take it seriously! Those documents... I'll die without you! I really will!"

He could almost see himself drowning in an endless sea of documents, withered and dying in a miserable future.

Tobirama expressionlessly shook off his hand, his tone completely flat. "I've noticed you've been quite energetic lately, Big Brother. It's good to have some paperwork to handle."

"No—!" Hashirama, his voice echoing through the silent street. "Tobirama! My dear brother! My most reliable and capable brother! Please forgive your Big Brother this time! I promise I'll never talk nonsense again! I swear!"

Seeing his elder Big Brother's desperate pleas for mercy, Tobirama snorted coldly, ignoring Hashirama's wailing, and continued walking towards home.

Hashirama hurriedly followed, still repeatedly promising, "I was wrong, Tobirama, I really know I was wrong... The files... the files still need you..."