#mokutone discussing

[instant-bull]

Hashirama thoughts I dumped on a Discord server recently. I'm not editing too much in them, sorry if any of this is chaotic. Hope you enjoy some exhausted rambling

Tonight I'm thinking about God Hashirama from the angle of "how fucked up his situation is".

Like, if he's some sort of a god, then imo the most compelling option would a Jesus sort of situation, rather than physical descendance from a god. He's born of humans but for some reason he's chosen, he possesses the mokuton, and I love how this can be linked to him being some sort of god of nature: not only trees, maybe, but plants, maybe even expanding into fungi (but that's discussion for another day because if I speak one more word on antropocene we will be here all night).

So, Hashirama, as a god of nature, rather a manifestation of nature than a power that controls it: he's not The God, but he is a god, for sure. Are there any gods? Maybe, but I think they are a completely different thing than Hashirama, and he doesn't concern himself with them.

So, the fucked up situation angle: he's a mortal god, born and trapped in a mortal body, surrounded by humans who see him as a human: a really skilled and powerful one, but a human nonetheless. Does he even realize he's a god? I think he does, to an extent, I think trees tell him a lot of different things and he listens to them dilligently. It'd an ancient forest, and compared to them he's young and small, but he's the link that connects humans and plants, and the one who's meant to keep them at a balance.

So, he realizes he's a god, but he never gets a god complex or anything like that: I think he's selfless enough, self aware enough to understand he can't be going around calling himself a god, lest he attracts unwanted kind of attention. He wants to plant seeds of peace (pun intended) so that when he's inevitably gone, his dream can go on without him. If he were to divide and conquer and set himself an emperor or something, it would all come crumbling down once he's gone. Nobody would be able to fill in his shoes. Nobody else is a god after all.

So, instead he chooses the difficult and slow-burning way of compassion and kindness, he puts on a brave and jovial face towards the world that hates him and builds himself a little nest in between of the whole chaos he cannot control. He demeans himself and works like a human, so that humans can pick up the pieces once he's gone. In the end, he's a god with no worshippers, with no faith on his side, and that's what makes him, in my opinion, very clingy and sensitive to rejection. He needs all the praise, all the support, all the worship he can get, it is only in his nature to crave that.

Also, his status, even if it's only in his head, is what gives him all that outgoingness and happy-go-lucky attitude. He doesn't see humans as equal to him, since they are so much weaker and unable to see and comprehend things he does: at best he observes them like how we observe puppies. He loves humans, he cares for them so much, but he struggles to truly connect with them. Perhaps he perceives and processes emotions differently, he's not fully human, he's kind of removed: that's why he doesn't treat things very seriously, unless they are concerning Very Big Ideas: his dream, his people... death, that one for sure. That's why he weeps real tears when his younger brothers die, but doesn't show a slightest bit of concern that he introduced his little granddaughter to gambling and took part in her being an addict: it's really not that deep, in his mind. It's a quirk, if anything, it's silly!

Tbh the say Hashirama views humans and his closest people is such a rabbit hole on its own... But last though rn is that I think he shows some psychopathic tendencies (this is hard to research bc most papers on psychopathy treat it like it's an Evil Person Disease: I mean mostly his thrill-seeking, low empathy (but great compassion), disregard for norms and rules and aforementioned detachment (in his case specific to his status)). Sorry if any of this is kind of disjointed

[r--kt]

Tenzo is a replacement for Obito.

From Obito's point of view.

contents | introduction · the essence · similar story: Jinx and Caitlin

[ I mention the similarity with Arcane here, but if you haven't watched it, you can just not read this part, the essence won't change much. ]

here's the thing: It's a headcanon, and it is simple in formulation, but a bit complex in explanation of the certain image. below I discuss the reasons for some of Obito's reactions during the war, and his perception in general.

if Kakashi and Obito had somehow happened to be in the same place once during the ANBU period, or if Obito had known about the members of Kakashi's team, he would be jealous of Kakashi for Tenzo.

not romantically jealous (it's up to you though), rather painfully possessive, with resentment and anger. and not in a vivid way. it's more of a gnashing feeling inside, clogged enough not to recognize it, but not weak enough that it doesn't affect anything at all. why would that even be? their kekkei-genkai, appearance and bond with Kakashi.

CH 317 on the left; CH 605 on the right.

Tenzo's mokuton is smooth, malleable, these are neat bars of wood, and Tenzo has no difficulty making large houses or complex thin figures out of them, such as keys or eyes (ANBU arc in anime) or cute figures (almost any scene where Yamato uses kekkei-genkai).

Obito's mokuton is broken and sharp, it's branches with thorns, which rather embody his frustration, instability and anguish. such wood is easy to use to injure, kill, block the way, isolate yourself from others, but not to build anything out of it. this can not protect gently (to make a shelter or a useful object), this mokuton can only attack. the detail parallels very well with the personalities of both characters and their connection with Kakashi, with how Obito perceives it.

no matter what Obito says, he's a good liar. the old bonds he had in his "past" life remain important to him. his anger at Kakashi in the war, among other practical reasons, is due to the fact that Kakashi dared to acquire new connections that are more important to him than that bond with Obito. at least that's why, among other things, Kakashi doesn't go over to his side (while Obito hoped he would, I'll make a post about it one day). and the connections Kakashi has, subconsciously or not, are perceived by Obito as annoying, as a disregard for everything they've been through together, for everything Obito went through. this is a resentment that provokes anger, the root of which is as follows: "you should not have new connections, you should suffer, because I am lonely and I suffer for you" (for others in general, but this one is the agenda).

his anger is sometimes about "I did so much for you, I gave you the most valuable things I had (life, strength, the ability to care for others), and you ruined everything, well, maybe not you, but I thought it was you at first... and now you, bastard, are trying to stop me?" but not about that today.

and that's why not only Tenzo would annoy Obito, but anyone else who's close to Kakashi. the man consistently selected the people most similar to his past experience, and here they are all around him. then Minato appears in the war. so why am I talking specifically about Tenzo, whom Obito may never have seen?

Tenzo's kekkei-genkai makes everything more confusing. This becomes something personal, which Obito perceives in the way described above. That's just an interesting parallel between these two.

And that's not to mention Tenzo's appearance. He is in some ways still looks like Obito, at least because of the silhouette, hairstyle, etc.

And what this can be compared to? Jinx and Caitlin from Arcane.

Arcane EP 7, "the boy saviour"

Of Course Jinx experiences it much vividly, it's her canon event. for her this storyline is more important than something like this for Obito, but the essence is the same. It is a feeling of betrayal from a person dear to you, who showed with all his appearance that he/she would be on your side until the very end. And it feels like you've been replaced by someone who's really more comfortable, or better at something, or more socially approved. And you're just a lonely sick weirdo.

It is not surprising that both Jinx and Obito treat Vi's/Kakashi's kind words or regrets as something annoying - subconsciously, among other things, they can see it as a mockery. They just don't really believe it.

so here it is. just the way I see all of this.

what is the role of this hc? to show the subconscious in Obito, which is constantly manifested in war through his action or inaction, through his words, through the way he manipulates, through illusions that he shows or sees himself. I like that about him. I like his big vulnerable uchiha heart.

[ I should have written some other post about Obito first, otherwise you will now decide that this is the only way I see him... ]

[belit0]

Hello:

I like your writing about the Uchiha clan and Indra, you made me a big fan of your blog. Can you write about Izuna or Madara's son (pick the one you like more) who tries to woo Tobirama Senju's daughter, who looks like a copy of him, but in female? If she inherited the mokuton, the Senju elders dismiss the idea of giving their second mokuton user to the Uchiha clan, since they can't covet it.

I love making these idiots fight.

The Senju council chamber is meant for serious discussions.

Meant to be.

Right now, it sounds more like a bar fight waiting to happen.

Uchiha Izuna sits proudly, arms crossed, his son beside him looking both confident and slightly terrified.

Across from them, Senju Tobirama, the ever-stoic, tight-lipped pillar of disdain, radiates an aura of murder. His daughter, a near-perfect female replica of him—down to the red eyes and the terrifying lack of visible emotion—sits at his side, utterly unimpressed.

Between them, Madara and Hashirama.

Chaos and catastrophe in human form.

-So,- Hashirama grins, clapping his hands together, -marriage! What a wonderful thing! A union between the two clans—

-No.- Tobirama interrupts, voice flat. -Absolutely not.-

Izuna scoffs, leaning back in his seat. -You didn’t even hear us out.-

-I don’t need to. My daughter is not leaving the Senju.

-She’s not leaving, she’s just—

-She possesses the Mokuton,- one of the Senju elders pipes up, voice grave. -She is invaluable to our lineage.-

Izuna leans forward, a smirk tugging at his lips. -Oh? So now we're gatekeeping Mokuton? That’s amusing—I don’t recall any of us complaining when your clan eagerly mixed its bloodline with ours to get their hands on the Sharingan.-

Madara, ever composed, interjects smoothly. -We did complain, actually.-

-Aniki shut up.- Izuna hisses.

Tobirama bristles. -We were not after the Sharingan.-

-Oh, right... It was because of Hashirama's pure and innocent desire of unity, which you so eloquently decided to support, indeed.- Madara interjects, grinning like he’s enjoying himself far too much. -No, wait—I forgot. You never agree with his decisions. So explain why-

Hashirama gasps dramatically. -Madara! That’s not true! Tobi agrees with me!-

Madara raises a brow. -Oh? So how’s that ‘village democracy’ working out for you, Hashirama?-

Hashirama deflates. -...That’s different.-

Izuna snorts. -Point is, if the Mokuton can survive in the Uchiha, wouldn’t it be beneficial for both clans? Imagine—

-I don’t need to imagine,- Tobirama cuts in, sharp as a blade. -I can see it. And I don’t like it.-

His daughter finally speaks. -Father, you make it sound like I’m a rare artifact to be hoarded.-

Tobirama exhales through his nose. -That’s because you are.-

Hashirama hums. -That does sound like how you treat your jutsu scrolls, Tobi.-

Tobirama shoots him a look. -Shut up.-

Meanwhile, Izuna’s son, the young Uchiha suitor, finally finds his voice. -I—I don’t want to marry her for the Mokuton.-

Tobirama’s gaze snaps to him. -Oh? Then why?-

The room goes dead silent. Izuna’s son hesitates. His throat bobs. -Because…- He takes a deep breath. -Because I like her.-

Tobirama’s daughter stares at him, unblinking. -That’s unfortunate.-

Izuna chokes on a laugh.

Hashirama looks personally wounded.

Madara actually slaps the table in amusement.

Tobirama smirks, proudly.

Izuna leans over to his son, whispering, -You’re lucky. If she were an Uchiha, she would’ve just killed you outright.-

-This conversation is over.- Tobirama declares.

Hashirama, ever hopeful, turns to his niece. -But you don’t mind the idea, right? I mean, an Uchiha-Senju union would—

-I don’t care, uncle.- she says, voice eerily level. -Marriage is a political tool. If you tell me to do it, I’ll do it.-

Hashirama looks horrified. -That’s�� That’s not how love works.-

Madara pats his shoulder. -Hashirama, your family is broken.-

Tobirama scowls. -Our family is practical.-

Izuna grins. -Alright, so if it’s practical, let’s do it.-

-I should have killed you and prevented your reproduction when I had the chance,- Tobirama deadpans.

Hashirama sighs, shaking his head. -So much for inter-clan conformity.-

Madara smirks. -Oh, this is conformity. Nothing brings us together like wanting to strangle each other.-

As the Uchiha and Senju descend into yet another argument, Izuna’s son slumps in his seat, sighing.

His would-be fiancée remains completely unbothered.

-Maybe we should just elope,- he mutters.

His father claps him on the back. -That’s the Uchiha spirit.-

Hashirama perks up. -Oh! I love elopements! They’re so romantic! I can officiate in private! I have a speech prepared—

Tobirama glares. -You will not officiate nothing.-

Madara folds his arms, smirking. -I say we let the boy try. Let’s see if he can survive wooing a Senju woman. If he succeeds, he earns her.-

Tobirama’s daughter blinks slowly. -Earn me?-

Izuna elbows Madara. -Not the best phrasing, brother.-

Madara shrugs. -You know what I mean.-

Tobirama exhales sharply. -I hate all of you.-

Hashirama beams. -That’s the spirit, Tobi! You’re really embracing the Uchiha-Senju dynamic!-

Tobirama rubs his temples.

Izuna’s son gulps.

His would-be fiancée remains, as always, unshaken.

The meeting continues in chaos.

The fate of the union remains undecided.

But one thing is certain:

This is not the last time the Uchiha and Senju will fight over marriage negotiation

[hashitobiweek]

Hello, Hashitobi Nation! It's time to reveal the prompts 💜

MAIN PROMPT LIST

Day 1: Mokuton • Crying • Unrequited love

Day 2: Hanahaki • Suiton • Domestic

Day 3: A/B/O • Falling in love • Menophilia

Day 4: Akatsuki • Roles swap • Voyeur

Day 5: Babysitting • Codependency • Non-con

Day 6: Any AU • Inappropriate language • Sharing

Day 7: FREE DAY

ALTERNATIVE PROMPTS

Attic wife

Bondage

Chakra seal

Edo tensei

Forbidden jutsu

Growing up

Jealousy

Mind control

Orders

Poisoning

Scared

Sick

Secrets

Time Travel

The event will take place between December 1st and 7th.

There are plans to have a brief discussion about the prompts, if you have any questions. Feel free to submit something on strawpage.

Thank you and happy creating ✨

[no-nic]

fascinated by both rin's role in the momo pig au (manipulating her is always funny because she is so easily played if you know what you're doing. but do they? i'd argue that if anyone at least kind of figured some stuff out it'd be them...) and by everything about the rei and tobi au. the way kabuto is being used there + the themes of one person being unable to meaningfully change an entire entrtched system are sooooo compelling. also isobu liking icha icha is SUCH an idea im a big fan. if im interpreting the posts correctly kakashi also shows up at some point as sukea? how is team minato's relationship in that au? how is her unsuccessful suicide attempt being perceived? is she as interested in changing things or is that mostly obito's thing? how IS obito coping? he seems more hinged than in the canon timeline, but i'd imagine theres still a LOT going on in his head. do the akatsuki (og group) play into the au at all? it's all just very interesting to me your aus are always so fun.

oh no i have several pages written. incoherently

imagine me cackling like a witch who is explaining what exactly goes into their weird potions

q: what is rin doing in momo pig au? a1: she is being Observed & Guided. she is reduced to an instrument of murder, even more than in the usual shinobi way a2: her best

q: what is rei and tobi au about? a1: it's a deeply silly exploration of the world and characters. any moon alien plot is cut short (if it even existed and zetsu wasn't literally madara's hatechild) and anything approaching a "fix-it" is incidental a2: people going through horrors but still Having Hope. there being no fixing the whole world but them Trying Anyway. refusal of the shinobi system but not by Tearing Everything Down a3: rin & obito's runaway-to-vigilante pipeline a4: uchiha mikoto's jonin rank a5: neji's new stepfather

q: is sukea there? a: it's kakashi's go-to mask! everyone is wearing a literal mask (except kakashi's face is finally somewhat bare)!

q: how is team minato doing? a: minato is dead. kakashi thinks everyone is dead. rin & obito had a horrible reunion. rin thought she was dead and kamui was a really weird afterlife. obito has one (1) hinge and she almost died in front of him. they are doing better now. there will be a team reunion eventually.

q: what do obito and rin want to do now? a1: live! like people! a2: obito is having flashes of guilt over "abandoning" kakashi, but kakashi at least has the village (or so it seems). obito was weaponized by zetsu/hashirama cells, that whole put-sanbi-into-this-girl thing was some kind of set-up, and now rin is describing how the cursed seal on her heart felt and he is pretty sure madara didn't have his best interests in mind and he is spiralling and nobody is safe except the girl who was to be sacrificed again and again a3: obito wants to become a farmer a4: rin remembers the fear and the compulsion to return to konoha and the desperation to get rid of the parasite on her mind (her heart). she has a tailed beast in her, her chakra control is shot so she can't even do her medic job, and if she returns to konoha (flashbacks at the very thought) and isobu promises not to burst out they might just use her as a guided bomb too. or there might be some political angle to "give" her to kiri. she doesn't know but obito is here and he went through hell and he is still smiling at her. a5: rin isn't opposed to farming

q: what is kakashi's reaction to chidoriing rin? a1: the usual reaction to traumatic-moment-imprinted-into-your-brain-through-a-magical-eye :) a2: he is pretty sure she is dead. when he woke up, there was general carnage (obito mokuton'd all over those guys) but no body. "sometimes i can still hear obito and rin," he admits, "like right now, they are arguing over a vegetable garden. i guess the pure lands have those." cut to kamui dimension: there is in fact a passionate discussion over nutrients in mokuton-grown plants. rin is winning

q: who gave isobu icha icha? a1: rin says it's obito's fault because he bought it a2: obito says he's not the one who used it to teach the turtle to read, so don't you dare blame him. isobu is glad to have friends who don't see him as just "a battle monster"; even if his main part is stuck in a seal at the moment. and now he knows even more about the world and human relationships!

q: are the akatsuki still a thing? a: they are probably the original ame rebel group. they get money from running a publishing company (started as an anti-hanzo samizdat project, grew into a bigger thing). i guess jiraiya-sensei was good for something after all

q: who is kabuto working for? a: yes

[issybee06]

Because…

Part V

Warnings: slow ass burn, cursing, drinking, smoking, discrimination against Uzumakis, discrimination against bastards, Danzo hate forever <3, politics, the council, angst, so slow

Tacenda

(n.) things better left unsaid; matters to be passed over in silence.

……………….…………………………………………………………

Senju Risa was a bastard, with no real claim to the Senju name or any wealth or titles that came with it. Her mother, Uzumaki Kamiko ���seduced’ the Nidaime hokage, her sensei, and got pregnant by him just before his death. After two days of labor, Kamiko died due to complications during the birth, leaving behind an orphan.

That was the claim of Shimura Danzo, and his reason onto why he did not send aid to Uzushiogakure when the sister village was under attack.

Three years ago; the council meeting regarding the inheritance of the Senju clan name and fortune.

Age: 17

I inhale sharply, unconsciously picking at the skin around my nails until it was raw as I sat amongst the clan heads. This was it, the day I would either be made head of the Senju clan or be cast to the side like my mother was. A bastard.

I was a bastard, I knew that from a very early age, and no one ever tried to correct me. “Your parents are not, and never were, married. You are illegitimate to the Takamori clan, your only chance is that the Leaf sees you as a Senju.”

It seemed like the past repeated itself, because years ago my mother was here in this seat at the same age, praying her caretaker and father figure would grant her permission to be the head of the Senju clan.

She was denied.

Inoichi clasped a hand over mine, halting my assault on my nail bed, “ You have no need to worry, (Y/n)-hime…they won’t make the same mistake twice.”

I inhale sharply again, and gulp down my fears. Sneaking a peak, I look up into the rafters of the council room and my heart rate relaxes at the sight of the painted dog mask. If he was here, I think I could handle this.

Hizuzen blew a large cloud of smoke, speaking lowly to the other elders. They were picking my life apart, unraveling the secrets and digging through my past, starting all the way at the beginning.

It was totally unnecessary, and only for show since the Daimyo was here as well. The elder knew everything about me already, but this went deeper than bastards claiming titles, this was about the succession of the Senju clan; the first Hokages clan and the creators of Mokuton:wood style.

I had his blood, and if bred right, my children could have it.

My mother didn’t have it, despite practicing and meditating and praying, she never was able to preform Mokuton. Tsunade never even tried, and now it was too late to find out if any potential children of her would have it. She had swore never to have children, so the fait of my clan was on me.

I…couldn’t do it. I had read the scrolls, done the handsigns, practiced practiced practiced…but no results. I had the roots of the jutsu, water and earth, but not the jutsu.

It was frustrating, knowing I was so close to it but ultimately failing. I had all the right tools, all the ingredients, but nothing came from it. I was my clans last hope, and I was already destined to fail.

“(Y/n)-hime.”

My head snapped up, and I stood, “H-Hai, Hokage-sama?”

His wrinkled eyes creased, and he clasped his hands together in front of his face, “step forward.”

I nod, head to the elders table. I passed through the sitting clan heads, all people who grew up with my mother and/or knew her when she too was here, walking the same path as me.

I bowed to them when I approached and then to the Daimyo, remembering all the lessons the Senseis at finishing school in the capital taught me. If I couldn’t sway the council, I’ll sway the Daimyo.

“The council meeting will begin; the discussion of the succession of the Senju clan and the legitimacy of Senju (Y/n) and Senju Risa will begin.” The Hokage announced, and began going through my documents.

I froze. And Risa…?

I swallow as I began to pick at my thumbnail, I was not only representing my birthright…but my mothers aswell.

“(Y/n)-hime, though you are a direct descendent of Senju Tobirama, your mother was the product of a birth out of wedlock making her a bastard. You are also the product of wedlock, on top of that your father is of an enemy nation, and you were not born in this nation. Do you understand this?”

I nod, “Hai, i do Hokage-sama.”

He hums, “…you were brought here as a child, and became a shinobi to our village, showing your loyalty. You fought on our side in the war, receiving a large flesh wound, and have continued to serve the village well since. You have proven to the council to be of Konoha, despite your…background.”

He sighs, inhaling the tobacco from his pipe before exhaling the smoke, “…Tsunade-hime will never have children, and the bloodline of the Senju did not continue to boys, making you and your mother the last two Senju who can carry your bloodline…Your mother is getting older, making you the last.”

I nod, “I understand, Hokage-sama…”

He nods, “…you understand we can't simply ‘waste’ you're genes, correct? That is why the Daimyo has offered to marry his nephew to you. This will strengthen Konohas ties to the land of fire, and the reputation that befalls you now.”

I tighten my jaw, going over my notes again. None of this was making any sense, nothing was coming together or working. I drumb my fingers angrily on the table, scoffing.

“This is so frustrating.”

Genma looks over my shoulder, and winches, “hey, you chose this profession.”

I huff, leaning on my elbows with my face in my hands.

“I just don’t understanddddd~” I groan out, dragging my hands down my face, “it made sense two days ago!”

He hums, checking his hair out in the reflection of the microwave, “ you were also hungover and running on two hours of sleep two days ago.”

I scoff, looking over at him, “you act as if I’m an alcoholic.”

He raises a brow at me, “you are, and so am I.”

He turn to me, leaning forward slightly with his hands on his heart as he starts to speak slowly, “I. accept. you.”

I throw a pen at him, miss, and he smirks, “you really are off your game.”

“I hope you die.” he chuckles, and fixes his shirt one last time, “how do I look?”

I wrinkle my nose as I take in his appearance, “…you look fine. Got a date?”

“Yeah, you remember that girl from the bar two weeks ago right? Well, we're going to dinner.”

I hum, going back to reading my notes, “oh? Good for you.”

He nods, “yep. One of us has to have game in this house, of course it's me.”

“…im engaged.”

He rolls his eyes, “that doesn't count.”

I scoff, looking over at him again, “well apparently it does.”

“It doesn’t count! You only met him once!”

I roll my eyes, and stand up to stretch. I pick up my scattered notes and shove them into my notebook book, then go to pick up the lunch plate, “it counts, I’m engaged, so technically my game is better because you only have hookups.”

“I have a date tonight!” He yells, and gestures to his fixed up self. I look him over, and place my plate in the washing machine.

“Okay…and?”

He glares, and huffs angrily before walking to the door, “I’m leaving.”

“Use protection, babes.”

………………………………………………………………………….

I open my eyes, unclamping my hand in my kneeled position. I gaze sadly at the stone, and brush some frost off the name. The frost bit at my bare hands, but I couldn’t care less as I cleaned the grave.

I should have brought warm water to clean it properly.

“…happy birthday…” I whispered to the name, tracing the carved kanji in the stone. I pour a little Saké in a dish, placing it on the stone before pouring another. I raise my dish, then take a sip.

I felt a familiar chakra sit next to me, and I look over. Kakashi had his head bowed, paying respects to his deceased Sensei. When I was sure he was done, I offer my half drunk dish. He gives me a nod, and pulls his mask down to finish off the Saké. I pear over, noticing that his busted lip was healing.

“…how are you feeling?” I ask softly, almost a whisper. It felt like how it was when we were genin, whispering things on Kushina and Minatos couch after dinner as to not disturb the giggling couple. Back then things were simpler.

Dinner with Kushina was a everyday occurrence when I was in the academy, living with her half time, and when she began dating Minato the duo nights began to be trio. Later, when both adults became senseis, they'd invite their genin for group dinners.

That year after Rins death, and year before the Nine tails, was just Kakashi and I at group dinner.

“…better then I was two weeks ago…had to redo the stitches though.”

I wince, turn towards him fully as he pulls his mask on, “I told you, I didn’t know how-”

“You did fine, I reopened the wound a few days after.” He explained, handing me the dish back.

I frown, nodding in understanding before wiping the last little droplets of the alcohol on my sleave, “…I still think you should have gone to a hospital.”

“…I can’t stand the smell…” he spoke softly, and I nodded in understanding. Smells were more potent for him, even more so as he’s gotten older.

“…you don’t smell like smoke tonight.”

I scoff silently, “…Minato would roll in his grave if he caught me with cigarettes…I’m afraid he’d smite me if I even smell of it.”

He chuckled at that, a sad noise, and yet my heart squeezed slightly. I was glad I could at least amuse him, even on this solemn day.

“…I remember he was so angry the first time he caught you smoking with Asuma, I had never seen him so mad.”

I huff, smiling, “…wouldn’t stop scolding me…I can still picture his angry face.”

I could see the outline of his smile, and stood up. He offered he hand, and I took it. We both bowed to the grave, saying our farewells.

He shoved his hands in his pockets, walking next to me as we made our way out of the cemetery. I shivered slightly, wrapping my arms around myself as we walked. It was getting late, and the sun was just setting behind the tree tops.

I bite my lip, not wanting him to disappear yet. Kakashi was like a fleeting moment, his presence was scarce and you never know when you’d see him again.

“…Kakashi…?”

He hums, looking over with his dark eye. I look to the side, and stop walking.

“…Genma is on a date tonight…and I was wondering if you’d want to grab some dinner…for Minatos memory.”

His jaw tightened lightly, and I felt my heart sink before he nodded.

“…why not?”

I smile in relief, “great!-I mean, great…how about Ichiraku?”

“I was thinking the BBQ place.”

Oh?

The BBQ place…wasn’t anywhere Minato took us…I don’t think it was even built yet.

“Sure, we can do that…”

He nods, walking ahead. I jog a bit, catching up with him. I glare at him slightly, cursing how tall he had gotten. As children, he had been small and shrimpy. It was almost comical, this tiny silver haired kid scolding you as if his ego matched his height, but now it probably did.

He wasn’t as tall as Asuma, standing at a good 5’11, and wasn’t as built as Gai, but I could see why so many girls wanted him. He had always held an aura, an air of cool that both pissed me off as a kid and intrigued me.

Rounding the corner, the restaurant was in sight and I slowed my pace to a comfortable walk. When we step into the restaurant, we both silently agree to get a booth closer to the back away from the other people. More so for the quiet, and for Kakashi. His reputation, both good and bad, was starting to steadily climb and I had seen him get corned before by noisy civilians and shinobi alike.

I slide in ungratefully, and Kakashi calmly sits down. He turns the hot top on, and we wait for a serve to come round. I hover my hand over the heating top, trying to warm myself.

Kakashi leans into his seat, sighing as he rolls his shoulders back. I could hear a slight crack, but didn’t acknowledge it. When the server, a young man around our age, came round I laced my fingers and looked up at him politely.

He smiled, “what would you two like this evening?”

I side-eyed Kakashi, who looked over at me with his usual bored expression, and smiled to the server, “beef, tomato’s and eggplant if you have any.”

He nods, and writes it down before walking away.

Kakashi gives me a strange look, “eggplant?”

“I know you like it, I thought you’d appreciate the gesture.” I mumbled, picking at my fingers. His eye softens, almost unnoticeably, but I could see it. After years of only being able to read factual expressions by half his face, then a fourth, id learned to see every movement.

He nods, and looks down finding the table interesting all of a sudden. I wince, this was going great…

I couldn’t remember the last time Kakashi and I had gotten dinner just us two, after not speaking for a year after the nine tails then another two years after the arranged engagement was announced, we just never got around to talking…this year was truly interesting.

The food was placed on the table, and I pick up a piece of beef to cook with my chopsticks. I watch it cook, turning it when one side got too dark.

“…how’s the assignment going?” He asks so quietly I almost miss it.

I look up, noticing he was cooking eggplant.

“…we’ve figured out the ingredients…now we just need to make an anti poison…Ibiki is trying to figure out who created the poison.”

He nods, slipping his mask down just enough to pop the piece in his mouth, “…my team is traveling to the last known place in Kumo…we’re leaving this weekend.”

Oh.

“Oh…good luck.”

He nods, and we both go silent again. This was…awkward. It was so hard to talk to Kakashi, he was so closed off and short with anyone and everyone. Even as kids he was distant, but at least he talked. He was a snippy child, always talking down to people and making himself look better. Over time, he just got quiet.

I continued to eat silently, every now and then looking up to see if he was still there or had disappeared. He was so quiet when he ate, when her breathed, when he moved, almost like I was imagining him in front of me. I was half convinced the server would come over and ask me why I was talking to myself.

Kakashi placed his chopsticks down, signaling that he was finished. He sat silently, waiting for me to finish my food with no rush. He closed his eye, resting in the booth with no worry or care.

He probably hasn’t been sleeping again, I thought frowning softly, and placed my chopsticks down as well. I laced my fingers, resting my mouth on my hands.

“Thank you…” I say softly, and he hums without opening his eye.

“…do you visit them often?”

I frown, looking up at him with confusion in my eyes. His eye was open now, sad and haunted, “…the graves.”

I lick my lips, feeling they were suddenly chapped, “…not as much as I’d like too…”

He nods, “…yeah…me too.”

I take the Saké out of my bag, taking a sip from the bottle. I raise it to him, and he takes it with a nod. He pulls his mask down a little, takes a sip and coughs, “w-what is this?”

I smile, “…it’s the good stuff from the capital.”

He makes a face, coughing again and handing it back to me, “gift?”

I nod, siping, “I’ve been saving it for Minato-senseis birthday.”

He nods, and shakes his head when I offer again, “ he’d like it.”

I hum and slip the bottle back into my bag when the server came with the check. I reach for it, completely prepared to pay after dragging him to dinner, but he beats me to it. I furrow my brows at him, and he pays me no mind as he leaves the money on the table.

“Coming?”

I stand, still confused why he paid. I was the one who invited him, I should be the one to pay than right?

We walk out, and I wrap my arms around myself.

“Whyd you pay?”

He hummed, looking over at me, “was I not supposed to?”

“Yes! I asked you to dinner! I should have paid!” I stress, huffing at him. He scoffs, his hands slipping into his pockets, “just accept it as a show of good faith. I picked the place, I should pay anyway.”

I frown, my cheeks reddening from both frustration and embarrassment. He looks over and his jaw tightens slightly, and I could hear him swallow.

I go to protest at him again, but he just raises his hand.

“…we can just say you owe me next time.”

Then he's turning away, walking down the dark street leaving me with a flushed expression and my heart stuttering to make sense of his words.

Next time…

………………………………………………………………………….

Kakashi and I were sitting on the couch in Minato and Kushinas apartment after a small group dinner. I was admiring how Minato would hug Kushina from behind, making her giggle as he whispered sweet things in her ear.

I sigh dreamily, my head resting on my chin. Kakashi scoffed, his arms crossed over his new anbu uniform as he sinks deeper into the couch.

“Why are you sighing like that?” he snapped, raising a brow at me. I look over at him, a soft smile on my lips, “its romantic…”

He rolls his visable eyes, looking away from me, “its sickening to watch.”

I glare, turning to face him, “sickening? They're in love!”

He looks back at me with a deeped expression, “really? I couldn't tell.”

I huff, raising my chin high, “I pity the person you marry, you clearly are not a romantic. If you were, you’d understand.”

He glares, and turns away, but I wasn't done, “when I get married, I want my spouse and I to be just as in love as Minato-sensei and Kushina-nee. I want to dance in the kitchen at 3 in the morning and giggle about inside jokes and talk with our eyes and have soft moments that are only meant for us. I don’t just want a spouse, I want a best friend. I think it’s more romantic if you fall for your best friend, then you know they want you cause they’ve seen all your flaws.”

I sigh dreamily again, as any 15-year-old girl would as she sillily dreams of a future of love, and go back to admiring the happy couple as they stay close to one another.

Unknown to me, Kakashi was also admiring something silently with the same love sick expression I wore…but back then I didn’t know it was me. 

[parafic]

trick or treat! may I ask about TYPHOON ISLAND? :D

Absolutely, and thank you!

And... hm, I'm going to put the rambling under a cut, because it's technically a little bit a spoiler. Not, like, one that I think would matter? But just in case. (Also this got... long.)

Warning for some discussion of pregnancy and complications thereof including maternal death and stillbirth, although nothing in detail.

So the headcanon I'm using for Typhoon Island is that Butsuma had three wives.

The first wife died as a result of a pregnancy-related illness. It should have killed her well before the child could be born, but the child in question was Hashirama, and the mokuton healing kept her alive long enough for him to be born, after which she died quickly. (Hashirama has... a little bit of Issue around knowing that his birth killed his mother, though no one is aware of the mokuton aspect of it. He also has way bigger issues, though, this is pretty far down the list.)

Butsuma's second wife was an Uzumaki, which should have neatly reaffirmed the alliance between the clans. And, you know, did at first!

Buuuut her first pregnancy was... kind of twins. The first baby was either stillborn or died within a few hours of birth. The second was Tobirama, who was born weak enough that everyone expected he would die too, and had unlucky/ominous coloration on top of that.

The Senju, shall we say, didn't handle it well, and blamed the Uzumaki wife. Some of them wanted to kill Tobirama, or at least abandon him to avoid wasting resources caring for him when he was expected to die anyway. In the end his mother agreed to be sent back to the Uzumaki in exchange for a guarantee that Tobirama wouldn't be harmed (or denied medical support etc). That severely strained the relationship between the Senju and Uzumaki.

Among other things, the Uzumaki made paper to test chakra natures, because that's actually a very complex multi-part seal, which must be made by multiple people with different chakra natures, and is traditionally done in either white or invisible ink, to make it harder to copy (but also makes it harder to create). After Tobirama's mother was sent back, the Uzumaki refused to sell those chakra testing papers to the Senju. The Senju had some stockpiled still, so Hashirama and Tobirama were able to get their chakra natures tested when they were old enough, but they had run out by the time it would have been Itama's and Kawarama's turns. Which in turn slowed down their training, because they didn't know which elements to focus on.

And they were both wildly outclassed when they died, so probably if Tobirama's mother had stayed with the Senju instead of protecting Tobirama and the Senju had still had chakra papers it wouldn't have saved them, but. There's a tiny little 'what if' there and Tobirama does not enjoy it.

Anyway, that whole mess is why Hashirama needed to marry an Uzumaki to repair the relationship between the clans. Until the HashiMito marriage Tobirama ended up being basically the only link between the clans, because he was invited to visit the Uzumaki and study sealing during the summers, mainly because his mother wanted to see him. (The Uzumaki would also have been pleased if Tobirama had decided he wanted to just stay with them and become an Uzumaki himself, but he was too loyal to consider it and they didn't push.) He eventually stopped going when Izuna got powerful enough that no one else could take Tobirama's place fighting him, but Tobirama still has a strong relationship with the Uzumaki as a whole and several individuals, which is why they asked him to come rescue the Uzumaki kids that were kidnapped by bloodline thieves.

(I have less specifics about Itama and Kawarama's mother. She was probably either a Senju or from a much smaller/weaker allied clan. She might have been assassinated by enemies or just died of a regular illness, but she died maybe a few years before Kawarama did.)

The reason all of this is relevant is because once Tobirama, Izuna, Hikaku, and their collection of rescued children get off the island they're currently on, they're going to stop first at the Uzumaki, and stay there for a bit.

Which means Izuna and Hikaku, who by that point are both fully aware that they're pining for Tobirama, are going to meet Tobirama's mother and friends. All of whom are fully aware that Izuna has been trying to kill Tobirama for a decade and a half or so. And many of whom are fond of pranks.

And while Tobirama's mother may not know, his friends are aware that one of the side effects of puberty which Tobirama did not enjoy was the sudden development of sexy dreams about Izuna. Most of them are pretty sure that if Tobirama was having that many sexy dreams about someone who only ever tried to kill him, Tobirama must have some kinks. Tobirama is itching to show them that no, that is not conclusive evidence, Uchiha are just all supernaturally pretty.

Absolutely zero of these people will consider getting out of Izuna's or Hikaku's hearing before debating this.

[justsomeoneunordinary]

i have an intresting headcannon and i would like to ask your opinion on it.

my head cannon is that the political marriage wasn't a way fr the Senju to secure the Uzumaki to their cause, but a way for the Uzumaki to gain power and possible another overpowered kekkei genkai.

like, my headcannon is that, despite the Senju being rich and shit, they still need money to kickstart Konoha, so they took a loan with their sister clan, the Uzumaki, to seal the deal, the Uzumaki proposed a political marriage between Mito and Hashirama as a coveted plan to introduce the extraordinary (Hashirama) Senju genes to their genepool and maybe with luck, kickstart a new generation of Uzumaki with the wood release, but their plans never came to fruition because life got in the way (i.e. Madara's temper tantrum and Hashirama death) and becasue they got whiped out.

oh, if you want to discuss hashimito arranged marriage, then i am probably not the best person for this because i'm just not a fan of the fanon that they must have had an arranged marriage. there's a post about it somewhere that i made a while ago, you may find it if you look through the hashimito tag idk, you know how tumblr's search function is 😅 the idea of hashimito not being madly in love with each other only results in error 404, brain does not compute for me, i'm sorry

BUT! i'm always a fan of trope subversion/inversion, that stuff is always fun to explore. and honestly, i find your headcanon makes far more sense than the one i see the most, in which the uzumaki and senju propose a marriage between their clans to strengthen their allyship. if they've already been allies before, they don't need a marriage now? your version actually makes sense. i only have a hard time imagining the uzumaki wanting the mokuton for themselves because, for one, hashirama's children would be senju heirs anyway, and for another, does the mokuton appear so rarely - only once in like a century or so - that the uzumaki must've known that the chances a child of hashirama's to get the kekkei genkei were slim to none

if anything, i imagine the uzumaki would want konoha's protection since they're on a small island surrounded by big countries/later big shinobi villages, and that's a thing konoha could actually promise, unlike the mokuton. this way both profit from this marriage - konoha from the financial aid and the uzumaki from konoha's protection. but far be it from me to tell you what you should think of your own headcanon! if it works for you then you should go with it and have fun with it ofc 😌

in the end, i personally am just not a fan of arranged marriage at all, especially not for hashimito. to me they're a love match and nothing will change my mind on that ♥️

[tendaysoftenzo]

Prompt Discussion - Yamato's Ghost Stories | O Captain My Captain

Ten Days of Tenzo 2023: Day 1 (Nov 1)

Each year, the prompts for Ten Days of Tenzo are open to your interpretation! We enjoy all the TDOT participation, and we wanted to give some ideas for how you could interpret each prompt.

Yamato's Ghost Stories

We all know Tenzo likes to make scary faces at Naruto, so maybe he'll be telling his teammates a scary story too. Or maybe someone's turning the tables and trying to scare him!

Maybe he's living the story! Is Tenzo the one who is a ghost? Did he go to the other side, or is he simply under the effects of a jutsu? Can people see him, or is he an invisible observer?

Or, is Tenzo one who is meeting the ghost? Who is this apparition? Hashirama, whose mokuton he inherited? Is he meeting a family member, or a lost loved one? Is he encountering the spirit of one of the characters we see die in the series, like Zabuza, or Minato? Did Kakashi decide to say hello during his brief death? Are they reanimations, or are they spirits?

Maybe it's a Modern AU. On the literal side of things, he could end up ghost-hunting with fun paranormal tech, either of his own volition or roped in by a friend. Team 7 could have their ghost story podcast!

Or maybe we're playing with term "ghosting" and we're finding out why Tenzo and another character stopped texting/talking?

You could be incorporating the superstitions and legends that are familiar to you, or you could be creating your own new, silly or sombre lore.

O Captain My Captain

We know that the name that our favourite tree man is introduced under is Captain Yamato. Are we learning about his experience leading missions? Or a team captain he admires, like Kakashi or Asuma? Is Tenzo getting ready to move on from being a captain, and take on new title?

He's captain of his ninja youths, but he could also be captain of a ship, or a plane. Maybe he's the kind of captain you'd see in a sci-fi series. Perhaps he's a different kind of captain outside of the military. Is he captain of a sports team? A debate club? A mountain expedition?

This prompt is also a quote from the Dead Poets Society, so maybe we're leaning into Tenzo being a teacher. Is he teaching ninja skills, or life lessons? Is it a modern AU, where he's a botany professor, or is he teaching Naruto and co. at a high school?

Tenzo could be meeting or becoming a captain from another beloved media in an AU/crossover, like Captain America (Captain Konoha?) or Captain Hook? Maybe he's gone the way of Captain Planet, and become an eco-crimefighter!

We could also be thinking of real-life objects with "Captain" in their name, like Tenzo drinking some Captain Morgan rum, or eating Cap'n Crunch? (Not an ad, we promise!)

Maybe we're using "captain" as a verb, and Tenzo is championing an idea, or just being a natural leader among friends. Maybe he's being the Captain of the Sass Brigade. Possibilities are endless!

Thank you to everyone who suggested a prompt, and to everyone who enjoys TDOT. These are just a few ideas! Feel free to get creative.

MORE INFO | UPDATES | ALL PROMPT DISCUSSIONS

[rubyblue2005]

Au where the future is brought back to the past rather than the other way around. Like, Konoha-Nine/Twelve are zapped back into the past Age of Calamity style. There is defiantly a Back to the Future reference somewhere. Zapped Back and To the Future.

And there’s this awkward scene where someone from the past (Most likely Izuna or Touka) mistake Naruto for a Senju, and all of Konoha-Nine/Twelve malfunction, a complete “Hol’ up, what” moment (a real Konoha.exe has stopped working moment if you will-) and Naruto just starts to fucking lose it laughing because this is the first time he’s ever been mistaken for a Senju, though he knows its probably from the blonde hair on his head rather than the Uzumaki patented Red locks. But the whole situation is so bizarre that Naruto can’t help but be amused.

Sakura is over here like “Lady Tsunade would kill him if he was.”

The reveal of Naruto actually being and Uzumaki garners hilarious reactions from the past, only topped by the moment both Past Senju and Uhchia learn that Naruto is- in fact, married to a Uchiha.

“Why the fuck would you ever play nice with an Uchiha?”

“Why wouldn’t I play nice with my husband?”

Everyone from the future all collectively decide to pointedly not mention the copious amount of times Sasuke tried outright murdering Naruto and all their epically homoerotic battles just to watch the Past clans flail in confusion. (Past.exe has stopped working)

Even then, it takes Sasuke getting drunk and being openly affectionate towards his husband (Who is stone cold sober due to ridiculous metabolism bs) and all of Konoha-Nine/Twelve obligatorily teasing him like “Le gasp, the emo duckling actually has emotions other than hatred and rage?” 

To which Sasuke drunkenly hides his face in Naruto’s neck and rests there as he hides from the world- for it to truly cement into the Past Senju and Uchiha that an Uzumaki- famously considered the Senju’s sister clan, to be married to an Uchiha- famously in a generational war with the Senju.

Kurama got zapped back too, but somehow merged with his younger bijuu self so he is looking for his Jinchuuriki because “Ew, not this bullshit. I want to take a nap.” 

Everyone from the Past is collectively freaking the fuck out- just a little bit, due to the rather giant nine-tailed bijuu of myth and legend just casually trotting along and nonchalantly chatting with Konoha-Nine/Twelve and bickering like he isn’t centuries old in age compared to with Naruto-  the ninja he’s bickering with. 

“Why the fuck are you so tall?”

“You were just born unfortunate, brat.”

“Oi, Hey!”

“Just get taller if you hate being that small so much.”

Kurama still has a disdain for the Uchiha and Mokuton-user’s (rightfully so) so he just ignores them and is acts like a little shit towards the one Uchiha he does interact with (Who is Sasuke, that Kurama just barely tolerates) and the Past is freaking out just a little more because “What did we do?!” with the smaller thought of “At least the Bijuu isn’t trying to kill us outright??” When Kurama pretends that their very beings do not exist. Konoha-Nine/Twelve have a mixed reaction of mostly sweat-dropping exasperation and finding the Past’s whole deal with Kurama funny.

But, Konoha-Nine/Twelve make up this stupidly vague story about how ‘all the Bijuu could forgive the Past Clans forgetting their duties throughout the course of time but can never forgive oathbreakers and forgetting those who sacrificed themselves for their clans’ continual survival.’ Which is kind of based on Indra and Asura and Zetsu and the whole drama thing that the Ninja world had to find out and deal with in the Fourth Ninja War. Though, Konoha-Nine/Twelve definitely bash faux-plants way more.

The mention of Zetsu causes a discussion on whether or not Zetsu would be considered a kinslayer or not, being related to both Indra and Asura as their uncle seeing as he was technically Kaguya’s youngest kid and he did sort of manipulate and mentally fuck with Indra to the point of Indra and Asura duking it out. And proceeded to do what was basically just longterm Bloodline Theft for centuries trying to get the rightly seasoned eyeballs to create the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

Then, all of the sudden sand appears and then the One-Tailed Bijuu just pops up. 

Shukaku comes and starts a play-fighting-bijuu-sand brawl with Kurama that Naruto has to stop because now all the non-bijuu are spitting out sand and coughing up dirt from the bijuu’s Sibling Bonding Reunion Brawl™ and the Past Clans find out that all the Tailed Beasts are actually related. Which is somehow less of a shock to them than the marriage between Naruto and Sasuke.

While it’s also found out that all the Bijuu actually merged with their past selves and some even brought back their own Jinchuuriki, which had Naruto both hyped to not be the only Jinchuuriki around but also concerned because “Everyone kinda needs to get home and we have no idea how to do… that.”

There’s also the Tuvix problem with the Bijuu becoming a hybrid of both Past and Present created from the time-travel zapping. No one knows how it happened, or how the future got to the past.

Turns out the reason they all got zapped to the past was because of Zetsu but he’s not plant-y or shadow-y or anything so when the dramatic reveal happens…

“It was me all along! I am here to enact my plan you so hurtfully ruined!”

“??? Who the fuck are you???”

And then Zetsu face-faults then proceeds onwards “You prevented me from releasing Mother from her prison… On the Moon!”

“Oh… Oh! Zetsu, you piece of crap! You started the Fourth Ninja War!”

Meanwhile the Past is standing over there, confused as all get out before the rest of the Konoha-Nine/Twelve not involved in Zetsu’s dramatic villain speech of evil fill everyone not in the know, in on the sidelines. 

“FOURTH WAR?!”

“Whisper, Insert Cliff Notes, Whisper”

“He did WHAT??”

“Yeah, the past affects the future, imagine that.”

[kakayamaweek2025]

Flowers

Apologies for the radio silence for the last week or so. Obstacles on the path of life etc. We will try to be a little more on the ball next week.

Our discussion prompt today is Flowers, scheduled for 6 October. As always prompts can be combined on their days, across multiple days, or over the course of the entire week, or they can be done on their own. We encourage everyone to discuss the prompts in replies or reblogs and to bounce ideas off each other here or wherever you have fun batting fic concepts around.

Please ensure all nsfw or difficult subject matter be tagged appropriately.

-R

“This prompt has so much potential! For some angst one could use the hanakaki trope, for some fluff one could write a flower shop AU, for something sensual perhaps some smut in the garden or the classic “sex pollen?” There are so many different ways to incorporate flowers into a story! 

The first thing that comes to my mind is a bouquet given at the start of a date, or a boutonniere worn on a tuxedo at a prom or wedding. What kind of flowers would Tenzō give Kakashi? Would he grow his own or pick out something special from the shop?  

I can also imagine a wilting flower as a metaphor for loss a la Beauty and the Beast. Do the plants that Tenzō created with mokuton wax and wane his mood or his health? Or perhaps they bloom around him (or on him) when he is feeling certain emotions?”

-Kodiak

[mokutone]

Hi mokutone! I was wondering what your thoughts are on why Yamato insists on calling Kakashi senpai, even though Kakashi protests against the title. Thank you ^^

:O ! thank you for the question... this is gonna be another long one, so I'm gonna put it under a cut!

I go back and forth on this a lot!

Right now I'm of the mind that it's honestly kind of just...a comforting thing to him? I have two reasons for this.

1) Even though they share the same rank now, Yamato continuing to call Kakashi his "senpai" (despite Kakashi's insistence that they're equals now, and that he's Not Yamato's senior anymore) is about acknowledging and affirming the friendship that they had before, back in anbu.

(Generally, I think this is a big reason why Kakashi calls Yamato Tenzō too, and why I think Yamato is only superficially bothered by Kakashi calling him that)

2) I also think he might just not know what to do with a relationship outside of military hierarchy. Unlike Kakashi, unlike essentially everyone else in the village, he was never brought up in any kind of civilian or domestic environment. Even though Kakashi was raised by a shinobi, he would've seen civilians interacting in his daily life, and would have a general sense of how they interact with each other.

Yamato hasn't really had that! I think he can handle going to grocery stores and restaurants, teaching students, carrying out an interview, and helping people when they ask directions. He might get a little bit lost at parties, but then, if it's a party with games or with drinking he might find it a little easier.

Basically, I think that if there is a purpose to the interaction, it's very easy to carry out.

The thing is, if somebody is your friend, not your superior, not your mission partner, not even your co-captain, just...somebody you keep around because you like them...what do you do with that?

Obviously there aren't goals to that kind of relationship, there's not purposes, you just like them. Hopefully, they just like you. Isn't that kind of terrifying? I think, for Yamato, recatagorizing Kakashi from ''senpai'' to ''friend on equal footing'' might be just about as nervewracking for him as recatagorizing somebody from ''friend'' to ''lover'' might be for most other people.

There's no structure at all, a friend is just an amorphous bond of affection and love and shared experience. There's not really a guidebook for how to proceed. He doesn't really have much experience with it either, although I think we see him testing his boundaries a little in the anime,

What is a friend? What's appropriate interaction to have with a friend? Is it okay to feel like you are not directly doing anything to benefit the friend, other than existing? (Yes. Literally. Yes).

I think, because all he has known is being a lab experiment, and then a shinobi, generally he organizes his social interactions around completing a goal. I think when he goes drinking, the goal is to drink. If Karaoke is available, then that is a new goal to accomplish which can take the pressure off the other one. Also, it's possible to get better at Karaoke, which is even better! A goal that one might see progress in! (Well, he might even get a good grade in going to the bar; something which is normal to want and possible to achieve!)

In a conversation, if he is asked a question, the goal is to answer that question, or alternatively, to get his conversation partner to answer a question of his—an exchange of information is an exchange of trust. (Yes, this is certainly socializing. Yes, this is fitting in. It does feel good, really. It does feel natural. )

To my understanding, a senpai is somebody who you look up to and intend to learn from, somebody who has come before you—this has a goal. This has a purpose. This defines their relationship in an easily operable way. It is not amorphous, it is simple and linear, there are few fuzzy edges to get lost in. This is just Kakashi, who is very skilled, and Yamato, who intends to learn from him.

The problem, as I'm sure you've noticed and as Kakashi points out, is that while this label gives their relationship form, it also limits their roles within it. Kakashi is on a pedestal, and Yamato, beneath him.

Kakashi states his mild discomfort with this, he doesn't see their relationship this way! Yamato disregards Kakashi's opinion! Surprisingly, Kakashi allows Yamato to disregard it easily; (I think he understands that Yamato kind of needs to continue calling him senpai right now.)

There comes a point where this becomes kind of silly, right?

Yamato doesn't look up to Kakashi blindly—in team Kakashi's first mission with Yamato as captain, he seriously and openly criticizes Kakashi's method of leadership, and begins undoing some of the self-destructive practices that Kakashi inadvertently taught the kids.

Yamato has the power to rebuild the entirety of Konoha, to single-handedly restrain the nine-tails, and unfortunately, while being used by the enemy, to sustain an entire army of woodclones.

Kakashi is not his direct superior anymore, they're co-captains.

Still, somehow, Yamato insists that he will not let himself define his relationship to Kakashi as that of equals. While he obviously respects and adores Kakashi, I have to think that this choice on his part is not actually about Kakashi at all.

After all, if this was really about Kakashi, then when Kakashi told him "we're equals, you don't need to call me senpai anymore," then surely Yamato would have listened, and not flat out ignored Kakashi's insistence.

[belit0]

I had read romantic stories. I wanted something like that. I loved the request you made to the person who requested the discussion. It was about the marriage of Izuna's son to Tobirama's daughter. she is the second user of Mokuton after her uncle❤️❤️❤️❤️

Izuna's son, from a young age, was seen as a genius with a calm and calculating demeanor,He would end up getting nervous when the stoic and sharp gaze looked at him she. Whenever Tobirama's daughter was around, he would get nervous. Everyone thought it was because she bullied him. When they grew up, he always sought to be close to her, rejecting every uchiha girl he was introduced to, including the ones his father and uncle recommended. Until, at a Senju-Uchiha meeting, Izuna's son declared his love in public.

there ya goooo

Izuna’s son had always been different.

Even as a child, his chakra was crisp and contained, his steps precise, his mind sharp.

Where his father blazed with fire and emotion, he moved like still water—calm, thoughtful, and devastatingly efficient.

Some said he was more like Madara than Izuna.

That alone made the Senju suspicious.

But then came her.

Tobirama's daughter.

Cold-eyed, impossibly clever, and sharper than any blade in her father’s arsenal.

She was unreadable, composed, and walked like she already knew how everyone’s story would end.

When they first met as children, she looked at him—really looked at him—with that unnerving Senju gaze.

And he panicked.

For years, every time she entered the room, his spine locked, his words faltered, and his expression—normally unshakable—twitched with quiet panic.

Everyone thought she bullied him.

Even he thought she might.

But as they grew, so did the fascination.

He trained harder, spoke less, sought out every diplomatic opportunity just to stand in the same room as her.

And when Izuna—frustrated by his son’s total disregard for Uchiha girls—suggested a match or two, the boy declined every time, simply saying:

–None of them are… suitable.

He never said why.

Never said who was.

Not until that afternoon.

It was a routine clan meeting—one of those stiff, post-war summits meant to maintain the brittle peace.

The room was packed with high-ranking Uchiha and Senju.

Madara was speaking.

Tobirama stood across the hall, arms folded, unmoving.

And near him, his daughter—serene and unreadable, as always.

Izuna’s son stood to speak—measured, clear, polite.

Everyone expected a calculated proposal. A motion. A rebuttal.

Instead, he turned his eyes to her.

And in front of both clans, with every Uchiha elder and Senju diplomat watching, he said—

–I have loved her since I was a child, and I intend to marry her.

The silence dropped like a blade.

Izuna choked on his drink.

Tobirama went perfectly still, like a drawn arrow.

The girl in question arched a brow—mildly intrigued, and not at all surprised.

Madara, for once, had nothing to say.

–You… what?— Izuna tried to process.

But his son’s voice was unshakable.

–I don’t want a political match. I don’t want a girl who will flatter me. I want the only one who has ever terrified me.

She tilted her head, lips barely twitching.

–I mean, not what I had in mind but you're my son after all, huh. That's my boy, going after the impo.-

-Izuna shut up for once.- Madara hissed.

Tobirama stepped forward.

–You think you’re ready for that responsibility?

Izuna’s son met his eyes with perfect calm.

–I’ve trained my whole life to be.

[mokutone]

yeah yeah yeah...yeah...literally all autonomy + control over himself is removed. heinous! absolutely heinous, and the feelings...i was also thinking are comparable to being forced to detransition. you're right. 😭

+ also i like the point about danny phantom vs tenzō in accidental trans narratives, its true they both carry this kind of symbolism but feel so different + the ubiquitous presence of the closet in DP vs tenzō's ongoing process of allowing himself to grow + take up space (up until the war arc. EEK) is a very very different accidental trans narrative

I've been thinking about this a lot. I don't know how much yamato knows or remembers from his time as a pow but this is an identity crisis in the making. Like deeply profoundly retraumatizing.

He fought tooth and nail to make an identity for himself. To be more than a weapon based on Hashirama. And here he is. Being used as a weapon against people he loves amd cares about bc he has Hashirama's DNA. and to add insult to injury Hashirama is right above him, like a reminder that this is all he'll ever be for some people.

[al-hekima-madara-blog]

This repost is just for me to keep an archive. It's an answer from this convo.

I’m not a specialist in genetics so I won’t talk about recessive or dominant genes but in term of sociology and historical perceptive the purity bloodline theme even if it’s not discuss directly in the fiction it’s implicitly the case. let’s not forget Naruto is strongly based on Japanese culture, folklore and religion. Being a fiction doesn’t mean popping up out of the blue. The fiction just put more fantasy and magic for the sake of entertainment on practices already existing in reality. In ancient japan, endogamous marriage were not the norm but permitted specially in aristocratic circle or in rural area wishing to preserve some secret knowledges.

I’m sorry I couldn’t find an english version so here is my very rough translation of the anthropologist Emmanuel Todd about Origin of family system (2011)

1- Marriage between cousins : The japanese descent family is distinguished from the german and the korean one by a slight endogamous tendency. Marriage between cousins is not forbidden in rural traditional Japan. After the second world war, in a society highly industrialised the global percentage of marriage between cousin 1st degree is 7.2%. A number, although not important, can be compared to Europe with a number inferior to 1% at the same period.

2- High aristocracy from Heian Era gravitating around the imperial family did not have any prohibition against consanguinity with the exception of parent/children, and brother/sister. As noticed by McCullough, a man could freely married an aunt, a niece, or a cousin […] It is clearly a classist endogamy according to McCullough, a tiny dominant group pull apart through endogamy from the rest of society. Thus they preserve in the same time bloodline “purety”, power exclusivity both symbolic and material.

There was an other part from the same chapter but a bit too long to translate where the author stress on how in some traditional japanese family, they put emphases on the elder child having a distinctive status, education and privilege than the other siblings.

Hyuga and Uchiha are both view in the Narutoverse as a very prestigious and traditional clan. Huyga even use terms Soke/Bunke which is a concept already existing in japanese culture. So we can associate them with a kind of aristocracy among the shinobi world. Both of them are said to descendant from Alien but even irl a lot of aristocratic family still proclaim a divine ancestry to justify their power over a majority (Ethiopia kings from Salomon, British queen claims to descent from the biblical King David) and in japanese case the imperial family still believe today to descend from Amaterasu. So following this aristocratic logic, keeping the blood “pure” is extremely important to them, they think it’s the source of their power.

I know that for a western/christian point of view, cousin union is seen as disgusting and incestuous (although European aristocracy still do it regardless for the reason explained previously) but it’s not the case in most part of the world, (I’m not defending it I’m just stating facts), and it’s not automatically produce disable children otherwise the Middle East and South Asia who have a long and stable tradition of doing so would have disappeared from Earth long time ago.

My point was just to say I don’t think the bloodline purity is a fandom invention, it’s a natural deduction. Senju are exogamous by choice (they have a tradition of making matrimonial and political alliances hence why Konoha was possible with a Senju driving force) in the opposite Hyuga and Uchiha seems to be strongly endogamous also by choice based on the fact they keep very similar features, a very strong sense of pride, an elitist education, a protective and secretive approach to their culture and a higher proportion of clan members possessing KKG (contrary to Senju where Mokuton is limited solely to Hashirama). Historically marrying your 1st, 2nd or 3rd degree cousin through arranged marriage will maximize the chance to keep some traits (good or bad) in the family. Hinata choosing herself to marry a non-Hyuga is an exception rather than a rule 1) Hinata/Neji/Hiashi relationship where her father is seen to slowly change his mind about his very conservative approach to tradition 2) Naruto is the most powerful Ninja post-war, son of an Hokage, future Hokage himself so they might play lottery with the genetic pool but they gain a great prestige and affluence by association with him.

[bougiebutchbitch]

I love platonic kakashi and yamato! Do you have any headcanons?

TOO MANY TO CONTAIN IN MY LITTLE HEAD

I love the idea that Kakashi introduced Yamato to so much! He really helped him grow as a person, and showed him that there was more to life - and to being a shinobi - than becoming a mindless tool for your superiors.

But having Yamato on his team really helped Kakashi, too.

[discussion of dark stuff under cut. TW: self harm, mentions of suicide]

Like, obviously, Kakashi met Tenzou in the midst of his bad PTSD/depression phase, and that didn't magically go away because he had a kohai to care for. He was in a pretty messed up place when they booted him from ANBU.

He might not have been willing to take his own life, after what happened to his father, but he is deeeefinitely willing to die unnecessarily on a mission. He takes the hardest, most suicidal solos; he dives in front of every blade that flies at any member of his team... He's big on self-sacrifice to the point where it becomes suicidal ideation and self harm.

And Yamato sees that. Up close and personal.

He's fucked up in the head, too. He still struggles to make his own choices. He's uncomfortable with selecting his own food at restaurants for years, and has to slooooowly build up his own opinions on simple things like clothing or favourite colours.

Sidenote: I like to think Kakashi randomly springs questions on him that he's never had cause to think about before, like 'what's your favourite animal?', just to help him gain more ownership over his own personality🥺 Maybe Yamato copies the copy ninja a lot at first?? But then he tries to read Icha Icha one time and goes 'LOLNOPE THIS IS A BAD IDEA' and starts defining himself instead sdlkfgjhsdfkg

Point is, he's no therapist. And Kakashi's the team leader - he looks after them. Yamato doesn’t know how to stage an intervation without breaking the chain of command.

But after months of dancing around the issue, pretending not to see how Kakashi flings himself into every fight like he doesn't care if he comes out the other side, how he's twisted his philosophy of protect your friends (a philosophy Yamato still struggles to understand) into this strange delusion that his life is worth inherently less...

Well. Fate conspires to ensure that Yamato can't ignore Kakashi’s self-destruction any longer.

He sits by Kakashi's hospital bed. Watching him breathe.

In, out. In, out. Each rise of his chest a tiny miracle.

Yamato slows his own breaths to match. They're considerably less obstructed, given the lack of a plastic tube shoved down his throat.

Bandages bulk sempai's chest, filling out his shape under the sheets like he's still strapped into his ANBU armour. He took a kunai to the lung for Yamato. A kunai that could've easily been deflected with Mokuton - at least, so Yamato thinks. Still, he had a solid chance, and sempai knows him well enough - has fought him enough - to know that.

Point is, there was no need for Kakashi to get hurt. But he got hurt anyway.

And here they are again, in a familiar room that Yamato suspects has Kakashi's name on the door, treated by a doctor who refers to sempai by his surname, not his ANBU code. In familiar positions too: Kakashi on the bed, nursed back from the brink and undoubtedly mad about it. Yamato on the chair, mad at him.

It takes him embarrassingly long to realise sempai isn't asleep - just feigning it, waiting for him to go away. Like he doesn't want to face him. Like he's ashamed.

Good, thinks Yamato. Sempai should be.

He sinks lower on his chair and glowers through the eyeholes of his porcelain mask.

The medics care little for ANBU eccentricities; they've removed both of Kakashi's own masks in order to intubate. The longer Yamato stares, the more Kakashi shifts, until he's not even pretending to sleep anymore. He makes a feeble attempt to pull the covers up over his nose.

Right. Sempai hates it when people stare at his face.

Yamato crosses his arms and refuses to blink.

"You," he says, "are very cruel, you know."

Kakashi's dark eye flicks to him. The other twitches behind its scarred lid, but stays shut. Pale lashes cast shadows on his cheeks. He makes a gurgly noise around the tube that might be a denial or an apology. Either way, Yamato doesn't want to hear it.

"How many people have died for you?" he demands.

Kakashi looks away. Too many.

Yamato squeezes his thumbs at the centre of his fists until they ache. It's the wrong way to throw a punch, but right now, they're only sparring with words - and it's a one-sided match.

That's for the best. Sempai can sweet-talk his way out of anything. Right now, Yamato needs him to shut up and listen.

"So, you know what it feels like. And you would inflict that on me? You'd make me watch you die for me?"

Kakashi's shoulders stiffen. Then, slowly, slump. He slackens against his bed like he's finally given up the ghost, staring dully at the ceiling. No more gurgles. It seems that, for once in his life, he has nothing clever to say.

Yamato leans over him. His expression is wooden as ever, under his mask, but all the churning emotions inside him - anger sempai would put himself in this position, relief that he made it, absolute terror that he'll do this again - manifest in the tremble in his hand, as he grips Kakashi's wrist.

"Don't," he says. Though it's not the subordinate's place to question a taichou, he pushes as much authority into the word as he can muster. "Don't you fucking dare, sempai. Don't leave me like that."

ANBU die. It's practically in the job description. Yamato has made his peace with it: his own death, and that of his comrades. What he cannot accept - what he cannot abide - is that Kakashi, who helped him to give his life meaning, might throw his own away. Like it means nothing. Like he means nothing.

"Don't," Yamato repeats.

Kakashi still doesn't look at him. But he nods once, order accepted.

Yamato trusts him implicitly in the field. They've trained together for years, and fought together too, taking down foes back-to-back and side-to-side. He knows Kakashi as well as the balance on his own knives.

He wishes he could trust him right now.