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This is weird.
Weird but good. Tobirama is a ninja, he will take all and every opportunity he has. What’s the point of being honorable when his opponents won’t give him the same courtesy. He has never been as optimistic as Hashirama nor as strong as his brother and best friend. Tobirama has always made sure to be the best version of himself in order to survive and keep up with them. He did everything he could to live as an equal (as much as it was possible) to Hashirama. He's always done his best to be worthy of Konoha's trust. Then one day, long after Hashirama was dead, he (again) met men (enemies this time) stronger than himself, and he chose his students’ survival over his own. He expected to die.
So this is weird.
Tobirama doesn't have another word to describe how surprised he is. By all accounts, he should be dead… Well, he was until he was brought back to life by his own Edo Tensei and this doesn’t feel like that at all. The blood running through his veins is hot. He can feel the soft wind, smell the grass, the forest. He is alive and he certainly didn’t do anything to earn himself such a boon.
Tobirama has checked for genjutsu, checked for the tsukuyomi Zetsu wanted, his sensor skills confirming this is very real.
So this is weird, and also good, and the question is: what now?
Tobirama is still fighting the headache of having twin sets of memories colliding inside his already overactive brain and his body aches all over as well. He doesn't want to move yet. Being in the wild isn't a good time to feel so out of it, but what choice does he have? He painfully drags his body to the nearest lake to check his appearance.
He is definitely younger than he was - more like he looks like a fucking baby - all smooth fair skin, white hair and his red eyes with soft skin on his unmarked cheeks. That’s the most jarring. Tobirama looks inside his bags to see if there is red ink to redo his seals and nope… Later then. One priority at a time. His heart is loud, so loud, he sees black dots - He breathes out and in. One exhale, one inhale. Rinse and repeat.
He- he- he is in the past! He is not just alive again. He is alive in the past! And not his past, but somewhere else. This is crazy.
He never thought traveling to another dimension was possible. It's not the same as raising the dead, switching souls is impossible, that cannot be controlled - this situation doesn’t make sense. This is- Tobirama jolts with the realization. He laughs. He is in another Tobirama, he took the place of another him... However, isn't that the best opportunity ever? Tobirama’s lungs are lacking air again with his hysterics but logically, in the back of his mind, he knows this is good. He is a ninja, he will use this second chance. He sends a prayer to this other him, hoping he rests in peace and is happy.
When he regains his calm, he sits in the lotus position and checks himself. His reserves are smaller than at the time of his death. They never were gigantic but there is so little... Those seals must be redone if he wants to continue to fight as an equal alongside Hashirama. He may have impeccable control, but having a chakra boost available will always be an asset. And it would make people take him seriously. His reflection has shown that he looks like a teenager- how old is he even? Tobirama can’t even tell because he has always looked younger than his age and his teenage years were such a long time ago.
Perhaps… It's a fool's dream but maybe peace can be achieved earlier? The mess of memories will need to be sorted but the biggest clues he got from most of them indicate a more religious aspect to this world where clans pray to their respective Gods and also some weird designation thing. But the Tobirama he merged with is thankfully close to what he has been in his previous life. All is good then, it will be easy to adapt. Tobirama is a ninja, he will make do.
Senju pray to Ōkuninushi, the God of nation-building, farming, business and medicine while the Uchiha pray to Amaterasu-Ōmikami, the Goddess of the sun who gave the sharingan to them. Tobirama could manage to make a prophecy or make it appear as if it is divine powers requesting peace. Both clans would follow, right? He will need to investigate how to do this when he is back home.
From his most recent memories of this world, he just finished his mission and was going home. It’s not far and so he takes off. However when he stands, he feels a stabbing pain in his lower half and crumbles.
What?
He makes a distressed sound before clamping his mouth shut to keep silent.
What is this? It hurts like he is being pierced by knives. He used a diagnostic jutsu but nothing seems wrong. He wants to puke, his head is killing him. Sweat is falling from his forehead, he feels hot, too hot. What's wrong with him? Has the travel through time and space made his body disintegrate? Tobirama dives into the lake and throws his clothes on the shore in a hazardous pile. They are making him feel too constricted. He wants to scratch his whole skin raw. The water is helping. He sighs in relief and soaks for a while.
A while turns into too long.
Now he is freezing and his muscles are tense, still cramping while his mind is muddled. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts… What is this?! What's wrong with him? Is he going to die?
He barely dries himself before putting his coat on his shoulders. He wants to throw it away but he is cold. He is shaking so badly he can barely tie the knot. He needs to go home. Hashirama might be able to help. Hashirama. His brother is alive. Perhaps his other brothers are as well. He cannot rifle through the new set of memories, they are still a mess and it hurts. He can’t think properly. Why didn’t he check before… He needs to be somewhere safe… Now he is even crying in distress like a fucking civilian.
He is scared. What if there is someone nearby…? He can’t defend himself right now, can he? He has to check his surroundings- It's hard but he widden his senses.
Nothing close enough to be a menace and then - not so far away - warmth, an explosion of fire chakra. Heat. Strong. Warm. That feels promising. Tobirama stands on shaky legs. He needs it. He runs - stumbling a few times, breathing harder than he is used to with his training - in the direction, mindless of anything else. He arrives somewhere where everyone registers as katon natured. Somewhere, his brain warns him about some kind of danger but he cannot think straight. One presence is incandescent. He wants it. He needs it. He doesn’t even register that a formal ceremony is taking place. He only cares about the man at the altar with the mouth watering chakra. He has long black hair like a mane, it’s so long it reaches past his waist, strong built and Tobirama goes back to look at the man’s face which is framed by shoulder-length bangs. Tobirama likes his hair, he wants to touch it, it’s covering most of his right eye, he has beautiful eyes, and his shoulders are wide and broad- and they are linked to what looks like very strong arms, and fire chakra. Warm like the sun and Tobirama wants. He jumps down from the wall inelegantly, the people gasp and shout but he just wants the man in front of him with his broad frame. He looks so far away - too far. Tobirama moves to him, dragging his feet. Black eyes stare at him, the iris shifts to red with black dots? Tobirama doesn't care, he managed to use his remaining strength to get to his side faster and Tobirama is indeed fast even in such a state or perhaps he is desperate enough to be faster. Thankfully, nobody stops him.
“Oh.” Madara breathes out, awed, and both arms reach for the omega dashing to reach him. He smells so good it's intoxicating. He wants to mingle his scent with him.
Madara is vibrating in delight when he ends up with his arms full of a gorgeous young man. He has the most beautiful face he has ever seen, remaining baby fat on what are going to be high cheekbones, a pretty nose, sinful lips that are mostly blue now - that’s a little distressing -, cold - too cold - skin and red eyes - perfect red eyes protected by white lashes with a mop of white hair framing the face. The omega, because the sweet scent of pre-heat is unmistakable, is looking at him from above, Madara's hold makes him taller right now. The omega’s trembling hands are fisting his clothes while his own coat falls down his shoulders, accentuating his lean figure. He looks like a deity. This mesmerizing sight is going to stay with him forever now. He is so glad his sharingan came forth on instinct.
“Madara!” His father shouts and the precious thing in his arms flinches.
“It's alright.” Madara murmurs, projecting his voice and chakra and the Blessed just - he melts against him while Madara levels his father with a glare.
“He-”
“Omega in pre-heat.” His aunt cuts in to avoid both men escalating the discussion. Uchiha have the unfortunate tendency to live with their emotions on their sleeves. “Must be a strong one to be in such a state.” She continues with calmness.
“He is Blessed.” Madara says, not believing his luck that he has an omega Blessed in his arms. He must be grinning like a madman.
“Is he?” Their priestess asks and coos when Tobirama lifts his head to look at her. “Oh? Aren't you adorable?”
Tobirama glares or at least tries to - Madara finds it lovely - because he doesn’t like the tone she is using but the mix of warm-ashes-cedarwood-fire-burningamber-collapsingstar-sun chakra and smell is making him dizzy with renewed need and want. He tries and fails to keep the whine concealed. The man flexes his muscles in response and Tobirama cannot get enough of him. His hands knead the shoulders and they are so firm, so strong, Tobirama loves the feeling under his hands. He wants to lick the smell that's getting stronger, he wants to roll in it. He wants- This is weirder than all the drugs possible. What’s happening to him?
“He can spend his heat in our safe room...” She offers kindly, thinking it must be why the Blessed came to them in the first place.
Madara tightens his hold. The Blessed chose him or he wouldn’t have said omega in his arms. Madara wants to keep him. He wants to growl and bares his teeth to all other alphas and betas beside them to keep them away. He is the strongest. There should be no contest as to who is the best suited to satisfy the lovely omega.
“Madara.” Tajima growls in warning because omegas aren’t to be treated poorly, more so if they are Blessed. However, the omega whirls around to pin Tajima with fierce red eyes and his chakra churning like a storm brewing. The scent of a thunderstorm becomes strong enough to rival his volcano nature and Madara wants to bite the skin in front of him.
“No. Mine!” Tobirama snarls, nothing submissive in his attitude. Madara is in love. Uchiha love beautiful and deadly- and this young man is definitely both, and Blessed.
“I'm not going anywhere.” Madara promises, prouder than the day he unlocked his sharingan.
And then their eyes meet.
“Oh.” He breathes out in wonder. He can feel his sharingan shifting. This memory is a blessing in itself. It's going to be the first thing he sees, the last one too, and every memory in between. His whole world is going to be linked to this omega, this beautiful man, his deity. Everything realigned in perfect clarity in his mind. The omega's eyes glaze over when a wave of heat surges forward.
“Cold.” Tobirama murmurs, nuzzling the man who feels safe, warm and good. He must have said it before but he smells strongly like burning wood, ash, cedarwood, amber and Tobirama wants to bite. He does so on the closest part his mouth can reach and is disappointed when his teeth meet cloth. He wants skin. He whines loudly, nothing is stopping him anymore from letting this strange affliction take control.
“Hush omega.” Madara whispers, nuzzling the man’s neck back and it makes him purr. Fuck - omegas only purr when they are content and safe. Or severely distressed.
“I'm cold.” Tobirama whines.
And Madara just noticed the omega is soaked and wearing nothing under the coat. He groans because that’s- not the time for him to let his alpha instincts take over- yet.
“Cold?” His aunt asks and carefully comes closer without touching. “You're cold, sweety?”
“Cold.” He repeats, whining and purring in equal measure then. He doesn’t feel good even if the man's presence helps him a lot.
“You're in pre-heat. Aren't you too hot?” She says kindly, getting worried by the sounds the Blessed is making. The clan is getting scared as well by the display. No Uchiha can stand a distressed omega, it's contradictory to their genes. They don't know what to do in front of the poor omega - a Blessed to boot - and what to make of their usually indifferent heir when it comes to omega coming to him?
“Heat? No.” Tobirama denies. “Cold. But he is warm, like the sun. Smells like home.” He mumbles cuddling Madara again, only purring now. “Mine.” He adds again, tightening his hold on the thick shoulders and waist with his legs. The arms around him are firm and solid. The hold is secure. He loves it.
Madara swallows because to be compared to: “Sun?”
“Hm.” Tobirama hums. “Best chakra ever. Want to keep it.”
“Keep me then.” The man answers.
“Mine.”
“There is no helping it then.” Tajima sighs, resigned with the impropriety of it.
“Amaterasu must have guided his feet here.” The priestess says gleefully and that makes Tajima sigh more and let go of the breach of etiquette.
“He is my Center.” Madara breathes out and all the Uchiha present can see the changed sharingan in their heir's eyes. It happened so quickly, they must be very compatible.
“It is an auspicious day that our ceremony for Amaterasu brought us a Blessed and my son, his true mate no less.” Tajima bellows happily and spits a fireball to celebrate. “Go take care of your Center. And we shall celebrate.”
“Mates?” Tobirama repeats with a lost look.
“Mates.” Madara grins widely.
***
Tobirama wakes up slowly and content. He can feel aches all over his body but those are good ones. He opens his eyes and springs up. Where is he? What happened?
Oh!
He blushes fast as the memories of the past few days flood his mind. He- with- Oh by all the water in the sea, they- and- Tobirama thought about creating an alliance between Senju and Uchiha using their belief in the Gods, but- Tobirama sighs. That works too… He closes his eyes trying to regain some semblance of self-control before he combusts. His back aches deliciously but he is also so hungry and Madara is near with all his clan members. Tobirama can feel them still celebrating. Their chakra are loud and bright but none compare to Madara’s. He stands up and whimpers when some liquid leaks out of-
“Oh damn…” Tobirama blushes. “C’mon, we are no maiden. It’s just-” He wipes it with the futon - they will have to change it again anyway. Food first. He takes a yukata that definitely belongs to Madara and just glides on the floor until he feels the sun on his skin, he pouts as the brightness blinds him.
“Beloved!” Madara greets happily, standing and coming to him like he couldn’t be more pleased. It doesn’t make sense to Tobirama but he won’t look a gift horse in the mouth and offers his own greeting.
“Hi.” He smiles and falls into the man’s arms when he is within reach. “Hungry.” He pouts petulant.
“Of course, into the shade.”
Tobirama is lifted and deposited on a very comfy zabuton and only then notices how everyone is looking at him and he flushes harder. They all know what their heir and him were doing- for the last days. This is embarrassing. He hopes he is not blushing. He tries to regain some of his composure.
“Welcome to the Uchiha clan, Blessed-sama.” Tajima says. “I am Tajima, the current head of the clan. You already know Madara and this is my second son: Izuna”. The teenager nods with a shit eating grin. “I’ll save you from introducing everyone at once.”
“Thank you, Tajima-sama.” Tobirama bows as well. “I am Tobirama and I- am Madara’s mate it seems.”
“You are.” Madara confirms with pride.
“I would apologize for my entrance and everything but you seem-” Tobirama looks for the right word and settles with: “happy…”
“Happy?!” Madara laughs. “I’m ecstatic. My Center is a Blessed, Amaterasu couldn’t have given me a better lifemate.”
“We don’t know each other, you might be disappointed-”
“Never.” Madara promises. “I have a feeling we are going to get along like a house on fire.”
“Your puns are atrocious.” Tobirama sighs, trying to keep an impassive face. “I just meant-”
“We are true mates. We are going to get along.” Madara gushes, touching him and putting different kinds of food on his plate.
“I hope so…” Tobirama trails off and then takes Madara’s hand between his and asks seriously: “If we are mates, does that mean my family is now yours too?”
“Of course.”
“Hm…” Tobirama hums. “I don’t want you to get mad at me because when I was freezing from my- pre-heat (that’s weird to say), I didn’t realize who you were until, well…” He forces a blush since it seems to disarm Madara who (indeed) gets that dreamy look. “I wouldn’t have sought you out if I knew who you were.”
And the previous Tobirama would never have, but he has years of experience on his side. Tobirama won't be as stubborn as he once was. And- the fact that Madara and his clan are so receptive is good.
Tobirama is brought back to the present when Madara makes a sound like he has been punched.
“Rumors you know.” Tobirama continues, demure, as he grips Madara’s fingers tightly so he wouldn’t flail or do something unadvisable.
“The Calamity.”
“More like you’re a madman hellbent on war.” Tobirama cringes at his wording and he can feel how the whole clan is getting stressed.
“I’m not!” Madara denies and even Izuna nods a few times in quick succession as if it could convince Tobirama to give his brother a chance.
“So if you could, would you make peace with the other clans?”
“I would.” Madara nods fervently because if the Blessed has a message from their Goddess, is an omen of peace, Madara will use it as the sign for a ceasefire and peace treaty. Perhaps, his dream will exist!
“You mean with the Senju.” Tajima asks for clarification.
“I do.”
“Hashirama would accept.” Madara adds. “I told you he wants peace too.”
“Of course he would.” Tobirama replies calmly, trying a dish to make his next words more dramatic. “He has been trying to reach for it since he was born. You, Uchiha, have been too stubborn to accept the promises that we would uphold any treaty between us.” Tobirama scolds kindly.
“You-” Madara stares at Tobirama.
“Senju Tobirama, Hashirama’s little brother. Even if I guess, I’m Uchiha Tobirama now.” He smiles. “Anija might kill you first before our peace if I’m honest. You did defile his pure and innocent Otouto, after all.”
“You’re-”
“Hm.” Tobirama muses. “You’re still happy with me even knowing my birth clan.”
“Of course!” Madara whines. “You’re my true mate! Uchiha value such bonds!”
“So, will you make peace with Anija now that you know they wouldn’t attack you since we’re all family now and I was the heir before I became your spouse?”
“Yes.” Madara smiles. “The Senju heir and the leader of the Uchiha, we couldn’t have arranged it better.”
“Well.” Tobirama smiles softly (a little sheepishly). “It seems our Gods wanted us to be at peace very much.”
“It appears so.”
“Then, so be it.” Tajima claps his hands, barely resigned (it seems this is his life now). “To peace.”
“Welcome to the family.” Izuna says more calmly than Tobirama expected but they seem to bow to their Blessed and Goddess beliefs. Good, that was so easy it’s a little scary.
“Thank you.” Tobirama inclines his head then turns to Madara again: “Could I send word to my brother? I was supposed to come home - to the Senju compound - days ago and-”
“You didn’t.” Madara finishes. “We’ll send a hawk to Hashirama. Eat first, and then we shall both write to him. Let’s hope he doesn’t do something crazy...”
Tobirama chuckles: “I’ll make sure to explain what happened, lest he decides you’re at fault when you’re not.”
“Beloved.” Madara whispers, kissing the back of his hand. “There is no need-”
“There is.” Tobirama cuts him off and decides to be honest: “I chose you because you felt right, I’m not having your reputation sullied, making people think you forced me when nothing is further from the truth and truly I’m the one who just barged in…” And that wouldn’t make peace work well. Tobirama would rather make it sound romantic to the point of shamelessness. He is going to be teased to death by his family but- peace.
“The best intruder.” Madara chuckles and Tobirama cannot believe the man looks proud at being chosen by him.
“You should re-enforce your security…” Tobirama scolds before trying another dish.
“If you hadn’t been a distressed omega, you would have been struck down.” Madara hushes him.
“So, if someone were able to fake being an omega in distress?”
“Nobody can fake that.” Tajima interjects. “Only omegas can produce the chemicals and they can’t fake the state either. Even if you were drugged, you would need to be distressed and so- you wouldn’t have been able to do anything.”
“Hm.” Tobirama hums. He needs to learn more about omegas… “I admit not to know much about omegas since I’ve been a beta until a few days ago.”
“Wait?!” Madara cries out in horror. “That was- Your presentation heat?! How old are you?”
“You mean my first one?” Tobirama blinks. Is that a big deal here? Sounds like it. It would appear, he has a lot to catch up with… “Yes. It was very painful and I was cold but you weren’t. Felt you miles away and ran to you. As for my age, I am three years younger than Hashirama.”
“Late bloomer…” The priestess whispers. “Our Goddess must have had a hand in making you come to us.”
“You- I- This-” Madara sputters, slumping in relief that his mate is of age.
“Don’t think too hard, mate.” Tobirama whispers seductively. “You might fry the rest of your brain.”
“And my humor is bad?” Madara chuckles at being teased by his mate. All of this sounds promising. He is relieved.
“The worst and I love it.”