Red String of Fate

Chapter 27 - The White Cat

"This feeling-" Madara mutters, the two of them quickly swirling around to face the purple mass of chakra.

"It's the same one that attacked Hino!" Madara warned, but it was too late as blinding light slowly engulfed Saburō.

"Hahahaha!" Saburō's eerie laugh slowly faded and was replaced with silence, causing the two to feel rather unsettled.

Madara felt Hashirama grip his wrist and looked down at him with puzzlement.

What was he-?

Catching his friend by surprise, Hashirama exerted his mighty strength into his two hands and flung Madara as far away from him as he possibly could.

"What the-" Madara breathes out, falling onto the ground with a painful thump and slowly rolling to a stop. "Hashirama!"

White light blinds them both and the explosion spans throughout the majority of the forest, Madara reaches out his hand just in time to lose sight of the Senju.

Hashirama faced his back to the explosion and braced for the impact, praying that he would survive this. I couldn't let you die right in front of me again, Madara. I'm sorry.

————

"Tobirama-san!" Gento called out for the tenth time but heard no reply. Ever since Tadashi-sama and Tobirama-san went to save Madara-sama and Hashirama-sama, they've been worried sick.

It's been five days since the incident yet neither of them has woken up.

And Tobirama-san keeps disappearing every now and then!

Gento let out a worried sigh as he continued to walk around the edge of the forest that shrouded the back of the Hokage's Office.

"Maybe he's not here then." Gento muttered to himself, frowning in worry as he decided to turn back.

Gento halts in his step as the purring of a cat was heard in the deathly silence, and he turned around towards it.

"It's dangerous for a small cat to be alone in a forest like this." Gento decided, quietly making his way through the forest, and reaching a small clearing.

"T-Tobirama-san?" Gento froze as he watched Tobirama sit on the large rock, skillfully patting and scratching the small white cat's fluffy head.

A peaceful smile settled on Tobirama's face as he caressed the cat's head, watching as it drew closer towards him, enjoying the careful affection it was given.

Gento unconsciously took a step forward, in awe at how beautiful that smile was.

How can a smile seem that beautiful- that perfect... on a face that never smiles?

He accidentally steps on a twig and it creates a snapping noise, quiet but loud enough to startle the small cat, causing it to dash away.

"Ah- Gento-kun." Tobirama spoke, glancing up and withdrawing his hand, his smile slowly fading and replaced with his cold and collected expression.

I wish I could see that smile again, Gento thought, telling himself that his pounding heart was due to his admiration towards Tobirama. I wish he will always smile at me, Gento imagined it and smiled.

"What's wrong?" Tobirama asked, his voice steady and collected as he approached Gento. But the tone was never cold, not when he spoke to this Uchiha.

Gento shook out of his dreamy daze and almost jumped out of his skin as he realized that Tobirama's nose was almost touching his. Flustered, Gento jumped backwards and slammed his back into a tree, groaning in pain as he rubbed it, accusingly looking up at Tobirama.