Not so imaginary

ii.

Senju Tobirama doesn't truly understand his predicament. The last thing he remembers was sacrificing himself for the sake of his students' safe return to Konoha, and there was pain but he ignores it and then darkness. He also recalls floating in the pool of darkness, in and out of consciousness as time passes by. It wasn't until nearly 60 years later after his supposed sacrificial death did he woke up in a cemetery—conscious, but things are different.

He soon discovers that he's not quite alive—and clearly not quite dead too— and that no one could see or hear him. He finds out about that when the silver-haired shinobi at the cemetery refuses—well more like unable— to acknowledge him. He's Senju Tobirama, the Nidaime, no one would possibly ignore him but this shinobi did. Tobirama had approached the shinobi when his questions went unanswered. Tobirama had reached out to touch the shinobi's shoulder but to his surprise, his hands slipped through the shinobi's body as if it was thin air and the shinobi only shivers slightly—probably believing it was because of the cold night. Tobirama stared at his hands and the realisation hit him but his mind—the logical part of it refuses to accept it.

He's a spirit, but how and why?

Every shinobi he went towards to, even Uchihas and Hyugas with their all too powerful eyes could not see nor hear him. It was a horrifying thought—to be stuck forever drifting apart in this form.

Tobirama stared towards the Hokage mountain and his eyes moves pass the other Hokage and eventually stopped at the first one—his brother's face was easily recognizable.

If it were you, what would you have done?

"Tobi, Tobi, teach me something new!" A cheerful voice brought him back to reality and Tobirama snapped his gaze back down to the little pink-haired girl.

Since the discovery of his resemblance to The Second Hokage— of course, he would resemble himself, but Sakura doesn't understand that— she had been eager to learn new things, listen to new stories and he had indulged her in every single request. He had no reason to turn her down and she was his only hope to communicating with someone alive.

"Very well. Do you know about chakra?" He asked her

Sakura nods, but her forehead scrunches up—she was trying to recall something. "It's some sort of energy inside our body?" Sakura tilts her head innocently

Tobirama is glad that he's stuck with this incredibly well-read and brilliant girl. She could understand terms that others her age would generally unable to.

Tobirama nods, "Yes, Chakra can be considered as the fuel for shinobis. Without it, shinobis could not do ninjutsu."

"Oh, are we going to learn about ninjutsu today, Tobi?" Sakura question with her big green doe-eyed eyes

Tobirama closes his eyes. He will not be influenced by cute little girls—although an inner part of him says he already did but that's not the point. He will not be influenced by cute little girls. Not even the ones that look like a fairy nymph—especially not the ones that look like a fairy nymph.

"No, today you're going to learn about chakra control." He replies as he opens his eyes again—he is confident in his resolve

Within half an hour, Sakura has easily mastered sticking a leaf to her forehead with little to no sweat.

"Your chakra control is good." He tells her and she beams with joy.

"How about we take it to the next level?" He suggests and two curious eyes flicker to him

Half an hour later and Tobirama watch as Sakura stands steadily at the base of the tree trunk.

Surely not? Tobirama thought. Because it was impossible for a girl her age to manage to successfully nail tree walking on her first try unless she has a really, really good chakra control. But, little Haruno Sakura was not an ordinary child—hasn't been one since she met Tobirama— so she takes a few more hesitant steps that only continues to stick to the tree.

"Tobi, look, I'm doing it!" Sakura exclaimed as she grows more confident to take more steady steps.

"That's impressive Sakura, but do not let your focus slip." He quips in reply as he continues his observations. He could see the perspiration of sweat already forming on her forehead—he still doesn't understand why she wanted to cover it so badly. It will only hinder her eyesight.

"Oh wow, this is tiring."Sakura breathes out heavily and immediately Tobirama knew something was wrong. Her chakra pool is still small, and she's losing chakra fast.

Damn it, He curses himself for not spotting this earlier. With a fall from that height surely she'll break something.

"Sakura, listen to me, you'll have to start walking down. Your chakra is running out fast."

"Yeah? But, I'm tired already, Tobi." Sakura sigh as her eyes starts to droop and her legs were already giving up beneath her

"Sakura, you need to—" Tobirama rushes but she was already falling.

Tobirama instinctively reaches out for the girl, hoping his hand would latch on to her small body. Instead, his hand went through her body like air, and he has to watch in horror as the 5-year-old girl he's slowly accustomed to, falls.

Time seems to slow down for Tobirama and he hates every second of it because he feels helpless. He couldn't even remember the last time he felt helpless.

But it was just then, there was a swish of air, leaves rattling, Sakura was no longer falling and Tobirama lets out a sigh of relief.

A boy—perhaps a chunin? Tobirama thought,—had managed to catch the falling girl. Tobirama continues to observe the newcomer with a glint of suspicion. Clearly an Uchiha—the dark hair, dark eyes, dark clothing with the Uchiwa fan— there was no mistake about that. Tobirama quickly shunshin to stand beside the shinobi.

"You shouldn't be tree walking alone in the woods, chibi-chan." Tobirama's eyebrow raised at this. Chibi-chan?

"Tobi?" Sakura weakly groaned out as her eyes lazily blink to refocus

"No, I'm not Tobi," The boy laughed and shook his head but Tobirama ignores him.

Instead, Tobirama steps forward into Sakura's field of vision. "Here."

"I did it! Did you see that?" She eagerly exclaimed like an excited puppy to her friend and Tobirama could only nod in response. She was unaware of the tragedy she had just merely escaped from.

"I sure did, and it's really impressive kid, but as I said, you shouldn't be messing with it alone at your age especially." The older boy—she already forgot he was even there —chastised her and Sakura had to narrow her eyes to focus on the boy—she wasn't even talking to him! She also wasn't alone either —she had Tobi with her!

"Who are you again?" Sakura crosses her arms as she huffs out. She already has to deal with enough lectures from her mama, now she has to deal with another one?

The older boy's grin got even wider if that's possible, "I thought you wouldn't ask, chibi-chan! Uchiha Shisui, at your service."

—To be continued—

Yall might be shocked at why Tobirama is teaching little 5-year-old girls chakra control, but he is a child of war, and the time then and now is different. Plus, he hails from a clan, so he has his high expectations (and so far she's exceeded his expectations) and he doesn't really understand the danger he puts Sakura in until she actually starts falling. 

I also considered making Sakura break her arm from the fall but then I thought, hm this can be a good place to introduce someone else, and in walks, Uchiha Shisui, the second most Un-Uchiha Uchiha that Tobirama will meet.

Can yall guess who's the first Un-Uchiha Uchiha he meets?