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Kagami is sweating as he makes his way to Izuna’s residence. His heart has been pounding ever since his parents told him that the clan heir has requested a talk with him, his mind going over a mile a minute thinking of all the things he could have possibly done wrong to warrant an audience with him. 

Outside the battlefield, Izuna is intimidating in a way that is different from Madara. He’s certainly more approachable than his elder brother, always taking the more social and diplomatic roles in clan affairs in his brother’s stead. But, at least with Madara, you always know where you stand. It’s either he tolerates or dislikes you, which he’ll make sure you know. 

With Izuna, it’s always a guessing game. He could be cordial one day and run someone to filth in the next. It’s tough to know where you are with him. It’s even harder to know what his true motives are for you, hidden behind carefully selected words and a smile on his face. One time Kagami had overheard his mother and aunt whisper amongst themselves in the kitchen, talking about how Izuna had made a grown man cry during a clan meeting, when just the other day he was seen having drinks with said man. 

He’s probably going to tear Kagami to shreds. 

____ 

Izuna… is not entirely what he envisioned. 

Kagami has only seen his clan heir from a distance, mostly because there’s quite the age gap between them and because Kagami’s father is only a distant cousin of Madara and Izuna. Madara’s younger brother had always had the reputation of being a beauty, even amongst the Uchiha’s, which says a lot. 

He turns head when he walks around the village, not just because of the status he holds but simply because he’s a vision to look at. 

Said vision is sitting across Kagami who’s kneeling on the tatami mat, one knee propped up as he eats mochi greedily. Kagami thinks he’s on his 4th piece since he’s arrived, and he’s got powdered sugar smeared on his lips and a little on his cheek. 

“You sure you don’t want some?” He asks through a mouthful of mochi, making Kagami wince a little. His mother would have slapped his hand if he had spoken with his mouth full of food. “Tobirama got this for me during his last mission, it’s really good.” 

He shakes his head politely and mutters, “No, thank you, Izuna-sama. I’m still quite full.” He’ll probably throw up that mochi anyway from how nervous he is still. 

Izuna looks at him oddly, like he’s some weirdo for declining mochi. After a moment, he shrugs and pops another mochi in his mouth, saying, “More for me then.” 

Huh. 

In all honesty, Kagami was expecting Izuna to be more cold, more composed even. He still has a certain regal air that surrounds him, even though he’s dressed casually in the usual Uchiha blue yukata. The big Uchiha and Senju clan banner behind him definitely adds to it. 

He kind of looks like a pampered house cat, which Kagami doesn’t know what to make of. 

“So, Kagami,” He says, sucking his fingers clean. At the mention of his name, Kagami straightens his back. “How are you liking this whole village thing?” 

“Um,” Kagami says, fidgeting a little, thrown off guard by the question. “I- I like it? I’ve made a lot of new friends outside of the clan.”   

“Good, good” Izuna says, nodding to himself. “And your studies? How have they been?” 

“I enjoy it too, Izuna-sama,” Kagami says, which is true. The academy allows him to have some foundational and theoretical learnings, which he finds great delight in as shinobi training had been only about combat. 

But the war ended 2 years ago and the village was found just right after, and Kagami has found that he liked to have his nose in books just as much as he liked training his battle skills. 

Izuna hums, “You’re top in your class aren’t you?” 

Kagami blushes and ducks his head, though he nods in answer. “Yes, Izuna-sama.” 

“Academy’s not too boring for you? Too easy?” 

Kagami widens his eyes at that. How could Izuna know? Not even his parents know of this. How he genuinely enjoys his time at the academy, but more often than not, he wishes he would be given a little bit more challenge from his teachers. 

But Kagami knows a little bit of war, knows what it feels like to have lost someone close to him. A mundane life as a student in an academy is a privilege that a lot of children his age wouldn’t get to experience. He should be grateful for what he has. 

He shakes his head tentatively. “I think what the academy teaches me is necessary, Izuna-sama. I like learning with my friends there.” 

Izuna smiles at him, looking at him like he sees right through him. Kagami averts his eyes again. 

“You’re a very wise child, Kagami,” He comments. Kagami doesn’t know what to respond, so he remains silent as he waits for Izuna to speak again. “So, I have another question for you, Kagami.”

“Yes, Izuna-sama.” 

“And this time, you’re going to answer me truthfully.” 

Kagami's heart starts pounding erratically, even more so than during his walk to Izuna’s residence. His hand starts to sweat, and he clamps them together on his lap to stop it from shaking. 

“Yes, Izuna-sama,” 

“Did the academy teach you to use water style?” 

At that, he’s bowing low in the blink of an eye, hands flat on the tatami mat as he trembles before Izuna. He feels tears well up in his eyes as he stutters, “I’m so sorry, Izuna-sama! I was just fooling around by myself, no one has ever seen me! I promise I won’t use it ever again, I’m so sorry-” 

“Woah, woah!” Izuna exclaims, standing from where he’s seated to approach Kagami. He kneels in front of him, gently coaxing Kagami to sit up by his shoulders.  He doesn’t see any traces of anger or disdain in Izuna’s eyes as he allows himself to be hauled up, but instead sees only kindness and understanding behind his dark eyes. “You’re not in trouble, Kagami.” 

“I’m not?” Kagami meekly asks, rubbing at his eyes. He feels like such a child like this, bawling his eyes in front of his clan heir. “But- but water style is usually the Senju’s clan affinity. I should have been practicing my katon instead.” 

“Kagami, we are no longer at war,” Izuna reminds him, patting his head briefly. “Though it’s true that water style is usually used by the Senju’s to counter an Uchiha’s fire, it has been quite some time since we’ve used it against each other.” 

“You’re- you’re really not mad?” Kagami hiccups. 

“No,” Izuna says simply, smiling. Then, cheekily he adds, “It would make me a hypocrite wouldn’t it to scold you for using water style even though I’m married to probably the strongest user?” 

Kagami bites his lip in contemplation, tears finally stop running. Well, when he puts it that way, it would make Izuna one. 

“I’m sorry, I should have been more frank to you from the start as to why I’ve summoned you here,” Izuna sighs, leaning back once more to take a seated position. “It was Tobirama’s idea to speak to you first before anyone else, not even your parents. To give you time to think. It was also his idea for me to be the one who talked to you, as I’m your clan heir. It didn’t cross our mind how it might have looked.” 

“It’s okay, Izuna-sama,” Kagami says and means it. Rather than feeling scared like he was before, Kagami feels a sense of anticipation growing inside him. If he’s not in trouble then, what? Why does Izuna keep mentioning his husband, too? 

“Kagami, where did you learn water-style?” 

Knowing that it’s best to just tell the truth with Izuna, he answers timidly with a blush on his face, “From-from seeing Tobirama-sama in battle, Izuna-sama. I’ve only seen him in a battle a handful of times, and they were always when he was fighting you, and I- I was just curious. In the academy, they taught us about the basics of all the affinities, and I went to the library to find some scrolls on how to do it.”

“Fascinating, he’ll like you very much,” Izuna whispers. “So you learnt water style from just watching and reading scrolls yourself?” 

“Yes,” Kagami answers, tentatively smiling, affected by the pride he hears in Izuna’s voice. “It’s still nowhere near Tobirama-sama’s level of course, or even the other Senju children. But it’s gotten better,” 

Izuna waves him off with a hand. “That’s understandable, water style is not the affinity you were born with. You’ll require teaching. Do you even know how remarkable it is for a person to have more than one?” 

“Madara-sama can do all of them,” Kagami can’t help but mutter, which earns an eyeroll from Izuna. “Can’t you and Tobirama-sama as well?” 

“Madara is a freak of nature, same as his wooden husband,” Izuna answers. “Me and Tobirama are just fiercely competitive with our brothers.” 

Kagami thinks that the four of them are freaks of nature, but he wouldn’t dare to say that outloud to anyone. 

“So, the reason why I called you here,” Izuna starts, patting his hand on his thigh excitedly. “Tobirama has a plan. Well, it’s already in the works actually. After a child has passed academy teaching, he wants to create a group and assign them to a teacher. Someone who will accompany them on missions, help them grow to their full potential.” 

Kagami’s eyes widened in wonder, it'd be so cool if he could be part of that!

“One of the people who will get a team is Tobirama,” Izuna continues, a smirk dancing across his face. “He gets to choose his own students, though. Perks of being the Hokage’s brother. You have a clue on who he'll choose, Kagami?” 

Kagami’s breath catches in his throat, in a good way, however. Can it be? Was the reason Izuna summoned him to his home because- 

“I see great potential in you, Kagami. Tobirama sees a great potential in you. You’ll be a fine student, under him,” Izuna says. “He would like to have you as his student, Kagami. If you want to of course, so give yourself some time to think-” 

“I want to! Of course, I want to!” Kagami practically shouts, vibrating with excitement. “It would be an honor! When can I start?” 

Izuna laughs heartily. “Official team announcement will start in the coming spring. You’re welcome to stay for dinner, however and meet your future sensei first.” 

Kagami has never accepted an invitation so fast.