If those two were ever to face death in the future, at least Konoha would have a hidden, boss-level existence capable of dragging them back from the brink at the critical moment.
Every day, the Senju brothers, Hashirama and Tobirama, trained in senjutsu atop Hokage Rock.
As a result, the daily administrative affairs of the village were temporarily handed over to Madara.
At first, Madara was delighted, power felt good in his hands. But before long, an uncomfortable thought crept in.
Why wasn't he allowed to learn senjutsu?
Could it be… that cursed orange cat was plotting against his little brother again?
"Damn orange cat." Madara muttered darkly. "I'll never forgive you."
"Lord Madara." An Uchiha attendant said cautiously, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Please process these documents."
Madara refocused and looked down at the desk before him.
Documents.
More documents.
Signatures.
Approval seals.
The attendant collected the completed files and left. A deep sense of satisfaction welled up in Madara's chest.
Maybe this wasn't so bad. While Hashirama and Tobirama trained, all authority flowed through him. Everything passed under his hand.
The feeling of control was… intoxicating.
As for Izuna…
After some thought, Madara decided it might actually be better for his younger brother to stay close to that orange cat.
At the very least, Izuna wouldn't die. And if he returned from training under such an existence, even the God of Death would probably hesitate to take him.
Coincidentally, Izuna had come to the same conclusion.
Having been confined at home by his overprotective elder brother for far too long, Izuna finally seized an opportunity to slip away.
His destination was clear, Garfield's temple.
When Izuna arrived, Garfield was floating lazily in a large stone basin at the temple entrance. The weather was hot, the water pleasantly warm, and iced fruit sat neatly arranged nearby.
Life was perfect… except for one thing.
A small fox was shamelessly competing with him for food.
Faced with this intolerable threat, Garfield calmly spat half-chewed fruit, complete with saliva, back onto the plate.
"Disgusting, filthy cat!" Shōkyū snarled.
"You actually used such a vile tactic?!"
"It's called strategic spitting to protect one's food," Garfield replied lazily. "What would a fox know?"
"Bah! Smelly perverted cat!"
Knowing full well that she could not outmatch Garfield's shamelessness, Shōkyū snorted, curled her nine tails around the remaining uncontaminated fruit, and stalked away in disgust.
Garfield continued floating peacefully, resembling nothing so much as an oversized orange blanket drifting on water.
Izuna reached the edge of the temple grounds and immediately noticed Rin supervising Shimura Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen as they carved stone pillars.
Dragons, phoenixes, and auspicious clouds were already taking shape beneath their hands.
It wasn't difficult work.
They simply needed practice.
Izuna walked over and greeted her. "Hello, Rin."
Rin set aside the pointer she had been holding. "Hello, Lord Izuna. What brings you here?"
"I'm looking for Garfield."
Rin gestured toward the basin at the temple entrance. "Master Garfield is bathing there."
"I would personally advise against eating the fruit nearby."
She tactfully omitted the reason.
Izuna, being earnest to a fault, nodded. Even if no one warned him, he would never touch someone else's food, especially Garfield's.
Walking into the courtyard, Izuna took a closer look around.
The space was small and austere with a narrow passage. A stone pillar recently delivered by Kumatarō and Kumajirō.
A fish pond, with no fish, and a garden entirely bare.
Izuna walked to the entrance of the temple and stopped beside the large stone bathtub.
In the basin, an orange figure floated lazily on the surface of the water, tail drifting like seaweed.
Izuna straightened his posture and bowed solemnly. "Master Garfield, greetings."
The orange cat opened one eye, then the other. "Oh? Izuna. Did your brother finally let you out?"
"That's not it." Izuna's face flushed slightly.
"My brother simply… worries too much. He still treats me like a child."
Garfield tilted his head. "Then why are you blushing?"
"…Because I feel better."
"Tsk, tsk." Garfield clicked his tongue. "Brother complex."
Faced with Garfield's relentless teasing, Izuna could only smile helplessly. Everything Garfield said was uncomfortably close to the truth, leaving him with no room to argue.
After enjoying himself enough, Garfield finally relented. "All right. I'll stop teasing you. Tell me, what brings you here?"
Izuna suddenly knelt, lowering his head deeply.
"I ask that you take me under your protection, as your subordinate." He said earnestly.
"I wish for my brother to no longer carry the burden of me, a half-dead man. He must walk his own path without being shackled by my fate."
Garfield looked down at Izuna in silence.
Good posture and clear resolve. No impatience or excuses, only sincerity.
A good child. Only one born with poor fortune. In the old timeline, he had died too early. Now, at least, he had the sense to seize the chance placed before him.
Garfield's thoughts drifted briefly.
If I'm taking people anyway, maybe I should recruit ninja cats… ninja dogs…
Not a bad idea.
"Get up, Izuna." Garfield said at last.
"I understand what you're asking. Since I've already snatched you from the God of Death, taking you with me is only natural."
Izuna raised his head, eyes steady.
"I kept you there these past days because I wanted you to talk to your brother first." Garfield continued.
"Even though I command time and space, crossing it is easy for me, but returning is not so simple for you. You understand that don't you?"
Izuna froze for a heartbeat. So that was it.
What a terrifying existence.
No, what a great god.
"Thank you for your consideration, Garfield-sama," Izuna said sincerely. "I will speak with my brother properly."
"Good. No shouting, no arguments," Garfield added lazily. "I won't be leaving for a while."
"Yes."
Garfield paused. "Want some fruit?"
Izuna remembered Rin's earlier warning and shook his head quickly. "No, thank you."
"I already ate before coming."
"Hm. Pity. I was prepared to insist."
Garfield stretched out a claw, silently cast a levitation spell, and pulled the remaining fruit toward his mouth.
Crunch. Crunch.
Izuna watched as Garfield finished the fruit, then stood and bowed once more.
"I'll take my leave now, Master Garfield."
"Go." Garfield replied. "And remember, if you fight with your brother, resentment will take root."
"That resentment can bring disaster to Konoha."
Izuna committed every word to memory. After bowing deeply, he turned and left the temple grounds, offering polite farewells to Rin, Danzo and Hiruzen as they continued carving the stone pillars.
Garfield watched Izuna's retreating figure disappear beyond the courtyard.
Floating quietly in the basin, the orange cat closed his eyes again.
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
PhantomDream