RNP Chapter 17 Do I really have to forget you...?
Chapter 17 Do I really have to forget you...?
Tobirama lay on the bed, glancing at his older brother who was fast asleep beside him, his feelings a bit complicated.
He didn't know if asking his fourth brother would upset him, but in this situation, it was actually best for his eldest brother to ask.
Although Hashirama, the eldest brother, may seem unreliable, he actually cares deeply for his younger brothers. However, perhaps due to his somewhat airheaded nature, he often misses out on certain subtle details...
The four brothers had always slept together, sharing the same room. But now, after much hesitation, Tobirama decided to get up and wake his youngest brother...
"Itama...are you asleep?"
"..."
no respond.
Tobirama carefully got up and tiptoed off the bed, trying not to wake his older brother and younger brother... Of course, if Itama was also asleep, then he'd have to wait until tomorrow...
Fortunately, when Tobirama got out of bed, Itama suddenly opened his eyes and looked at his second brother who had walked up to him.
"Second brother...is something the matter...?" Itama's voice was very soft and childish.
He couldn't sleep because he had a lot on his mind... At this time, his second brother suddenly got up and called him, which made Itama a little confused.
Looking into his younger brother's pure and innocent eyes, Tobirama felt a pang of reluctance... but for his brother's physical and mental well-being, and for the safety of the Senju clan, the most sensible Tobirama had to shoulder a great deal of responsibility.
"Itama...can you come with me for a moment now..." Tobirama tried to put on a smile, his voice calm and gentle.
By the moonlight, Itama could barely make out his second brother's expression...
This expression is rarely seen on Second Brother's face. Could it be that he has discovered something...?
Hesitating for a moment, Itama nodded, gently got up, put on his haori, and followed Tobirama into the courtyard outside the house.
The moon is really round tonight, and the moonlight is exceptionally bright...
The pale moonlight spilled onto the stone table and benches in the distance, accompanied by the faint chirping of insects, the soft glow of the light, and the unique scent of the forest and the breeze of a summer night...
The two brothers walked to the stone table and stood facing each other. Even at night, under the moonlight, they could see each other's faces quite clearly.
Itama was in a state of confusion, wondering why his second brother had called him out at this hour...
However, he was stunned the next second.
His second brother silently walked up to him, opened his arms, and gave him a deep hug... Tobirama hugged him tightly, but didn't say a word...
"Second brother?"
Itama was startled by Tobirama's sudden action. He hesitated to move, unsure of the meaning behind his older brother's unexpected embrace...
However, feeling the warmth emanating from Tobirama and his regular heartbeat, Itama suddenly felt his eyes welling up with tears.
How long has it been since he received such a hug from his brothers?
Itama's personality is not extroverted; on the contrary, he is rather timid, docile, and not good at expressing his emotions.
So, among the four brothers, the youngest was actually the one with the lowest profile...
The eldest brother, Hashirama, is rather stubborn and relatively cheerful...and also a bit airheaded. The second brother, Tobirama, is thoughtful but always busy. The third brother, Kawarama... is exceptionally cheerful and loves to laugh.
I feel like a weak and pathetic child... all alone.
He never blamed his brothers for not caring about him enough; he just felt useless, mediocre, and unable to do anything right...
The hug lasted a long time, and Itama thought about a lot...
"Itama... I'm sorry, your older brothers have always neglected your feelings. You're the youngest, and you're the one who needs to be protected the most..."
Tobirama's tone was very sincere, and his voice even carried a hint of...crying?
Being embraced tenderly by his second brother, and hearing his concern for him, all the grievances and sadness in Itama's heart turned into tears, which dripped onto Tobirama's shoulder.
"Waaaaah... Second Brother... Waaaaah..."
After Itama had vented his pent-up emotions, Tobirama slowly released his embrace.
At this moment, Tobirama was also deeply saddened; his younger brother had always received far too little care and attention...
He could roughly understand Itama's state of mind; in fact, he could say he understood the reason why Itama wanted to help the child of their mortal enemy family...
That's why Tobirama was conflicted; even the usually rational Tobirama didn't know how to make Itama... realize the cruelty of reality...
He really didn't want to.
As if bathed in moonlight, the glow of Tobirama's red pupils seemed to fall upon his eye sockets... His white, wispy hair fluttered gently in the summer night breeze...
His expression was hard to describe; it was as if he was clearly sad inside, but he still had to force a smile at his younger brother.
Itama understood... He now knew why his second brother had called him out at this time...
"I'm sorry, Second Brother... I didn't tell you the truth last time, I hid a lot of things, and I even lied to Father..."
Banma lowered his head, his voice still choked with sobs.
"Second brother, hit me then..."
As it spoke, Itama took off his shirt, revealing his snow-white back, and wiped away his tears with his back to Tobirama...
This is a way fathers discipline their sons... whipping their backs with bamboo sticks, which is extremely painful without causing too much harm to their bodies...
Itama has come to terms with it. Even though he made many mistakes, he doesn't regret helping Yan Yi.
Even though many of his clansmen had died at the hands of the Uchiha and Hagoromo clans, he couldn't bear to hand over that defenseless little boy to his clan...
At the same time, he felt that he had betrayed the family in a sense, but his second brother still felt that it was because his brothers had not cared about him enough... This sense of guilt was unbearable for him, even though his family had been very good to him.
so...
"Second brother... hit me, it might make me feel better... Waaah..." When Tobirama didn't reply, Itama asked his second brother to hit him again.
But can Tobirama really do something like that now?
Normally, when his father was about to punish them, he might have taken the bamboo stick and started hitting them himself. After all, it would be much gentler to do it himself than for his father to use his strength.
Although he tried to be gentle, his father wasn't easily fooled. Even if he hit him, his heart would bleed...
Tobirama couldn't hold back any longer and once again pulled his younger brother into his arms...
My younger brother has his own ideas; he's very sensible. He's not the clueless kid our father always described...
"I can roughly guess what you did before... but the person you cared about is gone... you should take better care of yourself..."
"Second Brother..."
Tears streamed down his face uncontrollably; how could Itama not know this? But... he desperately craved attention... even if only for a few days, even if the other person was an enemy...
"I'm sorry, it's all my brothers' fault..." Tobirama whispered his apology, comforting Itama as he spoke...
He was heartbroken at that moment... If he could, he really didn't want his brother's kind heart to collapse like this.
But the reality is, they are powerless. In this era, even the simple wish to protect one's family is difficult to fulfill.
Overwhelmed by emotion, Tobirama seemed to have used all his strength to utter those words with difficulty.
"Forget about all that, Itama. Please... I'm begging you..."
He had no choice. If things continued like this in the prison, his father would never forgive him. He might even be locked up in prison forever, his freedom forever confined.
Based on his understanding of his father, he would probably not hesitate to punish even his own son.
Moreover, after years of relentless struggle, this matter is no longer something that Father can decide alone...
In order to lead his people to survival, he might even be more severe towards Itama.
"Second brother...I...I..."
Itama was truly bewildered; he had never seen his second brother like this before.
My brother begged me to forget, even for my safety and future...
Itama's body trembled violently, and he seemed to have difficulty breathing... Through silence and tears, he still nodded painfully...
"I see..."
Itama agreed.
However, it seemed as if something important had been ripped out of his heart...
"I'm sorry, Yan Yi, I might forget you... I'm so sorry..."