Chapter 6: Realization

"Uh so uhm, yeah what...should we do?" Kotetsu asked.

"Well. I suppose..."Kakashi trailed off. He himself wasn't sure what to make of this situation, how was he supposed to tell others. It was problematic. On one hand, he had suspicions that they impersonators but he couldn't imagine what do they hope to achieve by posing as people who have died decades ago. But then again, enemies can have all sorts of insidious motives and sometimes screwed up logics. On the other hand, if they are truly who they claim to be, then the matter at hand would be how and why they are here. They couldn't be reanimations considering that they have wounds all over themselves, except Hashirama. He wasn't all that wounded but he was supposed to be an excellent healer if Kakashi was right. Madara had his sharingan on display, so no doubts there regarding his identity atleast.

"Sorry to bother you with this but we need to confirm whether its really you, lord Hashirama." Was what he managed to come up with. And though Kakashi was aware that what he was asking for might not be well received by them, he needed to be sure.

"What!?" Tobirama cried with indignation, for some reason. "You are asking the leader of the Senju clan if its really him? Do you happen to be out of your mind?!" Here it goes. And then it struck Kakashi that he used that honorific for his brother and not shodaime hokage. Kakashi had a creeping suspicion that these four are in the wrong place, more importantly in the wrong time without even realizing it. He didn't voice that though.

Kakashi replied calmly, "I understand that what I'm asking for might not sit well with you but try to understand that we cannot help you without being sure. Be assured, we mean no harm to you." Although he wasn't sure how much harm he can cause to the God of Shinobi.

Madara's snort suggested that not much. That's alright. He had no interest or reason to find that out anyway.

A resigned sigh escaped Hashirama's lips. "Alright. What would you have me do?" He asked wearily. "Ehh?!" The other three were giving him incredulous looks. Kakashi didn't know this God of Shinobi personally so he himself was almost surprised when he agreed to that. He looked over to his comrads. They were looking back at him expectantly. He has to come up with something that would prove his identity to be true. But what?

"We could ask him to perform a wood release jutsu." Izumo offered. Kakashi considered it. Hashirama would likely be the only wood style user if he doesn't count Yamato. That should be proof enough.

He nodded at the first hokage.

"Hmm. Very well then." Hashirama clasped his hands together. There was sudden surge of chakra around him Kakashi could feel. It was too strong for any regular ninja. Branches sprung up from beneath the ground from all directions around them trapping the five leaf shinobis inside. Kakashi tensed up but the wooden branches didn't come for them, instead rose above to form a gigantic dome shaped structure directly above their heads.

Kakashi attention snapped back to Hashirama. He is the real deal! "Well that does it then" He uttered.

"Hope that satisfies you." Tobirama grumbled.

"Apologies for misjudging you Lord Tobirama, Lord Hashirama." Kakashi offered. "No issues." Hashirama replied laughing, like a little child Kakashi noticed.

"But who are you?" Kotetsu asked pointing at the dark haired young man beside Madara who looked like Sasuke(Kakashi tried not to think about that). The said boy levelled an unimpressed glare at Kotetsu. "Im Izuna Uchiha. Madara's brother. Honestly I assumed you would already know who I am since you apparently know who my brother is but~, guess not."

"Yes well it's quite peculiar that you wouldn't know Izuna, who's swordsmanship is praised all over the fire country and perhaps farther." Tobirama remarked holding his chin in contemplation. Izuna raised a questioning brow at him. "I am simply stating facts. It's not a compliment." Tobirama answered the silent question rather indifferently.

Izuna just shrugs at that. And while Kakashi was observing their interation he realized that he had neither read nor heard anything regarding Izuna Uchiha. He was aware that Hashirama Senju was the founder of this village and Madara being the co-founder. But nowhere Izuna Uchiha was mentioned. Well perhaps not everything can be written down right? But there were more pressing matters at hand right now.

"Excuse me?" Izumo interfered. "May I be so bold as to ask how did you all end up here?" He asked them. "Oh about that..." Madara started to answer but stopped as he slowly turned his gaze over to Tobirama. And as it could be said, all three of them were staring at the Second Hokage. Very intently. Probably with accusation burning in their eyes, Kakashi guessed. And he could swear to god that he saw a sweat drop rolling down Lord Tobirama's temple.

"Well go on. Tell them how we arrived here, dear Tobirama." Izuna told him coating his tone with false sweetness. Tobirama shot him a glare and was probably about to retort but thought against it. He sighed but went to explain anyway, "Yes about that. You see I was trying a certain technique using seals. We happened to have been in a middle of battle against the Uchihas. I and Izuna were locked in a combat as the rest of our forces were and I decided to try this new technique since...who knew if I would live another day to try it." He all but mumbled the last part. "So as you can tell I activated the seal and the next thing, Im in an unknown musty storehouse along with Izuna." He pointed towards his fellow companions. "I also seemed to have transported my elder brother along with his opponent. So there's that."

Ahh. Amazing. Kakashi kind of would have wanted to laugh at his lack of carelessness if it weren't for him being the Second Hokage and it would be disrespectful if he did that. But then again, he wasn't actually his hokage. Lord Tobirama didn't even know what a hokage is as for now so that should be alright. But Kakashi would like to think otherwise and not go about disgracing great honourable men.

"So now I suppose you would be willing to tell us where we are?" Izuna asked impatiently.

Kakashi din't know how to explain this but might as well come straight to the point. "I don't know if you realize this but it appears that you have travelled into a different time period."

And for the second time he could swear to god that the look he got from Izuna made him almost wanting to second guess his own intelligence. Actually, nevermind that. He was getting that look from all of them. They all looked so completely blank that Kakashi had to look over to Kotetsu for back up. "Uh he's telling the truth." Kotetsu said weakly. Yes thank you that was a very good backup

Izuna turned over to his brother pointing a finger at the leaf shinobis, "Are these guys shitting us?" Kakashi had to bite his cheeks to stop himself from snorting so he could maintain his characteristic poker face.

Madara narrowed his eyes at Kakashi. "What are you blabbering about? Do you hear yourself." Madara told him but he looked rather uncomfortable, which lead Kakashi to suspect that he is perhaps considering what Kakashi said to be correct.

Kakashi sighs. Might as well just take them straight to someplace from where the hokage mountain is vibible. Maybe upon seeing their faces carved out in stone they will be able to get the picture. "Evidently that is the case. If you don't understand yet, I can show you?" That got their attention. He turned around. "Now, if I can have you follow me please?" he gestured the others to move as well.

It won't take long to reach that place. He wanted to move at a slower pace so the four of them can take in their surroundings. But all of them looked thoroughly tired and barely had any patience left hence he had to settle for making haste instead.

They didn't speak much the entire time. Infact they didn't speak at all. Just looked extremely uncomfortable and constantly on edge. He can't blame them though. Anyone would be paranoid in this type of circumstances. Moreover, from what Tobirama told him it was crystal clear that they are supposed to be enemies to each other, Hashirama and Madara, Izuna and Tobirama. Kakashi knew that the Senju clan was once a rival to the Uchiha clan before they came to a truce and found what's now called Konohagakure. It must be awkward for them.

He was also, not to speak of, aware that Madara Uchiha was supposed to be dangerous. He was fairly certain that he perhaps was. So he kept on guard but Lord Hashirama was here too so things cannot go out of hands, right? Although Kakashi couldn't help but notice that this Madara didn't seem to be so hostile afterall. Infact if he were to be honest, Lord Second's temperament apparently was quicker comparatively. Madara hadn't even said anything to him, or to anyone else for that matter, besides of course Izuna. He also looked like he was very protective of Izuna by how he subtly kept himself between Izuna and the others. Kakashi can understand that and respect that. But even so, he would prefer not to put his guards down. Facades aren't that difficult to put on, afterall. He knew that with so much familiarity that it scared him.

After a minute or so, he also noticed that Lord Hashirama kept glancing at Madara almost every 10 seconds. There was hope in his eyes. Hope for what he couldn't tell. But it appeared that Hashirama wanted to tell something to Madara whereas Madara seemed hell-bent on ignoring him as if his life depended on it.

Izuna and Tobirama, on the other hand, seemed to be locked in an impromptu staring contest with each other never taking their eyes off the other, unwilling to lose. One look at them and it wouldn't take a genius to guess that they probably hated each other with every fibre of their being. Izuna suddenly activated his sharingan and Tobirama didn't waste one second in jerking his head over to another direction seemingly not interested in winning anymore. A satisfied smirk spread over Izuna's lips making him resemble a feline.

Kakashi found this whole interaction rather amusing.