I don't own naruto

Her eyes fluttered as she felt his chakra. How was he here? Was he a reanimation too? She looked around seeing if she could see him and sure enough, she could. She rushed over to where he was, and just looked at him. She never thought she would see him again... her heart ached as she watched him talk to the others. She heard Madara call out to someone else and she looked to see Hashirama. Hashirama just pointed a finger at him and said he would deal with him later, she could see the offended look on Madara's face as he flopped to sit on the ground and grumble.

She looked up at him once more and she knew he could feel her chakra, and if he couldn't he was a fool. "Tobirama!" she called out and all those around her stared at her oddly. She knew they were wondering how she knew him, but it didn't matter. She felt his gaze land on her, despite the fact he hadn't even turned to face her. "I don't have time for you right now." He said and her hands fisted at her side. She heard Madara mumble something along the lines of "Doesn't feel good, does it?" behind her, but her brow twitched as she started making her way towards him.

She rushed at him, but he vanished from sight and appeared above her, only for her to roll out of the way of his foot. "How dare you say you don't have time for me, you old bastard!" she snarled and lunged for him once more, her eyes caught the wicked smirk on his lips and she flickered from sight and appeared above him, only flipping to drop a kick onto him. He leaned out of the way and she grabbed him by the armor and was about to start yelling at him once more, but a familiar presence made itself known. That wicked smirk still lingered on Tobirama's lips, but it faded when despite Hashirama's aura pressing down on her, she still slapped the shit out of him.

She released him and turned away from him, crossing her arms over her chest as she turned to Hashirama. The moment he locked eyes on her she waved a fist at him as well. "Do you wanna get hit too?" she snarled and he held up his hands in surrender, most likely thinking about the fact she had been trained by his granddaughter. "Hinata-chan..." he whined and she narrowed her eyes at him, his heavy aura removing itself from her form. "We kinda have an issue here..." he complained and she rolled her eyes. "I'm aware. I just had to hit Tobirama first, because if he hadn't killed Izuna this never would have come about." She sighed and turned back on Tobirama, who gave no cares about what she had just said.

"That's what I said." Madara called out and she sent the dark haired man a glare. She opened her mouth to speak, but Tobirama's hands found their way to her cheeks and he pressed his lips against hers. He pulled away from her and she stared at him with soft eyes, oh how she had desperately missed those. He had always been touchy with her, even though Hashirama had always told her he never wanted anyone to touch him, especially not girls. "Why did you never come back?" he asked and she frowned she reached up and touched the hand that still lingered on her cheek. "I couldn't... I cried for so long..." she whispered and he brushed the hair out of her face, only to push her away gently and nod to the other Kage. She made her way down to Naruto and Sakura, only for them and his father to stare at her oddly.

"That's an old man Hinata... how are you just gonna let an old dead man kiss you like that? You wouldn't even let me kiss you..." Naruto asked and her eye twitched and she saw the irritation flicker on Tobirama's face but he made no moves towards the blonde. Hinata whirled on Naruto, but before she could hit him, Sakura did albeit not as hard as she was going to. "We tried to tell him you were younger than him too, it just seemed he didn't care..." Minato mused lightly and Hinata blushed. 'He knew I was here?' she thought only to turn and look at Naruto once more. "You missed your chance on that Naruto-kun." She said and the smirk of pure amusement crossed Tobirama's lips, even if he were listening to his brother and the others, he was still tuned in on her voice. "You met him in Katsuyu falls..." Sakura said and Hinata nodded as she watched him, his gaze locked on the issue before him, but the smile on his lips made her heart soar.

"I'm sorry I never got to say goodbye..." she whispered and it seemed he had heard her, as his gaze landed on her once more. That gaze alone made her smile as she knew he was saying she had no reason to apologize. She turned the moment she heard sputtering behind her, catching Kiba's shocked gaze, his open mouth closing and opening like a fish. She sighed and rolled her eyes at him. "What the hell Hinata!" he yelled and she made her way over to him.

"That's who you were going to see!?" he yelled, only to yelp the moment she got her hands on him and began yelling back at him to shut up, a deep red blush coating her cheeks once more. Her heart fluttered at the amused chuckle she heard behind her and looked to see Tobirama and Hashirama watching them with amusement in their eyes. Hashirama whispered something to Tobirama, which only made him chuckle once more. Kiba continued struggling in her grasp and she brought her fist down on his head to stop his squirming. "No more on this!" she hissed at him and he nodded.

:-:-:-:

He looked at the people before him the moment his eyes opened from being reanimated once more. His lip twitched up in irritation once more as he saw who it was that had brough him back. The scowl did not leave his face once as he looked over the group before him. His chakra flooded out from him and while the rest of them were chattering, he had felt everything. The war, the bodies of the fallen, still warm and their chakra fading. He closed his eyes and released a deep sigh when he felt one particular chakra. The pure innocence she held flooded into her chakra and he felt it within his soul. After a while of interacting with the group before him and having to have told his brother to shut up more than once, he was ready to go.

The last time he had felt her chakra he had been reanimated by the man before him as well. He wished he had never created this jutsu at times, but others he was glad to still be of use. He walked over, touching the wall. He forced his chakra into it, but before he could get more than a crack to appear in the wall, Orocihimaru bound him once more. He scowled at the man, he supposed he would have to endure this little chat before he could go out there.

"Sorry to stop you, Lord Second, but I'm afraid we need to discuss these matters before I can let you go out there... or more so... to her." Orochimaru said and he couldn't help the surprise that coated his features. How did he know? He narrowed his eyes at the snake man once more, but he supposed their discussion was quite important. He looked to see Hashirama looking between the two with shock on his features as well. "Ah, you see... I recognized that look. You were searching for her when I brought you back the first time as well. I didn't realize the significance until you had asked what Hiruzen what had happened to her." Orochimaru stated and Tobirama scoffed at him.

"Tobirama..." Hiruzen started but he sent the old man a dirty look. "You think I'm not aware she's the same as the Uchiha brat? I'm smart enough to understand that the Katsuyu falls had us meeting while we are at the same age, so naturally I would be also smart enough to realize in her own time she would be younger." He grumbled softly, only getting annoyed by the look Minato was sending him. "Not a word from you either." He snapped and Minato scratched the back of his head with a goofy look on his face. He was well aware the man had a son her age as well, hence the look.

The moment that the Uchiha brat made a comment on how he was going to destroy the leaf village, he couldn't help the rage that flowed through him. His chakra flared and he resisted the urge to smirk at the fact they were all scrambling now. The white haired one in the back literally looked like he was about to melt the moment his finger twitched up. He did enjoy the pure fear that coated the young Uchiha's face as well. However, the moment his brother's chakra pressed down all of them, the white haired one did dissolve into a puddle. He rolled his eyes and concealed his presence once more. He wasn't done with the brat before him. "Don't get your chakra so riled up, brother." He grumbled and Hashirama only laughed.

It amused him to no end that his brother held such strength, and yet people still underestimated him solely for the fact he held such a friendly demeanor. Unlike most people, who figured the friendly demeanor was just a façade, he knew different. His brother was a kind soul, he never wanted to fight but he did so because he didn't want the rest of the world to suffer at the hands of those stronger than them. He listened as those around him discussed everything that had happened, adding his input in where needed. The moment they had all agreed that they were going to protect the leaf village he made his way out there. He had arrived before his brother and Saru, but it seemed that Minato had made it there first. The man was fast he would give him that.

He felt her chakra and he sighed, he knew she was aware of his presence almost immediately. He glanced over at her as she made her way over to him and couldn't help the surprise he felt. She was no different than the last time he had seen her within the falls. "Tobirama!" she called out to him and he just watched her from his peripheral. He wanted nothing more than to talk to her, but he knew there were other things he had to deal with first. "I don't have time for you right now." He said simply, but the flaring of her chakra sent a shiver down his spine. He knew that was going to piss her off, but he found it amusing as she lunged for him. In the fifteen to twenty years he had continuously come back to the falls to see if she would return, he had improved his skills phenomenally.

As she swung her fist at him, his fingers brushed over her vest placing the mark for the flying thunder god. He dodged her every move, only to try and land a kick on her himself, but she flickered from sight as well. His eyes widened slightly, when had she learned his jutsu? He couldn't help the wicked smirk as she grabbed a hold on the chest plate of his armor. She opened her mouth to yell at him, but Hashirama's powerful presence pressed down on the both of him. He could tell his brother wanted them to get over it and deal with their issues later. He smirked as she seemed affected by Hashirama's chakra, but that smirk faded the moment he felt a searing pain cross his cheek.

She turned away from him with her arms crossed over her chest, only to immediately start waving a fist at Hashirama, who paled slightly. She turned back on him and he knew she was about to start her rant with him all over again, but he reach out and placed his hands on her cheeks, which confused her to no end. He pressed his lips to hers and all will to fight him fell away as she returned the kiss. He pulled away from her and frowned as he brushed his fingertips over her cheek. "Why did you never come back? If you felt the same... why did you never return to me?" he asked and her saddened eyes made him frown. "I tried... and I couldn't... I cried for so long, Tobirama..." she whispered and he nodded to her softly.

He held out his pinky to her and once more, she laughed lightly but linked hers with his. "I promise, whatever it takes... I will come back to you..." she said and he nodded as he brushed the hair framing her face behind her ear and nudged her to go back to the others. She nodded and made her way down to them. He couldn't help but watch her, despite the differences in their times... they had formed a bond that couldn't be hindered by the laws of time. He knew she would probably never get to come back to him, but he wanted to give her hope. He didn't want her to be alone in her life, but as selfish as it was... he didn't want her to be with anyone else either.

He watched as another male approached her and they began yelling back and forth, Hinata eventually ending up grabbing him and putting him in a choke hold. As if she heard him and Hashirama chuckle, she turned back to them. "Does this look familiar brother?" Hashirama asked and he could only chuckle to himself once more. The moment her fist came down on top of the man's head he couldn't help the amused look he sent his older brother.

"There it is, the proof she spent way too much time with us."

:-:-:-:

Things started progressing rapidly now. Madara had been fully revived, Sasuke was fighting with him, Naruto had the Kyuubi ripped from him. Tobirama was pinned down behind Madara. She looked around once more, Naruto's failing heartbeat was returning to normal... She wasn't sure what was happening anymore. It was all happening so swiftly that she couldn't comprehend it. All she knew now, was the moon had begun to turn red and something was happening.

She looked over to where Sasuke was rushing down towards Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi with his Susanoo, the wings wrapping tightly around them. Her eyes went wide as she looked around to see that everyone else was looking up to the sky, their eyes changing into the rinnegan as well. She squeezed her eyes shut, but she still felt like she couldn't move. She saw Tobirama running for her and all she could do was reach out to him before something wrapped up around her body. The last thing she saw was the sheer look of panic on his features. Her name was the last thing she heard before everything went silent and her eyes fluttered shut.

When her eyes opened once more, she was sitting beneath Katsuyu falls. She breathed a sigh of relief as she looked around her once more, everything was the exact same as the last time she had been there. She looked over to the slugs who were all watching her in interest. She stood and looked down at her reflection in the water. She looked a little different, her hair was just a little longer and a little bit fuller, but she didn't seem to have changed too much. She heard footsteps and her heart leapt from her chest at the sight of him. "Tobirama!" she called out and he looked up to her with shock coating his features.

His hands found her face and their foreheads pressed together gently, the tears that formed in her eyes spilling over her cheeks. "Shhhh... its ok... shhh." He hushed her as he brushed away her tears ever so carefully. She wrapped her arms around him tightly and he did the same, one arm tightly around her shoulders while the other hand was smoothing her hair out. He pressed his lips to her forehead and she couldn't help the sobs that shook her form. She missed him so very much...

"It's going to be ok, I promise you..." he whispered and she nodded as he leaned away from her to wipe her tears once more. "How are you here? Katsuyu said your side was blocked off..." he said and she shook her head. "I don't know... I just woke up here..." she whispered and he nodded softly. "That's ok, I'm just glad you're here..." he said and she bit her lip and looked up at him. She traced the markings on his cheeks wither fingertips once more only to press her forehead to his once more.

"I don't ever want to leave this place... I don't ever want to leave you again..." she said and he ran his thumb over her cheek softly. "I know... but you have to. You have to leave this place..." he said and she shook her head rapidly. She gripped his blue haori tightly and pulled him closer to her once more. "I refuse! I can't leave you anymore..." she wailed and he hugged her to him tightly. "Hinata... you can always come back to me... I promise you this... but staying here, in this place..." he began, only to sigh as he forced her hands to release their grip on him.

He gripped her cheeks in both hands once more looking her square in the eyes this time. "This isn't real. You need to come back to me." He said and she furrowed her brows. She was with him... what did he mean? He slammed his forehead against hers and she stumbled backwards. She couldn't understand this... why was he fighting her? Why now of all times? He just kept yelling at her to come back, his voice getting louder and louder with every hit he landed on her.

She wasn't going to fight back... she couldn't...

A bright flash of light blinded her and she clutched her head, recoiling from yet another headbutt from the white haired man. Why was he hurting her? Why couldn't he just enjoy their time together while they had it? she hadn't been able to enter Katsuyu falls in months... why was he being so mean all of a sudden? Another flash of light hit her gaze and she squeezed her eyes shut once more, however the feeling of falling took over her form now. She looked up at him to see he was still standing there, yelling at her to come back. She didn't understand this in the slightest. She squeezed her eyes shut once more, awaiting the impact of the ground below... but it never came.

Her eyes cracked open, expecting to see him still standing there... for him to still be yelling at her... but he wasn't there. The light was blinding to her and she sat up and looked around, blinking to try and adjust to her surroundings. She looked around her to see that she was nowhere near Katsuyu falls, but more rather still on the battlefield. She activated her Byuakugan to look around and see that others were waking up as well. She furrowed her brows and looked around her, where was he? She caught sight of his chakra signature and she forced herself to her feet and made her way over to where she had seen him.

She looked around and saw Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and many others. Naruto was grinning as he talked to Minato, her eyes scanned the area and she finally caught sight of him. He seemed surprised to see her once more as she rushed over to him and engulfed him in a tight hug. He just patted her on the head as she cried, she knew what was coming... Naruto continued to prattle on to his father, but she couldn't find the words to say to him. He only stared down at her, a sadness in her eyes that tugged at her heart.

Everyone in the room was watching them carefully, she could feel their gazes on her. The man who had been sitting in the center, who she recognized from the drawings as the sage of six paths, placed a hand on her shoulder. Tobirama held his hand out to her and she pulled it to place it against her cheek, both of her hands holding it there. "I know this is hard, young one, but they have to go..." he said and she looked up at him with tear filled eyes. "I can't... if he leaves now... I will never see him again..." she whispered and the sage frowned, it seemed he understood that but he was still going to set them free of their bindings.

She looked over to Hashirama, her eyes pleading him to say anything to help her, but he didn't say a word. He just stared at her with such a sad look in his eyes. She whipped her gaze back to Tobirama, who only smiled at her softly. "If you leave..." she began but he pulled her closer to him, wrapping his arms around her and trapping her in his embrace. "If I ever see you again, I'm going to turn your ass to dust." She snarled against his chest plate, which only elicited rumbling laughter from him. "Take it easy on younger me, he has done nothing to deserve your wrath..." he mused as her released her from his grasp. Her heart ached at the glow that coated him.

He held his hand out to her, that single pinky outstretched towards her. She jumped and rushed to link her pinky with his once more. "Now you've made this promise a thousand times over... I expect you to do everything in your power to keep it." he said and she nodded to him as his borrowed body crumbled into nothingness. She watched as his soul floated up above her, that smile never leaving his lips. "From the day I met you, I never wanted anyone else." He said and her eyes went wide as she watched him vanish. She hit her knees once more and began to cry, her heart ached so unbearably. She looked over to see that Naruto had done the same. However, he still had a grin on his lips despite the tears rolling over his cheeks.

She crawled over and wrapped him in her embrace, she wanted to comfort her friend as he felt a similar loss to her at this point.

:-:-:-:

She had gone back every day for two years now, and yet no matter what she did... she couldn't get back through. She had cleared out all of the rocks and could enter the cave, but she couldn't get in. she wasn't going to stop trying, not when she knew he felt the same for her. Sure, it would be a younger version she would be going back to, but it would be the same one she left as well. If the older version still held the love for her after he hadn't seen her for even longer than it had been since she had last seen him, he had loved her when they were young too.

She would keep her promise to him, no matter how long it took.

:-:-:-:

Katsuyu watched as both of them came to the entrance of the cave day after day. Hinata had long ago cleared out the boulders that hindered her path inside, but she couldn't let her back in yet. Not just yet. She had watched the two of them slowly fall for one another, knowing that Tobirama was going to come back to this place every day for the rest of his life. She couldn't see that far into Hinata's future though, she honestly hoped the girl would do the same. Especially after how they interacted with one another during the war. Katsuyu felt bad deep down, keeping the young ones away from one another... but she had to, at least for now.

Gentle strumming of a lute echoed around the cavern and all of the animals within seemed drawn to the sound. Katsuyu looked over at the woman sitting atop the lake, the sheer power radiating off of her alone should make anyone squirm. The case wasn't so honestly, her strength radiating off of her was nothing but kind and filled with love. The koi beneath the surface of the water swam around her joyously, the frogs and slugs all enjoying her presence as well.

"Mother Benzaiten." She greeted and the woman smiled gently over to her, but continued to play the lute. "So I see you have been taking it upon yourself to play my little games." The Goddess said and Katsuyu ducked her head, fearful of any punishment her creator would bring upon her. "My child, do not cower before me. You are doing well... I do not disagree with the pair you have chosen to focus your sights on. In fact, I approve." The woman said as she continued strumming away, now cherry blossoms were floating across the surface of the water away from where she sat.

"I do have a concern though..." the woman began, the strumming of the lute coming to a sudden stop. "How do you plan on bringing the two of them together? If you open the pathways to allow them to cross between times and go to each other's times, someone could find their way in and cause issues. Or am I to understand you have something to prevent that?" she asked and Katsuyu thought it over momentarily. Before she could reply to the Goddess, she began strumming once more.

"I can assist you in that dilemma if you would like... as I do enjoy a good love story, and this is definitely one that I would have a great deal of interest in."