Witches Road | Tobirama Senju x Princess! Reader
The Kaiki clan was known for its power, though not many knew what their Kekkei Genkai was, especially after the Uzumaki massacre, but all know anyone who knows has either disappeared or wound up dead. They were the rulers and royals of their village and they locked it down as soon as they got word if the nations eliminating a clan purely based on fear of their power. They were also extremely self-sufficient, which made them a bigger target for enemies given how little they care for interacting with the rest of the world at all. At least, until now.
"Lord Hashirama!" The birdkeepers assistant burst through the door, interrupting the two Senju brothers in their deep discussion about how to strengthen the hidden leaf's defenses. Tobirama glared at him as he suddenly bowed his head, panting for him running, the older brother furrowed his brows at the disheveled man.
"What is it?" He asked, the assistant handing him a scroll no one had ever seen the likes of before. It was red, with deep purple and black swirls and waves, a shining golden fox decorating the outside with a small square letter attached to the gold ribbon holding the scroll together. Hashirama looked up at the assistant, expecting some explanation to what this was, the young man turning the small square letter over, a clear clan symbol they had never encountered before on it, a moon in a sun, made out of gold with a stunningly clear moissanite gem in the center of the symbol.
"Its the Kaiki clan symbol." He said, the two brothers eyes widening as they stared at the scroll, Hashirama realizing just how precious this letter was, as if he was holding pure gold.
"The Kaiki clan?" Tobirama muttered, his eyes turning to his brother who held it, staring as if he was dumbstruck by what could only be a gift. "Open it, you idiot." He rushed, urging his brother to open it. Hashirama seemed to snap out of it, hurridly opening the small letter to reveal a blank paper, only for words to slowly appear on the page in gold writing.
"We, the Kaiki clan hope this may find you well, Hokage Hashirama Senju of the Leaf. We wish to discuss the possibility of allying our villages by extending an invitation for you, Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Madara Uchiha to join us in our yearly Beltane celebration on the end of the month.." Hashirama read, trailing off as he realized with joy what he was really reading. They wanted an alliance, they wanted to become an ally of the leaf! This is amazing! "They want an alliance? Tobirama.. this is.." He stared at the paper is disbelief as his younger brother groaned.
"Just keep reading it, brother!" He scolded, Hashirama's eyes darting back to the words he had last read.
"If you choose to accept this invitation, please use this scroll for safe passage. The Witches Road will be your path to travel, and a clan member will be waiting for you on the other side of the door to lead you to our kingdom.
As King Hanssa Kaiki, I personally hope you will accept. My family is quite eager to meet you all, Lord Hashirama. I hope this can be the start of a strong alliance between our people." He finished, Tobirama taking it from his hands and reading it over again, looking to the scroll in confusion.
"What kind of cryptic message is this? What is the Witches road? I've never even heard of this." He scoffed, Hashirama looking at him appalled before turning to the assistant.
"Please have someone get Madara." He said, Tobirama looking at him in shock.
"You cant seriously think about bringing him!" He argues, Hashirama sighing as he pointed to the Uchiha's own name in the letter.
"He's been invited by name, so he must also attend if we are to go. End of discussion." He said, the younger Senju huffing as he stood up from where he sat on the edge of the desk.
"He may just end up costing us this alliance, I hope you do realize that." He said, stomping off.
"Just prepare to leave, we must find this witches road soon is we are to make their celebration." He said just before the door closed, still looking at the letter before his brows furrowed, his fingers rubbing the paper slightly before something slipped and a second page seemed to unstick itself from the back of the first page. Hashirama's eyes widened as he realized there was indeed more to this letter, and now he was left to read it alone, with Tobirama and the assistant having left.
'This alliance, would be one through marriage. The princesses Gloria and Daliha are my eldest daughters, and both have agreed to marry someone of important status from your village; acknowleging you are married yourself, Lord Hashirama, we are suggesting Tobirama Senju or Madara Uchiha as the suitor we are looking for. Should the alliance be accepted and upheld, we are willing to share resources, clan secrets and jutsus unique to our kingdom with your village.
Please be aware that my daughters will have as much say in who they marry as Tobirama and Madara will. If any mistreatment or harm comes to either of my daughters from this alliance, be it now or in the future, I have the authority to revoke this aliance and will if I deem so fit. I am a reasonable man, and I am committed to ensuring my daughters a safe life. I am a king, but I am still a father. All of you should not forget this if you step foot on my land.'
Oh.. he didn't know if either of the men would agree to this, but it may not be bad to try and get either of them a wife to settle down. The king is quite protective from the sounds of it, so he just hoped that his brother and best friend had enough sense of mind to treat these women well. For all of their sakes.
"I still cannot believe they would have invited you of all people." Tobirama muttered as we all gathered in a hidden room by the Hokage's office, just a plain stone room like the small directions he could find in the pages King Hanssa left them told them to be in.
"I am head of the Uchiha clan. I feel it would be idiotic if they didn't." Madara snickered, Tobirama rolling his eyes.
"I can't believe they've invited us at all." Hashirama mused, looking at the small instructions, laying the scroll on the ground as he untied the ribbon. He unrolled the first bit, and suddenly, it burst open with a pure golden fox that appeared out of the scroll, pushing the Senju to the floor as it danced around the room for a moment.
"What kind of Jutsu is this?" Tobirama asked, staring at it in awe as it left tall glowing beings in its wake around the room, 5 in total, creating a circle that Hashirama sat just inside of. The fox walked up to him and tilted its head, Hashirama stared in confusion before the fox huffed and moved to try and drag him out of the circle, Tobirama and Madara helping him up as the fox chirped in joy, prancing back to the middle of the circle and turning into gold mist, the golden figures creating statues of gold and white marble women in robes, their arms out at their sides as they bowed their heads. A small bell ringing before the lips of the statues started to move.
"Seekest thou the road, To all that's foul and fair." One sang, the three men looking at each other in confusion.
"What is this?" Hashirama breathed, watching in awe.
"Gather sisters fire, water, earth and air" another statue sang.
"Some kind of Jutsu they've invented?" Tobirama wondered, eyeing the small line of gold runes bordering the women.
"Darkest hour, wake thy power, Earthly and divine
Burn and brew with coven true, And glory shall be thine" They sang together, sending chills down the men's spines, a strange wind seeming to rush through the air.
"Down, down, down the road, down the Witches' Road" they sang a light starting to come from the floor beneath them. "Down, down, down the road, down the Witches' Road" Madara knelt beside the edge of the light, inspecting it as it made a pentagon, carving the shape into the stone floor.
"Down, down, down the road, down the Witches' Road" they sang again. "Circle Sewn With Fate, Unlock thy hidden gate." Another bell sounded.
"Ive never seen anything like this." Hashirama mused, Tobirama silent as he watched the golden lips of the statues move, nothing else of their face visible.
"Marching ever forward 'neath the wooded shrine" their voices were almost hauntingly beautiful. "I stray not from the path, I hold Death's hand in mine..." The mention of death was eery, but this was their safe passage, was it not?
"Primal night giveth sight, Familiar by thy side. If one be gone, we carry on, Spirit as our guide..." Madara stepped back as it seemed the glowing got brighter, a circle in the pentagon with a star appearing.
"Down, down, down the road, down the Witches' Road. Down the witches road, down the Witches' Road" the voiced started to overlap, echoing in the dark room. "Down, down, down the road, down the Witches Road. Down the witches road, down the Witches' Road."their voiced were ringing in the mens ears, all on their hairs standing on end as they watched the ballad continue cautiously.
"Down, down, down the road, down the Witches' Road. Down the witches road, down the Witches' Road" The light getting even bright, we had to look away.
"Blood and tears and bone" The light died, and we looked so see a pentagon wooden door on the floor, still glowing on its edges.
"Maiden Mother Crone." The statues finished before reverting to their original still position. The three men looked at the door with suspicion, glancing at each other only for Madara to strive forward, his bag in hand.
"Guess that explains what door they meant." He said, Tobirama and Hashirama trying to stop him as he grabbed the doors handles.
"Wait!" Hashirama exclaimed, Madara rolling his eyes and looking back at him.
"What?" He asked making Tobirama scoff.
"It could be a trap, you idiot." He said, though at that Madara just shoved them off and pulled the doors open, a stone spiral staircase leading down into who knows where.
"The road is wild and wicked, Winding through the wood." A single female voice was singing now, stopping the men in their tracks. "Whеre all that's wrong is right, And all that's bad is good." The voice was further away from them, slight steps could be heard, as if stepping on crunched leaves.
"Someone's down there?" Hashirama asked quietly as the men stayed there still and waiting.
"Through many miles of tricks and trials, Well wander high and low." She sounded beautiful, somehow more so then the ballad of haunting voices from just moments before, the ballad you were continuing to sing. "Tame your fears, a door appears. The time has come to go." Her voice help power, confidence, something that made you feel something in your chest calling to you.
"Down, down, down the road, down the Witches' Road, Down the witches road, down the Witches' Road." Before Madara even knew it, he was stalking down the steps quietly, Hashirama and Tobirama trying to pull him back, but they only nearly fell down the stairs themselves. "Down, down, down the road, down the Witches' Road. Down the witches road, down the Witches' Road." Oh, how Tobirama longed to see the face that voice came from, like it made his heart ache for some strange reason.
"Down, down, down the road, down the Witches' Road. Down the witches road, down the Witches' Road." Her voice grew quieter, the song in its end.
"Follow me, my friend, To glory at the end." She finished, Madara was already completely out of our sight by now, Hashirama quickly following after as Tobirama scoffed and ran after them, only for the Senju brothers to hear and see nothing but a dark, unusual looking forest in front of them, a dark green and purple leaf littered path lit up for them, but no sign of Madara or the girl. Well, until she cleared her throat behind them and they saw Madara being suspended over dirt, vine-like things coming briefly out of the ground to touch his back or hair, like it wanted to pull him under. A bright pinkish red light, almost similar to electricity keeping him suspended, the light leading to the hand on a women perched in a tree, a long red and purple coat and dark pants as her outfit, littered with small trinkets and jewelry that gave an almost supernatural feeling from her. She didn't seem normal, especially with how she so easily had Madara seemingly hanging in the air without even a touch.
"Why are you here?" She asked, her tone firm, and Tobirama couldn't help but stare, not because of her power, but her eyes. Her eyes were pink and gold, her hair a striking red, a proper cherry red he thought.
"We were invited!" Hashirama said quickly, taking out the scroll and note and holding them out to her. She squinted at him before bursting into a shadow of the pinkish red and reappearing with the same shadow in front of the Senju brothers, taking the small note, turning it over to the symbol as she put a finger over the gem, the pinkish red mist reflecting brilliantly on the gem, leaving beautiful refractions in the air and across her. She smiled and snapped her fingers, Madara was lifted up, placed firmly on the ground as she gave a small bow.
"Welcome, Lord Hashirama. Please be aware that next time, we expect the person who has the physical invitation to enter first." She said, turning to Madara. "I apologize, we do not let many people in, so I suppose I may have reacted quite quickly without much thought to you." I said, he smirked at me and gave a small chuckle.
"Oh, we are aware how closed off the Kaiki clan has made themselves. Im sure all nations know that much, at least." He said, making me chuckle and smile.
"Forgive me. After how the nations reacted to the Uzumaki clan, we are quite cautious around others. We do not wish to have an end like they did." She said, turning to Hashirama once more.
----------Vidia POV's----------
"Am I to assume you two are Lord Tobirama and Madara?" I asked, referring to the two unidentified men as I looked between them, Tobirama snapping out of his kind of trance and giving a bow.
"Tobirama Senju, and you are?" He asked, me smile widening.
"Princess Vidia, the eldest of the royal family." I said, grinning at their shocked faces.
"Im sorry, I thought the eldest princesses were Gloria and Dahlia?" Hashirama asked making me chuckle.
"They are the oldest princesses that are currently in line to be married. I have taken over as the guardian of my kingdom since my coronation 3 years ago." I explained, not noticing the slight disappointment in Tobirama's features. "Since I am the guardian, it is also my duty to lead guests through the witch's road to the kingdom, which we may want to do soon, seeing as the forest can make people easily paranoid when it gets darker." I said, moving to the path forward, the men following me.
The forest was dark and damp, lush plants both familiar and new, the darkening sky letting the forest literally glow under the moonlight. The walk was quiet, but I knew this place like the back of my hand, I knew exactly where to go to get to our kingdom.
"What.. what is this place?" Hashirama asked me, a sly smirk coming across my face.
"This, is the witches road. Our elders made it to ensure complete protection from other nations." I explained, their eyes widening, though Madara scoffed.
"How can a road guarantee complete protection from the rest of the world?" He asked making me grin.
"What country is the Kaiki clan in?" I asked him, his smug look dying for a moment as all three men realized they didn't know the answer to that question. "I'll give you a hint." I said, just as we came across a wall of vines.
"You cannot get here on foot." I said, the thorned vines parting to reveal a gold, red and purple kingdom, filled with just as many plants as the forest, a giant waterfall towering in the back of the kingdom right beside the grand castle. It wasn't until I took my coat off and walked to the right did they step closer to the edge, realizing a startling truth as clouds were their only sight below, as even the waterfall dropped into nothing. The kingdom.. was floating, and they had much distance still between the road and the kingdom.
"H-How are we going to get over there?" Hashirama asked, I chuckled and pulled an old lever on the stone wall, large mossy circular stone platforms hovering in the air to create a bridge.
"We take the bridge." I said as I tied my coat to my waist before letting my chakra fill my fist, slamming it into a large moissanite wedged into the stone, the pinkish red hue making a ripple as it glowed. The platforms now locked together in place to form a full solid bridge, pinkish red wisps and sparks filling all gaps. I walked back over to them and laughed at their astonished expressions. "the stones have runes carves around the edges, its like a conduit that connects to the energy of the kingdom, which keeps everything running accordingly. I use my own energy to fill in the gaps and keep the bridge stable while we need it, otherwise the platforms would be very wobbly to stand on for others." I explained, taking a step on even though Tobirama grabbed my arm to hold me back, my foot only stepping on air, but stopping as it connected with my energy, acting as a hard surface. I chuckled and gently pulled my arm from his grasp, not looking back until I had fully walked onto the first platform, turning back to their wide and disbelieving eyes.
"This is.. how is this possible?" Madara asked, looking at me as Tobirama looked at me cautiously, eyeing where my feet stood. I smiled and held a hand out to him which he eyed for a moment.
"This is our chakra. This is how we have always lived." I said, Tobirama's eyes connecting with mine as he hesitantly took my hand, taking a step onto the platform with my guide and he breathed a breath of amazement as his feet felt the solid ground, cautiously standing on pure air as Hashirama gave a small laugh of astonishment.
"This is amazing." He breathed, taking a step onto the pink and looking at Madara like a child who's going swimming for the first time in summer. I giggled at their amazement, my eyes closing momentarily only to catch Tobirama's gaze when I opened them again. I blushed slightly and averted my gaze from his intense one, like I was some prized artifact he's only ever thought of seeing.
"We'd better keep walking, the kingdom is preparing a feast for your arrival." I said, letting my hand fall from his as I turned around to continue walking.
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"Vivi!" My little brother Dezu yelled, running up to me as we entered the throne room, my two younger brothers and my 3 younger sisters all there, Gloria and Dahlia were playing with Dezu and Clairice, our youngest sister as the second oldest of the family, Musan leaned against a pillar smiling at them all laughing.
"Vidi!!!" Clairice yelled too as soon as she also saw me, I knelt down and caught them both in my arms only for Clairice to look behind me at the three men and she shrank to hide herself from their view. "Vidi, who's they?" She asked making me chuckle. She was 6, but so so sweet and I loved her to bits.
"These are our guests from the Leaf Village." I said, taking her in my arms as I held Dezu's hand, turning to them.
"Gentlemen, this is the youngest princess and prince we have here. My brother Dezu and my sister Clairice" I said, Hashirama practically melting at the sight of her sweet and shy face as she cautiously looked at all of them, hiding her face in my neck, making me chuckle.
"Oh, she is so adorable." He cooed at her, Clairice briefly making eye contact with him for a moment as he stared in awe at her purple and gold eyes, her dark brownish red hair in curled pigtails giving her all the more delicate looking. Dezu walked up to Madara and squinted at him as if sizing up an opponent.
"I'm gonna be king one day." He said, making me snort, Madara blinking at him for a moment in amusement.
"Oh really?" He asked, my brother nodding as Musan walked over with my other sisters.
"Get in line, Dez, you still have to wait for dad and me to step down before you get a crack at ruling." Musan chuckled, looking at the men and holding a hand out for Hashirama. "I take it you must be Lord Hashirama." He asked, smiling as the man shook his hand, a kind look on his face. My brother was 19, 2 years younger than me.
"I'm Musan, second oldest and heir of the Kaiki family." He said as Hashirama shook his hand, my brother turning to me with a slight frown as I rubbed my shoulders, my back aching from all the sitting and waiting for them before. "Vi, why dont you go get Father? Im sure he's in his study right now." He said, and I smiled but shook my head, straightening up.
"If you're trying to get me to leave out of concern, brother, i can assure you, I am fine, and we both know hes almost here already." I said, laughing him off as I did actually hear my dad coming, the sound of his footsteps and a dragging noise could be heard ever so faintly getting louder.
"Gloria, Dahlia, why dont you come meet our guests?" I asked, Gloria grinning as she led a more bored looking Dahlia over to us. Gloria had long strawberry blonde hair with electric blue and gold eyes, Dahlia had deep brown and gold eyes and light brown hair. Both were wearing elegant but modest dresses, Dahlia's with more of an open collar as her Black Dahlia markings along her shoulders and collarbone stood prominent; Gloria had faint rose gold morning glorys on her neck and wrists. They gave light bows, Madara smirking as he and the others also gave a light bow to them.
"It is a pleasure to meet you both, I am Madara Uchiha, Head of the Uchiha clan." He greeted, taking Gloria's hand and kissing it causing her to blush and giggle.
"I am Gloria Kaiki, second eldest daughter of the Kaiki royal family." She greeted, Dahlia looked to the side and sighed, Gloria nudging her.
"I am Dahlia, third eldest of the royal family." She said, sounding almost bored as she drifted closer to me, advising against touching any of the men as her more timid side came out.
"I see you've all started greeting them without me." My fathers lighthearted voice called as the doors across the room opened, my father stepping out with his large feathered wings dragging behind him and towering over him. "I am most pleased you all have accepted my invitation, and I do apologize for not disclosing the.. strange way to come here. I have gone to great lengths to protect my loved ones, I hope you can understand why." He said, standing in front of them as he outstretched a hand, which Hashirama took, though his face was obvious in showing his distraction due to my dads impressive wings. Clairice climbed out of my arms to stand behind my dads leg. He looked down at her and chuckled, looking back up at the men when he dropped his hand.
"I hope my children have not given you any trouble. Clairice is my youngest at 6, so they can be quite the handful sometimes when everyone is busy, but they all mean well." He smiled, shaking Madara and Tobirama's hands, the both of them obviously intrigued by my fathers form as well. He paused and chuckled, folding his hands behind his back. "Staring will not get any of your questions answered, but asking your questions will. Why dont i have you shown to where you may stay, and then once you are all settled, we may speak in my study further? We have our beltane celebrations starting in the next 3 days, so we should have plenty of time to discuss details." He suggested, finally getting their attention off of his wings. I think this was the first time the Kaiki clan had been physically seen in at least half a century, so its no wonder they are surprised.
"What exactly is Beltane?" Madara asked, my father smiling widely.
"It's our annual spring festival. A celebration of the beginning of summer and the harvest season." He explained, though I doubted it cleared much up.
"We have celebrations involving dancing, large bonfires, music, a festival, a feast each night of celebration, and a night of youth." I further explained, Tobirama furrowing his brows, though Madara looked intrigued by this.
"Night of youth?" Tobirama asked, my brother and Dahlia snickering as I chuckled.
"Basically, a dance where the last partner you dance with when the music ends is who you're fated to be with. Its how our people find a partner. You two then spend the night together however you may wish, with a little gift basket for any.. activities you do." I explained with a grin, Hashirama's face going red as it seemed almost like his mouth had gone dry, Tobirama seeming to tense as Madara grinned widely. "It is quite common for the night of youth to lead to our medical shinobi being quite busy 9 months from now. Beltane is a celebration to pray for fertility for both the soil and women here, after all." I mused, my brother rolling his eyes at that.
"Vidia has never partaken in it. She chooses to watch as 'the chaos unfolds,' as she says." Musan said as I crossed my arms.
"So sorry, no one here has made me want to. Besides, men here don't exactly have the.. excitement I need." I mused, turning around as I waved and turned to leave. "Besides, you and I both know being the guardian makes it quite difficult to find someone that can handle me." I said before my father sighed.
"And where are you going?" He asked me as I turned around, my back, which was exposed from my almost halter like top, suddenly bursting with two large grey dove wings as I smirked at the men who looked at me with shock and interest.
"I've still got a few patrols I've got to do. Dont worry, dad, I'll meet you all for dinner." I said before giving a small bow to the three guests. "It was a pleasure meeting you all. I hope you enjoy your stay." I said with a smile to them all before taking my leave, the door to the shallow railed balcony closing just in time for them to catch a glimpse of my wings spreading as I stepped towards the edge.
