Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It’s divine retribution. It had to be. For that time when he pranked Minato-sama and carefully adjusted his hiraishin mark in the office – a temporary measure, it was all he could do without disrupting the seal or notifying Minato-sama – sending him to the mark in female side of the hot spring, courtesy left by Jiraiya-sama.

The Hokage knew there was a mark there. He just never got the chance around to remove it. Jiraiya-sama and Kushina-hime made sure he didn't.

They looked so proud of him by the time they heard the news. Glorious. They praised him and he basked in it. Minato-sama hadn’t but he did see the small quirking lip so he Genma counted that as a success. Reverting it back to normal wasn’t even a job for the Hokage and he took his idea and created the Counter-lock seal provided to ANBU members running mission A and up.

So, not much of a loss.

And there was that time,

“Who are you? State your purpose!”

His instincts as one of the best assassin in Konoha saved him from the barrage of kunai and shuriken, rolled and jumped into air, twisted narrowly avoiding another shot at his neck, latched on to the nearest tree and hid behind the large trunk.

Four signatures. All unknown. High chunin level. Carefully honed instincts told him this was Konoha border, Land of Fire always had large trees before the First took security into his own hands – quite literally – and twisted the nature to his will.

Realistically speaking, it should be him questioning these foreigners in the land. Realistically speaking of course.

Genma didn’t miss how they wore armours that went out of fashion quick before the First War erupted and nowadays, only samurai of Iron kept to the old tradition.

Either Tetsu broke their neutral stance and tried to invade Konoha – he hoped not, the Third war just ended and Konoha had no leftover manpower to fight another war – or these band belonged to an isolated group that never moved on from the Warring Era and somehow found themselves in Konoha territory.

There were other possibilities, such as, infiltration – looking odd and creepy often caused the guards to overlook and hello look underneath the underneath –, a sabotage from other village, he wouldn’t put it past Kumo or Iwa for this stint except, no idiots would dare wear such uncomfortable clothes. Distraction or not, if they died before completing maybe a third or half of their mission parameter – entering Konoha –, looking odd meant nothing and honestly, a waste of his time and everyone else’s.

Genma absently rolled the senbon in his mouth.

As Shikaku-san would say,

“So damn troublesome.” He muttered under his breath.

Four chakra bristled.

Oops?

-o-

Ditching the group turned out to be easier than he originally thought. He took the group to a merry chase to Water through Grass then backtracking back to Rice via Grass and led a second trail towards Cloud.

Or at least his clone did. He cackled in the shadows, followed them in a safe distance and watched the clone egg them on throughout the whole chase and their reactions were just so wonderful. Each and every one of them.

If Raido was here, he’d sigh and drag him away from the scene before his snickering gave away his position.

Alas, his partner was not here meaning he had full reign over this crooked humour of his. He knew it was very crooked, even Kakashi feared it whenever he got into one of the moods.

He also successfully chased the odd group from Land of Fire. Depending how far his clone lead them on and how quickly they realise it’s not the real him, it should keep them away from coming back for weeks, that is whilst managing shinobi paranoia and hiding their tracks.

Oh, how much he loved twisting that paranoia. He learned from the best. Inoichi-san would be so proud of him. Chouza-sensei ended up half-regretting introducing him to his friend.

Now that the excitement was out of the system, Genma retraced his steps back. Without trigger-happy Tetsu samurai,

…wait. Tetsu samurai didn’t use shuriken or kunai. Far too beneath their ‘noble’ ways.

Genma shrugged. That’s one problem solved. Either those shinobi somehow managed to steal Tetsu armours to frame the neutral country, or they were just a dodgy bunch that never managed to advanced forward.

Maintaining armours to top condition took time and materials whilst jounin flak vest was much easier and importantly, silent and lighter than the former.

Whatever keeps them happy. Genma shrugged again and continued his path.

Without the Dodgy Group at his heels, Genma took in the surroundings as well as kept his sense up for any possible infiltrators. Home territory or not, you never know. Most are smart enough to stay away from hostile lands but that didn’t include missing nin and generally rough bunch of shinobi that purposely looked for trouble.

Chapter Text

“Oh damn, this is so cool.” Genma whispered under his breath.

He had no idea how he even ended up in this Uzumaki-level craziness, but hell, just as it scared the shit out of him, Genma couldn’t feel but drown himself in the thrills.

Months he’s been surviving in this time, decades, if not almost a century in the past where the concept of hidden villages didn’t exist.

And he's right here at the very moment of Konoha’s founding! On the plain levelled land, two clans – Uchiha and Senju, Genma still had no idea why he was even here in this very moment, acting as neutral party to validate the alliance. But hey, Hashirama-sama wanted him here and who was he to refuse the First Hokage?

 “There’s nothing to be ‘cool’ of.” Madara sneered just like an Uchiha. It was so weird to meet face to face of the man he’s heard so much in his childhood nightmares act so… normal. On the other hand, First was so much like Gai that he’s not even going to bother going down that line of thought, for the sake of keeping his mentality intact.

Standing between the two clans Genma watched the two leaders create pact and promise of alliance. The clan members didn’t seem to like the thought of being allies with their centuries old enemies then again, everyone was tired of war and if this will end the living nightmare to an end, so be it.

-o-

Why did no one ever mention Uchiha Madara was the one who named the village? Compared to his Konoha, this was really a no match but watching it grow and flourish even more with passing days, Genma, he watched as another clan came to join Konoha. He didn’t recognise the names.

“Lord Shiranui,” Genma cringed. A little Senju boy dropped from a nearby tree.

“Don’t call me that. Just Genma will do.” The boy tilted his head confused.

Genma shook his head as lost cause.

“Hashirama-sama is looking for you. He’s in the clan training grounds.”

-o-

Okay, his days got just weirder and weirder Genma tried not to smother his chakra as he would’ve on instinct, this time rarely had advancements in assassination skills and alike, one of the reasons why he ended up in his bizarre situations as one of the founding members of Konoha, that and his seal work got him into a lot of trouble with some clans who wanted the knowledge. Essentially, the First asked him to join as one of Konoha’s first members to grant him protection that came with the title.

Greeting the guards watching the place – they were more like bait since no sane enemy would go through the gate in the first place, Genma strolled into the clan compound and followed the echo of fighting in the air.

Minutes later, Genma found himself staring at a spar – three little kiddies against the Second and the First was sitting by the porch with Mito-hime watching them fight.

 “Hashirama-sama, Mito-hime.” Genma took out the senbon from his teeth and hid it in his sleeve. Being polite never hurt, especially around the living legends like them.

The duo looked up.

“Genma-san!”  The First eagerly patted the empty seat next to him, opposite from his wife. “Join us, Tobi’s training the kids.”

If Genma remembered correctly, Second’s students were…

“And I told you, just Hashirama, please.”

Genma chuckled warily. Yeah… nope. He’ll never get used to calling them like that.  

He casually ducked his head and felt the wind over him as one of the students went sailing into the open room behind him.

Young Sarutobi Hirzuen groaned pathetically into the bamboo mat. In the field, the other two rolled their eyes and turned back to their teacher who looked at them with a raised brow.

“He had it coming.” Young Koharu scoffed. Young Homura sighed and adjusted his glasses. “Hiruzen-kun accidently electrocuted her two weeks ago trying out the new jutsu he found in his clan library.” He explained. Tobirama shook his head. It sounded like what he would do.  “He also fried her hair. I’d say that’s why she threw him over and gu-“  Koharu elbowed him viciously in the liver and swiped his foot sending him face first to the ground.

Genma grinned. He met Elder Koharu once or twice and imagining the stonewall elder so feisty with Sandaime and Elder Homura receiving the end of it, now that’s what you call hilarious.

“Ah, to be young again.” First laughed and his wife chuckled with him.

“Tobi-sensei! I swear she’s going to kill me and dump me off a cliff!” High-pitched Hiruzen whined loudly.

“Cliché.” Genma pitched in. He couldn’t help it. They were just so funny. Who’d thought Sandaime and his teammates were this comical when they were young?

Tobirama looked at him unamused. Genma grinned back.

Tobirama sighed.

“…Who’s he sensei?” Hiruzen asked warily.

“Shiranui Genma, a pleasure… Sarutobi-kun.” Now that felt weird. Weirder than calling the First by his name. Nonetheless he was going to have to adjust fast and get used to calling them that way. He wasn’t the leader he served and his teammates weren’t honourable elders of the village.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura were aspiring shinobi duckling of newly founded village, Konohagakure. This Konoha didn’t have a Hokage yet, the concept was yet to be brought up, still around its planning stage, the clans were settling in different parts of the land and not even the Hokage Tower or the Academy were built yet.

“Dumping bodies off a cliff is cliché. I prefer feeding them to the wild life. Leaves no traceable evidence once you get a hang of it.” The trio stared at him with wide eyes. How cute. “Or seal the body and burn the scroll. That’s trickier but again, does its job if you know how to.”

Now that had everyone look at him strangely. Did he say something wrong?

“I’ve never thought of using seals that way. Any damage done to a seal usually undoes everything.” The Second looked at him strangely.

Oh.

Damn. Destroying bodies via seals was another assassination technique favoured by the Hunter nin once they got information out of their target. He didn’t realise it wasn’t invented yet. He knew his seals as assassination specialist and some more when he became one of Fourth’s personal guards but yeah…

Damn.

“Needs a bit of thinking outside the box and knowing inside-out of how storage seal works.” He grinned weakly. He tried not to react at the intense look Mito-hime kept giving him. He had a feeling if he showed her even a slightest of an opening, she’ll pounce him like how Kushina-hime pounced her husband.

“You uh… do a lot of body dumping?” Hiruzen asked. He looked paler. The boy kept shooting him looks and hurriedly ran back to his team, going far to hide behind the Second using him as a shield.

Tobirama sent his student an unamused look.

“Sensei! He dumps bodies!” He squeaked. And we murder for money. The Second raised his brow back.

“Shiranui… I’ve never heard of Shiranui clan.” Homura looked at him curiously. Behind him, Tobirama sighed through his nose, eyes closed as if in pain and pushed his student’s head down to a forced bow.

Standing next to him, Hiruzen and Koharu winced.

“I apologise Genma-san.” Tobirama apologised. Homura yelped in pain. His hands wrapped around his teacher’s as the man applied more pressure.

“No foul Tobirama-sama. He didn’t know.”

“Nonetheless it was tactless of him and as his teacher, the blame is mine.”

“S-Sensei? Wha- oh.”

Koharu stomped over him. “Yes oh, you idiot.” She hissed and kicked his shin.

“They died a long ago. It’s fine.” Genma didn’t mention his parents weren’t shinobi which was why Homura or anyone else never heard of them before. He was first generation shinobi in his family.

From what he knew, civilians didn’t actively join the Academy until well after the First War ended, mostly due to low numbers, that and the Academy finally finished building around the same time and allowing anyone to join and learn.

It’s better letting them think he’s from a dead clan.

Might as well take advantage of it.

“Shiranui Clan specialised in assassination. Body dumping was one of our most requested skills along with you know, assassination. We weren’t as good with seals like the Uzumaki but we knew a bit, Scroll Disposal is one of them.” He bluffed on.

“Hey Genma-san, is that why you prefer shooting senbon with your mouth?” Hashirama suddenly asked out of the blue.

Wha- oh. That.

“Nah, that’s just me.” He grinned back. “Drove my parents up the wall since I kept blunting them.” Hashirama laughed loudly.  It actually drove Chouza-sensei and his parents mad from worry. Blunting came afterwards when sensei noticed how often he went through the stacks.

That and accidentally poisoning himself with his poisoned senbon on numerous occasions. In the end, he ended up building immunities against those so eh.

As if to prove a point, Genma started nibbling on the senbon he hid earlier on and spat hitting one of the logs in the field. The senbon dug halfway into it making the students gape like fishes.

“That’s…” Hiruzen looked at the log, back to him and back to the log again.

“Looks like you got some admirers.” Hashirama grinned.

Genma grinned back.

-o-

Before Hashirama offered a place in the village, he and Tobirama heard of Shiranui Genma, the lone shinobi.

There weren’t much of anything about said man, rumours and information were scarce at best as if he appeared from nowhere which alone spoke volumes of his skills.

He barely appeared in the rumour mills, only occasional missions, mostly escorts surprisingly enough and rarely assassinations, the man’s existence was close to what one would compare to a ghost.

Or a deadly shinobi.

It had been a complete coincidence that Hashirama came across Genma. He was tasked taking out a spy who crossed his client and Genma was after the spy’s assistant who had a fling with his client’s wife whom found out and wanted the assistant dead, Hashirama caught him halfway stripping his target.

Apparently, Genma had been planning on wearing the man’s clothes to get a closer hit on his target.

It made Hashirama wonder why the man hadn’t bothered with henge – as if expecting the question, Genma shrugged and replied, “It’s more fun this way.”, not the sort of answer he was looking for. – which became most memorable of their first meeting.

Chapter Text

Time and war tears down anyone. It’s an inevitable battle with no chance of victory, only delay, delay and delay.

Shinobi by nature are trained to adapt to the surrounding and that’s what Genma did.

He adapted and moved on.

Lived a full life as a founding member of not-home-but-home Konoha, watched it flourish into what he remembered his beloved home.

He watched the man he respected from a kid toddler to outstanding shinobi – he saw why Tobirama chose him to be successor – and one after another, more familiar faces of he forgot began to bloom once more.

Young but they were there.

And he was not.

Genma long gave up the idea of going back to his time, he may not be familiar with the subject but knew enough after all, he was, had been one of Fourth’s personal guards.

It held onto three possibilities – the moment he landed in the past, history went askew thus the future he came and lived in became no more, second, he may not just have landed in the past but tad-bit sideways into a parallel universe and lastly, he did land in the past but instead of his future disappearing, it became one of the possibilities and lived on with or without its member displaced in time.

Either way, there was no method back home. Even now, he had no idea how or why he landed in the past. He researched with the Uzumaki and Second in whatever time he could fit in looking for the chance of going home, in the end, nothing. An impossible task since start because the theory of crossing Time couldn’t even be fathomed at all to be put into words more or less seals.

Time-space seals while similar, it did not touch a single hair into the chaos branch of Time itself especially on the topic of time-travelling.

Genma lived and died near the end of peace from the First Shinobi war, protecting a man from a fate that grabbed him once in the past. It was the least he could do for Kakashi. That miserable kid at least deserved that much.

Shiranui Genma was the last living founding member of Konoha, others already gone ahead and waiting in the other side. Finally, he can follow them.

“Shiranui-dono!” Hatake Sakumo was a splitting image to his son. Or was it the other way around? Either way, after years of shadowing the man and his career, he’s finally here and ready.

He’s no younger than he wanted to believe but that didn’t make him any less dangerous. Winning against an ambush of twenty jounin and ten chunin might be a problem but keeping them tied up and give breathing air for Sakumo and his team from aborting the mission?

Easily done.

Iwa twitched for each movement he made, eyes hard and targeted to the senbon in his mouth.

“Go do your stuff.”

“Sir!”

“A fossil like me should’ve been buried years ago.” He waved his hand at them, as if shooing away stray dogs.

With time at stake and Hatake well knew it too, the man frowned and bit his lip, no doubt mentally berating himself for being caught off-guard in the first place and for what he was going to do.

For a kid who detested his father, they really were alike.

“Good luck sir.”

Two months later, a new name was engraved to the memorial stone. Empty funeral service lasted for a week and Sandaime smiled ruefully as he stared at the lightly grinning face in the frame.

Shiranui Genma.

ANBU General commander.

ANBU Assassination commander.

Captain of First Hokage’s Personal Guards.

Fifth Founder of Konoha.

Unlike how it went in Genma’s original time, the Second War happened much later and Will of Fire burned fiercer than ever against their enemies.

-o-

It wasn’t often that Tobirama asked an outsider for help but with the problems at the horizon, Second Hokage knew better than to hold onto his pride.

“Boy, do you have a spare body?” At the side, the young Hokage, Fourth, turned to them confused for a split second then complete understanding and finally confusion.

Why?

Even at this distance, Tobirama could feel the smouldering chakra similar to bloodline-related chakra yet different and he knew of only one man who had such a passionate charka characteristic.

“If you want to win against Madara and Jubi, you need more firepower. Genma and Madara were best friends. He’ll know what to do with him.”

“Tobi, wait. Not here. Do it there. Saves time.” Hashirama intervened.

Tobirama did not miss the twinkle in his brother's eyes. He shook his head.

-o-

Konoha forces did a double take when they saw all previous Hokage returned from the dead but the fifth member surprised them the most because how?

The sickly pale and cracked skin, black sclerae said he was another one of the revived.

The way he carried himself and his senbon habit.

Those who knew him knew it was him… except their friend was right with them staring at the revived dead.

“I don’t remember this. Doesn’t look like Third War. What is this?” The dead-doppelganger muttered.

“G-Genma?” Raido stuttered.

Dead-not-dead Genma turned to the voice.

For a split second, few caught grief in his eyes but quickly hidden giving away nothing.

“Wrong Genma boy.”

“Genma,” Second called. “can you handle Madara?”

“The hedgehog? Hell no. He’s a fucking pyromaniac. You handle him.” Tobirama closed his eyes as if in pain. Hashirama coughed to hide his laughter.

Really, that man doesn’t change. Ever.

“Come on Genma-san, I’ll lend you my clones.” First smiled.

Genma grinned.

“Now we’re talking. Gimme three and you’ve got a deal Hashirama-sama.” Without ado, three wooden clones emerged from the ground.

“Play nice and don’t get killed. I’ll go annoy that pms-ing princess over there.”

-o-[Omake?]

Series of foxfires flew through leaving scorching marks but Genma took no notice of those and continued his advance to Madara. This body of his was dead and the dead had no use for pain.

“Yo Madara.”

“Genma.” He stopped few feet away and Hashirama’s clones behind him. Madara watched them, his black eyes giving out nothing but to Genma who’s been his best friend since the First died and Hashirama since children, the duo saw through his mask.

Betrayal. Hurt. Fury.

“Would this be considered a threesome or a pentasome?” Genma asked out of the blue.

Both Hashirama’s clones and Madara stared at him dumbfounded.

“…What?”

“I mean, there’s three of Hashirama-sama so technically a pentasome but it’s all him so threesome?”

Huh. Who knew the dead could still blush.

"I heard make-up sex is great. Or is that hate-sex? I'm good with either." He winked.

A giant fireball engulfed him.

-o-

Tobirama facepalmed while Hashirama burst into laughter. The rest of the united shinobi force looked confused.

What’s happening?

And why in the name sanity was Uchiha Madara flushed deep red sprouting promises of skewering Genma thirty-seven different ways?

Chapter Text

The moon glimmered brightly in the night sky.

Stench of alcohol filled the air.

“Naruto.”

Hanging dangerously from the window sill, blue eyes turned to meet green.

He’s smiling yet not. His eyes were empty and dead.

“Heya.”

The floor was littered with scrolls, most of them scribbles of nonsense and some filled with mad ideas.

Gaara swiftly sidestepped the scrolls and reached out, snatching almost empty alcohol-gourd from Naruto’s hand and promptly threw it out the opened window.

It’s been six months. Six months since the war ended and Naruto’s been like this ever since. His friends tried reaching out for him and every single of them had failed bringing him back including his teacher.

Konoha was at its wits end asking him for help.

He was their last hope.

“Naruto.”

“Gaara,”

“Everyone is worried.”

Naruto didn’t reply.

He looked away and stared into the moon.

“Did you know Time is not as linear like everyone believes it is or what it actually is than we think it is? Time is... infinite energy in a way. There are multiple universes out there all separated by a thin veil, far enough from crashing but close enough to influence one another. Each universe is unique, follows different rules for each universe yet, we all share Time.”

“Time is what feeds the universes from stopping, dying, ending, whatever you want to call it. That’s how Hiraishin works. Second’s Hiraishin is essentially a pocket universe with many many exits and entrances which is how he jumps around from one anchor point to another avoiding the whole distance problem cuz distance holds no definition in that pocket universe because that’s how Second made it be. It is literally doors lined up one after another. A unique pocket universe kept alive by feeding Time. Dad had to create his own seals based from Second’s because Second’s seals were solely for him and him alone.”

Naruto threw a scroll.

Gaara caught it with ease. It contained intricate designs of seals. He was no expert especially a chaotic branch like Time but he knew enough reading between the lines of what Naruto wanted to achieve.

Time-travel.

“You’re leaving?”

“Nope and nope. Not time-travel. It’s impossible to travel back or forward in time. Time can’t be measured to calculate time-distance so to speak.”

“And, I can’t.”

Chapter Text

The war was over. No more crazy moon goddess and plant zombies. Whatever stress the two boys had, they duked it out so that was done too. The undead armies brought by Kabuto were long gone and now only they, called by Orochimaru remained.

Hashirama-sama stood by Madara and Tobirama with Hiruzen bidding farewells to Tsunade and Orochimaru. Minato with his son who was introducing his friends with a big smile on his face like Christmas came early.

This Kakashi was different than the Kakashi Genma knew. Appearance-wise, except for the slanted hitai-ate and two grey-eyes instead of mismatch he looked the same.

In his eyes though, that murky tar-like hate seemed to have vanished like it never existed. Next to him, the young man he saved all those years ago stood proud and alive.

Sakumo looked older than he last remembered seeing the young man.

So he did succeed.

“Boy.”

“Shiranui-dono.”

Ah. Like father like son indeed.

Without warning Genma slapped Sakumo’s head. Many eyes turned to him, Kakashi included, like he couldn’t believe what he just witnessed. Good to know he can still pull one up on the kid.

“Stop blaming yourself with that no-good guilt.” Hah, if he thought he could hide, no chance in hell. He watched Kakashi go through same thing and still saw through that well-wrapped self-hating guilt of his.

“I did what I believed was right so don’t you dare tell me wrong and I gave my life for nothing.”

Sakumo kept his mouth shut.

Wise boy.

“Genma.” Tobirama approached him. Behind, Hiruzen seemed to have his time glad to be able to talk with his students one last time.

How did he die anyways? Hiruzen was alive when he came to this time and died years after watching the young man he watch grow up into Third Fire Shadow of Konoha.

Huh.

Speaking of,

“Minato-sama?”

(He hasn’t used the name for decades and yet, it rolls off his tongue just as easy, like it’s been only yesterday he last used it.)

What in the name that’s all holy and drunken Gai, when did Yondaime die and from what he could guess, a young age? The fact that he had a son with Kushina-hime -a regret he couldn’t be with them on the joyous occasion, though his taste could work a bit, a twist between Minato-sama’s terrible naming sense and hime’s unhealthy love for pranks perhaps- and in a future that he never got to see?

He had a lot of questions that need answering.

“One moment Tobirama. I need some answers first.” His friend -they bonded over when Hashirama-sama died and he took over the guarding position so they had time to bond- trailed after where his eyes were glued and nodded.

Yondaime looked quite frozen like someone dumped a bucket of water on him in freezing winter when Genma walked towards him.

“Shiranui-dono?”

“Genma will do Hokage-sama. I’m your guard before I’m Konoha elder.” He casually dropped the bomb.

A lot of eyes widened in shock.

This time Genma looked like someone punched a hole in his stomach and chewed him before spitting out like some upset supper that went wrong.

“You’re…”

“Wait, you’re that proctor from Chunin exam!” Young blond pointed finger at him.

Chunin exam? Proctor? What?

“If you’re looking for Shuranui Genma that acted as proctor, it would that Genma over there. I got lost around… Kakashi, how old are you?” The man in question tensed.

“29?”

“Sixteen years ago, technically? It’s a mess really.” He shrugged. “Anyways, Hokage-sama, how-“ The senbon in his mouth wobbled dangerously as he bit hard.

In his mind, Yondaime has always been someone strong and invincible. Seeing him in this undead state, it really did wonders to his mind and part of him as his guard past or not-future otherwise really wanted to find the culprit and kill the asshole.

It felt like he failed his duty. Again. First Hashirama-sama, then Tobi and now? Yondaime too. Three Hokage who he swore oath to protect and all of them dead.

In the end, he settling giving his best smile.

A smile that set a lot of warning bells off to those around him.

“I’d like a name please. Or names. Names sound good.” He nodded.

Behind him, Tobirama sighed.