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The weight of satisfaction hangs over Hikaku and his tired squad as they make for home. Their mission —a bit of minor espionage— took longer than expected, but opportunity had knocked and Hikaku had answered. It might not amount to anything, but Hikaku hopes that once the "truth" comes to light, the Senju will be spending a great deal of time and resources fending off a new enemy.
But it's unlikely that their efforts will bear fruit quickly, so Hikaku will hold that pleasant thought for another day. In the meantime, he needs to get his squad up and moving again before they lose any more daylight.
"I can't wait to get home," Chikaru announces, stretching her arms over her head until her back cracks. "I'm going to sleep for a week."
Tomoki kicks her shins playfully. "Not if your mother has anything to say about it."
Chikaru makes a face. "Ugh. Right. You know, I had almost forgotten? Thanks for that."
"How could you forget?" Tomoki asks, raising an eyebrow even as he uses a weak doton jutsu to bury the ashes of last night's fire.
Chikaru gestures vaguely. "...it's not like taicho gives a shit that I'm not popping out babies? It just hasn't been on my mind."
Hikaku snorts, securing his pack on his shoulders. "It'd be pretty hypocritical of me. I'm not popping any out either."
"And that's what makes you the best! I can completely forget about mom trying to set me up with a nice alpha."
"Great. Well you can forget about it again as long as you get moving. I'd like to make it to Tsugaru-ku before noon, if we can."
Chikaru and Tomoki both nod sharply and settle back into mission-readiness. They've met their objective, but the mission isn't over until they're home.
◊◊◊
They break for lunch a little later than planned, but they've made good progress. Even with the necessary detour around Senju lands, they should be home before dark. Which is more of a relief than it would be, normally.
"Uh, taicho?" Chikaru says, looking at him a little worriedly. "You do know—"
"Yeah," Hikaku says. He definitely knows. The prickle of warmth inching down his spine has only become more insistent over the past hour.
"Know what?" Tomoki asks.
Chikaru glances at him, clearly willing to keep quiet if he wants. But they're a team. Tomoki should know.
"You probably won't be able to smell it, but I'm going into heat," Hikaku says, running his hand through his hair irritably. He's already starting to sweat a bit. "I didn't realize I was so close to one."
"We were out longer than expected," Chikaru says, defensive on his behalf. It's kind of her, but it isn't necessary. Hikaku should have been paying more attention.
"As long as we keep our pace, it shouldn't be a problem. We're not that far out."
"We could cut through Senju lands?" Tomoki offers tentatively, looking between them.
"No—" Hikaku begins, only to pause. Cutting through Senju territory would shorten their trip considerably. And if they were quick about it, their chances of getting caught were unlikely. He normally wouldn't risk it, but...
"It's okay, taicho," Chikaru says, following the path his thoughts had taken. "We can sprint it. In and out of Senju territory in a half-hour." She grins a little and wiggles her fingers teasingly. "And if you want a hand when we're home, I'd be glad to help."
Hikaku huffs, trying to hide a smile. (Trying to hide the way the thought of a fist and being full makes his pulse quicken, just a little bit.) "I think I can manage on my own, but I appreciate the offer."
"Your loss," Chikaru says easily, unoffended. "So. Are we going?"
Hikaku looks at Tomoki in question. The beta nods back firmly, and tightens his grip on his pack.
"Yes. Lets go."
◊◊◊
Sharingan active and running at full speed is a quick way to drain their chakra, but a reasonable precaution considering the circumstances.
"Shit. Is that—?" Tomoki asks, skidding to a stop.
"It is," Hikaku says grimly. Of all the rotten luck. They're too far away for their sharingan to work effectively on an opponent, but that is definitely Senju Tobirama. He's not in full armor, but Hikaku would be a fool to think he is unarmed.
Worse is the way they watch him still, lifting his head higher as if to catch a scent.
"He's alone," Chikaru says. "Could we take him?"
"He's next to the river," Tomoki retorts witheringly. "Could anyone take him?"
If it were any other Senju, Hikaku would have them double back. But it's Tobirama. If he hasn't sensed them yet, it's only a matter of time.
But there is a sliver of opportunity available to him. A desperate, stupid sliver of opportunity.
"No. You're going to run for home," Hikaku orders.
Chikaru narrows her eyes. "And what will you be doing?"
Hikaku will be gambling on the rumor the Senju Tobirama is an alpha. "I'll be distracting him."
"Taicho, that's not—" Tomoki begins.
"That's an order," Hikaku says, voice firm and final. He shucks his pack and hands it to Chikaru. It has no extra weapons and would only be a hinderance. "I'll follow when I can."
"If you can!" Chikaru hisses, but Tomoki tugs on her arm.
"We can get reinforcements," Tomoki says in a low undertone.
Hikaku appreciates the thought, but unless an Uchiha patrol happens to be right on the other side of the river, they'll be too late. The outcome of engaging Tobirama will be well decided before then, and Hikaku will either be on his way home, or...
Well. If he's not on his way home, it will be his own fucking fault for taking such a stupid risk.
"Get going," Hikaku says, and they do. Reluctantly, but they do.
Hikaku rubs his pulse points roughly, trying to pull more of his scent to the fore. He tightens the bands in his hair and tries to shake the tiredness from his legs.
Now or never.
Hikaku runs.
◊◊◊
On a normal day, Hikaku might have been able to put up a respectable fight and retreat safely. But it is not a normal day. He's running low on chakra and dropping headlong into a heat, a situation compounded by a diminished collection of kunai and wire. Tobirama, on the other hand, not only has a sword, but an unending source of water and more than enough chakra to bend it to his will.
He has yet to use either.
Hikaku is lucky. Tobirama is an alpha. Which means the most effective weapon Hikaku currently has is his own scent, waved in front of his opponent like a dare.
Sword sheathed but at his side, Tobirama chases him deeper into Senju territory, careful to keep him from gaining ground near the border. Hikaku's lungs burn, and he knows he's being herded, but if Chikaru and Tomoki make it home, it will be worth it.
Probably.
He spares a second to pray that there isn't a true Senju patrol in the area to notice them.
His distracted focus costs him, as Tobirama flickers ahead, and Hikaku finds himself running straight into his chest. He palms a kunai and strikes for his heart, but Tobirama parries and Hikaku dives past him. Too close. Much too close.
Hikaku diverts every speck of attention to outrunning the alpha chasing him. His muscles ache with exhaustion and it takes all of his concentration to stay one step ahead. If he could just catch Tobirama's eyes for a second...
He stumbles, and knows it's over.
Tobirama pushes him the rest of the way down, caging his body against the ground. Hikaku bucks against his hold, but only manages to gain a fraction of space before a forearm locks around his neck in a chokehold. Hikaku gasps for air and claws his fingers into Tobirama's arm, but it's a long moment before the hold is loosened enough for him to breathe.
Tobirama leans into his back and hums, a low rumble that vibrates through Hikaku's chest and reminds his uncooperative body that it'd really like to be fucked. Right now.
"Caught me," Hikaku acknowledges roughly, still short of breath.
"That was a stupid thing to do," Tobirama says, and doesn't let him go.
"Worked," Hikaku retorts with a cough. He's not exactly where he wants to be, but he can afford to be a little smug about that.
"And if I don't hold to a traditional hunt?"
A spike of fear pierces him. He'd considered that outcome, but he possibly hadn't given it enough weight, knowing what he does about the Senju. "Would you, really?"
"No," Tobirama sighs, the exhale washing over Hikaku's neck and making him shiver. His voice deepens into a low growl, "You're mine."
Something in Hikaku's spine goes liquid. Shit. This is really happening. Caught and acknowledged, he's going to let a Senju breed him.
"For now," Hikaku grunts, and tries hard to believe that this is better than dying.
"You think I'll let you go, after this?" Tobirama asks, hauling Hikaku on to his hands and knees.
If his seed takes root, Hikaku absolutely believes that Tobirama will try to keep him long enough to give birth. Still, "You have to sleep sometime."
Tobirama answers by yanking at his clothes. Hikaku spares a distant thought to be grateful that he doesn't tear them, even as a finger slides into him where he's already slick and ready.
"Get on with it," Hikaku says through gritted teeth. He doesn't need or want prep; with the rich scent of an alpha hanging heavy over him, his body is reacting accordingly. He'll be dripping soon, and pliable enough to take a fist without much trouble.
Not that he's expecting Tobirama's hand.
Tobirama rumbles a warning; it raises the fine hairs on Hikaku's arms, but that doesn't stop him from rocking his hips back into his touch. A second finger slides in without resistance, and Hikaku nearly screams, his body aching to be filled. Tobirama's fingers press with a firmness that just isn't enough, stoking the fire instead of sating it. Hikaku gnashes his teeth but refuses to beg, even when Tobirama adds a third and spreads his fingers; his body yields too easily into the stretch, already hungry for a knot. Sweat beads at his hairline and falls to the ground as he shakes, and finally, finally, Tobirama replaces his fingers with his cock.
His breath punches out of his lungs with the first thrust, heavy and hard enough that he rocks forward with the momentum. Tobirama holds his hips tight enough to bruise as he pulls him back, setting up a punishing rhythm that forces noise from his throat no matter how hard he tries to hold it in.
Pleasure coils up his spine, and Hikaku's head sinks a little lower, eyes closing against the onslaught. His thoughts grow fuzzy around the edges, softening his anger and frustration. It could be minutes or hours before Tobirama's thrusts begin to feel a little more jagged, his knot beginning to swell and catch. Hikaku's body protests in the only way it can, clenching fitfully each time he withdraws.
It's not long before Tobirama is limited to frantic, shallow thrusts, grinding into Hikaku as his knot grows too big to withdraw. He comes with a growl that rattles through Hikaku's bones and pulls him over the edge. Hikaku bites his lip bloody to keep from whimpering as he comes untouched, hands clawing uselessly at the ground.
They stay there for a long moment, breathing hard and locked together as little aftershocks of pleasure push more come into Hikaku's willing body. He's so full, the heat in his body ebbing at the bone deep knowledge of being bred.
Tobirama pushes his hair aside and nuzzles briefly into the curve of his neck. There's... something about the gesture that should worry him, but Hikaku is drunk on the feeling of being full, heat satiated for the moment, that he doesn't remember why until he feels teeth on his skin.
Tobirama bites down with enough force that Hikaku knows it will scar - not just a traditional hunt and catch but a claim, one that would be hard to hide when he gets away.
(He tries not to amend that to if he gets away, as a tiny sliver of fear settles into his heart.)