Standing before the Hokage, Rei could feel the pressure of the man, even with being passive, his guard was to a certain extent that he was still ready, the killing intent behind even the smaller actions clearly showing his skill and how they were forged in intensive, hellish combat.
But his eyes, sharp and clear with no room for doubt or questioning of his own actions pointed to his sharp mind, intelligent brain, and brutal wit.
Skin like ja- (COUGH. Sorry, the wrong type of fanfic.)
Standing before him Rei bowed with respect before standing straight quickly, meeting the gaze of Tobirama straight on.
Tobirama was probing at the young Rei, his eyes, intent, poking at his very stand, his reaction to pressures, and even his senses.
As he applied these pokes and taunts with his trained intent and chakra sensing he got no reaction, but not like he wasn't receiving them, but because he could tell Rei wasn't surprised.
"You can sense that I am testing you?''
"No offense, Hokage Sama, but you have been testing me since you saw me walking on the street when you sent a strong enough wave of killing intent that would bring other kids to their knees."
"You know what intent is, then tell me why you have some yourself?" Tobirama would ask questions directly after being answered, leaving no time for thought, and in his own mind, he was pleased with how straight and quick Rei's answers would be.
"Hunting, and experiencing the intent of my Mother when my father mostly, but others also say something they shouldn't around the kids, usually pertaining to the approaching war."
Tobirama made no outwards appearance change, but he understood. Women were scary, even he knew full well the name that Rei's mother had gained on the battlefield due to her speed and mastery of shurikenjutsu. 'Bloody Blur.' Whereas it wasn't the most intimidating name, those who understood it feared her. She was actually why he began to create the Flying Thunder God initially, only to have an elderly friend of his Minato Huriko.
(Yes, not the same Yellow Flash, he isn't born yet, weird-ass timelines.)
Make it better, it seemed even if he created it, he didn't have the talent to utilize it properly, it took him time to do it, and it required three people to activate the seals, while a fourth one would guide its landing. It was Huriko who made it so as long as someone had talent in space-time manipulation, they'd only need one person to send and receive the signal to transport. They had actually been testing in an application for supply sending to avoid possible ambushing, however, Minato Hiruko had ended up catching an illness and passing away due to his old age.
"My reports state you are advanced in your application, and practice of Taijutsu, Advanced in the application and practice of fuinjutsu to a level of a student, and theoretically as good as a Master, along with your genius mind that is actively not only applying new ways to train in the both of them but in their application and use that some have never thought to do so."
"That is correct Hokage Sama."
No shameful boasting, no prideful chest-puffing that a kid would normally do, Tobirama was liking this kid more and more, but there were suspicions rising up as well
"Whereas you have not been tested in the applications, and practice of Ninjutsu, and Genjutsu, due to the quality, and quantity of your chakra it is at least speculated you will be no novice in it either, your quantity and quality make a worry of your control, but practicing and applying fuinjutsu is already a great way to learn control so that I have no worry for."
"Why do you train so... Intensely with taijutsu and fuinjutsu?''
"I train so thoroughly and intensely for the betterment of myself and others."
Tobirama thought back to his own brother for a moment before he continued.
"And you, put yourself through what even some Jonin would consider hellish training, all in the sake of betterment and others?''
"No, I believe that a ninja is only as skilled as his body is strong, as his mind is sharp, and as his soul is unwavering. My mind maybe able to keep up with the changes of the battlefield, but what if my body is too slow? What good does a weak body do me in any situation? I believe even those not proficient in taijutsu should still train their body to an optimal condition. Just because a medic is focused on healing, doesn't mean he shouldn't have the strength and speed to run away if he needs to retreat, or even to use his speed and skill to take severely wounded from the battlefield and retreat far enough to begin emergency medical jutsu."
"Let us say my body is what keeps me strong, keeps me fast, keeps me a demon to my enemies, then what if I have no wit to back it up, so I simply charge in battle without preparation, without thought? Sure, it might work, but soon people will find out, and they will simply counter you. Sure, you might become fast enough, and strong enough not to be locked down, but what say to a genius like Madara Uchiha, who had both the talent of his body and his sharp mind? What would you do against someone who could match you, blow to blow, but is smarter than you? A simple mistake on their part could be just a well-played plan to trap you."
"Now, let us say I have both, a strong and fast body, a quick and sharp mind, but I lack the courage, or soul to use them? And instead in the face of adversity, I quiver and cower before them, simply stay still, locked in place because I am too weak-willed to match the might of the will of my enemy."
Rei's eyes sharpened as he spoke, staring directly at Tobirama before he spoke seriously. "Now, I have all three, a powerful body that can shake mountains, a sharp and quick mind that can lure you into the simplest and even the most elaborate traps, and a soul, a will so strong even Kami hesitates to take it. Now, the only thing the enemy can use is their luck, and I."
He pulled a single ryo coin from his pocket, and with a simple flick of his thumb, sending it spinning up into the air. "Heads."
The moment he said that the ryo landed onto Tobirama's table, and he looked down to it, noticing the coin was in fact, on heads. Facing Tobirama directly.
"Consider myself pretty lucky, Hokage Sama." When Rei said those words, it was like the world stopped, focused purely on the sharp red eyes that stared Tobirama directly into the windows of his soul, with a wave of his hand to dismiss Rei, Rei bowed before leaving.
As Tobirama sat there, staring at the ryo coin before him, only one thought was settling in his mind.
'Rei is no genius, he is a monster, an honest to Kami monster...'
(Pa-treon)