We Weren't Born To Follow
by Seito is a Reborn! (2004) Alternate Universe Fic. Taking its title from the namesake song by Bon Jovi, it details Reborn heading to Namimori to teach Sawada Ienari, and finds himself mixed up in 'Goddamn Namimori's supernatural business.' It doesn't stop there as canon characters such as Lambo, I-Pin and even Fon find themselves mixed up in the mystery stirring in. Why does Tsuna's brother hate him so much? What happened between the two previously loving brothers? Who is Ayame? Who are the members of the Shadow Court?
Can also be found on FanFiction.net.
This fanfiction contains examples of:
- Acceptable Breaks from Canon:
- Ayame's existence.
- Ienari's existence.
- Things change due to Tsuna getting to know Enma earlier.
- It's due to his spiritual sight and hatred of Iemitsu that leads him to stumble upon Daemon earlier.
- Anti-Hero: Ayame thinks she is this. That incident at Sinapri doesn't disprove that. Asher and Tsuna beg to differ.
- Applied Phlebotinum: What Ayame does to recharge spiritual metal (Ikigane), using one form of power supply to power another battery. It's Spanner's idea. Using Giotto and his Guardians as an anchor point, she succeeds in transferring the Trinisette properties to Tsuna's friends.
- As You Know: Mukuro refuses to answer Tsuna's inquiries, leading to Ayame saying them for him. This leads to Ayame mentioning that the entire Estraneo famiglia has been left neutralized, much to Mukuro's disbelief. When asked, Tsuna points out that while leaving a power vacuum is bad, having a variable that one can control was better.
- Asskicking Leads to Leadership: The Hibaris have a very pluralistic view of Justice.
- His bloodlust leaked into his words. There was nothing more than Koumei wanted to do then to be rid of this particular evil for the grievances against his wife, his son, and his brother-in-law.
- Backstory: Revealed throughout the course of the story. Reborn is very irritated, because CEDEF's information is completely useless and Iemitsu even more so.
- Because You Were Nice to Me: Skull decides to hold a show especially for Tsuna despite never having had one since the Arcobaleno Curse.
- Beneath Suspicion: Yousei's activities aren't found out due to their destroying every piece of paper evidence. Too bad that isn't enough to stop Kamikawa, obtainer of all paper information. Dr. Kinkan had better watch out.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Kyoko. Twenty miles of collateral damage indeed...
- Black-and-White Morality: Averted heavily as Ayame is perfectly willing to exert her influence to put suicide nets under bridges, steal information from Vongola's libary in order to protect Tsuna And even steal the Vongola Rings (or at least their capabilities) from right under Vongola's nose.
- Bloodless Carnage: There is nothing left of Mao the Triad Member after Kyoko's attack.
- Mao looked at horror as the attack flew at him, unable to escape. Kyoko landed to the ground as the explosion engulfed the area. It cleared, leaving a giant crater. Nothing was left.
- Book Dumb: Tsuna experiences this. The hostility that his teachers and fellow students exhibit towards him doesn't help at all...
- Break the Cutie: What Sinapri is implied to have done to Ayame And Asher. Ayame gets them back by destroying Sinapri with all three hundred inhabitants. Also, what the Estraneo incidents are implied to have done to Mukuro, Ken and Chikusa. Lancia is horrified that his Famiglia was intending to continue the experiments.
- Butt-Monkey: Tsuna appears to be this. Because of Nono's seal, Ienari can only release repressed Sky Flames in the form of hostility. Because they are Sky Flames, everyone else in the vicinity of Ienari has hightened hostility, especially towards Tsuna. Ienari also experiences this, as result of certain angry ghosts. He blames Tsuna, but it's truly Giotto and fellow guardians to blame.
- Calling Your Attacks: The Gang does this. Named attacks are apparently stronger than simple blows.
- Chekhov's Gunman: Irie Shouichi. Also, Engetsu and Kamikawa. Vongola Primo.
- Chronic Evidence Retention Syndrome: Averted by Yousei. Reborn can't find anything about them, despite having access to Vongola's library.
- Clueless Mystery: Both supported and Averted by this author. While there are hints as to what happened between the two, Reborn has no clue at all because he does not have access to the information this reader has.
- Covert Group: The Shadow Court. wipes out the whole Estraneo family
- Curb-Stomp Battle:
- Tsuna and the Gang against Yousei. The Triad Arc features a more even battle.
- Vindice against Ienari, unsurprisingly. Reborn is tempted to tell him off for underestimating the enemy and just plain going against the Mafia's boogeyman.
- A Day in the Limelight: Shouichi and Spanner pull this off. Also, a specific member of the Shadow Court in response to the slaughter of the Corna Famiglia. The various reports of Kinga Corporation could be one as well.
- Ienari's guardians have this against the stragglers of the Triad in Namimori.
- Defeat Means Friendship:
- Kokuyo and the Gang. They also unlock Cool New Powers.
- Disappeared Dad: Tsuna is unhappy enough about his father. Nana is resigned to giving up one of her children from the moment they were born.
- Don't Like? Don't Read!: If you object to OCs playing a major role, then this may not be your cup of tea.
- Driving Question:
- What is the incident that sparked off Ienari's hatred?
- What do the Gang have up their sleeves when confronted with Vongola's successsion crisis?
- Who is the Shadow Court?
- Eagle-Eye Detection: Meishi acts as this for Nana. She helps to keep the twins apart and thus from killing each other. Also, to find out where Yousei made their hiding spot.
- Elsewhere Fic: YMMV on this, with the focus given to Tsuna's interactions with Ayame.
- Evil Laugh: "Nufufufu, what do we have here?" Cue Daemon.
- Eye Scream: His vision blurred, murky and dark as the colors swirled and muted together. Screams…? Words? He couldn't make out what the noise was, just that it was deafening and painful. His head throbbed in pain. "His eye is bleeding!" Ken yelped in the background. "I thought that bandage was supposed to stop that!"
- Family of Choice: Gokudera chooses this over gaining an important position in the Vongola and being a star hitman. This wins Tsuna's approval, unsurprisingly.
- Foreshadowing:
- Nono's lack of response. Reborn's reports are being modified.
- Ayame's existence. A businesswoman in Kinga Corporation, her identity is central to the mystery and the Alternate Universe.
- Shadow Court. Responsible for the deaths of the Corna Famiglia for one. Ayame might be central to the whole court as well. Also, who are Asher and Trier?
- The Bridge Incident. Ayame gave Tsuna a ring for his birthday. Ienari sees it, gets riled up, and gaslights Tsuna. Tsuna attempts suicide later.
- Dr. Kinkan. The Yousei Arc.
- For Science!: Shoichi is uninterested in taking up the Sun Ring. May have to do with Ryohei being his competitor for it. Even if he wants to play with it.
- Freudian Excuse: What may be why Daemon took on Nagi/Chrome.
- Generation Xerox: As of Canon. Tsuna is heading towards this like a bullet train, what with the New Vongola Rings that Ayame handed him.
- Gratuitous English: 'Shotto Bomu' anybody?
- Guilt Complex: Hayato thinks that he doesn't deserve the Storm Ring. Hana persuades him that he works better with Hibari and Lambo instead, and she had not accepted it Kyoko did not win the Cloud Battle Match with Hibari.
- Harsh Word Impact: Tsuna visibly recoils away from Ienari. It haunts him afterward, leading to the Bridge Incident.
- Heel–Face Turn: Mukuro and rest of Kokuyo gang. Has to do with the fact that Vindice has been warned off by the Shadow Court, unbeknown to Tsuna.
- Heroic Resolve: Mochida is sorely lacking in this. The author foreshadows repeatedly that he would realize his desperate situation too late for him to pull out.
- Hidden in Plain Sight: Ayame is this to Reborn. Also, Meishi, Kamikawa and Gingitsune are introduced before their importance is revealed.
- How Do I Shot Web?: Reborn tries to navigate his way around the Spiritual World.
- Informed Ability: Fuuta states that Kyoko is the strongest figher of Namimori Middle. The Gang agrees. Reborn is stunned. Mukuro and Nagi get their asses kicked right after a Named Attack from Kyoko.
- Internal Reveal: Gokudera finally gets told what is going on in Namimori. Needless to say he is awestruck at the sheer expansiveness of Tsuna's plot.
- In the Blood: Both Tsuna and Ienari qualify to be Vongola Decimo. As Mukuro reasons, Tsuna appears to be harmless, but he's planning to put Ienari in the Vongola's eyes in order to protect himself. That takes ruthlessness.
- "Because Giotto has picked you as his heir. They were originally his and as he's still around, he does get a say in who gets to inherit. Also you're his direct descendent which means you have a larger claim over Vongola anyways. Then between you and Ienari, you're the older twin," Ayame said. "In not so many words, you have the blood claim, the spiritual claim and the approval of your predecessor which means you outrank everyone, even me, when it comes to these new rings." Why Tsuna gets the rings.
- Invisible to Normals: What Giotto, Guardians and other members of the Spiritual World are to newcomers. The Gang needed to get exposed to spiritual particles before they are able to do so without Giotto shifting down a plain.
- Irony:
- It is not Reborn that holds all the cards, but Ayame. Unsurprisingly, Reborn is unhappy about this.
- When Reborn asks Kamikawa the origami phoenix about the Arcobaleno curse, she gives this: Even if balance is obtained, there is no answer you will find in the Spirit World. Humans are the ones who innovate. They will be the one to discover. In canon, it is not Talbot nor Checkerface that fixes this. Tsuna is the one to come up with a solution for the eons-old Arcobaleno curse.
- Chrome and Mukuro are friends. Unsurprisingly, Daemon is particularly unhappy when Mukuro's around, and wants his precious Nagi back. When Ayame points out that it could be romance instead, Daemon is appropriately horrified.
- Jerkass: Ienari is this to Tsuna. So is the rest of the school, including Ienari's guardians. And Namimori. Tsuna's friends and family appear to be the only ones immune to it.
- Ki Manipulation: Ienari's Mist Guardian, Hideki uses a brush to form his mist illusions.
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: What Reborn asks Shamal to do after Ienari attempts to kill Tsuna after being shot with the Dying Will Bullet.
- Lethal Chef: Bianchi resolves her Storm Flames with this. She makes an edible cookie that Reborn actually eats!
- Magnetic Hero: Tsuna with Gokudera. Ienari doesn't help his case by rejecting Tsuna...
- Mind Screw: Fon and Shamal experiences this. Reborn doesn't help as well. 'Goddamn Namimori' indeed.
- Ms. Exposition: Ayame, for Reborn. Too bad she's keeping back a few details until she gets what she wants.
- Mysterious Stranger: Ayame. Reborn, Shamal, Fon and other newcomers may be this to the Namimori populace as well.
- New Powers as the Plot Demands: Tsuna's ability to manipulate light comes into appearance when Ienari tries to kill him after being shot with the Dying Will Bullet.
- Noodle Incident: Kyoto Spring Trip. And Death March. When these things are capitalized, better beware because there is more than just an interesting incident behind that.
- Notable Non Sequitur Oh how—
- He ignored the 'Kyaaa' of a crow in the distance. — Zephyr hastily excuses himself out of the way when he sees the Yatagarasu intending for battle. Reborn, why did you have to shoot that crow down?
- Fon finds himself in the Spiritual world. "This town is infuriating," Fon hissed.
- Shouichi sees a pipa-player.
- “There’s you and me and of course Tsu-kun and Nari-kun. One doesn’t eat and three can take care of themselves and the last doesn’t always live with us,” Why hasn't Nono responded to Reborn's worries?
- Only Sane Man: Tsuna is set in this position. All of his friends are battle-happy, even Kyoko! Reborn thinks he is this in Namimori.
- Original Character: Ayame. Also, the Hibari Clan by extension. The Triad Arc is full of this, owing to Fon's debt to them and the resulting hostage taking. Needless to say, Hibari isn't taking it lying down. All of them.
- Parental Neglect: Oh my god, this so much.
- Basil is only aware of one son—Ienari.
- Nana is questioning why she continues to love him even as she speaks to Basil.
- When Iemitsu comes home, Reborn describes him as blind to the undercurrents in the household. And he notices that Iemitsu never mentioned Tsuna as his son.
- When Tsuna does come home for lunch, Iemitsu talks to Ienari, but barely notices Tsuna picking at his food.
- On Tsuna's part, he understands why his father won't come home. However, he is tired of how Iemitsu wouldn't notice his existence.
- Tsuna leaves the house after four days, due to the stress of Ienari and the neglect of Iemitsu.
- The Power of Friendship: Tsuna's friends are with him all the way. Bridge Incident, Daily Life Arc, Yousei Arc and Triad Arc are where they act on Tsuna's behalf.
- The Promise: Giotto to be Tsuna's friend. Giotto dislikes Ienari as well.
- Red String of Fate: Mukuro has one with Chrome.
- ''The color of string determines what type of relationship. The thickness determines the strength of the bond...In your particular case, I'm led to belive that the shade of the green and yellow braid that connects you and Chrome represent family and friendship.
- Tsuna and Reborn has one so large and thick around his pinky that it was more like a rope. It leads to Reborn, signalling their strong destiny together.
- Refusal of the Call: Tsuna refuses to be Vongola Decimo, going so far as to offer his brother in his place. On a lighter note, the Brilliant, but Lazy Hachirou refuses to tank Skull's blows despite being the Lightning Guardian.
- Reluctant Ruler: Tsuna is unwilling to be this. Ienari shows some hesitation before Becoming the Mask.
- Rescue Arc: Gokudera, Lambo and I-Pin were abducted by the Yousei. The Gang shows them why that's a very bad idea.
- Reverse Whodunnit: The reader has access to the modified reports. Also, the shadow court as detailed by Ayame and Nono independent of each other. Some may argue that the reader needs to know canon in order to acknowledge the importance of Shouichi during the Future Arc, and Enma during the Shimon Arc.
- Rivals Team Up: Unknowingly during the Triad Arc, the two groups led by Tsuna and Ienari go against the Triad members.
- Running Gag: Dino and his roses. And Ayame's resulting disposal of them by giving them to staff and even Shouichi.
- Saying Too Much: What happens when Ayame is unprepared, leaving Fon to know something that Ayame wasn't willing to reveal. Also, Vongola is not a threat, according to Ayame.
- Screw Destiny: Tsuna and the rest of the Gang are this to Vongola. Giotto, Ayame and the Parents are this to Vongola as well.
-
Shrug of God: Reborn does this, causing Fon to be surprised. - Slasher Smile: Hibari produces this when Kyoko's fighting capabilities come up.
- Spanner in the Works: Kamikawa towards Reborn's suggestions for Tsuna to be considered as Decimo. Also, Ayame and Ienari towards the canon plot.
- The Spartan Way: Reborn with Ienari, naturally. Also, 'the Death March' is implied to be one by the Gang.
- Ryohei could be going through this...evenings with Shamal in healing, early mornings with Colonello during the Varia Arc...When does he sleep? (Does he study?)
- Straight Man: Tsuna. Also, Reborn to the nonsense that is Namimori.
- Straw Nihilist: Don't worry, Mukuro gets better.
- The Stoic: Ayame is originally this. But she mentions that she had committed genoicide earlier, so this could just be her mellowing out. Also, Fon tries to maintain some vestige of this, but is visibly disturbed by his trip to the Spiritual World
- Story Arc: Daily Life Arc, Bridge Arc (Flashback), Yousei Arc, Triad Arc. We are now in the Varia Arc.
- Team Mom: What Nana is to the Gang. Ayame is the Team Sister, thank you very much.
- That Mysterious Thing: the 'Kyoto Spring Trip' is responsible for Kyoko's admission as Number One Fight Capable of Namimori Middle, above Hibari Kyoya for goodness sake. Also, twenty miles of collateral damage. The incident at Sinapri is revealed to be this as well:
- The wild beast he had met in the aftermath of Sinapri was nothing compared to the calm, relaxed visage Ayame had become when they had met again nearly six years later.
- "Sinapri use to physically exist," Ayame said carefully. "It no longer physically exist. Tsuna, I wiped that island and all of its inhabitants off the face of the earth."
- All she remembered in the direct aftermath was Koumei's emotionless expression, Tier's cold logic, Asher's fear and the encompassing desire to burn everything to the ground.
- There Are No Therapists: You think after going to anger management classes, Ienari would not be so hostile to his twin brother...think again.
- If Tsuna hadn't attempted suicide and spotted Yamamoto, would Yamamoto have survived his suicide attempt?
- Title Drop: More like summary drop:
- Tsuna smiled at him. "Don't walk behind me," Tsuna said fondly. "Just walk beside me and be my friend, Hayato." This leads to the Internal Reveal above.
- Town with a Dark Secret: Reborn knows there is something going on, and Fon too, but they decide to let Colonello and Skull in to train Ienari's guardians while letting them find out for themselves how strange the town is.
- Reborn decides to throw Colonello and Skull off the deep end for shits and giggles. Fon isn't surprised.
- Training from Hell: What Ienari needs in order to survive the Varia. Ayame needs to do this in order for Tsuna to survive Ienari's abuse through the 'Death March'.
- Fuun regrets trying to kill the Greatest Hitman after experiencing this from Reborn. He is well aware how close he was to dying back then.
- Colonello trains Hisen, his Rain counterpart. He also encounters Ryohei when he collided with a wall. The wall won in Ryohei's case, and Colonello was impressed enough to have him as an additonal student.
- Training Montage: Ienari's guardians over the course of Chapter 29. Also, Ryohei.
- True Companions: Only the Gang can see what is happening to Tsuna and remain friendly to him, during Namimori's hostility campaign. Ienari's Guardians, on the other hand, can't be said so.
- Übermensch: Hibari Kyoya to Namimori. Also, Hibari Koumei to his family.
- Uncanny Family Resemblance: Kyoya is Fon's nephew. Besides Tsuna and Giotto, Alaude and Kyoya are implied to be related as well.
- Unwitting Pawn: Due to Iemitsu's leave, Nono's workload doubles. He decides to take a quick nap. Then this happens.
- "Voi, that was easy. The old man didn't even resist." "This job is going to cost you." "Yeah yeah. Let's get him back to the boss."
- Wham Episode: The Bridge Incident. Giotto implies that the first incident that kicked off the hostility towards Tsuna is this as well.
- Whole Episode Flashback: The Bridge Incident, and the fallout that includes Yamamoto for the first time.
- With Friends Like These...: Or rather, with brothers like these...Tsuna has to struggle to reconcile the fact that Ienari's his little brother and the instinctive urge to protect him with the fact that Ienari's been abusing him. Enma helps him.
- You Are Not Alone: It is this that persuades Tsuna to live on.
- ''"No," Giotto said, shaking his head. "The Bridge Incident is what happened when Tsuna was 10." He paused, contemplating his next words. "What's the difference between the resolve to survive and the resolve to live?" he abruptly asked.
