#when Hashirama told him he wants him to be a hokage

[fire-eyed-raven]

If every time I've seen Madara being terribly mischaracterised I've got a penny I would probably be reach already T_T

At least warring states/founding of Konoha times Madara

[evilkitten3]

bonus: they get shizune and also a pig! two medics for the price of one (jk you have to pay them both. a lot. tsunade is in a fuckton of debt)

also while we’re on the subject of the akatsuki. I really wonder how long the internal debate was to hire tsunade.

Pros:

shes fucking tsunade

do the akatsuki have a medic: no

do they need a medic: it would be helpful. pein is basically constantly dying.

people she cares about keep dying horribly so there’s a connection there? maybe they could get her on their side??

the goal of the organization is to capture all of the jinchuuriki and tsunade is a woman who is capable of punching an actual bijuu in the face and making it hurt.

Cons:

technically not a missing-nin, she just. kinda went awol. How disillusioned is she with the system. Unknown.

not only is she from konoha, but she’s jiraiya’s teammate. this isn’t a dealbreaker because they did hire orochimaru at one point, but still. complicated feelings.

kind of notorious which is not helpful as a clandestine organization of missing-nin. even if she learned to be more subtle, that would just raise the question of “hey, where the fuck did tsunade go”

if kakuzu has already been hired, this is a shitshow waiting to happen. She’s hashirama’s granddaughter. She’s terrible with money. She cannot be killed. He is already 3 seconds away from an aneurism at all times, this might just make him flip out completely.

Tobi’s Pros and Cons List (secret):

Madara would think it was funny if the last Senju became a missing-nin

If she joins, this might cause jiraiya to come after her. If tobi kills jiraiya, no more icha-icha is published. suffer in your trash can, kakashi.

kakuzu keeps killing all his partners and he would have a lot of difficulty killing her. also he makes very funny faces when he’s angry?? Tobi must weigh his own personal amusement against his organization’s combat effectiveness. Highly difficult.

tobi has never been punched through a wall before!

[yu-huuuu]

Hey there! How about having the madara, hashirama and itachi's way of celebrating an anniversary with his wife as headcanons? Thank you!

[ 🌸 ] oh...! If I were married I would like to go to a beach to do you know what thing… that's right, I'm talking about drinking pineapple with my partner while I tell him the gossip that my grandmother told me the other day-

characters: itachi uchiha, madara uchiha, hashirama senju

genre: fluff with a touch of comedy

warnings: none, spicy parts, reader being pampered by three adult men, happy married couple

...

...

..

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Itachi Uchiha

—My sweet boy.

—He sleeps a little longer than usual to enjoy the warmth of the morning by your side, even though he has a whole list of plans of what he wants to do with you. —When he feels he's had enough rest, he gets up quietly and heads to the kitchen.

—When you wake up, he brings you breakfast in bed with a smile so beautiful and bright that it makes you fall in love with him for the thousandth time.

—He gives you a shy smile if you decide to share something from your plate with him (he'll eat it, but, don't expect him not share from his own plate with you too).

—In the end, the two of you end up feeding each other while laughing like lovestruck teenagers.

—After that, he takes you to the bathroom for both of you to take a shower before starting your day.

—He is gentle as he scrubs your shoulders, back, and chest while you just sigh relaxed with his soft touches.

—Of course, he'll let you help soap up his back.

—In the end, he wraps both of you in towels before carrying you in a princess style to the bed.

—Things… happen when you get there.

—Let's just say your legs wouldn't stop trembling for a good few minutes.

—Anyway!

—You both go out to eat at a nice place.

—While eating, Itachi's free hand plays with yours under the table.

—When your stomach is satisfied along with his, you go out holding hands and walk through the park (which was surprisingly empty) before sitting on the grass under a tree. —And now it feels like a dream to Itachi. You by his side as he feels the fresh breeze. —Your head fits like a puzzle piece on Itachi's shoulder while he wraps his arm around you, resting his head on top of yours. —You stay like that for a while until Itachi tells you he has a little surprise for you. —You’re a little surprised when he takes you to a spa. —And Shisui suddenly appears, telling him that the Hokage is calling him for an emergency. —He kisses you on the forehead before telling you he'll come back for you and to relax at the spa in the meantime, giving you some money before disappearing. —You stay there, trying not to feel too disappointed but thinking it will be quick. —When you're relaxed and your hair is styled and shiny, you're surprised to see Itachi outside the place. —Waiting for you with one of his lovely smiles along with a bouquet of flowers, as if he hadn’t left you there for two hours. —"Shall we go?" he asks, giving you his hand and the bouquet to take. —On the way home, you wonder what has him so smiley until you enter the house and find out why. —He made you dinner. —Well, it looks more like a buffet with your favorite foods combined with his. —He guides you to the table and pulls out the chair for you to sit before sitting next to you. —That's when you realize it's impossible that Itachi could have done all this by himself in such a short time. —"The Hokage didn’t call you, right?" "No, but I made you dinner." —Enjoy his food, please. —He had a great time enduring Shisui’s cheesy jokes on the way home. —When you’re both satisfied, he gives you something he’s been working on for several months as a gift. —As a gift, Itachi gave you a small book in which he wrote some poems that perfectly describe the love and affection he feels for you. —Every feeling that your words, touches, and voice evoke in him is written in its pages. —It’s a very personal and special gift for him, one that he made exclusively for you and only you, and no one else. —Please! Don't cry or he might get alarmed. —Anyway!

—At night, when you enter the hallway leading to the bedroom, you’ll see a path of petals.

You let out a soft laugh when you saw the petals on the wooden floor. Your heart was pounding hard against your chest, making you feel excited.

A small blush crept up your face as you imagined what Itachi had prepared for you. "Itachi! What is all this?"

"Another gift for the most special woman in the world," he replied with his own quiet laugh while leaving several kisses on your shoulders, as far as his position behind you allowed him to reach.

The walk to the bedroom felt relatively much shorter than it had all the previous times.

You let Itachi guide you, feeling so in love while feeling his hands over yours, caressing them with his long, cold fingers as he accompanied you.

A gasp of awe escaped you when you saw the bed. There were several petals on the bed and the floor, the window curtain was open, letting the angelic moonlight into the room, making it look ethereal and so intimate.

Your heart skipped a beat when Itachi cupped your face with such tenderness. He kissed you so gently that it almost made your knees want to give out. You smiled when you felt his hands slowly and methodically undress you.

He was definitely the man of your dreams.

...

Madara Uchiha

—Many will say that Madara is already prepared to celebrate your anniversary four days in advance.

—Well, that is half true and half false.

—Don't look at me like that, the man has been preparing since the beginning of the month.

—Although…

—Don't get me started on your first anniversary (the poor guy was running around like a headless chicken since the beginning of the year. He was like that until you saw him nervous because he couldn't find a good gift for you… and there were still five months left).

—He will want to give you a special (and expensive) gift. —Although sometimes he runs out of ideas or has them but doesn't know if they are good and if you'll like them, the poor man is like: "😦, now what?"

—Sometimes he goes and asks Hashirama for suggestions (once the good man suggested for some reason that he bake a cake and bring it to you in bed as a nice surprise, he even offered to help him… it didn't go well).

—Sometimes he goes to the cemetery to talk to his brother's grave and ask for advice. He knows it's useless to ask a dead person for help, but somehow it makes him feel better and gives him more confidence with the ideas that come to his mind.

—And, in turn, it fills him with energy to continue. —Because your man may be stubborn and confident when he's on the battlefield or when he's face to face with a tailed beast, —but then you come along and weaken him, and he doesn't know what to do, aww! —Going back to before! —Girl, you hit the jackpot. —It's like it's your birthday. —He spoils you a lot, he just wants to pamper his beautiful woman (not that he doesn't do it every day, though). —He takes you to eat wherever you want and buys you whatever you want, because you know, in his words: "My wife's happiness is my happiness." —When you get back to your house, he'll ask you to stay in the room for a moment while he disappears into the bathroom. —And when he comes out with a big smile, you know he's up to something.

“What are you doing?” you asked, letting out a small breathless laugh as he held out a hand to you, which you took with amusement.

Madara smiled at the sound of your little laugh. “It’s a surprise,” he replied, looking into your eyes with love, his own body trembling with anticipation and longing at seeing the subtle playful glimmer in the rich color of your eyes.

He gently guided you towards the bathroom door while still holding your much smaller hand compared to his. Before entering, he turned to look at you, “close your eyes”

You made an ‘o’ with your mouth as you did what he had asked; to tell the truth, you were excited, very excited in fact. You heard the soft sound of the door opening and then felt the gentle warmth of the steam on your face and a smell that at first, you couldn't distinguish but had escaped when the door was opened.

A smile spread across your lips from the excitement, but you held back, not wanting to ruin the surprise your husband had prepared for you.

You quickly identified the smell, it was… lavender? A soft laugh wanted to escape you, it was your favorite and your husband’s too.

You felt his body press against yours from behind, giving you a different kind of warmth than the steam. His chest found its place pressed against your back while his strong arms wrapped around you. His chin rested perfectly on your left shoulder.

When it came to him, everything felt like a puzzle; every piece always fit in its place, your hands when you interlaced your fingers, when you both hugged or when your lips met, it felt as if the world had made you for each other.

“Open your eyes”

You did.

Your eyes opened to see several petals on the floor and on the water in the bathtub. The candles lit up the bathroom, the light was soft, giving the bathroom a special and romantic touch.

“Happy anniversary, dear,” your lover whispered before making a trail of kisses on your shoulders and back. You squeezed his arms as his hands moved over your beautiful body with the sole mission of pleasing you.

...

Hashirama Senju

—Fun guy.

—He has several gift ideas he wants to make (I feel like if Hashi-Hashi had Pinterest, he would have a board specifically for ideas to make for your anniversary).

—In fact, in modern times, I can see him making ice cream with milk and crushed cookies just because he saw it while browsing the internet looking for easy desserts to make 🥺 Hashi-Hashi solves.

—Okwy, okay, okay

—Let's get to it!

—My handsome guy will wake you up a bit early to make the most of the day (he managed to escape after signing all the papers the day before and somehow left his younger brother in charge of the Hokage Tower).

—Also, he is somewhat excited and nervous about what you will say when you see his wedding anniversary gift. I mean, he spent a few months making it with such care that he fears something might go wrong.

—He insists on making you breakfast as a reward for all the times you have kindly made and prepared food for him when he has to go to work.

—But it doesn't turn out so well, you know?

—Poor thing, my boy 😭.

—Please avoid the burnt part of the egg and the overly toasted side of the bread. He did what he could 😭✨.

—After eating, you both wash the dishes (you insist on helping him after the last time you let him wash the dishes alone, he managed to break a cup… and it didn't even fall to the floor to begin with, you are still trying to figure out how he managed to break it).

—After that, you both stayed on the porch enjoying each other's presence until lunchtime.

—He will take you to the forest for a picnic lunch in nature ✨ The guy has some ideas.

—He will lean on your shoulder while nibbling on his ham sandwich (he leaves some crumbs on you, although he removes them afterward).

—After eating, he will ask for permission to lie on your thighs, he simply loves the feeling of being with you.

—You both stay talking for a while as you gently run your hands through his hair, relieving all the accumulated stress he has from his job.

—Sometimes, the leaders of other villages drain all his energy, but he keeps going, for you and for all his people!

—After that, he takes you to another place.

—He looks nervous yet excited. When you reach a part of the forest, he is practically smiling from ear to ear.

“Close your eyes”

“Why?” you asked, raising an eyebrow playfully.

“Just do it, I promise you won't regret it”

You smiled. Although you were nervous, you trusted your husband— whatever he was planning in that head of his.

You felt his rough hands gently taking yours to start guiding you. Some giggles escaped you when you heard him nervously trying to guide you and tell you not to trip over a rock.

Although, to be honest… you didn't feel as many leaves under your feet— could it be that Hashirama had cleaned the path you were now walking on?

Your heart bubbled at the thought of your husband trying to keep the path clean and perfect for you, and suddenly you understood why Tobirama was sometimes alone in the Hokage Tower and seemed a bit nervous when you asked about your husband's whereabouts.

A laugh threatened to escape your throat, but fortunately, you held it back. Both brothers were terrible liars, maybe it was in their genetics.

“We're here, darling,” Hashirama said excitedly. You could practically feel him bouncing a little with excitement, like an impatient child wanting to show something he was proud of.

“Alright… open your eyes”

You opened them only to marvel at the variety of vibrant colors dazzling your sight.

In front of you was a landscape with several flowers of different shades and colors. The soft scent that filled your lungs made you sigh with pleasure, freeing your mind. You vaguely wondered how you hadn't noticed the smell of the flowers before; maybe you were so focused in your mind that you didn't pay attention to it.

The gentle squeeze of Hashirama's hand softly brought you out of your thoughts. The sun was beginning to set, and the sky was tinted with various colors, which only added to the beauty of the landscape before you.

“Shall we?” your husband asked, excited to show you around.

Your eyes shone, “Yes...”

And if you both did something else that afternoon, well, that would stay between you two and the flowers surrounding you.

[shadow-bringer-ao3]

How to Save the World by Hatake Kakashi

It all starts when, for the first time since he lost his team, Hatake Kakashi shows up precisely on time for a meeting. The Sandaime Hokage, who has grown used to his current most skilled shinobi being an upwards of three hours late most days, had not actually been prepared for Kakashi to slip through his window at exactly seven, landing without a sound just inside the room before wandering over to his desk.

He looks more tired than usual, Hiruzen notes, not even making an attempt to hide his weariness. It bodes ill, he thinks. Last time Kakashi had looked like this, he had taken so many S-rank missions back to back that Hiruzen had had to put him on guard duty to get him to rest. This doesn’t feel quite the same but he can’t help but think it’s no better.

“Hokage-sama,” Kakashi greets.

“You’re early,” is all Hiruzen can think to say for a moment. Kakashi hums, rolling his shoulders in the approximation of a shrug.

“I had a nightmare,” Kakashi says lightly. Hiruzen blinks, surprised that the man would be so candid— “You see, the moon came down and it told me ‘Kakashi, one day you’ll be the Rokudaime Hokage’ and then it started dancing with Uchiha Madara except Madara had Hashirama-sama’s face on his chest.” Ah. Well, that kind of excuse is certainly more in line with how Kakashi usually acts even if it makes Hiruzen more concerned for how the man’s mind works.

“Is that so.” Hiruzen carefully makes sure his voice is nowhere near questioning. Kakashi nods gamely anyway, his visible eye curling into a smile that gives Hiruzen a bad feeling.

“Mhm but that’s not all the moon told me,” Kakashi says cheerfully.

When it’s clear his shinobi is expecting some sort of response, Hiruzen responds blandly with, “how intriguing.” Kakashi leans forward conspiratorially and, despite himself, Hiruzen copies the movement.

“It also told me…” Kakashi pauses dramatically before saying, “that I must go soul-searching.” Hiruzen blinks at the Hatake before mechanically dropping his blank gaze to the hitai-ate slid across his desk. Hiruzen looks slowly back up at Kakashi. For the first time since the war, Hiruzen can see both of the boy’s eyes.

“Soul-searching,” he echoes. He’s fairly sure Hatake Kakashi, perhaps his best ANBU and the most unlucky shinobi currently in the village, just quit. Something which is actually illegal, despite his leniency towards Tsunade.

“I’m glad you understand!” Kakashi chirps. Chirps. What.

“What.” Kakashi just beams at him and… vanishes in a swirl of air? Hiruzen stares at where the shinobi was and then realizes that, before anything else, he’s going to have to find a new prospective sensei for the new prospective Team 7. He’s also going to have to fill out the paperwork to officially discharge Kakashi from ANBU. He’s also got to decide if he’s going to list Kakashi as a rogue-nin or hand wave his absence like he did Tsunade’s.

“Fuck.” He says emphatically and gets busy trying to figure out who to assign Team 7 to. Ebisu doesn’t have a team but he’s never been the sort Hiruzen really wants in charge of teaching the next generation of shinobi, Genma doesn’t have a team but he’s as liable to throw the brats headlong into the Forest of Death as he is to actually teach them, Tenzo is strong and worked with Kakashi long enough to understand the basics of the sharingan but Hiruzen would be loathe to lose another skilled ANBU…

Kisame is being followed. Or Itachi is but it amounts to the same thing. Itachi’s noticed it as well, his sharingan active and his eyes flicking to take in the forest around them. There are very few people out there that could follow around the two of them without getting caught and none who would have a reason to as opposed to attacking or running.

Maybe they want to join the Akatsuki? Although if they think this is the way to make a good first impression, Kisame is pretty sure they don’t want them. Of course, there’s not really any missing-nin listed in any of Bingo Books that are skilled enough to be considered for the Akatsuki anyway.

Of course, Kisame thinks blandly when their stalker finally wanders into sight, nose buried in a book, Hatake Kakashi is not a missing-nin by any measure and he’s definitely at the skill level of an Akatsuki prospect. Kisame and Itachi do not exchange a glance because they’re more professional than that but the urge is there.

“Oh hello Hoshigaki-san, Itachi-kun,” Hatake greets pleasantly, eyes curling into crescents. And that’s a surprise too— last Kisame knew, the Konoha shinobi wore his hitai-ate over his scarred eye. Although, now that Kisame is looking for it, he can’t actually see any hitai-ate.

“…Hatake-san,” Kisame returns because Hatake was polite. Itachi appears to have gone catatonic. In light of this, Kisame finds himself asking “what are you doing here?”

“Oh, you know,” Hatake says happily, “soul-searching.”

“Soul-searching,” Kisame echoes. The situation is not making any more sense as time goes on.

“Mhm,” Hatake hums, attention back on his book. Kisame finally gives into the urge to glance at his partner but Itachi is placidly watching Hatake and doesn’t seem to notice Kisame’s questioning look.

“…Kakashi-taichou?” Itachi finally inquires after a long pause. The honorific is a little concerning since Itachi hasn’t been a Konoha shinobi for a long time now but Kisame’s willing to give him the benefit of the doubt considering how strange this interaction has been.

“Say, Itachi,” Hatake starts, eyes still glued to his book, “what would you do if the moon was evil?” Okay, what the fuck. That’s not a normal question. Itachi’s brow furrows but Kisame genuinely can’t tell if it’s because he’s pondering his answer or because Hatake just asked something insane. Sage, what if Konoha shinobi are just like this? Kisame can’t deal with Itachi asking him his opinion on evil moons or— or lonely suns or whatever.

“I would destroy it,” Itachi says eventually. Kisame wonders if his partner is being serious or if this is some sort of weird code. At this point, he’d almost prefer it if his partner was a traitor and this was all some weird code that would make sense at a later time. Hatake hums again.

“If you say so,” the weird man says cheerily before wandering into the forest with his nose still buried in his book.

“What the fuck.” Itachi, ever in Big Brother Mode, gives him a Look for the swear.

Maybe this whole day has been a fever dream…

Kakashi is in Kamui. Obito has no idea how long Kakashi has been in Kamui but there he is, relaxing against a block, reading Icha Icha. He does not, Obito notices, have a hitai-ate. He also doesn’t have his father’s tanto and Obito honestly can’t remember a time Kakashi was without that tanto when outside Konoha. Maybe he assumed Kamui is safe? He would have no reason to think otherwise— he would have had to get through with Obito’s mangekyo and as far as he knows, Obito is dead.

Although, as far as Obito knew, Kakashi didn’t have access to the mangekyo. That must have changed, clearly, but he doesn’t know when or how and Obito— well, Obito has known everything about Kakashi these past years. Every mission, every failed genin team, every visit to the Memorial Stone. He hasn’t checked up on Kakashi in three days. What could have possible happened in three days to have Kakashi gain access to the mangekyo, learn to warp into kamui, and apparently retire. Or go rogue or something.

“You know,” Kakashi muses apropos nothing, “I always wondered what I would have done if I had a second chance. Save Minato-sensei, save Kushina-nee, save my father?” Kakashi flips a page in his book. “Save you, Obito?” Obito stills, every tiny fidget vanishing as his focus narrows down to Kakashi and the space between them. “I suppose it’s a moot point. I’m now, not then. There’s nothing I can do to change those events in this time, no jutsu I can use, no sacrifice I can make. The past is gone, the dead are dead. And there’s nothing either of us can do about it.” Obito debates leaving Kakashi here, talking to empty space, snuffing out whatever tiny hope his former teammate thinks he found. He debates going down there, playing Tobi or Madara or just some random eye-stealing shinobi. He debates for one moment killing Kakashi. He leaps down to land in front of him but Kakashi doesn’t so much as glance up, even though he’s clearly not reading any more. If he ever was.

“How?” He asks. Kakashi fingers the edge of Icha Icha for a moment before he snaps the book closed and slides it away, finally looking up at Obito.

“Does it matter?” Kakashi asks. Obito stares at him, thinks about his hand through Rin’s chest. He doesn’t kill Kakashi.

“Where’s your hitai-ate?” Kakashi blinks at him, apparently not expecting that question. He smiles or at least the way his eyes curve implies he does.

“I turned it in. I’m soul-searching.” Obito stares flatly, disbelieving.

“And, what, the Hokage just let you go?” Kakashi beams. Really truly beams. And it doesn’t look fake. Played up, yes, teasing, absolutely, but there’s no sardonic edge to it, no sense that it’s empty. Three days. Three days and Kakashi might as well be a different man.

“Oh, he didn’t really have much of a choice. He can’t follow me into Kamui, after all.” Kakashi sends an appreciative look around like Kamui, blocky and unending and just generally creepy, is a place to like.

“Why are you here? Why are you doing all this?” Obito asks, a note of frustration curling out from his careful control, infecting his voice and demeanor. Kakashi had always been able to drag his less savory emotions to the forefront. Irritation, annoyance, anger. Hate.

“Because you’re stuck in the past,” Kakashi says simply. “You’re looking back. For once, I’m looking forward.” Obito closes the gap between them in a moment, wrenching Kakashi up by the front of his flack jacket and slamming him back into the wall behind him.

“I am creating a future that not even you can ruin,” Obito snarls. “I’m dragging these violent, unforgivable nations to peace kicking and screaming.” Kakashi reaches out and Obito expect to feel a hand at his throat or cheek but no— Kakashi’s fingertips just hit his mask, curling lightly along it’s edge. He had forgotten he was wearing it.

“It won’t bring her back,” Kakashi says softly. “It won’t bring any of them back. An illusion is just an illusion and it will never be the same.” There’s a half-second of warning, Kakashi’s chakra spiking as the air warps, and then he’s gone, no hint of him having ever been there at all beyond the fast-fading smell of dog.

Orochimaru is in his lab when the Hatake brat steps in. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say ANBU Inu steps in. There’s no sign of Hatake’s perpetual slouch or his wandering attention, just the smooth movements and sharp focus of ANBU. Orochimaru sets down the vial he had only just picked up and keeps one careful eye on Hatake. Hatake has always been skilled, a dangerous opponent even to the Sannin, but he had always been weaker. Now, Orochimaru isn’t so sure. His chakra is smothered to just the barest hint of ozone but there is a difference in the way he holds himself, a confidence in his movements, that puts Orochimaru on edge.

The sharingan, he realizes suddenly. It no longer stands out as distinctly other. Hatake has somehow managed to integrate it into his chakra system. It probably doesn’t take nearly as much chakra as it used to, though Hatake is still keeping his eye closed. There’s no hitai-ate covering it. How… curious.

“Was there something you wanted?” Orochimaru asks. Hatake stops his circling between Orochimaru and the door. He looks far more wolf-like than he usually allows himself to.

“I’m giving you warning,” Kakashi says, “because you were once friends with people close to me.” Sakumo, Orochimaru thinks, though he hadn’t know the younger Hatake was aware his father once ran with the Sannin. “Leave Uchiha Sasuke alone,” Kakashi continues, just the hint of a growl in his voice, “or I’ll tear your throat out with my teeth.”

“Oh?” Orochimaru says dangerously, shifting forward in a clear threat. Hatake doesn’t blink, doesn’t shrink back, doesn’t tremble. There’s no fear scent in the air. “And what, pray tell, would you know about that?” Hatake regards him coldly.

“I’ll only say it once more. Leave Uchiha Sasuke out of your plans. If you want a sharingan so bad, take it up with Danzo.” Hatake is gone in the next moment, vanished into the air with no hint of a shunshin or other jutsu. Just the barest hint of red.

(Zetsu dies screaming.)

The door that blocks the entrance to the Akatsuki hideout scrapes open. This would be less noticeable if everyone in the Akatsuki wasn’t already gathered in the meeting room. Everyone stops and turns almost as one, waiting to see what idiot decided to waltz into their lair. (Konan and Pein don’t appreciate it when Deidara calls it a lair but he calls it like he sees it, un.)

When the idiot is revealed to be Hatake Kakashi, of all people, the air turns just a hair more panicky. The sound of Kisame’s forehead meeting the table is loud in the quiet. Hatake wanders further in, nose buried in a book (is that porn?!), and drops into the seat Zetsu once used without a word. It was shock that stilled everyone’s hand initially but now no one makes a move because if they can avoid a fight with Hatake Kakashi, man of a thousand justsu, why the fuck wouldn’t they? He couldn’t beat them all but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t do some serious damage before he died. It is, surprisingly, Itachi that speaks up first.

“Why are you here, Kakashi-taichou?” He asks politely.

“I’m terrorizing your boss into having morals again,” Hatake informs. He flips a page in his book. Itachi placidly stops Kisame from slamming his head against the table again.

“What the fuck?” Deidara puts out there. Because honestly, what the fuck.

“Don’t mind me,” Hatake says cheerfully. He flips a page in his book. Deidara’s not sure he’s actually reading.

“…I have morals,” Pein says after a long moment. Hatake hums and flips another page in his book. He doesn’t respond. After a moment, Konan clears her throat.

“If you don’t leave, we are going to have to kill you, Hatake-san.” Finally, Hatake looks up, book snapping shut in his hold. His one open eye scans over them all and Deidara scowls when it gets to him. Hatake might not be an Uchiha but everyone knows he has one of their eyes. Deidara hates the stupid sharingan.

“Maa, that’s not very nice,” Hatake says lightly. “I’m really only here to visit an old friend.”

“Who the fuck is friends with you?” Hidan snaps. “Fucking Itachi?!” Hatake blinks. It’s slow and lazy like. Deidara wonders if the guy thinks they’re threats at all.

“No,” he says. He does not elaborate. After a moment he opens his book back up. There’s only a second before the air twists and an arm appears to drag Hatake away into thin air. They all stare at the now empty seat. Kisume attempts to brain himself again, once more stopped by Itachi.

“What the fuck?” Deidara says again because it really cannot be said enough. Seriously, Konoha nin are the worst.

“What are you doing?” Obito snarls. He’s got Kakashi jammed up against a cube in Kamui again though considering the stupid genius asshole managed to escape last time he doesn’t figure he’ll be overly successful at keeping him here this time. He should just stab him. Leave him to die. Obito’s going to get a better version of him and Rin in the Infinite Tsukuyomi anyway, what’s the point of leaving him alive if he’s being more trouble than he’s worth?

“Weren’t you listening?” Kakashi asks innocently. “I’m terrorizing you into having morals again. I can’t punch you and make you good or talk you into being better or threaten to take away your right to bones or anything so this is the best I can do.” The worst part about it, Obito thinks, the worst part is that he sounds so genuine while saying such insane shit.

“Kakashi.” Obito stops because he’s not entirely sure how he should respond to something like that. “Kakashi, literally what the fuck.”

“What’s the point of putting the entire world under an illusion, anyway? Sure. everyone would get their perfect little worlds but they would all starve to death,” Kakashi says. Obito stares at him.

“What.”

“If everyone was in an illusion,” Kakashi says patiently, “how would they eat? Or drink, actually? Or have kids? Everyone would just die.”

“That— no, they— this fucking world sucks, anyway, and if everyone dies happy, what does it matter?!” Kakashi frowns at him. He looks disappointed which is entirely unfair. Kakashi should hate him or be angry with him but he just looks— tired. Disappointed. Sad but in a resigned kind of way. It’s not— even now, it’s not the empty exhaustion that’s plagued him since Obito killed Minato-sensei and Kushina-nee (oh god, he killed them, they were family and he killed them).

“It’s not peace if everyone’s dead,” Kakashi said. “And illusions aren’t real. That happiness isn’t real. Even the sharingan can’t trick an entire world to believe an entirely fake lifetime. It won’t work, Obito. If you don’t want to come back to Konoha, that’s fine, I’ll stay with you. If you want to work towards peace, that’s fine. But starting a war where the end result is an entire dead planet is not the way to get it.” Obito stares at Kakashi. Kakashi, who would leave Konoha for him even though Konoha is everything to him. Kakashi, who was always the smartest one on their team. Kakashi, who agrees that things should be better. Kakashi, who he can’t bring himself to kill. Kakashi, who he knows is right.

Obito runs.

Something very strange is happening in the world right now. Jiraiya has feelers out in just about every nation. He’s probably the most knowledgeable spymaster in the world. The things he knows go as follows:

One: Hatake Kakashi, his grand-student, has left Konohagakure in a not dissimilar way to how Tsunade left Konoha. This makes less than zero sense because Kakashi adores Konoha. It’s all the kid has left. Jiraiya lost everything and left. Kakashi lost everything and he sold his soul to Konoha. Kakashi is obsessive to the point of concern and there is no earthly reason Jiraiya can possibly come up with that explains why Kakashi is not still at Konoha.

Two: something happened with the Akatsuki. They’ve been exceedingly quiet lately, barely doing more than the absolute minimun required to keep a terrorist organizaion afloat. Nagato and Konan have redoubled their presence in Amegakure which feels a little like a step in the right direction, if Jiraiya’s being honest. There’s not been a whisper about the Akatsuki’s plans regarding the bijuu.

Three: something happened over at Mountains’ Graveyard. Let him rephrase. Something exploded over at Mountains’ Graveyard. It had to have been a big explosion as well because that’s an area that’s pretty universally avoided.

Four: Kiri has gone abruptly silent. The only thing Jiraiya’s managed to get out of that is that the Mizukage apparently had a complete change in personality.

Other things have happened as well, a cascade effect of change across every nation. Kakashi seems to be at the center of a good quarter of things he comes across. Nothing that makes sense. Most of the rest of it seems tied to the Akatsuki’s missing presence or the missions they are taking or it’s tied to the absolute nothing coming in and out of Kiri.

Something very strange is happening in the world. Jiraiya just hopes it’s a good strange.

Tsunade opens the door to the Hatake brat and a guy in an Akatsuki cloak and an orange mask. Tsunade slams the door shut. Shizune is gone, dealing with their last matters in town before they leave. Tsunade is not drunk. She knows this. She knows intimately every stage of drunkenness and how it affects her. Tsunade is not drunk. She opens the door. Hatake and the Akatsuki guy are still there.

“What the fuck do you want?” She demands.

“How do you feel about healing—” Tsunade slams the door in their faces. When she turns around to go out the window, they’re in the middle of the room. “Rude,” Hatake says, like he didn’t just teleport into her hotel room uninvited. “I know you don’t like blood and all but I’m trying to stop the end of the world, here.” Tsunade stares at them. She thinks for a moment about the effects of repeated head trauma and then about the average injuries a shinobi usually gets in a year. She decides that Kakashi has no brain left and that she does not want any part in this, for a variety of reasons.

“Get out of my room,” she says.

“It’s not technically your room,” Hatake tries.

“Out,” Tsunade interrupts loudly. Hatake sighs and looks like a kicked puppy but does grab his oddly silent companion by the elbow and drag them past her, out the door.

“I told you she wouldn’t help,” the Akatsuki guy says with a surprisingly low voice before Tsunade slams the door shut behind them. She waits until she’s sure they’re gone before opening the door and heading down towards where she knows Shizune will be waiting. She’ll deal with whatever the fuck that was exactly never.

It started with Hatake Kakashi showing up on time. Hiruzen will not budge on that. He’s half convinced he somehow ended up in an alternate universe where everything is just a little weird and that was the first sign. It started with Kakashi. It continued with Jiraiya coming back, looking uneasy and hesitantly hopeful with news that apparently bad things are just. Resolving themselves. It continued with Team 7 (under Gekko Hayate) starting to act just plain weird. It continued with Danzo’s death— apparently of natural causes but everyone has their doubts, of course. It continued with Team 7’s disappearance and Gekko’s miraculous recovery of his lifetime illness. Gekko himself seems entirely uncertain on both of these topics. It continued with Tsunade’s return and subsequent hostile takeover of the hospital, complaining about ‘stupid silver-haired brats’ and ‘creepy fucking undead Uchihas’ and ‘that asshole is blackmailing and bribing me, the little shit’ all the while. Hiruzen decides he will not deal with this any longer. He resigns.

Shikako is pigeonholed into becoming Hokage. He makes sure that it is everyone's problem.

Obito will admit, he was distracted. He didn’t see the attack coming. Then again, who the fuck would expect a tiny red and pink arrow of a genin to come flying out of the woods at speeds even the sharingan can’t keep up with just to put a tiny fist through your chest? No one, that’s who.

Obito still gasps awake, sorer than he has been in years, a backlog of guilt choking him up. He is surrounded. Kakashi is behind and half under him, apparently acting as his not-death-bed, and the pink-haired menace that killed him in the first place is disturbingly close to his face, staring at him intensely. Sasuke is on his left and Naruto on his right and he feels a little like he might die a second (third?) time.

“What the fuck?” Obito half-sobs with feeling.

“It’s better not to question it,” Kakashi recommends sagely.

(“Hey so are we ever going back to Konoha?” Naruto asks a week later after Obito has cried enough tears to last at least seven lifetimes and feels a little more like a human being. The whole group turns to him. Obito doesn’t particularly want to return to Konoha. He’s still sorting through the mess of emotions Madara manipulated him into having in his head but he knows that Konoha definitely isn’t his home any more, if it ever was. It’s hurt him too much and he’s hurt it too much. Sakura, little pink-haired she-devil that she is, shrugs.

“Nah,” she says after a moment. And that, apparently, is the end of that.)

Gekko Hayate's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Team

[yowyowyaoi]

*Tobirama having dinner with Hashirama and Madara*

Hashirama: Not to brag, but, I think my cooking’s getting better all the time! 

Madara: We’re 30 minutes into this meal and I have yet to be hit with debilitating stomach cramps, so, I suppose I’d agree.

Tobirama, quietly: Very good, elder brother.

Hashirama: Oh; smells like my dessert is about finished! You two keep eating while I go tend to it! *gets up and leaves*

Tobirama, softly, to Madara: Did you tell him — ?

Madara: No. Does he know how you got that black eye?

Tobirama: I told him I tripped over a rock in the dark. *touches his face* Hurts like a son of a bitch.

Madara: I won’t apologize, because I think you deserved it. Senju or not, I would have had the same reaction if I had walked in on anybody kissing my baby brother the way you were.

Tobirama: I see your position, Madara. But you never even asked me mine. I know you don’t like to hear such things, but, I’m in love with Izuna. And perhaps we shouldn’t have been sneaking around behind your back all this time, but —

Madara: No, you shouldn’t have been. It’s not just a matter of him being my brother; I am the Uchiha clan elder. All matters of … of courtship, need to go through me. It’s tradition, and a matter of respect. Or maybe courtship isn’t what you had in mind. Maybe you’re just after my brother to satisfy your physical needs.

Tobirama: That’s not it, at all. I am very much in love with that man. I want to make him my husband some day. And if groveling to you is what I need to do, to help that happen …

Tobirama: *leaves his place at the table and crawls on his knees to Madara, bowing when he gets to him*

Tobirama: Please, I beg of you; allow me to enter into courtship with Izuna Uchiha, according to the customs of your clan.

Madara: Well …

Hashirama, coming into the room with a large cake: Just say Yes, Madara. End this nonsense between you two. It’s bad enough you hurt his face like that.

Madara: Wait … you knew that was me?

Hashirama: Of course I did. Tobirama senses everything, all the time. There’s no feasible way he’d “trip over a rock” and fall in the dark. And then I saw Izuna a few days ago in the village, and he was acting so shy and nervous … not to mention when I invited him for dinner tonight, and told him you both would be here, he all but panicked. So I put two and two together.

Madara: Your brother says he wants to marry Izuna some day. Honestly, truthfully; do you feel like he’d make a good husband?

Hashirana: Mmm; difficult to say, really. I’ve known Tobi my whole life, after all. He can be really stubborn sometimes, and when he gets wrapped up in writing or inventing new jutsus, he can go silent for days. But I also know your brother brings something out of him that I’ve never seen before. Izuna makes him smile, and laugh, and just enjoy life more. I don’t doubt that he loves him, and I think, I know, that he’d be the best husband possible for him. He —

Madara, gruffly: Alright, Hashi … you needn’t get so emotional about it. A simple “yes” would have sufficient. 

Tobirama: Indeed, big brother. Most unbefitting behavior for a Hokage.

Hashirama, blushing: You two are certainly rude. But is the matter settled then? Can I send for Izuna to come eat this cake with us, so we can celebrate?

Madara, sighing: Very well. I suppose … I suppose Izuna could do worse than Tobirama. But Senju, you can’t just jump to proposing to him. You have to take him on a series of dates, some with Uchiha clan members as guardians, some with Senju as guardians, and sometimes both. If both clans find your behavior and your union to be acceptable after an appropriate period of time, THEN you can ask him for his hand. *sticks out his own hand* Agreed?

Tobirama: *shakes Madara’s hand* Agreed.

Madara: Good. Now that that’s settled: feed me.

Tobirama: Excuse me?

Madara: Mm? Didn’t you say you’d do anything to be able to court my brother? Well, here’s your chance to prove it. Feed me, and then when Izuna gets here, you’ll let him sit on your back, like a chair. And afterwards you’re going to carry the both of us back home. Clan tradition, you understand.

Madara: Also, you better learn how to bake, and fast. See this cake? Izuna will eat more than half of this if he’s not stopped. If you marry him, he’ll expect something sweet like this every day for the rest of your lives. And if you bake something he doesn’t like — *pulls off his glove, revealing a series of bite marks on his hand* Lets just say he’s not too forgiving.

Tobirama:

Tobirama: What have I gotten myself into?

[theheirofthesharingan]

Hashirama was a jerk when he told Sasuke that Madara loved his brother more than Itachi. Who was he to talk about Itachi and how he loved. What did he know. Who named him the master of the lovemeter. That and praising Itachi for killing his clan saying he was a better shinobi than him. As if Itachi did that to earn merits as a shinobi, as if he hadn't been coerced to do it. As if he was Konoha's hero instead of its victim. I hate Hashirama so much.

I won't call him a jerk because he didn't know anything about Itachi. He didn't meet Itachi to draw this conclusion. He didn't hear much from Sasuke about Itachi. He only heard some things from Hiruzen, and the way Hiruzen describes him, he makes the image of a perfect Shinobi, not a child who was used and manipulated by the system. So, Hashirama praised the Shinobi that stopped the war rather than sympathise with a broken child.

As a person, though, no, he didn't care about Itachi at all. Otherwise he wouldn't make the remarks like he did.

I don't even care if Madara loved Izuna more or not. Izuna is an irrelevant character in the story, unlike Sasuke and Itachi both. Izuna is important to Madara, but not the narrative. People who think otherwise just have a hate-boner for Itachi and want to dismiss everything he did and represented, for which they don't mind contradicting the words written by Koshimoto himself.

Hashirama just had a view of a Shinobi, because of his own experience in war. But I'd still like him to remember that the lives of Itachi and Sasuke were shaped by his own failed policies, Tobirama and Madara going "my pain is greater than everyone else's" where Itachi just kept it all inside.

Truthfully, Itachi is not only the greater Shinobi than Hashirama (I'm not even debating against that), he's a far better person than either Hashirama or Madara or Tobirama could ever dream to be.

If he had half the authority and freedom of the other three (either as the Hokage or the clan head) he would have made much better decisions. But we're not going into that.

[the-real-sasuke-uchiha]

for them it's you are either with us or against us. shikamaru isn't mad at konoha or shinobi system and wants to go against one of konoha's enemies. sasuke's anger is placed at konoha so he isn't from them. they see him as someone who went against their will, left the village and now wants to abolish it. kinda like the narcissist when they lose the control of a person they go crazy. so sasuke must be punished for even daring to go against them. if he gets his revenge konoha have to admit being wrong but they are never wrong and the good village so sasuke is framed as the crazy one for not settling with good guys in the good village. i once saw a post that said people hate sasuke because they expected him to be distraught for leaving konoha after time skip and wanted him to be in despair over their self inserts. sasuke didn't give 2 fucks and validation they craved so he is hated.

You are so right anon, and we can add even more. This is not only "with us or against us", this is that the Uchiha were never included in the "us" to begin with. They wee never seen as rightful members of Konoha even when they co-founded the village, they were seen as the enemy, they were distrusted, surveyed, segregated, forced to blindly serve a system where they had no word and no power. Nothing they did was enough, it didn't matter that they sent Madara away, that they prioritized Hashirama for Hokage, or that they fought and died in wars to protect the village. The Senju never honoured the treaty they signed, they built a nepotic oligarchy and used their influence to finally annihilate their rivals, spreading lies and prejudice through several generations to ensure their success.

Sasuke is also never seen as a person independently from the assumed inheritance of hatred unfairly attributed to the Uchiha. In the first part he was not going against Konoha, there was nothing political in his desire for vengeance. Itachi was exactly the same as Hidan in Konoha's eyes, he was a wanted criminal, and there was a bounty placed on his life. Kakashi knew nothing of Itachi's agreement with Hiruzen. And still, see how he treats Sasuke. He ties him to a tree assuming he is going to be unreasonable. He dismisses his feelings and trauma-dumps him to try and convince him that he is overreacting, that his problems are not out of the ordinary and that he is not the one that had it worst. Sasuke is told to give up and is expected to choose his "friends" over justice for his family.

Imagine how that could have gone if Kakashi hadn't been so shamelessly biased? Imagine if he had offered his help to Sasuke, like he did to Shikamaru. Imagine if he had validated his very legit feelings and reassured him that he had his teacher and his friends by his side to help him become stronger and powerful enough to beat Itachi. Maybe Sasuke would have left anyway, Orochimaru didn't put the cursed mark there for nothing. But there was a chance he wouldn't have felt so alone and disconnected from everyone in that damn village. A chance he found a reason to stay. At least until he learned the truth, that is.

But of course, apart from Kakashi's prejudice, we also have the thing that Asuma was part of the oligarchy, he was the hokage's son. You know, the extermination of the Uchiha you have to forgive and forget for peace but, apparently, when the oligarchy is concerned, there is no "stopping the cycle of hatred" bullshit.

And yeah, everything that happens afterwards is pure evidence of double standards and Konoha's desire to just control Sasuke and force him to submit. Because Konoha keeps sending shinobi after him even when he is minding his business and doing things that, objectively, can only be considered as services to the village. Like neutralizing Orochimaru and releasing his prisoners, or eliminating Akatsuki members. Simply leaving the village is considered a crime, but only for Sasuke, apparently. Because Tsunade herself left, the village was incapable of locating her after Hiruzen's death. And nobody called her "missing-nin" or "rogue ninja". Apparently, if you leave to avenge your clan you are a criminal, but if you leave to bet and drink all your possessions then it is ok.

Also, Konoha, who ignored Orochimaru torturing and experimenting on people from several nations, sent Sai to kill Sasuke (not Orochimaru, mind you, I guess Danzo had to return the favour for the disgusting arm of sharingans) when he had done nothing. And when Sasuke attacked the raikage's brother, they put a bounty on him and set off to kill him because now is when they are worried about a rogue ninja causing an international diplomatic conflict. Not when they enabled Orochimaru or when they sent Itachi to Akatsuki to play terrorist.

And, of course, some fans are so extremely and shamelessly biased against Sasuke it is unbelievable. For a world where ninja make a living from assassination, no other character seems to have circulating lists of crimes and of people they killed. People advocate for the samurai as if they were their own family members. As if oppressed people, on top of being forced to defend themselves and fight for their own life and freedom, had the obligation to behave always as the perfect victims never hurting a fly.

Well, I have news for you. Revolutions are ugly. Those who hold power don't give it up easily, it has to be taken by force and that is violent and messy. Our rights did not arrive by divine intervention, they were taken with blood. And yes, innocent blood too. Sasuke had NO OTHER WAY. He had no authority to turn to, because all leadership was corrupt, because the system was operated by vultures that wanted him dead since the beginning of his existence. He had to take Danzo down and anyone protecting him. The responsibility to avoid casualties was not his, but of those who maintained the oppression and caused the conflict in the first place. Those are the ones that should be blamed. The samurai dying were Danzo's fault, and their own fault for willingly protecting military dictators. You can't oppress someone, subject them to the utmost brutality, deny them of any ordinary and peaceful way to obtain justice and expect they just remain in helplessness awaiting their doom.

So yeah, anon. Sorry for using your ask as an excuse for such a long rant, but I can't with how biased people is against Sasuke. Both in the narrative and in the fandom.

[ladykissingfish]

Madara: Hashi, why doesn’t your granddaughter like me?

Hashirama: What do you mean? Is Tsuna being rude to you when I’m not around?

Madara: No, it’s just … she never talks to me unless I talk first. She never looks me in the eye. Do you think maybe we got together too fast, after Mito died? That maybe she resents me or thinks I’m trying to take her grandmother’s place?

Hashirama: *puts his arms around Madara* Stop talking nonsense, old man. Tsuna knows about our past, and how I’ve always felt about you. 

Hashirama: But you’ve got to remember, she really knows nothing about you. And she’s a teenage girl; her interests aren’t realy going to lie in being best friends with her old grandpa’s husband, you know?

Madara, sighing: I suppose you’re right …

Hashirama: I am right. Just give it some time; she’ll come around eventually.

*several weeks later*

Tsunade, going into the Hokage office: Gramps? Are you ready to — oh. 

Madara: He got called away to settle a dispute between two shop owners. But he should be back in just a little bit, if you want to wait?

Tsunade: *nods and sits in a chair, looking out the window*

Tsunade, muttering to herself: Damn … there goes that girl again chasing after Dan. I ought to go after her and punch her lights out.

Madara, quietly: That wouldn’t do you a bit of good, child.

Tsunade: *turns her head sharply to look at him* What?

Madara: Punching somebody is a very poor effort to extract revenge for a wrong. The bruise will heal and as soon as it does, they go right back to the same behavior. Have you warned her about staying away from this “Dan”?

Tsunade: Yes, but she just laughs at me and says that if I’m not enough to hold his attention, then she should be free to take him if she wants. 

Madara: Ah. Still, punching her or any sort of physical violence won’t be effective.

Tsunade: Then what am I supposed to do?!

Madara: Halloween is around the corner. Do you happen to know if she has any fears?

Tsunade: Well, once at academy a little blackbird flew into the window. She panicked and was screaming and crying until some kids caught it and let it back out. So, I suppose birds.

Madara: If she reacts so dramatically over a little blackbird, how do you think she’d react to several hundred hawks and falcons?

Tsunade: She’d probably be traumatized for life. But who in the world would have that many large birds??

Madara: *grins*

*several days later, Halloween afternoon*

Tsunade, running in to Hashirama’s office: It worked! I told the hawks and falcons to circle her and surround her, and they did! I threatened that if she didn’t leave Dan alone, she would suffer the same punishment every day! And she agreed to back off!

Tsunade: Thanks, Uncle Madara! *hugs him and leaves*

Hashirama: Ah? Did — did you show Tsuna how to command your birds — ?

Madara: Mm. Turns out we share two big interests; animals, and revenge.

Hashirama:

[scribomaniac]

forward, always: chapter 2

Sakura’s prediction was right; Izuna made for a terrible patient. 

He wasn’t the worst, thankfully. That honor went to the one and only Hatake Kakashi. The number of times she’d had to track that man down after he’d absconded from the hospital just to make sure he hadn’t undone all her hard work had been countless. 

At least Izuna stayed in one place.

Izuna had been on bed rest for a full month now, and awake for three of them. While his injuries still caused him to rest for several hours throughout the day, when he was awake he made sure that everyone knew it.

“I’m sorry Izuna,” Sakura told him for the twentieth time that morning as she spoon fed him the blandest of broths. “But your body isn’t ready for anything more than this.” 

And it wouldn’t be for some time, but she didn’t want to tell him that just yet. 

“I don’t think you’re very sorry at all,” Izuna sniffed. As soon as he was able to keep conscious for more than an hour at a time, Madara had ordered servants to bring an abundance of pillows to use to prop Izuna up into a sitting position. Madara had argued that it’d help with Izuna’s pride, allowing for him to feel less like an invalid, and Sakura had agreed because the position didn’t pull at his healing wound and would make feeding and bathing him easier. 

“Regardless,” Sakura said as she held a spoon full of soup near his mouth. 

With a petulant sneer on his face, Izuna opened his mouth and accepted his fate. 

“Are you sure she’s not Senju, sent here to poison me with disgusting broth?” Izuna threw an arm over his eyes and slumped back further into his cushions. 

Madara laughed. It was deep and soft and made Sakura’s stomach turn warm. As elusive as it was, Sakura found herself loving Madara’s laugh. It seemed to come out the most when in the presence of his little brother. 

“I’m sure,” he assured Izuna with a small smile on his face.

“Well” Izuna sighed, letting his arm drop and coming out of hiding. “You’ll be an Uchiha soon enough.” He looked between his brother and Sakura. “How was the announcement received, anyway?” 

“It was accepted by the elders,” Madara told him. “Our first meeting with the chief priest will be in a fortnight.”

Izuna hummed. “A clan head wedding and an alliance with the Senju. You sure have thrown a lot at them recently.” His dark eyes narrowed and his lips pursed. “Are you sure that this venture, or whatever you’re calling it, with Hashirama is a good idea?”

The day after Hashirama’s visit, Madara had summoned his council of elders to inform them of their plans for a truce and joint creation of a village. Sakura had expected more push back from the war torn elders, from the men who’d fought against the Senju for the entirety of their lives, but a surprising majority of them supported the idea. Hashirama’s prowess cast a long shadow, and it seemed that even now, before he creates and takes on the title of Hokage, the man was revered as the God of Shinobi. Many within the clan preferred to be on Hashirama’s side, rather than against it, even if that meant swallowing generations worth of strife and pride. 

Of course, there were still a good number of Uchiha who didn’t believe that the Senju would keep their word, none louder than Izuna, but with the popular opinion working against them, and no one daring to outright challenge Madara’s leadership, they could do little more than grumble their grievances.

Madara looked at Sakura first before responding, “I think it is worth a try.”

Izuna sighed. “If you say so.” His eyes drooped to a close and his breathing evened out, and soon he was asleep. 

Fussing with his blanket and making sure to cover Izuna’s shoulders to ward off any chill, Sakura then gathered up the half empty bowl of broth and nodded for Madara to follow her out of the room. 

Once they were a safe enough distance to speak freely and at a normal volume, Madara took the dishes from Sakura’s hands and set them off to the side. “It makes my heart sore to see Izuna in such good spirits.”

Sakura hummed, “He’s always a bit more energetic when you visit. He’s recovering faster than I had anticipated, too. We should be able to start his physical therapy in less than a month.” There was bound to be a set back or two, but Izuna was well out of the woods at this point and they could cross that bridge when they came to it.  

“There’s more to it, too,” Madara said before placing a brief kiss on her forehead. The action was becoming one of his favorites. “I think he’s excited for the future, just as I am.”

Wrapping her arms around Madara’s waist to keep him close, she smiled widely up at him. “The truce with the Senjus is truly remarkable, Madara. Everyone should be excited for it.”

Madara chuckled and shook his head. He brought his own arms around her shoulders a bit hesitantly, still unused to Sakura’s easy affections. “That’s part of it, I’m sure, but I think what he’s most excited for is our wedding. He’s always wanted a sister, you know.”

That drew a loud laugh from Sakura’s lips. “No way,” she shook her head. “He’s been ready to be rid of me ever since waking up.” Before that, even, considering their very first interaction included Izuna trying to strangle her. “He just tolerates me because of his love for you.”

“Trust me, Sakura,” Madara said with a smirk, “Izuna likes you. You’ll understand when you see him with the elders. He tolerates no one for my sake.”

Giving his waist a squeeze, Sakura relented, “If you say so.” Pulling back slightly, she asked, “Are you still meeting with Hashirama later today?”

Madara nodded. “We’re still mapping out the boundaries for the village. There’s a clan with a massive forest that we’d like to invite to join us. We plan to go out and start negotiations with them today.”

That must be the Nara clan, Sakura figured. The Nara forest with its sacred deer were an important addition for the future of Konoha. Not only would that clan bring their intelligence and specialized jutsus, but the forest would serve as a nearly impregnable defense along the eastern boundary of the village. 

Madara and Hashirama would be successful in their negotiations, Sakura knew, but she was nervous all the same. The textbooks never went into detail about how long it took for the village’s two founders to convince other clans to believe in their dream, or what arrangements were made to ensure cohesion. The textbooks merely said it happened, leaving Sakura feeling like a half baked prophet. 

Instead of focusing on things outside of her control, Sakura asked,“Will you be home for dinner?” 

Wincing, Madara gave her an apologetic look. “I’m not expecting to be, no. Hashirama is readying overnight provisions for us.”

So she really should have been asking if he’d be home for breakfast. Sakura shrugged, knowing it couldn’t be helped. At least she had her own itinerary planned for once, which would help keep her busy. 

“Alright, I’ll see you in the morning then.” Something resembling relief passed across his face at her words. “I’ve got a busy day planned for myself, actually. I was planning on going to the market and then perhaps to the Apothecary. It’s time I start learning the lay of the place.”

Since coming to Madara’s aid, Sakura had mostly been sequestered away in the main house. Now though, with Izuna in a more stable position and the news of their engagement spread, Sakura felt the need to make her presence known and get to know the people she was marrying into. If she was to become their matriarch—and wasn’t that just a shock and a half for a civilian born girl—she needed to know them and be known by them.

“I understand,” Madara nodded slowly. Whatever relief Sakura had found in his facial expression had been replaced with apprehension. “I’ll have Saburo escort you.” Madara stepped out of Sakura’s hold to walk out onto the engawa. Raising his arm, he waited for only the briefest of moments before one of his hawks landed on his extended arm, ready to receive a new message from its master. 

“Thank you,” Sakura said before Madara could get a message out, “but that's unnecessary, I won’t need an escort.”

A deep frown of displeasure cut its way across Madara’s mouth. “I think it’s best if you do. I insist.” He reached out with his free hand and grabbed her forearm, giving it a gentle squeeze. His tone was firm though, it was the voice he used when he commanded attendants and spoke with his elders. It left no room for argument. 

Sakura hadn’t heard that tone directed at her since those first early weeks attending the lord’s wife. 

Stepping closer to him, Sakura felt her own frown marring her face. “I don’t understand,” she admitted. Speaking quietly, she continued, “Surely there’s no danger within your clan’s territory, and I’m fully capable of taking care of myself. You know this.” 

Madara might not yet know the extent of her fighting prowess, but he had seen the distance she’d thrown that assassin. That had to count for something, surely. 

A pit of dread formed at the bottom of Sakura’s stomach. Did Madara think her weak? Would he, like all of Team Seven before him, only see the petite medic that needed to be coddled and protected at all costs? Sakura had trained for so long, fought so hard, for so many years, only to be forever cast aside as useless by those she wanted to protect. Always the one left behind. 

Madara let loose a long sigh before leaning forward to press his forehead against hers. Closing his eyes he told her, just as quietly, “Even within these walls I cannot guarantee your safety, and as my betrothed you now have a target on your back.” Pulling back enough to look her in the eyes, Madara squeezed her arm again as he said, “I would feel more at ease if I knew someone was with you, watching your back.”

The pit unfurled, releasing Sakura’s from its claws of insecurity and doubt. Madara wasn’t trying to push her off to the side, he just wanted to give her support. Understanding now Madara’s motivations, Sakura felt a soft smile curl across her lips. Placing a hand on his cheek, she reached up and gently pressed her lips to his. A warmth spread throughout her chest as she felt him kiss her back. They hadn’t shared many kisses since Sakura’s accidental proposal to Madara a month ago, but when they did it never failed to make Sakura’s heart flutter wildly. Pulling back, she nodded once, “Okay.” 

Not long after the messenger hawk left did Madara follow. Sakura wished him luck and told him to be safe and then she was alone. Knowing this Saburo man was on his way, Sakura did a final check on Izuna–still sleeping–informed the staff that she’d be stepping out for a while, and changed into a new yukata; one that didn’t have dribbles of broth staining it. 

An attendant informed Sakura of Saburo’s arrival, and she went to meet him in the genkan. “Oh,” Sakura stopped, surprised by the familiar face. “It’s you.”

Before her stood the ninja Madara sent to find her when Izuna was first injured, the one who had pushed himself far beyond his limits to get her to Izuna before he died. His loyalty and determination had impressed Sakura back then, even if she was more focused on other things at the time. No wonder he was the one Madara chose to be her escort. 

“Hello again, Sakura-sama,” he greeted with a small smile. “I apologize for not properly introducing myself to you during our last meeting.” He gave her a much smaller bow than during their first interaction as he said, “I am Uchiha Saburo and I am at your service.”

Sakura waved off his formalities with an awkward smile. “Thank you, Saburo-san, but please, call me Sakura.”

Small smile still in place, Saburo kindly told her, “You’re to marry the clan head, Sakura-sama. Calling you by anything else would be impertinent.”

She shouldn’t have expected anything less, given the time they were living in, but Sakura still found herself disappointed by his response, though she didn’t know exactly why.

They made their way to the market first, where Sakura was able to look through carts filled with pottery, books, plants, and foods. The Uchiha market was nowhere near as large as the one she’d grown up with in Konoha, and wasn’t even the size of some markets she’d passed on her travels, but it did the job well enough. The carts were mostly run by women who happily chatted and called out to their clansmen, enticing them to buy this or that. 

Saburo soon turned into quite the tour guide, informing Sakura on who to buy the freshest fish from, who was willing to bargain and who wasn’t, and who had a knack for being able to sell you just the thing you weren’t looking for. 

There was a chill in the marketplace though, and no matter how hard she tried, Sakura just couldn’t shake the feeling of frost spreading up along her spine. It grew with every narrowed gaze she met. And every conversation that halted as soon as she walked up made the chill bite a bit harder into her back. 

After making a few small purchases, Sakura and Saburo made their way to their next destination. 

The Uchiha Apothecary was nothing to write home about. Hashirama hadn’t been kidding when he said the Uchiha were not healers. The Apothecary was a small structure, barely larger than the apartment Naruto had grown up in. Honestly, calling it a shack would be more apt. Most of the space was taken up by jugs filled with liquids of many colors, overgrown plants, crates filled with dried roots or finely crushed powders, and jars filled with herbs and spices. Behind the large counter was a doorway that must’ve led into another room. Sakura could only assume it was where medicines were made and the occasional surgery took place. 

Since no one had yet come to greet her, Sakura took her time inspecting the many wares littered about. It seemed that most of the medicines available were anti-inflammatory in nature, and she wondered if that was due to the strain the Sharingan placed on the optic nerves. Perhaps Madara would one day allow her to look at his eyes. She’d only ever examined Kakashi’s eye, and that had been an implant. A pure version of the Sharingan might prove to be a little more difficult, but Sakura was sure that she’d be able to do a better job helping any irritation or degradation than turmeric or hangekobokuto. 

She wondered if Madara trusted her enough yet to help him with something so intimate and integral to himself. If he didn’t, Sakura knew in her gut, he would come to do so soon. It was only a matter of time.

A man appeared from the back room. His eyes narrowed as he fully took Sakura in, his mouth convulsing strangely. “Ah, you must be Haruno-sama. Welcome.”

Saburo took a step closer to Sakura, his arms crossing over his chest. 

“How may I help you?” The clerk asked, his mouth settling into a thin, frail looking smile. 

“Actually, I was hoping it could be the other way around,” Sakura began to explain as she stepped closer to the clerk and the counter he was standing behind. “Before coming to the Uchiha clan, I traveled as a healer. It’s my profession, you see. I was hoping I could be of some use to you here.” Again, the man’s mouth began to twitch in a very peculiar fashion. Sakura dismissed it for now. “Perhaps I could help with the creation of teas and tonics? Or perhaps some salves? I was also thinking–”

“That is very kind of you, Haruno-sama,” the clerk finally interrupted, ”But I do not believe your services would be of much use here.”

Sakura didn’t miss the emphasis on her surname. She had figured that some clan members would have certain feelings about an all but nameless outsider marrying into the clan. It was almost unheard of in this time period. But she had thought, perhaps naively, that some clan members would have appreciated the skills she was bringing to the table, not to mention the fact that she had saved the life of their current heir. 

Wanting to give the clerk the benefit of the doubt, Sakura tried a more direct line of questioning. “Not of use or not wanted?”

“What does it matter? When the end result is the same. Now, unless you’d like to purchase anything, I should be getting back to work.”

It was more shocking than Sakura cared to admit, having a fellow healer deny her services based on nothing but petty spite. She really had been spoiled by a post-Tsunade Konoha, where people had been taught to recognize help as help, regardless of how it was presented. 

“Sakura-sama’s healing prowess is the reason Izuna-sama is still alive. ” Saburo cut in, his voice hard as steel as he tried to defend Sakura. “She is betrothed to our clan head and will soon become the Uchiha matriarch. You will do well to remember that.”

The clerk narrowed his eyes, but he simply replied, “As you say.”

“Let me see your surgery room,” Sakura said. “If you will not allow me to work directly, then at least let me do this.” It wouldn’t be much, but if Sakura could survey their supplies and levels of sanitation, she could give her input and help make small but necessary changes that would then help future injured clansmen. 

“That really is unnecessary, Haruno-sama.” The clerk shook his head, as one did with an unruly child. “We Uchiha are strong. We rarely ever have need for such procedures.”

The door behind them opened with a bang, and a young boy no older than ten was dragged in by two other boys. “Help!” 

Blood gushed down the smallest boy's leg. 

Not waiting for permission–or even thinking to ask for it–Sakura sprung into action. “Bring him back here,” she ordered.

The two boys, to their credit, didn’t hesitate and did as they were told. Sakura led them into the back room and was horrified to find the state of the surgery room. The floor was covered with soil from plants they were repotting. There was no surgical table in sight nor any instruments that Sakura could easily see. A couple of men were eating their lunch in the corner of the room, eyes wide with fear at the bloody mess that was brought in. 

“Saburo, find some fabric and start tearing it into rags for me. Place him here,” she pointed to the space on the floor that she had covered with a thread-bare sheet. It wasn’t anywhere near Sakura’s standards, but it would have to do. “Sir,” she addressed the clerk, “I’ll need you to boil some water and bring it here. Hurry now.” She turned her attention to the boy before her, noticing how pale his face was. Using a chakra scalpel to cut away his pant leg, she asked, “What happened?”

“Training accident,” one of the boys told her. 

“I’m sorry Izanagi,” the other boy said, his voice thick with grief and guilt. His eyes were glossy and now that his friend–Izanagi–was in the hands of healers, his mouth pulled back into a terrible grimace. “I’m so, so sorry.”

“With kunai or chakra?” Sakura asked the one boy who wasn’t turning into a watery mess. She cut through his pant leg and surveyed the damage. There was a lot of blood covering Izanagi’s pale skin, making it hard for Sakura to see the wound clearly. 

Bringing her the boiled water, the clerk saw the wound and hissed. “I’m afraid the leg will have to be amputated.” He turned to one of his fellow apothecaries and said, “Bring me the opium and a bit.” He looked back down at the leg and sighed, “This won’t be pretty.”

Sakura ignored the men behind her, instead keeping her gaze on Izanagi’s friend as she waited for his response to her question. 

“Kunai,” he told her. “Will he really lose his leg?”

“He will be fine.” Saburo brought her the torn fabric, which she immediately dipped into the boiling water. “Saburo, make sure those men stay out of my way.” 

“Yes, Sakura-sama.”

The apothecaries argued and moaned their displeasure, but Sakura blocked them and their nonsense out of her head. She used the now sterile rags to wash away most of the blood and saw that the kunai had nicked Izanagi’s femoral artery. He was lucky the cut was so small, any deeper and he would’ve already bled out. As it was, Sakura had to work fast. 

Pushing her chakra into his veins, Sakura encouraged the cells of the artery to sew itself back together. Once that was done, she split her focus on replicating his red blood cells to replace what he’d lost, and checking for any signs of blood poisoning or tetanus. There was a small build up of bacteria around the wound that took time to burn away, but once she felt certain the blood and veins were clear, she sealed up the skin and pulled her hands away. 

Looking at the boy who hadn’t stopped apologizing since bringing Izanagi into the Apothecary, Sakura asked him, “What’s your name?”

Tracks of tears tore their way through the dirt on his face. Snot leaked from his nose and hiccups escaped from his throat. Unable to take his eyes off of his friend, he told her, “Uchiha Taro.”

“Well Taro, I’m very happy to tell you that Izanagi is going to make a full recovery.”

That finally got the young boy to tear his eyes away and focus on Sakura. “Really?” He sniffed. “He’s not going to die–or–or lose his leg?”

“No,” Sakura gave him a soft smile and reached out to wipe the tears from his face with her sleeve. “He’s going to be just fine. I promise.”

After writing out a list of post-care instructions for Taro to take home with Izanagi, Sakura told them not to hesitate to come fetch her from the main house if his condition worsened or if anything else were to happen. Saburo helped place the now sleeping Izanagi on the tallest boy’s back and then he and Sakura took their leave. 

“That was very kind of you,” Saburo said when they were halfway home. “To save that boy even after how the clerk treated you.”

Sakura shrugged. “I meant what I said back there. I want to be of use to the clan. One rude person isn’t going to deter me from achieving that goal.”

Saburo’s answering hum sounded almost like a chuckle. “What a wonder you are, Sakura-sama.” 

Brows furrowing, Sakura asked, “What do you mean?”

Smiling wider than she had seen him do before, Saburo shook his head. “It’s nothing. We’re just lucky to have you, is all.”

---------

Sakura sighed as she pushed aside the medical scroll she was currently reading. Madara had gifted it to her earlier that day. He said he’d found it while out on his latest mission with Hashirama to what would eventually become Kusa. It had been the first of Madara’s gifts that Sakura had received in person, and she hadn’t been able to control the lovesick grin that had taken control of her lips. 

The scroll was small and didn’t contain information that Sakura didn’t already know, but that wasn’t the point. Madara and Hashirama had been out on a mission, busy with their goal of creating peace treaties and alliances and convincing established clans to join the village, but even with all that on his plate, he still found time to think of her. It had made Sakura deliriously happy. 

It was a novel sensation, being a priority. With Naruto, that had always been Sasuke. With Kakashi, his ghosts. Sasuke, his vengeance. Even her beloved teacher, Tsunade, prioritized the village and hospital over her. It was all understandable, of course. She didn’t begrudge any of them for it or think herself deserving of being placed first in their minds or hearts, but it was a very nice thing to experience all the same. 

Sometimes Sakura found herself wondering if she should be concerned about how easy it was to be with Madara. First by becoming his friend while working together, then becoming something more as betrotheds, and bit by bit, undeniable and as gentle as a river’s current, an unrivaled fondness was growing in her chest for the man that she had no doubt would one day soon bloom into love. Occasionally she would still have a nightmare or two of the war, of the Madara from her time with the resurrection cracks on his face and the darkness in his eyes. But even when she awoke covered in sweat and a scream caught in her throat, she could separate that Madara from her Madara. Perhaps Sakura should be more concerned with how her brain was compartmentalizing everything she had lived through, but instead she chose not to look too closely at it. 

Looking around her room, she sighed again and focused her mind on what was truly bothering her; the Uchiha clan. It had been almost a week since she had healed Izanagi’s leg and still the majority of clansmen were as standoffish and frosty to her as ever. There were exceptions, of course, the attendants in the house were as friendly as they could be, and Saburo had become quite relaxed around her–and Izanagi and his friends had come to give her proper thanks just yesterday, but overall the clan was still very much anti-Sakura. 

They were all, of course, polite when she bought things from the market or when she accompanied Madara and the use of small talk was required, but almost everyone treated her with a level of detachment that made Sakura wonder if they’d ever properly accept her. The idea of acceptance irked something deep within her. Not since she was twelve years old and chasing after Sasuke did she care about things like acceptance and fitting in. Or, well, she did a little, but not to that extent. She was an exemplary medic and an amazing kunoichi, dammit! She wasn’t about to let some snobby clan make her feel inferior just because she didn’t share some of their DNA. 

Giving herself a firm nod, Sakura decided it was time to fall back on her old strategy. She had been too excited, too naive, and too optimistic after agreeing to marry Madara. Based on his warm welcome into his life, she had made the incorrect assumption that the rest of the clan would follow suit. She needed a new approach to win over the Uchiha, and why fix something that wasn’t broken. Instead of returning to the Apothecary, or trying to engage anyone from the market in conversation, Sakura would let them come to her. 

As a traveling medic, she had needed to look like someone not trying to look for work, and with the clan now, she needed to look like someone not trying to gain their approval. 

There was a knock at the door, followed by someone calling, “Sakura-sama.” The door opened a moment later, revealing Uchiha Miyoko, Sakura’s new handmaid. Madara had insisted upon hiring her, stating that it was expected for a person of her position. It felt silly, but the girl was only a few years younger than Sakura herself and was kind enough, if a bit shy. Miyoko actually reminded her of Hinata a bit back when they were younger.

“Sakura-sama,” Miyoko bowed in greeting. Just like with Saburo, Miyoko refused to drop the title. “Izuna-sama is awake and asking for you. I’ve told the cook to begin warming up his dinner. Should I have him start on yours as well?”

“Thank you, Miyoko. I’ll join Izuna in a moment. As for dinner,” Sakura trailed off, wondering. Madara hadn’t been sure when he’d return this evening as he and Madara had business that would take up the majority of the day. She’d prefer to wait and eat with him, but there was a chance that he would eat with Hashirama if they worked late enough. “If it’s not too much trouble, have the cook wait an hour before starting my dinner.”

Miyoko nodded, “Of course, miss. Is there anything else you need from me?”

“No, Miyoko, thank you. I should be able to fend for myself the rest of the night.”

Sakura grabbed a handful of new books she’d picked up the other day in the market and headed towards Izuna’s room. She found him propped up against his pillows, a scowl on his face as he glared up at the ceiling, his hands folded over his belly. 

“Should we continue with The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter ? Or would you prefer we try something else? Miyoko told me good things about The Woman of the Snow when she saw it.”

Izuna’s scowl deepened, “Who’s Miyoko?”

Sakura placed the books beside Izuna for him to browse while she gathered the necessary medical supplies. “My handmaid, you’ve seen her. She’s been here for nearly two weeks now.” 

Izuna merely grunted.

Turning back towards her patient, Sakura waved her hand towards him, silently telling Izuna to disrobe. “How’s the pain today? Same as this morning?”

As Sakura inspected his wound, she asked several more questions. Izuna answered them easily enough, even if boredom leached into his tone. Eventually someone brought Izuna’s broth, which he glared at as if it had insulted his ancestors. They started reading The Woman in the Snow , which, based on the relaxed state of his mouth, Izuna was enjoying much more than the story of Kaguya-hime.

Sakura’s dinner came, causing Izuna to beg her for a bite. He reached out with hands like a toddler and laughed good naturedly when Sakura slapped them away. 

“So cruel to your brother,” he teased, grabbing the fabric over his heart as if he’d been pierced there. “I’ll die of a broken heart.”

Rolling her eyes, Sakura tried–and failed–not to smile at his antics. “Well we can’t have that now can we? How about this–you tell me your favorite meal, and I’ll make sure it’s the first thing you eat when you’re able.”

Appeased, Izuna agreed and they chose another story for Sakura to read aloud. They were halfway through the book, both their dishes having long been cleared away, when Madara returned. 

“Brother!” Izuna smiled, brighter than anything Sakura had seen before. His eyes were half-lidded and his words slurred a bit with the early signs of exhaustion. Still, he gained a second wind with the presence of his favorite person. “You’ve returned from the viper’s nest.”

Madara chuckled and came to sit on Izuna’s other side. Brushing back his brother’s bangs, Madara said, “I hope you weren’t too much trouble for Sakura today.”

“I was a delight, thank you very much. Isn’t that right?” He turned his dark eyes to Sakura.

“He was,” Sakura agreed. Then, because she couldn’t see a reason not to, she teased, “It was a lovely change of pace.”

Izuna scoffed but didn’t argue. 

“Did you eat dinner yet?” Sakura asked Madara, her eyes quickly evaluating him for any noticeable scratches or scrapes. Besides looking a little sweaty and dirty, he looked perfectly fine. “I can make something for you.” The cook had left for the evening, but Sakura knew there’d be enough ingredients in the kitchen leftover for a simple soup.

Madara shook his head. “I already ate, but thank you.”

“What all was decided on today, then?” Izuna asked as he struggled to keep his eyes open. “Go on and tell us.”

Sitting up straighter, almost preening with excitement, Madara told them, “I do have some exciting news, actually. We finally decided on a name.” A small, almost shy smile snuck onto his lips. “Konohagakure.”

“Village Hidden in the Leaves,” Izuna hummed as he tested the name on his lips. “I like it.”

Madara continued on with his tales of the day, expressing his relief over the fact that the Nara clan had officially accepted their offer to join the village, and that several other clans planned to join as well, some moving from as far as the islands of modern day Mist. They were mostly busy building the village’s infrastructure. With Hashirama’s Wood Release, it sped the process up tremendously, but he was only one man and they needed to house many people. Tobirama had been a pebble in his shoe all day, arguing about this and that, such as where to place each clan or how many houses would be needed for the civilians that were bound to seek refuge. Almost nothing could be agreed upon between the two men. 

Izuna’s eyes fluttered closed at some point during Madara’s story, his grunts of acknowledgement and snide remarks about the Senju trailing off into soft snores. Watching the steady rise and fall of Izuna’s chest, Sakura decided to call it a night for the younger Uchiha and began to remove some of his pillow so he’d lay flat on his futon. Madara followed her out on silent feet.

“Would you join me for a walk?” Madara asked, his eyes warm and wholly focused on her. He held out a hand to her in offering. 

Tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, Sakura easily accepted his hand. “I’d love to.”

---------

It was a few days later when Miyoko found Sakura alone in the kitchen as she crushed roots and herbs down to almost nothing. Izuna was resting in his room and Madara was off with Hashirama once again, leaving Sakura with an abundance of time on her hands. With that time, she had created a little Apothecary of her own. So far she had filled nearly fifty jars with different types of medicinal powders, made several blends of healing teas, and started converting an empty storehouse into a greenhouse so she could grow her own plants. 

Madara had gifted her with a new set of knives, each one sharper than the other, after his last overnight adventure. Sakura wasn’t sure if he was doing this out of a sense of guilt for having to leave her so often, or if he just took pleasure in seeing the goofy grin that never failed to appear on her face whenever he surprised her. Regardless, Sakura had been sure to show him her appreciation with an assault of kisses. 

The knives laid off to the side, stored in a leather knife roll, just next to an opened journal. Another project idea Sakura had the other night was to record as much of her medical knowledge as she could. While she couldn’t document all of her knowledge–not yet, anyway–she figured it could one day be of help to someone, somewhere. If not, then at least it gave her something to do. 

Miyoko cleared her throat gently to catch Sakura’s attention. Looking up at her handmaid, she asked, “Yes, Miyoko? What is it?” 

“I’m sorry to bother you, Sakura-sama. It’s only–I was hoping you could look at my uncle’s back, if it isn’t too much trouble,” the young girl said, her cheeks pink as she avoided Sakura’s gaze. “He’s a farmer, you see, and his livelihood depends on his ability to work. Only recently,” she trailed off, “recently he’s been struggling.”

“Of course,” Sakura replied easily. “Would he be alright with me examining him? I wouldn’t want to create more strain on his body with my presence.” She thought of how stiff the apothecary always became, whenever he saw her in the market. If Miyoko’s uncle had a similar response to her, then she’d be doing more harm than good. 

Looking more than a little confused, the girl shook her head. “Oh no, miss! I’m sure he’d be grateful for someone of your caliber looking after him. Only,” she bit her lip, “I don’t have much to pay you with. I’ve got a few coins put away, and I’m sure that over time I could–”

“The price is negotiable.” Sakura replied automatically. Shaking her head, she amended, “Besides, there’s no need, Miyoko.” She bit her lip, wanting to say that by marrying Madara, her healing gifts were at the disposal of the clan, but she wasn’t sure if a statement like that would be well received. Instead, she went with, “Consider it repayment for helping me all these past few weeks while I’ve stayed here.”

“Oh no, Sakura-sama, I insist.” Miyoko shook her head quite aggressively. “Taking care of you is my job and Madara-sama pays me well to do so. It wouldn’t be right to treat that as a tradable favor.”

Sakura sighed softly. Uchiha’s and their pride. “Perhaps an invitation to dinner, then? Along with your uncle if he’s feeling up to it.”

“Dinner, Sakura-san?” 

“Dinner,” Sakura nodded. “Most nights I eat with Madara or Izuna, or both. Or neither.” She shrugged, trying not to think about the seeds of loneliness that had buried themselves deep within her bones and that ached more now when she had people to laugh and enjoy time with than when she had no one at her side. The sensation had left Sakura more confused than anything else, and she did her best to push those feelings away.

Trying to appeal to Miyoko’s humor, she added, “It’d be a nice change of pace to eat with someone who didn’t scowl the entire meal.”

Miyoko let out a laugh, though it was a quiet thing that didn’t last long. “Well I’m not sure my uncle will make for better company, but we’d be happy to host you. Would tonight work?”

Sakura nodded, “Tonight’s just fine. We can leave after I’ve helped Izuna and changed his bandages.” 

Izuna had been drowsier than usual today. There was no sign of infection or other maladies, making Sakura suspect he’d been over exerting himself when she wasn’t looking and causing his body to require more rest to make up for it. She’d talk to him about it tomorrow when he was hopefully more coherent. 

After a few more hours of work, and calling on Saburo to meet her for a quick escort through the market and to Miyoko’s home, the two women made it safely to their destination well before sunset with their arms full of groceries. 

“Uncle!” Miyoko called out. After shuffling off her shoes, she made her way to the kitchen with her groceries. “I’ve brought someone to look at your back!”

Sakura followed along quietly, observing the household discreetly. It was the first time she’d been allowed into another Uchiha’s house. It was much different than Madara’s mansion, though that was to be expected when comparing the dwellings of the clan head versus a common farmer. The layout wasn’t very much different than other homes she’d been invited to while traveling, though this one was decorated with copious amounts of Uchiha fans and looked worn and tried in a way that implied many generations of Miyoko’s family had lived here before her uncle. 

The small kitchen was attached to the dining room, and Miyoko puttered around, pulling up pots and pans to start on their dinner. She took a teapot down from where it was hanging on a hook and filled it with water for their tea. 

“Uncle?” Miyoko called again once the water was over the fire. She walked further into the back of the home, past the small bathing room and into the bedroom where her uncle laid on his futon with a frown on his face.

“Mah, Miyoko,” the older man grumbled, “I told you not to bother. My back will be as good as new with a few more days of rest.” He eyed Sakura as she walked in behind his niece. “What’s this? A witch?”

“Uncle!” Miyoko chastised as she began to close his windows for privacy. “Show some respect. This is Sakura-sama, renowned medic and Madara-sama’s betrothed.”

“ You’re the one that surly cousin of ours has decided to spend his life with?” He snorted. “What did you do in your past life to deserve that?” Then, he eyed her from head to toe and said, “It’ll sure be interesting to see how dominant the Uchiha genes are against yours. Can you imagine, Miyoko? An Uchiha with pink hair? Hah!”

Miyoko winced and threw Sakura an apologetic grimace. “Uncle, Sakura-sama has been kind enough to examine you. The least you could do is hold your tongue.”

Miyoko’s uncle waved a hand at her lazily. “Oh, Miyoko, I only tease. You know that. Besides, if Sakura-sama here is serious about marrying into our family, she should know what she’s getting into.”

Doing her best to keep her hands from balling into fists and giving the old man a good whack on the head, Sakura plastered a professional smile onto her face. “Why don’t you tell me what’s been bothering you.”

Miyoko excused herself to start making dinner as Sakura listened to her patient tell her of occasional back pain that could vary between a mild irritant and debilitating pain that sometimes caused one of his legs to stop working. After a quick push of chakra into his body, Sakura determined his problem to be a herniated disk. 

Helping him pull down his yukata to his waist and roll over onto his stomach, Sakura placed her hand on the base of his spine and began the process of pushing the affected disk back into place and healing the exterior casing that had cracked. 

“So, Sakura-sama,” he began as silence had settled in the room, “is that hair color of yours hereditary, or a mutation?”

Tutting, Sakura asked, “Worried I might pollute your clan’s genes?”

“Mah,” he shrugged, “we need new genes every now and then to survive. We know that. Consider me curious.” He paused, but Sakura waited, something telling her he had more to say. “Your coloring is very beautiful, Sakura-sama. Pink isn’t a color I’m used to seeing. Now red, that’s a color I see all the time, almost as much as black.” 

He chuckled a humorless laugh, and Sakura felt it rattle through her head. He was being much nicer to her now. She wondered if it was because he was on his stomach, not looking at her, or because of her chakra stealing his pain away. Maybe it was a secret third thing. 

Feeling a little less antagonized, Sakura felt some tension leave her shoulders as she told him, “It’s genetic, from my father’s side, though his was paler than mine.” She was about to tell him she was finished with his back, but then paused. “I’m sorry, I never caught your name. Miyoko only referred to you as uncle.”

“I’ll be your uncle soon enough, I don’t mind if you start calling me that now. If you really need to know, though, it’s Masaru.”

Sakura smiled. He was showing her kindness, in his own way, and she’d accept what she could get. Pulling her hands back, she nodded and said, “Well, you’re as good as new Masaru-ojisan.”

Pushing himself to lean up on one arm, Masaru stuck out his tongue as he moved this way and that, testing Sakura’s words. Nodding his approval, he sat up properly and readjusted his yukata. “So,” he clapped his hands together, “what’s for dinner?”

---------

“Where to today, Sakura-sama?” Saburo asked. In his hands was a small bag filled with sunflower seeds that he was practically inhaling. “Back to the market?”

Sakura shook her head. “No, today we’re heading out towards the fields to forage for some plants that I’ll need to make antidotes.” 

Saburo stopped in his tracks, his hand paused on his journey towards his mouth with the seeds still pinched between his fingers. “The fields?” He asked, a line forming between his brows. “Outside of the compound, you mean?” 

“Yes,” Sakura answered with a raised brow. 

“Have you asked Madara-sama for his permission?”

A vein in Saura’s forehead twitched with irritation and she had to take a deep breath before responding. “Madara is my betrothed, not my master. I don’t need his permission.”

“That’s not what I meant, Sakura-sama,” Saburo shook his head vigorously, his eyes growing wide. “I just meant that it might not be safe and Madara-sama might not like you going outside the walls alone.”

“I’m not alone. I have you.”

“Yes,” Saburo said slowly, “and that’s fine for when we’re in the village, but–”

“I’m going with or without you,” Sakura cut him off, already continuing on her path. “You can either come with me and keep me company or run back to Madara to get his permission.” Sakura knew her capabilities and wasn’t in the mood to try and prove herself to Saburo. It was one thing for Madara to request she have him around to watch her back, it was something else entirely to have a baby sitter. She wasn’t some delicate flower that needed to be sheltered and hidden away. She’d lived alone for almost two years before coming to live with the Uchiha and she’d survived just fine, thank you very much. 

The sound of Saburo’s footsteps hurrying behind her reached her ears and soon enough he was walking astride her once again. His bag of seeds had been hidden away, his posture and gaze had turned sharper. Sakura almost wanted to tell him to relax, that he’d be safe with her, but she doubted he’d appreciate it at the moment. 

“We need to be quick,” he told her, the furrow of his brows deepening. “Even with the truce between Senju and Uchiha, there’s no telling who we may run into. Anyone with a grudge against the Uchiha may decide to take their revenge out on us.”

Barely suppressing a sigh, Sakura agreed. “It shouldn’t take me more than an hour to find what I need.”

“And you’re sure the market won’t have these plants? Or the Apothecary?”

“I’m sure.” She’d already checked. 

Saburo groaned, but seemed to accept his fate and continued on at Sakura’s side in silence. 

Miyoko had been the one to tell her about this field when she’d caught Sakura grumbling under her breath about the lack of supplies against poisons. The best item she could find within the whole compound was charcoal, and that could only do so much. If they found themselves up against a poison expert like Sasori, they’d be devastated. Miyoko had suggested Sakura take a look at the plants in this field to see if it had what she needed. If it didn’t, then she’d have to wait months for the finalizations of Konoha to try and buy ingredients from other clans–if they were even willing to sell them–and patience was never one of Sakura’s strengths. 

Once they arrived, Sakura slid the bamboo basket off her back and waded through the tall grasses in search of her treasures. Saburo stalked off, telling her he’d monitor the perimeter, and Sakura had hummed in acknowledgment. This field would be a modest start when it came to antidotes. There was plenty of jewel weed and dock plant littered about which were always helpful with rashes, and she could cut some bark off of some trees to make tea with, but soon she’d need to do more. 

Fire Country was home to a great many dangerous creatures, all that could be used to create terrible weapons. She’d need to milk certain snakes and spiders and collect slime from several frogs and toads to feel properly prepared. In a pinch, Sakura could always extract the poison from a victim’s bloodstream and use a sample to reverse engineer an antidote, but that process was timely and chakra draining. Having pre-made antidotes was a much more sustainable method. 

She’d filled her basket halfway when she felt it; eyes on the back of her head. Spinning around with her hands already raised and curled into fists, Sakura found herself staring across the field at Senju Tobirama. 

Swearing up a storm in her head, Sakura tried to keep her voice level as she asked, “Where’s Saburo?”

Tilting his head to the side, Tobirama’s red eyes narrowed. “If you mean your guard, he’s fine. I’ve stuck him in a genjutsu and will release him when I’m finished here.”

Knowing she’d already be dead if that was what he wanted–she was good, but she wasn’t Nidaime good–she asked, “What do you want?”

“I wanted to meet you, to see if you were all they said you were.” He took a step closer, his eyes pinning her in place. “My brother speaks very highly of you, you know. The miracle worker who saved Uchiha Izuna from death’s door and the woman who thawed Uchiha Madara’s frozen heart. You seem too good to be true.”

It took every ounce of Sakura’s control not to take a step back for every step forward Tobirama took towards her. She knew that if she fled he’d only catch her, and she wasn’t sure what would happen then. Still, she wouldn’t stand there helpless either. Shifting her weight onto the balls of her feet, Sakura readied herself to dodge. Drawing chakra into her hands, she also prepared to reap devastation across this bit of land in an attempt to survive. 

“I’ve heard many interesting things about you, Haruno Sakura. It would appear you’re second to none in your field and yet you come from no known clan.” He stopped only a few feet away from her. “You’re a good person, you help whoever you can, whenever you can for little or no money. So I find myself asking, why is this bright and wonderful woman, with no political affiliations, marrying into such a horrible clan?”

“Excuse me?” Trepidation gave way to anger at his question, leading Sakura to speak without thinking. “What business is it of yours?”

Senju Tobirama was a man Sakura had grown up admiring. Second Hokage of Konoha, he was credited with the creation of hundreds of jutsus, Konoha’s ANBU, the ninja academy, and even the chuunin exams. He set the example that other hidden villages followed when it came to running themselves. He was a giant among shinobi, and yet here he was, asking Sakura why she was marrying Madara. It didn’t make any sense. 

His eyes flashed–with what, Sakura didn’t know–and he looked her over from top to bottom. “Has Madara told you yet, about the Curse of Hatred that plagues the Uchiha clan?”

A shiver ran straight down Sakura’s spine. She’d heard that phrase only once before, during the war against the Madara in the future. She hadn’t fully understood it at the time, and now she was ready to dismiss it immediately. Curses didn’t exist. 

“To activate their kekkei genkai they must experience extremely painful traumas,” Tobirama explained, taking her silence as a no. “The power of the Sharingan eventually consumes them, leading them to do anything within their power to show off their superiority. If you marry into this clan, it will surely claim you as a victim as well. You should save yourself while you still can.”

Sakura scoffed, causing Tobirama to blink in surprise. “Save myself from what? Superstitions?” Feeling emboldened by her anger and more confident that Tobirama wouldn’t kill her, Sakura placed her hands on her hips and raised a single brow. “All that just sounds like the most anti-Uchiha propaganda I’ve ever heard. Don’t you think this is just a symptom of your own prejudice?”

“It’s true,” Tobirama persisted, his jaw tightening. “All Uchiha are bound by the same fate. I’ve never met a single clansman who could prove otherwise.”

Sakura thought about all the Uchihas she’d met in her lifetime. All Sharingan users she knew had activated it through trauma, yes, and Sasuke and Itachi both fell victim to paths of vengeance, but if Sakura had to guess, that had more to do with the actual trauma they’d lived through than any supposed curse. Madara and Izuna were just as sane as anyone else she’d ever met. Masaru was cranky with age, but sweet in his own way, and Miyoko could barely raise her voice at her uncle, much less assert her superiority over another person. 

“Well,” Sakura said dryly, “I imagine it’s hard to get to know a person when you’re only ever meeting them on the battlefield.” Pausing to wet her lips, Sakura considered her words for only a moment before adding, “I’ve heard of you too, Senju Tobirama. You’re a genius, there’s no denying that. In fact, I doubt there’s a mind alive in the world right now that could compare to yours.”

Tobirama’s jaw slackened just enough to lose the tight tendon of tension that was pulsating against the skin. His brows furrowed with what Sakura could only imagine was confusion. 

“But you have a lot to learn when it comes to human nature and empathy.” Sakura continued, unable to stop the sharing of her thoughts. “I think that if you were to try and put yourself in Madara’s shoes, to think as he does for just a short amount of time, you’d realize that the two of you have much more in common than you’d ever thought possible.”

“I sincerely doubt that,” Tobirama said immediately and without any hesitation. “I know all I need to know about Uchiha Madara and his clan. There is nothing more for me to learn.”

It was no wonder that the Uchiha felt ostracized by Konoha, if this was how their leadership spoke about them. 

Sakura could see that there was no arguing with him. He was too stubborn and set in his ways to think any differently. For now, at least. Perhaps as the two men continued working together towards the common goal of Konoha, and with the addition of Izuna this time around, opinions could be changed. 

Tobirama left not long after that, and Saburo arrived almost right after with wide, panicked eyes and a heaving chest. He’d demanded that they return to the Uchiha compound, and Sakura agreed, not wanting to press her luck. Saburo stayed by her side until Madara returned home, at which time he fell into a deep bow to his patriarch and begged forgiveness. 

Madara’s eyes bled red as Saburo told him how he was trapped in a genjutsu and didn’t realize anything was amiss until Tobirama had already left. Madara dismissed him with a wave of his hand and Saburo didn’t waste any time fleeing the house.

“I’ll kill him” Madara hissed, the tomoes in his eyes spinning rapidly. “He’s tested my patience one too many times.” Swiftly, he prowled the halls, grabbing weapons and armor as he went. 

Sakura trailed behind, grabbing at his sleeve in an attempt to slow him down. “Madara, please, just wait. It’s okay–”

“Nothing about this is ok!” He growled, turning to bare his teeth at her. “And what were you thinking? Leaving the compound like that without my permission?”

“ Permission? ” Sakura squawked. He was treating her like some prisoner! And over what? A conversation? “Madara, you need to calm down. I’m fine–”

“ You could have died! ” He roared. Then, quick as lightning, she was pulled against Madara’s chest. His arms held her as close as possible without crushing her. Tremors rippled through his body, bleeding into her own, as his body tried to wrestle with his blinding rage and unadulterated fear.

Hiding his face into the crook of her neck, his voice was barely more than a broken whisper as he said again, “You could have died . And there was nothing I could have done to stop it. I’ve lost so many loved ones already, Sakura,” he admitted with a shaky breath. “I don’t know if I can stand to lose another one.”

Raising her hands to embrace him back, Sakura hugged him tight. Tears pooled behind her eyes at his confession. She hadn’t meant to scare him. She hadn’t meant for any of this to happen. And what made it worse was that she didn’t know what to say. She didn’t know how to comfort him now that they were here. She couldn’t promise him nothing would ever happen to her. That would ring empty and false. What could she apologize for? Not for leaving, her pride wouldn’t allow for that. 

All she could do was hold onto him as tightly as he was holding onto her and whisper, “I’m here. I’m still here,” into his ear. 

He nodded against her neck. They were pressed so close she could hear the thickness of his swallow. Sakura rubbed a hand up and down his back, her fingers following along the ridges of his spine, hoping Madara found the motion soothing. They stayed like that until his shaking subsided, and then stayed like that for a while longer. 

If there was a curse on the Uchiha clan, it wasn’t one of hate, but of love. Life in the warring states period wasn’t easy for anyone. Madara’s fear of losing his loved ones was one founded in reality. Sakura would have to be more mindful of that in the future. She wouldn’t budge on her autonomy or independence, but she could do a better job keeping Madara apprised of her movements, especially now that she knew she’d caught the attention of Senju Tobirama. 

“Come,” Sakura eventually said, pulling away so she could clasp his hand in hers. She pulled him towards Izuna’s room, hoping that having two of his precious people within arms reach of each other might help calm his nerves. “Let me see to Izuna, and then we can spend the remainder of the day with each other.”

She intertwined their fingers for extra measure and was glad to see a small smile appear on his face as his eyes returned to black. 

Giving her hand a squeeze, Madara leaned in to kiss Sakura’s forehead. “I would like that very much.”

[itjazzbicch]

New Bloodline

Pairing:  Madara Uchiha x Senju!Fem Reader 

First time writing for Madara so I hope I did well! I know he can be a little tricky to write for and this is kinda a softer side of him so, I hope you all enjoy it!

Summary: After becoming pregnant and lying about who the father is, the reader goes through an emotional pregnancy. When her brother, Hashirama, takes a guess about her situation, it stirs deep emotion in the reader who's not ready for what she sees when she returns home alone...

Warnings:  SMUT! (It's in a flashback, BUT STILL!) (18+ ONLY! MINORS DNI & AGELESS BLOGS DNI! YOU WILL BE BLOCKED) (Pregnancy, flashbacks, childbirth)

Word Count: 2.2k 

"Y/N, my dear sister," Hashirama sighed, sitting by my side, eyes on my large belly as I was nine months pregnant, asking me, "You can tell me the truth. Madara is the father of your child, isn't he?"

My pregnancy was a mystery to everyone.

-----

One day, I woke up and headed for my brother's office and what I didn't realize was my appearance. Walking in to see Hashirama fixing his Hokage robe, noticing quickly:

"Are you okay, sister? Your face is rather pale today."

"Is it?" I began, noticing how my stomach was upset, starting to gag on my words, "I feel jus-"

He immediately knew that I was sick and sure enough, when I ran to the restroom to vomit, I knew I was pregnant.

-------

"You know that you can tell me," Hashirama's guess was correct, making his claim stronger, "I know that the two of you felt a certain way about one another."

"I already told you," Thinking of Madara always brought tears to my eyes since he left the village, fighting my brother every chance he got, and still, I lied to my brother, "I was immature and had a fling when I was in another village."

Being ready to pop at any second and dealing with hormones that made me super emotional throughout my entire pregnancy, that was the last conversation that I wanted to have, standing up and mumbling:

"But it's okay. I'm perfectly capable of being a mother on my own."

"I do not doubt that sister," He agreed, standing at my side, "And your son or daughter has two amazing uncles waiting for them."

His smile eased up some of the emotions as I knew for sure that he and Tobi would be good uncles, but him bringing up Madara made me want to be alone, holding my stomach as I headed for the door:

"That they do. I'll see you tomorrow, Hashi. I miss my bed."

With the baby coming along any day now, Hashi suggested that I stay with him and his wife, so I wouldn't be alone and go into labor, so he immediately disagreed with my thought process:

"You shouldn't be alone. You know that you're due any day now! And you've been having contractions!"

"Yes, I know, but I'm not an idiot," I groaned, suggesting so I could leave, "I'll take my pupil with me. She lives right next to my home. If anything were to happen, she'd take care of me."

"Okay. Fine," He sighed, going along with me, "I'll stick with you till she takes you home."

I only sighed, walking alongside him to go meet my pupil, and the entire time, I was completely zoned out, couldn't even hear a word they said, just nodding and following along this long walk home, reliving my past in my head.

-------

"Madara, you can't do this!"

I was a wreck. The moment I heard him say that he was leaving the village, it felt like a kunai going through my heart.

"What about the dream we all shared? I know that we all have different ways of thinking, but we can still make that dream come true!"

It got to the point where no words could change his mind, my last effort being my hands clinging to his robe, crying into his back as I begged:

"Please, don't go, Madara. We can fix all this. Please, just don't leave. I-I love you."

I thought I'd won as he turned to face me, showing emotion that I'd only ever seen once in my entire life, his lips against mine, every move and touch of my lips trying to suade him with passion.

---------

"You go ahead now, Sensei. I'm going to grab some of your favorite tea from the market really quick!" My pupil was a bright one, I loved her like a child and did appreciate all the things she's done, and accomplished, and her loyalty.

"That's okay, dear," I assured, opening my door and looking to the sky, "It's already dark out. Just go ahead home and if I need you-"

"Just yell for me," She smiled, "Don't worry. I'll have no issue hearing you and I'll be right over."

"Exactly," I smiled softly for her, going inside, "Goodnight."

Just standing in my living room, it was like a vision was before me, beautiful children running around, a smile on my face, and Madara by my side. That's what my heart wanted. Holding my stomach and realizing that my vision was now only a dream, tears swelling up as I remembered that night again.

-----

"Madara!"

On my back, all I could do was moan his name, feeling all his weight on top of me while his deep, powerful thrusts made sure his cock was as deep as possible, the pressure and heat a beautiful thing.

"Look at me," Holding my chin to make sure I was lost in those deep, dark eyes, all I could think of was how long I wanted that night to last, arms wrapping around his neck and kissing him, even while my chest ached from not breathing.

My head collapsed as I wasn't able to hang on anymore, arms falling along, but able to lock my knuckles when I felt his hands interlocked with mine, groaning at another one of my overflowing orgasms, forehead to forehead so his ears were filled to the brim with my moans, overwhelmed by his seed flooding me.

As we caught our breath and he even laid back, holding me in his arms, I thought that everything would be okay. That he and my brother could figure out their issues, that we could accomplish our dreams together, never sleeping so peacefully as I did then, but when I woke up in the morning?

Madara was gone.

-------

Waddling to my kitchen, I thought maybe some tea would help, after all, there was still enough for a cup left, but the tears that were swelled up couldn't stop falling. I was shaking even while trying to open a cabinet.

Trying to tell myself to suck it up only made it worse, growing angry along with the hurt, the glass cup I went for crashed to the ground, letting out a growl with my tears:

"Damn it! Can't even make a cup of tea!"

There was no avoiding it. So, I just let all the cries come out, but my heart about stopped when I heard a footstep, a voice I hadn't heard in nearly a year sighing in disappointment:

"Of course, Hashirama would let you go off alone. That pupil of yours is just as clueless too."

"M-Ma," I was in such disbelief that all I could do was stand there and stumble on my words, "Ma-Mada-"

"It's me," Coming to the kitchen and stepping into the light, live in the flesh.

I didn't know what to say, only hearing my heart beating against my chest like a drum, standing still as his hand rested carefully on my stomach.

There was this weird calmness that washed over me. I'd never felt the baby react to someone like this, immediately kicking where his hand was, staying in that one place.

"My, they're a lively one," He was smiling, but that smile turned into a look of concern when I held my stomach with both hands, stumbling on my words again as I huffed:

"Madara, my s-stomach."

Looking down, we both saw the small puddle of water at my feet, my knees growing weak when a contraction hit me out of nowhere.

This wasn't good. First all my crying, Madara was here and I had no clue how he even got into the village, let alone my home, now I was going into labor?

"Come here," Helping me stay on my feet, the only thing I could think to do was call for my pupil, which I did, Madara stopping when she came speeding through the door:

"Y/N Sensei! You oka-"

She wasn't paying attention at first, much like me, freezing in her tracks when she saw Madara at my side, shaking and intimidated by his presence.

"You listen to me," I huffed, commanding and meaning, "This is more important than anything. You go get my doctor and don't either of you say a word to Hashi or Tobi. Got that?"

"Y-Yes," She couldn't keep her eyes off Madara, but answered me with determination as she swallowed her breath, "Yes, Sensei!"

"Well, what are you still standing there for?" Madara shot as she was still frozen, his words making her shake it off and take off to do as I said.

"Madara, I need to sit," Hopefully she'd be quick, because the last contraction I had was the worst of them all, moving away from him to try and sit, but growing weak as another one came.

"You need to let me help you," He sighed, laying me on my back on the floor, looking towards the door as he heard footsteps again, "That pupil of yours is quick."

"Well yeah, I'm her Sensei after all," I tried to take deep breaths, looking up towards the door as my pupil shoved the doctor in and made sure to lock the door and shut the blinds, "Thank you dea-"

Midsentence, I ended up yelling out in pain, Madara snapping at the doctor who was already struck with fear, "Can't you see she's in labor?!"

No words, the doctor rushed over to me, trying to ignore Madara, patting my hand softly as she said calmly, "I have to get down there and take a look. I know it's a lot, but I need to see if the baby is ready to come, okay my lady?"

"Yes," I closed my eyes tight, gripping my fists till I felt Madara take my hand.

"Sensei," My pupil was still standing at the door, going to take a step, but stopping as Madara looked at her and said strictly:

"She and our child will be just fine. You stay put."

"Don't either of you two sta-" I was ready to snap at them both, till I screamed and felt what was like a sharp tear, the doctor having a towel in hand, guiding me:

"It's gonna be okay, Lady Y/N. I just need about three good pushes, okay?"

"O-Okay," I panted, closing my eyes and yelling out while pushing as much as I could, about squeezing Madara's hand off as the second came. It took my everything, never felt so drained before, feeling brittle while the doctor instructed:

"Just one more."

Biting my lip, all the air in my chest rammed out of me, heartbeats thumping in my head with a ring of my ears, but one last push was enough, a baby's cry bringing my hearing back.

It took a bit of strength to pick my head up, crying happily this time as I saw my baby in the doctor's arms, cleaning and wrapping them gently.

Things may have been complicated with Madara, but there was no denying how much I loved my baby. Crying more as the doctor brought them over:

"She's a beautiful baby girl, my lady."

Madara, propping me up, looked along as I held her in my arms, her cries dying down to soft whines as I cooed to her:

"It's okay, my dear baby girl. Mommy's here."

"Father too," I'd never heard Madara's voice so soft, reaching for her as she was moving her hands, taking his finger and holding as she stopped crying altogether, blinking and eyes finding us.

I couldn't help but cry more as she smiled at us. She had such a beautiful smile, a lot of Madara's features, but having a beauty of her own.

I didn't want to think about what was to come. There was no way Hashi or Tobi wouldn't learn of this, could even be on their way now. I just wanted to enjoy the moment that I'd been waiting so long for, even if it wasn't exactly as I'd imagined.

"She's so beautiful, Madara," For a moment, it felt like I was dreaming, holding my precious baby girl while Madara held us both, showing more of his own emotion as he noticed:

"I can't tell if she looks more like me or you. She has your smile."

I noticed that too as I looked to see she was already falling asleep, a small smile on her face. A moment that I'd remember forever.

"S-She's adorable, Sensei," My pupil whispered. She already felt like a big sister as she was like my kid and with me every step of my pregnancy, asking with pure curiosity, "Have you thought of a name for her yet? I know you weren't too sure if it was a girl."

I wasn't sure why, but I couldn't find a name that felt perfect, finding one as Madara said:

"Yume."

Looking over at him, I knew why he thought of that. She was a dream, and who would've thought that an Uchiha and a Senju would have a child together? This was a new beginning of a new bloodline with lots to come.

"Yume Uchiha," He finished and I couldn't keep my eyes off Yume, asleep and still holding his finger as I nodded:

"Yume is the perfect name for her." 

[domoz]

i wish u would write a fic where izuna and hashirama conspired

"Ah, Izuna-san, thanks for coming!"

"Sure." Izuna responds dully. As if he really had a choice. Hashirama has been duly elected the leader of this little mess that everyone is calling a village, and now Izuna is obligated to answer to him. To a Senju, which stings, but not so badly that he can't bear it. Mostly it hasn't been an issue, because so much of the work they've done to make this nonsense work is by committee -- but today it just might become one. The -- former, now, as of his election -- Senju clan head has really never had cause to talk to Izuna one on one like this.

His skin prickles as Hashirama leans back and activates a privacy seal. Izuna doesn't let the tension in his chest bleed over to his expression, since all that seal does it stop eavesdroppers. The security seal that would prevent him from leaving hasn't been touched. Maybe the Senju has noticed anyways, because he flashes Izuna a lopsided grin and leans back in that stupid home grown office chair of his.

"I hope you don't mind if a cut to the chase., He says, "There's a mission I want your thoughts on."

Something in his tone make's Izuna attention sharpen. It's ever so slightly different than normal. Calmer than usual, or maybe… More serious. Whatever this is, it's gotten Hashirama to drop his usual buffoon act.  There's no  scroll to be seen, so this mission is likely one of those, where linking paperwork to the deed is just too dangerous. Izuna has his done his fair share. He raises an eyebrow.

"Well I'm sure your brother has already said his piece. What's with all the secrecy for a second opinion?"

"Ah… No. I don't send Tobirama on missions like these for… A variety of reasons. And this one is very need to know."

"…Missions like?"

Izuna lets himself look suspicious, and Hashirama's smile dims, though, it doesn't fall completely. There's nothing that Hashirama should trust Izuna to do for over his own brother. So far the Senju hasn't seemed the type to eliminate his enemies by sending them on suicide missions, but Izuna is well aware that he still doesn't know the man well enough to know.

"The daimyo has asked us to assassinate a political rival of his. Make it look like an accident, you know how it is." Which is not the sort of mission the Uchiha have gotten in a long time. Those sorts of requests only go to the most well trusted and well placed in court, and neither the Uchiha or the Senju have been in that position for a long time. As if reading his thoughts, Hashirama goes on, "I suspect this is a test, of sorts. And I thought, well, maybe it’s a good opportunity to test something out myself!"

Well assuming that mission is real, someone's going to have to do it. Izuna crosses his arms and waits for an explanation. For once the Senju gets to the point.

"I've realized that as the Hokage I might be in need of some people who serve me directly instead of going through the mission office. And I thought…"

"Me?" And not his brother? If it were just an assassination mission, sure, Izuna can agree he's more suited to it since Tobirama is disgustingly unsubtle for a shinobi. But as, what, an aide?

The Senju's stupid big brown eyes crinkle with another smile.

"You!" He agrees, "Really, if you've done even half of what Madara has told me you'd be perfect for this, and, well…" There's something sharp in the Senju's expression, a look Izuna isn't certain he can ever recall seeing there before, "When it comes to things like this, I thought it would be best if I asked someone who would keep me accountable."

He's insane, Izuna thinks, and not for the first time. He's either insane, or he's toying with us all. And if it's the latter, what the hell is Izuna supposed to do about it on his own? At least with this on offer he can keep a closer eye on him.

"I'll be telling my brother you sent me on a mission." He challenges.

The Senju's smile melts back into it's usual fake cheer, "I was thinking a delivery to rice country would be the perfect cover. I already have the wine you might have brought back as a souvenir!"

Izuna snorts, mostly out of disbelief with himself, and steps closer to lean over the desk. "Which I would give to nii-san and not to you, so don't you dare crack the seal on it. Now fill me in on the actual details."

[theonlyonesora]

CH 21: Threads of Union

The Senju compound buzzed with activity as preparations for the wedding of Tobirama and Akari began in earnest. The usually serene grounds were now alive with the laughter and chatter of women from the Uchiha clan, working alongside Mito Uzumaki, whose presence seemed to bridge the gap between the two clans with grace and determination.

Despite the lingering whispers in the Senju clan, Akari found herself enveloped in a whirlwind of fabrics, flowers, and the bustling energy of planning. Mito had taken charge, her natural charisma and experience with such events making her an ideal guide.

“You’ll want the colors to reflect both your heritage and Tobirama’s,” Mito said as she sorted through silks of deep red and soft ivory. “A union like yours is more than a marriage—it’s a statement. Let’s make sure it’s a beautiful one.”

Akari smiled, feeling a warmth she hadn’t expected. Mito had become a fast friend, her kindness and candor offering a much-needed refuge amidst the quiet judgment she still felt from some of the Senju. “I never thought I’d be planning a wedding like this,” Akari admitted. “Let alone with your help.”

Mito laughed, her vibrant energy lighting up the room. “Well, you’re lucky you have me, then. Hashirama may be hopelessly romantic, but Tobirama? He’s all business. If we left this to him, your wedding would be held in the middle of a strategy meeting.”

Akari chuckled at the thought, the image of Tobirama orchestrating a wedding like a battlefield strategy bringing a lightness to her heart. “You’re probably right,” she said, glancing at the crimson silk Mito held up. “That’s perfect.”

“Good,” Mito said with a satisfied nod. “Now, have you thought about the vows?”

Akari hesitated. “I want them to reflect who we are,” she said. “But Tobirama isn’t exactly the sentimental type.”

Mito smirked. “Oh, don’t let him fool you. He may not say much, but when he does, it matters. Trust me, Akari—he loves you fiercely. That’s all that needs to come through.”

Akari’s chest tightened with emotion, and she nodded. “Thank you, Mito. For everything. I’m not sure I could do this without you.”

Mito placed a reassuring hand on Akari’s shoulder. “You’re not alone in this, Akari. You have me. And soon, you’ll have the entire Senju clan. It may take time, but they’ll come to see what I already do—that you’re exactly what Tobirama needs.”

As the women worked, Tobirama appeared in the doorway, his imposing presence commanding attention. His gaze softened as it landed on Akari, and a small, rare smile touched his lips.

“Mito, are you stealing my bride?” he asked dryly, though his tone held warmth.

Mito waved him off. “I’m making sure your wedding isn’t a disaster, Tobirama. Go back to your Hokage duties and let us work.”

Akari laughed softly, her tension easing as she saw the two siblings-in-law bantering. “She’s right,” Akari teased. “You’d probably just turn this into a training exercise.”

Tobirama raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. Instead, he stepped closer, taking Akari’s hand in his. “I wanted to check on you,” he said quietly. “Are you... happy with how things are going?”

Her heart swelled at the rare display of vulnerability. “I am,” she replied. “Thanks to Mito and the women from my clan. And you.”

He nodded, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. “Good. If there’s anything you need, tell me.”

“Just you,” she said softly.

A faint blush crept up his neck, and Mito cleared her throat loudly. “All right, lovebirds, back to work! Tobirama, shoo. You’ll see her soon enough at the altar.”

Tobirama smirked faintly but obeyed, giving Akari’s hand a final squeeze before leaving.

As the day wore on, Akari found herself more hopeful. The whispers would fade, she told herself. With Mito by her side and Tobirama’s unwavering support, she felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

For the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to envision a future where she wasn’t just an Uchiha or a Senju bride, but a bridge between two worlds—a symbol of unity and love strong enough to withstand the shadows of the past.

[yu-huuuu]

Hello if may request a madara who has crush like what steps he may go through for his plan to win them over. in the era of the hidden leaf time line (๑`✪̤◡✪̤)◞ღԵհɑղƘՏღ

[🌸] heheh-- This was funny.

genre: bad romantic comedy

warnings: Izuna lives because I say so. We want everyone alive and happy :b, fem!reader (I don't think the gender of the reader was mentioned…? Ahh, I don't remember pipi).

Summary: How to Win Over Your Crush in 4 Simple Steps — by: Madara Uchiha, feat: Three Idiots.

...

..

.

“Four is good luck.” Hashirama had started. “Maybe it would be a good idea if we helped you woo her like in the old days.”

Tobirama interrupted his older brother. “You mean that strange courtship of the ancestors of courting someone using four steps…? I thought four was bad luck.”

Hashirama replied with one of his characteristic smiles to his younger brother, “Yes, but I think it only applies to those who live in the south of the country.”

Izuna, being almost an unconscious idiot, spoke up, “Yeah, that makes sense.”

Madara sweatdropped at the stupidity of his friend and brother. “… We live in the south,” he muttered.

…

-- Step number one: he would get to know her tastes.

Madara didn’t know how to start a conversation with you the first time he met you. And it’s not like he was an idiot or anything, he had talked to higher-ups and the heads of other villages before.

He was the fucking leader of the most powerful clan along with the Senju clan, the Uchiha clan.

That's why he couldn't forget that the first thing he said to you out of nerves was: 'I like your headband'... but, it wasn't even a headband! It was a hair ribbon!

And despite that silly mistake of his, you laughed or were you laughing with him...? No, you were definitely laughing at him.

But a part of him didn't care that you laughed at him, your smile combined with your laughter was a charming sight. Too bad it wasn't because of one of his unexpected and witty responses that made you laugh. What surprised him the most was that you decided to stay and start a short conversation with him despite his pathetic attempt to talk to you.

Unfortunately, you were just visiting that day at the Hokage tower. Being the second cousin of the Senju brothers you grew very close to them, becoming very close to both brothers.

When he told his brother and—mistakenly—his closest friend's younger brother along with the latter of them about his desire to court you, they decided to help him.

He turned to see where his younger brother was hiding. The fool simply gestured with his only available hand to encourage him to approach you, while the other held a few sweet breads he was eating that the idiot had bought with his money.

'Glutton', was Madara's first thought. But was he really going to blame him? After all, he was the first one who offered to help him.

“In order to really get to know someone you must know their likes, big brother. That way you'll know that person deeper.” That had been one of Izuna's pieces of advice.

Madara sighed as he watched your back. Tobirama had been the one who had made the meeting possible, bringing you to the front of one of the first restaurants that had been built after Konoha was founded.

According to the little information provided by the youngest of the Senju, it was one of the restaurants you frequented the most.

Taking all the courage he could muster, he slowly approached you. Vaguely, he wondered if you remembered him, for Kami's sake, what if you told him you didn't remember him?

He knew he was being dramatic, but he would surely die right then from embarrassment.

With a shake of his head he shook those thoughts away. “Don't think that way, Madara-.” He told himself before a soft voice brought him out of his thoughts.

“Oh, it's you.”

Uh-oh.

Almost comically, Madara turned to you. For your part, you feared for a moment that his neck would break from the abrupt way he turned to you.

All because he was looking at his dumb younger brother, he didn't see that you had turned around and saw him standing there, looking back like an idiot.

Madara stood still, the poor man having a short circuit; he wanted to say so many things at once, but he couldn’t say them. Was it this nervousness? It was most likely.

He reacted when he realized with embarrassment that he had been left with his mouth hanging open. With a loud snap, he closed his mouth trying to find the right words to start talking, but he just couldn’t find them.

Madara would have scolded himself again, but a small snort caught his attention.

Oh-, you were laughing…

At him… again.

He felt the heat overwhelming his cheeks, he belatedly realized that he was blushing… and oh my god, he was acting like a fucking teenager!

He swore that in the background he could hear his brother laughing and choking on whatever he was eating now.

“Do you want to go eat with me?”, you asked, getting him out of his mind with your pretty voice; Obviously, you were oblivious to his thoughts or your surroundings.

Madara nearly choked trying to answer and, luckily or by a miracle, he managed to answer you, “yeah, sure,” although he spoke a little louder than usual.

The embarrassment he was feeling was enough to make him wish he was swallowed by the earth, Madara Uchiha wanting to be swallowed by the earth… What kind of nonsense and lie was that? He swears that no woman ever managed to put him that way, he was supposed to be the one who put them that way.

And yet, here he was wanting to bury his head in the ground while he followed you inside the small but cozy restaurant.

“And tell me… What things do you like?”

…

Hashirama had a serious expression, if someone had seen them from afar they would have thought they were talking about something serious, politics or something between clans.

However, that was very far from reality.

“Women like to feel special—”

“I know, I had lovers in the past”

“And that's why— wait what.”

Madara felt a strong urge to sigh when he saw his friend's stupid face, looking at him as if he had grown a second head, or as if he had said something like “I'm going to rule the world. If you want to stop me, you'll have to kill me” and then magically survived that battle and hid underground for sixty years planning some kind of revenge with an abandoned child and a creature of dubious origin. The thought made him roll his eyes, as if he was going to do it.

“I had lovers in the past… Did you think I was some kind of social retard?”

“Yes… I mean no—, of course not!”

He raised an eyebrow, Madara was beginning to doubt his friend's abilities. The fact that he had a wife seemed a little unbelievable to him now.

Was this a government social experiment? Wait what.

Hashirama sighed before speaking after a long while. “She likes conversations that can bring out her wit, you know?”

“…I think her ideal type is someone who can flow with her, and who answers with the same kind of wit… at least that’s how she’s been since we were kids”

Madara was absorbing every ounce of information his friend was giving him about you. A little you seemed adorable to him, although truth be told, you were already adorable. “I can imagine,” he said as a subtle, amused smile crept up his lips.

“Oh, believe me, she sometimes got on the older ones’ nerves when she brought out her wit”

His smile softened as he imagined a little you fluttering like a little butterfly among the adults and graciously answering what they said to you. Madara wondered to himself: if he ever had children with you, would they be just like you?

“I can handle it”

“… liar.”

Madara didn't waste his time denying that, after all you and he had agreed to meet at the field that was at the southern end of the village. His heart began to pound with excitement just thinking about meeting you again, he just hoped he wouldn't get as nervous around you as the first time.

...

-- Step Two; ‘Romantic’ Dates

“Alright, listen up,” Izuna spoke up interrupting whatever Tobirama was going to say. “Now you’re about to dive into dangerous waters–”

“You talk like he’s about to enter a battlefield, it’s just a date.”

“Says the one who’s never been on a date in his life.”

“You son of a–”

Madara let out a snort of annoyance, these two weren’t helping at all.

“Listen,” Tobirama exclaimed with annoyance evident in his voice and face, “it’s nothing to be alarmed about, the only thing that changes is that they won’t be friendly dates, they’ll start to be more romantic and serious.”

“Yes, it's something like this,” Izuna said pointing at the drawing of a staircase (?) he had made on the ground, “you are here,” he said pointing at step one, “where the dates to get to know each other better begin… then you will be on step two at the kissing part and ask her to be your life partner,” his brother's voice became dramatic.

“And… what does the last step mean–?”, Tobirama asked pointing at the last step.

“Stay away, Satan!”

Madara looked at them with a disturbed face as he watched them talk about… he honestly didn't feel like repeating it in his mind, he didn't want to see you like that. At least not yet, you looked so pure that the idea of ​​corrupting you hurt him… in more than one way.

He simply walked away trying to get rid of the new thoughts that began to torment him. He looked at the sky, it was beginning to get dark, there was still time.

His walk was slow but sure, some passersby stopping to greet him politely as they passed. Madara wasn't surprised, being the leader of the Uchiha Clan it was normal for people to show him respect.

Vaguely, he wondered if you accept being his, Would you feel uncomfortable if people and civilians bowed to greet you? It would be normal for you to feel that way, knowing you and your status. He could almost imagine your cute face awkward as you walked beside him.

No, surely you would overcome that. You are a strong and amazing woman, you deserved more than a pathetic nod as a greeting. To Madara people should kneel and kiss your feet to greet you.

Although, you probably wouldn't agree with that. You are such an amazing and gentle woman, that your mere existence in this corrosive world shouldn't exist. But you are also a woman who because of her status wasn't that important to her clan.

He grimaced.

But as soon as it appeared, it disappeared when he saw you. Your eyes lit up when you saw him, causing a small smile to appear on his normally stoic face.

Well, if your status doesn’t mean anything now, he’ll definitely make it so in the future.

“How are you?”

…

-- Step Three: ‘Gifts and always Showing Trust’

“What, you don’t know what else to give her?” Izuna asked carelessly as he munched on an onigiri.

“No,” he replied as he tried to think of what to give you as a sign that he was fully committed to you. In the Uchiha clan, there was this tradition where the man had to give you something meaningful as a sign of commitment and loyalty to the other person, though he vaguely wondered if you would understand his gestures since you weren’t part of the Uchiha clan.

“What about flowers?”

“I already gave her flowers before.”

“Second date?”

“No, third date.”

Izuna hummed as he tried to think, “Oh… and what about those western sweets? You know those so-called… chocolates.”

Madara fell into thought, what if you didn’t like them? They were new to the people of Konoha, several people hadn’t liked them — mostly elders — because of the exotic taste.

But you were an adventurous spirit, he was sure you wouldn't mind trying it.

He smiled before ruffling his brother's unkempt hair, who choked a little at the movement. “Good idea,” he congratulated him before quickly moving away from the boy before he could hit him.

Madara walked quickly to the only store that currently sold those so-called chocolates, already feeling excited to see your reaction.

When he entered the soft aroma of pastries hit his nose, surely you would like this place. With a confident step he approached the counter, focusing on the small sign that was next to the chocolates. ‘Heart-shaped chocolates�� was what it read, although he felt a little confused when he saw the shape of the chocolates… they weren't heart-shaped.

He knew this, because seeing hearts outside the body of his opponents was not strange to him. Although, surely, the ‘shape of hearts’ was a Western thing.

“I want a package of heart-shaped chocolates,” he asked the girl behind the counter without bothering to look at her.

When his order was ready, he paid for it without looking back as he tried to think of how to give them to you without looking weird. Maybe on your next date he could give them to you, but, that might look too forward on his part.

“Oh, hello, Madara.”

Madara stopped, you were in front of the door… you were going to…

Were you going to enter?

He wanted to hit himself right now. Of course, being the person you were, you were surely the first person to have tried them when you entered the village.

“Did you buy chocolates?” you asked amused as you looked at the bag and then at him. He couldn’t blame you and you clearly weren’t making fun of him being a man and it was a sin for him to like sweets. Of course not, it was because he had told you in the beginning that he hardly liked sweet things.

“… They are for you,” he said as he handed them to you, almost shy, yet, showing himself confident.

“Oh…”, you managed to articulate before taking the package of chocolates, you looked at the bag between a mix of amazement and surprise before looking at him and smiling tenderly. “Would you like to enjoy them with me?”

…

You were so excited, your body exuded happiness infecting him in its path, “Isn’t it amazing?”

“It definitely is,” Madara replied with a smile looking at you with adoration.

Your first painting had been sold. It was a simple painting but so beautiful, although in his eyes everything you did was beautiful. 

When he heard the news from Hashirama he had almost run out to congratulate you. It was an achievement, it was your achievement, that’s why he was happy.

“I… I still can’t believe it was sold! Honestly, it’s so ugly I can’t believe it, haha!” you laughed, though Madara’s smile disappeared when he heard your comment about your work.

Ugly? That was the last term he would use to address something you’ve done. “I don’t think it’s ugly, I think it’s beautiful and special just like you.”

How cheesy.

Well.

At least it worked… that is, if your blushing face and star-like sparkling eyes told him anything.

Ha, take that Tobirama, who said he couldn’t praise and be cheesy at the same time.

…

-- Step four; ‘confess’

Madara’s hair fluttered, the wind ruffling his long black locks. He wondered if he looked disheveled.

He wanted to formalize what he had with you. In his eyes it was time. He couldn’t stop thinking about you, your smile, the look in your eyes, the way your face lit up when you saw something you liked or when you looked at him.

You had him under some kind of spell. Not that he was complaining about this.

“Madara!” your voice called out to him. And as lovely as ever you approached him, trotting gently. Your hair fluttering behind you, like a beautiful waterfall of the rich color of your hair.

He said your name when you were close to him. “I’m glad to see you,” he paused for a moment to organize the next words he was going to say. “I want to tell you something.”

Your head tilted slightly to the side as a curious look flooded the beautiful color of your eyes, adding a spectacular shine as if a fairy had put that shine there making him fall even more in love with you. “Oh, about?”

Madara felt his hands sweat, making his heart flutter. Why was he so nervous? “I would like to formalize this.”

He looked at your beautiful face, watching as your expression filled with surprise. “You… want… what?”

This confused him, why did you look so doubtful?

However, without wasting another moment, he continued: “I want to make this formal. I want to get serious with you, I want to love you and I want to conquer you more and more every day… if you give me permission to do so. I don’t promise to be perfect… just like I don’t ask you to be, I only ask that you allow me to call you mine and that you allow me to stay by your side.” His quiet, serious, yet almost gentle voice came out trying to lull your ears.

You looked at him as he held his breath, afraid that you would leave and push him away, or even afraid that you had overstepped your boundaries. Did he do something wrong? Did he overstep your boundaries?

Why were you not answering him?

It wasn't until a moment later that felt like an eternity that you finally smiled. Such a beautiful smile… full of life and beauty.

It was at that moment that he allowed himself to smile too. There were no words, no explanations or confirmations of anything.

He knew that the two of you would be together no matter the circumstances.

…

Epilogue::

“Have you loved others?” you asked softly. Your voice, almost like a siren's song that echoed in the sounds of the forest. Your eyes like two precious gems shining in the moonlight.

“Have you?” he asked in the same tone as yours, looking at you where you had settled. You were close to where his heart is, an appropriate place when it comes to you he thought.

“Yes…”

“… Yes”

You confessed as if you were both confessing some teenage stupidity.

“Did you know I wanted to court you?” He asked you after a while.

“Huh? Oh, you talk about that. Tobirama told me the first day we met in front of that restaurant”

“… I’m going to kill him”

You snorted clearly amused. “No need, he helped me sort out my feelings”

“… I guess he’s saved this time”

Your soft giggles like an angel's songs that warmed his heart and brightened his soul, making him feel alive. He pulled you closer to his chest, feeling warm and loved.

And for that moment, which could perhaps be the last, he truly felt at peace.

…

3157… 3157 wORDS!

anyway! i wanted to do something different :D, like… a one shot style writing but following what my lovely anon asked me haha ​​:3 it’s nice to be back!! please reblog and give me a big heart 🪭❤️

Ily guysss!! You always make me happy❤️❤️❤️

[pachu09]

Haven't yet read something like this so...

MadaTobi

Accidental Kiss

Madara takes a step closer and Tobirama turns towards him, tilting his head down.

“ We're going to be alright. We'll be safe, I promise and We’ll be back soon. ”

“ I understand. ” Tobirama calmly replied, and Madara winds his arms around the Albino's waist and kisses Tobirama soundly on the mouth. It’s a quick, warm press of their lips. Madara’s gloved thumb swiping sensually over the Senju’s sensitive neck pulse point.

Tobirama gently kisses back, his pale knuckles softly grazing Madara’s cheek and then he turns back nonchalantly to the task at hand— giving the two important scrolls to a gaping Izuna and his Brother. He felt Madara’s Chakra disappearing behind him and appearing outside the Hokage Tower....

" What?!. " Tobirama snapped at the two men when they continue to stare at him wearing their stupid faces.

Izuna shake his head as if dispelling something horrible and then ask in a very shrill voice. " And since when did you and Nii-san are dating?! "

Tobirama glowered. " What the fuck are you talking about, Izuna?! "

" You mean you just kissed my brother and you're not even dating?! " Izuna spluttered affronted.

Tobirama freezes and his red eyes widen in extreme shock. " I...kissed Madara?!. "

Izuna narrowed his eyes at him. " What the fuck is wrong with you Senju?!. You were literally swapping spit just a few seconds ago!. "

Tobirama blushes furiously. " I..I mean.." he stuttered uncharacteristically, his red eyes seeking help from his Brother who's unexpectedly silent ( with his head bowed down ) for the last few minutes.

He felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise when Hashirama’s face revealed his darkening expression. Even Izuna took a few steps back when his Brother’s heavy Chakra lashes out at them.

" Well. I expect Madara at the Senju Compound as soon as he came back from his mission. If he doesn’t show up at my appointed time, Izuna–san – .." Hashirama humming a death song made Izuna and Tobirama pale.

" — I will also await his formal proposal to court and eventually Wed my Brother properly. Do not fail me, Izuna–san. " Izuna hurriedly nodded his acquiescence not wanting the brunt of the Hokage's fury raining down upon his Clan.

Hashirama stood up, winded one of his arm with his frozen baby brother and told his Nara Secretary.

" It seems my Otouto would be unavailable for the rest of the week. Until such a time his suitor came back from his mission, Tobirama will now be banned from doing his Founder duties. " The Albino was then forced to come with his angry brother back at the Senju Compound.

There, Hashirama had then proceeded to give him the ( traumatic ) lecture of his life about his Chastity, Courting and eventually the dreaded Sex Talk.

[fangxin-guoshi]

Hi! I'm new on your blog, so I'm sorry if you've already said something abt this X'D

What is your opinion about the Uchiha Clan Massacre and Itachi by an extent?

Hey, I'm new on my blog as well ಠ⁠‿⁠ಠ

The massacre obviously shouldn't have happened, it only happened bc of the slow and gradual simmering tension over the course of several decades, like tobito explained to sauce after the Itachi vs sasuke fight. It's not like the coup came out of nowhere, it's just that the hokage failed to recognize the uchiha's diminishing tolerance for their treatment.

The reason why danzo went straight to plan z though was bc of his own personal prejudice against the Uchiha, and the 3rd hokage sorta just let him do whatever. He was just using the whole "I will do anything to protect the village" excuse just to pretend he was being noble. Tobirama's influence also played a huge part, with the police force and the gradual isolation of the Uchiha.

Less of a popular opinion, hashirama also played a significant (though more indirect) role in the massacre as well. His whole "will of fire" philosophy (remember that was created out of him killing Madara, an Uchiha who was concerned by the eventual ostracization of his clan) gave rise to an exclusionist government that became willing to cut off parts of itself to protect the whole (which gave rise to people like danzo).

Itachi. I have mixed feelings. I feel like people tend to be extremely polarized on the subject, like anyone who cares Abt his character either loves him to death and sees him as a tragic hero or hates him and sees him as the government's lil pet. Tbh I lean more towards liking him. He really was just a kid who, after witnessing the 3rd war, just wanted to keep the peace, which made him willing to do ANYTHING to prevent another war. But it got to the point where he'd kill his own family for that. I think he's actually kinda similar to hashirama in this way, bc both of them were so scarred by war that they turned to any means in order to protect the peace they wanted to achieve, including killing their loved ones. Also, danzo had blackmailed Itachi. He told him that if leaf Shinobi were to carry out the genocide, sauce would develop hatred towards the leaf, and then he would have to be killed off as well. Obviously, Itachi chose the option that would keep his most important person alive (I mean, it's kind of a no brainer, since his two shitty options were "kill everyone except your brother," or "let leaf Shinobi kill everyone including your brother"). It's not like Itachi was swimming in decisions. But again, looking at the influence and trauma that the 3rd war had on him, if he hadn't learned the horrors of war at such a young age, I think he would've been less inclined to take danzo's deal as the ONLY option available. He would've been less scared of a conflict breaking out, a conflict that even though would've resulted in a lot of death, could've eventually turned into an agreement between the village and the Uchiha. But because he was so strongly against war, he never gave it a chance. Given the circumstances, he made the best possible choice his lil thirteen year old brain could muster.

I also sort of want to talk Abt Itachi's treatment of sauce, because I do find it particularly interesting. Itachi objectifies Sasuke a lot, as in, he views Sasuke not as his own person, but more like an object to influence/protect. It is in an effort to protect him, but he tries to subtly manipulate Sasuke down a certain path that as we know, backfires HORRIBLY. While he manipulates him, he simultaneously hides information from him as well. He doesn't trust Sasuke to make his own decisions. Even the way he talks Abt him sometimes, like when he talks to Naruto (in the tsukuyomi), "Sasuke is a blank canvas, he can be dyed into any color. (Dub). That wording to me felt very... off. It's clear Itachi doesn't view Sasuke as a full human being with his own motivations or tendencies. Though I am happy that this gets resolved once Itachi gets Edo tensei'ed and they fight Kabuto. He finally lets Sasuke be his own person and just lets him know that he'll love him no matter what happens/whatever Sasuke chooses to do. So generally, I do think Itachi's a pretty good character. He definitely shouldn't be glorified or victimized or hated on as much as he is, but I appreciate the complexity of his character.

(oops wrote an essay)

[freewilllife]

Sasuke Uchiha and co., Orochimaru and the four Hokages

What nerve! Believe it or not, but

a 16 year old brat named Sasuke wished to eliminate an entire village for revenge: his own - all the inhabitants included.

and this is honestly even a serious threat: As he is literally an Uchiha with serious game-changing abilities and an amazing talent - Sharingan.

Sasuke also managed to "revive" his former teacher, whom he had previously eliminated.

said teacher - Orochimaru - then suddenly wishes to help him- sure dear, for your body, he says ( and to get the power in his arms back)

said Orochimaru might look like the second coming of Voldemort with hair, but he is fairly capable and has absolutely more humour than the other.

Jugo and Suigetsu - two of his former comrades that Sasuke had used for the previous revenge - had the urge to help and tag along

all 4 people than revive the 4 Hokages again - It is quite an easy jutsu, Orochimaru says.

For one purpose: said Sasuke wishes to know the First´s truth!

And all of this happens in the midddle of a war - reality could be rewritten any moment, but said Sasuke wishes for answers!

Additionally Sasuke has the nerve to honestly tell all 4 Hokages that he wishes to eliminate said - precious - village whom all of them died for.

The Second - at least - wished to correct such an insolence, however was reminded by said Orochimaru -immediately- that he -literally - holds his destiny in his hands and

"To do what the kid wants"

Poor Second had to listen to more of Orochimaru´s harsh comments that hurt like fine needles...the reanimation jutsu was developed by the Second and like many of his jutsus are today forbidden...they were a pain in the ass, after all.

The First - the old gambler , a feature his grand-daughter inherited -, who could actually break free, but washonestly alright with Sasuke´s wish, told him the truth: a long winding story for this situation.

And so they learnt the truth about Madara and Hashirama - one of them is literally that that guy is not the dark guy everybody thinks he is...

No Madara just harbored too much love instead of too less - like many Uchihas - a comment of said Second, who wished to "eliminate Evil" = said Uchiha boy, who had the cheek to speak so insolently.

Shock - Hashirama was quite literally - a depressed little guy with a big dream and an obvious gambling problem, who reminds me of Naruto

After all - double shock - he made the first bet of the day with a complete unknown stranger-boy, who reminds me also rather of Naruto than Sasuke, said Madara.

His bet, however, results in a positive : They become friends.

But like Romeo and Juliet - they parents were against their sole nature of their relationship. Good that they are completely unaware of their brave, new idea!

As adults Hashirama took the bet of his life - literally - as Madara Uchiha wished either for his brother´s or his own life, if he just accepts his idea - of a common village:

Risky, but he won : Madara held his hand, before it could actually could touch his belly.

Madara named "their village": The village hidden in the leaf.

But Hashirama became Hokage - as nobody trusted the Uchiha and Madara.

Madara is honestly a too proud guy, who was stripped off power, even the Uchihas did not follow him, when their former leader left the village.

Madara attacked the village - with Nine Tailes and created the fear that will be responsible for the sole annihilation of the village merely decades later.

Honestly- I can understand him: His best friend killed Madara, when he showed him his back, even though Madara could have killed him earlier during the fight.

Obviously, Madara would have not killed Hashirama, but the same was not true anymore: The village was more important than any bond. Everything could be sacrificed for it.

The Second had to quarrel with the idealism of Hashirama. Despite his earlier words it becomes clear, that he did not despise the Uchiha, but was more wary of them.

Sasuke answers ironically to their statments at first: Isn´t it ironic, that an Uchiha -Itachi - understood The First best? But the Second disagrees: Actually there were more Uchihas like that.

It becomes clear, that Orochimaru really was pouting that The Third chose Minato, instead of Orochimaru.

Orochimaru -however -directed the question back at Sasuke - I believe that he is actually, truly curious: How will Sasuke decide?

Sasuke intends to go to the battlefield. - The First smirks, but actually, Sasuke has not entirely given his hand.

Sasuke, The Hokages and Orochimaru with Jugo head to the battlefield, Suigetsu wished to run for it, when everybody looked away -No chance! Karin joined.

Apparently Orochimaru watched Kabuto fail and concluded that his way of getting everything leads to destruction. And now? Orochimaru was really curious, what way Sasuke would choose...

But I am sorry, I have to add this:

If Hashirama had not tried to kill Madara, said situation would not exist. Madara felt intensively for the people he loved.

If Madara, the baka, was not too proud for his own good, then he would have not tried to run from the village, instead of fighting for his people.