Chaos herself's note:

Hey there!

This is a huge project that has been started in 2014 together with my dear writing buddy BlackMajjicDuchess. Originally we wanted to co-author with her supplying Mito-chapters and me writing Touka's side. However, things happened and ultimately we were both preoccupied with our original works (they are published now! :D).
A recent dream reminded me of this project, and, with my friend's consent, I'm going to finish what we set in motion back then.
So here is Touka's side of the story. Enjoy!

Chaos

...

Chapter 1: Feet in the Fire

In the distance of night the winds were quietly howling and echoing the familiar lonely tune of another dawning war. Beetween the stark shadowy trunks of the horizon swallowing treeline the breeze billowed out in a thousand ghastly murmurs of long lost souls in the leaves.

Even if the night was so deceptively calm and quiet you could hear your own breath Touka Senju wouldn't be fooled. 'Danger', the black forest whispered to her like a prayer, 'stay alert...'

She knew war was coming, war was always coming.

And the place they had decided to settle camp for good was nothing but a deathtrap. It was good and securable for another night or two, maybe even a week, but everything beyond was utter suicidal madness. Madness.

The solid cliff of rock would make sure no enemy would ever come at them that way, there was enough space for their squadrons and the trek of civillians, the soil was rich and a continuous water supply was ensured, alright; but at the same time the cliff would cut off their only retraction route once the armies marched in from among the traitorous trees, which surrounded every other entrance to the vast clearing and were hiding their camp as much as they were concealing approaching foes.

If they stayed here in the middle of the woods with their backs pressed hard to the rocks they would be literally sitting ducks waiting for, nay, inviting the bullseye with arms wide open.

Touka preferred endless plaines, plateaus and hilltops where you could see the horizon stretching on and on for miles and miles in three hundred and sixty degrees; and you would know someone was coming hours and days ahead. No one would be able to sneak up on you and cut your throats and rape the corpses of your slaughtered parents and burn your grandparents and slit your baby brothers' and sisters' little tummies in their beds so easily there.

In the last wars Touka, the seasoned warrior, had seen it happen; and she was aware it would happen again during the wars to come.

However, her battle experienced advice fell on merry Hashirama-sama's deaf ears. And neither his brother nor his wife were able to change their clan chief's mind.

Touka's lips were sealed in a firm line as she stood watchfully by her campfire and stared into the shadows of the trees even though she was not on guard duty tonight; she couldn't sleep yet, anyways. The flames were peacefully cackling and dancing in waves of heat and feasting on the logs and twigs she ocassionally fed to them; at least they wouldn't die of hunger so easily here.

Suddenly a presence appeared next to her; a big gauntlet gloved hand spread firm to the skin of her belly where the special Hiraishin seal was hidden beneath well used battle armour. She was not surprised that Tobirama would come find her; ever since they were young and he planted his secret seal around her navel so he could easily detect and teleport to her whenever needed he would sometimes show up out of thin air just like this. So she simply let her scrutinizing gaze wander over his stern features and solemn crimson eyes.

"Who died?" she asked after a brief silence; her face stayed impassive like the calm sea within her chest but she gripped her spear tighter.

He shook his head, let go and flopped down on the trunk she used both as seating and fodder for her campfire. "No one, fortunately," Tobirama finally rumbled between gritted teeth while he stared into the flames, "but it was a close call."

Touka waited patiently and sat down not far beside him.

"Nii-san and Madara Uchiha made peace today," he offered quietly after a while. She arched a brow and glanced at his hard profile half-lit with dancing orange and yellow shadows.

"Surely you don't believe that. The Uchiha can't be trusted," she deadpanned.

Peace was a lie told to little kids to shoo away the boogeyman; peace just didn't exist.

Tobirama sighed and rubbed his face with his fingertips, then clenched his hands to fists. "Of course not," he glowered, "But Hashirama believes in this peace, believes in this village, believes in Madara fucking Uchiha. He is much too trusting and much too stubborn for his own good, anyways; he wants it to happen so bad that even that cunning bastard Madara seemed impressed..."

He sighed again, slid from the trunk to the ground closer to the fire so he could lean his tired back against the wood and chafe his feet under the flames; his untamed silvergrey mane almost grazed her leg guard.

"Do you want me to kill Madara then?" Touka suggested quietly; her sharp eyes kept observing his countenance for any indication of his true aim. At least, she would die trying to fulfil this deed if he wished her to...

But Tobirama shook his head again, crimson gaze lost in fire. "If you succeeded...everything Nii-san had been working for would shatter to naught and nothing along with his heart; I don't want that." He chucked a little twig into the flames and they hungrily devoured it with a fizzling sound leaving nothing but ashes.

"But I don't want to lose my brother either. Not again. So...I can't do anything but wait and keep a close watch on both, Nii-san and the Uchiha," Tobirama concluded and opened his fists palm up; just in time for Touka to place three tufts of tiny rose-coloured blossoms on a single stem thereupon.

"Flowers again?" He blinked in surprise. "Really, Touka...you're one of the fiercest warriors I know; without blinking twice you scare the living shit out of hard-boiled men with your abilities and I can't even recall the last time I saw your petite body clad in anything other than battle armour," he snorted, "and yet you come around the corner with these delicate women things like flowers...what's it this time?"

Touka waited quietly, impassively and let him twirl the stem between his fingers, smell the distinct fragrance and remember the lessons of their youth. "Valeriana?" Tobirama finally deduced and frowned. "I don't need this to calm down and help me sleep; I don't want my senses dulled."

"That's its use, Tobirama-dono, but not its meaning," she stated simply. He let out a quiet grumble, closed his eyes and this time his smooth shock of hair did brush her leg guard.

Reciprocal silence settled comfortably between them so they let the crackling and spitting fire talk its scorching tale of acheing wood, sizzling sparks and floating ghosts of ashes instead. The shadows of night had become murkier but here and there a couple of campfires like hers were still fighting the darkness like watchful beacons of sustainability. At least, the forest would shield their light from enemy eyes a bit longer instead of drawing them straight in...

No reason to let down her guard, though.

"I would stay around Hashirama day and night just to make sure he's safe..." Tobirama broke the silence after a good twenty minutes; his voice was quiet and hoarse like the smoke wafting from the flames. "Altough I left him with Mito-chan tonight; trust she can keep him secure and distracted..." His deep sigh made her look at him instead of the treeline and he stared right back.

"I just couldn't bear being so close to Nii-san tonight...not after I almost lost him to himself", he confided in Touka, who listened without restraints or betraying her feelings. She knew he wouldn't voice what his fierce eyes demanded of her so she simply offered instead: "You can rest at my campfire all night if you want, Tobirama-dono; I'll keep watch for you."

He grunted and slouched his body even more between Touka, trunk and fire so his feet were almost touching the tamely licking flames; she heard the appreciating undertone though.

So she leaned in until her face hovered above his; her dark inscrutable eyes bore into his crimson gaze as if she indended to capture him in one of her Gen-Jutsus. Before he could open his mouth and his big hands could come up to either pull her in or push her away Touka's lips curled into a little mischievous smile and she swiftly produced another three flowers into his field of vision. "You're welcome."

Tobirama huffed and rolled his eyes. "Cunning woman."

But he grabbed the stems and considered them while Touka retreated back to her upright watchful poise. "These I know; you always attach them to your messages", he murmured and bobbed the young flexible twig with light pink five-leaved blossoms between his thumb and index finger. "Peach flowers...like 'Touka', right?"

"Yes, that's what they are," she confirmed but imparted nothing more. Touka observed he was aware that he missed something or that he didn't want to acknowledge what was implied; it didn't matter if he understood or not, anyways. It wouldn't change a thing.

Next he viewed the other two white blossoms; and even though there was some recognition showing in his eyes Touka quietly provided: "Iris and Chrysanthemum."

When Tobirama eyed her as if he didn't know what to make of her gift, or the shrewd woman beside him for that matter, Touka gave him a look as crafty as a cartload of monkeys and stood. "Would you like some herb tea, Tobirama-dono?"

Without waiting for his reply she briefly retreated to her tent and prepared the infusion mixing even a bit of valeriana essence into the blend of fresh mint, camomile, fennel and aniseed, which he accepted with a grateful grunt and slowly downed the hot liquid under her apprehensive glance. She figured Tobirama could use a thorough rest after an eventful day like this, after all.

Touka intended to stand guard for another while either way when the whispering woods wouldn't let her sleep; and when he was there seeking company and solace at her campfire she would, anyways. Could as well make it an all-nighter...

Besides, the devil never slept.