Disclaimer: Naruto does not in any way belong to me, it's the property of Kishimoto, etc.
Notes: Written for the Naruto Fic Festival 2013 over on ao3, for Akatsuki210.
jack o' lanterns in july
[ 1 - younger brother ]
The battlefield was no place for a child to grow up. What little freedom the children of the Uchiha had been given was restricted after Madara's liaison with the Senju prodigy, Hashirama. None of them are as gifted as Madara, and it would be the height of foolishness to hope that any enemy children they come across would be as stupid as Hashirama and make friends.
Madara does not point out that he had been just as responsible as Hashirama for their friendship. He doesn't like to think about that brief period, when he still had the luxury of looking to the future instead of focussing on the omnipresent battle. Back when he still believed that words could sway the tides of fate.
His younger brother, Itachi, chafes at the restrictions. He never says as much, but Madara can see it in the slight twist of his mouth, the narrowing of his dark eyes. He would give almost anything for his brother, but the feud between the Uchiha and the Senju has only worsened and Madara is unwilling to use his rising status in the clan to allow Itachi the freedom to roam.
"I understand, aniki," Itachi says, sounding neither upset or pleased when Madara attempts to explain this to him after yet another battle between the two clans.
"Had I known things would turn out like this when I told tou-san about you meeting Hashirama-san, I would not have told him," Itachi adds.
"What do you mean?" Madara asks. For all that he is several years older, Madara often feels as if he is the child and Itachi the adult when they speak. Itachi does not often use the Sharingan, but he is always watching the world around him; Madara can't imagine what it is that Itachi sees.
"I agreed with your ideas, nii-san," Itachi explains, looking up at him. "The Uchiha and the Senju uniting and forming their own village would be ideal. I thought, if tou-san could listen to that idea, things might change. I thought that there could be peace."
Itachi looks away, his eyes tracking their retreating column. The Uchiha have won this battle, but it had been a hard-fought victory. The wounded are being supported by their stronger comrades, with the healthiest carrying makeshift stretchers for those too injured to even limp along; the only ones who emerged from the battle relatively unscathed are Madara and Itachi.
Madara follows his gaze, but all he sees are more reasons to keep up the fight against the Senju. For all their words, he and Hashirama are still trying their best to kill as many of their opposing clansmen as possible.
"It was a pipedream," Madara answers, looking forward once more. "Useless words and childish ideals, nothing more."
Itachi's expression plainly conveys his disagreement, but he does not say anything else on the subject.
Panic seizes in Madara's chest when he sees Tobirama strike Itachi, his movements too swift for even Madara's Mangekyou to track.
"Itachi!" he cries, quickly dispatching his own opponent before springing to his younger brother's side.
Itachi coughs, blood staining his lips as he slumps towards Madara.
Their numbers are nearly equal, but with Itachi out of commission (temporarily, Madara tells himself, ignoring the dampness he can feel seeping against his side) and both Tobirama and Hashirama still in fighting condition, it would be nothing but a rout for the Uchiha.
"Madara," Hashirama says, stepping forward. "You can't win against me. Let's end this! If the greatest shinobi, the Uchiha and the Senju, join hands... The fighting will one day stop." His posture is relaxed, despite the tense atmosphere; he is holding his hand out towards Madara, as if they are still playing around at the river, not on a battlefield.
It is so trusting and careless and Hashirama. Madara wants to smack him and shout at him for being such an idiot, but he knows that Hashirama is being sincere.
And it is tempting. Madara has been dwelling on Itachi's words a lot lately, though that conversation was years ago, now.
Would it have been possible? He and Hashirama were only children when they had spoken of building a village but... They are both Clan Heads now. It's certainly possible. A united village of Uchiha and Senju is very much within reach. All Madara has to do is raise his hand and take Hashirama's.
"Madara..." Itachi coughs, blood dribbling down his chin. The sight of his blood, spilled at Senju hands, renews Madara's fury. How could he have even considered-!?
"Take his hand, aniki," Itachi whispers.
Hashirama's smile mirrors Itachi's when Madara closes his hand around Hashirama's. It's blinding; all Madara can do is blink as Hashirama presses their callused palms together, Itachi a steady weight at his side.
The Uzumaki are allies of the Senju; some of them are staying at the Senju camp when Madara and Itachi arrive.
One of them, a matronly woman, takes one look at Itachi and marches over. Her trademark red hair is laced with silver, crow's feet fanning out from the corner of her eyes. She rolls back a voluminous sleeve - adorned with her clan's emblem, naturally - and exposes scarred skin. Teeth marks.
Madara has heard of the Uzumaki kekkei genkai that allows some of that clan to share their chakra with others and in doing so, heal even grievous wounds, but he had thought it a myth.
"Don't argue," the woman snaps, thrusting her forearm in front of Itachi's face.
"I am fi-" His body spasms as he coughs, flecks of blood splattering her scarred skin.
She snorts. "A little young to be deaf, aren't you? Hurry up and bite, boy."
Itachi does as he's told. Afterwards, he's still far too pale, but he seems more alert, and he is no longer wracked by that bloody cough.
"Thank you," Madara says, bowing deeply. "I am in your debt."
The Uzumaki woman snorts again, then gives a short bark of laughter. "Forget that; you've committed to peace with that hard-headed Hashirama, haven't you? Repay me by sticking to your word."
Madara bristles at the implication of his dishonour.
Itachi steps up to his side, able to stand on his own power once more. "Madara is a man of his word," he says. "Surely the first step towards peace is trust, Uzumaki-san." He is polite and earnest, which people usually take at face value, so they do not get the deeper implications of his own words. It would amuse Madara if it did not frustrate the hell out of him.
"Ha! Touché." The woman's gaze is piercing, unclouded by age as she studies them. "With the two of you at the head of the Uchiha, I'm sure things will turn out all right," she adds and then, without waiting for a reply, turns on her heel and disappears into the camp.
"I think this will be a wonderful village," Itachi remarks, starting after her, albeit more slowly. He is favouring his left side, though it is not obvious. "Shall we, nii-san?"
Madara shakes his head and walks towards the centre of the Senju camp at his brother's side.
Madara cannot recall ever feeling prouder than he does the day Hashirama passes the title of Hokage down to Itachi.
Tobirama is (predictably) glowering, but the council loves Itachi. The Uchiha clan loves Itachi. Actually, Madara is quite certain that everyone loves his younger brother, in the same way that everyone loves Hashirama. Itachi and Hashirama share the same sort of ideals, after all. Madara and Tobirama are Konoha's generals; Hashirama and Itachi are its figureheads.
His old friend steps back in line between his brother and Madara, allowing Itachi to take centre stage before them.
"It is my duty - and privilege -to serve Konoha," Itachi begins, when the cheering dies down.
The old woman from years ago is standing off to the side with the delegation from Uzu. She raises an eyebrow and smirks when Madara catches her eye. I suppose we're even now, Uchiha-san, she mouths.
Madara inclines his head slightly in acknowledgement of her words. She saved his brother, which is a debt that he doubts he will ever be able to repay, no matter what she says.
Beside him, Tobirama scoffs under his breath, something about the Uchiha and so damn emotional.
Hashirama elbows him.
"Shut up, I want to hear Itachi's speech!" he hisses, though his words are uttered more loudly than Tobirama had been muttering.
Tobirama glares at Hashirama, then at Madara when he snorts softly in amusement. Even Tobirama's dour suspicion is not enough to dampen Madara's mood, not when Itachi is the newly-appointed Niidaime Hokage and his oldest friend is at his side.