Madara Uchiha sat at the head of a stretched-out, ovular table with his legs crossed. He was gathering his thoughts, or at least trying to since there were so many side conversations spitting out of the council members' mouths. The elders were sitting stiffly, scanning the scene before them. They were quite displeased with the amount of time they've been waiting to start their meeting.
Madara huffed in his chair annoyed at the situation. Just then, the doors swung open and Izuna Uchiha scurried to sit on the right hand side of his brother. "Excuse me! I'm very sorry for the delay! Shall we begin?"
"That's fine, just don't do it again. Now, we shall begin!" Madara uncrossed his legs and leaned into the table. Everyone else hushed and listened to their leader. "It was stated that this afternoon a foreign female entered this village under the presence of Hashirama and Tobirama Senju. Now, depending on who this girl is, I've created many plans that could give the Uchiha the upper hand in the village while camouflaging as a way to show true peace and trust between our clans. On top of that, I will be discussing a way of monitoring who enters and exits the village with Hashirama. This way, we can protect the village more and know who's an intruder. Does this sound fair enough?"
Everyone looked at each other, afraid to speak their minds. One man raised his hand in question. "Uchiha-sama," He bowed and stood up. "What do you mean by the first plan you stated?"
"I mean, depending on the relationship of the girl, depends on the way I can manage to manipulate her, so the Uchiha can become as powerful in governing as the Senju, or even more powerful to overthrow the Senju. If she has no importance … then the plan gets tossed." He looked at everyone's determined faces. "Well, discuss." He coaxed them and everyone started explaining their decisions.
After a few minutes the council came up with a decision and chose a representative to speak. "Uchiha-sama, we decided to go along with your plan." Madara smirked, but it stopped spreading when the man continued. "It's a magnificent idea, but we should not overthrow the Senju. It's not the clan itself that's powerful over the village, it just happens to be the leader from the clan. We need to keep the peace, and standing still or being equal is the best choice. We already have an advantage, or you can even call it a gift, in which we can concoct plans for the village to make it the way it is. We shouldn't take too much advantage of that. Otherwise, please pursue your plan." He sat down and the elders nodded with one of them responding to his words.
"We agree." They all crossed their arms and Madara looked around at the clansmen.
Were they turning their backs on him? "No, that's just paranoia." He nodded. "Well, then. It's settled. Gather information on the girl and devise a plan! But, I think that after this meeting, the Uchiha should have a welcoming celebration to add to the trustworthy feeling!" He smirked and everyone nodded. "Please tell everyone while we start setting up for a late-night extravaganza!" He stood up and everyone else followed suit and left as he concluded. "This meeting is adjourned."
Hashirama and Reina were sitting in the garden sipping tea. Tobirama was training in the woods, but they decided to relax together. Reina drank all of her tea and took in a deep breath. She smiled at the fresh air and bright sky. Laughing slightly, she turned to him and held her stomach.
"What's wrong?" He asked with a creeping smile.
"Remember when you and Tobirama were playing that ninja game. I went to fetch you guys for lunch and I was like, 'Hashi-' and I didn't get to finish because you kicked me in the gut, thinking I was him?" She snorted.
"Yes! I remember! Hence the origin of my nickname!" He looked at her chuckling and stated. "The fact that you can laugh at that."
She smirked and stole Hashirama's tea. Before he could protest she drank it down and stuck her tongue out. "Ha!"
"Meanie!" He crossed his arms, but let them fall when she started talking.
"So, what's the dinner plan?"
"Well, I actually have a meeting around dinner time with Madara Uchiha."
"Madara Uchiha?"
"Yes, he's the Uchiha clan lord."
"Oh." She shrugged and sighed.
"I'll be back after though, so tonight we may not be able to dine together, but we have the rest of our lives to make it up!"
She laughed and ate her dango. "Okay. Priorities first."
"That's my girl." He stood up and guided her out of the tower and around the village.
Later that day, dinner time swung around and it was just Tobirama and Reina at the table. Hashirama got his battle armor on and left to talk with Madara. The meeting was held in the Uchiha Clan's private meeting room. Hashirama sat down with his childhood friend and they sat in silence for a few moments.
"So, you may begin." Madara gestured and Hashirama shrugged.
"Honestly, I have nothing to really talk about, besides maybe monitoring the village."
"That's what I was thinking of discussing!"
"You see! Great minds think alike!" The men laughed and got on with the topic. "So, you talk to me."
"Well, this all started with a couple of Uchiha who saw a young girl enter the village to greet you and your brother. They weren't worried about her, but rather the fact that we have no way of monitoring who enters and exits the village. After all, we worked hard on this place. There's no way we want to experience anymore enemy attacks after the war has ended." Madara looked up at Hashirama who lightly chuckled to himself.
"Well, I think that we should create a code then. Maybe, to say to the guards outside the village gates before entering?"
"No." Madara held his head. "We're ninja. A protective barrier jutsu should work. Anyone who's part of The Hidden Leaf Village has to do a certain sequence of hand signs to enter. How does that sound? We'll have someone keep track of the barrier and that's how we'll know. If any intruder enters the village a quick report should suffice." He sat back and smiled at his friend's reaction.
"Madara, you're a genius! That sounds great! We'll get it started next week."
"Wonderful, but before we leave … who was that young girl?"
Hashirama hesitated a bit. The war was over, but it's still good to take precaution. But wouldn't that show lack of trust? "Or is that what Madara is doing? Backing me into a corner to tell him no matter what? … Nah! I'm getting paranoid!" Hashirama hiccupped and smirked. "Why?"
"I have the right to know and I'm curious! After all! The war is over and we trust each other, right?" Madara gave a small smile. He was a master at bluffing.
"Very true. That beautiful, young girl is Reina Senju. Her name briefly changed to Ashikaga, because during the war, she was living with them for protection."
"Protection? Why?"
"She has special chakra. That's why Tobirama and I always debate on advancing her ninja skills or keeping them the way they are! We are kind of lost. Stuck in a rut, you could say. Her chakra can be used as a straight forward weapon, and if anyone got their hands on her, they could have an enormous amount of control over the shinobi world. One of her specialties is being able to absorb chakra to make an exact clone in a transformation jutsu."
"Really? Very interesting." Madara was sincerely interested.
"Yes, but I trust you, and I believe that you would protect her as well. After all, she is my sister! After almost four years I finally get to see her! Almost eighteen and is as pretty as can be." He stood up and shook Madara's hand. "Well, I ought to be going. Reina was saddened that I couldn't dine with her tonight, but she understood."
"Well, my clan is having a private celebration tonight between our clans for the construction of the village. Your whole clan is invited and I believe everyone has invitations, but please, bring her and make up for lost time."
"Really? Thank-you! This means a lot to me! I'll be there in about an hour! Good-bye, Madara!"
Madara waved with smiling eyes. "Bye." After Hashirama left, Madara went to get changed into elegant, ceremonial robes.
"Sis, are you ready?!" Hashirama called from outside her door.
Tobirama slapped him up upside the head once again and scolded him. "It's rude to rush a lady!"
"Oh, hush!" He rubbed his head and watched his sister step out. She had on a gold kimono with red cherry blossoms all over it. Her collar and obi were a silky navy blue. Her fan matched her outfit and her dark, chocolate-brown hair was up in a curly bun. Everything went with her creamy, fair skin as she gently walked across the floor.
She looked up at her brother with pleading eyes. "Do I have to walk like a butterfly?!"
He laughed. "Of course not!" They laughed and walked to the Uchiha Clan's compound. Upon entering, Hashirama noticed how nervous his sister appeared to be. "Are you ready to meet the infamous Uchiha Madara?"
"No! I really am not! What if I trip or something?! Do I even look presentable?!"
"Reina," Tobirama interjected. "You look beyond gorgeous."
"Thank-you, brother." She bowed and was abruptly yanked by 'Hashi' through the sea of people.
"There he is! Follow me, Reina!" He pulled her through the crowd and stopped behind Madara. "Oi! What beautiful lights, beaming into the night!"
Madara swiveled around and smiled at his old time friend. "Oi! Hashirama! You made it!" They bowed and exchanged handshakes when he noticed the young woman by his side. "And who might this be?" His expression softened has he was hypnotized by her.
"This is my beautiful sister, Reina Senju. Her birthday is in one week and she'll turn eighteen. We'll be looking for a husband for her soon." He nudged his sister lightly and she bowed.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Uchiha-sama." She spoke ever so softly. Her voice though, was even and strong. He could listen to her talk all day if he could.
"The pleasure's all mine." He bowed and grabbed her hand, kissing the top of it. "Please, Miss, call me Madara."
"Of course." She lightly pulled away. "Well, brother, I should find Tobirama so he's not alone, and leave you two be."
"No! Please, stay! Get acquainted!" Hashirama was innocently demanding. "Spend the night together! I'll catch up with some others I haven't seen in a while! Madara is very warm and hospitable. He'll introduce you to some people. I have some business to take care of, but I'll catch up with you later!" He gave her a kiss on the head and left.
"So …" Reina simply swallowed as she watched her brother leave.
"So … Reina is it?" Madara interrupted her internal spiral.
"Yes, sorry." She gave a nervous laugh and smile.
"Don't be!" He stuck his arm out for her to hook onto. "You look splendid tonight."
"Thank-you, Uchi- … Madara." She took his arm warily and walked with him.
"That's better." He smirked and asked her questions. "When's your birthday?"
"In a week. November twelfth to be exact. I'll be eighteen as he said. I just don't exactly trust his judgment for suitors." She swallowed nervously. Her slender neck made defined movements as she looked around. Her stomach made a knot inside her abdomen as she walked arm and arm with this sem-retired war lord.
"Interesting."
"Indeed. So, how's your FAMILY?!" She raised her voice as he spun her to face him and started dancing with her to the rhythm of the music playing along the streets.
"Family? Ha! I have none. I mean, I have a brother, but no wife or children of my own. I'm happily single, but am also looking for a suitor, and the clan elders are as well … for me that is. They think that it would add to my image and is appropriate for my position in the clan." He spun her around and their faces met once again.
She let out a sharp breath and looked at his chest, then back up at his eyes which displayed an odd form of- "The sharingan? I never thought it would look so interesting."
"Isn't it? Do you know anything about it?" He minorly smirked at her naivety. She was playing right into his trap. His smirk spread farther across his face, pleased with the situation.
"Not exactly. I was sheltered for a long time, which I believe my brother told you." She looked away from his unnerving grin.
"Yes, he did. Why don't you ask him about the sharingan? He'll tell you everything there is to know from fighting with me all those years."
"I would assume he'd be able to." She felt her face heat up as she heard her stomach growl. There was no way she would eat in front of the Uchiha Clan lord. "Uh, excuse me. I should find my brother." She was about to let go when his grip slightly tightened and he laughed at her.
"Why? Are you hungry?"
"Well, y-yes. Are you?" She looked up at him with a slight blush.
"Starving!" They laughed lightly and walked towards a restaurant in the compound. They sat and drank tea as their small-talk continued. "So, what else does your chakra do besides copy others'?"
"A lot. I can show you sometime if you'd like. It's much more entertaining than to just talk about it." Their food came and they began to eat. "My most powerful ability is to use my chakra in its purest form. With chakra at its quintessential stage, it can easily mold into another person's chakra and I can use whatever techniques they can use; even kekkei genkai. That's why everyone would want to use me as a weapon."
"That's unique."
"It's better when you see it."
"You know what else is better when you see it?" He laughed a bit.
"What?"
"Fireworks. I have a perfect spot where we can watch them, if you'd join me that is." He swallowed his food and after they finished eating, she gave her answer.
"Yeah, that sounds alright." She nodded and gave a light smile. Even if she didn't fully trust him, how could she turn down a clan lord? He paid for their meals and they walked out to join Hashirama.
"Would you excuse me, but I have some others' to converse with. I'll show you the spot later." Madara said to Reina. He left the siblings with a bow and Reina and Hashirama walked around drinking small bottles of sake.
The night went on and they caught up with Tobirama. They all played games and ate sweets together. Tobirama also drank the rest of Reina's sake, since she was underage, but he also wanted to 'down' some as well. After a while, Reina's feet began to ache and she sat on a bench. She was about to relax when someone tapped her shoulder from behind.
"Hey, Reina."
She turned around and gave a happy grin. "Madara."
"Come with me." Madara looked at Hashirama, receiving his permission to privately be with Reina once more. He walked her to the end of a jetty and sat her at the edge of it, so they were on the lake. "The fireworks seen from here are the best. It's better than up at the edge of the village on the cliff."
"I love fireworks." She said excitedly. "I haven't seen them since I was little."
"Well here we go. Ready?" He pointed up at the sky.
"Ready." Just as she said that rockets shot up in the sky and exploded with radiant light. "Wow." The fireworks went on and when they were over, it was time to pack up and go home. "Thanks for the great evening, Madara."
"You're very welcome." He helped her up and faced her towards him. She looked right into his manipulative eyes. "Would you like me to walk you home?"
"I don't want to cause you any trouble."
"Then I must." He hooked their arms together and he walked her to the tower. They eventually caught up with a tipsy Hashirama and Tobirama. The thing is, they become sober quite fast.
They reached the tower. Reina bowed and thanked Madara. "Have a safe trip home." She wished him.
"You don't have to worry about me, but thank-you." He bowed and said his good-byes, leaving in a flash.
"Wow … so that's a true Shinobi, huh?" She shut the door and went to her room; her brothers of course followed.
