"Relax, no blood shall be shred today… But next time we meet, it will be as adversaries on the battlefields, Hashirama Senju. And when that time comes, you will address me as Madara Uchiha."

Hashirama jolted awake, gasping for air. He sat up; late autumn air chilled his bare back. It was another dream about Madara, more specifically, about when the Uchiha declared them both enemies. He remembered that event so well, how his father and brother had used him as a bait to catch his friend (ex-friend) just for the Uchiha family to come up with the same idea as well. Luckily, two boys warned each other of the traps, thus no one was killed that day.
Hashirama closed his eyes, feeling two red orbs glaring back. They had been haunting him for quite a while now, in his dreams and real life. Whenever going to a battle, the Senju clan leader would look for them first, ignoring other shinobies and Tobirama screaming at him for being a careless fool… He would also feel disappointed if Madara, the owner of those eyes, wasn't there.

"Are you okay?"

A quite voice spoke up beside Hashirama. His partner, Yui, propped on elbows and looked at him under her bangs worryingly.

"Uh, I'm fine… Sorry for waking you up."

"It's alright."

She mumbled, snuggling closer to the heat source that was Hashirama and continued:

"I'm never used to sleeping anyway."

Yui was a scrawny Beta kunoichi. She had long, unruly hair, coal eyes and pale skin. To tell the truth, Hashirama didn't know what their relationship was. He liked her, to some extent, but not love (he suspected she felt the same). However, with the weight of war and loss on their shoulders, the pair had decided to wind up in each other's bed from time to time. They didn't go out, only had sex and no one but Hashirama's brother knew the real nature of their 'relationship'.

"There are other available Omegas, brother… and you pick her?"

Tobirama's voice echoed in his mind. The albino Beta had always stressed the importance of Hashirama getting a mate to ensure his bloodline.

"Who know when you will die?"

His younger brother had said once while being drunk. And he wasn't the only one with such view: the elders also wanted him to 'settle down' and have, like, 10 pups or something before he met his unfortunate ending.

Hashirama sighed. He didn't like the idea of being bonded to someone. Sure it was romantic and…

"…great sexes" quoted a really drunk Tobirama…

…but the Senju wasn't sure if he was ready for such commitment. Having a mate was a very big deal. It meant embracing someone entirely, sharing your happiness, sorrows, frustrations… the rest of your life. When your mate dies, a part of you dies as well. And your soul would never be completed. Some people, especially Omegas, after losing their mate, would neglect themselves until finally they became too weak and died. Others might just straight up suicide or live in grief.

Hashirama recalled how Butsuma had changed after his mother passed away, from an optimistic father to a bitter and cold leader. It was just too easy for people to die when a war was going on, and he didn't want to break anyone's heart if one day he turned up dead (or vice versa). Besides, if he was to be bonded, then it must be with someone he loved.

"Whatcha thinking about?"

Yui prodded his rid. Hashirama sighed tiredly:

"Nothing important..."

She pouted then rolled back to her side of the mattress, dragging most of the blanket with her. Looking at scarred back and wild dark hair, a certain Uchiha suddenly reentered his mind.

No

Hashirama thought sadly. He couldn't have slept with Yui because she resembled Madara now, could he? The man hated him. Plus, they were both Alphas. Omega couples might sometimes be used as dirty jokes, but Alpha couples meant someone would be banished or stoned to death. Such pairs were deemed 'unnatural' and greatly frowned upon.

Chestnut eyes looked through a small window into darkness. Hashirama really should try to fall back to sleep now, he had a really long day ahead, possibly another fight with the Uchihas. He couldn't risk getting killed tomorrow because of insomnia.

Speaking of Uchiha, would Madara be there? The man had been absent for roughly a week now (to every Senju's relief). Was he sick? Or killed?

"Stop thinking about him…"

Hashirama told himself, but in the end, his traitorous mind still drifted to a certain raven haired male with red eyes.

It had been a typical day for the two friends. They talked about something incredibly stupid then sparred on the river bank. This time, Madara was winning (he always wanted to think so) when suddenly, the moronic Senju cheated and tackled him to the ground.

"Gaaah, cheater!"

Madara yelled and shot his infamous deadly glare at the boy on top of him. However, Hashirama was either too dumb or immune to it to care. Instead of backing away, he leaned closer to the Uchiha who was lying on his stomach and boomed loudly:

"I WON!"

"Yes you did. Now get off!"

"Nah, I like it up here."

To prove his point, Hashirama draped over his friend's back and giggled like a kid he was.

"You are soft and warm, for such a meanie…"

"Idiot…"

Madara retorted and wiggled. But the other boy was a real pig, so he just gave up with a sigh.

The young Uchiha watched his surroundings. It was late summer; shafts of golden sunlight peaked through thick leaves from above to shine down on the ever moving water. They also created bright spots on the ground, which Madara took time counting while waiting for his friend to get off. Strangely, even with extra weight pushing him into the grass ground, he felt peaceful. Shutting his eyes, Madara listened to the sounds of birds, trees and water: something one rarely got to appreciate during war.

Winds picked up and some leaves fell off trees to land around them.

"Autumn is coming." Hashirama stated excitedly. He liked autumn and couldn't wait to roll on some red leaves beds. The Senju picked up a yellowish leaf. A toothy grin bloomed on his face. He looked up at the foliages above as if expecting more to fall down. The boy wagged the leaf in front of his friend, trying to catch Madara's interest. But the Uchiha was completely zoned out and made no move to acknowledge.

"Hey…"

Hashirama said. Madara hummed and craned his neck to look at the other boy. Obsidian eyes met Chestnut ones.

"You okay?"

Hashirama whispered, worried that his weight might have accidentally 'killed' or at least knocked Madaraout. The young Uchiha's lips slightly turned upward like a smile:

"Just tired…"

"Oh"

And they laid like that, with Hashirama blanketing Madara, his head rested on the younger boy's shoulder.

…

"Hashi?"

"Huh?"

"You should try to lose some weight."

Somewhere else, Madara also woke up from a slumber. The Uchiha winced painfully, rolling onto his side…

He brought a hand up to touch pale neck where phantom breath had been: right over the scent gland. He blushed slightly, hand retreated to folded neatly in his lap.

Madara loathed heats: their constant aches, sweat, cramps (in all the wrong place, mind you) and strange dreams. Every time he tried sleeping through a heat, there would be glimpses of a lush forest, idiotic grins and a way too familiar river to wake him up. Madara knew what they were suggesting. Only one person could do this to him

More blood rushed to his already flushed face.

There were reasonable explanations to this. Madara blamed the lack of affection throughout his life: He had no friends in the Clan. People were too afraid of Tajima (in the past) and Madara himself (now) to even hold a casual conversation… plus, Hashirama happened to be the only non-relative close to him, and an Alpha on top of that.

In other words, all those dreams were only the hormones (of a completely normal Omega) acting up. Madara would love Hashirama Senju when hell froze over, or when Tobirama treated him to lunch. Both of which were impossible in this world (right?).

I hate him.

Why? Weren't you friends once?

But he is a Senju.

That didn't stop you from trying to save him that day, did it? You could have just led Hashirama right into father's trap, yet choose to blow the cover instead.

...

So?

He groaned, felt like bashing his head against a wall. This was what he meant by 'Omega's hormones'. They dulled his sense, rendered him an irrational wimp like the stereotype of his gender... And Madara hated feeling weak, dammit. He clenched his fists till the knuckles turned white and head fumming with anger.

The man was 1 second away from trashing the safehouse he was currently in, when suddenly the door cracked open.

"Nii-san?"

Madara's ears perked up at the voice of his brother.

"Your heat is over…"

Izuna noted, leaning on the door frame. He held a basket in one hand and some fresh clothes in another.

The Beta walked over to Madara cautiously. He didn't want to infuriate the highly-strung Omega, it was very late and this was the last safehouse that hadn't been accidentally burnt down by 'you-know-who'

"I brought your things…"

Madara took the basket; the unpleasant smell of food filled his nostrils. Post-heat always left the Omega's sense extremely sensitive. He watched its contents and grunted half-heartedly.

"Really? I was in heat, otouto, not starving. People are going to notice if you take this much food all the time."

"You need to restore as much energy as possible, nee-san; I know heats can be wearying. Plus, I can't have my favorite brother fainting in the middle of a battle now, can I?"

"That is still no excuse to fatten me up…"

"Ahhhhh. But nii-san, you are already a whale."

The older Uchiha laughed, flicking his brother's forehead. He went and set the basket down on a table. Always leave it to Izuna to lighten the mood, the boy could turn a murderous Madara into a slightly happy one (not that anyone could tell).

Miso soup, really? Now where did he get that?

Author's note

Denial, denial... the first stage of love eh? :

Izuna knows, but when? That's for you to find out in next chapter(s).

Hope that you all would enjoy and PM me if you spot any mistakes.

Also some information about my A/B/O verse, like I promised :D .

Warning: This is embarrassing.

There are 3 statuses/genders: Alpha, Beta, and Omega.

*Alpha:

-The dominant group

-Have distinctively strong pheromones, sometimes even unpleasant. Alphas can use this to soothe/threaten Omegas and Betas.

-Larger physical builds

-Have male genitals a.k.a penises (for both male and female alphas) which can develop a knot at the head when close to orgasm (kinda like dogs)

-Can impregnate Omegas as well as female Betas although fertility rate for the latter gender is low.

-Goes into rut when exposed to heat pheromones

Note: Female Alphas can't conceive

*Beta:

-Your ordinary humans

-Not affected by Heat pheromones

-Have bland scents

-Pups(offsprings) of 2 betas or of 1 beta and another Alpha/Omega are mostly only Betas.

*Omega

-Sweet pheromones

-Usually have smaller body types than other sexes

-(Usually) Submissive and sensitive

-Female Omegas can be impregnated outside heats by Alphas and Betas.

-Male Omegas are rare and only fertile during heat. They can't be impregnated by betas and also bear fewer pups than their female counterparts. However, they give birth to stronger offsprings who are mostly alphas.

*Heat/Bond bites

Omegas go into heats every 3-5 months during which they are really sensitive and constantly aroused. The deeper an Omega is in heat, the less control they have over themselves.

Omegas near/in heat have sickly sweet scents that arouse Alphas and drive them into rut: a stage in which they only have mating in mind.

Bond bites occur after mating, when the Alphas bite down on their Omega's neck. Normally, unless the other mate is dead, these bites will not fade completely and mark the Omegas as 'taken' or 'bonded'.

Bites outside heat are sometimes called 'court bites'. They fade shortly afterward and are like a vow between 2 people.

A bonded person is referred to as 'mated'

Mated Omegas give off pheromones which can't be masked by scent cologne. Mated Alphas can control themselves entirely when facing Omegas who are not theirs, in heat.

Mating doesn't always occur. For instance, if an Alpha has enough self-resistant, he/she can leave an Omega approaching/in heat before the scents affect him/her fully. The same goes to bond bites.

Close blood relatives, Alphas or not, are not affected by heat pheronmones.

Omegas who go for a long time without mating have more intense and irregular heats than those who do.

*Society:

This will change in the future. *wink**wink*

-Only Alphas and Betas are trained to become shinobies. Even so, Beta kunoichies are still very rare.

-Usually only Alphas hold high positions.

-Powerful Alphas sometimes have more than 1 mate. If that is the case, their emotional connection would also be weaker. Also noted that many comunity dislikes this form of polygamy.

-Omegas are seen as homemakers and child-bearers and would be frowned upon if they do anything that 'belongs' to the stronger sexes.

For mated Omegas, their position in the society depends on that of their mate.

For unmated ones, they are introduced to potential mates since early ages and are often got married off at the age of 15, sometimes even younger. Not every Omega gets to see their mate's face before they share a heat and bond, kind of like arranged marriage.

I hope that helps. Other details of the verse will be explained within the story so I see no reason to add, but ask anyway, if you like.

Until next week.