Chapter 2: Where are we?

Tobirama tried pulling at the door he assumed let outside the room they were in as of now. Alright, it wasn't like he had all of a sudden decided to play friends with the Uchiha brothers. Hah! as if he ever would. Unlike his brother, Tobirama didn't believe in ideal notions of putting your faith in your enemy. Though he admitted that the fightings have considerably reduced after Madara and Hashirama took leadership. The battles used to be much worse in their father's reign, the number of their deads more, their coffins much smaller. It was painful to think how many little innocent souls were sacrificed to the name of war, his own brothers even. Sacrificed for war that has been going on for so long that nobody now even seems to remember what had started it.

Hashirama and Madara, both of them, had made a point to keep the children out of the conflicts. They spared the childrens. And that was something, even if they were still at war, even if he had to go to sleep every night in fear who he might never see again next time they go on battlefield, it was still better than digging graves for young ones. It was something. And he was thankful to both of them for that. Children deserve a better childhood than that, no matter from what clan they are.

Tobirama knew that his brother never uses his full power when he goes against Madara. He didn't know about Madara exactly, but he knew that even he fought Hashirama with a heavy heart. They had been friends once afterall.

But Izuna would never encourage Madara to make peace with them. Izuna wouldn't let his beloved brother fall in their traps. He had always had Madara's confidence more than anybody else. He was his blood. Always guiding him, always there at his side whenever Madara doubted himself,always there to ensure that his elder brother was doing the right thing. Protecting the clan from Senjus. Hashirama had often called out to Madara, demanded to end all this and be friends again and in some moments Madara had wanted to indulge. Maybe because of a desperate attempt to save his remaining kin from dying or because he too, wanted to put aside their past and end all this, be at Hashirama's side again he was never sure. But Izuna had called him back to reality every single time. Reminded him how the bastards ad killed their family. To Madara, Izuna was everything. He wouln't let his brother's safety be in hands of those who had murdered their brothers.

Izuna doesn't know Hashirama's honesty. But he knows Tobirama. Knows the cunning little fox that he is. He is well aware of what Tobirama would do to wipe his clan out. For he is just like Tobirama. So he knows his opponent well. Izuna doesn't trust him. He is smart not to.

Tobirama tried to pull at the door again. It didn't budge. He let out a breath of frustration. "Looks like its been locked from the outside. We will have to force it open."

Well that wasn't much of a problem. One hard kick from Madara had it flying two feets away. They stepped out and paused to check if anyone was there. They was no one. Tobirama hadn't sensed anyone either. He noticed the high ceilings of the big circular room. It had concrete walls rather than wooden ones. There was a sort of a platform on the second level but it was limited only to the edges of the room. Two separate flight of stairs at either sides leading to the same single stretched platform above. He supposed its purpose was to accommodate spectators since this did look like a sort of training hall, though desolate to some extent. As if it is not used often. Occasionally then, perhaps. Training halls indoors? Peculiar, he thought. He was used to training outside. It was better in the sense that while training he didn't have to worry about damaging the walls or anything.

"Hmh. Training grounds? No, seems more like a place people would hold duels in." Madara remarked.

Yeah okay. That made sense. Would explain the walkway above for people to stand in.

"Well, apparently these people don't have to go to war so often if they have so much time to organise official duels." Izuna added.

Yeah that made sense too. But tobirama could care less about that. He just wanted out of this whole damn situation. And out of the company of these two unpredictable Uchihas. Hashirama turned to him. "Can you sense anybody?" he asked casually. Tobirama focused for few seconds. A frown settled on his face. "Thats strange." He blurted out.

"What is?"

His frown deepened further. His voice came out somewhat hesitant, "I don't sense anybody in our immediate surrounding but I can sense various types of chakras all over the place a little farther from here." He paused as if unsure what to say next, but continued again. "There are too many people for it to be only one clan around this place."

Hashirama tensed up. "This could be a problem Hashirama" Madara said quietly. Hashirama looked at him with concerned expression. "And thats not the only thing" Tobirama added, "I can sense variety of chakras like...as if...how do I put this. Like people from different clans from all over the side of Fire country are here." He finished and looked at them only to find that they all were staring at him, worry clear in their eyes, a hint of uncertainty along with it. They knew that Tobirama couldn't be wrong. He was a highly skilled sensor. The silence stretched for too long and he wondered if they were even going to say anything at all. After a while Izuna muttered, "Let's get out of here. I don't like this place. It has a very strange feeling to it."

Tobirama could relate. He had a sense of foreboding, as if it will not be easy to get away from here.

Nevertheless, he walked to the big door and pulled it open. It was heavy but it opened. He stepped out and a gust of fresh air hit him instantly. He froze. The sun wasn't high yet, which meant it hadn't been long since dawn. There was a chill to the air but it only soothed him as the cold air hit his face. The trees still had leaves on it, though a few of them had started to turn yellow and fall. He stood there listening to the birds chirp as the breeze blew through the trees and the leaves rustled. He could hear a faint sound of a waterfall somewhere. No shouting of the people, no blows of horns signalling the attack of the enemy. Only the sounds of nature. A strange sense of calm settled over him. It felt almost peaceful. It felt as if he was in an entirely new place, which he was he supposed. But it felt different and so vaguely familiar at the same time nonetheless.

He quickly looked around to double check that there wasn't anyone around then signalled for the others to come outside.

The first thing Madara said after inspecting the view was, "Okay. I don't recognize this place although it feels so familiar." Hashirama agreed. "I know. It's like I've been here and I've never been here at the same time."

"Maybe we should look around." Izuna suggested calmly. "i mean I've never seen this building here before but maybe we can roam around a bit, see if we can find a landmark of some sorts that would give us a hint as to where we are exactly".

"Sounds like a plan." Tobirama said without looking over at Izuna. It was kinda weird to agree with your opponent, no lies.

Hashirama took a deep breath. "Alright then. Let's get on with it."