Author's Note: So I'm really happy with the feedback from my previous chapter, and I would like to address a review about my placement of religion in the story. At first, I thought about taking that part out of the story, but I decided to keep it in mainly because I realized that Kishimoto uses a lot of Christian references in the manga. This is mainly because Kishimoto is Christian. I'm not going to go into depth with them, but they are there and if you pay close attention you can see them. And it will make sense, later on to the story, as to why religion tends to be important to Madara. And no...trust me, he isn't going to be portrayed as an overly religious character, in fact, religion won't be mentioned for a few chapters now. Regardless, I hope you like the story.
Chapter Three: Shout it Out
The clan meeting began as any other, subtle and quiet. The large group of Clan Head Leaders stood when Hashirama entered the room, even Madara.
He stared at Hashirama without making things obvious. He watched him as he sat, and as he took his first breath before he spoke. He wondered what stress the Senju had on his chest, aside from their "relationship" problems. Madara always admired, Hashirama's ability to take control of situations, whether it be with his charm, or his words of inspiration and motivation. Nevertheless, Shodai was able to hypnotize anyone, regardless of if they had an eye trick or not.
The first part of the meeting, as usual was borning. Madara didn't really pay attention that much, he just looked around at many other clan Leaders. Amongst the fray was a girl, a Hyuuga? She sent smiles his way occasionally, he found it polite to smile back.
His eyes then inevitably drifted to Tobirama Senju, who was unsurprisingly glaring at Madara the whole time. Madara shot an ugly glare back and then his gaze rested upon a violet haired woman, sitting by Hashirama. She looked fairly young, it was obvious she wore makeup. He'd never seen her before, but he could take a guess that she was related to the Head Senju house, at least her clothes said so.
Sitting next to her was another woman, her hair was tied up in two identical buns, it was crimson red as well. She had a stern, stuck up expression, as if she was too good to be sitting in a room full of commoners. Madara could only guess, by the way she carried herself, that she was an Uzumaki.
Madara watched her carefully, as she casts looks towards a man next to her, and then Hashirama. It was obvious, there was something wrong with the girl, she was very frantic.
Suddenly the man she was with, her father Madara supposed, rose his hand and silenced Hashirama. To Madara's surprise, his lips sealed instantly. This older man began to speak.
"While your inspirational words have throughout this meeting have done well to unite us, I think we have much more important matters to attend to." He spoke, his voice became stern and serious. "As you may know, as you may all know," He addressed everyone. "The Senju and Uzumaki clans are relatives."
Madara actually didn't know that.
"Both Senju and Uzumaki clan members hold elite life forces, am I correct Hashirama?" The man, looked at Hashirama who nodded.
"As Noble clans, and as a family who control this village, it is in the village's and Fire Country's best interest that the Senju and Uzumaki bloodlines thrive and stay untainted by any outsiders." He addressed everyone again. "Both the Village Elders, Uzumaki and Senju Elders, and I have discussed this with the Lord's of the Fire Country." He looked towards Hashirama. "While you do a fine job running your clan and the village, we must prepare for the inevitable. An heir must be made with your bloodline and that of a relative. With both Senju and Uzumaki bloodlines combined like they were years ago, the child produced would be amongst one of the strongest Shinobi in the world so that being said Hashirama, it has been decided that you will Marry my eldest Daughter, Mito Uzumaki."
Madara felt a dry lump in his throat and he paled a bit. Luckily everyone's attention remained on Hashirama, so they couldn't see Madara's little panic attack.
He lied to me. Was the first thing that came to Madara's head. A lying bastard.
He wanted to cry, he wanted to scream, he wanted to throw something at someone but concealed himself. He saw the look on Hashirama's face, Mito's and then Tobirama, who gave him a sickening smile. That was enough for him.
"Are you okay, Madara-San?" He heard the Hyuuga clan Leader whisper from across the table. "You look, pale?"
"I'm fine." Madara spoke louder than normal, causing a few people to stare at him. "I'm perfectly fine." He stood up quicker than he wanted to and without a word, made his way to the exit. Much to his dismay, and to his anger, he felt someone grab his arm. He didn't have to even look to know it was Hashirama.
"Let me go!" He commanded, anger fuming. Everyone was staring at the two of them, but Madara didn't care. These were probably people he'd kill eventually anyway.
"Madara...no, hear me out_"
"Hashirama, I'm warning you!" Madara bellowed. "Do you expect me to be your whore so you can fuck me anytime you feel? If this woman doesn't satisfy your needs do you expect me to be there waiting in bed for you?" Madara was shaking with rage as he struggled in the taller man's grasp, ignoring the loud gasp that came from everyone. "I see how 'important' I am now to you! Or am I an outsider? Someone who isn't Senju or Uzumaki, is considered to be an inconvenience in your eyes!"
"Madara, please listen to me and_"
Madara lost it at that moment. Mustering up every single bit of his strength in his right hand, his palm made firm contact with Shodai's cheek, leaving a huge red handprint. When Hashirama had finally released him, Madara turned around and left the clan meeting room in a rage.
He was furious before this, but now, he felt anger radiating through him like never before. Oh, he would leave the village, but he would do so much more than that. Never had he felt so betrayed, so toyed with in his life.
He would make Shodai pay, no matter what it caused.
Hashirama stood there, feeling the handprint on his face. He was almost in a trance, standing there, ignoring the people calling his name.
He felt stupid, for not saying no in the beginning. He knew that Madara had felt wronged from the moment Mito's father mentioned "bloodline", yet he couldn't think of any word to say at the moment. He already had everything planned out in his head, and now due to his lack of courage, Madara was probably plotting his death.
I can't lie to him again. Hashirama thought, letting his hand fall on his side. I made a promise.
Shodai slowly walked towards the entrance, but someone grabbed his shoulder. He turned around to see Tobirama.
"Brother," He spoke sternly. "Finalize the proposal."
"No!" Hashirama replied.
"Damnit Hashirama why?" Tobirama asked angrily.
"Because I don't love her!" Hashirama angrily spat, stepping back and then addressing Mito. "I don't love you! I'm sorry but...but you can't force me to love you!" He looked at her father. "I know that it is the Elder's will, but I will not marry someone without my own consent. I am not an object on a chessboard that bends to your will, I'm sorry for that."
His words were spoken truly, and both the Hyuuga Clan Leader and Usagi clapped. All the while Tobirama and Mito looked baffled.
"But our relationship will strengthen you politically. If we bear children then_"
"Save your babbling." Usagi stood and stared at Mito. "A relationship built upon fake love, is bound to collapse upon genuine hate." She smiled. "And plus, you look like a stuck up mouse."
Hashirama would've guessed that both women began a quarrel, but he had already rushed outside, attempting to search for Madara. Sadly the man was gone, transparent in the crowd of people. Hashirama could only imagine what thoughts and emotions were running through his mind, what pain he felt. He wanted to go find him, to comfort him and propose to him like he planned, but things were obviously more than ruined now.
Hashirama grunted and tried to think. He could easily appear in the Uchiha compound, with flowers or something of the sort, but Madara would probably burn him alive for that.
Hashirama was lost...he didn't know what to do, what to say...
"Hashirama!" Tobirama's voice broke through the crowd of people, causing the older Senju to turn around. Automatically, he felt a bitterness overcome him. "There you are I_"
"Why don't you just mind your own business?" Hashirama started, turning around to face his younger brother.
"Excuse me? What_"
"You heard me! For once Tobirama stop sticking your nose in my business, in my life." Hashirama's voice became more stern and more serious, he could see he was obviously intimidating his brother.
"Hashirama, I'm just trying to help you because you obviously can't make the right decisions on your own! This is not a game, this is the village you are talking about_"
"For once, can you just shut up Tobirama!?" Hashirama ranhis hands in his own hair. "You don't know how annoying, how undignifying it is when you try to control me, when you try to tell me what to do! I am your older brother, you are required to respect me_"
"And how can I respect a man that doesn't respect himself?"
By this time, the duo had attracked a large crowd, but they did an amazing job at ignoring them. Tobirama just continued.
"What?"
"You owe so much more to yourself, and yet...you chase after a man who would see you dead_"
"Tobirama, watch your mouth." Hashirama felt fire burning in his chest, and with every word said by Tobirama, the fire only grew stronger.
"No Hashirama, it's time you actually start taking my advice before getting yourself killed for a man who values only his own life."
Hashirama wasn't sure how it happened, or when it happened, but in the blink of an eye, Tobirama had roughly fallen backwards on the ground. Seconds later, he slowly managed to sit up, covering his nose with his hand, which seemed to be bleeding.
"It's finally time that you learned your place Tobirama. Too long, have I been letting you run over me_"
"I hate you." Tobirama spoke under his hand, still loud enough for Hashirama to hear.
"What?"
"I HATE you!" Tobirama stood, in anger. "I've hated you since Kawarama's death! I've hated you since we were children! You spoke about creating this village to take care of everyone...to unite everyone, yet you push the one person who cares about you the most away! I'm only trying to help you run this village and you hate me for it! In fact, you never cared about me, it was always Madara this, Madara that, your stupid dream and where did I come in? Nowhere! Because...because you never cared about me. I'm only a nuisance in your eyes, an obstacle...I'm not even a brother to you...I looked up to you when we were children...I really did, you were the most amazing person I ever knew and yet...I have such little meaning in your life."
Hashirama had finally realized Tobirama's reasoning for well, everything.
He felt dumb, he felt terrible for Tobirama having to literally have a breakdown to make him realize but he finally did, and like many realizations Hashirama had, it was too late.
He stepped forward. "Tobirama...your face, let me_"
"No! You stay away from me! I'll never say a word to you again, and you'll never see me again. Go and live your happy life without me, after all I don't even exist."
Tobirama turned away and began walking.
Hashirama for the last time in months, called out to him, but he simply turned around and spoke, "Go and die, I won't care." And like the crowd of distant bystanders, Tobirama vanished.
Hashirama stood there, feeling more than empty, realizing that he had just potentially lost the two most important people in his life.
So I hope you enjoyed this chapter, remember to review. I may not be updating for a while...but reviews are very much appreciated. And to summarize this, yes, Madara did slap Hashirama, and yes, Hashirama did punch Tobirama.
Tell me what you think, was the chapter good, was it believable?
And like always, I don't own Naruto.
PS: Thank you for all your feed back so far! You give me so much inspiration!