"Congratulations, Madara-sama! You're practically at the midway point!"

"Don't say that…I'm having enough issues as is."

"Like what?"

"Like this!" Madara gestured to his bulging stomach. "I can't see my feet over it! I can't bend over, my back and hips are killing me, and I have too much energy that I can't satisfy since I have no one to do it with! How do women deal with it!?"

"Don't ask me," Sayuri calmly replied. "I'm sorry, but I can't help your weight gain, your mood swings, or your…heightened libido. As for your aching joints, you should try to do some light stretching and relax more often. Stress is not good for the baby."

"It's a parasite," Madara retorted, placing his hand against his personal mound. "I can't believe there's still five more months of this. I can barely handle it now…"

"I promise it'll get better, Madara-sama. You'll see," she said kindly, rubbing his belly in an affectionate manner. "Just wait until it starts moving. You'll be happy you were blessed with such a precious gift."

"I beg to differ…" the Uchiha leader muttered, slapping her hand away. "Don't touch it."

"Alright, Mama Bear. I won't touch your baby bump," Sayuri lightly teased. "To be honest, I'm glad things are going as smoothly as they are. You've been dealing with the normal issues that most pregnant women experience. Your body is accommodating for the fetus spectacularly. Part of me still wonders how this is all possible."

"Please tell me you've made some progress as to why this is possible," Madara begged. "I'd rather learn that I was once female and went through a gender change at birth than know that I'm a…freak."

"No. What records we do have signify that you were all male when you came into the world and the years afterwards. No abnormalities like bleeding or anything indicating you had a menstrual cycle. However…there is a possibility that you could be a hermaphrodite."

"A what?"

"It's rare, but it's a condition where a child is born with equipment from both sexes. That means you could potentially carry kids. But normally the extra additions are far too underdeveloped for use, so it still shouldn't be possible."

"In other words, I'm a freak…" Madara languidly summarized.

"Don't think of it as a curse," Sayuri told him. "Just focus on taking care of that bundle of joy you're bringing into the world."

"Just go."

Sayuri frowned at him before she left. Madara scoffed at the look she gave him. He laid down on side, resting on his futon. He had to switch sleeping positions again thanks to the bulbous shape his gut had taken. He scowled at his large abdomen, finding that his hands had gone back to supporting it. That bothered him. He had noticed he was unconsciously paying more attention to his new tenant. He avoided as much outside physical contact to his stomach as possible. His hands were constantly stroking his belly when no one was around. He was looking at it too much, both in public and alone. He even talked to it as if the parasite could hear and understand the rage he felt towards it. If he wasn't careful, someone would get suspicious and pry into it. Something as abnormal as this would no doubt reach the Uchiha elders as well as the Hokage.

If he had been ignoring Hashirama before, he was full out avoiding him now. Every time he thought about the Senju, that fluttery feeling in his chest would return. His face would heat up and he desired to be wrapped in those strong arms that had held him so lovingly a month ago. His heart beat fiercely against his chest as he imagined the Senju hovering over him, pressing his lips against his own just as affectionately as he did that one night. This was not normal for him. He shouldn't be thinking such things about Hashirama, but he was. Deep down, he knew what it meant. However, he did not want to acknowledge it.

He did not want to believe…he was in love with Hashirama.

But the signs were all there and soon he could deny it no longer. The reason why he allowed the things that happened that night…he felt the exact same for his old friend. It took him four months and a forming parasite to make him realize it, but now he knew. He loved that idiot Senju. The depressive mood swings, his kind heart, that beaming smile; he loved it all.

He had to tell him.

Madara pushed himself upright, struggling a bit to stand up. He changed out of his yukata for a kimono top and loose pants. Once he was dressed, he then began his fight with putting on his shinobi sandals when he could barely see his feet over his baby bump. Once he got them on, he pressed his hands together.

"Henge!"

His figure changed to look like his original physical form, fit with his favorite Uchiha mantle that he always wore before he was expecting. He rushed out of his home as fast as his current figure would allow. He tore down streets, past bewildered bystanders as he made his way towards the Hokage building. The climb up the stairs went by even slower than before, but his mind was focused on something important. He didn't need to worry about it compared to what he was going to say to Hashirama.

Just as he was about to knock on the door, it opened. Madara stood there blinking at Hashirama as his hand was suspended in midair, pausing in his action to knock on the door.

"Ah, Madara," Hashirama greeted, his usual cheerfulness seemingly gone. "Just the person I wanted to see."

"You wanted to see me?" Madara questioned. "Why?"

"Come in."

Madara followed the Hokage, watching him as he sat back down at his desk. There was a beautiful redheaded maiden standing nearby. Her hair was wrapped up into two buns located on each side of her head. She wore a flowing kimono and its color accented her dark eyes. Madara bewilderedly stared at her before he stood in front of the desk, waiting patiently for the Senju to continue.

"I have good news to tell you," Hashirama said.

Madara raised an eyebrow. "Good news?"

"As you know, the Uzumaki Clan of Uzushiogakure are distant relatives of the Senju. While we were already on good terms, they will be allying with Konoha on the condition that we strengthen the ties between our two clans. That leads me to the good news."

"Which is?"

"I'm getting married," Hashirama answered, motioning towards the woman. "The daughter of the clan head, Mito Uzumaki, is my fiancée."

Getting married. Fiancée. The words stabbed Madara's soul like sharp blades made of ice. He was too late. He had waited for too long. Now that he realized his feelings, he would never be able to express them. Hashirama was lost to him. He would be getting married to someone to promote familial ties. The revelation hurt more than having a kunai cut into him. He couldn't tell him now. The decision was set. He shouldn't drag Hashirama's name through the dirt by making him go back on his word…or revealing he had an illegitimate child.

"I see…" Madara said optimistically, even though he felt torn inside. "Congratulations, Hashirama. I wish all the happiness for you and Mito."

"Yes…Thank you, Madara," Hashirama cheerily replied, though the emotion in his eyes spoke another story.

Madara turned his back to Hashirama and headed for the door. He shut the door before he leaned against the wall. He felt tears gather in his eyes before they ran down in trails on his face. He cursed his overly sensitive emotions. It should be nothing to him. Such a thing should not make him react like this. He placed his hands against his stomach.

"I'm sorry, Hashirama…"

As the days past, the pain got worse. It was becoming harder to hold in his emotions whenever Hashirama was mentioned. Madara watched from afar as Hashirama and Mito held hands in public. He felt jealousy course through his being when Hashirama fondly held Mito in his arms. Tobirama and many other Senju approved of their marriage and were looking forward to having closer ties with their blood relatives. Madara despised Mito all the more when she kissed Hashirama so lovingly and the Senju returned that gesture. He felt sick that Hashirama looked so…happy with Mito. Did Hashirama's confession mean nothing? Was he nothing more than a sideshow to Hashirama when compared to Mito? The thought plagued his mind constantly.

He soon retreated to hiding in his home most days. Sometimes he'd just lay on his futon and let the tears fall. He had given up on controlling his emotions. They were too rampant for him to control thanks to the abomination in his gut. His appetite declined and he no longer bothered with looking for Hashirama among the Konoha citizens. Seeing the Senju had become too painful for him. On days he had seen him, he had half-heartedly congratulated him and Mito again in an angry and snappish tone. He then darted away in the opposite direction, wanting to get as far away from the couple as possible.

Madara stared at his ceiling, hands placed on top of his baby bump. He wanted the agony to end. He wanted things to return to the way they were. He wanted the parasite out of him. That little monster was a constant reminder of what he would never possess: Hashirama, a normal life, and a happy family.

"Nii-san?"

Madara jerked upright, hands pressed together to form his Henge. Once his disguise was up, he cleared his throat.

"Come in, Izuna," he answered.

His younger brother came in, closing the door behind him. He went up to his brother's side, sitting down on the floor next to his futon. Izuna gave him a genuinely worried look.

"Nii-san, what's going on?"

Madara's eyes slowly drifted towards him. "What do you mean?"

"You've been so depressed recently," Izuna explained. "No one else notices, but I do. Something bad has been bothering you for the past two weeks. I'm concerned about you, nii-san. Please tell me what's wrong. Maybe I can help?"

"There's nothing you can do, Izuna," Madara coldly replied. "Now go."

"Madara-nii…"

Madara turned his head away from him. "Drop it, Izuna. I already told you there's nothing you can do."

"Damn it, Madara! Why can't you be honest with me!? I'm trying to help! How can I do that if you won't let me!?"

"Otouto…please," Madara said, his voice cracked a bit. "I…"

Izuna blinked. "Nii-san?"

"I can't handle it anymore!" Madara suddenly yelled. "I just can't! Not when I'm like this!"

Izuna placed his hands on his brother's trembling shoulders. "Madara-nii, everything will be alright."

Madara turned back to Izuna, his eyes filled with guilt. "Otouto…Promise you won't tell a soul about what I'm going to reveal to you."

Izuna's gaze hardened. "I cross my heart. I won't tell anyone."

"You know how…my tastes have changed recently?"

Izuna nodded. "I'm aware. I saw you eating roe covered in hot sauce the other day. You despise roe. I knew there had to be something wrong with you if you were eating roe of all things."

"You also remember how sick I was a few months ago?"

"Yes. Are you saying the two are connected somehow?"

Madara nodded. "Both are symptoms of my…present condition."

Izuna's eyes widened. "Condition? You aren't dying, are you?"

"I feel like doing so at times…" Madara sadly admitted. "I'd rather be dead than deal with…my parasite."

"Your parasite?"

"Izuna…You aren't going to believe me when I tell you this, but I swear that it's true. I wouldn't be hiding if it wasn't."

"Nii-san?"

Madara took a deep breath. "Izuna, I'm pregnant."

Izuna looked at him for a long time when he heard those three words. He opened his mouth, but then closed it. He shook his head, giving Madara a skeptical look.

"Madara, are you sure you aren't hallucinating instead?" Izuna suggested. "I mean, even if you were…well you know; wouldn't you be showing?"

"I have a Henge up," Madara explained. "I'm not stupid, Izuna. It's unnatural and supposed to be impossible."

Madara released the Henge, his appearance changing. Izuna flew back, his mouth hanging open when his brother's slim middle had expanded and now sported a sizable bump that he could clearly see through Madara's clothing. Madara's hair looked fuller than before and his skin seemed to be glowing, though his depressed expression humbled these changes. Izuna's eyes focused on his brother's rotund stomach. He quickly activated his Sharingan, staring wide-eyed at it when he saw another chakra located inside Madara's abdomen.

"H-H-How…?" Izuna stuttered. "I don't…?"

"Don't ask me. I don't know how it's possible either," Madara sullenly replied, hanging his head low. "I feel horrible enough as is…you don't need to remind me."

"So…it's true," Izuna said in disbelief, hesitantly placing his hand on his brother's bulging stomach. "How long has it been since…?"

"I'm four months along now…"

"Oh kami…" Izuna gave Madara a sympathetic look. "And you've been dealing with everything in secret by yourself?"

Madara shook his head. "No. Sayuri-san is helping me care for its growth. She suggested I get rid of it as soon as we learned about it. I couldn't do that to an unborn child, no matter how accidental its formation was. But…I'm starting to regret that decision. I can't handle it all. It's too much…"

"Madara-nii," Izuna said. "You're my brother. I don't care if this entire thing is unnatural. No matter what happens, I'm always going to be by your side. I'll help you through this, I promise."

"Thank you…otouto."

"So…if you're the, ahem, 'mother'…then who's the…father?"

"Hashirama is, but I really—"

Madara slammed both hands over his mouth. He spotted a look of utmost fury on Izuna's face. His younger brother had his Mangekyou Sharingan activated. The younger Uchiha stood up and immediately rushed out of the room.

"Izuna, wait!" Madara called in a panic. "Oh kami…"

Hashirama sighed as he signed another paper. The mountain never seemed to decrease, no matter how much he got done. His overload of paperwork wasn't the only thing bothering him. His upcoming marriage to Mito was weighing heavily on his mind. Yes, she was a beautiful maiden and she would make a fine wife. But he did not love her. His heart belonged to someone else; someone who he would never be together with. He held his head in his hands. Ever since he confessed to the Uchiha a month ago, Madara had been avoiding him. Madara probably no longer wanted to associate himself with the likes of him. He knew Madara's cheers for his marriage were faked. Even when he spotted the Uchiha alone for a moment, Madara would purposefully leave in the opposite direction. It saddened him that his friend despised him so. He kept his word to Madara though. He wasn't going to insult his friend if his presence bothered the Uchiha. That's why he left Madara alone and attempted to focus his attention on Mito, no matter how much it pained him to do so.

The door to his office slammed open with such force that the wall cracked. Hashirama perked up, spotting a seething Izuna Uchiha.

"Izuna-kun?" Hashirama perplexedly said.

"Don't you 'Izuna-kun' me, you bastard!" Izuna snapped, his Mangekyou Sharingan blazing with a fury unlike anything Hashirama had ever seen. "How dare you do such a thing to nii-san!"

Hashirama blinked in confusion. "Do what to Madara?"

Izuna ran up to him and grabbed the front of his robes with both hands. He brought Hashirama so close to his face that he could feel the young Uchiha's hot breath on his skin. He had never seen Izuna so furious before. What happened to Madara to cause Izuna to be so angry?

"I ought to smash them!" Izuna snarled. "Because of you, Madara is forced to go through something he shouldn't have to!"

"Izuna, please be reasonable!" Hashirama pleaded, slightly fearing for his life now. "What did I do to Madara?"

"YOU KNOCKED UP MY BROTHER, YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Izuna yelled, punching the Senju in his face.

Hashirama's mind blanked out when he heard those words. All his mental power went to processing that one statement in his head. He was so out of it that he never noticed when Tobirama and Madara had burst into the room. Madara had grabbed Izuna, trying to prevent the younger Uchiha from murdering the Hokage. Tobirama quickly assessed the damage Izuna had caused his brother. The white-haired man then threatened Izuna with treason for assaulting the Hokage, to which Izuna then switched his object of rage to Tobirama. The two younger brothers proceeded to get into a fistfight when Hashirama's brain finally finished its processing.

"HOLD IT!" he yelled, causing everyone to cease what they were doing to look at him. "Izuna…did you say that…?"

"You heard me, Hokage-teme," Izuna growled. "I won't repeat myself."

"Onii-chan, what is the meaning of all this?" Tobirama immediately questioned.

Hashirama stared at Madara, who had backed away from the Senju. His eyes darted to Madara's flat midsection. It didn't look like it, but Izuna wasn't the type to beat up on people unless he had a good reason to. But how was it possible!? Men didn't get pregnant! They left that to the women!

"Madara…" Hashirama hesitantly began as he took a step towards the Uchiha. "Is what Izuna said true? Are you really…with child?"

Tobirama gaped. "Onii-chan, you must be joking! Don't tell me you believe such an outrageous claim!? Men don't—"

"Tobirama," Hashirama snapped. Tobirama shut his mouth and began looking at an interesting stain on the wood floor. "Madara, tell me the truth. Please."

Madara bit his trembling lip, lowering his head. "Yes…"

Hashirama felt a pang in his heart at how broken Madara sounded. Madara turned his head away from him as if he couldn't bear to look Hashirama in the eye.

"I don't believe it," Tobirama stated. "It's preposterous. Even if it were true, you sure don't look it."

Madara sent a furious look at Tobirama. "I'm wearing a Henge, you naïve brat! You think I don't know it's abnormal and freakish!? That's why I've been hiding it!"

"Show us then."

Madara fumed, pressing his hands together. He hesitantly released the jutsu. In a split second, Madara's appearance changed. Both Senjus balked, seeing the stark changes between the Henge and Madara's current appearance. Both men focused on the protruding curve coming from Madara's abdomen. Tobirama pointed at the bulge, sputtering out incoherent words. Hashirama took a closer look at the man he loved. Madara always shone in Hashirama's eyes, but now he was literally glowing. His normally pallid skin was a radiating peach color and his hair looked thicker and softer than before.

Hashirama tentatively placed his hand on Madara's stomach, sending chakra through the skin to check for foreign objects. He jerked his hand away when he sensed another chakra respond to his. Madara gave him a saddened look before he lowered his head again.

"Oh kami…" Hashirama breathed out. "And I'm the…?"

Madara nodded. "It happened that night we celebrated Konoha's naming and opening. You got wasted. Then you started saying things…and doing things…and I foolishly went along with it."

"That was four months ago…You've been dealing with it this entire time?"

"Yes."

"Can I please smash his wood?" Izuna asked. "I'll make sure he never uses it again!"

"Don't put the entire blame on onii-chan for this mess!" Tobirama snapped. "Your brother must have seduced him!"

"Madara-nii would never lower himself to such a level! Your brother took advantage of mine!"

"You Uchiha have those cursed eyes. A simple genjutsu can do wonders."

"I oughta—"

"Quiet!" Hashirama shouted, shutting both younger brothers up. "Otouto, Izuna; can you give me and Madara some time alone to sort things out?"

Tobirama and Izuna grudgingly nodded their heads before they went back to glaring at each other. The two exited the room and closed the door. Hashirama looked back to Madara. He motioned the Uchiha to sit down on his desk. Madara gladly took the offer, resting his aching hips on the smooth wood desk.

"Madara, why didn't you tell me?" he asked.

"I didn't want anyone to know. Not even you," Madara explained with a soft voice. "If this ever got out, not only would I be ostracized but your name would be dragged through the dirt. I couldn't do that to you…"

"I'm so sorry…" Hashirama despondently apologized. "I put you through so much strain…"

"I told you before that you shouldn't apologize for things you can't control. You and I had no idea this could happen. It wasn't supposed to be possible."

"But it's still my responsibility," Hashirama retorted. "If I'm the father, I have a duty to help you with this."

"Of course it would be your duty. But I don't want nor need it."

"But—"

"You have a duty to your future wife," Madara coolly replied. "Your marriage to her is far more important than taking care of a freak and his parasite."

Hashirama grimaced. "You're not a freak. You never were and you never will be."

"Look at me, Hashirama!" Madara heatedly yelled. "I'm a pregnant man! I'm an Uchiha! We're supposed to be rivals! I can never compare to the grace and fidelity that Mito has!"

"It's true that Mito has grace. She is beautiful and lively. She has complete trust in the ones she cares about. She would make the perfect wife for any man. But there is one thing that she does not have." Hashirama cupped Madara's cheek. "She does not have love."

Madara stared at Hashirama in shock. "What?"

"Our upcoming marriage is strictly political in nature. She made it clear to me that she respected me and that she was honored to be my future wife. However, she told me this without any sort of love in her eyes. She is a product of what her father taught her to be: the perfect wife and a worthy shinobi. I believe she can find love, but it will not be in me she finds it."

Madara could feel his eyes tearing up. "Hashirama…"

"I meant every word I said to you a month ago. I don't care what you think you are. You are Madara Uchiha. You are my best friend. You are the man I fell in love with. Nothing will change that. Even if you hate me and my guts, I'll accept whatever reaction you give me."

Madara grabbed the front of Hashirama's robes, pulling the Senju into a sweet and passionate kiss. Hashirama's shock was soon overcome by the desire to kiss back. He ran a hand through those soft midnight locks, giving back every ounce of affection he felt for the Uchiha in that one moment. Madara pulled away, looking into the Senju's dark eyes.

"How's that for a reaction, you idiot Senju?" he teasingly replied.

"A good one," Hashirama lightly laughed. "I promise I'll help you through this, Madara. My word is my bond."

"You are such a naïve fool," Madara chuckled. "But I suppose that's why—"

Madara cut off, his hand flying to his swelled stomach. He looked down, an expression of confusion on his face. He slid off the desk, his other hand soon joining the one touching his bump.

"What's wrong?" Hashirama asked, concern written all over his face.

"I don't know," Madara answered. "I swore I felt something fluttering…"

The Senju raised an eyebrow. "Fluttering?"

"Maybe I was just imagining it. Could be—" He jerked his head down again. "There it is again! It's like something's brushing against me on the inside."

Hashirama let out a high-pitched cheer, kneeling down and placing his hand on Madara's stomach. "She's growing strong!"

Madara gave him a bewildered look. "Huh?"

"I've heard about this. This is called quickening. The baby's finally big enough for you to feel her movements now."

"Baby? She?"

Hashirama nodded. "Yeah. That's what she is. A baby."

"Baby…" Madara muttered, his hands interlocking underneath his bump. "My baby…"

"Your baby," Hashirama repeated happily. He placed his face against the bulge. "Hey, girl! This is your daddy; your favorite parent!"

"How do you know it's a girl? It could be a boy," Madara corrected, shoving Hashirama away. "And who entitled you as the favorite parent?"

"I can dream, can't I?" Hashirama muttered, a depressive cloud hovering over him.

Madara laughed. "You wish."

Tobirama listened in on the conversation between his brother and Madara using the glass he had placed against the door. Izuna had joined him, doing the same thing. Both brothers were scowling as Hashirama and Madara had finished their talk.

"Well, this is wonderful," Izuna growled, placing his glass down before crossing his arms. "Just when I think I'd finally get that bastard Senju away from nii-san, they become closer!"

"You think you're the only one who dislikes this?" Tobirama snapped. "I'd rather gouge my own heart out than see onii-chan being intimate with Madara."

"I can see what's happening, but they don't have a clue," Izuna sighed. "At this rate, they'll be proposing by week's end."

"I won't allow it!" Tobirama declared.

"Tobirama."

The Senju directed his attention to the despicable Uchiha. "What?"

"I hate you with every inch of my body," Izuna began. "But the thought of nii-san being together with that blundering idiot makes me want to pull my organs out through my ears. You'd want to do the same, right? If we want to stop those two, we'll have to do something about it."

"I loathe saying it, but you're right…" Tobirama sighed. He held out his hand. "Truce?"

"We won't harm the baby."

"…Fine."

"And we won't stop until they hate each other's guts."

"Agreed."

Izuna took the hand and shook it. And thus, a new partnership was born.

The truth is out! Hashi seems more than happy to be a daddy, isn't he? And now we begin the TobiIzu bonding as they attempt to separate their big brothers! Stay tuned for next chapter!