Here's the next chapter! I hope you all like it!
Konohagakure; the Village Hidden in the Leaves. It was the first ninja village to be created. A collection of many powerful clans had begun to build a life within the village. The Senju, Uchiha, Aburame, Akimichi, Hyūga, Inuzuka, Nara, Sarutobi, and the Yamanaka; each with their own special powers and strengths. So far, it was everything Hashirama had dreamed of. While it had been rocky at first as many of the clans of Konoha had fought and killed members of another, there was some fighting. But Hashirama had gathered together the new village's forces and explained that they were no longer enemies, but comrades that should protect the village with their lives.
It all began with the reluctant agreement of Madara to join hands with Hashirama in a treaty of peace.
Shouts had awoken Akane from a light sleep. She shot up from Tobirama's bed mat when she saw him standing near the flaps of the tent, holding a kunai tightly in his hand. She scrambled to her feet, desperate to look out and see what was going on, but Tobirama shot a hand out, grabbing her and pulling her against his body. The Senju male peeked out through the small crack in the fabric, his brows furrowing quickly.
"Stay here."
"But what's going on?" She asked, struggling against him.
"Stay here Akane," He let her go, slipping out from the tent and jumping into the fray of battle.
Ignoring Tobirama's orders, Akane poked her head out of the tent, eyes widening when she saw members from her clan fighting viciously with the Senju. She heard Madara's voice shouting her name from the distance, and instantly she began searching for him in the crowd.
"Madara?!" She cried, pushing the flaps aside as she left the tent.
"Akane!" a new voice called.
She turned quickly as Hikaku ran towards her.
"Are you okay?!" He asked grabbing her arms and pulling her to him in a protective fashion.
"I'm fine! Please it's…"
She didn't get to finish her sentence as Hikaku pushed her behind him. A Senju warrior had approached, ready to fight the young Uchiha. She backed up fearfully, suddenly wishing she had just listened to Tobirama and stayed hidden in the tent.
Tobirama had seen that Akane hadn't listened and he suddenly became angry with her stupidity. Why could she never just do as he said? Hashirama was engaged in battle with Madara, and the tides were in Hashirama's favor. Once the Uchiha leader fell, the others would retreat.
"Hikaku!" He heard her cry and spared a glance in her direction.
Her companion had been pierced through the chest with a katana, yet despite her emotional outburst, Tobirama paid the scene no heed as he charged into battle yet again.
"Hikaku! Hikaku!" She cried holding the Uchiha in her lap.
Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, and she desperately tried to wipe it away. He let out a groan of pain as he pressed a hand to his wound, trying to add pressure to stop the bleeding. His eyes focused on Akane's face, and her breath caught in her throat as she saw the light fading away. Her heart pounded rapidly. Akane knew death, but never before had she been in the front row, watching the life leave a person. Tears ran down her face.
"Hikaku….."
"Shhhh," he whispered, his voice ghostly and foreign, "don't cry, death is a path we all must take. I died defending you, I can die in peace."
"Hikaku….thank you…for acknowledging me," She gently grabbed the hand covering his wound and helped him try to keep pressure on it.
"I hope…that someday you become as great as I knew you could."
Her breathing became labored as Hikaku closed his eyes, hand going limp in hers. She quickly pulled her hands away, staring at the blood that now covered them and her clothing. She stood, eyes gazing out fiercely, searching for her eldest brother. She froze when she saw Hashirama standing above a wounded Madara, who lay wincing on the ground. She ran, as fast as her feet would carry her.
"I do not trust you," She heard Madara whisper to the eldest Senju, "the only I could ever trust you, is if you kill yourself….or your little brother. Then we would be even, and I could trust the Senju."
Hashirama's eyes widened as he glanced from Madara to Tobirama.
"Madara!" Akane cried, sliding to her knees beside her eldest brother.
"Akane…." He said softly, raising a bloody hand to her face, "you're safe…."
"You can't do this Madara, please, just end this senseless fighting."
"No. I gave Hashirama his choice, and once he honors it, we can have peace."
"Fine," Hashirama said with conviction, grabbing a nearby kunai, "I will end my life if it means peace will come."
"Hashi….."
"Quiet, Tobirama!"
Akane's eyes widened as she realized Hashirama was about to impale himself with the kunai.
"Stop!" Madara's voice boomed, "You have some courage and determination, Hashirama, to end your own life for the sake of peace. I accept your truce."
If any clan was not fully accepted in the village system, it was the Uchiha. Many of the other clans feared them and believed they wanted full control of the Konoha. Madara wanted to be the first Hokage. And Hashirama was ready to agree, but Tobirama had stepped in, stating that it should be up to the people of the village who the first Hokage should be, and much to Madara's dismay, Hashirama had been the people's choice. Anger at not being named Hokage, and fearing that the Uchiha would be oppressed Madara left the village, leaving behind his sister.
Akane had become distant since the founding of Konohagakure; though no one in her clan blamed her. Women were not meant to see the bloody deaths of war, and she had seen one of a close friend first hand. She had trouble forgetting Hikaku's labored breathing, the way his eyes faded, and suddenly she wondered if that was how Izuna had gone. Yet she wished that she had been able to be there for her older brother, to help ease his passing. She sat alone on a wooden swing that had been tied to a tree for children to play on.
"Akane, dear? What are you doing out here?"
Akane turned her head, eyes lowering as the elderly Senju woman approached her.
"Just thinking…."
"Why don't you come sit down with me dear?" Jun said gesturing to a bench that was just off the main road of the village. Akane got up from the swing, following slowly after the Senju. "Why don't you tell me what's troubling you?"
"I….when Madara and the others attacked your camp….a friend of mine….he died in my arms…."
Jun nodded in understanding, "Losing a precious person is difficult, they leave a hole that seemingly can never be filled. Time will ease the pain, but you should always remember their sacrifice. The spirits of our deceased friends and families stay with us, making us stronger and watching over us as we go on with our lives. You would disappoint your friend if you just sit around and sulk."
"I want to become a medic," Akane said suddenly, looking Jun in the eye.
The old woman's eyes crinkled up in a smile, "Is that so?"
"I want to be able to help my loved ones, to give them a chance if they are wounded. I don't want to stand by and do nothing as my friends die."
"Well," Jun said cracking her old wrinkled knuckles, "You are in luck my dear girl, I just so happen to be a medical ninja."