Hashirama skidded to a halt. "Bee can't use his jutsu if Obito has your friend trapped."
Gaara glanced at the long-haired male. "Fu and Roshi have gotten sucked into his vortex, too. How do we get them out?"
"Obito has to let them out," Hashirama explained. He paused, gaze flickering to Madara. "Is there another way?"
Madara remained silent. After a few moments, a nonchalant expression crossed his features. "I can disarm Obito and he will release the others once his chakra gets too depleted to hold them there."
Sakura glared at Madara. "Then why did we get Hashirama and you let us get torn to shreds?!"
Hashirama let out a huff, but it wasn't of frustration. "This doesn't surprise me. Now that I think about it, you can control the Tailed Beasts. You could have fixed this whole thing!"
Madara shrugged.
"This situation is below my need for involvement."
With that, he launched toward Obito, who readied himself for the attack. The others stood back and watched the intense battle. Obito tried to use Kamui, but even when he did, Madara knocked him off his feet, sending him catapulting through the bushes with only the trees to slow him down. Madara didn't give Obito time to get his wits about him before attacking again.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
Sakura, who had just finished healing Naruto watched in awe as a giant wall of fire engulfed the forest. The magnificent scorching heat almost burned her skin even from hundreds of feet away. She studied Madara as he continued the attack.
"He's powerful," she murmured. Her attention returned to Naruto when she heard him groan. He jumped up, putting a hand to his head with a pained expression. Sakura gave him a relieved smile. "I'm so glad you're okay!"
"What happened?" Naruto surveyed his surroundings and saw Madara fighting Obito with his younger brother struggling to keep up. "Madara is fighting?! I can't believe it!"
Naruto got to shaky feet. "I'm gonna help them!"
"Hold it!" Sakura yelled. Naruto looked at her with surprise written on his face. "Do you see anyone else jumping in to help him?! If you jump in, you'll just get in his way!"
"But…"
"No buts," she snapped. "I may have healed you, but you still don't have your full strength back."
Naruto crossed his arms over his chest. "Fine, but can ya at least tell me what happened? All I remember is we saw Obito and then everything else is blank."
"The Nine Tails," she whispered. "By the time I came out here, you were already in the Nine-Tails cloak and you couldn't control yourself. It was like the Nine-Tails had taken over."
Cerulean orbs flashed. "Obito must have done something to Kurama with his Sharingan for that to happen! Me and Kurama are friends!"
Naruto sat down and closed his eyes. "I'm gonna talk to him."
Naruto slowed his breathing and relaxed. When he opened his eyes, he stood before Kurama. The gigantic orange fox was lying on his stomach arms circling around Naruto. His crimson orbs locked on him and the deep rumble that always emitted from him reached Naruto's keen ears.
"Obito turned me against you with the Sharingan," Kurama explained. "That disgusting fool. He will pay."
"I knew you wouldn't take over without someone making you. Madara is fighting him right now without any help from anyone."
"I'm not surprised," Kurama mused. "He's powerful enough to face all the Tailed Beasts and subdue us all."
Naruto closed his eyes again and opened them to find himself back in the Realm of the Ones. Someone yanked his arm and pulled away just as a huge boulder crashed where he sat. A large crater remained when the dust cleared. He looked up to see Sakura pulling him to safety.
"Why didn't you wait until after the battle was over to talk to him?!" she shouted at him.
Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, I guess I should have." He looked around. "Where is Sasuke?"
"He got sucked into Obito's Kamui along with Fu and Roshi."
Naruto looked up to see Gaara standing next to… Hashirama and Yamato?! What were they doing here? Sakura filled him in about how she summoned Madara to help stop Naruto's rampage. His face grew tight as he listened.
"So that's why he called you guys!"
Hashirama nodded and turned his gaze back to the battle. A smile was tugging at the corner of his lips. "I think he just wants to show off, always trying to demonstrate how powerful he is. He won't let Obito get the better of him."
Sakura noticed the fond smile crossing the dark-skinned male's face as he watched Madara and her heart melted. Madara tried to act cold and logical, but he couldn't hide his love for Hashirama no matter how he tried to fight it. He was angry because Hashirama left; it wouldn't have mattered if he didn't care about him. Sakura tried to keep her mind focused instead of almost drooling over their relationship.
Gaara came up to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He laid a gentle kiss on her temple. "Did Obito hurt you?"
"No, he didn't," Sakura answered as she turned around to allow her back to press against his chest.
"Good."
Obito fell to the ground with a thud. The fight had torn his robe to shreds. He ripped his mask from his face and tossed it away, his breath coming in deep gasps. The difference in power between Obito and Madara proved greater than Sakura imagined. Still, their enemy stood.
"I won't let you defeat me, brother," Obito stated.
The corner of Madara's mouth curved upward. "You know your minuscule power is nothing compared to mine. Your trickery won't work this time."
It was at that moment that Madara's eyes turned a deep, ringed amethyst color with no white sclera. Sakura had seen nothing like it before. "What happened to his eyes?"
"He's using the Rinnegan," Gaara explained. "It's the most powerful of all ocular jutsus. "
Sakura frowned and crossed her arms underneath her breasts. What a child! Madara made Sakura think Yamato was the only person capable of stopping Naruto. A smile tugged at her lips. She bet his desire to see Hashirama made him refuse to get involved.
Madara hauled Obito up by the front of his shirt, a wicked smile crossing his features. "Your fun is over. This ends now."
"This was your plan!" Obito sputtered. "Are you going to kill me after I've done what you asked?!"
"I will."
"Because Hashirama is here now like you desired?!"
Madara's features darkened. "He has nothing to do with it."
Obito grew angry.
"He has everything to do with it! He's the reason you created this plan! I still don't understand why you wanted Gaara to believe Naruto died, but I understand now! Hashirama left and you refused to allow anyone else happiness!"
Madara raised his fist to strike Obito. "You know nothing!"
Just as he brought it down, Madara got punched in the jaw and knocked a few hundred feet away. Hashirama stood there, breathing heavy, fist locked in the position where he had connected with Madara's jaw. His dark brows furrowed in anger. He stood hunched over, but then he straightened. The Wood User sprinted to Madara, forcing him on his back as he tried to sit up. Hashirama straddled his waist and pinned his arms next to his head.
"Tell me Obito is lying!" he shouted in his face. "Tell me you're not so childish!"
Madara remained silent and refused to meet Hashirama's gaze. Hashirama growled before using his knees to hold down his arms so he could force Madara to look at him. Madara still tried to avoid his gaze. That was answer enough.
"You shouldn't have left," Madara mumbled.
Hashirama let out a breath. "Well, I suppose that means I need to stay." He turned to look over his shoulder at Yamato. "What do you say? I understand you have known nothing but Earth, but we can make this place home."
A smile broke out on Yamato's face. "I will go wherever you want. You are my teacher. I owe you my life for saving it and extending your powers to me."
Hashirama returned his gaze to Madara. His fingers brushed through those coarse locks he always loved. He couldn't believe Madara planned something like this because he left. He'd never known him to do something so immature, the fool. At least now the battle was over.
"You owe Obito an apology," Hashirama told him.
Madara's face crinkled with disgust. "I am not sorry for what I've done."
"You were acting like a toddler!"
"Tch," he muttered. "Get off me."
"No," Hashirama responded. He leaned down and captured his mouth.
Madara didn't fight like he did the first time. He reached a gloved hand up to lock behind his lover's neck and wrapped his other arm around his waist, pulling him down more on top of him. Hashirama felt Madara pressing his tongue against his lips, begging… no demanding entrance. He was just as stubborn and dominant as Hashirama remembered. Hashirama's heart warmed. Madara's fingers slid underneath his armor.
He pulled away from his mouth. "Not here."
"You will build us a home here, just like you did in the human realm," Madara instructed while running his hands over Hashirama's thigh. "I will make up for lost time."
The others stood back in shock at the display. Most knew of Madara and Hashirama's relationship, but they hadn't seen such an open display before. Sakura couldn't tear her eyes away, and despite Madara's huge miscalculation in common sense, she wanted nothing more for him and Hashirama to find happiness. The wood user stood and held his hand to Madara, who refused it and got to his feet. Hashirama shook his head with fondness.
"Obito," he called, walking towards the man. "I am sorry for your elder brother's fiasco. I know you did what he asked because you agreed with collecting the Tailed Beasts since a Tailed Beast caused Rin's death. However, it won't bring her back."
He cringed at her name. "You don't…"
"I don't," Hashirama interrupted. "I couldn't know what you felt when you lost her, but I'm positive she wouldn't want you to seek revenge."
Obito remained silent. He envisioned her scowling at him, her pointer finger in his direction as she ordered him to move forward with his life. Obito almost felt her gentle embrace, and sadness washed over him. He missed her horribly, the deep aching in his chest hadn't lessened after the hundreds of years that passed. Rin had gotten killed, but he knew he was an accident. Still, getting caught in the crossfire of someone else's war made him agree to Madara's plan. His older brother refused to take part at the last minute, painting him out as the villain. Obito glared at Madara then returned his gaze to Hashirama. He brought Fu, Sasuke, and Roshi back from his dimension in Kamui. The other Ones stood around Yamato. Sasuke immediately tried to attack Obito. Madara's deep command to stop halted him in his tracks.
"You have missed much, young Uchiha. Obito is no longer an enemy."
Sasuke glanced between Obito and Madara. "What do you mean?"
Hashirama explained what happened while frowning at Madara. He ignored them and continued to pretend like he had done nothing wrong. Sasuke's face remained impassive. He studied the founder of the Uchiha Clan.
"You are a child," he commented.
"Don't forget who you're speaking to!" Madara snarled.
"He's right," Gaara added.
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Yeah, that was stupid!"
Fu shrugged her shoulders, wincing as she did so. "I'm trying to find something positive about this as the One of Optimism, but I'm having a tough time." She thought for a moment. "Well, it reunited you with Hashirama, even if it was an ass-backward way of doing so."
"I can't believe you-"
"Enough!" Madara yelled. He crossed his arms over her chest. "Just be quiet."
Sakura couldn't help but laugh at the whole situation. Madara had started this pretend war against Obito because it hurt him that Hashirama had left the realm of the Ones. The creator of Celestial being should rise above petty attention-seeking behavior, but someone desperate for their lover's presence may not think things through. Obito walked up to Sakura, and she smiled at him before holding her hand up to mend a broken collarbone.
"Sakura, I'm-"
"You're forgiven."
He gave her a weak smile as Sakura continued to heal injuries. After finishing her medical care, Hashirama placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You've done well," he murmured. "Thank you."
Sakura nodded in response. Hashirama clapped his hands together. "Everyone is welcome to my home on Earth. I was working on a feast fit for a king."
Madara bristled, and he frowned. "I will not."
Sakura huffed. "Cut it out, Madara." He gave her a death glare, but she grew more confident knowing that he wouldn't hurt her. "Hashirama cares about you and if he said he would come back, why would you doubt his word? I'm sure he's never lied to you before."
Madara studied Hashirama who gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "That's sad this young girl guessed that and you pretend you don't."
Madara growled but said nothing.
"Are you blushing Madara?!" Naruto howled. He clenched his stomach as he laughed.
Madara was on Naruto within a second and had his hand wrapped around his throat. "I will not tolerate you taunting me."
Naruto gasped for breath. "Oh, come on! I was just playing!"
Sakura laughed at Naruto's predicament. She may have told Madara what she was thinking, but at least she didn't tease him. Naruto knew after having Sasuke as a teammate that Uchihas don't accept taunting. Sasuke even had an amused smirk on his face. Gaara pulled Sakura into his arms and shook his head.
"He never learns."
A few hours later, dinner was being served. Hashirama splayed every dish imaginable on the table steaming and teasing her nose with its delectable scents. Sakura looked over at Gaara as she set her plate. Her heart sank despite the amazing meal before her. She bit her lip, trying to figure out how she would word her question. She felt Gaara reach up to run his fingers through her disheveled locks.
"What's bothering you?"
Sakura felt a lump rise in her throat and she fought to force it down. She placed her plate on the table before grabbing her cup of sake and taking a big gulp of it. She breathed in a few deep breaths to talk without her voice wavering.
"I met you based on a lie," she whispered. "You no longer have any reason to protect me because Madara based your punishment on how he knew you would react."
"I will always stay by your side," he argued as he enveloped her in his embrace.
"Don't you have to return to the Realm of the Ones?" Sakura asked.
Gaara turned his gaze to Madara, who was picking at a lobster tail. "Madara."
The Eldest Uchiha met his gaze. "Yes, Rage?"
Gaara frowned at that. "I am no longer the One of Rage."
"Then who are you?" Madara questioned with an amused look in his dark eyes.
Gaara paused. Sakura smiled and cupped his jaw. "The One of Compassion. You had such a deep rage because of your compassion for Naruto. The emotional scarring from thinking Naruto died and realizing you killed Mira when she didn't betray Naruto contributed to that rage."
Gaara mulled over Sakura's words. "Yes, I am the One of Compassion."
The other Ones clapped, some whistled, and Roshi and Han nodded in acknowledgment. Madara reached for his cup and sipped his sake. "What was your question?"
"It is not a question." Gaara maintained eye contact with Sakura. "I wish to stay in the human realm with Sakura."
"Impossible," Madara answered. "All the Ones must stay in the realm so others do not lust after your power."
"Most cannot see or sense me."
"I could see and sense you," Sasuke pointed out. He took a bite of a tomato like it was an apple and Naruto grimaced as he watched.
"There will be others powerful enough to see you," Madara explained. "The Hyuuga clan who possess the Byakugan lives in Sakura's village and their ocular jutsu will detect you."
Sakura would lose him and the thought ripped her heart to shreds. Looking over at that familiar red hair, Sakura studied him with a lump rising in her throat. She loved this man; the kunoichi couldn't lie to herself. She couldn't picture a single day without him and tears began to pour down her face. She tried to stifle it, but her breath hitched. Feeling defeated, she placed her face in her hands and sobbed. A gentle hand rested on her shoulder; Sakura lifted her head and saw Hashirama was smiling. He wiped her tears with the tip of his index finger.
"There there, my girl. I have an idea."
"What's that?" Sakura questioned while trying to dry her tear-stained cheeks.
"Why don't you come live in the Realm of the Ones?"
Sakura blinked, leave her home behind? But what about her village, her friends, her world? How would she eat? Would she be able to tell her friends she's leaving and why? Could she show them Gaara or would she vanish forever and what about Naruto? Naruto smirked when his best friend asked his plan.
"I'm coming back home to the Realm of the Ones."
"What about Hinata?"
Naruto's face darkened, and he sighed. "Maybe one day I can love her the way she deserves. Until then, I'll keep visiting her."
Sakura looked at Gaara and all her questions and worries melted away. "I want to stay with you."
The night continued to pass with lots of enjoyment of each other's company and drinks. Sakura and Gaara returned to her house to hide underneath the comfort of the darkness that blanketed the atmosphere. Sakura was in the comforting embrace of her lover. She leaned her head against his shoulder while her back rested against his warm chest. His arms linked around her waist allowing her to draw circles with her finger along his smooth skin. She sighed, leaving behind her earthly life weighing on her. She didn't want her village to think she was a rogue ninja or a traitor. That bothered her.
"Why can't I just be honest with everyone?"
"Because the lust for our power will begin again," Gaara explained. "We don't want to risk someone discovering another way to target the Ones when they visit the human realm."
She didn't want to put the Ones in danger. She respected them and realized it was selfish of her to want to stay in her village and keep Gaara. Taking another calming breath, Sakura let those thoughts escape her mind for now. All she wanted was to enjoy the man who had stolen her heart now that their threat passed. Sakura turned around and pulled Gaara's head down to meet her lips. He returned the kiss and pressed himself closer. Sakura's nimble fingers entwined in crimson locks and when they broke for air, Sakura ran a hand down his chest to the start of his pants.
She gave him a wicked smile. "Let's go inside."
