Hashirama had been doubting the success of their plans since Kumo had cut off their communication. He pressed his temples, sighing. It had been a few months since they'd last encountered her and they had not seen her with either of the Uchiha brothers on the battlefield since.

"Do you think they suspect something?"

Tobirama only glanced once at his brother, shifting to face him. "That Izuna never misses a beat. If Madara didn't notice, he definitely did."

Hashirama frowned, moving across the room to a small table on which rested his crystal necklace. He picked it up, pressing the tip of his index finger against the pointed end. "I was wrong to have attacked her so harshly."

Tobirama only raised his eyebrows, a sarcastic retort almost escaping him before he suppressed it. Hashirama had been in a dark place after Botsuma had passed away. For some time, Tobirama had felt that it had been Kumiko's fault that he couldn't be healed, but then again it was their fault she was in Uchiha territory.

He respected Kumiko, her mother had taught them all that duty came before the heart. He had tried to stop her for as long as he could remember, telling her that her mother didn't understand the consequences of turning her daughter into a spider. Tobirama saw the outcome clear as day and when he was younger, the prospect of Kumiko becoming ill and unstable frightened him. But now they were adults and it had been her choice to become the mole they needed.

He had picked up enough information about her from the Uchihas that had begun defecting but most were disjointed and if he tried to put together what he heard, nothing about her made sense. Some said she was a wispy young woman, mentally sickened by being exposed to war and others said she was a dark shadow that secretly killed all those that threatened Madara's position as leader. The one thing that was common in all the talk was that she was always with them.

It had irked him and he had spent a whole week ruthlessly hacking through Uchiha soldiers until Hashirama had sat him down and confronted him.

Tobirama ran a hand through his mop of hair, grateful for this temporary peace that had taken hold of the clans. For the first time in three days he was without armor and wearing fresh clothes. He felt a tad bit more relaxed, his calculating calm demeanor had returned, much to Hashirama's relief.

"So, when do you think they'll bring her sister in?"

Tobirama moved to the door then, pushing it open. "She is already here."

Kumiko was startled out of her sleep by a very familiar voice. However, this time things were different. He had dragged her out of bed, pulling her aggressively onto the floor. Dowsed with sleep and unable to comprehend, she struggled to stand, only to be pushed onto her knees as he released his painful grip on her hair.

"Izuna-sama," Her voice sounded tired but steady. "What are you doing?"

He stood before her, the afternoon light pouring behind him, his shadow falling over her as she looked up.

Just as unexpected as the rude awakening, he raised his hand. She blinked just as he backhanded her, her face turning to the left with the force. She stared wide-eyed at the wooden paneling on the wall.

When he spoke, his voice was low.

"First you slither your way into his heart. Then you poison him with talk of peace."

She snapped her head to him but he spoke before she could retort, "I have ignored you for too long, you're a spider that needs to be crushed. It's a wonder Hashirama hasn't done it yet. Where do your loyalties lie?"

He had seized her hair again, pulling her head back to stare up at the ceiling.

"My loyalties lie with the Uchiha."

"Don't take me for a fool."

"It's the truth."

"It is NOT." He released her hair, crouching in front of her to cup her face. His fingers dug painfully into her skin.

"Tell me, have you fallen in love with my brother or are you just in love with this delusion of eventual peace?"

Kumiko did not respond, choosing to stare blankly into his light grey eyes.

She was not surprised, little escaped Izuna's power of observation. He continued to stare her down when she spoke, her voice flat.

"My loyalty lies only with finding peace."

"There will be none."

His eyes shifted to scarlet, black tomoes spinning slowly as Kumiko eye's widened. It was too late to look away.

Madara was viciously pressing his temples, pacing the room. Misaki had brought in a message delivered by a Senju at the borders. His fiancé had been kidnapped and the ransom the opposing clan demanded was his other woman. It was strange how his mind automatically referred her to as his and as the other woman. The elders had not been made aware of the situation but Madara suspected it was not long until someone called for an emergency council. He had barely seen Izuna since the baths, and Madara had a premonition. The fear of losing his brother scrambled his thoughts.

Izuna had confronted him that morning when Madara mentioned negotiating a cease-fire. Enraged, his little brother had warned him to never trust the Senju. And he had been very particular with the word. Madara smashed his fist into the desk, turning to Misaki. "Call the elders. Now."

Misaki had nodded, moving quickly out of the room. Madara continued to pace, wondering what the fuck Hashirama was thinking. He had wanted peace and now he was throwing oil on everything they had worked towards, it would take only a single spark to set it all aflame.

Izuna had left Kumiko shivering on the floor of her room. Her eyes were wide, pupils shrunk and her fingers twitched. To be honest to himself, he hadn't meant to be so harsh but when he had sunk into her mind he had learned many things. Such as her fear of his eyes. She had understood how they functioned, studied in detail the effect of the sharingan on the user's mind, all to try and overcome the fear.

He had also learned her second most livid fear, murdering one of the people she valued. He had been surprised to find himself on that small list along with two people that should not have been there. He frowned, it was a disadvantage to be a spider with strong attachments.

"Do you think they will return her to us?"

Tobirama was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed as he warily eyed the young Tsukinowa. She was afraid, her hands shook. They had bound her hands loosely and anyone with the slightest amount of training would have been able to undo them. She had begun to sob and he felt a pang of guilt. She was sheltered from war and its cruelties. Her voice quivered as she spoke. "Madara-sama will n… never t… trade her f… for me. Don't you know? She… He likes her more than me."

The Senjus exchanged glances.

"May I speak to you outside?" Hashirama glanced at his brother, nodding and joining him outside, silently shutting the door behind him.

"Things have changed radically, I do not think getting her back will be so easy."

"Have some faith in her-"

"What if her loyalties have changed? Tch." Tobirama narrowed his eyes, staring down at the far corner of the hall, insecurity flooding his judgment.

"She promised us she would keep tabs on them for us-"

"What is the point of that if she never reported back to you? How long will you pretend to believe she is still on our side?"

"Because I know she is. I know she is not impartial to the Uchiha, she cares for Madara and my actions hurt her but she will never give up on her mission!"

"This mission," Tobirama's voice had become cold, a warning sign to the older Senju, "Is ruining her. You should not have instructed her to go with them as a prisoner. What was the point of it all if you wanted to bring her back half-way?"

Hashirama froze, his eyes shifting uncomfortably from his brother's glare. "Tobirama, I am afraid things are not exactly as they seem to you."

His brother seemed to recoil, his arms falling to his sides. Hashirama continued.

"She sent me a message yesterday, requesting to be pulled out. She fears she can no longer continue because she is becoming too attached to the Uchiha. You know how they are about the people they love."

Tobirama blinked at him, his usually expressionless face looking confused, "So you are telling me that she finally reported to you just to tell you she didn't want to do this anymore? Why does she want to come back then? If she cares so much for Madara, she should stay with him."

Hashirama remained silent. He had expected that his brother should be enraged, he had felt slightly offended too when he read that she could no longer find the strength to pull the strings of people she cared for. But what Tobirama failed to understand was that the Uchiha were not the monstrous people he believed them to be. They were passionate and loving and that was what drove them to commit atrocious acts. The Senju were comparatively cold-hearted in that aspect.

Kumiko crawled away from the spot she had been laying on for hours, moving slowly to her bed. Her hands shook and for a moment, images of her own bloodied hands flashed in front of her, four male corpses lying in front of her. Her hands went to her hair, pulling it as she whimpered, shaking her head in denial.