.

.

"You know, I'm not very good at genjutsu," Hashi said.

Madara looked up. It was in the early days after establishing their village, and they were sitting on the floor, trying to devise a ninja curriculum for the village's children. "I think it's important to teach the basics," Hashi had said. "Everyone should have the same foundation."

There was truth to this - the only shinobi who survived into adulthood were the ones who mastered at least one of the ninja arts, and the constant skirmishes had killed countless children.

They came up with three major subjects: genjutsu, ninjutsu, and taijutsu, in addition to basic hand seals and learning to mold chakra. Even children who came from civilian clans would learn. "They'd need to know how to defend themselves," Hashi said. Madara agreed with her.

Now Madara looked up at Hashi, who was on her knees, rearranging papers, frowning at her admission that she couldn't even cast a simple genjutsu. "You can't do genjutsu?" Madara said. Hashi shook her head.

"I'm lucky - I have the Mokuton. I haven't needed to."

Madara leaned back, crossing his arms. "Frankly, breaking out of a genjutsu is more important than casting one," Madara said.

"Oh, you're right! That's definitely something we should teach them." She wrote the subject down on the scroll.

xXx

.

The Hatake clan of the plainlands was a civilian clan, one that specialized in farming. The Uchiha and the Senju were nomadic clans and as such, terrible at farming. It was important to bring a civilian clan into the fold.

"Look at their symbol," Hashi said, and Madara glanced up at their flag, the sectioned diamond that looked like sectioned farmland.

At the meeting, the clan leader and his ministers sat across from them. "We would be interested in entering an alliance," the clan leader said.

"We're happy to hear that. We're prepared to discuss terms," Hashi said. The Hatake representatives glanced at each other.

"When will the Senju representative arrive?" the Hatake representative asked. Madara and Hashi glanced at each other.

"I am here, clan elder. I come on behalf of the Senju. I'm the leader of my people."

The clan leader scoffed. "Is that so?" He smirked, glancing at the other representatives, who broke out in amused laughter.

"Madara-san," the clan leader said, smiling. "When will we meet Senju Hashirama? We've heard many great things about him."

Madara frowned. "You are looking at her," Madara said, and the Hatake representatives guffawed.

"You mean to tell us Senju Hashirama, the most feared shinobi warrior alive, is this little girl sitting in front of us? Who knew the fearsome Uchiha had a sense of humor!"

Madara angrily leaned forward, but Hashi pushed him back.

"Indeed, clan leader," Hashi said, and a shadow fell over her eyes, speaking demurely and lowering her head, "I shall fetch my older brother. I humbly apologize."

She spoke in the same measured cadence a refined woman of her station would. Madara stared at her.

"Thank you." The clan leader chuckled, heartily.

Madara widened his eyes at her, Where the hell are you going? but Hashi elegantly rose and bowed her head, folding her hands into the sleeves of her kimono and walking with small, graceful steps.

He turned back to the Hatake, completely at a loss and bewildered.

What the hell was she thinking? Madara's mind raced. It was only the two of them traveling - unless her idiot brother could somehow flash-step across the plainlands. It would be easier to just take over their stupid clan and slice the Hatake leader's throat for his insolence.

And then he sensed it: a sudden surge of chakra, the slightest disturbance in the air.

"Gentlemen!"

Madara turned. His eyes widened.

"Ah, Senju-sama," the Hatake leader said, rising. Senju Hashirama strode into the room, laughing heartily.

"You are just as I imagined!" the Hatake leader said, clapping Hashirama on the back. Hashirama threw his head back and laughed, impossibly tall and square-jawed and masculine, his long, flowing hair swinging over his muscular shoulders, filling the room with his mighty presence.

Eyes wide in shock, Madara turned around slowly, staring at the table and cupping his hands around his eyes like blinders.

xXx

.

"I thought you didn't know genjutsu?"

"I mean, I know a little," Hashi said, and Madara stared at her, flabbergasted.

"I have the Sharingan," Madara said. "It was even difficult for me to tell you weren't really a man." He paused. "Although you are hardly that feminine to begin with." He frowned at her.

"Why go through the pretense?" Madara said. "You are the most powerful shinobi alive. Those were just civilians."

Hashi shrugged. "If them wanting to deal with a male Hashirama is the price for peace, then I don't mind paying it."

Madara rubbed his head. "And you wonder why you're unmarriageable," he said.

Hashi bowed gravely. She spoke in a lilting cadence, lowering her head.

"Verily, you speak the truth, my lord. My humblest apologies. If it pleases you, I shall bow my head and keep my eyes on the floor in front of me, speaking softly and trailing ten paces behind you so that I will not offend you with my presence, and I shall keep my legs close together as I walk so that I may always look refined and elegant, even though walking that way is annoying and stupid."

Madara shook his head.

"You were more convincing when you pretended to be a man."