Not the gigantic chapter that was promised. And it took a month for me to get this out... I'M SORRY OKAY? There was a lot that ripped my focus in the last month of classes this year. And I kind of shutdown in many ways to focus on schoolwork. Very unbearable. And I have to admit, until literally this week I hadn't even touched the story. It's partially because the chapter is so big that I do have to mentally prepare my ADHD-geared mind to attack. I'm exhausted but, after next week, I will probably be much more refreshed than I am now. And will steadily be working on this story as I go along. This chapter was the minimal amount of setting I gave before the dialogue. Like 250 words that I deiced to expand into it's own chapter to force myself against keeping you guys waiting another month lol. Not sure If I'm good at building setting or being poetic or have any real talent in story telling. But enough of that...

Enjoy the show!

Guests: I don't want to make it sound like I'm stealing your idea, that was genuinely something I was gonna go and expand on in terms of the Sharingan. And like I said, there will be a bit of Hashirama x Madara in this story. I just really need to execute the dialogue dinosaur that is the gawddamn chunk of text following this own...

Keep Reviewing!

On the way back, hiking past vines and strolling through hard to see walking trails Tobirama replayed the conversation's result in his head in disbelief that he's in such a predicament. What will meeting the bitter asshole up here look like? What would it even do?

Surprisingly, what many don't know about Tobirama is that he does not actually hate Madara, He fears him. He fears for his own life. It goes without saying, Madara and Hashirama are essentially gods in the Shinobi world. Tobirama's incredibly strong, quick-witted, and talented on the battlefield. And he is a genius outside of combat. Creating new Justus; he's working on death defying magic at this point. Continuing to succeed and surpass every limit that's ever held him back.

He still doesn't compare to either one of them...

He's worried that Madara is just biding his time to attack or put Tobirama in a dangerous situation. If he wound up with a leadership position within the Village, Madara could send him, and more Senju clan members, into dangerous missions. Or just in general treat him worse than everyone else. While we can say it's an Uchiha rivalry issue, and there is general mistrust of the Uchiha from the Senju clan, it's also very personal when it comes to his relationship to their leader.

Essentially, Tobirama does carry guilt and worry, and he doesn't know how Madara will react to his presence. Cutting Madara out of the scenario entirely, this was still ridiculous. It's rude for Hashirama to demand something like this, he's not even entirely sure aforementioned Uchiha is still around. And he could barely remember which part of this hill they were lounging on together. If there had been a mission, or war, battle, literally any reason to memorize the area, he would've already made it there by now. My brother can't just walk all over me like this, I actually had plans before this.

His thoughts were interrupted by a sound cutting through the night air.

Crying?

While it was a soft sobbing, his heightened hearing could pick it up. And with the night life in the Village being new and almost non-existent, everyone calming down getting ready for rest, the sound was clear as day and it was coming from slightly right of the direction he was already headed. Would it be better to quietly sneak up on them? Should I just be more honest and make noise as I approach? Give them a heads up? I am a ninja; do I really care about honor code? Especially when I can easily spy undetected?

All these thoughts bouncing around in his mind as he nears the source. But as he gets closer, he starts to realize the trees and foliage looking more familiar. It hits him that it's coming from around where Hashirama left Madara. He debated on whether he could even imagine a man like him crying. He would honestly laugh at the situation if the thought weren't so shocking. Who else could it be though? While there may be worries about self-preservation, Tobirama is also very concerned about Madara.

Not just whether he will fall into hatred, but he's always kept watching him. Always weary about how he doesn't know what's inside Madara's head. As much of a threat that the demon-like ninja always poses, he wouldn't normally pass much judgement with Hashirama around. However, there's something about the Uchiha that's so unpredictable and hard to understand or get a read on. Maybe it's harsh to assume that he is always up to something. But you can always see it in Madara. While having a full conversation about a life altering decision, you can visibly see gears working on another lapse in his mind. He hides himself and his motives, and he does it incredibly well. And Hashirama is so stupidly naïve to it.

Madara Uchiha is a thinker... a planner... and that's deeply concerning.

He rushes to the mountainside to see if his analysis was correct. And as he scales through trails of wet dead Sakura flowers and tree branches on his way up the mountain, Madara came into view. There was nothing to hide behind, but Tobi isn't sure he needs it. While the opposing clan leader wasn't quite making the amount of noise that he was earlier, he is still clearly distraught and lost in thought. His head is down near his lap, and while he can still see around, has yet to pick up on the extremely noticeable snow-white hair to match almost alabaster skin not 20 feet away in the darkest of night.

He looks up, without turning his head, still having not paid any attention to the person to his left, staring him down. Still lost in thought, he looks forward. And Tobirama takes this moment to admire something he's never seen in Madara. Outside of war times, where they have come to blows in the shadows and battled at any and every waking hour, night and day, he's never seen the man's eyes light up in the exact way they are now.

He never expected to compliment Madara, but what he's looking at is art, pure beauty. The image before him telling a complete story. You can see the stars and the moon out on the horizon, but they don't do much to illuminate the area. Madara's back against a chunk of rock towering about both of them. Almost as if we're at a long-lost temple decimated by time, and he's lying on one of the columns still standing. The stars are above them too, but it looks as though we're in the shadows, his new red plate garb, black robe, and war fan facing Tobirama also lying on the rock. Like he's sitting beside himself. Very rare to see him without them. Not like any Uchiha to drop their guard in this way.

He continued his examination of him. His undershirt, sweatpants and shoes all in black with white socks. The moon's very dim light making his armor and pale skin gleam, but not too brightly. His black hair at hip length, Tobirama can see strands pull out of his face. One of the few times he's ever been able to see both of Madara's eyes. Usually bangs cover his right eye. And those eyes are what really capture his interest in this moment. They are both lit up red, but unlike other times he's seen them, they don't have the Sharingan markings that he's used to. On top of that, the upper half of his eyes are the bright candy red, while the lower parts are closer to a shade of blood or scarlet. Regardless, they shine bright, as bright as the stars above us.

Framed in those two red irises were pools of black; they are opened wider than usual. He looks like he lost everything. A type of despair that only comes with fighting yourself. What the hell is going on here? Should I say something? I can't imagine that he doesn't honestly realize I'm standing here. Is he ignoring me? Is he waiting for me to talk? All these questions and more arose but were gently tugged away as he continued to lose himself in Madara's eyes. I wonder if he'd ever look at me with those eyes. As the statement wrecked his mind, he had turned his head to look away, not wanting to obsess over him anymore. This was a fucking waste of my time. I'm leaving. He turned his head back at Madara to find him looking back at him. It was such a drastic change in energy.

Madara was obviously shocked to see him and seemed to have only gotten tipped off by the fast movement of Tobirama's head. Maybe it was just too dark to notice before, but Tobirama only now could see two rivers streaming down his face, as beautiful as crystal. Shined upon by the radiant orbs of crimson that once signified a very clear threat of danger and death lying ahead; in this moment dulled out, not carrying the hatred that he's so used to seeing from the man before him. And he looks back to the tears and sees the outline of a bigger flood from earlier. He must've really been up here the whole time. Hashirama was right, someone really needed to check on him. But why me?

Madara kept the eye contact but shifted his face back to the side, very much wanting to break it. Not knowing what to do or say, he gathered up strength to look away, all for nothing though. He had no strength left and he couldn't find a good enough reason to try and hide his embarrassment.

They look at each other for two minutes of awkward, uncomfortable silence. Not in a moment of understanding; the exact opposite, in fact. The winds have been mild, and it only serves to shift the awkwardness of the moment into the inevitable hostility and contempt that's home in their dynamic.

Madara has finally ripped his eyes away from the other and starts toying with the idea of just running away; denying the moment ever happened if brought up and Tobirama wasn't sure if he should even approach him.

This is embarrassing for them both as they clearly don't know what they're doing in any scenario together, let alone this one.

"..."

"..."

Finally, the obnoxious silent treatment and avoidance Tobirama asks Madara.

"Is it okay if I sit next to you?"