"Whatever you lose, you'll find it again, but what you throw away you'll never get it back."
Himura Kenshin
Daishiro laid comfortably on his back on the bed in his room, eyes closed, gently massaging his temples. The strain of organizing and keeping everyone united in a common cause was taking a heavy toll, and his head pulsed with a dull and relentless ache. Despite their success in recent truces, the Yuki and Kori joining, and the Chibana and Tachibana open to talks, the mood within the compound was as tense as it was dour. They had been careless and complacent far too long, and reports kept filtering in of grieving families.
Even with his ability to manipulate and influence the minds of others, it was becoming more and more difficult to keep certain people focused on their battle against the shinobi.
He knew there was one sure way to end the war, and end it quickly. He spent many nights wondering if he dared to use it. If they lured the shinobi in and unleashed the technique, its blast would completely obliterate their enemies.
Would their combined will be strong enough to survive such power?
Would they get swept up in the backlash of the explosion?
Time and again he had dismissed it as too dangerous, a weapon so terrible that even he-a cutthroat leader of the Shimura-was afraid to use it. Yet each time he considered it for a few moments longer before backing away from the abyss.
A sound outside the room caused him to open his eyes and sit up sharply.
A second later, Yuhi poked her head in. "They're ready for you in the war conference room, Daishiro-san."
He nodded and rose to his feet, taking a second to calm and compose himself. If he showed any weakness, the others would be quick to point it out. He couldn't let that happen. Not now, when they were so close to ultimate victory. That was why he had joined the coalition in the first place. It would be one final gathering to strengthen resolve and assure continued loyalty.
Yuhi led the way through the compound, and he followed her to the large domed building where the other leaders, or high ranking members were waiting for him.
He entered with conviction and purpose, projecting an aura of confidence and authority. As was customary whenever someone of high rank entered a room, those in the assemblage rose to their feet as a sign of respect.
There was one, however, who remained seated, arms folded across his lean chest.
"Gotou, is it too much to rise?" Yuhi asked pointedly.
"I thought we were hear to discuss something pertaining to wiping out our enemies? This was not about posturing with ranks and titles." The stoic man retorted back, speaking more to Daishiro than to her.
Daishiro knew, as always, he had to tread carefully. This was not the first time somebody could be the voice of dissent, not that it would or could happen here, but the point remained many of the others took their cues from certain people of high , Gotou could be a little rigid in certain things regarding etiquette on the simplest of matters.
Daishiro sighed wearily. "Remain seated. All of you. We have no need for these pointless formalities."
The rest of the group did as he bade and found their seats once more.
Daishiro let a wave of confidence ripple out across the room as he crossed over to the strategy table. "The war against the shinobi will be won. They are on the verge of collapse. Some clans have retreated into the forests and mountains. Hashirama founded a village in the forest. Katsu and Arata founded a village in the mountains. This means they are running out of places to hide."
Mimori folded her hands together, speaking in a gentle tone. "That is true, to a certain point Daishiro-san. The clans that are retreating into the forests or mountains will certainly join a shinobi village when the opportunity presents itself. It is only a matter of one being founded within the vicinity for them to either become a part of it or become a part of its founding as we've already seen with Konohagakure and Kumogakure."
Daishiro maintained his composure, speaking in a calm, even voice. "Anyone who has doubts about our strategy is free to speak."
"It's not just the shinobi I'm worried about. We've lost ground everywhere else in the Elemental Nations. We had the Hyuga, Akimichi, Sarutobi, Senju, and Inuzuka all reeling. But, instead of finishing them off, we let them regroup and re-consolidate their power." Touma said.
"Most of our early victories came before the shinobi clans joined together to found villages. You were still on the islands of the Water country as well-the situations then and now are far too apart to even comprehend." Daishiro reminded him.
"The point of attacking the damiyo and nobles in the first place was to draw the shinobi and samurai out of hiding. We wanted to force them into a battle of our own choosing...Now we will eventually be on the verge of wiping them out. And with the shinobi villages gone, we can easily liberate the villages and countries that have slipped back under their control..."
Though everyone was silent, there were murmurs of agreement from some gathered.
Daishiro pressed his point even farther. "Once we wipe out the enemy, our armies will sweep across the Elemental Nations virtually unopposed. Conquering territory in every country, we will encircle every nation and land like a noose, drawing ever tighter until we choke the very life out of the Elemental Nations themselves!"
There was a roar of approval from the crowd. When Gotou spoke again, even he seemed to have lost some of his hostility. "Victory is not assured. We may have certain shinobi villages and clans surrounded and pinned down, but there's a foreign fleet with hundreds and millions of reinforcements lurking on the edges of this landmass and the surrounding islands."
"Those reinforcements are of the outside nations and lands, they've always been just on the edge of the Elemental Nations." Daishiro admitted with a nod, not bothering to deny what every single one of them knew to be fact.
"Just as they have been for the past centuries." Mimori stated mildly.
"That's exactly where they will stay for a few moments longer until the Water damiyo encroaches in their territory...Far away from the Elemental Nations where he has no business. The bulk of their fleets move around the outskirts of the ocean around us, and the foreigners lack the numbers or the firepower to break through the blockade of certain damiyo. If they can't unite their numbers, or unite with the desperate shinobi village, Hashirama, Katsu, any Kage, and all of their respective followers will fall. Once we have finished them off we can mop up the tattered remnants of the Elemental Nations and foreign nations at our leisure." Akari remarked.
Gotou nodded. "Then let's finish off who we must quickly and move past these blasted shinobi villages."
"That's exactly the point of this strategy conference." Daishiro said calmly.
Mimori stepped up and handed Daishiro a map with the latest data from their reconnaissance spies. He gave her a nod of thanks and unfurled it on the table, then bent down for a closer look.
"Our spies indicate Hashirama's village is located here. Katsu's village is located here." He said, jabbing a finger at the heavily forested, and mountainous sections of the map in the Lightning country and Fire country.
"If we can flush them out of the forest and mountains we might be able to do some damage-" Mimori stopped short as dark shadows fell across the map.
Daishiro set his hand on the table and moved his head up to find the cause of this latest interruption.
A lean, olive skinned man with glowing red eyes stood in the doorway, blocking the light streaming in from outside, and next to the man was a woman who looked to have tanned-gold skin. The man was tall and long haired, with a heavy brow and hard, crimson eyes with nothing visible save for the immense, eerie glow. The woman was shorter by a few inches, her eyes secluded by a crimson cloth, and covered by her wild hair.
They both wore the black armor most wore within the compound, and two swords hung at their sides.
"Who are these two, Ahiko?"
"Mikito and Madara." Ahiko answered, voice tight.
"Madara! Mikito! Impossible, the levels of chakra-" Daishiro exclaimed before his voice choked off.
"Are you sure?" Yuhi asked, eyes going narrow as she regarded the two with caution.
He cast a quick glance in Ahiko's, Noroi's Mimori's, Akari's, and Shinpachi's direction, wondering if one of them had betrayed him by not divulging whatever happened to these two. From the expressions on their faces, shock and caution, the same as everyone else, it was obvious they, like everyone else gathered, were just as haunted as he was to see their visitors alive and well.
And changed so drastically...
"We...We thought you weren't going to be back for quite some time." Daishiro began with uncertainty.
"Where did you two go?" Akari asked, keeping the anger out of her tone.
"Shadowlands. I'm tired, do you mind if I sit?" Madara spoke, voice deep and calm.
"Of course." Daishiro quickly agreed. "All of you make yourselves comfortable."
Madara nodded as he settled into one of the nearby chairs. "Thank you."
There was something in his tone that put Daishiro's guard up.
What was he doing here as he was right now?
Did he know that his body changed?
Did he know a message had been sent to him?
"Continue on with your strategy in handling the shinobi clans and shinobi villages. We will move onto how we will deal with the samurai, foreign nations, and the summonings, in particular the bastard chimpanzees and the other summonings who may have crossed us in this recent attack..." Mikito settled herself down, looking around the room.
Daishiro felt his senses flare.
Something in the way Mikito moved, as if she...
"We are not dealing with the summons." Gotou said in his grim, dour tone.
Mikito looked at him, her lips thinned into a scowl.
"They don't enter the equation as things stand right now. Whatever may have happened with the Subatsu, Mo, and Hagoromo is separate from us. We can't make a move on our own-even I know that." Shinpachi added.
There was a long moment of silence.
"They got back less than five hours ago, they know the gist of what is going on. We also know unilateral decisions like that, will not be tolerated and never have been tolerated in this compound." Ahiko supplied, pressing to move things forward while giving Mikito and Madara hard looks.
"The summonings had hand in it. We seen tracks. We ripped apart the Sarutobi and Hyuga that stayed behind to cut any resistance." Madara said, tone eerily calm.
"Even if they did do that, that is a conversation for a different time. You both need to file a report as well on this confrontation. This meeting is how we are going to deal with the shinobi, samurai, and foreign nations. This isn't about the summonings." Touma said, tone icy.
"We shouldn't derail our current conversation for the summonings. They also have their own politics which is unique among the summonings and only them, if we start going after them the tenuous balance on that side of things is going to deteriorate." Gotou nodded.
Daishiro looked from Gotou and Ahiko then back to Mikito and Madara, the tension clearly growing between the four of them, but he took a deep breath, looked down at the map again, and resumed where he had left off. "Hashirama is hiding in the forests of the Fire country and Katsu is hiding in the mountains of the Lightning country. We can use that to our advantage. We can't flush them out as they have sequestered themselves in their hidden villages."
Mikito leaned forward, setting her open palm down on the table. "Hashirama and the rest of those Kage will speak of flanking, deploying, and this, that, and the other. They are always going to send out spies to try and gauge their enemies..."
"They will be thinking like dirt generals, not supposed shinobi of high repute!"
A heavy silence fell across the room as Madara shouted his statement. Madara could feel all eyes on him, watching intently to see what would happen next, what he would say next, everyone was hinging on every word. He cleared his throat, carefully crossing his arms over his chest. "How is it...That the shinobi village concept could catch on so quick..."
"It could be Arata Uchiha used the Mangekyo Sharingan to manipulate the previous Lightning damiyo, as both Hajime and Tunoichi were present during that time as well. Those two have been known to manipulate nobles. Katsu doesn't enter the equation because of his rigid stance on certain things." Akari suggested as Madara turned to look at her.
"Using cunning, trickery, wily ways...Scheming, crafty, calculating, artful, and deceptive..." Mikito said more to herself than the people around her, moving over to the strategy table.
"I admire them for it, honestly. We were once shinobi as well. The servants of darkness and deception. I brought down my share of castles by not busting down the gates and mowing through everyone in a show of domination." Shinpachi said.
Mikito hummed, bending down to study the troop positions and tactical layouts spread out before her.
"Let's look at this map. Don't think like a shinobi or even a berserker. We won't fight in the forest, or even destroy the forest...We will destroy only Konoha itself by precisely pinpointing it. We only target those Konoha-nin. We will destroy Kumogakure, target the Kumo-nin, and all of our enemies the same way. We pinpoint them and wipe them out with a singular focus in mind and only that focus."
It was Mimori who finally broke the ensuing silence, asking the question on everyone's mind. "Just how do you propose we do that?"
Madara looked at everyone with a flinty gaze. "I think it would be better to show all of you how we will decimate...Just not the shinobi and the samurai, but also the outside lands and nations."
"A demonstration would be in better order." Mikito agreed heatedly.
Madara slowly raised his arms and spread his fingers like long hooked talons. He dug down into his center, pulling his power out as if his body were a mere conductor, and soon enough the smell of burning ozone wafted through the room, filling everyone's nostrils as they watched the Uchiha exert his strange power with a practiced ease.
The room crackled and hissed as he channeled that power, and flung it about in great arcing bolts of violet lightning. Madara hissed as he increased the intensity, the streams of lightning magnified until they began to howl a terrible cry through the room.
Mikito stood with Madara at the center of a maelstrom.
A fierce whirlwind swirled around them, tearing at everyone's hair and the folds of clothes. It rocked and shook the small bookshelves, jarred the walls, knocking papers to the floor and rifling their pages faster and faster while sending scrolls scattering. The air itself was charged with electricity, causing skin to itch and hair to stand up all the way one end.
In the midst of it all, Madara roared, then raised his arms in triumph and launched another, more powerful blast to ricochet off the far wall. Each time the lightning flared, the intensity of the flash burned retinas, causing everyone but Mikito to either shield their eyes, scream, or perform some combination of both. Mikito noted that Madara didn't look away-his eyes were wide, erupting, and wild with the rush of pure, unadulterated power.
The thunder was almost deafening, and the storm was still continuously building at a speedy pace. If Madara wasn't careful, the echoes would reach around, causing more to come here, thus revealing themselves and some extent of their training.
Moving carefully, Mikito reached out and set her hand on his arm.
Madara snapped his head around to face her, and the madness in his eyes didn't make her recoil.
Instead she nodded slowly.
"Very good, Madara!" She shouted, trying to make her voice heard above the thunder.
She held her breath in anticipation until he nodded and lowered his arms, slowly closing his palms. Instantly everyone that was able could feel the power of the storm abating.
Within a few seconds it was gone, only the mess it had made remained along with the stunned and down people who had witnessed the terrifying power.
"That's more than sufficient for a demonstration."
The house was tastefully decorated, with cushions and a table set in the center of the living room, dozens of artworks of nature were set about the walls, along with flowers. Usagi sat at her vanity, brushing her thick brown hair, staring into the mirror but not really seeing anything there. Her thoughts were replaying again and again the image of Tobirama, the last look he had given her, and one of the few romantic things he had said to her.
She heard his words again.
You've grown more beautiful.
Though Usagi knew she was beautiful, those were not words she was used to hearing. Since she had been a young girl, she had been involved in politics, kenjutsu, and battle, quickly rising to powerful and influential positions within her clan. She always excelled in the art of the sword and worked steadfast in diplomacy.
Most of the men outside of her kin she had come into contact with had been more concerned with what she could bring to them in practical terms than with her beauty, love, or anything that could be remotely meaningful.
She saw him again, in her thoughts.
And, clearly.
Her mental eye roamed over his lean and strong frame, over his face, tight with the intensity that she had always admired, and yet with eyes sparkling with emotion, with power, with...With comprehension?
That thought stopped Usagi.
Tobirama had been able to comprehend her...
Her hands slipped down to her sides, and she sat there, staring at herself, judging her own appearance as Tobirama or any other man might. After a few long moments, Usagi shook her head, and breathed out slowly in composure born from years of training. Tobirama was a high ranking shinobi of Konoha now. He would certainly be the Hokage at some point. That was his dedication and his oath to Hashirama, and those things, above all else, were things Usagi had always admired.
How had he even looked at her in such a manner before?
So it was all her imagination?
Or was it her fantasy?
Laughing at herself, Usagi ran her brush through her hair again, but she paused before she had even begun as Kimie and Tsugi both entered the room, standing beside the table, Tsugi wearing his typical black uniform, under a black haori, with black armor and a kabuto helmet. Beside him stood Kimie in one of the elegant, yet understated kimono typical of the Subatsu. The knock at the door wasn't unexpected. Usagi knew that Haji would come to speak with her as soon as the opportunity presented itself.
She started for the door, and opened it, finding, predictably, Haji standing before her.
"Hello, sister." He said, and it seemed as if he could hardly draw his breath.
"Is everything in good order?"
Haji nodded slowly. "Yes, Kata has gone to the lower levels and outskirts to check on security measures, but all seems quiet for now until we finish doing this."
"You sound disappointed, brother."
Haji crossed his arms over his chest.
"You don't enjoy me playing the diplomat..." Usagi remarked.
"There is nowhere else I'd rather be, little sister. You know that I have always supported you in that regard..." Haji retorted.
"But this...Inertia? It isn't good for any of us." She reasoned.
Tsugi nodded. "We should be more aggressive in our search for the Hyuga and Sarutobi. To sit back and wait is to invite disaster."
"Kata, Nagakura, and some others disagree." Kimie noted.
"They are on the Council and leaders, so they are bound by the letter of certain orders and principles. They won't take a chance on doing anything that isn't explicitly discussed and decided within members of the Council."
"Tsugi, are you not part of the Council?" Kimie asked him, almost incredulous.
Usagi tilted her head and considered the words more carefully.
"Kata and Nagkura both understand the need for independent thinking and initiative, but at the same time doing what we are doing now is unbecoming."
Usagi arched her brow. "Unbecoming?"
"Hijikata, Toshizo, Kondou, your mother, my father and mother, and those Subatsu of that generation would have laid waste to the Hyuga and Sarutobi four times over already and would have set their sights on Konoha and Kumo. It would have been a process of elimination." Tsugi remarked.
"My father and uncle were relentless, while my other family members were unreasonable and were just as bad, if not worse than my father and uncle. The same goes for the rest of the Subatsu then. How many died so young, and it didn't come to an end until Gentatsu lost his life...My eldest brother and Mikito both erupted in fury losing their minds. You are not the same as them, though. You trained my brother, and he's the one who drilled these concepts I'm sinking myself into as we are speaking."
Haji couldn't see any of them. He focused on Usagi, and on her alone, and if he had ever held any moments of doubt that she was beautiful despite being his sister, they were washed away, then and there. He saw her thick brown hair, being drawn up high and far at the back of her head in a basket-like, coif accessory, he saw her bright jade eyes, and knew at one point Tobirama wanted to stare into them for eternity.
Haji closed his eyes for just a moment and inhaled deeply. He wasn't fond of the Senju. It took every ounce of willpower he could muster to be respectful to any other man looking in her direction alone, and not merely rush in and crush them. Glowing in her diplomatic regalia, the painted perfection of her face was more luminous than the moon, and not a single hair was out of place in her elaborate coif. Speaking in her serious voice, and wearing her serious look, Usagi would be the one doing the talking once they were face to face with Hashirama.
Haji had a sickening suspicion that even though he didn't quite concede with Kata before, that this was all Usagi's idea to ease things until war broke out between them and Konoha in the coming future...
She couldn't prevent the inevitable from happening, though.
"We can't move forward in any attacks until we speak with the Domou and the former clans with them, and that means anyone who wants to walk down the same path as my father and uncle will maintain their patience in the matter. That hasn't been decided and there are no unilateral decisions." Usagi said, trying to keep her tone controlled.
Haji's tone had a low menace to it. "It won't be much longer in that regard. Once this discussion with Hashirama is done, we will move forward with talks in regards to the Domou as well as the clans with them. You know that includes the marriages that must be arranged."
"I do not like this idea or whole notion!" Usagi said emphatically.
"None of our kin have ever reveled in killing or having to. Yet, we've always taken responsibility, something the shinobi have never done." Haji could see her eyes beginning to burn, so he quieted himself and let her speak.
"And while all of that is said and true, I will still be forced to walk the path of carnage."
"...Yes..."
Usagi gave a sigh of frustration. "I haven't worked for so long at diplomacy in my spare time, to not try and use all that I've learned...I am notorious for my sword skill, but it is as you said, I've never reveled in killing my foes."
"You will only speak to those who are worthy. It's only because many of the Senju, including Hashirama and Tobirama had our backs in war that we are giving them this levity that we wouldn't afford to anyone else. There will come a point where we can't just walk into the village even with our chakra being extinguished like we are about to do to ourselves, if we were to make a move... " Tsugi replied-a rather convincing statement, coming from him.
Haji traded a glance with him before shaking his head.
"You don't have a very firm grip on politics, Usagi." Kimie noted.
"I do have a grasp. That is why I always speak honestly. I just haven't had the chance to be a diplomat, because my eldest brother doesn't like the idea and never did like the idea."
"Why would Syrus be so against it?" Kimie questioned.
"Too much risk in his eyes. Not many wish to honestly speak about their problems and sort them out through discussion." Usagi replied.
She would have gone on and on, but Haji, Kimie, and Tsugi stared at her, and that stopped her as surely as being told to stop.
"I'm sorry, Usagi." Kimie said.
"We Subatsu women can be diplomats and are trained in that degree. We are infamous for our brutality and savagery, but that is because we must fight more often than we must speak." Usagi said, tone growing a little more firm.
"You sounded exactly like that little girl I once knew...The one who would whine when she wasn't able to practice as long as she desired." Haji noted.
"I'm not whining, Haji. I'm not."
Across the room, Tsugi only shook his head.
"You've grown up a lot since then Usagi...Too much for my taste at times. I can understand why Syrus doesn't want you to do such things." Haji admitted.
Usagi took a deep breath, then blew it all out, her shoulders visibly relaxing. "You two worry about me so much. My duties are important."
"And, you did more than enough serving. You have done more than enough where you could retire."
That was a thought Usagi didn't even consider and didn't want to.
They came into the dimly lit hallway streaked with lanterns and their soft light, then moved slowly toward the main chamber. Hashirama, Kiyoshi, Mito, and Tobirama, were not too involved with their discussion or internal deliberations to not even notice the unexpected appearance of the trio who appeared before them as silently as a shadow. Standing at the head of the room, Hashirama did see Usagi, Haji, and another young man materialize out of thin air.
Most likely through means of a space-time ninjutsu.
Hashirama's expression was one of blatant shock, for just a moment, but then he shook himself out of it and a small smile widened over his face. Tobirama could only focus on Usagi out of every person in the chamber.
She looked so different than when they had interacted. Her face was more luminous than the moon itself, there wasn't a hair out of place on her head, and it was drawn up high in an elaborate basket-like coif. He could admit she was like painted perfection. She was beautiful. From her dress and appearance, he got the feeling she would be the one doing the talking, and that this was all her idea.
"Who is this?" Mito broke the not so tense, but nonetheless awkward silence.
The young man flanking Usagi and Haji was tall tan skinned with shoulder length spiky black hair that was pulled back into a messy ponytail. He wore a flinty, piercing gaze, and had a lean build that made his muscles visible beneath his clothes. This while formidable in of itself didn't alarm Mito, as much as the burning yellow gaze that seemed to be affixed on the young man's face...
That was being directed at everyone else...
"Sāji is my protector...He won't be talking or acting. He is here for my protection. You need not worry about any retaliation or attack from him." Usagi said.
Hashirama caught Tobirama's gaze, feeling the kneading of chakra. He looked towards Sāji critically, reaching out between the space and felt the chakra that had yet to roll off in waves. He could see his brother battling the spiky haired young man before he was overwhelmed by the sheer speed of the attacks, he could see Kiyoshi intervene just as swiftly with two swords, and all of these were lattices that connected to a bigger picture.
He and Usagi were the fulcrum and lever-they had to steer this into a peaceful resolution.
"They are here for my protection. We don't want a fight right now. We just want to talk."
"My noble colleagues...I concur with Usagi. At all costs, we do not want war." Hashirama stated, a slight smile crossing his face.
Gradually at first, but then more quickly, the outside went quiet, and then came a thunderous outburst of howling wind and the clattering of trees. Usagi waited for the howling and clattering to subside, then began slowly and deliberately.
"Less than two months ago, an assassination attempt was made on my kin. Many of my own and several other youngsters were ruthlessly and senselessly murdered in this attack. The summonings could have had a hand in it or ran interference in some regards...I was the target, like all the women in my compound, but, more important, I believe this attack was also targeting Konoha...You were the target. You have always wanted cooperation Hashirama. I have led the opposition to building an army and going on an all out war path, but it seems there are those who will stop at nothing to assure we take the path of absolute carnage."
Breaths became sighs from all gathered within the chamber as those terse words registered, and even Tobirama had to lower his head in remorse. Had Usagi just accused the Sarutobi and Hyuga of trying to take out their heart by killing their children? More so, was she implying someone in the Fire damiyo's circle was trying to assassinate her?
As she stood there, her gaze moving about the vast, circular room, Usagi knew that her words, on the surface, could be seen as an insult. In truth, though, she wasn't thinking along those lines concerning the source or the intention of the murders. She remembered the recent warnings about the Hyuga reportedly joining hands with the Sarutobi and even relocating within vicinity of the Sarutobi's own compound.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself against the growing turmoil inside of her, and steadfastly went on.
"I warn you, if you rationalize the transgression of those two clans war will follow and be on your doorstep. I have experienced the misery of war firsthand, I have fought beside you many times...I do not wish to be standing opposite of either of you...I do not wish for the land to suffer...Hashirama and Tobirama. Do you both understand what I am saying?"
The howling began to outweigh the branches clattering.
"You make the implications of war...How many young have died and have been killed in all of these wars, in this very dark era?" Mito's voice rose above the howling wind.
"Subatsu have never killed children. It goes against our code of conduct. If any single person ever did such a thing, they wouldn't have the honor of being able to commit seppuku. They'd get their head chopped off." Haji replied coldly.
"I move that we defer this to a vote. You can't make unilateral decisions anymore. The Sarutobi and Hyuga left for a certain amount of time, so what Usagi-san is saying holds merit." Tobirama said.
But that suggestion only led to more tension.
Usagi looked at Tobirama, understanding his sudden desire to defer a vote that her mere presence had cast into doubt.
This was one of the reasons why she had been so insistent on coming.
"Wake up. You all must wake up and give up the shinobi way. If you, we, or I offer violence, any single person or country can only show us violence in return! Many will lose their lives, many have lost their lives, and every single person will lose their freedom. This decision could well destroy the very foundation of everything we stand on! I pray you do not let fear push you into a disastrous decision like what happened with the Sarutobi and Hyuga. Think about this security measure, which is nothing less than a declaration of war! Does anyone here want that? I cannot believe they do!"
Mito and Tobirama exchanged nervous glances as the ghastly wind echoed about the great hall.
The fact that Usagi had just endured sorrowful funerals, and yet was here begging to put off raising an army against any single person, and to give up the shinobi way, only added strength to her argument, only elevated Usagi higher in the eyes of those gathered.
At Tobirama's nod, Mito gently cleared her throat, and was given the floor. "By precedence, my motion to defer the vote must be dealt with first."
Tobirama narrowed his eyes. "That is how we do things now. My brother just can't make unilateral decisions."
Usagi glared at them both, her expression both angry and frustrated by the obvious delaying tactics. She turned plaintively to Hashirama. "This doesn't concern Konoha."
"Unless Konoha helps the Hyuga and Sarutobi. Unless you dare to push onto our domain." Haji finished.
"You speak veiled threats, Haji." Tobirama noted.
Usagi relaxed, keeping her head upright.
"Hashirama, you may want the Sarutobi and Hyuga to be a part of Konoha because of their strength and prowess...You need to remember the crime they committed against just not my kin, but the Domou and many others. We may have battled, but no Subatsu ever raised a hand or blade towards a Sarutobi child. If you wish to give them a place to hide, if you wish to hold onto the shinobi way instead of letting it go, if you make the choice to kill children for the sake of Konoha..."
Hashirama held up his hands, and when the room was quiet enough, only then did he speak.
"You are saying you will erase the shinobi creed itself from existence because of the incongruity."
Haji's eyes narrowed, and Hashirama could feel the man's gaze pierce through him, pulling away any façade or layer he kept up. Perhaps he had things right and scouted with the near future, and if that was true...
He'd have to scramble to tie up his own loose ends.
Time was one thing Hashirama didn't have.
Haji set his jaw. "The Hyuga and Sarutobi will be dealt with. Anyone else who wants to bring it or try to attack will be met with the same swift retaliation."
Usagi tilted her head back the slightest, getting a good look at Hashirama. Before, she had merely been speaking to a man, a young man with a dream no one else had...
Now, she was staring at the leader of Konoha, who was not a young man with a dream. This was the First Hokage of Konoha, who would soon have the Mitokado, Hatake, most of the Nara, Utatane, Akimichi, most of the Yamanaka, Kohaku, Iburi, the sects of the Inuzuka, the Hyuga, Sarutobi, and lastly a sect of Uchiha all under his command.
There could possibly be more she didn't even consider.
Perhaps she didn't want to.
Hashirama's dream became a reality, he would soon have a powerful military force unlike anything the shinobi world had ever seen, but, because of Mikito, Madara, Izuna, and Haji all tying up loose ends with smaller clans and the Yamanaka as well as Nara on Haji's and Sadao's end-they held checkmate.
"The Hyuga and Sarutobi would never do anything without the approval of the Fire damiyo and his inner circle." Mito spoke up, derailing Usagi's train of thought in the process.
"They've gone too far this time. Your damiyo has no love for the Sarutobi in particular since they tried to burn the capital to the ground. As far as I know there are no speaking terms. You helping them is going to incite the damiyo's wrath upon your infantile village system." Usagi said, keeping her tone even and calm.
"You are giving us a warning...This is the last time you will ever be diplomatic, so by saying what you have...If Hashirama or anyone from a shinobi village, or who has made enemies out of you were to come onto your land..." Kiyoshi ventured, eyes narrowing just slightly.
He wasn't going to be intimidated by any stretch, but he wasn't a foolish man either. He wasn't stupid. He hadn't lived so long by being a loud mouth or stupid. Still, he felt like there was something Usagi was saying without saying it directly, and whatever that was...
Kiyoshi shook his head, clearing away the haze of frazzled thoughts, and focused on the trio in the chamber.
"You've allied with the Domou and the clans that joined them."
Haji looked the older man directly in the eye.
"We have Yamanaka at our compound now working through the memories of the children who survived that battle...We will know and experience what happened, you'd better hope that no Senju or shinobi of Konoha were even around...Adults were killed, Misaka Domou and Aito Uchiha were both wounded, and more than twelve more adults were cut down."
Kiyoshi took the answer for what it was.
"So, it's true...The Hagoromo have allied with the Subatsu and Mo."
Usagi nodded. "Would you like for the Subatsu to continue watching the deer in your lands until you are all situated within the territory of Konoha? The children enjoy taking care of them quite a bit."
"I-" Hashirama started.
Usagi cut him off. "Those deer are Nara deer. This doesn't concern you, Hashirama-san."
Kiyoshi locked eyes with Usagi, looking at Haji, and the other young man flanking her. "With the Sarutobi gone, I should be able to handle things now."
Mito looked at Usagi, drawing her brows together. "You were rude to Hokage-sama just now."
Haji answered, slowly slipping out of their perception, as if he was being pulled into the air itself. The answer left everyone with a cold chill running down their spine as much as the fact that he seemed to spiral into a fabric of time.
"Konoha will be quite the wonder even among your hidden village concept...But, we're all taking the path of carnage. We have put all of you in checkmate. Hashirama Senju will always be Hashirama Senju to me, not this title you've decided to give yourself called Hokage."
It wasn't until they were certain that Usagi, and every single person who had come with her was out of range and the country itself that anyone spoke.
Kiyoshi looked at Hashirama, arching a brow. "What are we going to do about that?"
Hashirama glanced from Mito to Tobirama, and seeing that they had the same sentiment and feeling as himself and Kiyoshi, he spoke with a quiet confidence, that wasn't as much of confidence as it was foreboding insight on his part.
"We will do nothing until the time comes. I'm a little concerned about what the Uzumaki and Yamanaka will decide to do moving forward."
Mito looked away, her expression turning from one of remorse to one of tense thought.
"Do you think Hisao-dono will join them?" Hashirama asked.
"With the way things are..." Mito scrunched her eyes. "I can't say."
Hashirama shook his head. "Do you think he's already had a meeting?"
Mito narrowed her eyes more. "If he hasn't already, he's in the process of having one right now. Who he could be speaking to, though...I am not sure."
"If you had to anticipate something going wrong, what would that be?" Hashirama pressed further, expression as serious as his tone.
Mito's eyes hardened. "If the Domou and Subatsu come to a truce like it appears they are-the clans they share ententes with will unify with them...The Uzumaki-my father will be forced to make a choice. However, that shouldn't happen for a long time yet. We still have ample time to put countermeasures into place."
"Usagi said something about letting go of the shinobi creed. Whoever is with them now, and whoever wishes to join them will no longer be shinobi. We've been going about this the wrong way...We are going to be dealing with a faction that wants nothing but to kill us shinobi and the samurai..." Tobirama trailed off in his assessment, eyes growing more and more narrow as his mind ran through its paces.
Mito's eyes widended.
Hashirama stood up, the calm in the eye of the growing storm. "Tobirama. I want you and Koichi to go to the Tea country."
"Brother-"
Hashirama remained calm, though his mind raced with alarm. "You will find the answer to your question when you get to the Tea country. Hurry."