It was a long shot, and even Hashirama knew that. But he was running out of options. No matter what he did, the Uchiha just kept coming back stronger and stronger… And really, he was tired of the fighting. He wanted it to end, and he knew Madara wanted the same thing, he could see it in the other males eyes each time they were faced to face. They were being worn down, and for what? A century old feud that none of them even remembered. He stared at the letter he had drafted and had even had Tobirama look over it. Obviously, his little brother was not too keen on a Senju and Uchiha marrying, but they did not have a whole lot of options at that point.

And really, Hashirama was getting desperate. He wanted this to end, he wanted his best friend back… And he hoped that Madara would be okay or willing... He new how the Uchiha were with love. And this was literally against everything they believe in, so his anxiety was rightfully high over it.

A soft breath left the brunettes lips and he folded it and put it in an envelope, there was no point in doing more than one draft, it was a simple request. Marriage for peace. He knew he was risking a lot, even his own clan Elders were behind this, because this way they could keep a close eye on the Uchiha clan, even though that was not Hashirama's intentions. But he was sure that if anything, the Uchiha elders would be thinking the same thing. You really could not change old crones; they would always be stuck in their old ways.

He sealed the envelope with the Senju seal and sent it off with a hawk, he knew well that Madara would know it was specifically for him.

A small sigh left his lips as he sat back at his desk and leaned back. He knew two things would happen, he would either get a response back telling him to fuck off, or he would get an acceptance letter… And he was not really banking on the later. But this was the last thing he could think of… So, he could not help but to allow himself to hope.

Madara was all but pissed when he got the letter, for one… His elders were on board with this nonsense, even if it did seem like the only way they were going to stop. He could see how tired Hashirama was, he was tired of fighting a war that was not even theirs to begin with. But the main reason he was pissed, was because his own Elders had decided they were going to demand the marriage to Senju Tobirama, and if he or Hashirama refused, there would be no deal…

That was the worst outcome, he did not know Tobirama, but he could not imagine that he would be willing to do this... But then again, he seemed like Izuna, would for the most part be willing to do things for his elder brother. Well, Izuna would do a lot for him, but he did not think Izuna would willingly marry a Senju for him. But it was still the fact that this had even come up, Hashirama was desperate, and Madara knew this.

He listened to his clan elders and sighed.

"Fine, we shall go along with this. I will write requesting it to be Tobirama, but I do wonder if Hashirama would really throw his brother under the sword for peace." he spoke. He excused everyone from the meeting and walked slowly back to his own office, his mind was racing. 'Who would be the Uchiha to marry Tobirama if Hashirama agreed to this?' his mind thought. Why was Hashirama this desperate? Was something going on that he did not know of? Was there some kind of threat to the Senju? Or was he just that tired, that he was willing to throw away the free will of someone else?

Madara really didn't know, and when he returned to his office, Izuna was there, leaning against the desk.

"Are you really going to do this? Will you really sign away one of us to that demon?" he asked Madara. Even though Izuna already knew the answer to that. Madara at this point was also willing to do anything for peace, but he knew that Izuna would only go so far as well.

"Yes, it is the only way we will get peace, and I am sure Hashirama was aware that our elders had this idea too, because I'm sure it's like the Senju elders. An arranged marriage so they can keep tabs on the clans, an insurance chip." He said to him. "And the higher up the person, the better off. Which is why our elders what Tobirama." He said to him. He saw Izuna huff at that. He knew that this had to be the worst-case scenario for Izuna.

"I still don't like the idea, brother..." Izuna sighed. He already had a bad feeling about it, their clan elders could cook up some real unpleasant conditions. And because he knew that Hashirama was desperate, he would likely go with it, even Izuna could read Hashirama sometimes.

Madara sighed as he started to write out his response to Hashirama, he made it noticeably clear that his elders wanted Tobirama to be the one to marry an Uchiha, explaining that the elders have yet to choose who from their own clan would pick. It was short and brief, he folded it up, sealed it in an envelope and sent it back to the Senju. A small sigh left his lips as he looked at Izuna… and he had a sudden sinking feeling.

His elders picked Tobirama, the next heir of the Senju... So, it only made sense that they would go with Izuna, and that is when his heart sank. His was about to sign his brother's freedom off, and he struggled with that. But he was so very tired of the fighting, but he also did not want his brother to hate him. A small sigh left his lips as he sank back down to his chair. "Izuna, I need time to think." He said, leaving it hanging in the air that he would like it if his brother left.

Izuna stared at Madara for a moment before he pushed off the desk and stalked out of the room. Izuna was far from stupid, he was already catching on. If the Uchiha elders picked Tobirama, he was sure that meant that either Madara or Izuna would be chosen, Izuna felt bad, but he hoped the elders made Madara marry Tobirama.

He left the room quickly with those thoughts.

A small groan slipped from Madara's lips; he had no idea what he was going to do about any of this. Obviously, things were already in progress, so he really had no way to stop it. He placed his hands over his face and breathed. Nothing ever turned out right for him, did it?

Hashirama was a little shocked at how quickly a response came, he could only assume that Madara wanted to end this soon as well. He pulled the seal apart and read over the contents quickly.

Hashirama,

My elders have demanded Tobirama be the one to take part in this arranged marriage of yours, if you do not agree, there will be no deal.

I understand you want this to end, as do I. I am tired of this fighting, and if this is the only way we can assure peace, then so be it.

Uchiha Madara.

Hashirama looked the letter over again, and he felt himself weep on the inside. Why did he have a feeling this was how it would go? That the Uchiha would demand his little brother? If it was not his head, it was his right to marry who he wishes.

He sent for Tobirama, the sooner he showed this to him the sooner he would be able to send a response, he would not do this without the consent of his brother, he was not that cruel of a person.

And of course, Tobirama would come as quickly as he could, blissfully unaware that any of this was about himself. And that is what made Hashirama feel even worse, he had no idea this would swing around, but really, he should have figured as much. He handed the letter over to Tobirama as soon as he stopped at the desk, he watched as the others red eyes looked over the short response, and if he was upset, he was skillful at hiding his reactions.

He lowered the paper and sat it back on the desk. Hashirama was anxious.

"Well, what do you think?" Hashirama asked, his voice sounded a bit meek really.

Tobirama breathed. "Fine, because it is for your dream, anija, I will do it." He said to him. Tobirama had been willing to lay down his life for Hashirama's dream. And this was basically the same thing, he was signing his life over to the Uchiha, and there was truly little he could do about it. Though the look of surprise that was on Hashirama's face was even more amusing than he assumed it would be.

"Wait... you will really do it?!" Hashirama could not keep the shock out of his voice, he knew that Tobirama was not friendly with the Uchiha, so why? Why would he put himself through this? He was not really doing this for him, was he?

"Anija, I am willing to do this for your sake." He said to him. And that was all Hashirama had to hear, Tobirama was doing it for him. And he was not sure if he felt grateful or bad about it.

"I'm sorry, Tobi… For taking away your right to marry who you wanted." He said lightly to him. He really did feel bad, this was not what he had intended to happen. He had hope they could have married off lower ranking clan members, not that it was any better. But at least then he would not be feeling half as bad as he was now.

"I was prepared for this the moment you wrote up that first letter, I knew they would not settle for just anyone. But now, I just hope they don't marry me to Madara…" He had to shake his head at that, realistically, he would likely be married to one of their cousins or Izuna, though a cousin seemed more likely with how Madara was about Izuna. He looked at Hashirama who had started to write out his response, Tobirama had long since decided he would do what it took to make sure Hashirama would get his dream, even if it meant sacrificing his own freedom to do it. He was not looking forward to any of this, but he knew it was something that needed to happen.

Tobirama grabbed the letter from Hashirama when he had finished, to make sure his brother had not added anything else that really had no need to be in the letter, once it passed his inspection, he gave it back to Hashirama and watched as he enclosed it and sealed it, watching the hawk leave with it really reaffirmed the whole thing, he was going to be married to an Uchiha, which one? He had yet to know yet.

All correspondence after that had gone smoothly, much to Tobirama's surprise.

He had yet to learn who his betrothed was, but it did not really bother him too much because he knew of how it was going to work. They would marry on neutral grounds, and once that happened, then they would move forward with the village. Though the Uchiha also "Requested" that Tobirama to stay with them, as insurance. To which he had agreed. He knew how the Uchiha thought, and it was a smart move on their part, it would insure the Senju would not back out, not that Hashirama dreamed of doing it. But it was a precaution, and as much as Hashirama did not want to do that, he had agreed in the end, with little prompting from his younger brother.

Tobirama was in the process of getting ready for their trip, it was literally just to neutral land so they could meet with the Uchiha and speak face to face. And so Tobirama could learn who his betrothed was. Madara was very firm about not saying it over letter, that he wanted to show them when they showed up. Even though Tobirama himself never cared too much about surprises.

When he was ready, he set off with Hashirama, Toka, and one of the elders who had been well enough to travel with them on foot.

There was a lot going on in all their heads, well just him and Hashirama, this would be the first time they would be seeing Madara and Izuna, and not have to fight them. It was a little surreal. Especially since Tobirama has never been face to face with Izuna without fighting. It was something he was not entirely sure he knew what to do about.

The trip took roughly three days to make, for both sides. Tobirama was not tired, but he was a little worn down. Trips like this, with only a few hours a rest always made him feel tense, and the nature of this meeting did not help any of them really.

They were not shocked to find that the Uchiha had arrived just an hour before them, a little to Tobirama annoyance. He shoved it aside as the Nara invited them inside, naturally this was where Tobirama was to have his wedding as well. The Nara were good at keeping a neutral meeting grounds for peace talks.

When they arrived inside the hall, they walked up to a table where Madara and Izuna sat near one end, and their own elder sitting a few seats away.

As per custom, Hashirama sat across from Madara, and Tobirama sat across from Izuna, their elders say across from each other as well.

Hashirama was the first to speak, naturally.

"Madara! I am so happy to see you! And not have to fight you." The obvious, 'I'm so tired of fighting' was left unsaid, thankfully.

Tobirama was tense, his back straight. He noted that there were only three Uchiha there. Making him wonder if they brought the person he was supposed to marry, or left them at him…? He really had no idea at this point. He eyed Izuna, and noted he was unusually tense, more so than even Tobirama. And he was refusing to make eye contact with Tobirama either, not that he would meet the eyes, they all knew better than to look an Uchiha in the eyes.

Madara and Hashirama bickered a bit more before Hashirama asked the question that was in Tobirama's mind as well.

"So, where is the person Tobi is supposed to marry?" He asked Madara.

Madara looked at Hashirama with a skeptical look before he sighed. "Your brother shall marry Izuna." He spoke.

Tobirama literally stopped breathing.

What?

There was no way that was the case. His eyes met Izuna's, for the first time ever, and he could see that this was indeed not a joke. Izuna looked pained, like he wanted nothing more than to run from here, but he knew that he could not. This was for their brothers… That is how they had to look at it. Even if it seemed to pain Izuna to hear Madara speak it, as if it did not even matter.

Tobirama knew it mattered to Madara, but he was schooling his expression because he had to. He was clan head after all.

Hashirama recovered from that shock with clearing his throat. "I see, well. Is there a date you had in mind?" he asked.

This time it was the Uchiha elder who spoke. "One month, the sooner the better, I would say. The Nara have graciously allowed us to use this lovely reception hall to host it." The older man spoke.

Tobirama could see the sneer on his own elders face as he listened to the Uchiha elder speak. These old crones would never get along, but at least they were allowing this to happen, only for their own benefit really.

Tobirama breathed slowly before he spoke. "Thank you for allowing us some time to prepare." He said to the Uchiha elder in the most respectful voice he was able to muster. This was going to be a long month, one where he would have little time to spend with his brother and soon to be sister-in-law. He was not sure what to think of this now. So, he just kept one thing in his mind. This was all for Hashirama's dream. As long as Hashirama and Madara got their village, Tobirama was willing to sacrifice anything for them to accomplish it.

At that point Madara and Hashirama started to speak to the elders, explaining that the normal way of consummating a marriage was a little illogical in this sense, and that they did not want to make their little brothers have to go through something like that, seeing as Izuna had just turned eighteen. Even Tobirama did not want to push Izuna into something like that so soon. So, he was glad when the elders decided that would be left out of things. They were required to sleep in the same bed, regardless of what they did or not.

Izuna really looked even more uncomfortable than he had at the start of the meeting, Tobirama looked away from the younger male to allow him to have some privacy, he was sure that he did not enjoy being stared at.

Hashirama finally seemed satisfied with the way things were. And it was at that point that a Nara offered for the members of the two clans to stay before they headed him, so they could rest.

And of course, both Madara and Hashirama choose that there were going to ditch their brothers to go talk about more private things.

Tobirama looked around for a moment, he then noticed Izuna getting up to leave, he seemed to be asking about a room to which the Nara lead him out of the hall.

Ha. Well, that was great, he was left with his own thoughts, and two elders who could not seem to shut up.

He was already not liking this... Then again, he did not expect Izuna to stick around to trade insults. This had to be crushing to him. With a shake of his head, he also stood and asked one of the other Nara's, who was not keeping an eye on the bicker elders, to show him to his won room as well.

There was no point in wasting time there now.