A/N: More than a year has gone by since my last update... To be honest I haven't forgotten about this fic and I have been wanting to continue writing (I've been checking it most weeks). I kind of had my inspiration dry up and I got busy last year. Here's an update at last, I can't guarantee when I'll write the next chapter but I will write it at some point! Thank you for your support.
Chapter 22: Hope
"Madara, we have to get up at some point." Kazue grumbles, shoving at Madara's large frame against her to no avail. The whole night, he had held her with his cheek on her stomach and slept deeply. A half-asleep mumble issues from the Uchiha who eventually releases her from his strong arms. It makes her smile, thinking of his muscled arms, conditioned through years of battle, wrapped firmly but cautiously around her soft belly eagerly waiting to hold his child.
It hadn't quite settled in Kazue's mind either. She had said she was ready to have children, yet she hadn't imagined the flurry of emotions that would hit her like a tidal wave following the news. The fear of pain is the first thing that crosses her thoughts, then comes the anxiety of complications during labour, after that the doubt of whether she can be a good mother, or not, creeps into her mind.
"Your expression suggests you're going through all the bad scenarios in existence one by one." Madara kisses her nose and shakes her from her trance,
"And you're completely confident?" She smirks at how easily he reads her frown
"Not at all." He laughs, "We'll take it day by day, I'll be by your side." He brushes a strand of hair from her cheek and she smiles at the warm expression in his dark eyes.
Preparations had begun to celebrate the news of Kazue's pregnancy in the Uchiha residence. The compound's atmosphere had become even more light and playful, the coming of spring making everyone giddy and motivated. Hashirama and Mito were due to arrive later in the afternoon, though Kazue had extended the invitation to both Tobirama and Aida, whom Mito had told her much about, would they come?The last time she had seen Tobirama, he'd looked back at her with an expression of almost resignation, she sincerely hoped he wasn't angry with her anymore.
Madara and Izuna had discussed announcing the Uchiha's temporary relocation to Konoha after a council meeting with Hashirama and all the village officials. By vote it appeared that all residents were content with the decision. It meant Madara could be there for Kazue and his people in a potentially vulnerable time,he wasn't too prideful to admit his gratitude for Konoha's aid when it came to his clan's safety. Madara had also assigned Izuna to keep a watchful eye on Kazue throughout her pregnancy should he ever be absent, unbeknownst to Kazue. She'd definitely get irritated if she found out, but there was nothing more important than protecting her and their child.
Izuna perches on a nearby cliff and observes his elder brother. Madara's morning training sessions becoming harsher and longer, he imagined his elder brother was growing more and more determined to protect the clan, particularly at such a vulnerable and seemingly prosperous time. War had made Madara uneasy about peace. As if it was only fleeting. And Izuna knew his elder brother knew this fact more than anyone else in the clan. The move to Konoha was going to be difficult, even with all of the clan members agreeing with the decision. There was still unrest between the Senju and the Uchiha, it was very much possible that some individuals could rebel and harm the clan. Izuna sighs with a heaviness that anticipates the mental exhaustion awaiting him, but the anxiety in his mind almost evaporates as he sees Kazue step gently across the lake and come to stand by Madara's side. Immediately, the emotion of the chakra in the air dissipates from tension to elation. Madara's frown smooths as he sets aside his gunbai and pulls Kazue closer to him. Izuna turns and begins to make his way back to the compound. As long as Madara had her, there was hope of uniting the clans. A hope for lasting peace and a cessation of war.
Tobirama turns over the written invitation in his hand while Aida observes him with a quizzical brow. Hashirama and Mito glance at each other as they finish preparing for their travel to Kazue and Madara's celebration.
"Why don't we go?" Aida says eventually
"I don't want things to be awkward. Izuna will be there too, his elder brother is sure to be on edge while I'm there." He sighs in annoyance
"Things have changed." She places a hand on his cheek which makes his frown soften slightly. Hashirama wraps an arm around his sibling's shoulders and grins, Mito wanders up with his formalwear and raises her brow as if to ask, 'are you ready?'. After several moments of silence, Tobirama huffs and raises his arms up for Mito to drape the fabric across his shoulders. Aida smiles and follows Mito to get ready herself.
"It's just like their wedding, everything happened so quickly and now again, they're having a child. I can't keep up." His grumbles are muffled by the material. Though he wasn't upset at the thought of Kazue bearing Madara's child... not long ago it would have torn him apart. Now, it only triggered a dull bittersweet feeling of loss that he had much forgotten about. Yet he trusted that someone as strong as Kazue would not have made such a large decision without considering it wholly. Aida kisses his cheek on her way past him and shakes him from a trance. His mind is immediately filled with thoughts of her and their future, what would their children look like?He smiles smugly. Beautiful no doubt, much more attractive than Madara and Kazue's. Aida frowns at his smirk as if she can feel his sense of rivalry toward the Uchiha.
Kanako hadn't left Kazue's side since the news of her pregnancy. It seemed Madara wasn't the only one with a heightened sense of protectiveness in the household. She would provide various assortments of herbs for Kazue's baths, strange concoctions to accompany her meals and insist she didn't do any work. Haruo still hadn't quite grasped the idea that another human like himself was growing in his nee-san, every few days he would put his ear to her belly and try to communicate with the child. Izuna and Madara had resumed managing clan affairs, although the residence is in a state of calm. No reports or incidents had arisen regarding the rogue-nin, something that both relieved and worried Madara at the same time. Relations with Konoha were prosperous and minor surrounding clans had united with little dispute and were abiding by their democratic laws without any retaliation.
"You're stressing about the quiet recently, aren't you?" Izuna steps in to Madara's study and settles with a text on the windowsill
"I'm more sceptical than ever." The Uchiha leader admits from his desk
"Not that I don't understand where you're coming from."
"All our lives we've been taught how to fight wars and win battles. I don't recall being taught what to do in times of peace."
"Fighting for peace when we aren't quite sure what to do when we win it. Ironic, isn't it?"
"Very."
"I think this relocation to Konoha will help the Uchiha as much as it will the Senju."
"It's temporary, Izuna." Madara reminds him as he closes his eyes and sits back in his chair
"I just want you to consider how beneficial it could be to integrate, it would prove the ability of the Uchiha to participate in society and lead Konoha. Hashirama-sama would want that unity between us all." Izuna takes the opportunity to put forth his ideas
"In a perfect world, yes, we could all live under one roof and all get along. But there are lingering undercurrents from the past, Izuna. People do not just forget, they can't all forgive like Hashirama." Madara's words aren't aggressive, but they have a matter-of-fact tone in them,
"It'll take time, I know brother. But the sooner we start to make ties, the sooner we'll achieve our goal." Izuna persists while Madara sighs in annoyance, "If you'd just see where I'm coming from-"
"I agree."
"What? Don't shut me down-" Izuna starts before his eyes widen in surprise and suspicion, "You agree... with me?"
"Yes, I do." Madara stands up and nods his head
"Why?"
"I believe it'll take great effort, seeing as you're so passionate about this, I want you to be an ambassador for our relations with Konoha. When Hashirama arrives, you'll provide him an elaborate plan of how we can achieve peace between the clans in Konoha and you will oversee the implementation of this well-thought-out process." Madara smiles before excusing himself.
"Ambassador Izuna... implementing an elaborate plan?" Izuna mumbles, "So I'm doing all the hard work, aren't I?" he purses his lips with realisation. "You lazy bastard."
"Thank you for your service." Madara nods in gratitude before dodging a textbook to his head and exiting the room.
Just as Madara slips away from Izuna's tantrum, he sees Kazue strolling through the courtyard with a scroll in her hands, a visible bump on her usually flat stomach. With a grin he shadows behind her, a feeling of mischievous playfulness overtaking him. His hands stealthily reach forward.
"Love, is there something you want to tell me?" Kazue's eyes barely rise from the scroll as she feels Madara behind her
"I miss the days I used to make you nervous." He exhales in disappointment
"Back when I couldn't read you." Kazue reminisces, looking back with a smile as he interlaces their arms
"I suppose it showed me I could still surprise you, I'm worried you don't find me as attractive now that you can predict my every move." He pouts
"I'm surprised you'd worry about such a thing. Someone like you doesn't need to worry about not being attractive, especially not to me." Kazue laughs
"Still. I'd like to keep you guessing time to time, I miss seeing that blush of yours." He sighs as she smiles.
Just as they pass a group of maids in the courtyard, Madara's arm wraps firmly around Kazue who feels her body shift at inhuman speed, she opens her eyes to find herself in a hidden corner between buildings. Before she can register what happened, Madara's lips crush into hers, their breath mingling between passionate kisses. His eyes burn into hers as his teeth gently bite her bottom lip to catch her off guard.
"Did that work?" He raises a brow at his flustered wife
"Yes." She catches a breath while he smiles in satisfaction.
"Do you think they'd notice if I'm gone for a while?" He touches his forehead to hers, a sense of urgency in his touch
"I'm sure they'll manage." Kazue smirks and pull him closer.
A glint of metal catches Hashirama's eye before he avoids several shuriken flying at considerable speed towards him. Not long after his feet land on the earth, waves of white-hot chakra lash out on either side of him, leaving scorched foliage in their wake. As he weaves through the chakra he sees his target standing on a lone stone in the centre of the lake. Her white robes billow in the cool morning breeze, in stark contrast to the heat of the chakra he was surrounded by. He sees a clearing in her blind spot and descends with inhuman agility. Landing precisely behind her he smirks in triumph and slices his kunai through the air near the woman's neck. In a moment, tendrils of soft red hair brush against Hashirama's face. Mito turns around to see her husband behind her, his eyes filled with affection. Unable to maintain her composure she kisses his cheek and smiles back at him.
"I wish my sparring partner wasn't so beautiful. It makes this exercise very difficult for me." Hashirama draws Mito into his arms
"Another advantage to me, mister." Mito raises a brow and gently presses her kunai against the clothing on his back.
"It wouldn't be such a terrible way to go." He pulls her even closer
"How are we supposed to train if you keep going easy on me?" Mito sighs in annoyance
"Please understand, Mito. It's difficult for me to train with you. Why not continue with Aida and Tobirama?" He pouts with a childish expression
"I have to go easy on them. It doesn't help me push my boundaries. You're the strongest one in this village, I look up to you. You're the only one here who can help me get stronger." Mito grumbles, "You shouldn't always need to take everything on by yourself. If you'd train me, I know I can help you." She pleads, Hashirama's eyes soften but his expression becomes more serious
"I know you're strong enough to stand by my side and protect Konoha. The whole village knows this. I know Kazue told you Madara is training her too, but something both of us struggle to do is be cruel to the ones we love." He says quietly, "I'll try and be more serious. Perhaps when Madara arrives, he can train you, and I can train Kazue."
"I want you. You know me more than anyone else. And Madara and Kazue are the same. We're ninja and we know who we aspire to win against."
"You've already won me." Hashirama kisses Mito gently, which seems to quell some of her anger,
"You know what I mean." Her pout elicits a laugh from her husband.
"Let's go back now, there's more to prepare for the Uchiha's arrival." He kisses her hair as they walk back slowly.