an AR

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"remind me again why we are here."

they sat on a bench atop a small hill, under a black pine tree, shielding themselves from the sun. large ricefields spread as far as their eyes could see, where farmers were gathering their harvest.

hashirama tilted her head, lifting the cloth around her hokage hat to see his face. "i want to observe the harvest and you insisted to go with me even though i said you can just rest in the pavilion."

"i'm your only guard," madara grumbled. he was sweating heavily, despite not wearing his regular armor. "your lovely brother would replace me the moment he knew something happened to you. can't risk that."

"you're sweating," she pointed out bluntly. "why don't you borrow their cone hat?"

"it's obstructing my view."

"so is your hair."

madara growled, crossing his arms.

"let me tie it," she offered.

"no need."

hashirama pouted, resting her chin on her palms.

"alright, do it," he sighed, shifting on the bench so his back was facing her. when he felt pressures on his scalp, he muttered, "...you brought a comb?"

"mhm." she carefully parted his tangled strands until she could run her fingers smoothly.

"...be quick."

once madara's hair was tied into a ponytail, she asked, "feels better, right?"

he poked it, huffing.

they walked back to the pavilion, passing the farmers who often paused to bow to the hokage.

"it's prosperous, this village," she commented to him. "their people will be a great addition for konoha."

"we should move the entire village to adjacent lands around konoha."

she furrowed her eyebrows, shocked. "we shouldn't force them. let them decide on their own. we need their farming skill as much as they need our protection from bandits."

"can't you grow the vegetables yourself?"

"you know i can't," hashirama chuckled. "besides, even if i could, i don't want people to rely too much on me. what will they eat after i passed away? this mokuton... i doubt it'll pass to my future children."

madara looked like he was about to say something, but he chose to look at the harvested lands instead. "i see."

as hashirama chatted with the villagers during their harvest feast, madara remained in a corner, observing her. he wondered if there is a way to make mokuton able to grow crops. that way, they wouldn't have to ask for help from civilians.

but he remembered her words earlier, and realized she wouldn't agree to it.