canonverse


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"hokage-sama?"

she knew whoever greeted her only saw an empty room, and they left seconds later, with her office door closed behind them. it's the fourth person. her ingenious plan worked.

senju hashirama had figured out how to escape from paperwork: hiding. she didn't even use any ninjutsu; merely curling underneath her desk with several sheets of paperwork and a heated waterskin laid on her belly. too bad it's cold now.

a clack. the door opened. hashirama sat motionless, expecting the same greeting. but there was none.

she held her breath. the pain in her belly returned.

the door was closed shut, followed by familiar footsteps she hadn't heard for a couple weeks.

"well, well, what do we have here? the hokage hiding from her responsibilities?"

"i'm not hiding!" hashirama shouted, scrambling to her feet. she dropped her pen and paperwork on the table. "see?"

madara, still with his gunbai strapped on his back, threw her a skeptical look. "so why were you there?"

"i just need time alone-ow..." she nearly doubled over from a sharp pain. trembling, she seated herself while wincing. "d-do you wanna report something?"

"what's this for?" madara ignored her question, instead reaching for the waterskin.

"warmth..." hashirama mumbled, laying her head on the table while holding her painful belly. moments later, she heard a small thud.

"here." madara returned the waterskin. it's warm.

hashirama accepted it with confusion.

"i had a mother, you know," he huffed. "i'll ask for tea from the kitchen. go lie down in your room-"

she rose to her full height, warmed waterskin clasped between her hands. "marry me."

silence. then he chuckled.

"damn it hashirama, you ruined my proposal plan!"