Founding Love

Chapter Nine

Sakura found the Senju brothers to be an even more unpredictable pair. Her fingers were deftly flexing as the older of the two, Hashirama, bargained to carry her. She attempted to refuse, but her body, exhausted by the mental showdown she had been dealing with over the past several weeks, decided to nearly collapse as her feet touched the ground. Hashirama refused to let her work the kinks out of her legs, lifting her up effortlessly.

She had awkwardly awakened originally to being cradled in his arms, her body leaning close to his breastplate and his hands gently soothing her with small caressing motions. She blanched at the time, her mind running through which Uchiha brother was doing such a thing, and she nearly choked Hashirama by mistake. Her hand flying on its own accord to clutch at his bare neck.

Tobirama, the Nindaime, did not respond as kindly to her attack as the older Senju did. His hands had fisted tightly in her hair, and he none too gently had thrown her to the ground, his sword pressing into the front of her throat.

Hashirama laughed tensely, one hand fixated behind his head as he negotiated the brother down. Hashirama bargained with his brother successfully, which she was entirely grateful for, but Tobirama didn't seem easy to appease.

Sakura's hand flew to her throat recalling the earlier incident, her fear of the younger one causing her eyes to fluctuate between the pair. As if sensing her discomfort, his red piercing eyes focused on her, and she quickly diverted her gaze in favor of leaning closer to the older of the two.

He must have taken this as a welcome signed, for she could feel his head tipping down to rove over her. She flinched under the scrutiny and she chewed on her bottom lip absentmindedly.

These were the men, the founding men, of her country. Her encounters with them were based in history books and from their reanimations with their battle with Madara. These encounters were all very limited and she knew that the history books weren't clear to depict people. But here, this was a different time and space. She knew nothing of them. She couldn't begin to gauge how to approach them nor how to explain her situation.

Sakura frowned in her inner turmoil, hands closing and flexing in her discomfort. At least with the Uchiha brothers, she found odd similarities to her once teammate and companion. These two were another set of able shinobi, and as her eyes set on Tobirama, ones who could not be easily swooned.

Sakura fought a sigh and studied the forest around them. It moved quickly whirling in her vision, as they leapt tree to tree. There were more honed in the chakra sensory, and she could tell the two of them were swaying, weaving around the landscape diligently, clearly as if to avoid unwanted contact. They were moving North, she glanced at the position of the sun and noted the growth of the moss on the trees. Far North from what she could see.

She closed her eyes in relief at the amount of distance they had covered, relaxed at not having to have a blindfold on for her journey. It eased the knot in her stomach and the churning from motion sickness. More so, she eased into a lull from the idea of being so far from the menacing Uchiha brothers.

Opting to meditate, Sakura focused on the soft pounding of Hashirama's footfalls and the soft hum in his throat. Breathing in, she inhaled the forest around, holding the scent of the green earth until she could pull her chakra and spill it into her seal. Breathing out, she exhaled slowly as to not lose the trail of chakra she was plucking from. She followed this pattern lightly, acutely aware of the brothers stealing hard glances at her practices. Sakura briefly thought they could feel the pulsation in her chakra, but dared not ask, least she break the comfortable silence.

Sakura dreaded the questioning she knew would come.

Sakura assumed very few prisoners of war lived, especially those of the Uchiha compound. She felt an immense weight settle on her shoulders. Would they react the same, she thought, could she escape without changing anything more in this timelines?

Sakura did frown, her mind unfocused and her train of thought distracting her from steadily sealing more chakra within her. She blinked rapidly instead, eyes following up his red breastplate to the tanned skin of Hashirama's neck column, and even further to his defined jawline into his soft features. He noticed her admiration of him, and he smiled down. Heat blazed in her cheeks at being caught staring, and she focused elsewhere to relieve the flush in her skin.

She could feel the rumble of his chuckle in his chest, the sound soothing and purely masculine. She scrubbed the back of her hand over her face to hide her embarrassment.

He must have become worried because he paused when landing on the next tree branch, moving to look down at her again with lips slightly down turned.

"Are you ok, Sakura-san?" His voice rumbled in her ear and she chanced a peak at his face. His brows were tucked in and he looked crestfallen on her. Sakura decided instantly she didn't like this look on him.

"I am fine-" she paused before addressing him, "Senj-"

"Hashirama." He supplied with a gentle smile, his mouth pleasant to watch. His breath fanned over face and her breath caught in her chest.

"Hashirama-sama." She murmured, bowing her head politely.

Tobirama grunted, his arms folding over his broad chest. Sakura knew he wasn't happy with their interaction nor the probability of them stopping so close to enemy lines. The tick in his brow was the giveaway and his stoic face held firm. Sakura blinked at the young Senju as an awkward chuckle left Hashirama.

"Please, don't mind him. That is Tobirama, my brother."

Sakura nodded numbly. Bowing her head in his direction, she politely offered a small smile knowing it would not ease him from his disposition. She tried though, an effort she hoped she wasn't wasting.

If anyone needed to be convinced of her allegiance, then that was the man she'd have to convey it all to.

That being whatever story she could muster and hold to when he asked.

Anxiety crawled into her lap again. The Uchiha were easy to convince, in a small sense had she been actively trying. She feverishly denied her claims to the Senju clan, which were all true in a way, but unknowingly she played into their greatest fear- that she could be based on her healing skills and strength. Sakura worried her lip between her teeth as they jumped back into motion. She without a doubt played a part in her safety by keeping her identity a secret.

Part of her knew she was too wrapped up in her situation with the Uchiha to be the mastermind behind her escape plan or prolonging her death sentence. However, as she held firm in denying her identity, she unknowingly kept them from killing her. Her face drooped. Politically, she could have been from any clan, and they perhaps couldn't risk killing her for fear of starting another war with a third clan.

Sakura scuffed.

Now though, she had worries if she could escape or prolong the situation similar if she was caught with the Uchiha again. She willingly went with the Senju, a safe haven for her practically, but nonetheless playing into the Uchiha fear of her clan name.

Sakura had a duty though to keep her people safe albeit a struggle she'd be facing soon. She couldn't lie outright to the Senju as that would be a huge risk on her part, but she could not stay either.

Sakura hadn't realized how tense she had gotten until Hashirama began humming louder, fingers on her shoulder doodling soothing patterns into her kimono. She released her muscles with a small noise, and she caught the small smile on his lips as she did so.

Sakura had to think, and quickly, if she wanted to make this work.

But as they continued their silent journey, she was lulled into a peaceful slumber. Hashirama's calming tone murmuring an old song to her ears.

Her sleep was short lived though it seemed because soon enough she was being gently stirred awake. Blinking rapidly, her unfocused eyes trained to his soft tone.

"-kura-san, we are here." He was nudging her with his hand on her shoulder, and she tipped her head back, rolling her neck in the process to ease the tension forming.

"Yes, yes." Sakura murmured, reaching a small hand to rest on his breastplate. "I'm up."

He was cooing to her gently, and she vaguely wondered if he was this dashing every morning. Sakura's thoughts sparked with that thought.

When he didn't release her, she fidgeted to adjust herself in his arms. Her legs were cramping and her back aching. Her fingers grasped at the top edge of his breastplate, and she frowned into his smiling face.

Does he ever not smile, she thought sarcastically, no ill intent behind the thought.

His mouth was moving, but she couldn't register what he was saying, so she tilted forward, almost knocking her head on his chin when he shifted to look down at her. He laughed, a hearty warm sound billowing out of his parted lips, and Sakura felt a flush crept up her neck.

"I'm sorry!" Sakura muttered, running a hand over her face.

His laughter continued until the younger Senju brother made a noise of disapproval, a loud grunt with a sharp glare in his eyes. Hashirama quieted soon after, but she could feel his chest shaking while he swallowed down the rest of his laugh and his long brown hair bobbing against the top of her head.

"Welcome to our compound, Sakura-san!"

Sakura twisted into his arms and her mouth fell agape as she looked at the massive structure. The walls were tall and marvelous. They were a beautiful speckled white and his clan symbol rang high on wooden poles.

Everyone approaching could easily tell who they were.

Sakura fidgeted again, a bubbling excitement pitching high. She felt giddy like she was a child again in her mother's kitchen being able to like the bowl after her mother made brownies.

She accidentally tugged on the edge of Hashirama's breastplate too hard and he made a surprised choking noise, and she quickly let go, a muttered apology escaping her.

He chuckled, squeezing her body lightly before shaking his head.

Feeling embarrassed, she attempted to let herself down, but he held firm.

"Hashirama-sama, if you could," she pointed down to the ground, "set me down. I can walk from here."

"Nonsense!" Hashirama laughed and she groaned as he held tighter. "You've been through enough. Let me take at least this burden from you!"

Sakura frowned at his jovial tone. She had been through a lot, but she was quite capable of walking. Sighing dramatically, she shrunk back into his chest and watched as the gate to his private village opened. People were bustling about to and fro carrying out various tasks and chores. However, as they entered, the clan turned their own smiling faces reflecting on their clan head with a tenderness and love.

This was what her village was founded on. This was the start of the Village Hidden in the Leaves.

Sakura was in pure awe.

Unfortunately for her it was short lived. With the brothers tolling her in, when the clan spotted her, their faces fell. Some were stoic, others outright curious, and some had gasped in scandalous waves. Sakura shrunk further back. There was a well groomed suspicion in their gazes, ones she knew most shinobi had. It was what kept them alive. What kept herself alive even.

Sakura knew she'd be on pins and needles here too, not just at the Uchiha compound.

She gulped her fear down and looked back up at the future First Hokage. He gave nothing away except with a carefully placed thin smile.

So he knew it too.

She was quiet and frozen in his arms, and she stayed that way while he weaved them through the throngs of people. She could study their worn faces closer and see their own anxiety simmering. Her lips turned into a similar thin smile. War had not been kind to them either.

Sakura could feel Tobirama's surveillance span over her.

Careful, she thought edging her body to not be so wound up.

As they entered a larger shiro in the center of the village, he kicked off his sandals before stepping onto the lacquered porch. Then he set her down. Sakura's feet touched the cool floor easily, but as she looked at her dirtied feet, she frowned.

Straightening her kimono a tad, Sakura caught Hashirama studying her. His face was not as warm as it was previously. His almond shaped eyes narrowed upon her. Hashirama's brown parted hair casted long shadows across his long, straight nose.

"Hashirama-"

"Sakura-san, how about we get you cleaned up. I'll call someone over to help dress you and we can meet for dinner."

His beaming smile was hard to decline. Sakura opened her mouth to say anything, but she lost her train of thought as his calloused hand played with the tatters of her kimono where she had torn it. Sakura flicked her chin upwards, pouting at being treated like she was going to break.

Her attitude simmered as he sulked, body sagging. This is what they call the God of Shinobi, Sakura paled and worriedly waved her hands in front of her.

Mood suddenly lifted, he was standing tall again, hands on his hips with a comically large smile.

"It's settled then!" He waved over an older woman and whispered some directions to her before pushing her towards Sakura.

"But Shod-" Sakura bit her tongue from her slip, and waved her hands again, laughing softly to distract the inquisitive eyes of Tobirama. "Please, don't fret about me! I can take care of myself."

He sulked again, mouth jutting out into a pout. "But I thought we agreed on this?"

Sakura caved, heart aching at the similarities from his reanimation to the man standing before her. "Thank you, Hashirama-sama."

He jumped back up, laughing with his belly.

"I will see you soon then." He waved her off before grabbing onto Tobirama's shoulder guiding him away from her as well.

Sakura groaned before turning to follow the older woman to a bathing room. Sakura cleaned the grim from her body tiredly, relishing the warmth of the water. She scrubbed her face diligently hoping to look refreshed, but her mind kept drifting.

What am I going to do, she pondered, scratching her head. She moaned, washing the soap from her long hair. Her fingers curling around the ends. How long have I been here for it to be this long?

Shaking herself from her stupor, she moved to dry herself off before out from behind the partition. Sakura fumbled when she spotted the old woman daintily holding a beautiful pale pink haneri, and a white kimono with a green sleeveless haori.

The older woman, perhaps in her late 70s, adjusted to stand from her crouching position. When she struggled, Sakura leapt forward to grab a hold of her arm and steady her with a small hand on her back. The old woman fixed Sakura with a withered smile, her wrinkles slightly smoothing.

Sakura blinked away the illusion and returned it with a small smile of her own.

"Come now, child." The old woman crooned, helping Sakura into her attire. "You mustn't keep them waiting."

Sakura ran her fingers through her hair, detangling the mess with a sigh. The old woman paused reaching up to pull the strands back into a braid with practiced ease.

"Thank you, ma'am." Sakura touched the braid lovingly as she was guided out.

Sakura followed the woman and she shifted to get a better look at the woman. She was moving quick, almost too quick for a woman her age. But Sakura blinked slowly and the woman was barely moving beyond a snail's pace. Sakura chalked it up to her suspicious nature.

They moved about the shiro, taking long hallways and pausing for the woman to catch her breath. Sakura patted her shoulder soothingly, asking the woman if she needed any assistance. The woman shook her head and continued on.

Stubborn, old-

Sakura froze as the woman abruptly stopped, kneeling in front of a screen door. Sakura blinked when the woman turned a nasty glance over her shoulder at Sakura. She blanched before realizing her mistake. She dropped down to a kneeling position beside the woman, slightly back. She should have paid more attention in class when they covered etiquette, damn it.

The woman slid the shoji door open, bowing low at her waist to touch her forehead against the floor before she moved back. Sakura nodded slowly to the woman in polite recognition before following suit. Her forehead pressed lightly into the wooden floor. When she lifted her head, Sakura sucked in a breath of air at the sight.

The Senju brother made quite a sight. They were sitting in the center of the tatami room around a kotatsu. Behind them was a small alcove where a built in desk sat. The ceiling was painted with tree branches blossoming beautiful Sakura petals.

More astonishing were themselves. The Shodai wore a green kimono tucked into a white hakama. His arms were tucked into the sleeves of his white haori. His dark brown hair cascading in waves around his shoulders. He oozed traditional confidence and warmth. Tobirama was the opposite- a disposition of power. His blue haori opened revealing black fishnet. His half shirt was not tucked into his black pants, but held partially closed by a black sash.

"Come! Let us eat!" Hashirama waved excitedly.

She entered, closing the shoji door behind her softly and standing to approach the brothers. Sakura sat, bending her knees to the side to sit more comfortably. Laid on the table was a good spread.

"Thank you for your hospitality. I cannot express the amount of my gratitude for all you've done." Sakura bowed her head, holding it down, hands folded in her lap.

Tobirama snorted, a noise which had her jaw snapping closed, but Hashirama chuckled. She righted her position as he waved comically at her.

"It is of no issue!" He picked up a set up chopsticks to begin filling his bowl with rice.

Kindly, she waited until Tobirama reached forward to fill his own before she would grab her chopsticks. Fisting the wood in her fingers, she anxiously studied the two of them, but was interrupted as Hashirama passed her the bowl of rice with a generous smile.

They ate in silence. Hashirama animatedly chewing and smiling wide at her. Tobirama disregarded her entirely, choosing to turn away from her at the table in a blatant show. Sakura remained on edge, unsure of how to address either of them being their attitude completely different.

Setting the picture of a meager woman, Sakura chewed slowly to savor each flavor. She took a dainty amount of food, enough to satisfy herself without gorging. Her nerves picked up as they finished their respective meals.

As another woman entered to clear the table, Hashirama's hand dipped into the sleeve of his haori and Sakura narrowed her eyes, anxiety swirling in her stomach suddenly. She was ready to dart when he whipped his hand out with-

"Cards?"

Sakura felt her shoulders drop. Her shinobi instinct had drove her to prepare for an attack, not for cards.

Sakura sighed as he patiently awaited her response.

"Ah, Hashirama-sama, I don't think-"

"Oh, now, now! It is harmless. Play with me!" He was shuffling the cards expertly on the table as Tobirama snorted again dismissing his brother's gaze.

Sakura fought back another sigh. She supposed she could. They were being decent, she spied Tobirama's irritated demeanor, well, at least one of them was being kind. However, her luck was not entirely great. Another trait she had picked up from her Shishou. But then again-

Tsunade's luck was apparently a genetic trait.

Sakura smiled politely, nodding gently and placing her open hands on the table.

"That's the spirit!" Hashirama encouraged, tossing her a card.

"What would you like to play?" Sakura inquired, collecting the cards as he tossed them to her.

He paused, looking thoughtful with his hand settling on his chin, finger tapping his mouth. "Poker."

Hashirama laid out the first few cards and Sakura glanced at her cards.

"Ano, I don't have anything to bet with." Sakura drew a harsh breath in, trying to remind herself how to play.

He waved dismissively, arranging his hand carefully. Sakura glanced at the cards on the table.

"We don't need to play for bets now. Let's play to enjoy!" His twinkling eyes were hard to decline. "But then again, you are right. How about we bet with stones?"

Sakura caved easily, taking the stones from his hands when he plucked them from the inside of his haori. She played the first few hands, winning with a charming smile. Perhaps her luck was changing.

Hashirama was a sore loser. His face dropping and his shoulders sagging. He leaned his elbows onto the table, humming loudly as he glanced over his hand. Tobirama, clearly not entirely interested in their game, moving to open the shoji door. Paying him no mind, Sakura focused on the cards in her hand and then glanced up at the glittering eyes of Hashirama.

"Well, you've been quite lucky." He muttered, scratching at his chin.

Sakura flushed a pretty pink, hands curling around her cards as she looked away. He was inching across the table, his finger drumming on the tabletop again. Not feeling so bold in the moment, she folded. Hashirama smiled as he collected his stones, reshuffling the cards before passing another set.

They sat in ease. Their game was fun and light, but as she won again, eyes twinkling and a smile edging its way over her face yet she caught the glittering in his eyes again.

"Let's make it more interesting, neh, Sakura-san?" He probed.

When had he gotten that close, she marveled, thinking it was clearly a trick her mind was playing on her. She didn't even see him move, she gauged while picking up another set of cards.

"How would you like to do that, Hashirama-sama?" She arranged her hand, peaking over her cards at him.

He was following a similar pattern, adjusting his cards in his large hands before his brown eyes engaged hers. "Please, call me Hashirama. No titles, please."

Sakura nodded. "Then please, call me Sakura."

"Sakura," he tested, his tongue peaking out over his bottom lip. "How about we bet with questions and answers?"

Sakura faulted. She nearly dropped her cards, but regained her senses quickly. "Ah, Hashirama-"

"It'll be innocent! We bet with one or two questions and the loser has to answer whatever is asked." He was waving excitedly again.

Sakura felt her stomach drop, and it must have shown on her face for he leaned back, hair flying over his shoulder. "Besides, you're having much better luck than I have had!"

Sakura glanced across the table where they played with some pebbled stones. She had been winning, and quite often too judging by the size of her rock pile.

"I suppose." She trailed.

Hashirama smiled, teeth glinting in the light from the open shoji door.

Tobirama called over his shoulder, "Don't be foolish, brother."

Hashirama scuffed, and Sakura felt at ease. If his own brother wasn't as confident in him, then it was a good sign.

The questions were innocent enough to start. She won the first two rounds. Sakura wasn't too sure what to ask, so picked fair subjects. She found he loved sushi, a cute surprising fact, and that he preferred morning to evening. They continued like this briefly. He won a few rounds himself. Those were tense for her as she paled at the idea of him asking anything about her origin, but he didn't, sticking to similar topics as hers.

She was lured into answering questions about her hair and what her favorite season was. Sakura relaxed a touch. Sakura noted how he seemed a smidge closer, but once again brushed the idea off as her shinobi suspicions.

That was until he was winning more frequently.

The questions were becoming harder to dodge.

"I have a full house! What do you have, Sakura?" Hashirama dipped his head to the side, a child like gleam playing over his features.

She scowled. "A pair of 7s."

She groaned as he collected the cards to reshuffle. Sakura folded her arms over her chest, jutting her chin up annoyed.

"Ask." She growled.

He laughed merrily and she had the distinct feeling he was toying with her. "What is your family name?"

"Har-" Sakura blanched, pretending to be distracted by the woman depositing dango on the table beside them. "-ada." She paused to look up at the handsome man.

"Harada." She affirmed, swallowing down her adrenaline. "You have one more, Hashirama."

Hashirama took his time thinking over another question. "Do you have siblings?"

"No." she answered, clicking her tongue on the back of her teeth.

Sakura flicked her eyes over the table as he laid their cards out. He was shuffling properly, laying them out fairly. Sakura's instincts were alive again when she picked up her cards and they bet each with two questions instead of one. He was winning a lot, it seemed. Her emerald eyes narrowed as she barely caught his eyes daring to peak over her shoulder.

Perhaps too much.

He folded quietly, collecting his cards together straightening them.

"You have two questions yourself. Ask away!" Hashirama shuffled, the cards slapping against the others wildly.

Sakura hummed, asking, "Are you married?"

His bellowing laughter caught her off guard, and his brother snorted. She had forgotten about the brother in the doorway.

"No," he laughed again, dealing the cards for another round. "I would love to be with tons of children, but now is not the time to do so."

Curiosity peaked, Sakura leaned closer to him over the tabletop. "Why?"

His face fell and she cursed herself for saying anything. His features became stern as he plucked up his cards. "War is not a pleasant time for children to be raised in."

Sakura, unsure of how to reply to such a strong assertion, picked her cards up. She groaned mentally as her luck shifted, but then remembered the fluttering eyes of the Senju lord.

Testing a theory, she kept her cards in place in front of her to coil a weary hand around the column of her neck. Watching through her long lashes, she leaned back and rolled her shoulder and neck as if she were stretching. She could see Hashirama peaking over his cards beyond her momentarily before settling back on his cards. She continued to stretch, but closed her lids to appear shut as she rolled her head all the way back to glance at the younger Senju brother forgotten in the doorway.

That's it, she caught it. Tobirama's finger barely flicked up, so subtly she would have not noticed has she not been looking for it.

"Two questions." Hashirama spewed, his voice dropping, closer even than what she recalled hearing.

Sakura played into the hand so as to not be caught herself, she called with two questions of her own. They both showed their cards simultaneously.

When she noticed her pair was lower than his, she scowled. Sneaky bastards.

"So, Sakura," Hashirama was no longer idolly stroking the cards, but instead leaning on the table. His head cradled in his hand, the other drumming the surface of the table. "Where are you from?"

She struggled to form a thought, mouth suddenly dry. Think, Sakura, think. Her mind tried to dip over where she could be from, to come up with a plan. Any plan. Faster, Sakura, think faster!.

"West!" She spit out, hands forming fists in her lap as he smiled.

"How far West, Sakura?"

He was plucking questions from her answers causing her heart to thud loudly in her ears. She could barely think as she got wrapped in his depth of his eyes. His hand no longer drummed along the tabletop.

"The desert," she stuttered, unconsciously biting her lip.

Tobirama was circling her and she startled, not having heard his footfalls. She risked looking at the younger Senju, his aura swirling around her in waves, but nearly missed Hashirama sitting up, hands settling into the sleeves of his haori.

"The sun has been good to you." Hashirama said, voice light, but not reassuring.

"Yes," Sakura stammered in awe. So these are the Senju brothers. "Yes, it has."


A.N: Ah, now we have finally had a lasting encounter with our beloved Senju brothers! How exciting. This is just a taste of it, but we'll see how Sakura plays into it. Perhaps her luck will continue to change. More is on the horizon, so enjoy. Happy reading!