Winter Night
Chapter 2
Hashirama hurried to shower and change when he got home. He was glad that his wife didn't wake up to question him as he stayed in the bathroom long enough to scrub the dried semen off of his clothes.
He had never claimed he loved her or anything. But she was still a beautiful noblewoman from a wealthy, powerful clan. And she seemed to have done her best not to expect any more from him than his name and a child or two. After all, they were strangers at their wedding. But he had no desire to embarrass her in her new hometown so he honestly tried to stay away from Madara.
But even though he was bisexual, spending time trying to get to know her was awkward simply because his heart lived across town with the man he'd been in love with since they were kids…
Even though they both knew Hashirama's marriage was political, it made him realize how much it must've hurt Madara when he married Mito almost out of the blue. Madara had flirted with her quite gallantly, drawing many blushes from the girl when the arrangement was being finalized. But it wasn't enough to break up the wedding so he gave up and gave Hashirama the silent treatment for a while instead.
When Madara married his wife, part of Hashirama withered and honestly he thought it died. He suspected that the bastard only did it in an attempt to make him jealous. And it worked!
The thought of Madara in someone else's arms had always been too much for him though. Hashirama was almost ridiculously happy when Madara said he wasn't interested in women tonight. He hoped he hid it well at the time. But he was still a little jealous because he had heard that Madara's lovely wife was pregnant. And like himself, Madara was definitely too possessive to let anyone else touch her so obviously he had been with her at least once.
Still, tonight Hashirama didn't have time to waste thinking about his regrets- the sun was coming up! And he still had to argue with the whole village about going... He had to get to the gate on time! Madara would literally be gone by 12:01- and that's if he waited for him at all...
Honestly, though, throwing a bunch of clothes into a bag hadn't seemed this exciting in ages. Well, not since he was a kid preparing for war anyway. He didn't actually understand it though. At the time Hashirama really thought he was going to be training with his father and the rest of the clan's grownups for once. Instead he could do little more than watch at first, as a lot of people died.
But now, the thought that he was going somewhere with Madara gave him hope that maybe he could keep the bastard in the village. Honestly, Hashirama was leaving with him no matter what anyone said.
He knew that was selfish but right now he had everything he'd ever wanted. But more than anything, he wanted to share his dream with his lover.
And right now Madara felt like he had nothing. His parents and all of his brothers were long gone. His whole clan was angry with him, convinced that he was some demented bipolar tyrant or something. He was recently married but didn't like that either. He must've meant it when he said he didn't feel welcome in the village anymore.
Especially since it was partially Hashirama's fault. After all, he had been avoiding being alone with him- even to talk. He thought that it was probably hurting him more than Madara, but he knew better now.
It was heartbreaking that he wanted to leave. But, Hashirama was just going to bring the village to Madara. Well, figuratively speaking, anyway. Right now Madara wanted to get out of the village, so Hashirama just needed to remind him why he wanted to be a part of it in the first place.
"Hashirama? W-What are you doing?" A light clicked on behind him at the bedside and a sleepy Mito asked, sitting up in bed. She looked beautiful in her flimsy silken nightgown and tousled red hair, but he didn't love her.
Her less than pleased expression made him sigh as it darkened further upon seeing his bag. "I'm sorry I woke you."
"That's probably the most genuine thing you've said to me since the wedding… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that," She sighed. "Are you going somewhere?"
"I have to. I don't expect you to understand. But it's important."
Her eyes narrowed. "More important than overseeing the creation of the village you started? It's not another woman, is it?"
"No. It isn't. It's for this village that I have to go. Because I would never have started chasing this dream of the village if it wasn't for Madara's encouragement. This village isn't just about my dream. It's his too, and yet none of you see that."
"Then it's true- about the two of you? When I first arrived in the village there was- some gossip… But I hadn't really expected it to be true as no one talks about it anymore. I'm sorry. I suppose I shouldn't be angry. Our marriage was political- to make the village and my father happy- and it has."
"I'm sorry," Hashirama said quietly. "We were young, and I-"
"No. Thank you for being honest with me," She said warmly. "Most people in your situation wouldn't have been. But I am curious, where are you going in such a hurry?"
"He wants to leave tomorrow- originally he wanted to go at dawn. But I think I talked him into waiting until noon... Anyway, I'm taking him to a set of islands southwest of the Land of Wind. A warlord there has deposed the daimyo in the Land of Crystal. One of the clans there reached out to us for help months ago. And of course, other lords have started to look with interest at the resources that are basically left unguarded now that the warlord is dead. And his minions are still trying to capture his throne."
"I've never even heard of the Land of Crystal."
"It's a trio of islands surrounded by an atoll, the islands are home to large deposits of diamonds, sapphires and rubies. Hence its name, although the gemstone mining has slowed over the centuries, its wealth has not completely dried up."
"And the two of you are going to do what, exactly in the middle of a warzone?"
"Restore order." Hashirama said simply. "Yesterday another letter arrived. I wanted to send help the first time they requested it. But Tobirama insisted we couldn't spare the manpower. Now they have promised more funds and gemstones to the village if we can help the princess get her throne back from the bandits and the warlords. The common people are starving as they are forced to work the mines in vast numbers by the rising warlords. I want to help them. That's not even counting the other nations hovering around, waiting for the right moment to annex them. Our biggest concern should be keeping the Land of Wind from beating us there."
"But how can you say just the two of you will be enough to do that?"
"I could probably send Madara alone and he'd be fine. But he needs company right now."
"But by yourselves?"
"Each of us is capable of taking on an army and winning. Together we'll be unstoppable."
"The look in your eyes when you speak of him is so warm. How did I not see it before… But I have a feeling you will need help convincing your brother of any of this."
"You would help me? Knowing I'm in love with someone else?"
Mito hesitated. "Yes. I would. But I have my own motivations for that. You see, I'm in love with someone I can't have too."
He was so shocked that he was more curious than angry. He didn't love her. Why should he care- well, as long as it wasn't Madara? "Who?"
"We haven't done anything yet. We've barely even spoken of it."
"Who?" He growled.
She looked at him, surprised. "You really don't know?"
"Know what?" He glared at her.
She smiled sadly, shaking her head. "I know you've been distracted lately. But we were afraid you'd see it every time we were in the same room together…"
"You're saying it's someone I know well?" He almost forgot to be jealous this time because he was so curious. "Who?"
"Y-Your brother."
"What?" He jumped to his feet, a dark aura began to gather around him, but she remained calm. "That bastard…"
"It's not what you think! We don't really know when it happened exactly. But I love him and you're not especially attracted to me. Getting your attention is difficult if we aren't talking about paint colors..." She said lamely.
"You're talking about Tobirama Senju? And does he love you?" Hashirama growled.
"Yes," She said. "Or at least he said he does… I'm sorry. I understand how shocked you must be. But you don't love me and I don't love you. I see no reason for us to bring this to my father's attention as long as we both get what we want."
Her matter of fact shrug aggravated him. But she definitely had a point. "You said my brother loves you?"
"Yes. Though lately he refuses to be in the same room alone with me-" She sounded quite displeased with that revelation.
"How considerate of him…" Hashirama snorted. "He should be here soon."
"Why are you so upset?"
"He knew I didn't want to marry anyone because…" Hashirama cut himself off. "But then Tobirama literally shoves you in my lap and now suddenly he's in love with you? That's convenient."
"Mito, you told him?" Tobirama joined them from the hallway. He was wearing bedclothes but was armed with a kunai which he quickly put away. Hashirama couldn't help thinking he came armed in case Madara was here.
"We were just trying to come to an agreement on the future of our marriage. But I don't see how I had much of a choice since you obviously weren't going to mention it to him."
Hashirama growled. "So it's true. You love the woman you forced me to marry? That's manipulative, even for you, Tobirama."
"It's not like that! And what do you mean?"
"Don't talk. You've already said too much for the moment. First, you pushed me to marry someone I don't even know to keep me away from him. Then you alienated Madara from the rest of the village with your groundless theories. Now he is leaving because you've never even tried to trust him the way he trusts us."
"Groundless? And he doesn't trust us-"
"Yes. He does! If you weren't so obsessed with your ideas about the Sharingan you'd see that! He's always by himself even when we're together. That by itself is trust, but even more amazing, he clearly shows you his back all the time even though he fully expects you to attack him in it at any given moment. And right now you're certainly acting like you want to. He's the most powerful ally we could ever hope for and yet you treat him like he's our enemy's rabid dog. I'm fucking sick of it!"
"If you treat him like a pet to be coddled, he will bite your arm off someday."
"You are only proving my point, little brother! Tread carefully," Hashirama growled, his aura growing. "I love him and you don't have to like it, but you know damn well that he loves me. The Uchiha are not evil. They are just another clan and like us, they can be pushed too far! So you will treat them with respect, dignity and honor while I'm gone or you better just hope I don't come back!"
"Gone? Wait! Y-You can't leave!"
"You don't want me to stay in this village right now, Tobirama."
"But-"
"And, just to be clear, this isn't about you and Mito. I won't stand against her happiness or yours. So this time you better stay the hell out of mine! This is about you pushing Madara into a corner by treating him like he and the rest of the Uchiha are less important than we are. They are the co-founders of this village and I'm damn tired of you pretending otherwise. Is that clear?"
"I'm not a child and you're not Father."
"Then stop acting like a bully! Madara is the only one of us who really thought this village might work in the beginning. And then you pushed until you squeezed him out of its leadership! Do you honestly think you would stand a chance against him on your own? All he does is train now! And you have the whole village waiting for him to snap like he's some kind of a monster."
Tobirama scowled but didn't reply.
"Are you ready to listen now?" Hashirama asked. "Do you remember the letter from the Land of Crystal a few months ago? I'm taking Madara there, we're going to help them. Another letter arrived yesterday. The whole island's situation has grown as dire as I thought it would. And one of the shinobi clans there is being hunted down and killed for their power."
"Don't be absurd. We don't have time for you to waste helping a bunch of strangers-"
"They won't be strangers anymore if we help them. They may even come back with us! Think of it! A whole new clan joining hands with us! Besides, the princess is still offering money and jewels in exchange for help restoring her to her throne."
"And how will this dethroned princess pay us after the warlords who stole her throne have spent all of her money on wine, women and more wine?" Tobirama snorted.
"Sometimes you just have to trust people. If it has come to that, it's your fault for talking me out of sending someone sooner. So, she can pay us back when her people can afford it. The whole point is that the people there are desperate."
"Winter is upon us, things will be hard here too. Send Madara and you can stay here where you belong."
"Those were almost his exact words, a few hours ago." Hashirama grinned, enjoying the shock on Tobirama's face.
Unfortunately he recovered quickly. "What? The part where you send him alone?"
"No, actually. The part where I stay here. But that isn't going to happen. He wants the village to work too- how can you not see that? But you have pushed him away from me for the last time. I will not stand for it again."
"Are you sure this isn't just an excuse for you to get him alone?"
"I wouldn't have to get him alone if you had tried even once to understand him or his clan! If I sent him away alone right now he would probably never come back and don't you see I can't take that chance?"
"Bah. I'll never understand your obsession with him."
"Says the idiot who fell in love with my wife?"
Tobirama blushed. "It didn't start out that way! Ashina came to us, remember? An offer like that doesn't come around often."
"Neither does a woman as beautiful as Mito," Hashirama said pointedly.
"Well, maybe if you would have stopped pining over that bastard you would have discovered she could've been perfect for you!"
"Insult him one more time, I fucking dare you." Hashirama growled, his voice low and dangerous.
Mito stepped in between them with a sigh. "I know you're a good man, Hashirama. But I was bored. You're dealing with a lot of new responsibilities and I didn't know anyone here at the time except for the two of you. Tobirama spent time with me. He showed me around the village and we talked to people. He showed me all the things you wanted to build and I fell in love with this village- and him."
"That's very sweet of you to take the initiative. But I want to hear it from him."
"It's like she said. I was embarrassed that Mito had come from so far away to be with you and you ignored her. I thought you might warm up to her if I could tell you more about her… But that didn't work. And then after his wedding you were pretty apathetic to everything."
"He has a name. Use it."
"Fine," Tobirama rolled his eyes and growled. "After Uchiha Madara's wedding you lost interest in pretty much everything. Even looking at paint colors fails to cheer you up these days."
"Maybe that's because we're both married to people we'll never love?" Hashirama snapped and then blushed because Mito looked so embarrassed and awkward. "Sorry… maybe I wasn't meant for politics after all…"
Mito smiled impishly. "It's alright. After our wedding night I was... hopeful that you might warm up to me. But it became clear very quickly that you were in love with the village and what it would become. I wouldn't ever have suspected that it began with… Madara though."
"I knew the day we met that he was going to be mine someday. Back then I thought that was all that would ever matter between us. Then we became our clans' leaders and nothing has been the same since."
Tobirama growled. "You were 14 when you met! How is that even possible?"
"I didn't say we knew. I said I did. He was quite defiant when I told him at first."
Mito smiled.
Tobirama didn't. "I'm going to be sick."
Hashirama sighed. "I just don't understand what makes you hate him so much. Even after all these years…"
"Are you kidding? He's an Uchiha- our clan's sworn-"
"If you say enemies I will gut you. We've made peace! Deal with it!"
"I was going to say rival… But… I don't know. Every time I think of him I remember- she just looked so small and helpless when he cut her down so effortlessly…"
"Everyone knew they had standing orders to leave Madara to me! Everyone! That included Aniko! And you killed the last of his brothers! Revenge is a cycle that has to stop! We have to let all of that go! He's trying, why the hell can't you?"
"I know… she just wanted to avenge her sister so badly… I told her to forget it. But after the battle started when I finally saw her it was already too late. She was already gone. I couldn't protect her or even say goodbye."
Hashirama nodded. "That's why you made the Flying Thunder God jutsu. But he didn't even know who she was. And that doesn't change anything! No one but me was ever supposed to go near him. And that actually makes it even worse. Because you know Madara didn't kill Sakura."
"No. But she was captured and his father, Tajima killed her. Aniko had been training so hard… then the old bastard died-"
Hashirama snorted. "Aniko couldn't have killed Tajima either! You know that. You're still blaming Madara for what happened to Sakura too, after all this time?"
"I know! It's just so hard to forget…"
"Well, thank you for telling me. But while we're gone, try to let that go. Because-"
"How can you trust him so much?" Tobirama interrupted.
"I love him. And if he were still angry with you over Izuna's death he would tell you. He's still sad, but people die in wars- no one knows that better than a shinobi of his caliber. But you have Mito now. It's okay to remember what we've lost, but live in the present."
Tobirama sighed. "There's nothing I can say that will stop you, is there?"
"Nope. He needs me right now. When we've arrived in the Land of Crystal I'll send word."
"You're not using the bird he calls Taka! That damn thing hates me!"
"You should be nicer to her master then! This makes you the acting Hokage now. Mind your manners with the Uchiha. Remember they are our allies! Treat them with dignity, respect and honor. This is their home too. Prove to Madara that you can be trusted to take care of his clan and treat them fairly, that's all he is worried about."
"Just so we're clear," Mito hesitated, "Did you really give us your blessing earlier?"
Hashirama laughed. "Yes. So please do your best to keep him in line for me. Alright?"
She nodded, ignoring the dark look that Tobirama was giving her. "Alright, but you and Madara must stay safe and come home to us together. Do you have time for breakfast- or well, lunch?"
"Thank you," Hashirama shook his head. "But I think I better get to the gate. He's not a patient man and I might be cutting it close."