Thanks for your patience, people! As always, I'll keep you updated about the future chapters on my profile!
A shiver ran along Madara's spine when a cold breeze blew through his hair. Another reminder that trying out the food of this new Ichiraku restaurant while drizzle swept the village was a terrible decision. After pushing strands of hair away from his mouth for the umpteenth time he resumed his searching for the remaining noodles at the bottom of his bowl of ramen.
They were late. Three to four hours behind schedule according to the message Toka had sent earlier. It seemed they had anticipated the difficulties coming with crossing the whirlpool zone around their country, but not that the weather would drastically deteriorate as they approached the maritime territory of the Land of Fire, forcing them to retreat to a nearby island to safely moor the boat. Thankfully though, they managed to get back on track and reach Toka's squad.
Their arrival was now imminent, yet Madara almost felt reluctant to leave the quiet of his seat. Judging by the empty streets and lack of light behind windows, the people of Konoha had already gathered at the entrance of the Hokage edifice. Hashirama was already there of course, fueled with euphoria at the thought of finally meeting his beloved. A privilege Madara himself would never have. He grabbed his bowl and drank the last sips of broth, putting an end to his meal but not to the unease growing in his heart. He had to go. He had to be there to welcome the woman who would become his wife. That much he owed to her after months of silence.
It is said that one cannot betray the dead, yet thinking of a future with another woman than Inari felt like betrayal. What he promised to vow in the past, he would have to vow to Kuwa, and even though he had been told of her lovely looks and personality, she was not Inari. She could never be.
"Ah, there you are! I've been searching for you everywhere in the village!" A familiar voice declared as a pair of hands grasped his shoulders. "Ramen, huh? You're right. Not a good idea to meet your fiancee on an empty stomach."
Madara's eyes darted up to meet with those of his little brother. Radiant as ever, they also sparkled with the slightest hint of mischief. That and the big wide grin he was sporting promised nothing good. "Are they here?" He asked while digging into his pocket.
"They passed the last line of guards before the main gate. They should be here in twenty minutes or so." Izuna answered in one breath, unable to stay put. "So, how does it feel?"
Madara counted the coins in his palm before handling them to the cook, who thanked him with a bow. "How does what feel?"
"To soon have Kuwa in Konoha!"
The older Uchiha rolled his eyes as he got up from his chair. "I don't know." He replied in half-truth. "I guess I'll have to go and see for myself, don't you think?"
"Clan leaders first." Izuna said gesturing towards the city center in an overly dramatic way. His lips curled into a tender smile, Madara ruffled his brother's hair and led the way, relieved to hear that Izuna had dropped the subject in favor of something much more bearable.
For what was at least the third time, Hashirama straightened the front pannels of his vest and arranged the locks of hair falling on his torso, all in front of a very stoic Tobirama. As soon as he was done, he assumed his tall and poised leader stance, looking around at the villagers gathered around the road. The skies had darkened with the day ending and under the bright light of the lamps the citizens of Konoha were restless. The Senju leader couldn't blame them. Some had arrived here way before he even did in the hope of securing themselves the best spot to welcome and, most of all, see the Uzumaki princesses be welcomed by their Lords.
Hashirama rubbed away the pooling tears in his eyes. Building and leading a village, allowing citizens to leave in peace, celebrating weddings and nations coming together, this could have never happened a year ago. The very land they were standing upon was once their battlefield. All it took was a little trust in times of hatred, and a hand outstreched to grasp his own in what would become the first ceasefire. His dream was coming true, little by little and soon, he would get to share it with the most precious woman he had ever known.
The wave of faces turning in the same direction caught his attention. Beyond the crowd a silhouette drew closer, accompanied by the sounds of a high-pitched voice and thuds. It didn't take long for Hashirama to recognize the youngest of the Inuzukas, rushing on dog back to meet them. "They're coming! They're coming! Captain Toka is here!" He shouted, waving his arm in the air. Voices rose in the congregation as like announced, several more silhouettes appeared from below the horizon.
Tobirama's eyes narrowed. While he could sense the strong chakra signatures coming in front of him, another two appeared behind him, ones that had him in a sulk. "It seems Madara does have a little respect for his future wife after all."
"Tobirama, not today." The Hokage said firmly before turning to his best friend. "Ah, Madara, Izuna, you're just on time!" After a polite nod to the younger Uchiha, Hashirama grabbed the older one by the shoulders and pulled him in an welcoming embrace. "Everything's going to be alright, my friend." He said and offered him a confident smile, one that Madara reciprocated as best as his current state allowed.
The convoy slowly pierced through the crowd. A hand resting on the hilt of her sword, Toka didn't seem bothered or moved by the people piling around her to present their formal greetings. Her focus was captured by the greater picture, by all the faces potentially hiding one with much more sinister intentions. When the carriage also got engulfed by the masses, it only took a wave of Toka's hand for the rest of the elite guards to position themselves between the people and the precious guests. She proceeded alone towards Hashirama and his council and kneeled before them. "Toka Senju and the elite shinobi greet our Lord Hokage." She spoke as the multitude of voices died down.
Hashirama went to meet her. "Welcome back to Konoha." His impatience then supplanted his manners. "How are they? Are they alright?" He whispered loud enough to earn an annoyed grunt from Tobirama. The kunoichi gave him a firm pat on the back. "Don't worry, they are fine."
"Thank you, Toka. Your help meant a lot to me." He said almost tearing up. Toka grabbed him by the shoulders and gave him a little shake. "Pull yourself together, Hash. The best is yet to come." She said through her grin before joining the rest of her squad to keep an eye on the crowd. Meanwhile, the coachman had gone down from his seat and had maneuvered the carriage to face the main entrance of the building. Once the step in place under the door, he opened it and outstretched an arm to help the first of the ladies out.
Madara watched at this young lady jumped straight from the carriage to the ground, not even acknowledging the man's helping hand. Given the soft contours of her face and the overwhelming excitement she was displaying the girl was in the springtime of her youth, probably not a day over twenty. Judging by the copper hoop sitting atop of her barely tamed black hair she was a servant, a guess confirmed when she reached for the hands of her mistress to help her down. One foot after the other, Mito Uzumaki exited the carriage and stood in all her splendour under the shouting of a crowd gone wild.
The Uchiha threw a glance over at his best friend. As he expected, Hashirama was paralyzed, transfixed by Mito's mere presence. She didn't make things easy for him either: The kimono she was wearing was the pastel green one he had gifted her for New Year's, the very color he had dreamt of seeing paired with her deep red hair, that and the jade floral pin currently holding it together in a round bun. Hashirama's jaw dropped when she turned to him, and the smile that appeared on her face at this instant threw the final blow to his composure. The Hokage fell backwards, face red to the sound of Tobirama's reproaches and the discreet laughter of his fiancee.
This next lady accepted the man's offered arm and got down the carriage with a visible sigh of relief. Unlike the other servant, this one appeared older and more reserved, focusing her attention on polishing her looks instead of on the myriad of eyes now set on her. Her pale face and drawn features told him she had been the one who endured the most during the trip. Still she kept a certain presence in how she held herself, and even more so when she offered her help to the only person left.
Upon getting out she looked all around her as if everything in Konoha was a thing of wonder. The people greeting her, the shinobis, the houses, even the young night sky they all shared, it all seemed to capture her attention equally in fascination. Soon enough her gaze found his, and which each step she took towards him it refused to drift away. Facing their promised ones both ladies bowed deeply while the two servants brought a knee to the ground. The Lords of Senju and Uchiha reciprocated the greeting before Hashirama came forth. "My dear Mito and Kuwa, welcome to our village." He said, still recovering from his unfortunate tumble. "I am so relieved you managed to make it here after all the troubles you have encountered."
Mito hands fidgeted behind her back. "We owe it to the amazing effort and ingenuity of Toka and her team."
"That we do, my Lord!" Satsu chimed in happily before remembering who was listening. "I mean, Captain Toka went to incredible lengths to insure our mistresses' well-being and safety. We are grateful."
Hashirama let out a hearty laugh. "I'm glad to hear that, young handmaiden." He turned to the Uzumaki ladies. "To see you both were in good company puts my heart at ease."
Madara couldn't help a smile at the display. Behind his calm and wise Hokage mask his best friend could barely contain his excitement, and the more Mito stood beside him, the more he seemed to lose all sense of time and space. It took a discreet cough from Tobirama to break him away from his silent trance.
"But here, let me introduce you to the fine gentlemen accompanying me. My brother, Tobirama..." He gestured at the latter, who nodded politely. "... then at my left is Izuna Uchiha, who teaches at the Academy..." Then without warning, Hashirama hugged Madara a bit to hard to his taste. "... and there we have the one Madara Uchiha, my advisor and brother in arms, and the one without which this village would have never seen the light of day."
The advisor in question received a small bow from Kuwa as she spoke. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Madara."
Her voice was deeper than what he had imagined, with a certain softness in the way she said his name. As her pair of berry blue eyes studied him waiting for an answer, Madara's thoughts danced in all directions. Kuwa was no longer just the portrait painted on parchment or the name the Elders praised. She was there in the flesh, bringing with her all the hopes the Uchiha clan had wished for. "The pleasure is all mine." He said not without an effort to silence the overwhelming feeling taking hold in his chest. As he turned towards Mito she offered him a polite nod, and in their mutual understanding and sorrow, this was enough.
The Hokage cleared out his throat. "You must be terribly exhausted after such a long trip. Would you like to retire already for the night?"
"That would be wise." Mito answered. "Especially since we have to leave at dawn tomorrow."
"Alright." He then turned his attention to the crowd. "Citizens of Konoha, I thank you for the warm welcome you gave Lady Mito and Lady Kuwa. May you have a pleasant evening and good night!" Turning back to his fiancee he offered her his arm. "I had the guest quarters arranged for the both of you. Please, allow me to take you there myself."
It took the Uchiha some elbowing from his little brother to imitate the gesture with Kuwa. As she held onto him, the crushing weight of honor and responsability combined anchored him further into this reality where, whether he liked it or not, the time to mourn was over.
Kuwa pulled on her obi, desperately trying to create some space for her lungs to expand further but to no avail. The brocade was thick, tightly tied into place by the skilled hands of her maid into what she imagined was a beautiful looking bow. A job well done no doubt, but one that had all her internal organs pushed up into this heavy, nauseous weight in her chest. The price to pay to be presentable and dignified. After pondering the fact for a second or so, she searched for a more comfortable position.
As she contorted into her little one-passenger carriage she caught a glimpse of Madara's back, peeking from behind the curtain. For the occasion he had tamed his wild mane into a low ponytail and had traded his Uchiha blue tunic for something more traditional, draped on the front and held in place with a simple sash. He walked at a slow steady pace, his gaze fixated on the horizon. The same depthless, blank gaze he wore since he walked her into her assigned quarters last night.
She hissed at the weight of her hair buns shifting to the side as she leaned towards the window. Discreetly, she pushed the curtain away and observed what was happening beyond the sight of her fiance. They were surrounded by shinobis, all wearing their armors and armed with a wide set of weapons. In front of her, half-hidden behind the corner of her carriage, Mito's proceeded at the same pace, closely watched by Hashirama and a humming Satsu. Kuwa searched for her own maid and found her walking at a distance behind Madara, her gaze lost in the green of trees.
"Is everything alright?" She jumped at the sound of his voice. When she turned to him, his eyes had already drifted away from her. "Oh. I'm fine, thank you for your concern." She said, the ghost of a smile grazing at her lips. At last, a few words from him. Some that sounded genuine, unlike his earlier greetings. A joy short-lived still, as he instantly returned into his distant self.
"Have you ever met the daimyo?" Kuwa asked, determined not to let this conversation die down.
"Once."
She pursed her lips. "So... how is he like? I've heard he has a thing for gold."
"He does."
"I see..." She paused for a few seconds, trying to gauge his reactions, or his lack thereof. "I hope he won't make things hard for you."
"Don't worry about that. Just remember the rules."
Her grasp on the edge of the window tightened. No matter how much she tried, Madara remained arcane to her attempts at getting to know each other. She sat back on her cushioned seat and heaved a frustrated sigh. This was going to be tougher than she thought.
A few minutes passed by before her carriage brutally stopped, putting an end to the scenarios playing in her mind. She instead turned her attention towards the shouting of men all around, followed by the sound of brief and heavy footsteps. Finally, the curtain in front of her got pulled aside by her maid, who offered her a hand. A hand she refused with a swift gesture of hers.
Kuwa closed her eyes the moment she stepped out. Straight in front of her the palace stood in all its glory, though a bit smaller than what she had anticipated. The walls of the three square-shaped sections were build high, painted snow-white and bathed in the morning rays of the sun, so much so they were painful to look at. On top of the structure teal glazed tiles curled into the typical roof shapes, with each high point decorated with what appeared to be golden spheres. The entrance was guarded by several heavily armed men, themselves toppled by giant statues, each representing a creature from the legends of the Land of Fire. She had just met with the dragon's amber eyes when Hitara tugged on her sleeve. "My Lady, this way please." She said, carrying with her a small tin box.
The Uzumaki realized everyone was waiting after her. In a measured hurry she joined her future husband and held on to his arm. Without a glance to one another, they started climbing the stairs leading to the gate.
To say Kuwa was impressed was an understatement. She was awestruck at the magnificence displayed before her eyes. Contrary to the dull and simply decorated corridor they walked just minutes earlier, the throne room was a true spectacle of opulence and luxury. Intricate carved wooden columns held a high ceiling painted with colorful depictions of flowers and trees, separated from each other by thinner wooden beams. They were painted on a golden background, the same kind that could be found on all four walls of the room. Unlike the ceiling, the walls told stories. Ones of gods and goddesses meddling with humans, of concubines and children gathering in exquisite gardens as well as one of war, the one that served as a background to the throne itself. Even the mat pannels they walked on were different. While those back in the Uzushio palace where plainly woven, those pushed extravagance further by having intricate designs woven in, in a pattern mimicking the one decorating the dais upon which the throne stood.
As the group waited to the sound of the court's small talk, Kuwa threw a glance at Mito. Even though her hands were hidden in her sleeves they were visibly trembling, as much as the rest of her under the heavy layers of silk. She threw a discreet smile at her cousin before going back to biting her already crimsoned lip. As her own gaze came back to rest on the floor, an old man walked towards them from the side door, a metallic staff in hand.
One hit of the staff to the ground, and all chatter ceased.
Then a second hit. And a third, whose reverb died out in a now perfect silence.
"Presenting his highness, Lord Ishihara, daimyo of the Land of Fire, and her ladyship, Noble Consort Nura." The advisor pronounced loud and solemn.
Kuwa went on with her usual way of greeting but got stopped dead in her track by a hand on her back. "A great bow, my Lady!" Hitara whispered as she herself dropped to her knees. The Uzumaki followed suit and kneeled, bending her back until her forehead just met the ground.
The two clan leaders also kneeled in what was a rare display of submission. "I, Hashirama of the Senju clan, greets Lord Ishihara." She heard him say in a voice deeper than usual.
"I, Madara of the Uchiha clan, greets Lord Ishihara."
Kuwa threw a furtive glance over at Mito before straightening up and resting her hands gracefully on her lap. To her relief, it seemed nobody else had noticed her little mishap, or that nobody noticed her at all for that matter. She bit her lip as she felt the first bits of discomfort in her muscles, bits that she knew she would have to endure for the sake of both her future husband and decorum itself, ever so silent and immobile, as the rules prescribed.
Laid back on his throne the daimyo opened his arms wide. "Ah, my dear friends. Welcome!" He spoke in a piercing voice, whose bouncing tone was quick to irritate Kuwa's ears. "And welcome to you, daughters of Uzumaki."
Barred from using speech within these walls, the two ladies could only nod at their prestigious host. Hashirama was the first to speak and told the daimyo about the progresses and innovations that had recently seen the light of day in Konoha, yet already at that point Kuwa had stopped paying attention. She was oddly captivated by the two beings sitting in front of her.
The daimyo was nowhere near as handsome as she had been told. He was a tall and lean man, covered in thick, piled-up layers of shiny brocade that seemed to swallow his arms and neck every time he moved. Hidden behind a richly ornamented fan that he constantly agitated, his face was pale and angular, with an aquiline nose and dark brown eyes and that perpetual smirk that grew with each compliment. His hair was combed flat and held tight on the top of his head, where the traditional fan shaped head piece stood proudly, decorated with the symbol of the Land of Fire.
Then, there was his consort. When Kuwa laid eyes on her, the uneasy feeling that had weighted down in her stomach until now tainted with worry. Nura was sitting beside him on a simple wooden chair, the bright yellow of her kimono contrasting with the darker colors of her husband. Embroidered with an opulence of gold threads and precious stones, it enveloped her from her neck to way past her feet in a train drapping on the surface of the dais. Her hands rested crossed upon the fine silk covering her legs and displayed jewels of exquisite craft, up to her very fingernails that she had long and painted, a symbol of her laborless, luxurious lifestyle. That she had seen in the past, unlike what she was wearing on top of her head. Held in place with her black locks, her crown was monumental. Birds of solid gold sat there, their feathers spread like a wide halo framing her pale face, atop of a bed of equally golden flowers, their cores decorated with one single, smooth nacre pearl.
Kuwa discreetly searched for the eyes of the beauty buried under the weight of this ensemble, but was met with only half a face. The top part was covered by a piece of fabric, making the shape of her eyes barely discernible. Only her lips and chin were visible to all, those full red lips that were shut tight into neither a smile nor a frown.
She was a display of grandeur. A man-made goddess. Everything but a woman.
"Uzumaki Kuwa..." The stern voice of the daimyo called, breaking her trance. "Let me take a look at your face."
Kuwa complied and raised her head high enough for him to see, yet made sure to keep her unworthy eyes riveted to the ground. A knot of dread stirred in her chest, one that she tried to keep quiet with slow breaths as the eyes of the most powerful man in the country studied her for a long, painful minute. She took his satisfied humming as a sign to rest into her original stance.
"You weren't wronged here Madara, she is exquisite. I expected no less from Ashina." The daimyo concluded turning to the Uchiha. "Are you willing to take her as your legal wife?"
Madara's head fell down. "I am."
"Perfect!" Lord Ishihara stood up from his throne, his fan smashing shut against the palm of his hand. "It is decided then. Servants! Bring the veils!"
Behind her Hitara broke from her bow and hurried by her side, that same box she had seen earlier nestled in her hands. With calculated gestures, her maid opened the box to reveal a beautiful silken veil, ornamented with a single bird embroidery piece on true red. Hitara held it unfolded in her hands, just like Satsu did beside her mistress.
The master and his consort rose, with him taking a step forward. Three hits from the advisor's staff and the entire group fell into great bows, ready to receive the holy words of the daimyo.
"From the ashes of your hate peace was born, and with it shall grow the prosperity of our countries. I, Lord Ishihara of the Land of Fire, bestow upon the Senju, the Uchiha and the Uzumaki my blessing in their sacred union. May you take flight together as soaring phoenixes, and may the gods grant you heavenly bliss and eternal harmony."
As Kuwa rose from her bow, she was met with the red of the veil. Carefully, Hitara placed it on top of her head, enveloping her many hair pins and hiding her face from all view. Through the fabric she saw Hashirama and Madara rising onto their feet. "From now on, the both of you may not see your futures wives until the wedding ceremony." The daimyo spoke returning to his throne. "You should return to Konoha now. Once again, my congratulations."
"Thank you." The two clan leaders replied as they took their leave. At last, with the help of her maid, Kuwa stood up and with difficult steps followed her fiancé outside. She risked a glance behind, drinking in one last time the luxury of the palace, in which the man behind the fan and his golden spouse never once spared a look at each other.
The thought of spending another two hours in this carriage didn't enchant her, yet Kuwa would take that a hundred times over kneeling. At least in there she could rest her aching legs and be alone with her thoughts and without anyone to offend. With the pressure of this dreadful encounter vanishing, one thought in particular occupied her mind, one that had a different kind of dread ready to settle further into her heart. She had to know, and to know she had to ask.
"Kuwa?" She heard on her left. "How are you doing?"
The Uzumaki discreetly lifted her veil, a gesture that Mito imitated after making sure their fiancés didn't look their way. She held a hand on her heaving chest. "I feel much better now that we're outside."
"You don't say. All those eyes staring at me felt a thousand times heavier than my kimono!"
Kuwa hid a laughter behind joined fingers. "That too. I meant... That was such a strange encounter, don't you think?"
"Strange how?"
She bit her lip in the search for the right words. "Nothing here is how I'd expected it to be. That and the speeches, the manners, the way everything revolved around us, yet I felt invisible. I know meeting with the daimyo was an important step, and that receiving his blessing is an honor, still many things in here left me with more confusion than with any sense of accomplishment."
Mito looked down. Her cousin's answer made sense to her, and appealed to her very first memories as an heir appearing in society. Those years spent away from their clan's main residence seemed to not have prepared Kuwa for this kind of event, let alone for the duties of an ambassador to the Uzumaki name. "Well, in my case it wasn't much different than those meetings I had to go to along with my grandfather. Apart maybe from the rule prohibiting us to speak aloud."
"What kind of rule is that even?" Kuwa asked, a playful hint in her words.
"I sincerely have no idea." Mito said, her painted lips parting into a sweet giggle.
Further down the cobblestone path, the voice they recognized as the leader of the elite squad carried his final orders: they were about to leave. Mito gave her a knowing nod before heading towards her own carriage with Satsu in tow. A long sigh later Kuwa brought her veil down, just in time for Madara not to get a glimpse of her as he came to make sure she was ready.
She watched him pull the curtain to the inside of the carriage, his face once again bearing the blank expression he had displayed earlier. Instead of stepping in, she turned to face him. "Madara?"
"Hm?"
"Can I ask you a question?"
Perhaps it was the tone of her voice, or how close to him she was standing, but for once he looked straight at her hidden eyes. "You can."
Her fingers knotted together. "Am I to be like Noble Consort Nura?"
"What do you mean?" He asked, tilting his head in confusion.
"Will my future role as your wife be limited to just appearing by your side and adding to the prestige of the Uchiha name?"
It was hard to tell through the veil, but Madara's expression seemed to betray surprise. Somehow him not expecting this kind of question added to the fire of her impatience. After a couple of seconds, he replied a resolute "No.".
"No?" She repeated with the expectation of more, which he quickly obliged. "I will treat you neither as a prize nor as a token of glory. You have my word on that." With that, he went back to helping her settle in.
There was so much more she wanted, needed to know, but the words of her maid urging her had her save this task for another time. She offered a polite nod to the Uchiha then climbed inside the carriage, settling for a few more hours of lonely but still lighter-hearted reflection.