Uchiha Tajima was not one to keep tradition for the sake of it. That was why, when his father had asked him on his deathbed to continue the proud tradition of invading the Senju in order to rob them, he had refused, on the grounds that doing something like that once was not sufficient incentive to start a trend.
Because of his father's interference, he and Butsuma knew how each other thought too well for any to get any upper hand in a fight or battle. It was frustrating, so they had to try and beat each other in other ways.
"I got married," Tajima informed Butsuma during a clash.
"I am waiting for my first child," Butsuma replied smugly.
"My wife is expecting her third child," Tajima crowed to Butsuma in the next battle.
Butsuma clapped, incidentally almost crushing Tajima with the resulting doton. "How nice," he mocked, "I have three sons, and my eldest can already do advanced jutsu."
"I have five children," Tajima said to Butsuma triumphantly.
Butsuma laughed. "I go for quality over quantity," he said dismissively.
Tajima smiled thinly and did not point out that he also had a girl, something Butsuma definitely did not. He waited for a suitably dramatic reveal for that.
The next mission in which he knew the opposing faction had hired the Senju, he took his two eldest sons with him. During the subsequent fight, Butsuma unerringly found him, but this time he was accompanied by two small children. Both parties stopped.
"Well, well, well," Tajima started, voice booming even under the thick canopy. "Took your children on their first outing? Poor kids, their protection does not seem to be very good. Madara, if you would," he said smugly to his eldest son. "Full armour made specifically for him by the Tetsusaka Armories," he said triumphantly. "His brother has similar armour," he added.
"Looks new," Butsuma jeered. "My sons have well used armour, because they are combatants." As if to confirm his father's words, the younger Senju boy took out a kunai and prepared to attack, red eyes narrowed. The older one with the most hideous bowl cut he has ever seen, (Tajima's brain automatically named him Kappa), waved to them with a smile.
A stray ray of sun shone on the white haired boy's kunai and Tajima stifled a gasp. It was a kunai made from meteorite iron, by the infamous Goro Nyudō, nicknamed Amatsumara, the god of smiths, more than three hundred years ago. It had bone script engraved on its body! It was longer than a normal throwing knife, slightly thicker as well, but it looked as if it could cut the very air even when kept still. It was a beauty of perfection and his head swam when he saw how carelessly the stupid Senju held it! As if it was a normal kunai! How dare he take it in battle, grab it in his grubby little hands and probably use it in target practice!
He must find Masamune's sword to give it to Madara for his coming of age ceremony, Tajima swore at that moment. Nothing less than a mythological legendary sword for his son. That'll show the Senju. No matter that it most probably existed only in legends. He'll will it to manifest if need arose. The sharingan definitely had a setting like that.
"Father?" He heard Madara's terse question. His own father's face floated before his eyes, reminding him of his duties, of tradition. Mind made up, Tajima signalled for them to retreat, ignoring Butsuma's jeers and insults as they left.
Five days later, after they managed to destroy the bridge the Senju wanted to defend, he called his eldest sons to him after the celebration of their mission's success.
"History will be made tonight," he told them gravely, "as we are about to make tradition. Your grandfather started it and now it is our turn. We will infiltrate the Senju compound and take their most valuable weapons, then leave." He had to get that kunai for his collection. "And you will sign your names in the heart of their compound to show that you are indeed better than the lot of them. Better than that buffoon's brood."
His sons nodded, and listened carefully.
Three days later, they arrived. It was a moonless, foggy night, perfect for subtle genjutsu. They infiltrated successfully, and Tajima let them roam around for their task while he went in search of the kunai.
He could not find it, but Izuna did, and as a bonus, also triggered the alarm. They ran but the Senju were hot on their heels and Madara, who was holding rearguard, was surrounded.
"Do not stop!" Tajima ordered Izuna to as he went back for Madara.
He saw the Kappa boy boldly shielding Madara from his clan while shouting about "peace," "unity", "friendship", "chances" and other nonsense. The Senju did not seem very inclined to listen to the boy, but in the end, probably by sheer volume, the Kappa won.
They took Madara hostage and Tajima saw with approval how his boy knew when to choose his battles. Another day surviving meant another day to fight back. There were still some Senju who went on hunting for the intruders so he left to help Izuna.
Madara arrived back home three days after them.
"I knew you could do it, son," Tajika said proudly.
Madara shrugged. "Their security is quite lax."
"And I helped," Tajima heard an obnoxious voice. Butsuma's hellspawn, the Kappa, was there. The boy waved. "I helped him escape," the Senju boy said cheerily.
Tajima's sharingan activated.