The morning of the silk festival was finally here and the little village was busier than ever with last-minute preparations, everything from putting out decorations to getting their kimonos fitted, the streets were alive and bustling before the sun even peeked its head.

Among the latter group were the two Senju visitors who, upon Toru's insistence, were getting their measurements taken so the servants could pick out fitting kimonos for them to wear that night. As expected, one of them was considerably less enthusiastic about it.

"What's the point of this again?" Tobirama frowned as a servant shuffled around him.

"Don't be so uptight, it's a day of celebration!" Hashirama beamed, letting his arm fall back to his side as the servant scribbled something down.

"But do we need all this? It's pointless." he scoffed.

"It's not pointless! If we're going to the Imada silk festival, it's only appropriate to wear their silk! Besides, don't you want to look nice for a certain someone?" he wiggled his eyebrows, breaking out in a sly grin.

"Idiot. That "certain someone" is blind, remember?"

"But you knew who I was talking about, hmm~"

"Do you have a problem?"

"I'm not the one with the problem!"

"I don't have time for this."

"There's always time for lo- OUCH!"

The young servant glanced nervously between the two before slowly moving to pick up the measuring stick.


"You know, Mila, you should be with your family right now." Aroka thought aloud from her usual spot behind the small table.

Mila, also in her usual spot, smiled slightly, not that the seer could see it.

"If I was then who would help you around during the festival?" she chuckled teasingly.

"It's not like I ever actually get to enjoy the festival, anyways. You know how they always make me sit with Toru and the advisors the whole time." she huffed. "If he's the one making you stay I can yell at him for you."

"No, no, he's not! I just want to be there in case you need anything. Plus, you'll have someone you talk to, right?"

At this, Aroka brought a hand to her heart, leaning on her desk dramatically.

"Oh Mila, what did I ever do to deserve you?" she wept.

"No it's nothing! I'm just doing what I can." she smiled, scratching her neck sheepishly.


As it grew closer to nightfall, the energy in the village became more and more noticeable. The normally quiet, sleepy town was ever so excited for the much-anticipated festival and they weren't afraid to show it. Aroka, for one, certainly had no argument against this, in fact she could hardly hold still as the servants helped her into her festival kimono. She bounced in place with a smile etched across her lips.

"Just a while longer." Mila grinned upon seeing the excitement radiating off her friend. She was also being helped into her festival attire.

"Just a while longer!" Aroka echoed in a sing-song voice.

The kimonos the two women donned were much more ornate than their usual robes; Mila had chosen an emerald green design that featured white cranes in mid-flight along the bottom of the garment, paired with a white and gold sash tied around her waist. Aroka's was a rich violet hue with small pink and white blossoms trailing from her mid-chest all the way down to the hem of the kimono. Her pink and silver sash was secured in an ornate four-petaled bow at her lower back.

Once the rich garment had been secured and her hair pinned back, Aroka, who had withdrawn her chakra from the room for the servants' comfort, took a few cautious steps towards Mila who instinctively reached out to support her.

"How many people do you think are going to win the competition this year?" she asked as the brunette gently took hold of her arm.

"Well there were no winners last year, maybe we'll get one of two this time around." she guessed, "But there's only one way to find out, right?"

"Maybe for you~" Aroka teased, bringing a finger up to her temple.

"Hey, don't spoil it! Suspense is the best part!"

"Sure it is…" Aroka chuckled. "Anyways, we should get going, everyone's waiting for us at the entrance."

As the servants disbanded, off to busy themselves with their own preparations, the two women quickly made their way to the front of the compound.

"Aroka, there you are! You look great!" Toru raced up to the pair as they stepped into view.

"Thanks, so do you." she smiled humorously, following him back to the small group.

Among the gathered were the clan's twelve advisors, the chief elder, and a number of main branch members whose lines Aroka was only barely familiar with, all of whom wore kimonos of purple hues. Along the sidelines also stood the two Senju visitors.

"Alright, now that we're all here let's get going!" Toru announced, weaving his way to the head of the group as he pulled Aroka along with him.

Despite the sun having just begun to set, the streets were already beginning to fill with excited villagers eager to get an early start to the festivities. Each attendee donned their finest kimono, many of which had been homemade, though one would never be able to tell at a glance. Vendors had already set out their stands and were grouped into large clusters with others who sold similar goods; colorful lanterns were being displayed next to silky, gleaming fans while just across the street sat a group of food vendors that emitted delicious smells and plumes of smoke.

The Senju brothers followed near the back of the procession, taking in the flood of colors, smells, and sounds that threatened to overwhelm their senses.

"What an exciting day!" Hashirama beamed as they continued deeper into the heart of the village.

Tobirama glanced around, a small grimace on his features.

"And I thought our festivals were loud…"

The group soon arrived at the village square where a large stage had been set up seemingly overnight, it's surface made of a dark, indistinguishable material that gleamed under the fading sunlight. Behind the stage was a raised platform that had been closed off, surrounded by railing that partially obscured the few dozen seats behind it. It was positioned in such a way that someone sitting there would have their back to a cluster of unoccupied buildings while the festival's main street lay to their left and right.

The group of violet-clad leaders, along with the Senju pair, made their way into the partitioned area, each taking a seat in apparently random order. Toru sat at the center of the front row with Aroka and Mila a few seats behind him, Tobirama next to Aroka with Hashirama on his other side.

"Hey, what's all this about?" Hashirama asked curiously, leaning closer to the two women.

"This is the section for members of the main family and other important leaders." Mila all but yelled, also leaning over so she could be heard above the noise.

"How long do they stay here?"

"As long as the festival lasts."

"What?! You don't get to participate in the festival?"

"Not really, it's a tradition that the village's leaders 'keep watch' during the celebration."

"You guys don't need to stay here; you should go have fun!" Aroka piped in encouragingly. "And you too Mila, I don't want you to miss out on the festival again because of me."

"I already said I would stay with you, otherwise you might die of boredom." Mila laughed.

Upon hearing this, Hashirama's eyes shifted between the two to his left and a sly grin crept across his face.

"I have an idea!" he announced suddenly. "You deserve a break, Mila, and I need someone to show me around the festival. How about my dear brother here keeps Aroka company for a while? That way you can enjoy the festival without having to worry about her being alone!"

"Um..." Mila blinked, eyeing Hashirama questioningly. "I don't know…"

"It'll be fine! Aroka, don't you think Mila deserves to have some fun?" he turned to the seer enthusiastically.

"Of course, I'll be fine, Mila, you just go enjoy yourself ok?" she urged as her friend hesitantly stood up.

"I-"

"Great! Then in that case we're off!" Hashirama declared, rushing Mila off the platform before turning back to the seated pair. "Have fun you two!"

Aroka blinked a few times as the familiar lines quickly grew further from her own.

"What was that about?" she tilted her head.

"That idiot…" Tobirama muttered, having quite clearly seen the wink his brother sent him before he left. "I swear the next time I see him…"

"Hm? Did you say something?"

"Nothing."

As the next hour crept by, the two were silent, not a word nor glance exchanged between them. The noises of the festival around them was loud, yet not loud enough to fill the silence. Aroka, for one, was growing more anxious by the minute, fidgeting with her hands and trying to come up with the right words to say.

"You know…" she said finally, "You really don't have to stay with me. You should go enjoy the festival."

For a moment there was no response and Aroka's nerves were ready to explode.

"Why do you like it so much?" Tobirama asked suddenly.

"Hm?" Aroka blinked, caught off guard by the question.

"This festival. You were excited when you were talking about it yet you don't even get to participate. So why?"

Aroka's eyes lowered in contemplation; she'd never really thought about it before.

"I suppose it's just because everyone else is excited." she smiled softly. "I don't really get to be around many people in my daily life so seeing everyone gathered in one place, happy about the same thing, it makes me feel less… alone? I don't know."

Tobirama glanced down at her, studying the seer with an unreadable expression.

"Why do you always isolate yourself in your room?" he asked, again taking her by surprise.

"I don't mean to, it's just difficult when I can't see. Outside my room I have to rely on someone to guide me and it's a lot to ask of anyone, even Mila, so I tend to stay inside where I can at least see to some extent with my chakra." she explained, eyes still downcast.

As she was met with no response, another silence fell between them, heavier this time. She was just about to give up on reconciling with the man when she heard a rustling noise beside her.

"Get up."

She turned towards him in confusion.

"What?"

"Get up." he repeated, pulling her up by the hand.

"Where are we going?"

"To the festival."

"Wait, Tobirama, I'm not supposed to leave the-"

"Didn't you tell me to go enjoy the festival?"

"Yes but-"

"Then you're coming with me." he pulled her off the partitioned platform, leaving no room for argument.

Toru, for reasons unknown to him, glanced back at the seats behind him just in time to see Aroka stepping off the stage, led by the younger Senju. He frowned and opened his mouth before closing it again, realizing there was no way she would hear him through over all the commotion. He could only sit back and reluctantly watch her disappear among the crowd.

As the pair slipped into the bustling streets, Aroka clung closer to Tobirama for fear of getting lost, pressing firmly against his arm while his hand still held hers. She felt dozens of passerbys bump and brush past her as they made their way deeper into the noise of the festival.

"Where are we going?" she tugged at his sleeve, still concerned about leaving the others.

"Where do you want to go?" he asked in return.

"I… I don't know, I've never been outside the seating platform before."

"Hn."

As the two continued down the lively street, Tobirama noticed that a number of villagers were quite surprised upon seeing Aroka, though when he glanced down at her it was clear she paid this no mind, if she even noticed at all.

The night's spring air was warm and fresh, under the soft glow of the lanterns it almost seemed like a different reality; neither quite sure of where they were headed, though neither minded anyways.

As they continued their journey with no destination, Aroka noticed fewer and fewer people bumping into her; the crowd was becoming thinner as they grew further from the heart of the village. The noises were steadily quieting as well and soon they could almost hear the insects singing their midnight songs, the roar of the festival only a distant rumble.

"Where are we?" she asked, no longer clinging to him as there were now few others around.

"A pond." Tobirama answered, a bit surprised himself. He had never seen it before, but that was probably because he hadn't been in this part of the village until now.

"Oh, really? We've gone further than I thought." Aroka mused, staring blankly ahead. "There's a bench somewhere around here…"

Tobirama, having already noticed the stone seat, guided her over to where it sat facing the center of the pond. Aroka was rather disappointed when his hand let go of hers but was again reassured when she felt him settle not far to her right.

"It's nice, isn't it?" she thought aloud, staring warmly at the pond.

"How would you know?" Tobirama asked, though his tone was much softer than his words.

"I've seen it before." she chuckled nostalgically. "When we were younger Mila and I would come down here sometimes. I'd always wanted to see it so one day, when no one else was around, I let my chakra spread over the pond. It was the really pretty, the first one I'd ever seen; I remember there were frogs in the water that day, a swan too!" she laughed.

Tobirama glanced at the woman beside him, his gaze remaining longer this time.

"Does it have a name?" he asked, watching her stare unseeingly into the waters.

"It does." she nodded, though her smile faltered noticeably. "Hayako Pond."

Tobirama paused, quickly remembering why the name seemed so familiar.

"Hayako. The first seer." he recalled.

Aroka looked down at her lap.

"Look, about what happened that night," she bit her lip. "I know I should have told you sooner, I didn't mean to lie to you, I just… I don't know...I thought it would be better if you didn't have to worry about it..."

Tobirama remained silent, prompting Aroka's anxiety to skyrocket.

"Please don't be upset." she turned to him pleadingly, hands softly clutching his arm. "I know I shouldn't have, I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to-"

She was cut off by a pair of warm lips against hers.

She instantly froze, eyes widening with shock, but as quickly as it was there, it was gone.

A long silence fell between them as Aroka blinked repeatedly.

"I'm… I didn't mean to do that." Tobirama said quickly, averting his eyes once he realized what he'd done. He didn't know what came over him. What was he thinking? She would never want anything to do with him after such an unwelcome gesture. He had to leave.

Quickly, he stood up and started back towards the center of the village, eager to run from his mistake, but before he could take two steps something stopped him.

He looked back to see Aroka gasping his arm between her hands, eyes round with an emotion he couldn't quite identify. Though he knew she couldn't see him, her eyes bore directly into his and, for some reason, the thought of escaping vanished from his mind.

They stood like that for a long while, silent, staring into each other's eyes, until Aroka finally took a step forward and wrapped her arms around him. After a few moments she felt strong arms pull her closer, causing her heart skip a beat. She didn't have the right words to say but that didn't matter. She simply smiled and closed her eyes, burying her head in his chest.