"Is everything alright?"

Resting her head on her husband's chest, Sumi felt it vibrate when he spoke. She allowed her fingers to play with the hem of his sleeping shirt's collar, nails occasionally grazing his warm skin. Shifting, she sat up on the bed to face him.

"Mego said something to me, and… I can't stop thinking about it." Tobirama nodded, encouraging her to continue. "She said I've forsaken our clan, and, well… I really haven't done anything for its wellbeing since coming here."

He appeared thoughtful, taking his time to absorb her words. His narrow eyes found hers, while he crossed his arms across his chest – a loving habit of his whenever he was about to start explaining something. He read and studied a lot, and in turn seemed to enjoy spreading his knowledge. Sumi couldn't help but find it endearing.

"Coming here was what you did for the Uchiha's wellbeing. You've taken the risk of marrying an enemy, and you've done a great job getting along with everyone." Pausing for a few moments, he seemed to ponder hesitantly on his coming words. "She has no place questioning you, living safely among her kin as she is. I know she's your friend, but that's the truth."

Sighing, she nodded, feeling a tad bit better.

"I told her how everyone has doubts about Madara. She got really angry. I'm thinking perhaps I shouldn't have. He is our leader, after all."

"Not for much longer, I'd say." Tobirama shook his head. "Among the Uchiha folk I had a chance to talk to, barely anyone had a good word to say about him."

"At least it's a relief that Mego is safe. She became very protective of Madara, I think she's even happy with him." Something Sumi herself had a hard time imagining. He had only ever made her afraid and miserable, which was more or less the case with most their clansmen. Tobirama remained silent for a while before asking:

"How was he to you?"

A tired sigh escaped her at the begrudging memory, and she paused to carefully pick the information she'd give him. Bad blood among them was dreadful enough, her husband didn't need to know how Madara vexed and mistreated her since the first day she started living in his house. Clearing her throat, she began.

"Same as he was to everyone, except I often had to be around him since Mego always was." She gestured dismissively, hoping Tobirama wouldn't ask about the details. "He seemed to dislike me especially, for some reason."

"He's a fool to dislike you." A chuckle slipped her at his ever-deadpan expression that he maintained even while saying something as sweet as what he had just told her. She scooted a bit closer, letting her hand travel to rest on his cheek.

"You make me happy." She whispered, having suddenly felt the need to say that. "I actually… haven't felt this safe, probably ever. I wish my clan knew that, and all the others. It's important." Tobirama's gaze softened, which more often than not served him as a substitute for a smile.

"It is important. They'll see it soon, too."

Sumi was aware that everyone treated her differently mostly because of the high status she attained by marrying a clan leader's son. Still, even if she used to be a handmaiden, her real family was very well respected among the Uchiha. Yet, she grew up with Amako chiding her over every little thing, Mego dragging her into trouble, noblewomen looking down on her and noblemen feeling free to bother her as they saw fit. She always minded her words, lowered her gaze and even despite all that felt powerless to do anything but pray they wouldn't take their frustrations out on her.

Among the Senju, however, she not only felt safe, but respected as well. Not everyone would be like that, she knew, but still she wanted to make sure her clan learned of how happy she was with them. Maybe Madara would then pose a lesser threat to the survival of this wonderful village they had created for themselves.

Focusing on Tobirama once more, she came closer yet, and leisurely straddled his hips. The subtle knitting of his brows caused her to smile, now knowing he tended to scowl when embarrassed. His warm hand reaching hers and interlacing their fingers proved her right, and she felt free to proceed and place a small kiss upon his lips. He cleared his throat, avoiding her eyes, looking as if he wished to say something.

"Is something wrong?" She carefully questioned. He wasn't the one to often make advances, and was somewhat timid when it came to romance, but was more and more relaxed every time they kissed. Much more than he was at the moment, that is.

"I…" He gulped, his fingers restless against hers. "I wondered if you want to… m-make love?" He finally asked, holding her gaze, even though he clearly strained to do so. Sumi felt a small gasp leave her lips. He watched her reaction, attentively, and although she did her best to conceal her dismay, she knew he must have picked up on her accelerated breathing.

"You don't?" His voice asked, as gentle as it was deep.

Sumi lowered her gaze. Of course she wanted to. Since the day he first took her here and they shared a kiss, the thoughts of being intimate with him wouldn't leave her. But she still hadn't made up her mind about telling him the truth of her maidenhood, and frankly didn't expect him to be the one to propose they have sex. Having already gotten used to his restraint, she assumed she would eventually make the first move, once she had figured out whether she'd tell him or not.

"I do, just…" She started quietly, going silent when she felt his hand cup her cheek. He actually offered one of his small smiles.

"I am not experienced, either, but" A chuckle broke his sentence. "I'm sure we can figure it out." He joked.

"That's the problem, Tobirama…" Sumi bit her lip, forcing herself to face him. "I am."

"You're what—" His words died down, and his smooth expression was disrupted by a frown. No, not the kind he gave her when he felt bashful, or confused. He was serious. And would probably soon become angry.

His fingers abandoned hers, and he sat up on the bed, forcing her to awkwardly get off of him. His gaze held unappealing severity, waiting. Her only option was to explain herself, and beg the gods he would understand.

….

"For fuck's sake, Hashirama!" Mego backed away from the door of Madara's study upon hearing him shout. She heard Sumi's brother in law had come to visit and planned on greeting him, although it seemed she would be wiser to stay away. Unable to contain her curiosity, however, she stayed close to the door, waiting to hear what was going on.

Madara complied to occasionally tell her when something happened during his meetings with the other clans, so she thought there wouldn't be any harm in her listening. They were most likely able to sense her, anyway, and would probably have already asked her to leave if she bothered them.

"Are you even listening?! The fucking Hyuuga attacked an Uchiha girl! A child! Just because she happened to walk into their building site! Am I supposed to let that go?!" Sighing, Mego remembered everyone's astonishment at the news. It spread like wildfire. Thankfully, the girl was steadily recovering. Mego had just seen her that morning. She offered to keep an eye on her needs as the leader's wife. Madara was too busy as is.

"Of course not." She heard Hashirama's voice, patient, appeasable. "We're dealing with that. The Hyuuga insisted they'd take full responsibility, and have already locked him up. You know I wouldn't allow your people to be harassed."

"Who gives a fuck that they locked him up?! The damage is done! And it will happen again! And you—" She jolted in her spot upon hearing something break inside the room, as if an object was thrown at the wall. "—instead of considering that bringing others to the village wasn't such a good idea, after all, you tell me you're going to marry the Uzumaki bitch and let them in too!"

The other said nothing, as the silence prolonged, interrupted solely by Madara's erratic breathing.

"Everything I said I'm against," He began gruffly, his voice bearing the signs of his exhaustion. "You've done anyway. I am the founder of this place too. I took the first step, I worked just as hard as you!"

"You did, Madara, but people chose me to lead them! I can't do anything but what I think is best for everyone. Incidents happen among the people of the same clan, much less here! I'm sorry, but they're staying. The village needs them."

"Our two clans set the ground for all this. And now when the worst had passed, the Uchiha are excessive?"

One of them let out a tired sigh – Hashirama, Mego assumed.

"No, not the Uchiha." He paused. "Just you."

"Ha." The sound Madara produced sounded almost like a laugh. "Get out."

"I honestly hope you will come around. There is no one I would rather work with, and y—"

"But, I'm not working with you, am I? I'm working for you."

"That's not true."

"I already asked you leave. I won't ask again."

"Oh…" Mego gasped, looking around, wondering which direction she should go, but the door opened before she had the chance to even make a step. The Senju walked out, solemn, sad, nodding her a quiet greeting as he passed her by. "My lord." She acknowledged, watching his tall figure disappear down the corridor.

Pondering on whether it would be better to leave Madara be or try talking to him, Mego inhaled a sharp breath at the sound of footsteps approaching. He spared her a sullen glance, not bothering to slow down as he made his way past her. Shaking her head disapprovingly, she decided she wouldn't let him keep her out and sulk for days again.

"You can't ignore me every time something bad happens. I told you to talk to me about anything."

"Leave me alone. I'll talk to you once I've calmed down."

Sighing, she decided to leave him be until bedtime. He wouldn't be able to avoid her then, and by that hour, he would already have settled. Instead, she went to get Toya so they could go outside. She tried helping where she could, having joined a few women from their clan in planting trees around the Uchiha grounds. Now that they had all established their houses in the village and made it livable at last, it was time to make it homely.

All the while, she was forced to wonder if it was all for nothing? The amount of resources, hard work and sweat the men put into building the place, dirtying of the women's hands and dresses as they cleaned or farmed… Was it all in vain?

….

"So, you are telling me you intend to do nothing about it?" Madara asked his council, composed of four Uchiha shinobi. Three were elders, and one was his senior by a few years. They thought like one head, and had equal amount of wits about them, if you asked him. Takaharu, by far the oldest in the council, cleared his throat to start speaking, but ended up surrendering to a comically long coughing fit. Instead, Tobei, the young one, seized the word.

"From what we gathered, the responsible man is considered a scum even among the Hyuuga." He began slowly, emphasizing each word as if he was talking to a child. Or an idiot. "Their leader was swift to react. I see no reason to think of the incident as animosity against the Uchiha. Nothing suggests the man wouldn't have attacked someone from his own clan if they happened to walk by instead of the girl."

"Nothing suggests that he would, either." Madara leaned forward, supporting himself against the large table. "We let this go, and when it happens again, then what?"

"So what would you have us do? Attack the Hyuuga?" Tobei mocked. "We're in no condition to fight them. Not to mention they would undoubtedly be backed up by the Senju, and possibly, Uzumaki!"

A few murmurs of agreement resonated across the room. Madara knew exactly what the man was attempting, being the one to continuously challenge every decision he had made since becoming the leader. Tobei's own late father competed with Tajima for the position, he must have hoped he would be the one to make it.

"Nothing that severe, I'm not stupid." He lowered his tone, catching the man's gaze and holding it on purpose. "I would have us protest as a clan, united, and press Hashirama to consider evicting them. And to reconsider his decision to allow Uzumaki in, too. This village is neither large nor stable enough for four such great clans. Not yet, at the very least."

"You don't think they wouldn't press him to the same to us, if we did that? Uzumaki Mito is his betrothed, he is bound to keep their interests."

"We were the first to work on all of this! We fought for the land, we changed the whole system shinobi were stuck in for centuries! And you're saying we have no rights?"

"If I may, leader." Takaharu creaked, having reclaimed control of his breathing. "You did a great thing joining with Senju Hashirama. You allowed us a taste of peace after a long, long time." His hoary voice bore patience and observance as he spoke. "We mean to keep that peace. And that takes compromise."

Madara knew that, of course, and he nodded slowly along with the rest of them. However, he remained unconvinced.

"Accommodations have to be made on both ends to be called compromise. All we've done since coming here was obey the Senju. I intend to do something about it."

Frowning, he noted Tobei rolled his eyes.

"Then you're alone, Madara. We'll have no part in it, alright?"

"I am trying to do what's best for the clan! I was chosen to lead—"

"You weren't, though." Tobei met his gaze, cynically raising his brows at him. "You've inherited it." He paused, appearing hesitant for a moment. "And you're grievously unfit."

"So that's it." A knowing chuckle escaped him. "You believe you'd do a better job?"

"Any of us in the council would, is what I believe. But," The man raised his hand defensively. "I wouldn't dream of fighting you for it. That would be a bigger fool's errand than whatever you're doing with the Hyuuga."

Closing his eyes for a few still moments, Madara inhaled a deep breath. A laugh erupted from his chest, and a louder one at the way the men watched him, confused, worried.

"You don't have to." He smiled coldly. "I'll let you have it."

Leaving the council room, he heard their distraught murmuring behind him. Sighing in relief, he realized he would actually never have to speak to or even look at any of them. The comfort was somewhat disturbed by understanding he really couldn't keep living among them like this.

All his hard work, every idea, every proposition he ever made – all rejected. No, mocked, even. They looked down on him, gossiped, apparently made up their mind to be as disagreeable as possible no matter what he did. Yet, without a doubt, they would happily utilize his capability in battle when it suited them.

Oh, no. They wouldn't any longer. And neither would Hashirama.

Barging into the house, he looked for Mego, annoyed because she didn't seem to be home. She pestered him when it was least called for, and was nowhere to be found now when he actually needed her. Regardless, he went to their bedroom and started begrudgingly packing his things.

He was done with it all.

Note: I have been busy editing previous chapters recently. Since the story is quite old, my writing style changed a lot, so I just wanted to make it more presentable. You don't have to go back to read them, as the essential plot is the same. Thanks for reading! :)