The clash of swords and kunai filled the battlefield as the Uchiha and Senju fought. It was as Hashirama had thought, they took advantage of his retreat to create an ambush. It was the reason he left the Uzumaki so quickly, he had forgotten the predicament the clan had been in. Any enemy would use such a retreat to his advantage and it was expected of the Uchiha to do such a thing. Fortunately his brother was capable of planning ahead for such cases. Tobirama had been furious for his disappearance. Not long after he arrived back did an ambush ensue. They had been battling for hours and even with the upper hand the Uchiha had, the Senju were still going strong. It was no time to waste and Hashirama knew that so in order to even things out quickly he had to use some of his advanced jutsu.
Needless to say Madara and been both shocked and angered when he revealed his tricks. Once things were evened out he took his attention to his former friend. Hashirama was determined to find a way to keep his trust, regardless of what Tobirama always told him. He loved his brother dearly but the whole reason things did not work out was because of his lack of trust.
He was worried though, Mito was not to meet him yet and things started to fall apart. Keeping things together was much harder than he realized. Though seeing her again made him happier and more determined than he had been beforehand. Finding a way to get her to like him was difficult, especially since it took her time to warm up to him when they were married the first time. The only real worry he had right now was how Sakura would fare with the Uzumaki... and if they would even assist them in the battle against the Uchiha in the future when that fateful day came.
Madara landed near him, swords ready in his hands. It took no time at all for Hashirama to turn to him, ready to fight. It would be some time before he would gain the Eternal Mangekyo and fight relentlessly. Hashirama started to wonder if he made the right choice with his plan to allow Izuna to die. He could change things by allowing him to live, all he needed was a few good pushes for things to head the right way. But as he looked over to Tobirama and Izuna fighting, he knew he made the right decision when speaking with Sakura.
"Hashirama!" Madara shouted, gaining his attention back.
"Madara," he replied. Without another word, both jumped at each other.
Night had fallen before the Uchiha decided to retreat, using the cloud covered sky to give them an escape. The Senju leader called everyone back, ceasing their needless battle and to return home for some well deserved time for themselves. Few men had reluctantly returned, wanting to go after the other clan and take as many down as possible. Hashirama's supposed new found power gave them too much morale. He had hoped to avoid that.
"Why!?" Tobirama shouted as they returned to the campsite.
"Tobirama, we needed to get out of there regardless. Too many people could have been killed," he replied, hands on his hips as he argued further.
"You mean the Uchiha," he retorted as he went into the house. Hashirama huffed, the way Tobirama turned on him after battle was unexpected.
"Enough. It was also for our well being. Leave it at that," he said as he began to take his armor off.
"Is that so? Then please explain the new techniques you have learned almost overnight," Tobirama said with a glare. Hashirama froze, trying to think of a good explanation.
"I did not learn them overnight. I have been training to use them on my own. You honestly think someone could suddenly learn such a technique without much practice?" he laughed, covering up his lame excuse.
"I'm not buying it. I know you better," he said before taking his armor off. "And where were you after that abrupt retreat?"
"I may have run into some allies. I have a plan. Trust me," Hashirama said casually.
"I am really starting to question your leadership," Tobirama mumbled as his brother looked around before heading back out. Something was not right, especially how stressed he was. He had never seen his brother so worried and confused; whatever has happened to him was a problem that they did not need. It was bad enough that he always wanted to create a truce with the Uchiha.
Hashirama took the time to figure out a real excuse. He did not expect it to be so hard to not tell anyone his secret. Hell, it was still shocking to him. In the middle of battle he just gained all those memories without warning and knew he had to find the girl before something bad happened. He was the Hashirama from this time but with the future memories of another.
Hagoromo never did say what would happen if they were to return to a time that they existed in. Instead of two of the same entities being in one timeline, they merged. He had already been dead beforehand so it was actually better off that way when he thought about it. He knew he had to write Sakura as soon as he could, but with enough time to adjust to her new home. Once he felt things were settled then they would probably discuss what to do. First he had to make sure he figured out where in the timeline they were sent. It was not too far back before Konoha but it was far enough back to being able to manipulate things. Just how effective was this plan going to be?
Mito sighed as she made her way through the village to Tori Tower. She had gotten a message, as Hashirama told her she would, just a little while before they had arrived. After getting Sakura settled and some food, she decided it would be best to find out what exactly he wanted immediately. She walked up the stairs slowly, so she could look over the village. It was growing rapidly since they moved into their own village within the Island they claimed. They had lost many within the last decade but because of those losses, Mito felt determined to help the clan with any new methods. That was one reason she was going to allow Sakura to even meet with the Clan Leader.
The strange girl had extraordinary skill that Mito had not seen from one ordinary person from a clan with no name. No one has been able to flawlessly rid themselves of any type of poison she had made. That and the fact that the Senju were on her side. It was still a little odd to her how things were happening, but in the end it did not matter. Of all things it was the medics the Uzumaki did not have and she would provide the skill to teach. It could help benefit the clan for the future, she would need to keep an eye on this one. Yet another burden placed upon her.
She did feel sorry for the girl, it was obvious by the way she looked and how nervous she acted that this was new to her. Mito found no reason for the girl to lie nor did she find anything that would be considered a lie. Except for her mark, she had to find out where she learned it. She had yet to see her full power and what she could do, so she had to find a time to challenge her in order to fully understand Sakura.
She made her way to the top, looking around for the bird with two scrolls. She quic kly grabbed them before the bird flew over to a handler, released the seals and began to read it. The first one was a message to be sent to the Clan Leader about a truce, something she knew would cause a long discussion later. Whatever Hashirama had to say in the other scroll could only be about Sakura. Their relationship was still suspicious to her. All his message would be about was him rambling about the same thing they talked about before, a truce and the pinkette.
He did have good intentions, that was for certain. He was also charming in his own confusing way which made her a little confused. His discussion was mostly an effort to convince her to allow the two to stay with the Uzumaki and what the girl could do for them, he would constantly look her in the eye with a look that made her blush. It felt like he knew her on a personal level, staring right through her. Somehow it was more of a gentleness that came from him that she did not expect, never unease like most.
After reading further she grabbed writing material to prepare a response immediately. Even through his message the man was flirting. With a sigh she sat down and began to write, updating him of Sakura's status thus far. Not sending a reply would probably be best since he was making small talk with it but she felt obligated to reply.
"Of all there is, a medic you bring to us." She tensed when he spoke, trying to hide Hashirama's scroll in her sleeve without her grandfather noticing.
"Ojii-sama, it is good to see you have arrived` ," she replied, continuing to write.
"Honestly from what you have told me Mito, the Senju are making some dangerous decisions and I cannot help but feel worried. You spoke highly of the leader in a way that can only worry me as your guardian," he said with his hands behind his back.
"Hashirama is a good man, I sense nothing but good intentions from him. A bit unorthodox it would seem. A risk taker but a good man no less. The girl on the other hand is without family and we are to provide for those without such are we not?" she asked, glancing over at him.
"True," he sighed. "But it seems too convenient to me. Whatever he is planning cannot be good." His voice was stern and serious, with worry in his words.
"Ojii-sama are you not the one who said to always follow our own Uzumaki instinct?" she questioned as she stood to face him.
"Hai," he said, brows knitted. He did not like his own words used against him.
"Then let me follow my instinct. I have a good feeling about this, let me worry about the girl and you worry about the clan. And as for the Senju, try to think of the truce he has offered."
Mito grabbed the first scroll for him and allowed him to read. She could see him contemplating it with much thought as he read. Presentation and impressions was key to winning her grandfather over, so at least with the formality showed she knew he would start to reconsider. The only reason he had so much worry was because the former leader, Senju Butsuma, had been so driven to get rid of threats instead of trying to make peace with anyone. Especially the Uchiha. Hashirama may be the one to change his mind about them if he played this right. After a minute of looking it over, he gave a defeated sigh. Her heart had never raced as much as it did when she waited for his response. He rolled the scroll up and set it to the side, still lost in thought. He did not throw it out. That was a good sign.
"Mito-chan, it seems you will be in charge for some time. I will be setting up a time to head to the mainland to meet with the Senju," he said before turning to leave.
"Hai," she replied in shock.
"I worry you are putting too much on yourself," he said with a sense of sadness in his tone. It had been a long time since he let his guard down.
"Ojii-sama, I want this clan to flourish. If they are to do so, we must make our own sacrifices," she told him while giving a side glance in his direction.
His demeanor did not change before he began to move to leave without another word. She knew he would not answer, it was what he wanted to hear but not from her. She took a personal oath to protect everyone since Uzashi and many others came to them. Her own family died to protect them in this useless war. Growing to marry, have a big family to provide to the clan was not her purpose anymore even if that was what he wanted. She would be one of the foundations to allow others to do so peacefully.
She waited until she was sure her grandfather was fully gone before grabbing the scroll and rereading it. She only glanced over it before, not giving it much thought since it was not for her. Obviously he had to impress her grandfather in order to make him go to the mainland. She quickly set it back before heading back to her message, addressing the current situation and giving him some warning. She was as formal as one could get, though the anxiety was bubbling up.
When he spoke to her, he acted as if they were on equal ground and he was truly convinced Sakura was indeed an innocent in all this. An essential piece in helping them establish peace. He brought a smile to her face when he spoke and Mito had no idea why. Deep down her heart wanted to believe him so they could finally breathe easy knowing no one would bother them for the techniques of the Uzumaki. Then maybe she could find her future, perhaps that could be the reason.
