Tales Of The Warring States Era

by Freestyle 763

Growing up in the Era Of The Warring States is hell on earth. One is trained to be a weapon of mass destruction with chakra and nothing more. Alliances are forged, that transcend time. This is a story of those who rise, fall, and endure in this era. AU.

133. Flare

The landscape remained thick with vegetation, but the air began to change. It got hotter, more moist. Humidity was hanging thick in the air, rain was falling down in sheets, and rivers and lakes ran in every direction. The air was rich with oxygen. Mountains slowly gave way to flatter land, dense with vegetation, and growing even more dense.

More rivers and lakes rolled beside them, deep blue, and shaded with varying depths. Lines marked where vegetation and schools of fish were. Ahead of them, the flowing bodies of water crashed against the shores of the land shrouded in mist and sunlight.

Sadao felt his breath catch. It was stunningly beautiful. An untouchd and practically unknown plac, exuding life and wilderness. It was almost intimidating. This was a place that had never been visited by humans before.

Sweeping beaches began where massive jungle ended and contorted, and inland there were verdant hills, and mountains, protruding ridges, and wounds of ravines that hadn't been touched by sunlight for centuries. This place could have been millions of years old. This was primal.

There were no signs of human influence anywhere. No roads, clearings, buildings, paths, or anything along those lines. There were no signs of communities or the smallest of footpaths. There were no signs of deforestation caused by shinobi battles.

Leaves flittered through the air. Flocks of birds rose and scattered among the leaves. The ground rose sharply, falling away again into a deep valley, its bottom marked by what appeared to be a dark channel that could be a river. It could be an even deeper descent into darkness.

The land extended to his left and right, and ahead it rose inland towards a range of mountains and massive ridges. It was gigantic. There was alien plant life. Long, green, massive, and twisting spouts of vegetation brimmed with hundreds of thousands of gallons of water—leaves the size of mountains sprouted from every possible place.

All of the water converged and showered the whole surrounding landscape in a fine mist. The trees swayed in the gentle breeze. It carried the mist like it was pollen, and it spread even more. A rainbow stretched across the entire horizon, shining in the sun's embrace.

Mount Myouboku was truly a rich and beautiful land. The land coming here was rice and beautiful. Sadao knew there wasn't another place like this in the world. What the Subatsu had fought for, and protected with their lives, was beyond precious. A safe haven for all animals, and all things that creep and crawl, and breathe.

Where no humans roamed. Where the danger of humans was nonexistent. Where the danger of shinobi was nonexistent.

Syrus came to a stop, standing in a mist shower. "I forgot what a wonderful place this is."

Sadao smirked, holding back his laugh. "I never thought I'd hear you say something like that."

"Nature is harmony." Syrus said with a blank expression.

"You sound like that is so obvious."

"It is." Syrus tilted his head. "Didn't you ever just stare at your homeland and find a sense of peace?"

Sadao mulled that over. "I suppose. We only have snow, ice, and more snow. Nothing like this."

Syrus waved his hand. "Point still remains."

"I guess."

Nagakura surveyed the area, and his eyes softened. He looked into a river, watching fish scatter and surge across the streams. He heard the scurrying of critters behind him. He could hear them grazing, and drinking from the clean rivers and streams, he could even hear the buzz of wasps and other airborne predators.

He swatted at one when it came too close.

"Damn wasp."

They advanced further. The ground clapped with each footstep. Soggy and damp. There were puddles in grass, but one wouldn't realize that until they took a step and their foot was sunk halfway into mud and grim. Sadao kept his eyes roaming around the landscape, his senses were stretched to their limit, he searched for any chakra—any chakra that was distinguished.

Finally, they made it to the land covered in mist and sun. The sand thy trekked through was almost white, and the water was a clear blue. It took roughly a half hour, but they finally made it to a stone platform where a brown liquid was pouring down into a pool.

Sadao narrowed his eyes as a chakra approached them. He focused on the location it came from, and sure enough, something came hopping out from the vegetation. A green toad, with yellow eyes, to be exact.

"A toad?"

Nagakura looked at him. "This is the Land of Toads."

The toad stopped short of them. Wariness was clear in its body language. The way its wide mouth firmed, its beg eyes narrowed, and most noticeable, how it kept its distance from the three men made it very clear.

"Syrus and Nagakura of the Subatsu. Sadao of the Mo."

Syrus stared at the green toad. He could already tell which direction this was going to go. "I have a few questions that need answers. Take me to your leader."

"Leader? Do you mean a sage?"

"Don't play dumb." Nagakura said, eyes hard. "I mean your leader who all of you report to."

Sadao stepped forward, smiling briefly. "It'll be in your best interest to take us to him. It is clear from your answers and reactions that you are not privy to what happened, which means your leader is either waiting for us, or is expecting us to come."

The green toad looked between the three men, eyes narrowing more and more. There wasn't anger or even disgust in its eyes, only caution. Fear. He knew of the reputations these men had, and knew they wouldn't hesitate to run him through with one of their swords.

The Subatsu had always protected their land, and by extension, them. They never asked for anything in return nor wanted anything. It was strange that they were here. Did his leader do something to slight Syrus? It wasn't the wisest thing to do.

"Come with me."

"Tell me your name." Syrus said, voice growing cold.

"I am the young Fuku." The toad replied. "I am not privy to what leader does. His ways are mysterious and he only has these ramblings, of sorts."

Fuku jumped at a great pace, but the three men stayed just a few feet behind him. They took in the landscape and architecture. The alien plant life that swelled with life. The soggy air that made sweat cling to their skin. What little architecture there was—was made from stone and rocks, arranged to form temples.

The biggest temple was just coming up. It stood head and shoulders above the rest. One long protrusion came out from the top. Two long protrusions came out from its side on the left and right. Carvings of toads and ancient symbols decorated the massive temple. At least four hundred stairs lead to the entrance, dark and foreboding.

The trio walked up every single stair. They were too numerous and built at an odd angle for them to just skip up a few dozen like their guide was. They could step up extremely fast, but even that would come with its risks of missing their footing. These stairs were built specifically for toads. Not for humans.

Giant scrolls lined every inch of the temple as they stepped in. Syrus took special care not to step on any of them and maneuvered around them swiftly. A shallow pool of water bounced light off of the dark ceiling. It couldn't be more than a few feet deep at best. Syrus looked up, taking note of the large toad seated before him.

There was power in this place. Subtle. Lucid. Surreal. It was tangible, but at the same time seemed just out of grasp. It wasn't like chakra. It was as ancient as time itself. Perhaps chakra had been rolled over and over through the walls over thousands of centuries to give it such an atmosphere, but…

Syrus knew there was something more to it.

The toad seated in the shallow pool of water was nearly as large as the temple itself—his head just short of touching the ceiling. He was brown in color, with a white belly and very wrinkled. His eyes were still open, but there was a haze in them and in a few years time, or a few decades, this toad would start to squint. He wore a professor's hat with tassels and an orb rested on top of it. He also wore a necklace with the symbol for oil on it.

"Gamamaru-sama, you have visitors that request an audience with you." Fuku said, hopping up on a ledge.

"Eh?" The large toad held a hand to his ear. "Can you repeat that?"

"Syrus and Nagakura of the Subatsu and Sadao of the Mo are here to speak with you."

Gamamaru nodded his head, turning his ancient eyes onto the three men below him. He let out a low, groaning hum as his eyes focused. "Why didn't you say that from the beginning, young Fuku? Leave us."

"Yes, sir." Fuku hopped away.

"Gamamaru." Nagakura started, eyeing the large toad. "One of your toads has interfered in our business."

"Yes, that battle with the Hyuga...Right?"

"That is the one." Syrus said, tone sharp. "Care to explain why a toad was warning them of our attack?"

"In the future, there will be a boy with blue eyes. A woman will remain steadfast at his side. It is because of her that he won't turn to darkness."

Syrus looked at Sadao and then at Nagakura. The second man shared the same look as him. Anger. Disgust. Disbelief. Syrus wanted a straight answer, he didn't want a senile rambling of some far fetched future bullshit. The future was constantly changing, always, and there was no way to see or predict it.

"That is a load of bullshit." Syrus remarked.

Gamamaru looked down at the wild haired man.

"Those fucking Hyuga attack our children and you dare to inferfere! On the grounds of some brat who hasn't even been running down his mother's leg yet!? You cross the Subatsu, you cross the Mo, you incite our wrath by doing what you did, and that is your only explanation!?"

Gamamaru shifted a bare inch. The fury emitting from Syrus was poisonous. It was thick like the humid air in this land. He knew how enraged the Subatsu would become when their children were attacked. It is why Hijikata went on the war path when he had been alive still, why they hunted down all of their enemies and cut them down.

That had to be done, in order to preserve the future. Humans wouldn't understand, and he didn't really understand it himself. He just knew there would be a boy with blue eyes. He would set the shinobi world on the right track. The woman who stood at his side was of Hyuga descent.

"The future is always changing and shifting. It can't be seen, read, or predicted."

"You seem to think you can do all three of those things, considering you sent one of your toads to warn the Hyuga." Nagakura snarled, hand going for the hilt of his sword.

"I think you're forgotting that Summonings can still be killed and die, Gamamaru...Which includes you." Syrus growled, eyes glinting.

"I see a boy with blue eyes. A hyuga is beside him."

Sadao cleared his throat gently. He set a hand on Syrus's shoulder and Nagakura's shoulder. This is why he had come with. With Syrus and Nagakura doing the talking, there wouldn't be much of that going on. They'd snap sooner rather than later, and they'd bring down hellfire on this place. Nothing would be accomplised.

"Gamamaru does she hail from the main branch or side branch?" Sadao prodded.

"That I do not know."

Sadao chuckled, amused. "Certainly you have more than the ramblings of the future, nothing short of a senile senior babbling nothing but nonsense?"

Hopefully this large toad would come up with a better explanation. Sadao wasn't sure how much longer he'd be able to hold back Nagakura and Syrus from attacking. Nagakura was just a hair away from drawing his sword, and he could feel Syrus focusing his chakra,

Sadao hadn't sparred verbally with someone for a while now. He could always gain the upper hand on his foe or make them stumble so he could see their true intentions. He was decisive in his approach. If Gamamaru would ramble of the future, he'd have to use it to his advantage.

"Does this woman hail from the main branch or the side branch?"

"The main. She will be known as the princess of the Hyuga clan."

Nagakura drew his sword a fraction. "He's playing with us. Let's just kill him."

Sadao kept Nagakura at bay. "Did she come from Daiki's bloodline?"

"No, she comes from a Hyuga that is yet to be born."

"And, this boy with blue eyes?"

"He will come from an Uzumaki woman not yet born."

Sadao met the toad's ancient eyes with a fierce gaze. He could always be a charming diplomat, but when he wanted to be, he could be as cold as a glacier. Gamamaru probably couldn't see the future, as much as read current events, and anticipate what is to come. It was impressive, but faulty completely.

"So, why did you send one of your own to warn the Hyuga."

"Your clans would have killed the Hyuga until no adults remained. It'd make them an easy target for clans like the Sarutobi. The Hyuga woman must be born to keep the child with blue eyes on the right path. Hate will consume him otherwise."

"You better not interfere in our business again." Nagakura snarled.

Gamamaru wasn't fazed. "Everything depends on that child with blue eyes. Until he is born, the shinobi world will be wracked with calamities."

Nagakura drew his sword, and Syrus slammed his hands into the horse seal.

"The shinobi world is a twisted perversion. It has no merit. I will destroy the whole damn thing! Do you understand, you old ass fucking toad?"

"Killing me and destroying this place won't have any effect on the future." Gamamaru said.

"You can't see the future!" Syrus roared. "You stupid senile fucker. You stuck your nose where it doesn't belong."

"That is true…"

"Killing you will keep you from becoming a thorn in my side..." Syrus hissed.

"Nothing in the future is certain." Gamamaru commented. "But, I see a boy with blue eyes."

Nagakura hissed in frustration. Gamamaru was contradicting himself and going against what he said before. It was nothing short of infuriating and turning into a waste of time. He had better luck talking to his own grandpa when he had been alive than this old bag of toad bones.

As badly as he wanted to cut this old fool down, he also wanted to return his sword to its sheath. This toad wasn't worth the time or effort. It would only dirty his blade and bring a sour taste to his mouth. He wanted to cut someone down that could stand firmly behind what they said and believed, not someone who couldn't make up their mind.

A weak minded piece of garbage.

"Gamamaru, you and the toads have been interfering in human affairs since the time of Rikudo. You are a Summoning, and your land and your kind has been protected by me and my ancestors. You aren't a great sage, you are an old toad that needs to remember his debt. Humans could have laid waste to this land, and I can do it right now. Shall I speak to the Frogs and tell them how you interfered?"

Gamamaru stared at Syrus, and this time, he shifted back. He had never seen such a piercing and ghastly gaze in his lifetime. It chilled him completely. He also shifted back because the whole reason the Frogs didn't take aggressive action against him and his kin is because of the Subatsu. If Syrus told their leader about this incident…

It wouldn't be good, not at all.

"That isn't necessary. I understand where I overstepped my boundaries. If you inform them of this transgression, harmony will be broken. They won't be the only ones to take exception."

"You're not as stupid as you like to act." Nagakura remarked.

Syrus smirked, separating his hands. He wanted to use his Monorisu no Jutsu, but Gamamaru didn't need that much convincing it seemed. He was still robust enough mentally to understand the implications of the Frogs raiding this land. They were far more aggressive than the Toads, and their leader was hard as stone, unlike Gamamaru.

Simply put the Toads couldn't beat the Frogs in a fight. At one point, this land had been divided in two and the Frogs had one side, and the Toads had the other. It wasn't until one of the leaders who came before him approached both sides and got them to agree on something mutual.

The toads wanted all of this land. The Frogs only wanted a portion of it. More or less, it was to rub it in the Toad's faces, but it wasn't until the leader of the Subatsu got involved that the Frogs focus shifted from wanting a portion to wanting it all.

The Frogs got their own land where they could reside. Far from the Toads. The two would never meet each other again. It's been the way for hundreds of centuries now. The two still had their rivalry, but they weren't going to war, and they never crossed paths.

"Do you understand why I am so angry due to your interference?" Syrus questioned.

"This is a special case."

If the toads interfered at all, it would have been met with anger and fury. However, because the circumstances of this had to do with children being attacked, it was much worse. Quite frankly it was a miracle the whole Subatsu weren't here laying waste to everything. It could have happened easily enough, but they didn't want to destroy this beautiful land.

Their predecessors laid down their live to protect not just this place, but their entire homeland. To bring destruction to it, really went against everything the Subatsu stood for.

"If you ever get involved in our business again when one of our children are attacked, I will come back here with an army, with the Frogs, with the other Summonings, and we won't lay waste to this land. We'll kill all of you and take it. You and your kind have become hubris and ungrateful, clearly. Give me a reason why I shouldn't oust all of you right now?"

Syrus stared down Gamamaru.

"If you did that, it'd be an insult to the leaders who came before you and the Subatsu's creed."

Syrus stared down the giant toad, not blinking, not moving, and not even breathing. Gamamaru was old and had the senile act going, but he still had too much mental agility to be clowning around like he was. His eyes were still open, he didn't need to squint, yet. Quite frankly the whole thing was starting to piss him off.

"And, you do realize that your actions, and whatever toad you sent shows how ungrateful you are."

"A terrible mistake I will not repeat. I admit I acted in hast, believing that the Hyuga woman wouldn't be born."

"I'm going to wipe all of them out, so I don't have to hear that come out of your mouth."

Gamamaru leaned back. "That is impossible. They will join a secure village."

Syrus nearly lunged. "What is the village's name."

"I am not sure about that detail, but it is hidden in leaves and below a mountain."

Nagakura sheathed his sword, dragging a hand through his hair. "Pointless. He is rambling on and on about absolutely nothing."

Syrus didn't share the sentiment. He had an idea that Gamamaru anticipated future events from reading into current ones, and this was a classic example of that. The Hyuga joining this village hidden by leaves wasn't far fetched. They would never be able to fully recover from the attack he unleashed upon them, so joining something like this would become their only option.

They'd be rigid and obstinate of course. They'd try to fight by themselves, but with each successive defeat they'd reconsider their folly. It'd leave them bitter and feeling disgraced, but they would join the village out of self preservation. They would have no choice at that point.

Sadao watched Syrus going through a million thoughts, and felt now was the right time to end this conversation and take their leave. If they were here any longer, Nagakura or Syrus were going to attack just out of sheer impatience. They didn't want to her senile ramblings about the future and a kid with blue eyes.

"Do I have your word that you will never interfere again, Gamamaru?" Sadao demanded, tone hard.

"I swear on this land." Gamamaru said.

"You better hope you don't interfere, or you will lose all of this."

Syrus stood in his place, refusing the depart so quickly as Nagakura and Sadao. "Who is the leader of this village?"

Gamamaru watched the trio retreat, Syrus hung back, taking slow steps back. "A strong man with a strong life force and chakra."

"His name?"

"He is a Senju."

Syrus turned on his heel and shot out of the temple. He looked at Sadao and Nagakura as he leaped down the entirety of the stairs. He hit the ground, absorbing the shock, and took long strides forward.

"Hashirama has become a priority now. He is to be killed at all costs. If anyone gets in the way of this, friend or foe, they will be in the same boat as that Senju. He's founded that fucking village and now he is going to become a thorn in my side."

"I'll send out the word." Sadao assured, feeling wary.

On one hand that Toads would never interfere in their affairs again, but on the other...Gamamaru may have pushed Syrus over the edge. Well, this is why he was present. He could calm Syrus down well enough where he'd concede to his point.

Hopefully it could remain that way with Hashirama, but he was having his doubts.

"Shall I go look for him?" Nagakura asked.

"No, he is probably in the capital. I need to return to the compound anyways to speak to Haji..."

Sadao drew his brows together. He had been anticipating this and worrying about it, but now it was about to happen. The one thing that Syrus and Haji would never agree on was coming into the fold, and while it was good for all of them, Syrus was still wounded…

He found himself sighing. "Let's wait a day or two before we question him."

Syrus crossed his arms over his chest, closing his eyes. He hastened his steps, glaring back at the temple. "Bring it to me."

Perhaps now was the time to take start interrogations...

---

Madara was pleased that everything with the Yuki and Kori clans had went smoothly. Despite both clans hailing from a place that knew nothing but battle and bloodshed, they were cooperative. It could be credited to the Yuki's and Kori's strict ways, that abiding by his code and ethics wasn't that much of a challenge.

The Yuki shared Gotou's line of thought. It wasn't just them following their leader, though that had something to do with it. It had been common knowledge the whole of the Yuki clan had been enraged, Gotou had been the most furious and had taken the war path. The Yuki followed as a single mind, and began to leave bodies on the ground.

It made things simpler when all the members of a clan can rally and stand behind their leader. A single leader. He learned that from the mistakes of the Uchiha in the past, and the Yuki's current actions. A clan had to move as a single entity, when there was a rift, there was no longer a clan. There was no longer a mutual goal.

The Yuki hadn't asked too many questions like the Senju had, they didn't make passive aggressive comments like the Senju had, the woman didn't express concern about basically showing off their sexuality, and there wasn't any questions about getting their own land or territory. That was something the Senju hadn't asked about, either, oddly enough. They were fine living with everyone else, and that was the important part.

Senju and Yuki were on such a different spectrum it was a surprise the Yuki weren't crossing the ocean to lay waste to the Senju. There was stiff competition. Sarutobi. Shimura. Uchiha. Nara. And many other clans, but the Yuki were powerful enough and ruthless enough, to take them all on and then some. The only thing stopping the Yuki, really, was the warm weather.

They came from a cooler, moister climate and they wouldn't fare well in the Fire country's constant, sweltering hear. Madara was thankful to some extent the Yuki never committed to an attack until recently. If he had to go against Gotou, head to head, he wasn't sure if he'd walk out alive. The man was as cold as ice and hard as a glacier.

More then likely, his father would have been squaring off with Gotou. Madara wasn't ashamed to think or say that his father would have been killed in battle, eventually. Tajima was everything the Uchiha prided themselves on, but Gotou was a whole different man. He was a monster. And, he was ruthless down to his frozen marrow.

In the same boat, though, Butsuma would have been killed as well. Gotou was the sort of man that would go after Tajima and Butsuma at the same time, and go to work. The Yuki would disperse into two massive groups, and lay waste to both clan's respective compounds. It would have been a bloodbath of the highest degree.

It never happened. His father and Butsuma continued to battle until they dying breaths, and Gotou remained in the Water country. Shinobi could be irrational, foolish, and even ridiculous, but they didn't take risks. Unnecessary risks. Everything had to be calculated and factored in. Most of the time it lead to under thinking, resulting in sporadic attacks or overthinking, and never mounting an attack.

Though it was pretty simple for the Yuki. Not enough funds and resources for a legion of boats. The damiyo was a tyrant, so they had no support there. It was nothing short of asinine for them to dream of mounting an attack to overtake the mainland. Something would really have to enrage them—like their hyoton scroll being taken.

Perhaps he had underestimated Mikito. It had been her idea to send Yuko into that blood drenched country to obtain the scroll. He had disagreed, more than fifty times. He had disagreed until he was blue and purple in the face, and Izuna had to tell him to calm down because he was about to lose his temper over the whole thing.

Mikito had been totally calm and composed in the face of his irate disagreement. She never doubted Yuko would obtain it, never doubted the mission would be a success, and for what it's worth, she never snapped at him when he had been snapping at her. She had poise and grace, a composed nature, that was boiling with emotions underneath.

What is the problem with this? She had asked, calm. Madara could remember his anger soaring up to the heavens from that simple question. He remembered all of his answers. Yuko dying. Yuko dying and someone getting the Sharingan. Someone getting the Sharingan and Yuko dying. Never getting the scroll. Never getting to the islands in the first place. The scroll being a fake and rigged with explosives of some sort.

His list went on and on and on, and Mikito had only stared him blankly. It was almost like she was confused with him laying out all of these scenarios and problems with the mission. It vexed him to the highest degree—that Mikito, a woman, strong as she is, was playing the cool and composed while he was irate and furious.

Think of our leverage on them.

As he left the mass of people, heading for the first place that came to his mind, he played those words over and over in his mind. Think of our leverage over them. Back then, he couldn't understand what she meant. Leverage over a clan thousands of miles away, was put bluntly, useless. Having leverage over the Senju, Sarutobi, or clans in the Fire country had been his line of thought back then.

He never considered that Mikito was thinking of an alliance with the clan. That having the hyoton scroll turned enemies into allies. That it gave them leverage over a ruthless and menacing clan. It allowed them to sway talks into their favor, get Gotou to be civil, have the Yuki on their side, rather than against them. Rather than letting the Yuki remain in the clutches of the Water country, and the village that would be founded there no doubt.

Had Mikito been wary of the villages and brooding about way back then? He couldn't have and wouldn't have ever guessed. He never thought about konoha, or the prospect of any shinobi village forming—those thoughts died the same say his friendship with Hashirama came to an end. But, Mikito wasn't so shortsighted as he was.

He bit back a growl, raking a hand through his hair. How far into the future was his wife thinking? What was she anticipating? Predicting? Seeing? He never concerned himself with anything except what was in front of him and happening at that moment in time—he had no need to think of the future. He dared to say none of this would have been possible without his wife, but…

Maybe things would have went this way, still.

In the past, it would be one person. One person he was rushing to see. One person that he wanted to see above all others and if anyone got in his way when he was making his way there, he would let them have it. In the past it had been one person. Izuna. But, now, it wasn't just Izuna. It was Mikito as well.

He was worried about both of them. Izuna was stormy and snappish every time he seen him. He'd shot him a scowl and glare whenever he'd press for information. Normally Izuna wasn't tight lipped at all, but with his recent tantrum, he was as tight lipped as he had seen him. Whatever was happening between him and Yuko needed to stop.

Madara had no qualms with getting involved. It would be troublesome, and it would irritate him, but he would get involved if he had to. He wasn't going to let his brother march around and spit out fire at anyone who looked in his direction or spoke to him. He wasn't going to let Yuko march away while doing the same.

He was worried about Mikito. He was worried she would be going on the war path and she wouldn't return to this compound. She would either kill hundreds of millions, maybe even billions, or she'd die out there trying. He knew she wouldn't die, but he didn't need or want her becoming the whirlwind of carnage that he had seen her become before.

Quite frankly he was more worried about Mikito than Izuna, in this particular situation. Izuna was only having a lover's spat with his woman. That was an easy fix. Someone just had to sit the two down so they could talk, and everything would be solved for the most part. Mikito, on the other hand, wouldn't be so easy to calm down.

He entrusted Ai with the task. He wasn't sure what compelled him to do such a thing since the woman would saunter and sashay around like it was nobody's business, but he had. He never doubted his decisions, Ai assured him that Mikito would be calm when she was done speaking to her woman to woman. Madara hoped that was true—because from personal experience, he knew that Mikito wasn't so easily calmed down.

"Izuna?"

Madara blinked, watching his brother come into view. He was meters away, coming out of a knot of vegetation and trees. He walked along the path easily and at a leisure pace. A stark contrast to his hastened steps before.

"How are you doing, Madara?" Izuna asked.

"Could be better. I see you're doing better."

Izuna nodded with a quiet hum. A breeze blew through the area they stood in, and Izuna kept his bangs from flapping in it too much. Madara did nothing to stop the wind from blowing his hair every which way. He had no concern about such things. He stared at Izuna, not moving an inch, waiting for him to go on.

"Yuko and I worked out our differences and we are fine." Izuna said, smiling briefly.

Madara sighed, lowering his head so his chin touched his chest. That was a relief. There was nothing worse than a couple being at odds. More over, there was nothing worse than Izuna and Yuko being at odds. Couples could fight all day and night for all he cared, but Izuna and Yuko would be the picture perfect couple that never fought or yelled at each other. He would ensure it was that way after this, because quite frankly, Izuna had been moody.

He didn't want to deal with that again.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. It took a little while, but we've reached a mutual agreement where we are both happy."

Madara eyed his brother carefully. Izuna could hide his emotions when he wanted to. There were times when he didn't hide his emotions. Seeing Tobirama or any Senju. And, when there was something going on with Yuko. Most of the time it was the latter as opposed to the former. He just wanted to make sure Izuna was even, because it was crucial everyone kept a clear head from this point on.

Izuna returned Madara's observant look with one of his own, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Izuna..."

"I am sure, Madara."

Izuna grinned for extra measure, hoping it was enough to placate his brother. Madara was oblivious with emotions and anything pertaining to them, but that didn't mean he didn't experience them or had no part of them. Like now, he was fussing. He was worried. Until that worry was placated and taken care of, he wouldn't stop his worrying.

Just like in battle, where he'd move onto the next foe only when the other was dead. This was no different than a battlefield for his brother. That battlefield was internal. Madara was battling worry and other emotions, and when one was taken care of, he'd move onto the next, and the next, until they were all gone and he was back to his usual inept self.

Izuna had to suppress his chuckle. Ahiko was quite right in her assessment of Madara, and Souji for that matter. Both were inept. Reiko married someone else, that she chose, instead of Souji. Souji was at a loss when Kori was flustering the both of them. Madara was trying to battle emotions like he was battling a foe.

Inept, totally.

"I don't want you marching around here snapping at people. The Yuki and Kori have joined us and are integrating nicely. I don't need you making them feel uncomfortable with your attitude. Do you understand what I am saying?"

Izuna didn't look impressed. "I wasn't snapping at people."

"Satoshi needed to speak with you and you gave him an earful."

"He is a Senju."

"We gave up being shinobi." Madara corrected.

Izuna groaned. That was true. They no longer followed or adhered to the shinobi creed. They were no longer part of the shinobi sect...But, old wounds took a long time to heal. Maybe he was just being petty, or his anger got the better of him.

"What did he need to speak about?"

"I don't know I have to talk to him after I speak with Mikito."

"Why haven't you talked to Satoshi yet?"

Madara clenched his teeth, his eyes began to glint, and he could feel his entire face turning red. Izuna was back to normal. Izuna was pissing him off. What Izuna did best. Izuna knew full well why he hadn't talked to Satoshi yet. He knew well enough. Madara felt another bout of anger come from the knowledge of this.

"I haven't because you're marching around here with a shitty attitude. Your wife isn't any better. Shinpachi is ready to go on a war path and kill Mito due to what she can do. He went to Mikito to tell her about Yuki children being killed. She's probably in her war armor already with twenty swords on her person! Shinpachi is probably already outside of the compound. I don't have time to deal with all of this foolishness!"

"Actually Shinpachi hasn't left Takeo put him through a tree-"

"Izuna! Shut up!"

Madara fumed. If smoke could come out of his ears, it certainly would, and if anyone had the unfortunate chance to see him right now—they would say smoke was coming out of his ears. He wasn't going to tolerate Izuna cutting him off.

Izuna waved his hands in front of him. "Okay, okay. I get it. I'll see how the interrogations are going and make myself useful."

"And, what about Mikito?!"

Izuna snorted, but quickly regretted it. Madara looked like he was about to pop a blood vessel if he got any more irate. It's not like Mikito was exactly his problem. He was married to Yuko, not Mikito. Izuna also didn't want to deal with nor contend with Mikito given the mood that she had to be in at this moment.

The woman hated many things. Acts of cruelty were among the top ranked. Glib and hubris people were in a close second. Children being killed, that was the worse case scenario. Mikito would lose whatever grip she had on reality, and would snap. She would snap, and that meant she'd be unleashing rage and fury.

She was going to leave a path of carnage in her wake. There would be so many bodies left behind that only burning them would be an option. There wouldn't even be bodies left behind, only pieces and fragments. She'd rip people limb from limb and tear them like sheets of paper.

He had the opportunity to witness Mikito bash in one man's head who hailed from the Akimichi. She struck as fast and violent as lightning, but she hadn't stopped there. The Akimichi had rose back up for more, and she brought her sheath down like a mallet. Over and over and over, she had struck, until nothing remained for a skull.

"Sounds like a huge problem." Izuna said, feeling more than a little wary.

"A huge problem!? You know Mikito, it's more than a huge problem! It's more than a gigantic problem! She's going to go fucking nuclear!"

"What am I supposed to do, though?"

Madara growled, tempted to punch Izuna. "You're going to talk to her with me."

Izuna shivered. "You mean she hasn't calmed down?"

"I entrusted Ai to calm Mikito down enough to see reason, and hopefully calm her down in general. I don't know if she failed or succeeded as of yet. I wouldn't be able to trace Mikito's chakra if I wanted to if she used one of her techniques to extinguish it. She'd be all the way in the land of iron raining down hell on all of those samurai."

Izuna nearly gawked, but stay composed enough. "Samurai? She's going after samurai!?"

"They're the ones that killed Yuki children. I know a battle with those fat headed bastards is inevitable, but we are not going to battle them now. We are going to wait and be patient. I do not need her or Shinpachi running out of here going after Mito or the samurai right now, and the same goes for you!"

"What did I do now?"

"You want to kill Mito as bad as Shinpachi does! I will not allow you to leave this compound."

Izuna took a deep breath and let it out. He was always more calm than Madara, and he had to be the calm one in this scenario. Madara was rightfully worried. Mikito and Shinpachi wee combustible enough, but if he was in the mix, that'd be trouble. The three of them would be able to rip through entire armies without much trouble.

It'd only take him activating his Mangekyo, and manifesting Susano'o to wipe out half of an army, and the surrounding landscape. He could understand Madara's worry, even if that was mixing with annoyance and anger at this moment in time, he could understand. He would kill Mito, in due time, he had already come to terms with that.

But, Izuna knew Madara was worried about Mikito. When she got emotional, she was almost beyond reason. He could remember Madara shouting for his help back in the Grass village. Mikito had been flipping and spinning in his grasp, and then when Madara handed her off, she wasn't any better with him.

Izuna couldn't remember how he had kept Mikito restrained. She had been wiggling and thrashing around like a worm, flipping herself upside down, and every which direction. He could sympathize with Madara.

"I've spoken my piece on that issue and will wait until the time is right to kill her." Izuna said.

Madara narrowed his eyes. "What if she seals a Bijuu before that time comes?"

"You are a comedian, brother?"

Madara drew his brows together. "Answer me."

Izuna set his jaw. "That may be too late for my taste, but I will exercise the highest restraint and judgment if that does happen. We have other things to concentrate on, and an Uzumaki stepping over her boundaries isn't one of those things."

"You better hope you do."

Izuna shoved Madara back, having enough. "Don't treat me like a child."

Madara recovered and didn't bother offering a response. Izuna shoved him. He reacted accordingly. He began to swing his fists, aiming to clobber Izuna into the ground. Of course Izuna wasn't just sitting by idly, he began to swing lefts and rights himself.

They got close enough, where they could grab each other. Izuna went to trip his older brother, but Madara shifted his leg behind Izuna's and struck him in the chest. Izuna tumbled. Madara raced after him, only to get a foot in his gut, causing him to flip over.

Madara rolled, though he hit the ground with a thud. He was on Izuna a second later, but his younger brother had been prepared, and struck him across the jaw, hard. Madara snarled, and rammed his own fist across Izuna's jaw.

"Fuck!" Izuna snapped, hitting Madara in the face. "Back off!"

"I've had enough of you trying my patience!"

Both continued their back and forth in the clearing. Nobody was coming to stop them, and nobody would interfere. They were far from where the wide majority of people would be. That was fine, neither wanted to be broken apart.

Madara rammed Izuna into a tree, and with a violent turn, Izuna rammed him against the very same tree. This time, blood flew from both of their mouths, and both could feel the heat of anger suffocating their faces.

"Madara! Izuna!"

Mikito raced towards them, almost shocked to the core. It was only through the reflex of possible battle that she was able to move. She would have stood in her spot and watch the two duke it out, if it had been a spar, but now it was getting serious.

She tried to get between them.

"Stop it! Now!"

"He started it!"

Izuna shouted, throwing his right arm forward with all of his strength. He looked like a cat swatting at an annoyance.

"You pissed me the fuck off with your shit!"

Madara shouted, moving in for another blow.

Mikito got between the two of them with great effort, teeth clenched, she shoved Madara back and into the nearest tree. She jammed her foot into Izuna's gut, shoving him back in the opposite direction. She maintained her stance, feet more than shoulder width apart, and arms fully extended out to her sides. Her eyes raced between Madara and Izuna.

"The hell is going on with you two?" She questioned.

"It's your fucking husband! He needs to get laid! Why are you holding out!?"

"Izuna!" Mikito screamed.

"He needs a release! I'm sorry for being so blunt about it!"

Mikito nearly flushed at the crass remark, but Madara snarled and sprinted at full speed. She could barely hold him back, but managed to by the skin of her teeth. She looked back at Izuna, but he seemed content to stay where he was, spit out blood, wipe blood from his mouth, and check if his nose was broken.

Madara on the other hand was fuming and ready to let loose. Mikito had to draw on her strength, and forcibly bring him back in a half hold. Knowing he wasn't going to stop, she jammed her foot next to his leg, turned, and swung him down to the ground.

Her foot slipped, and she hit the ground with a thud.

"Enough! Enough!" She shouted, standing up to her feet as she did. "Enough! I said enough! I just slip and fell!"

Madara growled. Only Mikito wouldn't start screaming profanities saying a sentence like that.

"Why are you getting involved?"

"Because you and Izuna are hitting each other!"

"I think you broke my fucking nose! Fucking asshole!" Izuna snarled at Madara.

"You almost broke my ribs so consider us even, you little brat!"

"I'm going to fuck you up!" Izuna snapped. "I'm going to fuck you up."

"Do it then!" Madara challenged.

Mikito shot Izuna a glare, daring him to make another retort. He definitely would if he wanted to, but she hoped her glare would do the trick in swaying him from taking that path. She didn't have to swing him down like she did with Madara—Izuna was more sensible than his older brother, but she'd swing him down…

If he said one smart ass remark, he would be next.

"I'm going to Ahiko so she heal me." Izuna said, a scowl on his face. "You can apologize when you grow up. Brat."

"I'm older than you! You little shit!"

"Still a brat!"

"You...Little shit..." Madara growled, taking out handfuls of grass and smashing them into the ground.

"Give him a release, Mikito. He's been so high strung lately and it's because you're not putting out."

"Izuna!" Mikito snapped, turning red. "Go to my sister and have her heal you before I punch your head through the ground or one of the trees!"

Izuna marched off, grumbling about Madara being a dumb ass.

Mikito sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. She turned to Madara, but he only kept his eyes pointed on Izuna with his teeth clenched. It took a moment for him to focus on her, and his scowl deepened as he raked his hair back.

He rubbed at the sore spot on his jaw, biting down for a second. His jaw wasn't broke, but Izuna managed to cut him up good in his mouth. He knew Izuna was feeling the same thing, and he hoped his brother was still winded from the punch he rammed into his stupid gut.

"What are you doing here?" Madara asked, a bit snappish.

"I was looking for you. I just spent I don't know how long breaking up the fight of the century."

Madara wiped at his mouth with his sleeve. "What for?"

"To let you know I am not going to leave the compound to lay waste to the samurai. I'm going to focus on my objectives, and my fight with Syrus."

"What about Hashirama?"

"I may have to give up on that, he wears many faces and says many things."

Madara blinked, slowly coming out of his angry stupor. Fighting Izuna made him forget about his worry for Mikito and her current emotional state. She wasn't wearing any armor, nor was she hauling around swords, so that means Ai must have got through to her.

He could breathe out in relief, but he didn't since he had a bloody lip. Anything along those lines would cause blood to fly, and he didn't want to watch his droplets splash on Mikito's face. There's no doubt that Mikito could go out there and kill samurai with her bare hands, but she seemed calm enough, and her chakra wasn't agitated.

"I am relieved that you won't."

Mikito smiled for a second. "I know. I am not able to reason properly when I am emotional. How did things go with the Yuki and Kori?"

Madara looked back in the direction he had came from. Things had went smoothly, it was almost surreal how smooth things had went. Of course the meeting was bound to be tense and standoffish, but he had been anticipating the Yuki and Kori asking a bunch of questions like everyone else had to this point in time.

"Very smooth. Their jutsus and techniques are being integrated into our regiment and curriculum. The hyoton is being kept under wraps."

Mikito nodded. "That's great to hear. It's not likely any of us would be able to hone the hyoton. We may be able to learn it, but it is just a part of the Yuki."

Just like the Uchiha and fire jutsu, the Yuki had a natural aptitude and in born talent to hone the hyoton. It was a part of them, it is what made them who they are, and they would spend decades perfecting their craft until they got to be like Gotou.

"I have to speak with Satoshi."

Madara was a little shocked. "About what?"

"Well..."

"Mikito..."

She crossed her arms over her chest, looking away for a second. "Ajo is currently on a mission in the Fire country. He's surveying the situation with Hashirama and his village being founded. Satoshi is a middleman with information coming from Ajo and the rest of our spies."

Madara observed Mikito keenly. "That's not all?"

"I am going to speak with three others and make sure that they are ready to follow through, if the need arises."

Madara wasn't sure how to take that. He knew everyone in this compound, not counting the former slaves, were all going to be more than ready to do what needed to be done when Hashirama became a threat. There wasn't going to be any hesitation when they raised their blades, made a fist, or formed a seal to obliterate Hashirama.

The only people who would hesitate in doing that had to be family...It's the only thing that made sense. Maybe some of the Senju present would be a little hesitant. But, from his experience, usually family members were hesitant when it came to this sort of thing. He wasn't sure what to think now—did Hashirama and Tobirama have cousins in this compound?

No, they couldn't. Those family members would have died in combat…

They had to of.

Butsuma was as hard as stone. Tajima was as cold as ice. Their immediate family, and extended family would have been battling before he had ever been born, and any single person younger or older than him couldn't have survived this long.

"Madara?"

"Let's go to Satoshi, I want to see how things are going."

Mikito met his eyes. She nodded. They walked down their path, twisting and turning through the plexus. They passed by people, meters away from them. There were houses flanking either side of them, secluded by vegetation. High above their reach. Yet, no people were on their path, and it led straight into a clearing.

Madara blinked, amazed for a moment. There were trees and grass as far as he could see. The land dropped off to form a valley, and an abidance of water flowed through the rift. Mist and sprays of water reached the top of the natural land formation.

Satoshi was seated a few meters away from the valley. He turned to look at the two approaching. He was still a little wary, given how things went. He didn't think Mikito would ever allow that Senju girl to be killed, but the memory of seeing a blade on her neck, the way she shook, he just couldn't shake it. Still, if they hadn't done that, he wouldn't have been totally honest.

He could understand.

"Mikito. Madara." Satoshi said in greeting.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Mikito said, closing the distance between them.

Satoshi shook his head. "It's fine. The more patient one is, the more information they tend to gather."

"Ajo is on a mission in the Fire country?" Madara prodded.

Satoshi nodded, standing up from his spot. "Indeed. If I know Hashirama, he is already at the capital and has done his work. His village has been founded, but nobody has yet joined him. It's only a matter of time."

"You can confirm all of that?" Madara got serious, eyes narrowing.

"Not until Ajo returns." Satoshi said. "But, I know Hashirama well enough."

Madara scowled. "It's no different than heresay."

"There could be merit to that." Mikito ventured.

"How?"

"Think about it. Kumogakure is continuing to make waves. That village has already been founded. Many of the clan leaders that met with Hashirama will be skeptical and cautious, even if Hashirama is telling the truth. Shisuke is no fool and understands the value of having a shinobi village, but, he also knows the dangers and risks involved. The clan leaders must have went back to their compounds by now." Mikito reasoned.

Madara looked at his woman, arching an eyebrow. That was all elegantly put, and could very well be true, but there was still nothing to validate it. This was all something going from the simple knowing of clan leaders and how they operated, how they were, personality wise. It wasn't inaccurate, but at the same time, facts weren't presented.

It was like his trademark fighting with a gunbai and sickle. Until Mikito and Akame approached him to put everything down on paper, he had just done whatever came to mind in battle. There wasn't a drawn out method or kata. If the battle called for him to turn a fraction, that is what he did, if he sunk his sickle into someone's shoulder and pulled them down, that's what he did.

But, it wasn't drawn out step by step.

Kumogakure would make waves and continue to pressure the other nations. Once it was clear a shinobi village was necessary, certain nations would at least consider it before ultimately dismissing it as a fallacy. Shisuke being the man he was, wouldn't allow the Lightning country to be the only one with a powerhouse and first line of defense—he'd create his own.

That's where Hashirama came in.

"Do you have anything about this?" Madara ventured.

Satoshi nodded. "Hashirama, Tobirama, and Mito have all been in the capital now for a while. Danzo is also there, and it seems he has the damiyo's ear. The leaders of the Hatake, Utatane, Mitokado, and Kohaku clans were all present for the meeting."

Madara found a seat on the ground, crossing his arms over his chest. Those were all influential clans of the Fire country. The leaders were well known in addition, but couldn't get along if their lives depended on it. If they signed that ceasefire agreement, they had no choice or say in the matter and would now be living and building side by side for the time being.

The Utatane, Mitokado, and Kohaku clans would bring their funds to the table as well as their resources. The Hatake would bring their brilliance to the table. The Hatake would help build the infrastructure no doubt about it. The funds provided by the other three clans would allow expansion at a rapid pace.

"What of the Sarutobi, Hyuga, and Akimichi clans?"

Satoshi shook his head once. "None of them were present. The Hyuga and Sarutobi have yet to recover from the attack by the Subatsu and company. The Akimichi are staggering still after our recent battle, and Atsushi is injured."

"What of the Nara and Yamanaka?" Mikito asked with some hast.

"I believe Kiyoshi was present in the capital, but didn't attend the meeting. His clan's entente with the Subatsu and by extension, Yamanaka would have caused too many fingers to be pointed in his direction."

"Wouldn't that be more beneficial for the Nara, though?" Madara asked. "They point fingers and Konoha is delayed in its founding."

Satoshi looked grim. "I thought so as well. But, Kiyoshi will make the best choice that will ensure his clan is safe and doesn't see conflict. It's for this reason I believe he is supporting Hashirama and will be the first to join the village. The Hatake will follow. The Mitokado, Kohaku, and Utatane clans will be close behind."

Madara bit on his lip. The Nara joining Konoha was going to be a problem. Their sharp minds, Kiyoshi's extra sharp mind, were going to be a problem. Madara would rather have the Nara with them, but he knew that wasn't going to happen.

Kiyoshi was sharp in his line of thought, and if he was in the capital when the meeting was happening, that meant he spoke to Hashirama personally. It would mean Hashirama had to convince the man to join, and being as good with words as Hashirama was, he would convince Kiyoshi.

So that meant Riichi and the Yamanaka would also join Konoha. The Sarutobi, Hyuga, and Akimichi wouldn't join the village quite yet. It'd be a number of years, or months before they ever considered joining Konoha. It swung things better in their favor. If those three clans joined up with Konoha it'd be a problem.

Nothing they couldn't handle, but the Sarutobi and Akimichi were strong willed clans, the Hyuga were lethal if they targeted organs.

"How long is Ajo going to be there?" Madara asked.

"Until the village is up and running. More clans could join in between time. Ajo is going to give us a full report." Satoshi replied.

Mikito crossed her arms over her chest, taking a deep breath. "That could be too long, but Ajo is good at this sort of thing. How are things going with the former slaves?"

I wonder if that Danzo is playing both sides...

Satoshi frowned, recalling how much animosity those former slaves held. It was natural. He couldn't fault them for it. He could understand why they were so furious, but they needed to focus on their future and not the past. Some of them were starting to come around, but the majority were still disgruntled.

His clan was good with this sort of thing, so it surprised him. Remarkably none of the Senju could get through to them, and none of the other clans present could. They had gotten the short end completely, and some of those men and women spent years on those boats shackled by their wrists and ankles. They never knew anything else other than being in the bondage of slavery.

Old wounds took time to heal, and some would never heal. This was one of those times where old wounds would never heal. Unfortunately that meant those people had to brood and come to the decision themselves to move on.

"Slow going." Satoshi replied.

"I was expecting as much. As a leader, I need you to do me a favor." Mikito said, staring Satoshi in the eye.

"Of course." Satoshi nodded.

"Send letters to the Chibana and Tachibana clans. Explain the situation and that we're offering them a haven to escape the tightening grip of Shisuke and Hashirama."

Madara arched a brow, but said nothing.

"I can do that. It'll take me about an hour to finish the messages."

"That's fine, as long as they get out. I don't think Kenzou or Saburo will consider it at first, but once they see how things are changing in the Fire country they will rush to us. Though, I could be wrong. Maybe they have already seen how the tides are raging, and will come here the moment they get the letters you send out. We won't know until they're sent out, in any case."

Satoshi nodded, mulling it over. Kenzou and Saburo will only have a few choices in the end. They'd come here and join to preserve their clans. They'd resist the change and go against Konoha, and by extension, the capital. The last choice was that they would just dispose of the letters and not even read them, or dispose of them after reading.

They really couldn't lose either way, but Satoshi knew Mikito didn't want either of the clans threatened to the point of extinction. If trade routes were cut off. If resources were cut off. It'd threaten the clan, and Hashirama would use sch tactics before using brute force.

"Is there a way we can get the Nara and Yamanaka to join us?" Madara questioned, looking genuinely curious.

They all shared a look, but Satoshi shook his head.

"I was thinking some Nara may split, but that won't happen if the Nara's clan grounds are a part of Konoha's territory. The Nara would have been furious if they had to relocate, but as long as their clan grounds stay their own, they will agree to just about anything."

"And, the Yamanaka?"

"They will join if the Nara join. Riichi and Kiyoshi aren't on good terms, but they've never been at each other's throats like a lot of people and shinobi have been and had been."

"Are you sure, Satoshi?" Madara pressed.

"We can't think anything is certain at this point. But, everything is pointing in this direction." Mikito ventured.

"If Kiyoshi joins up with Hashirama, that is going to be trouble. Tobirama does enough work behind the scenes, I don't want Kiyoshi being added into that mix. I can improvise easily enough, but Kiyoshi has sharp intellect. He will be problematic to deal with."

"I understand your concerns, Madara..." Satoshi trailed off. "But, that may be the reality of the situation."

"Damn it..."

"You all can come out now!" Mikito shouted, abruptly.

Madara and Satoshi looked at her for a second like she had lost her mind. They couldn't sense anyone around them. Perhaps Mikito was going a little crazy and her emotions were getting the better of her at this point in time. Madara had the thought. Satoshi just thought Mikito finally lost it.

But the ruffling of vegetation and chakra caught their attention. Satoshi staggered back in shock. Madara found himself doing the same thing, eyes wide, and teeth grit to the point of grinding. Three people came out from the leafy cover. Two younger. One older.

"Impossible!" Madara hissed.

"It...It can't be..." Satoshi struggled to form words

The first young man had a head of long, two-toned hair. It was the strangest thing Madara had ever seen. One side being brown and the other half being white. It was abundant and just wild. His eyebrows bore the same two tones. He had dark eyes, oddly enough, they weren't two toned like his hair. They had a hard edge to them. He wore a simple black kimono and white hakama.

The second young man had a head of long, spiky light brown hair and black eyes. Part of his eyes were secluded by his bangs. He wore a white kimono and black hakama. He kept his arms folded across his chest, and his eyes were hard as stone.

The third was a woman, well beyond the age of twenty four. She had long, white hair and bright eyes that were rimmed with blue. She had a curvy, but slender build. She wore a simple blue kimono with a pink obi that was tied at the back.

Satoshi found himself staggering towards them, eyes wide, his hands clenched as he got closer. He could see them. He could see them clear as day. They weren't...They weren't dead. She wasn't dead. Their chests rose and fell with every inhale and exhale.

What brought him to the brink of death due to shock was that a little girl, no older than eight came roaming out of the vegetation and ran for the young man with two toned hair. She gripped his hakama, and he rested his hand atop her head. She had bright green eyes, pumpkin-orange hair, and a brilliant smile. She was looking at him with confusion and some awe.

He wasn't dreaming.

He pinched himself to make sure, and felt the pain.

This...Wasn't..

"You..."

"You're alive..."

The woman demurred, nodding her head the slightest. "It's been some time Saotshi-san..."

"If you're really alive, then that means these young men..."

"Indeed, they are really alive. They are not who you think they are, though. They bear a striking resemblance to Itama and Kawarama, but that is all. They are cousins."

"And, the little girl..."

"She is mine. My silly little daughter."

"But that means-"

"A Domou is her father, yes."

"I don't understand..." Satoshi muttered. "Masaru...and...Souta..."

Neither men responded or blinked.

"Is this why Butsuma did what he did?"

The woman nodded. "He couldn't live with what I did, but I could. My children are the most important thing to me."

"You..." Satoshi was at a loss. "You had an affair with a Domou man?"

"I wouldn't call it an affair considering my husband never touched me or anything of that sort out of desire and had exiled me from the clan."

"How!?" Madara snapped, eyes immediately flaring crimson. There was no way this could be possible, it had to be some sick joke. A joke on him. How is it that they survived, but none from…

"How did you three survive?"

There is no way they could be alive. He remembered hearing the reports and rumors of these three dying. One was supposed to have been blown to bits, the other had been hunted down by another clan and cornered! They were thrown on the battlefields, battling alongside their fathers. The woman had been attacked and left for dead. They couldn't be alive, this had to be some cruel genjutsu.

The young man with the two toned hair spoke. "I am a Domou. I know I look Itama, but he died..."

"You should be dead!" Madara snapped.

"We look like them. We are family. I'm actually twenty." The young man with brown hair said, tone stoic. He stared Madara in the eye.

"They rescued me from the clutches of death. Karei cut down the Sarutobi that were going to hang me from a tree. Fortunately, my young men here were also saved." The woman offered her own modest answer.

Madara whirled on Mikito. He was so overcome with emotion that he couldn't see straight. "You...You never told me that they were here! These Senju! You never said anything about them being alive!"

Mikito drew her brows together. Madara's emotions were like a shockwave, and they struck her with the force of a right hook. She would have staggered back, or at the very least, take half a step back. But, she didn't do that at all. His voice was like fire, but iron at the same time. So powerful. It commanded respect.

She respected him, so she demurred just a little and lowered her head.

"I know. But, they are not Kawarama or Itama."

"They look just like them!"

"And, that is all. They are not the same people, Madara."

"Why are you doing this now!?" Madara snapped, fists clenched so hard his knuckles were pale.

"Because..." Mikito turned opposite of everyone else.

"Why?!"

"You two can come out now."

"What..." Madara watched the vegetation rustle.

"The fuck is going on now..."

Another two young men came out the clearing opposite of where the four had come from. They had different features than the four did did. Black eyes and black hair. The tallest one had hair that was nearly as long as his own, spiky in every direction and covered both of his eyes. The second and shorter one had spiky hair, messy and spilled every which way.

The tallest young man wore a blue kimono with white hakama, but Madara knew that smile…

The other one had a calm expression.

He had missed that smile for years now.

That look of calm that had soothed his angered heart when he had been a little brat.

"Tsubasa...Hotaka..."

The young man smiled at him, and Madara's Sharingan rotated violently. These two young men were really alive, their chakra pathways were brimming with power...But, how...How…

How had they been alive for so long, and yet…

"How..."

"It is a long story." The tallest young man answered, raking his hair back—his Sharingan was glowing.

Three tomoe.

"Too long to explain given our current situation." The shorter one added. "We need to cool our heads."

"How!?" Madara snapped.

"Seeing the shinobi world for what it truly is."

Madara had no response.

"I know this is a lot at the moment, but I must ask all of you. Are you resolved to do what must be done in order to stop Hashirama from overstepping his boundaries. The shinobi villages are going to become a serious threat. Clans and civilians will be coming here for protection."

"I am." The young man with two toned hair replied.

"I follow the code and ethics." The young man with light brown hair replied.

"He disrupts harmony." The young man with the darkest hair present said. "He has proven to be a threat."

The messy haired young man only nodded, remaining silent.

The woman closed her eyes, sighing sadly. "I will accept what must be done. The Senju name bears no importance to me, that is the clan that threw me to my death when I was pregnant with these two young men."

Mikito narrowed her eyes a little. "Are you sure?"

"They are my blood, and nothing will ever change that. But, I do understand the danger. I remember Butsuma was persistent in the same way, before he left me to die."

"Okay..." Mikito didn't quite meet the woman's eyes, but took her words to heart.

Madara looked between the seven or so people gathered. He couldn't even focus on his wife or Satoshi. These people, all of them, should be dead. Everyone thought they were dead. Butsuma. His father. Izuna. Everyone believed they were dead, but here they were...Mikito said these two were not Itama or Kawarama, but they looked just like them.

It was eerie.

"Are you really..." Madara walked towards the young man smiling.

"As you know me, Madara."

"Impossible!"

Madara took another step, but found he couldn't move. He looked down, and noted Mikito's hand was clasping his own. He had half a nerve to tell her to let go, but looking into her eyes, he could see what she wanted. He very well wouldn't deny her, and truth be told, he needed it.

"Cooler heads need to prevail." Satoshi remarked, struggling to come to terms with what he was seeing.

He wouldn't believe it if he wasn't seeing it right now for himself.

"I agree. We'll meet back for the interrogations. There's people on that as we speak, so don't move with hast. If you all will excuse me. I'd like to spend some quality time with my husband. It's been an eventful day, and I'd like to unwind before I move onto the interrogations. Satoshi, brief them on everything. Make sure those letters to the Chibana and Tachibana are sent out before nightfall."

Madara let Mikito take him away from the clearing and towards their home. He offered no resistance, but his mind was buzzing with so many questions. He could barely think, he didn't even know what reality was anymore. "Mikito, are they really alive? Is he really...Are they really…?"

"Yes, they are. All of them."

"Mikito. That woman is the mother of..."

"I know."

"Explain."

She put a finger to his lips, smiling for a moment. "Shhh. I'll explain it all to you once you're more relaxed. I suppose Izuna had a point. Let me do my duty."

"Explain it to me. Now." Madara said, feeling his voice get more firm.

Mikito took it in stride. "This is the way of the Domou. That woman had been on the brink of death. She was pregnant with the two young men you seen and the Sarutobi were going to kill her still. I will say those other two took almost a year before they agreed to follow our code and ethics. The shinobi world had chew them up and spat them out. My parents offered them sanctuary, here. Just as with the Kizoku."

"But they look just like Itama and Kawarama-"

"I know. But, they are not them. Butsuma sent them to an early death."

"You can't place that burden on yourself, Mikito. They were more than happy to walk that plank, that is how the Senju are."

"I don't care. We always scout out those situations, but fate had other plans for Itama and Kawarama. I had been there, I saved them, but..."

Madara squeezed her hand. "You can't blame yourself for their deaths, Mikito. I know this is harsh to say, but they would have fought against you to be killed, that is how the Senju are."

"I guess you are right...But, then how come their mother..."

"Women have a different view on this sort of thing. Let's focus on something else. You can't be upset at yourself over this. Those other two seem to be around fourteen, and they have the Sharingan..."

"Yes, they are."

"You realize you are talking about my cousins."

"Yes."

"Mikito..." Madara pulled Mikito against him. He was gripping with such force. "Does Izuna know?"

"If he did I am certain he would have told you already. He does like to blab."

"How doesn't he know?"

"We have techniques that extinguish or suppress chakra completely. That means from sight as well, even the Sharingan can't trace our chakra if we extinguish it totally."

Madara felt like laughing. He picked Mikito up, managing to get a surprised yelp out of her. He looked into her eyes.

"You never cease to amaze me, woman."

"You are hard to impress." Mikito said.

"Is that so?"

"I remember you wouldn't trust me in battle until after all of that happened in the Grass village."

"I only allowed Izuna to watch my back before that. Trusting someone with my back besides him is nearly impossible, or I thought so."

Mikito tapped his shoulder, pouting just a little. "Set me down, please. I'd like to walk on my own two feet."

He didn't know what it was, but Mikito's heart was hammering like his own, and she was starting to flush under the intensity of his gaze. She was also getting antsy to be put down to walk on her own two feet, if he held her for much longer, she was going to start to squirm around like a child.

Mikito had the urge to squirm and buck, but something held her back.

It didn't last too long.

"Down!" Mikito protested.

Madara set Mikito down before she flipped herself upside down.

"You have any more secrets?"

Mikito was amused. "You know the saying?"

"A woman always has secrets." Madara retorted.

"I'm just answering."

"A question with a question."

"I am not known for my sense of humor, Madara."

---

Hashirama stared out the window, peering into the capital. He sipped on his tea, ever so gently. It was a little bitter, but he didn't want to burn his tongue more than anything. Mito was right in front of him, in a typical kneeling position. She was picture perfect, if he had to say so himself.

Tobirama was a few feet away from them, legs crossed, and a scroll was before him. Every few seconds he'd drum his fingers on his chin and write something down, before he sighed and stopped writing whatever it was he was writing.

Hashirama wondered if it was the Kaiyton that he was writing down, or parts of it. But, Tobirama had studied that scroll long enough where he wouldn't be hesitating like he is now. It could be a jutsu he was working out, trying to figure out the drawbacks and chakra it'd consume—that was something only one would learn from experience.

It could be a different jutsu or technique altogether. Hashirama wasn't quite sure since Tobirama didn't share these sort of things with him. He had always kept his jutsus and techniques close to his chest, and kept how he developed them even closer to his chest. That much was clear when Haji, Tsugi, and that wild woman had approached him.

Tobirama had to write things down, as opposed to himself who learned through feeling and instinct. Tobirama was much more thorough and mathematical in his approach. Ratios of chakra and life force, and all of that, he factored into his jutsu.

It was good that Tobirama was so precise, though. He would be able to leave entire blueprints for jutsus and techniques, step by step. It would be like a drawing of kata for a particular taijutsu style or kenjutsu style. Learning a jutsu couldn't be compared to that, but with instruction, Hashirama was certain if someone possessed the talent to do it, they would be able to.

"Brother?"

"Hn." Tobirama grunted, putting his ink brush on a piece of cloth. "Any word from Kiyoshi yet?"

Hashirama noted the slight evasion of his brother, but didn't press on it. "Not yet."

"I hope he and the Nara join the village. His intellect would help us a long way." Tobirama said.

Hashirama nodded, not objecting that. "What are you working on over there?"

Tobirama grunted again, face stoic. He looked at the scroll with narrowed eyes, not exactly sure what to make of it. He was trying to devise a jutsu that could bypass the Sharingan. He could move fast, and react fast, but sometimes the Sharingan allowed Uchiha to see into his movements, and he was tired of being buffered back.

Not all Uchiha could do this, but since the clan was split in two, that meant he'd be facing off against two different breeds of Uchiha. He was going to cover all of his bases now, so when the time came and he had to face them down, he wouldn't be caught unprepared.

"It appears to be a fuinjutsu of sorts..." Mito mused, looking at it from her perch.

Tobirama was tempted to roll the scroll back up and leave the room to work in private, but knew that was foolish. He couldn't roll the scroll up fast or neat enough, and the bottle of ink would spill as well, there was also the ink brush that would platter across the floor.. He didn't like others intruding on him in moments like this.

Though he was sharing a room with Hashirama and Mito and decided to do it in here, of all places.

He sighed, reining in his annoyance. "It's not a fuinjutsu."

"What is the objective of this jutsu?"

Tobirama didn't feel inclined to answer that. He was aware that Mito wouldn't use it against him, and she was genuinely curious. He was cautious by nature. He didn't even approach his brother with this, opting to figure out the pitfalls and complications of this jutsu and how to perfect it. He had a keen mind. But, there was only so much one person could do.

Still, he didn't feel like Mito giving her fifty cents. She was quiet for once, and he didn't want to ruin that. He had nothing against women, but when one spoke as much, and in such a haughty way as Mito, it irked him to no end. Mikito didn't even do that—she was more inclined to swing her sword at him than have a conversation.

Frankly, he'd rather deal with Mikito than Mito. He could appreciate the fact Mikito didn't trade barbs or even try to play the verbal game—she got right to the point.

"Teleportation."

"Come again?"

Tobirama crossed his arms over his chest, drawing his brows together. Usagi and himself had always talked about teleportation. It was such an odd topic, and he had been the one to bring it up. Usagi being Usagi was all for it, and they talked for hours about it. She believed it was possible and began to explain how.

He was amused at first, but her explanation proved to be valid. She had suggested that his real body would have to enter a portal, or something like a portal for him to succeed. How it could be opened, they had went back and forth for hours. Usagi maintained that forcing a rift was the best choice, while he opted for using a seal to form that rift, but stabilize it.

In the end they could never figure it out together, and he felt more than a sliver of regret. He had been concerned about the wrong things, when he should have focused on Usagi and his time spent with her...He couldn't get his head out of missions, war, and paperwork back then, and still couldn't.

He was a failure of at courtship, and a failure of a husband.

"Didn't you and Usagi talk about teleportation all the time? She always said she'd teleport to see you taking a bath." Hashirama remarked.

"You know that woman?" Mito was aghast.

Tobirama bit his lip, barely pressing down his anger. Usagi wasn't a typical woman by any stretch, but he wouldn't tolerate anyone bad mouthing her. She was the only woman to ever ignore his stoic shell and see him for the man he was.

"We were betrothed to each other." Tobirama said, looking Mito in the eye. "Problem?"

Mito thought better of making a retort. She would never cross the line that Tobirama had just put in the sand. Usagi was off limits. Anything having to do with Usagi and himself was off limits. Mito got it, so she focused on the objective at hand.

"Have you made something you can connect to?"

Hashirama looked surprised. "How do you connect to something when you teleport?"

Mito shook her head, sighing at Hashirama's idiocy. Teleportation was beyond his comprehension. That isn't to say Hashirama wouldn't and couldn't devise a jutsu that would achieve something to that effect, but the complexities of it would go over his head. Tobirama was the type to write everything down. Hashirama would give a vague explanation.

She focused on Tobirama, doing her best to ignore Hashirama. "Have you?"

Tobirama rubbed his chin, brows drawing together. "I never considered that."

Mito went over to him, taking a seat across from him. She looked at his seal with a keen eye, tilting her head left and right as she read the formula. "Say if you can teleport, what will you come to? What is going to draw you back? If you just teleport, you could wind up on the other side of the world."

"I'll focus on chakra."

Mito didn't look impressed. "That's too vague. You won't be able to sense chakra when you're using this teleportation, for a moment, you will be blind. You will need the element of surprise, and a way to come back into this reality."

She looked at the two brothers. Hashirama was at a loss. Tobirama was staring at her with intent. She would have to explain further, which she had no problem doing. "You're crossing over a dimension, a pocket dimension you could say. If you have nothing to draw you back here, you could be lost in that pocket dimension forever. If the jutsu works, and you come out of that pocket dimension, you could be on the other side of the world."

Tobirama mulled it over, and found Mito was right. If there was no way for him to come back, or at least a fail safe put into place, he could be lost in this pocket dimension. The element of surprise was crucial, and if he appeared on the side of his foe, instead of above like he would intend to, for a second, he would be open.

"What do you suggest then?"

Mito looked over the scroll, eyes narrowing the slightest. "Is this formula complete?"

"It is a work in progress."

Mito hummed. "That will complicate things."

"Because there's nothing to synchronize with it?" Hashirama ventured.

Mito blinked, looking at the tan skinned man. "Yes, that is exactly it."

"So, all you have to do is complete this formula. Then you just tweak it and make it smaller."

Tobirama frowned. "What do you mean brother? Do you know how hard it will be to make this formula and downsize it?"

Hashirama scratched at his head. "I'm not sure. I just think if you could touch people, friend or foe, and have the formula adjusted so it stays on them no matter what, that'll make things simpler...Sort of..."

Tobirama seen the logic in that. As simple and straightforward as it was. But, he still couldn't see how the jutsu formula could be downsized. He was intending to make it something of a large scale, to be used over a wide area—not just on one person. He used his environment in combat, and this jutsu would help him use every single centimeter of it.

He was envisioning this jutsu one way, but its application, and how it'll be formed, was something else entirely from what he had seen in his mind. He could adapt, of course.

"I could offer my assistance." Mito ventured. "If you will accept it."

Tobirama nearly snarled in annoyance. This was another thing he didn't like about this woman. She always had to hold an advantage. Something was being held over his head. He had to admit something that was obvious. If she offered her assistance, he would accept it, that was a given. That didn't mean Mito had to make a spectacle out of it.

Haughty little…

"Are you okay, brother?"

"I am fine, why?"

"You look constipated." Mito commented.

Tobirama offered no response, choosing to focus on the subject. "I want to be able to use this jutsu over a wide area. I get the simplicity of what you are saying. I want to be able to take out a lot of enemies, over a long distance. I want to be able to achieve this without the need of touching my foes."

"Then, it won't work. At least not in the way you want it to."

Tobirama scratched at his chin. "Hypothetically I could attach the seals to kunai and shuriken?"

"With the right formula, yes."

There were always drawbacks and advantages to every technique and jutsu. There was a sacrifice of something, to some extent. Instead of covering a wide area almost instantly, he'd just use clones and projectiles to spread the seal everywhere. It'd take a little time, and he'd have to prepare it before the battle, nobody with a sliver of sense would allow him to do such a thing in battle.

He considered it for a second, before nodding. In the end he would need to use timing, strategy, and ingenuity. The jutsu was only as deadly as its user. He had a good feeling that with Mito's assistance, they could work out a formula.

"I accept your assistance."

"Um..." Hashirama looked at the two of them. "What about meeting with Kiyoshi?"

"You can handle that, now." Mito waved her hand, dismissing the question. "You are Hokage."

"But, you're my advisers."

Tobirama blinked, drawing his brows together in annoyance. "Since when?"

"Since we achieved our dream."

"You should handle it. I think I am a little too...Forceful for Kiyoshi's taste." Tobirama admitted.

Hashirama suppressed his groan, raking a hand through his long hair. He was anticipating and ready for this meeting, but he'd prefer if Tobirama and Mito were there. They helped balance him out during discussions like this.

He hoped being Hokage wouldn't come with a whole bunch of paperwork. He was already dreading the mountains of files and everything else to approve, file out, store, and everything else. Tobirama and Mito wouldn't be there to help him out.

He would convince them it was the best way. He knew paperwork was always a part of it, but he hoped being Hokage wouldn't change the scope of that either. He didn't want to do paperwork all by himself, without any help.

"Speaking of which...When is your clan relocating?" Mito asked.

Tobirama shared a look with Hashirama. "I suppose I'd better be getting back there."

"I'll come with. I need to send word to my father and Ashina-dono."

Hashirama watched the two stand up. Tobirama carefully, and precisely shuffled his work away. Truth be told he couldn't think of a time when Tobirama wasn't on his side, and a part of him felt pained he wouldn't see his brother for a certain amount of time.

"You should probably get ready to meet with Kiyoshi."

"You can sense him?" Hashirama asked, eyes training with intent.

"No. However, he is decisive and swift in his decisions and movements. I think you convinced him that joining Konoha is the better option."

It wasn't until night that Kiyoshi returned. The whole of the Nara were with him, moving as silent and elusive as a shadow itself. He was a little surprised that the man had actually come with entire clan. There was no rift, nor severe disagreement. Tobirama and Mito had departed hours ago. Hashirama preoccupied himself with simple meditation and speaking to some of Shisuke's advisers and the man himself.

He was in the man's chambers. Kiyoshi sat across from him. Shisuke sat at the head of the table. Danzo wasn't present, but Hashirama knew the boy was close. He managed to have Shisuke's ear in many regards, and it'd be foolish to just look over that.

There was no attire a Hokage, or Kage for that matter—even if there were only two, to wear. Therefore, Hashirama wore the usual long hakama, kimono, and haori. He kept the haori blank, displaying no symbols or the Senju symbol. He didn't feel too out of place.

Silence reigned. It wasn't tense, or hostile, but the air was thick. History was being made and all of these men knew it. A lot was hanging on their simple words, and even more on their actions—now and in the future.

"Kiyoshi." Shisuke said, not looking at the man with the hardness he did with other shinobi. "Glad you could come here to finalize things."

"I'd like to keep this meeting quick and mutual. My clan grows restless and some have returned to the compound. Our clan grounds are part of Konoha's territory, so this shouldn't be a problem."

Hashirama chuckled. "I didn't think Nara had a concept of time."

"It's harder to sleep during the day. The sun can get in the way." Kiyoshi remarked.

"But, you are still here with your clan. That brings me relief. I'm glad that we can work together, or begin the process of getting there."

Shisuke cleared his throat, maintaining his image. "Well, enough with the formalities."

Kiyoshi cleared his own throat, sipping on his cup of tea. It was better to get down to business, but he found Hashirama's sense of humor to be his source of amusement. Did he really think the Nara believed in time and kept track of it?

That was too troublesome.

"I will join Konoha. I would like to talk about the construction."

Shisuke nodded, completely invested. "Go on."

Kiyoshi contemplated for a second. If Shisuke was really handing over considering sums to help found this village…

"When is the construction going to begin?"

Hashirama cut in, meeting Kiyoshi's eyes. "We've picked out a location. A cliff overlooking nothing but trees as far as the eye can see."

"There is snow."

"Paths are cleared." Hashirama countered.

Kiyoshi nodded, just barely. "We'll have to start with the infrastructure of the village. Once we lay out foundation, more workers and such can help us with building. Your Mokuton will also speed things along. But, we must lay a strong foundation."

"We can get started tomorrow." Hashirama said.

He wouldn't fail.