It was a gloomy day in the Hidden Leaf. Rain clouds rolled in as the sky began to drizzle water on top of the village. Reina sat in her room in an oversized, long-sleeve gray shirt and loose pants. She sipped a cup of tea as she sat facing her balcony windows. Her hair was messy and her face pale. Her eyes had dark circles and creases underneath. Reina simply watched as the outdoors reflected her mood.

Ever since she had sex with Madara, all she could feel was guilt and shame. For some reason, it felt so right, but her heart was torn. She still loved Nao though she knew he was gone from her life. Reina had no idea why she and Madara had such natural chemistry and it was eating away at her. Though she knew she wasn't committed to anyone at the moment, she felt horrible about it. Reina lowered her head and shook it slowly, confused by everything that has happened. She thought for a while that Madara resented her, but was there actually something between them? Was she falling for him? Was Nao fading away? The endless questions were torturous.

Reina sighed as there was a knock on the door. "Come in!" She called monotonously.

The door cracked open and Tobirama stepped in. "Reina, you haven't left your room in two days. Is everything all right?"

Reina nodded her head with her back facing the door. "Everything is fine."

Tobirama walked over to her and looked at his disheveled sibling. "Are you anxious about your marriage?"

Reina set her cup down. "Anxious. Confused. Distraught… I thought I'd be ready for any result, but I honestly can't take this any longer. I just want to find out already. Get married. Carryout clan duties. Live a simple life."

Tobirama sighed and crouched down. He grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "You'll be fine. You're strong."

"No, I'm not." Reina said bluntly. "Let me ask you… why does Hashirama get to be with who he wants when I have to get betrothed? The Uzumaki clan doesn't even want to live in the Hidden Leaf!"

"Yes, but they do have an alliance with us now." Tobirama looked up at his sister. "Reina, you'll be fine. I'll always be here. We all will."

Reina nodded her head. "Thanks… I guess everything is just weighing on me now."

"I understand." Tobirama stood up from his squatted position. "Good news is we found out today who you're going to marry."

"What?" Reina looked at him with wide eyes. "So soon?"

Tobirama nodded. "Yes, we've already sent out a letter to your suitor and received a response. We've also sent out letters to the other guests thanking them for their time."

"Where was I?" Reina looked bewildered. "Wait, the decision was already made… without consulting me?"

Tobirama frowned. "Jirou and Shika thought your input at your party was enough of a consultation."

Reina sighed and closed her eyes. "Why am I not surprised?"

"I'm sorry. I tried… Hashirama too." Tobirama gave her a sympathetic smile. "I recommend you get dressed and make yourself presentable. This evening we will hold a meeting."

Reina nodded. "Thank you, Tobirama."

Tobirama hugged her from beside her chair. "Of course, Reina."

The rain was pounding so hard that it was near impossible for Reina to see ten feet in front of her. She was dressed in black pants, a shirt, boots, and a cloak. Reina could barely see through the foggy weather, but she could sense people around her. She continued walking with stealth until she reached a mountain side adjacent from the village's main gates. Reina used chakra control on her feet and began sprinting up the mountain in the cover of the rain. Once she was at the top, Reina began her speedy trek through the mountainous forest.

In a dark blue cloak, Madara was standing underneath a tree beside the tower. While concealing his presence, he looked up at the balcony doors to Reina's room. Madara jumped up to the balcony and felt for anyone else's chakra. When clear, he quietly opened her doors and stepped inside her room. Madara looked around for any sign of Reina, but nothing. He looked at the chair and side table facing the balcony and gave a small smile. Madara knew she was watching and listening to the rain, something he liked to do as well. He looked at the table and noticed a cold cup of tea sitting on a coaster. It was apparent Reina had been gone for quite some time. Madara sighed and started digging inside his cloak. He pulled out a bouquet of white spider mums and set them down on the table, but he didn't let go. Madara hesitated before placing them back inside his cloak. He shook his head at how pathetic he was, knowing very well he wasn't supposed to fall in love with her or show her any affection. He quickly left the room and shut the balcony doors. Madara looked up at the mountain behind the tower and vanished within a second.

Reina sat underneath a tree, one leg propped up and the other relaxed. Her long, straight her glistening as the rain cascaded through the trees. She stuck her hand out to the side and pet the cheek of the nine-tailed fox curled up beside her. Reina smiled as the giant creature relaxed as she stroked him. She looked up at the sky and squinted as raindrops attacked her iris. Reina shook her head and lowered it back down.

"That hurt." Reina rubbed her eyes with a giggle.

"What did you expect?" The fox spirit grumbled.

Reina smiled and stuck her tongue out at the creature before mocking him. "You're an asshole."

"I'll eat you." There was brief pause before Reina and Kurama chuckled at their stupidity.

It was dark out when Reina returned to the tower. The rain didn't let up. She stepped into her room from the balcony soaking wet. She took off her cloak and boots before walking to her bathroom to get a towel. Reina dried herself off and changed into a dry yukata and house slippers. Just as she was about to lie down in her bed, there was a knock at the door.

Reina walked over to the door and opened it up. "Oh, Hashirama, Tobirama, what can I do for you?"

"It's time, Reina." Hashirama said quietly.

Reina could feel the tension between them and simply nodded her head. "Of course." She stepped out of her room and shut the bedroom door behind her.

Hashirama guided the three of them to a meeting room and opened the sliding door. "Please, enter." Reina did as told and stepped into the dimly lit room. Jirou and Shika were kneeling in front of the trio. "Please sit." Hashirama insisted.

Reina did as told and watched as both he and Tobirama sat on both sides of Reina and the elders, facing them in silence. "Greetings, Jirou and Shika." Reina bowed and then erected herself as everyone did the same.

Jirou began to speak. "Reina Senju, we've summoned you here today with the decision on who will be your betrothed."

Reina's heart stopped and it was difficult for her to breath with his words. She composed herself and nodded her head. "Yes, of course."

Shika continued. "With careful consideration we've processed information from each best suitor and have eliminated them accordingly. Your preferences were taken into consideration."

Reina's adrenaline began to pump as she began to feel lightheaded. "Please be Arata Mita… Hyousuke Sarutobi…Please… Please not Madara… I can't face him." She thought to herself as her hands began to shake.

Jirou nodded. "We, Shika, Hashirama, Tobirama, and I, are here to announce that you will be marrying Madara Uchiha of the Uchiha clan."

Reina clenched her teeth together as she lowered her head, fighting back the tears. Her reaction was instantaneous. She stayed there, frozen until a wail erupted from her throat. Reina gripped her pants and cried, tears hitting her hands. She tried to prepare herself for this inevitable moment, but it seemed as if she could never be ready when someone else was making life decisions for her. Reina cried in frustration, fear, pain, sorrow. There was a whirlwind of emotions stirring inside of her.

Reina shook her head. "No!" She took in a deep breath. "No!" She looked up at the elders with pain and despair. "I refuse!"

"Reina, please control yourself." Hashirama stated.

"Shut up, Hashirama!" Reina roared at him. "You've done nothing but act as a lamb against these elders! You don't love me like you love this village! Your own family comes second to you!"

Hashirama gasped. "That's not true."

"It is!" Reina stood up and looked down at him with clenched fists. "You just wanted me to marry him, because you were worried that your own friend would turn his back on you and your precious village! You are selfish! You wanted to protect him and your bond, because you worry that he will go rogue!" Reina took in a deep breath. "You didn't care about me. You cared about keeping the peace when perhaps this village would be better off without that bastard! You didn't even want me to live here! You needed me to live here! I had a life and love with the Ashikaga clan! But you had to bring me here! You had to keep me around to marry this psychopath!" Reina gritted her teeth and looked down at her brother with complete and utter rage. "You used me! I am your WAR TREATY! Because your words have NEVER WORKED!"

Reina's chakra began to glow outside of her body in a purple fury. She reached for her back and pulled out her spine, slamming her handle down onto the floor. Reina grinned up at her brother with sharp teeth and lifted her hand. Hashirama was immediately on his feet and jumped to the side as Reina whipped her spine at him. Reina swiftly appeared right in front of him and then froze as she looked up into his eyes filled with pain and confusion.

"Don't hurt him… You'll regret it."

Reina stopped what she was doing and her body faded to normal. She placed her spine back inside her and looked up at her brother with teary eyes. "I'm sorry."

Hashirama nodded and lowered his head. "I am too." He took his hand and pressed it against her stomach, activating a seal to temporarily block her chakra flow. He caught Reina as she fainted to the floor, a few tears streaming down his cheeks. "She'll wake up tomorrow morning. Let's treat her with care."

The elders, who were kneeling in place the entire time, nodded their heads. Jirou spoke up. "Do you think this was the right decision?"

Hashirama shook his head. "None of this was… but it had to happen."

Tobirama walked over to Hashirama. "I'm glad you're okay, brother." He hugged him from the side. "It seems as if she was able to control herself."

"Yes, I'm so proud." Hashirama took in a shaky breath. "She's right though."

"Don't dwell on it. She'll be fine." Tobirama scooped Reina up from his hands. "Take care of yourself. I'll put her to bed in the chamber." With that, Tobirama left to bring Reina into a prison-like basement where she would sleep in a sealed chamber for the night.

Hashirama was sitting in his office doing paperwork to distract himself. There was a knock at the door and it opened up to reveal Madara in his usual blue outfit. Hashirama looked up from his desk in silence and gave a bittersweet smile. "Madara, what can I do for you this late?"

Madara walked up to his desk. "I felt a powerful presence. It was very dark. I wanted to know what happened."

Hashirama took in a deep breath. "Reina, had an outburst… but she was able to quell it." He continued his paperwork.

Madara watched him in before speaking up again. "Why did she have an outburst?"

Hashirama topped what he was doing and looked up at his friend. "We told her who she was going to marry and lashed out, because she never wanted to be betrothed to begin with. That's when she went to attack me."

"She tried to attack you?" Madara asked with surprise.

"Yes… but she was able to stop herself. That's all that matters." Hashirama gave a sweet smile. "I'm okay."

"Are you really?" Madara inquired.

Hashirama took in a deep breath and looked down at his paperwork. "I don't know… I should've let her stay with the Ashikaga clan."

"Nonsense! You love her." Madara furrowed is brows.

"Yes, but do you understand how hard it is for her to see that? Reina knows she is being used as weapon of peace… She's not naïve." Hashirama shook his head. "She knows better than we do. Reina has wisdom beyond her years. She's intelligent, curious, and cunning."

Madara nodded. "I see. So, where is she now?"

"She's in quarantine in a sealed chamber." Hashirama gave a sad smile. "She'll be held there until tomorrow morning."

"I understand." Madara waved. "I'll leave you be then. Goodnight, Hashirama."

"Goodnight, Madara." Hashirama watched his friend leave, wondering if Reina was right. Would life be better off without him? Hashirama shook his head at the preposterous thought and continued his paperwork in peace.