Valley region | Hokage house

A week. She would be tied in a week.

Ever since she arrived her mind could only think of a way out of this situation. Even when she knew it wasn't possible. It could be infertility. Nonetheless it could only be tested if she tried so obviously not. Maybe that she was utterly useless in home chores but they had plenty of staff to do that. She could be annoying but how? She would just achieve to annoy the staff. Maybe she could destroy something precious? But the war had destroyed almost every family relics. Men valued just their swords and to destroy a sword… she would need a blacksmith. Another failed idea.

This… man was as stubborn as herself. None of them wanted to bring down the wall. Thus, in the last week they just watched each other from behind and let others to prepare the wedding arrangements.

It was a nice staying until the head maid of the Senju house visited her. The Senju brothers didn't have surviving parents, thus the head maid has been taking care of the household until Hashirama married Mito. However, Mito delegated all but the administrative chores to her.

"Well, well… What do we have here?" The head maid had walked in with obvious disdain on her face.

Makoto simply looked up at the older woman to let her know she had her attention.

"Ah, don't you have manners to greet a person when you first see them?"

"Excuse me lady maid, but I don't know how to refer to you. In my household we didn't have someone like you."

"Someone like me?" The woman frowned. It was obvious that didn't make her happy.

"A head maid. It was my mother who played that role."

"Ah… I see… Let's see what your mother taught you." She sat down in front of her and gave her a false smile.

"What do you wish to know?" She was being as polite as possible. For her standards.

"Your skills my dear." She had brought a clipboard with paper, brush and ink and was poised to write.

"I've been taught the art of war, especially strategy and tactics. I'm also good in administration and arithmetics and I was in charge of our household's supplying-"

"Administration is a good thing. But Lady Mito already does that here." She interrupted her with an irritated look "And the rest of your 'capabilities' are very unsuitable for a woman. What would you do with them? Improve our cleaning rhythm? Ah, please!"

"Also, I have learnt the ways of medicine. Bones and war wounds-"

"Well… That's more useful but since the big war is decreasing at fast rate I think we wouldn't need your services in that area… my lady."

That was all the information she would give to this woman. She clearly disliked her and she wouldn't let her stomp all over her.

"You see, after the war we retreat to lick our wounds and replenish our numbers in hopes war never comes to us again. But maybe for someone like you… It would be better if it just stayed as it was…"

"No one sane would want that!" Makoto spat with controlled anger. What was wrong with this woman?

"At least you have some sanity in you." She stood up and started to inspect the room she was staying in. "As I was saying… In these times a man needs a woman like me- capable in sustaining their home and children. You? You are just a trophy that will not last long."

She hadn't wanted to last at all, but she bit her tongue. Her staying here would be worse if she annoyed the wrong servant.

"Nothing to say, huh? At least you know how to remain quiet. But if you keep glaring at me or your husband or any man, I will slap that pretty face every morning from now on, understand?"

She didn't know she was glaring. At this point it was like her normal expression and as much as she would like to make her eat her words, she choose to look at the floor. This wasn't her territory. She could not win this battle… not now.

"I'll take that as a yes. I hope you to be pretty good in childbearing, since you have nothing else to offer."

When the head maid left she just wanted to destroy everything in her room. How dare she?

This was exactly what she feared. The pretty mirror case for the jewelry her mother gave her was no more than a mess after it hit the wall.

-o-

Hokage's office

"You can come in Sonja-chan."

"Hashirama-dono, I… got to know the girl."

Hashirama instantly left what he was doing "So? What did you find out?"

"Where did you find that girl?! Putting it simply, she is totally unsuitable and useless. She cannot do anything. No cooking or washing or mending clothes or babysitting. Is her lineage that amazing that we can overlook this in favor of the offspring she can produce?"

Sonja-chan had been their wet nurse and caretaker since their mother died giving birth. She was a strict woman but loving when it came to them. He trusted her judgment but Mito had already told him she was a little unnerving with the housekeeping thing and with women in general. Apparently, she favored the males.

"Sonja-chan… Don't be like that." He let out a small sigh. It seemed he would have to unfold the truth behind this arranged marriage.

"The real reason for the marriage is… We aren't in need of that kind of skill from her. We settled this marriage in order to get her an easy access to the strategy and intel unit. If she and Tobirama put their differences aside and produced an offspring it would be convenient but it's not the main reason."

Sonja was shocked. It wasn't common for a woman to put their hands in those kinds of issues. That would give her far too much power and she had threatened her. This wasn't good.

"But Hashirama-dono, why her?! We have plenty of good and smart men that would be glad to work on that."

"She's General Kato's first born and the one who planned the last move that gave us victory and ended the war Sonja-chan. Treat her with respect and keep it a secret. You witnessed the last terrorist attack near the town. We need her intel and brains here."

"You know the Council will not overlook this Hashirama-dono." She said with a hard expression.

"Yes. That's exactly why we're marrying her to Tobirama instead of putting her directly under our command as part of our troops." He said with an equally stern voice and expression. He knew Sonja didn't like it since she was old-fashioned but he needed her cooperation on this.

"I understand. She better be worth all this trouble."

"She had been worth it up till now."

"I see. Well she just told me about her education. She spoke about the strategic thing and some administration capabilities. She also said she had medical training, though just in bones and major wounds. Nothing like midwife labor or herbal knowledge as a normal woman would have."

"Well Mihara already told us about that. She didn't mention anything else? Her hobbies or what she likes to eat?"

"I hadn't thought you wanted that kind of information boy. I was testing her potential as a wife." She huffed. He should have told her who was that girl before! Now she had mistreated her and she wouldn't give her any information. Why did he want to know that kind of stuff? It was just useless information.

He eyed her for a bit before lending an extended sigh. "Sonja-chan, you didn't threaten her already, did you?"

"I'll send a younger maid to befriend her."

"Okay… I'll leave it in your capable hands."

She nodded and went to take her leave but then she remembered something.

"What does Tobirama think of this?"

"He accepted."

"Of course he did." She exited.

-o-

Konoha's Library

This woman was, by far, the weirdest he had known. She didn't get annoyed at, talked to or even looked him. He didn't know how to interpret her behavior. Was she ignoring him and the whole marriage issue? In certain light he was doing the same but a small voice in the back of his mind was telling him it wasn't a good thing to do. Leaving the marriage aside, they would be working together in political and battle administration. As co-workers they should be able to develop some kind of a sane relationship. But when you have to share the same bed with that co-worker everything becomes complicated.

Tobirama was in a predicament. He didn't want to be the first one to break the silence. That would just make him look like he was more interested in the matter than she was herself. However, Hashirama was constantly reminding him he knew nothing of her and in some point of this year he would have to consummate the marriage. Sleeping with a stranger, that word put the shivers down his spine and disgust in his stomach.

She was the daughter of a well named General. That same General was also known to hold pretty questionable relations with some free sword (Ronin) smugglers and other underground shadows in order to provide some decent intel. The same General that had confirmed her help in the planning. Why not in intel gathering too? Tobirama wanted to at least confirm it in some shape or form so he could take measures or not so many. He was a cautious man.

So here he was, spying on her in the library, pretending to read some administration record in a place he knew was out of her vision. He had seen her entering this place on several occasions. She had seemed very pleased with the large collection of anatomy treaties.

For a high ranked General's daughter she dressed quite humbly. In fact, she dressed like a man.

She never wore kimonos, just a haori decorated in different shadows of white and green with golden edges but under that she wore plain white linen pants and a high neck shirt decorated in pale brocade with canvas slippers. That kind of pleased him. At least she wasn't extravagant. He wasn't sure if she was wearing make-up and her hair wasn't as long as her sister's but it was always tied up so it didn't bother her while reading. Her nails were short which indicated she wasn't spoiled although it has been almost three years without a big battle.

"How much longer are you going to stalk me?"

Tobirama didn't see that coming. He kept his head down pretending he hadn't heard what she had said.

"This is the third day. Do you need something?"

He had clearly underestimated her. In the beginning Tobirama assumed that, like most of women, she had not been trained in advanced combat. Even if she knew theory it wasn't the same. But as he looked at her better (from afar), how she moved, her apparently acute senses and how she looked for any quick escape route when she went anywhere he was sure she had been trained more than just a beginner. So, now he was going to sleep with a trained stranger.

"You're misinterpreting."

He couldn't accept he was stalking her. He was the Hokage's second hand. He didn't stalk people, not in the safety of his village. He was just compiling information. She just took a book and abandoned the building in direction of Hashirama's house.

-o-

"You were right. He arrived there a while after me, three days in a row."

"I told you sister! He is interested in you after all!"

"That means nothing. The library is a public place, anyone can enter and do some reading."

"What?! No! He has been following you for the past five days! I've seen him!"

"Did he? Maybe it's because we live in the same place and do similar things."

"I thought you were smarter."

"And I know you aren't."

"You are impossible you know?!"

"You may go to your room now."

"Huummm!" Her sister made an angry noise and closed the rice paper door as hard as she could.

She had to admit she felt curiosity but her statement was true. Her sister's intent to drive her to him was futile. She already knew what she needed of him in order to work together. She knew his strategic preferences from years of mail interchange. Knew his combat style and even some of his gaps since that time she had to fight him over a misunderstanding (and he obviously didn't recognize her since she was wearing a keffiyeh). He relayed just on logic and she respected him for that. She thought the same way. But one thing was to know the warrior and another was to know the man. She wasn't sure if she wanted the last one.

-o-

Konoha's library

He was ready to leave when he heard her. It was easy since she was stomping her way through the place.

"There you are!"

She seemed exasperated and was noisy even when she pretended to be quiet. He made the decision to give her a little of his attention by inviting her to sit in front of him.

"Yes, we need to talk. Look, you and my sister are rock hard headed and won't accept the fact that you are going to be a couple! I know I can't force you to love each other but you should get to know her at least!"

Well this was information falling from the sky. He was too prideful to ask but now, she was giving it for free. He wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth. He looked at her with his undivided attention.

"At least you seem interested. My sister… Well, is there something special you want to know about her?"

Tobirama wanted to know a lot of information, but asking too much right now would give the wrong impression. Like he wanted something more with her, which he didn't. That being kept in mind, he started with the one that worried him the most.

"Does she have combat training?" He asked with a blank face and crossed his arms.

"What? I thought you… Oh… Well, yes. In our clan all the women are trained in hand to hand combat, at least enough to free themselves and run."

"That was not my question. I'm asking about advanced training."

She remembered her sister narrating an occasion in which she had a fight with the white Senju brother because some refugees were mistaken for spies. It seemed he didn't remember, or it was possible that he never knew it was her.

"Umm, yes… But that is something only she could answer."

"What kind of training?"

"Hey! I came here on good terms! Now you are just being rude!"

Tobirama huffed. He wasn't being rude. He just wanted objective and concise information.

"I… If she is in fact a warrior, that would change things."

"Why?!" She looked appalled.

"Because that makes her more dangerous than I thought. I would have to take more measures."

Her face paused, her mouth dropped open while her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. "What kind of measures?! She means no harm to you! She would never do anything our father wouldn't! You have our full loyalty!"

This woman, in contrast with her sister, was an open book. Tobirama saw she really believed what she was saying, but he needed more details in order to be calmer.

"Then tell me, what kind of training has she endured? What kind of weapon she favors, aside from tactical planning. Which role had she assumed during war?"

She wanted her sister to have a happy marriage. For her to accomplish that she would have to tell him all she knew. She sighed. It was for Makoto's future. She would understand, eventually.

-o-

Hokage's Office

"Oh, Tobirama! I thought you had one free hour till the reunion."

Tobirama closed the door and secured it. He spun around to question his older

brother, "Hashirama…You knew?!"

He didn't like the accusatory tone in Tobirama's voice… "Knew what?"

"Of her! Of Kokuyo! You did this on purpose?!"

"What? What do you know of Kokuyo? Did someone find his lair?"

"No!" Tobirama never yelled, he was pissed. "Then you didn't know?"

"Of what!? You are very agitated. Come, sit."

He sat rigidly. Was it actually true? When that girl told him that the general's daughter was in fact the most wanted intel smuggler, he just blew up in anger. It made sense, the reason all their efforts to find him were futile.

"Now what were you saying about Kokuyo?"

Tobirama looked at him for a while, calculating his words. It was starting to make Hashirama nervous.

"Anija, do you know who this woman is?

"Isn't she General Kato's daughter?"

"Aside from that. Do you know who taught her?"

"I assumed it was her father. Could it be Kokuyo?! You think she's covering him?"

"Her sister just told me. Yes,she is and… Kokuyo isn't a man… but herself."

Silence reigned in the room as Hirashima tried to absorb the new information.

"Makoto-chan is the coldblooded smuggler that sold us enemy intel?!"

"We have yet to confirm it."

"Tobirama, are you inventing this to cancel your wedding? It's in two days and it is very child-"

"Ngg-No!" He scrubbed his face roughly as he let out a sigh. "If this is true… That could fix our intel problem but could arise problems with our allies. We have to know now! If I marry her and it proves to be true they can accuse us of complot!"

"I know! But how? She's not going to just come here and confess."

"When I fought him-her in that misunderstanding I scratched him-her on the right side of his-her thorax…"

"If she was trained to fight that will not be enough, anyone could have that scar!"

"No. It was the sword of the thunder god. The scar would be colored light yellow from the poison it holds. Also, it would explain how he-she survived it. She knows I use that kind of poison."

"And how are you going to look there before the wedding? Huh?!"

"We can have a maid to look for it!"

"The sisters are very secluded. They bathe and dress together, they don't allow anyone in."

"You already asked?!"

"I wanted to know small things about her so I could tell you!"

"You… stupid bird brain!" Tobirama let out a long suffering sigh. "Even if I marry her if we don't… consummate it I can null it. I just have to get access-"

"Tobirama! You are talking as if she were a thing! She is a woman for God's sake!"

"A dangerous one if it's true!"

"Maybe. But then again, you are also dangerous to her well-being. You picked a fight with her after all."

"I was in charge of the security. It was in my right to doubt and we haven't confirmed the identity yet."

"Well, you know, not all the suitors wait until the wedding night to 'get to know' each other…" Hashirama said as a sultry comment.

Tobirama frowned deeply. "I'm not… That is not going to work on her!"

"How do you know? Have you tried? You seem to be in need of some action." Hashirama was doing that suggesting thing with his eyebrows, raising them up and down rapidly. Now he was making fun of him.

"Okay! Don't get mad Tobirama! Your face is tomato red! Even if she is the face behind that black scarf no one else would have to know. We can keep it a secret and you win a wife that can take care of herself… and has a nicely toned body."

"Anija! We are hiding too many things for this woman! If someone finds out there will be too many dirty clothes on our hands."

"Tobirama, I think you are overreacting. She just smuggled information, not people, and fought on our side of the war-"

"And a lot of people disappeared under his-her footsteps."

"Bad people. Remember they were double spies. You're so ungrateful Tobirama… Someone has to get their hands dirty. If this woman is in fact Kokuyo, then she is an absolute genius!"

Tobirama couldn't reply to that and he had found himself in this position too often since this woman arrived. He didn't like it but Hashirama was right. In these times it was convenient to keep her by their side, so he would have to wait until the wedding night.