Thin daylight broke through the trees, creating patches of light on the forest floor as Nara Shikato, 12th head of the Nara clan, walked back to the small village he called home. Beside him walked his two closest companions and battle partners, Yamanaka Inomaru and Akimichi Choshirou. Inomaru was also head of his clan, his and Shikato's parents having fallen victim to a sickness that spread across their settlement some years back; the 11th head of the Akimichi clan, Choshirou's mother, however, was still alive and (mostly) well, even at the ripe old age of seventy.

A boy's laughter broke the stillness of the day, and Shikato smiled. His ten-year-old son, Shikatarou, had run ahead, racing his own best friends, Inomaru's and Choshirou's sons Inoji and Chosuke. The group had just come from a settlement northwest of theirs, too early to call a village yet, visiting Shikato's sister Kumori, who had recently married the leader of the settlement.

The abrupt way the boys, at the edge of a curve in the road still visible to their fathers, stopped, stumbling into one another and tensing, put Shikato on edge. Immediately he quickened his pace, reaching the boys in seconds, fingering a kunai hidden in the pouch strapped to his waist.

Fortunately, however, he managed to recognize the person in front of him before drawing any weapons.

"Ah, Sarutobi-san!" Shikato exclaimed. "How good it is to see you!"

Sarutobi Nisuke, leader of the Sarutobi clan, laughed, deep and throaty. "Haha, Shikato-kun, my boy, the pleasure is all mine! Oh, and Choshirou-kun, Inomaru-kun, you're here as well, wonderful!" He then smiled down at the three boys, who had moved a little closer once they realized the stranger was not, in fact, a stranger to their fathers.

"Hello, there, boys," Sarutobi-san said kindly. Inoji and Chosuke mumbled greetings, and Shikatarou smiled somewhat shyly.

Sarutobi-san looked back at the older generation. "I guess I shouldn't be too surprised to see you, as we've just come from your village. I was sad to have missed you, but it seems Fate is smiling on me today!"

"Oh?" said Choshirou. "Did anyone buy anything? I feel certain you were by not that long ago."

The Sarutobi clan was a group of traveling merchants - at least, that was their cover story, as like most shinobi clans, they were often hired by daimyo and other factions to fight in wars. But the Sarutobi were also legitimate sellers, and roamed around the countryside, going village to village, hawking their wares as they searched for new clients. Even now, Nisuke was pulling a small wooden wagon behind him, balancing it on two wheels while he stood between two bars like a yoked oxen. The Sarutobi clan symbol, a straight line with two lines curving up and two lines curving down, each with a dot over top, was painted in black on the side.

"Ah, yes, well we weren't selling anything today - at least, nothing physical," Sarutobi-san replied.

Shikato frowned. "None in our village need your...other services, no disrespect meant, Sarutobi-san. We can certainly take care of our own."

"Oh, certainly, certainly," Sarutobi-san replied. "I understand why you'd think so, but that's not what I meant." He paused. "Perhaps I'll let you three get back to your village. I've talked with Choshirou-kun's mother already, and she can tell you."

The three men glanced at each other, but nodded. It was not like Sarutobi-san to be so vague, but perhaps it was something that could not be said out in the open - anyone, or anything, could be listening.

"That we shall do so," Inomaru said. "I wish you the best on the rest of your travels. Do give the family our regards."

"Yes," said Shikato, remembering something. "You son...Sasuke. Isn't he married now?"

Sarutobi-san grinned. "Yes, indeed he is. And a father now, too! Can you believe it? I'm a grandfather!"

"Oh, congratulations!" Choshirou exclaimed, clapping the older man on the shoulder. Sarutobi-san winced a little, but no one commented on it. "What's the child's name?"

"Hiruzen," Sarutobi-san replied, his grin softening into a proud smile. "My grandson Hiruzen."

"Well, congratulations again," Inomaru said. "I hope we can see Sasuke and the little one soon."

"Certainly, certainly," Nisuke agreed. He reached out and ruffled Shikatarou's, Inoji's, and Chosuke's heads, then nodded a farewell to their fathers. "Well, I'd best be on my way. I'll let you get home, find out what I mean."

The three men nodded, and then bowed to the older man; the boys followed suit.

Sarutobi-san nodded again and then moved past them, going on his way.

Shikato placed a hand on his son's back, pushing him forward slightly. "Come on, then boys. Let's get home. Kaa-san will be waiting for us."

Shikatarou looked at his friends and grinned, his dark green eyes lighting up with the thought of a challenge. "Race ya!"

Inoji reached up and fixed his ponytail, securing his dirty blond hair. "You're on!"

The two darted forward, running the rest of the way to the village. Chosuke, already taking after the traditional Akimichi body type, sighed and muttered something about "exercise being a drag" – no doubt something he picked up from his mother, a Nara, and her side of the family. Nonetheless, he started after his friends.

Soon they arrived at the village. It was more sophisticated than most, and certainly bigger, meant to house three clans instead of one. The three clans had separate housing for their families, the Nara to the west, the Akimichi to the south, and the Yamanaka to the east; in the middle of the village was a large meeting house where the three clan heads and their councils met and heard complaints from the villagers. Most of the land had originally belonged to the Nara, as they looked after the deer in a special forest that they had protected long before they had become family with the Akimichi and Yamanaka.

When they reached the village, the three men and their sons went their separate ways. with Inoji, Chosuke, and Shikatarou heading to their respective houses, while their fathers chose to go to the meeting house, to check on the matter Nisuke had told them about. Choshirou, in particular, motioned for his son to hurry.

"Go see what your mother has for dinner, help her set the table," he said.

"Yes, Tou-san," Chosuke replied.

The meeting house was round, made of sturdy wood from the nearby forest and topped with a thatched roof. It was one of the few buildings not meant for residency, but a couple years ago one of the office rooms had been refurbished into a room for Choshirou's mother, Chomei; she was getting weaker due to age and decided it was best just to have a spare bedroom in the meeting hall, so she wouldn't have to walk as far.

Her room was the first place Choshirou went, to check on her; she would also know exactly what Nisuke had meant.

The 11th Akimichi clan head, Chomei, was sitting upright in her bed, staring out the window. She turned at the sound of Choshirou's arrival. Raking her brown eyes over her son's appearance, she nodded in approval.

"Good to see you've made it back in one piece, then."

"Yes, Kaa-san," Choshirou replied. "It was a very quiet journey home."

"Good, good. And Kumori is well? That outsider treating her properly?"

"Yes, Kaa-san. She seems very happy."

"Hmm. Well. Onto the business at hand. Something...unexpected came up while you were gone."

Choshirou stilled, waiting to finally hear the news.

"Two ninja came to the village yesterday. They wanted to...talk. About...a treaty. They're - they're - " A coughing fit suddenly overtook Chomei, and she raised a hand to her mouth as her body shuddered. Her son took a worried step forward, but after a moment the old woman was back to normal.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Anyway - cough - they're in the meeting room in the back, I told them I needed to - cough - wait for Shikato-kun and Inomaru-kun."

Choshirou hesitated before saying, "Kaa-san...if you're unwell, you don't need to attend to our...guests. I am just as capable -"

"Nonsense!" The old woman leaned forward and issued her best death glare. Given that she was a fearsome and trained kunoichi, it was terrifying indeed. "I may have - cough - may have let you run things in my - cough - stead, but I am still head of this clan, as well as your mother. You - cough - will listen to me, and follow my lead if I so - cough - decide. Is that clear?"

Choshirou sighed. "Yes, Okaa-sama," he replied, hoping his overly respectful tone and acknowledgement of her as leader would placate her.

It seemed to work, because his mother simply nodded and settled back onto the pillows, satisfied that her rule was not being challenged. Her son was a good boy, and had proven himself fit to lead, which was why these days she left many of the day-to-day tasks to him. He was not overly ambitious, and she'd never had conflict with him like she'd had with her twin brother, Chokichi, whom their father had appointed co-head with her on his deathbed. Chomei had loved him, of course, had mourned him and still missed him at times, but she could not deny leading the clan had been much easier since he'd been fatally wounded by enemy ninja on a trade route.

"Good, then. Tell those two to meet us in the back room, then, and we will attend to our guests."

...

The guests, to Choshirou, Inomaru, and Shikato's great surprise, were Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara.

The two clans were famous, of course, for their powerful jutsu and great fighting abilities. The Akimichi, Nara, and Yamanaka clans had fortunately never crossed blades with them in recent memory, preferring to stay out of the way of those groups when they got into their renowed violent quarrels.

And yet, both Senju and Uchiha sat peacefully, sipping the tea as they sat on the floor, explaining the vision they'd had of allying multiple clans in the Land of Fire, not just their own.

Chomei frowned at them. To accomdate her age and her old bones, she sat on a small chair so she wouldn't have to bend down so much. "How are we to know you're not just using us for our abilities? Others have come before you, preaching alliances, only to leave our clans at the mercy of their enemies while they fled to safety. That's how my father died, how those two's" she waved her arm at Inomaru and Shikato "grandfathers died. Why are you any different?"

Hashirama leaned forward eagerly. "You see, Akimichi-san, we –"

"And another thing! Your honorifics! Has no one taught you etiquette, boy?" Chomei interrupted. Beside her, unnoticed – or perhaps ignored – Choshirou's face fell, apalled at his mother's rudeness. "A clan leader, one with whom you're trying curry favor, deserves to be addressed with all the respect due them, and then some!"

"Etiquette also dictates, I believe," answered the quiet Madara, "that one's guests deserve to be addressed with all the respect due them, and then some." He leaned forward, locking gazes with Chomei, who watched him warily; Hashirama also looked over at hs friend nervously. "At least we have called you Akimichi-san, and treated you as an equal."

Chomei sized up the younger shinobi, as if recalculating her opinion of him. "Well, how else should I be treated, Uchiha-san?"

"As nothing less!" chimed Hashirama, bringing the attention back to him. "And this alliance that we propose, Akimichi...san, Nara-san, Yamanaka-san, is not one of war and battles, but of peace! Of many clans, families, and individuals coming together in harmony! To do away with the bloodshed of the past!"

The old woman snorted. "Lofty goals, Senju-san. Particularly since - cough - your clan has done the most killing in these wars, mostly against the Uchiha." She leaned forward and squinted at them, examining them more closely. "Though, I admit, seeing an Uchiha and a Senju, sitting side by side and preaching peace...I never would have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes."

"Then surely that fact is proof that we mean what we say," Hasihirama replied, tone almost pleading. "We want you to join us, in making a community, perhaps even a village, where shinobi and civilians, rival clans, may live together. Peace and harmony really is our goal. Lofty it may be, as you said, and very difficult, we know, but one we are willing to do anything to achieve."

Chomei sat back, considering. While she did so, Madara turned to face Shikato and Inomaru.

"And what of you?" he asked. "Will the Nara and Yamanaka clans join us? Even if the Akimichi clan will not?"

Chomei let out an indignant hiss at that, and even Choshirou narrowed his eyes at the Uchiha. But neither needed to worry about the man driving a wedge between their friends and themselves, for Inomaru responded,

"We might join you, Uchiha-san, but not without the Akimichi. You come to us, as if we are three different clans, and indeed, we have our separations, and three different clan heads. But you must know this is not the whole truth. We make all our decisions together, as like one clan, and one clan will not do anything, not decide anything, on such a large scale of significance as this, without the other two."

Madara stared at the Yamanaka head, taking in his words. Finally he nodded. "Very well. I understand."

"This is, indeed, an important decision," said Hashirama, his excitement reigned in from earlier. "Perhaps we should give you time to ponder."

"I think that would be best," said Shikato. "You and your entourages, of course, are welcome to stay the night, and however long we need to give you our answer."

"That's very kind of you," Hashirama answered. He stood up and bowed to the clan heads, and after a moment, Madara did the same. Shikato nodded to one of the Nara retainers, who had been designated a guide/guard for their guests - shinobi villages could never take too many precautions - and the young woman nodded, gesturing for the foreign ninja to follow her to their rooms.

...

About a week later, Chomei, Choshirou, Shikato, and Inomaru, along with Hashirama and Madara, were gathered once more in the back room in the meeting house.

"We," Chomei declared, speaking for all four of them, as was her right as the eldest one there, "have come to a decision. The Akimichi, Nara, and Yamanaka clans will - cough - ahem, that is we will join you in this...endeavor of yours. This village idea."

Hashirama, who had once more been kneeling on the floor, jumped up, beaming. "Oh, Akimichi-san, thank-you! Nara-san, Yamanaka-san - and you, too, Choshirou-san - thank-you! Thank-you! You will not regret this, I promise. We - that is, the Senju, and I, and the Uchiha, we - we are committed to making this dream of peace a reality. I know we can do, working together -"

"Boy, calm down," Chomei replied sternly, narrowing her eyes at the younger clan head. "By the gods, compose yourself! You'll make me wish I hadn't said yes!"

Immediately Hashirama quieted down, and, at Madara's pointed look, sat back down on the ground. "Of course, of course. My apologies, Akimichi-san."

"Now, this is not a perpetual agreement," added Shikato, watching the Senju carefully. "And we have some...stipulations."

"Do you now?" Madara said quietly, tilting his head to regard the Nara just as carefully.

Shikato nodded. "Yes. We - that is, the Nara - we will not leave this land. It is ours to safeguard and protect, until the end of our line. If we are to make a village, we must have boundaries still. Those with permission from the Nara will be able to enter, but the forest and the immediate land are not to be touched by outsiders."

Hashirama and Madara looked at each other. They seemed to have a silent conversation, and after a minute or so, Hashirama turned back to his hosts. "Very well, that seems a reasonable request. This is healthy, fertile land, all over, so it shouldn't be a problem leaving some of your territory intact."

Shikato nodded satisfied. Inomaru spoke up then, saying,

"And, as Shikato said, we are not binding ourselves to you forever. We would like to be able to remove ourselves, after three years, if it is not to our liking."

Hashirama frowned, and again he and Madara discussed this over with their eyes alone. "Well, that seems a small amount of time...but of course, we do not wish to force you to stay..."

"We hope, as well as you, that this is a success," Choshirou added. "Please don't take this as a sign of ill faith. But we must consider our people, and their well-being."

"Of course, of course." Hashirama beamed again, his excitement too large to contain. He stood once more, bowed, and then extended his hand. "I look forward to strenghtening the health and well-being of all our clans, and all those will be a part of our village."

And, to cement this tenuous alliance, all three heads, Akimichi, Yamanaka, and Nara, reached out and shook the Senju's hand.


A.N. - Whew! I finally got around to finishing this chapter. It's not entirely how I want it, but I think the ending is good. The clans ask for a three-year trial, but we all know how that goes :)

What did you think of my OCs for the 12th and 13th Ino-Shika-Cho? I tried to do some math and I think that's the right generation count, but I could be wrong.

I decided to name the Third Hokage's grandfather after Sarutobi Nisuke, a real life person said to have partly inspired the legendary ninja figure Sarutobi Sasuke, after whom both Uchiha Sasuke and the Third Hokage's father are named after.