.
.
"Apparently I'm cursed to be surrounded by idiots," Madara says to Hashi, when he sees that once again he's being chaperoned by Gai and Naruto.
"Yo!" Naruto says, and Gai gives him a hearty salute. Madara sighs heavily.
They walk down the forest path, Gai spouting ridiculous platitudes while the Uzumaki brat laughs and nods excitedly. It makes sense that he's paired up with them: Might Gai was the only shinobi who managed to injure him, and the Naruto kid's strength rivaled that of the current generations' kage - which doesn't say much, but the fact remains.
The dirt path is dappled with yellow sunlight. The rubber soles of their shoes make soft scuffing sounds as they walk, while birds sing in the trees. It's unseasonably warm, and even though Hashirama had insisted he wear the standard shinobi uniform - "it's moisture wicking, the fabric will keep you cool instead," - he didn't listen to her, and now he's sweating uncomfortably in his purple cassock, the thick fabric of his collar sticking to the skin of his neck. Quietly he takes off his gloves and stuffs them in his pack, a wretched concession of weakness. Fortunately his two guards are too dimwitted to notice.
"Oh, look! It's Kakashi-sensei! And look, there's my dad!" Naruto says, and Madara looks up and sees Obito being similarly chaperoned, flanked by Kakashi and Minato as they walk toward them.
"Yo," Kakashi says, as they pass. Minato's eyes close into pleasant half-moons as he smiles at Naruto. Obito keeps staring straight ahead of them.
Madara sighs. Somehow it's even more depressing seeing his protégé similarly neutered.
"Yo, Bushy-Eyebrows-sensei! We should do push-ups after the mission, dattebayo!"
Madara glances up at Obito. Obito shrugs.