Time Heals All Wounds
Summary: The day Tobirama died happens earlier, during Hashirama's time as Hokage when they are at war with almost every new village but years after Madara's death. Only he didn't die. He somehow ended up in a time not his own and met a familiar face he though gone forever. Can he get back? And what of his new friend?
2 years later ...
"Hashirama? You summoned me?" A twenty year old Madara knocked on the door and warily poked his head inside of the Hokage's office, much to his and his brother's amusement. Madara had obviously sensed them both in the office and the officially adult Uchiha Clan Head had long since decided that it was never a good thing when the Senju brothers are plotting together. Tobirama couldn't help but marvel at how adorable his partner was in that sense.
As if either he or Hashirama needed to plot together for it to not be a good thing.
"Ah! Thank you for coming on such short notice, my friend!" Hashirama immediately exclaimed with one of his sunny grins that only seemed to make Madara more wary. Tobirama could just tell that he was debating whether to make a run for it, consequences be damned. Still, his pride would be his undoing in this situation, for Uchiha Madara never ran from anything, even the obvious feeling of foreboding he could no doubt detect in his own stomach.
The younger Senju did his best not to give anything away when those cautious and suspicious black eyes settled on him, asking for an explanation.
"Did you have need of me, Hashirama, or are you just wasting my time on my rare day off?"
Usually, the Mokuton user would no doubt slump over in depression at the callous and snappish way Madara was talking to him, but Hashirama was only all smiles and cheer today, in far too good of a mood to be bothered by Madara's usual blunt attitude. "I have good news! Mito is pregnant again! I'm going to be a father! Again! Tsuna-chan's gonna have a little brother or sister! Toka and Tobi will be aunt and uncle again!"
"Oh! Well, I guess congratulations are in order," Madara said with a growing smile, tensions seeping out of his body and relaxing in the way he only did around those that he trusted. It hadn't taken more than a year for Madara to show his back again to Hashirama after regaining all of his memories. He'd just turned around one day, casually as he paid attention to a Hyuuga kunoichi giving her report after a mission which had nearly ended in disaster, and Hashirama had fallen into hysterical, relieved sobs as soon as it happened. It hadn't happened since Madara regained his memories before that point and it had been noticeable. The fact that the gesture had been unconscious had only deepened its meaning.
Their friendship had been stronger than ever since then.
Hashirama beamed at the - physically - younger man and while the news were indeed good and cause for celebration, they were not the ones that Madara had been called here for to receive. Tobirama almost smirked at the fact that Hashirama had picked up some of Madara's troll tendencies. Really, getting his target to relax and lower its guard was brilliant. At least his brother was finally thinking with his head and not just winging it. "Thanks! But, you see, this wonderful news brought with itself a rather large problem."
"Oh?"
The brunet nodded, sounding a bit more somber this time around. "The last time Mito was pregnant, I nearly missed Tsuna's birth since I was so busy with my duties as the Hokage. The village has been at peace and stable for years now and since I am about to get a second child that I actually wish to be around for when they grow up and be a better emotional support for Tsuna as she starts entering the most important formative period of her life, I've decided that it is time I step down as Hokage and pass down the hat to a successor who will continue leading with the Will of Fire."
"Oh," the Sharingan master sounded a bit incredulous but also understanding at this. "Of course. But what do you need me for?"
"As my fellow co-founder of Konoha, you have to be made aware of this decision and be present when I officially declare the next Hokage. Of course, we'll make a big handing over the hat ceremony for the entire village, but this is just to get the formalities out of the way."
Madara eyed them both a bit suspiciously at this. "Weren't we supposed to decide village leaders by cast of popular vote?"
"The entire village voted when you were on the diplomatic mission to the capital," Tobirama answered, speaking for the first time since the wild haired man had entered the room. He could see the exact moment Madara closed off, no doubt thinking how much this resembled the last time a village leader was voted for. Tobirama had to resist the urge to comfort him. It would ruin the good news. "Only your vote and approval remains."
"You know I think you'd be a good Hokage, Tobirama. You shouldn't have wasted time around waiting for me to get back from that snooze fest," Madara replied with a roll of his eyes, seemingly somewhat mollified that they weren't excluding his opinion in the matter after all.
Tobitama nodded. "Thank you for the kind words, Madara." He exchanged a look with his brother and stepped closer to Hashirama. The brunet man immediately took off his white and red hat and with a formal air more befitting an official ceremony, handed over the hat to Tobirama with a somber but proud expression. Then, Tobirama turned to Madara and walked over to his lover, moving so swiftly that the Uchiha had no time to react before the deed was done. "However, I am not the victorious candidate. Congratulations, Nidaime Hokage-sama."
Madara had to push the hat back up a bit in order to gape at Tobirama's gentle, proud, loving smile. "But ... I ... Hokage ... ?" The disbelief and uncertainty were painful to see but Tobirama knew where their roots lay and he was still working on clearing them up and burning them for good so they may no longer poison the ground and prevent hope from growing and blossoming.
It was well founded, the doubt that anyone would choose Madara as their village leader, only Madara had been sort of ... oblivious to how the villagers changed their original view of him. It had been subtle and had taken quite a lot of time until any significant change could be noticed, but one day, people stopped whispering behind his back, started meeting his eyes, smiled and waved at him in greeting or stopped fretting about their children hanging around a man who juggled small planetoids for fun. After all, one could only be suspicious and wary of someone who constantly protected them so long before they saw the truth and saw just how wrong and cruel they had been. It had not been an unanimous vote by any stretch, but Madara had a good ten percent more votes than Tobirama or any other candidate. Tobirama had come in second place but the second leader of their village would be Madara. Fitting, as he was one of its founders.
And he was by far the best choice, all things considered. After the mess with Zetsu, it had been Madara that had freed the Tsuchikage, the two Jinchuriki from Kumo and one from Taki of the Kinkoju no Fuda and returned to them the control of their bodies, right in front of the shinobi of Iwa and Taki under the careful instructions and watchful eye of Mito as they, together, destroyed the seals. He had then been the one to negotiate a peace with Iwa and had been the one to return the Hachibi and Nibi Jinchurikis to Kumo with an explanation as to what had happened with the Tsuchikage behind him as support. Madara was feared, but he was also respected. He had a sharp mind, a sharper tongue and a temperament not many would dare test. But he was also, quite possibly, the most educated individual on the continent. Economy, law, politics ... Madara had studied that in the twenty first century and the knowledge of how to run a clan had been imparted to him at a very young age.
He will be a strict Hokage, but a fair one, for his most telling characteristic was that he was overprotective and he loved his village.
Second - and perhaps equal, now, with the Rinnegan - only to Hashirama in power and skill, a veteran war general, a skilled politician and the terror of the shinobi world, Madara will be the perfect Nidaime Hokage.
Explaining as much only earned Tobirama a swift shift from black to red to purple. Apparently, Madara was not pleased. "The fuck, Senju! I can't be Nidaime! I'd be shit at it!"
"I believe I've just listed every reason why you'd be perfect for the position," Tobirama calmly answered back, knowing Madara was only lashing out of utter disbelief that someone would put such trust in him as to lead Konoha. Especially after such a long time of no one wanting him there in the first place, let alone in a position of power. "The people trust you and believe in you. They will fight for you to their last dying breath, just like you fight for them. Why is that so hard to believe?"
"Because barely a year ago, people wanted my head on a stake if only they could manage it!"
"People change. Things change. Opinions change," Tobirama replied calmly with a casual shrug. "Everyone by now knows that you'd do as much, if not more, for Konoha as Anija and I would. I mean, everyone in Kumo annoys the hell out of you but you still go on diplomatic missions-" No matter where in the world Madara goes these days on diplomatic missions, actually, people don't make a fuss because, apparently, they fear his temper snapping and him throwing a couple of huge ass meteorites on their home villages. Tobirama uses this shamelessly and he had been very persistent when convincing Hashirama to make Madara their default negotiator or at least part of the envoy. That Kurama always trailed after him was nothing but a bonus. Every negotiation was usually finished within two weeks at most. "You've been practically a daycare for the younger children since you've arrived. Last winter, you'd spend two hours at dusk and dawn each day infusing your chakra into the protective barrier-" Which had only been set up last summer and still needed some tweaking, as well as figuring out what else it could be used for. "So the village would be warmer than the rest of the world. You've been going on missions by yourself that would usually require a dozen shinobi, thus lessening the risk to their lives. I saw you teaching some of the Sarutobi children how to use their clan's signature katon jutsu and some Kurama and Yuhiko kids genjutsu. You've been training our messenger hawks since you've regained your memories. You take up on almost as much work as I do at the Tower, stand in for either me or Hashirama when we can't come in and you've been interim Hokage for five weeks six months ago when Hashirama went with Mito to her brother's wedding and the village hadn't burned down. The Daimyo seems to like you, for whatever crazy reason, and you've been spreading your technological and basic medical knowledge from the future around to make living better and easier. Hell, Tsunade wants to be an iryo-nin because of you as an inspiration. You've helped me establish the Military Police Force and ANBU and you've been actively monitoring and managing the inter-politics between the clans of Konoha so they'd not turn what's supposed to be administrative meetings into power games. You even founded the civilian schooling system which many of our villagers are grateful for, as all children, shinobi and civilian alike, can attend. Madara, people have changed their opinion of you ages ago. You just never noticed."
It shouldn't be cute, really, but Madara was so adorably flabbergasted that Tobirama almost cooed. Or went on a killing rampage. Because he knew the cause behind such disbelief that he could ever be likable but to a select few people. Madara may be hot tempered and often resolved to violence and he was loud and foulmouthed when pissed, but he was kind and caring and just and he cared deeply for those he considered his. Ever since he regained his memory, things have been running so much more smoothly in the village than ever before. The Uchiha Clan was the leading force in this, as they feel they have disappointed their Clan Head enough times as it was and they never wanted a repeat of the public scolding Madara had given them upon his return. The elders of his clan were petrified by the god eyes - as they have been dubbed - he possessed and the power that granted him, so they no longer put up a fuss, not even when he took away all of their sway and power and instead made a council of young, reasonable people who will set a new tradition. The Uchiha Clan was the driving force behind the Military Police, but they were far from the only people who worked there, like Tobirama had first suggested, which was probably for the best. Yamanaka, Nara, Inuzuka, Hatake, Hyuuga, Aburame and many others had qualities that Madara had listed would be perfect for the Konoha Military Police Force and had insisted that everyone should have at least five willing members in the force so there was balance between the clans.
Madara's radical changes based on his experiences in the future have led to Konoha becoming the by far most stable hidden village in the world. Between a proper schooling system, the ninja Academy, the Military Police, ANBU, several different councils of advisers, public voting on most decisions, a hospital and life and health insurance, Madara's suggestions on how to deal with outside trade and political deals, they were prospering and Konoha was by far the most famous and strongest of the hidden villages. And with set allies like Uzushiogakure and Sora-Ku, they were set to stay that way for a long while.
The people were more than okay to have Madara as their Hokage.
Tobirama approved of this decision, the end results of the vote. Once, he'd thought it to be a terrible idea, when he had not known anything other than Madara's war persona and his grief over Izuna's death, his unstable emotions and the rage that always seemed to be dancing just underneath his skin. Now, when he had realized how blind and biased he had been, he couldn't be happier for his partner. Madara deserved the recognition and the acceptance, the love he now received.
Besides, Toirama was perfectly happy as he was. He loved creating new jutsu - something he wouldn't have the time to do if he was leading Konoha, not if he wanted to do either safely and properly - he would never give up his position as Team Tobirama's sensei - another thing that he couldn't properly devote his attention to as Hokage - and he had never been as charismatic as either Hashirama - outgoing, exuberant, happy, charming, a friend to everyone - or Madara - the war general you trusted with your life and who you'd give your life for, stern but rightful, trustworthy - something he would need as Hokage for people to be willing to follow him or trust him. No leader is perfect, but some basics were needed. Not to mention that Tobirama was perfectly content to just be Madara's support and to be his right hand. He's better at making things for the village than leading it. He'll make sure Madara is never overwhelmed and that he is never alone in making the tougher decisions.
(And if one of his reasons for being more than okay with the results was because he knew becoming Hokage would fill up his schedule so much that he'd never actually have time for his partner, something he definitely didn't want to give up, that was his business.)
(If one of his most private reasons was because Madara somehow managed to look damn good in that ridiculous hat, he'll be taking that to his grave.)
('That desk sure does look sturdy.')
In a way, he will be his personal guard, not that he'd ever tell the younger (in body) man that because he knew the reaction it would get him if he did. He will be Madara's shadow to ensure his Hokage is always capable of doing his job properly. (And if the reason behind his need to always watch Madara came from the fear that Zetsu might return when they least expect it, then no one needs to know about that nightmare of his. Least of all Madara.)
"In short, my dearest friend, brother from another mother," Hashirama said softly, voice full off affection the Uchiha rarely allows him to display because he gets embarrassed (overwhelmed) by it. "We all trust you to be a good leader of us all." And that, perhaps, was the most important thing for Madara to hear, to realize. He was not only accepted and loved but trusted and believed in. Yes, some fear lingered here or there, never will it completely dissipate - it never quite did with Hashirama, either, only people didn't even realize it; Tobirama did, he felt it in people's chakra signatures as they spike whenever Hashirama frowns in displeasure or looks to be in a particularly bad mood, as rare as that is: they were shinobi and he was hailed as the god of them all, as stupid and presumptions as the moniker was; there was plenty to fear from the man who could probably kill you without weaving hand signs - but it was no longer the dominant force behind each interaction. "So please accept the position, Uchiha Madara, because we know you will honor it well."
Madara remained quiet for a long moment, gaze fixed downwards and the hat hiding his face from view even better than his hair ever had before. Hashirama looked towards Tobirama and met his eyes in worry, concerned he had upset the legendary Uchiha that was still trapped in far too young a body. Then, their attention returned to the young man when he reached with a gloved hand under his long collar and pulled out the necklace Tobirama had gifted to him on his last birthday in the twenty first century, staring at it for a long moment before, for the first time, letting it fall over his mantle. That same hand grabbed a hold of the edge of his hat and tilted it into its proper place as he looked up, a serious look in his eyes but a teasing smirk on his face, meaning he was dead serious about whatever he was about to say but he knew his words will get quite the reaction and was already looking forward to enjoying it.
"Well then, if I am to be Hokage, I have a few decrees I've been meaning to petition for, for a long while now." Before Hashirama could cheer about the acceptance of the position, Madara was already rattling on. "First, privacy seals need to be put up at the onsen. When doujutsu clans get angry or want to intimidate someone, their Kekkei Genkai activate and no one wants a Hyuuga accidentally seeing their private bits. Second, the Yamanaka's use of mind-related jutsus needs to be restricted to training grounds, their clan's or public, interrogation and only to be done with free consent within village walls." His Anija looked ready to protest this, as Madara had no doubt been anticipating, as the twenty year old was ready and swift to intercept him. "The Uchiha don't walk around using their Sharingan to mind-fuck people and the Kurama don't employ their genjutsu to mess with people's minds, either. If we can go without using our tricks to play pranks and instead go about it the usual way, then so can they. Many people have been at war with the Yamanaka. No one needs old memories haunting their nights again. Next, I want the Aburame to stop letting their bugs inhabit ever crook and cranny of Konoha; it's basically the same as spying or declaring the village their territory and not Konoha's, every clans' and villagers'. They need to know there are boundaries. Just like Inuzuka dogs can't go peeing everywhere, their bugs can't go burrowing wherever they want. The same goes for summons, no matter what they might be. We have civilians in the village, Hashirama. We can't have them getting heart attacks whenever one of the Hatake's wolves or other hunters walk by their stores. Another thing, we should probably invite some weapon smiths from Takumi no Sato, seeing as they're the best at what they do. We should probably consider the alliance Suna offered. They need our wood and we could use their resources of glass and certain desert minerals. Definitely reject Kiri - I heard rumors their test for graduating from the Academy turned into children killing each other so only the strongest ones can become genin and so on. I don't want that poisoning Konoha."
"Madara, you can't just-"
"Ah, ah, ah!" The wild haired man shook a finger in Hashirama's nose as he pushed him out of the way to sit in the Hokage's chair like he owned it. Which, now that he had accepted the position, he did. "I'm Hokage now. I can and I will cut off the infected limb before the disease can spread. We've built this village to protect children, Hashirama. Only a log-brained idiot like you would want to make allies with the first village to go directly against that dream to make up for the loss of competent high ranking shinobi. Honestly, you and I could have defeated the Mizukage when we were twelve, Hashirama. He shouldn't expect his people to be any less incompetent than himself. So, no, not making an alliance with Kirigakure. Or Takigakure - didn't you say they sent some big guy to try and assassinate you some years after I died? We should probably look into that. Anyway, we should keep an eye on Ame no Kuni as well, since I heard rumors about people wanting to found another village. Potential allies but also potential enemies. Tobirama, who do you think would be a good suggestion to send out as a spy? Speaking of spies, a spy network would also be a good project to invest in. Orphans, merchants, weapon smiths, hostels, prostitutes, just about anyone we can offer protection to is a good candidate. Also, we should send an invitation out to the Namikaze. They're a small clan but I've heard nothing but praise of their skill."
"Madara, you're not Hokage yet. You need to go through the ceremony first," Tobirama felt the need to point out, not hiding his amusement in the least as Hashirama wailed at the changed Madara was suggesting. It all probably sounded far too underhanded for someone as pure-hearted and optimistic as his Anija.
Madara waved him off, eyes already back to the crimson of the Sharingan and scanning the paperwork strewn across what is soon to be officially his desk. "I'm just setting up the groundwork. The real changes are yet to come. I've got fifteen- no, seventeen things I want to change in the political infrastructure of Konoha, starting with the position of the Hokage's right hand. I'm thinking of calling it Sasaukage, an almost equal standing with the Hokage. Like a vice president or something. And I'll need your help for it. Bring in a few Nara and Hatake as well. Also, set up most of the Senju at the hospital as teachers of iryo-jutsu. Get the Yamanaka and Nara involved in the medicine production. Tell me if we need any rare supplies - Sora-Ku is bound to have something delivered by the end of the week. And yes, I do expect the Nara to work, be on time and turn in fully written, comprehensive reports that even an utter idiot would understand. We're about to create a proper bureaucratic system and I want everyone in on it, including the lazy geniuses. Also, find good doton users. I want to create a shelter in the Hokage Mountain heads. Might as well use the ugly things for something, I guess."
"Shelter?"
The Uchiha shrugged, not looking up from a proposal from the merchant Haruno clan. "Yeah. You know, in case we ever have a break-in or an attempted invasion? All cities and most villages had shelters during WWI and WWII."
"We're not at war, Madara," the elder Senju pointed out and Madara rolled his eyes.
"Not now, but I know for a fact that peace is never eternal. If nothing else, some rogue ninjas might try to do something stupid, like come collect Kurama or something, and start causing destruction left and right. Better have a place where to put the non-combatants than regret it when we can't evacuate them to a safe place. Now, do you think we can make some windmills up on the plateau of the cliff? And a dam on the Naka? We need renewable energy sources. And a prison - don't even argue with me about a fucking prison, tree-man, it's a necessity!" Hashirama deflated more and more with each suggestion out of Madara's mouth. "Now, speaking of prisons and Kurama, I'll be making a decree against anyone ever trying to seal him away. No fucking Jinchurikis in Konoha, no way, no how. If I have to come back from the dead one day just to choke whoever attempts it to death, I will."
"But all the other villages have Jinchuriki," Hashirama sulkily pointed out. The Uchiha snorted and crossed his arms, finally looking up from the papers.
"And whose fault is that?" Hashirama fell into a full on depression at that. Madara didn't look bothered by the show. "Honestly, if the other villages decided to jump off a bridge, would you follow? No Jinchuriki. I'll make it law. As for protection against the other biju, Kurama likes Konoha well enough now that he won't mind living here and protecting it. So no Jinchuriki. Now, where's that Hagoromo proposal to join the village? I want to rip it up and set it on fire. Konoha will have no connection with a clan that made child killing and hunting a sport."
Tobirama smirked in satisfaction as Hashirama got gloomier and gloomier and Madara got dangerously close to cackling as he started changing Konoha for the better.
He knew Madara would be a fucking great Nidaime Hokage.
OWARI