Chapter 5

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"My brother did something stupid for my sake and now I feel like he's gonna change." Naruto said softly.

They both sat up and sat by the river at the clearing. Madara sat arm's length from her position next to him. She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. Her crystal blue eyes welled up with unshed tears. She felt so lost now that her brother was the leader, this was not the plan. She knew her place in the hierarchy of the clan, not was she a female but she was the illegitimate child of the previous leader. Hashirama knew this was always going to be a problem but hey had a plan to keep the peace and get things to change.

"our younger brother, the one who survived thus far, is such a stick in the mud because of our father. Im scared this is going to change Hashi-kun and I don't want to happen. He's such a bright person, I don't want him to change and be burdened by things too great for him." Her tears fell freely now.

"do have such little faith in your brother? Was he not the one taking a risk to teach you shinobi arts and make you a ninja like he is?" Madara scoffed at her.

He was insulted for his friend, how could Hashirama's own sister believe so little about her beloved brother. She spoke so highly of him and yet now she's turning her back on him. Izuna would never act like this.

"You are acting as if he's betrayed you and your clan. What could he have done that's so awful to make you cry and whine like child?" he goaded her, knowing it would get a rise out her. It didn't suit her to be this defeated, she was far to bright of a person.

"He's become this leader of our clan, his responsibilities have now tripled because of this and I've barely seen him since then!" she shouted at him. She then swung her arm out barely tapping him due to the distance. "He's going to become stuffy and boring! He's going to change who he is and it's all because he went against our plan!" her voice gradually rising and her expression turned pink with fury.

"then you should be proud of his accomplishment!" Madara exclaimed with indignation. "He has accomplished a great feat at a young age but you're here whining about it and throwing a tantrum! I just can't believe that a supposed prodigy of the arts would act like this!" Madara stood up and turned to face the face the woods where he knew Hashirama was hiding and listening to them.

"You don't get it! Hashirama is being pressured to marry me off to some old fuddy duddy clan mate and he keeps fighting but the elders keep pushing! I knew this would end up happening but no one listens to me!" Naruto stood up and faced his back. "HE MEANS THE WORLD TO ME AND I DON'T WANT TO LOSE HIM!" she screamed in fury and fear her breath now coming to her in stuttering gasps and huffs. "if I don't marry this guy Hashirama could lose everything and I know if I do it'll change him. I don't know what to do…. All we've ever wanted was for peace between all the clans in the nations but with all the politics behind everything how are we going to achieve that?"

She sighed softly before chuckling "I really am being selfish though, aren't I?" she looked at Madara again before looking past him to the forest and called out "I know you're there Aniki, come out chicken"

Hashirama stepped out and looked at his little sister with sad eyes before rushing and scooping her up in a fierce hug.

"I made a compromise with the elders, that's what I came to tell you. But you may not like it anymore than I do…" he said softly as he hugged her tightly. "you have three months to become a shinobi worthy of being on the frontlines by their standards, if not they are casting you out to fend for yourself and you will lose the clan name."

Naruto looked startled before thinking for a moment. A wicked smile soon creeped along her face looking startling on her cherub cheeks. "then I shall do just that Aniki, and once they see my skills they'll beg me to fight for them." She laughed darkly at the plan she had formed.

Madara watched awkwardly as the sunny blonde laughed and looked so out of character. "would you like assistance from a fellow clan leader?" he whispered softly knowing they'd both hear him.

Hashirama jumped, startled at the question and the fact that was now an open statement between them. "of course, my friend! In fact, I like to offer my congratulations on your achievement! I would like to extend a peace offering between our clans if we could?"

Madara laughed mirthlessly before reaching to form the reconciliation hand sign "I would like to see you refuse mine, Friend"

Hashirama and Madara smiled/smirked at each before clasping hands and nodding. Naruto smiling brightly at the first steps towards peace were made in secret. Before hugging her brother and their friend and tackled them to the ground rumpling their clothes more than they were from the previous fight between her and the black haired young man and Hashirama's travel to their secret spot.

"so! Since we're going about having peace, can we please state our clan names now?" she said pleadingly.

Hashirama and Madara looked at her before looking at each other. They both knew the peace wasn't solidified yet but were both intrigued by the other's clan name. Hashirama took a breath and smiled widely.

"who's going to go first, me or you?"

"Uchiha." Madara said bluntly and quickly "Uchiha Madara."

Hashirama paused and looked shocked for a moment, "Senju" he said softly. "Senju Hashirama"

"Senju Naruto!" the blonde said cheerily. She knew the troubled past their clans had with each other, but this was a great first step between them both! She was proud and happy for it.