Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Also, I enjoy reading the reviews and appreciate that y'all like my story :) This is more of something I am just doing in my spare time, so I can not guarantee when a new chapter will be out, or that my grammar will be correct, etc.
So, here is Chapter 4!
Kibana stared at Izuna. Izuna stared back at her. Kibana's expression was that of annoyance, and Izuna was wearing a large cheerful smile.
"Izuna-sama, the sun has not even risen in the sky, what are you doing out of your room so early?" She asked as she turned back to the fish she was cleaning for her early breakfast.
"You're not on duty yet, Ana-chan, don't be so formal with me. Also, you're always too busy to talk with me during the afternoon, so I figured I could spend time with you before you start your day! That's okay, right?" Izuna blurted with a smile. Kibana simply shook her head and sighed.
"Even if I said that would not be alright, Izuna-kun, you would do so anyways. Do you want breakfast now, or are you going to wait for everyone later?" Kibana asked softly, a small smile gracing her lips as she watched Izuna wrestle with his long hair over her shoulder.
"I think I will go ahead and eat with you, if you don't mind." He said with a grunt as he was busy running his hands through his long hair, attempting to detangle it from his restless nights' rest. Kibana grinned, throwing a second fish into the hot pan, to begin making their small meals. She listened to the sharp sizzle and then turned to look at Izuna with a satisfied sigh. The vegetables and rice were waiting to be reheated, and would be hot by the time the fish were finished.
"Izuna-kun, why don't you just cut off your hair if it bothers you so much?" She asked as she wiped her hands off on her apron, while watching Izuna continue to simply narrowed his eyes at her and shrugged.
"Every time I have cut it before, I've regretted it." He said simply, really having no reason he would not cut it. Kibana rolled her eyes at him before gesturing for him to turn his back to her. His shinobi instincts told him not to, but he eventually did causing Kibana to snicker.
She ran her hands through his hair quickly, and managed to detangle it flawlessly before she grabbed a lock of hair and wrapped it around the rest, securing it all at the base of his neck in a tight ponytail. Izuna grabbed his hair and appraised it before nodding at her with a appreciative smile.
"Thanks, Ana-chan! Think you could do this for me everyday?"
Madara stared at the two who stood before him, it was early morning, as it was everyday that Izuna had woken him when he would fall out of bed to meet Kibana in the kitchen. Kibana's long black hair swept across her waist, as silky and shiny as Izunas. She was diligently wrapping his hair into a ponytail, as she had done every morning for the last eight years.
And just like every morning, she would look over her shoulder and give Madara a morning greeting before asking him if he would like his hair pulled back as well. Per usual, he would decline, and she would return to tending to their early breakfast so that each of them could get on with their day.
Madara looked around the room they were currently in, it was much different than the first kitchen Kibana had first worked in when she joined the Uchihas. The first she had worked in was more cold, and barren... almost as if the room were made of steel and ice, now however, the room was warm and comfortable.
Madara suspected Kibana was part of the reason that the Uchiha household was so very welcoming, but he also knew it was because the Uchiha clan now resided within the Konoha Village walls. It was new, it was unstable, but it held promise. It was not quite official though.. clans were still being asked to join, there were still many quarrels and disputes, and as of now only the Uchiha, Senju, and Akimichi clans were in the ranks. Besides those of rogue ninja needing a home, of course, and civilians.
"Koneko." Madara smirked inwardly as he watched the servant girl bristle at the name, "Prepare me a lunch for the day, I will be gone until dinner." He said gruffly while he watched Kibana narrow her eyes at him slightly over her shoulder, before finally nodding.
He found it impossible to hold his clan leader facade around her and he finally chuckled before joining Izuna who was leaned against one of the counters, and the two brothers watched her cook their meals diligently.
"I wish you would not call me that, Madara-sama." Kibana said as she began straining some steamed cabbage. She was undoubtedly pouting.
"Come on, Ana-chan, this is great! Aniki called you Koneko, I call you Ana, and some of the other men call you Kiba... you're quite popular! A lot of the other clans officials envy us for having such a beauty-I mean diligent woman in our midst." Izuna said with a wide smile on his face causing Kibana to turn red-from anger and embarrassment.
"Izuna-kun! It is not a great thing to be popular. Have you any idea how much more work I have to do, just because I've been called for specifically? It was fine before when it were just you two and Tajima-sama... but Hikaku will ask for some of the most ridiculous things. So does Kagami if I am being honest." Kibana said as she prepped their plates, and cleaned the used pots and pans.
Madara lifted an eyebrow. "What do they ask of you?" He asked curiously. Kibana simply sighed and shook her head.
"Yesterday Hikaku asked me to collect worms for him. I do not know why, and truthfully I do not wish to know why. Kagami-kun likes foot rubs." She grimaced and then shuddered slightly. She brightened soon afterwards, before she turned to the men, her eyes were lit bright, and the two Uchiha immediately braced themselves for whatever she were curious about.
"Aren't there a few Senju here?" Kibana asked quickly, her face full of light and curiosity. Izuna and Madara could almost see her cat ears twitching. They blinked. They could see her cat ears twitching.
"Yes, Koneko, now calm down you're leaking chakra." Madara said with a small laugh. Izuna was laughing aloud beside him, pointing and laughing at the girl, whose black tail manifested and began twitching in irritation.
"You two are as rude as ever." Kibana sniffed, before turning her nose up and leaving the kitchen with their food, taking it into the dining room so the three could share their small meal. Izuna and Madara followed her, Izuna carrying a pot of tea that Kibana had made earlier from her own special blend, that had been warming on the stove. The two were laughing at her expense all the way into the room, even as they were sitting to begin eating, they would glance at her slyly and watch as her tail picked up speed.
She finally hissed at them and they quieted immediately. She nodded satisfied, before grabbing the small tea kettle from Izuna and serving the two their drinks. They grunted in appreciation and a little of bruised egos. Kibana finally settled down in the seat beside Izuna, both facing towards Madara who quirked an eyebrow at the two, who responded with innocent smiles.
"Madara-sama, how are the preparations going for the celebration?" Kibana asked softly, as she flicked a piece of fish into her mouth. Madara watched as her sharp canines shredded the meat to nothing. He then recognized the words she spoke and raised an eyebrow in confusion. He saw Izuna mirroring his expression as well.
"Celebration?" Izuna said aloud.
"..." Kibana stared at the two. "Yes.. it is time for the cherry blossoms to bloom, I had heard from some of the Senju maids in the market that a celebration was being prepared to welcome the new season, and the new village? Are the Uchiha not participating with the Senju and the Akimichi?"
Izuna and Madara blinked at her.
She blinked back, before finally she pouted. "Madara-sama, you never enjoy doing anything fun, is that why the Uchiha are not participating?"
"I had not heard anything of it..." Madara said, his voice a little angry. Kibana immediately cringed. She should not have said anything at all, obviously Madara would know nothing about it, now that she thought of it. The only reason she knew was because she was gossiping with Senju women, who would know what was being prepared.
"Of course you had not heard anything! I just thought of it yesterday!" Kibana looked to the voice that boomed from the dining room entrance, and immediately her cheeks colored, much to Izuna's amusement. He laughed as he poked Kibanas' cheeks and pulled at them.
"Ana-chan, you never blush like that when Aniki and I are exposed, I am a little offended." Izuna whispered, causing Kibana to turn and try to nip his finger, which he pulled back quickly, and knowingly.
Madara turned to see the long, dark haired shinobi that he had known for almost as long as he had known Kibana. The Senju, Hashirama stood in the entryway, his sleeping robe opened slightly to reveal his chest-much like Izuna and Madara were at the moment.
"How is it that my subordinate knows of it, and yet I do not?" Madara challenged, trying to keep himself from laughing at Kibana's reaction with Hasirama present.
"I just said I heard it from some of the Senju women." Kibana grumbled as she attempted to swat Izunas hand away again, he was being persistent this morning. "I am not a subordinate either, Madara-sama, that is a far too respectable title from what I am."
"Quiet Koneko, I would not call you my servant girl." Madara snapped to Izuna and Kibana's surprise. Finally Kibana sighed and nodded, though in her mind she kept chanting that that was exactly what she was, but she was not in the mood to argue with Madara in front of this stranger.
A grunt sounded from behind Hashirama and Izuna enjoyed watching Kibana squeak and turn a brighter red. She looked as if she were about to scurry away in fright as the a white haired Senju made his presence known, moving to stand beside his elder brother.. His pale chest shining bright against his black sleeping robe.
Izuna and Madara watched as she calmly slipped from her seat and then exited into the kitchen without a word. Izuna sighed and Madara simply shook his head. Hashirama cleared his throat, calling attention upon himself once more.
"Good morning, Madara, Izuna-kun! I hope you two slept well, though considering how early the two of you are awake, I would assume not very well." Hashirama chuckled as he took a seat beside Madara, Tobirama following his brothers' example, and calmly sitting down beside him.
"Aniki and I are awake like this every morning, Hashirama-sama." Izuna said simply, trying to act casual as he threw a small pickle into his mouth and chewed it thoughtfully. The two Senju watched as he kept glancing at the kitchen doors anxiously, the boy was practically vibrating in his seat and soon Madara noticed it as well.
"Get out." Madara grunted, and like a whip was on his tail, Izuna was out of his seat and heading into the kitchen.
"My, you Uchiha men are upbeat so early in the morning, I've yet to see even the servant awake!" Hashirama stated loudly, while grinning mischievously. Madara suppressed the urge to groan in irritation at his long-time friends antics.
"What are you trying to get at, Hashirama?" Madara grunted as he tore off a piece of fish. Hashirama looked at him innocently and then pouted.
"I just want to know why." He said, his voice obviously that of moping. Madara wanted to roll his eyes, however Tobirama took that opportunity from him. Madara grabbed his cup of tea and drank the hot liquid, before finally turning to look at Hashirama with narrowed eyes.
"I suggest you-"
"I'm sorry, Senju-sama, I did not inquire as to what you would like for breakfast, I was in such a fluster. I hope you do not mind me going ahead and preparing something for you and your brother." Kibana interrupted abruptly, Madara looked up to see her standing just beside the two Senju brothers with trays piled onto one of her arms, while the other carried a sake bottle and cups. Hashirama immediately brightened at her as she began setting the plates down before the two.
She bowed to the two of them. Hashirama waved her off, "I do not mind at all! Thank you... uhh.."
"Kibana!" Izuna chirped from behind Kibana's shoulder. Hashirama nodded with a grin, "Yes, Thank you, Kibana-chan."
Kibana smiled briefly at him, before setting sake cups before the two Senju brothers, and Madara. She proceeded to fill their cups along with filling their tea glasses. She watched with a smirk as Izuna sat in his seat across from Madara and pouted, knowing he could not have any sake as well. He looked over at Kibana pleadingly and she ignored him mercilessly.
Hashirama and Tobirama nodded their thanks to her before beginning their meal. Hashirama was smiling ear to ear, "On to our earlier topic... The Cherry Blossom celebration is one of the things we have come to discuss with you, Madara." Hashirama said slowly, watching Madaras expression carefully.
Madara betrayed no emotion, however, Hashirama noticed Kibana smirk and pour him an extra cup of sake. Madara finally sighed in annoyance and glanced at the girl. "Koneko, go sit down, you are not working right now."
Kibana chuckled slightly and nodded, before walking around the table to sit back in her seat, which was in front of Hashirama. She returned to her breakfast dutifully, and silently. Though Tobirama and Hashirama could see Izuna elbowing her often enough for her to pinch him for his bad behavior.