I Prefer The Stars

Summary: The Sun is the brightest star in our sky because it is the closest, but it is the far away stars, whose light we see despite such a great distance, that hold insurmountable possibilities and potential. When given a true chance to shine to their true potential, which is more beautiful? Which will lead the way?

"Oi, it's time to wake up, idiot Senju." A familiar voice reached him through the fog, and equally familiar chakra running through his body in a familiar manner that he knew meant he was being healed, so he found no reason for alarm or any sudden reactions and movement. (Which should not have been funny but concerning, as what felt not all that long ago, this very familiar presence used to fill him with fear, dread, anger, sometimes hate and always wariness. Once, this familiar presence - that he had not missed or been worried about for the last two and a half weeks; that was the story he was going to stick to until he died (again) - had been a hated, feared enemy, a source of his nightmares.)

(He should not find it so reassuring-welcome-familiar now.)

(Especially not when he was so vulnerable.)

"Seriously, Tobirama. You need to wake up now or I will start worrying and you don't want to meet the side of me which Izuna likes to label as 'mother-hen' or 'worrywart'. I won't spare you any less than I do others who I call my own. You have been worn, so you can't complain, either."

Tobirama tried to fight towards full consciousness, greatly aided by the warm hand that pressed over his forehead - just warm, not healing, which meant he probably had a concussion and further treatment had to be put on hold for an examination, a part of his mind rattled off and for the first time ever he found it annoying - that seemed to be absently massaging the skin there with gentle movements. Wow, but that felt nice. Like, really nice. Why did he want to wake up again? It's so rare that he got to rest or relax like this.

A sigh overhead. "Idiot Senju. Seriously, I thought you'd be smarter than this, taking off into the forest all on your own and focusing on me, of all people, like that. I was preforming a really big jutsu, Tobirama. You getting chakra-sense drunk is the least of your worries. Do you have any idea of what could have happened to you? Probably not. You didn't exactly have a sensor-type sensei to teach you how to handle overload of feeling like that. Though that's seriously dangerous for natural sensors who discover their full potential so young." There was an obvious frown of displeasure in the voice. Tobirama kind of didn't like the pause in the talking. He wanted to listen more. Maybe it will lull him back to sleep. "You probably don't even realize that you could have been lost to your senses. There's a curse to being a sensor, after all. The rest of the world simply ceases to exist if you focus on something overwhelming like you did, you fool. Honestly! Focusing on me while I was in Six Paths Sage Mode and doing big jutsus! Only you, snowflake."

"Dun c'll me dat," he mumbled on instinct, almost whining when the repetitive, massaging movements stopped. The healing chakra in his body stopped too before receding and he was suddenly left feeling extremely cold.

"Hn, you hate Tobi and while I would love to annoy you, I need you to wake up fully now that you're already almost all the way there so I can't call you that or Tobes or else you might go back under just to spite me." Tobirama suddenly felt a significant decrease in light and light, warm breath falling down on his face from what felt like a respectable - unacceptably too far - distance. "Hn. Come on, Tobira. I need you to wake up. It seems we might have a lot to talk about."

The other hand, that had been healing him before, came up to join the other on his head and gently stroked his cheek and reluctantly, with a displeased grumble, Tobirama dragged himself fully to wakefulness. Only to find himself in a rather interesting position.

For one, he found that his head was resting on something considerably comfortable and warm, which his mind soon supplied had to be someone's lap and considering there was only one other person with him, he had had been sleeping with his head on Uchiha Madara's lap! And it would seem that the older boy had gone well out of his way to ensure Tobirama would be comfortable. Something he should really be grateful for only if he weren't so mortally embarrassed. Was it possible to die from embarrassment? Tobirama might just be the first one to find out.

Though, what he was very grateful for - besides the assist and the healing the Uchiha had obviously provided - was that Madara had had the foresight to lean over him to block out as much of the sunlight streaming in overhead between the leaves and branches that was sure to make his nauseous had it not been blocked. Really, he had already embarrassed himself enough. He wasn't sure if he could have survived that shame, too, if he threw up in front of his companion.

"There we go!" Madara said, obviously pleased even if his voice was still gentle and quiet so as not to hurt the currently oversensitive Tobirama, and beamed down at him in pleasure, a smile that the Senju was of the opinion was more bright than anything the sun could ever produce in hopes to compete. Had Madara always had that nice of a smile? How had he not noticed before? Had he? Had he ignored it? So foolish of him, truly. Madara looked so much prettier smiling than frowning or glaring at him. "Welcome back to the world of the living, idiot Senju. You actually had me worried for a moment there. How are you feeling? I healed all the physical damage but I need to check your head and comprehension before I do anything about your head."

"Dizzy ... But fine."

"Hn, no nausea?"

"No." He knew it was best if he didn't shake his head - or move it at all, really - as that might actually bring about said nausea. Talking was hard but he didn't need an increase to the pounding in his head.

"How many fingers am I holding? Do you know where you are? The date? Should I ask you about your name and clan affiliation or just move on to fixing what must be a killer headache so I can properly berate you?"

Tobirama glared - or did his best under the current circumstances - but answered all the questions and that wonderful warm hand was back on his forehead and, even better, so was the hot chakra in his body! It felt so good he very nearly purred like one of his summons. (Speaking of whom, he should probably spend some time with them, since he had had no time for that since the lock down Butsuma had initiated, and it just wouldn't do to break their weekly ritual now that there was no longer anything to stop them or for him to worry them. Snow leopards were not fun when worried.)

"You better not concentrate on my chakra again. I was planning on going back home today, tomorrow at the latest. I have four brothers to take care of, even if Hikaku and Kikiyo are more than capable of keeping an eye on them." Madara then fell silent until the last of the concussion and Tobirama's headache went away. The white haired boy couldn't help but sigh in relief. That had not been a fun experience. "Mind telling me what happened?" The Uchiha asked, crossing his arms but not straightening up or pushing his patient away.

Tobirama glared properly at his ... at his friend, yes, alright? There, he said it. (Well, thought it, but who cares. Same thing. The point is, he had admitted it. Not that he'd tell anyone, probably least of all Madara.) "Shouldn't Ah b' askin' ya dat questi'n?" Then his eyes widened as he realized how he sounded, like he was drunk and then hungover and then drunk again but worse. "Wha' didya d' ta m'?"

"Well, I did say you got chakra-sense drunk," Madara hummed, his overall body language gentling again. His hands fell back down to frame Tobirama's face again, thumbs rubbing soothing circles at his temples. "I'm guessing no one ever thought you about it, seeing as Hashirama once mentioned that you had to teach yourself almost everything to do with sensing. I was lucky enough to have somewhat of a teacher. Long story short, sensor types can get 'drunk' on sensory overload from particularly strong chakra signatures. I'm guessing that if one were ever to focus on a biju, the effect would be much the same as what you are now experiencing. It can be quite dangerous, especially for powerful sensors, as you get lost in that 'sight', that perception of the world and you just sink right in and can't drag yourself out. Trained, experienced sensors usually let inexperienced ones fall into that state when they are around so as to teach them what it feels like and how to recognize it, to stop themselves from falling into that dangerous vulnerability. It's still not recommended to do stupid shit like that so please don't repeat it again." When all Tobirama could do was grumble, Madara chuckled in what might have been fond amusement. "It should fade relatively soon. Be patient a little while longer."

It did, thankfully, fade soon after and Tobirama sighed in relief when he found his head and thoughts weren't so muddled anymore. He hadn't even noticed, though perhaps that was a blessing, as he probably never would have outright admitted that he considered Madara truly a dear friend. (And that he had a pretty smile.) "I never want to experience that ever again." The aftereffects, at least. He was conscious enough of his own faults to recognize he was probably a bit foolish for wishing to stare into the sun again. It was obviously dangerous and yet ...

"Good. Now, want to try that question from earlier again?"

It took a long moment for him to realize what the Uchiha meant before he scowled as he remembered. "What the hell were you up to, Madara? And don't bullshit me, I want a straight answer for once."

The Uchiha sobered immediately, all traces of a smile gone. Tobirama kind of mourned it but he was no lovesick fool despite what Toka's impression seems to be. This was important and this was supposed to be a partnership, equal exchange, equal vote in how things are to be done, the changes that are to be made. Madara was the one who had proposed it. He should be keeping his end of the deal.

"I was hoping to be closer to finished, but I guess I have no choice. As a start, I should inform you that I have set out two weeks ago to destroy the place commonly known as the Sangaku no Hekaba." Tobirama had heard of that place, had heard of stories saying it was haunted, that it hid horrible secrets. No one sane went there. Certainly not for leisure. He'd seen it once, from afar, far up north. He'd seen the skeletons of giant creatures that he had no hopes of identifying because they were certainly much larger than elephants. In fact, they were about the size of biju, of boss summons. He had felt a deep seethed wrongness being so near that place even if he had been miles away. "In the last life, it was my hideout with Zetsu and later Obito." Well, that was a surprise. "No one knew there were Otsutsuki ruins there, their secrets and history written on the walls. Not everything, not nearly enough for anyone not Uchiha, but still there. It was, unfortunately, also there that the White Zetsu clones have been stored from the first Infinite Tsukuyomi. Now, it is destroyed."

"May I know how?" Tobirama asked. This was already turning out to be a rather strange conversation and stranger still was how he was having it, head still lying in Madara's lap. The strangest thing of all was perhaps that neither of them made to move away. "I have some ideas, but I'd rather you confirmed it if you had anything to do with the intense earthquakes from two weeks ago."

"Hn, a combination of Susanoo, Amaterasu, Chibaku Tensei, Ranton Koga and Tengai Shinsei. Not in that particular order, but rest assured. The ruins are considerably more ruined and sealed away off plant, too booth, so there is no worry of anyone getting their hands on the White Zetsu or the knowledge hidden in there."

"Well, that at least was thorough," the Senju commented in somewhat praise and Madara preened in pleasure.

"Yes, I thought so too."

"Not overkill at all." He actually wasn't sure if he was being sarcastic at this point or not. "That doesn't explain the earthquake from the second day, though."

"That, I can show you tomorrow. It's not finished yet but I guess we should probably agree on interior design together. Also," Madara suddenly leaned back a little, one hand going away to reach into a mid-sized travel bag that he seriously didn't need as Tobirama knew he knew sealing well enough to put his possessions into storage seals so it must have been for show when he had left his clan's compound, only to return having produced a bunch of pretty sky-blue stones already attached to strings and having two metal ball shaped pendants in a design Tobirama was more than familiar with. The orbs may seem innocent compared to the crystals that stored chakra, but they were forged with seals inlaid in them again and again and again with each folding of tiny metal.

"How-?"

"Your brother is stupid enough to brag about his tools," Madara replied before he could actually ask any questions. "And these crystals are even more receptive to chakra - even pure healing chakra - than the one your brother used. He never was any good at recognizing quality."

"No, he really wasn't," he agreed, a finger reluctantly reaching up to just barely touch the crystals. Yes, he could definitely feel a lot of healing chakra sealed in them. It wasn't like when his Anija had sealed his own basic chakra that may or may not heal the wearer, no matter his own brother's naturally potent healing factor. This was focused, densely harbored, very strong healing chakra one might use on the worst of wounds. Tobirama would estimate that there was at the very least enough chakra for three Byakugo-like uses before the crystal would have to be recharged. "These crystals seem sturdier. Is this what you were thinking of when you mentioned a way to replicate Byakugo or Hashirama's healing ability without there being any damage or shortening of the lifespan of the user?"

"Indeed. It's not perfect but I've made enough for all of us and extra for me and Itama should it ever come down to us using up the ones we have now but needing them before we can replenish the crystals." Tobirama took note of Madara's wording but was distracted when the crystals were pulled away only for one to reappear again, packed up in a fancy little almost-see-though bag with a bow. "Take this to Itama and I'll put your on for you. Just don't attack me and remember that I gain nothing from strangling you after keeping you alive and healthy so far."

"Thanks for the reminder," he replied sarcastically, even if he did find himself have to actively stop his body from lashing out when Madara placed the necklace around his neck. Honestly, how he trusted the Uchiha to do that at all without thinking of being strangled - too much - was a mystery to him. "But don't think that you're getting out of not telling me what else you've been up to that required even more meteors falling down than was absolutely needed to decimate your former hideout. By the way, won't Zetsu get suspicious about that? That's a rather clear statement that someone knows and doesn't want him interfering."

"Not if I made it look like several shinobi of high skill clashed during a mission, destroying a good part of some of the surrounding areas, too."

"Except no one is stupid enough to go there."

"Kaguya are. Hagoromo are. Some Aburame are, given there are rare bug species living there. Some of Iwa's bomber squads were, using it as a shortcut to other regions. I think some Kurama are, too. Point is, not everyone is superstitious, even if most of them really don't make it out of that place."

"Well, that's at least good to know." Trust Madara to investigate enough before blowing shit up just to make sure someone as paranoid as him doesn't suspect anything beyond a few humans getting ballsy to fight in a 'cursed' location. "You're still avoiding my other question."

Madara rolled his eyes. "Oh, don't give me that look! I already told you I'd show you tomorrow!"

Tobirama scowled, not pleased, but recognized a loosing battle. Though something else did occur to him. "Toka and Kawarama have expressed an interest in meeting you."

The dark haired boy startled, looking confused. "I thought you and Itama were keeping me a secret?"

The genius jutsu-inventor rolled his eyes. "Itama babbles. He can't stop once he gets started on any topic involving his beloved 'shishou'."

"Jealous?"

Tobirama easily ignored the teasing. "Toka cornered him and squeezed the information out of him. Seriously, he was as happy as a pig in mud to sing your praises. And Kawarama isn't unintelligent in the least. I'm actually surprised more people didn't question how Itama suddenly knew iryo-jutsu."

"That would probably be the genjutsu suggesting that they don't make a big deal out of it that I placed on him doing it's job," Madara casually said, earning himself a confused glare. It was his turn to roll his eyes this time. "Come now, Senju, you couldn't have seriously thought that it would go unnoticed for long? Shame on you. Good thing you have me here to think up contingencies for everything."

The Senju sighed. "Yes, good thing. I really hadn't even considered what everyone's reaction would be. But why were Toka and Kawarama exempt to the genjutsu then?"

"Probably the amount of time they spend together. And your brother's above mentioned tendency to babble sensitive information." The offended sniff actually made Tobirama wince on Itama's part. His youngest brother will definitely be feeling this mistake for weeks to come after whenever Madara deigns to train him next. "As or your family meeting me, my own brothers and cousins want to meet you, too."

"What!?"

"Relax! They don't know you're Senju. In fact, as far as they are concerned, you're Hatake, which won't be hard to believe since you definitely take more after your mother's side, anyway, from looks to chakra to intellect to overall behavior patterns with some Senju stupidity thrown in here or there. You'd fit right in if you didn't have those damn Senju giant growth genes."

"You're just bitter because I'm always going to grow taller than you," he teased almost without thought and was surprised when all the retribution he got for it was a poke in his side. "Why did you tell them about me, anyway?"

"So Izuna wouldn't feel left out and come to resent the idea of peace before it can even be born, so Hikaku could cover for me should I need it, so Kikiyo wouldn't grow suspicious, so my younger brothers would know that their Aniki is working towards ensuring they never have to go out on what are essentially suicide missions. So, one day, I can ensure that my clan survives centuries upon centuries after I finally enter the Pure Lands for some well deserved rest. So that those closest to me can not grow bitter and fall to Zetsu's manipulations."

"Do you suspect an inside job last time around?" Tobirama asked, suddenly very concerned. Especially when he saw the grim set of Madara's mouth.

"Several. Starting with Izuna." Well, that was definitely a shock. "I haven't realized it until recently myself but I am almost one hundred percent positive that Zetsu was whispering distrust into Izuna's ear, knowing no Uchiha would ever value the opinion of an outsider over family. Then later, when Izuna was dying, when clan members started defecting." That one was almost expected after the Izuna reveal. Wait, did that mean-? "Then again, in Konoha, when I suddenly lost all trust within my clan for seemingly no reason. Yes, I was mourning, yes, my grief was almost all-consuming, but Uchiha have seen it all before, have helped each other through it countless times. We've never abandoned one of our own, be they dead or alive or injured or crippled or blind or mad. It goes against every fiber of our being, of our souls, of our core beliefs. Uchiha have recovered from the Curse of Hatred, as you so theatrically named it, before. Never were they same again, but they were not consumed by grief, hatred and bitterness. They learned to love and live again. Something would always be missing, but don't you think our clan would have gone extinct a long time ago if it was so completely and utterly crippling to us? No, an Uchiha can drag themselves back out of that bottomless pit, as long as someone throws a rope and holds on."

"Zetsu made sure there was no one - or at least not nearly enough - people left to do that for you." Not all that long after Konoha was built, it had been only Kagami and Hikaku, the only two left who mourned their Clan Head leaving, the only ones who cried when he died. "Do you need help warding your compound?" Tobirama asked almost frantically, feeling desperate to somehow help in making sure that doesn't happen this time around. He couldn't let it. He just couldn't.

Madara looked a little amused, but mostly touched for his offer. The smile on his lips was definitely soft. "What makes you think I haven't already done that? I've had many years all to myself and a bunch of unintelligent, bumbling clones as my only company, Tobirama. I spent it studying. Fuinjutsu is not all that hard."

"Not all that hard!?" Tobirama had needed years of studying and practice and an actual instructor! Yes, he had been young, but that didn't mean anything if you introduce someone to fuinjutsu for the first time beyond the generic explosion tags and basic storage scrolls. "No, never mind. We are not about to start an argument of why that statement is just so utterly bizarre. We have more interesting and important things to discuss. Like did you record all that studying with your Sharingan? And did you ever go through my notes? Because I would really appreciate that in this situation, as I have this experiment I'm conducing but no points of reference since not all of us have immortal memory."

Madara laughed. It was a nice laugh. (Tobirama wondered if he was still a bit 'chakra-sense drunk' that he was actually allowing himself to notice or even think such thoughts.) "Figures you'd want me to write down several whole libraries from all over the Five Elemental Nations practically on a whim." The black haired boy shook his head before looking back down at him. Tobirama had to hold back a gasp at the truly fond look in Madara's eyes. When had that happened. "You'll be happy to know that I have, indeed, recorded many things with my Sharingan, including your notes - I would be a fool to not research them, though I never used them all that often. And I am happy to announce that I don't need any prompting from you to write it all down. Kage Bunshin are truly very helpful things. Reduces the time needed for lengthy tasks considerably."

Red eyes blinked. "Are you telling me you already have all those books written down somewhere? My notes? You have to bring them to me! There is this project that has been driving me insane-"

"You'll get the books and your notes after I show you my little project tomorrow," Madara interjected, voice brooking no argument and the Senju pouted. Yep. Definitely still chakra-sense drunk. There's no way he'd be this open with Madara otherwise! Right? Maybe he should stop kidding himself. Or definitely not repeat the foolish mistake he'd made-

"How long was I out?" He asked for the first time, a bit hesitant to actually hear the answer. He's pretty sure he won't like it.

"About three hours."

"Three hours!?" He jerked upright in a way that threatened to make the headache come back with a vengeance and to doll out the nausea he'd avoided earlier, if not for the hand immediately coated in healing chakra to reached for him to steady him, preventing that unfortunate reaction. "I have to get back home! Itama is still worried and with us having been on lock down, I shouldn't stay away for long because Butsuma might try to assign my brothers missions they're not ready for-"

"Hold up, why were you on lock down?" Madara asked, not stopping him from getting up, instead following after him to make sure he was actually steady on his feet.

"Butsuma's convinced that the earthquakes were the result of ninjutsu - not that he's wrong, apparently, but he is wrong in being paranoid and self-centered enough to believe that it must be an attack on the Senju, so he had us all stay in the compound save a couple of elite units to patrol and search for intruders on our lands until today. We haven't taken a single mission and we'll need to make up for that pronto. I fear he might try to send Kawarama out. This is about the time when he-"

"I'll keep an eye out," Madara said reassuringly with a nod, his hand settling on Tobirama's shoulder in what appears to be a comforting manner. "We made a deal, Tobirama. I may not have been very open with you about a few things, but I would never let any of that affect the survival of your brothers. If Kawarama is even half as cute as my little minion, he obviously doesn't deserve to die."

"You think Itama is cute?" Tobirama asked, frowning, honestly not sure why that ... bothers him? Why should it? This must still be the aftereffects of his idiocy in focusing on Madara's chakra, that was the only possible explanation. "Also, don't call my little brother a minion. I had no say when it was Kagami, but I won't let you-"

"He doesn't mind," Madara waved him off, grinning again, letting the seriousness and the tension from before seep away. "Look, just go back to the compound and keep an ear out for if any of your brothers is sent out, then signal me. My Limbo Clones can keep an eye on them without ever being detected for hours at a time and I can just switch with new ones when the others have to come back. You spared Kikiyo. The least I can do is keep your little brothers alive."

"But that was for teaching Itama," he said with a frown. He didn't appreciate it when Madara just chuckled at him.

"You're seriously typical Senju dense, aren't you? And here I thought your Hatake side might balance it out." The Uchiha shook his head at him but there was still a gentle smile, amused and fond, eyes warm, when he looked at him again. "Seriously, Tobirama. I am eternally grateful to you for sparing my cousin. I will be eternally grateful to you for sparing any of my clansmen. And teaching Itama is honestly no hardship. He's a good kid and I would hate to see him get hurt. I would also hate to see you hurting. I know, far too well, what it is like to suddenly no longer be an older brother. For me, it happened four times too many. I would not wish that fate on my worst enemy and I actually consider you my friend, snowflake."

Tobirama ... May have gawked. Just a little. It's not every day that one hears Uchiha Madara say he considered someone his friend, that he cares. It was doubly as strange - and awkward - given that they're both a bit socially inept, being natural introverts. Also naturally the ones with the common sense in their families. Tobirama may have never met the youngest three Uchiha brothers, but he rather doubted that they were too dissimilar to their older brothers, particularly Izuna whom they share more blood with. He wouldn't be surprised at all.

"I ... have come to consider you a friend as well, I must confess." He figured tit for tat was fair. "It was ... a startling revelation."

His companion snorted. "You're telling me." They met eyes, considered their awkward conversation before unexpectedly falling into incredulous, boisterous laughter as they realized with surprise just how far they've managed to come in this new world in such a short time.

It felt ... good to laugh, to have friends. To be happy.

He'll have to thank Madara for this, one day.

He deserves all the credit.