Sylencia – Haha! Don't worry, Sasuke won't be paired with Shisui, I just wanted to show some of the Clan Head's personality, no need to fret, my faithful readers. I may be sadistic but not that sadistic. :p All the Hyuuga heads are so stuck-up in their ass, only Hinata and Neji (after Naruto beat some sense into him) were my favorite, along with Hiashi (during the war arc) and Hizashi. That's it. Why I put Mito in between, you say? Simple, I'm evil. Didn't you figured that already? :p Madara only goes after perfection! Long live him and his sexy ass! :D Thanks for the review, I know you missed me! ;)
SilverIcy + SilverIcy (guest) – Hihi, I found that scene also very touching, Madara is a caring man who cherishes his important, precious person and treats them with immense love. :) Oh, hell yeah! More interested elite shinobi will ask for her hand, just you wait and see. Poor Madara and Izuna will have to start bringing out the bigger guns for his. Thank you for the review, I appreciate the support! ;D
PS. The Aburame clan, Shimura clan, … will come in the next chapter, thank you for mentioning it! I actually forgot about it! Shame of me! :O Thank you, really! :D
Melibooo (guest) – Hihi, good luck with figuring it out! And thank you for the kind words, I really appreciate them from the bottom of my heart! Enjoy another chapter! ;D
kiko8o – Oh, don't hate Mito, she is a nice person, after all, she comforted Kushina when she was little. :D You'll see how the drama will enfold, enjoy this chapter! I'm sure it will solve some of your questions. ;D Thank you for the review, I appreciate your support! :D
SkinnyLegs – Nah, I'm not that sadistic to leave you guys without nutrition. Unfortunately no Hashisui, it sucked to write that chapter, I felt sorry for them. :p Poor Shisui and her feelings, this chapter won't be a happy one either, her heart will break… :( That scene with Madara was my favourite one! Go Madara! :D Thank you for the nice review, I appreciate your kind support! Enjoy another chapter! ;D
So here are the ages for the ones that are confused, for this chapter only:
Uchiha Madara/Senju Hashirama=22 years to 23 years old
Uchiha Izuna/Senju Tobirama=20 years to 21 years old
Uchiha Shisui=17 years to 18 years old
Era of the Warring States
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By Angelbloodlover
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~ When a man learns to love, he must bear the risk of hatred.
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Uchiha Madara
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Chapter 17: Village Hidden in the Leaves
Madara, Hashirama and Shisui were standing on top of the same cliff where they spoke fondly about their childhood dream that became reality.
"Remember when the three of us came here to talk about our future?" Hashirama spoke softly, his eyes never straying away from the village that was finally finished, al thanks to his wood release and the hard-working villagers.
Shisui hummed in response and Madara grunted, "Yeah…"
A leaf with a hole in it whistled past them but only Madara captured it, staring at it with a forlorn expression, "It was all wishful thinking back then even though I said there wasn't anything we couldn't achieve if we tried…I still…" He sighed softly, not looking at the other two.
"Aniki, no need to start thinking of what could have happened. All that matter right now," She grabbed his hand and Hashirama's, smiling at both of them, "is that we turned our dream into reality, the impossible into the possible. The Uchiha's and Senju's are best friends now, something that no wish would be able to grant." She smiled softly, looking down, "Look what we achieved, a village where children can live peacefully…"
Hashirama grinned widely, "She is right, Madara, no need to be depressed."
"Look who is talking." Madara countered back with a sneer, "At least I didn't fall into depression every two second."
Shisui laughed sheepishly, wondering why the two of them couldn't stay civil for a few seconds.
Hashirama sulked, looking down, "Forgive me… I didn't mean to look like a child, I'm just more sensitive than you…"
Madara glared at him, "What's that supposed to mean?!"
"Guys! Stop it! We're here to have a nice chat, no need to start sulking or glaring." She looked at both of them with a stern expression and wondered if this was how a mother felt when she was scolding her children.
Hashirama smirked, "You're right. Besides, there was something else I wanted to talk about." He locked eyes with the two Uchiha siblings, "The leader of a group that protects the country from the shadows..."
Shisui's eyes widened and she whispered softly, "The Hokage…"
Hashirama's eyes widened slightly but nodded anyway, "What do you think?" He glanced at Madara and Shisui, waiting for their approvals, they were his closest friends, the ones he trusted entirely so. He would sacrifice his life to save the two of them.
"I find it perfect!" Shisui chirped happily, wondering when they would name the newest Hokage but then another problem arose, namely who would be chosen as the leader.
Madara raised his eye brows, "What's that supposed to be?" He glanced between the two, wondering if they had discussed about this without his consent.
The future Shodai Hokage smirked at Madara, "We need someone to represent our village to the country of Fire, as well as make decisions on behalf of everyone." Shisui smiled happily, nodding in agreement but then her eyes widened considerably when Hashirama spoke further, "I can't think of anyone more appropriate than you to become our Hokage."
"What?!" Shisui gasped in shock, wondering how much this would change Konoha's future, "Hashirama-kun, I have a much better idea." She composed herself, looking seriously at the both of them. Of course, the two of them valued her opinion when it came down to the village, "Since our village was created through the dream of two Uchiha's and a Senju, I suggest that we only give the first positions to a Uchiha and a Senju."
Madara and Hashirama's eyes widened as she continued, "There will be a Hokage and a co-Hokage, with this we'll signify the mutual respect and understand from both of the clans and the our bonds will deepen even more." Breathing softly, "We have sown the seeds and now we must water them, take care of them. We can't afford to let either one of the Uchiha or the Senju clan feel threatened to lose their ranks and positions in the village. The Uchiha and Senju are equal and this we'll strengthen the bonds even further." She crossed her arms, waiting for their opinions.
Of course, Hashirama was flabbergasted at her speech, and Madara looked impressed at his little sister, nodding in agreement, "I agree completely, Uchiha and Senju will resemble the father and mother from the village. We need to give them both attention and love."
Wow, Shisui found that very beautiful, even Hashirama smiled softly as his dear friend, "You're right, the both of you. But only for this once to strengthen the bond between Uchiha and Senju." He nodded, very pleased with the outcome of the discussion, "Never thought you to be a poet, Madara."
Madara smirked at his friend, "And I never doubted you to have bad fashion taste."
The Senju sulked, "The first thing I'll be doing is burn them…"
"Aniki!" Shisui shouted in horror, she was about to say something important, damnit! "Don't be such a bully." She comforted Hashirama, "Don't worry, aniki doesn't mean it."
Madara felt his eye brows twitch at the two of them, it's as if they had never listened to him, "Kami, how many times do I have to say it?" He raised his arms overdramatically upwards, looking at the sky, "Why are they so touchy-touchy with each other? Why?"
He received no answer and glaring at the two of them, he sighed softly, "Stop fretting over him, I didn't mean it."
He was a man who would never stoop that low to apologize but Hashirama was his friend, no, he was family. And like usual, Hashirama brightened again, his happy, goofy smile plastered on his face. "Madara, just admit that you love me."
Said man shivered in disgust, "I'm not going to proclaim my love to a man. That's downright disgusting."
Shisui chuckled softly, shaking her head, "The two of you can discuss your love lives later, right now, we need to have a Uchiha and a Senju for the position and I already have the perfect men for it." She took a step backwards and smiled widely at them, "Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama."
"Hmm I don't mind playing boss over the village." Madara smirked smugly as he glanced at Hashirama who was sporting the same smirk, "Count me in."
"Perfect!" Shisui chirped happily, pleased that things were starting to become even better, "But the position for the Hokage and co-Hokage should be voted with democracy together with head clan, don't you think?"
Madara nodded, "You're right, they shouldn't be left out. We still have to create our village system."
"We'll do that the upcoming week, together with the head clans but I like the idea of that. Shisui-chan, you're very good with these things."
Shisui smiled secretively, feeling so giddy, "You have no idea, Hashi-kun." Really, none of the two would possible believe that she had already lived in Konoha only to be reborn in a baby's body during the pre-founding era of Konoha. "Now we only need a name for our village." Shisui couldn't help but watch his brother who placed the leaf in front of him, eying Konoha through the hole.
"Konoha, the Village Hidden in the Leaves, how is that?" He looked at them, waiting.
Shisui, of course, was excited, "Hell yeah! Go aniki!"
Madara shook his head, chuckling at her sister's weird antics and looked at Hashirama. His eyes twitched violently when he saw his friend sulking, "So…simple…There is no cachet to it whatsoever. It's like all you did was look at the surface of things… Sad really…"
"Like your 'Hokage' thing is oozing with sex appeal?! More importantly, you still haven't resolved your random bouts of depression yet?! First thing we'll do is find a therapist to clear this up! I'm sick and tired of you and your damned depression moods!" Madara shouted angrily, a vein or two popping out of his head.
Shisui grabbed her stomach and laughed at their funny antics, really, those two, "Both of you will never change!" They perked up at that, blinking their eyes and then joined her laughter, snorting. "But I'm glad things are starting to return normal!" She continued, snorting as she remembered all the times when Madara said something only for Hashirama to get depressed about then Shisui scolded Madara who in return would apologize.
Madara turned serious, "So this Hokage and co-Hokage has to constantly stay in the village and watch over everyone?"
Senju Hashirama shook his head, "No, there is more to it than that, much more. The Hokage will also have their hands in the construction and framework of the village."
"And we'll start with carving the ginormous head of you two below us as a constant symbol of protecting this village." Shisui stated loudly, confidence oozing from her. "Only the first leaders will be two, in this case the two of you but afterwards there will only be one." She nodded, rubbing her chin, "Which the previous Hokage will have a huge vote in it since he or she will be training his or her successor to become an even better Hokage than themselves."
Madara looked annoyed at that, "Are you kidding us?" He turned to look at Hashirama, "She is only kidding, we don't-" "Actually, her idea is the same like me! Shisui-chan, you're amazing!" Hashirama gushed loudly, ignoring Madara's twitching behaviour whenever someone complimented his little sister, "Don't worry, Madara, you look fabulous."
Shisui sweat dropped at that, "Hashi-kun, you sounded so gay…"
He sulked, kicking the dirt away, "Shisui-chan, I never dubbed you as a mean bully… From Madara I can understand but you…"
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Madara shouted angrily as his friend injured his pride further but he was ignored by the two of them.
"Hashi-kun, I'm sorry for hurting your feelings." Shisui murmured softly, embracing him and somehow she felt so right to stay like that. She closed her eyes he leaned on her head, "Apology accepted." For a while the two of them stayed like that until a certain overprotective brother decided to ruin their moment.
He coughed loudly, "Alright, enough touchy-touchy moments, we need to prepare for the upcoming meeting with the clan heads." Madara had a feeling those two were harbouring feelings for each other but didn't notice it yet. Unfortunately for the two of them, one was already engaged to a certain Uzumaki Mito. He would have to talk to Hashirama about this, he didn't want his sister's first love to be shattered like this. She didn't deserve any more pain, she had enough of that.
Shisui grinned widely, "I'll prepare blue prints and ideas for the upcoming meeting." With a nod towards her brother and Hashirama, she left, waving goodbye.
Madara turned towards Hashirama with a serious look, "Hashirama, I know the two of you have feelings for each other but while you noticed it, she is unaware of it." He spoke coldly, not caring if Hashirama flinched at his cold tone, this was his little baby sister, no man would hurt her under his watch.
"I know…" Hashirama spoke sadly, looking down at their newly named village, Konoha, "I-I.." For the first time of Madara's life he saw Hashirama's pained face, he looked ready to crumple in a heap of flesh and bones.
He placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, "Hashirama, how stupid can you be to marry someone when you love someone else."
Hashirama's eyes widened considerably, shock and disbelief etched on his beautiful face. Never in his entire life did he think to hear Madara's approval towards a man who was interested in his little sister. To quote from Shisui's words; 'The impossible became the possible.' "W-Wait… y-you actually d-deem me worthy to c-court your sister?"
"Don't get too cocky of yourself." Madara grunted in annoyance, crossing his arms, "I'm still watching you Hashirama, till now everything about you is alright with me but I'm hoping you'll do something so I could dismiss you." His eyes narrowed in slits, his Sharingan spinning eerily calm. "How are you going to confess to Shisui when you're planning to marry that Uzumaki girl? You can't break the promise, Hashirama, it will turn downright into a disaster."
Hashirama sighed tiredly, rubbing his temple as he sat on the cliff, "I-I don't know… I arranged a political marriage because Shisui didn't show any interest towards me. I didn't want our friendship to be ruined so I decided to help out Konoha but now I wish I had waited a bit more before deciding to marry Mito-san." He clenched his fists, looking at Madara, "Madara, what should I do?"
"You could switch places with Tobirama so he cou-" "No. I can't shove the problem towards my little brother. It's not fair for him, I want him to find a woman he loves and marry her like it should be." Hashirama cut Madara's words without blinking his eyes.
The Sharingan-user sighed quietly, "Hashirama, if I could I would take you place but it's common knowledge that the Uchiha and Uzumaki don't get along well."
Hashirama hid his face, "I know, my friend, I know…"
The two of them stayed like that, trying to come up with anything but in the end nothing seemed to work without endangering Konoha's future. "I suggest you talk to Shisui about this." Madara suggested calmly, "It's better to know than to stay within the shadows. You can talk to her tonight but don't think about doing anything to her." He warned his friend with furious calmness, he wouldn't want Hashirama to touch his sister in any way, she would stay pure until she had married someone who was worthy to be called her husband.
"Of course, my friend, Shisui-chan is my best friend too. I would rather kill myself than to let her suffer." Hashirama responded with equal seriousness, "And thank you for this opportunity, I know how hard it is to let her go." He placed a comforting hand on Madara's shoulder.
"Then you know that I won't hesitate to snap your neck if you won't word it carefully and gently."
Hashirama nodded, "I understand."
"Good." For the rest of the hour they stayed like this, enjoying the calmness because both of them knew that tonight things would be tense, especially with this new revelation.
Shisui lifted her kimono and wondered what Hashirama would want to talk about. For some strange reason Shisui started to feel self-conscious of her appearance and used make-up and everything. Her brothers were shocked and suspicious but none of them voiced out anything, even Madara, stayed calm and wished her a pleasant night with Hashirama. A boy for Kami's sake! She had stopped and looked at her brothers, wondering if they were impostors.
When she had used the dispelling technique, her brothers had scoffed at her, yelling for her to get her ass out of there and to come home early. She had run away from them, laughing loudly, it was weird for her brothers to let her go looking like this but she enjoyed it. It felt good to do things without being all sneaky about it.
So when she was walking towards their meeting spot, she kept adjusting her kimono and her hair, occasionally waving towards the villagers who stopped by to watch her with adoring eyes. It was with relief that she saw Hashirama waiting for her near the bridge of the Naka River that flowed through the Uchiha land. This place brought forth so many depressing memories but also good ones, this place was where she had left her previous life, here she had sacrificed her life for the greater good, only to come back as a baby to bring forth more prosperity and peace to Konoha.
When she saw Hashirama standing there and looking absolutely calm and peaceful, her heart fluttered wildly. She had to admit he looked like the epitome of handsomeness. She smiled brightly towards him, waving , "Hashi-kun!"
"Shisui-chan!" His eyes widened when he saw her and he had to swallow loudly at the picture perfect of a beautiful angel because that was what she was. Shisui was donning a dark blue kimono, tightened by a light blue obi with sandals but the most beautiful and mesmerizing was her pale face with her thin eye brows, luscious, dark eye lashes, her flushed cheeks, her blood-red lips and her big black doe eyes that was even more accentuated with the eye-liner.
Hashirama's heart stopped beating right then and there.
For the love of Kami, Shisui was the epitome of angelic beauty, never in his life did he saw someone as beautiful as her.
"So you wanted to tell me something important?" She asked happily, her face looked so lively, it made his hand sweaty and he broke in a nervous stutter. "Y-es, you s-see, I-I-" "Hashirama-kun, what's wrong?" Shisui interrupted him gently, taking his hand with her soft and yet calloused hands. She had never heard Hashirama stutter, this was strange for him. She ignored the flip-flops coming from her stomach, "You know you can talk to me, right?"
She stared at him through her long, black eye lashes and he swallowed again, wondering why he was this nervous. Was it because he knew about her feelings? "Let's sit somewhere quiet." He chuckled quietly when he noticed a lot of Uchiha's and Senju's staring at them with wide, excited and confused eyes and took Shisui to somewhere quiet, somewhere they visited frequently.
"Hashi-kun, you're acting strange. What's wrong?" Shisui was starting to worry.
Hashirama coughed softly, creating a wooden bench where they could sit, "Shisui-chan, there is something important I have to tell you." He stopped and looked her in the eyes, "I-I…" He cupped her breathtakingly beautiful face and took a deep breath. Shisui was starting to dread the outcome of their conversation. "I love you, Uchiha Shisui, I always loved you from the first moment I saw you near the creek till no-" "Stop it! Stop!" Shisui shouted frantically, her heart beating so loud she had strain her ears to hear him. Her Shodai Hokage had married Uzumaki Mito to strengthen their bonds, this couldn't happen and yet her heart wanted nothing more than to accept it. But that wasn't how Shisui was, Shisui was selfless, it was in her veins, that wasn't something she could erase from her existence. And yet, she wanted nothing more than to accept and return his love.
Hashirama face dropped, he looked hurt, "Hashirama-kun, y-you are e-engaged to U-Uzumaki M-Mito." She had to make sure that he wouldn't love her, she had to break his heart. She ignore the wild pleas from her heart and took a deep shuddering breath, "B-besides I don't love you." She looked him in the eyes to show him how serious she was and it took her entire strength not to hug him and apologize to him, tell him that she did in fact love him.
"Shisui-chan, p-" "No, Hashirama-kun, I don't love you." She broke him brusquely, ignoring the gleeful laughter coming from the shadows of her heart, they were crushing her heart, twisting it in odd angles, "I'm sorry to break your heart." Reluctantly, she stood up, "I-I need to go now, aniki and Izuna-nii must be worried." She left, leaving Hashirama there with a broken heart.
He didn't even know that he was crying until he saw the glistening of his tears. He knew she loved him but she didn't want to endanger Konoha, he could see that in her onyx black eyes, even though she tried her best to hide her feelings for him. This fact broke his heart even more, it was his fault. Hiding his face, he cried silently for his lost and unreachable love.
Emotional pain hurt even more than physical pain and Hashirama wished that he could heal it away.
Shisui flickered back home and her knees gave up on her. She crumpled on the floor, crying quietly as she tried to calm down her rapidly beating heart. She wanted to rip it out because the pain was unbearable. Hiccupping loudly, she felt two warm, protective arms carry her bridal style towards her bed and even with closed eyes, she felt Madara and Izuna's presence, comforting her quietly. Her sandals were taken off and someone released the bobby pins from her hair, letting her waist-length hair flow down like a waterfall. Another pair of arms pulled out the heavy kimono, leaving her in her light blue kimono.
Her bed creaked softly when Izuna laid behind her and Madara in front of her as she hid her face in Madara's torso, whispering softly, "Arigatou…" She wouldn't know what she would have done if they weren't here. "Arigatou…" She repeated, enjoying the warm and loving embrace from both of them.
And like that, she fell asleep, silent tears rolling down her porcelain face.
"Did she do what I think she did?" Izuna asked softly, not wanting Shisui to wake up.
Madara hummed in response, "She sacrificed herself for the greater good."
Izuna shook his head as he brushed away Shisui's black strands. "Normally I should say I'm glad that she isn't with Hashirama but the way she broke in tears…"
"I know, otouto…I know, let's hope that she will recover from this."
On the day of Hashirama and Mito's marriage, Shisui played the happy, carefree Uchiha girl but on the inside she was dying as she slowly on heard the words that would bind the two forever. She should be happy with the outcome of this, she should but she couldn't. And the way Hashirama had looked at her when he placed a gentle, polite kiss on Mito's lips made it so hard to feign cheerfulness.
It was only through sheer strength and her undying love for her village that she withstood the emotional torture playing in front of her.
