Hello, readers! Chapter 8 is up! I realized I forgot to put a disclaimer, so I will state it clearly now: I do not own Naruto, but I own the plot. If I owned Naruto, there would be a lot less deaths. It's like a person died every five episodes. For those of you who may not have noticed, I update twice a week. Enjoy and review!

Madara didn't know why, but she felt that this Mito character really didn't like her. At all. Either that, or she had a permanent scowl on her face. Madara felt that it was the former, because Mito glared at her every time Hashirama wasn't looking.

"Enlighten me, Hashirama, about the name and identity of this girl, would you?" She asked in a supercilious tone. Hashirama seemed a bit confused, because he looked weirdly at her.

"You seem a bit pissed today. Why?"

"You won't understand it even if I told you." Mito snapped.

"Oh, okay…"Hashirama said, still confused. "This girl is called Madara Uchiha. Yesterday was her first day here but you were absent."

"Uchiha as in the Uchiha Corporation, Hashirama? The one opposing the Senju Corporation?" Mito asked nonchalantly. Madara could see Hashirama visibly cringe. Who wouldn't, when they were introducing their supposed top rival to someone else as a friend?

"Er, yes, and she's my childhood friend." That seemed to make Mito even angrier, because now her eyes leaked venom. Madara didn't get why this redhead by the name of Mito hated her so much, but she had a nagging suspicion that it had something to do with Hashirama. Thank Kami they finally arrived to the classroom.

"Come on, Madara." Hashirama called out with a smile. Madara walked towards Hashirama and took her seat beside him. Mito stared at her with something like jealousy in her eyes, but she wasn't sure about that. Class started in a few seconds, and the teacher started blabbering about mathematics. Hashirama occasionally leaned over and made comments about the teacher, who was chewing a shiny needle constantly in his mouth, which was a bit freaky. The comments were all extremely funny, and Madara had to stifle her laugh for more than once. It was pure luck that they weren't punished for talking in class.

After Math came Physical Education. Madara had always been fine with sports since her father insisted that both she and Izuna take up a form of martial arts (for protecting themselves from attackers if their bodyguards fail to do their jobs since they are heiresses.), but the P.E teacher, Gai, was the Devil. They had to do a hell lot of laps, pushups, sit-ups, and jump jacks while Gai sensei smiled his insanely blinding smile and did good guy poses, plus shouted words that were supposed to be encouragement but sounded more like a torturer's yells in Madara's ears. By the end of class, more than half the class looked dead, and half of the remaining students looking like they were on their way there. Hashirama seemed fine, just a bit tired. Neji looked okay as well. Mito looked like she was going to collapse. Madara herself was still alive, just feeling sort of drained. At least she was still standing upright.

"Hey, you're tough, beautiful!" A boy called Renchi said to her, panting like a dog himself. Madara immediately leaned away from him, bewildered at the boy's words. No one had ever flirted with her before, and it felt absolutely embarrassing. Everybody was staring at her now, and she saw no escape out of this situation. Mito was probably gloating over her discomfort.

"Renchi, I know Madara is beautiful. We all do." Hashirama said, smiling. "You don't need to announce it." Madara stared at him, blushing heavily. The girls all stared at Madara with jealousy raging in their eyes. That didn't make feel better at all, but Hashirama simply ignored them.

"I didn't know you had such stamina, Madara."

"Um, thanks?"

"I think this is the first time I saw you sweating. It's like you Uchihas don't sweat, like never even once."

"We do!" Madara shot back. Everyone just stared on like they were watching a tennis match. Hashirama merely smiled one of his god-damn friendly smiles while he brushed away strands of hair from his face. Suddenly, for some unknown reason (probably because he was hot from all the sports, but Madara's brain had started to malfunction.), he stripped away his shirt, show-casing his toned, sun-kissed chest. Not surprisingly, all the girls were blushing like crazy, and Madara found herself staring at her childhood friend, her brain blank like a piece of paper and her face burning like a furnace. He was hot.

"Ha…Hashirama…"

"Hm?"

"Mind putting your shirt back on?" Madara asked, averting her eyes. Hashirama gave her a disgruntled look.

"I feel a bit too hot for a shirt, Madara."

"F…Fine." Madara felt herself burning like she was barbecued. She had never thought of her childhood friend as being attractive when they were kids (because that bowl cut-hair-style was just plain ridiculous), but now he looked hot and sexy, with an even tanner skin, and long, straight hair.

"Oh, Kami… I am not starting to like him am I? AM I?!" Madara screamed in her mind. "I can't like anyone! I'm going to get married in the shortest time possible, damn it! I can't afford it!"

"But you find him hot and sexy, attractive." A voice in her mind snickered. Madara shook her head, trying to silence it. Hashirama just silently contemplated her with admiration in his eyes. She had grown prettier, her pale face turning into a nice oval shape. Her hair was still quite unruly, spiking out in various directions, but it was longer now. Even when fixed into a ponytail, it reached the middle of her back. Her eyes were now deeper and more sensual, complete with long lashes that were now fluttering nervously as she rubbed her blushing cheeks with her hands. Cute. Great, now his face was hot too.

"Come on, guys! Stop staring at each other's eyes like two lovebirds! By the way, you're both blushing." Renchi called out. Everyone snickered, and Hashirama glared at the boy, making him cower. "S… Sorry… Hashirama."

"The next time you tease us both again, you will face me in taijutsu club, and I won't go easy on you like I do to most members." Hashirama smiled his famous friendly smile, but there wasn't any actual humor in it. Renchi immediately screeched his apologies, while Madara turned towards him with interest. She seem immune to his bare chest now, because her blush had faded.

"There's a taijutsu club in this school?"

"Um, yeah."

"How do I apply for that?"

"I'm the president, so you tell me, I guess."

"Oh? Then I want to join." Madara said without hesitating. Hashirama blinked a few times, before extending his hand.

"Okay then. You're now officially part of the club. Welcome, Madara." She gripped his hand steadily. This time, Hashirama saw no ring on her finger, so maybe the ring was just an accessory worn in a very suggestive place.

"Arigatou, Kaichou."