I DO NOT OWN NARUTO SADLY
"Good Evening everybody" Madara said "I'm sorry I'm late" he excused.
"It's okay my friend! How was your Sunday?" Hashirama asked in a cheery way that made him feel aware.
"It was good thanks" he simply said. He didn't want to be interrogated right now. He needed to go through the night with the less embarrassment possible. His friend was about to ask him some more questions, but Tobirama realized the Uchiha's awkwardness and though he found it odd and somehow would like to know about that, the man didn't deserve what his brother seemed so used to do: to meddle in other's business, so he decided to intervene.
"Are you all ready for the announcement today?" the Albino said, he could have sworn he saw a look of gratitude at him in Madara's eyes and he raised his eyebrows.
"Of course we are!" the eldest Senju said but he became less confident soon "I'm pretty nervous though."
"Don't worry" the Uchiha patriarch said finally regaining his composure "Ryuutaro-san will be your spokesman, he will help us through it all"
"True" Tobirama added "Why don't we all enjoy this festival while we look for him?" he said and started walking. He left the group because he felt sort of embarrassed of what he had just said 'Enjoy? What am I, out of my mind?' he thought. Instinctively he looked for the Ramen shop that seemed to be so popular like Hikari have said.
"Did he actually say ENJOY?" Izuna asked out loud. Hashirama looked at the youngest Uchiha and nodded absentmindly.
"Who is that? And what has he done to my little brother?" the Senju exclaimed.
"Oh, come on let him be" Takato said "If you're going to behave like that every time he changes and does something different, you will not help him" Both his sibling and Hashirama lowered their heads. "Come on, let's do enjoy this evening!" the Uchiha said and motioned them to enter the festival.
They were at the Ramen Shop, and it was really crowded. There were people forming a line to enter.
"Hn. I guess we will have to come back later though" Hikari said to the girls a bit down.
"How come you know this place already?" Toka asked.
"Oh' that's right I haven't told you!" she said. "This was the place Takato took me yesterday!" the Takishima blushed a little while saying that out loud for all the implications it meant. She got close to her friend and told her more quietly "I used to come here with my cousin everyday"
"What?" Toka muttered "This same place?" She asked surprised while looking both of them. Sakura and the other kunoichi nodded. "Whoa! That's huge. How did he know?"
"Remember the first time we all came to eat after the first meeting at the Hokage tower?" The pinkette asked the Senju, who nodded.
"Well Hikari stopped at this spot and Takato-san was worried so he stopped to and asked what this place might be." She continued "and she explained it"
"H-he seemed to have remembered that for a month and organize a dinner for us before this big opening." The Takishima said hoping the dim light of the lanterns will hide the entire fluster in her face.
"He did that, didn't he?" the Senju was amazed "That was so thoughtful of him. You're lucky!" she elbowed her.
"W-what!" Hikari laughed "Stop nagging me!" they kept walking and giggling, enjoying the night. They didn't realize Tobirama was next to them and heard part of the story.
'What the hell am I doing?' Tobirama thought to himself 'Now it feels that I am stalking her' he sighed. Takato seemed to know her better than him, but he couldn't be angry with him. The Uchiha was a good man and seemed interested in her at the point of talk with her about her life. 'I feel stupid overthinking this. I haven't actually had a real chat with her in a long time.' He looked at the ramen shop 'She must have felt lonely I guess. It's good that she has Takato, Toka and Izuna though. But I don't know why this bothers me so much.'
"Hey Tobirama!" Takato showed from the crowd "we lost you for a moment" he said and then looked at the crowded shops all lit up "Wow, this might be one of the best things I've ever seen in my entire life". The Senju looked at him curious.
"Well, we haven't had an easy life" he said "we've seen more blood and we've moved so much that this feels oddly pleasing" he smirked and then sighed.
"You seem to be adapting better to this things" the Uchiha said "I'm glad you're actually thinking of enjoyment" that startled Tobirama. So that's what having a friend was. He also thought another thing.
"So yesterday…" he started "You came to this ramen shop with Hikari-san, am I right?" he went straight to the point. He could see how the brunette's cheeks and ears became red 'Interesting' he thought though it made him feel a small void on the stomach. He liked her, that was obvious. But Tobirama was starting to like her too. And this man here was the closest to a friend he had.
"Hn… I-I" Takato tried to explain.
"Don't worry, I have no intention to meddle in your private affairs, I am not Hashirama" the albino interrupted him, he was smirking though "I don't understand why didn't you tell me, though", that startled Takato.
"I-I guess…" he said "I thought it would upset you" The Senju's eyes went a bit wider 'Does he know that I… no wait.' He thought.
"Why would that upset me?" Tobirama said in a really composed voice. "You did a great action by bringing her here. You were very kind." He looked around and spotted the Koji elder "Ah, I found Ryuutaro-san I'll go to set everything for the announcement, excuse me" he apologized and left the Uchiha alone with his thoughts.
He stood alone facing the ramen shop which was slowly emptying itself. 'He seemed bothered by that though he tried to deny it.' he sighed 'Am I being selfish by only thinking to spend time with her, in spite he might be also interest in her?'. He asked himself in his mind.
"Ryo for your thoughts!" Hikari asked from behind him and he stiffened feeling her breath on the back of her head. "Oh sorry, I scared you!" she apologized "You seemed to be lost in your mind, you've must've been thinking some serious stuff" she giggled. She was accompanied with Toka and Sakura.
"That's Okay " Takato said coming back to his senses "I was thinking I would like to come here and eat some more Ramen. They had lots of stuff in their menu yesterday." At the mention of the events from the day before the Takishima smiled at him and his heart skipped a beat 'I am being selfish. I want that smile for myself…" he thought "Am I allowed to be happy…. Agh I'm so doomed!' He hurried himself to continue talking because he felt he had been silent for ages "So, did you three get your ramen?"
"Oh, no" Hikari answered " It was really crowded the first time we passed over here, but now there seems to be less people so we thought we'll give It a try."
"Yeah, I want to taste this Ramen everybody is talking about" Toka said smirking. "Come on Sakura-chan! It's our turn!" she grabbed the pinkette by her sleeve and dragged her inside the store.
"Hey! Don't dragg me I can walk" Sakura exclaimed as they entered, followed by the Uchiha and her friend.
The four of them sat on the stools and ordered. Sakura and Toka asked for miso ramen. Hikari ordered a small bowl of shio ramen and the Uchiha a small bowl of tonkontsu ramen. The Takishima was expectant of what Sakura's reaction could be.
"Hey" Takato whispered to her and she turned to look at him "Don't worry, she's not alone here." The girl smiled broadly at him.
"Thank you Takato-kun!" she said, it was surprising he had felt her nervousness.
"Any time" he said. By now, he had buried those thoughts he had had minutes ago, and he let himself to appreciate the moment.
Their orders finally came, they looked so tasty. Everybody thanked for the food and started slurping ramen.
"OH KAMI!" Toka said "This is glorious!"
"INDEED!" the Uchiha cheered "What did you get?"
"Miso, you must taste this!" the senju said "what did you?"
"Pork" the shinobi answered "I never knew I loved pork so much until this."
Their conversation was for real, but it also served to cover Sakura's reaction, which was similar to Hikari's the night before. Though in her case it didn't involve feelings with Takato. Though a certain Uchiha came to her mind 'It would be nice to share this with Madara' she bravely thought as tears fought to come off her eyes.
"Just keep eating" Hikari whispered. "You'll feel better." With a sigh her friend nodded and continued eating her ramen.
Once they all have finished they left the stall promising they will come almost daily to have something to eat. The owner said that they should also taste other stalls' food, and that they would understand if they go to other restaurants for variety.
"Wow that was awesome!" the Senju kunoichi said once back on the street.
"Hey where were you?" Izuna asked Takato "you left me alone with Hashirama and Madara! No way, you came here to eat without me?" he said hurt.
"Come on" Toka said "Don't be such a party popper, tomorrow we'll come to eat. I might even treat you" she poked him in the shoulder.
"Hn. Okay, but remember that because I am not paying" he said a bit flustered.
"Promise!" the kunoichi smiled at him.
"Anyway" he changed subject "We should get going, the announcement is about to be made"
"Right!" Sakura said less emotional "We must go!" and they walked to the end of the street where a small podium was made for Ryuutaro's speech.
"Good evening everybody" The Koji elder greeted. Hashirama was standing alone at his right, a few steps back, and on his left were Madara and Tobirama, also a few steps back. The group had reached the place in time and could find a spot next to Ryuuji, Megumi, Ichigo and his grandmother. Sakura could see Sora-san and Kido-san on the opposite side of the road waving at her. She returned the greeting. Madara caught sight of her by this action and became a bit red, though nobody could realize that because the lanterns surrounding the podium were orange, a color that was linked to happiness, progress and protection, so they faces were all kind of orange-ish.
"We are proud to be holding this festival, to honor our brand new village's first month of life!" Ryuutaro said and everybody cheered. "The Merchant Village is proud to become the Merchant District of our wonderful and great home and we prepared lots of treats for you to enjoy" he added "We know that our fellow villagers are proud shinobi that have spent most of their life battling and moving so the Idea to settle in a place of your own is also a wonderful thing. We all see Konoha as fresh start and that is what bonds us in a way that we are a huge family" Lots of people cheered after that too.
Hashirama was pretty nervous. He knew it was about time to be 'offered' as future Hokage, and he was sure he was going to screw it up, but then he saw groups of Senju and Uchiha together, chatting and vitorying the idea of being a family and that lit up his will of fire. 'I really like that idea: Will of fire' he thought.
"Now, we've been gathering with the clans heads to create a way to represent this identity within the Fire country." The Koji elder continued. "After various meetings we've agreed, as most of you know, that we need a head to represent us, and also a council to rule." Almost everybody nodded, their leaders had already spoken with each clan and were aware of what the man was going to say. "It's been decided that the village should vote if they agree with the Candidate we decided to suggest for our leader, the future Hokage. This decision is based on a myriad of arguments and everybody must now that it's not that he's going to rule alone but he will just be another part of the council. However, he will be in charge of public affairs and Village administration." He made a small pause and then continued.
"It has been decided by those who are standing next to me, to suggest Senju Hashirama as Konoha's first Hokage" when Ryuutaro said this there was a small cheering from the crowd and what surprised the Senju the most is that he could see lots of Uchiha happy with the decision. 'What did Madara tell them?' he thought. "Hashirama-san, please come to speak" there it was, the dreadful moment the shinobi was afraid of. He looked at Madara and Tobirama whom waved their heads in a silent 'just go!' and he walked to the podium facing the crowd.
"Good Evening everybody" he said in a shaky voice. "I am proud to be suggested as a leader. You may possibly not believe me when I tell you that I didn't nominate myself. I really think Madara or My Brother here are best suited for such an important task" he said surprising everybody and making a vein pop out of his friend's and brother's foreheads. "But I understood that they will be more needed in other Villages' affairs, such as security, and intelligence. Areas that I cannot manage the way they do. I am a cheery person, I might be sometimes insecure, but I have loved this village since Madara had the idea when we were kids. This is his dream, the one he shared with me, a total stranger at that time, and became ours. Eventually it became my beloved brother's dream and Madara's siblings too. And all of you. I will ask for help if I happen to not be able to do something, but because of my love for Konoha rest assure I will give my life to for the Village and for you." He paused and the silence was breathtaking "Ahh… T-That's all I can say about this. Thank You" he bowed in a very awkwardly way, and the crowd broke in cheers and applause.
When he stood up straight his eyes couldn't believe what they were seeing. Everybody was acclaiming him. Madara and Tobirama were smiling –at their way- and clapping. In the audience there were two absolutely emotional Hikari and Sakura cheering surrounded by their friends and students.
Hashirama took a few steps back and was intercepted by Ryuutaro who walked to the podium grabbing the Senju from his arm to give him support. The Uchiha and the Albino walked with them too.
"We need to put this to voting, so we can proceed to the official naming next week" Madara said with authority once the ruckus calmed down.
"I don't know why he still thinks he is not suited to be Hokage" Sakura whispered Hikari, who nodded.
"So, those in favor to Have Hashirama Senju as Hokage raise your hands and exclaim 'Hai'" he asked to the crowd. Everybody did as asked. "Those against Hashirama Senju as a Hokage raise your hands and exclaim "Ie". He asked this question with a tiny amount of fear, but after some seconds, the silence made it evident that nobody was against it. That took a weight from him. "Then is settled. Hashirama Senju is to be the Shodaime Hokage of Konoha!" he declared and everybody cheered.
"Now next week we'll perform the naming ceremony and we will present you the council and city charges" Ryuutaro, as a spokesperson said. "Thank you very much for allowing all of this to happen, and enjoy this festival that was made precisely for you!" with another acclamation they ended their speeches.
People started to greet Hashirama when he got off the podium, congratulating him. He wasn't used to this much of warm attention but his brother and his best friend left him alone because they thought he needed to get accustomed, so they walked towards Izuna and the group.
"That was a wonderful speech indeed" Izuna commented to Tobirama.
"Yes, he is a bubble head, but he is also so honest that I think that's why people like him" the Albino commented.
"He really is a charismatic person" Takato seconded watching the future Hokage surrounded by people "But shouldn't you be next to him? He seems a bit uncomfortable"
"How can you tell?" Toka said looking at Hashirama too "He seems fine"
"I don't know, it's his chakra, he feels anxious" he simply said.
"Oh, I forgot you're a sensitive person" the Senju kunoichi mocked and he sweat dropped.
"Hey, you don't get to bully my brother" Izuna defended him "That's only reserved for Me and my Aniki"
"WHAT!" Takato reacted at his otouto. Everybody laughed.
"Don't worry, Ryuutaro is next to him, and he needs to grow up a little" Madara said and the Senju nodded enthusiastically.
"You're both mean" Sakura claimed "Anxiety is something that must not be a funny Issue and you both know about that." She said a bit pissed. Hikari raised her eyebrows and looked at the Uchiha and the albino.
"Sakura-san…" Tobirama started.
"I'll go check on your brother" she interrupted and left them.
"Please excuse her" Hikari said "She's having an emotional evening" she slightly bowed and followed her. Madara felt like crap, and so did Tobirama.
"Hashirama-san!" Sakura appeared in the crowd that surrounded him.
"Oh Sakura-san!" he exclaimed the cheeriest way possible.
"Come on you also need to enjoy this evening" she said beaming at everybody "What do you all think?" she asked them.
"Of Course!" people started to say "Yes! Please enjoy", "we're sorry we were way too overwhelming". "Have a great evening Hokage-sama, eerr, I mean, future Hokage Sama!" and slowly they left them alone with Ryuutaro san.
"That was a really affectionate crowd" she said sighing. The Takishima arrived next to her.
"Great Speech, Hasirama-san!" she greeted.
"How are you feeling" Sakura asked him.
"I-I'm fine" he said.
"I mean right now" the pinkette enquired "you didn't seem fine"
"Oh, umm, well…" Hashirama started "I felt my heart pounding fast and it made it difficult to breath."
"How is it now?" Hikari asked.
"Now I'm fine" he said "I mean it" he added when he saw Sakura's mistrustful look.
"Okay, please check on yourself and if you ever feel this way again tell us" the pinkette demanded.
"Right I will" he said. Madara, Tobirama and the rest of the group appeared next to them.
"I'm sorry for leaving you" the Uchiha said while he got close to his friend. "I thought you could use a bit of stress to surpass your nervousness. I never felt it would make you feel bad"
"That's okay Madara, I'm fine!" Hashirama lied.
"That's not okay anija" the albino said "we were mean…" Sakura blushed uncomfortable when realization hit her that she had lectured both of the greatest shinobi in the ninja world. "if you ever feel bad again tell us."
"Oh, Come on, I'm not so weak" the eldest Senju said a little pissed off. "Let's go grab something to eat." He motioned next to Ryuuji and grabbed him by his shoulder "Ryuuji sempai, please show me the best pastries shop"
"Um… Okay Hashirama-san" the teen mumbled and accompanied him. He could see the man's pride had felt hurt by their words.
"Dammit!" Madara said and left them mad with himself.
"Let's go get him" Takato said looking at Izuna, who nodded and excused themselves.
"I'll try go get Hashi" Toka said, following Ryuuji.
That left Tobirama alone with Hikari and a very embarrassed Sakura.
"I am sorry" the latter said.
"About what?" the albino asked not understanding. He was the one that did wrong.
"I never mean to lecture you about anxiety" the pinkette said.
"Oh, that!" the man understood "but you were right though. And also as my therapist, you made me realize my mistakes. In other words Thank you" he nodded at her.
"Hmm. I wasn't expecting that" she said.
"You give yourself too little credit" Hikari laughed.
"You are not tasting the pastries Hashirama-san" the Koji boy said to him, as the man was engulfing some sweet rolls. "It's not a weakness to be anxious, you know?" Hashirama stopped eating and listened at him carefully "I-I mean…" the boy got nervous, 'did I make him mad?' he thought. "We all suffer anxiety, but what's important is what we do to fight it; and ask or accept help."
"Have you ever felt like that?" The Senju asked, his mouth covered in sugar. He looked like a scared child.
"Yes I have, when my dad had the pneumothorax" he said.
"Oh, that was when you still were at the Village, right?" Hashirama asked "How did you manage it?"
"I guess I didn't know what to do at first" Ryuuji said "My heart started beating fast remembering the moment my mother died giving birth to Megumi and my head felt lighter. I suddenly remembered hearing a new doctor was in town so I loaded my dad on my back and run as fast as I can to the hospital. That's how I met Sakura-sensei"
"Wow! You could do that in spite of the anxiousness!?" the shinobi was in awe.
"Well, I didn't think it twice. My dad was more important to whatever the hell was happening to me anyway" the teen said and he apologized after realizing he had cursed. Hashirama laughed at that. "The anxiety came back once after my dad was safe and sound, but that's when I found my resolve to be a medic"
"So you are saying that I should come up with solutions to the problems that give me anxiety?" Hashirama asked again, he was delighted with how self-centered and bright this kid was.
"That's right." Ryuuji said "I think that's the best way of coping with it. I think we'll always have it, but we are the ones that are in control. That's why I think your brother and Madara-san thought it was good for you to confront that crowd" The Senju cleaned his mouth and looked like he had found his new resolve.
"Thank you very much Ryuuji san!" he grabbed the teen by his hands grateful "Let's go and join everybody again!"
"There you are!" Toka exclaimed. "How are you feeling?"
"Better, thanks to this young man" Hashirama beamed and Toka could see he wasn't faking it. "Let's go Toka! There is still a lot to watch!" he started walking. The kunoichi looked at the boy and smiled at him.
"You really are a smart guy" she said and motioned him to follow Hashirama.
Madara was sulking on a perpendicular street. He felt really bad, what had started as a wonderful day became an embarrassing one. He did not only look as a perv in Sakura's eyes but now he was a bad friend.
"Aniki?" Takato called, Izuna following him "Hey what's going on?"
"Do you need to ask?" the elder spat.
"Hey, don't be mean to Takato, he's worried about you!" the youngest scolded him.
"It seems I do everything wrong today" Madara said.
"Wait a minute" the middle Uchiha stated "What's up with you victimizing yourself? You're not like this."
"I am a bad friend for not being by Hashirama's side" he said "and now a bad older brother for mistreating you"
"You didn't mistreat me, don't exaggerate" Takato said "you only answered me badly. It's in our Uchiha nature" he joked but Madara didn't get it.
"You know, Sakura-chan didn't say you were a bad friend" Izuna took a risk to say and both his siblings looked at him 'bingo' He thought "She only told you a Tobirama that were being mean, but she was too harsh on you because she wasn't feeling well either."
"What? Why?" the eldest asked in fear "Did she say something?"
"Hey! Relax" his otouto said "What's wrong with you?"
"You're feeling aware from something else right?" the middle Uchiha said "What happened in today's training?" Their Nii-san became red as a tomato.
"MADARA NII?" Izuna asked in surprise and then whispered "Did you do something to Sakura-chan?"
"NO!" his voice came a little higher than he meant to "I didn't do anything, not in purpose"
"Okay, now tell us what is going on or we might have to team to beat you" Takato demanded patience less.
"Hn…" the patriarch mumbled.
"Aniki…" both said in a menacing tone.
"Okay!" Madara said, he looked and sensed everywhere to assure they were alone and not to be heard and then he told them about the soaked incident.
Takato and Izuna blinked several times until they burst into laughter, and that pissed his brother even more.
"Now, now, relax Nii-san" Izuna said. "So you realized Sakura has a good figure, so what? It wasn't your fault, you weren't spying her and you even covered her"
"How can you say it so simply" the eldest asked.
"I bet you covered her more to no feel aroused than for her sake." The youngest added mischievously.
"IZUNA!" both his siblings exclaimed "How come you are so shameless!?" Madara asked.
"Come on, it's natural." He said "even more if you feel something for her"
"What did you say?" his brother asked in a dangerous tone, looking to all sides.
"Don't get mad" Takato intervened "I know this is not the right place or time to talk this, but we know how you feel. And we're sure she will never see you as a pervert. But if you are so scared of that, just apologize to her. You didn't do anything in purpose, it was simply an accident."
"If you put it that way…" Madara started "But I don't want you to be discussing my private affairs without me" he demanded.
"Okay, we need some brotherly time together" the middle Uchiha said.
"Yes, we need to gather and talk about the girls" Izuna said smirking.
"You, brat!" Takato scolded him.
"Haven't you realized Hikari-chan also has a great figure?" the youngest said just to mess up with him.
"How come you know they have good figures?" he asked, red as a tomato, and skipping the real question. He actually had not even thought of her figure until he said that.
"Because I gifted them their Clothing for the Party at our compound" he shrugged "Also Toka and I were with them when they were measuring her armors at the merchant Village two months ago. Do you want to know their measurements?" he said to them in a playful tone.
"Cut it out!" Madara and Takato exclaimed utterly embarrassed. "What about Toka?" they tried to make him feel aware but it backfired.
"Oh she is wonderful. Just my type" Izuna said as if he was talking about the weather.
"Man you really are in terms with that" The eldest said surprised.
"I am the only one here that accepts his feelings without shame." He said. "But I can't do anything because of her clan. So if you have in mind to tease me in front of her, save it because instead of being embarrassed I will get mad and you might only be taken the only way I can share time with her from me."
None of his siblings dare to retort that. In fact they both were surprised to see how Izuna had grown in a few months. Maybe he had always been that way but war didn't let him be.
"Okay" the youngest continued "This is a party, we need to celebrate. And later we will have our sentimental guy's talk if you want to." Madara and Takato nodded absentmindly, what he had said had touched deep on them. "I will give you some tips to deal with girls too, don't worry!" he messed with them and that seemed to lightened up the mood.
"You're right, this is a night to celebrate" the eldest say. "What about some dango?"
"Sure!" the middle Uchiha exclaimed. Izuna cheered – DANGO! – they turned their backs to leave.
"Hey Guys" Madara called them and they turned to look at him. "Thank You"
When the Uchiha siblings went to buy the dango, they could see Hashirama and Tobirama chatting and competing to grab a gold fish.
"They seem in good terms now" Madara said "I should go and apologize to Hashirama"
"Yeah, yeah" Izuna said "but first, Dango!"
Takato had already grabbed his order and when he turned back he bumped into Hikari.
"Oh Takato-kun! I'm sorry" she said "I didn't ruin your food, didn't I?" she asked.
"N-no" he said and noticed that she had stained her yukata over the chest area, and he remembered Izuna's words
FLASHBACK
"Haven't you realized Hikari-chan also has a great figure?" the youngest said just to mess up with him.
END OF FLASHBACK
'Damn brat! Now I won't be calm around him' he thought as he gulped hard.
"Takato-kun?" she asked because she saw his face was a little flustered. 'Okay, let's do this' he encouraged himself.
"I-I'm sorry I don't mean to be rude or sound like a pervert, but…" he started, and she looked at him not understanding 'Kami I'm doing it worse' "Your yukata is stained um… here" he signalized his own chest. She looked at herself and realization hit her, that's why he was embarrassed.
"Yikes! I'm sorry!" she said 'why would she be the one to be sorry?' the Uchiha thought. "I'm going to clean it"
"Let me help you, it was my fault" he said and suddenly realized how that could be interpreted because the girl blushed profusely "I mean, let me buy you another yukata."
"Um, it's fine, don't worry" she calmed down. There was no way he was doing everything on purpose since he was more embarrassed than her. The sudden sound of restrained laughter came from behind Takato. His siblings were witnessing everything. That didn't help Hikari's cheeks to completely turn off.
"We're sorry for laughing" Madara said "But if you look it from the outside, the situation was both funny and cute."
"Aniki!" Takato said mad
"No, I get it" Hikari intervened "I see your point! The thing is…" she spoke more quietly "Sometimes is difficult to adapt here. You never know if you're actually being out of place" fortunately no one could hear her except from them the crowd was really loud.
"I see what you mean" the eldest say.
"That's why you should talk to Sakura" she suddenly said startling him "She's been feeling down this evening because we went to eat Ramen at the stall. It was pretty emotional for her. She didn't mean to be rude" 'That's why she was upset!' Madara thought.
"Hn. Okay, I will" he said and looked at his siblings who nodded at him and left.
"Well played" Izuna whispered and the Takishima laughed.
"You did that on purpose?" Takato asked
"Kind of, I wasn't expecting this dango incident thought" she said to both of them still a bit flustered "I was really embarrassed by that. Sorry"
"You don't need to apologize" the middle Uchiha said.
"Yes, because you thought it was pervy to say that you saw the stain on my chest" she said straightforwardly but still blushing "And let's be honest, this stain is impossible not to be seen" she pointed at it to make the issue less unconfortable. It was odd, but it had made effect. Takato saw it and didn't get flustered.
"Okay, I am going to see if I can get this clean or if I can cover it with something" Hikari said.
"I'll accompany you" Takato said still holding his damaged dango.
"Not necessary!" she said "It won't take much time you just enjoy your brotherly dango time!" she waved and walked to the first clothing store she saw.
"You don't say anything" the middle Uchiha said to his brother. "You've already messed up with my mind today"
"I wasn't gonna" Izuna answered innocently.
Sakura was admiring some storefronts with Toka when the Senju left her for a moment, saying she needed to go to the bathroom. She was sulking though. The whole Madara incident earlier that today, and the Ramen shop. She had been too harsh on them and even though Tobirama forgave her –well actually he never validated her apology – what would Madara think? He had left mad. She didn't have too much time to sulk because a Dango stick appeared next to her and she recognize the hand that was holding it.
"Madara-san!" she exclaimed
"Hey!" he tried to sound cool "This is for you… I'm sorry"
"What?" the pinkette asked.
"I was a bad friend to Hashirama. You were right" he said
"I never said you were a bad friend, I only said you were being mean" Sakura clarified "And even thought I might be right, I was too harsh on you. I must apologize" she bowed slightly.
"No, no, no" Madara denied it "You can't apologize if you are right. But please accept my dango. You know how much I love it and I am offering it to you as a peace offering" the girl snorted.
"Peace offering?" she asked
"Well, I also wanted to apologize for another thing" the Uchiha said. He was gathering courage to say what he needed to say "Today when you… when the water"
"Oh that!" the pinkette exclaimed "I need to apologize for that!" she beat him.
"What?" he asked, he was not expecting that.
"I didn't realize how inappropriate it was for me to have my soaked clothes stuck to my body" Sakura said getting red.
"Wait it wasn't inappropriate, I mean it was an accident" Madara tried to reason with her.
"Yeah, but you were flustered, it was really inappropriate." She insisted.
"I was flustered because I couldn't help but to look at you" he spat and both froze in place "I mean, I noticed what had happened with your clothes and I immediately covered you up because…" 'I WAS GETTING AROUSED' Inner Madara chose this time to appear after months 'What? No!' He fought his consciousness. "Because I didn't want you to think of me as a pervert" he finally said it. It embarrassed that he actually felt slightly aroused, but the thought of her calling him pervert was a worse source of dread. The pinkette didn't answer and he felt like it was an eternity, and finally he heard her giggling, so he dared to look at her again.
"So I thought I was being inappropriate and you thought you were pervy?" she wiped a tear of joy from her eye. "That's why we both were uncomfortable?"
"Yeah" he smirked at that too. "Now if you put it that way it sounds silly"
"Right!" Sakura said still laughing "It was indeed an accident. And it might happen again if we keep practicing together. So I will make sure to use more loose clothes, and you have to endure not feeling embarrassed"
"Okay, I guess I can work with that" he said "Now please accept the holly dango, it's melting on my hand" he added playfully.
"Oh! Sorry!" the pinkette snorted and grabbed the dessert. "Whoa, I needed that laughter" she said absentmindly.
"The ramen shop right?" Madara asked, it was obvious the incident was over now.
"Hikari told you?" she asked.
"She said something but not much. She had an incident with Takato" the Uchiha explained.
"Incident?" Sakura enquired and he told him what happened "Oh, I see, so it's a family thing to be embarrassed to look at a woman's body"
"Whoa! That was uncalled for!" he said all flustered again.
"My bad!" she smiled at him and he calmed himself a little. "Yes it was that. Of course it was more emotional to her, but I never thought it would make me feel that way… It is a special place"
"I understand that" Madara said "Some things remember us to our loved ones that we can see anymore. The first reaction is to feel bad, but then we remember them with a smile. Like with my mother. Every time I hear someone telling a legend, I remember her. She was really good at keeping Uchiha legends alive."
"That is so nice!" Sakura appreciated. "You never talk too much about yourself" he looked at her for a moment. She was actually inviting him to talk about himself, but one thought clouded his happiness.
"Do you want me to talk about myself to analyze me?" he tried to sound like he was joking, but he was actually worried.
"What? No!" the pinkette answered feigning being mad and then snorted "Silly… I just wanted to hear you talk more about yourself" his hart skipped a beat and all the clouds disappeared.
"Then I will" he simply answered smiling at her gently.
"And I will take you to eat ramen with me" Sakura promised.
"It will be my pleasure" The Uchiha answered, he was really pleased because he knew It was a great deal to her. "Now eat your dango before Toka comes back" and they laughed while they finished their treat.
Uchiha Kido was watching their exchange from afar and realized that he would have to be prepared to fight for Madara's Happiness in the council. 'You can't marry out of love.' He thought 'I promised your mother that you'd be happy."
The festival ended up pretty late, but everybody was full and happy. Izuna had won a golden fish, like Tobirama and joked about being fish buddies, so the albino gifted it to Toka.
"Now you be fish buddies" he said to the kunoichi with an Un-Tobirama double meaning that only she caught. He smirked when he realized the woman had blushed.
Everybody went back home feeling lighter, happier and hoping for a new era to start.
The next week was appointed the Hokage Naming ceremony. Everybody had been asked to wear a white gown, representing that they were all equals in what Villagers was referred, and they gathered at the foot of the Hokage tower.
On the tower's roof were Hashirama, Tobirama as leader of the Senju in replacement of his brother, -he couldn't be the Hokage and the Clan Leader at the same time, so the Albino had taken the position-; Madara as leader of the Uchiha, and Ryuutaro as leader of the Civilians.
Everyone was attentive on what was going on. It was a small ceremony with almost no speeches, because everything had been said on the festival.
Ryuutaro put Hashirama the Hokage Mantle and then he gave him the Hokage Hat.
Hashirama took a step forward and raised his hat to greet the crowd, and then finally put it over his head.
"As I said before, I love this village even before it was actually created, and I will give my all for the sake of it, and so will my descendants. It's my nindo, It's my will of fire" The Shodaime Hokage said to the crowd and they started to cheer even louder than during the festival.
Hashirama was happy but something was missing… 'I wonder If I ever get descendants at all'.
In a far way village, in the land of the Wirl wind, notice had arrived that an important shinobi and civilian village had been created in the heart of the Fire Nation.
Hideo Uzumaki was curious about this weird union of two of the greatest clans that had been enemies since Kami knows when.
But he was not the only one that was interested in this strange union.
*****AUTHORS NOTE ********************
I really had fun writing this chapter. I did it on a day! So that's why you have an early update!
Uzumaki at the Horizon, but like I said. They are far far away to get to Konoha yet…
Who else is interested? What do you think? There are 3 correct answers to this, that will develop later In the plot.
Hope you like the small talks here, there and everywere. I really like to write the Uchiha Siblings though its hard for me to explain who is saying what LOL. Shameless Izuna! I just love him. I think he would fit perfectly in the present.
Thaks for the votes and Favs! Also the reviews.
Konoha has a Hokage, and the story leaves its slow burn because there's a lot of stuff to come.
Keep safe! Love,
Bella