Our Story: Burn

Hashi saw darkness as her front pressed against something hard but warm. Bits of what happened earlier today in the forest flashed in her head, and her eyes instantly jolted open. In a fit of panic, she began hitting the person's back, thinking it was her captors when a familiar voice demanding that she calm down made her pause.

Staring at that head of thick, spiky raven hair, she immediately knew who was carrying her and relaxed.

"Ma-chan?"

"Tch, shut up, she-demon. We're not out of the clear yet."

Hashi said nothing more, tightening her arms around Madara's neck as he got them a safe distance from the Uchiha domain. Her eyes stared at the sky and saw a crescent moon, but no stars were in sight.

Even though she was still shaking off the fear of what happened in the forest, knowing her clan, especially her little brother Tobi, was probably in an uproar searching for her, for the first time in forever, the young woman was at peace and found the view to be very beautiful.

"Here, they wouldn't come this far." Madara finally stopped, and Hashi climbed down. After her feet touched the ground, the two said nothing, their backs facing each other. Today's events revealed a lot of truth that would change the course of their friendship.

Madara's fists were clenched at his side, ready to hear Hashi yell or throw a fit, but instead, all he got was silence, which only made his anxieties worse. Though he never admitted it out loud, Madara had come to enjoy Hashi's companionship.

Yes, she could be a bit unorthodox with a quick temper and strength no normal human should possess. But she was pure of heart and had big dreams for the future.

"I want to build a village! A village where kids get to live, and families won't have to constantly bury their children. Never again do I want to bury the bodies of my loved ones."

Hashi stood on her feet, back against the wind. The skies were clear and endless. The sun basked its glow on her smile, which had a trace of sadness, but her determination and optimism outshined it.

It was that same smile and those big dreams that made Madara's heart act all funny. A feeling that, no matter how hard he tried to shake off, only got worse the more he hung out with Hashi, or should he say, the Senju Clan's treasured princess.

"So, you're an Uchiha?"

Madara nodded his head, unable to sense Hashi's mood. Despite the brave nonchalant front he tried to put on, deep inside, he was terrified of Hashi's reaction and the thought of losing her. Even though the loudmouth woman got on his nerves, he started to treasure her presence in his life.

"Alight." Hashi nodded her head. "I expect you here tomorrow to continue our training," she finished saying. Madara whipped his body around, unable to believe the words he was hearing. Yet when he looked into those brown orbs, there was no hint of disgust or hatred, only kindness and trust.

"You're not angry? Despite the truth standing before your eyes? I'm an Uchiha, Hashi!" Madara didn't know why he was getting upset, but a part of him couldn't believe how easily she was accepting things. Didn't she hold a grudge against the Uchiha clan for taking away her little brothers? He had seen her grieve for them and curse members of his clan.

But yet, instead of getting riled up and fighting back by saying her loved ones were in the wrong as he too lost brothers to the Senju Clan, he could only offer her his silence as comfort. Telling himself, he hated to see her cry or in pain. Saying how this war, which no one knew how it even began in the first place, brought nothing but pain and misery to both sides.

Hashi faced him with a look of calmness and gentleness, which reminded him of the one his mother used to give to him before she succumbed to illness.

"Am I shocked? Yes! Betrayed? Maybe a little, but I don't hate you, Madara. Your clan may have taken away my loved ones but so has mine. Besides, I need you, Madara. If I want my dream to come to fruition, I need you by my side. Reuniting the Senju and Uchiha once and for all."

"You really believe you can achieve that silly dream? Our clans have been fighting each other long before we were born."

Did Madara want this war to end? He wanted it with all his heart as he thought of Izuna, his younger and only brother he had left. But the reality of such a pipe dream coming true was slim. The adults of their clan preached nothing but hatred for the other side and would never see to reason.

"I do hold hatred in my heart, Madara, but it's towards this silly war. Why should we lose our loved ones and hate each other just for the sole sake of supremacy?! It's ridiculous! Why can't we just live in harmony? Why can't the adults put their pride aside and at least think of their children first!"

Hashi vented, the bitterness of her eyes stinging with tears. Her words left Madara speechless. Wiping her eyes so that no tears could fall, Hashi gave him a big smile.

"Besides, you're my friend, you old grouchy cat! I don't want to hate you. It's too much trouble."

No matter the situation, she never stopped surprising him. Madara knew in this life that there would never be another person like her.

"Who are you calling a grouchy cat, you she-demon with ridiculous strength!?" Madara retaliated, which made Hashi shout with angry, defending herself. Too bad their moment was ruined when Madara sensed a kunai flying straight at his head and caught it before it stabbed his eye.

"Nee-sama!" Appearing out of the bushes was Tobirama, whose eyes watered with relief and happiness upon seeing his big sister well and alive as the entire Senju Clan was ready to break down the Uchiha's gates to get her back.

Telling himself that even though his sister was no fighter, she was their main healer. She wasn't only the clan heiress but the reason some of them could preserve their lives with the unique use of her healing ninjutsu and healing ointments.

"Tobi-chan!" Hashi ran over and gave her little brother a big hug. In the background, Madara silently observed the sibling reunion and hid his shock, having realized Hashi was the big sister of the 'White Demon' that was starting to grow a reputation for himself.

But what was more rare to see was that the young boy, who Madara had encountered a few times and who Izuna declared his rival, actually showed a small, barely noticeable smile as he took in his breathing and living neesan.

"Neesama, while I'm happy you're okay, you must stand behind me." Tobi pulled his confused sister behind him before locking those cold red orbs at Madara, thirsting for his life.

"How dare you Uchihas lay a hand on my neesama. Prepare to forfeit your life." Tobi unsheathed his sword and pointed it at Madara, who remained calm. But unlike Madara, Hashi did not remain calm as she ran and stuck her arms out defensively in front of him.

"Put that blade away, Tobi-chan! Madara saved me! He's my friend!" Hashi shouted just as a brushing of wind could be heard. Hashi's eyes widened as standing beside Tobirama was her father.

The man looked emotionless and stern as she had always known him, but for a fleeting second, relief and happiness flashed in Butsuma's eyes as they rested on his daughter, who was still alive and breathing.

Madara took in the sight of Hashi's father before resting on his own, whose stern expression told him he had a lot of questions for when they got back home, but he was surprised to see Izuna had tagged along.

"Butsuma, I'm sorry my clan acted without my order and kidnapped your daughter. But now that she has returned, do not think the Uchiha Clan will bend and roll over because of this accident. Even though the fault lies on us, your men killed our clansmen tonight. Expect us to repay that debt."

"You filthy Uchihas dare to trespass on our territory, steal my daughter, and think I'm supposed to act like a coward? Tonight blood was justified."

The air was tense with bloodlust as the heads of the two clans stared each other down. Hashi, who was caught in the middle, was terrified, especially when she saw the older Uchiha signal to the younger boy, who reminded her a lot of Madara.

The boy nodded and flew towards Tobirama with his sword. Tobi got ready to counter, but before their swords could clash—

"S-Stop." Hashi gritted her teeth as blood dyed her hands, her bare hands gripping the blades of both swords. Izuna tried to tug his sword out of the girl's grip but was shocked when it didn't even budge.

Not caring about the blades slicing into her skin or Madara worriedly calling out her name, she lifted both boys by the blade of their swords and threw them in the opposite directions, far from each other.

She next stomped her feet. Butsuma and Tajima were shocked to feel the ground tremble, shooting their eyes towards the young girl, only to freeze at the deadly, cold glare that gleamed in her eyes.

"Didn't I tell you to stop? Don't make me angry," she threatened the two adults, shinobis in their prime, who had to catch themselves from wilting under her seething rage.

Madara ran to check up on Izuna and was happy to see his baby brother was okay but would probably be sporting a bruise tomorrow, being the one most familiar with Hashi's abnormal strength. Speaking of Hashi, Madara turned his eyes back on the brunette, who seemed to have snapped out of her rage as her legs gave away.

Dropping to her knees, Hashi stared at her blood soaked hands as Butsuma ran over to her and brought her into his arms.

"Hang in there, Hashi. We'll get you home and healed soon." He spoke in a frantic voice, one which Hashi had never heard from him.

After the adrenaline faded, Hashi felt too tired to keep her eyes open. This only worried Butsuma more as he called out to Tobirama, whose eyes were glued to Hashi's hands dyed with red as if she had dipped her hands in red paint.

"Hashi!" Madara called out to her, but what he got in return was Butsuma's venomous glare.

"Don't you dare call out my daughter's name! I don't know your relationship with her, but it ends tonight."

Those words shattered something in Madara, not taking notice when Butsuma and Tobirama retreated. His eyes began to burn. The burn continued throughout their journey home, even when his father tried to get answers from him about how he came in close contact with the Senju Princess. What did he tell her? Did she reveal any secrets about her clan's weakness?

Madara stayed silent through it all. Eventually, his father gave up and left him to himself. Madara's awareness only returned when he sensed Izuna sitting beside him.

"Niisama, you should've known a friendship between you two would never last. She is a member of our rival clan. The Uchihas and Senjus hate each other. There was never a future between you two, so forget her before this sickness worsens."

Izuna soon left, and when Madara raised his head to look at the moon, void of any clouds or stars, the Uchiha Clan's famous kekkei genkai, the Sharingan, blazed to life as he thought of Hashi's smile that he may never get the chance to experience again.