Our Story: Flower

"We're healing just fine. Izuna has regained 65% of his old strength," Madara told her as they sat outside the newly built dango and tea shop.

After Hashi's transplant surgery concerning the two Uchiha brothers' eyes, but not before calling their old ways of transplanting their eyes barbaric and unsafe, she ordered the two to be on bed rest for the next two weeks. Izuna tried to put up a fight despite his frail condition.

Madara knew his baby brother was going to be upset, scratch that, downright furious at him for agreeing to forge an alliance with their sworn enemies, for picking the safety of his baby brother over their clan animosity towards the Senju Clan.

The first night, Izuna opened his eyes, expecting the soul world, yet only saw his brother's tired eyes. Confusion clouded his dark eyes, mind spiraling and coming up with terrifying assumptions. Such as after his defeat, those vile Senju turned their swords on his older brother.

Madara could see the misunderstanding brewing in Izuna's eyes and quickly told him the truth. As expected, Izuna had a mouthful of words to say, one of which consisted of him calling his older brother a traitor to his clan.

"I won't deny or agree. There is a deep fuel of hatred between the two clans. But Izuna, you are my responsibility, and I'll do anything if it means your safety." This was Madara's only explanation before the doors swung open, showing Hashi standing there.

"Oh? He's awake!"

The once tense atmosphere was banished with Hashi's cheery presence holding a bamboo basket as she walked towards Izuna and sat down on her knees where he rested.

"You vile vixen! What seduction technique did you use on my brother!?" Izuna's eyes blazed red as he glared at the Senju Princess.

"S-Seduction?!" Hashi gasped and cluelessly pointed at herself before bursting out laughing.

"Me? Seduce this grumpy guy?! Madara, your baby brother is hilarious!"

Hashi said between boisterous bouts of laughter, free and without a care. Madara could see the spark of surprise flashing in Izuna's eyes. Madara had known Hashi long enough to realize she wasn't like other noble ladies, restraining and always putting on a fake air of kindness.

While she knew how to conduct herself when it came to special occasions, at her core, she was like a spring valley, unrestrained and vibrant.

"By the way-" Hashi stopped her scolding and slapped the back of Izuna's head, not caring for his injured state.

"Hashi, he is still injured!" Madara scolded her with fierce glaring eyes.

"Then he shouldn't be making it worse by flashing me his Sharingan!" Hashi retorted right back.

"Don't order me around, Senju! Just because you seduced my brother, don't think those same tricks will work on me. The Uchihas will not become slaves to your clan!"

Izuna glared at her with so much hatred Hashi was speechless. She knew this transition would not be easy, but only now did she realize how deep the Uchiha hatred stemmed towards the Senju and that there were probably more who thought along the same lines as Izuna.

"Nevertheless, I refuse to change my stance."

Hashi's stance was firm, issuing a silent command with her eyes that Madara understood. He lifted Izuna's body so she could change his bandages. All while she performed her duties, Hashi could feel Izana's hatred beam on her back like a ray of intense sunlight.

"You have every right to bear hatred on my clan. We have taken many lives of your kinsmen. But so have the Uchihas."

"Ha! So you do wish for us to submit-"

"No." Hashi finished removing the old bandage around his chest. A long pink scar where Tobi had slashed him marred his pale skin. Hashi cleaned the wound, applying her own healing ointments from herbs grown in her garden, before replacing it with new bandages.

"No one clan will submit to the other. I want us to live equally and at peace with one another." After his wound was bandaged, Hashi faced the younger Uchiha with honesty and hopeful eyes.

"For once, can we place hatred aside and live in peace? Why must war and hatred always be the answer? At least think of the children! Why must we drag them into this blood feud?"

Sitting on the other side, Madara said nothing but watched the exchange between the two. He wasn't going to force his belief on Izuna. If Hashi wanted to see her plan succeed, then it was up to her to convince his people. But as he stared at those bright and hopeful brown eyes, the curl of his lips was hidden in the darkness as he thought back on their childhood.

"Tch, foolish, naive woman," Madara quietly whispered to himself.

Izuna clicked his tongue, resting his head back down on his pillow. Madara knew his younger brother, despite his contempt, was beginning to mull over Hashi's words.

—

The two childhood friends continued their stroll, making light talk when they saw a girl selling flowers take a stumble. Madara had wanted to help the youngling onto her feet, but his dark scowl terrified the poor child, making Hashi laugh and lighten the mood.

"It's okay, young one. Despite this old man's scary frown, he's a softy at heart!" Hashi teased before walking over and standing beside the man, eyes brimming with kindness as she stared at the young girl. The baby in her arms was babbling away at a butterfly flying around his head, chubby arms trying to grab it.

"What a beautiful arrangement of flowers you have. Ne, Ma-chan, which flower do you think best suits me?" Hashi innocently asked Madara, who flushed under her smile, whipping his head away from her infectious smile.

"Pick it yourself!"

"Aww, Ma-chan, stop being such a grouchy. How will you ever get a wife if you don't know how to romance her?" Hashi sighed and shook her head, ignoring how the blush on her old childhood friend had extended down to his neck.

"Foolish," Madara grumbled but, nevertheless, scanned the flowers in the little girl's basket before making his decision.

"Here." He grudgingly held out the flower to Hashi.

"Oh, orchids? Nice choice, Ma-chan, but seriously, you have no tact. You could at least place it in my hair."

Towards this remark, Madara lost his cool. The brooding man's face, who rarely broke out into a smile, flushed an embarrassing shade of red.

"Ridludious!" he scolded angrily, face turned away, but he still stepped forward regardless. His hands shook a bit as he brushed back Hashi's long brown hair behind her ear. The red petals of the orchid matched Hashi's undying strength and courage as he pinned it there.

"See! Was that hard?" Hashi beamed as baby Kai tried to grab the flower with his short, stubby arms.

"Wow~! You're so pretty!" The young flower girl's eyes sparkled in awe as she stared up at Hashi.

"Thank you, but you know what-" Hashi plucked a daisy from the girl's basket and pinned it in her hair, bestowing a smile upon the young girl whose face flushed an adorable shade of red. "I think you're ten times prettier~!" Hashi gave the girl a wink; the streets echoed with laughter and giggles.

Madara wasn't one for the theatrics of romance; Uchihas weren't built that way. Some say they were emotionless with a heart of stone. When in reality, they were the opposite but preferred to show their feelings through actions.

Madara wasn't one of the sappy chaps, who probably didn't even know how to handle a kunai, but as his eyes landed on Hashi, her smile nearly took his breath away. She was beautiful, almost like a painting, too good to be true.

Saying nothing, Madara felt his heart pound funny but refused to acknowledge the reason behind it.