The shadow and light of the cave entrance flickered as the two young beings moved across it. Tobirama felt his body tingling, and his eyes were drawn toward the red eyes of the girl, glowing in the darkness.

The Senju boy had never felt this much tension within his body, and he was uncertain whether he should remain and carry out his intentions or leave. He could not take his gaze away. She inquired, "Why have you returned?"

"Why do you keep coming back here? I've already discovered your hiding place."

"I'm not going to let you snuff me out of the place where I relax from the chaos of the world... Why did you let me go? The other day? Are you here to finish what you had planned?"

"You may be an Uchiha, But you are also a woman and no woman should suffer violation."

His consideration amused her, "You showed me mercy because of that? Tobirama? You certainly do live up to the virtues of Senju Kanon."

"If you seen what I have witnessed, You would do the same."

"I do not doubt your words. Why have you returned?" She guessed trying to tick him off, "To look at my underwear? Again?"

"Stupid." He rolled his eyes, "What is your name?"

"I'm Kawakana... Your face is flushed... Why were you crying?"

He held back his tears, "My last surviving younger brother died at the hands of Uchiha warriors today."

"Have you came here to exact your revenge?"

"Yes."

"You may cut me down but know;..." Kawakana thought about what her mother had said before she died, She spoke wisdom, "Killing me will not end your sorrow or avenge your brother. You will only invite wrath of those whom you too have brought sorrow."

"Brother Hashirama says the same and that is why I will not harm you. My choice has been made."

She looks him in the eyes sincerely, "I'm sorry for what my father's men did to your brother, If there was any way I could bring your brother back I would."

"You are not to blame."

There she came out from the darkness, her warm arms embracing him around the shoulders. She gave him a kiss on the cheek, "I knew you were more than a confused bully and soldier. You are just a teenage boy who needs a comforting hug! If you need to cry for your brother! Cry! I will not ridicule you for doing so!"

"What? I'm not crying..." She made him blush, Tobirama finally broke the gaze of the young Uchiha, and looked away from her. His cheeks were burning, as if a thousand butterflies were flying inside his body. He exclaimed, "How did you come to live this long with an attitude like yours? Shouldn't you be home? Your family is neglectful letting you, a young female, out of their compound."

"My father and brothers are too busy to bother with me. I sneak out, rarely do I meet problems if I am cautious." She poked him on the cheek, reminding him sternly, "Ha! Don't underestimate a beautiful woman's survival skills!"

"Your looks will only get you so far," She was beginning to test Tobirama's patience, "I can tell from your well placed traps you know weapon arts."

She nodded, "Yes, But my brothers know more combat than I do."

"You are bound to die tomorrow."

"Not that you'd care," She giggled, "One less red eyed insect."

He clutched a fist, "Quiet! Don't insult my intelligence!"

Messing his hair, She gaslit him, "An idiot like you has a brain in your head?"

"You are the most infuriating Uchiha I've ever met!"

She hugged him tighter, "You mean the most lovable Uchiha you've ever met?"

"Shut up!" Tobirama chucked up. In truth, He had never been so infatuated with someone before, and he could not understand this feeling. It was like a fire burning inside him, and he could not extinguish the flames. Instead chose to controll those flames. He took a deep breath calming down, "Are you playing me with your tender wiles?"

Her livid eyes twinkled, "So you do think I'm lovable?"

Tobirama shook her off, rejecting her claims, "You are more annoying than lovable," He turned his back to her, "I'm leaving, Good bye, Kawakana."

"You are a terrible liar." Her voice raised up, "I know you will come back later!".

"I swear, Brother, This is the last time I will follow through with one of your ingenious strategies."

In the visitors quarters of the Senju-Kanon temple sat the Senju brothers over steaming cups of tea. Both men sat on mats facing each other. The scroll of agreement Madara returned between them. They waited for the arrival of the sworn lady.

"Lady Kawakana can't be all that intolerable," Hashirama replied to Tobirama, "I mean all those years ago you were the one who tried to capture her."

"She sat on me, tempted to interrogate me. Thanks to your interference she got away."

"I saved us from the wrath of Uchiha and Kawakana from a fate as a prisoner." Hashirama noted still keeping to what he had done nearly ten years ago, "Then why did you leave at night to the cave again? After that? You think I don't know?"

"Kawakana is unusual for one of her background and wise beyond her years. Hopefully she kept those same qualities she had ten years ago." Tobirama expected the most practical to happen, He suspected Izuna's reaction to Hashirama's strategy to be a negative one, one he will alone act upon at an unknown time. "This bond is a convenience... Though I doubt this marriage will last long given the choices Madara and Izuna may make."

"Yes, You are right. Madara will keep to his word but Izuna..." Hashirama hoped for the best either way, "Though if the cards are played correctly she may choose to stay with you instead of returning to the Uchiha."

Mentally he made a note on his brother's suggestion. Tobirama took a drink from his own cup, "You think I want her to stay?"

Reserved Hashirama called out Tobirama on his own game, "You called her wisdom a trait you'd want in a wife."

The white haired Senju crossed his sleeved arms, "You mean a trait you'd want in a wife? You might as well marry Kawakana, Elder brother."

"I'm already engaged to be married in two years." He refused, "I'd rather not ruin my brother's chance with the woman who once quelled his chaos... Did you bring her a wedding gift?"

"Yes, A new set of attire and our mother's necklace." He took out a pearl necklace which had once belonged to their mother.

"That is a priceless heirloom," He laughed trying to make light of his younger brother's doubts, "And you say you don't want her to stay... Don't worry, You will make an excellent husband and father in the future."

"You think I'd want to sire brats possessing innate destructive tendencies?"

Hashirama spoke only truth, "Brother, We both know children possess no evil, Their elders mold them out to be so."

"Hashirama," He reminded his dim-wit brother, "We are talking about a child born with catastrophic tantrums only belonging to one family..."

His elder brother elaborated, "A soul possessing the lovable babyfaced giggles of the Senju, Best of both worlds."

"... You are not wrong." Tobirama refused to laugh. "A soul raised with discipline and proper etiquette to lead them into an orderly adulthood."

He could not deny Hashirama's words of wisdom. Kawakana's familiar chakra encroached closer from the direction of the temple's entrance. Therefore Tobirama rose up to his feet disappearing once he reached the door. Hashirama followed shortly after. Once onto the temple's exterior Tobirama had vanished completely. Hashirama sighed hoping his brother had not just abandoned his duties.

With the arrival of Kawakana and her confidants. Her cousins ventured on to the temple's interior. Kawakana stopped in the courtyard, her nervousness increased ten fold. Her cool and calm exterior ceased, her face turning a shade of bright pink. She leaned into Hikaku who in turn became concerned about her emotional state. He held her up as support.

"Kawakana, You will be fine." He assured her pressing his cold hand against her forehead.

"Thank you, Hikaku, For helping me." She said.

Kawakana composed herself with a deep breath. She continued forward with each step of her sandaled feet. Upon the first step of stairs she faced a mature Hashirama. Now he possessed an air of sagacity he had not before in that one time she had seen him.

Kawakana smiled, bowing to him. She greeted, "Good evening, Lord Hashirama."

"Lady Kawakana, You seem well."

"Where's your brother?"

Hashirama laughed weakly, "Tobirama was here a few minutes ago, He disappeared when he felt your arrival."

"Oh, He must be hiding somewhere watching us."

"You are not going to find him."

"I know, I will wait."

Kawakana reached back for her fan sword. With a quick arial thrust of her sword, the blade cut through the water jutsu projected at her.

She shouted out, "You'd tempt to attack your bride at this sacred temple! Tobirama! Come out!"

On the rooftop of the central pagoda, Tobirama materialized, his gaze fixated on Kawakana. A decade had passed since he last saw her, and she now exuded a softer, more refined aura, a stark contrast to the disheveled girl she once was. Transformed into a woman, she styled her navy blue locks into an elegant, single braid adorned with a vibrant red ribbon. Her bangs, artfully parted, added depth to her mesmerizing dark grey-blue eyes and complemented her round face. Clad in a kimono proudly displaying the Uchiha crest, her curvaceous frame was embraced perfectly. At first glance, Tobirama would have struggled to recognize her, but the way she spoke, and the gentle cadence of her voice, resonated deeply within him, evoking memories of the Kawakana he once knew.

He teleported beside her.

"Kawakana, You know, I expected a more... enthusiastic greeting from my bride." Tobirama tilted his head and gave his future bride an inquisitive look. He spoke with a tone of teasing, although there was some truth to his words. He couldn't help but feel a bit anxious. What if she had changed in the last few years? It felt like a lifetime since he had seen her and so much could have happened since then. His imagination would run wild and Tobirama would find himself thinking of worst case scenarios. 'What if she hated him? Came to resent him in these years?'

Kawakana, meanwhile, was feeling a plethora of emotions - some she was used to, and others new to her. Standing in front of Tobirama, she couldn't help but be reminded of their shared history - one that had been interrupted by fate. As she looked directly into his brilliant rouge eyes, there was a moment of awkwardness where she wanted to say so much, yet didn't know how to express herself. In the end, she settled for his name: "Tobirama..."

"Is that all you have to say?" Tobirama asked, raising an eyebrow and smirking. "After a decade apart, I thought you might've had more to say."

Continuing on; Sarcasm came from her mouth, "Is this a Senju nuptials rite of passage?"

He decided to move on, "You have improved over the years, Kawakana."

"How so?"

He said, "In all areas of your form, Your reaction and kendo proficiency."

"Tobirama, I'm not here to be your student." Kindly she stated her intentions, bashful eyes gazing down to her right, "I know in the past you've instructed me... However now in the present, In good faith of both of our esteemed families, I'm here to be your wife and all that position entails."

"I am honored to have you here with me." He remained quiet for a moment, the wind blowing lightly through his hair. "It feels good to finally see you again." His voice grew soft. "These ten years feel like I've waited forever."

"In all modesty, I think I've matured quite a bit since those days... Though so have you, Tobirama." said Kawakana, stepping closer to him. Her blue eyes met his rouge gaze, "You are more mature, calmed and handsome than the last time I've seen you."

He broke away from her eyes, offering her his hand, "My assumptions about you were far off... I would like to speak with you in private."

It was difficult for them to even say the words. The memories of the past for so long had left its mark on both of them. Nostalgia crashed over both. Her lips curved into a smile, "I wish the same," Her hand conjoined with his own, "The ceremonial formalities first."

"As we must." Tobirama's eyes shifted to the shuffling in the open fabric of her two layered robe. His hand reached inside her robe taking out the sleeping fluffy puppy Izuna had gifted her.

"Did you give her a name?"

"Not yet... Izuna gifted her as a wedding present."

"She will go by," He had blessed the puppy with a name. "Akira."

"Beautiful."

Tobirama handed the dog to Hashirama. He held the dog in his arms, petting her white fur. Both entered through stepping into the main chamber. A chamber beholden with a statue. A goddess statue of Senju Kanon. Tobirama closed the entrance doors after Kawakana walked through so her followers and his brother would not be able to see inside.

With ease Tobirama took Kawakana's sword from her side. He inspected the steel and woven hilt. The darkened steel of the curved blades. A masterpiece smithed by the blacksmith followers of Kana within the Land of Iron. How had she come across a samurai's weapon? A weapon able to cut through chakra and jutsu? Did she pry this fan sword from the lifeless hand of a samurai?

He requested, "Did you kill the samurai you took this from?"

"I found this after witnessing a battle between a ronin and shinobi. The ronin died by the hand of that shinobi whom professed genjutsu. I added that weapon to my collection."

He stepped five feet away from her. Holding the katana by the hilt, Tobirama revealed what he knew about her, "You have took espionage missions in these past years..." He pointed the katana at her, "We might as well put this niceties gimmick to the side... By the command of your brother, Are you here to kill me?"

"If I wanted to kill you, You would've been dead on the temple's steps." She stood calm, unaffected by his actions, "I may have changed through the years, I may now seem like a stranger to you... but you must know I've always wanted to see you again."

"Why?" He lowered the sharp blade.

"To see whom you'd become." Gracefully she stepped closer to him, crossing her arms, "You know more about me than you are letting on."

"Yes, I do."

She chuckled standing with her hands across her chest, "You have been tracking me all these years."

"You are indeed beyond all my expectations."

"I can't call you a Senju idiot anymore... You are far from being an idiot now..." She thought for an alternative, "Especially now that I am about to become part of your family."

"Call me Lord Tobirama." He placed the sword on the farthest side of the room. Returning to Kawakana he took her hand once more. Both knelt down before the shrine. He said a prayer then turned to her speaking, "In accordance to my honor and obligations I am about to marry you in front of the gods."

"Before that..." Embarrassment crossed her face, "Do you have to tell me anything? Do you have a lover? Have you embraced another?"

Tobirama thought of Lady Tōka whom he had feelings for. After a few seconds he replied, "My lover harbours no tender feelings for me, She never will..." Atop a table, He took a semi wet hand towel from a hot bowl of water, He caressed her cheek with the cloth, "Here I remain untouched."

"I'm sorry."

"There is no need for such an utterance."

She closed her eyes as the cloth trailed over her forehead, Concluding, "In the near future I will do my best to ease your mind. I'd imagine unrequited love to be that of suffering."

"I have since then moved on."

Once he had finished Kawakana preformed the same cleaning ritual onto him. She said, "All I ever shared with another was a kiss."

"I know." He internally smiled at the remembrance of their first kiss. His right hand raised the first cup of ceremonial wine to her lips.

She asked, "Can you hold your alcohol?"

"Open your mouth and hold still." He ignored her question.

Kawakana did as he requested. Her lips parted allowing the sweet liquor into her mouth. She swallowed before asking, "So you can't? I'll keep an eye on you for now on."

Slowly he brought the second to her mouth. She drank once more. Then the third.

Kawakana took the first cup of wine from her side. She raised up her hands, "Your turn."

Reluctantly he drank from the cup she offered. Kawakana commented on his sour expression, "Lord Tobirama, So you do have a low tolerance for drink... My consideration."

He drank from the second, then spoke, "I will be fine, Kawakana."

She gave him the third, "Here... To our future."

He accepted the last. "And prosperity."

Much to his surprise she embraced him, snuggling her face into the folds of his robe. She whispered, "I'm relieved you survived the chaos within these years, I was certain tides would've taken you."

"I have mastered the waves, Kana, I was more concerned that you'd be cut down by one of your clan members for some absurd power."

He obviously meant the mangekyo sharingan, She explained, "You must've heard the rumors and seen the dojutsu my brother's now possess. Many Uchihas tried gaining these same powers and failed, now it's just not worth it, the loss out ways the benefits."

He held her close, "Yes, Do you possess the same?"

She shook her head, denying, "No, And I do not wish to have such a power... I refuse to fall into darkness... I can endure the tragedies of life."

He nodded letting her go, "If it was that simple."

Raising her drink she changed the subject, "To mother and father, I hope you both are at peace. Please, Watch over me, Akira and all of your descendants."

Both took a drink in memory of their parents.

"Indeed... Here, Kawakana." From his robe Tobirama took his mother's pearl necklace. He tied the necklace around her neck.

Her vivid eyes marveled at the beautiful piece of jewelry, "Beautiful... This necklace is old, This was your mother's?"

"Yes, She wanted you as the bride of the first marriage to wear her heirloom."

Her balmy lips kissed him on the cheek. She thanked him, "I will wear this in her honor."

"This is my gift to you." He revealed a folded pale blue kimono with butterfly print and under garments. Both with the Senju crest. "As long as you are a part of my family, You will wear the Senju crest."

"Unbelievable..."

"You are the only member of your bloodline I'd ever allow to wear this."

"I will not sour your generosity." Her eyes aligned with his once again. As before he turned away from her, She giggled covering her mouth with her sleeve, "Tobirama, I did not think you would be this courteous..."

He drank the last of the saké, A smile formed between his words, "Don't mock the respect and forbearance I have for you."

She noted dejectedly, "Forgive me, I'm just surprised."

"Our espousal is an opportunity I will not receive again."

"So you don't want to rid yourself of me after all." Such a comment caused his brows to narrow into a glare. She muttered pessimistically, "Under these circumstances... This may not last long... My family will certainly-"

"There is a way to make our promise solid, beyond the circumstances of this bond."

She knew what he meant, Her cheeks turned primrose pink, "I see, That would bring us both great happiness."

"Or great misery."

"Misery usually accompanies after happiness. Nonetheless, I accept..."

His composed chakra extended out to her. A feeling of peaceful waves on low tide. Kawakana found it difficult to disengage instead she surrendered herself. He drew her into his embrace. A hand around her waist, the other motioning her face inches before his own.

"From this day forward may Kanon watch over you."

There he sealed their bond with his lips. Closing her eyes, she melted into his kiss. A composed kiss dissonant to their first.

Only the entrance of Hashirama could interrupt this moment. On all four paws stood Akira content with her place beside the brunette Senju. He watched for a short moment before addressing his existence.

"It's been over an hour."

"We are finished." He paused their affectionate exchange.

"You started without me?"

"You and her brother may have initiated this marriage but the ceremony and the rest is between Kawakana and I now."

Hashirama replied dismissively, "Yes, of course, brother... It seems like the ceremony was a success."

"I am content." Kawakana noted standing back up on her feet. "Thank you, Hashirama."

"Hopefully this step leads us closer to unity."

Tobirama demanded of his brother, "You will sleep at Tōka's house this night."

"You?..." Hashirama's face turned an embarrassed blue. Thinking of what Madara had said, A chuckle passed by him, "Will do, This is your wedding night after all."

Tobirama handed all the wedding gifts over to his elder brother. He said, "You will hold these on our way back home too."

"Yes, As you say, brother. What are you lugging back?"

He smirked in Kawakana's direction, "Who do you think?"

She adjourned walking out of the temple doors, "Yes, Though I must speak to my cousin's before we leave."