After exchanging information, that of most import neither found comfort. The discussion as Naruto spoke calmoured with stuttering and a type of embarrassed indignance not earned -this in his explanation of genitalia. While Madara had spoken with a scornful tilt of his tone and an annoyance which caused a piercing effect upon his irises as he glared upon the concept of not possessing chakra. Perhaps unexpected by the Uchiha's measure of man was how after his conversation with Kyuubi- Uzumaki Naruto handled such news. For he made no large outrage, nor declaration of anger; rather he glared to the ground with melancolia, his lips slotted into a perfectly formed frown which did not stretch his face with visual markings, but simply preportioned itself to fit as if made perfectly into the visage of a doll. A natural expression without any type of extreme.
They two remained in that state without word, in contemplation within as their mentalities struggled to accept their newfound reality, without option to ignore its banes. As the shadow shifted both stood, coming back to themselves with the expected composure of shinobi, mutually walking back into the public light.
"We would do well to discover the history integrated into this reality. From what I have seen it is not wholly different to that which I have known. Though I will say, this settlement is reasonably new, which grants me the knowledge that the wars did occur as they had in my time." Madara spoke plainly, the malice which had kept in his tone at circumstance now gone as they walked by many. There was a market of sorts in the center of the street, not cleanly refined with shops and windows- but the communal design of stalls. Each individual around regarding the brought forward produce with keen eyes and civilized conversation, as the farmers market Naruto had occasionally seen come into Konoha. Unlike that spectacle however, this was not clustered, nor rude, rather everyone spoke with natured tones and sweet voices, unhurried. Naruto observed as he listened to his companion, fractionally awed by the gracious mannerisms of all about- though he was not oblivious enough to miss how formally everyone spoke.
It did elevate his mood despite his discomfort with formality, and a smile came upon his face once more as he turned to Madara. Inappropriate for the nature of his question but he payed that no heed as the Uchiha observed others at their calm pacing. "Do you regret it? Forming the village I mean, with the way things went?" He was regarded with an evaluating gaze, though it did nothing to shift Naruto's conviction in his ask. Through all their experience together, the intimidating intensity of the man afore him did not hold prominence as it once had. They spoke often of complexities, and in asking another the blond expected no dismissal, as he might've with any other man -save Jiraiya.-
"In itself, no. However, within the finer details and circumstances of how I and Hashirama came to our accord; there is much I would change. Perhaps in those details, should I have proved more cautious the village would not have been inflicted by further war and petty conflict." It was a simple statement holding more weight then one not acclimated to the man's mind might not witness. Yet, with his rather reasonable exposure to the manner of the man beside him Naruto knew there were many hidden meanings- or perhaps implications, within his words. Emotions not outwardly expressed, purposefully leveled to remain inside a neutral mindset. Wether that be for Madara's own sake or Naruto's the blond did not know, though he was inclined to believe it was fractionally both.
Naruto shifted half a footstep closer to his companion, in an instinctual form of comfort which he found most alleviating when he was young. The proximity of a friendly person, it had aided him greatly in the academy, with either Shikamaru or Choji proving to be anchors for him. He swallowed at the thought of his former friends, Shikamaru smoking gaze astrayed from most anything and keeping firmly inside his own mind. And Choji, his corpse on the battlefield. With bile in his throat, Naruto looked to the stalls of fresh produce instead of his own thoughts.
"Madara-sama!" Came the high-pitched voice of a young woman attempting to appear as if she were calmly walking towards them two, but was rather failing as she skipped ahead every other step. Obviously eager to greet the man, and Naruto smiled into her direction, happy to see one so joyous. Those individuals always made the bright blond smile, for within a village of stringent shinobi often hardened by experience and chunin acclimating them it was rare for Naruto to see one whom bore a bright grin. Yet, it so seemed that alongside himself and Hashirama there were more, and he hoped to be pleasantly surprised by a village- settlement filled with happy people. -This hope rather fogged by the understanding of the wars fought and likely still battled outside of the settlement's region of influence.
The woman whom greeted his companion was truly beautiful, with a head of straight chest langth olive brown hair and dusty small brown eyes, and a pointed chin. Her figure wrapped in a long dark green drapery, lose fabric which hung over the back of her right shoulder her figure completely concealed, it was some of the most modest clothing Naruto had ever seen and rather beautiful in its simplistically and elegant design.
For a moment Naruto watched Madara's brows pinch together, but it was fleeting as his expression fell back into its neutral state. "Ishi-san, this is unexpected." His tone left something to be desired Naruto thought, it seemed a fraction too cold for such a warm greeting. Naruto weakly glared at the man, as he watched Ishi's smile dip ever so slightly in due with the placid response. In turn he pushed past the man with an elbow in his ribs in order to properly stand in front of him, though his action was not fought judging by the lack of resistance from the Uchiha- nor indeed the considerable muscle he retained in his abdomen -despite his former treatment in Konoha.
"Hello! Ishi-san right? I'm Naruto, I'm a friend of Madara's. Its good to meet ya!" Madara snorted behind him, and Naruto blushed at his poor language quality, it hardly matched the refined texture of speaking he had heard thus far from the locals. Theirs far more eloquent then he had ever been truely exposed to, and one he had little doubt he would be required to learn. Nevertheless, in spite of the flush covering his ears, his grin did not waver, in fact it was enhanced by his want to learn, a differing to the feel of conviction which followed in his studies as a shinobi. That same desire to learn history which he had expressed by observing the traditional festivals in the towns he and his mentor had passed though a mere few years ago.
For her part, the woman in front of him figeted uncomfortably as he introduced himself, not entirely managing to keep hidden the wince at his poor conduct. It was not by exact definition; a scowl. Naruto could not bring himself to catagorize it negatively. Regardless, despite her obvious displeasure at his apprupt approch and poor wording she bowed slightly in respectable -appropriate- greeting. Her smile filtered itself to something matching a civil lady. It was a response to his presence which Naruto shifted at the obscurity of, the unfamiliarity, he was not adapt to such a well-mannered reception of his presence, especially after he'd essentially done a wrong.
"Well met. Whence I heard word that Madara-sama had returned with a rescued omega, I admit I was skeptical, yet here you stand." A waver came over her voice briefly as her tone expressed her surprise, and another emotion lingering underneath the pleasentry; Naruto could recognize the subtle tones of displeasure. He payed no heed however, it was no bother unto him, years of the same did allow one to adapt and to largely ignore such tones in favour of one's own deeds. Not unlike how the villagers expressed their irritation whence he entered their stores for groceries, he expressed his rejection of their demeanour with kindness rather then built upon ire.
Thus, he kept his smile in facing her, though it was moderately warped in presentation, this so minor an infraction it was doubtful the civil woman made note. "Though I must question, from what clan do you hail? I ask in the way of precaution, you understand." War or not, Naruto had his instinct telling it was not merely precaution which drove her curiosity, though here he stumbled in the reasoning. For a moment he considered speaking true and declaring himself a member of the Uzumaki clan, however, in recalling Madara's earlier dismissal of his origin he bit his tongue. The man did nothing without clear rationality, indeed it would be telling as his story unto Hashirama had been that his amnesia wiped nigh all memory from his mind.
"Oh, I don't- do not know, Madara found me injured by the river, I have no idea where I am from. I was really lucky he found me." Her smile remained, as did his.
"I see, I see, that is fortunate indeed. I do wonder how cruel the mind might be to have us loose pieces of ourselves so easily." There was undermeaning Naruto knew, though with lacking comprehension of the woman and world about he could not make guess as to what. His visage displayed this as his head tilted to the side and his eyes expressed his mental search for reasoning. It was here that Madara, having been standing behind and observing not the conversation fully stepped himself forward- not oblivious to the comment's sly nature. An irritation flickering into his head, he did not remember Isha in great detail from his former life, but he could recall the basic feeling of annoyance he associated with her presence. Naruto however was largely ignorant of her subtle jibe, it appeared.
"Isha-san, did you wish to speak with me?" He managed an amicable tone, though he made no motion to depict a smile in tune with the question. This did not faze her, as it never had.
"Oh yes! Our clan leader has, at last, decided to join yours and the Senju's settlement! Is it not marvalous?" Though her exuberance was prominent, she did maintain a proprietary, holding herself steady, even though her hands did twitch in true indication of the extent of her excitement. Naruto watched Madara's hardened express shift to a resemblance of pleasantry, not happiness, far be the thought. No, a satisfaction largely shown with the easing of the lines around his eyes and the smoothening of his mouth from the slightest frown to a neutral line.
"Indeed. That is gracious news, I am most certain the settlement will benefit extensively from the Sarutobi clan's experience and expertise. I do look forward to hearing his proposal." A margin of sceptisim hinted, Naruto thought, but payed no heed- he knew Madara to be a wary man by nature. Naruto's attention was more focused on the fact that he was witnessing a fact of history. He knew well enough that the third Hokage had been a Sarutobi- however, in a naive mentality he had always closetedly believed that the Sarutobi clan had helped found Konoha as roots. It was a willful ignorance, merely for the fact that Hirzen Sarutobi had been such a paramount figure in his childhood that Naruto could not imagine the village had ever been without him or indeed, his family.
"Now, if you will excuse us, I must attend to my duties." It was curt by any measure, though his exasperation was well hidden with the lack of question and ever-so-slight bow. Naruto found complaint for his compainon's disposition.
"You could have been a little more nice ya know?" Distaste curddled the blond's expression. Madara regarded him with a side eye and rolled his eyes for the childish ideal.
"I was perfectly cordial, I needn't display abject kindness onto every person I meet." In turn Naruto frowned, disappointed with the old-fashioned attitude he had assumed would be forgone for one whomst held a rather forward thinking ideal. Recognizing only with minor grant that the Uchiha beside him was in fact old, by his measure.
Naruto stopped abruptly, though his halting did not faze his partner whomst came to a rather slow and easy stop himself. "Why not?" It was meager but the normally softened visage of the young man bore a glare. Quite irate at the dismissive words. Madara said nothing to the question, though his blank expression expressed well enough his lacking interest. Naruto continued without care to wait for his response regardless. "Why not display abject kindness all the time? I don't understand the idea that simple kindness has to be earned. Why just not automatically be kind?" His own experience perhaps added more emotion onto the topic then intended, yet his words were unselfish in nature.
For his part the briefest acknowledgement of the words flickered in Madara's own frown. He shook his head however. "Perhaps such a innocent mindset was possible in the time you knew. Yet, here, while wars surround our settlement in all directions, such displays show only ignorance, impertainance, the showcasing of a nature which could be taken advanatge of by any cavolere mind." A rare sneer fitted itself onto Naruto's mouth, not merely discontent, but instead having come to a place of anger.
"That's just it! With fear in the air isn't it better to show everyone you can that there is a lightness in people? All malice and meanness show is that they are right to be paranoid! And then that feeling just makes more resentment and negativity! I thought you of all people would understand that!" With a twitch of his eye Madara suddenly invested himself into the conversation, be that because of his disagreement or Naruto's conviction was a reason known only to himself.
"That was rather unkind of you to say." He spoke plainly, but the mocking tilt to his tone unmistakable by any ear. Naruto pursed his lips and crossed his arms in a huff.
"Nice try, but you can't twist my words on me." Here the conversation ended and a contest of wills followed, neither backing from position as they stood still in the marketplace. Naruto glaring with an undeniable strangth upwards at his competitor whilst Madara glared downwards. It was a most obscure sight within Konoha by the boundries of gender and command. Such an image for all those whomst did glance with curious eyes minded their manners and said nothing, though their thoughts did twist in many a direction upon the sight of the famed Alpha of the Uchiha clan and an unknown Omega arguing. More intrigued by the fact that the blond individual was not backing from his stance, and with a distinctive posture of his own matching Madraa's own dominerring visage.
Finally,"This disagreement is pointless." Madara relented, though he did not declare himself wrong nor Naruto correct as he turned to continue his course down the street. With an identifiable stomp to his step and a twist to his mouth, Naruto followed, reluctantly. Grinding his teeth all the while, and envisioning the act of punching the back of Madara's head with a considerable force -only briefly pausing his imagination to ponder if that was how Sakura had frequently felt about him, before dismissing the thought.
After all, he was not punching the man despite the urge, and unlike himself with his former teammate, it was unlikely Madara would take such an act lightly. In simple glance at his surroundings and the numerous Uchiha scattered about, the blond's posture untensed and he let the thoughts drift away. Without a word Naruto took a position once again on Madara's left side, though his expression was considerably sour. All around did their best to ignore the stale air surrounding the two, and focused on their own manners.
"Madara-sama." Spoke yet another voice, this one certainly deeper then the last. Naruto turned to look and saw a pale young woman with pitch black hair flowing long down her back. Her stern gaze to familiar to mistake for one not of the Uchiha gaze, her clothing also speaking clear of what clan she hailed from, the design near the same as Madara's if a margin more worn and the dusted grey of fog rather then the skies blues. However, in looking upwards at his company it was obvious the man was far more comfortable seeing her then he had been upon sighting Ishi-san. Though he did nothing as grand as forging a smile. That is until his stern expression softened to near a smile as the woman lead a young child forward.
Naruto smiled then too, his love for children shining bright. The little boy was quite small, perhaps only in his tenth summer, with dusty brown hair and rubbing at his eyes, which were red and puffy as his cheeks were wet. His shoulders shaking as he hiccuped. Madara kneeled down one one knee closer to the boy's height and Naruto did not allow his mind to whisper that the man would be mean to the boy, staying silent and observent. Hoping to be surprised.
Therein he was, when the older man carefully took the small hand attempting to wipe away small tears and clasped it in his own. "What is wrong child?" The little boy hiccuped once more, and even his eyes opened and his lip wobbled; he stood himself straighter.
"I was helping Kaa-chan get some of the herbs for the medicine when, when a man came out of the shrub, Kaa-chan told me to run and she was right behind me b-but." His strength wanned and he broke apart once more, crying into his hands. It was truly not his place, but Naruto kneeled down himself and put his hand on the boys shoulder, while Madara surprised him once more. Asking in calming tones whom the man had been. It was in the moment of staring at the man that Naruto could say his eyes saw a different visage with clarity, not merely the simple comprehension of misinterpretation of character which the blond had come to understand in the prison. No, this was a layer pealed forth before him, a colour underneath a grey paint.
"He- he was shorter then you Madara-sama, and he-he-he had green hair with with blue eyes- and Kaa-chan she tried to-" The boy broke down once more, his crying loud and distressed, turning many a head and earning many sympathetic eyes. Naruto automatically took to petting the wailing childs hair, and a warmth came to his chest when Madara did the same, even if it was only for a moment.
"Hiko-san, send out word to the patrols surrounding the area, it seems as if the Orki Clan wish to cause a problem." Madara stood, and though he was not particularly inclined to, Naruto did as well. Still remaining close to the grieving boy however, a part of him unwilling to separate from the crying child. The woman named Hiko left with a respectful nod and walked away to follow through with her orders. It surprised the blond slightly, almost certain she would have escorted the boy back home, but instead she had left that task to her leader. Though Madara did look a fraction discomforted, and Naruto could not yet fully read the man, he got the impression his discomfort was not because he had been left with a child afore him, the confusion twisting in his irises spoke of another reason.
"You are Bakuno's son, Akaru." Naruto had the impression it was more of a question then a statement, and his brows raised for that. The child rubbed at his eyes and nodded with no verbal response, while Madara untensed. Apparently he had been uncertain of his knowledge. Despite this, he placed his palm on Akaru's back and Naruto followed as he began to guide the small boy -he imagined- back home. It was gentle, the young blond noticed, his actions, his demeanour were all relaxed, calmed while his personality was not as sharply planed. Seemingly his edges smoothened when speaking with children and Naruto watched with mild amusement and greater respect as his former enemy; this conqueror of the battlefield, spoke in quiet tones to a young boy whom had just lost his mother. The smallest of smiles kept on his face in a peaceful expression of genuine compassion and empathy, the words were so quiet Naruto could not hear from his position on the left side of the child. But he had to assume they were reasurences, or distractions by the way in which Akaru stopped rubbing at his eyes and began paying attention to the older man. His expression turning into one of curiosity rather then complete devastation -though the latter did remain in part as to be expected.
In spite of his normal ostantacious personality, Naruto felt no need to speak- nor to offer his own version of comfort. Though he had been entirely ready to do so, Madara had pleasantly surprised him, and watching the man become nay soft- but gentle, with a little boy Naruto was warmed with affection with the sight. An unfamiliar feeling, not because he had never experienced it- for he had cared for all of his friends. But rather because it was unexpected, he had not thought he would feel any connection with the former war criminal whence he began conversing with the man so many months ago; nevermind that he might one day experience a type of care towards the man whom had been his enemy. Yet, as it was there, and as Naruto was not a prideful man, he welcomed the feeling with a grin meant only for himself.