For the past few days, Tobirama had been tailing Hashirama as he went to see Madara. She hadn't been able to go because of her training with Matsuri-sama. But she had a nagging feeling that whatever she had with Madara was about to end. Wherever Tobirama was involved, nothing ever came out good. And so when she noticed both Tobirama and Butsuma going after the heir of the Senju, she followed after them. The nine-year old's heart was pounding in her chest, trying not to think the worst as she jumped from tree to tree. She took a shortcut she had discovered to the river and waited in a tree as she tried to cover her chakra signature as much as possible. Madara was already there when Hashirama arrived. The two boys exchanged greetings then threw rocks at each, telling each other to meet later. 'Something's fishy,' she thought.
At that moment, both Butsuma and Tobirama jumped into the clearing to land in front of Hashirama whilst another man who looked just as old as Butsuma and a boy around her age landed in front of Madara. All four of them had their swords drawn out. "If it isn't the Senju clan head and his two heirs. I'll take pleasure in ending your lives here," the other man said as he adjusted his stance. "Tajima Uchiha, it seems your son was able to lure out my son. However, I'll be the one ending your life first," Butsuma replied. "Izuna Uchiha," Tobirama snarled. "Tobirama Senju," the other boy said. They jumped at each other in a flash. Butsuma clashed his sword with Tajima whilst Tobirama clashed with the other boy. They landed on the surface of the river. Immediately, they engaged in a battle of kenjutsu. Tobirama threw a kunai at Izuna whilst he was distracted. Sakura threw her own kunai to deflect it as she jumped into the clearing. She hoped her aim wasn't off and for once, it wasn't.
"What is this brat doing here? Is she a spy of the Uchiha who has decided to reveal herself?" Butsuma said in disdain. "Father, Sakura's a friend of ours. She's always been," Hashirama spoke in barely concealed irritation. "Plus we'd never send such a kid with an impractical hair color, not to mention how frail looking she is," Tajima spat. Madara held back a snappy response. He didn't want to endanger her if his father knew the extent of their relationship. Sakura took a deep breath before pouring her heart out. "Can we all withdraw our swords and talk this out?" she said. "We've all lost very precious people with these wars and more people continue to die. No one gets to enjoy their childhood or adulthood anymore. In this never ending cycle of hatred, we'll never be satisfied. Revenge will never bring you true happiness. I know you're all hurt and you want to avenge your loved ones but it won't help. Please, consider talking this is out," she spoke. Tajima scoffed. "The only thing I'll consider is ending the Senju clan," he snapped. "Let them bring back every life they took and I'll start considering," Butsuma replied. Sakura facepalmed herself inwardly. Were they really that dense? "I just saved your son's life. You have to repay that at least," she pointed out to Tajima. The elder Uchiha let out a laugh. "Please, I couldn't care less if this brat could protect himself or not. He should learn to protect himself, not require the assistance of a nobody like you," he shrugged.
Sakura glanced at the younger boy, Izuna. He was looking intently at the river surface with his jaw clenched tightly, no doubt embarrassed and hurt about what his father just said. "Are you Madara's younger brother?" she called out to him. Izuna looked at her in surprise. He glanced at the his older brother before nodding unsurely. "Then in return for saving his life, I ask that my friends and I walk away peacefully, without shedding any blood. After all, it is the way of the Uchiha to repay every debt," she spoke. Madara always made sure to do something for her whenever she did something good to him. She thought it was a clan characteristic.
Tajima looked at her with narrowed eyes. A beat of silence passed. "Fine," he huffed as he put away his sword. Izuna also did the same. "Hashirama," Madara called out. The brunette snapped his head up at the mention of his name. He had been deep in thought, about Sakura's words and the courage it took for her to say them especially in front of Butsuma, if her fear of the older man was anything to go by. "This is where we part ways. The next we meet will be on the battlefield," he said as his Sharingan spun to life. The Senju heir nodded grimly. "But know this, I'll continue to hold onto our dreams where children won't have to go to war and everyone lives peacefully," the brunette spoke determinedly. Madara gaze slid to Sakura. He looked at her guiltily and she stared him as her eyes started to tear up. She willed herself not to cry. With a nod, the Uchihas disappeared in a gust of wind. Hashirama sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. He turned to Sakura, wanting to ask her if she was okay but she was already gone. "You never mentioned that girl knew Madara," his father said. "They just met once," he said offhandedly, hoping to quell whatever questions he had about their relationship. He sighed again, trying to ignore the pian of ending his relationship with Madara. That boy was the only person who truly understood him.
There was a knock on the door but she refused to open it. She had shut herself in her shared room with Matsuri. She was beyond devastated that her friendship with Madara had just ended. It felt as if a large part of her soul had been removed. She tried not to cry, really. She had a motto she didn't know where she had gotten that she wouldn't cry over Uchiha boys but somehow her tears were flowing like a waterfall and weren't going to stop anytime soon. "Sakura-chan," she heard Hashirama's voice. She didn't want to see him, at all. It was all his fault. He continued to knock on her door. He had been doing so for the past twenty minutes. With her anger flaring up, she marched over to the door and slid it open. Hashirama had his hand raised about to knock. He cleared his throat. "Can I come in?" he asked nervously. The nine-year old glared at him, turning on her heel to head inside. The brunette took it as his cue to enter.
He made himself comfortable beside her futon. She was sitting on top of it, glaring at the door. "What do you want?" she ground out. He cleared his throat. "Are you okay? You know, with what happened with Madara..." he asked gingerly. She snapped her head to look at him coldly. "Do I look okay?" she asked. "No, but I..." he trailed. She raised an eyebrow. "I don't what to say really. I just wanted to check on you," he said as he scratched the back of his head nervously. And then she snapped.
"This is all your fault!" she shouted as she stood up. "If it weren't for that father and brother of yours, everything would be perfect but then you just had to tell them and break off our friendship," she ranted as she stared at him accusingly, tears streaming down her face. His eyes widened in shock. "Why do you always make an effort to ruin my life? Do you know what I'm feeling right now? I feel like I died. You were always jealous about me and Madara, I saw how you looked at us. Are you happy now? Are you finally happy that our friendship is over so you can have me all for yourself?!" she yelled. He remained quiet. "Say something you jerk!" she seethed. He looked at the side guiltily. "I hate you!" she screamed and she ran out of the room. Hashirama felt her chakra signature leave the Senju clan premises until he could no longer feel her chakra. He sighed guiltily. What she had said was true. They basically invaded her town, killed people there, taken her hostage. And the part about Madara, a small lecherous in his head told him that he could now have her all for himself. He was ashamed at himself for thinking like that.
Sakura ran back to the river, in hopes that somehow Madara would be there. But he wasn't. She sat at the river in a daze, watching the water for a long time until it was dark. She felt hollow inside. Suddenly, the realization of the words she had said to Hashirama dawned on her like a splash of cold water. She groaned as she held her face. 'I can't believe that I said that to him. I'm such a terrible friend,' she thought as she began to cry again. This time, it was from guilt. She felt lonely and she wanted to go to him but after what she had said, would he welcome her with open arms? She stood up and walked on top of the river surface. She had lost everything. There was no point in living. She released her chakra and plunged into the cold water.
She didn't try to swim, just waited as the water carried her wherever it may. Winter was approaching and the temperature of the water said as much. Her lungs were burning and she felt herself begin to lose consciousness as the supply of oxygen was cut. Suddenly, she was being hauled out of the water. Her back landed on the grass and she welcomed the rush of air in her lungs as she took harsh breaths. She had tried to kill herself. She had tried to kill herself. "I'm such an idiot," she mumbled as she coughed out water. "You can say that again." She turned her head to the sound of the voice, vaguely familiar. "Oh, it's you," she said blankly. It was Madara's brother. "Izuna, is it?" she asked as she pushed herself into a seating position. He nodded. "What the hell were you thinking jumping into the water like that?! You could have died!" he yelled at her in unabated anger. "Why do you care? It's not like I mean anything to you. Plus what were doing here anyways?" she replied haughtily. She didn't appreciate having her mistakes pointed out, especially with how today was going. "My brother told me to come here. He had a hunch that you would be here and do something stupid. Plus you saved my life earlier today, I was just returning the favor," he said with his ears tinged pink. She looked at him closely. He was dressed in a similar fashion with Madara and was drenched from head to toe. He looked to be around Tobirama's age and was just as good looking as his older brother. "Madara told you to come here?" she spoke, her heart swelling with emotion. He nodded. "He spoke about you everyday. The pink-haired girl who didn't fear him and always brightened up his day," he said offhandedly. "I was kinda jealous but also happy. Aniki hasn't been the same ever since out brothers passed away," he added in a distant voice.
She inched closer to him and stared at him. She felt as if she had seen him somewhere. Izuna's face turned red at the close proximity. She was too close. "Hey, you're invading my personal bubble," he pointed out. She blinked at him. "Oh, just that you kinda remind me of someone," she said as she put distance between the two of them. He stood up. "Well, I better get going. My job here is done," he said. Sakura looked at him straight in the eye. "Thank you for saving my life," she said, her eyes shining with honesty. "Tch, I was just returning a favour," he said as he turned his face away from her. "Still, if it weren't for you, I'd be dead right now," she insisted. Izuna stared at her for a long time. "You really are an open book," he said as he ran a hand through his hair. "And annoying too," he added. She threw a rock at him just as he shunshined away from her. "Good night!" his voice sounded from the canopy of trees on the other wise of the river. She smiled softly. "Good night!" she shouted in return. She didn't know there he heard her or not. With that thought, she stood up and made her trek back to the Senju compound.
She arrived late into the night, with most of the people being asleep. She had skipped dinner and doubted if her meal had been aside. She trudged towards her room. She was cold and her clothes weren't doing any favours with how drenched she was. Her qipao dress was thin too.
She was surprised to find Hashirama pacing on the verandah. His expression immediately changed as his eyes landed on her. "Sakura-chan, you're home," he said as he walked down to meet her face to face. The relief was evident in his voice. "I was so worried about you. I thought you wouldn't return but I'm glad you came back," he said as he put a blanket around her shoulders. "I'm really sorry about what happened with Madara. I just- I couldn't protect your friendship. I'm truly sorry," he said, his voice thick with guilt. He refused to meet her eyes. Sakura watched him as her chest constricted with pain. He was just too good! Without warning, she threw herself at him and hugged him tightly. The blanket fell helplessly to the ground. "Sakura-chan?" the thirteen year old said. He was surprised. Her shoulders trembled as she tried to stifle her sobs. "I'm so sorry. I'm such a terrible friend, I shouldn't have said those words," she sobbed into his chest. "It's okay, I deserved that honestly -" "No you don't!" she snapped. "Ever since coming here, you've only shown me kindness, more than I deserve. You've always gone out of your way to make me happy, even arguing with your father for my sake. I was friends with Madara because of you. I had no right to say that, that was just stupid. I'm sorry for my stupidity," she said as she hugged him tightly. "You've always been a constant figure in my life. I can't believe I said those words to you. I'm such an ungrateful brat," she told him. He wrapped his hands around her in return. "It's okay Sakura-chan. I understand, you just had it rough," he told her comfortingly. She stared up at him through teary green eyes. "Thank you. You're too much of a good friend for me to lose," she hiccuped as her tears started to flow again. Hashirama raised his hands and wiped the tears off her face. "No, I should be thanking you. You don't know how much you mean to me and how grateful I am to have you in my life," he said as he smiled down at her affectionately.
Long time no update, neh? Sorry, I was suffering a severe case of writer's block. Well, not exactly. I'm just too lazy to write. I'm eager to finish my stories so that I can write new stories. Don't worry, I won't abandon any story. Hope you like it.
Please continue to review. I'd like your thoughts on my stories. Any grammatical errors are mine.
Tozoonana
AfricanFire
