There were days Mito wished for her brother-in-law. For days now the council was in a stalemate that was in need of their Hokage, though as the days progressed many had rethought about the subject. They needed the cool logical thinking of Tobirama that would give reason for the stupidity of putting forth such a motion as the council was trying to do. To think that many, at first, were willing to put their young children into this war. If it went through it would diminish all that her husband worked so hard for.

"You can not be serious!?" Senju Hanaku growled out slamming his palm on the desk before him. "Why would you think to have such an action presented?" His glare drilled hard into the Shimura clan head.

Shimura Saji glared right back, lifting a thin stack of papers with only his left hand, the other being a stump at his shoulder, and slammed them down as if to make a statement. His son, Shimura Danzo, sat next to him as his heir. "Being in charge of the Academy, I have seen so many with prospects that with the right guidance could be out in the field earlier than their peers. Both Hatakes are truly above many of their peers."

At the mention of Hatake, all knew what Saji was hinting at as the clan only numbered at twenty-three members. Most in the clan have been shinobi for years now. A low threatening growl could be heard from Sashimi, Hatake clan head. This did not deter Saji. "Lets not forget the training given to the Uchiha-hime by our very own Hokage. She even moved up a year on her peers and has shown to hold a high spot within that year." This brought a deeper growl from Sashimi and from the large dog that sat besides Eriko.

"Shimura, get to the point." Mito addressed feeling the building tension like many within the room could. "You are targeting children." She blunted out, letting her eyes glance to Eriko, who moved to lay a hand on Doki to stop the growling. "The fact that you set your sights on, not one but three heir potentials, makes me wonder what other clan heirs you have targeted. Thoughts of pushing their training just so they can get to a battleground sooner before they are even ready. This has me concerned as our appointed laws, set but the First Hokage, makes sure that we no longer put young children out to fight." As she spoke her eyes traveled over each member of the council before they settled deeply on Saji. "Tell me what others you have chosen."

Saji humphed carelessly as if her darkening gaze didn't affect him. "Not all of them are clanborn, Mito-hime, I have seen prospects of a civilian born by the name of Orochimaru." A name Mito has heard from her granddaughter. "Then there's Yashibu Fuhei, another civilian born along with his older sister, Yashibu Makayo-"

"Out of how many Academy students?" Yamanaka Inosuke started not caring if he interrupted the older man, his patience having been long gone at this point. "You only gave us six children out of two hundred and thirteen students of the Academy. What will six children that won't even be teenagers do on a bloody battlefield? Half of them aren't even of a double digit age." Even though Inosuke was newly appointed to be the clan head of the Yamanaka clan, he had shown how skilled he was in the year of gaining his clan head status. He had also been very against this proposition. "This village was made so that sending literal children to their deaths could be stopped, not encouraged. I understand we are at war, but we still have plenty of manpower to hold our borders."

"I say we move to vote. I for one am against it." Eriko called.

"I second the vote." Sashimi followed with a tilting jab of his head to Eriko.

Mito held up her hand, gaining all attention, wording it so. "Those who vote to select a certain student for early graduation say aye." Only Shimura and Aburame voted. "All those who vote to leave the students as they are, say Aye." Multiple voiced their votes. "By an overriding vote, and by the laws put forth by the First Hokage, I hereby dismiss the motion."

Saji sucked on his teeth but said nothing knowing he had lost. Mito let out a soft sigh, finally being able to push that off and out of discussion. "If there is nothing else, I dismiss this meeting." Mito stated as several clan heads stood. Bows were exchanged with Saji and his son, who glanced back at Hiruzen with a hint of confusion at his fathers actions, being the first to leave in a hurry.

"These meetings get so stupid at times." Eriko said as she walked beside Mito while Doki took to her other side.

A mirthful smirk was sent to Eriko while they took leave of the room. "Oh, and here I was thinking the meetings with the Uchiha Elders were stupid."

A playful glare was directed her way. "They are, but I guess they aren't as ridiculous as the village meetings seem to get at times." Eriko then let out a huff. "That reminds me, the elders have decided that both my children are to be in an arranged marriage. Tsubaki has already been matched with a boy named Uchiha Akimitsu. When Daisuke heard about this he threw a temper at their idiocy."

"They didn't arrange for Daisuke?" Mito raised a brow to her tall friend.

Eriko scuffed. "They tried but he dismissed all proposals. So they got petty about his refusal and bypassed him to Tsubaki as they didn't need clan head approval to set the arrangement. They have a clan law that allows Elders to insure the survival of heirs to the clan if the Clan head remains unmarried and difficult once in that position." Eriko informed her friend. "It's the same way Madara had been and remained unmarried for so long. His brother had been betrothed, then married, during his time as Clan head. Then when Izuna died, Madara later had an heir to the clan because Izuna's wife was pregnant with his son, Kagami."

Mito hummed a little. "Knowing your son, he was not happy about this once he found out."

A snort left Eriko. "That is an understatement. Daisuke is furious but as per law he can't do anything about it until he himself marries."

The two women let silence reign as they walked enjoying the few nice days of summer that hadn't been hot. "You know it has been a while since we danced together."

Eriko smiles lightly at this. Mito knew how much her friend loved to dance as Eriko took any opportunity to do so. It had been one of the things that drew Madara like a moth to a flame when Eriko practiced at home. One of the few things the two women shared between each other was what enticed their husbands. And so, in the first year of the newly made Hidden Village, Mito learned from Eriko how to fan dance for Hashirama. Then, since the death of both their husbands they had taken to dancing together.

Eriko wove her arm around Mito's as they walked to the Senju compound. "It has, hasn't it?" Here she glanced at Mito with a lovely smile as neither could hide the silver of sadness of missing their other half. "And afterwards we can relax together with some tea."

Mito nodded with a small squeeze to Eriko's forearm. Both widows held each other in their shared pain.