It had been roughly five months since Chiaki's father had hosted their newest allies. Summer gave way to fall, and the leaves had changed colors with a few already fallen to blanket the ground with the miraculous shades of reddish-purple, brown and rusty orange Chiaki was quite smitten with. She had been allotted time to herself on this particular morning with nothing to really do at home. The morning's tasks of making sure he sister's were up and tended to had been dealt with. Breakfast had been prepared while her parents were out doing their rounds around the village, and anything else was so tedious Chiaki thought she could put it off until later.

Fall was usually a quiet period where skirmishes between all clans seemed to wane due to impending, harsh, winters and everyone wanted to hunker down for the season. Not Chiaki, though. She was in rather high spirits today, and perhaps that was why she ended up a bit spacey and getting so lost within the her own world that she ventured just a little outside of Fusae territory and into the land occupied by the Senju. While they weren't necessarily the Fusae's enemy, they weren't quite allies either.

In fact, as far as Chiaki was concerned; they didn't mingle together. Not that there was any bad blood or anything! However, after having no real threat come from their clan such things were practically a mute point, and the black-haired kunoichi pressed forward into thicker brush. After about ten-to-fifteen minutes of wading through dense flora, everything that was familiar was suddenly nowhere to be found. Chiaki ignored the nagging feelings she messed up, and couldn't help but feel a smidge distressed just wanting a clearing to open up sooner rather than later.

Logically, the usually sensible woman knew it was foolish to keep trekking on. Her sense of adventure, however, kept luring her 'just another step' against her better judgment. The fresh landscape left her in awe with how enormous the leaves grew in the area. They were thick and bloomed large enough to take refuge under from downpours should you be caught in one! Chiaki thought it would be beneficial to her clan by collecting some samples once she'd found the appropriate location to do so. The idea made the Fusae perk up feeling that this hiccup would feel less in vain after coming to the conclusion that her clan would find use for them.

Chiaki withdrew a vial she kept stored at the waistband of her blue and gray yukata as she clambered over a few more roots that littered the forest floor, scanning her surroundings for a decent spot to start collecting specimens. Before Chiaki could do so, however, she inevitably ended up stumbling into that clearing she he'd been praying for!

Kunai littered the ground with some laying flat, while others got lodged deep within the surrounding trees and earth's crust from where a spar had just taken place. It was relatively quiet apart from the light jests being made by the two males the weapons belonged to.

"After all that fuss, it's still a draw; huh, Hashirama?!"

Madara called out to his friend stationed on the opposite shore of the river running through. He was poking fun at this russet kid as he skipped the rock across the river that they'd picked for that day. The smirk the Uchiha gave suggested he was satisfied with his playful teasing. Any gloating he did, however, was promptly shaken off when his friend decided it was his turn to have a go at Madara's expense.

"All that means is that you're good at keeping up with me!"

The boy Madara referred to as 'Hashirama' was merry as he moved about in animated manner as if the loss meant nothing while poking his friend's ego, knowing it would possibly elicit a rather hot response from his usually more impassive friend. It worked, too, and the Uchiha was quick to give his friend a nasty scowl as he extended his arm to point at Hashirama in a huffy manner.

"Don't make me toss you! You know damn well that I'm just as good as you!"

Madara barked, bringing his arm that'd been pointing accusatory at Hashirama to skillfully catch the stone his friend tossed back his way.

"Hah!-"

Hashirama was just about to spew more banter when the resonating sound of rustled foliage and twigs being crunched had both boys cease whatever they were doing altogether. They had both swiveled their heads in the direction the noise had come from, and while Hashirama wasn't as sensory-inclined as Madara; it was still no excuse for how comfortable he'd gotten. The spriteful Senju was relieved to observe the sudden third-party had taken his friend by surprise as well, even if a hair of shame accompanied it.

The hackles on both Shinobi were on high alert, and both were more than ready to cross blades with whomever this stranger was. Both had their hands firmly latched onto the blades they would use and they moved into a more crouched stance, where if they should do battle; they were ready. If they needed to retreat and flee; they were in the perfect position to evacuate the premises. The tension had both boys hearts rattling their cages in an almost painful way, and if either of them were sweating over the ordeal- neither would confess! They patiently idled until a female about their age ended up emerging from the brush. It was a less serious threat to both boys, and while only one of them wasn't familiar with the woman; the other was!

The sudden shift in the suffocating tension was the welcome. It gave a way for both young men to disengage with a sigh of relief that they still had their lives, if only for another day. Chiaki was just simply grateful that she'd run into someone she knew, and that the flora-release from her Kekkei Genkai she did for favorite weapon got to continue being a secret. Unfortunately, this run-in also meant that collecting any anything was a mute-point and the disappointed Fusae ended up tucking the vial she clutched in her hand back into its safe spot at her waistband.

"You're a bit far from home, aren't you?"

Madara was cross, and the scowl he presented Hashirama earlier was now a permanent feature of his as he directed the entirety of his attention towards Fusae Chiaki. The familiarity between Madara and this fresh face had Hashirama feeling a little.. left out? He was definitely puzzled about the situation, although some part of him told him to keep hush-hush just a smidge longer to fill in the gaps.

"It wasn't my intention to go this far! Always a pleasure seeing you, too, Uchiha."

Chiaki glossed over his impolite greeting. It was something she'd gotten used to (much to the Fusae's dismay) during the past few months where they'd occasionally pass on the battlefield, or when Higa had them over to further their bonds with the Uchiha.

Yes, Chiaki now was a part of the never-ending chaos that left countless corpses behind. She was definitely one of the more efficient healers they had, and oftentimes one of their new allies was requesting their assistance right up in the thick of everything. To say she was now seasoned as an understatement. If Madara's eye twitched, he ignored it so he could deal another blow to the only person that seemed to give him an excessive amount of irrational irritation.

"Why don't you go home, then?! Didn't your father teach you any better- woman?"

Madara hissed, shocking Hashirama while Chiaki didn't seem to be phased all that much by it.

"Madara! That's no way to talk to a lady!"

Hashirama was quick to defend this individual so alien to him. Whatever fun he'd been having as a spectator was cut short when the tone shifted, and the concerned Senju (now) felt the need to mediate what was happening. Madara wasn't having it, and Chiaki's attention was now honed in on a now rather sheepish Hashirama.

"Lady? Hardly, she's a pain is what she is."

Madara concluded his nonsense knowing he was outmatched with Hashirama on the Fusae's side.

Of course he would, anything for a 'cute face'

Madara thought as he went to gather his kunai before he could insert his foot any further into his mouth.

That, and if he felt the slightest impulsed by Hashirama's harmless flirting.. he kept it to himself!

Chiaki giggled over the whole thing. She had never taken Madara seriously, and nothing he ever said to date had hurt her feelings.. per se. It was cute and refreshing to know there were still boys that enjoyed protecting girls, no matter what clan they came from.

"Don't worry if it's my feelings you're worried about; Madara's bark is worse than his bite!"

Chiaki didn't let the opportunity go to get her own jabs in, and any derogatory remarks the Uchiha would've made over it got silenced by a certain glare Hashirama gave (even though he was definitely laughing over the comment) that let Madara know he was being a bit much.

"Good! I'm glad, Madara can get a bit carried away.. although I'm sure you already know that!"

Hashirama made light conversation, even though it was stirring his pot with the brooding Uchiha. In his peripheral, Hashirama could practically see the smoke stacks rolling off of his friend and Madara wasn't that far off from popping off again.

"The name's Hashirama, by the way!"

He offered with a smile that should've hurt his face with how huge it was. Chiaki was pleasantly surprised by the sweetness and how hard Hashirama was trying to make her feel comfortable.

"Unfortunately, I do.. I'm Chiaki! It's so nice to meet you!"

Chiaki happily cooed, and for a moment Hashirama thought he might swoon for this girl. That was until he started really paying attention to the sour expression that only seemed to worsen on Madara's face the longer he made friendly moves towards Chiaki. Whatever it was going on between them, Hashirama wasn't sure; but it was definitely cut short.

"Yes, yes- now that we're all acquainted, don't you have something you should be doing? Washing clothes, consoling screaming brats?"

Madara interjected himself. If Chiaki hadn't looked like she was about to say something, Hashirama was. Both parties became disgruntled over what the moody Uchiha had to say, and if it wasn't for the messenger bird that Chiaki recognized as theirs Madara would've gotten a worse earful without any adults around to supervise them. She figured the Hawk was meant to call in members of theirs, and as much as she didn't want to.. she'd have to put a pin in the feud she was having.

"Looks like you get your wish. Such a spoiled baby, always getting whatever it is you want. Consider yourself lucky this time."

Chiaki narrowed her dark browns at the Uchiha's heir, utterly over his obnoxious behavior. Her features softened significantly as she shifted her gaze over to the Senju (who now seemed a bit nervous over Chiaki's mood swings!), and she bid him a kinder farewell as she let anything else Madara had to say go in one ear and out the other.

As much as she detested admitting the infuriating man was right, she probably did have something to do now.

After Chiaki left, the boys gave about another five to ten minutes before either spoke again. The encounter with the Fusae's heiress had left both feeling awkward, although both for significantly different reasons. Hashirama wasn't the sharpest, although he was often underestimated by those he came into contact with. Even he could tell there was something about this girl that had Madara acting.. weird. While the zestful Senju had only known Madara a few years now, he'd never known his friend to outwardly act the way he did with Chiaki. With any woman, in fact.

It made Hashirama's gears turn, and Madara only wanted to desperately shrink away over the shame he felt over what he'd said.

"You really should be nicer to her, you're allies are you not?"

Hashirama tried scolding his friend, although with how badly Madara was already beating himself up he didn't quite need it.

"Like I need a lecture from you!"

Madara started, although he caught the way he was already fuming and made a mental note to calm down a bit. Hashirama didn't do anything to deserve his grumpiness, he was trying to help and Madara eased up on the Senju.

"Look, I'm sorry. This is.."

Madara fumbled, suddenly finding the right words weren't coming as he would've liked. Hashirama was patient, though. More so whenever it was one of his dear friends going through, from all indications, some inner turmoil.

"I'll make it right somehow, just don't butt in again!"

Madara assured Hashirama who seemed to accept the negotiations. Besides, with the way Chiaki didn't seem to lay down and take Madara's treatment gave the Senju enough comfort to believe he wouldn't need to again.

"Haha, bet! She's super pretty, someone will definitely snatch her up if you're not careful!"

Hashirama teased, wiggling his brows and nudging his friend in his side. The smirk he had now hurt Hashirama's face, and Madara was just about ready to go home if he was just going to be made fun of.

"Hah! Now you're the one spouting nonsense! Anyone that takes her can keep her!"

Madara laughed and took the joke well.. on the outside. Inwardly, the Uchiha didn't take the passing comment well. It made his chest tighten, and his stomach coalesce into a massive ball of anxiety. The confusion over the feelings he was experiencing only peppered in a bit of frustration to the mixture as well, and the concoction of these emotions would've threatened to boil over if he wasn't such a skilled Shinobi worth his salt.

The remainder of their time together only made Madara harbor suspicions towards his friend. He didn't feel secure in Hashirama when it came to Chiaki, and Madara couldn't even pinpoint why this bothered him. All he knew was that he absolutely didn't know what he was going to do the next time he had to be in close quarters with her.