Heeeey I'm back!
Thank you so much for all those who've been supporting the fic during my absence. My schedule has become a little lighter, so I'll be continuing to update this story.
However, I won't be able to do it with the same regularity not timing from before. So, I'm posting this chapter and the next will probably come within a week at the earliest. It'll probably take more time than that, I'll see how I can manage.

It's not that she was afraid of what the man would say. Hashirama was firm that there was no other way and Madara supported him with, although sexist, very accurate comments due to the type of culture they manage. Of course, she has had her problems before regarding this, but still...

It was the only thing that could be done without breaking that diplomatic bond between both sides.

She gulps thickly. She hasn't slept well and now, arriving that afternoon, she sees the tension in her muscles.

She snorts indignantly. Karen feels it's unfair that they're forcing her to put on this theatre when she didn't ask for it, so she adjusts her best face as she enters the spot where a bitter Tobirama is waiting for them. "You shouldn't be up," she frowns, forgetting and holding back the information of their alleged engagement.

She doesn't like confronting these things and it is easier to present a report to the council than to show that this affects her.

"I am stronger," the bitter shinobi frowns to see beyond her. "Hashirama and Madara?"

"They stayed checking the road," she shrugs gently. "Madara was going to his clan and then come for Izuna."

"The idiot is already gone."

"Uh... he didn't tell."

"No, he just left."

"Did you let him go?"

"Yes."

"Tobirama, he is hurt, like you. Why did you let him go?"

"We are not like you. We have different healing periods, and we were in bed long enough."

"Seriously..." the girl huffs indignantly to look at an embarrassed Masarato ready to leave. "If you faint or your wounds open, I will rub it in your face."

"Mph..." the man turns his eyes, not willing to look further in her direction. "How did it go?"

"Apart from the Daimyo's flirting... good."

"He did not do anything to you?" he asks harshly.

"No," she sighs, not knowing how to approach this. "But it was annoying." Better to be sincere since he'll find out anyway.

Tobirama looks at her for a long time.

"I'm fine. Hashirama was backing me up."

"Nothing else happened?" he says with a double tone that she doesn't completely understand.

"No, we managed to keep the proposal to the maximum, although I had unexpected visitors."

"..."

"Don't worry, I took care of it. Though..." She looks around as if waiting for someone to interrupt her comment. "Something happened that involves you," she states as if she didn't want to. She may be an adult, but this matter is complicated to deal with.

How could she tell him that his brother practically threw him into being her fiancé just to back up a lie that they clearly must maintain?

But it had to be said. It was either her or Hashirama.

The gesture he made was funny. She would laugh if it weren't for the fact that she felt internally insulted. She knew she wasn't pretty, but... why was there so much hatred in his eyes?

She doesn't know what has happened. Hashirama sends scrolls to the house just after she is beginning to resume her routine. The days are quiet, away from the political tension and the move. She sees how people run through the place with hustle and bustle because of the new space they will occupy as soon as everything is settled.

Numbers, contributions and contracts. Those are the ones that constantly abound.

Karen still feels that something is happening far from her ears, and she has not heard anything about her supposed marriage.

"Neesan." A small boy who barely says a couple of words makes her focus on the present. She smiles when she sees little Matsuo extend his hand to her.

For someone who has been around for a year, he is active, intelligent and attentive.

A true prodigy.

"Hello, Matsuo," she laughs as she turns him around. His mother still shares a funny look at the pair who meet again after a day.

"As if they haven't seen each other for a long time," the woman mocks, continuing with her work. Kaori comes behind while they keep packing some of the things that they will begin to accumulate far from the house. The wood is extensive, the rooms begin to empty.

And soon, Hashirama will transform all this into a lush forest.

Like a plan to erase any indication that the Senju clan was here.

She chuckles just as she puts him down and lets him play a little. "How are you doing?" she asks, sitting down to review the scrolls. Grandma Kaori sits next to her while Mikami does the same for the other.

They both have problems letting go of the past. Kaori more so, as literally her entire life was at this place.

"Many do not want to leave," the old woman assures. "But we are willing to clear up a place for future generations."

"I'm glad to hear that," Karen smiles, patting the old woman's back. "I hope you can move on. I know it's painful."

"It is, but it is the price for the change, right?" she laughs hopefully at something that only she knows. "I knew that young Hashirama-sama would make improvements, but this... stopping the war, moving with our allies..." With a proud tone, she looks into the distance. "Their mother would be happy with what her children have achieved."

Karen had not heard Kaori speak in that manner.

"Matsuo... he will have a good home," the woman assures. "They have brought us together to have arrange the spaces within the blueprints of the compound," she clumsily adds since the last words are new in her vocabulary.

"Yes, I helped a little with the original blueprint." She admits that, although clumsily, she managed to make the base that the infamous Tobirama has improved. She knows the man and envies his ability to comprehend the little she understands of her world and architecture, and he absorbs and adapts it.

Of course, he doesn't talk to her because of what his brother has told him. He hasn't mentioned anything about the proposal, much less whether he is upset.

His silence is better... she doesn't want to know part of what he thinks.

"I see... I had not seen Tobirama-sama so enthusiastic about that. He didn't understand it at first," she laughs amused. "He told me I could take the land next to your house."

"Will I have a house?" said civilian blinks lost with a slight frown.

"Have they not told you?"

"I have not been summoned to see the matter," she says because in the end, he did not worry about her.

"You have a large patio," she says amusedly.

"Uh?"

"The young masters have many considerations for you, Karen-san. I just hope you do not abandon us," Kaori sighs with slight suspicion. "It would be sad for both of them."

"Mmmm..." Karen wanted to tell them that she doesn't feel exactly that way, nor is she so sure of surviving outside considering the cons of her unfair situation by not having chakra benefits, but that was water under the bridge, and she prefers to focus on the issue of her own move.

Why haven't they told her?

When she had the time to ask Hashirama, he stopped sharply in his almost empty office while he used his own magic to store things in scrolls, a unique ability that would be beneficial in her world. She always thought how useful it would be, like those capsules in the cartoons that her sister watched as a child.

"Who told you?"

"It doesn't matter who told me. Rather, why didn't you tell me?" she frowns lost in this whole issue. "I know I'm a civilian... an intruder in the clan." It's been a long time since she felt that way, but it's the way she perceives this lack of communication.

"It's not that."

"Then?"

"Well... we have considered you within the main complex."

"Oh..." she frowns at this information.

"I know we haven't talked to you much because of bureaucratic issues and your map bases regarding your location," the leader accepts looking at her firmly. "I just... well, I thought that wouldn't bother you."

"It's not that it bothers me, but you could have told me, right?"

"You didn't ask."

"I know... I've been busy developing the first blueprint that I see Tobirama has improved to cover the spots of all the clan members, but it would be nice if you asked me. Maybe I want to be near the forest... or in the middle of the clans... or even living with Mikami-san."

"You don't want to be within the main clan?"

"Do I have options?"

"No," Hashirama says quickly. He sees his mistake, scratching the back of his neck. "You know, we haven't talked about... your engagement."

"Uh... it's a façade. What does that have to do with me being inside the main complex?" she frowns when her hunch indicates otherwise. "Oh..."

"The Daimyo has sent a request for the wedding."

"Why hadn't you told me?"

"I told him not to tell you," someone interrupts their conversation. These stealth ninja skills are annoying when she doesn't sense them.

"Why?"

"I wanted to talk to you about the deal."

"Uh..." Karen blinks twice and then sighs to glare at the older Senju, who looks guilty and anxious about it. "Right... we haven't talked about this."

"No," Tobirama looks at his brother. "Hashirama?"

"Within the clan, there is a tradition. The bride and groom must have an engagement party where the dowry is shown," the elder explains. "Considering the whole move... And what's more, the Daimyo wants to be present and give his blessing to the future married couple."

"But it's a façade," Karen complains.

"Madara told you that it had to look real. You know it."

"I had hoped it would be simpler," the woman snorts indignantly.

"Does it bother you to marry me?" Tobirama doesn't ask, but he almost sounds sullen. Why is he asking that question? The civilian turns to who look at her strangely.

"It's not that. Just, taking your time without questioning yourself to put up a façade... personally, I don't like it, Karen explains with apathy and a touch of sincerity. "What if you want to fall in love? Get married?"

"It will not happen."

"But..."

"It is for the good of the village. I talked to Hashirama about it, and it does not matter if that ensures the well-being of our home. You already did enough supporting this dream, it is my duty... my payment to do the same for you."

"It doesn't seem fair to me, and you know that at the beginning it wasn't easy for anyone," Karen keeps up with the conversation.

"It does not bother me," Tobirama assures. "Now... do you want to continue with this?"

Karen looks at them and sees that they expect something from her. Now she knows how Mito must feel being treated as an object of exchange. "Well... it's not like I have other options."

"You can refuse," Hashirama clarifies.

"Our work will go to waste if I don't do it. I know I won't get rid of the Daimyo," the civilian accepts, looking at the matter logically. "I imagine that's why you want me to live in the main complex."

"You will live with me," Tobirama clarifies. "Just after the wedding."

"Huh? ...Do we already have a wedding date?"

"After Hashirama's."

"Are you already going to marry Mito?" Karen looks surprised by so much information. The leader nods firmly. "Whoa... everything is going so fast," she snorts indignantly.

"You said it... for the work we have been doing," Hashirama looks serious about it, but firm.

"I don't like it."

"We do not like it," Tobirama bites from his point. "Nevertheless, it is alright. It is just a façade, but it will have to be done well. We do not want the Daimyo to find out about our lie."

"Will we sleep together?" she questions, making both boys start coughing quickly. "What?"

"Nothing," Hashirama cuts off just in time for someone to interrupt their conversation. Karen sees Tobirama slightly uncomfortable with her question. She had to bring up this topic before the matter continued, because the part of telling a lie is believing it, right?

"I didn't think you would accept so easily," Karen says just when she sees Tobirama sit next to her after arriving from the meeting with Hashirama. She still feels uncomfortable with the solution, but she will work with it. The courtyard is silent and as always, the albino weighs the pros and cons in his mind.

Who would have thought that she would be playing this game with this insolent, annoying and cutting guy who, although he is not as irritating as before, does not seem as husband material, nor does she see herself as wife material.

"There is no other way."

"Mmmm..." Karen doesn't look further. "I'm older than you."

"And?"

"Just, well, if you fall in love with someone, you'll tell me, right?"

"We will be fictitious spouses," Tobirama throws mercilessly.

"True... I just wouldn't want to be someone else's partner," she winked, amused by the joke that was lost by the man's hard blinking. "Seriously, even now you'll be difficult."

"I do not have to be easier," the man frowns.

"Mmmm..." Karen glares at him to sigh. "When will you give the news?"

"After the move."

"Anything else I should know?"

"We well not sleep together."

"Oh, that is a relief," the woman laughs amused, although Tobirama does not look good. "I'm sorry for getting you into this."

"Hashirama made the lie."

"Yes, but... if only I weren't so..." She sighs because she doesn't know how to explain the issue. She doesn't feel pretty, much less attractive to be part of the harem of an irritating man.

"You are intelligent. Only a blind person would not realize that."

"Whoa... you see the intelligence," the girl laughs. "I hope this doesn't get out of hand."

Tobirama doesn't say anything.

"Then, we well be associates, right?"

"Associates?"

"Yes. Contract partners. Without affection and only benefit."

"..."

"Tobirama?"

"You are annoying." He just leaves without saying anything else. Karen turns her eyes, uncomfortable with his reaction and worried about having to get married just because they have her in their eyes. ...What would her family say? What would her father say? She retracts a little more, curling up to look at the huge patio.

She wants to cry because she didn't think it would end up like this. She knows there are worse paths, worse destinations... but she never saw herself marrying someone she doesn't love and who is difficult to understand.

A marriage just for façade...

Author's notes:

A short chapter to close this saga, lol, and commence a new one. As you will see, things did not turn out as she thought they would. Everything has gone down a path that she did not expect, but she has to endure, remembering how weak her position and free will are.

Even so, Karen sees that this is not so bad, because Tobirama assures that he will not do anything else... everything by contract without any kind of extra.

Could it be...?

Thanks for your comments.

Author-chan out!