Ayumi took one big gulp, now that we were standing before the Senju headquarters. This would go down in the books of history, she thought to herself.
"Having doubts?" Koniko's voice snapped the princess back to reality.
She shut her eyes tight and opened them, shaking her head. "I never thought I'd see the day this would be happening."
-
Tobirama had his arms crossed, malicely glancing at Izuna from time to time. The younger Uchiha would reciprocate it with even more wickedness, taunting him with his sharingan.
"So I see your younger brother did not succumb to the wounds he received that day." Hashirama spoke, with a soft smile on his face. Ayumi was growing anxious, the tension brewing in the air was awkward.
Madara's dark eyes met the rim of his tea cup. "Things would have been much more different if he had."
"Well, in any case, I am glad you both are safe. This alliance with the Hyuga and the Uchiha will set things finally into stone. I am insistent that we treat each other peacefully for the sake of the village."
"I intend that too." Ayumi spread her palms out on the table, earning stares from both the Senju and the Uchiha. "But where will the funding for such a large scale project come from?" She wondered, rubbing the bottom of her chin.
Tobirama's glance fell to the gold bracelet she was wearing, it was hanging off of her wrist daintily. Hashirama was already brooding.
Wait!
"D-don't tell me..." Ayumi was growing cold sweats, rubbing the nape of her neck.
"Unbelievable." Madara closed his eyes, crossing his arms. He knew where this was going.
"Part of the proposition was to funnel funding from the Hyuga kingdom. I am aware your father alongside being the former leader is also a successful businessman." Hashirama explained.
"You're rich?" Izuna spat, his bluntness earning a hard stare from his elder brother. Koniko couldn't help but stifle a giggle. Izuna covered his mouth out of embarrassment.
"Fine! Fine." Ayumi raised her hands defensively in the air. "I am willing to help in that respect."
Hashirama prostrated his head towards her direction. "Thank you, Princess Ayumi!"
Madara's eye twitched, his old friend was still the same.
"Stop bowing so easily to people!" Tobirama punched his elder brother's arm.
"Right." Hashirama gulped, "It's just I am so happy! Madara and I were kids when we used to imagine this happening. And now here we all are."
"We were foolish young brats, now the co-founders of a village." Madara spoke reminiscently. Madara's heart was adamant to keep his brother safe in this new framework.
"Well, here are the papers." Tobirama slid the alliance treaties across the table towards the clan leaders, both of which starting skimming the contents of the papers.
"Yosh!" Ayumi eagerly signed the last paper.
"It is now official." Madara slid the papers back to the Senju. "The fighting will stop. And the only brother I have left..." He looked at his younger brother, who was still pouting, "Will now be safe."
Ayumi would glance back and forth between the Senju and the Uchiha. It was clear to her that they had a bond that transcended even friendship. She decided she would take her leave, new blood shouldn't interfere with the exchange of such memories.
"I'll be waiting outside." Ayumi said, slightly bowing as she exited.
-
And then, it was like a dream. The Uchiha and the Senju finally shook hands, no more fighting and gruesome blood would be shed. No more children dying.
She wanted to cry, almost in tears. Even the air felt different.
Moments later, Hashirama, Madara and Ayumi decided to meet again at the clifftop. It was the same place Madara took her to the night of the festival.
"So this is the place you two would daydream." Ayumi took in the wind that was flowing through her hair.
"Yeah." Madara said.
"But we aren't those brats any more. That's the difference this time. Our dream is now coming true." Hashirama grinned. "Many other clans want to join us too. Shimura, Sarutobi, including others."
"You're kidding, right?" Madara looked at his friend in surprise. He had no clue that their dream would even remotely align with others.
"We should give this settlement a name!" Ayumi exclaimed.
Hashirama agreed. "Madara?"
Madara caught a leaf gusting in the wind.
"How about... The Village Hidden in the Leafs." Madara said, he looked at the two to see if they agreed. Ayumi was near-death laughing, and Hashirama was already brooding, a purple aura hovering over him.
"No ingenuity at all. You called it exactly as you saw it..." Hashirama sulked.
"Oi, you got any better ideas? And I can't believe you still sulk like that!" The Uchiha leader heaved an exhausted sigh.
Ayumi couldn't help but now burst into a full laughter. She couldn't believe what she was seeing! Two shinobi renowned as the best in the world bickering, their inner child-like spirit did not die after all.
She took in the sweeping view of what would be their new village one last time, now standing on the edge of the cliff.
Madara almost immediately noticed, but it looked like she was shaking.
Ayumi turned around to meet both their eyes, and indeed she was crying.
"It's a shame that my late younger sister is not here to witness this." She wiped her tears. Madara and Hashirama stared at her, frowning. Hashirama felt a pang of guilt in the pit of his stomach - his clan had been responsible for her death after all.
"But maybe her life was destined to be sacrificed for this peace. She will not die in vain, and I will protect this village." She curled her fingers into a fist.
Madara's frown turned into a small smile, he liked that spirit and he had hoped that it would stay that way.
"Leave the protecting for Madara and I." Hashirama stepped forward.
Ayumi's eyes narrowed, and that was when Hashirama wished he could take back what he said. "Are you calling me weak?!" She yelled, rolling her sleeve up, "I've had enough of people telling me what I can and can't do! I can fight too you kno-!"
Hashirama was brooding again, and it caught Ayumi off guard, her jaw dropped to the floor. "Ehhhh? Hashirama! Again?!"
"The fool is still the same." Madara scoffed.
"I... I wasn't saying that... I just wouldn't want you to get hurt..." He mumbled.
Unexpectedly, Madara laughed, astounded by the foolishness of his friend. He hadn't changed a bit. "Hashirama, you are a lost cause." He said between chuckles.
"Oh, Hashirama!" Ayumi's face perked up with a light, "I got you a gift. Congratulations on getting married." She pulled out an envelope and handed it to him.
Madara's eyes had widened.
"H-huh?!" Hashirama hesitated. "Thank you for your generosity!" He took the gift. She grinned. "Don't worry 'bout it, Hashirama!"
Hashirama looked at his old time friend, and started brooding again. "I wonder if Madara forgot..."
Madara clicked his tongue, looking away. "I did not forget, you fool!" And he hadn't, it was waiting outside of his minka. He looked back at his brooding friend, remembering how he had been a little brat who spouted nonsense, but now he was a man who helped found a village and even got married along the way. Madara truly never thought it would happen, nor would he live to be able to see it happen.
-
Madara and Izuna were on their way back to the Uchiha household, to debrief the clan councillors on the recent progressions. The leader sensed a presence though, one that was all too familiar to him.
"Aniki." Izuna whined. "Must we stop? Let's get going." He motioned with his bandaged arm.
"Tobirama." Madara set his gunbai aside. All inclinations he had of destroying the Senju were gone, but that white-haired man sure had a way of spiking Madara's temper.
"Madara." Tobirama made himself visible now, crossing his arms. His maroon orbs had landed on Izuna's. "I think I owe you an apology." He looked away sheepishly. He hated to admit to his mistakes, but for the sake of maintaining peace, Tobirama would need to learn to build bridges, not burn them.
Madara was not fond of this side of the Senju. He had rarely received reconciliation from that side.
"Did Hashirama send you here?" Madara mockingly asked.
"Oh please." Tobirama scowled. "I am a grown adult. I came here on my own accord."
"If you think for a second that I signed the alliance for your sake, you are gravely mistaken." Madara spoke harshly. In truth, he wanted nothing more than to just throw this man who had almost killed his younger brother over a cliff, but he would restrain his anger for her and Izuna's sake.
Tobirama was inquisitive though. "Take it as a testament to your power. I view any clan as equal or more to the Senju with extreme wariness."
Madara narrowed his eyes. Was he still suspicious of the Uchiha?
"Let him go, aniki." Izuna mumbled, he was growing impatient. Pain was still throbbing throughout his body, and he needed to eat so that he could take his medication.
Madara frowned, and sighed.
"We are fine so long as you not lay a finger on my brother." Madara warned him. Madara even considered warning him about staying away from the Hyuga, but the princess would be able to hold her own ground if the time ever came, he thought.
-
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Minka = traditional japanese house