Ayumi was at the village center once again, amidst the shuffle of civilians and shinobi alike. She looked through the list of things she had assigned herself to do, and her eyes fell upon one last thing:
... Get shinobi Identification card. LOCATION: Hokage Estate.
Ehhhhh? What's this?
-
*AYUMI'S POV*
I stood outside the Shodai Hokage's office, knocking on the door, knowing full well who to expect. Senju Hashirama was titled as Hokage.
"Come in."
I opened the door, and pulled out my to-do list, sliding it across his desk. He looked up at me curiously, his doe-eyes looked the same as ever.
"It's nice to see you, Hokage-sama." I tipped him a courteous bow. "But what's up with the identification card shenanigans?"
"Ah." Hashirama pushed himself away from the table, standing up. "Every shinobi that possesses chakra must create one in order to be able to work legally here."
"Oh." My eyes widened just a bit. "Sounds pretty serious."
"Just fill out this sheet and let Koharu take your picture. A complete copy of all shinobi who work here will be published shortly in the shinobi database book."
"A-a picture?!" My arms over my face. "But I look so..." I looked at my tattered shirt, I had been running errands left and right, and I bet I looked rugged.
"Change into this." Hashirama slid over a green vest with a blue shirt, which bore the Uzumaki clan symbol.
I quickly caught on, nodding my head. "Will do."
-
"It's a commemorative photo. Try not to... frown." Koharu held the camera, and back against me was a yellow backdrop.
"How do I look now?" I flickered my hair back, adjusting my stance.
"Good, good. Perfect." She said with a click of a few buttons. "You look..." She pulled the film out, waiting a couple seconds for it to expose. "Pretty."
I couldn't help but childishly grin, feeling a heat rise to my cheeks. "Heheh, all thanks to you!" I shook her hand, inspecting the photo. "Not bad at all."
-
A few days had passed, and now it had been Madara's opportunity for his photo. The Uchiha leader had been running left and right working with Hashirama.
"Hashirama, this is absolutely childish." The Uchiha leader crossed his arm.
"Oh please, Madara. For the sake of the village! I won't let you go leave grounds unless you-"
"Enough!" Madara raised a hand in the air. "I'll do it, lest you hold it forever against me."
Madara's eyes fell to the table, and he curiously eyed a book that was titled: Shinobi Identification: Draft.
"Ho? What's this?" Madara picked up the book, flickering through its contents, when coincidentally his finger had landed on her page.
Madara couldn't help but widen his eyes. Judging by Hashirama's reaction, he did not miss how the Uchiha's gaze lingered there on her polaroid for just a tad bit longer than what was normal.
Madara couldn't help but feel a surge of pride swell up in his chest. That was his wife. Hashirama cunningly grinned.
Madara took a gulp.
"She was here? When?"
Madara had to admit, though their relationship wasn't the most conventional, he missed his fiancee, it had been a couple days since they last saw each other at that lunch.
"Someone seems interested in the Princess." Hashirama smirked.
"And so what of it?" Madara slid the book back to him, crossing his arms.
The Hokage heartedly chuckled, rubbing his chin. "Nothing wrong with it. I just never pegged you as the type of friend to be interested in... women. You never did like women now that I think of it."
"Ayumi and I are getting married." Madara stated matter of factly, his expression did not move an inch at the grand revelation. Hashirama would be the first person to know.
Hashirama sweatdropped at the utter seriousness of his friend.
"M-madara..." Hashirama approached his friend, placing a hand on Madara's shoulder, "Y-you're getting married?"
"Are you actually crying right now?" Madara's eye twitched at the stream of tears suddenly flowing from his friend's eyes.
"I... I just... I never thought my best friend would ever get married! Madara! I always thought your brothers' deaths affected you so deeply... that you would never even consider someone else... I.. I..." Hashirama crouched and hugged his legs. Madara was taken aback, sweat dripping on his temples. "I am happy for you."
Madara sighed, smirking. "The fool really hasn't changed a bit."
-
The Uchiha clan leader was heading on his way back to his district, finally wrapping up his business for the day with Hashirama. It was approaching evening time now, the sun slowly setting. He sighed, remembering how his friend had been pestering him to get the photo for the database.
"Try not to look so stern, Madara." Hashirama hesitantly itched his cheek, "Sorry, Koharu. I can assure you the man doesn't want to hurt you."
"Don't put words into my mouth Hashirama." Madara snapped back. "Hurry up and take the damned picture!"
"Hey, big scary guy."
Madara heard a child chirp, he turned on his feet towards the direction of the voice.
"Do you know where the Hyuga compound is? I'm sort of lost."
Madara took a stare at the girls' eyes, they bore a striking resemblance to Ayumi's, indeed she was a Hyuga judging by the crest on her clothing.
"Could you take me there?" She looked annoyed, "I'm getting late and I'm sure my parents will ground me."
Madara hesitated for a second, but decided that he would take this as a chance to try to get in touch with Ayumi on the way back.
"Follow me." Madara turned on his heels and began to briskly walk.
The girl eyed the glimpse of the Uchiha crest on his back.
"Uchiha?" She blurted out.
Madara spared her a glance for a second, "You know your clans child."
"What the heck sort of business does an Uchiha have in knowing where the Hyuga district might be?" She eyed him more curiously now, borderline nosy. Madara couldn't help but narrow his eyes just a bit, he wasn't just any Uchiha.
He took it as an indication that Ayumi had yet to inform her clan of the news, but he as well.
"Are you like, obsessed with our eyes? Is that why you know where we live?" She pointed proudly at her pale ones. The sight reminded Madara of when he was younger and proud of his eyes too. Madara chuckled.
"I wonder who's stronger, the Uchiha's Sharingan or the Hyuga's Byakugan?" She caught up to his pace now, looking right up at the daunting leader.
"What is your name?" Madara asked, she was an inquisitive child.
"Kaouru. Hyuga Kaouru. And yours?" She lit up.
He couldn't help but grow slightly irritated. How could she not know who he is?
"Uchiha Madara."
"W-w-wait... The Uchiha Madara? As in the guy that could kill you by just looking at you?" She flailed her arms helplessly in front of her face.
He sighed. "So that's what they say about me."
"You're actually not all that scary, y'know!"
"Not that scary huh." Madara looked at her, with narrowed eyes.
"N-nevermind..." She scratched her head.
-
AUTHORS NOTE
to be continued!