Hanahaki On Your Head

Madara's heart leapt to his throat, his eyes widen as his face become pale.

"Don't joke right now, Hashirama."
Madara clench his fist, he was...too shock to process his information and how he feels.

"Why would I lie to you?!"
Hashirama turns to Madara and grab his shoulders.

"Oh? Really now? Ofcourse you lie to me, you don't tell me what's going on with your white roses, you lie to me about Tobirama's plan of making my clan as the police of the village or whatever, you lie to me about your muse and everything! You're just saying this to escape from the situation!"

Madara grumble and grunts at Hashirama.

"Madara shut up! Listen to me first."
Hashirama grip Madara shoulder tighter. After they both calm down, he bring Madara to sit on the grass and inhales deeply.

"The Senju Clan's elders came to me three days ago."

Hashirama sigh softly.
"They want me to marry someone from the Uzumaki clan to have an alliance with them."

"And they said i have to produce a heir for the Senju clan. And the Uzumaki clan has the perfect candidate because of some factors that I don't bother to listen about."
Hashirama close his eyes as he clench his fist tightly.

"So you just obey them like that? You're a Hokage goddammit! You're the peak of power!"
Madara was pissed when hearing that. Why would Hashirama's clan elders force him to marry someone?

"Madara, calm down."
Hashirama pat Madara's shoulder and caress his back to soothe him down.

"I asked Tobirama, and he has nothing against this. So this is a good chance to strengthen my clan and also to build a little family. You know, i spend my years as hokage. Maybe it's time for me to enjoy life."
Hashirama sigh softly.

"Enjoy life? How? By marrying someone you don't even know? And produce kids just in the name of having a heir?"
Madara glance at Hashirama again.

"Tell me, what's your dream? I'm sure it's much more than just...retiring from hokage and marry someone you don't know."
Madara caress Hashirama's hand, trying to make him open up.

"I want to make peace Madara. Truthfully, i don't like that the elders are trying to strengthen our clan like this. We as a village need to be hand in hand in facing the problems from outside. Not...strengthen our own clan and clashing with other clans."
Hashirama's eyes dimmed down as he close his eyes.

"Our village seem to just stuck there. The circle of hate and war is still in the mind of the older generation. And those older generations still try to control the clans and everything. It's starting to get hopeless, Madara."
Hashirama sigh softly.

Madara raised his eyebrows. This isn't Hashirama. His mind is clouded by things. Maybe he is stressed..?

"Stupid senju."
Madara smack Hashirama's back.

"Where did your over-optimistic self gone? You'll never give up on your dream or give in to the elders just like that. I know you're too kind to push people's opinion away. But sometimes those old hags need some beating to get the ideas in their head."
Madara stand up as he glance at the river in front of them.

"We've already gone this far, and you want to give up? Just because of some stupid elders?!"
Madara look at Hashirama and grins smugly.

"Listen to me, Hashirama. You gave me hope. Remember few years ago, the moment you ask for peace and truce in the middle of the war we had?"
Madara glance at Hashirama.

"And you help izuna, rescuing him from death. Eventhough your clans also suffer some loss and you lost your two brothers."
Madara inhales deeply.

"But you're always standing up and trying to make things better for us. We start building this village to unite the clans. Why are we stopping now? This is our village. Not those old hags. They don't have any right to cause scene and ruin what we build. You gave me hope of life, that it will get better."
Madara ruffle Hashirama's hair with a hint of affection.

"Stand up, Hashirama. Me, Tobirama, Izuna, and hell, i'll drag my whole clan to support you, to achieve our peace. You said you want to make schools for the children, and training grounds. Let's make it happen."
Madara reach out to Hashirama, and hug the hokage tightly.

"There is so much more you can do as Hokage. And as for family, you'll find it when the moment is right. Not by being forced into an arrange marriage that only benefit the old hags."
Madara inhales and savour Hashirama's fresh leaves scent.

"Thank you, Madara."
Hashirama sniffs, he tears up again and hug Madara back tightly. Hashirama was under pressure by people around him. And he also pressure himself to be a better leader and try to make everyone happy.

But he also had his limit, and the arrange marriage cross his limit, and almost make him lose himself for trying to please the elders.

He was grateful for Madara, for pulling him out of his frustration and let Hashirama express how he feels.

"Hiks-hils- i..."
Hashirama start opening up to Madara, his struggles everyday, what's in his mind, what obstacles he got, he continue crying as more hydrangeas bloom on his head, but also some small sunflowers on his head.

Madara notice Hashirama's new flowers, but he didn't say anything and just continue to listen to Hashirama's struggle.

"...that was a good cry. Sorry i dump everything to you."
Hashirama smiles as he wipe his tears.

"If you say sorry, i'll skip you through the river like a rock."
Madara nudge Hashirama teasingly.

"Dont be sorry. Be grateful. It's what friends for, helping you and be there when you need it."
Madara pat Hashirama's back again, soothing him.

"..You never tell Tobirama about this?"
Madara asked again.

"Tobirama also got the same pressure from everyone, and he is working harder for us because he is trying to filter everything, list pro and con to every decision, cranking his brain. Honestly it's unfair if i vent to him, when he is also in the same position as me, or maybe worse."
Hashirama sigh and glance at Madara.

"Maybe i can make him relax a bit too, or ask Izuna to entertain him."
Hashirama grins wide, Madara heart melts from Hashirama's smile. He loves the stupid hokage's smile.

"Yeah, you do that."
Madara nods and still eyeing on Hashirama's head, which grow more small sunflowers.

"And fun news, you got new flowers on your head."
Madara smiles teasingly.

Hashirama pluck one of them and gasp.

"Madara! It's a sunflower!! How cute!"
Hashirama beams and start jumping a little for being too happy.

"Yeah you grow a lot of it too."
Madara laugh as he help Hashirama plucking the sunflowers.

"We get bunch of it."
Madara collect them on his lap, as he also pluck the hydrangeas and separate it from the sunflowers.

"I've never seen sunflower this tiny"
Hashirama beams as he start adoring the mini sunflowers.

"I mean your head is not a good place to grow sunflower, idiot. Or any other flowers."
Madara smirks smugly as Hashirama pout from being called idiot.