The End of Warring States Period
One girl, that's all that she was. A girl who had too much self preservation and selfishness that she'd put herself over her own Clan. Above the world's safety.
She had a better family, in another life.
An orphan, siblingless, and had no standing in Clan. Never had enough food to fill her stomach. Never had enough clothing to cover her through winter. She only got by through pity.
This was karma she had too good of a life in her previous one. Some higher being decided to flip her world upside down, the sky's the ground, the earth her sky. She was thoroughly bitter and spiteful of her situation.
Being mad was useless! So she gritted her teeth and fought for her life.
She was hopeful that Uchiha Madara's sexism was because he was a closet gay who fell for Hashirama. Because brocon Uchiha Madara was definitely one, just for Hashirama, he definitely loved the man.
Getting off track here— she was hoping his sexism didn't come from the Clan itself. Boy! Was. She. Wrong. The majority of the Clan was sexist. It's like the stronger they were, the more irrationally sexist they were.
Because not enough women in the Naruto world had an awesome power? Kaguya did not count. Probably that's why.
As she was a girl, plus an orphan, plus had no other living loving relatives she was viewed as a burden. When she successfully blew that fireball jutsu— so she could warm herself up in winter, she got sent into her first mission.
She was going in blind. She barely had any formal training, the only jutsu she knew how to do, she could barely use it. The mission didn't go well, she survived it, only just.
It was a total fluke, when she was faced by a grown adult Senju who was taller and stronger. She resorted to the worst spot to hit a man. She stabbed his crotch and then his throat. Afterwards she ran away and never looked back.
Her mission was completed when she had sent that massive.
Then her second mission came, after the third she definitely knew they were trying to kill her.
When I getcha Clan Elders! When. I. Get. You!
She whipped her ass and off to the training montage episode she got to. She trained in between the increasingly dangerous missions. She made sure that she always had enough energy to go on to the next impromptu, definitely set up, mission.
She was still alive and kicking through it all, take that!
A cockroach, that's what her Clan members were calling her. They might as well call her the-girl-who-live, very awesome that.
Hands were gripping her hips—
That one memory, when she was high on hormonal puberty was the one thing she wanted to burn to ashes. Dirty hands, just remembering it made her want to puke and kill every ass hole in the clan with a third leg.
It didn't happen once, or twice, it happened several times. While in daylight. While a lot of witnesses were around.
They had pulled her long hair. A part of herself she was proud of. Never again—
That incident made her keep her long hair in a bun, covered with a bandana. She won't let those asses win.
So you see, she had a lot of beef with her own Clan. Not so much for the Senju, her own Clan's fault really. She steered clear of Izuna and Madara after their comments.
"You're a weak woman. You're meant to stand down. You're meant to—"
They were children! The lot of them, being mad at your own Clan's heirs and next in line, knowing a jerk who won't respect you was your future leader. Try not being dramatic.
Thanks to those two she had to learn how to be a sensor.
"Why are you so distracted today?"
She avoided the mean hook to her sides. Senju Touka, fair lady, she likes fighting against her out of all the Senju. Touka won't keel over from their fights.
I'll kill less people.
"Shouldn't I ask you what mean thing your heir cooked up in his pot."
Should be the Hiraishin, Izuna looked about the age he died in the story. Should she save him? She never saved any of her Clan members. Let them die. Good riddance honestly, she definitely didn't save that one guy who had children, or the other ones.
But if I don't save Izuna, Madara is going to be a bitch.
Her guts were telling her Tobirama was using it now. She trusted her guts more than her brains.
Breathing a sorry to Touka for sending her away with a punch, she landed on one of her Clan members. They left a small crater once they landed. A very Sakura inspired punch.
She got to pull Izuna slightly away from Tobirama's blade's trajectory, still wounded and bleeding out purposefully though. That won't heal well, but Izuna will live.
Madara, the man with chronic brocon, arrived in a second. Her Clan Leader was too worried for his own brother, he didn't notice her leaving.
She'll ditch them first before she's left behind with Tobirama and Hashirama.
Rushing back to the compound she immediately plunged herself into a hot bath. Bless the Uchiha fire affinity genes. They're one of the useful things she got from this Clan.
Uchiha Izuna was stubborn, he should be alive now that the wound was less severe.
This bath was really good…
Madara ruined her moment of bliss, damn him. With Izuna incapacitated the Clan Leader had turned into a helicopter parent for the past week. Had Izuna recovered enough for him to stray from home and to visit a nobody?
"Mao-san, thank you for saving my brother." The man did a full ninety degree bow.
"I did what I had to do." She tried to dismiss it.
Please just leave dude.
When Madara lifted himself and stood tall he began to look around. Then he said, "There is an empty house within the Clan's compound walls…"
He was offering her a house. "Thank you for the offer Madara-sama. I have grown fond of living outside of the Clan's walls."
The Clan's compound has housing within the walls and outside of the walls. Those who are closer in blood to the main family, has a family member who was an elder, talented individuals, or rich would live within the walls. She was neither of those, so she lived outside of the walls. Technically she had enough brownie points of being a reliable soldier.
Living inside the walls was akin to living in a sea of gossip. Hearing gossip everyday would bring her more stress than being on the battlefield.
"I see, if there is any way I could repay you. Please let me know, you saved Izuna's life. If it wasn't for your swift act— I thank you again."
Since Izuna wasn't dead. Konoha might not happen in the future. That'll be too troublesome, without the village she'll probably die young.
"Allow me to speak truthfully Madara-sama."
Madara nods his head for her to continue.
"I personally believe that this will not be the last time Izuna-sama's life will be at stake. He had fought Senju Tobirama countless times, and survived this is the truth. However this time he barely came through, I don't think the next time he'll face Senju Tobirama he will survive. The Senju heir's new technique allows him to move across distance in an instant." If you don't stop the war now your brother will die. Was her point.
"I will take that into consideration." Madara excused himself and left.
When it came down to Izuna's life, Madara will not take half measures. The easiest way for him to ensure Tobirama no longer had the ability to hurt Izuna was: By killing the Senju, or signing the treaty.
Madara chose to sign the treaty after a very heated debate with Izuna once he recovered. Izuna even burnt a section of the Clan Leader's house, she watched the flame dance in the skies while tying her hair up for the day.
Dramatic ass…
With the treaty planned came the ceremony everyone in the Clan had to attend. They held it on the very land they would be building their Village on. Konohagakure, was nothing but a cluster of wide forest at this time. In no time, it would be her new home.
She'll build her house to the outskirts of the Uchiha Clan's compound—
A footstep trudged beside her. Senju Touka greeted her. "That was a real mean punch. Broke my ribs, and the poor guy's I landed on."
"I'm sorry."
Touka raised a brow. "You're not going to join in?" She jerked her head to festivities.
Their two Clans were trying their best to mingle and relax. Not going to happen as smoothly as the Senju Clan Leader expected. Though Hashirama's laughter put some people to ease easily.
"I'm planning to retire early." She had to quickly add, in case Touka thought she was against the treaty. She wasn't, she might've been the one to push Madara to sign it. "I don't like crowds."
Touka leaned against the tree beside her. "Have you been holding back your skills on the battlefield?"
She wasn't expecting Touka to ask her that of all topics. "Yes,"
Surprise coloured the Senju woman. "That's rather honest."
"We fought everyday, almost. You'll notice something. I don't need to hide it from you."
"But why hide it at all?" Touka was confused.
Of course she was. A battlefield with your life at stake and you're pulling your punches, she was asking for her death resume.
"My Clan… they're not very progressive with their thinking." She looked down to her chest.
"Ah… I thought you Uchiha would appreciate power over gender. Then again I rarely see a woman of your Clan fight."
"How about your Clan?" She was curious, were they better?
Touka chuckled. "Take one look at Mito and Hashirama's relationship. Most Senju men have to respect their wife. Let's just say they learned where they came from."
They shared a laughter.
"Maybe I should add Senju men as my potential future partner." She mused.
"No one in your Clan piqued your interest? Not even those two brothers?"
Touka was referring to Madara and Izuna.
"I'd rather marry a puppy. Actually a puppy is better for me. They're more loyal."
"It couldn't be that bad. I heard Izuna is a ladies man from the women in towns he frequents. Madara… everyone just silently admired his looks, but he seemed to be a loyal man."
"If only you knew how Uchiha men view women, you'd punch them across a mountain range and back."
Touka was silent as she stared at her and hummed. "Since we're friends now, hopeful friends, you can come to my place. If you need anything."
It was her turn to be surprised. Her chest felt stuffy. "Thanks…"
She didn't run away after that. She just missed her futon back home.
The Village's construction started in full swing. It was the Senju Clan Leader's fault, he woke up and decided to grow houses. Until his brother hit him in the head and made him tare it all down again.
Because houses needed pipework and drainage. Proper support to keep it up. Planning the layout of the landscape. Figure out where everyone's houses were going to be. Was among the list.
Tobirama had laid out the plans where the necessary buildings were at. The office. The marketplace and trades. The specialty shops. The business district. The health care district. The man forgot the academy.
She approached the man after the brief ended.
"Tobirama-san, what of the children's studies?"
The man gave her a confused face. "Studies?"
He hasn't planned them has he?
She inwardly sighed, she shouldn't have brought it up. But if she didn't, those kids were going to run around freely with nothing to do. A free child was an apocalypse.
"Usually, several elderly members of my Clan would gather any children that's too young to train to teach them how to count and read."
"A place where they could study?"
She nodded.
Tobirama hummed and began writing something down. "Yes, that is not a terrible idea. The capital has an academy where people could enrol. We should establish our own education establishment. Miss?"
"Uchiha Mao." She introduced herself.
"The one who punched Touka?" Tobirama raised a brow.
She coughed into her fist. Did Touka specifically refer to her as the one who cracked her ribs?
"It wasn't meant as an offence." Tobirama corrected.
It sounded like one though.
"Touka didn't refer to you as the one who punched her. I happen to be the one to heal her after the battle. I must admit it takes an impressive amount of control."
Senju Tobirama was praising her for punching his cousin… was this the after life?
"Mao-san, since you brought this up please help me draw up a rough plan on where the establishment should be. Could you send the rough details by the end of the day?"
She nodded. "Yes,"
"Good, I will be where the office building is supposed to be." The white haired Senju was immediately swarmed by others.
Well, she now has a new job.
It was easy to figure out where the academy was going to be. It has to be near the library and the healthcare district. She'd have to make her entire argument viable. As those spots would no doubt be a hotspot. Everyone would be vying for it.
Tobirama had made the healthcare district in the centre of the Village. The library was also in the centre. So closer to the library than the healthcare centre.
She went to the spot where the library was supposed to be. Some people were already marking the building. They set up a string tied to a stick to mark the width and length of the building. The rest of the land besides it was still empty, that's good.
The healthcare district was seven minutes away from the library. On a children's foot it might double. Let's not forget the academy requires access to the training ground.
Finding a quiet spot she began writing out the plans. She wrapped up before the sky turned orange and sought out Tobirama. Her Clan's heir was locking eyes with the Senju intensely, they both were having a staring match.
"Tobirama-san, Izuna-sama." She greeted them both.
"Mao-san,"
"You're the one who saved me from this demon!"
What a good way to greet someone.
Izuna immediately whipped his head to Tobirama. "How did you know her name?"
"We've met." Tobirama's answer was clipped and short.
"You've met? When?" Izuna edged.
She decided to answer his question. No need to let a misunderstanding run its course through the heir's mind. "This morning during the briefing."
Izuna immediately calmed down. "Right, that briefing."
The one he purposely avoided, since Tobirama was there. Izuna wasn't the only one who didn't come. No doubt several Senjus and Uchihas didn't come.
She handed the scroll with the plans to Tobirama. "Here are the plans Tobirama-san. The educational establishment should be near the health district and the library. Access to the library will be important but not as much as to medical care. Children are prone to injure themselves when they're training. Having one close would out everyone's worry to rest. As for the library, we might need to build a couple more around the Village."
Tobirama unfolds the scroll. "Why not one library?"
"As the Village grows there will be more knowledge we will have to store. A library close to the educational establishment should be filled with knowledge the children will require through their studies. Perhaps also ones beyond that. A library near the office would perhaps be filled with important records relevant divisions in the future wish to see."
"I see… this is a sound plan. Would you like to lead it?"
"I'm sorry?" She heard him wrong.
"This is your plan, there are few revisions needed, you would know how to manage it better. Unless you have something else in mind?" Tobirama asked her, he really meant to have her lead the creation of the academy.
"I'd rather have someone more qualified working on it. I wouldn't mind supervising and giving my input where it's required."
Tobirama hummed. "Let's go with that. We're expecting other Clans to join the Village soon. The Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi are eager to join."
"Are you serious?" Izuna asked incredulously.
Tobirama nodded. "They will. We will also be receiving several commoners into the Village. Neighbouring small towns that our Clans are protecting would probably join us. We have a month or two before any of them start trickling in."
"Isn't all of this going too fast?" Izuna groaned.
"There's no stopping it. The other newly arrived Clans would wish to have some say in the education system we will put. But writing, reading, and common knowledge would be something they won't mind being taught. Since you will only be supervising, do you have any suggestion of who should lead the plans?"
"I think we should have two people leading this. A Senju and an Uchiha. Uchiha Kotoha is currently one of the teachers the children in the Uchiha Clan have. She's been teaching others since she was young." She suggested.
Izuna frowned, here we go. He was about to start. "That woman? She's not an elder relevant with the Clan's education. We have Elder Akihito, he is a reliable tutor."
"Your family's direct members and cousin's tutor. He doesn't teach the rest of the Clan's children like Kotoha does. Kotoha knows what the rest of the children really need to know."
Kotoha teaches the children what everyone needs to know to survive in this life.
"Akihito Sensei's qualifications are higher than that woman. She does not attend any formal institutions to qualify as a Sensei. I also do not recall you, woman, having the qualification to have a say in all of this." Izuna looked down at her.
It's the same usual bull she has to deal with ever since she was born in the Clan.
"I do hope Akihito Sensei really knows how to teach children." That man does not teach children how to live. Izuna and Madara, as well as the rest of the main Uchiha family, were prime examples.
Akihito Sensei specialised in teaching children of high social standing. How to act like it, what to manoeuvre through the crowds, leadership, and manners. Most of which the normal children that made the majority, did not require.
Uchiha Izuna looked at her full of smugness. "You'll see, Akihito Sensei would whip them into shape."
"We could give it a try." Tobirama interjects. If he had noticed the way Izuna treated his fellow Clan members, he kept it to himself.
"I'll go and share the news with Akihito Sensei." Izuna sauntered away.
Once the man was out of earshot she told Tobirama, "I think it's best if I don't take any positions, like the supervisor. But I think you should have one of your Clan's women who has a child of their own to be one."
"If this is about what Izuna said—"
"It's because of that." She turned fully to face Tobirama. "Tobirama-san, from the very brief conversation I had with Touka I could tell that your Clan were thought to respect everyone equally. The Uchiha does not. Everyone has a role to fulfil. The women's job is to—excuse me—spread their legs. Take it. Have children twenty four seven. Repeat. Rinse.
"If they are not doing the above then they'll have to be abled body troops, labour, war, blood. If they are too capable and are capable of having children, ship them off to the nearest strong man. Get them to pop up strong soldiers! That's the surface water of the Uchiha Clan lives. And I am absolutely tired of not pointing this shit out to others who might potentially be honey trapped. Yes, I know some of you are listening, that's why I am speaking openly."
The Senjus who had been around turned a blind eye. Oh, they were listening in alright. There was a young female Senju who looked livid. Her shoulders were shaking still from anger.
"I will keep that in mind, Mao-san." Was Tobirama's reply.
She nodded and bid him goodbye. Now that she definitely did not have anything to do after all, time to build her dream house. A nice secluded tiny house away from the idiots of her Clan.
You're thinking she was going to go warpath and do the Viva la revolution? No, she had better things to do. Like deciding where to build her house.
Everyone was free to choose an empty plot of land for themselves. Within reasonable size. While planning for the academy she nabbed a land that's further away from where her Clan members were gathering at. Her house would be close to a river, it was perfect. Now the hassle to build the damn house…
It wasn't the first time she had to build her own house. She built her last home back in the compound. Ever greater for taking that mission of protecting a builder, then getting directions on how to build her own house from them was really helpful. She knew what to plan in her house.
There should be a dedicated tea room with built-in floor hearth. Her dining room would be connected to the kitchen directly. A laundry room. Bathroom with comfortable bath she could soak up in. Ample lighting. Hobby room for future hobbies. Master bedroom. A guest bedroom. That was all she could think of right now.
Off to work with her.
***
"You did this all by yourself?"
She turned around from her work to see Touka.
"I don't have anyone else to help me." She shrugged, jumping off of a beam and landed beside the other woman.
"It's only been what? A week?"
"Ten days. Took some time to find the right tree. Any reason in particular you're here?" Touka was too busy to visit her without any reason.
"Straight to the point I see." The Senju woman smirked. "Your Clan's heir has been wiped clean by Mito for letting Elder Akihito teach the children. That Elder of yours try to teach a bunch of children how to be a little prince or princess, instead of the necessary things. I heard you'd like to know that."
"Not really, I'm busy building my house." She flicked a thumb at her house's direction.
"Words are going around about what you said. Several women of my Clan, most of them actually, decided to get on a mission to protect as many Uchiha women as possible."
"How are they doing that?"
Touka looked like she won a prize. "By befriending them. At every turn an Uchiha man approaches an Uchiha woman, there's at least a Senju woman around. When they say some unsavoury stuff, they get a lesson of a lifetime."
She didn't feel like knowing what that lesson was.
"Don't worry too much, my Clan members have decided to keep what you said inside the Clan. Anyway, Hashirama and Madara thought it was a good idea to hold a joint training for our Clans. For bonding purposes." Touka rolled her eyes.
Sure, everything would be just fine. There was no way it would go down into a fight. No way.
"Do you want to watch?" Touka asked, a little evilly. "I'll have Hashirama grow some corn."
She didn't know what got into her but she agreed to go. There was corn available that was hard to resist.
***
Madara and Hashirama standing beside each other without an armour to them was something all of them were getting used to. The two strongest Clan Leaders are wearing normal clothes, ready for training. It would be a friendly match.
Before Madara and Hashirama's spar started she managed to bother Hashirama into growing a bunch of corn. The woman came back with a handful. Touka found a large pot from somewhere and made her lit a fire to start boiling the corn.
Was it alright for them to eat corn while the rest were watching Madara and Hashirama spar? Yes, it has to be.
"It's really sweet." She noted as she munched the already cooked corn.
Madara and Hashirama had been fighting for ten minutes straight.
"Right? This is how Hashirama trained his Mokuton when we were kids. He'll have to make the corn sweater and less sweet. Tobirama was the one who came up with the idea. We don't need Hashirama making the trees near our Clan denser." Touka had a large smile.
Seeing the woman like this was a novelty for her. She had only seen Touka frowning, scowling, and anger from the battlefield.
"You are cousins with Hashirama-san and Tobirama-san, correct?" She asked.
"My mother was their aunt, their father's sister. So you can say I'm part of the line of succession. But I told them I want to have nothing to do with Clan politics. Tobirama was better at chewing on the Elders alive and making them eat their own words."
The tomboy rebel Senju Touka, huh.
"What about you and your Clan?" Touka quickly added, "Don't answer it if it's too sensitive."
"It's alright. My Clan is just a house, that's all." A house with tatters and leakage. One that she was finally able to separate herself from.
"Hmm, is it bad?"
She could roughly guess what Touka was asking her to confirm. "Among my Clan I'm known as a cockroach. Only because I wouldn't die no matter how many missions I was sent to when I was young."
"...How young…?"
"Maybe five or four. Our Clans are constantly at war. That time especially was harsh on the Uchiha Clan, they couldn't afford to feed a mouth that doesn't bring anything to the table. That's why I had to start young. The moment I mastered the Gōkakyu no Jutsu, so I could survive the winter, they sent me away on a mission. They probably thought it was mercy, have me die honourably for the Clan. I didn't die by some luck, in panic I stabbed their jewels and their neck."
Touka sputtered and almost choked on the corn she was eating. "Is it a member of my Clan?"
"Yeah," She pinched her lips together.
"That poor man—well it's fair game! I think… I mean, your victim might be one of our Elders." Touka almost dropped her corn and went on an override to calm her down. Touka had thought she was worried. "Don't worry, that Elder was pretty bad so everyone was happy he's dead. It's impressive you took down a Senju Clan Elder at five years old."
"It was a fluke." She deadpanned.
"Still! It was a job well done." Touka gave her a thumbs up for beating her Clan's elder.
They noticed that others had begun sparring against one another.
"Let's go. I haven't been training for a whole week, it's terrible. My muscles are getting stiff." Touka stood up and began stretching.
"What about the corn?" The Senju woman tossed all of the corn into the pot to boil. They had only eaten two. It was a waste to throw it away.
Touka pointed to their surroundings. "Someone will grab them. It's a pretty normal thing in the Clan. Just leave the lid open, it's like an invitation." Touka opened the lid up. "There we go, now come let's spar."
She was going to come out of this sore.
***
She flipped Touka to the ground, sending her onto the back. Knocking the air out of the Senju for the ninth time.
Touka had wide eyes, it was comical. "I know you've been holding back on me. But what are those movements?!" The woman screamed.
"Sumo wrestlers do it all the time." Maybe not exactly like she did, Touka was light enough for her to toss.
"Sumo wrestlers?! They do not do that? Did you copy them with your Sharingan?" Touka sat up from the ground.
"I didn't. There was a mission I had, I met this sumo wrestler he thought me some of his technique. I took liberties and added the throw."
"Girl let me teach you some of my movements."
She still wondered to this day why that sumo wrestler thought her all of those moves.
"I'd like to see you throw someone heavier than us." Touka looked around and called out to a man, he was on the chubbier side. "Benkei, come here!" Touka began waving her hand.
Benkei and his sparring opponent came by. "I'll eat your corn later alright. I can't fight with my stomach full. It'll just come out again."
Touka, a little breathless, shook her head. "No that's not it. Spar with her." She pointed at her.
Benkei was confused, out of the blue told to spar with a stranger, formerly his enemy, was weird anytime of the day. But the man agreed, slightly unsure. His guard was already up when facing her.
She couldn't go easy on him. Ending this fast would be beneficial. She huffed, in a single leap closing the distance between them. Grabbing onto his hand, using the centre of her gravity she threw him off.
He blinked up at her countless times.
"What… just… happened?" He was hyperventilating.
"Breathe," She reminded him.
"What just happened!" He was on his feet for less than a second.
That was a fast recovery time.
"What was that?!"
Touka laughed. "Idiot, she threw you."
"But I weigh one hundred twenty kilos! Even Yukio can't flip me over. You can't flip me Touka!" Benkei was in an existential crisis. "One more time! I can't believe you toss me like that."
The man he was sparring with, Yukio, she learned, sighed at Benkei's request. "I think you want to sit this one out Benkei. You're a sore loser."
"Okay," She got into her stance.
Benkei dropped lower, arms splayed wide. He's planning to catch her. With his body weight his win was guaranteed. She was relying on impact, explosive movements, and speed. Catching her would take it all away. Not the first time someone tried to catch her. She'll catch them first.
There wasn't a large distance to them this time, so she couldn't take proper momentum. Regardless, she sprinted to Benkei. His hands were about to grab her, she used it for a lift instead to boost her jump. She spun in the air once, hands grabbing Benkei's shoulders.
"Heave ho!" She used momentum to throw Benkei up and over and to the ground hard.
The man got back up again. "One more time!"
Yukio was right, this guy was a sore loser. She had threw Benkei five times, six times she had to kick him down, one time in the last fight she had to use her punch. He was on the ground with a foaming mouth.
"Hahahah! Benkei! Give it a rest, she's been holding back on me. Who knows how strong she is." Touka was laughing and rolling on the ground. Slapping a and on Benkei's belly.
"Touka, you little shit!" Benkei groaned and sat up slowly.
Yukio brought them some warm corn and handed each to them. "Come on, let's eat." He sat down next to Benkei.
She decided to also sit down to have her corn. Just when she was about to bite her corn someone slapped her back, making her slam her teeth into the corn.
"That was impressive!"
Ah, she forgot this giant golden retriever, ahem! The Senju Clan Leader was still here. And her own Clan Leader was right behind him.
"I've never seen Benkei thrown around like a sack in my life." Hashirama crouched down beside Touka and flopped himself down on his bum. Grinning from ear to ear.
Benkei snorted. "You like to throw me around back when we're younger Hashirama-sama."
Hashirama's laughter compared to Touka was far more free and infectious. "I'm sorry Benkei, I do remember you were asking for another go after falling down."
Benkei was blushing. Must be an embarrassing memory for him. The Senju laughed again, they really love doing it.
"Still, I thought Touka had been going against Hikaku-san all this time. Both of you are third in power so I have been expecting you two to fight." Hashirama looked at Touka.
"I fight him on occasion. But most of the time I fight against Mao-chan!" Touka threw an arm around her, forcing the shoulders to collide.
"Mao…chan?" She felt Touka had made a leap in their relationship somewhere.
"Hikaku-san fights against our Yukio more!" Benkei elbowed the disgruntled Senju.
"He likes to burn my cape." Yukio grumbled.
"You never told me you had someone as strong as Hikaku-sanin your Clan, Madara." Hashirama turned to his childhood friend.
"I had no reason to tell you." Hashirama was gloomy immediately, Madra ignored him, instead the Uchiha Clan Leader was frowning at her. "I also had no impression of Mao-san's strength."
"Mao-san, why have you been holding back your strength?" Benkei's question was a little too innocent. "Ow! That hurts Yukio, why did you have to elbow me?"
Yukio had the words "are you that dumb" written all over his body language.
"Showing too much power is a hassle for someone like me. I'll be in so much danger it won't benefit me. Beside the pile of missions that comes with it." That was the rough outline of her reasoning.
Having too much power with no real standing in the Clan was hazardous. The Elders will try to control your life like a pawn on a chessboard, she'd barely have any say to her life. The worst thing, they would try to arrange her into a marriage. Probably with that fourth in command within the Clan, marrying her to the Clan Leader or heir would be impossible. Unless those two brothers requested it.
She always tries to remain under the radar within the Clan. It wasn't that hard with them disregarding her because of what was between her legs and her especially normal family lineage. The Elders' family lineage had awakened a Mangekyou Sharingan in the past. Naturally there were those who became an Elder through their merits and contributions.
Madara kept to himself and sat down to join them on the ground.
Benkei nodded at her explanation. "You are right, the same thing happens to Touka-chan. When she moved up the ranks and became third in charge after Tobirama-sama, she's always too busy to join us for drinks. Even Yukio, who's the fourth, still has more free time!"
"What's this Benkei, have you been missing me?" Touka teased.
"Hahaha, no way. I just missed your wallet. You have more money than me and Yukio. Ack—!"
Touka fist fell on Benkei's head hard.
Yukio sighed. "Idiot,"
"Speaking of which, Mao-san, my younger brother mentioned that you were the one who made the plans for the educational district. It was impressive, my wife thinks it's an amazing idea to be able to send our four years old son off to school to start his education. It takes a lot off her plate." Hashirama told her.
She said, "It's something the ladies back in the Clan like to do. They figured out that having someone watch over their children makes finish their work faster and easier."
"Mito said the same thing. My Clan would have one of the parents, who is available, watch over the children. Lately I couldn't watch over Arata, my son, with the Village's construction. So I'm afraid I've been neglecting my duties as a parent." Hashirama was gloomy again. A cloud formed above his head.
"Shouldn't it naturally be Mito's job to take care of your son."
Madara's question was like a drop of water in an empty bucket. The noise rang loud and clear as the sunny day.
Hashirama took no offence in his friend's question. "Madara, it takes two people to come together to have a child. That child is my responsibility as much as it is Mito's. It's amazing how single parents could raise a child. My Arata drives me over the edge sometimes."
She applauds Hashirama's amazing tolerance to Madara's question. No one could truly blame Madara for having those principles. That's what and how the Uchiha had managed their children. The women's job is to the family and children. The men were of war and blood.
Since punching Madara and the rest of the Uchiha men was like punching a lifeless wall, she'd rather be cut off from any of them. Interaction leads to fire, fine, better have no interaction at all than have her explode like a volcano.
"They really do run things differently in the Uchiha." Benkei mused.
"For my Clan it has always been a woman's duty to tend to the children and be the homemaker. I personally don't see why they should be anything else." Madara's tone was that of indifference.
Hashirama shivered. "Madara, don't let my wife hear you say that. She'll kill you."
"She can try."
Several of the Senjus were pale when they heard Madara's reply.
"Hashirama-sama I think it's best if you are around your wife when Madara-sama meets her." Benkei not so silently whispered.
"Maybe you should call the medic team right now." Touka was clenching her teeth.
"Don't do it you idiot." Yukio was ready to catch Touka in case she flew and killed Madara herself.
Touka whipped her head towards her. "Is this the shit you have to deal with everyday? How could you stand it?"
She deadpanned. "I don't."
Touka froze, surprised, then confused. Madara was scrutinising her. Hashirama, Benkei, and Yukio were waiting and staring.
"I don't listen to any of them."
***
She finally finished the house. If you were to count out the colour, furnishings, and amenities. She just needed to hammer some of this roof down.
"Woah, you did all of this on your own?" Benkei was circling the house.
Yukio was acting his usual chill self by standing on one spot and admiring the building. Touka went directly inside the house.
"You have to build my house next!" Touka shouted from inside.
"No, no, she has to build me a house first!" Benkei rounded to the front again.
Touka peeked her head out of the door. "She's building me a house! Not you!"
"Alright, alright, children. Get a grip of your fantasies. She's not building any of you a house just because both of you are terrible at it." Yukio grabbed Benkei by the ear, then Touka. The two were then pulled to the front of the house.
Uchiha Mao never thought the day would come for her to call someone as her friend. But these three did it. They wiggled and wormed their way in.
She landed down on the ground and patted her clothes clean. "What is it today?"
Benkei pulled his ear free and a smile split across his chubby face. "A merchant group is moving into the village, so was some master builder. We're going there to meet them and ask if any of their workers could help us with our house! I'm finally having a roof over my head." Benkei cries were comical.
"I probably want them to check my house and see if anything needs correction. Let me get my hands clean." Although not everything in the house was running, she had one clean room she could use to quickly changed clothes.
"Let's go!" Touka pulled her and off they went.
The buildings within the Village were still sparse and most of them were only skeletons. Though they've started laying down the routes around the Village. If the merchant group and the master builder had just arrived they should be at the Village's entrance.
Their Clan members were still wary of each other. The Uchiha and Senju both always walked in pairs. Children though, bless them, they got along well with each other. They'd frequently come across a group playing hide and seek or tag.
From a fair distance they could see the gathering of new people at the Village entrance. Hashirama, Madara, Tobirama, and Izuna were in attendance. This was the first of the group to arrive within their Village, looking to settle in. Those four being the leading figures had to be present.
"Yo!" Touka very casually greeted these four figures.
"Ugh, it's you." Izuna very lightly sneered.
"What, couldn't appreciate the presence of a lady?" Touka sassed.
"A lady?" Izuna scoffed. "More like a goat."
"Izuna," Came Madara's warning.
"I get it Nii-san, not in public spaces." Izuna rolled his eyes as his elder brother huffed in fond annoyance.
"Don't worry pretty boy, I'm the best GOAT around here!"
Touka, you who knows no shame. Even Mao doubted she could sass anyone that openly in public.
Izuna leered at Touka. "No wonder you are without a suitor…"
"Pretty boy, I am my own suitor!"
At this point she, Benkei, and Yukio were receiving second hand embarrassment.
"Touka you are causing Mao-san, Benkei, and Yukio great discomfort." Tobirama came to their rescue. He politely greeted them, they gave him a brief bow.
In comparison with Hashirama they were being bulldozed to the ground by the man's all encompassing hugs. Hashirama somehow managed to hug all three of them at the same time. The three of them fell to the ground with a loud thud.
"It's my favourite group! Hahahaha!"
Yukio literally pressed his palm against Hashirama's face, smushing it into amazing shapes. "Hashirama-sama, get, off!"
Benkei was faring better. "Hashirama-sama please let us go!"
She wasn't enjoying this hug, she was not!
They all scrambled to their feet once Hashirama let them go.
Hashirama beamed like a thousand suns. "Mao-san, I saw that your house is coming along well!"
When did he come to look at her house? She didn't see him. Oh, probably from on top of the cliff. He really likes to climb up there with Madara, their story counterparts loved doing that too.
"All that's left is the roof, paint, and furnishings. Also the amenities." There were still quite a few things she needs to sort out. She hopes she'll be finished by the time another Clan joins them.
"I see, when you're free my wife wishes to invite you over for a tea." Hashirama told her.
"Why the sudden invite?" Was it because of the academy or school plans she wrote up, or was it her statement about her Clan. Those were the particular reasons for Mito to invite her over.
"My wife thinks the women from the Uchiha and Senju Clan should mingle. I don't quite understand what that entails." Hashirama explained, then he was gloomy again. "I wanted to attend, but she said I am not allowed to."
"Stop acting like a kicked puppy." Touka shoved her own Clan Leader.
It only made Hashirama gloomier. She imagines an arrow piercing through the Senju Clan Leader's chest.
"It's a girl's day out, all of us ladies are invited!" Touka proclaimed. "We always have it every Saturday at lunch, so everyone could come. Hashirama and the boys will have to deal with the kids. Hear that cousin? You're getting Arata for yourself."
Hashirama was like a freshly picked flower when he heard.
"Sheesh, I can't wait for Mito to have a daughter. He'll be a total slave." Touka said under her breath.
"Don't remind me, Touka. He's bad enough with Arata." Tobirama was nursing his head for the incoming headaches.
Izuna clicked his tongue. "Oi, the merchant and the builder master are heading this way." Izuna pointed at the two men and women approaching them. The woman should be the merchant's wife.
Mao squinted her eyes. She would recognize that woman anywhere. "Sumie-san?"
The woman smiled sweetly. "Mao-chan!" She went in to hug her. "I've missed you so much."
Mao was about to melt into a warm hug when Sumie pulled her cheeks. "Sumiehh!"
Sumie only pulled harder. "Why haven't you send a letter, not a word, for months! I had to hear from words in the wind that the Uchiha and Senju were building a Village together. I just had to convince Kotaro to move here ourselves so I can do this to you!" Sumie pulled even harder.
"Mahh cheekssss!"
"Anata, come now, you have to calm down." Kotaro, Sumie's husband, gently placates his wife.
Mao was finally free with a very swollen cheek. She gently rubbed her cheeks. It'll be swollen tomorrow, sigh. Sumie doesn't hold back.
Sumie's temperament changed to another one eighty and greeted everyone else full of warmth. "I am pleased to meet you, my name is Satou Sumie, and this is my husband."
"I am Satou Kotaro, pleased to meet you." The husband and wife bowed in sync.
Tobirama immediately shot them a question, "Are you friends with Mao-san?"
"I'd like to think of Mao-chan as my little sister. But this girl," Sumie was radiating bloodlust. "She always forgets to send me a letter. Barely even visits…"
Mao pinched the bridge of her nose. "Listen here, Sumie-san. I told you many times. My Clan is especially strict. I can only make a brief stop if I have an escort—"
"You are a grown strong woman. Why would you need an escort to protect you?" Sumie harrumph.
"Oh, the escort is not to protect her. They're there to make sure no accidents occur." Izuna explained blandly.
Sumie judged Izuna from the corner of her eyes. Then she turned her body in smooth motion, she gave the image she was floating inside of her long Kimono. "Izuna-sama, correct?" Sumie narrowed her eyes, before smiling. "I heard a lot of things about you in the wind. I am thoroughly impressed by what I heard. Why, there's so many little birdies flying around you. A shame," Sumie shook her head and clicked her tongue several times. "Spring has yet to come to your doorstep when so many birdies catch your eyes."
Izuna flinched, he schooled his expression to the famous Uchiha indifference. "I will have my spring when I find the right birdie."
Sumie clapped her hands together. "I sure hope so. Your Clan love their traditionalists laws after all! They won't even notice a beautiful blooming flower in their garden. Always pick the boring white lilies."
That was a breezy shade if she ever saw one. Kotaro coughed into his fist. "Having the two strongest Clans in the Hi no Kuni joined together, there is no doubt this Village will be the safest place in these lands. As I have written in my corresponding letters my merchant group, and in extension their family, wish to settle within the Village. I will not hide that another large factor was because Mao-sama is a resident of this Village."
Everyone blatantly eyed her, she could only sighed. She'll have some explaining to do. "Sumie is my business partner. She helps me sell my products."
"And you didn't report to the Clan of your business ventures? What if it could be beneficial to the Clan?" Izuna pressed.
"It won't be."
Izuna crossed his arms over his chest. "We won't know it until you tell us."
"I've presented my idea to Elder Masato who is in charge of the Clan's commerce and goods. He said my products were not beneficial." She explained calmly, almost bored. No need to waste extra energy on Izuna.
"Izuna calm down." Madara placed a hand on his brother's shoulder.
Tobirama questioned, "Might I guess these products are the famous slug mucin and self care products?"
"The ones Mito uses!" Hashirama perked up. "My wife really loves those slug mucins base products. She even made me use them, it makes my skin very soft and smooth. My wounds actually heals faster with that slug healing balm."
"We've been purchasing the slug healing balm for medical rations." Tobirama turned to her. "I could sense healing chakra coming out of it too."
Izuna's anger became clear. "Nii-sama, this woman clearly did not run her ideas through Elder Masato. If she had, our Clan would have sponsored her."
Tobirama raised a brow. "Your Clan could freely purchase the slug mucin healing balm. It costs as much as an ordinary ointment."
The younger Uchiha brother was still dissatisfied with the explanation. So Kotaro decided to tell him, "The healing balm is something we sell after countless customers' requests to release it. We were unaware of the effects."
Izuna then turned to Mao. "Did you know of the healing benefits?"
"I gathered the slug mucin from my summon's domain. She and several select of her kind could heal people with their abilities. I wasn't sure if it'll extend to her mucus." She figured out that it was good for your skin because part of her training with the slugs was to clean their mucus. The healing balm was an unplanned side product.
Izuna was about to open his mouth when Madara stopped him. "Thank you for your transparency Kotaro-san, Sumie-san. I appreciate your thoughtfulness. We are still getting on to our toes, as you can see many of the buildings are not liveable as of yet. Most of us are still living within Hashirama's makeshift house."
Mao wanted to whistle loudly. That was a good diplomatic save. A sane Madara that wasn't unhinged from his brother's loss was wondrous. Proof that he didn't receive his title as Clan Leader from pure strength alone.
"No need to worry Madara-sama. My friend, Ito Katsuo here, is an excellent master builder."
The rest of the conversation went smoothly. She, Touka, Benkei, and Yukio managed to have one of Ito's workers to work on their houses.
Ito's workers checked her house to make sure that everything was alright and would hold up even in a storm. He was impressed that her house was sturdy and had been built in such a short time. "I couldn't tell it's been made by amateur."
Thank Ootsuki Kaguya for passing on the Sharingan to them low life peasants. Learning something by copying made it easier with it.
Madara's sudden visit the next day while she was painting her house brought her out of focus.
The man covered her entire front entrance as he knocked on the door. "Mao-san,"
"Madara-sama, how can I help you?" She put down her painting tools.
Madara took a brief look around before stepping further into the house. "Please forgive my brother, you've saved him but he did nothing but disrespect you."
She frowned. "You shouldn't be the one saying sorry Madara-sama."
"For what it's worth I will still apologise. And for what it's worth I am sorry if the Clan did you any disservice." Madara gave her a full ninety degree bow. This was the second time he gave her one.
"...Madara-sama I'm afraid that I cannot believe your sincerity."
I'm sorry, was the most expensive thing she could receive. Especially from her own Clan Leader. She also understood, Madara was asking for forgiveness because he had come to understand several things that she had been keeping silent on. Slowly she had been letting her grasp over her own wings free.
Madara's head remained lowered. An Uchiha was synonymous with stubbornness in their endeavour.
"You should investigate Elder Michiru. I will then accept your apologies. Good day Madara-sama."