Chapter 6
Madara was dreading having to be sent on this mission the council had just handed over to him. Some high and mighty, civilian noble had decided Madara was the only one suited within the Uchiha, to escort his daughter on her journey back home.
Meaning Madara would have to leave the compound… Leaving behind a heavily, seven months pregnant Tobirama with only Izuna for two weeks was worrying him in itself.
Madara planned to make the mission itself as fast as he could, not wanting to have to leave Tobirama with lack of chakra feedings and without ample amount of protection.
Izuna could protect Tobirama if needed, Madara was sure of that especially with Tobirama now carrying his future niece or nephew. Though Izuna wasn’t always present with the albino male, as he had his own obligations within the clan as well.
If they weren’t in dire need of the money currently, Madara would have turned down the mission.
Although, with the baby being born in less than three months and the fact the baby would be born in the dead of winter and not in summer or early fall, they would need all the money possible.
They also couldn’t afford potential sabotages from a petty civilian noble and his family during this winter, Madara really had no choice and he hated it.
So there he stood in the living quarters of his home, his brother and mother of his soon to be child staring at him waiting for him to explain why he had called them there for a meeting so late at night, while huffing a puffing under his breath.
“What’s wrong aniki?” Izuna asked, worry seeping into his voice. Madara looked distressed and this could never be good.
“I- ugh the old ass holes ugh!” Madara spoke in broken words trying to convey the problem, tugging at his hair he groaned and began to pace.
“Madara, calm down. Just tell us what’s going on?” Tobirama spoke this time, running in hand on the Uchiha clan's arm, from where he sat on the corner of the couch ledge.
Madara took a deep breath before continuing trying to explain what was going to be happening.
“A noble in the capital has requested I escort his daughter home.” Madara spoke, finally relaying the information to the other two in the room.
“You said no right!?” Izuna asked, clearly looking between Tobirama and the heavy baby bump he now supported low on his belly, showing his worry of the situation.
“I kind of didn’t have a choice Izuna! They’d retaliate by sabotaging us this winter.” Madara yelled, throwing his hands up in the air as he began to pace again.
“Whether it be with our food rations and trade or furs to combat the cold, this winter will be more vital for us to have these things!” Madara’s voice rose even more in anger, could Izuna not see he didn’t want to go either?
Izuna had noticed the way Madara’s eyes had drifted to Tobirama’s form during his yelling, as well as the way his eyes stayed on the albino man’s stomach for longer than normal.
Of course Izuna knew why Madara was taking the mission, but with Tobirama so far along already, it’d be smarter to stay within the compound with him.
“Then I’ll just go with you.” Tobirama spoke up, face neutral as ever and voice serious, causing both Uchiha brothers to gape and sputter at the ruby eyed man’s suggestion.
“Are you insane!?” Both brothers ended up shouting simultaneously.
“What is so insane about wanting to be close to one of the only people who can help alleviate the pains that I’ve been dealing with this pregnancy?” Tobirama asked, eyebrows raised at the brothers, rolling his eyes when the gaping mouths of the Uchiha clan head and clan heir continued to hang open.
“You two are going to end up catching flies, it’ll be a simple escort mission, easy. There’s no reason I can’t attend.” Tobirama spoke, shrugging his shoulders slightly, as if it was a simple mission to paint a house rather than a high risk mission to escort a noble to their home country.
“Listen Snowflake, I would’ve said yes on any other mission, any other escort mission even… but this noble family has a lot of enemies.” Madara sighed, kneeling in front of the pregnant Senju heir, taking his hands into his own.
“I do not want you to be put in that kind of danger, not when you’re unable to fully protect yourself at your normal extent. If the baby wasn’t messing with your chakra I’d say okay.” Madara spoke, continuing to rub the hands of the pregnant man.
“If I can’t protect you for some reason on this mission, if one of their enemies attacks and you or Zu happen to get hurt…I’d never be able to forgive myself.” Madara finished, lifting his head as obsidian orbs met with ruby ones.
“I would still like to attend… Although I do also concur it’d be naive of me in my current condition to go along, especially if the noble has many enemies.” Tobirama sighed, realizing Madara was making logical and valid points, as to why it wasn’t necessarily a smart idea for the albino to accompany him.
“Tobirama…I’m not trying to control you or keep you prisoner in the compound for the entirety of this pregnancy, I just don’t want anything to happen to you on this mission. I’d feel terrible, you can go on patrols with Izuna while I’m away.” Madara spoke, slightly shaking the others hands trying to make sure the other knew, this wasn’t him trying to dictate everything he could do.
If Tobirama had not been pregnant or even if he had been early in his pregnancy, and not so close to his last trimester he wouldn’t have even thought of it. He would have just allowed the other man to come with him on the mission.
Within the early months of his pregnancy Tobirama was still fighting and had immaculate control over his chakra.
Although as the pregnancy progressed and Tobirama got into the later months of his pregnancy his chakra diminished, making it harder and harder for him to cast jutsu. Making a simple, single shadow clone without an ample amount of chakra from Madara was hard enough, let alone a jutsu strong enough to protect himself and child if Madara was unable to on this mission.
“No, you’d be foolish to try to control me.” The Senju jokes, both Uchiha brothers knew that was true, anyone who tried to control Tobirama Senju would be in for an ill fate.
This was the man who could control the blood within someone else’s body, who could make water dragons that could drown you in an instant. He wasn’t weak by any means, he wasn’t going to be controlled or be forced into a housewife role by anyone.
Not that Madara even wanted a housewife, in fact the only reason he hadn’t currently been courting another or had married yet was because all the current people within the clan that had approached him lacked something… they lacked that deadly factor he desired.
Ever since he was young he had had an obsession with anything and anyone that was pretty, strong, and deadly.
Someone who could lead enemies or even potential allies along by their noses. Someone who wouldn’t back down in their beliefs, who would fight to protect their family. Someone who would fight with him, telling him when he was wrong or stupid and not just agree with his every move.
Tobirama Senju checked every single box within his mental checklist of a perfect partner. The more Madara realized that the Senju was his ideal partner, someone meeting and surpassing his mental list, the more shocked he became.
The albino man was the perfect someone he had always dreamed of marrying since he was a child. He was strong, deadly, and all Uchiha would even agree in saying he was beautiful, he was just too blinded by hate until the pregnancy came to be to realize.
Older members of the clan had said the albino male had reminded them of the old tales of Amaterasu blessed, although those were just ancient fairy tales written in romance novels, and not actual stories within the clan.
“Yes, yes it would be foolish to try to contain or control you. I’d never dream of it.” The raven haired male laughed, rubbing the younger male’s knee before rising to his feet again, not noticing the albino's slightly widened eyes.
“When do you leave?” Izuna asked, after nearly becoming sick at the display between his brother and his brother's baby mama, who was his once rival.
“I’ll be leaving before the sun rises tomorrow, I know it’s sudden but I’d rather start this mission sooner than later.” Madara sighed, running his fingers through the albino man’s hair.
“Okay, then let’s have one last meal together before you leave dear baby daddy of mine.” Tobirama said, eyes slanted in a teasing manner, as he stood as gracefully as he could with his now huge belly. Izuna cackled at the albino man’s words and his brother's shocked face as he followed the younger male.
Making their way into the kitchen to start what no doubt would be another dinner of inarizushi, to both brothers' dismay.
Though they had learned it was better not to comment on the meal choice of the pregnant male.
Especially after the one dinner Tobirama had hit Izuna over the head with a pan as the older male laughed at his dinner choice again, they learned that a pregnant person's cravings were no joking matter.
Izuna started helping the albino prep the food, as Madara sat at the Kotatsu watching them. Smiling fondly, whenever the albino would smack the hand of his younger brother causing him to whine like he was a child again, as he would try to sneak something to eat off the counter.
When they had finished cooking, Tobirama got to work making the plates of inarizushi. Izuna began cleaning up, placing the pots into the sink to soak while they ate, then turning off the stove by putting out the katon he had used to light it.
As they both had finished with their tasks, they began walking towards Madara, who was still sitting and watching them with a fond smile still etched onto his features.
Tobirama carried his and Madara’s plate back to the kotatsu, as Izuna carried his own. They had just begun to eat at the kotatsu again, as the winter weather began to set in causing the air to become chillier. It had been easier in the summer and early fall for them to eat at the table Hashirama had crafted for them when Tobirama moved in, but with the chill in the air now the kotatsu helped greatly.
Tobirama's new added weight of his belly made it more difficult for him to get up from a zabuton, although he did appreciate the heat the Kotatsu provided him with. It was quite embarrassing to have to ask Madara or Izuna to help him off the zabuton, as his new found weight made him unsteady.
Placing his and Madara’s plates down onto the kotatsu, he gingerly sat down on the zabuton. One hand supporting his back, as the other one supported his gigantic baby bump, he slowly made his way down.
Madara watched as the albino man sat, sympathetically. Cringing himself, when seeing the man wince slightly as he finally made his way down to the zabuton. Clearly was another hard kick to the ribs, as the red eyed man was now rubbing under his ribs.
They were soon joined by Izuna who had placed his food down next to Madara, who then went back into the kitchen.
Only to emerge with a bottle of sake for the two brothers, as well as a pitcher of water for the pregnant man.
Tobirama was just thankful he didn’t find sake or alcohol appealing before his pregnancy. He was fine to drink tea or water, whether he was pregnant or not.
As Izuna sat, he poured both Madara and himself a glass of sake as well as a glass of water for the other male. They began eating the inarizushi, enjoying their last meal together before Madara’s mission.
Tobirama laughed as a clearly drunk Izuna grabbed Madara into a headlock, declaring his love loudly for his brother.
Madara slid out from underneath his brother's grasp, watching as Izuna tumbled face first into the table, passing out.
Shaking his head, the elder Uchiha brother stood from his seat walking over to the albino man’s side, offering him his hand. Tobirama took the hand offered to him, the Uchiha clan head helped him stand up from his zubaton, steadying him as he stumbled, belly having thrown him slightly off balance once again.
“Would you like to accompany me to the garden?” Madara asked the other male, Tobirama smiled slightly and nodded.
Grabbing onto the other male’s arm, allowing the Uchiha to guide him into the back gardens. Leading him to a bench that sat in front of the koi pond, that had slowly begun to freeze over with the start of winter.
Helping the pregnant male to sit on the bench, before sitting down himself.
They sat there for a while, watching the full moon in the night sky. As they sat a gust of wind rushed between them causing the albino man to shiver violently.
The raven haired male raised his eyebrows at the other man, and was met with a slight eye roll.
“I’m Suiton natured, I am more susceptible to the cold than others.” The white haired male explained, who was now rubbing his hands over his arms trying to produce more heat.
Madara smiled at him, taking off his haori and draping it over the other man’s shoulders. Moving closer to the albino and wrapping his arms around his waist, allowing his chakra to engulf the other warming him up.
Tobirama looked up at Madara who was smiling at him now, sighing Tobirama laid his head on the others shoulder.
“You better hurry back soon, I’m not gonna do the jutsu with just both of our idiot brothers there.” The other man bemoaned, thinking of how Izuna and Hashirama would be if Madara weren’t to be present during the jutsu transformation.
“I’ll be as fast as I possibly can be.” Madara promised, rubbing his thumb along the other man’s waist.
“I’ll most likely need your chakra along with Izuna’s during the transition, it’ll be a great strain on my body at first until my chakra stabilizes.” Tobirama sighed, rubbing his head feeling a stress induced headache coming on.
Madara saw the movements of the other and grimaced, he hated that this was causing the albino male stress. He knew it would be for the best for them all in the long run but he couldn’t help but feel bad.
“I’ll be back before the jutsu needs to be done, even if I have to keep moving day and night without sleep. I won’t leave you alone like that.” Madara sighed, looking into those ruby eyes.
“Don’t be stupid, you need rest too” groaned the Senju, hearing just how clingy he sounded.
“No. If this mission didn’t threaten the materials we need so desperately this winter I wouldn’t have taken it.” Madara spoke, voice shaking slightly with anger with the fact that he was being put in such a position.
Having to choose to stay with the man who was carrying his child and risk the supplies they would need before and after the birth of said child or to go on the mission and leave the man to be guarded and helped by someone who wasn’t himself during his absence.
“You and Zu mean more to me than some random noble and his family. You two along with Izuna and as much I hate to say it that oaf of a brother of yours are my family now.” Hand coming to rest of the extended stomach of the Senju, which was soon met with a slight nudge.
“I would have told them to fuck off, if losing those supplies wouldn’t cost us greatly.” Taking a breath in before continuing.
“I even asked Hashirama if he could lend us some supplies before I accepted, but he said your clan was running lower than normal on supplies this winter as well, I tried to avoid going but they only want me to escort the daughter.” Madara finished, rolling his eyes at the ridiculous requests of the nobles.
“I understand… I’m not blaming you, I just don’t want to be left alone during the transformation.” The albino male sighed.
“You won’t be, I promise you I will not take longer than necessary on this mission. And as little comfort as it may be, Izuna wouldn’t dare leave you unguarded or alone so long as you’re carrying his niece or nephew, while unable to access your chakra correctly.” Madara smiled, trying to assure the pregnant male that Izuna would be there for him while he couldn’t be.
“I know, it just won’t be the same.”
“I’ll hurry back as soon as I can, I promise.” The Uchiha said, lifting the pale slightly cold hands to his lips before kissing them slightly, warming them with his chakra.
“We should head to bed, it might be the last full night of sleep I can get for a while. With you gone and your restless child inside of me.” Tobirama groaned playfully.
“I’m sorry.” The elder apologized, helping the other stand as they made their way towards Madara’s room. Where they both slept together, currently it was the only sleeping solution they could find that would allow Tobirama a full night's sleep.
“I was only kidding, I’ll be fine. Izuna’s chakra will settle the baby enough, as he is your brother. It won’t be exactly the same but each night before bed he’ll supply the chakra while you can’t, to where I can get just enough sleep.” The other explained, as he slowly slipped into the Clan heads room and onto the bed with little help from the other.
As Madara curled around Tobirama’s form he placed a hand on the lower part of his baby bump, supplying the baby with more chakra than he normally did. If this will be the last fully well rested night for the albino, he’d make sure he got that full night's sleep.
The room was soon filled with the silent snores of the Senju, Madara pleased he was able to settle the baby enough for the other to sleep, soon followed.
As the sun began to peak out from behind the horizon Madara began to pack his bag, sneaking out of the room as quietly as he could. Knowing he was supposed to have left hours earlier, soon after Tobirama had fallen asleep.
As he rounded the corner of the kitchen he was met with Izuna, sipping some tea as he obviously was nursing a hangover.
“Aniki, so how was last night?” Izuna jokes, wiggling his eyebrows in a suggestive manner.
Izuna was met with a hit to the back of his head as Madara walked past him, causing the younger to groan at the throbbing the smack caused.
“Ow… that hurt.” Izuna bemoaned as he continued to rub the spot on his head.
“Izuna…” Madara spoke, using his clan head voice he usually only reserved for meetings and diplomacy, rarely ever using it with Izuna or close family.
“What is it, Aniki?” Izuna asked, straightening his posture and looking into his brother's eyes.
“I need you to watch over Tobirama and the baby, when I can’t be here I expect you to take over in protecting them.” Madara spoke, voice leaving no room for discussion.
“You act like I’d leave my niece or nephew unguarded.” Izuna huffed in annoyance, rolling his eyes.
“Listen, Izuna… You’ll need to supply him and the baby with chakra every night, to avoid him slipping into chakra exhaustion. You need to stay close to the compound while I’m gone, I don’t want you to take up any missions until I’m back, they come first okay?” Madara spoke, eyes glancing back towards the room where Tobirama was no doubt still sleeping.
“You have my word Aniki, I’ll protect them both with my life.” Izuna swore.
“Just protect them while making sure nothing happens to yourself either. Try to keep everything running smoothly with Hikaku in my absence as well.” Madara sighed, placing his head in his hand. He hopes Izuna is up to the task.
“You better get going Aniki, the faster you go the faster you can return to your lover.” Izuna teased, trying to lighten the mood as he pushed his brother towards the door.
“Yeah, you’re right. I’ll see you soon, otouto.” Madara smiled at his brother's antics, turning and walking out the door of their home.
It took a full minute before Izuna realized his brother didn’t comment on him calling the Senju his lover. Rushing to the door and swinging it open to shout at his brother for an answer, only to be met with the brisk cold air of winter and no Madara in sight.
He walked back into the house, shutting the door behind him, sitting on the couch slowly staring off blankly into space.
There was no way Madara was infatuated with his rival, the white demon of the Senju… or was there? He groaned, rubbing his hands over his face. There was no way.
He was soon brought out of his thoughts when Tobirama rounded the corner, wearing his brother's haori. One hand supported the added weight on his back, while the other was rubbing his bump, obviously trying to settle the already rowdy baby within.
“They knew immediately when he left sensing range, of course they have to be sensors too.” Groaned the albino male, taking a seat next to the older male.
He was hoping the trait of being a sensor wouldn’t manifest in the baby before they were born, wishful thinking it was, as both he and Madara were strong sensors in their own rights.
“I think Madara is in love with you!” Izuna shouted suddenly, eyes wide as he turned to look at the other male, who’s eyes were now equally as blown wide.
“What?” The albino man asked, eyebrows drawn up in confusion. There was no way that was even remotely true, not when Madara could practically get with anyone in fire country.
“Nice one Izuna, haha. Now just lend me some chakra so I can get this brat to sleep again.” Tobirama said, leaning back into the couch.
The raven haired male shook his head, head still spinning with his thoughts but nevertheless supplied the other with the chakra he needed, which helped lull the baby to sleep again. While more chakra was needed from Izuna to achieve this than was needed from Madara, it still would help with keeping the baby asleep or settled for a few hours.
When Izuna finished supplying the other man with chakra he watched as the other man ran his fingers along the edges of the haori he wore, looking longingly out the front window of the house with one hand still pressed fondly against his baby bump.
Dear, amaterasu Izuna thought. ‘They’re both in love with each other and don’t realize it yet.’
Kami… he was going to wind up with gray hairs with these two alone.
That tree bastard already causes him enough headaches as it is, he can’t handle having to watch his idiot brother and rival fall in love.
Rubbing his eyes, he got up off the couch heading towards the kitchen. Looking back over his shoulder to see the pregnant man who was now holding the haori up to his nose, he knew this was going to be a long two weeks.
“So is eggs and toast for breakfast okay?” Izuna called over his shoulder, catching the attention of the albino who immediately dropped the haori down from his nose as if the other hadn’t already seen him. He stood from the couch, following the other into the kitchen.
“Yes, that’s fine.” Tobirama replied, sitting down slowly at the kotatsu as Izuna began cooking for the two of them.
-Tbc?