Hot
This was the first time Madara had been to the deserts of Wind Country, he normally sent Izuna or Hikaku, but both were still healing after the latest battle with the Senju and the importance of this contract was too great to be handed off any further. Besides, it'll do Izuna some good to see how much actual work goes into running the clan.
Madara had done the hard part, kill a certain noble from the Wind Daimyo's court and steal back the information the now dead man had purchased that was stolen from the Fire Daimyo. Now all he had to do was get back home, in a heatwave.
….
Were his muscles always this tight. Ow, fuck!
….
Why is breathing this hard?
It's probably the sand.
….
Ialready emptied my canteen? Damn. I should've filled my it before running off, I had the time. No matter, I've gone longer without.
….
Is…Is the world supposed to spin like that?
….
He woke up with everything being a blur and the taste of bile on his tongue as he shakily tried to sit up.
"Drink this, it's water." The haze stopped his normal response of refusing in case of poison, so he took the metal canteen and sloppily tossed it back. The water did nothing but soothe something inside of him and he laid back down. Something cold and wet was placed on his head and he passed out once more with images of white hair and red eyes in his head.
…
The next time he awoke he was more cognizant but now restrained...loosely. He kept his eyes closed and head down to try and get a sense of what was going on.
"We can't, if To- the commander comes back and finds him hurt, it will be our heads!" A female sounding voice said.
"Like his brother would let him hurt us." A male scoffed.
"Don't you dare take another step closer."
"Why would you defend him?!"
"Because I know a death sentence of an idea when you propose it!"
"He killed your sister! My wife!"
"You think I don't know that?! But what will that lead to? More death? Who will be left then to raise your children, hmm?"
"But-!"
"Just shut up already before you dig your grave any further. Touch him and I will follow the commander's orders."
Why would hurting me cause them death? Who wants me alive so badly that isn't my family yet I have killed a part of theirs?
"At least one of you has a sense of self preservation." A deep familiar voice said.
"S-Sir-!" The male said shakily.
"We will speak of your discipline for attempting to against a direct order later. Dismissed."
"But sir-!"
"I said dismissed!" The voice said angrily. A small poof later he could hear a sigh.
"You can open your eyes now Madara-sama. I sensed you had awaken long before I arrived." A sensor?
He reluctantly did so and held back his shock of the looming presence of Tobirama Senju in front of him. Even if he was only 18, the man was threatening.
"Senju." He glared. "What do you want?"
"Cut the crap already. I know you felt how loose the restraints are, stand up off the floor already." What?
"You should teach those two how to tie knots better." He said easily breaking through the ropes.
"I tied them." What?
"Just get it over with, but not too debilitating, alright?"
"Is this some hallucination?"
"No, you had those earlier. Something about my eyes being pretty." Okay so maybe Madara flailed at that.
"Just hit me hard enough for a quick knockout and run, Hashirama will be here any minute and I won't be able to protect you from his tears."
"The oaf isn't joking about peace?"
"You heard the other two, we're tired. We all want this to end. Quick. 60 seconds before you lose your window."
"Just one question before I do.. why? You easily could have killed me or kept me hostage."
"Thought about it, but.. You are still Anija's friend, and I don't want to be hated by him forever. And I do think our clans could achieve peace together."
"And?" The fierce commander mask was off, Tobirama's true face was being shown and Madara could see that he had one last thing to say.
"In a bout of selfishness…. You are the first person to find anything about me pretty and I am curious to see where that could lead." With that, Madara punched him. Hard.
Maybe peace with the Senju wouldn't be such a bad thing. Hopefully Senju customs align enough with theirs and that Tobirama would accept his show of strength in that punch.