in the trees
After medical ninjas of Konoha took Madara, Hashirama was pacing back and forth in the grey walls of the hospital hallway. He couldn’t focus. He hated the fact that he had to leave Madara’s side. Doctors asked Hashirama if he was alright and he just nodded. They suggested that perhaps his high regeneration saved him, just like many times before. So why couldn’t he help Madara? He was Hokage, he was supposed to help everyone, he was supposed to bring joy, life and safety. He was desperately hanging on the rope of hope so he wouldn’t break down in front of everyone or even himself. He wanted to tell the medics vigorously to treat Madara’s poisoning better, to try more, to work more hours. He wanted to use his Hokage power, his evil voice he sometimes used on Tobirama. The authoritative tone that he hated inside with passion because it reminded him of his father (but it worked.. nevertheless) and also because people were scared of him when he spoke like this. And if they were to fear him, they would never support him in leading the village. They would curse his name in secret and they would damn him, as they did to Madara. So Hashirama knew too well just to smile and nod his head gently like a young fir in a zephyr. To listen to their advices and expactations they voiced. Their expectations weren’t good. But Hashirama refused to give up.
---
It was a beautiful clear night, like the dead were coming back from their dream. The stars were glistening, but Hashirama’s thoughts were slowly decaying. He still stood by the window of his Hokage office. Tobirama sat on the table with legs hanging down. He knew that his older brother is distraught because of Madara’s condition. Tobirama was never very fond of Madara, but he tolerated him as he was not a threat – at least not now. Tobirama never stopped worrying about what’s going to happen once Madara will go mad. He considered Uchihas crazy and Madara especially. Maybe it was the sensor in him, but it was like he could feel how unstable the Uchiha leader was. But he never wanted anything bad to happen to him. Especially because he knew how much would Hashirama hurt and ache. It would break him if Madara was to die. And the last thing he wanted was to see Hashirama in such pain.
„So you are now waiting?“ Tobirama asked out of sudden.
Hashirama nodded, almost unable to speak. „Yes…“
Tobirama wanted to tell Hashirama to at least finish paper work while waiting, but he wasn‘t that cruel, he wasn’t a monster. He just sighed, looking at all the work not finished. He would have to do it later, himself. „Do you think he’s going to be fine?“
„I can’t just wait,“ Hashirama whispered.
„That you can’t,“ Tobirama nodded. Hashirama wasn’t a person who would let luck decide his fate. He never waited for luck to come around. He was the kind of person who ran after luck and grabbed it like it was a leprauchant. Took it and kept it forever.
„I will go beg Hyuugas for the antidote,“ Hashirama said decisively. He was afraid that Madara’s state will get worse as the fear was flooding his veins and brain. He knew that the Hyuuga palace is far away, but he had no other option left.
„What if something happens to Madara and you.. Will not be there?“ Tobirama asked.
„Maybe this is our only chance,“ Hashirama breathed out. His voice broke like a spell.
„You don’t have enough time to get there, Hashirama… I have no seal for my timespace jutsu anywhere nearby,“ Tobirama said with a little bit of empathy which only Hashirama could recognize.
„Then I will go by myself, by foot. I don’t mind,“ Hashirama clenched his fists. He felt like he had to fight for Madara but there was no one to fight with. Fight. He had nothing to fight with. „I need to borrow your sword.“
„Why do you need mine?“ Tobirama asked.
„Because I’ve lost all my money last week, Madara can’t lend me money in his current state and someone in Hyuuga clan stole the scroll with all my weapons,“ Hashirama explained.
Tobirama sighed. Of course Hashirama had no money. It was absolutely normal at this time of month. „Fine…“ Tobirama nodded his head. Then he jerked on the table and jumped to the ground. „Wait, I have a seal on your scroll,“ Tobirama said, raising his finger.
„Do you?“ Hashirama said. He was not surprised, this was a thing Tobirama would do. He didn’t even realize Tobirama pulled something like this off. „Can we go there?“ He said, relieved.
„I can get ready for the jutsu,“ Tobirama said professionaly like it was a business, in contrast to Hashirama, who was over-emotional. For Tobirama, everything was stern.
„Can you get ready in a few minutes?“ Hashirama made sure. He needed to go right away.
Tobirama sighed again, his brother had no patience. „I guess,“ he said calmly. He was always as cool and calm as a water in a lake. He didn’t move, he just was, in all of his glory, proud and present. „We don’t know where exactly the scroll is. If the scroll is in volcano..“
„There are no volcanos, Tobirama,“ Hashirama stopped him.
„I’m just saying we need to be careful and to cease from acting without thinking first,“ Tobirama firmly voiced his opinion.
„Fine,“ Hashirama turned his eyes to the window like a child whose parent just said no him.
---
Tobirama came back from his house, to pick up all he needed. The truth was that he adored his brother. He looked up to him, something Hashirama never knew about, he admired his strength. He knew that Hashirama was so strong that he would be able to get through everything, even through Madara’s death. He had the pleasure to watch Hashirama since early childhood and he felt like he knew Hashirama better than anyone. His brother was different from other people. He had the dream ever since young age and he went after it like sea waves after island shores. He persisted even when things didn’t go his way. No one else, besides Tobirama, didn’t get to see Hashirama’s mistakes, failures and shortcomings. And sometimes, it was as interesting to watch Hashirama lose as it was to watch him win -- and there were many loses. Hashirama was winning because even when he lost, he tried to do better, thousand times, until he won, until he raised above. Tobirama felt privileged for being the only person who could see his determination. Other people were usually giving up after one rejection, after one thing didn’t go their way, after one defeat. And Hashirama, even when cut into pieces, burned to the ground, after being just ashes, pieced himself together again and fought harder. Even when his lips were blue, when his eyes were going blank from exhaustion, when his knuckles were bleeding, he just stood up and led the Senju clan towards victory. When Hashirama’s hopes were shattered, he just danced on a broken glass and praised the beauty of the fragments that glittered when the sun was let in.
People from Konoha didn’t realize that this was Hashirama’s true power, his enormous devotion to the cause. Not his mokuton, or the amount of chakra or his physical strength. That was how Hashirama was different, this was the Hashirama‘s legacy, his firey, igneous determination that burned in his heart just enough to warm the whole village of people and inspire them to do the same, to inspire them to have his will of fire. Enough of will of fire so even Tobirama’s heart could be warm in Konoha.
Hashirama was pacing in his office when Tobirama finally came back.
„Do you have something to offer them?“ Tobirama asked while watching his brother who looked scared, like the fear had overtaken him, like the ache in his heart expanded. But Tobirama knew that it will pass. Hashirama had many bad moments, but he always managed to raise on top like sequoias raised over other trees although sometimes his cheeks were sore from tears.
„Maybe,“ Hashirama answered anxiously. „If something happens to Madara, my heart will never mend,“ he whispered.
Tobirama just nodded. Sometimes, Hashirama was melodramatic. He put his hand on his shoulder. Not to soothe him, but to teleport them to the scroll. He was glad he could just run away and never tell Hashirama how stupid and pathetic he sounded.
---
Hashirama and Tobirama appeared next to the scroll, in a darkened room. The shades were down and on the right side of the room was a bed that didn’t seem very comfortable.
„Is this the Hyuuga palace, older brother?“ Tobirama asked and scratched his forehead.
„No, I don’t think so, Tobirama, no,“ Hashirama said quietly and looked around, visibly confused. The place was lighter and looked much more expensive than this shed.
Suddenly, the door opened. Hashirama made a step forward to shield Tobirama like he always did.
„Who are you?“ asked the familiar voice. It was Hase, the thief. Hashirama could recognize her just by the sound of her talking. Now he could see her in a light coming from the next room. Her hair was so dark it was almost blue. Her skin was in contrast light. Her eyes were so white they seemed almost empty and bleak. She definitely was a Hyuuga.
„I’m Senju Hashirama and I came for something that belongs to me, Hase,“ he said simply. He needed to find the antidote soon. Hashirama indifferently grabbed his scroll and made another step towards Hase.
„And now there’s two of you,“ Hase said and raised her chin.
Tobirama just menacingly glanced at her. „So you are the robber who steals my older brother’s scrolls?“
„Tch,“ Hase said. „You can have it then,“ she said and pointed to the exit. She knew she doesn’t stand a chance in a fight with the two Senju brothers.
Hashirama raised his eyebrows. „No, that’s not what we want,“ Hashirama protested. „We need to get to the Hyuuga clan’s hideout,“ Hashirama said softly.
„Then go,“ Hase cried out.
„Where is it?“ Hashirama asked again.
„Just go!“ Hase screamed.
„Please, lead me to the Hyuuga hideout!“ Hashirama yelled, fell to the ground and landed on his knees. Then he bowed his chin to the ground.
„Hashirama, stand up!“ Tobirama said with a half horrified – half threatening look. He couldn’t believe how Hashirama was degrading himself in front of some random female from some cheap clan. „Stand up like a soldier you are!“
„That’s courageous of you to think I’m allowed to go inside,“ Hase said.
„Aren’t you of a Hyuuga clan, female?!“ Tobirama cried and touched Hashirama’s back so he could help him to stand up.
„I indeed am, but I can’t go in,“ Hase said.
„Why not?“ Asked Hashirama out of nothing, raising his face from the floor. From Tobirama’s point of view he looked like a crumpled piece of paper worth nothing.
„I left,“ Hase simply said.
„Please, can you at least lead me to the hideout? My… My best friend was poisoned by your clan and we need an antidote, otherwise he will die like a wild bird in the winter cold,“ Hashirama explained and bended his head to the ground again. „I will give you my scroll, every weapon that’s sealed in it, just please, help me.. Please,“ Hashirama said with a trembling voice.
Tobirama looked at Hashirama. For him, Hashirama’s weapons had higher value than some crazy Uchiha. But he didn’t want to disrupt Hashirama’s pathetic bargaining.
„It’s not a mine clan anymore, you foolish nitwit! Do you think I would leave my clan?“ Hase asked and growned.
Hashirama breathed in and handed her his scroll.
„I think I can do it for a scroll,“ said Hase and raised her right eyebrow. Then she smiled. „My father will not be very pleased, but I think we can make this deal happen.“
---
Before they got to the lake, the sun rays started to appear on the morning sky. There was a chilling cold that came from the lake’s vapour. Hase made a few hand seals and the palace appeared again. And shortly after that, members of Hyuuga clan, in the lead with their leader, came to the shore. When the leader noticed Hashirama and Tobirama, he gave Hase an unpleasant look.
„Hase,“ the leader said and frowned. „Why are you bringing me such trash?“
„Father, these men, Hokage and his younger brother, need an antidote for Hokage‘s friend that you poisoned,“ Hase said calmly.
„Will you finally come back?“ The leader asked without acknowledging her plead or two tall man standing there.
Hashirama could feel the dense air around them. Leader didn’t like to see him and Hashirama hated when someone didn’t like him. He was doing everything right, so why didn’t this person listen to what he had to offer?
„Your people are just killing invaders who have no idea that they are on your land. I want nothing to do with you. These people need your help, so please, kind father, help them,“ she said calmly.
The leader looked at them both. „You are Butsuma‘s sons, right?“ he made sure. Hashirama was Butsuma’s spitting image. And the leader didn’t look very pleased with the fact. The man was a monster, devil, and these were his sons.
„Yes,“ Tobirama answered readily.
„Please don’t judge us on a opinion you have about our father. Not only he is long gone, but it was never my purpose to be like him,“ Hashirama said, hang his head and pierced through the floor with his eyes.
„I don’t have time for that! Hase, let’s go home to see mother,“ the leader shook his head.
„I will not go home with you!“ Hase screamed.
Over Hashirama’s head the cloud of depression appeared. „Please,“ Hashirama said. „Please, let me help you. Please, join our village.. There are plenty of new houses you can use now that your palace is sinking! Where will you go once your hideout disappears into the abyss of the lake?”
Hase was distraught by what Hashirama was saying. „Is that true, father? Is the palace sinking?“
„How do you two know about this?“ The leader asked.
„We will not need any money from you. We just need to cooperate. We will never get away from feudal lord’s hands if we will not be united front,“ Hashirama explained. „It’s a beautiful village with cliffs, in the trees, a river flows through it like a vein, you will like it, I promise!“ Hashirama tried again.
„We will be just normal citizens then? That doesn’t sound good to me… We want our voices heard. We are devoted to our precious hierarchy as it’s in the Hyuuga blood to be this loyal,“ the leader said.
„You will have your voice heard, I promise! We will have you, as the Hyuuga representative, in a Konoha council. Every clan has one representative,“ Hashirama breathed.
„That is not enough,“ the Hyuuga said.
„What more can I do for you so you will gladly join our village? I’m just a simple Hashirama, I have no money to offer you, but I can protect you with all my might so you will always be safe with us. You can trust me,“ Hashirama said. He looked trustworthy, but the leader didn’t seem to be very impressed by a younger man.
„You will marry my daughter so our conjuction is full,“ the Hyuuga said.
Hashirama’s smile turned into a pout. He clenched his fists. He didn’t want to get married. He had too much work with the village, with Madara, a bride would complicate things. Even though her jaw was sharp and her eyes were as wide as the sky, even though she was determined, he didn’t long for her. He couldn’t just learn to love someone he didn’t know.
„Father…“ Hase said and clenched her teeth. „I am not a commodity you can use to ensure the clan’s safety!“
„He will do it,“ Tobirama said instead of Hashirama. Hashirama needed someone. All he had was that cursed Uchiha who was always with him like he was just Hashirama’s servant. One of Hashirama’s dreams always was to have many children and Hase was noble, noble enough to marry the Senju heir that was Hashirama. Hashirama gazed at Tobirama angrily, but he didn’t protest. Tobirama found Hase very fair. She was the girl he always thought Hashirama would marry. Not strikingly beautiful, but good-looking with a drab face pale as marble so it wouldn’t disturb Hashirama when working. Smart and well-bred with a soft voice. Just her being a thief was a little off-putting, but Hashirama didn’t have many other options anyway.
„I need the antidote,“ Hashirama almost fainted. He couldn’t say anything more. He just desperately needed to keep Madara alive for whatever cost. „Please, I beg you, have mercy!“ Hashirama said softly. His heart was sick and hurt from the constant fear of losing Madara. He had lost enough in wars, he couldn’t afford to lose someone he held so dear and who was so important.
„You shall receive your antidote,“ the Hyuuga said and looked at his daughter distinctly. „But do not try to make us pay for the housing. We also want Konoha to pay for our new residence. If not, I will haunt all your shinobis, Hokage-dono,“ the Hyuuga said menacingly.
Hashirama lowered his chin and nodded. He will have to lessen the cost of other things to fund the Hyuuga clan residence, but he knew it’s the only way to keep Madara alive. How much was the cost of his friend’s life? Other Hyuuga handed Hashirama a phial with a blue liquid inside. „Thank you,“ Hashirama said impartially. This was not a good trade by far, but he was too desperate for any negotiations. He squeezed the little bottle in his hand like it was Madara’s life and he didn’t even try to relax the grip, he refused to let it go. It was still the primitive hour of the day and the dewdrops were shining in the four-leaf clover field next to the lake like a million little stars. It looked so peaceful, unlike Hashirama’s head that was throbbing with thoughts of Madara. „Thank you,“ Hashirama said after a while.