Family, Food, and Fuck Ups
The name Uchiha Madara is infamous all across the Elemental Nations. Senju Hashirama is famous, he is infamous, there's a very distinct difference. His friend is labelled as the God of Shinobi and he himself is labelled the Red-Eyed Demon. Two polar opposites yet simply two sides of the same coin.
Hashirama doesn't have the sweettooth that he possesses... Not even close. Oh, did the man try if only because of his adoration of the Uchiha but Madara took immense pleasure in being able to eat copious amount of sweets while looking the elder Senju straight in the eye as he has to refrain from physically cringing. It was hilarious and even Tobirama couldn't keep a straight face.
It was the first time that they had all agreed to go out into the public together, to have lunch in the public view. They chose a newly opened tea house and it did not disappoint. The looks they received, all three of them waking in and talking to each other, acting like normal people... It wasn't something that he would forget about. It was one of the rare moments that he wasn't looked upon in fear by others that weren't from his clan or Hashirama.
It was a rare moment in which he forgot about the pain that burned in his chest since the fateful day that ended with the loss of his last precious baby brother and overwhelming sense of betrayal that he couldn't quite understand. He and Tobirama snipped at each other, rolled their eyes and occasionally cussed at each other but there had been no heat behind it all like normal. He was relaxed, happy, and smiling at both of the brothers that day.
The moment was over far too quickly. He found himself reminiscing about it far too often for his tastes yet he keeps coming back to this spot, clinging to that little bit of peace like he subconsciously did to his friendship with Hashirama even after their fathers got involved. It was fitting that of all places the Senju would want to meet up at would be Keiko's (he learned the woman's name on his third trip, as she had come out to see him personally after not believing that The Uchiha Madara was there) tea house.
So he ordered his usual as he waited on one the benches outside. He listened to the chatter without any focus while he did try to at least sense for his best friend and the wayward ducklings he collected. He was no Tobirama but he was damn good sensor to say the least plus he had a far better way of describing things. For all the jutsu he has created Tobirama didn't have a damn creative bone in his body for anything else.
They were at interesting lot to say the least. Their looks, their personalities, they were across the spectrum in every way. Not to mention their names. Their chakras could only be described as fitting for the three from what he observed.
Purple. A humid storm of lightning in the sky with no rain at night, calm and serene yet chaotic. Orange. Sunlight burning at midday capable of turning into a vicious typhoon at a moment's notice. Teal. The deceitfully peaceful looking earth capable of causing destruction with a single quake and the deafening roar of a rapids that flows within it, beautiful yet dangerous.
When he could actually see them himself he noted how they easily ignored the looks being sent their way. It wasn't every day three teens walked casually in front of Hashirama like they were doing, strutting around like they belonged.
Well, they did belong already, or at least one of them did by blood. If the Uzumaki alliance goes through then it'll be two. Poor girl must be something else to stand on equal ground with both an Uchiha and Uzumaki. Only time will tell with the combat test.
Upon closer inspection as they approached he bit back a snort. Oh, they were casual alright but also walking in formation. The blond Uzumaki situated ever so slightly in front by just a few steps with the Uchiha on his right and Haruno on his left. They were taking in the sights but also watching, observing, and able to act on a moments notice to cover their friend. So that was their leader.
It was... Familiar.
Is that really how he and Tobirama looked when walking with Hashirama? No wonder the brunette snickers every time they went out. He had two vicious bipedal guard dogs trialing after him. Not that Madara would ever admit to it. He's a large cat afterall.
"Madara! There you are!" Oh that sounded far too cheery for comfort. Ah. Oh dear. That's not a good look in Hashirama's eyes. The Senju was just short of pleading with him for help.
Tobirama is going to pay for this.
---
When Tobirama came storming through the Senju residence like a nasty storm, ignoring all with a vicious sneer on his face everyone got out of his way but one person. The only person that could ever hold his gaze when he was growing up besides his brother. Red eyes meant certain death to the Senju after all so it was instinct to avoid looking right at them. The cursed son. The strange one.
Senju Touka couldn't give a two fucking shits. He was her baby cousin after all. Her pissy humanoid snow leopard of a cousin. There were very few this that could rile him up this way and she could name them all on one hand.
Hashirama, Madara (when he's in a mood, she learned, because she knows he's not what people think... Not after seeing how content he is watching children play), children being mistreated, and idiots. If it was the first then said Senju would be following the younger, crying his eyes out like an idiot while begging Tobirama to forgive him. Madara she saw leave the Hokage tower and while he didn't look pleased he wasn't about to rip someone a new one so it couldn't have been him or Tobirama would've showed up after following him out in a huff.
So that leaves idiots or kids in need of a hero. Kami, she hopes it's the former because at least letting the albino rant would help him. If kids were in trouble then there would be no way to stop him, or Madara, from doing what was needed even if it meant an assassination or ten. Hell, she would help. It was the one all three of them seem to agree on without even speaking about it.
Wow, that's a train of thought she never thought she would have. One thing she didn't think would happen with the creation of Konoha was gaining respect and dare she say admiration for the bane of her clan. Feels weird. New topic please.
Back to Tobirama's issue.
Being the annoying older cousin that she is she slung one arm over his shoulder and let him lead her back to his Hashirama-built home. She knew better than to ask him what was wrong while in public, he wouldn't answer to begin with, and he knew she wouldn't take no for an answer. The moment they were safely inside and away from the ears of others everything is fair game.
The fact he slammed his door then went straight to his meager alcohol stash spoke volumes. Tobirama was a tea drinker and only brought out the alcohol as a last resort.
"So..." The 'Do I even need to ask?' went unsaid as she made herself comfortable on his couch. It was a routine really. She would sprawl across the left side of his couch and he would take the right. He would vent, bounce things off of her, and she would respond to him with as much of an unbiased opinion as she could give. If she had to tell him he was being an idiot she would tell him too... Even if he didn't exactly like it.
"Three young adults, children almost, came to the village today, unaccompanied, seeking to join our shinobi ranks." Oh boy. That doesn't normally make him irritated, she mused, if anything he encourages it. He would rather teach kids properly than have them unprepared and thrown to the wolves. "I didn't have any copies of the written exam that the graduating classes take at the academy so I gave them the practical portion. What could go wrong, right?"
"I take it that it wasn't so simple." He didn't even grab a cup before he sat down with an open bottle of sake in hand.
"Oh they performed flawlessly as if they've done it before. They were legitimate if a bit cocky. No, what went wrong was that the damn self proclaimed Uzumaki used my scroll for his kamawari. Then he--" Wait, Uzumaki? Oh fuck no. Young clan kids, especially from THAT clan don't just walk around unattended.
"Rewind back a second!" She interrupted him mid-rant. "Uzumaki?! You shitting me, right?!" His dead eyes and straight mouth spoke volumes. "What about the other two?"
"One claimed what I believe is a civilian name that I have never heard before and the Uchiha clan as his." After that he took a sip.
"Seriously?! That... Explains why I saw Hashi's bestie on his way out earlier actually." An unknown Uchiha child shows up, claims the clan as his, and wants to be a shinobi? Oh she is glad she's not him right now or anyone else in the Uchiha clan. That's going to be one hell of a headache.
"He somehow managed to sneak a peek in the scroll and he used my kage bunshin for his test. Right. In. Front. Of. Me." She could only whistle once the words he spoke truly hit her. "He acted like it was nothing! His friends acted like it was a normal occurrence! That insufferable idiot just..."
She liked to say that she was paying attention to his rant the entire time but... She wasn't. She ended up spacing out once he started again. By now she was used to things like this so she knew when to make appropriate head nods and noises.
Oh, hells, he was going to go on for awhile isn't he? Son of a bitch.