Blinded

Madara Uchiha was very meticulous. She make sure everything was in order before she work. The raven haired lady put a finger and slid it over the Hokage's table, windows and cabinets to check if it's dustless.

She frowned looking at her finger "I cant believe this doesn't bother him"

It's 6 o'clock in the morning, alone in the Hokage's office. She scowled seeing a box full of crumpled papers over the table. Clearly, she can never work on a place like this. Someone opened the door so sudden and the person was holding a pile of books.

"Madara-sama," The said Uchiha directed the person to put those books on the floor.

"What are those books?"

Toka arranged the books nicely (on the floor) as Madara ordered her.

"This is Tobirama-sama's …" answered by the Senju.

Fine.

The Senju lady observed as the Uchiha wiped dirt on the table, dumping unnecessary crumpled papers. After that Madara then cleaned the cabinet. Toka volunteered to clean the windows.

"That idi-...when did Hashirama last clean his office table?" a hint of disgust can be heard from the Uchiha.

"He is doing it monthly." The Senju lady replied plainly (while cleaning windows)

"For the love of Sage!"

After an hour of cleaning the whole office, Madara asked Toka to dump the sore-in-her-eyes box of crumpled papers outside and asked her to get a decent trash bin instead. Of course, they have to get a little amount of village's fund to buy the trash bin.

She was alone on the place and after a long while finally seated on the Kage's chair. She will be the Hokage until Hashirama get back; the office was now clean, far from it usual appearance.

Madara looked for a pen inside a drawer but instead she found a familiar object.

She held up a crystal jar containing the pink flower from the little girl yesterday, eyeing on the small paper together with the flower pulling if out.

A note.

Mara,

On the first drawer is the list of inventory of our office which I forgot to tell you yesterday.

P.S

I also forgot to clean everything! :D

Hashirama

"Stupid Senju."

Hashirama used his jutsu for the flower to grow back its roots and put some soil to keep it alive. He was fully aware of her cleanliness, might have thought on how to prevent her day to be ruined. The flower in his opinion can do an outstanding job, either way Madara put it as that.

Little did she know the fact where the original idea on giving her the flower came from

The Hokage-in-charge placed the jar over the table and started to work.

-xXx-

After a long three day tiring trip, Hashirama's group was nearing the Uzushio's entrance; a huge gate inscribed with the Uzumaki's symbol, the whirlpool. The Konoha group was greeted by the Uzumakis, leaded by its clan head. Ashina Uzumaki.

Ashina was an elderly man having long white hair; he's wearing a pure black kimono, the shoulders of which bore the crest of Uzushio The two leaders bowed at each other and were followed by their respective men.

"Welcome, Hokage-sama." Ashina said smiling, the Konoha men were reassured by the Uzumaki's warm welcome.

"A pleasure to meet you again after a long time, Ashina-sama." Hashirama replied with his ever bright demeanor.

"Well, let us save the reminiscing part after you and your group get some rest, welcome in our humble place!" the old man chuckled, leading the way inside Uzushio.

The Uzushio village was composed of several high-rise building, Hashirama observed his surrounding and realized how fast it developed. A wide river ran through the village and gapped by large bridges, the surrounding countryside was dominated by steep hills. While on their way he admired that every building seems to have the whirlpool symbol. Villagers were quietly watching their arrival. Though, he can vividly remember the last time he went here, that time Hashirama was 8 years old together with his father Butsuma and now he's a grown up leading a whole village.

Time flies so fast, everything was like a dream.

They get inside a temple-like building where other Uzumaki escorted the Konoha men on their rooms. Ashina and Hashirama entered a different room, escorted by a very pretty maiden. The lady was wearing a white kimono , her hair long and red (it's a common trait of the Uzumaki) She flashed glances to Hashirama . Two other women entered the room to serve tea and foods. (They're all having the red long hair) Hashirama thanked them (using again his bright and sunny demeanor) the two women bowed and left, while the younger lady remained and carefully filled Hashirama's tea cup.

"Oh, Thank you!" He gleefully thanked but the maiden was so alarmed by Hashirama's sudden turn to her that she slipped her hand and poured some tea on the Hokage's armour.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" She worriedly apologized.

"It's fine, nothing to worry about. Besides, my armor here is already stained after our three day journey and it's an armor anyways so it's destined to get dirty." Hashirama grinned childishly, making sure that he didn't scare the young lady. She was relieved in a way but still wanted to clean that armor.

"Mito, you can go now."

"Yes grandfather." Mito hurriedly walked away carrying a tray, she shyly glance at Hashirama's back before closing the door.

"She's your granddaughter?" the Senju asked.

"Yes, you didn't remember Mito ? " The old man asked back in a slightly surprised manner

"Mito?" Hashirama was dumbfounded.

"I was sure you've met before, 15 years ago. When your father and I did some business, well that's a long, long time ago, I guess."

Hashirama's eyebrow twitched, trying to recall those days but he cannot remember anything with Mito.

"Well..I can remember having playmates here that time." the tanned skin man said holding his chin.

"Why the hell I cannot remember her."

"Ohoho, you're just a child back then Hokage-sama." and now the continuation of the reminiscing part.

"Please, Ashina-sama you don't have to put an honorific, just call me like you used to."

"Young Hokage, I cannot do that when you are leading an entire village full of strong people around you ohoho! Also, I used to call to as 'Butsuma's mini version' and that would be inappropriate!" the older of the two laughed.

"But I'm different with my father..or perhaps," Hashirama sighed.

"Perhaps? You looked like him, very much. Ah, those were the days, Butsuma is a strong willed man, not to mention hard headed." The Uzumaki leader smiled and sipped his tea.

"That's the 'perhaps' I'm talking about." Hashirama removed his armor and placed it beside him.

"I once talked with him to stay away from wars for a couple of times, to have an arrangement with the Uzumaki and build a permanent settlement, but he refused." Ashina's face was saddened, showing a great bond between the Senju clan and its former leader.

"Too bad he died in the war." he adds, Hashirama nodded ,his face unreadable for it was Madara who killed his father, no less!.

"But here you are, leading your newly established village! Butsuma must be proud, at least he has the son who has a …anyway, about your co-founder, is it true?"

"It's Uchiha Madara, leader of Uchiha clan." he instantly awaited for the old man's negative reaction and just as he predicted, Ashina frowned at him.

"The strongest female shinobi was said to be very hard to deal with." the Uzumaki said suspiciously.

"Well, that was in the past and about Madara, she have a lot of knowledge to run the village. In fact, I left the village to her care now with my brother Tobirama." the Hokage smiled saying everything proudly. Ashina just shrugged, a man of wisdom like him doesn't seem to judge people so quickly, let alone the reality that Madara killed Butsuma , but that's in the war-torn era and even an ant knows exactly how the Senju and Uchiha hated each other that time.

"Ashina-sama, about the letter I sent."

"Ah, yes. Let's begin."

Both started to have the serious, more dignified composure. The Uzumaki held out a large scroll after making hand seals and unfolds it on the tatami mat.

"This is our clan's secret Fuinjutsu scroll, we never show it to anyone before but you're a Senju, closest blood relative to the Uzumaki , your father already seen this too."

Hashirama started to understand his father more, about their close ties with the Uzumaki and how blood relations work. He felt honored to witness the secret Uzumaki scroll.

"Listed here are all the Fuinjutsu , sealing techniques of our clan. In the present we have 200 different sealing techniques, may it be a thing or even a person."

"Oh." Hashirama was in awe, 200 different techniques in one giant scroll was a symbol of might but it's kind of critical.

They were from only one kind so Hashirama can read the text in the scroll (they have the same ethnicity and letters) ,the young man narrowed his eyes, 200 kind of fuinjutsu yet it doesn't contain the sealing he needs.

"I guess you know now." Ashina said, the Senju looked at him.

"Is it impossible?"

"Almost."

The old man's reply made him think if it's still possible for a tailed beast to be sealed.

"We never thought of sealing an immortal creature before, needless to say our clan only specialized in Fuinjutsu and nothing more."

Uzumaki were never the type of war shinobi. This was also why they defected far away from the Senju. Most of them were peace keeper, they didn't bother to think onto sealing a mighty creature all because they never thought of capturing and fighting one of it.

The Hokage's eyes shifted on the scroll and looked worriedly. Now he doesn't have an idea where to get someone who have the knowledge in sealing an impossible monster.

"But…" Ashina continued "A scroll bigger than this one can temporarily seal the tailed beast."

His eyes widened and excitedly moved closer to Ashina

"How? And how long?"

"The tailed beast is a massive ball of chakra, this scroll is made from chakra. I told you it can seal a person too, a person has a chakra and all living things do. All we have to do is to create a special scroll that will restrain its movements." the Uzumaki pointed his finger to different fuinjutsu listed in the scroll while he's discussing it.

"That's great!" Hashirama exclaimed.

"But…." Another 'but' came from Ashina and now it sounds troublesome.

"We doesn't know how long it will take an effect to the tailed beast, that's very dangerous Hokage-sama, one can die without an incredible level of caution." he shook his head.

"I fought the four-tailed beast and successfully captured it, it is presently imprisoned on the Land of Earth, Lord Tsuchikage assigned guards for the tailed beast and a special earth-styled-jutsu cellar. Though we all know it can't stay like that in forever."

"So you came up to an idea of sealing it? That's a nice suggestion Hashirama, but it's not easy."

"I know this is your specialty and I cannot think of anyone to do this and for everyone's safety.."

The old Uzumaki flinched and was astonished watching the strongest shinobi kneel down before him.

"Please!"

"Hashirama no need for that!" Ashina begged him to rise nervously.

"Your son is totally different from you, Butsuma, and you should be proud."

-xXx-

They settled the creating of the tailed beast scroll. Ashina proceeded to his clansmen to talk about its creation. Meanwhile Hashirama was left alone on his room (a room assigned for him as a special visitor) when he decided to roam outside. He saw a beautiful garden not far from the temple with many colorful flowers planted above the green field of grass. A peaceful quiet time for the Hokage. He somehow missed his little garden way back on their Senju yard.

He sensed a movement above and found a red haired girl picking apples, sitting on a branch of its tree.

"1..2..3..4..5.6.." she's counting the apples on her basket. Hashirama smiled, it was Mito's voice.

"I suppose you're going to make some apple pie?" his voice shocked the hell out of her, Mito tripped and lost balance making her fall together with her freshly-picked apples.

"Woaaaah!"

Strong yet gentle arms caught her in a blink of an eye. She locked her almost pupil-less eyes on his dark eyes. Her hair flew softly in the air.

"Are you okay?" he asked with an apologetic look "Did I scare you again?"

Mito's mouth left hanging for a while but came back on her self when Hashirama's feet touched the ground.

"Ah! Yes I'm okay, I'm ..I'm.. the apples!" she said panicky.

"You mean this?" Hashirama grinned; she was sure it scattered when she fell.

He handed her basket, the red head hid her face shyly "thank you, Hokage-sama"

Mito gripped the basket tightly and grunted when her right hand ached.

"Ow!"

Hashirama held the basket and placed it below (they are still on that bridal catch position) He gently put her down and held her aching hand. His tan hand big and calloused holding hers which was flawless.

Hashirama without using any seals performed his signature healing jutsu, Mito watched , fully admiring the technique and the person in front of her. "Take good care of your hand, shinobis cannot make seal without it." The admirable man winked and she almost melted.

"Better?" He asked.

Mito responded with a nod. She observed her now fully recovered hand. Amazing.

After the incident Hashirama commented that their garden have a good aesthetics. On how did he ever sa yit, she doesn't know. Mito just rode on his comment by saying it was made by the villagers. He asked her if he was right about making the apple pie ,she nodded.

Hashirama laughed "That's just a wild guess," Mito observed his handsome face, the Hokage have the positive aura that can uplift anyone.

"So Mito, do you still remember me?" the female Uzumaki held her breath.

"Ashina-sama, your grandfather told me we've met before." there was a glint of pain in her chest realizing Hashirama did not remember her but it faded instantly, seeing his apologetic eyes.

"It's alright, 15 years is a very long time to remember someone." Mito smiled but looked down and bit the side of her lips.

"Can you tell me about the time I spent with you?" There was a deep curiosity on the Senju's eyes, Mito hurriedly recall those days.

"The three of us usually plays on the bridge." she said cheerfully.

".Three of us?"

"You, me and my brother Morito"

Great, now there were two people he cannot remember.

"Oh, Miroto!"

"Morito, Hokage-sama." she politely corrected.

"AH! Yes yes. HAHA , sorry sorry." he laughed out loud, scratching his temple.

Obviously, the Hokage have a lot of recalling memories to do.

Mito toured him around the village, from the garden to its supermarket. Hashirama perceived Mito as a noble girl, witnessing how she was respected by the people. They pay respect to the two of them as well. Uzushio was small compared to Konoha so their villagers were few in numbers. It was best described as a peaceful hidden village with a great purpose.

"Can you bring me to the bridge we used to play? "

"Of course." Mito headed their way to the biggest bridge in the place, not too far from the supermarket but it's hidden, covered by multiple trees.

"Here." she gleefully gestured to present the place. Over the bridge was an outstanding view of a waterfall, a river with floating water lilies. On the side, there were numbers of huge rocks. Mito observed Hashirama's reaction, hoping that maybe he can remember something about their past.

The Senju smiled, as a matter of fact he liked the place very much.

"Do you remember?" she asked sweetly, waiting for his answer.

After appreciating the place Hashirama responded;

"...my bestfriend would like this view." not really answering Mito's question cause he's thinking different things.

Or rather, a person.