Blinded

"I can't believe this."

She was on her way back to her clan's compound, muttering words of disappointments. The truth was, Hashirama must consider himself lucky that the Uchiha have many documents to deal this day. Otherwise, he will be spending his day trying to outrun Madara's threats, chasing him around his office desk.

"That scroll better have good news or he'll regret I said 'yes' on that." she hissed lowly after opening the door of her office inside the Uchiha headquarters, just beside their home which was the main house.

She refused to call the dreaded event that will about to happen soon with the right term for it.

"Madara-sama, Sadao-san wanted to give this to you."

Jiro came in with a message from Sadao and handed it out to her.

The message says: Lack of water supply in western side, fruits and vegetable seeds shortage and bakery needs.

"You can file this." Madara gave him the copy of the finished report that Hashirama signed. If Hashirama have Tobirama, Jiro stands as her right hand man, though it wasn't official but the man was almost a shadow of her when it comes in running the clan. Uchiha Jiro is a 22 year old man with a very Uchiha features of onyx eyes, pale white skin and yes, a handsome face.

Villagers ever wondered how the Uchihas remained to be as pleasing as that.

"Have you seen Izuna?" She asked while doing some of the clan's concerns in her table.

"I have seen him going out after you went to the Hokage." Jiro replied, staring at her.

"He must be playing with those Inuzuka brats again." Madara said coldly, the other Uchiha just snickered.

"Your brother is quite sociable isn't he?" He commented, having a casual talk with their leader was a very rare moment and he's beginning to have plenty of those these past few weeks since he stayed as her right hand man when Madara acted as the Hokage-in-charge of the village for a month.

"Yeah." She agreed, putting a hand under her chin looking outside the window. Jiro stared blankly at her appealing face.

"What?" Madara batted her eyes at the dumbfounded Jiro that was red as tomato, he felt like punching himself after getting caught red handed.

"N..Nothing Madara-sama!" he looked away shyly.

In fact, she always caught him peering at her. It's just she didn't think of his action that much, but now she's beginning to think what was this man's problem with her. Jiro as far as she knew was a loyal companion, a trusted clan member, to the fact that the two of them were second degree cousins. But he was also the second best Uchiha member. If weren't by their past as childhood playmates and cousins, she would have thought that he might be plotting to dethrone her of being the clan leader, but no. Madara trusted this man just as she trusted a certain Senju.

Ironically, one person from their rival clan can be a comparison in the level of trust she's giving on Jiro.

-xXx-

"This is Morito, the captain of their group and this is Mito, she formulated the seal for capturing the bijuus."

"I am Tobirama, my brother's right hand man."

Both men exchanged handshakes after Hashirama addressed each other respectively. Mito stands on her brother's side remaining a smile as she bowed slightly at the white-skinned and white-haired Senju.

All the while, the Hokage with the help of Toka discussed several things that Tobirama missed including how the trainings of the Uzumaki will undergo with the supervision of Madara. The albino gasped on his discontentment mentally while sohoting meaningful glances at his older brother. Hashirama scoffed and proceeded on explaining how the fuijuntsu that Mito created will work.

Morito and Tobirama had a small talk about the different types of fuinjutsu on which Hashirama found amusing because his little brother seemed to be very curious of it. Meanwhile, he and Mito are having an awkward silence even though the two of them were just together last night.

"I hope Madara-sama and our group will have a good training time." the Uzumaki girl said with a smile, breaking the uncomfortable silence between them. Hashirama quickly noticed it and felt embarrassed. It was not that he don't want to talk to her , it's just he don't know what to say. Though he was sure she never heard a thing about Madara's accusations but still, Hashirama found it hard not to be awkward when it comes to Mito after that.

The Hokage was a very talkative man, he talks and talks and talk to every living creature no matter how small or big, men or women, young or old yet now, he was like a mute person in their silence.

"This is so terrible of me! What if Mito thinks she did something bad?"

"Ha ha ha! don't worry Mito, I'm sure she will….enjoy your company." He said with a drop of sweat on his forehead and a laugh that doesn't seem to be normal from him.

After Morito said it will be better for them to leave after the meeting was adjourned for him to be able to discuss matters with their group, the twins left the office.

Tobirama faced his brother, narrowing eyes that could rival daggers. Hashirama sighed.

"I know what you're going to say."

"Why Madara? You could just assigned me to train them!"

"I have different task for you and about Madara, she's more of a strategist than you, even better than me."

"Brother but how could you-"

"Tobirama, I know you are a genius," He patted his brother's shoulder "It's just I know how she is capable in doing the training."

"Did you see how she trained her men? I mean the Uchihas!" Then after some realizations. "Wait, so that's your plan?" Tobirama asked.

"Yes, Madara is a very strict leader which the Uzumakis never had, they're not a battle type of shinobis and apparently they lack some discipline in training and you know how Uchihas were trained – by Madara."

Hashirama explained, aside from the reason of giving Madara the task to the Uzumaki for her to get some socialization outside her clan, he knew the fact that the Uchihas were trained from hardship and best of discipline.

"But she might kill them all!" Tobirama exhaled, shoving the imaginations of Madara killing all the Uzumaki group because 'they lack the strength' or 'discipline' that doesn't qualify her out of the world standards.

"She wont do that." Hashirama said in a demanding tone, Tobirama scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"Fine, then she won't kill the Uzumaki, OUR RELATIVES, I really hope so!" He said with unbelievable expression and unconvinced tone "But mind if you can tell me about my task?"

"You will manage the village for awhile until I get back, or until Madara get back."

The younger Senju had wide eyes, him? Running the village? But that was something only his brother and the Uchiha always do. Yes, he was the Hokage's right-hand man, but he never had the experience in running the village all by himself.

"Me? You mean I will be the okage for the mean time? While you and that girl is outside the village?" he asked with a tension in his voice.

"Yes." Hashirama answered simply, while arranging some of his books in the shelf.

"Did you ask her permission about this?, bet she will have some violent reactions about me running your village, brother." Tobirama said as he sits on the hokage chair playfully with folded arms over chest and nodding while eyes closed, sounding very sarcastic on his point.

"Not yet, but I don't think she'll have a problem on that and I am the hokage, she's still the second in power to me, that wouldn't change even though I appoint you as my substitute for a short period of time."

Hashirama gazed at his brother, silently hoping the younger one would stop saying things about the Uchiha which left him uncomfortable to talk with him. Tobirama quickly sensed this and smirked.

"Okay, I trust you." He said with a surrendering hands just to give peace on his brother.

A knock was heard on the door when Hashirama spoke to whoever was it to come in.

"Good thing he knows how to knock unlike his sister."

Tobirama was not bothered of the young Uchiha's presence. The truth was, he never hated the boy unlike his sister. They never had some bonding nor he can remember the time he spoke to him.

"How may I help you, Izuna-kun?" Hashirama asked turning a gaze at Izuna.

The young Uchiha handed him another report concerning the missing sheep mission which Izuna finds doltish.

Tobirama once asked him why Hashirama gives the boy such imbecile tasks considering how Izuna was a prodigy and he can make more useful missions than the one he constantly gives the boy. Whereas Hashirama said it was because of Madara's 'rules' of Izuna to only receive non-deadly missions.

Hashirama granted his co-founder' command in fear of putting her only brother's life in danger. He cannot afford sending Izuna at risk because he knows how much the kid means to her.

Izuna means the world to Madara.

"I'm off now." The younger Senju said, of course he can stand Izuna's presence than Madara's. But his departure has nothing to do with the boy.

"Time to get my work going."

"Aren't you so busy lately?" Hashirama asked half jokingly while reading Izuna's report but he really do want Tobirama to get out in his office since Izuna arrived. As expected to Madara's brother, his papers were neat and clearly done.

"Yeah..Uh, see you brother."

Hashirama raised an eyebrow while watching his brother's back as he exit the room. Wondering why he's faltering in his words. He knows Tobirama very well, fully aware that there was something behind his 'busy schedule'.

"This is very good! well done Izuna-kun!" he said in a cheery manner watching Izuna's emotionless expression.

"Thank you," Izuna replied coldly avoiding to be sarcastic because he really thinks that asking him to look for a dumb missing sheep was offending his abilities.

"Is there another mission for me?, so I can go now." the Uchiha asked.

"Very straight to the point avoiding long talks, just like his sister." Hashirama silently grumbled.

"As of now..." he started, leaning more closely to Izuna between the table.

"There is something I wanted to ask to you..and uh," he continued, Izuna was confused.

"How do I say this.."

"Just ask?" Izuna said while making a space between the table and his chair, uncomfortable in the way Hashirama was making different facial expressions.

"What does your sister wants to eat?" Hashirama spilled out nervously and grinned.

He knows Madara since he's 13, they shared time together, skipped rocks together, played together and train together. They eventually ate together but it was nothing but a pack lunch and definitely or maybe its not her favorite food at all.

Izuna only stared in complete confusion.

-xXx-

She swore those damn papers, not because it was too difficult to handle but because the old geezer was asking much lately. It was no secret in the clan that Sadao and her didn't jive well. Mainly due to the reason of Sadao never liked Madara to be the leader, they preferred a male leader. Hence, Izuna was still very young to lead them. Madara hated the old man since then, she never liked him anyways. If not because of their blood relation and him being the wisest in the clan she already put him on his final resting place. It was like he's complaining and fault finding in her every decisions.

"That old hag!" Madara grunted while rolling out some scrolls. She was peacefully inside her Uchiha office alone since Jiro had taken a break. Madara refused to go with him because, well, she expected Hashirama to come later on - to have an event that she persistently avoiding to give a proper name.

Someone barged in and made a barbaric push at the door.

"Mara!" Hashirama called and grinning widely after making an eye contact to the girl. Thankfully, he changed his clothes before going to her. Those Hokage garbs were a sore in her eyes especially the hat.

"Hashirama, why are you here?" Madara asked as she was alarmed the way Hashirama summoned himself at the door of her office.

"Er, I'm here to, you know? fetching you." He said simply.

"I'm still working on my clan's needs." She replied, burying herself on the seat.

"But Madara, we will have a-"

"Later, and why didn't you knock before entering my place? This is my private office!" she barked.

"But you weren't knocking on my office too." Hashirama replied offended and almost sulking.

"Oh? May I say to you that the Hokage's office is also my office since we are equal in the truce, therefore my Uchiha office and your Senju office are two different things." Madara said as a matter of fact-ly raising an eyebrow at Hashirama, she didn't care if he's already sulking.

Suddenly, Jiro arrived with a glass of water on his hand. He was surprised to see the Hokage inside but then gives him a proper greeting before proceeding to Madara.

"Thank you, Jiro." Madara thanked her right hand man. Hashirama pouted on this and stared at the other man's action towards his best friend. He wasn't very fond of him after observing Jiro's unusual stares at Madara.

"Madara, it's already 5 o'clock!" No doubt Hashirama was starting to act like a kid this time, but the scene of Madara talking with this particular guy was unbearable in his sight.

"Hashirama," The raven haired girl forced not to roll her eyes, surely she wanted to yell at him for being so impatient to wait for her until she did some business but even in many times of scolding him, she still gives respect to Hashirama as the hokage and doesn't want to embarrass the Senju in front of other people. The only time she have the freedom to murder him was when they were alone, but not this time.

Madara turned to Jiro again and discuss the plan to improve their bakery needs through planting and seeding when the Hokage interrupted again.

"Mara, I thought we will have a da-"

"Okay! Fine! Fine! we will go." Madara cut him off, exasperated, before one of her associate finds out that her, Uchiha Madara and him, Senju Hashirama will have a date for tonight.

Also saving herself for hearing the dreaded word – date.

They left the room after she explained to have a meeting with the Hokage to Jiro.

-xxx-

Hashirama considered Izuna as an angel saving him from a lot of stress. Giving him the knowledge that her favorite food was Inarizushi.

"Inarizushi and some lemon tea, she'll love that." after that, the kid already realized what the man was up to.

"Take care of my sister." his final words before leaving his office.

"What a sweet lovely boy he is, If only Tobirama was like that, very supportive!" Hashirama cried on himself silently while walking outside the village. Madara spurned to dine with him where villagers can see them alone.

"Are you listening?" Madara asked suspiciously.

"Ah! of course, so where do you want to eat?" Hashirama asked excitingly, this was the night he'd been waiting for his whole life.

"That was my question." The girl sighed simply, the Senju apologized.

"Never mind, let's look for a tea shop it's getting cold."

"Yes! A tea shop is a great idea." Hashirama agreed he doesn't want to ruin Madara's mood so soon.

Hashirama suggested a tea shop he knows five kilometers from the village. The place was finer than Madara's expectations, she assumed a small plain looking tea shop just like the others. The shop, or the tea house as Madara referred it because it's much bigger than a traditional tea shop was made of shoji windows and sliding doors made of wooden lattice. Its tatami mats were consisted of a combination of green and white colors.

"We happened to drop by here I think thrice already." Hashirama started the casual conversation he almost never had with her because their normal talks if not due to business were nothing but arguments.

"We?" She asked looking at the direction of the arriving waitress.

"Tobirama and I." He answered, looking to the menu book that the waitress handed to them. He also paid attention to Madara's gaze at the server as she stands waiting for their order.

"Oh it's you, sir!" The waitress remembered Hashirama's face. She's probably younger than him and Madara, a teenager with long blonde hair and a pretty face but small in stature.

"Just dropping by again to your lovely shop! I mean, tea house." He had a small chit chat with the girl which Madara find disturbing, the blonde waitress blushed multiple times when Hashirama complimented how great tasting their foods and teas were. The Uchiha flashed glint of annoyance to the girl's presence with a calculating look. Hashirama quickly noticed this and proceeded to have their order.

"Two cups of lemon teas and Inarizushi for me and my date please." Hashirama said confidently and was rewarded by the 'look' courtesy of Madara for saying the 'cursed word'. The waitress, goggled-eyed ,looked closely at Madara and realized she was a girl. It was not surprising for someone without knowing them to mistook her as a man, what kind of girl does wear something like a man's robe and was dark colored.

Madara ever wondered if Hashirama would be pissed if she sliced the girl in half for giving her an offending look.

The waitress turn around after taking their orders, her face cannot be read.

"Who is she?" Madara asked.

"You mean Akina?" He answered coolly "She's the daughter of the owner of this shop. I heard their family originated from Taki but life had been difficult there so eventually, they build this shop as their business." Hashirama continued, he really does spontaneous interviews with everyone he met.

"You know too much about her." Madara commented hiding the nuisance in her tone.

"We had a good time the first time Tobirama and I visited the place." he answered.

"Good time?" Madara repeated, digging in a much more detail.

"A long talk, I guess?" He said back, getting edgy of how Madara shoot angry glances at Akina's direction.

These past few days, he's beginning to worry in her random temper. It was not usual to see her in such mood. Specifically on how she reacted on Mito, he almost had a heart attack for accusing him going on a date with the Uzumaki. Mito was just a friend for him, always will and always be, and now her reaction was roughly the same on Akina. Hashirama was baffled; she never reacted that way to other girls before moreover with Toka.

"Anyway, how's the Uchiha clan?" He asked with the agendum of diverting the topic before it gets worse.

Madara sighed that could have translated how she was terribly pissed of how much a dick Sadao is. From his constant complaints to the history of the old Uchiha never liked her attitude. Hashirama only listened, he knew Sadao in professional terms like speaking with him when there's a situation that he needs to, but mostly and all of the time it was Madara whom he talks to about the clan since she's the clan head. The Senju didn't know other details and what's behind Madara and Sadao's negative relationship mainly because Uchihas were very secretive and it was the first time she spoke about the man. Truthfully, he thought all of them were in very good terms due to their strong blood relations.

"He never wanted my life to be easy, he hated it, he's a stupid old hag seriously if not because of my clanmates I would have killed him eons ago, ten times using different weapons." Hashirama gulped heavily, his best friend would really do that based on the amount of hate she have for the old man if there's a chance.

"Why do you hate him that much?" He asked, that time another waitress delivered their orders; it was not Akina but a different one. Hashirama worried for awhile if ever the blonde was traumatized by Madara's glares. No normal person can withstand those majestic onyx eyes, in his opinion.

"He's a close relative to my father, since my father died he wanted another Uchiha to lead the clan in oppose to me." The Uchiha head replied, sipping her cup of tea.

"But why?" the Senju was now beginning to get really curious on her story.

"He said I was the cursed child and at some point will be the doom of this world." Madara stated, Hashirama blinked and didn't know what to say.

"That's weird." His only response, biting a piece of Inarizushi from his plate.

"He's that pathetic, mind you." She replied back, Hashirama sniffled a laugh.

They stayed until they are the only customers left on the tea house. The food was great and the tea is just fine in Madara's opinion. Hashirama was thankful for Rikudo-sennin above (and Izuna in Konoha) by that. She really did like the Inarizushi regardless of how and where it was made.

The Senju pulled out a scroll inside his robes and gave it to her.

"As promised!" he grinned, Hashirama was more than happy to spend a long time with her. In addition to his happiness was they were alone in the place which gave them more privacy. Madara took the scroll, carefully opening it reading the entire content.

"In Yugakure?"

Hashirama sighed, he cannot believe how Madara's expression resembled on Tobirama's after reading the letter.

"You and Tobirama had the same reviews." he sulked "I thought you'd be happy at least."

"Don't get me wrong here Hashirama, this is a good news and a making of your promise to me in trusting you to settle things but I know those men." Madara explained trying to figure out why would the Kiri people chose Yugakure as a rendezvous point.

"Who are you going with?"

"I planned my group in composed of three other men, Yugakure is a neutral village I don't think we have anything to worry about."

Madara trusted him and also his decisions and of course his abilities to charm every people around him. He's more of use in making arrangements and reconciliations unlike her, she's well known for being an unwelcoming, cold human. But she preferred it that way, it makes her feel in power and more reserved. She does not giving a damn what other people think about her.

"Is this all you want to talk with me?" she asked like already knowing what's the next big step inside Hashirama's sleeves. The brown skinned man laughed nervously.

"About the Uzumaki training,"

"Fine, I'll take it." she answered, Hashirama was in pure shock.

"REALLY?!" he screamed, almost standing.

"Just a little reward for your efforts in keeping the village safe and also ...for the treat." Madara simpered, she can be really nice sometimes, thanks to her favorite dish.

"But they better behave at their best or they detest my training methods for the rest of their lives." and had an evil smirk across her face which Hashirama always finds scarier than death.

"Hahaha! They'll be good don't worry." He said scratching the back of his head, silently praying that his distant relatives would make it alive before the capturing bijuu operations started.

Hashirama can tell by the odds given the situation that he did an outstanding job in taking her out. After all, they didn't had a debate just to get her train the Uzushio people . A sly smile showed up in his face while viewing the best scenery of his life.

His heartbeat raced when a snap of thought hits him.

"Should I say it?"

"What are you thinking?" she asked, curious in her friend of being suddenly silent, normally Hashirama would talk continuously and she would be the one to scold him to stop telling long stories and just make it short.

"It's nothing." Hashirama shook his head removing his eyes from the Uchiha to the table. Sometimes their closeness gives strain to their bond. It's like she can read his mind just like his next move in battle.

"Liar, just tell me what is bothering you." Madara compelled, then she wasted few minutes in forcing the Senju in what's keeping his mouth shut.

The Uchiha was soon to have an outburst like the old days when Hashirama laughed.

"You know me so well, I mean you can read my mind do you?"

Never did he imagine that admitting his deeper feelings would be this hard. He knows he cannot have another chance like this, another moment like this, is it the right time? Would it be right for him to say it?

"You idiot, of course I know what you are, we are...friends."

"I hope you can read my feelings too."

She was cut off by his bizarre statement. She was clueless, thinking what does the man meant by that. They fell in an uncomfortable silence, both were looking down the table waiting for each other to speak again. It was Hashirama who tried to continue. The great shinobi of the Senju clan had been in numerous combats before, none of these can be compared on how much of tension he's having right at this moment. He didn't know confessions would be chakra exhausting in his part.

This was the hardest battle he had faced, ever – by declaring his feelings.

He can almost hear a heart pounding inside his chest.

"Excuse me sir, we are closing."

Both heads were turned after the waitress informed them on the shop's closing time. Hashirama apologized politely leaving his anxiety behind, though it was clear the waitress did an outstanding ruin-the-moment timing.

Hashirama put a hand on his pocket looking for something all over his robes and was gobsmacked.

"Are you kidding me? Where is it?!"

Madara observed as the Senju almost roll himself and flips the table looking for whatever is it with his face pale as a blank sheet of paper.

"Hashirama?" The Uchiha was bothered by the fact that the waitress was waiting patiently for their bill.

The tan man (now paler than his usual color) cannot look straight in her eyes and was really nervous.

"Uh,Madara...I don't know how to say this..but,"

"What?" The black haired girl tilted her head,questioning Hashirama's fidgety.

The Hokage exhaled and inhale some air before giving her his most embarrassing line, ever.

"I.. I think I left my wallet in my office!"

-xXx-

They left the shop soon after, in the end, after all his hardship and tension and dilemmas to ask this girl out, Madara paid the bill of their VERY FIRST date.

"I'm sorry, I really am!" said by Hashirama who just cursed himself over and over in his mind.

"I'm such a fool! am I really that naive to forgot my wallet on this very important occasion?" he felt as if he wanted to summon a very tall tree and hang himself on top of it. Or maybe asked Tobirama to drown him on his jutsu when he gets home.

He was very excited to go out on his office that he left his own wallet.

"It's fine." said by Madara disinterestedly.

"Oh great, I paid my first ever date with the stupid dork! and what more? I accepted to train those noobs, I know I cannot take back my words anymore, whatever, he'll pay for this. This is why I don't like being nice at all." she grumbled under her breath.

Repaying her from the bill wouldn't change the fact that she was the one who paid their first date so Hashirama double face palmed on his original idea.

"I promise I will double everything on the second one!"

Second one?

"Hn, whatever."

After all, she didn't dismiss Hashirama's offer of a second date.

They went on their separate ways after entering the village (It was Madara's idea and before they finally goes their own way Hashirama insisted on taking her home but the Uchiha glared at him saying she doesn't want her people to conclude that they were together for a couple of hours or so she's getting tired of his drama and shit).

He was still bothered on what happened but before Hashirama crossed his path on the Senju compound he was greeted by Tobirama.

"Where have you been? you will have an important meeting tomorrow and your coming home this late?" The younger Senju scolded, folding arms over his chest.

Hashirama paid no attention to his brother's scolding.

"Yeah, I think I'm tired now." He simply answered, not wanting to hear more of his little brother's reprimands.

"Then you better rest. But where have you been?" Tobirama asked again, suspicious of his brother's lateness. Usually before a day of a mission Hashirama was always getting all of his equipment and stuffs readying for the journey,so it was atypical of him now.

"Tobirama,"

"Huh?"

"Have you seen my wallet?"

-xXx-

The Uchiha ntered their place in the dead of the night, whispering curses and irritation but still, she can't deny the fact that even though he was a dork in her eyes,she really did enjoy her time with Hashirama.

"Hn, can't believe I enjoyed it." a smug showed up on her face. That Senju was the only person she knew who will exert an effort to be with her for longer period of hours. It was no biggie, since they were children they do hang out a lot but this time, it was something she can say 'on a different level' than their normal past hang outs.

"Oi, Madara~" A jovial but Madara found pestilential voice called, Yoko Uchiha, Jiro's younger sister and Madara's royal pain in the butt.

"Here we go again." The taller girl rolled her eyes, hoping to kami that Yoko will be gone soon, she doesn't want another choking event and waste some of her strength to strangle the smaller teenage girl.

"What's up?" The sardonic girl asked, hands behind her back grinning stupidly at their leader's bored face.

Yoko was the only one in their mighty and glorious Uchiha clan that doesn't put an honorific at her and it was unquestionable. Their relationship was a complex one, the younger Uchiha girl loves to put her on a shitty mood every time they came across each other.

Although it was not their original treating. They used to be playmates when they were young.

"Look, I'm not in the mood to play with your shits. I am tired."

The older Uchiha put a determined tone on the last part. Emphasizing each syllable to warn Yoko and also saving another headache to come.

"Hmm~" Yoko jumped around her, she didn't move although every inch of her wanted to kick the other girl away so she can finally rest.

"Seriously, what do you want?" Madara asked in an ultra bored tone, she just wanted to end this day, have a warm bath before going to sleep so in the morning she will be in a full condition to stomach Hashirama's order in training the Uzumakis.

And she's sure as heck it will the most boring mission she have ever got.

"How's your date huh?"

On an instant, Madara's bored stance became a total opposite of it. Her eyes surprised and flinched the moment Yoko dropped her words.

"How did you know about it?!"

"EH? what do you mean? "

Yoko had the same expression as hers.

"How careless of me!"

Madara knew it, Yoko was just playing her words again. The short haired Uchiha girl has no knowledge about that at all, Madara surmise it's because Yoko saw Hashirama and her together walking around inside Konoha area and then there's nothing more. She and Hashirama were not that dumb to figure out if someone was watching the two of them having a secret date outside, sensory wise.

Profounding her well collected state, Madara goes back in her mask of indifference.

"There is no way in hell that would happen."

"Awww c'mon Madara! why do you have to be that serious?"

"This bastard.."

"I am not..that... defensive." Madara stuttered, feeling like she wanted to pull a hair on someone's head disbelieving she almost fell on that trap.

"I didn't tell you are defensive! I said you are serious, Madara." Yoko has now the intrigued look, smiling sheepishly at Madara, she wanted to jump around the taller just to piss her more.

"What now ?" the shorter girl was enjoying this even when she didn't know what really happened to the baffled Uchiha Madara. The last time she faced her, Madara choked her to death on joking about Hashirama being her boyfriend. Luckily Jiro was there and caught his flying sister out on the Uchiha office window.

"Neechan!"

Izuna ran going to his older sister. That's the only time Madara got the chance to avoid Yoko. The other girl laughed as Madara walked pass to her with a blank and serious face.

"She never learned anything huh."

Izuna commented as they walk away from Yoko.

"Hnn, I don't have a time to deal with her"

"Would you beat her again if I didn't came?" Izuna asked worriedly, not wanting the choking incident to happen again. He never liked Madara to get involved in any trouble.

"Definitely." he answered, the boy sighed.

"You can just avoid her, neechan."

She didn't heard Izuna's advice due to the thoughts of 'Yoko will be the last person to know about that' and that she must be more cautious around the other girl's presence.

"What a pain in the ass bitch." she hissed

"Neechan?"

"Hmm?"

"How's your date?"

-xXx-

That morning, the Hokage office was crowded composed of the whole Uzumaki group, Hashirama and his three other hand picked men for their trek to Yugakure, Tobirama and Toka.

And of course, Uchiha Madara, who glared daggers at the Hokage right after declaring his younger brother to be the in-charge of the village while they're away.

She knew it would be beneficial if Hashirama would assign someone to look over the village while the two of them (who usually exchange roles as Hokage from time to time) were both outside Konoha. But for her, the idea of Tobirama ruling their village deserves an eye roll. The Uchiha didn't like it very much, she's beginning to throw curses at her mind during Hashirama's short advice (or you can call it 'uplifting speech before everyone's mission). When everyone left after the Senju was done, Madara stood there looking away at him.

"What do think Mara? This figurine is great as a peace offering-gift for them! I hope they like it!"

Hashirama proudly said while polishing his handmade wood sculpt for the Kiri.

"Hnn,"

"Don't you like it?"

"Since when my idea matters to you?!" The Uchiha hissed.

The Senju flinched at her reaction but definitely got the point why she's acting that way.

"Is it because of Tobirama?" he begrudgingly asked.

"No Hashirama, it's not because of that. It's not because of you assigning him as the in-charge without my knowledge, of course it's not because of that!" She said with a sarcasm thicker than oatmeal.

"I am sorry about that, it's just...hard for me to leave the village without someone keeping it safe and stable." He said in apologetic tone and walked nearly at the girl.

"Our village is already stable. Giving a title to your brother as Hokage for three days? that's just dumb."

"But Madara-"

"Enough of this. The only bearable thing on this scenario is that he will be the in-charge for a very short period of time, but if ever we we're both away from longer period I will definitely make someone's head roll to the ground assuming you never ask me about it."

Hashirama gulped at the comment but realized she accepted his decision.

"Make sure you will be here here after three days." Madara grimly demanded as she still loathe Hashirama's scheme.

"Sure I will! Ha ha ha" he laughed tensely. A very serious Madara was just scary as hell.

"You better be." she added then walks away.

"Where are you going?" Hashirama dumbly asked, the Uchiha raised an eyebrow upon this.

"On our respective units, we have missions to do have you forgotten?"

"Madara, but what do you think about the figurine?"

One of Madara's handpicked men walks in, it was Jiro.

"Pardon my interruptions, Madara-sama we are ready."

"What a great interruption."

Hashirama was cut off by this. The other man's presence gives him a calamity-like feeling of jealousy to think he had huge amount of time standing, listening and interacting with Madara. And to think they will travel together brings him another worrying thoughts.

He just wanted to have more time with her before their departure.

"I'll be going now."

"Madara! wait."

"What? the earlier we depart the earlier we'll be home."

"No I just wanna ask you something!"

"If it's about the stupid figurine, its good. Can I go now?"

"No, I mean we can hang out again right?" he whispered.

Her eyes turned to slits and growled lowly.

"What the hell are you asking me about when we have more important things to do?!"

"Isn't that important?"

Hashirama turned into depression at her statement, the girl shrugged and proceeded with Jiro.

"Be here after three days,idiot."

Before Madara finally closed the door, he saw a ray of hope catching the inaudible movements of her lips dropping a hint so it would be safe away from the Uchiha guy's ears.

"Just make sure to bring your wallet next time."

He didn't care if it was a smirk or a smile, for him it was the latter.

It was the shortest smile he ever saw and he thinks it only lasted for two seconds before the door clicked.

But that doesn't matter to him.

-xXx-

Hashirama Senju was a happy man.

Three other men that was hand picked by him are behind whispering different reactions at the Hokage's energetic stance. He almost look stupid in their eyes as he appreciated every 'new' flowers and trees along the way, saying those are beautiful, the sky was beautiful, the weather was perfect, everything was lovely etc etc.. He even hummed an unknown song or music as he leap on huge trees.

"Next time I will tell her everything,everything!" he thought excitedly. Making a promise on his own about the long time devotion on his heart to finally spill it soon after they get back to the village.

No matter how much he was held back by his cowardice to admit it.

Disregarding Tobirama's resentful reactions to it.

Screw it all.

Because he was happy. He was happy.

On the first day, he remained on that behavior, as if he drank a barrel of caffeine or chocolates. Akio, a Senju member who is on his team reminded the other two from a different clan that Hashirama normally acts jovially. Tori who was an Uchiha was fazed while Daiki from Sarutobi clan just laughed.

Overall they are having a good trip on their way. There were no suspicious occurrences, no threats, no smell of danger. Everything was fine but everyone of them are cautious.

The peace talk will be held soon after they arrived at Yugakure on the second day.

Even Tori can tell it will be a successful peace talk basing on the tranquility of their journey.

But he was wrong.

They were all wrong.

"Now strike!" a voice called loudly from a distance.