Blinded

She's been eager to find a secluded place since morning that day. It was one of the rarest moments that she, a jovial person has taken an interest on quietness. All because of her salient mission. She walks to a forested area inside the village with an uneasiness remembering her twin brother's advice:

"Don't do anything reckless Mito."

She stepped on the grass silently while scanning the surroundings. Mito just hope no one was going to pass-by on the place.

"Finally, a quiet place!" she mumbled excitedly, Mito started to unfold the scrolls she was carrying on her arms for quite a time especially the giant scroll that was resting on her back.

"Now for the things I will need," After spreading out the giant scroll and the other scrolls with her, she stare above looking at the apple tree. "Apple tree." she smiled and blushed simultaneously, remembering how she and Hashirama first met 'again' for the first time after fifteen years.

"That will do."

The Uzumaki held up a smaller scroll and made a seal using only one hand, raising her right middle and pointing finger aiming at her target.

"It must work, It must!"

Wind started to blow after making some hand seals, she then turned to the giant scroll and placed the smaller ones that were now floating beside it.

"Please, just please."

Mito chanted, letters coming from the smaller ones burst out from the scroll becoming a huge reddish chakra wall which resemble the Uzumaki logo, the whirlpool. After surrounding the tree of the 'whirlpool' chakra, the diamond mark on her forehead - the Strength of a hundred seal starts to glow.A seal which was reputed to be the pinnacle of chakra control. Her grandfather Ashina formulated it and hence also have the same mark on his forehead.

A massive amount of force erupted from the main scroll, took down at least ten trees and put it inside. Mito knelt down, sweat rolling down her face.

"Oh my, I overdid it!" Nervous and confused if she's going to celebrate for the jutsu's success or feeling sorry for the trees. She did it, totally did it. Her jutsu worked.

"The next time I'll do this, things will be different." A worried look on her face showed. Her thinking is right, a mighty creature cannot be compared to a dozen of trees but then she must succeed on it-they must. Perhaps, the girl's smile came back "But I know you're there so its gonna be fine." Mito begin to fold her scrolls.

"Hashirama-san."

She can't help but to think about the Hokage every time. Since they met 'again' after a long time, the renowned man got stuck in her head that sometimes it became too obvious more especially to Morito. Sometimes she wondered what was it, the feelings was just there and every time Hashirama talk to her it seems Mito was having a hard time looking at him - without blushing.

"Uhm, this is embarrassing." She sighed, this was not the time to day dream on a man who was out of her league. Out of her league? what makes her say that?. Well, they are distant blood relatives, they share some cultural aspects in life, they both want peace, he was nice to her (but he is nice to everybody, oh well) they are good friends, childhood playmates, they were both happy people, Senju and Uzumaki have strong ties, therefore he's not so out of her league, right? right?.

He's hokage, she's one of the best kunoichi in her village. The Uzumaki lady thinks all of this, bits by bits.

Mito chortled, face fully red as tomato imagining things she must not.

"Mito-san,"

"Y-yes?"

A Konoha shinobi patrol, a Senju approached her. Baffled on the girl's face not long after he arrived and the 'missing trees'.

"An emergency occurred this afternoon, Tobirama-sama asked us to gather all the people on the safe place."

"What? what happened?" Mito hurriedly asked, putting a hand over her chest.

"The village is under attack by an unknown enemies, we must go, Mito-san."

-xXx-

It all happened like a lightning strike.

"H-how.."

His abdomen bleed after it was pierced roughly by Hashirama's sword. The Senju glared with an eye of someone who will exterminate anyone who threatened his beloved village and its people. Fuguki dropped the samehada and coughed blood after falling down.

"Dont you dare, don't you ever dare to harm our village." He warned in a very serious tone,holding the now bloody sword and pointing it to his enemy.

Daiki and the others jumped in the scene holding their weapons ready to defend their Kage from the upcoming batch of shinobis.

"Hokage-sama, they're too many!"

Hashirama prepared to a battle ready position "Everyone, get ready."

-xXx-

The sun was still not yet rising when she ordered each and everyone to complete a definite task: that was getting a sparring partner and beat each other forcefully with one goal. The winner will eat, the loser will have to look for something to eat at the jungle beneath the other side of their camp. Madara's way of teaching was of rigid discipline and always with a goal. She's always setting up the 'goal' to be as cruel as possible . Her rules are strict and up to the point where no one can break it. Otherwise all of them will not eat the entire day.

Of course, the Uchihas were trained the same way. This was why on the past, every time an Uchiha was held as captive by an enemies they rather die on a noble death or carry an extricate pain than to expose vital information of their clan. Different clans have different rules but for the record, Uchiha holds the most agonizing training.

While she busied herself watching her 'students', Jiro eyed upon the single hawk flying on a distant.

The hawk landed gracefully on his arms with a message scroll. Jiro opened it and read the entire content before giving it to the busy Uchiha leader.

"What the hell."

The Uchiha guy was like he was stoned by a boulder and before he realized it, Madara was already standing beside him.

"What is it?" She asked and there, was a shocked face of an Uchiha guy.

"Its...Madara-sama," Jiro was deeply troubled.

"Hand it to me."

"But Madara-sama,this is just.." Jiro put his hands behind him hiding the scroll.

"Jiro, give it to me." She demanded suspiciously.

"Madara-sama," Again, Jiro tried to hide the message. Nevertheless he was torn between giving it up or hand it to the girl because he can't tell how should he handle the situation.

"JUST give it to me, Jiro." Madara pressed her words, glaring at the man who was acting unnatural.

There was a single sweat on Jiro's head before he reluctantly handed the message scroll to her.

And after she reads it:

"Madara-sama, I think Izuna-kun will be fine. He's strong and-"

Jiro panicked as he watched Madara almost flew in an instant with intense anger in her eyes, dark chakra surround her, totally forgetting to act 'cool' and level headed.

"Shit."

The Uchiha guy gave an order to Morito to take charge of the whole group saying there's an emergency in the village and they needed to get back immediately.

-xXx-

He and his group were like a fireballs entering the village, Hashirama ultimately wanted to see his brother first.

"Hokage-sama! Hokage-sama! You're back!" A konoha shinobi called, grateful that their real leader was back.

It was obvious on the shinobi's face and the village's aura that they were either scared and anxious. Everyone were evacuated so there were no civilians roaming around when Hashirama got back, it was a relief for him knowing Tobirama took care of the civilians first - the people who can protect themselves the least. The next thing Hashirama checked was to ask his brother's where bouts.

"He collected a three man cell from random clans to negotiate with the attacker's leader." a random shinobi explained.

Another relief for the Hokage but at the same time worried about his brother. Tobirama did a reliable and wise moves in taking good care of the village. He's an intelligent shinobi. But for now, all he have to do was to guard the village where he's needed the most and wait for Tobirama to come back. He ordered another batch of shinobi to go find the other Senju's group.

"Hashirama-san?" The Uzumaki lady appears running going to him with the shinobi who found her on the forested area of the village.

"Mito?"

"What is happening?" She asked worriedly, the Senju put his hands on her shoulders. "Dont worry Mito, everything will be alright, but as of now you and the others must go in a much secured place. I will keep everyone safe as long as I'm alive so you don't have to worry."

She gazed at the tall man's face that gives her hopes and comfort despite the danger that might come anytime soon. She noticed a dirt on his armor, knowing that he came across to a fight before getting back to the village.

"Are you alright?" A concern coming from the Uzumaki, Hashirama smiled optimistically.

"Yes, thank you for asking Mito."

His aura,his smile, his strength as a person, his leadership, his kindness, everything about him was undeniably great. He's a sunshine, no - he was the sun himself. Mito held her breath for a while, she should be worried but this man in front of her flushed her fears out.

All using his smile.

His smile.

"Did the news already reached Madara?" he asked another shinobi

Madara. Of course, as always.

Morito her brother is with the Uchiha but they are on a different place so Mito doesn't worry that much on him but knowing his brother might already knew the news, she's so sure that he will definitely worry on her.

"Yes Hokage-sama, the Uchihas delivered a report to their leader."

Suddenly, an appearing shadow caught their attention. Two men's silhouette are coming on the entrance of the village, the other walks slower than the other.

"Tobirama!" Hashirama called, thankful on his brother's arrival. He frowned a bit seeing scars and blood all over his body. The older one run to him with Mito behind him.

"Let me check you-" Before he even put a hand on his brother, Tobirama fell down on his knees but Hashirama caught him. "Hold on Tobirama," He performed a healing jutsu.

"B-brother,"

"No, dont talk. You did an outstanding job Tobirama, now let me heal you."

"No, listen,"

"Hashirama-san let me share some chakra for Tobirama-san." said by the fretting Mito who was kind of shock on how much blood was on Tobirama's. Uzumaki rarely ever see situations like this considering she's living on a peaceful village. Wars and fighting were never a normal thing for a normal lady like her. She was about to share some chakra on him when he politely declined and thank the Uzumaki on the offer of lending a hand. The albino held his brother's arms, staring with an unreadable eyes.

"I made a mistake." He grunted, the Hokage was bewildered by his facial expression. As if this was something unforgivable, something so big that he cannot carry it. Mito and him were quiet for a while, waiting for Tobirama to speak again.

-xXx-

She knew she must face the damn old hag first and maybe killing him eternally would bring her peace. But she wanted and need to know the whole scenario and see her brother. An unlucky shinobi came across to the fuming Uchiha asking and at the same time cursing on what happened and where the hell were the civilians. The shinobi gave her a brief, direct to the point honest answers.

"Those traitors betrayed us! They'll pay I swear." The next thing she asked was her brother.

"I heard Izuna was assigned to Tobirama-sama's group." The shinobi nervously answered, the fact that Madara was so intense right brought all his fears up to his head - plus her sharingan was active.

"Tobirama?" she don't know what to feel exactly after knowing Izuna fought along with Tobirama.

Madara then looked for Tobirama, they all said he came back on the village just three hours ago before her. Also Hashirama came back and it was a good thing. She will deal with Sadao later after fetching her little brother.

She went directly to the Hokage office.

But it was empty.

Madara's heartbeat instantly becomes faster. If Hashirama was on the village then why was he not in his office? They said the brothers were 'together' and if Izuna was with the younger Senju then eventually he was with them,right? But Madara halted to a sudden realization.

The shinobi's faces when she asked them about Izuna.

And also, they never said him to be with the Senju brothers.

The Uchiha exited the room. Cold, suppressing nervousness struck her.

The village was surrounded by an extremely cautious aura. There were several shinobi guarding the borders of Konoha securing every corners. But Madara only paid a little to no attention to them nor the civilians, all she wanted to know was her brother's whereabouts. She marched to the entrance of the Senju compound, the next place she can only think of where Hashirama might be.

A man walk coming from the gates as if greeting her. Hers and his eyes met casually. But while she was gazing on those dark orbs that was usually high on spirits and hopes, those idiotic dreams that was very much annoying her to the bone. That man, her friend, she can read him very well. As much as their fighting styles,jutsus and all.

"Madara," Hashirama spoke calmly. Madara paused, locking her activated sharingan to the Senju in an illegible and calculating look.

"I want to see your brother." Hashirama gulped, her voice menacing and commanding.

"He's with my brother,right?" The Uchiha continued her tracks quickly entering the gates, but right before fully infiltrating the compound she was stopped by Hashirama.

"What?"

"Mara,there is something we need to talk."

The girl snapped vigorously breaking away from Hashirama's hands.

"TOBIRAMA!"

"Madara ,please," the Senju beseech ed and again, stop her from entering their place.

From the moment she saw Hashirama, she already knew. She can read Hashirama very well and he's so bad in hiding facial expressions and intentions. And as a person who trained with him and fought for a long period of time, there was no need for such elaborations and cheap talk. Most of all, she wasn't dumb to fail in reading the situation.

"I SWEAR IF YOU DON'T FACE ME!"

Her rage reverberated in the compound while the Senju carefully dragged her out. It was like a tug of war. Madara continued to scream and swear simultaneously while Hashirama was having a hard time holding her.

Hashirama hated it. He hatesdthe freaking pain of being unable to do something on her loss. Watching as she poured emotions next to him was unforgivable.

Unforgivable. The peace he had promised to her, where was it? where was the peace that he keeps on chasing since they're just a kid.

As the two struggle like mad with Hashirama stopping her movements and Madara forcibly wanting to wreck a havoc. She launched a wild punch directly at the Senju's face which made a little gap between them.

"Dont you fucking dare to stop me you fool!" the Uchiha snarled furiously. There wasn't a single mark of calmness in her chakra, heart and mind. The Senju did expect all of these but he didn't mind if she blew him into pieces right now, if it's the only thing that can satisfy her hatred.

Hashirama stood straight to face her with his abused left cheek. In an instant, he received a kick in his abdomen sending him a few meters away from her.

If this was the only thing he can do for her. Hence, he did expected something like this after Tobirama said what really happened to Izuna.

The Senju spewed some blood after landing on the ground. Now that he got her attention all he need to do was to endure all of it. At least saving his little brother taking his place and accepting his fault.

For the girl he loves.

''I HATE YOU!"

The Uchiha performed several taijutsu on which she's very proficient that violently shook the Hokage all over the place. A pain emerged like an avalanche pouring it out up to the last bit of her breathing. Hashirama's defense was down and he didn't plan to shield himself either. He accepted all of it, every inch of her punch, yelling,kick and even breaking some of his joints.

If it's the only thing he can do for her.

After a minute of violating the Hokage, Madara glared at him. Questioning herself deep down beneath her mind on why these things happened. She was lost, she was on a very dark never ending pit, she's empty and broken. Her heart sank together with her soul and she didn't know where to find the pieces again or if there werestill 'pieces' of it to begin with. Izuna's life - her world was snatched away from her. Izuna was her inspiration for teaming up with this idiot in creating the village but now that he's gone, her goals have been tainted with blood.

If the person who keeps you on going with your life was gone, how would you handle such a thing?

Hashirama moved step by step reaching her, keeping his balance.

"Why?" Madara asked herself.

Suddenly, she felt an arms around her. An embrace coming from the man she almost murdered. Her 'bestfriend' and now the only person she knew her very well. The last one closest to her. The truth was she really don't care if he died right now, but she also don't know if killing him would cease her agony.

"I'm sorry, Madara." He whispered. After all, that is all he can say to her.

She slumped on her knees and so did Hashirama. For the first time he watched as the uncontrollable tears came running from her eyes. It's the first time for him to see her like that but he didn't mind. He will do the same if it was Tobirama who died. After that, Madara was loss for words.

But the great pain and abhor continued.