Blinded

After his brother departed, Tobirama remained standing with folded arms over his chest outside their home while eyeing cautiously on the girl in front of him.

"What?" Yoko straightened up after noticing the Senju. She wasn't oblivious of the fact that the man despises their clan. It was all over his facade and there was no denying it. And his overall negative interaction towards Madara proved it the most.

"Tell me, you Uchihas are plotting something isn't it?" the man said warily.

Yoko's eyes broadened at the question.

"Excuse me? Are you accusing us?"

Tobirama breathes out slowly and looked at her from head to toe.

Yoko wanted to scorn the man but she was inside the Senju compound and it will be a very bad idea to do in such place. Senjus was their mortal enemies and it was a well known fact that even after the truce, both sides found it awkward to go inside their respective compounds. It wasn't prohibited but everyone in the village agreed that it was really out of place.

"I won't be wasting my time here warning the Hokage about Madara's actions if that's the case." she stated with eyes squinted as if daring Tobirama to prove that she was against them or the village.

"So how did you know about Madara's plans to destroy Kiri?" Tobirama asked again in a more accusing tone.

The man was a keen observer, as expected to the best sensory type shinobi in their era. He should consider establishing an interrogating business as it will no doubt flourish. His personality and skills matched that kind of job.

"It wasn't that hard to deduce, that is, if you know Madara." Yoko retorted.

"And so you know her very well?" Tobirama asked again,raising another eyebrow.

The Uchiha mimicked him by folding her arms over her chest which the Senju took as a mockery.

"I do, we were friends you know. Even before your brother." she answered back, proudly.

"Oh?" he snides. Not fully believing her words. For all Tobirama knows, Madara has no real friend except maybe his brother. It was not surprising that an imperious woman like her doesn't have many friends. He can't count on how many times he'd been wondering what exactly Hashirama sees on her.

"Yes.." Suddenly, Yoko's facade turned gloomy as if she was remembering an ugly memory from the past. Tobirama noticed the change of the Uchiha's demeanor upon saying Madara was her friend but said nothing about it. Well, what could he possibly know about them? He knows nothing and he doesn't have the time to be interested in matters concerning the Uchihas.

"Say, would you be happy if he were to kill her?"

"What?" Tobirama staggered at the sudden question. Where did this came from and what's this Uchiha wanted to tell exactly?

"Would you feel satisfied if Hokage-san killed Madara?"

The Senju stared at her, analyzing his own thoughts.

"I once asked him about this, that what if she betrayed him. Just how much is he willing to do. The village or Madara-"

"How dare you to compare that witch and the village!" Tobirama snarled, disgusted at the comparison Yoko has made. His nose wrinkled at the very thought that his brother would be willing to give up everything for the sake of that girl.

Promptly upon a realization, his face turned blank as if seeing the picture clearly. Frankly speaking, he never thought of his brother killing the Uchiha because well, Hashirama could've done that in the past for countless of times but this was the first time he realized that the situation in the past and the present greatly changed. He wasn't so sure anymore but if that's the case, if his brother was left no other choice but to kill her in order to maintain the peace between the two villages, it will undoubtedly leave Hashirama devastated.

The image of his brother losing his mind appears on Tobirama's mind.

"Wait,"

Yoko watched as her thought process sinks in the Senju's mind. She shook head head and sighed.

"Hokage-san might have no other choice this time. It's all up to him on what to choose now."

-xxx-

The dark blue sky amidst the sunset matched the color of her hair while the vermilion sky reminds her of blood. The rustles of trees from the cold breeze reminds her of the battles she'd been through. Soon as the sun freely set in the horizon, the darkness rises and the stars started to appear.

She had known what to expect right after she left the pathetic village that brought nothing but pain in her life. Madara stopped midway in her tracks after sensing the familiar chakra that was following her. That chakra that was too fast and strong. She hated it.

"Madara!" The Senju called.

Her gunbai placed in her back, she wore a full battle armor.

"You're here." she smirked, facing her back at him.

Hashirama was bothered, her chakra was way more hostile than ever. He had faced her on countless battles before but this time, he felt that he was going to face a different Uchiha Madara.

"Stop this," he said earnestly.

"I've already lost hope."

A strong wind passed by, the full moon showed itself and the only sound they can hear was the rustling of leaves from the forest. They were in the middle of the valley, a place that was so familiar to both of them but neither one of them realized that fact at the moment.

Hashirama was confused, he wanted to tell her that there was no use of attacking Kiri since they can do it once she is the Hokage. He's going to give the seat, he should've have just told her and now's the time.

"You don't have to do this anymore," He started, arms motioning as if delivering a speech, hoping to change her mind. "I am giving you the Hokage seat. I realized that it was all too late for us to keep the peace intact. Too many people already died from both sides. As the Hokage, I wanted the best for my people, I don't want them to experience what you and I experienced. A life full of war. But I know now that a little sacrifice is needed to attain peace. That is why I've decided that I'm leaving everything in your care. Also, I settled the issue about the Uzumakis, they'll continue to assist us. There's nothing to worry about anymore."

Hashirama expressed, hoping her to hear him out. He failed to look at her straight in the eyes when she uttered the thing regarding the Uzumakis. A little sacrifice was needed, he thought. And he was definitely talking about himself with that.

Madara smiled as she closed her eyes, he thought everything will be fine until she dropped her next words.

"Pathetic."

He had expected that she would change her mind after what he said but she didn't. In fact, it was as if it made things worse. He heard her chuckle before dropping a word.

"That's not what I am aiming for anymore." she said, coldly with unreadable, dangerous eyes staring at the Senju.

"What do you mean?" he asked. "But isn't this what you wanted?"

"And do you think I can trust you?"

"I've never lied to you."

Madara frowned, the air around her became dim as the night.

"You liar!" she growled, reaching for the gunbai at her back. Hashirama blinked in surprise, trying to think what went wrong in the whole situation.

"Madara-''

"Confessing that you love me yet marrying another woman, you fucking liar." She snarled and that was it.

The earth beneath them crumbled soon as the Uchiha assaulted the Senju. Violent chakra streaming down the area while the two most powerful forces clash. One was attacking and the other was desperately trying to defend himself. Due to her attacks, Hashirama was left no other choice but to summon his wood jutsu to protect his life.

"I can explain! Madara what I said was the truth!"

"Lies!"

Madara activated the Mangekyou sharingan.

"I will never ever believe in you again!"

Her rage continues and it created tremors around the vicinity. Hashirama can tell she was dead serious into pulverizing him.

Once again, he pleaded, trying to stop her. "Believe in me! I have a reason-"

"ENOUGH OF YOUR LIES!"

Madara performed the majestic fire jutsu hand seals and shoot it at Hashirama's direction.

How could it all end up to this?

It wasn't supposed to be like this.

As usual, Hashirama survived the attack after summoning a massive wood jutsu to shield himself.

"Madara, I'm begging you," he said, eyes with a pleading look. The desperation was too much in his voice, yet it was all for naught because in a span of a millisecond, Madara attacked him again. A sword lunging to cut his head. Hashirama used a kunai to dodge it but it already grazed his throat. They went on and on and on, attacks after attacks. Everytime he tried to reach her and open his mouth to say something, he aggravates her more. Her hatred was seeping throughout the vicinity and her chakra caused tremors. Hashirama knows that the worst is yet to come once it continues.

He had to stop her.

An opening let him grab both of her arms. The title best shinobi of their era wasn't something he earned for nothing. Hashirama forcefully twist Madara's arms for her to drop the weapons. Madara shrieked with her eyes red as blood as the Mangekyou sharingan rolled. She glared at him and the hatred in her eyes penetrated in his very soul.

"I'll fucking kill you!" She bellowed. "And then after that, I will destroy your miserable village!"

"Stop this,"

"Once you are gone, I will be the strongest shinobi in this era!" she grimaced as the two of them struggled momentarily with Hashirama preventing her movements and Madara forcing to retaliate.

Hashirama knew that if she ever succeeded, it will definitely bring devastation on the village they worked so hard to built and he doubt that if he ever die, Tobirama would be enough to stop her. At the very least, he knows what the future will bring once her fury continues.

Her words was like a dagger directly assaulting his heart. It was as if everything they had since they were children were gone. Twin blazing scarlet eyes mocked him, the most painful part was he cannot see any hope in her eyes. She was hopeless, hopeless about the world they live in, hopeless in the entire future. She looks as empty as him but in the most dreadful way. His heart sank realizing it was all too late for them yet he doesn't want to acknowledge it, he doesn't want to give her up for the sake of his village. There was absolutely something he can do, he wanted to believe he was right about it but was he?

How far will you go for Konoha? Hashirama remembers the time Yoko asked him a threatening question.

Are you willing to kill her for the sake of your village? The girl continues.

"I would never do that!" he replied, flabbergasted by the question that was thrown to him. Confused, he glared at the Uchiha unsure of what's the reason behind it.

"But what if it's the only way to save Konoha? Madara is a power-hungry individual and Izuna was her life. When he died, it was like her life was taken away from her. I could say she's the real danger and not your enemy village, how long are you going to ignore that fact, Hokage-san?" Yoko stated calmly, It was quite shocking that an airhead looking girl like her was saying all of this.

Hashirama was stupefied. Yoko was only stating facts. He himself could not argue with that but there was no way, no way, he would kill the girl he loves.

After recalling those moments, Hashirama was struck by the bitter reality that talking about the issue was different from facing it. Yet his resolve remained.

"This will be the end." she warned, a wry smile plastered on her face. Hashirama knew from that exact moment that this will be their last fight. Her words, her actions and her chakra was saying that there was no way he could avoid to clash with her. No matter how much he wants to.

Madara was freed from his grip and their battle continues.

-xxx-

Almost a day had passed and the battle still continues. Her rage and his astounding strength wrecked the vast valley. For every time Hashirama tried to talk and explain as they dealt with each other's attacks, Madara refused to listen and only responded with a murderous glare and bitter words. Her words pained him greatly than any physical wound. A wound so deep that even his top notch healing jutsu would be useless.

It was one hell of a fight and both were at their limits. They panted heavily with blood and sweat sticking out. Jagged armor and heavy eyelids. Their indestructible chakra was beginning to fade but it was clear that one of them had the upper hand.

Amidst the havoc under the captivating twilight, Hashirama hunched putting with his hands on his kneecaps. Slowly, he raised his head and breathes out, watching the magnitude of destruction they brought in the place. His face dreary as he look above.

"Why,"

The Hokage sighed but his eyes still fixated at the sky.

"Why won't you just kill me?"

Hashirama closed his eyes and after a minute of silence, he answered.

"Why should I?" he said in a whisper.

Away from him was Madara, on bended knees. It doesn't take a genius to assume that she has no chakra left anymore. Using mangekyou sharingan for such a long period was truly chakra draining even for a powerful shinobi like her.

"I lost." her gloved hand touching the ground. The Uchiha bowed her head, wanting nothing but an end to her miserable fate. She chuckled laughing at her own self.

"I've lost to you for so many of times. Yet you always refuse to kill me. You're a cruel one, Hashirama. Do you enjoy watching me losing to you over and over?" she said, not really looking for an answer. But rather she was questioning for one last time why would life be unfair.

"Does it matter," Hashirama spoke, in a rough way. He was so worn out to control his emotions and so it spilled finally.

"Does it matter if one could win or lost? Does it matter to be the strongest?" he asked again, now looking at the Uchiha straight in the eyes.

"Heh," eyes on the ground, a smirk appeared on her lips. "It matters to me."

"That is why you've lost!" for the first time, Hashirama snapped at her.

Madara was indeed surprised by this yet like him, she was worn out to react appropriately. She was confused and defeated. She felt like an utter loser, no, she was definitely a loser at this point.

"Kill me." she mumbled, but Hashirama did not fail to hear it. "I'd rather die than live knowing that I'm nothing but a loser."

Hashirama's heart sank, yet again. Hearing those words from the person he loves was agonizing. He can only wish to take her pain away or at least ease it a bit. But even him played a part on bringing hell to her life.

His eyes softened as he looked at her. "Mara, I can never-"

Even on his weakest state, he didn't fail no sense the incoming threat. Hashirama quickly scanned the area and on the higher ground, he saw the enemy shinobis circling around them.

There were hundreds of Kiri shinobis descending from above.

At this point, one thing was for sure; he will have a hard time if they ever attack them right now. But before anything, Hashirama waited and waited for something to happen and kept his eyes between Madara and their uninvited guests. He was also quick to realize that it was either both of them were too focused on each other to notice the Kiri shinobis' presence or they were skilled enough to hide their chakras from him and Madara's senses.

He can only guess that they waited patiently until one of them collapsed and soon will approach them once they had no strength to fight anymore. Even as their enemy, Hashirama mentally applauds the dirty little trick. It was like they planned this all along.

"Hokage-sama," a Kiri shinobi called from afar. "We received your letter of peace negotiation."

Judging from the shinobi's tone, their presence wasn't merely asking for some bloody battle. Hashirama relaxed a bit but never let his guard down.

"I see," Hashirama answered, loud enough for the shinobi standing on the higher ground to hear. "Then, what is this all about?" he asked, lifting an eyebrow.

"I am here to deliver an agreement from the Mizukage."

"Agreement?" the Hokage dipped his head on his side looking above. All the while, Madara was listening to the whole conversation with glaring onyx eyes with the absence of sharingan.

"What exactly is this agreement you're talking about?" Hashirama asked, if anything, this so called agreement would solve all his problems but at the same time, he's looking forward that whatever it is, coming from the Mizukage himself might not be an easy thing to give.

And how he was so right about that.

"Hand Uchiha Madara to us and we will leave everything in peace. In addition to this is the payment of the destruction that our rebel assassins, the seven swordsmen that had caused your village."

Hashirama's mood turned sour and Madara who was slumping on the dirt gritted her teeth. These fools. Do they honestly think he will freely give her to them? As far as he's concern, they will surely give her the slowest and most painful death.

"Hashirama," The Uchiha said in a husky voice. "Do it."

His eyes shifted to her.

"I'd rather die in your hands rather than on these lowly idiots."

Hashirama did not answer, instead he just stared at her with a blank face. Admittedly,he's too tired in all of this.

"Just do it!" she yelled, he closed his eyes and clenched his fist.

"We demand an answer right now." The Kiri shinobi said, unaware of the conversation of the two.

"If this is what you want," Hashirama spoke. His voice was deep and empty.

Madara lets out small smile on her lips, already accepting her fate on his hands. She failed in so many things in life yet she never wanted to accept it. But after doing everything in her power and still wasn't able to claim the victory, Madara, for the first time felt it really was the end. The only thing she can be proud of was that she gave up fighting.

At least…

It wasn't that bad…

She closed her eyes, already anticipating a quick death from Hashirama's hands. Her best friend whom she shared a dream, the then stupid looking bowl cut boy whom she met during her childhood. She admits, it wasn't that bad after all.

"I won't let you have her." Hashirama growled, glaring daggers on his true opponents. Madara's eyes fluttered wide open and saw Hashirama activating his sage mode.

"Senpo Mokuton: Shin Susenju!"

The ground was shaken once again when a giant statue with thousand hands emerged from below. The kiri shinobis were appalled . They were crushed like flies in an instant but Hashirama's low chakra greatly affects the jutsu.

"You fool!" Madara struggled to stand up and wobbled as she gets up. "What the hell is wrong with you, you could've use that chakra to-"

"To kill you?" Hashirama continued.

"I would never do such thing, Madara."

-xxx-

Raindrops poured down the earth as if the sky was crying from the battle that stole hundreds of lives.

"I hate you, you know that?! You're the most stupid person I've ever met! What a fool wasting your chakra like that!"

Madara's voice reverberated inside the deep forest. Hashirama's long arm wrapped around her shoulders.

"Ma...ra"

"Stop talking!" Madara glowered.

She sighed exasperatedly and halted. Both of them barely have energy left in their bodies particularly Hashirama who used a huge amount of his own life force to summon a jutsu that requires a great amount of chakra. Both of them knows, especially the Senju himself that it would definitely kill him instantly if not because of Madara interrupting.

The Uchiha stared at her reflection in the river they passed by and closed her eyes at the realization,

"No, Im the stupid one here." She said at the back of her mind.

Everything flipped upside down. Her thoughts were shuffled and even herself cannot believe what she did. She can still feel the anger, the hatred, her hopelessness for her pitiful life and the world they live in. She already envisioned herself in the afterlife, joining Izuna and the rest of her family in heaven or hell if such places exists.

Madara glanced at the form beside her, the man she's been carrying for an hour.

Her mind was screaming bloody murder, detestation, abomination, betrayal - yet her heart was telling her to do the opposite. She continued in her tracks, small but quick steps until finding a secluded cave not far from them.

Pure luck for her or the man beside her, she can't tell.

Madara not-so-carefully put Hashirama down soon as they entered the cave. She let out a gasp of pain from the weight of dragging a man twice her weight and plopped down next to him.

Hashirama slowly opened his eyes and turn to move his head towards the Uchiha's direction.

"Thank you." he muttered.

"For what," she replied harshly. "For trying to kill you and destroy your village?"

Hashirama only looked at her vividly.

Both of them were on their weakest, making their chakra and presence unnoticeable from the remaining enemy shinobis, if ever some of them survived Hashirama's destructive jutsu, that is.

The silence between them was broken by the Senju's chuckle. He, of course earned a glare coming from the Uchiha.

"What's funny?" she asked.

Hashirama leaned on a rock on his back. "You can't kill me."

Madara gritted her teeth, her eyes turned into slits. But her eyes softened its gaze as she bowed her head. He was right and she cannot argue with that. She had lost so many battles against him and there was no counter argument with that.

"No," Hashirama spoke again. "You don't want to kill me."

"What?!" she snapped.

The Hokage was still staring at her onyx eyes.

"You had the chance but you didn't. You saved me. You just don't want to acknowledge it, Madara, but you never wanted to kill me even you can."

"What the hell are you-"

She was smacked by the realization that there was a fine line between 'she wanted to kill him' and 'she can kill him' and Hashirama proved that he was right about it.

"You were just blinded by your hatred towards me but I know deep inside of you that you are a kind person." he continued.

"Shut up,"

"Admit it."

"Shut up!" she yelled, her voice reverberated inside the cave..

"I lost because you are stronger than me, that's just it. Don't fucking assume what I feel. You have no idea how I really feel nor I think!"

Hashirama paused but kept his eyes on her.

"Do you want to know the real difference between us?"

Madara stiffened, although her face looked annoyed and tired just like him.

"I should've known," Hashirama started in a raspy voice, weak as his body. "We're like water and oil, always clashing even on trivial matters. But I believe we could make something great if we're together and from that we made the village. You and me, because that's what we want. Freedom, peace, a home that we never had. I wanted it all because of you."

For the first time in their argument, Madara did not interject what he's saying. She just continued to listen while avoiding his gaze.

"And you asked me ...to kill you?" Hashirama's voice cracked as he was on the brink of tears and was only trying to hold it. The pain and loneliness that he was hiding away from her for so long. Madara was silent the entire time. Around the sound of raindrops , the cold and dark place above the mercy of twilight.

"I am strong because I acknowledge what I feel, and if this feeling I have for you is what one can say my weakness, then so be it."

Madara froze on the spot like she was smacked by something soimpactful. Her eyes dilated after being struck by his words.

They may be both powerful, yes she cannot win against him in terms of raw strength but she can easily surpass his intelligence. There were many ways that she can think of to defeat him but if was all out of hatred and lust of power, and by that, her judgement was always clouded. She doesn't acknowledge her weakness while he embraced it. His weakness was a part of him that he can never let go. For this 'weakness' was also his strength.

It was her.

Madara swallowed her pride, finding it ironic that the one with a pair of eyes that can see invisible things clearly than anyone was the blind one all along.

Suddenly, Hashirama started to cough violently. He placed a hand over his mouth as blood gushed out from it. His vision blurred and lost his balance.

"Hashirama!"

Madara was startled and immediately caught him. His breathing became shallow and she can feel that he's getting weaker and weaker. He was badly injured and his last remaining chakra good enough to survive was drained after he activated the sage mode.

But he don't regret it.

"Mara,"

"Don't talk, just...take a rest." she said with a tone of obvious worry.

He can't help but to smile despite his condition. Seeing Madara's furrowed eyebrows not because of annoyance but because of worrying was a rarity.

"It's been a while since I heard that tone….of yours.."

Madara looked at him straight in the eyes, they were face to face.

"When you stupidly went head on with my fire jutsu during our sparring match?"

"Yes." Hashirama answered weakly.

The Uchiha bit the side of her cheeks as the memories from their childhood filled her mind.

"Stupid idiot." she mumbled. "I hate you."

"I love you."

She flinched, eyes widened at the sudden declaration. And before she can argue with him again, Hashirama put his arms around her.

"If that's the last thing I could say to you, please believe it."

She was locked by his embrace, her face buried on his shoulder blades.

"I'm sorry that I ….have to sacrifice my feelings for you….but please...remember that even if I end up marrying another woman… you'll always be…"

Hashirama was cut off when she hugged him back, wrapping her arms around him was like a dream.

"Don't talk," she said and with that, Hashirama closed his eyes, listening only to the sound of rain, alone with the most important person in his life.

"Hashirama," she whispered, and after a long pause in a dead silence,

"I'm sorry….for everything."