A Thousand Hands

Summary: The rise and fall of the man who moved nations; Senju Hashirama.

Disclaimer: Naruto series is not mine

Arc Four: The Hidden Leaf Village

Chapter Fifteen

"Nine times arising

to see the moon …

whose solemn pace

Marks only midnight yet"

Basho

Mito was meticulous in her stroke; the swing of her brush was almost seductive. Her mind had blossomed into a woman's long before her body, so often it was that which made her think that aroused her. This piece was a simple seal; she made it with her child in mind. The seal, once applied, would let her child sleep only for as long as was healthy. She had been very thorough with her research of the sleeping cycles of children; the village women had been happy to oblige her questions.

The oval room from which Hashirama ruled the village beneath the mountain was her haven, and even in its defiled state it was still soothing to her mind. The northern invaders who took the village had stripped it of the markings of the Senju clan. In exchange they had covered the place, and the village, with their banners and symbols.

There was a rally happening outside. The village people had been gathered by their conquerors; rules needed to be established. The army that came down the village was some eight thousand strong. They were from Earth Country. At the head of the dragon was the leader of the Kamizuru clan, now the most powerful man in those lands.

Mito's silent meditation was interrupted as the door suddenly flew open. A short, ruddy man dressed in flowing red and white robes came in, sweating at the brow. He looked haggard; the stairs up to the oval office were his greatest nemesis. On his chest was a great red symbol for 'Fire Lord'.

Mito stood and bowed in an almost disrespectful manner.

Tadaaki Abe gave her a curt bow in return, before finding a seat on Hashirama's chair. Mito frowned openly at that. Abe was the former Fire Lord. His treachery against the Uchiha Clan had forced him to flee far into the north with his Fuuma allies. He had returned now with a host eight thousand strong; a hodgepodge of warriors and mercenaries from surrounding countries led by the Kamizuru masters.

"Your day, my Lady?" Abe asked after a while.

Mito did not return his sickly smile; the creature disgusted her more than anything in her life. He was a snake in human flesh. She returned her attention to her seal.

"You should not be so rude to me, my Lady," Abe said. "When this is all over, you will have a seat at my court. Noble women of the court are much more kind to their Lord."

Mito continued to silently write on her paper.

"You know my Lady," Abe continued. "The Tadaaki family has ruled Fire Country for just over three hundred years. My ancestors fought control of the country away from the Tadashi family. My father ruled this country and his father before him and his father before him. Why should my son not one day inherit what his ancestors fought to give him? It makes sense doesn't it?"

Mito knew that he had no sons; his mad rebellion against the Uchiha clan had left him with nothing but his own skin and bones.

"When I have crushed your dear husband and Madara, I will start to rebuild this country," Abe said, a feeling of euphoria running through him. "Of course, the Uzumaki clan will need to be on my side, as they have been on your husbands. Our marriage will provide that. Then, you will provide me an heir who will inherit what is rightfully his."

Mito snapped her eyes coldly to him and he flinched; she imagined that she should kill him and he saw that thought in her mind.

Before either of them moved, a knocking came at the window. There was a man, brown-skinned and dressed in black with piercing violet eyes floating just outside. He opened the window gently and streamed into the room like the wind; there were two swords strapped to his back.

"Lord Tadaaki," he said, bowing. "My Lady Senju, forgive my intrusion."

"Ah, Muu," Abe said, sweating suddenly with relief. "What can I help you with?"

"My lord," Muu said, "we need you to speak with the village elders again. They claim that they don't have the resources to provide enough food for all of the men. Lord Oda will be joining us from the north in a few days to lead invasion south to Keishi. He will not be pleased if the men, especially the Kamizuru men, have not been taken care of."

"Force them to do as you say," Abe said. "You've been too kind to them, Muu. Threaten their families and the food will be yours."

"Unwise, my lord," Muu said. "When we march south, we'll only leave a hundred men here to keep order. If we alienate the villagers, they may revolt once we leave. We don't want to have to fight to retake the village after successive battles with Lord Senju and Lord Uchiha."

Abe leaned back in the chair and nodded thoughtfully; the tiny hamster in his mind ran furiously until he finally grinned deviously at his own cruelty.

"Ah, our Lady Senju here will speak with them," Abe said.

"I'll do no such thing," Mito said.

Abe frowned. "Insolent woman. Strike her."

Muu did not move.

"I command you to strike her!" Abe said "Strike her or your Lord will hear of your disobedience."

Muu turned to face her. He bowed slightly.

"My lady," Muu said.

Muu's arm swept out like a serpents and he backhanded Mito. A line of blood immediately began to trickle down her chin and the spot began to go turn blue. Mito stared Muu down defiantly, her gaze never moving from his. There was no remorse in his eyes, nor was there pleasure. He was as cold as ice.

"My lady," Abe said, smirking. "You must learn modesty. I will teach it to you. Take our lady to her chambers and get her a medic to heal that pretty little wound. Tell the clan heads and the village elders that our lady will be speaking with them tomorrow."

Muu bowed silently before grabbing Mito by the arm and hoisting her to her feet; his grip was gentle. He kept his grip on her until they were out of the office before releasing her and clasping his arms behind his back. They did not slow their pace.

"Forgive me, my lady," Muu said. "He is dishonorable."

"As are you, for following him," Mito said.

"Yes, that is true," Muu said. "But I am a ninja. I have no use for honor. He, on the other hand, is a noble lord. He should be more dignified."

"You seem to hate him, but you bow to his whims like a dog," Mito said.

Muu did not bite at her insults, which stung Mito deeply. The two weeks underneath the rule of the northern conquerors had taught her to hate Abe; but she hated Muu even more. Abe's cruelty made him weak; if he was leading the forces by himself, she knew she could manipulate him to her desires. But Muu was not to be manipulated. He was like Tobirama in a sense. Nothing broke his exterior and ruined his calm.

"As I said, I am a ninja," Muu said. "I do not care for honor or distinction. Nor do I care who I must serve. The Fire Lord is useful to us; he has a legitimate claim to the seat of Fire Country. When we defeated your lord husband and Lord Madara … without him, we would never be able to hold the country. So, until he is no longer useful, yes, he is my master and I his servent."

"Why take Fire Country?" Mito said. "Even if you could win –you can't– you will lose thousands of fighters. Taking over Earth Country would be easier. There would be less resistance."

"True in a sense, my lady," Muu said. "Earth Country, however, is hard like its people. Even the most fertile lands are near dead with erosion. It is in north east, with most of the population far from the bustling center of the continent. Fire Country, however, sits at the center. The population is greatest, the opportunity for trade is greatest, and the industrial capacity is greatest. We saw an opportunity and we took it."

They arrived to her room and Muu bowed graciously as she entered before stalking off. As soon as he was outside, Muu took flight. He rose gently at first, letting the moist air lick at his skin before suddenly shooting high into the clouds. He took a moment to survey the city; he had been fascinated by it since his arrival at the gates. It was the greatest city he had ever seen. Even from his altitude he could see the movement of the people; not even occupation stopped their lives. Muu knew that his family would grow very rich here.

It was with that thought in mind that Muu suddenly descended in the fourth district. Three of his men had surrounded a young woman; she was bruised now and one of them had their hand around her throat.

"Lord Muu!" one of the boys yelled.

They turned on a dime and bowed, letting the woman fall helplessly in the dirt.

"What are you doing?" Muu asked.

"Nothing my lord," the largest of the boys said. "Just caught her stealing glances, my lord."

Muu viciously punched him in the mouth; he fell to the ground in a heap, instantly unconscious and missing some of his teeth. The other boys flinched and then stiffened. Not daring to incite their master's rage; they had seen before the devastating power of the eldest son of the Kamizuru leader.

"Take him and leave," Muu said. "If I catch you at it again, I'll kill you."

"Yes, my lord!" they said before grapping the unconscious one and sprinting away.

Muu walked over to the young woman, who still seemed shaken. He put on his best smile –Muu is a business man at heart– and held out a hand that she took after a few moments of worthless uncertainty.

"I'm sorry if they hurt you," Muu said. "It won't happen again. As long as we are here, you'll be safe."

As she left, Muu took to the skies again. He would have to find the leader of his military police and reprimand them thoroughly; his father would arrive to Fire Country in just three days time now. The city and the surrounding area would have to be extremely silent; anything short of perfection would incite the wrath of Lord Kamizuru and not even Muu wanted to face it.

Mito immediately found her bed when Muu had left; she wanted to continue drawing more than anything, but Muu only allowed her to have pen and paper in Hashirama's office. He was a shrewd man, and however unlikely it was that she could reach her father through a seal, he would not have it.

Instead, Mito began to draw on her belly with their fingertips. The skin of it was stretchy almost like a rubber. As her fingers roamed, her mind went through the biological processes. It was such a beautiful thing, chakra containing chakra, chakra birthing chakra. She stopped when she felt a tiny fist from within the surface and smiled. It was going to be a girl. Mito imagined at times that she could see the future. She wondered if Hashirama would be disappointed by a girl, but she knew he would not be.

Time went by slowly; eventually an old nurse came in and sympathetically healed her wound. Mito imagined that the woman must have lived beneath this mountain since before Hashirama and Tobirama were even born. There were no words spoken between them, but a silent hope lingered in the air; neither of them had ever known the Senju brothers to fail.

Mito knew very well what was coming; she had seen it a long time ago. Two brothers would soon be marching north and they would burn anyone who stood in their way.

Keishi …

Morning time could not have come any slower for Hashirama. He spent his nights in the castle, his mind running through the various scenarios and problems that plagued him day in and day out. Two weeks had passed since his taking Keishi and his brother's defeat at the Battle of Futago Pass. It had also been two weeks since news had come that his home was taken by invaders from the north, carrying the banners of the former Fire Lord.

Hashirama had slept little in those two weeks.

Tobirama's defeat had not been a surprise, only a rude awakening. Hashirama had known as he stormed Keishi's gates that Tobirama was outnumbered and alone. But even still, when he arrived to Futago to find half of Tobirama's forces rotting on the mountainside, it had been shocking. Tobirama had always seemed to invincible, even when faced with someone like Madara.

Hashirama's only solace was that his brother's body was not amongst the sea of dead. Madara's massive contingent of men and captured Senju men had moved to the lands of the noble Lord Imagawa. They had taken up residence, fortified their borders and were simply waiting for hell to come to them.

It had taken the Uzumaki clan and Lord Arashi only two days to seize the Hyuuga territory. Since then, Hashirama had fortified his line in the north in preparing to head south while the Uzumaki prepared to head north. The plan had been to surround the Imagawa estate and wait for Madara's surrender. If not, then to crush him. Hashirama had dreaded that day coming; he was haunted by nightmares of Tobirama's head sticking from a pike somewhere down south. He did not want to see it.

The developments in the north had changed everything. Intelligence from Otafuki Gai stated that the northern army, apparently headed by the Kamizuru family of Earth Country, was seven or eight thousand strong. They had come without warning, taking the village beneath the mountain without bloodshed. They had met Senju resistance at Otafuki Gai and Tanzaku Gai, but had crushed it mercilessly. In essence, the territory that had taken Hashirama years to consolidate was taken from him in just a matter of weeks.

The sun rising gave Hashirama a brief reprieve from his demons. His room in the castle, not far from where the Daimyo and his wife slept, was open to the east. The sun would kiss his skin every morning; it reminded him of his home and his gentle wife. The servants brought him food and a fresh kimono. He took the kusanagi in hand and headed for the throne room, where the games would begin immediately.

Kaizoku sat in his throne, subdued and quiet. Hashirama had taken to letting the Fire Lord join their meetings; the man was very shrewd and forward thinking. His loyalty was to his family. It had not taken much to convince him to abandon Madara's cause.

Inuzuka Koga, Aburame Kageru and Nara Fieru sat crossed legged facing the Daimyo. They were silent and stern faced. Hashirama took the seat in front of them with his back to Kaizoku; they bowed formally as was custom in the presence of Fire Lord.

"The news?" Hashirama asked solemnly.

"Lord Arashi and is ready, my lord," Fieru said. "The Uzumaki have quelled all dissent in the south and can begin marching towards the Iwagawa estate as early as this afternoon. Our men are reequipped and ready to travel as well. The local ninja clans have now all sworn their fealty to our fight, adding almost two hundred ninja to our ranks."

"And in north?" Hashirama asked, swallowing something dry in his throat at the thought of it.

"No change, my lord," Fieru said, bowing his head. "The Kamizuru have taken all major northern cities. They continue to solidify their holdings; the latest intelligence says that they are trying to turn the population against us using the former Fire Lord."

"How are they faring?"

"Better than we'd like," Fieru said. "The people are loyal to the Senju … but a year of total war has left them tired and scared. The Kamizuru are promising an end to war and a return to working. With the disgraced Fire Lord at their side, they also claim to have a legitimate claim to ruling the country. Stray ninja clans and warriors that never joined the Senju are flocking to them."

"I say we go and get the bastards," Koga said. "Madara's one thing … but he's holed up with Imagawa and won't come ever come out. The Kamizuru, on other hand, have got our homes. They got our wives and children. We can't keep treating that like the secondary issue here. Madara's on the backburner now."

"We have to take Madara first," Hashirama said. "I can't just march north and leave him to the Uzumaki. Lord Arashi is no match for him. Besides, even if we did head north, we're outnumbered four to one without the Uzumaki forces. The only way to get those forces is to get Madara out of the way. Madara first."

"I fear the Kamizuru are banking on us taking that strategy, my lord," Kageru said. "Even with their superior numbers, they still haven't dared to head south on Keishi. Their army is ragtag and undisciplined; they've had less than a year to pad their numbers and I'm sure that quality has suffered in exchange. They won't dare to face us until we weaken ourselves in a battle against Madara."

"Either way," Fieru said, "marching north isn't an option. The Uzumaki have put their entire clan on the line for this war. Every single one of them and their loyal subjects are waiting in the south to move at our order. If we head north on a suicide march, Madara will head down and crush them. The Senju clan will cease to exist totally. Our only chance is to head south and link up with the Uzumaki.

"Yes, we will be weakened by a final battle with Madara and the Kamizuru will be at full strength, but we are already weakened and they are already at full strength. We cannot let emotion cloud or feelings, brothers. My wife and son too are in their clutches, but nothing has changed. Once Madara is gone, our claim on Fire Country will be strengthened. Our cause will have history on its side then."

"That's naïve," Koga barked. "We've put this country through a year's worth of war. We've ravaged Keishi and all the major cities. The common people and ninjas don't care about legitimacy! They want security! They want their sons to stop dying! If the Kamizuru can offer them that, then we will have nothing to goad them to our side with."

"Lord Koga, the facts remain the same!" Fieru said. "What happens after we defeat Madara is a mystery. But, what happens if we foolishly decide to march north is a fact; we will be erased! Everything that we have created with the Senju brothers will melt away. It is too great a risk to take. There is no choice, we must move south!"

"Wrong!" Koga said. "The choice is clearly north! Who says that the southern clans, loyal to the Uchiha for centuries will suddenly love us and join our effort? If we go south then we'll be trapped there surrounded by rogue southern enemies and the eight-thousand strong northern army. We have to go north!"

"There is a third option," Kaizoku said from his seat above them.

Hashirama, who had already begun to block his advisors out, suddenly snapped back to reality. He did not turn to face Kaizoku, but his ears perked up attentively. His advisors turned their gaze wearily to their former enemy but listened intently

"Both of the options on the table are foolish," Kaizoku said. "Either way, the end game remains the same. The Kamizuru clan will crush us … all of us, northern and southern. The only option is the obvious one that no one wants to say. We should march north, but not simply as the Senju. Victory is only possible through a Senju-Uchiha alliance."

The advisors turned their heads away, Koga scoffed.

"Forgive me my lord," Kageru said, "but I find it hard to trust your intentions. You and your family have served the Uchiha too well through these trying times."

"You distrust my loyalty," Kaizoku said. "I assure you, Lord Kageru, my loyalty is only to my family. If your march north, you will lose. Then Lord Madara too will be killed by the Kamizuru. If you move south, then the Kamizuru will follow after you and kill whoever remains. Either way, my old friend Abe will kill me and my family for taking the seat of this country in his absence. An alliance is the only way."

Hashirama stood suddenly.

"My lords, please get back to the men," Hashirama said. "Send word to the Uzumaki to hold their ground. I will send them my decision by the end of the tomorrow. I want the northern perimeter strengthened. Send emissaries west towards Rain Country, Grass Country, River Country and Wind Country. I want to be sure we won't be dealing with anymore foreign invaders until this is over. Lord Kaizoku, please come with me."

Hashirama and Kaizoku made their way out of the castle. Hashirama had taken to walking the streets of Keishi to calm his head. Since the bodies and blood had been cleaned up, the homes of the rich around them had regained their luster and beauty. Keishi, for all of its ugliness, seemed to melt into the seams of reality even more seamlessly than his village beneath the mountain.

They did not speak for quite a while before Hashirama spoke.

"How are your wife and children, my lord?"

"Very good," Kaizoku said. "My daughter is still somewhat shaken by your storming of the castle, but she is smiling again to my delight. My son admires you very much, actually. He says you're the greatest ninja who ever lived and wants to be just like you. My wife …" he sighed. "She is a good mother. She worries herself to death over the children. She fears we will be killed soon."

"I assure it won't happen," Hashirama said.

"I've told her the same," Kaizoku said, laughing. "But that doesn't stop her from worrying. After all, an army of eight-thousand is waiting in the north to see our heads on pikes. She's a good woman. I love her very much."

"It's rare for a man of your station to love his wife isn't it?" Hashirama asked. "I had always imagined that lords and their arranged marriages made for very unhappy men and woman."

"That is most times the case," Kaizoku said. "But Kikyo and I grew up together. Even before I knew I was going to marry her, I knew it would be so. The gods were kind enough to intertwine our fates and give us two beautiful children. I often try to comfort her by telling her that at least we will die together, just as we lived. It gives her no comfort. And you, Lord Hashirama? What of your Lady Mito. I hear she is the most gorgeous woman in the land!"

"You've head right," Hashirama said grinning. "But her beauty is no match for her strength. I would be more worried if anyone else was trying to keep my homeland together. She will keep things in order until we return. Of that I am sure."

A rock suddenly sailed into Hashirama's forehead. It brought them back to reality; they realized starkly that they had walked all the way to the poorer parts of the city. Hashirama found the culprit, a young boy. Another man in the street found him first and reamed him across the body with a bamboo stick.

"Stupid child, those are our lords!" the man said, raising the stick to strike the boy again.

"Enough!" Hashirama barked.

The man bowed and quickly scurried away. Hashirama found the boy and knelt over him; he was no older than seven. Hashirama knew immediately that he was an Uchiha, probably an orphan. He had slick black hair and porcelain skin. His eyes were black as coal, and they met Hashirama's with such flaming pride that the Senju lord could see the hint of red hidden underneath the black.

Hashirama smiled is widest smile and ruffled the boy's hair.

"You're a good kid," Hashirama said.

The boy stood, pouted and quickly took off running.

"The Uchiha have many bastards roaming the city since the war started," Kaizoku said. "A shame really."

"Lord Kaizoku, I agree with your plan," Hashirama said. "I've been thinking for weeks now that the only way for any one of us to get out of this alive is for Madara and I to march north together. I have no illusions about beating the Kamizuru clan in combat without him. The Kamizuru leaders have legendary skill, and their army, disciplined or not, is massive."

"Why have you waited to approach them?" Kaizoku asked.

"Many reasons," Hashirama said as they began to walk back to the castle. "But mostly because I fear heading south. I did not find my brothers body at Futago Pass. I fear seeing him dead. I understand that Tobirama brought much of this upon us and that Madara's vengeance is in a sense, justified. But still … I don't know if I will be able to spare Madara's life if I see Tobirama's body."

"The love between brothers is stronger than any other," Kaizoku said. "I understand my lord. But, your wife and child are in the north. Their lives depend on your actions. No matter what you see when you go to him, you have to remain calm for the love that your bear them."

Kaizoku went to find his family when they returned to the castle. The castle was alive with activity as the ninjas streamed in and out. Fieru was at the head of it all, barking orders left and right, moving divisions and gathering supplies. Hashirama took a moment to admire him; Hashirama had known Fieru since before the boy could remember. It was eerie how much he took after Tobirama's personality.

"Lord Hashirama," Fieru said at the sight of him. "You're walk went well?"

"Very well, Fieru, very well," Hashirama said. "Come with me."

Fieru followed, puzzled and somewhat irritated to be pulled from his work. Hashirama led him to the top of the castle, which towered over the rest of Keishi so drastically that they could see the far off mountaintops and the spanning forests and valleys of Fire Country.

"It's beautiful, my lord," Fieru said.

"Heaven's garment is without seems," Hashirama replied. "From up here … none of it seems to matter. The natural world that we live in cares not for the battles of men. Before the Senju clan there were mountains and after the Senju clan, there will still be mountains."

"My lord?" Fieru said, puzzled.

"I will be heading south tomorrow to the Imagawa estate, Fieru," Hashirama said. "I will ask Madara to join the Senju clan in a permanent alliance."

"My lord, you'll go without your men …" Fieru said. "If he doesn't accept, they'll never let you come back alive."

"Maybe … I would put such tricks above Madara, but who knows?" Hashirama said. "But what choice do we have? The Kamizuru host is too large and too powerful for the Senju or the Uchiha to defeat alone. A joint coalition is the only way. If they kill me, then you are to surrender to Madara. He'll take control and lead the unified forces to defeat the Kamizuru."

"My lord such a gamble is not worth it!" Fieru said. "The clan will never give in to subjugation to Madara! And even if we did, who is to stay that Madara will allow us to return north and fight for our families against the Kamizuru. He might slaughter us instead, or trap us in the south forever."

"He wouldn't," Hashirama said. "Madara seeks a unified Fire Country like we do. He'd never settle for half. Make preparations for my departure. I won't need much food or water. You are in charge until I return. Until you know my fate with absolute certainty, you are not to move the men from Keishi, do you understand?"

"Yes, my lord."

Hashirama did not sleep that night; Tobirama's specter haunted his dreams and his every waking moment. He imagined the sight of his brother's body, strung up on the gates of the Imagawa estate and a rage filled him that he could not control. It was only the thought of his young wife and budding child that kept him from lashing out at the specter in rage. Nine times he snuck a look at the window and was met with the menacing glare of the moon.

Finally, the inky black of the night sky turned a dull gray and then began to transform into a myriad of colors as the sun took a gradual slope towards its pedestal in the sky. Hashirama rose and prepared to go face his brothers.

The Imagawa Estate …

Madara sat lazily on his pillow, listening to one of his younger cousins talk on and on about their current state of affairs. The boy went on about food, weapons, men, and how they would not last more than two more months at the Imagawa estate with all sources of outside revenue blocked off by the Senju to the north and the Uzumaki to the south. Madara knew all these things; he knew he was trapped in corner.

Despite his massive victory at the Futago Pass, he had still been outmaneuvered. He was surrounded on all sides and could not defeat both Hashirama and Uzumaki Arashi. The Uchiha and Hyuuga alliance had only served to stall the inevitable; their demise beneath the boot of the Senju. The non-fighter Uchiha were trapped in Keishi with the Senju, while the non-fighter Hyuuga were trapped farther south with the Uzumaki.

"Tell me about the northerners," Madara said.

"Excuse me, my lord?" the boy said.

"The invaders in north, who took Hashirama's village," Madara said. "What information have we gathered on them?"

"Nothing much has changed about them, my lord," said Uchiha Shinzo, one of two new Uchiha elders appointed to advise him. "The northerners have taken the Senju homeland, Otafuki Gai and Tanzaku Gai, but they have not yet dared to move south and meet the remaining Senju host, despite their advantage of numbers."

"Cowards," Madara spat. "They're waiting for the Senju to come after us. They want us to weaken the Senju before they move to take the country. I will take great pleasure in eviscerating those fools."

"One issue at a time, Lord Madara," said the head of the Imagawa estate, Kenji. "The north men are not our problem right now. The issue lies in what the boy says. Your army is large and ravenous. Without access to food or supplies from the other southern families, my family will not be able to sustain you for more than a month."

"That will never be an issue," Madara said. "Hashirama won't wait a month to come. The longer he waits to crush us, the more organized and powerful the northerners become. It would be wise to expect them at our gates in less than three days time."

"What shall we do then my lord?" Kenji asked. "My family stronghold cannot support a siege of any sort. Between them, the Senju and Uzumaki have about five thousand men. They outnumber and us they have surrounded us. There is nothing we can do but except surrender."

"I will never accept surrender," Madara said. "Count on that."

"My lord," another elder, Myoga squeaked, "you must reconsider. We have no chance of defeating the Senju. We do not wish to go the way the way of the Fuuma clan."

"You would have me throw our Uchiha honor into the wind?" Madara asked. "The Fuuma clan, till the very end, held on to their pride as a clan. Their demise was noble. My forefathers have led this clan for centuries; I will not spit on their graves by bending my knee to those who have dishonored us most."

"My lord our honor is restored," Shinzo said. "Lord Izuna's honor was restored when you defeated Tobirama. Now that our honor has been restored, we must focus on restoring our power. My Lord, the majority of our people, those who cannot defend themselves, are under Senju control. The same goes for the Hyuuga. The Hyuuga will turn against if we foolishly put the lives of their loved ones in danger."

"But the Hyuuga joined us to avoid surrender in the first place," Madara said. "Himachi has said it himself; he would rather die than bend the knee to the Senju."

The door suddenly slipped open and Kagami walked through, an eyepatch now gracing his sullen face. With a movement of his hand, Kagami made the Uchiha messenger scurry away. He walked in front of the line of four men and bowed graciously before taking a seat on the pillow laid out.

"There is no need to be coy here, my Lord," Kagami said. "These are trying times, best to be as honest as possible."

"Excuse me?" Madara asked. "You accuse me of treachery?"

"No, I accuse you of withholding information my Lord," Kagami said. "I saw Himachi when the Hyuuga took me as prisoner to the Hyuuga compound, just before he offered his loyalty to you. The normal man may have been fooled, but I saw through him easily. Your Genjutsu on him was very subtle my lord, but my eyes saw through it."

Madara resisted the urge to snarl.

"Even if it is true, does it matter?" Madara said. "I acquired the help that we needed. Our clan has survived longer because of it."

"I do not doubt so, my lord," Kagami said. "But the repercussions of those actions are beginning to bud. Just moments Nenbo, the highest ranked Hyuuga here, attempted to lead all of the Hyuuga back south to retake their homeland. I slew him under the pretense of him disobeying his master. It has quelled the Hyuuga for a while, but it won't last. None of them can understand how their master turned them from the winning side of the war to the losing side. They are beginning to suspect treachery."

"We should have been consulted, my lord," Shinzo said sternly.

"I do not remember having to consult you about anything," Madara spat. "All of you, out of my sight. Kagami … you stay."

The others, even the Imagawa lord, scrambled to their feet and found the exit. Kagami stayed planted in his seat, never removing the gaze of his one black pupil for that of Madara's potent Sharingan eyes.

"Have you betrayed me, Kagami?" Madara asked.

"Never my lord," Kagami said. "I was simply helping your effort. The survival of the clan is our number one priority. Hiding your method of capturing the Hyuuga clan was no longer helpful. We need to be honest about this if we hope to find a way to come out of this situation on top."

"I should kill you now," Madara said.

Kagami rose, bowed and smoothly stepped outside. The air was crisp this morning and he preferred it to the choking air of the council room where Madara's killer intent had begun to suffocate him. Kagami sighed; they needed Izuna at a moment like this. Only Izuna's cold gaze could temper Madara's explosive rage when it reached its peaks.

The compound was smaller than he remembered it from his childhood, and it was more decrepit. The Imagawa were long time allies of the Uchiha and claimed to have descended from the same ancient line and thus Kagami had spent much of his childhood roaming the gardens and halls of the great estate. He remembered it to be much more colorful, and much less overcrowded. This place was not meant to hold nearly four thousand fighting men.

Kagami made his way to his chambers, happily greeting whoever came his way. Once there he ordered a servant to make him some food. Kagami took the food on a tray and made his way to one of the floor mats in his home. He lifted the floor mat, revealing a set of stairs and quickly began his descent.

It was longer than he remembered; the trip was longer every time he had it. The secret underground prison where they kept their most valuable prisoner had many entrances. Kagami feared every day that he would descend and find nothing but a pool of blood and a cooling corpse.

But Tobirama was not dead; only defeated.

He was chained to the walls by a special sealing technique that blocked his chakra. He looked gaunt and grey under the light of the torches; not even food could fill a man who was lacking sunlight. He was sitting and his chains were sprawled about. His head was hanging limply with his hair draping his face. Kagami pulled up a chair, grabbed a pair of chopsticks and scooped up a bit of rice.

Tobirama took it hungrily. The rice and fish was gone in minutes and then Tobirama swallowed the water he was offered in one gulp.

"Gonna free me today?" Tobirama asked, smirking.

Kagami resisted the urge to laugh.

"I can barely keep convincing him to let you live," Kagami said. "I fear that if a resolution is not found soon … within the next few days, he'll drag you outside, take your head and display it on the outer wall."

"I don't fear my death," Tobirama said. "It's been a long time coming."

"If Lord Hashirama gets here and finds you dead," Kagami said, "then I fear nothing will stop him for destroying us in totality."

"You underestimate my brother's kind heart," Tobirama said. "He loves Madara like a brother for reasons that I can't even begin to understand."

"Even if that is true," Kagami said, "do not pretend that he loves you any less. You are his trueborn brother. He may not fly into a rage and bloody destruction, but the Uchiha hope of surviving as a clan will have been thrown into the wind. Lord Madara knows this, but yet he remains adamant in wanting your head."

"How are you stopping him?" Tobirama said.

"He fears me," Kagami said. "Not in a battle sense; he fears no one there. I have gained popular support of the clan. If he kills me, and I will die to defend you, then he would lose them all. He grows ever more solitary and confided. He rarely speaks to me now. He won't let us end Lord Izuna's suffering and give him a proper cremation. I fear for Lord Madara's mental health. This war … this defeat, has wounded him and makes him go ever more unstable."

"You love him?" Tobirama asked.

"Just as any man loves his family," Kagami said. "My father served his father loyally. My grandfather served his grandfather. My son will one day serve his son, and my descendents will serve his as well. I must be on my way, Lord Tobirama."

Tobirama nodded silently and Kagami began his ascent back up. The air outside was electric with something that he could not quite understand. He could feel something incredible was about to happen in his skin.

"Lord Kagami, come quickly to the gates!" one of his Uchiha men said. "Something is happening."

Kagami took off in a dead sprint, leaving his subordinate in the dust. It seemed to take an eternity but within moments he was at the front gates. There was a tall man there, brown-skinned and broad. He seemed to tower above the universe. He had his hands up and he was surrounded by Uchiha and Hyuuga men.

"On your knees you bastard!" one of the Uchiha yelled.

"Enough!" Kagami yelled. "Lower your weapons at once!"

The men backed off and Kagami landed in front of the man lightly. He had never met him before, but Kagami's eyes were the best that the Uchiha clan had to offer. Even with one eye, Kagami could see the power radiating from the man's skin. The very universe seemed to inject him with regal energy. Kagami bowed deeply.

"My Lord Senju," Kagami said. "We were not expecting your arrival."

Hashirama returned the bow, not as deep.

"It's my fault, I came unannounced."

"How can I help you, my Lord?" Kagami asked.

"I must speak with Madara at once," Hashirama said. He suddenly grabbed the Kusanagi, sheathe and all and offered it to Kagami, who took the blade graciously.

Kagami ordered the men to return to their posts and found someone to gather the elders and leaders of the Uchiha clan. The men were antsy and fearful. Those who saw Hashirama, and had seen his prowess in battle before, paled. The defenses around the compound suddenly tightened like a sphincter. But, the Senju horde did not come toppling over them as they feared.

"I came alone," Hashirama said, "to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. This war has to stop now. I will speak some sense into Madara."

"You've put your life in great danger," Kagami said. "I do not know if Lord Madara will listen to your sense."

"Then I will beat it into him," Hashirama said.

They wasted no time at all finding the council room. Madara was seated between three wrinkled old men that Hashirama had never seen before.

"Lord Hashirama," Kagami said, "I present to you, Lord Shinzo, Lord Myogi, Lord Imagawa Kenji and our Lord Madara."

Hashirama bowed lightly. "It is an honor to stand before you all."

"The honor is ours, my Lord," Myogi said to which the other two elders nodded.

"Have you come to surrender?" Madara asked, smirking.

The elders cringed at Madara's crassness. Hashirama returned his smirk with a gentle smile. There was something in Madara's eyes that he could not quite make out, but he knew immediately that he was correct in making his way here.

Nothing escaped Kagami's eye; not even the subtle change in Madara's body language as Hashirama entered. Kagami had never seen his lord so at ease, not since Izuna had died. Somehow, Hashirama's presence was as soothing to Madara as that of his trueborn brother Izuna.

"I have not come to surrender," Hashirama said. "You know that. But, I also haven't come here to accept your surrender. We have fought long, and we have fought hard, Madara. We have lost thousands of men. We have burned hundreds of villages. We have lost brothers. But, the time for loses has passed. I've come here to offer you an alliance, Madara. No bowing and no surrendering; just a handshake."

"I can sense the desperation in your voice, Hashirama," Madara said. "The Kamizuru clan has cornered you. Without an alliance with me, they would crush you."

"The opposite," Hashirama said. "The Kamizuru clan won't move until we finish our war. They are counting on us destroying each other, or destroying the winner. I do not want to give them that chance. Think Madara … you would let foreigners take our homeland? This is Senju and Uchiha land. They have no place here."

"And if we say no?" Madara asked.

"Then the war continues," Hashirama said. "The Senju and Uzumaki clans will come here and we will fight till only one side remains. The victor is then left with nothing to face the Kamizuru clan. The Land of Fire that we love so dearly will be left disgraced. Both of our clans will be erased from history.

"But, I'm offering you a different solution, Madara. We march north together, side by side; Uchiha and Senju banners together. We'll sweep through them. The united Fire Country that both of us have dreamed about for so long finally comes to pass."

"We must discuss this, my lord," Shinzo said. "Kagami, please lead Lord Hashirama out for a moment and return to us."

Kagami bowed and exited, Hashirama followed him.

"You're quite the speaker, my lord," Kagami said. "We never expected an offer of alliance. The council will take it for weakness. They might try to kill you and take your men to fight the Kamizuru."

"I know," Hashirama said. "You are a very helpful man. Why?"

"I have this country's best interests at heart," Kagami said. "I can see clear as day that an alliance is the only way to go. Before, when we thought we only had surrender or death as an option, the council was submissive to you. Now, seeing your desperation, they will try to play the petty game of politics and gain full control of this situation."

"If I know Madara," Hashirama said, "he is not a man for petty politics. He will say yes or no."

"You're a clever man, my lord," Kagami said. "Maybe even more clever than your brother."

"Tobirama …" Hashirama said.

"He is alive," Kagami assured, "for now."

Hashirama's heart almost exploded when he heard the words; he had never expected Tobirama to be alive. His heart had been racing since his arrival, fearing that he would find evidence of his brother's murder at every turn.

Kagami left Hashirama in his quarters and quickly returned to the council room. As he had expected, they were arguing furiously. Kagami cursed his eyes and how they always seemed to predict the future.

"We cannot be rash to accept," Shinzo said, "we have the advantage now, my lord. The Senju are desperate. They need us more than we need them."

"Are you saying we should decline them?" Kenji said. "Foolish! We have to accept. Just a few hours ago we were hoping only for surrender."

"That was before we knew how much they need us," Myoga said. "We will accept the alliance, but only on favorable terms to us. We should demand that our Lord Madara be given the power to appoint and remove people from important positions of the alliance. With that kind of power, we could control the Senju by the time we finish the Kamizuru."

"You're gambling with the lives of our families," Kenji said. "I have given the Uchiha clan safe passage here because of the great history that we share, but your political ambitions are too great! My family is in danger when we talk of such conspiracies."

"What if I just say no?" Madara said offhandedly, disgusted with all of them. "Who says that I want to ally with Hashirama?"

"My lord, please don't be so hard-headed," Shinzo said. "We must accept, but only on our terms."

"If I may," Kagami said.

The others went silent. Madara turned his gaze to Kagami eagerly.

"Lord Madara," Kagami said, "I have served you faithfully my entire life. In these years, I have not known you to be a fool, nor have I known you to be dishonorable. It would be foolish to deny this offer of peace. It would be dishonorable to try and twist Lord Hashirama's offer for some political gain. The answer you give must be truly yours. Not cowardly and not foolish."

"So then you say my only answer is to accept," Madara said.

"It is the answer that Lord Izuna would give," Kagami said.

"What if I disagree?" Madara asked. "You think you know my brother better than me?"

"Better than anyone," Kagami said confidently. "While you trained with your father to lead the clan, Izuna and played and grew in this very estate. Even when he left to join you, we never stopped working together. I admired his power, yes. But the thing I admired more was his honor and his sense of duty to the Uchiha clan. We must not spit on Lord Izuna's memory."

"You make quite the case," Madara said. "You're correct. I am no fool, and I am not dishonorable. I will give my honest answer. Retrieve, Hashirama."

Hashirama arrived minutes later, full of food and nervous glee. The glint in Madara's eyes that he had noticed before was even more intense now.

"Come with me, Hashirama," Madara said.

Madara led Hashirama out the council room, out of the compound and to the great garden of the Imagawa estate. It was very well-maintained, with a pond as clear as water could be and sakura trees hugging each other from lack of space. Pink and green leaves danced together in the wind.

The sunset was beginning; the sky had become a canvas for some godly painter. The setting sun and the dancing leaves; flames seemed to dance around them that evening. Hashirama remembered suddenly that the first day of summer was almost upon them and his child would seen be born.

"Izuna and I often played here as children," Madara said, "along with Kagami and Gijou. It is less beautiful than I remember. Everything seems to be. But it is beautiful nonetheless. I will never forgive your brother for what he has done to my family. I will hate him until the day that I die."

Hashirama did not speak.

"But, I am no mood to see my family eradicated over a grudge," Madara said. "We will join forces, Hashirama. If your brother ever defiles the name of my family again, I will not hesitate to kill him."

"Those days are over now, Madara," Hashirama said, feeling his heart soar to a place he had not ever imagined it could be. "The battles between are clans have always been unnatural. We are brothers; you and I. Brothers grow stronger when they fight together."

Madara laughed. "Then has there been a duo so powerful?"

"Not in history," Hashirama said. "You and me, Madara, we're going to change the world!"

The leaves kept dancing and the fire of the sun illuminated their shadows, making them dance along with it.

END:

Read, review, enjoy. Expect a bit more time for the next chap, as college is beginning to beat me down.