Soft murmuring noises color the background as two men are discussing and evolving their plans. Each man is a powerful clan head that is thinking of the best for his own clan and therefore the alliance discussions are stretching for several weeks already. Both men are wearing – instead of their usual battle clothes – finest yukatas worthy of their station.

It took the Sarutobi clan some time to get used to the third part involved into the discussions. Sitting right next to her husband, Nayuki gives her own input and advice for the construction of their oncoming and fragile alliance. Even though she would never admit it out loud her feet fell asleep throughout those discussions. They had this awkward numb feeling for some time now and she is willing to bet that she'll fall on her face if she has to stand up anytime soon – not that waiting longer is going to make it any easier.

The ease the feeling in her feet she sends a tiny little bit of chakra into her feet. In the corner of her eye she can see two maybe three Sarutobi shinobi snapping to attention. Those must be their sensors. Deciding that she can't make the situation any worse she gestures to her numb feet and gives them a suffering smile. One of them seems to have caught on as he has to smother a short laughter in his hand while coughing.

Nayuki smiles - this man is probably one she can get along with. As she brings her attention back to the discussing clan heads in front of her, she decides that Butsuma has caught on to her situation as well. While his facial expression doesn't portray any emotions, his eyes are shining in amusement. Shigeru Sarutobi, the Sarutobi clan head and father of Sasuke, seems clueless when it comes to what has happened between the Senju matriarch and his sensors. And as such the discussions go on for another several hours.

When the discussions have stopped for the day, as feared, Nayuki makes a scene of herself by face planting on the floor as she tries to stand up. Groaning in self pity she rises again. Her friends of the past/future always thought her clueless but she believes that Shigeru is pushing cluelessness to a whole new level as he blinks at her owlishly not understanding what happened.

Deciding that she doesn't want the sniggering of most shinobi around and Shigerus clueless face to continue she strikes a conversation about their upcoming dinner. Shigeru immediately laps onto her thoughts of dinner and they start a casual talk. Nayuki shakes her head at the clan heads antics in front of her. She still remembers him going to his knees in order to thank her for saving his last living sons life. It made her very uncomfortable. He looked so sincere and relieved to finally meet the person he owes one hell of a debt to.

If it was just her alone she'd have told him to forget his debt to her, but sadly as a clan matriarch she has to treasure the debt – you never know when you'll need to cash it. She is dismayed at keeping the loving clan head in front of her at her debt, but …

Anyway, she isn't even sure how much of his happy go lucky attitude is a mask he wears to make them underestimate him and how much is the real him. Even Butsuma isn't sure about the character Shigeru presents, the only thing they are sure about is that Shigeru loves his son dearly and would do anything for the boys safety.

That thought brings a smile to Nayukis face. Butsuma and her would do anything for their children too. Even though Butsuma hides his feelings well and acts all stoic around his sons, you can see his love and pride shining in his eyes. Sometimes Nayuki feels like only Tobirama is able to understand how their proud father shows his emotions, sadly it seems that his stoic act can't be interpreted by Hashirama.

The voice of the young Sarutobi heir breaks Nayuki out of her thoughts. He and Hashirama have accompanied their fathers to this meeting. Both boys immediately hit it off. Nayuki didn't even know that someone can become friends within seconds of meeting each other but those two have proven her wrong. Butsuma seems to worry about the close bond both boys share, seeing as their alliance is as frail as glass it's understanding. You never know when it falls to peaces and it would crush both of them to meet again upon the battlefield. If for nothing else she will make sure this alliance is working for the boys sake.

She is shaken from her wandering thoughts once again as Butusma takes her arm and they begin their journey to get the much needed food they spoke of mere seconds before. The rest of the journey their accompanied by joyous laughter and shrieks as the boys play.

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Finally the numerous hours of discussing their alliance are over and an agreement has been struck. While it is wonderful to return to their respective clans, families and friends, it is also time to say goodbye to new friends. Nayuki already dreads Hashiramas gloomy attitude when it's time to separate from Sasukes side. Nayuki herself has a new friend she dreads saying goodbye to: Takeru. As predicted she got along with the sensor shinobi that sniggered at her predicament when her feet fell asleep. They met up the evening after said negotiation and talked over the bonfire that was lit in the middle of their shared camp.

As it turns out Takeru is a humorous man. He cracked many jokes. The only thing he loves more than joking around is to talk about his family. He adores his two daughters. Both of them take after their mother than him if his tales are anything to go by. His wife has a more serious outlook on life than her husband but they love each other all the same.

One day Nayuki wishes to get to know all three of them. For anyone who can make a man like Takeru smile the way he does when talking about his family must be worth knowing.

Loud laughter hollers throughout the clearing they used for their camp as the more than a bit tipsy shinobi joke and share stories for a last time before separating. They celebrate a new and hopefully flourishing alliance. The clan leaders are hunched together and share a well earned bottle of sake as Nayuki sits by their side watching all the smiling and happy faces around the fire.

These days of rare happiness are pure bliss and balm for her soul. Though they remind her of times back in Konoha together with the Konoha eleven, she cherishes these new memories. Dwelling in the past does no one good, she has decided long ago. She can't return there so it doesn't do to think about it all the time.

In the corner of her eye she catches Hashirama and Sasuke sneaking away from the camp. A shared look with her husband shows that he too caught on the boys leaving the camp. She nod in his directions and moves to follow them.

When the noise of the camp is dimmed enough to be barely audible the boys stop. "So it's time to say goodbye, huh?", Sasuke asks whispering. "Goodbye yes, but we will see each other again. I can feel it in my bones that our friendship will hold long. Maybe we will even die old and grey next to each other hearing our grandchildren play in the garden.", Hashirama tells his friend with conviction. Sasuke can't stop the laughter bubbling up within him. "Surely you jest my friend, already thinking of grandchildren when we are not even eight years old and you …", Sasuke trails off as he smiles at his friend determined to make it come true.

He hugs Hashirama and they start a hushed conversation. Nayuki decides to settle down behind a tree far enough away from them, to give them their privacy but still be near enough protect them if need be. Yes, those two will be friends till the bitter end she promises herself. They deserve it. A smile appears on her face as she listens to the nightly sounds and the feast not too far away, dreaming of a glorious future for their clans …. and Konoha being rebuilt.