Under the Daffodils || Naruto Fanfiction

Chapter 6

Madara is a fearsome man, but Isamu thinks she's found his weakness.

He's terrible with paperwork.

Amused, she stares at him fumbling with papers detailing the Nara's demands. As if sensing the amusement rolling off her in waves, the older Uchiha whips his head to stare at her before uttering out "You're the one who got me into this, you're dealing with it" and jumping out the window.

The door opens and enters an exasperated Izuna, clearly having sensed a chakra presence disappear. "Did he leave again?"

Isamu waves the paper around in her hand before gesturing to another stack on the table, all belonging to the Nara. "Now that you're here..."

Izuna pouts. "You're mean."

She dismisses him with a shrug. "I'm not dealing with Tobirama when he comes for them tomorrow morning."

Tobirama is not pleasant to deal with, a Tobirama lusting for his paperwork puts an Edo Tensei-ed Madara's villainous tenacity to shame.
———

"I can never get used to you seeing you in here." The white haired male mutters at Isamu.

"That is no way to greet a fellow Konoha citizen, Tobirama!" Hashirama admonishes before offering the girl in front of him a big smile. "Hello Isamu-chan! Are you here to give me a daily update on my best friend Madara?"

Isamu laughs at the joke. "I'm afraid he will have to do that himself, Senju-sama. He has done a good job getting rid of his trail lately when it comes to running away from paperwork."

She places the stack of papers on Hashirama's table before looking up in wonder at the odd silence that stretches across the Senju's main house.

"...Is something wrong?"

Tobirama outright stares at her while his brother gapes, eyes twinkling. "You laughed, Isamu-chan!" Hashirama puts both of his hands on the table, leaning forward. "You should do it more often."

Isamu excuses herself from the room, and the moment the door closes, she looks at the sky in wonder.

It's been fourteen years since she's lived her life as Isamu, and this is the first time she's laughed.

Konoha. Maybe she'll find her peace here.
———

She is sent as a representative to talk to the Hyuuga because the others had been busy overseeing a water pollution problem. Senju Itama has been sent along with her.

After the six hours, they've finally reached an agreement and Isamu is convinced that she has spent her time with a Hyuuga long enough to last her a lifetime. On her way back to a makeshift compound that settles the Uchiha, Itama approaches her.

"Thank you!" He blurts out, before turning his gaze to the ground.

Isamu halts her steps, turning to the teen. "What for?"

"Umm, I don't know if you remember it for not," he gives her the same shy smile Kenji had given her when they first met and her heart breaks a little. "But you saved my life a couple years back."

"I do not remember that." Isamu does remember but doesn't know how to justify saving a Senju's life. "Are you sure it's me?"

"Yes, I'm sure."
———

Five months go by before they finally hold a clan head meeting with the Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, Hyuuga, Uchiha, Inuzuka and Senju.

Seven clans in five months, Isamu should be impressed, but she recalls the sleepless nights Madara, Izuna, Hashirama, Tobirama and her going through stacks of scrolls detailing the agreement from different clans and sending their replies, and suddenly she isn't so impressed anymore.

"I knew this village thing is a bad idea." Izuna had muttered, and Hashirama immediately became sulky, turning his pout to Madara and Isamu.

"He's being mean again." It almost came off as a whine and Isamu smiled a little.

"Why are you suddenly so happy?" Madara questioned Hashirama, whose mood had taken a complete three-sixty.

"Why, I made Isamu smile, of course!"

"Careful, big brother, she might shove a lightning jutsu right through your heart if you keep making stupid jokes."

Apparently chidori had become a renowned technique amongst war veterans and Isamu has half the mind to apologize to Kakashi.

"That's funny, because if I can recall correctly, she almost killed you twice." Izuna said to Tobirama, eyebrow arched.

The bickering did not stop even when the Sun rose and birds chirped, and Isamu cannot stop a warm feeling blooming inside her chest once more.

Maybe this time, it'll last.
———

Isamu drags her katana from its sheath, jumping in front of Madara the same time Izuna does, her chakra flaring threateningly at the Inuzuka clan head that has angrily leaned over the table towards Madara.

"You cannot have that big of a compound at central Konoha! This is an abuse of power." Inuzuka Moki snarls, his fangs exposed.

Madara raises his hands for his two guards to stand down. "The Uchiha has co-founded Konoha, I think we deserve that much."

"You-"

"How about we call it an end for today?" Hashirama interrupts, the bright grin on his face not hiding the unease he feels. "We'll continue tomorrow when the exact land distribution has been marked."
———

Madara is not pleased when they are pushed into a compound far east by the Naka river.

"But it is so that we can have a big compound." Isamu placates him, her gaze steady.

"We co-founded this village with the Senju. The power distribution should not be equal among every clan." He crosses his arm in displeasure.

"With all due respect, Madara-sama," Isamu counters. "Listening to their opinions is the foundation that this village is built on. Every clan has to sacrifice something to be in this place, but the results will be fruitful if we give it a few years. Please be patient."

It is silent when Madara is lost in his own thoughts before he finally speaks again. "You're more talkative nowadays, aren't you?"

His tone remains the same, but there is a subtle teasing glint in his eyes that Isamu manages to catch from years of observing him, and she can't help but smirk.

"Between the two of us, someone has to, Madara-sama."