Hashirama liked to think he was pretty good at masking his emotions. He could put on the face of a diplomat when needed, he could keep a tight rein on his mood when the situation called for it. It was just Mito made him feel like he was ten years old again and he didn't know what to do about it.
They'd known each other since they were children. Their families had always been close. But the Uzumaki were not interested in the kind of war and violence that the Senju and Uchiha had traded in. They built their own village outside the Land of Fire and focused on their specialty fuinjutsu so much that they were known and feared over all the nations for their knowledge and skill.
The first time he'd met Mito was when he'd found her playing with Itama. Her hair was the brightest shade of red he'd ever seen, and he liked the way she smiled and played with his brother. They'd had sporadic contact over the years, but it wasn't until Mito turned seventeen that he felt his heart skip a beat at her.
She grew up in the time they'd spent apart, and now, she was a strikingly beautiful woman and his eyes and mind were constantly being drawn to her.
Across the field, he saw her and her father. Mito walked like the princess she was. Her posture was perfect, her hands clasped neatly in front of her, her gait graceful, and air refined.
Sakura suddenly stood and pulled Tobirama to his feet, and Hashirama recalled that she didn't want to speak with Mito if she had a choice because of the seal on her forehead. Hashirama shrugged at Tobi's questioning look, and the pair of eager warriors headed out onto the field. It was going to be a far more interesting encounter than the previous fights had been. Tobirama was unquestionably one of the strongest warriors of the age, but, Hashirama knew that Sakura had a lot more power than she'd displayed so far.
His gaze drifted to Mito and her father, who drew ever closer to him, his heart sped up in his chest. He turned and in a booming voice, amplified by chakra, announced the beginning of the match between his brother and Sakura.
"We made it just in time, it seems," Mito said as she reached him.
Hashirama gave her a smile.
"Take a seat," he said.
Madara subtly scooted down the bench to take the place Tobirama and Sakura had vacated and sat beside Itachi. Mito gave him a little smile, and she sat.
A great quaking shook the ground and everyone turned to see Sakura the field demolished by one of Sakura's punches, with Tobirama deftly jumping away from the demolition. Ashina gave an impressed whistle and took the seat beside Madara. The pair spoke together and Hashirama sat beside Mito, torn between wanting to talk to her and wanting to watch the fight.
"What strength," Mito said with astonishment.
Hashirama nodded in agreement.
"Sakura is a medic-nin," he told Mito.
He glanced at Mito's forehead. The same purple diamond as Sakura's was there.
"She is clearly more than just a medic," Mito said with a small smile, her eyes watching the match intently.
Hashirama returned her smile with one of his own, his expression taking on a fondness when he saw how interestedly she watched the battle.
"Just as you are more than just the Uzumaki princess," Hashirama said.
Mito gave him a surprised look and a faint pink dusted her cheeks before she turned back to the match.
Ashina, who sat beside Hashirama, leaned over and whispered, "Smooth," in Hashirama's ear. Hashirama shot him a panicked and confused look, and Mito's father just winked at him. Hashirama didn't know how to feel about that.
YOU ARE READING
Sacrifices for Peace
Fanfiction[PART ONE: SACRIFICES UNIVERSE] It had begun with Asura and Indra, and ended with Naruto and Sasuke. The war was done, Kaguya was sealed, and everyone thought it was over. They were wrong. It should never have come this far, and the Otsutsuki brothe...
