𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘉𝘌𝘋𝘌𝘝𝘐𝘓𝘌𝘋 𝘓𝘌𝘎𝘈𝘊𝘠 | ⁿᵃʳᵘᵗᵒ

Reckoning in Kind

RECKONING IN KIND

✧

The clearing was silent and thick with tension. No one made a move as Asami stared down Tobirama and Hashirama, her eyes red with the Sharingan. The Uchiha and Senju who were once fighting continued to watch in silence, waiting for guidance from either of their leaders. What was going to happen? Who would make the first move?

The remaining Uchiha were lost, feeling abandoned by their clan leader and heir. It seemed as though Izuna was reluctant to escape, but Madara deserted them and Asami without any hesitation. He made quick work of leaving them behind to save his and his brother's life with little regard for anyone else.

Not only were the Uchiha feeling a sense of abandonment, but one of betrayal as well. How could Madara do something like that to them? He was their clan leader. He was supposed to protect and stand by their sides through any situation—and yet, he had abandoned them.

Finally, Hashirama broke the silence as he spoke, making an expression of distress as he extended his hand and pleaded with Asami. "Please, I can help Izuna. I can help save him—if he doesn't get proper treatment, he'll die... you know this. Please... make the right decision and allow me to heal him. We can put a stop to this fighting."

Asami's insides twisted at how blunt Hashirama was when discussing Izuna's death. There was no delicacy with the subject of Izuna's mortality and he was acting as though his fate was already sealed.

Not only that, but It disgusted her how Hashirama continued to speak as though he was some kind of savior. As if he would be the shining beacon of hope to come to the Uchiha's rescue and pull Izuna from the hands of death. She would never allow Hashirama to practically piss on the Uchiha in that way, and especially not on her cousin's pride. Hashirama continued to paint himself like a saint. As though it was everyone else who wanted to fight and bring more death, and he was the only person who longed for any fraction of peace. It was infuriating.

Of course, she wanted Izuna to be healthy. She wanted him to have the best treatment possible, but how could she trust Izuna's life with the Senju? How could she trust the very people who endangered his life to heal him? She couldn't.

Asami wanted nothing more than to bite back at him, to hurt Hashirama the way Tobirama hurt Izuna. To make Hashirama feel some kind of pain and anguish to get even. She was so upset, so tired of fighting the Senju, so tired of fighting the Sarutobi, tired of fighting everyone—so tired, and so angry.

Asami narrowed her eyes at Hashirama, not even trying to hide the disgust leaking into her voice at Hashirama's pleading. "Why would I ever trust you? You say these things... say you want to save Izuna... that you want peace... but you have no reason to desire these things! Peace isn't achievable, especially not for a Shinobi clan. It's ridiculous for you to expect that one day we'd be fighting each other to the death, and then the next be enjoying a summer festival together! Unless we drastically change our way of living, it won't happen! How dare you claim yourself to be some sort of crusader of peace as if you haven't taken thousands of lives yourself!"

Asami clenched her free hand, the fingers around her chokutō turning white. She couldn't help the red, hot anger bubbling in the pit of her stomach at his words. She was infuriated. Hashirama was so mindless and naive. He really had deluded himself into thinking he was a bringer of change and that it was him against the world. As if any of them wanted to live this life.

"But we can change our ways—!" continued to plead Hashirama, but Asami was having none of it, cutting him off with a brisk shake of her head, her mouth pressed into a firm line. Hashirama's words died in his throat at her response.