beneath the willow tree | Uchiha Madara

15 | defilement

❛❛  In time we hate that which we often fear.  ❜❜

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Madara looks stressed and somewhat irritated, yet Izuna dares to finally address Hashirama and his sister's proposal. It has been a few days since the younger brother has left the Senju compound, heading home with a request meaning the world to his lover and probably to Hashirama, too, since he has been trying to convince Madara to cease the fighting and bloodshed for more than a decade now.

The brothers walk side by side, heading for the local armorer to request another much needed supply of kunais, shurikens and katanas.

"I need to talk to you about something." Izuna begins speaking, watching Madara out of the corner of his eye. "It's quite important."

"Then go ahead and tell me." The older one demands, turning his head to meet Izuna's charcoal gaze.

He stops walking and puts a hand on Madara's shoulder. "Listen, brother – you know how much and deeply I respect you and what I'm about to tell you won't ever change that fact." He says – almost vows – while gripping the other's shoulder reassuringly.

Madara's features wrinkle in annoyance. "Spit it out, Izuna. I don't have time for this. What is it?"

Izuna withdraws his hand and looks firmly into the leader's black eyes. "I went to the Senju compound the other night, escorting Azumi back home. Well, while I resided there, I came across Senju Hashirama and his sibling – you know, this Tobirama guy – and Azumi came up with the idea to agree upon a ceasefire contract between the Uchiha and Senju to which Hashirama has given is consent –

"You did what?" Madara's coal eyes turn bloody red as wrath floods his veins.

"Brother, please hear me out." The younger Uchiha says with determination, yet Madara's sudden change of mood renders him tremble slightly underneath his piercing gaze. Although having obtained the Mangekyō himself, Madara's possesses powers superior to his own, which he likes refraining to compete against.

"I did not go behind your back, Madara. You know I would never even dream to do something like this!" he explains, locking onto the elders penetrating gaze. "I conversed with Senju Hashirama on my lover's behalf – that is all. There is no contract, no pact we agreed upon. Hashirama himself stressed he would never negotiate, let alone contract with the Uchiha without you knowing, because it's treason."

Madara's features soften and he deactivates his Sharingan. The sight of his younger sibling defending himself melts his frozen heart enough to put his foul mood aside. "Hashirama – that figures." He sighs and chuckles at the same time. "He is a fool for still believing in this stupid childhood fantasy of his. However, he was suggesting a ceasefire agreement, right?"

Relieved, Izuna nods his head quickly. "Yes, right indeed – just for the time being, you see?"

The older brother brings his gloved hand to his chin as he considers the benefits he could gain from this; considering the possibilities very carefully.

"I hate to admit it, but we lost many valuable clan members, are out of weapons and armor and are left with many skilled Shinobi still wounded, leaving us outnumbered on the battlefield." The ravenette says with a bitter undertone in his voice. "These abominations are strong – I have to grant them that. Hashirama is another level altogether; no wonder he's referred to as the god of Shinobi." He chuckles darkly, desperately as he meets Izuna's worried charcoal gaze. "It's a chance for us to recover."

"That is indeed true, brother. However I don't think that is what Senju Hashirama has had in mind."

Madara narrows his dark eyes at Izuna. "That girl must've really brainwashed you. You used to hate the Senju with a passion which still makes me wonder how you were able to fall in love with one of their women. She's Hashirama's sister, right? How did you even meet her?" His tone is sinister, yet laced with mild mockery, Izuna finds inappropriate.