Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows upon the battlefield below. A plain strewn with corpses and discarded weapons as the remaining survivors walked amongst them, gathering the bodies of fallen comrades and scavenging whatever useful weapons they could find in the process.

Bright hazel eyes surveyed the scene before her, watching intently as one of her Senju clansmen carefully scooped grey ash into a porcelain urn, held on the ready by another clansmen and inwardly she uttered a silent prayer for the poor deceased who never got a chance at burial as per the Senju clan's custom. Turning to look at the cart parked near the two men, she saw many white bottles on standby - all unlabelled as nobody could even tell whose ashes they belonged to. That was the power of the Amaterasu, the black flames of the Uchiha that burned until the object or person was completely obliterated.

As if on cue, a tall figure with raven-black hair and an iron-wrought gunbai strapped to his back came into her field of vision, no doubt overseeing the collection of his fallen clansmen's bodies. The Uchiha were protective of their bloodline like that - it was always recover the bodies first before scavenging for weapons. Bloodline hunters were always stalking the battlefields of bloodline clans, and the Uchiha could not afford letting the Sharingan eyes fall into the wrong hands. If Hashirama's spies had the right information, a pair of Sharingan eyes were worth at least one million ryo.

Upon sensing the tall figure close by, the two Senju clansmen paled instantly like they'd seen the grim reaper himself and hurriedly loaded the filled porcelain urn onto their cart and pushed hard, getting as far away from the Uchiha clan head as they could, no doubt paranoid that Madara himself would get offended by their presence and unleash the Amaterasu on them too.

"Madara," Hashirama called, beckoning him closer with her hand.

The raven-haired man turned to look at her, his Mangekyo Sharingan spinning lazily and Hashirama barely remembered to cast her gaze down away from his eyes so as not to get caught in any illusions he may cast upon her with those demonic eyes of his.

She heard an audible sigh and the heavy trudging of sandalled feet as he approached her. "What is it Hashirama? The battle is over and we all just want to get back as soon as we can. We have enough people to bury on both of our sides."

He sounded bitter and there was a slight trace of disappointment in his voice - almost like he expected the Uchiha to win.

"My point exactly. We are constantly locked in a battle of attrition, what's the point of continuing like this? It's not like the daimyo are going to pay us any more than what they already are. You know better than I do that they are bleeding their coffers dry," Hashirama said.

The footsteps stopped as Madara drew close to her - enough to speak privately without others eavesdropping on them, but far enough to not appear like a threat.

"Not unless one of us finds a way to tip the scales," he says.

"Your Amaterasu definitely didn't," Hashirama quipped, giving a small amused smile at the sudden spike in the man's chakra as soon as the words left her lips.

"My people are tired, and so are yours. Why don't we stop this ceaseless fighting? If the Uchiha and Senju stand together, we will form a force that even the daimyo can't ignore - we will no longer be mere pawns in their petty conflicts for political power - just think about it!" Hashirama pleaded.

"Nii-san, don't listen to her! Did you forget how these Senju have been killing the Uchiha for centuries? Look at our fallen brethren around us now!" a sharp voice rang from Hashirama's left.

Both shinobi turned to see Uchiha Izuna approach, second in command of the Uchiha and Madara's only surviving brother. Despite his deactivated Sharingan, if looks could kill, Hashirama was pretty sure she would be dead from the pure hatred and animosity radiating off his form by now.

"Izuna, go tend to the evacuation of the wounded. I've got this, don't worry," said Madara.

"Tch, harpy," Izuna muttered under his breath as he gave Hashirama one final contemptuous glare before he retreated. If not for the fact that Madara was right in front of him and Hashirama wanted to get as much of his good graces to form an alliance, she would have pummelled Izuna for talking to her like that. Nobody in the Senju clan dared to call her names unless they wanted to be out of commission for one entire week.

Her thoughts were promptly broken when Madara finally spoke, his arms crossed as he regarded her thoughtfully, "I understand your point about the daimyo. If you are truly genuine about peace, meet me at the Naka River in two days at noon. Unarmed. And don't tell anyone."

And with that he retreated, leaving Hashirama standing rooted to the spot and mouth slightly agape in disbelief.

Years...It had taken a good eight years after Madara broke ties off with her at the Naka River to actually reciprocate any form of desire to bring peace between their clans and Hashirama felt like her tears and disappointments in seeing ripped up ceasefire agreements were all worth it. It was as if the sun had risen again in her heart and she could just combust from pure happiness and excitement; the taste of victory and peace finally on the tip of her tongue.

"Nee-san? Why are you tearing?" a familiar, yet stern voice echoed from her right and she turned to see Tobirama's passive face staring at her, brows furrowed in concern.

"Oh Tobi I'm so happy! Madara said he's willing to consider peace!"

Tobirama just gave her a bored face, "I'm pretty sure he's joking with you. You've sent him hundreds of ceasefire letters and every single time they're all ripped apart, or even if they're intact it's always with a big "NO" in the sign off and an incapacitated messenger! Have you forgotten that?!"

He raised his voice towards the last part, anger seeping into his chakra as memories of crippled Senju members hobbled back, clutching the ceasefire scroll with the life gone from their eyes.

"He won't lie about something so important, it's just not him," she insisted, walking past her brother towards where the rest of their clansmen were gathered.

"You don't even know him. You haven't known him for eight years," Tobirama hissed angrily, but Hashirama pretended not to hear him.

It was a cool summer's afternoon when Hashirama finally reached her side of the Naka River, completely unarmed as Madara requested.

The battle-trained shinobi part of her had hesitated at the door of her house in the Senju clan compound, itching to hide at least one brace of kunai underneath her sleeves, or at least bring some weapons just in case because the enemy cannot be trusted...

No, that lack of faith was precisely what made them continue fighting for centuries, and she wasn't about to blow this rare chance at genuine peace with the same kind of thinking that trapped them in this vicious cycle. She had to keep her mind exactly in the state it was when she and Madara were twelve-year-old kids dreaming about an era of peace. An idealist and a foolish optimist, her father Butsuma had called her, demeaned her but she didn't care.

She was strong enough to carry the mantle of idealism in this era of bloodshed, and she will endure no matter what.

Out of pure habit, she kicked off her sandals and dipped her feet into the cool water, enjoying the calming rush of tranquil water over her toes and the warm dappled sunlight as it danced across the stream. She let out a sigh she had no idea she had been holding back, letting the water soothe her and clear her thoughts.

If the Uchiha were fire, the Senju were water - gaining strength and comfort from this very element that brought life to their forests and rivers; their homelands.

It was then something felt amiss. Chakra. Or rather, the absence of it. Shinobi were trained from a young age to infuse chakra in their waking moments. It enabled them to be self-aware, to be alert of their surroundings and the people around them, be it ally or enemy.

Hashirama was no sensor like her brother, but the lack of chakra around her was as alarming as the realisation that she was unable to infuse any chakra. Which meant no mokuton, no ninjutsu...

No protection whatsoever.

It was like a cold bucket had been dumped upon her and goosebumps trickled up her skin as she jumped up, eyes searching for whatever sealing technique or barrier she must have crossed to strip her of her ability to mould chakra.

She cussed inwardly, trying to keep the traitorous thoughts out of her head...

"He lied, he lied, he's going to kill you. Tobirama is right, Father is right, they can't be trusted...Now look what you've done you naive girl"

As if summoned by the clockwork of her thoughts about him, she felt a light tap on her shoulder and turned just in time to see Madara in front of her, dressed in full red battle armour glinting proudly in the sun, his usual gunbai strapped to his back.

"What did you do?!" she demanded as she leapt back, putting a safe distance between herself and the man before her, all the while noting that he still seemed to possess the ability to mould chakra.

The raven-haired man merely gave her a triumphant smirk, "Did you really believe me and come fully unarmed? Still the same naive girl aren't you Hashirama?"

"Clan heads are supposed to keep their word! We are supposed to come unarmed to discuss peace!" Hashirama tried her best to compose herself and not let her voice go shrill from fear as her heart beat rapidly against her ribcage.

Madara merely cocked an eyebrow at her, "I didn't agree to come unarmed, you did."

And he laughed at Hashirama's open mouthed gape of disbelief, her eyes rounded with fear. It was so delicious, this sight of her trembling from fear he couldn't help but activate his Sharingan to capture this moment for eternity.

"You're the worst," she muttered at last, eyeing him with wariness and betrayal, her fighting stance at the ready but it did nothing to hide the slight shivers he detected on her form.

"Don't be so sad Hashirama, I am definitely interested in peace between our clans, just like you do. But I just needed to...test you first before I agree to anything," Madara chuckled.

"And this is my test? Coming unarmed?"

"Of course," Madara's eyes crinkled at the edges, "Glad to say you passed Ms Senju Hashirama."

The woman paused, lightening up her fighting stance, "So...can you give me back my chakra then?"

"Oh no I don't think so, I like you so vulnerable and afraid like this, it's too amusing, seeing the Goddess of Shinobi cowering before me," smirked Madara darkly, a complete contrast to his cheery voice as he drew ever closer to her.

That sealing jutsu that Izuna stole from the Uzumaki turned out so useful in the end...

He was just a few steps away from her when she raised her leg in preparation to kick, "Don't come any closer or I'll hit you!"

That got Madara to stop as he gazed upon her with the Mangekyo Sharingan, and Hashirama promptly focused on the lower half of his face, avoiding eye contact with him. Never look into the eyes of an Uchiha...

His smirk immediately disappeared to be replaced by a grim line - one she recognised he wore when the trumpets of war sounded to signal the start of a battle.

To her horror, Madara unsheathed his katana and Hashirama swore she could see her own terrified face staring back at her in the well polished blade, waiting for death to come swiftly upon her.

The next thing she knew, she felt a sharp, stinging pain on her arm before a strong gloved hand grabbed her and flung her forcefully and she flew into the air, hands held in front of her to shield her from whatever impact was coming.

The cold waters of the river rushed up to meet her body, startling her as she let out a scream, pushing her head out of the water and gasping for air, fighting against the mild undercurrents beneath the surface.

She could barely even cry for help when she coughed, her throat trying to push water out as she thrashed about, trying to swim with the current and find her footing to get back onto shore.

It was during that moment that Hashirama felt like a helpless little girl again, wanting her father, her brother..anybody to come save her. She didn't want to go like this, not in such a pathetic state and especially not by drowning. What had gotten into her? She thought she was stronger than this...but it was not until her chakra was stripped from her did she realise how much of a crutch her Mokuton was...how vulnerable and helpless she was without it...like any regular civilian girl...

As if the gods had listened to her cry, she felt something pull her up and onto the familiar cushion of green grass as she continued coughing, as she heaved - trying to catch her breath and controlling the shivers that took hold of her body as goosebumps formed upon her bare skin.

She moved instinctively to put her hands onto either side of her body and push herself upright but found them bound by ninja rope and she blinked to find Madara in front of her, smirking victoriously as he pulled the ninja rope tighter around her body.

Moments like these she wished she had listened to Tobirama and killed this man while she still could. But she was naive, and now she paid the price as she was curled into a ball, shivering and wet as the blood from her now healed wound dripped carelessly onto the green grass below.

Her seething mind was in overdrive as Madara leaned down and carried her dripping form up, holding her close to his chest and Hashirama resisted the urge to burrow into his warmth.

"Sorry I had to do this Hashirama," he said apologetically, "but in Uchiha clan tradition, we get our wives by kidnapping them and I just needed to make it look like you put up a fight."

Hashirama froze, staring at him again. "Are you serious?! What joke are you trying to pull? First you bind away my chakra, terrify me, cut me with your sword and throw me into a river and now you're saying you want me to be your wife?! ARE YOU CRAZY, UCHIHA?!"

She was shouting, she didn't care. She was angry, and he better know how angry she was, that cunning fox!

For once, the Uchiha clan leader looked sheepish as he nodded, "Yes, that's our tradition. We are a warrior clan after all. Doesn't your clan do the same?"

"NO WE ARE NOT SAVAGES LIKE YOU!" Hashirama screamed as she struggled against the rope bindings, and Madara grimaced as she shouted into his ear.

"What kind of proposal is this? This is not a proper proposal! A proposal means a ring, a bridal gift and a formal proposal to the father or brother of the bride-to-be," Hashirama continued, raging.

"Well that sounds like a very expensive proposal and one that will likely be rejected outright by your dearest brother," snorted Madara in response, shrugging it off like it was simple, everyday talk of the weather.

"That's true, but at least I wouldn't feel like some frightened and helpless animal who has no clue what is going on," Hashirama protested, rolling her eyes.

Realising that Madara was not letting her go, she drooped in resignation as she let her head rest upon Madara's shoulder, tired from the entire day's events. "So that means I'm your wife? What happens now?"

Madara grinned, pecking her on the cheek, "I bring you back to the Uchiha clan compound and show off proudly to the clan elders that I managed to kidnap the Goddess of Shinobi of course..."

His eyes raked across her form - her once white kimono had now turned translucent and gave him a very good view of the soft curves and smooth skin underneath, along with her hardened nipples as she trembled from the cold summer air. "And how opportune that I should kidnap her in such a tantalising outfit too..I better ensure my clan elders don't drool over you when we get back."

"You pervert!" Hashirama scolded as he hoisted her up further and leapt into the air, heading in the direction of the Uchiha clan stronghold.

"Oh darling, you won't have me any other way," Madara chuckled as he pressed another kiss onto her cheek.

End Notes: 

Since the Uchiha are a warrior clan, I thought the tradition of bride kidnapping would be suited to their clan's inherent warring nature. The Senju, on the other hand seem to have very different wedding traditions. :P And yes, Madara is one sneaky bastard, tricking Hashirama and kidnapping her as his bride. He's not above playing dirty on an uneven playing field to guarantee that he gets her, and boy is she mad about that. 

Thoughts and reviews?

Chapter Text

Uchiha Hikaku stood guard at the Uchiha stronghold gates, keeping watch for suspicious characters that were within close radius and looking out for impending intruders. He was one of the most gifted sensors of the clan along with Uchiha Izuna, and as such was routinely tasked with patrolling the area to weed out the enemy where they least expected it.

It was mid-afternoon and inwardly he cursed at the unrelenting heat of the sun as sweat trickled down his back. He still had about four more hours to go and all he wanted to do was have a good nice bath.

That was when he felt the familiar raging firestorm of Madara's chakra approaching the stronghold at full speed, another muted chakra signature with him. Shading his eyes, Hikaku activated his Sharingan and gazed into the distance where he saw a black robed figure streaking down the green plains. He raised his hand to signal for the guards behind him to open the gates, hearing the familiar creak of the iron doors open.

Soon enough, Madara came into view with a white robed figure in his arms - as he drew nearer and Hikaku caught a glimpse of the figure, he was shocked to see that it was a woman. Sure, Madara took women to bed sometimes as did any normal man, but he had never appeared in public with one before. In fact the clan head was so discreet about it that the only reason Hikaku knew Madara had any semblance of a sex drive was because he was his most trusted cousin and advisor. Who was this woman that made her special from all the other women his clan head had bedded before?

Apparently the guards behind him thought the same as he heard them whisper in the tittering way that all gossipers did.

The woman had her head buried in Madara's chest, her hand hiding her face like she did not want to reveal her identity but Madara had other plans as he grabbed her wrist away and gripped her chin, forcing her to show her face to his fellow clansmen.

"What atrocity is this...? What is she doing here?" Hikaku demanded, jaw dropping as he stared at Hashirama, disbelieving.

Madara merely looked at him like he was a particularly dull child, "Have you forgotten our traditions dear cousin? What do you think this looks like? She's my bride."

He raised one end of the binding rope around Hashirama as if to drive his point home and Hikaku felt like he was going to faint as Madara walked past him smugly. He watched his clan head keep an iron grip on Hashirama's wrist to stop her from hiding her face back again and it dawned upon Hikaku that Madara was making damn well sure to parade his newest prize in home territory. How typical, Hikaku thought as his gaze followed the pair, mouth slightly agape at the crazy scene before him.

The guards stood similarly dumbfounded as they stared after their clan head and their soon-to-be clan mistress, surprised into inaction until Hikaku snapped irritably at them, "Stop staring and let's go in! Seal the gates. We have a crisis going on and we better be there to stop it."

Hikaku slapped the two guards on their shoulders as he turned to raise up the invisible protective shield around the clan stronghold, brows furrowed and grimacing at the thought of the chaos that was likely to erupt from this new arrangement.

By the time Hikaku reached the main building where the clan's official meeting room was housed, almost the entire clan had gathered outside the building, whispering amongst themselves, and Hikaku could feel the distinct bloodlust and opportunistic gazes that were cast upon Hashirama.

He pushed the sliding doors to see the council of 12 clan elders seated in one row, all stormy-faced and Madara seating opposite them with an expression to match. Hashirama was seated on Madara's left, her bindings totally gone. Izuna, the trusted brother, took the key spot to Madara's right.

He took a seat beside Izuna, who whispered lowly, "Just in time, the elders are about to go on a tirade."

From the tone he gave, Hikaku eyed Izuna and whispered back, "And it looks like you're going to join them."

Izuna only snorted in response, "Crazy as this sounds, Madara and I had actually discussed this. And as much as I disapprove, I will stand by my brother no matter what."

"Madara, what's the meaning of this? Kidnapping a Senju and deciding she will be your bride. Have you forgotten that the Uchiha and Senju are bitter enemies for centuries? We have a mandate from our great ancestor Indra to subjugate and destroy the Senju, you swore that when you became our leader," said Uchiha Touma, the Head Elder of the clan council.

"I did not forget, uncle. However this war has dragged on long enough and this is the best way to ensure prosperity for the Uchiha," Madara spoke, his voice calm and measured, a far cry from the hardened expression on his face as he reached out to tilt Hashirama's face towards the elders for closer inspection.

"Hashirama possesses their most rare and precious bloodline ability and is their strongest shinobi. They will agree to anything we demand and besides..."

Madara's grip on her chin tightened,"The Uchiha may be able to steal the Mokuton for future generations.."

That caused everyone in the room to jerk up in response. The Uchiha had been so focused on protecting their bloodline nobody had ever thought about stealing others' bloodlines, thinking their Sharingan the most superior.

Judging by the looks on the elders' faces, they would not mind getting their hands on another powerful bloodline ability to add to their clan's genetic arsenal.

A voice sounded from the left, and everyone turned to see another clan elder Uchiha Mai speak up, her lips curled up in distaste and her lone Sharingan eye staring at Hashirama, hatred glinting just below the surface. The other eye was covered in a black patch - she had used it ever since an enemy shinobi had managed to rip it out of her before he was promptly killed on the spot for such a crime.

"As enticing as this all sounds, Madara, this still does not change the fact that she's the strongest enemy shinobi who has killed many of our kin. An eye for an eye, we kill her and we cripple the Senju by taking out their strongest and most valuable mule."

Despite the chakra suppressors on, Hikaku could feel it – Hashirama’s anger blooming like rapid vines to choke the offending elder. What surprised him even more was the feel of that anger being reigned in by the intense pressure Madara exerted on Hashirama’s hand. Interesting, he thought, that the Senju clan leader should heed Madara so in such a tenuous situation.  

However, a few other heads nodded in agreement to Mai's statement. "Mai makes perfect sense too, that's the easiest and most guaranteed way to weaken the Senju, and we can't have such a powerful enemy kunoichi in our compound," voiced another elder.

"I will keep her chakra suppressors on all the time. We will remove them only when we deem fit, so she is as powerless as a civilian now," Madara countered, crossing his arms.

When the elders still didn’t look anywhere convinced, Madara sighed and continued.

“As a safeguard, should she or anybody else aside from me attempt to free her from these suppressors, it would trigger the seal and cause instant death. I made sure of that.”

Silence.

Hikaku could not believe this. How…? If what Madara said was true, how did Madara manage to come up with such an effective and deadly seal? Such intricacy and mastery of seals could only ever belong to the Uzumaki….

Hikaku turned his Sharingan upon Hashirama and saw it – the green tendrils of chakra circling Hashirama’s wrists, binding her chakra away. He saw the tendrils snaking their way to her heart, wrapped like a vice and he felt his own stop beating for a moment when it dawned upon him that Madara was indeed telling the truth about the seal.

Based on what the elders said next, Hikaku knew they saw the same.

"Indeed, it's amazing to see such a chakra powerhouse not being able to infuse any chakra and being reduced to an ordinary civilian," said Uchiha Naori, one of the younger and more seasoned active shinobi within the ranks of the Uchiha elders.

Beside her, Madara and Izuna had smug looks on their faces as if they knew they were triumphant.

Satisfied that the chakra suppressants on the Goddess of Shinobi was secure and that she was indeed as powerless as a civilian without her chakra, it caused the rest of the elders to relax visibly as Hikaku felt their once tense charka coils unravel into a state of ease.

Shinobi being shinobi, the elders still looked hesitant to agree until Izuna spoke up, "Hikaku and I will volunteer to be part of the elite guards assigned to monitor her within the compound to ensure she doesn't get up to no good within our home territory."

Hikaku groaned internally – Great. Now he got additional duties too. How absolutely delightful of his clan heir to bestow this honor upon him!

Madara gave Izuna a grateful smile before he spoke, "Let us take a vote to decide."

A series of murmurs sounded from the clan council as they all bowed their heads together to whisper amongst themselves, clearly torn apart between the two options posed by Madara and Mai.

As the elders continued discussing amongst themselves, Hikaku saw Izuna lean closer to Hashirama and whisper in her ear, "I don't know what kind of magic you cast upon my brother, you harpy. I don't like or trust you one bit, but I'd love getting the satisfaction of seeing you as my brother's bitch, so you better be grateful I am helping to keep you alive today."

Hashirama merely glared back in response as she hissed back, "Like I had any choice in being kidnapped, Izuna! Your brother tricked me into this!"

"You're just too stupid and naive! I hope you don't pass those bad genes on to the next generation -" Izuna snapped back, irritation clear on his face.

Hikaku couldn't help but roll his eyes at the exchange, groaning internally as he leaned back to address the squabbling future in laws, "Stop it you two. How childish can you get? Now shut up and pay attention, the elders are voting."

Sure enough, the murmurs stopped as the 12 elders settled back into their seats and Touma spoke, "Those in favour of keeping Hashirama alive and recognising her as Madara's bride, please raise your hands."

Nine hands were raised, including Touma's, and Hikaku thought he saw Madara and Hashirama collectively breathe a sigh of relief, their stiffened backs suddenly relaxed and void of tension, and Hikaku vaguely wondered what Madara would have done had the elders voted to execute Hashirama instead.

"Well congratulations Madara-san," Touma's face broke into a cunning smile, "I never thought I'd see the day you settle down."

His eyes drifted to Hashirama, Sharingan spinning lazily as he assessed her, "Although the elders do not think her the best candidate, her gifts would surely be a blessing to your future children and the Uchiha clan. Well done on getting the Mokuton. I must say this is the most delectable defeat the Senju have taken in centuries."

"Thank you for your vote of confidence, uncle," Madara inclined his head in gratitude.

"We shall discuss the terms of a possible treaty with the Senju at a later time," Touma continued before he gave Madara a pointed look, "Only after she is properly bound to the clan. Do you understand, Madara?"

Hikaku thought he saw Hashirama's face pale visibly as those last ominous words left the elder's lips. Poor thing must be wondering what he means by that, best that she doesn't know or she'd be attempting to kill all of them in their sleep.

"Yes, uncle," said Madara, bowing.

"Good. We take our leave then. I trust you will do what you must to safeguard this new… wife of yours," Touma said meaningfully, before he got up from his seat to signal the adjournment of the meeting.

Hikaku watched as the elders took their turns to leave, all following in the stream of Touma's wake.

Once the last elder had stepped out of the meeting room, Madara turned to Hikaku, fixing him with a serious stare.

"Hikaku, I want you to keep an eye on those who would have intentions to harm Hashirama. Give me a list of them and I give you full authority to put them in place should they dare try anything towards her.”

Hikaku nodded, "You can trust me, Madara-sama."

A relieved smile adorned Madara's features as he clapped Hikaku lightly on the shoulder, "I knew I could trust you. This is the best chance we can get to peace in our terms.”

Hikaku could only smile back, all the while feeling the jitters as he tried to imagine the amount of gossip and chaos that would no doubt have already started upon seeing Hashirama in the compound and leaving a council meeting with her head still on her shoulders, unharmed and alive.

He was not looking forward to playing clean-up for Madara and his new wife-to-be, no matter how beautiful she was.