Chapter Text
Tobirama was surprised. What just happened seconds ago really was unexpected. Not even once he would think that the Uchiha Madara would…
… courting him, the killer of the said clan head’s last brother…
There was an awkward silence between them. The weather was nice and it’s windy in the hill that they were at. Such an isolated location near the outskirt of their village. Sakura and wisteria were grown as Hashirama meant them to bloom in the spring for hanami. It would be a perfect place for confession, If only…
…he felt the same way…
The Uchiha’s clan head are shifting nervously in front of him. His hand was slightly trembling, still outstretched the scroll—offered to him as a courting gift. Never had he witnessed such person who wielded strength like Madara looks so vulnerable, waiting for his answer…
…an answer for the proposition of his courting…
The surprised expression that he had, immediately changed in to cold anger. Remembering what the other’s clan did to him. He was thinking of his own little brother that died brutally by the hands of Uchiha’s child killer squad years ago.
Itama. His sweet little Itama. Barely perfected his Kata’s training, has a hiccup in Taijutsu, but excelled in chakra’s control. His dear brother, the would be genius of iryo nin, if only he has a chance to bloom his talent. His dead little Itama, his beloved brother.
He gritted his teeth. If Uchiha Madara thought that peace could clean their bad blood, he was wrong, really wrong.
“… I hate you.” He spitefully answer the man in front him. Madara’s expression turned pale, his mouth was gaping, as if try to making sure he was hearing it right.
…and Tobirama? He went for the kill…
“Don’t think this peace could make me forgive your clan for every Senju that had killed, Uchiha.” He smirked and nonchalantly see the Uchiha right in the eye. “And to think you intend to court your brother’s killer. What a selfish older brother you are. Not that I sympathized with Izuna.”
The horror that came up into Madara’s expression once his words sink really give him satisfaction. He might be never could one up the Uchiha in fair battle. But words? Are his excellence. With that, he left the Uchiha’s clan head alone. Never once he looked back to witness the said Uchiha drown in despair and heartbroken.
The constructions of their village are going smoothly. Surprisingly Uchiha and Senju could working together without so much hitch. Both clansmen clearly hold themselves to make the project success. It seems years of clashes between them already making them tired and looking forward to live in peace.
… all of this happened is no thanks to Uchiha Madara…
If only Madara accepted the propositions that Hashirama offered to him ever since he succeed his father. Or, if he didn’t prolonged their clashes in the name of revenge for his brother. Or, If only he disregard Izuna’s wishes and take a chance to trust Hashirama before tragedy happened. Their clan would be in peace earlier, and Izuna would be alive.
It’s all Madara’s fault… or at least that was what Tobirama wanted to instill in Uchiha’s clansmen and the majority of their villagers.
Tobirama might be not in par with his brother in chakra reservoir and strength. But he is cunning.
Ever since his father—Senju Butsuma—sick, he began to influence the elders and the opposite faction of his brother, to make sure the process of succession happened without so much internal conflict.
To be honest, Hashirama is too idealist to lead Senju clan. Even with Mokuton, Tobirama has to make sure every clansmen submit under Hashirama’s leadership.
Disputes among clansmen would made Hashirama doubting his own… And that’s where his role are needed…
Senju Tobirama maybe were always known as second in command for his brother, but he really did all sort of dirty works behind. He’s not hesitant to destroy politically his opponent (or his brother’s) to help Hashirama succeed to become clan head.
And just like what he did in Senju clan years ago, he’s doing the same in their new village.
The fact that Madara hindered the union of Senju and Uchiha clan since beginning. The fact that Madara valued his brother refusal and couldn’t maintain his role as clan head and succumb to getting personal revenge above all that. Those are enough to frame him as the cause of all their failed peace treaty in the first place.
It begins with subtle comment here and there. Through the less harmful gossips of the housewives. And it grow and grow…
New people that came, naturally become curious of the village’s background. The civilian, merchant, and boulder that has joined to support economy growth in their fledging village is helping a lot to spread the rumor. Their activity become vital to accommodate and distribute the rumor to every family and individual that lived. With them has no knowledge of both clans prior disputes history, it’s so easy to manipulate the story into some sort of dramatic tales that easily remembered or worst—exaggerated.
And the interaction between those civilian with clansmen trough trading are helping the rumor reaching the shinobis from each clan that has joined.
The effects? Are satisfactory…
He couldn’t help to smirk when the results of voting are released in the council room.
So far the clan head of Aburame, Hyuuga, Shimura, Sarutobi, The triad clan (Nara-Yamanaka-Akimichi), Inuzuka, and the last is Hatake—are present. Witnessing the process of voting together.
The very first voting between the clans head of every clan that has joined their village, excluding Uchiha and Senju. To determine the positition of hokage between the two of Konoha’s founder.
Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara.
…ended with humiliation…
Senju Hashirama, nine votes…
Uchiha Madara, none…
The room was silent. Some clan heads were openly snickered and some were uncomfortable in their seat. Mirth, guilt, or even indifferent were felt from the clan heads that take part in the voting.
While all of that happen, the stunned silence from Madara’s side are truly deafening. The wild haired Uchiha sit stil—wide eyed—looking at the results that showed in front him, while his second in command—Uchiha Hikaku—are paled siting behind him.
“Madara-sama…” whispered Hikaku, conflicted to stay in his position or reaching his younger cousin immediately.
“Leave him be Hikaku-san, I myself would be surprise with the result.” Said Shimura Douji mockingly. “If I knew it would end like this, I would gave my vote for Madara-sama!”
“Hear! Hear! Except that it’s really not suprising at all! Seeing how much influence Hashirama-sama had in the first place.” Inuzuka Makie laughed unabashedly, following the Shimura’s head clan.
“You--..!! how dare..”
Suddenly Madara standing up, effectively alerted the clan heads. Various type of chakra spiked immediately, despite nobody moved an inch from their position. It would take one sign of aggression from Uchiha’s clan head to escalate the tension that already happened in that room. However, Madara—without take a notice of people around him walking steadily to Hashirama’s side.
“Madara…” the Senju was unsure, standing clumsily from his chair upon his approaching friend. They silently gaze each other until the Uchiha’s hand are raised.
“Congratulation, Hashirama…” said the man who was known for his temper calmly. Hashirama automatically reach his friend’s hand and accept the handshake hesitantly.
“Thanks… I…”
Hashirama feeling was conflicted. Remembering how he once promised hokage’s position to Madara. The plan would be he nominated Madara without opposition, but suddenly all the clans that already joined wanted it to be voted and nominated him also.
He couldn’t do much beside agreeing. He predicted his and Madara would get tight votes. Except, the result ended humiliating for his friend side, as if… there’s no need to do voting in the first place because Madara are not considered as candidate.
He was feeling shame for Madara. It’s a difficult situation for him. Realizing how his presence is the cause for his friend’s humiliation. If only he didn’t agreed to be candidate, his friend might have a chance to get vote.
“Since it already decided, we would prepare the inauguration ceremony. Before that happen, we would held the next meeting to discuss it…” the Nara’s clan head wisely interrupted to end the tension. He glanced at Madara.
“Thank you for attending, Madara-sama. we would like to invite Uchiha’s representation as well for the next meeting. Just like others clan, we will notify you sooner.”
Madara nodded curtly before excused himself to go out the room. After that one by one clan heads are congratulating Hashirama and left with the new hokage, leaving the Nara and Senju Tobirama alone.
“Looks like your dirty schemes are working…”
Senju’s heir stiffened. The documents that he held gripped slightly. “I don’t quite understand by what you say…”
Nara Shinju huffed, slowly standing up from his chair and walked towards the exit before stopping at the door. “It’s such a hassle to explain it chronologically. But I know it was you.”
Not commenting to Nara’s statement, Tobirama busying himself with arranging documents that he held. Seeing that the Senju not confessing to his accusation, Shinju sighed loudly. “It was no good to cornered a tiger, Tobirama-san…”
“…” Tobirama stopped.
“Now you deprived him, tomorrow he would eat us all. It was fortunate that Hashirama-sama bonded with him, I’m sure you realize it as well. Such a fool move to break those two, if I must say...”
“…”
“Isolate him is not solution. I suggest you stopped whatever you plan… or else… we would face a disaster in the future…” with that, Nara Shinju walk out the room, leaving Tobirama to think his advice.
But hatred already consume Tobirama’s heart. And the plan already moving on its own. The rumors now are irreversible, no matter what Madara did, his reputation already framed negatively. Even the Uchiha didn’t do anything harmful, the image are already instilled.
He believed he did the right thing. Hashirama maybe has flaw, but he is what Konoha need as leader right now. And Madara? He didn’t know or care if the man actually has competence to lead a heterogenic clansmen and civilian, but he doubt it. Even before the rumor spreaded, Uchiha Madara was known as temperament person.
People would prefer softhearted image like Hashirama than a violent image of Madara, even if they were shinobis. There’s no doubt of it.
With that on his mind, he shrugged his uneasy feeling completely and focused for his brother.
Konoha doesn’t need two people in power. This is the best way…
… And three days later, there was a formal notice sent from Uchiha compound that notify Uchiha Madara’s position as clan head are revoked. The new clan head of Uchiha was chosen immediately after and already on active duty for the upcoming meeting…
It clear that Uchiha clan, not wanting to lose the influence in Konoha’s council, started to move to gain favor from others clans by removing the person who sacrificed everything in his life just to make the peace happened.
They trampled on his honor…
They slandered him for his beloved brother’s death…
And they forgetting that once, this very person, put his clan importance over his dreams… the dreams that realized now and place them all in stability after century of their useless war…
…This is the first betrayal that Madara experienced from his own clan…