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Everything had been peaceful since the Uchiha and Senju made peace over a year ago. The village of Konoha was growing and filled with like-minded shinobi who also desired peace. The heads of the two clans rekindled their childhood friendship and ran the village together. Even their younger siblings managed to look beyond their rivalry and become friends. A long-held dream had finally come true after years of violence and bloodshed.
Today was a special day. It was warm and sunny with a cool breeze, and a rare day off for the clan heads and their second-in-commands. Izuna looked in the mirror as she combed her hair. Once she felt it was silky enough, she pinned it into place with kanzashi adorned with sakura. She stood up and gently brushed the wrinkles out of her kimono. One of her favorites, a gift from nii-san, it was embroidered with a crane in flight over a background of flowers. Once she was ready, she grabbed her wagasa and exited her room.
“Nii-san, I’m leaving now,” she called out as she slipped on her geta.
Footsteps were heard as Madara entered the room. “Okay, imouto. Be careful. Are you meeting with him again?”
Izuna nodded and smiled softly. “Yes, I am. We’re going on a walk together.”
Madara glanced over her once before nodding in approval. “Have fun but be careful.” He didn’t mind her going out for a walk with her companion. There was no one else Izuna would be safer with, not that she couldn’t handle herself. She was a seasoned kunoichi, after all.
“I will. See you, nii-san.” She bowed before leaving their residence. Opening her lavender wagasa accented with pink sakura and light blue butterflies, she headed to the edge of the village. She smiled at the villagers who greeted her as they went about their day. A few minutes later, Izuna arrived at her destination, the village gate. Her face lit up with a smile when she saw her companion patiently waiting for her just outside.
“Hello, Tobirama. I hope you weren’t waiting too long.”
The white-haired Senju turned to her and shook his head after giving her a small smile in greeting. “No, I wasn’t. I just got here a few minutes ago myself.” He glanced over the petite female’s attire. She looked lovely as always. Though, you wouldn’t hear him say as much. Not in as many words, anyway. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yes, let’s go!” Izuna grabbed the male by the arm and started leading him away from the village. Tobirama was mostly used to Izuna’s antics by now, but that didn’t mean she still didn’t surprise him now and again. He let her lead him away, easily keeping up with her pace.
~*~
The pair strolled through the forest at a leisurely pace. They did not have a particular destination in mind, so they just enjoyed each other’s company. It was peaceful, the silence around them unbroken except for the occasional bird call, whisper of a breeze, or their own conversation. Izuna had long since released Tobirama’s arm from her grip, but she remained close by his side.
“So, how have you been? Had any missions lately?” Tobirama asked, looking at the sun’s rays as they broke through the canopy above them.
“I’ve been well, thanks. No, I haven’t gone on any missions for a little while. Nii-san has been taking care of things, but even he hasn’t been too busy. What about you? Hashirama leaving most of his work for you again?” Izuna giggled lightly as Tobirama rolled his eyes at her last comment.
“There are times Anija slacks off in favor of roaming about the village, but lately, he has been keeping up on things. I haven’t been too busy, so I’ve been working on creating some new ninjutsu in my lab.”
“Well then, I’m glad we decided to take a walk today. It isn’t good for you to spend all your time indoors among all those dusty scrolls,” Izuna chided him with a frown.
“Not all the scrolls are dusty; I’ll have you know. Some are brand new.” Tobirama informed her, amused at how she thought she could rebuke him. It didn’t bother him, though. It was part of their usual banter.
“I’m glad to hear that. You might already be pale and have white hair, but it wouldn’t do for you to act like a wizened old man, now would it?” The Senju turned to fling a rejoinder back at Izuna, only to see her giving him a teasing close-eyed smile, melodious laughter spilling from her lips. He sighed and shook his head as he looked ahead of them with a small smile. He had to admit that he enjoyed these times with her.
Izuna hummed to herself as they walked in comfortable silence. She knew Tobirama had a clever mind and created many kinds of ninjutsu. There were times when she wondered what he thought about. Deciding that she was going to ask him, she grabbed his hand. However, something else caught her attention. “Tobirama, look! There is a small house hidden over there.”
She caught him by surprise when she suddenly grabbed his hand. He was going to ask her about it but got distracted when she pointed to the house ahead. “That is strange. I didn’t think anyone lived around here except for those in the village.”
“Then let’s go investigate it. I’m rather curious now!” She pulled Tobirama along with her for the second time that day.
She lied, she lied down in the silence
She grabbed my hand and
Asked me what I think about
The house lied deep in the woods
~*~
Upon entering the small house, they realized that no one had lived there for a long time. The place wasn’t decrepit, but it would need a little work before anyone started living there again. It was a single-roomed house with a loft with an opening on the roof. Izuna closed her wagasa and placed it against the wall before twirling around the middle of the room.
“What a lovely place this is! Hey, Tobirama! What would you say about making this our secret hideout?”
Tobirama raised an eyebrow, watching the raven-haired woman gracefully spinning about. He wondered what went through her mind sometimes. “Where did this come from?”
Izuna stopped spinning and faced him. “Why not? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a place to ourselves outside the village where we can relax? We can clean the place up a bit and make it our own. What do you say? Would you like to adopt this place with me?” She leaned towards him with her hands folded behind her back. Tobirama smiled fondly as some of her hair slipped out of her hair ornament and fell into her face. He gently brushed it behind her ear.
“I would be happy to adopt this place with you.”
~*~
The two “adopted” the little house and made it their own. Tobirama brought over a desk, a small table, and a couple of chairs, while Izuna made the place a little homier with a couple of simple wall adornments and a vase filled with fresh flowers she picked on another walk. She even brought a handful of scrolls and a brush set for the desk in case Tobirama was ever struck with inspiration. It was a simple gesture but one that Tobirama sincerely appreciated.
They usually went on walks together a couple of times a week and every weekend. It wasn’t always like this. When peace was first established, they were encouraged to spend time together outside of meetings. It started with a walk every couple of weeks, but eventually, they went on one every week. The Senju and Uchiha realized they enjoyed each other’s company, and before they knew it, they became important parts of each other’s lives. Every time they went on their walks, they would find themselves heading to the small house.
Tobirama truly enjoyed his time with Izuna. He remembered how they were nothing but rivals in the past who had tried to end each other’s lives every time they met on the battlefield. He’d come close to ending Izuna’s once, but he was glad he hadn’t. He couldn’t imagine a life in peacetime without Izuna. The former White Demon always cherished the time he spent with the fiery female.
My life, will never go on without you
Although it feels like falling
Down in the deeper hole
I know
I still remember
This feeling in my heart
In a breeze
We’re frozen in time like an endless dream
~*~
Once again, Izuna and Tobirama took another one of their walks. Even when the weather changed with the seasons, they never tired of the activity. Each season offered something different, and the two shinobi varied their routes now and then. Tobirama still cherished his time with Izuna, and Izuna still wondered what Tobirama thought about. Some things never change.
We walked, we walked in the silence
She grabbed my hand and
Asked me what I think about
But you know it
You know
They decided to take a break from their walk to relax and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. Tobirama sat with his back against a large tree while Izuna lay on the ground next to him. She remembered the last time she took his hand with the intent to ask him what was on his mind. She gazed through her thick lashes at Tobirama, deciding she would ask him now. He had his eyes closed, resting his head against the tree trunk.
Izuna grabbed Tobirama’s hand and held it to her lips. The man opened his eyes, his red irises looking at his companion curiously. He was used to her grabbing his hand, but holding it to her lips was new. He found it made him happy.
“Tell me, Tobira…” she used the nickname she gave him whenever they were alone. “What do you think about?”
Tobirama gently gripped her hand, which seemed so small in his, and held it to his chest. “You know, don’t you?” He whispered softly as he leaned closer to her.
I know
I know…
I still remember
This feeling in my heart
In the breeze
We’re frozen in time like an endless dream
Izuna gazed at him through half-lidded eyes. When his breath ghosted over her parted lips, she closed the distance between them, sealed with a kiss.
Dream
We’re frozen in time like an endless dream