Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"[When things are investigated, knowledge is achieved. When knowledge is achieved, intentions become sincere. When intentions become sincere, the heart becomes righteous.] When the heart is righteous, the self is cultivated. When the self is cultivated, the family is regulated. When the family is regulated, the state is well-governed. When the state is well-governed, there is peace in the world. Senju Hashirama accomplished all those feats, which is why he is renowned in history."

I pursed my lips and said to my seven-year-old daughter, "He's just a gambler who got lucky. About seventy to eighty percent of what the textbooks say is nonsense."

"The textbooks were compiled with the help of Brother Kagami and Brother Hiruzen, right?" my daughter innocently retorted.

"One Uchiha who insisted on following your uncle to the ends of the earth, and the other who hung out with your dad every day—both were blinded by the Senju's facade. What they compiled is the least trustworthy." With the most resolute and sincere voice I could muster, I pointed at a few lines in the book and sighed. "What do they mean by 'upright, honest, heart as clear as a bright mirror, as pure as a lotus flower'? Senju Hashirama? His last name should include the word 'crooked'."

Yes, he's the craftiest, the most detestable con artist in the world.

"I don't understand how you two could have gotten married." The child sulked, disagreeing with my criticism.

Pinching my child's nose, I snorted coldly. "We bumped into each other in the dark, got married on a whim, and after living together for half a lifetime, we were shocked."

"Mom, you're lying."

"Think whatever you want." I pinched her nose, and the little rascal squealed for a while before her eyes suddenly lit up. "But... I'm really curious, what was it like the first time for you two?"

"The... the first time for what?" Startled, I felt my ears heat up. What kind of question is this for a child of just a few years old?

"Mom! Your cheeks are so red! Was your first meeting with Dad very impressive?"

So... I thought my daughter was asking about something inappropriate... Turns out it was about the first meeting. Embarrassed to the point of not knowing where to hide my face, I awkwardly replied:

"Meeting each other... hmm, that was a long time ago, but I'm sure it wasn't anything interesting..."

:

:

I picked up a young mango from under the leafy tree.

My memories of my old homeland are fading, to the point that if someone asks me what Uzushio looks like now, I can hardly answer anything other than the reluctant word "beautiful" as someone who has been away for so long. I have lost the ability to describe my birthplace either broadly or in detail. I can only recall a few vivid details—the ripe mango falling at my feet, the seashells in the basket brought back for the children, and the sound of the ocean waves lulling even the sleepless into a deep slumber. But overall, I remember having a fairly decent life before the young clan leader of the Senjus appeared, bringing with him a secret alliance letter from some distant time between our ancestors.

"Mito, this is Hashirama of the Forest. Though he is still young, he is about to rise to the pinnacle of the ninja world."

Hashirama before me was tall and muscular, his tan skin under the Uzushio sunlight looked like it had an extra layer of melting butter. His body was so robust, beautiful, and perfect that people around me gossiped he was an angel descended to earth. From a distance, sensory type ninjas like me could feel dizzy from the overwhelming and powerful chakra of this man. It was as if his mere presence could instantly expand the space with chakra, causing ordinary people to feel breathless and nauseous if they weren't careful. But I found it quite endearing to see someone like him struggle with it. That cautiousness, combined with his clear eyes and radiant smile, made me think that he wasn't as frightening as the rumors suggested. He tried to control his chakra, always cautiously keeping his distance from the people of Uzushio, paying close attention to those he met for the first time, afraid that he might accidentally hurt them.

The Uzumaki clan immediately arranged a marriage with Hashirama.

"Do you want to change your life, Mito?" My sharp-tongued mother smiled. "The Senju is a prestigious clan that can give you a life of wealth and honor."

"What are you thinking, Mother?" I firmly dismissed. "He belongs to big sister; the elders have already intended to bring them together."

"If not the elder, then the younger."

"Senju Tobirama?" I muttered. "I'd rather marry a rock. Don't worry, Mother, I will definitely find a good husband, and it doesn't have to be a Senju." At that time, finding a good husband to spend one's life with was every woman's dream. But for me, marriage was just a way to leave the Uzumaki clan; I never really intended to rely entirely on a husband.

"But if you have ambition," Mother called out teasingly as I turned to walk away, "those forest people are the closest and best you can get."

The Senju clan, for someone like me, was truly as distant as the horizon.

Even now, I still feel that our marriage is absurd—I don’t understand why fate brought Hashirama and me together. Initially, the one the elders intended for Hashirama was my sister, Mikako. I was just the girl living in the kitchen corner, unloved by my father, but my big mother loved me enough to break my legs.

"Mikako is arranged, but like her, you will have a private meeting with Hashirama next week. The opportunity is equal." My mother smiled with hidden meaning. "Think carefully."

My mother was a servant in the Uzumaki clan, and servants always endured hardship. But a servant without relatives, like my mother, had it even worse. Because of her difficult life, she made it even harder by mistaking the young master for her lover. Mother said that night it was pitch dark, not even a light was lit. Since it was a festival, she was tipsy from the wine, her eyes blurry. How could she tell who was who? Similarly, the young master Uzumaki Kashino, the sixth son of the clan leader Ashina at that time, was also slightly drunk. When he saw my mother rush in, he mistook her for his wife, embraced her, and took her to his room. Then, what was bound to happen happened. The next morning, when the servants discovered what had happened, it became a big scandal. Uzumaki Kashino's wife, who came from the noble Kimura ninja clan, found out and flew into a rage, returning to her clan. The peace agreement between the two most prominent families in the Land of Whirlpools was at risk of being annulled. Seeing this, the clan leader Ashina had no choice but to place all the blame on my mother, who was then discovered to be two weeks pregnant, and expelled her from the clan. My mother's lover abandoned her after finding out what happened. With no parents or siblings, acquaintances treating her like a stranger, her lover abandoning her, and being ostracized by two powerful clans, there was nowhere in the entire Land of Whirlpools where my mother could find refuge.

And so, I, Uzumaki Mito, was born into that wretched situation. My mother gave birth to me in a foul-smelling stable with the help of beggar women. When I was just born, my mother honestly said that the first thing she asked wasn't about my condition, whether I was healthy, or even my gender, but what color my hair was. When she heard it was red, she laughed, laughed as if she had never laughed before, laughed like a madwoman, scaring those around her into fleeing, laughed until she lost all her strength and fainted. Because she knew, her hair was brown, her lover's hair was black, and neither of them had Uzumaki blood. So where did that red hair come from? I had to be Uzumaki Kashino's child, and that would be like a gift from heaven to end her days of wandering and suffering. My mother said that when she was pregnant, she thought there was a ninety percent chance the baby belonged to her lover, so she considered getting rid of it. But a very small part of her bet that it could be the child of the Uzumaki young master. She was determined to give birth to me despite the terrible conditions and constant dangers. She protected the pregnancy from harm, but trust me, there was no motherly love involved—it was entirely a gamble, all or nothing. And my mother won decisively.

"Don't be too sad." She took a pack of cigarettes out of her pocket, absentmindedly looking up at the sky, while I dejectedly stared at the meadow. "It's not that I didn't want to love you, but I couldn't. Emotions can't be forced no matter how hard you try, even when a mother's love for her child is supposed to be a given. But I no longer hate you. Your birth saved me from an obvious defeat, after all."

"Those words are quite a step forward, Mother." I gave a faint smile. "But in reality, you’ve survived until now because you are very capable, not just because of me."

That year, when my mother carried me to the Uzumaki clan to demand justice, she was, of course, still in a weak position. Because that noble clan, as expected, ruthlessly declared: "Keep the child, discard the mother." I would still be accepted by the clan, but my mother would not. My mother was furious. She had risked her life to give birth to me and wouldn't accept such a loss. So, she ran to a cliff with me, threatening to jump and commit suicide, causing an uproar. She cried to Kashino, "I won't put you in a difficult position." And just as she gambled, Uzumaki Kashino was soft-hearted and cared for his own blood. Seeing his child about to die with the woman whose life he had ruined, he couldn't help but kneel and beg Ashina to bring both of us back to the clan. Kashino's wife—whom I should call "big mother"—was so angry that she fell ill. After recovering, she often took her anger out on my mother, but my mother wasn't one to be easily intimidated. The two of them quarreled and fought for many years, even trying to drag the children into their fiery conflict. But strangely enough, I had a rather normal relationship with Mikako, the daughter of my big mother. It wasn't a close relationship, but we both tried to keep to ourselves, ensuring our paths didn't cross too often. At least this kind of relationship was better than with my other half-siblings from the main family: whenever we met, they would bully and insult me because of my origins.

Though my mother and I were always the subjects of ridicule within the clan, thankfully, Kashino didn’t let us starve.

So in the game of life, my mother gambled recklessly and often, but she won every time. Is this fate?

"Your mother was indeed capable, but the key was you." She laughed. "Mito, at that time, the old Ashina secretly checked you and sensed that your body possessed a special chakra capable of controlling giant monsters. That's why he agreed to let Kashino keep both you and me."

I shrugged indifferently, thinking about what I should say when I was alone with Senju Hashirama to ensure he wouldn't have a bad impression of me.

Back then, all nine sisters from the main house of the Uzumaki clan had to dress up and wear makeup beautifully to meet the young clan leader of the Senju in a private meeting, something everyone hailed as "a special privilege". Calling it a special privilege, but in reality, we were no different from goods being presented for the Senju to inspect and choose from. The Uzumaki clan held Hashirama in such high regard that they didn't arrange a marriage with any specific girl beforehand; instead, they let him meet all of us and choose whom he liked. Placed ninth in line due to my sensitive status, I waited for my eight sisters to chat with Hashirama from morning onwards. I almost wanted to collapse into the tea table and take a nap, but the Uzumaki etiquette instructor's sharp glares forced me to sit properly like a true noble lady.

The furisode I was wearing was the most beautiful piece of clothing I had ever seen. Although it couldn't compare to the furisodes of the other eight, compared to the ragged clothes I had at home, it felt like a gift from heaven.

But it wasn't easy to wear and started to feel... strange. 

I felt itchy and sore all over my body.

"Uzumaki Mito-sama, daughter of Kashino-sama! Please come in!"

Hearing the call, I felt pulled out of my thoughts. Slowly, I stood up and followed the steward into the meeting room. I don't even remember my first impression of meeting Hashirama or what his face looked like that day, because I was busy struggling with the furisode, which for some reason made me itchy and caused painful rashes every time I moved. The young clan leader of the Senju, seated opposite me, greeted me gently and invited me to sit down. He discreetly glanced over me, likely assessing me from head to toe. As for me, I never looked up, focusing instead on trying to alleviate the itch that was tormenting me.

"Ah... Mito-dono," Hashirama's tone was somewhat cautious. "Are you alright?"

Only then did I look up at him, meeting his warm, concerned eyes, and remember his presence. "Nothing to worry about, Senju-dono."

"I don't think you're alright," Hashirama said, standing up and moving around to where I was sitting. "Your face is very red, and you have a rash. Your chakra is fluctuating. Let me take a look." The gentle man intended to take my hand to examine it, but I was startled and moved back, nearly hitting the wall with my back to distance myself from him.

"What... what are you doing?"

"I am a medical ninja." The Senju clan leader withdrew his hand and slightly bowed, smiling. "I'm sorry if I was impolite, Mito-dono, but as a healer, I can't stand by when I see someone struggling like you are."

I raised my eyebrow, expressing my doubt. "You're not the type of healer who burns some kind of incense for the patient to inhale or splashes salt water on them and then uses a whip until they are 'cured,' are you?"

"No," he laughed, but didn’t seem annoyed. "I am a true chakra healer."

Seeing the sincerity and generosity in Hashirama's brown eyes, a strange stirring suddenly blossomed in my heart, and I extended my hand for him to examine. The palm of the young clan leader emitted a soothing light green glow, which carefully and meticulously glided over my skin, and I found myself lost in the sight of his long, shiny black hair, wondering how a person could be born with such a healthy, perfect body.

"That is poison ivy...and a mix of other allergens...combined into a highly toxic substance," Hashirama frowned, pouring water from the jug on the table into his hand and lifting a water sphere. "It was applied to your furisode, and if there had been more, it could have been fatal."

I was stunned: someone hated me enough to want to take my life? Today it’s the furisode, tomorrow it could be food, drink, or something else?

"What a despicable act…"

Hearing the hint of inexplicable anger in his tone, I felt disheartened. "I don’t even know if I’ll make it to the end of the month…"

"It’s okay, Mito-dono." The man reassured me, his other hand gently patting my shoulder, the scent of sandalwood enveloping the space around us. "I can heal well. For now, I'll help alleviate your symptoms, and later I’ll prepare some medicine. Make sure you take the medicine as prescribed..."

"Thank you very much." I temporarily calmed the panic spreading through my mind and bowed to my benefactor.

"There's no need to be so formal. As a medical ninja, saving people is my responsibility..." The man gave a radiant smile, and he was very close, with only a finger's width between our foreheads. His chakra was still as immense as usual, but there was no hint of it being out of control. It was completely gentle and warm, indicating that the owner of this chakra was in a very positive mood. He showed no wariness or unfamiliarity towards me, and was extremely comfortable. 

Perhaps I felt the same way towards him.

Seeing Hashirama's face light up through the water sphere, I boldly asked:

"Have you taken a liking to me, Senju-dono?"

"Taken a liking... to what, Mito-dono?" he asked, his eyes still fixed on the spreading red spots on my arm.

"Taken a liking to me on the perfect wife scale," I replied. "Let’s be direct—do you intend to marry me?"

"Marry...marry?" It seemed my words startled him, making him look up. "Marry, Mito-dono?"

"Yes, marry," I looked at him in confusion. "What did you think you and I were doing here?"

"Isn't that a bit...hasty, miss?" he replied, blushing and looking down, while the itching sensation on my skin gradually subsided.

For a moment, I thought Senju Hashirama was a joke. 

"Thank you for treating me, but if you don’t intend to marry me, then don’t make me feel moved." I looked straight into the man's eyes, then moved a bit to let him know how tightly his hand had been unconsciously gripping my wrist all this time. "No, Senju-dono. You don't know how your actions are making me misunderstand."

Please don't be so gentle with me like that and let me know if you treat everyone this way. 

(You and Mikako are probably destined to be together, whether you both like it or not...) 

Please don't show temporary warmth and then leave forever.

"I didn't mean to..." He avoided my gaze, fixing his eyes on the ground, slowly widening the distance between us.

I sighed, thinking to myself that I didn’t mean to make things difficult for Hashirama, yet he looked no different from an oversized child caught doing something wrong.

"You're not upset, are you?" I asked gently. "I just want us to be honest with each other so we don’t waste each other's time."

The man looked up at me, his eyes surprised. "Honest...with each other?"

The symptoms had stopped.

"Exactly. I suggest that you and I each take a piece of paper and write down our 'requirements' as if we were to get married," I said clearly. "Then we'll give them to each other to read. Usually, the man's requirements are more numerous and considered more important, but I think Hashirama-dono is generous enough to respect that women have their own conditions too. We'll both carefully consider each point, and then, if we both agree..."

"Then you and I will get married?"

"Exactly."

"Mito-dono, this is too obsessive," Hashirama looked at me in panic. "You talk about marriage like Tobirama droning on about terms when drafting an alliance with the Sarutobi."

"Is that...unusual?" I asked, tilting my head.

"It’s very unusual! You...you...don’t...argh...this is marriage, you’re marrying a husband and you’re talking as if...!"

"A transaction? That’s what it essentially is, and so is this meeting." I sighed. "Senju-dono, I’m just preparing for the future. Even though the chances are high that you won’t marry me, it’s better to plan ahead. What if, by some strange twist of fate, you decide you want to marry me? What then? You know how difficult it is for a woman to marry far away, right? You men also marry, but you’re just bringing home a wife, and your lives remain the same. Meanwhile, we women leave our clans, our homelands, and go far away to become part of another clan. Even in death, we belong to that other clan."

Silence enveloped us. Both of us avoided looking each other in the eyes and found the table particularly interesting. I thought that out of the eight people before me, no one had brought this up in front of him. Even though I felt a twinge of reluctance at making the meeting tense, I reminded myself that it’s better for both sides to know each other’s thoughts and principles now, making it easier to work together later.

This way, in the future, he might know how to treat Mikako properly, the most suitable candidate among the Uzumaki daughters to be his wife. My half-sister, though distant from me, is still my blood. I hope she will live well.

"Mito-dono, I am very troubled." Finally, the young clan leader of the Senju spoke, breaking the silence. "They brought your sisters and you here, and I had to have private meetings with all of you. Out of courtesy, I couldn’t refuse. I feel like a terrible person, having the right to be picky and judge others, while you all are nothing but..."

"Treated with contempt? Objects? Puppets?" I blinked vacantly. "Don’t be so sentimental; they said coming to meet you is a 'privilege"."

Hashirama's eyes widened. 

"I just want to be honest, it's not a privilege at all... The Senju clan is in the midst of a war. Marrying into this family won't bring you happiness, and if one day I die on the battlefield, it would be even worse." He sighed and looked at me. "You’d be better off staying in Uzushio, where you might find a peaceful life... This kind of marriage is too hasty, and I fear I’d disappoint my future wife. I can’t love her completely, and perhaps she feels the same. If it weren't for Tobirama advising me to marry to strengthen our alliance and honor our ancestors’ promises, I wouldn’t... I think we don’t need this arranged marriage at all. It’s just nonsense." Then suddenly, he snapped out of his monologue, looking up and exclaiming loudly, "No, I didn't mean to say the Uzumaki clan is nonsense, I'm truly sorry, arranged marriages have been the foundation of many alliances throughout history, and I shouldn’t belittle that, I just think it's unnecessary, you've waited so long to meet me, and you shouldn't be treated with such disrespect..."

"Hashirama-dono, you’re stammering," I quickly interrupted. "And don’t beg or apologize by banging your head on the table." Yes, remind yourself to stop him when you see him about to do that. "It will hurt a lot, I’m not that stone-hearted Uchiha clan leader, I will feel sorry for you."

"You...you know...?" The Senju clan leader suddenly became...shy. It was truly unexpected; the longer I talked with him, the more I realized the meaning of the saying, 'seeing is believing.' But it was also strange, even though Hashirama was a bit clueless, I felt as if we had known each other for a long time, and talking to him was very comfortable.

I nodded. "You mean the story of you on the battlefield, repeatedly bowing your head to ask for an alliance? The whole world knows about it."

"You must think I'm really foolish, right? Tobirama has said that many times as well..."

"No," I said calmly. "I’m wondering what the hearts of the Uchiha brothers and those in their clan are made of, that they still haven’t recognized your sincerity."

"Madara is a very loyal person, he’s just trapped by his clan obligations," he immediately said. "But...Mito-dono! Do you really think so? You’re the first person not to call me foolish or delusional." Hashirama’s brown eyes lit up. "Thank...thank you, thank you very much."

"You're not foolish; the foolish ones are those who continue the war. In these times, let's not make things complicated." I said sympathetically. "Actually, even without love, I don’t think an arranged marriage is all that negative, at least from a... well... financial standpoint," I hesitated, wondering if I was being too shameless."For example, to me, money is everything. As long as I have money, I’ll be happy—enough food and clothing, not being looked down upon by others. I don’t ask for anything else. It’s fine if my future husband doesn’t love me, but if he does, even better. Just remember not to make things difficult for each other as spouses, and it will be fine." Hashirama couldn't help but stare wide-eyed at these words.

"The Senju clan has money and power, and you, young and talented, are like the midday sun. In times of war, that's more than enough for a woman. At least we don’t have to marry a clan leader old enough to be our father, with a bunch of grandchildren, and become his fourth wife, for example. Or someone who already has a wife, forcing us to become nothing more than a doormat. The worst would be someone with a cruel heart; if that happens, our whole lives would be ruined. But you're different." I felt a sense of peace. "A man who considers the suffering of women will not be a bad person. Any woman who marries you will have a good place to rely on."

I gently concluded with a sincere smile.

The man stared at me, his gaze complex, and whispered, "Mito-dono, are you in pain?"

Chapter Text

"And then what happened... Mom?" My daughter's eyes were wide with excitement. "Dad must have chosen to marry you, right?"

"No, not at all." I laughed dryly. "Your dad was as foolish as ever. After our conversation, he found a way to refuse the arranged marriage with the Uzumaki clan. The reason he gave was that all nine ladies were too good for him and he didn't deserve any of them. It was truly just an excuse to refuse. There was some conflict between the two sides, but just as the argument was escalating, the Senju clan sent a letter saying that the seven-clan alliance was attacking and the clan leader was required to return immediately. Hashirama left five chests of gold for the Uzumaki as a way to soothe their anger, then hurriedly boarded a ship from the Land of Whirlpools back to the Land of Fire."

"Seven... seven clans?" The child gasped in fear. "How...? What happened to our Senju clan that year, Mom?"

For some reason, seeing my daughter’s horrified expression amused me. Perhaps because something had finally managed to scare this little imp? Thinking that, I gave a creepy smile and replied, "What do you think happened? Of course, we got our butts kicke..."

"Language!" The porcelain frog on the kitchen table—a bizarre invention of Senju Tobirama called the "Anti-Obscenity Device"—shouted loudly throughout the house. "Someone used violent language! Someone used violent language!"

"Getting our butts kicked is not violent language!" Feeling thoroughly annoyed, I yelled at the obnoxious frog.

"Again!" The porcelain frog blared mechanically. "Violent language! Avoid letting inappropriate words reach children’s ears!"

That frog... so annoying! If it weren't for my respect for my brother-in-law Tobirama, I would have smashed it to silence it for good. And it's not my fault; it's because Hashirama is so careless. As soon as he comes home, he comfortably uses inappropriate words, causing our child to curse at classmates she doesn't like at the Ninja Academy as if it's a song, shocking the teachers. My strict brother-in-law made that frog to remind his older brother to watch his language because there are children in the house, which is entirely reasonable. But it's all Hashirama's fault, so why do I have to suffer along with him?

My daughter snorted. "You’re really annoyed but can’t do anything about it, right? Exactly, because both you and Dad are scared of Uncle like he's a tiger."

I turned to my clever daughter and quickly defended myself. "It’s not fear, it’s respect! Your dad is the one who’s actually scared."

"Yes, yes..." She nodded. "Forget him, what happened next, mom..." Despite the frog's loud croaking, my little one still grabbed my arm, urging me to continue the story.

"What happened next, you ask..."

:

The Senju clan suffered a great defeat.

"That's truly my daughter," said my mother, who loved gambling, smiling with satisfaction as her cigarette smoke wafted into my hair. "Sharp vision, not paying much attention to the Senju from the start."

News reached Uzushio like a storm, sweeping away everyone's hopes for a strong alliance in the future. 

The coalition of seven clans launched a surprise attack, and even though Hashirama's power was almost godlike, he couldn't withstand it. From a distance, the sky was just a patch of dark clouds. I leaned against the column, looking out at the small yard in front of the house where the tree swayed in the wind, its green mangoes beginning to ripen to yellow. I wondered if the great war in the land had been settled by now.

For hundreds of years, the two fierce tigers, Senju and Uchiha, fought to seize control of the world. Their power was unmatched, and few had the ability or the courage to interfere in their battle. They once held the fate of nations in their hands, manipulating the world, and from their lofty heights, they looked down on other clans. Their historical rivalries created epic clashes, but now, unexpectedly, one of these great tigers has fallen.

The remaining tiger is Uchiha.

The other snakes lying in wait are the small clans that the tigers once disregarded. 

The Senju has been utterly defeated, writhing like a wounded beast, but still showing resilience and tenacity. They temporarily declared defeat to preserve their forces, retreating to their territory and erecting a miraculous barrier, which is said to prevent the seven clans from attacking.

"It has only been seven days," I sighed. "The Senju spent hundreds of years building a prosperous and glorious clan, only to vanish from the world in seven days."

After the Senju declared their defeat, their lord, Eastern Daimyo Tomiya, summoned Hashirama to the inner court to hold him accountable. It is said that he had Hashirama tied up and used by the warriors in a sword-testing ritual. The warriors, following the lord's orders, freely slashed at Hashirama, mainly to torment him for losing the battle, rather than to take his life. With his sage body, the wounds on the clan leader healed immediately, but the pain was immeasurable. The clan leader was captured, causing great alarm among the Senju. The deputy leader, Tobirama, who was seriously injured, walked for three days from the clan territory to the inner sanctum, wearing only a white kimono, barefoot, and without any guards or weapons. Upon arrival, the white-haired Senju dared to demand an honorable death, hoping the lord would grant him a dignified end.

"Senju Tobirama was insane?" I couldn't help but feel terrified. "What if he got caught by the seven clans…"

"But somehow, he managed to reach the inner sanctum gate unharmed," my mother told me with great interest. 

"The inner sanctum was in chaos, and the lord had to summon him to ask why he wanted to die. Tobirama said that a few days ago, he saw a celestial phenomenon: the sun falling, the country lost, the clan destroyed, his father and brothers dead, leaving him with nothing. So, he wanted to end his life. The lord was furious, accusing Tobirama of speaking nonsense. He said the sun of the Land of Fire, him, was still alive, the country was not lost, and his older brother was still living. Believing that the white-haired was talking rubbish, the lord insisted on issuing an order to execute him immediately. But Tobirama declared that he had seen the near future: the lord would die in a few weeks, followed by rebels in the court tearing the country apart, only for it to be completely swallowed by foreign invaders. He even listed the events the lord would encounter in the coming days, stating that only the Senju could protect him. The lord didn't believe it at first, but events unfolded exactly as Tobirama had predicted, and fear began to take hold in his heart. Eventually, the lord, filled with anxiety, secretly accepted the words of the white-haired Senju and released Hashirama. This information was spread by insiders from within the court."

Hearing my mother say this, I whispered, "It's really absurd. If Senju Tobirama could truly predict the future, he would have foreseen the attack by the seven clans' alliance. But regardless of how it happened, thankfully... they managed to escape this time."

Thank goodness Hashirama is still safe, a voice echoed in my head. Thank heaven both of them are alive. Ever since meeting that man, I've always thought he shouldn't die too soon. A person like Hashirama is necessary for this rotten world.

"Rumors should only be half-believed," my mother shrugged. "The Uzumaki clan still hasn’t given up on the marriage alliance with the Senju. Or perhaps they haven't just yet. But the higher-ups are starting to consider rejecting the marriage proposal."

That's right, there's no way Big Mother and Kashino-sama would let their beloved daughter marry into a clan that’s slowly dying out. 

While watching the stormy sky, I absentmindedly said to my mother, "The Senju haven't completely fallen yet, so why is the Uzumaki clan in such a hurry?"

But just as my mother and I predicted, no one could remain calm in the face of this storm. The majority of the clan opposed the marriage alliance with the Senju, while others argued that we should sever ties completely with those forest people. They even began teaching the younger generation to say that although the two clans are related by blood, the geographical distance has limited our interactions if anyone from outside asks.

The fiancée that the Uzumaki had enthusiastically proposed for Hashirama, Mikako, suddenly came down with smallpox, and all clan members were forbidden from approaching her.  

"Did her mother come up with a plan for her to fake illness?" my mother wondered, noticing the main house door was tightly shut.

I swallowed nervously. "Big sister is really sick. I saw it with my own eyes."

Seeing my half-sister suffer from high fever and intense itching, I couldn’t help but worry. Every day, I would go to the small shrine to pray for her recovery.

Hashirama sent a letter to the Land of Whirlpools, pleading for the Uzumaki clan to come to their aid and fulfill the agreement made by their ancestors, to support the Senju through this critical time. He promised that if the Senju could survive this calamity, they would surely repay the Uzumaki clan, and the potential benefits would be unimaginable. Uzumaki Ashina left the letter on the table, rubbed his forehead with a sigh, and hesitated, unsure of how to respond.

"I, Senju Hashirama, leader of the forest, accept the proposal of marriage to Lady Uzumaki Mikako of the Land of Whirlpools. May our alliance prosper for many years to come."

This is a high-stakes gamble, and we cannot afford to be reckless.

"I, Uzumaki Ashina, the great wave of the Land of Whirlpools' coast, regret to inform you that Lady Uzumaki Mikako has fallen critically ill with smallpox."

"Impossible, no way!" Outside the sealed room, my big mother angrily shouted. "Mikako will not marry into the Senju family! With the situation they're in now, sending my daughter there would mean she has no future!"

The letters from the Senju clan leader to the Uzumaki clan became increasingly frequent.  

"Ashina-sama, Hashirama can marry any of your ladies."

"A marriage alliance will strengthen our relationship like never before. The Uzumaki and Senju are like trees growing from the same roots, blood brothers, two but as one, and must always support each other. We Senju have always followed the teachings of our predecessors, and over the years, we take pride in always being there in time to assist the Uzumaki."

"You will not be disappointed for placing your trust in the Senju."

None of the nine ladies in the Uzumaki main house are willing to marry Hashirama, and within the clan, there is increasing support for severing the previous ties with the Senju. The clan head Ashina began to suffer from migraines; whenever he saw letters from the Land of Fire, he would ask his clansmen to leave them all outside, refusing to read even a single word.

"You have a letter." The courier mumbled, gruffly shoving the envelope into my hand. "From the Land of Fire."

Sitting under the mango tree, I opened this unexpected letter, my heart stirred as I saw it addressed to the man I had met a month ago. Just a few lines, but they made my heart surge with an indescribable emotion.

"To Mito-dono,  

You once said that we must be honest with each other. I have always kept that in my heart, and I thought I should also let you know my true feelings."  

It was Hashirama.

"A very exciting adventure is calling, promising to free us from our chains. Are you willing to join me?"

He wrote a letter inviting me to be with him.  

Join me... 

Join... Senju Hashirama.

He proposed to me, in a strange way, but it was still a true vow.  

I burned the letter in the candle flame.

He couldn't marry Mikako, so now he's thinking of me. 

He has no other choice.  

One day, I heard that Mikako was about to recover from smallpox, and Kashino and his wife then betrothed her to the Kimura clan—a powerful family in the western part of the Land of Whirlpools. Compared to the Senju, the Kimura are indeed a much better choice for her. Visiting Mikako, I sighed in relief as I placed the basket of fresh fruit on the table, feeling happy to see that the sores on her body were starting to scab over and that she no longer had a high fever. As soon as she saw me, her eyes widened with intense hatred, her burning gaze startling me. Then suddenly, Mikako screamed in anguish: 

"You! You lowly wench! You're satisfied, aren't you?"

I was bewildered, stepping back from the normally gentle and calm woman who was now furious. "I-I don't understand..."  

"You’re taking revenge on me! You made me catch this horrible, grotesque disease!"

"I didn’t do that!" I cried out, not understanding where Mikako got that idea. "Big sister, I would never...wait, what do you mean by revenge?"

My beloved sister, now consumed by resentment, screamed in anguish, no longer in her right mind: "You knew! You knew that furisode of yours that day...you knew it was me!"

Unable to listen to Mikako any longer, I bolted out of the room, sprinting frantically to the river outside the clan's territory. I ran until my cheeks were flushed, my heart pounding wildly, and my breath nearly giving out, but I still didn't stop—I just kept running and running...

Mikako was the one who harmed me, the sister I always respected...  

Why? I suddenly wanted to turn back and confront her, to ask why...why she had to push her own sister to the brink. Why? 

Was it because she was afraid I would steal her marriage, or did she simply enjoy seeing me humiliated and in pain before the Senju clan head?

"If there had been more, it could have been fatal." Hashirama's voice echoed in my mind.

No, it's simply because I am... just me.  

If I had been born as big mother's daughter, would everything have been different?

Did she ever think that I could die if she had used a bit more poison? Did she ever think about that? Would my death have made her that happy?

Burying my face in my hands, I collapsed onto the ground, curling up like a question mark in the middle of the green field.  

No one has ever been truly sincere with someone like me.  

"Are you in pain, Mito-dono?"

But there is one person. One person I can't understand from beginning to end.

Senju Hashirama.

No one knew about my issue with the furisode except me and him.  

If I didn’t make Mikako fall ill with smallpox, then who else could it have been but him?  

Tears welled up in the corners of my eyes.  

Hashirama, what did you gain by doing this?  

I can't explain it.

:

"I, Uzumaki Mito, will be the one to marry Senju Hashirama."  

Standing in the main hall of the clan leader's residence, I made my declaration, my cold gaze sweeping the room to see who would dare to oppose me.  

One second...

Two seconds...

Three...

Four, five, six, seven, eight...

No one.  

Not a single sound.  

Finally, Ashina was the first to speak, breaking the overwhelming silence: "Why do you think we would agree to this, child of a servant?"

That old fox always called me that. The child of a servant. The lowborn, the inferior one. He didn’t even bother to remember my name. But I no longer cared about that.  

"Because... you're hesitating, dear clan leader." I smiled slightly. "When faced with two paths, it’s easier to discard something unimportant like me, isn't it?"

Ashina's eyes widened, as if he was about to say something, but then he remained silent, allowing me to continue.

"You hesitate because what we Uzumaki value most is the teachings of our ancestors," I smiled. "If we don't support the Senju now, our clan will be guilty of injustice. Secondly, and most importantly, you still believe that the Senju can recover, don't you?"

The Senju brothers may have lost the battle, but that doesn't mean they have no chance of striking back. The Senju are like trees that send their roots deep into the earth, drawing nutrients and continuously growing, tightening their grip and holding on in this ruthless world for hundreds of years. To bring them down completely is no easy task—more accurately, no one has ever succeeded. Anyone who underestimates the Senju because of their defeat might end up losing the entire game.

"The Senju haven’t fallen yet, but if the Uzumaki switch sides too quickly, they might regret it later," I said. "But it's still a 50/50 chance, so I figure if the Uzumaki can send a servant's child like me for an alliance marriage, there’s nothing to fear. Just secretly support the Senju and wait for the outcome without worrying too much. If the Senju win, the Uzumaki will become the most prestigious allies in the shinobi world for years to come. The profits the Senju have brought over the years... aren't you reluctant to lose that? And if the Senju lose, you can simply sever ties with me, erase my name, and no one will ever know about this alliance."

"A servant’s child, practically invisible within the clan, nothing special, no ties, carrying nothing significant, like any of the secret sealing techniques." I shrugged. "And whatever I do will have no connection to the Uzumaki clan, from childhood until now."

I really wanted to say it straight to their faces: a bunch of bastards, none of you have ever truly considered me as a person who actually exists. I wasn't even allowed to attend school and had to teach myself from books at home, saving up money to buy each sealing scroll. Over the years, I've done all sorts of jobs and earned my meals from Kashino... as if we weren’t father and child but more like a servant and her master, and the fact that he gave me meals felt like charity, a blessing.  

I really wanted to say it straight to their faces: I love this place so much, I love the hometown mango tree, the waves crashing on the shore, and the red-haired people like me. I once tried to get close to my clansmen and tried to love them. I was always proud, deep down, to be an Uzumaki. I love the Land of Whirlpools with passion, urgency, and deep affection... but only when doing so would bring me some benefit.

They're the ones who taught me to live this way, to survive.  

They made me unable to truly love anyone or anything.  

I really wanted to tell them: even though they’ve ruined me, I am still an Uzumaki.  

That’s in my blood, and it can't be changed.

"Send a letter to Senju Hashirama," Ashina ordered his servant. "Ask him what percentage chance the Senju have of winning? The Uzumaki will increase that percentage. And we have decided on who will marry him. It will be Lady Uzumaki Mito."

One day, Ashina will have to remember my name, remember the name "Mito" as if it were etched into a nerve in his brain.

Uzumaki Kashino remained silent for a long time before finally speaking. "If he loses, you’ll die along with him. As you said, the Uzumaki will immediately sever ties with you and the Senju. No clan will protect you anymore."

"Are you that worried? I’m touched, Lord-Father." I replied slowly, realizing this was the first time I had ever called Kashino 'Father,' ignoring the prying, pointing eyes of those around me. "Either way, I’m placing my bet. And it has nothing to do with you."

Kashino looked at me for a long, long time, as if he had only just discovered this daughter of his after hundreds of years. Suddenly, I found myself drowning in my father's gaze and wondered if I could ever be like Mikako, his beloved biological daughter. But I quickly snapped out of it and calmly declared to Kashino:  

"Hashirama will win."

:

I lifted my skirt and dashed to the mango tree, ignoring the wet snow, eager to snatch the reply letter from the Land of Fire. The mailman grumbled and snapped for a bit, but eventually handed it over to me. From afar, I could see the Uzumaki shinobi approaching to deliver the news to the clan leader, so I quickly opened the letter and glanced over it.

Ha...

Ha...

My chest felt like it was shattering.  

“He...” I bit my lip, trying to hold back the tears. “He...”  

“Hey, miss?” The mailman, seeing the expression on my face, grew frantic. “Please... calm down!”

“He won, do you understand?” I stepped back from the man in front of me, tearing at my hair, pulling out strands of red in a frenzy. “He won, Hashirama won, the Senju won.”

I wanted to scream, but the sound was stuck in my throat, unable to escape.  

Throwing the letter back into the hands of the clan members who needed it, I dashed to the seashore, collapsing onto the sand, feeling the seawater rush in, soaking my neck, back, and hair.

I am alive.  

I placed my bet.  

I was ready to die.  

And I am still alive.  

According to the letter, Senju Hashirama had utterly defeated the coalition of seven clans and pushed back a part of the Uchiha forces. Most importantly, it turns out that Senju Tobirama didn’t have any ability to predict the future at all. Instead, in a critical moment, he allied with a group of close eunuchs serving Lord Tomiya to orchestrate everything, causing the lord to encounter exactly what Tobirama had listed. As a result, the lord trusted the cunning white-haired man and spared no expense in supporting the Senju to protect him.

In the end, Tobirama pulled the strings, orchestrating the eunuchs to assassinate the lord, staging his death as a stroke, and placing the lord’s ten-year-old son on the throne—of course, merely a puppet for him. The Senju officially took control of the eastern court of the Land of Fire, making the western side, where the Uchiha were stationed, burn with resentment.

With the additional support from the Uzumaki, the Senju had risen again, even stronger than before, striking fear into their enemies across the land.

Ashina, thrilled like a gambler who had won big, threw a feast for the entire clan to celebrate all night long.  

The letters Hashirama sent to the Uzumaki contained nothing but... 

me.

"You're really bold, like the heavens themselves," said the mother who had always toyed with my life. "But anyway, congratulations on getting what you wanted—freedom from this place and a step into a prestigious household."

My mother looked at me in my shiromaku, with a hint of moisture in the corner of her eye. I thought it might be the first tear I had ever seen from her. Or perhaps just dust in her eye, but is heaven really forbidding me from being sentimental at this moment?

"Go on," my mother said, turning away without a hint of hesitation. But her shoulders trembled slightly before returning to normal.  

With my white hood on, I passed by my mother and continued down the long road ahead.

That was the last time I saw my mother.  

Uzumaki Clan Leader Ashina greeted me at the gate, dressed more formally than usual. As he helped me into the palanquin, he whispered, "Do you know why Hashirama is so fond of you?"

"Is there anything you'd like to teach me, Clan Leader?" I asked coldly, tilting my head.  

"He's collecting the Tailed Beasts."  

"Oh," I replied with a bland smile. "Thanks for the reminder."  

Ashina smiled. "Good luck on your next journey, Lady Mito."

:

:

The journey from the Land of Whirlpools to the Land of Fire was long and complicated, quickly exhausting our entire group. Stopping at a small inn, I temporarily removed my shiromaku with the help of my maidservant and sat down to eat a bowl of plain rice to regain my strength. Hashirama sent another letter inquiring about the progress of the wedding procession. This time, he wrote a longer letter, asking more specific questions, like whether I got seasick or had a stomachache.

"The fires of war still haven't ceased. I hope this battle ends soon, before you arrive here for the ceremony. I don’t want to wear armor during our wedding and have blood stain your bridal gown.

The Uchiha are gradually losing ground. I have been repeatedly asking them to form an alliance and unite the two lords, but Madara has not responded. I am unsure if, under the control of his younger brother Izuna, my plea has even reached Madara's ears. However, all reports indicate that both brothers will lead their troops into battle at the foot of Black Mountain.

Tobirama is increasingly perfecting the Flying Thunder God technique. I fear that sooner or later, he will prevail in the fight against the Uchiha's second son. If Izuna dies at Tobirama's hands tomorrow, the balance of power will be shattered, and the Uchiha will surely be like a candle in the wind, with nothing able to stop the Senju. But the thing I want least is for Madara to lose his brother. I also realize that if Izuna is lost, Madara will never agree to an alliance. On the battlefield, I have tried several times to approach Izuna to persuade him, because I am well aware of the influence this person has on Madara and the Uchiha, as well as his unwavering, unyielding spirit. However, Madara never allows me to divert my attention from our personal battle. I intend to ask Tobirama to go easy on Izuna, but on the battlefield, even a moment of hesitation can cost one's life. In that case, it could be my own younger brother who dies first, and then I will lose everything.  

My lady, what should I do to do the right thing?"

Hashirama sincerely shared these thoughts with me, without holding anything back.  

So, without hesitation, I took up my pen and wrote:  

"Dear Hashirama-dono, 

If the truth is as you say, then this Uchiha Izuna is indeed someone who cannot be spared."

Too cruel. I'm writing strokes that decide a person's life, but in these times, is there any other way?  

Blood, blood, blood.  

Peace, peace, peace.  

Blood, blood, blood.  

That's the price to pay. Achieving peace, maintaining peace, all must be paved with blood.

"However, thinking about your innocent heart and your friendship with Uchiha Madara, perhaps such a cold-blooded decision is too difficult for Hashirama-dono.

I want to be honest with my future husband, that if I were Hashirama-dono, I would bet on Tobirama defeating Izuna, but only to make the second Uchiha brother suffer a little. And after that, I would bet on Madara's love for his brother giving me the chance to heal Izuna, gradually fostering peace and trust between the two clans. I would wager that by saving his life and with Madara's assistance in persuading him, the second brother, Izuna, might change his heart. 

I hope you have a thorough conversation with Tobirama, because your younger brother is the one directly fighting Izuna. With Tobirama's intelligence, he would surely choose the same path as I would."

I’ve heard that Hashirama is a gambling addict, but this time in front of him is no longer a table with lifeless pieces, but a battlefield, with living people and their lives. Does he dare to place a bet?

After resting for two nights at the inn, I and the wedding procession continued our journey, but halfway through, news arrived that left me stunned.

Uchiha Izuna... is dead!

Tobirama indeed took the same path as I would, only striking Izuna once, leaving him wounded. Surely both he and Hashirama believed they had won the gamble—thinking that if they could go to Madara and persuade him to let them treat Izuna, peace would follow.

But what was unexpected was that Uchiha's second son gouged out his own eyes and gave them to Madara before rushing into the battlefield with empty sockets. Undaunted, he faced thousands of Hagoromo clan soldiers who had betrayed the Uchiha, driving them back with immense strength despite being blind. He fought bravely and died as a true shinobi, leaving his clan with a final wish: to place all their trust in his brother. Bringing his brother's body back to the clan, Madara completely lost his mind, destroying many small villages, using Susano'o to strike directly at the Hagoromo camp, massacring the clan so brutally that even demons would be horrified to witness it. Now, upon returning to the clan's territory, rumors spread that anyone who dares to get close to the Uchiha leader will lose their life.

Holding the letter from the front lines, my fingers trembled, and then I crumpled it up. 

We all lost, lost to Uchiha Izuna.

Chapter Text

The western lord surrendered quickly as well. 

Faced with a Senju clan that had returned from the brink of death with unstoppable momentum, the western lord's court, after hearing news of Uchiha Izuna's sacrifice for less than three days, sent an envoy to the eastern court and sought to privately contact Hashirama.

On one hand, they still pushed the Uchiha to protect them, but on the other hand, they had secretly sided with the Senju. 

Uchiha Madara knew this, so he was determined to have the Uchiha abandon their loyalty to the western lord and act on their own. Every move he made was swift and decisive, like lightning striking so fast that no one had time to cover their ears.

After receiving Izuna's eyes, the Uchiha clan leader gained the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. In the shinobi world, who could possibly be his equal besides Senju Hashirama? The hatred from his brother's death and the burning desire for revenge swelled within Madara, much like the countless mysterious Hagoromo corpses found drifting in Nakano. I can't imagine what Madara might do; I can only sit and pray before the statue of the sea goddess worshipped by the Uzumaki, hoping that fate will not be cruel to the Senju brothers.

Even someone as optimistic as Hashirama has started to worry. Due to a flash flood, my bridal procession and I were forced to stay stuck at the border of the Land of Fire for a few days. The words in my fiancé's letters have become increasingly filled with concerns. Perhaps he sees writing to me as a way to vent, but it also brings me some joy: it's like having a friend who always wants to check in and share all kinds of stories with me.

"My dear lady,  

Tomorrow, Madara and the Uchiha clan have arranged to meet me at the foot of the Black Mountain. I have already sent him letters proposing an alliance a dozen times, and I hope that this time he comes to accept.

Tobirama and you are both right; we all lost a big gamble to Uchiha Izuna. Just look at how meticulously he arranged everything. Before Izuna's death, the Uchiha brothers had gradually lost the trust of the Western court and their own clan members. But look now, with the new power Izuna gave his brother, the foot of Black Mountain is filled with people following Madara to meet the Senju.

I have a bad feeling that tomorrow I might lose my life to the wrath of my old friend, even though deep down I still hope to see him agree to form an alliance with the Senju. As always, I want to be honest with you about my intentions. If I happen to die in battle, please marry Tobirama and come to the Senju clan. My younger brother is diligent and highly responsible. Though he can be a bit hot-tempered and sharp-tongued, he's very gentle with his loved ones, and will surely make you feel secure for a lifetime. Everyone here is very relaxed and friendly, and no one will judge or gossip. No matter what happens, you will be the wife of the Senju clan leader.

Mito, don't think too much about me. I'm probably just one of the hundreds of insignificant faces you'll encounter in life—bringing you neither happiness nor sorrow, leaving behind no profound memories or regrets. We met by chance, crossed paths, and accidentally made eye contact, and that's all. I hope that when you grow old, my face will appear in your memories as a faint, insignificant image—gradually fading away among the sea of people in your mind. Though it's a bit presumptuous, this humble man hopes that you won’t hesitate to discard me when you have the chance.

However..."

I held the corner of the letter against the candle flame, watching it slowly burn to ashes.  

"Of course," I whispered to myself in the inn’s mirror. "Never, Hashirama."

I have been very clear and honest.  

I will never truly hold Senju Hashirama in my heart.  

I have no hesitation in discarding him to achieve my goal.  

So stop worrying, you fool.  

Go.  

"Go chase your dream."

:

:

Things could have been different, but I still live resiliently in my own way. I choose to face challenges and fight for survival. When I worked like crazy to earn the livelihood that should have been mine in the Uzumaki household. When I rolled the dice in the deadly marriage game. When I announced to Ashina and Kashino that I would be Hashirama's wife. When I donned the wedding dress and crossed all the paths to reach the Senju. 

Even when standing before a mighty beast named the Nine-Tails, roaring and raging, wanting to tear me into a hundred pieces.  

"Lady Mito—please step back!"

"No!" I screamed. "Stop attacking it!"

But those fools didn't listen to a word I said. They kept throwing kunai at the fox or unleashing wide-range ninjutsu.

"Arghhh!"

I was thrown back when the beast slammed its massive tails onto the ground, causing the space to explode with sand and gravel—no sign of the bridal procession anywhere, only a blurry white haze before my eyes. I felt my body slam straight into the trunk of a tree, my back and neck hitting its rough, coarse surface before sliding down, my limbs weak, vision blurry, and my head pounding as if someone had struck it with a mallet. But the most terrifying thing was knowing that the beast was approaching, its breath like a deadly whirlwind, and worse, those sharp claws would soon pierce through me like skewering red dango.

Right now, Hashirama… What is Hashirama doing?  

Oh, right, he’s… fighting Madara.  

It’s been two days. Two days that have felt like an eternity to me, with the only news being that "the Senju clan leader is still battling the Uchiha clan leader."  

Even now, there’s still no outcome. They say Hashirama keeps pleading with Madara to stop, but the Uchiha clan leader refuses to listen to him.

"You will win… right?" With a mouth full of blood, I lay powerless on the ground, feeling the Nine-Tails' killing intent drawing near. "You will win, because I won’t marry anyone else."

There are still so many jutsu stored in your mind that I need to use later.  

We still need to count every coin together for the rest of our lives.  

You still need to protect me until the day we die.  

I still need to be the one standing beside the "God of Shinobi".

The husband of Uzumaki Mito must be the one who stands at the top of the shinobi world, ruling the land, quelling chaos across all directions, ushering in a new era, and bringing peace and prosperity to future generations.  

He might even use that peace to make my Land of Whirlpools the most prosperous.  

Marrying someone like that is truly worth it.

You must win.  

And I will live.  

"Stop!" My eyes snapped open, and I scrambled to my feet, gathering all my chakra at once. Chains of golden light shot out from my back, wrapping around the Nine-Tails, and the earthquake instantly stopped.  

"Lady Mito!" The shinobi escorting me, lying on the ground, cried out in astonishment. "This, this is..."

The Uzumaki clan's unique jutsu. The one that can bind tailed beasts. Even more special is the one-of-a-kind chakra flowing through this body. The very reason Hashirama did everything he could to bring me to the Senju.  

"Run!" I turned and urged anyone still alive in the group. "Quickly!"  

Blood poured down my shoulder. Something sharp protruded from my arm, making every movement painful, but I didn't care.  

That's right, Hashirama, later on, I will have to be the vessel for beasts like this.

To let others escape its claws.  

To change the world.  

To achieve peace.  

The gods made me born with such a duty.  

:

:

It felt like I was flying. My legs were moving at an unimaginable speed, so fast that I couldn't even feel them anymore. The space around me became unreal, and the screams mixed with the sound of exploding tags, hurting my eardrums.  

I ran.

"Lady Mito!"

A figure dashed out from the trees, moving so fast that I had to use all my strength to stop myself from crashing into them. I was about to draw a kunai and throw it at them, but then I realized it was someone familiar—one of the attendants the Uzumaki had sent with me.

"Lady Mito!" she sobbed, looking utterly devastated. "Lady Mito, Lord Hashirama has decided to commit suicide!" 

What?  

I frantically grabbed the attendant's shoulders. "What do you mean?"  

"My lady, the blood... the blood on your body..." 

"It doesn't matter! Speak!"

"Lord Hashirama has defeated Uchiha Madara, but everything has spiraled out of control…"

My mind went blank as I stood there, dazed, listening to the attendant recount what she had heard from the intense battlefield...  

Hashirama...

Madara was the one who fell, yet he could still make demands like a god.

Hashirama… does he intend to die so pointlessly?  

Does he trust Madara so much that he believes, after his death, the Uchiha clan leader won’t rise up and take his brother’s life, along with all of his clan members? 

Does he trust Tobirama so much that he believes, after his death, his brother won’t kill Madara and lead the Senju to wipe out the Uchiha, continuing the era of war?

No, Hashirama isn't that foolish. He's making a gamble.  

He's using his own life to bind both his best friend and his brother, bringing the hope of peace.

Hashirama, you mustn’t. 

You mustn’t die.  

The Nine-Tails kept roaring and bellowing, with those around it like mere grass beneath the beast's massive footsteps. The chakra from the golden chains was weakening. My eyes glazed over, I grabbed the attendant with all the strength I had left and whispered:

"Send a message to the battlefield. Tell that bastard Hashirama, if he dares to die… I’ll bring this beast to the Senju and ruin all his plans."

She was so terrified that she stood there trembling for a moment before hurriedly leaving. 

Wiping the blood from the corner of my mouth, I turned back to face death, just as I always have.

The beast's mouth opened wide.  

What greeted me was a Tailed Beast Ball.  

The final words of Hashirama's letter suddenly appeared in my mind:  

"However, if possible, I’m just saying if possible, tomorrow is our set wedding day. Could you wait for me there? I will return, and we will become husband and wife, okay? This is my small hope—that you believe in me, that you believe I will win this gamble."  

"Okay..." The bomb flew toward me, tearing through the forest. "I’ll wait for you."

:

Blood.

The stench of blood overwhelms all my senses.

I stumble, staggering, dragging my feet through the forest. I lost one of my feet while trying to avoid the Tailed Beast Ball. I'm crippled now. It probably looks horrifying at the moment. But I silently thank the heavens that I only lost a foot and not my life. I think I’ve broken a few ribs; my whole body can feel nothing but the smell of blood. Blood is everywhere on my body: dripping from my mouth, covering my arms and hands, smeared all over my shoulders…

My red hair fell loose, with some strands singed.

I managed to push back the Nine-Tails. Thankfully, it didn't chase after me. But no one from the wedding procession survived.

I struggled to crawl, walk, and even at times had to drag myself along the ground, with nothing on my mind except the need to get as far away from this place as possible. After dragging myself for a while, I found a small, dilapidated shrine in the middle of the forest. With no strength left, I opened the door and let myself collapse inside. The shrine had nothing except a strange statue placed in the center of the room and a few half-burned candles. Choosing a corner for myself, my remaining leg gave out, and I collapsed, the entire space as dark as ink, slipping into unconsciousness.

I don’t know how long I slept, but I woke up to the deafening sound of thunder crashing in my ears. It was pouring heavily outside, with the rain and thunder sounding as if they were about to tear the shrine apart. The surroundings were cold and dark. I opened my eyes in the middle of the room, finding myself lying face down, completely drained of strength.

"I'm still alive." I muttered between bouts of coughing. "I'm still alive, that's so good."

I lifted my head and met the gaze of the strange statue. In the darkness, it seemed to be staring at me eerily, but I didn't care much.

Suddenly, the shrine door was pushed open urgently, and I gasped, reaching for the kunai in the pouch at my side. I was ready to face any enemy, but then a familiar face appeared through the rain. My breath caught, and I froze, staring at the tall figure before me. His long black hair was soaked, the white headband on his head had slipped halfway off, and his red armor was scorched and battered. His arms were covered in wounds. Like me, he was covered in blood, though the rain had washed much of it away.

Senju Hashirama looked at me gently, smiling with difficulty as he asked, "Excuse me... I'm looking for my wife... is she here?"

He's alive. A voice echoed in my head. He's returned.

"She's here..." I whispered amidst the rumbling thunder. "But she waited too long and got cold."

Hashirama staggered toward me, his chakra lower than usual, panting as he sat down. A bright green light illuminated the dark space, and only then could I see his face: blood streamed from his forehead to the corner of his eye, and his lips were bruised, but his eyes were still lively and gentle. From time to time, memories of my first encounter with the Senju clan leader flooded my mind: the same soothing green light, the same warm hand, and the same brown eyes that could melt anyone's heart.

"Mito-dono...." Hashirama was stunned when he glanced at my leg. "This...."

"It's nothing...." I smiled, patting his shoulder. "It’s okay, I’ll use a prosthetic leg from now on."

"What happened to you?"

"I encountered the Nine-Tails on the way."

"And you survived. Thank you for staying alive." He grasped my wrist firmly, his fingers gently brushing over the bruise, trying to soothe the pain.

"Thank you for failing to kill yourself." I said blankly, feeling Hashirama's shoulders tremble slightly.

"I'm sorry." He took a deep breath, regaining his even tone. "I know my actions upset many people. Tobirama was furious with me like never before; he refused to talk and kept his distance from me the entire way back. I think you're angry with me too, and you have every right to be..."

I tilted my head. "You're right, I am very angry. What frustrates me the most is how you always plan your escape routes so well. What were you thinking, trying to make me marry Tobirama? You were worried about your brother, wanting to leave everything to him. If you died, he could strengthen his position with me by his side to control the Tailed Beasts and maintain a solid alliance with the Uzumaki clan. But Hashirama, you didn't consider how uncomfortable things would be between your brother and me in the future...."

"I’m sorry...." He bowed his head in despair, hugging his knees, sinking into depression.

"Anyway, you’ve returned...." I said reluctantly. "But next time, don’t try to kill yourself. If you want to die, at least wait until you’re seventy years old."

"I promise you, this is the last time." He said sincerely.

We both remained silent for a long time as Hashirama healed me. There were many things I wanted to ask, but then I forgot. What else was there to say? What was the point of asking?

He’s back, and that’s all that matters.

Feeling the pain subside, I half-joked with the Senju man, "Today was supposed to be our wedding day. They said it was an auspicious day, didn't they? But today, it wasn't just rain and wind; it was a rain of blood."

"I'm sorry." Hashirama lowered his head in silence, his face flushed. "I still ended up meeting you like this...."

"It’s alright, I’m not exactly in great shape either." I pointed to my tattered clothes from the battle. "We’re both the same."

"That’s true...." Hashirama smiled faintly, finishing his healing jutsu. With the clatter of his armor, he laid down beside me in the shrine. "Mito is here with me, and that's enough." The green light faded, making it difficult for me to see his face any longer. Amid the scent of sweat and blood, I could still faintly detect a light hint of sandalwood from the body beside me. We tried to lie close to each other without any hesitation. Both of us were cold and exhausted, so we tried to share a bit of warmth. We watched the world turn through the window of the shrine. This could also be called our wedding night, couldn’t it, even if it’s a bit unusual? The sky was pitch black, lightning flashed across it, and the rain lashed violently inside. Hashirama’s voice sounded so peaceful, so calm:

"Madara agreed. Madara listened to me, Mito. A village will be established. We will have peace. For the Senju. For the Uchiha. For you, for me, for Madara, for Tobirama, for those still living, and for the wandering souls. Though I don’t know how long it will last..."

With the corners of my eyes wet, I couldn’t tell if it was real tears or rainwater dripping from the ceiling. I vaguely whispered, "You gambled and won, didn’t you?"

"I always believed... believed that the dream would come true," Hashirama sighed. "Because I believed, perhaps luck was on my side."

"That's right, believing, and also daring to act." I turned over to lie on my back, gently closing my eyes. "Hashirama, I’m so tired. I want to take a nap—let’s just stay here until the storm passes, okay?"

"Sleep, I’ll watch over you."

:

:

"And that’s the story of my wedding to your Dad."

With that, I turned to look at my little daughter, who had already fallen asleep. I wasn’t sure how much she had heard, but I hoped she hadn’t realized that I didn’t truly hold her Dad in my heart.

Many, many years later, I had a long marriage with the Senju clan leader—better known as the First Hokage—which resulted in a strong Senju-Uzumaki alliance, a Nine-Tails sealed within me, two children who couldn’t awaken the Wood Release, and a precious jade necklace worth enough to buy three mountains. I achieved most of my goals from back then: a life with enough food and clothing, a place where I worked and was respected, and a part of my life lived better, even though I constantly faced dangers lurking around Konoha—the village we built with dedication. But I felt satisfied and at peace, and that was enough. Hashirama always took care of me, showed concern, and was devoted to me. He was the perfect husband, an exemplary father, and a respected Hokage. He worked hard to create a harmonious atmosphere between us as husband and wife, foster brotherly unity, and encourage the clans in the village to be considerate and supportive of each other. Hashirama’s greatest regret was perhaps not being able to keep Uchiha Madara—his gift from heaven—who chose to stay true to his own will and left Konoha, ultimately bringing the Nine-Tails to destroy everything he had once helped build. As for the rest, Hashirama's life could be considered complete. He was always like that—moving forward his entire life, daring to confront challenges and take risks, with an unwavering desire to build lasting peace.

My heart was not with Hashirama, because he told me more than once not to do that. I placed my faith in the village, and so did he, and that’s how we’ve stayed together all this time.

I always wanted to ask him about it, even though it seemed rather pointless and unnecessary. A lifetime spent together like this is enough; what more could I ask for? Lying on his sickbed, with death approaching, Hashirama used his strength to grasp my hand. His gaze was still gentle, but for the first time, there was a hint of... stubbornness:

"I always told you not to be sincere with me... because I was afraid you would get hurt. You don't need to keep me in your heart; just let me be the one to love and take care of you for the rest of my life."

I bit my lip and nodded, realizing that this might be love, something I hadn't felt from anyone in the first half of my life.  

I wanted to tell him: perhaps I had broken my promise to him, because at some point, he became someone I couldn't easily push away. He had been by my side through both happiness and suffering. He was no longer just in my mind but had taken residence in my heart, and even when I close my eyes for the final time and look out toward the Hokage Rock, I will still see his face.  

But I didn’t get the chance to say it.

Hashirama is gone.  

His hand still held mine even as he surrendered himself to death.  

For the first time in my life, I sat silently beside someone for three days, until they tried to separate me from Hashirama to have him cremated and brought me to the hospital to try to save a weakened body that hadn’t had a drop of water for a long time.  

This is the one thing I wasn’t entirely honest with him about.

Many, many years passed, and for the first time in my life, I returned to my homeland. The Uzumaki was still as prosperous as before. I met old acquaintances, lit incense at the graves of my father and big mother, restored the headstone of my biological mother, and placed a branch of flowers on the grave of Kimura Mikako, who died too young. It was then that I understood why Hashirama chose me.

The old maid, hunched over with a cane, sat in front of me and smiled as she spoke:  

"Back then, there was a young Senju man who came to our clan. Every evening, he would spend hours by the mango tree, listening to the maids tell stories about a little girl, the daughter of a servant, with the brightest red hair among all the Uzumaki, who was also the fiercest and strongest. She tried to live bravely and face all difficulties head-on. The young man was captivated, tilting his head as he listened, occasionally nodding, engrossed in the stories until the end of the evening, not wanting to leave...."