Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Now, usually, Izuna’s ruts weren’t a big deal. Ever since he had presented, he only had to suffer through two, at most three days of mild horniness and extreme clinginess. Really, if anything, his ruts were more of an inconvenience to Madara, usually the subject his alpha brain fixated on and thus clinged to the whole time. He sought his brother’s scent, letting himself be pampered extensively, not unlike Madara had done when they were both kids and the omega took care of him every day. Then, after his rut passed, Izuna reverted to his baseline clinginess and his brother was allowed to leave his eyesight to actually do work

This time it was going to be the same. It should have been the same.

“You seem more restless than usual,” Madara commented, looking at him not unlike he did on a battlefield. “Did something happen?”

He had been restless. The whole morning he had spent securing food, reorganizing his and Madara’s closets, and taking inventory of their whole kitchen. He had also dragged more blankets and pillows to his den, not using them, but so they would be ready for later. He also—

Izuna groaned. “I spent the last three days around Kagami. His scent has my alpha thinking that I should have pups soon.”

Madara raised an eyebrow, finally approaching him rather than watching from the door. He moved to grab the nest supplies Izuna had brought, starting to re-arrange his bed into a proper nest. “Pups? I didn’t know you were thinking about having them.”

“I wasn’t,” Izuna whined, sitting at the end of his futon.  “It’s this stupid alpha instinct— it’s telling me I should. But I truly wasn’t thinking about it. The last thing I actually want is to sleep with some omega.”

“‘Some omega’” Madara repeated back, snorting. “Are we so bad?”

He gave Madara a look. His brother would never be anything less than perfect. Other omegas…  “I have no interest in having an omega as a mate, nii-san.”

Madara kept silent for a few seconds. “I didn’t ask if you wanted to mate with an omega,” he retorted, interlacing the blankets and mattresses in layers. “Regardless, it wouldn’t be wrong to think about pups. You’re more than old enough and…” he gave Izuna a look. “I’ve seen you spend time with the clan kids. I know that you love being around them”

Izuna let himself fall back, looking at the ceiling. It wasn’t that Madara was wrong, not really. But….

“Of course I want pups,” he said, using his arms as pillows.. “Even before— before you and that stupid Senju decided to agree to peace, I always thought it would be nice to have kids running around our home again, to be able to raise them. I didn’t— I’ve never raised one, not the way you raised me and the— the others. I was too… young. But I would like to do so, one day.”

Madara shrugged. “Then have one,” he said. Like it was that easy.

Izuna moved his head just enough to send him a dirty look. “I just said—”

“I’m not saying you should get someone pregnant,” Madara interrupted him. Which, rude. “You can adopt a kid too.”

And he… Well, he had considered it, but it always came to the same problem. “I don’t want a kid from outside the clan.” He paused, trying to put his thoughts into words. “It’s not just that they would be different, but I’m your heir, nii-san. My pup would inherit the clan. If it’s an outsider…they would never be allowed to inherit the position. It would be worse, I think, for them to be raised as part of the clan only to be passed over because they wouldn’t be Uchiha by blood.” That would probably fuck up the kid in the head. He had seen it before, among other clans. Izuna wasn’t so cruel as to do that to a kid.  “And even if I wanted to adopt an Uchiha baby… there aren’t any right now. Even the orphans left from the war have all been adopted.”

Madara stopped his movements, something… complicated in his face. “You’ve thought about it before.”

“Yeah, I guess.” Izuna sighed. He was itching to lay down on Madara and burying them both under the blankets. “It’s not only the inheritance issue. I would… I would also like to be part of the pregnancy, you know? I want to be part of the pup’s life from the beginning.”

He remembered how excited his cousin had been when pregnant. How much her mate had spoiled her before and after Kagami was born. Her mate always had food for her, always made sure there was a place for her to rest, always was there for her service. He wanted to do the same. He wanted to… to take care of someone like that.

And sure, Izuna could do without it. If someone handed him a baby, he would cherish them. But… If he could choose…

Madara hummed. “It’s not pretty,” he told him. “When our mother was pregnant she would get very sick each time, and she was on bedrest most of the pregnancies. There’s mothers who lose their babies, or don’t survive themselves. You would need a medic-nim supervising to make sure nothing goes wrong.”

Which… was a really good point. But a moot one. “It’s not like it’s going to happen,” Izuna mumbled, suddenly feeling like shit. “So what’s the point in thinking about it?”

“...” Madara sat on his knees. “The nest is done. Move.”

Without thinking, Izuna rolled to the side and got into the nest Madara had crafted for him, pulling his brother with him immediately after. Madara didn’t complain, he never did, even as Izuna buried his nose on his neck.

They stayed like that, Izuna just content breathing in Madara’s soothing scent.

“... what if you ask an omega to have your pup,” asked Madara, breaking the silence.

“I don’t like omegas, nii-san,” he repeated, again. He pressed Madara closer. “Their scents— they make me sick. I don’t think I could handle being around one for long enough to actually have a pup.” Not during a rut, where his nose was most sensitive, or a heat, when an omega’s scent became twice as strong.

“... You like my scent,” Madara pointed out.

But that was— It was different. To Izuna, Madara’s scent meant safety. It meant home. Madara’s scent had been the one that clung to Izuna as a kid, the one that consoled him each time they lost a brother, and the one that managed to calm down even when his emotions became too much. Madara’s scent was everything. His brother was everything to him.

“I only like your scent,” Izuna corrected him. “If I found an omega like you, one that would be willing to have my pup, let me stick around during the pregnancy, and then leave immediately after… then yes, I would love to have a pup then.”

But omegas willing to part ways with their babies weren’t… common. Not that Izuna knew many omegas, not really. He was only familiar with the ones in the clan, and out of them, only Madara had expressed no desire for pups. Not that Izuna could really blame him; Madara had raised him and his brothers, after all. He had been trusted, perhaps unjustly, with the task of caring for four pups, only to lose three of them to a war he hadn’t even participated in yet. Because it was his duty as the eldest. Because he had been an omega and omegas were supposed to take care of pups

He knew Madara loved him and his siblings, and he knew he would do it again if he had to, but…

A memory of his brother played inside his mind. It had been before Madara had met the Senju, before he had started sneaking out of the compound to… to just be, probably. Madara had to have been maybe eight years old, and they had been mourning the loss of one of their siblings. It had been Madara the one consoling them, one toddler in his back, Izuna and his other sibling on each hand. His father had also been there, Izuna thinks. He hadn’t said much to them beyond the threatening words to the Senjus before withdrawing into his office to plan retaliatory attacks. Izuna couldn’t remember his brother crying, despite the sorrow embedded into his still undeveloped scent, but he remembered how it had been in his hands to keep everything together. How he had to do it again and again as both his younger brothers met the same fate. How Madara had clung to him, when he thought Izuna had been asleep, promising that he wouldn’t let him die as well, his scent so sad…

No, he truly couldn’t blame his brother for not wanting to have kids. He had already lost too many of them.

He wrapped his body around Madara, hugging him tightly. Madara put a hand on his head, running his fingers through his hair.

“... what are you thinking about?” Asked Madara. “Your scent turned… sad.”

“... You,” Izuna replied. “Well, us as kids, I suppose.”

“Thinking about your childhood makes you sad?” Madara chuckled. “Did I do such a bad job at raising you?”

“Nii-san, don’t even joke about it.” He nipped his brother’s neck, feeling the vibration of his quiet laughter. “You were the best.” The best brother. The best mother. Just the best.

“Then why?”

Izuna sighed. “... Nii-san…”

“... Is it because of the pup thing?” Madara shifted a bit, turning so they were face to face. “Do you really want to have a pup so badly?”

Yes. No. “I don’t know,” he answered truthfully. “It doesn’t matter. I can’t have one.”

“... what if you could?” Madara pressed his lips together. “What if we get one?”

“...” Izuna blinked, taken aback. “What?”

“What if we get one?” Madara repeated. “One that is yours, so that there wouldn’t be any inheritance issues.”

He felt his heart skip a beat. He sat up, looking at his brother like he had grown a second head. “I told you, nii-san. I would have to find an omega willing, and—”

“— and you don’t like omegas,” Madara cut him off. “But you— You like my scent.”

“Yes,” Izuna said, a bit exasperated. “Yours. Not even other omegas in the clan I can actually tolerate during a heat or rut. So there’s—”

“Let me finish,” Madara snapped, and oh. His face was starting to turn red. His brother was flustered. “Just— listen to me. You need an omega to have a pup. You like my scent. I’m an omega.”

Izuna raised an eyebrow. “So?”

“So,” Madara continued, using the same exasperated tone as when he had taught Izuna how to read basic characters a third time because Izuna didn’t pay attention, “what if I have your baby?”

Izuna blinked. Then he blinked again.

He waited a few seconds, Madara’s face turning a deeper hue of red, but the shoe never dropped. Madara never laughed, never told him it was a joke.

“Are you—” Izuna swallowed his saliva, feeling his throat dry. “Are you serious?”

His powerful, beautiful, precious brother, the one that meant everything to Izuna and more, was… offering to have his pup?

There were so many things Izuna wanted to say. He wanted to shake his brother for offering his body like he was some— breeding cattle. He wanted to yell at him for saying that when he clearly never wanted to go through that before. He wanted to hug him and tell him how much he loved him.

He did none of those things. Instead, Izuna took a few seconds just to find his voice again. “I thought… you didn’t want to get pregnant.”

“I won’t— I don’t want to raise the kid,” Madara immediately said, completely missing where Izuna’s thoughts had gone. “I don’t want to be their mother.  I don’t want to raise a pup. But… I don’t think… I don’t think I would care much about… making them… and then handing them off.” He took a deep breath. “And you— You only need someone to have it. I can do that. I can have your pup, and then I can be their uncle. You can be their parent.”

Izuna felt his heart grow five sizes. Madara was… too nice. Too generous. Izuna feared the day this… kindness would go back and harm his brother. It was dangerous to be such a good person when one was in a position like Madara. One where vulnerability could cost lives.

Vulnerability. The word echoed inside his head. There was a reason omegas were discouraged to go have pups while active on the field. An omega shinobi was a great asset to war.  A pregnant omega was a target.

A shiver ran through Izuna’s back. It felt like someone had poured water from a cold spring on his head.

If Madara were to have a pup… he would be exposed to danger. More than he already was. It usually didn’t bother Izuna, not really. He knew Madara was capable of destroying the whole fire country if he so wished. But… He wouldn’t be able to defend himself as well if pregnant. He would be a target. And not only to outside threats; the pregnancy itself was a threat.

Izuna grabbed his brother’s arms like it was a lifeline. “Nii-san, you said earlier— Pregnancies aren’t easy. What if something happens to you?” Like it happened to mother?

His brother snorted, as if Izuna had made a joke. “I’m one of the most powerful shinobis in this land, Izuna. Only second to Hashirama.” He put his hand over Izuna’s. Reassuring. Izuna didn’t feel better. “I can handle a pregnancy. Nothing would happen to me. A pup would be safer coming out of my body than someone else’s.”

But that wasn’t necessarily true. Their mother had been a shinobi too, he knew. And he still had died. “Nii-san— I don’t care. I don’t want to risk you.” His voice broke the tiniest bit. It seemed to make Madara soften, if anything. “I can— I can live without a pup. I can’t live without you.”

Losing Madara… Izuna wouldn’t die. That would be an insult to his brother’s sacrifice, to all the years he spent taking care of Izuna instead of living his own life. If Madara died, Izuna would go on in life. He would protect the clan, and the village, because that’s what Madara would do. But that would be out of duty. Uchiha Izuna, clan leader, would remain alive as many years as possible, taking care of everything. Izuna, the person… That’s the one that would die. Because if his brother died, he would take with him Izuna’s heart.

“You won’t lose me,” Madara assured him, letting his soothing scent out. To calm Izuna, most likely. “I’ll be fine, and we’ll have medics with us.”

Izuna felt a stab on his chest. “Nii-san—”

“Just— You’ll have what you want, Izuna,” he said. “And I wouldn’t mind. I want to do this for you.”

But you have done so much for me already, Izuna wanted to say, but couldn’t. He didn’t know how to make his voice work. How… How can I ask this from you as well?

Why did his brother have to sacrifice so much for him?

“Think about it,” Madara asked. Pleaded. “Your rut won’t start until tomorrow afternoon, probably— take your time and think. Or take longer. It doesn’t have to be this time. My heat is just three weeks away.”

“Nii-san—-”

“For me?”

And Izuna—

He looked at his beautiful brother, with his cute red face and warmth scent, and imagined him round with a baby. Pregnant with Izuna’s baby. And how, if everything did go alright, he would have a pup, and—

Well.

Izuna laid down on the futon again, pulling Madara close so he could inhale his scent again. He let himself relax.

He was just a man.

“... We can do it,” Izuna finally said, after a whole eternity. “But I have three conditions.”

His brother put a hand on his back, his touch somewhat grounding. “What are them?”

“One,” Izuna counted, “is that you have to let me take care of you. Actually take care of you. No protesting or complaints.”

Madara’s breath hitched. “Izuna—”

“No, nii-san,” Izuna cut him off. “You’ll be in a delicate position. And I will be the father. The least I can do is take care of you. But you have to let me do so. I don’t want you to pretend everything is fine when it isn’t.” Like he always did.

“... Okay” Madara conceded. “What are the other two?”

“The second one is that if something, anything,” he stressed the word,” happens, and your life or health is in danger… we’ll put yourself first. I can have other pups. I can live with no pups. I can’t have another you.”

“... that’s… acceptable…” Madara agreed. “And the last one?”

To this one, Izuna had to take a deep, deep breath.

“The third one,” he said, the words feeling like glass inside his mouth, “is that you have to allow Hashirama Senju to be there when you give birth.”

He felt the instant his brother’s scent spiked. “What?!”

Izuna couldn’t really feel offended at his brother’s surprise. It was known that Izuna wasn’t the biggest fan of the Senju clan. Sure, he did work with them. They lived in the same village; he had to. But Izuna didn’t like them. And he particularly hated Hashirama and Tobirama Senju above everyone else.

But, for his brother…

“I will not risk your health, nii-san,” Izuna grumbled. “And, despite how much it hurts to say it… Hashirama Senju is the best medic-nim in Konoha. In the whole country.”

And he would never let you die, he wanted to say. He loves you too much. He’s the best person to tend to you.

“I will not have Hashirama there.” Madara sounded bewildered. “That’s too— I don’t want him to see me giving birth.”

Which… yeah. Izuna did not want Hashirama to see his brother like that if he didn’t have to. But if his something wrong, he was the best person to have around/

“... He doesn’t have to be right next to you,” Izuna amended. Because he could compromise, despite what others believed. That, and if he could avoid Hashirama unnecessarily seeing his brother undressed, he would. “But I want him to be near so he can heal you.”

Madara shook his head. “Izuna…”

“Those are my conditions,” he said. “I won’t let you do this otherwise.”

“...” Madara hugged Izuna. Tight. “Fine. We’ll do it your way.”

Izuna closed his eyes as he relaxed into his brother’s arms.

Later, they would talk more in depth about the… situation. The agreement.

But right at that moment… Izuna let himself be held by his nii-san.

Izuna had been called spoiled multiple times throughout his life.

To be fair, such an assessment wasn’t wrong. Izuna knew he had been more spoiled than other kids. He was raised by his brother, after all, and Madara rarely told him no. Especially as their family shrunk to just the two of them. If Izuna wanted something, Madara made sure he got it. Even now that they were adults, Madara tended to side with him every time, to the Senju clan’s dismay.

(Izuna knew that the reason his brother had taken so long to accept the peace treaties had been for him; because he refused to compromise with the Senju. Sometimes, Izuna wondered how many of his clansmen would have survived if only he had accepted the first time.)

The thing was, despite how much Madara spoiled Izuna, it wasn’t unilateral. Izuna had never told his brother no either, not when he asked. And the issue was that Madara rarely, rarely, asked Izuna for anything.

‘I’m the older brother,’ he would say. ‘You are supposed to ask things from me, not the other way around’

Sometimes, Izuna felt a certain way about it. Not bad, because he knew Madara liked that Izuna wanted his help. Needed him. His scent always told him as much, if not the way his shoulders relaxed and his eyes softened whenever Izuna asked for anything. But… It still gave him an itch. One he couldn’t get rid of until he did something back.

Except Madara never asked, because he was the clan head and the most self-sufficient person Izuna knew, so Izuna had to find other ways to… provide for him, even when Madara didn’t ask for it. He would get his brother’s favorite tea blends, would make sure he had ink on his desk, that the paperwork left for him was only the one he had to see and not something trivial that wasted his time. He even helped coordinate so that his brother had the time to… hang out with the Senju clan head. Because it made his brother happy, and it made Izuna happy that Madara was happy.

So, when his brother laid down on his nest, cheeks flushed a deep red while he opened his legs for Izuna and asked him to do something because it hurt and he needed him…

What was Izuna supposed to do but help?

“Nii-san,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around Madara’s tights. His scent was stronger there; it made Izuna’s head fill with a buzz. He pulled his brother closer to his face, looking up just to see Madara looking at him with clouded eyes. He looked… beautiful.

“Please,” Madara begged. “Izuna, please, I— I can’t—”

Izuna left a kiss on the inside of his brother’s left thigh, and another, another. He moved closer to Madara’s cunt, already dripping with slick. He ran his tongue just over it, just to get a taste. Then again, and again. Then he pressed his lips against Madara’s clit, before carefully sucking on it, Madara’s quiet moans like a siren song to his ears.

He couldn’t help but tighten his grip, knowing very well his fingers would leave marks on Madara’s skin. It made something inside him, some alpha instinct, feel pride. He should bear his marks. Madara’s was Izuna’s, after all. He had been Izuna before he had been anyone else’s.

(Not that his brother had ever belonged to someone else— not even to the Senju. Every single heat that he didn’t suppress, he spent with Izuna. It had always been Izuna he depended on when his omega left him in a vulnerable state, stripped down to his most basic instincts.

And Izuna knew it would stop, someday— He knew his brother had feelings for Hashirama Senju, after all. And everyone knew the Senju clan head was head over heels for his brother too. If Madara gave the Senju even the smallest hint that he would reciprocate, Hashirama would probably waste no time and claim him.

But until that happened, until his brother decided to go for the Senju—

Madara was Izuna’s, only).

(And sure, Izuna could make it so Madara never went for the Senju. If he asked, Madara would never mate with anyone else. Because he cared more about Izuna’s feelings than his own. He cared more about Izuna than anything else.)

(It was why Madara never asked him to accept the Senju’s peace offering. Not until Izuna’s life had been at risk, and his brother had asked him to just accept Hashirama Senju’s help. And Izuna had said yes, because he couldn’t deny his brother anything either.)

Izuna felt Madara’s hand on his hair. He stopped, turning his eyes on him.

“Please,” he repeated. “Izuna, just— Fuck me. Fuck a pup into me.”

(And what else was he supposed to do, but to say yes to what Madara asked of him?)

Izuna crawled over Madara, just so he could kiss his brother’s forehead before he entered him, Madara’s cunt molding perfectly around him. Madara’s breath hitched, just the tiniest bit, and Izuna stopped, nuzzling his brother’s neck and licking over his glands.

Madara’s legs wrapped around his back, urging him closer. “Izuna,” Madara whined. Called.

“Nii-san,” Izuna replied, slowly thrusting in and out his brother’s cunt.

“Izuna.” His name had never sounded better. It made him feel like fire ran inside his veins. “Faster, please.”

He did so, taking in the way Madara’s pitch increased, the way his nails dig in his back. Marking him back. Izuna gazed his teeth over Madara’s gland, the urge to bite bite bite ever present inside his head.

But he didn’t, because he couldn’t do that to his brother. Madara was already giving him a pup. He couldn’t take this too, not when Madara was in love with someone else. He wasn’t going to let his brother lose on being happy with the alpha he wants just because Izuna never learned how to share.

“Izuna.”

I’ll fill you up so well, Izuna thought, sucking a mark on Madara’s shoulder. You’ll smell of me for days, nii-san. And then you’ll grow round with my pup. The pup /I/ put inside you.

“Izuna, please—”

“Nii-san,” he whispered, unable to say more than that. He felt his knot start to inflate, and he made sure to drag it as much as he could against Madara’s walls.

“Izuna,” Madara moved his head, exposing his neck even more. “Please.”

And Izuna, well—

He sunk his teeth on his brother’s neck, not to mate him, but a— an imitation of it. A mark that wouldn’t be there forever the way a mating mark would, but one that Madara would have to carry for days and remember that Izuna was the one who put it there.

Madara trashed under him, just for a second, and Izuna held him down while drilling into him, until his knot made it so he couldn’t continue doing so. He felt the moment Madara relaxed, the moment he sunk into their nest and started purring. Izuna licked his neck, making sure to take care of the bite mark..

“Nii-san,” he finally said, lifting himself just to see Madara’s face.

Madara looked back at him, his breath still elaborate. He put his hand on Izuna’s forehead, moving the sweaty hair that had stuck to his skin. “Izuna.”

His heart felt so heavy. “Nii-san, I love you.”

Madara smiled, eyes softening as his hand moved to caress Izuna’s cheek. “I love you too.”

And that was enough for him.

Unsurprisingly, Madara’s scent changed within the month of his heat.

Izuna noticed immediately, of course. He knew Madara’s scent like no other— He had been there when Madara lost his milky scent as he presented, when the ginger and smoke overpowered everything else. Izuna shared the smoky smell, although his scent had a hint of cinnamon instead of ginger. Madara often told him he smelled like their mother.

(Izuna couldn’t remember his scent, so he was never quite sure if Madara was right).

“It’s not only your scent,” Madara had told him one day, their first patrol since Izuna had presented, long before their father had died and Madara had been made clan head. “You… you look like mom a lot. You have the same face.”

“... I don’t remember,” Izuna had replied. They didn’t speak much of him— Izuna never asked, and Madara rarely brought up the topic himself.

Madara had squeezed his hand. “You wouldn’t— You were too young when he died. I barely remember him, and I don’t— I don’t remember much about him. But I remember his face. I remember his scent. He used to… scent me often. Said pups should smell like their mothers.”

The only scent Izuna had ever carried on him was Madara’s— They often slept in Madara’s nest, and when they didn’t, his brother would scent him first thing in the morning. Izuna wondered if he did it to make up for the mother that should have scented them but was no longer there.

“... are you planning on doing the same?” Izuna asked. “When you have pups.”

Madara hadn’t responded immediately. Izuna hadn’t rushed him.

“... I don’t think I want them,” Madara finally whispered. It felt like some sort of confession.

Izuna had looked at him, curious, but Madara hadn’t met his eyes. “Why not?”

His brother closed his eyes for a few seconds. “I don’t— I don’t think I would enjoy it. Being a mother. I— I don’t want to have to take care of pups like that. I will be busy as it is with the clan and—” He turned to Izuna, his scent sharpening. And there was something on his face…

Fear, he recognized. There was fear written all over the place.

It wasn’t an emotion he liked in his brother.

Nii-san, he wanted to ask. What are you afraid of?

“ —and,” he continued, ignorant to Izuna’s thoughts, “I thought that, maybe... I don’t have to have pups.”

Izuna nodded. “Okay.”

Madara’s eyes widened the tiniest bit. “Okay?”

“If you don’t want pups…” Izuna shrugged. “Then don’t have them.”

His brother frowned. “But— I’m an omega. And the clan… We need heirs.”

Izuna shrugged again. “Am I not your heir, nii-san? You don’t have to have them.”

“The elders—” Madara shook his head. “They already are arranging for me to mate as soon as I come of age.”

Izuna knew that. It had been somewhat of a priority, recently, since Tajima had made clear that even though he had an alpha son, Madara was still the one to inherit the clan head position. They had received multiple offers from other clans, even though the Uchiha would never allow an omega to marry out, as was tradition. Especially when said omega was set to lead the clan— very few were in a higher position than his brother, alpha or otherwise, so it would be ridiculous to do such a thing.

Not that it mattered. Madara was already known as a great warrior, and others clans weren’t foolish enough to miss on a possible alliance, so the proposals piled up. Everyone had alphas to spare, after all.

“Nii-san,” Izuna moved closer to Madara, putting his hand on his brother’s leg. “They can’t force you to do anything. You could kill them all without breaking a sweat.”

“I’m not going to kill the elders,” Madara chastised him, although his scent relaxed again. “But they will try to oust me if I don’t compromise with them.”

Izuna scoffed. “Who would they have lead then?” he asked. “The clan cannot afford to lose you. That would be handing our people on a silver platter to the Senju.”

There was a complicated look in his brother’s eyes. “I would never fight you, though.”

And to that—

“Nii-san,” he said, both hands cupping Madara’s face. “I would rather die a thousand times than to even think of fighting you.” Especially for the elders. Izuna would set them all on fire if Madara asked him. Izuna would set himself on fire.

Madara’s scent had— not spiked, exactly, but it had turned sweeter. Softer. “Izuna…”

“The only way for me to lead the clan,” he continued, “would be if you didn’t want to continue being the clan head. Then, and only then, I would do it. For you.” Because he knew his brother wouldn’t fall before him— It would be blasphemous to think Madara would die like a regular person. Not when he was so above everyone else.

Madara opened his mouth, but Izuna didn’t want to hear it. He hated when Madara thought that he— That he wasn’t the best option for anything. That Izuna wouldn’t choose him above everything. Even himself.

So, he carefully pressed his lips against his brother’s and kissed him.

It wasn’t— It wasn’t the best, because so far in his life Izuna had only pecked at his brother’s lips, but it was something. This was different. He moved his lips against his brother’s, trying to convey just how much love he had for him. Madara responded in kind, because of course he did.

The morning Izuna woke up to the milky, pup-like hints in Madara’s scent, Izuna grabbed his brother’s face just like he had done that first time and kissed him. Madara had woken up startled, his chakra agitated for about half a second as he realized it was Izuna who had woken him up, before melting into the kiss. Izuna laughed, breaking the kiss just so he could leave small kisses all over his brother’s face.

“Why are you so happy?” Madara asked as soon as Izuna stopped his attack.

He beamed. “Your scent, nii-san.”

Madara tilted his head. “My scent?”

Izuna buried his nose in Madara’s neck, taking a deep breath. He wanted that scent inside his lungs. “You’re pregnant.”

He felt Madara tense under him. Izuna nuzzled against Madara’s glands, covering him with his own scent. It took his brother two minutes to relax again.

“... I’m pregnant,” Madara mumbled. “Hah. Congrats, Izuna. You’ll be a dad.”

Izuna put his hand on Madara’s still very flat stomach. “I’ll be a dad, nii-san.” He laughed. “Thank you.”

Madara moved to his side, looking at Izuna. “You don’t have to thank me.”

But I do, he thought. I really, really do. He sat up, leaning down to kiss Madara’s forehead. “We should go with the healer. The sooner they’re aware, the faster they can start monitoring that everything is alright.”

His brother snorted. “There’s nothing to check, Izuna. It’s too early. At most, the only thing the healer can do is confirm that I’m pregnant and tell me to change the way I eat.”

Izuna took his brother’s hand. “Please, nii-san?”

Madara’s eyes softened. He ran his fingers through Izuna’s hair. “Fine, we’ll go. But,” he laid on his back. “We’ll go later. The sun hasn’t even risen yet, Izuna. I was asleep.”

He nodded. “Deal.” He then proceeded to lay down on Madara, wrapping himself around him. Madara welcomed him with open arms, putting a blanket over them both.

Chapter Text

It had been decided by the elders. Usually, it wouldn’t be a problem. Uchihas tended to keep inside the clan more often than not, as most of their neighbors had been enemies rather than allies. Now that they lived in a village, Uchihas slowly had started to spend more time, well, outside of the clan. But it also meant that now they were surrounded by non-Uchihas. Which was a problem.

“The people in Konoha aren’t enemies,” Madara had retorted. There was a loud scoff.

“Former enemies,” one of the elders spoke. “They could have kidnapped and killed clan members before. You don’t know every single person that lives here.”

Izuna did think they had a point, but he would never agree with an elder out loud. Instead, he looked at Madara.

“Or,” a different elder said, “whoever attacks you might not be from Konoha, and just pretend in order to infiltrate.”

Madara rolled his eyes. “I’m a sensor. If someone is around trying to get to me, I’ll know.”

“It’s better to be prudent and cautious.”

“I’m a shinobi. I’ll kill anyone who poses a risk.”

“Izuna,” he jumped, turning to a different elder. One that was looking straight at him. “You are the father of the pup. Tell—”

Oh no. No, no, no. Absolutely not. These geriatrics fools weren’t going to try and pin him against his brother.

“No,” Izuna said.  He felt Madara’s scent, smokier with anger, sweeter with pregnancy, reach him. Making him feel a knot in his chest. “Nii-san is our leader, I’ll defer to his choice. If he doesn’t think it’s necessary to remain inside the clan, then he shouldn’t be.”

The elders grumbled among them, but none spoke out. Izuna turned to look at Madara, grabbed his hand under the table. His brother’s frown relaxed a bit, tightening his fingers around Izuna’s.

“Right now, I cannot just abandon my responsibilities in the village,” Madara finally said. “It would weaken the opinion of our clan, and it would be a risk. Eventually, later in my pregnancy, I’ll take a leave, but I have to put the paperwork first and prepare for the months Izuna and I will be out. I have to discuss with the Hokage what the procedure will be while I’m gone. I cannot just seclude myself as it’s tradition.”

More grumbling.

“Would you consider hiding it?” Asked an elder. A former healer, if Izuna remembered correctly. “There are safe ways of doing so, and it would protect you from unnecessary risk while you still have duties in the village.”

Izuna looked at Madara, who was looking back at him. Madara raised his eyebrows, as if asking for Izuna’s opinion.

He… considered it for a second. It wasn’t that Izuna wanted to hide the pregnancy, not really. He had already proudly smiled among the few Uchihathat knew and approached him about it, and he couldn’t wait to announce it properly with everyone. That is, everyone in their clan. Izuna didn’t care about outsiders, and if anything, the idea of keeping Madara away from the eyes of others was… somewhat appealing. He wouldn’t, of course, but maybe he could keep the pregnancy out of the ears of those undesirable Sen– untrustworthy people. He could still show off Madara’s pregnancy inside the walls of their compound, and only when Madara was to properly go on leave, others would find out why.

So, he nodded. Madara turned away from him.

“That… can be arranged,” he said. And that was it.

Madara started wearing a concoction directly on his neck and wrist scent glands, covering the areas with thick, tighter bandages underneath his regular clothes. Izuna also carefully and exaggeratedly scented him every chance he got. It was… nice, Izuna found. He was more used to carrying Madara’s scent with him, but having Madara smell like him… He understood why alphas claimed their mates so thoroughly with their scent.

Of course, the change in routine didn’t go unnoticed.

The next time Madara and Izuna walked into the Hokage tower, every single person around them stared. Neither of them paid them any attention, discussing non-secretive clan matters instead (like Kagami’s upcoming birthday. Izuna was particularly excited about it). When they reached the floor where their offices were, it was to Hashirama and Tobirama already there.

Hashirama turned around, his usual smile big and beaming. “Madara! Good mor—”

Izuna saw the exact moment when Madara’s… lack of scent registered, the way his nostrils flared and his face twisted. Tobirama, too, frowned deeply, covering his nose with his hand.

“Why are you reeking?!” Tobirama hissed. Madara snorted, while Izuna let out a growl.

“Who are you saying reeks?!” Izuna walked closer. “You stupid Senju always—”

“Izuna!” Hashirama went to stop him, although it was obvious he was trying not to breathe as well. “It wasn’t— Tobirama didn’t mean it in a bad way. You and Madara smell, uh, rather… strongly today.”

“What, disappointed you can sniff my brother’s scent, Senju?” Izuna snapped.

Hashirama’s face turned slightly red. “I, uh—”

“Calm down,” Tobirama said, still steps away. “Why did you scent Madara so much? Your rut isn’t supposed to be for another three months. This isn’t anywhere the socially acceptable—”

“I don’t care about what’s socially acceptable,” Izuna showed his teeth, “I’m scenting Madara everyday now. You better get used to it.”

“We’re not saying you can’t, but you should keep it at normal levels—”

“I’ll show you what normal—”

“Enough!” Hashirama said. Roots grew from the wooden floors and walls, pulling Izuna back. When he looked, Tobirama was also trapped. Hashirama stood in between them. “You two need to cool down.”

Izuna growled again and tried to fight against the restraints, even though he knew it was useless.

Hashirama sighed. “Madara? Help?”

Madara shrugged. “What? Not my fault you alphas love to pick fights.” He walked to his office, leaving them behind. “Izuna, once you’re out come to my office. There’s something I would like to discuss.” And with that, he left.

Izuna stopped struggling, just glaring at Tobirama, who wasn’t even looking at him. The bastard.

Hashirama sighed again. “Izuna, could you please tone it down a bit with the scent? It really… affects other alphas.”

“No,” he said. “This was a compromise. Either I scent nii-san or he stops coming here. What do you prefer?”

“What?” Hashirama tensed, and the roots against Izuna tightened. He let out a bit of a pained sound, the pressure stopping him from breathing properly. Hashirama blinked before he dismissed the roots. “Sorry, sorry. I didn’t— what do you mean stop coming here?”

“None of your business,” Izuna said, wobbly getting up and walking towards his brother’s office.

“Izuna—”

But Izuna slammed the door shut.

“Stupid Senju,” he mumbled. He grabbed one of Madara’s chairs and dragged it next to his brother. “Who does he think he is? The Daimyou? We don’t owe him answers.”

Madara snorted. “He is the Hokage. He does expect answers.”

“Well, he’s not getting them from me.” Izuna leaned against his brother, his own scent hitting him on the nose.

(Perhaps he had overdone it a bit. Maybe. What did a Senju know about it anyway?)

Madara’s hand came to the back of his head, scratching his scalp. Izuna closed his eyes and relaxed, a small chuff starting inside his throat.

“He’s not that bad,” Madara said, suddenly.

“... hmn?” Izuna noozled into Madara. “Who?”

“Hashirama. He’s not that bad.”  He scratched a particular spot Izuna loved and Izuna let out a small whine. “He wouldn’t… He would keep the secret, if we told him now.”

“...” Izuna opened his eyes, the chuffing slowly dying out. “Do you want to tell him now?”

“It’s… not that.” Madara’s hand stopped. Izuna already missed it. “I’m just saying… it’s not necessary to be on guard around him. Hashirama isn’t… isn’t like that.”

Izuna scoffed. “I don’t care if you think that, nii-san. You’re biased.”

Madara frowned. “I’m not biased.”

“You are. He’s your…” the words tasted like vinegar in his mouth “... friend. You don’t think rationally when it comes to him.”

He really couldn’t blame Madara, he guessed. Izuna had never been in love, so he didn’t know how it felt. But Madara was in love. He was in love with Senju Hashirama. And love, to an Uchiha, was the same as being bewitched. Uchihas loved too much. And that, Izuna understood. If Madara loved Hashirama half as much as Izuna loved him…

It was hard to not consider him to be compromised.

Madara twisted towards him. Izuna already missed his warm shoulder. “What makes you think that?”

Izuna rolled his eyes. “Nii-san, I’m not the elders. I work with both you and the Senju, and I have eyes. We just decided to keep your state a secret and you already want to tell him. You are biased.”

“I’m not.” He crossed his arms. “I won’t tell him anything, then. Because I’m not biased.”

“Nii-san, I didn’t say that you couldn’t. I’m just saying—”

“No. I’m not telling him.” He turned away. “Now, go to your office and do some work. I want to be at home at a decent hour so we can continue planning Kagami’s birthday.”

“... fine.” Izuna stood up, not that he wanted to, and walked to his office, grumbling the whole way. Within seconds, he heard Hashirama’s Senju’s door open and close, and a knock to his brother’s office. Then, the door opened.

Izuna scoffed. “Not compromised, sure.”

Izuna felt a force clash against his leg, Kagami’s big, dark eyes staring at him.“Izu-nii!!”

“Kagami!” Izuna picked the pup up and hugged him close, sniffing his milky scent.

Kagami giggled. “I’ve missed you lots!”

Izuna smiled. “I missed you too.” Nevermind the fact that they saw each other just two days before.

“Kagami!”

Izuna jumped, turning towards the approaching figure of his cousin.

Yuuka Uchiha was a force to reckon with. One of the best shinobi of her generation and also the reason why there are rules against testing fire jutsus near woodsheds.

“I told you to not run like that to people!” She yelled. “Get down from Izuna’s arms right now and apologize.”

She was Izuna’s favorite cousin. She also happened to be Kagami’s mother.

Kagami pouted. “But mom—”

“Now.”

Izuna lowered Kagami to the floor, because he knew his cousin wasn’t over kicking him until both he and Kagami were on the floor.

Yuuka pinched the bridge of her nose. “Really. You know you can’t slam against people. Especially not the clan heir. It’s inappropriate.”

“But–” Kagami’s pout grew bigger. It twisted something inside Izuna’s chest.

He looked at Yuuka. “It isn’t that—” His cousin leveled him with a look. Izuna closed his mouth, mentally apologizing to Kagami.

“Come on,” Yuuka said, nodding at Kagami. “You are not supposed to be here anyway. Your class starts in twenty minutes.”

Kagami lowered his head, sulking. And that was more than Izuna’s heart could take.

“I’m going that direction too,” he said. A total lie, but neither Kagami nor his cousin knew that. “Want me to walk you?”

Kagami’s whole face brightened. “YES. I’ll get my things!” Then, he ran away.

Yuuka sighed. “You cannot keep letting him get away with this sort of thing.”

“Give him a break,” Izuna snickered. “His birthday is next week. And he’s been really well behaved.”

“He has not. He was caught sneaking out just yesterday.” Yuuka shook his head, but Izuna still managed to see the smile on her face. “I don’t know what I’ll do with him.” She turned to Izuna. “And you. I sure hope you don’t indulge your kid as much as you indulge Kagami, or so help us all.”

Izuna grinned. “Oh, I’ll indulge them even more. I’ll raise the biggest, most spoiled brat this land has ever seen.”

Yuuka scoffed. “No, you already are the most spoiled brat around. Your pup cannot outdo the doer.”

“Ah, Yuuka, don’t be like that.” His grin grew bigger. “I’m sure between Madara and I we can spoil my pup a hundred times more.”

“Pff, sure.” She chucked. “How is he doing? Has pregnancy started kicking his ass yet?”

“Not at all.” Izuna snickered a bit at Yuuka’s incredulous face. “He’s a bit more sensitive to smells and his scent did change, but that’s it. He doesn’t feel sick or anything.”

“Isn’t he close to two months along now?” Yuuka asked.

“He’s nine weeks right now,” Izuna informed her.

“And he hasn’t had anything? Are you sure he’s not hiding it?” She frowned. “I wouldn’t put it past him.”

Izuna wouldn’t either, usually, but– “I made him promise me he wouldn't," he explained. “And we’ve been together most of the time. He couldn’t hide it even if he tried.”

“Huh.” Yuuka blinked. “Lucky bastard. Of course he would have an easy first trimester.”

“Oi,” he poked at her arm. “Don’t jinx it. I want nii-san to have the easiest pregnancy ever.”

“That’s just unrealistic, ‘Zuna.”

Izuna shrugged. “If someone can do it, it’s nii-san.”

“Whatever you say.” Yuuka shook her head. “If he starts feeling nauseous, do tell me. I still have some reci—”

Rushing steps approached them, Kagami appearing within seconds.

“Izu-nii!” He ran towards them, only stepping once he was close enough to notice the look Yuuka was giving him. He took the last couple of steps at a normal speed. “I’m ready! Let’s go, let’s go!”

“Fine, fine. We’ll go.” Izuna grabbed Kagami’s hand. “I’ll see you later, Yuuka.”

“Bye mom!” Kagami waved.

They walked towards the academy, Kagami rambling the whole way about all his classmates and how he always played with two in particular.

“They are so cool!” Kagami bragged. “Hiruzen is really, really good at jutsu! And Danzo is really smart! He gets perfect grades every time!”

Izuna nodded. “Not better than you, I bet.”

Kagami giggled. “Our sensei says that it’s bad to say we’re better than others.”

“Ignore that. You’re an Uchiha, of course you’re better than everyone else.” Ah, if Yuuka heard him now, she would kick his ass. “What were their last names again?”

“Uh,” Kagami thought about it. “Hiruzen is Sarutobi, and Danzo is… Uh. Shimura.”

Great. No Senju. “It’s good that you have strong friends, Kagami. That way you can spar with them and become even stronger!”

Kagami beamed. “Like you?!”

“Waaay stronger.” Izuna tousled Kagami’s hair. “You’ll be the strongest shinobi ever. Like my nii-san.”

Kagami giggled again. “Izu-nii! Don’t do that!”

“Ah?” Izuna smirked. “Is Kagami too old for his Izu-nii to mess with his hair? Should I leave then?”

“Noooo!” Kagami attached himself to Izuna’s leg.

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding.” Izuna chuckled. “Come on, Kagami. If you’re late your mom might actually kill me.” They were almost at the academy, anyway.

He managed to leave Kagami at the academy (on time, thank you very much Yuuka) without much trouble, before he sprinted towards the Hokage tower. He climbed the tower, entering the window to the Hokage’s office.

Tobirama gave him a look. “You’re late.”

“Shut up, Senju.” Izuna crossed his arms. “I was busy.”

“Doing what?” Tobirama questioned, raising an eyebrow. He seemed unimpressed. “Playing with Kagami?”

Izuna frowned. “How do you know Kag—”

“Izuna!” Hashirama suddenly yelled. Izuna couldn’t help but jump a bit. Why was the Senju so loud? “Glad you could make it! Sit, sit. We can start now.” He went to grab Izuna’s arm.

He, of course, swatted his hand away. “I know how to get to my chair, Senju.” He gave Madara a questioning look, but Madara looked as confused as Izuna felt at the Senju’s behavior.

“Well!” Hashirama clasped his hands together. “Let’s begin! Tobi?”

Tobirama raised a paper. “The first item to discuss—”

Izuna tuned them out (these meetings were formalities and useless. They could have been a summarized letter), instead leaning closer to Madara and just nuzzling a bit against his neck. Madara’s hand went to Izuna’s head, as usual, scratching that one spot that Izuna loved.

Madara still smelled just like him (albeit a bit more toned down than before, only because he didn’t want the smell to bother Madara’s nose now that it was more sensitive). A small part of Izuna wished they were at home, alone, instead of with the two Senjus in a meeting. If they were, Izuna would strip the bandages off his brothers and bury himself in his milky smell, as he had been doing every single night as soon as they got home. Madara smelled heavenly pregnant.

“Keep your eyes to yourself, Senju,”

Izuna opened his eyes (and when had he even closed them?) and turned to see his brother, but he seemed in a staring contest with Senju Tobirama instead.

Tobirama raised an eyebrow. “This isn’t the place or moment for such… displays. We are having a serious meeting.”

“This meeting has been you talking for half an hour.” Madara squinted at him. “You cannot blame us for being comfortable considering the circumstances.”

“Circumstances?” Tobirama scoffed. “What circumstances? Boredom?”

Izuna snorted. “Of course. Your bland voice alone could kill someone out of tediousness, didn’t you know? Had you used it during the war, it would have been more effective than those inventions of yours.”

Tobirama bristled. “If I remember correctly, those inventions did work on you, didn’t they, Izuna?” Izuna felt Madara tense next to him. He felt his own sharingan come to life. How dare this Senju–  “If it wasn’t because Anija—”

“Tobirama,” Hashirama cut him off, voice serious. Tobirama closed his mouth, but his eyes alone were enough to make Izuna feel aggravated. “We’re getting off-topic. What is the next thing to discuss?”

“I have something to discuss,” Madara said, putting a hand on Izuna’s shoulder. “Three months from now, we’ll take leave for about six months. Izuna’s might be extended a bit longer. We have to figure out how it will work. I’ll fill the necessary paperwork closer to the date.”

Hashirama seemed vaguely concerned. “Six months? Is everything okay? You haven’t told me—”

“It’s none of your business, Senju,” Izuna hissed, moving a bit closer to Madara. His alpha instinct was yelling at him to put him out of the sight of both alphas.

“We have to know what’s going on in order to effectively plan for your absence,” Tobirama pointed out. Izuna wished he could find limes to squeeze on those eyes.

“You don’t need to know the reason now,” Izuna insisted. “Madara and I will be unavailable to be here full time. We’ll stay in the Uchiha compound. You may send urgent matters to me and, if my brother really is needed, I’ll show them to him. Otherwise, he’s to be undisturbed by everyone.” He looked pointedly at Hashirama.

Madara sighed. “We’ll go into more detail as we plan. There aren’t any important official business from here till I am to be back as of now, so we mostly have to plan how to distribute our tasks to other people temporarily.”

“If there is something wrong, then we should be informed now,” Hashirama frowned. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I am, Hashirama.” Madara huffed. “And you’ll know in due time. The village won’t be at risk, we’ll just be unavailable. Hikaku will take over clan matters in the meanwhile and be present during meetings. If there's an emergency, we’ll be right there in the compound.”

Izuna looked at Madara. “Do not bother unless the emergency is really important. I don’t want you stressing my brother over nothing.”

Hashirama paled. “Madara—”

“No,” Izuna growled. “You will not bother my— nii-san. That’s it.” He stood up, taking Madara’s hand. “Let’s go, nii-san. You should eat some breakfast.”

Madara gave him a bit of an annoyed look, probably because he already had breakfast. But Izuna wanted him to eat more, so he planned to drag him to the stalls not too far from the tower.

They left both Senjus alone in the office.

“Ah~”

Madara gave him a look. “Izuna.”

“What?” Izuna got the fruit closer to Madara’s mouth. “You said you couldn’t eat because you were working. I’m just helping you so you can work.”

“You are not feeding me while I’m working, Izuna. We’re at the office.”

“Don’t care. You have to eat.” He shook the fruit a bit. “Come on, nii-san. Say ah~”

“... fine,” Madara sighed. “But stop with the sounds.”

Izuna snickered a bit, but nodded. Madara gave him another look, but (and he could see the way his face reddened slightly) he opened his mouth to him. Izuna pressed the fruit against Madara's tongue, looking as his teeth sunk into it, a few drops of juice accumulating towards the corners of his mouth. Izuna considered cleaning them, just for a bit, but Madara beat him to it, licking his lips, his tongue peeking out slightly. Izuna felt a bit hot around his neck.

He kept feeding his brother.

At some point, Madara stopped his work, turning to him. “You know you don’t have to do this, right?”

“What do you mean?” Izuna asked, grabbing another piece and pressing it against Madara’s lips. “I’m having the time of my life here.”

“I’m three months pregnant, Izuna. I can very well feed myself.” He still ate the fruit.

“Then why aren’t you?” Izuna asked, looking with satisfaction as Madara chewed and swallowed. “The healer said it was best if you kept snacking throughout the day.”

Madara gave him an incredulous stare. “Yeah, snacking through the day. You keep trying to get me to eat every hour.”

“Well,” Izuna started, “aren’t you hungry?”

“... not enough to merit eating like this.”

Izuna shrugged. “If you’re hungry, it seems like reason enough to me.”

“Izuna…”

“Nii-san,” Izuna grabbed another piece of fruit. “Let me have this. You promised not to complain.”

“...” Madara took a deep, deep breath, and opened his mouth. Izuna happily fed him the fruit.

That is how Tobirama found them, Madara mid-bite from Izuna’s hand.

Izuna groaned. Why did the Senju always have to bother them? “What do you want?”

Tobirama blinked, as if snapping out of a genjutsu. “What.”

“What what?” Madara grumbled. He clearly was as annoyed by the disruption. “I told you to keep your eyes off, Senju.”

Tobirama’s stupidly pale skin bloomed a deep red. “I wasn’t— I’m here for something important.” He threw some papers on Madara’s desk. “There is a… meeting between the leaders of other villages. The daimyou will be present. Naturally, he requested Konoha to participate.”

Izuna scoffed. “What does that have to do with us? Your brother was elected as Hokage. Not either of us. It’s him who has to go.”

“And he will go,” Tobirama gruntled. “But he has requested your brother to join him, as a co-founder of Konoha.”

Madara read over the papers. “This says the meeting will be three months from now.”

“Oh hell no.” Izuna took the papers, pressing them against the Senju’s chest. “We will already be on our leave by then. You’re not going.”

“This is important,” Tobirama argued. “More important, I’m sure, than whatever excuse you have to leave for half a year. Excuse you still haven’t disclosed.”

“Becuase you and your brother do not need to know!” Izuna growled, sharingan activating. Tobirama, the fool, stared straight into his eyes.

Izuna should have trapped him into a genjutsu, one where he would be unable to bother them for at least five years. He could make it painful, complete torture. Maybe he could—

“Izuna,” Madara warned him. Izuna scoffed, not deactivating his sharingan, but genjutsu ideas discarded for the moment. Madara turned to Tobirama. “I don’t see why I am needed. This is Hashirama’s eccentric-self requesting something that you and I know is unnecessary. Why even bother bringing it up to me?”

Tobirama sighed. “Usually, yes, I wouldn’t. But in this case, anija wasn’t the one who requested you.”

Madara frowned. “You don’t mean—”

“The Daimyou called for you and anija to assist the meeting.” Tobirama sighed. “Anija was quite against it, as you were supposed to be on leave. But the Daimyou insisted.”

Izuna turned to Madara. “Nii-san, you can’t—”

Madara was looking at the papers. “The meeting is half a day away running. The meeting is supposed to last only one day. We could be back the same night if we push it.”

A heavy feeling sat inside Izuna’s stomach. “Nii-san, you can’t. That much running—”

“— is safe, as long as I prepare for it,” Madara cut him off.

Tobirama frowned. “If there is a health factor at risk—”

“There isn’t,” Madara firmly declared.

Izuna groaned. “Nii-san!”

“Hashirama will be with me, Izuna. Didn’t you say he was the best medic-nim in the land of fire?”

“That doesn’t mean we should test—”

Madara stared him to death. “Enough, Izuna. I said that I’ll do it, and I will.”

Izuna closed his mouth with a loud clank, his teeth hitting each other. He sent death glares to Tobirama. This was all his and the other Senju’s fault.

Tobirama looked between him and Madara. “While I do not recommend disobeying the Daimyou, if there are extenuating circumstances, we can find a way to navigate the situation so you can skip this meeting.”

Madara rolled his eyes. “No. I can go. You can assure the Daimyou that I’ll be there.”

After a second of hesitation, Tobirama nodded, leaving them room. Izuna deactivated his sharingan, but he felt no less irate.

“Nii-san,” he hissed. “Travelling outside Konoha is putting all sorts of targets behind your back. You’ll be away from us, alone, and vulnerable to attacks.”

“I won’t be travelling alone,” Madara scoffed. “Hashirama will be with me, as will be some guards, I’m sure. But even if there aren’t, between Hashirama and I it’s enough to win against any army.”

“You’ll be at least six months pregnant,” Izuna reminded him. “Even if the pregnancy is still as calm as now, you’ll be showing more by then. And I won’t be around to scent you properly, especially with all the running you’ll do. It will be impossible to hide your pregnancy, if the news hasn't already spread everywhere by then.”

“I’ll be fine, Izuna. Do not underestimate me.” Madara stood up, organizing all the papers Tobirama had dropped on his desk. “And again, Hashirama will be there, too. Or do you not trust him either?”

Izuna scoffed. “Of course I don’t.” He knew the Senju would protect his brother, yes. Especially if he knew he was pregnant then. But he didn’t trust him around his brother, didn’t trust him to not try something with Madara while Izuna was away.

Madara rolled his eyes. “Well, you’ll have to. If the Daimyou is requesting me, it must be for an important reason. We’ll go early in the morning and return as soon as possible. It will be fine.”

“...” Izuna frowned. “No, you need to rest, too. You’ll be more fatigued by then. Maybe you should—”

“If you’re that worried, you’re more than welcome to help Tobirama organize the logistics.” Madara gestured at him in dismissal. “Go bother him now. I have work to do, as do you, I’m sure.”

Izuna shifted on his feet. “Madara—”

“Go, Izuna.”

So he went.

Unsurprisingly, he encountered Tobirama Senju outside of the office area. The Senju was leaning against one of the walls, clearly expecting him.

“What is going on here?” He asked.

Izuna showed his teeth. “Fuck off, Senju.”

“There’s clearly something happening,” Tobirama said, straightening up and stepping closer to Izuna. “Something you are worried about regarding Madara’s health. What is it?”

“There’s nothing.” Izuna refuted. “And even if there was something, why should I tell you?”

“Because it would be a risk for the village,” Tobirama replied. “Because it’s in everyone’s best interest if Madara is fine.”

“Oh, spare me the bullshit, Senju,” Izuna hissed. “You, out of everyone, are the last person who can claim to care about an Uchiha.”

Tobirama seemed ready to deny it, ready to say something, but then thought better of it. “I have my personal reasons to be invested in your brother’s wellbeing.”

“What, so your dearest brother doesn’t lose the omega he fancies?” Izuna cackled. “Don’t make me laugh, Senju. You don’t give a shit about my brother. You only care about this stupid village, and even then, I’m not entirely sure you actually do.”

Tobirama growled, grabbing Izuna by his clothes and pressing him against the wall. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

It took everything inside Izuna to not let the air getting knocked out of his lungs to be noticeable. “Oh, I think I do. I think that if you could have it your way, my brother and our whole clan would disappear. But you can’t do anything about it, not directly, because your brother is madly in love with mine. I think you only care about yourself, Senju. Not even your brother, you only feel responsible for him because he’s the last one who likes you. Because no one else does.”

Izuna expected the punch, even if it came too fast for him to properly block it. He felt a bit of blood run from his nose, a bit sipping into his mouth as he grinned.

“Oh, do you feel better now, Senju?” He asked. “Are you happy that you punched me first? Do you think that’s enough to scare little ol’ me? Well, guess what, Senju!” Izuna let out another laugh. “I’m not afraid of a monster like you. Even if you try to kill me again, even if you succeed, the fallout will completely be on you. See what history will have to say about the Senju Demon.”

Tobirama growled again, and Izuna growled right back. Before they could jump into a fight, though, vines grew from everywhere and restrained them.

“What are you two doing?!” Hashirama hissed, separating them to opposite sides of the hallway.

Izuna giggled. “Ask your little brother, Senju. He’s the one who threw the punch.”

Hashirama frowned, looking at his brother. “Tobi…?”

Tobirama, the fool, didn’t even look away. “I did. And I would do it again. That Uchiha—”

“I do not want to hear it,” Hashirama stated. “We aren’t at war, and you two aren’t children. You should know how to behave.”

“Yeah, Senju,” Izuna chirped. “You should start pretending and behave like the animal that you—” One of the vines went into his mouth, gagging him.

“That’s enough, Izuna,” Hashirama ordered.

“I told you coexisting with the Uchiha wouldn’t work,” Tobirama snarled. “They don’t behave; aren’t civilized enough. You should have killed Ma—”

Hashirama let out a deep growl, his scent expanding all over the hallway. His alpha voice slipped through his words. “Enough you two.”

Izuna felt his whole body freeze, his own heartbeat strong against his ears. Hashirama took a breath, perhaps trying to calm himself.

“I don’t know what happened,” he started. “But this ends now. I do now want you two antagonizing each other, not now, when there are more important things to worry about. If you two feel the need to beat each other up, do it elsewhere. But this isn’t the place.” Hashirama released the vines, letting Izuna plop against the floor. He looked up, noticing Tobirama had been let out in a similar way. “Now, you two will come to my office so I can heal whatever damage you two caused each other, and then you’ll go home. I don’t want to see either of you here.”

Izuna nodded, every bit inside his body screaming to fight the command, yet being unable to do so.

What followed was half an hour of tense quality time with the Senju brothers. Tobirama was examined first, as he was the least affected, then he was sent on his merry way home. Izuna was next, only flinching slightly as Hashirama’s chakra filled his body, repairing the damage Tobirama had caused.

“I don’t want this to be a recurrent event,” Hashirama whispered, as he fixed the skin on Izuna’s face. “I know something is going on with Madara and you, something the Uchiha clan is trying to keep secret. I— I understand that. But you cannot pick fights with others just because they want to know.”

Izuna bristled. “Your brother—”

“Was out of place, yes. And I’ll deal with that,”Hashirama stopped, “but you cannot egg him. You two have to work together, if not for your own sake, then for mine and Madara’s.”

He huffed, but didn’t reply. Didn’t really know what to say.

Hashirama sighed, stepping back. “You’re all set. Wash the blood on your clothes before Madara sees you and freaks out about what happened.”

Izuna vaguely nodded, and he walked away.

Chapter Text

He blinked, his vision slightly blurred. “Nii-san?”

“‘Zuna,” Madara whined, crawling on top of Izuna and burying his face into his neck. “I want strawberries.”

Izuna nodded. “I’ll go get some—”

“We don’t have strawberries in the kitchen.” Madara, his brother, his clan head, the best shinobi Izuna knew, pouted. “I need you to get more.”

“...” Izuna looked outside. It would be at least a couple of hours until the first shops opened. “Nii-san—”

“I want strawberries right now,” Madara insisted, tone whiny and sulky. His milky scent filled Izuna’s senses.

So he went to get strawberries.

His first stop was Hikaku, mostly because out of everyone, Izuna felt the least guilty breaking into his home. He goes through the kitchen window, starting to ransack the place in search of any strawberries.

Unsurprisingly, Hikaku appeared sooner than later, a kunai in his hand. He blinked at Izuna, mumbling a quiet what the fuck, before he relaxed. “Madara?”

Izuna nodded. Hikaku had been there constantly during Madara’s pregnancy. He had seen quite a bit of Madara’s food demands. “He’s craving strawberries but we didn’t have any here.”

“Strawberries aren’t in season,” Hikaku informed him, leaning against the wall. “You might have a bit of a problem getting them.”

He frowned. That would be a problem. “But I just bought some not too long ago…”

“Maybe you got lucky,” Hikaku shrugged. “Or maybe some of the vendors still have some fruits stocked up. You could wait until sunrise?”

Izuna couldn’t help but grimace. “No. Madara wants them now.” He wasn’t keen on denying Madara anything, so there had to be a different solution. He thought about it. “You think Yuuka has some?”

Hikaku snorted. “I think if you were to wake her up now, she might actually kill you.”

Well, yeah, Izuna thought. That was a fair guess. “Maybe she’ll understand? She did wake me up for food when she was pregnant with Kagami.”

“Eh,” Hikaku shrugged again. “Could be worth a shot.”

So he went. He knocked the door (he wasn’t stupid enough to break into Yuuka’s house) a couple of times, praying to Amaterasu that he wouldn't end up as charcoal, when a very pissed Yuuka appeared in front of him.

“You better have a great reason to be here this early,” she threatened, “or I’ll burn your bones to ashes.”

Izuna took a deep breath. “Do you have strawberries?”

Yuuka looked at him. Then she kept looking at him.

She sighed. “Madara?”

“He’s craving strawberries,” Izuna explained. “Neither we nor Hikaku have any. You’re my last hope.”

Before Yuuka could reply, a tiny bundle moved to the door. “Izu-nii?”

Izuna cursed inwardly. He had hoped— “Hey, Kagami. Shouldn’t you be in bed?”

“Why are you here?” Kagami rubbed his eyes, looking at Izuna like he was in a dream.

“Just needed some strawberries for my nii-san,” Izuna explained, crouching to put a hand on Kagami’s head. “But I’m leaving now. Go to sleep, ‘kay?”

Kagami closed his eyes. “Did you ask Tobirama-san?”

Izuna retracted his hand like it burned. “Why would I ask a Senju?”

Yuuka gave him a look. Kagami didn’t seem to notice anything. “Hokage-sama grows strawberries in their home.”

Which… wasn’t surprising at all, but… He blinked. “How do you know that?”

Kagami opened his little mouth, but only a yawn came out. Yuuka clicked her tongue, taking Kagami in her arms.

“Enugh for tonight. I need to take this little man back to sleep.” She turned to Izuna. “Don’t do anything stupid. I’m sure Madara can wait a couple of hours more.”

Izuna grinned. As if. “When have I ever done anything stupid?”

Fifteen minutes later, he was jumping over the Senju’s gate, running towards the huge garden behind the main house. And what was Hashirama’s obsession with having so many stupid plants anyway—?

He hadn’t even found the bush when Tobirama Senju appeared in front of him.

Izuna jumped in surprise, throwing the bag Yuuka oh-so-nicely had given him at the Senju's face. “What the fuck?! You scared me!”

Tobirama raised an eyebrow, swatting the bag away. “I scared you? You’re the one in my home.”

Izuna scoffed, grabbing the fallen bag. “Technically I’m not in your home, Senju. I’m outside.” It was a stupid enough answer that it would annoy the Senju.

Sure enough, he could see the way Tobirama’s eyebrow twitched. “Yeah, outside of my home, but still in the Senju part of the town. So, do tell, what are you doing here?”

“None of your business,” he replied automatically. “Now, if you excuse me—” He tried to move away, but Tobirama grabbed the back of his clothes within seconds, pulling him back.

“You are not going to wander around our compound for no reason,” Tobirama growled.

Izuna growled back. It was an instinct at this point when interacting with Tobirama, really. “I’m just looking for some strawberries, Senju. I’m not here to fight.”

Tobirama frowned, but did release him. “Strawberries? Why are you stealing anija's strawberries?”

He grinned, making sure to show as many of his teeth as he could. “Who said anything about stealing?” It gained him an unimpressed stare, but Izuna was more than used to those coming from Tobirama. “Well, it's not like he's gonna eat all of them, right? He doesn't need this many. I’m just taking a few home with me.”

Tobirama looked positively bewildered. “It doesn't matter if he needs them or not. You cannot break into our home just to steal whatever you want.”

Izuna shrugged. “Who's gonna stop me?”

“Me?” Tobirama raised an eyebrow. “You knew there was no way you could be here without me noticing.”

“Well, are you really going to risk alerting everyone at two in the morning just for some strawberries?” He snorted. “Don’t be stupid, Senju. You know your stupid tree of a brother won't mind.”

Tobirama frowned. “It doesn’t— It's the principle of it. You cannot take what isn’t yours.”

“Blah, blah,” Izuna said, mimicking a mouth with his hand. It made the Senju’s eye twitch. “Do you ever get tired of hearing your own voice? Because I'm sure tired of listening to you.”

“You never listen to me anyway.” Tobirama protested, crossing his arms.

“Oh, did you say something?” Izuna inquired, before he turned away. “I would love to keep talking to you, Senju, but I need to get these strawberries home. So if you will—”

“Don’t.” Tobirama held him by his clothes. Again. Next time, Izuna would set his clothes on fire. “You won’t know what you’re doing. We have some already cleaned inside. Just take them.”

Izuna blinked, not having expected the generosity from Tobirama Senju out of all people. He squinted at him. “... are they poisoned?”

Now it was Tobirama’s turn to roll his eyes. “Do you want them or not?”

That’s how Izuna ended with a bag full of strawberries. He even made it home before sunrise.

He opened the door to Madara’s room.

“Nii-san! I brought you—” Izuna was tackled immediately, his back hitting the floors. The strawberries he had gone through so much to get all over the floor.

“You took so long,” Madara growled, grabbing both of Izuna’s wrists with one hand, holding his face with the other. Part of him was slightly concerned about his own safety, the other one was more than happy to have his brother pining him down. “Where were you?”

Izuna swallowed. “I got you strawberries.”

“Fuck the strawberries.” Madara released him, but only to quickly start to strip him from his clothes. Izuna yelped. “Nii-san?!”

“Shut up,” Madara hissed. “I’m not hungry anymore. I’m horny.”

Izuna’s last thought, as Madara dragged him to his nest, is that this was somehow Tobirama’s fault. The stupid Senju.

A couple of hours later, Izuna couldn’t help but yawn as they prepared to start a meeting. Tobirama, of course, noticed it. Because of course he did.

“Maybe you wouldn’t be so tired,” he started, organizing papers, “if you hadn’t been up the whole night stealing fruits from your neighbors.”

Izuna didn’t have the energy to even come up with a comeback. “Suck on a knot, Senju.”

Hashirama beamed at him. “If you need some fruits, Izuna, I’d be more than happy to grow some for you!” Because of course he would be. Still…

“Heh,” Izuna smirked at Tobirama, who just looked at his papers. The coward. “Maybe I’ll take you on that, Senju.”

Tobirama put the papers down. “Where is Madara?” He asked instead, which completely drew Hashirama’s attention away.

Really, they should probably train Hashirama out of being that obvious. It was such a stupid weakness that, if Hashirama wasn’t his Hokage, he would have exploited it already.

“Nii-san is with a healer,” Izuna replied. “He’s getting the last documentation he needs before submitting the paperwork for our leave.” There wasn’t much reason to keep the pregnancy a secret, not when Madara was over four months along anyway and it was to be found at any moment. He hadn't felt it, he wasn’t much of a sensor, but he knew it wouldn’t be long until Tobirama realized what was going on. If Madara didn’t beat him to it and told Hashirama directly.

Hashirama’s knuckles turned white. “He’s with a healer? And he didn’t come to me?” He wasn’t talking to Izuna, more so to himself. Izuna answered anyway, if only to be mean.

“Why would he go to you when we have healers in our clan?” Izuna rolled his eyes. Hashirama pouted.

“This is ridiculous,” Tobirama said, slamming his papers on the table. “If Madara won’t come, then we should start the meeting now. We still have other things in our schedule today and I don’t want to fall behind because you two were gossiping.”

“But Tobi—,” Hashirama whined.

“One day, Senju, you should consider taking the stick out of your ass.” Tobirama sent him a nasty look, but Izuna just grinned. “Or is it that you like it too much?”

Before Tobirama could do anything, Hashirama exaggeratedly cleared his throat.

“Okay!” he clapped. “Enough talking! What are we discussing today?”

Izuna sat back. It was nice to have the last word against Tobirama.

Izuna groaned, feeling Madara move away from the nest. He forced himself to open his eyes, trying to sound as pitiful as possible. “Nii-san, where are you going? It’s too early.”

His brother, bless his soul, turned back to him, kneeling next to him as to caress his face. “I have to go see Hashirama. I want to submit our leave today.”

So he was losing his brother’s warmth so early because of the Senju? “Why can’t you do that later? Stay with me a bit more. Our clan meeting is hours away.”

Madara chuckled. “We’ll be busy the whole day, and I would rather get this over with on a day I don’t actually have to see him.” And, yeah, Izuna didn’t want to be the aftermath either. He was sure the Senju would lose his shit upon finding out about his brother’s pregnancy. And while Izuna was always happy to make any Senju’s life worse, he also didn’t want to hear a whiny Hokage cry for hours (because he was so sure that’s what would happen.”

His cruel, cruel brother stopped caressing his face, standing up again. “I’ll be back soon enough,” he told him. “We will have breakfast together.”

His brother was such a benevolent deity. “Nii-san, tell me what you want. I’ll make you whatever you’re craving.”

Madara chuckled. “I’m not craving anything. Just make whatever you want.” He turned away. “Go back to sleep, Izuna. I’ll be here in no time.”

“Hmmkay.” Izuna closed his eyes.

His brother came back just as Izuna was half-way making breakfast.

“‘Zuna,” he said, hugging him from behind. Izuna immediately turned around, wrapping his arms around Madara.

“Nii-san,” he greeted him, burying his nose on Madara’s neck. He had forgotten to scent him earlier, he realized. Madara still smelled like him. Had to, considering they slept next to each other the whole night, but Izuna could smell Madara’s natural scent more easily than usual. That wouldn’t do—

He started scenting his brother. Not because he had to; they were going to remain within clan boundaries the whole day, it wasn’t necessary. He just wanted to.

Madara started purring, moving his head to give him better access to his neck. “I told Hashirama about the pregnancy.”

What a way to kill the mood, Nii-san, he thought. He licked Madara’s scent gland, before finally taking a step back. “Did he suffer?”

Madara rolled his eyes. “No, Izuna. He didn’t react much, just looked surprised.”

Izuna doubted his brother’s recounting, but he wasn’t going to say anything about it.

“I’m almost done with breakfast,” he said instead. He showed Madara the eggs and rice. “Just need to get the natto.”

Madara scrunched his nose. “I don’t want eggs.”

“... I can make something else,” Izuna said. “Would you prefer some grilled meat?”

“No.” Madara shook his head. “I want miso soup.”

Izuna looked at his brother, vaguely remembering their conversation a couple of hours prior.

He smiled, pecking Madara’s lips. “Yes, nii-san. I’ll make it right away.”

In the end, his doubts were proven right when, hours later, he found a certain Senju snooping around their compound.

He crossed his arms, not even trying to hide his presence. He was well aware Senju Tobirama had been able to see him coming immediately. “Now, who’s the one wandering around their neighbour’s home?”  Why was the Senju there anyway? He was supposed to be coming back from a mission. The Uchiha compound should have been the last place he would go to.

And the Senju did look tired. Izuna knew the mission he had gone to hadn’t been an easy one, which made the whole situation even more confusing.

Tobirama had the decency to not fight the claim. “... Listen,” he said. “I'm going to be clear and cut. My brother is losing his mind over Madara being pregnant by some random alpha and not telling him, so I was searching for information about that.”

Well, it seemed like Izuna would be able to see a Senju suffering after all.

Izuna leaned against the wall to his home. “The pup is mine.”

His words seemed to make the Senju freeze, if only for a second. “I… beg your pardon?”

Then beg. “You heard it the first time,” he said instead. “I'm not going to repeat it.”

Tobirama squinted at him. “I heard it loud and clear, but what I heard makes no sense. What do you mean?”

“I mean that the pup is mine, Senju.” Izuna stopped leaning. “Nii-san is having my baby, my pup. That's all, so,” Izuna gestured him away, “you can go.”

But the Senju didn’t move. Of course he didn’t.

“… What… What do you mean the pup is yours?” he asked instead.

Izuna rolled his eyes. Really, how his brother could tolerate either Senju was a mystery to him. “I wanted a pup. I can’t produce one, not like my brother can, and I’m not interested in sleeping with some omega just to have a kid, so my brother offered to have it for me. Is that enough of an answer for you?”

Tobirama looked at him as if he was crazy. “But the father—”

This again? “I am the father, Senju,” he repeated, losing the tiniest bit of patience he had. “That’s all there’s to know. Now, get the hell out of here and do not bother my brother with your brother’s problems. He cannot be stressed.”

This seemed to finally wake the Senju up from whatever weird thoughts he had. “Is he— is he okay?”

Izuna snorted. This? The fake concern? That he couldn’t take. “Like you care, Senju?” He asked. “Just go.”

This time, Tobirama nodded. He looked to Izuna’s home, towards the direction of Madara's room. He probably knew exactly where his brother was. Izuna wondered if, now that he knew of Madara’s pregnancy, he was able to feel the baby more clearly. He wondered what he could know just by sensing it. What he was able to see that Izuna couldn’t.

Tobirama disappeared with his transportation jutsu Izuna totally did not care about. He didn’t even say goodbye, the asshole.

Stupid Senjus, he thought. Life was so much better when they weren’t always in their business, anyway.

“For the last time, Hashirama,” Madara said, hitting the table they were using with his fist, “I will go to the meeting, and if you say something, anything,  I will flay you alive, or so help me—”

The Senju pouted. “But, Madara—”

“No.” His brother took a deep breath. “I don’t know what is wrong with you two. The Daimyou requested my presence. I cannot afford to not go.”

“That was before anyone knew you were pregnant,” Tobirama pointed out. “Even the Daimyou would be understanding of the situation given your… state.”

Madara’s eye twitched. “My state?”

Tobirama looked down at Madara’s now very visible belly. “Yes, your state.”

Izuna put a hand on Madara’s arm, not because he would stop him from trying to murder either Senju, but because his brother was getting agitated. “Nii-san,” he hissed. “You need to relax. The healer said you need to avoid stressful situations.”

“My life is a huge stressful situation,” Madara retorted. “Particularly now that I have a group of stupid alphas trying to tell me what I can or cannot do.”

Hashirama looked heartbroken by the words. “We’re not telling you what to do, Madara. But as a healer—”

“It is risky for you to go,” Tobirama cut him off, completely unaffected by his brother’s tactics. “Not just because you should not be in such a stressful environment as you know that meeting will be, but because it’s half a day at shinobi speed. You cannot make that run in your state, so you’ll have to go at a normal speed, so it will be at least two days travelling. And we don’t know who you might encounter along the way, or even at the meeting.” He took a bit of a breath. “We’ll need to send extra security just in case. It would be better for you to stay.”

“I don’t need extra security,” Madara refuted. “Do you forget who I am, Senju? There’s only one person who can even match me, and that person just so happens to also come along on the trip. Between Hashirama and I there’s no army that can even dream of touching us.” He looked at Hashirama. “And he’s also the best healer, so even if something were to go wrong, we can take care of it.”

Hashirama whimpered. “Please don’t say it like that. I don’t want to think about anything that might happen.” He was promptly ignored by everyone.

“But why even risk it?” Tobirama asked.

“Because it’s my duty,” Madara replied. “I am a co-founder of Konoha. And the Daimyou explicitly asked for me to go. So, I’m going.”

Tobirama huffed, now looking at Izuna. “Won’t you say anything?”

You dare? Izuna couldn’t help but growl. “What is that supposed to mean, Senju?”

“Your brother wants to go on a dangerous trip to a stressful meeting while pregnant,” he pressed. “And you don’t care?”

Really, why did Tobirama Senju always need to ruffle his feathers and make him angry?

“Of course I care,” he snapped back, eyes unintentionally turning red with the sharingan. Good. It would drive his point even better. “There’s nothing I care more about than my brother and my pup. But I, unlike you pair of pea-brained knotheads, trust my brother’s skills. If he says that he can go, then he’ll go.”

Privately, he shared their concerns. He didn’t want Madara to risk going on the trip. For Sage’s sake, he didn’t want Madara to leave the compound at all, even less to still be involved in the village’s political issues. But Izuna would never disagree with his brother in public. They were an united front above everything, so if his brother declared that he wanted to go—

Well, Izuna would do anything he could to support him.

“It’s not a matter of trust,” Tobirama complained. “It’s a matter of safety and practicality.”

“I’m perfectly capable of keeping myself safe,” Madara growled.

“Madara—”

“No, Hashirama!” His brother stood up. Tobirama and Izuna followed suit. “I will not concede on this issue. Either I go with you as part of Konoha’s entourage, or I go by myself and give everyone something to gossip about besides my pregnancy. You decide which one you’d prefer.”

Tobirama looked at him. “It’s not your decision, in the end,” he said.

Madara’s eyes turned red, so did his face. In fury, Izuna was sure. He felt upset on his brother’s behalf. Hashirama put a hand on Tobirama’s arm. “Tobi—”

“You might be a co-founder and a clan head,” Tobirama continued, eyes fixed on Madara. Then, he looked at Hashirama. So did Madara and Izuna. “But it’s the Hokage who has the last word,”

Hashirama looked in dismay. “I—” Then, he closed his mouth.

“Well?” Madara asked, tone acidic. “What will it be, Hashirama? Will you force me to stay home like a good little omega?”

The Senju bristled. “Madara—”

“Your little brother insists that it doesn’t matter what I want,” he continued,” so you can decide, then. Am I allowed to go on the trip I was requested to go almost three months ago, or do I have to stay?”

Hashirama looked in between Tobirama and Madara, completely speechless.

“I—” He closed his eyes. Izuna wanted to punch him. “Madara can come.”

“Anija!” Tobirama shouted, incredulous.

 Madara, for his part, was smirking, emitting a satisfied smell that had Izuna feeling slightly dizzy. “Good choice.”

“You can come,” Hashirama continued, now looking at Madara, “but you’ll have to allow extra security.”

“Fine,” Madara said, rolling his eyes. “I’m bringing Hikaku, then.”

Hashirama froze, his pupils dilating slightly as he growled. “Not Hikaku. Choose someone else.”

Izuna raised an eyebrow. Madara did so as well. “Why not?” His brother asked. “He’s my third in command. I trust him more than I trust anyone else besides Izuna.”

“Then why can’t Izuna come?” Hashirama asked.

“Izuna has to remain here,” Madara stressed, “because you and I have to go on the trip, and Tobirama cannot handle everything by himself.”

“But— He’s an alpha,” Hashirama croaked. The dimwit.  

“So?” Madara asked. “Why does it matter that he’s an alpha? Izuna is an alpha as well.”

“It’s different.” Hashirama shook his head. “I don’t want— I cannot travel with him”

“And why, for Sage’s sake, you cannot?”

Hashirama opened his mouth, probably trying to defend his attempt, but closed it. He looked at Tobirama for help. Izuna rolled his eyes.

Senjus were so difficult, and for what.

Tobirama looked back at him, and sighed. “Hashirama’s rut will be soon after your trip,” he said. “If Hikaku goes with you, if we have an alpha around him for five days at minimum, it might trigger his alpha and make him aggressive. Or trigger his rut.”

Izuna scoffed, particularly offended. “So Hikaku is a problem, but not me? I’m an alpha as well, Senju.”

“I’m used to your scent,” Hashirama meekly explained. “And it’s really similar to Madara’s, anyway. Hikaku’s…” He left it at that.

“It’s Hikaku or no one,” Madara growled.

Tobirama clenched his jaw. “Anija—”

“Fine,” Hashirama said. He fell back on his chair, sounding defeated. Izuna didn’t feel bad for him. “It will be just you and me, but we’ll take it easy and make frequent stops, okay?”

Madara huffed. “Fine.” He walked towards the door.

Hashirama stood up as well. “Madara—”

“I don’t want to see you, Senju,” Madara hissed, not even turning to face him. “I’ll see you tomorrow to hone the details of the trip, but don’t you dare show your face around the Uchiha compound.” And then, he left, leaving the god of shinobi to collapse back on his chair in depression.

Again, Izuna didn’t feel bad for him.

Tobirama scoffed, looking at Izuna. “I hope you’re happy with the outcome of this meeting.”

Izuna showed his teeth, growling a bit. “You got a problem, Senju?”

“Yes, you and your brother,” he replied.

“Please, don’t,” Hashirama said, looking as pathetic as a wet dog. Izuna was always a cat person. “I don’t want to have to explain to Madara why you two teared to pieces when he’s already mad at me.”

“Well,” Izuna said, crossing his arms, “he wouldn’t be upset if you two weren’t the most aggravating people in the village.”

“That’s rich,” Tobirama said, “coming from you out of all people.”

“Do you want to fight, Senju?” Izuna asked.

“Enough!” Hashirama spoke up. “You two, out of my office.”

Izuna clicked his tongue, sending Tobirama a last nasty look, and left. Not because the Senju had ordered so, of course, but because he needed to go home anyway.

He had a brother to fuss over, after all.

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Omake

Tobirama, after explaining his encounter with Izuna at the Uchiha compound: And that’s what happened

Hashirama:

Hashirama: When he says he’s the father… does he mean that it doesn’t matter who got Madara pregnant because he’s taking care of the baby afterwards

Hashirama: … or… does he mean he is the father

Tobirama: … I don’t know

Hashirama: … they wouldn’t… right?

Tobirama, remembering that Madara avoided peace for the longest time just because Izuna didn’t want it:

Tobirama: … if Izuna asked him…

Hashirama:

Hashirama: They… wouldn’t… right?

Tobirama:

Hashirama: