Chapter Text
It had been an intense week in Konoha. From the outside, everything looked normal. The sun shone brightly, inviting travellers to visit the village, and merchants happily spent their coin on contracts, food and other businesses. Only the Shinobi working in the village felt the pressure crackling through the air. The last month had been difficult already, but after last week, they ducked and avoided the Hokage Tower. The bravest among them had turned to drawing straws whenever they had to report to the office.
These days, Tobirama volunteered, relieving his fellows Shinobi of the gruesome task of facing his brother. Hashirama shouted seldom. A childhood under Butsuma's rule has turned him away from fits of rage. Those would be easier to bear, however, than the ever-increasing morose mood. Each day which passed without news made it impossible for normal men to face the inevitable despair.
"I have brought you tea and a light meal," Tobirama announces when he enters the office. Without his insistence, his brother will simply forget to eat and drink. "Please, Nii-sama, take a break."
It's a relief that Hashirama obeys without further protest. He even follows Tobirama out of the tower to the roof. It's not much, but this way Hashirama gets some sunshine. Tobirama suppresses a sigh as he watches Hashirama eat and drink in silence. Initially, it had not been noticeable. The worry about the mission always exists; it's the life they signed up for.
It only got increasingly bad when Madara missed the first check-in. After another three missed meetings and a worrisome lack of news, the Hokage sent out a search team. Tobirama did not have the heart to point out that the team, while good Shinobi, is not strong enough to truly aid the Uchiha if he were seriously in trouble.
No, they had been dispatched to bring back the body, in case they found one.
"He will be fine," Tobirama says, trying to reassure his brother. "A lack of news is good. If someone had gotten the better of him, they would be boasting about it."
The trembling chopsticks show how affected Hashirama truly is. He hasn't been sleeping either.
For now, Tobirama focuses on keeping the village running. He fears, if they do receive the news, the administrative work will fall to him. His brother would not rest or return until Madara's death was avenged.
After that ... the gods know what he will do afterwards. Tobirama shudders at the thought.
The depths of his brother's despair surprised him. They were friends, yes. Unlikely ones who work surprisingly well together. Pain over a loss was normal, especially in their work. But ... anguish to the point where hardened Shinobi did not want to add to it by not having good news to share?
The sight puzzles him.
"Madara can take care of himself, I know that," Hashirama finally says. His eyes are hidden by his long hair. "It's just that, if he dies ... if he's dead ... then I was the one who signed the fucking order. I sent him on that mission."
Oh. That.
Tobirama never thought of it that way. He respects his comrades, cherishes his family, and he has been on missions which ended in disaster. Which ended with the death of people he commanded. With the way Hashirama has been acting, it's not the same.
It's ... personal.
"Aniki...," Tobirama starts, not entirely sure what to say.
He has never looked at his brother's personal life too closely. Perhaps, he had been afraid of what he'd find. He never quite liked the Uchiha Clan. In recent years, he has come a long way from his earliest mistrust. Uchiha Madara ... well, he respects the man and he can understand that they can never be friends, not with Izuna's grave lying between them.
I never wanted this pain for you, Aniki, Tobirama thinks. That's why it is not a good idea to get too close to your comrades. You never know if they will return.
His brother stands up wordlessly, returning to his office and leaving Tobirama behind.
"Do you have anything useful?" Tobirama asks one of their recent spymasters.
Uchiha Madara's disappearance became priority the instant he missed the first check-in. Tobirama guiltily admits he had not thought it unusual. Noteworthy, yes, but as a cause for alarm. The spymaster and Jou-nin stationed at the mission desk think differently.
"Madara-sama is always punctual," the old man reports. "His method of informing is often, well, let's say creative. If he does not make it in time personally, he always manages to inform us through messengers put under Gen-jutsu. But to disappear entirely is not like him."
"Is there an area we could search? What should we do if the team returns empty-handed?" Tobirama asks.
They are heading towards the point where he has to either go himself or live with the fact of Hashirama tearing the continent apart. With their skill set, it makes more sense if Tobirama leaves the village. Leaving at least one of the founders of Konoha safely guarded.
Horror squirms in his guts when Tobirama thinks about what a prolonged absence could mean. A battle or a hostage situation would have been announced by now. More likely, ... a capture and someone looking for information. Well, no wonder the first search team headed out so fast. The Clans with Kekkai Genkai have more to fear on that front than the Senju, who have traditionally only large chakra reserves and their teamwork.
Hashirama will never forgive me if something happens to Madara, because I didn't join the search party earlier. Tobirama shoves the thought aside. It's not the time to think about what-ifs.
The old spymaster eyes him, humming. He points at a map. "I don't think you must head out as well, Tobirama-sama. Madara-sama is capable of handling himself. He lived through the war as spearpoint of the Uchiha Clan and its allies. It's not the first tight situation he found himself in, and the search team has volunteers made of Uchiha, Hyuuga and Inuzukas. They are going to find him."
"Let's hope he returns in one piece," Tobirama murmurs under his breath.
He shoves his disappointment aside. Taking action would have been easier than waiting. This way, he cannot do anything but return to his usual tasks.
Over the next week, Tobirama tries to keep his brother busy. He arranges an invitation for a travelling company which likes to trade seeds and fruits. It keeps Hashirama busy for a while, but each day his brother becomes more withdrawn. His face lacks the usual sheer and his well-known optimism feels forced.
Each day, Tobirama visits the spy master. There's nothing, some craps about rebels in the south and discontent over the price for a bag of rice. The usual, but nothing which explains Madara's prolonged absence.
"Have you asked the Uchiha Clan?" Tobirama finally folds at the end of the week. "Madara has enough enemies desiring revenge."
Unfortunately, he does not know all of them. Tobirama never thought he would discard potential allies and paying customers, but he would rather turn down a luxurious contract than see his brother this miserable again.
"Uchiha Sasaki has taken over for Madara during his absence. I meet her in the council meetings often enough, and she keeps me updated on the clan matters," Hashirama says. His skin looks pale; he has not gone out in weeks, too determined to week the village at least. The only reason why he's not skin and bone is because there's a rotating system to shove food into his mouth by determined and loyal friends and servants.
"She has said nothing?" Tobirama persists. "No one wanting revenge for Madara's actions during the war?"
They had that problem before. From assassination attempts to sabotage, or false contracts meant as a trap upon arrival.
"He was meant to meet some long-standing allies, actually," Hashirama shrugs helplessly. "They are interested in joining the village, and insisted on meeting only Uchiha Madara himself. It's just bad luck that their previous territory lies on Iwa's borders."
So some of the silence was expected, from the sheer travel distance alone. Messengers could be intercepted or lost due to the bad roads leading North. Helpless and unable to do anything but watch over his fading brother, Tobirama prays they will get news within the next week. Anything, even the death of Uchiha Madara, would be better than this.
Somehow, Tobirama convinces his brother to go home for tonight instead of sleeping in the tower again. He pretends not to notice when Hashirama falls asleep cradling an old cloak with a familiar clan crest on it.