Promises and Future awaits
Pairing: Tobirama Senju x Uchiha!Reader
Summary: and when life brings enemies together you either play along or risk everything.
If there is something that Tobirama Senju can’t stand is how comfortable his brother is around Madara Uchiha, or any Uchiha for that metter.
He doesn’t understand why Ashirama has to constantly meet up with the leader of the Uchiha clan and mostly he doesn’t understand why she has to tag along. Maybe is a younger sibling thing he thinks.
Madara Uchiha and Ashirama Senju are sitting next to the river talking about only they knew what. He was sitting next to her, at the top of a tree not so far away. He had to keep an eye on his older brother.
“You know, if you keep at looking at them without blinking even once your eyes are going to kill you one day” she comments and he turns around with a confusing expression. “Just saying. I have some eye drops if you were to be in need” Tobirama scoffs, rolling his eyes because his nerves were running thin at the moment. One Uchiha was enough but two? Too many for his liking.
He goes back at checking at his brother, making sure Madara doesn’t do something stupid, or worse, his brother does something stupid. He jumps off the tree and doesn’t stop when he hears you asking him to wait for you. He doesn’t care if she stays behind or not.
“Ohy Tobirama” she is now next to him, her stealth going unnoticed by the shinobi regardless his ability.
“Is Senju for you.” He simply says, his attention still on the older of the family. She clears her throat and corrects herself calling him by his family name. Tobirama didn’t expect her to do so.
“What do you think they are talking about?” He doesn’t know and to be honest he doesn’t care what is so important for his brother to talk with an Uchiha, again, he is there just to keep an eye on them. “I think is to keep the peace between the clans.”
“And still I don’t know why is so necessary to talk walks outside the grounds of Konoha” he says, this time he take a quick look at her. She has long black jaded hair, just like her eyes, the Uchiha signature color. He doesn’t look far down than her face. He doesn’t care.
“They used to be best friends before they found out about each other families. Maybe they just want to spend some time together while keeping peace between our clans”
“Still, useless” he comments, turning back around and following his brother from a distance. “The only way to keep peace between the two clans is…” he gets cut off when he hears his brother calling his name.
“You need to tell me later your opinion on how to keep peace between our clans. Ash… Senju” the older looks at her confused and so her brother, why is she so formal?
“Ah YN don’t need to be so formal with me” he comments, and she only shakes her head. The older one understands it has something to do with his brother and whatever he had told you.
“Not my fault, I told her that she should address me as Senju. That’s it.” He says before Ashirama could scold him. “She is probably being nice by calling you Senju in front of me.” He adds. And he is so sure about that because he knows you are somewhat the nicer Uchiha that he had to interact with.
She agreed, clearing up his suspicions and he almost smiles. Almost. Feeling the sides of his lips turning up he stops before it is too late, before his brother, Madara, or worse, you could see the expression on his face.
Ashirama says something, but the youngest Senju can’t hear. He doesn’t hear it, his mind everywhere else than there. Tobirama asks to repeat and Madara is the one that teases him for his lack of attention.
“So… I was wondering…” she starts, jumping on the side of her brother. “What were you and Ashirama talking about?”
“Nothing too serious just two friends…” but Tobirama cuts him off. Scoffing he lets a soft “enemies” out his mouth. Everyone is looking at him now. His brother is sadden about Tobirama’s feelings towards the rival clan; Madara isn’t that surprised and she was upset.
“We aren’t enemies. Not anymore” he doesn’t answer, his silence speaking louder than anything he could say. He wasn’t going to forgive the Uchiha’s not today, not tomorrow, not never. “You won’t forgive us, will you?”
He expression hardens, and his voice becomes stern as he answers her that he will never forgive them, not when they have been at war with each other for decades.
“Do you really think i would ever forgive the Uchiha, just because we talk every day?”
“Not because we talk to each other but because my clan is sticking to their side of the deal. And besides would it be nice for all of use to be friends?” He is getting annoyed the more she speaks and the word friends is like punch in the face, turning to face her better he narrow his eyes and takes long steps towards her.
“You think…” One step closer. “That I, a Senju…” another step closer “would ever be friend…” and another one “with the people…” and again. At this point Madara steps in, moving her behind him. “That killed my brother?” He looks at you from Madara’s shoulders and he can see she doesn’t seem intimated by him. He doesn’t like it.
“You killed my brother too.” She says and he doesn’t move, he doesn’t add anything, not that he could. “And look at me, here trying to be a decent human being.” She pushes Madara on the side and Ashirama has to help him to not fall. “Respecting your boundaries because I wasn’t raised by a pa… you know what? I don’t need to give you explanations at all.”
Tobirama is at a lost for words, he knows she is right how could he think otherwise? But the pain is too much for him to forgive them. “It was war. It was for self-defense. It is different.” He comments and he wishes he didn’t say such words because now she is fuming with rage but she has self control, he would give her that.
Taking deep breathes she pinches the bridge of her nose, keeping calm she takes some seconds before speaking. “Is the same thing Tobirama. The war was just an official statement of what was going on. So stop with excuses.”
Expleining how he doesn’t need excuse for his actions he reminds her, and Madara who is there too, how they couldn’t expect him to forgive the Uchihas for what they did so easily, so soon. “Never said you have to forgive us now, but maybe one day? Can you think about it at least?”
“I don’t know. I have to see how things evolve from here” he says after a moment of deep thought. And she is happy, Tobirama can tell. Her face light up a little and she gives him a smile.
Is when the four of them sat down, close the river bed that Tobirama took a seat next to her, eyes filled with something that shouldn't be there, at least in his mind shouldn't be there at all. How can she be happy and all smiley when he had been so rude and cold to her just minutes ago? He didn't understand her optimism.
"Why are you trying so hard to get me to not hate your family anymore?" she turned to look at him, her expression serious this time. He is about to tell her to let it go, the question was stupid for him to ask. That he didn't know why he did that but she stopped him and answered him. Telling the youngest Senju it was because she is doing the same with his family too. That some Uchihas still hate the Senjus but she is trying to change their minds and dropp the hate. "Why? Why would you go out of your ways to do it?"
"Because I want peace, Tobirama. I don't want to risk it just because people can't move on. What is in the past should stay in the past. People change and we should give them a second chance." He scoffs, he doesn't think people can actually change, once a murderer always a murderer.
Looking at her Tobirama is sure that he never met an Unchiha like her before, not everyone else of her clan would bring up such topics, nor they would try to make people change their minds. She was different and still he couldn't bring himself to trust her. She is engoulfed in a conversation with Madara, something makes her laugh but he can't understand what it is. Is a joke the older Uchiha said? Or is the way she like to tease her brother?
"What do you think of her?" asks his brother, out of nowhere taking him off guard. "Do you like spending time with her?" Tobirama gives him a death glance and Ashirama raises his arms in surrender reminding him he was just asking, nothing too serious. "But for real, if you had to spend an intery day with her how would you feel?"
"I think I wouldn't mind it that much. She seems okay" the other Senju starts to think to himself, blabbering nonsenses under his breath. "what is going on in that mind of yours?"
"OHY YOU TWO..." she cuts off the two brothers, getting their attention they notice she had found a nice place where to take a seat and probably have lunch. And so it is, because when the two Senjus are finally there she handles the younger one two sandwiches first. "I remember you aren't very fond of tomatoes in your sandwich" and then let the other two men get theirs. "I swear I didn't poison it, I can prove it if you want"
"Is okay. I was just surprised you took the time to make mine without tomatoes, that's all" his voice is stoic but more of a whisper, as if he doesn't want the older two ninjas to hear him. But they do, they can hear his words but keep to themselfes because is not the right time to tease him, not when they have a little something to reveal.
Something is wrong, Tobirama can sense it. The air is heavier and his brother is weirder than usual. He would like to ask, to have the answers to why Ashirama is looking between him and her so much but knowing his brother maybe is nothing.
Madara is weird too, and this doesn’t sit right with the younger Senju, not when the older Uchiha is looking between him and her so much.
"Stop looking at us" he and her say in unison, and he is surprised she even noticed the looks they were given. Tobirama Senju didn't take her as a good observer, not when she seemed so caught up in her own, all rainbow and sunshines, world to notice what was happening around her.
"we are not looking at you two" starts Madara, obviously lying.
"yeah, why would we?" keeps going Ashirama. "you aren't that interesting" he adds, scoffing and crossing his arms faking disinterest.
Tobirama is ready to talk back to his brother but she does it first, commenting on how the youngest siblings are always more interesting than the older ones. He finds himself scoffing at the comment, mostly because of how his brother reacted. With teary eyes and a shivering lips he leans against the older Uchiha and tells him how his sister is being mean to him for free.
"You are prooving her point by being annoying" Madara states, pushing him slightly away but Ashirama is back clingy at him once again and Madara doesn't seems to mind too much. Something is going on between those two, Tobirama thinks.
Madara Uchiha has a lot of problems, Tobirama is sure about that but his sister? Even more. How is it that she does NOT flin....
"I'm sorry I have to marry who now?" Okay no, she still has some common sense. "just because I want to be his friend doesn't mean I am fine with marry this thing here" she adds.
"EHY" yes, he fells offended at how she had just called him "I have a name"
"Now you care? Didn't you heard what our brothers just said?"
"I did, and brother this is a crazy idea, but I don't like being called 'a thing' you know?"
"Once in your life can you please, for my well being, be focused on the right thing?" she is annoyed and he can't blame her. He is annoyed too.
"Look, if is for you I will keep focusing on the wrong thing." he can see her trying her best to not choke him in that instant. “But, going back to the main problem here…” he hears her let out a soft ‘thank you’ and smirks. “Who got this idea?”
Ashirama points at Madara and the older Uchiha looks at his friend offended.
“Not my idea.” He protests.
“You didn’t disagree either.”
“I’m sorry, you didn’t disagree? What kind of an older brother are you?” Madara wants to explain but Tobirama can imagine the Uchiha doesn’t have a strong enough explanation to why he didn’t reject the idea of a forced marriage. “There is no escape, am I right?”
Madara and Ashirama look at her desolated, she was right, Tobirama could tell that no matter how much they fought and rejected the idea the wedding wasn’t going to be called off. Either by his or her family.
“I guess we can’t say no to this.” He comments taking everyone off guard. “What? Is not like I enjoy this situation but I know I can’t say no.” Ashirama jumpes at him, happy that his younger brother is trying to make the best out of it.
The day leading to the wedding Tobirama never meet her. Not by accident, nor when he asked to see her. She was avoiding him like the plague.
“I don’t know what’s her problem” he says at his brother, but he doesn’t really wanna know the answer. He needs to vent. “She is all friendly and wants to make me change my mind and the moment we found out about the wedding she avoids me.”
Ashirama wants to tell him the reason, he knows it, but his brother doesn’t let him.
“Am I that hard to be around?”
“I mean…” the younger Senju gives him a death glance. “It is true. You are a pain in the ass when is about the Uchihas.” He takes a sip of his drink. “And besides she is avoiding you so you two won’t be mad at each other tomorrow.”
“Is tomorrow?” He almost forgot about it, key word: almost. Ashirama rolls his eyes not believing his brother could almost forget such a day.
“This is why she is avoiding you. You really forgot the day of your own wedding?”
“Is not like I wanted to get married in the first place.” He comments, and Ashirama knows is true, he knows that if his brother wanted to get married he wouldn’t have almost forgot about it.
“Okay, fair enough. But promise me one thing. Tomorrow do NOT, I’m begging you, do not get on her nerves. At least not in front of the guests.”
“I can promise you to be on my best behavior” Tobirama laughs, teasing his brother like that was his favorite part of the day and he needed some fun time before being caged into a marriage he didn’t want.
Avoiding Tobirama wasn’t easy, not when he seemed to be looking for her from time to time. The only way she had to not see him was to never leave the Uchiha’s territory, or so she thought because why is she seeing him at the entrance of her house the day before the wedding, late in the evening?
Looking around she notices she is alone outside. Everyone already home or still at work. She wondered why the police force wasn’t patrolling that area at the moment. Just her luck, she thought.
“Got lost?” She approaches him, and Tobirama almost jumps out of his skin hearing her voice. She notices “sorry, didn’t mean to scare you”
“Don’t worry, I wasn’t expecting…”
“You weren’t expecting me to come back to my house? That’s hilarious.” He wants to explain but what could be a good enough excuse? Nothing.
“Listen, I just wanted to apologize. I am sorry you felt like you needed to avoid me those last weeks.” She gave him a shy smile. “But you could have told me” he seems genuine, she thinks and is weird. Sure not weirder than having to marry a guy you barely know. “I wished we could have talked a little, just to get to know each other before tomorrow”
“We can talk now. If you don’t mind of course, I am sure you wish to be anywhere but inside an Uchiha’s home” she mentally palm faces herself, why did she needed to be this passive-aggressive with him?
“I won’t mind, and besides I don’t think this is going to be my last time here”
"My, oh my, is the Tobirama Senju being soft with an Uchiha?" she comments and he smiles, a soft and tiny little smile, but a smile regardless and she notice but doesn't comment. The fear of annoying him too big to do something about it.
Entering Tobirama is surprised to not see anyone, not Madara (lucky him) not her father nor her mother. He asks where everyone is and she looks at him surprised. Didn't he heard the music? Didn't he met anyone on his way here?
"So they partying without the bride?”
“Very soon-to-be bride. The wedding is in…” he checks the clock “seven hours”
“That’s not very soon. Very soon is in like an hour, or two max” she jokes and he finds himself smiling again. Was she always that nice to be around? Probably and he curses at himself for not noticing this sooner. Well he has a life to make it up to her, he thinks. “You want something to eat? Drink?”
“No, I’m…” but she was already filling up a glass with water for him. He is sure. He is also sure it out of habit. “Water is fine.”
They had the worst idea ever, who even left them talking all night long when they had to get ready early in the morning for the wedding?
Tobirama curses himself, he is too tired that morning, but he was happy that Madara didn’t stop them from talking.
She is too nervous, she doesn’t want to get married anymore. Sure Tobirama seemed very nice the night before but he is known to hate the Uchiha and this wasn’t going to stop just because he was marrying one, right?
She doesn’t want Tobirama to get in the room, she doesn’t want to let her family down neither. She doesn’t know what to do.
Someone knocks at the door, is Madara. He wants to know what the hell what was the problem.
“Tobirama is the fucking problem.” She confesses.
Madara sights, she can picture him pitching the bridge of his nose, a habit of his when annoyed with her.
“Madara Uchiha don’t sight at me. I swear, is… ugh. Fucking Senju making me second guess if this is actually a good thing.”
“What do you mean I make you nervous?”
“I mean… I’m nervous about how our life will be like.” Tobirama is surprised at her words. More because just some hours ago they were talking like civiliazed humans being and now she was worried about their marriage life?
“Can you open this door?” He says. He sounds exasperated.
“Why? So you can make fun of me to my face? No thank you”
“Just…” silence. “Open this door so we can talk.” Another round of silence from both sides. She doesn’t want to open the door, this is a fact and Tobirama had to take a deep breath. “Please open the door.”
She opens the door, a little bit. Perking her head out she doesn’t look at him at all.
He thinks to himself that her make up and hair look nice, he wonders how she looks in a kimono. In his defense he never saw her in one (like he ever cared to know before the news) and was curios. Yes, he is just curios. Nothing more, nothing less.
Tobirama looks at her with a judging look, was she for real? He scoffs before asking her to let him inside. She makes him promise to not be his usual self and the soon-to-be-husband just nods his head.
“Okay, what is that makes you, oh so nervous?” He did start with the wrong foot “sorry, force of habit.” She rolls her eyes.
“I enjoyed talking with you yesterday, I really did and I appreciated that you came to my place but…” she doesn’t know how to tell him, how is she supposed to without making him mad? Will he even care enough to get mad?
“But? But what?” Tobirama had too a seat on the couch of the room, and he noticed that she looks nice with the kimono on.
“But I don’t want to live in a house that feels cold.” She confesses and the younger Senju understands, she doesn’t need to explain what she means by that, he knows. He knows too well and he feels bad that she thinks that.
The younger Senju also knows he isn’t the right brother when it comes to comforting people, but he needs to, at least in this situation for now. So he tries his best.
“Listen, I know I am not the perfect husband material guy out there but we are in this situation, together, for the well being of Konoha. Which both of us care, am I right?” She nods her head, she doesn’t need to say anything at the moment. “So…” he sits up and takes her hands in his, they feel nice he thinks “…I promise to not be a stranger in our own house, and if you need anything, emotionally or physically wise, just tell me, I have a hard time reading people especially you Uchihas considering you are always moving in the shadows” she laughs, a short snort actually but she is smiling now.
A thank you is all that matters, Tobirama knows she doesn’t need to make promises now. She had always been the nice one between the two of them. Both during and after the war that took place between the two clans.
Tobirama is the one that needs to smooth out the edges when it comes to his rivals because now, that he likes it or not, he has to marry one of them.
He is still holding her hands, squeezing them lightly to silently ask her if she is better now, if she is ready to walk out that room with him on her side. She is. She doesn’t know what the future has in store for her, for them. She knows Tobirama will try his best and so is she.