Despite everything, Hashirama clings to the hope he found. A one shot in which Hashi and Mada are both 18 y/o. Tobirama and Izuna are both 15.

Angst incoming. [Involves canonical character death]

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He dreaded this day to come, but it was more of a mix of emotions. After five long years, he would see Madara again—he's looking forward to that. However, instead of their usual meeting place by the river, they would meet in the battlefield this time.

What might he be like by now? The last time they had seen each other, they were just twelve. Madara's hair was only chin-length then and he always wore those blue long sleeve shirt and white pants. Up until now, Hashirama could still vividly remember the slight blue tint on the Uchiha's black hair. He had always been fascinated by that. Would he still recognize him when they see each other?

Of course. He knew Madara. He would recognize him no matter how he's changed.

The rivalry between both their clans didn't cease for the past five years. In fact, they could have seen and fought each other in many battles, but Hashirama always found a way not to. He would make an excuse or would volunteer to fight in another battle when he'd learn that one of whom they were going to fight was Madara. It's not difficult to know about it, in fact. Madara is the eldest son of the head of the Uchiha clan, just as Hashirama is the eldest son of the Senju clan. Through the years, both of them gained their reputation in the battlefield, already leading their own men even at such a young age.

Butsuma, Hashirama's father, died recently in a battle against the Uchiha's. It was a clash against a group led by Madara himself.

When Hashirama learned about it, he denied it in his mind. Although they always had different principles and beliefs in life, he loved and respected his late old man. But Madara... Madara is his childhood friend whom he shared his dreams with. Hashirama is yet to accept what just happened.

Hashirama became the head of their clan only last night, and there during the announcement did he also learn about Madara. That he and him are to face each other in the battlefield tomorrow, and that Madara, too, is the head of the Uchiha clan now as his father has stepped down and would be his adviser.

"He's not who you think he was, anija," said Tobirama, who was also preparing for battle. The two brothers were wearing their battle attire and was currently gearing their weapons.

The sun had not risen yet that early morning, but every men in the compound were already active. Shouts of command and the sound of metal banging against metal filled the atmosphere.

Out of all these men who would go to battle, it will be considered fortunate enough if atleast half of them would return alive and in one piece. It was like an inevitable fate and Hashirama always hated it. He was hoping that he doesn't have to send these men to their own deaths, but it can't be helped. There is a war they should fight into and it would only stop once a single clan emerges as the victor.

Hashirama sighed. "We won't know until we see it for our own eyes, Tobirama," he said, tone brimming with hope despite everything.

Tobirama slightly shook his head. He can't think of a single reason for his older brother's stubbornness. Their father had just been killed by that Uchiha. Why does his older brother still think that Madara can't do that?

"He killed our father, anija. He—"

"You don't have to remind me, Tobirama," Hashirama interrupted, but he restrained himself from raising his voice. Tobirama did nothing wrong. He meant well for Hashirama, but it's wrong that he's putting the blame on Madara. Hashirama was still trying to make his resolve.

"I already know that. It was what the report said..." Hashirama added, staring at the starless sky. "...but didn't we also kill his own brothers?"

"Yes. Just like what they did to Kawarama and Itama."

Hashirama shifted his gaze to Tobirama. "This really is a twisted world, isn't it?" He forced a small smile but Tobirama saw that there was nothing genuine about that—it didn't reach his eyes, it's not his older brother's usual smile.

The two walked together to where the rest of the men were gathered. They gave commands and announced the general plan to the people. It was already disseminated last night after  Hashirama was proclaimed as the new clan head, but Tobirama was always thorough and wanted to make sure that everyone knows about it, for it may mean life or death.

"Looks like we're good to go, anija. We're only waiting for your command."

Hashirama gave a short speech. He thanked everyone in advance for joining him in battle and gave some motivational words to boost his clansmen's morale. Afterwards, they started to march to the battlefield.

-----

Five hours.

The battle has been going on for five hours. It was not until past noon that they reached the location. Now, the sun had set and the sky turned orange and indigo.

Only a few men from both clans remained standing, probably less than half of their original number. The smell of blood and sweat were accompanied by the earthy scent of the ground due to the rain that was heavily pouring. Aside from the exhaustion and fatigue, it made everything else even harder. One must be careful to correctly recognize who's who.

Hashirama had already lost count of how many Uchiha he'd killed so far. Not that it matters, anyway.

Thanks to his stamina, he doesn't feel tired yet. Well, physically. His mind was weary, thinking about his younger brother, his clansmen, and...Madara. The battlefield is an open ground, but it's not that wide. If he took a glance around, surely he would see Madara even from afar. But maybe deep inside him, he doesn't want that. Just the notion of seeing Madara in a battlefield made him uneasy.

For now, he's trying his best to put it on the back of his mind. Any distractions could be lethal during a fight. Besides, he's got other things to worry about: his younger brother—he wanted to make sure he's safe and that's why he's staying close to him. He made sure that Tobirama's just a few feet away from him so that he could come to his younger brother's side immediately when he needs help, but...

Hashirama turned his head to look for Tobirama. He had his eyes on him just a few minutes ago, but he didn't see him there. He looked around. Maybe he's just nearby, no need to panic now.

However, he didn't see Tobirama. Had he been too distracted to the point that he lost sight of his younger brother?! What the hell was he thinking?!

Tobirama is a formidable fighter even for his young age. He has a potential to be a great shinobi one day. Hashirama knows that and trusts his younger brother's abilities. But Hashirama didn't want to put everything on that trust. Even the strongest shinobi had their own weaknesses and would one day meet their downfall. A proof of that was their own father, who was a great shinobi but was not invincible.

Tobirama is his only remaining brother and he would do anything to protect and keep him safe.

Amidst all the shouting, battle cries, and the sound of swords clashing, Hashirama called out to his younger brother. He ran towards different directions but he still couldn't see him. He refused to look down on the ground and search for Tobirama among the pile of dead bodies scattered on the ground.

No. His brother is still alive. He can feel that.

He paused briefly to catch his breath. It's already half an hour when he started to look for him. His guards were down and he is completely vulnerable to any attack now, but his mind was focused on something more important. His eyes were getting blurry from the tears that were forming in his eyes, but this was not the time to cry. He lifted his head and started to run ahead.

A few minutes later, he heard a muffled voice coming from the forest. There was no mistake—it was Tobirama's. And although what he was saying was unclear, it was evident from the tone that he's having a hard time.

"Tobirama!" He called out when he reached where the voice was coming from. He then saw his younger brother, down on the ground, a sword was pointed at him. Hashirama rushed forward to his side.

But he froze when he saw who was holding the sword. He could not believe his own eyes. There he saw his childhood friend, with a longer hair, taller and more toned body, and the tint of blue in his hair that Hashirama always admired. Madara's Sharingan were blood red and glaring at him.

"Madara."

The Uchiha seemed totally shocked, too. His grip on the sword loosened a bit, but it's still pointed at the younger Senju. However, his eyes were glued to Hashirama.

Hashirama wasn't sure if his brain was playing tricks on him—he heard Madara say his name.

"Madara, please. Let's talk this through."

"Your brother," Madara's voice slightly cracked. "Your brother killed Izuna!" His grip on the sword tightened and he was moving it closer to Tobirama, but Hashirama noticed that he was trembling.

A few feet away from them, Hashirama saw a dead body lying on the ground. He was wearing the Uchiha colors.

It was Izuna.

"Kill him, anija. Don't worry about me." Tobirama said without a hint of fear or worry.

"Madara, please."

There were no words that escaped Madara's lips but his next actions were very clear and were enough answers.

He swung his sword and aimed it at Tobirama. Thankfully, Hashirama has quick reflexes. He was able to stop Madara's sword with his own.

"Tobirama, can you still run?" He queries, worried as he saw a wound on Tobirama's upper back.

"Y-yes, aniki."

"Thank goodness. Now, get out of here and find a medic ninja. I'll take care of this."

"But—"

"Go now!" He commanded. Hashirama rarely raised his voice but when he does, Tobirama knew that he's dead serious and would not listen to any more complaints. So he got up from the ground and complied.

The two friends fought for the next hours. No words were exchanged.

They were equals when it comes to taijutsu and kenjutsu, so they fought using ninjutsu during the majority of the battle.

Hashirama had always been stronger than Madara and the Uchiha knows that. He's down on the ground now, heavily painting and fatigue starting to take over his body. His chakra is almost depleted, too. Hashirama, on the other hand, was also exhausted and low on chakra.

"Madara, let's stop this. I don't want to fight you anymore."

The ravenette glared at him. His Sharingan was still activated as he was already preparing for his last attack. To kill Hashirama.

He slowly stood up then lunged forward at Hashirama, delivering his final blow, but the brunet stopped him in one single move. He knew that if Madara uses what little remaining chakra he has now, the Uchiha would certainly die.

"Please," Hashirama whispered.

The two of them were down on the ground now, Hashirama had Madara in an embrace. Madara's forehead was pressed on Hashirama's chest.

Madara was fighting back the tears which were on the verge of falling from his eyes. There's no way he would show this weakness in front of Hashirama. What remained of his affection for him that he tried so hard to erase for the past years, he replaced with the frustration and anger he's feeling right now.

He let out a long suffering sigh then broke free from Hashirama's arms. With one last look on his friend's face which was full of confusion, worry, and longing, he left.

Hashirama's mind went blank at that moment. He wanted to get up on the ground and chase after Madara, but his knees and legs won't allow it as heavy and hot tears fell down from his eyes.

He was hopeless...

...but he suddenly remembered what Madara said almost a lifetime ago.

-----

Five years ago...

They were at their meeting place. They spent the day together, doing what they usually do when they meet. When they were younger, they would play together, but they're already old for that now so they would rather train together and help each other with a new jutsu. Both of them enjoyed spending time with each other because well...they're together.

They were lying beside each other on the ground now, resting. They used their hands as pillow, eyes fixed upon the clear blue sky.

"I have something to tell you, Madara," Hashirama said after long minutes of comfortable silence.

"Hm?" The Uchiha responded, eyes still on the sky.

"I'm a Senju."

He looked at Madara, although he doesn't really know what to expect from his reaction. But of course, he expected him to be shocked. When they first met, they decided not to tell each other their last names for the world is at war and clans fight against other clans.

But Madara didn't seem shocked, or shaken at the very least. Instead, he calmly turned his head to the side to meet Hashirama's gaze.

"I know."

Hashirama's brows scrunched. Now, he's the one who was shocked. He quickly lifted his upper body with his elbow as support.

"You knew?!"

"Yes."

"Wha—Why—How?!"

"Intuition," was his only answer.

"What?! You seriously just guessed it?!" Hashirama's voice raised now but he's not angry. Just plain confused was all.

"Hmm, well, intuition plus some telltale signs coming from no one else but you," Madara explained simply, shrugging as if this was the most normal of situations.

Hashirama gave him a 'what-the-heck-are-you-kidding-me' look.

"For example, that one time when you accidentally wore a shirt with your clan symbol on the sleeve."

Hashirama was at a loss for words. His body fell back on the ground, his mind busy pondering, thinking of other times he might had been so careless and stupid not to keep his identity hidden. Moreover, Madara apparently knew that he's a Senju, yet continued being his friend.

"You know, I'm an Uchiha," Madara said like it was no big deal.

Hashirama took a few seconds and a few more extra seconds after that, to process what he had just heard.

"Whaaaaaat?!!!"

"You heard it, Senju."

The two looked at each other. "It's not like it changes everything, right? I mean, it doesn't matter what clan we belong to," Madara vowed.

And at that moment, Hashirama realized something important. Madara is right. They're best friends and knowing what clan they came from doesn't and would not ever change that fact.

"Yes. Yes, it doesn't," he paused, "but what if one day we have to fight each other in the battlefield?" It's not impossible, since their clans are rivals.

Madara thought for a while. "Let's promise each other then. Let's promise that we're still gonna be friends, no matter what happens between our clans." Madara cringed. He's being disgustingly cheesy, but he genuinely meant what he said.

Hashirama relaxed now. He smiled brightly at him. "Yeah, I like that promise."

This memory played graphically in his mind. He remembered every single detail of it—the leafy scent of the air, the slightly warm air against his skin, the sound of the flowing river, the soft chirping of the birds from the forest, the color of the cloudless sky, but most importantly, Madara—how his hands felt on his, how he smiled, too, when they made that promise. His eyes were full of hope.

-End-

There goes my first angst. I hope you like it!

-Cee