Hashirama and Madara both reminisce about the past and come to a realization. A fluffy one shot about these two idiots in love. Madara's pov, but switched to Hashirama's at the later part of the story.

Canon-compliant.

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It was a lovely afternoon. The summer breeze was gently blowing, rendering several leaves to fall graciously on the ground. Nothing can be heard from the background except from the sound of the wind blowing and the soft ruffling of clothes.

Hashirama and Madara were on their favorite place—at the top of a cliff overlooking the Village that they are just starting to build. It took them many years of fighting and losing their own clansmen and family members just to arrive at this very moment. For Hashirama, this really is a dream do come true.

However, for Madara, he doesn't really know. Is he happy that the Era of Warring States was finally over? Perhaps he is. But he ended up losing everyone in his family, even Izuna who he swore to himself he would protect until his last breath. He certainly failed. He's now alone in this world. The only reason he agreed on making peace with the Senju Clan is because of Hashirama, his best friend—his one and only friend.

Still, Madara pondered if this is the right thing to do. Up to this day, he still have doubts. He thought of the many uncertainties that the future brings. Yet somehow, he knew he shared this dream of Hashirama and he thinks this is all that matters, at least for now.

"Have you thought of a name yet?" uttered the Senju, snatching him from his train of thought. Hashirama noticed that ever since they got here, Madara hadn't said even a single word. Not that he's uncomfortable of the silence between them; there were times when they would spend their time together in silence and they would just sit side by side, gazing at the beautiful scene before them. But not today. He was completely aware that Madara doesn't smile a lot but he noticed that he seemed a bit sullen.

Several minutes of silence followed, until Madara spoke.

"Konoha." He turned to face his friend who was standing a few feet from him, but he didn't expect to see Hashirama's facial expression. His cheeks were a bit puffy and he was trying his best to seal his mouth to suppress his laughter.

Madara raised his brow and spoke annoyingly, "Hey, what's so funny?!"

This time, Hashirama cannot hold it in any longer and burst into laughter. He was holding his stomach and his knees were bent on the ground.

Clearly pissed off by this childish act of his, Madara stomped his feet and went closer to him. "Stupid, what's so funny?!" he yelled.

Hashirama tried to catch his breath to speak. "No-Nothing. It's j-just that it's ve-very literal. Hahahaha," he then pointed his index finger to Madara's right hand. The Uchiha was holding a leaf with a hole in the middle.

"You're the one who asked me, and now that I suggested a name, you won't take me seriously. Well then, how about you think of a name and I'll give my thoughts about it?"

Hashirama suddenly stopped from laughing. He composed himself and stared intently at his friend. "No, I seriously like it." he said, smiling genuinely.

Madara was taken aback. First, Hashirama laughed at his suggestion, and now he said he likes it? How Hashirama's brain functions was really a mystery to Madara up to this day.

"What? You like it?!"

"Yes. I like it... Konohagakure no Sato, The Village Hidden in the Leaves. Has a nice ring on it, don't you think?" Hashirama glanced at him briefly, then walked towards the end of the cliff and sat there.

Madara, although still a little bit perplexed by Hashirama's logic, followed and sat beside him. Both of them gazed at the view before them. They remembered when they were kids when they would secretly meet on the river and train or show new jutsu to each other. When the sun was about to set, they would climb to this very cliff and watch as the sun would slowly disappear. Although there were war everywhere, those afternoons spent with each other gave them peace, even for just a few hours.

"I'm thinking of making you the Hokage, Madara," the Senju spoke suddenly.

"What?" Madara doesn't understand. Why would Hashirama make him the leader of this Village? Doesn't he want himself to be the Hokage? This village was his dream, after all.

Hashirama turned his head to the side to look at him. "You deserve it," he said, a warm smile plastered on his lips. "Besides, I can't think of anyone who is more capable than you."

"B-but..."

"Of course, it's still the people who will decide, but I would certainly support you."

Madara sighed. After contemplating for a while, he nodded. Being the Hokage wouldn't be that bad. He's not new to leadership after all and he thought he can help the Village.

"Madara?" the Senju mumbled after a while, eyes still fixed on the scenery before them.

"Hm?"

"Thank you."

Madara turned to look at him. "For what?"

"For this...I know this is my dream and you only shared mine because you want to protect your brothers. But they're gone now and you're probably thinking that there's no point in building this Village anymore. Yet, you agreed with me." This time, Hashirama looked him in the eyes. He slowly reached for Madara's hand which was resting beside his lap.

Madara flinched slightly but didn't remove his hand from Hashirama's. This is strange, but somehow this feels right.

"I want you to know that you're not alone in this world. You have me."

Madara doesn't know how to react. He certainly feels...glad upon hearing these words from his friend. Yes, he's not alone in this world. He has Hashirama. But he couldn't understand why his heartbeat raised and his cheeks felt hot suddenly.

But this was not a new feeling at all. When he's with Hashirama, there were times when he would feel this way—when their faces would be inches away from each other, when Hashirama would suddenly hug him, or when the Senju would tell him something nice that's usually a compliment:

'Your hair is spiky and long, but I like it.'

'There's something wonderful in your eyes that makes me want to stare at you.'

'Your lips are just like of a girl's, it looks soft.'

Though he couldn't really tell if that last one was meant to be a compliment. Everytime he would feel this way, he would be flustered and would either move away from Hashirama and/or yell unpleasant words at him. Most of the time, it would be the latter and it would always result to Hashirama being suddenly depressed and would emit that gloomy aura around him. But Madara knew expertly how to deal with a 'depressed' Hashirama. A game of tag or a race along the river until they reach the cliff would always do the trick. But now that they're old for those, a sparring session by the nearby river was the new solution. That, or he'd start to play with Hashirama's hair. Hashirama is really simpleminded, Madara thought.

Through all those times that they spent together, he became admittedly fond of Hashirama. He is the only person in the world who he knew he could trust wholeheartedly, save for his own brother, Izuna. When he's with Hashirama, he could let his guard down and just be who he truly was.

The two stared at each other for what seemed like eternity. The whole time, Hashirama can feel Madara's stiffness. He would like to make his next move, but he's afraid of how the raven haired would react. He knew he could lose his friend but he would not know how Madara feels about him if he wouldn't do this.

It was when they were about thirteen years old when he started feeling this way about Madara. At first, he was really confused. Not a day passed that he didn't wish he could go to their meeting place and see him. He thought he only felt that way because Madara was his friend and he really enjoyed their time together. However, there's something about Madara that's making him feel differently. Years passed until he figured out that he likes him. The way he talks, the way he yells at him even, the way he would smirk, his spiky raven hair, the shape of his face which was too feminine to be of a man's, and most of all, the way the Uchiha looks at him that seems to draw Hashirama closer to him.

'Does he feel the same way, too?' This is what he's constantly been asking himself since the day he figured out his feelings.

Madara was not an expressive person and it's hard to read his thoughts. But maybe it's because of the amount of time that they spent together—Hashirama atleast have an idea of how the Uchiha feels. Madara might not show any emotions around other people, but Hashirama was no 'other people'.

Hashirama gathered all his courage. This is now or never.

"I like you, Madara." He mumbled, but all his courage seemed to have been spent on that one statement that now he feels terribly shy. He retracted his hand from Madara's and put it on the back of his neck, smiling sheepishly.

Madara was caught off guard. He was utterly shocked yet feels assured to hear those words. Should he tell him, too?

"I...I like you, too." He whispered in a very low tone, unfortunately too inaudible for Hashirama to hear.

"W-what?!"

Instead of answering, Madara swiftly put his hand on the back of Hashirama's neck and pulled him closer to place a soft kiss on his lips. It was just a quick peck and his eyes were tightly shut the whole time. He immediately removed his hand from him and placed it on his side.

"M-Madara..." Hashirama smiled stupidly. He was very happy that his feelings were returned.

He placed a hand on Madara's while his other reached his cheek. He kissed him lovingly and to his surprise, Madara kissed him back.

-End-