Floating and drifting like little shimmering jewels, fireflies lit up the night while in the background cicadas shrilly chirped in amongst the shadowed foliage and trees; the quiet bubbling and movement of water could minutely be heard, a small stream being hidden by the night but also of the nature that was surrounding it. It was in this night, enjoying the silence that Hashirama found his sister, sitting on their small porch area, onigiri in her hand, small patches of rice around her mouth. Hashirama couldn't help but shake his head, a small chuckle coming from him as Saruyama looked his way when she realised, he was there.

Crouching down, Hashirama reached up with his hands, keeping her chin in place with one hand he used the other to brush rice away, flicking the remnants on the ground as he did so. She just pouted his way, looking away shyly, as if it was embarrassing to be caught being so engrossed in her food that she got it around her mouth. Hashirama could see why she'd feel on the spot there, but he also found the moment endearing and finished the moment off by pinching her cheek lightly.

He all but flopped down beside her, leaning back against the cool wood surrounding their house, his legs bent over the side. Granted his view wasn't as relaxing as hers, a couple of moths were fluttering and hitting against the lantern that was lit and above him. His brown eyes watched their languid twirls and circling before turning his head, hands propped under them, to look at his sister.

"You'll choke if you're not careful!" He all but despaired, Saruyama looked at him, cheeks full of rice, it looked like she had finally got to the tasty centre and regardless of safety, she was cramming the meal into her mouth, one way or another.

Hashirama practically winced watching the huge mouthful she took, while Saruyama seemed to not notice how painful it could've looked. Being free from food for the moment, she turned and looked at him. "Shh! Tobirama doesn't know I've taken one..."

"He isn't stupid, Saruyama. Why do you think he makes extra?" Hashirama chuckled and removed a hand from behind his head, if only to pinch the bridge of his nose. Tobirama was far from stupid, Hashirama had to say he was perhaps one of the smartest people he knew, regardless of his age. Hashirama did also find it amusing how his brother had taken up providing them with meals, he couldn't quite remember when Tobirama started doing that, probably around the same time he found a love for fishing and didn't trust anyone else to gut and debone his catches; let alone cook them.

Saruyama looked down at the pickled seasoning on the inside before looking at her brother. "Where did you go today?" Nothing had been said about the meeting which Butsama, Hashirama and Tobirama attended. It was like an unspoken thing which apparently didn't need to be known. But Saruyama was curious, and there was clearly a reason herself and Itama were kept at bay. She could figure why she was left out, still healing, but Itama was fine; he was left to look out for her and look how well that went.

Hashirama sighed and sat up slowly, he leaned back on his hands and stared out at the garden like area that was before him. It wasn't a garden as such, overgrown plants, shrubs, trees, a clearing which could be considered a lawn. The area they used for training was on the opposite side of their home. Hashirama could understand why she came here, it was peaceful, and for the most part none of their family really came to this part. There were certain rooms which were inhabited the most, and out this way wasn't on the list.

Hashirama could still remember his mother being out here, but vaguely, the memory was very hazy. Sliding his eyes to his sister, Hashirama inhaled slowly, "I suppose you'll hear eventually," Saruyama turned and tucked her legs underneath herself. She started eating slowly, her eyes concentrated on him like she was about to hear the most ultimate information ever. "Not that we ever lost contact with them, but the meeting was with the Uzumaki clan. They're having issues of their own, we've always been allies."

"We'll help them, if they help us."

Hashirama didn't like the plain way she said it, "Ultimately, yes."

"Why did father take you and Tobirama then? Surely himself and others would've sufficed?" Saruyama nibbled at the onigiri, she seemed a bit bored by eating now, Hashirama could almost hear the gears turning in her mind.

"We're the oldest, I suppose. And we're two of the strongest in our clan, too." Hashirama inwardly winced uttering the words, it wasn't like what he said was false, or a lie. Saruyama hummed and looked distantly to the side, her eyes seemed dimmer as she just stared off at nothing. Hashirama tilted his head, reaching over and patting her on the head, he ruffled her hair and gave her a wry grin, in hopes to cheer her up. The usual moans of stopping didn't happen, and Hashirama just tilted his head with a worried expression gracing his face. Saruyama just peered up from her eyelashes at him, a strange, disjointed look in her eyes. Hashirama was concerned, this silence was odd, and she seemed to have retreated away from him in some way.

Saruyama just turned and commenced eating again, smaller mouthfuls this time although Hashirama still watched her with a concerned look. "Your day sounds like it was a lot more fun though. Don't envy Tobirama and I, Saruyama, it was all very boring, if I'm honest. We weren't really needed, and all we did was meet some members of the clan."

"I'm not envious." Saruyama said quietly around a mouthful.

Hashirama sighed and hung his head, "It sure sounds like you are!" He despaired with faux drama.

Saruyama groaned and hung her head, her food was swallowed beforehand, so she didn't choke and cause Hashirama to freak out. Her red eyes looked at the ceiling above her, the moths still twirled around the closed off flame of the lantern. She sighed heavily and leaned her head against her shoulder and stared his way. "It's really tedious and boring being left behind." Saruyama rolled her hand, small pieces of rice flicked from her snack as she did so.

Hashirama did look sympathising, he could only imagine. "But you're really not missing out on anything, Saruyama."

"It still isn't the point, Hashirama. Poor Itama got left to look after me, when he could've very well have gone with you. Going to these things could really benefit him, you know?"

"And you." Hashirama tilted his head and watched her nibble thoughtfully before scrunching her nose up. "Or not," he chuckled, Saruyama wasn't interested really in things that were of a diplomatic nature, he knew that but even still. Hashirama sighed lightly and nodded, he did agree with her. "I know, I truly do."

Saruyama concentrated on eating for a short time before sniffing and giving a half-shrug, "My day wasn't that eventful." She decided to reply to her brother's statement after a while.

Hashirama leaned his forearms against his thighs and looked at her dubiously. He narrowed his eyes as if scrutinising to see if she was fibbing or covering up. Saruyama's expression stayed neutral and calm, Hashirama pouted as if in defeat. She truly did believe her day was dull. Hashirama would've enjoyed her day a whole lot more than what transpired in his. Following their father around on a tour of the Uzumaki compound wasn't exactly thrilling. Meeting people was fun, Hashirama was all for being sociable, but the chatter that entailed from the day...yes, he can admit he did zone out a few times only to feel Tobirama nudge him subtly in the ribs.

"It looked it though, or rather from the latter part I witnessed," Hashirama rubbed a chin to his hand, a small grin forming and raising an eyebrow at his sister.

Saruyama looked impassively back at him, swallowing the last of her onigiri before patting her knees and stretching her legs out and over the wood they were sitting on. Her feet only just touched the cool grass below. "The first part wasn't. But did you know, I think Itama may have a little crush, or potentially a girlfriend?"

Hashirama's eyes widened, turning and putting his hands in the space between them, he looked positively bursting with happiness, even if his eyes did also seem a bit glossy. "Our little brother has found his first love?"

"Dramatic way of putting it, but I suppose so? I don't know, it seemed...cute, reciprocated." Saruyama put a hand thoughtfully to her chin and looked at the night sky, the moon had just been hidden by a cloud and the silver beams could barely be seen escaping the cover. Hashirama put his hands to his cheeks and sniffed, Saruyama looked at him oddly. "Are you going to cry?"

"No! No, honest," he waved a hand dismissively in the air, Saruyama was unconvinced. Shaking his head and not so subtly wiping a hand across his eyes, Hashirama beamed. "I am just happy for him." How many children lived to have their first crush? Hashirama for sure couldn't count them, not that he knew many...if any. It was just one of those sweet, innocent and naive things that every child should surely experience, right? He found the way in which she confusedly explained this a bit funny, struggling in the emotions department could be Tobirama's traits inherited for sure.

"His friends seem nice."

"But?"

Saruyama looked at Hashirama for a long silent second before sighing. "I feel awkward around kids my age. I did ask Madara if that was weird, or normal, and he was very little help." She said, though she whispered the dark haired boy's name very quietly, just in case.

Hashirama put his arm around his sister as he scooted closer, the pair looked out at the garden scape and though the silence was enjoyable, peaceful, he couldn't help but frown a little. Of course, he didn't like to think of his sister being in discomfort, and socially he could see how anyone would struggle; it was a risk to make friends, because they very well may not be here the next day. "I get the feeling in the friend department; he wouldn't be able to answer your question anyway."

Saruyama nodded slowly, "He does seem...lonely, maybe not lonely but aloof?" She frowned and narrowed her eyes; she was trying to decide if even that was the right word. There was just something, some aura that hung around Madara, it could very well come off as distant, disinterested even.

Hashirama's eyebrows rose as he grinned and squeezed her shoulder gently and pulled her closer a couple of times, laughter threatening to appear as his other hand lifted up to wag a finger in the air. "Noticing the little things about our friend, are you?"

"I'll hit you, Hashirama." The insinuation had Saruyama narrowing her eyes up at him. "It's easy to notice loneliness in others, when you feel it too."

"You're lonely?"

"I feel rather alone, at times." Saruyama admitted. "Maybe not loneliness, but I feel there's a void. Like treading water, everything is moving fast, and I am stuck. Change, it's a sudden change and I'm just watching it happen."

Hashirama looked at his sister as her eyes grew remarkably distant as she spoke quietly, more to herself maybe than him. Retrospective moments were becoming common with her, and Hashirama just held her a little tighter and rested his head on top of hers. "Change isn't always a bad thing, Saruyama, just remember that." He said quietly and looked up when silver lighting became more prominent thanks to the clouds moving from the moon.

"I didn't feel so lonely today. The latter part of the day, at least." Her eyes flicked about the dark landscape before moving her head from under her brother's and looking at Hashirama confusedly. "And to be honest, it was quite fun." She added on with a shy smile, Hashirama found himself smiling in return and prodding a finger to her cheek, which to him in this light was looking suspiciously redder.

"Oh!" Hashirama said rather childishly while poking her cheek again. "I do believe you are blushing, little sister."

"Nope!" Saruyama clapped her hands against her cheeks and vehemently shook her head.

"What is going on so suddenly? My little siblings are growing up so fast and finding their first loves, and I'm missing out on watching the happiness unfold!"

"Hashirama, that sounds super creepy. Please do not watch Itama or I, it's weird." Saruyama shrugged herself free of her brother and stood up, placing her hands on her hips she looked down at him with a shake of her head. "And that isn't it! I said I liked the day, that doesn't allude to anything." She threw her good hand in the air before turning on her heels. "Let's be realistic, we're all at war-"

"That may be the case, but would you really deny yourself, or even Itama, this little moment to be happy?" Hashirama shot up and looked at his sister as she paused in the doorway, her hand on the frame as she tilted her head.

"I want the best for my brother, no matter how fleeting it is, I'd want him to know happiness with Satoko, she seems to like him too." Saruyama decided firmly with a nod, she turned when hearing Hashirama step closer, he put his hands on her shoulders and smiled, that was pure selfless love right there for their sibling.

"You too, deserve the best, Saruyama."

Placing her hands on Hashirama's wrists, she smiled somewhat pitifully. "That's a little trickier."

He beamed suddenly and shook her gently. "You do like him!" He practically exclaimed only to have his sister's wide eyes staring at him and her hand clasping over his mouth, Saruyama was trying to silence Hashirama, but he still mumbled against her hand.

"Hashirama, do shut up!" Saruyama frowned and pushed away from him. Hashirama just continued to look quite smug at her while she despaired and shook her head. "Don't," she pointed a finger at him and started to back into their home.

"What?" Hashirama did an awful job of acting ignorant.

"Don't encourage, and don't say anything." Saruyama was being serious here as she stared at him. Platonic friendship with Madara was it, nothing more, nothing less, they were friends, end of. Anything more couldn't happen, not without endangerment, and Saruyama wasn't selfish, she wouldn't put her feelings above common sense and put anyone close to her in danger from a stupid action. Having a crush on someone, was stupid, and seriously bad timing, literally they were all fighting amongst themselves, she could die, Madara could die, then what? Saruyama had witnessed people in their clan get lost in despair from losing a special loved one, the absolute weight of that grief looked all-consuming and agonising.

Hashirama held up his hands, "I shall say no more." He sounded honest though he jumped and stepped beside his sister as they walked inside, her shutting the door after them to keep any insects out. He put an arm loosely around her shoulders and smiled innocently, "I just think it's cute."

"I will hit you, Hashirama, I swear."

"Fine, fine. Silence," Hashirama even put a finger to his lips and nodded, quiet it was.

Saruyama laughed, "You can't be quiet for more than five minutes. The only time you are is when you're sleeping, or we're eating...even then you still try and talk." Shaking her head, Saruyama was trying to decide when Hashirama had become the chatterbox but had always known him to like to chat. "Actually, I swear I've heard you talk in your sleep too...so even then we're not safe!" She whined and ran a hand down her face.

Hashirama, finger still against his lip looked at her indignantly while they continued down the corridor, he was seriously trying to prove her wrong, yet from the sceptical look Saruyama sent his way, she just knew he was going to crack and come out with something very soon. Surprisingly he actually didn't, up until they entered one of the main living spaces and Tobirama asked why he was walking around like that; granted Hashirama said nothing about a possible crush, instead he said it was a bet himself and Saruyama were having, to see how long he could be quiet. He lasted five minutes.

—

Clearly being the more responsible sibling, Tobirama had found himself with the duty of getting Saruyama to a medic-nin, they had healed what they could initially, then decided to allow her body to heal the rest of the wound. Hopefully by now, she had healed, but even still the bandage needed to come off, and she needed to be checked over. As desperate as everyone was for able bodied fighters, throwing someone halfway through healing into a fight just seemed like a sure-fire way to bring about that person's death.

That was something which Tobirama was not going to allow for his sister. Even as he stood cross armed and silently watching the person see to Saruyama, he listened to her rather chirpy responses, he narrowed his eyes suspiciously; she was rather good at telling them what they wanted to hear. Tobirama wasn't exactly fooled unlike these lot, his sister was still pained in some way, but seemed ready and able to go back to fighting.

Something else Tobirama wasn't exactly going to allow, at least not willingly. She seemed to appraise her arm, now that it was free from the bandage. Yes, it felt liberated, truly it did. The fresh air felt refreshing, but she couldn't help but narrow her eyes at the pinkish scar which did curl up her arm from her wrist, the way it coiled over her forearm and peaked just a few inches above the bend of her elbow. It was a little tender, but that would go with time.

"Oof!" Saruyama wheeled her arms in the air as she was going to enter their home, only to find Tobirama's hand clasping onto her shoulder gently and pulling her the other way. Righting herself, she looked confused, "What are you doing?"

"We are training. I don't know what you do with Hashirama, but I can guess it isn't training." Tobirama shook his head minutely, he wasn't calling his brother lazy, but Tobirama knew full well how Hashirama had the tendency to be a bit relaxed, and he was especially lenient where their younger siblings were involved. Being lenient wouldn't make them any less inclined or able to be involved in fighting, they'd be pitted in a fight, regardless. Tobirama did understand it's because he didn't want them to fight, any of them, Tobirama included; but that wasn't how the world worked.

"We do...sometimes..." Saruyama sounded so sure to begin with, then trailed off to nothing when Tobirama narrowed his eyes silently at her.

"Do you know why the Uzumaki's called upon us?" Tobirama let her go, once they got to the small training area attached to their home. He crossed his arms over the grey vest he had on, and watched Saruyama straighten out her light blue one, which if he was wrong, distinctly looked like it belonged to him at one point or was one of the ones he wore currently. He wasn't even going to bring the subject up of her nabbing his clothes, Tobirama knew she did it, and clearly it wasn't something that was going to stop.

Saruyama kicked her sandal against the dirt, looking at him like she had been caught out, she rolled her eyes to the side. Targets were nearby, all of which had been pierced many times by numerous weapons from all of them. "No...Hashirama never disclosed that information to me."

Tobirama wasn't silly, he knew Hashirama wouldn't be able to keep quiet about this. Yes, their other two siblings had a right to know who they met with, but Tobirama believed it was more beneficial for them to know when the moment was right. "I doubted he would." Tobirama looked to the side at the targets too before flicking his eyes sidelong at her. "They too are having issues with the Uchiha. Their numbers are thinning drastically, essentially being eradicated bit by bit."

Saruyama found herself frowning and looking at her brother seriously. "A team up, against them."

"Essentially, yes." Tobirama moved away from her and towards some shuriken which were still imbedded in a target. Pulling them free, he returned to her and held them out. "Target practice."

"My aim is already good-"

"Your bad arm, Saruyama. The time in which you took out to heal, no matter if you still went against anything anyone told you about resting and took part in...whatever you spend your time with Hashirama doing, dexterity would've lapsed, grip strength would've become weaker, your aim will be off. It may not be your dominant arm, Saruyama, but you still need to be efficient with it. Take the shuriken and begin."

Saruyama pressed her lips into a thin line, she disliked serious and bossy Tobirama, which, to be fair, was his natural state most of the time. But this time, he was deadly serious, scarily so. He put his hands on her shoulders and turned her towards the targets when she seemed reluctant to do so. "I'm rather sure I'm meant to still avoid strenuous activity, Tobirama..."

"If you found yourself able to go fishing, if that is truly what you did the other day; then you are more than able to throw a weapon." Tobirama side stepped around her and looked at her with suspicion, Saruyama didn't like it and felt herself shiver. Tobirama was naturally on guard, he was even more on guard when he believed someone was lying to him, or something wasn't as it should be. He didn't know why his brother and sister went to the river so much, but he doubted it was Hashirama training and sparring with her, or else they'd do it here, in their home. "Begin, Saruyama."

"For how long?" She sounded quite defeated here. Yes, she had missed training, but in a relaxed way. There was no relaxed way to train with Tobirama, it was all or nothing and if it was the nothing part; then he'd let you know he was displeased, not vocally, but with a look.

Tobirama shrugged simply, "Depends how long it takes you to hit the centre, doesn't it?" Saruyama looked at him unhappily, Tobirama just looked back neutrally, he wasn't joking, when did he ever joke? He wouldn't personally tell her he was doing this for her own sake, but Tobirama wouldn't put it passed Saruyama for her to figure it out, eventually.

—

It wasn't exactly a secret that Hashirama's ability to sense wasn't as good as others, he could do it, just some were definitely more attuned to it than him. Madara, for example paused to block the hit which Hashirama had sent his way and looked to the side with a frown on his face. They had moved away from the river, although the cool water sounded refreshing right now; the pair had been training the better part of the morning, so far, no winner in this match. A breather for some fresh water and to splash some on his face sounded great to Hashirama, up until his friend pausing.

"Problem?"

Madara shot him a weird look, "How can you not sense your sister's chakra?" He was absolutely bemused, for someone so on it with everything else, Hashirama seemed too not be on this. They weren't a tremendous distance from the river, but even the small distance away they were, Madara had sensed Saruyama quickly enough. It was like a small ripple, not a disturbance, but this small ripple that grew in intensity the more she clearly ventured to the river.

Hashirama raised an eyebrow and looked at him weirdly, too weirdly, Madara didn't like it and found himself backing off from his friend with a disturbed look. "How can you sense her so well, hm?"

Madara slapped a hand to his forehead and groaned. Hashirama wasn't subtle, he was far from subtle it hurt. When they had first met, Hashirama decided to go on about how thankful he was, again, for Madara spending the day looking out for Saruyama. He then proceeded to talk at him, not with or to him but at him about how she seemingly enjoyed the day, and he hadn't seen his sister that happy in ages, apparently and it was all because of him.

Firstly, Madara zoned out of most of the fast-paced ramble Hashirama came out with while crossing his arms over his dark top. At some point Hashirama became white noise, and Madara itched a finger in his ear to try and block out some of said white noise, it didn't work. Secondly, Hashirama had already thanked him, that was the end of it in Madara's eyes. Thirdly, yes, he felt smug knowing that he had seemingly made her happy where even her family had failed, he wasn't even sorry for that feeling, though Madara guessed he probably should've, but didn't; not that Hashirama got told this, as Madara continued to look blankly at him.

By the end of the ramble, Hashirama was severely out of breath, heaving his shoulders and labouring in breaths as if he had done a sprint at such a fast pace it had knocked him. Madara commented on nothing he said, and just decided to ask his friend if he wanted to train today, instead of their usual careful explorations and chats. It was nearing the end of one spar that Madara sensed that little ripple proceeding to grow, and Saruyama was back where they were a few hours ago.

"You know, it doesn't take long to become accustomed to someone's chakra. Or at least, you should know this, Hashirama." Madara despaired and turned and looked down below at the forest, her chakra did seem...off, not that Madara said this to Hashirama, he probably should've but then he didn't want his friend to go into instant panic mode. Tilting his head, Madara felt bad for staying silent on this, but he knew down near the river the only people who ever ventured there were them three. Although...going somewhere on her own, that seemed unlikely of her, so she had gone there for a reason which was probably her brother. Not seeing him, Madara wasn't sure where she'd go from there, if she had gone there to get away from home, she surely wouldn't return? He felt troubled, their home life was clearly as up and down as his own.

"That was a quick response. I'll allow it, this time. Come on then! Let's go see what's bought her there," Hashirama seemed to drop the joking and clapped his friend on the shoulder before grinning. "Race you there?"

"Are you going to cheat this time?" Head starts were something Hashirama took tremendous liberties on, and it really annoyed Madara. That probably was half the reason Hashirama did it, just to irk him, because he found humour in it. Madara didn't.

Hashirama looked affronted, "That's just rude!" He wasn't denying the allegation though, and the cheeky grin on his face was the last thing Madara saw as Hashirama did just as he suspected, a head start.

With a heavy sigh, Madara didn't even bother shouting at him, he just followed suit and caught up quite well. Of course, Hashirama got to the river first, and Madara raised an eyebrow at the sight of Saruyama sprawled with her feet in the river, the water gently lapping to just below her knees. She seemed exhausted, that would explain why her chakra felt a little wobbly to him. Even as Madara walked closer to stand behind Hashirama, who by this point was crouched beside his sister, his dark eyes could spy slight grazes against her fingers.

Noticing him, the pair went silent, Madara got the sense they were discussing family issues, he didn't take the silence personally. "What's wrong with you?" Hashirama shot him a look, Madara looked confused, only minutely. He was only asking...

Saruyama whimpered rather pathetically and placed both her arms crossed over her eyes. "I have been doing target practice all morning, and I didn't hurt to begin with, but now I do. And it's all his fault...stupid brother."

"Saruyama-" Hashirama didn't like to hear name calling amongst his siblings, even if she was pouting and not being serious and speaking from annoyance.

"What?! It's true! I know I have to strengthen my arm up again, but he didn't have to be so rude and pushy about it! Little and often would've worked, but no, no, I just can't do it like that because it isn't his way!" Saruyama exclaimed, cutting Hashirama off and sounding truly annoyed now as she shot up suddenly and glared at her brother. Madara and Hashirama knew full well it wasn't him she was annoyed at, but unfortunately, he was there to take her anger out on.

Hashirama, patient as ever just put a hand gently on her shoulder and smiled. "Saruyama, it's okay." They both knew what Tobirama was like, and both of them knew, even with how she was right now, that he wouldn't mean anything malicious by making her train so solidly.

Saruyama's mouth turned down, and for a moment Madara honestly thought she was going to start crying, he dearly hoped not, because he really didn't know how to deal with crying girls. Hashirama could deal with her, being her brother and all. "I got my bandage off." She said quietly and held her arm up, Madara was mildly confused by the polarising moment.

Hashirama just smiled and nodded, he seemed happy enough. "I saw! It's good to see you're all healed up, Saruyama." He patted her gently on the shoulder then and looked back at Madara, who for the most part had been watching feeling rather bemused by this whole thing. Hashirama smiled and turned to his sister, "Madara was the one that sensed you came here, did you come looking for us? Or did you come here just to escape our brother?" Hashirama asked, inwardly being smug over putting both on the spot, because he was being cheeky over clearly teasing both, he could revel in watching both tense and awkwardly exchange a look; he couldn't see Madara's face, turning back to look at Saruyama and Madara still being behind him and all, but he got the sense they made eye contact thanks to watching his sister's eyes divert.

"Bit of both, but mainly I came for the water." Saruyama countered and wiggled her toes in the cold water. It was comforting and relaxing, target practice also came with actual practice, as in sparring with Tobirama even though she was pretty much ready to curl up on the ground and he was ready to go. So yes, her feet were aching seeing as how this was the most training she had done in a little while.

"To be fair, I was going to suggest we came here too. So great minds clearly think alike," Hashirama cupped water in his hands and drunk slowly before wetting his hands and dabbing water on his face and neck. Somehow, despite being in dark clothes, Madara seemed otherwise unaffected by the hot sun and just sat down on the bank. He couldn't help but think it was perhaps a little mean to make someone just recovering to train to the point of near exhaustion, the more this other brother got mentioned, the more he was inclined to believe he was not like Hashirama at all.

"Have you two been training all morning then?" Saruyama asked, leaning forwards so she could look Madara's way too.

"More or less," Madara replied looking up at the sunshine filled sky above, he actually couldn't remember what time they got here.

"Hashirama won again?" Saruyama smirked and watched her brother drink slowly from the water in his hands again, his brown eyes flitted between the two people sitting each side of him.

"What made you think that?" Madara frowned her way, he didn't know where she got that notion. Even if it were maybe right at least in one match, or two...the third one was near an impasse so...

"Your face." Saruyama wagged a finger in a circle as she watched Madara's expression darken and his eyes narrow at her.

"I was just sitting and thinking! That has nothing to do with your brother and our training matches!"

Saruyama let out another pathetic whimper while Hashirama squeezed an eye shut, "Why are you so loud, Madara?"

Madara opened his mouth, shut it again and just looked bitterly to the side. She was annoying, he took back any pity he felt earlier, nope, she was just annoying. Hashirama laughed and waved a hand in the air, trying to dispel the awkwardness. "How did your target practice go though?" He decided to ask, she managed to get freedom, so Tobirama must've been happy with her progress...unless she legged it, Hashirama scrunched his nose in thought, she definitely legged it.

"Well enough, I think I'm doing more tomorrow. Yay." Saruyama waved her arms in the air, full of sarcasm, she wasn't looking forward to it. Although, and this is where she fidgeted and looked excited, catching both of the boy's attention. "Brother did say if I did well, he'd teach me some new techniques so I have incentive to prove him wrong, and that I can improve in such a short time!"

"I really wish he didn't bribe you..." Hashirama despaired and hung his head.

Saruyama pointed at him, "But I think he has said the same thing about you!" She laughed and watched Hashirama fall back with a groan, Tobirama definitely had had a go at Hashirama before about bribing their sister into things with promises of treats, or time spent together just relaxing and training.

Tobirama was no different here, although Hashirama had to say his bribes were infinitely better; fishing and jutsus, he could see the allure to Saruyama. Madara watched the pair from the corner of his eyes, he didn't take her for being someone so easily swayed, "I guess it doesn't count as bribery if it's something she's learning to help protect herself." Madara mused, picking up a stone and just casually throwing it to watch the impact go up in the air and ripple outwards.

"But what if I learn something super cool and beat both of you, hm?"

Madara scoffed and threw another stone. "Yeah, I'd be the first one who'd want to see this super cool jutsu of yours; but I doubt you would beat me with it."

"Hashirama doesn't seem to struggle, and he's just holding back...I'd definitely need more to win."

Madara found himself slowly turning and looking at her seriously. Raising an eyebrow, he couldn't help but just stare at her, Saruyama grinned in return. Winding him up was so worth it for his expressions, Hashirama remained laying down though from the short sharp breaths coming from him, he was clearly trying to keep laughter in. It stayed in for a matter of moments before he burst out laughing and clapped his hands over his mouth, too late, and Madara shot him a look for it.

"You're on," Madara pointed at her, "Learn your jutsu from your brother, and let's see how effective it is."

Saruyama pouted and looked at him curiously, "Sure," she stuck her hand out, Madara placed his in hers and shook it quickly before letting go just as quick. The contact was odd, and something felt weird about challenging her to a training session, just to maybe prove her wrong, that was warped, right? "Well, until then..." Saruyama leaned down and cupped water in her hands, she looked like she was going to drink, before throwing it Hashirama's way.

Not expecting that in the slightest, he shot up and shook water from himself before narrowing his eyes at his sister. "Well, that just isn't fair, is it?" Hashirama was very quick to retaliate and somewhere between them getting each other, Madara too ended up splashed. Both siblings sat there, exchanged a look, even pointed a finger at each other before deciding running away from the now damp haired boy was for the best...not that it stopped Madara taking after them shouting and calling them rather tame insults which had the pair laughing loudly.

The river did widen and deepen the further on they ran, the bank remained stony and strewn with pebbles and sandy dirt. It wasn't really hard to run along the edge of the water flicking water at them, and likewise the same went for them. Madara didn't even care about the two on one thing, for once. However, the siblings splitting up and Saruyama choosing to keep running while Hashirama turned and stood his ground was something that had Madara pausing, if only for a moment before almost getting tackled from behind, of course, him and his issues with that had him jumping about cursing away as Saruyama held on. Honestly, Madara was concentrating on Hashirama to not notice her divert around him.

Hashirama called out too late before wincing as well, Madara stepped on an uneven outcrop and went...Hashirama ventured near and watched the pair surface, not before Saruyama pushed Madara on the shoulder with a frown, though she didn't look at all serious as she bobbed there. Madara shot her a look, which got water splashed in his face for, that was another look being sent her way as Saruyama just grinned before swimming and wading back to the bank, her black trousers clung to her, and the vest wasn't much comfier, though she soon had Hashirama's pastel green robe wrapped over shoulders.

"Well, I feel better for that now." Saruyama decided while watching as Hashirama went to stick out a hand to help Madara, only for him to be petty and pull the brunette in the water too. Saruyama burst out laughing and sat down slowly, "I suppose that was fair, Madara!"

He trudged up shaking water from his long sleeved top, it was no good, so he shirked it off and wrung water from it before doing the same thing with the black vest he wore underneath. "Too right it was, we're not being the only two soaking wet here. I thought your brother was missing out on cooling off, seems that's what he wanted to do at the river anyway." Madara shrugged and dropped his wet top on the pebbles before sitting beside her, both watched Hashirama bob there, his hair really ungracefully in his face and his mouth downturned before a huge grin appeared and he found himself laughing. The laughter was contagious and wiping water from her face, Saruyama found herself laughing along with her brother too, Madara smirked and shook his head, leaning his forearms against his knees, though a chuckle did escape him now and again.