To say that Saruyama was scared, was an understatement, there was never a moment in her life where she had ever been fearful of her father; she may have had a strained relationship with him, as of late, but that differed hugely to having negative feelings towards the man that had tried his best to raise her, and her brothers. But this situation was severely snowballing, and really Tobirama trying to do any semblance of damage control, would purely and solely just lead to the white haired boy being somewhat of a buffer if their father lost his temper with her, which was highly likely.

Who was she kidding? Likelihood was that Butsama too would go into damage control, two of his children had been near a Uchiha, that would be one of the worst situations he could ever probably imagine, because they'd be getting along, not fighting. Saruyama knew for a fact that considering herself and Hashirama were near to Madara, and the dark haired boy walking away each time would be an insult to Butsama. They had ample opportunity to kill a Uchiha, and instead decided to do what? Play, swim, train, talk, just be normal children within an abnormal time.

Saruyama knew she wouldn't be able to harm Madara anyway, not just because of any fondness she felt for the boy, but because there was such a rift between them in power; she had watched her brother and him train, Madara was young, but he was strong, very strong. She also couldn't imagine Hashirama freely wanting to harm a friend, he cared for Madara, the boy had become Hashirama's first real best friend, that's a tie he, even now, did not want to cut, let alone destroy and burn the bridge behind him as he went.

Inhaling slowly, Saruyama sat in her father's study room; it was a room which was always off limits, a low table had a tea set on it, she had no clue if it was there to try and look like a normal room, with a normal occupant, keeping up appearances but the little cup and teapot had not been used in an age. There was a desk, scattered with scrolls and loose pieces of parchment and paper, an ink well, well used and caked in dried black ink sat to one side with a brush resting in a holder nearby. Butsama spent little time with them, he spent most time in here going over strategies and information that would be passed to him. If he wasn't in here, he was likely with other adults in the compound, or asleep.

Tobirama was out trying to locate their father, Hashirama was busy off doing his own thing, not having returned home, he was oblivious in a way to what was transpiring. Sure, he knew that Tobirama was sent out to follow and watch him, but he didn't know Saruyama went too and was now awaiting to have an unpleasant talk with their father.

She was scared, she couldn't lie, her father had hit her once in a fit of anger. What if he did it again? There'd be no running off to the river for respite this time, no Madara to pick her literally back up and be kind, indifferent and trying to come off not showing how affected he was by her unhappiness, but understanding enough to listen to her, to spend time with her. Saruyama's chest hurt, it felt tight, she placed hand above her heart and rubbed her palm gently against the soft material of her top.

Fear was mixing in with that familiar feeling of loss. She really was going to miss him, Madara had sensed her, looked over and she didn't know if their eyes caught but the blank look on his face was not the expression she wanted to think of, when it came to last moments involving him. She wanted to remember him being happy, he had a rather cheeky smile which was contagious and his dramatic ways when having jokes at his expense thrown his way never failed to amuse her. Happier times she wanted to remember, not that cold look on his face as he realised, she was there, along with Tobirama.

Hearing the sliding of a door, Saruyama perked up out of her thoughts and looked towards her brother. As ever his face was impassive, though he did come in and sit beside her. The wooden flooring beneath them was only kept at bay at being truly uncomfortable because of the cushions they were on. "He's just coming, I had to wait for him to get out of a meeting, so he is getting changed." Tobirama explained, the only real impressive building in the compound was where meetings happened, and the elders were.

As ever, Butsama seemed to dwell in his armour, never knowing when he needed to spring into action. When he entered the room, he was adjusting the white cloth around his forehead, keeping his short hair out of his face. Entering in silence, his bare feet padded along the wooden floor before he found a cushion and sat down before them both. It was amusing, in a weird way, that out of his armour and sitting in simple dark blue coloured hakama and yukata with an equally white obi around his waist, that Butsama could look like a regular father about to have a talk with his children.

That was obviously far from the truth, if an outsider looked closer, they'd see that his expression was a grim one, firm frown in place and his lips pressed in a thin line. His arms were tightly crossed and the black haori he had carried in with him, was actually scrunched up in one of his hands. Some aggression or at least unhappiness was being taken out on the piece of clothing.

Saruyama cast a sidelong look at Tobirama, he just stayed staring at their father. She didn't know if he registered her looking his way, if he did, he didn't react. Which was just pure Tobirama, through and through. "Start from the beginning, the very beginning, when all of this started. Even little details could be important, so don't miss out on anything and don't lie. This conversation we are having, will be happening with your brother. And I'll say to you, what I'll say to him, if at any point I do feel like you are withholding anything, another will take my place, and they won't be as compassionate to the two of you." Butsama's voice spoke out lowly in the room, causing her to look at him. Butsama just sat there staring hard, Saruyama swallowed thickly and nodded her head.

She understood what he meant, but she also doubted he'd be too compassionate, that would be some miracle if he did. As yet, he seemed angry about all of this, which she understood but she also knew he'd never see it from their point of view, because Madara was an enemy. He was a child, but to Butsama and other adults alike, he was still an enemy. It was warped, but that's how it went. The threat of someone interrogating her was enough to register that maybe him sitting and asking questions and listening was the compassion he mentioned.

Saruyama looked up at the ceiling, the sunlight of the day was filtering through the window and cast rays and shadows across the room. "I wanted to be as good at tracking as Tobirama was, is." She started off, narrowing her eyes in thought. This was clearly not what either expected first, Saruyama wasn't sure if their father wanted an apology for this situation, which she'd never give. And Tobirama seemed baffled to hear she'd want to emulate him somehow, surely, he'd never thought that both just idolised Hashirama in a way and that was all? There were many qualities Saruyama wished she could share with her second oldest brother.

"He had always said that Hashirama was like a beacon, you could find him without even trying. For someone so skilled and strong, his control over trying to shield himself is subpar at best. But I thought, okay, I'll put the skills to the test. Start off big and work my way down, Hashirama would be the easiest person for me to find, and Tobirama was likely going to be the hardest." Saruyama explained a bit more, Butsama looked confused but also like he didn't need to know this information. It was relevant, to Saruyama it was relevant, and their father had asked for all details so...

Tobirama did nod though, he wasn't taking back what he said about their brother. He really was easy to find, sometimes didn't even need to trace him through his chakra because Hashirama had bad volume control at times. "You tracked him to the river that day?" Tobirama looked her way, he remembered teaching her how to track, to recognise people by their chakra signature, each person was different, and it was easy to know who was who, after a while just by feeling.

Butsama didn't seem to mind Tobirama asking a question, he had spoken before thinking and realising maybe he too would end up on their father's bad side. But Butsama just nodded, if it helped her divulge, then Tobirama could ask too. Saruyama nodded, "Yeah, I managed to find him. He also is awful at realising when anyone is nearby. So, it wasn't hard to track and get the jump on him, and that's where he was with his new acquaintance." Saruyama explained, running a hand through her hair, acquaintance seemed too formal.

"Name?" Butsama knew full well she was avoiding saying the boy's name, it wasn't like avoidance was going to protect him or prolong or stop this moment from happening. With a name, Butsama could ask around about him, he could do it subtly to avoid anyone getting suspicious of why he was wanting to know such things.

"Madara," Saruyama decided that perhaps it was best just shutting down from this. Trying to recount with any fondness the first moment Hashirama introduced her to Madara was going to get tarnished and sullied by this now. She had been so confused by the boy, and so ready to snitch on her brother, but how laid back Madara had first been just caused her a moment of pause. It was clear he never cared if she were there or not, but they had become close over the small time of knowing each other. She cared he was now not in her life, she didn't know if he felt the same. Any little good moments, her father was going to trample, and it all started with a name.

Butsama narrowed his eyes in thought, Tobirama sat there with his eyes shut and even rubbed a hand to his chin, "I don't recognise the name, but I have seen him before." Tobirama said slowly, his eyes opening and looking from their father to his sister. From the look on her face, Tobirama understood she hadn't as yet seen him properly in a fight. Tobirama inhaled almost inaudibly, he had, and he remembered how easily he fought and cut people down like it didn't matter. He was more annoyed that his siblings put themselves readily more in danger now.

"And?" Butsama asked, focussing on his son now and watching Tobirama's expression stay neutral as he slowly shook his head. There was an aggravated sigh then, the haori in his hand finally being thrown to the side, Saruyama scrunched her nose up, he was trying to work tension out of his body somehow and throwing the cloth didn't seem to relieve much of it. "How could you both be so foolish?!" Butsama exclaimed, Saruyama was confused, she would say that he sounded almost concerned.

"I'm not going to apologise for trying to be normal." Saruyama said blankly and hollowly, Butsama evidently was expecting as much and let out an equally hollow laugh.

"Of course you're not, and your brother won't either. You're both too stubborn for your own good. If this Madara wasn't feeling as willing as you both were, at any point you could've walked into an ambush. What then?"

Saruyama looked down at the ground, frowning softly she looked over the grain of the wood. How could she ever explain to her father or brother that she knew Madara wouldn't do that, purely because she had seen how he watched herself and Hashirama play about. There was a boy who wouldn't want anything more, than to not part siblings, because he had been through that pain.

She couldn't say she knew he wouldn't have organised an ambush because of a feeling. But it was that, Madara sometimes had this far off look, his dark eyes glazed over as he stared at nothing in particular; she had always thought there was something lonely and a little sad about him, he didn't want to fight, at least not willingly she didn't think.

"Then I guess we'd have got away or have died." Saruyama decided on that instead. Butsama wouldn't understand looking at a kindred spirit if it hit him across the face, that's what Saruyama believed. The one kindred spirit he perhaps had, was her mother and the moment she went he just became this shut off man, because he was hurt and heartbroken, clearly.

"You three are going to be the future of our clan, do you understand? With two of you gone, we'd be severely at a loss." Butsama cut her thoughts off, she looked up at him baffled, utterly confused with what he was talking about. "You foolish girl, do you honestly not see how strong you really are? Your brothers will need your strength, just as much as you'll need theirs. You're realistic and you look at things in a way that others don't, the clan will need that, Saruyama. Between you and Tobirama, you balance out Hashirama's want and need to be idealistic."

Saruyama's eyes widened, she had never heard such confidence from her father about herself, as sad as that was to say, but it wasn't like Butsama did the same with her brothers. Trying to shrug off the confusion, she wasn't going to comment that this had all got off topic. But she was curious by nature, she couldn't help it; "That alludes to Hashirama being the leader, one day."

"Why do you sound so surprised? Hashirama is already stronger than most adults here. Whenever he has his head in the clouds, he'll need pulling back to reality. Which wouldn't have happened if you got ambushed. So, Saruyama, what more can you tell us?" Butsama seemed to realise the topic had changed too, Saruyama shook her head and sighed heavily. Well, there was one thing for it really, just be honest, it wasn't like whenever they were together much happened.

Saruyama spoke about them training, the little talks of wanting to just be children and protect whatever family they had left. She missed out moments when herself and Madara met up alone, neither of them needed that. She also never mentioned Madara shielding her from that Uchiha that later attacked their home. The thought of someone in that clan being good and decent was clearly something that would never cross either her father or brother's mind. But Madara was good, to her, he was good and just reacted to whatever situation was before him, which wasn't any different to any of them.

"I haven't seen him in battle, I have only seen him train with Hashirama and honestly, I think the only person who could equal him is Hashirama. He is strong and fast, I'm unaware to whether he has his sharingan yet, but even without it he's strong, with it I think he'd be relentless." Saruyama said slowly, waving her hand in the air as if that would help her explain anything. She didn't want to say once he awakened his eyes, that Madara would be unstoppable, but honestly...she did think he would be one of the strongest people she'd ever cross paths with. But then again, he very well could already have his sharingan, and never let it slip for the sake of keeping their little peaceful bubble in place and drag out them meeting for as long as possible.

He was so characteristically a Uchiha though, that any nagging thoughts and feelings about that never surfaced with herself or her brother, they clearly suspected he was one and never said a word. Ignorance was bliss. Whether Madara knew they were Senju, Saruyama didn't know. He could've suspected, and much like them stayed silent.

Butsama sat there silent for a moment, he looked towards the window and exhaled softly. "Do you know what Hashirama and Madara did, when you weren't present?"

"I presume much the same when I was there; they'd train, they'd talk, explore the lands without getting too near anyone's territory. Hashirama, he had clearly been meeting up with Madara a while before I appeared. They were already familiar with each other."

"When you returned, you didn't think to say to either of us what had transpired. Why?" Butsama sounded serious, again. He wanted to know why she never came to either of them, he presumed some sibling loyalty was the reason.

Saruyama opened and shut her mouth before picking at the cushion below her. "Hashirama seemed so happy to have a friend." Butsama nodded, it was as he suspected then. He didn't look surprised to hear her words, Saruyama was temporarily selfish, she too liked having someone different to talk to.

"Is there anything else before I ask if anyone else knows anything about this boy?" Butsama asked and watched as Saruyama slowly shook her head. Her recount of things was surely boring, dull, but she didn't lie no matter how bad she felt about this situation, especially for Hashirama. She did feel like she wound up backstabbing him somehow. "You may leave. Tobirama, may I have a word?"

Saruyama bowed her head and looked warily at Tobirama, he just nodded subtly to the side, he'd come find her once this was done. No doubt their father wanted the report of what he had seen at the river, Saruyama guessed Tobirama had briefly explained things, maybe even skimmed her involvement and Butsama wanted to know more.

She left the house, pulling her own haori around her shoulders, the temperature had dropped a little outside and her vest wasn't exactly keeping her warm, that wasn't what they were designed for, after all. Hearing her name, Saruyama looked around before seeing Satoko waving her way. Saruyama wasn't sure how the girl managed to always find her, maybe she was tracking her? That was a worrying thought which was purely coming about because of what just happened. Considering the meeting she just came from, hanging around someone impartial to the situation was more than welcome.

She just wished it went as smoothly for Hashirama, as it had for her, Saruyama was just worried about the next steps, what was going to happen once their father had got all the information he wanted? That was a troubling thought as she approached the lopsided smiling girl, Saruyama pushed the thought from her mind as Satoko linked her arm with hers and started walking off talking about unimportant things, it was a welcome distraction to say the least.