Prologue

"Madara . . . what have you done?" Naruto whispered to himself, knees going weak as he realised just what was happening. "What happened to our dream? What happened to everything we were working towards? Hashirama, me and you. We worked so hard only for you to go and do this? Why?"

"Naruto-kun?" Minato asked, his tone conveying his concern. "Do you know what this is?"

Naruto schooled his features. Yes, he knew exactly what it was because he, roughly sixty years ago, had been the one to put it there. Instead of saying so, he turned to his Otou-san, a man that shouldn't be alive just as Naruto shouldn't be there at all, and replied, "No. I don't but whatever it was, someone didn't want it getting out, and probably for a very good reason."

A very, very good reason. After all, a tailed beast was nothing to laugh at.

Chapter 1

Naruto grumbled under his breath as he walked out of the Hokage's office. Well, what was left of the Hokage's office . . . Which wasn't actually anything at all.

Letting go of the tent flap Naruto glared at the semi-self-appointed Sixth Hokage. How he hated this man. This, this . . . Danzo.

Who the hell did he think he was?! Making Sasuke a missing nin. Well he'd just have to be acquainted with Uzumaki Naruto that was for sure. But for now, Naruto would just have to retreat and strike later, when he had a better opportunity. Something about this Danzo made him want to shiver with distaste. He was a creep, that was for sure, and not the friendly kind like ero-sennin and Kakashi-sensei. And he had the nerve to threaten Naruto. Naruto would never become his weapon. Never!

He was also arrogant. He'd placed his stupid tent exactly where the Hokage's tower should have been, with his stupid ROOT guarding it from all sides. Well on second thought, Naruto just might have done that too.

Grumbling more to himself, Naruto kicked a rock, sending it tumbling over the ground before smacking into the pile of rubble that was supposed to be the Hokage tower and causing a small rubble avalanche to crash to the ground. Since the ROOT members were wearing masks, Naruto couldn't be certain, but he was pretty damn sure that they were glaring at him.

Weren't those morons supposed to be emotionless? Who the hell even cares?!

Naruto sighed heavily as he walked over to the rubble he'd caused to fall over. All of his anger dissipated at the sight of the rubble. It was such a heart wrenching sight, his home lying in nothing but piles of rubble. If only he'd gotten here moments before. He might have been able to do something, anything really.

The blond sighed as he stared at the mess that was his village. So much work stood before him but like his Otou-san had said, the village could always be rebuilt; it was the people that made the village what it was.

Naruto blinked at the wooden cylinder he spotted poking out from under a particularly large piece of rubble. That was odd. Glancing behind him at the ROOT members, Naruto conceded that they were ignoring him and proceeded to carefully pull the cylinder out.

It looked like it was the same size as a normal scroll and a little banged up, but that was to be expected considering where he found it. Glancing at the ROOT again, Naruto decided not to chance it and tucked it away in his pocket, the same one that held the tiny shattered shards of the First Hokage's necklace. The shards that he'd painstakingly searched for and gathered. It actually helped that he'd been fighting Pein at the time, and had been standing still when it had shattered. It meant that the shards were all in the same sort of area. Sort of.

However, the moment the wooden cylinder touched the blue crystal Naruto blacked out, not even entirely sure why his head was hitting the floor in the first place.

.0.0.0.

Staring at the water was something he did often, pondering it's near endless flow much like he pondered the state of his life and those of his family. What was it about the water that enchanted him so much? He could never be sure, the fascination was simply there.

Lifting the hand that held the flat stone, Senju Hashirama was about to skip it across the water when a falling body made him freeze. The odd phenomenon made a rather large splash as it fell into the water.

Where had he come from? Glancing up at the sky, Hashirama had to conclude that there were no tree branches he could have fallen off of. Yet there he was, floating in the water and beginning to sink. Wait, sink? Dead bodies didn't usually sink.

Dashing out onto the water, Hashirama quickly checked the person's vitals. He was surprised to find that this one was alive, even if that was only just barely. Mostly, every time he saw a person floating in this river, he checked their vitals and which clan they belonged to. Every time though, they were dead . . . but not this one.

Without thought to whether he was an enemy or not, Hashirama pulled the boy from the water and dragged him onto the bank he'd just been sitting on. Looking at him critically, Hashirama concluded that the boy looked to be around his age, perhaps younger, perhaps older. But only slightly so either way.

"Is that a live one?"

Hashirama looked up in surprise, cursing himself silently for having been caught unaware by the other. "Yeah, help me move him somewhere safe, Madara."

"Why? He could be an enemy." Madara replied, looking at the unconscious boy with suspicion.

"We can't just leave him. Besides I've never seen anything like what he's wearing from around here before. We might learn something from him." Hashirama replied simply, pulling one of the boy's arms up and draping it over his own shoulders. He could have easily done it by himself but enjoyed making Madara do unnecessary work.

Madara's gaze took in the headband with the shiny metal plate on the blonde's forehead and without a word moved to take the boy's other arm.

"His clothes are odd." Hashirama mused glancing at the boy's attire from the corner of his eyes.

"Says the one with the flower pot hair style and the billowing curtain pants." Madara snorted.

Hashirama sent him a withering look before glancing around at their surrounds and guiding them to a small cave that was in this part of the woods. They set the boy down carefully, each one studying him for a moment.

"He appears to be a ninja. He has the tools." Madara supplied, pulling out a shuriken from the pouch and studying it carefully before replacing it. "It has some odd qualities to it though. It's nothing like what we have. This is better, smoother. Looks like it will be more accurate in battle."

"But I don't think he was injured in battle. He doesn't have any wounds or even any of the usual signs on his clothing." Hashirama muttered, adding his own thoughts to the brainstorming session.

"What do you make of his headband?" Madara asked quietly, "Other than that, I do not see anything else that would establish which clan he's from."

"No, he does have a clan marking. Here on his shoulder. I think that's an Uzumaki symbol but I've never seen it worn like that nor have I seen them wear these kinds of clothes. As for the headband, it's not uncommon for ninja to wear something on their foreheads. I've just never seen that before." Hashirama replied thoughtfully.

Madara frowned before checking the boy's pulse himself. Hashirama didn't like the colour the kid was turning. "I've seen this before. It's a rare form of chakra exhaustion. He might not make it. He's barely hanging on as it is." Madara muttered, eyebrows furrowing together in anger.

"I get the feeling that he's going to be just fine. He looks like a fighter to me. But I guess that means we're going to have to take care of him, right?" Hashirama mused.

"Probably. This form of chakra exhaustion is going to leave him weak and helpless for weeks if not a month or two."

"That's terrible. He won't even be able to defend himself!" Hashirama exclaimed.

"Relax. If we set up some good traps and place a few good genjutsus around here, no one will even find him." Madara reminded the other ninja with a shake of his head.

"Are you sure you know strong enough ones?"

Madara almost snapped that his clan specialised in genjutsu, among other things but that was against the rules. It would give away his family name. "Yeah well, the best we can do is try. I'm not even sure it's the best idea."

"Of course it is! He needs help." Hashirama argued back childishly.

"And if he's an enemy?" Madara challenged with a raised brow.

"If he's an enemy then he's a very poor one at that. He couldn't even swat a fly right now, let alone kill us."

"I suppose . . . Do you have any food on you at the moment?" Madara conceded.

Hashirama looked around on his person before pulling out a wrapped piece of bread. "Will that work?"

"If we soak it in water, then yes." Madara took the offered bread and propped the chakra exhausted teen up so that he was leaning against the wall. Hashirama had never seen such a severely chakra depleted Shinobi and as such, didn't fully know how to treat one. So all he could really do was provide Madara with the things he needed to care for the boy.

When Madara was done, Hashirama felt a sense of uselessness. If what the other had said earlier was true then he needed to learn how to care of this person and quickly. After all neither of them could come every day.

"Madara, could you tell me more about how to care for a chakra depleted person? You can't come every day and neither can I so we'll need to alternate. But I've never had to care for someone so helpless before." Hashirama asked quietly, staring almost blankly at the oddly dressed Shinobi that had literally fallen into their care. He'd seen people this helpless, but they never lasted long enough to be cared for. He lived in an era of war, so it was to be expected. He felt that he should know how to care for these Shinobi but he was ashamed to say he didn't.

"It's simple actually. You should work on your medical skills then. The point is to make sure they don't die." Madara replied and Hashirama glared at his non-answer but he took the advice to heart. He would work on his medical skills. After all, there would always be those in need of healing.

"We should leave. It's getting late. I won't be able to come tomorrow." Madara stated with a sigh, looking outside to the sky and the near setting sun.

"Do you think he'll be warm enough?" Hashirama bit his lip.

"Bring him a blanket tomorrow." Madara waved over his shoulder dismissively as he walked out of the cave already readying his chakra to perform some of the genjutsus. "And give me some of your chakra so that I can key it into the genjutsu."

Hashirama gave the sleeping teen one last look, taking in the whisker marks, the bright blond hair and shiny headband before nodding to himself and following Madara outside the cave and helping him set up the traps before heading back to the river. As each one stood facing the other on opposite sides, they skipped a stone to each other, catching it and pocketing it. With a small wave they were both simply gone as only Shinobi could.

.0.0.0.

Hashirama dashed through the trees awkwardly with his pilfered blanket and pillow. He giggled to himself as he made his way to the river, trying to get there without being followed. This was actually really exciting and fun. Something that he hadn't had much of lately.

He noticed that his younger brother had seen him take the stuff in the early hours of the morning but had said nothing. Tobirama was strange that way. Sometimes he would throw you over the coals and other times he'd leave you be with nothing more than a stern look of disapproval and in this case slight curiosity.

Skipping over the river easily, Hashirama didn't stop but rather kept going right into the trees on the other side. This time, he ran without making a sound and he was careful to watch out for enemies. He couldn't afford to have his new charge spotted. The blond teen could hardly defend himself after all and since Hashirama couldn't stay for very long at the moment he couldn't defend the teen either.

It was some ungodly hour in the morning when not even his Otou-san had been up by the time he'd left. Hashirama's plan had been to return just before he usually woke up so that no one missed him. A small part of his brain contemplated devising a way to let Madara know that he'd been here and vice versa. He'd think a little on it later and then discuss it with Madara when they saw each other again.

Landing in front of the cave, Hashirama looked around quickly before disappearing into the semi-dark cave and noticed immediately that the boy hadn't even moved from the propped up position he'd been in yesterday. How uncomfortable.

He'd also managed to remember to bring some food and had brought some soup. He felt proud that he had thought of something that was both nutritious and edible for the helpless blond.

Mimicking Madara's actions yesterday, Hashirama managed to get some more food into the teen for the time being. Who would come tomorrow? Madara had only mentioned that he couldn't come today. So what about the next day and the day after that? Hashirama couldn't come all the time, same as Madara.

Carefully he placed the pillow on a flat piece of ground before moving the teen onto it, shuddering at how icy the teen felt. He should've brought the blanket last night but night time was the most dangerous time to be lurking about in the woods. If you weren't careful, your own clansmen were likely to kill you because they mistook you for a spy.

Hashirama didn't feel like being skewered due to stupidity, it didn't have a nice ring to it and knowing his Otou-san, the stuck up bastard would have that put on his headstone.

Tucking the thick blanket around the teen was really all he could do for now. He had to get back. At least the guy had a bit more colour to his cheeks.

.0.0.0.

He managed to reach the door to his room when his Otou-san barked out his name. Uh oh. Did Tobirama tell on him after all?

Turning to face his approaching Otou-san, Hashirama bowed respectfully in greeting. "Otou-san."

"Where were you? I called for you five minutes ago but your brother said you weren't there." His Otou-san demanded in reply.

"Uhm I had to go." Hashirama replied simply.

"Go? Go where?"

"You know, go." Hashirama emphasised the last word, using the tone that only meant one thing. Toilet breaks.

"Uh . . . right." His father's cheek looked a little less pale than usual, and his eyes flickered to the side slightly before he turned a stern gaze back to Hashirama. "Anyways, I want you presentable and in the meeting room in five minutes. Understood?"

Hashirama nodded, not saying a word. His Otou-san appeared to be in one of those moods today; one of those moods where one wrong move could earn you a swift, painful blow for your troubles. Kami help you if you tried to dodge it like any true Shinobi would . . . and Kami forbid you didn't try to dodge it. Either way it pissed the man off so Hashirama usually settled for one of each. He allowed the first one to hit but after that he dodged like his life depended on it, which it probably did when he got his father into one of his especially foul moods.

Making himself presentable was a moot point since he'd been dressed for hours already. All he really had to do was brush his teeth so he grabbed some clean sand from the cup in his room and rubbed it around in his mouth and over his teeth before spitting it and rinsing out his mouth with water.

As Hashirama hurried to his Otou-san's meeting room he was met with curt bows and greetings. As the son of the clan head it was expected of him to be at his best at all times. So he had to return every one of those greetings.

"Better hurry or you'll be late." Tobirama warned from his place in a shadowy corner, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched with a slightly amused expression on his almost childlike features, but that boy had always been far too serious and really who could blame him?

Hashirama skidded to a stop outside the room and took a moment to catch his breath and straighten his hair.

Then he bowed his head before carefully pulling open the door and entering, keeping his head low at all times. He'd already been barefoot so he didn't need to remove his shoes.

"Step forward, Hashirama and raise your head." His Otou-san barked impatiently.

Doing as he was told, Hashirama was greeted with the sight of four other people, his Otou-san, the clan head of the Uzumaki, another female member of the Uzumaki and a young girl, also sporting the Uzumaki clan symbol. Immediately he wondered if there were any blond Uzumakis and if this girl would know but decided against asking it right now since that would be admitting to his Otou-san that he was harbouring a potential enemy in a cave in the woods and caring for said potential enemy.

Yeah, that wouldn't go over very well.

"I'm going to get straight to the point, Hashirama. As you know the life expectancy of a Shinobi is very low and for children of Shinobi even less so." His Otou-san began and Hashirama grit his teeth to stop himself from replying to that statement. He and his Otou-san still fought about that topic rather passionately.

"As such it has been arranged that you and Uzumaki Mito," Here his Otou-san paused to gesture at the young red haired girl, "Are to be joined together in marriage once she has had her first blood."

Hashirama couldn't stop the un-Shinobi like blush from spreading across his face at those very gruffly stated words. Uzumaki Mito huh. Looking at the girl with more attention than before Hashirama saw a certain whisper of womanish beauty, a regal proudness and strength just peeking through the childlike adolescence.

He knew better than to argue. Arranged marriages were not uncommon as it helped form alliances and as the son of the head of the clan, he had expected it. Just not so soon. They also helped with the whole life expectancy thing. Shinobi always married young, and usually only the men became ninja. The female ninja, the kunoichi, were few and far between. Yet the Uzumaki seemed to let their females study their famed sealing arts to their heart's content. Made sense. However, just because females were not active Shinobi, it did not mean they couldn't kick your ass six ways from Sunday.

Women were scary, enough said.

Mito was silent, staring at the floor as she waited for some sort of reaction from the boy that was to be her husband. His curious gaze was starting to annoy her as well as make her uncomfortable. Couldn't he say something already?

"Well, I always thought the red hair of the Uzumaki clan was beautiful." Hashirama grinned, his eyes lighting up with a youthful amusement that was rare in their war torn state of existence. "Pleased to meet you, Lady Mito. Senju Hashirama at your service. Wow, look at that. I actually got to say my full name." Hashirama's charm was hard to ignore and Mito smiled despite herself.

Her mother had told her that this was a serious affair and should be treated as such. Yet, this boy made it very hard to act accordingly. In fact, if Mito were honest with herself, she would admit that his hairstyle and fashion sense needed some work, since it currently was making it very hard to take him, and anything he said, very seriously.

"While you're here, Hashirama, I have a new mission for you. Try not to die." His Otou-san interrupted, reaching to grab a scroll that he'd set aside. "I'd hate for all this to be for nothing." He added under his breath and Hashirama was only half certain he was somewhat joking.

For the first time since entering the room Hashirama's composure faltered. His eyes flashed in anger as his smile melted from his features, replaced by the blank seriousness of a Shinobi with his clan head, no longer the son and the Otou-san.

"It's expected that you'll be gone for about a week." His Otou-san began and for a brief moment panic flared to life on those blank features. A panic that was not lost on his Otou-san who paused in his explanation of the mission, "Is something wrong with that?"

"Uhm, I was working on a new jutsu. Something that's really quite amazing if I can master it and I felt like I was getting close . . . that's all." Hashirama supplied lamely. He couldn't very well say that he had a chakra exhausted Shinobi to tend to. He needed to somehow let Madara know that he wasn't going to be back for a whole week.

"A new jutsu? If you should complete it, what would its capabilities be?" His Otou-san asked, a small flicker of interest in his gaze. There was hardly time to learn jutsus passed down from family members. Time was something they spent fighting other clans, hardly training. Creating a jutsu was another matter entirely.

Ah crap. He'd lied about the jutsu, sort of. Come on Hashirama think! There were always ideas floating around in your head, find one of them and use it.

"Well I was trying to combine water style and earth style to see what it would create." Hashirama explained, puffing out his chest and making his tone secretive and awe-inspiring to add a sense of mystery to his sort of lie.

"But that's like a collaboration jutsu." His Otou-san argued almost sounding dismissive and definitely disappointed.

"No, no. Not like a collaboration jutsu. When two people collaborate a jutsu, one can still see the two separate elements. What I want is to combine the two on my own, without the help of a second Shinobi and to mix them together so thoroughly that it creates something new, something with the flexibility and agility of water yet the strength of the earth." Hashirama explained getting into the mood of this little white lie. It was a fascinating concept and if he achieved it, then the possibilities were endless.

"It's a nice fantasy Hashirama but in times such as these, it's one I cannot allow you to entertain. As it is you're far too inexperienced, too unpractised, to have the control over the two chakra natures needed to achieve this feat. It's time you grew up. Here is your mission. I expect you to leave tomorrow morning." His Otou-san replied yet there was genuine sadness and regret in his tone. Hashirama knew that his Otou-san wished for him to have the life of child but knew that he was a Shinobi and as such he'd have to live as one.

"Yes, Otou-san." Hashirama replied with a slight bow.

Mentally he began to calculate a way to let Madara know that he wasn't going to be returning for a week. Perhaps he would be able to incorporate it into the genjutsu traps. Quickly checking the mission parameters written down in the scroll, he noted with luck that it was in the same direction as the river so he wouldn't be going out of his way to leave the message.

"You may use today to acquaint yourself with Uzumaki Mito, or were you planning on leaving again?" There was a hint of a challenge in Hashimara's Otou-san's tone.

"Only a little later." Hashirama replied, his tone quiet. He couldn't afford to anger his Otou-san right now.

"I see. Well you two are dismissed. There are a few things I still need to discuss with the clan head of the Uzumaki." Hashirama bowed once again and Mito stood, bowing as well.

Both of them walked out the door, keeping their heads low. When they were outside however, Hashirama allowed his true feelings to dominate his features. There was most definitely anger, yet there was concern as well.

Mito glanced at him, her eyes taking in his dark expression before she quickly glanced away, biting on her lower lip.

"Is something the matter Lady Mito?" Hashirama asked, the anger melting from his face as he did so. "And I don't mind if you speak freely with me, I prefer it."

Mito hesitated before sighing and looking at the young Senju once again. "Are you truly happy with our impending union?"

Hashirama laughed. "You don't have to be so formal. I know the Uzumaki are not famed for their conserved manner and the effort must be taxing. But otherwise, yes. I'd say I'm happy with our 'impending union'. There's not much to be sad about really. Are you happy?"

"Are you kidding? I get to marry a Senju and not just any Senju, the son of the clan head. Of course I'm happy." Mito exclaimed, her eyes growing large with excitement.

"You know I'd hate to think that you're only marrying me for my titles." Hashirama said with a slight frown but his eyes sparkled mischievously. Mito, however, did not see this and as a result her excitement changed to alarm and she stuttered out as quickly as she could "No, no. That's not what I meant. Not at all. It's just that ever since I can remember the Senju have been hailed as one of the greatest clans in the Elemental Nations, rivalled only by the Uchiha. I guess I'm just a little awed."

"Don't worry. I understand. And the Uzumaki aren't push-overs either. I hear you guys get really down and dirty when you need to." Hashirama smiled softly, not really comfortable talking about a glory he felt was underserved simply because it was won through the means of war. "Hey, are you allowed to leave the compound?" Hashirama asked excitedly and suddenly, causing Mito to jump.

"I-I'm not sure." Mito replied with a frown.

"Well come on. You're with me so you'll be fine." Hashirama grabbed her hand causing her to squeak in surprise and began to pull her towards the trees. They were only able to get past three trees before a familiar voice spoke from behind the tree next to them as they passed.

"It is my recommendation, brother, that you do not leave today. Especially not with Lady Mito."

Tobirama was leaning against the tree, his eyes watching the floor as he spoke and his arms crossed over his chest. Ah, always so serious. "What's the matter little brother, you're gloomier than usual today?" Hashirama teased, tempted to ruffle the younger Senju's hair but deciding against it.

"No, I'm just more realistic than you. Neither Otou-san nor the Uzumaki clan Head will appreciate you taking his daughter outside the confines of the Senju compound's safety." Tobirama stated, lifting his gaze so that it was now on Mito.

"Alright then, you have a point. Walk back with us?" Hashirama conceded with a grin.

In reply Tobirama held up a scroll and Hashirama's grin faded into anguish. "Be safe."

It's what he wanted to say but he didn't. He was a Shinobi and a Shinobi did not concern themselves with the safety of others. Or, that's what they were supposed to be like. Hashirama however huffed at his younger brother and said arrogantly. "If you don't come back from that one alive, I'm going to bury you in nothing but your underpants and I'll tell everyone about it."

"You're such a child." Tobirama snapped but there was a small smile quirking the corners of his lips. Mito couldn't help but secretly agree with the younger Senju.

.0.0.0.

Naruto felt like he was heavy. Too heavy to move and far too heavy to even care. He was very, very dimly aware of the world around him, but that awareness was hardly anything at all. He couldn't even tell if he was lying down or sitting up. He couldn't tell if he hungry or thirsty.

Something at the edges of his awareness wanted to be acknowledged but he couldn't focus on it, he couldn't focus on anything. All there was in his little world was the steady ba-bump, ba-bump, ba-bump of his own heart beat and his shallow yet rhythmic breaths.

It was enough to make him fall asleep once again.

.0.0.0.

"Finally!"

Hashirama panted as he entered the cave. He'd pushed himself on that last mission and had managed to finish it before the allocated time which was an achievement in itself. Usually they didn't give you enough time.

"Sorry Madara. That mission was brutal. Just give me a second." Hashirama gasped out.

"It's hard to believe that you can equal me in taijutsu." Madara shook his head. "Anyways. His pulse has gotten stronger and he's hanging in there. I think you're right. He is a fighter. Oh and I'm running out of excuses to come out here."

"Just tell them you're working on a new ultra secret jutsu." Hashirama offered. "And I just had to run away from an entire clan trying to kill me. Give me a break will ya?"

"Your jutsu suggestion requires for me to actually have an adequate jutsu to present upon completion." Madara growled with a childish pout. "And it sure as hell better be adequate or it's my ass."

"Hey, you got it easy. You'd just have to say jutsu. Now me on the other hand. I told my Otou-san I was working on a one man collaboration jutsu. That's going to take more skill than what I currently have." Hashirama pouted back.

"You're the one that told him. Besides, didn't we agree to work on our weak points? This is good motivation. There's a big enough clearing outside the cave." Madara shrugged.

"And you're ohkay with practising this together?" Hashirama asked, his eyebrows pulling together in confusion.

Madara was silent for a long time as he thought it over. As he did so he glared at the ground as though it held the secrets of his problems. When he looked up, his gaze was hesitant and confused but determined. "I trust you. However, don't ever let that trust be misplaced because you will regret it."

Hashirama blinked before a grin broke onto his features. "Oh Madara-kun, it's such a happy day! You do have a heart after all. Rejoice in all miracles." He said happily in a sing song tone.

Madara promptly smacked him on the head with a firm and satisfied, "Idiot." But there was a note of fondness in that tone as well. Hashirama just laughed and wrapped an arm around Madara's neck, yanking him closer. "Hey!" Madara spluttered in protest but his wiggles lacked conviction.

"Oh before I forget." Hashirama stated suddenly and looking down at the pouting face of his friend, the usually spikey black locks in even more disarray due to his position. "We need to think of a way to let each other know that we've been here. So for the times when we're too busy to come, we'll at least know if one of us was here . . . or something like that at least."

Hashirama let go of Madara when his pout changed to a thoughtful look. Madara drew a kunai and picked up two flat rocks. He then scratched something into both of them before turning them over to face Hashirama. "How's this? We'll put these over there by the entrance and if you've been here you turn it over to the side with your name. Then I'll come and see it and I'll know that you've been here and I'll turn it over to the blank side and turn mine over to show my name." Madara suggested.

Hashirama was silent as he took in the stones. His expression turned very sad as his aura radiated despondency and self-doom. "Madara-kun." He whispered in a deathly depressed tone to which Madara's eyebrow twitched. "You spelt my name wrong."

"Idiot." Madara yelled, trying to hit Hashirama once again but the other ducked out the way with a laugh. "You know for someone who just got back from a mission you have way too much energy." He added thoughtfully as he walked over to the entrance to place the stones, blank side up, on the floor.

"Yeah well. I'm just happy to be back." Hashirama sighed before sitting down next to the blond Shinobi. There were so many things he wanted to tell Madara. Like his arranged marriage to Lady Mito and the mission he'd just been on but he couldn't. It would go against their code as Shinobi. Instead he asked "How's he doing?"

"Like I said, there's improvement but I'm not sure how much. I'm not good at sensing." Madara replied with a shrug.

"It's only been a week so I suppose improvement is better than nothing. How long does it usually take for them to wake up?" Hashirama was watching the unconscious Shinobi thoughtfully. It would be a shame if they had to kill him because he was an enemy.

"Depends on the person really. I've seen some wake up after two weeks and others after two months. I haven't seen enough cases of this for it to actually have an average." Madara explained sitting down next to him.

"I can't imagine pushing myself so far that I exhaust my chakra like this. Have you ever done it?"

"No. I've never had the need to but I will if it means protecting my little brother." Madara's eyes darkened with determination and Hashirama found himself agreeing whole heartedly with the statement. Yes, he'd go that far if it meant protecting his younger brother.

.0.0.0.

It was about a week after he returned from the mission, with both he and Madara alternating visits to the cave that Hashirama returned to the cave to find Madara already there. He grinned cheekily as he approached as silently as he could.

"Long time no see Madara-kun." Hashirama yelled before pouncing on the other who rolled out the way purely on reflex. He turned to face Hashirama with an irritated scowl. "One day you're going to do that Hashirama and I'm going to end up skewering you with a kunai."

"Yeah, yeah spoil sport. Honestly, you'd think I was an idiot the way you go on sometimes. The day you can skewer me with a kunai is the day I deserve it for being so damn slow." Hashirama mocked with an air of playful arrogance.

"Just for that, you get to bathe Uzumaki over here." Madara scowled, using the nickname they'd taken to calling the other Shinobi since 'the ninja' or 'the unconscious Shinobi' just wasn't very specific.

"Bath?" Hashirama gulped. That was something they'd both totally forgotten about and it seemed that Madara had remembered, even making sure to bring a set of clothes for the helpless ninja.

"Yes, idiot, bath. It's been two weeks." Madara replied wrinkling his nose. "And who knows how long before that."

"And you brought him some clothes." Hashirama noted, tilting his head to the side and studying the plain black fabric that Madara had brought. It looked like a slightly larger version of the clothes he usually wore himself.

"Yes I did because if he had to wear the type of clothes you wear he'd die from the shame." Madara replied before lifting Uzumaki and pulling down the metal tab that held his jacket together.

"You know those links are really cool. I wonder where he got it from. It's ingenious." Hashirama chirped with a grin, choosing to ignore the comment about his clothes. Madara simply grunted his agreement as he pulled the once brightly coloured jacket off and tossed it at Hashirama's head. The boy was wearing a simple black shirt underneath and what looked like a chain link shirt.

Hashirama at this point was helping Madara, his fingers battling with the brown material of the headband. It was tied as tightly as it could possibly be tied, making removing it rather troublesome but the Senju managed and placed the object carefully with the rest of the Uzumaki's quickly growing clothing pile.

Soon they had the weapon pouches and the shoes removed as well, leaving the teen in nothing but his pants. The scars on his body spoke of a hard Shinobi life and both Hashirama and Madara knew the feeling. Was this teen a victim of these troubling times as well? He must be a good Shinobi to have survived so far.

With swift practised movements Madara removed the teen's pants, leaving him in his underwear. "You know, this guy has the strangest things on his clothes." Hashirama was fiddling with the elastic on Uzumaki's jacket.

"Yeah, yeah just help me out here." Madara said, waving a hand dismissively.

"Are we taking him to the river?" Hashirama asked, grabbing the extra set of clothes and the Uzumaki's own ones so that they could be washed while Madara lifted the Uzumaki.

"Yes. Unless you feel like practising your water style jutsus." Madara mused.

"Hay, that's not a bad idea but that'll get our training field wet." Hashirama pouted at the thought. For the past week they'd been alternating between taijutsu matches and ninjutsu practise. They'd already learnt about each other that Madara was exceptional at fire style related jutsus and Hashirama was adept at both water style and earth style. If Madara could use any other styles he had yet to display the ability to do so.

So to save them the trouble of a wet training field, the two trudged off to the river with Madara carrying the underwear clad unconscious Shinobi on his back and with Hashirama carrying the two sets of clothes in his arms.

"You know what, you'll be carrying him back to the cave because really I think you got off easy here." Madara complained.

"Aw but he looks so cute over there, drooling on your shoulder." Hashirama grinned in reply.

"He's drooling!" Madara yelled in alarm which only further amused the Senju.

"Relax!" Hashirama gasped between peals of laughter. "I was just kidding."

Once they made it to the river, Hashirama stepped out first to see if there was anyone around, careful to look in every possible place a person could be. His brother had often said he needed to work on his sensing and he agreed with the younger Senju whole heartedly.

Giving the all clear he signalled to Madara to come over and snickered the whole time Madara bathed their charge while he took care of the odd bright clothing. His water style jutsu got plenty of work that was for sure. The guy must have been doing some real heavy duty stuff before he fell into the river. Hashirama recognised it as the same sorts of stains and tiny rips that accompanied the men who built the houses. Was this guy building something? To his horror though, the orange clothing got even brighter the cleaner it got. How had he survived this long with something so eye burning? And Madara had the nerve to say his sense of style was warped.

Madara on the other hand kept the boy's boxers firmly in place and he also took note that while the boy himself was small in stature his age was probably greater than their first estimation. His build and scaring suggested the dangerous life of a Shinobi, and a good one at that, as well as added to the age that Madara was slowly building in his mind. He'd say that Hashirama and himself were about twelve, thirteen maybe even fourteen. This teen was perhaps sixteen, seventeen and to a push eighteen. He'd have to wait for the teen to wake up and tell them to be sure.

So what had caused him to end up in this predicament?

Madara placed a hand on the boy's chest, trying to sense out any chakra to see how far he'd come since they'd found him. All he found was the tiny flicker that had only grown a tiny amount, almost unnoticeably so. Why was it taking so long? Did the teen even want to wake up at all?

Madara would understand completely if he didn't. Even Hashirama would.

"All done." Hashirama announced. "Now you can use your fire style to dry them. Just don't set them on fire kay!"

The Uchiha rolled his eyes at the over active Senju before grumbling "Hey, come help me get him dressed." And added under his breath "And it wouldn't exactly be a crime if I did set those hideous things on fire."

The two teens worked without talking to get the unconscious teen dry and into the clothes that Madara had brought. Both of them knew that this was a potentially dangerous thing to do but neither could truly find the energy to care. All they wanted was to help the teen.

.0.0.0.

Naruto could feel the coolness of the water, and it helped to wake him up some. He was more aware this time, if more aware meant he could feel the water, if only the slightest bit. It was nice, refreshing.

He managed to remember that he was supposed to be somewhere, he was supposed to be doing something but he couldn't remember the specifics. He had to wake up now but he couldn't, he just didn't have the energy, his body and mind automatically preferring sleep.

The water, no matter how cool, couldn't keep his attention for very long and he found himself slipping under yet again.

Still he kept waking up. Well waking up wasn't quite the right way to say it. Perhaps, becoming aware was better after all. Little things began to catch his attention too. All the little things he hadn't really noticed until he no longer had it, like the smallest twitch in his hands felt like something that was the greatest achievement in his life. Or the slight shift in his surroundings, the temperature or even the terrain.

He didn't hear anything at first but sounds came long before movement did. It wasn't anything distinguishable when it did come, just an in and out blur of noise that was both comforting and loud at the same time. Later, he began to pick out things like a bird's call, rushing water at times, and the sound of approaching footsteps. He didn't know why but those footsteps were something he looked forward to.

Then he began to notice that there were two different types of footsteps, one that was hurried and almost cheerful in a sense and another than was slow and measured, each step controlled. Yet both sets of footsteps were cautious. Both were the footsteps of Shinobi.

As Naruto began to grow more and more aware, one thing he found himself having far too much time of, was time to think. Things began to swirl in his mind, things he hadn't really thought about before, like Sasuke and Danzo-teme, Jiji and his Otou-san. His Otou-san had hoped for him to be a hero, the Sandaime hadn't said a word about his parents to him, only telling him that they died in the Kyuubi attack and there was no point in talking about the dead. He thought about Sakura-chan and Hinata-chan, the two vastly different kunoichi that they were and wondered what he truly felt about them now. He thought about a lot of things, about the villages, about ramen, a lot of ramen, his days at the Academy and the days spent with Jiraiya, Kakashi, Yamato and all the other Shinobi of Konoha. He even thought about his failures and why they were classified as such. Heck, his mind must have been really bored if Itachi crossed it on more than one occasion.

Mostly though, he found himself thinking about the Kyuubi and his hatred and he found himself leaning towards agreeing with the Kyuubi because being trapped, quite frankly, sucked. Was this helpless yet aware feeling what the Kyuubi had all the time? He could see everything around him, yet there was nothing he could do except sit within Naruto and brood. No wonder he was such a grouch.

Naruto just had too much time to think.

.0.0.0.

"Hey, Madara, should we move him into the sun? You know, cause he might be tired of the inside of the cave." Hashirama suggested. It had now been four weeks since finding the Shinobi and his chakra had grown some since then but not as much as the two would've liked.

Madara gave the once again orange clad Shinobi a glance before picking him up and placing him on the outside of the cave, directly in the sun.

"Sometimes Hashirama, I don't know what goes in in that bowl cut head of yours."

"So mean . . ."

"Whatever, now are we going to spar today or not?" Madara replied, crossing his arms and looking away. He really hated those snap depression things that idiot fell into.

"Hell yeah! Come at me with all you've got." Hashirama looked up, the cloud of doom dissipating as quickly as it had formed, a large grin on his face.

"As though I'd need to." Madara scoffed arrogantly. But the spikey haired boy grinned back all the same and pulled out a kunai, rushing towards the other at full speed.

.0.0.0.

Warm. Everything was warm. It was nice. The ground was also softer.

Naruto's hand shifted the tiniest amount but he still did not have the energy needed to really move. Thoughts were more coherent now, not too disjointed. Still, the blond was desperately wishing for some other company other than his own thoughts. He'd tried talking to Kyuubi but he couldn't focus his mind enough for that.

Instead, he found himself becoming strangely eager for the sounds of his two Shinobi caretakers. There was only ever the two, only ever the hurried yet happy one and the cautious and measured one. However, they were both rather attentive to him, as a Shinobi.

Naruto wondered who they were, and why the Leaf hadn't found him yet. He even wondered how he'd come to be here and wondered if Danzo had somehow made good on that promise to turn him into a weapon.

He listened to all the conversations he could but there was never any mention of Shinobi villages so he didn't even know whether he was with the enemy or with allies. It had to be allies though, since they were caring for him.

At the current moment, they were going through their daily spar. It was a routine of theirs, to train whenever they were together in the little clearing outside the cave and this was the first time Naruto was outside with them.

He was deeply curious about their skill and techniques. Today they seemed to be focusing on Taijutsu and by the sounds of it, it was a good spar and the urge to see the world around him only grew. Naruto was almost desperate to get out of this helplessness. He wasn't used to it and he hoped it ended soon. He seemed to be getting better though.

Slowly, he tried to open his eyes, managing only to open his lids so that a sliver of light hit his pupils, immediately burning them. But he could see and that made his spirits soar. Perhaps he wouldn't be so helpless for very much longer. Naruto couldn't wait for the day that he was able to at least talk to his two caretakers.

Best part about it was, he could tell that the two shared a special bond, just like he and Sasuke did.

.0.0.0.

Four weeks turned to six and with every passing day, Naruto felt better and the two Shinobi that cared for him grew stronger. They didn't much mind that in each case it was only a little bit each day, only a little, barely noticeable at all but the progress was there all the same.

The two weren't always together but one of them always came to care for the unconscious Shinobi, never missing a single day if they could help it. Naruto was learning how to sense things in ways he'd never thought possible, his growing chakra allowing him to sense further and further, till he could tell that oddly enough the two younger teens did not live together and in fact came from opposite directions.

They didn't always just train. Sometimes they would just talk, conversations that Naruto was only half aware of. But they seemed to enjoy their talks just as much as they enjoyed their spars.

Madara and Hashirama were beginning to grow tired of the same training ground, or perhaps they were growing restless for a new challenge. They spoke about it but grudgingly agreed that they would wait until the older teen was able to move.

So it was with some much anticipated excitement that they finally noticed fluttering eyelids half way into the sixth week.

"Madara! He looks like he's waking up." Hashirama yelled cheerfully to the boy who was still approaching the cave. He'd only just gotten there himself and had been about to move Uzumaki into the sun. He'd sensed Madara's approach when he'd landed in the clearing himself. He hadn't seen the other boy much this week and was glad that he was seeing him today.

Madara rushed into the cave, falling into a crouch next to Hashirama. He'd never admit it, but he was just as excited as Hashirama was. This was going to be great!

But a part of them was fearful. What if he was an enemy? What if after all the work they'd put in, they'd have to kill him anyway?

Naruto groaned so softly it was almost inaudible. His hand twitched and his eyelids fluttered. Slowly, he managed to lift them, noting that today there was no bright light to immediately assault his pupils.

Madara and Hashirama almost gasped at the brilliant blue. They'd never seen a colour like that before. They were so blue . . .

Everything was blurry, unfocused. He could hardly make out any shapes or colours. It was confusing yet exhilarating at the same time. He was finally making some progress, even if it was something as small as opening his eyes.

"Hey, can you talk?" A breathless voice asked, sounding way louder than what it probably was.

"W-w-wa-ter?"

Nearly seven weeks and that was the first word he'd managed to speak. Great going Naruto. The silence and the lack of people was killing him though. He was a social creature and needed the bonds he formed to keep him grounded. He hoped that wherever he was and whoever he was with, they were allies. He wasn't in any position to escape if they weren't.

"Oh, my bad." That same voice from before. A black and creamy coloured blob moved closer and something cold and wet was placed against his lips.

Naruto drank slowly, not want to choke. When he was finished he felt loads better and managed to give a small lopsided smile to the other ninja.

"Th-thanks."

"So what's your name?" A new voice asked calmly, reminding the blond a lot of Sasuke.

"Uzu-maki Na-ru-to. Who are you?" Each word, every syllable was stated slowly, with difficulty.

Hashirama looked to Madara, both of them surprised. The teen had given his full name? Perhaps he had hit his head after all.

"I am Madara, and he is Hashirama."

"Hehe, sounds familiar, like a history lesson I probably slept through." Naruto replied with a tired giggle.

"Huh?" Madara and Hashirama stated in unison. This guy was nuts!

"Konoha, that's where I'm from. It was founded by the Uchiha and the Senju. At the time the clan heads were Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama." Naruto explained, hearing the confusion more than seeing it in the blobs in front of him.

"Impossible. The Senju and the Uchiha are rivals. They'd never be the founders of anything, at least not together." Hashirama was shaking his head.

"But they did. They founded my village. Konoha, the Village Hidden in the Leaves. You must have heard of it. It's one of the Great Shinobi Nations." Naruto was frowning slightly now.

"There's no such thing as a ninja village." Hashirama replied sadly. He actually felt sorry for the teen. He'd clearly been hit by a jutsu that damaged the mind and there was no curing that. "There are only the clans and none of them work together unless it's mutually beneficial to them and it's never for long."

"Only clans? It hasn't been like that since the Era of the Warring States. It hasn't been like that for eighty years." Naruto was getting more than confused now.

Madara on the other hand grabbed Hashirama's shoulder, cutting off his reply. He dragged the boy outside the cave, eyes glaring at the ground when he finally did let go of the other.

"Tell me you aren't a Senju." Madara stated quietly.

"Madara?"

"Whoever that boy is, wherever he comes from, he knows who we are. Unless . . . tell me you aren't a Senju."

"You're asking me something personal like that based on a possible enemy's words? He said clan heads, Madara, which neither of us are." Hashirama argued back.

"I am an Uchiha." Madara growled. "I am the son of the clan head. Tell me you aren't a Senju!"

Hashirama's eyes widened at the admission and realisation dawned where panic had begun to set in. "Konoha, that's where I'm from. It was founded by the Uchiha and the Senju. At the time the clan heads were Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama." Could the boy have known who they were all along? But he didn't appear to see them as such. Either way what did his words mean?

"I am the son of the clan head." Hashirama replied looking away.

"So where does that leave us?" Madara asked. Neither of them moved. This was a moment that was never supposed to happen. They were never to know each other's family names and confirm that which they had unconsciously suspected all along.

"The Senju killed my brothers." Madara whispered.

"The Uchiha killed mine." Hashirama replied just as softly, as brokenly.

So where did that leave them?

An uncomfortable silence rang in the air, their family names dictating that they were enemies yet their hearts telling them they were friends, sharing a bond that no one else could understand.

Hashirama looked up from the ground. He stared at the boy he'd come to call friend, a boy he trusted with his life. He was still the same boy, no matter what his name was or where he came from.

"I want the war to stop. I want to create a world where children aren't forced to fight. That still hasn't changed." Hashirama stated with determination. "And I still want you to do it with me."

Madara's dark eyes jerked to him in surprise.

"A name is a name. You could have killed me many times over and I you. So . . . I trust you, just don't let that trust be misplaced or you'll regret it." Hashirama continued with a grin, mirroring the very words Madara had spoken to him before.

"I . . ." Madara look away, pain flaring in his eyes before he turned back to Hashirama, the same determination in his eyes as the other. "A name is more than a name, or else we wouldn't have to hide it." Blood red Sharingan swirled to life but the Senju did not look away. "However, I feel as though you do, for the sake of my brother Izuna. You and I will take our clans to new heights . . . and we shall do so, together."

Hashirama grinned broadly. "And I have a feeling that crazy blond is going to help."

The two clasped their hands together with a smile, Hashirama's a toothy grin while Madara's was a small smirk. Yes, they were going to take the ninja world by storm.