Chapter Text
Only time will tell, his brother had sighed. Only time will heal. Tobirama hadn’t quite believed him then, waved it off as one more flowery, rose tinted future only his brother had the eyes to see. How, in this godforsaken world, could anyone except him see hope? Worse, see Potential? The guilt of so many dead comrades, family members and friends had weighed tobirama down for so long, how could he just let go? He shied away from the light, finding purpose in quieter, hidden away shadows to avoid seeing how his brother's plan was beginning to work. he hid to make sure he wouldn't start feeling the same yearning for peace. he hid because it wouldn't work.
Because someone had to pull the senju out when they fall into the pit they dug with their alliance to the uchiha. He was waiting for it. day after day, his heart never settled. the konoha lab became his home. avoiding busy streets, his brother's smile, and familiarity became his norm.
he waited. he grew more anxious.
He almost grew impatient by the second year.
why weren't they giving up? they've had to stop two rebellions among clans, had to fight over land and positions of housing, even the hospital plans were questioned endlessly. wasn't this proof that this wasn't working? he despises this feeling of dread seeing his brother talk himself out of work so careless and amused.
He hates it. hates imagining hashirama broken to nothing when he would finally see the truth.
it's been three years.
why was konoha still standing?
"Tobirama, join me." Madara's voice is too calm. where was the bloodthirsty sharpness in his eyes? why were his hands empty of any weapon? why wasn't he looking at tobirama with the same anger?
why was he healing when tobirama wasn't? couldn't?
he followed.
"I have work." lots of contracts. madara should be working too.
"have you seen konoha, Tobirama?" he thinks madara is making fun of him. he can't be as mad as he wants to be. "I live here too, in case you haven't noticed." he snarks at wild strands of hair. he couldn't see madara's face behind all that hair.
and he realises he's at madara's back, right in his blindspot, and he almost reels back in confusion.
"Sure. You've been around. but you don't really live here, do you?" Same old. he's never to be seen. he should open up more. "I can feel it. the way you await for something that will never happen."
this was his worst enemy, Tobirama reminds himself. madara had killed hundreds of the senju, had taken lives and spilled blood. he was not a man to be trusted. haven't you done the same? is your justification more reasonable than his?
"You speak as though this is your realm to control at free will. something will always go wrong." the forest outside konoha rings with the silence bearing down on tobirama's shoulders. he's tired, he notes almost as an afterthought.
"not control. Influence. This reality is mine to influence. If I want Konoha to stay, who is there to stop me? your brother?"
