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As the Shinobi World reached a turning point in its history, Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju were driving the implementation of the ceasefire agreement forward with thunderous momentum.

For the first time, the ninjas of the two clans set aside generations of blood feuds and fought side by side. Flames and Wood Release intertwined on the battlefield, forming a strangely harmonious scene.

Hashirama Senju gazed at Madara's profile, lit by the fires of battle. His features stood out sharply through the smoke, yet were softened somewhat by the dawn of peace.

He noticed undried dew on Madara's eyelashes, but his Sharingan shone brighter than ever.

Hashirama Senju's throat worked as though he wanted to say something. In the end, he only patted his dear friend on the shoulder, his eyes brimming with tears.

The two men stood back to back, their figures casting long silhouettes in the setting sun.

As the fighting died down with astonishing speed, Madara Uchiha used the tablet to reach a key agreement with Utsusemi, who was far away in the Land of Hot Water.

Once Izuna recovered, they would move forward with the plan to ally with the Senju and build a village. During their conversation, Madara repeatedly urged her to return as soon as she finished the relief work.

As a show of sincerity, the Uchiha Clan Head had the residence on the south side of the compound specially renovated.

Yet he received a reply from Utsusemi: "I already have a house. I need to maintain my independence in my work."

When he received her refusal to live together, Madara lost control and crushed his treasured teacup.

"Does Uchiha territory not have room for two residences?" The next day, he included the neighboring elder's residence in the expansion plans as well.

In the light of the morning sun, Hashirama Senju arrived at the capital of the Land of Hot Water.

Utsusemi had already held a farewell tea party with the nobles and wealthy merchants she had come to know.

The courtyard was piled high with gifts of thanks, including fine silks and satins and rare medicinal herbs. Itama darted among the gift boxes like a busy little squirrel, sorting them.

The moment he caught sight of his elder brother, the scroll in Itama's hand clattered to the ground.

He cried out joyfully, "Big brother!" and rushed into Hashirama's arms like a fledgling returning to its nest.

Just before reaching him, he came to an abrupt halt and reflexively gave a ninja salute, so perfectly executed that it was heartbreaking.

Hashirama Senju lifted his youngest brother over his head, then held him tight.

He found that the child, who had barely reached his waist, had grown half a palm taller. The contours of his round face were beginning to sharpen, and a composure beyond his years had settled in his eyes.

As the Senju brothers rested their foreheads together, Hashirama suddenly remembered that Itama's eighth birthday was fifteen days away.

And Tobirama, who was always so fond of wearing a stern face, had his birthday the day before Itama's.

"I've come to take you home." Hashirama broke into a sunny smile.

Itama paused almost imperceptibly, then put on an even brighter smile.

He hid the image of Izuna lying asleep in the Spacetime Tower deep in his eyes.

"The war's finally over." He happily wrapped his arms around his brother's waist and buried his face in his robe, which smelled of fresh grass, to hide it. "I missed you and the others so much."

Hashirama Senju lovingly stroked his brother's distinctive black-and-white hair. "Where's Utsusemi?"

"Big sister's handing out the remaining grain in the slums," Itama replied, lifting his face.

"I'll go get her. Have the innkeeper pack the luggage." Hashirama released his brother, ruffled his hair, and strode toward the door.

The morning sun spread between the low eaves of the slums. When Hashirama came along a path still wet with puddles, Utsusemi was bending over to pour brown rice into an old woman's cracked earthenware bowl.

When a fluctuation of Chakra stirred the air, she knew who had come without looking back.

Utsusemi turned around knowingly. "Long time no see, Hashirama."

Hashirama Senju rushed up to her in three strides. She understood the hint and opened her arms to him.

He eagerly spread his arms and gathered Utsusemi into an embrace.

Utsusemi let herself sink into the hug, the fresh, woody scent of him lingering around her.

She vaguely recalled that the last time she had felt this safe, she had also been in his arms. Hashirama really could make her feel secure.

She could feel the heat of his heartbeat beneath his chest. It was the heartbeat of a warrior who fought for peace, and also a heartbeat leaping with joy solely at their reunion in this moment.

Feeling the sudden lift at her waist, she let Hashirama raise her as though weighing a ninja tool.

"You're lighter. You've lost two jin." Hashirama's brows drew tightly together, and he pressed her back against his chest, his heart aching for her.

Utsusemi happily nuzzled his neck. She had missed her friends and family very much.

Especially after completing the legendary task of soloing the Uchiha Clan Compound, it would have been such a shame to have no one to share the joy of victory with.

She thought of the nights she had spent training alone and Madara Uchiha's piercing gaze.

She thought of the bandits and rogue ninjas who had appeared one after another during the war. Her loneliness and perseverance were both comforted in this moment.

"Thank you, Utsusemi." Tears swam in Hashirama's eyes. "I never thought we could really make peace with the Uchiha..."

He spun around with Utsusemi in his arms. "You're a miracle that came into this world! Every day since I met you has brought a new surprise!"

His joy was infectious, and Utsusemi laughed. The poor people around them could not help rubbing their eyes.

They had never seen Lady Utsusemi, stern and compassionate as a goddess, wear such an expression.

The poor people, who usually only dared gaze up at her from afar and kneel before her, now saw her with her burden set down.

When they returned to the hot spring inn where they were staying, the innkeeper had long since directed the maids to sort all their luggage on the wooden corridor and seal it into twenty-three storage scrolls.

Hashirama Senju kicked the sliding door open in high spirits. The rough movement made Itama reflexively form a defensive seal, and he relaxed only after seeing it was his brother.

When the innkeeper saw the clan head return through the snow with Utsusemi in his arms, she covered her lips with her long sleeve and chuckled. "Come in and warm yourselves. The bath has been filled with medicinal water, and lunch will be ready shortly."

Itama was wiping his wet hair under the eaves. "I've already bathed. Big brother, big sister, you two should go soak in the hot spring."

He turned back to sorting the luggage that still needed to be packed for their departure that afternoon.

White steam rose from the hot spring pool, blurring the outlines of the wooden fence. The adjoining men's and women's baths were separated only by a translucent cypress partition.

Hashirama Senju soaked in the hot spring. "How have you been... these past few months?"

"Very well. I've been setting up barriers around the shelters." Utsusemi swept her wet hair behind her ear. "Last month, a blizzard crushed the west wall, so I rebuilt it with Earth Release. Itama bought more mixed grains than we needed, so we gave the excess to the refugees..."

She chatted on about the tea parties where she had dealt with the nobles.

When the subject turned to Hashirama, he swallowed his bitterness.

He did not want to talk about how many people he had killed or the casualties in his clan, so he spoke instead about an embarrassing incident when one of Tobirama's experiments failed.

A moment later, the man suddenly sank into the water, leaving only half his face above the surface.

The sound of the bubbles he blew breaking on the surface took the place of certain unfinished answers.

The feast the innkeeper had prepared covered the entire cypress table. Matsutake mushrooms and tofu bobbed in broth in the boar hot pot, while snow crab reflected the plum wine in a glass cup.

Charcoal crackled in the hearth, and hidden in the ninja anecdotes Hashirama told were coded words only they understood.

After the meal, they sat together around the hearth as the tea kettle bubbled.

Noon sunlight streamed through the shoji doors. They were fully packed and ready to set out for home.

"Let's go!" Hashirama raised his arm high, and Itama immediately broke into a smile as bright as the morning sun. "Yeah!" came his energetic reply.

Utsusemi pointed at the luxurious carriage and suggested, "Let's use the transport the nobles gave us. These two fine horses..."

Before she could finish, he laughed and pulled her into his arms. "I'm faster than a horse! I can carry you back in just four hours. Even keeping pace with Itama, it'll take six hours at most."

"Big brother's the fastest!" Itama smiled up at them. "Big sister, let's hurry and go. Second brother must be waiting at home for us to return."

Hashirama Senju easily lifted Utsusemi onto his back, his broad hands firmly supporting her behind the knees.

Itama Senju knelt on one knee, arranging his gear. His nimble fingers rolled up the storage scrolls.

He slipped the scrolls into his pack in order, then neatly slung it onto his back.

The innkeeper remained bowed at ninety degrees until the three figures disappeared completely along the winding mountain path.

The hem of Hashirama Senju's haori rose like outspread wings as he ran, while Itama's agile figure appeared and vanished among the trees.

Utsusemi lay quietly against Hashirama's broad back, gradually relaxing.

The fresh scent of grass and wood unique to Hashirama lingered around her, and his familiar, powerful heartbeat sounded beside her ear.

Utsusemi rested her face on his shoulder, feeling his muscles move as he ran.

She nuzzled his shoulder blade and gave a contented sigh.

Sleepiness washed over her like a tide, and she could not help yawning. The familiar warmth made her drowsy.

"If you're tired, go to sleep," Hashirama's gentle voice came through the wind, carrying a reassuring smile. "By the time you wake up, we'll be home."

The promise made the last of Utsusemi's guard fall away. The ends of her hair swayed gently with the rhythm of his running, and at last she sank into a sweet sleep amid the comforting scent of grass and wood.