"Order a cease-fire to the Uchiha, effective immediately." Hashirama ordered, with not a hint of jester lingering in his tone. It was time to step his foot down.

"What makes you think that the Uchiha will heed to it, elder brother? I surely killed his younger brother." Tobirama spoke out of spite.

"Stop saying such things!" The Senju leader smashed a fist onto the table, unlike his usual cheery self. Tobirama frowned, and quickly scrapped up a letter to send. He knew better than to get on his brother's bad side, especially pertaining issues with the Uchiha.

-

Ayumi stood up on her two feet now patting away the dust on her yukata, eyeing the two Uchiha brothers who's bond only grew stronger after making it out alive.

"I think it's time I take my leave." The Hyuga princess spoke.

Madara hesitated for a bit, his gaze lingered on her for longer than usual.

"You will stay." Madara ordered.

"Yeah. What if something happens to you?" Izuna sat upright, gritting his teeth. He was still slightly in pain, she noted.

Ayumi shook her head, her black tresses falling. "I'll be safe. And Izuna is making great tracks towards recovery. I'll write a list of things you need to do to take care of him, Madara. My clan folks need me."

Madara nodded his head, understanding all too well what the duties of a leader entailed. He had been slacking recently, which was highly unlike him, but it was worth it if he could see to his brother's health.

"Hm? What's this?" Madara spoke, an eagle had flown in through the window sill and landed on his shoulder. He quickly unravelled the notes contents, scrunching his face in disgust, but then softening his expression once his eyes had landed on Izuna's.

"What is it?" Ayumi rubbed her chin and pouted, not sure if she was budding her nose where it shouldn't be. Madara slid the note away from him towards her across the floor.

"A cease of fire from the Senju." Madara said.

"Looks like they beat us to the alliance!" Ayumi exclaimed.

"Aniki, you were still considering one, even after what happened?" Izuna was staring at his brother with a scrutinizing gaze.

Ayumi gulped.

"I can't risk losing you again, Izuna. This way casualties will stop."

His brother scoffed. "You're losing your judgement. They cannot be truste-"

"Izuna." Ayumi's face grew stern, a coldness laced in her tone. Izuna looked at her.

"You are only alive because of me." She spoke hard, stepping forward. "Next time I can't be so sure we'll be lucky."

"It sounds like you're threatening me into an alliance with my younger brother's life." Madara stood up in front of her, his sharingan hovering over her. She froze, it was almost as if she felt trapped. "Don't forget what territory you're on." He spoke malicely.

She gulped. This was the side of Madara that had absolutely frightened her. But no, I must stand my ground!

"Stop twisting words into my mouth, Madara!" She choked on her tightened throat, she felt as if it was constricting.

Madara noted that tears were beginning to swell up in the corners of her eyes. He bit his tongue, perhaps he had spoken too brashly. It suddenly dawned on him that she lost her younger sister to the Senju, yet here she was out of all people insisting on this alliance. Madara did not want to see her cry.

Izuna glanced at his brother, noticing how confused he was growing.

Madara admonished himself for growing so emotionally involved in such affairs. It would have been easier to make decisions for the sake of his clan if he had kept to himself from the very beginning. If Madara accepted the alliance, his brother would be upset temporarily, but Ayumi and many others would be safe, and the frameworks for a village could finally come to fruition. If he rejected an alliance, Izuna would be happy, but Ayumi would be upset, and so the cycle of war would just continue until one side follied. The choice was becoming too painfully obvious.

"Brother. Just do it already." Izuna looked away to the side sheepishly, frowning. Much to Madara's disappointment, Izuna would be displeased, but lives were going to be saved. Not that he in particular cared about that, but it would make her happy. Madara was uncomfortable that he was even considering someone else's feelings outside of his own family in such a matter.

"Go home and bide your time, Ayumi." Madara rested a hand on her upper arm. "I'll give you a signal when a meeting is set up so that our two clans can see to an alliance."

She took a glance at his firm grip and then met his eyes, which were swirling back to his dark ones. She smiled, agreeing. "Mm!"

-

It had not been more than a day until Ayumi received a letter from the Uchiha regarding the Senju alliance.

She chucked at how simple the letter was, characteristic of Madara's blunt personality. She was surprised this time though, he had greeted her by her family name.

Hyuga,

A meeting with the Senju has been arranged for tomorrow afternoon.

Also, Izuna's wounds are holding up well.

- Uchiha Madara

The pad of her thumb swiped over the contents of the letter, and she could not help but want to cry. It was finally coming true. A day where no one had to wake up in fear any more.

"So, it's settled?" Koniko watched the heiress eagerly. She too had been in support of an alliance.

"Yeah." Ayumi nodded, "Koniko, could you arrange a clan meeting? I need to let the Hyuga know."

"Of course." Koniko pat her shoulder.

-

*AYUMI'S POV*

It was approaching evening now, and I stood in the Hyuga clan's headquarters where most of our clan mates would meet to debrief.

I could not lie to myself any longer, I was incredibly tense. I had only arranged a couple of these before in the past, but this was different. A beginning of a new era. I was not sure how the Hyuga would respond.

My father aptly noticed the tension in my shoulders, and ruffled my hair.

"Do not fret, daughter. You are the leader to the Hyuga."

"Chichi." I grinned childishly at this doting-ness.

Soon enough, members of the clan who were responsible for fighting filled up the room, sitting in a disarrayed manner while chatting amongst themselves. I took it as a signal to start,planting my staff firmly on the wooden floor. It was enough to get their attention.

"Everybody. I am sorry to pull you away from your families this evening, but something promising is finally in the works."

Some of their eyes visibly perked up with excitedness.

"... The Hyuga clan is going to ally with the Senju, and participate in building a village for various clans to co-exist in harmony."

That exitenedess that lit their faces earlier was surely gone. Some were tight-lipped, I noted, and others looked disappointed.

"They killed my parents!" One angry Hyuga shouted, and the rebellion began while other Hyuga also angrily agreed in scattered chatter.

"Enough!" I struck my staff firmly one more time. They were quiet now. "I understand that this alliance will re-open closed wounds. Have you all forgotten! I lost my own sister to them." I raised my hands, hoping they would understand my train of thought. "This alliance will stop these casualties from happening. There is no reason men and women alike should continue to be dying so young. I will make it clear to you all: the Hyuga clan comes first in my priorities, and I see this as most befitting to keep us all alive and healthy into the far future."

I noticed how majority of the Hyuga seemed laxed now.

"Do not forget that our destiny as Hyuga come first: to protect the byakugan's secrets." I spoke more firmly now, earning a stare of approval from my father. "Forming an alliance will decrease the number of deaths, thereby reducing the chance our powers will be stolen by other clans."

The Hyuga members seemed to readily agree with this point, all nodding their heads, agreeing in unison.

"If you should have any more questions, drop by my office. Otherwise, you may all be dismissed."

All of the Hyuga shuffled out to the exit, the sounds of their weapons clunking onto each other filled the room as they moved. I wondered how soon I'd no longer have to hear those sounds.