"Now then..." Madara sighed, crossing his arms.

"You two are engaged. But have you decided on a wedding date?" Hashirama asked his friend. The Uchiha spared him a boring glance, then looking back to the stack of papers that laid on his office desk.

"No." Madara answered, "I have yet to tell both of our families."

Hashirama widened his eyes a tad bit, surprised by the hesitance his friend was showing. "It's making you nervous isn't it?" He mockingly smirked.

Madara looked at him with narrowed eyes. "Knock that smile off your face or else I'll take it off for you."

Hashirama brooded, crouching to the floor and hugging his knees to his chest. "I'm taking your aggressiveness as a yes to my question."

"Get up, Hashirama." Madara looked at him pitifully.

"Fine, fine." Hashirama patted his pants. "You're too much of a perfectionist and you're overthinking it, Madara. That's what I think. Just go for it."

"I do not need to be told that." Madara flatly spoke. "There is something else I'm concerned about."

"Oh?" Hashirama's eyes perked up.

"Yes." Madara met his friend's eyes with a serious face.

-

"So that's what you're worried about." Hashirama leaned towards the windowsill, looking out to the blue sky.

"Mm." Madara hummed. The Uchiha curiously rubbed his chin. "I am unsure what our two bloodlines will result in if we had children."

"Well you won't know unless it happens." Hashirama winked. The Uchiha annoyingly sighed.

"But," Hashirama pat his friend's back, "I am ecstatic for you. I never really-"

"I know what you're going to say. That you never really thought a wedding could be in my cards." Madara looked up.

"You just keep surprising me." Hashirama grinned, "Plus, she's got to be someone great to be able to handle your personality."

Madara glared at him. "Baka. I think I'm perfectly fine. Better than sulking every two minutes."

"You might just be a little stern and harsh around the edges." Hashirama's fingers indicating how much, the other itching his cheek.

Madara hm'd and looked into the sky now too, staying silent for just a moment. He thought of her face that made him grow a warm feeling in his chest.

"She is a fine woman."

Hashirama's lips formed into an o-shape, shocked by his friend's statement. Madara had a change of heart in personality ever since she came into Madara's life.

"I think it's time I speak to her family." Madara turned on his feet walking, his armour clanking quietly as he did so.

Hashirama watched his friend's back. Madara was no longer running away nor seeking the throes and thrill of seeking power, but for something else that would better him this time around. A fond smile grew on the Hashirama's face.

-

"N-no way!" Koniko stumbled, trying not to drop the tea set she had prepared for Ayumi and her to enjoy on the porch. They both sat down now, their legs dangling off of the edge.

"So Madara proposed to you? He wants you to be his wife?" She repeated, so as to reaffirm reality.

"S-stop! Don't say it like that!" The flustered Hyuga princess brought her arms over to her face to cover her cheeks.

"Hahah!" Koniko laughed, "But it is exactly that!"

"I guess..." Ayumi looked at her friend with a smile.

"You know, I didn't even peg him as the type to like women." She rubbed his chin, "All belligerent and so powerful, y'know?" Koniko took a sip of her tea.

Belligerent. Ayumi pondered about that word for a minute. Madara did have an aggressive streak, but unexpectedly also a kind one. Madara was a reticscient and patient man, so long as his little brother Izuna had been by his side.

Ayumi looked up to the clouds. "Yeah. I get what you mean."

"Does... anybody know yet?" Koniko asked curiously.

"Hm..." Ayumi rubbed her chin, looking at her. "Only Hashirama and an elder lady from the Uchiha. And now you." And also Otsutsuki Konosuke. Her head dangeled. "I think it's time I tell his family."

"I think it is! Don't be so nervous." Koniko excitedly said.

-

Ayumi walked quickly throughout Konoha, trying to make her way to the Uchiha district. Her haste shuffling earned strange stares from civilians, but she didn't care.

Madara, I need to tell your family!

But almost too conveniently, she saw a long mane of spikey black hair from a distance, and those eyes she once thought were so cold were now sparking a warmth in her.

"Ayumi." Madara approached her more closely. "What are you doing?"

"I wanted to speak to your family." Ayumi said with a grin.

Madara closed his eyes. "It seems like we had the same idea in mind."

"You mean you were on your way to the Hyuga compound?" Ayumi eyes widened.

"Mm." Madara hummed, with crossed arms.

"Well then..." Ayumi shifted on her feet, "Last one to the Uchiha is a rotten egg!"

Madara's eyebrow twitched.

"Settle down." Madara tugged her wrist before she could go off any further. "I'm going to speak to your family first."

Ayumi pouted, annoyingly sighing. "Fine."

-

"Now then..." Madara sat down beside Ayumi, now sitting before Hyuga Hayate alongside a couple of councillors from the Hyuga clan.

"I hope I haven't troubled you by appearing so suddenly." Madara spoke lowly. Ayumi bit her lip looking anxiously to the Uchiha. Madara isn't even nervous.

And in truth Madara wasn't. When he knew what he wanted, nothing could get in his way.

Hayate's expression remained indifferent though, as though he could be doing a million other things that were pending on his list. Nonetheless, the father narrowed his eyes at him.

Hayate was quick to put two and two together though, analyzing the nervous state of Ayumi's and Madara's forwardness. Hayate knew what was coming.

"My daughter has been spending a lot of time with you." Hayate crossed his arms.

"All in good spirits." The Uchiha replied unhesitantly. The councillors in the back were watching intently.

"I extend my thanks to your clan because you were able to look after my daughter after she collapsed bringing Uchiha Izuna back." Hayate recalled, remembering reading the letter in the middle of the night delivered by a falcon of Madara's. Hayate's narrowed eyes did not waver though.

Madara closed his eyes. "In retrospect, Ayumi was able to save both my brother and I's life. That is why..." And he opened his eyes slowly, "I want her hand in marriage."

It wasn't until after the fact Madara's voice rung inside his own head, fazed by how forward he was being with his emotions with another person outside of his family. Though they would be family too I suppose.

Ayumi took a gulp, now hovering her gaze over to her father's. Who interestingly enough now, relaxed his facial expression, and huffed.

Uchiha Madara is the one who helped co-found this village. The one who also protected Ayumi. Also the one who signed an alliance and protected the Hyuga vice versa by doing so during the warring states era. There was no question about it - I could trust him with my daughter's life. But... Hayate thought to himself.

"I know that you came to such a conclusion after much careful thought." Hayate broke the silence in the room. One of the councillors in the back seemed distraught though, shuffling over to whisper something in Hayate's ear. The sight was unsettling.

"If you have something to say, I'd much rather you say it outloud." Madara said.

Hayate brought a palm up to the air, indicating for the councillor to go back to his seat.

"This will be the first time the Hyuga's main family will have mixed with an outsider. Everything is preordained to happen." Hayate spoke. Madara's eyebrows raised slightly. "And maybe this tie is within the works of destiny. There is no clue telling what dojutsu your children will have if that time ever comes." Hayate explained. I'm sure Madara could tell where this was going, the Hyuga thought to himself.

"You're conflicted as to what clan said child should succeed." Madara completed Hayate's thought. Ayumi looked down to her hands which were now clenching the hem of her sleeves.

That Uchiha Madara is insightful. Hayate thought. Though unknown to Hayate, it was the same exact problem that had been clouding Madara's mind too all along.

"How about said child succeeds both clans?" Ayumi chirped with her palms in the air, now earning glares from everybody in the room. Except from Madara, he looked at her kindly. It gave her the confidence she needed. Madara was eager to hear what she had to say.

"They will probably be born with both Byakugan and Sharingan." Ayumi rubbed her chin, "Since genetically speaking our genes are both co-dominant." Madara smirked, relishing in the fact that their children would be powerful already.

"Ayumi has always been an idealist." Hayate spoke. It stayed silent for a moment.

"Some ideals can work." Madara rested his palms on his knees. "Like how this village did as a product of Hashirama and I's dream as children."

"I see why Ayumi has piqued your interest." Hayate smally smiled. "Very well then."

Hayate got up and so did the pair forward to him. "I grant you my blessings. Take care of my daughter." He offered the Uchiha his hand to shake.

Madara shook Hayate's hand. "I intend to."

Hayate and the councillors took their leave, and all that remained was Ayumi and Madara.

Madara looked over his shoulder to see a joyous Ayumi quietly sniffling.

"M-Madara..." She approached him slowly with a big grin.

"I'll be damned - are those boogers comin' out your nose?" Toguya intervened out of nowhere, adjusting the katanas strapped to his back.

"B-baka!" Ayumi punched her cousin in the arm into the floor. "I'm officially getting married to the man that I love and I'm so happy-"

Ayumi widened her eyes and quickly slapped her mouth shut, bringing a hand over to her lips. She was blushing profusely at her slip up. How could I be so stupid! She thought to herself.

Madara was... overwhelmed. Madara widened his eyes slightly, overtaken by the fact that he had someone like her who felt so deeply about him.

"Dropping the L word already. She's always been the obsessive type." Toguya rolled his eyes patting his hair. "And stop hitting me!"

"B-baka! You moron! Stupid idiot! Let me have my spotlight!" Ayumi twiddled her fingers in front of her face evilly while still beet red.

"Whatever." Toguya muttered, "I'm leaving, so enjoy your alone time and try not to scare him off."

Ayumi's fists were clenched as she rolled her sleeve up, "Oh I'll show you-"

"Ayumi." Madara's familiar deep voice brought her back to her senses, her anger instantaneously fading away. In truth, he was shocked by her recent revelation. Madara could count on his fingers the people in his life who he shared that deep intense feeling for. Her pale eyes were looking at him.

Madara looked at her softly.

"You shouldn't let people's jesterly opinions rile you up so easily."

"Oh I know! But when it comes to you, I get angry-" She gritted her teeth.

Madara placed his hands on her shoulders, shaking her slightly. "You're doing it again. Calm down."

"You're right." Ayumi pouted. It quickly converted into a coy smile now. "Now we should go inform your family."

Something unexpected happened though, as his feelings for her built up bit by bit in his chest Madara blushed. He immediately regretted it, he didn't know why he reacted that way.

Ayumi was internally shocked but in bliss that she was able to provoke such a reaction out of the Madara.

Ayumi grinned devilishly while sticking her tongue out. "You should keep the pink on your cheeks, makes you look less scary." She slid the shoji door open and walked outside. Madara followed her.

"I'd watch your words."

"Now look who's riled up!" Ayumi laughed.

Madara closed his eyes and sighed.