AYUMI'S POV

I sighed as I watched Kenzo and Kaouru practice their swordsmanship skills. I would often stop by their newly built house to check and see how they were holding up. It would be a big change for them, but I was sure they would get used to it. They had been getting better by the day, the light and curiosity returning to their faces. I had another ordeal hovering my mind though. And that was preparations for the wedding.

I closed my eyes, recalling last night's memories with Madara. We soaked our feet in the porch right outside my room.

"I would prefer a smaller wedding, to be quite honest with you." Madara glanced at me.

"Really?" I looked up at him. I wasn't surprised, since he wasn't fond of large gatherings. Being pestered left and right by people he vaguely knew wasn't appealing to him.

"Mm." Madara looked ahead, "But it seems like that won't work out since we are leaders of rather big clans."

"Right." I nodded.

"Here's an invitation list I managed to craft from my side." Madara handed me a scroll, "Supposedly anyone is welcome to make it if they can, but these guests in particular must."

"Oh? I'll hand out invitations and make sure they can make it then." I placed the scroll in my sleeve.

Madara nodded.

I withdrew the scroll from my sleeve, unravelling the list. It wasn't long one bit, but I could see that these people meant a lot to him. My eyes began to read the list.

Senju Hashirama

Senju Tobirama

I chuckled. Even though that white-haired man hurt Izuna he still had the will to invite him. But knowing Madara, he most likely did it out of courtesy and for Hashirama's sake.

Uzumaki Mito

Uchiha Kagami

That old veteran lady you always stop by to help at our compound

I couldn't help but laugh.

But my laugh quickly settled down as my eyes fell on the last name on the list.

Uchiha Honuko

That girl who had always picked problems with me. I thought that Madara hadn't liked her, so why would he make the extra effort to invite her? I shook my head, it didn't matter to me. I would do it and hopefully make amends.

-

"I never saw this coming. I have no clue what you see in that broad." Tobirama muttered, his hands were in his pockets as he leaned against the wall.

"Tobirama. Stop saying such things." Hashirama turned around to bow apologetically.

I waved my hands in the air. "It's fine. I know you two weren't on the best of terms during waring times, but please for my sake at least. Attend our wedding." I bowed, clasping both of my hands in front of me.

"We will, we will!" Hashirama put both of his hands on my shoulders. "Please look after Madara. I am overwhelmed with happiness for the both of you."

"Hashirama..." I muttered, smiling. "I really appreciate that y'know?" I took a couple of steps towards the exit, I glanced over my shoulder to look at Tobirama. "It's almost as if the Uchiha left a psychological scar on you though."

"The same could be said for any strong clan in the Leaf. Including yours." Tobirama spoke firmly.

"Did you forget I let your men go even though they killed my sister? If anything we should be suspicious of you." I frowned, crossing her arms. I couldn't believe Tobirama was still so dubious, unlike Hashirama who was adamant on building bonds, his brother was extremely wary. The brothers looked at each other, and I could tell Tobirama regretted what he said.

"You have nothing to worry about." I said, my arms fell to my sides.

Tobirama stepped forward, nodding. "We'll be there on good terms."

I spared the two a smile, and took my leave.

-

My eyes were closed as I heaved a heavy sigh, it had been a long day of visiting numerous people's houses and making sure they had received their invitations. But I didn't mind, if it was something that would make Madara more at ease. The thought of a large ceremony slighted him, but at least having the reassurance of those couple of people he valued be there would tame his nerves.

Much to my dismay, and a large thanks to my clumsiness, my face bumped into somebody's back. The person cursed as they met my face, I had been rubbing my nose.

"I'm so sorry." I bowed. But I quickly met the person's eyes - no, hers.

"Honuko!" I said, slightly shocked.

"Ugh, it's you." The raven-haired Uchiha began walking away, patting her shoulder. "Do you just bow down to any body even though you're a leader?"

I curled a fist, her attitude irritated me! "Oi! Y'know we could be good friends if it weren't for your snobbiness." I caught up to her. "Besides, I have something to talk about, seriously."

Honuko sat down on a bench, fanning herself from the day's heat. "What do you want from me?"

I pulled out a scroll. "Listen, I don't know what problem you have with me. But I'm sure you already know." I looked at her seriously, hoping she would look at me and grant me the slightest bit of attention. And thankfully she did, meeting my eyes rather silently.

"Madara... wants to invite you to our wedding."

"Hmph." Honuko held her head high up as she looked away, obviously annoyed. "I'll go for him, but not for you."

Internally I was happy, but physically I had been frowning. I had to ask her, now was my chance.

"Is there something you have against me, Honuko?"

But all she merely did was spare me a bored glance.

"Madara and I growing up had a lot of history. I would always be chasing after him, and the councillors were adamant that we get married. I'm the only woman in my clan with proficient sharingan use, and so naturally they thought we would make a good pair and eventually a strong lineage." She explained, though resentfully.

My head dangeled, staring meekly at my hands that had been in my lap. Suddenly the pieces of the puzzle were beginning to fit all together. I recalled Tajima's words about how he insisted Madara instead get married to an Uchiha woman, and that very lady must have been Honuko. I understood the resentment she must have been feeling towards me.

Oddly enough, Honuko's voice softened. "But you know how Madara is, and I'm sure you've figured it out yourself though you can be quite stupid. He hates people behind him."

My eyebrow twitched, as I raised a fist. "You didn't have to call me stupid!" But I bit my lip and forced myself to calm down, "But yeah. I can understand why I must annoy you. But please..."

I looked at her pleadingly, and she stared right at me. "Please. I don't have any inclinations to keep this bad blood between us. You actually seem like a good person."

Honuko's eyes closed, and she sighed.

"Madara was always mean to me anyway." Honuko pressed her lips. "But then I see how nicely he treats you. I shouldn't get in the way of that, as much as I hated your new blood."

I looked away. I had indeed been lucky, and I was sure that if I didn't save Madara that night when we were mere children on the battlefield, I wouldn't have been in the place that I was in right now. Heck, Madara probably would have hurt me.

"Anyway, you don't even have to worry." Honuko got up, with a hand on her torso. "I'm pregnant."

"... W-What?!" I stood right up, staring at her abdomen and then back to her. "You-you're-"

"Yeah!" Honuko punched my arm. I winced, she really was stronger than she looked. "So that mean bastard is all yours." She crossed her arms.

"How far along are you? Who's the lucky guy?" I squiggled my eyebrows, and she chuckled.

"I'm about six weeks in. And his name is Kagami." Honuko winked.

"You mean the Uchiha Kagami?" He had been touted as the Uchiha's best genjutsu user, second to Madara.

"Uh-huh!" Honuko began walking. "I think I might have bargained a man better than Madara." She rubbed her chin.

"How ridiculous!" I laughed. "But..." I glanced at her curiously.

"You look like an eager child with eyes like that." Honuko mocked, "What do you want?"

I twiddled my fingers, unsure whether I had been crossing a boundary or not. But I would bite the bullet. "Do you want to come by my place for tea?"

"Eh?" Honuko stayed silent for a moment, but I could tell that she wouldn't refuse the offer, as she looked back to me hesitantly. "... Sure."

-

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