Trust.

Stamping another report, he sighed.     

It's only been three weeks since they declared him as the Senju clan head and he already felt like he aged years within this brief span. He felt so tired that he just wanted to crawl back into his bed. But the endless piles of paperwork just kept piling.

'Is this how my life would be after a settlement is formed?'

He knew it would be even more tiring, but he tried not to think of the future paper piles. 

He and Tobirama had traveled to The land of whirlpool which was located on an island off of the coast of the Land of Fire, to discuss the idea of forming alliances and settlements with the Uzumaki clan. The traveling had taken them longer than expected since steep hills dominated the surrounding countryside.

The Uzumaki were the first clan he intended to inform his dreams; they were extremely skilled with fūinjutsu which would come in handy to deal with the tailed beasts. He expected positive feedback since the Uzumaki clan were distant relatives of the Senju's and his fiancee Mito Uzumaki was the beloved niece of the clan head Ashina Uzumaki. The meeting went as expected and they supported Hashirama's idea. But kept insisting on forming their own settlement in the land of whirlpool.

In the end, he let them form their own settlement and the Senjus would carry out their plans in The land of fire, but both clans would aid each other in need. Hashirama had a list of clans he wished to contact and inform, but first, he had to settle the never-ending battle of his own clan with the Uchiha's.

Another tired sigh escaped his mouth "Madara... "

[Flashback]

"Do you really think peace is possible?" questioned a slightly dejected voice.

Hashirama looked at the ravenette and smiled, "Of course it's possible! We just need to find people who feel the same way as we do and trust each other to form a truce!"

"You are too simple-minded, Hashirama! How do you know if the other person feels the same way we do? How can we just blindly trust anyone?" Madara snapped while skipping another stone across the river which barely reached the other side.

Hashirama hums, skipping a stone of his own which reaches the other side with ease. He replies, "Just like how I trust you."

Madara looks at him, still not convinced.

He continues, "I know it's difficult to trust people, especially in times of war. But that's the only option to truly find peace. By trusting and tolerating."

Madara looks down, his hand still holding the stone he was about to skip.

"So? what about you, Madara? Do you trust me?"

The onyx eyes of the boy look at him with a glitter of hope "I guess, I do."

[Flashback ends]

.

.

.

'I still trust you, Madara...but why can't you trust me?'

' What will it take for you to trust me again?'

He put down his brush and got up from his seat to find his brother. 

Once he reached his room, he let out another sigh at the sight in front of him.

Tobirama sat there, surrounded by all kinds of unique items and strange scrolls that would later be used to invent even stranger jutsus.

─∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗─

Someone poked him twice. The younger senju didn't have to turn his head to know the source of his annoyance. 

"Do that again and it'll be the last thing you'll ever touch," Tobirama threatened, grabbing the finger and twisting it.

"aw!!" Hashirama cried out and pulled back his almost broken finger.

A dark blue depressing aura surrounded Hashirama as he spoke, "You are so cold Tobi. You need to tone down this attitude of yours. "

"Not until you tone down your foolishness." Tobirama retorted.

"Why are you here?" he glared at Hashirama. He was annoyed at his brother for sending ANOTHER truce offer to those damned Uchiha's. He was tired of telling him that these Uchiha's cannot be trusted, but of course, his brother was immune to common sense.

"What's up with that grumpy attitude?" Hashirama laughed at his younger brother's fuming face. He knew why he was annoyed, which only added to his amusement.

"Damn it, Aniki! why can't you listen to me for once!" Tobirama growled under his breath, feeling exhausted by looking at his overtly positive brother.

Hashirama slightly shook his head, dejected. He knew why Tobirama was behaving this way, but his dislike for the Uchiha's almost seemed like an obsession. It's indeed difficult to trust the Uchiha's. They are controlled by their emotions, which makes them an easy target of manipulation. But he knew not all Uchiha's were like that.

"Tobi, why cannot you trust them for once! They are just as human as us. Why is it so hard for you to understand?"

"Stop. Don't lecture me about them. It's giving me a headache." Tobirama sighed and continued, "You cannot just decide to send truce letters like wedding cards. We need to discuss this matter with the elders too!"

"Ah... That." Hashirama laughed awkwardly while scratching his cheek "If we start discussing with these old hags, then it will take forever to convince them"

"I know. But as the clan head, you cannot decide these matters by yourself and act impulsively. You need to plan ahead. I don't intend on saving your ass every single time."

"oh! Com'on! I know I can trust you with these matters!" Hashirama hit his back... hard, before laughing loudly.

Tobirama bit his tongue to stop the curses from escaping his mouth. 

'This idiot! Kami! Why did you give him everything but a decent brain!'

─∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗─

"Hey, did you get any reply from the Saka clan?" Hashirama asked.

"No. And I don't even expect it anymore."

"what? Why?"

"The Hyuuga's.... they joined hands with the Uchiha's." Tobirama spat bitterly.

Hashirama looked at him in wonder. The Saka clan was one of the many small clans who were on good terms with the Hyuuga clan. Hyuuga's were one of the most respected noble clans in the Land of fire since they inherited the Byakugan, a kekkei Genkai reputed as one of the most exalted eye Dōjutsu along with the Sharingan. To think that these two powerful clans joined forces...

"How did that happen? I remember they told us how they wished to remain neutral between us and the Uchiha's."

"They formed an alliance, through marriage. Tajima offered his daughter's hand to the next Hyuuga heir." Tobirama replied.

Hashirama frowned,  'Madara's sister...'

─∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗─