Tobirama POV

I sighed in frustration as aniki and I, along with our fellow clansmen, finally reached the Senju compound. With respectful bows in our direction, I dismissed my clansmen before following in aniki's footsteps and stepping into the home we shared, my thoughts still lingering on a certain Uchiha.

"Tobi? Hashi? Is that you?" a voice called out from the kitchen. It wasn't long before our mother - Senju Yui, stepped out, her long, white hair – which was similar to mine, was tied up in a high ponytail that swung with every step she took as she regarded us worriedly.

"Are the two of you hurt anywhere? Should I send for the healers?" she fussed as she helped strip anija of his armor whilst I took care of my own. "We're fine, okaa-san. It was a short battle" I answered as my mother let out a sigh, planting her hands on her hips as she regarded us stoically.

"You know I hate the idea of the two of you even going out to the battlefield! Honestly, what are all of us even fighting about?" she grumbled as she stalked back towards the kitchen.

My mother had always been the pacifist between her and my father. In this sense, Hashirama had always been closer to her as they were always seeing eye to eye, whilst I had been closer to my father, and shared his beliefs that it was impossible for people to ever see eye to eye and even trust each other.

Since my father's passing, Hashirama has taken on the role of clan leader. Being his brother, I was extremely proud of him as I knew that there was no one better suited for it that him. Whilst it was true that anija and I disagreed on many things due to our different views – at the end of the day, he was my elder brother, whom I respected and cherished more than anything.

"That's what I've been saying mother! I've tried to get Madara to agree to a peace treaty once more as we fought but he keeps turning me down!" Anija complained as we helped our mother set the table. "Though I have reason to believe it's because of his father, but I can't be entirely sure. However, I do know for certain that Madara isn't someone who enjoys killing and hurting people!" anija declared as I let out a quiet scoff.

The way I see it, Anija probably saw Madara as someone who wouldn't even hurt a fly, painting him as a saint who could do no wrong.

But as long as I have breath in my body, I refuse to let anija be manipulated by that sly bastard, or anyone for that matter. He was way too trusting of people, only seeing the good and never the bad. In this way, I was the complete opposite. Unless proven otherwise, everyone who wasn't a senju would always be seen as an enemy to me ; there were no exceptions.

"You're too naïve, anija," I commented bluntly as my mother laid the food on the table. "You've seen what the Uchiha are capable of. We can't let out guard down with them for even a moment."

My mother suddenly turned to look at me, a cheeky grin slowly forming on her face as she took her seat at the table before resting her chin on a propped arm. "Speaking of the Uchiha, weren't you close with that girl? What was it you used to call her.....Kira?" she teased as my whole body tensed at the mention of her name.

"Wait what? What girl? Tobi has a girlfriend?" Anija's eyes sparkled as he looked at me, which only annoyed me all the more seeing that my mother had no intention of letting me run from this conversation.

"He never told you? He's always been smitten with this girl from the Uchiha clan! And for your brother that hates them, you can't believe how surprised I was when he first confessed it to me!" my mother sang as anija only continued to listen attentively, as I suddenly had a very strong urge to punch that shit-eating grin off his face. Nevertheless, I chose to ignore the both of them as I continued eating my meal, trying to tune out their conversation.

"Now that you mention it okaa-san, he has been clashing with this girl a lot recently whenever we encountered the Uchiha clan. I've also noticed that he sometimes holds back when they fight, wh-"

"That's enough, anija. You know I would never do that." I snapped as I shoveled more food into my mouth, feeling my brows twitch in annoyance at my brother's poking. I could only let out an internal sigh as I heard a snicker next to me.

"Suuuuuure. So your chakra just happened to drop all the way from a full frontal attack to a minor wind style jutsu? C'mon Tobi, I know you better than that." Anija responded playfully as I let out a slight groan whilst I heard mother already pestering anija for more answers.

"You know Tobi, I'll make an exception for you to bring an Uchiha into our clan if it's her," mother wined as I violently choked on a piece of meat I had been eating. It took several moments for me to calm myself before I turned my attention back to my mother, who was smiling at me cheerily, unaffected by me nearly choking to death as she waited for my answer.

"Okaa-san, that will never happen. You of all people should know this better than anyone." I answered, finishing my meal and wanting to leave the table as I cleared my dishes.

"I hope you'll bring her around when things get better, Tobi. I'd really like to meet her y'know?" I heard my mother say softly as I inadvertently let out a sigh, pausing by the doorway into the kitchen.

"That's only if things will ever get better."