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For MadaTobi Week. Day 2? Day 3?
Err, MadaTobi Week Day 2.5
In spite of his best efforts to roll his feet and walk in a single line as he had been taught as a very young child (one whom the clan never expected to amount to anything), Tobirama caught his toe on the edge of a rock. Thankfully, his reflexes were as good as ever, and he quickly caught himself. The Senju could only hope his captors hadn’t noticed, and if they had would attribute it to exhaustion.
Tobirama was almost grateful for the jeers of his Uchiha captors. Like all shinobi, they made noise only when they wished. Without their mocking words his only indication of the direction they were traveling would have been the tug of the rope wrapped around his hands and arms.
Truth be told, Tobirama had fully expected to die when a series of unfortunate events had led to his confrontation with half a dozen battle ready Uchiha. Half a dozen Uchiha that included Madara and Izuna. He hadn’t gone down easy, but he had gone down. A cloth around his face ending what a hard blow from his rival had started.
To say the albino had been surprised when he had awoken again was a massive understatement. And while he still didn’t understand why, Tobirama had the sinking sensation he would find out soon enough. There was, he knew, no hope of escape. Not with his chakra bound the way it was. The cold reality of the situation being that currently, he was as helpless as a civilian child.
The possibility of rescue was also a long shot. Tobirama had no idea how far the group had traveled while he was unconscious. However given their previous location he suspected that by this time they were well past the Uchiha border.
Stumbling over yet another rock the albino outright tripped on what felt like a tree root, stumbling heavily. A grimace flickered over Tobirama’s pale features before he resumed a neutral expression. There was no way they hadn’t seen that. It was all Tobirama could do to stop himself from flinching when Madara’s voice came from right beside him.
“That’s it,” Madara yanked his prisoner to a stop. “Where are you wounded?”
Unfamiliar hands began to pass over his body. Not harshly, though that didn’t make the situation any more bearable. This time Tobirama did flinch, instinctively stepping back, right into a pair of strong arms. Arms he identified after a moment as belonging to Izuna. His rival always smelled of smoke and juniper.
“It is nothing of consequence,” Tobirama said flatly. “So there is no need to keep fondling me.” If he had hoped his choice of words would strike the other he failed.
Madara just snarled, continuing his ministrations. “Don’t lie to me Senju! There is no reason for you to be this clumsy.” He was starting to wonder if the younger man was concussed.
Taking his best guess at where the Uchiha’s head was, Tobirama turned away, saying nothing. A shocked gasp quickly informing the Senju that he had made the wrong choice. Strong fingers grasped his chin hard, yanking his head up and around. It was tempting to close his eyes, but Tobirama knew it was too late. Madara’s face was so close to his own he could feel the brush of hair against his sensitive skin.
“Tobirama,” Madara’s uncharacteristically soft voice held neither anger, nor pity. Only awe. It seemed unbelievable, and yet. “Tobirama,” he asked. “Are you blind?”
The albino pressed his lips together tightly but nevertheless nodded. There was no point in denying something so obviously true, and he knew from his own clansman that anyone who got a good enough look at his crimson eyes would be able to tell. That was the main reason he avoided Izuna’s gaze in battle. After all, what had he to fear from the Sharigan?
Slowly, Madara let go, even as Izuna’s grasp turned almost gentle, though his rival didn’t release him, instead sliding a guiding arm around the Senju’s waist. The rest of the journey to the Uchiha Compound was taken in silence, Tobirama unaware of the burning gaze that followed his every step. It would be years before Madara realized, but looking back on it. That was the moment he fell just a little bit in love.