Chapter Text
Tobirama gasped at the beautifully carved wooden fan in Madara’s hands. A wonderful blend of Uchiha and Senju. Just like them.
“So Tobirama, will you marry me?” Uchiha Madara asked. He looked steady and calm but Tobirama could feel the nervous flicks in his chakra, giving away his true turmoil.
There was only one ever true answer.
“Yes. I’ll marry you.”
Tobirama took the fan from him with a big smile, probably looking like a fool.
When everyone first heard the news, they couldn’t believe their ears.
Uchiha Madara and Senju Tobirama are what?
Are they talking about the same Madara and Tobirama who argue with each other on every given opportunity? The ones who can barely stand being in the same room as each other? Those two are moving in together and getting married?
Many assumed it was some kind of a rumor started as a joke. But after numerous pestering and several unwanted questions, Madara announced that in the middle of Konoha’s marketplace that ‘Yes, he, Uchiha Madara, of sane mind and good health, declare that he was marrying Tobirama who was not blackmailed into it nor genjutsu-ed by the Sharingan.’. Then, the happy couple kissed as evidence of their devotion to each other.
Once the initial shock wore off, friends and family came around to congratulate the happy couple. Touka gave a shovel talk to Madara about what would happen if Tobirama was ever hurt. Tobirama spent a delightfully scary afternoon with Madara’s older sisters, Miyoko and Kurohime.
Itama and Karawama were elated with the news that their older brother found someone who loves him. Mito gifted them some silencing seals with a cheeky wink.
Togakushi, Madara’s other younger brother, jokingly mourned his peace now that the elders were going to pester him about getting married next.
However, even among families, there were a few unhappy with the engagement.
Izuna obviously disapproved of the match as Tobirama had been his rival when they were at war and he hated the idea of his nemesis becoming his brother-in-law.
Despite Madara’s and Tobirama’s expectations that he would be the happiest for them, Hashirama somehow didn’t take the news well. In fact, he seemed to take it as some form of betrayal on both their parts by dating behind his back and never telling him.
Izuna was adamant on cockblocking them by showing up at Madara's house as often as possible and being an unwanted guest.
Meanwhile, Hashirama would appear anytime they were together to ‘chaperone’ them. He would also invite Tobirama over for dinner and make them stay the night.
And the Elders… let’s not forget the elders. They were a headache enough on their own but now, they were constantly giving Madara and Tobirama unwanted wedding advice much to the grooms’ displeasure. They appeared to be in a competition to make the wedding as Uchiha/Senju as possible.
Madara stomped into Tobirama's office and very nearly slammed the cup of tea onto the desk. The only reason he didn't was because Tobirama deserved a nice cup of tea with an uncracked cup.
Almost immediately, Tobirama lit up with the smell. He took the cup with a smile and sipped with contendness. Meanwhile, Madara locked the door and used silencing seals so that they could have a bit of privacy from everyone's judging gaze.
"Rough day?" His fiance asked, spotting the scowl on his face.
"Yeah." Madara replied with a small smile, solely reserved for his beloved.
Propriety be damned, he knelt down and laid his head on Tobirama's lap. Tobirama put down his tea to gently massage his temples.
Madara let out a groan of relief. "Thank you, darling. Your hands are magic, I swear."
"So you said a lot of time in bed." Tobirama replied with a smirk.
Madara sighed with regret. "As much as I want to, I don't think we have the time. I bet sometime in the next minute, someone is going to come and drag me away from you."
The fingers in his hair slowed down and Madara could envision the little pout on Tobirama's face when something didn't go his way.
"I guess you aren't having a great day either." Madara said, eyeing the mountains of paperwork on Tobirama's desk.
"Izuna submitted some more complaints and the elders came by with suggestions for some more additional changes to the wedding."
"That brat! I already talked to him about this. It appears that he needs a reminder. This time, I am going to get Kuro-"
"You know that he's still not going to listen." Tobirama said with resignation. "He just doesn't like me."
"He could, at least, try to be civil for my sake."
"I feel like this is his way of being civil."
"You don't deserve all of this trouble from him." Madara cupped Tobirama's cheek, tracing the red line with his thumb. Tobirama smiled and leaned into Madara to give a small peck.
"I take it, your elders also 'suggested' some additional changes to the wedding."
"They are still kicking up a fuss about the wedding venue. They insist that we must hold it at a sacred shrine. The one at the volcano. Apparently, a clan head wedded there once so I must do the same. Never mind the fact that no other clan head even did the same thing again for it to be considered a 'tradition'." Madar grumbled.
"Mine suggested," Tobirama grabbed the top proposal from the stack, "we go into the woods, half-naked and I have to hunt you down to show my 'devotion' to you."
He snorted. "I hope they do know that a Daimyo had banned 'marriage hunts' a long long time ago. No matter how much they pass it off as otherwise."
Madara barked out a laugh. "Who knows maybe they are beginning to become senile and forget that we are no longer in the times of their youth when such things are still allowed?"
They stayed in comfortable silence, enjoying each other's presence before someone decides that they spent enough time together and needs to be separated.
"You know, I don't really want a wedding anymore." Madara said.
Then, he realized his mistake and rushed to reassure his fiance.
"No! Wait, Tobirama, I didn't mean it like that- I still want to marry you. It's just...."
Tobirama nodded in understanding. He doesn't doubt Madara's love for him and his desire for marriage. But dealing with family and wedding preparations had been taking a toll on both of them and their relationship. It was hard to find the comforting peace they had when it was still a secret. Back when no one knew that they were together....
"So let's break up."