Thud. Thud.The prisoner cocked his head at the break in the monotony of the dungeon's background noise. He had been on a routine protection detail for a minor noble when he was ambushed. Normally the 15 jounin sent to capture him wouldn't have succeeded but they had managed to create a barrier seal that nullified chakra inside leaving him severely handicapped. As such the group of jounin did succeed in capturing him and dragging him back to their base. Crack.The prisoner stood up. The thuds may have been unusual but not alarming. The cracking sound? Was mildly alarming and familiar. In fact, it was a sound he had heard numerous times over his life – the sound of roots burrowing into and then shattering rock. The problem with the cracking sound despite his familiarity was that he was in the bottom most level of the base and the controller of those roots has a tendency to not think far enough ahead to take into account that he could cause the whole place to collapse.

BOOM!The shuddering percussive wave that followed the cracking pushed the prisoner into true alarm and exasperation. Of all those that the root controller could bring along it had to be him. There was no question in the prisoner's mind who was responsible for the explosion considering the wave of heat that followed. While being katon natured is common in Hi no Kuni, the amount of people who have both the skill and power to cause that blast are less than a dozen. Of those dozen only two would have been brought by his other rescuer – and one of them prefers genjutsu and weaponry, not ninjutsu. With an aggravated sigh the prisoner moved to the back of the cell because he knew, absolutely knew, either one or both of his rescuers are going to burst through the cell door in the most theatrical way possible and he quite frankly did not want to be near that drama. As the rhythmic booms and shrieking cracks approached, Senju Tobirama settled into a meditation position in the furthest corner of his cell to wait for Hashirama and Madara to finish toying with the fools that took him.

Meanwhile topside, Tobirama's premonition of theatrical drama had started early. As he had supposed both Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara were his rescuers. Hashirama was using his mokuton to tear into the stone walls of the castle being used as a base for the group of nukenin that thought they could ransom his baby brother. Madara, on the other hand, was utilizing his normal destructive combination of overpowered katon jutsus and the occasional genjutsu reinforced by his Mangekyō Sharingan. The two friends were winning the battle easily. The drama, however, was coming from the two of them counting the enemies they had each killed in an attempt to one-up the other and disagreeing with how many the other had killed. In other words the battle was going something like this:

Bang! "Ha! Two more enemy for me Hashirama!" "One of which were already dead with one of my roots in his back!" "Liar! They were still twitching!" Thud. Splatter. "Five more for me Madara!" "Please you missed half of those you were aiming at! And I'm at 37 already." Sniffle. "Madaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaara! Wait for meeeeeeeeeee."

The enemies in question were torn between fighting the strongest shinobi from Konoha and sheer disbelief that Madara and Hashirama were in fact the two strongest shinobi from Konoha. At any rate, it didn't take long even with the unnecessary dramatics for the two to proceed into the castle, through the enemies in the castle, and down to the dungeons where Tobirama was. Upon seeing only one cell with a locked door the two burst in with the entire amount of theatrics that Tobirama want nothing to do with.

Madara was utterly done. He had had enough of Senju's and their idiocy and nukenin's and their greed. The competition was fun but he couldn't see the point in Hashirama dragging him along to rescue his bastard of a little brother. Whatever Tobirama may be lacking in the personality department, he made up for it in being a gifted and attractive shinobi. No, no, no. Tobirama was certainly not attractive. (Why did his brain go there? He is a bastard Senju who hurt Izuna and wasn't worth any consideration. No matter how soft his hair looked and how sharp his cheek bones are and – NO, NO, NO.)The point is he is an underhanded little shit and shouldn't need rescuing from weaklings like the nukenin they had faced. Yet when Hashirama had dragged his wife and Madara out to discover why his brother hadn't returned (which was reasonable but Madara saw no reason why the harpy was needed), both Hashirama and Mito had gone very quiet and still upon discovering that there had been a barrier up to nullify chakra. Mito had returned to the village (good riddance) and Hashirama had dragged Madara along on his fool's quest. Hashirama was becoming progressively more cheerful while letting out more and more killing intent as they got closer to the castle. Madara was quite frankly annoyed and a little baffled.

At any rate, the two had entered the dungeons, found the only locked cell, and promptly burst in. Hashirama was the first in and started wailing, "Tobirama! Are you okay? Are you hurt? Did they feed you? Or give you water? Talk to me Tobirama!" With an utterly unimpressed sigh (How did he do that? His ability to convey I think you are a moron in just sighs, looks, and body language is actually really impress- NO. NO. NO.Madara choked that thought off. Not going there. Not with Hashirama here. Arg, NO. Not going there at all.), Tobirama moved away from the back corner and into the light. Hashirama's mouth froze in the middle of another question about Tobirama's well-being. Actually Madara thought that all of Hashirama froze which was understandable considering around Tobirama's throat, wrists, and ankles were chakra suppression seals carved into a metal collar and cuffs. A wise precaution on behalf of the enemy but something that should never happen to a Konoha shinobi (even annoying ones like Tobirama, but the idea of him in a collar is an idea to revisit. DAMN IT, NO. Madara mentally shrieked at himself.) but something wasn't quite right. Hashirama was absolutely white. The anger Madara expected was there (evidenced by the rising killing intent) but there was also a great deal of sadness. Not the empathic I am sorry this happened to you sadness which is what Madara expected but the kind of sadness that is more like grief. That made no sense. What made even less sense however, was how Tobirama's gaze was focused near the two of them but not quite on them and how he wasn't reacting properly to Hashirama's killing intent.

Tobirama's an extremely talented sensor – even Madara's father acknowledged that. Since the forming of Konoha, Madara has had more time to observe Tobirama's skill at sensing: the good and the bad. Tobirama is extremely sensitive to negative emotions and will get this pinched look on his face if it's coming from those close to him (It has made Madara want to use his fingers to rub that look away. NO IT DOESN'T! What is wrong with him? Normally he can stop thinking about this the first time he cuts himself off, especially on a mission!); yet Tobirama didn't have that look. He was staring about a foot away from where Hashirama was with a vacant look in his eyes. Hashirama (still white) swallowed audibly. He asked, "Tobirama, may I approach you?" but his voice was strange. Too quiet, too gentle for the situation. He was acting like Tobirama was a skittish animal but other than the chakra suppressors Tobirama had no visible injuries and appeared not to have lost a significant amount of weight. Madara was bypassing baffled straight into confused and becoming angry with it. Tobirama nodded his head and Hashirama approached, deliberately making noise in direct contradiction to everything a shinobi is taught. Tobirama lifted his arm up and Hashirama grabbed his hand. He then brought it up to his face and allowed Tobirama to run his hand over his facial features. It was Madara's turn to freeze. He had grown up seeing scenes like this but it wasn't possible.

The Sharingan is an incredible kekkei genkai but it directly affects the optic nerves. The regular Sharingan doesn't damage the optic nerves but it does put a lot of pressure on them leading to a history of migraines and a need for glasses later in life in the Uchiha family (not that that affects an Uchiha's capability as a shinobi). The Mangekyō Sharingan is different. It actually destroys the optic nerves over time leading to blindness. Due to the Clan Wars, often times an Uchiha was forced to give a loved one a mercy killing thus activating the Mangekyō. Madara had seen scenes like the one he was witnessing between members of his family that were blinded by the Mangekyō and those that took care of them. All the evidence pointed to that – the fear of Hashirama and Mito once they realized that Tobirama had been cut off from his chakra and as such his sensing abilities, Hashirama's unreasonableness in insisting on both of them rescuing Tobirama (which in retrospect may have been perfectly reasonable), Hashirama's extreme reaction to Tobirama still being cut off from his chakra, Tobirama not looking directly at them, Hashirama making noise when approaching, and then the face touching. Senju Tobirama was blind.

No. Not possible. Not Tobirama. Beautiful Tobirama with his sensing abilities (That may be so developed because he can't function without them,Madara thought with rising horror.) and his love for suiton and creative fūinjutsu. Tobirama who has fought Izuna and won, severely injuring Izuna. Tobirama who after Konoha formed used an iryō jutsu to repair the damage to Izuna's lung enough that Izuna could return to active duty. But Madara is a genius and he can't deny the evidence as Hashirama puts Tobirama's hand into the crook of his arm and guides him out of the cell. Madara followed the two out of the cell and then the castle. He brain stuck on the loop of Tobirama is blind and Tobirama can't be blind with that same sadness Hashirama showed that is more similar to grief than empathy, paralyzing his vocal cords.

Tobirama curled up next to the fire utterly fed up with his brother. He was beyond pleased that Hashirama came to rescue him but the details of his rescue plan left a lot to be desired. Hashirama failed to bring an iryō-nin or fuinjutsu master (leaving him trapped in the chakra suppressors that draw on his own chakra for power), failed to bring the ration packets that unlike food pills are meant for those who have not eaten for days (unlike the food pills they are gentle on the stomach and mandatory for any rescue mission where the shinobi has been held captive for more than two days), and he brought Madara with him. Madara had had no clue that Tobirama was blind until earlier that day and that was how he preferred things. Madara was a complicated issue for Tobirama. Madara's explosive temper and tendency to shove his foot into his mouth up to his ankle made it extremely difficult for Tobirama to converse with him but his uncompromising defense of his clan and unconditional love for Izuna are things to respect. Even more so than his personality, Madara's chakra was complicated for Tobirama: during battle it's so angry and caustic (it hurts), when Madara's Mangekyō is active there is an element of grief and hatred (he suspects that it's due to the origin of the Mangekyō but has no proof), and on quiet days in the village it reminds Tobirama of a waterfall (always rushing and moving but still somewhere that Tobirama is safest; where he can use his suiton affinity combined with his sensing ability and it's almost like he can actually see).

Tobirama was left in suspense waiting for Madara to say something (anything) about the fact that he is blind. He knew that Madara wasn't going to let this go. That his blindness is a weakness; Tobirama isn't weak (he isn't) but it is a flaw in his defense. He doesn't think he can stand it if Madara (proud Madara, strongMadara) is one of those to mock him for his blindness or worse – pity him. And the most frustrating part is that with his chakra sealed, Tobirama has no way to judge if Madara is sincere in whatever he says. He hears Madara shift closer and open his mouth. Tobirama tensed in preparation but Madara prolongs his wait by speaking with Hashirama about who is going to take what watches during the night. Slowly, despite his frustration with his inability to use chakra and Madara's refusal speak about what he has learned (and his blindness, always his blindness) Tobirama dropped off to sleep.

He woke slowly to the crackling of the fire and the warmth that he associates with the sun. He shifted to a sitting position slowly, muscles still tired and weak after five days of little water, no food, and his chakra sealed. Tobirama reached out in hopes of orienting himself with touch. He felt the tree whose roots had sheltered him, the warmth that signified the fire, and the lack of his brother's sleeping body. With a frustrated huff, Tobirama forced his stiff body upright and took a step straight into a hard body. A hard body that happened to be shorter than Tobirama which meant his face was imbedded in Madara's hair that smelled like sandalwood (Sometimes enhanced, sensitive senses caused troubles that he really could do without.) Tobirama stepped back, every muscle tense as he heard the rustle of Madara shifting to brace him. "Physical status?" the composed baritone of Madara echoed in his ears.

"Blind." Tobirama bit out entirely fed up with the situation. Madara spluttered. Tobirama raised an eyebrow. Madara continued to splutter. Tobirama let loose an utterly unimpressed sigh and slammed his foot down on Madara's. The resulting howl and hopping sounds brought Tobirama great satisfaction (his situational awareness is exceptionaleven without his chakra) as he ducked around Madara touching the trees with his fingertips to find the one Hashirama had placed their packs by. "You little shit."

"I am several centimeters taller than you, Madara," came the bland reply.

"WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH – what are you doing?" Madara shriek dropped into lower octave without losing any of its irritation. Tobirama paused in his careful patting of the contents of the packs to give Madara's approximate location an eye roll. "I am attempting to discern where Hashirama has placed his bandages; however, I must do so by touch since I am in fact blind," Tobirama words came out with a lethal coating of disdain. Finished with his scathing retort, Tobirama returned to the packs this time switching to using his more sensitive finger tips to attempt to find the correct sealing scroll. "Oh for the love of all the kami, give me that," Madara growled and grabbed the pack, "Your buffoon of a brother sealed the scroll inside of a different scroll and… Wait. Bandages? You stupid Senju! A report on your physical status is supposed to include all injuries!"

"I have no injuries currently. The bandages are necessary for my eyes to prevent injuries," Tobirama snapped.

Madara stilled, "Explain. Both you and Hashirama have said you are blind. With no vision or visible injuries to your eyes, why would you need bandages?" It was Tobirama's turn to still, unlike Madara it was from betrayal not confusion (Just once could Hashirama remember that being blind didn't mean he need minders that he didn't know about or even inform himself?). He gave an irritated huff. It was hard to tell what annoyed him more – the stupidity of question itself or that Hashirama went through the effort to explain the situation but didn't do it thoroughly. Tobirama oriented his body so it was facing where Madara's voice came from before he spoke, "You are aware my coloring is unusual even for a shinobi, yes?"

"DON"T PATRONIZE ME! I asked about your blindness not your coloration," Madara hissed.

"I am trying to explain. My coloring is not due to my mother's Hatake blood like my brothers' were. I have a condition called albinism. It means I lack pigment in my hair, skin, and eyes. I also have severe vision impairment. I can actually differentiate between light and dark but I have severe photosensitivity. I also still experience nystagmus though it is significantly less severe than when I was child. As such I need the bandages to cover my eyes."

"I can understand the need for bandages to prevent headaches and nausea but I've never heard of nystagmus."

"It means my eyes abnormally move rapidly up-and-down involuntarily. I have been told it can be disconcerting to meet my eyes when the movement occurs as such bandages are helpful as well as necessary."

"Who told you that?" Madara's tone couldn't be mistaken as anything but aggressive.

Tobirama tilted his head to the side, "I beg your pardon?"

"You heard me perfectly well Senju, who told you that and more specifically when did they tell you that?"

"Multiple people over the course of my life. I don't see why this is relevant – "

"It is absolutely relevant," Madara's voice was calmer than it had been at any point since Tobirama had been rescued but it had increased in intensity, "Tell me you didn't start hearing those comments as a child. Tell me you weren't told that you were strange, a burden, unfit to be a shinobi. Tell me that they used the word disconcerting not freakish or unnatural. Tell me that they didn't comment on how everything you accomplished was remarkable despite your disadvantage. Tell me you had the unconditional support of your clan. Tell me that you were never blamed for the blindness that you had no choice in." Tobirama forced his body to harden so he could avoid his internal flinch becoming external. Madara's words struck a long scarred over but still tender wound. Madara was correct in every one of his suppositions and yet Tobirama didn't still didn't understand why Madara felt it was relevant. Why did the words that followed him as a child matter now? (Why would Madara care?) Tobirama cleared his throat, "If you are not willing to find the bandages for me than give me back the pack. I need them before we can leave and I would prefer to arrive in Konoha sooner rather than later." Madara harrumphed but Tobirama could hear the rustling of Madara returning to looking for the scroll that contained the scroll that contained the bandages. Some days he really wished either he or Hashirama was adopted. Bandages should be easily accessible not buried in a pack (honestly). Tobirama closed his eyes and tilted his head towards the warmth of the sun.

"Ah hah," Madara's hum was followed by two soft whooshes of sealing scrolls being activated. Tobirama turned his face back towards Madara and stretched out his hand for the bandages. He could hear Madara as he stepped forward to place the bandages in his outstretched hand but the cloth didn't touch his hand. It touched his face instead. Tobirama's body tensed in fight or flight but relaxed as Madara made no threatening moves. Madara carefully wound the bandages around his eyes; just tight enough to stay on but not tight enough to cause a headache. Tobirama inhaled slowly (sandalwood, pine, and underneath it all the scent of ashes; Tobirama had only been able to catch traces of Madara's scent before and he was having difficulty resisting inhaling even more deeply) and let it out even slower. Madara tied a knot in the bandages and stepped away. Tobirama raised his hand to touch the bandages and feel their thickness – exactly enough to block out the light of the sun. He opened his mouth to thank Madara only to be pre-empted by the man.

"I wanted peace for my brothers, yes, but I also wanted peace for children who were like you. Your skill is undeniable but with your eyes you could have easily lost your life as a child on the battle field through no fault of your own. Or you could have been relegated to domestic chores and pitied because a son of the clan who could not fight had no use. Children shouldn't be born just to die. They should be nurtured and taught so that if they choose to fight they can excel and if they choose not to fight then they can also excel with no stigma attached. In the Uchiha clan several of our elders have lost their sight or were crippled during their career. They deserve to live out their days without worry that an attack will come to the clan that they cannot defend against. People deserve to live in the manner that they choose to. Peace was the only way that children could stay alive and adults could have that choice. I chose to pursue peace so the Uchiha and all children could live free." Madara's voice was passionate and forceful. Tobirama inhaled sharply through his nose. Madara may have been known for his charisma on a battle field but he was equally known for his lack of eloquence off it; however, that speech… That speech touched something he had not thought of since he realized a truce would not come from the adults (hope that he would never have to bury another Senju child like Itama and Kawarama). Madara had surprised him before but never as greatly as he had in the last few minutes. There was no mocking, no pity, no real change in Madara's demeanor towards him. No negative responses what so ever. Also Madara cared enough to question how he was treated; to push where even Hashirama had never pushed and that meant something (it may just mean everything). Maybe his idle thoughts (dreams) could become real. Tobirama swallowed and forced those thoughts down until he could contemplate them in a safe spot, alone. "I am grateful for your assistance with my bandages. It would be beneficial for you to fetch Hashirama so we might leave now that we have had 'sufficient alone time' to 'overcome our disagreements'," Tobirama drawled and he heard Madara trip standing still.

"You what – You're wrong – How'd you guess?!" Madara words flailed from one sentence to the next.

Tobirama smirked, "I have gotten several speeches about my need to 'show you the benefit of doubt' and how we are 'very similar actually' from Hashirama. From past experience, Hashirama is a frantic mother hen whenever I lose my sensing abilities. The only thing he could possible want more than to personally watch my every move is for the two of us to get along. Considering the state I'm in, I am not capable of running away and you have shown difficulty in refusing his depressed face. Ergo, you were told to work things out with me while he was off doing something. Out of curiosity, how creatively did he threaten you about making sure I come to no harm?"

"He threatened to send the harpy after me," Madara grumbled.

"Ah. Best go fetch him to make certain he doesn't. And tell him I would like to leave soon so no campfire breakfast." Tobirama said. When Madara's footsteps sound far enough in the distance, Tobirama once again turned his face into the sun to feel its warmth. This time though he wasn't passing the time. This time he was picturing being able to see Madara's face with his fingers. He smiled; perhaps there was hope after all.