Reunited

Madara Uchiha liked the look of the meeting place for the Seven Clan Summit. It was situated in a large village that hadn't been burned in generations. The wall was of stone, and there was a large palace near the edge of it.

Coming up it, Madara encountered Hashirama. As soon as he approached, Hashirama hugged him. This Madara found annoying. After all, they were supposed to be mortal enemies.

"Madara, you're here," said Hashirama. "I knew you'd come."

Madara smiled in spite of himself. "Well, I had this idea of killing my brother Izuna for greater power. Then I'd launch an all-out assault on the Senju before being defeated. Then I'd ask you to kill your brother to prove you were serious about peace and coexistence.

"But I decided that would be a really stupid idea."

Hashirama laughed. "Yes, it certainly would.

"As much as I enjoy our fights, I think it would be better to stick to smaller arguments in the future. Right, this way." And he led Madara into the palace itself. It was actually quite nice, and the servants seemed very friendly.

"So, are the others here?" asked Madara.

"Yes, Hinata is, as well as the Yamanaka, Nara and Akimichi," said Hashirama. "The Inuzuki and Abarame should be here. They've all come here."

"Excellent," said Madara. "Then perhaps we may put this blood feud behind us. I don't believe I ever gave you my condolences for your father, by the way. It wouldn't have been appropriate between archenemies."

"He died of disease," said Hashirama. "He overused his wood style in a number of battles. The strain weakened him, and the disease finished him off. I um... heard about yours. Any regrets?"

"None whatsoever," said Madara. "What is important is that this fighting can stop."

"You never had a problem behind us before now," noted Hashirama.

"Don't mistake me, Hashirama," said Madara. "There is little to no love between the Senju and Uchiha, and my loyalty is to the Uchiha. However, at the moment, our interests are served best by ending the hatred between the clans.

"If renewing the war is in our interests, then we will do so."

Hashirama laughed. "Right, Tobirama said you'd said something like that. We've been hoping to put an end to the various feuds."

"And what is your plan to do so?" asked Madara. "By asking nicely? Perhaps everyone will forget centuries of blood?"

"Well, do you think that will work?" asked Hashirama.

"No," said Madara flatly.

"What if we had some kind of pure evil, disposable enemy to wipe out who had no friends to avenge him?" asked Hashirama.

"Drop it, Hashirama, that would never work in real life," said Madara.

Hashirama then assumed a stance he rarely did in public. He looked downward, downcast, and seemed incredibly depressed. "Oh."

"Stop acting all depressed; you ought to know better by now," said Madara, irritated. "Such a peace would fall apart as soon as the hated enemy died. Then people would simply have to seek other enemies. You'd need to remove the underlying reasons for conflict to have any hope of success.

"In any case, I know you aren't as dim as you let on. You and Tobirama must have some plan for all this."

Hashirama sighed. "Yes, well, my hope is that once everyone is able to talk with everyone else, they should see one another as human. It did wonders for us."

"That's a fine start," said Madara, who had zero faith Hashirama had gotten beyond that. Knowing Tobirama, though, he probably had. Which worried Madara. "But it won't last Hashirama. At the end of the day, our wars are not fought because we hate one another. So long as there are competition and rivalry, there will be winners and losers.

"And so long as resources are limited, there will be competition and rivalry."

"Right, well, I'm hoping we can set up a system where everyone wins," said Hashirama. "It's a bit complicated, but the idea is to converge our wills. If we merge our interests, then everyone will naturally work together."

"And I suppose you think the rest of the world will sit still for this?" asked Madara, curious as to his answer.

"Probably not, but we may as well fix the part of the world we're in first," said Hashirama. "You've got to start somewhere. If you only look at the big picture, then you're plan will completely fall apart on a regional level."

"I take your point," said Madara. "So, what assurances do you have that the clans will negotiate in good faith?"

"Hashirama! Madara!" said a voice.

Madara looked up and saw Hinata running toward them. Her hair had grown out a bit in the year since last they'd seen eachother. What surprised him was Neji Hyuga trailing behind with a look of... contentment. That did not match up with what he'd known of Neji.

"Oh, Hinata, I was wondering when you'd meet him," said Hashirama.

"Oh, I knew you were here from the beginning. I just didn't want to interrupt," said Hinata.

"That's fine Hinata, you're nearly as close to both of us as we are to eachother," said Hashirama.

"Well, I shouldn't overdo the praise, Hashirama. I note Neji Hyuga is with us," said Madara. That expression seemed slightly... fake. The man before him didn't match up at all with the one he'd seen. And Madara doubted his treatment had improved any.

"Oh right, he's sort of like my bodyguard at the moment," said Hinata, motioning for Neji to stop, and he did. "I mean, obviously, I'm the strongest of my clan. But Neji has an ability to perceive threats which even I can't match. You can come down now, if you want, I doubt anyone will threaten us here, brother."

"As you wish, Hinata," said Neji.

"Things have worked out well between them," said Hashirama. "Hinata has managed to end much of the strife in the Hyuga Clan. Even Tobirama agrees."

Madara didn't believe it for a second.

"What he says is true," said Neji, and his voice almost seemed sincere. "The Branch Clan is very taken with my sister."

"Are they really?" asked Madara.

"Well, yes," said Neji. "Lady Hinata has managed to put an end to the raids from the barbarians of the north. So many of them have been cut down that they don't dare cross the borders anymore.

"She is also very kind to those lower to her and an excellent administrator. Lord Hizashi is very proud of her."

Okay, now Madara knew he was faking it. The only question was, why? Was it personal gain?

"And here I had heard tales of your mercy," said Madara. "Didn't you avoid killing anyone from the Inuzuki Clan during your campaign?"

"I know the Inuzuki Clan. They have many good men among them," said Hinata. "And, if I were to treat them as I do the barbarians, it would cause great strife in the future."

"Yet surely the barbarians also have people precious to them?" noted Hashirama.

"Yes," said Hinata. "But the Inuzuki Clan fought us because they believed they had a claim to the disputed territory. We have worked with them before. My descendants will have to live for with them. Having ill will between us is in no one's interest. They strive for their Clan, and I strive for mine.

"The barbarians have come for slaves and plunder. Their word is worthless, and I cannot ransom them. So I can only demonstrate the power of the Hyuga Clan and hope it gives them pause.

"Now and then we let survivors return to tell the tale of what happened, of course.

"When you cannot foster understanding with an enemy, you must ensure they fear you."

"I do not believe in using hatred as a tool," said Hashirama, voice disapproving.

"Not hatred, Hashirama, never hatred," said Hinata. "Just fear." Neji flinched, though Hashirama missed it. Or pretended to miss it. "If someone is afraid of you, they know you cannot be trifled with. They will not act against your interests, even at a time they have something to gain by it. And, if one is fair and just in your dealings with them, they will come to love you as well.

"To be feared and loved is what it means to be respected.

"To be hated, however, is the worst of both worlds.

"Someone who hates you will gladly hurt themselves to hurt you. Their hatred will prevent them from feeling love for you. And it may overcome their fear of reprisal. If you earn the hatred of others, you will be preyed on at your weakest

"If you earn their love, they will help you stand again. And if they know to fear you, they will hesitate to strike you, even when they have everything to gain."

That was why Neji was so submissive compared to before. He was cutting his losses. The fool had already attempted suicide, escape, and then suicide via Hashirama. All attempts had failed, and he'd been taken back under a very public display of forgiveness. If he'd continued his defiance, he'd have looked ever more ungrateful and petulant.

So he'd realized the game was rigged and just decided to abandon his identity and submit. Madara couldn't say he agreed with his action.

"And which would you choose between if you had a choice?" asked Madara. "Fear or love?"

"Love seems the logical choice," said Hashirama.

"I would choose fear, Hashirama," said Hinata.

"You surprise me, Hinata. Surely a world of love would be preferable to fear," said Hashirama.

"For ordinary people, yes," said Hinata. "But leaders need fear.

"When I was a girl, I always tried to be kind to members of the Branch Clan. I never had a harsh word for any of them. I thought that the brands on their head did not matter and that we were family. One day, I agreed to meet three others in the woods to play.

"What I did not know is that they had planned to kill me.

"Two of them were reluctant to do so because they remembered the kindness I'd done to them. There was a point where their love for me caused them to hesitate. But then their leader pointed out that all of them would be killed if I told the elders.

"And so fear overcame love."

"What did you do?" asked Madara.

"Well, Neji had tracked me out there," said Hinata. "And he used the Caged Bird Seal to kill each of them before they could hurt me.

"I hadn't been taught it, you see.

"After that, I knew that being loved was not enough.

"A leader is often in the position of having to tell other people to do things they don't want to do. If you are loved but not feared, that love will fade as they are inconvenienced by you. And the worst people will take advantage of you for their own ends.

"Conversely, if you are feared but not loved, you may compel the people you command to act as they should. Even if they do not want to follow your orders, they will. And you will not be taken lightly by the wicked."

"Do you truly believe that only fear can create a peaceful world?" asked Hashirama.

"Do you truly believe that you would be standing here if you had no wood style?" asked Hinata. "No jutsu or combat techniques?"

"Those are combat skills. I do not use them to terrify my opponents," said Hashirama.

He truly was either dense or far more magnificent than Madara had thought. Hinata was describing how she'd broken the slave standing next to her. Neji Hyuga was hardly even a human if he could just stand there.

"But everyone knows you have them, Hashirama," said Hinata. "You are a legend. Your presence on the battlefield is such that people pay you not to fight them.

"If you lost all your abilities tomorrow, do you think these negotiations would work?"

Hashirama considered his answer. "...They might be far more difficult."

"Then you are using fear as a tool," said Hinata. "There is little love between the ninja clans. That will take a long time to foster."

"Even so, fear as a tool will surely lead to hatred over time," said Hashirama. "Love must exist to temper it, or else the power you garner will destroy you. And without love, one cannot trust anyone at all. Not their family, not their friends, not those they pay to fight battles.

"How can one be feared when all the world is their enemy?"

"They cannot," said Madara. "It is the paradox of power. Wouldn't you agree, Neji?"

Neji said nothing, simply remained in place. "I would not presume to have an opinion."

"Of course," said Madara.

"Forgive me, Madara. But, Hashirama, could I speak to you alone?" said Hinata. There is something I hope to talk to you about."

"As you wish," said Hashirama, and they went off.

Either Hashirama was far dumber than Madara thought or far more twisted. Neji was staying behind, however. Madara realized this was the first time they'd actually been face to face. "...You seem to be doing well for yourself. I had expected you to have a far worse fate."

"Lady Hinata is family to me," said Neji. "I may bear the Caged Bird Seal, but we are still blood."

His voice was genuine. Hinata was really quite good at this, wasn't she? Neji was a fine trophy for her ascension to power. But Madara decided he preferred human beings to automatons. "I don't believe you, even if you do.

"So... why don't we hear the real truth of it?"

"What real truth?" asked Neji.

"Oh please, I think we both know that little display is just that. A display," said Madara. And he activated his Sharingan. The right light caught Neji in his eyes. "What is the real truth?"

Neji struggled against it, trying to avert his gaze. At the same time, his hands shook, trying to move. "I... please I... don't press me on this I..."

"Oh, but I insist," said Madara. "I'm in need of some minor entertainment, and you seem to have forgotten you are a human being. Tell me the truth."

"I can't... you don't understand... I'm not allowed..." Neji shifted.

"I think you'll find I'm entirely indifferent to what you are allowed to do or not," said Madara. "Tell me now."

"They'll..." Neji thrashed visibly. "I can't... she'll..."

"I give you points for persistence, but you will tell me what I want to know. Now!" said Madara. The level of fight he was putting up was impressive. Madara needed to practice more with the Sharingan.

"I'm her pet," said Neji. "Is that what you want to hear? None of the other members of the Branch Family associate with me. They don't pick on me because I have her protection. Father doesn't hate me because I have her protection. I am allowed to train in the Hyuga Arts because she interceded on my behalf.

"I perform the mission she sends me, and she says sweet nothings to me. And I try to convince myself of the lie that she loves me because she is my only social contact. I have no friends. I am not allowed to go anywhere she doesn't want me to go. She keeps me close so she can

"I am Hinata's dog, and I am completely loyal to her because the alternative is being outright abused. And as long as I stay loyal, she lets me pretend to myself that I am her equal.

"Are you satisfied?! Are you happy now that you've stolen the last shred of pride I once had?!"

Madara nodded. "Yes, very happy indeed.

"If you'll excuse me."

Then Madara walked into the other room where Hinata and Hashirama were looking up. He knew by their expressions they had heard the outburst. "Hashirama, Hinata, I believe we ought to discuss the positions of our respective clans. And how we ought to speak with the lesser powers of this land."

Madara heard Neji scream behind him and smiled. That was how one should respond to being a slave.

And then Hinata slapped him.

Ow.