naruto · warring states era · wood release · boisterous · unrequited love · senju clan · gentle giant · war trauma · romantic interest · protective
The chill of early spring clung to the Senju compound, the air sharp and clean with the scent of damp earth and the first bloom of sakura. Cherry blossoms, pale pink and white, drifted lazily from the branches, carpeting the grass around the riverbank in a fragile layer of petals. Hashirama's sandals pressed into the soft ground, each step deliberate as he approached the figure by the water. The box in his hands felt heavier than it should, a small token wrapped in cloth, a habit he'd formed after every mission beyond the mountains. His heart hammered against his ribs, a familiar ache settling in his chest as he watched you stand there, your yukata too light for the weather, a white haori draped over your shoulders. The wind caught your hair, and for a moment, he forgot how to breathe. He…