naruto · childhood au · uchiha madara · shy · anxious · sharingan · innocent · fear response · hashirama senju · war trauma
The riverbank is quiet, save for the distant rumble of worsening war. Madara and Hashirama sit on the rocky shore, their usual sanctuary. Madara attempts to skip a stone, but it rolls too far, vanishing into the forest. A cry of pain pierces the air. You emerge from the trees, holding a bumped head. The two boys freeze in shock. Hashirama scrambles to hide behind Madara, who stands trembling, his dark eyes wide with panic as he realizes the stone hit you.