Tajima

It was a hot and stifling summer's evening when Tajima sensed a figure approach the thin sliding doors of his study from a distance away. Years of shinobi training made him subconsciously aware of his surroundings even in the safest place possible in the middle of the Uchiha clan compound.

The doors slid open to reveal Hideki, his nephew and most trusted source of intelligence in the treacherous and war-torn era they were living in. Despite being only twelve years of age, the boy was proving to be a natural both on and off the battlefield.

"Uncle," murmured Hideki respectfully as he made a curt bow and placed a thin envelope on Tajima's desk.

"Thank you for your efforts Hideki. I must imagine the great lengths and effort you went to retrieve this information," Tajima began, giving the boy a slight smile as he pulled out the parchment from the envelope.

Hideki bowed deeply, controlled pride in place. "It was nothing, Uncle. I am merely benefitting from the work of my predecessors."

With his task accomplished, he straightened and closed the sliding door, leaving Tajima staring resolutely at the documents splayed upon his desk, an ostensible frown marring his already lined and weather-worn face.

"Heir of the Senju clan, eh? What an outrage…" he murmured under his breath. What an opportunity…

A twisted smile graced his lips as he imagined the pain and sorrow on Senju Butsuma's face, and the damage to the Senju clan's morale to see their clan heir split across the gut, empty and horror-stricken eyes turned up to the sky never to see the light again.

For that was what happened to Kazuhiko.

He would never forget the image of his firstborn burned into the cornea of his eyes – slashed from limb to limb, face and hair a matted and bloody mesh that rendered the body an unidentifiable corpse save for the tattoo carved onto the right arm. Each slash upon the body was like a searing iron that tore through Tajima's heart, leaving it as twisted and mangled as the corpse of his precious son. Soon, he will make the Senju clan pay for this grievous loss. He just didn't anticipate it to be fulfilled through his fourth son, Madara.


When the day came, and Tajima laid eyes on the Senju heir for the first time, he didn't expect to be taken aback by the boy's chakra. It was immense for such a young child, but most importantly, it was warm, welcoming and vivacious. Throbbing with an unseen, effervescent energy that seemed to make one's defenses and worries ebb away with the tide. It was little wonder Madara was so enraptured by this boy – he had the makings of a leader.

He watched as his son's eyes bled into the blazing red of the Sharingan; turbulent chakra swirling dangerously beneath those pools of blood as Madara severed all ties with a friend he so loved, more than he would consciously admit.

It would all be for naught, Hashirama's pleading and promises of hope and peace.

Tajima knew. He knew the true price of carrying the gifted red eyes of Indra. He saw it in the images of Kazuhiko that haunted his waking and dreaming moments, he felt it in the heavy metallic weight of his katana as he sliced through his opponents, he smelled it in the peach blossoms that danced around his wife as she enveloped herself in his arms, their kiss a blazing flame that ignited their souls in unison.

A flame that will consume anything it touches.

And this is why the Uchiha were such a ferocious and indomitable clan that produced shinobi who didn't fear death or hell - For hell couldn't hold a candle to the hellfire and brimstone that scorched the wells of darkness within.

- End -


End Notes:

It's a pity that Kishi didn't delve more into the background and politics of the warring states era and that we didn't get to see more of Tajima and Butsuma, who are very interesting characters with great potential to me. The whole setting of Pre-Konoha is based on the Sengoku Jidai period in Japan, which is altogether a fascinating history of social and political turmoil in feudalistic Japan.

Madara is the fourth son, since he mentioned he has four brothers including Izuna, and contrary to popular opinion, I have a head canon of Madara not being the oldest. And true to Asian tradition, the firstborn son is the most treasured and loved by the father to succeed him, and voila! We have Kazuhiko.