Present - 3 years later

Peace and quiet. Now that was something hard to come by, even in the Uchiha Clan. Not as large as other clans, but by far one of the strongest. Even so, that did not mean things were always peaceful within its clan, and it wasn't even the least bit quiet. No one could really escape from their duties, unless you were Izuna.

The young man had decided it acceptable to skip out on a morning meeting, one that had to do with resources and allies. Had he not been so ruffled by his father and brother's constant inquiries about marriage, he would have attended. Instead, he found it necessary to have someone… fill in for him to say, so he could finally have the long sought after peace and quiet he deserved. No bickering, no inquires, no being told what to do – just peace and quiet on a spring sunrise.

There would be consequences upon his return, being the leader's son and all, but they would be worth the clear mind he had. He was in debt to his accomplice yet again. This was the… oh how many times had he asked for her assistance in achieving peace and quiet? He'd lost count. Of course, he always found some way to repair her, whether it be the same thing in return or merely letting her smack him for almost getting caught. He preferred another way over that woman's hand. She hit quite hard, though he knew she always held back.

A light wind rattled the new leaves on the trees, but Izuna caught a different sound in them. Footsteps. He recognized these ones though, and they were not an enemy, at least not yet. Light, steady, and precise, and almost undetectable had it not been for his keen hearing. Those footsteps meant the meeting was over and his peace would soon be extinguished. How Madara escaped such inquires and interrogations was easily seen with his temper, but Izuna, he was much more mellow, unless provoked.

Suddenly, he bumped into something, and that something fell to the ground with an 'umphf.' He looked down to see a young woman with long, pointed raven hair as wild as the wilderness around them. A light skinned hand rubbed her head, obviously annoyed, "You were really thinking, weren't you?"

With a chuckle, he pulled her up in one move, and kept his arm around her in a possessive show of affection, even though no one was around. "Within the clan walls, being able to comprehend and listen to one's own thoughts is feat only achievable by few," he pulled his hood up over his head, a light drizzle starting, while she pulled that wild mane of hers in a ponytail, bringing its ends to just above her butt. "How was the meeting?"

She sighed, making herself comfortable under his arm. He was warm and it was rather cold outside – cold enough to where they could see their own exhaling breaths. "Uneventful as usual. Nothing more than assigning patrols, going over Senju locations and their allies as well as ours, and assigning missions. Very, very boring. Although," Izuna raised an eyebrow. So something interesting had happened? "The Yoshida are now five days late on a shipment of resources in return for their continued protection. Madara-sama believes they may be leaning towards Senju protection, but they have been granted four more days."

Izuna eyes narrowed. Such a thing was very generous, and he had to wonder if maybe Madara had skipped out on the meeting as well, and a duplicate had taken his place. His influence over the clan was quite something, and his word was highly looked to by their father, but that? "Madara must be sick."

"No, just you," she chuckled at his expression, "you are the more generous one, Izuna."

"Ah, so I am the one granting such a thing. I can see why you chose to do so. They are a main source of supplies, but still – four days? We'll see how events turn." He pulled her hood up for her, not wanting her to be sick. A young kunoichi in her position could not afford to become ill and out of combat. Too much of her influence was at stake. "And your disguise? Does Madara or my father still not suspect anything?"

"Unfortunately," Izuna frowned. That's not what he wanted to hear. "Your father failed to attend yet another meeting, so this was once again led by Madara-sama. I believe he realized it was me and not you. I'm sorry, Izuna. I let my chakra flicker just the slightest and he knew."

A sigh escaped Izuna's lips. He expected nothing more from his brother, though he was surprised they had made it this far without being discovered of their deceit. "Well, our next encounter should be interesting then. It was nice having you buy me alone time. I'm sure my brother wishes he had someone willing to the same for him."

"Well," Anju shifted uncomfortably, "I bet he does."

Izuna regretted bringing up his brother the moment his name left his lips. He knew how she felt about Madara, how much she hated him. And he didn't blame her. The things he had done and said to her… they were quite harsh. Izuna knew Madara had this grudge against her, but he thought they had gotten passed physical contact. He was wrong. The bruises of her last encounter with the said man still rested on her neck and cheek. He had done all he could to prevent it from happening, but nothing could stop Madara once he had his mind set on something.

Absentmindedly, he reached a hand out and gently stroked the swollen and bruised skin on her left cheek with his fingertips. This form on contact was nothing new to the two, and it was often practiced whether it was in public or in private. To an observing eye, it would be assumed the two were in a serious courtship, and quite possibly lovers. But, to the two themselves – or to someone who knew them well – it was only act of friendly affection.

Friends since newborns, it wasn't hard for a passerby to mistake such intimacy for something much more than friendship. In the Uchiha Clan, a man and woman never touched like they did unless they were courting or married, or, on a much lower standard, a whore. Had it not been for Anju's high status in the council and her lifelong friendship with Izuna, she would be mistaken as such.

"He hits hard," Anju pulled her head away slightly, indicating even such a soft touch hurt the injured skin, "I'll give him that much."

A small, unseen smile crossed Izuna's boyish features, "If I recall correctly, you told him he hit like a mosquito – weak and slow."

The barrier that had been up around Anju since the meeting faltered and fell to the ground as she laughed. It was true – she had said such a thing to Uchiha Madara after he hit her for a snide comment. What was the comment exactly?

"You should cut your hair, woman. If it stays as long as it is, a ninja can easily grab it and prevent you from escaping."

Anju gave him her little smirk and replied, "Why, Madara-sama, why would I cut my hair for such a reason? If that is your only reason, then, shouldn't you cut yours as well? Or, maybe you like it that long – it really brings out your feminine looks."

Saying such a thing to the leader's son and the most powerful member of the Uchiha Clan – although Anju hated to admit it, it was the truth and she was no liar – especially in front of a crowd of people, sealed her fate. Of course, she put up a fight, but Madara had landed quite the blow to her cheek, and she was surprised her jaw didn't break or fracture. It looked nastier, but that had been two days ago. Thank god for her bodies fast healing.

"It really brings out his feminine looks? I don't think I've seen him that pissed off!" They both laughed, as Madara's temper quite amused them both. The man couldn't take a joke, and Anju knew that, which was why she had said it in the first place. However, she didn't think he would hit her like that in the public. There was a dent in the ground where he had done so, and, she had to admit, a little bit of her dignity still rested there.

Wrapping an arm around Izuna's waist, her personality came clean in front of him. During meetings, and any other time she was around Madara, she kept up a cold and hard façade, for it seemed any time she was enjoying herself, Madara always used harsh words and actions to make it go away. Izuna believed she was giving into him that way, but he wasn't sure what made his brother angrier – when she was happy or when she was cold.

He glanced down at her, almost having to incline his head down to look at her. She only came up to his chest after all. So small, yet so full of power. If only his brother would get over his sexist views of women, especially Anju, and except her for the kunoichi she has become. Unfortunately, Madara was not that simple, and he was very tenacious in swaying his views, whether they were right or wrong.

"Now that I've got you out of your fortress," Izuna referred to the wall she put up around herself to fend off Madara with a smile, one she returned, "how was your date?"

Anju crinkled her nose, as if disgusted. "Like all the others. Only wants for the looks and my position on the council. Good looking, but not so much so on the inside."

At her words, Izuna inwardly sighed, relieved. He still had time then. "Who does that leave now? You butchered Takata, Okabe, Hino, and Nakai, had me take care of the stalker Sakai, and you've turned down Tashiro, Seo, and Amari. Anymore you're going to turn into fodder for the pigs?" Though his words were merely a tease at her picky nature, Anju turned her nose up in response, as if offended. "Well, when you put it that way, you make it sound like I killed them."

Izuna laughed wholeheartedly. "You might as well have! You destroyed their reputations within the clan by revealing what pigs they are, not that I'm complaining. It was quite amusing to watch."

"Watch it," a glint in her eyes excited Izuna, "I might ruin your reputation next."

"Bring it on, honey."

A well-trimmed eyebrow arched in amusement at the challenge. "Well, let's review the women you've gone on dates with, on accord of your father and brother," a glare met her gaze as she held up each finger with a critical face, "Arima. You took her on a date, slept with her, and left her. Ikeda. You took her on a date, slept with her, and left her. Then there was-"

"Do you enjoy spying on me during my dates? Or are you just making assumptions?" Izuna caught her, but she merely laughed it off and smiled. "Oh, don't act like you don't do the same for me. I catch you watching me on my dates. So don't act all innocent when you are not."

He crossed his arms over his chest and turned his head away, going silent. That was all she needed to know she was right. "Are you going to pout like a child now? Is Izzy upset?" She giggled as his face heated up with her little pet name for him. He was just so fun and easy to tease, even if the tease were the truth. "Oh come on Izuna! Lighten up! How about you let down your fortress, baka?"

In a turn of events, Izuna spun around with his sword drawn faster than the mere human eye could see. His sharingan spun as his sword came down over Anju, who blocked with her right forearm, which was protected by armor plating to support the injured bone beneath. Ten years and it still bothered her just as much as the day she received it.

"You were saying, Anju?" Izuna cocked his head to the side, his hood falling back to reveal his ebony hair tied in a low ponytail, with his bangs parted in the middle of his face, framing what Anju called a baby face. Soft features that resembled that of his mother with a sharp chin and nose of his father. He was quite the catch.

So, this was the kind of game he wanted to play? Adrenaline pumped through her veins as she pushed back at him, holding her face incredibly close to his and dropping her hood as well. Side-swept bangs hung just above her right eye and got longer from there, framing her kind face and features. She looked she would belong to the medics or be a weak housewife, but she was a kunoichi, and a beautiful one at that.

"Bring it on, honey." Izuna's nose touched hers, his eyes narrowing into slits with his Mangekyou only slightly visible underneath. This was how he woke up every morning – meeting, meet with Anju, and fight Anju. If there was no meeting, he found some rude way to wake her up if she were not up before him.

Anju moved first, stepping back and spinning around with her sword drawn just in time to meet his. They moved fluently together. Their foot work was smooth, light, and quick, and neither missed a beat, whether it was blocking a blow or dodging a blow. They moved faster than a regular eye could see, their sharingans keeping them on their feet. Neither wanted to lose to the other, knowing they would be facing at least a week of teasing on the matter.

Finally, Anju's sword was flung into another tree, but instead of pausing, she crouched, just barely missing Izuna's blade, and when she came back up, she blocked the sword with her arm. She knew the armor on her forearms could only take so much, and that if Izuna pushed much harder, it would break. It had not yet been mended from their last battle.

He had to push her. He always pushed her during these spars of theirs, and she did the same to him. It made each fight harder. "Come on Anju! You're not going to beat Madara's ass fighting like this."

The mention of his brother boiled the blood in her veins. Finally, Izuna would have his challenge. Her moves became faster and more precise, as well as more powerful. Her eyes glowed with fury, but he was only getting started. "Remember Anju – he thinks you are beneath him. Prove him wrong!"

Izuna felt rather than saw her hand collide with his face, sending him back a couple feet, but he recovered quickly, dodging and roundhouse kicking her side. She hunched over, and as Izuna went to finish the job, she burst into flames and he met her just in time to block her hand. "Come on Anju! Let your anger go!"

That was, after all, what this was about. Fights like these were about letting lose all that pent up anger and frustration of the past two days, which surprisingly enough was that equal to the anger of losing a battle. To say things were stressful being a shinobi in the Uchiha Clan was an understatement. It was even more so if one was close to Uchiha Madara.

Every successful punch and kick and every successfully blocked hit released the anger from their bodies and made them reasonable and calm once again. They fought with such ferocity that one would have thought them from different clans, had it not been for the matching symbols on their backs. They spared no expense in going against each other, and an hour passed before they stopped to pant, tired from the consistency of the fight. But every passing second they stood to mellow out, was another second the other could exploit the others weakness.

That was exactly what Izuna did. The resting Izuna burst in a fury of flames, making Anju once again alert to her friend's movements. He could be anywhere. Izuna was excellent at hiding himself, and combined with his exemplary use of the sharingan and kenjutsu. He could strike at any moment.

Though no storm was present, the dark clouds gave away all she needed, and although they were less the exceptional conditions, Anju raised her palm towards the sky and with her other hand she folded all but her index and middle fingers into her palm, creating a seal. In seconds, blue and purple light flashed down and surrounded her in a barrier of impenetrable energy. The sound it made could be heard for miles around as it incinerated the ground it touched.

"Come on you coward! Afraid of a little lightning?" A dark smirk formed on her pink lips as she taunted the young male, knowing very well he was watching and waiting to perform a jutsu of his own. She didn't have to wait long.

The sound a cracking whip sounded as Izuna's Amaterasu sword came into contact with the energy. She jumped back, the lightning shooting back up into the sky as she did so. There was one thing she was known for in the Uchiha Clan – her proficiency in lightning nature. No one could match her in it. Though she was still learning, during a storm or before it, lightning came to her like a dog to its master, obeying her every command.

The light drizzle returned, and with it Anju held out her hand. In it, a bolt of lightning formed and acted as her weapon as she clashed with Izuna and his weapons made of black flame. Amaterasu was, by far, the strongest nature she had seen, and called it blaze. Her lightning could stand against it, but only for a time. Then, when they collided once again, Izuna pulled a dirty trick. He aimed his elbow down over right forearm, injured in battle years ago and never fully healed, and hit it with all the force he could muster.

Stunned, Anju stumbled back, earning her a punch to the face and sending her into a tree. She held her arm close to her abdomen, cringing at the burning, aching pain the radiated throughout her injured arm. Her glare held on Izuna, the cheat. He played dirty whenever he could, and he cheated. Well, if that was how he wanted to play it…

They reengaged, with Anju throwing her bolts towards him, but Izuna was quick to dodge each one. He could feel her running out of steam, and now was his chance to make the final strike, but he hesitated for a moment. He felt another presence on the field.

The third presence watched from a tree branch, intrigued by the battle being waged. His red eyes followed the movements of each side, trying to predict who may win and how long it would take. He gritted his teeth in annoyance as he soon came to find that both were evenly matched. They wouldn't be if Izuna would use the full power of his sharingan, but he did not.

For now, he would watch the little show. In the twenty-one years since their birth, Uchiha Madara had never watched the pair spar, not once. He was impressed, but the thoughts and words stayed in his head. They moved so fluently together, like partners in a dance. Quick, light, and precise foot movements, combined with quick, precise, and powerful blows and jutsu's. Now he could see why they performed so well on the battlefield together – they moved as one.

The show did not last much longer, and it was by a little miscalculation that Madara could not believe was made. For sure he thought Anju or Izuna would have seen it, but either they did and ignored it, or neither saw what was happening.

It was slow motion for Madara, watching with his sharingan. Anju spun around to pull her sword from a tree, and in those seconds, Izuna's clone that came for her dispersed and the real Izuna blew out an enormous fireball. With no time to react, Anju was about to become a roast.

The look of horror on her face as she realized the mistake haunted him. Without much thought, he jumped into action while he made the observation, knowing Anju would not make it out in time without some serious injury. He scooped the unsuspecting woman up in his arms, barely making it out of the blaze without being touched by flame. It had scorched parts of his clothing and ends of his hair, and the same had gone for Anju, though not as serious as he.

Crouching on the branch, he calmed, though the smell of burnt flesh and hair stung at his nose. But, nothing serious had been inflicted, though it would have been had he not acted or waited a moment longer. He looked down at the young woman, who stared up at him with stunned eyes. "Are you alright?" The shock that registered on Anju was like any other.

Never in her time on this earth had Uchiha Madara asked her if she was alright, let alone saving her from serious injury. All she could really do was stare up at the stone face of her savior. She was stuck between thanking him, smacking him, or doing both, but her mind was still comprehending how stupid of a mistake she had just made and that Uchiha Madara had saved her life.

Madara's eyes narrowed as she ignored him, looking at him as if seeing him for the first time. "I will not ask you again – are you alright?"

Shaking, whether from shock, adrenaline, or both, she nodded. "Hai. I think I'm fine…" She was pushed further into the realm of shock as the tall man sat her down on the branch of the tree and ran his hands from her shoulders, down her arms, and to her hands. They grabbed her right arm with utmost gentleness that was applicable to only medics and women, not the great Uchiha Madara.

The man's eyes narrowed further at the damaged and swollen skin as he removed the armor surrounding it. Izuna really had used some dirty tricks to try and win this battle, and he was not surprised. He was a cheater. "You need to go to the infirmary. Izuna has put your arm out of use for a couple days, and you are no use to me or the clan in this pathetic state. You should have paid more attention to your enemy, you stupid wench."

Madara's words sparked a dying flame within her heart, and she stood abruptly, pushing him away and snatching her arm back from his grasp, cringing as he dug his fingers into the wound, causing her further pain. "I did not ask for your assistance nor did I need it! I would rather have burned than be saved and have it held against me!"

At that moment, Izuna appeared on a neighboring branch, finally realizing Anju was up in the trees and not burnt to a crisp. What a relief that was. He wanted to hug her tight and make sure she was alright, but as his eyes lay upon his brother, he knew that would not be happening. He went to speak, but Madara beat him to it. "Learn to be grateful! Had I not been watching, you could have been seriously injured or dead! You should be thanking me, you ungrateful brat! Now Tajima-sama will have no use of you in our upcoming battle with that arm of yours!"

Oh, this was not going to end well. Their quarrels never ended well. Although he knew Anju should thank him, for he was sure she too could see and smell Madara's singed and burnt clothing, hair, and skin, and it was not pleasant, Madara was being a dick about the ordeal, as expected. Could they maybe just get along for once? Just once would be nice.

A challenge flashed in Anju's eyes and she stepped forward. "How about I show you how good my arm is, Madara-sama?" Izuna sweat dropped as his brother and Anju came face to face, just an inch or so away from each other. It was just another day for them. "I dare you to even try, wench." He was really trying to get under Anju's skin, and he did. He caught Anju's right fist as she swung at him, holding it firmly and casuing her quite some pain. His eyebrows rose in amusement. "You dare try to hit me?"

"You made a challenge and I took it, Madara-sama." Anju pulled her arm back and folded it over her stomach, trying to hide the obvious pain he had caused her.

His stoic face gazed down at her small form, secretly admiring her mettle as he stepped away and Izuna came to her rescue. What had happened was utterly stupid, and he was angered that both had made such a mistake – a mistake that could have killed Anju, and he didn't think she realized that. There was little time to think about it further, and what had been done could not be undone. There were more important matters for him to currently attend to, such as the morning meeting skipper, Izuna.

"Izuna, take Anju to the medics to get her arm looked at," he then looked at Anju as she went to speak against him, "and you will not protest. Then you will return home and get your father and younger brother to join us for a meeting in a few hours, one you will both attend this time around."

The pair sheepishly looked at each other, caught in their little deceit from this morning. "And Izuna," Madara jumped down to the ground and looked up at his brother sternly, knowing he was planning on not coming home, "you will return home when you are done with her so we may talk. Understood?"

A sigh escaped Izuna's lips as Madara disappeared to god knows where, and spoke anwyays, for he knew he could still hear him. "Hai, nii-san." His eyes looked down at Anju, overcome with guilt. He could have killed her minutes ago. Sensing his guilt, she smiled at him. "I'm alright, Izuna. Don't worry about me."

Pressing his face into her wet hair, he sighed again. She was alive and she was alright, expect for the dirty move he had pulled on her. He kissed her head before he left her personal space, allowing her to jump down from the branch and walk on her own. "I can't believe you were about to hit my nii-san."

The tense atmosphere broke and the pair broke into laughter, though Anju was still distracted by what had just happened. She shook it from her head, or at least tried to, and wrapped an arm around Izuna. "I never back down from a challenge."