Bloody Rose
Author's Note: This is my response to the female Sasuke x Madara requests that I've received. In this story, Sasuke was born female and her name is Suki. It will involved time travel and while I will make an effort to line it up somewhat with cannon, obviously the plot will eventually diverge radically because time travel often does that. So certain things may be "out of order," but the overall theme of Madara's Era will still be fairly cannon. For those you still here, I hope that you enjoy this story and reviews are always appreciated.
Important Story Notation: More details about why Suki has or doesn't have various abilities while she's in the past and how she got there will be explained later on. Yes, that does include the different variations of the Sharingan and the Rinnegan. So please be patient. Suki's perspective will be shown in chapter two.
Pairing Notations: There will eventually be two Sukis at the end of this story. The Original Suki and the Modern Suki towards the end of the story. Original Suki will still be paired with Madara, but the other Suki will end up with someone else in the altered timeline because by then, Madara would be dead of old age and the Modern Suki has never met him. I do apologize for any confusion. Happy reading.
Disclaimer: I own nothing and make profit from any of my fanfics.
Chapter 1
"Do you have any idea who this woman is?" Tobirama glares at Madara suspiciously.
Madara raises an eyebrow. He didn't think that there was another man on the planet that he despised more than Tobirama Senju and now, the man had the audacity to glare at him?! "I've never seen her before in my life." He was the one who had taken Izuna from him. That damn butcher!
He was standing in a hospital room with Hashirama and Tobirama by the foot of a hospital bed. A bed that had an unconscious woman laying on it. This normally wouldn't have been an unusual occurrence given all the fighting that was currently raging in the Ninja World, but this woman was different.
"Tobirama, glaring at Madara isn't going to make the man change his answer or help us get the answers we seek." Hashirama shakes his head. "If he says that he hasn't seen her before, then I believe him." Madara felt more than a little satisfaction at the vote of confidence, but he pushes it aside in favor of focusing on the patient.
She was different because she looked so much like Izuna. Save for her gender and the fact she was a bit younger than him, the woman was nearly identical to him. Whoever she was, she possessed the same raven black hair and ivory skin as his recently fallen brother.
He used to love teasing Izuna when they were boys about his looks. Madara would taunt him that he was too pretty to be a man, but this was ridiculous. Was this some sort of cosmic joke?
The snow haired ninja rolls his eyes in response. "I have no idea why you trust him as much as you do." Because despite his many less than noble traits, Madara Uchiha knew that he was not a liar? That might be why the Hokage trusted him!
"The fact that he was willing to forgive what happened and helped us to form this village is more than enough of a reason to trust him." It was a rare moment to see Hashirama truly rebuke his brother, but Madara lived for these moments.
He knew that he was smirking, but the Uchiha couldn't bring himself to care. One had to enjoy the simple pleasures in life while they lasted. Life in this world was often short and brutal. He knew that better than almost anyone.
Katsuna shakes her head. "If My Lords are done bickering, I'd like to inform you that her vital signs have stabilized." The medic glances at them. "She'll regain consciousness soon, if she hasn't already."
That thought brought another smirk to Madara's lips. The idea that she might be feigning being unconscious hadn't occurred to him. Though it should have. It was certainly what he would have done in a situation like this.
Pretending to be unconscious could be a smart move. It allowed you a chance to get your bearings and determine, if you were in enemy territory. This one was not only a beauty, but she might also be intelligent. (A combination that was all too rare).
"Well I don't care what he says." Tobirama stares down at her sleeping form. "She's got to be an Uchiha. She looks too much like one not to be a member of his Clan."
Madara feels himself clench his fists so hard that his fingernails actually dig into his skin. The pain centered him a bit, but his outrage did not wane. Had Tobirama not taken enough for him?!
Now he had to threaten this woman merely because she looked like an Uchiha? Because she looked like his brother? It was as if the Senju was threatening his brother all over again in some strange way. It took all his self-control not to lunge into a rage.
It was an irrational response and he knew that. "Despite what you might think, my Clan does not have a monopoly on good looks." Running the man through with his sword was tempting, but he would have to settle for verbal spars.
His Clan and this village in general were counting on him. Madara had to control his temper. Well at least to a degree. He'd save his fury for his next battle. After all, in this world…there was no shortage of them.
"No, but your Clan possesses more than its fair share of arrogance." Tobirama rolls his eyes.
Katsuna shakes her head in disapproval and places her hands on her hips. "You're in a hospital. Kindly cease your bickering like you're all still children." Madara was idly impressed.
The only things that made Katsuna special were her medical skills and apparently her bravery. Other than that, she was not remarkable in any significant way.
She was reasonably intelligent, but not a genius. The woman was neither a great beauty or entirely plain. Her Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, and Genjutsu skills were all average with the exception of her Medical Jutsus and yet, she had the gall to challenge him in?
"My apologies." Tobirama actually looks guilty for a moment. "It was not my intention to make it difficult for you to care for your patient." Ha! Madara didn't believe that for a moment!
The unconscious ninja looked like an Uchiha. That meant the other Senju was likely looking for any excuse to attack her. That was enough of a reason to protect her. He wasn't going to allow another Uchiha to die by Tobirama's hands, even if Madara wasn't entirely certain that the woman was actually an Uchiha. It was a matter of honor and Clan Pride!
Katsuna shakes her head. "Lord Hokage, what do you wish to do about the patient?" She glances at Harshirama, looking for orders.
There it was again. That word. Hokage. Hashirama was the leader of the Leaf Village and not him. That was unsettling to say the least.
He trusted his old friend. The man was willing to martyr himself for peace, but could he say the same for those that would come after him? Most likely, Tobirama would eventually take Hashirama's place, barring unforeseen circumstances. When that happened, his Clan would be in great danger.
"If it turns out that she's an Uchiha, it's Madara's decision what will be done with her." Hashirama turns his wary brown eyes on his brother because he knew that Tobirama was likely to protest that answer. "As far as we know, she has broken no law. If that is the case, it is indeed a Clan Matter."
Madara smirks at Tobirama's reaction. He was twitching so much that the Uchiha thought that the other man might actually have a seizure or something. It was beautiful to behold.
He doubted he was ever going to stop smirking at this rate. "If that indeed turns out to be the case, I shall handle the matter." Suddenly, the Uchiha Clan Head was hoping that the other ninja was somehow his kin.
After all, there were few things better in life than making Tobirama suffer. If it wasn't for him, Izuna would still be alive. Unfortunately, it would be unwise to make the man pay for that with his life. No matter how tempting. His Clan like most Clans had been pushed to its limits by this war, even if they won it would come at a heavy price.
One that Izuna would never want him to pay. Madara knew that much. So for now, he would settle for tormenting the Senju in any way that he possibly could. There would come a day when he would pay for what he did, Madara was sure of it.
"Very well." Hashirama turns to head towards the door. "I shall leave you to address her. If she's an Uchiha, she's far more likely to speak freely with you than she is to me or Tobirama." With that being said, the Hokage gestures for his brother to follow him and the two head off.
Katsuna gives the last man in the room a wary look. It was obvious that the medic wasn't stupid. "If you conduct yourself improperly, Hashirama will find out." She knew what Madara was capable of and apparently was feeling less feisty without the Senju Brothers around.
Madara's lips curl in distaste. Did she seriously believe that he was the sort of man who would kill an unconscious woman? It was one thing to kill on the battlefield, they were at war. It was another to cut down someone else who he had no quarrel with while they were seemingly helpless. He wasn't THAT much of a monster.
"I assure you that it's more Tobirama that you should concern yourself with." Madara glares at her. "He's more of a cold-blooded killer than I am, even if my body count may be higher."
The medic didn't seem in the mood to debate such things because she quickly scurries off. That meant the Uchiha Patriarch was now alone with the "sleeping" woman.
He walks over and sits on her bedside. "It's strange. You remind me of the stories that my mother used to tell me." Madara chuckles. "A sleeping princess who can only be awoken by a kiss." True Love's kiss as his mother used to say.
The thought had been a rather appealing one to a child that had been lulled to sleep by the sounds of battle as often as a lullaby. Though his father had quickly put a stop to such "nonsense" when he realized his beloved wife was filling his two remaining son's head with "foolishness."
"That's funny." Long eyelashes flutter for a moment and then open to reveal a pair of Eternal Mangekyos! "I never figured you for a romantic." The young woman muses as she watches him with wary, though slightly amused eyes.
She was an Uchiha woman. There was no doubt about it. Not only did she have the classical Uchiha Looks, but the woman also had the Sharingan.
There was a slim possibility that she might have gotten a transplant, but Madara doubted it. She looked far too much like Izuna for that to be a coincidence. That combined with the Mangekyo, well it was a compelling case.
Madara knew that his own expression was likely similar to hers, but that wouldn't stop him from getting the answers that he wanted. "Well it seems that you have me at a disadvantage." The answers that he needed. "You know my name, but I do not know yours." Like her name. "That seems rather unfair, wouldn't you agree?"
She blinks in genuine confusion, but that didn't last long. "Suki." He couldn't tell exactly what was going on behind those ruby red eyes of hers, but he knew that she was calculating something. It was likely that at least a hundred scenarios were flying through her head. Intelligent eyes. That made him suspicious. "Uchiha." And so did that.
Well she was claiming to be an Uchiha. He was inclined to believe her, but either way she was now bound to him for the moment. Madara was the head of the Uchiha Clan and that meant her fate was now in his hands.
"Well Suki, you seem to be fully aware of who I am." At this, the dark beauty nods. "And as such I expect you're aware that I lead our Clan." Again another nod. "And that means you answer to me." Hmm. No nod that time.
A defiant little thing, it seemed. It was subtle of course. The woman apparently wasn't suicidal, but she wasn't fully acknowledging his authority.
No matter. If need be, he would ensure that she understood her place in the Clan. Underneath him. As soon as he thought that though, he regretted it. That conjured some rather exciting, though inappropriate images of the stranger.
She was eyeing him so warily though. "I'm aware that you lead our Clan, yes." That he was reminded despite her last name, this Suki was still a stranger. More than one powerful ninja had made the mistake of falling for a pretty face and getting run through.
Honestly, Madara cared little for gender. He knew that there were men who looked down on female combatants, but in this time of war…more and more women were taking to the battlefield. Some by choice and others out of self-defense. It was becoming almost as common to see a woman with a sword in her hand as it was to see one with a frying pan.
"Good. As long as you understand that and obey my orders, no harm will come to you." Well clarification was important, so he figures it was best to elaborate. "At least not from our Clan."
A woman could take your life just as easily as a man. In some cases, easier because men tended to underestimate them. He would admit that he disliked killing women, but he would do it. Madara would do it, if they posed a real threat.
He just hoped this one wouldn't give him cause to feel threatened. She looked to much like Izuna. It would be painful to see the light leave from her eyes.
Such defiant eyes though. "I understand and truth be told, I'd rather have it be you than Tobirama." So she knew that the white haired one wasn't as pure as his hair color implied. Good for her. Though how she knew that was a mystery.
"Excellent. Now, how did you come to be here and why haven't I seen you before?" There were so many questions. "And how did you get the Eternal Mangekyo?"
The defiance left her eyes when she heard those questions. Hmm. It seemed that he may have touched a few sore spots there. Good. That meant her answers were more likely to be honest.
She bites her lower lip anxiously. "There was a battle and I got lost in all the chaos." That was certainly believable. "I've been away from the Leaf for a long time. I was kidnapped and spent the majority of my adult years in another village." Hmm.
That was potentially believable, but a harder pill to swallow. While there were certainly many other villages that would love to get their hands on an Uchiha, Madara found it doubtful that he wouldn't have heard of such a thing. Their Clan wouldn't have reacted well to a child or even a teenager going missing for a whole host of reasons.
Still, it was possible that she had been kidnapped during a battle and everyone had assumed she was dead. "Continue." It was a stretch, but not impossible.
"And my brother died in battle. He had already awakened the Mangekyo." So she took his eyes after he died.
It was a grisly image, but one that he couldn't judge her for. After all, he had done the same thing to his own brother. And why should anyone let such a gift go to waste?
Madara looks at her sympathetically. "Believe me, I understand the pain of losing a brother." That was one thing that he could empathize with her about. "What was his name?"
After all, a man who had awakened the Mangekyo should be someone that he knew. He might not know Suki, but he would have heard of her brother. Surely, right?
"Itachi." Suki looks at him anxiously, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "He was kidnapped with me." Obviously, he had died recently.
He didn't remember any Itachis, but if he was kidnapped young enough that would make sense. One thing was for certain though. Those tears weren't fake. This woman clearly had lost someone precious to her.
He was sure that at least something she had told him was probably a lie or at least stretching the truth. Madara just wasn't sure which part of her story fell into that category, but he would figure it out later.
No matter what her background, she had an Eternal Mangekyo. That made her a great asset on the battlefield and in times like these, well they needed every capable fighter they could get.
Madara shakes his head. "Are you well enough to make the journey to my house?" It seemed like the best course of action.
He couldn't let this woman out of his sight until he knew that she could be trusted. There had been a certain calculating look in his eye that told him that she was hiding something. Something important.
As the head of the Uchiha Clan, it was his job to figure out what. So that was exactly what he was going to do. Obviously, that meant keeping Suki nearby was advantageous.
"I'm well enough." She gets out of the bed and stretches as if to prove her point.
A stubborn little thing. Definitely an Uchiha Woman. He hadn't expected any other answer to be honest.
"Very well. Come." He shakes his head. "I've always detested hospitals."
Madara knew that was a common thing for ninjas to say, but it was especially true in his case. He had seen too many people die. Then again, he was far from the only person to say that. It was just hard to lose four brothers.
Suki nods in agreement. "You aren't the only one." She walks over to him, but there was a certain hesitation in her steps.
More so than would be expected, if her story matched up. Shouldn't she be happy to be reunited with another member of her family, no matter how distantly they might be related?
Of course, Madara knew his reputation. Perhaps, she was simply intimidated by his visual prowess or something. That could be it, but that seemed off somehow.
"Good." He gestures for her to follow him and leads her out of the hospital.
It didn't take long for him to reach his home. He had his own house, of course. As the head of his Clan, it was expected Madara would. After all, it was a not so subtle reminder to rest of the female ninjas in the Leaf Village that this was a Clan without a female Head.
If Madara was the type of man to feel self-conscious, he would have been a bit embarrassed by this. Fortunately, that had never been a problem for him. He had never been one to care much for the opinion of others outside his Clan with one notable exception. Hashirama.
Suki's eyes were warily scanning her surroundings. "We've got an audience." She was not acting like someone who belonged there.
Her movements were like a wary animal or someone who had seen a ghost or several. Strange. Though perhaps that was easily explained by the fact she hadn't been home for several years.
"I'm aware." The Uchihas weren't like the Hyuaga. "It's only natural for them to be curious. You have the face of family, but the mannerisms of a stranger." They didn't have one grand estate that they all lived in. Each family had their own house.
Houses that were scattered throughout the Leaf Village. More and more though, they were starting to be clustered closer together. Here and there, one could almost say there were Uchiha neighborhood blocks forming.
Suki nods. "I suppose that's true." The woman practically whispered that last part.
Her eyes looked so sad and forlorn at that moment, that he almost reached out to her. He thought better of it though. He still had no idea who she actually was and her story had yet to be confirmed.
"For now, you will live with me." He knew this was likely to evoke protests. So Madara decides to cut them off. "I'm presuming you have no husband or he would have been found next to you." Well at least he would have been, if he was anyone worthy of being married to an Uchiha woman anyway. "Therefore, jealousy is unlikely to be an issue and if you are worried about your reputation, don't be."
Tensions were still high across the Five Great Nations. The new villages that were springing up were all vying for supremacy. Rivers were just as likely to flow red with blood as water these days. In short, people had more important things to worry about.
To his surprise, Suki just rolls her eyes in and crosses her arms. "I know why you want to keep me close." Good. "You don't know me and you have no reason to trust me." That was true. "And if the other villagers are idiotic enough to construe my living with you to mean that I'm your lover, I don't care."
Well it was certainly easier that way. It was easier for him not to have to fight her on this matter, though the last part was a bit of a blow to his pride. What was she trying to imply? That they would be idiotic to assume that she would find him desirable?
"It's not an idiotic conclusion when a man and a woman live together, people are naturally going to assume things." He shrugs. "In any case, I shall arrange for a Clan Meeting tomorrow and explain the situation." And with that, he drags her inside his house.
Suki looks around curiously. Why she looked so shocked at the state of his home was a mystery. There was nothing particularly unusual about it. Well other than the fact it was somewhat larger than most of the other houses in the area. That was to be expected though. He was as Clan Head.
She glances back at him. "That's true enough, but even they should be able to figure out that I'm not exactly your type." Oh well this should be interesting.
"And what do you imagine my type is?" He chuckles.
Suki shrugs. "Older, I guess?" It was obvious that she had more firm opinions on the matter, but she was too smart to risk saying anything else.
Suki was indeed younger than him. By a fair margin, but she was of age. No one would have batted an eyelash. He was twenty-five. She was probably in her late teens. He doubted that she had seen her twentieth birthday though.
"I don't know what it was like where you were captive, but here it's quite normal for a man to marry a younger woman." He pauses. "It means the man has seen at least several battles and is thus a suitable choice because he's at least fairly hard to kill and he's established himself. He can provide for his family and a younger wife is usually a benefit." For obvious reasons.
Suki raises an eyebrow. "Because she can have more children." Well yes. Obviously. This was a time of great conflict. His own father had sired five powerful sons and he was the only one left.
It only made sense to have as many children as possible in this era. Though Madara would try to hold onto his status as a single man for the time being. If some sort of basic stability ever broke out again, well then he might indulge the elders and take a wife.
He liked children and it was an appealing thought. At least until he realized it was more likely than not, that those children wouldn't live to see their tenth birthday. No one was spared from the horrors of battle these days. Not even small children.
"Exactly. So your age is hardly a disqualification." He leads her to a guestroom.
He was getting off track here though. Madara was going to have establish a proper relationship dynamic with her. He was the leader of the Uchiha Clan and she was an Uchiha. That meant she was to follow his orders.
She smiles slyly. "Irrelevant. I never said that I was interested in becoming your lover. Just that they would be foolish to assume that I w-AS! UMPF!" Madara pushes her against the wall.
"You're a sassy little thing." Madara smirks when he sees her eyes widen in shock and perhaps a little fear. Good. "But you would do well to remember this. I am the leader of this Clan and you're my subordinate."
Suki nods. It was a feigned meekness though. The message hadn't been received yet.
"And that means you, my pretty little rose, are going to do exactly as I say." Madara exerts a little more pressure to keep her pinned. "You do have some thorns on you, but I assure you that if you try to turn them on me or any other member of this Clan, you will be the one who gets cut. And then, you'll just be our bloody rose. Do you understand me?"
She squirms. "Yes, I understand." Not that he could blame her. Most men or women were begging for their lives at this point.
"Good. Because no one wants that outcome." He releases her, pleased that for the moment…it looked like she was going to be obedient.
Madara had no idea how much he would come to regret that assessment in a few months time. Suki Uchiha was many things, but obedient was not one of them. And well as the Uchiha Patriarch was about to find out, one couldn't get to the soft petals of a rose without risking the wrath of its thorns.
