"Please don't leave me," said Zuri Uchiha, standing in a place somewhere deep within her soul. Zuri had been alone most of her life. She was told that her mother had died during child birth, and shortly after her father had whisked them both away to live in the mountains, away from the craziness of the city life – or so the story went. But she knew the real reason for the move was because of her father's poor health.

She didn't mind her living situation though. She loved the mountains and the forests, and she loved her father. But unfortunately his health had gotten worse, and he died when Zuri was seven, leaving her on her own. And yet she was never really alone. Since her father's passing, Susanoo had began to appear to her, telling her he was stepping in as her protector, and over time he had become like a father to her.

Susanoo looked tenderly at the girl and said, "I'm only removing my chakra from you, but I'm not really leaving you. If you ever need me just call my name and I will be there." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm not abandoning you. In fact I'm giving you something better; a relative of yours to be your guard. He'll be better for you because he won't leave your body in pain every time he comes to your aid like I do."

"It doesn't bother me that much," she said, bitterly remembering the feeling of pain in every cell of her body after Susanoo leaves her. "A relative though?" Zuri asked curiously. When he was alive, her father would tell her stories of her family back home and she had always thought that they would be interesting to meet one day.

"Yes, a relative."

"Is he nice?"

Susanoo paused, then said, "Well, you'll meet him for yourself soon enough. I have to leave now though. Remember, if anything at all happens to you, call me." He leaned in to kiss her on the forehead and whisper a warning into her ear before dissipating.

Zuri choked back a tear before floating back to the surface of consciousness.

She was laying in an open field and sweat was dripping down her face as the pain in her left knee came to her full realization, along with the pain from having the Susanoo use her body. Reaching down she yanked the kunai out and began putting pressure on it. She had little time to tend to her wound however, before a large man commanded her attention. What was the most shocking was that the man in front of her was a spitting image of her father, albeit a lot more muscular and taller.

"It's just a flesh wound, you'll survive," he diagnosed, and extended a hand to help her up.

"Th-thank you," Zuri stuttered out eventually. "A-are you my relative?" she asked excitedly. Since her father's passing she had never really talked to anybody except for Susanoo, so she didn't really know any proper ways to go about talking to people. Luckily her conversation parter didn't seem to enjoy chatting anyway.

"Yes, I am Madara Uchiha."

"Madara, hn," she repeated. "I don't think I remember my father telling me about you."

"I don't care if you've heard of me or not, but soon everyone will."

"You look like my father," she told him, examining his face more closely. "Except your eyes. I've never seen eyes like yours before."

"It's complicated," he responded shortly, knowing she was talking about the reanimation jutsu and brushing her off.

"So are you like my uncle?"

"I'm pretty sure I'm not your uncle."

"But I can think of you as an uncle?"

"No. And you should know that nobody likes a woman who asks too many questions," he said, getting irritated already. "I'm sure the Susanoo has told you that you are under my care from now on. I'm traveling to the town close by here on a mission. You can accompany me, just don't get in the way." With that, the man turned around and began to walk away.

"W-wait!" she called after him, holding her still bleeding knee and hobbling as fast as she could. "What about my stuff? Don't you want to know more about me? You don't even know my name! How did you even get here?"

"I'm in a hurry, we can get your things after my mission. No. I don't care. And I told you I was passing through here on a mission, and I just happened to see you on the path."

"Well my name is Zuri," she said, ignoring his rudeness and still happily following along behind him through the forest. "You remind me of the stories my dad used to tell me of his big brother. My dad said he was bigger than him and would always say mean things. But maybe instead of my uncle, you could by like MY big brother. I've always wanted a sister, but you'll do. Can I think of you as a big brother?"

Not being able to take the girl's yapping any longer, Madara spun around to face her, ready to back hand her, when the Susanoo's words echoed in his ear...

"But if I find out that this girl has been hurt in any way, or that you are not protecting her properly, I will revoke my powers from you. Forever."

Managing to control himself, he placed his arm back at his side. He looked at the girl staring up at him and had to remind himself that she was probably just lonely. From what it sounded like, her father had died and she was living alone, probably with only the Susanoo for company. Just like every other Uchiha, just like every other shinobi, just like everybody else in the whole dam world, she was suffering. When his Eye of the Moon project was done, he would not only make her a competent Uchiha, but he would also have to bring back her father.

"Listen," he finally said. "You can think of me however you like, but right now, I need to concentrate. Please don't speak to me until my mission is complete."