Chapter 2: Arrival
"Hashirama-ni-sama!" Kazue's eyes brighten for the first time since they departed when she sees her brother-in-law standing at the gates of Konoha
"Kazue-chan! My goodness, you've grown! Nineteen already? You look beautiful!" Hashirama embraces her and ruffles her dark red curls playfully
"I'm here too!" Mito smiles at the scene before Hashirama embraces her warmly
"Hai hai, Mito-hime. It's good to have both of you back here." He smiles peacefully and takes his wife's hand.
As they walk through the bustling village, Hashirama does his best to divert Kazue's attention by telling her about the Ramen shops and the marketplace, though Mito knew the underlying issue would bubble up soon enough and Kazue would lose her temper. Her younger sister hadn't spoken to Mito the entire journey to Konoha, though her silence meant anything but resignation. As much as Mito, the elder sister, was composed, Kazue, her sibling, was uncontainable.
Today would be her first meeting with Madara. That is, if he cares enough to show up. It was impossible that he would even listen to, let alone marry, a non-Uchiha. Kazue had crossed paths with Madara in person once before. It had been long ago, after the alliance of Uchiha and Senju but prior to Konoha's official establishment, when she was only around twelve years old.
"Kazue-chan!" Hashirama stands up from his chair and steps around the desk as Kazue opens the door
"Hashirama-ni-sama!" Kazue runs into his outstretched arms as Mito chuckles
"I miss the days when you were that excited to see your own sister." Mito sighs at her younger sister
"Sorry, Ne-sama! I've missed you too!" Kazue jumps to embrace Mito who holds her close
"My, my Kazue-chan you've grown at least three inches taller! Soon you'll be taller than Mito!" Hashirama winks at his scowling wife
"Father says I'll grow a lot more! I'm going to get stronger too, I've started training." Kazue grins
"Come, Mito, Kazue-chan. We'll retire to our residence, we can hear all about your training." Hashirama smiles and stacks up his papers as they prepare to leave. Frequent visits to Konoha to see her sister and brother-in-law were something Kazue looked forward to above all. She hoped that when she came of age, Father would allow her to move to the Hidden Leaf village permanently. Cheerfully, Kazue runs to the door of the office and swings it open before strutting out in excitement.
"All that training, and you can't watch where you're going."
A stern voice issues from somewhere above as Kazue crashes into hard, red, iron armour. Rubbing her forehead and nose she looks up to see a tall young shinobi, black hair tumbling down his shoulders in a spiky and unruly fashion. Though she had never seen him before, she knew the commanding presence above her was Madara Uchiha.
"S-Sorry, sir." Kazue bows quickly, peeking up through her scarlet locks to see his emotionless black eyes stare back at her with disdain before he steps around her and walks to Hashirama.
"Hashirama, the borders have been patrolled. No sign of rogue-nin." Madara states
"You're back early. Though that is relieving news, I doubt they'd strike so openly so it is to be expected." Hashirama frowns, "Looks like I'll have to stay behind a while longer… Mito, would you please take Kazue-chan home tonight and make sure she's alright? I'll send guards to patrol the gates." Hashirama glances at Mito and she nods back in understanding.
Mito escorts Kazue down the stairs and they begin walking through the village. Kazue felt that her nose must surely have broken upon impact with that iron armour… If that man was the great Madara Uchiha, couldn't he have avoided the collision? He didn't even acknowledge her!
"Ne-sama, why was that man so rude?" Kazue finally says
"You did walk into him first, Kazu-chan." Mito laughs
"But I said sorry and he looked like I was the biggest disappointment he'd set his eyes on! He didn't even say anything else."
"Madara-san isn't the jovial talkative type, he and Hashirama-kun may be good friends, though they are nothing alike when it comes to interacting with others."
"He's condescending. I don't understand how Hashirama-ni-sama could be friends with such a serious man." She scrunches her still-tender nose
"You should grow a little taller, then he can't talk down to you." Mito winks at her unamused sister.
From that day on, Kazue tried to make it so that they wouldn't meet again, part of it was embarrassment and part of it was indignation. Yet, ironically, here she was… about to become his wife… or slave, same thing. As she grew, tales of Madara Uchiha's conquests and ruthlessness in battle and negotiations spread through the land. His power was said to be unrivalled by all but Hashirama Senju, his fearsome reputation and his apathy for the wellbeing of all but the Uchiha made Kazue loathe the man even more. They stop at the Senju residence to freshen up, to Kazue's surprise, Tobirama is training in the courtyard. He was usually occupied with errands or missions the last time she had visited and she hadn't seen him properly in three years. His silver hair had become longer, it glints in the sun as he moves, she notices the red markings on his cheeks and chin. He had become more handsome than she remembered and much stronger too, she pulls her gaze away when he catches her eye.
"Ah Tobirama! Look, Kazue-chan and Mito are back!" Hashirama seems more excited than anyone else, Tobirama turns, his usual frown replaced by pleasant surprise.
"Mito-san, welcome home. Kazue-chan? Is that you?" Tobirama's eyes widen in surprise at the slender Uzumaki beside Mito. Kazue? It couldn't be. Her dark crimson locks fall like waves around her glowing complexion and down to her lower back. Her chocolate brown eyes are framed with thick lashes and she wears a delicate white and pink kimono over her small but full frame. Since when had she become so beautiful? The mischievous young kunoichi he had last seen several years ago had most definitely blossomed.
"Tobirama-san, it's good to see you!" Her smile captivates him momentarily before he grins and ushers them inside.
"That certainly brought a smile to your face, Tobi." Hashirama nudges his younger brother's shoulder as they walk through the courtyard behind the Uzumaki sisters
"Shut up, Ni-san." Tobirama's glare causes Hashirama to jolt before his expression drops into sadness
"May we stay with her before she heads to the Uchiha residence?" Mito asks her husband
"Of course, we will. Come, Kazue, freshen up before the evening and meet us in the courtyard." Hashirama ushers Kazue to a separate room where some her belongings are already set out, she thanks him before closing the doors behind her.
A white fabric lies in a large and intricate box on the bed, she recognises it as her mother's wedding veil and breaks into heavy, muted sobs. What a terrible reason to return to Konoha! To marry a stranger she utterly despised. But time did not stop for her, before long the maids knock on her door to help her bathe and change. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Kazue wipes the tears from her cheeks and ushers the women inside.
Tobirama finds it difficult to rip his eyes from her. Could this really be the Kazue Uzumaki he had teased and joked with those years ago? Kazue steps out into the courtyard as sunlight glimmers through the pond in the garden. The dozens of lilies could not take away from her beauty. Her scarlet hair is pulled into a knot, with strands around her neck left loose. Her lips are a subtle rouge that almost matches the blush in her cheeks, she is cloaked in an elaborate kimono of royal blue and white. Her feet walk delicately down the path as Hashirama and Mito compliment her, though Tobirama struggles to clear his mind.
"You're beautiful, Kazue-san. Definitely not the little squirt I last saw." Tobirama offers his hand as they depart the compound
"Thank you, you look stronger than before, I'm sure you could almost beat me in a sparring match." Kazue smirks, daring to stare the silver haired shinobi in the eyes
"Almost? I see, we'll have to try that out some time." He winks back at her, amused by her bravado.
They reach the Uchiha residence, the crest was engraved onto both humongous gates. Just standing there, the atmosphere felt ominous and cold, Kazue feels adrenaline running through her. Tobirama feels her grip on his arm tighten and wraps an arm around her shaking shoulders before she relaxes and beams a beautiful smile at him.
Servants arrive to open the doors and they are ushered in. Hashirama and Mito are chattering away with various advisors in the meeting room. Tobirama was tense under her arm, she could tell he hated being here as well. Kazue had heard Tobirama and Madara did not get on well, she decides she can't blame him. Giving his hand a squeeze, she smiles at him, his stern frown dissolves into a sheepish grin. After acquainting her sister with several officials and advisors, Mito leads her to the back portion of the seemingly never-ending corridors. Kazue feels Mito's lips brush her cheek before a door in front of her is opened.
"We'll leave you two to speak," Mito smiles politely before nudging her reluctant sister out of the room, onto the deck and closing the door behind her. The Uchiha stands facing the courtyard, obsidian hair brushes his back, he wore the same armour from those years ago Kazue was sure she'd find a dint in the chest plate left by her nose if she looked hard enough. He is taller than she remembered despite that she had grown since then too. His presence is stifling and his cold chakra all but radiates from him in thick waves. Without looking at her, Madara can feel her chakra, light and warm, and there was a great deal of it. The Uzumaki were known for their longevity and sealing jutsu, she didn't seem to be on par with Mito, but she was not far behind, she would serve as useful though she seemed utterly incompetent. The feeling of irritation at her lack of greeting brings several insults to his lips. The silence is thick for several moments before he speaks. The deepness and tone of authority in his voice startles Kazue.
"Were you not taught how to greet someone? Or will you continue to stand there like a statue?" after receiving no response from the silent Uzumaki, he continues, slight annoyance seeping into his plain tone "I take it they would not have sent you to me without a basic education of this marriage." Madara's words are disinterested and dismissive, he made her seem like an inconvenience. Irritation moves her to speak,
"A marriage?" Kazue tries and fails to stifle a chuckle, he definitely didn't let her expectations down… he is every bit the egotistical narcissist she imagined him to be.
"Do you find this amusing?" the venom in his tone erases the smile from her face, "I remember you from those years ago. You can't even walk properly and they offer you to me?" his voice sounds amused now but the challenge in his tone is clear
"I'm trying to decipher if you prefer to demean others to make yourself seem perfect or if you do it subconsciously?" she snaps, the sudden pressure of her back slamming into the wall behind dazes her momentarily.
"You will respect me." His words are even and poisonous and his palms rest on the wall either side of her, she didn't have to look to see the plaster crumble slightly
"A man who demands the respect of others, does not deserve it. You certainly aren't entitled to mine." She whispers gently albeit firmly and looks the Uchiha in the eyes unabashedly. His black eyes seem to pierce into hers. The surprise of the impact causes the chakra within her to seep out into a cloak over her, the heat doesn't go unnoticed by Madara though he ignores it.
"Do you really think that I want to marry you?" His eyes scrutinise her face, "Your role in this marriage is to uphold a social position as my wife and to produce an heir in the future. Do not delude yourself to believe, for a moment, that I will treat you with any kindness or entertain your disrespect. To water my bloodline down with a Senju descendant? Surely they were jousting." His icily jovial words cut deep into Kazue as he pushes away from the wall with a disappointed sigh. "Aside from that, you're weak and naïve which is possibly even more insulting-" his words are cut off by Kazue's even tone.
"If you're quite done talking, I wish to excuse myself. You should take a mirror to your own reflection before judging me, I can't imagine you'd like what you see when I look at you right now." Kazue bows curtly and leaves, shutting the door behind her gently. Madara stands unable to believe that she, a mere fledgling, had dismissed him. Not only that but he had let her leave without flinging her into the atmosphere. A mixture of rage and annoyance threatens to overcome the Uchiha.
Kazue wordlessly passes her sister in the meeting room and throws her shoes aside before starting to run outside of the compound. Tobirama turns from his conversation with his brother and stares in disbelief behind her. Mito excuses herself from the advisors, ushers her husband and brother-in-law to remain and follows her sister.
"Kazue! Stop running!" Mito catches her breath as Kazue comes to stop in the street, letting her kimono fall back over her feet
"I will never respect or put up with a monster like that! We came here just so he could humiliate me?" she gasps back at Mito
"Kazue, please come here, we must talk with Hashiram-"
"I'm done! I refuse to give that man another moment of our time, he's nothing but an arrogant tyrant and I will always hate him!" Kazue continues running. It was no use, when it came to endurance, Kazue was unmatched, Mito knew she would run to the forest. Since she was young she would run to the forest whenever she was upset or sad. The rain was becoming heavier and a storm was near. Mito runs to the compound, they had to send shinobi to bring her back, the chance of rogue-nin being in the forest was high and if they found Kazue, an Uzumaki, they would try to kill her.
The earth becomes mushy and wet beneath her feet but Kazue doesn't stop running, trees rustle around her as she moves deeper into the forest. What an insufferable man! She would rather die than be humiliated and degraded by that pretentious creature. She stops in a clearing, resting her heaving shoulders against a tree to catch her breath as the rain cools her down. Her kimono was drenched and dirtied with mud and leaves, her usually red hair darkens to a brown in the rain. What an intolerable and infuriating man. She knew life under his rule would be that of a slave, she would be demeaned and abused and she knew it. What could she do? If she ran, what would happen to Uzushiogakure… to Mito? For each solution that materialised in Kazue's mind, several problems arose with it. In a moment, her concentration lapses to take in her environment. There was chakra around her, she didn't recognise it. The exhaustion of running dawns on her, just how far had she run from the village?
"Look, Captain!" a man appears before her, his hand pointing to her kimono. Kazue finds herself take a step back before the trunk of the tree reminds her she's cornered.
"She bears the Uzumaki crest…" another arrives, "Four-walled Sensory Barrier!" he calls out before four transparent blue films fall around them, "No one else should be able to sense her presence now."
"What should we do with her?"
"Killing her would be a waste, taking her as hostage would be useful to negotiate with the Hidden Leaf." He suggests. Kazue laughs once, feeling her fists clench until her knuckles turn white.
"You think this is funny, do you?" the man spits
"You're the second man to ask me something like that today…Don't think I'm going to play dead and go along with your stupid plan to blackmail Konoha, you degenerates!" Kazue lets chakra flow through her and in an instant, lands a heavy blow on the nearest ninja who is sent flying into the tree behind her. She lifts her kimono and pulls a kunai from her thigh-band. She had planned to use it on Madara, though she was grateful she hadn't.
"Capture her!" The Captain commands.
One by one Kazue cuts through each shinobi, sustaining little damage. She activates water jutsu and amplifies them with the rain around her, sending several ninja hurtling to the ground. The clang of kunai and the sound of her fists meeting skin become background noise, Kazue feels her body tiring, new ninja keep appearing and attacking, she jumps back as more approach. At this rate, she couldn't produce any more water clones and she had sustained many hits from the opponent. These ninja are at least jonin rank give or take some chunin. Who were they affiliated with and why were they so close to Konoha? The skies have darkened, her kimono is in tatters and its weight was becoming a hindrance. How many ninja had she cut down? There must have been at least fifty bodies on the ground yet there were fifty more standing. Taking a deep breath, she steadies herself and steps forward, no matter how many there were she couldn't let them take her. The Leaf shinobi would be here soon. She had to keep fighting until then. Dodging a flurry of shuriken, Kazue knocks out three other ninja. A kunai soars toward her as she jumps away from the ground to dodge, the weapon misses her. A hand reaches out to snag her ankle which she manages to avoid, the hand continues and manages to grip her kimono before she is flung hard into a boulder. Kazue feels the air being knocked out of her lungs and the taste of blood at her lips. Rolling away as quickly as possible she stands and looks around her. She is surrounded and could feel her consciousness dwindling from the concussion, her ears rang. Falling to her knees, Kazue sees the rogue-nin close in. A flash of brilliant blue sweeps through her vision, she hears desperate cries sounding in the distance before there is complete silence. Paced footsteps, trudge through the mud getting louder as they neared her.
Hands catch her before her small frame hits the ground and lift her to a strong armoured chest. She was undoubtedly young and reckless. But she was not weak.
