Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto...
Author's Note: Yayzits! So you do wuv my story prologue after all. Now that that's settled. Let's get moving on with this chapter. FORWARD and MARCH!!!
Wicked Hearts
Chapter Two: A True Headache...
Madara rubbed circular motions at the corners of his thin, dark brows as to tame the raging headache that was haunting the hours of his stressed tensions. A darkened expression shadowed over his deadly sharp features when thoughts of his current headache provoker filled him with loathing.
He obviously was not in a good mood.
For days now he had had a fowl temper that would have given any PMSing woman a run for their money.
Refusing to take the food offered to him by the Uchiha women who were concern for his health, and rarely drinking from the water that was always left at the side of his desk top at all times.
He would not eat. Nor drink.
Could not bring himself to eat or drink. For even when he did, his anger would always unsettle his stomach and leave him with yet more problems then he had to begin with.
If that was even possible in his mind.
A hardened frown sternly made its way to Madara's lips. The Sotaki were clever, very clever, and cowardly, but clever nonetheless. Madara felt his fist tightening in rage, the brims of his knuckles turning a pale, ghostly white as his force pushed the blood from his fingers mercilessly. No, not cowardly. All is fare in times of war.
Particularly shinobi wars.
But he, like so many others, hated to be outsmarted. Especially not by his enemies. He knew instinctually that he was merely labeling them thus so that he could keep his dignity, his tightly reigned pride.
But then, most Uchiha men seemed to have this problem. Since the beginning of the Uchiha clan history this has been a problem, if still at times a blessing.
So apparently Madara, no matter how great a warrior or shinobi, is also no exception to this characteristic trait.
Madara looked begrudgingly to the reports on his desk, the beginnings of what could have been called a sneer on the tip of his lip corner. They were very clever indeed.
Status report from the eastern lines, July 13 sundown:
Sunrise July 12: The Sotaki forces have broken through the eastern barricades with 300 soldiers engaging in battle at the heart of the fort complex. Over the course of two days 110 troops have been killed during the power struggle within the compound and the survivors are moving to the northern most posts to negotiate settling arrangements with the troops there.
The Sotaki's main force's last know direction was south-west with an attack force of 500. It is believed that the Sotaki leader is planning a frontal attack on the southern lines, where you are currently situated from previous reports.
It has been rumored that the Sotaki leader is currently making secret negotiations with the supply lines of the northern posts. Waiting for reply.
Eastern posts have been captured.
The Sotaki shinobi had managed to break though the eastern lines undetected. But he had already known this. It was difficult yes, but not an impossible feat for a skilled ninja. That was a simple fact that any general, captain, or leader unable to see it right away, should give up his position to someone much more capable in the roll of insuring the safety of his men.
Madara, no matter how prideful or hard-headed, would defiantly feel obliged to step down from his position of power and hand the duties over to his younger brother Izuna until he had his act in order should he have missed this detail.
It was better to lose your position at the top for a while than to lose your whole clan.
Still, even with this understanding, Madara didn't want to lose to this man. The Sotaki leader. His eyes slimmed at the piece of paper in his hands.
What was he missing?
Madara frowned in frustration and let the tense muscles in his neck loosen, but he nonetheless read the next report despite his growing aggravation.
Status report from the western lines, July 15 sundown:
Midday July 15: The Sotaki have cut off our supply lines to the western forts and are currently attacking all sides of our fort. They are 100 in number. Requesting supplies and backup from the southern posts.
The rumors of an attack on the northern supply lines was discovered to have been information implanted by a spy that had infiltrated the eastern forts. Waiting for farther instructions to act.
He knew that the enemy spy had allowed the Sotaki troops easy access to the eastern forts, but that wasn't what he was missing. There was something more. Much more.
From reading the reports, he was getting that instinctive vibe that something was wrong.
That was simply how the Sotaki leader was. Always finding ways to make his opponent work harder. He also knew that the Sotaki were using the Uchiha's low resources to their advantage. But that wasn't what he was missing either. His jaw muscle twitched in annoyance.
There was something deeper to this than just random attacks on his military forces. He had grown too accustom to the Sotaki leader's ways to think otherwise. The Sotaki leader was not just another enemy in Madara's eyes. He was as much of a genius as he himself was a threat.
A dangerous combination.
It had not taken the Uchiha leader long to realize that, the Sotaki leader, loved to play mind games with his opponents.
And Madara was already under pressure because of it.
Status report from the northern lines, July 15 midnight
We are receiving the survivors of the eastern posts about 100 strong. Our supply lines are at a low and our forces are in need of supplies. Requesting assistance backup.
Rumor has been spread that some of the surviving soldiers from the eastern fort are undercover shinobi from the Sotaki clan that have taken Uchiha shinobi form. Waiting for orders to pursue farther.
It has also been reported, that among the new arrivals, it is strongly believed that our supply lines are being targeted by the Sotaki.
Madara let his eyes close in exhaustion and set the reports back down on the desk. This person...was simply impossible. No one had ever given him this much trouble.
For three days now, he had been reading over these documents repetitively. Looking for the clues he had missed.
Madara laced his fingers under his chin and crossed one leg over the other. A pose he had grow quite fawned of over the years, but also a sure sign of his mounting irritation.
So, Madara scanned over the reports once again, the Sotaki planned to spread chaos and confusion among his troops using tactics of false rumors to ensure indecisiveness. Leaving his forces open to attack. In response to this weakness, their forces are working on ripping the northern and southern lines apart as to cut off most communication between them.
To do this the Sotaki have been working on the eastern and western lines, as to come between the southern and northern forts. Even if that was their plan though, Madara ran his hand through his unruly spikes; they would only be succeeding on reaching his main forces at the center of the outer posts. Perhaps the Sotaki were unaware of his forces situated at the center.
No. The Sotaki leader was not so naive as to think the great Uchiha forces were limited to a few lonely forts surrounding its lands. There was simply no way the Sotaki leader couldn't know.
But still. Why else would the Sotaki threaten the supply lines of the northern posts, if not to draw his soldier away from the western lines in aid of the northern?
What was he missing!?
The Sotaki leader had a thing for leading his opponents around by the nose. Always hanging that little piece of meat out and waiting for that certain someone he was teasing to bite. Oh how temped Madara was to take it.
Unfortunately, it was out of sight. Hidden among the words upon the paper before him.
So the eastern fort has been taken, Madara pondered to himself silently, and the western lines are under siege. Madara's eyes narrowed suspiciously. What was his intentions if not to separate the northern and southern forts?
The sound of knocking reached Madara's sensitive ears. "Enter." Madara was most defiantly in a fowl mood to be losing his composure in such a manner.
Without farther ado, a young Uchiha shinobi entered the office and bowed lowly to his enraged leader. "Madara-sama, I bring news of the northern lines." Madara did not miss the way the young soldier had chosen to word himself.
"Speak." Madara's eyes slimmed dangerously as his long bangs ruffled lightly around his face. His anger at the moment was not something many would wish to face.
His wrath was legendary.
The young shinobi did not hesitate in response. "A message has been sent from the Sotaki leader." Madara raised an eyebrow at this. What? A message, from the Sotaki leader. "It was brought here by messenger hawk from the northern posts."
What!
Madara's eyes flashed blood red from the shadows of his bangs. "Give it to me." Too quiet Madara's tone had been. The young Shinobi tensed at its iciness, but nonetheless pulled a small package from his pocket.
The young shinobi placed the package on the desk before his leader and stood to the side awaiting farther orders. One chilling glance from his leader was enough to make him reconsider his options though. He bent into a low bow before exiting the office as promptly as possible.
Madara watched the young shinobi leave intently, before turning his attention to the small box that had been placed carefully on his desk. His brow twitched slightly. Unnoticeably.
What was this? Some kind of scandal!?
Neon pink paper, littered with tiny rips and recent stains, and a dark green piece of yarn holding the disgraceful thing together. Was the Sotaki leader mocking him?
This was an insult. An outrage.
Madara glowered silently at the small package, his blood red eyes blazing at the very sight of the thing. It would undoubtedly bring forth more frustration at the Sotaki leader's provocation.
He prepared himself for the anger he knew would come. It always did.
Smoothly, if a bit hesitantly, Madara reached for the small box with his pale fingers. The thing was about the size of his hand, a bit bigger perhaps, but small nonetheless.
It was heavier than Madara had at first expected. There was obviously something other then a message within it. He had suspected as much.
Madara raised an eyebrow at it. He could sense that it was not dangerous. Still, his eyes remained guarded. This was his enemy he was dealing with. An enemy he still knew too little about to get careless.
"Izuna!" Madara beckoned to his younger brother as he placed the small package back onto the desk, knowing full well that he was just outside his office door.
"You called?" Izuna mock questioned Madara with a small smirk, obviously very amused by his brother's unusual frustration. Which in itself was a rare occurrence.
He would not let the opportunity to mess with his elder brother pass him by. It was priceless.
"Enough of your games Izuna." Madara gave his brother a low and irritated command, though Izuna merely raised his eyebrows at his brother. Taunting him with an innocent smile.
"I am unaware of these games of which you speak." Izuna seated himself on the edge of his brother's desk, inspecting turning the neglected glass of water beside him. "Such a waste." Izuna commented lifting the full glass.
A dark look crossed Madara's features, but Izuna merely put the glass back in its original position and crossed his legs to the side of the desk.
"You seem stressed." Izuna stated with a raised eyebrow. He knew he should stop, but...
This was just too good an opportunity to pass up.
"Izuna..." That tone. Izuna straightened up immediately and turned a serious look towards his brother. Perhaps he should stop while he was still breathing.
That sounded like a good idea.
Izuna got off the desk top and walked behind the desk to stand beside his brother. A gesture of the upmost seriousness.
"I assume this is about the package you received." Madara merely grunted in response, a sure sign his ruffled feathers were settled now.
Izuna eyed the small box inquisitively, but withheld any comments for the moment. The sight of his brother staring so intently at the thing was enough entertainment for him.
"Well..." Izuna laughed pleasantly after a long while. "...at least he has style."
Madara didn't find the statement so funny. The glower he turned towards his younger brother said that much.
So much for soothing his brother's irritation. Izuna knew he'd pay for this later.
"Anyway..." Izuna laughed again."...opening it would seem the wisest and most logical course of action." That had hit a nerve, and Izuna knew it too.
"Well." Madara lightly said with his hardening glare burning an invisible hole through Izuna's skull. "Why don't you open it then?" That made Izuna smirk a bit. His elder brother was so easily manipulated when one knew how to play the game.
Izuna shrugged his shoulders a bit, but reached out for the package nonetheless. This would be interesting.
First he started with the string, leisurely untying the triple knot. Madara's patience wasn't going to last for much longer.
Then, Madara's scandalizing younger brother thought it necessary to untie the remaining knots from the already detached string. Madara knew where this was going.
At a loss for patience, Madara snatched the package from his brother's hands and all but tore the infernal wrapping from the box's white surface. To prove a point.
Well...at least the plain white inner box didn't invoke anymore wrath from the Uchiha leader.
Izuna raised an eyebrow at his brother's actions, but knew better then to crack any other jokes at this stage. Madara was not in a pleasant mood.
Madara looked the box over once before reaching for the lid. He did not particularly like the idea of opening the thing, but there would be no getting anywhere otherwise.
Even Izuna's jaw dropped a few inches at the contents.
Author's Note
Yeahz-adoodle-doo! Second chapter is done and I'm loving life and fuzzy bunnies. I wonder though, what was in the box...WELL HICKERY STICKS ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, POTATOE CHIPS, AND SUNNY DELIGHT!!! Hey, that rhymes. Anyway duckies, I know what's in there and you don't get to find out till I finish the next chapter. Cuz I'm just sinister and sly that way. =^.^=
I will rip your cookie jars from your coverts and feed it to the moo-moo cows!!! Please review...