CHAPTER 2: The Clan Leader

HAPPY NEW YEAR, ALL OF YOU. HAVE A GOOD ONE.

Since that's over, I'd like to say thanks a bunch to the people who followed and favorite(ed) this story. It's real nice for the peeps who did, thanks. Regards to you, and thanks for it. (How many times did I thank you people?)

I had to reread and reread Madara's personality information to not make him OOC eventually, y'know, make him the mean and abusive asshole that he is. But after I read a review from Skye Ai, I have to emphasize your point there. Sure, Madara's a cold and cruel douche, but, yeah honestly, he is still human (well, ish) and he has feelings. I'll put this into scenario here. Obito nowadays in considered to be the most badass shinobi ever. And guess how he got there? Because he was so heartbroken that Rin died and he left. If he was as cold as Madara, he wouldn't give a damn about her death and just beat the living daylights out of Kakashi. Let's be honest there. We have to know that deep deep deep deep DEEEEEEEEEP inside him, he has a soft side that he never really wanted to expose. Or maybe he's just really good at hiding it underneath that mean exterior.

Pretty short, but I don't know when the next update will be…probably next week I guess? Hope you enjoy this one, because they meet here. And even if I said that Madara has a secret soft side, don't expect him to be all sugar and rainbows once he sees her.

And to the year of the horse fellas, a tip of the hat to me from you. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own anything besides the OC.

CHAPTER 2: The Clan Leader

The room Akari was in was a Japanese-styled room with walls made of wood and sturdy white paper, and purple futon pillows beside a small wooden table sat on one corner of the room. In its center was chair and the wooden desk in front of it was littered with files and paper and ink. Behind the desk was a sliding door that leads to a wooden balcony bathed in noonday sun. Akari was kneeling with her head bowed as she scanned the room, and she noticed a man sitting nonchalantly at the desk. Because of her limited vision, she couldn't make out his appearance and with heavy breathing, she kept her head bowed. She could feel the man smirk and stand up then lean in front of his desk. He was just right in front of her with his arms crossed and a relaxed expression on his face.

"You seem afraid," the man said. It was the voice that Izuna was talking to, no doubt of it. "I don't bite." Here he gave a small chuckle. "There's nothing to be afraid of. Look at me."

Akari kept her head bowed.

The man sighed. His temper was obviously rising, little by little. He leaned forward and Akari felt that he was so close to her. "I won't hurt you. So you can relax. All you have to do is look at me."

Akari knew that she had to, even with all her willpower and hesitation preventing her. She wouldn't go anywhere...well, no, she would just be digging he own grave. And she knew she would regret it, but she slowly looked up.

Her eyes were locked with a man about her age, one in his early twenties. He looked very similar to Izuna, only a tad bit older looking and different attire which consisted of a dark purple long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves looser near the ends, black pants and shinobi sandals that looked like boots. Even his hair differed from Izuna's, and it was the most noticeable thing about him. It was black, spiky, and stretched all the way down to his waist. It was mangy and stuck up at many angles, even going as to cover his right eye. His visible left eye was the color of night black, no Sharingan.

Akari suddenly felt very nervous and unsure. Her heart plummeted. She started doubting everything her masters said she had to do, and she was at war with herself. She didn't even know if she was nervous because she was going to die, or because she was standing in front of the most handsome man she had ever met in her life. She felt her cheeks heat up and she clenched her fists in vain effort to hide it. 'Stop it, stop it, stop it!' she told herself. 'He's an enemy! What the hell are you thinking?' She had to keep in mind that he was the leader of her enemies. But, then again, he was pretty good-looking...

"There, see?" the man said with a smirk. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"

Akari's heart was beating fast, but she said nothing.

The man's smirk faded and he stood up straight. "Since you won't talk, I'll start. My name is Madara. Uchiha Madara."

Akari's eyes widened. 'So I was right…' she thought. 'Izuna was talking to his brother.' "O-oh…" she stuttered. "I think you know my name, already."

"Hmmnnn, yes," Madara pondered, folding his left arm across his chest and putting his curled right index finger to his lips. "Akari, was it? You don't look nor sound like a Senju…so I guess you'll live…"

Akari's eyes widened and a small sigh of relief escaped from her.

"But," Madara said all of a sudden, making Akari nervous again. "That doesn't mean I'll spare you from mercy…" Madara smirked again.

Akari was trembling, either because he smirked or because it seemed like he was going to kill her, and she honestly didn't know what was worse. "W-what do y-you mean?"

"You were seen wandering the land alone," Madara explained, turning his back on her and walking beside his desk. "And even Izuna explained to me that he had difficulty capturing you. It isn't like Izuna to admit defeat…you are quite the kunoichi…" Here he turned his head and looked at her then he gave another dark smirk. "And you're actually attractive, mind you."

Akari felt her cheeks burn. Was Madara actually complimenting her? It was completely not like him! It was probably some stupid trap. She better not fall for it then.

"And, since you're a spy," Madara continued, sitting at his desk. "You hold information I need."

Akari hesitated before saying, "You do know that I won't succumb to your will that easily? You have no guarantee of making me talk."

Madara seemed to tense up a bit and he looked up from his papers to meet Akari's eyes. They incased such a dark light, the light of no mercy, the light of a harsh and strict leader. Hell lived in them. But there was something about them…something that made Akari's heart burst whenever she looked into them.

"I can make you talk if I want to make you talk," Madara said, so relaxed. "And I can kill you if I want to kill you. I get what I want, and what I want now is for you to spill out information."

Akari tried to be calm and cool, but on the inside, she was completely nervous. "Well, what will you do to me, exactly?"

"Keep you confined here, of course," Madara said as he leaned forward. "Interrogate you for information, discover your justu and such, the list goes on and on, actually." Here Madara paused and narrowed his eyes. "I can even torture you should it be necessary."

Akari was informed many times how cruel the Uchiha were at torturing their prisoners, but she kept a straight face. She knew she couldn't show fear. Madara rested his head nonchalantly on his gloved hand, and he was amazed at her lack of expression.

"You show good self-discipline," Madara commented. "Aren't you afraid?"

"No," Akari replied, defiant as ever. She pulled the sleeve of her left arm up to reveal numerous scars on her arm that looked as bloody and gruesome and macabre as Uchiha torture. Madara looked at them blankly before Akari covered them and spoke again. "I was trained to withstand even the most gruesome of torture, particularly that of your clan."

"Your masters truly prepare well," Madara stated. "You look like the kind of spy to defy pain…then we'll use you as hostage, how's that?"

Akari stayed silent.

"Very well," Madara said. "Leave me and get out of my office. Guards outside will escort you to your prison cell."

Akari looked defiantly at Madara before leaving. He was beautiful in every way though her eyes, but he was cruel and cold. No matter how gorgeous he was, he wasn't really one to mess with.

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Akari was pushed into a dark cell lit by only a lantern on a table in one corner. A low wooden bed frame with a thin mattress was put beside the table, and there was a small restroom separated by a wooden wall to one entire side of the cell. It seemed inhabitable…well, sort of.

Akari regained her balance and heard the sound of a key leaving a lock behind her. She spun around to see an Uchiha lock the bars and spin the keys around his finger as he whistled nonchalantly and walked away. The spy sat on the futon bed and tried to comb her long hair with her fingers, and then walked to the bathroom mirror to see her reflection.

A beautiful woman looked back at her in the looking-glass. She had fair skin and light green eyes which complemented a gorgeous visage. Her blond hair always made her feel uncomfortable around those dark-haired Uchihas, but she always loved the way it rolled down until her elbow and the way it framed her face. She liked how she looked, even if she didn't consider herself that pretty.

"Akari? You here?"

Akari spun around to see Izuna at the bars, gripping one tightly. The girl smiled and walked towards the Uchiha. She suddenly noticed that Izuna looked so much like his brother, and the only thing setting them apart was the hair. And Izuna wouldn't just walk up to her like that after she just met the most terrifying person on earth unless she was a friend or something. Wait, did that mean that Izuna considered her a…friend?

"So, how was he?" Izuna asked. "Was he okay?"

"'Was he okay?' That's what you're asking?" Akari joked. "He was…terrible!"

Izuna started laughing, which startled Akari. He was the complete opposite of his brother. "Ahh, that's what they all say."

"It's true!" Akari protested.

"For you," Izuna said with a playful smirk. "He can be pretty kind when he wants to be. You know, he plays that card every time." He coughed and tried to put on a deep croaky voice in attempt to mimic Madara. "'I do what I want when I want to do it.'"

Akari couldn't help but laugh at his impression. "Oh my god…But seriously? Madara? Being kind? He's the complete opposite of kind."

Izuna smirked. "That's because you're not his little brother."

Akari gave a dry smile and lightly punched the Uchiha in the arm. "You sneaky little bastard. You're lucky you're not being oppressed by him."

"Okay, I have to admit, I'm sorry," Izuna replied. "Well, best be going. See you later, Akari." He was about to walk away when Akari stopped him.

"What am I, some kind of friend to you now?"

Izuna looked at her. "Come on, I get pretty lonely. And think of it as something darker…like friend-enemies or something like that."

Akari smiled. "No!"

Izuna chuckled and walked away from Akari's cell, giving her a deadpanned face. She went back to the bed and lay on it, trying to remember what she did and what happened that day. No matter how much she tried to forget it, she couldn't seem to get Madara out of her head. That man, he was a monster. No, he was worse than a monster. He was more than a devil. But there was something about him that made Akari think of him every single second in that cell.

What was it?