Same shit as last chapter's first A/N goes up here.


I held the scythe in my hands, gripping it tightly. Madara waited for me at the bottom of the temple, along with his family. Suspicion clawed at me, and I felt a little wary of the situation. I moved on the rooftops of the temple, not in the mood to be seen by others. It didn't take long for Asao to recognize my chakra signature.

He met me on the rooftop, in a more secluded section.

I held out the scythe to him, raising an eyebrow. "I don't suppose you'd care to explain this?"

Asao took it with gentle hands, his black eyes roaming over it. "... I wasn't always a monk, you know."

I blinked in surprise at that. Asao never talked about his own life - he didn't question mine, so I didn't question his. Asao twirled the scythe with experienced hands a couple times before he continued. "I was an assassin. I liked my job well enough, but one day I woke up and had a thought. I had gotten tired of the senselessness… the repetitiveness. The fights no longer thrilled me and I began to wonder what was the point of my life. I came to this temple, because I wanted answers. My father was a religious man, you see. I hated the fact when I was little, but now…"

Asao gave a shrug. "I left my old life behind me. I am… content… here. I gave up many things when I came here, but I kept this scythe because it was the very first weapon I took from my very first kill. A Kaguya member… it was quite the fight. However… having it gone… I realized several things. The most important one is: that life I had is behind me. I don't need, nor want this anymore. It's just a memento of my past, and I am looking to the future."

"Oh," was all I said. "So I just went on that journey for nothing."

Asao gave me a thin smile, presenting the scythe to me. "No. Would you care to use it?"

I flushed. "I've never actually, um… really used a scythe before. I'm pretty hand with my bare hands and a sword, though."

"Then I guess I'll just have to teach you," Asao said, amused by my flustered state. I'll show you the basic stances and forms I want you to have memorized before you return here again. Go ahead and take this with you… use it."

Carefully, I took the scythe and peered at it. Then, I grinned. "That's pretty bad ass. Thanks, Asao."

A teasing glint entered Asao's eyes. "It's the least I could do… all things considered."

"Oh hey, I have another favor to ask you," I said. Asao cocked his head at me, and I continued, "I need to know where the Salamander or Slugs (or both) contracts are."

"Slugs?" Asao repeated blankly.

"Slugs," I repeated.

"... I'll see what my contacts know," Asao after moment of consideration. "I can't say I've heard of the Slug summons, though, and I know the Salamanders are currently contracted with someone."

"Then I guess I'll just have to kill them," I said thoughtfully. "Cool. I could be like some kind of awesome assassin lady… person… thing. I don't know where I'm going with this."

"So violent," Asao said.

"Anything for my darling Ibuse," I said, shrugging. "Besides... I think I've become rather numb to the whole kill or be killed thing this world has going on. Or maybe I'm just a sociopath."

Asao smiled thinly at me. "I think you mean psychopath."

"That, too."


( 。◕‿‿◕。)


"Maddie-hime," I sung, skipping down the steps. I didn't see the other Uchihas around, but that didn't mean much. I waved my brand new, totally awesome, scythe in the air at him. "Look at what Asao gave me!"

"That's disgusting," Madara sniffed, turning his nose up at it.

"You're just jealous," I told him. "Do you know how to use a scythe?"

"Of course I do."

"Good. You can start training me, too, then," I declared, then paused and immediately backtracked. "Wait. No. No. No. No. I don't want you training me."

Madara grinned at me, but it wasn't a very nice grin. "Why ever not? Think you can't handle me?"

"I think you'd just be sadistic and spiteful," I told him.

Madara's grin curled and at that moment he reminded me of Cheshire from Alice in Wonderland. I shifted uneasily under his smug gaze. "Running away, then?"

"Yes," I answered, unashamed.

"Then I guess you're just content with being an amateur scythe-wielder," Madara sung, turning away.

"Wait. No I won't! Asao will teach me."

Madara waved his hand in a dismissive gesture, not turning back around, but sauntering away with the smugness of a cat. "Sure… sure… I'm sure he's alright, but is he an Uchiha? Does he have the Sharingan? Has he trained his whole life with the best of the best?"

"Glad to know your ego hasn't taken even a bruising since I've first met you," I said dryly. "And I'm sure Asao is just fine."

"Mm-hmm."

"I'm completely confident in him."

"Mm-hmm."

"... Even though I won't really get to see him too often, or for too long…"

"Mm-hmm."

"... and I'm more likely to see you daily…"

"Mm-hmm."

"... You would really teach me?"

Madara paused long enough to glance over his shoulder, still smirking. "Of course. If you agree to be my slave for a month."

I winced. "... If you promise not to be spiteful during the training sessions."

"I wouldn't dream of it."

"... Then we have a deal."

Madara turned back around, folding his arms over his chest and looking positively pleased with himself. "Good. Come here, slave. Carry my pack for me."

I sighed.


( 。◕‿‿◕。)


"Home! Glorious home!" I cheered, entering my tree house. My arms were outstretched and I was spinning around on my heels. I had split off from the Uchihas a while back, as my home was in a different direction than theirs.

It was still fairly early on in the day, but I was feeling the trip take its toll on me. I estimated I had about an hour or so before I would crash.

Stripping out of my dirty clothes, I changed into my pajamas and headed outside to check on my plants. The garden was growing fairly well, and I was content with it. After watering the plants, and pulling out some weeds that had grown in my absence, I began to make my way back inside.

Until a thought crossed my mind.

You know… Summoning Contracts are soulbound aren't they? Or spiritual bound, right? That's how the Spirit Prison was able to work for me, wasn't it…? Because my soul acted as an anchor, or something like that…? If that's the case… then…

Slowly, I raised my thumb to my mouth and bit it.

I stared at the blood that had gathered on the tip of my thumb before I began to rapidly move my hands through some handseals.

Slamming my right hand down on the ground, a puff of smoke erupted around me.

_Sakura-hime?_

"Oh. My. God."

The smoke cleared and Ibuse looked at me, tilting his head.

"Oh. My. God."

_Sakura-hime, is that really you?_

"Ibuse!" I screamed, lurching at him, my arms extended. I glomped on top of his head, nuzzling my cheek affectionately against him and wiggling with excitement. "I can't believe it. It actually worked! You're here! You're really here!"

Ibuse's tongue snaked out and he licked me. I giggled and continued to try and hug him (he was too big for me to properly hug, but it was the thought that counted). Sitting up after another couple minutes of silent hugging I exclaimed, "I can't believe you're really here."

Ibuse seemed to be purring. I couldn't be sure because I didn't think salamanders actually purred, but… _Where is here, exactly?_

"Well, I can't entirely explain it, but somehow I'm in the past. With the super sexy (though asshole-ish) Madara, and the cutie-patootie (though wussy) Hashirama," I said nonchalantly.

_I see._

I bounced up and down, still sitting on his head. "What's happened since I left?"

_You've been gone for six months in my time. You were declared dead._

I winced. "... Yeah… that seems about right, wait… did you six months? It's been years here!"

Ibuse's tail wagged. _You should come back with me, Sakura-hime. If you climb inside me, I can reverse summon us back to home._

My eyes widened, and my heart clenched.

Home?

I could… go… home?

Really? Just like that? I could just… I could see everyone again? I could hug them again? I could laugh with them again? Smile? Joke? Tease? Play? Train? I could… I could be with them again?

It felt like my stomach was tying itself into a knot; it tucked and turned and looped over and over again. It felt light and heavy all at once, like a weight was being lifted; but a new stone was settling inside of it. Warmth spread throughout me, my heart beating faster and my blood pounded throughout my body.

I could actually go home?

That couldn't be…

Yet…

I felt Ibuse below me, quiet and patient as ever, as he calmly awaited my answer. His skin was warm and smooth, and despite not having touching him for so many years, seemed as familiar as my own hair. Like a riding bike, almost. Just something you don't forget.

Slowly, I laid myself on top of him, laying on my belly and sprawling out.

Leaving would mean not returning, though. I could summon Ibuse here any time, so long as I was here, but if I wasn't here - there would be nothing to summon me back. I would have to leave Madara and Hashirama behind.

Never mind the fact that I was there only medic.

I would leave… Itama… Asao… Izuna… Tobirama (even if he was a bastard) … and so much more. I had come to really love these two clans, and that silly temple.

It wasn't Konoha, but it wasn't… it wasn't bad, definitely…

The stone in the pit of my stomach felt colder.

My eyes closed. "I can't."

_Why not?_

"I can't… I can't leave them behind. I just… I mean… if I go with you… I couldn't return. At least now I know I can summon you whenever I feel like it, right? And the others - right?"

_If that is what you want, Sakura-hime. I know that the others miss you. I only went to Konoha to attend your funeral, but many were sad._

"Then I guess… it's time to write a letter," I said, opening my eyes. "I'll let everyone know what's going on, right?"

Ibuse gave another purr - I don't care if salamanders could or could not biologically purr, I was calling it a purr, damn it!.

_Very well. I take it I shall act as messenger?_

"If you don't mind."

_Whatever makes you happy, hime._

I squealed. "You're so amazing. I better write this out fast, because I'm about to fall asleep. Care to sleep with me, dear one?"

_I would be honored._


This chapter is short because I'm tired because it's the last week of HS for me and finals are son of a bitches and arghh it's not even seven here and I think I'm already just gonna go to bed and I don't care if this is a run on sentence.

On a side note, happy birthday to me.

Answer: Dragon Age Origins on Nightmare mode. Dat Archdemon last battle was... urk.

Question: Easiest game you've ever played?

Reviews are love! And birthday wishes. :)

Not sure when I'll update next because of finals this week and I'm just... so low on energy right now. Sweet dreams, everyone.