Hey guys! Thank you for the follows, your support means so much to the progress of this story! Enjoy this chapter, I shall update as soon as I can but the next 16 hours will be a bit busy for me.

Cheers!


As time passed, things slowly began to shift. Despite being a prisoner, she became the head medic at the battlement, training those junior to her in skill. Those older in age even acknowledged her, even if she had been a traitor. The task Madara had assigned her weighed down on her. There was news of his father passing, two months ago they received a hawk carrying the message of him becoming the clan leader.

Soon enough, four months turned to five and then six. Madara was returning. Spring was ending.

The battlement was buzzing with anticipation. It had been half a year since she'd seen either of the Uchiha brothers. She had encountered several Senju, killed many but not once had she seen or sensed the Senju brothers. Perhaps that was why she was brought here. Kumo pulled her black coat over her shoulders, exiting the room. She narrowed her eyes, it was bright outside. She had spent two days in the room working on her kinjutsu. Her hair had become unkempt, trailing down her back and twisting up like vine. "Kumo-senpai! You must be at the front!" She looked over the railing, there was some snow gathering already. "I'll be right down."

To be honest, she was looking forward to seeing the Uchiha that exuded a singular vitality that dulled all that around him. He was the strongest, most feared warrior on the battlefield. Often a delirious Senju or other clan member would be found, traumatized and frightened at the sheer mention of his name. She had needed many bodies to practice the kinjutsu on.

Someone yelled, Uchiha scurried around to the gate, some stood above the gate looking out.

Kumo took a sharp breath, the chill in the air still hurt her lungs. She bolted down the stairs in a speed that surprised herself. Other Uchiha were rushing to the door to open it, exchanging tense but happy glances. Many of them had been here for as long as she had. There was a commander among them somewhere, but she had not bothered to familiarize herself with him.

The first man arrived bearing the clan crest upon a banner and he stuck the stick deep into the ground across the entrance gate. They were all lined up, awaiting Madara's arrival. He was not far behind, his armor donned and a giant battle fan on his back. The snow crunched under his feet as he entered. Something was obviously different about him. He stood taller, straighter, his hair was longer. His face was serious, lines more prominent beneath his eyes.

Everyone bowed, everyone except Kumo. She was staring at him and their eyes met over the lowered heads. The kunoichi next to her pulled her down and she gasped, bowing. She glanced at his toes as Izuna arrived immediately after, she knew it was him because of the way he hurried to stand next to his brother. Madara walked past the Uchiha, "Rise everyone."

He strode up the stairs, Izuna not far behind him. The soldiers rose silently, eyes following their new leader with pride. The gate was shut and the soldiers dispersed, getting back to the day's duties and chatting amiably with the newly arrived squadron. Kumo searched the crowd for a certain short haired man. She could not find him anyway and hung back from the group, eyes darting to the stairs Madara had just gone up. Over the railing, he peeked down at her. "Kumiko." Her head shot up, her eyes wide in surprise. Madara noticed the singular grey-white line around her right iris, 'It's so prominent now.'

Kumo's mouth formed an 'o' as Madara gestured for her to come upstairs. 'How in Kami's name did he know?' Nobody addressed her as such outside her birth-mother's house. She hurried to the steps, gathering her cloak above her ankles so she wouldn't trip.

Madara had pushed open the door, followed closely by his little brother. Both Uchihas exchanged glances as the scent of something foul hit them. Izuna pulled a lantern into the room, feeling bothered by the damp, smelly darkness in it. Madara stood at the door still, observing the room. An old work table had been pushed into the middle and a second one was pushed against the wall. He turned his attention to it, taking slow steps towards it. It was strewn with papers, ink, brushes. He ran his hand over the scrolls, reading bits and pieces. In the center of the clutter was a bowl of dried irises. Madara glanced at Izuna and they exchanged a sense of nostalgia. Izuna moved to seat himself on a chair in the corner. There was an olive green blanket thrown over it and it smelled faintly of sake. Madara was quick to catch the scent as his brother shifted the cloth. His foot knocked over a bottle on the floor and it rolled towards the empty fireplace, clinking like empty bottles do.

When Kumo reached the door to her workplace, she caught a rare view of the brothers staring amusedly at something on the floor. The light of the lantern danced in their eyes as the older brother grinned, turning to the girl at the door with a glimmer in his eyes.

"I didn't know you were a drunk." He purred. Kumo frowned, "That's just one bottle." She moved into the room, tossing the cloak onto the table in the center. His eyes followed her, he knew it would make her uncomfortable. She rubbed her hands nervously.

"Kumiko the room stinks of corpse and alcohol."

She froze, turning to him slowly. Her round face had become less plump, her cheek bones were starker and her complexion was pale. Her mouth turned in protest, "Don't address me with that name." Madara leaned against the cluttered table, picking up the bowl of irises, "But it is your name." Her eyes flashed. Izuna moved uncomfortably, throwing the blanket onto the ground. She glanced at him and their eyes met briefly. He had placed the lantern on the table and it cast shadows below his eyes and over his cheekbones. Kumo moved around the table, reaching for a pile on the work bench. She pulled out four scrolls and held them towards Madara. He raised an eyebrow, "What is this for?" His voice was curious and husky, the first sign of tiredness. "It's just reports on how the development of the kinjutsu has been, I'd like you to read it before I show you."

He nodded slowly, turning his head to Izuna. "I trust you will read these yourself." Kumo's voice rang in his ears, he narrowed his eyes at her. "I don't always have time to read leisurely." He was staring her down and she leaned away from the table instinctively, "Of course Madara-sama. But I think you should read it all the same, as soon as you can." She seemed to run out of breath by the end of her sentence, Madara wondered if he scared her. The thought of it irked him, he enjoyed the fieriness in her manner of addressing him.

"Nii-san, I have something I need to do." Izuna spoke up, pushing himself off the chair and moving silently to the door. He gave his brother a quick glance before pulling the heavy wood shut behind him. It creaked and protested, the final thud leading to eerie silence and a sudden hush of warmth in the breezeless room. Kumo moved away to the chair Izuna had occupied, picking up the blanket. It was soft under her cold fingertips.

"Kumiko, I have news for you." He was watching her, unbuckling the straps of his arm-plates. They clattered onto the empty table. She watched a miniscule chip of wood make its way into the air, shadow dancing. He half expected her to growl at him but she simply stared back. There were purple lines beneath her eyes. He exhaled. This was going to be awkward.

"I've been betrothed to your sister."