A Perfect Storm
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I'm sorry for the delay. My schedule is just not cooperating. My intention is to update A Perfect Storm today and Wicked Whims soon. After that, it's probably going to be a couple weeks before this story is updated. We'll have to see, though. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter Notation: I'm not precisely sure when Madara first learned how to make the Susanoo, but for the sake of the story we'll assume he could already pull that off. Soukja is an original character. I don't know if the Kazekage had a sister in this era, but that's what we're going with.
Chapter 10
They had been training for hours. The girl's stamina was impressive and there was no denying that she was fast. Her ability to anticipate or at least partially anticipate his attacks was exceptional.
It was almost like this wasn't the first time they had fought.
"AHHH. Damn it." Suki hisses in pain.
One of his fire style attacks had struck her arm. It wasn't an Amaterasu, but the attack was capable of defeating capable adult ninjas on its own. Still, it was as easy to utilize as breathing for him and something she should have been able to dodge with her speed.
"You had the choice to evade it and you didn't." He arches an eyebrow. "You're holding back."
There was no denying it. While he couldn't discern a precise pattern, every now and then Suki would allow an attack to connect that she could have avoided. She was a skilled actress, but there was no denying it.
"Are you actually accusing me of wanting to get hit by a giant fireball?" Suki snorts, rubbing her now bleeding arm. Most of the fabric had been burned off and there was blood. "How much of a masochist do you think I am?"
"You're in a romantic relationship with Tobirama Senju and you really expect me to answer that question?" It was Madara's turn to scoff.
He wanted to be angry on Izuna's behalf, he really did. Though in all honesty, he was mostly baffled. Tobirama had no more love for his Clan than they did for him, but here he was following Suki like some lovesick Academy student and what was even more maddening is the reverse was also true.
Suki rolls her eyes. "Being in a relationship with him is no more masochistic than anyone in this era falling in love in general."
Well, perhaps there was merit to that theory. They had all lost people precious to them. All his brothers were dead.
"You still have horrible taste in men or perhaps he is more the exception than the rule." Madara shrugs.
She was twitching now. There was fire in Suki's eyes. Her 'righteous indignation' was building.
No Uchiha would ever take kindly to their lover being insulted. Her pride was getting the better of her and that was exactly what Madara wanted.
"Chidori!" The familiar blue lightning blazes in her hand as she charges at him.
Yes, she was definitely an Uchiha. She had the temper to go with abilities.
"Susanoo!" Now, it was time to truly test her, though. No more playing cat and mouse.
He sees her eyes widen in panic. Madara couldn't fault her for that. Even though he was only manifesting an arm, it was still a fearsome sight.
Now, that Suki would perceive a true threat to her life, perhaps she'd take their training more seriously and he'd be able to see the full extent of her abilities.
"Susanoo!" Just as the chakra arm was about to strike her, a rib cage appears.
It was enough to block the block. Another Susanoo?
"Your reflexes are impressive." He dispels his own attack. "I cannot say that I appreciate it when an opponent holds back their true strength. You never mentioned you were capable of creating a partial Susanoo."
Suki frowns, her eyes narrow as she banishes the rib cage. Maintaining it when the attack was over was far too painful and a waste of chakra. "You never asked."
"That I will grant you is fair, but I want to know who you really are." He circles her, trying to assess the situation.
There was no denying they shared blood, but her abilities didn't match with her story. An Uchiha child who was kidnapped learning how to use some of the rarest traits their Clan possessed on her own without any real access to their family's history? It was…unlikely at best.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Her gazes was one of wariness.
Whatever secrets she was hiding, it didn't appear they came out of a place of maliciousness. Still, it'd be a poor Clan Head who didn't press for answers with such an unknown variable into the mix.
"Try me. I think you'll find that I can be quite open-minded when the occasion necessitates it." He toys with the hilt of his sword. "After all, I didn't protest your relationship with Tobirama and considering he is the man who killed Izuna, I think I've been rather understanding of your eccentricities."
Suki sighs, the cheap shot seemed to be working well enough. "I know it must seem strange to you. You're not the only one who has lost family members, though. I lost everyone including my brother. That's why I came back."
"You only have one brother and he's still very much alive." Madara tilts his head. So, that was it. She wasn't who she was claiming to be. "You're not really Suki, are you?"
Terror washes over her face. The woman had a fair complexion to begin with, but now her skin was ashen white with panic.
"I am Suki. Just not the Suki they believe me to be." She shakes her head quickly. "I was named after one of my ancestors. I came from the future. I wanted to change the past to protect our Clan. It's a very long story."
She was a time traveler? Normally, Madara wouldn't have believed it, but the way she was able to anticipate his moves spoke volumes. They had definitely fought before. "And we were enemies in the future?"
"We fought, yes." Her dark eyes shine with hesitation. "In your own way, you had the best of intentions, but your path towards peace was…it wasn't right. I came back in time to prevent our Clan from being massacred in the distant future and to change things. So, that my brother and the rest of our family could live. I never expected to fall in love or to tell anyone about this, but you forced my hand."
"I will require more information." He shakes his head, scarcely able to believe any of this. "This is not something I can just accept with only a few pieces of the puzzle, but considering the ramifications of revealing your secret…I shall keep it. Had the option been available to me, I would have done anything to save Izuna's life…even altered time itself."
A few days later, Suki allows herself to relax her guard ever so slightly. Thus far Madara had kept his word. He had told no one and it was hard to feel ill at ease when walking around the village with Tobirama.
"A messenger hawk arrived on my brother's desk this morning." He smiles at Suki, his arm still wrapped around her waist. "The Kages and their processions will be arriving today. It could be any moment now."
It was rare he didn't indulge in some affectionate display such as this. Their relationship was public knowledge now and while Suki had never cared for such gestures before, she was quickly becoming addicted to them.
"I imagine they'll make a grand show of it." Suki tries not to roll her eyes, deciding it was better to revel in the warmth that her lover was exuding. "I still think the tailed beasts will be the primary concern."
Naruto and Gaara hadn't been born yet, but neither deserved to suffer as they had. Her primary reason to go back in time had been to save her family, but there was no reason why she shouldn't help her best friend and future Kazekage in the process.
"You're right on both counts." Tobirama sighs as the a crowd begins making their way through the village gates. "Hashirama is idealistic as always. I'm not going to allow the other Kages to take advantage of his goodwill, though."
That was the problem. The First Hokage had been too kind and too trusting and Tobirama had been too suspicious. In theory, they would have been able to meet in the middle and they largely had, except when it came to her family. Suki was going to change that, though.
She had to. For Itachi's sake and for the sake of the rest of their family.
"Good. I'm glad to hear it." Suki smiles, placing a soft kiss against his cheek.
Ever since their first intimate encounter, a dam had broken. Most of her thoughts had been consumed by him and his touches. Thank goodness for high collars and the fact her students were slowly resigning themselves to the fact, they weren't going to discover any scandalous secrets about her love life.
"Lord Tobirama, it is good to see you and in such good health." A man makes his way towards them. Judging by his hat, he was the Kazekage in this era. "Do you know perhaps a place where we might retire for the evening? It has been a very long journey."
"Of course. Follow me. I shall take you to the hotel we have prepared for everyone's arrival." Tobirama gives a polite nod. "This is Suki Uchiha."
His hand hadn't left her waist. There was no mistaking the implication.
The Kazekage's gaze was curious, but apparently the man was too polite to actually comment on the nature of their relationship. The same couldn't be said of another woman in his procession.
"This is the lover that we've all been hearing about?" She tilts her head. "I suppose she's pretty enough, but she's barely old enough to handle a kunai and I never expected you to fall for an Uchiha given…the unpleasant history your Clan shares with them."
"ENOUGH, Soukja." The Kazekage's voice was dripping with venom. "It is utterly unbecoming to say every thought that enters your head. Forgive her, my sister never censors herself."
"There's nothing to forgive." Suki bristles. She should have known better, but the words leave her mouth before she could stop them. "Besides, Lord Tobirama has never complained about my kunai handling skills."
She would have had to be blind to miss the obvious insult. Surely, Soukja wasn't referring to the actual weapon.
"Well, they always did say that Uchihas were fiery." The Kazekage chuckles. "I guess that applies on and off the battlefield. She does know how to play. I can see why you like this one."