"Madara…" Hanzo growled, "you caused too much damage to my family." He shook while gripping on his sword. "I will not let you do this again, not to my grandchildren." Sakura looked at her father and felt grateful for his determination to protect her children's future. Sasuke and Itachi felt the same as him, for they both don't want them to suffer how he and Sakura, and Takahiro did.
"Ganbare with your little effort, Hanzo," Madara grinned. "You are still too weak for letting your emotions run you since that day I killed you. However, I have my attention pointing at your precious daughter; I will fulfill my destiny this time."
Chapter 21: The Haruno Curse and Fate Pt 3
"Urusai!" Takahiro shouted at Madara, "I heard enough of your obsession. Along with my son, I won't allow you to lay a hand on my granddaughter."
"Doshitano, Takahiro?" Madara smirked with expectation, "You don't want your son or your granddaughter to know how you suffered after I killed your father and brother?"
"I think my family and I have heard enough of your killing stories," Takahiro answered.
Madara gave a short laugh, "You and Hanzo really do have something emotionally in common. I never forgot that day I killed your family and watched you in torment inside your house."
Flashback:
A year after Hiroki and Miyako's marriage, they lived. Until, Miyako told him the happiest news, "Hiroki! I have something wonderful to tell you." He looked up at her and listened. "We're going to have a baby!" she told him while holding her flat tummy.
"A baby?" He stood up with a surprised face. "I'm going to be a father?" She nodded and he approached her close, feeling the tiny life growing inside her. "I'm going to be a father," he started growing tears of joy, "I'm going to be a father!"
He hugged her, lifting her up, and she shared joy with him. "We're going to be parents!" they cheered with excitement. He never felt so much happiness after his sad memory, so he was now having a child on the way.
They shared a quick kiss and another embrace, and he next kneeled and whispered, "Akachan, it's otosan talking. I will make you a promise—I will always be right here with you and never let anything happen to you. Otosan will never leave you alone."
She smiled from her husband's warm words and love for their unborn child, and she felt for his happiness of having a family again. She remembered how long he suffered after losing his family, so she promised that she will never let him have that again.
So, she held his face up to look at her and gave him a promise. "Hiroki-kun…" she started, "you don't need to worry anymore. I know you will never lose me or our child because we will always be right here with you. Promise me that you will never live in fear or think what would happen to us, I know deep down that will never happen."
"Miyako…" he looked deeply into her eyes and stood up. He noticed the ability she possesses—she could sense his feelings and read right through his eyes. He felt better from her comforting words, so he said, "Arigatou, my beloved Miyako. I may feel worried about my new family, but I won't stop feeling worried and I will do anything to protect you both."
She smiled and leaned up, touching forehead, "Don't worry too much. If you will be protecting us, then I will be with you protecting our family. I won't let you do anything alone." He smiled back and laughed, and they shared a kiss.
Sakura widened from learning new information about her bloodline abilities. Her great-grandmother sensed emotions and predicted her great-grandfather through his eyes and expression. In comparison, she looked through her brother the exact way when she was with him at the Akatsuki (chap 14). She felt that she has much more than she inherited from her parents and grandparents.
.
Nine months later, their child was born. It was a boy, and he had purple hair. "Hiroki-kun, we have a son." She smiled lovingly at her child, "He's beautiful, isn't he?"
He took holding his newborn son in his arms, "Yes, he is. He is absolutely beautiful." He watched his child stirring and crying a little.
"Did you have a name for him?" she asked.
He looked at her and asked, "Don't you want to name him instead? I was pretty sure that you were thinking and choosing names."
"No, I thought we were going to have a girl," she looked down with a blush. "I did try to think a name for a boy, but I couldn't find the right one."
He laughed and said, "I already thought the perfect name, if we were going to have a son…Yoshiyuki."
"Yoshiyuki…" she defined, "It means righteous happiness, it's perfect."
"It is settled," he sat beside her "Haruno Yoshiyuki, our beloved son. I will train you to become a strong shinobi and take my place as the next heir." She also wished for her son's future with the best of luck.
"I have watched Yoshiyuki mature and chose my time when to kill his parents," Madara revealed, "but Miyako told Hiroki unexpected but delightful news. They were going to have another child, which I have never foreseen, but I made up my mind to let two siblings suffer loss some after the child grows." Takahiro tightened his hold on the sword, turning his hands white.
"It, however, went again unpredictable by Miyako's death," he added. "Hiroki and Yoshiyuki cried for her, but they eventually moved on and raised you, Takahiro, normally."
"Enough…" Takahiro hissed vemonously, "enough, enough…ENOUGH!" Hanzo and Sakura tensed when he shouted, but they understood that he doesn't want them to know his painful loss.
"Takahiro…" Madara smirked without effect from his shout. "I watched you how you admired your older brother and looked up to your father. Now that I mentioned it, it is quite similar how Sasuke had and felt the same for his own brother. However, I made my final choice—I chose you to suffer after I kill your father and brother."
Sasuke glared at Madara how he was taunting and comparing him to Takahiro with similar feelings toward family members. Itachi clutched a fist angrily but hid his angry face with a calm face, and he never forgot that time when he found Madara lurking and hiding inside the village. They both learned that he was not only watching Hanzo and his family but also watching them and their lives.
"Although the life you had before was considered normal and wonderful," Madara stated, "your father was always reminded of your mother's death every year on your birthday. He never let go. You remember the look he always gave you—you were the reminder of Miyako." Takahiro started shaking and recalling the moments he had with his father.
Madara added more, "You were closer to your brother while you were growing up. You wanted to suppress him and follow his footsteps since he was the most gifted child with such intelligence and proficient skills." Sasuke widened from the fact that Takahiro was the same as him, and Itachi understood the situation of being the oldest and smartest child in the family.
Four years passed, Miyako suddenly turned sick with paleness and nausea, and Hiroki grew concerned for her. He and Yoshiyuki took her to the hospital; later, they waited outside the room for the doctors to check her. Half the day passed, she finally came out and thanked the doctors.
Hiroki went to her, "Miyako, is everything alright?" She smiled normally and assured him that everything was alright.
"Kaasan, are you sick?" Yoshiyuki asked. He was very scared about his mother being sick for days, and he wondered if it was a cold.
"Hai, daijoubuda" she answered. "The doctors told me that everything was nothing to worry about." They sighed with relief, "…demo, we are going to have another member in the family."
Hiroki widened from surprise, but he hugged his wife with joy and thanked her. Yoshiyuki was confused, so his father explained, "Yoshiyuki, you're going to be a big brother."
Yoshiyuki turned surprised and was pulled into them, and his mother held his head on her tummy. "You are going to have a brother or a sister."
Yoshiyuki hugged his mother and told his parents, "Tou-san, kaasan, I want a brother."
They laughed joyfully for his excitement of a sibling, but they were hoping to have a girl this time. Hiroki said, "It is wonderful that you want a brother, but it would also be nice to have a sister."
Yoshiyuki persisted, "I want to have a brother." They smiled for his hopes, but they will need to think for another boy name in case. They already have a girl name since the day Yoshiyuki was born, so Miyako gave that role to Hiroki finding a boy's name.
.
Until the day of the childbirth, their second son was born and healthy. However, Miyako turned very sick with some complications. Hiroki begged the doctors to save her life, but they told him that there was nothing they could do for her. Her health was declining and they have no medicines to use to save her, so they gave him an advice—share their last moment with her before her time ends. It gave him grief, but he took their advice for his wife's sake. Yoshiyuki was too young to understand the situation, yet he was mature enough to sense the negativity around.
"Miyako, it's Takahiro," he held their second born and showed him to her. "Look at him, he's beautiful." He was smiling and crying with joy but sadness at the same length, for he couldn't hold them in. Her face was turning so paled and her breathing was decreasing, so he couldn't hide it at all. It was hurting him so much.
She panted as she moved her head to see, "He looks like you, Hiroki-kun, and he has white hair." Her vision was diminishing slowly and her breathing was dropping, but she tried to maintain for a longer moment with her family. She was trying to not lose much of her remaining energy.
She could see her husband crying for knowing her condition, and she appreciated that he was trying to be happy in front of their oldest son. She knew her time was coming to an end, and she never liked the idea of leaving her family behind. However, she must accept the fate that was waiting for her; she promised herself that she will always be there with them…even in spirit, protecting them.
"Kaasan?" Yoshiyuki called her. "Daijoubudesuka?" He was watching her condition turning to look bad, but she placed her hand on his cheek. He nearly jilted for feeling it so cold on his skin.
"I will be alright," she assured softly. "Yoshiyuki, promise me that you will take care of your little brother and help your father in every way."
Yoshiyuki stared at his mother for a long moment and grew tears. "Hai," he promised, whimpering, "I promise, kaasan." He was feeling sad, but he knew that he must be strong for his family. He will do it for his mother.
"Don't cry," she begged him. "It makes mommy feel sad, too. Show me your smile, it makes mommy happy." He was still crying, but he made a smile for her and grasped her hand.
"Hiroki-kun…" she started to slow her breathing which helped to save enough energy in her body. "Give me my baby, I want to see his face." Hiroki agreed and carefully laid his newborn son beside her. She wrapped her arm around her baby and moved him closer.
"Takahiro, my baby…" she started while stroking his soft hair, "I'm afraid I won't be around, watching you grow up, but I will always be with you. You will not know me, but your father and brother will tell you stories about me whenever you have questions. I know you will grow as strong and noble as your big brother, and spread new changes and happiness in our clan and other nations. No matter what, I will always love you and protect you."
The last bit of her energy hit the final breath, so she hurried to talk her husband, "Hiroki…kun, promise me…take care of our sons…" He quickly grabbed, holding her hand, listening carefully, "…protect them always…and don't…cry…for me…"
After saying her last words, she slowly closed her eyes and her heart dropped very low to a stop. "Kaasan!" Yoshiyuki cried for his mother and climbed into the bed, hugging her. Out of her promise, Hiroki stared his wife, while crying, and squeezed her limp, cold hand, "Miyako…" They both cried for a long moment while holding her with desperation.
Suddenly, baby Takahiro cried loudly for possibly feeling the heavy tension around him. He started stirring and hands clutching up. Yoshiyuki woke up from hearing his cries. He was about to reach holding him, but his father quickly picked up the baby and rocked him gently.
"Sshhh…" Hiroki hushed him softly, "Daijoubuda, Takahiro…don't cry. Otosan is here, don't cry." He continued rocking him and talking with assurance to his baby son. Yoshiyuki watched his father comforting his baby brother, until he stopped crying and fall asleep.
Next, Hiroki grabbed squeezing his older son's hand and said, "Yoshiyuki, my son, I promise I will always protect you and your brother from anything. You both are my life now." Yoshiyuki smiled sadly and hugged his father gently, and he also made a promise that he will become a stronger shinobi to protect them both, too.
Takahiro tensed after learning that his mother loved him before she died, and she told his father and brother to take care of him. He even remembered the bedtime stories about her his brother and sometimes his father told him before he sleeps. Even though his family coped well from her death, he remembered the sadness they carried inside and poured their attention on each other, living as a normal family.
"Your father and brother did, indeed, kept Miyako's promise," Madara smirked. "You haven't forgotten that day when your father tried telling you and your brother to run away to save yourselves, but how horrible it must have felt for you to see them to die in front of you."
Hanzo turned to his father and found him in trance for going back on remembering his childhood and family. Otosan… He felt for his father of watching his family die in front of him; although, he never knew the feeling of watching his family die but finding them dead in front of his eyes. His father; he himself; and his daughter all had the same experience with loss yet suffered differently.
After Takahiro turned eight, he was running to the training field to watch his father train his brother. "I wonder what otosan might be teaching onii-sama," he said excitingly. "Onii-sama is so amazing. I can't wait for otosan to teach me the same someday."
It was close for the sparring match against his brother and father, so he hurried his pace fast to not miss any of it. When he finally arrived, he hid behind a tree and peeked out; there stood his father standing and facing his twelve-year-old brother, both with stoic face. "Ganbare, onii-sama," he whispered.
Haruno Yoshiyuki: oldest son of Haruno Hiroki and Miyako; brother of Haruno Takahiro; uncle of Haruno Hanzo; granduncle of Uchiha Sakura; mid-back length purple hair, tied in a high ponytail, with long fringe-bangs; blue eyes; white juban kimono, under a white montsuki; light purple, diamond-shaped, cloud-twinkle star designed haori; midnight blue pants; and sandals
A wind blew across them, making their hair wave with it, and they gripped on their sword scabbard. With their other hand, they grabbed on the sword handler and pulled out their katana in battle pose. A small brown leaf came falling down from the wind and it then landed between them. They both leaped and clashed swords. Takahiro gasped in surprise for not catching a glimpse of them moving so fast.
They pulled back and performed Shadow Clone Jutsu, advancing toward each other. They all fought and slashed every clone, leaving the real ones. They clashed and held such strain, and they moved crossing swords. They again moved back and Yoshiyuki jumped up, and he swung chakra slash toward his father. Hiroki avoided and jumped toward him; they collided, but Hiroki grabbed his wrist (the one holding the sword) and was about to use cut down. Yoshiyuki also caught his wrist, and they both fell down to the ground. They both let go instantly and fought sword again.
Yoshiyuki then used speed, which caught his father off guard, and knocked his sword out of his grasp. Takahiro was surprised and watched his brother twirled around, kicking his father on the side of his face. Hiroki grunted and fell; before he could get up, Yoshiyuki hit him again but with another hit using his heel. He yelled for an instant kill but stopped before doing so, and he moved back.
After the spar ended, Hiroki stood up and Yoshiyuki gave him his sword back. Takahiro was so drawn to his brother. "Sugoi, onii-sama…" he blushed. He wished that one day he will become talented as his brother in taijutsu and bukijutsu. He even hoped for one day that his father would start his training soon after he finishes with his brother's training.
They both sheathed their swords into their scabbard. "I'm impressed," Hiroki said. "I must say that you have exceeded your training in swords very well, like I taught you. That's the way to do it."
"Arigatou, otosan," Yoshiyuki thanked his father and sensed. "Oi, ototo! Come out of there!" Takahiro jilted in surprise that he was being discovered, so without running away he walked around the tree. He grew a blush on his cheeks.
"Takahiro…" Hiroki laughed, "Come on over here. You don't need to hide." So, Takahiro ran to them and received a head pat by his father.
"Onii-sama, you beat otosan!" Takahiro commented, "Subarashīdesu!" He has always admired his older brother being the strongest shinobi and smartest brains of all the clan. He developed a determined dream to become just like him.
Yoshiyuki laughed with embarrassment and scratched behind his head, "Hontoni? I sometimes don't think myself that good." He has appreciated the acknowledgement from his little brother, but he does get shy from such praise.
"Neh neh, otosan!" Takahiro said, "I went over the lake today and caught about eight fishes for dinner."
Hiroki smiled with impression, "Hontoni? Then, I will be making us a feast with your favorites tonight." Takahiro grew excited and Yoshiyuki liked the idea. "Let's go home."
In the evening:
After arriving home, they had a quiet family dinner. Hiroki cooked the usual nitsuke dish (Miyako's recipe, almost like Kakashi-style) sided with tamagoyaki ; and two small bowls of hijiki rice and broth soups. They all were enjoying the feast with delight.
While they were eating, Takahiro finished his rice bowl and asked his father for seconds. After receiving his second bowl, he decided to take his chance to ask his father. "Otosan?" Takahiro asked, "When will you start training me?"
"Training?" Hiroki turned looking at him, "You want to start your first training?"
"Hai!" Takahiro immediately answered, "I want you to train me! I want to learn everything you taught onii-sama!"
Yoshiyuki spoke, "That won't be a bad idea, otosan. I have watched him improving in tracking and shurikenjutsu, and I believe he is ready for new training in his age."
Takahiro smiled with a blush from his brother's approval, and next he needs his father's. Hiroki looked at his youngest son and closed his eyes, resting his chin on his intertwined hands, to think. It was making Takahiro nervous, but he received comfort from his big brother.
Finally, Hiroki opened his eyes with firm and started questioning, "Takahiro, are you sure you are ready for this? You must know that all the training process is never easy, and mastering jutsu is the most difficult to perform with perfect chakra control. If you really want to do this, you will need to have a lot of patience on how harsh and strict I will need to be with you."
Takahiro tensed about the harshness he will need to endure in the whole training. However, he wanted to reach his only dream; he must accept it. So, he gave his father his answer, "Wakarimasu, otosan! I will become the strongest shinobi!"
"That's my boy!" Hiroki laughed, "That's what I want to hear! We will start tomorrow!" He patted his head and Takahiro chuckled with eyes close. He was very excited for his training, yet he did felt nervous but pushed it aside.
Yoshiyuki felt happy for his little brother, "I'm sure you will, ototo. I can help you with anything you might have trouble with."
"Hontoni?" Takahiro asked loudly, "You will help me, too, onii-sama?"
"Hai," Yoshiyuki promised, "I wouldn't let my little brother struggle and learn everything on his own. Ototo, I won't let you down and I have your back."
Takahiro blushed and said, "Arigatou, onii-sama, you're the best. I won't fail you, otosan." Hiroki nodded smiling and hoped the best for his youngest son.
"I took that chance giving your father a visit that very day," Madara smirked. "My presence took him by surprise and he doubted to see me alive. He thought he was seeing a ghost, but I made him see reality."
The next day, Takahiro went running to the training field and meet his father and brother there. "I'm late! I'm late!" he hurried his pace to arrive at the exact time he promised his father. I feared if he arrives late and his father will reconsider his decision.
He quickened more and arrived at the training field, and there were my father and brother waiting for him. He stopped running as he approached them, "Gomenasai, otosan! I came late, gomen."
"No, you're just in time," Hiroki patted his head. Yoshiyuki chuckled from his little brother's funny arrival and Takahiro laughed shyly with a blush.
"You ready?" Takahiro nodded with confidence and straightforward. "Yosh, we'll begin with your first sword practice." With wooden swords, Hiroki first showed him the basic step and then some techniques. Takahiro watched every movement carefully.
.
An hour later, Hiroki finished training Takahiro, who was lying on the grass for feeling tired, and was impressed how nearly talented his youngest son was getting. There were a few mistakes and he instructed him to do it correctly, and his son would try it again. He was proud of his son's first progress and hoped he will do better eventually.
Yoshiyuki sat beside his little brother and gave him water, which Takahiro drank so quickly, and they talked. While he Hiroki watched his sons, he suddenly sensed a strange chakra. "Otosan!" Yoshiyuki called, and Hiroki turned with nod.
"Yoshiyuki, stay here with Takahiro!" Hiroki told him, "I'll be back in a few." He left quickly without waiting for an answer.
Takahiro watched his father leaving, and he grew curious. Before he could ask, his brother told him, "Daijoubuda, ototo, everything is alright and nothing to worry about." Takahiro wasn't convinced because he had a feeling that something was going on.
.
When Hiroki was far enough from his sons, he unsheathed his katana and stopped running. He stood still and sensed around the area. He pinpointed where the chakra was and called out, "Who's there? I know you are there, and it would be best to show yourself."
"Hontoni, Hiroki?" a man's voice spoke out which startled him. It sounded like that the stranger knows him.
"Who are you?" he called out. He turned around and looked at every direction. "What do you want?"
"Hiroki, you really forgot about me?" the voice asked, "Don't you remember the last visit I gave you that day...and to your parents?"
Hiroki gasped for remembering, "IE! You!" He shook his head for disbelieving the man who killed his parents is alive. "That's impossible! You're dead!"
"You think so, Hiroki?" 'Madara' said, "If I'm a fake or you're hearing a ghost, I wouldn't guess wrong of your father's last words to you before he died—'Live, my son. Live…'"
Hiroki gasped from the clarification and shook in fear, "You're…no, shodai-sama killed you years ago. You can't be alive!"
"Everyone believed so," Madara said, "but they were all mistaken, including you. Enough about me, I have a very good reason why I am here again."
Hiroki asked, "That is also my question, but what is it that you want here?" He kept looking and turning around to find him, but he couldn't locate him and his voice sounded everywhere.
"I would tell you the reason why I am here," Madara came out of hiding and revealed his face to him. "It is quite simple, and I promised you that I will see you again, Haruno Hiroki."
Hiroki froze stiff when he saw the face of the man who killed his parents. His eyes possessing the sharingan; the long, spiky black hair; and the shinobi attire were all no mistaken of the murderer. He tightened his hold on his sword and panted with a glare, "…Uchiha...Madara…"
Madara chuckled with a dark smirk, "Good to see you again, Hiroki. I did promise you that I will see you again before I left."
"Tsk! I never expected to see you again," Hiroki growled. "Why you still look the same? You're supposed to be looking elderly, but you must have found a new jutsu to restore your body."
Madara smirked with snicker, "You are just the same as Akihiro, quite a smart boy he raised you before he died." Hiroki gritted his teeth when the man would dare say his father's name after killing him. "However I'm not in the mood to deal with you, I have my intentions to introduce myself…to your sons."
Hiroki widened in shock; in an instant, Madara escaped him in teleportation. "No!" he quickly turned around and run back to his sons, 'Yoshiyuki! Takahiro!'
For a long time, he thought his parents had received the justice for their death after the man who killed them died. He thought that everything was safe and normal, so he moved on and created a family of his own. During those passing years, he realized that he was living in a dream of a happy life; he and his family have been watched by his parents' killer.
Now, his sons were in danger and he will need to hurry save them. "I lost my family once," he fastened his running pace, "and I won't lose the only family I have left. I won't let my sons die!" He have kept his late wife's promise, so he won't intend to fail keeping it.
.
Takahiro and Yoshiyuki remained where they stayed after their father left. Takahiro suddenly felt a chill behind his back and grabbed on his brother's sleeve. Yoshiyuki sensed the malice growing and grabbed his sword, feeling the stranger's chakra coming this way. He realized that someone really bad was coming here, and something terrible was going to happen.
"Onii-sama…" Takahiro whispered, "I am feeling something…really scary. Otosan…where is he?"
Yoshiyuki looked down at his little brother and saw his frightened eyes. It saddened him to see his little brother becoming so scared, but he smiled and embraced him. "It's alright to be afraid, but don't forget I will be always with you, ototo." Takahiro looked up at him with worried eyes.
Yoshiyuki broke eye contact for standing up and unsheathing his katana to knock away some shurikens. Takahiro screamed and moved back "AH!" for not sensing attacks coming at them, "Onii-sama!"
"Just stay behind me!" Yoshiyuki told him while standing in defensive pose. "When I tell you, I want you to go run and bring some help!"
Takahiro tensed from his brother's words, but he believed that he couldn't bring himself to do that. He doesn't want to leave his brother alone. "I can't do that! I can't leave you alone, onii-sama!"
Before Yoshiyuki could argue back, a sinister laugh startled them and Takahiro moved closer behind his brother. "Konichiwa, Haruno Yoshiyuki and Takahiro," they saw the mysterious man come out in front of them. Yoshiyuki widened for realizing the man was an Uchiha from his sharingan, and Takahiro grippe d on his brother's side but quivered in fear from the man's scary malice.
"Doshitano, little Takahiro?" Madara asked, but Takahiro hid more behind his brother. "What a frightful child you are."
"Urusai!" Yoshiyuki shouted in demand. "Who are you, and what is an Uchiha like you doing here?"
Madara smirked, "I'm impressed to see another intelligent Haruno like Akihiro. To answer your question, I am here to greet myself to you both and give a gift of farewell to your life." He pulled out his katana, ready to attack.
Yoshiyuki tensed for seeing the enemy's sword so that he remained on defensive mode. Before Madara would run to attack him, Hiroki jumped out of the trees and dived to attack Madara. They clashed and pushed forward with force, "I won't let you hurt my sons, Uchiha!"
"Sodesuka, Hiroki?" Madara asked, "You're saying that you won't allow me to kill your only family, like I did before?" Hiroki glared without answering, and Yoshiyuki and Takahiro turned confused about what he said.
"I would like to say that I already planned ahead of you," Madara smirked and Hiroki widened. A Madara clone popped out and went to attack the brothers. Takahiro screamed but got pushed back by his brother, and Yoshiyuki collided against the clone.
"Nigeru, Takahiro!" Yoshiyuki told him while fighting, "Go get help!" Takahiro just moved back with shock and worry eyes, and hid behind a tree. His brother told him again after dodging a swing and jumped back, "Nigeru!" He again told him and resumed fighting.
Takahiro started crying and shook his head, "…I can't…I just…can't…" He wouldn't move anymore, for he was too scared of leaving his brother and father alone with the enemy. Yoshiyuki and Hiroki noticed his trembling and stillness, and they have no other words on how to make him run and get help. Even though he was hiding, he was somehow safe for now.
"I won't allow you to harm my sons," Hiroki returned his attention to Madara. "I won't let either of them to suffer the same you caused me." Yoshiyuki and Takahiro listened and turned confused what their father said.
"I am the shinobi who is called a ghost," Madara told him. "No one, but you and your sons, knows that I am very much alive." Hiroki growled while giving him a murderous glare, "My reason why I came here is because I made my final decision." Hiroki tensed and advanced fighting Madara with his potential skills.
Sometime later, both Hiroki and Yoshiyuki fought defensively and attacked offensively with jutsu. Hiroki and Madara were going on fighting and not so close to finish. Hiroki kept his eyes on his opponent, or say his mortal enemy, and have tried thinking many ideas on defeating him. it was very tricky because he felt that Madara was using his ability to see through his mind from his sharingan.
On the other hand, Yoshiyuki had developed an idea after observing the differences of abilities between the clone and the real. So, he teleported to avoid a sword thrust and appeared behind the clone, and he quickly swung his sword across the clone's neck. The clone fell and disappeared. After, Yoshiyuki turned to Takahiro and told him again, "Nigeru, Takahiro!" Takahiro gasped but still didn't move.
"Talented boy," Madara punched Hiroki back and moved flashily without any of them noticing. He appeared in front of Yoshiyuki, who was taken by surprise, and he stared at his eyes with his sharingan which paralyzed him. Therefore, he slashed a big cut across his chest. Blood splattered out of his front body and Yoshiyuki had a stunned face.
Takahiro and Hiroki widened in shock. Yoshiyuki coughed blood and dropped face down on ground. He didn't get up afterwards nor used Substitute Jutsu to avoid the sudden attack. Takahiro quivered in fear for seeing his brother dead. "Onii-sama!" Takahiro cried out.
"Yoshiyuki!" Hiroki also cried but stopped shortly when Madara approached him. He instantly got stabbed through the chest and stared at him. Madara grinned, "I thought so, you become weak when it comes to your sons."
Hiroki had a little left of strength and slowly turned his face, looking at his youngest son. "Otosan!" Takahiro cried in terror. Feeling his time running low, he muttered a small word "ni…geru…" and went silent. Madara pulled out his sword, so Hiroki dropped dead on ground.
Takahiro watched his father died and grew tears in his eyes. 'Otosan…' he looked at his father's dead eyes, and he turned at his brother's body 'Onii-sama…' He went into shock from the fact that he just witnessed death; he just watched his family die in front of him. He grew angry. "No!" he cried as he grabbed his brother's sword and run toward him.
SLICE! Takahiro stopped, dropping his sword, and Madara had his left arm lifted up. Thus, he threw a shuriken and it passed him. "Eh?" he gasped when his upper left arm got scratched and dropped on his knees from the stinging pain. Madara turned facing him with a dark look, and Takahiro froze in fear from his sharingan looking at him.
Madara walked a few paces closer, and Takahiro fell and crawled back away from him. He was scared that he was going to kill him, too. Madara suddenly stopped and said, "I'll leave you here alive for now. Within time, you will feel resentment and gain your purpose." He turned around and lastly said before leaving, "I'll see you again, boy."
Takahiro was both relieved that he was left alive and scared that the man will come back to him again. He quickly remembered his father and brother, so he went to them. He first checked to his father and shook him, "Otosan! Otosan!" His father didn't move nor respond back, just with a white face and clouded eyes. Next, he went to check his brother and shook him, too. "Onii-sama! Onii-sama, get up!"
For several minutes, he tried many times to get his father and brother to wake up, but they didn't move at all. He cried while waiting for one of them to wake up, but all he saw was them lying down motionless and covered in blood. He grew scared by the minute and hopeless without knowing what to do, yet the only thing he could do was cry.
He looked at his brother's side and saw a lightning barrel lying beside a bush; it must be his brother who put it there before the training or the fight. So, he went to it and tapped it against the ground, sending out a bolt of lightning. Afterwards, he let it go, dropping it, and fall onto his knees in crying despair.
Soon after the lightning bolt exploded, a group of Haruno guards arrived. Takahiro didn't react but stayed crying, and one guard called out, "Taichou?!" "Yoshiyuki-sama!"
Another guard came to him, "Takahiro-sama! Daijoubu?" Takahiro didn't look at him nor talked back. He felt dead emotionally and everything was silent without a voice. The guard kept trying to talk to him, but Takahiro still didn't respond. All the sudden, he cried out and dropped on his side, letting out his grief and despair.
"After your father and brother's funeral, you went living your life in torment." Madara said, "You suffered quite differently than your father did. You stayed alone in your house, sleeping with nightmares and waking up in screams of terror, and walk outside with dead eyes. With your mind lost from reality, you didn't see your people but your memorable events and the ghost of your family."
Sakura widened from learning the similar experience she went through with her loss, "Ojii-chan...you, too?" Takahiro glanced behind and looked at his granddaughter with sad eyes, and she softened her eyes for understanding his silence. She understood him, so did her father, for they had suffered so much with comparable pain and incompatibly found a solution to deal with it.
Madara went on, "You were able to come out of your agony within a year from anger and self-disgust from your self-pity and weakness. You blamed yourself for your family's death when you didn't listen to your brother and froze in fear. Your sword, the sword you have there, belonged to your brother."
"And Hanzo's sword was originally Akihiro's." Sakura widened because she thought that the sword she kept for many years belonged to your father. Hanzo was also stunned from the news; when he first saw the swords at a young age, he thought it was his father's first sword he used during battles and his father left it for him after completing his sword training. As a result, they both thought wrong; all this time, they both took care of their old relative's sword.
"You poured yourself into massive training with many teachers in similar techniques your father went through. You changed drastically with a dark face and flashing red eyes, a face of vengeance towards me, but you showed compassion to your clan to hide it."
Sasuke looked at Takahiro and felt that he was previously the same as him when he lost his family. They both were victims in fear and held grudge on their family's killer. However, he turned cynical and coldhearted toward everyone, including his friends; he didn't hide his anger and personal goal so that he showed it out without a second thought. He was unsure about the red eyes the Haruno clan possesses after an emotional trauma; he wondered that it was an unknown dojutsu kekkei genkai. For his next guess, he wondered if Hanzo and Sakura had that after their loss.
"Just like your son and granddaughter, you never let go of your memories or stop for a minute to rest your soul from your demons." Sakura and Hanzo widened from that facts, "Everywhere you see and everywhere you go, your demons appear telling you that you are weak and you will never grow stronger against your enemy. The souls of the people you lost you see them daily and hear them talking in your mind nightly."
"However, you recovered emotionally after seven years," Madara moved his eyes at Yumiko behind Sakura "from the help of the woman you met under the moonlight at the camellia bush." Yumiko glared at him while staying behind with her great-grandchildren.
Seven years later, Takahiro grew up and changed physically than emotionally. He had grown tall and his hair grew long behind his back. All the clansmen had been watching him for years; although they all understood the reason of his purpose. They always see him walking around the village with his brother's sword every single day which he became very attached to it. They never forgot how much he loved and admired his brother, and he looked up to his father.
After the death of his father and brother, one of his clansmen notified the Third Hokage about the return of Uchiha Madara. The news spread wildfire throughout all the nations and caused tight security to every village. Any insights of Madara must be notified and reported the village leader, and shinobi forces keep track of his whereabouts. It was, although, difficult to find him because he always switches places to hide.
While he was growing up, he spent all his time training from many teachers and studying about his family's killer for hours. He would hardly eat anything but sometimes eat so little; every dawn, he wake up screaming so loud from nightmares, waking the whole clan. During nightfall, he would go to visit his family and talk to them about his personal feelings. Lastly afterwards, he would go to the camellia bush where his father always took him and his brother for the memory of his mother; he personally go there to let out his memories of his family and enemy.
The wind would blow and the tsubaki petals scattered around him. He would stay still and looked ahead while the petals swirled around him. During the dancing petals, he developed visions about his happy childhood and his mother would be in it. Everything in his old life was filled with joy, and everything was perfect. Even though he never met his mother, he would imagine his mother being there with him and giving him the motherly affection he always dreamed of.
But then the man, Uchiha Madara (he learned his name), would also appeared in it. He would feel rage inside and look at him with hate, but Madara would just smirk at him with no remorse or fear. He started panting and narrowed his eyes in pure hatred; however, he received in return was Madara laughing at him and calling him a no-good child and a weakling. So, he reacted by grabbing his sword and swung at him with a roar; in reality, he was only moving and swinging his sword around all directions.
He went on; until he dropped on his knees and struck his sword on the ground in fatigue. Meanwhile, the petals ended their dance, dropping on ground. He panted with heavy breath; then he thought about his family and heard their voices calling for him. When he looked up, he saw his family in front and they were smiling at him.
"Otosan…onii-sama…" he felt happy to see them again. Someone else appeared beside them and it was his mother, "Okaasan…" He reached out his hand to them.
Suddenly, another voice called him, "Takahiro-sama?" He got startled and swiftly turned, grabbing on his sword. Before he could unsheathe it, he stopped when he saw a girl holding a candle lantern. She was wearing a light kimono with light-blue and pink flowers, tied with white obi; and she was wearing brown geta sandals with light pink sakura straps. (Yumiko's first outfit when she and Takahiro met.)
She paused when she noticed he got startled, "…gomenasai, I didn't mean to scare you like that."
He didn't answer back because he turned his face to see his family, but they were gone. He was saddened to see his family disappear before his eyes. She noticed his sad expression, so she went to him and took his hand softly. He gasped when he felt the touch, "Nanishiteruno?"
"Sumimasen, Takahiro-sama." She explained, "I have watched you come here every night for the same reason, so I followed you and decided to have a talk with you."
He nearly widened when she said that she wanted to have a conversation with him, yet he wanted to know her real reason why she wanted to talk with him. "Why would you want to talk to me? I don't even know you."
"Gomen, I didn't tell you my name. It's Yumiko." She smiled, "I want to talk to you because I want you to have a friend. You need someone to talk with, and it hurts me to see you alone. I want to be your first friend."
He silently gasped when she said that she wants to be his friend; as a result, he hasn't had a friend since he lost his family. Although, everyone in the clan respected his solitude for personal space; he was able to have a short talk with some people and received some treats from kids at his age. This unexpected time, Yumiko was the first person to take courage asking him to let her be his first friend.
He first responded by closing his hand around her hand, "Arigatou, Yumiko. I'm sure we will be great friends." She smiled at him; moreover, he grew drawn to her smile, seeing it with kindness. He grew happy to have a friend, yet he knew that she won't be safe in his life but refused to be alone again. So, he decided to protect her with his life, no matter what.
.
Two years later, Takahiro was able to cope well his emotions with the help of Yumiko and took his father's place as the clan leader. He let her stay over in his house from dawn to night; she cooked for him and helped him with housework. They often train together and go walking around the village. At nighttime before he could sleep, she stayed beside him, stroking his hair, and sing him a lovely lullaby that always help him to sleep.
During the whole two years, her kindness felt so pure and comforting, and her daily company restored the warmth to his cold heart. She helped him to not remember about his family's killer because she believed that it would damage him so much. Thus, she insisted him to look ahead in his life and think of the happiness and safety for the clan which he took her advice.
He loved the light in her heart, and he didn't want to be apart from her. Therefore, she became a part of him who he wanted to share his life with and grow a future with her. Furthermore, she accompanied him to his family's grave, giving their blessings, and to the camellia bush to watch the stars. He also grew romantic feelings for her, so he wanted to tell her but felt embarrassed. He decided to wait and choose the right time to tell her.
When the night of the annual festival arrived, he was going to meet up with her because he promised that they would go together. When they meet up, they go have a fun with some games and eat some treats. At the end of the event, they gathered around to watch the blooming of the cherry blossoms.
After the blooming, the sakura petals scattered into the air and everyone loved the sight. Yumiko went along with the petals, catching them, and let the night breeze brushed through her hair. Takahiro watched her and found her very beautiful with the cherry blossoms around her. So, he took his only chance without second thought, "Yumiko…there's something…I…"
She turned looking at him to listen, "Nanisore, Takahiro?"
"I-I…" he stuttered but clutched a fist, "…I…I LOVE YOU!" After he shouted, everyone stopped in surprise and Yumiko paused with wide eyes. "I love you, Yumiko! Every day we are together, you gave me happiness and made me feel myself again. To me, you are my most precious friend I cherish so much." She clasped her hands over her heart, "I want you to be in my life forever! I don't wish to be apart from you because without you in it I won't feel my life the same anymore! I don't want to feel again how I felt when I lost my family!"
After he finished his confession, everyone was all breathtaking how courageous Takahiro was for letting out his feelings. And they hoped that Yumiko would return his feelings because they wanted him to have happiness with someone he could love. So, they waited to hear Yumiko's answer.
Yumiko gripped her hands tightly and grew a blush on her cheeks, "Takahiro…" She stared at him, who was standing there and waiting for her answer, and grew tears. "I-I…ano…" she sobbed, "I…Takahiro…I also love you!"
He breathed out and widened, but everyone behind him smiled. Yumiko also confessed, "I fall in love with you some time after we became friends. I wanted to tell you about my feelings, but I felt so scared. I thought you might not feel the same for me after I tell you how I feel." He felt happy and grew tears, "And me too. I don't want to be away from you either. I want to be there with you forever."
He went to her and took her into his arms as she finished, "I love you, Takahiro!" He embraced her and they cried together. He said softly, "Arigatou, Yumiko." She then wrapped her arms around his neck and everyone cheered for the newly couple. They all felt so happy for them and knew that their life will be happy with their love.
Lastly, Takahiro and Yumiko looked deeply into their eyes and whispered, "Yumiko…" and "Takahiro…" They closed their space and their eyes, and they shared their first kiss.
Madara said, "You were grateful to your wife after accepting her friendship. You both eventually got married within a year and had Hanzo months later."
"You knew really well from the start," he added, "that your wife would never be safe with you since you didn't forget my words. You put your life into more danger when you had your son, so you had to protect them both. However, that was your very big mistake for choosing that decision to allow people in your life."
Hanzo gritted his teeth and shook, "So, you switched from my father to me…to suffer after you killed my clan. You eventually chose me to fear the life of my own family and have my daughter becoming your last target."
"There, you have it all." Madara finished the whole story, "The whole truth of my plan to annihilate the Haruno clan. I must admit it was such a jolly to see the cycle of psychological abuse because I want to see Akihiro's descendants to suffer before I decide when to kill them."
Sakura and her Haruno family looked down, bangs covering their eyes. The Uchiha family looked at them and noticed that they were feeling something beyond than they had suffered. Their whole life was a burden than theirs—they have lived to fight to survive and to protect the people they held precious. They all have suffered so much every day which was the result of their closeness.
Everyone felt heartened for the Haruno family after learning they have been victims for generations by the same enemy. Naruto clutched a fist with determination that he would do anything to remove the encumbrance his friend and her family had carried. In comparison, the kages felt the same as him, and would anything to relieve them from their fated and endurable pain.