Chapter forty-eight - Two members of a team


The first rays of the morning sun crept into Madara's room through the balcony door ajar. Uchiha leader soon felt like in a sauna, he was aware that he slept through the night dressed. He felt dirty and his body and mind lusting after the regular morning bath. He reached out a hand and ran into his matted hair, the mere thought of it that he had to leave his bed was painful. With a deep sigh he wanted to rose from his bed, but something heavy on his chest held him down. Madara frowned and grunted under his breath, he touched that something with his hand and his eyes snapped open when he felt human body.

"What the hell-" He mumbled and tilted his head to see that person. His eyes immediately widened when he- to his horror- found out that the woman in his bed, on his chest, is his little brother's doxy, Uchiha Yuko.

Madara began to search frantically in his mind for the events of the previous night. "Shit-" He uttered, his eyes were still wide open and watched the red thatch of sleeping woman. To his relief, he found that both were fully clothed, no clothes were spread on his expensive carpet- wait a minute! It's tidy?

Madara calmed down a little from the shock of the morning. He narrowed his eyes and checked the whole room, it was tidy, clean ... to his taste too much. Shinobi sighed quietly, it sounded like a low growl, of course, his hangover professed his attention. Madara felt his stomach turned upside down, his head throbbed like it was on a knife-edge, expecting to explode at any moment. He knew that his body has to deal with another dose of medicine, the only way to get rid of the uncomfortable feeling in the stomach is to balance his metabolism. What else can fix metabolism better than a jigger of good alcohol.

He looked at the sleeping woman on his chest and chuckled. It is true that he could not explain why was Yuko sleeping in his bed, but he acknowledged that her presence could probably caused that he slept well this night. He admitted that alcohol was no help for his peaceful sleep, but the warmth of her body probably yes. Madara did not have to be a genius that he realized that the woman had probably also sleeping problems. The only thing he did not understand was why she even cleaned up? If she wanted to sleep, she should go to bed and do so. Uchiha leader rolled his eyes and reached with his hand on his nightstand for the bottle of sake.

When he couldn't feel anything with his hand he turned his head and his coal black eyes fell on the empty nightstand. Madara growled unpleasantly causing that the red-haired woman winced in her sleep, she mumbled something and her hands shakily traveled across his chest. Her hand paused on his shoulder where she gently squeezed. At that moment, in Madara's head flashed thought how long it was, when he lay with a woman in his arms in the bed. He cursed in his mind, how come he thought about such a thing when this woman is his brother's lover.

"Fuck-" Madara snarled. He need a sake! Now!

He grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her roughly beside him. Yuko muttered sarcastically Good morning, rolled over on her side and continued her rest. Madara sat on the edge of his bed and put his head in hands to lighten his heavy hangover that was shaking violently with him.

"I want drink-" He growled with hoarsed voice.

"Take a water-" Yuko mumbled in Madara's pillow.

Madara arrogantly snorted and stood up from the bed. With a heavy steps he went in search of the necessary fluid. Yuko opened her eyes and stared at the wall, she heard a rumble and noise as Madara was looking around the room for -at least- a drop of alcohol.

She knew that Madara begins to lose patience when out of his mouth began to roll various dishonorable words and he banging with each locker door. She could have sworn that she heard the crackling of wood, probably he broke something.

"Where's sake!" He barked, rumble stopped.

Yuko sat on his bed, her eyes locked with his frowned gaze. "I threw everything out. There's not a single drop of alcohol." She said calmly and rummaging through her hair.

"What-" Madara snapped at her in disbelief.

"I don't want you to drink-" Yuko rose from his bed. "You just destroying yourself-"

"Enlighten me." Madara crossed his arms over his chest.

"Well...I'm pretty sure you can see it. Since you drinking you changed-"

"You mean, since he died?" He raised his eyebrow.

Yuko sighed and shook her head. "Why are you so stubborn? Can't you see it? Your own men don't see you like they did before! You're losing your authority-"

Madara just growled under his breath and turned to the door. "Where are you going?" Yuko asked. "I'm talking to you!" He ignored her and went straight to the door, he grabbed the dooknob- "Madara! Where are you going?!" Yuko shouted.

He peeked over his shoulder. "Sake-" He hissed.

"If you'll drink I will kill myself!" Yuko blurted those words so quickly that even she was surprised by what she said.

Madara froze in the doorway.

Slowly, very slowly Madara released the handle and turned to the kunoichi with deadly frowning eyebrows. "What- did- you- say?" He asked in a low tone, Yuko almost hear him gritted his teeth.

The woman knew that she should not retreat otherwise he never ceases to drink. "Because of you I have become a mere messenger because you're afraid for my life-" She explained. "You promised to Izuna that you will take care of me, but who will take care of you?"

"This does not concern you-" Madara frowned, stepped back inside the room and slammed the door behind him.

"It does!" Yuko protested. "You're his brother and he loved you and I will not allow you to be destroyed like this!" Madara just snorted to show his absolute disinterest. "You gave a promise to your brother and trying to keep it, but if you will continue to drink I swear that you will fail to protect-"

Even before she could finish her sentence Madara's hand gripped her throat and her back collided with the wall, she choked on her breath. "You-" He hissed menacingly in her ear. "Don't you realize that your threat to me is worthless? I have failed in more ways than one, so why should it be with you something special?"

"Because you loved him-" Yuko could spill despite his rough grip on her neck. "If you drink you will disappoint him. I know you don't believe me, but I'm really capable of it!"

Madara leaned closer, sharingan rotated in his eyes. "Your life is not yours anymore, you have no right to decide about it."

"You joking-" Kunoichi mocked him. "If you'll be drunk every night, you can hardly watch over me."

Madara's eyes traveling down her face for a while, as if looking for something, anything that would refute her words. "Fine-" He growled and released her neck. Yuko took a deep breath and rubbed her sore throat with her hand.

Bingo! Yuko saw in this situation a new opportunity. "And one more thing-" She blurted.

"What?" He frowned.

"Allow me to participate in normal missions outside the village."

"Define the word normal." Madara crossd his arms over his chest.

Yuko grumbled. "You know what I mean-"

"Fine-" He agreed. "But I will decide if the mission is suitable for you or not."

"Deal-" Yuko smiled, but her smile dropped right when Madara leanend closer and caged her between his arms. She pressed her back more on the wall to create some space between them.

"But remember-" He said in a low voice, on his lips danced a sly smile. "If during one of the missions you die, I'll personally bring you back to this world in order to kill you with my own hands."

"Eh-" Yuko swallowed awkwardly. Now she was sure that even if she dies Madara will not leave her rest in peace. "Understand." She nodded sheepishly.

"Very well-" Madara smirked. "Now I'll take a bath, so prepare for me some clean clothing."

"What!" Yuko shrieked and raised her eyebrow. "Ask your maids-"

"You slept in my bed-" He chuckled. "And you've cleaned up my room. You decided to take care of me, so the preparation of clothing includes your services, too." Yuko stared in disbelief as he took off his shirt. "Unless-" He smirked. "You want to go in the bath, too."

"N-no no!" Kunoichi looked away from his naked torso. "I'll do it! Ju-just take your time!" Her cheeks turned pink.

"Thanks-" He chuckled again and disappeared in his bathroom.


"So what is it?" Madara asked his childhood friend Hashirama.

"It's a small group of mercenaries who harass immigrants to Konoha on the north side." Senju man explained and studied the Scroll with request in his hands. "Only a few people from the north reaches us here. The local people are asking us for help-"

"Shinobi?" Madara narrowed his eyes.

"Hmm... I guess so-" Mokuton user nodded. "But it's nothing challenging or something very dangerous-"

"Is it?" Yuko suddenly woke up from a trance. "In that case, I will go." Her eyes fell on Madara who frowned immediately.

"Fine-" Hashirama smiled, but...

"No." Madara interrupted him.

"Okay..." Senju hung his head desperately.

"Madara!" Kunoichi raged. "You forgot what we were talking about this morning?"

Uchiha leader just growled. "Hashirama, is it dangerous?"

"It will be very easy for her-" Senju smiled friendly. "Yuko is a great kunoichi, but we will send two-man-cell of course."

"In that case Kon will-" Madara turned to Yuko, but he was cut off by mokuton user.

"Kon is on the mission already." He announced sheepishly. "Sorry Madara I needed him-"

"Fine." Madara frowned. "Then I-"

"You can't-" Hashirama jumped in his speech again, smiling. "I need you here because of the meeting with the Hyuuga clan-"

"So please tell me who's available!" Uchiha shinobi barked nervously.

"Tobirama."

"I refuse." Yuko blurted out, both men turned on her. "With that person I'm not going anywhere."

Hashirama frowned slightly. "Surely-" His voice dropped to a totally serious. "If you do not want to go, I will send someone else with Tobirama. You can instead deliver a few messages. What do you think?"

Yuko sighed, of course she wanted to go. It's been a long time when she could leave the village and kick some asses. "No-" She slightly cleared her throat. "I will go-"

"Perfect!" Hashirama rubbed his hands, on his lips danced wide smile again. "Meet Tobirama in a half an hour at the main gate." Uchiha kunoichi nodded and left.

Hashirama's eyes met Madara's. "Don't worry-" Senju smiled brightly. "She'll be safe with my brother."

"I would recommend it." Madara whispered with half growl.


When Yuko approached the gate her eyes found a shinobi in blue armor propped against a stone pillar. She took a deep breath through her nose and exhaled through the mouth. "Yosh..." She muttered and continued her way to meet the white-haired ninja.

"I'm here." Yuko announced bored and without utter disinterest when she stopped by his side. Her eyes avoided any contact.

"We leave." Tobirama said calmly, almost as if he was totally uninterested in the presence of Uchiha kunoichi, too.

They started walking in silence. Yuko walked two steps behind Senju, her eyes piercing his back with burning gaze. She did not believe that this man was the only free shinobi who could accompany her. This was Hashirama's work, she was sure of it. He wanted probably make sure that Yuko and his little brother starts with some nice communication. As if! Kunoichi snorted in her mind.

"We run-" Came suddenly his voice. "I want it done quickly."

"I agree-" Yuko nodded, she held her voice as cold as possible. "That's about the only thing on which we agree."

"If you have a problem just tell me now." Tobirama turned to face her. "Whether you like it or not, right now we form a team and the result of this mission depends on how we can communicate together."

"Please spare me the bullshit." Yuko folded her arms across her chest. "I don't know why your brother ever sent you with me, but I'm sure I could made it by myself."

"Oh-" Tobirama folded his arms, too. His eyebrows raised. "In this case, it's up to you." And with these words he went back toward the main gate of Konoha.

Damn-! Yuko cursed mentally. She can't just let him go. when Madara learns that she left alone he halves her in two pieces. And Hashirama? He probably realizes that she can not be trust and Yuko spend the rest of her life as a halved messenger. Unfortunately, this is a test. Madara and Hashirama testing her and she intends to pass this exam at any cost. "Wait-" She called him and he stopped, his back facing her. "I understand. It's a mission and we have to finish it together."

"..."

Tobirama remained silent.

"Did you hear me Senju?" Yuko cocked her head to the side.

"Is that it?" Tobirama peeked over his shoulder, his omniscient eyes caught her gaze. "Is that all you want to say... ... Uchiha?" He asked in a low tone.

"No, ehmm..." Yuko clenched her small fists. Tobirama turned to her and waited for her answer. "I understand that we must work together as a team. We will put emotions aside and do our job properly, yes? Can we go now?"

"Of course." He smirked and with the blink of eye he shunshined himself into the treetops. Yuko quickly followed...


Yosh am done...

Sorry guys it took me longer than usual, but now am doing three stories so you have to bear with me please, I'm trying my best to update as soon as I can...

Thanks everyone for your reviews, hope you like this chapter :)

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