Chapter 6

After Shiori calmed down, she decided it was time to go back home. She needed to water her garden before her plants died. She left though the gate and began her walk home, watching as the sun rose above her head to signify that it was noon.

As she walked, she noticed a strange smell the closer she came to her house. She became hesitant, walking a bit faster as a trickle of fear rolled down her spine.

Somethings wrong. She could feel it. She began to run towards her treehouse and when she saw it in range, the sense of relief washed over her. She wanted to make it home as soon as possible so this uneasy feeling would go away.

Shiori climbed the ladder, but when she reached the top, she noticed the four, large figures that were going through her things.

She froze in fear. Bandits? Thieves? She didn't know what to do in this scenario. This was her house. She never could have imagined someone coming into her house like this.

Her scrolls and books were scattered on the floor. Some were ripped in half and others were just carelessly tossed away. Her clothes were in a messy pile next to her mattress and her medicines were missing from their shelf.

"Hey! There's a girl there!"

Shiori's blood ran cold as she realized she had been spotted. All four men pulled out sharp knives and began going towards the ladder she stood on.

'MOVE. DAMNIT MOVE!' She screamed at herself before finally being able to descend the ladder.

"Get her!" She heard one yell above. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She forced chakra into her feet and ran off into the woods, fear and adrenaline taking over her senses.

Why? Where did they come from? What did they want with her?

She was panicking. This had never happened before. She was never chased by people who had the intent to kill her.

Shiori was terrified, her feet running as fast as she could but she no matter how fast she was, she could still hear them behind her.

She pumped more chakra into her feet, trying to speed her way through the forest. She knew there was a tree she could hide in up ahead. She just needed to reach there before they could spot her.

Finally, she saw it. The tree was right up ahead. She made another chakra pumped dash towards the tree, but forgot to notice the ground beneath her.

Shiori screamed as she tripped on an outgrown root and tumbled to the ground. She hissed in pain from the scratch on her knee, trying to regain her sense of control.

The scratch wasn't that bad. Her knee was bleeding but it barely broke through the second layer of skin. Shiori stood up and attempted to walk, but only ended up limping. Pain shot through her leg as the feeling a dread filled her body and heart.

The men were fast approaching her and she knew she was done for. She cursed her stupid pride for believing she could survive these scenarios. How could she have been so careless?

"Got you!" One of the men growled and grabbed her arm.

Shiori thrashed and screamed out, trying to push against the man. "Let me go! Bastard! Don't touch me!"

"Quite a mouth ya got, girl. Shut up or I'll cut your tongue out." He threatened, gripping her arm tighter.

Shiori whimpered, feeling her bone in her arm be squeezed by the man who was ten times stronger than her. She felt more tears brim in her eyes as she realized that she was alone and about to die. The realization made her cry out and sob while she began to stop thrashing.

"That's a good girl… Ey, boys! I got 'er!" He called out.

No one responded back to him.

He narrowed his eyes, scanning the area around him. "Ey?! Where are ya?!"

Suddenly, a flash of silver cut through the man's arm that was holding Shiori. The man howled with pain, falling back on the ground and causing Shiori to fall in the opposite direction.

Madara stood between him and Shiori, his eyes glowing bright red as the sharingan swirled to life. The man tried to cry out, but the Uchiha boy gave him no time before he sliced his head off clean with his katana.

The man's neck sent out a geyser of blood, showering the two teens before it fell limp on the ground.

Madara sheathed his sword, his eyes returning to their usual black before he turned towards Shiori.

The girl was shaking on the ground, her eyes wide with fear and her skin as white as a ghost. Madara kneeled down in front of her, reaching out to touch her only for her to flinch and cower away.

"Shiori… It's me… It's okay… You're safe." He promised, touching her cold hand.

"M-Madara…" She whimpered, her eyes meeting his.

Madara realized this was her first traumatic event. The way her body was shaking and her mental state confirmed it for him. She had never been threatened before, nor had she encountered near death.

Despite all her talk of being able to run away, the girl was defenseless. The girl who would jump in to help a stranger was also the girl who was trembling before him. He noticed her knee and realized she wouldn't be able to walk.

"... I'm taking you back to the compound, okay Shiori?" He said as gentle as he could.

Shiori could only nod, letting him pick her up into his arms. He held her for a moment, hoping to calm the girl down. Soon the shaking stopped and she was there, crying into his shoulder. He let her, knowing she would need it after what she had gone through.

His heart clenched as he watched her sob into his chest. The anger he felt towards the dead bandits would never cease. How dare they make her into this state. How dare they lay a finger on her.

Never again, he promised himself.

Never again.