I pace beside Madara's bedside as I wait for Ryuko to come home. He was never out this long, and I worry that something may have happened to him. Madara woke a few hours ago after medical ninja came in to heal him, and he too was worried about Ryuko. Only now his worry has amplified since the question of Ryuko's bloodline has risen. Madara turns to look at me and points to the chair. I didn't have the strength to attempt to disobey so I sat quietly until I was told otherwise.

Madara ran his hand through his hair before looking at me again, "did you know?" Madara asks quietly as he fully turns to look at me.

I shake my head, "no, I knew as much as you did, master. Ryuko only ever told me he was Zabuza Momochi's brother," I say truthfully. Madara was searching my face for an indication I was lying, but when he found none he turns back to the window.

"Go find Ryuko Momochi, Kiba. This is a direct order and you are not to come home until you've found him dead or alive," Madara said as he goes back to his bed. His strength still having not returned enough for him to fetch Ryuko himself. I bow before heading out of the hospital immediately.

The first thing that I do is head back to the mansion. Ryuko probably didn't get far from the mansion especially if he had been attacked. I dig deep down into my memory and attempt to focus on the animal instincts inside of me. I follow the vague scent that remained of Ryuko and eventually I come across the dead bodies of what I assume was the first ambush he faced. I didn't smell any of his blood so I doubt he'd been hurt here and given his abilities I would assume that even if he had he would've healed by now. I keep walking and the further I get into the woods the more damage I begin seeing to the surrounding woodlands. Looked like he was trying to lure whoever he was fighting away.

I eventually catch the scent of the one person I feared catching the scent of Naruto. I should've known it was him that launched the attack on the mansion. He couldn't stand the idea that Madara owned two people who knew the ins and the outs of the slave trade because they were once victims. If word got out what happened to us it would tarnish the public opinion on him since many didn't know the slave trade was even happening. Something inside me knew I needed to follow the scent of Naruto and eventually, I would either find Ryuko's body or I would find clues that told me where he was.

As I walk, I eventually catch the scent of Ryuko's blood, and it was strong. I follow the scent and it leads me to where his body was crumpled against a tree. He wasn't dead since I could hear the strained breathing, but he was hurt quite seriously since he wasn't healed and moving yet. I pick him up carefully, the crunch of his broken bones loud in the silence of the woods, and start the journey back to the hospital. I had hope that whatever was hurt was easy enough to heal once he was in the environment to do so.

Madara looks up when we eventually walk back into the room several hours later. He looked fearful when he saw the crumpled, broken body of Ryuko. Blood dribbled down the corner of his mouth and his eyes flutter when he feels the material of the hospital bed next to Madara. Medical ninja rushes into the room and starts treating him. Madara motions for me to step out with him and look at me questioning.

I look in the room then back at Madara before I start talking, "Naruto, I caught his scent all over the woods as I got closer to him. I can't say much but when I picked him up, I felt a broken spine and it was serious. Something else had to be wrong too since his body didn't even look like it had started healing," I say as I look back at him.

"Do you know why he would be attacking us now?" Madara asks.

I shake my head no, "I have a guess. Several people in Konoha don't know about the slave trades, it's mostly the richer upper class that does, and with Ryuko now being a master instead of slave and my savior by you two he's feeling the pressure to do damage control. I found out shortly after I got here that I was sold illegally. My family doesn't know I'm even alive since Naruto told them I'd been KIA. If word gets out, I'm okay then his credibility and trustworthiness will go down the drain," I say as I look at Madara.

He goes into thought for a moment before he looks at me, "blackmail, that's what we will do. When I first purchased Ryuko I made him change his entire appearance so it's likely anyone he had doesn't know he's alive either. I think once he wakes up, we need to film a normal non-sexual video between the three of us and threaten to circle it. It would expose his lies if it does get out, so he'll have no choice but to go along with it," He said as he looks at me.

I nod, "yes, master."