Day 32

After several days of sunshine, the weather finally changed, and today was a time to stay at home with a hot drink in your hands. It was also in this state that Haruno Sakura was on this rainy morning. Sitting at her desk, a cup of green tea in her hand, the other supporting her chin. She stared outside with staring eyes as her brain reflected on what happened next.

She had killed Black Zetsu, she was sure of that, so it couldn't be him who ended Hashirama Senju's days. However, this one had indeed disappeared a short time ago. Did he die of natural causes ? Of exhaustion after his fight against Madara ? Had he suffered an injury from Madara ? Or had a third person of their ilk killed him ? So many questions that Sakura couldn't find answers for at the moment. All she hoped was that the information of her disappearance would take the longest to get to the world. Because his book : The Story of Konoha and its First Kage informed him that it was after his death that the first great shinobi war began.

Meanwhile, Madara had slowly woken up from a good restful night. Usually his sleep would become restless when he used his Mangekyô Sharingan, but with the care given by Sakura, he had managed to sleep well.

His first instinct was to do like every morning and tilt his head towards the outside, hoping to see Sakura doing her meditation. She wasn't there... probably because of the rain. So Madara looked around the rest of the room to finally find her at her desk.

Because of what had happened the day before, Madara had a lot of questions for her. He had long understood that Sakura could be a very dangerous person in combat. He had seen his skills with his own eyes facing a strange creature in the Valley of the End. However, seeing her overpower one of the best members of her clan so quickly was something completely different and was sobering.

During this confrontation, Madara had seen a person trained to kill effectively, quickly and silently. If he didn't know her, he could say that this woman was trained for the assassination. Then a thought suddenly occurred to him : Did an Uchiha help this Black Zetsu kill Sakura's family ?

Because after all, she had told him that all the Uchiha she had encountered had tried to harm and manipulate her. Plus, that murderous, icy intonation in her voice when she overpowered Izumi was what the enemy had in store for. If this theory was true and an Uchiha was responsible for killing his family, then why not kill him ? In any case, that's what he would have done, world peace or not.

After all, Madara was a very resentful person, and that the world had understood. But the reverse was also true, he protected the people who were dear to him. And yesterday, he had been ready to kill a member of his own clan for daring to hurt Sakura. He still remembered when she was pierced by the tanto, he thought he went completely mad for a second and would have done the unthinkable.

He's been staring at this young woman sitting at her desk for several minutes now. She still hadn't moved and seemed deep in thought before finally heaving a sigh.

— What are you worried about Haruno-san ?

The sound of the voice brought Sakura out of her internal thoughts: for a moment she had completely forgotten that she was not alone in the room.

— Several things to tell the truth... answered Sakura before taking a sip of her tea. Did you sleep well despite using your Sharingan ?

— Hai... is it about yesterday that you are concerned ?

Sakura didn't know whether to answer him or not. It was still too early to trust him and tell him everything. Madara was certainly indebted to him, but to the point of trusting him for the future : not yet.

— In a way, opted Sakura before blowing on her cup to slightly cool the contents. She took another sip and the warmth in her throat did her a lot of good. Let's say I'm afraid for the future.

Madara frowned because he had never seen Sakura be afraid of anything since he had met her.

— Why ?

Sakura got up from her seat and headed for the kitchen, only to come back about thirty seconds later with a second steaming cup in her hands. She moved over to him and set the new cup down on the nightstand before settling down beside him.

— A few days ago, a rumor appeared in the village below. An itinerant coming from Hi No Kuni stopped before resuming his journey to the capital of Ta No Kuni, Sakura said, giving half-truths not to mention her history book. The world is aware of your fight against Hashirama, and the elemental nations are now aware of your death.

— Is that what worries you ?

— On the contrary, it comforts me in the sense that you will be able to recover quietly without having a murderer at my door, replied Sakura who still had an annoyed face as Madara grabbed her own cup of tea. It's the fact that he also said the shinobi seemed worried ... but worried about what ? I wonder.

— Is this the reason for your departure for Hi No Kuni these last days ?

— Hai, I needed to know what could concern the village of Konoha No Sato.

— I assume that given your worried state, the country of fire is in a delicate position. What has that fool Hashirama done ? He asked sarcastically.

— That's the problem... he disappeared, dropped Sakura who knew that this revelation would have the effect of a bomb for the brunette. And indeed, a thousand questions jostled in his head : Why ? What had caused this man to disappear ? Or had someone killed him ? Sakura was not mistaken, seeing Madara's expression was enough to understand that he was disturbed by this announcement.

— I don't know why or under what circumstances... I managed to find some information, but it seems that this one has literally vanished, she explained without the brunette having to ask her. She was not yet ready for the First Great Shinobi War and her concern was evident :

— If this information were known to the world, it could create a domino effect on the scale of all nations.

— The war...

— Hai, and unfortunately I would like it not to trigger too quickly, explained Sakura who put her cup on the bedside table before leaning back more comfortably in her chair.

— You really expect to put your vision of peace in place, don't you ...

— Ours.., corrected the young woman in a neutral tone.

— What do you mean by : ours ? Asked Madara who, until proven guilty, had never agreed to comply with his vision of things.

— You were right Uchiha-san, my vision of peace has many loopholes. But I also listened to your approach and I can't help but think that somehow it might work, Sakura said before turning her head to Madara to look him in the eyes. I long for peace Uchiha-san, maybe I have the solution to bring peace, but the following question would arise: For how long ?

This question had the gift of offering food for thought. Because after all, each clan often asked itself this question. How long will it take for the next battle to take place ? When will the next carnage take place ?

— As I said, I have the means to bring peace. And after analyzing your words, I realize that you may have the method to keep it!

Madara didn't answer right away. It was the first time in his life that someone had thought about his vision for peace. At the same time, he was also the first person to whom he confided his ambitions. But did he really want to fight for this rotten world again ? Did he really want to bleed for these people ? Would they even have the means to succeed ?

— How long do you think we have before a possible war breaks out ?

Sakura pondered the question for a few moments, wondering if killing Black Zetsu was going to speed up or slow down the date of the First Great Shinobi War.

—Maybe six months, a little more if we're lucky… a month in the worst case scenario.

— How do you plan to raise the money necessary for such an effort ? Asked Madara who knew that any war was costly. Whether in men, money, food, weapons and all other resources.

— I am rich.

— That will not be enough, retorted Madara who knew that it was not a few thousand Ryo that would make the difference.

— You misunderstood me Uchiha-san, I am rich... rich to the point of making all the elemental nations pale together.

At this point, Madara became suspicious. How could a woman from nowhere claim to be as rich as all the elemental nations put together. If that was really the case, he would have known for ages.

Then, he saw Sakura raise her hand and in it appeared a gold ryô coin, then a second, then a dozen followed before she stopped.

— When you study science in order to be able to heal human beings, you also study the chakra. This one is the basis of everything, so I just have to handle it the right way like a fire specialist would. By modeling my chakra like a formula of Fûinjutsu, I can make it have the properties of silver, and thus I have with me an unlimited resource, developed Sakura in front of a completely shocked Madara.

It was the best way Sakura had found to justify her millions of Ryo sealed on her. All that money from the loans she had taken out would soon be used.

— You realize that countries would destroy entire nations to have this knowledge ! Cried Madara still in shock at the news that was imagining many possibilities for the future.

— Hai, and that's why you're the only person in the world with me who knows about it.

— Why ? Why me ?! Demanded Madara who wanted to know why this woman wanted his help to him.

— Because you are Uchiha Madara! Because you have the experience! Because I may be intelligent, strong, rich, I only remain one person doubled to be a woman ! We are in a time when I am considered by the majority of men only as a distraction ! Sakura replied angrily at the harsh reality of his words. But you Uchiha-san ! You have the reputation, you are a strong person, you have a clan and you have the charisma to bring the world together ! You've done this once with Konoha. And above all, compared to all this garbage, you are a garbage that desires peace ! And that makes all the difference for me !

Yes, they were garbage, beings who lived only to kill, they were only tools in the service of others. They were doing the dirty work so that other more innocent people didn't have to. And that, Madara could not deny it but he could not understand that she could have so much faith in him. Yet, they had only known each other for a month and she seemed to put the future of the world in her hands.

— Konoha is a failed experiment ! Madara retorted.

— Exactly Uchiha-san ! You know what must not be done ! Sakura bounces on Madara's last arguments. And now Uchiha-san... given that Hashirama is potentially dead, who could really be against you ?

Madara frowned as she considered the question, there were very few people who could give her a hard time. The only people he knew would be Tobirama Senju, Gengetsu Hôzuki the Nidaime Mizukage as well as Sakura Haruno and that was if they did not use the power of the Bijû. Maybe now he could bring peace. Maybe with the help of this woman he could do it. He had nothing to lose by trusting her, he just had to give time to time and see how the world would be. And if the opportunity arises to bring peace... then they would.

Madara plunged her jet-black gaze into Sakura's green one for long seconds in order to detect the slightest trace of cheating, lying... but found none.

— The Daimyô, this is the first step, finally agreed Madara without answering the previous question.

It was one thing for him to live up to his vision of peace, but quite another to reveal to him his possible weak points. But that did not seem to bother the young woman on the contrary, she wore a magnificent smile and God he appreciated to see her smile, it suited him so much better.

— He must be aware of our ambitions, we should be able to have an interview with him in order to convince him, or to manipulate him, he clarified. His great strategist brain was falling into place. He was not to neglect any detail and their plan could not be done without the support of the Daimyô. Indeed, since the countries were formed, the Shugo of each province who were governors, agreed to decide on a new statute: that of Daimyô, who would be the representative of the whole country. It would be he who would decide with the Kage on the steps to follow to manage the country. So, impossible to implement their project if it did not have the support of the Lord of Ta No Kuni.

— Could a letter already suffice ? If we incorporate a Fûinjutsu doubled with a Genjutsu, asked Sakura who also knew the workings of the world at the time of the brown one and who made work his brain since he had agreed to help her in his plan for peace. .

— Explain yourself Haruno-san.

— It is well known that the Daimyô all have their own ring. It would be enough for me to put a seal of Fûinjutsu which will unlock the parchment only to the possessor of the ring of the land of the rice fields. And the Genjutsu for only him to read, Sakura stated, once again demonstrating her intelligence.

— Ingenious... that could work, take a beautiful parchment, recommended the Uchiha impressed by the ideas of the young woman.

Sakura hastened to get up and go towards her office to take out one of her most beautiful parchments. She settled comfortably in her seat and prepared to write.

— I'm listening to you Uchiha-san.

For the attention of the Daimyô of Ta No Kuni.

The Muromachi period is now over, and it's time to look to the new Sengoku era ! The peace established is only temporary and the beginnings of war are at the gates of elementary nations.

I have the power and the means to make Ta No Kuni a place of peace and prosperity. A place that will be so powerful that no one will dare to attack this country, but on the contrary will want to join ! Unfortunately, I cannot meet you in person at the moment, as my projects require my presence.

But if in the future you are interested in such a future, let me know and an interview will be arranged. The eagle that brought you this mail will remain in your domain for two days, awaiting a response from you.

— I'm not signing ?

— Apply wax to the bottom of the page, my clan chief seal will be enough to make him understand who I am.

— Are you sure it's a good idea to announce your survival ? Sakura questioned, approaching Madara parchment in hand after pouring hot wax at the bottom of it.

— No Daimyo would let such an opportunity pass, they are supposed to be smart, so he should be able to shut his mouth, Madara reassured before applying the seal of his ring to the still hot wax. Once this was done, Sakura walked once more to her desk and began to inscribe Fûinjutsu seals on the back of the parchment. It would now be opened only by the Daimyô of the land of rice fields.

After about thirty minutes accompanied by the sound of the rain, Sakura finally applied the chakra in the seal to activate it. She rolled it up before going over to the brunette.

— Could you not use your Sharingan.

Madara nodded before performing the seal of the ram with her only good hand before a small amount of chakra could be felt in the room.

— There, that will do, just have to wait for the weather to be nice before sending it.

— I assume you have a summoning contract with the eagles for mentioning it in the letter.

— I'm repeating myself, but you're too smart for your own good, said Madara, who was tired of being so easily read.

— I know... Anyway, we'll discuss it later Uchiha-san, I'll prepare the meal, interrupted Sakura before leaving the main room for the kitchen.

Day 34

After two days of incessant rain, the sun was once again pointing the tip of its nose. And it is with undisguised pleasure that Sakura was able to resume her meditation on this beautiful morning. She was so close to success that it became frustrating for the young woman. For days and days she was on the verge of finding the answer to all her questions. She had understood that her chakra was the mixture of physical and spiritual energy, but she was missing a little something.

Over the past two months, she had come to realize that her brain was the source of spiritual energy that eventually flowed to the rest of her body. Then it mixed with the physical energy, not at a specific point, but of course his whole body. But the problem was there: where was his physical energy ? It was her body, she was sure, but what part of her body ? Was it the flesh ? Organs ? Cells ? What could possibly be producing energy throughout his body?

Then suddenly the answer came to him on its own: energy. The human body was constantly making energy, his whole body was a source of energy. Cells by their very existence were energy and that was why it was so dangerous, because to use that energy was to use part of yourself. In her discovery, Sakura could not hold back all this joy buried in her.

— Yes ! Sakura yelled as she left her sitting position to jump in the air with a raised fist. I succeeded ! Finally, after all this time, I succeeded! Youhou!

A broad smile was on his face before a pleasant laugh escaped his lips at his discovery. After so much effort, she was finally rewarded.

A soft smile also appeared on Madara's lips as she saw the young woman jumping for joy outside the house. He had learned to appreciate his rare moments of joy and he loved the freshness of his youth right now even though he wouldn't mention it. So it was a smiling Sakura who returned inside the house.

— Oyahô Uchiha-san, did you sleep well ? Questiona Sakura by starting the medical ritual.

— Hai, why this demonstration of good humor? Madara asked after removing the smile from her lips.

— I finally succeeded ! I finally managed to figure out how to regenerate without affecting the human body, Sakura said proudly.

This woman had once again surprised him and never ceased to impress him day by day. For regeneration was something that many people had attempted, in vain. Then his thoughts turned to his arm and his eye, they were finally going to be healed.

— Could you grow back any severed limb ?

— Not at this point... but I will soon be able to lean over your eye as well as your arm, Sakura replied, running her chakra covered hands over Madara's body. No pain or discomfort to report ?

— No.

— Well, it heals properly... are you ready to do your summons ?

— Do you know the signs ?

— Hai, concentrate and I'll take care of the rest, said Sakura before biting her thumb so that blood ran out. She waved her hand before placing one of them on Madara's arm and pinning the second to the ground. She provided the blood and the chakra and Madara provided the target to be summoned.

— Kushiyose no Jutsu !

A large circle of Fûinjutsu appeared on the floor of the house from his hand. Blood was drawn into the seal's formula before a cloud of smoke appeared to make way for a beautiful golden eagle. He looked around and when he saw Madara on the bed, he leaned forward.

— Uchiha-sama.

— I need you to bring this parchment to the Daimyo of Ta No Kuni himself. I'm waiting for a response from him, and I'm giving him two days. If you can stay close to him to listen to his reactions, that would be ideal, Madara said, handing the parchment to the bird.

— It will be done Uchiha-sama, bowed the golden eagle once more. Once the parchment in place he flew to his destination.

— He was a beautiful animal, Sakura commented as she treated her thumb injury before heading to the kitchen for dinner. Would you like to continue reading ?

— Yes, Madara said before grabbing the book written by Sakura.

First lesson: Dodge !

If you are dead, you are serving absolutely nothing. If you are injured, you will need to deal with yourself first and your companions may die. Your priority is to stay alive! So first of all, you need to train your body to respond.

Find a training partner and dodge whatever he sends you. Let him go stronger and stronger, faster and faster. Thus, your body will gain muscle memory which will save you precious seconds between life and death.

Do not rest on your laurels once this is achieved. Don't get arrogant and make it difficult for yourself, because a ninja will never attack you from the front. Ninety percent of deaths are due to back attacks. So ask several partners to continue this training to be attacked from several places at the same time. This will teach you to become aware of your environment, to analyze and above all to work your visual memory.

The more you train your eye to dodge projectiles as well as melee opponents, the more accustomed your eye will become. So, your brain will analyze by itself without you realizing it. With years of training, you might even be able to anticipate attacks and see where your opponent will strike next.

That last paragraph made Madara a little nervous. He felt like he was reading a description of one of the Sharingan's abilities. Maybe it was just a coincidence, maybe he had gotten a little too paranoid and saw traitors and spies everywhere.

However, he was taken out of his thoughts when he saw Sakura come back with two trays. She placed one on the table in the room and moved closer to him with the second.

— No, Madara said as Sakura approached him.

— What do you mean by no ? Sakura asked in complete misunderstanding.

— I want to be able to eat by myself at a Haruno-san table, Madara announced, looking her in the eyes. He wanted to regain his pride and not be a burden that had to depend on someone else.

Sakura made a slight u-turn and placed Madara's tray on the table next to hers then walked over to her patient's bed. She took him in her arms before placing him in front of the table, correctly installed her legs so that they did not interfere with him. Once in a position where he could stand on his own, she settled down beside him.

— Itadakimasu.

Sakura grabs her chopsticks before eating in silence. However, his gaze was still on his table mate to see if he needed help.

— Itadakimasu, said Madara in turn before grabbing the spoon with his good hand. Moreover, thanks to Sakura's care, he had more mobility. He dipped the spoon into his bowl then brought it to his lips. By this simple gesture, joy could be read on his features, he managed to eat by himself, he became autonomous again and that was priceless for Uchiha Madara.

Day 35

It has been almost a year since Hashuba Shôta, the Shugo with the most land and power in the land of the rice fields, became Daimyô. Thanks to his influence, he had succeeded in making his country prosper in the cultivation of rice thus making an announcement to the rest of the world. He did not desire any war on his lands and was not a threat.

Daimyô Hashuba had entered into numerous agreements with the Land of Fire, the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth, all of which were frontiers. In exchange for agricultural resources, this territory would be left as neutral ground that would not be allied to anyone.

This tactical choice was made by the fact that he had no shinobi military force. Three-quarters of the people were farmers working in the fields. These people had no awareness of the world around them and the political issues that took place there.

— The harvest is going well this year Daimyô-sama, announced a man sitting at a table covered with parchment.

— Will it be sufficient to keep our commitments and the survival of the people ? Hashuba asked.

He was a man of normal build wearing a kimono made of brown and white. He was in his 40s, clean shaven except for a mustache and a goatee with long black hair tied in a ponytail.

— Hai Daimyô-sama, answered the person who took care of the accounts.

Then suddenly, their conversation was cut off by the arrival of a magnificent raptor. This one could only bring a message because it was not the territory of such bird. This kind of animal lived in the land of lightning and usually did not approach humans. In addition, a small case was hung around his neck. He landed gracefully on one of the armrests of the chair intended for Daimyô and waited. He was staring Hashuba in the eye and seemed to be waiting for Hashuba to grab the parchment case hanging from his neck.

The concerned reached out to grab the object before seeing the animal fly away and land delicately on the edge of the window. The bird seemed to be making its living so Hashuba decided to open the case. He immediately saw the quality of the parchment and concluded that it was someone very important and wealthy who had written to him.

The more Hashuba read the message, the more serious and focused his gaze became, before his eyes widened as he recognized the seal of the signature. His brain was racing as he imagined the possibilities of such an alliance with the great Uchiha Madara.

— Everything all right my lord ? Osa asked the secretary who only received a glare in response. Excuse me my lord...

The Daimyô returned his gaze to the Uchiha seal and considered the stakes of such information. Selling the information that the great Madara Uchiha was still alive could bring him a lot of money. But on the other hand, peace and prosperity for his country, as well as power...

Hashuba rose from his seat, parchment in hand, and walked over to one of the braziers in the room.

— Get me a parchment for special occasions, the Daimyo ordered the only other person in the room who hastened to do so.

— I'm listening to you.

The secretary had quill in hand ready to write, but the words never came. The Daimyo was throwing the received missive into the fire which ignited in an instant, erasing all evidence of its existence.

— Get out ! Hashuba ordered with a tone that could not be disputed. So the secretary quickly left, closing the door behind him. Only him and his four personal guards remained in the room.

It was very rare for a Daimyo to write his own mail, but it was a situation where no one other than himself should read his letter. He settled down on the desk and began to write his response to Uchiha Madara. After about ten minutes Hashuba poured wax on the bottom of the parchment and applied his seal of Daimyô de Ta No Kuni to it. He rolled up the parchment and stood up towards the bird of prey still present by the window. He put the parchment in the case around his neck and closed it.

No sooner had the Daimyo closed the case than the bird of prey flew away.

— The future will tell us if I made the right choice...