Day 36
— Do you really think he will accept ? Sakura asked.
The two shinobi were currently seated at the central table in the room for the midday meal. They had sent their message two days ago and they were impatiently awaiting the reply from the Daimyô of Ta No Kuni. If his answer was positive, their plan would move faster. If instead the Daimyo refused... they should probably kill him.
— In a way, he has no choice, Madara said. It is even more in his interest to say yes. It would be very frowned upon to refuse a request from the Uchiha clan, especially to his chieftain, explained the brunette, taking a piece of fish with his chopsticks.
The current Daimyô would be very imprudent to forget that if elementary nations existed and especially that if he occupied this position it was largely thanks to the Uchiha clan. To refuse: would be like signing a death warrant.
— We will anyway soon to be clear about it, added Madara whose gaze was focused on the outside. In the distance, a dark point approached before gradually taking shape: a raptor. It was Madara's summons that was back and with a few flaps of her wings she landed on the table. The bird bowed to its master.
— Uchiha-sama, respectfully greeted the animal.
— Report, ordered the brunette in a leadership voice. It was an intonation Sakura had hardly ever heard. Through his voice, you could feel all his strength, his determination... he was born to lead, a real leader, a leader.
— The Daimyô of Ta No Kuni responded within minutes of reading your Uchiha-sama message, explained the golden eagle, straightening up. He took a few minutes to think it over before making a decision. He sent everyone back into the room except his bodyguards and wrote down his response himself.
The Uchiha was satisfied with these first words. The Daimyo took his letter seriously so that he would take the trouble to write his mail himself. It was something quite rare among the leaders of countries.
— What did he do with the message sent ?
— Burned in an Uchiha-sama brazier, the bird replied quickly, which did not look at Sakura.
— Perfect, exclaimed Madara before opening the parchment case to take out its contents. Beautiful parchment : the Daimyô took it very seriously.
To Uchiha-dono,
The world is constantly changing and with it its share of events. The Muromachi era is now over, and with it that of the Shinobi Gods. Those who allowed by their presence to establish a certain stability are no longer and as you say so well, the beginnings of war are at our doors.
However, you can imagine that I only aspire to the prosperity of my country and to peace. I suspect that with your proposal comes its share of war and blood. But after all, who wants peace, prepares for war.
I would nevertheless be suicidal to refuse your proposal. And I can't ignore who you are. My country exists, for you have established the elemental nations. I dare to hope that your passing was part of your plans to disappear and act more easily in the shadows.
I, Daimyô Hashuba Shôta of Ta No Kuni accept your Uchiha-dono proposal, in the hope and expectation that I make the right choice.
I await your instructions.
— Perfect, said Madara, placing the parchment on the table. They now had the field free to manage the country of Ta No Kuni. I'll let you go hunt my friend and rest. In three hours I will give you another mail and you can return home after delivering it,
— Hai, Uchiha-sama, bowed the animal before flying into the valley to hunt for food.
— We need resources now, Sakura said more for herself than for the brunette next to her.
— Hai, and we have to do this discreetly, Madara confirmed, as Sakura walked over to her office. She took out a parchment once more and got ready to write a new missive to the attention of the Daimyo.
— I'm listening to you Uchiha-san.
Daimyô-dono,
Like any country, a thriving economy is the foundation of everything. Don't worry about it, I have an endless resource of money to support multiple wars in a row. However, having the means without having the resources is pointless.
I need you to create huge reserves. I don't care about the method, but you have to collect as much living as possible to last for years. Make requests in various countries for food. (grain, wheat, rice and anything that can be stored for a long time.) Also, if you have a person with knowledge of Fûinjutsu, seal vegetables, fruits, meat.
Check with your advisors, but find varying excuses to different countries. Bad harvest, parasite, population boom, it's up to you, but be as discreet as possible.
You also need to gather a lot of raw materials. Start the project to expand your capital, make new houses, new stores. Why ? You will understand in the future. Order lots of wood from Hi No Kuni, stone from Tsuchi No Kuni, iron from Kaminari No Kuni, mine every wealth from every country and those at the lowest possible price.
You have to make big reserves for the future and whatever the means, but you have to be discreet and smart. If you can do this without suspicion for at least six months, then we will win.
As soon as I am available, I will come to you with something to fill your treasury, so use your money.
— Do not put on wax and bring me a kunai, as well as an unused feather, Madara clarified.
— What are you planning to do ? Sakura asked as she approached her patient at the central table. She made a kunai appear from one of her many seals in a smoky pouf, then handed it to the brunette. He placed the parchment in front of him before grabbing the weapon. He cut his thumb a little, then dipped the top of his ring to soak it. He thus affixed the seal of the Uchiha clan with his blood on the parchment. Subsequently, he seizes the virgin feather before placing it on its notch so that the end is covered with his blood. He signed as follows: Uchiha Madara.
— I have just made a blood act, proving that I am committed to providing what I said in the letter, explained the brunette to the young woman's silent question. He began to suck his thumb to stop the bleeding. He will feel more serene this way, I'll let you redo your Fûinjutsu Haruno-san.
— Hai, but first show me your thumb so I can sort this out, Sakura demanded, grabbing the Uchiha's arm.
— I did my part... now I would like to know what you plan to do once the war starts. How are you going to proceed, Haruno-san ? Madara asked, whose thumb was now scarless.
— The big countries will not wage war on each other...
— What do you mean ?
— Small countries will suffer the consequences. Several alliances are made between large countries and smaller countries which are only vassals. But it will be on their land that the battles will be fought. So I intend to go to these countries and evacuate as many people as possible... after the battles, explained Sakura, whose own sentence hurt her.
— Why not before ? The brunette wondered.
— Because I unfortunately need them to be desperate to offer them our help, a home, food and a new family, Sakura said in a determined voice.
Day 50
— OK, I want you to try to stand up on your own two legs, Sakura announced to the attention of the brunette who was currently sitting on the edge of his bed. The young woman at his side, ready to support him in case of failure.
Madara expected another ritual from the young woman to heal her back and prepare her legs, but it appears that while she was healing her nerve endings she also healed her legs. It was with great surprise and satisfaction that Madara did so. He put his right hand on the edge of the bed and thus began the task of getting on his own two legs.
He felt pain in his lower body from the strain and could feel the tremor in his lower limbs.
— Stop ! Ordered Sakura who saw that Madara was having difficulty. She then stood in front of him and offered:
— Put your right hand in mine and use me as a support.
Madara still had his pride, but to regain the use of his body, he managed to put it aside. He then placed his hand in that of the young girl and could not help but find it soft. Normally a ninja's hands were callused and worn from the hard work of training, yet his were soft and delicate. He had already glimpsed her sweetness by her care when she touched him, but today it was different.
So he used the strength of his arm to straighten up and Sakura did not flinch an inch despite the weight of her patient. Madara stood up slowly and ended up being on her own two legs after about twenty seconds of effort. His limbs were shaking, no longer used to being called upon.
— Sit down, ordered Sakura after a little while. Well, it looks like there is almost no more damage, she confirmed with satisfaction.
She had managed to accomplish something extremely dangerous and complicated. Several times she could have killed her patient without doing it on purpose, but she was not just anyone, she was Sakura Haruno.
Once Madara was back on the bed, Sakura knelt down and brought her chakra-covered hands to the brunette's lower limbs. While applying her healing chakra, she made Madara's legs flex and extend.
— No embarrassment ?
— No ! Answered the concerned whose gaze was on the woman in charge of his care.
— Well, try to flex your right leg as much as possible on your own without using a chakra, Sakura asked as she put said leg on the ground. Madara did the exercise and managed to flex very slightly, her muscles still too weak not managing to lift her higher. Is it the same feeling as when we did the abdominal exercises ? She questioned to get the feeling of her patient.
— No, I feel that my leg is responding to my orders, I just... not have the strength, confessed the brunette who tried to flex his member a little more, in vain.
— Extend your leg now, but don't stretch it, Sakura continued before the brunette did so much easier. OK, extending is easier than flexing, she noticed then. Now rotate your leg outward, then inward slowly.
— I felt a small shock cross me from the knee to my back, Madara confided after swiveling her leg out. Sakura hastened to put her hands on her knee before using her Iryô Ninjutsu.
— Keep doing this spinning motion while I look for the problem, said Sakura.
Madara swiveled her member inward once more, then outward and the small discharge was felt.
— Here ! It's been the same again, Madara pointed out, tensing.
— Stay in this position, if it becomes too painful, stop, specified Sakura who saw what the problem was.
— What is this due to ? Asked the Uchiha, who in the last few days had finished Sakura Haruno's first book and he had become more interested in the human body.
— One of the side effects of what Hashirama did to you, it affected the sciatic nerve. The pain you were feeling is due to a mechanical problem with the lumbar moving segment, whether in the joints, ligaments or your muscles. They are responsible for pain radiating from the spine to behind your knees.
Sakura had given all these explanations before standing up to inspect the man's back.
— Keep holding the position and tell me stop when I reached the peak of the pain in your back, she explained again, putting two of her fingers on the lower back and slowly moving up the back. along its spine. This gesture was again felt like a caress for the brunette.
— Here, Madara exclaimed once she reached the D12 dorsal vertebra.
— Inhale... Announced the young woman by placing two of her fingers perpendicularly before injecting once again a large amount of chakra.
— Ahhh ! Yelled Madara, who despite it not being the first time he had experienced this kind of pain, still hurt excruciatingly when she did this. He could feel the pain once again invade him and spread throughout his body. It was less unbearable than the first time, but it still hurt like hell.
— Take small breaths... Sakura whispered in her ear as she massaged her back,
Since Madara had agreed to help her, Sakura had changed her attitude a bit. She had put her vision of Madara aside from her timeline to focus on the man in front of her. A man with a totally different outlook, who hadn't had time to think about the eye of the moon plan and who wasn't influenced by Black Zetsu.
If you take away that knowledge of a potential monster, Madara was a very interesting person. He was certainly a macho who she would like to tear his balls off, but he seemed to consider her now as... an equal. Probably due to seeing all of his skills and healing him.
In almost two months, Sakura had discovered a person who was curious, invested, proud and with honor. From time to time she saw a softer and more fragile side, which he was quick to hide so that no one could see that side.
— It's better ? Sakura asked softly, still massaging the vertebra.
— Hai, Madara replied weakly.
— Repeat the movement with your left leg and tell me if the feeling is still there.
The brunette worked to do what she asked him and found that he no longer felt the embarrassment and pain. He was slightly out of breath from all these treatments. The young woman waited for him to recover before kneeling in front of him. She explained to him that they were going to do the same with the right leg. The Uchiha was a little apprehensive but strangely it was easier on this side. Why ? He had no idea, but he managed to climb that leg a little higher than the other. He did not hesitate to question the woman with pink hair who continued to monitor the movements of the right member while giving instructions to the brunette.
— I guess you're right-handed, aren't you ?
The man nodded.
— You involuntarily have more muscular your right arm as well as your right leg. Since this one was more muscular than the left one, it's easier to use it now, Sakura replied professionally.
— I don't have any pain when I pivot, anticipated Madara, who was already spinning after having extended her.
— Perfect ! Sakura enthused before looking at Madara with a slightly sadistic smile. Now every day we will do rehabilitation exercises for your legs. But first let's resume your abdominal exercises.
She helped the brunette lie down comfortably on the floor and then placed her hands on his knees.
— Come on, do me a set of fives and hold your trunk on the sixth lift, Sakura ordered while fixing the brunette in the eyes.
Madara did so and did her exercise to build up muscles slowly without damaging her back. For the past few days he had felt his upper body obeying him correctly, apart from his left arm. The pain in his scars had completely disappeared and only the feeling of strain was present.
— Hold back ten seconds...
It had become their new morning routine. The healing of his organs was done faster, but the physical exercises were now longer.
Day 52
Today was one of the most mundane days in Madara and Sakura's world. They had completed their medical ritual, as well as the rehabilitation exercises. They had eaten in silence while enjoying the music produced by the gramophone.
However, rehab was exhausting for Madara who quickly fell asleep that night. He no longer needed to be put to sleep with chakra, except when his doctor deemed it necessary.
So it was two hours later that Sakura decided to go to bed. She blew out the candles in the main room after having checked the protections of each entrance. She was after all a ninja in a dangerous time with the future of the world in her hands: she had to be on her guard at all times. She walked to her bedroom and gently placed her candle on the bedside table. Sakura took off all of her clothes to put them in the laundry basket. She then put on pink silk panties and a black t-shirt that she usually used to sleep.
Seeing the pile of laundry amassed Sakura understood that she would have to wash tomorrow morning at the river.
The young woman's room was quite modest, it had two pieces of furniture in which were stored her clothes, a bed in the center with a bedside table and a wardrobe built into the wall.
On her bedside table were two photo frames that were important to her. One was from her parents who smiled beautifully. The second was a picture of Team Seven after Kakashi became Rokudaime Hokage. She knew it was dangerous to have this kind of photo visible, but Madara could not yet move on her own. But she knew that very soon she would have to hide these two photographs.
As she sat down on her bed Sakura stared at the floor, thinking about everything she had accomplished for almost three months. Her house had been built, she had formed links with a village and it was made a friend. She had eliminated Black Zetsu and made the choice to save Madara to guide him in bringing peace.
Many would call her a fool and a traitor to help such a character. But they weren't like her. She had listened to Rikudô Seninn's words and decided to see the world in its true light in order to understand why the world was rotten. The worst part about it all wasn't seeing that there was misery... it was seeing people close their eyes to it, hoping it would go away on its own.
With all this time available to her, Sakura had taken the time to analyze Madara's vision of her timeline. And unfortunately, she could understand why he had wanted to plunge the world into a Genjutsu. Because the world was stupid, greedy, selfish and this one never learned. He kept repeating the same mistakes over and over again. So plunging him into an illusion was one solution... but not the right one.
Sakura understood this vision, but could not accept it, the world would have no free will and this peace would be the same as in her time : false.
Luckily, when Sakura saved Madara, she prevented Zetsu from guiding him to this famous moon eye plane. At the moment, the Madara in the other room had not had sixty years of thought to invent this plan. Today, Uchiha Madara's peace was attainable and Sakura fully intended to help him while improving that vision.
With their plan in motion, Sakura wondered if the people she had known and loved would exist in the future ? Of course, they would absolutely not recognize it, but will they exist ? Because what the two protagonists wanted to do would change the face of the world as it was.
Sakura turned to her bedside table to grab the frame containing her parents' photo before crying silently.
— Tou-chan... Kaa-chan...
Sakura suddenly had tears falling on the frame. She had grown strong, but it was still difficult for her to think that her parents no longer existed and probably never will. Anyway, even though they appeared in the new future to come, they wouldn't recognize her as a child since their temporality had been totally changed. None of the people she had known would ever be in her life again.
She lay down on the bed, still keeping the picture in front of her, then suddenly, she cracked. She began to cry as quietly as possible, thinking about her past, the people she loved. She tried to stop this flood of pain that invaded her once more : in vain.
Madara was gently awakened by muffled noises. Was he dreaming ? It took him a few seconds to come to his senses and remember where he was. It was night, the room was lightly lit by the moonlight... He remembered, he was recovering.
But what bothered him was that muffled sound he heard again. He concentrated the chakra as discreetly as possible at the level of his ears to increase hearing. Thanks to this, he could perfectly distinguish the slightest suspicious noise, especially if someone was hiding in the house. But instead of an enemy, he perceived that it was someone in pain. He immediately understood to whom this sensation belonged : Sakura.
Why was she crying ? Was it because of him ? Was it because of his past ? Or her own demons who came to haunt her ? Although she hadn't told him anything about her story, the little he had managed to get over the past few weeks by her side had allowed him to deduce that she had suffered and had lost everything.
Madara had always viewed women as useless, weak and uninteresting. That crying did not suit a man, that being merciful never brought any good. But all this was before. For almost two months, Madara had started to change, to think differently. All his life he had only seen women who did not deserve his attention and it was refreshing for Madara to meet a woman like Sakura.
She was gentle, kind, beautiful at the same time, but at the same time deadly dangerous, and it was largely because of her that Madara changed. She was the second woman he didn't consider weak, and she was the only woman in the world he saw as his equal. He couldn't wait to be able to fight in a friendly match, or to see her on a battlefield.
She was also a woman who had taught him that reaching out can do a lot. The proof, it had saved his life. Plus, there was one thing Madara hated: letting people go after the people he loved. And Sakura was starting to fall into that category of people. Suddenly, it hurt to hear him cry and his body acts in spite of him. He pushed back the blanket with his good arm and slowly straightened up to find himself sitting on the edge of the bed. He didn't know what he could do to stop her from crying, but he was going to do something... anything.
The most difficult part was in front of him, he put both feet on the ground and tried to balance himself on his legs. They were shaking with the effort and after a few seconds Madara managed to stand up. He managed to take one step... two steps, but eventually lost his balance due to his legs not yet ready for such an effort.
He collapsed to the ground with a loud thud while groaning in pain. He still managed to cushion his fall with his right arm. Barely a second after he fell, Madara heard someone running around the house.
A moment later he could see the door to the room slam open to see Sakura enter. She was in warrior mode again thinking of an intruder. She was dressed in a black t-shirt and simple underwear. His green gaze shone slightly in the darkness, proof that chakra was flowing in his eyes to see better in the night. She held a kunai in each hand ready to fight. Madara thanked the darkness, for a blush settled on her face at such a sight.
— Uchiha-san ! Sakura exclaimed seeing Madara on the ground.
She glanced quickly around the room for an enemy. Not finding one, she realized that Madara had probably fallen out of bed. She let go of her weapons and ran to him to hug him.
She crouched down and grabbed him to put him on the bed. As soon as she heard the sound of the fall, she rushed forward, ready to fight to defend her home and her patient. She couldn't care less about the outfit she was wearing at the time or the tears still on her cheeks. Nothing mattered more than protecting Madara. That is why she was absolutely unaware of the embarrassment in which the man found himself who saw her for the first time so scantily clad. She quickly lit a candle on the nightstand and worried about why the Uchiha was on the ground.
— Did you have a nightmare ? Sakura asked who was looking at the body of the brunette looking for injury.
— No... I'm sorry, Madara apologized.
This surprised Sakura who did not understand why he was presenting them to her. This was the second time he apologized to her, the first time it was because a member of his clan had tried to kill her.
— Why ? Sakura questioned uncertainly.
Madara finally turned her face to the young woman. She still had tears on her cheeks and her green eyes were slightly reddened and he couldn't stand to see such a thing.
He slowly raised his right arm to put his hand on Sakura's cheek. He gently wiped away the tears still present. Sakura was far too shocked by the gesture to make the slightest movement.
— I don't like to see you cry... Madara announced in a deep voice before wiping the second cheek, that doesn't suit you.
Sakura didn't know what to think of the man in front of her. He was delicate with her and seemed to be concerned about her condition. Who knew Madara had a heart in her chest. Besides, he had just made another hint that she was pretty.
The young woman could not hide the blush emerging from her cheeks, so she gently grabbed the hand of Madara who was wiping them to stop her in her gesture.
— Sorry... she said before wiping the rest of her tears herself without letting go of the Uchiha's hand. I didn't want to wake you up, is that why you fell?
— Your past ? Madara questioned ignoring Sakura's remark. He saw her look down like she was ashamed.
— Hai... she replied in a small voice of emotion,
— Do you want to talk about it ? Madara offered with a solicitude she did not know.
— I miss the people I love, Sakura confided gently, squeezing the brunette's hand a little more firmly.
— Do you have family somewhere ? Slowly questioned Madara who only received a no from Sakura with her head. She seemed to be ready to crack again, so Madara burst her chakra in her hand as well as around him.
The chakra could be used for what the ninjas called, the intent to kill, but the reverse could also be done. When a chakra was strong enough, it could envelop someone with their feelings. Then Madara gave off a feeling of understanding, protection, security, warmth and comfort.
— The people we love will always be with us, Madara explained wisely in a voice that wanted to be comforting, before pointing to Sakura's heart with their tied hands. Don't mourn them, live your life to make them proud of you.
Sakura never thought the chakra could be used in this way and she felt a little better. She could feel Madara's power through her chakra and slowly her painful thoughts diminished. But she couldn't help but wonder why Madara was doing this ? Why was he taking the time to comfort a woman ? Why couldn't he be the man she had known ? It would be so much easier to hate him than to let this new feeling come over him.
— Arigato.