"Ah," Madara said, with a slow clap, "So he figured it out. I am glad that Obito wasn't completely wrong about him."
"What do you mean?" Harumi asked.
"Obitoi would go on and on about his teammates. How one was a genius and the other was a beautiful medic and together they were going to stop all wars. It was a lovely idea, but unfortunately one that never came to pass. But luckily for Obito, I have a plan that will stop war from happening."
"What is that plan?" Itachi asked.
"I will tell you in time. There are a few things that need to be accomplished before my plan can begin."
"Like what?" Yugao asked.
Madara nodded his head towards the two shinobi fighting, Kakashi was on the defensive, letting Tobi throw kicks and punches at him. Not trying to return any blow, just blocking all the attacks against him.
A loud crunch sound filled the air as Tobi's fist connected with Kakashi's ribs.
"Two ribs," Harumi muttered.
"What?" Yugao asked.
"Kakashi now has at least two broken ribs."
"You can tell that just by a sound?" Yugao asked incredulously.
Harumi nodded, "I can also tell you that both men have stab wounds, and fractures on their forearms from blocking."
"I don't even want to know how you know this," Yugao muttered.
Harumi gave a flat laugh, "Just part of my training. Something I learned a long time ago. I'm sure that you know what weapons were thrown just by how they whistle through the air. Or Itachi-san knows just what kind of attack is coming at him. These are things we have to learn."
A loud crack filled the air. All heads whipped to the sound.
Harumi's mouth dropped open, Tobi's mask had completely fractured, and he was left bare faced.
"Obito," Kakashi whispered, his voice cracking.
"Oh, don't act like you missed me Kakashi," Tobi sneered, "You are still the cold, rule following bastard you have always been." Not waiting for Kakashi to recover, Tobi launched kunai in Kakashi's direction.
Kakashi ducked.
Tobi rushed in low.
Kakashi pulled his kunai out and blocked Tobi, and reached around to pull Tobi in.
Yugao gasped. Harumi was stunned silent.
Kakashi's hand just moved through Tobi.
Harumi's head jerked toward Madara's dark chuckle.
The man was standing on the step watching the two men fight. Something about what just happened had pleased the man.
As if sensing her eyes on him, Madara turned, "Tobi has learned his lessons well. This shouldn't take too long now."
Harumi focused on breathing, focused on getting her chakra up. The lack of food and drink was making it difficult, but not impossible, after all, this is something they trained for.
"Why Obito?" Kakashi's anguished voice pierced through Harumi's thoughts.
"What do you mean Kakashi?" Tobi, no Obito's voice sneered.
"Why did you kidnap Harumi?"
Harumi frowned, of all the questions, why was that the first one Kakashi asked. Her's would have been something along the lines of "How are you still alive?" or "Where have you been?"
"Because I could," Obito snarled. "Because you need to know what it feels like for your best friend to kill the girl you love. Because you are nothing but a friend killing LIAR!" Obito's hands flew as he created his jutsu.
The fire was so bright, Harumi closed her eyes for a moment to not go blind.
"What was that?" Yugao asked Itachi quietly, "I have never seen that jutsu before."
"I have never seen that one, but the Uchiha have something similar to it," Itachi answered.
Madara turned, "It is one of mine. You see Tobi has been learning jutsus from me for years, he is very good at them."
"Strange," Itachi muttered, "My father always said that Obito was not gifted."
Madara snorted, "Of course he would say that, you are his son after all. Compared to you, anyone would look slow and dim witted."
Itachi's lips twitched downward just a touch. "That may be true, but my question is still relevant."
Madara nodded, "Tobi just needed someone to believe in him. I gave him the family that he has always wanted."
Harumi frowned, nothing Madara said made sense. She didn't remember Obito, he was older than she was, but Obito's teacher was the fourth hokage, the most feared shinobi in all history. Also your team became like your family, her team was a perfect example of this. Why would Obito feel family-less?
What about the story Madara told her? Did Kakashi really kill his teammate? That also doesn't make sense. But mostly, how did Madara know all of this? Did he see all of this happen?
What started as a small feeling of unease when Madara started to talk to her, became a fully developed gut feeling that something was wrong. Going through everything she knew, Harumi began to search for the reason.
First there was Madara, he should be dead, so why was he here, and not just here, but seemingly a fully functioning shinobi.
Wait, Harumi walked back that thought.
Was Madara a fully functioning shinobi?
She thought back to when Madara would bring her food, that first time. The way his left foot didn't lift as high as his right. How Madara was always leaning on something. All signs that his legs were not as strong.
Did Madara's hand shake when he held his tea cup? A slight tremor when he held out the cup for her to drink?
Was Madara a fully functioning shinobi? If not, how would she prove it?
"Itachi," Harumi whispered.
"Hmm?"
"Can you look at Madara and tell me if there is something different about him?"
"Am I looking for something specific? Or just in general?" Itachi whispered back.
Harumi could feel Yugao's eyes on her at Itachi's question.
"I am not sure, more just a lot of pieces to the puzzle and I am looking for what connects them," she replied.
Harumi took her eyes away from Kakashi's tortured face as he dodged yet another round of kunai being thrown at him to look at Itachi. Itachi slowly studied Madara starting at his feet. Keeping his face passive was interesting to Harumi, something she could try and figure out later. It could have been because she was focusing on Itachi's face, or it could have been because she has made it a point to study the human face, but she caught the miniscule movement around his lips. Unsure if it was to curl his lips up or down, but knowing that he found something.
"He is using a huge amount of chakra, it is focused on his legs right now, but I can see where he was using the chakra in his body. It looks like he is using it to support his whole body. Using chakra instead of muscles maybe?" Itachi whispered.
Harumi frowned, "Chakra shouldn't be used that way."
Yugao frowned, "Does it matter if it shouldn't be used if Madara is using it?"
"Not really, it is just interesting at the moment. Another piece of the puzzle."
"What puzzle?"
Harumi could hear the frustration in Yugao's voice.
"The "why the hell are we here" and "what the hell is going on", puzzle," Harumi answered.
"That's two," came the reply.
Harumi smiled, "Yes, but I'm sure they are connected somehow."
Yugao snorted, "Does it matter if they are connected?"
"Well yes, if they are connected, then by only looking at a single part, we will be missing vital information. So it is important to look at the whole picture before we try to narrow down our focus."
"What is your idea, Harumi?" Itachi asked.
"I think we need to take out Madara, if that is even who he is," Harumi whispered back.
"What about Kakashi?" Yugao asked.
"If we can take out Madara," I began.
"Taicho can handle himself. We should focus on the bigger threat," Itachi interrupted.
"What are our assets?" Harumi asked, letting the borrowed chakra flood her system as she forced it to fix anything that might cause a problem during a fight.
"Jiraiya, Shishui and Tenzo are somewhere in the village," Yugao whispered.
"Is there a way to communicate with them?"
"Yes," was all the answer Harumi got.
"Good, they can be our surprise. Itachi, do you think you could distract Madara."
Harumi was cut off by a deafening explosion. She tore her eyes from Madara and what she saw froze her blood.
The area where Kakashi and Obito were fighting was gone. In its place was a huge barren area. The buildings lining the area were missing, the ground was covered in a thick layer of ash.
"What the hell was that!?" Yugao whispered, her voice strangled.
"Better question," Harumi interjected, "Where the fuck is Kakashi!?"
A deep, blood freezing chuckle answered her question. Tearing her eyes away from the barren scene in front of her, Harumi turned to face Madara again.
"Obito has taken your Kakashi someplace special, just for the two of them." Madara turned.
Harumi focused on the fact he didn't turn in a single movement, but several small movements. There was something wrong with his leg, but which one?
"What do you mean taken him?"
"Taken him where?"
Itachi and Yugao demanded.
"I wouldn't worry about that now. Harumi, I am a man of my word, you are free to go. I will allow free passage to you and those sent to retrieve you. However that safe passage has a time limit, so I would hurry if I were you."
Harumi shook her head, "I'm not leaving until I see Kakashi again."
"What makes you think there will be enough of Kakashi to see?"
"Doesn't matter, I will not leave until I see him. I refuse to walk into my house and tell Kakashi's ward that I don't know what happened to his guardian. So thank you for the offer," Harumi crossed her arms and set her face in a childish scowl, "but I will stay here until then."
Madara's gaze burned as he stared at her, but Harumi refused to blink. She was also very careful to not stare into his eyes.
Whatever he saw, he must have liked because he nodded, "Very well, I will start the timer when you have seen Kakashi's body."
With that, he walked, no limped Harumi corrected to herself, over to a chair and sank into it.
"Oh and tell your friends trying to be sneaky, to come and join us. This could be a long wait. Obito has lots of issues to work out on Kakashi."
Harumi and Yugao sucked in a breath, but neither of them said anything as they turned to look at Itachi.
"I'll tell them," he replied, his tone just slightly colder than was polite.
Harumi smothered a grin at the way Madara stiffened at the words.
With that said, Itachi summoned a single crow, whispered to it and with a flick of his wrist the crow flew off.
"How are you still alive, Madara?" Harumi asked, shifting her weight a little, making sure her leg muscles were prepared.
"Why do you want to know?"
"Well I am a healer and I like learning new things," I offered, ignoring Yugao's snort.
"A healer? Are you a good one?" Madara asked.
"I would like to say I'm good. I doubt I will ever be great, but I do my best," Harumi answered truthfully.
"She is more than good, but her specialization is in diagnostics," Yugao lied smoothly.
"Ah, well I can see why me being alive would be something of a puzzle for you. Is there something else you would like to know?"
"Umm, well yes, but that is the biggest one."
Harumi needed to keep Madara talking. When people talked, they could reveal something that could help them.
"Lets just say that I was not willing to die, and the world decided that I was worth saving."
"Is that really the answer you are going to give me?" Harumi channeled her younger sister's attitude to ask, anything to get a reaction out of Madara. At this point she would do just about anything to get something to change.
Madara was giving the head of the Uchiha family a run for his money when it comes to stoicism.
Madara didn't react well, much like Itachi's father. Harumi watched as his stiff posture somehow became even stiffer. His back was straight, like his spine was made out of steel. His shoulders were pulled back, making his chest puff out just a bit. His face became more stone like as he turned his glare back in her direction.
Good, Harumi thought, as she studied the man in the chair. Moving forward to get a better look, she saw it. A slight tremor in his hand where it rested on his leg. Was this because of the amount of chakra he was using? Or was it because he was trying to suppress some emotion? Either way, it was a chink in his armor. Harumi glanced at Itachi and saw that he too was focused on Madara. Harumi decided it was time to double down on the brattyness.
"So where did Obito take Kakashi?" Harumi injected more whine into her voice, watching with satisfaction as Madara's fingers flexed on his leg.
"Are you going to continue to ask questions?" Madara asked.
"Well yes, that is how you have a conversation," Harumi answered, the 'duh' evident in her voice.
"Your friends show up to rescue you and suddenly you are wanting to talk?" Madara asked, his voice turning silky smooth. "Where was this need for conversation earlier?"
"Well honestly, earlier you were holding me captive and I wasn't in a talking mood."
"Ah, so your friends show up and suddenly you feel safe enough to talk? What makes you think you are safe?" Madara asked, his tone suddenly dipping from silk to ice cold.
AN: Hello Everyone! I'm sorry for no upload last week, but I was on vacation and I thought I would be able to upload, and well, obviously it didn't happen. Also welcome to all the new readers, you are in for a treat. Now onto the important things :)
Kakashi knows the truth. Harumi is being a brat. Madara is a grumpy old man. Now the question is can Madara and Tobi's plan be destroyed by attitude?