Naruto and Boruto both aren't mine. If they were, I wouldn't be here writing fanfiction. :):):)
English isn't my first language and one I don't really use that much so apologies in advance for any spelling/grammar/word choice mistakes. If you do see an error, please let me know so I can fix it. Thanks!
If anyone is triggered by anything they read in this work, please stop and find the story that will suit your taste. No sense wasting your time on something you don't enjoy, right?
…..
She's floating, drifting in a lake or a sea or perhaps an ocean. She's not sure which one it is exactly but she knows she's surrounded by water.
It's always dark. She cannot see anything but she knows—she is not alone. She's certain of it. There are others with her. One or two, she cannot tell, only feel. They're there, just beyond her reach.
In the darkness, she hears many things.
The first sounds she recognizes are heartbeats. Strong and loud, they consistently thunder so very close to her ears. Strange though, instead of causing harm, they only give her comfort from her troubles and sorrows. They make her feel safe and far from harm.
Other times, she hears what seems like human voices but they are always muted and she can't understand a thing no matter how hard she strains her sense of hearing.
Then there are the songs—sometimes happy and sweet, other times slow and sad.
It is a truly bizarre existence.
She never feels hungry or thirsty. She always feels full though she never eats anything. Though she cannot sense the air, she can breathe. Though there is no light, she never feels cold.
Most of the time, the waters lull her to sleep. During the moments she gains consciousness and tries to make sense of anything, her thoughts fly away like birds so eager to escape from their open cage.
She cannot tell how long she's been in this state—the concept of time always evades her. It must have been days, weeks, moons, maybe even years.
Not that it really matters. She is perfectly content with everything and is quite happy to stay in her safe little haven for eternity.
But nothing ever lasts—this she has come to know a long, long time ago.
Hearts break. People die. Nations crumble. Worlds end. Even the stars burn out.
All these things happen under the cold eyes and cold hands of the invisible, invincible and heartless gods that rule over all.
And now, as they are wont to do, those same gods have turned deaf ears to her wishes once more.
They lift their mighty hands and the world shakes, the lands move and the waters in the lake gurgle and swirl before disappearing, drop by precious drop. Where they are going, she doesn't know. Perhaps they'll vaporize or simply flow down the cracks and go to the bottom of the earth, never to rise up again.
Chaos breaks the silence of her dark and cozy haven and after a loud battle cry from somewhere which sounded like a great exploding tag in her ears, the other comforting presence she felt for so long vanished.
That's when she realizes her peace and safety have both come to an end.
Then the chaos abates.
But it's only for a very short while. Next thing she knows, she's being pushed, jostled and squeezed by some unknown force—something similar to Pein's Almighty Push.
Almighty Push? Pein?
She tries to think, to identify where the strange thoughts came from, but her brain gives her no answer and the unknown force steadily increases. She feels it squeeze her head hard. So hard.
It is terrible. It feels like dying.
At one point, she almost suffocates. She has her face, neck and chest almost crushed.
Then, the unknown force is suddenly gone. She feels cold air hit her skin and harsh, unbearable sounds bombard her ears. Everything is just so dreadfully loud.
She feels gigantic hands grab at her and something is being wiped on her face and all over her body, the texture rough and uncomfortable on her abnormally sensitive skin.
She tries to voice her protest against the abuse to her person but her mouth refuses to follow her commands.
She tries to open her eyes but she cannot see anything clearly—only some strange light and dark shadows and many shades of gray with no discernible shape.
She panics.
She has to see.
For what is a Hyuuga without eyes?
She breathes deep to calm herself then pumps chakra to her eyes. One moment the world is black and white, next it is blood red and a pain unlike any other shoots to her eyes and her head.
She screams.
…..
Madara scowled as he paced impatiently in front of his parents' quarters, his right index finger twirling a small kunai over and over again.
He's been worriedly waiting for his father to let him in and allow him to see his mother and new siblings.
He had wanted to be with his mother, but his father had forbidden him from entering and told him that the birthing room was none of his business.
But it was my business, Madara thought with indignation. She's my mother. This is so unfair. I only wanted to hold her hand and make sure she'll be alright.
He didn't tell a soul because an Uchiha must always be strong, but deep inside he is afraid. The pregnancy had been difficult to his Lady Mother.
For months, she's been sick and barely got up from her futon. When he visited her at nights to tell her of his training and adventures throughout the day, she always smiled but it was obvious she was always tired.
The healers said he'll have two new siblings, twins, but they all worried that the babes were taking too much chakra from his mother.
A few times, some months ago, he heard whispers saying that the pregnancy should have been stopped, that it might just kill the Lady Uchiha.
But his Lady Mother was one fierce and stubborn woman who refused to listen to the healers' words. She said: Active babes in the womb means strong heirs and Two precious gifts for the price of one.
His father agreed with her. But then again, he loved her very much and would probably always support her.
He stopped his pacing and stood rigidly in front of the door when he heard several panicked voices inside the birthing room speak up at once.
"By Sage! It's…It's the byakugan with the sharingan! What is happening?! How?! How did this happen?" Old healer Ichika spoke loudly.
Byakugan what? Madara thought with great confusion. Isn't that the name for Hyuuga eyes? The ones father said were rivals and enemies of the Uchiha?
"Stop with the useless questions and focus on my daughter first. Her chakra's going haywire. Do something you idiots!" He heard his father's command, impatience clear in his voice.
"Anata, what's wrong with our babe?" His mother asked, voice weak and worried.
"It will all be fine Akiko, don't fret." His father answered.
"Tajima-sama, perhaps a genjutsu would work?"
Madara's eyes widened. Genjutsu on a babe?! Why? Just what is happening?
"Are you mad woman? It's too risky. We don't know how the babe will react to a genjutsu. She might just fight it and endanger herself further"
"Perhaps knock her out then?"
"How?!"