Chapter 6: Coward

Several weeks later.

Izuna barely makes it into the Uchiha compound after training before Kazue storms past him in a flurry of white-hot chakra. The Uchiha looks ahead to decipher the situation, though he was almost sure it had something to do with his brother's careless behaviour. They had frequent arguments as of recent. Madara steps out from his room shirtless and his slacks hanging lazily on his hips, he looks exasperated though he tries to play it off with a nonchalant shrug.

"What did you do this time?" Izuna asks

"How would I know? She gets angry at most anything trivial." Madara scoffs back as he rolls on his shirt, behind him, Izuna notices a figure turn in Madara's bed.

"Can you not go without sex for a night?" Izuna tsks

"I've agreed to give her space so why should I have to do nothing in the meantime just because she isn't ready?" he snaps

"Let me guess she walked in on you?"

"She all but broke the wall from her room to tell us to quieten down and moments later she trampled the door and shouted indistinguishably at us. Then she proceeded to argue with me. It's not like she doesn't know."

"You're not even making a point to hide it. Think of her. What if the roles were reversed and she had a lover?"

"She doesn't and that wouldn't matter." Madara snarls back

"With the look on your face, it would matter. You're telling me you'd be perfectly content to hear some other man, a new one each night, make love to your wife from next door every night? Or what about just one man, perhaps Tobirama-" Izuna scoffs before Madara's hand grabs a handful of his shirt collar, "I think I've proved my point. Look, I have another mission and I won't be back until tomorrow. At least treat her with some kindness while I'm gone." Izuna narrows his eyes at the apparently furious shinobi. Madara releases him in a huff and slams the door behind him, leaving his brother in the courtyard.

Why doesn't Izuna quit his meddling and leave it alone? Throwing on his clothes, Madara pulls apart the curtains to let sunshine pour into the room, the woman in his bed stirs before settling again. Her long black hair cascades around the bed and her curvy figure is covered by the thin blanket. An image of Kazue's crimson waves across his sheets flashes through the ninja's mind, much to his annoyance. Shaking off the thought he prepares for the meeting. After their wedding, Kazue had grown increasingly distant, it was true that Madara hadn't made a great deal of effort to tend to their relationship even after the elders' insisting they try for a child. Since their wedding night, he hadn't had much luck expelling Kazue from his mind's eye. His wife, spent her days with the servants and the children in the library or training. Madara hadn't forbid her from having such freedoms, although it was uncommon for a woman of her standing to be so carefree and informal. Her defiant attitude toward him was another thing that irritated the Uchiha, she never seemed to listen or agree with anything he said and barely showed up to meetings that concerned her. Some of his advisors had made him aware of her lack of responsibility, their reminders appeared to be an indication that he wasn't being firm enough, that alone annoyed him to no end. In the next fortnight, there was to be a feast at the Uchiha residence, which would celebrate another exchange of man-power with a neighbouring clan, this meeting would solidify official proceedings and Kazue's presence would be mandatory. She'd better clear her head and return to the meeting hall before the afternoon. Madara slips on his shoes before leaving his room.

Hundreds of fragments of brown bark splinter around Kazue as her fist collides with the gigantic oak tree in front of her. Her bare feet rebound from the branch, her legs split to flip her back and allow her to land on an adjacent tree. Taking several heaving breaths, she sets herself up to jump again. Her attention drops to her throbbing fist before she pulls back to punch again. What is she doing? Letting that man get under her skin to the point that she behaves so irrationally. Taking another deep breath, Kazue settles and descends to the earth beneath her. Why did they irritate each other even more than before? Is that even possible? She had endured the explicit and improper sounds since their wedding night, though they didn't share a room even now, being next to each other was still taxing. Kazue owed her defiant attitude towards Madara for his constant disinterest and dismissal of her. This was the first time she had walked, rather, barged down the door to tell them to shut up, after the loud noises from his room next to hers made it impossible to read her book. The image of Madara entangled in the slender arms of another woman on his bed, barely enough sheet to cover their bodies. The expression of half-hearted surprise or concern in his black eyes, the sight of a woman's long fingers twisting through his obsidian hair, her own black hair covering their bodies from view. The thought makes her feel sick though she's confused as to why. Shaking her head until she feels dizzy, Kazue heads back to the compound.

Kanako and the other kitchen hands are trudging about in the gardens when Kazue returns. Apparently, they were picking herbs and vegetables to create a menu for the coming feast. She tells them to wait while she changes and heads over to join them. Kanako tries to dissuade her and warn her that Madara would not approve of her actions to which Kazue scoffs and rolls up her sleeves and lifts a basket to her hip.

"Instead of exchanging soldiers, I prefer to help those who look to me to lead them." She beams,

"Kazue-san, he will be very angry…" the older woman seems fearful, Kazue squeezes her in her arms

"I'll protect you." She winks, to which Kanako and the others can't help but smile.

"It's more you, we're concerned for."

"Don't worry about that. Just teach me how to help you."

The others take warmly to Kazue, this is the first time they could all meet her in person. The easy-going aura Kazue radiates draws the other servants into comfort, their laughter echoing through the courtyard. Haruo joins them soon after, without Izuna there the boy seemed lost and detached although the buzz of the gardens brings out his smile. Kazue wipes the sweat from her brow, accidentally smudging some mud across her cheek. These people are kind. She pulls up her slacks and ties the drawstring tighter around her hips. At first, she had thought them to be afraid and psychologically traumatised, though she can see that all they need is the opportunity to speak and the confidence that they are safe. She'd made up her mind that she wouldn't attend the meeting today no matter how much it angered Madara. It seems a neighbouring clan had agreed to share their ninja and strengthen the Uchiha's man-power. Kazue couldn't understand what purpose this served, it only propagated the idea that the Uchiha were to be feared and that everyone should prepare for war even in times of peace. To be made to sit like some kind of eye-candy by Madara's side while the sergeants drank and laughed about their power over the weak… Kazue wanted no part in such relations.

The morning ticks slowly into noon before the advisors start to feel irritation radiating from their leader. The other clan leaders hadn't taken much notice that Madara's wife isn't present, laughing and jabbering on about their trivial anecdotes. However, the Uchiha contemplates whether Kazue could have a good enough excuse to make her absence at the meeting condonable. A maid comes by to gather teacups and cautiously manoeuvres around the tables.

"Where is she?" He demands without raising his voice when the girl is within earshot.

"Madara-sama she-" the maid begins hesitantly

"She what?" his impatience grows

"She went to the gardens to pick herbs for the feast." An advisor across from them finishes off the sentence. Madara almost sends his cup, tea and all, through the window. Though he stands and sets it down on the table with calculated force, despite this the dish cracks slightly.

"With the servants?" He minces the words out,

"Y-yes, sir."

"In the mud?" his words are barely audible as Madara controls his anger

"Yes, s-si-"

Before the advisor finishes, Madara is storming down the hall to the courtyard, he scans the entire ground before his eyes finally catch a glimpse of his wife. She stands in the field with the servants, plucking herbs from the gardens. The group with her is lively and chattering away. Her long hair is lazily tied atop her head, several tendrils having escaped. There are smears of earth on her milky skin and her clothing is stained. The clothing is what Madara notices afterward. She wears grey pants, knee deep in mud, and a shirt which falls loosely around her shoulders, if she bent the sight of her chest would greet the crowd around her. The insolence and complete disregard for social position… the improperness…Madara could not fathom who this woman thought she was.

"Kanako, try this one. It's the texture that gives it away." Kazue hands Kanako the herb before dusting her shirt off and bending to lift the bucket behind her, though she receives no response from her and turns to find out why.

Oh.

Madara Uchiha stands in the middle of the garden directly in front of her. Kanako is in a bow in the mud, as are the others. His face is expressionless but the quirk in his brow gives away to everyone watching, how incredibly furious he is. Though she's equally afraid she stands her ground, tucking Haruo behind her.

"What did I do now?" she mumbles under her breath and regrets it immediately

"What did you do." He repeats in an incredulous but even tone

"What am I doing wrong? I haven't interrupted you or your meetings."

"Your blatant lack of respect for the social position you have been bestowed is starting to test my patience." His face is almost expressionless but his eyes were something else…there was a rage behind them that scared Kazue. For a moment, she feels as if the pressure of his eyes would crush her where she stood. Letting some chakra flow through her she shakes off his paralysing glare and gestures Haruo to leave. The boy scurries off without arguing.

"These are my clothes and I don't see how my decision to help pick herbs this afternoon has made me any less of a lady. You're one to talk about a lack of respect. Starting with the fidelity of this marriage." Though she knows she should stop there, Kazue continues, "If this was a crime so terrible and disrespectful, I can't imagine why the great Madara Uchiha would be standing here in the mud with me, you can gain all the men you want but you can't lead these people without knowing how to stand with them, no increase in man-power can ever teach you how to respect your people." Kazue doesn't hold back her attitude, if the servants weren't so scared of him she was sure they would have laughed.

In a moment, Kazue sees fire flare in Madara's eyes before an impact across her cheek throws her to the ground. The iron taste of blood seeps into her mouth, before she registers that he backhanded her to the ground.

"Enough." The anger seems to have disappeared from his voice, replaced by usual disinterest. The sting in Kazue's cheek burns for several minutes before dulling to a throb, the impact had made her eyes water. There is silence around them. Without a word, she stands. As irritable as he was, Madara had never hit a woman before… and now his wife looks at him, a large purple bruise already blossoming across her white cheek. Her soft brown eyes were bereft of their usual emotion, a smudge of blood trails down from her chin, dripping to the earth under them. His eyes widen in unease.

"You really are every part the monster they said you'd be. But you're not a monster, are you? You're just a coward." Kazue's jaw trembles to keep her voice even. Without any other words, she walks past Madara, placing a hand on Kanako's shoulder before walking to the estate. Madara feels the charged eyes of the servants around him, they flit from one and other to the ground as if questioning who they were bowing for. The servants wait for their master to lash out again at his wife's words, but he does not. Instead he follows her several moments later in complete silence, leaving the servants speechless in the gardens.

It wouldn't take too long for the bruise to heal, perhaps a day or so. Anxiety washes through Kazue, threatening to paralyse her body. She had witnessed first-hand that Madara isn't above physical abuse. The door clicks open and she bolts to the window, adrenaline surging through her body, panic in the pit of her stomach urging her to find a way out. She knew who was at the door before her eyes met those of Madara Uchiha. He measures his steps into the room keeping his eyes on the girl, he didn't have to strain to hear the thud of her heartbeat and see the fear in her eyes.

"I won't hit you again." Madara says evenly, Kazue doesn't respond. Her eyes continue to dart across the room, she had to get out of there… she had to put as much distance between her and the Uchiha as she could. "Kazue, did you hear me?" his question is almost gentle...

"I hear you, I don't believe you." The words tumble from her lips in a whisper

"I'll send for Kanako and a healer." He says and opens the door before pausing, his back to her. "I shouldn't have struck you. It truly was unbecoming of someone of my position." With those plain words, he leaves.

Kazue collapses onto the cold floor as the door shuts. Her throat is thick, fighting back the urge to wail like a mad-woman. She tries to focus on her breathing, holding her knees tightly to her chest. Kanako and the medic arrive shortly after, wordlessly, Kanako places her palm on the middle of Kazue's back and rubs in a circular motion, though it does little to comfort her, Kazue appreciates it.

"Has he hit any of you before?" Kazue's voice breaks twice while Kanako washes her back
"No. We have never seen him lash out physically, ever. If I dare say, I cannot imagine how he could have struck his own wife." Kanako sounds sympathetic
"I'm still the outsider and he doesn't like the things I say. I should have anticipated this would happen."
"He regrets his actions. Madara-sama has not returned from the shrine this afternoon. He often goes there after battles or funerals."
"I don't think he regrets it. He wanted to silence me. He's made it clear I am nothing but a name to fill a position in the clan."
"He is harsh to outsiders, but against what they may say or the image he has to his name, he is not someone who takes pleasure in the pain of others."
"That's fine Kanako, you may go now. I can finish washing up myself." Kazue feels irritation seep into her as she waves Kanako away. Kanako bows and leaves.

Kami, what had he done? What kind of uneducated and irrational upbringing did he have that he could lose enough control to strike his wife? The look of pure fear on her small face the moment he had stepped into the room… Disgust at his own behaviour twists relentlessly in the pit of Madara's stomach as he sits in the temple. Why was he so intolerant of her? Why did he hurt her for something so irrelevant in the scheme of things? Did it really irritate him so much to hear the truth from her lips? Shame washes through him like a wave of needles in his veins as he stares at the incense floating up and dissipating into the air around him, his clenched fist slams into his thigh with a thud. What is happening to him? He wasn't raised to be this way.

The bruise across his wife's cheek had darkened a great deal overnight, Madara moves his eyes to his food when he sees the light touch her face although his appetite had undoubtedly waned. The usual milky white of Kazue's cheek bone is marred by blue and purple splotches, redness surrounding the outline of the rectangular bruise. Izuna's eyes pop at the sight of his sister-in-law, he hadn't remembered any marks on her before he left on his mission yesterday, what in Kami's name has happened to the girl? Izuna stares at his elder brother, who is moving the food around on his plate broodingly, just what had that fool done? There are hushed murmurs across the room as Kazue walks to the head of the table. Much to Madara's dread, Kazue takes up her seat beside him and offers a bland greeting. The first thing he notices is her voice, it sounded broken and hoarse… her eyes are sunken and red, as if she had not slept the whole night, not that he had either. Never had Madara Uchiha lost his temper at a woman the way he did yesterday, and never had Madara Uchiha felt so regretful of his decisions. Until now, when his eyes glance over at his wife. Kazue finishes, dryly gulping the last mouthful of food down and standing to and politely excuse herself from the table before Madara or Izuna can reply. Madara can feel his brother's eyes burn into him. Izuna excuses himself when Madara does and follows him from the dining room to his study in silence.

"What have you done?!" Izuna shouts as soon as the door closes, "What the hell happened to her face?! Ni-san… if you're responsible for what I think you are…" his voice trails off, the knuckles on his clenched fist white

"I am." His elder brother interjects quietly

"You raised your hand on your wife?" the combination of words seem wrong as Izuna says them

"Yes."

That's all Izuna hears before he tackles his brother into the wall behind them. Madara does little to retaliate as his brother slams a fist into his face.

Kanako reapplies ointment to Kazue's cheek before applying the dressing delicately. Kazue smiles in thanks, opens the door and stands to take a walk around the compound, Kanako reminds her to put on her shoes on before the two step outside. The two women are greeted by the crash of a wooden support beam flying across the courtyard to land on the opposite balcony cracking the wood underneath it. There isn't a moment for the shock to materialise in Kazue's mind before Madara and Izuna appear in the corner of the compound. Several clusters of servants and family members are at the sides of the courtyard in worried hushes. Lightning and thunder seem to clash when the brothers' fists meet, sending most scurrying for shelter. The movements were inhumanly fast but Kazue can make out elite-level taijutsu in the exchange of blows in front of her. She tasks Kanako with getting everyone safely inside their rooms before she makes it out to the two brothers. What the hell are those two doing in such a crowded space putting everyone in danger?!

"Enough!" She shouts at the top of her lungs. The moment she does, the fighting ceases. Madara and Izuna stand face to face, panting, their eyes still filled with anger. "Izuna-san, what's going on?!" Kazue runs to him.

"As long as I'm here, I'll be damned if he lays a hand on you again. I won't let it happen." He spits at Madara

"You're hurt, you need to have the medics check you." Kazue frowns in concern

"It wouldn't be a real family without some fist-fights, now would it?" Izuna winks at Kazue before spitting blood out of his mouth.

A fist-fight? She stares at him incredulously as he jogs off to help some maids clear the debris of two crumbling walls and a badly battered door. Kazue's eyes flit to Madara, who stands in the middle of the garden looking a great deal worse than Izuna. To anyone else it would seem they were fighting, to Kazue all she could see was Madara taking the hits without great reluctance or effort to block. Though his chest and arms aren't exposed, Kazue can surmise two of his ribs and his nose are broken. Clearly, he hadn't even tried to fight back. His chin is smudged with blood and his neck and presumably most of his torso are covered in bruises. Kazue walks slowly towards the ninja who sits on the pebble path almost casually.

"Why didn't you defend yourself?" Kazue's question is firm,

"I wouldn't fight my brother." His breath is uneven and Kazue can tell his injuries need to be treated

"But you would hit me for speaking." She tries and fails to stop her words, at this point she felt no sympathy

"It truly is cowardly." He gives an empty chuckle, ignoring the pain in his chest

"It is." She agrees before rolling up her sleeves and letting green chakra flow through her palms, Madara watches in bewilderment as she cuts through his shirt and places her hand over the bruised and collapsed area of skin over his broken ribs.

"Why…" he murmurs in utter confusion. Why in Kami's name is she healing him? He moves to grab her hand but she swats him away,

"Stay still and keep quiet for once in your life." She commands and for once, the Uchiha listens.

"You shouldn't heal me." He says after a moment, trying to decipher Kazue's expression

"No, you're right. I shouldn't. But that would make me as immature as you, I'm a leader not a child who seeks vengeance. Don't forget that you have people to lead, this isn't the time to make a scene."

Madara remains silent after that, her words render him awestruck. No doubt she had an air of authority when she called upon it. Her dismissal of his protests make him feel even more ashamed to recall the look on her face when he had hit her. He does nothing but stare at her face while her hands swiftly stop the bleeding and regenerating the damaged tissue. A tendril of her scarlet hair brushes her cheek and her brows knit together in concentration. The bruise across her cheek is healing faster than normal although the shadow of purple across her milkly face makes nausea turn in his stomach. She swipes the strand of hair that is distracting him away from her cheek and winces as her knuckles brush her bruise. Without thinking, he lets chakra flow to his fingertips and raises it to Kazue's cheek. The buzz of green in his hands catches Kazue off guard, she flinches in shock.

"What are you d-?" she splutters

"Sh. Let me." He dismisses without looking into her eyes.

Kazue purses her lips and continues, feeling warmth spread across her cheek and the throb of the bruise disappear. She ensures her eyes don't make contact with the obsidian eyes of the Uchiha inches away from her. If he looked into her eyes, she was sure he would see her resolve to condemn him falter.

A/N: Wow so this chapter was furiously typed up at 1am this morning after a little insomnia ;) Hope you like it! Thank you to those who are reviewing and supporting this fic, I greatly appreciate it!

To Zeynep: I ship the two of them as well ;) although I ship her and Madara too, I suppose we'll have to see how it all unfolds, even I'm unsure! I'm just glad Kazue calls Madara out on his sh*t and he can't deal with it sometimes though after this chapter maybe he's learning? Ooh Hashi and Mito! Now that's an idea ;)

To AnImEfAN506: The Uchiha's alliance with the Uzumaki is definitely a game changer. I'm deviating a little from canon to experiment with these characters. I think there's more to them than what we got to see!