Chapter 12: Bonds

Hushed voices echo throughout the cave, it's stony walls illuminated by the flame of a single lantern.

"Our forces already suffered significant damage from the attack on Uzushiogakure, their leader may have fallen but we didn't succeed in infiltrating the village. You're accountable for the casualties."

"I take full responsibility. But can I say that you miss what is truly important." the shadow hisses

"What are you getting at? The Uzumaki are the link! Not only do they link the Senju and Uchiha now, but their fuinjutsu can change the outcome of a war."

"No doubt the Uzumaki are the key. But it is what they will unlock that you should focus on."

"I don't have time for your stupid riddles. We're at a disadvantage for resources because of the injuries the Uzumaki's leader caused my men."

"It is unfortunate. Although, you can't expect to get to where you want to go without shedding blood of your own, can you?"

"Get out of here."

"As you wish." The shadow appears to bow before merging with the wall of the cave.

The figure fades into the night as the ninja looks on, something about the interaction leaves him unsettled. He couldn't decipher the creature's motives, though they had no choice but to accept it's help, at this point they are the minority... they couldn't be selective of who's help to take. The attack on Uzushiogakure had been a failure, they had only managed to incapacitate the leader and that alone had cost them many lives. He understood very well that the loss of life was a given in war, yet the way the creature had put it, it seemed as if losing comrades was the path to victory. He shakes away the thought. The Senju and the Uchiha had to pay… having conquered many small nations and clubbed them together under the guise of peace… they had stripped hundreds of their identity and history, and they would pay the price for it someday. He blows out the lantern before slipping out into the cold night outside.

The people of Uzushiogakure greet their leaders with small smiles. There is an air of relief at their return although there is an undertone of grief. Kazue and Mito meet with each villager offering their own condolences, though they had lost a father… the people had lost their leader. Madara notices several people tense as he walks by, this is probably the first time they had set eyes on the fabled Uchiha leader. He wasn't unused to it, aside from Kazue and other Uchiha, most others held the same expression when they first laid eyes on him. Kazue appears to notice this and catches Madara's hand in her own, when his eyes meet hers she squeezes his hand in reassurance. Some villagers hold surprised expressions at the sight of their leader holding Madara Uchiha's hand, it definitely makes an impression. After their time in the town, they retire to the Uzumaki residence. Kazue and Madara walk through the courtyard together, accompanied by the late afternoon breeze.

"I feel as if I was looking at a reflection of myself the way some of the villagers looked at you. You must have hated it." Kazue sighs weakly

"I can only hope I treat them better than I have you." Madara shrugs when Kazue frowns at his words, though she doesn't respond to them.

"The only thing I don't understand, is why it's so hard to work together. War only brings death it only fosters hatred when we can't protect the ones we love." Kazue stares at the ground as they walk

"We can't agree about everything, some will never be compatible. Wars are fought for peace, Kazue."

"What's the point of peace if you can't share it with the ones you love?" Kazue stops for a moment, her brown eyes glistening with tears.

"We can't solve every problem in the world, it isn't perfect and not everyone can live an entirely happy life." Madara tilts her chin up, "Some are lucky enough to."

"I know. But we're not even trying… we aren't born wanting to fight, we aren't born to hate. The rogue ninja defected from their villages because they didn't agree with the leaders, all because their leaders wouldn't listen to them."

"What do you propose we do?"

"Friendship. I- I think that is what is going to bring about true peace." Kazue's eyes seem to glimmer with a passion he hadn't seen in them before, "So many believe being powerful is the only way… to force people into submission. That might bring law and rule and structure but I don't feel it could ever bring about peace or loyalty. Fearing someone above you is not peace, its silence. Peace is understanding every person's role in a village, and realising that everyone must work connected and through harmony for a village to prosper. Jutsu and weapons, they give you power… but they don't make you strong. I've had enough of people exacting their anger on the innocent." Kazue pauses to take a breath and looks up at Madara carefully,

"I can see why your people adore you." He chuckles

"What do you mean by that?!" she blushes slightly, though her frown deepens

"You're quite an eloquent leader. I admire you already."

"I meant what I said." She grumbles

"I meant what I said too. As ironic as it may sound, all these negotiations and battles are in the name of peace. I detest war, there's nothing more cruel in the universe than what war brings about. I want it to end in my lifetime so the next generations don't continue this cycle of hatred and revenge."

"Why don't you speak like this to your people? Any fear they had of you would turn into more admiration."

"Being impersonal keeps enemies away from my kin. Attachment can be a great weakness-"

"It isn't a weakness!" She shakes her head and pulls away from him, "Bonds make you stronger."

"What happens when you lose those bonds?" Madara's surprised expression hardens,

"You have to keep fighting. Bonds aren't lost. They make us who we are and they don't go away when we die. You don't give up who you are when you win. Why give it up when you lose?"

"Kazue it isn't so straightforward-" he presses the bridge of his nose, irritation niggling at him

"It is if you have faith!" she stands her ground, equally annoyed before Madara grabs each of her shoulders and stares into her eyes with an unnerving intensity.

"Kazue, you've become precious to me. I've lost three brothers, my father and mother and many of my aunts, uncles and cousins… You, Izuna and Haruo are the only family I have left and attempts have been made to capture two of you already. There are bonds you can't afford to lose. The path you're talking about will result in war either way, there's no avoiding it. War is absolute but I refuse to lose you." Madara closes his eyes and lets her go, pacing toward the benches in the garden and sitting down with a sigh.

Kazue's eyes soften as she follows him and sits on the bench before she lies down and rests her head on his lap. His expression is one of torment, although he doesn't directly look down at her.

"You mean to tell me that you don't hate the people who murdered your parents? That you'd be willing to make friends with them without wanting to make them suffer for what they did?" Madara asks finally, Kazue pauses to repeat the question in her mind before replying,

"What if Uzushio had once murdered their loved ones too? I'm no better if I continue the cycle of hatred. It hurts so much… more than anything in the world to lose them…" Kazue's throat thickens,

"But someone needs to accept that pain without converting it into revenge. To learn from it, so it never happens again. I'm willing to do that." She finishes

"Your heart is too pure for this world." Madara looks away again. Kazue stands up and grabs his hand,

"Come." She says, Madara reluctantly follows. If she's the one consoling him after losing her own father, he'd been a terribly unsupportive husband. "I used to spend many hours in that forest behind the house." She points to a mass of green trees, splashes of sunlight illuminating parts of the forest within. "When my heart feels murky, when I didn't know what to do… I'd come here, and everything would be clear again."

"Is your heart murky now?" he quirks a brow

"No. It's clear to me what the future needs." She smiles a brilliant smile for him. "But a large part of me is still hurting even though Father and I weren't all that close… I don't know when or if it can ever stop. But I can only hope that there will come a time where our children will never have to feel this way."

"Our." Madara repeats before gently pulling Kazue in front of him. Our children. The thought of it sparks a fire in the Uchiha. A will to protect. Kazue glances at the courtyard around them, a faint blush in her cheeks. "Kazue." His lips find hers as his hands pull the small of her back toward him. Kazue returns his kiss, the spark in him ignites, his kisses become deeper against the soft lips on his. When he presses her chest against his, he feels Kazue tense and pull back, he lets go of her immediately.

"Kazue?" he asks

"I-I'm… I don't think - at the moment I…" Kazue folds her arms tightly across her chest, her brown eyes glistening with tears. His stomach drops slightly when he sees the conflicted expression on her face,

"I understand. I didn't mean to push you. I don't expect you to be in any mind for this now, I've told you I'm ready to wait." He tilts her chin back to him before giving her a slight smile. She'd just lost her father… this is no time for him to act on his emotions. "Let's go inside, you'll your need rest tonight." He puts an arm over both of her shoulders as she nods and they retire to the house as the sun dips below the sea line.

"Do you remember a great deal of your mother?" Madara asks, pulling on a shirt

"Some memories are more vivid than others. I remember how happy everything seemed when she was around. The first bad memories I remember, start after she passed away. I feel like my father and I grew apart after that. We never seemed to agree on anything." Kazue settles into the bed,

"My father and I never saw eye to eye after the thick of the war came to us. Before I met Hashirama, I hadn't imagined I'd stand up to him and tell him I wished to follow my own path. Although I still mourn him today, if not anything else, he was my father." He joins her

"During the wars, the Senju and Uchiha took each other's lives. What made you think differently of Hashirama-ni-sama?"

"I realised my war wasn't against him." He shrugs, fiddling with the necklace on Kazue, the Uchiha and Uzumaki symbols flipping in his fingers.

"Then who?"

"Hatred, revenge, exploitation, power."

"You sound like you agree with me. Earlier you said I was too pure for the world. Here you are, poetic as ever." She laughs once as his brow falls into a scowl

"You are too pure for the world, for me… But I don't agree that village leaders will be happy to sit together and discuss resolving all these issues without violence." Madara pulls her into his chest and sinks back under the covers with her. Kazue nestles into his arms with a tired sigh.

"There has to be a way." She frowns

"You need to stop scheming and sleep. We have a long journey back to Konoha tomorrow." He smooths her furrowed brows.

"I remember how we were when we first met."

"Would you imagine we'd come to this point?"

"Not in my dizziest daydreams." She winks, Madara smiles subtly before his expression drops to one of remorse

"Do you resent the way I've treated you?"

"I don't think resent is the right word. We were both stubborn, both adamant that our standpoint was the correct one…" she replies, "As long as how we are to each other now is genuine, then the past can stay in the past."

"I want to redeem myself." He chuckles though still serious

"I'm giving you a last chance so use it well." She smirks, resting into his arms with a yawn

"Understood." He murmurs into her hair.

Whimpering. Shallow and quiet sobs issue from somewhere near. Groggily shaking sleep away, Madara props himself up on his elbows to investigate. The moon floats in the centre of the dark blue sky, luminescent and round. Beside him, Kazue's small frame shudders delicately against the bed. Instinctively, his hand moves to smooth the crimson locks from her white cheek. Her eyes flutter open and she sits up to face him.

"Nightmare?" he asks, wiping the tears from her cheeks. She stares at the crumpled sheets beneath her and sniffs back tears, her bare shoulders shivering without the covers. Madara pulls the blanket around her before wrapping his arms around her and settling back into the sheets. "Try to sleep, I'll be here." He whispers, tracing circles across the nape of her neck. To his concern, fresh tears begin trailing their way down Kazue's face, pooling against the fabric of his shirt. "What's wrong?" he examines her expression to no avail. The tears that he had once thought of as annoying, now worried him to no end. Without a reply, Kazue's lips meet his. Taken aback by surprise, Madara struggles to decipher her emotions. As much as he tries to move away or hold her back, she moves with him, her arms snake around his neck and her fingers through his hair.

"Kazue?" his protest is met with no acknowledgement, the slight shake of her head urges him to stay quiet. Her slender leg hitches over his hip and her hands slide under his shirt, her fingertips tracing each muscle on his abdomen. He shudders involuntarily at her touch, it had been a while since they had been intimate. Madara finds his lips returning her kisses and his hands effortlessly holding her body tightly to his. Pulling the blanket between them aside, his hands find her inner thigh, trailing upward until a soft moan escapes her lips.

Kazue clings to him, the burning memory of her nightmare blurring slightly as his fingers move between her legs. The sound of his breath gives her comfort and warmth in the cold night. She didn't want to be alone, she didn't want to lose anyone else, never again. She grazes her teeth against his neck, a low rumble issues from the Uchiha's chest and he slides the fabric of her nightgown upward so that it bunches above her thighs. Though she takes every effort not to tense when his fingers slide beneath the band of her underwear, the slightest jerk catches the Uchiha's attention.

Madara looks down to catch her eyes. A frown replaces his expression. Her eyes are squeezed shut and her cheeks glisten with tears. Of course. For a moment, he closes his eyes and composes himself.

It made sense. She wants to be close to someone. She lost half her family and she is letting herself be vulnerable, letting her emotions overpower her mind even if it means going this far. She hadn't been ready yesterday, what made him think she would be today? Before his body betrays his intentions and pulls his wife closer to him he snaps his attention to the wall behind her. He withdraws despite her hands urging him closer.

"Kazue, enough. You're in mourning, you have enough on your mind. I don't want sex to be a diversion. Certainly not our first time. I want you, but not like this. I've told you I'm ready to wait until you're ready." He states firmly, holding her shoulders in either hand at arm's length.

"I am ready!" she protests, sitting up with a fistful of blanket to cover her chest.

"Liar. You're shaking in my arms." He raises a quizzical brow at her,

"Is it that you don't find me attractive? I don't look anything like the other women-" Kazue's brown eyes drop to her knees, her scarlet waves sifting over her shoulder and brushing her cheek gracefully. Madara hadn't thought Kazue could ever sound so unconfident.

"Kazue don't you dare compare yourself to them. A woman of your league shouldn't concern herself with the thought of inadequacy. There is no rush for us to do this, certainly not with the circumstances. What's gotten in to you?" he warns her while pulling the covers over her, though his expression softens when Kazue's drops, she needed reassurance more than scolding, especially as her emotions are now. Madara sighs in irritation at his own blunt words, "Don't look so discouraged, when that night does come… when you truly trust me enough to allow me all of you, you'll be glad we waited." He grins, kissing her forehead. Satisfied with the blush across his wife's cheeks and her speechlessness, Madara wraps the blanket tightly around her again and settles into the sheets once and for all. His arms firmly roped around her hips, Kazue makes little effort to protest and lets herself relax, falling asleep almost immediately. Kazue needed consolation, for her to behave so recklessly she must have been extremely upset and exhausted. She usually kept herself in check and her emotions reserved, he'd never seem her so lost or so hopeless. Though he had to admit it was difficult to resist her. It'd been a while and it didn't make things easier when Kazue slipped into bed each night with the sheer night gown over her curvy figure and a small but captivating smile on her face. However, he'd be damned if their first time was a consolation or a distraction. No matter his urges, he had made enough mistakes for several marriages. He had promised to redeem himself and gain her trust the right way, and Madara Uchiha intended to hold true to that promise.

After the conclusion of a three-hour meeting, Kazue and Madara saunter from the Uzumaki residence and sigh in relief as the sunrise greets them outside. Neither had slept well the last couple of nights, their eyes strain to remain open. Mito and Hashirama meet them outside as their luggage is prepared for their departure to Konoha. Until the Uzushigakure council found a leader, by majority vote Mito and Kazue would oversee political affairs, despite an objection from a male advisor regarding the capability of women to lead which Hashirama had shot down swiftly. Several advisors had raised concerns of Kazue's ability to lead fairly with a bias toward Uchiha as a result of her marriage. Kazue herself had dismissed the suspicions surrounding the Uchiha, accusing them of hypocritically agreeing to let her marry a clan they supposedly do not trust. Here and there, Madara's glare would be enough to silence trouble-seeking opinions. The four say nothing most of the journey back and spend many of the hours catching up on lost sleep. Though Kazue is grateful that the fatigue keeps away the nightmares, in fact it stops her from dreaming at all.

In the coming weeks, Kazue and Madara take time to train, Izuna aids Madara in overseeing the clan's affairs and Uchiha residence is further fortified with security. The exhaustion of integrating the Uzumaki's political issues with the Uchiha's takes its toll of Kazue, the first two weeks being the most difficult. Equally exhausted, Madara had made a habit of dropping by the study to pick up his sleeping wife and carry her back to bed after his own meetings. The urges of his advisors for a first-born were becoming unbearable, though Madara takes great measures to ensure Kazue won't catch wind of it. Despite his own frustrations, he had decided patience would be his virtue here on out, much to Izuna's amusement.

Kazue stares at the sunlight filtering through the yard outside. Madara and Izuna would return from their mission at sunset today. The thought that she wouldn't have to sleep alone another night relieves her, there would be no nightmares tonight. Kanako shuffles into Kazue's study, her red cheeks telling of her running from one end of the courtyard to the other.

"Kanako-san?" Kazue raises a brow

"Someone has arrived from Konoha to see you." The woman puffs

"From Konoha? I haven't been expecting anyone. Who is it?"

"Tobirama-sama."

"Tobirama-san!" Kazue tries and fails to stop herself from jogging to the silver-haired Senju at the gates of the residence. He looks tired and weary, though his smile puts her at complete ease. "I haven't heard from you in so long! Did you see the letters I sent?" she chatters enthusiastically as they walk back to the gazebo.

"I was away on a mission. Ni-san did tell me you had written." He replies, unable to avert his eyes from the bubbly Uzumaki before him. He hadn't seen her in more than a month, although it seemed she had only grown more beautiful. He had lied that he hadn't seen her letters, he had read each one. Though replying to her seemed useless, he wondered if she would even read his letters. Tobirama speaks, "I'm very sorry to hear about your father. He was a good man and a good leader to us all."

"Thank you. Uzushio, Mito and I continue to mourn him, I can only hope things get better for our people soon." Kazue's eyes giveaway her sadness, Tobirama imagines holding her small frame to his chest

"Things will get better, Kazu-chan. We will find out who is responsible for this and we will bring them to justice for their crimes." He frowns

"Thank you, Tobirama-san. I just want this cycle of war to end."

"I do too. We will end it once we get to the bottom of this all." Kazue nods her head in reply to his words.

The two chat as various assortments of teacups and tables are set up around them. The sound of Kazue's laughter here and there and her beaming smile reassure Tobirama that he could live this way the rest of his life. However, he had come to her with reason. After weeks of contemplating whether he should or shouldn't ask her of her feelings toward him, he had found himself at the gates of the Uchiha residence, the conflict in his mind having deprived him of too many nights' sleep.

"How are you finding it here?" Tobirama sips tea as the clouds pass lazily overhead.

"Good, it feels a lot more familiar and the people are very kind and respectful to me." She smiles,

"And your husband?" he tries to maintain a non-comittal tone, any emotion would affect his reasoning.

"He's changed a great deal. I believe he'll continue to change for the better. I never would have imagined he could be as caring as he is." A positive vibe seems to radiate from Kazue, irritation seeps into the Senju like water through an inconveniently leaky boat.

"You can't be serious?" he scoffs childishly all of a sudden, catching her off-guard

"I'm not joking." Kazue snaps back in annoyance, Tobirama had behave immaturely before, yet contempt had never been so evident in his tone, "He is respectful of my wishes and my beliefs, I've found that we share quite a few morals-"

"Morals? He sleeps with a different woman every night. He's putting on a show so he can gain your trust and use you." He snarls, could she not see what Madara is like after all this time?!

"Tobirama-san, tread carefully. Surely, you didn't come here to argue over such things?" Kazue's voice is a low warning

"Kazue, please think about this. One day he's cruel to you and the other he's telling you he loves you?! Surely, I'm not the only one who thinks that's absurd? I needed to ask you what you truly want." Tobirama tries to appeal to her logic, what had changed so drastically that such a man, one she hated, had suddenly gained her good opinion?

"I want you to trust in my judgement of his character, I know you worry for me but you need to let me handle this as I see fit."

"He's going to hurt you, Kazu…Please try to-"

"I'm old enough that I can bear the consequences of my decisions. I appreciate your concern for me, I always have. I value our relationship and I don't want to lose it this way." She relents

"Have you fallen in love with him?" the empty words tumble from Tobirama's mouth without intention,

"Tobiram-" Kazue's brows furrow

"Please just tell me."

"I can't answer you." She looks down at the teacup in her small hands.

Tobirama stands, turns on his heel and walks to the gates of the residence when he glimpses the conflict in Kazue's eyes. He'd just asked her if she loved Madara and there could be nothing more to say when her eyes looked so apologetic in response. He pushes the gate aside easily with one hand, the guards stare at him incredulously. Kazue stands up and walks toward him, concern in her eyes. His maroon eyes glance back at Kazue, taking in this sight of her as if it was his last. Her scarlet hair shines in the afternoon sunlight, creating a stark contrast against her milky skin, her brown eyes are confused and concerned. He smiles, satisfied in deducing they are worried for him. At least he knew for this once, he would be the one on her mind.

"My kunai is with you, I will come should you ever need me, Kazue, that will never change. I can't help but wonder though, if only you could look at me the way you look at him." He calls over his shoulder before he disappears beyond the archway.

Kazue stands for several moments after the guards close the gates. Though no tears fall from her eyes, an emptiness seems to consume the pit of her stomach, the coming sunset leaving her feeling cold and anxious.

A/N: Sorry it's taken me so long to write! Uni is getting more and more hectic, I feel like I'm not investing enough in the story so taking the time to write it and put in enough detail that I'm happy with is difficult for me right now, I'm sorry if that shows through in the chapter. But again, thank you to those who have/are supporting this story, will try to make the next chapters better! x