"I need to take a quick look at lady Mego's old chamber, she needs something." Sumi explained to one of the maids in the house, as they made their way down the hall and towards Mego's maiden bedroom. She informed Tajima that she'd be going to the market, which she had and was carrying a few fruits and some meat in her bag for proof. The plan was – she rushes in, gets the cursed scroll and hurries back before Amako and Iekara return. It was short and simple, she hoped nothing would go wrong, not even daring anticipate the consequences of that.

No, she didn't care if Madara's stupid secret, whatever it might be, got revealed. She only worried what would befall her and Mego in that scenario. Come to think of it, he seemed to have some sympathy for Mego, which meant she would be the one to shoulder his anger alone.

"Oh, my!" She stopped abruptly, looking out the window. "Doro had puppies! I had no idea." They weren't even really puppies any longer, they were almost Doro's size now. Sumi exited through the garden door and went over to pet the mother dog and quickly lost her balance as four other akitas jumped her, demanding attention and cuddles too. She laughed as one surprised her, licking her cheek.

She immediately decided to bring one along. Having a pet would surely make Mego happy and would perhaps take the loss of Izuna off her mind at least every once in a while, so she had the girl leash one of them and prepare it to be taken away. Tajima had a few dogs in the backyard already, she was certain he wouldn't mind another one, especially if it was to lift the moods of his daughter in law. Sighing in content, she hurried to finish what she came for, in the first place.

Entering Mego's old bedroom, it didn't take her long to find the paper that didn't belong among their novels. She read just enough of the beginning to make sure they don't contain just another love story. She didn't even want to know what they contained. Getting tangled in more of Madara's business wouldn't bring her any good.

She put the scroll safely in her leather bag, took the dog by the leash and made way home.

Already halfway across the camp she was truly beginning to lose her patience. Doro's pup jumped on her, his claws tearing small holes in her dress, he kept trying to run off, and more than once she had to struggle to keep her balance for he managed to wrap the leash all around her calves.

He jumped again, this time deciding to gnaw on the thin belt of her bag, as she attempted to make him stop. By that point, the scene had been going on for a few minutes and people were beginning to stop and stare. As if it wasn't uncomfortable enough. At last, the leather broke, and the beg fell. Apples, a few grapes, and naturally given her luck, the scroll, all fell out, rolling on the ground.

She swiftly crouched down to collect them, rushing after the document first, managing to snatch it before anyone glanced its way. She didn't even want to think what would happen if someone decided to pry and look at it. It was unlikely, but things happen!

"No! Stop!" She yelled. Sighing, she watched the animal run away happily, since she had loosened her grip on the leash for a moment. Shoving the paper and the food back into the bag, Sumi hurried after the dog. She was tired of him already, if he continued to still give her trouble, she would just leave him behind.

"Wait!" She called as he ran straight past a man and through the door he was guarding. "I'm sorry. May I go in to get him?" Sumi stopped before the guard, out of breath.

"No. You may wait for him, if you will. Civilians may go inside only for visits."

Sumi took a step back to look at the wooden building better. It was prison.

"So? Can't we just pretend I'm here to pay a visit?"

"But you're not." The guard went on stubbornly.

"Could you go get the dog then?"

"No. I have guard duty."

Sighing, she took a moment to calm down before she could say anything careless. Did people get pleasure from testing her patience? Sure, she had a plenty, but even it had a threshold.

"Look, the dog is a present for Mego, Izuna's widow. Madara had me get it for her so she wouldn't feel lonely. Should I tell him you made that impossible?" It was a lie, but the guard wouldn't know, and she doubted Madara would mind. His expression visibly stiffened at the mention of Tajima's two sons, and he shook his head in disapproval.

"Fine, fine." He moved to the side to let her through. "Don't take too long."

….

"Puppy?" Sumi called unsurely, as she made her way down the stairs of the prison. She forgot to ask if they had already named him – she had no idea what to call him now. She tried whistling, and failing to do so only made her that much more irritable. The air down there managed to be both stale and cold, the place was lit unevenly by spare torches, leaving large blocks of space uncomfortably dark.

Cells were on her left, engulfed in blackness, and she felt her heartbeat beginning to race at the unreasonable but frightening thought that some inmate might be breaking out right at that moment.

The bars were not exceptionally thick, but she assumed they were made with some special material that made it hard to break out. Most of them were empty, the prisoners in those that weren't, paid her no mind. She couldn't see them, but was able to hear their chains jiggling and dragging on the stone. Someone did whistle back, then laughed at her for not doing it right.

She heard a bark.

Oh, finally. She thought, rushing to get to the animal.

Doro's pup sat before a cage, eating out of a bowl. This cage was separated from the others, Sumi noticed. They were all positioned on the side, against the wall, while this one stood right in the middle of the room, leaving only a little space from both its sides. The bars seemed to have a slightly different shine to them too.

"What time is it?" A hoarse voice spoke, just as she took the leash in her hand again, trying to guide the dog away from the food.

"Uh… A little before noon." Sumi answered hesitantly. She wasn't really confident that she should speak to a prisoner, especially one seemingly dangerous enough to be isolated like that. A few light streaks from the nearest torch reached the cage, and she could see silver hair and parts of shadowy, grim face.

"Was this food… for you?" She had to ask, glancing worriedly at the animal. Who knew if he'd even be given anything else to eat for the day.

"It's fine. It was more of a dog food anyway." The man answered indifferently. "What are you doing?!" He asked, voice bearing sounds of disbelief and annoyance. "You can't just reach into a prison cell like that! It will sense chakra and electrify you."

"Hide these somewhere." Sumi placed two or three apples, some grapes as well as a few chunks of cooked meat she bought on the cage floor. "I don't use chakra, I'll be fine."

He didn't argue further. Instead, he came closer, chains dragging behind him, as he collected the food, hiding the fruit but eating the meat immediately. He must be starved, she thought, observing him. The dog sniffed and nuzzled Sumi with his snout until she complied and tore off some meat for him too, to keep him calm.

"Why are you locked away like this?" She gave in to her nosiness, while watching the two devour their food.

"They caught me after the last clan skirmish. Madara didn't let them kill me yet." He answered between bites.

"You're the Senju!" Sumi reacted heatedly before she could pace herself. Aside from a short, intense look, he gave no other reaction. "You've made my lady very sad. Izuna was her husband." She pointed out as a matter-of-factly, but couldn't say judged him. He just did what he had to do.

It didn't seem as if he meant to answer, and if he did, she wouldn't find out. Hearing voices echo down the hall, she jumped from her crouching position, panicking. Tugging at the leash, she forced the dog to come along, and hurried to get out of there.

"Everything is in order, sir. He didn't cause any trouble." She could recognize the voice of the guard, but wasn't sure to whom he was speaking. Madara was probably still with Mego, so… this could very likely be Tajima, if not some other lord. Not looking back, she picked up her pace, holding the damaged bag so tightly her fingers had gone white.

"Sumi?" Tajima called as she approached them, and both he and the guard stopped walking. "What are you doing here, girl?"

"My lord." She bowed quickly. "The dog I got ran in here, and I came to find it. It's for lady Mego." She tried gesturing with her hands busy, gulping in nervous anticipation under the man's stern gaze.

Tajima nodded slowly, not letting her make any guesses from his expression. It was the same, strict, displeased face as in any other situation. She noticed, astonished, that even the dog refrained from barking in his presence.

"What are you carrying?"

"Just some food, mostly fruit." Sumi answered, almost in a whisper, cursing at herself internally for being so unable to conceal her anxiety.

"Didn't someone buy food for the week yesterday?"

"Lady Mego asked for grapes." She choked breathily, wide eyes wandering the shadows of his face. He watched her for another brief moment.

"Fine. Go home." He finally said. Bowing once more, she rushed out, hugging the bag even closer to her chest and gripping the leash so hard it was starting to burn her palm.

That was close.

….

"What happened to you?!" Mego asked, gawking up and down at Sumi's disheveled clothes, while the playful dog stubbornly demanded her attention, wiggling his tail and jumping around her when she looked away. Giggling, she would comply every once in a while, ruffling his shiny fur. Madara, however, seemed as displeased as ever. His strict gaze trailed the animal as it ran rings around them.

"You better not be planning to keep that in the house." He was swift to complain. "It might jump on Mego, or knock her down. In her condition, that could be fatal."

"No! Please, let's keep it, brother in law." Mego whined, crouching down to meet face to face with her new pet, letting her nose gently bump against his snout as she scratched his ears. "I'll be careful."

Sumi stood confused, more than a bit worried because of his words. Mego did seem livelier than she had seen her in weeks, but here Madara was talking of her condition.

"Condition?" She asked slowly, eyes wide in concern. "What condition?"

"She is carrying Izuna's child." Madara said before Mego had a chance to break away from the dog and deliver the news herself. "So, try not to endanger her again." He looked down his nose at her as she handed him the scroll. "I'll be in my room." He turned away to leave.

"Why don't you give it to us, brother in law? Sumi will make lunch and we can burn—"

"No. I changed my mind." He said on his way out.

"He had us go through all this trouble just so he could burn it?" Sumi whispered once she could no longer hear the bat of his steps. "Well, if that was his plan, I could have just burned them back at your house." She clicked her tongue in annoyance. At this point she felt like he might have had her go through all that just to inconvenience her. What a terrible man, she shook her head.

"But more importantly! We're going to have a baby!" She pushed his grumpy face to the back of her mind and embraced her friend, urging her to tell her all about her morning.

…

Madara's eyes lazily went over the contents of the papers before him, while he was trying to decide what he should do with them. By this point, he didn't even really need to scrolls to remember all the things he and Hashirama had figured out before the latest battles. Burning them would only serve as a symbolic and big fuck you to the Senju. An additional one before he would have Tobirama killed.

Still, he had spared the papers, and had, albeit with a heavy heart, decided to spare the young Senju as well. His household would once again have a child to raise and protect. For the sake of Izuna's offspring he would be willing to swallow his pride, his desire for revenge, and more than that. Through that child he would get a part of Izuna back! He couldn't permit it to grow and live in the horrific surroundings they had to endure as children.

It was the time to have that conversation with Tajima.

….

"I strengthened the security in the prison. We never know when the Senju might decide to break in and try getting the boy out." Tajima began almost as soon as he noticed Madara had joined him in the living room. "I'd feel at ease if you would join them…"

"Father." Madara interrupted, to get the man's attention off the topic. He gulped, resisting the urge to perform any nervous gesture. He wanted to appear like he knew what he was talking about. Tajima would try to brush off his ideas of communicating with the Senju regardless, but he needed to show resolve. Now more than ever.

"What is it?"

"Sister in law is pregnant."

"Yes, I just heard from servants. That's beautiful news." The man nodded, sporting a tiny smile.

"Well… Shouldn't we try to stop the battles with other clans? At least with the Senju, for now. Last time we barely kept them away." He gestured.

"What are you suggesting?"

"You know what I'm suggesting." He tried very hard to conceal traces of irritation in his voice. Tajima's family has been reduced down to a single child, one would think a grandchild on the way would do something to change his ways.

"Don't be naive. The peace would never last." With a simple motion of his hand, Tajima tried shooing the conversation away. "We should focus on—"

"You don't know that!" Madara stepped forward, perhaps more abruptly and aggressively than he intended. "If we were to deliver Tobirama unharmed and ask for truce, they would accept! I know certainly that Hashirama would, and others would follow. We have a child on the way—"

"Do you know how many children are born in one day?" Tajima interrupted him, his impeccable composure remained unwavering. "Dozen. None of them had ever stopped clan wars. Why is this one any different?"

He obviously didn't fail to notice Madara's appalled expression. This one was different! It was Izuna's!

"Yes, it's the child of our household, but it will get training as any other and contribute to its clan – like both Izuna and you did, as well as your siblings. Besides, it could be a girl. Then you'd have nothing to worry about." Tajima finished, his tone cold and calculated, while he stated simple facts.

"I will take Tobirama to the Senju and negotiate." Madara said firmly. If he needed to rebel against, betray, beat up any Uchiha trying to get in his way, he was ready for it.

"You may try. I, along with the rest of the clan, will not take part in it. Should you fail, which you probably will, not only will you be a traitor, but an idiot as well. Dead idiot, most likely."

Without another word, Madara made his way out of the room. He was very close to snapping, and then he might say things he'd definitely regret later on. Barging into his own room, he packed his weapons, took some food and water from the kitchen, and headed to the prison.

"Sir." One of the guards acknowledged him as he made his way inside. "Did you need something?"

"Come with me. You will unlock the Senju from his cell."

"Unlock?!" The man gasped, rushing to keep up with Madara. "But… lord Tajima said to—"

"I know what he said, man. I say let him out. I'm taking him back to his clan." The guard's reluctance was beginning to annoy him. "Do I need to take the keys from you?"

"N-no, no. I'm on it." The man signaled to the other two guards to step away while he unlocked the cell, then the shackles and led Tobirama out.

The white-haired Senju stepped out, weary but careful. His narrowed eyes trailed from Uchiha to Uchiha that surrounded him. He had visibly lost some weight, but was still bigger than an average man. Still, he was dirty, starved and dehydrated. Madara sensed more danger from that mongrel Sumi had brought, than him.

"Lead the way to your camp." Madara told him, waiting for him to go first.

The Senju held many suspicions, most of which were displayed right on his shitty face. But he did as Madara told him. He'd probably go anywhere he was told rather than get crammed back inside that cage.

"Why?" Was his only question.

"Not for your sake, trust me. I do have my reasons to let you live, however."