║Rumination ║
Mid-morning
Uchiha Village...
...
Madara finally finished his training along with other trainees; both children and adults. He dried his heavy drops of sweat on his skin from face to his neck using his small size of a soft-white towel. Minutes after, he stops moving as he slightly jerked his head that reminds him of something that he almost forgot. Then turned and facing at the wide opened-slide door as he stares the outside of it.
'It's time..' Madara thought in stern determination. This is the time where he has to meet with that boy named Hashirama at the specific location of the river banks.
Then, he walked out quietly, making sure no one noticed him. He instantly went to the room and change his clothes. Later on, he quickly jumped out of the room's window until he landed on the ground as he immediately hides into the bushes. He scanned his eyes around to make sure if the coast is clear. When it does, he expeditiously uses his speed, then sneaking into the wall, and jumped away, scanning his eyes around until he reaches the southern gate.
Madara checks around the area again just making himself sure and runs at the wall quickly as he could. He leapt away outside the Uchiha gate.
His father knew that he sometimes went outside their clan's village to contemplate and train himself alone so he has no problem if Madara doesn't ask his father's permission.
Without Madara's noticed, his father, Tajima Uchiha activated his sensory skills as his Sharingan activated even before he left. Inside his office, he sat in front of his wooden table as his eyes glanced at the closed door, focusing his son's movements.
Tajima permitted his older son that he could go whenever he wanted. However, he became more suspicious after he distinguished his son's arriving home often times late unlike before. Because of that, he knew there's something been going on due to Madara's odd actions.
Moments after, when he couldn't sense Madara's chakra, he looked inward at the right side as he stares at the other door.
"Izuna." Izuna enters the room right after Tajima summoned his son. Izuna went out from Tajima's right side. He walked in front of his father and he kneeled formally. Izuna glowered at his father ready to pay attention to his mission.
" Sir!." Izuna responded to him. Tajima forbiddingly stares at his younger son.
"Begin my order as what I had told you last night. Make sure he didn't notice you tailed him. Understood?" He commanded his youngest son strictly. Izuna then nodded without hesitation.
"Hai! 'tou-sama."
...
...
...
After his strenuous crept moments from a nanosecond back from his clan village, Madara sighed of relief and continuously travels into the woods. Promptly, he widens his eyes and remembered something when he came across a specific location of the forest where he first spotted Sakura. Due to that, he paused on one of the branches.
'Why am I... think of her all of a sudden?' Madara frowned as he pouted his mouth. His face changed to a stern look. His thoughts admitted that there's something familiar about her. But he couldn't remember if he did meet her before to any market places or perhaps, just only his thoughts.
...
...
A few minutes later, Madara finally reached the river bank. He disembarked on the ground and stomped in a few steps on it.
He forthwith paused stiffly when he saw Hashirama wasn't alone himself. That idiot and a stranger were both facing at the river while they chortled each other. What Madara was uncanny about that he didn't sense this person's chakra earlier, but Hashirama's.
He doubted that this person is also a shinobi. Hashirama seated a few inches away from that person who holds a red-oil paper umbrella shaded herself which he didn't see that person distinctively. He stepped back attempting to hide in the bushes but it was too late when Hashirama noticed Madara's chakra after his head startled. He quickly turned around and found a staggered Madara. Then he called his name out loud and waved at him cheerily.
Madara froze comically.
"Ooooooioooooooooiiiiiiiiiiiii!" Hashirama continuously waved with his vivid smile.
'Damn you, idiot!' Madara cursed himself mentally.
He has no choice but remained standing up stiffly. He felt anxious and dubious so he started to scan his eyes around in case someone's lurking or a sign of a trap. But it was affirmatively only the three of them alone. Madara wasn't a good sensory type in terms of a person's chakra minimise itself.
Meanwhile, Hashirama raised himself up and ran towards Madara. Madara gave Hashirama in an instant frown.
"Hey, Madara! How's it going?" Hashirama greeted him. Madara glared at him madly then he glances at that person block with an umbrella suspiciously. Then he glances back at his friend.
"And who's that?" He asked irresolutely. Hashirama then turns his head to the person which Madara mentioned.
"Oh right! We've met in the forest while I travelled. I can't leave her alone so I want her to be with me because it's not safe of her wandering around in this area. And we have a great time of chatting with her. Also, I thin—"
"—So you just let that stranger be with you?" He cut Hashirama's words. Now he felt more uncomfortable when he found out that it was a random person that his friend met.
"Eh..not really but—"
"—Don't you think that person is suspicious!." He lowered his voice coldly and gave him a hostile staring look towards the person again. Hashirama sweat-dropped and furrowed his brows.
Hashirama laughed nervously."Calm down Madara, sh—"
"—And don't tell me you already told that stranger we're shinobi?" Madara lowered his voiced. Hashirama was stunned and blinking his eyes.
"Yeah..so?" Hashirama answered him. Madara sigh and he face-palmed. Thinking that Hashirama is just simply a naive kid.
"Do you know what risk will happen when you told that unknown person about us?" Madara said and sounded his voice like he interrogated Hashirama. Hashirama pisses off and had enough of Madara for not letting him continue his explanation.
"Hey! At least I didn't mention my last name! Will you stop cutting out my words! Let me explain, Madara. And, do not worry sh—"
"—Even so, don't you ever just trust anybody, baka!" Madara, once again he cut Hashirama's words. Hashirama inhales deep wearily and he sigh. He decided to quit and give up arguing Madara.
In a few seconds, the person standing herself up. Madara knitted his brows. When the person, which is actually a lady, slowly turns around and face the two of them.
Madara's eyes widen. A pink-haired girl was smiling at him wearing a flowery gold Kimono. Madara then flabbergasted for this unexpectedly moment that a girl from the forest will meet her here again. It's an irony for him, after all, he remembered about her when he travelled back from that forest before his arrival.
"You?" Madara muttered. Hashirama was startled and gave him a curious blinking look at a flabbergasted Madara. Then he glanced at Sakura afar then look at Madara back. He put his hand on hips and sigh.
"I tried to explain to you about her that you knew each other..." Hahsirama shrugged,"... You weren't listening." Hashirama shrugged. Not long after, Sakura strides forwards to them until she reached in front of the boys.
"Long-time no see... . ." She said. Madara unforeseeably flushes his cheeks to red. He glances at Sakura, now he thought that she looked way better when she finally wore proper clothes compare from the last time considering he called it her lame unfashionable outfit."...Madara."
"And what are you doing here!?" He asked her as he pointed his forefinger, remained unfriendly as before.
...
"Itadakimasu!" Hashirama then ate his food and thank Sakura again.
However, Madara hesitantly looked at Hashirama and a bit worried while he ate the food that Sakura brought because he doubted that Sakura might put something poison in it.
"There's no poison in it, Madara." Sakura spoked and then she bit her fresh strawberry fruit.
Madara glared at her, distrustfully. Then he looked down at the food. He released his sigh and ate the whole Inarizushi which is his favourite. He gulped and gradually lighten his face.
"Hn..not bad."
" Eat well Madara." She winked and smiled. Madara widens his eyes. He didn't anticipate her generosity even they were strangers. Madara smiled her back remaining with his light blush on his cheeks. Then he looked down to his food shyly and scratching his left hand at his head.
"Thank you...Sakura..." Madara thanked her hesitantly and he stopped his lips not to smile her back. Sakura felt happy when she sees Madara's cute hesitant reaction. She then chuckled.
"No problem at all, Mada-kun."
Sakura then cheerfully ate her own bento. Madara gave her a warm look. He secretly widens his lip.
On the other side, without knowing, Hashirama stopped his food and noticed something odd about Madara.
...
Hashirama and Madara started their sparring. They landed their punches and blocked using their arm and legs from their special taijutsu skills. As Sakura watched them from afar and unexplainable feeling proud for both of them, reminding her boys who also had the same sparring style while she was an academy student back them.
Then suddenly, her face changing into a solemn form. Her eyes started to close, contemplating deeply as she uses her power to visualise something using her mental communication.
'How are they?' Sakura talked mentally, connecting her visions to a specific target.
Her dark visions turned to a forest as if he spirit travelling into the deep woods. Herself was like an air who travels as fast as light. Until she reaches the contact...it was her two clones, each of them has two unconscious boys lied on a grassy ground.
Two of them were in a separate area. Each of her clones with Izuna Uchiha and the other one with Tobirama Senju lied in the grass ground and unconscious. Each of her clones was standing beside these two.
'They're in good condition. The Genjutsu worked perfectly.' A clone Sakura responded the one with the unconscious Tobirama.
'Please keep your eyes on them. We'll release these kids as I tell you so.' Sakura commanded.
'Understood!' The two clones answered.
Then her sight turned pitch-black again as she opens her eyes and saw two boys still sparring with each other. It was all planned from the very beginning as Sakura began to notice Hashirama and Madara's younger siblings which coincidentally were both spying their older brothers.
Sakura already placed a seal to detect intruders where both Hashirama and Madara considered the river place and some part of the forest were already marked as their territory by her.
...
In Sakura's Genjustu
Inside of Sakura's Genjutsu, Both Tobirama and Izuna stalked their elder brothers while they saw both of them trained in taijutsu performances while the younger ones watch them heedfully.
Night Fall...
..
...
"Well, I guess I have to head back home now." Sakura gladly said. It is an awesome moment as she met these two young and powerful legendary shinobis. Both Hashirama and Madara saddened their faces.
"Yeah, but..we'll see each other again, right nee-chan?" Hashirama said. Sakura then nodded willingly.
"Of course we'll be meeting here again, Hashi-kun! Luckily, it's my day off on the same day. So, I'm sure we will see each other again next time." She tittered.
"What kind of job do you have, Sakura?" Madara asked her attentively giving him an inquisitive look. Sakura then looks over at him.
"Just working at the restaurant. I work there as a waitress from a clanless village." She said.
"Sugoi! That place has a bunch of entertainments! We can both have fun there if we're luckily to escape from out families" Hashirama stared at Madara in a fret.
Madara sigh, " Baka, you told me before you always come here with your family's permission?"
Hashirama sweatdropped,"B-but if I'm going to ask permission from my dad! I'm sure he's going to ask me multiple questions and will spy on me! For sure! Don't you think about that?"
Sakura quietly turned her solemn eyes to Madara as he thought that Hashirama is absolutely right. Madara was too trusted of his father's words without him realised that his own younger brother already had begun to spy on him unconsciously.
Madara was silence as Hashirama was right. Though, he even doubt it that his father's granted permission to was too good to be true for him. Because of this, Madara always using his clones from the beginning to third times, but this time, he didn't do it.
Afterwards, Sakura gazes at the nightfall sky realizing the sky's getting darker than usual before she stares back at them.
"Sorry boys, I have to go home now. We'll see each other next time!" She waved at them then she quickly runs into the forest in a humble lady-ish style. Hashirama and Madara wave at her until Sakura was gone.
"See you Onee-chaaaan!" Hashirama farewelled. Then he stops waving and put his hand on hips.
"Well, I think we should go home too. It's almost dark." Madara said benignly smiled towards the forest where Sakura went to.
"We have to skip and exchange our stones first..." Hashirama turned around and facing Madara as Hashirama's face turned into a lenny-face. "...lover boy~!" He squinted his eyes towards Madara with a light blush on his cheeks. Madara blinking his eyes in surprise.
"What?!" Madara nonplussed.
"I noticed how the way you gazed upon Sakura-nee~" Hashirama pointed his blaming style finger at a staggered Madara. "... Because of you like her, Don't you?" Hashirama teased.
"W-why did you say that!? I didn't like her and...s-she's like ..! "Madara stammered, his chicks reddens denying Hashirama's accusation of him. Hashirama twitching his eyes at a nervous sweating Madara.
"Ooooh really? ~. like a 'sister' you say? Well, she's a beautiful lady, Madara. And.." He looked at Madara thoroughly. "...you guys look good, to be honest. A bit inches taller than you but probably you'll be way taller than her when the time comes when you'll becoming a man and her lover." Hashirama continuously razzed at Madara. Madara's eyes became beady and grinning his teeth in madness. Then veins started to pop out on his forehead.
"BAKAAA! WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS NOT TRUE!" he protested still trying to contradict at Hashirama's words.
"Oh don't be such a repudiate, my friend! Admit it...you like her~." Hashirama grinned and this time, he elbowed Madara.
"N-NO! I AM NOT—!" he exclaimed but words were cut.
"—YOU LIKE HER! YOU LIKE HER! YOU LIKE HER!... Hashirama shouted at him back repeatedly teases his words against him in order not letting him talk deniably. Both were running around while Hashirama laughing out loud. Madara chasing him when suddenly...
"Boys?." They heard a female voice and realized that Sakura was standing in the river. They were both froze and stunned when they saw Sakura. Madara was nervously sweating while they were both jaws dropped. Sakura then walking through them and landed her feet on the pebbly ground.
"Oh..N-Nee-chan you came back?" He said in flabbergasted. The boys glancing each other. Then they quickly standing straight in staggered while they look at her anxiously funny.
"Actually...I forgot my bento boxes right over there." Sakura said and pointed his finger at the bento boxes just in front of the boys.
"Yeah...sorry we didn't notice that too," Hashirama said with his nervous chuckled and scratched his right hand at the back of his head. Sakura walking forward to her bento boxes.
"That's alright. And...why you guys still here? It's almost night you know?" Sakura said tilting his head while she piling the three traditional bento boxes in one. Then she wraps it with green Furoshiki cloth and tied it firmly.
"Oh about... that?~..." Hashirama formed a perverted looked at a nervous Madara. Madara startled his head with his brows furrowed with a blush on his cheeks. Hashirama was hoping that Sakura didn't hear anything about what they were talking about. Then, he instantly turned his head away.
"..Well we're just going to do...skipping stones! Yeah! But we talked something privately related to our shinobi stuffs so that's why we took a bit longer..hehe~" he fabulist at Sakura. Sakura blinking her eyes at him, feeling odd and wondered.
"...Ok," Sakura then picked her pile of bento boxes and then she looked at them.
"Uh, shall we skip the stones now..." Madara scurried. He picks the stone from his inner pocket inside of his Katana at his left side of his chest. Sakura decided to watch them how they skipping their stones.
Later, they skipped their stones until they finally exchanged. On the other side, Sakura was watched them and she was on Madara's side. Now, she witnessed the way they skipping their stones as both what it means a greeting to say hello and goodbye. Sakura knew that because Hashirama told her earlier about it.
"See you again, everyone! " Hashirama wave and then he grins teasingly at Madara. Madara glowered his face and then Hashirama swiftly leave which makes Madara flabbergasted. Madara knew that it was his intention, wanting Sakura and himself left at this moment..
'That idiot!' He knitted his eyebrows. Sakura noticed of Hashirama's sudden leave. But then she just ignored it.
"Well, I have to go now. " She waved at her. "I'll see you next time! Ok?"She slowly walked away from him. Madara then glances at her.
"M-Matte!" Madara turned her cheeks red and stammered. Sakura paused and turned herself around then she staring at him.
"Hm?" She blinking her eyes and tilted. Then she remembers something during those times, the first met at the forest. Sakura put his right hand and holds his hips then she smiled. "...What is it Mada-kun? You're not finished with me yet?" she teased. Madara's eyes widen and blushed when he frowns at her.
"N-No!...I-I mean.." He sheepishly looked at her. "Are you... heading all by yourself to your home? You know..it's a bit far away and it's dangerous to the forest." He said and concerned.
Sakura suddenly burst out her laughter. Madara perturbed and was feeling an embarrassing pathetic to himself. Then he scowled.
"What's so funny about that, forehead girl!" Sakura stopped laughing and turned his face into range anger and raises her left fist.
"SHANARRO! SAY THAT AGAIN!" she exclaimed. However, she found Madara's eyes were stern at her. Sakura startled and realize he was serious what he had said and she sighs, a smile shows up her lips again
"...What are you worrying about me, Mada-kun? You know that I am a Kunoichi, right. I can protect myself." She shook her left hand. Then she slowly stepping forward through him. Sakura patted his left shoulder gently which it made Madara confounded.
"You know Madara-kun? I realize something about you during the first time we'd met in the forest, that you're such a kind boy. You are not a typical person who wants war, am I right? Both of you and Hashirama." She said.
" ...Why do you bring this up?" he asked with now, a stern Madara. To his surprise, Sakura cupped him on his cheeks. Madara's eyes widen.
"Because this is you and Hashirama's desired dream..to stop the war," Sakura said as Madara was a bit astonished. "...To build your own village am I right?"
His eyes widen in fear. Then he quickly snapped out of it, thinking that Hashirama had told her, " D-did he-"
"-No, he didn't tell me about it...yet." Sakura answered him instantly. Then he took her palm away from Madara. "I know this because he simply wants peace and harmony world. So I assume you have the same dream as yours." Sakura was honestly, lied at him.
Madara knitted, "And what's the point of telling me that?"
"Because that's also my dream." Sakura answered and looked upon the nightfall sky, "To live a world without constant wars."
Madara raised both of his eyebrows and understood why Sakura wanted to share about this topic. Afterwards, he tried to change the topic, he didn't know what to say if that dreams will became true...or highest chance is..a no. He sighs...
"Sakura, it's almost dark. Let's go and we have to-"
"-I almost forgot!" She exclaimed which it made Madara snap out of himself. Sakura then picks something in her Obi belt and then she raises and showed it to Madara. "Tadaa!" She interjected with her grin.
"A...Kinkachu?" he puzzled. Sakura gleefully nodded. She pinned and swang the small kinkachu pouch in front of Madara's sight.
"Take it! Hashirama has also one." She said. Madara slowly reaches his hands and clutches the kinkachu and then he perplexes.
"What's inside in it?" He asked.
"It's a special healing pill that I made. It helps you to heal yourself or your comrades briefly."
"Why you have to bother yourself?"
"Just being generous! Take it!" Sakura said. Madara didn't want further ask with her as it is not the right place of argument.
He glanced back at a calm Sakura who also looked at him insisting to keep her seemingly home-made pills to him. And Madara sigh in annoyance
"Oh alright...I'll take it." Madara blushed, pouted and looked away from her. He never received a gift from a 'girl' before that it would make himself feeling a slight hesitancy of her.
..
...
...
Morning...
..
...
In the forest, kunais and shurikens clashed each other and some parts of the woods were bombarded loudly using heaps of explosive tags. There are groups of Uchiha men retreating themselves and running away as fast as they could to escape those unexpected traps. They were ambushed by the Hyūgas and they're probably more than 40 of them against the 5 Uchiha men carrying with another two of Uchihas which are now dying.
"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!" Two of the Uchihas released the huge fireballs against the Hyugas. One of the Hyuga members was burned and fell off to the ground. Meanwhile, all the Uchihas were successful escaped when they finally reach themselves outside from the dark forest and they're almost close to the Uchiha territory just in few meters closer. On the other side, A Hyuga man halted his clan's men by raising his arms horizontally so that the others will stop.
"Let them escape." He said to one of his comrades who's attempted to go after them continuously. Then he turns around and faces them. "Let's go back. Carry the injured ones."
..
...
"Tajima-Sama!" Tajima, his two sons, and other five Uchiha men heard a cried voice outside of the meeting room. They scurrying open the door and found an Uchiha woman and a non-Uchiha man formally kneeled. They are one of the medics of the Uchiha clan. Madara and Izuna were both in shocked because they probably knew what will be going to tell about them.
"What happened!" Tajima asked coldly towards the medics and they remain kneeling.
"Lord Tajima! Our men were viciously attacked by the Hyuga clan! The two of them, a young adult and a child were heavily wounded and loses blood!" She exclaimed. Madara twitched his eyes in sorrow.
"..You mean..."Madara didn't continue his words.
"Hai, Madara-sama. They've all been killed by the Hyuga clans." An Uchiha woman despaired. One of them closes their eyes in disappointment because of this tragic news that another young clan members were killed with those Hyūga scums. Tajima however, remains emotionless then he turns his back away.
"How they were killed,"Madara asked the head medic-woman again.
"By an ambushed while they were headed back home, Madara-sama." She answered.
"You can leave now. " Tajima requested the two medics in a sudden with irritation on his face. "And tell the guards to add another 10 men outside the gates!"
"Hai!" the two answered. Then a medic man quickly closes the door and leave immediately.
Madara was desolated about this news. Another young shinobi and a child passed away. He looked at his father in distress. Five men following his father then they sit in saizo each side of the table with a map along with Izuna. They then discuss the topic back...as if nothing happens. Madara scowling and turns his hands into a furious fist. His father must give them at least just sincere condolences to their families by visiting them ...just at least for the short period of time.
He contemplating and remembers Sakura and Hashirama's words about the peace and harmony they were hoped-for their lives where children didn't have to force themselves to fight this ruthless war. He grinning his teeth while holding his furiousness with himself.
'This war ...is nothing but an unintelligible pointless!' Madara pissed off. He can't help himself but feel engages in this iniquity towards his father's reaction and these men. He hoped that Izuna will never follow their erroneous act.
He instantly slams the shoji door after he opened it which both men were alarmed. When they trying to find and looking for Madara, he was already gone. Madara was rapidly going out and ran away. Tajima and Izuna standing up and steps out the room then they saw Madara afar running away.
"MADARA!" Tajima yelled at him but Madara ignored his father until Tajima and Izuna didn't see him. "What is his problem?" he asked oddly.
"...nii...san." Izuna mumbled and worried.
..
...
Madara then stops as he found the two coffins in the grave area of the Uchihas which they are ready to bury them. Some Uchiha men excavating the soil deeper. There are families and friends mourning the death of the two. Women; a mother and their siblings wailing, some were sobbing and weeping.
He then walks slowly until they gradually notice Madara and they bowed. They clear their way to pass Madara until he reached the coffins and he palms one of them. The women were staring at him in grief and the mother of a deceased son.
"I'm...very sorry for the loss. My condolences." He apologized and kneeled. The people were shocked and never seen Madara gave them such formal respectful manners towards them. One of the women hesitantly forces Madara to stand up.
"Madara-sama. There's no need to give us your apology. This is our duty to serve our cla—"
"—No...this is just so wrong," Madara muttered while he downcasted. An Uchiha woman cofounded of Madara's odd words.
"...I beg your...pardon, Madara-sama?" She wanted to hear his words again. Madara starts shivering his body and felt vexed. Suddenly, he snaps his head with his eyes widens. He remembered Sakura's kinchaku pouch with a healing pill that was given to him. He then glances at his brown pocket at the left side of his hips was hang and tied on his shinobi belt then he opens the pocket and reaches the kinchaku.
He knew this is just healing pills...but something was on his mind that he cannot explain why he has such a bizarre idea.
"Open the coffins." He requested the men. All of them were puzzled.
"B-but Madara-sama." One of the men protested.
"Do as I say!" He gave him a furious look. The man didn't want to argue him and then they requested some others to open the coffins. People were dumbfounded. When the coffins finally open, he saw two of the young boys wearing a white kimono. He then gets the pills inside the kurachi and he put the pills into their mouth.
The pills were sliding down to their thought as if it moves until it reaches the stomach slowly. People were very confused at Madara as they thought that he was gone madly insane. However, a few minutes after, one of the crowds were dumbstruck when they saw that the two's hands and their faces start moving
"I-It's!...!" one of them stuttered.
"Look! The two are moving! "
A child's body stands upright gradually opens his eyes until his sights were clear as the boy blinking his eyes.
"What's...happening?" the boy who's back to life spoke. In his side, his mother stiffly stupefied and disbelief. She then shivering reaches her hands and touches his son a warm face. She then weeps.
"K-Kiechi!" She wailed and hugged his son tightly.
The other one which is a teenage boy raises his body upright then he opens his eyes and looked everywhere. He then sees his mother, father, and her sister looks astounded. Notwithstanding, her mother and sister hugged her tightly then they cried. His father was speechless and surprise. Then he looks at a stunned Madara. He then comes steps to him until he stops in front of Madara then he kneeling at him in dogeza style.
"Madara-sama...How can we repay you like this." He said. Madara didn't expect that this pills will but it's bizarre that he mysteriously unforeseen it. It seems that Sakura gave him a revival pill and not just a healing pill. He glances in disbelief at the kurachi pouch he was holding on. Then, he looks back at the kneeling man.
"Please stand up...I just wanted to help and...don't give me an appreciation for me, sir." Madara spoke. Then the man was puzzled and he glances at Madara. Then he sits upright.
"Madara-sama..."
"...This pill was made by my friend...She's a medic shinobi that I met not long ago." Madara then glancing at the Kurachi again which he holds in his right hand and smiles. Until he widens his eyes and startled. He turned his head around saw Tajima, Izuna and the rest of these men.
"What's going on!" Izuna yelled and suddenly appeared with his father and the five men. Then, they stop when they saw something unbelievable. "W-Wait..what was just happen.. here?" he said confusedly and widen his eyes. Both including Tajima were shocked when they saw the two young Uchiha's were alive and well.
"Madara-sama revived our son...he miraculously did it!" The mother of Kenichi Uchiha spoke. Both Tajima, Izuna and the other men were shocked. Tajima then walks through the two supposedly dead boys and looked horrified. Then he glances at Madara and he caught that he hid something inside his pocket. He gave him a forbidding stare.
"Let's talk in private," Tajima said. "All of you must come along (five men and Izuna)!" Then he walks away. Madara gave him a resentful look towards his father's coldness. Izuna was astounded than he gradually glancing at his brother.
'...I knew it..there's something odd about 'nii-san.' Izuna thought, knitted both of his brows.
Uchiha Main Meeting House...
..
"Who gave this to you, Madara..." One of the 5 Uchiha elders interrogated him. The elders were kneeling upright in front of them with Madara at the centre, Tajima kneeling at the back of Madara beside with Izuna and the other five men kneeling a few inches away behind of Tajima and Izuna. Madara was hesitantly answering their questions. He has no choice but answering them or else, they will be suspecting him of a lack of loyalty to his own clan. He then looked at them in the stern.
"...A medic-kunoichi that I met from...the forest." He said but he lied a little bit because Sakura didn't give him a pill from the forest but at the river banks.
"Did she gave you a name?"
"No, sir." He lied without the elders noticed his facial expression because Madara answered without any hesitation.
"Do you know what clan she belongs?"
"I don't know. She..told me that she was just a medic to help people in needs of any succours. That's all I knew about her." Madara lightly bowed at them. He hopes that they will stop interrogating him. Madara isn't ready to let Sakura know what clan he belongs to yet and he thinks that she may be feared him if she finds herself out. Or perhaps, she knew already about him without knowing?
"Did you befriended with that girl?" Another elderly man asked him. Madara stares at him in hostile.
"...Not really.." was all he answered.
"Now then, you must bring her here and offer–"
"-I apologize to all of you. Like what I've just said, ...I do not know everything about her much. She didn't reveal her true identity and the location where...she really lives. She is just a traveller. She may be gone by now." Madara suddenly cuts one of the elder's words which made them feel disrespectful towards Madara.
'Insolent child.' One of the elders at the middle though and was displeased at Madara's manners. He narrowed his eyes towards him. "...So tell me, Madara, are you trying to keep this girl away from us?" He looked at Madara in fractious.
"It's not like that, sir. We don't know about her. What I am worried about that It may put our clan in menace because she's possibly a spy to our clan and wanting to get closer to me as I also noticed for being too friendly to me. She may be a fraud so that's why I didn't trust anybody from outside of our clan." He explained but unfortunately he also had a point to himself a possible truth about Sakura's intention of being suspiciously too nice and subtle through him. However, he also lied because he sees to himself that Sakura isn't such a fraud. Barring her warmth, he still didn't want to rely upon her.
"I see..." an elderly Uchiha replied. "All of you dismiss now...except you, Tajima." He said. Tajima nodded.
The five adult men, Izuna and Madara leaving, but Madara stops at the exit door and glanced at his father who kneeling closes to the elders. His thought ruling around of full curiosity of what conversation will they'll be talking about. His notions anticipated that they are talking about Sakura again. But he hoped he was wrong. He doesn't want to ruin Sakura's life and put her in danger. He then proceeds to exit and shuts the door close.
The elders and Tajima were silent at the moment and one of them cast a soundproof jutsu to avoid perceiving them.
"That kunoichi is an extraordinary a Medic genius. We have to get her before someone else's could find this out especially the Senjus!" The first from the left side elder spoke.
"Do you think that girl...was the clan we've been looking for a long time?" The fourth from the left said which it made Tajima caught its attention.
"Who knows. That girl might belong from that clan who almost went extinct by the Senjus. If so, then there's nothing to worry about an alliance with the Senju clan as they were mortal enemies." The middle one spoke. Tajima remains silence and letting them talked as curiosity grew stronger. Then the elder from the middle staring at Tajima.
"...Do you have any thoughts, Tajima?" He spoke. All elders were looked at Tajima. "...I have a feeling that your son was lying to us in order not to find that girl. Is he that naïve or what? He said, madly. Tajima closes his eyes in disappointment and bowed respectfully. "I hope he will not acting like this when he became a leader of the clan."
"My apologies for such audacious manners of my son."Tajima kneeling in front of them. "He was just...depressed for some reason. Please forgive him, sir."
"Very well, whether Madara will like it or not...we must find her as soon as possible. Do not let him know for he will possibly impeding our plans while we will be going to meet that medic-girl. Tell the medics about it and must find her as soon as possible!" He requested.
"Hai!" Tajima answered him. Hoping that it was just a girl...not the woman he knew who had met with his son and currently hiding from the woods...the woman who saved his life from the verge of his death...and the woman who belongs from that powerful clan could this world have.
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Night Time...
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Madara lied and stared at the Kurachi bag hanging by his hand upwards while his other hand put on the back of his head. He then tossed the bag into the air then he catches and clutches tightly. He asked himself about who Sakura was. He flashes his mind back to Sakura when she gave this to him. Madara was worried that those old men will find her without stopping before some other clans including the Senjus will go after her. Madara sighs and felt blaming himself. He describes himself as a clumsy person without thinking that he can give this to his two fellow clan's men in different ways by secretly gave this to them. If only he knew that these pills are an extraordinary rival. Now, he put Sakura's life on a possible risk if they found them. But he hopes they will never find her.
'This is all my fault.' He said to himself and sighed. Madara put the Kurachi in his inner pocket and now he's wearing a white sleeping outfit yukata. Then he stared back at the ceiling until he slowly closes his eyes.
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"Are you really certain? That he never met with someone?" Tajima spoke in a sudden and made Izuna startled while reading his book. He looked at his father in eyes to eyes.
"It's true 'tou-san, I didn't see him meeting that medic girl or anyone else at that time. Perhaps he first met her before I spied him." He said. Tajima noticed his son's worried face and he thought that he doubted him.
"Do not be worry, Izuna. I didn't doubt you...But I doubted your brother for becoming secretive towards us in a sudden." He said then he knitted his brows. "I hope he's not going to betray our clan...if he will, then you will be my second choice to become a future clan leader. Work and train hard. Try to surpass your brother ...just in case" He said.
"...'tou-san..."Izuna was shocked. He cannot believe what his father said to him. He suddenly felt that he betraying his beloved brother. But for him, this will never happen. He trusted his brother so much and he knew he isn't that kind of a person. Izuna describes him as a compassionate and loyal to his clan and his family. He believes in him.
"You're dismissed." Tajima dismissed his contemplated son. Izuna startled his head.
"H-Hai. 'tou-san." Izuna then standing up and went outside from his father's bedroom and walk away along the corridor.
When he reached the bedroom with his brother founded asleep. A worried laid his eyes on his brother. Then he went to his futon and still he stared at Madara. He opens his mouth and says something.
"...Good night, nee-san." Izuna greeted and lowered his voice. He waiting for his brother to respond to him. He stares thoroughly at Madara and realizes he is in his deep sleep and heard he's snoring. Izuna then turning himself in an opposite away from his brother around and closes his eyes.
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3 Days Later...
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The horrific war pursues, Shinobis especially children's death increases its numbers. Both Madara and Izuna fought along with their clan's men. Their Katanas, shurikens, and kunai clashes each other against their enemies' weapons. Many of the battlefields were scattered with bloody death corpses and some of those cadavers were eaten by multiple hungry vultures. Until the war was temporary over, due that their enemies retreated. All those bodies were Senjus. The Uchiha's mostly revived from their deaths was all because of Madara's revival pills. The Senjus were unbelievably shocked about their miraculous revival pills that they were swallowed. Two of the Senjus hiding themselves a bit farther towards the victorious Uchiha shinobis.
"We must report this to Batsuma-sama." One of them said and then they both nodded. They quickly leave as fast as they could without noticing the Uchihas.
"I'm sorry, we've run out of pills". Madara apologizes his grieving comrades alongside with their dead body who are closed to them. Both Izuna and Madara leave them alone. Madara felt guilty because he has one pill left and this will be reserved for Izuna in case he is seriously injured.
The two brothers and other Uchihas went finally back to their hideout places after they fought in two days. Both were exhausted, the medics aiding some injured men.
"Madara-sama, Izuna-sama. Lord Tajima wants to see you." An Uchiha man wearing his shinobi armour said. They then walk through their father's meeting room. Afterwards, when Madara enters the meeting door, he pauses himself and his eyes instantly wide with his jaw drop. He was very staggered when he sees something that he never expected.
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To be continued...
Next Chapter: The Mysterious Goddess
