Founding Love

Chapter Eight

A.N: Morning, sunshine! Can I share with you how happy I am to have received the feedback/reviews that I have considering it's been a few hours? Extremely! Now I will say, I typically don't like leaving author notes anymore, but I wanted to give you all some food for thought.

I know most reviews have been centered around Madara being a bitch or questioning Izuna's 180 which are both beautiful things! It means I've done a good job of leading you all in a different direction. I wanted to share a different side of what Madara than what Sakura has seen in battle, she only knows him as that battle mad man. I've spent a smidge of time writing him the way I have to leave you all just as confused as she would be, but here's that food for thought: I also spent a good mention of her noticing him building himself into this clan's head role. You read her acknowledging him shifting into this inferno of a man. What if he wasn't always this man of power? What if he had to mold himself into that person, and we're seeing him put on and off this mask?

Now with Izuna, I don't explicitly say it, but in the series we know he has a large amount of disdain for Senju, and I write him in the sense of what disdain he would suddenly have for her if he found out she was one. We know she isn't, but he wouldn't know the truth nor would he be too keen on believing her. This is the exciting part because we're just at a loss as she would be with how little she knows of him. She doesn't completely understand him, so how could she change it?

Now a lot of reviews are confused about Sakura and how she is. My food for thought is this: war and loss leave us in very vulnerable states despite how strong we may be. She's lost her love, she lost her friends and family, and she's been tossed back into a timeline where she's dealing with people and places she's only read about. It's confusing and she seemingly has no control over the situation which would explain why she's reacted as she has. PTSD makes us do crazy things and trauma has us acting out in ways we normally wouldn't even if we're the most weathered. We'll see her develop back into the strong character we know, but she has to ride this wave out as any other thing. However, think of how a caged animal would respond once she fully acknowledges being trapped. She finally says it to herself at the end of the last chapter that she is, how will she move forward?

I briefly want to mention how she's plunged back into the familiarity of caring for others, especially a vulnerable population. There are worse things than death here. From experience, you're always haunted by the faces of the people you can't save, especially those of kids. And when in war, you don't have the opportunity to save them all, but she has the opportunity to do so and does here regardless of which side it's on. Her humanity takes shape here, and we'll see how the Uchiha respond.

Hopefully this helps, but we're going to get more development and action here. This is where the story really takes off.

Happy reading!


No sooner than they entered the largest tent, luxuriously decorated did she receive the brunt of Izuna's anger. Sakura was

scathing hot as she was whirled around to face the unkind face of Izuna. His hand clamped on her lower jaw tightly and he was snarling in her face like a rabid animal. She raised her lip in response, hand daring to grab his wrist none too gently.

"Act your place, woman!" Izuna was growling, nearly foaming at the mouth.

"I am!" She chewed out, spit spraying against his nearing face. "What the fuck is wrong with you? I saved those people! Your people!"

His teeth were dangerously flashing in front of her, his blazing red eyes narrowing at her. His hand was painfully squeezing her jaw, slightly shaking her head, and she grabbed his high collared shirt dragging his face closer. She dared to stare openly at his sharingan, fear pitted down in the recesses of her mind.

"If one more of them dies-"

"Izuna."

Madara's voice must have startled the brother from his tantrum, and Sakura squeezed his wrist tighter, the tissue of his pale skin beginning to redden under her grasp. He hissed trying to jerk his wrist away without letting go of her face. Sakura growled again, pulling him forward by his collar so their noses were brushing.

"I wouldn't put kids to death. Not the way you all have."

Sakura felt Madara's blazing heat at her backside, a tell all warning of his approach, but she ignored it to threateningly raise her chakra. Madara's hand was threading into her hair and pulling it sharply back. She released the front of Izuna's navy shirt to glare bewildering at the older Uchiha.

"How sheltered were you as a child?" The timber of tone had her squeezing her eyes shut as he jerked her head back farther to peer better at her. "They have to learn somehow least they be killed. We are no different than the others, but ours will live to grow strong."

Sakura wasn't sure when she began shaking her head violently nor when the tears began to pool. She did know her heart was reaching out to those kids. She could see the fear in their faces, how much pain they were in. Sakura couldn't justify the senseless violence they had encountered.

"They're only kids. They shouldn't have to-"

"No, they shouldn't, but they have to."

Sakura's fight was dwindling. She knew they had to because how else would they live if invaded? How else could they fight back if another clan was raging through their walls? Flashing before her eyes, she thought of how terrified she was as a genin when Gaara's tailed beast took control of him and when Orochimaru began his own pillaging of her precious village. She thought of how the people around them screamed and ran, how the terror fueled them as the walls crashed, Sakura shuttered, defeated momentarily.

When does it end, Sakura thought, taking in a deep breath.

Madara's hand was releasing her hair, and she dropped her head back in front of her to study the younger of the two. His lip was still curled up particularly nastily, but at least his hand was no longer crushing her lower jaw. She smoothed her lips into a thin line, pink brows tipped into a frown.

Izuna began to retreat and she refused him this moment of victory. She held firm on his wrist and dragged him in effectively trapping him to her.

"You don't have to worry about them dying as much as you." She warned, snapping her teeth together like daggers.

Sakura doubted it was a good decision when his hand shot forward simultaneously as Madara grabbed onto the back of her neck. Izuna's fingers were curled again around her chin, his nails digging into her freckled skin.

"You don't scare me, little girl." He bit out, dramatically leaning forward.

Her temper got the best of her and she ground out, "And you don't scare me."

Defiantly staring into his sharingan, she dropped his wrist with a hiss. Izuna stood for a pregnant pause before storming out of the tent, disbelief swirling in his eyes. Madara though was still pressed into her backside, his hand firm on the back of her neck. Surprisingly, he wasn't squeezing threateningly, nor was he controlling the movement of her head. Instead, his fingers were ghosting along the column of her neck.

Sakura shivered involuntarily.

"You'll eventually get burned playing with fire, kunoichi."

She gulped down the anxiety doubling in her chest as her heart ran rampant. Her adrenaline was long gone now as his nimble fingers worked gently into the muscle of her neck. She almost sighed softly when his hand slipped away, but the heat of his body lingered longer as he drifted away from her.

Sakura dared to slowly turn around, facing the man but entirely was entirely grateful he was already stepping from her. He was shedding himself of his armor, the buckles crinkling as he unlatched them. She stood awkwardly, fiddling with her kimono sleeves as he continued to divest himself of his armor. The metal clanked as he dropped it beside a futon.

Quickly she averted her attention to her surroundings as he continued to disarm himself. She studied the large tent with vigor instead. The center had a fire pit made of stone and a few futons laid out encircling the pit. There were various weapon racks where long swords laid and a peculiar chest sat beside it.

"There are fresh garb in there," she glanced at Madara who was nodding in the direction of the chest. "You may change into one."

Her brows shot high into her hairline at the suggestion, but she glanced down at her own soiled kimono and sighed. She could see the splotches of blood and dirt clinging to the material and new she would have to change.

She fiddled with her sleeves again before carefully taking the long way around the fire pit to reach the chest opposite of where he stood. Sakura could feel the burning of his gaze and grew wary as she opened the chest. There laid a few kimonos similar to the one she wore, thick and dark. In the center though was the Uchiha emblem glaring into her soul sourly.

Sakura bit back an angry snarl.

Still, she pulled it out, folding it in her lap to peak underneath to find more of the same. Great, she thought sarcastically.

"You will wear it proudly." He was stalking forth, a slow daunting pace quickening her heart rate. Even without his armor, he was a mighty force in her vision.

His black shirt clung to his broad shoulders, dipping open slightly at his chest. His pants billowed with his gait and she swallowed down the lump in her throat as his hair seemingly floated behind him. She shook herself mentally and stood at his impending approach.

"I want nothing to do with the Uchiha." She bit out, pulsating in the rising heat in her lower stomach.

"You don't have a choice."

She froze at his words at a loss of response. She chewed her unconsciously and opted to lift her chin in open defiance.

"I always have a choice." She answered, hiding the quiver in her response.

Madara was still stalking forward, a smirk tipping the corner of his lips upward. She thrusted the kimono at him hoping to create a barrier between them. He surprised her still by folding his grip over her hand, pushing the kimono back to her body.

"You've made your choice."

He was gone in a whisper of power, his body grazing hers as he passed. Her legs shuttered and the depth of her emotions coursed through her in steady tidal waves. She finally crashed when she heard the tarp flap back into place. She released a breath she didn't know she was holding. Running a hand through her locks, she fitted her sights on the kimono he had deposited her with.

The emblem blazed brightly in contrast to the black background.

Sakura barely managed to drag herself up to change, her dirtied kimono falling to the ground. She stepped out of it and begrudgingly wrapped herself in the much larger kimono, wrapping herself snuggly in it. Inhaling deeply, ash and smoke filling her senses, Sakura stooped low to pick up the soiled one, folding it evenly before setting it near the farthest futon from where Madara had dropped his armor.

Sleep pulled at her mind and she eased herself down into a deep slumber, her chakra humming gently.

Her sleep was plagued with fond memories. She could practically feel Naruto's bouncing energy as he sped after her while she ran through the forest laughing. She could hear Sasuke's nearly inaudible sigh as he was dragged into the ramen shop, her and Naruto pulling at each arm excitedly. And she definitely could see Kakashi peaking over his book at their mischievous pranks trying to unearth his face behind his mask.

Her dream then shifted into a nightmare. She could smell the burning of flesh and smoke filling her lungs. She could hear the cries of mothers over the loss of their children. She could only watch as the walls crumbled around the village, people running amuck. Sakura could only stand, frozen in terror as Orochimaru's snake venomously ravaged the town. His mouth swallowing people whole, fangs glinting in the sun. Tears streamed down her face as she was helpless to stop the horror from unveiling.

It then began morphing, but the fear clinging to her chest jolted her. It was all too real.

This is how she woke.

Sweat was beading over her pink brows, chest heaving as her heart thudded dangerously in its cavity. Her hands flew to her face clutch at her flushed cheeks. Her eyes darted about in unknown terror and settled on the brothers who were huddled near the center fire. Panic blossomed. Could they see her terror ground in her wide eyes? Could they hear her heart rapidly beating? Could they feel her chakra lashing out around her in a suffocating pattern?

Sakura shot up, watching as the brothers studied her, muscles bunching at her abrupt stance. Sakura couldn't breath under their scrutiny and grabbed at her chest wildly.

She needed out.

"I-" she could barely part her lips to speak, her mind racing in every direction. She had to get out. She needed to frantically settle on a momentary escape. "I need to check on the children."

Sakura was moving quickly, darting away from their all seeing eyes, and once she was out of the tent, the tarp flapping closed behind her then she could breath. She sucked down the evening air greedily. It began cooling and prickling her skin in the starlight.

Sakura closed her eyes not wishing to see the other clansmen she knew would be lingering awake. She practically could feel their questioning and dangerous stares, but she focused on deeply breathing. In her panic, she must have startled at least a few awake.

Swallowing as best as she could, she released her grip on her chest, letting her heart rate slow slightly. Focus on breathing, focus, she coaxed herself into listening to the crickets and the crinkle of the nearby fire. She dropped her arms, and counted to ten and back. When she could swallow with less tension, she licked her parched lips and opened her eyes.

While she hadn't been wrong about waking a few clansmen, she could see the beginning light of the sun in the East. The rays were just starting to wash over the sky in a golden hue, and Sakura was vaguely reminded of Naruto's smile. Her lips down turned, the memory of her nightmare reliving in her mind's eye.

Stepping to, she headed into the direction of the medical tent. A few clansmen moved aside to let her pass. She paid them no mind and continued on ignoring their lingering. She slipped into the tent and fixated her attention to the children. Most seemed to be doing well and the older man from yesterday was resting on the opposite end.

Sakura breathed in deeply, but paused when she heard a strangled gasp for air. She surveyed the boys again and upon finding the source, headed over the child. He was no older than six from what she could tell. His clothes hanging loosely around his waist , sweat dripping. He was pale and sickly. She had recalled he was difficult. He had a deeply rooted infection and severe blood loss.

He didn't respond well to her chakra, his body quacking and violently jerking at the foreign intrusion. She had half expected him to pass yesterday when she had finally been able to attend him. Sakura frowned, shifting towards him. She sat beside his soiled cot and swiped a finger over his brow to move his black bangs from his forehead.

Her heart swelled and she tried to probe his injuries with her chakra, but he made a small noise of anguish. He's too far along, she thought tiredly. Desperately, she tried again, hoping his body would just accept the foreign intrusion so that she could treat him. She whipped his forehead again and watched as his face twisted into life. He blinked rapidly up at her with unfocused eyes, and his mouth dropped open.

"Mama-" her face drooped and she could feel her chest clench painfully as he choked back on his rising blood. "Mama-"

"Shh," she cooed, hand cradling his puffed cheeks.

He coughed violently, blood seeping from the corner of his lips. She tried to force healing chakra into him, her hands working quickly to run over him, but he convulsed from the invasion, the chakra network burnt and raw. She choked back her own sob as he cried louder, his body refusing to cooperate. There's too much internal damage. I can't heal him if his body won't allow me. She swallowed down her sob, throat tight.

"Mama!" He cried out again, hand grabbing hers. He opened his eyes enough to peer at Sakura longingly, and she felt the liquid of her tears vastly sliding down her cheeks.

"Shh," she cooed again, shifting to cradle his small body in her lap. "I'm here."

"Mama, I-I missed you." His small hands held tight onto hers, and she soothingly forced his fingers to lax so she could rub soothing circles on his shoulder while gently rocking them both.

"I know, baby, I know." She whispered, peppering his head with kisses.

He was grabbing at her kimono, wrapping himself in her embrace and he coughed again. The blood seeping into the front layer of her kimono. She held tighter to stop his body from convulsing again. He began crying into her kimono, and her shoulders sagged, pulling him closer to her, eyes squeezing shut.

"Hush now, my baby. Be still now, don't cry." She whispered. "Sleep now, it'll all be ok."

He was choking on his blood and coughing. "Mama, I'm scared."

"Shh, shh." She was shaking, clutching to him like a lifeline when she felt his body begin to shutter.

She opened her eyes to look down into his longing gaze. "It's ok now. Go to sleep, baby."

"I love you, mama." He cried, his eyes watering. Sakura engraved his face in her memory and she bit back a heavy sob. He looked so much like Sasuke in that moment, she hiccuped, raw emotion stripping her soul bare.

Cradling his face, she bent to kiss his forehead gently. Her crying began and her body racked with sobs. "I love you too, baby."

When his body sagged and his eyes dulled, lids falling heavy, she finally let herself sob loudly. The air too thick to swallow down, she choked on her sobs. Wailing into his lifeless body, she rubbed soothing circles into his shoulder again.

"I-I'm so sorry. I couldn't save you." She whispered, a mixture of her salty tears and snot dripping into his blood soaked shirt.

She had stayed like that for awhile, the Sasuke like child cradled in her lap while she sobbed endlessly. Her body ached from stooping over him, but her body was so heavy. His death was hanging overhead, and she sobbed harder. When she did find the power to lift her head, she whipped his face with her sleeve to cleanse him of her sorrow. She leaned back, her breath leaving in a shutter.

As she tilted back, she caught sight of a few embarrassed faces, yet more importantly she saw Izuna hovering in her peripheral vision. She dared a tired glance, his eyes searching her own before dropping to the boy. She reached up to scrub her face, erasing what she could of her visible pain.

Shifting she laid him down to rest on the cot, trembling hands fixing his clothes and covering his body with his sheet.

Her face puffy and red, Sakura found the will to stand and face Izuna. He was poised as a statue, seemingly cold and immovable, while she forced herself to stand tall. She moved around him slowly in case he chose to grab her. When he made no move, she continued on to check on the rest of the sleeping warrior children.

He was watching her from afar as she traded in her sorrow and drove herself further to save those she could. She basked in the glory of her work, hands glowing a bright familiar green as she forced herself to check each of them.

The air around the tent was tense, worn with the sorrow of war and death. Sakura greedily drank in the solemn silence while she worked, hands tirelessly burning infections and stitching wounds together.

Once her rounds were over, she faced the awakened old man. His face raw and tired from the endless work, and she gave him new instructions. He nodded slowly while processing the information. She didn't wait for his words of agreement instead stepping towards Izuna who waited patiently at the tent entrance.

They paused, staring into each other's faces, their muscles taunt and sore. Neither spoke, engulfed in a shared pain. He let her pass and she drifted out into the afternoon sun before she directed herself to the tent she shared with the brothers.

She sat upon her futon, eyes unfocused on the fires ahead of her as her mind lazily drifted through the events of her arrival in this era. Periodically, she caught wind of the brothers peaking in the tent, as though they were checking on her.

Sakura scuffed.

Of course they were, she bitterly thought, if only to ensure she was not escaping.

Sakura changed again, the metallic smell of the child's blood on her kimono making her nauseous. She noted how her other kimono seemed to have been picked up. She laid down suddenly exhausted. Her mind replayed the scene with the child and she let herself cry again into a dreamless slumber.

This time when she woke it was to screams and a roaring fire. Sakura sat up quickly, ears perking as she could hear a fight not too far off. She could hear the roaring of a fire jutsu and the clanking of metal. Scurrying, Sakura ran head first out of the tent.

Men were shouting and running desperately grabbing at their weapons leaping over in all directions. Madara and Izuna were nowhere in sight yet the camp was blazing with life. The roaring of a fire had her whizzing to duck as a fireball blast past her. She rolled in time to avoid the blast and jumped back to her feet, dashing to where she knew the entrance probably was. 1,376 steps.

Grabbing at the bottom of her kimono, cursing the entrapping material, Sakura ran as quickly as her legs could carry her as she fumbled with the obi to loosen the material for more movement. She leapt over a series of Uchiha bodies, their lifeless eyes staring up at her. She spread her awareness and felt a similar sensation of chakra brushing. Senju, she gasped. Her fingers drew the material of her kimono high around her thighs, her bare feet barely touching the earth entirely.

But wait, Sakura paused. Her chakra inching to life as another flare of chakra reached her. It's not all Senju. Her head was tipping in the direction of another source of chakra. She frowned, not entirely sure what was the source, but she begged her legs to shift faster when another scream pierced her eardrums.

Turmoil spun in her head, heavy like a curtain, and dread clutched her throat.

"The children!" Sakura abruptly stopped and redirected her body to leaping backwards, hair spinning in her vision. The source of secondary chakra tingled her senses towards where she ran from.

"The children!" She screamed.

Body propelling, she channeled her chakra toward the medical tent where the majority of the injured kids laid. She ducked under a projectile not having the chance to survey where the kunai came from, but skirted through the encampment. The battle around her raged on, men screaming and shouting, blocking her senses. Men clashed violently as more projectiles lodged around her. She weaved through them, hoping to reach the tent in time.

Smoke burned her lungs and she opened her mouth to cough. She could see the tent now, tears along the covering. More worrisome was the body of the older man who had helped her, holding onto a young teen protectively.

She grunted, fingers dancing to find a pulse. When she found none on either of them, she continued in, fear tightly knotting in her stomach. Most of the children laid in place, silently groaning or clutching to each other, still too weak to do more to protect themself.

"Stay together!" She demanded, grabbing one of the older shinobi to shove him towards the crowd of children despite his obvious wounds. "Protect them with your life!"

She heard a series of grunts toward the back. Their shadows danced along the outside of the tent. She darted in the direction of the two, chakra flaring to life wildly. Panic bubbling in her chest.

She ripped at the tent separating the battling men. Her eyes widened at the sight of long brown hair and ghostly eyes. Hyuuga.

Izuna was struggling, his left arm hanging uselessly. A kunai had pierced his abdomen and he deflected another kunai with his other hand. She surveyed the damage, but without being close enough she could only assume his nerve was blocked. His sharingan was spinning darkly as he clashed with the Byakugan wielder. The Hyuuga was advancing quickly, charging ferociously to back Izuna away.

She watched distractedly as they fought like animals. Bodies turning and angling to find an opening. Izuna's mouth was filled with blood, his teeth coated red and clenched tight. She watched as the Hyuuga's hand fitted into several seals, Izuna's sharingan spinning faster to catch the movement. He ducked out of the way of the Hyuuga's fast hands, but he was not quick enough as his face contorted in pain as the Hyuuga blocked another set of nerves in his leg. Izuna was driven back into a tree, his body not able to hold his weight much longer. He was growling though, the fight evident in his face as he fought to stay standing.

From the corner of her eye, Sakura had enough time to duck away. A kunai embedded itself into the stake of the tent as another Hyuuga surprised her. She growled as he drew up to her, attempting to push her away from the tent, his hands seeking to grab her.

"Oh, no you don't!" She growled grabbing at his arms with her chakra enhanced hands.

Twisting, she crushed his hands in hers and continued to shatter his forearms. He screamed, the sound ringing in her ears and distracting the other two fighters. She snarled as his face contorted, and she continued her onslaught.

"You wouldn't dare touch them!" Sakura released one of his arms, rearing her right arm back to aim a punch at his face.

When his jaw snapped under the pressure of her blow and his head jerked back, she knew at the angle she had killed him instantly. She dropped his body and angled herself to focus on the other Hyuuga who was shifting his attention to her.

"Your fight is with me." Sakura snapped, flashing her own pearly whites dangerously.

The Hyuuga was smirking, his kunai spinning in his left hand. The fingers of his right were straight and poised to attack. He can't land a hit on me or else I'm done, she glanced back at the tent, they'd be done.

"And what makes you think you'll get so lucky with me?" The Hyuuga baited, his cloudy eyes tracking her. "He was weak. You should run while you can."

"Cha." Sakura smiled, flaring her chakra to his astonishment. She chuckled darkly as his widened eyes flitted over her, mapping her chakra network.

They were flying towards each other suddenly, weaving in and out of each other's reach. She landed a quick jab to his ribs and retreated when he nearly caught her with his fingertips. Growling, she stepped away, restricted entirely by the length of the kimono. She ripped the material at her knees, tossing the shredded material to the side.

Smirking as to mock him, she widened her stance with her newfound freedom. She circled him and pounced when the Hyuuga became momentarily distracted by Izuna beginning to stand. Taking the opportunity, she hit the Hyuuga. Hard. His body doubled over and flew across the clearing through a tree. She darted forward then grabbing his arm, feet scraping the ground to jerk him back to her where her left hook cracked his skull.

He fell to the ground and she swung her leg up in a fashion her Shishou would have been proud of, and dropped her heel into his chest. It was over quickly, and she zipped back to Izuna. Dragging his body upwards with one hand, she snarled in his face.

"Protect them with your life." She ripped the kunai from his abdomen where blood spurted. He froze as she rammed her healing chakra into the wound, his body tense with the onslaught.

Izuna groaned, eyes squeezing shut. She reached up with her other hand to unblock the nerve with a swift flick. His eyes shot open and they stared into each other's eyes. She snarled again when his eyes fell down her face.

"Go now!" She shoved him towards the tent where he stumbled, dumbfounded by her.

Taking the opportunity, spinning the kunai in her hand, she ran.

She ran as fast as she could leaving a surprised Izuna to protect the children as another Hyuuga fell into the clearing to ambush him.

She weaved through the clearing into the forest, the darkness of the evening helping to mask her. Sakura hurriedly departed, flowing her chakra to her legs to move faster. Her legs pumped hard, dragging her limber body through the dense foliage.

She needed to get out of there at least with a somewhat clear conscience. This was her opportunity. This was her one and only chance to get away. The darkness enveloped her and she prayed to whatever Kami that it would cover her.

Luck was not a fortune her Shishou bestowed on her.

As it be, as she wove further out into the woods, she found herself falling into a battle with another Hyuuga clansmen. She dodged and dipped, weaving through his attacks and throwing some chakra laden punches to the trees and earth beneath her to distract the Hyuuga. Instead of fleeing like she thought he would, he drove her into a large clearing where another battle was being fought.

She jumped back, dodging the Hyuuga's hands, giving him a wide berth. She spun the kunai diligently in her hand before throwing it at her opponent while high in the air. He sidestepped the projectile expertly and dropped his body low to leap at her at her descent.

"Tobirama!"

Her ears perked and she chanced a glance over her shoulder to see the battling duo of Madara and Hashirama, their hands held in signs but their attention both diverted to her.

A flash of white distracted her and her head shifted to focus on the silver head of the Nidaime as he blocked her assailant. The pelt of his white fur collar was close enough for it to brush her face, tickling her nose. The two men collided and she let herself land before shooting back a few paces to avoid their onslaught as it turned deadly.

Blinking rapidly, she watched as the Nidaime's hand flashed into a few seals, water seemingly spurting from nowhere as it collided with the Hyuuga. His hands flew into a few more seals, releasing a high powered stream of water from his mouth, slicing the Hyuuga through. When the Hyuuga's body dropped, the Nidaime spun on her. Red eyes narrowed suspiciously at her.

Sakura swallowed a rush of terror down and she squared her shoulders, fists raised as he came at her.

"Tobirama!"

The voice of the First Hokage clouded her mind as suddenly Madara's hair was tickling her face as he deflected Tobirama's sword with his own. She ducked and rolled, chakra lighting her hands to push herself up like a spring board. The metal sparks from their sword flew high as they swung and waved. Madara was snarling, a similar feature she had witnessed on Izuna's face, leaning over their clashing blades at the Senju.

Sakura skirted back, frozen as they held frozen, locked in place.

"Tobirama!" Hashirama boomed behind her, shaking her from her stupor as she fumbled to stand in her shock. His warm hand grabbed at her shoulder, steadying her and encompassing her tenderly.

Her emerald eyes sparkled in relief staring at him. However, it changed with another clang of metal. She had been saved from the Second by Madara. Why would he do that?

Her eyes widened and she frowned watching as the two struggled to dislodge the other. Both were menacingly in their armor, the starlight gleaming off their fair skin. She focused on each of them, gut churning in an unknown emotional turmoil. When Madara's lips curled up in another snarl like his brothers, she knew what she had to do.

"Madara," she called, both their blazing red eyes turning to her. "Izuna needs you."

There was a flash in his eyes. Dark and twisted. Sakura felt her chest clench and she anxiously stood awaiting his decision. Madara's eyes flitted between her and Hashirama even to where their encampment was, and then to Hashirama's hand on her shoulder. Sakura watched as he narrowed his eyes when Hashirama's hand tightened on her shoulder. His lip curled higher before he pushed forward, Tobirama jerking to keep the blades engaged without losing his footing.

Madara side stepped around Tobirama and leapt away. Tobirama made to follow after him, but Hashirama's chakra burst forth and the younger brother faltered in his step. Madara stopped to briefly connect his eyes with her, and her stomach flopped.

Sakura knew it wasn't over even as he leapt away.

She sank to her knees, the First Hokage making an air of noise through his nose, and she began to shake. Exhaustion crept up creating a fog in her head, and she couldn't shake herself of it as the Senju brothers watched her intensely. Finally her body felt heavy like a weight being dropped on her shoulders, and she succumbed to the darkness in her mind.