Eyes roved under closed lids as the sound of footfalls reached her ears and echoed in her unconsciousness and caused a thin brow to twitch and furrow slightly.
It was only the sound of the thud that finally caused obsidian eyes to flutter open and stare almost blankly at the cavern floor.
"I'd ask why you're asleep against the wall, but I feel like that's a redundant question with you."
Breath caught, Uchiha Umekiyo was suddenly very much wide awake.
With a dry mouth, she soon found herself staring at the young lord in front of her with a pounding heart.
And then he was in front of her with a bowl of a meal he'd only ever made for her in front of her face. She knew it all too well as it was full of small meat pieces, whatever was easily found at that moment whether it be rabbit, fish, fowl, or other game, with easily accessible vegetables cut in equally small pieces, all in a broth of sorts.
It was one of the few ways he's ever shown that he did care, even if they disagreed over most of everything all the time otherwise.
She could only reach out to the dish with carefully controlled hands that she refused to allow to shake with years of practise.
She inclined her head at him as she took it and brought it to her lap as he sighed. "You do realize that Otousama isn't the only one pissed at you, don't you?"
Umekiyo took the spoon and immediately sipped at the broth and felt the soreness in her neck ease due to the comforting heat and in so doing allowed the rest of her tense muscles to relax as well.
It was when she took another spoonful that she looked at the makeshift bed against the connected cavern wall and let her eyes wander the space around them. If Izuna-dono knew of the Senju, he would have already made it known. I would not even be here still, most likely chained down, stripped, and possibly eyes gauged. Among other things.
And as if to prove her point, Izuna let out a breath as he decided to sit down, "Let me see the wound."
She reluctantly shifted so that he can get to it, suppressing a wince as she did so.
And further flinches as he gently somewhat prodded at it.
"I see you re-bandaged it. Was my work really so unsatisfactorily?"
She shot him a look and finally bit into some meat, chewing it carefully as she did so.
He narrowed his eyes before he stood and folded his arms, "Just hurry up and eat. The sooner we get this over with, the better."
Umekiyo frowned at that. In other words, the elders wish to ambush us.
She decided it'd be in her best interest to eat as quickly as she possibly could for more than one reason. The main glaring one was bothering her to no end. Where the hell did that damned Senju hide and how in the hell did he know to even hide to begin with? This is very similar to that other night.
She paused and looked up to her fellow clansman's profile as she remembered him mentioning something about the man once, but hadn't actually given it much thought. And now considering what her current assigned mission was, it wouldn't be too out of place for her to ask and learn more about the white haired man.
So she reached over and tugged on his hakama, causing him to glance down at her.
He crouched down and she moved her hand in the air as if making brush strokes, wordlessly asking for something to write with.
So he produced a blank scroll and opened it along with a brush and a thin bamboo shoot that held ink.
She took the writing utensil and lightly dipped it while balancing the bowl on her thigh as she swiftly wrote out her thoughts and question.
About Senju Tobirama, I remember you did make mention about how he seems to always know when we're around, even if it's just one individual. How would you recommend I even start to hide my whereabouts if he has this…ability?
Already partway through reading, his eyes had narrowed as a scowl crept across his face.
She waited calmly and ate more.
He folded his arms, then, "Onisan and I have already brought this exact issue up. So at the moment, it's unimportant to you."
Umekiyo raised her brow as she chose to bring the rim of the bowl to her lips and drink the rest of the broth before setting it aside. Unimportant to me? I wonder how the elders reacted to such a bold statement.
He stood again and recollected the writing items and so she finished up what was left of her breakfast before she deposited it to the side to take care of at some point later.
It was then he lifted her easily into his arms before he took off out of the small entrance. Umekiyo ignored the urge to try and look over his shoulder for any out of place sign that could clue her in on where the hidden Senju snuck off to.
She instead closed her eyes and tried to ready herself for the waiting attack she expected would happen the moment they set foot home.
She gave only a brief thought at the fact that she would have to apologize to the white haired man for what he had dealt with the night before concerning her particular issues. And possibly thank him as well.
He didn't have to try and soothe her frantic state and he didn't have to silently sit out her tears until she finally passed back out due to sheer exhaustion right in front of him.
Umekiyo forced her mind to focus on the task ahead and ignore the pain in her thigh.
As soon as Izuna landed in front of the main house, they were greeted by a scowling woman with hair up in a tight bun and fierce grey eyes.
Izuna shifted as he leaned down and gently placed her feet on the wooden boards below. "Mugetsu-san."
The woman stepped forward and grabbed the younger woman's wrist and started to pull her behind her, "Madara-dono and Tajima-dono are in a meeting now, I suggest you make your way there soon, Izuna-dono."
The young man shifted as he watched the kunoichi keep pace with the elder woman as though she didn't even have an injury.
He let out a breath and made his way to the room.
He wasn't even surprised the elders were there as he entered and sat down.
Madara glanced to him, "Her wound?"
"Worse than she lets on." He answered back quietly. "She even re-bandaged it."
"She re-bandaged it because you're terrible at it."
Izuna shot his older brother an annoyed look before he grabbed at the teacup that was just poured by a servant.
"Does this mean you have an interest, Izuna-dono?" Came a calm and interested inquiry off from his left.
He inhaled and looked to them, "No. It means I'm concerned about my fellow clanswoman."
"Yes…" One of the others started, "You do seem to know her well."
"As we grew up alongside her due to Otousama's kindness, that's hardly out of the ordinary, Yoshio-san." He decided to speak back quickly.
"Tsk." The youngest one sounded out, but didn't comment as he took a drink.
Izuna looked to his brother, who met his eyes a moment before he glanced to his father, who sat there in silence, face free of expression and arms folded.
The doors opened shortly after to reveal that Umekiyo was adorned in a kimono of dark violet with ume and sakura adorning it.
She also seemed to have masked her annoyance well as she gracefully took her spot and the servant quickly moved forward to pour her tea as well.
Umekiyo stared at her cup a few seconds before she looked expectantly to Tajima.
He regarded her a brief moment and then looked to the elders, "Since my ward acquired her injury, we can hardly send her on a mission to find the Senju boy."
"Then who d-" Came the loud splutter, but Madara slammed his hand on the table, dark eyes narrowed, "No one. We send not one soul after him! We've gone through this already! Izuna already pointed out that he always knows when we're near and we shouldn't waste resources on finding someone that could kill them with barely any effort. It's suicidal and foolish. You had no right to warrant that mission to her the way you did, either."
Umekiyo blinked at that, her mind soaking that tidbit in without any surprise or shock.
"For all you're wishing to marry her off to one of us badly, you seem rather keen on removing her from life." Izuna shot in a dangerously low tone.
Umekiyo looked to the trio as they stiffened and the eldest one held up his hand, "Nothing of the sort, Izuna-dono. I assure you. We figured she'd be the best candidate for the job. The prime soul that might be able to not just find him, but to remain hidden."
"No one remains hidden when it comes to that bastard." Izuna spat out, "You're lucky we aren't accusing you of treason this very instant."
"Enough, boy." Tajima spoke out then, gaze hard on his youngest surviving son to then move to the young woman sitting prim and proper on his left and then to the elders, "The mission is forfeit and the girl is to remain free of your games."
"With all due re-"
"Tajima-dono!"
"Listen her-"
But Tajima stood his full height, dark eyes harsh as they bored into the men, "I will not repeat myself nor do I have to explain myself. You are dismissed."
Not a word was spoken as they stood stiffly and marched out with a harsh snap of the doors.
The two brothers looked to their father in confusion and respect.
Umekiyo, though, kept her eyes on the table as she finally grabbed at her teacup. Won't you get a kick out of this, Senju? Not even a week and my 'mission' was found out as a farce and canceled out. You're no longer completely a hunted missing nin.
"Girl."
She turned her attention to her lord and inclined her head at him to show she was listening.
He frowned at her, "I expect you obey your Obasan at all times until that wound of yours is more healed. And only I shall give you your missions. Personally. When it's deemed you're able to function as is your usual. Am I understood?"
The young woman swallowed thickly and then placed her hands on the wood in front of her and lowered her face low as acknowledgement.
"Now all of you, leave."
They quickly followed his order as they made haste out of the room.
Madara folded his arms and leaned against a tree as his brother let out a deep breath from his spot on the open porch and Umekiyo sat down with her legs over the edge.
Izuna looked up to his brother, "I haven't seen him quite that angry in some time. They truly have overstepped this time, haven't they?"
Madara nodded and looked to the two, eyes softening just slightly, "For now, just be on guard. Both of you. Until this settles down."
Umekiyo inwardly cringed as she looked up the darkening sky. Clouds threatening rain. Senju, tread carefully.
In the dark cave, Tobirama sneezed so harshly, his side flared in pain.
And then he cursed under his breath as he stood up with a scowl.
And Umekiyo was still with Izuna and Madara.
And eventually another chakra where she remained close to the whole night.
He sighed and closed his eyes as he rubbed at his sore neck.
Sore due to crawling into one of the wooden crates and fitting himself snugly, far too snugly, into the less filled one behind some of the others so as to keep himself out of sight from Izuna.
He found it curious that the two seemed to know each other so well.
And that the Uchiha lord was so terrible at wrapping a wound.
All information he stored for possibly needing to use one day.
He stood and rummaged around until he found a usable wooden container he could store water in and then found some jerky and dried shitake mushrooms.
He ignored his unhappy stomach as he ate his sad excuse of a meal after he summoned some water with a simple jutsu.
This is her fault. He concluded unhappily as he finished the edible fungi moodily as he frowned at the fact that she seemed to always have food on her somehow and got him used to eating a normal meal around the same time every night and morning if she could help it.
Something told him that not only would he suffer without meals, even if it was another stew (which he suspected was related to her neck wound), but also a fire to warm him at night.
He soon searched until he found another few thick kimono he could add to help warm him through the night.
He could only imagine the look on her face if he didn't at least do the basics and made himself sick somehow again.
So he settled himself in his covers and allowed his body to relax as he breathed out in a meditative like state so that he could awake if he sensed anything too close.
Namely an Uchiha.
Currently she was the only one he didn't count as a danger and he ignored the torment of emotions and thoughts that tried to rear their heads at the unnaturalness and quelled his inner mind as he focused on the necessity of it all.
