Author's note: Okay, the last chapter was maybe too short, so I made this one slightly longer. Even it out.

Chapter 7: Always Watching

On the eve of every large battle, rituals were upheld by each member of the head Uchiha household. Madara sunk deep into the pages of his books, trying to ground his mind in anything but the lurking fears of war. Tajima sat before a small shrine, tucked in the corner of his room, offering sweets and praying for the safety of his remaining children. Umika kept her nose buried in chores, hoping the labors would exhaust her nerves before she lost them. And Izuna went for long walks.

Not to distract himself. Quite the opposite. If he was going to die, Izuna wanted to take in the sights one last time. He walked to a small clearing just outside of their settlement gates. He stared up at the twinkling stars. He stopped to smell the wildflowers along the path home. He rubbed his watering eyes when a gust of wind carried firewood smoke from the neighboring houses straight into his face. He almost didn't see Umika in the backyard because of it. She was pulling down clothes from the drying lines, humming softly to herself.

An impish grin settled on Izuna's face. He was a lover of pranks. His father and brothers had always chided him for it, telling him to focus more on training.

It is training! He justified the annoying actions by showing how his sneaking steps had aided him on the battlefield. Each game was an opportunity for him to sharpen his skills against formidable opponents with honed senses. And now, he could move past their defenses unseen and unheard.

"Gotcha!" Izuna rasped, grabbing Umika's waist. The girl immediately curled into herself, letting out a pitched scream. He laughed at the mousey noise.

"Izuna!" She turned and began beating him with the half-folded shirt in her hands.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" he apologized through fits of giggles.

"It's not funny! You scared me half to death!" Umika pulled back the strands of hair that had fallen loose from her bun.

"You'll have to be more on guard. Not like you'll have a strong husband to protect you if you're married to Ryōta." Izuna snickered.

"No?" she let out an incredulous laugh, returning to her chores. "Who should I marry then?"

"I can think of someone better." Izuna touted.

"Then spit it out!" Umika quipped, tossing a shirt at him. "And help me fold."

"I come to you with valuable information, and you demand I both tell you free of charge and help you with chores?" he griped, though following through with her request.

"Hm…." She tapped her chin in thought, holding a pair of pants close to her chest. "What do you want in return?"

"Tell me how you feel about marrying him, truly." There wasn't a second of hesitation in his voice, and Umika wondered what stake he had in this fight.

"Truthfully…." She sighed and dropped the pants, unfolded, on top of the basket. She pulled her kimono taught against her body as she sat on the back deck. Izuna followed her lead, taking a seat next to her. "I'm scared."

"Scared?"

"Marriage, having children, it's all such a big responsibility. I know it's vital to our clan's survival, but it terrifies me to think that I may be recalled to the battlefield alongside my husband and killed…leaving my children orphaned." She pulled on the ends of her sleeves, recalling the pain of her own childhood. Izuna stared at her, pity visible on his face. He didn't want her to hurt. She noticed his gaze and gave a dismissive smile. "You won't have to worry about that, though. You're so strong. You'll stay alive for your children. And you'll definitely protect your wife." He opened his mouth to talk, unsure of what to say. "Has anyone caught your eye?" The confession nearly came spilling out of him in that moment. He held it in, if for no other reason than to seem less desperate for her.

"There is a girl." Izuna admitted slyly.

"Really? Who is it?" Umika leaned in closer. "Hurry, tell me!" she gently tugged on his loose ponytail. "Is it Sachiko? I bet it's her. She's so pretty." When he gave no hint, she moved onto her next guess. "Amata?" She waited another second for him to respond. "Is it even someone I know?"

"It's definitely someone you know." he chuckled. "I'll tell you who it is if you tell me who you'd rather marry."

"I haven't really thought about it." Umika admitted with a shake of her head.

"Then think about it." Izuna teased, standing up and heading towards the door. "And we'll exchange names when I'm back."

"Please, please, please." Umika pleaded with a nameless god. Twigs snapped under her feet as she sprinted towards her home. Her vision blurred with tears. "Please, please."

Please let us have made it in time.

She threw the doors open, impatiently ushering the Hyūga medic in. The doors hadn't even shut behind Hachiro before she was already up the stairs.

"Madara!" she grabbed the man's arms, nearly knocking a jug of water out of them.

"Watch it!" he hissed, correcting his balance.

"He's here! The medic!" she panted, doubled over, unbothered by his irritability. Madara's eyes lifted from the girl to the end of the hallway. Hachiro turned the corner and waited.

"May I see the boy?" the Hyūga asked politely.

"He's in here." Madara reached for the already open door. The shock had kept him from noticing Umika's quick steps into the room to take her place by Izuna's side.

"Izuna, there's a medic here to treat you." she comforted him through teary eyes, squeezing his large hand between her small ones. "He's going to fix everything." Madara had mocked the girl when she set out to the Hyūga colony. He was sure they would turn her away. He was even upset with her for leaving Izuna's side at such a delicate time. To think that she had managed to come back with a medic. Well, it was nothing short of a miracle.

"That's a relief." Izuna coughed out weakly.

Waiting for the conclusion of the examination was a punishing task.

"Umika, was it?" Hachiro asked when he looked up at the girl. The veins around his eyes relaxed, returning his face to its former beauty.

"Y-yes." Umika had not realized how tightly she was clenching her jaw until she had to move it. The pain shot through her neck and temples.

"You said there was a medical cache here. Do you have any poppy flowers left?"

"I-I think so." she nodded.

"Please, bring some more to me. It'll help with his pain." Hachiro requested. The girl immediately bolted from the room, eager to follow any order that may spare Izuna's life. Hachiro sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in thought. "Is she your wife?"

"No." Izuna cleared his throat. A sad smile overcame him. "I was planning on making my feelings known upon our return…but I've been preoccupied." He placed his palm flat against the rotting cut on his side.

"I see...I figured it would be better to have this conversation out of her earshot. She's been distraught since her arrival at our colony." The medic lifted the bandages on Izuna's cut, pointing to the scored skin. "This poison is unique to the Senju clan. A select few warriors coat their weapons with it. As such, we have not yet had opportunity to harvest enough of it to create an antidote." Hachiro explained. "The only medics I know that could treat a poison like this are of the Aburame clan. Of course, their alliance rests with the Sarutobi. I doubt they would aid you after such a blatant attack on their comrades." A deep sigh left the medic's lips. "I'm sorry, but I fear your time is limited. You may want to unburden your heart while you can."

"So, it can weigh heavy on her after I die?" Izuna scoffed. "No, I have kept this secret for five years. I can hold onto it for a little longer."

"Izuna, you—" Madara stopped talking when another fit of coughs tore through his little brother's throat.

"How far has the poison spread?" Izuna's voice was a harsh whisper.

"Through most of your chest. I imagine, in a few days, you will begin losing function in your limbs."

"Then we should do this now."

"Do what?" Madara's brow drew down on his eyes.

"Your eyes are failing!" Izuna yelled over his own anguish. "Take mine."

"I will not expedite your death!" Madara snarled.

"Then you will condemn our clan to whatever cruelties the Senju choose to inflict on them." Izuna used the last of his dwindling strength to prop himself up on one elbow. His other arm reached for Madara, hooking around the back of his brother's neck and pulling his face down until their foreheads bumped. "Take my eyes and protect them."

"Izuna—"

"It is the only way I will be able to watch over her." Izuna begged through tears. "Do not let her fall to them." He clenched his teeth. His breathing faltered. He tightened his grasp on Madara's hair. "Do not bend to their will."

"Izuna…."

Present Day:

Izuna. Madara sucked in a sharp breath, waking from his nightmare. He groaned at the feeling of cold sweat covering his entire body. He slipped out from between the covers and dragged his feet to the bathroom, wiping away the remnants of his worst memories with a wet towel. Beads of water dripped from the lip of the sink faucet. Their rhythmic impressions were almost hypnotizing.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip, drip.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip, drip.

An hour passed.

Then two.

It wasn't until the third hour of standing motionless in the dark that Madara finally snapped himself free of the enchantment. Another hissing breath pulled between his teeth as he moved through the shadows, back to his bed. The sweat had dried on his sheets, leaving them cold from the open window's draft. He stared at the other figure in his bed. She shuddered in her sleep, deprived of his warmth. He laid down, pulling her close. She mumbled something in the fog of her dreams.

"Do you know…you are all I have left?" His whispered confession disappeared into the umbra. Umika's breathing remained steady. He continued when he was sure she would not wake at the sound of his voice. His fingers pinched a lock of her hair, sliding the silky thing back and forth between them. "You are my last piece of home." Madara almost felt tears rise to the surface. But in an instant, they were quelled. He hadn't cried since Izuna's eyes had been placed in him. Not even when Izuna's body was lowered into the grave. Maybe his heart had hardened too much that day. Maybe these eyes never truly belonged to him. He glanced down at Umika's peaceful form. Maybe Izuna didn't want a single tear to cloud his view of her.