I tried to get to updating this today, because it's a special day for me and I'm excited...so, I figured readers who were anticipating an update could have something to be excited about too.

You may notice this one is a bit longer than the last 3-4. I'm trying to combine certain important points before next chapter.


Shinta stamped the ground, fluttering his wings a few times. Neither Yuhi looked too inclined to try getting near him, and Izuna didn't blame them. "He's harmless," he wanted to say, but he couldn't.

The big raptor was a menace on a good day. Naoko had outright laughed when he told her the plan and asked her to cover for him with the clan elders. Then she'd been dubious and finally downright concerned when he requested she feed the Summon while he readied himself for the trip.

"Look at you, Izuna-chan. All grown up." She'd been more nostalgic then than he'd ever seen her. "No stopping you now, is there? …Just be sure to bring 'im back mostly okay." Appreciative, Izuna squeezed her arm in reassurance, and then they'd gone their separate ways.

And she'd kept her word, assuring him Shinta had his fill of as many fish and rabbits as they could spare. Izuna didn't really expect them to fill the eagle up—he could easily devour a few grown deer—but his hope was to appeal to the bird's better nature, get him cooperative.

So far Shinta wasn't acting convinced. Izuna approached with arms outstretched, glancing at the two siblings waiting nervously in the background. What a sense of humor fate had, pairing him up with those two. At least they weren't currently bickering.

"I know you don't like the idea," he murmured, hoping his tone came across soothing and not annoyed, "But I need to help Madara. It's what…it's what Father would have wanted." The eagle considered it for a moment, cocking his head and eying the blondes with uncertainty. Izuna swore he heard their bones snap as they stood at attention. "They're helping me help Madara." he explained, feeling maybe he was getting somewhere.

Shinta's wings didn't lower immediately. He kept his intimidatingly large wingspan on full display as he hopped around them in inspection, occasionally clicking his beak. When he leaned in close to Kureno, sharp beak dangerously close to his nose, Izuna was afraid he might just decide they'd make better snacks than allies. Damn, he should have had Naoko offer him a deer…

But then it was over and the unpredictable bird huffed a little, folding his wings and stooping low. "Wh-what now?" Yurine squeaked, clutching her backpack tight.

"He's willing to let us ride." Izuna sighed, approaching the raptor and gently stroking his neck.

Shinta nipped at his fingers and the Uchiha withdrew them, understanding the message clearly. "Don't get use to this."

Deciding he should board first, Izuna took hold of the harness and climbed atop the bird's back, positioning himself near the shoulders and reaching a hand out to help his comrades. Yurine pointed at herself. "Me first?" she gulped. Her brother nudged hard at her shoulder.

"You'd be fine with it any other time." he taunted, causing her face to redden in anger. Glaring, she hesitantly reached for Izuna, allowing him to haul her up behind him. Her fingers lightly gripped at his shoulders, Yurine's loud sigh right in his ear as she grumbled about how irritating her brother was bound to be throughout the trip.

He genuinely hoped they could at least control themselves; sibling banter was all well and good but he wasn't exactly in the mood to be stuck between their arguments as a mediating party again. It would be easier—and maybe more inconspicuous— if they "fell" from Shinta's back midflight. A last resort, naturally.

"Your turn," Izuna announced, looking over at Kureno. "Do you need help or—"

Puffing out his chest, the older Yuhi swept some of his tussled blonde hair aside and flashed a confident smile, to which he heard Yurine scoff in response. "No, no." he assured, "Unlike my sister, I can manage."

Manage wasn't even close to the word Izuna would use to describe Kureno attempting to vault up onto the bird's back behind his sister, only to have Shinta nonchalantly lift up into the air briefly just long enough for the man to crash into the ground. When they landed, the eagle was keening in a way that could only be laughter.

"Shinta." Izuna reprimanded quietly. He slid from his spot on the bird, ignoring Yurine's startled gasp. Pulling Kureno onto his feet, the blonde rubbed a smudge of dirt from his face, refusing to make eye contact.

"L-Lost my balance…" he muttered. Nevertheless, he didn't protest when Izuna helped get him settled behind Yurine.

"Alright, Shinta." Izuna climbed back into his own spot. "You know where we need to go—take us to Sekai. That's where Madara summoned you."

The eagle trilled, tossing his head around and starting to hop then run across the ground, jostling all three of them. The forest stretched out in front of them, the village gates just behind, and he could imagine the odd looks the sentries were giving them.

Tall trees aside, the bird's wingspan was easily big enough to clear them and get into the air with no problem. Getting a running start wasn't necessary, and Izuna knew that the Summon was having some more fun at their expense.

"We're gonna crash before we get off the ground!" Kureno yelled as Shinta charged for the woods.

"W-We need to jump, Izuna-kun!" Yurine added, briefly squeezing tight at his shoulder. Her voice was high in fear and if he looked back at her, he was sure he'd find her eyes round with panic.

"Shinta, stop fooling around. Now!" the Uchiha barked, frustrated with the bird's antics. Every moment he wasted was a minute it could be too late to save Madara and Sakura-san. He gripped the harness and pulled up, making sure the Summon understood how serious he was. The proud, self-important creature was just as likely to throw them all off as fall in line.

But something in the bird responded, and they were rocketing up into the air so fast his neck cracked painfully. The Yuhi siblings groaned behind him, just as jolted as he was, but at least they were now in the air.

Izuna peered down at the treetops and the village, watching as both became increasingly smaller with every wingbeat. The forestation was so tiny the expanse of greenery could have been blades of grass. And the village, the homes and people and even the Hokage Tower, already looked like a child's model set.

He couldn't help the breathless laugh that tumbled past his lips. How long had it been since he'd flown? Not since childhood, if he had to guess. Their father had taken him and Madara and their late brother Sanna up to see the battlefield from a bird's eye view, calmly pointing out the carnage as they gazed down in horror at the broken bodies and charred ground.

Only a little boy then, Izuna clung to his brother's back, Madara constantly complaining that he was being squeezed too tight. It didn't take Sanna long to become airsick, and he nearly vomited if not for Tajima's sharp reprimand. Meanwhile, when he finally felt brave enough to do so, Izuna had opened one watery eye and seen that from so high up, it really was as beautiful as it was frightening.

He hadn't expected the sensation of flying to give him the same sense of wonder as it had years ago, and yet Izuna was pleasantly surprised. If not for the urgency of the mission's nature it might have been sort of peaceful up in the morning clouds. Their coolness, despite fall and the corresponding chill weather having settled firmly over Fire Country, was oddly refreshing. Of course, by the silence behind him, he was probably the only one who thought so. Maybe the only one who was enjoying any of it at all?

Fleetingly, he wondered how Sakura-san would feel about flying. Her enjoying herself and them having something else to marvel over and discuss together was a pleasing thought. 'Not right now, Izuna…' Izuna reminded himself, knowing it'd all be in vain if they were too late.

"Are you both okay? Keep hanging on tight." He called, trying and failing to angle himself in a way that he could see his teammates while maintaining a safe grip on the harness. The action would have been easier—doable period, actually—if Yurine wasn't so adamant about keeping her face buried in his back. His command to keep holding on wasn't lost on her whatsoever; her fingernails dug into his shoulders with gusto.

"F-Fine…" Kureno responded first, still full of bravado despite the embarrassing display Izuna had seen with his own two eyes. "But uh, the speed's not helping my hair. I'm all for the windswept look but this is excessive."

Izuna once more wriggled until he was able to dislodge Yurine enough to glance backward. Kureno's confident smile was strained by the wind, his eyes squinted and watering and his perfectly swept hair a tousled mess. The Uchiha was happy for the fact that the high altitude made it hard to hear the undignified snort.

"What about you, Yurine? It's alright to open your eyes if you need to." Izuna glanced down, making sure they were headed in the right direction. Shocked, he had to do a double-take at the quaint seaside town just on the horizon. "Look, we're almost flying over Yumegakure." Shinta truly was amazing, ornery or not. They hadn't been in the air for even half an hour and he'd gotten them to the edge of Fire Country, a feat that would have taken them three days going top-speed on foot. "Keep it up, Shinta." He encouraged.

Yurine slowly peeled her face from his shirt, taking a minute to do some deep breathing. "We're so high," she yelped.

"It's not flying if you're on the ground, dear sister."

All her previous fear forgotten, Yurine reached behind her to slap blindly at her brother. "Stop acting like you're so incredibly well-adjusted! You've never flown in your life and you know it!" she accused.

Izuna's lips quirked, neither a smile nor a frown. He was beginning to suspect this behavior was something he could expect for the remainder of the mission…

A breathless gasp near his ear alerted him to the fact that Yurine, between bickering with her brother and peering over his shoulder, had finally spotted the view. "So that's the sea…" she whispered.

They sailed right over Yume, his heart expanding at the sight of the twinkling sea. Very rarely had he traveled so far across the Fire Country. But he'd always heard Yume was a peaceful portside, welcoming of all travelers. Time permitted, it might have been nice to have some fresh caught fish, get sea-drunk off the salt air and take a break from the usual responsibilities within the clan.

After all, it was so picturesque and relaxing…blue and sparkling like a jewel caught by the sunlight. So close…he could nearly reach out and touch it.

"I'm not one to tell a captain how to steer his ship…or a man how to fly his bird," Kureno's voice drifted over the calm.

"Pssh!" Yurine exclaimed, clearly disagreeing.

Ignoring her, he leaned around. "But we're sort of…descending pretty fast."

Alarmed, Izuna noticed he was right. Shinta had drifted lower and lower and now his wingtips almost skimmed the water's surface, a light spray of seawater peppering them. "Shinta, what are you doing? We're too low." Izuna tugged at the harness sharply, urging the bird back up.

But the Summon, whimsical and now apparently feeling mightier than before, only listed right, his wing dipping into the water and sending up a spray. Normally, there would have been no concern. With the exception of perhaps a shark, no animal in the water could jump out and challenge the eagle—his size alone was a deterrent. But with the bird's wily attitude, Izuna didn't trust the damn raptor wouldn't simply dump them all off his back into the frigid sea.

The same thought must have passed between the siblings because he felt Yurine's lax grip tightening up again. Shinta trilled triumphantly, not a care in the world, doing exactly what he wanted to do.

Izuna knuckled the worn leather of the harness, concern mingling into his exasperation. Would he really be drowned by his father's Summon before even reaching the islands? "Shinta, no more games!"

Games were exactly what the eagle was in the mood for. His speed suddenly accelerated, despite his low altitude remaining constant, and with no warning he looped, almost bucking them all off.

Yurine screamed, trying to meld into his flesh by how tightly she was hanging on. Kureno's yell was differentiated by the more masculine pitch, but he was no doubt just as hysterical.

The bird was delighted, letting out a series of raucous sounds that could only be laughter. Not giving them time to catch their collective breath, the eagle spun himself in a spiral, somehow managing to catch fish in the process. While Yurine started to dry heave, the raptor enjoyed his meal.

When they leveled out, all of them were shaken, but Izuna's shoulders were tense with rage, not fear. Two people he cared about were almost undeniably in danger, and here they were wasting precious time because a spoiled bird couldn't behave long enough to get them to dry land.

"Shinta," he snarled through clenched teeth. "Ascend!" The forcefulness of his tone and the flare up of his chakra brooked no argument, and suddenly they were bursting back up into the air so fast his cheeks flapped. The sound of a broken sob that could've been Kureno vaguely registered, but Izuna was too busy basking in the satisfaction that the stubborn bird of prey had finally responded to his authority. Somehow, he knew they'd no longer have to worry about him for the rest of the flight.

"It's over," he announced, a crooked grin on his plump lips. Brow furrowed, he dropped the harness from his right hand and turned, placing it on Yurine's shoulder. "You're both still with me?"

Through the death-grip, the blond kunoichi lifted her eyes to his, tear tracks half-dry down her face and something haunted in her expression. "How…d-do you mean? My body is, but…but…" For a moment he worried she'd pass out and his hands prepared to catch her, but she shook off the daze and closed her eyes. Five consecutive deep breaths later and she appeared centered, focused as if she hadn't just been in a life or death scenario. That was admirable, how quickly she was able to readjust. "I'll live."

"Kureno…?" Izuna asked.

"Mmph! Mmmmmmppph!" That…wasn't what he was expecting. Some more false bravado or even quiet crying, yes, but that just sounded like a muffled death scream. Izuna got Shinta to a gentle glide, and then turned himself completely sideways. Despite his previous success, this time he really did laugh at the blonde ninja's expense.

He was attempting to pry a persistent squid off his face but his shaking fingers couldn't get the right grip for it.

"Yu-Yurine…" he wheezed, "Could you help out," Izuna had to clutch the harness or risk falling off as his body was racked with laughter.

"Honestly, Kureno!" Yurine cried, grasping onto two of the squid's arms and ripping it away. She dropped it, watching it fall down, down, down…and then finally land with a splash back in the sea.

How he'd manage to get the thing stuck to him in the brief time he was fighting to get Shinta back under control, was as perplexing as it was absurd.

Of course, Kureno's dramatic howl was instant.

The two of them paused and then Yurine was joining him, doubled over in laughter herself. Nothing about Kureno looked charming, composed or handsome. Only one phrase came to mind: utterly ridiculous.

His once neatly swept hair was poking out at odds and ends Izuna hadn't even known were possible. His red eyes were round and distant, blotted by a mask of ink that gave him an uncanny resemblance to a tanuki, mouth still hanging open in silent terror. Most tellingly there was an imprint across almost his entire face left behind by the squid's tentacles.

It wasn't a surprise that the male Yuhi wasn't as amused. "It strangled me!" he hissed. "I…I was dying! I saw the light!" Manically, he brushed his hands through his hair until it was…semi-fixed (at least it was flatter), and then clasped both palms to his own neck to massage it. "And you have the audacity to laugh!" As the high of the giggles came down, Izuna was able to understand why from his perspective, their laughter was deeply offensive.

"Sorry," he said with an easy smile. "Ever since I got that letter this morning, everything's been tense and urgent." Izuna resisted telling them that even before the letter, everything with the clan seemed tense and urgent—for no real reason other than the council was old and bitter—trying to keep the mood light. "Believe it or not, I feel better now, and even if it was unintentional, I have you to thank."

Kureno's eyes softened, "Yeah?" he rubbed at his neck. "I guess I do possess a certain composure that's bound to rub off, eh?"

Yurine's eyebrows lifted skeptically. "Hopefully you're joking."

Unfortunately, he wasn't, and her brother folded his arms behind his head and attempted to lean back, forgetting they were very much still in the air and nearly tumbling from the eagle's back with a girlish shriek. Yurine grabbed him just in time, and then when she made sure he was safely back onboard, set to work scolding him.

Shinta barely turned his head, and if eagles could, Izuna had a feeling this one would be rolling his eyes. He cast the Uchiha a glance, silently communicating. "That time, it wasn't my fault."

Izuna stroked his soft neck feathers in understanding. The Yuhi siblings and their endless antics were something they would both have to get use to together.


Sakura had been very, very careful not to doze off again. There was no telling what would happen. What was already happening. The deep bloodlust that nearly overwhelmed her control was like nothing she'd ever experienced, and the thought of killing a defenseless ally—even if that ally was Madara—in a fit of rage horrified her.

She sat and tried to piece together everything that had transpired so far, from the minute they'd stepped foot off the ship until the last few hours that had led them here. The encounter with the acolytes had all but confirmed it was the work of a divine being. A wrathful one who personally had a grudge against her interfering. Balance, they'd chanted at her. Balance.

What warped sense of balance required unleashing a terrible curse on a defenseless population and then watching them die miserably in droves? She'd told Mizuchi once before, but she didn't understand gods…

Mizuchi! Sakura shot concerned eyes at Madara. He was still out cold. Settling herself, she once again tried to reach for the link she knew tethered her to the strange, enigmatic deity.

Before there hadn't been anything, just a faint sense that she was out there somewhere, but far off and unreachable. Now, Sakura had a clearer sense of the invisible connection, and she realized with a start that Mizuchi was…purposely blocking her access. That was the only way to describe the feeling, like yards and yards of invisible barriers had been erected just to keep Sakura from reaching out.

Sakura recalled her dream wherein she'd smashed through Madara's barrier until she reached him. It was a long shot to apply dream logic to the situation—despite it being surreal enough to almost count as a waking dream—but it was worth the attempt. The rose-haired girl formed a mental fist, large and destructive, just like her inner self's use to be.

With all her might she slammed it down against the constructs separating her mind from the goddess's. Again and again and again. She imagined it chipping slowly, more resilient than Madara's shield had been in the dream, but not impervious. It could've all been wishful thinking; for all she knew Mizuchi's walls may have been impenetrable.

Worst still, the thought occurred that this was Mizuchi's way of tossing her out in the cold. Sakura shuddered bodily. She had always been elusive, but never actually abandoned her. That was one thing she'd never even considered could happen. As much as she had wanted the goddess to leave her alone in those early days, she had become a constant, instructing her diligently if not cryptically.

Was this it? Was she stranded out of time with no higher being to rely on for guidance? The fist stopped, Sakura slinking deeper into her depressive thoughts.

"A bit…overly dramatic for my tastes."

She jolted upright, unable to believe she was actually glad to hear that voice.

There she was, regal and radiant…and very solemn. It was all happening in her head, Sakura knew, but she still leaned forward. 'Where!' was all she could say, thoughts fizzling on the where have you been?!

"Where I needed to be, in order to avoid them."

Hot, thirsty energy surged through her, looking for a victim. She'd been gone so long and now, again, instead of being straightforward, she fell back on the overplayed allure of mystery.

Sakura curled her hands into fists and then planted her knuckles firmly into the hard floors until it started to hurt, just to have something to distract herself.

Mizuchi moved closer, regarding her almost coldly. "Is this what's become of you? You fell more quickly than I could have ever imagined."

Some of the anger that had started to seize her body abated. 'What?'

"You reek." The goddess said plainly. "Like a festering blight. So that can only mean you've done something utterly foolish in my absence." She kept strutting around her and tutting like a mother who had found their child had dirtied their best clothes while playing outside.

'I did what I needed to.' Sakura returned just as curtly. And who was she to judge? Where had the almighty dragon goddess been in her hour of need, when it felt like the blights would swallow up every part of her?

"Hiding," she sighed. The confusion must have been pretty evident on her face, because for the first time since appearing to her, Mizuchi's face softened. "Sakura, it is imperative that I am not found until my objective is reached. And I still have a ways to go before that is possible. You, I had hoped, would be ready when they came. But you are not."

'Ready for what?' She all but screeched.

"The heavens." Mizuchi said dismissively. "I…and now, I am afraid, you, will be hunted mercilessly." Her eyes were distant, staring off into the expanse of nothingness that was Sakura's mindscape. Mizuchi hadn't bothered to alter it this time around, so it was vast and dark. "I cannot linger. Already, they may know…but trust that in a short time, I will explain more." She paused, suddenly looking almost lost, certainly more vulnerable than Sakura had ever seen her. It was, in a word, terrifying. "No…I will explain all." Mizuchi declared. The ferocity returned to those glimmering, golden-green eyes. "Wake up. Keeping this connection too long will only put you in more danger. Well, more than you are already in…And, get that Uchiha to awaken too. Make him prove useful." To Sakura's mild amusement, Mizuchi rolled her eyes. "I find I care for his dramatics even less than yours. In the span of a second he went from being the hero to being the victim." Sakura was enraptured as her deity continued to mock Madara, wanting to listen all day.

But Mizuchi had other plans, cutting the meeting short, dumping Sakura back into consciousness like a toy doll upended from a box. Green eyes darted around, wondering just how long she'd been in that trance. Probably not as long as it felt like…

Her inner medic nin coming to the fore, she decided it was time to check on Madara again. The rain sounded like it had stopped, and they really needed to move on. It was a risky move, but what choice did they have?

Sakura leaned over into his face, intending to move hair so she could check the pulse of his neck. But her fingers didn't even touch him when the Uchiha groaned low in his throat, twitching restlessly as his eyes eased open.

Dumbfounded, Sakura only sat back on her heels and watched. She had expected he'd be asleep much, much longer. Maybe another day. Maybe more. As always, the man was defiant, beating her expectations and looking around in disorientation.

His bottomless eyes rolled toward the ceiling, lips parting in a false start. She couldn't imagine how dry his mouth was right then. "Where is…" he began roughly, his usual baritone impossibly deeper, "This…?"

"We're…still in the temple." Sakura explained slowly. Quicker than she would have advised, his neck snapped toward her, eyes drinking her in even as his face remained blank. "After you were knocked out, it was raining hard. I wasn't about to drag you back down the mountain in a downpour like that. We could've both fallen to our deaths."

Madara's eyes squinted at her face. "…" Sakura watched his forehead wrinkle and she knew he was thinking hard. His eyes darted between her face and her hair, finally settling on the latter. "Pink."

"Pink?" she repeated, unamused.

"You have pink hair." He clarified.

"I always have." She snapped. "Anyway, that's beside the point. We have a lot more serious problems."

Madara began attempting to sit up on his elbows. Knowing he was too stubborn to listen if she told him to rest, Sakura reluctantly assisted. She drew the line, however, when he tried to stand and she had to catch him.

"Why're you always so difficult?" Sakura fought every instinct to toss him back onto the cot, helping him carefully seat himself instead.

"I don't even know what you mean," Madara huffed. "I wake up in some strange room with a pink-haired girl hovering over me, babbling, and now you just want me to stay put?"

Her mouth fell open quietly, and she wanted to ask if he was serious, but there was genuine frustration on his face and he'd crossed his arms with a childish pout. "Madara," she whispered. "How far back do you remember?"

He perked up, making Sakura slightly hopeful it was nothing too serious. He might've been just a little…rattled. Being hit by a fifty pound boulder would do that.

"Madara?" he choked, pronouncing his own name like it was a foreign word. "Who's Madara?"

Sakura fell to her knees. "No…"


Landing was rough. Shinta had been coasting peacefully when, out of the blue, something darted past them in the opposite direction, clipping the bird's wing. The eagle cried out, starting to spiral out of the sky less than a mile over the beach of Sekai island. For all his attempts to get them righted and back in the air, Izuna knew they were going down—hard.

Shinta was flapping desperately with one wing, for once not appearing to be up to his usual tricks. He clung tight to the harness and braced for impact, both siblings clinging tight to him in turn. At their rate of speed, it was impossible not to imagine a painful encounter with the ground.

The wind was so loud in his ears he had a hard time recognizing the screaming—or who was doing it. All he heard clearly was the pounding of his own heart, and the anger roared through his blood that they'd get so, so close, only to die on the shores of Water Country.

A warm gust of wind slammed into them, pushing them along until Shinta was horizontal in the sky again, coasting down, the bird spreading his massive wings and making an awkward landing. Izuna hit the sand and rolled, feeling the grit of it in his mouth, eyes, nose and ears. Two identical thuds signaled that his teammates had the same experience. For a minute the Uchiha was too dizzy to move, laying face-down on the beach, spread-eagle with the sound of the ocean waves crashing against the shore.

Shinta's weak cry made him lift his head, and Izuna got his legs under him and stumbled toward the animal. He collapsed on his knees, stroking over the bird's body with both hands and wishing more than ever that they had Sakura-san. "Shinta, thank you…I mean it." Managing some dignity, the majestic creature raised his head, a gleam of pride in his eyes. "How're your wings?" Izuna hated to think whatever had hit them took the raptor out of commission. After all, he still had to fly himself back to his mountain home.

Shinta stood up, slowly flexing both wings and shaking the sand loose from his feathers. He held up the wing that had been hit and gently flapped it a few times, lowering it with a confident cry. "So it just stung a little?" Izuna felt himself starting to breathe easier. "Shinta's fine!" he announced, turning with a small grin that quickly fell when he saw his comrades.

"Oh," Yurine had crawled to her brother and was trying to dig his head out of the sand with her hands. "Good for him." She dragged Kureno out by the back of his shirt and he immediately started spewing out great mouthfuls of sand.

"T-This is more traumatic than the Kaguya," Izuna watched him try to wipe sand from his eyes, then futilely attempt to fix his hair—again. "Sand's not supposed to go anywhere near my—"

"We're here in one piece and that's what matters." Yurine interrupted, once more impressing Izuna with her ability to refocus. "Let's go find Sakura…and Izuna-kun's brother."

Izuna smiled in appreciation, glancing over as the eagle started to wander across the beach, toward a tide-pool. "We'll take it from here." He told the bird. "We couldn't have done this without you." To his surprise, when he reached up to touch the eagle's beak, he leaned down to let him. "The next time Madara summons you, I'll make sure you get a nice stag."

The Summon warbled enthusiastically, finally disappearing in a puff of smoke.

"Ugh," The Yuhi siblings walked toward him, Kureno still sandy. "I'll never look at eagles the same way again…" he muttered. "It's a miracle all of us still have our packs…"

Izuna had to agree. Everything he'd packed was somehow safe, including his sword, and, honestly he was happy his ninja tools hadn't dropped into the sea during the erratic flying.

"So where do you think they'd be?" Yurine asked, gently combing both hands through her ponytail.

"According to the information I got from the Hokage, Sakura-san was helping out the healers here, so there's a chance she may be at their clinic. Madara was negotiating at the Hagakure Inn and that's where they were supposed to be staying."

"I say we try the inn first," Kureno announced. "I like, I mean they'd like to get clean after a long day, right?" He lifted his shirt and shook it, more sand falling out.

Yurine placed her hands on her hips, glaring, "Kureno, it's not even noon!"

Cornered by her accusatory glare, Kureno raised his hands in defeat, stepping backward across the beach. "Alright, fine, I want this sand gone before I start chafing. But it doesn't mean I'm wrong! They've got twice as much reason to be at the inn as they do anywhere else!"

Yurine gave him a flat stare, deferring to Izuna. "What do you think, Izuna-kun?"

He shrugged, already heading up the beach toward the village. "I think it makes sense. They'd be hard to miss and the innkeeper would probably remember their faces." His sandals sank into the moist sand, caking between his toes. He wouldn't admit it, but he wouldn't mind getting clean after they made sure his brother and Sakura-san were safe, too.


Sakura stopped, pivoted on her heel for the fourth time, looking behind her. "Walk a little faster,"

Madara's head lifted in surprise, but his expression quickly morphed into a blank look as he continued to drag his feet, ignoring her. Sakura rolled her eyes, marching over and taking his wrist to pull him along.

"H-Hey, stop it! I don't even know where you're taking me." He tried to dig his heels into the ground, but her strength won out and she was literally dragging him. A grown man, Madara Uchiha, being dragged around like a petulant child.

Would anyone ever believe her if she told them? In the state he was in now, maybe…

They hadn't run into anyone after leaving the temple, so Sakura supposed maybe all luck hadn't abandoned her. It didn't mean she wanted to linger on her way back to the village. In the end, there was just nothing to do other than to risk it.

Although, given the choice, the kunoichi was positive she'd rather fight off another enemy ambush than deal with the reality that was Madara's amnesiac state.

"Are you sure you're even a real miko?" he asked, referring to the outfit she still wore. "You're not very feminine."

Sakura grit her teeth, a prominent vein twitching near her temple. 'He's not himself.' She reasoned. 'You shouldn't hit someone with a head injury.' On the other hand…it was pretty tempting. If she smacked him around enough, maybe he'd finally settle on a personality she liked.

"I'm not a miko…" Sakura grumbled. "I'm a kunoichi—a female ninja. Now be quiet and I'll explain more when we get where we're going."

Clearly, that answer wasn't satisfactory enough. "And where's that?" he snipped.

"Hagakure Inn."

The village was well in sight, the tang of the sea and smoked fish on the air. Madara's nose crinkled and he tried yet another unsuccessful attempt to pull away. "This village is where I live? It's pretty pitiful."

If it wasn't irritating it would be amazing. Even without memories, he seemed to have a natural talent for being difficult. "Neither of us lives here, but it's where we're going, so take it or leave it."

Her snarky response at last prompted him to stop talking, and the rest of the walk into town he followed, grumbling quietly under his breath.

Strangely, those who spotted them appeared much friendlier than before, most noticeably toward Sakura. They smiled, or pointed and then waved. If not for the situation, she'd be puffed with pride that her help was so positively received. More importantly, it meant that the acolytes hadn't been them to the village, or put any sort of orders out for them. Her anxious heartbeat slowed down just a tick.

They passed the booths where villagers were selling their food or crafted items, and remarkably it looked fuller, livelier than before. In a way, the atmosphere of the entire town had shifted; it was less smothering by far. One spot in particular caught her eye, the jewelry stand where they had first encountered the pitiful little girl. Now, there was a small crowd gathered, excitedly viewing her bracelets and necklaces.

She was standing on a stool, smiling as she accepted money from a customer in exchange for a necklace. An older woman with her faded brown hair up in a messy bun and frown lines around her mouth stood nearby, showing off a pretty piece of blue sea glass.

Sakura was happy for them, but she couldn't afford to linger, so she ushered Madara through the crowd. Cutting through the throng, they came out on the other side, near a row of modest homes built from recycled driftwood. Before, there had been an air of emptiness surrounding the houses. Today, children did tricks with a ball and a woman stood and swept in her doorway. Little by little, the island was perking up, and oh how she wanted to believe she had some small part in it.

Madara was being unusually quiet, so Sakura peeked over her shoulder to check on him. He was watching the children play, enthralled like a long-lost memory had resurfaced.

Testing the waters, she tried to give him a patient smile, "What, thinking of joining in?"

She meant it as a small joke, of course, but he turned to her with an utterly serious expression. "Maybe. I think I've played that game before…a long time ago."

No retort to that came to mind. Sakura cleared her throat. "Come on," she said, exhausted. And to think it wasn't even midday… "Hagakure, remember?"

Madara grunted, sounding a little more like his old self. They didn't talk again after that, Sakura silently leading the way with all the thoughts of what she could do about the Uchiha drumming through her head.

A sharp turn she'd almost missed took them past the front of the clinic. Why go in? It was unlikely they could help, and besides, they'd be busy with those still weak and recovering. "This place is an inn?" Madara asked, bewildered about why they'd stopped.

Sakura turned, back to the entrance. "No, it's just I—oof!" She shuffled out of the way, noticing a man with his back to them slowly trying to maneuver his way out, carrying a large crate.

"My apologies…I guess backing out of the door wasn't as smart as it was in my head." He turned, Kou blinking in surprise at the sight of her. "Oh, Sakura? I…I'm surprised you're still here. The…outfit's new I see."

Sakura had almost forgotten about the fact that she was dressed just like a miko. "Kou…" He was just the same as he'd been the last time they spoken, save for the fresh gray yukata he was wearing. There was a little more light in his eyes, though, as if he'd found new energy from somewhere. "That's a little hard to explain right now, but what's this about me being here? Is there a reason why I shouldn't be?"

Kou's mouth popped open, but he glanced at the crate in his arms, shrugging. "No, no… I just thought you'd moved on to treat people on other islands. Like Erika."

"Erika's gone?" Sakura asked, mildly. She could feel Madara's heat at her back as he leaned closer, but she ignored him in favor of gauging the other medic's response.

"Ever since she arrived, she's been here bright and early, treating patients. But you know, now that you've helped us heal everyone and no new cases have been brought in…we all just assumed she'd moved on to where she was most needed, since she never showed up today."

Madara, apparently tired of being ignored, huffed loudly in impatience. "Who's Erika?"

"O-Oh," Kou smiled politely, despite clearly being taken aback. "I don't think we've met. I'm Kou from the Yuki clan and I—"

"I didn't ask who you were," Madara interrupted. "I asked who Erika is."

Sakura was fuming, shoving Madara away from Kou none too gently. "I'm sorry about him!" she apologized. "Absolutely no filter," She snatched his wrist hard enough to bruise, tugging him again. "Sorry we can't stay, but thank you for everything!"

Kou awkwardly tried to wave while balancing the crate against his hip, openly confused. "R-Right…"


Yurine scuttled closer to her brother, feeling uncomfortable. 'What is this… dread I feel…?' All her senses felt sharp, ready for danger. People looked at them from out windows and around corners, but not a single face was welcoming.

"It's just the culture here." Izuna whispered, meeting her eyes. "Water Country is pretty closed-off to outsiders, and they can see from our headbands we're from Konoha. That's even more reason not to trust us." Yurine nodded quietly. He was being so calm, walking without even the slightest hint of intimidation.

That was no surprise, considering how he'd handled the flight over, nonplussed about that horrible bird. Yurine personally found it one of the most terrifying moments of her life, and she was less than enthusiastic about ever getting on the back of any flying animal ever again.

Izuna didn't need to know she was terrified of his Summon, though. She wanted to make a good impression on him. He was the first Leaf shinobi she'd been on a mission with. Couldn't have him reporting to the Hokage that she wasn't strong enough for the field. Of course if she was deemed incompetent on this mission there was truly no hope for Kureno, who was far less serious in general.

She watched her brother make eyes at a girl with a pink scarf holding back most of her hair. The girl was grinning, oblivious to her brother's flirtations as she held the fish out to them. "Fresh trout!" she chirped.

The way Kureno's face fell in disappointment was almost worth it. "Not today," Yurine declined, pinching at his arm and moving him along. Izuna hadn't stopped or slowed down once. He was making his way through the market with a purpose, stepping around the children who were underfoot and brushing aside merchants with a disinterested shake of his head.

Handsome, fearless and focused… Yurine had to be careful not to swoon, because loud-mouth Kureno would most definitely make an issue out of it.

"That's the inn up ahead," Her brother craned his neck to a well-kept building just past the market that stood out in a way none of the others could. He broke into a light sprint to catch up with Izuna, and she followed wordlessly. An uncomfortable prickle down the back of her neck almost broke her stride.

Feeling watched, Yurine turned her head sharply to the left just in time to see a shadow disappear behind slats of wood nailed in front of an alleyway. The blonde skidded to a halt, thoroughly unnerved. There wasn't as much as a stray cat slinking between the boards.


Sakura shut the door, finding Madara sitting at the desk with his face turned toward the sun. A softer expression did him a world of good, and for just that space of time, she could feel her heart crumple up like a wad of paper, then pull taut once again. What was she going to do? Madara was…wasn't even Madara anymore. In any other instance that would have been cause for joyous celebration, but now, in the middle of a mission, was the worst time for him to forget everything.

Aware of her eyes on him, the Uchiha began speaking, "You said you'd explain, since I barely know who you are."

This was the moment she'd been dreading, and Sakura realized that she'd been secretly hoping somewhere between the trip down the mountain and their arrival to the inn, his memory would be miraculously restored.

Inhaling, she wished for strength, stepping closer to him. "I'm Sakura Haruno. And your name is Madara Uchiha,"

He was shaking his head almost before she'd formed the last syllable. "No," he said firmly. "Madara? I don't like it."

Sakura leaned back against the cot, now able to admire how much better it felt than the floor. "Well, a name's a name." She had to bite back a short laugh.

The Uchiha glared at his clothes, pulled at his own hair, ran a hand down one side of his face. Whatever self-inspection he'd completed must have come away inconclusive, because he crossed his arms tightly. "I don't look like a Madara."

That made Sakura scoff outright. If he wasn't a 'Madara', he also wasn't a 'Toshi', a 'Hanzo' or a 'Shin'.

"Actually, I'd say you do. More than you think."

Madara got silent, wordlessly seething. The way he was leering at her right now, it was as if he held her personally responsible for his name. "How sure are you—that it's my name?"

Tired of the conversation, Sakura shut her eyes in aggravation. "Very," she said flatly. "Let's move on. That's really not that important. Now, as I was saying, you're from the Uchiha clan. It's a very powerful family of shinobi."

That drew his attention, and his irate face melted in childlike wonder. "I'm a…a ninja?"

Sakura wanted to mock him in some way, but the way his eyes shined…she just couldn't. "One of the strongest…"

His pleased smirk made her wish she hadn't said anything. Nevertheless, she soldiered on, "We both live in Fire Country…that's…across the sea from where we are now, in Water Country. We're here on different missions," Why was her heart starting to race? Why was it growing harder to look him in the eyes?

"Go on," he urged, all ears.

"You…got hurt protecting me. That's why everything is hard to remember."

"Oh." His face was unreadable as his eyes flickered over her. "So it's all your fault then."

Sakura shot up. "That's not what I'm saying!"

"Well that's what it sounds like…" he grumbled, sticking out his tongue.

The kunoichi blanched, unable to believe this was the same man she had been arguing with only yesterday. Granted, they were still arguing…but now she might as well have been speaking to a five-year old. Had he finished the negotiations? There was no way he could continue on in such a state...

"Hello? Anybody up here?" A voice sang out through the door. Sakure knew it was Mina, the innkeeper's lively daughter. Dragging herself over, she opened the door a crack confused.

"What's wrong, Mina?" Some of her pale hair had escaped the trappings of the intricate hairstyle she had, and her elegant kimono was crooked. More than anything she looked like she'd been running wild outside.

"Nothing sweets and tea can't fix." The girl laughed. "But I didn't come up for that. You have visitors waiting~!"

Sakura was instantly suspicious. "Visitors?"

"Three!" The excitable teenager continued. "They're talking to kaa-san, but they asked for you by name."

Satisfied that she had weapons safely hidden up both sleeves, Sakura steeled her nerves, clenching the door hard enough to splinter. "Stay right there." She told Madara. "I'll be back."

The Uchiha was busying himself over a piece of parchment, doing something with a quill. He didn't look up.

Fine, whatever…as long as he stayed put.

Sakura slipped into the hall with Mina, observing the girl from head to toe and seeing she really was messy. From what little interaction she'd had with the strict hostess of the inn, she didn't see how her daughter was allowed to do as she pleased, while her son was chastised for even thinking about slouching. It didn't really seem fair…

"So," Mina took the lead, both in the conversation and the hallway. Sakura had to admit, the girl's graceful movements even in the heavy kimono proved she retained at least some of whatever formal training she'd been given. "I like to know about our guests. Kaa-san says nosiness isn't a good trait for a hostess to have, but, the interesting lives people tell me about keep me sane."

"I came here to help with the bli—with the sickness that was going around." Sakura tucked a thick piece of hair behind her ear, "There's nothing that interesting to the story," she lied, smoothly.

"Hm," Mina rubbed at her chin, descending the steps. "Is that really all there is? …What about the man who came with you? What can you tell me about him? Is everyone from your village so strong and handsome-looking?" Sakura blushed, opening her mouth to object, but Mina wasn't done. "They must be. Because there's another handsome man here just like him."

That threw the pinkette for a loop, but as she followed the hostess-in-training down the steps and to the tavern area, it all made sense. Emotion hummed through her blood at the sight of Izuna, Yurine and Kureno huddled around a small table and eating roasted apples and warm bread.

By the looks of it, Kureno was tucking in more enthusiastically than the other two, who watched on with expressions lingering between disgust and awe. Sakura's mouth opened and closed, unable to get out exactly what she was feeling.

Izuna spotted them first, rising from his seat and staring with reverent eyes, like he was seeing her for the first time. Was she that different now? She hadn't thought so.

The chatter between Yurine and Kureno ceased, both of them offering her sheepish grins. Overcome, Sakura pressed a hand to her lips so she wouldn't blurt out the first intelligible thought that came to mind. Izuna came closer and she met him halfway. He waited patiently, and when Sakura trusted herself, she removed her hand. "You…came…"

Something twitched inside, a fizzy feeling. She wasn't sure about the how or why he was standing in front of her, but just then she really didn't care.

Izuna raised a hand, his knuckles ghosting over her warm cheek. "We did." Then he got a look at her clothing. "You're a miko now?"

"Oh, this?" For an inexplicable reason, she felt slightly shy. "My clothes…were soaking wet, and this was all I had, so…"

Izuna's eyes brightened with amusement. "It suits you."

Sakura let her shoulders relax. "I thought…" What had she thought? So many things. It settled over her brain like a fresh blanket, how hopeless she had been feeling between Mizuchi's warning and Madara's memory loss and the unshakeable feeling that the island was going to be plunged into darkness with them still on it.

But the blissful minute his hand touched her face, she felt grounded, and none of it really mattered as much as it had an hour ago.

Later, when she wasn't half-hysterical with elation, Sakura would wonder who moved first. The end result would have been the same, though.

Sakura sank into the strength of his arms, surprised but not unappreciative of the hug. It felt like he was taking some of the weight away; she wasn't doing it alone anymore. Before they pulled apart, she'd wrapped her arms around his neck, returning the embrace.

"None for me?" Kureno whined. It was followed by Yurine stomping his foot, drawing a pitiful yelp from him.

"Madara's message made me fear the worst for the both of you." Izuna whispered.

"Message…? I don't know anything about him sending a—" Loathe as she was to admit it, regardless of when he had sent it, the result was in their favor. Now more than ever.

"Where is Madara?"

"U-Upstairs, resting…" Izuna's grinned and he maneuvered around her. Sakura caught his shirt sleeve, biting at her lip. "But he's…not the same right now. He got hurt."

Yurine and Kureno stood from the table, food abandoned, while Izuna took a stunned step back. "H-How severely?"

Sakura clasped her hands together, unable to meet his eyes. "Physically, he's okay." She said cautiously. "Otherwise…well, you should see for yourself."


Any longer and he would have left the room to see for himself what all the fuss was about. But the pink-haired girl was back, and she'd brought company. There were a man and woman with blonde hair and tanned skin, both wearing matching red and glancing around the room without making eye contact.

The third person though, the dark-haired man who was vaguely, very vaguely familiar, had no such compunctions about walking right up to him. Stopping only a foot short and taking him in with wide, nearly desperate eyes. "Madara," he said, voice a hoarse whimper. That name again. So she hadn't been lying after all… "I know what you're going to say, but I had to come. When I read your message…" To his shock, he was tugged into a firm embrace.

As the stranger held him close, closer than he was comfortable with, everyone else turned away, their faces somber as if it was too emotional to witness. What was going on? Shrugging out of the hug, Madara studied the man carefully. His dark, almond-shaped eyes, pale skin, ruffled hair held back by a ponytail, the dark colors he wore…and that itching sense of familiarity he gave off. "Why are you…looking at me like that?" he asked slowly.

That seemed to make the other man perplexed. "Because you sent such a cryptic message!" he scoffed, "I didn't think you planned on coming home."

"Madara," Sakura Haruno made her way over to them, her eyes flickering nervously. "This is your brother, Izuna…"

Brother. He had a brother. That would explain the affection and concern from a "stranger" then. Though it was highly possible none of these people were actually strangers. He apparently knew the pink-haired woman and of course he'd know his own family…

Izuna, startled, frowned a little after the introduction. "Why wouldn't he know who I am?"

"That's what I…what I wanted to tell you. Madara lost his memory yesterday. We were ambushed at the temple."

"I rescued her and got hurt, so it's really all her fault." Madara added with a shrug.

He almost wished he'd kept quiet when he saw the pained expression on his brother's face. "It's all gone…? You don't remember…either of our lives together?"

Madara was starting to feel uncomfortable.

"It could come back," Sakura was quick to say. "I mean, there's really no telling when, but it's a possibility."

That would be nice, he decided. Being the only one out of the loop was already growing old.

"You said you were ambushed?" The blonde man blinked. He turned to Izuna "I thought you said she was on an assignment involving, uh…" He scratched at his neck, red eyes searching for the word on the tip of his tongue. "Med-nin…stuff."

"That's a long story," Sakura huffed, pushing her bangs up and off her forehead with a palm, only for them to immediately fall back again. "I did manage to isolate the problem and cure the population," She hugged herself. "But the people here are sort of…fanatic about their deity, Iwanagahime. They think that I should have let people die, and since I wouldn't cooperate, they tried to make sure I couldn't…interfere anymore. Madara became collateral when he stepped in," Shuddering, she looked up at Izuna, almost in tears. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have tried to take them all on in a place where they have the advantage. I…this is on me!" Sakura scrubbed a sleeve across her face. "This time…it's all on me." Her eyes were faraway, like she wasn't speaking directly to them at all.

Something hardened over inside Izuna, Madara could sense it. "No. It's all on them. We're shinobi. We face danger on every mission, whether that's from unforeseen incidents or known dangers like enemies…"

"Tell us how to help," The blonde girl smiled. "We're here on standby, on the Hokage's orders."

Hokage… That was a funny word.

"We made it back into town without any problems," Sakura explained. "But I really don't feel like it's over."

"If they went as far as trying to kill you both, you're probably right." Izuna agreed.

"My plan was originally to move on to the other islands, see if anyone else needed help, you know? But now…"

Madara began to tune them out; he couldn't help it. It wasn't that what they were saying was too hard to follow—and it did, after all, concern him directly—but there was something else…a feeling he got.

Edging to the door, he listened for movement on the other side. It was light, just some soft breathing and a soft scrape on the wood, but it was there. Instinctively, he pulled it open, seizing the person lurking and dragging them into the room, ignoring their yelp of protest.

The room descended into chaos almost simultaneously. Suddenly everyone but him had a weapon drawn, pointing it at the spying intruder. Aside from some weak squirming, she didn't protest much, but Madara still kept hold of her wrist. Like the pinkette, she was dressed in miko garb, small in stature. Her pale red hair was cropped short and her eyes were milky and unfocused. "Who's this?" he asked, figuring maybe someone else would be more aware than he was.

"One of the followers from the temple...they found us." Sakura grumbled, darkly.

"W-Wait," The redhead gasped. "I'm only here to help…"

In a sudden burst of strength she managed to twist away from Madara, nearly stumbling and losing her footing altogether. Backing away from them all, the miko tried to make herself smaller.

"You're part of a cult that tried to kill us—so maybe you'll understand why I find that hard to believe." Sakura snapped.

"And you were spying," Izuna added. "If you were hoping to finish what you started, you shouldn't have come alone."

"It's nothing like that!" she cried, exasperated. "I…yes, I was outside, but only until I could find a way to get you to believe me. You're all in danger. I'm sure you know that!"

"Danger from some crazy fanatics," The blonde-haired male mocked, tanto still in hand. "You know, the ones you're affiliated with,"

"…My affiliation is…complicated." She mumbled, fidgeting. "My name is Takara. It's true I'm a miko who follows the way of Iwanagahime, but that's exactly why I came. I…I saw the future."

The silence that followed was so dense, it could have swallowed a clap of thunder.

The blonde man let out a ridiculously loud bark of laughter. "Now you're just stalling so we won't kill you."

"Unlikely as it may seem…it's the truth." Takara bowed her head, "I…I've had this ability since birth. I can't control it. But lately, I've seen visions of a pink-haired warrior, and of a clash that could doom us all."

"How can you see anything?" Madara found himself blurting out. Four pairs of eyes glared in his direction. "I wasn't the only one wondering."

Takara began to pace lightly. "That's hard to explain…in my dreams I have sight, everything is clear, and when I wake up, I paint what the gods have shown me."

Sakura made a choked noise, like someone had taken hold of her windpipe and squeezed. "You…it was you!" she exclaimed. "The painting I found in the temple!"

"Yes," Takara confirmed, restlessly walking a circle. It was a wonder she didn't trip… "I've had the visions for weeks now…then you came to the temple. The others are in hiding, waiting for the prophecy to come to pass…I volunteered myself to come and spy on you, so I could warn you. There isn't much time."

"Time before what?" The blonde kunoichi asked.

Takara stopped in her tracks, and despite her unseeing gaze, it almost felt like she could peer through all of them. "Before the dead rise."


The way the poll is trending, I think I will continue posting here but also try to see if cross-posting to AO3 is successful. So far, only this story has been crossposted to that account. Maybe in time I'll do more but for now I will keep this as the primary place I post until further notice.

Another note…due to an incident where the story was spammed, and the fact that the person used multiple accounts, I actually had to take this story down from the site for about an hour while I figured out what was happening and how to stop it. This of course caused it to be removed from all the communities it was listed under. Some have been restored, but others have not. I always appreciate the publicity of the communities; so if you're reading this and run a Sakura-community that this story was previously in and would like to re-add it, feel free: it's very, very much appreciated.

This arc is coming to an end. I'd say there are maybe one or two more chapters to go. Hope everyone has enjoyed reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing. You can probably guess that some major things will be happening next chapter, and you'd be right on the money. For the reviewers who have theories they would like to share, I'm all ears! Hopefully next chapter's twist still takes you by surprise no matter what your prediction is.

And of course it goes without saying, but, please show some love and review. Happy holidays to everyone that celebrates them—we're now smack in the middle of that season! Until next time.