I'm back (if only shortly). I unexpectedly was given a small amount of time off, so I've been filling it with things I personally enjoy. Writing, resting, things like that.

Things heat up quite literally. Writing these scenes was nice.

Oh, and a quick reminder that there's not going to be a chance of pairings like HashiMito. I mean it's fanfiction, and I see people changing the heritage of existing characters all the time by swapping who their parents are, or even their entire clans. It's not that big of a deal. So I don't agree with the reasoning it's a "needed" couple in order to preserve Tsunade's existence. Just wait and see how things go, but there's no point in continuing to push for a pair that's not happening here.

Also the "I hope she chooses Madara or Tobirama by the end" comments I keep getting are frustrating too. It's poly-an-dry. There is no choosing. People who are reading this story because they're only interested in one pair for Sakura are barking up the wrong tree. You're 47 chapters in and I have not kept it a secret that the romance leads to eventual sharing.

Other than that, I hope everyone has been staying safe and healthy and enjoys the chapter. This is a longer one than I've done in a while for this fic.


'That explains the temperature.' Boiling down below, a fatal drop away, was a wide pool of lava. Large pockets of it bubbled up, then popped with a hiss as it landed against the steep cliff walls. Tiny, bright orange balls of light drifted from the lava into the air, temporarily mesmerizing her.

Sulfur stung her nose, and Sakura sucked in a breath as she stared down at the mujina gratefully. The vivid imagery of how close she'd come to falling into an identical pit while traveling Kaguya's dimensions was fresh in her mind.

"You always this absent-minded?" Tsubute snorted. "I don't know much about humans, but godslayer or not it'll probably be over for you if you fall."

Tobirama eyed the chasm of danger, the path to the cave on the other side clearly obstructed. "What's the plan?"

"The plan is you do exactly what we say and you might just make it across unscathed, see? Ubagabi, you're up."

The grinning mujina's tail was wagging rapidly as he turned to some of his fellow yokai. "Uzuki, you don't mind being first?"

Twitching slightly, the female mujina nodded. Then, before everyone's eyes her furry body shifted, taking the form of a flat rock disk. Ubagabi, who had taken up a spot on Sakura's back, nudged her. "Hop on," he encouraged.

Sakura stared dubiously, turning back to find Tobirama and the rest of the mujina waiting. 'Suddenly now no one's got anything to say about this?'

"Hey, believe it or not you're gonna want Ubagabi calling the shots on this. He's the only one of us totally immune to that." A mujina pointed down below. The molten lava burbled and burst with another hiss. "We all got special abilities. Ubagabi's relate to fire resistance."

"That's right," the mujina clinging to her said cheerfully. "I won't let you fall, and if you do, I'll be able to save you. Probably…"

Sakura clenched her fists. There probably wasn't any more effective way than this. They just had to place their lives…and trust…into the paws of the mujina. The kunoichi leapt onto the floating piece of "rock", surprised when a second mujina whose name she didn't know jumped from behind her, transforming as Uzuki had.

Getting the gist of what they meant for her to do, Sakura carefully navigated her way onto each step, vaguely hearing Tsubute urging Tobirama to follow behind. The heat made her cheeks feel as though she were standing too close to a bonfire, sweat making her outfit cling like a second skin.

But her jumps never faltered, because she'd rather not give herself time to think about what would happen if she missed a step. "Almost there." Ubagabi encouraged. "Half way really."

Wiping her sweaty brow, Sakura couldn't help but frown a bit. "If you're all able to transform, is there any reason we're not flying over this pit?"

Ubagabi moved so that his fur brushed her cheek lightly. "Too much rapid movement."

That was a strange explanation, but Sakura didn't bother probing for more details. If she could just make it to the other side without boiling, she'd consider it a win for the day. Keeping her attention on that and only that felt like it was working. She didn't worry too much about what was below, how far Tobirama was behind her, or about the bizarre situation itself.

"Hurry up, Mio, you're next!" Tsubute's shout reached them, even halfway across the lava. Up until then, a mujina had followed her every step, and when she got ready to take another they would transform into another sturdy rock.

The kunoichi was forced to halt, no one coming forward. Glancing backwards for the first time treated her eyes to a mystifying sight. Two mujina were attempting to push a third one forward. It clung stubbornly to Tobirama's leg, its eyes shut tight as it rapidly shook its head. "Y-you don't understand! I always mess up m-my inorganic transformations. You k-know that Tsubute. Please don't make me!" she pleaded.

"That was the past." Tsubute said, "We've been working with you on it for a while. Or are you saying I'm not a good teacher?"

Cracking her eyes open, Mio mumbled, "You are. It's just me. I'm not the best student."

"An attitude like that is going to hinder your progress no matter what." Tobirama declared. "If you're grateful for the time taken to instruct you, then put it to use."

Mio swallowed, unwinding herself from his calf little by little. "Yes. You're all right. I apologize for the delay."

'That wasn't what I expected.' Sakura would have thought he'd use harsher words with her. Tell her she was wasting everyone's time. Maybe just shake her loose over the lava until she was forced to transform to save herself.

Instead, Tobirama waited patiently as the little mujina collected herself before charging past him. She shot by Sakura too, transforming into a disk of rock indistinguishable from any of the others.

Still a little uneasy, Sakura placed one foot down. When there was no buckling, she fully stepped on, and the process continued as planned. Ubagabi turned around and cupped a paw near his face, "Four more ought to do it!"

It hadn't occurred to her that not all the mujina were needed to bridge the gap. Half of them waited back on the other side with Tsubute, who had been letting each of their fellow yokai know when it was time to transform.

"Aren't the rest of them coming with us?" she wondered aloud.

"Tsubute's going to take them around the mines so they'll meet us near the exit. It'll save time instead of circling around for them after we're done. It's also better to halve our group for now anyway."

Sakura had thought there'd be strength in numbers. While the mujina definitely hadn't revealed the true capability of their powers, she had no doubt it was the real deal. This had been their home for ten times longer than she'd been alive. If they said it was best to proceed with half their numbers for a while, she simply had to believe they knew best.

"Alright, then let's do it."

Ubagabi chirped, pleased by the answer. "Without bossy old Tsubute around, you'll get to see my leadership skills!"

Sakura tried not to let her tiny smile falter, unsure if the cheerful but oblivious mujina leading them would prove better or near-fatal.

"Hey, are you gabbing or going?" Tsubute complained. "The last four are waiting!"

"I didn't say you couldn't send them over!" Ubagabi fired back. Under his breath, he mimicked Tsubute's crabby tone in Sakura's ear, and she had to stifle a laugh.

The next mujina was stout, a good indicator he didn't miss a meal. Sakura hopped onto him once he finished changing, ready to get the nerve-wrecking trek closer to finished.

Another mujina replaced him, and the pinkette prepared to spring again, only to have Ubagabi's nails suddenly dig deep into her skin. "O-Ouch!" She reached around to try to rip him away. "What's gotten into you?"

"Shh! Something's wrong," he nipped at her hand, the first real trace of fear she had heard from the creature since meeting him.

Freezing in her spot, Sakura desperately tried to see if she could sense what the beast holding on for dear life did. The Under had a way of dampening that, and she knew Tobirama's sensor perception had also been effected. It was a testament to the supernatural nature of the mujina that they remained seemingly unaffected.

"No…" Ubagabi's voice was quiet but frantic, "It's waking up."

Below, the lava stirred violently. Large amounts splashed higher and higher, until the kunoichi feared they'd all get caught in a wave of it.

A snarl came from behind her, and Sakura chanced turning to check on Tobirama and the others. The consequences were too instant to lament her mistake.

Something rose from the sea of danger underneath and sliced through the air, colliding with her so fast all she could do was fall.

Ubagabi barked without words as he sailed through the air with her. Sakura had a moment to see a cluster of mujina and one Tobirama Senju staring down in shock. They were plummeting fast, the small blessing being that she wouldn't see her death coming.

Sakura nearly forgot about her companion until she heard him yelling. "No, don't! Let me handle this." The yokai had begun to chain themselves together to reach them, but stopped abruptly at the command.

Letting go and twisting his position so he was above her, the sole mujina reattached himself, becoming a large bird of prey not unlike the one that belonged to Madara.

Holding her close in his talons, Ubagabi twisted skillfully through the air, long appendages shooting at them from nearly every direction. Landing was impossible, and trying to outmaneuver whatever was pursuing them was eventually going to tire Ubagabi out if she didn't do something to help.

Sakura moved as best she could, straining her head to see what was coming at them. 'No way!' her mind registered, but comprehending—despite everything that happened in the journey so far—was difficult. 'Is that a tentacle?!'

Orange with pinkish suction cups on the undersides, multiple tentacles flailed around in an attempt to catch them. It wasn't until Ubagabi made another pass under their grasp that the lava really churned, an enormous, triangular shape beginning to emerge.

Right before her eyes, a monstrous beast with an orange body similar to a giant squid climbed its way from the pool of lava. Glassy red eyes watched them with menace and a jagged beak opened in a roar.

"The fire kraken!" one of the mujina yelled.

"Careful, Ubagabi!" Tsubute sounded fretful, which wasn't an emotion that suited his snarky voice. "The Hothead's crafty when it's hungry."

Interestingly, its semi-translucent, triangular head began to glow. Sakura blanched as it spit a shot of bile in their direction, so intensely bright it could have been a stream of lava. Nothing was too impossible for her at this point.

Missing its target, the kraken screeched, plunging two of its tentacles back down to stir them around. The lava spiraled rapidly, up, up…too high for comfort. Ubagabi continued to do his best evading, no signs of slowing down, but the faster and higher the lava moved the more Sakura felt cornered. "If you've got godslayer tricks, now's the time." The mujina told her, narrowly missing a tentacle that snuck up on them from behind.

Sakura sighed. She had doubts about how much help it'd be. Fire seemed like the last thing to be likely to work in this situation. But he was right; she need to assist somehow.

Sakura let the by-now-familiar crunch of bones fill her ears as she did her own transforming. 'Hope fuels the dragon!' The kunoichi thought back to her discovery with Mizuchi, willing herself to hope like her life depended on it. 'Hope fuels the dragon! Hope fuels the ' Ubagabi shouted in surprise as one of the kraken's tentacles managed to clip him hard, leaving the mujina dazed enough to suddenly drop his shape-shifting.

In a fell swoop the angry Hothead had Ubagabi squeezed tightly, another appendage reaching for Sakura as she dropped. When her claws swiped at it, the Hothead recoiled, one of its tentacles mangled for her efforts. Spitting forth more of its bile in retaliation, she grimaced, air-swimming out of the way.

Hothead splashed, its tantrum sending globs Sakura couldn't avoid into the air. In her final seconds before making impact, she found herself wondering how much protection dragon scales offered at a time like this.


Tobirama heard the splash, he saw the way Haruno fell and was swallowed up by lava. But that seemed to be the end of his brain's processing abilities.

For once, the smart-mouthed rodents they were allied with said nothing. He glowered down at them, ready to punt one into the kraken just to see if it'd do damage. That wouldn't help Haruno, though. If it wasn't already too late. How indestructible was she? She could clearly still take damage.

"Get back!" And suddenly one of the little beasts was biting his pants and tugging. "Two dead fleshlings means this would be a waste entirely." The shinobi stepped away to the middle of the larger platform the mujina had made by huddling together. He picked the one pulling on him up by the scruff and sat it down further away as everything shook.

Lava rocketed into the air yet again, but this time not due to the actions of the kraken. It reeled in surprise, its grip apparently loosening enough for Ubagabi to break free. Taking flight as a bird one again, he wasted no time swooping over to them. Tobirama didn't have time to be suspicious when the hovering raptor transformed into a large, red cloth that fell down over them all.

"I can see it all over your face." Tsubute exclaimed. "But in case you didn't notice, now's not the time. Anything Ubagabi becomes is fire resistant too, so shut up and stay put."

Disgruntled, Tobirama made sure after he had himself mostly hidden under the covering, he shot the animal mutation daring to boss him around a glare. Just in time. A second figure slightly bigger than the giant kraken rose from the dense lava. Fiery and green, the shape of a dragonoid being took shape. The woman suspended in its head was unmistakable.

"Haruno." Her eyes, in fact her whole body glowed gold around the edges; the new beast she was trapped in...no, the beast she was controlling swung around to Hothead. Even the monster didn't appear it knew what to make of her sudden reemergence as an avatar of energy. Experimentally, it swung a tentacle, the suction cups on the underside, producing spikes.

Haruno swatted them away with minimal difficulty, grasping onto the offending arm with a growl. Tobirama almost had to feel bad for the kraken when she drew it close just to rip off its tentacle, not stopping there. The Senju watched her flaming hands descend around the creatures head, and it struggled, smacking at her with its remaining seven appendages, squirting bile that didn't phase Haruno at all.

Hothead screeched, its flesh beginning to melt away under whatever acidic qualities Haruno was producing. When the creature stopped struggling, its beak snapping weakly as it gave wounded gurgles, she loosened her grip. Roaring her triumph, Haruno's dragon head slammed into the kraken's almost spitefully. It didn't so much as try a parting swing, sinking back into the lava it had come from, probably mortally wounded.

Enemy defeated, Haruno's avatar turned toward the awed group, its gold eyes pinning them in place. Ubagabi had transformed back at some point, leaving them exposed since the perceived threat was quickly neutralized.

Tobirama took a half-step back, knowing if she lashed out there was nothing much he could do to counter it. 'This is...'


The distance he'd walked felt considerable. Out of the village, past the river, through the glade, and into another dense area of forest, as directed. Following those directions exactly, Madara found himself combing through tangled brush in search of just the right spot…

The hair in his face was starting to become a nuisance, but no so much that it slowed him down. He was a man on a mission. Before sunset he would return home a new person, memories intact. The sounds of nature had stilled, leaving him with nothing more than his footsteps, and those weren't loud. 'For all the elaborate directions I have to follow, the very least that woman could have done was transport me to the right location.'

Madara reached into his pocket, his finger brushing the sharp edge of the most valuable tool to achieving his goal. It had better not be a waste of time… According to what the dragon goddess had said, he'd be nearing the area soon. The sacred spot where the plan could commence.

Cutting through with a kunai, the Uchiha spotted the small, weathered statue he was looking for. Time and plant life had made its features hard to determine, but it was placed equidistance from the four boulders surrounding it on all sides.

'At last.' He halted, pulling out the object in his pocket and holding it up to the weak sunlight coming through the treetops. It brought out the faint streaks of emerald on the black scale. Holding it a safe distance away, Madara drew a line as precisely as possible.

As the air rippled and a small tear in space-time appeared before his eyes, all skepticism about Mizuchi's instructions faded. Tentatively, he pressed to fingers against the tear and they slipped through. Easing his entire hand through, and then an arm, Madara waited. Nothing. That was precisely what he wanted. Slowly, as not to tear himself into indistinguishable pieces under the force of the portal, the shinobi slid his body through.

Once he had fit through in his entirety, it took him a moment to get his bearings. There was still the same dense forest, the same four boulders and the small statue. But little details caught his attention.

Now, the image was clear, the stone polished to show a proud figure in long robes with a noble face. And….just beyond the statue was a well-maintained shrine. Just beside it sat a covered well. Adjusting the sack of chopped fruits he'd prepared, Madara carefully stepped around the slab and statue, eyes trained on the structure said to house a god.

The four wide steps he climbed to reach the shrine's center might as well have been one big jump for how quickly he closed the distance. Dropping the sack of fruits, Madara stepped back and waited. If this god was as powerful as Mizuchi claimed…

The shrine shook, Madara's offering disappearing in a blink. The light pouring out suddenly was too intense, forcing him to hide his face. Even without his sight, brightness seeped into his retinas, giving him a headache. When the light finally dissipated, the Uchiha slowly lowered his arm, unsurprised by what he saw.

The man floating in front of him held a fruit peel in his long, gnarled fingers. His skin was ashen, a deep blue line cut into his face under each milky eye. His courtly blue robes and long, white beard dragged the stone beneath him, even while he stayed suspended in the air.

And though he had been expecting this god's appearance all along, Madara felt uncharacteristically cowed in his presence. The eons of wisdom that separated the two of them was more than evident. The blue-clad deity took his time in acknowledging his visitor, instead lifting the orange peel to his nose and breathing it in. "I enjoy fresh offerings such as these, but they have been far and few in between as of late." A piece of persimmon appeared in his other hand, and he bit into it with relish. Swallowing that bite, he nodded. "Madara Uchiha, eh?"

Madara straightened. "I was told you would be the one who had the answers I'm looking for." The God of Wisdom, peerless in his knowledge. A being so wise, all other deities looked to him for his counsel.

Mizuchi had said the best way to encounter him was when he secretly left the realm of the gods to visit his own shrine. A rare occurrence. Because of that, everything had to be timed and prepared accordingly.

The god blinked. "But of course. That goes without saying. In case you haven't been told, call me Omoikane." Madara studied his wide, domed forehead. A great deal of brains had to reside inside such a large head. "I know you've come to use my well. But…are you truly prepared?"

Madara gestured around them, his face unchanging. "I wouldn't have come all this way without conviction."

Omoikane sat in silence, stroking his beard absently. "…Yes. Well everyone thinks they have the conviction it takes. But, truth be told few do." he sighed, plucking up a staff that had appeared in his lap and waving it towards the well. The seals on the wood barrier over the opening burnt away, leaving the covering to slide off. "If you truly feel you're ready, you may dip your hands into my Well of Desire."

Madara cautiously peered down the hole, only to find it deep and damp. "And then what?" he muttered, pulling his head away. Omoikane floated over, joining him on the opposite side of the well's lip. It was such a short distance, the man had to wonder if the god thought walking was beneath him.

"And then your desire may be fulfilled."

"May?" Madara stretched the word accusingly.

Omoikane raised an eyebrow, though his strange features remained gentle. "Dear boy, whether or not you truly possess the determination to seize your desire is entirely up to you. What you want most in this moment is to retrieve your memories and know yourself completely once again. So, dip your hands into the well without doubt."

He'd been yearning for this, impatiently wondering when he would be the man he once was. Now the chance was right in front of him. He only had to reach down into a dark, drafty well. Madara stretched out his hands, ready to submerge them into the water, but pulled them back last minutely. "Things are never that simple with you gods."

"Ah," Omoikane smiled, a twist of mirth in the lines around his mouth. "I understand your hesitation. If you are unprepared, then so be it." The god of wisdom waved his staff and the well was covered again. "Better to be cautious than careless."

The dark-haired shinobi glared, taking the well's covering off. "I never said I wouldn't."

"I know." Omoikane tapped the side of his head. "Though I try to warn any mortals who seek out my well….doubt is the downfall to desire. Experiencing it for one moment is enough to corrupt whatever it is you wish for. I've seen it happen one too many times."

Madara rolled up his sleeves, pressing his abdomen against the stone of the well as he leaned down. "The warning is appreciated, but this is something I've made up my mind about." Plunging his hands into the cold water felt like reaching down any other well. At first. Until his fingers brushed the first memory. It raced at him like an incensed animal, pouncing to drag him down into its depths. Honestly, the direction mattered very little by the time he got his bearings.

His father's grip always felt unyielding, much like his demeanor. He was dragged more than led down the long corridor, stumbling on clumsy feet. Tajima paused, but only to knock.

A voice he hadn't heard in days beckoned them inside. Madara missed that voice. The door slid open and joy stole the breath from his lungs. He gasped, because a proper greeting would have been too hard to manage.

Standing in the fading light of the sunset by her window was his mother. As young as he was, he would still never mistake her for anyone else.

Her regal bearing, wild hair and unfaltering eyes were too familiar. His father let his wrist go, and Madara hurried forward, arms opened wide. But when she turned, she did not reach for him too. She cradled the cloth bundle held close to her bosom.

"You should be resting," Tajima reprimanded.

Nozomi Uchiha lifted her chin, eyes flickering between her husband and what was in her arms. "I've rested enough."

Tajima cleared his throat. "And the baby?"

"Pink, healthy, hungry." She held it carefully, reaching one hand to stroke the newborn's small face. "Already a strong Uchiha."

Madara huffed, tired of being ignored. He hadn't seen his mother in what felt like forever. "What about me?" he cried.

Smirking playfully, she lowered herself onto her knees. "Come here, Madara."

Suddenly unsure, he stared back toward his father. Tajima shooed him forward, and the little boy ran so quickly he nearly tripped into his mother's lap. "Hold your arms out."

Eagerly, Madara obeyed, his cheeks hurting from how widely he grinned. Something soft and warm was placed into his waiting arms. "Be careful…" His mother cautioned. "Yes, just like that. Support the head." After she adjusted his grip, the toddler looked upon his new sibling with awe.

Downy black hair already topped the baby's head, and the little pink lips were puckered sweetly. Small, drowsy eyes gazed up at him, and Madara held the infant a bit closer.

"She's…cute." he whispered, finding himself already infatuated with the idea of a little sister to dote on, someone to look up to him and follow him around.

The sudden, loud bark of amusement that bellowed from his mother startled him so much, his bottom left the floor. She had one hand to her abdomen, her head thrown back as she laughed. The baby squirmed, whining at the noise. Nozomi calmed herself, cooing until her newborn settled.

Madara stared in confusion. "What?"

Leaning down, she tousled his hair—messy hair he got from her— just like she used to. "Sorry Mada, but Izuna's a boy."

"A…boy?" His nose scrunched, staring down at the baby who suddenly didn't seem as cute. There was already fresh wetness gathering at the edges of his vision, and he felt his lip wobbling.

His father was saying something to him that sounded chastising, but Madara couldn't hear it. His hands flew up to his eyes, practically launching the baby boy away from him. Nozomi lunged to grab him in time as her older child began to wail in earnest.

Madara heaved, his breaths coming in quick pants. He had forgotten about his first introduction to Izuna and how upset he had been to find out his new sibling was a brother! The realization jolted him so violently he nearly toppled down the well. He had forgotten. It worked.

There was absolutely no hesitation or apprehension as he placed his hands back into the water. It could have just been his willingness playing tricks on his eyes, but the pool looked clearer than before, white wisps darting by, some evading his grasp. The Uchiha let his hand drift down a little farther, rewarded with something beginning to coil itself around his fingers.

"Memories are slippery things to grasp." Omoikane's voice drifted wistfully from somewhere nearby. "Hold tight to them."

So he was fishing for memories. Memories literally within his reach. Madara didn't have time to respond, another vision of his life already beginning to pull at his mind. He was a child, though older than in the first flashback. Izuna, also older, ran after him with a third child he recognized as their younger brother, Sanna. They chased each other around, growling impishly and laughing, eventually collapsing in the dirt, out of breath and content.

Madara scooped memory after memory from the well, ultimately getting a clearer picture of his childhood. Snacking on inari-zushi by the river, meeting Naoko, killing his first enemy, hunting with his mother and brothers.

The faces of his family featured prominently the most often. His proud father Tajima. His independent mother Nozomi. His four faithful brothers Izuna, Sanna, Koya and Kamin.

The images took a somber turn, gradually progressing to the times when he had lost his three youngest brothers, eventually losing his mother as well. He saw himself meeting Hashirama, their friendly rivalry and the way it had turned into a reluctant blood feud. More of his life unfolded in flashes, times he spent intimately with Naoko, battles against the Senju and other clans, quiet and reflective hours of calligraphy or falconry. Little by little, he was beginning to feel more complete than he had in months.

All the while the god remained silently at his back, just observing. Although the Uchiha couldn't be sure if his eyes truly worked or not. The haze in them suggested sightlessness, but even if that were the case, he doubted a being of wisdom missed much. Teenage exploits became more recent memories, and Madara began to see things he had forgotten from the previous year.

Nearly losing Izuna made his chest tighten, though he supposed he shouldn't have been surprised it was the meddling, secretive Mizuchi who had stepped in to prevent it. Soon after came the day the Uchiha and Senju formally came together in a truce, overseen by the Uzumaki. The village construction, watching the horizon with Hashirama…

Madara was just starting to wonder if he should pull his hands from the water, satisfied he seemed to have been restored. But wisps still floated between his fingers, and the next one he loosely grasped was of the day he had met Haruno.

Never had he thought one person could flip so much in his world so quickly. Prior to the arrival of the pink-haired kunoichi, he had been confident he understood his path. The Uchiha had finally settled things with their oldest adversaries and had gained a new home in the process.

He lived a life that while slightly less exciting without skirmishes every day, was more…stable. Madara was coming to enjoy that stability, despite the lingering reservations he harbored.

Needless to say, meeting one Sakura Haruno, he had immediately taken the opportunity to break from his normal routine at her expense. At the time the Uchiha fully expected she would soon come to bore him, regardless of the mission's outcome.

That…had been the last thing to happen. Instead she caught him off guard time and again (though he felt he hid it well between taunting remarks and provocative actions), until he had to admit at least to himself his interest was fully piqued. Memories of Haruno kept tumbling forward, until he reached the moment he had decided to protect her from the collapsing pillar. Madara stopped, staring blankly at Omoikane. The god returned the gaze eerily, but his thin lips stayed pressed tightly together.

If he had all the answers, then he was sure to know why Madara had done that. At the time it had been instinctive, but now he couldn't piece together why he'd be so willing to sacrifice himself back then. For Izuna, Naoko, perhaps even for an idiot like Hashirama, it was more likely. But Haruno…

Maybe there was a sliver of memory he was missing. Madara peered down into what had essentially become a vat of every recollection that collectively made him who he was.

Something flickering by seized his attention, a blurry image of pink. He reached for it, and the vision that flooded his mind was…nothing like what he expected. The Uchiha watched himself, or someone he assumed was him, stab Haruno through with a rod.

Removing his hands in an instant, he stumbled away from the well. When had that…ever happened? Verbally tormenting Haruno was one thing, but there was definitely never a time when he had attacked her with killing intent. …Was there?

"What…" he wheezed, "was that?"

The floating deity drew closer, until his haunting visage was all Madara could see staring down at him. "There are parts to a soul that even the owner is sometimes unaware of. Memories the current you has yet to make, still exist in some version of you, be it from this world or another."

"There's only one me." Madara sat up carefully, clutching the side of his head. "But what I saw in that memory…"

Omoikane shook his head. For the first time since encountering him, he stopped floating, reaching down and lifting the dazed Uchiha with surprising ease. "As God of Wisdom I make a point to remain neutral in all affairs. The heavens do not ask me how to proceed in this dispute they have with Mizuchi, because they understand this. I cannot give good advice if I invest myself too much in matters out of self-righteousness. But I would caution you, Madara Uchiha, the clarity you're seeking in full may lead to unintended consequences."

Staggering, the mortal shook his head, confused. "As long as I don't approach the well with doubts, I should be able to navigate those memories. I need to confirm what you're saying and what I saw."

Omoikane hung his head briefly, "…So be it."

Unobstructed, Madara moved toward the well with clear intentions at the front of his mind. Drawing a deep breath, he reached for another wisp, finding a much milder memory than the last.

It wasn't as clear, but he made out bits. A young face with piercing, familiar green eyes stared at him intensely, speaking to him. Food was sat on a plate in front of him, and then Madara was gazing out at the training yard he frequented. Strange that none of those images were as sharp as the others before it…

"Why is this memory the way it is?" he asked, flicking beads of water from his arm.

"You gaze into my well and for a moment get glimpses of the experiences you may have one day. Though, you've seen how simple memories are to lose. One misstep could keep them from ever occurring at all. That was one such memory."

His brain quickly cycled through everything that it could now recall, and the new information being put before it. One point in time could negate the other, if he was grasping it correctly. That being the case, the presumed future where he stabbed Haruno could be something that never happened.

More wisps floated limply through the stagnant water, and Madara was unsure how many more he should look through. He'd already gotten what he'd come for. Izuna would be speechless when he returned to the village with his head held high, able to fully recount every act of humiliation he and Haruno had put him through while he was amnesiac. Now he could pay them back accordingly…

Backing away from the well, he bowed shallowly at the god guarding it. "This has been helpful."

"Has it?" Omoikane tilted his head, lips smiling thinly in a way more reminiscent of a grimace. "Then take care to safeguard that knowledge well."

Madara took out Mizuchi's scale again, letting it pulse in his palm. Somehow, she had enchanted it to cut straight through to this dimension where Omoikane took respite. There was a warning about how it would wear off eventually, so he couldn't waste time. Luckily the power was still present, and he was sure he could cut a path home.

As Madara had almost completely stepped through, he could have sworn he heard the god whispering faintly. "Good luck…"

He turned, the sliver of space closing behind him as the scale lost its strength. The vicious slam of pain through his skull had him reeling. His knees met the ground hard, new images of carnage running rampant in his mind.

In one, he faced off against Hashirama, at a much greater and more destructive magnitude than ever before. His Susano'o was in a complete stage—something he hadn't managed to achieve so far—and wrapped around a colossal fox-like beast. 'Another battle I've never had…' His headache was only growing, and Madara slumped to the ground. 'What's this mean?' The agony behind his temples was too acute, and his eyes fluttered closed there on the forest floor.


Hashirama's eyes glistened, his chin nearly touching the floor. His large body was low on the tatami mat. It had been so long since he'd gotten any leisurely time, and it was pretty fortuitous that he had stumbled across one of the newly opened gambling parlors. There had been some reluctance to let him come inside, at first.

People insisted a gambling hall wasn't where someone as esteemed as the Hokage should waste his time. But showing them he had more than enough to spend and resorting to some—dignified—begging had done the trick in the end.

Hashirama had always found gambling to be both a calming and exhilarating hobby. It didn't hurt too much that he'd always been a natural as well. This was his fourth game, and very nearly his fourth win. His opponents were watching in equal vexation and envy now.

The dealer gave a wry smile, making a showing of removing the bamboo cup slowly. Gasps and groans filled the parlor. Amazingly, Hashirama had accurately called the game yet again.

"Han." The man who had bet against the Hokage grit his teeth, taking off his cap and tossing it down. "How the hell could it be han?"

"Anything's possible." The dealer chuckled, "Now I believe you're supposed to pay the man." His face paling and his eyes going wide, the unfortunate gambler began to dig out Hashirama's winnings. Under his breath he grumbled about what his wife would say.

"The gods must smile on you. That's some luck you've got," said another man, clapping the Senju's back.

"Luck's really all it is." Hashirama replied. "There's nothing special to it."

One of the men he'd previously beaten laughed, taking a drag from his pipe. "That's spoken like someone who's never gone without it, Lord Hokage."

Hashirama finally lifted his body from the floor, putting his winnings away as they had started to pile up. "Well, I wouldn't say that. I—"

The parlor doors opened to a sudden gust that displaced the cards of two men playing in the corner. The patrons grumbled in confusion, looking to see who'd come barging in.

"Hold on now," The dealer rose, sighing. "Who's this so interested to bet away his money?"

"Hashirama?" Izuna entered looking frazzled and out of breath. If not for his obvious distress, Hashirama might have greeted him and asked for him to come and join the fun.

"Is something wrong?" he asked carefully.

At this point, everyone grew hushed, listening in closely. Sensing that, the Uchiha swallowed. "Will you walk with me?"

Not quite understanding, but knowing he should act with haste, Hashirama got to his feet as fast as he could without tripping. Making sure he had all his money securely put away, he thanked the patrons and dealer for a good time.

No sooner were they in the street than Izuna rounded on him, his pace unfaltering. "It's Madara," he finally explained. "I found him earlier out in the woods unconscious, and our healers are at a loss."

Understanding and alarm washed over him simultaneously. "Then let's not waste any more time." All the breath in his lungs felt depleted, worry gnawing at his chest.

Traveling at an accelerated pace over rooftops eliminated the need for getting through the busy streets. The sentries at the gates of the compound said nothing, faces grave. Izuna was in a full sprint down the street, Hashirama right beside him.

By the time they skidded into the house the brothers shared, the Hokage felt more out of breath from a simple run than he had in years. Clumsily removing his shoes at the door, he allowed himself to be led to his friend's room.

He could see Madara tucked into a futon and lying prone with a team of healers circled around him and murmuring.

'…Madara, what did you get yourself into now?' First the memory loss, and now another danger? The medics made room for him, and Hashirama lowered his body to the floor to begin running a diagnostic. Whatever was wrong, the very least he could do was find out how to help.


Her mother said she moved like a whisper, and in rowdy social settings, the contrast between how she blended in and how others stood out was evident. There hadn't been many people who took interest outside of her immediate family.

That was why the day Reira first approached her stood out so well. When she saw the brown-haired girl's big eyes fixed in her direction, she was sure a cringe of disgust was soon to follow. Chisato had her bugs out at the time, after all.

But instead she was approached with curiosity, and the girl eagerly introduced herself before asking how she had managed to attract so many beetles. Reluctantly, she explained she was an Aburame, an insect keeper of sorts. Again, the reaction to a child from another clan finding out she was a human hive was not what she had been anticipating.

Reira's burnt orange orbs had crinkled in fascination, and a conversation had sprung from there. Before Chisato knew it, she had apparently found a new friendship. One that proved to only get stronger as the days went on. It was her first true friendship since coming to Konoha.

Reira had an interest in bugs, not even batting an eye when Chisato revealed she had a name for every beetle dwelling in her body, which numbered close to two-thousand. She laughed with delight at the Aburame's strange sense of humor. There was never a moment where she felt like an outcast with her friend, and for that she was forever fond and protective.

Lately she'd grown worried. While she still came to the academy every morning and spoke about her determination to become a respected ninja one day, some of the light in Reira's eyes had dimmed. For someone who approached everything with such a zest for life, it was alarming, and she had convened with Kagami and agreed they would offer any support they were able to.

Tracking their friend down wasn't hard. As soon as the bell that signaled the end of the school day chimed, they rushed off. Reira had missed a day at the academy. She hadn't missed a class since the time she was sick with pox, so it was obviously something dire. Sending some of her bugs off to scout, they quickly returned with a report. Following them led them through familiar areas, places where they had gone together at least once. Until the two of them were standing in front of the yakiniku restaurant owned by the Akimichi.

Unsurprising, because Reira adored yakiniku. Sure enough, they found her curled in a ball off to the side near the front gate. Though she was never this melancholy when she was in such close proximity to her favorite food. Her arms cinched around her legs and her face was tucked into her knees. Chisato rushed over, stopping short so she didn't startle her.

Kagami approached at a slower pace, crouching down beside the brunette. "Reira?" he touched her shoulder. They both heard the muffled sniffle, and then the face they'd been searching for popped into view.

Chisato simultaneously recoiled with the Uchiha when they finally glimpsed how distraught she appeared. "Oh, i-it's only you two."

"Yes." The Aburame came a bit closer, crouching on the other side. "You weren't in class. So we had to come find you."

"S-Sorry!" Reira gasped, her eyes widening briefly. "I didn't mean to skip out. I started to go this morning, then I got distracted."

"Well, Yurine-sensei's gone away on a mission so another sensei is helping out right now. It shouldn't be hard to convince him to let you have the work from today." Kagami reasoned. "We only went over the basics again anyway."

The Senju slowly nodded, "Good." She breathed.

"It is not," Chisato grumbled. "We're concerned." If it were anyone else besides her parents and older brother, putting her emotions forward so bluntly made her feel awkward and shy. Having friends that embraced and understood her quirks had done a lot for her self-confidence.

"I know," Reira wiped an arm over her eyes. She wasn't crying, but her eyes were suspiciously misty. Her lower lip poked out as she averted her gaze. "I'm just so tired of messing up." she whispered. "I stayed up too long and woke up too late to tell Tobaa goodbye."

Chisato instantly understood. This was the source of the depression. At least a component of it. It was certainly never a secret that Reira loved and admired her aunt. That was plain from the first time she'd described her family.

More like a big sister to her than an aunt, the younger Senju had always spoken adoringly about growing up to be just as tough. Even though more often than not, the two argued and disagreed about Reira's goal.

"Reira," Kagami placed a hand on her head. "Toka-san wouldn't hold that against you. You're family. They don't stop caring even when you make mistakes."

Chisato nodded along.

"But all we've been doing is fighting now." Reira whined, playing with her braid. "I guess it's not really fighting. She tries to talk to me and I walk away because it feels like she doesn't listen anymore. But I don't want her to think I don't care about her having a safe mission." The girl began to ramble, tugging her hair anxiously. "I just…I just want—"Chisato took one of Reira's hands, tugging it between both of her own.

"You want the person you love most to acknowledge you." she said gently. "That's what everyone wants."

"Mhm," Kagami said. "But you know, I think Toka-san might feel the same way."

Blinking, Reira dropped her free hand from her hair. "W-What do you mean by that, Kagami-kun? Tobaa knows how much I want to be like her. That's the problem. She hates it."

Fiddling with his shirt, the boy continued, "It's nice when you know someone loves you, but it's scary to think they could stop liking you if they saw too much."

Just like that, their friend's brow furrowed as she thought. "Tobaa's afraid I won't like her anymore…if I'm more like her? How come?"

Sensing that it was heading into a deeper discussion than should be had in public, Chisato and Kagami shared a look. Pulling the perplexed girl to her feet, the duo stepped back a little.

Clearing her throat, Chisato smiled softly, releasing Reira's hand. "When she comes home, try talking again. It might be different this time."

"I…if you say so." Cheeks pinking, the Senju added, "Only cause you're both way smarter than me." A low rumble paused the conversation, the trio looking down in amazement at Reira's stomach. "Oh, yeah! I was so sad I forgot to eat earlier."

It was nice when she joined their laughter this time, which ended with the mood having lifted.

"We're standing right in front of your favorite restaurant," Kagami gestured to the front of the building that was only a few steps away. "Unless you're thinking your appetite's still missing." he teased.

"You're on, Kagami-kun!" Reira yelped. "I'll show you both my appetite's stronger than ever!" Fist raised in the air, she ran for the door, almost tripping. "Fire up the grills, Akimichi-san! I'm gonna spend more than Hashi-nii after a winning streak!"

A boisterous welcome came from inside, the Akamichi clan pleased to see their favorite young customer had returned.

Shaking her head, Chisato couldn't help but shoot Kagami an accusatory stare. "You've done it now."

He blushed. "I didn't think she'd get her energy back just like that…L-let's go stop her or she might spend up all her allowance."

Chisato really couldn't complain deep down. Even when her friends were a handful, having them meant the world to her.


They had such good pacing that the group made it to the capital gates hours ahead of schedule. Amused at how Toka was trying to hide her captivation behind a taciturn façade, Naoko wandered up behind her.

The sentries spoke to them, noting their Leaf headbands and examining their papers. Beside her, the Yuhi siblings were almost thrumming with a mixture of nervous energy and excitement.

'I should give them a break,' the Uchiha thought, glancing to see Yurine biting her lip and Kureno's head turning this way and that. 'The first time I got here, I was a little wide-eyed myself.'

And certainly nothing much had changed about the illustrious Ōtsu-shi. It was still teeming with businesses, foot traffic, and horse-drawn carriages. There was a confusing mix of scents. A little smoke, a dash of manure, the heady fragrance of some noblewoman's perfume on the wind, sweat, takoyaki, and an undercurrent of sheer wonder. The city was alive, colorful and beautiful on the surface, ready to swallow up anyone unaware underneath.

No sooner had Naoko remembered the city's cold underbelly than a courtesan came strutting up to them. The kimono she wore was simple and cream with a green obi at her trim waist. Her attire wasn't as extravagant as some of the outfits she'd seen popular oiran in. Her beautiful auburn hair was piled up neatly and her red eyeshadow matched the shade of lip paint covering her full mouth. She was in her prime and probably attempting to build clientele.

Though they met eyes, the woman gave her nothing but a fleeting glance. No, her eyes shone as they landed on a suddenly meek Kureno. Walking directly over, she reached into her bosom and pulled forth a small card, marking it with a kiss that left an imprint of her luscious lips before she handed it to the stunned young man.

Raising a brow, the raven-haired woman considered the reasoning. 'Hmph. Well he's obviously the awkward type. Those are fun to toy with to a degree. And we're not from the city. Easy prey as far as she's concerned.'

The blonde was left staring at the card, his hand slightly shaking long after the courtesan had disappeared into the crowd. Sighing, Naoko did him the favor of taking away the slip of paper with a shake of her head. Kureno's mouth opened and closed, his cheeks flushed. "I w-wasn't…I don't even know what that was abo—"

"I know," Naoko smiled sweetly, tearing the card in two and carelessly tossing it to the wind. "But it's best to simply leave it be, unless you're prepared to be eaten alive."

Yurine's eyes widened, almost making the older kunoichi wonder if she took the words literally. Kureno gulped, nodding in understanding.

Toka cleared her throat, ever the level-headed leader. "We should make our way to the palace without any more delays. There's no sense in wasting our early arrival."

Naoko couldn't argue with that. The sooner they got the cumbersome business of hearing the daimyo out of the way, the sooner she could set to work investigating through…her own means.

The Senju led the way, although any of them could have spotted the castle. It was hard to miss with the way it loomed over the city. Naoko knew the daimyo did it claiming his home should watch over the citizens of the capital. Visible from any direction. But it had always seemed more like someone keeping an intrusively close eye on everyone below.

She slowed just a little, swift movement from the shadows of a building drawing her attention. 'Hm…' Playing the part of the ignorant tourist, the Uchiha pasted on a light grin, moving her hair from her face and rejoining the group.


Yurine could feel her knees knocking together as they waited for the daimyo to make his appearance. The group from Konoha was gathered together in the receiving room after having been guided in and welcome by the castle servants.

To say the Yuhi still had her doubts was a small understatement. It had been daunting enough just meeting the Hokage; the only thing that helped was how approachable he ended up being. But, this man…the daimyo of the entire Fire Country was another matter.

The rice paper door slid open, a balding man she recognized as a top advisor stepping through in orderly robes. "Thank you for waiting," he drawled, his tone rehearsed. "May I present to you the ninth Fire Daimyo, Lord Azusa."

Breath stuck in her throat, Yurine watched the man make his appearance at last. The first thing that struck her was that he looked slightly younger than she had thought. While she had been expecting an older man with a wizened brow and wrinkles, the daimyo looked quick on his feet.

His light gait eluded to hidden speed. His kimono was red, simple but no doubt expensive, and the hair pinned up under his hat, from what she could tell, was a dark brown. The woman beside him wore spotless silks, her makeup perfect and her eyes a bit far-off. She was holding a young boy by the hand.

The group bowed in deference before the lord of Fire Country, only looking up when they were motioned to rise. "So you are the team of Konoha ninja?" he walked around them, pausing here and there. "I want to thank you for coming so quickly."

"The Leaf Village was happy to be of assistance, my lord." Toka answered. As Yurine had noticed in times like these, it was perfectly neutral. Not a hint of nerves displayed.

"Excellent as that is to hear you say, I'll decide how much assistance you've provided to me when the issue at hand's been dealt with. I'm sure your Hokage briefed you properly?"

Already Yurine felt irked by the man's attitude. She had never met someone at such a high station, so it was possible the fault was hers for being unprepared. But if she didn't know better, she'd think he looked down on shinobi…yet he wanted their help.

"Of course." Toka acted as if she noticed nothing off-putting about the man's tone, but the smallest tensing of her shoulders suggested otherwise.

"Then we can get directly to the heart of the problem. I want the so-called gentleman thief caught, alive, and brought to me before he can strike."

"I see," Naoko spoke, sounding thoughtful. "We were told that he was to be stopped, caught or killed."

The man's hands disappeared into his wide sleeves as he crossed his arms. "I'm aware of what I told the Hokage, but now I'm telling you that you're to bring Ishikawa to me. One man will not make a mockery of me." Yurine shivered as the daimyo's eyes hardened with hate. "The dirty crook will become an example to anyone else who attempts to cross me in the future."

"Public execution?" The Uchiha mused. "A harsh example indeed."

"But necessary," The daimyo began to move. "Join me, shinobi." Moving in time with the lord and his family brought them to a large balcony that had a stunning view of the capital. Yurine hurried to peer out at everything, grasping the wood. From so high, to be able to see what felt like every corner of the city was...empowering? Awe-inspiring? Beautiful?

If she had to decide, the Yuhi would have picked all of the above.

"This is where I come to watch over my home. The people of the capital are very precious to me, like another family. I would do anything to make sure they aren't terrorized."

Yurine could understand the sentiment, but she had gotten the impression that Goemon Ishikawa only had one target...the daimyo himself. And, there was no mention of being after his life, only his treasure. Discreetly attempting to size him up once more, she thought a little longer about it. What if his most sacred treasure was his life after all? She would have to ask privately if Naoko had ever heard of Ishikawa assassinating anyone he stole from.

"... to investigate."

Kureno nudged at her arm, and Yurine flushed, realizing she had tuned out of the conversation. She had to find a way to stop doing that. "I'll fill you in on everything later, daydreamer," her brother chuckled under his breath. The daimyo was speaking to Toka, both of them making their way back inside. "Lord Azusa seems to be convinced Ishikawa's already in the capital laying low and biding his time. So we're gonna have to go around and try and find clues before he strikes."

Yurine's heart stopped beating so hard. That seemed far more doable than she was expecting. The daimyo made it clear he was a man that valued results. She just hoped she didn't get in the way of delivering them.


For all the trouble it took surviving to reach it, the mine wasn't any more impressive than an ordinary one. Sakura let the mujina sniff their way around, assuming eventually they would stumble upon the precious iron, or something equally as valuable. It was fortunate the eyes of the yokai glowed in the dark, emitting more light than if they had strung a dozen lanterns.

She would have asked Tobirama for his opinion, but he had fallen not-so-strangely silent with her again. Answering rarely, and only in grunts and one syllabic words. She chose to believe it was a frightening ordeal and he had a lot on his mind.

The pinkette knew she did. Tearing that kraken apart, while cathartic, was also a wild experience. Because godslayer or not, nothing could have convinced her she would survive the drop into the lava. Against all odds, or maybe because it was odd, she had not only walked away from it, but with a new power at her disposal. As soon as the first opportunity presented itself, she planned to ask Mizuchi just what it was.

"This way for sure," Ubagabi said, his snout still to the ground in concentration. The mujina had split off as planned, the excitable mujina now leading the pack. Sakura's reservations had died away after his display of determination and loyalty. He might've been silly, but he was as valuable an ally as any.

"Hey," a voice near her feet whispered. Sakura found a mujina she didn't think she'd officially met speaking to her. There was longer fur flipped into its face and following the length of its spine like a horse's mane. "Most of us have never seen a fleshling before you. They all that crazy strong up there?"

Sakura scratched her cheek, blushing. "Actually, there are plenty of people who are stronger. I'm just...determined."

"Whatever you call it, it's impressive." The mujina went on. "Oh! The name's Komugi in case you were wondering."

"Sakura, but you probably knew that." The ground crunched distinctly underfoot, and she paused along with Komugi.

"Gross." The other mujina had stopped to look down too.

Ubagabi examined it, batting at it with his paw a few times. "It's shedding..."

"It seems to be intact and go down the tunnel pretty far..." Mio shivered in place, her tail tucked in.

Tobirama got down in a crouch, picking part of it up and passing his thumbs over it. "Snake skin."

Sakura cringed, image after image of her encounters with Orochimaru coming to mind.


I really appreciate kind readers, you know? So many people are encouraging and understand when I have to step away from writing for things like work or personal time. Strange thing is lately I've been feeling pretty motivated to write, just haven't had much free time at all. I even work most weekends now because of the health crisis we're all dealing with. But, it's nice that my fics can give people something small to look forward to right now.

I hope people appreciated the intensity of the encounter with the fire kraken because it was hard to nail a scene I was satisfied with. I'm not at all discrediting animators, because anyone who appreciates art knows that's equally challenging, the least of which being someone has to draw all that and then set it to motion. But it's something else when you've got a clear image of scenes in your head, but no way to instantly transfer the pictures to others. So you have to sit down and truly think about how best to phrase it so that readers can vividly imagine what you're saying. Hard stuff.

On that note, I'm glad people like Sakura and Tobirama being thrown together for survival in this way. Sakura has unlocked a new godslayer ability! Is it convenient timing? Maybe. But sometimes unlocking skills under extreme duress is the best way to improve (not that I recommend). For the most part she's trained with Mizuchi in stages then applied what she was taught after the fact or sort of unlocked things in battle and learned control from "mama" Mizuchi. Her new form is sort of like the Uchiha's complete Susano'o avatars. Same concept, except it is made from manipulating essence (god "chakra" or life energy) of a divine being that's stored within a godslayer. Sakura now can go giant to fight bigger foes while doing this.

As for the TobiSaku team, the more they have to rely on each other the closer they're bound to grow. They're not out of danger yet. It's true there was a lot focusing on Sakura and the mujina cooperating in this chapter, but next chapter there's heavy TobiSaku trust-building moments.

And a lot of you were right to worry for how Madara's memories coming back would happen and whether it would come with a catch, as this chapter now confirmed.

A lot of important pieces are being moved around on the board right now. One thing very quickly becomes a catalyst for another thing when time travel is involved. Many readers assume Sakura is in a parallel, alternate version of the main timeline's past. I've been careful to never confirm nor deny that. Something to think about, if everything is as it seems there. I've always been fascinated by the way various forms of fiction handle time travel and its repercussions, tons of possibilities.