"Too fat… too skinny… whoa his nose is HUGE!" Reina exclaimed as she flipped through various pages of possible suitors. All of them were from prominent families, but Reina couldn't care less.

Shika furrowed a brow with a scowl at the young woman's antics. "Reina Senju! Take this seriously."

"Holy shit that's a woman! Look!" She flipped the paper around to face the angry prune sitting across from her. "See! Doesn't he look like a girl?!"

"Reina, please!" Shika massaged her temples in frustration. "Simply do your part and filter through your options." The elder looked at the paper and then at Reina. "Yes, he does look like a woman."

Reina giggled. "I know, right?" She set the paper in the discard pile and continued leafing through pages. She stopped when she saw a rather attractive looking man. "Arata Mita?" Reina examined his facial features and felt her hear skip a beat. He reminded her of Nao. His skin was lighter and his hair much darker. It was slicked back a little neater and straighter and he didn't have glasses. Nonetheless he was very attractive. "I want to invite him." Reina flipped the paper around and slid it across the table toward Shika.

Shika picked up the paper and lowered her glasses down the tip of her nose. "Oh my, he is a stud."

Reina grinned. "He's for sure invited."

"Agreed. He's from the Land of Water too. I hear a new village is beginning to form there." Shika smiled with a head tilt and set the paper down in the discard pile.

Reina blinked in confusion. "Um, Shika… that's the wrong pile."

Shika's eyes widened and she looked down at the discard pile with surprise. "Oh my! How silly of me. Pardon my insolence." She placed the paper in the invitation pile and looked up at Reina. "That would've been unfortunate."

"Indeed." Reina said as she continued looking through the papers. She stopped when she saw a familiar face. "Madara Uchiha… Yeah, no." She went to place the paper in the discard pile when Shika took the page from her hands and set it in the invitation pile.

"But why?!" Reina protested instantly. It was a knee jerk response.

Shika sighed. "Reina, most notable men from the village will be invited and that includes Madara. He also has very close ties with the family and we must be diplomatic and invite him."

Reina sighed. "I hate politics."

"Nobody likes politics, Reina." Shika looked up at Reina sincerely. "You'll be fine. Continue on."

Reina side eyed Shika before continuing through her stack of pages. The process took a few hours, but Reina completed her task. By the time she finished it was midafternoon. Reina walked to a café and bought fresh dango to snack on. She poked around the village and came to the same lake she saw her premonition at. Reina walked to the edge of the pier and stared into the water. Gray clouds rolled in, dulling the sky and blackening the water. Reina admired the change in aesthetic and fell into a lull. She was deep in thought when she felt her hand move. Reina turned her head to her side to see Madara chewing on one of her dumplings.

Reina's eyes widened. "Did you just eat one of my dumplings?!"

Madara nodded and swallowed. "They're good too. Where'd you get them?"

"If this is your way of flirting it's absolutely terrible." Reina ate one of her dumplings in fury.

"I don't need to flirt with you to have you." Madara crossed his arms.

Reina faced him and looked directly into his eyes though she was a bit too short to be eye level. "You are so arrogant, you know that? How are you so confident that I will be yours?"

"It's politics. You will marry me and I will have full control over you. That's that." Madara smirked as he looked down at the Reina. She looked like an angry bunny since she was short and jumpy.

"I will have you know that I have influence in who I decide to marry and once you're out of the running you are out of my life." Reina furrowed her brows.

Madara chuckled. "Do you really think you have a say in your future? Because you don't."

Reina's heart dropped. She had a gut feeling, but did he have to say that? Did he have to affirm her darkest thoughts? "He's just trying to get to me." Reina cleared her throat. "That's not true. Even if it is, one thing I do know is that you have no say in my life."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Madara said softly, forcing her to listen.

Reina stepped back and glared at the Uchiha. "What do you want from me?"

"I'm surprised you haven't figured it out yet." Madara watched Reina in silence.

Reina took another step back to distance herself from him. "Stop behaving this way." Reina watched as Madara took a few steps forward. "Stop! D-don't come closer!"

Madara snaked and arm around her waist, cluthced her side, and leaned in close to her face. He looked into her eyes, millimeters from her lips. Madara lowered his head, grazing her cheek and bringing his lips to her ears. He smirked as he felt Reina's heart pumping and body shaking as it turned rigid. Madara then quietly whispered into her ear. "You were about to fall."

Reina turned her head and looked down at the ground. He was right. She was at the edge of the pier. One more step and she would've fallen right in, wasting her precious dumplings. Reina turned her head and looked back at him. "Please pull me away from the edge and let me go."

Madara smirked and did just that. He stepped back and let her go, looking down at her blushing face. "Glad you're not hurt… Reina."

Reina straightened her shirt out. "Thanks…"

Madara smirked before turning around and waving. "I'll see you around, Reina."

"Oh goodie." Reina said sarcastically as she watched him leave. She then shook her head. "Wait! That's it?!" The words coming out of her mouth almost seemed contradictory toward how she actually felt.

Madara stopped in his tracks and turned around with an eyebrow raised. "What? Do you actually crave my attention?"

Reina scowled. "No, not at all." She grimaced, ready to confront the Uchiha and put him in his place.

"Then what is it?" Madara hissed.

Reina furrowed her brows and took her stance. "You are so petty." She watched as Madara turned to fully face her and she continued on. "You think you can influence me and pressure me by being childish and- and pulling these ludicrous stunts? Well, guess what, Madara? It's not working!" Reina began to chuckle in disbelief. "Do you really think by making me uncomfortable you will miraculously have things your way?" Reina sneered. "How could I ever fear you?"

Madara turned on his mangekyou sharingan and smirked. "Reina…"

Reina stopped talking and looked directly at the man. "What?" She said sharply.

Madara tilted his head back and looked at the woman in front of him. "You're in for a real treat. If that's how you want to play it, then challenge accepted."

Reina's face turned pale and her eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"

"You're all bark and no bite. You think you can win be using words? Tsk! You're foolish just like your brother." Madara lowered his head. "You will not disrespect me… You will fear me… Obey me…"

Reina felt his energy change. She realized that she had dug her own grave. "What do you mean?"

"I wasn't planning on taking things this far." Madara's smirk grew wider. "Reina Senju… I WILL MAKE YOU SUFFER." He growled deeply. "From this day forward, I vow to ruin your life."

Reina's blood ran cold. She looked at the man in front of her and suddenly everything fell into place. Her life was at a steady decline from here on out and she knew it. Nothing would stop Madara from getting what he wanted. That, he had already decided. Reina ate the last dango from her stick and swallowed it while looking at the man across from her.

"I'd rather die." Reina simply shrugged and let go of the stick as she fell backwards into the lake.

Madara's eyes widened and he jumped onto the lake. He stood on top of the water and sensed around for her chakra. He furrowed his brows, perplexed by the situation. Reina was gone. Madara's eyes faded to normal and he quickly fled the scene.

Reina was sitting on her bedroom floor soaking wet. She panted as she dropped a marked kunai and clutched her head with both hands. She was in genuine shock at the turn of events. How could he be so outwardly demonic? Madara let his blood lust slip into the air and Reina didn't want to experience that again. Now, she was truly afraid. What if she ended up marrying him? What if he kills the person she wants to marry? How far was he willing to go to take what is "rightfully" his? Reina's mind ran wild with all of these questions. Was her family really willing to make her suffer by being with this unstable, power hungry madman?

Reina stood up and looked at herself in the mirror. "I'm a wet rat." She laughed, but then jumped and screamed as thunder cracked. "Aaaaaah!" Reina glared at the stormy sky through her balcony doors.

Reina marched over to her balcony doors, locked them, and closed the curtains. She shivered and held her arms in fear while scurrying to her bathroom. Reina clumsily took off her clothing and flung the wet articles in various places. She shut and locked her bathroom door and began to draw a hot bath. Steam began to fill the room and she sat at the edge of the tub. Reina breathed in deeply to calm herself down. When the tub was full, she stepped inside and soaked in the hot water until dinner time.

For the following days that passed, Reina stayed indoors as not to bump into Madara. She was nervous as to what he might do. Was he all talk? Was he serious? Was he plotting? Reina didn't know. All she knew was that she was going to play it cautious and do everything in her power not to marry him.

Reina walked down the hall toward Shika's office and noticed the door was open. She quietly peeked her head around the corner and knocked on the door frame. "Excuse me, Shika?"

Shika looked up from her desk and smiled. "Oh, Reina. Do come in."

Reina nodded and quietly stepped into the office. "Do you mind if I shut the door?"

"By all means." Shika waved her hand.

Gently, Reina shut the door with a soft click and turned to face the elder. She shyly approached the desk and sat down in a chair across from the woman. Reina noticed decorated scrolls stacked on the desk with a box of the same ones on the floor. "What are all these?"

Shika looked up at Reina as she placed more in a separate box. "These are your invitations, dear."

Reina's eyes widened. "Oh! Haha, yes of course… They're beautiful."

"I thought you might like them." Shika stopped what she was doing and focused her attention on Reina. "What can I do for you, Reina? You've been rather off these past couple of days."

Reina sighed. "Lady Shika, I understand politics and I know we are in a phase of stabilization with the Uchiha clan, but must we invite Madara to the festival? If we do, can we at least ensure I don't marry him?"

"May I ask why?" Shika said simply while folding her hands.

Reina looked up at the woman with a pained expression. "He makes me extremely uncomfortable and I know he would intentionally hurt me and make me miserable. I understand that Madara and Hashirama are close friends, at least on the outside, and it wouldn't make logical sense for him to do that to me, but I just know it. I saw it in a premonition and judging by the way he acts and talks when we are alone… things aren't going to end well if I am with him."

Shika raised an eyebrow. "You had a premonition?"

"Yes." Reina nodded while locking her hands together tightly.

"And you say he acts improperly around you in private?" Shika pried.

"Yes." Reina lowered her head. "Listen, I'm not expecting you to have a change of heart, but I beg of you. Please remove him from the invitations pile or remove him from my list of possible suitors."

Shika sighed. "Reina, listen… It is my duty to carry out these tasks. Jirou, Hashirama, and Tobirama have already decided this. If there is anyone you need to speak with, it's your brother." She got up out of her chair and walked over to Reina. "I know I can be harsh, but I just want you to be fully aware of every circumstance and become a proper young lady. However, I never mean to cause you pain and I know misery when I see it." Shika picked Reina's head up by the chin. "Look at me… You need to speak with your brother. I will do everything I can, but the odds are against you, Reina."

Reina turned her head away from Shika and looked at the invitations. "Thank you for listening to me. I appreciate your advice." She looked back up at the elder. "You're really kindhearted."

Shika chuckled. "I may be old, but I'm not an evil witch."

Reina giggled. "Shika, I honestly think only bad things can come of this."

"I don't blame you for thinking that way. Madara is a fantastic actor. He puts on a professional display, but he is a rather unstable being. After he lost Izuna during the war, things got worse. Can you blame him, though? Most of what he loves is gone- stripped away from him… Perhaps he can love you one day. Perhaps you can teach him what love is."

Reina shook her head. "I doubt that. He's attractive and talented, but he's hell-bent on power and revenge. There's no way a shred of love or positivity lies within him."

"I wouldn't be so sure." Shika walked back over to her side of the desk. "I tell you what. Speak with your brother and hope for the best. In case you do end up with Madara, start planning ways to survive and get through to him now."

Reina got goosebumps at her terrifying words. They weren't what she wanted to hear, but they were well-founded. "Yes…" She stood up and bowed. "I'll go find brother. Thank you, Shika."

Shika nodded. "I wish you good luck."

"Thank you." With that, Reina walked out and shut the door to the office behind her. She marched up the stairs to the Hokage's office and stopped outside of the door. "Well, here goes nothing."