!PLEASE READ!

Hello,

I have decided to add TWT to Wattpad. Yes... yes, it's happening. You can find me under the same username and the story title is the same, except it has "[Madara Uchiha x OC]" next to it. So, if you don't want to flip flop between platforms or simply want to support me on Wattpad (please do it's my first time ever using it), TWT is up on there for you! I'm going to upload the chapters at about 2-3 per week as to slowly catch up to what I have in store/what is remaining. The final few chapters of TWT are upon is. The ending is near. Please stay tuned on both platforms if you can! Uploads will be more frequent as finals week is almost over!

Enjoy! Leave a comment!

-Spliced

"So, how are we at twenty-five weeks?" Doctor Yakushi smiled while washing her hands.

Reina sighed. "Honestly, it's been a breeze."

"You're one of the fortunate ones." Doctor Yakushi grinned. "I'm just going to feel your stomach and apply some chakra to detect any abnormalities and our baby's positioning."

Reina nodded. "Sure thing." She took in a deep breath while giving Madara a tired smile. Though her baby's health was critical, Reina had so much on her mind that had to be done. This was a bump in her day, but it couldn't be avoided. She hadn't been sleeping much due to work and domestic issues. Of course, she wouldn't be an Uchiha if she couldn't keep up with the grind.

Doctor Yakushi nodded. "Everything seems alright. Your baby is about the size of a kabocha squash—almost two pounds, from what I can tell. There are no abnormalities. However, I recommend drinking a bit more water. I can tell your body is slightly fatigued." She removed her hands from Reina's belly. "I understand you have a lot on your plate, but you cannot overwork yourself. Try to take it easy this week and restore your health. Get some rest. Then continue a balanced lifestyle."

Reina gave a guilty, flat smile. "I sure will, Doctor Yakushi."

Madara bowed. "I'll make sure she gets everything she needs."

Reina's head snapped in his direction, and she looked at him with wide eyes that begged the question, 'What do you mean?!' She knew she was being selfish, but she could only wonder how little Madara would allow her to do.

"Wonderful! I hope your eyes are not as hollow when I see you in three weeks. That's a sign of not taking care of yourself, Lady Reina." Doctor Yakushi grinned. "Please, take care of yourselves. I'll have the receptionist scheduled your next appointment."

Reina took Doctor Yakushi's jab with dignity and honor. She knew she was in the wrong and was glad Doctor Yakushi was good enough a friend to give her an eloquent slap in the face. "It was a pleasure seeing you, Doctor. Take care of yourself as well." Reina smiled and watched as the woman left the room.

Reina was moving boxes into the nursery, getting ready to assemble more furniture. She smiled as she saw the room coming together, but her moment was halted when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Reina tilted her head up and back to see Madara glaring down at her. "What?" Reina inquired.

"You are supposed to be relaxing." Madara tilted his head down as he bored holes in her eyes. He was serious.

Reina sighed and held her hands up defensively as she turned to face him. "Fine… Fine. But can I at least-"

"No. Whatever it is. No." Madara said abruptly. "Go lay down unless you want to be out in the garden. Would you like me to draw you a bath instead?"

Reina shook her hands rapidly. "No no no. I'll just relax in the library and make myself a cup of tea."

"Curl up in the library with your book. I'll make your tea." Madara pointed. "Go."

Reina pouted before padding out of the room like a flustered toddler. "Fiiiiiiiinnneeeee…..!" She groaned as she disappeared down the hallway.

By day three, Reina was in mental agony. She and Madara were awaiting Hashirama, Mito, and Tobirama's arrival, to which she usually prepared snacks and tea. However, Madara took on her role and had her sit pretty while he worked.

Reina smiled sweetly. "You make a nice spread. I can surely clean up af-"

"No." Madara smiled sweetly back, not falling for her seemingly considerate antics.

"I feel like you're my servant." Reina frowned. "I hate it."

Madara smiled and walked over to Reina's kneeling form. He gently placed a hand under her chin and tilted it upward to face him. "My love, this is near equal as you are serving our family by carrying our child." He kissed her on the forehead and let go of her chin, dragging his fingers as he pulled away. "Your family will be here at any moment now." He extended a hand for her to grab.

Reina took his hand with a faint blush on her cheeks and stood up slowly. "Thank you." She and Madara heard a knock on the door and walked over to the entrance to greet their guests.

Madara opened one of the double doors. "Good afternoon!" He smiled as he let the Senju clan members enter. "Please come in."

"Thank you." Hashirama grinned and bowed with his wife and brother.

"It's unusual seeing you in casual garb, these days, Hashirama." Madara held out a hand for him to shake.

Hashirama chuckled and shook his hand. "It's almost foreign at this point."

"Ah, then let's make today worthwhile." Madara bowed towards Tobirama and Mito. "Welcome to you two as well."

Tobirama gave a curt bow. "Thank you for having us."

Mito smiled softly and bowed. "Thank you." She straightened herself and looked at Reina and her baby bump. "How precious."

Reina bowed and walked over toward her friend. "How have you been?"

Mito giggled, and the two came into an embrace. "It's been surprisingly easy." She spoke softly.

"I'm glad," Reina muttered and pulled away from Mito to address everyone. "Please, join us in the dining room for tea and snacks."

The group conversed, laughed, and caught up with one another as they recapped the month that had passed. Eventually, it was time for them to check out the baby's upstairs nursery.

Madara opened up the nursery door. "Please, come in." He said to everyone as he held the door open.

Hashirama beamed as he saw the adorable room. "This is amazing!"

Reina giggled. "Thank you. We thought to keep it simple. Browns, creams, and whites. We don't know the baby's gender either, so we decided not to buy too much clothing. The dressers are rather empty."

"Baby's grow fast anyway." Mito waved her hand. "Besides, I'm sure both of the Senju and Uchiha clan members will be hand-delivering gifts."

"Oh! That brings me to ask." Hashirama piped up. "Will you have ceremonial visitations for clan members to pay respects to Reina and the newborn baby?"

"That is a good idea." Madara nodded. "We can set a date after the baby's birth."

Reina mentally frowned. More formalities to plan for meant more time spent with the clan elders. That was something she thought she was finished with altogether. She sighed, "I suppose that would be a good idea. It will show respect and trust for our clansmen and our unity."

"Exactly!" Hashirama grinned.

Mito smiled. "May I help coordinate it with the elders?"

Reina's eyes widened, sparkling at her friend's request. "Yes! Yes, a thousand times over, yes!"

Mito chuckled. "Then it's settled."

Madara smiled. "You really are Reina's savior, Mito. After having a baby, I'm sure she wouldn't want to have to deal with the clan elders."

Mito waved her hand. "It is my pleasure."

"So, what is your birth plan?" Hashirama inquired.

Madara cleared his throat. "We were thinking about doing it here, at home."

"Is that safe?" Tobirama inquired.

Madara nodded. "Hashirama, remember that underground bunker I had built?"

Hashirama thought for a moment before gasping with realization. "Yes! Wait! Say no more. Let's take Mito down there first."

Madara nodded. "Everyone, please follow me." He brought the group downstairs, through a hallway, and stood face-to-face with an unassuming wall panel. He applied chakra, causing the panel to push backward and slide to the side, revealing a wooden staircase. "Please, follow me." He brought the group downstairs, torches lighting up as they descended. Once they reached the bottom, the torches revealed an empty room.

Mito nodded. "This is perfect. We will put a hospital bed in the middle. Set up any other medical supplies. I can seal off the room and ensure it remains safe."

Madara nodded. "That would be much appreciated. Doctor Yakushi will be delivering the baby, so we can have her bring whatever supplies she needs. We will provide any furniture."

Reina was already nervous thinking about her baby's delivery. She exhaled loudly. "Wow, I can't believe this is already happening."

Madara smiled. "You'll do fine, and we will make sure to protect you and the baby at all costs."

Reina nodded. "I appreciate it."

For the rest of the afternoon, the group of elite shinobi made Reina's birthing plans before going on a tangent. Eventually, they all went out to dinner together before parting ways. Reina and Madara returned home and checked out early.

When the week was over, Reina was finally able to do as pleased; she began formulating criteria of what to investigate involving the Miyashita clan and the market. She was a decent investigator, but there were areas in which she was lacking. One such area being knowledge about trade, stocks, and the market, in general, relating to finances, goods, and services. Reina made an appointment to speak with investors, entrepreneurs within the village, and financial advisors to learn what she could.

Reina was dressed in all black shinobi garb, her chocolate waves flowing past her waist. She adorned the Hidden Leaf Village's headband and the Uchiha clan crest on her back. Reina gathered up her papers and left her at-home office for the entryway, where she placed her black greaves on her feet. She left the house, stepping into the sunshine and stretching her back, her bump pushing her shirt past its limits.

Reina frowned. "Time to go shopping for clothes again." She muttered to herself before heading off into the financial district of the village." She first met with a bank CEO and sat down with him in a meeting. They two chatted for a while, never to forgo any necessary formalities, before getting into the nitty-gritty. "So, how exactly would I be able to view these financial transactions."

"You would have to receive authorization for an investigation that allows you to have access to said records. Unfortunately, the more elite the subject you are investigating, the higher the restrictions are. Your best bet is to go through Lord Hokage to receive clearance on any clandestine operations." The man said politely.

Reina mentally cursed herself as that wasn't exactly an option. "I understand. I appreciate your time." She and the man bade each other farewell before Reina met with a trade merchant. Again, she strained through small talk before they conversed about essential matters.

"These are general rules that apply to most nations." The man stated. "However, each nation and even minor territories have their specific trade laws. So, unless you track down the exact location in which a trade item is being manufactured and shipped from, it can be challenging to determine what laws are in place to authorize a trade. That and trades involving the elite or more privileged tend to have fewer restrictions than that of the general population."

Reina nodded. "I understand. Are there trade schedules that everyone adheres to as well? Like certain items get delivered on certain days or?"

The man shook his head. "Not particularly. That would all depend on the postal company in charge of delivery. My knowledge is slightly limited, but what I do know is that letters and small items take a shorter amount of time than larger items. However, mass shipments, regardless of size, tend to be a priority."

"Due to storage?" Reina inquired.

"That can be a possibility, but it's more for the rapid financial gain of the location in which something is being shipped from. Because when you think about it, every dollar given to a vendor for their items eventually gets funneled back into the local economy. Therefore, postal companies, which are typically government-run, prefer to have mass shipments dealt with as soon as possible. With rapid deliveries, especially ones of larger volume, you will notice an upward trend in a nation's economy." The man grinned. "I hope that makes sense."

Reina smiled politely. "Of course. You have been a wonderful help today."

"I am glad I could aid you in your investigation, Lady Reina." The man bowed.

Reina bowed in return before taking her leave. Once she was out and back on the bustling streets, she realized the sun was already beginning to set. "How long have I been at this?" She sighed, exhausted. Reina checked off one of the many names on her itinerary before sauntering towards a restaurant to bring take-out sushi and other sidedishes home.

Two weeks had passed, and Reina found herself lying under Doctor Yakushi's chakra engulfed hands once again. Doctor Yakushi smiled. "Your baby is about 2.75 lbs. The size of a head of lettuce."

"You're making me hungry," Reina grumbled.

Doctor Yakushi chuckled. "The baby is developing fine. Did you want to know the sex?"

Reina shook her head. "No, thank you. We want to keep it a surprise."

Doctor Yakushi removed her hands from Reina's belly. "I'm glad to see you're doing better as well."

"Thank you. I hated every minute of that one week stretch, but it was necessary." Reina admitted. "I was being a little selfish."

Madara gave her hand a light squeeze. "You weren't selfish. You just have a lot on your plate and don't want to be inconsiderate by passing off your work to others."

Doctor Yakushi nodded. "That's right! You're very admirable, Lady Reina. Most women decided not to work these days. Instead, they become housewives to spend time with their children. In our state of peace, even if temporary, it seems like the right move to many. It's a luxury they can afford. However, you have been working tirelessly and to maintain said luxury. After all, someone has to do it."

Reina gave a small smile of appreciation. "Thank you, Doctor Yakushi."

Doctor Yakushi giggled at her meek behavior. "Of course!" She picked up her clipboard. "I will schedule your next appointment for three weeks from now."

Reina nodded. "Sounds lovely. Thank you again."

For the next three weeks, Reina studied in the public library. She grabbed various books off of the shelves and organized all of the information she had learned to figure out what exactly she had to investigate. This would increase her investigation's efficiency but would still be a grueling process as she was stretched thin between commanding the ANBU Black Ops, leading Leaf Relief on villages still recovering from Miyashita attacks, and then the Miyashita investigation itself. That and she had to revisit Doctor Yakushi that day before beginning her research.

By the time Reina got home, she was wiped out. She slipped her shoes off, thinking about what to prepare for dinner when she smelled the sweet smell of food being made. Reina shuffled towards the kitchen and saw Madara making dinner.

Reina grinned tiredly but sincerely, "You're home? And… making dinner?"

Madara smiled. "You're home already?"

"Why are you here so early?" Reina inquired while she walked over towards him.

"Why are you home so early? I wanted this to be done by the time you were home." He grumbled. "It'll be done soon."

Reina walked over towards him and wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him from behind. "Thank you so much."

Reina couldn't see, but Madara was blushing with a flustered smile plastered on his face. "You're welcome, my love."

Reina pulled away and took in a deep breath. "I'm going to wash up for dinner real quick, but I'll meet you down h-here… I-in-n a f-few m-m-minutes…!" She began crying to herself softly in place.

Madara turned the fire off and turned to face her, cupping each of her shoulders with his hands. "Reina, what's wrong? Is it the hormones again?"

"P-probably…" She sniffled. "I'm just so thankful to have you around. I feel like a horrible housewife."

Madara shook his head. "No, try not to feel that way. You aren't a housewife. You're a working, pregnant wife. You have more duties than I do. It's only fair that I contribute this much." He softly held her cheeks with his hands, wiping her tears away with his thumbs. "Don't cry. You're doing more than anyone could." He bent down, kissing her on the lips, nose, and forehead. "Go wash up, and I will have everything ready for you.

"Okaaay," Reina nodded, wiping her tears away as she sniffled and shuffled out of the kitchen.

That evening, Madara went out like a light. He was sleeping like a rock, but Reina was lying on her side, wide awake. She stared at the cascading moonlight on her balcony through the glass doors they had. Reina found herself almost in a meditative state as she began daydreaming about what life after this Miashita nonsense would be over. However, she couldn't think of much. It was as if there was a brain blockage. What she did know is that she would not be a pawn for her brothers. She sighed and clutched her sheets, bringing them closer to her face as she drifted off to sleep.