Koga was a man that wanted to be respected. If his tall figure wasn't something to prove, it was his battle scars. Before Koga became the village leader, he was once a military man. Fighting to protect his home, his family, his people, and now retired from that life he was a man respected for his deeds. As he walked to the healers house, he could see Lady Tokiko walking about being accompanied by two strangers.

They were in the market part of the village where merchants make post. Koga would give these people permission to enter his village.

Tokiko seemed to be enjoying the two men at her side. She was laughing while the men were trying not to run away from her. Koga chuckled at the sight knowing well that Tokiko liked them young. She was playful, but wanted to make any man fall for her at her age. The heavens laughed at their misfortune.

"Ah, Lord Koga, it is such a nice day to be strolling along the village." Tokiko said with a smile on her face. The two men with her seemed to eye Koga when he came into view. They were suspicious for a moment before Tokiko tapped their shoulders to keep them from attacking. Koga got a look at the two men and the attire they wore. Shinobi by the looks of them and Uchiha by their distinctive looks, he noted.

Koga was familiar with the Uchiha clan. A force to be reckoned with in the battlefield, but their loyalty towards each other was stronger then any bond Koga knew. The Uchiha's were a perfect ally for him and with the resources his village had to offer, how could they say no? Koga would use even his daughter for marriage. An heir with that power could make his village strong.

"Lady Tokiko, gentlemen." He acknowledged the two shinobi with a slight bow. "I was going to your healing house to see how fair the Uchiha clan leader is. I hope he is not too injured."

Tokiko chuckled, "He is in good hands. Tsubaki had treated him and cleaned all his wounds. Though, I believe he will not be speaking to you until she finds him fit enough to stand on his own. In the meantime, his brother can talk to you. I am sure it is something this old bag of bones doesn't want to hear."

Tokiko was a dramatic. The 'village crazy lady' who spoke her mind and caused most of the children to believe in her ghost stories. Koga knew that this woman was The best healer his village had and with Tsubaki being taught under her, the young woman would be an asset to her village. Though, Tokiko had this personality about her.

"Please be kind to our important guest, Lord Koga." Tokiko placed her hand on Izuna's shoulder.

Tokiko pushed Izuna in front of her, but not without a feel of his back. Creepy old crow. Izuna thought as she played nonchalant about the incident. Ikko grinned like the sly fox he was known to be. He saw it all and would tease Izuna later about it when they were alone. Women from any village they went to would stare with blushes on their cheeks to the two Uchiha brothers. They were popular with the women, but their focus was elsewhere other then finding love.

Ikko knew Izuna was the more calmer brother of the two Uchiha brothers, but would be very competitive towards Madara. It was always entertaining to watch them spar each other. They always put up a good show, but it always ended with Madara being the more dominant. Madara was the more temperamental one that would murder anyone who for in his way. Between the two brothers, Izuna was the peacekeeper.

I wonder how Madara is doing? Ikko thought.

"I think the matters I wish to discuss would be more suited if the leader was to hear." Koga said not trying to be disrespectful to the brother of the head of the clan. "It involves something important that I wish for him to have a choice in."

Izuna raised a brow. where was he playing at?

"It would be better suited to know what my brother is getting into with the matters you want to discuss. Do not try to run circles around me." Izuna glared at the man with those piecing black eyes. Ikko kept his from on his face and Tokiko was playing the innocent old woman. One lookers were walking cautiously by, whispering and pointing. This was becoming dangerous. Koga was being out into a corner.

Tokiko watched with observant eyes. On all her years being in the village, She knew when something was wrong. Koga is up to something. Whether it be an alliance with the Uchiha clan or putting his daughter available for marriage with the older Uchiha, it usually never ends the way they want it too.

Koga placed his hands up in surrender. Not wanting to anger an Uchiha and make true The rumors of their strength, the village leader had no other choice but to discuss matters with him.

"Come along, Ikko. Let us go and check on Tsubaki. I am sure her and Lord Uchiha are bonding." Ikko could not miss that mischievous grin on her face. The older woman grabbed Ikko by his sleeve and dragged him along with her. The shinobi could only do one thing and that was to follow her. Tokiko can be very pushy and scary. Why do I have to be stuck with this old crow?

Izuna could have sworn he saw some tears on Ikko's face. Shaking his head, his attention was towards Koga. "Now, lead the way so we can discuss some matters."


"There. I have cleaned your wounds again and placed clean bandages around your arms. Now, are you going to be stubborn or am I going to force you to eat some soup?" Tsubaki said as she placed her hands on her hip.

Madara rolled his eyes at her attempt to be stern. He was still angry at her for splashing water on him. If he wasn't hurting all over he would set his revenge. Sadly, it wasn't like he could harm the young healer. She was doing what she knows and he was being hard-headed.

Tsubaki noticed a far out look on his face. This is the great Madara Uchiha? A shinobi feared for being ruthless to his enemies. Unstoppable. Fierce. But here he is in front of me. Wrapped like a mummy and wounded from a fight. If he wasn't so stubborn I might find him tolerable.

Tsubaki turned her back to him. Blinking, Madara followed her every move. She was talking to herself in a whisper. Tsubaki was walking around, her mind jumbled. She moved a large pot to the counter. Looking inside she took some leaves and crushed them in her hands. Madara looked on with cuiriosity. Tsubaki was always doing something that caught his eye. He seemed marveled by her movements when she placed the pot near an open window.

In three days, Po would be looking for his honey and tea leaves. Tsubaki thought as she remembered that she was also looking for something else. She went back to the cupboards and searched, making loud noises. She was mumbling again which Madara looked away not really wanting to pay attention to her.

Your always staring at her.

It wasn't until Tsubaki made a noise of acomplishment that she found what she was looking for. She turned around with the biggest smile on her face. In her hands was a bowl.

"You took your time for a bowl?" Madara said.

"A good bowl is hard to find around here. Don't worry, it is also clean." Tsubaki was being sarcastic now. Madara rolled his eyes to her childish nature.

"Just hurry up." He mumbled. Tsubaki chuckled at his tone. This shinobi was not used to being dependent. She knew if he had the chance he would do it himself. It was all the process of healing.

"Why do you laugh at my misfortune?" Madara said.

"I do not laugh at you, Lord Uchiha. I find it difficult to comprehend why you refuse my help. I am only doing what is best so you can leave and go back to fighting." Tsubaki stated as she walked over to the small fire pit invaded by stone. Hanging by iron was a pot where she prepared the herbal soup with vegetables for nutrients she knows Madara is lacking.

Madara kept quiet not knowing what to say. How could it be hard to understand? He was capable of healing himself, yet she continues to care for him as if he was never to recover. He knew he was getting his strength back. He could feel it. It was something about how she prepared her herbs. Maybe she wasn't so bad as he first thought.

She could be of use.

She turned her attention towards him. A hot steaming bowl of soup that even from that distance he could smell it. It was not pleasant in the slightest.

"It is best to eat it cold and in one gulp. The vegetables are swallowing size so you won't choke." She handed him the bowl.

"You do not expect me to eat this." He said.

Tsubaki have him a look that a mother would give to her child. Madara glared at her trying to make himself much tougher so she could back away. But this woman had put her door down and was not going to move. So much for trying to be nice. He thought.

"You do not have to eat it if you do not want. I mean, it is a soup to restore you muscles, chakra, and make you skin healthy because from a distance you look rather ghostly." She teased as she wiped her hands on her clothing. Madara sighed heavily. This woman was hard to please and would not be convinced other wise. In all his life has he ever met a woman who would challenge his authority. It was like a game to him.

"So, you do not like the way I look?" He grined.

Tsubaki rolled her eyes at the comment. "I am sure you can have any woman you please, but the way you look any woman would think twice. Now, stop trying to flatter yourself and eat. You will feel better and would see the difference in a day or two."

Madara would had hoped that trying to get her to fall for him would keep him from eating what was in the bowl. He felt childish now and not like a shinobi.

"I am going to step out to check on my assistants. I am also going to check on my other patients. So please, do not try to drown yourself while I am gone." Tsubaki may have had gentle hands to heal, but she made Madara feel as if he was a difficult patient.

He would have thrown the soup at her if he was in attempt to be nice or as nice as he can make himself be. Tsubaki noticed that he was clutching the bowl rather tightly. Maybe it was what she said to him. She frowned until she placed her hands on his shoulder. He looked up to her and noticed that she smiles at him. "If you need me, do not hesitate to call for me." She said.

Tsubaki confused Madara in many ways. She would act sweet, innocent, and would make him feel she could help him recover with her herbs. But when Madara would act stubborn, she would treat him with much tougher hands. He would have laughed at her for attempts to tame him. But if he wanted Tsubaki to be a worthy ally in the war, he would have to not burn an already unstable bridge. Tsubaki had potential, this he knew.

Tsubaki took her hands off him. Turning around, she began to walk away. The contents in his bowl started to feel cool to his hands. It did not look appetizing to him, but he wanted to recover quickly. One more day here was driving him mad!

Just eat the damn soup. He thought to himself.

Lifting the bowl to his lips the smell got worse. He wanted to gag not wanting to swallow the soup. One. Two. Three. In one gulp he swallowed. Disgusting! His stomach wanted to regurgitate the soup. Madara had tasted worse things before but none so bad as this. An herbal remedy to help him restore muscle and chakra. He would be angry if Tsubaki had lied about the true contents of what he ate. But he knew she would not do such a thing. Did… did he trust her?

This wasn't good. He was growing to tolerate her.


Tsubaki chuckled as she saw the disgusted look on Madara's face when he swallowed it all. She knew that the soup wasn't good, but it would help him. She closed the door behind her not wanting for him to see her chuckle at his face. She knew Madara would be fine on his own without her there. That's to say he would try to walk again, but she took a guess that he does not want to sleep on the floor. She had no need to worry about the shinobi, no matter how stubborn he makes himself out to be. Fighting was his way of life and Tsubaki could see how restless he was becoming. He wanted to fight. To kill.

Her hands shook at the thought of taking someone's life. Tsubaki had made many mistakes before and had no intention to kill. Many years have passed since she was taught the learning of healing. Tokiko had told her she was going to see deep and horrible wounds on the human body. What she wasn't prepared for was having to watch as many men died before her.

There was something that would ease those men from their fate. Tsubaki would comfort them in their last moments. Death did not favor the healer. She sighed heavily with her back against the door. Being a healer took a toll on the soul. Tsubaki wanted to keep her patients alive. She did not want to loose anymore.

"You are stronger then this." She whispered to herself. Standing tall now, Tsubaki knew what she had to do. She had patients she could not let down.

When her thoughts were clear of any regret, she began to walk to each of her patients rooms to make sure they were doing well. Her afternoon was a busy one, which she did not mind. Tsubaki had gotten a message from Koga the village leader of his arrival but he seemed to not arrive yet. She knew Koga was always on time, but today was out of the ordinary. It was a blessing for her. Madara was in no condition to have Koga come in for a meeting. The shinobi could barely walk!

Through doors and out others, Tsubaki felt her life running at many miles per second. Her assistants were having trouble keeping up with her. She brought her patients food, fresh water, anything that would help with their recovery. Tsubaki had her chores she felt she was neglecting because Madara was taking up much of her time and Ami (her assistant) was there to make sure Tsubaki wasn't doing it all on her own. Tsubaki had a habit on doing that.

The young assistant had fetched for clean bandages and green paste that was prepared earlier in the day by Tsubaki For Lord Uchiha. Tsubaki made sure there was also enough for the others. Soon, the wounded would be healthy enough to leave the healing house.

Ami saw Tsubaki go into one door and she smiled. She cares about her patients and made sure they were comfortable. The male patients seemed to respond well with a smiling face and gentle hands. Tsubaki had cleaned, dressed, fed, and talked to the wounded shinobi. Each of them were young men with much life in their eyes. Tsubaki enjoyed helping those who needed her. Unlike one shinobi I know.

"Lady Tsubaki?" Ami said as she touched Tsubaki's shoulder.

"Yes, what is it Ami?" The young assistant opened Her mouth to speak when both women turned their attention towards a screechy voice calling out Tsubaki's name. Ami stood behind the healer knowing whose voice that was. No one deserves to hear their name being called out from such a horrid sound. Tsubaki knew that voice all to well. The high scratchy voice of the village leaders daughter. The ever lovely Asumi, but to Tsubaki she was like a whiny cat in heat.

"Tsubaki!" Asumi called out. Most of the wounded shinobi could not bare to hear such an ungodly sound coming from the mouth of that woman. They wanted rest and that voice is what kept them from getting sleep.

"Ami, make sure our patients are not disturbed by this wretched sound." Tsubaki said and Ami nodded her head. The young woman walked in a hurried pace to a random door to be out of the way of Asumi.

Tsubaki stood in the middle of the hall, waiting until she could see Asumi walking with as much grace as a cat with a broken leg.

"Yes miss Asumi?" Tsubaki said in a hushed voice as she made her way towards the annoyed woman. Such disrespect she had for those around her.

Asumi could see the healer woman stop in front of her with a bow and raised straight up with what looked like red bandages on her hands. Asumi scrunched her nose in disgust. How could any woman get her hands dirty?

"I hear Lord Madara Uchiha is here. Is he available?" Tsubaki would have smacked this woman across her pretty face. The nerve of her!

"He is my laday, but he is in no condition to have visitors. I was expecting your father to come here, but it has been three hours. So you know what is keeping him?" Tsubaki asked seeing how dressed up Asumi was. She wanted to twitch her eye at the foolishness this woman was bringing.

Asumi placed a finger on her chin, "My father got himself caught in other affairs. I hear he is speaking with Lord Uchiha's brother. But I am not here to give you that, I am here for Lord Uchiha."

"I am sorry, but I won't allow it. This is a house of healing not mingling." Tsubaki stood firm with authority in her voice. Asumi was much a coward but whined when she did not get her way. Tsubaki was not going to be pushed around in her own territory. Asumi was just going to have to deal with it.

"Can I at least have a peak?" Tsubaki walked in front of her before she could take a step. Asumi huffed in annoyance. She is keeping me from seeing my future husband!

Tsubaki's blue eyes grew darker. Her clutch on the bloody bandages loosened and they fell to the floor. Tsubaki would protect her patients from unwanted and unnecessary visitors. If the visitors had business with her patients she would allow it, but this was something else. Asumi was a know flirt and would get her hands on any man that she deemed husband material.

"I will not allow it. Please, Miss Asumi, leave my healing house." Tsubaki demanded.

"Not until I see…" Asumi flinched when Tsubaki's glare hardened.

"Fine! You may be our most favored healer in our village you garden rat, but I will have my way." Asumi did not intimidate Tsubaki. For as long as she could remember, Asumi had this grudge against her. For what reason was up for speculation.

Asumi turned around with a huff. Tsubaki clenched her hands tightly wanting to put that spoiled brat in her place. She breathed in deeply letting all the negative emotions out of her. Tsubaki had to keep moral high with the wounded. Someone will put her in her place.


AN: Another chapter finished!

Halley Vanaria and Guest: Glad you both cannot wait for the next chapter. It makes me smile.