Perfection was like a delicate flower ready to bloom on the side of a mountain. With the winds trying to blow the flower from its roots. A force of nature has the means to knock something as delicate as a flower, but nature cannot move the mountain which the flower resides. To Asumi, she already found her precious flower in the form of a man with this power beyond worlds. He was perfection and she wanted it all. The power that comes with a clan and all its riches. It would attract any woman to seek the attention of the Uchiha leader.
Her hopes and dreams were relying on this one man. A man of authority and looks to add to her want. Though, Asumi has not had the proper alone time she wanted with Madara due to the interference of the garden rat known as Tsubaki. How that woman annoyed her to the very core of her soul. Was Tsubaki wanting Madara all to herself? Asumi would not think such thoughts about her future husband having some feelings for a poor healer.
Asumi could not feel jealous of some garden rat. Despite how pretty Tsubaki claims herself to be, in Asumi's mind of coarse. Her gentle hands have this effect on men. They cling to the healer like a love struck dog. Asumi had this notion everyone was in love with Tsubaki. That was the reason why the healer was not married or had any bastard children. She was pure as the snow melting in the spring. Damn her!
If only Tsubaki was out of the way so Madara would be more attentive with her. Maybe then could the Uchiha clan leader see Asumi for her beauty and has to be a way that her father could simply marry Tsubaki to some merchant or sell her because of her healing knowlegde. Someone, somewhere could be happy or even sadistic for control over an experienced healer. She has to calm herself before she was seeing red over a woman whom she thought a rival. A childish and petty thing to some, but for a woman of vanity and riches, Asumi would gladly see Tsubaki marry a man she does not love.
Asumi scratched at the side of her head not wanting to think for too long. A woman's mind should only be on more important matters. Thoughts of the next feasting, dressing up, and mingling with handsome young men. In her mind, however, important matter involved her future marriage to the Uchiha clan leader.
She did not want him to leave the village for her own reasons involving some rather unclean thoughts. They did not have as much time together as she would have hoped for, but she wanted to make every second count. This was her chance to impress the Uchiha leader with her talkative nature. Maybe with some help from the God's, make him love her for her beauty and the resources of her village.
It was the only advantage she had and she had hope that Madara could see it. Some young women knew how to catch the attention of potential suitors. Asumi knew there was a need men wanted. In order to give a man what he wanted, Asumi has to appeal to Madara. She had to be seductive in order to get ahead in her plans. She had to find a way to get him into her bed. Tsubaki was not going to win this war.
Asumi paced with heavy footing through the halls. Her thoughts on her plans about seduction, which she felt she had no problem doing. Fresh air was a must and good for the skin as Asumi heard the sounds of voices from the guards. She noticed him walking through the doors of her father's home, giving Asumi the chance to follow her precious flower. He looks more like a beautiful beast rather then flower. Why did I compare him to something that can break easily? She thought while Madara made his way down the halls.
He was just as beautiful, handsome, and dangerous. The way his hair swayed with every movement and she could see that he walked with this autoritive stance. His face calm, stern, but Asumi was mezmirized by his hypnotic nature.
Asumi knew that men looked for beautiful wives to bare son's. Having resources was also a catch, but Asumi could not be bothered with the aspects of business. It was a man's job to know the in's and I it's of such difficult things. As long as there was money within Asumi's grasp, she was happy. She almost lost sight of her love interest with her wandering thoughts. Maybe he did not notice her when she walked into a closed door and she fell straight on her bottom.
Maybe not the most graceful of falls, but Asumi knew that just behind the door her father and Madara were conducting their last meeting. She scurried closer to place her ear to the door in order to hear their conversation. She wanted to know if her father would somehow conceive Madara to take her and marry her for a further alliance. But like most loved struck girls, not everything would go their way.
...
"What is your interest with the healer Tsubaki? I will not allow her to leave this village because she has apprentices working under her and will do the village well when Tokiko can no longer grace is with her healings." Koga stated. By the sound of his voice, he seemed curious. Asumi had been behind the door, ear pressed against it to listen to their conversation. It has been a few minutes since Madara entered her father's study. The two men seemed to be deep into conversation until Tsubaki's name was brought up.
Asumi could feel her heart racing a mile a minute when Tsubaki's name was brought up and not her's. That garden rat! She somehow gotten a hold of Madara's heart and will not go away. No! Asumi had to listen closer to the conversation. She had to know something before she leaves. There was no possible way that her father would let go of Tsubaki. As much as she hated to admit to it, Tsubaki was a skilled healer that was hard to find in such times. Asumi wanted to slap herself for thinking such things.
Tsubaki! Tsubaki! Tsubaki! The way Madara spoke of that woman was unsettling. Did he find attraction in that rat?
"Her healing would be wasted here. She would be of use to my clan." Madara said. Being the leader of the strongest clan, Madara knew he could have his way. Tsubaki was a skilled young woman, unmarried, and to Madara's eyes a beautiful woman. Not that he would admit it to anyone but himself. Koga had to be pestered, to be dealt with if Madara had a chance of bringing the healer with him. Tsubaki had her use. A use Madara wanted to perfect in this war.
"You are asking to take away one of my more experienced and best healer. I have given you my resources and the alliance of my village, even a proposal to my daughter." Asumi had a wide smile on her delicate lips. Her father had done what she wanted, but why was Madara not budging? He could have the world bow to his feet and the Uchiha clan leader would not budge.
Press him further father.
"I have no intention on a marriage proposal. Your daughter could have another more proper noble to wed her. My duty in my clan has no means for it. I want those resources you offer or risk having your village burned." Madara was a hard man to press. When he set his eyes on something, he would get it. His voice was strong, cold, Asumi could feel her body shake from his autoritive time. This man was something.
Koga would not be threatened by a man who proclaims himself to be powerful. He saw himself as godly but even mortals fall wounded just as Madara did. The fool. Though, his fascination with the young healer woman was something to not take lightly. Men who are wounded in battle find comfort in their healers. Could it be that Madara was attracted? Madara should be focused on a marriage to form a more powerful alliance.
"Do not threaten my village for one woman who healed you. I will give you my resources if you reconsider taking Tsubaki and consider a marriage proposal to Asumi." Koga had a smile on his face knowing he put Madara in a spot that could end the village leader.
Madara found no joy in being bested. His means of negotiation could destroy entire villages if they could not agree on his terms. He was angry and if the thought of Tsubaki holding him back from burning down the village wasn't enough, Madara could easily take her without consent. The young healer was having this effect on him.
Asumi pressed her ear harder against the door frame.
"I will think about the matter of marriage in exchange for your resources and I will leave the healer in your village." Madara hated to admit defeat when it came to negotiation. This was more Izuna's profession as he always knew how to handle situations such as these. Madara with his tenper, would come close to ripping men apart of things would not go as agreed.
Asumi had her smile on her face and no longer cared for their little talks. She only wanted to hear what she wanted and it involved a marriage. Maybe not immediately, but Madara was coming around. She stood up and wiped the dust from her clothing. Contempt with the answers, she knew where she wanted to gossip. A wicked sly grin on her lips knew.
"Then we are in agreement." Koga said, but before he could stand, Madara stood before him.
His eyes glaring down hard on the village leader. Hands clenched tightly to his side. "Our agreement will be decided by my council. But the healer will come with me even if I have to wait and being you down."
Koga was not threatened, but he was unsettled by the hard stare of the Uchiha. He knew they were powerful and making one angry was a walking death sentence. His fascination with Lady Tsubaki was dangerous and he would go through many means to get her.
I have to marry her off
She poured some soothing tea in his cup. Izuna stared blankly at the contents swirling around in front of him. Tokiko had noticed the younger Uchiha being quiet and uncharacteristic. Izuna was a soft and preserved with a voice to persuade into a peaceful conversation. It was not like him to be such a quiet and reserved person.
"You seem bothered." Tokiko said as she placed the kettle to the side.
Izuna blinked forgetting where he was. "Forgive me Lady Tokiko, I did not understand you."
Tokiko smiled softly as she saw an embarrassed grin in the younger Uchiha's face. There was also a hint of a blush on his cheeks that she found cute. Surely, the Uchiha brothers were a marvel of human perfection. If only Tokiko was fifty years younger. Oh, the God's love forever and keep their beautiful youth while mortals suffer at the hands of father time.
Izuna could see a dream like stare in the older healers face. Rather then talk about what was bothering him on the inside, there was something that peaked Izuna's curiosity. When Madara woke in the early morning, troubled by something, Izuna knew that he could not trend on dangerous waters. Madara did not like to speak openly about his own troubles. Izuna had gotten himself up and searched for his older brother. Searching for him throughout the healing house, knowing they were leaving as soon as Madara returned from his meeting with Koga. What Izuna found interesting, was finding his brother walking down a hill with a sense of solace.
"What is Lady Tsubaki's story?" Izuna said out loud.
Tokiko had come out of her dream like state. Imagining all the men who sought after her in her younger days, wanting marriage and other favors from the healer. Izuna cleared his throat in the awkward silence.
Tokiko took her cup in her hands. "Tsubaki has become quit the popular young lady. She is someone who does not like to have attention on her, only eyes on her healing abilities. Why are you and your brother interested on my young healer?"
"Her healing abilities are something to be admired. She treated my brother whom I thought would have died that night. You have trained her to become something other clans might want. Healers are valuable but disposable. Lady Tsubaki is part of a few whom many clans would fight for." Izuna watched as Tokiko sipped her tea. She was silent, thinking over her words on what she wanted to say.
"Healers are always important in war. It is our duty to help either side survive and to perfect our ways. Tsubaki, as you are aware, is not from this village. She came here, dirty, bloody, sick, and hungry. Tsubaki could not remember anything. Only names and what happened. I took her under my wing because she was determined to make a difference." She sipped more of her tea before continuing the story.
"Tsubaki was not the perfect healer. She made many mistakes and paid the heavy price of losing her patients. She holds those deaths heavy on her heart. Threw those years, I have seen Tsubaki work hard and her patients now seem to be thankful." Izuna could see that Tokiko was hiding more about the younger healer. But, to know a little bit more about her was an accomplishment. A rather admiring one to put it as that, Izuna could see why Madara admired her from a distance even if he did not want to admit to it or not.
"Lady Tsubaki's healing from your mentoring has shown itself through my brother. I wanted to know more about her, but I am satisfied with it. The reason why I ask for her story is because we plan on taking her to our village where she can be of use." Izuna paused and waited for Tokiko to protest or even throw him out of the healing house, but the older healer held a smile on her lips.
"You old crow, bothering men and gossiping about me." Tsubaki stated as she entered the room. Hands on her hips as Tokiko tried to keep from chuckling like a child who ate a snake before dinner.
Izuna smiled lightly at the young healer as she scolded Tokiko. She seemed to not question why his brother wanted her to come along or fatom the thought of leaving the village she knew for a few years.
"He only asked about you. Is it so wrong to not answer this fine young man?" Tokiko teased as she winked at Izuna. He in turn grabbed the tea cup and began to drink trying hard to ignore her.
"Why must you tease men like that? They do not want old bones like you." Tsubaki said as she sighed heavly. Izuna could see a soft smile placed on her lips as Tokiko continued to tease her young healer. Though her eyes shines blue and her prescence was jouyish, Tsubaki was but a simple woman.
"Why not? I am just as capable at getting a young man then you. Or has Lord Uchiha claimed your heart and waiting to marry you?" Tsubaki glared hard at Tokiko, causing Izuna to chuckle.
Placing the tea cup in the table, he stood up from his place causing the two women to look at him. Tsubaki had to ignore the comment about Madara as it was not approiate to discuss something that was not there. Though. It made her feel a sense of worth knowing that the Uchiha clan leader wanted her to heal in his village. It spoke many words to her, which she is grateful for.
"Forgive Tokiko for her foolish statements." Tsubaki stated with an apology.
"Do not feel the need to apologize. I know my brother has the looks to cause many women to fall head over heels. If you heard our conversation about wanting to bring you to our village, it is a show of respect." Izuna watched Tsubaki with careful eyes.
"My ability to heal being complemented is an honor. If Lord Uchiha wishes it that I go to your village, I will go on my own free will." Tsubaki was not sad, rather she was delighted to travel. Her means of healing can be learned, taught, and she could help with the benefits of war. Her duty was to her patients and the God's know her future.
Blood swirled once tiny droplets hit the water. His hands reached down into the stream and sent a shiver through his shaking body. He clenched his teeth tightly as the cold water dropped through his cuts.
He was reckless. He was angry. The fight between Tobirama Senju had caused him to retreat like a wolf with his tail between his legs. Never. NEVER had a foe caused him to retreat deep into the forest of his realm to lick his wounds and pride. The soles of his feet could sense the power coming from that Senju. The amount of chakra seeping from him was something that Madara Uchiha could never posses in many lifetimes. The stories of Tobirama were deemed true and he survived by a split hair.
"You should've continued to fight until he made a mistake." The voice said behind him.
He splashed cold water on his face to wipe away the blood and dirt that stuck to him. He could sense that dark chakra that was familiar to him. Though this entity had no true form, it communicated as something that had a purpose. The blind shinobi knew the thing was angry at his failure for not killing both Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju.
"He was not the target I had intended to fight." He spoke.
The dark entity surrounded the shinobi intending to do harm to him. There was no suffocating intent and the shinobi kept still. He stood up to his full height feeling the dark chakra around him. The soles of his feet could not draw an image for him, only darkness.
"Target or not, you have a purpose. If Madara and Hashirama are not dead, you will not posses the power of sight and I will not have what I seek from those two men." The entity took a form which The shinobi could not see. He could feel his wounds healing quickly and his chakra being replenished.
"How can I fulfill my purpose if other shinobi stand in my way? I will not have the gift of sight of these distractions keep me from it." He placed his hand over his eyes, knowing he could not see it. The touch of his skin and the feeling of want could not hold back the frustration rising within his troubled heart.
The dark entity could not fathom emotion and felt not empathy for the blind shinobi. He could kill this man and save the trouble of having to deal with him, but the entity could not kill someone whom he found wandering the desert and close to death.
"You will fulfill your purpose the way same way I have taught you. Kill."
A/N: sorry for the long wait. Life has been busy on my end and I thought maybe you readers deserve a new chapter. Just a side note on all the chaos in my life happening, this story has not been forgotten. I have been busy with real life stuff. Thank you readers. I hope this new chapter catches your attention.
