She was alone.
Her knees buckled underneath her and hands on top of her thighs. She was staring blankly to the sliding door that may never open. Accused of something that was false made Tsubaki believe that it may have been her fault. She was too kind, gentle, and her actions had caused her to be looked down upon.
Tsubaki could not understand the madness that was happening around her. It was not her fault that Madara chose her as his wife. Tsubaki did not deserve to be held against her will under such charges that we're outdated. A healer was just that. They were to heal others of illness and wounds. Healers were respected in villages because of their knowledge of herbs that treated its people. Tsubaki was not a threat. No matter how many times she said it, she could even scream it, she had no idea that Madara Uchiha made a decision to make her his wife.
"That stubborn shinobi. He was not thinking clearly when he made his decision." She said.
Her heart fluttered when she thought of it. Many women would be happy that doing such a thing high standing would even consider it, but to actually say it? Madara was a man of confusing nature. His mind was his own. Though, he did say he always gets what he wants.
Should Tsubaki reconsider. She barely knew him. She would not even fit in with the Uchiha clan. She was an outsider. She was nothing.
"Just a simple healer. That is all I am to anyone."
She sighed heavily. No matter what she did, it was Koga's word against hers. He was the law in this village. Koga could banish her out of the village without much of a thought. He could have her killed, but if Madara's feelings were deep, the Uchiha leader could see it as an insult.
Who was she kidding? Madara could have any woman who threw themselves at his feet. Any woman with beauty, a title to her name, anything that Tsubaki lacked. Yet, he chose her without a second thought. It did not mean he loved her in any sense. The fool.
She closed her eyes to listen to the quietness. She was held in this room as a prison. Waiting for Koga to return and interrogate her more about her supposed witchcraft. There was nothing sinful about what Tsubaki did. It was something she has learned and rather loved doing. Maybe someday she would teach her skill to someone else. To pass along knowledge to a new generation in hopes of inspiring peace among the ninja world.
"I am only dreaming of something that could never be." She told herself.
Opening her eyes to see the gloomy walls that surrounded her, Tsubaki heard something scratching at the walls. She focused at the sound coming from the sliding door and noticed a large shadow stalking about. Tsubaki was still not knowing what it was that was behind the door. It was large and it had ears that stood erect upon its head. There was a skinny tale behind it, but Tsubaki was not sure if what she was seeing was real. She was too scared to move an inch as the large shadow paced back and forth trying to get in.
She swallowed a lump of spit within her mouth. Tsubaki did not notice how dry her mouth went. Her heart was even racing against her chest. Oh God's!
The shadow creature had lost its patience with the door and began to hit it. It growled loudly and with monstrous strength, it jump inside the room she was in. Tsubaki had never seen such a creature before her. It was big, lean, and had a long snout with sharp canines exposed. Tsubaki was reminded of a dog, but this was not like a dog she has seen. It's fur was the color of sand. There were many scars along this creatures snout meaning it had won many fights.
It watched her tremble before its large size. The creatures golden eyes kept its gaze on her. On mistake could mean Tsubaki would be killed by those sharp canines. She had nothing to defend herself with and running would only be a bigger mistake. She was certain this thing was fast and nimble.
She was cornered without any means of escape. Her options were drained and it seems that there was no one coming to her aid. She was known her own. She had to stop trembling before this creature.
Tsubaki stood slowly, which the creature snapped at her feet. Quickly, she kicked the creature in its snout as hard as she could. Pain rushed from the bottom of her foot to her knee as the creature yelped loudly. Tsubaki took this opportunity to move out of its way and ran towards the destroyed door.
She made her way to the hall with the creature just on her heels. She was not sure how long she could keep with the chase. The creature was surely enjoying the hunt by the way it kept snapping its jaws at her feet.
She mentally cursed at the lack of people within the mansion. Maybe they were hiding once they noticed the large creature stalking about. Tsubaki found a vase that was on a small desk and grabbed it. She took a moments pause and threw it not caring were it landed, as long as it shattered the clay pieces would at least slow the creature down.
"Please God's. Please hear my plea." She said.
The vase shattered as expected, but the creature was not so easily fooled. It jumped out of the way of the object and made its way towards Tsubaki. The healer woman could see it coming at her with indication that the hunt was over. She was certain she could hear the creature laughing at her misfortune. It was going to savor in his blood and feed upon her flesh. This was it.
Tsubaki might want to quickly say her prayers now. But, the pain of death never came to her.
As quickly as it begun, it ended.
"Lady Tsubaki! Duck!" A voice shouted at her.
Tsubaki fell on her behind just as something black and shiny hit the creature in the head. It yelped when it flew back away from her. Whatever object hit the creature, it made contact with its skull cracking it open. Specks of blood splattered on Tsubaki's cheek. Making a loud thud, the creature twitched. It was not going to get back up because it was dead.
Tsubaki looked behind her to see Izuna and Po running towards her. She was relieved that there was someone there to help her. But, how did they know she was in trouble? Where there more of these things? Surely, these things were like dogs and ran in packs. Whatever the reason, Tsubaki did not want to waste this luck she had. There might be people who could be hurt. There had to be a reason this thing was here. Unfortunately, she may not like the answer.
"Lady Tsubaki, are you alright?" Po asked as he jumped in her lap.
Tsubaki felt the large badgers weight upon her and blinked. She placed her hand in top of his head and smiled.
"I am fine. But, is there anyone that could be hurt? What is happening?" She looked towards Izuna when she made her smile fade.
"The village is being attached by these⦠creatures. Madara cannot be found and I am certain the blind shinobi is behind this. These creatures seem to be more suitable for the desert." Izuna explained as he looked towards the dead creature.
Tsubaki was not sure how to handle this situation. Her main concern was for the injured. If they were under attack, she had to get to the house of healing to gather supplies. There could be many people who could be hurt. It was her duty as a healer.
Ikko could see the blind shinobi stalk towards him like a predator waiting to kill its prey. He was unable to move due to the immense pain running through his spine. He feared something serious could be wrong with his body. But, he had much bigger problems right now.
With Ami and Lady Tokiko far away from them, he was thankful they were not harmed. Maybe scared for his life, but Ikko could not bare the thought of their blood on his hands. As long as they were safe and away from danger, they may still have a fighting chance.
Ikko could see through blurry eyes his opponent staring at him. Milky eyes focused on something there that Ikko could not see. It was a terrifying sight for any dead man. It was as if death had showed his face and claiming his prize. It kind of frightened Ikko, but he was not going to cower. He was a shinobi who showed no fear.
Saif could feel how weak the Uchiha was. His chakra readings were wild that it seemed that he was trying to do a jutsu. It was not going to work for the man. Saif made sure that he made contact with the shinobi's chest where the sternum was to throw him off balance. He did not want to kill his prey just yet. He wanted to see what they Uchiha would do when backed into a corner and unable to do any Justus. Uchihas were known for their fire styles and sharingan uses. Saif knew it was no use to use the sharingan when he was blind. It would prove useless to a shinobi hat relied on his feet to see.
"I though Uchiha's were renowned shinobi. Very prideful of their skills and their eyes." Saif spoke as he placed his foot on Ikko's chest.
Ikko clenched his teeth from the pain. His sternum must have been broken which was a critical injury. He took in a gasp of air when the blind shinobi put pressure upon him. Ikko could feel his bones snapping with every staggered breath.
"Maybe all Uchiha's are not as they seem. Using your eyes as an advantage to get inside the minds of your opponents. You do not use the gift of sight to use. Only does sight bring you nothing. You would use it for war and not a gift." Saif continued to press down upon the Uchiha. His anger seething through his veins. Ikko closed his eye with shame. If Madara could see this, he would do nothing but watch and waited until he died.
Placing his hands on the blind shinobis ankle, Ikko placed pressure and used whatever strength he had to shove him away. With the weight off his broken sternum, Ikko could breathe. Though he hurt still, at least he could doe without having not gone down without a fighting chance.
Saif snarled and kicked him across the face hard. Ikko screamed loudly. The pain had shot up ten fold through his body.
"Just kill me! You let both those women live and run away. Kill me here and now. You will gain nothing from my death you bastard!" Ikko shouted.
Saif quickly grabbed the Uchiha by the folds of his clothing. He was already weak. Why could he not make his death quick? Saif was becoming careless and reckless. This was not like him to be so easily careless with his prey. He was a shinobi of stealth that killed with precision. His skill with the blade made many foes bow before him and he killed them without mercy. Saif had to calm himself before he let emotion take place once more.
He let the Uchiha go when he felt something closing in. The power that flowed freely had caught his attention quickly. Saif took a few steps back from the injured shinobi when the figure made his appearance in front of his prey.
Saif could easily read the chakra coming from his new opponent. He remembered this power from a few months before. How it lured him like a fish to a hook with tasty bait attached to its sharp edge. This man that stood between him and the injured shinobi was none other than Madara Uchiha.
"Lord Uchiha." Ikko managed a whisper.
Madara did not take notice of his injured comrade. His focus was on the blind shinobi who now had his curved blade in his hand. His milky eyes staring into nothingness while Madara's red ones stared angrily at him.
Ikko could feel the power radiating off Madara and it was wild. Dangerous as being in the path of two top predators. Ikko feared that he would be caught in the middle of their fight. He could only hope that they would not come any closer than they already were. He wanted to move out of their way, but the pain only worsened with every breath.
He was too injured to do anything. Not like Madara wanted anyone to get in the way. It would be bothersome for both men. So, Ikko tried his best to conceal himself and make for cover as best he could with his injured body. What he did not know was that help was coming for him.
Saif took a moment to gather all his chakra within his body. He knew that Madara was well recovered after their last battle. He would not be easily fooled by the same tricks twice and knew that facing him in hand to hand combat would be a last resort. For now, Saif had to be one step ahead of the Uchiha leader.
Madara was only thinking of spilling the blood of his opponent before him. Using his sharingan would be a waste casted upon a man who relied on his feet. Madara knew that fighting against this blind shinobi would prove difficult. He was much too lean compared to Madara's size. Small in comparison which made him fast. Madara was fast on his own, but this shinobi had skill that seemed unmatched by his own.
From the looks of it, the blind shinobi was covered in bandages. It seemed he fought a battle before fully recovering. Maybe he could use this as an advantage. Seeing how Madara's opponent was already in a weakened state, but he could not let that deceive him. This man was dangerous and had the will to put Madara close to his deathbed. Never! Never has any other shinobi tried to do such a thing. So few could ever match Madara and yet, here was this man that was a few inches shorter, leaner, and faster that Madara.
It pissed him off. No one was greater than Madara. No one could match his speed or taijutsu. He would prove to his opponent that no one messes with an Uchiha. No one places Madara Uchiha to his knees like a beaten dog.
'Calm yourself. He thought.
'You know what he is capable of. Use his weakness. He has not recovered.'
Saif waited for either to make the first move. Madara was calculating the situation before him. Being without his weapons, Madara had to approach his opponent and not get within distance of the curved blade. If only his sharingan could be useful he would have no trouble killing the shinobi. Time was wasting away as he was the true target and only using the creatures as a distraction. As long as they were far from the village, their fight would not be disturbed. Just like how Madara likes a challenge.
Saif could feel the anticipation within the air. Even the wind blew gently in their favor as within a second, Saif moved quickly without hesitation. Madara moved to the side as the curved blade barely missed his throat. A single dark strand of hair fell before his eyes as the shinobi moved his blade once more and aimed for the spinal cord.
There was a tingling sensation that caught Madara quickly. The rush of cool air behind his neck as his long hair exposed his flesh. Using his feet to move and hands to push aside the blade arm, Madara grabbed hold of the blind shinobi within his grasp. His hands tightened around his arm to try and loosen the weapon, but his opponent was putting up a fight.
Being a smaller frame than Madara, Saif twisted his body down so his legs were wrapped around his arms. Putting pressure upon his limbs would not be easy as Madara was a much bigger shinobi by wieght alone. This was going to be difficult for Saif because of Madara's weight and added armor. With a heavy breath, Saif used his strength to knock Madara to the ground which caused him to let go.
Saif fell back and quickly recovered. Madara had done so as well. Both shinobi were easily matched and it was easy to tell how much it pissed them both off.
"It makes you mad that you cannot use your infamous sharingan." Saif spoke.
Madara stood silent as he listened to the heavy accent in which the blind shinobi spoke. Sweat was already dripping from his tanned skin and his hair messy from their fighting. It was only then that Madara could see the true color of his eyes. Those dead eyes that stared at him and haunted him since that day. That day that almost got him killed.
AN: I ended this on a cliffhanger? Just when it was getting to the good part. So, Madara and Saif finally meet in confrontation. It's a battle that will get the blood pumping and make you wonder who will survive it.
Another apologies for being so late with my chapters. Been very busy and with the holidays upon us, it is going to be sometime before another chapter. But I hope I get on out before the new year or sometime in January.
