Madara stood outside of Orochimaru's hideout. He could feel the dark chakra swirling about the forest floor. No animals would go near it, no plants grew at the entrance. Evil lived here. He had thought about what he would say to Obito on his way here. He knew not everything would make sense to the boy. He decided the best approach was the simplest. Honest, to the point explanations.
Madara flared his immense chakra signature and waited. He was not to his full capacity yet, of course, that would take some time. Still, the chakra he had now was impressive when he allowed it to be detected freely. He felt a shift in the air.
"I know you're there." He activated his Mangekyo Sharingan and turned to The left of the hideout's entrance.
"Who are you Uchiha and why are you here?" Obito asked in the voice of Tobi.
"Such foolishness. It was annoying then, as it is now. Speak normal Obito I haven't the time to play with you." Madara commanded.
"Who are you?" Came Obito's normally deep voice, suspicious.
"Uchiha Madara." Madara used Kamui and transported himself and Obito.
"Kamui," Obito said curiously when they fell onto the blocks.
"Yes, a gift from my younger brother Izuna." Madara offered.
"Why bring me here, what do you want, and I do not believe you are Madara Uchiha, he died long ago." Obito stood tall facing him.
"Don't believe everything you hear boy. I am Madara Uchiha. I used Izanagi and changed reality. I am going to change it again, starting with you. You are not who you think you are. I don't pretend to know what you have been through but I will show you what I put you through." Madara's tomes spun in his eyes and he activated his Tsukiyomi.
Obito saw himself under the rock, Rin crying, saw him give Kakashi his Sharingan. Pictures flashed around him of the life he had in Madara and Sakura's time. He saw an elderly Madara come out of the shadows after he had been crushed by the rock and help him. He watched as the elderly Madara used cells from Hashirama Senju to replace his crushed side and his crushed eye. Madara showed him helping Itachi to kill their clan. Obito saw himself as Tobi, the secret leader of the Akatsuki manipulating Pein for his Infinite Tsukiyomi. The fourth great ninja war, Kaguya and finally Sakura getting sent back with Madara's chakra sealed in the back of her neck.
Madara watched Obito's face flit in and out of both shock and horror. He waited for the scenes to play out in the man's mind. When Obito took a deep breath and sighed he knew it was time to show him what he could have if he joined him now.
Madara's tomes spun again and a new reality, one filled with friends, Kakashi, being welcomed home to the compound. Helping to destroy Orochimaru and the Akatsuki if they chose to continue with their plan. Family. A hero instead of an outcast. Home. A second chance. Then he brought him back to the present.
Obito took several deep breaths. "Impossible."
"You always were a pessimist even as a young boy, you tried to pretend you weren't, but I knew. Rin is not alive, I asked about her for you. She died a hero, on a mission, protecting her friends, but Kakashi is still alive, and he...misses you as do all the Uchiha who are alive and well thanks to Sakura." Madara told him as the reality of this time sank in.
"We can find happiness here, both of us. A second chance Obito, will you help me?"
"You'll trust me?" Obito's voice was innocent sounding but skeptical, so much like the boy he once knew.
"There are some benefits to being me. If you try to double cross me, hurt the one I love, I'll kill you and it will not be pleasant." Madara smiled.
"What do you need help with? The Akatsuki?" Obito asked.
"First we kill Orochimaru, then we wait and see what Pein does with the information I gave him."
"Why are you doing this?" Obito asked.
"I am correcting my mistakes. You saw the other timeline, you saw what I became. What I did. Countless bodies piled one upon the other, young and old, shinobi and civilian alike." Madara replied.
"But your intentions were good, everyone would have been happy." Obito protested.
"It wasn't real. This will be real." Madara said simply.
Obito sat down on one of the blocks in his Kamui and thought for a long time. Madara waited patiently.
"Yes. Madara Sama, I'll help you." Obito inclined his head gracefully to the older Uchiha.
Amaterasu left nothing but ashes. Smoke rose over Sound as Obito followed Madara back to Konoha.
As they crossed into the land of Fire Madara paused. "I need to let Sakura know I will be back early. I had told her no less than three days."
Obito watched as he summoned a hawk.
"Tell the pink hair of Konoha that I am returning presently with Obito Uchiha. He will need to stay with us until he can be reintegrated back into the compound." The hawk nodded and flew away as Madara lifted his arm to the sky.
"This Sakura, she is your wife then?" Obito asked.
"No, she is. We are connected, we came back together. She is, special." Madara hesitated. "She will be happy to see you. She was Kakashi's student in her time and this one. She knows your story and Rin's."
They set off again at a fast pace. Madara wanted to get back to Sakura as soon as he could.
She was outside on her balcony when the hawk touched down lightly beside her. Naruto had left and Sasuke was in the bathroom. She pet the hawk's head with her pointer finger. He ruffles his wings a bit and shook," Madara is returning now with Obito Uchiha." The hawk bowed slightly then flew away.
"What?" Sasuke said from behind her.
She turned to see him standing in the door frame of her sliding glass door.
"He found Obito?" Sasuke asked.
"I guess so, and they are coming back!" She smiled a genuine smile, she was excited and happy to see Madara again.
Sasuke started coughing and stumbled.
"Sasuke, are you okay come, sit on the couch." She pulled him back inside her apartment.
He sat down heavily on the couch as she went to get him a glass of water. Sasuke sipped the water and thanked her.
"Sorry." He mumbled.
"Are you okay?" She asked concerned.
"I'm fine, it was just a cough Sakura, really I'm alright." He smiled at her, she cared so much. It was nice.
"If you're sure", she sat down beside him.
"So when do you think they will get here, are they going to stay here?" He asked her between sips of water.
"Soon I imagine, and yes, I don't suppose they have anywhere else to go. I don't mind. I kinda missed Madara while he was gone and it will be nice to meet Obito." She smiled thinking of it.
"Ugh." Sasuke bent over grabbing his heart. It hurt so bad, just like last time. He couldn't breathe, no this was worse than last time.
"Sasuke!" Sakura's hands glowed green and she ran them slowly over his chest where he had been grabbing at his shirt in pain.
"Sasuke, your heart, it's beating erratically. Has this happened before?" She was worried, he was too young for heart failure.
"Last night, dinner time." He told her breathing heavily.
"I think we should get you to the hospital." She said as she stood up.
"No, it's going away now." He said and grabbed her arm to stop her. "I'm fine, besides the best medic nin in the world is right here. What can they do for me that you can't?" He smiled at her. It was the truth.
"You shouldn't be having chest pains like this. I can't find anything wrong though, it is strange." She pushed chakra back into her hands and placed them on his chest again.
Sasuke closed his eyes, he could feel her chakra flowing through him, it was soothing and relaxing, the pain had gone and her hands felt warm where they touched him. He brought his hands up over hers.
"Sakura. Thank you, don't worry okay, I'm fine." He smiled at her as she lowered her hands.
"I do worry." She shrugged. "I care about you."
"I like that you worry about me." He reached up and brushed her hair from her face. "Sakura we've known one another for a long time since we were kids. You're so amazing do you know that?" He wove his fingers into hers and pulled her closer to him.
"I remember the first day at the academy, you were such a brat. Do you remember?" He laughed.
"I remember you being an ass and basically telling me to move because you wanted the seat I was sitting in." She laughed.
"I remember seeing your seal for the first time, your hair, when you took it down, it was so beautiful." He said softly. "You're so beautiful Sakura." He leaned his forehead against hers.
"Sasuke." She said and started to back away.
He pulled her back, "I know before, in your time, I was a jerk to you, I know I didn't love you but, here, this time." He paused.
"You don't understand." She pulled away from him then and stood up.
"What don't I understand? You loved me didn't you?" He asked her confused.
"I did but it was more of an infatuation. After years of you rejecting me, it hurt, I just, I loved you like a brother. In the end you, you told me you loved me, before, before you died in my arms!" She started to cry.
"That won't happen this time, didn't you tell us, didn't you say things had changed? I love you Sakura, here, now I love you." He said.
"But Sasuke, I don't love you like that here, now. You are my best friend, like my brother here. I'm sorry." She said reluctantly.
"It's because of him, isn't it. Madara."
"No Sasuke, there is just, there is too much to do still." She was trying.
"Don't lie to me Sakura." He spoke quietly, dangerously. "I saw the way your face lit up when you heard he was coming back." Sasuke took a step toward her.
"What do you think you're doing, are you trying to intimidate me?" She brought her fists up in a fighting stance.
"What's the meaning of this?" Madara's deep voice rang through her apartment.
"Madara!" Sakura smiled instantly and took a step toward him.
"Sakura, Tadima." Madara smiled at her.
"Okaeri." She smiled and looked past him to Obito.
"Welcome, Obito! I'm Sakura!" She motioned him to come into the room further. "Would you like something to drink? Sasuke was just leaving but this is Sasuke Uchiha." She waved vaguely in Sasuke's direction, who looked both pained and angry at the same time.
"I apologize, I hope we are not interrupting anything." Obito inclined his head respectfully.
"I hope we are. What is the meaning of this?" Madara asked Sasuke.
"So, you're back, with a physical body, not a ghost anymore I see." He sneered and glared at Sakura.
"How does he look so young?" Sasuke asked her.
Before Sakura could respond Madara stepped in front of her, "Questions about me should be directed to me."
"I was just leaving." Sasuke spat out and turned for the door slamming it behind him.
"A coward's retreat," Madara said cooly turning to Sakura. "Are you okay love?"
"Fine." She ran her fingers through her hair and sighed. "Tired." She smiled at him.
"I missed you," she said.
"I missed you, you got my message?" He inquired.
"Yes, Obito can stay with us of course." She turned to Obito, "I'm sorry, I don't have another bed but I have a very comfortable couch. Help yourself to anything in the fridge or cupboards, towels are in the bathroom, use whatever you like." She smiled at him and he inclined his head to her again.
"Does Kakashi know you are back?" She asked him.
"No, we just returned, it seems someone was anxious to get home." He smiled and gestured to Madara. "Of course after having met you, I can see why."
Sakura blushed and stuttered, were all Uchiha so handsome, of course, they are, but not all of them are so charming.
"Kakashi will be so surprised to see you!" She smiled once again happy they were here.
"I'll get you some blankets and a pillow." She said and left the room.
"She reminds me of Rin." Obito watched Sakura as she walked out of the room.
"She is a remarkable woman." Madara agreed with the clear compliment.
"She likes you, she is happy you are home," Obito commented.
"We have grown closer," Madara admitted.
"Hn."
Sakura came back into the room, blankets overflowing in her arms, Obito stepped forward to take some from her and laid them out on the couch. She handed him two pillows.
"Let me know if you need anything else." She told him.
"Thank you for welcoming me into your home Sakura." He smiled.
"I apologize in advance if there is obnoxious pounding on the door early tomorrow morning. Uchiha seems to think it's funny to come calling at the ass crack of dawn." She glared at her door as if someone had just been pounding on it.
"You aren't an Uchiha?" Obito asked in surprise. Even with the pink hair she had seemed so at home with the Uchiha, like no outsider he had ever met, had.
"Me? No. Just a very good friend of the head family, kinda like an adopted Uchiha." She laughed.
"Adopted Uchiha, it seems some things have changed for the better. That would be unheard of in my younger days. I thought perhaps you were half Uchiha." He touched his own spiky dark locks and then motioned to the clan crest on the wall.
"Ah, yes I see, Shisui put that up on my wall, Shisui Uchiha. They are convinced I am going to marry one of them eventually." She laughed.
"It seems I have a lot to learn. I look forward to meeting everyone." Obito was a little overwhelmed but happy. He had made the right decision.
"It grows late, shall we retire my dear?" Madara motioned to the bedroom.
"Oh? Oh! Uh okay." Sakura blushed prettily at him and he smiled.
"Good night Obito." She smiled and walked toward the bedroom.
"Goodnight Sakura, Madara Sama." Obito inclined his head.
"Good night Obito, we will talk more in the morning." Madara followed Sakura into the bedroom.
Just friends hum? Obito laughed. He hoped that the girl knew what she was in for. When an Uchiha fell in love, it was for life, whether thier intended knew it or not.
Sasuke slammed the door to his room and fell back onto his bed.
Tap Tap Tap
"Sasuke, everything okay?" Itachi asked his little brother through the door.
"Come in." Sasuke knew he would come in anyway.
Itachi came in and sat on the end of his bed.
"What's wrong, weren't you just at Sakura's?" Itachi asked.
"I left because I told her I loved her and Madra Uchiha showed up with Obito Uchiha." Sasuke groaned.
"Madara?" Itachi said in disbelief.
"Yeah, he is real and in the flesh apparently and he went and got Obito and brought him back here with him. They are staying with Sakura."
"In her apartment?" Itachi asked.
"Hn."
So, we can see him and hear him now, he is real. Not that I didn't believe her, it's a lot to take in. Hum, and he brought back Obito. "Where was Obito do you know?" Itachi asked Sasuke who had turned to bury his face in his pillow.
"No idea." He huffed. "I don't care. I told her I loved her and she told me that I'm like her brother."
Itachi had known this but hadn't bothered to tell Sasuke, he wouldn't have listened anyway. "At least you are still friends," Itachi said lamely.
"I don't want to be friends, she loved me before, in another time, why doesn't she love me now?" Sasuke complained.
"From what I understand, in the other time you weren't very nice to her, she got over you and doesn't see you that way anymore." Itachi tried to say it as nicely as possible.
"She is in love with Madara." Sasuke sighed. "No one can possibly compete with him, except maybe Hashirama."
"I'm more concerned about Obito and where Madara found him, why did he bring him back?" Itachi wondered out loud.
"Hell if I know, who cares?" Sasuke didn't want to talk about Obito.
"Because he could be a danger and he is sleeping in Sakura's apartment right now," Itachi said flatly.
"Madara is with her." Sasuke offered.
"That isn't reassuring either from what she told us of her timeline, and we don't know how he got a physical body either." Itachi's mind began to spin.
"I'm sending a summons to Shisui we are going over there in the morning." Itachi got up and left the room.
"Ugh." Sasuke moaned into his pillow in frustration.
Sakura stood in the middle of her bedroom looking at Madara.
"Are you tired love?" He asked as he took his shirt off and sat on the bed.
"A little." She said truthfully. "Um, were you planning on um, sleeping with me?" Her face turned red at the sight of his bare chest, his very attractive bare chest.
"I can sleep on the floor if you want, but I thought it best if we slept in the same room, because of Obito. I don't trust him completely yet. I'm not letting my guard down."
"Of course, I'm sorry, I was just being silly. Don't sleep on the floor, the bed is big." She walked to her closet and shut the door. She came back out in her sleeping kimono and got into bed.
He watched her smooth the covers over her small form and lay down with her head on her pillow turning away from him.
"Sakura, you don't need to be scared of me. You have slept in the same bed with men before on missions haven't you?"
"Yes but that was on a mission, this is my home, my bed." She squeaked out.
He got into bed next to her and propped his head in his hand leaning on his elbow facing her.
"Are you still a virgin?" He asked her bluntly.
She turned over to face him, "Of course I am!" She said angrily, "What do you take me for!"
"You're a shinobi who may die any day, sex isn't the same for us as it is for civilians. I wasn't implying anything insulting." He grinned at her reaction.
"Were you a virgin before, during the war?" He could almost hear her blood begin to boil.
"Of course I was!" She glared at him.
"I'm surprised. You are strong and beautiful, I would have thought someone would have stolen your heart by now, or then." He reached out and traced her lips with a finger, his virgin flower.
"What are you, what?" She looked at him in confusion her face red and blotchy from embarrassment.
"I know you have been kissed before, in Suna, Shisui kissed you. Sasuke kissed you. You forget I have been watching you since we came here together." He said softly taking a lock of her pink hair and sifting it through his fingers as he watched her eyes.
"Then why did you ask me if I was a virgin, you should already know I am. Why do you even care?" She hissed.
"I wasn't always with you as you got older. As you got older and turned into a young woman I afforded you more and more privacy. I left for a few days at a time sometimes to search for things, people, places. As you got stronger, so did I." He let go of her lock of hair and it fell to the side of her face.
"I have always been watching out for you though. Learning about you, getting to know you." He saw the softness in her eyes then, she was no longer glaring at him.
"Get some rest love, the morning will come soon in the form of three Uchiha's banging on the door and one white haired menace I'm sure."
"Kakashi?" She laughed.
"Yes." Madara smiled at her laughing face.
"How is he a menace?" She asked smiling still.
He liked this, having her in bed with him, smiling, talking.
"He used to follow you around like he was obsessed with you, I watched him follow you to the library, to the training ground, to the academy, every day for years...he was a menace," Madara said flatly.
"He was suspicious of me, he knew I was different." She said.
"Yes well, many people knew that but didn't follow you everywhere." He huffed a little.
She watched him, "You were jealous." realization hit her.
"No." He said too quickly.
She smiled, the great Madara Uchiha was jealous...over her.
"They got to talk to you, spend time with you, interact with you. I watched you but it was years before I could speak to you. I was...lonely." He felt foolish for speaking like this but it was the truth.
Her eyes softened again and she put her palm to his bare chest. "Thank you for always being there for me." She smiled at him.
He took her hand in his and pulled her to him wrapping his arms around her. "I told you, we are connected for eternity. Get some rest."
Her breath was soft and warm against his skin. He held her in his arms and closed his eyes. He could do this, he would make all the wrongs he had done right. He wanted her, more than he had ever wanted anything before. The smallest twinge of guilt filled his heart. Sasuke.
She relaxed in his embrace. He was strong, she felt safe. He was warm, it felt right. She breathed in his scent again and again. "I'm glad you're home."
It was such a simple sentence yet it meant so much to him. Home.
Madara knew the moment she fell asleep, her breathing evened out and shallowed, her shoulders relaxed and slumped. He took another deep breath feeling her hair brush the backs of his arms, inhaling her scent. He closed his eyes and felt at peace for the first time in over 120 years.
"Forgive me Sasuke." He held her to him as she slept. He had waited 17 years for this. It wasn't his fault the boy was a fool for not taking what he could have in this life or the last.