"What the hell is happening?!" Shizu whispered unsettlingly, looking over Madara's shoulder every now and then in fear that somebody will come for them.

"The battle is happening obviously. I finally succeeded in going home, but you butted in." He talked back, crossing his arms over his chest. He knew that she just happened to be there – it wasn't her fault – but he still cursed his fate.

"Why would you do such a dumb thing and get me out of a wagon in the middle of a ride?!" Shizu waved her hands around in frustration.

"It wasn't safe! Your belt was broken. I saved your life, you should thank me, not complain about it."

The girl held her forehead. "Madara, the belt is there just in case. Most roller coasters don't even have belts! You did such a needless thing!"

Sighing, she plopped down on the ground. "How am I supposed to get back home now?!"

"We'll talk about that later." Madara brushed her off. "I have to go back for now. I'll send a shadow clone with you to take you back to Uchiha compound."

She went along with whatever he said, not even surprised by anything anymore.

The field was much emptier than before and the enemy clan was pushed back about at least five hundred meters. Madara was about to join and help to ward them off even farther and secure the Uchihas' victory, but he was stopped by one of the clansmen.

"Madara-sama? You should come." He said, signalizing to Madara to follow along, and so he did.

"What happened?"

"It's… Izuna-sama. He's critical."

No.

Madara felt his heartbeats getting stronger and stronger until he could almost clearly hear them in his ears. Panic was making its way into his senses and only one thought roamed his mind: He wasn't there.

He stumbled, barely able to see the man as he walked behind him. "Is he going to die?" He somehow choked out, his body tensing at the word die.

His question was answered by silence.

He's seen a lot of death, he's caused a lot of death, but this was Izuna. His blood. His only brother. His everything.

"In here." The man told him as they reached a tent for the wounded. Without hesitation Madara barged in, his eyes searching for his brother.

Izuna was lying on a thin cushion, barely alive. The only way Madara could tell he's still present were quick, but very short heaves of his chest. He rushed over to the latter, kneeling down and grabbing his hand.

"Izuna?" He called out, tightening his grip on the boy's hand to which his eyelids moved, but he didn't speak nor open his eyes. "You can't die yet." Madara continued, now at least knowing that Izuna could hear his words.

"We have so much left to do. Our… plans will all go to waste if you die." The tears were now stinging his eyes as he fought to hold them back. He couldn't even think of something normal and appropriate to say, knowing that this could as well be the end for Izuna.

The first tear he let to fall was like a trigger that pulled the others after it and he let go of Izuna, moving away from his lying figure and back into the corner of the tent.

From there, he cried like a child for the first time in a decade, watching his brother at the edge of life and hoping nobody will come in and see him in his misery.

Shizu sat next to the cloned Madara, trying to act as if she didn't feel the stares on her back.

She was brought to some small village, filled with people who all looked like they were related to Madara. Same eyes, same hair color, same cold faces.

Somehow they made it to his house, but she would not have any peace there either, as it was filled with people too. Since they wore simpler clothes than the others, she concluded they must have been house help or something.

This guy could actually really be noble? Shit.

"So… can you speak?" She attempted to strike a conversation as an uncomfortable silence started spreading in the air between her and the clone.

"Of course I can." It sounded offended. "I am a shadow clone, not a puppet."

"Sorry, geez."

"Forget it. My job here is done." It added before disappearing in a puff of smoke.

Shizu got up and stretched, then decided to help herself and get a bath. "Hey, you? Girl?" She called over a young woman about her age. "Can you show me to bathroom? I need to wash up."

In response, the woman bowed slightly. Damn, this feels good.

"And can I get some clothes too? I kind of have nothing else to wear."

"Of women clothing, I only have my own, but they are for servants." The girl explained slowly.

"It will do." Shizu smiled, following after the other.

Everything about this place was very primitive, even people.

For example this help-girl, whose name was Rukia by the way; She walked slowly and gazing at the ground as if she has done something wrong. She spoke very silently and slowly, and for a moment Shizu was wondering if Rukia thought of her as a simpleton who needed to be talked to like that. But, ultimately, she let it go.

Speaking of primitive, the girl had to heat the water over fire before making a bath! Was this like medieval age or something? No wonder Madara was freaking out over every little thing he saw back at her home.

In about half an hour it was all done and Shizu was now prancing around the house, her hair wet and wearing a slightly washed-out red kimono.

Since Madara kept bragging about his family and status, she expected him to live in some luxurious place. Even if it was old-style, she thought it would be all colorful with bunch of ornaments and other kitsch.

Instead, it was a simple wooden house, poorly traditionally decorated.

She raised her arm to touch a painting that was hanging on the wall, but in a mere moment she was pulled away from it and shoved against the wooden wall. Her back did not collide gently with it.

"Ow! What was that for?!" She raised her voice, setting her eyes upon the culprit, whom she was already guessing was Madara.

"Because of you… my brother is dying." He told her, glaring into her eyes. His own have changed color – she's seen this something-gan thing before.

"Me?" Shizu stared back at him dumbstruck. "Are you insane?! I didn't even know you had a brother. Get out of the way."

She pushed herself away from the said wall, about to go on about her business, but was yanked back.

"If I hadn't been wasting my time on you, I could have saved him! I should have just let you get killed!"

It took Shizu a few moments to process his words.

"You're extremely ungrateful." She said, the unfairness and anger creating a lump in her throat, so that she did not even have the nerve to yell at him for his behavior.

There were many things she wished to say though. That's not my problem; I never asked you to come after me; I don't give a fuck about your brother. However, none of it would come out as those red eyes bore into her.

"If he dies, so will you."

With that final threat, he walked away, leaving Shizu alone in the boring, ugly room.

Crouching down, she hugged her knees and contemplated just how bad her circumstances were. I wanna go home. She thought, as the lump in her throat kept growing.