Madara was completely okay with letting the Hokage and other important people of the Village know about his sudden arrival. Kiba found this to be great, because the faster they were able to get him official citizenship, the faster they would be able to get married without Kiba losing his status in the Inuzuka Clan.

Kid marriages weren't common anymore. And they hadn't been for a while now, honestly. But some people still practiced such a thing when soulmates that were intrinsically bonded asked for it. It was usually a pretty long process and mostly used to consolidate alliances of convenience that happened to have been decided by fate. This didn't happen very often, though, seeing how most thought that kids really weren't mentally capable of entering a marriage.

Way back when, before even his mother's time, children getting married was the only way to ensure some kind of comfort and peace in the world. But that had been during a time when people were known to die well before the twenty years of age and were always unsure as to how they would even be able to continue living. These weren't really situations people lived through anymore.

The next day, by eight in the morning, Kiba had Akamaru safely tucked into the space between his head and hood, all the while he dragged Madara by his hand towards the Hokage's office. Sasuke was walking in front of them with a good ten feet of separation, just to make sure that nobody thought that he was with the odd Inuzuka and the newest entry into Konoha.

"The Third Hokage is a lover of cryptic stuff, Madara, but he's mostly harmless." Kiba informed his soulmate, internally relishing in the fact that Madara was allowing them to hold hands as they walked down the street.

Kiba had always heard stories about the importance of soulmates and the role they played in how an individual was shaped. He had thought that people were just exaggerating about how great it was because they were idiots. He had been wrong, though: having Madara with him, just near him, made his heart warm in the best way possible- a way he had never felt before.

"I shall treat him respectfully and assure him that I am myself and mean no harm." Madara offered, making Kiba smile back at him.

"You've got no reason to worry. Your story is fool proof!"

"Doubt that."

He pointedly ignored Sasuke's lack of faith.

"Besides, even if they doubted, I'm sure that having a Yamanaka or other mind walker go through your last memories before you got here would be proof enough to show that you are, in fact, Madara Uchiha."

For a moment, Kiba could have sworn that Madara flinched. But the other boy was soon pulling him close, wrapping one arm around his waist and effectively making Kiba forget just what he had been talking about before he was flush against Madara's body.

"Don't worry about anything, my soulmate. I assure you: everything will be okay."

He had dealt with pesky Yamanka interrogations before. Those had not been under pleasant circumstances and had been rather uncomfortable, but he had some understanding of how to shift his mindscape just enough to make them believe that they had found something important, even though it was not.

Meeting the supposed leaders of this ninja Village did not worry him. He was able to turn most tides in his favor. And he had the trust of Kiba Inuzuka on his side.

First, he would have to gain the trust of these important people. If they were intelligent, they would not fall into his hands immediately. If they were idiots, they would be wrapped around his fingers in no time.

After he had their favor he would be able to continue with his plan.

"This, Lord Third, is Madara Uchiha. Sasuke's ancestor and my soulmate."

Kiba couldn't stop the possessive edge from appearing in his voice. Even though saying that Madara was an Uchiha out of his time was important, yes. But the boy being his soulmate seemed so much more important that he was not capable of not making it loud and clear.

The old man quirked an eyebrow in curiosity at the odd name and explanation, sat up in his chair, and looked Madara over with a second, more analytical, look.

"Madara Uchiha... From the Warring Clans Era?" The man questioned, his tone clearly painted with doubt and amusement.

Oh, great. The guy thought they were joking around.

Kiba rolled his eyes at this but kept quiet. Madara had asked them to allow him to answer any questions after the initial introduction, of course. He wasn't about to annoy his soulmate just because the Third Hokage was rude.

"Precisely from that time, Lord Hokage." Madara bowed minutely, offering the old man a soft smile. "I am sure that this most be an unexpected development. Trust me, I have also been caught off guard by such a turn of events. But, if I may, I do have a theory as to how this had occurred and why I am before you a child, rather than a grown man."

The Hokage didn't seem to react at all because of Madara's words. Kiba wanted to growl at him for being such a jerk because there was no way that his soulmate was lying. But he kept quiet because he had promised.

"My last battle with Tobirama Senju was not a normal one. He was using quite an array of time and space ninjutsu to knock me off balance. I was mostly able to defend and protect myself- my only goal was to save my younger brother from having to face off against him. But the last attack I remember was one I was not able to dodge and could only brace myself for- the next thing I know, I am waking up with my soulmate by my side in a body that changed long ago, yet it somehow back."

This time, there was a slight, barely perceptible shift to the Hokage's shoulders. It occurred when Madara mentioned his brother.

Interesting.

It seemed that Kurenai-sensei was right: there were lots of things one could find out about someone if they just observed.

Madara breathed out in a puff, his voice taking on a softer intonation now, "If I may ask, Lord Hokage... What happened to my brother on that day?"

The Hokage still was skeptical about Madara's true origins. This was obvious from the way his face seemed soured; his eyes calculating. But that did not mean that he did not answer his soulmate's question.

"He lived on that day. The fighting ground to a halt as soon as both Senju and Uchiha noticed that the leader of the Uchiha Clan went missing. Not much after that, treaties were signed and Konoha was founded on the cooperation of both Clans."

"Ah..." Madara murmured softly, all the while Kiba slipped his hand inside of his soulmate's own to give it a small, comforting squeeze. "It seems Hashirama really did get to accomplish his dream, then."

The Hokage looked Madara over, sighed, and pushed himself away from his desk. Then he walked up to the three of them, much taller than them, although not by much.

"I am sure you can understand why it is that I find it hard to believe that you are the real Madara Uchiha, yes?"

Madara nodded, but Kiba shook his head. This caught his Hokage's attention, who silently prompted him to explain.

"This is my soulmate. His story makes sense. He knows a whole lot about the Warring Clans Era and very little about everything else. He doesn't know who you are, sir, or who was the Fourth Hokage. But he does know about Hashirama and Tobirama Senju. And, he's being wholly honest about all of this. You know Inuzuka noses double as lie detectors."

That was an exaggeration. Inuzuka could tell some of the more obvious signs of lying. Most people merely assumed that this was because they were able to sniff lies out. The truth was that their hearing allowed them to hear an elevated heartbeat and their smell was able to catch heightened sweat production. They couldn't actually smell honesty or dishonesty.

Very few knew that, though, and the Inuzuka were not known as the kind to clear up misconceptions.

"You would vouch for him?"

"Yup." Kiba nodded, then made a point of looking at Sasuke.

His fellow genin sighed, but soon murmured, "As the last living member of the Uchiha Clan, I see no issue with admitting him as part of my Clan and allowing him to carry the name."

Diplomatic, Kiba thought. Maybe Sasuke could be useful.

"Alright..." The Hokage murmured to himself for a moment, then told them, "I will still be ordering a test to see just how true his Uchiha lineage is. Aside from that, if you both back him up and are willing to take on all responsibility that deals with him, I see no issue in allowing him a probationary place in the Village."

He had to stop himself from smiling wickedly after the old coot had finished explaining his terms and conditions for keeping Madara inside of Konohagakure.

Kiba and Sasuke both seemed to have enough standing with the old man to have faced barely any issues in convincing him of how much they believed in him. The old man had not bought much into the story he had given, but he had bought into the evidence and willingness both kids had offered when he had questioned Madara. And he seemed to have a soft enough heart to forgo true distrust and instead settled for optimistic doubt.

If the rest of his lesser were as soft hearted as him, Madara found that there would be little resistance to his plans.

Really, it was a comforting thought. And all he needed to do to completely convince the old man of his Uchiha heritance was show him the Sharingan.

Before they had left the Hokage's office, the old man had said that he would think about what they would be doing with Madara to keep him busy. Kiba liked the idea of giving him the genin rank and placing him on Team 8 so that he would never have to be without his soulmate. He knew this would be a highly unlikely and very stupid thing to happen, though, so he hadn't even mentioned it.

Aside from that, everything had gone rather well. The Hokage had agreed that Madara's lineage was clear to be Uchiha, even though there would need to be some more tests run to make sure that he truly was Madara, and not some amnesiac that had taken on the name.

Mind walkers hadn't even been mentioned and Kiba knew that was a great thing, seeing how they were only called for important or difficult cases. That meant that Madara was not considered to be difficult and the Hokage didn't question him enough to send for them.

For now, Madara would be under Sasuke's and Kakashi Hatake's surveillance... Along with the handful of ANBU agents that had been trailing them for the past five minutes, of course.

Kiba wouldn't mention those, though. Madara didn't need to worry about being observed by people he didn't know at the moment.

"So, where to now?" He questioned, hand still firmly grasping onto Madara's own.

Madara's thumb smoothed soothing circles over his hand, making Kiba smile over at him before turning back to Sasuke.

"I guess we should tell Kakashi that he's got a new job... I'm sure the Hokage already sent someone, but..." He finished with a shrug, causing Kiba to nod.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. The faster you clear this with your teacher, the faster Madara and I can get to learning about how to make me Hokage."

"Which is my most important task, love."

Kiba felt his heart begin to melt and he ignored any and all sounds that came from Sasuke for the next minute, just to make sure he heard nothing about him and his soulmate.

Eventually the three boys made their way into the shinobi side of the Village, where most jounin were known to live. After that, it was a matter of asking people if they had seen the Hatake ninja and getting very vague answers.

After an hour of searching, Kiba grew frustrated and asked Akamaru to just hunt the Copy nin-jerk down so they could finally meet with him.

Unfortunately, Kakashi was nowhere near the shinobi side of the Village... He was actually on the other side of Konoha.

"Sasuke, you go tell your teacher about Madara. Madara, teach me!"

Madara chuckled softly at his whining and ran his hand over Kiba's hair in a calming motion, "We'll find him soon enough, soulmate. Don't worry. And once we have finished explaining the situation, we'll finally be able to spend some time alone."

Kiba liked the sound of that... Kiba liked the sound of just about everything that came from his soulmate's mouth.

By the time they were finally able to speak to the supposed Kakashi Hatake, Madara was frustrated and annoyed. He respected control and patience, but there was only so much he could handle before he was prepared to turn violent.

Speaking to the jounin was not difficult. The man had already been informed about their predicament... And about how he was to proceed with his genin team.

"We'll be testing out Madara's skills to see just how useful he could be as an active shinobi. After that, an official jounin-level handler will be decided. And then he'll start on his journey into being decreed as a citizen of Konoha."

Ah, so many bureaucratic steps... Madara had not thought he would ever live to see the day where Clan Politics were applied in the rest of the world.

How... Quaint.

Still, he would continue jumping through all of the hoops and overcoming all obstacles placed in front of him.

He just had to make sure to get enough alone time with Kiba to make sure that he became the perfect candidate for Hokage.

~..~..~

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