NOTE FROM AUTHOR:

I am immensely happy seeing the feedback on my previous chapter. Thank you so much for such great responses! I will keep trying to delivery even better content every week. Hope you like this chapter as well. You can follow me on instagram the_ghost_of_uchiha

CHAPTER 2

THE FINDINGS

Kosuke was on his way to home, walking down the lanes of the clan. His mind was engrossed with the current issues. He was worried about Madara. It wasn't that he doubted his abilities or skills but he was still young and to fight the whole of the Intel unit, if he has to, won't be an easy task. Although Kosuke was relieved that there were some within the unit who worked in favour of the unity of clan, the proof of which was the scroll he had received. Yet he was worried about two things: first, the possibility of the scroll being sent to fool them; secondly, the ease of corrupting people.

One can be easily pushed down the wrong track by manipulation. It's hard to stay on the side of righteousness. The way to evil might be easy to travel but its destination only brings disturbance, destruction and ruin. The evil path is often tempting and luring. That's what he was afraid of. He feared what if the people in favour were made to turn against them? He felt like he shouldn't have let Madara go on his own but it was the order of the clan's leader to let him. He was puzzled. He was thinking of sending a small troupe of men after Madara, just to be sure. After all his life was more valuable than others, at least that is what he believed and preached.

He had reached his home. He opened the gate and entered inside the genkan. He was taking off his sandals when his wife, Emiko, came to him.

"Izuna has arrived and wishes to meet you." she said with her delicate voice.

He stopped abruptly and said, "Izuna?" bewilderedly.

He looked her in her hazel brown eyes questioningly. She shook her head in affirmation slowly and blinked slightly.

"When he came, I told him you weren't at home; in fact you were at his house."

"Then?" he questioned.

"He said that by the time he reached there, you had already left with Lord Madara. He insisted on waiting for you. So I let me. He has been waiting for you for the last 15 minutes. Isn't it odd that he reached before you even though you had left early?"

He replied plainly, "Why didn't you ask him how he did that?" and resumed to take his sandals off.

"Well I thought it won't be nice asking him something like that, and what if it was urgent? Plus he was panting, so I assumed that he might have come running."

Kosuke started to pace towards the living room, situated on the right. Emiko paced along. She wanted to know if Kosuke knew why Izuna came here, thus she asked her husband, to which he responded, "I am not sure, but I think I know why he has come here."

Saying so he slid the door and stepped in the room where Izuna sat, with his back facing Kosuke. He turned his head of black to see Kosuke. Calling out his name, he said that he was waiting for him. Kosuke walked across the room to reach the other end and sat down. He had a stern expression on his face; it was clearly stated that he was down for business.

"Yes, I have been informed of that. So, what is it? What did you want to talk about?" said he, bluntly.

"I would be surprised, if you didn't know what it is." Izuna gave a sharp look to Kosuke.

"I have strict orders: not to tell you about it. Lord Madara doesn't want you to know. He himself said that there is no need for you to indulge in it. It is nothing of importance.''

"If it were so trivial, he wouldn't have gone so prepared and given you strict orders. Perhaps he would have sent a substitute. And if it were so menial then why hide it from me? It doesn't add up." His tone grew darker, "I might be young, but I am not a fool."

"Izuna, if you think I will tell you, I will not. I cannot."

"I thought so." he said as he stood up. "I just wanted to make sure that you say no."

He got up, turned around and was about to open the door, when Kosuke said:

"You are going to find it out yourself, aren't you?" he said and sighed.

"You are good at guessing, now aren't you?" he said and smirked.

He flung the door open and found Emiko, who had just arrived, standing with a tray in her hand, on which a tea-pot with tea-cups were placed neatly.

"Are you leaving? I made some tea for you."

"I am sorry, but I have to leave. I cannot delay this any longer. Forgive me."

He swiftly made his way across the gallery. His feet thudding against the wooden floor. Emiko stared at him in silence. Kosuke got up and approached Emiko and stood beside her watching Izuna leave. Izuna opened the gate hurriedly and went outside. Emiko glanced at her husband. He returned her glance. She raised the tray a little and said, "Tea?" with a slight smile. He heaved a sigh, closed his eyes and nodded his head. He re-entered the room with Emiko. They both sat around the table and she put the tray on it. Placing the cups in front she started pouring the tea into it. Kosuke looked worried.

"It won't be difficult for him to find out everything. After all, you have decided to inform every household about the news, you think he will not get informed about it?"

"How do you know about it?"

"They came here to inform me too." She putted the teapot back on the tray and held her glass.

"Ah-yes. Well I told them to tell everyone not to discuss any of this with Izuna. Didn't they tell you that? Don't tell me you have already told him!"

"No, I have not. And they did tell me. But do you really think that not even one person in the whole clan would tell him?" She gave him a clever questioning look with one brow raised.

He didn't have the answer to it. He sipped his tea from his cup while his eyes were searching for the answer-space out. Emiko was correct after all, someone could indeed tell him about it. And even if no one does, he could find it out himself, he was considered by most the best choice for the position Kosuke held, but was denied because he was thought to be quite young for the responsibilities that came along. That was one reason that Kosuke believed no one would tell him, but again the possibility is always there.

"I am doing whatever I possibly can to prevent getting the news to him." he told her, "Even after this, he finds out then it doesn't raises questions on my prevention, rather is proves his ability."

"Well, whatever floats your boat." She said.

They both drank tea from there cups, and when finished she placed them back in the tray, tied her dark brown hairs and went to do the chores. While Kosuke decided to rest for some time.

It was evening by now. Izuna was still constantly trying to find out what the message was. By now, he had asked almost all his friends, but they all either said that they do not know or the more truthful ones said that they cannot disclose. They were his friends but yet they were more loyal towards the orders. This made Izuna contented yet disappointed at the same time. He was gratified because they were faithful towards his brother and disappointed as his hopes of finding the information were depleting.

It was almost night-time, the sun was about to set. One of the clansmen came to Kosuke to inform him what he had just witnessed. Upon hearing he wasn't surprised much. He was expecting something of this sort.

"I don't think there is any point in stopping him. He would do as his wishes. He's no different from his elder brother."

Izuna had left. He had gone after Madara when he found out his life was being endangered. It was quite remarkable that he came to know of such minor detail. Everyone was astounded; no one had a clue on how he got to know of it. Such details were not known to everyone, yet he got to know it.

He was nearly 4 hours behind his big brother. His speed was higher than usual; he had to reach his brother; he couldn't let anything happen to him. He had a stern expression and determination in his heart. He really was like his big brother. But even at this speed it would take him at least nine hours to reach the forest.

The sky was filled with stars, it was quite all around and the moon was at its peak. It was mid-night. Madara had reached the forest at exactly when the date changed to the one mentioned in the scroll. The moonlight was peeping through the canopy of the forest. Tired, as he was from travelling continuously for the last ten hours, he decided to sit down for a while as he waited. He was feeling drowsy, it was hard to keep his eyes open, he was trying his best to stay awake but before he could realise he fell asleep.

He was then awaked by the voice of a lady. When he opened his eyes he found someone was standing in front of him. He wasn't able to identify who it was, as his vision was a bit blurry as he had just woken up. He wasn't in his senses yet.

"Lord Madara! I was so worried about you. I'm so glad you're safe." came the voice of the lady.

"Who are you?" he asked suspiciously.

"It's me, Sayura." she said, putting a hand out to help him get up. He didn't take her help and got up on his own. He looked at her. It was hard for him to believe she was who she claimed to be, as she had changed a lot, she was nothing like he had last seen her. He was in utter amazement.

"You have changed a lot." he said without thinking much.

"I-I guess so..." she replied shyly.

Her hairs fell straight up to her waist, unlike the hairs she had as a child that dare not cross her hairline. Her voice wasn't a screech (as he always used to describe it) anymore; it was sweet and pleasant to his ears. She stood quite tall contrary to his belief as a child-that she would remain short. He could not see her face clearly in the faint moonlight. But she appeared to be prettier than he would have ever expected. He was having a hard time believing she really was her. There was a moment of awkward silence.

"Um- so, what about the scroll you sent?" he said, breaking the silence.

"Ah, yes- the scroll. About that... I don't think this is the right place to discuss that. We should go somewhere else. Please come with me. It would be better if we walk. Is it convenient to you?"

"Y-yes."

He was surprised at her way of conversing. As far he could recall, Sayura never talked like that. Rather she used to be blunt and outspoken, not decent and mannered!

They started walking, both of them were quite. The occasional hoot of an owl and the sound of their feet touching the grass was all that was heard at that time. Some kind of unfamiliarity surrounded them. The awkwardness was unbearable. Thus, Sayura decided to break the icy; she tried to engage him in the talks of the clan.

Nearly half an hour elapsed, and they were still engrossed in their talks. Their discussion ranged from the weather those days to the change in life. They had discussed about how things had changed from when they were kids- the landscape, the houses, the orchards, everything. The awful silence reappeared as the comparison between the times of past and present left them with a morbid taste. They were feeling nostalgic. But this moment didn't last long, fortunately. They resumed to discuss weather like light topics again.

Whilst they both were immersed in the talks, two sharp clanks of weapons, from behind, drew their attention. They turned around, and found two shurikens and two kunais lying on the ground. Then a vague figure appeared from the shadows wearing what looked like a traditional Uchiha outfit.

"I don't know who's stupider among you two." said the mysterious figure. "It's really hard to choose."

They both took a ready stance.

"Who are you?" asked Madara with dominance in his voice.

"Really? I guess I know who's more idiotic. I thought you'd have had some sense put in your head but guess I was wrong!" said the figure, tauntingly; and suddenly Madara was struck with something and now he was questioning the whole situation.