Chapter 6
It was late evening of the next day when he decided to drop by Tobirama's office. He was tired of all the paperwork, and perhaps…it was worth it. To get to know the man better. They had been enemies, then allies…perhaps…they might even be dare he say friends. It was what Hashirama would have wanted. But more than that, he'd realized recently that perhaps the man was worthy of his friendship.
Tobirama looked up and much to Madara's surprise pushed his work away and folded his arms across his chest leaning back against his chair.
"Touka informed me that you spoke with her. It's…appreciated."
"Will she stop troubling you, now?"
"It is not so simple. But… I believe it helped. Are you here for a report?"
"No, I actually wanted to ask you if you were interested in going for a drink."
"A drink? For what purpose?" Tobirama seemed startled at the request.
"It would be good, for the village to see two clan heads getting along." It went unmentioned that Madara was trying to find some common ground with which they could better get along. Really there was only so much to do around the village other than sparring or the endless amounts of paperwork their respective positions entailed.
"Alright let's go then." Madara was surprised at how easily Tobirama agreed to go with him though perhaps he shouldn't be. The man was probably keen on making the village see that both clans were getting along even if in the past it seemed as if they still weren't.
They ended up in one of the Akimichi establishments. Chojiron had wasted no time in getting the restaurants up and running some in the civilian sector and a number of places just for shinobi, so that both could be respectively comfortable. The bar they entered didn't yet have the rundown feel he liked but he was sure with all the kunai scratch marks he was seeing it would soon. The bar itself was mostly empty save the lone shinobi here or there drinking by themselves or the two Hatake who seemed to be having a drinking contest in the far corner.
They chose a table to the side by the wall and he ordered two bottles of peach sake, one for each them.
They sat in silence, while they waited for their wine. Through it didn't take long for a waiter to put the bottles of sake and cups next to them. Madara poured out the wine for the both of them, and they both drained it in one go. Tobirama poured out the next round though he only looked pensively at his cup while Madara drained his.
"Have you been to any of the markets yet?" Tobirama asked.
"Some of them. Chojiron's report said business was picking up well."
"He said the civilian sector was eager to start bringing in clothing for the shinobi sector. He wanted to know if we will standardize any specific requirements across the board."
"I have three of the Uchiha looking into armor. But it would be good to start with something simple like standard black ninja pants, shirts and the like. The Uchiha used to import from one of the smaller villages but if we could get these items from the capital, we could get better quality."
"I'll make a note of it. As for the arm guards I have several designs that could work depending on the wearer and their overall fighting style."
Madara rubbed at his forehead with one of his hands in exasperation. "Tobirama, we're here for a break. We can discuss everything related to the village tomorrow."
The man sighed though he looked amused as he drained his cup. "Alright." Madara poured out another round while Tobirama discreetly observed the other patrons.
Madara thought this was actually getting somewhat painful, the two of them had worked together for nearly over half a year building the village from the ground up and yet had nothing to casual to discuss outside their work. Though to be fair perhaps they were not yet at a stage where they could converse comfortably without a fear of offending the other party.
Madara had mercy and pulled out a scroll unsealing a Shoji board from it. "Do you play?"
"I do." Tobirama had a look of interest about him. They set up the pieces and began playing. Tobirama was almost as good as himself and they played a few rounds. The establishment itself began to trickle in more and more patrons until it was filled with loud and rumbunctious conversations from a cacophony of shinobi from different clans.
They had a few more cups before it got late enough that he needed to return to the compound. Tobirama was polite enough for him to make it down the street before he turned to see the man using a Hiraishin. He walked himself to the compound hoping that tomorrow the hangover wouldn't be that bad. But all in all, it seemed to have been be a passable night.
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He had a headache. Of course he had to have a hangover the day that Shikan suddenly needed him to discuss what had occurred during the battle with the chakra beast with the head of the Yamanaka clan. The universe sure loved him didn't it.
When he entered the meeting room Shikan and Inon were already sitting within. He took his own seat. "You wanted to discuss something with me."
Shikan gave Inon a pointed look. "It is in regards to Inin breaking mission protocol."
Inon sighed. "Shikan is correct Hokage sama, I was the one who told Inin to get into the beast's head at any cost. I believed that it was crucial information to have for both my clan and for our village."
"Except this was not you call to make." Shikan interjected. "There were three commanders on this mission. Madara sama who is the Hokage, Tobirama sama who had done the most extensive research on the chakra beasts and myself. I was the unofficial mission commander. And Inin ignored orders, direct orders from both myself and Tobirama sama."
"What about you Hokage sama." Inon asked. "What was your opinion?"
Madara frowned. "I had thought it best to leave the technique as a last resort should my Sharingan not affect the beast. Perhaps I should have been more vocal about it. However, it does remain that Shikan was the unofficial mission commander."
"Then. What do you wish of me Hokage sama?"
Madara looked at Shikan. "You called this meeting. I gather there is something you wish to accomplish."
"I did. We need to make sure going forward that the chain of command is clear. We cannot have one member do something simply because a clan head requested it of him. Especially when it could put the mission at risk. Going forward all clan head requests for missions should be submitted accordingly. The Hokage could then decide in advance, or refer the request to a specialist in the field, to clarify what is acceptable within mission parameters. We cannot have our shinobi reporting to their clan head as well as the Hokage. Which is another thing. While Saru san's quick thinking was beneficial. He should have informed us that he was placing alert barriers around the beast while we were at the location. Tobirama sama is a seal master, while I do not doubt the sealing Saru san used was highly proficient. Tobirama or even someone such as myself who know some on the matter of sealing could have looked it over. Or perhaps suggested other additions that could have been made. It is crucial that if one member of the teams performs an important action or does something significant, he should inform the others of it as well, at the time if possible. Not wait for a return to the village to do so."
"This is our first large scale defense of the village." Madara mused. "If you send me a report we could see to the improvements in this area." Madara had led his fair share of battles and skirmishes and new teams always had some tension and misunderstandings in the beginning. So it was inevitable that different members of a team would do something without informing their squad. Especially if they had always done things that way. They would assume everyone knew they had done what was for them standard procedure within their clan such as Saru. That could be easily fixed. However, the Yamanaka had a strong alliance with the Nara and Akimichi. It was likely a pretty big deal that Inin disobeyed a direct order from the head of the Nara clan.
"So…what would you like from me then Hokage sama." Inon leaned forward in his seat. "It cannot be denied that one of my clan members directly disobeyed a mission Commander due to orders of my own as clan head."
He wasn't sure what Shikan wanted from him. But he couldn't punish either the Yamanaka clan head or Inin himself because there was no clear ruling on it. Now that the issue had come up it could be written as part of the code for conduct on missions. But there really was nothing to be done now. "Going forward perhaps submit your requests through the proper channels. We never drew up official parameters for missions. Which is something that will be looked into. But as it stands no one was hurt. And there was no stipulations on what to do should something like this occur in our village guidelines. So it is forgiven this time."
Inon bowed his head low. "Thank you Hokage sama."
Madara inclined his head. "I read the report Inin submitted on what he'd seen within the beast's mind. It seems he did not find anything of interest. What is your opinion on this." He asked.
"I am uncertain. But it seems that the beast cannot be controlled with our clan techniques. Shikan what did you gather from the report."
"Nothing that we don't already know. The beast's malicious chakra attacked him and one of my men pulled him out before it could cause any true damage. He was very fortunate he came out as unscathed as he did."
They spoke on several more issues during the meeting before Madara went back to finish his work in the Hokage office.
Speaking of returning to his office Tobirama dropped by. "I wanted to officially present the Anbu, Eagle and Sparrow. There will eventually be four of them. But until then their function will be to serve as the Hokage's eyes and ears as well as his personal body guards. They will hide their presence, though those skilled enough will be able to detect them."
He nodded at them. "Thank you for assisting me the other day."
"It was our honor." Eagle replied. He dismissed them and they vanished. He could still sense them but he could tell that they hid themselves well and most lesser shinobi would not be able to detect them. They had been trained well. He thanked Tobirama before briefly informing him of Shikan's concerns. The man looked thoughtful and said he would drop by a few reports the next day if not earlier before dismissing himself. Shortly after Madara went back to his never-ending pile of paperwork. It was nearing the end of the day, All the other shinobi headed home and he dismissed his Anbu to get some rest. He looked through several more sheets of paper his eyes struggling to stay open. He was feeling better than he had this morning but he really should have drunk less sake last night. He wasn't a lightweight but it was best to go drinking if you had the next day off. Sake the night before another grueling day of paperwork did not go well.
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It was dark. He suddenly felt a sensation of something dragging itself down his throat and nostrils. He tried to gasp for air but nothing came out. He flailed and activated his Sharingan and his Susanoo ribs in quick succession. Something hissed back in immense pain as if burning and he found that he had awoken in the dark Hokage tower illuminated by the moon in the middle of the night.
The mass of darkness reformed at a distance from his desk into a half humanoid shape, a chunk of its other half burned off from his attack. Though it looked like its edges might soon be reforming. "The cycle must continue." It intoned in a low and deep voice.
"What cycle? Who are you?"
"That is for me to know." It smiled widely as if in mockery of a real one and was about to lunge again at him when something flashed and a sphere of water entrapped the dark mass before a high voltage of electricity was forced through the water. The lightning illuminated Tobirama's face as he strengthened his current of lightning. Madara's Sharingan eyes narrowed as he saw the being of pure chakra screeching in agony before it suddenly slipped through both the lightning and water attacks falling to the wooden floors and sinking below.
Tobirama's eyes narrowed. "It disappeared from my sensing. What was that thing?"
"I am unsure. It tried to kill me, and said that a cycle must continue." Madara flipped back the table that had been thrown away when he'd activated his Susanoo before using a low power wind jutsu to gather the scattered sheets of paper and then stacking them neatly back onto his desk.
Tobirama looked pensively around the room. "Where is your Anbu."
"I sent them home I don't need bodyguards."
Tobirama looked at him dryly. "Clearly."
Madara rolled his eyes. "If that thing eluded us what do you think the Anbu would have done?"
Tobirama folded his arms across his chest. "At the very least they could have sounded an alarm." Actually, now that Madara was looking at him the man was missing his forehead protector and was in standard black shinobi pants and a shirt. It was amusing to think that the hangover had gone both ways and much like himself the man had also been sleeping.
"I'm sure that would have helped." He tried not to sound sarcastic but he didn't think he succeeded. "Do you want to wake Shikan up now or in the morning." The man shrugged there was something casual about it. "I doubt it will return now that it's been discovered. But it was strange. It felt like a being of pure yin concentration."
Madara picked up his fallen chair and sat down, folding his hands together and bringing them to mouth level in pensive thought. "Why is that strange."
"Because pure constructs of yin can't survive on their own. Much like a shadow needs a source. yin chakra cannot exist without being part of a yang chakra type. Otherwise, it must live off or be fed by other yin or yang chakra to survive."
"It sounds similar to the Nara techniques, then."
"Similar but their shadow is an extension of using their own chakra and it is not sentient."
"Could it be a bloodline limit then?"
"Possibly, if the user can separate the yin from himself and add their own consciousness to it. But then the body would need to be in a certain radius within the shadow and the technique should leave a trace or a chakra string that connects the original from the source."
"You seem to know a great deal on the subject." Madara mused.
"I have read reports on shinobi who fought the puppet techniques in wind country. But these are all theories on my part it could very well be a unique bloodline limit that works in a different way than I am describing." Tobirama picked up and skimmed through one of the scrolls before placing it back on Madara's desk. "It will be dawn in a few hours. I doubt either of us will be getting much sleep. I will alert the village sentries. Let me take you to the Uchiha compound it should be safer there."
Madara didn't think it mattered where he was since he was sure he could take that creature on whatever it might be. But he did need to inform Hikaku to place the clan compound on alert in the case the thing was after his eyes and not after him specifically as the Hokage. He allowed Tobirama to Haraishin him to his compound gates before the man excused himself. And he went to find Hikaku to put their clan compound on alert.
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Early the next morning Shikan called a meeting with Hiyashu, himself and Tobirama in his clan compound to discuss the attempt on his life the night before.
"Are you sure that's what he said?" Shikan was rifling quickly through an open book. The Nara clan heads office was full of shelves filled with books and scrolls of all kinds.
"Is it important?"
"It could be, do the Uchiha have any legends on a cycle of some sort?"
"Why would it have to be an Uchiha cycle?" Hiyashu inquired. The cycle is connected with the yin shadow. It is more likely to be connected to whoever this shadow is instead, and its cycle. Or it could just be some nonsense relevant only to the shadow itself.
"That could be possible." Shikan said. "But as large as the shinobi world is there are not that many cycles. It is also interesting to note that this yin shadow did not attack Madara before."
"So. Is it talking about the famed shinobi cycle of hatred." Asked Hiyashu. "Since Madara is Hokage he may represent the ending of that cycle."
"Maybe, but if they wanted to destroy this cycle removing Madara would only have one of the other clan leaders stepping up to take his place."
"There is the famous cycle of Indra and Asura but it is quite old." Madara said as he watched Tobirama pull a book from one of the shelves to look through.
"There is a cycle of chakra theory and nature transformations." Tobirama passed the book to Shikan. "But it seems too academic to be what we are looking for."
Shikan rubbed the back of his neck. "I can review the information if you send me the relevant scroll or book. I might find something. But for now it would be best I think to focus on village defense and fortifying the Hokage tower. I spoke with Inon, the Yamanaka produce many natural sensors. He will post two of them at the Hokage tower and two at the gate and will rotate them. Nothing against your abilities Tobirama sama but you can't be expected to be vigilant at all hours, night and day within your own village."
"Your concern is appreciated. You clan is the primary expert on yin release can I have some books forwarded to my office."
"Yes, I shall do so." Shikan walked out of the room and came back with a tea tray. He poured a cup for Madara and then for the rest of them. They sat for several more minutes in silence before they decided to call an end to the meeting.
The village was put on high alert that same day. Though at the same time to Madara it felt like a tension that had been in the village had lifted. It was almost as if his animosity towards Tobirama had been placing the other clans on edge. But apparently seeing the both of them out drinking the other night had been enough to allay their fears. As for Tobirama, there was something more casual in the way the man had started treating him lately. It wasn't something he could easily explain but it was there. And perhaps the way he perceived Tobirama had changed as well. Madara hadn't needed any saving from the yin shadow, his Susanoo was clearly more than a match for it. But the fact remained that Tobirama awoken in the middle of the night… had entered an unknown battle and ready to protect him. There was a kind of bond that was earned when forged in battle, it was not one easily forgotten. He didn't think it was one he would soon forget.