Naruto (c) Masashi Kishimoto

"Wake up!" a sharp kick landed itself in Yuzuki's ribs. How many months had she been at Uchiha? Three, and they were still treating her like a tanin.

That's because I am. I will always be tanin to these people. Regardless if I'm married to Madara or not. He even sees me as a tanin princess. Yuzuki sighed as she pushed herself up from her marriage futon. She looked at her hands. Rough with work, she had blisters in various stages of healing and growing calluses. Her hands use to be those hands of a noble, soft and smooth, having never worked day in her life. Here, she was taught to effectively run a household and manage the village. Since she was now doing that, Izuna had more time to plot with his brother, gradually deferring more of the domestic responsibilities to her.

She ached in places she didn't think she'd ever ache, though thankfully Madara had only taken her once and then proceeded to forget about her. If he wanted sex he'd seek out Takara, though Yuzuki had been hearing rumors that Takara was pregnant. Apparently, Madara was the father.

For whatever reason, that sent wild hot jealousy through Yuzuki's very being and she didn't even like the man! The former palace girl blinked several times and shook her head. Why should she care if Madara sired a bastard. It was his problem not hers. "Done daydreaming yet, tanin?" that nasally voice sounded. Yuzuki turned to see Emi.

Yuzuki hated Emi. The girl was barely five feet tall, stocky, black hair that fell to her chin, a quick temper and an even quicker fist. Though there was one small thing Yuzuki did like about Emi. The kunoichi's admiration of Madara. If it wasn't for Emi constantly pointing out all the good things about Madara, Yuzuki would never have believed the man had any positive qualities at all. Yuzuki asked Emi once if she ever thought about sleeping with Madara. Emi seemed rather surprised before admitting she never once thought of Madara in any romantic light and that she wasn't a loose slut like Takara.

"I'm up, Emi," Yuzuki mumbled as she put her tabi on and stood up.

"Good, now hurry up and get dress. Breakfast starts soon," Emi headed towards the door. "You have ten minutes. If you aren't back, I'm sending in Madara-sama."

"Joy," Yuzuki rolled her eyes. The man ignored her for the most part. She had gotten use to him sleeping in the nude, but not his other odd sleeping habit he developed.

The man insisted that he hold her at night. She tried to have him stop several times, but it never did any good. It wasn't like he was groping her (she didn't really have any breasts to grope for that matter) or putting his hand between her legs. No. He was just holding her, his face hidden in the crook of her neck.

Yuzuki was reluctant to admit that she did enjoy being held by him at night. It made he feel protected and that on some level he may have accepted her. She doubted the latter but she could still fantasize about the possibility.

Yuzuki put her clothes on, a simple black shirt and pants and a white sash that she tied around her waist. She brushed her long hair, counting to one hundred. She was proud of her hair. It was the one thing she loved about her body. Her hair was a true black, soft, straight and glossy. Back when she lived in Hayashi Castle, she'd have her ladies-in-waiting put her hair in complex court styles that mimicked the hair style of the maiko in the pleasure districts but weren't nearly at the level of complexity as theirs was. Now Yuzuki would gather up the top layer of her hair and twist it into a simple knot and secure it with a few hair ties, using a ribbon to cover up the ties.

It made her look ugly, but it was quick and easy and kept her hair out of her face. Yuzuki glanced once more at her reflection before getting up with a sigh and heading to breakfast.

Yuzuki sat next to Madara, calmly eating her food. Natori, Madara and Izuna's eccentric granduncle, kept trying to engage her in some witty conversation, but she ignored the old man. He would then make some obscene comment about her and Madara's love life or lack of one. Yuzuki would look horrified and Madara would growl a stern Ji-san before continuing with his breakfast.

Today however, was different. "There seems to be a small situation with some of the small civilian villages," Madara said matter-of-factly, before putting some rice in his mouth.

"Oh?" Natori arched a brow. His skin was dark, speckled with liver-spots, had hollow cheeks and slate grey hair, that was unruly as Madara's. Yet despite his age Natori was still considered handsome and Yuzuki had no doubt in her mind that Madara obtained his stunning good looks from Natori. If only Madara had Natori's cunning wit and amazing charm, too. Natori was one of the few people Yuzuki could honestly say she liked among the Uchiha.

"Yes, I'm going to take a small group of men to see what's all the fuss is about and deal with it as I see fit."

"So you're going to slaughter a bunch of innocent civilians?" Yuzuki asked, acid in her words. Madara blinked slowly, once, twice, thrice... before a frown twitched on his lips.

"I never said I was going to slaughter them. Though if the situation does become violent I'll definitely use force. I'm not a bloodthirsty Kaguya, no matter how much the Senju would like to think I am." He snorted, "I do actually have honor."

Yuzuki was about to snap back about how the Senju have honor too, but she caught the slight shake of Izuna's head and held her tongue. The younger Uchiha brother could read Madara better than anyone and probably the only person in the entire clan able to assuage Madara's wrath. With his indirect help, Yuzuki was learning to navigate Madara's fickle mood swings. "Izuna will be staying here. It won't take terribly long anyway," Madara finished, taking a sip of his tea. "I also want Yuzuki to be trained in basic self-defense. I won't have her defenseless and unable to defend herself if the need arouse, that would be folly."

"What?" Yuzuki screeched. On top of learning how to be the clan matriarch, learning the history of the Uchiha, he now wanted her to learn how to fight. "I refuse to learn how to fight!"

"You willfully defy your husband?" Madara's brow arched, it was a curious gesture that made the man look all the more intimidating. Yuzuki kept forgetting this was a man that wasn't use to having people say no to his face. He was nearly all powerful among the clan, even if the council of elders tried to limit his power, it seldom worked as he normally would just go ahead and do whatever it is they told him he couldn't do.

Yuzuki glanced around the table. Natori was ignoring this, muttering something about a lover's spat. In any other situation, Yuzuki would repremand the old man and Madara would have an amuse twitch of his lips, which Yuzuki figured out was his version of a smile. Not today, though, it was too dangerous. Madara could kill her if the whim struck him.

Izuna was shaking his head, trying to signal her to back down. He knew how dangerous Madara could be.

Yuzuki looked at her husband. "I just think that if I learned how to fight, I would lose my womanly figure and I will thus be displeasing to your eye, my lord."

There was a small pause as Madara scrutinized Yuzuki. "Well, I wouldn't exactly call you a stunning beauty. Besides my kunoichi learn how to fight and some of them are rather pleasing to the eye. You on the other hand are just plain, and maybe a bit chubby. You could use a good work out."

How dare he call me fat and ugly! "So, I'm ugly?"

"Fat yes, ugly..." Madara looked her over again, "hardly. You're plain but it's an appealing plainness. If you toned up a bit that plainness could actually be rather attractive." Madara shrugged, "That's just my opinion." He ate more rice. Yuzuki silently fumed before realizing he indirectly gave her a compliment. If it could be called a compliment. More like a veiled insult.

"Fine, I'll do your stupid training."

"It's not stupid. Besides, it's not going to be a true kunoichi training. Just basic forms and yoga. Unless you want to have shoulders like man," Madara paused again, "then I'll call you ugly."

Yuzuki briefly thought of dumping her miso soup into his lap, figured he probably behead her for such a bold move and decided that it was best not to react to his jabs. What did her mother always say: If a boy teases you then he secretly likes you.

Yuzuki glanced over at Madara, wondering if he liked her at least on some level. Besides, Madara was eighteen. No longer a boy, but a man. Did that rule even apply to men?

"Yuzuki, clean up breakfast and then come meet me in the library," Natori said as he heaved himself up with his cane. Yuzuki knew he didn't really need his cane, but there was a hidden sword in it, and he told her that it was better if he allowed people think he was an infirm old man. Made people relax their guard around him.

"Yes, Natori-sama," Yuzuki muttered, glancing at her cracked and dry hands, all from doing the dishes. Dishwasher's hands was what Yuki had called them and told her just to apply a healing salve on them before bed every night. It soothed the cracked skin but healing was slow.

"How many times must I tell you to call me Ji-san!" Natori chided her with a grin. He still had all his teeth, oppose to Mieko, who was missing hers.

"S-Sorry, Ji-san," Yuzuki blushed. Natori chuckled before heading off to the library. Madara and Izuna finished eating and left. Sighing, Yuzuki began to clear the table.

Yuzuki was thankful for her nice hot bath at the end of the day, it eased the stiffness out of her muscles. Her sore muscles just added to her aches and pains and other discomforts. She didn't want to get out, but she feared if she stayed in too long Madara would come in an join her, completely ignoring rules of modesty and privacy. He told her once, that while out on a campaign, the kunoichi bathed with the men and used the bathroom with the men as well. There was no privacy among soldiers and modesty was a joke.

Yuzuki groaned as she heaved herself out of the tub. The water was still warm and even if it did get cold, Madara could easily heat it up again with a fire jutsu. She put on a simple white sleeping yukata before heading out into the bedroom. She was in a daze when her thoughts were broken by a sharp hiss.

"Damn it."

Yuzuki looked over at Madara, who was sitting cross-legged in the candle light with a needle, thread, a boil of hot water, a damp and bloodied rag and several bandages near him. By the looks of it he was attempting to stitch a rather deep gash across his left pectoral close. He wasn't doing a very good job.

Yuzuki blinked unsure if she should help him or not. Another string of curses tumbled out of Madara's mouth and Yuzuki decided to help her seemingly incompetent husband. "Do you want some help?"

Madara looked up at her, utter bewilderment in his expression. He resembled a child with his hand in the cookie jar and getting caught. "No," he turned his nose up at her. "I'm fine, I've done this before."

"Right," she believed him, but she doubted he did it on himself. Probably on another person, but not himself. She sat, rather boldly in his lap, her legs on either side of his hips. "I'm sure you've done this before, but probably on someone else."

"Hn," he glowered at her. Clearly he didn't like his independence being challenged either. Yuzuki ignored him, surprising herself with her boldness. Normally he could easily manipulate her with a firm gaze. She didn't know why she wanted to help him, she just did or maybe she wanted to help him to keep herself from laughing at his failing attempt to practice first-aid on himself.

"This may sting," she said as she removed the needle from the thread and pulled the threat from the wound. Madara didn't so much as flinch at the slight pain. Yuzuki dabbed the rag in the water and cleaned the wound before threading the needle and biting off the extra string. She began to stitch the wound close.

Madara watched his wife's deft hand make neat tight stitches along the length of the wound, her nimble fingers made several knots and bit the extra string off. Her soft lips brushing against his skin. He shuddered at the sensation and was acutely aware of exactly where she was sitting. He cursed the fact that he hadn't had sex in several weeks, Takara noting wanting to put out for him since she was now pregnant and there hadn't been any battles against the Senju and his brother had that harpy in his room.

He shifted slightly when she applied the salve to his wound, hissing a bit as his awakening manhood brush against her thigh. Sometimes he hated his raging teenage hormones. Yuzuki noticed it and stopped her, a questioning look in her eyes. "Continue. It's fine," Madara mumbled. He used his same old trick: Imagining his grandmother naked.

It worked for a bit until Yuzuki began applying the bandages, her subtle breasts pressing against his firm chest. He knew from the first time they had sex that her breasts were perfect. Not too small and not too big. He would easily see their gentle curve against her clothing, and sometimes he would fantasize about cupping those perfect breasts.

Though right now he was thinking of suckling and kneading those breasts. Damn it, he wanted sex. His balls were starting to turn blue. And Yuzuki's natural innocence and shyness only added to the allure of seducing her. He especially liked how she would moan and squirm beneath him. Granted the only time they had sex he wasn't exactly thinking of her needs, but he wasn't a complete bastard and only made sure if he enjoyed it. So he gave her pleasure first, making sure she at least orgasm once, before completely ignoring her needs and focusing on his own. It hadn't made the sex any better but at least he knew she wouldn't forever equate sex with the pain of her virginity being taken. She at least knew that there could be pleasure from sex. It was one of the small mercies he had given a girl completely thrown out of her element. A lamb among wolves.

She finished bandaging him and made to get up from his lap, but the motion only caused him to get harder. He gripped her hips tightly, firmly keeping her in place. "Don't move," he growled, his gaze was smoldering. "Unless you want me to take you."

Yuzuki's eyes widen and a blush colored her cheeks. Damn, he loved that blush. It made her look adorable. Especially in the half-light of the candle. She wasn't a true beauty, she was just plain. Some men liked that and other men didn't. Madara found it refreshing since so many of the women he bedded were natural beauties. There was nothing physically noteworthy about Yuzuki and Madara reasoned it was because of that, he found her attractive.

His grip tightened on her hips. He just wanted to rip her clothes off and have her. If he didn't get his hormones under control, the situation would end badly. He didn't really care at the moment if it ended badly, he was too busy daydreaming about her supple body writhing beneath his and he slammed into her, hearing her moan out his name and...

Pain suddenly shot up from his arm. He yelped and looked at his bicep to notice Yuzuki holding the candle against his skin. A bright burn had formed, and the tightness in his pants began to ease rapidly. He stared at her, torn between being furious with her that she burned him and grateful that she was strong enough to keep him from ravaging her. In the end he decided the best coarse of action was to act indifferent.

He rudely pushed her off his lap. "Clean up, I'll be taking a bath. Once I'm done we're going to bed."

Just like that he walked off and headed towards the bathroom, but stopped and looked over his shoulder at his wife, who was cleaning up the mess. "Thank you," he mumbled before vanishing into the bathroom.

Yuzuki blushed, unsure for what he was thanking her for, but she wasn't about to complain. She cleaned up the mess and crawled into the bed. She was asleep by the time Madara joined her bed.

Just some MadaYuzu.

I read this journal on DA earlier that got me upset. Basically it said that love in arrange marriages is stupid and arrange marriages never work. Well, I wrote this to prove that the journal is wrong. At least with Yuzuki and Madara.

This is set three months after their marriage. Yes, Yuzuki and Madara have had sex. But it was nothing special, nothing romantic. It was just to keep Mieko from harping about it.

Yes, Madara is horny. He's eighteen. Most eighteen year old men are horny.

And... go read the Blinding Knife... but read the Black Prism first. Both are by Brent Weeks. ^^

R'n'R

Sanguinary Toxicity

PS: Rogue, did I totally fail with Madara? Oh, and where at them chapters?