Dreamt

Chapter 4

AN: For those who read the first version - just two small new scenes in this chapter.

"You're predictable."

Sakura stood on the training ground, hands propped on her knees, panting heavily.

"Your fighting style is too transparent, you never surprise me."

"That's because you're on an entirely different level." Sakura felt slightly offended.

"It has nothing to do with that. Sure, I would counter whatever you throw at me, but it could possibly distract me as well. In real battle unpredictability is the greatest asset."

"You'll get your unpredictable when you fight Naruto." She thought with malevolent satisfaction. But she really didn't like this critique. Especially because she knew he had a point. She tried harder, got out of her usual rhythm, alternated the speed of the blows.

"Still not good enough. Use some other ninjutsu, not only your strength enhancement."

That was the problem - she didn't have time to form seals. To get the time she would need to gain an upper hand, and that wasn't possible if he could predict, as he claimed, her every move. It was frustrating.

"Why do you even care?!"

"I'm helping you to develop?"

"Why bother? Not that I will need it anymore! You plan to put me to sleep in Tsukuyomi anyway. So what do you care? Stop bothering!"

After she stomped out of training ground, Sakura didn't see Madara for next two days. It seemed he wasn't looking for her company either.

When she finally came across him in the koi courtyard on the third day, he looked at her with more attention than usual. She couldn't say she was sorry, no way. She just said what she thought. And sure enough, he wouldn't say he was sorry either. Not that he had just changed his great Masterplan because she yelled at him. Sakura almost snorted at absurdity of the thought.

"Want to spar? Maybe I can surprise you this time." They couldn't keep avoiding each other. The sooner they got over it, the better.

A smile. A wide, cheerful smile from Uchiha Madara. Sakura wondered how many people had ever seen it.

"Sure."

She came prepared. If she couldn't form signs during the fight, then she must do it before. All her senbon were imbued with delicate genjutsu so they could warp the view along their trajectory. Not too much, not to become obvious, just enough for him to misjudge the position of her hand a bit. She had played the scenario in her head many times already during the last day. Of course, it all depended on him not recognizing the genjutsu, but as long as he didn't activate his Sharingan she had a chance. And Sakura suspected he will be expecting some in-your-face-scale ninjutsu.

Landing a full force punch on him was one of most satisfying moments of her life.

"Morning!" Sakura started and had to jump out of his way. Killing intent was radiating from Madara for meters. He didn't even look at her, only marched towards the training ground outside of compound. Sakura followed, keeping a reasonably safe distance. "What the heck? Why is he so furious?"

"Mokuton!" Madara created a huge tree stump and started to methodically punch and kick at it.

'Is he trying to break it? Then it will take him quite some time…" First pieces of bark flew away. Bloodied. "Kami, what is wrong…'

Well, much was wrong. Madara had just learned that Nagato used up Rinne Tensei to resurrect fallen Konoha villagers and conveniently died right after. And the person wielding his own Rinnegan eye was Obito. Obito, who was much more difficult to manipulate and definitely not willing to commit suicide on Madara's behalf. That meant he was bound to this despicable Edo Tensei form and he could not become the Ten-tails Jinchuuriki. This was putting the whole plan in acute danger. Or, even worse - at Obito's mercy.

To add insult to injury, the reason why Nagato had miraculously reformed was none other but Konoha's Jinchuuriki brat. The same one that was the driving force behind the Ninja Alliance. The same one that was fuelling their ridiculous defiance against Tsukuyomi ideals. The same one whose voice he could hear speaking through Sakura's mouth.

Thud! The stump cracked a bit. 'Why won't they all just understand! It is the only way.'

Thud! Another crack, this time somewhere inside his hand. 'And I cannot even convince one little girl to it. Even she cannot understand, despite of all the talk…' Thud! 'Why wouldn't she understand!'

"Madara, stop. This is just stupid." Sakura was trying to keep her voice very calm. Calm and rational, not to get dragged into his fury. "Whatever the problem is, this is not helping."

He turned.

"You're right, it's not helping." And when she thought she actually achieved something, he activated the Mangekyo, formed Susano'o and flew away.

"Where have you been?!" Sakura cried when Susano'o landed back, hours later. Madara looked like… like he would fall any moment. Was he burnt? He stunk of burnt flesh. "Where have you been and what did you do to yourself? Answer me, goddammit!"

"On that battlefield." He started walking towards the gate.

'Still not collapsing? I guess I underestimated.'

"The battle is still there?"

"Was."

"Was? Did you go and kill them all?" There were thousands of fighters there. "Why are you so burnt?"

"Got bored with manual work."

"And released Katon all around you? Not jumping away?" This was supposed to be a sarcasm, but his face expression told her she got it just right. "Is it that?" She gestured at his scorched arms in disbelief. "Your own fire?"

He didn't answer. Sakura felt her face being pulled in a grimace, the corners of her mouth going down. Felt tears gathering in her eyes. "Why would you do such a thing to yourself? On purpose?"

"So difficult to guess? I was angry."

"And now? Are you still angry?"

"Now I am tired. I'm going to sleep."

"No, you are not. You will stay here until I heal you."

He ignored and made a move to pass by her. Oh no. This one time she had the authority here. She stepped to block the way.

"Sit," she hissed. "Sit down, take the shirt off if it isn't melted into you already, and don't move."

A large part of it was already melted in, she had to cut the shirt to remove it. When she pulled the attached parts away, Sakura could tell it caused a lot of pain. 'Hurts? Good... Moron. Moron. Fucking moron.' Thanks all the gods for Naruto and his brainless actions, for all the patience she had to learn. Because this one, she would swear on anything, this one was worse.

Sakura opened her eyes and groaned in disappointment. It came to her reflexively, before she could think properly about it. She wanted to go and check on the cherry trees behind the training grounds. The previous evening, the buds were almost open and Sakura was sure today will be THE day. The trees around the Uchiha compound were beautiful, old enough to bloom into a pink storm, yet still young enough to be graceful in form. She expected hanami to be a view to behold.

Yet, she woke up to reality. No sakura trees in bloom today. Only one surgery after another until she collapses. And when she does, some people will die. 'I wonder who it will be this time? At whom I will run out of chakra?' Yesterday it was a young Kiri kunoichi. Very young. Sakura passed out and when she came to her senses again the girl was already dead.

'Yet, I should be happy I'm here, right?' The Kiri kunoichi had such beautiful hair, light blue in colour. Sakura doubted that she will ever forget it. She also doubted she will ever learn the girl's name.

"Did you have a summon?"

Madara raised his head. "Why asking about this all of the sudden?"

"Curious?"

"Or do you want to boast about your own?"

Was she really that transparent? She actually was really proud of the feat of summoning Katsuyu the previous day in the real world. She finally managed to summon her whole, full size. And she wanted to tell him this.

"So, what is your summon? Tell me if you want to so much."

Sakura bit her lip. Her elation was gone.

"Brag about what you're proud about… Go on girl, you wanted to say something," he added when she kept silent.

"Slugs. I can summon slugs."

"Congrats. A mark of fully-fledged ninja."

"Why do you do it?! You make everything sound so bleak, so unimportant. You make me see all in grey! Take joy away from every single thing!"

She expected something like: 'Because it is the reality' or 'Finally you see it correctly.' Instead Madara dropped his gaze to the ground.

"Do I?" He sounded almost sad. "I don't mean to. I like your joy."

Trying, this was definitely trying. So she had to try as well. Sakura took a deeper breath.

"Yesterday I managed to summon the chief slug. All of her because I could summon pieces, parts of her already. But never her full form, and she is huge. That's what I wanted to tell…"

"Congratulations." There was a smile in his eyes. And appreciation, and such a heartwarming lack of surprise. She smiled back.

"So, what about your summons? Are they hawks?"

"No."

"So, what is it then, tell…"

"The Kyuubi."

"Kyuubi? You mean you have an actual contract with Nine-tails? That you can summon him when you want to and he will follow your commands?!"

"Let's just say we are still discussing certain terms of this contract… But yes, I can summon him as you do with your slugs and he will obey. Only that he doesn't appreciate it much…"

Sakura couldn't wrap her head around it. The Kyuubi doesn't appreciate it much? Even to be in a presence of tailed beast that was displeased about something was lethal. And to summon it on purpose knowing it will make it furious? And to control it afterwards?

"Are you that confident or that mad?"

"I assure you, I am completely sane."

Sakura was sitting on a grassy slope, orchard behind her, and the compound in front of her. The flowers from the cherry trees had fallen off some time ago already, but now small flowers and herbs were forming a thick carpet on the ground. Sakura wiggled her fingers between the plants, she could almost feel them grow. She was watching Madara going through his katas on the training ground. When he finished, he climbed up and sat next to her.

"You know, that thing you said, about being here." Sakura decided to break the silence.

"What thing?"

"That you like being here…"

"What about it?"

"I like it as well." Sakura felt she was blushing a bit. "In comparison to reality, I mean!"

Madara arched his eyebrow. "Is it that bad out there?"

Sakura paused. 'Bad' was a bit of an understatement. Outside, her life was endless shifts at surgery table with chakra reserves close to zero, in a tent lacking supplies and people dying just because there too many wounded and too few doctors. But she shouldn't be describing the details to him.

"You don't need to tell me if it is hard for you." Madara helped her out. "I know what war is. Then, imagine being in a place like this not with me, but with your Sasuke. Wouldn't it be pure bliss?"

Sakura stretched out her legs. She was not in the mood for yet another Mugen Tsukuyomi discussion. "Clearly you don't know Sasuke," she said instead.

Madara chuckled. "That bad?"

"Let's say that at least you're somewhat better company".

Sakura was woken up by a horrid scream. Panicked, she opened her eyes to find herself in the Uchiha compound in the middle of the night. She could still hear the screaming. She had heard a similar sound only once, when a wounded shinobi had to be operated on without anaesthesia. It took three teams to hold him down.

She rushed towards the sound. It was coming from the wing where Madara usually slept. When she entered his room, she saw him sitting on his bed as if he had just woken up as well. He was silent but it was obvious from his erratic breathing and wild expression that it was him who was screaming a moment before. And he was definitely not ok.

"What happened?"

He didn't answer. His Mangekyo was activated but she didn't think he even registered her. He was bent over in half. Sakura knelt behind him, put her hands on his back – he wasn't injured but his chakra was completely disturbed. She had never seen chakra circulating so quickly. Sakura couldn't even imagine what would be the medical consequences of it. Healing him wouldn't help, there was nothing to heal. Yet. He had to calm down.

"Madara, it's ok, you are not hurt. Nothing happened. Did you dream?" Not reacting. "It was a dream, wasn't it? Just a dream." She clung to his back, put her arms around him. And her legs as well, as much as she could.

"It's ok, it's not real." Stupid thing to say in a dream, but maybe he won't notice the paradox. She put a hand to his skull – his brain was over-activated. That was not doing him any good, definitely not.

"Calm down, please, nothing happened." She moved more to his side, pulled him down so that his head was on her lap.

"Shh, it's ok, it's all fine." It was so strange how he didn't react at all these things she was doing and saying. He would normally never allow any of it, she wouldn't even think of trying. But now there was no reaction, as if he was still locked inside whatever he was experiencing in his head.

Sakura stroked his arm. "Madara, hey, do you hear me?" She stroked his cheek, bent to embrace him. "I'm here. Wake up. I'm here." She kept stroking him, his hair, his arm, kept talking to him. His chakra started to slow down, his breathing eased.

At some point Sakura thought that his eyes looked more sane. But she continued just because she felt they both might need some comfort. And somehow embracing him was making her also feel better. It was such a long time since she last hugged anyone.

After a few long minutes she was sure that he was fully conscious.

"Are you back?"

"… Yeah." Sakura stopped her hand mid-motion. Stroking an awake Madara was a bit too extreme for her taste.

"Did you dream?"

"Yes."

"What was it about?" She regretted it the moment she spoke. She shouldn't be reminding him, whatever it was.

"About my brothers." He was speaking with visible effort. "I saw then murdered by Tobirama, one by one. Izuna was the last one. Tobirama took his time butchering him… And I could only watch…"

Of course, she shouldn't have asked but now it was too late.

"Was that how it really happened?"

"No… Not at all… My youngest brother was killed by the Senju, two others by the Hyuuga. Izuna was wounded by Tobirama in the battle. Fatally, but we managed to get him to the compound before he died."

"And you still allied with the Senju to ground Konoha?" Sakura couldn't hide her disbelief. She'd heard about Izuna so many times already and she knew he was the central figure in Madara's life.

"Yes… I did…"

"Why? How come?"

"Too long of a story." Madara made a move as to sit up. She pressed hand to his chest, preventing him.

"Tell me." She knew she was too close, too deep in his personal space. But on the other hand she wanted to be close when he will be telling this – Sakura felt how important it would be.

"Tell me about it." She lay down on her back.

He remained is better lying, with his head on her lap. And he told her. About the warring clans period, constant fighting, losing his brothers. Meeting a stranger at the riverbank. Sharing a dream. Then the darker part followed – about betrayal and enmity towards his friend. And then about Izuna's death. Sakura was surprised how emotionlessly he was recalling it. 'He'd probably told this story a thousand times to himself already. Touched it so many times in his heart that it has lost all color…' It made her very sad.

Madara kept telling – about Konoha's foundation, politics, Hokage's choice, growing antagonism between Uchiha and other citizens, between his clan and himself. About his realization about the Uchihas' future inside the village. About his leave and fight with Hashirama.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry about everything that happened to you. It could have gone differently on so many occasions."

"It could have…"

"I wish it did." Sakura extended her hand. "I wish you had a happier life." In all consciousness she stroked his arm.

And then they were lying there in silence, staring at the ceiling. Only that Sakura was crying. Staring at the ceiling she was crying, tears flowing in endless streams over the pain that belonged to someone else.

When she woke up, she felt a weight on her belly. Alarmed, she opened her eyes to see Madara sleeping with his head and arm across her. She breathed out very carefully. It would be very embarrassing if he woke up now. For her to encourage such a compromising closeness. And for him to actually fall asleep on girl's lap. She wasn't sure if his Uchiha pride won't get wounded here. Or maybe he didn't care about such things anymore… Anyway, the only good way out of it was to fall asleep and wake up again when he was already gone. But in the meantime, Sakura couldn't stop staring. She never really dared to look at Madara too much. Of course, she knew very well what he looked like, but never had opportunity to catch an unguarded look. And he was … beautiful. Especially because when asleep he wasn't threatening or mean or intimidating. She almost wanted to stroke his cheek again, but that would definitely wake him up and he looked so calm and content… He looked … happy? What a pity it was that he was never so when he was awake.

When Sakura woke up for the second time, he was gone. What she didn't know was how minorly put off Madara was by the whole situation. She was so familiar that letting his guard down around her didn't bother him at all. She was like one of the clan women, she tried to comfort him and she succeeded in it. He thought about how loving her touch was and then when was the last time anyone touched him except during a fight…? When he shook hands with Hashirama?

AN: Thanks for reading, and please let me know me what you think!