Chapter Five – Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea. Usually, the term monsoon is used to refer to the rainy phase of a seasonally changing pattern.
Four years later...
Naruto sighed as she walked alone, once again, through the woods.
'Get a grip Naruto, concentrate on the mission, being down doesn't suit you kit.' Scolded Kurama who for over a year had been merged with an overload of yang chakra. It was rare for him these days to split up into his two forms, which was a relief for Naruto who eventually had grown very tired of their constant bickering. Not only to her but amongst themselves too.
'What mission? Wandering lost though this forsaken, endless forest?'
'A better future you infuriating brat!'
'Yeah, yeah, yeah… But I'll never find my way out of here, dattebayo. Seriously, doesn't people make roads in this time? How on earth do the civilians move about?'
'They don't, idiot. Moving about is asking to get robbed or killed.'
'Eh..? We're moving about right now…'
'We can take it, anyone who attacks us will get his head on a stick in repayment.'
'I'm not putting some dude's head on a stick, dattebayo! Gross!'
'You're too soft, brat…'
'I have a conscious, thank you very much. I won't kill some desperate and hungry guy just because he hoped I'd have something of worth. Which I don't…'
'I already know, but I might do it for you.'
'Shut up fureball! We'll knock em' unconscious and be on our way I say.'
'Too soft…'
'Would you prefer Madara? I swear I'll make him your jinchuriki if you don't shut up about beheading people!'
Kurama growled alarmingly and the connection between them broke.
Good, now he can stew on that while I try to find out if I'm walking in circles or not.
It took Naruto a few more days before she had figured out where she was. At least she was on the right track. Naruto had to move further north, but she'd already covered a good amount of distance in the months since she last saw another human being.
Her head filled with the idea of Konoha and all the people she missed before she suddenly halted. 'Was that someone's presence I felt there?'
Looking behind her she concentrated harder. 'Yes… There is definitely someone lurking in the trees around here.'
Turning towards the suspected area and putting her hands on her hips she waited for whomever it was to come forth. Naruto had grown quite a bit in the last few years. Now a little older then the day she'd been when thrown back in time, but also much stronger.
"Come out. You've been noticed." She stated impatiently.
The only thing that met her was silence.
Then a figure appeared amongst the bushes looking suspiciously back at her.
The first think she noticed was the short, straight and very red hair. He was wearing a blue vest with a plain black attire underneath. It looked similar to the shinobi gear Chūnin had worn in her own time, which was strange since everyone in this time all wore old style clothes. It had taken Naruto a while to adapt to the idea of not being able to wear her old jumpsuit, but after a while she had integrated their style the best she could.
The young man looked a little younger then herself but was the same hight as her. He wore square glasses and had a chokutō secured to his belt. His pockets were filled to the brink, probably with kunai and shuriken, and he was a shinobi, no doubt about it.
"Who are you?" He asked cautiously, keeping a good distance between them as he studied her every movement.
"Namikaze, Naruto. And you?" She answered while crossing her hands in front of her. He looked dubiously at her, like always wondering if she was stupid for telling him her family name.
"Kurou." He answered with a soft and calm voice. "You're getting close to the boarders of Uzushigakure. I suggest you leave, you could get into trouble around here."
She looked him up and down, while he took in her own appearance.
Kurou concluded that the new arrival was obviously a kunoichi. She was wearing a traveling cloak that had been pushed behind her shoulders. He spotted the hilt of a chokutō from underneath the cloak as well as the kunai's fastened to her belt. She had bandaged both hands and a small area around her right leg where a pouch had been secured.
Smart, he thought. Fastening weapons on your upper thigh gave easier access during battle.
Her long slewed haori was tucked into a shabby looking obi around her waist, and she wore simple black pants that reached to her shin. He also noticed she'd bandaged her ankles down to the sandals. Probably not to get cut while moving through the forest. Kurou also noticed how dirty she looked. Her clothes looked worn and patched with dried mud. The bandages was stained grey and he concluded it was a while since she'd used a hair bursh.
"I can take care of myself thank you very much." Naruto answered with a small sideways smile.
"You're obviously a ninja. I can see that, but I'm a boarder guard. I'm telling you to turn around or I'll have to make you."
She tilted her head to the side. Her long blonde hair getting blown as a harsh wind came rushing in from the ocean.
"Are you from Uzu?" She asked curiously.
"Yes. Now leave, or do I have to make you blondie?" He asked getting fed up with her lack of reaction.
"Hmmm… Hey ginger, I wouldn't make fun of other people with abnormal hair colours if I was you!" Getting red in the face to match his hair, he took a step forwards.
"Careful blondie! I'm a Uzu lieutenant so you better tread carefully!"
"Lieutenant? Not even a commander yet?" She answered coyly. "Isn't that the same as one step above a rookie?" She teased, laughing lightly at his flustered face. He raised his chokutō threateningly and Naruto rose her hand in the air, still giggling.
"I come in peace, oh great lieutenant. Don't be so touchy, dattebayo. I was heading for Uzushigakure. Maybe you could give me some instructions as to how I can prove I don't mean any harm." She said still smiling.
Kurou lowered his blade while looking even more suspicious. Keeping her within his vision he took out a scroll from his back pocket and activated whatever was inside. "What did you do?" She asked unconcerned while Kurama was panicking on the inside.
"I called for backup. If you truly mean no harm then we'll see if you're telling the truth. We have protocols that needs to be followed ." He said stiffly. Naruto got the feeling she'd met someone who followed the rules to a T. Rolling her eyes they waited in silence.
Three ninja's appeared behind Kurou four minutes later, all of them studying the young woman in front of them.
"This is Namikaze Naruto-san. She wish to be granted entrance to Uzushigakure." Kurou said to the oldest, a man who looked to be in his late twenties.
"Oh? State your purpose Namikaze-san." He said briskly, crossing his hands in front of him and staring hard back at Naruto with a frown.
Naruto took a step closer, but realised quickly this had been a mistake, since all four tensed up like she'd electrocuted them.
"I mean no harm at all, dattebayo. I'm a wanderer. I've travelled through all five countries many times, and come across many mysterious powers on my journey. I come here in friendship but also for personal reasons, and I have to admit I'm dying to see your village. I've heard many great things and become curious, and as payment I will give you information I think you'll find very valuable." She said and bowed to show she knew she was asking a lot.
"Information? What sort of information?" He asked and folded his hands in front of him.
"Neh, I wouldn't have anything to bargain with if I told you right now. I might not be the sharpest kunai in the pouch, but I'm not an airhead, dattebayo!" She muttered stubbornly.
The four Uzu ninjas looked at each other before starting discussing in low voices. Not showing she heard every single word they said, she started appreciating the ocean waves.
A little later the oldest stepped forwards again. "Will you submit to a traitor test?" He asked and held up a scroll with a seal drawn on it. Naruto was about to agree when Kurama interrupted.
'Make sure what it is first, idiot!'
"Ye- I mean, what does that entail?" She asked.
"We ask you some questions while this seal is activated, then you won't be able to lie." He answered simply.
She thought about the deal. As long as they didn't ask the wrong questions that wouldn't be a problem, but on the other hand, what did she have to hide except being a time traveller? She doubted they'd ask something like that.
Maybe her name could be a problem, but what was really the big deal with stating she was an Uzumaki? They where all most likely related some way or another here.
"Alright, but could you use that thing first so I'm sure it's not a mobile prison or something?" She said cheekily and grinned.
Looking at her annoyed he huffed but complied.
Putting the scroll down on the ground, he activated it with a few hand signs. A circle of script shot out from underneath the scroll, and the man stepped inside. "I Naoki, promise you Naruto-san, to be released of the traitor seal when we are satisfied, if you mean no harm to Uzushigakure, do not break your promise, and do no harm or damage to anything or anyone within the time of your stay we will consider letting you enter." He said while the seal glowed bright yellow.
Slowly the light and script on the ground sank back into the scroll and Naoki looked back at Naruto. "Okay! I'll do it, dattebayo."
Activating the seal again and indicating for Naruto to step in she eagerly complied. Curious as to how that thing worked. It would have been dead useful for the T & I back in Konoha.
"What is your business in Uzushigakure?" Asked Naoki.
"To warn the main family about a moving threat." She answered before she had time to stop herself. Luckily she hadn't said anything more specific. Her eyes widened as the words spilled out. Naruto had the impression this seal only made her tell the truth, it didn't force it. She could stay silent, but whatever said had to be true for it to come out. The four of them tensed up like a hot wire, and came closer.
"Are you a threat?" Naoki pressed.
"No, dattebayo!"
"Do you work with, or allied with this threat?"
"No, damn it! I just said I was going to warn you guys!"
"Are you dangerous?"
Naruto wanted to deny it, but the word stopped in her throat. In a way… She was dangerous. She was altering time for crying out loud.
"I… I'm strong...But I'm alone, I have no family or allies. I can't say I'm not dangerous, but I can say I'm not dangerous to Uzushigakure." She said with burning eyes as she looked at Naoki.
Taking deep breaths at her declaration he continued his questioning.
"Where are you from?"
"Fire country."
"Where in the fire country?"
"Konoha."
"Where is that?"
"It doesn't exist any more." She answered angrily, they sure liked to dig for details.
There was a small pause before he continued. "What is the threat?"
But Naruto had enough of this, and stepped out of the seal. "I already told you I wanted to use that as a bargain ship to gain entrance. I just proved I mean no harm. I won't answer that question yet."
Naoki searched for any trace of lies on her face, but decided she was right. She truly didn't mean any harm.
"Okay, we'll let you enter, but you will have to wait until the guard change, We will escort you in when we get off duty, and take you to the council. They will be the one to tell these news to. What happens after will be up to them." He said and looked over to Kurou.
"She's your responsibility, boy. Keep her in sight at all times. I'll stay with you just in case."
Naruto rolled her eyes but followed them to the water edge. Looking out over the ocean she spotted the island far out at sea.
"Do you run there?" She asked Kurou.
"Normally yes, you can water walk right? Or do we have to get the boat?" She looked insulted back at him.
"Off course ginger! I'm a ninja, I could water walk when I was eight, dattebyo." She answered with her nose in the air. It was true, by the time her body had turned eight for the second time she had managed to water walk again.
The teenager droned on about all the rules she had to consider by gaining entrance. Naruto listened for a while, but soon her mind wandered back to three boys she hadn't seen in many years while she had searched for Black Zetsu. Wondering how they where doing.
"Those has to hurt..." Muttered Tobirama looking at his younger brother who was sitting half dazed on a rock.
"No, no, no! It's going to make me stronger you know. Just like older brother." Insisted Itama but winced as another shiver of pain shot up his spine.
"I'm certain you're not supposed to use them like that. What the hell are you trying to do?"
Itama grinned through his sweaty two coloured bangs and winked, which annoyed Tobirama to no end.
"Stop the idiocy this instance, Itama!" Exclaimed Tobirama and tried to snap the fire wire away from his little brother.
"You will put yourself aflame, you moron! These are used for battling! Not training!" He growled looking over his brothers scorched skin. "What the hell do you think you would gain from this? A tan?"
"But brother can heal without doing hand signs! He just heals! I wanted to gain the same ability as him, Tobirama." Itama whined, but grimaced when he tried to move.
"You either have it or you don't! You would have discovered a long time ago if you did, with all this idiocy of yours!"
Helping his brother to his feet, all the while checking him for undiscovered burn marks, he continued giving him a mouth full of opinions.
As they walked back to the house so Tobirama could bandage Itama up, they ran into Hashirama. After getting an ear full from both his elder brothers, Itama realised it might have been a tad bit desperate of him to wrap fire wire around himself as means of gaining a none existent healing ability.
"I just… want to get stronger… You two are so far ahead of me..." He muttered dejectedly as they sat around the dining table, Tobirama handing out tea for them all.
"This is not the way to go about it. Now you're injured, and you wont be able to train at all!" Snapped Tobirama, lifting his teacup to his mouth and taking a mouthful.
"I understand you're frustrated Itama. We all are at times, but come to me or Tobirama before you start doing experimental training, okay? We don't want you to get seriously hurt." Said Hashirama calmly.
"Okay, I will." The youngest Senju brother whispered shamefully.
"I guess that means I have to take you off guard duty for Thursday now..." Muttered Hashirama thoughtfully.
"I'll take it, he can do my shift on Saturday, he should be all right in four days." Said Tobirama looking at his brother's bandages.
"I can do my duties! I promise!" Exclaimed Itama leaning forwards.
"No, Tobirama will swap shifts with you. I don't want you hesitant to cast ninjutsu because your hands resemble raw meat." Muttered Hashirama and moved his head from side to side.
"So all off you will be out then? Father has the Thursday shift too!" Moaned Itama and leaned backwards again. "What am I supposed to do? It's so boring here all by myself."
"Stop complaining Itama, do some chakra exercises or visit some friends." Answered Tobirama with annoyance written all over his face. It was hard to decide which brother drove Tobirama the furthest up the wall. Hashirama and his over enthusiasm or Itama's with his insane ideas.
"Most of them are already dead." Muttered Itama, planting his elbows on the table and rested his head in his hands while he looked annoyed to the side. Not wanting to meet their eyes as he said it.
The older brothers looked at each other but didn't comment on it. It was true after all. Three month's ago they had buried one of Itama's closest friends who had died a slow death from his injuries. He had also happened to live next door. That had led to them hearing a lot off his suffering at night, which was the time he usually couldn't hold in his pain anymore.
It had been a cruel way to go.
"Well, then you just have to consider it punishment for being a moron." Said Tobirama and took another sip.
Naruto stood with Kurou and Naoki for several hours, bickering with the youngest who she found out was fourteen years old and was indeed a bookworm and a strict believer in following rules.
Naoki was stern and kept an eye on her without a single break. Sometime huffing when she did something not polite or a little too forwards.
In all it was a very boring afternoon and evening for the time traveller while she tried to make the hours pass. Close to ten they finally saw ten shinobi running from the island.
After a few words was exchanged, Naoki and Kurou was joined by five others, two of which was the kunoichi and shinobi from earlier in the day. They took formation around her and together they ran across the ocean surface at full speed.
She realised that Uzushigakure was protected by more then ten guards and the ocean when they came to a stop halfway to the island.
Naoki and two others started going through hand signs, she picked up boar, snake, bird, snake, before they started going so fast she couldn't keep up any more. When the last sign - the hawk - was done, a patch in mid air started glowing. A square, high and wide enough for a person to fit in, lit up in front of them.
"This is the entrance for people who hasn't been approved. You will have to go through this if you want to enter." Challenged Kurou with his hands crossed and leaning on his right leg.
Ignoring him like a pro, she walked with sure steps through the shiny square. Kurou looked disappointed while one of the girls chuckled at their antics. "Come on Naruto-san, follow me, I'll show you to the town hall." She said and took lead as the group split up.
Kurou and Naoki followed Naruto and the new young woman who'd spoken up. She was also a red haired and looked a lot like Kurou. Maybe they where related?
Jumping up on a wide beautiful dock, lit up with lanterns Naruto took in the sight of Uzu for the first time in her life.
It was dark now, but she could still see lights flowing through windows from the houses a little higher up on the island. She became fascinated by the powerful ocean smashing against the rocks, the sound of seagulls and the smell of salt and seaweed that lingered in the air.
The houses was mostly wooden, but a few in bricks was centred closer to the core of the village. The roofs was mokoshi shaped and the houses coloured in bold colours, especially the ones closer to the ocean. "Why are the houses painted in those colours?" She asked the girl. She seemed a lot more friendly then anyone she'd met in the last year.
"We get bad weather and a lot of fog, the colours help our shinobi and civilians who venture out of town to see us when the weather is really bad." She explained. "Not that civilians ever dare be out in bad weather though..."
"Oh... That makes sense. But doesn't that make you stand out a bit too? I mean; you're out on an island, I thought that was mostly so you wouldn't be seen." She pondered as they walked through a broad street with many closed shops on either side.
"Most would think that I guess. But really it's more so we see who's coming. There's few places you're more visible then on the water. If you try to go under you'll be smashed by the maelstroms. When civilians want to cross, shinobi has to drag the boat over so it doesn't whirl away. It's very hard to sneak up on us." She told Naruto who listened interested. Soon she also continued telling a little about their history and culture.
The Uzu was famed for their funijutsu, and the town was littered with it, mostly for protection but also to make life easier. Like the communication stands.
People could communicate with each other through instant writing. If you wrote on the scroll by the docs, then a person standing on the other side of the island by one of the guard station could see the same text.
They called it texting.
Civilians used it to send messengers through the public textings, while the shinobi used it when messages needed to be sent immediately.
Naruto wondered why on earth they still used birds back in her own time, when the Uzumaki clearly had come up with a much more efficient way a hundred years earlier.
She guessed when the village fell the knowledge went with it.
They came to one of the largest brick buildings, and the girl stopped in front of the entrance stairs with large round columns. "This is the Uzu hall, the village's town hall. The council are expecting you since we texted them earlier. You will have to leave your weapons in the reception though. We do not allow anyone to carry weapons in here. Not even paper." She said and grinned at her little joke.
Nodding she followed inside, Naoki trailing after her while Kurou was on her left. Stopping in the first room, which Naruto gathered was the reception, she started taking out her weapons and handed them to the man waiting with a large basket for her to put them in.
After handing over her chokutō, ten kunais, five knifes, twenty three shuriken, three odd looking forks and an uncountable numbers of senbons from the most unlikeliest of places, it was a slightly weary group that headed for the meeting room.
"Seriously, how do you hide so many shuriken in your hair? Don't you get cut or something?" Asked the girl who hadn't spotted any metal at all earlier, but looked on wide eyed as Naruto started plucking out one deadly weapon after the other from her ponytail.
"It's all about storage, dattebayo. I have them tied to a long thread inside my hair which is tied to my ponytail, that way if I'm really in a hurry I can just tug them out. The knots holding each shuriken can be removed easily if you just pull the release thread, that way the rest stay inside the hair. Dead useful if your being searched though, people seemed to assume you don't hide things in your hair for some reason. My hair is so thick and spiky someone has still to notice them yah' know." She replied happily since someone finally showed interest in her brilliant hiding place which she'd come up with all by herself.
"Really… Maybe I should grow my hair out." She replied running her hand over her red, tied hair. It was impossible to know the length in the first place, since she had it tied tightly into a ball at the back of her head.
Opening the door with the number 3 on, she walked in followed by the rest. The inside was lit with candles all along the walls, it had large windows from floor to ceiling with a view over the dark swirling ocean basked in moonlight. It was a powerful scenery.
'Just.. A little… faster' He mentally shouted to himself as his breath grew ragged. Almost at the stage where he was panting like a dog. Madara saw the tree which indicating his next to last pace change.
Flying past it, he slowed down until he had reached the tempo of a jog instead of full out sprint, and kept the pace for the next lap.
When he reached the final round of his stamina workout he was sweating like a waterfall, and he had to look absolutely hideous as he pressed himself faster.
One last effort for this session. Crossing the final goal line with a loud gasp he collapsed to the ground, the world spinning around him as he tried to calm down his racing heart.
"I'm proud of you son." Said a deep voice from the edge of the training ground Madara had taken claim over for the last six hours. Six hours of non stop training.
"You're taking your studies and training seriously. You're already as strong as I am, Madara. Something few of us can actually understand. You're making me believe we will win this war. And when the time comes you will take over the leadership of the Uchiha clan." Said Tajima with his arms crossed in front of him, a fierce pride shining in his spinning red eyes.
Madara had finally caught up in hight with his father. Tajima was still broader built, more muscles worked up tirelessly through his thirty eight year long life. He had dark spiky hair cut short and standing up at the back of his head. Uchiha Tajima was the leader of the Uchiha, and expected his sons to be the best of his age group. Not that Madara had anyone his own age in this village anymore, but he still expected him to be the strongest. Since his two older brother's had died already, it was Madara who was the heir.
Still panting as if he was dying, Madara choose to let the silence speak for him.
"You're so awesome, Madara-kun!" Exclaimed Naomi. The exhausted Uchiha didn't show any reaction to her words as he stayed flat on his back, arms spread out on each side and his hair so wild it resembled a haystack.
Madara doubted he looked anything close to cool where he lay watching the clear sky above him. It was ironic to Madara that Naomi had started showing such interest in him. A few years ago he'd been crushing bad on the girl, these day's she was so fucking annoying he wanted nothing but strangle her every time she started squealing. Which was any time she saw him.
He respected that the girl was attracted to strength. He was too. It was why he had gotten so well along with Hashirama and Naruto, but Naomi was weak in comparison. Once upon a time Madara had found her shiny, black hair and big brown eyes beautiful. She was from a respectable part of the clan and was very talented. Today he had to laugh at his own stupidity as he recalled thinking Naomi was the perfect girl.
"You're so strong Madara-kun. Do you want to train together?" Asked Naomi and then giggled when Madara nodded while getting back to his feet. "Be careful with me though. I can't keep up with yo-" But getting frustrated Madara interrupted her.
"Then what is the point of me sparring with you?" He challenged while one hand rested on his hip. Naomi looked confused and hurt at his jab.
"What do you mean? I just thought we could-" But again she was halted in the middle of her sentence by the other teenager.
"Kami, you don't even understand? I'm trying to get stronger. I won't limit myself and waste time on some make belief workout. If you actually want to challenge me, then you better be prepared for the consequences, Naomi. So what will it be?" He asked, dusting off gravel from his pants with a frown.
"Now, Madara. Remember your manners. Naomi only wants a friendly spar. It is always useful to know your allies abilities and limitations. It makes us work better as a clan, better as a united force. Learning can come from many sources. We have always prided ourself on our fellowship within the Uchiha clan." Explained Tajima looking pointedly at his son.
He was worried about how closed off Madara had become after the incident with the Senju boy.
The head of the Uchiha was happy about Madara's renewed and improved dedication to the clan. No one came close to him in terms of sheer hard work. No one but maybe Izuna, who was panicking about his older brothers rapidly growing strength. The younger Uchiha brother was the only one Madara seemed to still like.
Even Tajima was unsure where he stood with Madara sometimes. He was sure Madara would die for his father, but sometimes Tajima had the impression that his oldest son didn't like him as much as he loved him.
"We'll be attacking the Senju guards in two days, I need to grow stronger by then." Madara replied monotonously. "I'm merely making sure I can protect the clan the best I'm able to by the time we set out, father. Naomi isn't close to my level, so it will be a waste of time." He replied and sat down to start his daily chakra exercises.
The one he was doing right now had been taught to him by Naruto years ago. It was still his favourite and the most effective. Attaching a leaf to your forehead with chakra, and with the same means move it according to your mediums will.
He heard his two spectators leave him be. Knowing he was too stubborn to argue with right now. Madara was glad they did.
He liked silence, liked solitude. It made it so much easier to think, to remember and proses his own mind. Madara tried to empty his head and only feel, but he was still annoyed at Naomi.
He wondered when their roles had changed. When they were younger it had been Madara who'd tried to get her attention. Wanted her to play with him, or later go out with him.
Naomi had been indifferent, she had never disliked Madara, but had never been interested in him romantically. Instead she'd been crushing on pretty, older boys such as Katsu and his cousin Yamato.
There were many good looking faces within the Uchiha clan. Even though Madara wasn't bad looking, he didn't posses the handsome features as many of his cousins and even his younger brother did. They had been cute as a doll when they where kids, and was growing into heart breakers as they became older.
Madara was normal... At least that's what he considered himself to be.
He had always tried to be honest with himself. Not wanting to hide behind excuses and take care of problems as soon as they arrived. Breaking his friendship with Hashirama had been one of the hardest problems he'd dealt with so far.
Abandoning their dream and fight him again and again was a choice he had struggled with at first. But choosing his family over a stupid imagined village had been the obvious answer from the start.
Since that last day by the creek he'd trained relentlessly. Knowing that Hashirama and especially Naruto was stronger had made him desperate to improve. Learning every ninjutsu in the clan repertoire and inventing his own. Getting up at dawn and working into the night whenever he had the possibility. It seemed this had gotten him quite a bit of attention. Even from Naomi, his "dream" girl. But just like Konoha, Naomi had just been childish fantasy.
They had nothing in common, and the only reason Madara could think Naomi suddenly wanted his attention was because so many others did.
At first she'd been confident in her advantages, knowing Madara had a crush on her. It had been a surprise for both of them when the young Uchiha soldier got so fed up with her during their conversation he'd left.
Then there was Hana, Hina and Izumi, all of them finding his silence mysterious, his dedication to getting stronger admirable, but most of all it was his complete lack of interest in them that seemed to trig the competition gene.
They lived in a harsh time, where lies, death and betrayal was part of the written code of ninjas.
Madara had early decided that while he was a ninja, where he was forced to trick and fool others, he would never lie to himself. That's why Madara realised quickly the reason for his sudden lack of interest in his admirers. It was simply because he was already crushing on someone else. A girl who probably hated him, and who he'd most likely never see again.
This train of thoughts only made him more annoyed, and shaking his head back and forth inn hope of pushing out the pictures of blonds, brunettes and black haired girls all together, he concentrate on gathering chakra to a specific point instead.
Attaching the small leaf to the same area it stuck for a few seconds before Madara tried to move it gently to the side of his head. It was a careful exercise. One where you had to take your time and never falter.
Naruto could drawn patterns up and down her arms and stomach with her leaf all those years ago. Madara was almost at the same level now, he was still working on moving his chakra with a flowing tempo which kept the same intensity.
"Madara, come here. I want a word with you." Ordered his father after a few hours of blissful peace.
Peeking one eye open he saw his father standing right in front of him with a no nonsense kind of expression. The leaf which had been attached to his ear lost it's grip and fell lazily past his shoulders. Sighing he joined his elder as he walked away.
"You already know that I'm proud of you, Madara. But the world we live in is a dark one right now. I do not want you to treat your clansmen the way you've been doing lately. You're becoming arrogant. To be proud of your own power is one thing, thinking that power gives you privilege is another. For that you will actually have to achieve something with your abilities first." His father told him as they started walking towards the outskirts of the Uchiha village.
"Yes, father."
"I know you will succeed me one day, probably sooner then later, and nothing will make me prouder then seeing you become the leader I've always seen within you. Together we're moving the clan into better times. We just have to throw down the Senju and all the lands between wave and Kuohara will mostly be controlled by the Uchiha, we will be allowed to go back to how it used to be. When children didn't have to be sent to the front lines to fight. I know you want this as well. Your mother always said you where an intuitive and sensitive child. Someone who both understood and pitied, even before you should have been able to." He paused and put his hand on Madara's shoulder.
"You are distancing yourself from the clan, Madara. I understand your wish to grow stronger as fast as possible. We all wished we could, and your dedication gives us all courage. But remember, Madara, and never forget, that the clan comes first. Before yourself, before me or your brother or any singular person. I know you've had problems trusting since the incident with the Senju boy. However your treatment is being commented on amongst the clan. You have all the abilities to lead our people, but you need to show the others that. That privilege should be given to everyone within the village, not just me and your brother."
"You make it sound like I went about spilling our secrets to the Senju, father."
"I know you never did such a thing. You've always been careful, what I'm saying is that you're starting to rely on no one but yourself. It's not healthy, Madara. And when you take over after me, you will want the clan behind you. Cheering and relying on you the same way you do them. Tell me; how much do you believe the others would trust in you if I died in this instance and you had to take over? As much as I hate to admit it, that Hashirama is both strong and has many allies within the Senju. He will take over when we kill his uncle, as long as he survives himself to see the day."
His father paused for a moment with a frustrated huff. "The last year has shown a real change in them. They act more together. They rely on each other the same way we Uchiha always has. It's making it more difficult for us to take them down after Senju Hashirama started uniting his clan better. Even though he is yet to be leader it's clear he's very valuable. I know I hardly need to remind you that it is your responsibility to kill him." Tajima said and glanced down at his son's expressionless face.
"But from now on he is free game for all of us. You said you wanted to prove your loyalty by killing him yourself, but he is becoming a danger, Madara, a real beast just like you. I guess that's why you became friends in the first place. You noticed each others talent. He needs to be removed before he grows much stronger, son. During the attack we all will try and separate Senju Hashirama from the rest and kill him."
"Good." Replied Madara without moving his eyes away from the road in front of him. He'd known Hashirama would become a threat from the beginning. It was good to hear everyone else finally catching up.
"That's a big part of why I've been training so hard. I know I was being unjust to Naomi earlier, but frankly her approaches are pathetic, and I want her to take the hint sooner rather then later." Said Madara, crossing his arms in front of him and sighed. Tajima laughed and patted his son's shoulder, finding it strange that they were the same hight already.
"Ah, Madara. You will one day wake up and realise that women has good instincts when it comes to the matters of the heart. I myself was blind to it for a very long while. Your mother was right there my whole life without me realising. Isn't it strange how our clear sighted bloodline can make us so blind sometimes?" Said Tajima and looked with mirth at Madara's scandalized expression.
"Yes, I sometimes think we become so confident in our eyesight we stop seeing the obvious right there in front of us. It took a near death experience and a loooong hospital stay for me to get some sense knocked into me. I proposed as soon as I could get out of the bed. Before we'd been on as much as a date." Tajima laughed and nudged his son's head, getting his hand tangled in Madara's wild long hair.
The son smiled and chuckled. He sort of understood what his father meant, it had been months after their last meeting that Madara had realised he was besotted with the happy girl himself.
"I doubt I'll ever propose to Uchiha Naomi. Nothing irks me more these days then her approaches. I can respect she wants a strong husband, but..." He trailed off, pictures of a young golden haired girl so full of life swiftly crossed through his head.
"Naomi is a good choice, though. It's not so long now until you're ready to marry, but you'll have to find someone you can stand of course." He chuckled here and shook his head at Madara's grimace.
"But you need to find someone suitable. Someone who can carry our bloodline into the next generation. Naomi activated her sharingan at the same age as you did. She's being acknowledged for her genjutsu skills and use of ninja wire. She's also very clever, even though you might not have seen too much of that lately." Tajima said while Madara rolled his eyes. "One day, if it's with you or someone else, she'll make an excellent partner, a good wife and devoted mother."
"Why do you keep pushing her on me, father? I'm not interested."
Tajima stopped and frowned at his eldest son, a swift change coming over him. It reminded Madara of how he became whenever they started a battle against the Senju.
"Forget about the Namikaze girl. She's probably dead by now. No one has seen her in years, living like homeless beggar in these times was suicidal from the beginning. By now she'll either have been caught, or killed, or both. Naruto isn't coming back, move on. That's an order."
The two stopped in their tracks as Madara wrestled with his emotions. Of course she wouldn't come back and most likely his father was right. It still pissed him off to hear him talk like that.
"Yes, father." He replied curtly, bowed his head and left his father to continue his training.
Author note: Thank you so much for reading!
For once this chapter wrote itself.
A long time skip has occurred, and I'm really excited about Naruto going to Uzushigakure after tirelessly combing the five nations for black Zetsu.
I know Uzushigakure is not canon, since I believe in the manga Uzu became a hidden village after Konoha. But for the sake of this story I made it exist ahead of time.
So I guess this chapter hints who might be paired up. There is some romance in the picture, but you should remember that Naruto has a very different perspective of Madara then for example Hashirama has. She knew him as the destroyer of the world first, then as a stubborn twelve year old second. Whatever might come of this will be slow, I just thought I'd warn you. With that said, I do like the idea of them as a pair. To me Madara is a very exciting character to write no matter who he is put in context with.
Please forgive any grammar mistakes!