11.

Madara stared at the ceiling with a frown on his forehead. It wasn't unusual for the young leader to look like that. In fact, there were many things that annoyed him on a regular basis, but at that moment the thing that annoyed him was the absence of his wife. True, he didn't particularly care about her but it was the lack of control over her that bothered him. Anyone could tell that he was a possessive and controlling man. It was the only thing he knew, and Yuna somehow managed to evade all of his demands.

Madara hadn't figured it out yet did he dislike Yuna because of her personality, or because she is one of those people who didn't let him have his way all the time. It was somewhat pleasuring and interesting to see someone who didn't act polite or who didn't want anything from him. Every woman he had before had always wanted something, his power, body or his heart without giving anything in return. Everything they knew about life or success was limited to sucking up on him, or simply sucking him.

These women had beautiful bodies, beautiful eyes and hair but the soul inside of the marvellous piece of art was shallow and boring with complexity or levels to them.

Perhaps the only reason Madara felt slightly interested was simply because Yuna didn't want him. The women he knew worshipped and adored him, but that woman felt repulsed. It was like a challenge. A game perhaps? If she falls in love and proves to be as boring as the rest of her kind, she'd be cast aside and quickly.

A knock in his door interrupted his train of thought, forcing Madara to get up from the bed, which he did reluctantly. Last night's sleep had been restless and plagued by dreams. Madara straightened up and the door opened. There was a maid there with his lunch. Was it really lunchtime already? She walked in without a word and placed the tray on his table. When she turned around to leave Madara sighed.

"Has my wife returned yet?" He asked calmly. That maid was one of those he didn't like to snap on because the lady started to lecture her whenever he did. Despite being only a servant, the elder radiated of authority and somehow managed to put Madara to shame, only if she wished. The maid stopped and turned around with a frown on her forehead.

Madara knew that frown; it meant that he did something wrong, and a lecture or something similar was bound to follow. It was easier to take it when he was anticipating it.

"A true man doesn't sit back when his woman is missing, Madara-sama." The corners of her lips were turned downwards and she bowed slightly before leaving, closing the door with a bit too much force.

Madara snorted and his fist hit the table and his eyes turned away. That maid seriously needed some taming, but there was truth to her words. What if something had happened? How would they patch it up with the Kunisada clan? There was no point in going to war with them, especially with anonymous threat looming over the clan's head after the murders. No, the clan had enough tension to deal with already and he should not add more to it.

He got up and walked to the window with a small smirk on his lips. If only he'd know her location...It could be fun to form some payback for last night's insolence.

It was better than trying to figure out the small attack on the wagon. It was a dead end, they had reviewed the case with Izuna and various other bright minds countless times, looked up any hidden clues or meanings to the murder methods but their research had turned up nothing. He heard someone running towards his office. Without knocking the door was opened.

"Madara-sama, forgive me for disturbing you, we caught a woman from the Kuna clan!" The man said hastily. Madara felt a twitch of hope and surprise in him, but his only way to express it was with a raised eyebrow. Yuna was going to have to wait, along with lunch. Yuna knew the way back herself, and if she was dead then there was nothing to do now.

He walked past the man in a quick pace. The ninja followed him hastily, remaining at a respectful distance.

"Where is she and who's with her?" Madara demanded from the ninja. The people around the household kept out of their leader's way, paying their respects and casting their eyes down as he passed.

"We took her down to the cells. She's there with Izuna-sama and two guards, just as a measure of security, not because we doubt Izuna-sama's capability. We don't know her name but we found her with two others lurking near the wall. The other two attacked and were killed, but the woman was taken with us. The bodies are taken care of." He said hurriedly. Madara nodded and raised his hand to dismiss the man. It was a disappointment that the other two were killed.

"I want them alive next time. Have you not learnt how to knock out your opponents?" The ninja stopped and turned around while Madara walked forward. He cursed his bluntness for a moment. It wasn't that hard to praise the men, yet he rarely did it. Kept the standards high.

The air grew colder as he headed to the lower levels. As promised, two men were stationed outside the door. It might've seen like a simple job but the guards were highly trained to match Izuna's style. The Uchiha held their secrets and treasures all around the compound with only a few people aware of their location. Some of those secrets and treasures were hidden deep inside these cold cells. The guards bowed before pushing the door open for their leader, allowing him to enter.

Madara had an amused smirk plastered on his lips. He remained highly doubtful that the woman was going to speak. If she had that much courage to lurk around the Uchiha compound then she had to have some guts. Kuna clan wasn't a potent threat, destroying them would be relatively easy and most likely with few casualties. They're not at peace with them so Uchiha can attack at any given moment without violating any contracts so no one shouldn't bristle too much at the loss.

Madara's echoing steps were the only thing that he heard while stepping down the stone stairs. The air around him grew freezing, step-by-step. He walked past the small corridor. Their prison had only 5 cells because the Uchiha weren't famous for taking prisoners. Quite the contrary, it was a special compliment to be taken into captivity.

Madara walked to the end of the corridor were he felt Izuna's familiar chakra and pushed the door open. The two guards stood at both sides of a woman who was shackled to the wall with her hands behind her and forced on her knees. An uncomfortable position that didn't allow much movement to make this more pleasurable for her. Izuna was standing near her with his usual politeness displayed on his face.

"Madara, I hope that you weren't doing anything very important when I called you," he said gleefully, making sure to call him by his first name. The name Madara was enough to strike fear into opponents.

Madara snorted and his eyes travelled to the woman. She was fully conscious and her eyes were wide. Not many people survive long enough on the battlefield to see Uchiha Madara this close and to be personally interrogated…well he was surprised that the girl had not yet wet herself. No enemy ever made it so close to him. The lack of distance was enough to make her stomach twist and turn. She held back a shriek when Madara walked towards her, making every step sound like eternity.

It was perhaps that moment when she realised that there will be no happy ending to this scenario.

Madara leaned down to her face, grabbing a fistful of hair and tilting the girl's head back. He looked deep into her eyes, his blood red Sharingan shining in the dim light. The woman felt his breath on his face. The tips of her fingers started shaking as her nostrils were filled with the sweet smell of him.

A demon indeed, alluring and beautiful, yet dangerous and frightening to touch.

"There are two ways we can do this," he started, "You can tell them everything you know honestly...or they leave and you stay here with me until I get what I want from you." He said in a quiet voice. Madara released the girl whose head fell down like a marionette's, took a few steps back and Izuna stepped to the woman with a polite smile that had an eerie edge to it.

"I'm going to keep the previous incident a small secret. So let's try again. What's your name?" He asked as if he worked in a hotel. If the guards felt uncomfortable, they did a damn good job in hiding it. People had a tendency to grow a bit…twitchy when Madara revealed just how dangerous he could be.

Gossip spread like wildfire and it was old news that Yuna Uchiha had wondered off, but it only managed to cut his temper shorter.

The girl looked at the guards for some help but they looked right past her, as if she were a piece of furniture. Madara's eyes were still gleaming darkly and they were fixed at her with his hands crossed over his chest arrogantly. Everything to make the girl feel insignificant, to break her down.

Izuna's soft smile didn't help at all, if anything it made her more uncomfortable. The entire situation was nerve wrecking. The girl let a short laugh escape her lips, remembering her parents. You'll die young if you pursue this path. For once, her parents were right.

She knew that they weren't going to let her go even if she told anything. It was a lose-lose situation. The only person who gained anything from it was Madara. Izuna shook his head, convinced that the girl was mad.

"Darling I'm trying to help you. You see I may not be as forgiving as you think, but Madara isn't as patient as you believe...I'm not going to give you another chance unless you start spitting out answers soon." He said, sounding almost genuinely concerned. The girl was about to say something when Madara snorted, making her stop.

"Out!" He barked the command. Izuna straightened up and the girl felt tears forcing their way into her eyes. The guards exchanged glances before leaving hastily.

"Are you sure? Well you're the head so I have to obey. See you later, girl." Izuna said and slowly walked out. The door was closed behind him and Madara and the woman were left there alone. Izuna and the guards waited outside. She heard the lock click and that's when the first tears began to fall. A shinobi shows no emotion. Just this once the pair thought the exact same thing.

Madara looked down to her, all traces of compassion gone from his features.

"You know, I wasn't in a good mood to begin with...and there is a good possibility that your clan murdered my kin, and for that I can't forgive you." He looked at her with death in his eyes. The woman felt her entire body shaking. She always wondered why someone so young like him managed to crawl up to become the leader, but whatever doubts the had before had vanished.

She saw his Sharingan change into something different, and that's when the pain hit her.

The guards flinched when the screams reached their ears. It was especially uncomfortable because only Izuna knew what could happen down there. Her guilt had not been proved so neither of the guards had made up their minds yet whether to feel sorry for the lad or not. Izuna turned around with a smile on his face.

"Madara's a little rough today don't you think...It shouldn't take too long...I wonder where Lady Yuna is..." Izuna mused out loud before strolling of absentmindedly. The guards glanced at each other.

Which one was more dangerous, Madara or Izuna? – the thought flashed through their heads and for the second time this day, two people were connected.

Updated version :)