Chapter 2
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Over a fortnight passed before Madara entered the clearing to find only the younger sibling training. For all that his friend's recklessness and soft heart barred him from being the ideal shinobi, Hashirama was the paragon of protective older brothers. However, after weeks of Madara's attempts on his younger sister's life, the boy could be assured of Naruto's virtue in the other male's presence.
Unfortunately, he could be just as assured of her physical safety, after seeing her slam the older boy into the ground countless times through Madara's impromptu assassination attempts.
Despite the… temporary setbacks… that Madara suffered, the dark-haired boy had not considered his attempts to be lacking fruit. He had gathered a great deal of useful information from them, including the fact that Naruto had inhuman stamina, speed, and healing, but below-average reaction time and strength. And while she was in possession of monstrous chakra reserves- that were entirely wasted in her feminine body- her chakra control was shot to hell on a good day. Hashirama was also adamant that he would not teach her a single jutsu until she had mastered water-walking.
Which was why, he was unsurprised to find the blonde training today, waddling like a lame duck over the surface of the river.
Naruto turned a wary glare on him but didn't make any move to engage him in conversation once he merely leaned against the tree. Madara supposed that the younger girl was still holding a grudge over having half of her long, blonde locks burned off. He didn't know why. The shoulder-length hairstyle didn't give any opponents a convenient grapple hold, and besides, wasn't she supposed to be afraid of marriage or something?
It was certainly Hashirama's main reason to have her here, training under his attentive supervision, then in a clan compound of lustful stares and wandering hands. Though, that did beg the question…
"Why doesn't anyone question your disappearance from the compound?" Madara demanded.
"They don't care to remember my existence," was the bitter reply. The young girl cheerfully added an explanation. "I'm Hashirama's illegitimate half-sister."
Madara nodded. The Uchiha Clan did not engage in infidelity or the practice of keeping mistresses- though mostly to keep track of the Sharingan- but he knew it to be common in other families. Madara wasn't too impressed with the practice- potential security leaks, erosion of clan morale, opportunities for enemy sabotage- and considered the Uchiha's stance on the matter to be another example of their innate superiority over the other shinobi clans in Fire Country.
At the dark-haired boy's contemplative silence, Naruto turned to peek at him through yellow-blonde lashes. "You don't pity me?" She asked, hesitantly.
Madara sneered. "I have no interest in the pathetic sorrows of your personal life, woman."
When she beamed back and took a step towards him, the older boy flinched, and gingerly placed one hand over his eye. Was she going to punch him again?
Naruto's eyes tracked the semi-aborted retreat and felt mortified. "I wasn't going to attack you!" She blurted out, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you like this- AH!"
Unfortunately, by then Madara's fingers had already hurried through a series of seals, so he could gain the advantage of the first attack. And Naruto was on fire. Again.