Ikari was making a face while walking behind Madara and Izuna, probably believing that the two couldn't notice, but the difference in perception between trained shinobi and one in elementary training was like night and day.

"Hn," Izuna grunted, the back of his head resting on his hands, his elbows pointed forward. "Oi, pipsqueak. If you have something on your mind, just say it? Getting picked on?"

Who would dare?

Madara snorted up ahead, more in amusement than annoyance. Whenever he, Izuna, or their older brothers weren't around, mother and Ikari's masked escorts were always nearby to dissuade any with untoward intention. Don't get her wrong, but that was the matriarch of the clan acting as Ikari's protector. Few if any would disrespect her, because after her would come father, and even the clan elders with too much interests invested in Ikari to risk her mental state.

Still, it helped that Ikari could not notice her constant tails, preventing her from feeling suffocated.

Ikari didn't respond to Izuna's attempt at coaxing, her complexion looking somewhat pale.

Now Madara frowned as he and Izuna stopped, and turned around to face their youngest sister. If Izuna was more tentative with his words, then Madara was blunt.

"Spit it out." Madara crossed his arms and waited, watching her squirm.

His little sister was a pushover when it came to him. It was an idle observation, but she seemed apprehensive of making him angry. Maybe he reminded her of father's strict bearings, or maybe it was something else? But Madara could tell that there was something more significant to it than what she let on.

She put up resistance this time, but still buckled under his and Izuna's stares.

"D-Don't laugh okay?" Ikari stood with her hands by her side.

Madara and Izuna glanced at each other, but said nothing.

Ikari was not reassured, but eventually still said what was bothering her.

"I-I think I'm haunted." Her eyes darted left and right, her entire demeanor rather antsy. "When I nearly fell, no; when I fell earlier, something caught me and then stood me back up. A-And also, things that I've misplaced suddenly turn up when I need them, and even food that I know was not there is left in my room."

'You mean mother?'

Madara's lip twitched, while Izuna had a harder time keeping a straight face when Kei and Kagami strode up to them.

"S-Spirits might be haunting me, and you're laughing!" Ikari pointed at Izuna who couldn't take it anymore and turned away from Ikari.

She looked genuinely rattled, likely because of the horror stories she must have heard from people in the clan. But, rather than ghosts or spirits, Madara would have to correct her views.

"Not haunted, but blessed," Madara explained.

All the ghosts Ikari spoke of were the very people she'd given a second chance at life, and all were Uchiha. They would not harm her. If not for love and family, then because their pride and gratitude would not allow it.

"These 'spirits' will never harm you, and will always mean well, so don't resist if you're suddenly whisked away, or something you can't explain happens around you. This is an ability and privilege that belongs solely to you."

"So," Ikari pondered, her features tentative while becoming oddly hopeful. "I have a special power?"

No. Rather, you are loved.

Madara's actual reply was less burdensome.

"Yes," he said before shaking his head and continuing forward again, dragging Izuna along.

Madara should have thought better. From Ikari's perspective, Madara and Izuna were the only ones around, but to Madara and Izuna, their group had become a group of five.

"I-It's happening!" Ikari suddenly screamed, causing Madara to freeze and stiffly turn his gaze back towards Ikari.

Kagami was keeping a straight face while lifting Ikari up by the armpits. Their oldest brother knew exactly what he was doing.

"I-I can fly?!" Ikari swallowed as Kagami began moving her as if she were a gliding bird. "M-Maybe I can do more. What about this?"

Kagami stopped moving Ikari around and held her in the air when she tried to right herself.

"Hehehe," she giggled, demeanor growing stupidly arrogant. "With this, the world shall know…pain!"

"She's getting carried away," Izuna muttered, but failed to break Ikari's sudden enthusiasm. Rather, she looked at Izuna like a God staring down from the heavens.

"Almighty, push!"

One second Izuna was standing there utterly unimpressed, and in the next Kei shoved him to the side. He didn't even dodge as his mind was still trying to catch up to the antics of his elder brothers and Ikari's imagination.

Seeing Izuna suddenly fall, Ikari froze, staring at her hand, then back at Izuna, then back to her hand. Her blatant disbelief and awe was both amusing and annoying. Her ego was inflating. "I-It's real?"

Suddenly, Ikari's chin craned up, the power of her hand pointing at Madara's direction.

"Push!"

Madara crossed his arms, daring Kei to even try.

"Push!"

Kei shrugged. He most certainly dared. His hands formed a set of hand seals. "Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

A torrent of wind sent a stunned Madara flying, Sharingan quickly flaring in anger as he crashed into the other side of the compound's training hall.

"Knock it off!"

Madara knew exactly who his words were directed at. Sure it was fun to mislead Ikari now, but who would take the blame when she tried to fly again and no one was there to catch her?!

Idiots!

P a treon. com (slash) Parcasious