He stumbled throughout the forest. His lung punctured and his intestines ruptured. If he was any other man he'd have been dead. But he couldn't die yet. He still had a mission to do and if he died now it would never be completed.

Blood dripped from his robes. He turned at the sound of a twig breaking and lost his footing. Falling he heard something break as his chest began to hurt even more. "Damn it." He coughed up blood as he got back to his feet. His vision was blurring. He'd die soon, he knew that. But his will was strong. He couldn't die, he wouldn't.

"She can't live. He won't keep her safe forever. And he'll regret this. Once I've recovered I'll kill him. After all, I've.." he coughed again as he fell to his knees. The sounds of voices could now be heard. They were getting close. In his condition he knew he couldn't fight. But at this point he had no choice. Getting out a knife he leaned against a tree and got ready to fight. And then.

"Hey, do you need help?" He turned to see a white humanoid creature staring at him. He was shocked to see it as it asked again. "Do you need help? I'd tell me before those guys get here."

Looking in the voices direction he knew they'd be getting here within minutes. "Yes, p-please." The creature nodded as it grabbed him and began to carry him off, at a speed beyond any ninja. He didn't say anything to the creature as it moved through the tree's.

"You're welcome." It said as it continued to move away from the village and into the mountains to the east. "So what's your name?" He didn't answer. "My name's Zetsu. I've been watching you for a bit and I knew you needed help so I decided I would. Aren't I great?" He didn't answer.

"You're no fun. Hey, want to talk about something else?"

"Where are you taking me?" He asked as his voice became much more similar to that of a normal person, it having originally sounding deeper and more gravely.

"Wow, your voice changed! How'd you do that? I want t…"

"ANSWER THE DAMN QUESTION!" He yelled as Zetsu jumped at being yelled at.

"Sorry. I'm taking you to my master."

"Your master?" He asked.

"Yep. He's great. I think you'll like him."

"We'll see." He said as they came to the mouth of a cave. Suddenly he coughed again as he blacked out, hearing Zetsu's cries for help as his consciousness faded.

XXX

He jumped to life as he looked around the room he was in. It was a large chamber with almost no lighting say for a few torches. "Where am I?"

"You're in my home." He turned quickly as he saw an old man sitting in a chair, a large statue behind him.

"Who are you?" He asked this stranger. The old man smiled as he got up from his chair and approached him.

"I'd like to know the same thing." The old man said as he came up to him.

"You first." He said as he began to rise to his feet, now realizing much of his pain was gone, say for a bit of pain still in his chest.

"I'd be careful, you're still injured even if I did save you. But for what you wanted to know. My name is Madara Uchiha."

He immediately knew that name as he looked to the man who called himself Madara. "Madara. You're. I see." Rising to his feet completely he looked down on the old man and yet even then he could tell that this Madara had much power within him.

"You're alive. I didn't think that was possible."

Madara chuckled at that. "Under any other circumstance then yes. Fortunately I have had some help these many years." As he pointed to a root embedded into his neck. The man didn't say anything, he himself seemed to be contemplating something.

"Well, now that I've told you my name. Why don't you tell me yours." The man didn't say anything as he just looked at the old man. After a few minutes he seemed to have figured something out as he walked up to the chair and stared at the statue.

"My name…is Jiyū. Jiyū Ryūjin."

Madara didn't say anything as he walked up to Jiyū.

"This thing keeps you alive."

"Yes. Without it I would die. I've been like this for many years now."

"But in your battle against Hashirama, it's said you died."

"In a way I did. But luckily I had a way to prevent it. At a cost. But I was able to prevent that as well eventually." Madara sat in his chair as he spoke. Groaning as he did.

"Why are you telling me all this?" Jiyū asked as he looked at the old man.

"I heard you were after a girl. One that was different from others. Like you, why?"

"If I said then I'd have to kill you."

"Or you could help me."

Jiyū looked at the old man confused. "Why?"

"Because I can tell that your reasons and mine are the same. I heard about what you said in your sleep and I believe we have similar goals. To an extent. So if you help me then maybe I can help you." Jiyū looked at the old man as he pondered something.

"Alright, but under one condition."

"And that is?"

"We work together."

Madara smiled as he put out his hand. Jiyū did the same as they shook hands. "Deal. Now, can you tell me about the girl?"

"Of course."