~ Chapter 9 ~
In Oasis ~ The day of Mito's tragic passing.
~
Smiles all around him, the bustling atmosphere joyful. Such is Madara Uchiha's first impression of the Oasis Village.
An interesting juxtaposition as Outside the confines of this bubble of a village, The desert is sweltering and inhospitable as he expected.
Granted the immediate border and its surroundings are quite flush with green. Madara supposes the further one goes, the dryer and less enchanting the scenery would be.
As the tan skinned young man before him continues his lecture, Madara wants answers now.
"But No further, correct?" He interrupted Rasa, his official escort for the duration of his visit to Oasis.
"It's as you suggest my Lord Uchiha, she doesn't impede our neighbor's jurisdiction. Our Sakuya knows better." Rasa replied. If he was bothered by Madara's lack of deference, it doesn't show.
"Her power is wonderful, yes, but taken out of context, our neighbors could so easily view it as an act of aggression."
Noting the pride and uninhibited affection present in Rasa's tone, Madara wonders if his proximity to this Sakuya is coloring his impressions.
'Interesting. But he mentioned earlier that he knows Sakuya primarily through her brothers. They grew up in the same shelter but, it wasn't until they rose in influence and recruited him to "their cause" that he knew Sakuya as anything but a child younger than himself...'
'Why downplay it earlier? I guess tonight I'll know for sure.' Resuming his attention to Rasa's tour, Madara takes in the sights. The white stone buildings entwined with green patches and many colored blossoms are a fascinating contrast. Madara is drawn out of his observations by Rasa.
"Ah, Lords Shiroyuki and Reiji? They mentioned it would be nice to speak with you. How about now?"
Nodding in approval, Madara agrees. May as well, let's get these niceties over with."
Early that evening.
As the festival draws to an end, Madara is surprised by the sense of contentment in his heart. 'The food was pleasant and delicious, and the entertainment was well organized."
Seated in his box, for the closing entertainment from Madara's vantage point, he sees other dignitaries are also comfortable.
Some with an anticipation on their faces that lends to Madara's theory that they are more used to this than others.
'So they've been here before? That makes sense, just because it was never explicitly open, that wouldn't stop anyone curious.'
'Izuna my brother, you were right. Even if the rumors are provincial exaggerations, the time away from the war will be worth it.'
Glancing around the packed vicinity, it's apparent that pretty much the entire village is present. 'This isn't a real theatre, yet so many people went out of their way to be here.'
The sound of several woodwind instruments catches his attention. Directing his attention to the glimmering stage across, Madara folds his arms expectantly. 'It's beginning? Finally, one way or another I'm getting my answers.'
The music swells and from the left, a lone girl emerges. Dressed in a style foreign to Madara, he can't yet see her face. Attempting to analyze the choices Madara hungrily zooms in on the detailing.
'The gown is nice. The supple silk is sleek but flowy enough, I see it won't hinder the performance. I guess the arrangement of gold ornaments is meant to emulate bird feathers.
The circlet of pearls around her brow is another- wait. I've seen that somewhere...'
Before Madara's memory can recall where he recognizes the spiraling jewelry adorning the red-blonde-haired dancer, Sakuya strides in elegant circles about the stage, she lifts a single arm straight up, and her hand is positioned in a way emulating a peacock.
Her thumb and index finger form a beak, her remaining three fingers are like a crown.
Shifting seamlessly from dance to a mesmerizing aria, Sakuya has the audience breathless. Her 'Peacock' multifaceted spectacle moves along to the changing music.
Every time it seems near an end, a new element flows forth building upon what came before.
The Uzumaki chains fan outward from behind her, metamorphising into swaying garlands of different flowers extending in all directions. Several of which he can't recognize, Madara can barely breathe. Unable to look away from the inhuman vision before him. Sakuya's soaring soprano pitches down, now an alluring lower medium register.
'So primal, yet beautiful... these sights... Wait. It couldn't be.'
"Release," Madara whispered.
To his near disappointment, nothing is any different. The songstress before him continues on. Every bit as magnificent as she began. Sakuya's power resonated in all directions.
'No change.' "It isn't Genjutsu? Of course not, he chided himself. "What am I thinking? I'm Uchiha, I would have noticed immediately."
Settling himself back down, his suspicions at ease (for now at least) Madara is content to enjoy himself. Lost in the splendor.
Rain falling gently against the coverings of their location, Sakuya bends down on a knee, her extraordinary performance over all too soon.
As the applause thunders around him, Madara steps up from his seat to join in. 'Izuna should be seeing this.' he thought. Finally catching a glimpse of her incomparable face, Madara is only vaguely aware of the hunger brewing within.