It was a sunny afternoon in Konoha. There was a cool breeze keeping villagers calm as they went about their daily lives. The weather was perfect for training, adventures, and dates, but Reina was curled up inside. She was sitting in her oversized chair with a notebook, pen, blanket, and a cup of tea. It was advised that she relax the day before her wedding and that's exactly what the introverted girl would do. Recharge in solace. Reina took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of her burning incense. The smell of oak moss, gardenia, and sandalwood filled her nostrils before slowly exhaling. She looked down at her paper, too tired to complete her poem. There were so many thoughts to express, but she didn't know where to start and where to end. Reina sighed and sipped her tea, letting her ideas come naturally.
There was a knock at her door and Reina barely shifted. "Come in!" She called.
The door cracked open to reveal Shika. The elder came in and bowed. "Pardon me, Reina. I know you are trying to relax today, but I wanted to bring you a schedule of your wedding day tomorrow."
"Thank you. I appreciate it." Reina gave a lethargic smile. "Please set it on the nightstand."
"Of course." Shika gently laid the paper down on Reina's nightstand. "Enjoy your leisure time." The elder bowed before turning to leave Reina in peace.
Under the starry sky, Reina reached up to pet the snout of Kurama, the nine-tailed fox. She watched as he lay there, closing his eyes in peace. Reina smiled up at him. "I wish I could trade places with you."
The fox spirit raised one ear. "Oh? So, you can unintentionally instill fear in others and constantly have to avoid evocation? Yes, it is a life of luxury."
Reina smirked. "At least you've avoided entrapment so far."
"And I plan to keep it that way," Kurama grumbled. "This Madara guy, he can't be that bad."
"No, he isn't thus far." Reina took a few steps as she began rubbing the fox's cheek. "I simply don't want to marry anyone. I want to be alone. I want to live with purpose and discover myself… And I want to help people."
"A marriage shouldn't stop you from being yourself." Kurama lowered his ear. "Scratch higher."
Reina giggled and did as told. "Yes, oh mighty one."
The streets of Konoha leading to the temple were lined with shinobi from far and wide. People gathered to witness the historical union of Madara Uchiha and Reina Senju, the new symbol of hope and peace. Everyone was dressed in their finest attire. Spectators quietly awaited the arrival of the Uchiha and Senju clan members under a bright blue sky. The sun was hiding behind fluffy white clouds, but it allowed for the perfect beams to shine light onto the temple.
Slowly, shrine masters and maidens walked from the temple to the entrance where a set of large double doors were open. Two, horse-drawn carriages made their way to the entrance of the temple. The doors opened and members of the Uchiha clan stepped out of one carriage while the Senju stepped out of the other. Madara and Reina touched the ground last as they left the carriage and made their way to the open gateway. The crowd of people kneeled on the ground, bowing their heads out of respect for the two clans and their good fortune.
Hashirama, Tobirama, Reina, Madara, and the Senju and Uchiha clan elders all bowed as they greeted the shrine masters. Madara and Reina approached the shrine masters, forming a line of family behind them. As the shrine masters escorted the clan members to the temple pavilion, they began playing traditional court music. Reina walked slowly, careful not to ruin her custom shiromuku. The garment had various silken depictions of plants, animals, and treasures for good luck. Her hair was tied up in a tight bun and, much to her delight, she did not have to wear a wataboshi. Reina had neutral eyeshadow, blush, and her lips were tinted like the color of rose. Madara simply wore a traditional montsuki haori hakama adorned with the Uchiha clan crest.
The couple carefully ascended the small flight of stairs leading to the alter room. As Madara and Reina made their way to the wooden altar in the temple, their clansmen filed in on the sides where they would sit and watch the ceremony. The altar had two wooden trays housing wedding bands and three shallow sake cups of different sizes. Reina and Madara stood behind their seat cushions, waiting to be seated. Their clansmen also stood behind their seat cushions. There were low tables in front of them with a tray and shallow sake cups placed for each person. Once the shrine masters and maidens took their places, the head priest commanded everyone's attention by standing in front of the altar. Everyone bowed and the priest directed everyone to sit down.
The priest turned away from the altar and walked to a small back room where there was another altar decorated with religious items and icons. Next to it was a haraigushi, a wand with flowing paper tassels in zig-zag patterns. He bowed to the haraigushi twice before picking it up. The priest began a purification ceremony by bowing to the wall he was facing, swishing the haraigushi one… two… three times, and bowing one last time before repeating the same process on the other two walls. The priest approached the altar where Madara and Reina sat and asked for everyone in the temple to stand. Once they did, they lowered their heads as the priest bowed, swished the wand, and bowed again. The priest asked for everyone to sit as he made his way back to the icon altar. He placed the haraigushi back where it belonged, bowed, and stood up straight before rubbing his hands together and clapping twice.
The priest bowed once more before beginning a spiritual chant. When finished, he bowed once more and turned around to walk toward the main altar. The priest announced that it was time to begin the sake-drinking portion of the wedding ceremony. The purpose of which is to create a bond with the gods, ensuring protection and help in one's life and holy union.
The shrine masters began playing a flute and drum as two shrine maidens stepped forward, bowing to the priest. One maiden picked up a tray holding a pot full of sake and the other maiden accompanied her as they walked towards Madara and Reina. The second maiden took the smallest sake cup from Madara's tray and quietly handed it to him. The maiden holding the sake pot tipped the spout three times and on the third time she poured sake into his cup. Madara brought the cup to his midsection, chest, and then mouth where he tipped it three times, swallowing sake on the third tip. The maiden took the cup from his hands and placed it back onto his tray. She then took the smallest cup from Reina's tray and gently placed it in her hands. The process repeated until the couple drank from all three cups.
The maiden carrying the pot placed it gently on the tray when it was finished. The second shrine maiden placed a large, shallow cup on both Madara and Reina's trays. She stacked the three used cups and placed them on the tray with the sake pot. The maidens departed from the altar, bowed to the priest as they gave him the tray and bowed once more.
Reina's sat there still, eager to end the ceremony. The traditional music was killing her ears. The sweet melody of a kunai-tag explosion was preferable to the piercing flutes and erratic drum beats. Reina could only question why they decided not to play the koto. Much to her delight, the music finally stopped.
One shrine maiden approached Madara and Reina with an opened box containing two wedding bands. She bowed and lowered the box for Madara to reach into. Madara picked up a wedding band and turned to Reina. Delicately, she placed her hand in his empty one while he slipped the ring onto her finger. Reina looked down at her hand with a small smile before looking up into his eyes. There her heart stopped as she could've sworn he had a malicious smirk on his face. Perhaps she imagined his expression. He did look rather content, but his eyes said otherwise. They were fixated on her as if he was a ravenous lion and she was a helpless gazelle.
Reina continued smiling, pretending as if nothing happened, and took her ring from the box. She took Madara's hand and slid the ring on in one smooth motion. They smiled at each other before turning to the altar in front of them. The priest asked them to stand and guided them to the altar housing icons. The priest opened up a scroll and handed it to Madara for him to read his vows. Madara took the scroll and began reading, loud enough for everyone in the shrine to hear. When finished, he closed the scroll and handed it back to the priest. The priest placed the scroll back on the decorated alter and the shrine maidens approached Madara and Reina from the side. They handed each of them a sprig from an evergreen tree. Madara and Reina held the sprig upright in prayer before laying it on the altar as a spiritual offering. The couple bowed, clapped twice, and bowed again before the priest escorted them to their original altar. As they began walking, the shrine masters began playing their flutes again, causing Reina to tense up though barely visible under her mountain of clothing. Once the couple made their way to the altar, the flutes stopped playing.
The two maidens each came back with a pot of sake. One poured sake in the cups of the Senju, the other poured for the Uchiha. The ladies then walked in front of Madara and Reina and they each poured for them in their clean cup. They retreated and the priest came forward. He asked everyone to stand and voiced for them to drink. After they drank, everyone sat down and the priest began a speech to bless the newlyweds. When finished, everyone in the temple stood up and turned to face the back altar room. They all bowed in synchronicity with the priest.
The priest turned around to face Madara and Reina. He walked up to the alter and bowed before smiling down at them."I now pronounce you, husband and wife." He bowed to them once more and they bowed in return.
The dreaded flute started playing, signaling to Reina that the ceremony was over. Madara and Reina bowed once more to the priest before leaving the shrine. The drums began playing as the newlyweds exited the pavilion. The Senju followed the newlyweds and the Uchiha proceeded behind them. Walking down the temple path, Reina could see people lining the streets, bowing as they left the premises. Madara and Reina approached the temple gates where a single carriage awaited them. They both entered and the door shut behind them.
Reina turned to face Madara and gave a small smile. "I don't know if it's too early to say this, but I'm so glad that's over."
Madara chuckle. "You seemed irritated by the flutes."
Reina covered her face with her hands. "I can't believe you noticed. That's so embarrassing."
The carriage began to move, taking Madara and Reina to their new house. When they arrived, they stepped out of the carriage and opened the double doors which acted as a gate to a main courtyard. Reina and Madara walked to the entrance of their house, which had another set of double doors. Madara pulled out a key, unlocked the front door, and opened it up for Reina. She walked into the house and smiled. Everything was put in place and their house was habitable. Madara shut the door behind them and locked it.
Madara stood beside Reina and then looked down at her with a smile. "We did good."
"Yeah." Reina sighed. "But, I really want to take this stupid kimono off."
"I'll help you with that." Madara scooped Reina up and carried her upstairs to their room.
Reina giggled and held onto him. "I'm like, double my weight!"
"You're as light as a feather." Madara brought them to their master bedroom and gently set her down. He opened the door for Reina and gestured for her to enter.
Reina shuffled into their room and noticed a black, ceremonial kimono with colored stitching of plants and various flowers and fruits. "Oh, is this for the Uchiha ceremony tonight?"
Madara nodded. "Yes, that won't be for a few hours though."
Reina smirked. "Oh really?"
"Yes, now let me start taking your clothes off so we have at least ten minutes before the ceremony to have sex." He joked since her wedding kimono had a plethora of layers.
"You mean I don't have to take my own clothes off? Is this one of those legendary perks of marriage?" Reina opened her arms. "Be my guest."
Madara grinned as he walked over to her, beginning his dutiful task of stripping his wife. "I would be honored." He said, before leaning down and kissing her on the lips.
Evening came and the sun was down. The sky was dark and dim streetlights lit the way to the Uchiha clan's temple. The clansmen lined the streets to the temple, bowing as Reina, Madara, and the elders approached. Reina had her hair down straight. Her make-up was the same from her wedding and she wore the kimono from earlier. Madara wore a navy blue ceremonial hakama with the Uchiha clan crest. The couple entered the temple and were greeted by two shrine masters. They bowed, kneeled, and lifted a floor mat to reveal a hidden staircase leading underground. Reina was astonished at how clandestine everything was. Madara began to descend the stairs and she slowly followed.
They entered an underground room with the Uchiha clan symbols on the walls and a stone tablet in the back of the room. Torches lighted the dark, cold, stone room on either side. Reina walked up to the stone tablet with Madara and both bowed to it. There was a small altar in front of the tablet with a folded piece of paper. Madara took a few steps behind Reina, standing in front of the clan elders. Reina bowed, picked up the paper, and opened it up.
Reina began to read the Uchiha clan's oath. "I, Reina Senju, solemnly swear to uphold the ideals and values of the Uchiha clan. As a member of the Uchiha clan, it is my duty to place the welfare of my clansmen first, regardless of circumstance. Furthermore, as wife of the clan leader Lord Madara Uchiha, I shall always operate in accordance with his will and operate for his benefit. This is my sworn duty, to which I shall carry out until death." Reina's head was swarming in a thousand directions. "What kind of death sentence is this?" She had an instinct that something wasn't quite right, but she proceeded with the ceremony.
Reina folded the paper and placed it back on the altar. She bowed once more before turning to face Madara and the elders. She bowed to them, and they bowed in return. The elders turned around and ascended the stairs to the temple. Madara and Reina followed without a word. The entire process was eerily quiet. Reina felt rather uneasy throughout the entire ceremony. When they all left the underground room, the shrine masters closed the floor mat and bowed to Madara and Reina as they left. Reina walked down the street in silence, trying not to look nervous as the Uchiha clansmen bowed and stayed down. Reina didn't even want to look at Madara. She simply kept looking forward until they reached their house.
Once inside their dwelling, Reina turned to face Madara with a surprised expression. "That was a very quiet ceremony."
"The Uchiha clan takes their traditions very seriously." Madara simply said while shutting the door.
"It seems so." Reina watched as he locked the door. "I'm going to change out of this." She said while tugging on her lapel.
"I'll join you shortly. Will you be going to bed?" Madara inquired.
"No, not yet. I'm not tired at the moment." Reina nodded before walking upstairs. When she entered the bedroom she shut the door and scurried over to her dresser. She quickly changed into black pants and a tank top, clothing she was comfortable being mobile in. Reina had a bad hunch and something seemed different about Madara. She hung up her kimono in the closet and took in a deep breath. "What am I crazy? We made up. We've been enjoying each other this entire time. There is absolutely no reason for me to be this paranoid." Reina stepped out of her closet and shut the door while shaking her head. "I'm an idiot."
Reina walked out of the bedroom and quietly shut the door with a soft click. She looked to her left to see Madara's shadow approaching from the end of the hallway. She knew she was being stupid, but her heart began to race and her pulse began to quicken. Reina silently stepped around the corner of the opposite side of the hallway and pressed herself against the wall before swiftly walking away. She composed herself and shuffled down the stairs to the first floor. Reina made her way into their library room, which was also a study and office space, and shut the door. She grabbed a book about humanitarianism and set down. Reina began reading the book and was alone for quite some time when she heard her name being called.
"I'm in the library!" Reina called as she flipped a page.
The door opened up and Madara came in, dressed in a casual shirt and pants. "I didn't know you were much of a reader."
"I usually don't read for pleasure. I read more for research." Reina slid a bookmark in and stood up to place the book back on the shelf. "Say, now that I'm your wife and all, do you think that I should engage more in the community? I've been contemplating on what I want to do to help our nation and I think it would be important for someone of status to help those in need."
"Do you mean, help those within the village?" Madara inquired.
"Well, that and maybe I can even travel every now and then to spread the idea of diplomacy. It would also be a great way to gather intel on other villages." Reina shrugged. "What's your opinion?"
Madara slowly approached her. "It's a splendid idea in theory. As a matter of fact, I believe your brother would be very pleased and proud of you to hear this."
Reina perked up. "Really?"
"Yes… but you're not going anywhere." Madara looked down at Reina with a deadly expression.
Reina's eyes widened and she took a step back. "What do you mean?" She said while holding her hands to her mouth to look as if she were cowering in fear. "What is going on?"
Madara stopped in his tracks and smirked. "Remember our little peace treaty? When you said, 'I want this wedding and the days leading up to it to go very smoothly. I have no ill will towards you or your clan.' Do you remember that?"
Reina nodded. "Yes, I do. And I meant it. As a matter of fact, I've grown to care for you deeply."
Madara tilted his head. "Well, I did as told. I made sure to treat you very well prior to and up to the wedding. As a matter of fact, I even extended that courtesy up until the ceremony ended. Isn't that generous?" He took a few steps closer. "Now, remember what I declared before that temporary agreement?"
Reina thought back and froze. "He is going to ruin my life." She looked up at him in confusion and despair. "Why would you do that though? There is no reason to. You are not petty like that. You hold yourself to a higher standard, Madara. Don't stoop that low… In the end, you'll only be compromising your character."
Madara chuckled. "Compromise? Oh, I've been compromising enough. You don't know the first thing about compromise." He turned on his Sharingan. "Compromise is the acceptance of defeat."
"No." Reina shook her head. "It's accepting each other's differences and coexisting so both parties can experience the true happiness they deserve." Reina looked into his eyes. "Madara, can't we learn to just live in peace and love each other."
Madara looked down at his wife with an ominous flow of chakra emanating from within. "Love is pointless. Power is the only true necessity… and with you, I have even more of that. You are mine to do with as I please. You will fear me, obey me…"
Reina shuddered at his dark presence and shook her head. "No… I really want to love you." She mumbled as her eyes began to water. Reina brought her hands closer to her lips and bit her thumb. She dragged the blood across her opposite palm without Madara noticing. As he was about to take another step forward, Reina gritted her teeth. "Don't move!"
Madara placed one foot in front of the other as he menacingly approached her. "Or what? You're not strong enough to stop me."
Reina gave a sad smile as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Maybe not… Madara… I wouldn't want to hurt you- even if I could. One day… I'll get through to you… No matter how much pain and suffering I have to endure. Because I now realize that… I love you." She clenched her jaw and swallowed. "I felt so torn about you… because I was scared of this… but hearing you now makes me realize that… you're just hurt." Reina took in a shaky breath. "And I can't blame you- hell my own family took my life away." She looked him deep in the eye. "But you're worthy of safety and love… and no matter how taxing this was… I- I know we can find that within one another."
Madara glared at his wife. "When a man learns to love, he must bear the risk of hatred."
Reina shook her head, realizing she wasn't getting through to him. "Then so be it!" Reina slammed her palm on the ground. "Summoning Jutsu!" In a cloud of smoke, five transparent, white rabbits each with different eye colors pranced around Reina in a circle.
"Hello, mother!"
"Hello hello!"
"Greetings…" They all called in soft voices as they kept circling her.
The cloud cleared up to reveal two glowing horns that looked like rabbit ears protruding from Reina's head. Reina looked up at Madara while speaking to her summoning pets. "Hello, my children." She whispered to her rabbits, but her voice trailed like whispers in the wind. Each rabbit represented one of the five basic nature releases. "Protect him."
"Yes, mother." The wispy rabbits dashed out of the room and disappeared into the night.
Madara watched them leave before staring down at Reina. "What did you do?"
"You'll have to find out for yourself." Reina looked up at the man without an ounce of fear in her eyes.
"That attitude of yours… I'll have to change that." Madara's eyes glowed as he cast a genjutsu on Reina. Reina immediately fainted and smacked her head onto the wooden floor. Madara picked up her lifeless body and began walking upstairs. He looked down at the unconscious weapon before him. "Don't worry, Reina… You'll be in good hands."