Reina was lying on her side, curled up between the sheets. Tears rolled down the side of her nose and collided with her pillow. Reina took in a few shaky breaths before wiping her tears. It had been five days since she had lost the baby and she had begun falling into a depression. She was genuinely eager to have the baby, the product of her and Madara's love. Reina was ready to start a family. She wanted to devote her love to a being that represented the bond between both her and Madara. Perhaps it was wrong of her to project such a profound meaning upon something so uncertain. Reina cried harder as the rain trickled down from the sky and streaked down her window. She covered her eyes in shame as she wept at the loss of her unborn child.

Madara was downstairs in the dining room with Hashirama, Mito, and Tobirama. They all ate some sweets while sipping tea. "I am worried about her mental state."

"It is normal for women to grieve after losing a child. She needs time to accept what has happened and find comfort on her own." Mito stated.

"I feel as if I should be doing more for her." Madara shook his head. "The first time it had happened, we weren't planning on having a child. This time, though unplanned… we wanted it, and we lost it." Madara stared into his steaming cup of tea.

Hashirama frowned. "I understand where you are coming from. However, you gave her exactly what she needed. Reina needed support and you were a solid pillar that held her up during these trying times." He outstretched his hand and gently placed it on Madara's arm. "We are all sorry for your loss. This was an unfortunate event for the two of you, but you are doing all that you can."

"Did the doctor specify what had happened?" Tobirama leaned in, having his own suspicions. "How did Reina know what transpired prior to visiting the clinic?"

"That I do not know. I assumed a mother's instinct?" Madara took a sip of his tea before glancing up at the group. "Doctor Yakushi, who has treated us excellently for the duration of the pregnancy, said that it is a rare medical condition where the mother's body absorbs the baby's chakra and life force for its own uses. It is as if it treats the baby as a chakra reserve."

"That sounds rather primal." Tobirama furrowed his brows. "So, she wasn't in control of it?"

"No." Madara shook his head again. "Reina didn't use ninjutsu until our training session, which means that the use of ninjutsu initiates the reaction and it doesn't stop even after the jutsu caster has finished. Essentially, using jutsu catalyzes the reaction so the process isn't as slow. Reina said she could feel waves of energy flow through her with every jutsu execution. That day, her jutsu was exceptionally strong as well."

"If she absorbed the child's cells, does that mean she has Uchiha DNA within her now?" Tobirama sipped his tea.

"Yes, she does. She has also awakened an ocular power that exceeds my own because of it." Madara briefly paused. "She's awakened the Rinnegan."

"Isn't that the legendary power of the Sage of the Six Paths?" Hashirama asked with shock.

"Indeed, it is." Madara sipped his tea. "Therefore, we need to ensure no one outside of this group learns about her ocular ability. We have already speculated that the Miyashita clan might be after Reina. Why they haven't attacked yet, we still don't know, but if they learn of this they will only be more determined to carry out whatever plan they're executing and will come full force."

"That would be devastating." Hashirama sighed. "We will not discuss her ability outside of your house then, Madara."

"So, not to turn things away from issues regarding political warfare, but have the doctors told you about any way to stop her body from initiating the fetal absorption?" Mito carefully inquired with a soft voice so as not to touch a nerve.

"The only thing the doctor could recommend was to have her not use any ninjutsu or genjutsu for nine months; which, to Reina, is completely out of the question." Madara took another sip of his tea. "To be honest, if I was in her shoes, I would feel the same way. She has so many responsibilities and she has worked extremely hard to get to where she is. Who would want to relinquish that?"

"Absolutely no one," Hashirama muttered in defeat.

"We both want a family, but the timing isn't right. Until this is over or until we find another solution, I'm not certain we will be able to deliver." Madara frowned and turned his head to look out the window in distress.

Mito looked up at Hashirama with a concerned expression. "What do we do?"

"We can't do much." Hashirama looked at his friend fighting off his anguish. "Madara… do you think we can visit Reina?"

Madara looked at his comrade in the eyes. "She might like that." He stood up from his seat. "Please, follow me." Madara walked the group out of the dining room, down the hall, up two flights of stairs, and to the bedroom. "She's in here. Please speak softly. She's been sensitive to outer stimuli these past few days." He opened the door and the group quietly stepped inside. "Reina? Are you awake?"

Reina gave a nod. "Yeah…" She said almost inaudibly.

"Your family is here to visit you," Madara stated and walked them to her side of the bed.

"Hello, Reina…" Hashirama spoke first. "How- um, how are you feeling?"

Reina closed her eyes. "Not well." She sniffled. "My head hurts. My stomach hurts. My heart hurts. I don't know why this had to happen to me." She began to breathe harder. "She said once in a millennium! Do you know the odds of that?!" Reina opened her eyes to reveal her Rinnegan.

Hashirama lowered his head. "I'm terribly sorry."

Mito crouched down at her level. "Hey, it's me…" She gently stroked her hair. "Reina, try not to dwell on statistics like that… You're more than data; you're a wonderful young woman with dreams and ambition… This won't stop you."

Reina looked at Mito and her eyes softened into their usual velvety, onyx-brown color. "I have no options, Mito… Just, patience perhaps. If even." Tears streamed down her face.

Mito held her hand. "I know it's hard, but you're so strong." She smiled. "We are all here for you. You know that, right? You can rely on us whenever you need."

Tobirama piped up. "And, you have a loyal, loving husband who will remain by your side for as long as you'll need him."

Madara turned toward Tobirama with a flabbergasted expression. "Wow, that was the nicest thing you've ever said about me."

"I'm trying," Tobirama stated firmly while crossing his arms.

Reina gave a tiny chuckle. Mito noticed and grinned. "See, there's that sunshine in you."

Reina's expression quickly faded into a blank, fatigued one. "I need time…" She said as she closed her eyes. Eventually, Reina fell asleep.

Mito kissed her head before letting go of her hand and standing up. "She's asleep."

"We should let her be," Hashirama stated.

Madara nodded. "Thank you for bringing some joy into this household. I hadn't seen Reina smile in a while. I'll walk you out."

"I understand that you are upset, Reina, but you must learn about this ability of yours." Said the woman in white.

Reina sighed. "First tell me why this happened?"

The woman in white closed her eyes before looking up at Reina. "It is a curse, born from my own gluttony… I will tell you my story in due time, but first- the eyes." She pointed.

Reina eyed her suspiciously. "What is there to learn?"

"First off, this ability can only be obtained, not if you combine Senju and Uchiha DNA, but more specifically the chakra reserves of my descendants." She raised a finger. "The only reason you have awoken this ability is most likely due to the fact that you and I are one and we absorbed part of my descendant's DNA."

"You would know," Reina stated in a somber, monotonous tone.

"Secondly, I must educate you on what his ability is capable of." As the woman in white spoke, Reina listened and became increasingly perplexed. The woman spoke of attraction and repulsion abilities, tailed beast binding, tactical jutsu, revival, and even breaking a seal on the husk of a so-called Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

"I can do all of that, with this eye?" Reina inquired.

"Yes. I expected one of my descendants to awaken it. However, I never expected to dwell within one who possesses the ocular ability that is essential to my resurrection." The woman in white lowered her head. "Perhaps… this isn't the era in which I am to return after all."

Reina clenched her jaw. "You have had an agenda this whole time." She simply stated.

"So have you, technically speaking." She smirked. "Typically, one who shares the same body as their reincarnated spirit cannot converse with them. And yet here we are. Reina Senju, you truly are an anomaly. I am learning so much from you."

Reina narrowed her eyes. "You said that these eyes can decipher ancient scripts, correct?" She smiled as the woman nodded. "This includes the Uchiha stone tablet within the Naka Shrine?"

"Correct." The woman snickered. "I strongly recommend you visit. There, I will tell you all about my history and you will be honor-bound to keep it a secret, yes?"

Reina opened her eyes and sat up from the bed as the sun peaked through her blinds. She groggily rubbed her eyes before swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. Reina stood up with wobbly legs and sauntered over to the bathroom. She turned the shower on and took her clothing off. Reina looked in the mirror at her flat stomach and grimaced in pain before glancing up at her purple eyes. She gritted her teeth at the sight of her Rinnegan and briskly turned away from the mirror to jump in the shower. After she bathed and dressed, Reina made her way downstairs and to Madara's office. She knocked on the door and waited until he opened up.

Madara slid the door open and looked down at Reina. "Reina, why are you up?"

"I need to move around." She said with an exhausted expression.

"You look tired, though you have been asleep for the past fourteen hours." Madara carefully guided her to their library in the next room and lowered Reina into her comfy chair.

"Fourteen hours?" Reina tried to sound surprised, but couldn't conjure up the energy to. "What time is it?"

"Seven in the morning." Madara held her hand. "Did you sleep well?"

Reina shook her head. "Not exactly. I was thinking about our future and what I want." She sighed. "I want to have a baby… But can we wait a little while?"

Madara nodded. "Of course… Do you know how long you'll need?"

"Mmm, enough time to reset?" She shrugged. "That and there's work to be done."

"Are you certain you want to go back to work so soon?" Madara rubbed her leg. "Don't rush your recovery time. This is the perfect opportunity for you to reflect on what had happened and process your thoughts and emotions."

"I'll be fine." Reina nodded and raised a finger. "That and I'm the only one who can solve the mystery of the Miyashita clan."

Mito was packing her bags as Hashirama watched in silence. "Do you really think this will work?" He asked.

"It's worth the effort." Mito curled her lips in. "I can't see her sad like that and do nothing."

"I know you love Reina very much." Hashirama nodded. "I appreciate how nurturing you are toward her. She means the world to me." He walked over toward Mito and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Just promise me you'll be safe."

Mito stopped what she was doing and gently leaned back into his embrace. "You can count on it." She turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck. "This is the right thing to do, isn't it?"

"If it's right to you then it's right to me." Hashirama bent down and kissed her on the lips. "Come back to me in one piece."

Mito nodded. "Of course." There was a knock on the door and the couple pulled apart. "Come in!" Mito called.

The door opened and Tobirama stepped into the room. "Lady Mito, your carriage is here."

"Ah- I'm sorry. Please tell the driver it will be a few more minutes." She bowed.

"Of course." Tobirama shut the door behind him and left the couple in peace.

Mito finished packing her bags. "I better get going."

Hashirama nodded. "I'll walk you out."

That night, Reina sat on the porch overlooking their koi pond and garden. She breathed in the twilight air to clear her mind as she processed the multitude of information about the Miyashita clan from all of the past meetings she had with Madara, Hashirama, and Tobirama. "They often set villages ablaze." Reina rubbed her chin. "They move at the speed of light." She nibbled some skin off her lip. "They collected a plethora of mirrors." Reina glanced up at the moon before looking down at its reflection in the koi pond. "Light reflects into the pond and it's as if the moon is transported to another location…" Reina gasped. "Don't tell me they use light and mirrors combined?" She immediately stood up. "They use light for high-speed transport and mirrors as the channel through dimensional transport!" Reina ran inside the house with adrenaline rushing. "Madara! Madara!" She called as she sprinted through the house. "MADARA?! Where are you?!"

The next day, Reina walked into the Hokage's office with Madara. Hashirama perked up from his desk in surprise. "Reina?"

Tobirama uncrossed his arms. "You are back already?"

Reina nodded with a soft smile. "There's work to do." Though she was present, Reina still appeared to be washed out and fatigued. She was visibly emotionally raw from the past few days, but that wasn't going to stop her from moving forward.

Madara grinned at her determination. "Shall we begin?"

Hashirama flashed a cheeky smile. "Yes! Let us put the seal up and start a discussion." The shinobi from before arranged themselves outside the Hokage's office to seal off the meeting. "So, you seem eager, Reina. What have you learned?"

Reina cleared her throat. "Well, I would like everyone's input, but I have a hypothesis as to what the ability of the Miyashita clan is."

"What?" Tobirama said while placing his hands on the desk. "But how? Nothing has happened as of late?"

"I simply extrapolated information from what we've discussed and made an educated guess." Reina shrugged. "I may not be correct, but I believe there is some merit to what I have to say."

"Please produce." Hashirama encouraged.

Reina nodded. "I believe that the Miyashita clan uses lightning, yin, yang, and yin-yang release to travel at the speeds that they do."

"Those are very powerful chakra natures to possess," Hashirama stated.

"Indeed." Reina took in a small breath. "If I am not mistaken, the Miyashita clan has an ability which allows them to transport themselves within mirrors."

"So, they don't necessarily need to dwell on this plane?" Tobirama inquired.

"Correct, but I would assume that it would take up a significant amount of chakra to do so. However, if they do possess the aforementioned chakra natures, chances are the clan members have vast chakra reserves." Reina smiled. "Essentially, these shinobi have the ability to travel at the speed of light, project themselves into a mirror, use the mirror as a channel into a different dimension where they can do as they please, or it could even be an atlas for other mirrors, and then they can escape any mirror at the speed of light. This light might actually physically manifest itself as lightning, which would explain why each village they attack is always ravaged by a widespread conflagration."

Hashirama looked astounded. "I never would've been able to extrapolate all of this information from what we've discussed."

"It is impressive." Tobirama nodded. "I have one question. If they can transport through mirrors, why haven't they bothered invading larger villages yet? Why have they gone so silent? And why do they take a significant amount of time to attack each location?"

"That I have yet to figure out, but I'm working on it. They clearly have some limitations, which we could use to our advantage if we discover it soon enough." Reina smiled. "I think we should actively venture across the various lands to see if there are any more locations that have been attacked and perhaps reinvestigate previous locations for answers."

Hashirama looked up at Madara. "Are you in favor of that, Madara?"

Madara nodded. "Absolutely, remaining passive will only get us so far."

"Then, it's settled. We will create a plan and start actively investigating the Miyashita clan. Tobirama, I'll put you in charge of drafting what each mission will entail." Hashirama said with excitement.

Mito stepped onto the dock as her boat was roped in. She walked straight toward a mountainous village where she made her way toward the Uzumaki clan's massive temple. Two guards noticed Mito, clad in her gray shinobi armor. They bowed and opened the double doors for her to enter the temple. As the doors creaked open, Mito stepped inside and strutted into the foyer. She bypassed various clansmen and made her way straight toward Lord Ashina's office.

"Halt!" Two guards said in unison.

Mito simply raised her hand which displayed an Uzumaki seal of identification. "Let me in. I have business with Lord Ashina."

"Yes, ma'am." They both said before opening the door.

Mito stepped inside and smiled. "Greetings, Lord Ashina." She bowed politely.

Lord Ashina smiled and bowed in return. "Lady Mito, what brings you all the way out here to the Land of Whirlpools? I thought you were to remain within the Hidden Leaf Village in the Land of Fire?"

Mito chuckled timidly. "That was the plan…"

"What happened?" Lord Ashina was no fool.

Mito sighed and looked the elder in the eyes. "Lady Reina had a miscarriage…"

Lord Ashina tilted his head down in solemn recognition. "I see. My sincerest condolences." He said while walking over to his bookshelf.

"I want to do something about her next pregnancy," Mito stated firmly. "Her own body absorbed her child."

"You don't mean…" Lord Ashina turned to face Mito with a sincere expression. "You understand the consequences of that jutsu, don't you?"

"I am your prodigy." Was all Mito said.

Lord Ashina chuckled. "Very well then."