Grey clouds rumbled over the Village Hidden in the Leaves as the populace marched to an open plot of land. With heavy hearts, the village followed Hashirama, Tobirama, Han, and Madara carry Reina's coffin towards her unearthed plot; the very first of bodies to cristen the cemetery. As she was lowered into the arms of Mother Earth, thunder cracked, reassuring the clouds that it was okay to cry with the rest of the villagers. The skies opened up, rain falling as workers began pouring soil on Reina's final resting place. Madara watched numbly, anchored to the ground, despondent as the workers finished covering his deceased wife's body. Hashirama handed Madara a wreath of white spider mums, to which the Uchiha clan lord gently lay atop her tombstone. One by one, villagers began offering flowers to her grave, recognizing Reina Uchiha as their savior, grateful to her, even in death. Madara couldn't bear to watch, and turned to Lady Chiharu, scoping up Kagami in his arms. Without a word, Madara returned home.

Thunder rumbled the house as Madara sat beside Kagami's crib. He watched their baby sleepy rub his chubby cheeks and stir. Madara stared at the infant, searching for every piece of Reina he could find. In silence, tears streamed down his cheeks as his baby fell asleep.

…..

Weeks had passed, and Madara, though functioning, was borderline reclusive. No one could get through to him. He was reduced to a husk of his former self, so it seemed. Underneath the silent sadness was a boiling rage that could not be qwelled. From the political warfar to the injustice of his people, from the preservation of his clan to his wife's untimely death by sacrifice, Madara had come to a breaking point. Everythin had been taken away from him and he was certain more would be ripped from his hands and the hands of his clan. Everything was because of the prejudice of the Senju and their lack of responsibility and he could bear to sit idle no longer. Madara Uchiha's bitterness had festered into an unshakeable resolve.

….

The Uchiha clan was summoned for a meeting under the Naka shrine. Candleflames whipped as the clansmen stood around, Madara in front of the room. Jun stood off to the side.

"May I have everyone's attention?" Madara cointuned once he was greeted with silence. "I have brought you all today, with the sole purpose of speaking about the future of the Uchiha clan." He began to pace back and forth. "Since the founding of the Hidden Leaf Village, the Uchiha clan, even after a treaty, has been discriminated against by the Senju clan. Not long after it's founding, critical decisions have been made and have gone under the radar, though I am Lord Hokage's right hand man. Unfortunately, Tobirama Senju had clawed tooth and nail to usurp my position and has begrudgingly succeeded in doing so. Many important operations to ensure the safety of the village were shelved or handed to me and Lady Reina, with no cooperation or involvement from Lord Hokage and his cohorts. This negligence led the village to peril, and his first plan of attack woud have been to send Reina Uchiha, my wife, into solo battle; calluosly willing to taint the Uchiha name by staining her hands in blood."

"Is that true?!" A man called.

"Yes! My family and I were there when Lord Hashirama tried given her the order. She fought him and exposed him for his incompetence." A woman chimed in.

"Yes, but Lord Hokage did seem to be remorseful afterwards. Lady Reina had to have shifted his mindset." Another woman spoke.

Madara cleared his throat. "This is all true. However, do not forget it was his incompetence that drove my wife to her premature death." Madara stood in front of his people. "My concern, is when are we going to face this again? When is the Uchiha clan going to once again suffer at the expense of inadewuate rule by the future Hokage and their advisory? In the next year? The next ten years? The next few generations?" He eyed his clasnmen with conviction. "Are we going to allow our clan to potentially go extinct at the hands of someone else?"

Madara took in a deep breath. "My job as clan leader is to preserve our name at all costs. The only options that I see in doing so, would be to either form a coup de etat or defect the Hidden Leaf Village."

The crowd stirred at the thought of engaging in battle once more. A clasnmen spoke up. "But… Lord Madara… we understand your concern, but we do not wish to fight anymore."

"I second that!" Another man said. "And to be frank, living within the village walls is preferable to a random settlement in the woods. All of our resources and living essentials are here at our fingertips. How can you expect us to turn our backs on that?"

"We've done it before and we can do it again." Madara stated bluntly. "We can even form our own village. At the end of the day, the real question is, how much are you willing to sacrifice to ensure we, the Uchiha clan, are thriving and being treated the way we deserve?"

"I think that over simplifies the complex issue at hand." A woman remarked.

"Agreed, not only that, but Lady Reina gave up her life for us ALL to have a second chance at channeling peace throughout our clans and village. Are we really going to squander that? Her death would mean nothing!" A man spoke up.

Madara clenched his jaw. "But that isn't what she died for. She died to undo the blunder of the SENJU." His gaze turned into a glare. "I have a plan that could create true pea-"

"Lord Madara, no." Someone called with strong opposition. "We cannot follow your orders this time."

"Yeah!"

"Agreed."

"It's just not worth it." The all began voicing.

Madara watched as his clansmen turned their back on him, betraying him, not even trying to see the bigger picture. Madara knew that their cowardice to take action would one day lead to the downfall of his clasnmen, but they couldn't see that. His heart sank as they all opposed him. Everyone kept chattering until Madara raised his head to stare at all of them with contempt.

"As you wish." He said, but not in defeat. "From here on out, I am stepping down as clan leader." The crowd gasped as he turned to face Jun. "I now appoint Jun Uchiha as our new clan head. You will answer to him."

Jun's eyes widened and he hurried to Madara's side. "L-Lord Madara, you can't be-"

Madara tugged Jun to the front of the clan. "It's all up to you Jun." He smiled at him. "If there is nothing you'd like to add, you now command this meeting."

Jun hesitated in a moment of confusion, before clearing his throat. "This meeting has concluded. Everyone may return to home. We thank you for your time." He watched as the clansmen cleared the shrine in awe.

Madara patted the man's shoulder. "Congratulations, Jun…"

"Lord Madara… I don't… " Jun shook his head to rattle his thoughts around, speechless at everything that had transpired. "I'm sorry that everyone- they betrayed yo-"

Madara held his hand up. "Enough, Jun." He smiled. "Be the leader I couldn't be…"

Jun nodded. "I'll do my best, sir!"

"What is all of this?" Hashirama said while coming down the stairs to the Naka shrine.

Madara smirked. "Just in time. We finished up a meeting." He turned to Jun. "If you wouldn't mind giving us some privacy?"

Jun bowed. "Of course, Lord Madara." Promptly taking his leave.

Hashirama watched the man disappear before turning back to Madara. "What can I do for you this evening?" He tilted his head. "How are you feeling?"

"Inspired." Madara smirked. Hashirama was taken aback, but remained silent. Madara pointed to the stone tablet behind him. "This stone tablet has been passed down within the Uchiha for generations. It has never been shown to an outsider before. It's special text requires visual prowess to decipher." He turned to his friend. "As far as I'm able to decode, so far it says, 'One god seeking stability, split into light and shadow. It is these opposites operating together that give rise to all things. It is a universal truth that applies to everything. In short, it states that true happiness can be found when two contrary powers cooperate together." Madara paused to glance back at the tablet. "However, it could be interpreted differently."

Hashirama tensed and Madara continued. "Hashirama, do really believe that I know nothing?"

Hashirama quickly interjected. "Please, just leave Tobirama to me! I can't do this without you." he lowered his gaze. "I know I've been manipulated by him without knowing, but both you and Reina have made it clear that change must be made." He looked up at him with determination. "Be the Hokage's right hand and keep working with me as a brother! The people will eventually recognize your merits and the value of the Uchiha. I will name you Second Hokage!"

Madara looked up at his friend. "I suspect… Tobirama will be the Second Hokage. If so, the Uchiha will slowly be expunged. Thus, I've spoken to the Uchiha, reaching out ot the others about leaving the village too. But it seems, no one is willing to come with me."

Hashirama gazed at his friend intensely. "Madara…"

Madara continued. "I could not protect my brothers… Reina… And it seems I won't be able to keep my oath to protect my clan." He looked at the tablet. "Therefore, I've decided to relinquish my title as the leader of the Uchiha clan."

Hashirama gasped. "No way-"

"I am not even trusted by the brethren I want to protect!" Madara hissed.

"No! That's not true!" Hashirama pleaded. "Everyone will trust yo-"

"Perhaps I should have only given you the option of killing your brother that day." Madara retorted and watched as Hashirama sank back. "You call me your brother, but which of us would you sacrifice for the sake of the village?" He narrowed his eyes as the torches roared. "I'd like to think I know you pretty well… I've had enough. I'm leaving the village." Hashirama's eyes widend as he listened to his old friend. "I found a different path… A different way… I can see it only because we have beared our insides to eachother. Cooperation is merely a quieter form of conflict." Madara began walking away.

Hashirama stepped forward. "That's not true! Let it be."

Madara stopped. "It's what you make of reality, Hashirama. Let's not argue trivilaities. It's much sounder just to see this world as entertainment."

"Have you been listening to me at all, Madara?!" Hashirama pointed with desperation.

"You are the only one who's a match for me…" Madara hissed as Hashirama froze. "I look forward to the battles we shall fight…" He turned to face his friend with his eternal mangekyou sharingan activated. "Until I achieve my true dream!"

Hashirama paused before speaking up. "And what is your true dream? I thought everything we aimed for was right in this village!"

Madara smirked. "You simply cannot see it… what's even further ahead." He closed his eyes before slowly opening them. "Dreams of the far future."

"Then tell me about them, Madara. Please!" Hashirama begged. "If they're linked to the village's dreams, then I'll need to have your strength as a leader- a senior member." He looked away with dismay. "Also-" He looked Madara dead in the eyes. "As a friend too!"

"Hmph!" Madara smiled. "There is no link… and you shall never reach it. It is useless to chase after me." Madara turned to him with a menacing grin. "You of all people should know, that no one is capable of catching me from behind!" He chuckled before turning on his heels. "Best of luck to you. See you on the battlefield, Hashirama." He sand while slowly walking back up the stairs.

"Madara wait!" Hashirama called after him. "Wait! What about Reina's sacrifice?! What about baby Kagami?!" He ran up the stairs, but when he reached the surface, Madara was nowhere to be found.

….

Jun and Kazuko were drinking tea in the comfort of their tiny home when there was a knock at the door. Jun stood up, "I'll get it, dear." He hurried over to the door and softly opened up to reveal Madara and Kagami. His eyes widened. "Lord Madara! What a surprise."

Madara smiled at his friend. "I am sorry to trouble you so late, but may I come in?"

"Of course." Jun stepped aside, allowing the former clan lord to enter. He escorted him and Kagami to the dining room where Kazuko poured him a cup of tea. "So, what brings you by so late?"

Madara lowered his head. "I spoke to Hashirama and have decided to defect from the Hidden Leaf Village."

Kazuko gasped and Jun froze before speaking up. "Lord Madara, bu-"

"I am firm on this decision." Madara stated strongly before looking at his friend with sincerity. "I only have one request."

Jun nodded. "What might that be?'

Madara looked down at Kagami with watering eyes before looking back up at the couple, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Please take Kagami under your wing."

Jun looked to Kazuko who nodded her head. "Madara… are you certain?"

Madara nodded. "I cannot properly care for him on my own as I walk this path… please raise him to be a splendid shinobi and loving person." He said with a few shaky breaths.

Jun nodded. "Of course…"

"You may move into my house where everything is, from Kagami's needs to paperwork for the clan. What's mine is yours." Madara stood up and walked over to Jun while he stood as well. Madara kissed Kagami's forehead, nose and cheeks before smiling down at him one last time. "I will love you always, Kagami." He said, before passing his baby into Jun's arms. Madara looked up at his friend with a pained expression as he whispered his last words to him. "Thank you…"