"When you've hovered between life and death so many times that it doesn't faze you, you may be called a ninja. When you've become so deadly that your profile has entered into my bingo book, then you may have earned the title ninja."
Zabuza Momochi
A few days passed and he was just happy to be back in the compound and around familiar faces. There were no cries of agony, shouts of anguish, roars of hatred, or Bijuus and cyclops that wanted to rip him limb from limb and eat those limbs afterwards. It was quiet and peaceful save for the young Senju children that ran around and played in the snow with their parents barely keeping up with them.
It was great to be back home, if he got the chance he'd have to go out there and partake in the festivities.
He definitely would be partaking as soon as he was finished.
The Senju, like every other clan would be remaining within the compound until the ground began to thaw, and the mountainous blankets covering every possible inch began to melt away. Normally, it'd be a bit of a hamper, no missions meant no income, and no income meant no food or anything of the sort. But, their last payment was more than enough to get them through the winter, plus the other missions the Senju shinobi and kunoichi took in addition to this major one put them in the clear, and they even got the Subatsu's half of the payment from the Desert damiyo as well-Syrus hadn't even wanted it.
While this was hamper for many for him it was just what he needed instead of the usual chaos which he tried to escape by all means possible.
He had become wary of the current conflict in the next region that showed no signs of stopping until the Wind damiyo reigned supreme and united all under his banner, and the growing restlessness in the world which only grew more and more intense as time went on. The situation in and near the Water country was deteriorating not by the day, but by the very hour if not minute.
Now, he finally had a chance to just sit down, relax, and think. But, that was a problem since he had a habit of brooding.
Hashirama sighed softly, buried up to his neck in paperwork. Someone was usually present within his office while he was away on missions to ensure there wasn't an avalanche of crap for lack of a better term awaiting him when he walked back in. Whoever had been in here was either sleeping away on their task or there had been an influx of paperwork after they finished. If they fell asleep he couldn't fault them, because he fell asleep while browsing through the piles of crap and even used it as a pillow.
Quite frankly he wasn't expecting all of this paperwork considering it was well into winter, and he nor the Senju would be doing anything other than remaining warm. Granted all of the paperwork didn't include letters from damiyos, local lords, and province lords. A vast majority of it had to do with internal affairs. How much food they had and needed, permission to leave, permission for a lot of stuff that he just signed away on. New training regimens, houses that needed to be repaired, locations where houses needed to be built.
His main priority was getting Mito back to her homeland. Hisao was happy with the way things turned out in the end and knowing that his eldest daughter was safe at the Senju compound. The older man had kindly agreed to wait until some of the snow melts to make traveling easier-being on a tropical island the Uzumaki never got snow, and the coldest it'd get was in the low seventies. Hisao didn't want to trouble him anymore than he had, but despite the elder man's blessing, he still wanted to get Mito back to he compound as fast as possible.
If he could help it she'd be well on her way in just a few days. Granted the snow lessened a bit, but judging from the bleak clouds above the snow would just keep piling up like it has.
He couldn't shake the feeling that Mikito would come bulldozing through the compound and start sending heads fifty feet in the air. He'd peek out his windows every now and again, expecting to see her charging right at him without an ounce of fear, her chakra erupting gloriously, and charging at him with such ferocity he'd have no choice but to take her head on because running away wasn't an option. He could handle Madara, handle his giant Susano'o, but Mikito was just something else entirely.
She wasn't like Madara by any stretch and he often dreaded having to face off against her.
He never felt such dread before against anyone else, not even Sasuke with his hot blooded temper made him feel such dread.
He was on a razor's edge from beginning to end when he was fighting Mikito, and she was one person he didn't want to fight. Ever.
Of course, he didn't see her, or any Domou, but the meeting with the Council left his mind heavy and wary.
Mikito must have known he was using the very thing that brokered peace between their clans against her and the Domou. Mikito wasn't that stupid or oblivious as to not put that together. She knew the ins and outs of the Mokuton, every advanced technique it could produce, its very makeup was well within the palm of her hand. She knew its weaknesses, and how to rip apart with little effort. More importantly she knew the Mokuton was used to broker peace, but despite his ignorance on the subject she didn't tear him limb from limb.
It brought up many questions and possibilities. Most of them he didn't wish to entertain.
But, there was one he liked to entertain and that one possibility was that Mikito wanted peace between their clans.
"Hashirama-san?" Mito's vibrant green eyes caught his attention first before her soft voice entered his ears. Upon seeing his disheveled and busy appearance she rushed over modestly, dusting off a cushion and resting her knees on it as she relaxed. "Is your brother not going to assist you?"
The last she seen the white haired man he looked particularly angry.
"I can handle it." Hashirama answered a bit quickly, staring into her eyes for a moment before picking up his brush and running his eyes over another document. It was mundane, but like everything else, it demanded all of his attention whether it was of high importance or not. Tobirama usually did help him with paperwork, and would take some stacks and file them away faster than he ever could, but Tobirama had other things to take care of at the moment that didn't involve building a three story house with a garden in the back.
Yeah, that's the last thing Tobirama would want to take care of. Tobirama was pragmatic and more militaristic taking after their father, if anything Tobirama was prepping the walls in case of an invasion-as unlikely as that was to happen at the moment, and anything along those lines. Strengthening the Senju force and speaking with the division leaders that made hast back to the compound when the winter storms hit.
"You look so disheveled, Hashirama-san." Mito observed with narrowed eyes. His usual neat curtain hair was a bit out of place, and there were a few strands which actually stood completely up and found their way away from the rest of his mane. Shinobi weren't very famous for their hygiene, but Hashirama looked very well kept and didn't slack in that department. He hadn't cut his hair in years, but it wasn't gnarly or anything of that sort that would signify horrible hygiene. "Let me help you out, it's the least I can do after everything you've done for me."
Hashirama got the feeling no wasn't going to be a satisfying answer, and even if he did say it Mito was going to relieve him of some of this clutter. Plus, he was never good with women and knew it was better to just agree and nod than try to argue. His father could never beat his mother in an argument, or fight for that matter. He watched curiously as Mito began to rearrange his desk, putting a few more baskets closer to her and labeling them accordingly.
"So, you and Mikito are good friends?" Hashirama asked.
There was nothing wrong with small talk, right?
He was curious, too.
"We were very good childhood friends. But, it must be more than a decade since we last seen each other face to face." Mito clarified with a gentle nod. Of course they had to be not so much end their friendship, but it took a back seat to more important things. They were both in the running for becoming leader of their respective clans, and she herself had underwent the beginnings of necessary grooming to take the position.
With everything that happened, they rarely had time to send each other letters-but Mikito would always consider her a friend.
"But, you're on good terms..." He trailed off, waiting for an answer, not getting one, he grew a little worried. Hopefully he didn't screw it up with his big mouth. "Right?"
"We are. I know things got a little crazy back there, but Ahiko-san is a bridge you do not want to look at, yet alone cross." Mito said, a hint of a warning in her tone as she stacked a few dozen sheets of paper and dumped them off on Hashirama-amused with his hast in getting them in the right place. "That girl is off limits."
Hashirama shook his head partly because of the stacks of paper, and the other reason because his friendship with Madara was the total opposite. They had both met when they were children, and granted they were from rival clans they still forged a strong friendship and put their trust into each other, talked about changing the world-so children didn't die, so there was no massive bloodshed.
That all changed when Madara learned he was a Senju. Since that day Madara has quite literally shut himself off. All of his attempts were turned down and that was being very generous and nice about it.
Madara didn't even consider it.
Madara wouldn't even hear him out.
The Domou and Uzumaki weren't enemies, but there was always that angle or complex where things could turn sour, thus spiral way beyond out of control. The Domou were reclusive, and the Uzumaki were peace loving and avoided conflict. When he pondered on it the clans weren't all that different from each other, both strayed from conflict unless it was necessary, and neither were fond of being around people. The Uzumaki stuck to their island, and the Domou remained in their jungles and rain forests in the west.
Somehow Mikito and Mito remained on good terms, and there was no ill will towards either of their respective clans from their respective kinsmen. Nor did they have ill will towards each other. It was astonishing.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
Hashirama looked at Mito long and hard. There was no harm in confiding in her, normally he'd confide in Tobirama. If he didn't have someone to speak with he'd just sit here and brood for hours. "I destroyed the peace that was between my clan and the Domou due to my own ignorance and neglect. I...I perpetuated a conflict, I know the Domou are allies with the Uchiha, but...It should have never happened. I was too ignorant..."
The Council was right on that matter. All because the Domou were allies with the Uchiha didn't mean the Senju automatically set their sights on them as well. His father made the same mistake with the Hagoromo and Kawarama had nearly lost his life because of that rash decision. They were also right about his father-had he not lied to him, he'd have known the truth ahead of time and would have never confronted Mikito or any Domou by any stretch. Tobirama was under the mindset they were mutual enemies, and he couldn't agree with it anymore, and the Council never did.
"I'm surprised Mikito hasn't finished it." Hashirama added, grimly.
"The fact she hasn't finished it...It means she wants to cooperate with you." Mito tilted her head, observing the younger man carefully. Something was troubling him. She wasn't sure if it was her friendship with Mikito, if it was just what he said, or if it was a combination of both. Hashirama wanted peace more than anything, and knowing he was perpetuating a conflict-destroyed peace, it was going to eat him alive. But, if Mikito truly wanted him and the Senju dead, there's no doubt in her mind this compound would not be here anymore.
Hashirama blinked, a bit dumbfounded.
"I feel like I should tell you this...There was a time a few years back when the Shimura, particularly Daishiro made a move against the Domou and intruded onto their land. For three days and three nights the Domou fought him and his force. Despite Daishiro having more shinobi the Domou continued to cut them down until the only one remaining was Daishiro himself." Mito explained, exuberant eyes not solemn as she recalled the event. It had been one of the few times Mikito sent her a message, and it had been a rather long one if she had to say. "If it was Mikito's priority to finish the Senju clan, finishing you, Hashirama-san then she would be here doing just that."
"She doesn't trust you. Don't make the mistake of thinking she hates you. Don't thinks she or the Domou hate the Senju." Mito added as an afterthought. "They may hate what you stand for, but as humans...They do not."
The Council said the same thing, basically.
He would ask how could he get Mikito to trust him, and he was extremely tempted to, but he didn't. With his recent performance he had no right to even consider asking that question. He should be asking how to avoid Mikito's justified wrath.
Even if Mikito didn't want to be part of the village-he wanted peace between their clans again, but that could be impossible. The only reason there wasn't any confrontation save for his father's escapades was because the Domou gave them the Mokuton, and the Senju getting such a powerful jutsu on top of suffering horrible losses were more than agreeable to stay away. They would have been fools not to accept, and no shinobi clan would pass up that chance.
Not only did he not stay away, but he outright fought against them.
He declared war.
Mito's words filled him with some hope, but it was very slight. There was no way Mikito would even consider listening to him. Tobirama was a large part to do with that, his brother was always pragmatic and realistic. While it was good to be that way-he wasn't himself, being more of a dreamer, but that pragmatic side of Tobirama was a double edge sword. It made him wary and cautious of people and clans that were too powerful to be controlled, that was irrepressible and wouldn't conform or compensate to any other stance other than their own.
"Hashirama-san, how much do you know about the Domou?"
Filing away a few stacks of papers and scrolls, he looked at her for just a second before returning to his task. "Not much really. Information has always been scarce on them, and I'm not going to entertain those rumors." Getting that sort of information would involve being alive to pass that information on-someone seeking that information was trespassing on their land, and they would be dealt with in short order. He knew it all too well at this point, when push came to shove the Domou would mow down whoever it was that was trying to confront them, and they wouldn't hold back.
They would not hold back.
This has to be resolved, and the Subatsu will not be provoked... Hashirama scowled briefly, pressing his brush down a bit harder than necessary.
Mito batted her eyes for a second, looking off to the side as she took a soft breath in through her nostrils. Her clan was peace loving and kind. They enjoyed that peace on their isolated island. The Uzumaki would never want to come across, yet alone confront the Domou. There was no ill will between them, but the Domou were a clan that was best left alone, because making an enemy out of them only ensured a death sentence. They were extremely reclusive to begin with, so if anyone was trying to do that dumbest thing in her mind-confronting them, what they got was justified.
"Then I suppose there is no harm in telling you this. The Domou are an extremely reclusive clan and they don't seek conflict or wish to be around people in general. Shinobi or civilian. Excluding missions which are necessary as we both know; and they do handle missions from the numerous civilian villages as well-they never seek conflict. They are a clan of resolution. They are content living where they do and living their way of life, but when someone threatens that way of life...When someone confronts them, or even poses a slight threat to their land..." Mito trailed off musingly, eyes focusing on Hashirama as he stared at her with rapt attention.
A part of her hoped he would catch on, and see that Mikito seen him as a threat. It had been anything but Hashirama's intention to become such a thing as that, but due to his ignorance-his father lying to him for years, he was just that. A threat. A real threat because he was extremely powerful, she wouldn't happen to guess who had more raw power between himself and Mikito-their battles could last hours and even days, and when Hashirama did return to the underground city he was sizzling with chakra while steam surrounded him as his severe wounds slowly healed, and some continuing to bleed profusely.
"They just want to be left alone." Hashirama concluded softly, realization finally dawning on him. He never had to send a letter to Mikito, he just had to be upfront and honest with her, he never had to go out of his way to rearrange peace for their clans-he'd simply leave her and the Domou alone, maintaining the peace. He couldn't do that now, and unfortunately now he had to do things the hard way. "If I don't settle this, things could spiral out of control and get even worse. But, if I speak with her, I could make it even more worse. I should have never made an enemy out of them."
"You don't want the Domou as your enemies." Mito agreed, brows gently furrowing as she recalled her brief encounter with them. "There was a fourteen year old Domou, I believe her name was Hina. I never seen such resolution before. She had the eyes most veteran shinobi don't have."
That was a bit daunting for him...Veteran shinobi often had glinting murderous eyes that were as cold as ice...Few had the eyes of resolution, and he knew that's what Mito was talking about. If a fourteen year old Domou girl had such eyes, it would be a disaster if the Senju went to war with them or if the Domou came rampaging around here. That one fourteen year girl could kill twenty Senju shinobi and it wouldn't even be enough to bloody her blade or break her stride.
There'd be more Domou than just her and Mikito would be leading the charge.
"What should I do, Mito-hime-dono?" Hashirama tried to keep his voice even, but he was always an emotional mess and seeing her eyes narrow just a bit he knew she caught the emotion in his tone. No matter how he looked at it, war was going to be the only way to settle what he started with the Domou, and by all means the Domou were going to finish it like they did many many centuries ago. The only thing being they wouldn't be so merciful, nor would they be offering a powerful jutsu, they were going to mow down the Senju without any reprieve.
He'd ask Tobirama...Confide in his younger brother, but he already knew his brother's stance on the subject. He only seen the Domou as mutual enemies through the Uchiha and wanted to take action against them, though he and the Council shut that down, it didn't mean he wasn't contemplating ways to go about doing that. So, he had to turn to Mito, who would no doubt suggest a way to resolve things peacefully.
She felt her cheeks heat up just the slightest at his formality, and hid her bashfulness by lowering her head and not meeting the man's eyes. Nobody was ever really formal with her to such an extent-the Uzumaki were a pretty laid back clan in terms of being anal about that. There were no honorifics usually, except for the leader and second in command-the elders on the Council were usually addressed with the honorific san, while the leader and second in command were addressed with the honorifics sama or dono.
"You should be honest, Hashirama-san. Tell her how the Senju children are your first priority. Mikito will never lift a finger against a child." Mito said after a quiet moment of serious consideration. If Hashirama had just been upfront the first time around none of this would have escalated to the point it has now, but he had been vague and tip toed around Mikito, and that was something the woman couldn't appreciate. Mikito was simple when it came to things of this nature, and Hashirama sending letters instead of speaking with her face to face was the first mistake he made.
"But, don't use her to get through to Madara and the Uchiha clan." Mito added, tone very stern.
Hashirama couldn't hide his shock from consuming his features as he whipped his eyes onto her, mouth almost hanging open. He was almost certain he said nothing about this to Mito-unless she overheard Tobirama when he began to yell at him for making such a stupid decision, but that couldn't be right since she had been in her personal room near his office, where they were at this very moment. She couldn't have heard that conversation since it had been easily four floors down from here.
But, when he thought about it if he really did that, Mikito would no doubt be furious with him and want to cave in his face with her fists. She just would have been an accessory to get him through to Madara and the Uchiha clan.
"I know you want peace with the Uchiha clan to found your village, Mikito being Madara's wife would make her a pipeline. Don't even go down that path." Mito said dryly, fixing him with an equally dry expression.
"Should I send her a letter?"
"I think I'll do that, she doesn't trust you, remember? She'd burn the letter knowing you sent it at this point." Mito gave him quite a blank look as she snatched a blank scroll from his desk. He looked a bit downtrodden hearing her say what she just did, but she wasn't going to sugarcoat it by any stretch. Hashirama needed to know full well that he fucked up any chance of communication with Mikito that didn't involve blades, destructive jutsus, feet, or fists. Madara would also burn the letter before Mikito could even read it, or at the very least snatch it away.
Hashirama nodded, but watched her elegantly write on the scroll. Being around Mito made him feel like he could achieve anything, like anything was possible even if it was as far off kilter a raft rushing down a waterfall. He didn't feel this way around Tobirama. With his brother he felt nothing would stop them, that no matter what they faced out in the unknown that together they would overcome it and come back alive. With Mito it was completely different, whether it was walking across the ocean in Kaiju infested waters, or going on the channel of islands if he was with her he knew he'd see it through.
"I can't think you enough Mito-hime-"
"Mito or Mito-san is fine, you're flustering me, Hashirama-san." Mito said, sending Hashirama a small smile.
"Excuse me." He straightened up, bringing a closed hand to his mouth as he cleared his throat gently. He was never good with women, but he knew when it was time to keep his back straight and his chest out so to speak. Also, the thought of him flustering Mito made his cheeks cramp unbearably for several long moments before the sensation passed. That was not his intention. "I can't thank you enough Mito-san. I just hope doing this doesn't make the Uzumaki an enemy of the Domou when it is all said and done."
"You needn't worry about that." Mito grinned slightly, setting down several stacks of paper onto Hashirama's desk, watching with unrestrained amusement as they collapsed onto him successfully burying him with the only sign of the man being his black hair. Mikito kept things simple and was very sincere. She was concerned the Domou would eventually come to blows, but Mikito told her there was no need to worry. What has been set in stone will remain.
"That's all my brother has been worried about." Hashirama admitted, voice muffled as he struggled to sit himself up. He felt shame for a moment. He didn't want to interfere with the Domou and Uzumaki and his brother was inching towards doing just that using his wariness of the Domou to justify his stance. But, there wasn't any need for it-the Domou and Uzumaki would never shed the other's blood.
They would never go to war.
"Yes, you should control him better." Mito said resolutely, dropping another stack right on his thick head, knocking him down to the ground. Being the elder brother and leader of the Senju clan gave Hashirama more than enough reign to shut Tobirama up whenever he seen it fit. That man's pragmatic nature and streak of pride were going to cause many problems if he wasn't kept in line, and she didn't need him nor would allow him to rile up the younger generation of Uzumaki. "I won't allow him to spark a war between the Uzumaki and Domou, nor will Hisao-sama. Will he provoke the Subatsu next? That's where his line of thought and mentality is taking him."
Asami said something very similar, and he tried to brush it off, but hearing Mito say it as well made him a little worried.
"I'm going to send this message to Yamanami Domou." Mito waved the scroll in front of Hashirama's face, not needing to hear his answer. "I'll be back in a few."
Hashirama sighed. He never did like paperwork, but at least this situation was taking a turn for the better.
Yuko's eyes bolted open. It was painfully bright, so bright she couldn't see a single thing. In fact she couldn't see a thing at all save for bright light and simple blurs. Her instincts were immediately flaring, burning in the back of her mind. Her body acted all on its own, her first instinct to lunge, she did, from a barely sat up position she shot out of her bed and could only feel the hard embrace of the wall as she was slammed against it.
Whoever she went after easily countered her attack.
"Yuko." Souji said tone hard, looking at her carefully, eyes piercing into her own as he watched thousands of emotions flash across her face. Her eyes glimmered with even more emotions, and he only slackened his strength a bit letting her come back to even. Her fist had been prepped for his head.
She tensed for several seconds, blinking her eyes rapidly to clear her vision. There was still a haze on top of a fog, but she could make out Souji's dark skin and his scruffy hair that looked more like a mane than actual hair. However, she couldn't see him in full clarity, which put her on edge more than she had just woken up and had no idea where she was or who was before her. "Souji-sama..." She groggily shook her head. "How long have I been out? Where am I?"
Seeing her come back to even fully he released her from his grasp and took a few steps back. "You've been out for three and half days, you're back in the Sand country-Kagami brought you back. Rio, Toshi, Kenji, and Kagami have all given their reports."
"Ajo!" Yuko struggled to keep her voice down.
"He's long gone for the moment and you don't need to worry about him." Souji said sternly, looking her over with veiled concern. Kagami had brought her back in nothing short of a mess, there had been blood all over the two of them and Yuko looked like she had a sword ran through her gut and yanked right back out. That much blood coating her kimono blouse at that time only signified that she had taken a direct hit. It was Kagami's, and the other's reports that really put him on edge. "Yuko, do you remember anything?"
Yuko blinked, a tad bit confused as to why Souji would ask that. She remembered squaring off against Ajo, Chojo, and those deranged people with black skin. Ajo had ran his sword through her, but she managed to cut him across his right side. Everything from there was nothing short of hazy and painful-she could only remember trembling as blood spewed out of her torso and her eyes burning. Everything else was blank, it miles well have been black. "Nothing after Ajo stabbed me..."
Before they could continue with their conversation Madara and Mikito entered the room. Madara wearing an impassive expression while Mikito kept her own as blank and passive as possible.
"Where is Izuna-sama?" Yuko looked around, noticing her husband was nowhere to be seen, and wasn't right behind Madara like always.
"There's been a development. One crop of Uchiha are residing in the compound you grew up in and another crop are now residing with the Domou compound, there has been a split. Your clan has been facing low fertility as of late, and before that many women were having miscarriages. It turns out they were suffering the effects of Rot. We put a lid on the situation, but it seems everyone wasn't on board with the idea. Izuna as well as my sister are both at the Domou compound at this moment, barely keeping things in tact." Mikito answered softly, taking a seat on a nearby cushion.
"What?" Yuko tried not to sound rude, but it sounded nothing short of absurd. There's no way obstinate Uchiha could possibly considering leaving the compound.
"All of the slaves, servants, medics, those who didn't awaken the Sharingan, women with children, and women pregnant are all at the Domou compound as we speak getting the treatment that they need. There are some men from the warrior class and teenagers as well, but the majority of them stayed at the old compound for whatever reason. So, less than half of the Uchiha population-about twenty two hundred Uchiha are in my compound at the moment." Mikito explained further.
"I see..." Yuko nodded, now that she can definitely see. The servants and slaves were Uchiha that were treated like garbage, the medics were often looked down upon, and the women would always put their children first. It's why Uchiha men didn't remain faithful. If one woman didn't want her children being sent off to their deaths they'd just hop to another one and repeat the process until a stupid woman agrees.
A sad but unfortunate truth.
"Moving forward from that." Madara said bluntly, crossing his arms across his chest and deciding to remain standing. His visible black eyes squared in on her, and he narrowed them, hoping that he'd be able to pierce through her. "Do you remember anything passed Ajo running his sword through you?"
"Besides Chojo slamming him face first into the ground right after, no I don't."
The trio shared a worried glance, Madara in particular look worried before he sobered up.
"Yuko, look into my eyes." Madara ordered sternly. The girl did as she was told, and he put her under a genjutsu before she could even blink. Her head bobbed forward before her entire body followed, and Mikito deftly caught her before she hit the floor face first.
"Activate!" Madara commanded, placing a hand over Yuko's eyes for a bare second, he watched her eyes snap wide open, chocolate blaring into crimson with three tomoes violently rotating. They continued to rotate even faster until they...Morphed...And took the shape of a spiral with four points breaking off connecting to her iris.
"Mangekyo..." Mikito muttered, eyes visibly wide as she watched the powerful eyes just stare back at her lazily.
"I don't know how she did it, but she's awakened the Mangekyo." Madara said, clasping two fingers together and flared his chakra for a moment. The Mangekyo degraded back into three tomoes before her eyes swirled back into their bright chocolate losing their crimson complexion. He clenched his teeth until his jaw began to ache-only he and Izuna had awakened the advance Sharingan, and it was after seeing their father die at the hands of Butsuma. They'd be the first two since their ancestor Indra to awaken the powerful and advanced Sharingan.
Yuko was now the third.
According to the records anyways.
"Kagami mentioned black flames, would that mean..." Mikito didn't dare to finish her sentence.
"One of the Mangekyo's techniques, Amaterasu." Madara said with a clipped tone, arms growing even tighter around his chest. "Black flames that burn for seven days and seven nights without reprieve. Flames that extinguish any water jutsu and burn through even the most powerful fire jutsu, the third of the two techniques one acquires when they awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan."
"The second being Susano'o, and the first being something genjutsu based I'd assume." Souji stated bluntly. Amaterasu was ninjutsu based in nature considering it was black flames, like any other fire jutsu except the fact they were pitch black, and Susano'o was well within its own league and didn't need to be categorized as ninjutsu based or anything based. It was best described as a chakra tank or chakra guardian. The Uchiha being very versed in genjutsu, it only made sense one Mangekyo ability involved genjutsu.
"Tsukuyomi, a powerful genjutsu." Madara clarified.
"I see." Souji just shrugged, not caring for its proper name. It was genjutsu based and that's all that mattered in his mind.
"We can't let your Council know about this, they'd try to take her eyes." Mikito said, voice growing a bit harsh. As far as she knew Yuko had been nothing short of shunned and scorned by the Uchiha clan, and now they'd have their little ace in the hole. Another Mangekyo Sharingan. It'd belong to a half blooded Uchiha on top of it, but the Council wouldn't care, all they seen it for was power. Not the fact they were now lodged in Yuko's head and belonged to her.
"I can't not tell them." Madara gave his wife an exasperated look. The Mangekyo was a huge deal, and if Yuko awakened it he was well within his rights to inform the Council. There's no way he could keep this information to himself, if and when the Council found out on their own they'd decide to take action on their own, and that would involve taking the girl's eyes. The only reason they weren't trying to take his or Izuna's eyes is because they'd rip those fossils apart without breaking a sweat.
"Yuko won't be returning to that compound then, she'll be with the Uchiha in our compound." Souji said sternly, his voice nor expression breaking no argument. He knew the Uchiha Council would take her eyes-propose the idea of taking her eyes for the betterment of the clan. He already had the Uchiha all figured out, they treasured love so they shut themselves off, they put revenge and hate over everything, not able to prioritize between longevity and war, and they'd do everything they could just to get stronger. Plucking out Yuko's eyes was just a small price to pay.
"You Uchiha and your ways make me very wary."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Madara asked a bit edgy.
"It's your mentality." Miikito said softly.
"I'm not stupid or glib Madara. Don't think I don't know what the deal is. I know the Uchiha well enough, and I know them better since my sister sent a message last night explaining the current state of affairs. Your clan has split up." Souji said in the same blunt tone as before, not even fazed by the glare Madara was sending him. There were times in history when the Uchiha were battling each other day in and night out like one faction was the Senju. The Uchiha had always been divided and while they treasured love, they treasured strength and power more, and would go to any length to attain power.
To prove they were superior.
"Yuko will not become a sacrifice for the Uchiha nor is she going to get her eyes plucked out just because they have power. Your clan has always been divided and hubris. You will do anything to get stronger."
Madara only clenched his teeth. Souji was right by all means, but he couldn't let his pride take such a blow.
"I wonder if you Uchiha have a practice to unlock the Mangekyo now or will begin one. Will you kill your loved ones for power? Witnessing them die isn't enough to awaken the Mangekyo. Murdering them isn't enough to awaken the Mangekyo." Souji added sternly, not at all fazed by Madara's taut neck muscles or stiff jaw. "If that were the case all of you Uchiha would have a Mangekyo, but you're all so foolish you won't even consider this.."
Madara wouldn't be surprised if his clan came up with some fucked up practice such as that, but he wouldn't allow that to ever happen. It also wasn't enough to witness a loved one die or even kill them-the reason he and Izuna awakened the Mangekyo was because they felt that loss and from that feeling of loss they awakened the Mangekyo. The Uchiha who believe suppressing emotions is the best way to advance the Sharingan couldn't have it anymore wrong. Emotions activated the Sharingan, they fueled the Sharingan-positive or negative the emotions still strengthened the Sharingan.
They awakened the Sharingan.
They advanced the Sharingan.
Souji just said as much.
"And, if they do?" Madara asked, staring Souji in the eye refusing to back down.
"I think we'll have to reconsider this alliance and put it to an end quickly. I'm not going to allow power hungry Uchiha to kill my kinsmen just to get power. Just to advanced their Sharingan into a Mangekyo Sharingan, if the Uchiha live with such a mentality then we will have to reconsider this alliance like I said before." Souji said stonily.
"You're serious?"
"Damn fucking right I am. We don't need trash like that bogging us down." Souji barely held himself back from snapping.
"Mikito, are you in agreement?
"I can't argue against my brother's points. Uchiha have a history of doing such things. If Uchiha are that mad with power trips and being power hungry we will have to reconsider this alliance." Mikito said, not at all as harsh as Souji, but she was still very firm on her point. She had nothing against the Uchiha, but if the Uchiha were willing to kill their own kinsmen just to get power, and not even know the proper means of attaining that power...All of that blood and death, all gone to waste. She'd be damned if one Domou was wasted away like that.
She'd be damned if the Uchiha start murdering each other.
"I can't tolerate such mad people within my midst. That will willingly kill their own flesh and blood just for power. I will not tolerate them killing my kinsmen for power either. Don't get the wrong idea, I have nothing against the Uchiha, but your clan is now split."
There was also the issue if Madara gave into Hashirama's babbles for peace. She wouldn't be joining him and the Uchiha in that village, they'd either have a very strained relationship at that point or they'd need to get a divorce...Something she didn't want to do, but she wouldn't let her kinsmen be oppressed.
But, it wouldn't come to that because now there were two crops of Uchiha shinobi.
Madara narrowed his eyes. He knew what Mikito was getting at. They'd remain allies with one crop of Uchiha shinobi and forget the rest, more importantly he'd have to choose to either remain at the old compound, or move into the Domou compound like the others did. He could put himself in conflict with Mikito and the Domou, with the other Uchiha at the Domou compound...With Izuna, most of all. Izuna was very fond of the Domou and got along with the wide majority of them just fine. "If it betters the clan then the sacrifice must be made."
Mikito slammed her fist down on the floor. She thought Madara outgrew such a mindset, she knew he had such a mentality when she first met him, but she thought after all of this time and being together he would have overcome it. "I will never sacrifice anyone let alone for such a shallow and selfish reason! Murdering your loved ones will not awaken the Mangekyo! Such a mentality shouldn't even exist."
"Cold blooded murder doesn't better anything, especially if you're murdering your loved ones, and if you can even try to justify it does than this alliance should be done away with right now. The only thing it betters if the person foolishly doing it, and it's not for the better of anyone except themselves. As long as they have power." Souji growled, eyes starting to glint in a ghastly way.
"Uchiha want to sacrifice Uchiha for power you all go on right ahead, it bothers me a great deal but I don't share your blood, it's not any of my business really. But, if you want to sacrifice Domou, my kinsmen, those I share blood with, for power I will not allow that to happen. I will fuck you up Madara and any Uchiha that tries to do it, do not fuck around."
"Souji!" Madara hissed. No, the older man had nothing against him or the Uchiha for that matter, he was only wary of their narrow minded mentality and by all means he should be worried about it. Such a narrow minded mentality doomed people. He wouldn't put it passed some Uchiha to kill Domou if they got stronger as a result, and that was due in large part to their narrow minded mentality. He wouldn't condone such a thing, but he knew his clan well enough to know they'd consider it.
Souji was only stating the obvious and putting the warning out there before any Uchiha even tried doing it.
Of course he didn't want to concede with the older's man point at least verbally.
"I'll fuck you up Madara, I'll beat any Uchiha's ass that even dares to tread on that path. Clearly Yuko didn't see a loved one die or killed someone she loved and she awakened the Mangekyo, the Uchiha's logic is clearly skewed at best and nonexistent at the worst."
"She's half Uchiha." Madara kept his growl contained.
"Yet she's awakened the Mangekyo, my point still stands with the Uchiha and their narrow minded mentality. You even think about giving into that sort of mentality and I'll stomp on your fucking face to knock some sense into you." Souji snarled.
"Care to try it?" Madara challenged, never one to back down from anyone.
"Make no mistake, you may have the Sharingan, you may have the Mangekyo Sharingan, and you may be a big deal in the Uchiha clan, but that doesn't mean shit to me. If you Uchiha can't see who or what you're fighting that Sharingan is a moot point. If you can't match your foes physically it doesn't matter if that Sharingan can predict movements, and I will tell you now no Uchiha can match a Domou physically. You can't match me physically."
"That's enough! Madara! Souji!" Mikito said sternly, noting that Yuko was moving much more freely and was about to break the genjutsu. And, more improtantly prevent these two from brawling and breaking this room apart. Madara was no slouch physically, but he couldn't match her, Souji, or any Domou when it came to physicality. Sharingan or not. "This conversation is over with, we have something to get back to."
The red haired kunoichi began to stir.
Yuko formed a seal at last, breaking the genjutsu within a few seconds and sat herself up. She groaned, rubbing at her eyes profusely while giving everyone a once over. Her vision was a bit blurry, and her eyes throbbed a little, but her vision soon cleared back into its high clarity. "I'm sorry that I can't remember anything else, it all just happened so fast and...It's hazy."
She shook her head again, lounging her forehead into her palm.
Mikito just nodded softly in return, not at all upset that Yuko couldn't remember. It was only natural one wouldn't have much recollection of the events she went through. The mind was a funny thing and could play tricks on a person if they weren't careful, and also went to extreme lengths to guard a person so to speak. Yuko simply blacked out, she didn't lose consciousness but as far as reason went...Well, that took a back seat, and whatever it is that she did she couldn't remember. Rio, Toshi, Kenji, and Kagami only offered fragments of what happened to her, and every single one concluded after Yuko was ran through with a sword by Ajo is when things took a severe turn.
Except for Kagami who arrived on the scene and encountered Danzo before hand. He was the only one who offered no details on Yuko other than the condition she had been in when he stumbled upon her.
There was a whole other half they weren't getting that Yuko could only provide.
"I'm going to send a notice to the Council and get everyone ready, we should prepare for the coming attacks." Madara said, standing up to his feet and exiting the room briskly.
Souji's eyes narrowed in a ghastly manner and he swung open the door with barely restrained anger. "I'll come with you, Madara."
"That's not necessary."
"I don't give two flying shits, I'm coming."
Mikito sighed softly. Souji was never fond of dogmatic and stupid mentalities such as the one Madara had tried to defend, and like many Uchiha, Madara had been subjected to that mentality and was almost falling prey to it. There was no doubt in her mind that obstinate Council was going to try and take Yuko's eyes, and she'd do everything within her power-even if she had to start busting heads, to prevent that from happening.
She was almost startled out of her train of thought.
"Mikito-sama, I have a question." Yuko looked at the older woman carefully, eyes searching her for anything that could possibly give her away. A twitch. A flinch. A wink. Anything that wasn't within her mannerisms, but she found nothing. Mikito just gave her the same look but it was much more intense, and she found herself wishing she could crawl into a ball. But, she steeled her resolve and stared right back into Mikito's eyes. She took a deep breath, heart racing. "Why didn't you tell me before..."
Mikito exhaled deeply, crossing her arms across her chest gently as she closed her eyes. It seems Yuko discovered the truth, Souji gave her the straight path to take, Yuko took that path and got all the answers to her questions she needed. In addition to these answers came a multitude of questions, and she had been preparing herself for this moment since Yuko asked way back then about the Kizoku clan.
"Why didn't you tell me the Domou...?" Yuko shook her head.
"It seems you've discovered the truth at last."
"It's all here." Yuko rummaged through her spot, pulling out a scroll from her bloodied white kimono blouse and opened it revealing a rather thick scroll with writing scribbled all over it. "A Kizoku who passed in that unfortunate war, left it behind. I would guess he didn't think it'd survive this long, he said as much on the last page."
Mikito just narrowed her eyes a bit. "I see."
Yuko nodded numbly, wringing her blanket between her fingers. The answer had been right in front of her the entire time, literally. She should have known the moment she seen Iji. And, Shin's explanation of the whole event should have filled in the rest of the blanks, but she had been too confused and just too emotional in that moment to piece all of it together. The fork was the path between the Earth country and the next region, it was also what connected the Fire country to the west. When the Kizoku traveled through the fork and spread out beyond...
They went into the west-the Domou's and Subatsu's homeland.
"The Kizoku united with the Domou-the Domou changed their name so that there was a u at the end, to symbolize their union." Yuko stared at the older woman intently, almost yearning for Mikito to nod in confirmation. If it was true then that meant her mother could still be alive and well, her mother could be in the Domou compound right at this very moment waiting for her to return. There was also the chance her mother was in fact dead, and Shin made it seem so, but she held onto the sliver of hope her mother was alive.
"Your mother and my mother were very good friends, Yuko. You have to understand your mother put you and your safety above everything else, even her own husband-your father Heiwa Uchiha...When the Kizoku were attacked it was sporadic, my mother and father at that time helped the Kizoku fend off the large number of clans that were seeking to destroy all of you. Your mother insisted that my parents and clan don't get involved, but my parents objected stating that the genocide of one clan just because of one tyrannical man's fears wasn't right..."
"When it became clear that there'd be no end of it until every last Kizoku was done away with; my parents lead all of the surviving Kizoku to our compound and began to spread rumors that the Kizoku were extinct. It stuck, with them retreating into the west and all. The Kizoku after that event became extinct only in name, but they live on Yuko."
"So...Iji-kun he's..." Yuko struggled to stop herself from grinning. She knew Iji was a little strange when she first seen him, his big and bright green eyes, and that messy head of hair. He had traits from both of the clans, but he definitely inherited his eyes from a Kizoku no doubt about it. He also seemed happy to see her, strange enough, and now she could understand why. They were both of the same blood, half, but they still had the same blood flowing through their veins.
"That's correct, Yuko." Mikito nodded softly, finding no need to deny Yuko the truth anymore. Though, she had never denied the sweet girl the truth, she wanted Yuko to discover this all out on her own instead of being spoon fed. So, when the time did come she would know the truth without question, there wouldn't be a single doubt in her mind at all what was fact and what was lie. "He is half Domou and half Kizoku, one of the many from his generation. He is also my little cousin."
Yuko struggled to gather her bearings...How different were the Uchiha and Domou...She had been scorned for being a half blood, and the Domou didn't have any such scorn to those not full blooded they treated them just the same.
"Can...Can I stay in your compound?" Yuko always wondered why the Domou never looked at her with scorn. The Domou didn't have it in them to discriminate for any reasons, but it was also the fact many of those Domou looking at her were in fact mixed with Kizoku or very well could be mixed. They could tell She was of Kizoku descent and never made her feel out of place or unwelcome. If anything they'd just glance at her or wave, the girls would always run up to her and ask her to train with them. It was better than the scorns she'd get from the Uchiha.
The Domou knew no such things about division, or anything of the like.
"I don't have a problem with it, and I think Ahiko would insist at this point. However, you should speak with your husband about it. I would think you two would want to build your own house to have some privacy and all." Mikito said with a sly smile, watching Yuko go from collected to flustered in just a second.
"Mikito-sama!" Yuko covered her eyes with her hands, blushing horribly, completely abashed. Izuna and her having their own house, she never considered that possibility, but knowing Izuna he would want them to have their privacy. It was just such a huge step, they'd be living together! "Then...We need to finish things here."
"You are not wrong, and things are going to be coming to a close very soon, I think." Mikito said, sobering up at the mention of the endless conflict currently plaguing this region. Everyone was suffering losses, but it was whether or not they wished to give up and become a part of the Wind country that made all the difference. If they didn't give up they were beaten down until they had no choice, it only got worse since the Earth damiyo was in talks with the Wind damiyo and many were saying they were going to combine their military strength.
Though, she did wipe out a good portion of both daimyos' forces, now it was crunch time for everyone. Every other village and country was teetering on the edge of surrender except for the Sand country and a few others. Sasuke was showing signs of retreat though he remained hostile as always, Hajime was in the same boat. The Hyuga like the country they were contacted by was considering their options though Daiki remained obstinate as always. It was clear that the Wind was going to continue its push backed by the Earth and it was going to take a miracle to hold off the tsunami that was rushing towards them all..
"If I can help, by all means I will." Yuko said firmly.
"The Wind damiyo and Earth damiyo are in the process of glad handing each other as we speak. They intend to finish this war once and for all. The Earth damiyo believes that the Wind damiyo going on this conquest is justified and will make things more legitimate. With only one damiyo controlling everything in the region. Those who haven't surrendered will be very shortly...This will perhaps be the last battle or one of the last battles. The only thing stopping those two nobles from subjugating this country and its people are us, Yuko. We are the only barrier."
"What are we up against exactly? It can't be worse than before..."
"The Wind's forces still number over three hundred thousand and the Earth's forces are double that at least." Mikito said a bit grimly, looking out the window for a moment before pinning her eyes back on Yuko. Even with her earth jutsus which crushed thousands, it only dented their respective forces, it never slowed down the Wind damiyo or Earth damiyo. "We should prepare for a head on attack by the both of them. The Hatake, Shainingu, Hageshii, Akimichi, Sarutobi, Chibana, Tachibana, and Hyuga clans will launch one more if not several attacks to try and stem the tides and deal us a blow in the process."
So, it was worse than before, Yuko realized with a blank but grim expression. The Imperial armies were beyond vast in number and the shinobi clans mentioned were persistent and strong willed, they definitely had their hands full to say the very least. The Sarutobi were especially persistent and didn't stop until they were dead. If they could fend off the Imperial armies successfully they'd have the shinobi clans to deal with and vice versa the shinobi clans could chip away at the Imperial forces but their focus would still turn onto them in the end. Either way she looked at it they were going to have everyone gunning for them.
They were the heart of the entire region, and the first place anyone targeted was the heart. The Sand country were targeted from the beginning by the Sarutobi, before she and Ahiko even crossed over borders for their mission. And, to no surprise they were being targeted now. The heart was and always will be the first target to exploit, in combat, and in life.
Either way this wasn't going to be a cakewalk at all...Uchiha and Domou could die during this battle...
"I'm going to need you at my side, Yuko. Don't let your valor nor resolve waver! Remain sincere!"
"Yes, Mikito-sama!"