"I no longer want to run away!"
Hinata
Mikito glared at Daishiro, eyes burning relentlessly hoping to scorch his form to nothing but ashes. She never trusted him as far as she could throw him, and while that was very far she'd never take her chance. He was a dark and antagonistic man who made a move against the Domou in nothing short of stupidity using the excuse of resources to justify his folly.
Now, he just killed the Wind damiyo- a lord and there was no way that'd remain quiet. Somebody must have seen him do the deed and was telling their peers at this moment. To make matters worse he was challenging her-questioning her resolution and convictions. She never sought out conflict, only seeking to end or finish it before it could even get started. Now that the Wind would be backing off it was going to lead to two things. Her backing down, or continuing this fight, something her husband may favor doing.
Daishiro wasn't aiming to get between the two of them, but he was trying to get them to challenge each other. She wasn't a total idealist and tried to stay down to earth, but she never killed needlessly. Only when it was needed, and she always gave her foes a warning to retreat before she really caught her stride and start busting heads wide open.
More importantly he was challenging her. Would she go along with Madara's desire to continue the battle if that was indeed what his desired, or if she'd object that notion and push for the conflict to be put to an end. It was very much possible now to put an end to this-the brazen Wind damiyo was now dead and wouldn't be making aggressive moves against anyone, another would come to replace him that'd be less brazen and would want to settle things without conflict anymore.
"I've already made my decision." Daishiro cut through her train of thought, tone as sharp as his gaze. "We're pulling back."
"What of the Earth damiyo!?"
"He was in an alliance with the Wind damiyo to seize everything under the Wind's banner, since the fool is dead that noble will cut his losses and retreat back to the Earth country."
"And, what will you do?"
"Put an end to this." Daishiro smirked before waving to his men fighting close by. "We're pulling back, tell the others!"
They killed their foes, doing as their leader ordered.
"I'll be seeing you around, Mikito..." Daishiro vanished in a swirl of leaves and sand leaving before her fist could connect with his skull.
"Damn him!" She snarled, glaring at the exact spot where his feet had been-blood was slowly filling the gaps.
Knowing Daishiro he was already on the other side of the battlefield, or even further than that, and he in fact was. She wouldn't be facing off against him anymore for the time being.
She beamed right for Madara, judging by his chakra he was in a serious fight.
Madara and Sasuke clashed bitterly, ethereal blades and solid rock swiped and crashed relentlessly. Madara stepped forward and swung the blade up from his hip, finding the smallest opening possible and worming his way through it. This didn't sway Sasuke in the least and he easily deflected the attack with a mental command, slightly amused to see chunks of earth cascading down.
It was clear that his style differed greatly from Madara. His movements were deliberate and powerful, like a fire being being fed through the wind, growing and ever increasing as time dragged on. He focused on offense more than defense, although she could go on a vicious attack easily enough, Madara's Susano'o had two more weapons than he did.
"Grrgghhhh..." Madara grunted, straining as the tip of his blade skewed passed Sasuke's titan's head as it ducked under the attack. A second and third sword came from the side.
However, Sasuke swung out with both of his mammoth swords, halting his trajectory.
"You're not half bad, Uchiha." Sasuke jeered, her boiling eyes burning as he locked them with the Mangekyo. "You're a lot stronger than your father, I'll give you that much. But, I know that Mangekyo is straining you at the moment, I wonder how long you can keep going."
"You stupid monkey." Madara growled. "I'll keep this up as long as I can!"
"Well then, let's see it." Sasuke advanced on him. "Don't disappoint me!"
Again, Madara slammed against the vicious barrage of swipes and swings, narrowly avoiding getting struck in the side with Sasuke's Earth Human's massive fist before swaying away from the lethal strike that came next.
His eyes widened as she spotted the next attack coming, the earthen sword moving at frightening speeds. He swung one blade up knocking the attack aside, watching raptly as Sasuke halted its wild trajectory and brought it back down from above.
Madara strained, pushing up and away.
He grunted, charging forwards with surprising speed. One sword swung, beaming from the side cutting through the air giving it an electric sort of sound. He wasn't surprised when Sasuke blocked it, and with great speed he brought two more forward.
BOOOOM!
They charged at each again, both taking advantage of the opening-what would be an opening. Madara surged chakra into his blade, in the blink of an eye it skewed forward, the one single swing sent shock waves across the ground as it was torn asunder.
Sasuke blocked the attack just barely, but his massive humanoid lost its wrist.
With a grunt, Madara distanced himself, panting roughly as he wiped sweat away from his brows.
Sasuke formed the bird seal, and within a second his humanoid was back to even, having two hands once more.
"What the hell..." Madara seethed, eyes narrowing at the massive hand a few feet away from them and back to the fresh one.
"How do you like that?" Sasuke asked cockily, crossing his arms over his chest. "I can replace the missing limbs easily, unlike your technique which stems from your eyes which you can't possibly do. I'm not limited like you. I think if I bash that thing hard enough it'll dissipate and you'll be severely drained."
I'm going to need to use... Madara gritted his teeth, fighting against the burning pain that was rippling through his eyes. He was sweating even more profusely, and the strain was becoming too much-at this point his eyes were going to start to bleed again. If this kept up Sasuke was going to end up besting him, because if his Susano'o did get hit hard enough it'd in fact dissipate.
"You see, I'm used to battling Mikito." Sasuke spoke over the loud booming of footsteps. Mikito was nothing like Madara in any certain aspect-she was ferocious and nothing short of a monster. Madara wasn't grabbing him by the armor and swinging him around while hammering bone breaking blows into his stomach, he wasn't grabbing him by the ankle and swinging him face first into the ground, nor was he tossing him around without any problem.
His Susano'o was nothing to scoff at, but compared to the direct damage Mikito could dish out...The titanic strength she possessed. "I guess it makes sense why you Uchiha allied yourselves with the Domou-you're all stagnant and the Domou are a breath of fresh air."
"My brother pushed for the alliance, that had nothing to do with me" Madara said with some bitterness. He would have gotten by just fine without the Domou, but Izuna pushed for the alliance since the very beginning, pushed for the marriage between him and Mikito, and had a huge part to do with the whole thing just in general.
"And, I suppose you married Mikito out of obligation."
"That doesn't concern you!"
Sasuke swung forward viciously, and Madara swung a second later, blocking the blow, gritting his teeth as he pushed forward both struggling against each other.
Madara lashed out at Sasuke. The leader of the Sarutobi blocked the dizzying barrage, countering with his own powerful slashes pressing his assault.
Madara found himself stepping back from the assault, blocking the strikes raining on him. He swung forward just as the earthen blade nearly stabbed through his guardian's chest.
Sasuke was vicious in his assault as he cut forward, slamming Madara's defenses with powerful slashes. He spun, holding out one arm as he grasped the Susano'o by the throat and with a mental command the massive hand began to crush down with horrible force.
Madara had the fool right where he wanted him, easily lobbing off the left arm with a powerful swipe, and stabbed right through the humanoid's chest spilling out tons of earth.
"Well then..." Sasuke chuckled, steadily advancing on the Uchiha, feeling his smirk grow since Madara didn't back up an inch. He formed the boar seal, letting his chakra flourish, and exerted it forcing chunks of earth to cluster together to form an entire arm on the left side as well cluttered together around the hole in his humanoid's chest quickly filling it.
Damn it... Madara cursed silently, watching with unrestrained anger as the humanoid was back to even.
"You're looking a little frightful Madara. Is this not as easy as you thought it would be?"
Madara lunged in the air, twisting sharply and arcing his blade down using the fall to add more power and momentum into his attack. Sasuke easily blocked the attack, swinging a massive fist forward, forcing the massive blue guardian to stagger back. "What's the matter, am I moving too fast for you?"
"Hardly!" Madara smashed right into him. He slammed two punches across the humanoid's jaw. Sasuke dodged the next strike, but he was already prepared he followed with a vicious swing. Sasuke lunged towards him, closing the gap and at the last second dodged slamming a massive fist into his ribs.
"I must say, you do have impressive power, and your tactical ability is extraordinary, but you like any other Uchiha rely on your eyes too much, and it's coming back to haunt you." Sasuke smirked, launching himself forward and aiming his humanoid's shoulder for Madara's gut, but before he could connect a blast of lightning speared right for him, forcing him to evade and slide back.
"Sasuke!" Mikito shouted, glaring up at the man atop his humanoid.
"You came just in time, I was about to wipe out this shit stain."
"Madara!
"I'm...Fine." Madara said, wiping at his eyes before focusing again. "How are things on your end?"
"Mikito!"
Daiki was barreling right towards them.
"I got him."
"The Earth damiyo's army is starting to advance. I'll handle Sasuke, you handle Daiki." Mikito said, turning and watching as his blue guardian dissipated leaving him to land on the ground solidly with some blood around his eyes-it wasn't too bad, but they were doing the same thing as before.
Madara nodded, dashing away a second later.
"Mikito..." Sasuke eyed her closely.
"I've kept you waiting long enough, shall we get right to it?"
"Bold as always, I like that about you. But, you seem a little dwarfed at the moment."
"The only thing I need is mt chakra and limbs, let's see how durable your Earth Human is compared to Daishiro's Earth Tyrant and Hashirama's Wood Oni...I will put you and your clan to route."
He pressed the pain in his shoulder to the back of his mind. He flipped off of his humanoid's skull, spotting Mikito darting right for him.
"You can fly?"
"Flight is simple, but I could be using my Futon."
Sasuke grunted, his massive humanoid heaved slamming its massive arm forward.
Mikito narrowed her eyes, flaring her chakra suddnely and darting away to the side leaving a wave of chakra behind, pressing the ball of her foot into an earth jutsu to add speed to her already blinding sprinted. She strained flipping over a massive fireball, wincing just slightly at the shearing heat of the jutsu. Sasuke was a level above most when it comes to his Fire jutsus.
She seen through his barrage, swinging her saya hard, blocking what would have been a straight slash on her jaw, missing him by just an inch as she glided forward, blade arcing towards him.
Sasuke followed through with the movement, slamming one flooding hand into the blade, just halting the attack, but the impact drove him back against his will tearing trenches as he finally came to a stop. Biceps and triceps flexing, forearms ripping with striations, he held back the gleaming tip-just inches from his shoulder. It wasn't how close the tip was that put him on edge, it was the sheer power behind the attack.
If she would have connected I'd be down one arm and probably have a busted chest.
He smirked swinging his arm to the sde, gritting his teeth as he blocked Mikito's swift kick, pain pulsated through his forearm, like mini shock waves. They pushed against each other silently before his humanoid broke the stand off and prowled after Mikito forcing her to pelt it rapidly until it collapsed, crushing thousands with it.
"You're not shocked are you?" Mikito asked, swatting away his massive forearm.
She evaded the darting burning spheres of energy, dashing in with a quick flourish of her legs, slamming his shin against Sasuke's stomach, powering through and smashing him through the body of his own humanoid. The ground quaked, and the massive thing crumbled down until there was a huge pile of debris and smoke sweeping around for miles.
She pressed her attack taking advantage of the brief pause, latching onto her hand on his ankle with one hand, and swung him around slamming him face first into the upper part of the torso, letting him go and letting the rest of the impact carry him across the ground.
Sasuke twisted off of his back grabbing a hold of the ground beneath, and sprung up heaving himself up with one arm sliding to a controlled stop.
Mikito grunted, shooting away, spotting an afterimage fade, and another blast of fire shooting towards her from above.
Sasuke dodged the frenzied assault, countering with his own slashes and pressing the attack. But, Mikito was ferocious and was flying all over the place. The sheer attack force and abrasive approach that she exuded battered his defense. Rather than getting defensive he got offensive, clashing with her in a vicious display of power and speed.
Finally, he overpowered her, pushing her blade to the side and swiped down. Mikito swayed passed the attack, lashing out with her own attack which niked Sasuke's right cheek leaving a small cut. Just as she pulled back, her senses alerted her to danger, and she jumped to the side as a series of fireballs beamed under her crashing into one stack of earth jutsu exploding into a blaze of light.
I'd better end this! She charged forward, swiping forward quickly. Sasuke deflected the precise stab, not going to make the same mistake twice, he swarmed her in a flash of steel. It would no doubt make anyone drop their mouth in awe.
Mikito augmented with chalra entirely dashed, jumped, cartwheeled, and somersaulted over and through his deadly curtain of steel. Gracefully gliding as she dodged one slash, deflecting another with a quick flourish.
Both circled the other, dashing in and out, blades slamming into the other, fists crashing, shins smashing, and elbows battering as they fought for supremacy. Mikito's attack style revolved around speed, unpredictability, power and lightning reflexes, she read into moves before they were executed, timed them, and countered accordingly. The power behind each individual swing was enough to cut people in half vertically and gouge off limbs.
They battled back and forth, forcing the other to block and parry what would have been deadly swings. The ground groaned from their clash-as the other clashes, but they were fighting with sheer intensity. Each swing was backed with their full strength and precise technique, each parry was executed to perfection, and each block was excellently timed.
They broke their stalemate, sliding back across the terrain.
Sasuke grunted, slamming his foot back, and propelled himself towards Mikito with horrendous speed. He swiped from the side, a tight arc, his sword screaming through the space between them. Mikito swung to the side, raising her sword a bit higher, gritting her teeth as they collided.
He's no slouch, however... Mikito slid forward his feet turning into mere blurs, and she pushed forward, sheath and shin rocketing towards targets-Sasuke dodged the steel, but couldn't block the kick in time.
Feeling blood gushing in and from his mouth, tearing through the back of his throat, Sasuke sprung up to his feet.
"Mikito!"He appeared again, just an inch from her, swinging one massive fist forward. She blocked his punch, returning two for good measure. Eight hundred kicks from the side ten hundred elbows from above and over a thousand punches from every direction. Another punch. Another hundred strikes. Another barrage.
This continued for several long minutes, Sasuke appearing in a flash and pressing his attack, Mikito gliding and returning vicious blow after blow, matching him blow for blow.
Sasuke gasped, the metallic taste on the tip of his tongue and sharp pain in his punctuated his condition as he slid back. His muscles were screaming. He was tiring. He was getting dizzy from defending and attacking from different angles, the blood dripping from his gash was slitting between his eyes obscuring his vision for the most fleeting of seconds, and his arms felt as heavy as lead.
"I hope you've gotten whatever it is you've come for, Sasuke. If you care about your kinsmen I suggest you get out of here, now."
Continuing to fight is only going to be detrimental for me in the long run, I'll pull back for now. Need to get this rib healed anyways. Sasuke narrowed his eyes, flashing through a series of seals, and sending a storm of fireballs forward-giving Mikito little time to dodge the total flurry.
"I won't forget this, Mikito!"
Madara and Daiki slammed into each other. Madara's blade deflected by the Hyuga's hand while he swung his free palm forward. Teeth gritting Madara pushed against him, following through on his swing and sending Daiki back. "What's the matter, finally get permission from Mikito to fight me!?"
"I don't need her permission, Hyuga!"
Madara slammed his shin against Daiki's jaw watching with glee as blood flew freely from the older man's mouth. He shot towards him, gunbai already flashing forward, but Daiki was quick to react, and snapped one hand hand up batting aside the clubbing blow.
Madara grunted, rolling onto his side and lunging in with a quick flinch and hastily dodged the chakra coated palm.
He twisted back shooting towards Daiki, smashing his sickle into the man's blade forcing both of them to grit their teeth.
Daiki reached forward with one arm, chakra blasting off of his palm, tearing the ground apart where Madara had been prior. This left Daiki open, still turning through his attack leaving his side exposed, Madara swiped forward with his sickle, the gleaming steel flew away from its intended target.
Tenketsu... Madara frowned, slowly shifting his footing.
Daiki landed quietly several feet away, remaining motionless. That was too close...
They shot forward with no further thought.
With a swift backhand Daiki knocked Madara back, appearing behind her, and kicking out.
Madara grunted in pain, sliding under the rippling kick, and tearing gashes into the ground. He forcefully stopped himself, darting forward, trading attacks with Daiki.
He flew back, smacking a palm out of the way with a simple wave of his gunbai, darting up to Daiki and punching him across the face and sending him back to the ground.
Momentarily caught off guard, Madara was kicked to the side, skidding along the ground. Daiki charged him, swarming him in a whirlwind of palms and chakra. Madara glared intensely, smacking four palms with ease, and slammed his gunbai into the glinting steel.
He spun kicking out, colliding with Daiki's instep.
"That's rich coming from you of all people!" Daiki yelled, throwing away all restraint. He shot forward with blistering speed, tearing through the air and leaving a shock wave behind in his wake. He heaved once, slamming his palm into Madara's gunbai, the resulting impact blew both of them away.
"You Hyuga..." Madara slid into a stance, locking eyes with Daiki. The distance between them was nonexistent. They were before each other, swinging in unison, the ground rocked from their collision, kicking up the foot or so of water around them up into the air-the impact sweeping their hair in every direction. Their blades screeched as they broke their stalemate, but Daiki took advantage of a small opening.
He slid ahead, thrusting his arm forward, aiming the tip for Madara's abdomen. With lightning quick reflexes, Madara dashed to the side avoiding the stab, but Daiki swiveled after him, his blade carving up and forward within his trajectory.
Madara smirked, twisting, increasing the speed of his draw.
Daiki grunted, watching in anger as the tip of his blade was cut clean. He shifted his weight off of his front foot, sliding to the side, watching as Madara's blade cut into the sand, and the quickly retracted his arm.
The two shot towards each other. Daiki drawing his sword in a fluid motion as Madara swung his gunbai all of his strength. Their weapons slammed into each other, Madara's teeth gritting as he forced the blade to the side.
He was pressed-dodging the downward slash that the Hyuga transitioned into, jumping back. As soon as his feet hit the ground he jumped back, gripping his hilt with two hands and swung from the side. Daiki shifted his stance back, deflecting the blow, and jumped forward getting into Madara's guard, and got a cut on his sleeve.
With the wound dished out, Madara jumped forward. He grunted as a jolt of pain shot through his leg, he ignored the nagging sensation and powered through with the movement.
With an opening now present, Daiki turned sharply, lashing out with one arm, his palm smashing into Madara's back drawing a pained grunt from the man. The Uchiha didn't have much time to glare as the Hyuga launched himself forward this time swinging his arm in a tight curve-Madara dodged the vicious attack with ease, drawing his sword in a flash and cut across Daiki's wrist.
"Little brat." Daiki spat.
"I forgot you Hyuga like to dance around instead of actually fight."
They dashed towards each other again, a silhouette of flashing steel and movement surrounding them-where they were moving at break neck speeds.
Madara pivoted away from a palm, jamming three of his knuckles into Daiki's chest armor and pushing him away.
"This isn't over!" Daiki snarled. "Mark my words-you Uchiha and the Domou will pay for this!"
"I'll be waiting." Madara grated out, grimacing in pain as the man retreated.
He struggled to clear his vision, wiping at his eyes quickly before quickly resuming in one of the battles.
Things began to clear up very rapidly after the last series of battles which lasted four days. Every other clan besides the Uchiha, Domou, and Shimura cut their losses and returned to the Fire country or we currently in route to that very location. The Wind's army took a serious hampering, and the Earth damiyo's army was in the same boat. It was something the Earth damiyo wasn't happy about and cut his ties completely with the Wind.
The Earth damiyo cut his alliance to a emphatic end and pulled back with the rest of his forces.
Sasuke and the Sarutobi had been the most persistent along with the Akimichi, Shainingu and Hageshii. The trio of clans all took pieces of land that didn't belong to them and it took conflict to finally force them off of that land and send them packing. Tunoichi tried to stem to tides but failed after miscalculating an attack and Sasuke pounced on that opening. It wasn't long after that the Sarutobi were put in route with the Shainingu following close behind after suffering heavy losses in a two day conflict.
Despite the numbers advantage they had Mikito and the Domou were ferocious in their attacks-coupled with their lion Summonings, and then there was Madara and the Uchiha who were extremely fierce and didn't show any mercy.
And, since the clans contacted already got their payments, they couldn't care less what is going on the moment.
For Sasuke and the Sarutobi it was a matter of cutting their losses.
The very air itself was poisonous. It was chalk full of tension and trepidation, it could be cut with a razor, it could be cut with the mere whispering of a word. It could be cut with a simple breath. Fleeting, but would leave a tornado in its place that served only as a destructive force.
Madara stood face to face with people he never thought he would-and quite frankly for most of them, didn't have the desire too. Mikito was the complete opposite, of course, looking rather passive, but relieved that they were altogether.
Souji stood with his arms crossed and a stony expression pointed right onto Daishiro, Kosuke, and the new more lithe Wind damiyo.
The Shimura wasn't wearing any armor, but the sword at his side was more than enough to get the point across.
The Sand damiyo-Ryouma sat front and center with the Wind damiyo-Sakamoto.
"Have you gotten my message?"
"Of course, it is why I agreed to have this meeting. You have something important you want to discuss with me." Ryouma said calmly, putting his eyes onto Sakamoto for several long moments. He turned them onto Daishiro for a long moment, staring at the man with all intent.
Sakomoto nodded, his posture remaining completely calm. "You are aware, my military...Our armies have taken a steep loss with all of these battles, especially the most recent one..." Despite the union he once had with the Earth damiyo-he told that clown to shove it where the sun don't shine; his men were still killed, it was only natural in battle. There would always be losses, but he'd have to persevere and fix all of the damage later. He was expecting losses, but nothing so steep. His predecessor was more than willing to sacrifice people.
"I am are weary of this conflict, and I can't risk taking any more losses. The Wind's military once numbered in the high hundreds of thousands, and that's not taking into account the reserves. But, after this constant war for months I'm done to a minimum of three hundred thousand and that's including the reserves which have become slim..." Sakamoto clenched his hands into fists.
Ryouma nodded his head, mulling it over. He never turned away anyone that was in need, that's why many called his country the heart of the entire region. No matter of class, age, or gender everyone was given a chance and a safe haven. He also never invited or wished to seek conflict, instead trying to keep his doors open for all who need it the most. "However, I think you've already taken into account that you will not get any of my territory nor order me around."
This brought a reaction out of everyone, but none were pleasant.
"I have, and accept." Sakamoto said firmly. It was either do this, or continue to fight and end up having his entire army wiped out, or close to it. Just because he didn't know when to stop perpetuating a war that had since come to an end. Then he'd be forced to send out children to the battlefields, to provide cover at the very least. He didn't want to do this and refused to. "I will leave you to your own devices, you will retain your autonomy."
"Hmm." Ryouma nodded softly, just barely putting his head into a decline. He flicked his eyes from Daishiro to Kosuke. "And, what will the Shimura do after this? I'd hate to think you'd return and attack out of spite. I know you are a dark clan."
Kosuke resisted the urge to sneer, suppressing it with sheer willpower. Ryouma wasn't wrong to ask the question, but he wasn't going to sugarcoat his response to the noble the slightest. "We'll be going back to our compound. Our business here is finished."
Mikito stared at them long and hard.
"As long as the children remain safe. That's the only thing that matters." Mikito spoke up for the first time. There were roughly one hundred thousand soldiers left in Ryouma's Imperial army, and that would quickly dwindle with the next battle. It was better to end things before the thought or very notion of putting children on the front lines entered anyone's minds.
"I agree, this has gone on long enough." Daishiro simply nodded. The best thing for them was to end this conflict, he wasn't going to have his men fight any longer, not when they had bigger things to worry about. Keeping the Senju at more than an arm's length could prove to be a mistake. "It's best for the Sand and Wind to not continue fighting."
"We should finish this quickly then and go our separate ways." Madara concluded gruffly.
The response wasn't welcomed by some, but nobody objected the point.
"I agree, husband."
Madara looked at her with shock for a moment before he schooled his expression.
"I'm in agreement. Let's finish this so we can go our separate ways. We've been fighting for long enough." Souji continued.
Daishiro smirked. He battled this woman daily, hell hourly, and quite frankly got his ass tossed around like a sack of rocks by this woman, but he paid her back more than enough for that. Even with his Earth Tyrant she'd just bash and smash her way through before grabbing and dumping him right on his head, leaving a gash across his face, and sending him plummeting through the very ground.
He wouldn't even try to sell her short. But, here she was agreeing with him, and verbally saying as much in front of Madara, her husband. For a lot of people it wouldn't matter, but shinobi cared about appearances, and Madara definitely did being an Uchiha. Mikito agreeing with him so openly could send the wrong message, but nonetheless he was happy she agreed. He thought Madara would only try to further this conflict, but he had been wrong and like he expected Mikito was maintaining her usual stance.
Well, not everything goes according to plan.
"Well, in that case let's move forward." Ryouma reasoned with a smile.
"Everything is formalized." Souji said with both eyes narrowed. While Sakamoto wasn't as brazen as the last Wind damiyo, he wasn't going to hold his breath that he wouldn't make no stupid choices.
"Indeed." Mikito said with a small smile, looking at Madara for a few moments before turning away. She refrained from giving into her...Fears for lack of a better term when it came to these sorts of things. Formal truces, ceasefires, alliances, and anything of the sort had a tendency to spiral downhill sooner or later. It was worse with shinobi clans that only ever went through with it to get something in return-while damiyos didn't even hold true to it. "You just have to sign, and then this will be over with."
It took less than ten minutes for it to be finished and they took their leave, Daishiro and the Shimura's chakra signatures heading steadily to the Fire country.
"If you'd all come with, I have you payment ready." Ryouma said kindly.
That was good news, great news, but Mikito was very keen on leaving.
They quickly made their way to another side of the castle.
"Your payment right here." The damiyo indicated the stacks on his desk with a sweeping hand. There was a lot. "You've taken all of my expectations and have blown them out of the water. This has been a success. Thanks to your efforts and courage, the Sand country remains as it always has been."
Madara frowned. "We've completed our mission. Anything else now is just a moot point, our work here is finished."
Mikito nodded, agreeing silently.
"I trust this will be sufficient." The damiyo uncovered the stacks of ryo.
"It will." Souji nodded. It had been more than what he was previously expecting. It was more than well if he had to say so.
"Excellent." The damiyo nodded, resting his arms behind his back.
They could distribute the ryo later, for now they just had to do well to collect all of it and store it within a seal which only took a few seconds. Mikito gave a small bow while Madara and Souji settled on a nod before they exited the room and headed for their respective chambers to prepare to leave.
"What's next on our agenda?" Mikito looked to her husband, then to Souji, a small pep in her step as she walked a few inches ahead of them.
"I'm going to wash up, I'll meet you at the gates in two hours." Souji excused himself, moving down a hall opposite of the direction they were going in.
Mikito walked with Madara in silence, watching her husband look around with his usual impassive scowl and small glare. She supposed she could understand why he had the reputation he had, but people would always say things that weren't true and over exaggerate on everything having to do with that person. People were just that way, if they hated someone, they'd say ill things about them, and those ill things in turn picked up into a widely held fact by the glib and ignorant.
But, there's no way a demon could come up with the nickname 'Mik-chan' at least in her mind. Madara was the furthest thing from a demon, he may be fierce and merciless on the battlefields, but if he wasn't-if those who were out there weren't they'd be the ones dead.
"So, I'm your Mik-chan, huh?"
Madara nearly tripped over his feet, whirling around on Mikito with a pointed glare once he collected himself. As he expected by now she wasn't the least bit afraid and even appeared to be amused with him nearly falling face first by tripping over his own feet. It only made him glare more. How dare she! He had been in the moment, in the middle of a fight, and if he didn't shorten her name she would have likely been struck by that attack. "Don't make such a big deal out of it. You call me bossman."
She shook her head, letting a soft sigh escape her lips as she entered their shared room first with gentle steps. Madara really had no idea how significant it was that he gave her a nickname, the man was truly inept when it came to anything along the lines or romance, love, or anything of the like. He had been at a loss when she straddled him and consummated their marriage soon after, and before that he had said Izuna and her were getting chummy which was just wrong.
Bossman really wasn't her nickname for him, well it was and wasn't. She called him that partly because he repeatedly told her not to and showed annoyance-there was no affection or familiarity attached to it like Mik-chan. He shortened her name and added that suffix of chan to show adoration or something of the sort. It could have just came out, but the fact is how it came out, and the context he put it in.
"Madara, I wish you understood these sorts of things better."
"I understand just fine." He snorted, glancing at her with a dry expression as he gathered up some clean clothes. Women were always so confusing and insistent when it came to things of this nature. Why couldn't they just leave it be and not overthink? It's a reason why he steered clear of anything having to do with romance other than it being one giant waste of time-it was more confusing than necessary.
"Okay, Maa-chan!"
Madara sighed, rubbing his hand down his face as he headed for the bathroom. "Don't call me that in front of people, and definitely not in front of Izuna."
"Oh, you don't have to tell me." Mikito grinned, sauntering up to him and tapping him on the nose. Yes, the monolithic and impassive faced Madara, her husband being called Maa-chan before all of his peers was definitely not something Madara wanted. Izuna would also be relentless and repeat it over and over, regardless if Madara was alone or in front of a billion people. "Do you need my help washing your back or hair?"
"I'll be just fine." Madara opted not to entertain her and entered the bathroom. He washed himself down in the tub and changed his clothes soon after, sighing softly at the feel of clean fabric. It had been getting sticky recently because of all the blood that splashed onto him. He went back into the shared room, noting that Mikito was ass naked without a care in the world and sauntered right passed him sashaying her hips obnoxiously.
"Damn it, I should have agreed." He couldn't just sigh at the gesture from his wife, and he was tempted to go back in the bathroom and have a second bath with her right now at this very moment. But, he refrained from his more primal urges and went through the process of getting ready; slinging his gubai behind his back, securing his sickle at his side and, nestling his pristine sword under his obi.
He could roll around in the bed or bath with Mikito later on, once they got this all settled. Then, they'd have all the time in the world and he would take advantage of it.
Finally, it took a while, like twenty minutes, but Mikito exited the bathroom wrapped in a towel and having another wrapped around her hair.
"You couldn't get dressed in there?" Madara was a bit exasperated with her.
Did she not know what she did to him?
"No." Just like that she dropped both of her towels exposing her naked flesh and allowing her abundant hair to fall down like a curtain. It was all fine and dandy that Madara was punctual and liked to get dressed when he was done, but she needed to do other things-like brush her hair before she got dressed. More importantly she never rushed when it came to this, and seeing Madara so torn made her joyful.
Who knew he'd be struggling to keep himself under control?
"Do you have any shame?" Madara asked, taking a deep breath as he reined in his urge to pounce on his wife and take her. He did every other time she'd just stroll out the bathroom with water still glistening on her dark skin, but they also weren't preparing to leave back to their compounds at those times either.
"Before you, my husband. I do not." Mikito chirped, deliberately walking passed him and letting her breast brush against his arm. She smiled at the way he tensed, and put her focus around her, moving around the room gathering a set of clean clothes and swiftly put them on while brushing her hair getting rid of any knots and tangles-there were quite a few and she growled low as she ran it through one last time taking out a rather persistent snarl in her mane. "Why should I feel shame being naked before you?"
"That wasn't my point..." Madara shook his head, moving for their window and shut it tightly ensuring that there wasn't a peeping tom anywhere. How could his point just float right over her head? Perhaps it didn't, she got his point, but her point was that she felt no shame at all standing before him like she was now. And, she shouldn't feel ashamed, but she seemed so modest before. Maybe he got special treatment because he was her husband?
"My point still stands. Just wait until we live in the same home, you'll never see me with clothes on."
"Can you finish getting ready?" Madara groused, crossing his arms over his chest and pointedly looking out the window.
He felt a surge of...At the prospect of her walking around in the nude all day without a care in the world. What kind of husband would he be if he just turned away from her or didn't indulge in that? He'd be nothing short of a fool in every man's eyes including his own. Mikito was very womanly and by all means sexy, of course she wasn't the most beautiful he had seen, but she had a natural foxiness and was always sensitive to his needs.
He also felt a surge of pride knowing that Mikito had no fear or shame before him and that they did the impossible. Everywhere they stepped the people of this village looked at him, Izuna, the Uchiha, and the Domou with fear and apprehension in their eyes. There was some admiration from those that dared to dream, but for the most part whenever they came walking through everyone got out of the way and had wide eyes. They's mutter and whisper among themselves, praying that he or any of the others could hear them, when it reality he and the rest of the Domou and Uchiha could hear them just fine.
They accomplished the impossible. They repelled the invasion that swept through the entire region taking one village after the next, one country after the next, forcing everyone save for the shinobi staking land that they took into retreat. They accomplished this despite being outnumbered ten to one, hell they were outnumbered a million to one if not more. He hadn't been concerned, there was no failure in his mind, he'd complete this with perfection like he did with everything else in his life. He would repel the invasion force and anyone else that wanted to try and be brazen.
It was a bit daunting that they had to go up against close to a million strong all by themselves, but they still triumphed in part thanks to the Domou's companions, and in due part to their will and wit to seeing it through to the very end. All the Uchiha and Domou worked as a single unit, there wasn't any miscommunication or anything of the sort. They attacked in sync and their attack styles complimented each other almost perfectly, though the Domou were more ferocious than his own kinsmen in battle.
News of their triumph would spread far and wide. He could already see the shock on Hashirama's face.
"It's time we take our leave." Madara turned to Mikito, taking in the light blue haori she decided to wear as opposed to the black one. Izuna could be a real pain in the ass, and Ahiko could be a total klutz, but they really outdid themselves with these uniforms and forehead protectors. Though, he wasn't wearing that nauseating green haori, all the uniforms fit well with each other and at least one didn't have hakama which he was grateful for. He never did like them or the maintenance one needed to keep up on them.
"Yes, husband."
Madara waited with barely restrained patience as the guards opened up the mammoth gates of the castle, letting them shut behind him as he and Mikito began their trek towards the front gates hundreds of feet away from them. He didn't even bother sparing a glance back at the castle, or turn around to take in his surroundings. He crossed his arms over his armored chest slowly coming to a stop, the large gates that were halfway open blocked out some of the sunlight that kissed the earth.
Not to his surprise Souji stood in the middle of the sunlight with all of the Uchiha and Domou around him wearing a rather peaceful expression on his face.
He was wondering why he couldn't feel anyone within the castle, but he shouldn't have been surprised it was Souji staying on top of things.
Madara nodded once settling his eyes onto Souji who had changed, now donning a red haori and wearing his dark black armor; as always he had two swords crossed behind his back and four nestled on each side of his waist secured by his obi with another katana secured behind his waist.
Madara inclined his head as Souji took notice of him and Mikito.
It took just a second for Madara to close the gap, his eyes searching the area.
"Everyone is present and ready." Souji said, giving the area a sharp once over as well.
"We'll keep moving until we come across the next village, wherever that may be." Madara said, looking at Souji for a moment before letting his eyes fall on everyone. Chiasa, Isamu, Shin, Bunji, Hayami, Masa, Mitsuki, Isami, Hikaku, Hiro, Misaka, Aito, Arata, Yuto, and lastly Yuko. They all fought extremely hard and there was no quit in any of them, he couldn't be more proud.
Proud that the Domou didn't slow down the Uchiha and if anything made them even stronger, and proud that the Uchiha never wavered and got along with the Domou despite their first interaction.
They all led their charge with valor and valiantly.
He hated to admit it, but Yuko was nothing short of splendid as well and proved herself to be more than capable.
"We'll make a short stop and continue to move at night without pause."
"Take care of anything that is prudent." Mikito added gently.
"The next village is in the Fire country. We should stop at either Akigawa village or move until we hit the Wave village." Souji informed Madara, walking towards him and stopping a few inches in front of Mikito. "There aren't any shinobi in either of those villages, and since it's winter they'll be scarce all together. It'll be a good place to rest for a few minutes."
"Hn." Madara nodded, pleased. He turned his eyes onto onto Mikito. She gave a small nod and hum of agreement, having no objections, she wanted to leave just as bad as he did-probably more if he were to guess, this conflict went on longer than any one of them expected. He turned around fully, eyes gazing at all the Uchiha and Domou-their bright haoris and high collared shirts, their thick forehead protectors-the new uniforms that every Uchiha and Domou wore.
Before in the Grass village they looked divided but together, now they were completely united. United as one mind.
He felt another surge of pride. They've all come an extremely long way from what they used to be.
"Chiasa, Masa, Isami, and Isamu I want you four to take point behind me." Madara said, looking them over for a second.
Hikaku, Hayami, Mitsuki, Shin I want you all to be in the rear." Souji said.
"Misaka, Aito, Hiro I want you three in the middle with Souji, Yuko I want you right by my side, the rest of you spread out a few inches. Madara and I will be at the helm." Mikito said, keeping her tone soft like before, but there was still firmness to it.
They all got into formation silently with Yuko looking uncomfortable as she stood a few inches from Mikito.
"We'll rest for the remainder of the day when we arrive at one of the villages mentioned, once night hits we'll move without pause until we get to the Domou compound." Madara finished.
"I have no arguments, my compound is closer after all." Mikito said, a smile edging on her lips. She really couldn't help herself. His eyes darted directly onto her. Her smile grew more, and she found it satisfying to have all of his attention on her and just her.
"Good."
"I am ready when you are, bossman!"
"Hn. I told you to stop calling me that."
"Let's run together!" Mikito smacked him on the back as the gates to enter the village began to open-it'd just be less than a day until they got back home. Just wait for me a little while longer, Ahiko...