In a moment suspended in time, Naruto mostly understood the other shinobi's hearts. And that meant trouble.

"Tsunade." Madara hissed, as though it were a curse. "That is your name, isn't it…?"

There was silence.

"That is Uchiha Madara." Naruto whispered to Tsunade — no wonder they had named the Sannin after her, really. She looked very much like her relative.

"I realized." She hissed.

"You killed his father. Now he will try to kill you — Great job."

Hashirama tried to muster some false cheer, and he threw both of his hands in the air. "Madara!" He greeted. Some people, those who had some common sense, were already trying to escape the inn. The Uchiha let them. "I was just talking—"

"Shut up." Madara called. "This has nothing to do with you. And I know your mind-raping allies had something to do with these nightmares, recently."

Hashirama blinked. "…What?"

"Just… Just shut up. And move away from the woman." Madara snapped.

"Now, why don't we just—"

"I said move!"

Madara exploded into motion.

Hashirama cursed. Mito's hands flashed and a seal card flew from her sleeve. It stuck to the floor.

"Mogura." She called.

The floor rippled as her powerful chakra supercharged it. Hashirama stomped his foot against the floorboards and his chakra echoed with her own. And gnarled roots exploded from around the paper, slamming into Madara, who grunted as his gunbai was caught in it.

Two of the Uchiha men behind Madara were weaving hand seals.

"Wind Release: Whirlwind Blade."

"Fire Release: Great Fireball!"

Mokuton, as part Earth and part Water, was well-suited to defend against Fire… on paper. But it was still wood, and that meant it wasn't long before the flames caught.

Tsunade cursed and threw Naruto away. Pretty strongly too, and he slammed into the inn's counter. He threw himself above it, rubbing his back and hid from the flames' onslaught. The civilians were all gone, including the owner.

Toru seemed somewhat amused, even as chaos waged a personal war against the entire place.

"Great plan, man." Naruto said dryly. "Now, what…?" He asked, fingering his sword.

"Well…" Toru drawled. "Obviously, we can't join the fight, so…"

"I know you. You're just trying to goad me into using my chakra first." Naruto snapped. "The minute anyone looks like they're in actual danger, you're gonna—"

"Ah, but that's the thing." Toru wagged his finger. "That's not the case yet—"

"Just shut up, both of you." Sasuke hissed. "This shit—"

A fireball was coming their way. A pretty large one, at that. Naruto gave them a self-satisfied expression. "So?" He asked, pulling his sword out. "I'm afraid I never tried to slice a fireball in two—"

Chōji caught it in his hand, hissing as he did so.

"Sorry, man." Toru said.

"Don't mention it." Chōji winced. "Let's get out."

…

A fight against Uchiha Madara and his men.

At the very least, this wasn't the thrice damned reincarnated Uchiha Madara she had fought in the Fourth War. Because that would be a bad matchup, shaky mastery over her Rinnegan or not.

There was a neutral party in the form of her grandfather, grandmother and great-uncle. The only problem was that it was a very tentative sort of neutrality. And they had no idea who she was, of course. If it came down to it, chances were that Hashirama would side with the Uchiha, if he thought it would help him make steps toward peace.

That was… pretty ironic in the end.

That the threat of a powerful enemy, one bearing mystic eyes, might just rekindle the flames of a brotherhood that were supposedly long since extinguished. Not very funny, because she happened to be that very same threat, but still.

Then again, it could go either way. Perhaps her grandfather—… No. That was Senju Hashirama, not the same man. Perhaps that man could find enough of his common sense to really try to stop this shitshow.

Then again, she had killed Madara's father, technically. Hadn't realized at the time, though.

And… Well, just seeing her relatives… young, alive and well. Gods, that was painful.

Once more, she cursed that other Sakura, who had seemingly forgotten about her entirely—

Madara was weaving hand signs.

She could almost feel the same panic she had felt when facing him for the first time. A shiver that went up her spine, and made her question her grip on reality. As though she had never left that battle at all—

Tsunade pushed the would-be flashback away.

"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"

A great, terrible thing erupted.

There were beautiful fire jutsu. Where the flame would flicker and dance, its glow illuminating the darkness, casting a soft, golden light that seemed to envelop everything around it.

And then there were things like this particular one.

Where the heat felt like a searing, fiery pain that engulfed your entire body, forcing tears out of your eyes and drying them in the same breath… leaving you feeling as though you were being consumed from the inside out. Your skin felt hot and flushed, and primordial fear, something that reminded you of the intensity and the danger of the natural world, rose; and then you knew nothing at all anymore.

Tsunade roared in fury.

Her fist slammed into the floor and when she drove it back, a horizontal line of earthen pillars came with it, parting the flames around themselves in a searing display of heat.

She gave a quick glance around her and confirmed that everyone else had at least left the immediate vicinity.

Tsunade threw herself at Madara with a terrible cry of rage. Blue chakra rose around him, shaping itself into a ribcage. One that she could see was much weaker than it would be in the alternate future-past. Tsunade's lightning-enhanced fist slammed into it with violence.

Madara went through the wall entirely and disappeared into the horizon.

The battle seemed to halt for a second.

She thought she heard muffled laughter coming from behind the counter, too.

Hashirama shouted something at her. Izuna lost focus for an instant; his eyes were tracking his brother, and they were wide with outrage.

Tobirama didn't have qualms about using such an opening. He disappeared, for lack of a better word. When he reappeared, he was falling through the air, near the door the Uchiha group had entered the inn. His sword bit through one Uchiha's neck, before he leaped at Izuna. Tsunade smiled in savage satisfaction.

Izuna recovered quickly, and roared as green light flickered around him, shaping itself into a fist that closed around Tobirama—

Who disappeared again.

And since he wasn't in the room anymore… Izuna knew what this meant, right away.

With a roar, Izuna ran out of the room, and after his brother, who was left entirely alone.

…

"Damn, these high-level battles are somewhat confusing to watch, with your chakra entirely bound." Naruto admitted. "Plus trying not to catch their eyes, on top of it…"

"That guy just died." Toru cut him off.

"The Uchiha? Yeah." Naruto rolled his eyes. "But that was Shuji. He was a dick."

…

With a curse, Hashirama threw himself after his brother as well.

Three of the Uchiha men had remained behind, on Izuna's orders.

It was brave of them — or suicidal, perhaps. They felt it too, likely, if their tight grips on their weapons was any indication. Still, they came at him running. And roaring.

Hashirama barreled into them.

A punch sent one flying.

A kick slammed another through a table.

Mito's tag detonated right in front of the last one.

Hashirama tensed his legs, quadriceps bulging with power, and he blurred into the distance.

By the time he reached the fighting men, Tobirama was already fending off Izuna's best efforts at killing him... As well as Madara's. Tobirama was winking in and out of existence, narrowly dodging the Uchiha brothers' jutsu. A line of orange-red light came streaking in from the side. Tobirama threw himself up, and the Piercing Hellstrike missed him entirely.

Madara's gunbai caught it and sent it back, enhanced by Wind. The jet of flame became a hellstorm. Hashirama's hands shook as he forced a tree to grow out of nothing over the distance between them.

Tobirama flashed again, and reappeared away from them. That was his latest jutsu, one that Hashirama was surprised he had brought out in the open.

"Madara!" Hashirama cried out. "Let's put an end to this nonsense!"

Madara gave him a disgusted look. "Nonsense…?" He asked furiously, as though this were the worst thing he could have said. "You dare?!"

"We can't let this go on — We have to set an example!" Hashirama almost pleaded. "There doesn't have to be any more bloodshed tonight—"

"You patronizing imbecile." Madara spat. "That is quite easy to say when it's not your kin that has been murdered." His red eyes were glaring at Tobirama balefully, who kept his eyes firmly on Madara's limbs.

Hashirama's eyes were hard, too. "Perhaps not tonight, but how many good men and women have fallen to your clan…? To your hands…?"

Madara made a derisive sound. "If it's regret you hope to find in me—"

"Brother." Izuna called.

Both Uchiha brothers and their entourage stared.

The woman with purple eyes was walking toward them, slowly. She kept her eyes locked with Madara's.

And no Genjutsu was taking.

"…What?" Madara hissed.

"Your little parlor tricks won't work on me." Tsunade called out. "I really thought I would leave you be…" She began. "But I now realize that this might have been a fool's choice. Sentimentality. Something that will make things much more complicated for everyone."

She slammed her fist in her palm.

"I will end you, Uchiha Madara!" Tsunade roared. "Right here and now!"

Madara's own fists tightened. "Oh…?" He grinned darkly. "Bring it on, then, woman."

Hashirama realized the situation was very quickly spiraling out of control. "This is foolishness—"

Madara's left eye twisted, and Izuna growled. "Brother, don't!"

Mito cursed. Her hands slammed together, around a paper card. "Mizutori!" She called. A boundary of light spread around them, until a thin dome of water stood wrapped her and Hashirama in its confines.

"Let's see how your strength fares here!" Madara called, throwing himself forward. "Ame-no-Uzume!"

Tsunade felt nothing happen. That didn't mean much, in a shinobi battle. None of the Uchiha were moving forward. She kept her senses extended, and roared as she went to meet Madara.

He was fast, of course.

She went all out, ignoring Hashirama's shouted words.

Madara was Madara.

He was coming at her in the straightest possible way, gunbai held tightly in his left hand.

Lightning coursed through her body, enhancing her reflexes.

He was fast.

At this moment, she was faster. Her eyes could see through his illusions.

One beat.

Two beats.

Three beats.

A sharp smile spread upon Madara's lips as he drew closer. "All swords shall break!" He called. Instead of raising his sickle, he let his arms fall, and there was no more violence in him. The gunbai clattered, and her eyes barely bothered looking at it.

Her fist would slam through his ribs, breaking his chest open—

It didn't.

Her fist slowed down, as though she were suddenly devoid of any desire to harm him.

Tsunade's hand bounced off his chest harmlessly.

'What?'

For an instant, she thought she was someplace else, entirely. Facing a stage, one that was set with a dramatic backdrop of cherry blossoms, illuminated by the soft glow of lanterns. And Madara seemed to be dressed in traditional Miko robes. Red and white.

Madara's Mangekyō Sharingan returned to its base state and he hissed in pain, as red tears flowed from it. Tsunade felt her strength return suddenly, at the same time she saw him raise his arms again. Madara whirled around, his movements wild yet graceful. In spite of this strange illusion having lifted already, she still thought she saw long robes flowing. Much to her astonishment. Was he dancing…?

She moved to strike—

Madara's sickle cut through her throat with lightning speed. Tsunade fell back, clutching her spilling throat and choking on her own blood.

He finished his quick, wild dance. In the same motion, he picked up his gunbai.

"Miko Kagura…" He uttered, making sure only she could hear — he seemed kinda embarrassed, too. "Is a dance to appease the gods. For as long as I have no intent to attack you… you cannot attack me either."

And neither could anyone else, then. That would explain it.

Tsunade cursed and fell to the floor.

Madara stared at his father's killer solemnly, shook his sickle free of blood and turned to leave.

Because he wasn't facing Tsunade anymore, his Susanoo barely rose in time to shield him from her shattering punch. He flew through the air, in a state of utter disbelief.

And the punch still left him mildly concussed.

…

"That's Madara's Mangekyō power…?" Sasuke asked doubtfully, once Naruto explained what just happened to them. "…Nonviolence. Him?"

Naruto pursed his lips. "Yeah, tell me about it." He scratched his head. "In any case, yeah, that's one of them. There's a reason he rarely bothered with it — also, everyone around him gets affected, it's pretty bad when fighting around allies. The other power, on the other hand..."

"I'm surprised this guy can quell his murderous tendencies for even half a second, frankly." Sasuke muttered.

"Whoa, that's harsh." Naruto shook his head — and also true. It was somewhat ironic that Madara, in all of his battle-lust, would get such a boon. Especially considering the fact that getting his Mangekyō really hadn't helped his mental state. "Perhaps once you've fully recovered your set of Hashirama memories… you'll be a bit nicer to him."

"I doubt it."

"How the hell is she still alive and standing?!" Chōji asked. "Her throat — He just cut through her throat!"

"She's a Senju." Sasuke said. He was pretty sure Hashirama could do this sort of thing, too. "We — They are strong, in that way."

"Still!" Chōji pressed.

Neither of the three others seemed to react to it. As though there was nothing terribly wrong with people shrugging off mortal wounds.

"You know." Sasuke began. "I was actually starting to wonder if Madara even had a Mangekyō ability — because I really can't recall anything about that."

"He's got two." Naruto nodded. "It's—"

"More theater shit, then…?" Toru shook his head. "I just knew this guy was a total drama queen."

…

"How are you even…?" Madara asked tightly, slowly standing up.

Then he saw the seal on her forehead. The one that spread along her body. And judging by her face, Mito recognized some what it was based on.

"I'm a medic." Tsunade snapped.

"A medic…?" Madara asked in disbelief. "You're a medic…? You, who are nothing but a brute…?" He spat.

Was she hearing something that felt like respect for medics in his voice...?

Izuna rushed to Madara's aid. His left eye twisted; Tsunade's glare became harder.

Izuna was healing his brother. If that was the case, why had he done nothing about his own wounds, the ones he had gotten from fighting Tobirama…?

There was a lull in the battle. Hashirama looked as though he were hopeful, for an instant.

It didn't last.

Both Uchiha brothers threw themselves to either of her sides. She couldn't follow both at the same time, and they moved with incredible speed. Tsunade leaped away from them, even as shuriken were hurled from their sleeves.

The men with them coordinated their jutsu, and the six of them released a great billowing fire toward the Senju. Hashirama shouted something, and a great tree groaned as it bloomed to life, shrouding both Senju brothers and Mito. And Mito whirled on Tsunade, too.

All of this happened at once, and it was hard to follow, even for a kunoichi as experienced as Tsunade was. These men were used to fighting together, and she hadn't seen such a high-level fight in a while. Her mind was both going too fast… and too slow. And—

For a moment, Tsunade thought she saw a fox-like shadow, hanging high up in the sky, between the stars, one with many eyes. She blinked and it was gone.

Tsunade flashed through hand seals, releasing lightning bolts from her mouth. It struck the paper card that Mito had sent after her, scattering the chakra it carried. Tsunade's subsequent earth wall gave her a shield against the roaring fires that followed after her.

The air was thick with chakra, both human and natural.

Already, saplings and moss were growing on her side of the wall. Had the situation not been so dire, she would have likely have felt the weight of nostalgia here, as though she could still smell her grandfather's perfume—

A great blue sword shattered her wall, and only her recently-discovered ability to siphon chakra prevented it from cleaving through her hand entirely, as well. She cursed and threw herself to the ground.

Water splashed on her face. Tsunade smelled a very familiar smell in the air. She blinked. Izuna's hand was still extended, and it carried a small jar; one that was open. And his other hand was set in a half-Tiger seal.

She realized at once.

'Oh, shit!'

The smell was alcohol.

Izuna grinned savagely when his flames, as well as Madara's, closed the distance between them and herself in the blink of an eye. The accelerant made sure of it.

Everything went up in a massive fireball once it was ignited.

…

It was bright, too bright for either of them to keep their eyes open.

Even though they couldn't see, they had other senses.

There was a rustle of movement in the darkness, near the group of four.

Chakra-less or not, both Toru and Naruto reacted to the presence near them. Their swords flashed, and they hit nothing but wind. Naruto's foot was caught by a hand, too.

Chōji reacted right after that.

"He's gone — whoever that was." He said, as his vision slowly returned.

"Yeah." Naruto said, squinting. He looked around. "…Huh…?"

"…Where's Sasuke?" Toru frowned.

Only silence answered.

…

Senju Tobirama reappeared, with a hostage.

The Raijin blade was at the man's throat, and that one seemed particularly displeased with the entire situation.

Behind him, Tobirama knew that Hashirama was just as displeased. But valid tactics were valid tactics.

Izuna and Madara stopped their pursuit of the purple-eyed woman, who had managed to escape, looking more like a ball of flame than a woman... to stare at Tobirama and the man he held at knife-point.

"Leave." Tobirama ordered. "There was enough fighting for tonight."

'And I'm only concerned about my brother's safety. Madara and his clique can wait.' He thought.

…And perhaps there was the fact that he had just gotten a live Uchiha, civilian or not. The potential in learning more about their damnable bloodline was there.

But that also meant that Madara would not let them go so easily. Which was yet another potential opportunity for Tobirama to try and get rid of the worst of the Uchiha. Whoever that was, tonight. If they were provoked into attacking them again... perhaps Hashirama would finally do what was needed.

Madara glared at him. "If you think threatening a random civilian is going to get you what you want, then I believe you are even more of a worm than I thought you were."

A mocking smile spread upon Tobirama's lips. He raised an eyebrow, unfazed, as though this were just a civil conversation. "Do not think you can fool me. Madara." He said, pressing the Raijin against his hostage's throat. "This man is your brother's spitting image."

Madara stared at him in disbelief. "…Do you truly believe that, now? They look nothing alike. I have never even met—"

Tobirama scoffed. "As if." He said. "You Uchiha are nothing but snakes-in-the-grass. And digging up snakes is child's play to me." He added, with a fierce glare. "Leave, now."

Hashirama scooted a bit closer, looking steely, composed. Tobirama knew his brother well though, and that his nerves were frayed. But appearances sometimes had to be kept up for their own sake.

"Madara, please." He said. "Two men died tonight, and it is more than enough."

Madara's eyes were furious. Tobirama saw himself as a harsh, sometimes uncompromising man. And Madara… saw him as a monster, undoubtedly. "Do you believe you can use hostages against us, truly…?" He scoffed.

Hashirama shook his head, distaste obvious. "It doesn't have to be like that. Tobirama will release him, as soon—"

Madara snorted. "Two clans can play this game."

Hashirama closed his eyes in frustration.

Izuna came back with his own hostage; the gigantic blond man Tobirama had seen in the inn beforehand. He stared at the pair in disbelief. What did they care about that man…?

Izuna took his surprise for something it wasn't. "That thrice cursed woman might have escaped, but we won't get out of here empty-handed." He said darkly.

Madara didn't look happy with the situation at all, but a prisoner was a prisoner.

"You want us to leave, don't you…?" He asked tightly. "Have it, then. The woman is gone, and I have no more desire to fight tonight."

Tobirama scowled. He was missing out on some important information. Why would Madara leave…? A Shōgi game was being played, and for once, he had no idea of where he stood on the board.

"Of course…" Izuna said slowly, a mean thing that couldn't be called a smile stretching his lips. "We will keep that blond Senju with us, in the meantime."

Tobirama stared.

"…Do as you wish." He said, unconcerned.

Hashirama protested. "Tobirama! That man has nothing to do with—"

Madara scoffed. "You really are a bumbling fool. Anyone could see through your act."

The two glared at each other. So did Tobirama and Izuna. And Mito and a group of several Uchiha men — but they dropped their eyes first.

Hashirama tried and tried, but Madara retreated with the blond man.

Tobirama stared at their hostage, who seemed to be doing his best not to roll his eyes.

"…How blind can you be…?" The man asked in dumbfounded amazement.

Tobirama snapped at him. "Silence, Uchiha. I recognize your stink, your mannerisms."

…

"Please treat me well, Zuzu-tan." Naruto said politely.

Madara choked on his next words. Izuna's eyes widened in anger.

"…What did you just call me, you Senju piece of trash?!"

…

"Ino's going to kill me." Toru winced. "…Or break my mind. Or give me nightmares."

That had gone pretty badly. And worse… he might have to get them free. And considering he was here alone with Chōji, that meant he had likely lost his bet with Akemi already.

Chōji was definitely looking very worried. "I didn't even get the time to—"

Toru shook his head. "It's not your fault." He said. "These guys are pretty fast."

Chōji gave him a long look. "…At what moment did I say it was my fault…?"

"…Uh, I thought you kinda implied it, there." Toru said.

Chōji shook his head. "No." He said. "If anything, all of this is on you guys."

Toru thought about it some more. He shrugged. "Eh, they'll be fine."

"You three are idiots." Chōji decided. "Powerful, but idiots."

Toru sighed. He wasn't sure Chōji understood how relative things became, once you saw… everything. But he couldn't blame him, frankly.

"…Let's find that Tsunade namesake." Toru decided, instead.

"…Why?"

"Because she looks pretty strong. And she might help us, because it's her fault, too. Somewhat."

"Is it really...?"

…

"So." Naruto said pleasantly. "Where are you guys bringing me…? Because I believe—"

"What you think does not matter." Madara said, cutting through his tirade.

"Alright." Naruto nodded. "What are you going to do to me, then…? I'll have to warn you, if it's torture, I can get pretty loud—"

"Shut up." Izuna hissed.

Naruto felt a vague fondness for him — mostly because he didn't have much for Madara, as he knew that guy a bit too well.

"Sorry to bother you." Naruto said. "That is how we Uzumaki — not Senju — cope with being captured." He glanced up at him. "First time?"

"First time, what?!" Izuna snapped, in spite of his desire to ignore the man — he felt somewhat familiar to him. Which made no sense.

"That you capture an Uzumaki, or something."

"We usually kill your kind." He said flatly. "On the battlefield."

"Wow." Naruto frowned. "My kind, huh. Also, you mean the Senju."

"That is the same thing." Izuna said, patience spent. "Islanders or not. Land-Senju or Sea-Senju, you're all the same damn thing!"

"Now that's not even remotely true, but okay." Naruto said. "Tell me more about that."

"Killing people like Tobirama or his dead father is a mercy. That includes plenty of the Senju." Madara said, glaring daggers at Naruto. "Do you understand it…? And your position?"

"No, but I'm sure you'll show me." Naruto acknowledged the very open threat.

Madara smiled humorlessly. "Perhaps we will. In any case… we will get answers from you." He said softly. "And we get what we want. It won't be—"

"Anything I won't be willing to give." Naruto intoned, completing the sentence for him.
"—Anything you won't be willing to give." Madara intoned.

There was a pause.

They stared at each other.

…

Sasuke found himself bound tightly.

Well, it would be considered a tight bind for the civilian Tobirama thought he was. Sasuke waited patiently as Hashirama apologized profusely to the innkeeper, who was too stunned at the loss of his everything to make a sound. The innkeeper nodded slowly at something Hashirama said.

Sasuke watched as Hashirama, Mito and Tobirama worked on rebuilding everything from the ground up.

The Uchiha clan had left already, and Sasuke thought he knew enough of Madara to know that he would later try to send money to cover for most of the reparations, in this awkward way of his that left you unsure whether or not you were being threatened—

Sasuke blinked the memories away. They always seemed to come at the strangest possible times.

And they were pretty unhelpful, too, usually.

Hashirama didn't seem satisfied with the night's ending, but he didn't object when Tobirama led Sasuke away.

…

Naruto was dragged through a very familiar compound.

He recognized the old-fashioned houses easily. People, both ninja and civilians watched as their clan head came back. All of them wore the Uchiha symbol.

Many were staring at the group. At Madara, at Izuna… at him. Naruto smiled at a woman he remembered — Takara — and one of the men in the group slammed the butt of his sword against the back of his head. Naruto settled for glaring at him.

He continued to walk, in any case. They had confiscated his sword — jeering at him as they did so.

"Why does a civilian even bother…?"
"What are you…? A mercenary? A samurai without chakra… nor a master?"
"Fancy swords you have here, blondie. You won't mind if I take them, will you?"

He didn't carry much of anything else, besides a few gold coins, which they took as well. An ill-timed joke about the man who patted him down earned him a right hook to the cheekbone, too.

Naruto was taken to the enclosure of the compound. Someone opened the sliding doors, and he was led to the basement. Naruto followed them without resistance, going down twenty steps. Izuna pushed him forward, not particularly gently.

"Sit down." He said. "Or don't."

The trap door at the top of the stairs was slammed and Naruto heard a heavy weight being moved. Likely one to block the door until they found a use for him. He tried to look around the entirely dark room, checking for signs of… anything interesting, anyone else.

There was nothing.

Naruto sighed and sat down in the dirt of the cellar. That's what he got for going along with Toru's shitty plans.

He knew Madara and his ilk all too well — how could he not? They would keep him prisoned underground with nothing but the clothes on his back. Perhaps, if someone began pitying him enough, they'd give him a half-melted candle, too.

They would leave him trapped until hunger, thirst… weakened or broke his will entirely. They thought him an Uzumaki fighter — or perhaps a Senju, even — offshoot, one who didn't have access to the boons that only chakra could provide. Without his sword, and even with them, they considered him of no concern.

And they were not entirely wrong in that.

He could either wait for someone to rescue him, but considering it was likely going to be a chakra-less Toru and Chōji, who simply was not at this level…

Well. Maybe he could work on escaping by himself. Problem was… there was no door, no window. Dirt under him, and under that, hard stone.

Well, that meant it would require a more human sort of mistake, then. Or giving up on the bet, which was not an option.

Maybe he could convince someone to let him escape… or maybe he'd have to knock a few people out, the hard way. Perhaps when they finally realized they would have no use for him and decided to kill him. In any case, Naruto sat in the mossy dirt and waited.

Yes, that was the most likely possibility. The Uchiha and the Senju already had a very… difficult relationship. Whether they killed someone who may or may not be a Senju… an Uzumaki… wouldn't change much here.

…

Naruto sat in his dark cell, and kept his eyes closed.

He had confirmed it. The basement was a square room, with nothing that he could make use of. No light, no table, no bed, no nothing. He was not entirely sure how much time had passed, but his wounds felt better. He had wasted a fair amount of time trying to figure out some convoluted way to escape out of here.

But it seemed as though the Uchiha knew what they were doing — strange, because it had never really felt that way, in his time as Madara.

Naruto sighed and relied on what he knew might work.

He began rapping his fist against the door. Slowly, rhythmically.

And he kept on doing so until his fist hurt.

Then some more.

He heard the same heavy weight being dragged.

"Get away from the door if you don't want to get stabbed." A voice called, sounding like a hiss. "He's coming in."

Annoying a lazy guard was something he had known he was decent at, really.

"Yes?" Naruto asked innocently, retreating to the back of the room, away from the stairs.

A man lowered his head, long hair trailing behind it in the dim light of the torch he was carrying. The light of it blinded Naruto for a moment. Fierce eyes on that man, too. They were black, which meant nothing to someone as proficient with illusions as Madara was. But considering the fact that he was facing someone he likely thought to be no threat at all, there was nothing more to it. Probably. That was the annoying thing about illusions — telling when you were in one.

Well, there likely wouldn't be much of a point to them otherwise.

Madara stared at him, and Naruto felt free to stare back.

"Who sent you here? The guard…?" Naruto asked. "I thought you'd have better things to do with your night."

Madara glared back.

"It is morning." He said clearly. "Although I suppose you might have wanted to tease this information out of me."

"Huh." Naruto blinked. "Not really. Time flies when you're entertained." He said, motioning at the empty basement.

There was a minute twitch upon Madara's lips. Perhaps it was a smile. Perhaps it was a frown. It was hard to say, and now that Naruto found himself to be the one reading Madara's expression, instead of the one trying to repress it… he had some grudging respect for the man's poker face.

"So." Naruto said. "What do you want? Am I just doomed to be interrogated…?"

"I want you to stop rapping against this door." Madara cut him off. "Tsukune is going to kill you, otherwise."

"Oh, just that…?" Naruto chuckled. "Easily done. Get me out and I'll do it." He said magnanimously.

Madara sighed. "Either you stop… or we'll cut your hands off."

"Okay." Naruto nodded. "I'll crawl and use my feet."

Madara looked at him as though he were a particularly stupid breed of Senju insect. "I don't believe you quite understand your situation."

"I believe you're not quite sure what to make of it yourself." Naruto shrugged.

Madara was possibly the worst sort of guard for him to deal with.

He tended to be paranoid, and he would likely not approach him without exerting more caution than would allow Naruto to pull some wonky sort of shenanigan. Naruto decided here and there he wanted another person to come speak to him.

"Say, I guess things might be a bit different here — What with that blond Senju ancestor killing your… — Did you ever meet a shadow in the woods—"

"…What?"

"What about the stone tablet? — Are you planning to use your eye on the moon already…?"

"You're insane." Madara spat and closed the door on him again. "Try to transmit any sort of signal with your knocks again and see what happens to your limbs."

"And I'm insane…?" Naruto called after him. "I barely even know enough about signals to—"

Madara departed.

"Huh." Naruto said to no one. "Ah, no, true. The shadow thing came later."

…

And speaking of shadows, one was rising.