Bound by Duty

"The Takayamas have no friends but the mountains," Tajima Uchiha coughed, "are you aware of why that saying came to be?"

The Uchiha leaders' two remaining sons stood dutifully by his bed. Both with somber expressions on their faces as they watched their father grow weaker by the day. They understood that he didn't have much time left. Neither answered.

"The Takayama village is wealthy, thus bandits and rounin have tried for decades to attack yet none have succeeded. The village is nestled high in the mountains, protected by treacherous paths and natural fortifications. Their isolation has made them self-reliant but also wary of outsiders. This has bred fierce loyalty among their people and a formidable defense against any who dare threaten them," Tajima continued, his voice growing weaker with each word. "We need allies like the Takayamas. Their strength and resources would be invaluable."

Madara Uchiha, the elder of the two brothers, nodded thoughtfully. "Father, you truly believe an alliance with the Takayamas is the key to our clan's future?"

"Madara, you might not see it now, but understand, I want what is best for our people. In the future, whether we secure peace or otherwise, the Takayama's will play a large role either way." He nodded to himself. "The marriage between you and Lord Takayama's eldest daughter has been arranged to secure this alliance."

Izuna, the younger brother, glanced at Madara, his own worry etched in his eyes. "Brother, can you accept this arrangement?"

Tajima glanced at his eldest gingerly.

Madara's gaze hardened. "For the sake of the clan, I will do what is necessary. Personal feelings have no place in this decision."

A fortnight after the funeral, Madara along with a handful of clansmen left for Takayama village. He rode at the head of the Uchiha delegation, his expression stoic as he surveyed the rugged landscape. The mountains loomed around them, their peaks shrouded in mist. It was a stark, unforgiving terrain, yet there was a certain beauty to it.

For the first time in his twenty-five years of life, Madara felt lost. Without his father's guidance, the future looked unclear. He had been expecting this, because, of course he had been the heir his entire life and therefore been taught how to navigate in this eventuality. However, the reality of standing alone at the helm of the Uchiha clan was far more daunting than he'd been prepared for. He had to shoulder the responsibility of the entire world, and at the same time grieve the loss of another family member.

After this marriage, he'd have fulfilled his father's last order.

At the village gates, a tall, stern-faced man named Hiroshi stepped forward to greet them. "Welcome to Takayama village," he said, his voice carrying the authority of a seasoned warrior. "I am Hiroshi, captain of the guard. We have been expecting you."

Madara inclined his head in acknowledgment. "Thank you, Hiroshi. I am Madara Uchiha. This is my delegation. We appreciate your hospitality."

As they were led through the village, Madara took note of the well-maintained buildings and the watchful villagers. The Takayamas were clearly a close-knit community, their isolation fostering a strong sense of unity. Children played near the houses, their laughter a stark contrast to the tension in the air, while adults paused in their work to observe the newcomers with cautious curiosity.

They arrived at the main hall, a large, sturdy building that served as the heart of the village. Inside, the atmosphere was solemn yet welcoming. The elders, dressed in traditional robes, stood in a semi-circle, in front of them stood a small figure dressed in white kimonos. Her face was covered in a white shroud, leaving much to the imagination.

"Welcome, Madara-sama," They bowed in unison. Madara nodded in acknowledgement as his clansmen proceeded to greet and chat with the Takayama group.

One of the elders, gestured to the woman soon to be his betrothed, "Madara-sama, this is Lord Takayama's eldest daughter, Lady Nanae."

Madara approached her, noting her small statue, hopefully any future children would inherit his physique, he thought amusedly.

"It is an honor," He bowed slightly, "Lady Nanae."

She bowed deeply in return, her soft voice came out clearly as she replied to him, "The honor is completely mine, Uchiha-sama."

"Just Madara is fine." He told her.

The elders, pleased with the exchange, began to discuss the arrangements for the upcoming ceremony. Madara assured them, it would be held in the Uchiha manor as soon as possible. The elders, in turn, surprised the Uchiha with the bride's dowry.

"We sure hope you brought more carriages," One of the elders laughed nervously.

It was true, Madara had only brought one empty carriage to carry his civilian betrothed. Normally, it would take three days to get to Takayama village, but in order to keep up with appearances and traditions Madara was forced to arrive on horseback which took almost double the time. Nanae was escorted on to the carriage while the large dowry was brought in front of the Uchihas. What felt like endless chests of gold, emerald and diamonds were presented before being sealed away in a scroll, to which the elders stared in awe.

Soon, they found themselves on the road back to the Uchiha compound.

Nanae sat silently in the carriage, her gaze often turning to the window as the rugged landscape of the Takayama mountains rolled past her. She had snuck a book in the sleeve of her kimono before entering the carriage and before dark she had finished the entire story. There was one female ninja who'd knock on her window every now and then, asking if she needed anything. But Nanae wanted the journey to be over as fast as possible and decided to only ask for a break if it was absolutely necessary. So far she had only snacked on an apple and her derriere was numb from the extended sitting. Eventually, she had to lie down on the carriage floor. The female ninja gave her an amused look through the window. She couldn't be any older than herself, Nanae mused.

Bored out of her mind after reading another chapter, Nanae sat up and opened her window. The female ninja immediately landed next to the carriage, "My Lady?"

"What's your name?" Nanae asked.

The female ninja looked bemused for a second before answering, "I am called Mikoto, My Lady."

Nanae rested her arms on the narrow windowsill, she leaned down and laid her head down on her arms, "That's a pretty name. How old are you?"

Mikoto didn't look uncomfortable at all by the sudden interest in her person. Nanae guessed that she must've escorted people on long roads before.

"I am twenty-four years old, My Lady." Nanae perked up at that.

"Hey! We're the same age then!" She laughed.

"Yes," Mikoto gave her a smile. "Although, I have to say, My Lady, you do not look your age."

Was Mikoto reading her? Nanae wondered slyly. "I get that alot because I'm short. But, you know, if you just look at my face then you'll see my wisdom."

This time the shinobi covered her mouth with her hand to hide the laughter that was about to escape.

A figure dropped down next to Mikoto. A pale man with short, shaggy, black hair slung an arm over Mikoto's shoulder, before being pushed away. The man grinned widely at the women, "I couldn't help but pick up on parts of this lovely conversation, My Lady. Is my little sister bothering you?"

Mikoto rolled her eyes and stared forward in irritation, before introducing him. "This is my elder brother, Taki."

"Nice to meet you, Taki. How's the journey treating you?"

The man sighed and gave her an exasperated look, "Boring as hell." After a quick look at his sister, he continued. "Forgive my language, My Lady."

Nanae couldn't help but nod in agreement, "Do you travel like this often?"

"Only if we go on escort missions, which depends on the individual. Some rarely take on these types of missions because they can be so mundane." Mikoto answered.

"Then what do you do to

entertain yourselves?" She asked mindlessly picking at the outer paint of the carriage.

Mikoto looked on gingerly as she pulled off a strip of paint.

"Sometimes we target practice, sometimes we patrol the area." Taki shrugged, seeming already comfortable enough to speak informally to her, or maybe that was just his way. Nanae liked it that way. The informality was a breath of fresh air, a hint of the camaraderie she longed for in her new home.

"Target practice sounds interesting," Nanae said, looking between the siblings. "Do you use shuriken or kunai?"

Taki's eyes lit up, clearly eager to talk about his skills. "Shuriken, kunai, and sometimes bows. We like to mix it up. Keeps us sharp, y'know."

Mikoto promptly elbowed him.

Nanae's curiosity was piqued. "Would you show me sometime? I've always been fascinated by the precision required."

Mikoto smiled warmly. "We'd be happy to, Lady Nanae. Perhaps when we have a break, we can give you a demonstration."

As the carriage continued its journey, Taki and Mikoto shared stories of their childhood, their first missions, and the antics of their fellow shinobi. Nanae listened intently, feeling a sense of belonging starting to take root. She even shared a few stories of her own, tales of growing up in the secluded yet bustling Takayama village, and the unique challenges of living in such mountainous terrain.

Just as the first stars began to twinkle in the evening sky, the carriage came to a stop. They had reached a small village where they would rest for the night. The inn was modest but welcoming, and the Uchiha delegation quickly set about making arrangements for their stay.

Suffice to say, Nanae was completely exhausted and thirsty from all that talking. Her newly acquired friends, however, seemed completely unphased by the long journey. She wondered where Madara was. Since their first meeting she hadn't had the chance to see him again. Nanae had met many shinobi in her lifetime, most injured and seeking medical assistance from her family, but the Uchiha gave off an aura of royalty. She had expected barbarians, but was instead met with well groomed, attractive mercenaries. Mikoto and Taki and every other person in the party was blessed with good looks. However, they didn't hold a candle to Madara Uchiha, she thought. Standing tall with a commanding presence, his chiseled features were framed by long, flowing ebony hair that cascaded down his back. She had never found long hair attractive on men, but he made it work. Clad in traditional Uchiha armor, each piece meticulously crafted to perfection, Madara's attire reflected his dual nature: a blend of practicality and elegance.

The inn where they stopped for the night was a quaint, traditional establishment, complete with an onsen bath that promised a much-needed respite from the long journey. Nanae decided to take advantage of the hot springs to relax and clean up. She wrapped herself in a light yukata and made her way to the onsen. Even though she hadn't moved much, she still felt unclean. She thanked god for soap and scrubbed her body clean before going into the waters. As she sank into the hot water, a sigh of relief escaped her lips. A few moments later, she heard footsteps and opened her eyes to see Mikoto entering the onsen. The Uchiha woman gave Nanae a friendly smile as she slipped out of her own yukata and joined her in the water. Nanae couldn't help but notice the myriad scars that marked Mikoto's body—testaments to a life of battle and hardship. Though they were the same age, the paths they had walked were vastly different.

Mikoto caught Nanae's gaze and shrugged lightly, a wry smile on her lips. "Battle scars," she said simply, as if that explained everything.

"Looks horrible," Nanae said, before slapping a hand over her mouth and correcting herself, "I only meant that it must've been horrible to endure all those injuries– not that you look horrible. I mean, the biggest injury I've suffered was a broken finger when I was a teenager."

Mikoto laughed good naturedly, "That's alright, My Lady. We all have our burdens to bear. But we also find strength in them."

They were both quiet for a second before Mikoto started again, "And you, Lady Nanae, have shown great strength in your own way. This journey, this alliance, it's not easy. Pardon me, but I could never marry someone I didn't love."

Nanae couldn't help but raise her eyebrows at that, "Oh, really? I didn't take you for the romantic type?"

Mikoto blinked and shook her head before a blush engulfed her entire face, "Not at all, I'd just like to choose my own destiny, y'know."

Nanae couldn't help but laugh at the informality. She sounded just like her brother.

"I'm just fulfilling my duty. I knew all my life that an arranged marriage was possible, but I hoped for a love match. That never happened for me and at the age of twenty four, most people consider me a spinster, so I just waited for my father to make the choice instead." She shrugged. "I could do a lot worse than your handsome leader."

Mikoto's eyes sparkled with a mixture of mischief and understanding. "Anyone calling you a spinster, must be blind."

Nanae chuckled softly. "Thank you, Mikoto. That means a lot."

Mikoto smirked at her from the other side of the water, "So you think our leader is handsome?"

It was Nanae's turn to blush at Mikoto's teasing words. "Well," she stammered, "I'm not blind. It's hard not to notice."

Mikoto laughed softly, the sound echoing lightly off the walls of the onsen. "Yes, he certainly does. Madara-sama has always been... captivating, even to us who have known him all our lives. But he is more than just his looks. His dedication to our clan is unparalleled. He's well respected and incredibly powerful." She paused for a second before analyzing Nanae's face, "He's also very popular among the ladies of the compound."

Nanae raised an eyebrow. Was she trying to tell her that her future husband liked to sleep around? "When you say he's popular among the ladies, do you mean…?" She trailed off.

Mikoto's eyes widened in surprise before she quickly shook her head. "Oh, no! Not at all. I wouldn't know anything about his personal life like that." She waved a hand dismissively. "All I meant is that many women admire him, both for his looks and his status. In the compound we have many women from other clans who are wardens to the Uchihas, even some families that live peacefully within the compound. Sometimes they might not adhere to our rules. They might see you as an easy target, My Lady."

Nanae raised an eyebrow, "Mikoto, I'm sure you've already noticed; I might not be a fighter but I have better chakra control than most shinobi."

The Uchiha tensed up, "Forgive me, My Lady, but I wasn't aware of your prowess before. It did take me by surprise to sense your chakra so strongly."

"Yes, I've been trained as a medic-nin since childhood. But I've never held a weapon before, can you believe that?"

Mikoto nodded. "Remember, you're not alone. You have allies here, even if it doesn't feel that way yet. We all want what's best for the clan, and that includes supporting you, My Lady."

Nanae felt a warmth spread through her at Mikoto's kindness. "I appreciate that, truly. I'll try to keep that in mind."

Thanks for reading.