The waking start did not jolt him. Pulverize. The feeling of being flung and slammed alerted him. One moment he just...Was. And, the next moment, he was being slammed and jerked.
All of his senses flared in that single moment. The initial onslaught was overwhelming. Everything was dark and blurry, not quite black, but it wasn't entirely gray either.
Sounds were distant and far away. Like a far away memory. The sense and perception was there, but there was something detached about it. Something where he used to fit, but had since changed, and no longer belonged. There was a fleeting moment where the wind danced on him.
He felt clarity from the simple action. It made everything that much more clear. His senses and perception slowly overcame the fog, but it was through no effort of his own. Madara felt like he wanted to be anywhere else than where he was right now-he wanted to be where he was before.
Wherever that had been.
The tingle was still there and signified that everything was working properly. Long, thin blades of grass pressed into his palm and traced against the outlines and scars. He moved his hand again, noting that there was a small, painless prick from the blades of grass prodding him.
Along with touch came hearing. The sounds of birds and the waves that crashed alongside of them. Madara felt closer to the crashing waves and singing birds than he had before. There was something that resonated in him with each sound. It felt as if he were a part of them and they were a part of them.
Like he was closer to every sound.
Finally, his sight sharpened. Whatever blurs and shapes had been storming around him slowly dissipated. The light was unyielding. Madara wanted the inky black to return. When that was not possible, he latched onto the light and slowly allowed himself time to adjust.
"It...Feels like...Spring..." His voice cracked, withering.
He turned himself the best he could. Mikito was beside him, lying down with a half blank expression. The same one, he realized, that he was wearing at the very moment. When she made no response or action, Madara grew a little worried and nudged her.
He...Had a hard time remembering what had happened.
"M...Mikito..." Madara struggled to say her name.
"Don't...Talk." She rasped, voice high and tight. "Conserve energy..."
Madara wasn't able to turn himself over. He wasn't even able to move. The fact all of his senses were working was miraculous in of itself considering he could not feel his body. He took the time to think back, recalling a battle, two great monsters that could not be killed, and then there had been a light and rain.
He blinked slowly, squinting just enough to keep the rays of the sun from beaming into his eyes. Yes, he could see. He could breathe. He could feel. He could hear. He was alive. It all seemed...Madara wasn't sure how to even understand it, but it just felt so short from something greater.
"Are you okay?"
Mikito didn't respond right away. She only focused on the rise and fall of her chest. She went through the paces moments later. She managed to feel the pricks of grass and hear the crashing waves. She could hear the songs of birds and the rustle of critters.
Sight was harder...Much harder, in fact. Mikito could only see blanket of...Nothingness. It wasn't black. It wasn't gray. And, it wasn't white. It was just there in front of her, blank, like canvas. She did not panic. Instead, she allowed herself to relax, as well as her eyes.
The blank blurred into color. Bright yellows and oranges with reds. Black and violet crept through the shroud and tunnels of gold trailed in the wake of it all. It appeared to be a portal almost. The deeper she delved into herself, the greater the colors submerged.
After what felt like an eternity, she tried to open her eyes.
She could perform the action.
Madara grew unnerved with each passing minute.
It drove him enough to make him want to hit the ground and heave himself up. If only it were possible. He would just have to settle with talking, but from the pressure he was feeling inside, that was going to be hard.
He gathered his resolve.
He could manage to speak. Even if his body refused to respond to any of his commands, he would make himself capable of speech. It didn't take everything out of him. It didn't feel like he was suffocating with each word spoken, each breathe taken.
Not at all!
"Mikito...Answer...Me..."
He waited.
It could be several minutes before Mikito was capable of speaking. He would not rush her or the process. It took him an eternity to just get his bearings.
There was a soft breath that reached his ears, one of acceptance, one of sadness. An accepted sadness. It came from Mikito, not himself.
Madara primed his ears, knowing something was wrong.
He could feel it.
"I...I can't see...The sky...My eyes are open, though..."
"Are you telling me that you are blind?"
There was a moment of silence.
"Yes. I've lost my sight."
Madara gulped.
Everything in him deflated and he wanted to weep.
He knew the pain, perhaps greater than anyone else, because he was Uchiha.
"A...Are you sure?"
"I am not seeing black, gray, or white...It's just...Blank...I can hear, I can feel, I can smell, I can taste, my chakra sensory is just fine."
But, she remembered what she had seen. All of the heavens, all of the land, and the entire ocean. One end of the world to another. A light that had been too bright to comprehend. Remembering that, and knowing it would always be in her memories was more than enough. She could truly see the world...Seen the world for what it was.
And, amidst all of that she had found the terrible truth. That terrible truth was, that one point in time, the entire universe, and all living things, were bathed in a light that could not be comprehended.
They had lost that light.
Now, everyone and everything was just in the husk of a physical body or form.
Darkness itself.
So not having sight wasn't such a bad thing-it would certainly take getting used to, but she had never relied on sight entirely. Now, she would just train her other senses more than they already were. She did not care to see humans anymore than what she had to this point, perhaps this blindness was a blessing.
She had seen everything there was ever to see, and now she understood. She fully understood and she accepted it.
"I am fine, though. I mean it."
Madara swallowed, struggling upon hearing those words.
The conviction in her tone shook him to his core.
Not having sight did not deter Mikito.
"We can give you-"
"Go on, Madara."
Madara had caught himself, but whatever had restrained him before snapped. "We can give you Sharingan. Implant them."
Mikito wondered what that would be like. She had been inside Susano'o and fought alongside Uchiha. The Sharingan's power was great, but its power was still untapped.
But, such a thing was useless at this point. Even if Sharingan were implanted-she got the feeling she would not be able to see still.
Madara cursed inwardly as silence fell. Mikito's silence was her way of saying no. It was her way of just accepting it. If he had the stamina to snap at her, he definitely would. He would snap at her a million times worse than he snapped at anyone.
He took note of something in that second he gulped. He could feel moisture on his tongue from his saliva, and he could feel himself swallowing, but something was missing. He had all of the sensations in his mouth, but there was one crucial thing missing.
He realized it with horror.
Mikito had lost her sight.
Her tone made that clear, there was no way to...Fake how hollow it sounded. Naturally, he must have lost something as well. Even if it wasn't his sight. Something would be impacted in the worst way possible and he wasn't sure if he'd be able to come to terms with it whatever it could be.
He swallowed again, and the realization from before turned into knowing.
"I...I can't taste..."
Instead of fretting, Mikito focused inward.
Her chakra was brimming with ferocity. There was heat, gravity, and pressure to it, one that was as inviting as it was tempting. Yes, the power was still there. She could still sense chakra. She could touch, taste, smell, and hear.
That power that had encompassed her...The power that she had taken was still burning within her. It was almost like her blood was molten lava. Pure coursing energy that was surged by the furnace that was her heart.
She called on her chakra, not quite kneading it, but pushing it through her body. She pushed it through her joints and into her muscles, through her ligaments and across her tendons. She cushioned her organs and she brought her sensory perception to cover a perimeter.
It...Hurts...
Mikito relaxed, feeling she could go no further.
"That wasn't smart." Madara commented, but there was a pitch to his tone. "Your chakra...'
With a breath, Mikito let herself fall away from her chakra, nestling it back deep within her being. She took another breath in a bid to conserve stamina.
"Check your own."
Madara managed to get over the fact he couldn't taste, at least in that second and called on his chakra. He did not push it outward. He focused inward, diving into its depths. He focused on its pulse. He didn't grasp it nor watch it passively, he just allowed himself to ride on its current. When the pressure sweltered, he pulled himself back from the depths of his power and turned his focus outward.
He could feel it...That same power he had exerted his will over, the same heat behind his eyes that had burned through his very skull continued to pulse. It was continuous, a feeling that if he were able to move, would make him restless.
He smiled briefly, overcome by the sheer ferocious heat behind his eyes.
"Do you remember anything?"
"I remember the gorog and the monster turtle, but besides that..." Mikito closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.
Madara spoke again, tone measured. Mikito had a blank spot in there as well, that was no coincidence."Are we at level with the waterfall?"
Mikito chuckled, managing a smile filled with pain. "There is more than one...But, we are at the top of one...I believe it is the just not the highest, but also the widest."
"How sure are you?"
"Not entirely sure, but I am not being soaked in mist and there is no pool of water close by. I can hear the waterfalls all around us. If you listen...Carefully...You can hear the differences. There are vertical drops and tiered drops."
Madara tried to move again but with more vigor.
"Really going to educate me on waterfalls?"
"I can."
Madara tried to move with even more vigor.
Nothing happened. He wasn't surprised. Not in the least. He gave it an honest and full effort again, but with the same result smothering him. Unable to move a single centimeter. Frustrated, he turned his focus onto Mikito.
He could barely turn his head.
"Do you have anything that can help us?"
Mikito sighed softly, growing exhausted. "Madara..."
"Yes or no."
Mikito sighed again. It was just too much to ask for Madara to give her a little more time to do nothing at all. At least the battle and their wounds were not impeding him at all in those regards.
That would be a sign of trouble.
"I might...On a seal I keep on my body..."
Madara sighed this time.
That was hopeless. He could not muster the energy to move and Mikito was in the same boat as him. The idea of just laying around, unable to move, unable to taste, unable to get a bearing of his surroundings, the last being most important, was nerve wracking.
To activate that seal would require chakra, something they very much had, but in such low amounts at the moment...It was just enough to sustain them and keep them conscious. If the grumbling of his stomach was anything to go by, chakra was keeping them alive.
Or that growl of what he thought was hunger is the growl of a grievous wound, but there was no blood splatter.
It was hunger.
"That is a problem, Mikito. I want to get a bearing of our surroundings...I remember being in a desert and I am smelling water, something happened. There are waterfalls."
"We changed the landscape around us, literally. It is no surprise considering the battle we were in...If we should even call it that."
Madara took a deep breath, exhaling.
Mikito felt that at the very least, she could give an honest effort.
If one of them were able to get mobile, and get a check on their surroundings, that would be beneficial. As of this moment, they were just sitting ducks. Meals. Pieces of meat that could not move. Even if they were on top of a waterfall, that did not mean they were safe. Despite her best effort, it felt like she was just barely able to muster the clone that appeared out of the ground.
It stumbled, hand pressing into the earth.
"Seriously?"
"Activate the seal on me and disappear."
The clone did as it was told and vanished quickly, as if it were in a hurry.
Mikito seethed, clenching her teeth.
Doing that was a severe mistake, but one that she needed to make. Even if it made her like she was being burned raw by the seal as it activated, spreading across her right side and glowing. It lasted longer than just a few seconds. Finally, a scroll dispersed from the seal, flying onto the ground. The glowing went away. From the scroll appeared an iron canteen, clean as it was sturdy.
Madara didn't seem too enthused upon seeing the canteen.
"How are we supposed to do anything with that heavy canteen."
"How close are you to it?"
Madara judged the distance the best he could.
"Close enough, I think..."
Mikito managed to move her head just the slightest. Something could be done, in that case. She would have to rely on Madara in the end, if her calculations were right, but she could trust him.
He had proven that.
"I might be able to focus the rest of my chakra and use it to heal my body and system enough to move. I don't know how long I'll be able to do it, but it should be enough to-"
"If you can manage that, drink some yourself. Save some for me." Madara cut her off.
Mikito just took in stride and focused on the greater task. Everything inside of her was pulsing and throbbing. It was difficult maintaining her focus and she tried not to curse in frustration. Taking a breath, she calmed herself. She just focused on her breathing. In and out. Inhale and exhale. She took hold of her chakra, letting it flow through her.
Inhale...
Exhale...
Mikito's eyes snapped wide open.
She sprung to her feet. Still unable to see, she didn't flail or thrash around. She could feel the iron canteen's location through the earth and her sense of touch. She could smell the bitter liquid within. Mikito took hold of it, and put her mouth to the opening, taking long swigs. Her eyes clenched and she grimaced, but she forced it down.
She ran to Madara with what she had left within herself, half stumbling into a fall. She didn't fumble, and managed to be graceful and slam the canteen down just an inch away from his arm. With the momentum of her fall, she slammed her hand into the ground, and heaved her torso up with the canteen in her other hand.
Madara grunted, the hiss of pain spreading across his form but the copious amounts of the liquid overtook everything after just a few seconds. He nearly wretched it out, but Mikito's hand kept him from doing so, and he swallowed it several times. Her last gasp of effort taking what she had left out of her, Mikito staggered away before collapsing.
Everything inside of him surged with life-Madara was beyond surprised. Before, he had no feeling at all. He could only perform the basics. Blink and breathe. He didn't even feel the sensation of having to use the bathroom. But, now, he had feeling. His body was responding to his commands. He managed to clench the canteen. He looked at it. He took another gulp.
Madara was on his feet a second later. He worked out the kinks in his body, winding up his muscles, cracking his stiff joints and bones, and loosening his tendons. His immediate focus went to Mikito. He was upon her a second later with the canteen in hand.
"Mikito?"
He checked for a pulse, relaxing when he felt the stead throb and seen the rise and fall of her chest.
Mikito always did have a problem with restraint and control, preferring to go all out and leaving nothing behind or to chance. It had been a terrible habit of her's and it was one that could peeve him. She did the same with this scenario, using every last ounce of her strength, and the strength from drinking the liquid, to get it to him.
It was just a clear sign of how exhausted and beat up she was. Even though he could walk and move about, he was not doing flips or spins. He was not sprinting. He wasn't even moving fast at all. It was almost like he was adjusting to having a body again.
He spit off to the side, knowing exactly what it was. He could remember and he did remember.
He seen the world from one end to the next. All of the heavens, the landmasses, and the oceans. He seen it all. He could remember powerful gales and an encompassing power that had carried him.
In that moment...He was pure energy. He wasn't confined to a body or the limitations of having one. He was free of form, moving like thought and wind. There had been no delay. No second to pause. No process of nerves or whatever else firing off to perform the action. It just was, and now...Adjusting to a body, he badly craved that again.
His chakra pulsed like a heartbeat, burning with the same fervent desire as him-it too didn't want to be contained like it was.
Shaking his head for getting so off track, he turned his focus onto Mikito. Madara was more than a little surprised to see her. Her skin wasn't dark nor was her hair, in fact, she didn't even look the same as before. The closest thing he could equate Mikito to was sunlight-her skin and hair were like the sunlight and its vibrant color, the only thing missing were actual rays.
He looked himself over, noting that his skin was no longer fair like before. It was a good deal darker, more olive than fair, more than light. His chakra also felt different, and that is what caught his attention the most. For a moment, he got the urge to see what his eyes looked like-if they had undergone any drastic and severe changes as the rest of him.
Madara shoved the canteen to Mikito's mouth, smacking her cheeks. "Drink."
When there was no movement Madara poured the liquid into her mouth.
Mikito's eyes snapped wide and she wretched violently. Long, hoarse coughs raked the back of her throat as she fumbled to recover. The liquid had come out in a wide spray, propelled by her lips and spearing across the ground in front of her.
Breathing was more than a little complicated and it took her several minutes to gather herself enough to be composed.
"Feeling better?" Madara asked.
Mikito took a deep breath, pulling her knees up to her chest. "I am conscious."
Madara knew they were both in a sorry state, but he focused on the burning question in his mind.
"Do you remember anything at all, Mikito? Why I cannot taste and why you cannot see?"
Mikito mulled it over still not quite sure. "I remember being so close to something...But, something was holding me back and I discarded that to get closer to that something..."
"Helpful."
"Well, you asked."
Madara sighed, trying to through his own paces.
He had been close to something, like what Mikito was talking about. He couldn't remember precisely, but he wanted to be closer to whatever it was. He had let nothing restrain him, and after a point, felt like he discarded a hindrance, and something had burned in him that consumed him wholly.
He embraced it and let it consume him.
Mikito took the time to break the silence. "Well?"
Madara sat himself down next to her. "It's like I was close to something, on the cusp, and to go beyond that...I got rid of a hindrance, I think..."
Mikito pressed her toe into the grass. "Helpful."
"I am trying."
"Obviously."
Madara grunted, leaning forward a few inches. He sighed when his back cracked, from his neck, all the way down to his tailbone. He worked the knots out, sighing softly as he put a hand to his lower back. It didn't ache, but there was pressure there.
He turned to Mikito when she began to move around, hands clasping for something on the ground. He didn't care to look with her, and just watched her with a raised brow.
"Mikito."
"Madara. Don't. Don't." Mikito emphasized each word, tone dropping.
"I don't mean it like that. What the hell are you doing?"
"Looking for something."
Madara just shook his head, biting his tongue.
"Your sword." Mikito said minutes later, handing him the glistening blade. "I can't find the sheath."
Madara carefully gripped the handle, looking over his prized blade.
It seemed to be the only thing that remained from before.
It was still sharp and durable as before-there were signs of wear and tear, but nothing a good cleaning wouldn't take care of. The sheath was probably destroyed, and truth be told he didn't need it, he needed to keep his blade out. It still surprised him just how remarkable his sword truly was.
He moved in front of Mikito, craning her head up so he could look into her eyes. There was minimal resistance on her part, doing so would only make him more stubborn and determined. Madara looked deep into her eyes, struggling not to show the horror that was spreading through him like a plague.
Mikito's eyes...Were gray-white. Her big bright brown, almost gold irises were no longer shining. The same big bright eyes that had annoyed him in the beginning, but also entranced him at the same time. He became mesmerized by them later on, and ended up loving them when she became his wife.
Eyes as steady his own, clear and without haze. Eyes that stared into his own and pierced into the deepest parts of him that he kept locked away save for in the company of Izuna. Her eyes had seen it all or perhaps, her eyes had brought it out of him.
And, now...
They were gone...
"Mikito..."
Emotions filled his voice and he struggled not to choke on them. It broke his heart to see her eyes so dull. He was used to life and vivacity, a witty spark. But, now...
Now...
"Please don't get worked up, husband." Mikito knelt in front of him.
"I loved those eyes of yours." Madara said, struggling to control his anger. "Now...Now..."
Mikito grabbed a hold of his hand. "But, you cannot taste."
Madara clenched his teeth, burying his forehead in her hand. "I can flavor food too much and annoy people and Izuna with that, but..."
"I know, Madara." Mikito wrapped her arms around his head, bringing him close to her. "I know."
Madara struggled against the torrent of emotions.
He could not...He could just not accept Mikito's sight being gone. He could not accept seeing those gray-white eyes. He wanted to see her big bright eyes. He wanted to see them flare with fury and shine with love.
He wanted her to see...
"I am not okay with this..." Madara hissed, teeth still clenched.
"A sacrifice for something greater. A sacrifice for something meaningful and tangible."
Madara yanked himself away from Mikito, struggling to not throttle her.
"What do you mean?"
Mikito smiled.
"I...We are no longer bound by limitations like we were before. We are beyond the realm of humans now, we discarded the shell placed upon us...The idea of limitations itself...Me with sight...You with taste...In exchange for the power we feel burning inside of us...We made the sacrifice in order to attain it, and I am okay with that."
"But..."
"But?"
Madara shook his head. "I don't know. I just don't want to accept it."
Mikito laughed softly. "You know I hate humans. What is there for me to see?"
"Your homeland. Me. Your brother and sister. Our comrades."
Mikito kissed him on the cheek. "I always knew you had a good heart. Thank you, Madara. Thank you for showing me kindness and affection you would solely reserve for Izuna or those closest to you."
Madara could only bite his tongue and hold his piece. If he made a retort, Mikito's statement would be moot, and it could not be moot. Not now. Not ever. She was right. He had shown her side of him, softer and more loving, that he only reserved for Izuna.
Because of that, she would live on and deal with the consequences of her choices. His kindness would help her through the swarm of emotions that she must have been feeling.
"Mikito."
"Yes?"
Madara shifted, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and pulling her close. "My offer still stands."
Mikito was left to wonder once more. In near astonishment. If she had the Sharingan...Her first task would be testing the Curse Of Hatred Izuna spoke of before. She would see if there was any merit to it. That would be her first task. But, she didn't want to waste Sharingan.
Even if she were to acquire alien eyes-she would not be able to see.
This was just something she would have to accept. If it came down to that-she would. For power, she did it. For power, her sight was gone. And, the power she had could not be comprehended or understood.
"As much as I love the thought of forming a Susano'o and leveling Hashirama and all of his wood puppets with one swing of a sword or yari, I will have to decline...My sight is gone and that is something I have to accept. In return for the power I have now-for having no limitations, that is what I sacrificed. I am certain opening Seven of the Eight Gates did me no favors."
Madara sighed. "You are so stubborn."
"And, you are obstinate."
Madara rubbed his face a little hard. "Will you at least try?"
"We both knew what we were getting into...The consequences of our actions. As long as I am beside you, I am fine."
"But, you will never be able to see the blue sky again!" Madara roared, finally losing any restraint he had.
His eyes burned furiously and he clenched his teeth as hard as he could. There had been two times in his life that he asked of and spoke of dreams. The first had been with Hashirama. The second had been with Mikito. It was her dream to keep the sky blue, and for life itself, be clear and infinite like the blue sky. A new beginning without end.
And, it hurt him...So deep.
It hurt him so bad he was about to cry-only years of experience and training kept him just composed enough to speak.
"But, I can still make sure it stays clear, and that the lives of those with us are as clear the blue sky. That is enough for me."
"Mikito, please..." Madara strained out, gripping her hands with his own.
For a moment, Mikito did not move.
She didn't move a single centimeter. She felt Madara's strong, calloused hands. Felt his powerful grip that would make any lesser woman's knees weak. She could feel the emotion burning inside of him, feeding into her furnace of a heart. His love and his sincerity pierced her, and more than ever, now, in this moment, did she experience his love.
She could not remember a time where or when Madara ever said please.
In fact, Madara said every single word there was to say except for please.
"O-okay..." Mikito tried to keep her voice even.
"I am going to do everything in my power to get your sight back. I do not want to hear anything."
Mikito demurred, she shifted, kneeling down into the Seiza position.
She set her hands on her knees.
"But, what if it can't be helped?"
Madara took the same position.
"If Izuna really did what I think he did before we left what was the Uchiha compound, it can be."
Mikito demurred again, bowing her head.
"But, you cannot taste."
"A small price to pay. Taste is nothing like sight."
"But it is still necessary. It is one of the senses."
"Sight is more important."
Mikito kept her head bowed, and it struck Madara.
"Raise your head..." Madara tried not to groan. "I don't like when you get formal and technical."
Mikito raised her head, keeping her hands in her lap. "I will not argue with you...But, there are more pressing matters. I can still fight and function just fine without the usage of my eyes, but in the future..."
"When I say."
Mikito winced a little, noting his tone.
"I will not lose focus because of losing my sight. I want you to do the same, Madara. There are severe consequences for what we did, and we won't know the full extent until we see my sister again and she can examine us thoroughly. Opening the Gates is always dangerous, and we did worse than that...I just have to accept that nothing can be done, if it goes that way. What we are experiencing now could be the tip of the iceberg. As much as we changed physically, we changed even more on a chakra level, and I know you can feel it. I can feel it."
Madara grunted.
"I am just being realistic about it. I can't let loss of sight impede me." Mikito reasoned.
Madara sighed softly, looking into the sky. The sun's rays were bright, but there were dark clouds gathering high above in small swirls. Cyclones of gray and black, ridden with flashes of lightning were right behind them.
It was truly stormy.
Something felt wrong-he could feel it inside.
It was not the sorrow he felt boiling because of Mikito losing her sight and more than willing to accept it.
"Somebody died or was killed..." Mikito said, eyes on the ground.
"When the weather changes drastically. It means someone is about to die." Madara added, almost silent.
"We have to get back to the compound..." Mikito muttered.
A tingle raced down her spine, making her jump.
Madara found himself deflating.
He didn't want to leave this place if he had to be honest, but he knew he had to. Perhaps when this whole mess was over, Mikito and himself could return and live the rest of their days in here. No people, no noise, no houses, no oppression by humanity-only nature. Their will to survive. Their will and power.
He wouldn't mind that.
"I'm going to miss this place...It's home to me now...I don't want to go back..." Madara admitted, clenching his fists.
Mikito smiled, moving closer to him. "When this whole mess is over with...We will return here and we will pass here."
"What makes you so certain?"
"We both want to remain here, we both don't want to leave, and it makes us both mad that we have to leave right now...And...No shinobi is going to impede me at all...Or you..."
Madara looked into the clouds.
"Certainty in a time of uncertainty, how much one would crave. But, we have to carve our own path and forge our own destiny."
Mikito pushed chakra to the soles of her feet, lifting herself off the ground nimbly. She floated for a few minutes before ascending a few feet.
"Can you still fly?"
Madara did the same thing without any trouble.
"It's like second nature."
They watched the storm approaching, and looked to where they had go...
The storm was moving in the same direction they were moving in.
Let us go and strike fear in the heart of the shinobi and the shinobi world. Let us bring nothing but destruction and ruin to their creed.
The times he was enraged were few and far between. His brother was known for his short temper and his insatiable fury. He was known for being level headed, calm, and always collected. The times he allowed his emotions to get out control, the very idea of them getting out of control were even fewer.
But, now he had to rein in his emotions. Every dark and insidious emotion and feeling that wrenched him up and slip the noose around his neck was threatening to send him to a long fall. A descent into nothing but pure darkness. Nothing but pure hatred.
The noose tightened...
Haji sat behind his large desk, arms crossed over his chest, eyes narrowed and teeth clenched. He was dressed in all black. From black tabi to a black haori and hakama. He stared down the youngsters who were standing before him-two that had survived the battle-and judging from their expressions and behavior they were very afraid.
If not afraid of him...The fear from what they went through still had a hold of them.
Hitomi, Sadao, and Tsugi flanked him. They were dressed in all black as well. He did not request to be flanked. He wanted to speak to these youngsters alone, the other three adults insisted on being present while he was doing so. He would not change his strategy and if any single person in the trio spoke against him...
He would lose his temper or come damn close.
"Shinichi Mo and Azuza Hagoromo...Explain to me what happened and leave out no details."
The two in question grimaced from both the memory of what happened and Haji's tone.
Mitsu didn't really want to divulge anything. She was ashamed. Ashamed that someone younger than her had been braver and was willing to throw his life away against the superior force of Kurou and Sasuke. She hadn't been able to do a thing and if it wasn't for those sacrifices...
She shook her head, clenching her hands into fists.
Shinichi didn't want to relive the memories at all. He did not want to think of those Hyuga and Sarutobi that had went after them like sharks to blood. He was furious. He was wounded on a pride level. How could he have let the little brats die like that?
How could he have let them undergo...Whatever that had been, that allowed them to send Kurou and Sasuke flying through trees along with their comrades. That made their muscles grow twice their size. That made their chakra soar with their thunderous heart beats-that made them lose all control and roar like they were beasts instead of humans.
Thinking about it now, he could only clench his fists in bitterness.
He was older, and rightfully, he should have been the one to be killed. He took the greater burden as oldest to protect the youngest-even if he was only eight years old. It was on him to make sure they could survive and escape.
"I will not ask you two again." Haji's tone dropped, his eyes hard as stone.
"Haji-san, there were three Domou children, three Uchiha children, four Kurama children, and three Nohara children with them..." Sadao said with a steep tone, pausing, waiting for an answer.
"That is exactly why I am asking them this and will not tolerate this silence. They will want an explanation as much as I do right now. I am going to have to send them something to let them know that their young were killed and have to be...Transported back to the compound...For a proper burial."
Hitomi blinked, trying to steady her emotions. "But, the seal all of you and even the Doou...All of you have seals placed on you for when you die in battle, it transports you back here and-"
"Neither of us put those seals on children. We never put our children into war zones or harsh battles to go through such measures to ensure their bodies return to this compound." Haji said.
Tsugi scratched at his head, looking at the two youngsters. "Azuza and Shinichi. You shouldn't delay."
Azuza looked at her hands.
Shinichi glared at the floor.
"We didn't mean to sneak out for so long, but Fudo and his sister wanted to show us something. They thought that there wouldn't be any enemies so deep in the territory...We couldn't even sense the Sarutobi...By the time we knew they were on us the Hyuga had us closed in and confined...We tried to fight back, but there were just too many of them for us to handle. They were all adults. Sasuke and Kurou were too strong for us to handle, and it made Fudo and the other Subatsu and Domou children..."
Shinichi clenched his fists, growing more angry. "Fudo and his sister, and those Domou kids...Even those Uchiha kids..."
They were brave, too brave, and too young.
"What are you not telling me, Shinichi?"
The young boy grimaced, biting his bottom lip.
"They pinned me and two others down, forcing the Subatsu and Domou kids do something extremely weird. They shoved a sword right on my neck. The Uchiha kids tried to fight, but they weren't strong enough."
Azuza breathed a little heavy, getting all the words out in one go.
Tsugi looked at Sadao and then at Haji. "This attack wasn't random or just happenstance. It was planned...They discussed it at length..."
Haji clenched the sleeve of his kimono in a bid to control his fury and rage.
Subatsu killed without mercy or remorse in battle-they ganged up on one or two people and they fought all comers just the same-but the one thing they didn't do is kill children. It was forbidden. The very idea of killing a child miles well be blasphemy to the Subatsu. That is how they viewed it.
Abhorrent.
He himself had never raised a hand or sword against a child. More than anyone did he understand the pain of losing someone or something...Yanked away without a care. To die of natural causes was one thing. To be killed, run through, blown to bits, and everything else was a different story.
More than anything, the Subatsu didn't kill children because they knew what the end result amounted to. The pain of losing a child was unbearable, and it was one of the reasons why the world remained embroiled in war. Revenge and a constant need for it.
The shinobi never gave them the same courtesy, that had been made clear. It wasn't just the Hyuga and Sarutobi responsible, but all of the shinobi. The shinobi creed. It was all to blame. Rikudo was to blame. The fractured system was a hollowed out husk.
Shinobi would always pursue strife-they would always kill children or send young into battle.
It was something that couldn't be avoided, changed, or stopped.
"Did the Toads assist them again?"
Sadao noted Haji's tone and measured his response. "They wouldn't dare, not after how your brother and Nagakura made things clear. If they were to assist in any single way with this, their land would be left in ruin."
Haji closed his eyes in a bid to control his fury and rationalize his thoughts. He couldn't expect children to go into the between the lines behind Kurou's and Sasuke's motives-but he didn't want them to either. He just needed them to be honest and forward, about everything. Hiding one thing would throw everything out of whack later on.
Sasuke and the Sarutobi and Kurou and the Hyuga had more than enough reason to pick a battle with them. To start a war. They had laid waste Sasuke and his force in the Capital of the Fire country. They had obliterated the Hyuga's last compound, killing thousands, and killing the leader and several division or commanding officers.
But-the Hyuga incident came from their own doing.
The Hyuga attacked their young.
The Sarutobi were going to set the Fire country ablaze if they weren't stopped before.
Sadao moved towards the closest window, sighing loudly. He pressed his hands behind his back until they clenched into fists.
"Shinichi and Azuza...Would you say that the Hyuga and Sarutobi were fighting together?"
Shinichi looked at Sadao briefly, nodding just enough.
Sadao turned to Hitomi. "Please take them. Help the women and mothers."
Hitomi bowed her head, doing as she was told.
Tsugi leaned against the wall once the trio was gone. He crossed his arms over his chest, setting his sword in the corner. He walked towards an array of shelves-picking up a gourd. He got three cups and popped the gourd open. He poured at the dark ember liquid.
He took a cup.
"What do you think, Sadao?" Tsugi asked, sipping the smooth alcohol.
Sadao took his own cup, taking a long sip. "The Sarutobi and Hyuga are in a permanent alliance, if I were to hazard a guess. They attacked us at the heart-most of the women are inconsolable right now and the mothers are even worse. Hitomi is one of the few women that is keeping it together. If they killed our young, they break the spirit of our women. Even if the men all get mad and enraged..."
"The women are not the same." Tsugi said.
The men could clamor for war, but the women wouldn't support them. They would be too busy wailing and mourning like they were now. There would be no assistance or cooperation. The men could go to war, but it didn't matter if the morale was low within the compound. It did not matter if their women were suffering and trudging through woe.
In fact, it would be counterproductive.
"It will be the same or worse when the Domou and the clans with them have to come here to get their young. And, there's the Uchiha as well, and there is no way they will let this go without punishment. They will not allow the death of those children to not be avenged, especially their own."
Sadao sighed. "There's a bigger problem. Mikito is leader of the Domou."
Tsugi massaged his scalp. "She is going to go fucking ballistic. Syrus isolated himself like he always does. Mikito isn't like that, if this manages to break her spirit than nothing may happen at all."
Haji took his cup and sipped it. "Mikito may mourn for one hundred days and be inconsolable for more."
Sadao cleared his throat. "Perhaps it is time we reconsider."
Haji flicked his eyes on him. He drew his brows together.
"The marriages with the Yamanaka and Nara that my brother declined?"
"Yes. Before both clans join Hashirama's village, we should have some here. We do have an entente with both so there should be no problem. Their skills are invaluable. Riichi was going to send his eldest daughter to marry in. If possible, more Yamanaka women should marry in. Contact him and tell him you wish to arrange it. Contact Kiyoshi and tell him we are willing to leave him alone so long as he sends at least one Nara woman to marry one of our own."
Tsugi moved to get a cushion, sitting down cross legged. "You are a decisive old fox, you know that?"
Sadao looked at Tsugi, eyes shining briefly.
"After this we are going to have to cut ties with the shinobi, the shinobi world, and forget about the shinobi creed. By blood, we are who we are. I am a Mo. You both are Subatsu. Shuji is Hagoromo. Bu,t we will never be shinobi anymore. We will not follow the creed. We will have a different mentality. We will think differently. We will be stronger. We will be more powerful. We will be superior. But, at the same time-the shinobi and their creed will be our enemy and bane. So, we will kill and suppress them the best we can, or purge them. That will be our one and only true goal."
Tsugi would have chuckled if the situation wasn't as grim as it was.
It was just like Sadao to spring such a plan at such a time. It wasn't stupid by any means. Once and when the Nara and Yamanaka join Konoha-the entente would be done away with. Likewise-they would be their victims to bloody suppression and carnage. For every Nara and Yamanaka that stood against them, they would be cut down without hesitation.
But, before it got to that point-Sadao wanted some in the compound.
Take advantage of the entente and show marriage as a sign of goodwill.
It was smart.
"You can read the tides well, Sadao. The tides of time and the tides of a person. I will agree to that. Get it arranged and take care of it. Until then this compound is on lock down. Nobody leaves. Nobody enters. All of the children are to also be gathered and accounted for, and they are to go the training areas until told otherwise. I will prepare a message to send to the Domou compound explaining. Syrus is preparing things for..."
Sadao nodded. "Very well. Leave it to me."
Tsugi walked towards Haji's side once Sadao left the room.
They both just stood there in silence for several minutes, just content not to speak.
They sipped their alcohol and Tsugi finished the rest of Sadao's.
It wasn't until nearly an hour later that either decided to break the silence.
"Old fox. I guess he can't help himself." Tsugi commented.
"Sadao has always been concerned and focused on making us stronger. He is very decisive. This is also necessary, it seems. My brother was too stubborn so I've already made the necessary arrangements for Riichi's eldest daughter to marry, should the time come."
"That's just like you."
Haji looked at Tsugi. "You were my sensei. I only do what you have taught me in certain situations."
A soft sigh escaped Tsugi's lips.
"You know, the last time something like this happened...Your parents, uncles, aunts, older cousins, and everyone in the clan all went on the war path. They never turned away from it. It seems like history is repeating itself. You and your brother have done everything to avoid this, but you both are suffering just as your father did."
"It is different this time...This isn't an isolated incident. The Hyuga and Sarutobi got the idea to form an alliance because Kumogakure and Konohgakure. This is the threat of the shinobi. This is the threat they are on a united front. They have threatened our children and longevity. When we go on the war path this time..."
"We will have Uchiha in our midst, don't forget. They have a thirst and are known to always avenge their losses and get revenge in general. To kill their foes. This could turn into something that is beyond anyone's control and could span for entire decades."
Haji nodded, pulling out a piece of writing parchment.
"The shinobi are our enemy. The shinobi creed, more importantly is the problem. The shinobi mentality. Regardless of what they say or do, they are all the same when it comes down cold hard facts. Speaking of peace while spilling blood of young...Only a shinobi could do such a thing."
Tsugi whistled softly, retrieved his sword, and moved towards the door.
"Going to send a message out?"
Haji pulled out black ink and a brush.
"A warning to Konoha and Kumo. And, more of a notice to all of the shinobi clans that are not allied or in ententes with us or the Domou. I will personally sign it and stamp it."
Haji's stormy rage had got the better of him.
Now-he was going on the war path, and this was only the first step.