Day 32

After several sun-soaked days, the climate finally transformed. The current day encouraged staying indoors, a warm drink in hand. Thus, Haruno Sakura found herself on this rainy morning, seated at her desk, holding a cup of green tea in one hand, the other supporting her chin. Her gaze was fixed outside, lost in emptiness, while her mind worked on the next steps.

She was certain that she had eliminated Black Zetsu, ruling out the possibility of him ending Hashirama Senju's life. Yet, he had undeniably vanished recently. Was it a natural death, a consequence of exhaustion post-clash with Madara? Had he succumbed to an injury inflicted by Madara himself? Or had a third party of their caliber annihilated him? These were questions Sakura had yet to find answers to. All she hoped for was that news of his disappearance would take time to spread across the world. According to her book, "The History of Konoha and its First Kage," the First Great Shinobi War had erupted following Hashirama's death.

During this time, Madara slowly began to awaken, taking advantage of a restorative night. Ordinarily, his sleep would be disturbed when he engaged his Mangekyō Sharingan, but thanks to Sakura's careful care, he had found nocturnal tranquility.

His first instinct followed the usual path: he tilted his head outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of Sakura in her morning meditation. To his disappointment, she was absent, likely deterred by the rain. Madara's gaze then wandered around the room, finally stopping on her silhouette behind the desk.

The events of the previous day brought a flood of questions to Madara's mind. He had long understood that Sakura posed a formidable threat in combat. He had witnessed her mastery against a strange creature at the Valley of the End. However, seeing how quickly she had gained the upper hand over one of the prominent members of her own clan was an entirely unique experience, prompting deep reflection.

During this confrontation, Madara observed someone skilled in the art of killing with efficiency, speed, and discretion. If her identity had been unknown, one might have thought that this woman had been specifically trained for assassination. A sudden thought then crossed Madara's mind: had an Uchiha collaborated with Black Zetsu to eliminate Sakura's family?

After all, she had confided that every Uchiha she had encountered had sought to harm and manipulate her. Furthermore, the murderous and icy tone in her voice when she subdued Izumi clearly indicated hostility towards the enemy. If this hypothesis proved true and an Uchiha was indeed responsible for her family's murder, why hadn't she killed them? At least, that's what Madara would have done, world peace accord or not.

Madara was known for harboring deep grudges, a reality the world had learned the hard way. However, the reverse was just as true; he fiercely protected those dear to him. The day before, he had been ready to eliminate a member of his own clan for daring to hurt Sakura. The memory of his shock when the dagger pierced Sakura lingered in his mind, a momentary adness engulfing him. He would have committed the unthinkable.

For several minutes, he scrutinized the young woman seated at her desk. She remained still, seemingly immersed in her thoughts, until a sigh finally broke the silence.

"What troubles you, Haruno-san?"

The voice shattered Sakura's cocoon of thoughts, momentarily forgetting the presence of others in the room.

"Several things, to be honest," Sakura replied while sipping her tea. "Did you sleep well despite using your Sharingan?"

"Yes... Are your concerns related to yesterday?"

Sakura hesitated, wondering if it was too early to confide her worries to him. Despite the debt of gratitude towards Madara, granting him complete trust for the future was not yet on the agenda.

"Somewhat," Sakura declared while delicately blowing on her tea to cool it. She took another sip, feeling the soothing warmth in her throat. "Let's say I apprehend the future."

Madara furrowed his brow, surprised to see Sakura experiencing fear, a rare emotion since their encounter.

"Why?"

Sakura gracefully rose from her seat, heading to the kitchen. Thirty seconds later, she reappeared with a second cup, emitting tendrils of steam. She approached Madara and placed the new cup on the bedside table before sitting beside him.

"A few days ago, a rumor spread in the village below. A wanderer from Hi No Kuni made a stop there before continuing his journey to the capital of Ta No Kuni," Sakura stated, offering half-truths to avoid mentioning her history book. "The world now knows about your duel against Hashirama, and the elemental nations are informed of your alleged disappearance."

"Is that what bothers you?"

"On the contrary, it reassures me, knowing that you can recover peacefully without fearing an assassin at my door," Sakura replied, her face still showing a certain annoyance as Madara took his own tea cup. "What worries me is that he mentioned that the shinobi seemed concerned... but concerned about what, I wonder."

"Is that the reason for your recent trip to Hi No Kuni, I presume."

"Yes, I had to find out what could worry the village of Konoha No Sato."

"Judging by your worried expression, the Land of Fire seems to be in a delicate position. What has that fool Hashirama done now?" he asked with palpable sarcasm.

"That's the problem; he has disappeared," Sakura disclosed, knowing that this revelation would shake Madara. And indeed, a myriad of questions swirled in her mind: Why? How? What had motivated his disappearance? Or had he been killed? Sakura had hit the mark; Madara's single expression was enough to indicate his disturbance at the news.

"I don't know why or under what circumstances... but I managed to glean some information, but it seems he simply evaporated," she explained, preempting any questions from Madara. She was not yet ready for the First Great Shinobi War, and her concern was clearly evident. If this information spread in the world, it could trigger a chain reaction across all nations.

"War..."

"Yes, and unfortunately, I wish its onset is not too hasty," Sakura explained, placing her cup on the bedside table before leaning back more comfortably in her chair.

"You really intend to establish your vision of peace, don't you?" Madara questioned, who had never seemed inclined to align with her perspectives.

"Ours," corrected the young woman in a neutral tone.

"What do you mean by "ours"?" asked Madara, uncertain, as he had never so far been willing to align with her worldview.

"You were right, Uchiha-san. My concept of peace has many flaws. However, after listening to your approach, I can't help but think that, in a way, it might work," Sakura declared, turning her head towards Madara, locking her gaze with his. "I aspire to peace, Uchiha-san. Perhaps I have the solution to establish it, but the real question is: for how long?"

This question prompted deep contemplation. After all, each clan frequently asked themselves this question. When would the next battle come? When would the next slaughter occur?

"As I mentioned, I have the means to bring peace. After examining your words, I realize that you might hold the method to preserve it!" Sakura added.

Madara remained silent for a moment. It was a first in his existence that someone took the time to ponder his concept of peace. At the same time, Sakura was the first to whom he opened the doors of his ambitions. But was he genuinely willing to engage again in battle for this decadent world? Did he truly desire to sacrifice his blood for these individuals? And, more crucially, did they even have the necessary resources to triumph?

"How long do you estimate before a potential war breaks out?" Madara questioned.

Sakura briefly reflected, wondering if the elimination of Black Zetsu would accelerate or delay the onset of the First Great Shinobi War.

"Perhaps six months, a bit more if we're lucky... one month in the worst-case scenario."

"How do you plan to gather the necessary funds for such an endeavor?" Madara asked, aware that any war was costly in terms of men, money, food, weapons, and other resources.

"I am wealthy."

"That won't be enough," Madara replied, knowing that a few thousand Ryō would hardly make a difference.

"You don't understand, Uchiha-san. I am rich... to the point of making all the elemental nations combined pale in comparison."

At that moment, Madara became wary. How could a woman, emerging out of nowhere, claim to be as rich as all the elemental nations combined? If that were the case, he should have known about it long ago.

Then, he saw Sakura raise her hand, and in her palm appeared a gold Ryō coin, followed by a second, then a dozen before she stopped.

"When you study science to heal humans, you also explore chakra. It's the foundation of everything, so all I need to do is manipulate it expertly, like a fire specialist would. By shaping my chakra like a Fūinjutsu formula, I can give it the properties of silver, thus creating an unlimited resource," explained Sakura in front of a completely stunned Madara.

It was the best justification Sakura had found to explain the millions of Ryō sealed on her. All this money from the loans she had taken would soon find its purpose.

"You realize that entire nations could be destroyed to obtain this knowledge!" exclaimed Madara, still in shock, considering numerous possibilities for the future.

"Yes, that's why you are the only person in the world, along with me, who knows."

"Why? Why me?!" demanded Madara, wanting to understand why this woman sought his help.

"Because you are Uchiha Madara! Because you have the experience! Because, despite my intelligence, strength, and wealth, I am just one person, and moreover, a woman! In our time, the majority of men only consider me a distraction!" replied Sakura with anger, confronting the harsh reality of her words. "But you, Uchiha-san! You have the reputation, strength, a clan, and the charisma needed to unite the world! You've already done it once with Konoha. And above all, compared to all those pettiness, you are a person who aspires to peace! And that's the whole difference for me!"

Yes, they were vile beings, living tools destined to kill... simply instruments in the service of others. They performed sordid tasks so that others, more innocent, wouldn't have to. And that, Madara couldn't deny. However, he struggled to understand how she could place so much faith in him. Barely a month had passed since their meeting, and already she seemed to entrust the future of the world into his hands.

"Konoha is a failed experiment!" retorted Madara.

"That's precisely it, Uchiha-san! You know what not to do!" replied Sakura, bouncing off Madara's recent arguments. "And now, Uchiha-san... with Hashirama potentially gone, who could truly oppose you?"

Madara furrowed his brow, pondering the question. It was challenging to find individuals capable of rivaling him. The only people that came to his mind were Tobirama Senju, Gengetsu Hōzuki, the Nidaime Mizukage, and potentially Sakura Haruno. Perhaps, with her by his side, he could finally bring about peace. He had nothing to lose by trusting her. They just had to let time act and observe the world's evolution. If the opportunity arose to bring about peace, they would seize it.

Madara plunged his ebony gaze into Sakura's for long seconds, scrutinizing any sign of deception or falsehood. He found none.

"The Daimyō, that's the first step," Madara finally conceded without directly answering the previous question.

Accepting his vision of peace was one thing, but revealing his potential vulnerabilities was another. Yet, it didn't seem to trouble the young woman. On the contrary, she wore a radiant smile, and Madara greatly appreciated seeing her like that. It suited her so much better.

"He must be informed of our ambitions. It would be necessary to have a meeting with him to convince, or even manipulate him," he specified.

His strategic mind was at work. No detail could be overlooked, and their plan couldn't materialize without the support of the Daimyō. Since the formation of the countries, the Shugo of each province, acting as governors, had decided on a new status: that of Daimyō, the representative of the entire country. It was he who, along with the Kage, determined the actions to be taken for the country's management. Their project couldn't come to fruition without the support of the Lord of Ta No Kuni.

"Could a simple letter be enough? If we incorporate a Fūinjutsu doubled with a Genjutsu?" asked Sakura, showing that she too understood how the world worked at that time.

"Elaborate, Haruno-san."

"It is well known that all Daimyō possess a ring that is their own. All I need to do is affix a Fūinjutsu seal that will unlock the scroll only to the owner of the ring from the land of rice paddies. Add to that a Genjutsu so that only he can read it," exposed Sakura, once again highlighting her intelligence.

"Clever... that could work. Get a beautiful scroll, advised the Uchiha," impressed by the young woman's ideas.

Sakura quickly got up, headed to her desk, and took out one of her most beautiful scrolls. Settling comfortably in her chair, she prepared to write.

"I'm listening, Uchiha-san."

To the Noble Daimyō of Ta No Kuni,

The ethereal mist of the Muromachi era has dissipated, leaving in its wake the dawn of the new Sengoku era. The shreds of a fleeting peace are unraveling, and the first echoes of war resonate at the borders of the elemental nations.

The reins of power and the necessary resources rest in my hands, offering Ta No Kuni the possibility of becoming the epicenter of an era of tranquility and prosperity. A place of such power that no one would dare to defy it but rather aspire to unite with it. Currently, my pressing commitments prevent me from meeting you in person, as my designs require my active presence.

However, if the future holds curiosity in your mind for such a destiny, manifest it, and a meeting will be orchestrated. The majestic eagle delivering this message will remain in your lands for two days, vigilant, awaiting your response.

"The signature, is it superfluous?"

"Apply the wax at the bottom of the page. My clan leader's seal is sufficient to reveal my identity."

"Do you think revealing your survival is wise?" Sakura asked, approaching Madara, parchment in hand, after pouring the hot wax on the seal.

"No sensible Daimyō would let an opportunity like this slip through his fingers. They are supposed to be learned, so he should be able to keep silent," reassured Madara before applying the seal of his ring on the still burning wax. Once this task was completed, Sakura returned to her desk and began inscribing Fūinjutsu seals on the back of the scroll. "Now, it could only be opened by the Daimyō of the land of rice paddies."

After half an hour, to the rhythmic pace of the rain, Sakura finally activated the seal by infusing her chakra into it. She carefully rolled up the scroll before heading towards Madara.

"Could you put aside your Sharingan, please".

Madara nodded, executing the ram seal with a quick motion with his only valid hand, releasing a slight ripple of chakra into the room.

"There, it's done. We just have to wait for the weather to clear before sending it."

"I guess mentioning the eagles in the letter stems from a summoning contract."

"I allow myself to reiterate, you are too insightful for your own good," mumbled Madara, tired of being so easily deciphered.

"I know... Well, we'll discuss it later, Uchiha-san. I'm going to prepare dinner," Sakura cut before leaving the main room to join the kitchen.

Day 34

After two days of uninterrupted rain, the sun emerged once again, bringing with it a welcomed glow. Sakura secretly rejoiced at the prospect of resuming her meditation on this beautiful morning. She was on the verge of success, and excitement bubbled within her. Days and days of effort, on the brink of unraveling the mystery, yet there was still something elusive missing.

Over the past months, she had realized that her brain was the source of spiritual energy that then spread throughout her being. A fusion of spiritual and physical energy coursing through her entire body. However, the puzzle persisted: where was this physical energy located? Her body, yes, but which specific part? The flesh, the organs, the cells? What component of her being generated the energy that circulated within her?

Then, like an illumination, the answer imposed itself: the body. The human body, a ceaseless energy factory. Her entire being was a source in itself. Cells, through their mere existence, emitted energy, making Sakura's body a entity charged with intrinsic power. But with this revelation, came the awareness of danger, as using this energy meant appropriating a part of oneself. In this discovery, the repressed joy in Sakura burst forth irresistibly.

"Yes!" Sakura exclaimed, leaving her seated position to leap into the air, triumphant fist raised. "I did it! Finally, after all this time, I did it! Yay!"

A broad smile lit up her face, followed by a joyous laugh after her discovery. After countless efforts, the reward was finally here.

A gentle smile also appeared on Madara's lips as he observed the young woman exult with happiness outside the house. He had learned to appreciate these rare moments of joy and silently savored the freshness of youth, even if he would never openly admit it. Thus, a radiant Sakura returned to the interior of the dwelling.

"Good morning, Uchiha-san. Did you sleep well?" Sakura inquired, starting the medical ritual.

"Yes, why this demonstration of good mood?" Madara questioned after wiping the smile off his lips.

"I finally did it! I finally figured out how to achieve regeneration without altering the human body," Sakura declared proudly.

This woman never ceased to surprise him, establishing herself as an endless source of wonders that, day by day, widened the spectrum of his admiration. Regeneration, an achievement many had attempted in vain, but she possessed the know-how that transcended previous failures. His thoughts turned to his arm and eye, finally destined to be restored.

"Would you be able to regrow any severed limb?" he asked.

"Not to that extent... but soon I'll be able to start the restoration of your eye and arm," Sakura replied, letting her chakra-infused hands glide over Madara's body. "Any pain or discomfort to report?"

"None."

"Perfect, the healing is progressing normally... Are you ready for the summoning?"

"Do you know the signs?"

"Yes, concentrate, I'll take over," Sakura declared confidently before biting her thumb, letting the blood bead. The hand seals were drawn with expert precision, her hand placed on Madara's arm, while the other firmly applied to the ground. She was the provider of blood and chakra, and Madara the catalyst for the target to be summoned.

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"

A large circle of Fūinjutsu emanated from the house's floor. The blood was absorbed by the seal formula, generating a smoke cloud that dissipated to reveal a magnificent royal eagle. The noble bird scrutinized its surroundings, bowing respectfully at the sight of Madara lying on the bed.

"Uchiha-sama."

"I need you to deliver this scroll to the Daimyō of Ta No Kuni in person. I expect his response within two days. If you have the opportunity to stay nearby to observe his reactions, that would be optimal," explained Madara, handing the precious scroll to the royal eagle.

"It will be done, Uchiha-sama," the royal eagle bowed once again. Once the scroll was secure, it soared toward its destination.

"That was a majestic creature," remarked Sakura, tending to the cut on her thumb, then headed to the kitchen for dinner. "Do you wish to continue your reading?"

"Yes, Madara replied," picking up the book written by Sakura.

First Lesson: Dodge!

If you're dead, you're absolutely useless. If you're injured, you'll have to take care of yourself first, and your companions might die. Your priority is to stay alive! So, first and foremost, you must train your body to react.

Find a training partner and dodge everything they throw at you. Let them intensify the strength and fervor of their attacks, as it is in this crucible that your body will forge muscle memory. These precious seconds gained between life and death are not a luxury but a necessity.

However, don't let yourself be lulled by the laurel song once this is achieved. Arrogance is the shortest path to defeat. A true master of the art of survival knows that the threat never comes from the front but from the shadows. Ninety percent of graves are dug following sneak attacks from behind. So, broaden your field of action by having several partners assail you simultaneously. This practice will sharpen your environmental awareness, stimulate your analytical ability, and sculpt your visual memory.

The eye, like a vigilant sentinel, must be trained to dodge projectiles and opponents, its acuity evolving with each assault. Repetition will instill a natural harmony between vision and movement. With years of practice, you might even anticipate attacks, read the invisible signs in the wake of your opponent.

This last paragraph slightly shook Madara's nerves. A troubling, almost too precise description, as if she was outlining the contours of an ability close to the Sharingan. Perhaps it was just a coincidence, a paranoid creation of his mind, but he felt watched, spied on in the shadows by unknown eyes.

However, his reflections were abruptly interrupted by Sakura's return, skillfully carrying two trays. She placed one of them on the table, then approached Madara with the second.

"No," Madara refused as Sakura approached him.

"What do you mean, "no"?" Sakura inquired, perplexed.

"I aspire to nourish myself with my own hands, at a table, Haruno-san," Madara declared, plunging his gaze into hers. He was determined to restore his dignity, no longer being a burden dependent on others.

Sakura turned around and placed Madara's tray next to hers on the table, then headed toward the patient's bed. She lifted him gently before settling him in front of the table, taking care to position his legs comfortably. Once in a posture where he could support himself, she took a seat beside him.

"Enjoy your meal."

Sakura wielded her chopsticks with ease, sitting in respectful silence. Nevertheless, her attention remained focused on her meal companion, ready to intervene if necessary.

"Enjoy your meal," Madara replied in turn, taking a spoonful with his only valid hand. Thanks to Sakura's care, his mobility had improved. He dipped the spoon into his bowl, then brought it to his lips. This seemingly simple gesture conveyed palpable joy on his features; he was regaining his autonomy, a precious rebirth for Uchiha Madara, and that was priceless.

Day 35

It had been almost a year since Hashuba Shôta, the Shugo with the largest territories and the most extensive power in the Land of Rice Fields, had ascended to the rank of Daimyô. Leveraging his influence, he had led his country to prosperity in rice cultivation, making his message resonate throughout the world. His wish was simple: no conflict should disturb his lands, and his kingdom posed no threat whatsoever.

Daimyô Hashuba had concluded multiple agreements with neighboring nations of fire, lightning, and earth, thus delineating a neutral and non-aligned territory in exchange for valuable agricultural resources.

This tactical choice was dictated by the absence of a Shinobi military force. The majority of his people were farmers working the fields, completely oblivious to the intricacies of the world around them, ignorant of the political stakes playing out beyond their horizons.

"Daimyô-sama, the harvest is progressing favorably this year," announced a man sitting at a table covered with scrolls.

"Do you think it will be sufficient to honor our commitments while ensuring the survival of the people?" Hashuba inquired.

A man of ordinary appearance, dressed in a kimono blending brown and white, stood there. In his forties, his face was neatly shaved except for a thin mustache and goatee, while his long black hair was tied in a ponytail.

"Yes, Daimyô-sama," replied the accounts steward.

Suddenly, their exchange was interrupted by the majestic arrival of a raptor, an obvious messenger as this bird did not belong to these lands. Creatures of this size usually resided in the land of lightning, staying away from human domains. A case hung gracefully around its neck, confirming its role as a message bearer. It landed with imposing grace on the armrest of the Daimyô's chair, fixing its gaze directly on Hashuba, patiently waiting for him to retrieve the scroll attached to its neck.

The Daimyô, after reaching out to take the precious scroll, saw the bird fly lightly to perch delicately on the windowsill, apparently busy with its own affairs. Hashuba decided to free the message from its case, immediately impressed by the quality of the parchment. He concluded that an individual of considerable importance and wealth was the author of this message.

As Hashuba deciphered the message, his expression became more and more serious and focused. His eyes widened upon recognizing the seal of the signature. His mind was working at full capacity, exploring the multiple possibilities of an alliance with the powerful Uchiha Madara.

"Is everything in order, my lord?" ventured the secretary, receiving only a dark look in response. "My apologies, my lord."

The Daimyô refocused his attention on the Uchiha seal, meditating on the implications of this revelation. Trading the information that the great Madara Uchiha was still alive could earn him a fortune. However, on the other hand, it also meant the promise of peace and prosperity for his country, accompanied by considerable power.

Hashuba rose from his seat, the scroll in hand, and walked towards one of the braziers in the room.

"Prepare me a parchment for significant occasions," ordered the Daimyô to his scribe, who promptly obeyed.

"I am at your service."

The secretary held the pen ready to write, but the words remained suspended. The Daimyô, on the other hand, threw the received missive into the fire, which instantly ignited, erasing all trace of its existence.

"Out!" Hashuba ordered with an inflexible voice. The secretary hurriedly left the room, closing the door behind him. Only the Daimyô and his four personal guards remained in the room.

It was rare for a Daimyô to write his own letters, but in this situation, no one but him should read his letter. Sitting at his desk, he began to draft his response to Uchiha Madara. After about ten minutes, Hashuba poured wax at the bottom of the parchment and affixed his Daimyô seal. He rolled up the parchment before standing up towards the raptor, still perched on the windowsill. He slid the parchment into the case around its neck and closed it.

As soon as the case was closed, the raptor flew away.

"The future will tell if I made the right choice..."