From the very first moment his eyes, tinged with the gleam of the end, had settled on her, Madara Uchiha had been engulfed in a whirlwind of inquiries. As he spent more time in her company, these questions wormed their way deeper into the recesses of his mind. Doubt, like a stealthy shadow, spread, clouding his judgment.

As a Shinobi, he was familiar with the intricacies of deception and information gathering. In this world, understanding others was crucial, distinguishing friend from foe. The slightest suspicion, a crack in trust, could prove perilous. For with doubt inevitably came suspicion, a far more corrosive poison.

Thus was Madara, ensnared in these torments, oscillating between doubts and suspicions towards Sakura Haruno.

To the common folk, Madara's situation would have been clear: defeated in battle, rescued and healed by another Shinobi, and nothing more. But Madara Uchiha was no ordinary man; his sharp and logical mind refused the absurd. Faced with inconsistency, he strove to rationalize, to unravel the threads of mystery with ruthless rigor.

Since his encounter with Sakura Haruno, his mind had been a cacophony of puzzles, pieces of a puzzle he couldn't seem to put together. Missing elements, too numerous to ignore. He attempted to analyze, to trace mental patterns, to formulate theories as fanciful as they were desperate, all in vain. For now, no leads emerged clearly enough to provide him with a clear picture of this young woman. And so, he inevitably fell back on his initial questions: Who was she? Where did she come from? What was her purpose?

Why would someone of her caliber come to the aid of a Shinobi like him? Certainly, she spoke of peace... but then why the intense hatred in her eyes when she appeared out of nowhere to save him from certain death?

She justified her aspiration for peace with the past attempts of the Uchiha clan to harm her. If that were true... there was, however, a flaw in her reasoning. As the clan leader, Madara knew every member of his lineage. And yet, the name Sasuke Uchiha had never reached him! This simple fact was enough to fuel the relentless doubt of the Shinobi: was she lying to him? Or had a member of his clan feigned death in the past? The young woman's in-depth knowledge of the Sharingan seemed to corroborate the latter hypothesis. One would have to have close ties with an Uchiha to possess such an understanding of the Dôjutsu, and it seemed likely that she held more knowledge than she had so far revealed.

This series of reflections and analyses led Madara to formulate a first series of questions:

1. Had a member of his clan deserted, giving rise to this Sasuke Uchiha, or was Sakura lying to him about his existence?

Subsequently, Madara couldn't help but ponder another crucial question: the origin of her abilities. Who!? Who among the elemental nations could possess such skills without anyone knowing? No reference had ever been made to Medical Ninjutsu, no mention had been made of a woman with strength capable of shaking cliffs. The name Tsunade, which Sakura mentioned as being a more skilled practitioner, had never reached him either. Such a prodigy would surely have attracted attention. Even if she were female, her exploits would not have remained in the shadows; someone of nobility, or even a Daimyô, would surely have sought her services. And by extension, the Shinobi community would surely have heard of such potential and not let it go unnoticed.

However, according to Sakura, her mother, Tsunade, had a tendency to fade into the background, like a true Shinobi. Another troubling element lay in the fact that the only person known as Tsunade was the descendant of Hashirama, but she was far too young to be Sakura's mother. However, even if Madara had never heard of Sakura's mother, her accumulated knowledge could not be ignored. One would have to have practiced, experienced... or else...

Madara's mind toyed with the idea that Sakura's mother could come from a continent hitherto unknown. An hypothesis not to be dismissed outright, it could explain the curious inventions littering Sakura's abode. Thus, the Uchiha found himself formulating the second question:

2. Where did Tsunade Haruno come from, and why did her name not resonate in any previous conversation?

Lost in contemplation amidst the sparse pieces of his puzzle, the Uchiha wondered. Another puzzle remained: her sensei. From what he had observed, Sakura Haruno turned out to be a perilous individual. She had been meticulously crafted in the subtle art of the Shinobi. During their training, he noted this particularity: she focused mainly on evasion, a strategy understandable after reading her dossier. Just as a jeweler knows how to cut a rough gem to give it value, it took an exceptional teacher to shape a quality ninja. So why had he never heard of this Kakashi? Moreover, he seemed to have a friendship with Sakura's parents, so it was conceivable that they had been linked since childhood. Or, if one considered the hypothesis that they came from another continent, perhaps they shared a common origin. These questions led to a third:

3. Who was Kakashi and where did he come from?

Once the questions about the origins of the young woman crystallized in his mind, Madara continued his reflections. His attention turned to Mito Uzumaki's forehead seal. Sakura had confided in him that the Uzumaki were not the only ones to master the art of Fûinjutsu. However, Madara remembered Mito's pride when she completed the creation of her own seal. Although she had not disclosed its effects, knowing Mito's renown in Fûinjutsu, they could only be remarkable. How then could Sakura Haruno bear such a seal? Especially, it seemed to surpass Mito's... no, it didn't seem, it was evidently more powerful. Using his Sharingan to engrave the image of the seal in his memory, Madara wondered. Had Sakura drawn inspiration from Mito's seal? Or was it the other way around? Knowing that Sakura had traveled to many places, she could have left behind knowledge of Fûinjutsu during her travels, which Mito would have discovered and used as inspiration for her own seal.

Scouring Sakura's library, Madara discovered a plethora of Fûinjutsu manuals, thus corroborating her claims of self-taught learning in this discipline. The idea that she was self-taught fascinated him. This implied that she was probably a virtuoso in this field, just like Mito was.

However, if the origin of the Fûinjutsu seal resulted from an exchange of knowledge, it didn't matter who had practiced it first. Another puzzle tormented Madara: the Kage Bunshin! How on earth had Sakura heard of this jutsu, created by Tobirama Senju himself? Tobirama was renowned as one of the most secretive shinobi in terms of technique development! And yet, Madara was certain: the chakra focus, the release of flows, the smoke effect... everything matched. Sakura had undoubtedly used the Kage Bunshin technique. This revelation opened a new path, leading to the fourth question:

4. Did she come from Konoha No Sato, and was she secretly affiliated with the Senju?

The idea that she might be related to the Senju was slightly supported by Madara's doubts about her political knowledge. She behaved like a leader with remarkable finesse. Normally, a woman would not have had this verbal assurance to compete with politicians, let alone with a Daimyô or a clan leader. Only women of Mito Uzumaki's stature were trained in this field, as they were destined to sit alongside influential figures.

However, Sakura claimed to come from a remote corner, but her language, gestures, vocabulary, way of speaking, and maneuvering subtleties were worthy of seasoned politicians, or even clan leaders or a Kage. She must have been immersed in this environment to possess such knowledge and ease.

Madara came to this conclusion: she had too many skills in this field to be simply an ordinary citizen, let alone a high-level Shinobi. So, if one assumed that this young woman came from Konoha, would she be as skilled as elite ninjas? So young and already so highly ranked?

All these elements, amalgamated into a nascent logic, and thanks, or due, to his paranoia, Madara was immediately struck by a thought: Sakura was manipulating him.

Manipulation was an almost ordinary phenomenon, each manipulating the other at will. It remained to be understood why Sakura had chosen to manipulate him. To establish peace? A plausible hypothesis. But what else was there? What other motivation drove this young woman to use subterfuge against him? Despite his deep intuition about her manipulation, he remained unable to discern the true motives behind it. And as Madara progressed in his reflections, new questions flowed into his mind: did he really want to uncover Sakura's designs? And if so, what secrets would he discover? These questions, fueled by suspicion, insinuated themselves into Madara's mind, almost brushing against his furrowed brows, when his mind formulated the following question:

5. Is Sakura Haruno manipulating me? If so, how effectively?

Pieces of his puzzle were still missing, too many questions remained unanswered, but each newly acquired element fueled his determination. Madara was a confident man. Patience was among his virtues, allowing him to carefully analyze the data he would continue to collect about this young woman. And when the opportune moment came, he would finally hold the whole truth about her. It was only a matter of time...

To let time reveal its secrets!

Day 178

For nearly six months, Madara had been under Sakura's attentive care, and the results were remarkable. The rigorous training she had provided, combined with her diligent treatments, had practically erased all traces of his injuries. Only his right eye was missing, sacrificed during the use of Izanagi.

As he lay on the ground, his head resting on Sakura's lap as she sat cross-legged, he couldn't help but think about his missing eye. A cushion had been placed for his comfort, an open book nearby, while Sakura had tied back her hair, clearing her face.

"Are you certain you can accomplish this?" he dared to ask, uncertainty creeping into his voice. He was met with a skeptical look from Sakura.

"After all I've achieved with your body, doubts still arise in your mind? Must I remind you of the successful heart surgery I performed, your recovery to walking, and the regeneration of your chakra system in your left arm? Yes, I am entirely capable of achieving this," Sakura replied, her voice tinged with slight irritation at the insinuation of doubt about her abilities.

"I beg your pardon for my hesitations regarding the restoration of a Dōjutsu," Madara humbly apologized, acknowledging the validity of his concerns.

"It's... difficult to explain," Sakura began, averting her gaze from her book of ocular anatomy.

"Try nevertheless. I am not a complete fool," Madara encouraged, far from lacking in common sense.

"What do you want to know? How I regenerate an eye? Or a Dōjutsu?" she asked, fixing her gaze on Madara's valid pupil.

"I already know you are capable of restoration... by what miracle, I'm unaware. But how do you manage to recreate a Dōjutsu that has disappeared? After all, Sakura, you told me that my Sharingan had simply vanished," Madara inquired.

"Ah... I understand your concern. You fear that if I am able to restore your Sharingan, there is nothing preventing me from doing it for anyone else," the young woman concluded, a perfectly legitimate reflection.

After a slight nod from the clan leader, Sakura continued.

"So, I will delve into pure theory, Madara-san, and I kindly ask you not to ask any questions about the origin of this knowledge."

"I'll do my best," Madara conceded resignedly.

"By studying the human body, chakra, and Fūinjutsu, I've realized a fundamental truth: everything is interconnected," Sakura began, cleverly trying to explain the concept of DNA without explicitly naming it. "Take the example of a pregnant woman. Besides living her daily life, eating more, enduring the constraints of pregnancy and hormonal changes, what does she do to conceive the child? Nothing else."

"And then..." Madara queried.

"It's the human body that orchestrates conception, not the woman herself. Her body acts on its own, just as your heart beats without requiring conscious command, just as you breathe instinctively. Because it's the body that acts on its own," Sakura concluded, pleased to share her knowledge once more.

"Why?" Madara pondered, seeing no link at the moment.

"That's exactly it, Madara-san," Sakura replied with an enigmatic smile. "You asked the key question: why? Because the human body is designed on the same principle as a Fūinjutsu formula. Each living being is a conception equation that determines that a cat is a cat, a tree is a tree. And for the Uchiha clan, your Fūinjutsu formula contains a sequence allowing the emergence of the Sharingan, a sequence that I can restore."

The clan leader was once again astonished by Sakura's words. Her intelligence was truly intimidating, as was the extent of her knowledge.

"To reassure you, I've never mentioned creation," Sakura clarified soothingly. "I use your formula as a template for it to regenerate on its own. I'm unable to create the Sharingan in a third person, but... transplantation is conceivable."

"What do you mean by transplantation?" Madara asked.

"Replacing a diseased organ with a healthy one. In essence, if I desired, I could remove your blind eye to substitute one of mine, and your vision would be perfectly restored," Sakura explained, recalling the act when Madara had swiftly adopted Kakashi's eye at the Valley of the End. This thought led her to consider that during his eighty years of isolation in a cave, Madara must have accumulated considerable knowledge.

"And the reverse is also achievable," she added calmly.

"I ask you one thing, Sakura-san," Madara intervened gravely.

"I'm listening," the young woman replied, without giving her consent.

"Keep this information to yourself."

"Unfortunately, the knowledge I possess is often ahead of its time, a burden the world is not yet ready to bear. But don't worry about that. I choose to share these truths with you because you are involved," Sakura gently placed her hands near her patient's right eye. "But don't worry about that. I choose to share these truths with you because you are involved," Sakura gently placed her hands near her patient's right eye. "But don't worry about that. I choose to share these truths with you because you are involved," she concluded before focusing intensely.

Her Medical Ninjutsu activated as she prepared to deploy her new technique on Madara's eye. Having already restored the retina and reestablished chakra flow, she now focused on meticulously repairing each damaged component: the pupil, the iris, the lens, and even the hyaloid membrane. These elements not only allowed for vision but were also essential to the existence of the Sharingan. To ensure painless regeneration, Sakura decided to temporarily interrupt the transmission of nerve impulses between the optic nerve and the brain, without causing permanent damage.

With closed eyelids, she plunged into deep concentration, extending over minutes that seemed to stretch into hours, in total silence. Taking advantage of this moment, Madara carefully observed her face, captivated by her determination. In this silent contemplation, a question insinuated itself into his mind: what was the true feeling he harbored towards this woman?

Before meeting Sakura, Madara had never really had prolonged proximity with a woman. However, since crossing paths with this pink-haired young woman, he had had the opportunity to understand her, at least in part. He had discovered in her a multitude of facets and skills that somewhat echoed his own. Yet, despite their apparent differences, they were like two sides of the same coin: where he was rigid, she was flexible. Where he was cold and distant, she was warm and compassionate towards others. Where he envisioned domination through force, she preferred a more subtle approach to persuade the world to her vision.

These contrasts between them demonstrated to Madara that Sakura remained an ordinary woman, with her own convictions and values. By nature, she leaned towards benevolent and altruistic methods. But he also knew that she could act differently depending on the circumstances, especially when it came to protecting those she cherished. He had seen her in action: Sakura had not hesitated to resort to violence, whether against bandits threatening the village or when she ruthlessly eliminated Black Zetsu at the Valley of the End.

Yet, despite their differing approaches, how could they not only coexist but also appreciate each other?

Madara had not learned to love, but as he spent time with Sakura, his mother's teachings on the subject came back to him and took on new meaning. It had led him to declare to Sakura that she would belong to him, even if she had no memory of it. She was the first woman who seemed to understand him, to match him, and who had made him feel emotions that he still struggled to grasp.

Thus, despite his reservations and questions, Madara found himself pondering a fundamental question:

Is this the very essence of love?

All his reflections were abruptly interrupted by a piercing pain in his right eye. Sakura sighed before opening her eyes as well.

"Tell me when the pain dissipates," she articulated.

"Why do I only feel the pain now?" Madara inquired, keeping his eyelid closed to alleviate the discomfort.

"Because I restored the circulation of nerve impulses in your optic nerve. It's transmitting and processing information now, which is then analyzed by the brain," the young woman replied.

"The pain is beginning to fade," announced the Uchiha after a long minute, impressed despite himself by Sakura's clear explanation.

"Acknowledge it's fading completely, then open it gently," Sakura instructed.

After a short moment, Madara slowly reopened his right eye, allowing a wave of emotion to wash over him. The darkness had given way to dazzling clarity, and despite its intensity, he welcomed the light once again with a burgeoning smile.

"From your reaction, it seems you have regained some of your sight, Madara-san," Sakura commented, satisfied with her efforts.

"Yes, yet it's strange... Everything is blurry. I have this sensation of a veil, as if I'm trying to pierce through thick fog," the brunet explained, his memory taking him back to that unpleasant experience when he had almost lost his sight after overusing his Mangekyou Sharingan.

"Is your vision blurry?"

"Yes."

"Close your left eye and look at me," Sakura ordered, her hand still imbued with Medical Ninjutsu in position. "And now?"

"Slightly clearer," Madara admitted.

"Good sign. It will take more time before your vision is completely restored. You must refrain from any chakra manipulation in that eye, lest you compromise any progress," the young woman warned.

"I understand the warning," he acquiesced.

Day 180

Autumn was slowly fading away, its last breaths swept away by the icy approach of winter. The once fertile fields had yielded their harvest weeks ago, in many distant lands. The trees, stripped of their leafy attire, seemed to stretch their bare arms toward a sky still devoid of snow.

Madara stood there, near the crackling brazier, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon, navigating between the stars and the depths of his thoughts. He pondered the stratagems to deploy in anticipation of the imminent war, eagerly seeking a way to elevate his people to an undeniable tactical advantage.

"Sakura-san," he finally announced, turning his attention to the young woman seated at her desk. It was impeccably neat, except for the multiple kunai scattered about, resembling silent sentinels watching over their mistress. "We have already discussed this matter with the Daimyo and amongst ourselves, but I remain convinced that preventive action is necessary before hostilities break out."

Sakura, engrossed in drawing seals on one of the kunai, sealed each stroke with a fleeting flash of blue chakra. "And why is that, Madara-san?" she asked, briefly lifting her eyes from her work.

"Because it is imperative to reach out to the most vulnerable, the weakest nations," explained Madara confidently, watching a new kunai vanish into the folds of shadow, sealed within its counterpart. "And it is crucial that civilians, even ninjas, begin to turn their gaze towards Heiwa. Or at least, hear about it, so they will make their way to us on their own when despair strikes them. Especially as winter approaches, it still gives us a window of opportunity. Few are foolish enough to start a war in these icy times. It would be a counterproductive endeavor."

"Wouldn't it be risky to seek audience with vassals?" Sakura objected, perplexed, seeing no other solution than the one proposed by the man in front of her.

"I did not suggest revealing my identity, but rather planting the idea in their minds," replied Madara, observing Sakura set aside the weapon in which she had sealed five other kunai.

"I don't know, Madara-san...," hesitated the young woman, interrupting her gesture.

"Sakura-san... do you trust me?" Madara asked, standing tall facing her behind his desk, arms crossed.

"No," came the unequivocal response.

"Good answer, but if you saved me with the intent to establish peace, assuming that was my fundamental goal, then you should trust me on this kind of matter," the brunette retorted, sitting down in front of her. "Just as I trusted you to heal me, I would like you to trust me in matters of war strategy."

Sakura couldn't dispute the soundness of his reasoning. She had never been a natural leader, never having led a team in her life. Of course, she had always been on the frontline to support her comrades, but devising war strategies was a whole different matter. Knowing how to give orders in any situation, knowing what to do at the right time, was a complex art, and Madara had been raised in that art.

"Very well... I'm listening," Sakura finally conceded.

Upon seeing the young woman's approval, Madara rose to retrieve a carefully arranged parchment near the bookshelf. He placed it on the desk and gently took the brush from Sakura's hands. Swiftly, he sketched a map of the elemental lands from his memories dating back six months.

"The Uchiha clan and the Senju clan have distinguished themselves from the rest of the world by our abilities. From these two clans stem four individuals capable of changing the course of events and who instill fear throughout the world," explained Madara, adding details to the map under Sakura's attentive gaze. "Hashirama and Tobirama from the Senju side, then Izuna and myself from the Uchiha side. Together, the four of us shook the world, but with only Tobirama still alive in the eyes of the world, the situation is changing."

"Tobirama isn't one to provoke conflicts, is he?" Sakura asked, referring to historical writings. However, she had learned over time and experience that history was often dictated by the victors.

"Tobirama is a fool whom I would enjoy eliminating if the opportunity arose, but he is not an instigator of conflicts," Madara roared with rage, remembering his brother's death. "So, we can assume that a potential alliance between the other four great nations is forming against the Land of Fire."

"Don't you think the Land of Fire might have an ally in all this?" Sakura gently interjected, already knowing who would be against whom in this initial war.

"Other than Uzushio? I don't see...," replied Madara.

"The Water Country gains no strategic advantage from launching an attack against the Fire Country; on the contrary, it would be in their interest to forge an alliance with Konoha to develop trade partnerships. Moreover, what would prevent the other three great countries from attacking them once the Fire Country has fallen?" explained the young woman, pointing at the map with her finger.

"Your arguments are solid, but they remain suppositions. In any case, we must prepare for clandestine raids and guerrilla acts in the small countries neighboring the Fire Country. Apart from our nation and that of the samurai, which maintain neutrality, the others will suffer the consequences," continued Madara. "We must act according to the methods of other countries and start recruiting from our ranks."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Make the enemy believe that their target is aware of their machinations. This will sow doubt and buy us time in the process. I am convinced that small villages are already targeted by secret attacks. That's why I want us to take action in the field right now. But we can also strike twice as hard: plunder, create situations to our advantage, and sow discord in all camps," he declared confidently.

"I'm not sure I appreciate this approach..."

"Now is not the time to entertain scruples, Sakura-san. You and I know the horrors of war, and if my direct methods haven't borne fruit, it's time to consider other means. Nothing can destroy a country as effectively as attacking it from within," explained Madara, revealing his ruthless side. Unlike Sakura, driven by the desire to save humanity, Madara was an individual devoid of emotions and pity when it came to winning a war. He simply did what needed to be done to achieve his goals.

The young woman remained silent, letting the brunette continue.

"Don't forget who I am, Sakura-san. If I have to kill a man to save my comrades, I will. If I have to sacrifice a woman to save ten, I will. If I have to end the life of a child to eradicate a disease, I will. If I have to destroy an entire country to establish peace... I will do so without hesitation!" declared Madara. At that moment, Sakura thought she glimpsed a part of the Madara she had known in the past. Hearing those words made her wonder if she had managed to change him even a little.

"But I owe you a debt," he added in a calm voice.

"What do you mean by that?" Sakura asked, hoping to see a positive change in this man.

"I won't categorize everyone the same way. You didn't do that with me. Maybe you manipulated me, but in a way, you also reached out to me and opened my eyes to certain truths," explained Madara. After six months of reflection, it was inevitable that his perspective had evolved. Every worthy individual changes throughout their life, shaped by the trials they go through.

"I will... be more inclined to conciliation... but don't forget that men like me are necessary to accomplish the darkest tasks, Sakura-san."

"I am grateful to you."

"Finish what you have to do, we'll leave tomorrow," declared Madara before rising and heading towards the French door, scanning the outside. His gaze then shifted to his armor, carefully placed in a corner with his Gunbai attached to a kama.

"Sakura-san," Madara called out upon seeing his equipment.

"Yes?"

"Could you affix a storage seal on my forearm so I can seal my weapons there?" articulated the brunette, his gaze filled with deep affection for this instrument of death. A family relic, passed down through generations, an extension of his being that he couldn't bring himself to abandon.

"Of course, come closer," replied the shinobi in a calm tone, welcoming Madara as he rolled up his sleeve. She took her brush and ink, setting about fulfilling the brunette's request: his storage seal. As she drew, Madara felt a new vigor emanating from his being. A renewed motivation, for some time now. He had sunk into despair when he lost the use of his legs, the ability to fight. But hope had resurfaced, fueled by Sakura's devoted care. Now, a new determination awakened within him: that of restoring peace, an opportunity presented to him.

[Once again, thank you for your support and your comments.]