Chapter 5
Mikoto was restless, all her sons were out.
From her oldest to her youngest, even her dearest nephew that she welcomed into her home was out. Normally, she would be working on her duties as a clanswoman along with her husband, work on her home she loved or pick back on a hobby she has neglected for some time.
Yes, she could try and read on something to sooth her nerves, keep her entertained until her husband returned.
Nothing would move the Uchiha woman to action more than her family, nothing is more important than family. Growing up as the oldest daughter of the late leader of her clan, she had to become strong before any man would wed her and take on the responsibilities with her.
Only her husband was able to win her heart, but the man had to move mountains to get her attention, she was stubborn but driven, something he fell head over hills for.
Fukaku was a troublemaker when they met, but he was also strong and fought for his clan as much as Mikoto did. He taught her how to enjoy life in a totally different way, running away from dangerous hogs after they were messing with them for a while, training in forbidden land, even jump off the tallest waterfall and coming out alive and uninjured. She taught him everything she could about etiquette and manners, they complimented each other in many ways. If she needed to learn how to let go, he would. If he needed to learn how to deal with clan heads and battle techniques, she would.
In the eyes of the clan members, they were meant for each other, that made her father take on the decision to give his blessing, all he wanted was to eradicate the council's old traditions that would hurt and make his precious daughter unhappy by marring her to another man she did not love.
Strong warriors were not made from unhappiness and bitterness, it was forged with love, attention and the drive to become stronger. But not everyone believes in that.
Nowadays, the couple is seen as a strong pair, leaders that do everything necessary for their people and their land to prosper. That would keep them busy on certain days and separate from each other.
Their ties are strong enough to deal with days like this one, but Mikoto did not need her husband, she knew he was safe and quite honestly, brooding… She would laugh with him about it later, Fukaku hated pesky troubles caused by the council, things they only had to do for paperwork purposes.
She needed her sons. Even if she had no daughter, her connection with her sons was great. Mikoto knew how to understand them, when they were troubled and if they needed her.
Something her dear husband was incredibly jealous of, but he had his own way to make her jealous when he took on their boys in battle.
The Uchiha sons would never even think of take on their mother in battle, they rather stab themselves… something Madara did when he was thirteen… and almost every one of her kids.
On the contrary, they did not even think twice about challenging their dad, each time her husband would need his wife to comfort and heal his wounds. He loved those days and won each time.
With a smile, the Uchiha woman found one of her favourite books from their personal library and hopped on her loveseat sofa.
One of the things she was very proud to teach her sons was the need and desire to research, read and importance of learning everything about their clan, other clans and beyond that.
The world is huge, filled with mysteries and endless pools of information, even on different languages. Itachi was her most diligent reader, especially a reader for novels. A particular novel she loved very much was the story called "Under the Witches tree", based on a true story that moved the world and caused the incidents that created "The Valley of the Lost".
The information was only circumstantial, but she knew more than the writer, even experienced her own wonders and adventures back in her day - Something she might want have a chat with her boys when they get back, she was dying to know what it's like after decades.
Over one hundred years ago, that land was beautiful and filled with life, energy and small villages. The area was not owned by anyone other than the people living there, no royal family or clan ruled over it.
The small and rich villages were a mystery to many, no war or crimes ever happened there… according to many outsiders. They were very religious and devoted their life to a specific deity, but Mikoto knew what darkness can lurk even in the most unexpected and beautiful places.
There was a witch, a woman so evil and greedy. She caused the downfall of the society most knew as the followers of Sacred Land.
Their legends spoke of their land as the last resting place of sacred treasure, mythical creatures used to kill and create war for that land. A cult of witches created a spell to keep those with evil intentions away from the land and hoped the treasure would stay lost for ever.
A land that used to have no evil was now a land filled with the worst kinds of paranormal creatures. Many tried to learn from whatever was left of that magnificent land after it was destroyed, but the people have never been found and their language died with them.
Time passed and dust covered anything that was written about it, no one really cared anymore, it was just cursed land now.
But Mikoto knew her sons, they would come back, and she would listen intently to their findings. Izuna was the best at giving her the best and juicier details.
Even if Itachi and Shisui had their hands occupied with a mission up North, they would most certainly be happy to hear about it.
Now that she remembers, her youngest had not returned from his trip. Closing her book and looking at the clock on the wall, Mikoto was not pleased. Her best guess was that he would end up coming home late and too tired to speak with her before heading to bed.
However, she had a plan, the best way to sway her son was through his stomach. Since she wasn't a culinary expert, she had to learn how to make her kids favourite treats and dishes and use them to her advantage.
Only her husband actually cooked anything on a recipe book for sustenance, Mikoto was glad her boys knew how to cook from their father. But she still took some credit in their culinary teachings, as a great warrior, she knew the best foods to find and how to get enough nutrition while on the road. The woman could skin a rabbit in record time.
With her tomatoes nice and fresh from the market, she would thank her husband for doing the groceries afterwards, the Uchiha woman started her plan.
Tired but steady footsteps approached the Uchiha mansion, picking up the speed of their march after catching the delicious smell coming from inside. Hunger could drive anyone to run a mile.
At least that is what his mind thought when the image of that certain smell filled his mind, he knew what was about to be in his stomach. – "Welcome home!" – a woman sang as he entered the foyer, his mother was happy for his return.
His father was sitting at the head of the table, reding some papers before a plate of tomato soup was placed in front. – "Thank you dear." –
The hungry Uchiha took a seat and awaited his bowl of magic soup his mother made. – "And here you go Sasuke." – she noted with an endearing tone.
With a firm nod, he began to dig in. – "I was wondering when you'd decide to return home, I almost thought you would arrive late for dinner." – his mother smiled on the other side of the table. The young Uchiha rushed to wrap everything up when he got a message from his mother, he would visit his friend the next day to finish. Declining the invitation to stay at the Uzumaki's mansion was not simple, his blond best friend was not easy to escape from, but his mother made tomato soup.
Tomato soup.
A crime if he ever missed it, his stomach would never forgive such a thing. The warm feeling caused his muscles to relax and his mind to feel putty, heaven on earth.
Everything his mother asked he answered. His trip was not an as exciting as he wished, it just was long. Very long.
Some weird occurrences down south were scaring the locals and they needed to feel safe while they started the preparations on their next crops and shipments for the spring. In the end it was a guard mission, everything had to stay on schedule. Sasuke had his hands full with his annoyed and bored friend who wanted action and scared locals.
The shipment had food for the next months that fed at least a quarter of the palace, a very important mission that was just boring.
Nothing ever happened, the strange occurrences were just superstitions and a couple of incidents of just plain bad luck, coincidences that led to noting. Sasuke doesn't believe in coincidences, but Naruto does, and that was the biggest headache in their mission.
The blond kept speaking of potential disaster or that "The reckoning of an evil spirit" … he would almost shout it in front of the farmers and the entire village.
He was just glad to be home again. Even if his brothers were not here, his parents gave him the feeling of being home, ignoring his father's cranky mood. The council must have really pressed his buttons.
With a pleased Mikoto, he took his leave after finishing the dishes, his mother was happy to chat with her youngest son and now had her hands full to bring her husband to spill the beans on the councils meeting.
Blessed that poor man for taking on old, annoying and very traditional clan members.
Hashirama was visibly worried and angry, worried about a little woman's life and angry at him. Hashirama never gets angry at Madara. This confused him in many levels, the Uchiha had no idea how to deal with that anger.
Many people would get angry at him, he could deal with it and fix the situation if he had to. But he never thought to be the cause of anger from the other Senju brother, Tobirama was always angry at any Uchiha that ever took a breath…
Years ago, when they trained by the waterfall, Hashirama showed his anger towards a particular person, someone who Madara considered the scum of the earth just because they dared to trouble his best friend.
Now, why does he feel like the scum of the earth…?
He saved the woman's life - scratch that - he saved the creatures life. But no matter how he explained the situation to the man carrying an unconscious pinket, the frown on their face and that look that could cut class was not soothing… not one bit. – "She did nothing wrong." – Madara could hear the grinding of Hashirama's teeth.
- "We don't know that for sure." – keeping his composure was getting harder for the Uchiha.
- "Does she look like a threat to you? Not every creature or person is one Madara Uchiha." – Oh crap. He was angry, angry Hashirama addresses people by their full names instead of their nickname given by the man.
- "We can discuss this mater once we return to camp." – he hoped the trip back would tire the man enough to relax.
He would not let go of the woman. Tobirama was not concerned by the angry demeanour his brother showed, only towards the little minx in his arms. The Senju had a gentle nature towards innocent looking victims of sickness or poor health, and that pinket looked to be in need of medical attention.
Even Izuna would stare for longer than he should, Madara was excited to leave the valley. Meeting with the team one location at a time and ensuring their condition was easier than he thought. Still, the mission had not been successful so far. The Uchiha did not expect it to actually go as the Royal family wanted, but they certainly did not see this coming.
Rushing to Tobirama's tent, the brown-haired man carried the small pinket to a bed, got his brother to get water and a female Senju to care for the unconscious creature. Izuna was eager to hear from Madara's encounter, even the older Uchiha was not sure how to explain the full details, but he tried his best from the comfort of his tent.
- "That's it?" – a raised eyebrow questioned Izuna. – "You found nothing else?" – the younger Uchiha continued, there were so many questions. – "No chests, no old paintings, scrolls, ruins?" – there was nothing actually.
At that point, Madara did not think of it until his brother mentioned it, there literally was nothing. The walls told nothing other than hard work and dedication to build them, no writings that held riddles or a story, no paintings of any kind, the place was sacked from any trace of activity.
In many areas they have scouted to find special and forgotten treasure, there was signs of life, ruins from long forgotten empires, abandoned buildings filled with pictures of families and loved ones that showed their past life, even old and broken chests that used to hold treasure.
There was absolutely nothing other than the pinket and the - now useless - chains and cuffs that held her prisoner. Madara was sure he could get something from them, but he would have to ask one of his good friends back home.
Until then, all they had was a woman with amnesia that could not be human in the eyes of the Uchiha but was an innocent and vulnerable lady in the eyes on the Senju.
There was going to be some arguments… maybe many.
Waiting was their only option now, the Uchiha brothers trusted the Senju when it's about bringing a person or creature back to health.