Chapter 2: A Mission
"We're meeting with the Uchiha today." Mikito said, strapping on her dark war armor and putting her hair in a neat high ponytail. "What do you think will happen?"
Her younger broher shrugged as he closed her eyes humming for a moment. The change of leadership in both of the respective clans had already established a pecking order as it were, the top dogs had already been established. Uchiha, Senju, Domou, Subatsu, Hyuga, Shimura, Hagoromo, and Sarutobi. The last three were... Difficult especially the Hyuga possessing the Byakugan and the mysterious and dark Shimura clan who were proficient in many chakra natures.
The Hagaromo were just as fierce as the Uchiha in battle, and proved to be more than worthy. There were other clans like the Inuzuka, Aburame, Nara, Yamanaka, several names that would later be the noble families, but in this era enemies. Unlike before, the Senju were going to be a big problem now that Hashirama was their leader, hence Mikito's anxious attitude at the moment.
"It'll work out." He said with a small smile folding his arms over his armored chest. "We need them as allies because of their Sharingan, us joining is invaluable." He calmly stated, knowing that his sister had a tendency to let her temper get the better of her if it came to her siblings or the clan.
"Yeah." She said and looked back at the forest. "Are you going to talk to them?" Mikito said out loud, the siblings both knew it was because the Uchiha were impossible to work with.
Mikito and Ahiko got into a heated debate about the subject later on, the youngest was passionate and loud. Souji was detached and kept things professional and was easy to speak to. Souji's observant and more diplomatic personality would work better with the Uchiha's... That is as long as they didn't endanger his clan.
"Nii-san nii-chan!" Ahiko's jogged towards them at a light pace, as a sign of how early it was in the morning she wore casual attire consisting of a black gi with white hakama and zori a black obi was tied tightly around her waist. "Are you guys heading out?"
Mikito nodded her head. "Yes." She said quietly looking at her sister. "We should be back before night fall."
"Okay, I'll hold down the fort with Gen-san." She nodded to the older man standing next to her with a sharp expression that matched his sharp features. He had curly brown hair that fell just at the bottom of his neck and lightly covered his eyebrows and shadowed his dark irises. He was tall and well built with muscles honed from his years of training and in combat.
Ahiko felt slightly better with Gen since they were leaving, she couldn't help but think of the future where she would have to kill more and more so she could survive and her kinsmen. She shook off the thoughts as she waved her siblings off and went about making sure that the security measures were up to date with Gen and then to check on the main office where Mikito spent most of her time.
Izuna let out a quiet breath as he let the cool morning air tun through his hair, blowing his ponytail gently in the back. His arms were folded across his chest as he leaned against the outside wall to his brother's office that also acted as his home. Izuna had been anxious since Madara agreed to speak with them, truthfully he thought his brother wouldn't even consider it, but reports in the north of the Senjus growing more aggressive was more than enough to call the meeting between them.
He wore a black long sleeve high collared shirt with the Uchiha symbol stitched on the back, with black pants, and sandals that looked like boots. He kept his shins bandaged, his entire appearance radiated with a powerful aura.
Yuko had a few hours until she had to meet her captain for another mission, so she walked around the compound more towards the west. She always found her way to the west admiring the gardens around Madara's home, she did this a lot. Just wander aimlessly for the last sixteen years, nobody paid her much attention but she was used to it by now and it didn't bother her.
Her mind went back to her first mission just two days ago, it was her first and she couldn't complain it was easy, she frowned for a moment. That boy was weird, not to mention he said what she heard everyone say her entire life, she was different. She hardly noticed Izuna, she was coming up on him from the left, Izuna noticed her instantly.
Yuko felt a wave of power smack into her sense, she stopped and looked up her eyes settling on Izuna's figure. She suppressed the urge to shudder being so close to him, his chakra was unbelievable it hung in the air and began to suffocate her, but she couldn't hide her amazement as she stared at him taking in his every feature from his sharp nose to his smooth cheekbones all the way to those full lips that she just wanted to kiss.
Get a hold of yourself Yuko! She shouted mentally shaking her head clean of images of her and Izuna, she had no idea what that thought came from. She seen a lot of men in her clan and was never attracted to them, but something about Izuna just intrigued her. "Yuko, am I right?"
"Y-Yes." Yuko replied she wasn't afraid but nervous. Rightfully so, she was never good with people in a higher social standing than her and Izuna was the second in command of the whole Uchiha clan! She kicked herself mentally, why was she stuttering?
"You're early..." He said opening his eyes to look at her, they softened ever so slightly as he took in her appearance. She was about five foot four and had long, red hair that was kept in a neat ponytail. Her most noticeable feature were those eyes, chocolate eyes that gleamed with innocence and those pink lips. He recalled seeing her when he was a child, somewhere that he couldn't place at the moment.
She wasn't like the rest of the Uchiha that much was certain and she was by all counts an outsider. "Why are you here so early?" He sounded bemused, but it looked like he had been up all night from his slouched shoulders to his lazy speech. Yuko swallowed quietly taking a breath before she answered.
"Captain Kon is giving me another mission, I came early." She replied trying not to let her shaking voice be heard.
"How long?"
"Sixty more minutes Izuna-sama."
Izuna hummed quietly to himself as he looked away from Yuko out to where the training grounds would be located. Yuko took this time to compose herself she was half Uchiha she shouldn't be showing any nervousness.
This is one of the men that did everything for her she should be a lot more calm, she didn't want to make a fool out of herself. She twirled her fingers against each other while watching Izuna stand in silence for a few moments any one of the miserable thoughts running through her head could manifest the worse was hearing how she was so... Different from him.
"Come." He said walking down the opposite path from the one she was walking on a few minutes ago. Yuko walked after him staying a few steps behind as she looked around vaguely until she settled on looking forward, wondering what it is that he wanted with her silently but not going to ask. She knew she would find out soon enough, but she couldn't help but be puzzled by his actions, Izuna wasn't like Madara at all it was kind of hard to believe they were brothers.
Her scenery changed from small buildings and shops to woodland that was like a maze to her, Izuna had stayed quiet most of the time besides asking her a few simple questions which she answered back enjoying the tall trees and sounds of singing birds from the tops, she took a deep breath inhaling the pine scent. "Yuko." Izuna said once he was standing a few feet away from her, she blinked for a moment not aware he was so far away.
"Yes?"
Izuna narrowed his eyes as he reached into his satchel with his right hand, Yuko looked at him carefully. She felt trepidation as his hard gaze never faltered it was uncompromising and down right murderous, those obsidian eyes pierced through her making her feel as if she was naked and vulnerable. She slowly spread her feet out bending her knees slightly she wasn't sure what was going to happen next but forced herself into a ready stance. She was going to be ready for whatever came.
Then it flashed like lightning, faster than most people's senses could trace Izuna flicked his wrist, a kunai screaming through the air as it headed towards her gathering speed and piercing power as it continued, Yuko acted on instinct grabbing a shuriken from her satchel and deflected the projectile to her left where the tip sunk into a tree several inches. She turned back around, hearing a whoosh to her side she jumped back with a flip landing on the ground, raising her shuriken to block the kunai Izuna had aimed for the crown of her head. She faltered for a second, surprised by his strength as he pushed down with one arm, Yuko narrowed her eyes pushing more chakra into her arms to overpower him but it barely had any effect.
Izuna took advantage of the stalemate, throwing his shin forward in a feint, Yuko used the small break in the struggle to leap back avoiding the kick, quickly pulling out another shuriken twirling it around her finger for a moment before gripping it.
Izuna attacked in a flash again, she barely parried the thrust in time to block it with her shuriken in her left hand. She squinted her eyes doing her best to ignore the small shower of sparks flying around them, particularly the side of her face. Izuna, turned on a dime pushing her entire arm aside, pointing his kunai forward, Yuko's eyes widened, her bright chocolate eyes turning a bright crimson with three tomoe that began to rotate, she seen the move before it came, ducking over the first swipe, her tomoe began to rotate faster.
Izuna's next move already perceived moments ago as he came up with the kunai in an overhand grip. With all the speed she could muster Yuko threw her arm forward, blocking the attack with the side of her projectile, she locked eyes with Izuna seeing the same patterned Sharingan as her own glaring right back into hers, with another leap she landed a few feet back panting roughly as she stared at her attacker.
She does have the Sharingan. Izuna thought for a moment allowing a small smirk to show on his face beaming with pride. Yuko didn't notice the small glimmer in those piercing red eyes she was busy catching her breath and formulating a strategy. She knew she couldn't beat him in a direct fight he was stronger than her and a lot faster, she moved her head from side to side taking in her surroundings.
There were only pairs of trees around them that had several gashes running through them from their intense battle, it only lasted a total of ten minutes their first exchange but it was fast paced and intense the entire time. If Yuko didn't stay focused she'd be cut or stabbed. Izuna sprung forward again this time his hands performing a number of seals as he ended it with the tiger seal. "Katon: Gokakyu No Jutsu!" He shouted as his chakra flared like the flames gathering in his mouth.
Yuko frowned as she sensed the surge of chakra pulse through the area, sensing was never her forte but she couldn't help but feel his power, her mouth nearly dropped when a fireball streaked towards her scorching the grass and leveling any training dummies nearby, Yuko tensed her posture there was no way she could dodge it, and jumping out of the way was out of the question she'd get burned from the flares moving around the radius of the jutsu, she formed an array of hand seals sucking in a deep breath.
Katon: Gokakyu No Jutsu! She screamed mentally as she parted her lips unleashing a fireball of equal proportion towards Izuna's. The two attacks met in the middle of them exploding on contact in a bright explosion, smoke flied out in every direction covering the air in a dark cloud and swelling it with the smell of ash and burning wood.
Yuko was already on the move when the attacks met and exploded, her earliest lesson was to always be on the move don't let the opponent surprise you, courtesy of her father.
Her eyes flicked from in every direction searching through the smoke, a small grin came to her lips as she spotted a trail of chakra. "Got you." She muttered running forward throwing a shuriken with laser precision she listened to it it whistle away, she heard a gushing sound and jumped forward after the noise glancing around for a moment until she spotted a limp body, she was about to relax when a blade was pushed against the side of her neck.
She gasped in shock, her eyes widening as she froze completely glancing at the blade on the side of her neck right where her jugular was. Gulping she carefully moved her arms downward not wanting to agitate Izuna any further or make a wrong move and cut her throat from her own movement. Her heart drummed in her chest, she swallowed roughly feeling it pulsing in her throat, her forehead was bathed in sweat and she hoped Izuna couldn't hear her fluttering heart like she could.
Izuna looked at the back of her head as he stood over her his kunai ready to cut through her pale glowing skin, he sighed to himself mentally as he deactivated his Sharingan moving the blade from the side of her neck, pocketing the kunai. The read haired kunoichi sighed mentally in relief not wanting to show her fear on the outside, she stood to her feet fingering her throat as she did so, she turned around to see Izuna staring at her impassively. "What was that?" He asked locking eyes with her. "You let yourself be caught off guard, if this were a real fight you would have been killed already." Yuko deactivated her Sharingan, looking at the ground for a moment as she listened to him. "And you dare to call yourself a kunoichi," he chuckled softly here. "Hardly with what I just saw. I wonder how that Sharingan of yours works with those eyes..."
Yuko fisted her hands inhaling sharply as she turned her eyes up look straight into his. What did he mean 'your'? She stared at him defiantly her anger growing every second, she winced with each word he spoke before. She took a deep breath composing herself. "What do you mean by mine Izuna-sama? How is my Sharingan different than yours?" She asked sweetly.
Izuna scowled at the, folding his arms over his chest he regarded her with a serious expression. "Don't play with me," he said in a low tone that was filled with several warnings. Yuko shook under that hard gaze but didn't show her inner emotions towards him, she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction. "You are half Uchiha, your blood isn't pure. The Sharingan is passed down through our blood."
Why!? She questioned herself mentally, by now she was used to dealing with this after so many years. Why did she constantly have to hear about being half, not being a pure blood. What made her so different than the others? She wracked her mind about it when she was little constantly being looked at with disdain those judging and unforgiving black eyes boring into her every day. Now she couldn't feel anything about rage, she gritted her teeth glaring at him. "What does my blood have to do with anything!?" She questioned angrily, she gasped the moment she heard how she lashed out, but Izuna just raised an eyebrow with a thoughtful expression.
"I see well it's time I go over some traditions our clan holds." Izuna started as he leaned against a tree looking at her with narrowed eyes. "We Uchiha are a proud clan and value our blood. Through our Sharingan is given and so we hold great pride in that fact..." He paused for a moment, Yuko resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "In the past there were many who gave birth to half Uchihas but their offspring wouldn't inherit the Sharingan nor could they keep up with expectations of our clan that's when the elders decided that any Uchiha that wasn't pure blooded was to be killed at birth." Izuna spoke in a blunt and matter of fact tone. Yuko winced slightly hearing that, she never felt more estranged from her own people than now hearing the second in command belittle her, she sniffed quietly.
If he wanted her to make a fool out of herself and cry he was sorely mistaken she wasn't going to do that, but she still felt a pang of hurt... "But you're still alive." Izuna broke her from her stupor, she looked at him carefully as he continued, again. She said mentally, again with that look that let her know she was different. "You inherited our Sharingan and with it all of its secrets, you don't think we'd let one with the Sharingan roam the world so freely did you?" Yuko shuddered there he went with 'our' and 'your' making her feel so different, so unwanted...
"Think of it like this. You're are a great service to our clan, in return for us giving you the Sharingan you've been loyal and a great service to our clan." Izuna walked passed her, Yuko shivered slightly when he passed she resisted the urge to lash out and hit him knowing he could dodge it without a second thought, and hid her boiling emotions that wanted to break to the surface.
"Oh, and Yuko the time..."
"Captain Kon! I forgot!" She exclaimed running towards the spy headquarters a second later.
Izuna arrived back at Madara's office in a fresh set of clothes. The older Uchiha kept his eyes on the papers he was currently reading and kept his back to Izuna as he went to stand behind in front of the window. Izuna had thought it would be a good idea to get changed so he didn't smell like dirt and burning wood. Madara turned away from his paperwork frowning thoughtfully as he looked out the window at the large main gates of the Uchiha compound. "Have they arrived?" Izuna asked after a moment.
"Not yet." Madara replied not taking his eyes from the window. "But they'll be here soon." Madara finally tore his eyes away from the window so he could focus on Izuna. The younger Uchiha was leaning against the polished desk with his arms at his sides. Madara reclined back in his chair ignoring the creaking sound as he settled in resting both elbows on the table and joining his hands under his chin.
Mikito and Souji seen the tall gates several miles ahead as they slowed down from a sprint to a slow paced walk, neither winded from their journey since their endurance was built up from intense training. Mikito put several strands of her hair behind her ear looking ahead carefully, the entire way they had both been weary of ambushes and came well prepared with two swords in Souji's case four and a tanto strapped over his back.
He stretched his senses outwards around the entire radius for the rest of their journey but found no chakra signatures aside from the Uchiha in the distance. There was the chance the enemies were hiding their chakra, but he dismissed it, the Uchiha would have made short work of anyone this close to their compound.
"We may look a bit..." Souji paused trying to find a word for their current dress. "Threatening, normally we would come without our armor or any weapons as a sign of peace, but circumstances provided we couldn't do that. We should arrive there in about a half hour."
"Running the risk of an ambush from those wolves, I'll keep this on."She pounded a fist on the armor covering her chest. "I understand where you're coming from. The Uchiha are reclusive and wary of outsiders I can't say I blame them we're the same way..." She looked thoughtful for a moment as she observed their scenery. She was used to a lush and moist jungle and rainforest, but currently they were in woodland for the most part covered in thick trees, shrubs, and bushes it was a beautiful sight and one would take the time to admire this in a different era. "Say we do have an alliance where would we go from there?" She questioned curious.
"We would need to inform the rest of the clan first, me or you can do that." Souji replied folding his arms over his chest. "From there we'd have to talk with Madara and Izuna and battle strategies and their current division locations in relation to our own, plus the number of men in their divisions." Souji sighed mentally that would be another thing that Mikito and Madara may disagree on. The Uchiha never sent their women onto the battlefield they were to stay at the compound and take care of the more menial tasks.
While the Domou treated men and women equally and both were sent out on the battlefield. Although the women were more specialized in spying, sabotage, espionage and things of that nature there were several like his two sisters that fought on the front lines. Surprisingly so the Subatsu gave the same treatment to their kinsmen. Well he'd just take things in stride. "The last location of the Subatsu was near the Lightning country and the Fire country I'd suspect they'll be more aggressive."
Mikito nodded in silent agreement as they were several feet from their gates. They could already see a small crowd gathering just outside each member old and young staring at them with curiosity, apprehension and some awe as they felt their chakra swell through the area like a heavy cloak. Mikito chalked it up to their suffocating chakra levels that attracted the large crowd, after all the Uchiha respected strength more than anything.
Souji narrowed his eyes slightly as he seen a a teen with untamed hair with his right eye covered walk through the parted crowd with another teen with his hair in a low ponytail, these two were no doubt the famous Uchiha brothers their auras and chakra were exceeding over the others, Mikito studied them for a moment taking in their appearance. From the wild untamed hair of the older brother to the more tamed hair of the younger brother, it was hard to say who was stronger between the two of them, but both were incredibly strong. "Madara-san." Mikito said with a polite air as she stared at him with her full attention. Said Uchiha began to look the two over with narrowed eyes.
"As you know the Senju and Subatsu have made an alliance. It's more than safe to say both with be setting up ambushes." Mikito explained watching the frown vanish from the Uchiha's face replaced by a small scowl as he continued to study her.
"If we may Madara-san, Izuna-san." Souji inquired as he looked at the two carefully. By now the small crowd that had been gathering was a lot bigger than before black spiky heads of hair and onyx black eyes popped out at them. Mikito heard about the Uchiha's how they all looked the same with black hair and dark eyes where their rivals the Senju all looked different like the tan Hashirama and pale Tobirama. It always intrigued her to some degree but she tossed the thought aside as there was a silent few minutes as the two leaders and second in command studied each other, both weary for good reasons. But Madara had the advantage they were on his turf.
"Of course." Izuna replied with a small smile extending his arm to the side. "Right this way." Madara looked annoyed for a moment but nodded his confirmation breaking a pah through the growing crowd. Mikito and Souji looked at each other for a moment before walking forward feeling obsidian eyes on their backs, Souji paid them little interest as he kept his eyes on Madara's back he didn't care f they were staring at him, he was here on business and was much more detached.
Mikito glanced around every few seconds spotting spiky haired heads and black eyes, she noticed children at least six years old staring up at her with bright black orbs. The more emotional side of herself clenched in adoration their eyes held so much light, so much innocence that children in this era never had. But the more rational side of her made that point clear, they wouldn't be innocent much longer and those bright eyes would darken, but that was the way things were.
Yuko could barely believe how... Strong they were when they entered the compound both of them exuded powerful auras that just screamed 'get away from me' but she couldn't help but be amazed that there was someone out there this strong besides her leader, she knew it was wrong but she couldn't help it, especially the woman she was incredibly strong but had a natural beauty to her that couldn't help but attract attention though she didn't seem like the type to notice. She felt her heart hammering when there was a tense and silent stare down between the four of them she knew the Uchiha never played well with others, and it appeared this clan was in the same boat.
Wait... She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. Domou.. That's their clan name. She looked back up after her epiphany to see that the group was slowly starting to disperse while others followed after them in anticipation. She did her best to hide, peeking around and above shoulders hoping her bright red hair didn't show itself. She tensed up for a moment she she locked eyes with the woman staring into her brown pools that held a light to them that she couldn't place, but there was a warmness to them, she swallowed roughly realizing she was staring and turned her head quickly away.
"Wow!" A young dark haired Kunoichi exclaimed grabbing Yuko's hand in her own. She forgot the girl's name but she dragged her here when the crowd first started to gather. Yuko was on one of her many strolls around the compound when she seen the growing crowd, and naturally her curiosity got the better of her. "She was looking at you Yuko-chan! Dd you see her, she's so beautiful it's crazy she's so strong who would think!?" Yuko looked at her new friend with her face slightly contorted in surprise with widened eyes, she hardened her gaze with a small scowl.
"Everyone is always looking at me." She muttered frowning cutely as she huffed quietly.
Mikito observed Madara taking in his visage, he walked with an air of a king. As expected from an Uchiha, they were a proud clan after all, but Madara exuded charisma and authority, everything from his straight posture to the hair covering his right eye. Madara did the same looking her over carefully, he hadn't heard much of the Domou clan he just knew at one point they were both opposing the Senju, she had a slender, shapely figure and full lips, her armor covered anything up that would be noticeable in that sense, but it just wasn't her appearance he was taking it.
Her chakra was unbelievable, in the same regard so was the man with her who kept a calm yet stony expression, one thing the two had in common was their long and very thick hair that was kept up with a high ponytail though some bangs hung over their eyebrows, the woman more so. "Let's begin." He said in his regal tone as he put his attention on Mikito. "You want an alliance with us."
Mikito didn't miss the arrogance in his tone, that tone she knew well. He thought he was superior in every way, she ignored it folding her hands in front of her. "Madara-san it'd be good for our clans to have an alliance, there is always strength in numbers." Mikito replied in a composed manner as she leveled a gaze with him staring into those cold, onyx eyes.
Souji cleared his throat folding his arms. "The Senju have made an alliance with the Subatsu." Souji said finding no need to mince words or sugar coat anything. He looked at Izuna then at Madara, he only knew of them from reputation alone them and the Senju brothers, but he had yet to cross paths with the Senju clan. Izuna narrowed his eyes at that, Subatsu he heard that somewhere before about a clan that attacked in packs and were famous for their brutal fighting style and merciless ambushes. "It is most important that we attack together and not separately, the Subatsu are grwoing more aggressive by the day, and the Senju are lead by..."
"Hashirama." Madara said in a dark tone as he felt anger bubble within him, there was only on thought that was completely nauseating and it was that tree hugger. "We Uchiha have no need for allies, Subatsu or not."
Izuna sighed quietly in exasperation. "Brother." He said lightly nudging him with his elbow. Madara glared at Izuna with his only visible eye. Izuna was just as proud of his heritage, but he was smart and knew when it was best to ally and when not to. And it's not like Mikito or Souji were here to exterminate their clan, their clans were neutral and were on good or bad terms for the most part they avoided each other. Whether it was chance or not he didn't care at the moment.
"Don't underestimate them." Souji said in a low voice that had a warning hidden behind it, "I am not underestimating the Uchiha clan me and my sister come to you for an alliance. It will benefit both of our clans a great deal in the long run, as my sister said there is strength in numbers." He bit back a retort, he wasn't keen on an alliance at first but his more sensible and realistic side took over.
There was a tense silence where the siblings stared at each other. Mikito cleared her throat gently. "We would be honored to have the Uchiha as our allies."
"We would be honored to be your allies as well." Izuna said in a chipper tone as he nodded his head a few times pointedly ignoring the glare Madara was shooting him. The older Uchiha clenched his teeth slightly inhaling sharply, he was calling the shots here damn it.
"Izuna..."
Mikito held back a laugh watching the two siblings have a trade of words, it was rather funny. She could see that they were very close, tightly bonded though they'd annoy each other respectively. Souji glanced as if to ask is this really happening she simpy shrugged her shoulders turning her attention back to the brothers. "Thank you Izuna-san." Mikito said with a small smile, she turned her attention to Madara who was looking especially sour. She frowned resisting the urge to bust his balls for such an ugly expression, he shouldn't frown like that. "Madara-san do you have any further objections?" Mikito asked in a wistful tone that caught him off guard for a moment. He glowered at Izuna for a short second before releasing a breath nodding his head.
"I concede." He said in a clipped tone his aura radiating with anger.
For the first time Souji's calm visage broke into a small smile as he nodded his head, already going over several problems and solutions to fix them. How he could help both of their clans prosper and in the end win, he crossed his muscular arms over his armored chest leaning back in the wooden chair. He didn't say it out loud, but he was pleased with how things were turning out so far, now to move onto battle strategies and things of that nature. "Moving forward me and Mikito have already drawn up a battle plan if you may..." Madara clenched his hand tightly, strategies, trying to take charge what was next? He opened his mouth to respond but Mikito intercepted him.
"The Senju have been on the move over the last couple of days, so far their movements so progress towards the Lightning country." Mikito said as she recalled the report from a spy she got a few days ago, now the Senju were starting to tread on their territory and soon enough the Uchiha.
Pride was good, but she was looking beyond that in this affair, this was a matter of extermination if they couldn't get on the same page. "It's not surprising, Syrus has always been on good terms with their Damiyo, that prick..." She noticed Izuna smirk at her small curse, but it was well justified.
"Right now I have a division of eleven stationed up there near the outskirts keeping track of activity, so far it's been quiet." Mikito added, noticing Madara's aura slightly calm from before, she had to remember who she was talking to. "So if you will?" She gestured towards a rolled up piece of paper in the room, Izuna took the initiative and grabbed it unrolling it on top of his brother's polished and paperwork clean desk.
It rolled out the entire length, it was clean like everything else in the office showing the separate land masses. "We're here," she pointed her finger on the land of fire which was bigger than in the future, having no villages such as Taigakure or Amegakure. She traced her finger several inches to the north east. "The last recorded movement here was two days ago, the Senju division was drawing back and are stationed.." She pointed a few inches away from where her finger was before. "In this area, probably on the mountains."
Madara folded his arms over his chest leveling a look with Mikito. "And why haven't you already taken care of this Senju division if it's well within your ability to do so?" He asked sounding annoyed with the fact the Senju were still moving.
"Because a division lead by Haji Subatsu is going up there." Souji replied biting back his annoyance at Madara's tone, it wasn't like his sister was purposely letting them survive. It was tactic and so far it was working fine. They would be dealt wth accordingly once this meeting was finished.
"See.." Izuna said lightly reprimanding his brother for being so heavy handed in his speech, but that was Madara. "What number do your divisions consist of and how many do you have in total?" Izuna continued on where they left off. The Uchiha had four divisions both correlating with the cardinal directions consisting of sixty men in total, while mobile units normally consisted of fifth teen men per unit, which was a lot of men in this era say what you will. Souji began to talk with interest. Mikito sighed silently in relief as things began to move smoothly.
"If we put one here and one here..." She glanced at Madara as his face took on a look of firm concentration, he pointed and moved his gloved fingers. Mikito could admit that Madara was a tactical genius the way he positioned everything was perfect, but one would consider it reckless, but she didn't think so.
It was just a strategy the clan such as the Uchiha could perform with perfection like the passion that fueled their Katon. Mikito sighed mentally, pleased with how things kept proceeding, every now and again she looked at Madara gazing at his hair for a moment, was it soft to the touch or rough? She shook her head throwing the thought away.
She noticed the sun shining down on the compound and the surrounding land for miles to come, she knew it was a hot day. It had been unusually most and humid, while the Fire country was by the warmest of the land masses it never experience this much humidity. But she loved it, she couldn't get enough of it, she grew up in a rain forest and was used to the suffocating heat and humidity, and the soaking moisture from torrential rainfall, it never surprised her how much a location could vary from the next.
Yuko always tried to be on time when she had someone to meet, and was just punctual in general. She wondered when she'd get another mission as she sat at hew new home fiddling with a blank scroll, she came to the building as fast as she could happy to get out of the compound when Kon requested to see her. She arrived a few short moments later listening to him go over the mission.
"Your mission is simple." He said looking up into her eyes with his own stern expression. "Your target is the Yoake the son of a former feudal lord in the small Rice village just on the outskirts of the Fire country. His father is no longer the leader of the village, however before he vanished he signed a truce with the Chibana clan, their head is now the leader of the Rice village." Yuko looked slightly confused for a moment as he tossed a scroll, Yuko skimmed through the document which included photos of the son and father duo. Kon continued where he left off as she read the document.
"But, the Chibana never wanted peace and instead invaded the village and took it under his command. Yoake and Dabora his father managed to escape somehow." Kon looked up meeting Yuko's eyes as she stared intently. "Yoake was discovered in a nearby village, however his father and the document have not been seen. Your task is to gain the trust of the boy and get information on where his father is." Kon said pausing for a moment as he looked up at Yuko again. "Questions?"
"Yes."
"Speak."
"If you know where Yoake-kun is why not make him talk? Someone else could get him and take him to from the investigation squad and interrogate him am I mistaken?" She asked raising her eyebrow slightly, because this mission seemed like a waste of her time, why go to a nearby village for just one boy? Thy could easily send someone else and bring him in here why was she getting pinned with this mission.
"The situation needs to be handled delicately, if other clans were to get involved, this rift by the Chibana clan may cause wars to break out between neighboring clans." Kon said in a no nonsense tone as he explained.
And? Yuko snorted silently. The Uchiha lived for war and bloodshed.
There was a loud knock that disrupted both of them, Kon glared at the door frowning deeply. "Enter." He said in a commanding tone that made Yuko wince slightly as she turned around to see who intruded upon them. She tilted her head looking at the Uchiha shinobi standing in front of them staring directly at her, she rolled her eyes mentally she was getting stared at a lot recently. "Yuko?" He questioned in a rough voice.
"What do you want?" Kon asked eyeing up the shinobi for a moment. "We're in the middle of something here come back later." The Uchiha bowed his head in a silent apology as he regarded Kon.
"Madara-sama has requested Yuko's appearance at once." The two stared at each other.
"She's going on a mission."
"Find somebody else to take it." The younger Uchiha said with a frown his patience running thin. "Is this the Chibana clan business.. Send someone else out, Yuko is wanted at this very moment." He said in a tone that broke no argument, he didn't want to come back without Yuko in his presence.
"All right." Kon said in a clipped tone as he looked at Yuko with a careful and narrow eyed glare, Yuko looking at him with one of confusion as if to say what did I do? She was never called into Madara's office for any reason, her mind began to race with reasons but she was snapped out of her stupor. "If you'd come with me Yuko."
He turned around leaving the room keeping the door open, Yuko swallowed the lump in her throat looking back at Kon who simply nodded his head in resignation sitting back down, Yuko left the room shutting the door behind her and jogging to catch up to the wild haired man.
"That girl?" Madara narrowed his visible eye in disdain as he glared at Mikito who didn't seem shaken under his piercing gaze. Izuna held back a snicker there had been a serious debate over it between these two, his brother wasn't budging and neither was Mikito, it also didn't help that the woman showed no signs of fear of his brother's growing ire. He never seen Madara get so riled up over a girl before and it was slightly amusing watching him clench and unclench his hand his nostrils flaring every few seconds.
"Yuko." Izuna supplied looking at Mikito with a slightly surprised expression. She wanted to speak on captains of unit, she wanted a kunoichi, and so Madara had brought in their top kunoichi surely to satisfy the girl's needs. But she didn't accept any of them, though it didn't seem out of rudeness but Madara was taking it personal. "As a spy she's good, but a shinobi not so much. She has no experience and when a battle begins I'm afraid to say she'll die in their first few minutes." He answered in a blunt manner, only being honest from his observations.
"What was wrong with the women I showed you?" Madara's nostrils flared as he clenched his hand. "They are the best the Uchiha have to offer, why would you be interested in that girl?" He made a face like he tasted something bad. This women was trying his paitience anyone else would have been mince meat on the floor showing such high handedness to his kinsmen, he didn't know why she wanted to see that girl with the red hair and if she thought she was going to be a captain, well she was sorely mistaken.
"Nothing is wrong." Mikito said sincerely, all of the kunoichi she was shown were powerful and beautiful to boot, their experience and track records were impeccable and their chakra was high for a women in this era. Though the Uchiha were known not to send women onto the battlefield there could be a few that broke the mold.
"It's just..." She remembered spotting the chocolate eyes and red hair, it was unintentional but she couldn't help but be drawn to the young woman, she stood out from the obsidian eyes and black spiky heads that were staring at her and her brother, she never heard of a red haired Uchiha. There wasn't any previous record about there ever being one, so she was half Uchiha then.
A knock at the door broke the tense moment as all the eyes in the room pointed to it. "Enter." Madara said in a commanding tone his aura radiating with annoyance.
Yuko barely composed on the outside of his door, he hand wrapped around the knob tightly as she swallowed the lump in her throat. Those two from earlier were still in there, she could feel their chakra. She wasn't sure what this could mean, but she was leaning in the bad direction since she was called so abruptly. She turned the knob, stepping into the room, immediately she looked into Izuna's dark eyes that bore into her one.
She took a shaky breath unable to tear her eyes away from his, when she did she finally realized how many eyes were on her, Madara's one visible eye, a pair of calm dark brown eyes that held curiosity, and a pair of light brown almost copper eyes that held interest and curiosity.Why me? She asked herself mentally as she turned her gaze to the floor avoiding all of the stares directed towards her. "So, you're Yuko." She turned her head up to look at the woman, nodding her head slightly.
"Yes." She replied.
Mikito smiled lightly noticing her fidgeting. She wasn't use to this kind of attention, or didn't like this kind of attention. "She's perfect for a captain."
"Captain!?" The other occupants in the room all stuttered at once. Souji's calm mask broke completely his mouth dropping in shock as he looked at her in disbelief, Izuna looked between everyone and stared at Yuko wondering if this was really happening or if he was just dreaming, Madara's one eye was widened in shock his mouth slightly open as if Mikito grew a second head and six more arms, Yuko looked like she was hit by a wave of heat and nearly fell to her knees. A captain, she never thought of being a captain and honestly didn't think she'd make a good one.
"You see for yourself she is not suitable for that position." Madara almost growled slamming a fist on his table with a deep frown. "She is a spy, first and foremost... And she's weak." Madara's response was cold and sent shivers up the young girl's back as she caught the disdain and almost disgust in his one visible eye, she looked to Izuna who held a scrutinizing look as his eyes never left her form, she clenched her hands into tight fists, she wasn't weak! All because she had emotions, because she had a heart that didn't make her weak! She opened her mouth about to make a retort but Mikito cut her off looking at her with empathy.
"Madara-san." Mikito said in a light tone as if she was getting ready to scold him. So macabre She said mentally. "Perhaps you are being too critical.. But I do trust your judgement and Izuna-san's." She figured she should stay polite and not completely reprimand him for shooting down Yuko at least give the girl a chance to prove herself. "However I stick with me previous decision."
"Mikito..." Souji said in a low whisper so only she could hear him.
"But..." Mikito raised a finger getting everyone's attention. Yuko raised an eyebrow watching her with confusion. "Yuko will have to first complete a mission that involves retrieving a scroll." Mikito's eyes gleamed when she seen Yuko perk up slightly at the mention of her interrupted meeting.
"Kon-san was giving me a mission when you called me here." Yuko answered politely doing her best to stay formal and not let her emotions run rampant. Although she did find the mission to be a waste of her time.
Hmm. Madara rubbed his chin in thought, calming the annoyance in his aura to a bearable level. Sending her to the Water country to test her... But if she dies on one of the islands or gets stuck on the mainland... He raised his gaze locking eyes with everyone in the room. "And what if she dies, she possesses the Sharingan?" It was more a statement than a question and everyone in the room knew what he really met. That he wasn't going to run the risk of their Sharingan falling into outside hands, especially those in the Water country. "The water Country has been in constant turmoil for as long as anyone can remember the mainland is ravaged with war and the surrounding islands run with blood." Madara said in a dark tone. "She'll die."
"She won't." Mikito said in a strangely calm voice. Yuko took a steady breath, looking at her in slight amazement. Was she really vouching for her, the first person to actually acknowledge her as a person and not look at her any different than everyone else? Mikito smirked slightly, "after all she had Uchiha blood flowing through her veins, and that's the only thing that matters." Izuna looked at Madara, his eyes widening slightly as it looked like his brother was actually considering it. A part of Izuna, a small part was screaming no, to not send her to her death, but he wasn't sure why he felt that way just that he did. He shook his head clearing the thought away for the moment.
"If she comes back, with the scroll I will... Consider." Madara said after a long moment, at this point Yuko was ready to faint from all of the tension and chakra swelling inside of the room, she was definitely going to need one of her daily strolls after this was all said and done. Seeing Izuna's stare never leave her didn't do her much favors and she began to feel slightly self conscious and twirled a strand of her red hair around her finger doing her best not to blush.
"Excellent!" Mikito clapped her hands together, quickly looking at Yuko seriously. "This is going to be a dangerous mission Yuko. The narrow passageways that lead to the mainland are covered in mist and are constantly shaking from the battles happening nearby. The Yuki clan are formidable and control most of the main land, you're mission is to get into the mainland, find out where they are keeping the scroll and obtain it. It is most important that you get this scroll and return safely."
"When do I go, and how long do I have to complete the task?" Yuko asked in slight excitement. Now this was a mission she could do, obtaining a scroll and having to fight along the way. She wasn't the most experienced but there was only one way to get it. That Chibana clan mission just didn't sit well with her, despite the danger that she was facing on this mission knowing that the Water country was in turmoil she felt a lot lighter than she did before, it was weird to explain.
"By nightfall of tomorrow, and you will have two months to complete the task. The passageways to the mainland, where the Yuki clan resides are narrow and long routes that are covered by mist. So a majority of your time will be spent on traveling alone, anymore information you need will be given to you in the scroll." Madara answered in his cold tone. He couldn't believe he was actually agreeing to do this, but if she died on one of those war ravaged islands it wasn't going to be on him.
"I really should be getting back to the compound." Mikito said standing up to her feet, Souji copying the action." I thank you for your hospitality Madara-san and Izuna-san." She extended her hand forward , Madara nodded his head in confirmation taking a firm hold of her hand and shaking it now a sign of their alliance.
"Yes, thank you." Souji said with a polite air.
Mikito and Souji headed for the gates of the Uchiha compound, the sun was starting its slow set over the distant mountains and the noisy chirping that filled the air earlier was completely gone replaced by the gentle breeze that rippled through the compound. Souji looked at her in silent observation, what made his sister go so far just for that red haired girl?
She wasn't that strong or impressive she didn't carry herself like a shinobi and her emotions were easy to read. But still his sister went out on a limb, and for what reasons? "I hope you know what you're doing Mikito." He said in a low tone narrowing his eyes slightly. "Pissing off the leader of the clan we're allies with really isn't a good way to start things out, what were you thinking back there?"
Mikito shot an annoyed glare in his direction taking a quiet breath. "I just have... This feeling about her. I just want to see." Mikito said quietly.
"You and your feelings..." He muttered in exasperated annoyance. "But you've never been wrong before... Though it looks like there's a first time for everything like the saying goes."
They came to stop just in front of the gates waving to the guard signaling that they would be leaving. Souji was ready to take off in a full sprint but a voice halted him while Mikito turned around looking at the red haired kunoichi jogging up to her. "Hold on." She called waving her hand in a gesture to say stay right there. Souji watched her get closer, her slender figure approaching he wanted to head back, and would have if Mikito wasn't waiting for this girl. He turned around looking at her with a mysterious expression.
"Yuko-chan?" Mikito asked blinking in surprise, though she could sense her before she called out to them. Yuko giggled quietly, but stopped as soon as she did not missing the honorific. "You don't leave until tomorrow?"
Yuko nodded her head a few times looking at her, chocolate eyes met with light brown eyes as the two stared at each other. Yuko in question, shock, and slight admiration while Mikito looked at her with curiosity taking in her head mane of hair and innocent eyes. "I just wanted to ask before you left why? Why did you vouch for me and go so far for me?" Yuko thought it was a cruel joke at first, just a ploy to watch her fail and act like a complete fool, but Mikito's voice held no signs of doing such a thing, it was only sincerity and honesty. "Why did you? Why do you want me to be a captain... I'm not that great." She said the last part quietly turning her gaze to the ground to hide her tears that wanted to fall.
"Because..." Mikito rested a hand on top of Yuko's head gently pulling her hair back careful not to mess it up. "We're comrades. I believe in you." Yuko froze in her spot, her mouth dropping open as she stared at her in shock. She believed in her, was this a joke or was she honest?
Yuko looked up into her eyes that shone with a deep hidden compassion, understanding, and empathy. She took a shuddering breath nodding mentally telling herself that she was telling the truth. "Be sure to leave a little early so you get to the docks before they get too crowded, okay Yuko-chan?" Mikito asked removing her hand from her head smiling ever so slightly seeing the expression on Yuko's face and in her eyes.
"I-I will." Yuko replied composing herself. "I am honored to have the Domou clan as my allies." Yuko bowed her head slightly, righting herself again. Mikito and Souji simply nodded before running passed the gates and vanishing a moment later, she stared at Souji's back she didn't know much about him but he seemed to keep to himself.
Well she wasn't going to judge and he was Mikito's brother the person that vouched for her so he couldn't be so bad right? Yuko turned on her heel walking towards her new home, better go pack and start dinner. She thought she she planned out the rest of her night, first she'd make dinner and read over the mission details, then she would start packing everything she needed in her usual neat and organized manner and then take a dip in the bath and go to sleep and be up bright and early tomorrow for her departure.
Hashirama sat behind his large wooden desk, paperwork and documents took up the entire article and it appeared he was almost buried under it. Tobirama was looking at him with annoyed exasperation, Syrus and Haji sat across from the tan skinned man looking at him with interest, a scroll had come to them from a messenger pigeon it could only mean a few things and Syrus was well prepared. They've already went through battle strategy and their divisions as well as the locations. "So?" Tobirama asked in his baritone voice.
"The Damiyo of the Lightning country has asked for our help." Hashirama supplied setting the scroll down as he looked at each of them in tow for a moment. "It's just a matter which one of us will go, Syrus you do have better relations with the Damiyo from past experience." He looked at him expectantly, Syrus nodded his head in understanding, but he himself couldn't leave that far. He had to remain at the compound like he was now.
"I'll go." Haji said already deciding before anyone else could say a word in the matter. "You need to stay here brother." Haji said noticing the slight disapproval that was in Syrus's eyes, to him it was his responsibility to meet the Damiyo he the clan head after all. But He was needed here for the coming battle, besides he was more than capable of handling whatever task was signed to him. Hashirama nodded his head once n a gesture that he agreed, Tobirama looked indifferent, and Syrus just shrugged slightly, Usagi was getting several units ready to mobilize.
"Any objections?" Hashirama asked calmly looking around the room that was silent aside from a few shakes of the head. "All right then, Haji I'm sure he'll be expecting you to arrive and has already made the preparations. The Senju division he had stationed near the Lightning country was pulled back several kilometers and there hasn't been a word from them in several days, thus his easy and ready acceptance of this mission, they already went over the strategy. Haji would take out whoever was giving them a lot of trouble keep one alive to gather information, then take what survivors remained where the Damiyo would house them.
"I don't need to remind you that this is crucial." Tobirama said his ruby eyes meeting with Haji's black irises.
"No you don't." Haji said narrowing his eyes as they stared at one another for a moment until the white haired Senju nodded. Though it wasn't much Haji took it for what it was, his trust of him to help his men and complete this mission. "I'll be off now."
"Be weary of the Domou..." Syrus said in a warning tone knowing the enmity Haji had with Souji. The younger brother allowed a small smirk to grace his face as he caught the message and strode out of the room to get his unit ready.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone