Naruto (c) Masashi Kishimoto

Madara sighed contently when the first rays of the newborn sun touched his face. A soft mumble of the rent girl brought him back to where he was, and the girl’s arms snaked around his naked waist. Slowly, Madara opened his eyes, focusing on the elaborate wall scroll. He squinted, wondering when everything was so fuzzy; the fuzziness cleared a bit and he sighed. Just not use to seeing the world without the Sharingan, that’s all, he sat up slowly, taking pains not to wake up the girl. She was a beautiful thing, with soft pink locks that fell to her waist, and shimmering jade green eyes. The women of Haruno were indeed beautiful, and Madara almost felt sorry for the girl that was such a beauty, to be stuck in a whorehouse, almost. He dressed and left the money on the table, where she would find it, before leaving.

The town was just starting to wake; civilians setting up shop, some of the lesser clans acting as bodyguards for various merchants. Madara spotted a Hatake, the masked shinobi had a mysterious white chakra and they worked closely with the Inuzuka clan. Madara kept a wary eye on the masked ninja; it wouldn’t do any good to fight in the middle of the street.

“Hey! Watch it!” a gruff and angry voice spat. Madara looked at the person. Fair of face and skin, the man had black hair tied back at his nape, and bright green eyes.

“Sorry,” Madara mumbled and glanced briefly at the man’s clothes, only to find no clan symbol. Odd, but not unheard of, these clan-less shinobi, Madara thought.

“Yeah, you better be sorry,” the ninja growled.

“I will,” Madara walked passed the man, hoping it’ll be the first and last time he will see him.

“Hey-o! You’re handsome!” a blonde kunoichi with blue eyes sang, draping herself over him. Madara groaned. “I’m Inohana, from the Yamanaka clan,” she purred, rubbing her breasts against his side.

“That’s nice,” Madara replied dryly, attempting to shake the kunoichi off of him.

“You’re lucky that Kakuzu didn’t chop your head off! He can be a touchy fellow, you know being clan-less and all,” Inohana said airily, as she ran her fingers through Madara’s hair.

“I have to go,” Madara disentangled himself form the Yamanaka kunoichi.

“Well, if you ever want a good bedroom romp, I’ll always be happy to help. Yamanaka have control over the mind, ya know,” she winked at him, tossing her golden tresses over her shoulder and walked off, hips swaying hypnotically.

Madara shook his head. I don’t need to be chasing ass right now! Damn Izuna! This is why I don’t go whoring as often as he does! Madara marched off, plotting a thousand ways to inflict torment on his brother.

Izuna moaned as he splashed water over his face. His head was pounding and he vaguely wondered why he let himself get wasted last night. “Izuna!” Madara’s voice rang out through the hall. “Izuna! Damn it! Where the hell are you!?” Madara shouted.

“Damn,” Izuna dried his face. “He sounds pissed,” Izuna stepped out of the washroom. “What is it, Nii-san?” Izuna asked, his long hair creating a cloak around his shoulders.

“I need to talk to you,” Madara grabbed his brother and shoved Izuna into his own bedroom, before locking the door. Izuna studied his brother.

“Is something wrong?” Izuna asked, cocking his head.

“Yes!” Madara glared at him.

“Oh,” Izuna’s eyes widened. “Damn! Don’t tell me she’s pregnant!”

Madara smacked his brother, “It has nothing to do with the wench I slept with last night! Get your damn head out of the gutter!”

“So, you did go whoring!” Izuna smirked. “Who was it? Please say it wasn’t a Yamanaka. They look pretty but they are worthless in the bedroom and—” Madara slugged his brother in the gut.

“Idiot! I’ll tell you about that later! But we got two problems to deal with!” Madara snarled.

“Fine, shoot,” Izuna gasped.

“What do you know about a man named Kakuzu?”

“Clan-less, heard that Hyuga wiped out his entire clan, leaving only Kakuzu alive, because he was too pathetic to kill apparently. Assassin-for-hire, nasty temper, don’t know anything about his jutsu though,” Izuna muttered.

“Hn,” Madara looked around. “Have things been appearing fuzzy to you of late?” he tried to keep the question causal, but Izuna heard the slight panic in his brother’s voice.

“Fuzzy? Like poor eyesight fuzzy?” Izuna asked, eyeing Madara. When Madara didn’t reply, Izuna gulped. “Mada,” Izuna took a step forwards. “This could be serious.”

“Yes, like poor eyesight fuzzy,” Madara snapped impatiently.

“No, I haven’t noticed a difference,” Izuna shrugged. “This could be a side effect of overuse of the Mangekyou. We are the first to awaken it, nobody knows the long term effects of constant use, we have to be careful,” Izuna put his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “You especially, should be careful on how much you use it. If you do go blind,” Izuna sighed.

“I won’t go blind,” Madara pulled away from his brother.

“Mada,” Izuna looked at his feet, and Madara felt his heartstrings being tugged at upon hearing his childhood nickname. “Be careful, please.”

Madara looked at his brother and saw the boy Izuna once was.

Pink fragile blossoms fluttered sadly through the air. “Sumiko,” a tall one armed man, whispered. “Why did you die?” he glanced at his two sons. “This is why love is death! Love will get you killed! Always remember this boys: Life is war, death is peace; love is death and lust is life,” Uchiha Toya looked at his sons. “Live by that code and you won’t end up dead!” Toya looked at the grave of his wife. “Sumiko was a mistake I made. You, my sons, are the only good thing that came out of it,” Toya glanced at Izuna, who, only eight, was sobbing softly, a white lily crushed in his hands. “Izuna! Stop crying! You snot-nose brat!” Toya slapped his youngest son. “You are weak! Crying is weakness! Never cry again!” Toya shouted.

“S-sorry Father,” Izuna whimpered.

“And never say sorry, either! Only cowards apologize! Uchihas aren’t coward and I’ll be damned if one of my boys turns out to be a coward!” Toya snapped, Izuna nodded, trying to stop his tears. “Madara!” Madara snapped to attention. “Go…take your brother and do something useful with your time,” Toya rubbed his forehead. Madara nodded, grabbing Izuna’s wrist.

“C’mon Izuna,” Madara whispered.

“Izuna,” Toya called out.

“H-hai?” Izuna looked at his father’s back.

“Grow up, you were always clinging to your mother’s tits,” Toya said bluntly.

“H-hai,” Izuna nodded.

Madara tugged his brother, and gave him a look that said let’s-go-now. Izuna trotted after his ten-year-old brother, but glanced back at his father, who was weeping at their mother’s grave.

That night, curled up together on their large futon, Izuna watched Madara sleep. Their father, Toya the One-Armed, may be unable to weave signs for jutsu, but he was a genjutsu master, and he had kept their clan safe from outside threats, especially Senju. But despite their father’s black and white attitude on life, he did love their mother dearly, and Izuna knew that Toya loved his sons. “Mada,” Izuna’s voice was fragile, innocent, and soft. “Mada,” Izuna whispered, shaking his brother.

“Huh?” Madara rolled over to look at his brother.

“Does…does Father hate me?” Izuna asked. “Because…because I’m weak?” Izuna looked at his hands, balled into fists.

“Go to sleep Izuna,” Madara mumbled.

“He does,” Izuna sighed. “Doesn’t he?” Izuna felt ashamed. He was weak, while is brother was strong. Strong and brave and everything Father wants, Izuna thought.

“Father doesn’t hate you,” Madara’s voice cut through Izuna’s thoughts.

“Huh?”

“He’s just worried about you, that’s all,” Madara rolled over to face his brother. “He doesn’t want you to die because you are soft,” Madara brushed Izuna’s bangs out of his eyes. “You wear your heart on your sleeve, Izuna. That isn’t good in a war, the enemy can use it against you,” Madara whispered.

“How…how do I get stronger?” Izuna looked up at Madara. “Like you, Nii-san,” he finished. Madara paused.

“I don’t know, don’t get to close to someone? Live by Father’s code, stop daydreaming,” Madara shrugged. “Don’t worry about getting stronger,” Madara pulled Izuna close. Izuna smiled as he snuggled into his brother’s embrace. “Cause I’ll protect you, and all of Uchiha, one day, I promise.”

“No,” Izuna’s voice was firm.

“Huh?”

“I want to be strong so you don’t have to protect me and so I can help protect Uchiha with you,” Izuna smiled.

“Eh, whatever, just go to sleep, you brat,” Madara shrugged.

“I’m not a brat, Mada!” Izuna huffed.

“If you complain then you are, now shut up and sleep, you don’t want Old Man Jiro to get mad at us again do you?”

“Well…no, not really,” Izuna looked away.

“Then go to sleep,” Madara pulled the blanket up higher and the two brothers fell asleep.

Madara sighed. “Damn it, Izuna! You worry too much!” Madara folded his arms and looked away.

“Just promise you won’t use it unless you absolutely have to, okay?” Izuna whispered.

“I’m not dumb,” Madara growled. “I know my limit.”

“Do you?” Izuna pressed. “You’re reckless.”

Madara rolled his eyes.

“You are! You’ll do anything to defeat Hashirama! Please, don’t over use the Mangekyou! Please, just hold back,” Izuna begged, only to wince when he realized what he said. Madara had a murderous intent in his eyes as she slammed his brother against the wall, kunai pressed against his throat.

“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t kill you?” Madara’s Sharingan spun lazily.

“I’m your brother,” Izuna gulped. “And I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I just want you to be careful that’s all,” Izuna whispered. Madara let Izuna go.

“Just don’t go saying stuff like that again, got it?” Madara muttered, sheathing the kunai.

“H-hai,” Izuna nodded.

“Stop stuttering when you’re nervous,” Madara barked. Izuna nodded, eyes down cast and avoiding his brother’s piercing gaze. “Did you tell Yakazaki he can count on Uchiha?” Madara asked.

“Sent the bird out this morning,” Izuna smiled.

“Good find out more about that Kakuzu guy, and see if our spies have any news on Senju,” Madara ordered.

“Hai, oh and the bid for clan leadership has begun,” Izuna whispered. Madara’s back was towards Izuna, but Izuna knew his brother well enough to see the predatory wolfish smirk that spread across Madara’s lips.

“Has it now,” Madara purred.

“Old Man Jiro is nearly dead, the council is weak as it is, even with us on it,” Izuna muttered, guilt twisting in his gut, they were planning a bloodless coup, but a coup nonetheless, and Madara would be in the seat of power.

“Well,” Madara half-turned to eye his brother with ominous blood red eyes of the Sharingan. “Good thing we possess the Mangekyou then.”

Take frowned as she inspected the melon. “Is it supposed to be like that?” she asked as she shook the melon. Kakuzu frowned, feeling his eyebrow twitch; he hated staking out his victims. If he didn’t kill Hashirama this time, he didn’t even want to think about not having anything to eat or his employer’s punishment.

“Its fine,” Kakuzu growled out through clenched teeth.

“What about this brown spot?” Take muttered, tapping the brown spot on the melon.

“I said, the melon is fine,” Kakuzu struggled to control his temper.

“I don’t know,” Take muttered.

“Damn it!” Kakuzu swung at Take, but his wrist was caught.

“Tsk, tsk, be nice to the ladies,” the man said.

“Why you little prick!” Kakuzu growled, rolling up his sleeve to reveal several tattoos. His arm began to pulse with chakra. “I’ve been waiting for a good fight since this morning when that bastard ran into me!” Kakuzu sneered, one of his tattoos wriggled in an effort to free itself from Kakuzu’s skin.

“We don’t want a fight,” the man said. “I just want to buy the melon for the lady,” he paid for the ripe melon, before leading Take away. Kakuzu snorted, furious.

Take looked at the man, smiling, admiring his black eyes, like twin pools of living ink. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“My pleasure,” he grinned.

May I have your name?” Take asked.

“Gohan,” he replied.

“That’s a funny name,” Take giggled.

“So it, Take,” he countered.

“Take! Take, c’mon!” a voice shouted from the thick mass of humanity.

“I have to go, my cousins are looking for me,” Take bowed quickly to her rescuer, but he caught her hand before she was able to run off.

“Maybe,” he purred, brushing warm soft lips against the smooth skin on the back of her hand. “If the wind blows just right, the swaying bamboo will meet me again?”

Take blushed, biting her lips. “I-I have to go,” she pulled her hand free of his grasp. “Th-thank you for the m-melon,” she ran off, not even bothering to glance back at him.

Izuna smirked; the girl was pretty, with luxurious ebony hair, and dark, dark green eyes, and skin the color of alabaster. The crowd shifted and her frowned when he saw Hashirama and his brother, Tobirama. “Bastards,” Izuna muttered, turning around and slipping furtively into the crowd. “I guess even filthy Senju have to eat,” he muttered as he kicked a pebble, hands thrust deep into his pockets. He sighed, tossing his head back, clearing his black eyes of his black bangs. “But why did she have to be Senju? With eyes so green and…no! Don’t even think about it, you won’t be able to bed her anyways, just forget about her,” he muttered to himself. “Love is death,” he smirked ironically at what his father had pounded into his head.

“Hey, punk!”

Izuna sighed, eyes bleeding into Sharingan.

“I don’t like it when people deny me a good fight!”

Izuna ducked Kakuzu’s punch, only to karate chop the man’s elbow. He swung his leg out, attempting to trip the big burly ninja, but Kakuzu was light on his feet too, and was able to doge the trip attack.

Izuna pulled a kunai out, pivoted and grabbed Kakuzu from behind, in a choke hold, pressing the kunai’s tip to the man’s cheek. “Stop now, or I’ll kill you,” Izuna whispered.

“Heh, you’re Uchiha, I can tell, just by your fighting style alone,” Kakuzu grunted. “But if you do let me go, Uchiha Madara will be lacking his brother,” Kakuzu barked a bitter laugh. “Not that the bastard would care.”

Izuna inwardly flinched at Kakuzu’s words. Has Nii-san really becoming that obsessed with power that he’s forgetting his noble ideals he fought for when we were younger? Whatever happening to protecting the clan? I thought that is why we awakened the Mangekyou? To protect the clan not to gain power! “Then don’t attack when I let you go,” Izuna replied calmly.

“Fine,” Kakuzu muttered, knowing his words pierced a weak link in Izuna’s otherwise impeccable armour. Izuna let him go.

“There, that wasn’t so hard was it?” Izuna smirked. “Play nice with the other kids now,” Izuna waved before walking off. Kakuzu growled, before punching a nearby stall, knocking it over.

Kakuzu! Before he went all thread-y! I gave him a tattoo jutsu, just because I thought it would fit him before he went all thread-y. He’s clan-less because Kishimoto-sensei never bothered giving us his clan name, so his clan was slaughtered and blahblahblah.

Oooh! Tension between Madara and Izuna. Wonder what will happen.

Kyaa! Lil Mada and Lil Izu! So cute! I love the flashback! Yes! Their dad has one arm! Toya the One-Armed as they call him, a fierce shinobi among Uchiha, and probably the best at genjutsu. I mean, genjutsu is about all he can really do, and some taijutsu, but seriously, how far can you get with taijutsu with three limps and a stump?

And, yes, Toya loved his wife, dearly, but like any battle harden warrior, he felt love was a weakness. Poor Sumiko.

Izuna meets Take for the first time! And he flirts with her! That dirty bastard!

Should the Haruno girl Madara slept with make another appearance? She will. Hmm, I’m thinking battle scene between Maddy and Hashirama next chapter…hmm…

Izuna's alias is Gohan, which is Japanese for "meal" (closest thing I could find to "rice"). Izuna means "rice-rope" so I was looking for the Japanese word for rice.

Anyways.

R’n’R or I’ll kick you.

DJ