Finding home

As Madara traveled he couldn’t help but notice how good her body felt against him, with how close she was he could feel her ample breasts. He hadn’t noticed them in her top before, they were clearly tightly bound. He wondered what they would feel like freed and in his hands. Then he cursed himself for his observation, here she was clearly traumatized and he was objectifying her. His mother would be ashamed of him.

“Tell me Tobira-San, how exactly did you escape? I find it somewhat hard to believe you were so easily able to escape.” He didn’t want to make her relive her experiences but at the same time he needed answers, he couldn't let an unknown shinobi into his compound, no matter how sad the story.

He felt her tense against his back, but he couldn’t tell if that was because she was trying to hide something or because she didn’t want to think about her time there.

“The White Demon helped me escape. He helped me sneak out the back of the compound and told me I needed to go through Uchiha land to get home. He said they wouldn't think to look there since it wasn’t the fastest way to get back”

He stopped on his next branch. “What?” That couldn't be right, everyone knew the White Demon was exactly as his name implied, a demon. He was the thing of nightmares. No one had ever completed more assassinations than that man. The way he fought was a thing to behold, he never spoke and killed indiscriminately. There was no way a man like that would help someone escape for no reason. His suspicion instantly increased.

Maybe she was a trap, a way to get into the compound and attack from within.

“And why would he help you?”

“He didn’t like what happened to me. He protects women and children.”

“Hm,” was all he said back.

Madara let the thought swirl around his head. Could that be true? Could the White Demon actually have a soul? He supposed not everyone could be completely evil. But then he remembered the feeling of his ice cold winter, frost, storm chakra. No way a man with such cold chakra could be a good person. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t do a decent thing.

He turned his head to look at her, sharingan spinning to see her as she responded. Watching her for any sign of a lie to the question he was about to ask. This was really what it all came down to.

“Say I believe you, should I be expecting him to show up at our compound, did he send you this way for a reason? Do you have a plot against my clan?”

Tobirama looked him in the eyes when she answered, a bold thing for anyone familiar with his clan especially with his sharingan out, and responded with “my only goal is to get to the Hatake clan. All I want is to be in the safety of my grandmother's clan.”

He couldn’t see any lie on her face. In this he believed her.

“Please Uchiha-Sama, just let me go to my grandmother.” The desperation was clear in her voice.

“I believe you, once you are healed enough I will let you go. Assuming the weather doesn’t turn too much. I won't let you leave just to die in the elements.”

Winter had started to set in around them, but the snow hadn’t started yet, they probably had another month before the weather started to get really cold. It would all depend on how long it took her ankle to heal, how bad the break was.

But if she stayed the winter with them, he promised himself he would keep her safe. And keep a close eye on her incase he was wrong and she really was a threat to his clan.

He started running again, by now he had lost sight of Izuna and Kagami. But that was probably for the best. Hanako, Kagamis mother, was worried sick and the sooner he was back the better.

Madara felt Tobirama settle against him again, her arms tightening around him as he moved faster.

After half an hour of running he felt her lose the tension in her body, perhaps feeling a little safer as they moved farther from the Senju? A thought came to him, and he wondered if it would help. Deciding to give it a try, he wrapped his chakra warmth, hearth, fire around her to see what would happen.

At first she tensed, and after a couple of minutes Madara thought he should pull back, clearly he was wrong and it wasn’t going to help, when suddenly she went completely slack against him. Her breathing became more shallow.

He hadn’t expected it to affect her quite this much! He certainly hadn’t expected her to fall asleep. Though she had looked truly exhausted with almost bruise like bags under her eyes.

Madara couldn’t help but feel a little pride that his chakra had made her feel safe enough to sleep.

The next couple of hours passed by quickly, with Tobirama still sleeping against him. They were only an hour away when he felt her move against him. A soft cry coming from her mouth.

Then before he had a chance to react she threw herself back, making him almost lose his hold on her legs.

She screamed “no! Stop! Let go!” while frantically hitting his back clearly trying her hardest to escape.

“You’re okay!” Madra tried to get her to calm down but his words had no effect on her.

Madara was just able to keep her from falling, quickly dropping from the trees to the ground to let her off his back.

As soon as Tobirama's foot touched the ground she crumpled with another cry.

Madara reached for her to help steady her but she flinched so hard he stepped back instead.

Her eyes were wild with fear, whatever dream had captured her was obviously terrifying.

“Stop, don't come closer!” She shouted, sounding stern even with a tremor still in her voice.

“Calm down, I'm not going to hurt you, I’m Madara, I was taking you to the Uchiha compound to see the healers. You saved Kagami. Remember?”

Madara watched as recognition crossed her eyes.

Tobirama took a deep breath, calming her racing heart. “I’m sorry Uchiha-sama, I forgot myself for a moment.”

“It's fine, are you okay to continue or do you need another moment?”

He watched as her face lost all expression, clearly trying to take control of herself and prove to both of them she was okay.

“Yes, I’m fine we can go.”

Tobirama started to get up and Madara was quick to assist her. Maybe too quick as he saw her flinch a little.

He was able to get her onto his back again and continue traveling.

She remained tense against his back the entire run back to the compound.

********************

Tobirama couldn’t calm her racing heart. There was something about waking up to a nightmare while being held tight. And not even getting a real break away from hands on her body. Madaras hands holding her legs tight, a constant reminder of those men.

She couldn't help her relief when she saw the compound gates ahead of them. How strange was her life, that a week ago the only way she would be here was if it was to battle the Uchiha and now those gates meant safety. From her own clan no less.

“Once we get in I will take you to the healers, Izuna will have already notified my father and he will likely meet us there or on our way.”

" Understood,” she responded. She did her best to hold back her fear. Tajima had a fearsome reputation, rumored to be as cruel as her own father. Who knows what he would decide to do to her. This was a mistake. She should have begged Madara to leave her back in the woods. Better to take her chance on a broken ankle than be subjected to that man's whims. She knows what her father would do.

She needed to steel herself for whatever came. Just like with those men she wouldn't let him see her fear. Bad enough Madara had already seen it, watched as she cried and begged. No one else would bear witness. She vowed not to let these men break her. If her father couldn't do it no one would.

“I don't know what thoughts are going through your head right now, but I promise they are wrong. My father is a good man and he will not harm you."

Tobirama couldn't help her snort.

"I have heard many stories of your father. I doubt he is going to just allow an enemy Shinobi into his compound.”

"The Hatake are hardly an enemy clan. We don't really deal with them at all, they have tried their best to remain neutral in the clan wars.”

"Leaves us closer to enemies than allies.” Tobirama couldn't help but point out. It hardly paid to be overly optimistic.

"You have nothing to fear about my father. If anything, maybe we can use this to become allies or even trading partners" Madara responded, sounding thoughtful.

She hasn't thought of that. Using her to secure trading would be a good idea on the Uchihas part, and they would have to treat her well if they wanted to convince her grandmother.

But would her grandmother be willing to do that for her? She had always wanted Tobirama to join the Hatake clan. It might work, and if it did she really would be safe. As long as the suppression seal held. She had no idea how long it would last, or how she was going remove it. Usually chakra suppression seals require the one who applied it to remove it, or someone with huge chakra reserves like Madara, who she couldn’t ask for obvious reasons, or her brother, who was currently unavailable to her, to force enough chakra in it to break it. Her hope had been once she reached the Hatake to send a letter to Mito and see if she knew another way to do it.

The two of them had been in regular contact since meeting the Uzumaki Princess when Tobirama went to bring the request for a betrothal contact between Mito and Hashirama. She felt confident Mito would help her without sharing any information with the Senju.

Madara made an inquiring noise that jolted her back into the conversation.

She couldn’t help her face heating up when she realized she had completely spaced out. Tobirama had become lost in her head, as she found herself distracted with thoughts of regaining her chakra and freedom.

“I’m sorry Uchiha-sama, I became lost in thought thinking of home. I hope we are able to come to a mutually beneficial agreement. I will try to trust that you mean what you say about your father.”

“It happens, don't worry about it. But you’ll see when you meet him.”

By now they had reached the gates, and Tobirama watched as Madara greeted the guards by name. Has Hashirama ever thought to do that? There was always a bit of a distance between the clan and the head family. Not that they didn’t know the people of their clan but they certainly wouldn’t be greeting them by name as they passed each other.

As they continued through the compound she couldn’t help but look around, the houses were larger than typically seen in the Senju, she wondered if the families tended to stay together longer or if they simply had more children than her own clan. Tobirama noticed many people were waving and smiling at Madara, some even directing a smile and an inquiring look at her as well.

She couldn’t believe how friendly everyone was, and how open they all were with their emotions! She could probably count on her hand the number of times she had seen someone smile while walking around the compound, though that could have been because of her as well. She had never been well regarded by those in her clan due to her eye color, and the fact that even her own father would refer to her as a demon.

“Madara! Is this her? The woman who saved my Kagami?” A short Uchiha woman said speed walking in their direction, Kagami on her heels.

“Yes Mai, this is Tobira-san, I was actually on my way to you at the healing hall, she seems to have broken her leg and I was hoping you would be able to help her.” Madara said as he slightly lifted the arm that was holding her broken leg.

“Of course! Let's hurry there, Kagami didn’t tell me she was hurt just that you were carrying her in.”

Tobirama watched as she turned, quickly grabbing Kagami's arm and whispering down to him.

She couldn't help but smile at the image those two made. She had done that, she helped that smiling boy make it back to his mother, and she couldn't help but think that whether what came next was bad or good, it was worth it.

Madara turned his head to look at Tobirama before addressing her, “Tobira-san that was Mai, she is one of the best healers we have here at the compound, and as you can see she is Kagami’s mother. She will treat you well, I promise.” Then he turned back and spoke to Mai, raising his voice a bit as she had already started to where Tobirama assumed the healing hall was, and Madara hadn’t continued moving again yet. “Have you seen my father?” He asked as he started to follow Mai.

“No I haven’t yet, though after Izuna brought Kagami to me he said he was heading there next.”

“Ah thank you, I may have to leave Tobira-san with you and go speak with him, I trust she will be in good hands with you?”

“Of course! Just leave her with me, Kagami and I will take great care of her, I owe Tobira-san everything.”

Tobirama had to interrupt that, “you owe me nothing Mai-san. I did what anyone would do, and please both of you, I don't need to be addressed so formally, just Tobira is fine.”

Mai stopped walking to turn to her and say with a serious face, “no, I owe you everything. And I will not forget it.”

Tobirama didn’t know what to say to that, she had never had someone say something so heartfelt like that to her other than Hashirama. She felt truly honored to be so thanked. She didn’t even know what to say in response, but before she had a chance to respond Kagami interrupted.

“Hurry up mom and Madara-sama! We have to help Tobira feel better!”

Tobirama couldn’t help but let out a breath, she really had no idea what she would have said to that.

She felt Madara huff a laugh, causing Tobirama to glare at him. Not that he could see it.

After a few more minutes of walking they came to a larger building than she had seen so far, but with the way their clans war it made sense the healing hall would be big.

Once in the building Madara carefully placed her on one of the empty beds and turned to Mai. “I’ll leave her in your care. I'll be back after speaking to my father."

Then turning to Tobirama he addressed her, “you will receive good care with us, I will be back shortly," and with that he turned and left.