Eye of Agni
For years, Madara - deceased son of the fire lord, former Clan Head of the Uchiha - combed through both the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom to find any news of the person the spirits sent to help him in this world. Unfortunately, there's no one better than the Senju Demon when it comes to toppling political groups.
That didn't mean Madara had to be happy about it. Needless to say, his search was....... lackluster.
Yes, he knew that - logically speaking - the icy prick would be in the Water Tribes. However, traveling to opposite ends if the globe is both time-consuming and freakishly expensive. Besides, merchants were happy to talk when given a little.... encouragement.
It wasn't until Madara reached the independent state of Bijalee just north of the Earth Kingdom that he heard anything. Madara spoke with an old merchant that had just came from the Northern Water Tribe - an old man with a face that reminded Madara of tree bark.
The merchant, whose name was Rahul, had told Madara about the Northern Tribe's princess - someone he'd only seen from a distance, but it's hard to miss bright white hair when it's so uncommon.
That little bit confused Madara. He was reincarnated biologically the same as his old life - he even had his sharingan - so was the Senju different? Perhaps the frosty asshat was more comfortable as a girl?
It didn't really matter either way. A bastard's a bastard, but Madara - though he was loath to admit it- needed said bastard's help. So came operation 'steal a boat to get to the Northern Water Tribe because Madara's too broke to buy one.'
Actually, a small resupply boat from that sicko Zhao's fleet just pulled into port. And, Madara being Madara, he'd never miss a chance to fuck with Zhao.
Madara stalked watched the soldiers in charge of restocking the ship. Three transporting goods, one standing guard.
That's easy enough.
Madara followed one of the guards, posing as a sightseeing tourist, waiting until he was alone before knocking him out with a well-aimed rock.
Madara stripped the soldier of his armor and layered it on top of his own clothes before considering the unconscious man before him.
If he woke up and caused a scene, it'd cause trouble for not only him, but the Bijalee as well. And if he woke too soon.......
Madara crouched next to the soldier and snapped his neck with one quick move. He then emptied the supply crate - putting the supplies in the storage shed of a nearby orphanage - before shoving the body inside and moving to wheel it to the little ship.
Offering a nod to the guard, Madara wheeled his cart full of dead body below deck, noting the other soldier with a supply cart turning onto the dock. He'd have to hurry.
While below deck, Madara considered the knife at his hip and the exposed strip of neck on the soldier in front of him.
No.
That'd get blood all over the supplies - supplies he'd need to get to the North Pole.
Well, he didn't need all of them, but still.
He knocked this one out with a ration bar that seemed more akin to a brick, before snapping his neck too. He then propped this body up against the box containing the other body.
Now to wait for the last supply gofer.
...
And wait.
...
Alright, what the hell?
Madara threw off the stupid helmet, pulled his hair out of the kami-damned armor - he had too much to tie it in a bun and have it fit under the helmet - and marched above deck. Where he then saw someone in a dark brown travelers cloak with a golden, bejeweled dagger buried into a soldier's neck - as well as a crumpled heap of dead body on the dock.
Madara's brow twitched and it took all of his self-control to not send a hulking mass of fire towards whoever interrupted his incredibly thought-out plan.
At least it was starting to get dark.
"What, pray tell," He ground out, "Are you doing here?"
A smooth, demanding voice spoke from under the hood, "I'm taking over this pathetic excuse for a boat, what does it look like?"
Madara felt smoke starting to rise from his hair, "I think the fuck not. I was here first - I get the dorky boat."
Madara watched as the figure pulled the dagger from the soldier's neck and crossed their arms, unphased by the blood pooling at their feet, "Well I killed these two, so I should get it."
Madara huffed a few sparks, "I killed the two below deck."
He could feel the figure's glare, "Well, what's so important that you need it for?"
Madara's eyes narrowed, "It's rude to ask something like that without giving your reasons first."
The figure snorted, "I just st need to get out of this damn place."
Madara quirked a brow, an annoyed twitch pulling his lips down, "Then why not just ask to come with me?"
They waved a gloved hand in an exasperated gesture, "You look like you come from the Fire Nation mainland. I might not know why you're killing your own, but I know better than to travel with one of you."
The dead Fire Prince glared, "Don't lump me in with the shit lord and his stupid ass cult."
A considering pause from the figure, "Well, anyone that talks about Ozai like that can't be that bad."
Madara shrugged and moved to the helm, being sure to keep the figure in his line of sight. Worst comes to worst, he has his sharingan, "Oh no, I'm pretty bad. Just not genocidal."
Agni cried into Vayu's shoulder, "They're so dumb. That's literally my priestess and my chosen. Honey, how come I get all the dumb ones?"
Vayu sighed, sipped some tea, polished his flute, and pat his husband on the back. Having four arms is quite useful, "It's alright, love. Why not send a messenger? You still have one left this year, don't you?"
Agni lifted his head, brilliant red eyes sparkling, "You're a genius."
Aruna skeptically eyed the broad-shouldered man as he made his way to the helm of the stupid metal thing that couldn't be called a ship. He moved like a wary feline - fluid and practiced, not letting her from his sight.
She didn't trust him, not the slightest bit. He's pale and fine-faced, like a pure-blooded Fire Nation citizen, and he even spoke with an accent similar to a noble's.
Aruna wouldn't take any chances. She hurled the dagger at the man, just so that it would lodge itself in his throat.
But it didn't work - black eyes that seemed to swallow what little light remained turned blood red and the man grabbed the dagger long before it could so much as touch him.
Oh.
Oh shit.
A moment later, a messenger of Agni appeared - an eye of flame, floating between her and the man. The low, booming voice of the sun echoed throughout port, audible only to those Agni desired to hear.
Aruna took a knee, but the man stayed standing.
"High priestess Aruna, lightning sage of divinity. Former head of the Uchiha-"
Uchiha? Was that an underground group?
"-Madara, deceased son of the betrayer of the sun's will."
"Don't fucking call me that bastard's son. If you know of the Uchiha, you know my father is Tajima."
Did..... Did this man - Madara? - disrespect Agni? That- he shouldn't be alive! And 'Betrayer of the Sun's Will?' who'd betray Agni?
The messenger went quiet for a moment.
"My apologies, son of Tajima."
Oh hell no.
Hell fucking no.
Who was this man, Madara son of Tajima, to make Agni apologize?
Aruna must have spoken aloud, for the man called Madara pinned her with a blood and ink stare, "This little flame carries Agni's voice?"
Aruna, stunned, nodded.
Madara then turned to face the messenger, "So you're the reason I'm here?"
The burning eye was silent, as was Aruna - what did that mean? The reason he's here?
"I don't owe you anything. I'll find the Senju prick and fuck up the shit lord for you, but not as any sort of favor. I still serve Amaterasu, even if her divine majesty isn't here."
The eye of Agni sighed, "I expected as much, but I'm grateful for even that. But that's not why I'm here. You and my priestess Aruna must not fight so."
The messenger turned towards her, "Is that understood?"
Aruna bowed her head, "It is as you desire, radiant lord Agni. My will is your own."
The messenger hummed, "Thank Raava."
A moment later, it vanished - leaving the port to be consumed by darkness.
Madara son of Tajima crossed his arms, "Well that was fucking weird."