Childhood IV
Chapter 4
Uchiha Tajima suppressed his chakra and stilled high above the ground so he could watch his son train. Madara was dutiful and had matured after the death of Kagami but he was still a four year old boy. Sure chakra allowed his brain to develop faster then a civilian’s and he was smart, perhaps even a genius by civilian standards but by shinobi standards, with minds and reflexes bolstered by chakra he wasn’t anything special, at least not yet.
Talent mattered in the beginning but it was hard work, experience and dedication that made the difference between a legend and another face in the crowd. In twenty years time, the gap between Kagami and Madara would have narrowed, sure his daughter’s genius would have given her an edge over less gifted but equally well trained and experienced foes but that was all.
A flash of soft green light caught Tajima by surprise and he watched as girl about Madara’s age appeared from thin air. Her pink hair was almost opalescent, even in the shade, glistening like liquid pearl and her eyes were so vividly emerald that even from his spot up in the trees they stood out. ‘A youkai?’ He watched as her and Madara began to talk and frowned. The girl definitely wasn’t a spy, he could feel the remnants of Madara’s chakra within her, proof her chakra had only been activated yesterday.
Tajima silently observed the two children interact. Whatever this Sakura was, she held no ill intent. Watching her with his sharingan, he could see her chakra was open and unguarded. She appeared human to his crimson eyes, despite her form of arrival and something about her chakra was vaguely familiar. Tajima watched with interest as Madara began to teach the girl the basics and smiled. Teaching others was a good way to reinforce your own abilities and since the girl wasn’t a threat, he simply had to ensure she didn’t wander away to their enemies with what she learned.
‘Not that our fighting style is a secret.’ Tajima mused because unlike the civilian misconceptions about taijutsu, you couldn’t simply steal it and then analyze its weaknesses. The Uchiha style was a mishmash, with different stances for different situations and a wide mix of strikes ranging from light, fast blows to crushingly powerful attacks. Their bukijutsu was equally varied and had been honed over the thousand years the clan had existed until it was more of a way of viewing a fight and reacting accordingly then a rigid style, at least at the level of mastery.
Tajima watched as the girl began learning to control her chakra for punches and tilted his head. ‘That’s unusual.’ He made a mental note of how pliable the rosette’s chakra was. It answered her calls eagerly, flowing in a smooth and stead pattern, like water through the channels in her body, yet when she struck it hardened and amplified the force, becoming rigid like stone. Learning to get the timing right was difficult and the only person Tajima had ever seen master such a thing on their first try was Kagami.
‘What to do about the girl.’ Tajima mused as Sakura tried again and struck the tree before glancing towards his son. Madara was diligently practicing, his swings coming a bit more naturally now that he wasn’t stressing over every movement. The pressure Madara was under was immense and it was truly unfair. Nobody was like Uchiha Kagami, nobody could be like her either. His daughter had been an aberration, a youkai reincarnated as a human or a divine soul sent to be the salvation of the clan. The task of filling in for her absence was impossible, superhuman and it was crushing his son.
Flames of black rage spilled into Tajima’s veins as his chakra burned hot. Demonic chakra formed in his brain and raced down his neurons, his eyes spinning into pinwheels as he forced them shut and gripped his chakra with an iron will. The Senju had taken far too much from him and had already irrevocably harmed his son who had yet to even see battle. Gritting his teeth, Tajima took in a deep breath and let his anger calm, it was a herculean task but he was the head of the Uchiha. It was his job, his duty, to control the flames of his clan and tend to them.
Opening his eyes just a crack as his chakra began to settle, Tajima watched the rosette fill her body with chakra. It was a shortcut that most fell back on but it was far weaker then cycling your chakra at the moment of impact. To come across the shortcut was a sign of intelligence and Tajima silently approved of his son’s choice of acquaintances. The girl drew her guard up and then threw her fist forward. His eyes were already in their mangekyo state so he saw the chakra within her core come to life, despite the fact she held the power in her body stable and then unleashed it in a sharp punch.
Even from where he was standing, high up in the trees, Tajima heard the crack of bark crumbling under chakra enhanced knuckles. He also saw the girl’s chakra clearly, she had two chakra within her body, though one was mostly dormant, it activated for just the moment she struck. ‘She’s a Hagoromo.’ Tajima realized and held a hand to his chin as he thought on that fact. The clan had been allied with the Uchiha before their destruction, yet that didn’t explain how the girl had arrived here. It also didn’t explain her teeth, the Hagoromo weren’t from Mizu no Kuni, where such teeth were common.
‘What is she?’ Tajima wondered as he watched his son consider the girl’s accomplishment. The boy drew up his own fists and Tajima watched him with pinwheel eyes as Madara threw his fist forward. The boy’s body hummed with a secondary chakra and Tajima realized it belonged to the girl. He knew of no clan that could accomplish such a thing. If anything it should have scorched his son’s network, yet instead it helped Madara control his chakra. ‘Are they sharing chakra attributes? The girl’s control was passed to Madara.’ Tajima thought as he dropped down from the trees, no longer content with just watching.
“How did I do that?” Madara wondered aloud and Tajima couldn’t help the amused smirk that danced over his lips.
“That is a very good question.” He answered and watched as Madara went pale, his face contorting with shock before his eyes darted to Sakura, worry written all over him. The rosette paused and looked over, suddenly becoming shy as she tilted her head forward and hid behind her jagged bangs. “Madara?”
“She’s not a Senju! Or dangerous, I just, we’re training together.” Madara stammered and Tajima hummed, looking towards the girl who was doing her best to melt into the background. She didn’t physically move but somehow she made herself seem small and inconsequential, much like the civilian women of the royal harem. Tajima had always loathed such wanton displays of submission and while common folk should defer to their superiors, such dramatically deferential behavior came across as insincere or desperate. Humans should never be so quick to abandon their pride, nor so rigid as to defend it at all costs. They weren’t animals after all.
“I can see that,” Tajima looked over the girl and narrowed his eyes. “Sakura, right? Stand straight, you’re making a fool of yourself.” Tajima barked and watched as the girl’s eyes widened and then she practically transformed before him. Her back went rigid, her face, still a bit too pale, became mostly blank, though he could still see nerves tugging her lips downward and her eyes radiated fear. Her posture was more akin to the wife of a civilian lord now or perhaps a woman of the other shinobi clans who were kept from battle but expected to know self discipline if nothing else.
A glance to her hand with his sharingan showed Tajima the girl had the same seal on her left hand that Madara did. They were matching, and each seal held a bit of the other’s chakra. He had never seen such a thing before but it didn’t appear harmful, in fact it seemed to be beneficial though it would have consequences for the both of them as they grew, especially since the girl would be exposed to the unique chakra of the Uchiha.
‘I need to be certain she’s not a threat.’ Tajima thought and met the girl’s eyes, his own spinning first crimson, three tomoe appearing before morphing into his unique mangekyo. He sent his chakra forward and took hold of the girl’s chakra, like one would hold a child’s hand as they threw a tantrum, firm but gentle so there would be no bruising or pain. His chakra gathered and flew across the air between them. For a moment there was resistance and then, he was inside her mind.
A blank void stretched out in all directions, endless and utterly devoid of light. Tajima shivered slightly because the air here was cold and smelled of stone, wood and must. ‘A child’s mind shouldn’t be like this.’ He thought quietly, eyes shifting as he observed the blank void. An outline of white caught his attention as a small girl, a mirror of the one whose mind he was within looked up at him with a glare.
“What do you want?!” The girl chirped, doing her best to look threatening. With her all white eyes that peered through long uneven bangs and sharp teeth, she could perhaps have scared those with less knowledge of the Hagoromo but this wasn’t the first time Tajima had encountered such a being.
“I need to know that you aren’t a threat to my clan. I intend you no harm, I just need to see.” Tajima could easily overwhelm the mental guardian, the second soul that lived within the descendants of the Hagoromo clan. The girl’s mind was untrained in their arts, there were no defenses or obstacles besides her innate gift. It was obvious she wasn’t even aware of what she was.
“Can I keep playing with Madara if I do? This might be a dream but I like this dream.” The girl’s guardian said and Tajima’s lips quirked up into a smile. The girl’s bloodline wasn’t a dojutsu and thus would be easily compatible with the sharingan. He would be more then willing to take her in if she proved harmless and perhaps she could even become an asset. She was already a companion for his son who needed a peer and one day, perhaps she could be more then that. He had been considering several marriage contracts for his sons already, but perhaps he could wait and see how things turned out with the Hagoromo stray for a few years.
“Yes, you can but only if you let me see everything.” Tajima said and the guardian hesitated before giving him a slight nod. He could feel its presence dim slightly, though it remained ready in case he tried to cause harm.
Moving forward, he let the girl’s recently memories flicker through his eyes. He saw a strange village, a civilian clan and parents who had no right having children. Sure Tajima was harsh with his son but it was from necessity. Madara had to be strong enough to survive and master his own emotions before they devoured him in. The Haruno clan were just cruel and the reason why her mind was a pitch black void caused his blood to boil. She’d been repeatedly locked in a pitch black cellar when she angered the Haruno heads. No child should be punished in such a way.
“Alright, you can keep meeting up with Madara, though you’ll be joining him properly from now on.” Tajima said to the guardian once he was done and prepared to withdraw his chakra. Retracting his probe, Tajima expected his attention to return to the waking world but instead he felt a presence, vast and endless swallow him whole. It felt sacred and all encompassing, as if the chakra of the world itself had focused itself upon him.
“The child of war and a child of chance shall meet. Together they will face the war between the chosen son and the other son. Upon their actions rests the fate of those who tend the flames for they shall break the lunar maiden’s curse or succumb to it.” The words echoed in Tajima’s mind as he was thrown back into his body, the forest clearing becoming instantly visible and a warm breeze rustling his bangs.
‘The girl is the child of chance then.’ Tajima thought and looked towards his son. It hurt in a way he couldn’t describe to admit his son was a child of war. In a year Madara would see battle, from afar, but he would walk the killing fields, ferrying supplies and finding wounded. He wouldn’t be expected to fight, but he would witness death and perhaps even die if the Senju discovered whose son he was. ‘And my son is the child of war.’
Tajima looked at the girl and could not deny she was a child of chance. There was nothing special about her. Sure her chakra control was exceptional, but all Hagoromo had good chakra control and her reserves were so small it was almost expected they would be easy to command. ‘We’ll have to build those up. Stamina is crucial and if she’s going to walk alongside Madara she has to be able to match his power.’ Tajima wasn’t sure what to make of the girl, but she was, in a way, a divine gift. She wasn’t Kagami but perhaps Madara and Sakura together could shoulder the burden of replacing her.
***
“Sakura-chan,” Sakura flinched slightly as the man who looked so much like Madara spoke. His voice was warm and kind. The rosette nervously met his now onyx gaze which was identical to Madara’s. A small smile tugged the corners of his mouth upwards and the corners of his eyes creased ever so slightly. He was young for a parent, perhaps 28 or thirty at the oldest, yet there was an age to his eyes and a weight to his smile that made him seem decades older.
“What um, uh…” Sakura realized she didn’t even know how to address the man. He was clearly important, but his identity and status were a mystery. Still she kept her back straight even as she partially hid behind her bangs.
“I am Uchiha Tajima.” Tajima saw the moment his son realized he had given their clan name. Such a thing was a big deal as most clans didn’t attack on sight, unless their hands were forced. Even Uchiha and Senju teams would often ignore the other if nobody shared any names.
“Um H-” Sakura began to speak and Tajima waved his hand silencing her.
“Just Sakura, you will not give anyone your family name.” Tajima ordered and Sakura swallowed nervously. There was a gravitas to him that her parents lacked. Tajima had no need for threats or physical bullying, his mere presence was enough. “I think, for the rest of the day I will oversee your training.”
“Chichiue?” Madara asked carefully and Sakura could feel her friend’s chakra twitching nervously, like a flame popping and crackling as it burnt through green wood.
“It is alright Madara, I approve. She will be taken in as a ward of the clan. I will discuss it with the elders tonight.” Tajima’s words caused Madara to pause, his face going blank before a massive grin pulled his cheeks taught.
“Did you hear that Sakura-chan! We can keep practicing and I can keep teaching you.” Madara exclaimed and Sakura felt a wave of relief wash over her. She’d been terrified that Madara’s father would chase her off. It wouldn’t have been the first time such a thing happened after all.
“Indeed and when she catches up to you, I’ll teach the both of you. Now back to your kata Madara, and Sakura you have to practice your punches.” Tajima chided gently, smiling at the two children who chorused their agreement and returned to their respective tasks.
Sakura faced the tree she had punched several times already and brought up her hands. Before she could strike however, Tajima caught her fist and gently began winding bandages over her knuckles.
“You may be training to become a warrior, but there is no need to overdo things on your second day. Your skin will toughen under bandages and it will hurt less.” Tajima explained, his voice soft as he carefully wrapped Sakura’s right hand, then her left. She was nothing like Kagami, her pale, rosy features just as foreign to the natives of Hi no Kuni as the dark skinned shinobi of Kaminari, yet Tajima couldn’t help but feel nostalgia as the girl’s wide emerald eyes watched him as he went about ensuring she wouldn’t bloody her knuckles.
“All done, go on now.” Tajima ordered and Sakura gave him a jerky nod before turning to the tree. She began to punch it, exchanging fists and going through the four basic punches as he watched. The man moved back and settled down on some exposed roots, pulling out a report on Senju activity in a neighboring region while the two children trained.
Sakura tried not to show her nerves as she punched the tree. She had seen Tajima’s eyes turn red and then spin into a kaleidoscope pattern of black and red. It was beautiful, yet scary and she had felt his chakra enter her mind. She vaguely remembered him asking permission, which she had given and she had passed whatever test he had in mind. A glance towards Madara showed he was just as shaken as she was, though he hid it better.
The boy gave her a nod, his spiky hair swaying with the motion and Sakura rallied her courage. Friends overcame hardships together and for Madara she could withstand the scrutiny of his father. It was only fair, after all parents had a say in who their children were friends with. More often then not they used that say to ban Sakura from interacting with their kids, in fact just the other day she’d been slapped alongside a shrieked ‘Chigiri!’ Yet Tajima made no move to drive her off, he had even wrapped her hands.
“Thank you.” Sakura said quietly, suddenly realizing just how ungrateful she’d been. In her nervousness, she hadn’t even thanked the man properly.
“You’re a friend of Madara’s, think nothing of it.” Tajima replied, waving her worries away and giving her a small but genuine smile. Sakura felt her mouth fall open and gaped at Tajima for several long seconds before she forced it closed.
“Um thank you very much!” Sakura shouted and bowed dramatically, overwhelmed by how kind Tajima was. She’d never had an adult show this much compassion towards her and she felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment as Madara gave her a confused look. The boy glanced towards his father and the two seemed to speak with their eyes before Madara walked over to her.
“So, want to learn how to kick as well? So you could rotate your attacks.” Madara suggested and Sakura was grateful for the sudden change in topic. “Here, this is a low kick.” Madara said and kicked the tree. “The goal is to disrupt your opponent’s balance, okay?”
“Okay,” Sakura nodded and kicked the tree gently. She paused and looked down at her bare feet before frowning. “I don’t have shoes.”
“Or proper clothes for training.” Tajima replied and scratched his head as he looked over the girl. Sakura didn’t remember how she arrived, she had gotten into bed and closed her eyes, preparing to sleep when she’d tumbled into the clearing. She was fairly certain this was all a dream, but she wasn’t rude and she desperately wanted friends so dream or not, she was determined to keep Madara.
“Um, that’s okay though.” Sakura mumbled and hoped Tajima wouldn’t get angry with her. She knew her adoptive parents certainly would get mad but Tajima just chuckled and waved off her concerns.
“Don’t worry Sakura-chan, just focus on your practice.” Tajima replied and Sakura gave him a jerky nod. She took a deep breath to bolster herself and pulled up her guard, cycling through the various punches and occasionally throwing a kick. Her toes stung as the bark bit at her skin and the bones felt jarred and numb from repeated strikes but she pushed through the discomfort because she was having a surprising amount of fun. There was something exciting about kicking, punching and trying to master her body that put a grin on Sakura’s face.
When lunch rolled around, Tajima disappeared briefly before returning with food. Sakura quickly joined Madara on a large root as the two began to eat. Tajima ate nearby, but didn’t crowd the children, which Sakura was silently grateful for. The rosette chewed her food slowly, enjoying the surprisingly well seasoned rice balls which were filled with fresh caught, grilled river fish. Her eyes narrowed with pleasure as she shredded the soft flesh of the fish and she felt Tajima’s eyes on her. His slight smile put any fears she had to rest, but apparently Madara had noticed her unease.
“It’s alright Sakura,” Madara said softly and Sakura turned to face her friend. “You know you don’t need to be nervous.”
“I just, I’ve never had a friend before.” Sakura said softly and Madara nodded in understanding. Sakura could tell this was new for him to. He had been training alone after all and why would anyone train alone if it was so much fun to learn with friends?
“Well since you’re going to be a ward of the Uchiha, you need to learn how to be confident!” Madara said and Sakura blinked and watched as he stood up, already done with his food. “Uchiha are the strongest clan in the elemental nations! In fact we’re going to unite Hi no Kuni when we defeat the Senju and bring peace back to the world.” Madara said and Sakura couldn’t help but believe him. She knew the Uchiha clan and the Senju clan had made peace and the Senju weren’t in Konohagakure anymore, so perhaps Madara was right.
‘Is this a historical dream?’ Sakura wondered, curious over exactly why she was dreaming such things.
“So, you understand why you have to be more confident right?” Madara asked and Sakura realized she’d let her thoughts wander.
“Um, because if I’m shy and nervous it’ll look bad for the clan?” Sakura guessed and Madara let out a huff.
“Yes, wait no! Maybe? I mean it’s not about looking good or bad. You have a responsibility you know? You have to be strong and confident so others can rely on you. We’re the head family, my father is the clan leader and one day I will be. As my friend, you’ll stand next to me so you have to be confident to.” Madara’s words made sense and Sakura considered them carefully. She wanted to be Madara’s friend but being his friend came with a certain responsibility. Then again, he was teaching her his family’s techniques and Tajima was willing to take her in.
‘Perhaps, I could stay here?’ Sakura glanced towards Tajima who was currently reading a scroll. The man sensed her gaze and looked over, an inky black eyebrow arching in question.
“Um, alright I’ll work on being c-confident.” It wasn’t a great start, as Sakura stuttered from nerves but Tajima gave her a small nod of encouragement.
“These things take time,” Tajima said, considering the two children as he spoke. “You have to do your best and constantly monitor yourself. Act confident, push your boundaries and eventually your tolerance will improve. Confidence, like any skill improves with practice after all. I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it.”
“Thank you Tajima-sama.” Sakura gave the man a light bow and Tajima let out a small sigh.
“Tajima-san or chichiue, this isn’t the daimyo’s court.” Tajima replied and Sakura couldn’t help but be surprised. The Uchiha were a powerful clan, well above the Haruno in standing and Tajima had just given her permission to call him honored father.
“Um, then Tajima-san.” Sakura hedged, unable to bring herself to call the man father just yet.
“Very well,” Tajima rose to his feet and pocketed his scroll. “You two should follow me, it is getting late and we have to introduce Sakura to the clan elders. Before we leave the forest though, Sakura you need to hide your hair.”
“Hide my hair?” Sakura asked and Tajima gave her a nod.
“Indeed, it’s far too noticeable. I don’t want the Senju’s spies catching wind of you or they might target you.” Tajima explained and Sakura nodded, because even if this was a dream it would be good practice for when she became a shinobi. “Do you know hand signs?”
“No,” Sakura answered and Tajima held up his hands so she could see.
“Here, dog, boar and then ram. Do them quickly but accurately.” Tajima explained and Sakura felt his eyes on her as she made the hand signs. Nothing happened when she finished and she ran through them a few times until they felt a bit more fluid. “Good, now we’ll add chakra. Picture your hair and eyes looking like Madara’s and mine.”
Tajima used the transformation jutsu, his own hair becoming long like Sakura’s and she watched his chakra flow through his body, weaving a tangible illusion over him. She couldn’t see through the illusion once it was formed but something in the back of her mind was telling her the hair wasn’t real.
“Now you try.” Tajima ordered and Sakura brought her hands together and let her chakra flow through them.
“Dog, boar, ram,” Sakura murmured and pulsed her chakra like Tajima had, picturing her hair and eyes turning black. A puff of smoke surrounded her and she felt a drain in her core as the jutsu took. When it cleared, Sakura’s hair was now shiny black, almost blue hair in color. It was spiky, like Madara’s and her onyx eyes were a perfect match of the young Uchiha’s. Still even with the classic hair and eyes, she didn’t look like an Uchiha or at least a pureblooded member of the clan. She might be able to pass as the daughter of an Uchiha and a foreigner, which was good enough.
“Good, now can you feel the chakra forming the illusion?” Tajima asked and Sakura didn’t even need to focus to feel the flow of her chakra. There was some leaking away but most of it was wrapped around her hair and eyes, forming a tight weave that hid her true appearance and gave substance to the illusion. “Use as little chakra to maintain the technique as possible and don’t let it drop. It’ll be like sticking a leaf to your forehead and then walking around with it.”
“Okay,” Sakura nodded dutifully and then followed Tajima as the man lead them through the forest.
“You getting tired?” Madara asked with some concern as they walked over the rough ground. The earth was soft and damp while the tree roots made it uneven and difficult to set a steady pace. With bare feet it was a challenge just to avoid any sharp rocks.
“I’m alright.” Sakura answered, channeling just a bit of chakra through her body to boost her muscles which were burning from exertion. In truth she’d never been so tired before but she still had some chakra left and they crossed the rice fields then entered the Uchiha’s fortress well before she ran out. Reaching the innermost courtyard, Sakura followed Tajima into a large building set up near the keep.
‘Everything is so traditional.’ Sakura thought, looking at the rush candles and the utter lack of electronic devices. It was strange how accurate her dream was, there weren’t even any watches or light bulbs to ruin the immersion. ‘What if it’s not a dream?’ Sakura wondered then dismissed the idea because what else could it be?
Entering a large room, Sakura found herself, Tajima and Madara suddenly the center of attention. A group of men and women, none of whom looked a day over forty were currently pouring over maps and documents. There were ten of them in total and all of them had hardened eyes and grim faces as they looked towards the newcomers.
“Elders,” Tajima’s voice cut across the silent room and he looked towards Sakura. “I have something to announce.”
“Well don’t keep us waiting Tajima.” A woman with graying hair and eyes that looked like they were slowly being bleached white snapped, though there was no ill humor in her tone, just impatience. She didn’t look all that old, perhaps early forties, yet her hair and eyes looked like they belonged to a woman much, much older.
“This is Sakura, Sakura release the transformation.” Tajima said and Sakura pulled her chakra back into herself, revealing her pink hair and emerald eyes. Silence filled the room as the ten Uchiha elders looked at her curiously, their eyes spinning into sharingan to combat the damage caused by the mangekyo. “I have checked her for subterfuge. She is no threat to us and in desperate need of a loving home. Because of this I have decided to take her as a ward.”
“You do not need our permission for that.” The woman pointed out and Tajima nodded in agreement because she was right.
“Indeed Ryuko, but I intend to train her to be Madara’s second.” Tajima had taken the words he’d heard within the girl’s mind to heart. She was important, as was his son and the two of them were faced with a cruel destiny. The burden of the clan was enough to break a man’s back and they were saddled with that and so much more. Worse, Sakura and Madara weren’t prodigies, they were motivated and they had their own talents but they would need each other for the trials to come.
“Are you aware that she is not of our clan.” Ryuko asked sarcastically, though her lips twitched upwards into an amused smile. There was a tension in the room that hadn’t been there a moment prior, though it was clear nobody was about to revolt against Tajima’s decision, merely question it.
“Yes, but she is a divine gift. I saw her appear from thin air and her chakra is bound to my son’s. The heavens have brought the two together and I am not one to argue with the kami. Izuna will remain the heir if Madara passes but she will be his second, not Izuna.” Tajima’s words seemed to settle things and Ryuko who appeared to speak for the council gave him a nod.
“Very well, is that all? The Senju have allied with the three clans against the Hatake and we’re currently reviewing the possibilities of a counter alliance. Their wolves are a powerful force in battle after all.” Ryuko explained and Tajima nodded, leading the two children out of the room.
“Now then, Madara why don’t you take Sakura to your room? I’ll have one set up for her tomorrow but today you two can sleep together.” Tajima told the kids and Sakura let Madara drag her from the building and into the keep. She had never been in a castle before and every turn and corner brought new sights. Apparently Madara lived towards the top of the castle and the two settled in to wait for dinner.
“Hey Sakura, we should get you washed off.” Madara realized and Sakura looked at her stained sleep yukata and dirty feet.
“Oh, yeah, my parents would be really mad if they saw me like this. I’d get locked in the cellar for a while.” Sakura realized aloud and missed the look of rage that flashed over Madara’s face.
“Well, you don’t have to worry about them anymore! Because Chichiue has adopted you, or well, you’re a ward now which is sort of the same thing. What matters is we’re your family now.” Madara nodded to himself and flashed her a grin, which she easily matched.
“You know, I wish this wasn’t a dream.” Sakura blurted out and Madara frowned at her.
“It’s not though?” Madara replied, internally wondering if Sakura thought her time on earth was just a dream. It was probably very confusing for a tennyo such as herself to suddenly appear on the mortal plane after all and considering her roughed up hands and feet, she could clearly be injured here, though she hadn’t once complained.
“Oh, well I’m pretty sure it is but if it’s not that’d be nice. I mean I have to go back home or my parents will send out search parties but I wish I didn’t have to. It’s much nicer here.” Sakura admitted and Madara nodded in solidarity. Sakura let out a sigh and shook her head, pushing the concerns and confusion aside. “So um, should we tell the servants to prepare a bath?”
“Sure, give me a moment.” Madara wasn’t surprised to hear Sakura was used to such things. She was a hime after all and soon enough the two were preparing to bathe then eat a nice dinner together while Tajima made plans for their future.