Rippling Tides ~ New Moon

~ Chapter 28 ~
~ Oasis Village - Lake Sakuya ~

In the dead of the evening, a young woman stands idle. Finished with calling the usual evening rain, in her most favorite place, Sakuya is at an impasse.

' Our first meeting as proper 'betrothed' is tomorrow.' Clutching a rich fragranced osmanthus blossom branch close, her thoughts of Madara are on the complicated side. On the one hand, Sakuya enjoys his presence and is generally unopposed to betrothal.

Sakuya wants to be at ease, knowing fully well, how "easy" she is getting off here. (So far as arranged unions can go, Sakuya's may as well be the lowest possible difficulty.) In her eyes, Madara seems to be a fundamentally good person, and admiring his passion. Truth be told she genuinely has no desire to rock any metaphorical boat.

Yet, on the other hand, the fact that it becomes "official" tomorrow afternoon... Well, things are suddenly a lot more "REAL".

' In about sixteen short hours the papers will be signed and I am "affianced". To claim she is completely unaffected by the upcoming event would be a gross lie and the uncharacteristically disquieted Sakuya is making no effort at such a charade.

Inhaling a deep calming breath, Sakuya counts her blessings. "I trust them implicitly... Shiro, Reiji especially. But even Father has proven himself to be kind-hearted and reliable. Perhaps that is why Mother loved him? Before Aika's seal...'

' Though I haven't known him long, I trust Kyou Uzumaki would never willingly permit harm to befall me. It's just... difficult. Yes, it's a bit simple, but "difficult" is the best word for this anxious feeling.' Sakuya mused quietly.

There at the edge of a beautiful, picturesque lakeshore, a place spanning a few good miles, this lake is quite a special place.

Born from Sakuya's vast and irregular power, it was appropriately named in her honor. Too bad the lake's majesty can't conceal the fact that she needs distraction and fast. "

Although Sakuya has an idea of how to proceed with said distractment, a part of her can't decide if she is willing to commit.

' This lake and the entire land of Oasis are seeped in my power. Brothers too, but most of their chakra is reserved for dealing with threats to our security.

' I know this and the people do as well. Transactional is the wrong word, but it would be disingenuous to claim a truly equal partnership is in existence.' Sakuya contemplated solemnly.

' Would it really be so "wrong" for me to claim a tiny piece for my use? Just one, it need not be anything big. I wouldn't be stealing something that already belongs.'

' Right here would be preferable, but nothing- I wonder. ' It's a dangerous thought. It's one thing to help the existing land flourish, but to alter the landscape on a physical foundation... ' That might be a bridge too far for their taste.'

" But do I even possess the ability?" Sakuya asked herself aloud. ' Hm, I understand that my Wood chakra is a fusion of Water element and Earth respectively…

" Plus an influx of Yin Chakra with a disproportional affinity leaning towards Yang Chakra, but that’s neither here nor there." Sakuya dismissed the urge to ramble.

' The point is that I have never actively attempted to "separate" them. Still, if I’m right it should be possible... The rain I call each day is surely proof of that.'

Now severely tempted, the once-in-a-generation beauty can think of nothing else. "Let's start small." Sakuya smiled at the thought.

On the lakeside, she focuses her energy outward. Beneath the silver moonlight, a tiny orb of chakra hovered delicately above her white jade palm.

The still waters begin to ripple.

~ The Land of Fire - neutral grounds~

A few short days prior.~

Madara is all but giddy with anticipation. He hasn't been in the "meeting of arbitration" long, but already his discussion with Hashirama Senju has gone more favorably than he dared hope.

Sure the matter of Daiki, the lord of the moon bear summons was (and remains) a sore spot, but the fact Hashirma isn't blaming HIM makes it worth the verbal lambasting he received from the Nara head.

' The hypocrite, he has the nerve to judge MY intentions. As if he didn't know full well what his men were organizing.' Madara thought coldly.

He is most unhappy with the new evidence suggesting the "rogue" assault on Uchiha territory wasn't so "spontaneous" as his old friend Hashirama initially believed. Not that it was any surprise to Madara.

' Such an obvious "revelation", I can't even gloat.'

' That enraging bit of confirmation aside, I was worried for nothing, of course, Hashirama would be reasonable... It's the others who are imbeciles. They think me so stupid as to ignore what's right in front of my eyes.

' Still, their willfully blind foolishness isn't some insurmountable obstacle, I can work around them. I WILL find conclusive, indisputable proof of EVERYONE involved and when I do- ' The Uchiha lord's vengeful thoughts are intruded by the sound of a name. Daiki.

' Ah yes, Lord Daiki," Madara mused. More bored than amused.

The topic of discussion, the moon bear in question has little interest in defending himself, only rolling over from his black-furred belly onto his back. The white crescent shape on his chest and shoulders is now less apparent.

A silent, yet perfectly clear and unabashed dismissal of the gathered shinobi. A flat rejection of any threat they might believe themselves to be.

"Do you humans mind? You are intruding upon a most wonderful winter nap." said Daiki irreverently.

His deep voice was quite matter a fact. As though he and his subjects HAVEN'T spent the last month greatly inconveniencing the locals and making an all-around nuisance of themselves.

Or at least those living on the Senju side of the river. The fact the headache has been limited to his rival's territory is a small mercy, but not one Madara or his clan trust to remain in perpetuity.

' Seriously?' Madara thought in annoyance. ' I don't exactly respect many of the people gathered here myself, but even I know to at LEAST fake it. If only for show, while in their immediate presence.'

An Inuzuka, an older man whose name Madara never could bring himself to care enough to bother learning, spoke first. "When exactly are you and your... family planning to leave? This our territory and you have no claim."

Daiki opens a single large brown eye and stares. Apparently fascinated that someone could be so... presumptuous.

Not getting where his companion failed, another voice interjects. A main branch Hyuga. "One without a valid claim is NOT welcome, make yourself scarce immediately."

After several moments of most uncomfortable silence, Daiki lowers himself enough to reply. "My claim as you put it, is that I WANT it. I can share of course, there is plenty of space... But if you are going to try "pulling rank" on me..."

Before their eyes, the already grotesquely large moon bear more than quintuples in size. "I don't mind defending myself. Neither do my adorable kin." His booming voice radiated lethal intent.

Indeed, all about the vicinity, more moon bears of varying degreeing sizes flicker into their presence. Their massive clawed paws looked ready and willing to meet flesh.

'More than triple the estimated number our scouts reported. Not good. '

Although reaquainting himself with Daiki's massive maw is less intimidating than Madara expected, it's still not a sight he ever hoped to be on the receiving end.

Thankfully, before he needed to directly interject his own thoughts, the voice of Hashirama speaks up.

"Now, now, that won't be necessary. You know the old saying, the more the merrier. We welcome our new neighbors with open arms." The man's voice is cheery, but knowing him so well, Madara recognizes the tinge of unease.

Whatever Hashirama was expecting, a direct threat wasn't it.

' Fair enough' thought Madara. For although if things came to blows, Hashirama himself (and Madara too) would surely walk away relatively unscathed, their allies would not be fortunate.

' Bringing them was a mistake,' Madara belatedly realized. 'Hashirama would have been acceptable, diplomacy is HIS arena. But these idiots should have been kept FAR away.'

Indeed, as the seconds drift on, the clan heads gradually reach the same conclusion. Though how they justify it to themselves may vary, at the end of the day, their lack of self-awareness succeeded in nothing but antagonizing Daiki.

"Is there anything we can offer to amend this grievous miscommunication? We want to be welcoming." implored Hashirama. His tone held only a hint of caution.

Something resembling a smile overtakes Daiki's cruel maw. "As a matter of fact there is," he said eagerly.

"The Aburmame clan have a very rare poisonous insect. A parasite that is deadly to you what with your lesser bodies, but to us Moon Bears, that very same poison is a most delectable flavoring. The Kochu." Daiki was practically drooling at the word.

"Absolutely not! It's insulting enough you-" said a visored woman's voice, Madara assumed her to be Shoko, the Aburame matriarch. Yet her heated objection was quickly overruled by Hashirama.

"Give him what they want. That is NOT a polite request." Hashirama's order left no argument, but Madara suspects, the humiliation the Aburame matriarch must be feeling will not go unanswered.

~
A few hours later

In the Uchiha stronghold, fresh off another round of experiments with Kagami and the last bit of chakra fruit, Izuna is lending an ear to his older brother's woe.

"That bad hm? Well, it can't be helped, at least they comprehend it isn't our fault." replied Izuna attentively.

"Ideally, but really Little Brother, I only hope that Aburame woman doesn't take this out on Hashirama. I know it was most degrading on her clan, but even though he gave the unsavory order the ones at fault are the Hyuga and the Inuzuka lords."

"I'm sure she'll see reason, from what you said, this Lady Shoko Aburame was one of the few present with enough of a functioning brain to keep her mouth shut around the dangerous moon bear. The Nara's silence doesn't count." Izuna's assessment is perhaps a tad overly optimistic here, but he has a good feeling.

And speaking of optimism, he has good news for Madara. "By the way, while you were busy Ruki dropped by. Aside from my "candy" as the cutie calls it, he also had this for you."

Handing his brother a pristinely folded letter, even without knowing it was delivered by Ruki, Madara would recognize the elegant handwriting of the kanji spelling out his name.

Devouring the contents, Madara is pleased by what the letter conveyed. A cautious, but thoroughly optimistic yes. Confirmation from Sakuya that she accepts his invitation to meet privately and of her own free will.

' Well that eases one worry, her choice of words; "I hope the two of us can create a bond of passion rivaling that of the original version of the Firebird's Arashi and Resea" reflects an ambitious desire, but Madara isn't opposed.

"So direct of her. I'm no opera connoisseur but even I'm familiar with the Firebird tale and its overall gist." Madara murmured. "In a way, this is a flattering thought. Knowing Sakuya has such high hopes."

Having read over his shoulder, Izuna concurs. "She is certainly a bold one. Passionate indeed, though with her deliberate emphasis regarding the "original Arashi" I assume that means she won't tolerate flirting with others." He easily read between the lines of Sakuya's message.

" As if that would be an issue," Madara admitted plainly. "I have enough difficulty speaking with her without embarrassing myself. For the foreseeable future, charm and wit are likely off the table entirely." he conceded with a light chuckle at his own expense. His pride is willing to let it drop.

~

Oasis Village, the approaching of dawn. The first crack of sunlight is not yet visible, yet Sakuya is nearly complete.

Taking another careful look around, Sakuya can barely believe the results of her own handy work.

Connecting from the lakeside orchard's shallow edge is now a rather narrow bridge-like path.

Connecting slightly under a third of the way across Lake Sakuya's Lake, the new passage is paved with tiny blooms of flowering Osmanthus bushes. Mostly white in color, but there are other vivid colors including orange, yellow and red scattered about too.

More importantly the path directly merges into a new island of considerable size.

Although Sakuya excitedly notes that the final "product" loosely resembles the famous Uchiha fan making up their crest, what really has her attention is the possibilities of what could be built.

' I hopd Madara will be flattered, but there's so much more to consider here.

A home is an easy choice. The manor is lovely and large enough to house several generations of their family, but Shiro and Reiji also deserve space... At least for a while especially with Yuukina-'

' Maybe not, why fix a living arrangement that isn't broken?

' I'll definitely reserve space for a home here, but let's first prioritize something as many people can enjoy as possible.'

' A grand theater for sure, but I'm positive there is room for more... and oh my it's later than I realized.'

Though noting her sleepiness, Sakuya is too excited by her success to be ashamed.

"Still, with how busy the day is going to be, I better head home."

Approaching the connecting "bridge" leading back to shore, Sakuya falters. A giddy sort of feeling like that of stepping upon a tightrope.

"So this is what they mean by a crossroads." Inhaling deeply she takes her first step into an uncertain new life.

In Sakuya's heart, a melody flows forth. Though out of consideration for the early hour, she keeps it mostly silent, as she crosses the new bridge the symbolic words ceaselessly touch her heart.

' Look at the sky, Full Moon on the waters.

' Newly born bridge... Uzumaki daughter, who could have known?

' I'd be alone crossing this bridge?

'Sun rising forth, shadows slipping away

' A Shimmering view, Dangerous too

Halfway between, where I've been and where I'm going...

"Do I turn back or go on? There's no way of knowing..."

' New dawn on the, Breezes are sighing'

' Birds on the wing, where are they flying?

"Some coming home, some taking flight, we're all in midair on this most beautiful night"

"I'll breathe in and hold tight"

Halfway between all I've lost and all I'm learning

All for the hope and the cause, a family uniting

Thousands of stars, beaming so brightly

' A Family that waits, family who know me'

' I have my loved ones, my lakeside, my one true home'

"And a breeze that's a whisper, it's almost a prayer"

'Meet you right there...'

' Every star is like a promise, every star could be a sign'

"One of them... might be mine."

~ After ~

Exiting the bridge, Sakuya greets her family warmly.

It seems that at some point somebody must have noticed her absence from the manor.

Knowing her so well, wouldn't be difficult to find her, so they came here to the lakeside orchard and waited patiently.

' How kind, to not interrupt. I was on such roll, I probably couldn't have stopped if I tried.'

Bemused, Sakuya smiled fondly.

The content, hopeful shimmer in Sakuya Uzumaki's wide, silver eyes said more than her unvoiced song ever could.

~

As Sakuya makes it safely to shore, Reiji makes sure he is the first to hug her.

Whispering words of concern for well-being, he assures their dear 'Songbird' that although they aren't upset, some warning would be appreciated.

Call him clingy but for the Former Black Zetsu, it's well within "character", so to speak. Indeed his sister shows no sign of discomfort at Reiji's warmly expressed chastizment.

She promises to be more mindful in the future and whispers a tired thank you.

For in this new life Reiji has always presented himself as the most... free with his emotions.

Usually, in a manner that will only be perceived positively, (for appearances mean every bit as much to Reiji as they do for Shiro) he took Mother's words of living this "new life" as he wills with the most enthusiasm.

Reiji would say that overall he is doing exactly that.

While restraining his worst impulses is annoying the benefits have only been appreciated, from his wonderful Yuukina and their incoming "surprise" to his shockingly amicable developments with Kyou Uzumaki, (his human body's father) he has no actual complaints.

Seeing his elder identical brother Shiro, take his place in the embrace, Reiji relaxes. He hopes Yuuki is sleeping well.

Turning his head to his pacing father he says kindly, "She'll probably allow you too. Sakuya doesn't hate you, Father. None of us do.

"Not Knowing now that what occurred on Uzushio wasn't your doing."

The blood-red-headed man stills. "I... I know. But wasn't it?

"I wasn't in my right mind, but my actions were my own."

He smiles shakily

"You three have been understanding, and though I love you for it, part of me hates it.

"Anger would be easier to deal with. At least I'd deserve that treatment"

Again he pauses, the racing turmoil in Kyou's mind is both concerning to Reiji and just a little fascinating to behold.

'Still, this needs to be addressed.

' We've already put him through the emotional wringer, no need to drag this drama out.

There's no tangible benefit and what's worse, it's simply not juicy enough to bother with.'

' Yes, as Shiro would say, it's better for everyone to move forward.'

His choice made, Reiji looks their father in the eye. Silver meeting Uzumaki violet.

"I can't begin to imagine what you're feeling, Father. " Boy is that the truth.

"Waking up one day finding out your life was a lie, that you were long divorced from Aika and were tricked by her seal work into nearly murdering three children. Your children...

"Then there's the mess with Mother's remains." - A heavily abridged version of their manipulations, but why rub it in?

"Knowing you remember nothing of any of this...

"In all honestly, it's not something I ever WANT to understand." No lie there, Reiji has been so very careful with Yuukina, he'd never tolerate any threat to anyone in his family's perception and awareness.

"However, what I can do is assure you Father, is that you are handling it well. Most would have broken down, or avoided "the truth" at all costs, yet here you stand."

'Impressively so considering you were never meant to be involved. Shiro and I never believed you'd have a direct confrontation within you.' Reiji conceded inward.

He'd never say it aloud, but Reiji has grown a tiny bit of unexpected, albeit very genuine respect for Kyou's fortitude. His willingness to seek out answers, even knowing it would surely upend his way of life. Admittedly, Kyou will never be allowed that FULL truth, but this curated version is more than enough.

Gripping the man's shoulder gently, Reiji's words ease Kyou's burden, if only slightly.

"Just keep going forward. Take the steps you can manage, that's all anyone can do."

In the rising sun, the solidified Uzumaki family headed home. In the girl's exhaustion, questions regarding Sakuya's newly raised island are put off for consideration till tomorrow.

End, Rippling Tides~ New Moon. (Continued in Rippling Tides Waxing Crescent)