across the universe (I will find you)

“Isn’t Mito’s marriage enough? And what about Touka? She’s still unmarried. Isn’t it her duty as a Senju to marry Uchiha Madara? Why should I be the one to marry him?”

Sansa tried very hard not to show her bitterness and anger over the situation.

But an arranged marriage! To the Demon of the Uchiha Clan! She has already endured one lifetime being surrounded by cruel people for years and a sadistic, mad bastard for a husband. She refused to spend another life being married to another demon.

“Daughter, the goal is to help keep this peace the Senju and the Uchiha have come to forge. And Touka….Madara has already refused her. All the nearest kin to Hashirama were considered and Madara has chosen you.”

“Am I supposed to be honored then that he has chosen me? Like a most prized broodmare chosen from among a herd?”

She silently took pleasure when she saw her father flinch then sigh. It was short-lived though for he recovered so very easily, “My dear, you know that is not how I raised you to be. That is not what you are.”

Sansa clenched the fan in her hand and looked at her father with cold, blue eyes, “Oh? How about a pawn then? A pawn for you and Hashirama to use to cement the alliance with that accursed clan?”

Her father closed his eyes for a moment but when he lifted the dark blue eyes met hers once more, she saw that behind the aging face of her normally easy and good-natured father lurked the resolute and immovable leader of Uzushiogakure no Sato.

“A pawn? Never. You are a Princess, my daughter. And not just a beautiful and powerful Uzumaki princess but an intelligent one. As such, I know you understand well how sacrifices must be made to protect not just our house but the whole of Uzushio and Uzu no Kuni and even those innocent people beyond our borders. You yourself have spoken against war in the past. And like you said, enough devastation has been wrought across the lands. Enough innocent children have suffered fighting in battles their ancestors have started over petty reasons. Enough mothers have buried their husbands and young sons. Enough girls have suffered rape and other abuses from the enemies of their houses or clans. Now, I ask you to play your part in helping make this peace work. Help allow our people to build the homes that were destroyed, to plant the fields and enjoy bountiful harvests and to watch their children grow up instead of sending them to die young in the battlefield.”

Her tears fell then, “How can you ask this of me father? How can you marry me to…to him of all people?! I would do my duty, but not like this. Not him. You’ve heard the rumors. They say he’s a monster. That he’s cruel.”

“I have personally met with the man and he has proven he isn’t all that. He is insanely powerful, yes. He can be cold and arrogant—that’s expected. But he also acted with propriety. He is highly intelligent and has shown that he can be reasoned with. Hashirama swore he has goodness in him. That he is capable of warmth and kindness”

Sansa laughed sardonically, “Of course Hashirama would say good things about his friend. But people change, father. You know that. Some even turn in a day. And after all these years—after the countless battles he’s fought, the people he killed, the loved ones and friends he's lost—that boy Hashirama once knew might no longer be there and I would have to deal with the man for the rest of my life. Or his.”

She heard him sigh heavily again before responding, “Don't forget he has agreed to the peace. He is willing to do his part in keeping it. Is that not a good start? Is that not enough to give you hope?”

“It’s not good enough! Please father. Surely there are other far better matches? A Nara would be best—they're a fine clan of geniuses and the Akimichi and the Yamanaka clans come with their alliance.”

Her father moved and she was caught in a familiar, gentle embrace. He cupped and gently lifted her face. “My love, I know you are upset and angry. And I understand. I truly do. But listen—It is the peace between the Uchiha and Senju which matters most. Also, you know very well of the envy and hatred the clans from the Mist, Lightning and Earth harbor for us and our land. We are strong, yes. But Uzu no Kuni is only a small nation surrounded by enemies. I am asking you to marry Madara not because you are a pawn, but because I have faith you will prove more than a worthy wife and matriarch to his house. Your marriage will not only strengthen the peace and ensure this new Konoha village survives but will also ensure we have the Uchiha on our side should it come to a point when other houses decide to unite against Uzu.”

She lowered her eyes to prevent her father from seeing her tears. It’s useless, she knows. He has just turned the tables on her—has just used her beliefs and her wishes and her love for the place she now calls home against her.

She’s always known her duty and she’s always strived to be a dutiful child—from the first life to this next.

Seeing no escape, she closed her eyes and with a heavy heart, gave slow nods, “Very well then. I wish to be alone. May I go now?”

***

Sansa has heard many things about Uchiha Madara. If the ones who spread the rumors were civilians, she would have either ignored or dismissed them easily. But the ones who gossiped were shinobi, and in the shinobi world, most gossips have truth.

Cursed eyes. Cursed blood. Cruel. Ill-tempered. Powerful. A madman. A genius. A vengeful god among men. A demon who breathed fire and spilled and waded in blood.

Fire and Blood. Hah! She knows the words all too well. The bloody Targaryens used the blasted words to boast the power of their monstrous dragons.

Not only that, she had been personally served fire and blood when Daenerys Targaryen returned to Winterfell after laying waste to Kingslanding.

Justice and vengeance, the power hungry Dragon Queen said before commanding her beast of a child to rain its fiery breath upon Sansa's head.

Then she woke up in this strange new world.

It’s a dangerous world, the world of shinobi. More dangerous than the Seven Kingdoms. More dangerous than even the White Walkers and the Long Night.

Here, dragon monstrosities weren’t needed to conquer. Here, the people can not only spew fire out of their mouths—they can also control other elements. They can command trees to do their bidding, create dragons out of water, form hurricanes from wind, raise barriers and walls from mud and stone, shape blades and needles from ice, make coffins out of sand and many, many more seemingly impossible feats. And all these with only a few hand movements.

Since she was a babe she knew that her new world was very strange and didn’t follow the rules of the life she’s known and lived previously. When she turned one, she proceeded to learning as much as she could. She studied hard to learn the new language and read many scrolls to better understand and adapt to her new environment.

When she turned three years of age,  her new father decided to start teaching her fuinjutsu after seeing how quickly she was learning her letters and how advanced her intelligence was.

He demonstrated to her how to create a simple explosive tag. And when he threw the scrap of parchment with ink and chakra—a thing so mysterious and frightening to her young mind then—meters away and it caused a large explosion that made her ears ring and fall on her behind, she realized then just how truly dangerous her new world was and how powerless she was to face it.

It’s only her luck she was born to one of the greatest and most powerful bloodline—the Uzumaki Clan. And it is also her luck that she was born to a family whose specialty lies in fūinjutsu—the art of sealing. Power in parchment, ink and brush and—something only her family could do and the reason their house is greatly feared across nations—the ability to create seals with great ease through chakra and blood.

In truth, if she had the choice, she never would have bothered to learn how to fight. Violence breed violence. But with all the wars and skirmishes happening outside of Uzushio’s borders and the hatred and aggression other clans and nations felt towards her family and their land, she has come to see and has accepted the necessity of learning how not just to fight to protect herself and survive in her new world but also how to protect the people she’s come to love.

Thankfully, she had the best teachers. Ashina, her Uzumaki father and Mikaze, her mother, both had a hand in training her and her siblings in the arts of armed and unarmed combat.

By now, she can already perform the things she once thought impossible. She can now hit a target several meters with a needle or a kunai, walk on top of water, scale walls without a rope, make water dragons, kill a man with a few hand movements and many, many more.

But fūinjutsu—power in the form of runes and words—she’s the best at it. Has saved herself and defeated grown men using it when she was only ten.

But now her mother is gone—assassinated by a member of a powerful clan of ice wielders. Her brother Arashi is swamped with unending clan heir duties. And her father is uprooting her from the place she’s come to call and love as her home and sending her to another land, marrying her off to a man she knew so little about in the name of peace and protection. Mito, at least, will be living in the same new village where Sansa will settle once she marries.

But it’s just not the same! Hashirama may be a bumbling idiot most of the time but he is sincere and gentle and kind and will surely try to be a good husband to Mito while Uchiha Madara…

With memories of her previous life as Sansa Stark and now as an Uzumaki of Uzushio, she understood from a very young age that, like before, she would have very little choice when it comes to marriage. She knew she would have to marry into another clan that would help strengthen Uzushio’s position. She just never thought, never imagined, that it will be to the man they called demon. Sansa fears her cursed wedded lives in Westeros might just play in repeat.

How could she not fear, when Uchiha Madara sounded far worse than Joffrey the Illborn and the Bastard of Bolton? He can kill her in a matter of a second, perhaps even less without lifting a finger. He can render her powerless, manipulate her memory or distort what she thinks is reality or simply destroy her mind with just a flicker of an eye. He can—

Sansa cut her thoughts and inhaled and exhaled deep.

No. I must not show my fear else he’ll take advantage of it. I was once a Stark and now an Uzumaki of Uzushio. I am strong. Stronger this time. I will not be afraid.

***

Madara sipped his tea while he calmly perused the small information packet his envoy and healer provided him with. Most of them, he already knew.

Uzumaki Setsuna. Nicknamed Sansa.

He thought it a strange nickname, but…Uchiha Setsuna or Uchiha Sansa—either sounded good enough.

Youngest child of Uzumaki Ashina and Uzumaki Mikaze. Second daughter. Seventeen years of age. A maiden.

Blue-eyed.

Porcelain white skin. Fiery red hair.

A maiden princess bearing Uchiha colors. Will she fan my flames? he wondered with some amusement.

“Is that report regarding your betrothed?” his younger brother Izuna interrupted the quiet, “What’s it say?”

“Mind your own business brother” Madara responded lazily while continuing to read.

“Oh come on! Don’t be stingy brother” Izuna protested which Madara ignored.

After a few minutes, his meddling brother went and tried to snatch the packet from him. He snapped it close and spanked his brother’s grabby hands with it.

“Tch, I just want to know more about her. Is she pretty? What’s her body measurements?” his sibling asked while suggestively waggling his eyebrows.

Madara gave him an annoyed glare, “Quit it Izuna or I’ll make you eat dirt in the training yard. Show some respect brother. She’s an Uzumaki Princess. And she is to be my wife and the next matriarch of the clan.”

“Fine, fine” Izuna’s huffed and rolled his eyes before taking a seat opposite him. “So you’re really going through with this eh? You’re really marrying the younger Uzumaki Princess. You’ve had so many marriage offers in the past, why her?” his brother asked with a more serious expression.

Madara hid the packet in his sleeve to ensure his wily brother can’t grab it before addressing the question, “There was an incident seven years ago. It happened during a diplomatic talk in the Land of Waves, do you remember?”

“I remember an attack on the Uzumakis. What about it?”

Madara nodded, “That’s it. The late Lady Uzumaki headed the talks and she brought her youngest daughter with her. During the journey, they were ambushed by a group of shinobi from the Land of Lightning. You know how the clans are from that damned nation—their vile ways of acquiring power from other shinobi clans, their propensity for stealing children and women they could breed to add other powerful bloodline limits to their ranks. Well, they tried to capture Uzumaki Setsuna and the then ten year old princess killed five of the men who tried to abduct her. Through a sealing technique.”

Izuna’s brows rose at the information, “Weeell…that’s certainly impressive. So she’s strong and clearly skilled in the Uzumaki specialty. Is that what finally lured you into accepting an offer?”

“Hn. I need a strong woman capable of defending herself. And my heirs need a mother who can protect them even when I’m away or if I die”

“That I understand and fully support. But there are other women also capable of doing that for you—Uchiha women. What if your children don’t inherit the Sharingan? What then?” Izuna asked with a frown.

Such concern has certainly crossed Madara’s mind but he dismissed it knowing it was but a minor possibility. His blood is strong and will pass on to any children he will have, of that he is sure.

“I strongly believe that with me as the father, any offspring we'll have would inherit my blood and the power that comes with it. But if they should fail to activate it, their mother's blood should be enough to compensate for the lack, shouldn’t it? I’m certain you’ve heard how even those with greatly diluted Uzumaki blood are still powerful enough to perform high level seals. And their unique chakra and longevity—I dare you to tell me which shinobi clan across the nations can match theirs.”

“So this is all about acquiring the Uzumaki power?” Izuna asked with a frown.

“And peace” Madara answered.

***

To be fair, Uchihas were known not only for their power but also for their good looks. She’s heard enough gossip about Uchiha Madara being handsome too.

But with his reputation in the battlefield and the words cursed and demon attached to his name, Sansa didn’t bother and waste her time trying imagine what he looked like. She settled with thinking he’s one of the Uzumaki oni-masks come to life—one with horns, dark hair, fangs and bottomless dark eyes.

Face to face with the infamous man, she admitted the demon didn’t look like a demon. No. To her slight annoyance, he looked good enough to rival hers and Mito’s beauty.

Light skin. Enviable spiky, long, black hair with a blue tint under the right light. Chiseled jawline and aristocratic cheeks. A perfect mouth for sneering. A powerful, dangerous presence with a hint of electricity she felt from miles away that made the hairs on her shoulders and neck stand. And his eyes…

She steeled her spine, tilted her chin up and stared the man in the eye, unwilling to show fear and subservience.

She saw pitch black eyes boring at her, scrutinizing her.

***

“Well, well, well. Now I know why you refused to share that packet with me” Izuna said with a teasing grin, “She’s a real beauty huh? That fiery red hair. Frosty eyes. Porcelain skin. I’d say she’s even more of a beauty than your idiot friend Hashirama’s future wife. I can already imagine it brother: pretty-faced, fiery-haired little Uchiha demons with their sharingan activated, breathing great balls of fire. What a frightening sight they will make to their enemies.”

Madara ignored his younger brother once more, unwilling to indulge his teasing mood with the thoughts inside his own head.

A great beauty? She’s more than that.

A few moments of observing and engaging her in a conversation were enough to make him realize that his betrothed is far from the normal Uzumaki.

Instead of being outspoken and showy like most Uzumakis, she was a bit reticent and only spoke when she needed or wanted to. She kept her calm and used cold courtesy as her armor.

But that regal tilt of her chin. Those vivid blue eyes that met his and showed defiance…

Those were enough for him to know that the powerful whirlpools of Uzushio lay sealed underneath the porcelain and ivory facade she showed to the world.

A challenge, he thought with an amused smirk. 

***

“I met Madara when I was very young. We’ve been friends for ah… twelve years now! We sparred a lot, skipped stones together, pissed side by side. He’s a good guy, little sister, trust me” Hashirama said with a wide, assuring smile.

Sansa rolled her eyes, “Stop setting the wrong expectations. Only you would call someone who’s been trying to kill you for more than a decade a friend. And skipping stones and pissing together? Are you seriously calling Uchiha Madara good for doing those juvenile things with you years ago?”

Tobirama scoffed, “That’s Anija for you. Father and Madara probably hit his head so many times, his brain’s messed up”

“Tobira, don’t forget you also contributed to his brain damage” Touka said with a laugh.

Hashirama pouted like a child at Tobirama and Touka then turned to look at her with a puppy face, “My brain is fine and I’m not setting the wrong expectations. That’s equal to lying and I would never lie to a beloved little sister and cousin. I’m only saying the truth. Madara is my friend and a good man in his own way. Give him a chance Tsuna-chan”

“How many times must I tell you to stop calling me that? It’s irritating.”

“Maa…why do you and Tobi have to be so alike?” her goodbrother complained dramatically, “Little sister, stop being so serious. It’s uncute and you risk growing wrinkles and getting white hair early like Tobi. Is that what you want?”

Sansa glowered and leaned back when Hashirama tried to reach out and pinch her cheeks.

She likes Hashirama. She really does. He’s genuinely good and kind. But his penchant for dramatics and teasing is just irritating.

Mito thankfully intercepted her husband’s hand and admonished him with a glare, “Dear, you are the oldest of us here. Please behave like one. My sister has questions, do answer them properly”

Hashirama smiled sheepishly and sat more properly while Touka and Tobirama smirked.

“Thank you” Sansa smiled gratefully at her sister before turning to her goodbrother once more. “Now, tell me everything you know about your friend”

***

Sansa felt Tobirama’s calm chakra signature way before he appeared and sat beside her on her rocky perch.

“Your control’s as fine as ever” he remarked while watching the water needles she formed and spun like a tornado in the palm of her hands.

“Not as fine as yours cousin” she responded before letting the needles fall and join the river.

“Here” Tobirama threw her an orange.

Sansa caught it and started peeling the fruit before asking, “Any reason you’ve bothered to approach me? Touka said you’re very busy these days and barely sleeping. You really should look for people who can help you perform your tasks. I’m certain just looking after Hashirama, curbing his flakiness and impulses and organizing his chaotic thoughts to more coherent actions are enough work.”

Tobirama made himself more comfortable on their rocky perch before responding, “Aa, it’s hard to find an efficient helper who can fulfill my work demands. But now that you’re here, perhaps you can be that helper”

Sansa gave him a side glance, “You forget I am to be married soon. I don’t even know if Uchiha Madara will let me out of the house”

Tobirama sighed then spoke after a minute of silence, “What Anija said was right you know. At least the part about Madara having a code of honor and goodness of his own. He’s not exactly the demon or evil man people call him as”

Sansa turned to fully face him and raised brow, “What’s this? Senju Tobirama, is that a compliment?”

Tobirama merely flicked her forehead, “Tch! It’s not. I’m merely stating my observation. Do you want to hear more or not?”

“Very well. Go on” Sansa said before putting an orange segment in her mouth.

“I heard he’s a believer of equality between men and women. And based from what I’ve seen, it seems to be true. He treats men and women the same. Even in battle. I also haven’t heard of him sexually assaulting or abusing a woman. He’s…even respectful of them.”

“Oh? Well…that’s a relief to hear. I just hope your observation isn’t wrong. What else?”

“Hn. He could be truly arrogant and hotheaded and insulting… you already know some of his attitude I am sure. I am not going to say which are true because all of them were observed during battle and in public. He might behave differently in private.”

“Alright. It’s up to me to find out and deal with his true self then huh?”

Tobirama nodded solemnly.

“Anything else you’d like to add?”

Her cousin stared at her quietly for a while before speaking again, “Be very careful. Well, not with Madara but with the Uchiha clan itself. You know about the sharingan, how it is a terrible power that can be stolen?”

“To be fair cousin, with us shinobi, all powers have the potential to be stolen. If not, they can be copied. And in some power-hungry clans with truly nefarious practices, they can be reproduced” Sansa pointed out.

“Hn. That, unfortunately, is true. But the sharingan together with the Hyuuga’s Byakugan are the most prized eyes of power in the shinobi world. The problem with it is that, unlike the Byakugan that can naturally be activated when the bearer has the chakra and maturity required for it, the sharingan is activated when the bearer experiences a traumatic experience, like watching a loved one die. And I don’t know how but this seems to have become warped over time, leading a few Uchiha to kill people important to them—all for the sake of acquiring power. Those who failed have resorted to killing and stealing the eyes of their own families.”

“And Madara has the most powerful eyes of them all, making him a target. And when I marry him, I’ll become a piece that can be used to get to him. I already know this cousin. Did you think I’d go to the demon’s lair like an ignorant sheep?”

A clan where kinslaying is practiced by those who are truly depraved for the sake of power. So many potential enemies from within and without.

Sansa had felt sick when she came to this realization days after she was told of the arranged marriage. She felt a large hand take and squeezed hers.

“Why can’t I just marry a lazy Nara instead?” Sansa lamented.

Tobirama chuckled then squeezed her hands again, “There are rules in place now and Madara is strong and powerful enough to defeat any one of his enemies. Also, if you need anything, you just have to ask. You know Anija, Mito and I will answer if you need us”

***

Like all Uchiha weddings, theirs was held in the Naka shrine.

She has slowly come to terms with her new station in life over the few days she was afforded to prepare for her wedding. But holding the final sakazuki cup in her trembling hands, everything suddenly felt suffocating.

It reminded her of the two times she was wed in the past.

The heavy weight of her wataboshi, the constraining feel of her shiromuku, the dark eyes of her groom, the eyes of all the Uzumaki, Senju and Uchiha allowed to witness the ceremony—they all felt like layers upon layers of seals being branded on her skin.

All she wanted to do was throw the cup and its content to her groom’s regal face and run all the way back to Uzushio. Only a quick glance at her father’s gentle eyes and proud smile put an end to her thoughts.

Sansa carefully lifted the cup to her lips, closed her eyes and sipped. When she reopened them, she was greeted with her new husband’s amused obsidian eyes and his annoying smirk.

***

The first time Madara caught sight of his bride dressed in her beautiful and elegant shiromuku and walking like an empress, his suddenly highly stimulated brain went through all the pleasurable ways he could break her cool façade.

He thought of kissing her until she was breathless. Of nibbling the delicate skin of her long neck until her body bent like a bow. Of carrying her to his rooms, throwing her in his large bed and making her beg and writhe and pant his name until the next sunrise. He wondered if the famous Uzumaki stamina was true, if it applied in bed or if it would match his.

Riveted with the beautiful vision she presented, he kept his eyes on her throughout the ceremony, uncaring of the other eyes around him.

As the ceremony dragged on however, small cracks appeared. Her calm slowly fell away and he caught glimpses of the fear behind the regal act.

The slight quiver of her lips during the purification, the tremor of her hands during the san san ku do.

But then her eyes flickered to her father and her composure returned. In another blink, she’s back to looking like an empress once more.

She was fascinating to watch—his bride. The woman no doubt feared him. He should be offended she listened to gossips but he knows his own reputation. Many men have cowered and soiled themselves at the sight of him. No sane or smart woman would agree to marry him and not have fears.

But his Uzumaki princess…She has a will and strength in her, that he could not deny. She’s strong enough to go through with marrying him despite her fears. He found it admirable and beguiling in its own way.

It’s going to be an interesting journey to wedded life, Madara thought, lips twitching when his new wife jumped then gave him a side glare when he put his hand on the small of her back to guide her out of the shrine.

***

Sansa grimaced upon entering the spacious sleeping quarters and catching sight of the large futon covered with pristine white sheets.

A sound behind her made her aware of her new husband’s arrival and the knowledge of what’s to come made her feel as if all the air left the room. The walls seemed to close in on her.

Then, to add to her mounting dread, her new husband passed her by and proceeded to take off his clothes unceremoniously.

She lowered her gaze and bit her lower lip hard to calm herself a little but her hands remained clutching the knots of her sleeping yukata.

Her mind won’t stop going back to her time with Ramsay. It won’t stop replaying the nights of torture—of the flaying knife he loved to run on her skin, of his teeth biting her until she bled, of hands choking her until she thought she’d die, of the terrible pain she felt as the bastard rutted her like a beast and ordered her to scream louder.

No! She thought furiously. I’m not that helpless girl anymore. I’m not going to allow anyone to do that to me ever again.

Movement in front of her pulled her back to the present situation and when she saw her husband approaching, her feet took several involuntary steps back.

Madara's lips were pulled up into his irritating smirk once more.

“Come here, wife” he spoke in a low voice and motioned with his hand as though summoning a pet.

Sansa felt indignation at the gesture which was so reminiscent of Ramsay. She steeled her spine and drew herself to her full height, stubbornly planting her feet where she stood.

The man chuckled and moved closer, invading what little space was left, and then his hand rose up.

To touch her or undress her, she didn’t know. All she can suddenly think of at that moment were all the seals imprinted on her skin—the Byakugō seal on her forehead, the Adamantine sealing chains lying dormant in her chest, the summoning seals on her wrists and legs. And the power they all gave her. The power to choose.

She caught his wrist and clutched it hard and spoke the words that came to mind, words that will help her discover the kind of husband the man in front of her will be and the kind of life she will have by his side. How he responded will help her make a choice. To stay or go.

And Uzushio?

Well, if Uchiha Madara  could not be bothered with treating his wife with honor, why let her family waste time believing he would honor the treaty? She’ll expose him now and if he proved a cruel man, then her father and brother can go on building better alliances to protect Uzushio instead of putting their hopes and trust on a useless ally.

She’s seen and learned enough from her experiences with Joffrey and Ramsay. She’ll not let her new husband do to the Uzumaki Clan what the Lannisters and Boltons did to House Stark.

“Your wife. Remember that well, my lord and remember I was an Uzumaki princess before I became your Lady Uchiha. And will remain an Uzumaki princess should I lose the Uchiha name. Make sure to give me the honor and dignity I deserve and I shall pay it in kind”

***

Lust, mirth and respect battled inside Madara upon hearing the words his new wife spoke and seeing her fierce eyes. He let mirth and respect win first.

“Good”

When she faltered a bit, he took advantage. He twisted his hand out of her hold and moved it to lift her chin.

“What?” she asked, blue eyes bemused.

Madara chuckled and put his other hand on her waist to draw her closer to him, “I said, very good. It's good to know I married a woman with a will of her own and the strength to stand and speak for herself.”

He watched with satisfaction when she opened and closed her mouth a few times but no sound came out.

Lightly pressing his thumb on her lips while looking her in the eye, he continued speaking, “Listen well, wife, for I have no wish to repeat these words. My first rule: Loyalty above all else. Loyalty to me, to the Uchiha Clan and to our marriage. Despite all you may have heard about me, I try to be a fair man as much as I can. Give me your loyalty and you shall have mine. Betray me or the clan and you wife shall pay a steep price. Understand?”

“I understand loyalty well, my lord. I know its good and harm. Give me yours and you shall have mine. But ask nothing of me that might bring me dishonor. If you do, if you take advantage or abuse my loyalty, if you try to force or manipulate me into unreasonable acts of cruelty or violence against others, then I shall be your first enemy” she answered, fierce blue eyes meeting his dark ones.

Madara felt his cock harden even more but he ignored it and nodded his more rational head instead, “Duly noted princess. My second rule: Decorum. Watch your boundaries and apply the necessary courtesy. As for me, princess, treat me the way you want me to treat you. Respect me and I shall respect you.”

He felt her stiff body relax a little at his words and the tense lines on her face disappeared. “An equal exchange. That is fair, my lord” she responded.

“Good. And last—at least for now—is communication. I am not a god princess, no matter how much I want to be” he smirked at her then continued, “As such, I have no way of fully knowing your mind or your heart. I hate misunderstandings, they lead to conflicts, unhappiness and most of the time, death. I have enough of those three to last me several lifetimes. If you want or need something, if you have problems with me or the clan, talk to me and tell it honestly. I promise to listen and perhaps, might be open to your suggestions”

“And what if you are too angry to listen, my lord?” she asked.

“Serve me inarizushi and tea. Give me time to stew. Let me eat in silence. After that we can have a talk.”

She made a disbelieving noise and raised a brow prompting Madara to shrug, “I am a simple man with simple needs, wife. And stop calling me my lord. When in private, you may call me Madara”

“Alright. I am… Sansa”

He gave her a wicked grin, “Now that all of that’s out of the way Sansa, I do have a pressing issue that needs taking care of”

Making sure she understood his intentions, he pressed his erection to her stomach and slowly lowered his face to capture her mouth with his.

***

Sansa moaned and arched, the fingers of one hand tangled in the long, dark hair of the man who was suckling at her breast like a babe while the other fisted the sheets for dear life.

Everything felt hot. His mouth, his breath on her skin, his calloused large hand that played with her other breast, his large and strong body pressing down on hers. And it’s all making her breathless and a bit dizzy.

She gasped when his mouth move down the length of her body and she felt fingers explore between her legs, a thumb circling on her nub.

Her left hand snapped to grab at his wrist but he caught and took it prisoner in his. When he lifted his head, she saw a pair of blood-red eyes with whirling black dots, making her still.

“Relax. I need to prepare you princess” he said, voice almost a growl before lowering his head once more and started kissing the inside of her thighs.

Sansa was not so ignorant about sex anymore. Her time with Ramsay and the books and scrolls she’s read has made her more knowledgeable of the act. Her open conversations with Mikaze, her Uzumaki mother, when she started to bleed were also very helpful.

She knows now that bedding did not just equate to her lying on her back or her stomach while her husband took his pleasure. No, now she knows it can be pleasurable for her too. She just didn’t expect her new husband would be so generous as to perform the more pleasurable parts on her. Though, after everything that’s happened earlier, perhaps it’s time she stopped making assumptions about Uchiha Madara.

A hot, wet tongue flattened then licked her nub, making her gasp and arch once more. His movements were gentle and languid at first making her move her hips, wanting for more. It felt so good, one of the best sensations she’s ever felt.

“Ah! Ma-Madara!” she gasped then stiffened when he slowly pressed one finger into her.

“Shhh… Relax. Relax for me princess” he whispered before continuing to lick, all the while moving his finger slowly in and out until he was fully inside.

It was strange, having another’s body part in her. But it didn’t hurt. She just felt stretched. Full.

He slowly pumped into her, increasing the pressure and his pace and the more he did it, the more she became comfortable. When she felt a delicious coil start to form, she wriggled her hips for more.

Her husband groaned and cursed, his hot moist breath making her shiver in want. Then he slowly added a second finger. She closed her eyes and let out a whimper.

“Fuck! So tight princess. And so wet and hot. I can’t wait to feel you around my cock” he growled while moving his hand faster.

To her embarrassment, his words made the coil tighter, made her feel wetter and the obscene sounds grew louder. Then his tongue and lips returned to her pleasure bud, sucked her hard and with wail, Sansa exploded.

***

Madara lifted himself up using his forearms. He licked his lips and looked down with a smug smile at the trembling, panting woman caged underneath him.

“Go on, catch your breath princess, we’re just getting started” he said and grinned wider when she glared and swatted at his chest. He caught her wayward hand and tangled their fingers then stared at her once more.

Such a very tempting vision she made in his bed. Tousled fire red hair spread on his sheets, silky smooth porcelain skin, lips red and swollen from his kisses, breasts just the right size for his hands, legs that went for miles, and an overall beautifully toned body which gave evidence to her kunoichi training.

He also took note of all the seals littered on her skin. There were a few summoning seals he was familiar with, but most were new to his eyes. Giving in to the urge, he traced one interesting seal between her breasts with the tip of his fingers.

Power, he thought, to attack or defend, to kill or to maybe heal, buried under silky smooth skin.

He made a mental note to challenge her to a spar in the training yard in the coming days. He’d like to see what she was capable of and to find out and help hone her strengths and work on her weaknesses. He’ll not have his wife die on him during an attack or an abduction or assassination attempt because of a failure in addressing the gaps in her defenses.

Seeing her trembling abate and her breathing almost back to normal, Madara bent his head and started kissing her once more, his right hand diving between her legs to test her readiness. Still wet, he groaned in approval.

He lifted himself to a kneeling position and spread her beautiful long legs around him. He wanted to watch as he fucked her. He wanted to see her eyes go hazy and close in pleasure, wanted to see her mouth open in a gasp or moan. Wanted to see her breasts bounce, her stomach clench and her cunt take all of him.

He gripped her hips in his large hands and pressed his own hips forward so she was pinned to the bed, her movements restricted as he slowly dragged his cock over warm, wet folds, making sure to bump her sensitive nub. The contact made them both moan, and her hips jerked in his grasp as he stimulated her. When her moans got louder, he took hold of his slicked hard shaft and slowly pressed in.

“Madara!” she whispered and tensed. He grit his teeth when he felt her muscles constrict on the few inches of his cock inside her.

He moved his thumb to her nub and gently rubbed her to bring her pleasure. “Relax, relax. Let me in.”

When she relaxed and started to moan wantonly once more, he jerked forward one, two times, and buried himself to the hilt. She cried out and clamped so hard he had to grit his teeth to avoid losing himself at the incredible heat and tightness surrounding him.

Hearing a whimper,  he looked down and saw her pained face, causing him to forced his hips to stay still and let her adjust to his size.

When her body relaxed and she opened her eyes, he slowly rolled his hips and murmured, “Alright?”

“Hah! Y-yes” she responded with a breathless gasp.

“Good because I’m going to fuck you good princess”

***

Sansa stared, mesmerized at the sight of the man moving sinfully between her legs and bringing her indescribable pleasure. With each deliberate thrust, she saw the well-defined muscles of his arms, chest and abs clench. And such beautiful obliques! Such raw power.

A small part of her wanted to look away, feeling like a wanton, but the greater part was riveted. She’s never seen anything like him before.  

And his face…His feared sharingan was active once more. And he was watching her too.

Madara clutched her hips tighter and drove into her harder and deeper, making her tremble and twist and moan. The pleasure she experienced from before returned, with greater intensity, and she felt about to explode once more.

“That’s it. That’s it. Take all of me princess. Come on my cock. Come for me” her husband groaned, low and guttural, bucking wildly into her, creating more wet sounds.

As if tuned to obey his orders, she felt herself reach the peak and she screamed and fell down the cliff—her sight and her hearing suddenly gone.

When she came to, she opened her eyes to her husband still moving above her.

“Good girl” he said with a fierce and wicked grin, “Look at you, taking all of me. Again princess. Come on my cock again.”

He kept thrusting into her, rolling his hips a few times and letting out deep growls that made her curl her toes. Not for long, she felt about to reach the peak once more.

“Ah! Please” she heard herself cry out.

Madara bent forward and caught her lips in a fierce kiss. With their foreheads pressed and his blood-red eyes fixed with hers, she got lost in the pleasure of it all once more.

When she opened her eyes, she saw his eyes were still on her and his jaws were clenched so hard. Then he angled his hips and thrusted so deep. With a few furious jerks and a deep guttural groan, she felt him fill her insides.

He continued to move for a while, letting out low curses until his rhythm slowed to a stop. After another wet kiss, he lifted himself then slowly slipped out of her and, letting out a grunt of satisfaction, dropped to his back beside her.

“Fucking hells. That was so good. No, it was perfect”

Still shaking and catching her breath and feeling awkward at the sticky, messy feel between her legs, Sansa kept silent.

Madara twisted to his side and looked at her, his eyes dark once more. “Are you alright? Any pain?” he asked while moving the sweaty locks from her face and caressing his calloused thumb on her flushed cheeks.

“I’m fine. No pain.”

And it was true. In fact, she felt better than fine. She felt great and already she could feel the soreness go away. Thank gods for the Uzumaki genes.

“Good” he said with a smile, then bent and nibbled her ear, “Get some rest princess. The night is still young. I want a repeat”

***

Madara opened his eyes to light creeping in to the room. Feeling a warm weight at his side, he shifted and looked down at the sleeping woman on his arm. His woman now.

His lips curled up upon remembering all that happened and already anticipating introducing her to other techniques and many more delightful things they could do together.

They had coupled several times throughout the night and early hours of the morning and every time, she responded so perfectly. And when he rolled her on top of him and let her ride him like a horse...

It’s true what people say—the Uzumaki stamina is no lie. It was she who wore him out.  

***

Almost a year of being Madara’s wife and she’s come to learn so many things about her husband and her new clan.

Madara, just like he claimed, was truly just a simple man in many ways despite his power and position.

He has lost much. His mother in the birthing bed, his father and three brothers and countless more family and friends in the hands of Senju clansmen—her relatives.

The only immediate family he has left is Izuna and he would have lost him too had Hashirama not been able to convince them to heal him.

And if Izuna had died, Madara would’ve kept on warring with the Senju and more would have died. There never would’ve been peace. They never would’ve married. She never would’ve known him. Never would’ve come to like him and his eccentricities. Never would’ve known he was capable of goodness.

It’s a…nice surprise for her.

He's not the cold man people say he was. No, it’s actually the opposite.

Like Tobirama said, Madara has a different persona when at home. When within their home, he's more relaxed, his coldness thaws, he’s gentler, more communicative.

He loves and cares, perhaps too much. She sees this in how he interacts with the people around him, especially his family.

He loves his brother Izuna dearly. The two has an enviable closeness and always have amusing interactions that featured a good deal of ribbing from Izuna most of the time, ending in scuffles with childish insults thrown at each other’s face. Madara always won their duels, of course, but Izuna is relentless. He seems to have been born with the need to poke fun at his older brother daily.

The first few times she witnessed it, Sansa had been afraid. Now, she simply watched in amusement at the funny sight they make when they resort to brawling on the floor like toddlers.

Madara cares very much for his clan. He hates it when he hears them being insulted and would willingly do anything to protect them. And his care is not words alone. He has clan funds set apart for families who have lost their household providers and emergency funds for those who cannot go on missions.

He likes children. Likes to bask in their innocence and laughter. Likes talking and training with them. He makes sure the orphans of the wars are properly taken care of. He also makes time to visit them, always inviting her to join him when he makes his rounds.

Though he’s frustratingly arrogant at times, she found out he is willing to concede when given enough reason or proven wrong.

He can be very manipulative but preferred to be brutally honest to the point of being crass.

She’s proven that he viewed men and women equally. To him, the only difference between the two was that a woman could give birth. He didn’t look down on women and would fight them as he would a man—as evidenced by the spars he would have with the few Uchiha kunoichi in the training yard. He’s even asked her several times to spar with him, taking the time to observe and provide constructive criticism to address her weak areas.

Power and money usually go together, but not for Madara. He's very frugal with his money. He deliberately looked for items that are very cheap and was never known to buy anything extravagant.

Sansa personally thought it admirable, though her new goodbrother has a different opinion.

A miserly old man, Izuna teased while grinning.

And yet, he’s surprisingly generous with her. He's given her a allowance she could use to spend on anything and several times already, he’s unexpectedly given her gifts. A pearl necklace he saw during a mission to the Capital, a pair of silver kanzashi with a pretty snowflake crystal design, a beautiful winter kimono and a pair of small sapphire drop earrings.

To match your eyes, he said while stubbornly looking away.

There are many other things he likes. He enjoys falconry and has again, offered to teach her. He likes to meditate before the sun rises. He likes tea and avoids alcoholic drinks, believing they dulled his mind and senses.

He likes fighting and winning against strong opponents. He likes sparring with Hashirama and Izuna most of all.

Despite his dislike for Tobirama, he’s let her have her freedom to work with her cousin and the two has started to act with more civility toward each other.

Inside their home, he's very perceptive of her needs. He ensured she is taught about all things Uchiha by one of his most trusted aunt. He always made time to take meals with her whenever he’s not on a mission.

He likes to tease her, to say the most vulgar words just to see her glare or blush.

He's insatiable in bed, sometimes going for hours at a time. And he’s very generous, always seeing to her pleasure first. And now, with his child growing inside her, he’s become even more attentive, even more caring.

It’s almost strange, sometimes. The day her father told her of the arranged marriage, she thought it was going to be like Westeros all over again.

It isn’t.

Unlike the golden prince who turned out to be a demon from the seven hells, the man many called a demon proved to be not a demon at all. And though what they have can’t be called love, there is hope.