Uchiha Problems
Uchiha Hikaku was like the rest of his clan. He had immense pride both in his family and in himself. Yes, he was talented and though not as much as his cousin who leads the clan but he certainly was up there. There was only one person in the clan who knew the clan records and could fill out paperwork as fast as he could with perfect accuracy. That person is Uchiha Madara himself.
The unspoken fact that should something happen to his dear cousin Madara he was most likely to take up the mantle as clan head, however, is not one of the things he's proud of. That would imply that something would go wrong with the elder Uchiha and though things are far from perfect to give any thought to such things would only give certain members of the clan, who are too cowardly to openly speak out against their clan head, the credit that they do not deserve.
Unlike some he would not listen to rumors and readily throw the man who has given his whole life, practically from birth, to the safety and wellbeing of the clan under the metaphorical wagon. Madara was blunt and sharp, hot yet cold but none could deny that while he was the physical embodiment of unpredictablity he was the best of them. Not simply for his combat prowess either. To turn on him? No. Never. He'd rather pluck out his own eyes thank you very much.
He did pride himself though on how well he knew his cousin. The man was never, not on a weekday, ever back in the compound before the late evening. He never swept through the streets, making his way straight to his home, a little after midday without greeting a soul. When angry Madara was like a black and red thunderstorm. Vicious and capable of leaving of a mess in his wake but rarely did he ever truly lash out. He simmered, boiled, and cut into people with words without hesitation but this? This was nothing he had seen before
This made Hikaku worried for him.
He was never silent as the grave. Not like this. Not when he buried his little brothers who didn't even make it to age twelve. Not when he buried his parents. Not even as he wept beside Izuna on his deathbed. Not even as he walked off to fight Hashirama one last time.
Concern guided his steps as he separated from his great aunt to shadow the man. Hikaku did not need to be told when to leave Madara be or when to be at his side. He already knew all that. He learned young to be there for him when the reality that his brothers most likely wouldn't be (against their will and Madara's deepest desire) so he wasn't alone. Even if the patriarch told him to leave, go get out, he would not. Not now. He would not make that mistake again. Not when the last time almost cost Madara his life not that long ago.
He will not flee like a dog with his tail between his legs from a family member in distress.
So he followed. He followed all the way to Madara's abode. All the way into Madara's office and they never spoke a word. Not until the clan head sat down, poured himself a cup of sake, and activated the privacy seals in the room. He would let his cousin breathe, let him think, and listen. Whatever happened had shook the man, a task which is no easy feat.
"Hikaku... I need the records, all of them, in regards to the family trees. Even the most distant cousins I need the scrolls. Not a single family or potential lover can go ignored." Hikaku's brows furrowed.Oh this bonded ill.
"Madara-sama, if I may be so bold... Why?" The deep inhale the other took followed by a sigh meant there was a story there, one that would likely be shortened for him.
"Three young shinobi were caught approaching the village by a patrol. Upon being brought before Tobirama, Hashirama, and I they introduced themselves... One claimed a clan name I have no knowledge of and highly suspect of civilian background, another claimed to be of Uzumaki decent, and lastly... The last one..." Madara looked Hikaku in the eye and Hikaku was rudely reminded of just how young his cousin truly is. How much he lost and how he endures even still.
"When I first saw him I almost called him Izuna. Even with the eyepatch he wears and how he hides said eye behind his hair... If I didn't know my brother and his exploits I would have thought I was staring at his bastard spawn. He even has a fully matured Sharingan."
That... Was not what Hikaku expected to hear. The pain in his leader's voice at the thought, the very mention, of his late brother made his heart clench. And this random boy is responsible for it all. He had half a mind to pour himself some of the sake but he needed his mind clear for this as Madara's was not.
"Did he...?" At Madara's solemn nod he gave into that urge. The boy named the Uchiha as his clan and gave Madara of all people adequate proof to consider his words. "How? Why now?"
"The fully matured Sharingan in the eye he leaves uncovered is all I need for his proof this it will be all the elders need or so help me I will end them myself. As for why... I suspect because if there is a time to own up to your hidden heritage now would be it. The Senju and Uchiha are no longer at war and this village is to be a safe haven of sorts, even if he wishes to remain a shinobi." The words were cruel but true. A half blooded bastard in the outside world, without the clan or any resources the clan could provide... It was in his best interest to hide his Uchiha blood. The Uchiha were short on allies but not on enemies.
After all, not all were like the Senju brothers or even Hikaku and Madara. Others would not hesitate to cut down a young Uchiha. Many would do it gleefully but only after experimenting with and stealing their precious eyes.
"Furthermore he claims to be an orphan like the other two whom he traveled with." Which leaves his care up in the air. Madara had been good on putting orphaned children with relatives or even distant clan members who were both willing and capable of caring for them since he took over. But if there is no trail they can follow, no clan member they can link to the boy...
"If we can not find anyone then what will we do with him? Will he live in the compound with the rest of us, all alone? Even if he is a shinobi and an adult by that standard he is still a child, yes? He needs a guardian." He needs an adult figure to rely on even if it's only to make sure there isn't any food spoiling in his home while he's out in the field. A genuine adult he can talk to that he is now missing in his life. That person would be the link to the clan he never had before now. The clan that should've been there from the start.
With that Madara sighed, downing another cup and letting his eyes glaze over as he thought. It lasted for only a few moments but it seemed to be enough. The steely determination was back in his eyes. The red-eyed demon he grew attached to, looked up to, that sadly disappeared in the recent months was closer to being back than ever since Izuna's death. There was that vigorous youth he remembered seeing lead them into battle despite his age. He is, after all, only three years older. Hikaku had been one year old when Izuna had been born. Yet Madara and Izuna never faltered, never skirted their duty to the clan. Not even in childhood.
"I'll do it. I have no heir and I have the room. The damn hags have only increased with their insistence that I name one officially since Izuna's passing thus eliminating the assumed line of succession." It had always been assumed Izuna would be the one to wed and have children which to carry on the family line. Madara had made it clear long ago even when his father was still alive that he had to interest in marriage let alone reproducing, especially in a world like they lived in now.
Hikaku had thoughts on other reasons as to why he decided such but those thoughts he would never speak aloud even under the most gruesome of torture. It was simply disrespectful and Madara's personal life was none of his business. Even if Hikaku thinks that the man could definitely do better.
The elders will be pleased to have an official heir but a random bastard orphan from nowhere? They'll be foaming at the mouth in rage at his audacity and there won't be anything they can do to stop him. The only other person who can truly succeed him now is fully in support of him. It was bad enough the boy managed to slide under the clan's careful monitoring of the bloodline and those who clan members associated with even a bit too much. Now the three tomoe wielding menace from nowhere will be their future leader, regardless of how they feel in the matter as none are willing or have the power to truly stop Madara. Hikaku had a feeling the same will be said for this child once Madara is through with him.
It all will be... Interesting to say the least. To see how the boy who was raised without a clan adapts to suddenly being the clan's little prince. Mayhaps he might even grace the people with a new perspective that they so desperately need to hear and see.
It's so very Madara that he can't resist the small smile it brings to his face. Once again his loyalty and trust in the man is not proven wrong.
"I will take my leave then, Madara-sama, and return once I have collected all that I can." He bowed and did not hesitate to smile at him over his shoulder to which Madara smirked back, waving his hand at him to get a move on as he drank.
"Thank you, Hikaku, for everything."
"No, Madara-sama, thank you."
And if Hikaku looks forward to seeing Madara dote upon the unsuspecting boy like a son or a little brother... Who can fault him?