1 Beginning

Uchiha vs Senju...

Their clash was inevitable.

Blades clashed again, reverberating through the air with a loud clang. This fierce battle of two wills was watched by dozens of eyes of their clansmen, started out at a hundred miles and only got more intense. Everyone hoped and prayed that their respective leader would be the victor. The two locked in a life and death struggle moved at speeds that would make any Olympic sprinter turn green and faint with envy, it was a deadly dance of steel and fire.

Senju Butsuma panted heavily his sword clutched tightly in his left hand as if unconsciousness would take it away, his wounded chest bled relentlessly from a cut carving over the left side, but his opponent suffered, too.

Uchiha Tajima tightly held his open wound in his abdomen that ran across the entire length of it, a segment of his armor completely gone as his his dark blood dripped on the ground, staining his high collared black shirt.

"That's enough father!"

Hashirama appeared right between two warriors with a stern expression that was mixed with worry.

"Hashirama-!" Tobirama widened his ruby eyes, watching his older brother put himself in potential danger. He moved to drag him back, but their father beat him to it with a commanding shout.

"Get back, Hashirama!"

Butsuma spat his own blood as he spoke, his voice so husky and hoarse from shouting orders to his men before. "We will end things now, Tajima!"

"Let us!" Tajima roared, spotting his opportunity to bring the fatal blow to his rival, pushing chakra into his fatigued legs he sped across the ground in one leap turning into a blur of gleaming steel, his sword ready to deliver the finishing blow, as soon as his blade could touch Butsuma's skin skewering it like a lump of flesh, but he was stopped by his youngest son who fearlessly jumped in front of him with a fierce, worried expression.

"Father!" Izuna frowned deeply at his father's condition. "I don't care what this filthy Senju says-" His coal-black eyes darted from Butsuma back to his panting and bleeding father. This was bad, if they didn't get back to the compound he was going to bleed out or get a horrible infection

"You're not in a shape to continue father please-"

"Shut your mouth little brat!" Tajima's Sharingan blazed his tomoes rotating furiously as he locked eyes with Izuna. "Stay back, Izuna!"

"But father-" Before Izuna managed to say something that would anger him any further he was stopped abruptly by a hand on his shoulder.

He turned to face his older brother with slightly wide eyes.

"Madara?"

"Izuna." His voice was a whisper so only he could hear. "Stay back."

Hashirama knew at this point his words and pestering wouldn't change anything, he saw it blazing in his father's stern eyes; the resolve to end this war between their two clans once and for all even if it meant that he would die tonight in doing so, there was no other way it seemed.

Sighing softly Hashirama hung his head and closed his eyes for a brief moment swallowing his sorrow. "I understand father-" With that Hashirama walked away, standing next to his younger brother, the battle resumed at a break neck pace, despite their wounds both men were moving in momentarily blurs the resonating sound of steel clashing against steel deafening.

Hashirama glanced away from the fierce battle his eyes locking his childhood friend, but Madara didn't return the gaze he simply kept his eyes locked on the battle not even sparing a glance in his direction. He felt that hole in his heart getting just bigger and bigger, day by day this war was taking everything away first his brothers, soon his father; The only thing that was left for him in this rotten world was Tobirama, his little brother.

Hashirama frowned deeply turning his eyes back to the battle. No matter what happened after this, he would protect his brother at any cost.

Madara stood quietly with his arms folded over his chest next to Izuna.

He watched the fight with a deep frown of worry and anger. He knew that Hashirama watched him carefully, his eyes lingering on him for a moment intensely. But he wasn't going return his gaze, they were rivals, they always were it was destiny, now and in the future. They were enemies.

He unknowingly raised his hand gripping Izuna's shoulder. Yes this how it was, no matter what life thew in their direction, he would protect his little brother at all costs, he wasn't going to lose him to the Senju like he had with his other siblings.

They say during the worse nights or during the worse events that the sky opens itself up and weeps for the fallen. That night was no exception as it poured relentlessly honoring the fallen warriors lighting crackled and lit up the pitch black sky while thunder raced across booming with unmatched ferocity. Hashirama was oddly silent, grieving over the loss of his father.

He struggled to hold back his tears, shinobi never revealed their feelings and never cried, but he was always different. Just as a stray tear was threatening to fall down his cheek, it finally did, and he felt hand on his shoulder, it was soothing gesture. He turned his head to see Toka. He should have been in brighter spirits since he could now broker peace being named head of the Senju clan, and Tobirama taking the rightful place as second in command, yes things should have been much brighter.

But it was bleak, just like the weather.

The woman gripped his shoulder tighter, breaking him out of his thoughts. "I'm sorry Hashirama-" She said quietly. Hashirama only nodded.

Tobirama watched the two of them with a slight frown adorning his features. A shinobi never cries or reveals their emotions, he thought to himself as he mourned his father's passing in complete muteness. A part of him was... Confused he felt heartless for not shedding one tear over the death of his father, for not shedding one tear over Itama's and Kawarama's death.

They died as proud shinobi defending their clan to the very end, in this era there was no better way to die than in battle. But even as he thought of that, he couldn't shake the thought, no matter how hard he tried he couldn't shed a tear, it was the same as when he was a child. He tried to cry over Itama's death his heart clenched at the loss and ripped him up inside but he still couldn't shed a tear, not a single tear. But did that mean he was heartless?

At this moment a part of him thought so.

The Uchiha compound was wrapped in a shade of dark gloom. Every member mourned for the loss of their leader. Uchiha Tajima died on the battlefield like a true shinobi should, he fought to the last breath. There was no better way to die than as Tajima did. Despite the ceremony for Madara's position of head and Izuna's rightful position as second in command everyone was not in merry spirits.

Madara and Izuna weren't themselves.

Madara stood on the hill watching his little brother carefully. Izuna tried to keep his expression neutral and hide the pain in his features, but his grief was visibly seen and a shed of a tear ran down his cheek. "I hate them!" He snarled clenching his teeth. "I hate the Senju! Damn them all!" His voice rose to an extent then he fell silent letting the weight of the emotions press on his shoulders. Madara walked forward, resting a hand on Izuna's shoulder giving it a small squeeze.

"I will finish what he started-" Madara assured his brother his eyes narrowed. "As new head of our clan, I will bring us victory." With those simple words he left the funeral. Tajima's body was burned with their trademark fire style, the Uchiha believed that their power came through blood and with the fire style they would keep the secrets of the Sharingan.

However, there was another reason, each member was to go out of this world in flames, because fire was their primary nature and the spirit of their fallen would live with them forever.

Izuna stayed until the very end silent and motionless as the wood cracked and splintered, his face was calm and neutral after what Madara said.

The door to her room opened with a loud noise.

Domou Ahiko was a light tan skinned woman with long, wavy brown hair that fell to the back of her legs, it was thick and abundant, but currently it was messily splayed all over the place and over her right eye, giving her a disheveled appearance. she had a slender, yet curvy figure and dark brown doe eyes. She had full lips too, she was a beauty by any standards.

She lazily raised her eyes to see what was going on. "Who else could be so rude and loud in the morning other than my lovely big sister-" she murmured sleepily with a hoarse voice, yawning lightly. "What's the matter, Miki-nee-san? What's going on?"

Mikito walked towards the side of Ahiko's bed standing there with her arms crossed over her chest. "Get up already!" She commanded with a firm voice holding a hint of annoyance. "How can you be sleeping at a time like this!? I've got important news, everyone is to head to the usual meeting hall, we have something important to discuss..."

Mikito was a tall woman standing at five nine, would be considered taller than average.

She had long, somewhat spiky dark brown, almost, black hair. It was calf-length. Her bangs came out in thick tufts, reaching beyond her shoulders and covering both of her eyes. she had dark brown skin, and a very well developed, voluptuous body with compact muscles streamlining her form from training and constant fighting.

What news miki-nee?" Ahiko asked, shifting into a seated position, rubbing her eyes.

"Those two idiots finally killed each other last night?" Her older sister said with a hint of smirk on her deadpan expression.

"Who died?" The younger sister asked with a hint of surprise and dread, she couldn't handle this information from her sister this early in the morning.

She sighed softly, ever since her sister became the head of the their clan she was a lot more strict. She loved her to death but sometimes she could be a little overbearing not to mention pushy and forceful, but she was a great leader. There was no denying that fact in the matter.

"Come on!" Mikito said with a growl, rubbing her forehead.

"Wake up Ahiko!" She snapped, grabbing the duvet with super speed and threw it away from her younger sister ignoring her obvious pout. "Senju clan and Uchiha clan."

"That's not important news!" Ahiko whined, trying to catch her duvet but failed in doing so.

"They're fighting all the time, what's so important now?"

"Tajima and Butsuma are dead as of last night." She replied matter of factly.

"Wha- what!" Ahiko's eyes widened comically.

"Last night one of our spies brought this news to us." Mikito replied taking a seat on the edge of the bed with a contemplative gaze. "They fought, and both ended up dying from the inflicted wounds." She took a sharp breath. "We have to act immediately, get up!"

"What do you mean Miki-nee?" Ahiko asked cautiously, before her eyes widened again, and a gasp of shock left her mouth. "You mean?"

"That's correct." Mikito said with a slight nod, "the new head of the Uchiha clan should be Tajima's eldest son which is Madara as for the Senju it should be-"

Hashirama." Ahiko finished the sentence, taking in all of the information at once. Who didn't know about Hashirama and Madara?

"Yes-" Mikito said turning to look at her with an intense stare. "Now is our chance to strike! We will offer our alliance to the Uchiha clan, and together we will take down those damn Senju-"

"But... But wouldn't it be better to join with the the Senju clan?" Ahiko asked warily, the Uchiha we not known for alliances. The Uchiha had no alliances they took on everyone and only relied on themselves, that's how it's always been for as long as she could remember.

"What?" Mikito raised an eyebrow looking at her sister in disbelief.

"Absolutely not." She said firmly in a tone that broke no argument, she rose from the bed. "Did you forget about our rivals, the Subatsu?" She questioned, she uncrossed her arms from her chest and began to pace across the length of Ahiko's room.

"They will take this opportunity and offer their alliance, as well. I know they had a better relationship with the Senju in the past, I'm more than positive they will try to join them with them and tip the scales in their favor. I will not allow that to happen-"

"They already did-" a male voice traveled from the door way, both girls turned their heads to see Souji, their brother.

Domou Souji was the middle child of the three remaning siblings, he was three years younger than Mikito and four years older than Ahiko.

He was tall and lean built with tanned skin, he had scruffy black hair that fell just over his shoulder blades, and bangs that fell over the length of his forehead. He had piercing dark brown eyes, and like his sisters his hair was thick and abundant. While being the son he would naturally be the leader he was the second in command of the Domou clan, he never complained that his older sister was chosen to lead their clan in fact he supported the decision. She earned it fighting tooth and nail.

He was loyal and absolutely dedicated to his clan, and he was never one for paperwork, but she was the leader for a reason. They were different than most clans.

"What?" Mikito frowned stopping her pacing and fixing a stare on her brother. "The hell do you mean?" She frowned

"I said they already did." Souji repeated in the same dry, blunt tone as before. "Just now. The meeting between the Subatsu and Senju is taking place as we speak."

"Fuck-" Mikito clenched her hand into a tight fist as she cursed under her breath. "They're fast." A death silence fell over the room.

"I already sent a messenger to the Uchiha compound to arranged a meeting date and time with their new leader." Souji informed breaking the silence. "We should act immediately Mikito."

I know that-" she clicked her tongue nervously raking a hand through her hair. "Damn-"

"You know guys-" Ahiko timidly stepped into their conversation, having stayed silent the entire time until now. "I think it'd be to just end things. I mean we should just offer a truce and ma-"

"That is not going to happen Imouto." Souji said chuckling slightly as he folded his arms over his chest looking.

"I'm just saying we can try to a-"

"No." Mikito said with a firm voice interrupting her. "You're too kind, Imouto. That's why I'm leading the clan and not you."

Ahiko's eyes saddened. That was true, her sister and brother were both strong and proud shinobi, who did everything to make sure the clan was safe. They knew how to kill someone in a thousand ways each one more painful than the last, but Ahiko was a kunoichi who was looking for peace and harmony but such a thing couldn't be obtained in this rotten world.

Don't worry yourself Ahiko-nee" Her brother smiled, his eyes softening. "You're a highly skilled and strong Kunoichi. Do what you're good in, alright. Leave the rest of it to us." He winked, earning a small smile from his little sister.

Fine-" Ahiko nodded she watched her older siblings as they left the room talking about what they were before. She rose from her bed, standing next to her window gazing out at it with a lost look. It was pouring rain, and lightning danced through pitch black rain clouds as thunder boomed rattling the ground with its ferocity. "So we continue to kill?" She murmured closing her eyes for a moment. "Is all of this really necessary?" She sighed softly as she watched the raindrops paddle across the ground leaving a thick mist.

"I am sorry for your loss, Hashirama. As one who lost his father early in life, I can relate." The head of the Subatsu clan Syrus leveled a stare with Hashirama shaking his hand. Syrus was tall and muscularly built. He had wild, unkempt black hair that reached just passed the middle of his back, he had piercing dark eyes that were a mix between dark gray and obsidian. He had darkly tanned skin, thin lips, and sharp features. He looked like he was chiseled.

"Thank you Syrus-" Senju man smiled faintly. "Tell me exactly what's on your mind, why did you come all the way here?"

"Well, it's quite simple." Syrus began with a level tone as he stared at the tall Senju. "The alliance between our clans can provide us victory."

"Define your meaning of victory." Hashirama said politely keeping a neutral facial expression as he addressed the taller man.

"Brother!" Tobirama snapped joining in the conversation before things got too far off track. "With the Subatsu on our side we can increase our chances to defeat those damned Uchiha-"

"But I don't want to kill them Tobirama." Hashirama retorted as he lightly glared at his younger brother.

"Nobody said we're going to do that." Subatsu Haji stepped closer to his older brother Syrus.

Haji was tall and muscular, but not outrageously so he still retained a lean appearance. He had unkempt hair that fell just over his shoulders and hung over the sides of his chin. He was slightly tan with dark brown, almost black eyes. Lastly he had thin lips, and like his brother his features were sharp and angular giving him a more bold appearance. "What my brother trying to say Hashirama-san is, that if we will work together we can reach...peace."

"Peace-" Hashirama got a faraway look in his eyes as he stared into the horizon contemplating it, when suddenly, right in front of him, landed a young kunoichi.

Tobirama's scarlet eyes narrowed as he studied woman in front of his brother. Subatsu Usagi, the youngest member among three siblings. She was short standing at around four foot ten-five foot two. She had light brown hair that fell to her waist and fanned out on her shoulders ,which she kept it in a low ponytail, letting her bangs sprawl over her forehead slightly covering her piercing jade eyes. She had full pink lips, and had a slender figure, basically she was a beauty for a kunoichi, her body had a soft look to it, it wasn't fat but more compact. "I'm sorry nii-san." She turned to her eldest brother humbly to regard him.

"What is it, Usagi-chan?" Syrus asked frownning slightly, he was aware that his sister certainly didn't bring any good news. "You're supposed to be at the compound what happened?" He asked more urgently regarding her with his full attention.

"Domou clan-" She breathed out after a moment going through the document she memorized on her trek here. "They sent a messenger to the Uchiha compound and-"

"They probably want to make an alliance with them." Haji said finishing her explanation, frowning deeply. 'It's not surprising they did, if we make an alliance with the Senju they'd never be able to fight both of us by themselves.'

"Damn, they're fast. But I'd expect nothing less." Syrus chuckled turning back to the dark skinned man in front of him. "So Hashirama, what do you want to do?"

All eyes fell on the head of the Senju clan waiting for his decision. Hashirama stood in muteness staring at the ground for a moment, probably reconsidering his choice to make an alliance. "Well, I..."

"Brother!" Tobirama was irritated at this point with his brother's indecisiveness in this situation. Well, it was understandable to some point Hashirama was now the new clan leader and that came with a lot of responsibility, luckily he took the initiative. "If they join their forces there's no way we will be able to fight against them alone!"

"I know I know-" His older brother nodded with a grim, yet solemn expression as he made his choice. "I know Tobirama." He looked forward locking eyes with Syrus, the man wasn't that much older than him maybe five of six years, slowly he extended his arm forward opening his hand, and Syrus Subatsu extended his own arm forward smirking as he gripped Hashirama's hand firmly showing it as a sign of their alliance.

It was something that always plagued her mind every time it happened. The same question always surfaced. Why had her did her father give a crap about the council and held them in such high regard. She wasn't disrespectful, but they were all old and locked in their own ways. A lot of things were found in disagreement, like using the nearby fields and land for resources, why her father let that stupid grudge push him to make such a rash decision she'd never understand. Regardless of her misgivings she had to speak with them on the matter.

"Why have you summoned us Mikito-san?" Asked a withered man, he was the oldest in their clan at ninety years old. And he looked every bit of his age, he always had a short staff with him using it as a cane. But, it'd be foolish to think that wasn't in actuality a weapon. He surprisingly had hair though it was white and long passed balding at the top. Of course he was one of the traditionalists who followed her father, she shook her head again.

"Uchiha Tajima and Senju Butsuma are dead." She stated looking around the room hearing mutterings and some hisses, she looked at Souji who looked on with intent. Honestly sometimes calling these meetings was just ridiculous, did they have to have a say in everything!?

"That's not of any importance." Another elderly man said frowning deeply. "Those two clans have been at war for as long as anyone can remember, they won't dare to raise arms against us."

"The Subatsu have taken advantage of this opening and made an alliance with the Senju clan. I'd expect them to attack at anytime now..." Souji said in a serious tone. his eyes narrowing on the elderly man. He knew him well Takasugi; he was considered one of the best in his time, but specialized in espionage and spying. "Syrus will not miss this opportunity and will attack, we can't fight both Subatsu and Senju off just by ourselves." His face betrayed his inner turmoil and boiling anger, were these old bags that blind to the bigger picture?

"Your father must be rolling over in his grave!" Said Takasugi wrinkling his nose like he tasted something bad. "What do you propose then, an alliance?" Whatever their thought process was it was going beyond ridiculous. "That is absurd!"

"Exactly that." Souji said with a slight nod as he straightened his back resting his elbows on the table. "We will have an alliance with the Uchiha clan, together we'll be able to fight them off."

Silence

Ahiko, who was sitting across from her sister and brother shuffled her feet silently at the tense moment. Her brother, though his face was calm was close to punching one of these stubborn people and that wouldn't go well. And Mikito already made the decision before the meeting was even called, she'd do what was best for the clan even if the elders didn't agree.

After a slur of murmurs and quiet debating the elders came to decision. The ninety year old turned his focus to Ahiko his gaze ever stern. "Do you have anything to add Ahiko-san?"

She shook her head with a neutral expression, but honestly she was shifty because of the tenseness. "No Gin-san. An alliance with the Uchiha will help us a lot. Souji is right an alliance is best." She sighed internally, what was best was a truce, and stopping this fighting. But that wasn't going to happen anytime soon, but she'd protect her kinsmen. Gin nodded his head slightly turning his hard gaze on Mikito and Souji.

"We concede with this Mikito-san and Souji-san." Gin said with a small nod folding his arms behind his back. "Send out a messenger this meeting is closed." And with that he and the other half a dozen or so elders swiftly exited through the door leaving the three siblings in total silence.

"Blinded by their pride..." Souji muttered standing up from his seat looking bemused.

"Well, what now?" Ahiko timidly asked knowing the direction this was heading, one she didn't particularly like. She looked at Mikito who was silent for a few minutes.

"We'll have to wait until they send something back." Mikito sighed for the hundredth time that day, "In the mean time I'll go and check our strength and see where we're at, are you going to come with Souji-nii?" She continued standing from her seat, walking towards the door swiftly, she turned regarding Ahiko with her full attention.

"Yes." Was his simple response as she stood from his seat and walked towards her, stopping to ruffle up Ahiko's hair playfully. She grinned slightly swatting his hand away. "Don't look like that Ahiko-nii you'll get wrinkles." He watched her smooth her hair out already at the door. "Continue your studies, and your archery okay?"

The youngest sibling perked up at the mention of her studies, she nodded her head quickly. "I planted some new herbs today and I've gotten a lot better."

Mikito nodded with a shadow of a smirk. "You have to show me later." Her and Souji phased out of sight. Ahiko sighed softly digging into her pocket pulling out a small scroll, phasing out of sight a moment later.

"My first mission. I think I packed everything I needed to." The red hair kunoichi said to herself as she walked through her compound reading over the scroll with eyes gleaming in curiosity and intensest. It was a D-rank mission, she was supposed to go to a nearby village and get a message that was being sent, simple enough. Although she wondered why they gave her such an easy mission, she wasn't that incompetent. She shrugged it off, continuing on her trek towards the Uchiha compounds gates, now she could finally get her own place with money from the mission, so she had to make sure she got this done and well.

"Yuko-san, are you listening?" An older man chided her with a stern glare though his voice held a softer tone. Yuko was hardly even listening to him, okay she wasn't listening to him at all. She was just happy she finally got a mission after all of this time and could have her own space soon enough. When Tajima was the leader she was never put on any missions which irked her slightly, but now she was put on one finally.

"I know I know!" Yuko said, sighing quietly as she gathered herself. "I won't forget Captain Kon. I'll be back before nightfall." She assured the ever and proper captain of the spy division, she knew part of it was just worry she thought of him as her uncle and her the daughter he never had.

"Good." Kon said as he straightened his back almost at the gates.

"I'll be back soon." Yuko said looking at him sternly for a moment as she secured the strap to her bag on her left shoulder throwing the man an annoyed look, her chocolate eyes glaring into his obsidian eyes that every Uchiha had, except for her. "I have everything I need"

At this he nodded. "Report to Madara-sama when you get back."

Yuko simply nodded her head signaling to the guards that she was leaving, they hardly paid her any attention waving her off. Not that she cared in the least, she fastened her blue sash and strap and took off running into the dense forest leaping onto a tree branch not long leaping to another one. She frowned slightly, what was so important that her captain was fretting more than usual, it was her first mission but it wasn't that hard. Maybe it was an important document that was top secret only for Madara to see. She went over the mission again in her head; go to the village that was about ten or twenty miles away, and retrieve a message.

The village itself was peaceful a place where merchants and travelers went to unwind and relax during the long summer days and its hot nights. She had packed a small canteen of water, a lunch pack, and several shuriken, she also brought a high collared shirt that was like a dress on her with a hood to keep the sun from bathing her and head. She wondered if she over packed everything was put neatly in her bag and where she could find even if she were to rummage through it now.

Getting to the village didn't take very long with her endurance and speed, though she wasn't the strongest Uchiha she took after them and was gifted in speed. Her endurance she built up on her own time training while she was growing up, to the average person a ten or twenty mile run was enough to make them faint but for a shinobi it was just another short walk. She entered through the village's gates that were always open to welcome weary travelers, she glanced around scanning the bustling streets with her eyes. There were merchants trying to garner the attention of the patrons, trying to cut deals and playing to their own greed.

She stopped into a small shop that was less crowded than the others, her hair making her stand out but nobody paid her too much attention. She paid for her tea going to sit down and pondering what to do next, she was here to get the message but there was no messenger. At first she thought it'd be in the form of a pigeon, cat, or something, but she didn't see any of the above so she opted to relax at least. She kept her eyes on her steaming tea, looking at her reflection for a few short moments in total silence. She almost jumped when a small body joined her from across, the person's head covered by a hood that went as far down as the tip of his nose.

Yuko gave the newcomer an observing look, who was this and why did he or she choose to sit here instead of the other hundred or so tables? "Uchiha-san?" The voice was male, but had no bass.

"Yes?" Yuko questioned slightly cautious, how did he know she was an Uchiha. Only those in the clan knew she was Uchiha, half but she was still an Uchiha. Any outsider would mistake her for an Uzumaki or normal civilian with an obsession of dying her hair red.

The figure moved his hood up slightly revealing a head of thick and spiky brown hair that fell to his chin. Yuko could hardly hide the shock on her face. He was a boy no older than ten with pale skin, not as pale as her and mysterious dark green eyes. He had soft features as expected for a child, but his eyes were hardened. Then she reminded herself that this kid was a trained killer, like every child in this era. "Who are you?" She asked in a hushed tone, the boy's eyes widened for a moment before he composed himself.

"I was told I would find you by my masters..." He got quiet passing the scroll under the table discreetly, Yuko took it carefully putting it into her pocket until she could put it in her bag. "You know..." He looked nervous for a moment. "You're not like the other Uchiha."

"I get that a lot." Yuko said dismissively, she didn't want to hear about how she was so different. She heard enough of it when she was growing up. "The hair and the eyes." She chugged down the rest of her tea, despite it being cold and motioned to stand up, her mission was done no need to stay here longer than she needed. Besides it was getting late and she had to move.

The boy had a faint smile. "It's not that." And just like that he was gone. She blinked a few times before standing up and leaving.

What a weird little boy. She thought to herself, having not the faintest idea what he was trying to get at.

She arrived just as the sun began to set under the mountains painting the sky with an orange glow. Coming back had taken a lot less time than getting there, and she couldn't help but ponder on this mission. It was so easy, so simple. And that strange boy who mentioned something about being different, that much was obvious. She rolled her eyes slightly was she always going to get that? She waved to the guards just long enough for them to notice she was back, she continued walking not sparing them another glance. She headed towards the largest building that towered hear and shoulders above the rest, normally she'd report back to Kon but he explicitly told her to report to Madara.

Madara sat behind a desk going through paperwork. Most of it he didn't care to even look at, but he had to do it since he was the leader. And after all he was Madara a little paperwork was no big challenge as the majority of the documents were stacked neatly to his left.

He mourned his father's loss silently, burying himself in his duties, Izuna was supposed to be getting here soon. He had been busy training the men and seeing where their strength was so he could formulate a strategy. Things were moving in a faster direction, Madara had a lot of plans to further his clan, starting with showing their superiority over the Senju. Now that Hashirama was their leader it was only destiny for them to fight.

The door to his office opened, without looking up from his paperwork he already knew it was Izuna already sensing his chakra when he entered the building. Said younger brother pulled up a chair sitting next to the window staring out at the setting sun for a moment, turning his head when Madara broke the silence. "What do you think Izuna?" Madara asked looking at him with an analyzing gaze.

"Everyone is ready and up to par." He knew he was gifted and was speaking of their army not himself. "There's always room for improvement, but I can't see anything right away that they lack, they're ready at your call brother." Izuna turned away from the scenery looking at his brother with a black expression.

"Good." Was his simple reply as he turned back to the document he was reading over. "We'll be heading out soon before the Senju decide to make their move.." Madara paused for a moment narrowing his eyes at a thought. "They love to ambush."

Izuna simply nodded his head in agreement having nothing to add. The two brothers sat in silence Izuna watching his kinsmen go about their day and one of the more stronger members furthering the training. Madara going through the tedious task of reading document after document. A loud knock broke both of them from their trance, Izuna glanced over at the door. Madara set the document down. "Enter." He said in his slightly deep tone of voice, still having yet to reach its regal tone.

"Madara-sama, Izuna-sama?" Yuko bowed as she entered the room pulling out the small scroll from her pocket looking intently at the two. Izuna raised an eyebrow when his eyes landed on the scroll in her hand. Madara gestured for her to walk forward, she did so without hesitation although she was a little shaky, this was Madara Uchiha and Izuna Uchiha two of the strongest Uchiha in the entire clan. She set the scroll down on the polished wooden desk stepping away as he gripped it in his calloused hands.

Izuna peeked at the contents, turning his gaze onto Yuko. "You can go Yuko-san." He said in a smooth tone of voice as he eyed her for a moment, putting her appearance away in the back of his head. The red haired Kunoichi bowed her head giving a small 'yes' as she exited the room. Izuna found himself staring at her as she exited the room, his eyes drawn to her mane of red hair, he shook his head snapping out of his stupor. "What is it Nii-san?" Izuna asked after a few moments passed and Madara remained quiet.

"A proposition for an alliance." Madara said after a moment.

"Who sent it?" Izuna asked the obvious question.

"The Domou clan."

Izuna hummed lightly to himself as he recalled what he knew about the clan. They were located in a thick and dense rain forest and took on any missions and were in a constant feud with another clan. There were rumors that they were demons, and has monstrous strength and speed, but like all rumors there was little proof for he had not encountered one yet. The relationship between their clans was neutral, but it was said they were hostile towards the Senju for the last few hundred years or so. "Well, you're the clan head. What do you think?"

Madara narrowed his eyes as he took in a piece of crucial information on the scroll. "It says here that the Senju have made an alliance with another clan." Madara spoke with a sense of disgust as if he tasted something horrible and needed to spit it out. This wasn't startling news, the Senju were allies with the Uzumaki, and even with their help they did little to stop the Uchiha. But having three clans added could be a problem, he was proud of his heritage, but he had to do what was right.

"Well I'd strongly consider it, brother." Izuna said after taking in the information as he read through the scroll himself. "I bet Tobirama was pushing for it. He would that snake." Izuna hissed clenching his hands into fists, the only thing that could anger him so quickly was the thought of that white haired tree hugger. If he could do anything to tip the scales in their favor he'd do it just so he could see the look of disbelief on that idiot's face.

"You may be right." Madara conceded with a mysterious facial expression. The Senju didn't have that many allies, the Uzumaki being an exception considered the sister of their clan. Not that he actually cared about the title, being allies with the Senju automatically put him at odds with the leader, and his father attacked them many times. Their history was terrible.

"I hope they aren't weak, I don't need them bogging down our men and clan." Madara said opening a scroll and starting to write on it with his neat and thin handwriting. He felt he was taking a risk making this alliance, the Uchiha were independent all of them adept in battle and powerful, they didn't take kindly to outsiders. But, what he remembered of the Domou clan they resided in a large rain-forest and jungle far from their compound.

"We'll just have to wait and see." Izuna concluded.