Bloody Shores (4)

The surgery was… successful.

The medics employed to the circumstance were among those I had the chance to meet during the war and I could rely on them when it comes to something so incredibly difficult. In fact, while it was true that this kind of surgery had been going for years, if not decades, the previous instances would always see some awkward chances of death. From lack of sterilization, to a general disregard of knowledge of how eyes are meant to be placed within eye sockets, the past attempts were always regarded as risky and not worth the chance of dying when it came to get some cool special eye out of it. Still, I wasn't exactly planning to get one. I thought I was getting a normal one, one from those that died and had left around eyes and other specific organs that could be used for transplants- and yes, ever since I gave a kick in the right direction, General Medicine picked up to an unnatural pace. Then again, Chakra allowed for some risky and yet quick steps to achieve something normal doctors would require more time to achieve.

Still, imagine my surprise when I got a second news about the process. I couldn't use my eye, and I would have to cover it for some time as I went through a few periodical visits to get it checked out. I was confused by this diagnosis considering that the operation had been a complete success. And when I pressed one of the nurses about it, she slipped and mentioned the truth. I had a suspicion, one tied to why I felt like something was draining on my reserves when I had nothing on myself, no seals or any active jutsu, pulling energy off my body and... I was pissed. For multiple reasons. Madara didn't look ready for the punch I slammed into his guts. In fact, he took it with a relaxed stomach as I came out of the surgery room with some bandage still around my head. Mother was surprised, so were the others that tagged along for the occasion. I think it came as a bit of a surprise when Hashirama himself stopped me from going for another hit at the stunned Uchiha clan leader.

"I believe that's enough, Danzou," The Hokage tried to appease, but my glare told him I was far from satisfied.

"That's but just the beginning, Hokage-sama."

My posture slightly eased when mom grasped one of my arms and gave me a confused look.

"What's wrong? You… you look so upset."

I glanced at Madara, my lone eye narrowing at him. "Did you check on what is an incompatible transplant and why a doctor normally refuses to go through that kind of process?"

There was a hint of silence, and his confusion turned into unease.

"I don't understand what are you-"

"When a man has to receive an organ transplant and he ends up receiving a kind of organ that isn't compatible with his body, his body starts to reject it," I interrupted, giving a curt explanation about it before shifting my attention to my case. "A Sharingan rejects a non-Uchiha user and can't be turned off. Once it's connected to Chakra, it activates and can't be turned off no matter what."

"That's…" Hashirama muttered, pausing a moment when he noticed Hirotada using his Byakugan on me.

The Hyuuga heir studied my body, a pensive look on his face as he slowly nodded. "It's draining constantly on his reserves."

It became apparent what the real issue was. Most of the adults, those that had training in what this entailed, knew very well the full extent

"And that's without using it to the fullest. Let's just say that this is a Sharingan in its passive state. No extra burden beyond being just active," I added with a serious tone. "A fully active Sharingan, one that has to constantly work its way to grasp everything on sight, will put a bigger burden on my reserves, draining those faster. Much faster."

…

Madara looked absolutely… mortified. Embarrassed didn't fit well with the situation, with his regret not being about the action, but what happened because of it. It was the very element that made the difference between the two and… I could tell another thing. He wouldn't accept any other direct confrontation in this instance. Not now, not with so many others around. He would need a specific circumstance, one where he wouldn't revert to his version of the Uchiha's trademark annoyance. I needed to be alone with him. And not with others. Even though I was pissed at him, I needed answers, I needed a quid pro quo about this.

"We're going for a walk."

No further word was granted, and soon the group could only stare as I was literally dragging a really reluctant Madara Uchiha out of the hospital and into the streets. He didn't look ready for any conversations, and while there were a few that wanted to follow, my mother commented on it before we left.

"It's best that they talk about it. Alone."

It was the ultimate obstacle for any intrusion, but I could tell many were going to ask what was being discussed between us. I was no moron about it, but for now I needed to get this issue sorted out at once before it established a precedent on 'special gifts' or, worse, a precedent on holding back things and being extra cautious for Madara when he was around me. There was no word exchanged during this situation, with Madara having all the reasons to keep quiet for the current issue he had caused. His gaze would still study me and my current mood. I was angry, but he could tell that there was more to it rather than simple and pure fury. I was too calm about it, but not in a way that would normally suggest a really high level of irritation. I was… frustrated by the decision, but not outright enraged by it.

"I am not angry at you. I am angry at this ill-planned decision you took."

"I didn't want to hurt you."

That actually almost had me tripping on myself. It was the closest thing to a genuine apology I could have imagined coming from someone like Madara. It's been a while, I guess, and I could see that he really had put the biggest attempt at selling the whole 'I want to be your dad, and I want to support you, so here's a Sharingan and be happy about it'.

I scoffed. "I know that. That's not the main issue here, sensei," I argued with a frustrated tone. "What really ticks me off is the fact that you could have avoided causing this issue yourself by listening to why the doctors didn't want to do this."

There was more silence, and there was more awkwardness. This time, I jumped to resume the conversation.

"And I… I kind of appreciate the thought. It was not a bad idea if there hadn't been ramifications to it," I argued. "But still, you could have told me about it."

"...I'm sorry."

And now I stopped. It was just the two of us and nobody around to eavesdrop on our talk, so there was going to be no issue in having this kind of conversation here. I was completely shocked by those words. Madara wasn't 'sorry', he never was. For him to react this way, it just felt so… odd. So unpleasant for me to hear him behave like this. I really had this image of Madara that, beyond all odds and influences, he was still a tough guy through and through. To have him behave like this… for 'this', it just felt so stunning. And quite suspicious.

"Why are you sorry?" I pressed, feeling like there was something more than just 'Whoops, I gave you a special eye I did not know could cripple you like this, my bad'.

"It's…" He frowned, his gaze looking elsewhere. "I was too… distracted by the gift and didn't think it would have caused a severe issue."

My eye narrowed at that. One thing was the same about Madara's behavior. He sucked at lying when under pressure.

"I'm not going to press you on this, but be truthful. I can tell it wasn't 'distraction' that got you to pick that decision."

He gave me a blank look, trying to not show any signs of his mask slipping away… but I persisted. And he conceded with how things were turning unwell for him.

"I was eager. To see you obtain a Sharingan and..."

"Make it more like I was your son."

He opened his lips at that quick accusation, but I spoke up before he could.

"I understand your point, and I see nothing wrong with it," I pointed out tensely, knowing that his logic wasn't wrong if one thought of this from his perspective. Madara was planning to marry my mother, thus, in a way, legitimizing me as a possible heir. That was definitely going to cause some ruckus with the elders, but the real issue was with the rest of the clan accepting a possible 'usurper' and causing plots about it. With me obtaining a Sharingan after such a coincidental situation, I gained a better foothold once that event unfolded. And that's why, in a way, he was eager for it. Less trouble for him, but also less trouble for us. It was selfish and selfless, both being in their respective moderate form.

"You… don'?"

"As I said, I see no reason to be angry at you, or the motivation, but the execution. It's like you went through a mission, but you felt compelled to somehow messed it up. One can praise a mindset and a thought as to why that end that way, but there is still to consider the implication behind this ill-planning. I suppose you are not planning to pull a stunt like that again, at least not without discussing it with me first if it's about me."

…

"I will bring it up if it's about you."

I nodded in relief. "Then that is enough. I… I can be annoyed as much as I want, but things happen… and next time I will just castrate you. So, no playing with gifts that could mess up with my life ever again, okay?"

Now Madara had a reason to be worried about plotting something as stupid as that, but he still looked so relieved about the lack of something harsher or tougher. I could do that, I had the reasons and the justifications to do that, but I held back because… I had something else to fear about. I was still screwed in the long run despite solving this possible long-term external issue. I had a Sharingan that was going to keep draining on my chakra for a very long time. There was a chance for it to adapt to my body, but not to the point of completely lessening the drain or even doing it so before about a decade or so had gone by. I thought about what the original Danzo did to solve this, using Hashirama's blood but… I knew how this wasn't exactly a proper solution. It weakened the effects of drain to the point it wouldn't be deadly. It was a stabilizer, not a full fixer. And even then, I would need a head replacement to handle the Sharingan, not just some Senju blood in my veins.

More thinking, more brainstorming- Madara was looking around as I was thinking about it and… and then I remembered something. Something that was tied straight to our conversation. Happiness, or rather it's opposite, Hatred. The Uchiha developed the Sharingan from Hagoromo, then through Indra, and it was all tied not just by their blood. Their blood wasn't unimportant to the Sharingan itself. If it was a case of blood, then the Sharingan's effect would be more devastating on non-Uchihas having the special eye transplanted in them. It was chakra, but not normal chakra present in certain families. It was…

I frowned, feeling like I finally got the solution to this problem for good.

What if… I worked around and used a loophole born from my knowledge of canon stuff and what I knew about medical and seal-related affairs?

"Can you please activate your Sharingan and crouch a little?" I asked, and my request surprised the Uchiha clan leader as it felt out of nowhere.

The Uchiha turned at me, sparing me a long look, but he then complied as I was soon able to spare a look at his face. He looked nervous, but I didn't care. I needed this question answered for good as I could tell it was going to fix this problem for good and maybe some more. I carefully unveiled my bandages, and I caught him trying to get me to not reveal the eye just yet. The doctors were clear, I shouldn't be doing this until I had fully reco. But I had to, as I could tell that I just have the answer to this big problem.

"Stop."

My voice sharply stopped him in that position, his nervousness still there to increase within his mind as I finally revealed my Sharingan. Three tomoe, Madara would tell me, a fully matured one, but I didn't care on the spot. I was feeling the draining effects triple instantly at the effort, but still providing me the chance of seeing what I wanted to see. I remember once reading that a Sharingan user would see things through 'redder' lenses, and it sure gave me a bit of a fright when I opened my newly-activated right eye to see a red 'lens' applied to that side of my sight. Very distracting. Still, while it was no Byakugan, the Sharingan could see some specific Chakra patterns that were unusual compared to others. Specifically, the chakra that was used to activate it. I could still remember the specific explanation behind it. It was partly correct to say that 'hatred, pain, anger' and all that angsty set of feelings tended to activate the Sharingan, but the situation was a bit more biological than magical.

It was like when someone felt sad to the point of crying. An emotion that triggered a physical development, in this case the negative emotion 'activating' a specific gland behind the Uchiha's eyes to release a special kind of chakra and allow the Sharingan to be activated and deactivated. I just needed to understand how the process unfolded, the specific type of chakra and then try to replicate the effect in an artificial way. But before I knew it, as that realization hit my brain, I felt my legs growing wobbly and forcing Madara to move quickly and grasp my arms before I could fall on the ground. I instantly put a hand over my Sharingan and I was presented with a very annoyed look from the Uchiha clan leader. He looked rather worried. Fatherly even.

"Why did you do that?"

I blinked in surprise at that question, but I smiled at his irritation. "I think I have a plan."

His eyes narrowed. "What?"

"The Sharingan. I have a plan to make it work."

…

"Explain."

I couldn't exactly go through the fact that I had external knowledge of the special eye without having to explain how I got that when not even the Uchiha had anything about it, so I relied on a different route to explain it. As he started to carry me back to the hospital and to the others, my legs being a bit too frail at the moment due to the drain I put myself through, I started to explain my deduction by excluding a blood-related connection as to why a non-Uchiha couldn't use the Sharingan and why the Uchiha could, and from there I gave my 'theory' about it being tied to a biological reaction triggered by a specific emotion. He looked surprised at my words, listening raptly and having the look that just promised to 'further dig into this the moment he had the chance to'. It was the Sharingan, of course a Uchiha, or rather the Uchiha Clan Leader, would want to know more about it. But now I had a new hurdle to overcome to finally regain my full eyesight and be allowed to not have to live a Kakashi's cyclops-like life for the rest of my existence.

A challenge, and hopefully one I could handle without losing more brain cells than I need to.

After getting myself checked back with some doctors, I was finally allowed to leave and get back home.

Obviously Mom was quick to inquire about what I talked with Madara, but I mentioned that I didn't 'beat him that much' and that there was nothing truly bad about it. It wasn't one of those 'speeches' that was all violence and no diplomacy. And I added that it was all verbal, and her posture eased as I told her 'there was no time for a fight in the middle of the street'. She was still uneasy at the notion that I could have also died due to the surgery due to the Sharingan. Another thing I might have forgotten to tell Madara, willingly so, was that there had been a 30% chance I could have died if the eye had fully rejected me. So yeah, that was something nasty to forget about as I focused on the present. And how to not die now that I survived that fun gamble. After enjoying a lovely lunch with the rest of the family, I proceeded to leave home to get to a comfy spot to go through my ambitious and most secret project. The cliff I picked was near the top of the mountain where Kurama rested, but just below for me to not disturb the fox or any of his 'servants bringing him food'. Matatabi tagged along, the cat feeling a bit bored after being ignored for a while, and adding her own thoughts on my ambitious plans.

"That sounds quite interesting, but also stupid. Danzou, I thought you had grown up."

The jab was met with a sigh. "Sometimes you need to retain madness to achieve greatness, Mata-chan. Now, how did things go while I was away?"

"Boring. I heard you lost an eye."

"Temporarily," I rebuked calmly, getting a snort out of her.

"Possibly, but I don't see you using that pretty eye you got. Too 'drainy'?"

"...You're really that pissed I didn't take you along?"

"My logical self wants me to say no, but considering our friendship- You will have to scratch my belly enough to make up for the missing affectionate touch."

I huffed. "Heard mom gave you better ones, and she told me you were loving them more than the ones I gave you."

…

"You're awful at this."

"Just go back with your sketching. I want to see the first failure of this project."

It wasn't like I was going to test this on myself. The main project revolved around the creation of a seal which was meant to simulate the 'sack' that was going to contain the special Chakra to activate and/or deactivate my cheatsy eye. So, I was first going to test it through other materials, and things that should stimulate the same process without having to murder a man or an animal in the process. After a while of going through these affairs, my little plan to keep myself entertained with Matatabi 'begging' for my attention suffered a tremendous loss. The cat fell asleep, and I was left on my own. I needed to have people to talk to, to have someone to vent off when needed.

I took a break, I lied on the ground and… I used a Shadow Clone. This was it. The best way to handle PTSD. I didn't plan to get through in a single day, nor a week or even a month. Maybe a year if the stars are generous, maybe two if I have to start to think about the best optimistic view of it. Why was a clone better to talk to? It wasn't. No, what I wanted the clone to do was something I couldn't do because, psychologically, I can't handle it. I wanted it to speak the truth and only the truth. And as Matatabi snored quietly, I silently listened to the clone speak and follow through with my order. At a certain point, it also started to bawl his eye out. I was close to dismissing it at that point, feeling upset by the topic he was bringing, but the way those were influencing me but… I held out. I managed to last through a whole hour before I called this 'first session' off. It was intense, but I felt I went through the first step of many to recover.

To solve a problem, you first need to recognize it exists and need to know how extensive the issue really is. I remained alone for ten more minutes, just long enough for the upset to cease and for me to feel inspired to resume my project. I wanted to still talk with someone, but Matatabi was still sleeping. I wasn't sure why she was pulling that move but… I knew I couldn't remain quiet for long. I decided to summon Kiara and see how she was doing. It's been a full day since I've last seen her and she was holding the whole situation well. Worried, concerned, but overall pampered by a very unprepared Calli when it comes to handling emotional situations. I wasn't expecting anything shocking, or to be really uneasy about it. But as I summoned Kiara, I felt an extra drain to it. Generally that happened when Calli tagged along, so I thought little of it and-

Someone fell onto me. Which was odd since Kiara tended to appear in front of me, within the middle of the seal and… it wasn't her. In fact, the now humanized phoenix gasped as she realized what kind of mess I had fallen into.

First thing first, it was another girl. Her hair color, her dresses and her frustrated red eyes…

"C-Calli?!"

"That's me but… did you have to summon us out of the blue?" The Grim-Reaper-in-training rebuked, pretty much trying to cover up for the fact that she was no longer the tall skeleton girl that I was accustomed to. Now, she was a pretty girl with pale pink hair and a bit of a temper.

"New look?"

She blinked, seemingly caught unaware of the fact I hadn't seen her like that. Surprisingly enough, she flushed red at that kind of comment and she nodded. "Trying to appear as 'proper' to be Kiara's friend-"

"She is so cute when she is so flustered!" The girl perked up and joined the conversation as she was finally yanked into it, "But still, I think the real issue here is…

A moment of silence, then she sniffled hard and rushed into me to pull me in one of the tightest hugs I was ever subjected to.

"Bwaaaaaaaah!"

It was enhanced for comedic purposes- either that or Kiara just unleashed a new power that allowed her to fully drench a large body part in tears alone. My whole left shoulder and half-arm got stained in salty liquid due to it. Nonetheless, the comedy was also painful on my side due to how strong the 'small-looking' birb really was.

"K-Kiara, my ribs-"

"Ah! Sorry!" She jumped in panic, releasing me but still crying a storm. "You- You are alright right? You still bandages over your head, so does that mean that-"

"I'm fine."

The orangette froze up at that curt response, stunned by the goodness of the news and… deciding to pull me once more in a hug.

"I'm so glad!"

I grasped for air, causing Calli to sigh.

"Kiara, you're choking him again."

Another gasp and another 'I am sorry' later, and I found myself having these two as company while I handled that kind of task. I brought up the surgery and how risky that was, further worrying Kiara, but giving her relief in saying that I was planning for a permanent solution to prevent any other risks about this new eye. Mid-discussion, Matatabi woke up and took notice of Calli. It was the first time the two met, and while the Nibi could perceive the 'Deadliness' of the pinkette's power, she still convinced the socially-inexperienced reaper to give her some chin-scratching. And it was there that the full power of cat-caring took over a fierce servant of Death. Jokes aside, it was during this conversation that something else came up to my attention. Something that really worried me the very moment that Calli brought it up due to the limitations I had been aware about up until that moment.

"By the way, Danzou. There is actually something that… I have to warn you about."

I stopped my sketching to look at the reaperette. I was quite aware that Death would never allow any of his 'underlings' to warn anyone without a legitimate reason and, from the way Calli's face was now sporting some serious unease, I could tell it was far from a fun topic.

"What about?"

"There is… going to be something coming your way. Something that is turning your line of the future quite unstable and unpredictable. We have tried to discern what it was but… but it is something that we have never faced before," The girl explained with a serious tone. "Sensei ordered me to tell you this much as he thinks that you will have to act on it yourself to unravel it."

I was baffled by what I was just listening to. Why would Death want me to handle something like that?

"Why would I be better-equipped for something that worries the Shinigami?"

…

"I don't know."

This was so frustrating. I just came back from something intense and now I just get told that I might have to face something unexpected even by the Shinigami's standards? I huffed, providing a tired look to Calli.

"Can I at least have a time range when this is going to happen?"

Calli glanced at the ground, a pensive look plastered on her face and… she nodded.

"A year, maybe a few months in too but… it's going to unfold in a way that is not expected."

"That doesn't help," I argued with a scoff and she snarled.

"W-Well, I don't get to choose what we know. Not when it's pretty much unknown!"

"No bickering~!" Kiara chimed in, suddenly appearing between us and pulling us both in a hug. "If you behave like this, then you will have to share the bed tonight!"

…What kind of logic is that?

"What are you talking about?" I frowned, and I was even more confused when Calli looked fine with it.

"Would it be clothed this time around or like the usual?"

There was a moment of quiet, with Matatabi suddenly giggling pervertedly at what she just listened to and… I couldn't blame her. I was shaken by this revelation, and I was even more floored as I saw these two girls had yet to realize what this entailed in the great scheme of things, of decency and… intimacy.

"C-Clothed? The usual?! You mean to tell me that you- you two- slept without-" I stopped, my wide-eyed expression turning elsewhere as I considered that insanity. "You know what? No, I will not ask."

"Uh? Why not? What were you trying to say?"

I sighed, I hoped for mercy from Kami-chama and… I knew what I had to do. I stopped the two from plotting something stupid. I brought everyone back home and I approached my mother with a single request. One that left her perplexed, but would soon grant her a degree of amusement as she realized what it was all about.

"Mom, I know this sounds suspicious- please, tell them why what they think is alright is quite wrong on a moral level. I don't- I can't do this, you are more experienced than I am in this matter."

No further words granted, and as I left I picked up Hanzou and left with him as I left the two confused friends to handle that kind of talk. There was a lot of giggling from mother, many 'Oh, I got it!' from an intrigued Kiara and many shook 'Guh!'s from Calli as she realized what kind of mess she got herself stuck with. There was no bed sharing that night, but I would soon learn that Kiara had plans about it as she understood what it meant, and how to get that closeness to 'happen'. Sleeping together, that is, nothing more. And as I focused on getting my 'eye problem' fixed and dealing with Kiara's newfound interest to accomplish the 'brilliant three friends in a bed' plan, two new issues would start to appear within the village in the next two months.

One aiming to study me, another planning to get some revenge on me for… petty reasons.