C704 Family

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As the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow across the training ground, Peter stood over Itachi and Shisui, who were sprawled out on the ground, completely exhausted. Their bodies were drenched in sweat, their chests heaving as they gasped for air. The rigorous training Peter had put them through had pushed them to their absolute limits.

Mikoto, who had been watching earlier with Sasuke in her arms, had left a couple of hours ago. Sasuke needed to eat his dinner before bed, and she also had to prepare dinner for Itachi, Shisui, and her husband, who would be home later.

Although she was still wary of Madara's presence, she trusted Peter enough to leave the two boys in his care.

Madara stood off to the side, observing the scene with an impressed expression. He had watched as Peter subjected the children to a hellish training regimen that far surpassed anything he had ever put Obito through.

What surprised him the most was how the two boys rose to the challenge. Despite their bodies being pushed to the brink, they had persevered, never once complaining or giving up. It was a testament to their strength and determination, qualities that truly marked them as Uchiha.

As Itachi and Shisui began to catch their breath, they looked up at Peter with pleading eyes. "Are… are we done, Sensei?" Itachi asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Peter nodded. "Yeah, for today." He raised his hand, bringing his thumb and middle finger together, making both boys flinch instinctively. They had learned to associate that gesture with the beginning of more pain, but when Peter snapped his fingers this time, instead of pain, they were suddenly surrounded by a soft, glowing light.

The light began to heal the minor bumps and scrapes on their bodies, but it didn't stop there. The fatigue and muscle soreness from Peter's brutal training also started to fade, leaving them feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

The boys slowly stood up, their previous exhaustion all but forgotten. They exchanged surprised glances before turning to their sensei, awe and curiosity evident in their eyes.

"How did you do that?" Shisui asked, his voice filled with wonder.

"Can you teach us?" Itachi added eagerly.

Peter smiled at their enthusiasm. "Sure, but not today. We'll get to that in time."

The boys' faces lit up with excitement. The thought of learning such abilities, and possibly even more of Peter's powers, filled them with anticipation. They could hardly wait for the next day's training.

Peter glanced back toward the house and began to say, "If I'm not mistaken, your mother should be—"

Before he could finish his sentence, the back door of the house swung open, and Mikoto stepped outside, calling out to her son and nephew. "Itachi! Shisui! Dinner's ready!" she called, her voice carrying a note of motherly warmth.

Peter had asked her earlier to prepare something filling, knowing that the boys' bodies would need the nourishment after the intense training.

Peter pointed over his shoulder toward the house. "Go on, you two. We'll train again tomorrow."

Itachi and Shisui, ever respectful, bowed deeply to Peter. "Yes, Sensei. Thank you, Sensei," they said in unison before turning and running off toward the house, their spirits lifted by the promise of delicious food.

As the boys rushed past Mikoto and into the house, Mikoto hesitated for a moment before turning back to Peter. "Would you and…" she paused, glancing nervously at Madara, "Madara like to join us for dinner?"

Her invitation was polite but clearly hesitant. It was evident that she was still uncomfortable with the idea of Madara being in her home, but she felt it was only proper to extend the offer.

Peter smiled warmly and waved off the invitation. "Maybe next time, Mikoto. I need to discuss something with Madara first."

Mikoto nodded, visibly relieved that she wouldn't have to host Madara in her home. "Alright. Thank you again, Peter," she said before heading back inside, where she quickly turned her attention to wrangling Itachi and Shisui to the dinner table.

Inside the house, the boys joined Mikoto at the table, where the warmth of family surrounded them. They ate together, their conversation lively, with Mikoto fussing over them as usual, ensuring they ate enough after such a tough day of training.

As Mikoto and the kids ate inside, Peter and Madara remained outside in the backyard, the evening air cool and still. From where they stood, they could see through the window, watching as Mikoto fussed over Itachi and Shisui at the dinner table. The boys were animated, recounting their training session to her, while she gently urged them to eat more.

Peter noticed a subtle change in Madara's expression as he observed the scene inside. There was a flicker of something—longing, perhaps, mixed with a hint of envy. It was fleeting, but unmistakable.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Peter said, breaking the silence.

Madara, caught off guard by the comment, snapped out of his thoughts. He raised an eyebrow, turning to Peter. "What is?"

"Family," Peter replied with a warm smile. "Watching them together like that… it's a beautiful thing."

Madara's expression darkened slightly, and he frowned. "It can be," he conceded, though his tone was bitter. "But it can also be quite ugly…"

As he spoke, memories flooded his mind—memories of betrayal, of the time when his own family, the Uchiha, turned their backs on him. The bitterness of that betrayal still lingered, even after all these years.

Peter nodded, acknowledging the truth in Madara's words. "Yeah, it can be. But I'm sure you had at least one family member who would have stood by you no matter what, right?"

Madara's frown softened as he thought back to his little brother, Izuna Uchiha. If there was anyone in the world he could truly trust and call family, it was Izuna.

The memories of his younger brother were some of the few that Madara cherished deeply—a time when they shared dreams and aspirations, before everything went wrong.

A small, sad smile appeared on Madara's lips as he nodded. "Yes, I did," he said quietly. "But sadly, he was killed by that b*stard Tobirama."

When Madara spoke Tobirama's name, there was a growl of anger in his voice. The pain of losing Izuna was still raw, the wound never fully healed. "Izuna never trusted the Senju, but he shared the same dream as me—to create a village where our clan could live in peace. Sadly, he wasn't able to see the creation of Konoha."

Madara paused, lost in thought, before adding. "You know, not many people are aware of this, but those who are often think I was the one who named Konoha. But they're wrong." His voice softened as he spoke, the anger subsiding into a kind of melancholy.

"When we were still kids, Izuna and I would draw in the dirt with our toy kunai, and one day, we drew our village. But when we were done, he told me to name it, since I would be the leader of the village and he would be my second in command. But I couldn't think of anything… so he called it Konohagakure. The Village Hidden in the Leaves."

Peter listened quietly, sensing that this was a rare moment of vulnerability from Madara. He didn't interrupt, allowing him to share speak.

Madara chuckled softly, but there was a mournful edge to it. "And do you know why he named it that?" he asked, glancing at Peter.

Peter looked around, gesturing to the trees surrounding them. "Because he wanted to make the village in a forest?"

Madara shook his head, a bittersweet smile tugging at his lips. "No, it was because it was fall, and leaves were everywhere. They kept falling from the trees, covering our drawing and getting in the way. So, since the village we drew kept getting hidden under the leaves, that's what he decided to call it."

Madara laughed, but the sound was tinged with sorrow, a single tear escaped his eye and traced a path down his cheek.

Peter reached out and rested a hand on Madara's shoulder, offering silent comfort to the old man. "…" But as he did so, Peter was secretly shocked by the new revelation.

This was not something he had known about the world of Naruto. He wondered if he had just uncovered some secret lore that had never been published!

They stood there in silence for a moment, the weight of Madara's memories hanging in the air between them. But then, as if on cue, both Peter and Madara simultaneously glanced in the same direction, their senses picking up on the presence of six individuals rapidly approaching.

Madara quickly wiped the tear from his face, regaining his composure as Peter pulled his hand away. A second later, the Kage they had met with earlier in the day appeared before them.

Minato was the first to speak, his tone respectful but firm. "Peter, we've made a decision."

Peter raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by their quick turnaround. He hadn't expected them to come to a conclusion so soon, but speed wasn't a bad thing in this situation. He nodded, curious. "And what did you guys decide?"

Onoki floated forward, his voice carrying the weight of their collective decision. "We would like you to terraform our lands, if you can actually do it…" he added, doubtfully. "Although moving our villages to the Land of Fire would work as well, there are too many factors in place that could cause issues—mainly the daimyo."

Madara scoffed at the mention of the daimyo, though he didn't comment on it. To him, it was ridiculous that the ninja villages remained subservient to the daimyo, especially when they had the power to deal with them easily. In his mind, the daimyo should answer to them, not the other way around.

Peter, though he didn't scoff like Madara, felt the same. The daimyo were a relic of the past, a factor that often contributed to the instability and conflicts in the ninja world. 'Maybe I should figure out how to deal with the daimyo…' he thought. 'They're a factor for war as well. But that can be handled later.'

Returning to the matter at hand, Peter nodded in agreement. "Sure, I'll start working on it tomorrow. In the meantime, you all must work on setting up the council." He said, not bothered by Onoki's doubt.

The Kage exchanged glances, nodding in unison. They understood the importance of establishing a governing body that would ensure the peace they sought to achieve.

Minato, taking the lead, spoke for the group. "We'll begin discussions immediately and work out the details of the council. This is a crucial step, and we'll make sure it's done right."

Peter smiled, pleased with their resolve. "Good. I'll check in on your progress soon, but for now, focus on setting up a strong foundation."

The Kage bowed slightly in respect before turning to leave, each of them already thinking about the monumental task ahead. As they walked away, the tension that had hung over the village began to ease, replaced by a cautious sense of hope.

A/N: 1900 words :)

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