Blood Lust

Chapter 45

Madara was steps ahead of the others. He couldn't move fast enough to get to where he was going. His worst fears were rampant in his mind. What if he was dead? What if it was all a trap? Would they have a chance at all?

"Shouldn't we have a plan?" Tobirama called out, trying his best to keep up with Madara. They all struggled to keep up with his quick stride. "It'd be insane to just show up without any preparation!"

"Talking to him is useless now," Izuna grumbled. "He won't stop until he has Hashirama."

"He'll end up dying before he even sees him," Tobirama warned.

They passed building after building, finding themselves in an older part of the underground. The architecture was clearly more outdated and worn out. The bricks were riddled with mold and cracks all the way down to the foundation. Most of the buildings looked like they were left to rot away into nothing. The center of the Underground was quite a contrast to this area. It was far more eerie in this location.

Suddenly, Madara took a sharp left into one of the abandoned buildings, leaving the others in his dust. He was heavy on Obito's trail. He could smell his foul, evil stench reeking inside of the place. At first glance, Madara could tell that the building was once some sort of medical facility. Scattered around was rotted medicine bottles and files. The beds were infested with rodents and bugs. Scraps of the wallpaper had peeled over onto the floor. It was a filthy place that had been long abandoned.

"Where are you, Obito?" Madara bellowed, rummaging his way through the building. "I'm right here, you bastard!"

The others arrived only seconds later.

"I don't think anyone is here," Tobirama informed him, cautiously stepping over the broken bottles and tubes on the floor. "We should keep moving."

Madara ignored his gentle plea to move on from the place. He forged on, delving further into the building. The scent of Obito was strong, and it grew stronger as he stepped closer to one specific room. He was fearless and ready to face what was on the other side of the door.

But to his sad surprise, there was nothing.

He sank to his knees, feeling the weight of his pain pull him down. All he wanted to do was scream out his frustration. Slowly, he crawled over to the pallet of blankets where Hashirama once laid. His sweet scent still lingered there as a cruel tease for Madara. So close, yet still so far.

"He was here," he whimpered, voice broken and hurt. "We were so close to him."

Izuna was right behind him, looking sadly at Madara. "He can't be too far. We'll find him, okay?"

"Madara?" Tobirama called out.

Madara had barely noticed the others filing in. He was only focused on holding the blankets close to his chest. It was the only sliver of comfort he's had in days.

"Madara, there's a girl here," Tobirama clarified to get Madara's attention.

His head snapped around to find the same girl he had seen before. She was beaten and singed, looking lifeless and limp in the corner of the room. His eyes widened in disbelief. He didn't know what to think.

"She's still breathing," Rin added, kneeling down beside her. She was examining her wounds closely. "But just barely."

"Do you think Hashirama did this?" Izuna questioned. "Maybe he escaped?"

"Hashirama isn't capable of burns like this," Tobirama pointed out, looking at the burned flesh on her arms. "My guess is that it was Obito."

"Why would Obito attack his own member?" Mito inquired. "Isn't that forbidden amongst vampires?"