Just in Time

Liar

She put on a facade and hoped that he would not notice. Sarada had never seen a photo of him, she was not sure there were photos back in his day, but she had been to The Valley of the End and had seen a gigantic stone statue of him. This man was unmistakably Madara.

He sized her up and she wanted to run.

"Sit."

Izuna nudged her forward and they sat down on two pillows near the dais as Madara took seat in front of them.

He made her nervous but she did not know if this was just because of the stories she had heard about him or if it was his chakra. Sarada was by no means a great sensor but she could feel him so clearly now that she wondered how she could not have noticed it until now, his chakra felt like a bucket of cold water.

She got so uncomfortable looking at Madara that she averted her eyes.

"You should not waste your chakra," he said softly and got up from his place on the dais.

"What-?"

"Why do you do that?" He asked as he cupped her cheek and turned her head so that she would face him directly. Only then did Sarada notice what he meant. The second she had seen him she had subconsciously activated her Sharingan.

That was why I saw him so clearly standing at the other side of the room.

"I-I-I have bad eyesight," she stuttered. Get a grip Sarada , she told herself. It seemed people being nervous around him was perfectly normal because his expression of boredom with a pinch of concern did not change.

"So those were your glasses."

Sarada nodded.

"Save your strength, I will sit here." Madara now sat pretty much directly in front of them and she deactivated her Sharingan.

Oh, this is worse , she thought and took a shaky breath, trying to keep the panic that had formed a lump in her gut at bay.

"Tell me, who are you?"

There it was, the panic. She had known that this question would come, yet she could not give a satisfying answer. Fortunately for her, help came from an unexpected place.

"Do you remember Kintaro?" Izuna asked.

"Yes. He died three years ago."

"Yes. Well, he had an affair with a woman in the south."

Madara thought about that for a moment and let out a huff.

"Of course he did," he said, exasperated. "So her?"

Madara looked at her.

"Yes," Izuna said from beside her.

Madara pondered over something, looking into the distance. Whoever that guy was, he must have had more than one affair if it was this believable that he had a long lost daughter.

"From what I heard, you have quite the punch." Madara's attention was on her again.

"I do."

"Show me." There was an almost mad glint in his eyes.

"She is in no shape to fight you!" Izuna interjected.

"I didn't say I would fight her," Madara countered.

Izuna threw him a withering look but Madara got up anyways and pulled Sarada to her feet. She threw an unsure look in Izuna's direction but he seemed resigned and pissed. It looked like there was no way around this.

They went through one of the sliding doors that lead to the garden. The autumn air was a bit warmer than before but it was still cold enough to make her feel uncomfortable.

"Punch me," Madara said, and now she was sure he was insane.

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"Have a nice swing at me." The bored look from before was gone but the excited sparkle in his eyes was far worse. She just knew that she had to do this, he was not the type to take no for answer.

He leaned forward slightly so his face was level with hers. Sarada hesitantly balled her hand into a fist.

"Fine."

She concentrated chakra in her hand and swung.

Sarada had expected him to dodge her punch, but he didn't, and the impact sent him flying. For a second she thought she may have killed him, a hit like that to the face could very well be fatal, then she heard an almost manic laughter. Madara got up and out of the bush he had landed in.

"Brother!" Izuna shouted angrily as Madara walked back to them. A bruise was already forming on his cheek.

"That was so reckless." Izuna's face was flushed with anger.

"Calm down. I'm okay," Madara said as a bit of blood dripped out of his nose.

He began walking past them, clearly done with the conversation.

"I don't think your father's widow will be too pleased to have you, so you will stay here," Madara said as an afterthought.

He went back into his... office , for the lack of a better word.

Izuna looked pissed and he started walking back, too. Sarada followed him as quickly as she could but he was faster, and still with that unnatural silence.

"Izuna!" She called after him.

He paused and turned around, watching her catch up to him.

"Why did you lie for me?"

"You should rest now."

She gave him her best 'really? ' face but he just opened the nearest sliding door. It was her room.

"I have administrative duties to attend to. Go rest." With that he turned around and left her standing there.