The Light of Darkness | Madara Uchiha

34: Time is Ticking

The dark skies cascaded over the Land of Fire. Madara didn't kill Jirū in the week he was given, of course, he still wants to prove his worth. Especially for Aiyama's sake, still, he didn't think the man would strike Konoha at any time. He was wondering what the actual hell, does Jirū want? There were many reasons of course and none seem to phase him much. Does he want her? Madara's blood boiled as his fingers dug deep into his flesh as he clenched his hands tightly.

Those elders continuously hope he would die. They never believed in him for this task and knew of many things this Feudal Lord want. It must mean one thing: those elders were behind many of the deals relating to that daimyo. If the first ninja war breaks out, then all hell breaks loose within the nations. Madara still didn't know what is with Hashirama's thinking of trying to make amends and allies to those who aren't worth the Leaf's trust.

He laid back where his head was leaning against the bark. The Jonin were chattering their conversations quietly. He didn't mind the peace around him as the wind blew silently; the leaves being carried by the wind around them.

He was close to closing his eyes to rest when a familiar chakra source piqued his interest. 'Why on earth would she be around? Genjutsu?' his skin crawled from the thought. He noticed the Jonin were asleep making him more annoyed by the fact that they wouldn't be prepared if any attacks occurred. However, he seemed a little calm that they trusted him more than what Madara thought. The shinobi actually are putting faith into him for once. He liked the feeling of being overbearing all of a sudden.

He noticed some strange chakra signature in the atmosphere. Then Madara mentally deadpanned knowing it was her chakra that was becoming fainter as if she was feeling from something.

He wanted to get up and go after her to interrogate her intentions as to why she was out of the village, but that would be an abandonment of your team and mission if he did so.

And then the second chakra source hit hard, Izuna was accompanying her. And he remembered what happened last time where he got so infuriated that he wanted to hate her for what happened to his little imouto. Madara specifically didn't want her or his brother to involve themselves in this mess. 'I just can't lose control this time.' His mind wavered and he made his decision.

That did it, he stood up and vanished within a flash.
________

"I thought Jirū had a hideout near the Land of Tea. Oh, Kami, why do we trust people when we can barely trust ourselves." Aiyama sluggishly slid down the tree bark behind her holding a scroll. Her head pounded in agony only she could hold in. "We will take him out either way. We need to be inquisitively proficient and act fast." Izuna looked away and sat down holding a kunai twirling it to kill boredom.

"I-Izuna... if we don't make it out alive. I would like to write a letter to my brothers." Aiyama looked like she wanted to end her life. Izuna didn't question her insanity just then.

"What would you tell them? 'Sorry I ran away for no reason?' You're acting selfish Aiyama, please think of those who care for you. Mada—" Izuna stopped thinking of his choice of words. He didn't want to tell her how much it would affect him if she were to sacrifice herself. In truth, Izuna wouldn't know what his brother would do.

"What the hell are you two idiots doing here?!" A voice reverberated from above the two who sat there. Aiyama prayed silently he didn't listen in on their conversation. 'Oh Kami, did he come here to kill me too?'

"M-Madara-sama?! We... um I told him not to follow— but I really wanted to be of use!" she stammered profusely and stood up gripping the tree tightly behind her. Pain from her fight before soared through her body; mainly her side throbbing a bit.

"Don't blame me!" Izuna bellowed back at her with red cheeks as the flames of fire.

Madara seethed with more anger rising in his chest. His eyes turned blood red showing three tomoes this time flicking straight to the Mangekyō Sharingan straining his eyes. Aiyama stepped back more with her back hitting the tree; she trembled in her spot.

"Niisan!" Izuna yelled which snapped him out of his trance making his brother deactivate his Mangekyō Sharingan. He was close to putting her in his version of Tsukuyomi. "Be of use? Then both of you return now. I'll send a Jonin to accompany you back," his serious dark tone threw her off. She has never seen him this angry before.

"And if I refuse?" Aiyama internally smirked wanting to test him. She saw him give her flash anger and appeared in front slamming her against the tree gasping for air, but not too much as to hurt her. She felt her blood boil from his unnecessary wrath.

"You wouldn't dare disobey my orders." His tone turned into a low growl causing Aiyama to look away. "You care too much, you won't be able to kill Jirū without knowing what you're going up against, Madara-sama." However, his facial expression nearly contorted.

He stayed like that before his brother grabbed his arm to slowly pull him back. Madara sighed, letting the antagonism brush passed him. "What is it then?" he felt Aiyama relax a bit in between the short distance.

"The elders highly suspect of Jirū having connections with the moon clan as you must have figured out by now. It's too risky, they're nearly gods or progenitors sent down to this world to cause destruction. Some are evil as others are neutral. Madara... please." Aiyama clasped her hands together above her face and bowed slightly. His face softened and gave a small glare in Izuna's direction.

"I won't allow you to accompany me on this mission. Izuna, return with her. If you both don't obey—"

"You'll die, Madara, it's all a trap!" she dropped the formalities seeing how hurt she looked. It did pain him seeing how worried she was, and he didn't want to witness more tragedies if she involved her self, or his brother taking his last breath. Madara clenched his hands so tightly trying to avoid any intrusive thoughts from invading his mind.

"Niisan, she is hurting from your actions from the past few months. Can't you trust us, we are heading to Takigakure for more answers." Izuna tried to reason properly to his elder brother who is being stubborn with the idea. Even his brother defies him. His other weakness is Izuna, it would pain him deeply as if he'd been stabbed by a thousand needles if either were killed.

"Are you underestimating my abilities?" Madara bellowed as his face flared with animosity from the other two who object to staying behind. "We don't know what his abilities are. It will be a dangerous trap if you go alone. We are both at risk, he wants to kill you! Can't you see that? I-I... d-don't want to l-lose you." Aiyama's voice cracked at the end which nearly broke Madara's walls and looked down at how damaged she looked. He then thought of how he doesn't deserve her after all the times he brought her down from his own selfish desires, and she forgave him many times now.

She looked down sadly, her eyes teary and full of sorrow. 'Why are women like this?' Madara won't admit how her mood affected him, and if enemies figure out of his weakness being his family and those close to him... the downfall of the Uchiha is what would happen; the enemy would do anything to make that happen. To see Madara fall point-blank.

"I won't always be there to protect you, or even you Izuna. I wish I had the power to save everyone that means everything to me, but you can't in this era or ever." He smiled painfully which sort of did shock both Aiyama and Izuna. Madara's dark expression was covered by his bangs. His long raven ack hair blew from the wind.

Izuna packed some things and knew what the next plan was. Takigakure being an option of finding true answers. And what they've done to Aiyama.

"You don't ever have to feel alone, Chōmei heals me and protects me when... you're not around. I am a Senju after all, so don't underestimate my standards, Madara-kun." Even he thought it struck him warmly how she used the formality instead of her adding the "-sama" since he wants to not be the only one in control. He likes her stubborn personality and the banter.

"I can not leave the other Jonin who accompanied me on this. Let's go back then, the sun will rise in a few hours." Madara didn't face her and was seeming a bit more avoidant and distant as they walked back. Still, the worry built up inside him seemly he didn't want to experience heartbreak worse than almost losing Aiyama all those years ago.