The most painful days and sorrowful nights

9. Mixed Emotion

Uzume woke up to darkness.

Her body in agony from her fight with Madara. She cursed herself.  Losing to her father - she expected that much, but to lose consciousness also. She felt weak. So weak and tired.

It took her a moment to realize that she was within a room. Dark and empty. She was lonesome.  Her mind went to Saizo -and Itachi. Surely he had met with Sasuke.  Had he told him the truth?  How would Sasuke react to this? She wasn't so sure. She stood onto her feet and doubled over her wound. No one was here to heal her,and she couldn't think to bite herself. Her body stiffened as the door slid open.

"You're awake."

Uzume glared.  Keeping herself calm,and alert. She stared into her father's clay eyes. Not giving him any type of response.Madara expected this much.He nearly killed her during that fight, had he been any merciless as he was during those times. Uzume would have died the moment he grabbed her by her throat. He clanked his way to the futon and stripped off his cracked armor.  His hands gloved and his shirt still on his body.

"it's the only place I can go that he won't find me." He added. "That bastard is clever and well prepared, but he isn't able to control us for a long period of time."

She looked away from him. Madara sighed and sat next to her. rubbing her by her shoulders.

"You remind me of your mother. beautiful and smart. I didn't want to hurt you out there,but I'm glad you did nor forsake the clan."

Sheer silence. Madara looked down her arms. He was smirking,  resting his hand on her shoulder. 

" You restore chakra like her also."

She stared at him now. Madara reached up and brushed her hair from her face. "Just like her."

"Say all the sweet things you'd like, but I'm not going to replenish your chakra...you're a  dead man."

Madara chuckled and shook his head.

"Even dead people need chakra too."

She shook her head and slid away from him. This was the same man who left her,and beaten her like a pulp. she had felt her composure slip from her body.

"I won't do it."

"why?" He asked. his tone serious this time.

"You can heal yourself,and why come to me when you can scurry back to Kabuto and ask him to patch you right back up. you don't need me. you never even wanted me."

Madara 's eyes were sharper and more into a glare now. his eyes were spiraling into a Rinnegan. he grabbed her by her hair and forced her to look at him. "Listen to me,Child. I've done everything I could to see that you were safe.Everything. I made sure you were well when you were younger.  you may hate me for my actions,but do not ever..." He grabbed her face now. his eyes peering into her soul.  seeing all of her pain lashing at him. "Ever say that I did not want you."

she shook her head holding back the tears. He didn't deserve that much. Her eyes burning now. Go back to your master, she thought to herself. feeling the anger rising to her bones. Madara stood up and marched out of the room.  slamming the door shut behind him. Uzume crumpled onto the floor. Sobbing.  letting all of her emotions pour out from within her. She never hated someone so much as she did her father. What did her mother ever see in him?

Naruto looked down at the ground.  His eyes were watering. His fist was constantly beating the ground as he thought about how he failed to help her. In the back of his mind, the blonde haired ninja thought of Sasuke and how important Uzume was to him.