Izuna stared down this half eaten bowl, a light smile still lingering. It was nice. The atmosphere too, not just the noodles. He was finding it harder and harder to keep hold of his delusion that Itachi was just like Madara and the break from the boy's presence was refreshing. It was stupid but Izuna was almost angry that Itachi wasn't Madara. They weren't the same after all, no matter how much Izuna wanted to think Itachi was his second chance. The world was different now too.

A part of him scorned the new world, still plagued by war. What good was this village that his brother had dreamed of if kids were still being sent to war. To him it felt like they were just weaker now, weaker yet still just as war torn. He wondered what happened to all the Senju, not that he cared for them, just that it was strange how few were left. A part of him hoped Tobirama was rolling in his grave to be completely honest.

He missed the old world. It was easier to understand, your enemies were certain and your family was your family. Maybe it was just his upbringing, last upbringing? The thought that he didn't belong here grew as he did over the years. He missed the bond he had with his brother, the last family he had in the end. It was reassuring to know that no matter what, his brother would be there. That reassurance that he didn't have anymore. Regret that he left Madara alone after passing was a sour taste that the miso broth couldn't cleanse.

Izuna sighed, pushing the bowl away.

"Apologies, Teuchi-san, I can't eat anymore," His eyes softened at the man's smile. Teuchi simply shook his head, scooping the bowl up with one strong hand and a container with another.

"Take it home, I'm sure your brother would like some from the sounds of things." Izuna gave a small nod.

A hand ruffled his hair.

"Aunty Mikoto is not gonna be happy with me," Shisui sighed as he leaned an elbow onto the counter.

"I don't think mother will have noticed I left," Izuna's response came. The older Uchiha frowned.

"Of course she has," Shisui waved at Teuchi with one hand and pulled Izuna out the stall with the bag of leftovers with another, "Now let's get back before she comes looking." He shivered with a grimace, "Then I'd really be screwed." Izuna merely huffed and gave a polite bow back at Teuchi before following his cousin down the street.

He could see the Uchiha compound's rooftops in the distance and stopped walking, Shisui coming to a halt as well.

"Izuna?" Said boy frowned. It was hard to admit but,

"I don't want to go back yet." Shisui blinked at him.

The older boy wasn't dumb either, much like Itachi he knew there was something more to Izuna. He didn't know what but the boy wasn't like anyone else in his family. His distant gaze wasn't something from either of his parents or older brother. Shisui had the feeling Sasuke would grow up to be much different to Izuna as well. The boy didn't change like kids did. He was always, well, mature. Sure he could be childish at times but he seemed restrained. Like he was holding part of himself away from everyone's view. Izuna kept everyone at a distance.

"Is Sasuke really that loud?" he tried breaking the sudden tension that had set around them to no avail.

The younger boy's gaze grew distant. It was different now though. Shisui could see the spark of hesitance in his eyes that wasn't there before. It was like he was at a crossroads that no one else could see.

"Izuna?" He took a step towards, cautiously putting a hand on Izuna's shoulder. He didn't react.

People walked around them, not paying much mind to the two as they went on their way.

"I.." Izuna trailed off as he took a step back. Shisui's hand stopped him. He looked up at his cousin. There were tears that threatened to spill. He screamed at himself mentally to stop, to push down the signs of weakness. It was then that Shisui realised he'd never seen Izuna cry in the year that he'd known the boy after meeting Itachi, which wouldn't be weird but the kid was four.

Izuna felt overwhelmed by the people walking around them, their conversations muffled by his own screaming thoughts. One thought in particular louder than the rest. Itachi isn't Madara. Itachi ISN'T MADARA... Madara is gone. Madara is dead. The young Uchiha crouched in one sudden movement, hands clamping over his own ears in an effort to block out the thoughts, not that it helped. Madara was gone and his mind wouldn't let him forget.

"Izuna!" Shisui's yell was distant and Izuna clenched his eyes shut, his breathing rapid but inconsistent. He felt like he was choking, a burning sensation behind his eyes adding onto his already overwhelmed mind.

A choked out sob escaped through his gasping breaths and his knees hit the dirt path. He pressed his forehead into the ground to try and appease the pain. MADARA IS GONE. The tears came uncontrollably and Izuna couldn't hear anything, sounds all blending together in one big mess.

An arm wrapped around his stomach and picked him up effortlessly. Everything went silent in a moment, the glare of the lights in the street no longer shining through his closed eyelids. A voice broke through the now silence in his mind as a hand soothed hair off his forehead.

"Breath with me, kid," His body, which he now recognised was shaking, slowly grew still as he followed the rise and fall of the person's chest. The hand on the back of his neck was warm and grounding. He blinked away the last few tears that lingered. His hands fell away from his ears as he looked up at the man.

"Better?" Izuna's eyes darted around as he took in the rooftop they were on. He locked eyes with Shisui kneeling beside him, noting with an extreme clarity how the older Uchiha's eyes widened.

"Izuna, you-" He cut himself off and Izuna turned back to the other man. The man moved his hands off Izuna who missed the warmth but forced that thought down.

"Sharingan," He muttered to himself after realising what had happened. He couldn't help but scoff. Four years after he'd died and two since he'd found out what happened to Madara and he'd just now unlocked his sharingan, talk about a delayed reaction.

His attention went back to the Jounin and he nodded his head, eyes turning down apologetically.

"Apologies," The Jounin let a hand pat the top of Izuna's head, leaving it there as he introduced himself.

"Don't sweat it, panic attacks are a bi-" He stopped, "A bother to deal with." Izuna felt the tension leave his shoulders. "Genma Shiranui," The man introduced simply.

Izuna gave a small bow as he replied.

"Izuna Uchiha," He offered a small smile, "Thank you."

"And here I thought smiling wasn't in the Uchiha bloodline," Genma joked. The small smile grew.

"Izuna, I'm sorry I didn't know what to-" Izuna cut Shisui off with a shake of his head. "What happened?" The older Uchiha questioned after a moment of silence.

Izuna's smile dropped. Genma looked down at him before bringing his hand up to rest on the Uchiha's head again and noting how he seemed to relax slightly at the contact.

"I.. I'd rather not talk about it," Shisui looked understanding if still a little concerned and he let the topic go. Izuna focused for a moment as his eyes faded back into familiar coal.

The three sat on the roof for a while, slightly awkward but melting into a comfortable vibe as Shisui started talking about his genin team. It wasn't long before Genma stood up, Izuna forcing down a pout as the hand left the top of his head.

"Can you boys get down okay?" He turned to look at them and Shisui nodded.

"Yes, sir. Thank you," Genma dismissed him with a wave before giving Izuna a nod and flickering away with a shunshin.

A silence settled between the two left on the rooftop before Shisui cautiously spoke up.

"So.. are you ready to go home yet or?" Izuna nodded at him before looking down at the ground below.

"I'm sorry about before, I just.. I," he stopped and gave Shisui an apologetic look. Shisui shook his head at the younger Uchiha and stood up.

"I'm sure your father will be happy about this.. Development," Shisui said with a grimace. He picked Izuna up in one arm and hopped the rooftops towards the Uchiha compound.

Izuna scoffed at that, his face back to its usual neutral expression.

"Sharingan at four, you might even be his favourite over Itachi now."

"Hn."

Shisui froze. Izuna felt it too. Both boys were still as a wave of malice flooded the air around them. Thick and suffocating, Izuna felt like he was choking. From Shisui's expression he didn't seem to be doing much better.

Izuna recognised it though. The dark and hateful chakra, albeit much more hateful than he remembered it. Kyuubi.

A deafening roar pierced the village ambiance and screams followed it. Monstrous tails ripped through buildings and people alike, flattening everything in their paths and sending debris flying.

Shisui doubled his speed before coming to an abrupt halt as debris flew around them.

Both Uchiha locked eyes for a moment, red irises meeting red before Shisui flung them both high into the air, dodging a wooden beam. Izuna looked over at the now damaged surroundings. Shisui wasted no time, body flickering towards the compound.

"Left!" Izuna yelled as he watched their backs. Shisui didn't hesitate and flickered to the left as debris shattered windows where they'd been running. He didn't stop moving though and immediately resumed pace.

They reached the gates in record time. The Uchiha compound wasn't spared from the chaos, land similar to the area they'd been in, shattered glass and debris littered around buildings, some completely reduced to rubble. Izuna could see flickers of fire in the distance beginning to spread. He cursed at that and Shisui turned to look where he was before similarly muttering under his breath.

Izuna could see the hesitance in Shisui's eyes and they flickered between two directions. The younger Uchiha pushed himself out of Shisui's arms.

"Go!" He yelled at the older man before darting off towards his home, not waiting to see if Shisui had followed or gone for his own family.

Izuna turned a corner and sucked in a breath as he eyed the house he's grown up in and a portion of it was knocked down and with his Sharingan he could see droplets of red soaking near a fallen beam.

He calmed his nerves as he realised there was no one there meaning whoever was injured was also already out and hopefully safe. His eyes scanned the rest of the compound, checking for any stragglers or trapped people but saw none.

His legs burned as he forced himself to run back towards Shisui's house where he lived with his parents. Izuna could see Shisui hoisting his father onto his back as he got close. The other boy turned to his direction with a pained expression that faded into relief as he saw Izuna running up.

No words were said as they took off running again, Shisui slowing his pace enough for Izuna to follow him, the chakra pouring into his legs was quickly running out however.

The younger looked back and could see the Nine Tails in the distance opening its maw. There was a wave of dread similar to its first appearance and Izuna felt his heart sink as the Chakra it gathered became visible.

A flash of yellow flickered throughout the sky before the beast was suddenly gone. He turned back around and his eyes locked onto the red staining the man's shirt on Shisui's back.

"Shisui, go ahead!" He yelled as he felt the chakra he was supplying to his legs running dangerously low. Shisui turned around to argue but his eyes also fell to the growing red stain. He bit his lip before giving a grim nod and flickering away.

Izuna fell to the ground as Shisui disappeared from his sight, finally cutting the chakra from his legs. He breathed in heavy gasps, sweat and dirt caking his skin. He pushed himself to sit against the side of a house and collected himself.

Thoughts landed on Itachi and Izuna sighed, bringing his legs up to his chest. The village was desolate and the constant blaring alarm was the only sound.

He made an attempt to push himself onto his feet but his legs refused to bear his weight and he sank back to the floor. Izuna glared at his own inability. He was the second strongest Uchiha of his time, second only to his brother. He pushed himself up again. His legs were shaking but they held this time. One cautious step forward, then he was slowly making his way towards the monument.

The sound of a step behind him made him spin around. He locked eyes with a woman with an ANBU mask.

She wordlessly picked him up and continued on a steady run towards the monument.

Izuna made no effort to resist, tightly gripping onto the strap of her ANBU armour and letting her carry his weight.

They both turned to look at a fallen house as a cry of pain rang out. She looked down at him then towards the fallen house before changing direction. They approached the house, partially collapsed on one side and the entrance blocked by a fallen wooden beam.

The ANBU slipped in through the shattered window, her hand not supporting Izuna's weight coming up to shield his head from the broken glass. They rounded the short hallway to see an older man, mid forties Izuna guessed, with what seemed to be a structural support skewering him through the stomach, pinning him against the wall. Blood flowed like ribbons from the puncture and Izuna could tell there was no saving him unless this shinobi was some sort of medical ninjutsu expect.

Judging from the quiet curse that escaped her Izuna guessed the man was out of luck. A resounding crack sounded out and the ANBU wasted no time in jumping through the opposite window. The second story of the house chose that moment to collapse and she brought her hand up to guard Izuna from the dust and dirt.

She set off towards the monument, sparing a glance to the fallen building as Izuna leaned his head on her shoulder, exhaustion both physical and from the extensive chakra drain from his Sharingan setting in, not to mention the chakra he's used to keep up with Shisui.

They neared the monument without any other detours and the deafening mixture of cries and panicked talking became too much for his exhausted mind. 

He felt himself being lifted out of the ANBU's arms and he let go of her, grabbing onto the clothes of whoever he was passed to.

Izuna watched with tired eyes as she jumped back out of the shelter, probably to look for more survivors. He turned to the teen who carried him, spiky black hair was the first thing he saw and his heart leaped for a moment before he blinked and his vision cleared.

The teen had short, spiky black hair and tired eyes, an open gash across his nose from almost ear to ear.

"Izumo!" The teen called out as he readjusted his hold on Izuna. He carefully stepped over to join a small group of teens.

Izuna glanced round but the shelter was huge and filled with people, he wasn't going to be able to pick out Itachi, Mikoto or Shisui without activating his Sharingan again, and he didn't have the chakra for that.

He and the teen holding him joined the huddled teens and Izuna fought off exhaustion.

"You alright?" He barely registered the question. Izuna faced the other teen, Izumo, and nodded. "My name's Izumo, this is Kotetsu," He gestured to the teen holding him, "Do you see your parents?" Izuna shook his head.

"Izuna," He said tiredly before he rested his head on Kotetsu's shoulder. Izumo gave him a forced smile.

"We'll look after you until we find them, you can sleep now it's okay." Izuna could tell the teen was trying to come off confident but he wasn't about to call out his efforts. He offered a weary smile back before slipping into unconsciousness.