Hinata felt around for her kunai pouch, she was getting significantly better at tying and clasping things as of late. She fumbled with the knot, tying it securely on her thigh. She was going somewhere today and she was not going to inform Madara of her departure or more so… where she was headed. This was her secret and hers alone, she didn't think she should concern the brothers of this little adventure. She reached down and secured the straps of her shoes tightly. She slid open her bedroom door and stepped out, not quite expecting Madara to be standing right there.

"Going somewhere?" he asked, his voice was slightly humored and she blushed ever so slightly. "Um… yes actually. I was going to go and recover a few things and get some new things." She said with a smile and he made a noise confirming he had heard. "Would you like some company or do you think you would be alright by yourself?" he asked and she could hear the sincerity in his tone. "I think I should be alright this time, thank you though, Madara-kun." Hinata said with a bright smile. She could feel the worry roll off of him in waves.

"Are you sure?" he asked and she nodded. "Yes, I'm sure. I won't be gone too long maybe an hour or two." She said and smiled softly at him hearing the concern in his voice. He released a sigh, knowing there was no way he was going to get her to change her mind about this. He patted her on the head softly, much to her surprise. "Alright then…" he said and his hand ruffled her short choppy locks on the top of her head the slightest bit, only for his calloused hand to fall and gently cup her cheek. The rough pads of his fingers made her heart clench in regret as they brushed over her cheek.

"Be safe, alright?" he asked and she nodded softly, her features softening slightly. "I will I promise." She said and took his hand into her own. She squeezed his hand tightly once and slowly released it as she walked past him. "I'll keep an eye out for your return he said and she smiled softly. "I'll hurry back, so you won't have to worry for long." She said and she could tell that a slow smile had pulled over his once worried lips just because of the fact his chakra signature had lightened ever so slightly once more.

she smiled slightly to herself, despite the deep sadness she still held. She didn't want to be so secretive with them, but she knew that if they knew exactly where she was going there would be issues. She still couldn't calm her racing heart from the close call with Izuna's life a full month ago. She was so worried and panic stricken that it would happen again… she couldn't bear it if it did, so she was going to go speak with the brothers, and then she had another destination.

She opened the gates to the compound and her chakra pulsed sending out a wave of chakra that would bounce back off of anything up to ten feet in front of her to let her know there was something there, similar to how bats use echo location at night, she could maneuver around in that manner safely. She felt Izuna's and Tajima's chakra off in the training field where they were doing their daily regimen. A small smile crossed her lips as she sped off through the surrounding forest. At this moment, she knew they were safe… and that was all that mattered.

:-:-:-:

Madara didn't want to release his grasp on her smaller, softer, more delicate hand. He didn't want to let the small framed woman go outside the walls of the compound, just because he couldn't afford to lose her as well. He hadn't told her of what was happening because he didn't want her to panic… a sigh escaped his lips as her soft fingers left his grasp. His chest clenched and he felt as if he should warn her of the danger outside the walls, but he knew deep down she knew. He also knew that if he tried to keep her within the walls of the compound she would grow to believe he thought she wasn't strong enough.

Ever since she had lost her sight, Madara watched her… watched how she reacted to things differently than she normally would have. He saw the pain and worry every time she almost screwed something up. He felt her chakra feeling his trying to see if he were disappointed with her for her mistakes or not. He knew she strived to be the best she could be, but it was not for herself… she strove to prove herself to him, his father, and Izuna. He wished she would just believe in herself. Then again he knew that she had most likely always strove to be the best she could be for all those around her and never for herself.

"Be safe…" he said and that smile crossed her lips and he couldn't help but feel she would be just fine. A slow smile crossed his lips and he felt her aura brushing over his, causing her smile to brighten, even if only slightly. He sighed as he watched her leave in such a hurry it disturbed him. He supposed he should have warned her of the Senju ambushes happening as of late, but he supposed she could handle herself at the moment. He ran a hand through his hair and turned to head outside where his father and brother were supposed to be training, but instead saw his father watching him with knowing eyes. "So…" his father began, but Madara sighed. "I thought you were training with Izuna." Madara said and his father nodded.

"I am. This me is just a clone. You should have noticed fairly easily… but something else has distracted your mind…" Tajima said and a small flicker in his eyes said that Tajima wasn't done talking yet. "What exactly do you want to know?" Madara asked his father and Tajima's lip twitched the slightest bit. "When did this happen?" Tajima asked and Madara furrowed his brows at his father, trying to figure out exactly what his father was trying to learn from him. "When did what happen?" Madara asked and Tajima's eyes held a shine to them that Madara couldn't quite figure out.

"When exactly did you become so soft out of sight…" his father asked, but opened his mouth to speak once more so Madara stayed silent. "A better question would be… when exactly did you realize that you loved her?" Tajima stated and Madara's eyes widened. "I don't." Madara said and Tajima frowned slightly. "I'm going to call bull shit on that, just because we both know you're trying to deny it." Tajima said with a frown, but that indescribable light in his eyes hadn't vanished yet. Madara knew he knew.

A sigh escaped his lips and he would have preferred not to have had to explain it to his father… but this was inevitable either way. "I couldn't figure out what it was at first… I had felt a pull to her since I had seen her that day in the inn. I was actually just looking for trouble that day Izuna and I had found her. Once I got to know her, I thought it was that I really respected her. For the longest time I couldn't figure it out…" Madara said slowly, testing how the explanation felt as it left him. "I realized that it was something more than respect when I had seen her that day… she refused to leave me by mother's grave alone, she mourned with me. begged me to go inside… she shared my pain." Madara said and looked over at his father.

"I realized I loved her when… when she came to us… blind. I felt as if I had to protect her, keep her with a smile on her face, despite everything she had gone through. I just want to protect her, from this clan, from the Senju… from anyone who wish her harm… I can't afford to lose her. She is as much a part of me as you and Izuna. I can't lose any of you…" he said and Tajima smiled lightly. "That is how I felt for your mother…" Tajima said and Madara realized exactly what the light in his father's eye was, it was pride. Pride in him for finding someone he could feel this way for, pride that his eldest son would not have to live his life alone.

"Father…" Madara began but his father spoke before he could finish. "I believe the worst pain in the world is out living your own children. Parents are supposed to die before their children, so a parent having to watch their child die right in front of them, is the greatest pain there is. Aurora will no longer have to suffer from this pain, but now her soul can rest in peace. Her eldest will not live out his days alone." Tajima said and Madara could see the tears threatening to spill over. Tajima Uchiha was not a man to cry, but when it came to his wife, he would flood a river with his tears, just for her.

"I just want you to know…" Tajima began and Madara's eyes locked onto his father. "I believe in you, the both of you. Both of my sons are the epitome of strength and I could die a proud father. I just want you to know this." Tajima said and Madara grit his teeth. "Please… please stop…" he begged. Tajima smiled slightly. "I don't mean to cause you pain… but I'm getting to be an old man… I can't keep going on like this." Tajima said and Madara clenched his fists. "Father… please stop… I don't want to hear this!" Madara snapped and Tajima chuckled, but shook his head slightly. "I didn't want to hear it either, but I had to listen to it from my father as well. But… for now I will stop. I'm proud of you Madara. Treat her well." Tajima said before his clone poofed away into nothingness.

Madara clenched his fists even tighter and made his way back to his bedroom, which was down the hall from Hinata's he sat on his futon and rested his elbows on his knees, his head resting in his hands, trying to will away the headache and the pain seeping into his mind from what his father wanted him to hear.

:-:-:-:

Hinata found herself in the Senju forest, in the secret spot that Hashirama had shown her while training with her. There was a small lake with a tiny island in the center of it. she walked across the water and slowly sat atop the tiny island. Her fingers dipped into the surface of the water, the fish beneath the surface nibbling at her fingers ever so slightly. She deeply wished she could see what color they were and what type of fish they were, but she tried not to get too hopeful because she knew that she would never see again.

Two sets of footsteps caught her attention and she brushed her chakra over them, testing to see who they were. "You came…" she said softly and she heard the shuffle of fabric, so she supposed they nodded. "I cannot see you know…" she said softly and they moved again, this time it sounded like they were sitting down across the water from her on the edge of the bank. "Yes… forgive me I seem to have forgotten…" Hashirama's voice drifted to her from across the water.

"Don't worry about it. It wasn't your fault either way… I honestly don't blame you. I blame your father." Hinata said, but her voice was different. Her voice was angered, appalled even. "Hinata?" Hashirama called out to her, sensing the change in the normally kind young woman. "I don't need your explanations… from either of you. I don't even need an explanation from Madara as to why he thinks he has to hide this from me. I know what you Senju have been doing. I know why the compound is in a state of unrest." She said in an accusing tone.

"I know why the Uchiha around me reek of blood all the time… and not Senju blood either… Uchiha blood. I know of what Butsuma has been doing. I understand that he thinks he can win like this… but he is wrong." She said and the brother's chakra seemed sullen. "I don't need your fake pity. Your father takes out anyone in his way just to attempt to get to Izuna and Madara. The rest of the clan are just unnecessary casualties… he's only after me and the brothers." She said and they continued to stay silent.

"They are my family… blood or no blood, they are my family… and all you do… is kill them. Whether they hate me, or care for me as Madara, Tajima, and Izuna do… you kill them. No mercy. No remorse." She said and she could feel the tears begin to streak over her cheeks. "Hinata… we have no choice…" Tobirama said and the water beneath her fingers stilled, yet the wind rushing through the trees resembled that of a storm coming in. "You have no choice? No choice but to kill those I call family?" she asked, her voice devoid of any emotion what so ever. "Yes, we have no choice it is either we kill them or end up taking a beating ourselves and most likely ending up dead." They said and the wind slowed to a halt.

"No choice… none? Fine… that is just fine… I guess there are always two sides of the coin, then. I guess I will have no choice either…" she said, her voice saddened greatly. "I'm going home. Do not follow me, or tell your father of this meeting." She said and stood. She made her way across the water and right past the two Senju brothers. Her heart ached, she didn't want to have to fight in this war of clans. She knew that if she didn't, she was going to lose those she was trying to protect.

"Hinata wait…" Hashirama called but she continued to walk. "The time for me to wait is over. I'm not going to stand by and watch you hurt Madara, Izuna, or Tajima…" she said and continued walking. She ignored their pleas, but noticed that they did not follow her either. She sighed and her mind drifted off. She'd been here for months it seemed, and yet she rarely thought of home. She thought that she would miss her time by now… but being with the Uchiha dulled that ache. The only thing she was focused on now was keeping the ones she now held dear safe, at whatever cost. She was not going to lose them.

She took a deep breath and continued on her way to the other destination, a secluded place on what used to be Uzumaki grounds, but they relinquished their hold on it to the Senju so they would spare the few Uzumaki that still thrived. There were supposedly only thirty four Uzumaki left because of the jutsu thieves that had made their way through the area. Hinata sighed and continued on her way. She didn't care if the Senju found her in this sacred place or not, they couldn't hurt her as long as she was there because of the sacred waterfall's abilities.

Hinata felt the pure aura emanating from the waterfall and her smile broke free. "Katsuyu falls…" she whispered and walked beneath the water, relishing the feeling of warmth and adoration the water gave her. 'Hinata… welcome back…' a familiar soft spoken slug greeted. "Katsuyu-sama." She greeted and as the water finished soaking her being, it went cold. She furrowed her brows and stepped out of the usually warm water. "What is going on lady katsuyu?" she asked and the slug was still silent.

'The future looks bleak… especially for you. It looks dark for you.' The slug said softly and Hinata frowned. "I promise, I will go the right way; even if it looks dark now, I will choose the right path." Hinata said and Katsuyu made a noise of understanding. 'I would hope so. It wouldn't be wise to go the wrong way…' katsuyu said and Hinata nodded. Deep down Hinata began to worry, katsuyu had no real grasp of time, as time had no real effect on her. Katsuyu falls was a place that was a break in the space time vortex. If two people from different times walked through the falls at the exact same time, both people could speak and interact, but if one person tried to leave with the other they would still be sent back to their own times.

The Katsuyu falls were a rare paradox of time that never really formed. Half the time Hinata was tempted to stay within the falls and see who all knew of it's location, but she never had time for it either way. "How are things at home lady Katsuyu?" Hinata asked and the slug circled her feet. 'War is happening. No one really noticed your disappearance either. Sadly enough. You've been gone for a week in Tsunade's time, but nearly five months here. Were you that insignificant?" one slug said and Hinata's heart clenched in pain.

"But of course… no one ever noticed before… why should they now?" she said and turned on her heel and walked out from the falls. She was not going to be the insignificant one any longer. She may not be able to see any longer, but she was tired, so very tired; of being the one protected. Her pulse of chakra echoed around her as she shook the remainder of the slug infested water off of her, she had been so faithful to the slugs and yet one of them had actually had the audacity to call her insignificant. Her heart clenched.

Normally she would break out into tears and cry her pain away, but she couldn't cry over this and she didn't even understand why… it just… didn't affect her like it used to she guessed. She had spent so long trying to prove to everyone she was strong, that she was able to do what they kept telling her she couldn't… but it seemed deep down she had either proved it to someone and she knew it, or she just quite possibly didn't care anymore, but she didn't really want to believe that just yet.

She made her way back towards the Uchiha forest, but at her own pace. She wasn't going to rush back home just yet, even if Madara was worried sick about her. As mean as it sounded she needed her personal time to think everything over. She approached a familiar stream that cut the two warring states in half, this is where Madara had met Hashirama. Not too far from where she was standing, she knew stood what would one day become the Hokage great stone faces. A slow smile crossed her face. This would one day be home to her…

She crouched down and grasped a stone, her fingers brushing over the surface to determine the smoothness and shape of the stone. She dropped said stone and felt around for another, less angular and more circular stone. Her fingers brushed over a seemingly perfect stone and a smile crossed her lips. She stood back up and immediately a chill rolled down her spine. She spun on her heel and furrowed her brows as her chakra rolled off of her wave after wave, attempting to find the source of her unease.

"Forgive me… I didn't mean to startle you." Tajima's voice rang out and he dropped down on his side of the river, which she made her way over to not long after. "Tajima-sama… sorry I got so riled up…" she said with a small smile. "Oh it's not you dear, it was me." he said and she smiled softly. "I actually came out here because I wanted to talk to you about something…" he said and she sat by the bank of the river. Tajima followed suit, but took off his shoes and placed them in the chilly fall water. "Is it personal?" she asked and he made a movement to nod then cleared his throat, as if remembering her lack of sight. "Yes, very much. Please forgive me, I seem to continue to forget you lack of sight… it is easy to forget when you move around the house like nothing is wrong you see…" he explained and she laughed lightly.

"I don't doubt it. Madara never forgets though… he's always looking after me." she said and a smile tugged at her lips. "Of course. He cares deeply for you, if you haven't noticed." Tajima chuckled and Hinata felt a slight heat rise to her cheeks. "You don't mean that…" she said slightly accusing. "Oh, but I do. He worries for you, my dear… he doesn't know what he would do if he were to lose you." Tajima said and Hinata wanted to believe him so badly… she wanted to believe that Madara could possibly care for her in such a way, but she wasn't going to get her hopes up just yet.

"I know… I worry him too much…" she sighed and fiddled with the pebbles surrounding her. "You should go to him now you know… he seems distressed. I worry for both of my sons, and you as well; just so you know. Which means if one of you are upset, I'm upset as well. He's in his room. He claims he's trying to be alone to think but he's going to worry himself into Gray hair over you…" Tajima chuckled and Hinata blushed lightly. "Alright… I will." She said and he nodded, his lips tugging up in a small smile. "Do you care for him?" Tajima asked and Hinata turned to face him.

"I… I care deeply for all of you. I would do whatever it takes to keep you all Happy and safe, even if it mean the death of me, I refuse to let you hurt…" she said in such a determined voice it almost caught Tajima off guard. "You love him then? You see us as family?" he asked and she nodded. "I love you all dearly… I can't live without you. You believe in me, so much more than my own family ever did. You think I'm some great warrior… you trust me with your lives… so I trust you with mine. I don't ever want anything to happen to any of you…" she said and Tajima reached over and ruffled her hair. "Ever since you came into my home, I've thought of you as my daughter, and you have never ceased to amaze me." he said and hugged her gently, tucking the side of her head under his chin with one arm wrapped around her shoulder.

Her shoulders began to shake and he knew the tears were coming. She fisted her hands into her lap and leaned forwards some to attempt to stifle her sobs. He rubbed her back with a small smile. "Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere anytime soon." He said and she nodded through her tears. "Now, lets get your tears all dried up because if Madara sees that you've been crying he's going to yell at me for making you cry, alright dear?" he asked and she nodded once more, rubbing her eyes with her sleeves. "Thank you, outo-san…" she said and he blinked but smiled at her. "You're very welcome, Hinata…" he said and ruffled her hair.

From her reaction to that statement alone, he could tell that she must not have had a good relationship with her real father, so he was going to do the best he could to make sure he was the best he could be. "How about we get you to Madara before he wears a grey patch in his head." Tajima chuckled and Hinata giggled lightly. "Yeah, that sounds good to me." she said as he helped her stand. "Let's hurry home." She whispered and he nodded at her, then cleared his throat once more and muttered an agreement in his embarrassment of having yet again forgetting she couldn't see his nod.

:-:-:-:-:

Madara was still sitting in his place on his bed, his head still propped up like it was about an hour ago. He was beginning to worry and his father knew it. He supposed he gave off some odd aura or something because his father kept coming in to check on him on and off without saying a word. He sighed and laid back on his futon one knee propped up and one arm slung over his eyes. He supposed he looked like Izuna in that moment when Izuna was told to wake up but really didn't want to.

Before he had even realized it the headache pulsing at his temple had begun to fade in and out, which meant he was drifting in and out of consciousness. He decided to let sleep consume him, even if only for a little while. He had just begun to drift off into a heavier sleep when his door slid open softly. He supposed it was his father once more, but the creak of his futon and the new weight on his bed said otherwise. He continued to pretend to be asleep, because no one was dumb enough to attempt to kill him in his sleep.

Once the movement had stopped, he felt the urge to crack an eye open and see who had hidden their chakra just so they could curl up next to him, but soft exploring fingers reached up and pushed his arm from over his eyes and brushed the hair from his face. He knew then exactly who it was and he continued to allow her run her fingers through his hair. Once she seemed settled with how much she had run her finger through his hair she edged closer and curled up right in his side.

She nuzzled her head in to his chest slightly and she whispered something to him, as if she knew he could hear her. "I will protect you with my life." She'd whispered to him and a small smile crossed his lips as he rolled towards her and to her surprise, ran his fingers over her cheek and brushed her hair away from her closed eyes. "And I will protect you with mine as well." He said and a small smile crossed her lips as she snuggled in closer to him.

"Tajima-sama told me he thinks of me as his daughter today…" she whispered and Madara smiled. "I'm guessing your conversation with father went much better than mine…" he said and she smiled slightly. "He made me cry, to be honest. My own father never saw me as anything useful. I was a waste of space in his eyes it seemed… but Tajima-sama… he believes in us…" she said and he nodded. "He also said it was a parent's duty to die before their children, so I'm still going to say your chat went much better." He said softly and she angled her face up at him.

"He said I should go to you, he said you were worried about me…" she said softly and a chuckle escaped his lips. "I was… I was very worried. I'm so sorry I didn't tell you about the Senju ambushes happening right under your nose…" he said, his voice sincere and she nodded. "I understand, you didn't want to worry me… but… I already knew…" she said and he seemed surprised. "How?" he asked and a saddened smile tugged at her lips. "Hiseki has been abnormally quite for the past two weeks, he reeked of blood, and I knew it wasn't Senju… the smell of it burned my senses… just like a flame…" she whispered and he hugged her to him tightly.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you…" he said and she nodded in his embrace. "I won't let anything happen to you, I promise." He said and she smiled. "I refuse to allow anything happen to you, Izuna, or Tajima… if I can help it… I will protect you all." She said and he ruffled her hair. "Spoken like a true Uchiha… family oriented…" he said softly and rolled onto his back with a sigh. "I'm going to take a nap. I have a migraine… not as bad as it was… but it's still bad." He chuckled and she smiled at him.

"Would you like me to leave?" she asked and he shook his head. "No… you can stay. If you want that is, I'm not going to make you stay like some old pervert." He chuckled and she laughed as well. "I think I will stay as well. Just over on this side of the bed so you can have your stretching room." She said and he shrugged. "If that's what you want, I'm supposedly a huge heater." He said with a grin and she laughed. "Well if I get too cold over here under this nice heavy blanket I might scoot a bit closer." She giggled and he snorted. "Yet again, your loss." He said and she sent him a look that made him laugh.

"My loss as in what? I'm still here aren't I?" she asked and he grinned. "But you're not over here. That's the difference." He said and the bed creaked with his movement of tossing the blanket back a bit. "But…" he began, and turned towards her. "I can make it better." He chuckled and her brows scrunched up. "Like how?" she asked accusingly and he chuckled. "Like this!" he said as he lunged across the bed and tackled her, which sent them both into the floor with him on top and her tangled in the blankets. "That hurt you know…" she whined and he chuckled. "But now you can't run away my little burrito." He said as he lifted her and the blankets off the floor to toss her back on the bed.

She giggled when she hit the futon and bounced. "You play too much." She said with a giggle and he chuckled. "But you like it don't you?" he asked and she smiled. "I like you." She said and he clutched his chest. "Oh… the pain… why must you wound me so?" he asked with a grin and she laughed as he flopped on the bed next to her. "I'm sure you realize that your melodrama has no effect on me since I can't see, right?" she asked and he grinned. "But I know what does have an effect on you, and you know it too." He said with a haughty tone and her face felt enflamed.

"R-really? You're going to stoop that low?" she stammered and he chuckled. "Why not?" he asked, halfway leaning over her from his side; his other arm fiddling with her ebony blue bangs. "because I might faint." She said and he chuckled. "You haven't yet, so maybe you grew out of that." He said and leaned a little closer. "I'm not sure about that…" she said nervously and he chuckled. "Neither am I, but I think I can make you get used to it." he chuckled and her face flamed even redder. "Madara…" she whined and he grinned even wider. "Stop being a flirt." She whined and he laughed.

"No… I don't think I will. I like your reactions too much to quit." He chuckled and was about to close the gap between them when his door slid open once more. His shoulder drooped and he slowly looked over at his father who rolled his eyes and motioned for him to exit the room for a moment. "Ah… alas… our dearest father has called upon me." he sighed and Hinata giggled as he rolled away from her. "I will be back, Hinata-chan." He chuckled and left the room.

:-:-:-:-:

He frowned at his father, what he was saying meant they were all in trouble once more. The crease in his brow wouldn't fade, and he didn't see this headache fading any time soon either. He supposed he should figure out some sort of plan with the help of his father and brother. His eyes flickered towards the woman sitting on the edge of his futon, he should include her too, she could help as well. He thought over this with a small prideful smile. "Alright I'm going to arrange a meeting; this one is going to include me, you, Izuna, and Hinata. We must consult on this now." Madara said and Tajima nodded.

"Hinata, come here for a moment please. Seems my nap is going to have to be postponed for a while." He said and she nodded as she stood. "Alright, shall I signal for Izuna to come in?" she asked and Madara cracked a smile. "Sure." He said and made completely sure that he toned down his sensory skills because if he didn't, her chakra would have sent him into a sensor meltdown. Those were never good. Hinata folded her hands together in front of her and her chakra flared, the feeling of her chakra when she did this was similar to that of being punched in the stomach with a cinderblock, to a point actually. If Madara wouldn't have minimized his sensory abilities he would be on the floor writhing, seemingly allergic to all sounds, colors, and forms of light. He would much rather not have to spend another week in a dark room like he had when she had discovered her ability to flare her chakra in said manner.

No one had told her what happened, they had just said he had a special mission to do and left it at that. No one wanted to upset the bluenette with the actual reasoning for his sudden departure. Izuna came running in and he skidded to a stop right beside Hinata. "Yeah?" he asked, seemingly irritated with the fact he had been summoned that way. "Sorry Izuna-kun it was urgent." Hinata said and he cracked a smile at her and rubbed the back of his neck. "Aw… its fine Hinata-chan! If it is urgent then that's fine." He said with a smile directed at her as he tossed an arm over her shoulder and half hugged her.

Tajima watched Madara for any jealousy what so ever, but saw none, not even a barely concealed glint in his eyes or posture. If Madara was jealous of how close Izuna and Hinata actually were, he was very good at hiding it. "Anyways…" Madara began with a frown, "The Senju seem to be plotting something. They've pulled back all their men that have been hiding out in the surrounding woods and ambushing us." Madara said and Tajima nodded. "I noticed that the forest was bustling with deer activity once more. Even the squirrels are out and about once more." Tajima explained and Hinata furrowed her brows.

"What of the birds, are they silent or do they sing?" she asked and Tajima looked over at her. "They are singing once more as well, which gives me this unsettling feeling that once they silence once more, there will be trouble." He said and she nodded. "So what are we going to do?" she asked and Madara frowned. "We are going to have to prepare for an all out war…" he said and she frowned as well. "Let's sit down to discuss this further…" Tajima said and they followed him into the dining room and sat at the table.

"I'm going to go get Hiseki…" she said as she decided not to sit, and the three men nodded. She turned and made her way out of the main house. She approached his home and knocked lightly on the door, which opened at the slightest of touches. She gently pushed open his front door with furrowed brows. "Hiseki-san?" she called out as she sent out a wave of her chakra. Her chakra brushed over what appeared to be someone and she walked softly over to the person.

She crouched and reached out to the person, her hands finding their face easily. "Hiseki?" she asked and began to pat his cheeks lightly. He gave no response so she began to feel for his shoulder, then for his nape to attempt to find a pulse. She couldn't quite feel for it at the distance she was at so she scooted a bit closer until she set her hand down on the floor and it felt warm her other hand began to shake as she reached up and placed her hand on his nape, only for a warm, thick liquid to flow over her hand as she placed her hand there.

She stood and the feeling of fire burning on her hands wouldn't leave. She stood and grabbed a blanket from the closet near the room. She made her way back around and covered him with the blanket. She felt for his hand which hadn't been covered and found a paper crumpled in his grasp. She couldn't quite describe how she felt at the moment… she just felt cold. Through and through it felt like she was cold, as if she just felt nothing at all. "You may not have been the kindest person, Hiseki-san… but I'm sorry this happened to you…" she whispered and stood to her full height.

Her heart was heavy, and she knew she must be covered in his life's blood, since she had been on her hands and knees trying to find a pulse. Her hands stopped shaking and she made her way back to the Uchiha main house. "Madara… Izuna… Tajima… the birds have stopped singing." She said and they turned to face her. Madara jumped up and immediately began searching for a wound on her, but a frown crossed her lips. "This blood burns me… it singes the skin and burns the senses. Its Uchiha blood." She said and she could hear the friction of Madara's fists being clenched.

"Who's blood?" he asked through gritted teeth. "Hiseki. I covered him with a nice blanket from his closet. He did not deserve to be left on the floor in such a manner. I would have moved him if I had been able…" she said and the frown deepened on her lips. "Here." She began and handed him the crumpled paper from her pocket. "I have no idea what this is, but I think it might be of use." She said and Madara furrowed his brows as he unraveled the paper. "Where did you find this?" Madara asked and she furrowed her brows.

"I pulled it from his hand." She said and Madara grimaced. "He wouldn't tell me where she was…" Madara said and Hinata, Izuna, and Tajima looked at him strangely. She could hear the movement of the paper but she didn't know the exact importance of it. "Dear Kami… they've started." Tajima muttered and she could feel the anger in their chakra signatures. "What is it…" she asked, her voice slightly demanding, surprising them. "It's a drawing of you…" Madara said. "The 'she' that he was saying hiseki wouldn't give them the location of… that was you." Madara explained and Hinata clenched her fist.

"They are still after me?" she muttered with a frown. She took a deep breath then released it slowly. "Alright then…" she said and sent out a wave of chakra that unsettled the three in the room with her. "Hinata… what are you doing?" Izuna asked, but she said nothing. She just continued to send out wave after wave of chakra. Soon enough the Uchiha clan members began flowing the house. "What's going on?" An elder Uchiha male asked frantically and Madara watched Hinata as she dropped her hands.

Madara opened his mouth to speak but a tone he had never heard Hinata take, cut him off. "They've started again. This time they have the audacity to strike one of our own within his home. They cut him down like an animal and left him in the floor of his home to be found whenever." Hinata said and the Uchiha clan turned to face her. "They slit his throat and the only reason is because they are searching for me once more. I will beg forgiveness for the trouble I have caused to your wonderful family… but I will not stand for others being slaughtered because of me." she said in a commanding tone.

Her tone of voice was similar to one he used often, usually in battle when his clan members were in trouble and he needed them to listen to commands. "I understand fully that a select few of you would much rather just drop me on their doorstep, but if you do this… you would be playing right into their hands. I'm not saying this to save my own life, I'm saying this because you all know that is what Butsuma wants more than anything." Hinata said and Madara watched as his clan members listened to her in a contemplative silence.

"What do you suppose we do then? If handing you over is still a death sentence to us all?" one woman asked with a sneer. "I will protect you to the best of my ability as we fight." Hinata said and someone laughed. Madara felt the rage boiling up within him for having the audacity to laugh at her. "Laugh all you wish, but if you deny me… I cannot help you." Hinata said and the man snorted with laughter once more. Hinata took yet another deep breath and held out a single hand.

The markings crawled across her skin and some of the Uchiha made noises of awe as the marks formed a deep red outline on her face. The lines trailed up over the edges of her closed eyes to form an odd circular shape on her forehead. Her eyes opened and pure white unseeing orbs filled the space. "You there, in the center… with the dwindling chakra… you must forgive me. I never meant to block off those points when you attacked me that night. I guess I should have realized you were one of the few who thought of me as a blind whore…" she said accusingly and the crowd of Uchiha parted to reveal him.

Madara's glare settled on him and the man crossed his arms over his chest. "I should have told the Senju exactly where you were so they could have done exactly what I had attempted to do." He spat and Madara started towards the man, his teeth gritting loudly. Hinata closed her eyes once more once she heard the noise of the man's lack of air. The sound of him struggling to breath didn't affect her like it had before. Hinata's eyes opened once more and the space where the solid white orbs had been was yet again unoccupied. Her breath hitched and she spun around and took off towards the doorway, but the moment she got out of the room and out of sight of the Uchiha she collapsed and Izuna had to catch her.

"Hinata, are you alright?" he asked and he rolled her to face him completely. She was cringing in pain and he couldn't figure out why. He reached up towards her face and it was hot, her face was burning up. He placed his hand on the pale of her cheek, but it was cold. He moved his hand over and placed it on her forehead where the marking still was and his eyes went wide as he pulled his hand away, sporting a burn in the same pattern as her markings.

"Deactivate it!" he snapped and tears fell from her empty eyes. "I'm trying…" She whispered, her voice trembling slightly. 'You said you would take the right path…' katsuyu's voice said softly in her mind. "I'm sorry… forgive me…" she whispered and Izuna furrowed his brows. "Sorry for what?" he asked, but she whimpered one last time as the marking faded away, leaving pale burns on her skin where the marking was. The burns soon faded away completely just as the markings had. Her hands reached up and felt across her face to feel if the burns were actually gone.

"Hinata are you alright?" Tajima asked as he entered the back room. Hinata bit her lip and sent what she hoped was a pleading look at Izuna, who sighed, but said nothing. "Yeah, I'm alright." Hinata said and Tajima sighed. "They need you out there Hinata." He said and she nodded. Izuna helped her back to her feet and her voice lost itself when she realized she's had Hiseki's blood on her hands when she'd run them over her face. Her hands fisted at her side and she wiped at her face with her sleeves, no doubt staining them with her blood.

She stood straight up and walked out into the room where the rest of the Uchiha were cleaning up what had once been an Uchiha. "Take him and drop him on their doorstep." Madara sneered. "This is also a warning for anyone else who thinks siding with the Senju, who have massacred us since we crossed paths, is a good idea. If you betray my family… I will cut you down." He snapped and the rest of the Uchiha cheered their agreement. "Traitors get no mercy." One elder spat and the rest of them vocalized their agreement.

"Now, Hinata…" Madara started as he turned to face her, "What do you think we should do?" he asked and she wiped her hands on her shirt once more. "I believe… we should bury Hiseki, give him a proper burial. A nice one, because despite how much he hated me, he didn't tell them where I was." She said and the Uchiha clan nodded in agreement. "I want to personally bestow a gift upon his grave for the gratitude of him sparing my life…" she said and they stared at her in slight surprise.

"My life is forever indebted to him. So I shall gift him a part of me." Hinata said and Madara, Izuna, and Tajima stared at her in utter shock. "A part of my soul was sealed into this stone by lady katsuyu the slug. I bestow the gift of my soul to him to protect him even in death." Hinata said as she pulled out a jewel necklace. It reminded Madara of the blue one he had seen Hashirama wearing more often than not. The color of the stone was a reddish pink, the exact color of Hinata's aura when he was using his sensory abilities to search her out.

"Hinata…" Madara began and she frowned. "I will protect him in the afterlife, because I owe him my life." She said sternly and he nodded. "Alright. I'm sure he would very much appreciate your assistance." Madara said and a slow smile crossed his lips. The rest of the Uchiha mirrored his respect for her it seemed, their chakras all fell at the same tone. "Then…" she began, her voice cold; "We wait for them to attempt an attack, and we leave no survivors." She said and Madara watched as the color of the stone darkened to a more reddish color than it had been pink.

:-:-:-:-:

Tobirama sat across the small table from his father, Hashirama sat right next to him. "So, what is the report Daisuke-san." Butsuma asked, his eyes firmly planted on the pale man. Daisuke was a man that Butsuma had come across while marveling his artistic talents. He could bring his paintings to life if he used chakra enhanced ink. He had been asking Daisuke to keep tabs on the Hyuuga girl. Seeing as Daisuke found her a lovely subject, he agreed; as long as he could continue to pain the young woman, of course.

Hashirama looked at the pale man curiously. His ebony hair and eyes resembled Uchiha, but the sinister smile said something else. As a travelling artist, he would draw anything that he found to be an exceptional subject. He didn't always see the 'subjects' as human, but with the Hyuuga girl… it was different. He claimed she was a goddess among humans and was intent on drawing every aspect of her. Butsuma cared nothing for this, but allowed the man to do as he pleased as long as he kept an eye on her.

"The one named Hiseki is dead. Seems someone went and slit his throat." Daisuke said and continued to sketch on his sketch pad. Careful strokes of his pencil outlined a woman's face that was contorted in hidden rage. As he continued to draw they realized that this was yet another drawing of the Hyuuga girl. This time she stood there, her face holding silent rage while she stared at her hands. As he began to flood the image with color red flowed over the very much detailed fingers of the image. Red stained her knees and all down her arms in the picture. Daisuke drew the picture so swiftly that it surprised Butsuma himself.

"The lovely lady stumbled across his corpse." Daisuke said and Butsuma frowned. "Did you kill him Daisuke? Or did you allow the assassin to do so like I had told?" he asked and Daisuke cocked his head to the side. "I allowed the Senju to kill him, I just presented the picture to the dead man." Daisuke said and Butsuma nodded. "Good… did you find out her exact location?" Butsuma asked and a sinister grin crossed Daisuke's lips. "I was not told by the dead man you see, I found her by myself." He said and Butsuma raised a brow.

Daisuke flipped the page on his sketch book and turned it to them once more. It was a drawing of Tajima and Hinata by the river where he had her head tucked beneath his chin and had his arm wrapped around her shoulder while tears poured over her cheeks. "Such a touching scene, don't you agree?" Daisuke asked with an endearing tone. "I believe, if I heard correctly; Tajima Uchiha had just claimed her as his beloved daughter." Daisuke said with a real smile this time, instead of the sinister one he had been sporting.

"Indeed…" Butsuma said with a smirk. Tobirama and Hashirama exchanged glances, but said nothing; they knew their father had something planned now just because of this new knowledge. "I also have these two… the Uchiha are just so touching… they would make such an amazing romance novel…" Daisuke said and flipped the page on his sketch book once more to show them his detailed drawing of Madara with worry etched into his features as he reluctantly relinquished his grasp on Hinata's hand. He flipped the page down to the picture right after the one with Tajima and Hinata and right to another with Madara and Hinata. In this one it was drawn through a window and had Hinata laying beside Madara on his futon running her fingers through his hair.

"Such a lovely pair…" Daisuke chuckled and Butsuma raised a brow. Hashirama and Tobirama carefully took the sketch book from Daisuke and began looking over all the drawings he had of Hinata. The book was full of them, some even as far back as to when she still wore the wolf mask. Some even had Madara's mother in them. There was one that Daisuke had drawn where Hinata had killed the Senju who had killed Aurora, who lay at the feet of the Senju she had just slaughtered. This man had been following her from day one pretty much.

"I Have other books. I have so many books of the goddess." He said and his sinister grin crossed his lips. "I even have drawings of things that didn't happen, my imagination went wild. Such a magnificent picture those made." He said and Hashirama furrowed his brows. This man was a creep, and yet his father associated so well with him it was scary. Tobirama flipped through the sketch book and stopped on a picture that saddened him. "Kawarama…" he said with furrowed brows. It was a drawing of Hinata as she cleaned Kawarama up for his burial, her mask was pushed up onto her head and her eyes were a beautiful moonlit white as she placed a saddened kiss on Kawarama's forehead.

"These are all things I saw her doing. Lovely woman with lovely eyes… such a sorrow that those lovely moonlit eyes are now an empty abyss…" Daisuke muttered with a sigh. Tobirama looked over at him and saw that the man was actually sincere with something he had said. "Enough pity on the Uchiha whore… we must think strategy." Butsuma sighed with an irate look. A glint in Daisuke's eyes said he was not pleased with the way Butsuma spoke of his goddess, but he wasn't going to say anything because he was getting paid to draw the lovely woman and he liked the idea.

Butsuma's eyes lit up as if he had just come across a massive realization. "I have the perfect idea." He chuckled and folded his hands in front of his face. "This is perfect. Tobirama, Hashirama, follow me." Butsuma said and they stood. Daisuke stood and followed them through the compound as well, he was curious as to what this brilliant idea was that Butsuma had come up with. "Akane! Itama!" Butsuma called out and the white haired woman and her bi-color haired son followed her out to him.

"I have a plan to defeat the Uchiha once and for all." He said and Akane didn't seem too enthralled, but Itama seemed hopeful. "Hashirama, if you disagree with me you will find yourself in an early grave…" Butsuma said, cutting his eyes to his eldest son whom of which had a flicker of fear flash through his eyes. "Yes, father…" he said and Butsuma smirked. "Good, now you're being obedient…" he chuckled then turned back to face his wife and youngest son.

"Alright…" he began," here's the plan…"

:-:-:-:-:

Hinata frowned as she walked through the shinobi merchant village with Tajima. "What is wrong Hinata?" he asked and she turned to face him. "If they had found me, Hiseki would still be alive…" she whispered and Tajima sighed. "He did what any loyal shinobi would have. He prevented the information from getting out. He was protecting you." Tajima said and Hinata furrowed her brow. "But why? He hated me like I was some sickening disease before, why would he just suddenly want to protect me?" she asked and Tajima frowned for a second then thought of the drawing.

"Hinata… I can understand why he suddenly wanted to protect you…" he said and she furrowed her brows even deeper as he said this. "What do you mean?" she asked and he chuckled. "One day, you will see once more. I can promise you this… and on that day… Madara will show you that drawing. Then you will understand… once you realize the beauty of something, you want to protect it." he said and she frowned in his direction. "What do you mean…" she said and he chuckled. "Whoever has been drawing you, they have a way of making you look ethereal in the drawings… like a goddess…" he said and she sighed.

"I guess it is something only those who can see, can actually appreciate." She sighed and he chuckled. "But… what do you mean by you're sure that one day I will be able to see again?" she asked and he chuckled. "It's a secret my dearest, a secret only I know about." He said with a wink, but sighed and rubbed his forehead as he realized once more she could not see him do that. "I winked, just so you know." He chuckled and she released a giggle.

Hinata sniffed deeply and a small smile broke out over her lips. "I smell flowers." She said and he chuckled. "Are we going to give Hiseki flowers as well?" he asked and she nodded. "Yes! Of course!" she said and he smiled slightly. They picked out the red and white roses that Aurora had always adored and they made their way back to the Uchiha compound. They approached Hiseki's grave and they watched as Madara and Izuna placed his grave stone.

Hinata approached his grave and set the roses in a vase on the lower part of the stone. She removed the jeweled necklace and leaned to place it upon his grave, but as if he were rejecting it; it flew right out of her hands and at Madara. Madara had caught the amulet and stared at the reddish jewel in confusion. It hadn't darkened any more, but it still felt odd. He looked up and peered through the jewel at Hiseki's grave. His image stood on his grave, he pointed at Madara and it appeared he was mouthing something along the lines of 'You must keep it.' Madara nodded lightly and Hiseki's image vanished.

"I believe he wants me to keep it…" Madara said and Hinata furrowed her brow, but nodded. She hadn't understood what had even happened. "He took it from me and gave it to you… is he saying you need my protection more?" she asked and he frowned. "I have no idea… but he wants me to have it. That is all I know…" he said and she nodded. "Alright, now…" she began and everyone clenched their fists. "We protect our home, we protect our family, and we leave none of them alive." She said and stood.

They all returned to their own homes and began getting prepared for what was going to be an all out clan war between the two. Hinata pulled on her armor, and with little to no assistance at all from Madara, she strapped and buckled it all together. She pulled on a plain white mask that held no designs what so ever nor did it have any eye holes what so ever, and she strapped a katana to her back. Her post was atop the highest point of the Uchiha compound, that way she could warn them when the Senju were getting closer.

She sat cross legged in the small tower and sent out soft pulses of chakra that acted as her echo location. As soon as one pulse would come back with no results she would send out another and then another. She had only been up there a few hours, possibly three, when one of her chakra pulses reverberated back at her violently, meaning there were a lot of people hiding there. She clapped her hands together and sent out the warning pulse to the Uchiha, so they would get prepared for battle, but would not expose themselves yet.

When the Senju began attempting to sneak into houses, she jumped down from the tower and lunged, as well as the rest of the Uchiha clan. The sound of metal hitting metal was all she heard around her. She hadn't even pulled her blade yet, she was still taking the men out with her taijutsu. She spun and sent one man flying with a kick to the jaw. She wasn't killing them as of yet, but she was incapacitating them. Her brow furrowed, these were just the men with the underdeveloped chakra systems, where were the stronger Senju hiding.

She furrowed her brow and sent out her chakra pulses once more, relying on her comrades around her to fight off the Senju around her once she had quietly explained to them what she was doing. By the time she had found them, it was too late. A large and sharp root was headed straight for her and she was too focused on pinpointing their location to realize it. She heard someone yell her name loudly then the next thing she knew was something had splattered all down the front of her, burning her skin. And something sharp hit the dead center of her mask in the forehead.

The mask crumbled and fell away, but she was frozen in place and too frightened to move. Her mouth hung agape as a hand traced over her face and something warm dripped down from where the fingers travelled. "I told you I had a secret…" his raspy voice began and her empty eyes snapped open in her surprise. "And now I want you to keep it." he said and her hands began to tremble as all air left her lungs as his movement became focused on her eyes. Her right eye first began to flutter as a glow filled the once empty socket.

Then her left, and then her sight began to slowly return. Her breath came out shaky as he grinned at her as he coughed once more. Her eyes took in the image before her and they began to shake, her vision became blurred by her tears as he held onto the large root that protruded from his stomach. "You have done well, Hinata… now… please continue to do so." He said softly as his form went limp and her pupils dilated. Her shaky hands reached behind her and grabbed the blade from her back.

:-:_:-:

Madara turned to look at Hinata once he heard his father call out her name. His own yell was caught in his throat when his father jumped in front of her to take the hit himself and lessen the speed at which the root was going. He grit his teeth as he watched his father pass along his eyes to her. As he watched her reaction to this, his chest clenched in pain. Her shaky hands reached for her blade and he broke his gaze from her for a moment to dodge a hit from a Senju which he kicked in the gut and impaled him on his own blade.

His eyes flickered back to Hinata once the scream ripped from her throat and she lunged forwards and pulled Tajima from the root and set him on the ground and draped her Uchiha cloak over him. "Pitiful… I was aiming for you…" Butsuma's voice echoed over the sound of the blades clashing against each other. Madara grit his teeth and lunged at the Senju surrounding him. He held absolutely no mercy for them as he continued to cut them down using his chain scythe and fan.

An enraged yell escaped Hinata's lungs and his eyes flickered over to her once more. His eyes widened in shock when she lunged forwards and began cutting down Senju like their lives didn't even matter. A flash caught his eyes and he peered down at the once pinkish jewel, it was now blood red, matching the current color of her aura. He frowned, this was changing her and the jewel was proof of this. The red markings flashed over her skin and Madara knew she was not going to give in this time.

Her blade splattered blood all over her and the Uchiha around her. They seemed slightly disturbed by the fact she had changed so swiftly, but none were objecting. A flash of white caught his eye and he turned to see Akane Senju had joined the battle as well. He wasn't at all surprised when the men of his clan targeted her and cut her down swiftly, it had actually been Izuna who had inflicted the finishing blow on the woman who had stared up at him from the ground with eyes filled with fear. Her last words being, "I never wanted this, I'm sorry." Izuna had still cut her down without mercy, staring right into the eyes of one Tobirama Senju when he did so.

His eyes flickered over to Hinata and noticed that her enraged onslaught had only stopped when her blade made contact with Itama Senju's shaky blade. She pulled her blade away from his and stood to her full height. Her dark eyes freezing the young Senju in his place because of the sheer coldness residing there. "Move, Itama. My quarrel is not with you." He had heard her say and he watched her maneuver around the young Senju, who hit his knees after she strolled past him.

She was focused on Butsuma himself now, and that was the only Senju she was going to fight from here on out. Madara furrowed his brow and continued to watch Izuna ruthlessly cut down the Senju. This was war… he hated war… he supposed this had come from asking Hinata to assist him in the planning of the retaliation a week ago, but he couldn't blame her… this was not her fault. His eyes flickered over to the young Senju whom Hinata had spared, only to see one of the younger Uchiha males had cut him down. "Hinata, come back. We are done here." He yelled and the blunette sheathed her blade and made her way to where Tajima's body lay under her cloak.

Her eyes were glazed over as she hit her knees, she was in a state of shock. He noticed this with a grimace, because once she snapped out of her shocked state… she will most likely not remember the slaughter she had commited. He briefly looked over and saw a tearful Hashirama lifting a lifeless Itama off the ground, then his eyes flickered to Tobirama whose face was buried in the nape of his mother's neck as he mourned her death. His eyes flickered back over at Hinata who was now laying on her side facing his father's body, her eyes still devoid of anything, signaling she still hadn't gotten over her state of shock.

The marks on her forehead were beginning to emit some sort of steam, but she showed no signs of being in pain. "Izuna…" he called and Izuna began looking around in confusion. "Where's father?" he asked and Madara furrowed his brows. His chest clenched and he squeezed his eyes shut. "Madara. Where's dad." Izuna began shakily, his tone getting frantic. "He's gone… he's gone Izuna…" he said and struggled to withhold his tears. Izuna's face contorted into intense pain.

"No…" he began, "No… no… no! This can't be…" he said as he took off running. "Oh Kami no! NO!" he yelled as he hit his knees beside Hinata and his father. Izuna threw Hinata's cloak from his father's body and struggled to pull his father's body into his lap. "No… NO!" he sobbed as he cradled his father's body to him within shaky arms as he rocked back and forth with his father's body tightly in his grasp. Tears streaked over his cheeks and splashed onto his father as he cried.

"Why…?" he sobbed and pulled his father even closer to him. He ran his hands over his father's face and clutched his head close to his chest. Saddened laughter choked out from him. "You old baka…" he sobbed softly and clutched his body close to him once more. "He… he only sacrificed himself so he could give her his eyes…" Izuna sobbed and Madara clenched his fists in anger. "That was why you said your duty was to die before your children? There were other ways…" he ground out and hit his knees.

"I… I should have known…" Hinata's broken voice whispered, causing Madara to look at her. "One day, you will see once more. I can promise you this… and on that day… Madara will show you that drawing. Then you will understand… once you realize the beauty of something, you want to protect it." she said, mimicking the tone of voice Tajima had used when he had explained this to her. "What do you mean by you're sure that one day I will be able to see again?" she repeated the question she had asked earlier and Madara watched her with furrowed brows. "It's a secret my dearest, a secret only I know about." She said and mimicked a sigh before she repeated the last of what their father had said to her. "I winked, just so you know."

"So I should have known… I should have been smart enough to realize… but I was dumb… so very dumb… I just giggled and thought nothing of it…" she muttered, her voice a single tone as she spoke. Madara lifted her off the ground since she showed no signs of coming out of her trance any time soon. Once Izuna had gathered his father into his arms completely, thunder roared across the sky. Not long after the Kami began to shed their tears for the ones lost in this battle.

The rain washed over them and left trails of diluted red across their skin. Hinata's coal black eyes began to darken as soon as the water began trailing over her skin. "Madara…" she whispered, her voice filled with awe as she reached up to run her fingers across his face, as if to see if her sight was real. She reached up and ran her fingers over her forehead and she felt a cut in her forehead, it wasn't deep but the moment she felt it her eyes drifted over to Izuna, who was carrying Tajima close to his body.

Hinata reached over and tugged on Tajima's hand. "Tajima…" she began as she gently tugged at his hand once more. "Tajima…" she said and he could hear the desperation in her voice this time. "Tajima-otousan…" she said and he could hear the sadness and fear thickening her voice. She tugged his hand once more before the tears began to fall. "Otou-san… otou-san…" she sobbed, her voice thick with her tears. Madara's chest clenched as he and Izuna continued towards the compound.

He knew Izuna was in pain as he listened to Hinata's pleas as well. His eyes were shadowed by his hair and tears were visibly streaming down over his cheeks. She sounded so broken, like a child who couldn't understand the concept of death, but was begging for her lost one to wake up. "Hinata…" Madara called softly to her but she was still focused on her attempts to get him to answer her. "Hinata please…" he pleaded, but she continued, her voice thickening each time she pleaded with him to answer her. "Hinata, I'm begging you stop." Madara said as he set her down on his doorway and hugged her tightly, his tears streaming over his cheeks and onto her shoulder.

Izuna carried his father into the house and left Madara and Hinata to figure things out. Hinata wailed in agony as she watched Izuna carry Tajima's body away. "I failed… I failed! I'm so sorry!" she sobbed and clutched tighter to him. "You didn't fail. I promise you…" Madara said sadly, but she continued to sob loudly and cling to him. "I'm so sorry… I failed you… I failed you all." She sobbed and he clutched her tightly. "I'm so sorry I failed you…" she sobbed.