Hope you're enjoying the story so far! There's a bumpy road ahead ;)

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"Again," mother spoke giving me a soft tap on the arm. I inhaled with determination as I lined my eyesight down the length of my blade and proceeded to launch forward and clash it against Hansuke's own blade. I controlled my chakra so that it covered my sword resulting in when I met his blade with force, there left a slight groove in the metal.

"That's a lot better Tomomi," my mother expressed with a small smile and ruffled my hair. I beamed nodding my head.

I had been training for nearly 2 weeks now, every afternoon whilst father would be away discussing business and doing errands. I didn't feel guilty about hiding my training from my father, after all I wanted to learn how to fight better and this was an opportunity.

"I think I'm getting the hang of controlling my chakra now," I admired the blue flames buzzing around my blade.

"Let's finish for the day, I'll leave you two now."

"Goodbye ma'm," Hansuke spoke bowing as mother walked away towards the house. I sighed turning to Hansuke.

"You can go if you want, I'm going to meet one of my friends," he seemed hesitant but nodded as I rested my sword against one of the trees near to us.

"I'll leave you then, be safe." I nodded as he bowed and then disappeared. Once the smoke he left behind evaporated I ran towards the forest behind my house hastily. That Pinhead better be there like he said he would.

I could see the Uchiha village through the trees by the time an arm shot out and snatched me around the waist. I yelped and landed on my back, the fallen leaves crunched underneath me.

"You let your guard down," the familiar voice of Madara declared above me as he sat on my stomach looking at me with a bored expression. I groaned throwing my hands up in defeat.

"You win, again." I hated to say it since soon enough the infamous smirk crossed his face. But soon it dropped and his aura turned profusely more serious.

"There is something important I need to tell you," my chest leaped anxiously, "follow me." He got up and gave me his hand and I began to follow him.

We stopped once we had made it to a familiar tree. It made me smile, it was where we first met. The tree had grown incredibly taller and thicker after all these years, remains of memories were scarred across its bark and it still had the same intoxicating blossom scent.

"What is it?" Taking a seat beside him against the tree trunk I let my body relax, finding comfort in the undisturbed atmosphere. Madara turned his face to me, he seemed troubled. I didn't like seeing him like this.

"I heard my father speaking of a potential invasion from the Uzumaki clan." My eyes widened.

"Is this because of what my father has done? How close is this?" I felt my heartbeat rising as fear and panic started to fill me. Madara shushed me, lightly grabbing my chin. My gaze was worried as it pierced into his dark eyes as he continued.

"It is very close, and yes it is because of your father. But also because of your sister. She is expected to marry an Uchiha soon." I gasped, mouth open wide like a dead fish.

"Why was it hidden from me?" I asked sadly, lowering my gaze. Madara groaned, lifting my chin lightly so that I would look at him again.

"I don't know your families reasons and I only found out yesterday so stop fretting. What's more important is that we are prepared for the Uzumaki, they will come for you." I closed my eyes, gritting my teeth. The Uzumaki are our clan, why would they take to such measures because we want peace? Why did they have to be so hateful?

Madara let go of my chin with a small sigh, I closed my eyes for a few more moments before looking at him again.

"What do I do then?" I searched his eyes, his blood red Sharingan blazing from the suns reflection.

Why is he using his Sharingan now?

"You become prepared," he quietly answered.

Does that mean I'll have to train more? I can manage that...

"Come out, I know you're watching us." Madara's voice suddenly lowered as he called out towards the forest. My eyes widened when the figure of Hansuke suddenly came to view, awkwardly scratching his neck with his closed his eyes.

"I see I am no match for you," he sighed opening his eyes and looking to me.

"Who are you and why are you here?" Madara then asked, I went to speak but Hansuke beat me to it.

"My name is Hansuke Uzumaki and I am Tomomi's personal guard, I myself would like to know why you are here, Madara Uchiha." He walked slowly towards us then stopped, leaning back against a tree.

"Interesting...if you must know it is because myself and Tomomi are friends."

"Friends you say? Does your father know about this?" My heart leapt anxiously.

"No...and it would be easier for everyone if it stayed that way." Hansuke was quiet for a moment, gazing thoughtfully at the ground.

"If you do not wish for any conflict, I suggest you keep this to yourself." Madara leaned his arm over his knee as he sat with a passive expression. Hansuke was quiet but nodded.

"Tomomi I will not disturb you anymore, I apologise I was only worried." I smiled tenderly.

"It's ok Hansuke, I'll see you at dinner."

I watched as he pushed himself from the tree and bowed his head before walking back towards the house. Hansuke was interesting, he was like a friend although he worked for my father and his job was to protect us. But he goes against my father's wishes sometimes to help me...perhaps he wishes to do the right thing, or the most beneficial. If my father found out there would be consequences, yet Hansuke doesn't seem too worried about that.

"I need to get back to the village," Madara murmured pulling himself from the ground. I frowned, looking to the sky as it had began to darken.

"As long as Hansuke doesn't suspect you're Isamu then everything should be ok, right?" I muttered. Madara only stared, silent thoughts were spoken through his eyes but I couldn't hear them. I grumble, shaking my head as a muted breeze brushed through my hair. "Dinner will be ready soon. I need to go home as well." He pulled me to my feet.

"Goodbye Sakura girl," Madara smirked at me and walked away.

"Bye, Pinhead," I mumbled, watching him as he began to mingle between the trees. The air felt brisk, perhaps it would rain soon judging from the overwhelming storm clouds beginning to swirl.

Storms were not my favourite thing in the world.

----

Dinner was served with a simple collection of small torn pieces of meat, rice and many of my favourite vegetables. I would normally have been ecstatic at the meal but my mind was distracted.

I sat with a leer, staring into the wood fire that burned quietly in the fireplace, feeling mesmerised as the fire reflected a glow onto my cheeks and eyes. I squinted my eyes a fraction focusing until I blinked and a vivid image appeared before me running my blood cold. I let out a gasp and immediately tore my eyes from the fire and met my mothers concerned own. My hands fidgeted under the table, my mind struggling to get rid of the image.

I saw myself, blood lining the edges of my throat, soaking my skin like ink, surrounded by the intense colour of fire. I was dead.

My fathers voice tore me from my terrifying thoughts.

"I do not know if you are aware of this, but the element of marriage is a very important factor within our clan." I noticed Tomoko suddenly stiffen. "Tomoko, as first born it is expected you will get married first. With our new alliance with the Uchiha it is my wish that your partner be from the clan as they have powerful blood and it will deepen our relationship with them all." He watched us all as he took a small sip of his tea.

"Your recent dealings in the Uchiha compound have been supporting this wish of mine, as you have been interacting with individuals and giving me an idea of who would be suitable."

I watched as Tomoko seemed to visibly pale and her breathing become uneven.

"Father that is absurd!" I cried out in disbelief, clenching my fists.

"Tomomi," my mother whispered harshly as my father watched me try to control my anger.

"Tomomi I should not forget about you either. One day you will find yourself marrying a suitable partner who is powerful and acceptable,"

"You're arranging my marriage already?" I sat in incredulity, mouth open and body as rigid as a log.

"Tomomi, you will most definitely be marrying from the Uchiha clan. Who I haven't decided yet, but it is a very important event that must take place."

"You're basically selling us father! Have we no say in our own choices?" The words left my mouth in a flurry of anger and accusation. My breathing was harsh and small tears had pricked the lining of my eyes, making me appear even more flustered. Both Tomoko and mother sat watching me with silent expressions, wanting no part in the argument.

I'm sorry I wasn't able to tell you before father Tomoko...

"Are you disobeying my wishes?"

"I am disobeying your terms father! I will choose who I will marry!"

"No you will not! You can go ahead and recommend me someone but the last say is mine child!"

"Isn't that just fantastic!" I was yelling now, out of my chair and leaning my hands against the table top. "I shall never forgive you if it ends up being someone I do not wish it to be! Remember that!" I stormed out of the room quickly, slammed open the back door and immediately headed to the one place I could think. The rain pounded against me like a thousand tiny needles, freezing my skin where they struck. I ignored it, blindingly running through the trees, my warm tears mixing with the colder rain.

I shall never face him again. I can't believe he would do this to us!

I felt as if my happiness didn't matter at all, we were hardly important as a family so why was an arranged marriage so necessary! It didn't make sense and I was too angry to make sense of it properly.

My body collapsed in a heap of distress and into a shivering mess when I reached the tree and curled myself into its trunk. I couldn't tell if I was crying or not now. The forest was cold, burning into my skin as my thin dress clung to my arms and legs making it almost transparent. It smelled thickly of mud mixed with the sweet rain calming my mind the more I emerged myself with the forest air. Water smothered my face and hair, slowly seeping down the crevices of my skin and rolling from the rounded tip of my nose. I must have looked like a wild child of nature as I achingly stared into the depths of the forest, lips apart and breathing shakily.

"What are you doing here Tomomi?" I hardly heard the words spoken but nonetheless it caused a violent shake to rock my body. I gasped looking up at the looming figure who stood with a cape covering most of their body.

"Madara?" He didn't answer but instead reached down and grabbed my arm gently. I let him pull me to my feet which were bare and numb with a look of surprise. That's when I could see his face, his mouth pulled into a frown and his eyes narrowed with annoyance.

"I asked why you are here Tomomi," he said once again but this time he brung me into his warm chest. I stared in darkness as my body shivered, trying to soak up his warmth as his arms held me close and his cloak sheltered me like a blanket. I clutched my arms snug between our chests, not really caring if I was making his clothes wet as well.

"My father told me that he will decide who I will marry."

I must have said it so soft because for a moment I was unsure if he had heard me. Madara's chest vibrated beneath me when he answered.

"It must have been terrible if that's why you're here now," I nodded letting stray tears line my cheeks once again as he lowered his head and rested his cheek against my wet and darkened hair.

A roll of deep thunder shook the earth suddenly making my skin tingle with fright. I really hated storms.

"Why does this have to happen to me?" My voice shook.

"It is unfair yes..."

"What if he marries me to some middle aged pervert!" Madara didn't speak for a moment, instead he seemed to be thinking whilst running a hand lightly across my back. The action surprised me making my heart beat thump a couple of hard beats.

"That won't happen." I creased my brow.

"How can you be so sure? It's a possibility!"

"Because...he'd have to fight me and beat me before he could ever imagine marrying you Tomomi." My eyes were pulled wide open, the tone in Madara's voice made it sound like a direct threat that made my stomach flutter.

"You are sure?" I whispered, pushing myself deeper within the cloak and Madara's warmth.

"It's a promise," he replied firmly making a small smile appear on my face.

"You're not such a pinhead sometimes," I mused letting out a sigh of warm breath.

"I'm flattered," the sarcastic tone of his voice made me laugh softly. "Let's get you out of this storm," he then said, lifting his hand to pull back the damp hair from my face and smooth it behind my back. I nodded moving away and then yelling out in protest when he abruptly picked me up.

"I can walk!"

"I don't care," came his bland reply making me cross my arms. I shivered making me promptly change my mind and dig the side of my body as close as I could into his own to keep warm. My feet felt like the only part of me now that was not being kept warm, they'd probably freeze and fall off soon.

"Where are we going?" I asked, sneakily sliding my hands around his back and under what I presumed was his jumper. He let out an amusing chuckle.

"To my house."

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Sorry for such the long wait! :(

I need to get back into updating more regularly...I hope you liked this chapter though and please tell me your thoughts!!!!!