Disclaimer: I do not own the anime series Naruto, its characters, or any plot or storylines within the Naruto-verse. Hanako (OC) and any non-canon characters within this fiction are owned by me.

Summary: The cost of war was unavoidable. The fisherman village could barely sustain itself, and so she was sold to a mercenary clan. Watch how Hanako struggled to not only find her place, but also survive the power struggle within the Senju clan. Pre-Konoha, slight AU, TobiramaxOC. Rated M just to be safe.

oooooo

Unbound

"Has Hashirama responded yet?"

Izuna stepped into his brother's private study and quietly shut the door behind him. He was greeted with a small glare and a scowl from his older brother as he rummaged through a pile of scrolls scattered next to him. Madara pulled out a small plain scroll and tossed it on the table in front of him.

"He has." Madara answered.

Izuna folded his arms and sat in front of his brother on the opposite side of the table. He glanced down at the scroll. It's plain patterning and dull parchment made it look like that it was sent discreetly. It wasn't some fancy treaty or correspondence from the Senju clan. Rather, it looked like a letter from a pauper. This was all Izuna needed to know to see that Hashirama had sent his response without his usual flair and flamboyance. Senju scrolls were normally white with gold trimming, and the scroll would normally be held in place with a green ribbon stamped tightly with a red Senju emblem. Izuna didn't need to open it; he wanted to hear it from his brother.

"And?"

Madara's face remained expressionless, "How do you do it?"

Izuna looked up, "Do what?"

"Your plan is falling perfectly into place," Madara continued, "Hashirama has indicated that he wants the girl back among other things for our farcical peace treaty."

The Senju believed that the treaty was very real, and Hashirama made that clear in his response. However, Izuna had an ulterior motive. Madara didn't like being strung along by his brother and his plans, but they always turned out for the better. With Izuna's cunning mind they have brought down many clans and compounds in the name of the Uchiha. Madara preferred to be the one in control, but this time he would follow Izuna's plan to the letter, as the outcome would result in a reward most beneficial to the clan.

Madara smirked. Hashirama was such a fool who tried to find the good in everything. Even when they were young and naïve and sat at the river bank, the brown haired boy would always attempt to see the light in any situation, even if they were both dealing with the deaths of their youngest brothers. For years Hashirama strived for peace between the clans and to unite them into one thriving village with a governing council and elected leaders. Madara had those ideals too, but being a young clan leader in the warring states era meant he didn't have the time or the luxury to dwell on such fantasies. Madara ended up convincing himself that it was impossible. However, deep down, he would always consider Hashirama his closest friend.

Izuna smiled innocently at his brother.

"I'm good with my plans. I knew Hashirama was a bleeding heart and wouldn't want his dear little brother to be so upset over the fact he's lost his plaything."

"Now, what about your end of our bargain?" Madara began. "I've arranged for the exchange, and I've told Hashirama he will get the girl back. It's your turn now."

Izuna pulled out a folded piece of parchment from the inside pocket of his robe. He unfolded it carefully and the paper spread to the size of a dinner plate. Madara looked down at it with his brows furrowed. It was a map. Madara studied it quickly. The fire country was sketched out in black ink with the Uchiha and Senju villages marked clearly. Madara followed his eyes upwards towards a dotted path that lead into the mountains that connected the Sand and Fire countries where a distinct cross was etched into the parchment.

"Our sensors have tracked her to the High Mountains of Suna." Izuna said.

"That is hostile territory."

"True," Izuna replied, "but with a small squad we can slip in unnoticed. If it goes according to plan and we take direct routes we will meet at the field with the beast under my control, and the other in yours."

Madara nodded. "The nine tails is slumbering close to the pools of Namida, he will not awaken unless disturbed."

Izuna inclined his head in thought. "Right, in which case if my flower retrieves my stolen eye for me, I will rendezvous with the squad and head to the High mountains to capture the two tails."

"Then we will hit the Senju by surprise." Madara finished, "Hashirama will not be able to face us with two tailed beasts at our disposal."

Their plan was almost perfect. It was ancient Uchiha knowledge that those who possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan would also possess the ability to control a tailed beast for a time. It depended on the user's chakra level and control that would determine this length of time. The last Uchiha to ever control a tailed beast was an elder by the name of Itiko Uchiha who had passed just before Izuna was born. Before he passed, Itiko wrote his accounts of controlling the One tailed Shukaku in order to trek through the Wind country unnoticed by the shinobi clans who lived there. It was also believed that the more tails the beast had, the more power they possessed. Madara's sharingan was considered one of the strongest in the clan, and thus as the elder brother and clan leader he believed he was strong enough to track and capture the ninetails.

While Izuna also possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan, his was currently useless as he didn't possess both of his eyes. With his eye returned, Izuna planned to reach the High Mountains with his squad and subdue the two tailed Matatabi. From there, he will meet with Madara at the borders of the Fire country and launch a surprise attack on the Senju and any other clan who stood in their way. This plan had been stirring for years in the back of Izuna's mind, and now he had a way to break into the Senju clan walls without using force and attracting attention to Uchiha movements. He just needed that opportunity, and the little girl from the docks gave him just that.

Izuna nodded, and was about to respond before his brother suddenly cut him off.

"However, I must ask you." Madara said darkly, "What if she foils it? What if this prerequisite is compromised and you don't get your eye back?"

Izuna sneered at his brother's question. As clan leader, Madara had to consider all options. He had to ensure there were backup plans in place in case the main objective fell through. It was his military training with his father that taught him to be so cautious. Izuna on the other hand would rather live his life moment-to-moment, improvising with every step he took.

"She is so demure and stupid that my chakra will be able to lay dormant inside her until I become within my sensory range." Izuna reasoned. "If the chakra is discovered and extracted from her, I would just call it a loss."

Madara leaned back lazily and folded his arms, staring at his brother disbelievingly.

"You don't take well to losing, Izuna. I know you won't shrug your shoulders at this loss."

"No, I won't." the younger Uchiha replied sweetly.

"So then what?"

"I'll just kill her out of spite."

Madara remained silent, not bothering to protest his brother's intentions. She was nothing to him. Yes, he remembered Hanako from years ago but all he could remember was her blonde hair. It was Izuna who had become infatuated with her, and he would talk about her for months after they had left her village. It was annoying, and there had been more than one occasion where Izuna attempted to visit her, but he was always caught by him or their father. He was a boy who had gone mad in love with her, but now he's become a man who will use her expendably.

Madara frowned, what had happened to his little brother?

Tobirama happened.

XXXXXXXXXX

Hanako sat quietly in her guest chamber close to Izuna's private quarters. She chose to focus her attention on her sewing, something she would often do to pass the time in the Senju village. Unfortunately, she was rarely given any clothes that needed mending or altering, so she was left with constantly altering her clothes in some way. This time, she thought to re-sew the hem on one of her sleeping slips. It had become frayed over its time of being used. She found the needles and threads in the kitchen, high up in a cupboard next to the window. Sure, she felt petty constantly sewing and fiddling, but she had become so restless and her mind had been so clouded lately that she needed to unwind. She needed to focus all of her attention and concentration on the simple needle and thread pushing the materials together.

She swallowed thickly before sniffing a little. It had been some time since Izuna's last outburst with her. He was exhausting to be around, particularly when he was constantly coddling and playing with her. It still eluded her as to why he was treating her the way he was. The nice clothes, the fancy jewelry, and even just spending his time around her was all well and good, but she kept on her guard because she knew in exchange for these gifts he would expect something in return.

If he wanted what she was thinking of, he could forget it. Although, considering her current position and his temper, she felt that saying no wouldn't be an option if the time came.

That thought alone made her falter and choke on a sob. With a sharp intake of breath she pulled her hands away from her needlework and examined her pointer finger. In all her frustration she had slipped and stabbed herself with the needle, causing a small dot of blood to trickle down her finger. She studied her finger closely, paying attention to the path the blood was travelling.

Her mother always said she was like water.

Water was calm, it was serene, and it was soothing. It refreshed souls and revitalized the human body. It was the source of life, of creation itself. Without water nothing could exist. Water doused fires. Fire was hate, it was anger, and the calamity of the warring states. Her mother said that water would always be her strength, and that it would always guide her into making the right choices and move towards the right paths. Water impacted lives wherever it flowed, if it fell from the sky or danced across the sand from the foaming sea.

Little did Hanako know she had impacted many lives without even knowing, such was the nature of water.

She brought her finger to her mouth to clean her small cut. The blood was coppery and thick, but the taste only lasted seconds. Withdrawing her finger, she checked again for any more blood before discarding her sewing onto the table next to her.

As she settled her hands into her lap, the door to her boudoir slid open. She looked up quickly, on the alert, but let loose a breath after she saw that it was Izuna standing at the entrance. He looked rather solemn, and it piqued Hanako's curiousness.

"Good evening, Lord Izuna." She said curtly with a small nod.

He looked over to her with a lidded eye hidden under his ebony bangs. She moved her gaze away from him and attempted to resume her work on the material at her side. She could hear his faint footsteps as he entered the room and slid the door shut lazily, leaving it open only a smidgen. Something was off about him, Hanako could tell that much. She chose to try to ignore him and his attitude, but that proved folly as he plonked himself down on the cushion across from hers.

"Why do you sew so much?" He asked bluntly while he watched her delicate fingers work the fabric and needle.

Hanako glanced up at him through her blonde bangs. "It passes the time," she replied curtly.

"Time?" Izuna scoffed, "Are you waiting for something?"

Hanako frowned at his question, "No."

He paused, "You should make me something."

Her frown deepened, "Was the haori not to your liking?"

True, a few weeks ago she made him a haori at his request. He made sure fine silks and ribbon was given to her, but she was allowed to surprise him with the color scheme and patterning. It wasn't the best or most elaborate haori made, she was no glorified seamstress, but it was enough for him to want to wear during winter and the cooler months. At his request she even stitched the Uchiha emblem to the back and shoulders.

"It was, but I would like something else." He said nonchalantly.

Hanako lowered the material in her lap, thus pausing her ministrations on it. She observed him closely as he placed his chin in his palm and used the table as a rest. He looked sullen, bored, he reminded her of a child who had just lost his favorite toy. Did he have a depressing conversation with his brother? Hanako had not seen Madara since their first encounter. She avoided him like the plague. He was too intimidating. His brother however, she could tolerate his presence. She grew used to it over the month she had been with them, or had two months already passed?

"If I may, you're awfully melancholy this evening."

Izuna looked away from her and towards the window. He had to fight to urge to grin wickedly because she was playing right into his hands. He wasn't melancholy or upset. In fact, he wanted this reaction from her. His manipulative side was beginning to shine through and because of that, he will be able to make sure an important part of his plan came to fruition. He pursed his lips and shrugged his shoulders in response to her observation.

"I just…" Izuna sighed, "I've realized something today."

Hanako inclined her head, "What is it?"

He looked at her with forlornness.

"No matter how hard I try, you'll never be happy here will you?"

Hanako remained silent at his statement; she didn't want to lie to him. He told the truth, that she wasn't going to be comfortable in the Uchiha stronghold as his puppet or his play thing. Did he think she would forget how he would lose his temper and then make it up to her by giving her jewelry and flowers? She narrowed her eyes at him, slightly dubious of his subject choice. What was he planning? He spoke the truth at least, she would never be happy at the Uchiha compound.

Noticing her silence, Izuna coughed a little to clear his throat, as if he expected an answer from her. She flinched instinctively and reached her hand up to tuck some of her golden strands behind her ear, obviously trying to bide time and think of a response that won't upset or anger him.

However, she just couldn't lie to him.

"I'm glad you're finally understanding." she said simply.

Izuna smirked under his bangs; she was so stupid.

"My brother spoke to me this evening."

Hanako looked up at him expectantly, and the small glimmer of hope Izuna saw in her cerulean eyes almost disgusted him.

"Winter is almost at its peak, we can't afford to lose any soldiers during the colder months. The Senju live closest to us and so my brother sent a ceasefire agreement to them."

She remained silent, but her eyes were focused on him. She was listening intently. Very intently. She could feel her breath hitch in her throat after hearing his news. She felt something new surge inside her, something that had been lost to her for quite some time. Hope.

Izuna sensed her anticipation, so he continued with his charade.

"The Senju are demanding for your return as a condition of the ceasefire. It seems you're more important to them than I thought."

"So…" Hanako breathed, "you mean…"

"Yes flower," Izuna smiled sadly, "You're going home. I can't argue with my brother on these matters."

Her heart felt heavy and her chest heaved. She was going home. She didn't have to scheme an elaborate plan to escape, she didn't have to try to sneak away at night. Izuna was letting her go. At the instruction of his brother, Izuna was finally giving in and allowing her to travel back to the Senju clan where she belonged.

Her mind raced, and images of smiling faces came to her mind. Also, one face came to her mind in particular, and his face lingered there the longest. She had been away for so long, almost two months it felt like. Would he recognize her? Would he want to see her again?

Then, her face faltered.

Would he have moved on?

Would he still harbor the same feelings and affections that she did towards him? When she saw him again would even she feel the same as before she was captured? After learning what he had done to Izuna, Hanako felt a wave of sadness and disappointment to know that the Senju were capable of something so heartless. She learned off Izuna that he had attacked a helpless farm, and then took away an eye and left Izuna to suffer. Her mind reeled back to the earlier months where he admitted to her he had killed an innocent boy. What else had he done? Why did he do it? It was for the clan, for honor, and to protect the ones he loved.

What broke Hanako's heard the most was that the clans were all fighting for the exact same thing.

Peace.

"You're speechless I see." Izuna said as he observed her sudden change in attitude.

"I am… relieved." Hanako said quietly before looking back over to Izuna. "When?"

"Two days from now, the exchange will happen by the river."

"Who will be there?"

Izuna narrowed his eyes slightly. She was most likely expecting Tobirama to be the one who retrieves her. He could only imagine the disgusting sight of him sweeping her up in his arms and carrying her to the safety of the Senju village.

"I don't know."

He leaned in close to her.

"I won't forget you though, flower."

She noticed the proximity and shifted her weight nervously.

"A parting gift."

He leaned closer and pressed his lips gently to hers. It was only a peck, but enough to make her falter. Hanako shivered slightly. His lips were warm and silky against her pink petal lips, but something felt strange, wrong almost. She felt her head pound heavily and her hands sweat. His kiss left her confused. It was too close of comfort for her, but if it was only going to happen once and she was never going to see him again, she saw no danger.

Izuna pulled away smirking, having finally gotten close enough to her to implant his chakra deep within her psyche. The second phase of the Uchiha operation could commence.

XXXXXXXXXX

R&R please!