Author's Note: Guess you didn't expect this, huh? More insight to Madara post-Natsumi's death. Choice of song for this: Bely Besarte's cover of Amnesia by 5 Seconds of Summer.

Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto. Only Natsumi (OC) and this plotline/AU/thingamajig belong to me.

'I wish that I could wake up with amnesia

And forget about the stupid little things

Like the way it felt to fall asleep next to you

And the memories I never can escape.'

- Amnesia, 5 Seconds of Summer

Dead.

As hard as he tried - what was the point? - he couldn't feel anything. It wasn't a dream. How he wished it was - because the current reality was cruel and how and why did this happen?

She was dead.

First Izuna, and now her...what had he done to deserve this?

The sound of her screams still rang in his ears, the jeers, the taunts and cheers from their captors - his torturers, her rapists - and -

Bile rose in his throat as he vomited onto the grass, his chest heaving.

He had thought that after Izuna's death that things would get better, and it did. She had come into his life - reserved, if not slightly icy but also strong-willed and independent with a heart of gold. Natsumi had her flaws, of course - being extremely vindictive or too blunt at times among others - but her Will of Fire was strong, and she had a good heart and brave spirit.

But yet...

With all the power he received from Izuna, the power he had trained so hard to obtain, it had still all been...

Useless.

'You will never be enough,' the voice mocked. 'Not strong enough to protect your brother, and now her. You are an utter disgrace, Uchiha Madara.'

'Shut up!' Madara clutched his head.

'All this training, all this hard work,' it tsked. 'And you still weren't strong enough to do anything. Not even one. Single. Thing.' the voice laughed loudly, amused. 'You should never have been a shinobi, seeing as you weren't able to save any of those close to you.'

'Shut up shut up shut up!'

Memories flashed through his mind then, of happier times. Him and Izuna playing pranks, conspiring against arrogant bullies. Him and Natsumi meeting for the first time, spending time watching the stars. The three of them bantering and having meals together after initial misgivings and everything else.

'A disgrace!' the voice hissed. 'That's all you are, Uchiha Madara. And that is all you will ever be.'

With another mocking laugh, it vanished.

Madara slowly staggered to his feet after a few moments then, regaining himself.

Power.

He needed more power if he wanted to bring her back.

Unbeknownst to me, gleeful laughter echoed in the background.

Triumphant.