Chapter SIX

Sakura ended up making her third request when they were travelling around the foot of the huge rocky mountain that would act as the main defensive structure at the back.

Fortunately, apart from Madara and Izuna, only Hashirama and Tobirama were around to witness it.

Unfortunately, Hashirama, who didn't notice Madara and Izuna's faces pale as lifted her to allow her to look over a ledge, said something offhandedly.

"The one thing I would ask for is for there to be a closer water source." He said. "I wish we could draw the water directly from the river we found on our way."

"That was three, and a wish."

Hashirama tensed. Izuna let out a small sound of protest.

"Heh, If I didn't know any better I'd say you knew exactly what you were doing."

Sakura slipped out of the Senju's grasp and spun around mockingly to face him. "You want to draw water from the river?" Her eyes began to glow and Tobirama stepped in front of his brother.

"Sakura." Madara's voice pierced through the air and Sakura paused.

"Yes, Madara-nii-sama?" She asked.

"You cannot do that here."

Sakura tilted her head, almost challengingly. "But it was a wish." She repeated.

"But you cannot. Not here, not in broad daylight and certainly not in front of so many."

Sakura sighed and rolled her eyes. "Oh, look, brother has spoken." She skipped over to Hashirama. "Hold onto that wish, will you?" She spun around, an innocent smile plastered onto her face.

"Where is Sakura?" Izuna asked.

The pinkette tapped her head. "In here and sleeping." She said.

"You're not returning her?" Izuna protested weakly.

"It's you binding me, not me. Just give me a wish and I'll grant it and then we can all be happy."

Madara turned furiously towards Hashirama. "Make a wish." He demanded.

"Wha-I don't even know what's going on." Hashirama stuttered. He had been standing there, staring with his mouth open, during the whole exchange.

Madara was getting annoyed. "Just make a wish. You can't be that stupid, right?" He snapped. "Just something simple. Anything simple."

Hashirama glanced over at his brother, who looked as confused as he did, and fumbled around a little. "Ah, well...I-I wish it would...rain?"

Sakura beamed at him and waved a hand. "Nice and simple." Her green eyes began to glow and Hashirama felt something wet fall onto his hand. His head reared up and he gaped at the sky, which had been clear seconds ago.

Madara shot an arm out, catching his sister, who collapsed just as the light faded. Izuna was at his side in an instant. "Is she okay?"

Madara pressed a hand to her cheek then nodded. "Yes. Just tired."

Izuna let out a soft sighed. "What should we do?" He asked. He took the pinkette from his brother's grasp.

"She got tired and fell asleep." Madara said. "You with your sister complex was unable and unwilling to force her awake." He sighed tiredly and ran a hand through his hair, a moment of weakness and an action of defeat, one he used when he had to convince Izuna to do something he didn't want to.

Izuna, as usual, fell for it. "Of course, brother."

Madara nodded then turned to the Senju brothers, who were both still staring. "Do not ask." He said. "If the need arises, I will tell you everything."

Hashirama closed his mouth and slowly nodded. "Very well." He said, finally.

"Brother." Tobirama protested softly. "This kind of power is unheard of. To make it rain-"

Hashirama raised his hand, shutting him up. "We will not question it." He said, then continued before Tobirama could say anything. "It is raining and it will be bad if we catch a cold. We will head back for today and arrange a meeting for a later date in order to discuss our findings."

"I can say here that this location is the most probable." Madara said.

Hashirama nodded. Still, we need to discuss moving and construction plans." He paused, flicking his dripping hair out of his hair. He glanced over at his brother, who had gone off to help their clan mates pack their things. "Would you and your clan mates like to come over to our compound?" He asked.

Still, Tobirama heard him and was by his side in a second. "Brother!"

"What? It's raining and everyone's tired and Sakura-chan needs to rest."

Behind the arguing brothers, Madara and Izuna exchanged their own two cents.

"I don't trust the Senju to not attack us." Izuna said, though he didn't really seem to mean it.

"Sakura needs to rest." Madara said quietly. "And it is dangerous to head out in a weather such as this."

Izuna nodded in agreement.

"So?" Hashirama skipped over, Tobirama growling on the background. It seemed the victor had been decided.

"We will gratefully accept your offer." Madara said.

Hashirama's grin turned to mega wide to stupid. "That's great." He rushed over to his clansmen, who were now waiting patiently to head off, to tell them the news.

Madara turned to the Uchiha and raised his voice. "We will now be heading to the Senju compound for shelter." He said firmly.

There were one or two mutterings but no one questioned him. Satisfied, Madara nodded at Hashirama to lead the way.

Madara had never found it fair. To him, the power Sakura held was more of a curse than a gift. It had chained her down for the first half of her life and even now that the biggest of threats had passed, Sakura would forever have to be careful of what she said.

He had come to know that Sakura's request-wish power was activated when Sakura asked for something. No matter how small or insignificant, whatever she said that came out as a request would be taken as a request and it would stack up. Once three requests had been given to an individual, she would have to grant any one wish in return.

This had been one of the minor reasons Madara had had Sakura isolated. During times of war, even the smallest of mistakes could lead to something fatal. While Sakura herself had been very careful, she had still been a child. As a brother, he had wished he could give Sakura the freedom she had been depraved but as a clan leader, he had to put the whole clan first.

Still, this position gave him the power he needed.

Sakura was unable to make requests or ask for the even smallest of things and as a brother, he was able to pick up on these things without Sakura saying a word and as a clan head, he had the power and authority to pull it through.

If he hadn't been born into the main house, Madara did not know how he could have protected her.

Chapter sixteen is HEEERRRRRRRREEEEEEE~

Darque: Sitting in History~

Raven: I thought so. You're always in history.

Darque: I just finished my presentation and I'm so relieved I didn't mess anything up-

Ravne: You, not messing up? What happened?

Darque:...Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence.

Raven: No problem. That's what friends are for :)

Darque:...Right...

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