><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Aiko's voice obliterated my mind for a quick thought. I growled vehemently not thinking correctly.

"Why do you think I should destroy it? Madara would more likely kill me you ignorant bird! You should be dead at this point!" I snickered back as I stood inches away from the flaming hawk. The water tensions were rising around me.

Aiko wasn't in his cage anymore as I let him have more freedom than I should of. "You might have wondered why that Uchiha man has been distant these past few weeks... he's up to something. And I've been around for nearly a thousand years, I think I'm capable of knowing what his intentions are." The bird glowered down to my height; glaring profoundly.

"What do you mean?" I widened my eyes taking a step back. My fingers must have been trembling by this moment. Aiko sighed and arched his back. He was indeed a phenomenal bird.

"You say you love him but you still have no idea what he is capable of... he is a direct descendant of Otsutsuki Indra. Might I say, I still remember the poor boy and his ambitions centuries ago? Madara too as well, have the same ambitions but in different terms." Aiko stared down with a calm expression making me blink once or twice at his words.

The direct descendant of Indra?... that would make sense, the tales were true about the Sage of the Six Paths son. He had terrible goals, but Madara being dragged into this!? Is impossible!

"If Madara reads that last passage through that Uchiha stone, you might as well say your farewells to that him. What a naive fool to think Otsutsuki Hogoromo wrote it. No. Something dark and mysterious that lingers in the shadows. An ominous feeling that isn't pleasant. I can't pin down what it is." Aiko pondered looking towards his side; stretching his wings wearily as he gawked.

The water around my feet started to abdicate as the tension wasn't so hot as before.

He's right... I clenched my fists tight as I did with my eyes holding in my anger. I quivered slightly and was brought back to reality.

Aiko's words still rung in my head.

"Infinite Tsukuyomi will not save the Uchiha,"

Was he referring to what the Uchiha stone says... from what I heard is that only people who have the Sharingan can read some of it and the more you evolve your visual prowess, the more you can read the stone.

This was beginning to confuse me more and more. Oh, why I wish Madara would explain to me what his intentions were.

I stood in mere inches of the shrine... I wanted to so badly to shred this place apart. But what is it that makes me not want to just yet?

I walked into the shrine unnoticed. Staring at my surroundings. A huge grave tomb stood in the middle of the room. As of a large stone tablet hung off the wall. I couldn't see the "markings" on it. Probably because I didn't have the Sharingan.

I sighed as I touched it carefully; my fingers moved smoothly down the surface.

"What are you doing in here." A dark cold tone made my whole body shiver slightly. "M-Madara..." I whispered, turning my head towards him. His expression softened as he met my eyes.

"Why?..." was all I could make out. I stood up moving towards him. I know he wouldn't be mad by me being in here. But this doesn't explain why he has been so distant.

"Please tell me what is going on?" I whispered in a pleading tone. His stare landed on the ground. I hugged him effectively trying to comfort him all I can. I don't want to lose him. It has been killing me not being around him.

"The clan has been turning away on me-"

"That's because you want to wage war again. Don't you see you'll end up hurting those around you," I pushed his hair out of his face to meet his gaze?

I frowned seeing his hurtful gaze. It kills me to see him like this. This would eventually eat me up.

"We are living in peace right now, please-"

"You call this world we live in peaceful? My brothers were killed, there will always be shinobi out for vengeance as long as we live. I want to stop that. I want to-"

"This madness would only create problems! I-I don't want to lose you." My eyes were tearing up, I wrapped my arms around his torso holding my face to his chest.

"You won't," was all he said. I looked up to him and shook my head. "Please promise me you won't leave me then." I stammered almost as if I was choking back my tears.

Madara sighed looking back towards the stone. "I can't make any promises." was all he said.

I looked at him in disbelief. Who was he? I shook my head and wiped away some tears away from my eyes, "I don't know you. I wish you would see yourself." Before walking out and not feeling his footsteps follow me.

I will do what it takes to bring you out of this trance Uchiha Madara. I won't lose out like this.

"I can't believe her." I snorted looking dumbfounded at the pair.

"It's been a couple weeks," Mito stood

right beside me looking at them.

"Tobirama found an attachment..." I rolled my eyes.

Mito laughed beside me. "Maybe it's a good thing. She's been bumping into him conveniently everywhere she went." Hashirama interrupted into our conversation making me gasp slightly.

Where did he come from...? All three of us looked at Tobirama and Akane. Well.. she is still a bitch to me, a few nights ago she ruined most of my clothing... oh how I wanted to kill her.

Her giggles made my stomach ache and my brain wanting to just tune out.

"Wow, this is in remarkable for my brother. I guess I should form a wedding then," Hashirama placed his index finger underneath his chin.

"Are you freaking kidding me! They aren't going to marry just yet BAKA!" I wanted to hit his head but I turned away and looked back to the newly found couple. Oh, this is just great.

I shook my head and began to walk away and towards the outskirts of the village. Enjoying the night breeze as the eerie stars glistened in the sky. The pitch black night sky resemblance the night Izuna died. I still ached at the mere thought.

I haven't seen Aquila in days.. maybe I should see her! I was already outside of the village pondering. I decided to turn back to only be stopped by a shadowy figure.

"Who's there?" I called out which nothing came into view.

What the-

Before any explanation was formed, my whole body stopped. My movements froze into place.

This anonymous thing struck me? My whole mind was freaking out and shock took over. A hand was through the back of my chest inflicting me tremendous pain throughout my whole body.

What was happening? I couldn't move, my whole body was being weakened by the second. My knees were slowly given out. The excruciating pain was washing over me. The light was slowly fading. Making my whole mind feel drowsy.

"Just being fair, I need my plans to go into place. But you're not the girl I've been looking for, but this would drag her here. She will not ruin my plans,"

"Why, you-" before I could comply, my mouth was filled with vile blood trickling down my chin. As he pulled his hand out, my whole body trembled to the cold hard ground.

I laid on my back as my vision was beginning to blur. He wants Aquila I see...

"Ramiko!" her voice was heard from a distant rushing towards me.

Even her delicate voice would be missed. She is special, I tried to form a small grin on my face but the pain was too bearable.

"RAMIKO NO! Who did this?!" She pulled my head into her lap. "A-Aquila, get out of here-" I coughed in mid-sentence.

"No no! Stay with me! I'll go get help! Please you're my only best friend and no one can replace you," she rambled holding onto me.

I saw Izuna holding his hand out to me. As he was waiting for me to take it. Izuna... my love, you were right all along. I couldn't hold onto my life. I'm sorry Aquila.

"L-Leave," I could barely get the words to leave my mouth.

Izuna it looks like I'm joining you after all. Closing my eyes holding a grin to myself, who knew that life would have been so cruel.

~

"Ramiko! You'll hurt yourself if you push your chakra limit," his voice caressed through the thin air.

"I know it's for the best if I can get stronger and protect the ones I love," I say looking towards him.

The pink hue making its way to his cheeks made me chuckle. Oh how much I miss making him feel like this.

"The next battle I want to be there. By your side!" I gave a cheeky grin as he laughed.

"As I hope for that," he rested his head onto my shoulder as we enjoyed the sun setting in the sky. The birds chirping and the fresh air breezing.

I should have told you sooner that I loved you.

-

"RAMIKO!"

Aquila's sobs were heard by Hashirama and Mito as they came, but it was already too late.

She was gone.

There was nothing to do. "WHO DID THIS!?" Aquila shrieked still holding onto Ramiko's bloody clothes. The look Hashirama gave was frightening. Mito broke down next to the girl's body and was whimpering softly. "Why..." was all she said.

But they still never encountered the shadowy figure who stood unseen in the trees. Cursing to himself that he couldn't strike her; wishing he did sooner.

"She was my friend! Why-"

"The village," Hashirama looked back. "How unfortunate it is, she's gone-"

"They'll pay for her life, this wasn't meant to be,"

"No no! Who is he?!" Aquila shrieked her eyes puffy and red.

"If I destroy it, what then?" She held back her tears as they were trying to escape her eyes.

With that, she was back to her surroundings. She looked down at the bloody blue headed girl. "They'll pay, I promise you this!"

Aquila screamed in agony once again as Mito tried to comfort her. "Please bring her body back, I want her to be next to Izuna in the Uchiha compound..." Aquila brushed Ramiko's messy hair out of her face.

"I have to do something." Aquila lowered her pink lips to Ramiko's forehead giving her a peck before she stood up.

"Where will you be?" Mito asked as Aquila shook her head deliriously.

"Don't follow, do as I told you to do."

With a blink of an eye, Aquila vanished and appeared back in front of the shrine.

"I'm sorry Madara, you'll hate me once I'm done. But it's for your own good. I can't lose any more people dear to me." Aquila whispered softly only her ears could comprehend.

"Oh, so you're the girl..." Aquila jolted out of her trance to see a hooded figure up in the trees nearby. No face. Nothing.

"You did this!" Her thrilling scream made him laugh darkly. "I can't let you do that, the Uchiha must full fill my plan." He responded rather simplicity.

"No." she narrowed her eyes readily getting into a stance. "This time you'll lose." He disappeared and then reappeared in front, readily going to take a blow at her.

Aquila reacted hastily and dodged his attack. "Fenikkususutairu: Fenikkusuu~ēbu!"she growled pushing chakra to her palms creating enormous forces of fire towards him. But to her extent, her Jutsu annihilated the shrine which was her intention. Making her heart beat faster at an irregular pace.

He emerged with the ground appearing back into the trees. "You arrogant fool!" He lashed out; black fist readily to meet his mark on her.

Before he could make out, an obnoxious fire blast disrupted their battle aiming at him.

"NO!" he screamed in disruptively, his screams echoed through the forest. The moon smiled upon the defeat of this mysterious creature. Madara ran towards Aquila's side. As she was about to fall he caught her.

The mysterious man turned to ash?

'Who was he?'

"M-Madara I'm sorry-"

"I know... I heard, tsch..." his grip tightened around her waist making her gasp.

"Ramiko is..." she pushed her head to a resting position on the Uchiha's shoulder while quiet sobs escaped her lips.

"Dead... I couldn't protect her. I should have been there!" Her sobs grew louder making Madara sigh. "I'm sorry about earlier I shouldn't have-" he when she pressed a finger to his lips from him to say anymore.

"Shhh... Don't worry about it," she said as she pushed herself up.

"We have a terrible day to look forward to tomorrow,"

><><><><><><><><><><><><><>