Madara was walking through the corridors of the fortress in a brisk pace, fuming with suppressed rage. The council member's questions and Gakuto's comments mocking his authority and decision making skills infuriated him. It took everything in him to not to kill that man where he was sitting.

How dare they question his judgement? What he is doing is for the better of the clan. With Amaya's power-packed bloodline mixed with his own, the Uchiha will only become stronger. They finally have a way to win this never ending war. Isn't that what everybody wants? Even the Senju were ready to take this step. He just ruined their plans and found a way to their demise. Those insignificant geezers should be thankful to him for that. They will have to accept his decision, sooner or later.

Unconsciously, his feet carried him towards the direction of his quaters.
He saw Eiko and Yuki leave with what looks like dirty laundry. He wondered if he should ask them where Amaya is. He needs to put that binding seal on her. But first he needs to convince her to let him, to earn her trust.

Oh Kami, Why? Why does that girl had to be so strong, or else he could have just used force and be done with it. May be also could have scared her shitless for better measures. But no... Now he has to act all softy-carey around her or else she might just lash out and ruin all his plans. Aara had told him about her anger issues and what she can do in a fit of rage. Even if he is one of the strongest Shinobis of his time, he does not wishes to be shredded to bits in the hands of an infuriated Dragon-Lady. He needs to approach this carefully.

He saw the two girls pass by him, bowing to him. Maybe later. Right now, a bath would be better. He can think about a plan meanwhile. He went went inside his quaters to find it empty.
***

After Sayori left, Amaya was... quiet. Too quiet.

Yuki was confused as to why Eiko suddenly started shaking like a leaf, but choose not to voice her question. She knew that she made the right decision when Amaya told them that they are dismissed and Eiko tried to say something but was quieted down by a glare from the princess. Though she now wonders what scared the Yamura girl so much when Amaya did so, as she had her back facing her. She was tempted to activate her sharingan but decided against it since it might not be a wise decision.

The two girls left the princess alone. Just as the door closed, she was gone.

***

It was around dinner time, but what bothers the fearful leader of the dignified Uchiha clan was the absence of the glorious princess of dragons. 'Where the hell is she?'

Where can she even go? She doesn't know anything or anyone here. As much as Madara hates to admit it, he was worried. On top of that, this freaking dinner was in her honour. All the council members and important people of the clan are here to see the would-be-wife of their clan leader, along with his own family. Izuna was already having a hard time stalling them as it is. Now, they are all asking him how much longer will it take the guest of honor to show up.

His eyes searched for her two attendants, who nodded their heads no. Even they have no idea where their mistress is. "Tch- useless women."

"Where the hell is Amaya Onii-chan???" Izuna whisper-yelled from behind him. With great difficulty he had been able to make him way to his elder brother, nudging him with his elbow while smiling and nodding at the pervy old hag who was enjoying talking to him very much. Oh! He just hates social gatherings.

Madara's level of annoyance was reaching its limits with each passing minute, until some loud-mouthed fool shouted out his excitement,
"LOOK. There she is... "

All the eyes in the room turned to see the reason of such enthusiasm and Madara heard a sigh of relief from his brother, "Finally... "

He turns around to see his princess dressed in beautiful traditional garments that suits her stature, yet keeping it simple. The only accessory being a head piece that looks like a feathered crown with a fiery stone that rests at the center of her forehead. (see the picture of Amaya in # 3.) If she looked gorgeous before, she looks even more majestic now with this specific addition.

With a smile on her beautiful face, her eyes searched through the crowd and finally met his own. The smile falters just for a fraction of second and he wonders what the hell is wrong. His question is answered soon enough, as out of seemingly nowhere Sayori latched herself onto his arm.

'Not good.' The warning bell in his head ringed.

Amaya made her way towards the two and though she didn't gave anything away, Madara could feel the boiling anger that was scraping at the door of her mind to it get free and tear Sayori apart limb to limb. He was in conflicting emotions, when Amaya passed from just beside him, without so much as acknowledging his presence, and made her way to Izuna, who was smiling awkwardly.

'Okay! What. The Hell. Was That?'

First, she is gone for the whole day, with nobody having any idea where she is. Then she shows up late, in a party thrown for her. And then, she shows the audacity to ignore him. Him? The one who threw a freaking party in her honour, to introduce her, to his clan and who covered up for her when she was late for it. The one she came here to marry... How dare she ignores him?
Madara felt Sayori's clutch tighten on his arm, 'This tramp... '
He yanked off his arm from her hold and fixed her with a deathly glare, warning her to leave him alone.

Fidgeting, Sayori steps back, but smirks inwardly, 'Now, the pretty Princess will get in trouble.'

***

Tobirama was out wandering aimlessly around to clear his head. The annoyingly idiotic antiques of his brother and his wife sometimes takes the better of him. Being away from them for a while to vent out his frustrations is better than snapping at them and invite trouble for himself. Mito can be quite scary when she wants to be and he doesn't wish to be on the receiving end of her wrath. He wonders how his brother deals with her and yet could fall in love with her with everything he has. But then again, he himself is the world's biggest dork, yet he managed to land someone like Mito. Now, he wonders what she saw in him...

He sighs. Love is such a twisted concept, especially one like this. He can understand the love for family, clan and even friends, but romantic love is something just out of his league. It's so out of the limits of his understanding that he wonders if he could ever find such love. Even if he does, by some miracle, would he be able to grasp the concept or return such feelings. Does he even have the ability to love someone, so deeply and selflessly? Can he fall in love?

"Tch. Stupid Mito and Hashirama, making me think such stupid things... Offcourse I can fall in love. But, I choose not to... " he said to no one.

Great, now he's talking to himself. He shook his head vigorously, like doing so would somehow make the stupid thoughts detach and fall off his head. But, it didn't work now, did it? The questions just latched itself in his conscience, refusing to leave him alone. Annoyed, he changed the direction of his steps. Maybe some training can help.

He was close to his usual training spot when he felt a presence there. This person, a woman, her Chakra is strong and enormous.

No doubt she is skilled because if it had been anyone else other than him, they wouldn't have been able to sense her. She's masking herself very well, it's almost like she is not even there. But he is a sensor type, one of the best at that, the only reason why he knows she's there. But for what? That he doesn't know. All the reasons why he needs to be careful. There is a strange and strong being, closer to his home, for some unknown reason. What if she is an enemy? She seems strong enough for his brother and him, more to his brother, the strongest Shinobi he has ever known. Is she working for the Uchiha? Had they sent her to attack the Senju? Or is she sent here by some other enemy of their clan? Is she even an enemy? There's also a possibility that she is not. Maybe she is just lost.

He needs to find out who this person is and what are her motives, to be sure.