For Sphinxvi-ir

Guess what? This is the 7th part of this book. I guess it really is your lucky number XD

You guys should check out Airi’s book, Sentimental Warmth. It’s a book of anime one shots and you won’t regret reading it. I guarantee you got an awesome author right there :)

Warning: This will be quite long.

Enjoy~
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Uchiha Madara

She stared at the name written in the scroll with a blank expression. Looking back up, she gave the same look to the person who gave it to her, her mind wondering if her master had written the wrong name in the scroll, though there is little to no possibility that the master could make a mistake, especially when it comes to giving her the name of her next target.

“Your next target will be stopping by a bath house in Kirigakure before returning to Konoha and that will be the location of your assassination. I think you already know what this means, (Y/n). Carry out the assassination your own way and bring me his head.”

Her brows furrowed a bit to the center. She knew that she must obey the order for this is how she makes a living, yet at this moment, she knew that she had broken one of the sacred rules of being an assassin---never let any personal attachments or any emotions take over when you are about to assassinate someone.

Her master noticed the change in her expression for he had now turned to her and looked at her, as if reading what her mind was thinking. “What is this now? You have never underestimated yourself before,” her master bent down to meet her in eye level. “What do you fear?”

“I cannot take out such a powerful man. You will be leading me down to my own path of death if you wish for his blood to be in my hands,” the girl replied, her tone firm and unwavering, as if she had predicted what her future will be once she carries out this task.

“Uchihas are the village’s scum. And this certain Uchiha you are about to kill, his head will be a jewel in my collection. Fear not, I believe you can take him out like what you did with the others.”

(Y/n) forced a cringe at the back of her head at hearing the word ‘collection’. She knew that her master was a horrible man with horrible habits of keeping some heads. “How can a scum be a jewel at the same time, master? He’s not just a certain Uchiha. He is THE UCHIHA MADARA. A legend. Blessed by the power of the gods with great talent and feared by men. I do not stand a chance,” a finger slowly pressed on the ring she wore. It was getting tighter as time flies and now she had to move it to her little finger.

Her master took a step forward, making her hide her hand in her sleeve. “Why does it sound like you know so much about this Uchiha Madara? You do not have any personal attachments with this scum, do you?”

(Y/n) gulped. Her past cannot be revealed at this point. She needs to find a way to get out of this situation, if only it would be that easy. Her eyes blinked and her mouth slightly parted as she avoided the eyes of her master.

“You know better than to let some memories ruin your job, (Y/n). And if what you say about the Uchiha Madara is true, then it shall be of greater rectitude for you if you can kill him. I’ll double your reward if you can bring me his head. And after that, you may be freed from this service.”

(Y/n) looked back to see the look on her master’s face. He was even more determined to make her kill the Uchiha. Setting the scroll aside, she took a deep breath as a deadly look clouded her eyes once again. “Master, please keep your words.”

---

“A bath house? Really, Nii-san?” Izuna stopped a few feet away from his brother who was now attempting to enter the said place.

“Why not? We’re already on our way home and a nice bath won’t be such a big deal along the way,” Madara replied, getting impatient to take his armor (and clothes) off at the entrance.

“But it would still take several days before we reach Konoha! I’d rather take a shower in my room than bathe in here.”

Madara slightly turned his head and Izuna dropped a sweat as he knew what kind of expression is coming. “The ladies~” Madara almost sang, a smirk visible on his face.

Izuna’s face turned red before he ran to catch up with his older brother. “Not that again!”

“Can we get two separate private baths?” Madara told the receptionist.

“Why, the infamous Uchiha Madara and his brother, Uchiha Izuna! What a perfect timing. Honor is brought upon our bath house for you legendary men to be our guests. Yes of course and you are quite in luck, gentlemen for we do have a special today. Each of you will get a servant and it shall be free of charge,” the receptionist replied with a huge smile on her face.

“For free? That’s odd,” Izuna commented. “No, we won’t be taking any----”

“Make it two for my brother. I’ll pay for the other one,” Madara cut Izuna off, making the latter bring a huge slap to his face.

“Nii-san,” Izuna whispered in his brother’s ear. “They know you are here. What if one of the servants turn out to be an assassin?”

“Calm down, Izuna. If there will be any assassins around here,” Madara turned to the receptionist with a smile on his face. “I’ll make sure this place goes down in ashes.”

The receptionist took a step back and her expression suddenly changed into a nervous one, making Madara chuckle. He handed her payment and without another word, she led them to their respective baths.

An amorous scent greeted Madara as he entered the bath. The room is draped in gold, lavender and bronze, with two candlesticks in each corner, lightening up the place and it emitted a romantic and inviting atmosphere to its guests. Olive green curtains hanged from above the tub filled with warm, herbal water and chamomile and rose petals. It nearly looked like a bath for royalties.

Madara slowly took off his armor. “Please tell the servant you have assigned to me, I will need a massage.”

“Hai,” the receptionist said before leaving him.

One by one his armor made a low clanging sound on the floor. This was followed by his belt and cloak dropping next to the red metal as he made his way to the tub. (I wanted to be more detailed with Madara taking off every single piece of clothing but I can’t. I JUST CAN’T sorry XD)

He had his eyes closed as he felt the herbal water rejuvenate his skin. A hand made its way to his hair tied up, and he let it fall lose before continuing to enjoy the relaxing ambience in the bath tub.

In the midst of the tranquillity, he felt a strong and familiar chakra behind him. With his eyes still closed, his brows met. You? No. That can’t be you. What on earth are you doing here?

He heard light footsteps approaching behind him and when he figured that whoever it is must already be on his back, he felt the chakra dispensing. It felt like no one entered the bath other than him as of this moment.

Madara slowly opened his eyes, his Sharingan already activated. You have sealed your chakra from me, eh? Why would you do such a thing?

Before he could come to a conclusion of who it was, he felt two wonderfully soft hands massaging his shoulders. A familiar scent came into his senses. A scent that he would know anytime, anywhere, despite all the other strong scents exploding inside the bath.

His eyes closed once again as the work on his shoulders slowly made its way down to his lower back. A soft ‘mmm’ emitted from his throat. This touch. This familiar touch. Why is it here?

One of the hands left his back and Madara waited at what he knew would come. His eyes shot open as one of his hands swiftly moved in mid-air to stop a blade from slicing his neck. Another hand made its way to cut his skin that he had to turn around, splash a huge amount of water all over the floor and pull the curtains down to avoid that attack.

His head turned and looked at his assailant, who is a woman in a white tunic with a mask on her face. She instantly charged for him, though her eyes were not looking directly into his. Madara did not seem surprised by this. Any attacker would avoid looking right into his eyes for the power of the Sharingan is known all throughout the lands.

Her boot almost landed on his face, had he not ducked to avoid it. If this woman is a ninja, she is a ninja who clearly knew that only taijutsu would work on him. This ninja knew him very well. For if she did not, she would’ve used ninjutsu on him, but she didn’t.

Grabbing the woman by the shoulders, he roughly removed the tunic from her, revealing her shoulders and a tank top underneath. Her hand with the blade swiftly looked for an opening where she could land it on him but it was no use. Madara can see her every move.

Jumping inside the tub, she charged for him once more. Two daggers locked in her fists as she gracefully slashed, aiming for his neck but Madara grabbed her arms, twisted her around and pulled the tank top from her.

The woman twisted her arm the other way around to free herself from Madara’s grip before pulling one of the curtains and wrapping it around her so Madara could not see her upper body.

“I’m taking that mask off next if you continue to attack me. And your pants will follow after,” Madara said with a smirk. (Everyone, please ignore that Madara is standing naked here…. *slight major nosebleed*)

Another attack from her made Madara pull her into him, her back on his chest and his arm holding her tightly on the neck. “Are you an assassin? What did your master promise you? Money? Freedom? He was obviously lying. He just wanted you dead, (Y/n).”

The sound of her name made her widen her eyes. How did Madara know? After all these years, she thought Madara had completely forgotten about her. But no, he had just said her name. Or what is just her imagination?

Madara loosened his grip on her and she made her turn around. “If you are wise you’ll go back to Konoha with me and Izuna.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said but before she could back-up, Madara had pulled her mask down, revealing her face to him.

“Yes, you do. Cut the crap, (Y/n). I know that the life you wanted was not this life you’re living with that master of yours.”

“You can’t tell me how to live my life. Back in the days we were just kids.”

“We were friends.”

“But it’s different now.”

“It’s not yet too late.”

(Y/n) scoffed. “Has Hashirama influenced you that much for you to sound like that? You don’t seem like the Madara I know.”

“Don’t even mention that idiot’s name when you speak with me. He was the reason you got separated from us.”

“And you want me to go back to Konoha despite the idiot being the Hokage there? What kind of twisted logic do you have, Madara?”

Madara did not answer and just looked at her. He couldn’t tell her. Not yet. Not now. This is a bad time. If only she’d look at him in the eyes it would be easier for him. But he knew that she wouldn’t. His eyes landed on her hands that firmly hold onto the curtain that wrapped her body.

And he saw it.

She was still wearing it. He didn’t need his sharingan to see the tiny trinket glimmer in her finger.

A victorious smirk made its way to his face.

“We both have twisted logics, (Y/n). You’re still wearing the ring I gave you. That means that you belong to me.”

Her dark eyes widened and she jumped out of the tub and pulled a few pins from her hair, allowing it to fall loose down her shoulders. The pins were sharp and poisoned, as Madara guessed. She threw them in his direction and he had to use a fire jutsu to avoid getting hit with those pins.

Once his fire had dispensed, (Y/n) had disappeared from the bath. Without second thoughts, he rushed out the room to look for her. He met Izuna on the way out who stared wide-eyed at him (with a few girls screaming behind him and running in different directions).

“Nii-san what happened and where are your clothes?!” Izuna rushed over to his brother.

“Look for a woman wrapped in an olive green curtain,” he said before going back to put his clothes on.

Izuna went on ahead outside the bath but the mist was already too thick. It would be hard to look for a half-naked woman in an olive green curtain out there. But Madara knew, that wherever she is now, she will always be his. He always knew that this is their destiny. He knew that once her master finds out that she failed to kill him, she’ll be back. And when he meets her again, he swore he won’t give a chance to let her go again.

~~~

Part two? XD