Coming of age.

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• TIMESKIP •

-𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖗𝖆𝖈𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖘 𝖆𝖌𝖊-

Uchiha Madara➤15 Years old

Uchiha Izuna➤13 Years old

Uchiha Yuki➤10 Years old

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It's been three years since the twins died and two years since Tajima found out about Madara's secret meetings with Hashirama Senju by the riverside. Those brief but happy moments left a scar in his heart along with shattered dreams of peace. Madara (15 years old) realized that peace can only be achieved by power and authority. And for that, he has to become the strongest.

After every battle when he came back home, the only thing that could distract him from his thoughts and pull him out of this nasty reality were his siblings, especially Yuki, who was quickly growing up into a beautiful young girl. With her kind and cheerful nature, she would sometimes remind him of Hashirama.

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Madara watched as Yuki sparred with Izuna. She seemed somewhat sluggish with her movements today.

As soon as little Yuki turned seven, her mornings were spent with her brothers in the training grounds. They trained in every aspect an Uchiha shinobi ought to. But her brothers were clearly way ahead of her, still she did her best to learn, and that was enough. Afterall, she wasn't training to become an actual Shinobi.

He'd begun by training her first in taijutsu, and made her practice everyday so that she won't slack off. She always lost matches against Madara and Izanagi but somehow held against Izuna.

Her Kenjutsu (sword fighting) was clearly below average by shinobi standards. She did her best to learn, but had to refrain using heavy weapons since they proved to be difficult for her. It was clear she preferred throwing weapons over swords. Lately, she did try using katana after learning how to channel chakra onto weapons. But she could never match any of her brothers and always lost against Izuna since this was his field. Izuna excelled in Kenjutsu, so much so that he could fight a seasoned samurai by the age of 12.

Yuki had to work twice as hard as her brothers when it came to Ninjutsu. At least she mastered the clan's signature Fireball jutsu, even though she struggled with complex Katon techniques.

And finally, Genjutsu. That was Madara's field of expertise and required an innate talent that she clearly lacked. Madara preferred to not train her in this field until she achieved the Sharingan. He thought it was better to first make her perfect her chakra flow and control. Because only after perfecting that could she sense disturbance in chakra flow that caused the illusion.

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Exhausted, Yuki prepared for the final blow. She rushed at Izuna with full speed,then dipped and weaved right as she was about to reach him and slashed downwards with her blade. Izuna blocked her with one of his katana and the metals clashed against each other with a shriek that sent sparks flying into the air.

Knowing she's tired, Izuna sidestepped to the right just enough for the blade to free from engagement. Quickly, before Yuki could respond with any follow-up, Izuna swiftly landed a kick on her abdomen, knocking the wind out of her as he sent her flying back.

The girl fell back groaning in pain. She'd thought of making use of the opening and grab a kunai but underestimated his speed. He was getting faster and better each passing day.

"Ok! That's it for today," Madara called out.

'This is her biggest weakness. She's reckless and overlooks details.'

Yuki gripped her stomach.The pain felt like it was tearing her insides. She glanced up at Madara, who looked disappointed.

"I told you to focus on details. You are too careless."

Yuki shivered at the tone of his voice. She lowered her head, feeling ashamed for not standing up to his expectations again.

But when she was about to move, a sharp pain ripped through her belly.

Izuna, who was standing nearby sensed her struggle,so helped her up.

"Yuki?"

She turned back to find his perplexed expression.

"Did I hurt you? You are bleeding!"he worried, noticing blood over her pants.

"I think so..."

Soon she felt an arm encircling her waist and another scooping her legs up in a swift motion. His warm breath crashed against her forehead as he moved. Izuna soon followed them.

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The old nurse checked her up and confirmed she had no injuries.

"But she was bleeding!" Izuna complained.

"Well, young master. It was her first bleeding."

"First bleeding?" he repeated, he understood nothing.

Madara flustered beside him and that only confused him.

.

.

.

They left her in the old nurse's care and walked towards the weaponry unit in complete awkward silence.

Madara frowned, thoughts filling his head. 'She's already bleeding? Though she will be 11 this winter...I didn't expect her to grow up this fast.'

"Aniki?"

The younger boy pulled him out from his train of thoughts.

"What was that old lady talking about?"

He glanced at Izuna, who was now a Handsome 13-year-old boy. A strong shinobi who was clever and quick for his age. Madara didn't expect him to be this dense about such an obvious matter.

"She started bleeding as a sign of her womanhood," he stated.

That's when it hit him, and soon the younger Uchiha blushed deep red.

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-A week later-

Madara and Yuki rested side by side on her bed.The silence loomed as neither of them wished to talk. Yuki hadn't seen Izuna since the day her bleeding begun. He seemed to avoid her like plague and it annoyed her.

"*Che* Idiot Izuna-nii!" she grumbled.

The two of them let the silence continue until Madara decided to break it.

"Are you feeling better now?" he asked, concerned. She has many mood swings lately.

"I'm fine." She groaned in irritation. Right now, the only thing she was worried about were the elders. She was worried if they'll prohibit her from training or even worse-sell her away in the name of marriage.

"Nii san? Do you think father will get me married off?"

"That will be decided at the clan gathering today." Madara responded, blankly staring up at the ceiling while placing his arms behind his head. "But considering everything, it seems that way."

"Oh." The disappointment in her tone didn't miss him.

She rolled towards him and moved her body onto him-hugging him. All the while squeezing her face onto his chest, "So I'm just like some cattle you can sell off when required?" a hint of hurt laced her voice.

Her hot breath tickled the exposed skin of his chest and soon he felt his cheeks grow warm. He doubted if she could hear his heart racing.

"There's really no need to worry," Madara managed to say. "Nothing has been actually decided yet."

"I don't want to marry Nii! I want to stay here, with you and Izuna nii, forever."

Madara widened his eyes and he turned his head to meet her gaze. Soon he realized how close she was to him, her lips just inches away from his face.

His gaze lingered on her delicate face. She had glowing skin, full lips, and a shapely nose. Her eyes were the most beautiful...she had big grey eyes, an odd color for an Uchiha but it suited her the most.

Her eyes sparkled in the golden light filtering in through the window, and Madara couldn't take his eyes away from her, he was completely entranced.

"I will never let you go."

Her face instantly brightened up. Those lips curving into her beaming smile. She appeared so entrancing, so ravishing... He felt like he's in a beautiful illusion and she might disappear if he blinks.

She inched closer, her smile growing brighter. "Then hurry up and become the clan leader, then I won't have to worry." she giggled before placing a chaste kiss on his lips.

The feel of her soft and supple lips on his felt heavenly, but he could relish the feeling only for a second. Oh how he wished he could prolong the contact! He craved to bite those lips, to explore her mouth, to su-

He quickly diverted his thoughts before they could get uglier. Lately, he's been feeling this strange attraction to her. He couldn't understand or explain it, but somewhere deep within his mind, he knew whatever it was that he was feeling for her...were immoral.

He fixed his gaze back on the ceiling.

He was certain their father won't be marrying her off to anyone anytime soon, and will wait for a Noble alliance.

And he wished that day to never come.

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—Location: Uchiha council meeting hall—

When the news of her coming to age reached the elders, they called for a short meeting. Tajima quietly listened to the suggestions put forward by his clansmen.

"She's already bleeding. She should be given to a husband now."

"I suggest we promise her to someone within the clan, it'll strengthen our bloodline."

"I agree. The lot of us are in our twenties and need wives." announced one of the young Uchiha's.

"I disagree. Wouldn't it be more beneficial if she's married to heir of some other clan? We can use her for alliance."

"Yes. She's the princess of our clan and should be wed only to an heir of equal status."

"If she's to be wed off to another clan then she should be sent to live with them. Let them raise a wife to their standards,"

"What do you mean 'raise' her? Lord Tajima is raising her just fine. You need not treat her like some cattle!"

"I agree with Hoitsu. Then we should arrange her marriage with one of the children around her age."

The Council discussed the proposals with care. The girl was useful. Her marriage could be used as an important allying tool. If not, then she would be useful to strengthen their bloodlines. But Yuki was still young. She needed to be cared for and properly educated until she could be used or mother children.

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Tajima frowned over the Council's words. His cold gaze focused on the elders.

He'd always considered Yuki a burden. She wasn't strong enough like Madara or Izuna and held no special talent. She was way too soft and kind to become a shinobi.

Though Madara had argued with him on more than one occasions to let him train her, Tajima knew, the day she come of age, she'll be put in a cage. Since Yuki took after her mother, he was sure she would grow up into quite a beauty. Her quiet and docile nature didn't help either.

The thought that she would be given to some random man like a trophy-who would treat her like an instrument, didn't sit well with him.

'Anko would never wish for this.'

'Well... She would've never agreed to a lot of things I'm doing.'

Its not that he didn't care for Yuki. But he couldn't bear being near her. She reminded him too much of Anko, the women he loved and had desperately tried to forget for so many years now. The council members has been pestering him for several years to find another wife, but he had always rejected it. He still couldn't accept Anko's death.

Tajima was sure, given Yuki's bloodline, beauty and title, she would be made a mother as soon as possible, regardless of her health or chances of survival.

A child bearing tool.

.

.

'That child does not deserve this fate.'

"There's no need for any of you to fuss over Yuki's marriage and education."

The people in the hall paused their discussion to look at the Uchiha leader.

"But Tajima, we must make sure she's properly educated to carry out her duties for this clan!" Uchiha Kanjin replied.

"I am her father. I will make sure she's properly educated to be able to carry on her duty as the Princess of this clan." Tajima declared.

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