38. Intuition

I gently rubbed my eyes before opening them as I woke up. I scanned the cosy bed I was snuggled in to find that Itachi was nowhere to be seen. He must have left for his mission early this morning. I thought about how yesterday, for some strange reason Madara had not let me accompany Itachi and Kisame on their mission. I couldn't think of a good enough reason for him to do so and it really annoyed me.

It's not like I was doing anything else in the meantime right? Maybe this Madara guy just had it in for me or something? I let out a small breath and decided to get up and have breakfast so, I scotched over to the side of Itachi's warm bed and got up.

I was still wearing my shorts and singlet and my hair was tied up into a messy bun as I made my way down to the kitchen. As I walked in I saw the back of Tobi- I mean.. Obito's head. He was sitting at the kitchen bench and appeared to be eating something so I decided to go and investigate a bit closer.

"Morning Obito," I said casually as I walked past and opened up the cupboard to look for some fruit.

"Tila, good morning" Obito replied in his newly found deep voice as he looked up from his plate of breakfast and steaming cup of tea. I grabbed a banana and apple before turning back around to sit beside him and that's when I noticed he wasn't wearing his mask.

"Obito," I stopped in my tracks, now standing in front of the bench, staring at his handsome yet scarred face.

"What's the matter?" He asked casually as he looked back up at me, wondering what could have been wrong.

"It's just, you look so different without your mask" I mumbled, now finding the ability to walk again and slowly etched over to the other side of the bench. Obito watched me with a small smile on his face as I sat in the seat beside him.

"You think so, do you? In a good or a bad way?" He asked curiously, eye still on me as he popped a cherry tomato into his mouth. He only had one eye..?

"In a good way I suppose, it's just surprising really," I told him as I took a bite of my apple and slowly started to chew.

"You know, I wish I could've told you earlier" he sighed. I quickly swallows what was in my mouth before speaking.

"It's okay, I don't mind so much." It was the truth I suppose. Sometimes Shinobi had to do things that don't make sense or seemed harsh at times. It was all part of being a ninja and I didn't hold it against him.

"Well, as Obito, it's nice to meet you, Tila." He gave a small smirk as he stood up and picked up his plate.

"It's a pleasure, Obito," I giggled at his unnecessary formality. He returned a smile and then I watched as he started to wash his plate in the sink.

"Well, I shall see you around then," He gave a wave and headed for the archway then left. I finished off my fruit and then put the peels and apple core into the bin, as I looked up from the bin, Zetsu's face was sticking out of the wall!

"Zetsu!!! How many times do I have to tell you?!" I screamed shrilly, jumping backwards in utter fright clutching my chest as though my heart was about to fall out!!

"Sorry Tila, Madara has asked me to summon you" He explain apologetically.

"It's okay, I guess you don't do it on purpose" I smiled sheepishly.

"Wait, Madara? Wants me to go and see him?" I asked, making sure I heard him right. Zetsu nodded, then before I could object he started to disappear again.

"Sorry have to go," he said, phasing back into the wall, leaving me alone again.

Oh no, what could this horrible guy want from me now?

Annoyance bubbled inside, did he think he could just summon me whenever he wanted and I'd come running to his aid?

It was okay when Leader did it because he always respected me and didn't refer to me as 'Woman' or 'Weak' but... This Madara hot shot Uchiha was the rudest person I've ever met.

Hm.

I slowly started to walk to my room so I could have a shower and get changed before going and seeing what he wanted. I didn't particularly care if I kept him waiting so I took my time. I put on my blue skinny jeans and a mid sleeves blacktop then tied my leg pouch around my thigh, brushed out my long blonde locks and then tied it all up Into a high ponytail.

There, done.

I made my way down the hall and I eventually made it to Leader's office door.

"Come in," A deep voice said.

I hadn't even knocked yet? I turned the door handle and strolled in. Madara sat exactly where Leader should have been, his icy cold eyes were a hundred times more intense than Leader's Rennigon had been. I took a seat before his desk and waited to hear what he wanted from me.

"Woman, I want you to go down to the nearest village and collect some groceries" he gave a bored sigh as he went back to reading something on his desk.

"Groceries? Are you kidding me?" I asked in shock, feeling insulted.

"Hm" was all he said. This guy was the rudest most arrogant prick I had ever met! My blood boils and I abruptly stand up on my feet feeling enraged that he would summon me for such a trivial thing.

"I don't know who you think you are but I am not going to do your everyday bidding" I spat, I could feel myself getting madder by the second as I watched him completely ignore me and continue reading. Fuck this.

"Fight me" I challenged. I seriously could not take this guys attitude any longer, I wanted nothing more than to put him in his place. The room was silent, Madara was still ignoring me. I'd had enough by now, my temper had overflowed and had started spilling over the edges.

I reached out quickly and tapped my palm hard against his forehead - I felt my double diamond mark pulse as it connected. An enormous mass of Chakra was inside him.

Before I could begin to absorb his hand grasped onto my wrist very tightly.

"What do you think you're doing?" He asked dangerously - now looking up at me with those cold lifeless onyx eyes.

I winched as he twisted my wrist slightly and he then gave a dark smirk.

"You are nowhere near strong enough to challenge me, just a waste of my time," he said disappointedly before letting go of my wrist. We stared into each other's eyes for a moment before I started to get the chills so I stormed out of his office in a rage.

Who the hell is he?! I'm going to kill him I swear it!

I continued to mentally utter obscenities at the arrogant Uchiha whom I loathed and gritted my teeth as I made my way to the entrance. If getting groceries meant being as far away from him as possible then fine!

______________

While I was down in the closest village picking up a whole bunch of groceries I thought hard about everything that had happened. From the first day, I found myself in Sasori's bed when he had tucked the loose strands of my hair behind my ear to yesterday when I had reanimated that stupid Madara Uchiha.

How had things changed so much in only two years?

Had I changed too?

Or was all of my efforts up until this point for nothing?

Was I still the weak and naïve Tila I was back then?

That darn Madara had really rattled my cage and now I couldn't help but doubt myself, doubt my ability to deal with everything that has happened...

Doubt whether or not I truly was as strong as Itachi seemed to believe. What did he mean when he said he thought I would do something good for the shinobi world?

How could he have that much faith in me?

Maybe only time would tell but one thing was for sure.

I do not like Madara Uchiha one bit.

I loath him.

_______________________

By the time I got back to the hideout I had cooled down somewhat and I felt a little better after having gotten out for some Fresh air. I trudged through the training room carrying multiple bags filled with groceries, on my way to the kitchen so I could pack everything I'd gotten away in the cupboards. As soon as I entered the kitchen I saw Madara standing at the kitchen bench sipping a cup of tea and my heart sank. Great, just what I need.

His eyes fell onto me coldly as soon as I entered and his blank facial expression followed me as I made my way over to the kitchen bench and set down the grocery bags. I ignored the fact that he was there and started to put everything away into the cupboard. I could feel him occasionally watching me as though he enjoying the fact I was doing as I was told.

I guess I may have spoken too soon because the next words that came from those cold lips of his really got me mad.

"So, you're an obedient woman then?" he mused as he sipped his tea still watching me coldly. I shoved the last bag into the cupboard hard and turned around to face him.

"Storm Release, Demonic Dragon Storm" My temper had reached its limits and he had just gone too far. I was NOT going to stand here and take this from him.

As a large dark cracking thunder cloud began to form above me in the middle of the kitchen I watched as Madara put down his tea, took a step back smirking darkly then activated his Sharingan - the pattern on them was different somehow. Right now I didn't even care, all I wanted to do was get him to have a little damn respect.

"So you want to dance do you?" Madara mused as he watched me intently, his long dark hair flowing behind him as the wind from my storm cloud blew by dangerously.

"We're going to do more than dance Madara, I'm going to teach you some manners," I said, now analysing his stance for a weak spot that I could aim my loudly rumbling lightning at but before I could aim I felt everything go dark.

____ _____

"So, Tila was it?" The cold familiar voice of Madara cooed into my left ear. I shivered badly at the unexpected closeness of his voice and then I felt my wrists become bound and my body limply hanging from some sort of stake.

"What're you doing Madara?" I breathed heavily as though a weight bare down on my chest- the surroundings now becoming a dark red and black.

"You're in one of my Genjutsu, foolish woman you are to challenge me," Madara's voice sounded sadistically excited.

A Genjutsu? How. When?

When I looked into his eyes... I am so stupid.

I closed my eyes and tried desperately to stop my Chakra flow to disrupt it somehow, to break the Genjutsu but, I opened my eyes and everything was still dark.

"You're wasting your time, you can't escape." I felt a massive wave of panic run over me as I felt a stabbing pain in my thigh.

"Madara" I screamed out writhing from the unexpected pain searing through my tender thigh but there was only silence. I shut my eyes tightly and begged for it to stop and then something happened- The entity inside me laughed madly.

Tila, you foolish girl. Must you rely on me to do everything for you? - The voice asked sarcastically.

Just get me out of here! I screamed mentally as another stabbing pain shot deep through my other thigh.

Fine, but only because I don't want to be stuck here either - the voice mused, I opened my eyes and noticed the scenery had changed and the pain in my thighs had disappeared.

___________

Before me, stood Madara. His eyes were slightly narrowed as he looked around at the lush green forest we now stood in.

"How?" He asked as though holding back his frustration at the turn of events yet curious as to what had happened.

"You're not the only one who uses Genjutsu Madara, don't get ahead of yourself" I heard myself say darkly. It must have been my other half talking... And for once, I couldn't be more glad she existed. I watched Madara standing in front of me, those cold eyes still burning holes in my skin.

"By the way, didn't anyone ever tell you it's rude to stare?" I felt myself say. But, Madara's gaze did not falter. Wow, my other half sure knew me well seeing as I was only just thinking that seconds before she said it.

Something invisible sporadically started to swish along Madara's clothes leaving open gashes.

Small cut marks started to appear across Madara's body out of thin air. I watched as he looked down at the blood that started tricking from the wounds as they continued to cut him all over his body. One swiftly after the other.

"Enough of this," he said coldly and I felt myself becoming light-headed.

__________________

I dropped to my knees and looked up to see Madara and I were both back in the kitchen where we had begun. I rubbed my head as I looked up at his looming figure in front of me. His body was still covered in multiple cuts.

I slowly stood up as he noticed the cuts himself before narrowing his eyes at me. I couldn't take it anymore, quickly walking out of the kitchen and back to my room, making sure to slam the door behind me.

What on earth just happened?

_________Madara POV________

I eye the small cuts covering my body, small stains of crimson blood dripping down my clothes.

Hm. This girls ability. What is it?

How could she overpower my Tsyukinomi with her own Genjutsu?. And then, to hurt me physically outside of her Genjutsu? Tsk.

How could I have missed such a power? Indeed, her Chakra isn't anything special. But, to have such an ominous Chakra that deep inside her surely was unexpected.

Interesting. I suppose I will have to keep an eye on her, who knows when I might need to use this power of hers.

_____________Tila POV________

I laid down on my bed still feeling shaken up from my confrontation with Madara... His ability to catch me in such a powerful Genjutsu like that was scary. The fact that I had to rely on my dark half to save my ass was sort of embarrassing too... And, the fact that she had even offered to help really confused me seeing as she only ever did things to spite me!

My mind was spinning a million miles an hour and all I wanted was for Itachi to get back from his mission. I had no idea what to do and I felt scared. I huddled into bed and lay there for a while as I calmed myself down, just before I was about to close my eyes I heard a knock on the door.

"Tila, we're doing a sealing" Zetsu's white side called out from behind the door.

"Okay," I yelled back as I slowly got up and headed for the door.

Maybe Itachi wouldn't be too long seeing as they had already captured a tailed beast as it is.

____________________

The sealing took two days now that Madara had joined us, turns out his Chakra level is enormous and I guess I wasn't complaining about that...

Standing around for 3 days was really tiring.

Obito, Madara, Pein, Zetsu, Konan, Itachi, Kisame and I all stood upon the fingers of the Gedo statue as the sealing took place. I wonder how long it would take for Itachi to return I questioned myself as I stared at his dark mysterious hologram. I had a bad feeling in the pits of my stomach that something wasn't right around here anymore. But I just didn't know what.