Madara Uchiha (Naruto) - Oneshot
“So I died again.”
Madara’s eyes were trained on the wall. He wasn’t sure how he’d gotten into this particular building, all he remembered was the words of Zetsu claiming that he would not be a savior.
“How fitting.”
He couldn’t be angry. Everything that he’d done, it was a wonder this life was so calm. He expected something more dire. Yet, he was standing inside of a school compound, dressed in a suit. From the looks of it, he was a teacher.
The irony of the situation was almost laughable. After all, he’d taught Obito. Looking back on it, if his guidance had been led by something other than revenge, hatred and rage, maybe things would have turned out differently. It is possible the war would have never happened.
“You’re much calmer than I expected. Souls typically don't take to this very well.”
The woman that stepped into the room made his head turn from the open window. The glow of the sun lowering in the sky illuminated the room, and he released a sigh.
“Given the life I’ve led, it was only a matter of time.”
He supposed you were here to take him to his true destination. This must be some kind of veil. It’s not possible for someone as corrupted as him to live such a peaceful afterlife.
“I supposed that is true.”
When you looked up, Madara was startled, your eyes were slitted, similar to the..
“Kyuubi…”
He mumbled in astonishment.
You smirked.
“The tailed beasts aren’t just entities in one single place or time. Realities differ, but power is power. Regardless of how it is distributed.”
He blinked and you were standing right in front of him. Everything in his body told him to move. Maybe it was instinct from his past life, but he no longer had any power, or chakra. You placed your hand on his shoulder and he gasped at the surge then ran through his body. Ready to accept whatever fate was on the other side.
“Ni-san wake up!!”
The yell startled him awake, and he jolted upright in the bed, staring in confusion. The child jumping on the bed right next to him was shocking.
“Ni-san!! Come on, we're going to be late!”
The younger boy staring back at him didn’t make sense.
“Obito..”
There was no mistaking that dark hair, and those eager eyes. He couldn’t have been older than maybe fourteen. His smile was big, and he was practically glowing as he continued to tug on the sleeve of his shirt.
“Hurry up slowpoke!!”
Obito dashed off the bed and into the other room and all Madara could do was gape.
Nothing was making sense. Surely he should be boiling somewhere right now.
Staring down at his hand, he just sat there for a moment, trying to figure out what his next course of action was.
“You’re pretty slow for a smart guy.”
He flinched.
“Gyah!! W-Why the hell are you here!!” Madara demanded pointing at the woman.
You smiled as you moved off the wall.
“I’m here to watch over you. My job is to guard warrior souls. Especially the good ones.”
He thought it was a joke. Sure, he was a warrior, but good, that had to be a mistake.
He rose from the bed, a glare directed at you.
“I’m done playing your games, take me to where I have to go. I’m ready.”
“You’re already here.”
“Bullshit!!”
The yell made you fold your arms.
“What is it that has you so anxious, is it the fact that you’re powerless here, or that you think you don’t deserve happiness.”
He gritted his teeth, and when he crossed the space and shoved you to the wall, you barely blinked. He looked pissed.
“Take me to whatever afterlife you have in store for me!”
“This is your afterlife.”
Your calm words were unnerving. He was holding your shoulders pretty tight, and when you stepped forward, he was shocked when you kicked his feet right from under him. His body hit the mattress, and he just stared up as you pinned his arms. Once again, your eyes were those prominent slits.
“You may have been misguided, foolish, ruthless, but some part of you, it’s not as dark as everything else.”
You pressed your forefinger right on his chest, over his heart and his eyes shook as your gaze softened.
“Sometimes light is possible to see if you look hard enough.”
He wanted to believe it, question further, but he blinked and you were once again gone.
His fist tightened at his side as he stayed there, trying to process it all.
Two months, that’s how long he’d been there. When it became clear that there was nowhere to go, he decided that he needed to gather as much intel as he could.
His profession, a high school history teacher.
Obito, his younger brother.
Hashirama, Tobirama, Kakashi, Tsunade, Gai, Sarutobi, Minato, Kushina, and everyone in between, they were all here. Living modern day lives. There was no chakra, no wars, no blood.
Everything here was as he expected.
It was unnatural how nice it all felt. There was a part of him that was convinced that he was stuck in a genjutsu, at least that would make sense.
But it wasn’t.
He lived a casual mundane life in a house with his brother Obito and other Uchihas that resided close by. For the better part of his time here, he kept running himself in circles, waiting for that other shoe to drop, but it didn’t come.
Seated at the table in his living room, his eyes were trained on the bowl of soul in front of him. Obito had returned a while ago and crashed the second he’d been fed.
He hadn’t truly moved from the spot since then.
It was aggravating being played like a puppet.
His jaw clenched.
“I know you’re probably hovering around somewhere.”
He didn’t have to look around to recognize the footsteps of the person that walked up behind him.
“For the record, I don’t stay here looming around for you. It’s pretty arrogant to assume so.”
An irk mark popped on Madara’s head.
“You’re the one that keeps popping up in my place!!”
“Ah, progress, you’re calling it your place.”
He grumbled, leaning back in the chair.
“Why the hell are you doing this? What point are you trying to prove?”
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
“ENOUGH WITH THE GAMES!!”
He was fuming, and you just smiled, taking a seat.
“You’re the first.”
His brows furrowed, a glare still prominent on his face.
“The first?”
You nod.
“You’re the first to question why life is so nice. Usually the ones I meet thank me excessively and enjoy their time. But since you’ve gotten here you’ve just complained. It’s kind of annoying. You’re pretty ungrateful. “
“Don’t screw with me.” Madara threatened.
You just continue to smile.
“You’re also the first one to openly threaten me even though you know what I’m capable of.”
Madara’s expression had not evened out, and this time, your look is much more gentle.
“You were a product of war, had things been different, it’s clear your journey may have changed. You’re far from the perfect man. There were others who faced equally challenging paths and they still chose the right side. Your decisions might have been misguided, but if you were truly heartless, you would have abandoned that boy already.”
His eyes subconsciously moved to the door where Obito was sleeping, and you relaxed in your chair.
“Even now, you’re protective of him. All those years ago, you wanted to protect him, possibly save him. That’s why you’re so diligently looking after him now.”
You stood, and he could tell you were about to vanish again, so he jumped to his feet. You stopped, back turned to him.
“This place, I didn’t create it. You did. This is your desire made into reality. If you were truly this horrible person you’re trying to make yourself seem like, you would have wished for power, domination, but you’re here, living a simple life with all the people that you have encountered, respected, cared for. This is your eternal resting place. Even if you think it’s not something you deserve.”
Madara’s head lowered, and a smile tugged at your lips when you glanced over and saw the many droplets that fell at his feet.
“Enjoy your rest, Madara Uchiha.”
You vanished right before his eyes, and his shoulders shook as he stood there, letting the tears fall freely.
“Thank you..”
