Book One: The Rise of the Blue-Haired Devil.

      In the doorway stood a fair-skinned young man with pointed, blue-black hair tied back in a low ponytail. Fringes diverged down the centre of his face, framing it. He wore a blue high collar shirt with the Uchiha clan emblem embroidered on the back and blue trousers with bandages wrapped around the ends. The guy looked at Madara with an interested, yet accusing look.       - You know the rules. So why are you breaking them? - The Uchiha asked the question, looking straight into the eyes of the head of the great clan. His voice was calm. It didn't express accusation or anything like that. A single question, but asked with a look that would make your soul go to your heels. For about a minute, the two brothers played a staring game. During that time, no one dared make a sound. We just froze like statues, waiting for the end of this silent duel. This minute took forever for us - two people with the same chakra pressure were facing each other. Well, or practically the same.       - Okay, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I just don't like being rejected. - Madara said at the end of the glare, putting his hands up in a gesture of reconciliation. He smiled slightly, admitting his defeat and immediately releasing all the pressurised atmosphere.       - My name is Izuna Uchiha. Let's get acquainted. - The stranger we were expecting introduced himself.       - My name is Yumiko Yuki. This is Mito Uzumaki. And this shy one's name is Michiko Yuki. -Riko's daughter said in an instant.       - Michiko Yuki? - Izuna interjected with surprise, raising an eyebrow. A multitude of emotions ran across his face. He shifted his gaze to me, studying my appearance, before looking into my eyes as if he was searching for an answer to a dumb question.       - It's been a long time, Izuna. - I said, stretching out each word. I extended my hand for a handshake. His face hardened, yet I could see a fraction of joy and admiration in his eyes.       - I am eager to hear your story, my old friend. - He said, shaking the outstretched hand.       Time stood still at that moment. I looked into his eyes, and he into mine. He still didn't understand how I survived, but I could see he was very much interested.       - Brother, how do you know this kid? - A frowning Madara asked with a drop of interest in his gaze.       - Calm down, brother. Let's eat first and then you'll know everything first hand. Our guests have come after a long journey and the demonic fox attack should not be forgotten. - Izuna replied calmly.       After this strange conversation we sat down at the table in silence, starting to eat the food that had been brought out from the next room. Admittedly, the Uchiha hadn't skimped on the table setting at all. There was food for every taste and colour. You want to eat meat? Hold the pork and chicken roasted earlier on the charcoal grill. Do you like fish? In the centre of the table sat a platter of several varieties of fish. Well, if that doesn't suit you, there were plates of fruit and vegetables and a few salads on the edges of the table. The table was not set for mere mortals, but for some kings. The meal was completely silent, but occasionally I caught Madara's glance of impatience. After ten minutes, I was as full as the Uchiha clan leader. Izuna and the girls ate slowly, savouring every bite of food, while we just swallowed like wild animals. Don't get me wrong, but I couldn't remain calm around this man. His aura was stressing every cell in my body, all my instincts were screaming danger, which spoke volumes. I played peek-a-boo with Madara for about ten minutes before the others finished their meal.       - Tell me, Michiko, how you managed to survive. - Izuna said, breaking the tense silence.       - After you took me to the arena, I began to train. I was taken as an apprentice..." I began my long story. Everyone was listening to me attentively. Surprisingly, even Mito didn't say anything the whole time. Apparently, she wasn't as stupid as I thought she was. Fully realised the situation we're in now.       - ...and I woke up in your clan. - I finished the story, which took a decent amount of time.       - Hm..." Madara made an incomprehensible sound. It was very hard to tell what it meant in this situation. There was too much emotion invested in the action. Of course, I'm not a fool and kept silent about most of my genome's techniques - I didn't trust Madara, he's too strong. I don't know if he's stronger than Kyubey or not, but the fact that he's smaller than a huge monster remains a fact. And that, in turn, said that the Uchiha was simply more agile and faster than this creature. Yes, he probably won't be able to kill a fox demon, but he can hold off or fight a demon that's definitely a great ninja. That's the conclusion I drew from the rumours about him and from what I saw today. I only need to see this man's aura to realise - his strength stands one or even two orders of magnitude higher than mine. The chances of my survival in a battle with him are equal to zero. It's not even worth thinking about. Maybe with the activated seal I would have a chance of survival, but it's not worth even trying.       - Now I see what you see in that boy. - Madara said thoughtfully, getting up from his chair. - It's getting late. I'll be going now. - He added, taking the jug of sake he had been pouring into a shot glass. We all looked at the legendary shinobi until he left the room.       - Beware of him. He's more dangerous than he looks at first glance. - came an enchanting voice from the depths of my mind.       - How much more dangerous? - I mentally objected, looking at the door behind which the Uchiha had disappeared.       - Mark my words. Unless you can activate the third stage of the cold aura (body enhancement), you'll be smeared against the wall from a single blow from him. He's too strong. Be careful. - Morgana warned me in a serious voice.       - I hear you. Thank you. - I thanked her. So I was wrong about Madara. The power difference is so great that I just can't feel it. I don't know what his limits are, but at this point, he's not to be feared. I've done nothing to him. And I want to believe that Izuna will have my back. He's on the side of justice after all. I could tell from the look in his eyes and his conversation with Madara. He's not afraid of his brother. Respects him? Yes. But most importantly, he's not afraid. He doesn't have an ounce of fear, which means he's confident in his strength and capabilities, which makes you wonder how strong he is.       - You'll forgive my brother. The war has affected him greatly. He has lost too much to be a kind and joyful person. - Izuna spoke suddenly. His eyes were filled with sorrow, sadness, grief and longing. I approached him and put my hand on his shoulder as a sign of sympathy, but this ninja simply did not react to this gesture, continuing to speak. - We are tired of fighting and want only one thing, peace in which our brothers will not die. That is why we must defeat the Senju clan. - He interrupted, letting a single stingy tear fall.       - Why don't you just make peace between the two greatest clans? Why should only one survive? - I asked, already knowing the answer to the question. Izuna raised a hard look at me.       - Too many brothers and sisters had been killed by their hands. Even if we had the honour to forgive them for all this, our rivalry would have escalated to the level of politics in a power struggle in the not too distant future. Either way, one of the two clans would be forced to bend the knee to the other. - he explained to me with a withering look.       - I don't see any problem with that. - I stated calmly, pulling a chair over to the Uchiha, looking at Izuna with a confident gaze.       - What?" he asked with confusion in his voice.       - You're thinking like an Uchiha now, not a politician. Your reasoning makes sense, but it can be resolved peacefully. - I answered his question cautiously. The Uchiha stared at me for a few seconds as if I were insane.       - You're thinking like an Uchiha now, not a politician. Your reasoning makes sense, but it can be resolved peacefully. -       -I answered his question cautiously. The Uchiha stared at me for a few seconds like I was insane.       - What do you mean? - He asked more seriously, realising that I had some kind of plan.       - You look at everything through a mirror, where you, your brother and your clan are. But what if you look at it all from a different perspective? The Senju clan, for example. They've fought for power, resources, and respect just like you, but do you seriously think they want to continue? No, no, they're in the same position as you. Severely weakened after many battles, but not broken, while naively continuing to believe in their victory. I believe that if one of your clans falls, the other will be so weakened that the other clans will destroy it. I don't argue, you and your brother are very strong, but that doesn't change the balance of the case. The other clans may tremble under the majesty of Hashirama and Madara, but they are mortal, and sooner or later they will die. And if we take your words about one clan destroying the other clan, then only one of them will remain, it suggests that one clan will lead the Fire Nation until the Great Shinobi God passes away, after which there will be a real turmoil that will lead to very bad times. Yes, there is a small chance that the Shinobi God will have a good successor, but it is very small. - I paused my judgement, turning my attention to my interlocutor, who, eyes wide with shock, was digesting the information. For a few minutes there was a sepulchral silence. Everyone realised the meaning of what I had said.       - What do you suggest? - With concern in his voice asked Izuna, who was the first to move away from the surprise. His voice was filled with understanding and fear... Fear of the inexorably impending future, as if he had now been exposed to what was happening.       - Your clans may be weakened now, but your alliance will strengthen your position in the political arena of the Fire Nation, which in turn will give time for both clans to rebuild their numbers. I don't see any problem with an alliance. You just need to make one or more political marriages, which will bring you closer together, whether you want it or not. - I finished my train of thought and then got up from my seat. - Think about what I said. And I need a rest. - I added, leaving the hall and going to the bedroom.