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

      Reaching our room, I turned around abruptly, starting to walk off in the opposite direction while Byakuren tried to open the room door.       - Where are you going? - Yumi asked, noticing my actions. Her eyebrows drew together, showing incomprehension. She was clearly displeased.       - I'm going to the shop. I need to buy supplies for the road. - I answered her, however I was taken under her arm, intending to come with me. Yumiko was very insistent, and most importantly, she spoke then very seriously, warning me of the consequences of going anywhere without her.       - Yumiko, I'm going to need your help with the paperwork. - The mizukage spoke sharply after seeing this picture.       - But...- the blonde wanted to object to something, but she was interrupted.       - No buts. I need your help with your knowledge of medical ninjutsu, and let Mie get some air. He needs to think about everything that was said at the kage council. He might even be able to find pitfalls that even I didn't notice. - Byakuren interrupted his defenders. Yumi reluctantly pulled away from my arm, walking slowly and gracefully into the room. Before she entered the room, she gave me a murderous look that gave me goosebumps. She was clearly hinting at something to me, but what it was... that's another question. Hozuki calmly walked towards me and then said a few words in my ear.       - Deal with the one who's following you. He's already giving me a lot of trouble. If you have to, kill him and dispose of the body. - He whispered in a rather commanding voice, and then, throwing an understanding look at me, followed Yumiko into the room. I walked out of the hotel with a pensive expression on my face. In fact, the ninja that's following me probably just wants to talk. Naturally, he wants to do it in private, however, I want to eat before I start a dialogue with the unknown, so I quickly went to the nearest diner, where I took a table for two, ordering for myself and a guest, who, to my surprise, appeared the moment the waiter moved away from my table. I would like to note that I felt the presence of this person only on an instinctive level, but there were a lot of chakra around me, so I could not identify my stalker among them. Still, there are a lot of people in the Land of Iron who can use chakra, but the unknown person's chakra literally appeared out of nowhere in front of me.       - Well, hello there, Mi... It's been a long time. - Izuna spoke in his usual voice. His appearance was unexpected and even confused me. A strange pattern flashed in his eyes, tensing every cell in my body. It was already an unusual sharingan. Even though I couldn't see the exact pattern, I didn't see any commas in my friend's dojutsu.       - Izuna? What are you doing here? And what kind of technique is that? - I blurted it out in one breath. I was so full of curiosity.       - Did you expect to see someone else? I came to see you. And what kind of technique it was, I can't tell you. - The Uchiha smiled happily, extending his hand to me in greeting.       - Well, you literally came out of nowhere. I didn't expect you to be the one following me. - I replied with the same happy smile, shaking his outstretched hand.       - Did you feel my presence all this time? - Izuna clarified with surprise, raising an eyebrow.       - Yes, but it was more of an instinct related to my survival trait. I didn't feel your chakra. - I clarified, waving my hands in different directions, showing that I didn't fully understand how it was happening.       - Interesting, and I thought that my technique is perfect. - The Uchiha said thoughtfully, looking at the dishes he'd brought. We practically stopped having dialogue as we began to eat. I watched as Izuna literally devoured all the food that was brought to us. He was clearly very hungry. Except I didn't understand the reason for his hunger. It's not like... that technique wastes a huge amount of chakra. It's not surprising, though. It's a top-ranked cloaking jutsu, because no one in the village noticed the intruder, otherwise they would have raised an alarm. We ate for about half an hour, or rather Izuna did, as I finished my meal in about fifteen minutes. When he had finished his meal, we paid for the delicious meal and walked slowly towards the exit of the village. On the way we talked about everything in the world. But it was worth noting that the Uchiha clearly had some important conversation for me. He'd come to visit me, but also for some other purpose that was bothering me a lot at the moment.       An hour later we were at the edge of the forest. Izuna sat down tiredly on one of the stumps, which had obviously long since ceased to be a tree. I sat across from him in a similar chair. The Uchiha's face changed as he began to gather his thoughts. We sat in silence for about a minute. I didn't rush Izuna, because I could see that he was struggling with two opposing feelings, but I didn't understand what kind of struggle it was.       - Mie, you're a great guy, but your chakra... he started, but hesitated, trying to find the words. - It's different... It used to be just like everyone else's... warm and warming to the soul, but now it's icy and cold. It reeks of darkness and frightening power. What have you done to yourself, Mi? - The Uchiha asked with worry in his voice. In his gaze, I could read his concern for me. I felt warm, but that feeling quickly faded into the background.       - I did everything I could to survive in this world. I may not be human anymore, but that's the price I paid for the power to keep me out of the world of the dead. - I spoke in a calm voice, trying to choose every word without saying too much. To be honest, I didn't know how my friend would react to my words, but I was already mentally preparing myself for the worst. I was prepared for this person to think I was a monster and walk away from me. That would be a pretty normal reaction for any man to my words. Well, or he wouldn't have believed me, but Izuna already knew and understood me well, even if we hadn't spoken much lately, mostly through pigeon mail, but that didn't change the fact that we'd been friends once.       - Yeah, the sharingan wielder said, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He hadn't expected me to say that. - Is there no way to fix it? - He looked me in the eye. It was a question I had thought about before, but I had given myself a simple countdown, so I couldn't answer the simple question, "Why would I want to do that?". The simple and quite logical question clarified the situation then, however, I still slightly studied my peculiarity related to the White Serpent skin on my back. Even from my first observation, it was clear to me that after such an integration of the Snake Sage's skin into my flesh, I would clearly not get rid of it without repercussions. Perhaps if I had performed such an operation, I would have done everything more jeweller than the snakes from Ryuchi's cave, but the latter had no hands and the very fact that they managed to perform such a difficult operation at a good level, spoke of their extraordinary skills in medicine. I did not ask myself this question until a year later, when things were a little less busy. Time had passed and my body had assimilated the White Serpent's skin, albeit not completely. Morgana had warned me in general that if I tried to do this, there was a chance that I wouldn't be able to use chakra at all. My body had already become too accustomed to Sage chakra. The Sage's snake regime hadn't fallen off my body for two years now, which spoke volumes about my dependence on him. I was dependent on him not in terms of strength, but in terms of existence. My body was too used to the capabilities of the new kind of chakra, and yes, the seal was filled with that chakra. I was afraid to use my normal chakra at all. It could lead to unknown consequences that neither I nor Morgana could foresee. The risk was not justified, and even in this mode, I was constantly ready for battle, sensing any danger with my sixth sense.       - I don't think that's possible. - I answered the question. It was impossible to completely deny the possibility of my healing. There were still some slim chances, but they were based on something special... like the first hokage's blood, which was infused with life energy.       - Eh... Izuna exhaled disappointedly. He didn't like the prospect of me becoming a monster. - I sympathise with you, but there's one more thing I have to tell you. - The Uchiha added, becoming very serious and collected. I could tell by the look in his eyes how serious the problem he had come to me with was. - You are in a serious quarrel with my brother. I understand your actions were for a good cause, but I also understand his concern for my life. Madara is no ordinary warrior. He's a dancer. He likes to circle around his enemy when his blood is boiling. He loves the fervour of battle, but that feeling can only be achieved when fighting an equal opponent, otherwise it's boring. In his childhood, he had opponents who outclassed him in strength, but their numbers dwindled with each passing year until they were zero, and his current number of opponents was one ninja. Unfortunately, Madara had fought him so many times that he had already learnt all of his techniques by heart, causing him to become bored again. I want to help the conflict between you two, so I convinced my brother to compromise. - Izuna paused his monologue, watching my reaction. Most of what he said didn't bother me, but something inside me squeezed at his pause and at the word "compromise". My gut was screaming that it was going to be very hard, but I nodded nonetheless, showing Izuna with that gesture that I was willing to listen to the end. - If you can dance with Madara and entertain him... the Uchiha continued, but I didn't listen to him, because I knew what he was talking about. Just think about what kind of "compromise" I'm being offered? Just to come and let them beat me up. Yes, I've definitely become stronger, but I still don't think it's enough to defeat Madara. Even if I take it as an incredible fact that I can match the God shinobi in taijutsu, ninjutsu, and maybe even genjutsu, it doesn't give me the ability to defeat him here and now. Eyes... dojutsu... the power of his eyes is beyond my comprehension... It's just one deciding factor in a battle. I need time to become stronger. Then maybe I'll have some small chance to win.       - Four years from now, I'll be ready to fight him. - I interrupted Izuna's flow of words, who, apparently watching my facial expressions, thought I'd refuse, but like hell I'd refuse the opportunity to fight the potentially strongest man in the world right now, especially if I could benefit from it. With a nod to his thoughts, the Uchiha bid me farewell, claiming to make a deal with his brother about it...