IZUNA

32

"Kneel."

Tajima had known that Izuna took after her mother. His late wife was the most noble and kind of them all. And yet, within her very soul hid a darkness—a true ruthlessness beyond compare.

Izuna was the same.

He hadn't seen it before. Traces, maybe. But nothing like the cruelty of his wife's wrath.

And now his daughter had revealed her hidden ambition in the form of rebellion.

Would he make a traitor of his daughter?

Would he denounce her coup d'état?

Tajima had to make a choice.

And the choice was easy.

Maybe Kanata had been right.

Maybe he loved his daughter too much.

In the end, it didn't matter.

Kanata was dead.

(An Uchiha loves. An Uchiha hates. They obsess.)

Uchiha Tajima surrendered his power.

He fell to his knees and knelt.

::

"Izuna-hime! Have you lost your mind?"

Izuna tilted her head with an impassive expression.

"Do... I look insane?" She asked slowly.

"I—-no! That's, not, I mean—-I didn't mean that!"

I̸z̸u̸n̸a̸ Izanami stood.

Silence fell over the room.

"The Uchiha will make peace with the Senju." She reiterated.

"But—-" Saito said helplessly, then turned to Tajima for support. "Tajima-sama! Why are you letting—-"

Izuna stepped towards the elder, the wooden floor splintering beneath her with every step.

"Why are you speaking to my father?" She asked, languidly reaching for the elder's face. "I am head of the Uchiha clan. You dare commit treason before my very eyes?"

Saito scrambled backwards.

"T-treason?! But I didn't—-"

As she thought.

Humans really were annoying.

Yes. That's the word. Annoying.

"You can't do this, Izuna-hime! We won't stand for—-"

"How annoying." Izuna pulled her fingers through her hair. "You're giving me a headache."

"W—w—wha—-?"

Her head throbbed. His voice—his disobedience—irritated her more than anything had ever before. It felt worse than screeching metal.

The impudence infuriated her.

"Madara." She swatted at Saito dismissively. "Make him shut up."

He hesitated.

Annoyance flashed through her eyes.

"Fine." She sneered. "I'll do it myself."

With a flick of her wrist, Saito's head rolled across the floor.

Madara's eyes widened as blood sprayed across his cheek.

Izuna was—-

She was smiling.