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Izuna's a tiny little thing and Madara marvels at how something so small will eventually be a full human. He thinks his newest little brother is pretty awesome though and can't wait for him to grow a personality of his own.
He's going to train him up and be his best friend.
"I'm always going to look out for you," he whispers and presses a kiss against his forehead.
Izuna sleeps on.
Izuna's four year's old when he stumbles and scrapes his knee.
Tears well in his dark eyes but before they can stream down his cheeks, Madara is there to pick him up. He wipes Izuna's eyes and tells him he's ok, that pain is just part of being a shinobi and Izuna want's to be a shinobi too right?
Izuna does so he nods and sniffles, trying to stop from crying. Madara kisses him on the forehead.
Izuna smiles contently.
It's the night before his first solo mission and Izuna is nervous.
He's been away from the compound a few times with father and Madara but this is different. It's a big step and he's a little afraid. He adjusts everything he's taking with him one more time before packing it all away.
"All set?" Madara asks from his doorway and Izuna nods.
"I'm as ready as I can be," he says and he hates how nevous he sounds even to himself.
"Hey," Madara says, walking in to stand next to him. He pulls Izuna into a hug and leans down to kiss his forehead. "You're going to be amazing."
It eases something inside of him, relaxing his nerves and soothing his anxiety.
Izuna's mission is a success.
They clash with the Senju at the river and Izuna worries all the way home. He doesn't want his brother to hate him for telling father. He knew Madara shouldn't be there and he hates that he had to tell on him but….it was dangerous!
The very fact that the other Senju were there is proof enough.
At the gates, Tajima leaves them and Izuna fidgets with the hem of his shirt. He's a shinobi, he shouldn't be nervous, much less show it so openly.
"Izuna," Madara says and Izuna looks up and bites his lip preparing for the worst. Instead, Madara pulls him into the usual hug and kisses his forehead before walking away.
It's a silent promise between the two of them. They're not ok, but they will be, they just need time.
Izuna holds on to that promise.
That bastard Tobirama managed to land a blow to Izuna's face and it hurts.
He's pissy and annoyed about it and worst of all he's going to have a black eye for foreseeable further. It's annoying and Madara and father are the worst about it.
"Oh Baby Cat, look at you," Madara says with a chuckle, tipping his head back to look at his eye properly. "I think you're going to live."
"You wouldn't think so from how he's going on about it," Tajima shares and they both laugh at him.
They're not really laughing at him and he knows they are both relieved that a black eye is all he came out of that battle with. It's still mildly annoying of them. Moving his head out of Madara's grasp, he shoves the piece of meat back against his eye to sooth the pain.
"I hate you both," he hisses and closes his eyes to stave off his headache.
"You'll get him next time," Madara says and Izuna feels his lips against his forehead in a gesture of comfort.
Izuna agrees, next time he'll beat him.
Fire licks at the funeral pyre.
Izuna's eyes burn with rage, grief, and pain like nothing he's ever felt before. His sharingan spins and blood spills down his cheeks. Next to him Madara is in a matching state of grief.
They watch together as the flames take over father's body, returning him to ash and dust, returning him to the Uchiha flame that burns inside each of them. They stand there until the fire burns out, until there is nothing left.
Madara's arms pull Izuna into a hug, his lips brush his forehead and Izuna's fingers grip his shirt as he cries.
Tomorrow there will be work to do as their roles in the clan change. Tonight they mourn in peace.
Izuna takes refuge in their embrace.
"Come spring we'll have to retaliate," Izuna sighs and runs a hand through his hair.
He's tired, cold, and has had a cold for the better part of two weeks now. The last thing he needs or wants is to be up and out of bed but there is little choice. Three of their clan have been killed by a group of Senju. It's unknown which party provoked who first, but it's a loss that can't go unanswered.
Beside him Madara nods in agreement.
The winters been hard on the clan and Izuna wants to avoid a winter battle if they can. He shivers and draws his coat tighter around his frame. That seems to get his brother's attention and Madara looks at him sympathetically.
"Go rest Baby Cat," he tells him and it's his turn to nod in agreement.
When he leans in to kiss Izuna's forehead, Izuna frowns.
"You shouldn't do that," he huffs. "We don't need our clan head getting sick too."
"I won't get sick," Madara chuckles and kisses his forehead one more time, presumably for good measure. "Go, rest."
Izuna doesn't argue.
Izuna's form lays out dressed in white.
Madara's heart aches with the loss of his brother. Even with his eyes a part of him now, Madara still feels lost without Izuna. He remembers his promise, made all those years ago, and it seems so pointless and dumb but he's sharingan and sharingan never forgets anything.
"I failed," he whispers softly and leans over Izuna, his lips brush his forehead. It's cold and a few tears drop from his eyes. "I'm sorry Izuna, I won't fail again."
Nothing but silence greets his words.