Naruto :: Duty :: G :: no pairings
Title: Duty
Author: pen_x_pistol
Fandom: Naruto
Character: Madara Uchiha
Table: In the Dark
Prompt: 19. Last Night on Earth
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Word Count: 200
Notes: I knooow we have two completely different stories on just what Izuna meant to Madara, but let the record show that I like to believe Madara's side.
“I want to fight.”
Madara glanced up from his maps, not so much surprised as he was pained. It still hurt, sometimes, to look at Izuna, knowing he could only do so because of that sacrifice; his younger brother’s ever-trusting expression - never hurt, never grudging, never bitter - only served to make the feeling worse, but Madara never let it show. It would be ungrateful to Izuna and shameful to his own role.
“Impossible. This is a front-lines battle. We’re moving at sunrise to minimize casualties, but our unavoidable losses will be enough as it is. You won’t make a difference,” he added after a moment. As cold as it was, it was true, and he’d never been one to euphemize.
“…Nii-san. I haven’t been idle these last few months. I’ve been training.”
“Not for this one.”
“The forces are short-handed,” Izuna pressed. “I know this terrain better than anyone-”
“I won’t be there,” Madara interjected firmly. “I’m leading the third platoon east.”
“You won’t need to be.” Pausing, Izuna directed his blindfolded gaze aside. “…I’m not looking for permission. Just understanding.” He turned partway back, the curves of his eye sockets accentuated by the candlelight. “…You’d do the same, Nii-san.”
Author: pen_x_pistol
Fandom: Naruto
Character: Madara Uchiha
Table: In the Dark
Prompt: 19. Last Night on Earth
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Word Count: 200
Notes: I knooow we have two completely different stories on just what Izuna meant to Madara, but let the record show that I like to believe Madara's side.
“I want to fight.”
Madara glanced up from his maps, not so much surprised as he was pained. It still hurt, sometimes, to look at Izuna, knowing he could only do so because of that sacrifice; his younger brother’s ever-trusting expression - never hurt, never grudging, never bitter - only served to make the feeling worse, but Madara never let it show. It would be ungrateful to Izuna and shameful to his own role.
“Impossible. This is a front-lines battle. We’re moving at sunrise to minimize casualties, but our unavoidable losses will be enough as it is. You won’t make a difference,” he added after a moment. As cold as it was, it was true, and he’d never been one to euphemize.
“…Nii-san. I haven’t been idle these last few months. I’ve been training.”
“Not for this one.”
“The forces are short-handed,” Izuna pressed. “I know this terrain better than anyone-”
“I won’t be there,” Madara interjected firmly. “I’m leading the third platoon east.”
“You won’t need to be.” Pausing, Izuna directed his blindfolded gaze aside. “…I’m not looking for permission. Just understanding.” He turned partway back, the curves of his eye sockets accentuated by the candlelight. “…You’d do the same, Nii-san.”