''Madara-sama, Asami is here.'' I heard Keiji say outside my office. Asami.. Why was she here? To pity me? Or maybe to laugh at me? Should I even let her in? I didn't even know at whose side she was standing. Mine? Or Hashirama and Tobirama's? I guess I would find out now. ''Let her in.''

The door opened and the redhead peeked into my office, a small smile appearing on her face when she saw me. For some reason, I felt a bit reassured now. Asami closed the door and turned around to face me. ''Let's go.''

I frowned at her. ''Go where?''

Asami grinned and walked towards me, sitting on my desk once she reached it. ''You've been locking yourself in here, so I'm taking you to the ramen shop.'' she explained. ''Don't worry, I'm paying.''

She even offered to pay, so now I could hardly reject her offer, right? ''Fine.''

Not only I agreed because of the free food, but this was also a chance to see at whose side she was standing. I asked Keiji this question this morning, and he swore loyalty to me, so I knew I could trust him, I knew he wouldn't try to deceive me. But I couldn't ask Asami this question. She wouldn't be able to answer it. Asami has lived with the Senju for a while now, and her sister was going to marry one. The Senju may even mean more to her than I do, but she also knew how I felt. I doubted she would be able to choose a side.

''Uchiha-san? Are you okay?''

Snapped out of my thoughts, I looked at Asami, who was looking at me, concern visible on her face. I sighed and stood up. ''I'm fine, and I told you to call me Madara. There's no need to be so formal.'' I muttered.

Asami smiled and moved a bit so she was standing in front of me. ''You know you can tell me everything if something is bothering you, right?''

''I know.'' I mumbled. ''But nothing is bothering me.''

''Liar.''

''So you're living it in the Uzumaki compound now?'' Madara asked as we left the Uchiha compound. I nodded enthousiastly, but frowned when I saw amusement visible on her his face. ''What?'' I mumbled, already not liking that look.

Madara shrugged. ''Nothing.'' he muttered. ''It's just that you always try to satisfy others. Are you afraid they will be disappointed in you if you don't meet their expectations?''

I remembered some memories of my childhood. Mito was always the better one; she got more attention than me from our parents and she was respected. I became childish and did dumb and stupid things to get attention as well. My parents were dissapointed in me, even Mito sometimes. I understood them now, and I know it was all my fault. They weren't to blame. I never cared much about meaning something for my clan back then, while Mito did. Even though all that happened, I had a happy childhood. I had friends and family, I had my clan. Now all of those friends and family were gone. I only had Mito and a small part of the clan left.

But Madara was right. I didn't want people to me disappointed in me again. Even though I didn't desire any luxury like the people who have a higher rank in a clan did, I did want to be important. To my clan, to help people. This time, I was going to do it right.

''Asami?'' Madara's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

''Sorry, I was engrossed in my thoughts.'' I mumbled.

''I noticed.'' Madara muttered.

I took a quick glance at the Uchiha, and a small smile was played on my lips. He didn't look so annoyed anymore.

He lied to me when he said nothing was bothering him, but I had decided not to ask further. He probably didn't want to talk about it. I knew what was bothering him though. Who wouldn't know? Even though Hashirama was now Hokage, and they didn't have to share the leadership anymore, Madara was still very busy as a clan leader. He also was being stubborn. He was still pissed off about the fact that Hashirama became Hokage, just because the majority of the people in the village wanted him to become the leader of the village. Of course, everybody would be angry because of that, but Madara began to hold hatred for them. I thought he should just move on and prove that he was a fine leader himself.

When we finally arrived at the ramen shop, we both ordered something.

''About Keiji,'' I said. ''Has he already found that clan?''

Madara sighed and put his drink down. ''Not exactly..'' he muttered. ''But they captured a kid and a woman. They are being questioned now.''

I nodded and thanked the shop owner once he put a bowl with ramen in front of me.

Madara and I ate our food in silence, neither of us saying something. When I came to his house, when I opened the door to his office, the way he looked at me. I didn't like that look. It was a look of betrayal, and even though that looked disappeared a few seconds later, it still bothered me. Was it me, or was he looking like that already before I came? Madara was having a hard time now, but tha didn't mean he should isolate himself, locking himself up in his office. He also went to Naka Shrine sometimes. I didn't know what he would do there, but I didn't like it.

I put the chopsticks down once the bowl was empty and secretly glanced at Madara, hoping he wouldn't notice it. I was worried about him. He is someone who would try to carry everything by himself, and I don't want him to do that! I want him to rely on me, I want him to let me help him. To accompany him whenever he feels alone, to make him feel better when he feels down. I just wanted to be there for him, but I couldn't if he wouldn't let me. I cared so much about him, yet he never noticed. He still thought he didn't need others, and could do everything by himself. I didn't know if things were better this way. Maybe it was. If Madara were to notice how I felt about him, I doubted he would return those feelings.

''Asami?''

''Huh?'' I glanced at Madara, who was looking at me, a confused expression on his face.

''Why are you crying?''

I brought my hand to my face, my fingertips touching my cheek. I was crying? I wiped the tears with the sleeves of my kimono and managed to smile. ''Something came in my eye.'' I whispered.

Madara huffed and took a sip from his drink. ''Who's the liar now?''

''Asami? Is that you?''

That voice..

I looked over my shoulder and my eyes widened once I saw him. A stupid grin across his face. He sure had changed. He was more matured now, yet he still had that childish grin. How many years had it been? 5? 6?

''I knew it was you.'' Mitsuru said as he walked towards Madara and me.

I glanced at Madara when he put his drink down, a bit too forcefully. ''Who's that?'' he grumbled.

Mitsuru wavered a bit under Madara's glare, but it didn't stop him from walking to my side.

''Mitsuru, this is Madara. He's the leader of the Uchiha clan.'' I introduced Madara to him. ''And Madara, this is Katsuro Mitsuru,''

Madara frowned at me.

''He's my deceased best friend's brother.''