Back in her room, Akira sat outside by the hallway, leaning against a pillar with an arm across her bent leg as she stared off into the distance, lost in thought.

She knew that she should be out training with her brothers, lest their father found out and gave all of them hell for it again. For it didn't matter to Tajima on who he punished as long as it meant the rest learnt their lesson as well.

Tajima believed in caring for his children with an iron fist. Akira would love nothing more than to ask him to take said fist and shove it up his backside. For what good was an iron fist when it meant that his children would grow up without an ounce of respect for the man they had to call their father?

Akira let out a tired sigh, bringing a hand to nurse her head that had begun to ache with an incoming headache just as a knock sounded on her door.

She desperately wanted to ignore it and pretend she wasn't here as she simply wasn't in the mood to be talking to or entertain anyone at the moment.

"I know you're in there imouto," her elder brother's voice called out as Akira perked up slightly. "You can let yourself in, aniki." she called out.

It wasn't long before her room door slid open, revealing her beloved elder brother, who was dressed in his training attire which comprised of a loose-fitting yukata and pants. His wild mane had been tied into a low ponytail, most likely to make it easier to move around in as Akira filed a random thought in her head to be wary of her brother's future fangirls.

"Kira," her brother greeted, coming down to sit next to her as his hand shot out, ruffling her hair as she tried to swat away his hand.

"Mada-nii! You know I hate it when you do that," Akira whined as Madara chuckled, enjoying teasing his little sister as Akira only sent an angry huff his way.

"And you know I don't like you skipping out on training," Madara shot back as Akira's eyes narrowed, understanding why he had come to see her now.

Akira let out a huff as she pointedly ignored her elder brother, turning away from him to continue staring out into their backyard as she heard her brother let out a sigh. "I'm not here to give you a lecture Kira," Madara soothed as Kira gave him the side eye, raising an eyebrow as if asking him for confirmation as he nodded and gave her a cheeky grin.

"I asked Izuna to cover for us," Madara chuckled as Kira let out a giggle, already imagining the sour look on her older brother's face. "In exchange for the two of us taking care of house chores for the rest of the week." Madara finished as Kira's grin fell as she let out a groan and flopped back on the veranda.

"Ughhhh, but that means we'll be taking care of the laundry. And have you seen the amount of clothes that need to be washed?" Akira complained as she stared upwards at the ceiling, making a point to never skip training again if it was only going to result in Madara making absurd deals for them.

Madara let out a shrug and a soft smile as he watched his lazy younger sister.

After losing his two of his siblings when they were still children, Madara swore to do everything in his power to protect Akira and Izuna, no matter the cost. They were the most important and precious people in his life, and he'd do anything to make sure they live out their lives for as long as he had breath in him.

However, Madara loved Akira just that little more as she was the younger sister him and Izuna had always been pestering his mother for. Growing up with four younger brothers had the eldest Uchiha child wishing for a sister of his own – someone he could spoil and shower unconditional love upon.

This didn't mean that he loved Izuna any less, however. But Kira would be the one Madara constantly snuck sweets to when she was still a child; whom Madara would tuck into bed and read her bedtime stories for as long as she wanted. Akira would never know truly, just how much her eldest brother loved her.

As Madara was lost in thought, Akira suddenly sat up, eyes widening a fraction as she quickly stood and headed into her room to grab something before heading towards the door.

"Sorry Mada-nii! I just remembered that father asked me to run an errand for him today! I'll be back sometime this evening!" she shouted as she practically ran out the door.

Madara's eyebrows furrowed slightly at the obvious lie spewing from his sister's lips as he also stood, making sure to hide his chakra well before following in her footsteps.

He had a hunch as to where she was going, of course he would, seeing as it has been a few years now. However, he had always let her, knowing that if she really wanted to tell him, she would. He'd usually let her off, not stopping her as long as she returned home unharmed, but strangely, he had a very bad feeling about today, as something in his head whispered at him to follow her and keep her safe.

So Madara did just that.

*flashback*

"Ne, Tobi-kun?" Akira called out her friend's nickname which she had come up with a couple of years after they began secretly meeting each other by the stream near the compound.

Tobirama was busy with his kunai practice, stopping for a moment with the kunai he was about to throw still in his hand as he turned to regard his friend. His crimson eyes held a hint of frustration in them as no matter what he did, he just couldn't seem to land his kunais in the center of the tree. Most simply flew out of bounds or wouldn't even latch on to the tree.

"What is it, Kira-chan?"

Akira stood from where she had been sitting, with her feet dipped in the stream's cool waters as she stepped towards her friend and picked up one of the spare kunais lying around their feet.

"You're angling your hand very awkwardly," Akira commented as she faced the tree Tobirama had been using as a target, calculating the distance and power she'd need to use before deftly flicking her hand in that direction, the kunai swiftly landing in the center of the tree moments later.

Tobirama openly gaped at the display of skill for a moment before quickly turning towards Akira, who stood there calmly with her hand still held out in the direction she had thrown the kunai in.

"Instead of snapping your wrist straight, you have a tendency to twist your arm, which in turn, throws off your wrist, making you snap your wrist in a curving motion." Akira gestured as she picked up another kunai before approaching Tobirama and placing it in his open palm.

"So instead of this..."

Akira gently took hold of Tobirama's hand, stepping into his personal space as Tobirama tensed, not used to the close proximity as he desperately tried to concentrate on what his friend was saying.

However, it was proving to be useless as with her so close, the distracting, earthy smell of wet rain upon grass invading his senses as he stared down at her, watching as her long lashes fluttered against the wind and her tiny, pink lips moving as she continued her explanation to him.

As much as Tobirama hated the Uchiha, he had to begrudgingly admit that the clan had been blessed with good looks.

It really was a huge shame that most, if not all of them, had huge sticks up their asses. Or at least, that was what his kaa-san constantly told him and his brother.

It was a sentiment Tobirama would come to understand in the near future.

"-bi. Tobi! TOBI!!!" a shout snapped him out of his thoughts as his eyes shot to meet slightly annoyed obsidian ones, Akira's lips pulled into a pout. "Were you even listening?" she grumbled as Tobirama let out a nod.

"Yeah, of course I was."

"Show me then." Akira remarked as she took a step back, her eyes still judging him as she crossed her arms, waiting for him to prove her wrong.

Slightly bent wrist, straight arm...

Tobirama stared at his target sharply as he released the kunai, dead confident in his throw as he watched it whiz towards the target.

Only for it to bounce harmlessly off the wooden board as Tobirama stared at it with a deadpan expression whilst a loud sigh was heard from beside him.

"....your stance, Tobi-kun. Stance. Your legs are too wide apart." Akira facepalmed as Tobirama let out a tiny huff.

"Don't stand so close to me next time then." Tobirama mumbled as Akira raised a brow.

"What was that?"

"N-nothing! Could you show me again?"

*end of flashback*

Tobirama recalled that bit of memory fondly as he waited near the lake where the two would usually meet, keeping his guard up in case anyone happened to be near.

He stood as he felt her familiar chakra presence approaching, letting down his guard slightly as she made her appearance, a soft smile playing on her lips as she caught her eyes with his.

"Sorry if I made you wait Tobi," she apologized as Tobirama shook his head, closing the distance between them and stood before her as he peered down at her slightly shorter stature.

"I just arrived myself. What did you want to practice on today?" Tobirama inquired as Akira gave him a cheeky grin, to which Tobirama could only grimace as he prepared himself for whatever absurd training she had planned for them.