Chapter 21: Alaska.
1852 North America, Alaska
The few months were the same.
Madara traveled, Nara trained in shinobi ways that could be useful for her in the future when she wouldn't want to reveal her identity as a werewolf unless necessary.
And the few months bore fruit — her skills were good enough, not mastered, but something between skillful and not.
Basically half-baked mastery. She was not experienced with it in combat, but she had experience using it against Madara — though that was not a life-or-death situation where it would be purely about experience and mastery.
They traveled to North America, to Alaska, and as they traveled, Nara picked up a strange scent.
Cold, sweet, but not acrid like others.
Madara walked beside her in his usual silence, his pace slow but swift at the same time. They had traveled north for days, deeper into territory unspoiled by human settlement, where the sun was low and barely rose again.
Nara paused, crouching near a half-frozen stream. Her fingers brushed the snow lightly. "They passed through here," she said, sniffing the air. "Three. Maybe four. And not human."
"Good," Madara replied. "You're learning."
She stood again, adjusting the backpack on her back. Her face changed subtly over the next months.
Sharper features, vibrant skin, while her brown hair was a mess of windswept waves. Only the eyepatch remained.
They moved on.
By half a day, they found the clearing.
It was a wide open stretch of white, surrounded by towering spruce trees, coated in ice. In the center stood a medium-sized wooden cabin, its windows frosted and smoke rising faintly from the chimney.
Nara sniffed again.
"Don't strike unless they do first," Madara said. "These are not like others. They abstain."
"From blood?"
"From humans."
Nara's brow furrowed. "Why?"
"You can ask them."
The front door creaked open before they reached it.
Out stepped a woman with golden hair that shimmered like sunlight on snow, her eyes — unlike the red of vampires Nara fought — were a warm amber set into a calm but alert face. She wore a long cloak lined with fur, her hands bare despite the cold, as if the cold did not affect them.
She looked at Nara with interest and caution, then at Madara, and she tensed slightly. As vampires, they knew...
Predator when they saw one.
But she remained calm and said softly, "Welcome both of you to our... humble home."
Madara was straight to the point, as usual. "We're passing through... though it's polite to announce ourselves."
"You're far from passing," another voice called out as a second figure joined her. He was tall and lean, with black hair and the same amber eyes. His presence wasn't threatening, just observant.
the woman said, looking at Madara. "I'm Tanya. This is Eleazar. We're the Denali coven."
Nara blinked. "I've heard about you. From...Someone(Isara) briefly. She said you are old vampires and you don't drink human blood."
Tanya's smile was thin but kind. "We survive on animal blood. Not easy, but better. We try to live with respect."
Eleazar's gaze lingered on Nara. "She's different."
"She is," Madara said. "Half-blood. Born human, changed, and not turned."
Madara had no reason not to tell them nor fear them if they knew about this. After all... he is Madara Uchiha.
Tanya stepped forward again. "And you brought her here... why?"
"Training. Testing." Madara paused. "And perhaps... peace, but highly unlikely."
Nara folded her arms, not entirely at ease. "You don't seem surprised."
"We've seen strange things in our time," she said while looking at Madara with a curious glance, then at Nara. "But you..." She looked at Nara more closely. "You carry a lot of weight in your blood. Some magic... maybe from witches and wolves."
"Werewolves," Nara corrected.
"No," Eleazar said. "Not quite. Something more... deliberate."
"Hybrid," Madara said. "By design."
There was a long silence between them, the wind whispering through the trees.
Finally, Tanya stepped aside and gestured toward the cabin.
"Come in... to talk. If you're seeking peace, it's rude to leave someone standing in the cold."
Inside the cabin, it was warm and gentle but unfamiliar.
A fire crackled quietly in the hearth, casting flickering shadows on the wooden walls.
The space was simple.
Animal hides, a table, chairs, and shelves lined with old books and some old collections. Nothing extravagant but comforting.
Garret and Carmen were already seated at the table, and the two others of the Denali had been listening quietly.
Carmen smiled warmly at Nara.
Nara nodded awkwardly, unsure how to behave around vampires who didn't immediately try to kill her, while Madara just looked around,casually.
"We don't get many visitors," Garret added. "Especially... not hybrids."
"She's not the only oddity," Madara said, "but she is the point of this journey."
Tanya leaned against the far wall. "What are you training her for? And what's your name?"
Madara looked at her with his arms crossed over his chest, standing like a statue beside Nara. "Itachi."
"Itachi... Itachi... I feel like I've heard it somewhere before..." She tapped her head and studied Madara's features. Her kind smile stiffened as he had black eyes — she had never seen that eye color in her long life... outside in the snow, she didn't see clearly.
But Madara ignored her observing gaze as he replied to her question. "Survival, control. Her form is stable now, but her instincts aren't fully sharpened and she's too soft-hearted when not necessary."
"I'm not," Nara protested.
"You are. That's why you hesitate when you shouldn't."
Carmen raised a hand gently. "Don't scold her. She's young and she's clearly learning fast."
Madara said nothing but his silence agreed.
Nara looked at Tanya. "Do you have... others like me?"
Tanya shook her head. "We've heard of hybrids, yes. Rumors, but nothing certain. You're the first we've met and the first who seems... sane."
"Gee... thanks," Nara muttered.
Garret grinned. "She's got a tongue. I like her."
Madara ignored them and turned toward Eleazar. "We don't seek to stay long, but she needs to learn what coexistence looks like. Not everything is war."
Eleazar nodded while he was all the time analyzing Madara.
He served in Volturi as a guard and had plenty of information... about a clan, but it was TOP SECRET archives or something like that. While he was in Volturi, trusted because of his gift that can detect others' powers...
He was never told who created the incident hundreds of years ago in Italy, which scarred three leaders.he knows about the surname Uchiha, and they are famed hunters. It's connected, and only some vampires who survived the era have information about it.
A lot of vampires disappeared over 700 years. It was counted over one thousand disappearances, and globally vampires existed counted in archives in Volturi was around five thousand vampires now
And that thing that caused it roamed the world for more than 100 years after the incident in Italy but there was never evidence of it.he never appeared, only silent kills, and he was never heard about again but they were sure it was him,after all who could kill vampires like nothing?,only their kin or Werewolfes.
But exactly 100 years and a few years ago later, he disappeared. Then the Van Helsings or that clan, Uchiha, appeared. They were told to be his descendants. Could use fire, superhuman strength, agility, speed, durability, endurance... everything, but it was not limited to superhuman...
The Red Ar----- -----.
And that's all he knows.
But Eleazar put this behind his mind and said, "Then she came to the right place. Though I suspect her instincts will be tested just the same."
Nara raised an eyebrow. "Tested how?"
Tanya stepped forward again. "Come with me. There's something you need to see."
The snow had returned by the time they stepped outside again.
Tanya led Nara and Madara up a ridge behind the cabin.
The view stretched endlessly.
Glaciers to the north and dense forests to the east. Tanya pointed to a clearing down below.
A small herd of elk grazed silently, unaware of the eyes on them.
"We feed from them," she said. "Carefully, sparingly. It's part of the choice we make."
Madara gazed at the herd of elk, reminded of Carlisle. Nara asked with a tilt of her head, "And that helps? The craving?"
"It lessens it," Tanya said. "And it teaches restraint. We are monsters only when we forget how not to be."
Madara looked at Nara. "Kill one, but clean." Tanya nodded that she can.
Nara's eyes glowed faintly golden as she crouched low, letting the werewolf instinct take the lead while using stealth skills learned from Madara. She slipped down the ridge.
Her steps barely disturbed the snow. One elk looked up but too late.
She pounced, taking it down quickly, her claws slicing just enough to pierce the artery.
One breath, one drink.
She exhaled standing. Blood trailed down her chin, but she didn't feel the frenzy she once did. She wiped it away with the back of her hand and turned.
Tanya was watching. She smiled. "You stopped. That's rare."
"I didn't need more," Nara said simply.
Back on the ridge, Madara just nodded.
"Better than nothing."
That evening they sat around the fire in the Denali cabin while Madara sat in a leather chair with crossed legs, his fist on his cheek, watching the fire.
Carmen poured something warm into clay cups. It wasn't for the vampires but for Nara.
Herbal, thick, grounding — it should be good.
"I used to be a healer," Carmen explained, "before I was changed, and some habits never leave."
Nara sipped, warmth spreading down her chest. She leaned back, eyes closing briefly.
"You don't hate what you are?" she asked suddenly.
Tanya looked up. "No. Not anymore."
"Even after all the time?"
"Especially after all the time, because we choose how to carry it."
Nara glanced at Madara, who sat in the leather chair looking out the window as the snow fell. "And you?"
He didn't look back. "I carry it only the way I know."
"But you're teaching me a different way."
At that, he glanced at her. "Because you're different."
The room fell quiet again.
Tanya broke it softly. "You could stay, Nara, for a while. Learn from us too."
Madara did not react and considered it too. After all, she needs to experience life alone, on her own, without an OP supporter like me.
But Nara shook her head. "Thank you... but I'm not done moving... not yet."
Tanya smiled. "Then when you are, the Denali will be here."
She glanced at Madara. "Say... our former coven member who left for adventure, he told us about... an Uchiha who helped him... called Obito..."
Madara just glanced at her as she continued.
"Indeed, Uchiha. It's really surprising that they spared vampires — not that they don't spare vampires over the years — but that Uchiha helped a vampire. But it must be something that he didn't attack a human and doesn't drink human blood, like us... so... are you connected with Uchiha?"
They held their breaths. After all, subconsciously, if he confirms, they invited a nemesis into their house.
Madara said calmly, "Obito was Van Helsing a few generations before me and what he did... helped more than one side survive. As for me..."
They were shocked as he confirmed he is Van Helsing. Their reputation is... something you don't want to meet. But his aura did not let them move. They were like being pinned under gravity, paralyzed.
"I'm an Uchiha but... I am not the enemy you think I am."
He said as the aura disappeared while Nara watched in awe at Madara's lore.
"So... you're saying you're not here to hunt us?" Tanya asked.
"Yes, as I said before, I am purely passing by with Nara, and you all don't drink human blood now for some centuries or less... which gives me less reason to kill all of you now."
With that, Madara nodded curtly at Nara to stand up as Madara was already standing.
"We are leaving. Your hospitality was pleasant. Until next time."
And they left through the door with a click as they had seen a glimpse of Uchiha Crest hidden under his black cloak.