I am the master of my fate

[The feed clicks on to a view from a high vantage point - a view of Sasuke's house. Over it, the darkness of night is darker, somehow, almost oppressive - because right above it, thick storm clouds gather at freakish speed, obscuring moons and stars. Something very unnatural is about to happen. It's happening right now.

A flash. A blaze. A huge forked lightning bolt, exploding out of the cloud and hitting the house dead on. The roof groans and shatters, wood and stone surrender and split and add to the roar of the thunder. And then a brighter, crackling blaze, red, thick, rising.

The broken house burns.

Saul speaks in a low, calm voice.]


This, dome Madara, was a promise.


[And he switches the feed off, before it can be seen whether anyone emerges alive from the burning wreck.]

[The PCD switches on, showing Saul seated at his work table inside his house, a red sunset shining through the window at his back and illuminating him in strange light and shadow. He looks somewhat pale and drawn, as though he'd seen hard times, but hardly cowed; he isn't quite smiling, but there's a disturbing happiness in his face. On the table before him are his hook and wire, and a simple two-vessel water clock, not running. He speaks directly into the camera.]

Good evening, domi a domani of the city. I trust you've enjoyed your respite - I hope that this was proof, to all of you, that I'm able to keep my peace unless I am provoked. What's done is done, though... I hold no ill will towards you, dome Tieria, nor your friends. They'd gotten what they came for. All's fair in love and war, mm?

I shall be honest: I live for the fight, but there's much here to fight without disrupting all your lives... if I were to get my own. There are things I won't let go of - not this easily. And you all hold your peace very dear, I've seen. So we might as well have this on the table.

I want the boy Near. Alive, dead, I don't care much - just so long as he is out of my way. Killing him myself would've been simple enough, I suppose, but we all want to break such a cycle, don't we? So there is your choice.

[He pauses, and tips one of the vessels - the water starts pouring out, in a thin delicate trickle.]

Two hours, as the water flows. Bring him to me, in whatever state, and win your peace - or I will destroy one of the clinics. And then I shall fill the vessel again. There are plenty of houses here, and plenty of water in the river. Decide how much is too much for you on your own. I will wait.

Two hours. All of you know where I am.

[The feed clicks off.]