Sasuke's P.O.V
What am I even doing? I should be headed to konoha right now to obliterate all of them, but no. Instead I'm on a road to some small village miles away from my target destination. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't
from what I heard. Hours ago I was recuperating under a tree when I heard him. Madara talking to that plant zetsu. I listened to their conversation without them knowing. At first I thought that plant was
just informing him about any news on the bijuu when I heard Madara say my brother's name.
"damn Itachi" Madara said in pure disgust clenching his fist hard.
"well, what do you expect? That girl is as faithful like a dog to him" Zetsu replied with a shrug "I tried my best in persuading her but she's just so stubborn."
"You should have threatened to kill her" Madara answered sitting down.
" I did, but everytime I do that she threatens me with a bigger threat! That girl is too shrewd. Maybe we should let her be with Itachi's journal." Zetsu said.
Upon hearing that. I became more curious in listening to this conversation. I knew it. They are still keeping secrets from me.
"No we can't." Madara said firmly as he walked up to Zetsu " have you forgotten what kind of threat she possesses? What if she gives it to konoha? Hmm? Or worse to the kyuubi. It could ruin our plan. "
"she'll never think of doing that." Zetsu answered "you and I both know Itachi doesn't want her to that. She'll follow anything he says. "
"true but she's also very deeply in love with him and there is still that possibility no matter how small it is. She would want to avenge him. We have to erase that possibility" Madara said as he walked towards
the door "talk to her again, and if you fail. I'll be the one to personally talk to her and I'll persuade her to give it to me whether it will lead to me using foul means"
"another trip to that village? What gall" Zetsu complained.
"Go already. I still have some errands to do" Madara said as both him and zetsu exited. So of course I got intrigued and climbed up to that room through the window and looking through the papers scattered on
the desk. I got hold of a picture of a girl and a name of some village and that's how I ended up here.
Questions are circling through my head right now. 1st is who is this girl and why did my brother entrusted his journal to her? And why is madara so persistent in getting it. One thing's for sure I will get
that no matter how stubborn that girl maybe. Who knows what its content could be? His life in Akatsuki? his sickness perhaps or how he was used by konoha's elders . that could be it then in that case I'll use it
as evidence on how they used my brother . they will pay all of them for all the strife they've caused to my clan. So this is it. I thought looking at the village in front of me. A typical serene place and
somewhere here lives a person who holds something precious to Itachi.
This village is small it'll be easy to find her. Everyone here is bound to know each other. I went in a tea shop inside There were only a few people when I came in. a family of 4 sat at the left
side laughing. Thiswould have reminded me of my own but then the children were a boy and girl. Twins maybe? I wouldn't know. I'm not here to reminisce any particular good memory. There's
no use at looking in the past. Time to focus on the future and that's avenging my clan but before that I have to find that journal.
"Are you here for a vacation young man?" The owner of the shop who is an old man asks as he served me tea.
"No, but I am looking for somebody" I answered going straight to the point " maybe you could help me."
The old man scratched his chin and looked at me with a grin "I'll see what I can do then"
I took out the picture from my pocket and handed it to him. He looked at it carefully for a few minutes scratching his bald head or squinting his eyes. This seems to be the wrong person to ask
directions from.
I was about to retrieve the picture when a girl came near him probably his granddaughter. She seemed to be 3 years younger than me.
" What are you looking at grandpa?" the girl asked curiously looking over to see what his grandfather was looking at.
" I'm trying to help this young man, but I can't seem to remember the girl in the picture" the old man said. The girl grabbed the photo and her eyes immediately showed a sign of familiarity
"grandpa! This is thea nee-san . how can you forget about her, she just came by last week." the girl said.
Finally I got a name all I need now is her location.
"well please pardon me. My memory isn't what it used to be" the old man said scratching his head laughing at his mistake
"where can I find her?" I asked standing up immediately not wasting anytime at all.
By this time of the day she'll be beside the lake teaching the village children how to paint that's what that kid said. According to her she moved here 3 years ago no one knows where she
came from all theyknow is that she's a talented painter. And the children mostly girls come here to learn from her. She also receives suitors mostly just travelers that pass by but she turned
them all away except for one. A dark haired male who visited her once in every two months.
"But recently we never saw him again" the boy said "maybe that's why she seldom smiles now"
"what did he look like?" I asked.
" He wore a black cloak with red clouds and he had creases under his eyes." She answered. The description definitely fits my brother. " whenever he was here she was always happy"
" was the guy also happy when he was with her?" I asked absentmindedly
" he smiled a bit. But it always seemed he was thinking of something else" she answered.
So far it seems I'm on the right track. The girl's name is thea and she's a painter and the same age as my brother. I could hear the sound of children laughing as I approached closer to the lake. There were
canvases and scattered art materials laid out on the grass. Then I saw her. Her back was turned and she was guiding a child with the paint brush. As I went near them the children beside her stopped laughing
and turned to gaze at me.
"whats wrong?" she asks and she turns around to face me.
She looked exactly the same as the picture. I could tell why she had suitors. she had long light blue hair going down her waist and green eyes. She looked simple wearing a violet kimono. At first I didn't knew
what her reaction would be. Probably shock but she just looked at me with an indifferent look. I didn't knew what to say first.
"who are you? Are You a suitor" one of the children asked asked. I ignored her. My eyes fixed on this woman.
"you must be thea." I finally said. as a strong wind blew the bangs off my face. She didn't answer just continued to stare at me emotionless a few more minutes.
"I believe you have something that belongs to my brother" I said Still no reaction from her. "well I want it"
She turned her gaze off me and looked at the kids "time for you to go home but I'll see you tomorrow"
She said half-smiling. They whined as they walked away and one of them even stuck their tongue to me before leaving. She walked and picked up gracefully the scattered materials.
"you know my name? who told you?" she asks as she packed her stuff.
"it doesn't matter. I just want the journal. Itachi's journal" I said assertively " I don't want to cause trouble"
"you already brought yourself into trouble." She said coldly
"when you became something your brother didn't want you to be" she hissed her green eyes locked fiercely at me.
"CHILD?" I said annoyed at her comment "I don't think you realize the situation you're in. give it to me. I'm the only one worthy to take it. If you still persist on not giving it. I'll…"
"what? You'll hurt me" she said cutting me off "let me tell you something kid, I think you've heard from that plant guy on how many times he failed in getting it from me. Maybe that's why madara sent you
here"
"he didn't sent me here, he doesn't even know I'm here" I snapped getting more annoyed at how tenacious and haughty this woman is.
" which is worse. you can't get it from me by force. That journal is locked away with a seal. The moment something bad happens to me. It'll be destroyed." She said with an arrogant smirk as she turned away. I
clenched my fist in total frustration. She really is a persistent bitch. But if she thinks she outsmarted me
then she's wrong. All I have to do is..
" by the way, you can't do an illusion on me too. The moment I get trapped by an illusion esp. from a sharingan user. The seal will become stronger." She said glancing at me "so tough luck for you kid. I
guess you have to go back to madara with this bad news."
"You don't know who you're messing with" I answered glaring at her.
She flashed her arrogant smirk again and replied "You're mistaken. Children like you who play with fire Like me will get their fingers burned" she said walking away out of my sight.
That haughtiness of hers is definitely something to admire and to be annoyed at. But alright, I accept
Her challenge since she's becoming this stubborn.
Thea's P.O.V
Tsk. Of all the people that I had to see It had to be his brother, oh well itachi did mention the possibility. That's why he placed that seal in the first place . so now I have to fulfill my promise and be on guard now
that his brother knows.
He is so much different from his brother as expected from what I've heard altough itachi told me he's really caring. Pft I remember arguing with itachi about how he's wasting his
time with his brother. All of a sudden I felt my eyes becoming teary. Shit those memories with him are coming back to me
oh no. ugh I thought I'd never experienced a pain in the heart again. Now I can say it really is true that he's gone since sasuke is here, I can't help but look at him contemptuously for the fate
that had befallen on itachi but during that moment when that kid ran his fingers through his hair.
It reminded me on the first day me and itachi met. Why did I have to remember that? Besides there's no
way
I'll fall for that child I could sense the trouble he'll bring plus he's a hell of a lot different from his brother.
That boastful Uchiha kid..