The Element of Friendship
Chapter 1
-unknown-
Raging flames set off the night's dark sky. This was my fifth A-ranked mission. I was sent to a village on the east side to stop a mini-war from happening. We weren't very successful since they had already started their dirty work. They set buildings on fire and bombed any weapon manufacturing factories, most of the people were killed in the buildings with little survivors. It was a group that Konoha has been watching for a while, they've sent us messages saying that this would happen if we didn't follow their demands. This is the result of that, an entire clan was wiped out. This is where Konoha's weapons were made, people would learn the art of how to use each weapon and where ninjas could buy, sell, or trade for them. Now that this is gone our strength level dropped. I was running through the small town set up in flames searching for any survivors. I heard a faint cry inside a building not too far away, I quickly changed course and headed for the cry. I stopped in front of the building cautious of the falling parts of the building. I kicked in the door blocking my entrance, but a burst of flames the raged at me. I used the collar of my shirt up to cover my mouth, I looked around for the young voice. I jumped over holes in the ground and dodged flames. I saw two figures on the ground, one male another female laying on top of each other. They were dead, I could tell by the blood and lack of movement. I walked over slowly to the corpses, that's when I saw a little girl next to them. She was on her knees in a small dress covered in dirt, she was crying over the loss of these people who I assume are her parents. I walked over to her slowly and said.
"Come on, we have to get out of here!" I reached my hand out waiting for her to take it. She didn't move.
"No, I want to stay here!" She yelled at me. I sighed. I felt the building shake as it was beginning to fall. I didn't listen to the girl, I snatched her up as she started yelling and kicking.
"No! Put me down! I want to stay with them! Please!" She cried. I felt bad for the girl, but I couldn't stop now. If I don't get out now we will die, the flames are getting higher and the building won't be able to stand much longer. I noticed a window across the far end of the room and ran for it. I dove through landing on the ground and moved to a safe distance away from the flaming buildings. The girl was trying to run back, but I held on to her.
"No! Take me back!" She yelled with tears pouring out her brown eyes.
"Stay here, I'll go get them." It was the least I could do. She stopped instantly and looked at me with her big brown eyes.
"You would, do that for me?" She asked with hope filling her eyes. I nodded.
"You must stay here, understand?" She nodded and I stood up to run back in the building. I couldn't climb the same window since the walls were covered in flames. I ran around to the back were it wasn't as bad as the front. I kicked in a window, breaking it, and jumped inside. I ran back up to the top of the stairs making sure that I didn't step on any weak points in the building. I got up to the main room they were lying in but I noticed that one of the main supporters for the building fell through the floor leaving a huge gap between me and them. I summoned my chakra to my feet, getting ready for a large jump. More supporters from the top were crashing down and I was running out of time fast. The building was shaking and I felt one floor clasp. I finally had enough to make the jump, I took off at a fast pace and looked up the last supporter about to fall on the girl's parents. I dove over the large gap and quickly picked up the two people. The supporter was now in free fall just above my head. I looked up and activated my Sharingan. I looked for a weak spot in the wood and quickly found one. I jumped up and kicked it, the supporter snapped in half. I pushed the other one off so I could stand on the other. When I pushed it the one I was standing on moved toward the wall and crashed through making an opening. Holding on tightly to the two people I race away from the falling building and toward the girl. The hole I caused messed up the building and now it was falling towards me and the girl not too far away. The building was high about forty stories. I ran holding the people while channeling my chakra to my feet again. I took off towards the girl, I put the two adults on one arm and quickly grabbed the girl up. She started panicking from the sight behind me. She gripped on my shirt tightly closing her eyes and hiding in my neck. I narrowed my gaze, my sharingan kept me from losing my balance and made sure that I didn't hit anything or crash into a building. I decide that running around buildings were taking too long so I jumped on top of one of the smaller two story buildings and ran along the roofs while making sure that I was getting away from the high tower that could fall on me. I could now see the forest not too far ahead. I was getting tired quickly by the weight and the amount of chakra I was using. I pushed my legs as vigorously as I could go. I made one last leap in the air as the flaming building smashed into the ground. The wind picked up from the impact, pushing me further while in midair. I tried to turn around before I hit the ground, but my feet just missed causing me to fall on my side. I held the girl tighter and let go of her parents once I collied with the ground. Once we stopped I looked at the girl to make sure she was okay. Her eyes were wide with shock and her grip on me never loosened.
"Are you ok?" She snapped out of her state of shock and looked at me with a small smile. She nodded.
"Yes, thank you mister." She smiled with big round eyes. I gave her a small smile back and stood up. Her hair was a dark chocolate brown, that went straight down to her hips. She looked like she was about five years old, I'm not sure but now, she doesn't have a home or family. She had both her hands folded looking at the ground sadly.
"Umm, Mister, can you do me one more favor?" She asked not bothering to look at me. I nodded, not knowing if she saw or not.
"Can you burry my parents here?" She look like she was about to cry, but she bit her lip, closed her eyes and balled her hands into fists. My eyes soften at her request, I turned off my Sharingan returning my eyes to it's normal black color.
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that. I'll take them back to the village and have a better area for them to be buried." I told her. She didn't move, she just walked over to me and leaned on my leg.
"Alright." I felt a presence behind me and quickly grabbed the girl and jumped away. She started screaming and clinging to me tightly. An exploding kunai was thrown right next to her parents. I saw her eyes go wide as she saw what happened. Her eyes were filled with tears and her body was shaking.
"NO! Mommy! Daddy!" She screamed reaching for them. Their bodies were now nothing except piles of ashes. I turned quickly to look at the person but they were already gone. Who ever that was, they were targeting the girl's parents. I quickly ran through the woods heading for the center of Konoha. I held her tightly with her on my chest, it was a position that all ninja had to carry or defend their clients in. She gripped onto me and wrapped her legs around my stomach. After a few good hours of running we were in the center of konoha by the Hokage's building. There was a meeting for certain ninjas right now so the top floor was faintly lit with light. I walked up to one of the guards still holding the girl.
"What business do you have with the Hokage?" I gave him a cold stare, my black bangs moved along with the wind, my phony tail swayed from the middle of my back. The young girl looked up at me slightly and then quickly hid her face from me, holding tightly to me again. I put a hand to the back of her head while my other rests on her back.
"I'm here for the A-ranked mission in the east village." My eyes turned to slits glaring at the man before me. He was the one who left me to fight for my own against a group of rouge ninjas that was attacking the village. His eyes widen and his body stiffened.
"Oh, uh, yes, of course, Uchiha-Sama" He slightly bowed and moved aside. I walked by not caring about the coward. I made my way up the dimly lit hall way, the young girl made a small sound, like she was trying to hide her crying. I felt sorry for her loss, but I had no way of comforting someone so small and fragile. I rubbed her head lightly, she responded by sighing. I was in front of the door getting ready to knock, but right before my hand met the door I heard.
"Come in." I smirked a little and opened the door. Across the room stood the Hokage leaning against his desk with his arms crossed. A few AMBU members stood next to him along with some other ninja that were on the same mission with me.
"Who's the girl?" One of my friends, Suki, from my younger years said. I didn't respond to him but I kept my eyes on the small girl. She looked at me with her large brown watery eyes. I brushed one of her small bangs away from her eyes.
"Come now, we have to begin." The fifth stated. He walked over to me and squatted down in front of me. I set the girl down so she could stand up on her own, but she didn't want to let go of me. I squat down, but she didn't move.
"What's your name?" He asked. She mumbled but no one heard her.
"Speak up," I said looking at the top of her head. She moved her head back and said.
"Tenten," Then she pressed her head back on my chest.
"What's your last name, Tenten?" He asked. She didn't reply.
"What's your last name, Tenten? I asked her instead. She moved back again and replied.
"I don't know my last name, only my parents know. They'd always call me Tenten or some nickname."
"What are those nicknames?" I questioned her.
"My little girl, or my little angel." Her eyes were filled with pain when she talked about them. I held her tighter, she started crying again. I truly felt bad for her loss. The fifth didn't show any signs that he was going to ask any questions. He just stood back up and walked over to his desk sighing. He leaned on the edge looking at Tenten, while contemplating on what he was going to do.
"Take her to the Orphanage north from this building," was all he said. One of the AMBU moved to follow out his order, but Tenten didn't have any plans on letting me go. A female AMBU member walked over to us and kneeled down to her and held out a hand.
"Come on honey, I'll take you some where safe." Tenten looked at her with a small glare then hid her face in my chest.
"No!" She gripped on my shirt even more fearing that she'd be taken from me.
"You have to go now, Tenten." The female AMBU said. Tenten just turned around slightly to show half her face with a glare printed on it.
"I said no! I don't have to listen to you! And you don't have the right to boss me around! My parents are the ones who gave you your weapons and made this country strong! You should show respect to those of greater importance!" She mumbled. She turned her head away from her and back to me. I looked at the AMBU and whispered something to her, she nodded and walked back to The Fifth and told him what I've told the AMBU. He looked at me and nodded. I stood up without Tenten on me, she stayed standing while holding onto some of my shirt. I started walking away and as I thought she followed. I headed down stairs out the back way of the Hokage's building.
"Where are we going?" Tenten asked me. I looked down at her as I pushed the double doors to reveal the cold night. The moon was full and glowing brightly over Konoha. Tenten tugged on the hem of my shirt, I looked down at her big brown eyes.
"Yes?" I looked away from her and focused on our destination.
"Who were those people?" She gave me a look that told me that I had all the answers.
"That was The Fifth Hokage and his personal body guards, they are AMBU, I don't know who they were." I answered. She nodded and continued on. After that it was complete silence, I didn't want to say anything and judging by her face she wanted to ask me questions but went against her thoughts. Soon we came up to the Old Orphanage, it looked in good shape. Tenten looked at the place with a questioning gaze.
"So you live here, mister Uchiha?" She asked without looking at me, I'm surprised she remembered my last name. She walked up to the oak doors and rubbed her hands on it.
"No," I stated clearly. She turned to look at me with a confused look. I wonder if she figured out that this is her home now, until she gets adopted.
"So then were are we then Mister Uchiha?" She put her hands on her hips and her face was filled with confusion and the want for answers. I started for the door and knocked on it. Within seconds an older women poked her head through the door with a small smile.
"Why, hello there, and how may I help you two?" She asked walking toward us.
"Tenten is here for you, she lost her home." That's all that I needed to say. The older women's eyes grew in understanding.
"Well! My dear, come in!" She reached out to Tenten but she moved back and hid behind me. She glared at the women.
"What's wrong my little one?" Tenten gripped my pants at the words 'my little one.'
"I'm not your little one! Don't ever call me something like that again!" She yelled at her.
"Well, she seems attached to someone already." The women smiled at me. "Please come in and give me a background for, Tenten was it?" She offered and opened the door wider for us to enter.
"I'm sorry but I can't, my little brother is expecting me. It's best if I don't keep him waiting." I replied. I started to turn and walk away from the scene, but little hands stopped me. I sighed knowing who it was and turned around, but the sight caught me off guard. She was on the verge of breaking down and crying, her lips were down in a frown shaking slightly, her eyes showed how soft and venerable she really was and the grip on my leg was a gentile but firm grip. I squatted down in front of her and rested my hands on her head.
"I can't stay with you, I have my own family that I need to watch and take care of. This women will help you find a new home, a new family that will take care of you. I promise that I'll visit every once and a while." I gave her my word. Normally I wouldn't do something like this, but she seemed satisfied with what I told her. She looked a little happier, her face had a small smile on and her chocolate brown eyes soften, her grip on my shirt loosened. She nodded lightly and wiped away any tray tears.
"Thank you Mister Uchiha." She said in her light voice.
"It's Itachi Uchiha, not Mister Uchiha." I told her, it made me feel older; I didn't like that.
"OK, Itachi-sama" Her smile grew bigger as did her eyes. I nodded and stood up heading off. I turned my head to look at her as I walked away.
"I'll see you later, Tenten." Her mouth went agape and her hand shot out to reach me. I quickly left the area appearing in front of the Uchiha Manor. I headed for the larger house more in the center of the area. I pressed my hand to my forehead and stuck the other in my pocket. I kept walking thinking about today's happenings. I wonder how this will affect the country. I saw my home not to far away, I noticed that a few lights were still on, including Sasuke's room. I sighed. I walked up to the front door and slipped off my shoes. Before I could set my hands on the door, it slid open to reveal an excited Sasuke.
"Itachi! You're back!" I smiled slightly and flicked his forehead.
"Ow, what was that for?" He rubbed his forehead.
"That's for doubting that I wouldn't come back." I walked passed him and into our huge living room. I sat down on one of the dark blue couches. Across from me was another identical from the one I'm on, next to the couch I was on there was a small glass table. In between the two couches, there was another bigger silver glass table in the shape of an oval. Along the walls there were a few paintings between the windows, my mother bought them because she thought blue walls looked too, boring. Sasuke walked over and sat across me on the other couch.
"You know mom was worried about you." He said while crossing his legs over another style and placing his elbows on his knees with one hand cupping his cheek.
"Yea I know, she always worries when I go on A-ranked missions." I sighed and rubbed my head again. Sasuke looked in the direction of the hall.
"Three, two, one." We said in together.
"Itachi! You're okay!" I was tackled to the seat of the couch by my mother's hug. This always happens when I go on A-ranked missions, every single time. It all happens in five simple steps, first the 'are you okay' step.
"Are you okay, Itachi? You didn't get hurt at all did you? You don't have any marks on you that's a good sign right? Do you have any internal wounds?" She put her hands on my cheeks while looking at me. I saw Sasuke snickering with one hand covering his mouth. Mom's hair flowed down past her hips and rested next to her feet. I shook my head.
"No, I'm fine." The next step is the 'I don't believe you' step.
"Itachi are you telling the truth, because the last time you came back you had a small cut." She blinked at me.
"That was from the door remember? I had that before I went on the mission." I raised a brow at her. Now it's the calm step where, everyone gets really quiet. I looked at Sasuke. He was looking at the hem of his shirt, he was pulling at a small loose string. Mom was twisting her hair looking down. Me? I was just sitting there. Now it's time for the next step 'tell me what happened on the mission.' Most of the time Sasuke would beat mom to asking that question.
"So tell us about your mission Itachi." I looked over at mom, she sat just like Sasuke with an interested face that could possibly rival Sasuke's excitement. I sighed.
"I was in the village in the east were Konoha gets it's weapons. The village was set in flames, my job was to look for any survivors-" I was cut off by Sasuke.
"Did you find any?" His small black eyes opened wider when I nodded.
"I went into, what I believe, was the main building. I went up a few floors and found this little girl she was crying because her parents were dead. From how they were on top of each other I'd say they were murdered. I took the girl and kept her in a safe spot. She asked me to get her parents and so I did. I quickly went back into the building and got them before the building completely collapsed. I broke one of the building main supporters in order for me to get out without getting burned. The supporter crashed into the wall and made a large hole for me to escape out of. When I noticed that that was the last supporter holding the building up it started falling. I had to use my sharingan to channel chakra to my feet and keep my balance while running along other buildings. I had the girl's parents on one arm and the girl in my other. We nearly made it out of the way of the falling building. After we took a break, but someone was near by and threw an exploding kunai at her parents. I took her to the Hokage, I can't tell you the rest after that, but she ended up in an orphanage. She was very attached to me so I told her that I'd visit her every once and a while." Mom and Sasuke just stared at me.
"Wow! That was the best story ever!" Sasuke yelled.
"I agree, all your other ones were about killing people or watching people, but this one is a lot better!" Mom said.
"Hey, Itachi, can I go with you when you see the girl?" Sasuke asked me.
"Does this girl have a name?" Mom asked me.
"Yes, her name is Tenten, she doesn't know her last name so I'm not sure. Maybe Sasuke, if you don't have anything to do." He smiled
"Yes!"
"Where's dad?" I looked at mom, she lowered her head.
"He was called to an important meeting concerning your mission." I nodded. I looked out one of the far windows to see that it started to rain. I sighed and stood up.
"Come on Sasuke, lets go to bed." I said and headed for the stairs.
"Yes Itachi!" He quickly got up and followed behind me. I heard the lightening crack and something was shaking against my leg. I looked down to see Sasuke gripping onto me. I smiled at him and put my hand on top of his head, rubbing it softly. He looked up at me with eyes filled with fear. I chuckled at him and picked him up, clinging to me. He dug his face into my neck wrapping both arms around my neck and his legs around my waist. I leaned my head against his, I put one hand on the back of his head and the other on his back to hold him up.
"Are you afraid, Sasuke?" Another crack of lightning struck and Sasuke gripped me tighter. He nodded slowly not changing his current position. I felt mom watching us from behind. I just moved up stairs heading for our rooms. I walked slowly up the stairs careful not to trip. I walked straight and turned the corner to Sasuke's room. His room was the one further down for protection reasons. Since he can't defend himself as well as I could or dad then he gets put in the furtherest room so in case something happened Sasuke's life wasn't in danger. I stopped in front of a dark brown wooded door. I opened the door the hear it's light squeak. I looked around to see that Sasuke cleaned his room; on my right was book shelf with a pile of different sized blue and black pillows and a tall reading lamp. On my left was Sasuke's wooden desk, his chair and another small desk lamp resting on it. Sasuke's bed was in the far left of the room. His window dimly lit the room on the left wall by his bed. He had a poster up on his front wall so when you walk in you'll see the Konoha Police Force poster. He looked up to me and dad a lot. I walked over and sat down on Sasuke's bed. From the corner of my eye I saw him peak his head up looking around for a brief moment. I heard him groan and dig head into my neck again. I chuckled at this, he new what it meant.
"Come on Sasuke." He shook his head.
"I don't wanna go to bed!" He groaned again.
"Sasuke." He looked up at me slightly and went back into nuzzling into my neck. I pried him off me gently sliding him down to sit on my lap. He looked up at me with a slight pout on his little face and eyes pleading to stay up. I smiled at him. He was the only person I'd show my real smiles to. I don't know how, but he always brings happiness to me. I love to see him happy, laughing, and just smiling. I wrapped my arms around his back in a protective hug. I swear anyone who dares to make him frown would pay dearly.
"Itachi, can I at least sleep with you?" He asked with the slightest fear, but I caught it. I leaned back with Sasuke still in my arms. We laid on his bed my face a few inches away from his, my hand gently rubbed the back of his head while my other just rested next to me.
"Itachi, you're gonna stay here still I fall asleep?" I nodded. I saw a flash of light from out side. I waited a few seconds and the loud boom of thunder came after it. I saw Sasuke jump from the sound and slowly curled him self up closer to me. I chuckled softly and pulled him closer. He started to bite his lip and squeeze his eyes tightly closed. I saw a small tears roll down his eye and his body started to shake. I glared out at the window and returned my softer gaze to Sasuke's small frame.
"Itachi! Make it go away!" He whimpered. I wiped a tear away from his face. I closed my eyes and activated my sharingan. I slowly opened my eyes and kissed his forehead.
"Rest Sasuke, let all your worries fade away. Give into me and sleep." I whisper on his forehead. He slowly slipped into a deep sleep, his body relaxed from its previously tense, he his breathing became calm and less muffled. I slowly rose from his bed and tucked him in. I leaned over him and rested my head on top of his sleeping one. I smiled and nuzzled his cheek before moving for the door like none of this ever happened. Closed the door behind me and stood in front.
"We need to talk about your mission, Itachi." I stood there and looked down to the floor.
"What about my mission" My tone changing into one of business than the soft one that I gave Sasuke.
"It's concerning the girl you rescued. Do you know who she is?" I remained silent.
"She was the daughter of the head of weapons industries. She was the daughter of the family that gave every nation weapons and the birth place of the art of weapon fighting. She is extremely important and the key to every other nation, including Konoha's survival."
"Why is she so important and how does this concern me?"
"She knows where all the secrets of the hidden skills of weapons, forbidden jutsus and other dangerous knowledge. That Orphanage you took her to burned to the ground with a warning. Who ever started this mess clearly has something against them or the Great Nations."
"Were there any survivors?"
"We are still looking, but so far none have been found." I made a low click with my tongue. I looked out the hall window and stared at the lightly raining sky. That girl, her small innocent face flashed in my mind. That one smile she gave me before, her big brown eyes, long brown hair, her small hands. My fist clenched. My hate was rising by the second. The mere thought of her lying dead somewhere by another hand was making me lust for their blood. Someone as small, innocent, fragile, and weak, she was so young and was killed by another's whim. I was beyond angry, my fire within me burned to a point were I couldn't control my self. I walked past him and headed for my room to relax my climbing thirst for blood.
"Itachi" I stopped but didn't look back at him. I stood there wondering what he wanted from me before I lost my place and snapped at him. He didn't respond after that, we just stood there silently.
"Hn." I walked away into my room without another word. I will have to watch Sasuke for now on more closely. Something was happening and not just to the regular people but to all the people with some sort of high status. Those people are planing something, but it needs to end now or something big is going to happen to the Great Nations. Something is coming, but the question isn't what but when?
So how was that? I hoped you enjoyed it! This is my second story and I'm really excited to get it out now! I hope I get lots of reviews and I don't mind flames! Please give me feed back and I'm sorry for any mistakes you find! I read this over a lot so I try and find most of them! I'll update A.Q.A.I.P.C ((As Quickly As I Possibly Can)).
Cat / Aikkio
