Survival of the Determined

By: Silverwolf

People gather around a cage. Madara sits watching with a business partner. "So what do you plan to fight tonight, canines, ignorant males, what?" The other male laughs, "children." Madara looks at other male for a moment, "and you find nothing wrong with this." The other male shakes his head, "they aren't like the children you and I deal with. They are small soldiers." Madara makes a face, "I guess this will be good then."

The other male shrugs, "where's your nephew?" Madara points over towards a chair near the wall. "He still doesn't wish to be anywhere near me. You'd think I took his brother. I'm surprised he even remembers the brat." The other male shrugs, "don't tell me..." Madara makes a face, "I won't tell you he's chained to that chair until I'm ready to leave." The other male laughs loudly, "no wonder Itachi 'loves' you so." Madara shrugs, "I don't care if he loves me. I only care for his intelligence."

The pair watch as a pair of adult males step forward with a quite young teenager at each of their sides. The teenagers are blindfolded. One whines while the other is silent. Everyone laughs as they watch one of the males basicly shove the child with him into the cage after removing the blindfold. The other teen stands still. A pale skinned male unties the blindfold from the child's eyes. Onyx eyes open moments before the young teen steps into the cage in silence.

Orochimaru looks into the cage, "Sasuke, remember what happens here decides what happens to you. I don't keep the worthless. This is your first fight." The teen looks back at Orochimaru in silence. Both males take a seat near the cage as the pair of teens are allowed to stare each other down. There's a yell and the first teen moves forward. Swiftly the advancing teen finds himself along the floor of the cage. The second teen remains still and silent. The teen that was once whining rises from the ground. Again he advances towards the teen he's caged with. Swiftly he feels the floor. The other teen steps over in silence and places his bare foot along the first teen's throat. The teen along the ground whines and wraps his hands around the other boy's ankle pulling him off his feet.

Orochimaru shakes his head, "don't hesitate boy." An elastic band snaps allowing hair to fall against the neck of one of the boys. Madara makes a face realizing that one of the boys in the fight was indeed his younger nephew. The older Uchiha glances back to see if Itachi has noticed what he has realized. The eighteen year old has his head against a table uninterested. Madara gives a look of relief.

Sasuke allows the other teen to advance forward. A foot slams into the boys ribs. Sasuke closes his eyes briefly as he pulls the other boy from his feet. Once Sasuke has the other teen on the ground he begins beating the child in the ribs relentlessly. For Sasuke this wasn't about a show it was about surviving the night. The threat had been clear he would win the fight doing as much damage as possible or he would be the next child Orochimaru finished off to become ashes in the wind.

The other child screams in pain before wrapping a leg around Sasuke and throwing the boy backward. Sasuke is dazed briefly, with that the other teen pounces pounding his fist into Sasuke's back. The teen grinds his teeth against the pain of being punched repeatedly. It takes Sasuke some time to find his feet again. The other laughs a bit, "I win." Sasuke tilts his head a moment before sending his foot to the other teen's face. "This isn't about winning for me. It's about surviving the night. I lose he'll kill me so sorry."

The fight continues with the other teen holding Sasuke in a choke hold. The raven teen places his fingers between the ribs of the teen holding him and begins to pull up. Crunch! There's a scream of pain. Sasuke uses it to break the hold. The teen once again lands a kick to the other teen's face and begins to push his foot down on the throat of his opponent.

Orochimaru smirks, "it seems you do wish to live, don't you boy." One teen fights to breathe clawing at his opponent's foot until he once again jerks the other boy to the floor. This time Sasuke is swift to move to where he's at least kneeling before the other teen has time to begin another pounding assault. Sasuke sweeps the other boy's feet from under him. The other boy slams against the cage. Blood flows as the teen slides down the side of the bars. Sasuke remains still.

Madara watches as the door is opened. Orochimaru has a grin across his face as he steps past the teen along the ground. Those watching cheer a bit. Sasuke's eyes close as Orochimaru ties the blindfold back into place. "Good, very good." Sasuke doesn't make a sound as he's led from the cage. The teen feels something hit around his shoulders. "put it on." The teen places his arms through the coat.

Someone wraps a hand around Sasuke's ankle the teen prepares himself to fight again. Instead there's a hand placed along his shoulder, "it's nothing." Sasuke doesn't move as someone places socks and a pair of boots along his feet. "Time to leave." Orochimaru keeps a hand on Sasuke's shoulder. The teen moves from sight in silence.

A/N: In case I didn't make it obvious Sasuke's now thirteen. Itachi is eighteen. Thanks for reading. Reviews are welcomed.

ItachiSilverwolf