Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto and blah blah blah…
The bond of two brothers was never broken… and this bond will exceed the limit one final time.
The time/setting/etc. is pretty much concurrent with the manga, so this story might contain spoilers for those who aren't completely up to the date with Naruto. Of course, the plot of this story will obviously be different than that of the manga's/anime's.
From the description, some of you might've figured out which two characters this story will revolve around but this is not a Sasuke x Itachi 'fic hence the 'no pairings' note anyway.
So enjoy and all that good stuff, ne?
Chapter One: What You Have Become
The Rice Field Country, a small country right above the powerful Fire Country, gave home to perhaps one of the most powerful missing-nins and his subordinates in the Hidden Sound Village, Oto. In this village also resided a newer and younger missing-nin, who was sought after by both sides of the spectrum, both good and evil. It was an up and coming little country though headed by a less-than-appropriate leader and it sparked controversy among the five great nations, specifically between the Wind and Fire Country after the little Chuunin Exam fiasco. This country was also where passage through the Valley of the End gained departure from the Fire Country and entrance into the Rice Field Country. It is also where one story will end while another unravels, only to just begin.
In the rather remote village of Oto was the lair of Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin who had been under the guidance of the Fire Country's capital, Konoha's Sandaime Hokage. In this lair also resided Orochimaru's right hand man and faithful assistant, Yakushi Kabuto. He had been walking towards the training room with the newly finished Bingo Book Orochimaru had asked him to do upon return to the lair when he heard the dissatisfied tone of a teenage male. "Orochimaru, where you going? I haven't mastered the justu yet!" The youth said vehemently.
"Sasuke-kun, you just learned it. Of course you haven't mastered it yet," Orochimaru said sympathetically, with a small grin on his face. It was then that Kabuto made his presence known and entered the training room, a lofty yet austere room with only two pillars adorning each end of the room. Here he found a breathless Uchiha Sasuke and an amused Orochimaru. He scoffed at the boy's tone.
"And once again, Sasuke-kun, you fail to mind your manners," Kabuto said distastefully. The Uchiha merely rolled his eyes and ignored the comment. Meanwhile Orochimaru had become interested in the compiled sheets of paper in Kabuto's hand. "Anyway, Orochimaru-sama, I finished the Bingo Book that you asked for."
"Good, good. I've been meaning to talk to you about that," The missing-nin said, walking towards the double doors, signaling his exit.
"But-," Kabuto was cut off by a wave of Orochimaru's hand. This entire time Sasuke had regained his breath and was standing impatiently and glaring at Kabuto for the disturbance. He had mind to continue his training. Obviously, Orochimaru had other plans as he simply walked out of the room with Kabuto following him, mumbling a small apology to the Uchiha. This left the infuriated Sasuke in the training room alone. With Orochimaru's departure, Sasuke was forced to resign his training but the little voice in the back of his head made him think otherwise. Itachi would have mastered it by now. Once again, the thought of his older brother, Uchiha Itachi, plagued his mind. Sasuke grit his teeth and tried to clear his mind of any thoughts. He would complete this new technique before nightfall. Sasuke bit his thumb to allow some blood flow and began to perform the appropriate hand seals – boar, dog, rooster, monkey, sheep – and hit his palm against the ground.
"Kuchiyose no justu!"
"You're teaching him what technique!" An indignant Kabuto cried.
"Well, if he's to be my next body carrier, he might as well," Orochimaru said with a shrug.
"Demo-! W-will Manda accept him as a subordinate though?" Kabuto asked, aware of Manda's volatile nature. He doesn't even seem to completely yield to Orochimaru. Sasuke-kun will not do much better.
"Perhaps not at first… But Sasuke-kun is a clever boy. He'll find a way," Orochimaru replied confidently. "So anyway, let's see that Bingo Book."
"Orochimaru-sama! I'm serious! Manda might even kill Sasuke-kun!" Kabuto cried, trying to convey to depth of his concern.
"Kabuto. The boy is my future. He will find a way," Orochimaru said with a note of finality in his tone, signaling the end of the conversation. Kabuto looked a little disgruntled at Orochimaru's doggedness but heeded his tone and dropped the current topic. "So anyway, let's see that Bingo Book," Orochimaru reiterated. This time Kabuto complied with his wishes but internally he was still a bit troubled. I hardly ever doubt you Orochimaru…But I sincerely hope that Sasuke-kun has grown strong enough to handle Manda.
"Kuchiyose no jutsu!" Sasuke tried once more to summon Manda, the head of all snakes but to no avail. Nothing happened. Not even the weakest of snakes appeared on Sasuke's command. "Kuchiyose no jutsu! Kuchiyose no jutsu! Kuchiyose no jutsu! KUCHIYOSE NO JUTSU!" Sasuke was desperate now. Damnit, even that boy… that boy who I vaguely remember… That fox boy, even he can do summoning! Itachi definitely would have mastered this technique by now! Damnit! Amidst his thoughts, the young shinobi was too wrapped up in his thoughts to notice another moving figure in the room. It was not Kabuto. It was not Orochimaru and it certainly was not that new boy who had pledged his allegiance to Orochimaru, Sai. The creature coiled around one of the pillars in the training room, its great head meeting Sasuke at eye level.
"Ooi, you there…!" It hissed. "What's your name?" The voice abruptly interrupted Sasuke's train of thought. The Uchiha could only stare, wide-eyed and surprised, at what he was finally able to produce. This speechlessness did not bode well with the creature. "Ooi! I asked what's your name!" Even the acidity in the creature's tone of voice did not impede on Sasuke's pride and happiness. I've done it! I've finally summoned- well, not Manda… but I've summoned a snake!
Of course, Sasuke hid this emotion, and externally still seemed quite nonchalant, his answer no exception to his façade. "Uchiha Sasuke," He replied coldly. "And you are…?" He then asked, his Sharingan eyes glaring slightly at the creature.
"Uchiha Sasuke, eh? An insolent little fool like you was able to summon me?" The creature's voice boomed. "You were able to summon me, Manata, avenger of all snakes and head of all snakes, only yielding to Manda, my father!" What Manata just said perturbed Sasuke a bit. Avenger of all snakes…? And second in power to Manda, the head of all snakes… He smirked. This new accomplishment only inflated his ego even more.
"Keh. That's probably why I was able to summon you," Sasuke said quietly. "You haven't seen avenger until you know me… I live and breathe only to avenge… to avenge the deaths of the members of my clan. To redeem the Uchiha name and to kill the one who catalyzes all my misery…" This seemed to interest the summon.
"…And this person you want to kill, what is his name?" After a moment's pause, Sasuke finally replied.
"Uchiha Itachi. My brother and also the one who murdered my clan." Talk of his brother only made Sasuke even angrier. He clenched his fists, and grit his teeth, his Sharingan eyes ablaze with fury. Why are you weak, little brother? Why are you weak?… You are weak… because you don't have enough of it. You don't have enough hate. Itachi's words rang through Sasuke's mind, taunting him, pushing him to become stronger.
"Ne… Perhaps you and I will get along," Manata said with interest in his voice. "But if you were trying to summon my father, Manda, then you've a ways to go before you will be able to do so. He does not respond to the calls of weaklings like you." This infuriated Sasuke.
"Say that again!" He said with fervor. His Sharingan had now reached its limit in the third phase. His eyes were redder than ever.
Itachi would have summoned Manda by now.
Itachi would have mastered this jutsu.
Why are you weak, little brother?
Why are you weak?
You are weak because you don't have enough of it.
You are weak because you don't have enough hate.
Foolish little brother.
If you want to kill me, then blame me… Hate me…
And live on in shame… Run and run…
Cling desperately to life… Then one day…
Come before me with the same eyes… I bear now!
The hate within Sasuke once again was boiling in his blood. Hate oozed out of his Sharingan eyes. His aura emitted the essence of hate. Itachi… One day, I will kill you! Then Sasuke began to hate everything. He began to hate everything around him. He hated Manata, who slithered before him with an irritable expression. He hated Kabuto because he was always a nuisance and was always interrupting. He hated Orochimaru because he didn't give him enough power quickly enough. He hated everything. He hated everything and everyone and most of all, he hated Uchiha Itachi. Sasuke's thoughts soon completed dominated every aspect of his character.
"SHUT UP!" He exclaimed, even though his new personal summon hadn't said a word. "I will summon Manda!" Sasuke screamed wildly. "SHUT UP!" He said again, in response to the less-than-encouraging glare he received from Manata. "I'LL SHOW YOU!" Sasuke bit his thumb again and reopened the previous cut he made earlier in the day. He once again performed the needed hand seals – boar, dog, rooster, monkey, sheep – and hit his palm against the ground. "KUCHIYOSE NO JUTSU!" The innermost hatred from the bottom of his soul began to rise in him as he repeated the familiar words. His eyes grew wider, his Sharingan eyes strained. His breath grew ragged but he didn't give up. It had to be this summon. He would summon Manda this time around. Surely enough, another figure coiled around the pillar beside the one that Manata was coiled around. Sasuke was impatient in letting the smoke clear away. Is it Manda? He thought anxiously, holding his breath.
"Orochimaru!" The voice boomed. "Why are you summoning me now!" The voice demanded. Sasuke let out a cry of joy, releasing his breath. He had done it. He had summoned Manda, the head of all snakes! No. Better. He had summoned his own personal summon as well as Manda. The Uchiha soon regained his cool composure and answered Manda's cries.
"Orochimaru did not summon you," Sasuke said plainly. By this time, the smoke had cleared away and Manda got a good look at the boy.
"Orochimaru has relegated me to this!" Manda exclaimed disgustedly. "OROCHIMARU. THIS CAUSES FOR 300 SACRIFICES. OROCHIMARU! YOU MUST PREPARE AT LEAST 300 BODIES FOR ME THIS TIME!"
Elsewhere, Kabuto's head shot up from his paperwork. His glasses had just cracked as he held his breath. W-what was that? He thought nervously. The body standing near the window shows the opposite disposition. Orochimaru smirked and realized that Sasuke had finally summoned Manda. "Kabuto… It seems the boy has done it. He has summoned Manda," Orochimaru said calmly, almost boastfully.
"D-demo, Orochimaru-sama! Man-Manda will be furious! H-how will Sasuke-kun-!" Kabuto stuttered with a horrified expression.
"You underestimate the boy too much, Kabuto," Orochimaru began to explain. "Manda will eventually accept Sasuke-kun." Kabuto gave a small grunt, still unsatisfied with Orochimaru's confidence in the Uchiha. I hope you are right, Orochimaru-sama…
"Shut up!" Sasuke shouted in the same disgusted tone. Manda's outbursts had become an annoyance.
"You do not tell me, the head of all snakes to 'shut up'!" Manda replied with the same viciousness. This prompted Manda to began spitting fang-like bone missiles towards Sasuke. "Insolent! Disrespectful!" The snake shouted as it attacked the missing-nin. Sasuke skillfully dodged each fang, each point producing a fizzing sound as it hit the ground. Nani! They're poisonous too! Sasuke observed. This is annoying. I'll show you who is calling the orders in this place. He then shifted in the a familiar stance, with his right hand clenched to the wrist of his left hand, as his left palm opened up and was facing towards the ground.
"I already told you once before…" Sasuke growled. "…SHUT UP!" The sound of a thousand chirping birds soon filled the training room, as blue chakra concentrated in the palm of Sasuke's hand. The Uchiha had just produced… "CHIDORI!" Sasuke cried, speeding towards Manda, dodging its projectile fangs all the while.
Just as Sasuke was about to strike the snake, it cried out, "STOP!" Sasuke froze in mid-movement, his Sharingan glowering dangerously at Manda.
"Nani?" He growled in a low voice from the throat.
"I… I'll just have to accept you as a subordinate," Manda said, slightly dejectedly. Honestly, Manda now feared Sasuke's powers. "So this is why Orochimaru chose to take you along…"
All the while, Manata, Manda's son, stared in disbelief at his father's surrender. "O-ooi, I guess this means… I guess this means I accept you as well…" It stuttered. Sasuke gave a satisfactory smirk.
"Good…" He said quietly, as his Chidori dispersed. "Good…" All the training he had done in one day, however, was too much for his body to handle. The two snakes were released and Sasuke fell to the floor, his eyes returning to their normal black colour.
Questions? Comments? Constructive criticisms? Chapter two is coming soon to a fanfiction site near you!
- One Sweet Day