Starfall
Okay, Guys this is my first fanfic, but that does NOT mean that you treat me like a first timer. Please read and review and voice your opinions. I'm open to a little well minded criticism, but I simply cannot take stupid and naïve insults. That is all.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, and if I did, the Raikage would have bitten the dust a long time ago!
This is for Aditi. Because you love Naruto, hope you will like this!
Note: 1) Taiki: Radiance. 2) Inazuma: Lightning. 3) dokushinka-mind reader; dokushinjutsu: mind reading technique.
Prologue
The sky was overcast, and humming with distant bursts of thunder, as if in tentative anticipation. Everything was quiet, but for the sound of Nature voicing it's obvious anger. Konoha's sentinel ninja tensed. The night did not bode well for them. The Uchiha quarters were menacingly silent. A distant sound of a tree getting hit with obvious force was the only distraction.
Sasuke Uchiha hit the tree again, and cursed. His body was not complying anymore. Thinking a strangely masochistic thought he hit the tree again. The pain blossomed in his fist, and he reveled in its momentary agony. He stood. The tree was now ready to take a full assault. His hands quickly for formed the signature Fire- style tiger seal. He proceeded with more seals, and launched his feet into the air. The air nuzzled his face, and he smiled. "Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire technique!" The tree was in clear view now. He inverted himself in midair, and cupped his hand to his mouth. Ten orbs of fire shot out of his mouth with unearthly intensity, and rained down upon the hapless tree. The intensity of the blast was great, and upon impact, the tree was ablaze, slowly being reduced to a crisp. He landed safely away, and turned to survey the damage he had done. Satisfied, he trudged off towards his house. The Uchiha panted slightly, and made a great show of hiding his fatigue. That was when he heard footsteps at a distance. His senses were at peak sensitivity due to his training. He hid himself on a low lying tree. The main road seemed deserted. He looked toward the source of the commotion. A small convoy consisting of five hooded figures was huddled in conference. One of them let out a low hiss. "Let the boy go, Yumi! This is no time for hysterics!" Yumi Uchiha? Sasuke knew her faintly. But her husband was known very well.
Taiki Uchiha was a well known warrior, and one of the most feared ANBU, second only to Shusui and Itachi. He surpassed them in terms of age, and hence wielded more influence. Sasuke tensed. He was the hissing man. Yumi seemed to sigh heavily. Sasuke could make out her resignation. She handed a small bundle to Taiki. The big man tensed. He looked around. He gave the bundle to another figure. "Handle it as you will." He said simply. "Yumi, go, if you must. I have business to attend to…" Yumi broke down in a sudden moment, and began weeping profusely. But it ceased as fast as it had come. Small rivulets trickled down her chin, though. He outline heaved. The entourage turned, and left in the direction of the river. No sooner were they out of sight, Taiki faced the very tree Sasuke was perched on.
Sasuke froze, and looked at the man. Two red eyes with three tomoes were gazing at his exact position. Taiki's Sharingan was in full view to the young Uchiha, and he suppressed a gasp. Of course he knew where he was. No point in running. He dropped nimbly to the ground. Taiki was surprised at the intruder's boldness, or rather, foolishness. Sasuke decided to be direct. "My apologies, Taiki-dono. I happened to be in the vicinity, training, and chanced upon your…entourage." His voice trailed under Taiki's mixed look of frustration and amusement. Taiki recognized him. "Well, well…if it isn't Itachi's brother!" Sasuke thanked his brother mentally. The situation was becoming lighter. Taiki dispelled any notions he was having, by saying "But then…you have to be dealt with in some way, at least…" Sasuke was having none of that. He managed to mutter a"Whatever you were up to, I had no idea-", when Taiki's breath was hot on his neck. "Uchiha are taught to destroy their curiosities for matters which do not concern them…" Sasuke rounded over, and fell to the ground. He stood up, trying to gain distance between the ANBU and himself. Taiki shrugged. "Well, your memory in this regard can be… erased…" his words were heavy with intent. Sasuke turned tail, and ran towards the river. Taiki's words could be heard. "No point in running, boy! Save your energy for later!"
Sasuke panted hard. The river was much more audible now. He looked around for Taiki, but he had simply disappeared. Sasuke's guard was high, when suddenly; he heard the sound of a baby. The sky was growling with increased fury now. And the lightning flashed. In the neon blue glow, Sasuke caught the silhouettes of the hooded figures near the river. The reservoir of the heavens burst without warning, and rain cascaded down upon Sasuke. The Uchiha looked around. The baby's wailing was hauntingly above the pitch of the lightning, and Sasuke felt a slight tingle in his chest. He then caught sight of Taiki, who was standing like a specter out of hell, with his cloak whipping about his person. Sasuke gulped. The ninja's hands moved. Sasuke gasped in sudden pain, as he attempted to remove the senbon from his thigh. Rivulets of blood started to flow. Taiki was behind him. "End of the line, boy…" Sasuke turned, and smirking in spite of his pain, screamed, "Fire Style: Grand Fireball Technique!" Taiki's form blurred as the streaking fireball streaked past his cloak, and he appeared behind Sasuke once more. This time he caught hold of Sasuke's neck, and pinned him against his chest. Sasuke felt something white hot trickle down his cheek. He looked up, and to his surprise, saw the emotionless ANBU member shed tears. Taiki leaned down, and whispered in Sasuke's ear: "I hope to see Inazuma become like you…alas….at least, it is a fitting name…" with those cryptic words, Sasuke's world became black.
Lightning flashed once more, this time tracing the outline of two motionless figures near the river bank. A third figure made off with the bundle, and swiftly disappeared into the stormy night, leaving only the sound of a crying baby in its wake…
Taiki Uchiha reported engaging two rogue ANBU the next day, and claimed that his wife had suffered a miscarriage due to the attempted assassination. His son was never born, and he shed tears as he relayed the news. The council murmured their sympathies, and gave the man a well deserved break.
The incident was a closed case.
Sasuke Uchiha lived, and did not remember a single moment of that night. He was found in a critical condition, and Taiki Uchiha claimed to have saved the boy as he was caught unawares by the ANBU as he trained.
On the outskirts of Konohagakure, lived the reclusive, almost extinct clan of the dokushinka. One of the clan reported an assault on her house 5 years ago. She was engaged in dokushinjutsu, when she felt a presence of a ninja. Her memory was hazy, but she did remember a flash of red eyes, spinning ones…and she had been performing a mind erasing technique upon a client. The client was dead, regardless.
Two weeks after that, the Uchiha clan massacre took place, and none of the Uchiha survived.
Except two of them.
Sasuke, and….
Inazuma.