The Trade

Opening Part II

"Did you know that this city was once the centre of an empire? That it installed fear in the hearts of men with ease? Though, I don't think you got much of an education, Uchiha boy."

Rain fell hard on the city, plastering the speaker's long hair to his face as he stood calmly, sword drawn and breathing slowly. His gentle breathing was accompanied with hard laboured breathes of another; a sword buried hilt deep into his chest. This breathing soon turned to hacking, as a wave of blood was coughed out as the Uchiha staggered around in a dazed fashion, having already lost a lung in this battle.

"Shit… This hurts… Why the fuck wont it come out…?" The Uchiha questioned, trying to keep his balance as his modified genes started the healing process; thousands of cells repairing his heart and lung, only to be split apart by the sword that started the problem.

He roared in agony as he tried to pull it out himself, but to no avail. Instead, he leapt at his attacker; throwing punches and kicks, desperately trying to strike him once. His attacker dodged and blocked every blow, stumbling on the pavement and loosing his perfect stance. The Uchiha kicked hard at his stomach, sending the blade wielder into a wall and breaking two of his ribs.

"Well done, you hit me… Not many people manage to live long enough to even try…"

"Save it. I don't care if I'm the first or not, 'cause I'll sure as hell be the last!" The Uchiha pulled out two G18 machine pistols and let loose a barrage of bullets which tore up the street and buildings. The attacker ran for cover, cursing his stupidity at forgetting about Uchiha's guns. The onslaught slowed as the Uchiha coughed out more blood, staining his shirt as he walked towards the half hidden man. "This is my revenge Hyuga! For all the agony you put me through, for all the sorrow I've suffered and for my family!"

"They weren't your family." The Hyuga stood up slowly, his eyes pale and unfocused; a sign of his one weakness: he was blind. "The Uchiha clan does not exist… it's all a fabrication, an experiment that we conducted."

"SHUT UP!" The Uchiha swung at the Hyuga, his anger clear from the wide blows.

"It was merely a way to gain more power for our main branch. However, it backfired…" The Hyuga continued, blocking and dodging the attacks. "We all suffered from the short sightedness of the main family, and it seems you did as well."

The Hyuga span and kicked the hilt of the katana in the Uchiha's body, sending him sprawling and hacking at the pain. Slowly, the shaking body stood up, legs weak from the pain but still able to take the weight.

"Wanna know the difference between you and me? You're still suffering, whereas my pain has a cure. So, the fucking joke's on you!" The Uchiha proudly displayed a middle finger to the Hyuga. "You're blind, tired and sick. You haven't got a hope in hell in killing me! And now I, Sasuke Uchiha, shall take another step forward in my revenge!"

Finally tearing the sword from his body, Sasuke howled in a mix of agony and will to fight as his vision blurred suddenly. His eyes focused and turned dark, as his enhanced vision took its toll. Crying tears of blood, Sasuke ran at the Hyuga who had drawn his second blade. Sparks flew as gun metal hit steel, only to be put out by the downpour and masked under the sounds of the unaware city and heavens…

The two stood heaving, facing away from each other and drenched in blood and rainwater.

"Hey, Sasuke."

"Yeah?"

"What does the sky look like now?"

"Grey, as always. Why?"

"It's been so long since I've been able to see. I wanted to know if it has changed…" the Hyuga fell to the floor, the toll of the numerous bruises and bullet scratches finally showing. Sasuke soon followed suit, a scar healing from where the blade once rested in his chest. A long pause followed, the two men slowly coming back to life.

"It hasn't changed. It'll never change. Where do we go from here then, Neji?"

"Up to you… partner." Neji slowly got to his feet, his wounds healed.

"Then we shall pay a dear friend a visit?" Sasuke stood up as well, holstering his weapons as he began to walk away.

"And who would that be?"

"Uchiha Madara."