Chapter 2: Powerless
"Sasuke-kun, are you sure? You've had plenty for tonight," the bartender asked cautiously. The young Uchiha had arrived hours ago at the bar and started calling drinks since then. Though Uchiha Sasuke had been highly praised as a calm and collected ninja, experience taught the bartender what a few drinks could do to even the most gentle soul on earth. He knew better than aggravate the young ninja, even though Sasuke's calm demeanour did not once break.
Sasuke snorted. "It's fine. Just give me another bottle," he repeated, brushing a hand through his hair with slight impatience.
"Oh my, isn't it Sasuke-kun?" a high pitch shrill sounded through the noisy bar.
"Who the hell are you?" Sasuke growled in irritation as a tall girl with blonde hair smiled and seated herself next to him. He had a pretty good idea what was going to happen next. Those girls and their idiotic nonsense, he thought with an inward sigh. But he probably needed such nonsense tonight, anything – that could distract him from reality.
Itachi narrowed his eyes. Someone had been following him ever since he had left the prison compound. Slowing down from his walk, he tilted his head slightly upwards and gave the trees to his left an appraising stare.
"Is there something that you needed, Kakashi-san?" Itachi asked calmly.
With a rustle from the trees, the Copy Ninja appeared before the Uchiha. Resting a hand behind his head, Kakashi beamed.
"You really caught me there, Itachi-taichou," Kakashi grinned sheepishly scratching his head.
(taichou = captain) ^^
Itachi blinked, slightly taken aback at the use of the title. A wave of nostalgia swept through his body. After all, it had been years.
"Well, I was hoping to talk to you about Sasuke," Kakashi continued, his smile fading.
"And what of him?" Itachi asked slowly. Though he had already expected this to come, he inwardly braced himself for the conversation ahead.
"Well – putting it simply," Kakashi began, "three years ago, during the course of the Chunnin exams, Sasuke's team was ambushed by Oorochimaru and the boy was branded with a cursed seal."
Itachi's gaze sharpened. "The Heaven Seal?" he narrowed his eyes in slight alarm.
"Yes. I've managed to seal it, but even now, Sasuke doesn't have complete control over it," Kakashi replied. "The seal is still strong and is prone to be released when Sasuke's emotions become highly unstable."
Itachi nodded. "I see," he answered slowly.
"Well," Kakashi beamed once again, "I'm off. I'll leave those kids in your hands, Itachi."
Itachi gazed at the Copy ninja's retreating back.
Oorochimaru, he cursed silently.
"Congratulations on your entry to ANBU, Sasuke-kun," the girl Lena smiled sweetly. "I knew that Sasuke-kun would definitely make it, because Sasuke-kun is such a genius!"
Sasuke tried his hardest not to roll his eyes. Despite the fact that she had been talking for a mere five minutes, he found that the girl was starting to bore him out. So much for distractions.
Lena rested her chin on one hand while observing him. "Sasuke-kun, is it really alright for you to be out drinking this late? I've heard that the ANBU rookie squads are all reporting for duty early tomorrow morning. Not that I mind your company here..." she giggled and pushed herself nearer to the Uchiha.
Sasuke raised the bottle to his lips and gulped. Setting the bottle down slowly, he snorted and repeatedly tapped the table with his forefinger.
"What difference would it make if one of us were absent? I don't really see the need for a four-man squad this time," Sasuke spat bitterly. "After all, since that man single-handedly wiped out a clan, Tsunade should just send him as a one-man squad to handle Akatsuki."
"Ah, Uchiha Itachi-san?" Lena piped up with curiosity. "He's amazing isn't he? I mean he sacrificed his clan for Konoha, like a real hero-
Slam
Sasuke banged his fist on the table and stood up. Flashing on his sharingan menacingly, he glared at the girl.
"He's nothing but a murderer," Sasuke hissed, walking to the exit.
"Sas-"
"Shut up," he snapped. "You're annoying."
And then, he broke into a run.
It was a wild run with no destination. No one, no place could keep him safe from the madness of his rushing thoughts. And Uchiha Sasuke had always been taught to run. If you stopped, you'll go crazy. If you stopped, you'll die. If you stopped, you'll never be able to catch up to ni-san.
...run...run... and cling on to your pathetic life...
Sasuke bit down hard on his lip and dashed forward.
...if you wish to kill me, then hate me, detest me...
He squeezed his eyes shut as the wind came down hard upon his face.
...I wouldn't call it a dream, but I do have an ambition...to kill a certain man...
His clenched fists were starting to feel painless and numb.
...Uchiha Itachi will be returning to the Hidden Leaf...
He dug his fingers harder and clawed into his already bleeding palms.
...amazing isn't he?...like a real hero...
He hissed and grimaced in response to the new pain.
... don't judge others simply by your preconceptions and judgment based on their appearance...
He screamed his lungs out to the cold night air.
...reinstated as ANBU captain...not tolerate any confrontations...
Finally stopping his run, he dropped to his knees, panting heavily.
...Why are you so weak?...because you lack...hatred...
A single tear slid down his cheek.
The next morning
"Where's Sasuke?" Tsunade snapped sharply.
Sakura bit her lip uncertainly. "Actually shishou, we haven't seen him since your speech yesterday..." Trailing off, she looked around the room. They were standing in front of the Hokage's desk at five in the early morning, as they were told to do so. But nowhere in the room could the kunoichi see Sasuke or their new captain. Beside her, she noted that Naruto was much quieter and depressed compared to his usual self. He hadn't spoken a single word ever since they met in the room.
Tsunade sighed and folded her arms crossly. Late on the first day reporting for duty. Not a good sign.
"Grandma Tsunade," Naruto spoke suddenly, "why did you put Itachi on the same team as us?"
Sakura gulped. It was a question that had pounded wildly in her head too. She gazed expectantly up at her shishou.
Tsunade studied the expressions on both their faces and sighed yet again. Choosing her next words carefully, she leaned back in her chair and rubbed her weary eyes.
"That was not a decision I made. The groupings were done by the council elders as I was busy with the restructuring of Konoha after our last attack."
"But-" Naruto immediately piped up.
"Enough," she demanded forcefully. "I don't care if you've been enemies in the past. But that man is now your captain and I expect all of you to give him the respect and obedience he deserves. Go, he will be meeting you at ANBU training grounds 8. I will send Sasuke there when he arrives."
Itachi sat at the stone platform in the centre of the training grounds. Resting his arm on his right leg that he propped up, he calmly surveyed the surrounding forest. It has been a whole eight years.
His thoughts strayed to his younger brother and his eyes softened momentarily. Their last reunion had not been a happy one.
"Like you've said, I've hated, detested you and...I've lived!" the emotional boy roared and charged at him with a chidori in hand.
"Don't interfere," he panted heavily to his blond friend. "This is my fight; I told you that I've lived only to kill this man!"
Itachi sighed. He had chosen to reveal himself for the sake of Konoha's safety, but instead driven his brother into yet another corner. The Akatsuki's sudden plan to invade Konoha had been an irritable foil in his plans. He had planned all along to play to death the role as a mad, power-thirsty murderer who will eventually be killed by his younger brother, and not...this.
Given another chance, he knew that he would yet again choose safety of the village over his younger brother, and always the village. He had seen enough of war and pain to know the true value of peace and happiness. Power, status restored... he knew he deserved none of this, though such titles never mattered much to him in the first place. His true regret was to be unable to die at the hands of his younger brother, and failure to allow the Uchiha name to stay untarnished in the boy's mind.
He knew that he had once again ruptured the flow of the boy's life.
The sound of swirling wind alerted him to the arrival of his new squad. Or at least, arrival of the medic and nine-tails host. Sasuke was nowhere in sight.
"Take off your masks and identify yourselves," he calmly ordered, sliding off from the platform.
"Uzumaki Naruto," the nine-tails host practically growled at him, eyes flashing with irritation.
Itachi had to hold back a smile. Naruto had, on more than one occasion, reminded him of what Sasuke was like when he was younger. Easily read, and full of energy and life. His brother had certainly made an interesting friend.
"I'll stop Sasuke and protect Konoha," Naruto yelled to him. "Because I'm a better brother to Sasuke than you ever were!"
Itachi smiled.
"Haruno Sakura," the medic reported calmly. Unlike Naruto, Itachi could see that she had better control of her emotions and also better insight to situations.
"What do both of you see ANBU as?" Itachi asked with a slight gesture of his hand. When he was met with silence, he added more softly, "I will neither take offence at your answer, nor see any of you any differently than I already am; so speak."
The medic inhaled deeply before speaking. "It is a group of elite ninjas that work behind the shadows under orders of the Hokage to protect the village," she answered.
Itachi nodded. A textbook answer.
Naruto slackened his posture and tilted his head. "Well, from what I see," he rudely began, "It has a ridiculous and idiotic system that are more suited for crazy murderers with mental problems than for ninjas like us." "For instance, ex-Akatsuki members," he added.
"Naruto!" the medic hissed in alarm.
"It's alright," Itachi said, the ghost of a smile lingering at his lips. "It is true that the system and discipline in ANBU are overly harsh and strict. But the ability to observe, assess, and question are also highly valued. We are not puppets; we do not blindly follow orders, but also question if they are beneficial to Konoha as a whole."
"But apparently some have still allowed themselves to be used like puppets," a cold voice drawled from behind.
Itachi blinked and narrowed his eyes slightly. "You're late," he said, turning to face the newcomer. His voice came out more gently than he had expected.
"Well, my apologies, tai-chou," Sasuke replied smoothly. His voice was laced with sarcasm.
Sasuke walked past Itachi to stand beside his two teammates, eyes never once leaving his older brother. The strong scent of alcohol wafted through the air. He had been drinking.
"I will suggest that you remove yourself from the ANBU if you find yourself unable to achieve even the simple task of punctuality," Itachi impassively stated as he stared back.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Oh, I would really love to," he hissed.
"Sas-" Sakura began.
"Sasuke!" Naruto roared. Even though they were no longer Team 7, hadn't the three of them promised to fight and stand together always? He will not allow Itachi to break them apart. Never.
"If you leave, then Sakura-chan and I aren't staying either," he told his friend furiously. Sakura nodded her assent.
"Tch," Sasuke scowled in irritation. He didn't care if he got into trouble by going against Itachi. But it was another thing to drag his friends down in hot soup.
"I...didn't mean what I just said," he scowled, adverting his eyes to the ground.
He tapped his finger against the wooden armrest as he studied the kneeling man before him. His face lifted into a rare smirk.
"Is that so?" his voice was hoarse and raspy. "If that is all, then you may go."
The ROOT operative hesitated. "If I may ask, Danzo-sama," he carefully ventured, "Is there any reason putting the two Uchihas together?"
Danzo looked down at his subordinate impassively.
"One never does things without a motive, Sai."
(end)
And there's chapter 2! Hope you guys enjoyed it! Thanks to the 3 reviewers for making my day :DD please give me your reviews for this chapter too! Was anyone too OOC? And I'm thinking of giving everyone codenames, so some suggestions would be nice :) thanks again!