Incarceration

Chapter Two

-Flight-

Thirteen Years Later…

Kurogané sat, as he sometimes did, in the little alcove by the pond at the park. It was where he first met Viletta thirteen years ago. He was nineteen now, but was still able to remember that moment as if it had just happened yesterday. The only times he ever visited this place were when he needed to think about things, or on the anniversary of the day he had become friends with the ebony haired girl.

Today, though, he just needed to be alone. His family, especially his parents, used to pester and tease him all the time for not having any friends outside the family. And as he got older, it had turned into jokes about him being gay, since he never dated. But he didn't have time for such trivial things. He was always away from the village on missions, and when he was at home he was training or satisfying his mother by spending time with her and the other members of their quickly-growing family. It wasn't something he particularly enjoyed, but he did love his family nonetheless, despite how annoying they could be at times.

He sighed softly, staring down into jade eyes as he studied his reflection. He'd changed a lot since he was a child. Now he was even taller than his father, though only by a little, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist that came from his profession. He was leanly muscled, his ebony hair falling into his face to slightly cover his eyes. On the left side of his head he had a section of hair that was white, perfectly natural and inherited from his father. It was the only thing other than his eyes that differentiated him from his sister, since her white streak was on the right side.

Sometimes he wondered how different his life would be if Viletta hadn't disappeared so shortly after their first meeting. He'd probably be happier, having had a friend, and perhaps they would have become boyfriend and girlfriend, since it appeared that was what most guy-girl friendships became, unless one or both of them were gay. He definitely wouldn't go on as many missions as he did now, because he'd want to spend time with her. But the biggest difference would be the crap people always gave him about being an emo loner. With a friend, he wasn't a loner, because he'd never be alone. Sure, he'd probably still be as distant and cold towards people as he already was, but the degree would be lessened.

But there was no point in continuing such musings, as they only ever put him in a bad mood. Besides, thinking about how things could have been different never helped anything, and was just a waste of time. So, the Uchiha stood, intent on going to find his older cousin Sakimori and see if the man wanted to spar. Sparring always took his mind off of more serious matters, and even lifted his spirits, on occasion.

As he headed out of the park, he was stopped by a member of the Anbu. He recognized the man to be one of the newer recruits, the fact that he had been sent to tell him something only supporting that fact, since his uncle never used the seasoned members for such menial tasks. "Kurogané-sama, Noriaki-sama has requested your presence in his office immediately. It's urgent."

"Very well." Kurogané said, letting his sand swirl around him, the grains taking him to the Anbu Headquarters. He reappeared in his uncle's office, surprise lighting his jade gaze for only a moment at the sight that greeted him. Leaning against the desk was his uncle, a fierce looking man with spiky black hair and piercing jade eyes, similar to Kurogané. Authority and arrogance radiated off of him, as well as a slight air of seriousness, which was rare for the elder man.

But that wasn't what surprised him upon entry. There, lined before his uncle, was his sister, and two of his cousins. First and foremost was Sakimori, the eldest of the fourth generation Uchihas, as well as his Uncle Noriaki's firstborn. He looked just as harsh as his father, with spiky, white-tipped ebony hair, and deep violet eyes. But in those eyes was a kindness that the elder man did not possess, and only those who knew the Uchiha well knew that he was a big softie, something that had always seemed to disappoint Noriaki.

Next to him was his younger cousin Ryousuke, the only Uchiha in history with bright, golden blonde hair, something he inherited from his mother. He had his father's forest green eyes, something their grandfather had passed on, and was around the same height as Kurogané. Each of the men were similar in build, the only difference being that Sakimori was the tallest of them all.

Izumi, his younger twin by five minutes, made up the rear of the line. She was just as beautiful as their mother, with a perfect, well kept figure, and long ebony locks that went down to the small of her back. Her grey gaze met his and she smiled slightly, watching him as he walked until he was next to her. "What's going on?" he asked, looking at his uncle.

"We have a huge problem." Noriaki said, his frown deepening. "An Omega level prisoner has escaped Hitoya."

All four went wide eyed, staring at him in disbelief. Izumi swallowed, though her fear was obvious on her face. "I didn't even know we had an Omega level prisoner here in Konoha."

The elder almost growled. "Apparently so." He seethed, since it seemed he was also unaware of that fact.

"So what do you want us to do? Retrieve them?" Ryousuke asked.

"We should probably just kill them." Kurogané spoke up. "It'll be easier that way."

Noriaki nodded. "Kill her. She's far too dangerous to be kept alive."

"Her?" Izumi blinked.

"It's a woman?" Kurogané asked. "What does she look like?"

Noriaki reached back and grabbed a file, opening it up and looking it over. "No picture, but she has short, black hair. Green eyes. Willowy and thin. Stay out of her reach and kill on sight. Her level was selected by my mother personally."

Ryousuke sighed. "Not much to go on." He said. "Who's leading this mission?"

"No one. You find her and you kill her and then bring her back. Understood? You leave immediately and return swiftly." Noriaki said, gesturing for them to leave. "Meet with your grandmother in fifteen minutes. She will show you the cell and you may start from there."

They all nodded, turning and leaving the room. "I say we go put on our gear and stuff before seeing grandma." Ryousuke said. "It won't take that long anyways, if Kuro and Izumi transport us all."

The twins nodded and in a quick swirl they all disappeared and were once more in the Uchiha District. They separated and readied in their Anbu attire, while packing and then reconvening. "I wonder why they'd keep such a dangerous prisoner here in Konoha." Izumi wondered aloud.

Sakimori sighed, looking off. "It's probably not what we think."

"Is it ever?" Kurogané smirked, turning and looking out at the forest. "Well, let's get going. We all know grandma and Uncle Nori don't like to be kept waiting." He said, heading out with his cousins and sister behind him.

"When will they learn that patience is a virtue?" Ryousuke asked with a sigh, though everyone could tell it was a joke.

Kurogané glanced back at the blonde. "Patience may be a virtue, but time is of the essence. So we better get moving." And with that they all leapt into the trees, racing off after the mysterious prisoner, each with the mindset that this mission would not only be easy, but that they would have it done in a timely fashion. Because when you put four Uchihas together, the results were bound to be positive.