The Hero Game:
Chapter Four:
Update: 3/18/17
(*)
"Very interesting." A large torch sat center the cave this being the only source of lighting as eleven shadows sat in a circular formation around the flame.
"You only find interest in this girl and not my other research Leader-sama." His words came out like an actual hiss, but still held it's jester.
"This girl may be of great importance, you know this!"
A tsst noise emanated from his mouth. "My attempt at a joke Leader-sama, apologies. But, I believe my research to be extremely crucial."
"That is fine, as long as you are aware where your priorities lie."
He shrugged, his priorities were his business alone and there he didn't agree with the leader.
"So, she's the one?".
"Most definitely, if her eyes said anything about it.". Not everyone shared the same sentiments.
"Possibly." The leader's voice skeptical and baritone.
There was silence, then... "Then we should make moves to obtain her immediately, Yeah?"
"I don't think so, it may have unfavorable results. Leader-sama?" He allowed his tongue to come outwards very slightly. Their leader was silent.
"No, we shouldn't rush into things, first we need to determine if her power delivers anything profitable."
"Tsst. Kakuzu-san, you're only thinking about how she can get the organization more income. Forget about the monetary gain and just imagine the research we could do."
"I don't see what the fuss is about over this girl, we can continue our plans without the forsaken child, we already have this one." His eyes fell upon the one he was referring to, the bomb expert.
"Don't be so uptight Sasori-san, she could definitely help with spreading my art, her fire and my explosions, un." The youngest of the group smirked sinisterly.
Then the leader finally spoke.
"Or rather, how she could aid our efforts of obtaining world peace. Remember our ultimate goal, my friends. That power could be of significant use, and we just simply need to observe her a bit longer." The leader said causing everyone to stop with their input and give the man their undivided attention. "What was the girl's name again?",
"Sasuki…" The snake man stated with a sick smile that was visible even through the darkness. "...Sasuki Uchiha."
(*)
She had returned home around 10:15. Almost stumbling into her house, but she was able to keep herself upright. Her body ached and she felt more tired than she had felt at the track. She had actually planned on sleeping in for the rest of the day, but the blond, of course, had placed his own plans on her.
"Annoying." She muttered, as she headed into the kitchen, her mother already up sipping a hot cup of coffee.
"Father's working?"
The woman with a striking resemblance to Sasuki nodded. "He's extremely busy."
"Ah of course, and Itachi?"
Her mother smirked. "Just out running some errands, he should be back any moment. How was the track?"
She grabbed a container of orange juice from the fridge and poured a glass.
"Good." She replied.
"You alright?"
Sasuki rose an eyebrow. Had she been acting differently?
"Peachy."
"You sure?"
"Yes!"
"No boy trouble, Sasuki-Chan?" Her mother's voice came out teasingly.
She almost spat out her orange juice but instead was content with choking on it. "Wha–"
"You were with the mayor's son, Naruto were you not? He's pretty attractive."
She couldn't just hang out with boys, she guessed.
"Mom, we're just friends, like it's only been a week and you're already jumping to conclusion!" She crossed her arms, her charcoal eyes glaring into her Mother's charcoal eyes. The two were the same exact height and at first sight, someone would think that they were siblings if their resemblance was anything to go by.
"Your Father and I were just 'friends'." She sang.
Sasuki turned trying to hide the small tint of red.
"Alright, I'm going back to bed, I'm tired!"
Sasuki shook her head and headed upstairs to her room, still not yet used to the environment, but she was tired nonetheless. Maybe she'd wake up and it would all be a dream, she'd wake up in her old hometown, then she would have never come into contact with the crazy pale-faced man' would have happened. And probably the strangest out of everything, that event where he hands produced fire and her eyes turned a deep crimson, maybe that was part of the weird dream. The girl sighed as she walked upstairs and plopped herself on her bed turning on the television, as she began streaming Netflix.
She lay on her bed barely paying attention to the show, nor did she even have any luck at sleep. Her attention remained on her thoughts, her eyes on her hands as she looked down at them envisioning what had happened. Fire. She had always had an admiration of fire, it's ability to spread and just simply burn, produce light and just look cool. That same element had come from her hands, and she knew she wasn't crazy she had seen it and felt it. The problem, though, were the questions running through her head. Why and how? She concentrated gazing at her hands as if to try and command the fire to come out by itself. Her eyes narrowing as she thought hard.
"Come to my hand ...eh, my palm." She commanded, as her concentration continued. It went on like this for a few moments before she stopped, realizing how silly she was being. She sighed before a sudden sense of irritation ran through her. It was sudden and so unlike her, but it jolted through her like electricity. It tingled down her spine causing her to involuntarily shake slightly.
"Jeez!" With the sudden urge, the girl picked up an old action figure from her desk, that she had kept for sentimental and nostalgic reasons and chucked it at the wall opposite her bed. The toy immediately ignited in an uncontrolled orange flame, catching the girl by surprise before slamming into the wall and extinguishing in a smothering black. The toy lay on the floor, smoke rising from is as it laid completely burnt. Her eyes widened, as she stared at the object on the floor, the smell of burning plastic engulfed her nostrils as she just stared awestruck. Her eyes immediately fell back to her mirror as if on impulse and there, there it was. Her eyes, yet again they were crimson with small black commas within them. Her eyes were wide as she just watched her own reflection. The shock and terror in her eyes, and her inability to comprehend what was occurring. She had been angry a plethora of times, she has had points where she was literally furious. But, here right now it had been mild irritation at best. Last time it had been fear, and her resolve to live and get away from a creepy. This time she had become irritated due to her own curiosity.
She got what she wanted, unfortunately.
But, had she truly expected results? No. She took in a deep breath, in an attempt to calm herself. There was a knock at her bedroom door.
"Sasuki, are you alright" The baritone voice of her elder brother came from the other side.
"Don't come in, I'm not–dressed!" She stated in panic, her eyes still a deep red.
"I heard a bang as if you threw something—Are you burning things in your room again baby sister?"
Her eyes fell to the toy. "No."
"I can smell burnt plastic."
She was actually an idiot...
"Alright, yes."
She could hear the disappointment in his voice. "Really, you're regressing back to your middle school antics?"
She said nothing as the door opened. Itachi entered, his eyes glaring down at the girl, his reading glasses fixed neatly on his face. His eyes fell to the action figure at the floor of the wall, it's body scorched. She glared at him hoping that her extremely perceptive elder brother wouldn't notice the change in her eyes.
"It's ten, you're usually sleeping at this time. But instead, you're setting fire to toys. Are you bored or something?" He didn't seem to notice, she quickly glanced towards the mirror, only to notice that her eyes had returned to the normal charcoal black.
She needed to think of something quick. "Uh, yeah sorry. Just had a weird impulse, didn't mean to disturb you."
Itachi pushed his glasses back onto his nose.
"Ah." His eyes went upwards before falling back onto her frame. "I suggest you open a window unless you want Mother questioning you."
"Yeah, yeah!"
"And really, stop with the fire, you could burn the house down or hurt yourself. Don't say I didn't warn you, little sister."
He nodded, rushing up to her feet. "Alright, alright now get out of my room!",
"Wait, this is a small issue that could turn very problematic."
"Itachi, I'm not going to burn the house down! I was just… trying something, I won't do it again."
He sighed. "How troublesome." He moved towards the door. "For your own sake, please stay out of trouble here. Try not to make a reputation in this neighborhood."
She gave him a death glare, taking offense to his words.
"Please." He reinforced his statement with that one word, causing the girl to eye him even stronger as he inclined his head in farewell.
"How could I have been so stupid?" She muttered, falling onto her bed as her head began to throb with a slight headache from the minor irritant that was her brother. She was still questioning everything, literally everything. She glared down at her palms and then back at the destroyed action figure that had been with her for almost ten years. It was sad to see him in such a state, but she decided that his life with her was not yet over. She decided to pick it up and place it on her bed stand.
She stood still before she finally came to terms with her situation.
"I have powers.", and they were stimulated by emotion. She was motionless, her thoughts a small mess as she continued to compile the information. Why? What was the rational and logical reason as to why this was happening? Maybe a scientific one? None came into the girl's head, as she silently attempted to discover a reason.
The answer remained inconclusive, but one question seemed to be the most imperative of all the other questions. She kne it was dangerous and she knew that her emotions were a big factor to her powers. But, maybe she could control it? A stretch, but she couldn't just ignore this and act like it doesn't exist. Maybe she could control it for the sake of people around her, so she doesn't go and burn someone, one of her friends or family specifically. The only person she wouldn't mind burning was that creepy guy who put a knife to her throat. She didn't ever want to meet him again! And would do whatever was in her power to avoid him. He had known her name and she silently wondered if he had any idea as to her where she lived. The thought made her paranoid.
(*)
The week had just started, and Sasuki felt tired as ever. She had a lot of time to think about her powers and possibly controlling them. She figured she would go about that by first controlling her emotions, which she had absolutely no idea how she would pull that off. The Uchiha walked towards her locker, her thoughts consuming her attention as she suddenly slammed into someone's hard chest. She stumbled backward a bit before her eyes fell upon familiar features.
"Sasuki-san." His voice steady and his eyes watching her curiously. "I had heard that you were attending Konoha high."
"Neji." She stated, him being one of the people she had wished she had not come into contact with. "I actually forgot you attended Konoha."
He grunted at her words. "I also see that your Father's the chief of Konoha, how'd he swindle his way there?"
"Oh, you know, working hard, getting their the legit way, grinding. Something I'm sure not a lot of people in your family are capable of." She allowed a small smirk of satisfaction to fall on her face. He eyed her, his face seeming to be calm but his eyes held a stern gaze.
"My family has done plenty of things legitly."
"You sure?"
"I am most definitely."
She pictured smoke rising from the Hyuga's head and this made her laugh.
He rose his chin. "What! What are you laughing at?"
She just smirked at him. Riling the boy that had been her rival since birth was just too much fun. He was always so serious and getting under his skin was something she excelled at, if there were a class for it, she'd be teaching it. "I'm just remembering all the things I'm better than you at."
His eyes narrowed. "Why you little– You know I'm a better martial–"
"Sasuki-san!" The black-haired girl turned in the direction of her name, the newcomer's words interrupting him.
"Sakura." She answered turning to the pink haired girl.
"What's up… you know Neji-san?"
Both Hyuga and Uchiha glared at one another, the atmosphere became saturated in a tense feeling emanating from the two. A sweatdropped formed on Sakura's forehead as she too felt the atmosphere.
"Yes." She answered.
"Very well, actually.", Neji stated the two not moving from one another's gaze.
"Friends?"
"You could say that we're...Acquaintances." He answered.
"Our families know one another." The Uchiha added.
"Oh okay. Um…"
It became awkward and before anyone could aid to some portion of the conversation, Neji spoke. "We can speak some other time."
Sasuki happily agreed as the boy walked away, presumably to his locker. That wouldn't be the last time they'd meet in the school. And she wholeheartedly looked forward to schooling the boy the next chance she got.
"Uh, what was that?"
She shrugged. "Our two families have a...rivalry."
"So you…",
"We don't particularly like each other, no."
"You two are friends?" The Uchiha questioned.
"Acquaintances.", Sakura replied.
The bell rang, signifying the beginning of homeroom, the subject of their conversation instantly changing.
"Any chance that Kakashi might be there before us?" Sakura joked.
"Not one."
(*)
She wasn't the most talkative person, and thus she never gave much input at the lunch table. It was just Sakura, Ino and Naruto with her and she sat quietly in her own thoughts.
"You know what pig, I don't think there's anyone who'd wanna date you!"
"Well, you'd be dead wrong forehead! Cause he's real!"
"Doubt it!" Sakura retorted, and Sasuki silently found herself paying slight attention to their exchange.
"Who is he anyway?"
"The new kid that just came yesterday?"
"New kid? I didn't hear of any new kid." Sakura said in disbelief.
Ino clicked her tongue. "Of course you haven't you've been so invested into school spirit week."
She hadn't heard of some new kid, other than herself, either.
"I've heard of the new kid. Girls are going nuts over him, haven't met him yet." Naruto gave his input, fiddling with the instant ramen he had heated up in the school microwave.
"Well, I haven't—wait, some guy just came to the school and you're already started dating him?"
"Yeah! Ever hear of love at first sight?" Sasuki actually internally shook her head at the blond girl's stupidity. That was fairytale talk.
"Ino… you're not serious..!"
"I'm am! I know what I want and I get what I want!" The girl stated with pride.
"Do you even know his name?"
"Of course!"
"Last name?"
"Does that even matter? That is simply a work in progress!" She argued and Sakura sighed, while Naruto looked at her with an optimistic smile
"Honestly, I hope that works out for you. When do we meet him?"
The blond girl smiled at Naruto before standing to her feet and looking off to the distance.
"Right now." Were her words before she moved towards a tall figure with blond hair and an almost feminine face. Sasuki analyzed the boy as he wrapped his arm around her waist and approached the table.
"So yeah, Sakura, Naruto, Sasuki-san. This is my new boyfriend Deidara."
The group watched their exchange as the blond waved with a goofy smile. Naruto greeted his fellow blond and shook his hand. "What's up man?" He asked.
The rest greeted him, while Sasuki just nodded towards him.
"Ah, nothing much, man, yeah. Do y'all have some good grub here?"
"Naw man."
"Not really."
"Not at all, babe." They all answered, except Sasuki who just shrugged. "You might as well just go out and eat." His blue eyes fell on Sasuki for the slightest of moments, a weird gaze within his orbs, before he went back to chatting with the rest.
"You know any good food joints?" He smiled goofily.
"I know somewhere that sells good Ramen!"
"Word? I love Ramen, un." Deidara retorted, to which Naruto's eyes went wide.
"I have a feeling that we're gonna be good friends. Ino, I definitely approve, Dattabyo!"
Deidara cheesed heavily. "So, you tryna go now?"
Naruto's eyes widened as he finished his cup of instant Ramen. "I'm always down for some Ramen!" He jumped from his seat when he finished.
"Sakura you trying to come?",
The pinket rose with a shrug as she grabbed her bag, before Ino placed a hand on Sakura's shoulder, Ino eyes held a secretive gaze to them. "Naw, Naruto. Sakura and I are gonna stay here. Why don't you take Sasuki-san?" Ino smiled and the Uchiha glared daggers at Ino. Did Ino just volunteer her?
"I mean, does it look like you'd be interested in what Sakura and I are about to talk about?"
She had a point. But at the same time, Sasuki was reluctant. One because of that pale creepy guy from her first week. Also, because she just volunteered her randomly.
"You wanna come, Sasuki-Chan?" He stated, with a smile that made her feel weird inside. She looked at him and then back at the other blond, who was giving her the most ominous feeling. She ignored the feeling and shook her head.
"Fine." She stated, and Deidara smiled. "Alright sweet!"
"Let's. Go!" Naruto stated in an animated voice that was more than necessary.
She sighed, following the two idiots.
(*)
"You ready?" The distinct sound of a clip being loaded into a pistol echoed. An atmosphere of desperation and need surrounded the two men.
"Ya not gonna bitch out on me now?"
One of the men cocked their weapon back.
A low sigh before. "Nah man, let's get this shit rollin'!"
"In and out, alright?"
"Yeah, I hear ya!"
(*)
She was quiet, but the two blonds were anything but. Thankfully, the ramen shop wasn't that far, and so here they were at this small little ramen Cafe. Albeit, it had a nice interior it wasn't anything special.
"This is really good, yeah!" Deidara hummed, with a neat slurp.
Naruto, on the other hand, went one hundred percent savage and slurped his food down in one gulp with no shame. The Uchiha shook her head, but couldn't help herself from laughing. He was, just Naruto.
"You sure you don't want any?" Naruto stated through a full mouth. Sasuki couldn't help but notice his stupid smile and it made her feel… content.
"Not with the way you're eating." She stated in jester. "No, I'll pass."
"It's good Sasuki-san. Try it!" She shook her head at Deidara.
"Oh, that reminds me. Deidara, you know Sasuki is new to the school too!" Naruto began drinking the water from his bowl, and the clerk chuckled from his lack of manners.
"Oh?"
She nodded, his eyes staring into her deeply, there was something in his blue orbs.
"Friends?" His hand reached out towards her and she found herself hesitantly watching it. Again, there was the ominous feeling she was getting from him. He seemed silly, he seemed like a nice kid, normal teenage shit. But, what was this feeling? This feeling that he wasn't trustworthy, that she'd regret associating with him.
She stared at him before clasping his hand with her palm. "Sure."
Suddenly, the sound of gunshots pierced Sasuki's ear drums, the girl jumped back from the stall, as the three teens looked outside in complete confusion.
"What the fuck was that?" Naruto questioned.
Her black eyes switched between Deidara and Naruto and the three dashed outside of the shop like Olympic sprinters.
They stepped into the streets, as another two bangs rang into the sky, the three ducked immediately at the noise. The bangs were like gunshots.
"Shit, what's going on?"
"The 7/11 is getting robbed, un."
"Shit.", Sasuki stated. "Who robs a 7/11?"
"We should call the police and get the hell outta here."
They all agreed, Naruto dialing 911 and the three heading back to school. But, a yell caught her ears. It was a cry rather, a cry of desperation. A cry for help. Neither of the blonds seemed to notice it, but It caused Sasuki to turn. Her eyes went towards the store as she stared. What was going on in there? Was anyone hurt? Should she care? The Uchiha continued staring contemplating her next actions, her eyes wide as fear encased her. She took a deep breath, as she stood as solid as a statue. What could she, Sasuki Uchiha a small fragile teenage girl do to presumably armed robbers? She needed to make a choice. She stood her eyes falling downwards towards the ground and then back to the store her eyes going back and forth.
She was just a high school teen, what could she do? She wasn't a superhero, she didn't even know how to use her supposed powers. Her presence was useless, she was useless.
Just run! A voice said fragile in its tone, fear seeming to be the main emotion fueling the voice's words.
She felt her fists clutching.
"This is how people get killed, I need to–"
Another cry made the girl jump, her heart skipped about five beats.
Then a more heroic and determined voice said, Go!
Before she could even register what was happening, her feet began to move as if on their own. She began sprinting as her body seemed to move on instinct, her feet slamming rapidly into the asphalt ground as her track speed kicked in.
What was she doing? Why was she trying to be a hero? She was no one special! Her whole life she was just a generic individual. A basic bitch! Why was she trying to be different?
But she wasn't generic! Her powers, that was something that made different. But what if she did more harm than good?
She grabbed the back of the hoodie she wore over her school uniform, throwing the black hood over her head, successfully concealing her features. Her feet made one last slam into the concrete before she entered the 7/11, exposing herself to the danger of the perpetrators.
She stood solid at the scene before her. The clerk, a young red haired girl with large glasses held her hands up in fear. Her heart began to pound excessively.
She noted two.
"Come on, don't fuck with us. This is all the shit you have?"
"I'm not that's all!"
"I know y'all keep the big bills somewhere back there. And if you don't start complying soon we're gonna start shooting."
"Please, look. I can give you what's in my wallet, but we don't have any more money!"
"BULLSHIT!" The man cocked the weapon, placing the barrel on her forehead. She whimpered before screaming. "No, please, please, please! Just, take the money please."
Help! There was the heroic voice again.
What could she do? What could she do?
"Sorry, but I'm trying to help you help me and you refuse."
Do something!
"What!" The red haired girl cried.
HELP!
That's when a small bottle smacked into the first man's face. His face was covered in a white joker mask and his partner an ape mask.
"The fuck?"
The man turned to her his hand still on the pistol. She instantly regretted her decision.
"You must really have a death wish, lose the hood, school girl!"
Oh yeah, the skirt. She said nothing but stared blankly her at the man.
"Nothing to say cat got your tongue, alright!" She closed her eyes realizing that the man was abouT to erase her existence. How useless, she had been completely and utterly useless. Throwing a bottle? Really, that was the best she could do? That was the best she could think of? Throwing a bottle? What would her Father had done? Hell, he would have had his firearm, and more than likely would have shot the man. What about Itachi? Itachi would have taken a more rational approach and it would have definitely worked out. Hell, Itachi and her Father would have pulled something out of their ass, and it would have worked. Sasuki? No, she was an idiot hell, her presence here actually made no difference. Useless, that's what she had been.
For some reason, it brought a lot of pain when she concluded this: she was no hero.
BANG.
She stood with her eyes close, before she realized she felt no pain and that she was still breathing. A loud thud sounded throughout the room. Sasuki opened her eyes, as she looked towards the counter a strip of blood on the register.
"God…" her tongue rolled. They had shot the girl.
"You wanted to play the hero game, now she has a fucking bullet in her abdomen. Your turn, little girl!"
They shot her. She had come to save her, to do something to prevent anyone from receiving harm and she couldn't even manage that. She stood, her hands clutched as she felt herself shake in both anger and regret.
"C'mon Jared, just end this fucker!"
She no longer felt fear, but rather a sensation, an abnormal sensation, one that most people shouldn't feel in a life or death situation, but this feeling was motivation and resolve.
"Right."
That's when it happened. Without any warning Sasuki let out a war cry, her hands going outwards on impulse as flames expelled forward. The orange flames engulfed the two men, as they let out screams of terror and agony. It was all impulse, movement, and no thought. More, she decided her anger making her power intensify. The girl kept going allowing the fire to pour into the men as they became completely incinerated by her fire. Finally, their cries were silent and the girl took in a deep breath before rational thought returned to her head. The 7/11 was on fire! Her eyes widened as she realized that the building caught fire because of her little display. Breathed heavily, she made for the exit. She stopped. "The girl!" She yelled before she went towards the desk and jumped over it. She stepped over the red-haired female, her glasses no longer on her face and completely soaked in blood. She was unconscious, and Sasuki had no idea if the red-haired girl were alive or not. With no time to lose, Sasuki grabbed the girl threw her over her shoulders and dashed to the exit bringing her outside. She felt the girl's neck for a pulse, as she laid her on the asphalt. She was alive!
The sounds of sirens caught Sasuki's attention and the black haired girl found herself running in the opposite direction. There was nothing she could do for the girl now, so she ran. She was soaked in blood, her adrenaline still pumping and her heart still fast. She breathed heavily as she thought over everything, the recent events and how fast everything had happened.
"God… Oh my God!"
She felt tears fall from her eyes. She had killed not one person, but two. She looked down at her hoodie, and in a panic, she removed the article of clothing and ditched it in a nearby garbage can. She stood in a far off alleyway and instantly found her memories falling back to that day that she first discovered her hidden powers. The girl dropped to her knees and just sat breathing. That was all she could do, breath as sweat dripped down her forehead, and crimson red liquid spilled from her hand. It wasn't her blood, by no means. She stared downwards into a small puddle, her eyes were red, almost the same color as the blood on her hand. She needed to leave, get home! Get rid of this blood on her, or something.
"Sasuki-san, huh?"
The girl turned only to find the tall figure of the old white haired man known as Jiraiya.
The girl with absolutely no control allowing fire to spill from her palms, the flames immediately dashing towards the elder man. Jiraiya jumped backward, evading the attack w a th speed you should not expect from a man his age. He landed a safe distance away.
She watched him wide-eyed.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Really!" She groaned trying to collect herself, fall back down onto her knees completely giving into what could be considered a minor panic attack.
"Fire, huh?"
She shook her head ignoring his statement, his opinion of her ability was irrelevant to her.
"It's been some time since I've seen something like that. Why don't you come with me Sasuki-san?"
She glared up at him, reluctantly.
"Trust me, this is something I've seen before, and I'm sure that..." His voice was soothing and sounded trustworthy. "...I can help."
*I'm actually not sure if I have enough people interested in this story, but if anyone is interested in making fanart, by all means, please.
*Anyways, that concludes this installment, and there will definitely be more to come in the future. Please, leave a review and your best criticism. I'm well aware that this chapter may seem boring and slow, but trust me there is a reason!