I know the war takes place very quickly after the Kage summit and I also know the war lasts for two days, or at least that's where we're at now in the Manga. My time frame will be a little longer than the Manga in order to develop the story, and characters. I hope that's cool with everyone.
The only sound that could be heard throughout the Village Hidden at the Gate was the crickets that sang their song. Sasuke sat in darkness in his new room listening to them.
Suddenly he turned to his window, sharingan activated. "I've been waiting."
"Sorry getting here is no easy feat even for me," said Madara Uchiha as he appeared seemingly out of thin air. "It seems you have achieved our first objective."
"She's strong, but she didn't use all her power in our fight, I don't know if she knows the sealing technique," said Sasuke emotionless.
"She is young. I assume she does not, but we must have her despite that. I have not gotten this far by being careless," replied Madara. He chuckled, "She seemed to handle you quite well, perhaps I chose the wrong student."
Sasuke frowned and glared at the older Uchiha, "Hm. If I hadn't just fought Danzo I would have killed her easily."
"Good to hear, but remember to behave while you're here," replied Madara in a scolding manner.
Sasuke smirked, "It will be done. I can't believe they let me in here at all, fools."
"Like the brat said earlier, keeping you here means they can keep an eye on you and you will not interfere with the war," said Madara as he began to walk away from the window. "I can trust your feelings for the girl will not get in the way?"
"I never had feelings for her," replied Sasuke frowning.
Madara continued walking away, but turned his head to address his student, "Good. You have five months until the war begins. Bring her to the Akatsuki hide out before that time runs out. Oh and feel free to learn a thing or two from the blind bat while you're at it." With that the Uchiha disappeared.
Sasuke watched him leave with a glare. "Hm," he said as he covered himself with the blankets that had been given to him. The bed was comfortable and he fell asleep quickly after an exhausting day.
Daybreak came far too quickly for Sasuke's liking as the sun shined through the only window in the room. He was about to fall back asleep when a gong sounded. He opened his eyes and let out a small groan. He stood and cracked his back and neck. He also activated his sharingan so he could see where he was going, before walking toward the window. He saw monks lining up in two lines. They began walking throughout the village as people presented them with food for the black bowls they carried.
"It's called Alms round, they do it every morning. The shop keepers here are former orphans raised by the monks, who decided not to actually become members of the temple," said Kou from Sasuke's door way. She walked up to the window and stood next to him.
"In return for being allowed to stay in the village the people cook food for the monks in the morning, since it's the only time the monks are allowed to eat. It's supposed to bring them good luck," she continued staring out into the distance.
"Why don't the orphans just leave?" asked Sasuke.
"I don't know really. They're all men and you would think they'd like to settle down, get married, and have kids. I guess they just like the atmosphere. They also sell clothes and other supplies to the monks and me for missions and such. The businesses are small, but they're needed in order for the village to function. If they weren't here we'd have to travel all the way to the leaf village for supplies."
Kou sighed after this long statement. Sasuke simply stared across the village. The sun was slowly rising over the mountains, and he could see the hustle and bustle of the village starting. It reminded him of his old home, but on a smaller scale.
"Are you ready to start some training today?" asked Kou breaking Sasuke from his thoughts. She looked at him without a smile, but her expression was not as hard as it had been the previous day.
Flashback
"I'm blind."
Kou and Daichi had been shocked at this news. How could someone powerful like an Uchiha be blind and almost helpless without his kekkei genkai?
"I used the Mangekyou Sharingan too much, and this is the side affect. I can only see by activating my normal sharingan, but after a while my chakra runs out," said Sasuke emotionlessly after an awkward silence.
Kou got up from her chair and moved toward him. When she was inches from where he sat she placed her hands on the sides of head and closed her eyes. She was no medic ninja, but she wanted to try and sense his spirit energy in his eye area to see if it was mixing with his chakra properly. Sasuke sat awkwardly not really knowing what was going on, because he couldn't see.
"He's right. The Mangekyou overuse has fried where his spirit energy and chakra mix in the eye area. There is almost no activity, but I can sense where the ocular kekkei genkai is and it seems to be fine," said Kou after a few seconds of silence.
"Why have you come here then?" asked Daichi remaining seated in his chair with both his elbows on the table and his hands wrapped together and placed under his chin.
"I thought you and Kou could teach me to live and fight blind so I don't have to constantly use the sharingan," replied Sasuke.
"Did Madara put you up to this?" asked Kou staring at him hard. Her eyes may have been ghostly white and unreadable, but her expression showed mistrust towards the Uchiha. Sasuke reactivated his sharingan.
"I work for no one. This is my free will," replied Sasuke emotionlessly making sure to keep his heart rate steady. Madara had taught him how to lie without Kou detecting it. It seemed to have worked earlier and he hoped it was working now with such little space between them.
"Either you are an incredible liar, or you're actually telling the truth," said Kou taking a step back from the Uchiha and relaxing herself. "Let's say I teach you. You'll just use the skills to take down Naruto and the allied armies."
"I am technically a prisoner here. With your senses I don't stand a chance of escaping. Then you'll just turn me over to the allies, who will probably kill me," replied Sasuke remaining emotionless and calm.
A silence came as Daichi and Kou thought about this idea. Sasuke remained calm and watched the two deep in thought.
"Why would you purposefully imprison yourself in order to receive this training?" asked Daichi moving into an upright position in his chair.
"I hate relying on anything, including my sharingan just to perform normal, everyday functions. It's weak and despicable," said Sasuke with some disgust. "There's no cure for the blindness I have to work with what I have." Sasuke made sure that his heart rate stayed steady when he said this. He knew as soon as he took Kou to the Akatsuki hide out Madara would implant Itachi's eyes into his, reversing the blindness and making his sharingan more powerful. That was deal Kou, for his eye sight back.
"I'll train you," replied Kou sighing and closing her eyes. "I could use a new training partner." She smirked as she said this.
"We'll figure out what to do with you after the war, the allies have enough on their plates. I will inform them that you are our prisoner," said Daichi getting up to send a messenger hawk to the allied base camp.
End Flashback
"Hm."
"I'll take that as a yes…spoiled," Kou replied a little under her breath, but loud enough for Sasuke to hear.
They walked out to the kitchen and prepared a small breakfast for themselves. Sasuke was slightly surprised at how Kou walked throughout the kitchen. She knew exactly where everything was and could even cook. She used her hands to test the eggs and managed to not burn her hands. She seemed to be counting her steps a lot and touched every cabinet counting as she went. Everything in the kitchen was very organized; he assumed this had been done on purpose so she could cook for herself.
"Cooking took the longest to learn. You have to be able to measure by hearing the liquid pour, and know temperature by the heat that radiates off the food and oven," said Kou as she worked. She smiled, "I wash my hands a lot because I touch the food so much. It's annoying, but at least I'm not helpless."
"Hm," was Sasukes reply as he made himself eggs.
He found his gaze moving toward her feet as she stood on her tip toes to reach a pan in the upper cabinet. The bottoms of them were almost black from walking around on all sorts of terrain. They were callused and her toe nails were worn down. They weren't pretty, but it showed him how she connected so well with the earth around her. I'll use this to my advantage next time we fight, he thought.
They ate in silence and washed their utensils. Afterward both changed into their normal ninja clothes. Sasuke's had been washed by the temple boys during the night and were place on his bed when he walked into his bedroom.
"The boys must be afraid of you if they're coming in and out of your window," said Kou while she stood in Sasuke's doorway waiting for him.
The window had been closed when Sasuke left for breakfast, but now it was open. "Hm."
They walked out of the house and weaved in and out of the streets. They stopped at the base of a cliff and Kou performed her earth manipulation to create the elevator like platform of rock. They reached the top and walked through the woods until they reached a clearing. Sasuke assumed this was Kou's normal training ground because of the uprooted trees and giant holes.
"The first thing you have to learn is to see with your other senses, because you don't have earth affiliation I will teach you to use your sense of hearing the most," said Kou as they took in their surroundings. "Turn off your sharingan spoiled, and we'll begin."
First Kou had Sasuke meditate and attune his senses to the movement around him. He found that he could hear the small animals move around him, but it became hard to determine where exactly everything was coming from.
"There's an ant colony at three o' clock about fifty feet away. Try and zero in on their marching and block out the other sounds. In battle you have to learn to zero in on the sound of your enemy, while also maintaining your awareness of the surroundings," said Kou as she meditated beside Sasuke.
Sasuke attempted to find the ant hill. He black out all other noises and zeroed in on the sounds of the ants moving on the ground and carrying leaves. Suddenly he was struck by something.
"Bitch! What was that for!" yelled Sasuke as he nearly fell over grabbing his head. Kou had hit him with her fist.
"I told you. You have to know where the enemy is, but also know what's going on around you," replied Kou with a chuckle. She remained in her meditative position. "For example I know where those ants are, but I also know there is a chipmunk gathering food for the winter at four o'clock, sixty feet away and there is waterfall a mile away directly behind us."
Sasuke took this in and tried again, bracing himself to be hit again. When the blow didn't come he opened his senses more and found he could hear all the things she was talking about. Suddenly he heard Kou move again to hit him. He blocked her blow before it reached his head.
Sasuke smirked as he turned and faced Kou despite the fact he couldn't see her. Kou smirked, "Pretty good for a spoiled brat."
The day continued on as the two meditated, with Kou periodically directing attacks from all sides at Sasuke. Sometimes he detected them, but other more advanced attacks he could not dodge or block. He had a few cuts and bruises, but he seemed to be improving.
Kou finally stood and stretched, "Alright spoiled, let's get some combat in so I can actually get some training out of today."
Sasuke also stood and activated his sharingan, "Alright, but I won't go easy on you like yesterday."
"Ha! Don't make me laugh you can't handle me," replied Kou with a laugh.
"Watch me." With that Sasuke disappeared into the forest, and Kou readied herself by getting in her stance.
Sasuke attacked from above and on the ground as fast as he could, but he could not land a blow. Kou could manipulate the earth as fast as Gaara could control his sand.
She periodically went on the offensive and threw rocks at Sasuke. She could change the earth's surface into different textures and footings. She also created huge walls of earth that Sasuke would dodge or run threw, but slowed him down and allowed her to dodge his chidori and fire attacks.
Sasuke was also perplexed by how she controlled the earth. She was using some sort of tai jutsu style to move the earth as she pleased. Normally he would have been able to track and predict these movements with his sharingan, but there was no pattern to the movement and what she made the earth do. It was almost impossible to predict what each movement would result in.
Sasuke sat on top of a tree branch breathing heavily. She's a long distance fighter, if I get in close she's done for. She won't be able to read or hear my movements fast enough, but how do I get in close enough to attack?
Suddenly Sasuke had an idea. He stripped off his clothes down to his spandex shorts. He jumped into the air and flew down directly on top of Kou. Because of his tight clothing she could not hear the ruffle on his fabric. He slammed a kick on top of Kou's head and she hit the ground hard. He continued the attack by picking her up and throwing her into the air. He appeared under her and continued to kick her as they rose up in the air.
Shit thought Kou. Being in the air was her number one weakness. She had nothing to connect to because she was not touching the ground. Being in a tree was no problem because of the roots, but open air was a different matter.
Sasuke switched his position and appeared above a helpless Kou. He charged a chidori and prepared to strike her. This was exactly what Kou needed as she heard the spark of the chidori she twisted her body in mid air and grabbed Sasuke's wrist and wrapped it behind him. She was now behind him as they both plummeted towards the ground.
She's fast, thought a surprised Sasuke, his chidori still activated behind him, causing the two of them to receive some electrical shock.
As they fell towards the ground Sasuke countered her move by elbowing Kou in the stomach. Kou let out a gasp as spit flew from her mouth. Sasuke and Kou were separated but both hit the ground, Sasuke first then Kou on top of him.
A small crater had been created from the impact. Kou was lying on top of Sasuke.
"Get off of me," mumble Sasuke. Kous face was under his chin. She looked up at him, both of them were bleeding, but none of their injuries seemed life threatening.
Kou pushed off Sasuke, who hissed from pain. She landed on her feet a few feet away from the crater and got in her stance. Sasuke pulled himself out and stood ready to fight again.
Both ninjas were breathing heavy and stared at each other, waiting for the other to make the first move. Kou bit into her thumb and created hand signs, Sasuke used his sharingan and read what the hand signs meant. He also bit into his finger and made hand signs. Both yelled, "Summoning Jutsu!" and slammed their hands onto the ground as a smoked enshrouded the area. When everything cleared Sasuke stood on top of a large hawk that hovered in the air flapping its wings. Kou stood on the back of a giant bat that also hovered in the air.
"Blind as a bat, fitting," said Sasuke with a small grin. Both summons shot up into the air. A dog fight proceeded as Sasuke shot fire balls at Kou. Kou on the other hand had switched to shooting her soul shot as fast as she could at Sasuke.
"I thought the air was not your strong point." Mocked Sasuke as the hawk and bat collided and locked their feet together.
"It's not my first choice, but I tap into the bat's spirit energy and use its sonic waves to see," replied Kou as she charged another soul shot. Sasuke charged a chidori and shot it at Kou. Bother jutsus collided causing the summons to break apart. The summons puffed away in a cloud of smoke from the explosion as Sasuke and Kou free fell towards the earth. Sasuke grabbed Kou quickly and shot a chidori, he ordered his opponent to do the same with her soul shot. The result was a softer landing as the two collided with the ground. They hit the earth hard, but the result was not deadly.
Both were knocked unconscious as they lay next to each other inches apart. Sasuke was the first to awake and gasped in pain as he grabbed his ribs. He rolled over on his side and found an unconscious Kou. This could be his chance to drag her to the Akatsuki base, but he was in no shape to carry her all the way there. He lay there in the small crater they had once again created and thought about what to do.
Suddenly he heard footsteps coming towards them. Master Daichi had heard the commotion and seen the dog fight in the air. He walked toward the two bodies lying on the ground.
"Well, this will certainly help move things along won't it? You certainly are a match for her Uchiha," said Daichi calmly as he look between Sasuke and his student. "C'mon lets head to the medical house and fix you both up." He said as he picked up his student. Sasuke got up slowly, but walked next to Daichi as they headed slowly toward the village.
I guess Madara was right, I can learn something while I'm here. It will give me the advantage when I fight Naruto. I will win and I will kill him, thought Sasuke as he limped behind Daichi. He couldn't help but smirk at the thought of finally breaking his bonds with Naruto and relieving himself of his reliance on the woman that lay unconscious in front of him.
The so called "hospital" of the village was a large house. It was run by monks and citizens alike. Sasuke was treated by a young monk who seemed to actually know what he was doing. The medic monk had said he had a couple broken ribs and a small concussion. "Take it easy for a few days, and then you two can beat the crap out of each other again," said the monk with a slight smile.
The room Sasuke was resting in was small. The medic had said he could go back to Kou and Master Daichi's house when they finished some blood work. They had wanted to have some medical records on the Uchiha while he stayed in the village. Sasuke was looking out the window when Daichi walked in and sat down in a chair next to him.
"She's stubborn just like you. You both have a lot in common," said the head monk with a small smile. Sasuke continued to look out the window.
"When they reported what happened at the kage summit I thought you would be a cold, and heartless killer. Now I'm not so sure what you are… and I don't think you're quite sure where you stand either."
Sasuke turned to the monk and glared, "I got my revenge on my brother and the leaf village by killing Danzo. I'm an avenger and what I want, and who I am is none of your business."
"Ah, yes revenge. Funny thing about revenge it never seems to stop. As you find out more about the people who have wronged you, there tend to be more and more people to take revenge on." Daichi closed his eyes, "Isn't that right."
Sasuke look at the old monk wondering what exactly he knew, and wasn't telling him. "I know what I am and who I am. I'll rebuild my clan and the Uchiha name will be restored to its rightful place."
"What place is that, and how do you plan on restoring your clan when you're our prisoner?" asked Daichi opening his eyes and frowning a bit.
Sasuke simply stared at Kou's teacher with no emotion, but on the inside he was confused. I never thought about that…NO! He's just trying to trick me or something. I can accomplish my goals once I help Madara win this war.
"I believe you have a lot to settle within yourself, but my warning to you is this. If you hurt my student in any way I will make sure your goals will be impossible to reach, because you will be rotting in a jail or killed by the enemies you have made," said Daichi sternly. "Kou is important to this world in ways you cannot imagine and her life and safety are my top priority."
This was the second time Daichi had threatened Sasuke when it came to Kou. He had been informed she was important; especially to Madara's plans, but what she actually did he did not know. She had briefly explained things in her letters but the details had been vague.
Daichi got up and turned to leave, "I trust Kou when it comes to her judgment of others. She seems to think there is a bit of the old Sasuke within you. I hope she is right."
The monk left to fetch his now conscious student and Sasuke was left in his room to ponder the situation he was in. I must stick to my mission. That is what is most important. Why he needed to reassure himself, he didn't know.
I wanted to get into more detail about Kou and Sasuke's abilities. Next chapter will go into their relationship, which is really nothing but training partners who are using each other to benefit 's right! Kou is as power hungry as Sasuke, but for different reasons obviously. Please review!