CHAPTER 8
Since the second stage was scheduled to last five days, Misaki and Itachi had this time for themselves until the rest of the teams finished, so they decided to train in their usual area by the cliff in order to get ready for the final stage of the exams. The sun was almost setting when Sasuke arrived.
"Nii-saaaan, Misaki-neesaaaan!" Sasuke called out to them while running to their location. They both seemed to be trying to catch their breaths after their sparring match. Misaki dropped to her knees when Sasuke reached her.
"Misaki-neesan, are you okay?" He asked her. She seemed to be completely out of energy. Unsure of what to do, he turned to his brother with an angry face and scorned him. "Nii-san! What have you done to Misa-nee? This is not right, I don't want you to hurt her, okay?"
Itachi stepped back and put his hands up in surrender. "You got it all wrong, Sasuke. I'm the one who's lost this time, Misaki's just almost out of chakra, that's why she's out of breath."
"I'm fine, Sasuke-kun." Misaki said and grabbed his hand. Sasuke turned back and found her smiling. Her smile was contagious because he couldn't help but return it.
"How I love seeing this beautiful family together." Shisui announced as he approached the little group.
"Yo!" He added when they all turned to look at him.
"Hey, Shisui." Misaki greeted the older Uchiha. "Well, you're like a big brother to me and Itachi, so that makes you part of this family, isn't it?" She said with a smile.
"Soooo, if I'm a big brother to you two, what does that make you, brother and sister? Shisui asked looking between Misaki and Itachi, his index finger placed over his chin.
"I-I guess." Misaki answered with little emotion while Itachi frowned. "After all, Sasuke-kun calls me neesan…"
"Oh? Is that how you see Itachi?"
Misaki locked eyes with Itachi, and Shisui chuckled after a few seconds. Sometimes, when they gazed into each other eyes, if felt that there was an invisible thread that tied their hearts together and he knew for sure the rest of the world stopped existing for them during this time.
Misaki was the first to look away and you could almost hear that thread snap. She looked up at Sasuke who seemed to have felt that connection but didn't know yet what it was exactly for the confused expression on his face.
"So you won against nii-san?" Sasuke said. "You're getting so strong! Can you train me, please, Misa-nee? Nii-san always says he's busy, he's so mean!" Sasuke said with a pout.
"Hey, hey. Don't say that, Sasuke-kun. Your brother really is busy with very important missions but I can train with you since I don't have any at the moment so I have more spare time. I'll make you stronger than him. What do you think?"
"Really?"
Misaki nodded and Sasuke's face lit up.
"You're the best!" He exclaimed as he launched himself at her and held onto her neck. After a couple of seconds, Misaki wrapped her arms around his little body and hugged him close to her.
"Anytime, Sasuke-kun. You know I'll always be here for you." Misaki whispered while nuzzing her nose against his neck.
The final stage is a series of one-to-one matches between the remaining participants. Itachi was scheduled to fight a Konoha shinobi on his first match, but his opponent withdrew rather than face him.
"Wow, you really have made a name for yourself in the village if other shinobi are too scared to fight you." Misaki told him proudly.
"That doesn't do me any good, if I don't get to fight I can't show my skills to the examiners. But let's concentrate on you, it's your turn against Hayate, thirteen years old. He's also a Konoha shinobi and he's known for his kenjutsu. It'll be a great match to you since you're great with swords."
"Leave it to me." Misaki said confidently.
Hayate's speed and swordsmanship were shadowed by Misaki's. His attacks relied on creating two shadow clones and simultaneously attacking an opponent with their swords at such high speeds, that they create after-images, making it difficult to avoid. However, Misaki's speed was greater so she was able to easily dodge his and hold his strikes. Metal clashed against metal, the sparks bright as their katana's striked each other.
Realising that he possessed great reflexes, Misaki copied his jutsu and used it against him but with greater speed. In this case, Hayate, obviously taken by surprise, didn't escape the attack and ended on the floor incapacitated.
The people watching the fight seemed confused for a few seconds, even the examiners looked between each other. Hayate's jutsu was an A-rank jutsu that he had learn in the last year and it seemed that Misaki had mastered it after only watching it once.
The silence was broken when everyone started clapping and the proctor, who was just as astonished, finally declared Misaki as the winner.
"Skills like that belong in the Anbu." Danzō said next to the Third.
"I don't know about that. But, I know that after one match, she is more than qualified to be promoted to Chūnin."
The day after, Itachi's third scheduled match and Misaki's second match were cancelled. They were officially promoted to Chūnin by the Third Hokage.
"Chūnin at the age of ten! Just like the Fourth! Congratulations you both!" Shisui told them after hearing the news. They were having some tea at Itachi's garden while Sasuke played around them.
"Thanks Shisui. I never expected to become a Chūnin so soon. It's all thanks to Itachi." Misaki said shyly.
"Nonsense. We both did our part equally and we both deserved it." Itachi argued.
"Are you going to join the police force like Otōsan, Nii-san?" Sasuke asked after hearing their conversation.
"About that…" Fugaku started as he exited their home. "Itachi, I've submitted your name for consideration in the ANBU."
ANBU were the Special Assassination and Tactical Squad formed by the elite shinobi of the village. Their members were hand-picked for their individual capabilities and special skills, so being part of it was both extremely difficult and something that anyone would be proud of.
Shisui was already a member of the ANBU and just the thought of Itachi reaching Shisui's level was something Misaki felt really delighted to hear.
However, there was an undercurrent dark tone in the way Fugaku wanted his son to join this forces. As if there was another motive for him to propose Itachi to become an ANBU instead of for his remarkable skills.
To everyone's surprise, Itachi is accepted into the ANBU months later and his first mission is to assassinate a Konoha shinobi that has been selling secrets to another village.
Itachi's first step into a path full of darkness.
