Chapter 32 - Final Exam and Rescues
The Akatsuki looked around the village, heading toward the Hokage's office, to try and capture the three-tailed beast host, Sasuke. Itachi was being held captive, as whoever was acting in charge of the Akatsuki - not Pain (Nagato) anymore - knew that Itachi would try stop them at all costs.
"We're nearing the office." Hidan informed.
"Soon we'll have the three-tailed beast." Kakuzu said.
"And have gotten rid of one of the annoying Sharingan users... Those Uchiha's, hmm." Deidara grinned.
"We've not to kill Itachi, unless he tries to get some word out to the others in the village, to stop us." Konan told them.
"I can see why the boss wanted him tied up and blindfolded." Kisame smirked. "If he was free he'd try and stop us. Even with just his hands tied, he would still try use his Mangekyo Sharingan on us to trap us in a Genjutsu."
"Why do you think we blindfolded him...? Idiot." Konan sighed, shaking her head.
The Akatsuki slowly headed to the Hokage's office, where Naruto was training with Jiraiya, and Sasuke was in the Hokage's office, while they figured out how to remove the cursed mark.
Lilly wasn't able to sleep that night, so lay awake, looking at the ceiling, wondering about her brothers and hoping they were okay. She was incredibly worried about them, but wasn't allowing anyone to know, as she didn't want anyone - Mei, Mammon, Shiru, Naruto, Zack or Cecilia - worrying about her, like she was her brothers, but that wasn't the case. Naruto always seemed to worry about her, as well as Cecilia.
Cecilia was staying the night, and felt like something was wrong, so got up and headed into Lilly's room to see if everything was alright, only to find her staring at the ceiling.
"Are you okay Lilly?" Cecilia questioned.
"Not really... I think something is going on in the village... and I'm also wondering what my brothers are up to." She sighed softly.
"I see." Cecilia smiled a little, sitting on the edge of the bed. "They'll be fine. I bet they are thinking about you. I'm sure they'll be home soon." She said with a soft and kind voice.
"I hope so." She sat up, and looked over at Cecilia. "I don't want to lose them."
"I know sweetie." Cecilia smiled, her soft smile.
As the two of them talked, a loud crashing noise came from within the village. Lilly had thought something wasn't right, and grabbed her kunai, running outside - having been still in her normal clothes - heading towards where the crashing sound came from. She suddenly halted at the sight of Itachi tied up and blindfolded, and Sasuke knocked out.
"Let them go!" She shouted.
"Lilly!" Itachi shouted. "Get out of here!" He sounded worried, as he recognised his sister's voice, and wasn't wanting her to get hurt.
"Oh look. The Uchiha kunoichi is here to play." Kisame smirked, appearing behind her.
"Let my brothers go." She said, her voice implied that she wasn't happy and was angry, yet also worried.
"No. The boss wants them. However, he doesn't need you!" Kisame smirked, kicking her in the back, sending her towards the ground, but Lilly managed to use that momentum to do a front flip instead.
"Nice try." She smirked a little. "But that's not going to happen." Just as she started to fight with Kisame, Cecilia and Zack appeared, setting Itachi free, while trying to get Sasuke away from Hidan and Kakuzu.
"Leave her alone!" Itachi growled, trapping Kisame and the others in his Genjutsu, however, some had managed to get free, and Kisame started to fight with Lilly, as the rest of them started to help Sasuke out.
Lilly was trying to battle with Kisame, however, she wasn't doing very well, he was able to dodge all her attacks, but she was able to dodge nearly almost all of his, only a couple of his attacks tended to hit. By the time the rest of them and freed Sasuke, Itachi grabbed Kisame by the neck, his eyes those of the Mangekyo Sharingan, revealing how pissed off and angry he was at someone hurting his little sister.
"Touch her again and you'll pay..." Itachi spoke, in a dark voice.
"Big bro..." Lilly groaned a little, holding her arm, as it had ended up getting slightly sprained. She seemed a little beaten up, but otherwise, she was fine. "Don't... I'm fine." She smiled softly.
"Alright..." Itachi sighed, dropping Kisame to the ground, giving him a kick to the ribs, before walking over to his sister and everyone else, before picking her up, his dark brown eyes back, instead of the Mangekyo Sharingan. "Let's get home." Itachi smiled a little, looking over at his unconscious little brother, in the arms of Cecilia. "We'll take him to the hospital first."
"Right." Cecilia nodded, vanishing within an instant, only to later on appear at the Konoha hospital.
"Will big bro Sasuke be okay?" Lilly wondered, worried about him.
"He'll be fine." Itachi said, poking her cheek, before heading off, back home.
As the day passed, and night fell, Lilly had told her older brother about how she was able to sit the final exam tomorrow, and be able to help out Team 7, until they could figure a way to remove the curse mark from Sasuke. He smiled at hearing it, and just hugged her tight, ruffling up her hair. He was so proud and happy to hear that his little sister was growing up, and was - as long as she passed the final exam - going to finally become a Genin ninja, and be a ninja just like him and Sasuke.
"I'm so glad to hear that. You'll do well. I know you will." Itachi smiled.
"Thanks. I hope I pass." Lilly smiled, fixing her hair back into place.
"You will. You're an Uchiha. I passed, Sasuke passed, and you are going to pass." He chuckled softly.
"Just because you both passed nii-chan, doesn't mean I will." She sighed, and Itachi finished fixing her hair for her.
"You will. You just have to believe in your own abilities and potential." He smiled, giving her a hug, once he had finished fixing her hair for her.
"Alright big bro." Lilly smiled softly. "Thanks."
"You're welcome sis." He smiled, before Sasuke walked in.
"Nii-chan!" Lilly shouted, before going over and hugging Sasuke tightly. "You're alright!"
"Yeah." Sasuke smiled a little, wincing a bit from the tightness of the hug, but trying to ignore it, hugging her back. "I am." Somehow, the curse mark was not as visible as it usually was, so it seemed to Itachi that maybe the curse mark was weakening, which meant, he and Sasuke would end up having to battle sooner than he expected, so he would be able to remove the cursed mark from his younger brother, along with giving him the same eyes.
As the morning sun rose, Lilly woke and got ready for school, believing that everyone else was still asleep, she tried to be as quiet as possible, while hiding her chakra. It didn't work. Itachi and Sasuke were already up and downstairs in the kitchen, eating breakfast, having set out some for their sister. By the time she got downstairs, she was surprised to see them there, but didn't care. She was happy that they were the first people to see her, before she went to the academy to take the final exam.
"Good morning!" Lilly said, in a happy, sing-song like voice.
"Good morning little sister." Both brothers said, smiling towards her.
"All set for school?" Itachi questioned, knowing fine well what she was going to be doing today.
"Yup." She smiled, sitting down to eat her breakfast.
"What are you up to today then?" Sasuke questioned.
"Stuff." Lilly giggled, starting to eat her food.
"Well just do your best sis." Itachi smiled, winking a little at her, chuckling softly.
"I will." Lilly said, once she had finished eating. "I got to go now!" She smiled, getting up and kissing both her brothers on the cheek softly, before running out the door, bag in hand, heading towards the academy and meeting place Iruka had told her. Would she pass or would she fail?
As soon as she reached the academy, Iruka was waiting outside for her. He had arranged for her to take the exam somewhere else, so that he is able to continue teaching the rest of the class, to catch them up with the young kunoichi.
"The Hokage will be in charge of your exam Lilly. Usually it's me and one other sensei, but seeing as I still have the rest of the class to teach, I won't be there this time. However, it doesn't stop me from wishing you luck, and hoping that you will succeed." Iruka smiled, before heading back inside the academy, before Lord Hokage - Tsunade - appeared, with a smile.
"Are you ready to take the exam Lilly?" She questioned, just wanting to make sure she knew what she was in for, and that if she wanted to back down, she was more than welcome to.
"Yes." Lilly smiled. "I'm ready."
"I'm glad to hear that, now let's go." Tsunade said, heading off, with Lilly following her close behind.
As soon as they reached the clearing, Tsunade started to tell Lilly what the final exam consisted of - a writing exam and a practical exam - which both her marks would determine on whether she passed or not. Lilly was determined to pass this exam, so she would be able to help out her brothers - and everyone in the village - protect Naruto and Sasuke against the Akatsuki and any other threats.
"The first exam is a written one, and seeing as the academy is being used for your classmates teaching, I will set up somewhere for you to do the written part, for now, I will find another sensei, to help assess your practical exam, which you will be performing a jutsu for us." Tsunade smiled, before taking out her phone, calling another sensei to come and watch her perform her jutsu.
"What jutsu is it Hokage?" Lilly questioned, wondering if it was the same jutsu that Naruto had said to her, which if it was, she knew two ways to perform the jutsu, and she could easily do both of them.
"The clone jutsu." Tsunade replied, after hanging up her call. "The sensei should be here within a few minutes."
"Alright." Lilly smiled, trying not to get too confident.
By the time the sensei came, Lilly was surprised to see that the sensei Tsunade had called, was Iruka. She had thought that he was supposed to be teaching the class just now, obviously not.
"Iruka-sensei... I thought you were teaching the rest of the class?"
"I was... but Kakashi stepped in, and took over just for today." Iruka smiled. "Team 7 had no major missions to do anyway."
"He's right. Now why don't we get started." Tsunade smiled, sitting down on the bench that was near. "You know the clone jutsu right Lilly?" She questioned the young Uchiha.
"Of course." She smiled, as Iruka took his place beside Tsunade, the village headband in his hand, that she would receive if she managed to pass this entire exam.
"Then you have to create at least 3 identical clones to pass this practical exam, then that means that you would be one step closer to becoming the Genin ninja, you will become." Tsunade laughed a little softly.
"I'm ready." Lilly smiled.
"You may begin." Iruka nodded, knowing well that she would succeed, as she was one of the brightest students in his class, as well, surprisingly, as Michael Uzumaki.
Lilly started to concentrate her chakra, by having only the first sign required for the clone jutsu - the tiger hand sign - performed, before following up and performing the rest of the required hand signs for the jutsu - boar, ox and dog - before performing the jutsu and making three perfect clones of herself.
"Three perfect clones..." Iruka smiled. "No less what I expected for her." He chuckled softly.
"Well done Lilly. You're now one step closer to becoming a Genin ninja." Tsunade smiled.
"In one hour, meet us at the academy, and we will give you the written exam." Iruka told her. "For now, go let your brothers know, they are training nearby." He smiled, before leaving with the Hokage.
"Thanks." Lilly muttered to herself, before heading off in the direction of both her brothers chakra.
Once she reached her brothers, she smiled at the sight of both of them finishing training, before walking over to them. Both, Sasuke and Itachi, smiled at the sight of their little sister, although, Sasuke was a little curious as to why she wasn't at the academy, in class, just now.
"Hi little sis." Itachi smiled.
"Why aren't you at the academy?" Sasuke questioned.
"I've been able to take the final exam today." Lilly giggled. "I just done the practical part, and both of them seemed very pleased." She smiled.
"Iruka would've been one of your sensei's watching, but who was the other. It wasn't Mizuki as he had been sent to prison. So who was the other one?" Sasuke questioned, having been told by Naruto what Mizuki had tricked him into doing, before revealing him the truth about the nine-tailed beast sealed within him and Iruka protecting him.
"Lord Hokage herself. Tsunade-sama." She smiled.
"Wow. I never thought Tsunade-sama would've stepped in." Itachi chuckled. "Anyway, that's good to hear sis. When are you do the written part?"
"In a hour." She replied.
"Well you will ace it." Sasuke smiled, giving her a tight, yet gentle, hug.
"I know." Lilly smiled, hugging him back, just as Itachi hugged both of them.
Chapter 33 - Written Exam: Pass or Fail?
As the hour quickly passed by, Lilly headed back to the academy for the written part of her final exam. She had been so pleased with herself for doing so well in the practical part, that she was determined to just as well, to show that she is maybe just better than her brothers, and prove herself to them - as well as herself - that she isn't that defenseless little girl she was.
As she approached the academy, she was a little surprised to see that Tsunade, Iruka and Itachi were there. Why was her oldest brother there? Was he asking Iruka and Tsunade about how well she was doing, even though she had kind of mentioned it? Just now, it didn't matter. What did matter, was her doing the written part of the exam, and just doing her best - which was hopefully passing it.
She walked over to the three of them, before questioningly asking her brother what he was doing there. His reply was simple, yet one she didn't expect.
"Tsunade-sama is busy with so much work, and she is one of the people in the village, along with Iruka-Sensei, who knows the truth behind what I am doing, so they asked me to step in and monitor you while you do the written paper." Itachi smiled. "Don't worry sis, I won't help you out at all. I trust and believe in your abilities enough to know that you will be able to pass this all on your own, without any help from me." He said in a happy, proud tone, patting her head.
"If you're going to be monitoring me during this, nii-chan, then technically that makes you my sensei for a while, not my big brother." Lilly smiled, giggling a little.
"She's right Itachi." Tsunade laughed a little. "You can't treat her like your sister while she is doing this final exam." She smiled at both of the Uchiha's that were there, before heading off to her office. She seemed to be really busy at the moment, so something must have came up within the hour she had been with her brothers.
"Let's head inside and start. Shall we?" Iruka smiled, heading into the academy.
"Yeah." Lilly and Itachi both said, before following Iruka inside.
Now the fun was about to begin. The written, and final part to the exam, and what would help determine if she would become a Genin ninja, or not.
"Sit down please." Iruka smiled, placing the written exam in front of Lilly, as she sat down at a desk that had been set up in a spare, yet abandoned, classroom. "You will have as long as you need to complete this, but just remember, as soon as you give it over to Itachi, you can't get it back." Iruka informed her.
"Alright sensei." Lilly smiled, taking a little glance over to her brother. She still couldn't seem to believe that he was the sensei that was going to be watching over her.
"Alright. Itachi." Iruka smiled, nodded to him, before walked out the room, to go back to his class, taking back over from Kakashi.
"Right, begin when ready." Itachi said, sounding all in charge.
As Lilly started to write down her answers, answering all of the questions thoroughly, and to the best of her abilities, Itachi looked over her shoulder, to take a small glance at the questions, as well as her answers. He had agreed not to help her out in anyway, but nothing stopped him from at least checking her answers while she wrote them down.
"Hmm..." Itachi said, studying one of her answers carefully, at first glance, it seemed wrong, but when he re-read it a second time, he smiled. It wasn't wrong. Far from it. It was dead on perfect.
As lunch neared, Itachi knew she would need a break to be able to have something to eat, but she didn't seemed much bothered about getting any lunch, as she seemed so focused on her answers and the exam itself. However, as she was writing what was close to her last answer, her stomach gave a slight grumble. She was getting hungry, and she knew it - so did Itachi.
"Sis..." Itachi went to say, before clearing his throat, knowing that he should be acting like a sensei, not a brother. "Ms. Uchiha." He smiled. "If you wish to stop for a few minutes to have some lunch, then that is fine."
"I'm alright." Lilly said, continuing to write down the remainder of her answers. A few minutes after she had been asked by him if she wanted to go get something to eat, her stomach gave a slight rumble again. This time, she couldn't ignore it.
"Hmm?" Itachi questioned, when he noticed she'd stopped writing. "Is something wrong?" He wondered curiously.
"Are you sure it's alright for me to go get something to eat?" Her tone implied the question, as well as the fact that she had changed her mind about going to get something to eat.
"Yes I'm sure." Itachi smiled. "Go on. Go get something to eat." He said, handing her some money. "My treat sis."
"Thanks big bro." She smiled, taking the money, running out of the classroom, and the academy, into the village.
After Lilly returned, she came to find that her big brother had gone, so had her exam paper. She hadn't finished writing all her answers, she had answered every question with the answers they expected her to know, but she was just wanting to show them how much she knew by filling the answers in with more explained and detailed answers.
"What the?!" She blinked, looking around, hoping for even the slightest hint, or sign, of Itachi. Nothing. He was gone, and so was her exam paper.
"Something wrong Lil?" Jynx questioned, sneaking up behind Lilly like she always done.
"Nothing Jynx... By the way... Have you seen my big brother Itachi anywhere?" She questioned, trying not to sound as if it was urgent that she find him, or if she was a little annoyed. Somehow Jynx could tell anyway.
"No sorry." Jynx said. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Honest." Lilly lied.
"Suuuuurrrrreee..." Jynx sarcastically said, rolling her eyes. "I know you well Lil, now whatsup?" Lilly finally gave up, and told Jynx everything that had happened, and that was going on. Jynx seemed quite intrigued in it all, which was a little odd for her.
"Now you know." Lilly sighed a little, sitting down on the floor, near the door. "What am I going to do? I don't know where he is at all, and it's more than likely he's taken my exam paper with him..."
"I'll help ya search." Jynx grinned, putting a hand on her friends shoulder, trying to reassure her that they would be able to find him.
"Thanks Jynx." Lilly smiled softly. "I owe you one."
"You're damn right ya dae!" Jynx said, then both the young kunoichi's burst into a fit of laughter, as Itachi appeared in the doorway, with Tsunade and Iruka beside him.
"What's so funny?" He questioned, with a smile on his face.
"Where did you go?!" Lilly exclaimed. "I got back and you weren't here, and my exam paper had gone, and..."
"Calm down Lilly." Iruka interrupted her. "He just came to see us, and allow us to see what you had done."
"You are quite smart for a kunoichi of your age." Tsunade said. "And that's why Itachi came to see us. You had answered all the questions, but you were writing much much more than what was required for the answers. However, all what you had written was so good, as well as all correct, that the three of us immediately agreed that you pass." Tsunade smiled, as Sasuke appeared behind his little sister, without either Jynx or her realising, and put the village headband on his little sister.
"Congratulations." All of them - Iruka, Itachi, Sasuke and Tsunade - said at the one time.
"You're now a Genin ninja sis." Sasuke smiled, giving her a hug. Lilly just couldn't believe it, and was so astounded, that a few slight tears fell down her face. She had done it. She had been the top in her class, and had finally became a Genin ninja of the Village Hidden in the Leaves.
Chapter 34 - Memories of That Tragic Day
As a celebratory treat, Itachi was buying dinner for everyone. However, by everyone, he meant his family, Lilly, Sasuke and himself. Lilly was now a Genin ninja and able to help Kakashi and the rest of Team 7 out on missions, especially while Sasuke still had this cursed mark on him.
"I'm so proud of you sis." Sasuke smiled.
"So am I." Itachi pointed out.
"I know." Lilly giggled happily. "I wish mom and dad could see this." She sighed a little.
"They will have." Sasuke said, patting her head. "They'll have seen everything."
"Their little girl has grown up." Itachi smiled, trying to hide the fact that he was close to tears.
"Awww." Sasuke chuckled softly. "Are you crying bro?"
"N-No," Itachi said, wiping away the slight tears. "there was just something in my eye."
"Are you sure big bro?" Lilly giggled a little, looking up at him.
"I'm sure." Itachi smiled, giving her a light hug, sighing a little. "I'm sure..." Sasuke wasn't up for believing it, although he didn't say anything else about it.
"Sooo..." Sasuke said. "What now?"
"We could go, see mom and dad?" Itachi suggested. "It's been almost 8 years..." He sighed a little.
"Yeah..." Sasuke sighed, clenching his fists a little. "Don't remind me..."
"I'm sorry about that bro." Itachi sighed, looking down. "Danzo ordered me, I had no choice. If I didn't he would've killed us all, even you two. I couldn't allow that." He explained, once again.
"You already told me this." Sasuke sighed. "I understand."
"Who is Danzo?" Lilly questioned. "I've never heard of him."
"He's one of the ANBU leaders... He was the one who ordered me to kill our clan. He felt our clan was becoming too powerful, and was close to taking over the village." Itachi explained.
"We wouldn't try to take over the village." Lilly said. "We wouldn't."
"I know little sis." Sasuke sighed. "But he didn't know that. However, Danzo is a strange man, for some weird reason, he had Sharingan eyes embedded into his arm. It's like he's been stealing them for any Uchiha member who he killed."
"That's because he..." Before Itachi could finish, Danzo appeared behind him, trapping Itachi in a Genjutsu. Itachi had no time to react, so for once, he couldn't escape.
"Don't bother." Danzo said. "All I need to do is require a few more Sharingan eyes to be one of the most powerful ninjas ever." He smirked.
"That's not going to happen!" Sasuke growled, shoving Lilly behind him, activating his Sharingan.
"We'll see about that." Danzo smirked, before getting attacked by some strange boy. To Lilly, he seemed to be quiet handsome, maybe she had found the guy for her. However, there was a little part of her that doubted it.
After Danzo had decided that it wasn't worth the attempt to try and get their Sharingan, considering the amount of close friends they had, he left. Lilly cautiously approached the young brown-haired boy who had saved them, while Sasuke used his Sharingan Genjutsu to counter the jutsu Danzo used on Itachi to free him.
"Who are you? And why did you save us?" She questioned him, as he turned around to smile at her. She felt her heart skip a beat slightly, and she didn't know what this feeling was, but she knew one thing... She liked it.
"I'm Josh Hyuga." He smiled, before going on to answer her other question. "And why did I save you, because I couldn't let a sweet girl like you be hurt." He seemed to be only a year or two older than her, as he was already wearing the village headband, showing that he too, was a Genin ninja.
"Thanks Josh." Lilly smiled softly. "I'm Lilly Uchiha and these are my brothers." She said, gesturing towards them. Josh nodded in their direction a 'hello, nice to meet you' and so did they.
"You're very welcome Lilly." He smiled. "I hope to see you again." He said, before leaving.
"He seems nice." Itachi chuckled, sensing that Lilly had a little slight liking of him.
"Yeah, he does." She smiled, trying not to allow a blush to show.
"Let's go." Sasuke chuckled, heading towards what used to be the Uchiha part of the village.
The three of them slowly headed towards where their home once was, but was now no longer their home. The entire land in Konoha were the village was, had been destroyed and turned into a waste land. The only thing that remained was the cemetery, the Uchiha shrine, and one or two occasional homes. One of those homes, had been the home to the three of them, but they had no idea it was still there. Once they walked into it, and Itachi realised their home remained, he headed over there and looked inside. Everything was still the same as it had been. Lilly's room when she was little, with the crib and everything, Sasuke and his room was there, with all their belongings that they had long forgotten about, and lastly, their mother and fathers room remained exactly the way it was, before they had been killed, and by their own eldest son.
"This place hasn't changed..." Sasuke said, walking in the door of what had been their home.
"It truly hasn't." Itachi sighed, still agreeing with him. "Even the little bed Lilly was in that day is still here... everything is still here. I'm surprised at that."
"This was our home?" Lilly questioned.
"Yes." Both of them nodded.
"Oh." Lilly blinked, going to have a little look around the place. The pictures seemed to be familiar to her and bring back occasional memories of when she was 2. "These pictures seem so familiar..." She said, picking one up that was a picture of their mother and father before Itachi, Sasuke and Lilly had been born. They both looked so happy. "So this was mom and dad." She smiled, showing both of them the picture.
"Yeah it was." Itachi said. "Right before I was born as well..." He mentioned. "Sometimes I think they weren't happy when I was born, however a little part of me says that I meant the entire world to them."
"You did big bro." Sasuke said. "Remember, dad treasured you more than me..." He sighed, looking down.
"But that changed again when mom told us that she was expecting another child, and another sibling for us." Itachi smiled, giving Sasuke a gentle squeeze of a hug.
"Yeah it did." Sasuke chuckled softly. "That news changed everything..."
"That news was also the time Danzo had told me to kill you all... I managed to hold it off for 2 years, because I wasn't wanting anything to happen to mom while she was pregnant." Itachi sighed.
"I understand." Sasuke smiled. "I didn't know that was how long you had known, but managed to prevent the killing of the clan that long."
As the two brothers discussed what had happened within this house, neither had realised that Lilly was gone. She had decided to go for a look around this part of the village on her own. The part of the village that was her home. As she walked around, Hanzo appeared without a sound, grabbing her and knocking her out. What did he want with her now? And why now? What was going on?
When Lilly came round, she immediately recognised where she was. The Akatsuki HQ. She wondered why she was here, then immediately remembered wandering around what was the Uchiha part of the village, before something happened, bringing her here. She looked around, tried to move, but couldn't. She tried to get her hands free, but something was holding them in place, not rope, a jutsu. Someone, somewhere, was using a puppet jutsu to prevent her moving.
"Let me go!" She shouted, where a familiar voice answered.
"Not yet, Lilly Uchiha of the Village Hidden in the Leaves."
"Grr... Hanzo!" She may have grown up, but that voice still haunted her. "Let me go!" She struggled to move, when a snake-like figure appeared in front of her. Not Orochimaru. Kabuto. Somehow, he seemed different and a lot like Orochimaru was.
"We need you to lure Sasuke here." Kabuto smirked, his eyes more those of Orochimaru's, which made Lilly wonder what had happened to Orochimaru.
"Where is he...?" Lilly questioned. "What happened to the creepy-ass snake dude?"
"Dead." Was Hanzo's replied. "Dead and not coming back. He was a nuisance to us, as well as a liability."
Chapter 35 - Mangekyo Sharingan and Sharingan Awakens
Back at the village, Sasuke and Itachi finally noticed that Lilly was gone. They started to search around the area drastically for her, but they couldn't find her at all. This was worrying the two of them.
"Where the hell is she?!" Sasuke shouted, looking around frantically.
"I have no clue!" Itachi shouted, just as worried. "This can't be happening!" Before they headed out of the village to continue to search for her, someone appeared in front of them, and both of them stopped, shocked and not able to believe their eyes.
"M-Mom..." Sasuke said in a quiet voice.
"I-It c-can't be..." Itachi blinked, happy, yet suspicious.
Their mother was standing right in front of them, looking like she did before she died. Wearing the usual clothes she always wore, and her hair down and the same way Lilly always had hers.
"Hello my sons." She smiled softly.
"Mom..." Both of them said, trying to stop tears.
"Where is Lilly?" She questioned. Something wasn't right at all. What was their mother doing here? She was supposed to be dead.
"How can this be?" Sasuke questioned.
"You should be able to figure this out my boys." She smiled, hugging them both. She felt so real. So warm. So human.
"Kuchiyose: Edo Tensei. Someone used the Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation jutsu." Itachi figured out. "They brought mom back. However, what I want to know is..." Before he could continue, he was interrupted once again, by another familiar figure.
"If I was brought back by that same jutsu?" Their father said, walking over to Mikoto's side. "Well I was. However, the person who brought us back, is trying to control us to kill you, and Lilly." He told them. "That won't happen." Fugaku smiled a little.
"No way it will." Mikoto agreed.
"Do you know where sis is?" Sasuke asked, getting more worried.
"The Akatsuki HQ. Where the user of the jutsu is, as well as Hanzo." Fugaku informed his sons.
"We have to get there straight away!" Itachi growled, activating his Sharingan.
"Yes you do." Mikoto smiled. "I see you are still taking care of your siblings Itachi." She said, messing up his hair. "Although, why don't you get a hair-cut?"
"Mom..." Itachi chuckled. "I so have missed you."
"We have missed you all so much." Fugaku smiled fully for once. "I wish I could see our little girl."
"Your little girl has grown up dad." Sasuke smiled, running a hand through his own hair. "She's already a Genin ninja." He chuckled a little.
"Already?!" Mikoto's voice implied how surprised she seemed at this news.
"Yes." Itachi said, smiling, trying not to cry from being so happy for finally having his parents, as well as his family together.
"Let's go big bro." Sasuke smiled, heading off.
"Be careful you two." Mikoto smiled. "We'll see you soon."
"Later." Itachi said, running after his little brother, to try rescue their sister. "I won't allow this to stop. I will break this jutsu, allowing us to be a family once again. I promise." He sighed, catching up with Sasuke, leaving their parents far behind.
Back at the Akatsuki HQ, Lilly was trying to get free, looking around the room, trying to focus on some of the things that was going on. She could almost see the moves well, but not completely. There must be something she could do to get free.
"Struggle all you want girl." The control of the puppet jutsu said.
"Who are you..." Lilly questioned.
"I'm Sasori." The figure said, coming into the light. It was Sasori, and he looked exactly the same as he did the first time she had seen him.
"Aren't you supposed to be dead?" She questioned, remembering vaguely what had happened.
"Yes." Kabuto answered. "He was brought back with a jutsu." He smirked evilly.
"What kind of jutsu..." She blinked, a little scared at what jutsu was able to bring dead people back to life.
"The reincarnation jutsu." Ebony answered, looking different than before.
"What do you want with me?" Lilly questioned once again.
"You... dead." Hanzo grinned, as a loud crashing noise came from the front of the Akatsuki HQ. "What was that?!" He exclaimed, looking towards where it came from. "Ebony! Deidara! Go check!" He ordered.
"Fine...hmm..." Deidara sighed, heading off towards where the noise came from.
"Don't order me around babe, but fine." Ebony smirked, before following after Deidara.
At the front of the Akatsuki HQ, Itachi, Sasuke and Josh had succeeded in getting into the HQ, and were searching around for Lilly.
"They better not harm her." Sasuke growled, Sharingan active.
"They do and they're dead." Itachi growled, his Sharingan also active.
"We're getting close." Josh said, having had his Byakugan activated. "She's not far from here."
"And you won't reach her!" Ebony growled, getting in the way, with Deidara beside her.
"Just try stop us." Sasuke smirked. Thanks to Itachi, Sasuke had gained a new power that only Itachi knew about.
"Oh we will. Hmm." Deidara growled, noticing the Sharingan. "Those damned eyes! Judging me!"
"FOCUS!" Ebony shouted, slapping Deidara hard across the face.
"Sorry..." He murmured.
"Go for it bro." Itachi grinned, as Sasuke activated the Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Amaterasu!" Sasuke said as his left eye started to bleed, sending a black flame, engulfing both Ebony and Deidara, instantly killing them. All that could be heard from either of them, before absolute silence, was screaming.
"Nicely done." Itachi smirked.
"Thanks big bro." Sasuke blinked, turning his eyes back to the normal Sharingan, holding his left eye in pain. "That is powerful."
"You still need to learn to control it." Itachi told him. What Itachi hadn't told his brother was that the curse mark was gone, and he was his normal self again.
"I know." Sasuke sighed, smiling a little. "Let's go save sis." He said, before Josh started to head off towards the centre of the HQ, and to where Lilly was.
As they reached the centre of the HQ, a huge fight broke out. Itachi went after two of the Akatsuki members, while Sasuke tried to get Tobi and Kabuto, whereas Josh concentrated on Hanzo, while trying to free Lilly.
"Leave me here!" She shouted, as Josh got sent flying into a wall.
"No!" Itachi growled, blocking kick from some the Akatsuki members, before activating his Mangekyo Sharingan, using the Amaterasu on them all, killing them. "I made a promise sis, and I am going to stand by that promise." He said, starting to fight Hanzo, allowing Josh to free Lilly.
"Thanks Josh." Lilly smiled, before doing hand signs, sending a fireball straight towards Tobi, but he dodged it, kicking Sasuke in the side, sending him flying into a wall, as he tried to activate his Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Don't use it again!" Itachi growled, exchanging blows with Hanzo.
"Why?!" Sasuke shouted, slowly getting up to his feet.
"You know the effect of it!" Itachi shouted, before getting punched hard right in the face. "Shit!" He growled, doing hand signs, sending a fireball at Tobi, which he avoided.
"You won't be able to get me easily." Tobi said, presumably smirking behind his mask.
"Don't believe it." A voice said, sending a Rasengan straight at his face, cracking his mask. Naruto had shown up at the last minute like usually.
"Naruto!" Lilly blinked, relieved to see him there as well.
"Believe it!" Naruto grinned his cheesy, yet loveable smile.
"Just in time, Idiot." Sasuke chuckled.
"Showing up at the last minute is what I do." Naruto laughed, as Tobi's mask slowly fell off, as Kakashi walked into the room.
"Obito..." The Sensei blinked. "You were supposed to be dead..." Kakashi had no idea that Obito had actually survived having been crushed by that boulder, protecting him.
"Well... I'm not." Obito smirked, his one Sharingan eye active.
"Why are you doing all this?" Itachi questioned, before dodging an attack from Hanzo.
"Because I don't want to live in this world anymore. That's why."
"Why not?" Lilly questioned, walking over to Kakashi's side, with Josh beside her.
"Because I have NOTHING!" Obito growled. "He took that away from me!" He aimed the last part more towards Kakashi.
As Kakashi and Obito started to fight, more for what had happened in the past between them, Lilly and Josh started to help Sasuke, Naruto and Itachi with Kabuto and Hanzo. But neither of them managed to help, as out of nowhere Ebony appeared and started to fight them.
"I had killed you!" Sasuke growled, dodging attacks from Kabuto, as Naruto attacked.
"You didn't kill me." Ebony smirked, before fighting with Lilly, as Josh managed to get by to go help Itachi with Hanzo. "You killed a measly clone of mine." She laughed, kicking Lilly in the gut, making her fall to her knees. "This girl is pathetic. She shouldn't even be a ninja."
"Don't you dare say that!" Itachi growled, sweeping Hanzo's legs out from under him.
"But I just did." Ebony smirked, grabbing at Lilly's hair, pulling it hard. "She's weak."
"Says you..." Lilly spoke, in her quiet voice, looking at Ebony with red eyes, which froze her in her track. What was going on here?
