Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Note: Final chapter! (Finally getting around to posting it...) Enjoy!

Chapter 21: The End Of Soyokaze

Riku and Risa faced off against the man who threatened Riku's life, her home, her family, and her country. The face-off lasted for a mere matter of seconds before Riku drew her sword and charged. Mandara smirked and just stood there, confident that her attack would be useless.

Mandara failed to even notice Risa's movements. Risa circled behind Mandara, cutting off his escape route if he were to try to escape Riku's attack. Mandara let out a yelp in shock as Riku's sword sliced open his arm. "How...?" He stared. He tried to dodge the next blow, but Risa slipped her arms underneath his, pinning him in place. "This isn't possible...!"

"Of course it is," Risa murmured. "The Soyokaze were one of few clans that still practiced the art of contacting the dead. We we always the closest to the world beyond. It's no wonder our techniques, our weapons, our bodies can interact with a ghost. That's what you are, aren't you?"

He twisted just enough to avoid getting his skull sliced open. Mandara screamed in pain as Riku sliced open his left eye. "This is good-bye, bane of this land!" Riku pulled back, prepared to drive her sword through his black heart.

Riku felt a sharp pain in her gut. She cried out in shock, blade slipping from her numb hands, knees buckling. "NO!" Risa cried.

Mandara chuckled and then burst out laughing as Risa disappeared. "What's the matter, girl?" he sneered. "I kept a card up my sleeve just in case."

Riku glanced down at the blade in her stomach. Her gaze shifted from the blade to the hilt to the hand and then finally to Itachi's face. His expression told her he was just as shocked as she was at his betrayal. "Itachi..." Her eye sight was starting to get blurry. Not good! She looked longingly at her sword trying to muster the strength to grab it and thrust it into Mandara's laughing face.

"You caught me off guard, but now that I can see what you do, I am assured that I chose right by eliminating you. With you out of the way, nothing can stop me!" He sneered down at her. "I'll let you two say your final farewells; after all, I can trust Itachi to fully join me now that you are out of the way." Riku wanted to demand that he clarify that. What did she have to do with Itachi's decision? But the word never came.

"Riku! Riku! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I'll get you to a medic right away!" Itachi's panicked voice snapped her out of her daze.

She managed a smile just for him. "Itachi-sa..." She coughed up blood. She paused and tried again. "I don't blame you."

"I do!"

"He used strong genjutsu, Itachi-san... Don't hate yourself... please?"

Itachi said nothing. She knew nothing she said would change his mind. "I have to get you to a medic."

"No, Itachi-san. As a medic, I know this wound is fatal. It would take a god to be able to reverse this."

"Don't say that!" Itachi begged. "I won't let you die!" She felt warm tears splatter on her face.

"Itachi-san..." She propped herself on her elbows, ignoring the searing pain in her gut. She kissed him on the cheek. "Look after Konoha for me when I'm gone. You can't do it from the inside, but you can watch over it from afar."

Itachi stared at her wide-eyed. "No, Riku, I can't-"

"Itachi-san, you will no longer be welcomed here as a result of the Uchiha massacre, but I can tell you did this for a good reason-"

"No I didn't!" Itachi cried. "I did it for..." he trailed off.

"Itachi-san... please stay alive. Even if it is the last thing you do. Live. For me, for Sasuke, and for Shisui..."

Itachi stared down at her for a moment longer before saying, "I'll live. I'll kill that venomous snake!" His eyes twisted. She had seen his sharingan eye before, but these eyes were new to her. They seemed to take the pain away. Riku stared fascinated into his eyes. "If it's the last thing I do, I'll avenge you."

As much as she didn't want to hear about vengeance, if it kept him alive it was good. Vengeance kept hurting people, but she didn't have a care in the world for the rest of the world at that moment. Her only thoughts were of Itachi, a man who was like a brother to her, and her village, the rest of her family. "Itachi-san..." She numbly used her hand, dipping it in her own blood and summoned the rest of her energy. From her blood, she brought forth a small scroll. Riku handed it to Itachi. "This is the Soyokaze secret scroll. The moment I die, it will accept you as my successor."

Itachi stared at her, confused. "I can't take that!"

"You must. Either learn our secrets, or burn it. It can be brought forth with the blood of the Soyokaze successor unless the successor has designated another successor or destroyed the scroll. I don't want Danzo or that Uchiha ghost to get their hands on it."

"Then I'll burn it."

Riku ignored him and continued, "It contains our art of summoning the successors before us and some of the ways we used to contact with our dead." Itachi froze in temptation. She could see it in his face. "You could learn how to affect ghosts."

There was the clattering sound of feet on the path. "Go!" Riku whispered.

"Not without you! I'll take you to a healer. Tsunade-sama could fix this," he said, indicating her wound.

"No, Itachi-san. You go."

"I can't leave you behind."

"You must! Go now!" She pleaded. Riku saw the pain in his eyes as she said it. "GO!" She shoved him as hard as her weak limbs would allow. He stumbled, stared at her for one final moment, and fled.

"Riku-chan!" Kakashi's voice sounded in her ear as she driffed off.

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Riku woke up on a hospital bed hearing voices in her ears. "I'm trying my best, Kakashi-kun, but I can't save her." Riku recognized that voice belonging to the blond medic, Tsunade.

"I can't watch another comrade die before my eyes!"

"Then go! You're disturbing her. You should let her get her final moments in peace."

"Sempai...?" Riku asked tentatively. Her eyes fluttered open.

"I'm here, Riku-chan." Kakashi peered down into her face, worried.

"Kakashi-sempai, please... look after my brothers..." She managed to whisper before she died.

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Itachi stood over the gate leading from Konoha. He could feel Riku's presence as he stood there watching the sunrise. This day he would begin a new life. He had failed at protecting Riku, but he wouldn't fail to protect his brother. That he promised himself. He thought back on his plan to protect Riku and Sasuke from his own family. Of all the best plans of mice of men... His plan was ruined.

If he had killed his heart and become a perfect ninja... No. He couldn't have done it, but not from lack of trying. It had been proven time and time again that ninjas were all too human...

Itachi waited until the sun was half way into the sky before he said, "Riku, Shisui, I'm leaving for now, but I'll be back. I promise you. Riku, I'll protect Konoha for you. Even death won't stop me from fulfilling this promise."

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Thank you for all of those who have read my story. Sorry about the delays. I'm pretty sure I've made many people angry by not being consistent on time and I, once again, apologize.