Fingers twitched and eyebrows furrowed. Slowly, eyelids cracked open. Blue eyes stared up at the ceiling. The surroundings were incased in darkness, making it hard to make out anything. However, there was a single light source, a candle, which was efficient enough to draw conclusions. This place was not the Uchiha hideout. "Stalactite…?" Where was this? Ishikari Mayu had awoken in some sort of cave. Shadows danced across the ceiling, prompting the girl to turn her head towards the light source. Next to the single candle, there was a hole in the wall—an exit. "How did I get here?" Mayu shut her eyes rolled onto her stomach. She then pushed herself up into a sitting position. It was then that she realized that dirt hadn't been her cushion, but a tan blanket. Someone had taken her here. But the last thing she remembered was-
Groaning, Mayu reached up to clutch her head. Soreness that she had been used to feeling from her body was in her head. Not a headache, though. She felt it in her mind. She hadn't felt this type of ache since the first time she used her mind abilities. Another groan escaped her mouth as she squeezed her eyes shut. "I gave you some treatment." A voice called out from the darkness, causing Mayu's body to freeze. She looked towards the exit with narrowed eyes. That voice was familiar to her. "You weren't injured at all, though… Just unconscious."
"Show yourself!" Mayu demanded. With a smile, the owner of the voice stepped into view. The darker teen's lips parted in stunned surprise. "Y-You…" Her voice shook with disbelief. "You're supposed to be…"
"Incarcerated? Dead…?" Yasmine asked. She shrugged. "I guess I still have a use for Tobi-sama. I was saved twice by my family." The foreigner moved forward. Mayu subconsciously reared back as Yasmine sat down opposite of her. Blue eyes regarded her, puzzled and a bit wary. Brown eyes stared back at her. She kept her smile, but her eyes were indecipherable. "So… You must want to know why you're here, right?" Mayu sucked in a breath.
"Sasuke! Where's Sasuke?! No—is Itachi-"
"Yes." Yasmine's chin lowered and her smile wavered. "Itachi-nii… is dead. Sasuke isn't." Mayu felt her throat swell. She blinked several times, wanting to stop the tears. She didn't want to show the enemy her sadness. She didn't want to cry anymore. Her body, like so many times in the past, would betray her. She just knew it. A hacked out sob left her lips before Mayu could cover her mouth. That did little to halt it. Her shoulders trembled trying to keep the rest of her muffled sobs in. Why? She had already come to accept this. Knowing the day had been a long time coming, she had believed she had numbed herself properly. She had believed she had prepared. But… In the end, she realized that she couldn't. Not for this. "I… I'm sorry."
Mayu was surprised to hear a crack in the foreigner's voice. She focused on Yasmine again to see tears brimming, just waiting to overfill and leak out of her eyes. In her lap, her hands were tightly clasped together. Nails digging hard into her skin. Previous words that Yasmine had spoken drifted into her mind. You've got your family, and I've got mine, she had said. Along with As much as I hate to admit it, you and I are alike, and our brother noticed that. Mayu moved her hand from her mouth, staring at Yasmine through blurry eyes. Of course. She hadn't been the only one to lose him. The foreigner opened her mouth to speak, but her lips quivered and only a choked sob came.
In that moment, the two weren't enemies. They weren't fighters or tools. They weren't even strong. They were just two little girls who had lost someone they had claimed as an older brother. Uchiha Itachi was dead. And he wouldn't come back. No more paper fan for being a brat. No more pats on the head for a job well done. No more… him. Both Mayu and Yasmine suddenly burst, loud wails and tears. They threw their arms around each other, holding on desperately. Shaking and crying, they could not control it anymore. Sobs racked their bodies each time they attempted to calm themselves.
The prolonged mourning only ceased when their throats and eyes became raw. Even then, they didn't let each other go. Exhausted, so exhausted, they clung to one another. Mayu was the first to become calm enough to form a sentence, though it wasn't coherent. "It… It's going to be o-okay," she repeated once she swallowed. Though they were equipped with cracks and sniffles, she hoped her words were soothing enough. "He-He wouldn't want-want this of us…" She reared back, letting her arms fall away from Yasmine. The foreigner sniffed hard, drawing the snot back into her nose. Honestly, Mayu must have appeared similar because of the gross, hysterical sobbing. She wiped her own snot with the back of her left hand and wiped the tears with her right.
That's right. Itachi wouldn't want her to mourn him. He had wanted her to let go. Let him go. Forgive him. Then forget him. That had always been his plan. "He… He… tol-told me…" Yasmine shivered almost violently, not bothering to wipe away her anguish. "His la-last words to me… He said that he was proud, but I… I should stop re-resisting." She shook her head. "I don't know what he means! What should I do?! I don't know what he meant!"
"… Calm down…" Mayu replied. She swallowed thickly again, sensing that Yasmine was going to become stricken with sobs again. "You will… You will figure it out…" The foreign teen reached up, furiously rubbing at her eyes. "Enough crying for now." She shut her eyes and breathed in deeply. "Never let them see you sweat," she murmured, barely aware that she had said it. Yasmine, however, heard it clearly.
"What did you say?" she asked, blinking.
"Ah, nothing. It's not important." The blue-eyed girl waved a dismissive hand. Truthfully, it had been a phrase she had learned from her other grandmother. Theresa had been a tough old woman, whom had instilled such a mantra in her head. Saying or thinking it was a way to suppress overwhelming emotion—to make sure no one else could see the vulnerable side 'if they weren't worthy.' Thinking about Ishikari Sheena's mother almost made her smile. "Anyway… since we're both calm now… How did you get away from the village before it was destroyed? Also, how did you get away from Deidara's detonation?"
"A retrieval specialist smuggled me out. Tobi-sama was carrying me when he escaped the blast," Yasmine replied. She cleared her throat, and then wiped the rest of the liquid from her face. "But that's not really important. I wasn't there for most of the fight between Sasuke and Itachi. I didn't see how it started, but I'm pretty sure Zetsu-sama did… The parts I was there for—it seemed pretty one-sided in my opinion. Zetsu-sama thought otherwise, but it definitely wasn't equal. Maybe if Itachi hadn't already been sick, it wouldn't have turned out this way…" Mayu repressed the gasp that threatened to come out. How sick had he been? Enough for him to not keep up with his younger brother? Or had Sasuke truly become so powerful? "As crazy as their battle got, in the end, Sasuke backed Itachi into a corner, sword about to… Well, Itachi actually managed to knock the sword away and take Sasuke down, hand on his throat." Yasmine squeezed her eyes shut. "I thought it was over at that point. Itachi really looked like he was about to take Sasuke's eyes. But Sasuke… He had a hidden weapon. He stabbed Itachi in the stomach as he hovered over him. He even twisted the blade. Zetsu-sama said I screamed. But I don't remember that."
"Then… that's when it happened? That's when he died?" Mayu inquired softly.
"No. Itachi reached up and-" Yasmine poked her own forehead with her index and middle finger. "He did that to Sasuke… Then he died. You recognize that gesture, right?"
"Mm." Mayu nodded, gaze falling to the floor. "So at the very end, his façade cracked just a bit," she thought. The girl frowned. "Then what?" Yasmine went on to explain that Sasuke had pushed his older brother's dead body away. Apparently, he had haphazardly looked around the decimated hideout. He had found her body and refused to speak to Zetsu when they had approached him. Clearly he had been exhausted, but he hadn't moved until the others—Karin, Suigetsu, and Juugo—had been brought to him. Only after Juugo had taken Mayu's body did Sasuke finally collapse. The platoon had been brought to this Akatsuki base about an hour ago. "Where's Sasuke now?"
"I'll take you to him now if you're up to it."
Mayu nodded again before standing. Yasmine stood as well, and then led the way. As they walked, words were not exchange. It felt stiflingly awkward. Try as she might, Mayu could not focus on her surroundings. Her gaze continuously drifted to Yasmine's back. This girl—she had just cried with her. They had both been vulnerable at the same time. But that's all it had been, right? Friendship had been offered. And rejected. The circumstances were different now, but being friends—that wasn't going to happen. Mayu's eyes narrowed. She had already mourned her. There was nothing left. But to move on.
Yasmine suddenly stopped. She turned, facing Mayu, but her right arm extended, pointing out another hole in the wall. Another archway. Another room. "This is where he was left," she stated. "I will tell the others that you have woken up." She turned to go, but stopped. "This does not make us friends. I want to make that perfectly clear. I don't need friends." Hearing her actually say it stung a bit. "I only need family. And I've already lost so many of them. We did not bond because of Itachi-nii's death."
"I know that."
"Good. Glad we're on the same page."
Yasmine left her then, but not before giving a smile, which had not reached her eyes. A sigh let Mayu's mouth, and then she faced the entrance. Drawing in a deep breath, she stepped forward. Like the room she had awakened in, this room only had one candle lit. It did get the job done, though. She saw Sasuke's form right away. Despite everything that had happened so far, a slight smile crossed her face. The girl walked forward, and then sat down next to the Uchiha. The rise and fall of his chest indicated that he was sleeping. However, she couldn't be sure. Sleep and unconsciousness were two difference states.
His appearance showed that he had been put through a struggle. Bruises. Cuts. Medical dress. His shirt and cloak were nowhere to be found. "Must've been one hell of a battle," Mayu muttered. Her hand reached over, fingers gingerly sliding a bit of his hair from his forehead. He visibly twitched, eyebrows furrowing. Sasuke shifted his head towards her, and then slowly opened his eyes. His gaze settled on her. Mayu tensed. For whatever reason, she felt nervous. "Hey," she spoke up. Sasuke blinked once. Then he moved to sit up. She did not stop him. Patiently, she waited for him to do the environmental checks.
"Hey," he repeated once satisfied. His dark eyes turned to her form. The corner of his lips tugged upward. Not quite a smirk. Not quite a smile either. "How long have I been out?"
"Not sure," Mayu replied. "I just got up myself." She managed a tight smile. "You won." Sasuke did not mirror her expression. Instead, he lowered his line of sight to his lap. He narrowed his eyes and did not speak again. "What's wrong?" For a time, he did not answer. Mayu chose only to wait.
"I don't… I thought I would feel differently," he finally admitted. The lifeless eyes of Uchiha Itachi flashed through his mind. Sasuke blinked again. His murdered clan—they would finally be at peace now. The murderer had been righteously killed in battle. "Most of my life has been spent getting stronger to defeat Itachi. I was strong. I was stronger. Even when he pulled a jutsu I've never seen before. Even when he ripped Orochimaru's seal from my body, I still overcame his power. By myself. I thought I would feel catharsis with him dead. I thought I would feel proud. But all I feel is… numb."
"Why do you think you feel like this?" Mayu questioned. "Did he say anything to you?" Her questions made him think of his brother's detached words cold demeanor. Brother…? No. That man had never been his brother.
"… Up to this point, I referred to him as my older brother," Sasuke stated. "But all I was to him… was a spare. He kept me alive for one reason, and that was to someday steal my eyes. He didn't feel anything for me or the Uchiha clan—just power. Even when he was dying on top of me, he only tried to get at my eyes. The man I once respected, the man I once feared, turned out to be nothing more than another greedy person." Mayu's hand came down on his. She squeezed, causing Sasuke to look at her. It was then he noticed the red in her eyes. She had been crying. Suddenly, he felt guilty. She hadn't known the truth at all. Her affection was still there for Uchiha Itachi. Saying all this in front of her, did she think him a monster? For killing her precious person, did she hate him now?
"You're disappointed," Mayu said at last. "Maybe somewhere in the back of your mind, you wanted him to show even a little bit of remorse for what he did since he shared your blood. But he didn't, and so you're disappointed." Was that it? Disappointment…? Maybe she was on to something. Mayu always had a knack for knowing how he felt. Even without her memories.
"Maybe that's it," Sasuke mumbled. "I wanted him to feel something… so you could let him go. But Itachi ended up having a one-track mind." Mayu opened her mouth, but words failed her. She looked as though she might shed tears again. However, before he could attempt to console her, a voice caused them both to become alert.
"So you are both up, huh?" the unfamiliar voice had said. Sasuke sharply turned his eyes to the darkness. A man revealed himself, though an orange mask covered his identity. The mask was recognizable. That Akatsuki member. He didn't have any weapons. Shit. He should have questioned where they had been taken. "We've met before as enemies. But don't worry. We're not foes." His voice was strange. He hadn't paid too much attention to the masked man before in his encounter with Deidara, but he was positive that he hadn't had such a deep voice. Anyway, he hadn't saw this man before he passed out. Only that Yasmine girl and the plant man. "I brought you here so that I can tell you something important." Sasuke ignored him in favor of glancing at Mayu. Did she know the girl had somehow survived at that time?
"Something important…? We're not foes?" Mayu repeated in a questioning manner. Unexpectedly, she appeared amused. Derisively amused. "That has yet to be seen." Sasuke frowned. He could tell she would be bitter. Hopefully not towards him.
"I would hope you both think this is important," the man continued. "The information concerns Uchiha Itachi." Mayu's expression hardened. Sasuke remained neutral, but he would be lying if he said he wasn't interested. "Ah, have I gotten your attention now?"
"You're going to get more than my attention if you don't get to the point." Sasuke narrowed his eyes, half annoyed. The sooner this was over, the sooner he could calm Mayu down. The masked man only chuckled. He reached up to pull off his mask. Showing his face wouldn't put him at ease. No matter what, this man was Akatsuki. He was not to be trusted based on his face alone.
"Alright. I'll start with introducing myself," he continued, gripping the mask. "Much like you, I am a living, breathing Uchiha." Before Sasuke could scoff at the ludicrous of his words, half of his face had been revealed. Even in the dimness of the room, a Sharingan eye was clearly visible and staring hard back at him. His lips parted in disbelief. "I also know the truth about-"
Without his conscious permission, chakra pulled and surged through his network, forcing itself into his left eye. It was the feeling of his Sharingan activating. A liquid thicker than tears leaked from his eye and slid down his face. The man suddenly burst into flames—black flames. The man was consumed instantly. Screaming, the darkness swallowed him whole. Then the searing pain came, shooting through his body and concentrating in his triggered eye. The young Uchiha hissed and squeezed his eye shut. "NGH!"
"Sasuke?! How did you do that?!" He felt Mayu's hand against his cheek. His open eye focused on her worried face. Slowly, the pain faded, and only discomfort remained. Soothingly, she pawed at his left cheek, wiping at the liquid. Had it been blood? What happened? Clearly that had been a jutsu Itachi had used on him. Amaterasu. Sasuke panted out, feeling sweat form. The chakra abruptly stopped pushing, causing his body to succumb to fatigue. His forehead smacked against the kunoichi's shoulder. "Y-You…" Her arms wrapped around, hands sliding up and down his back. He shut his right eye, almost completely relaxed. "You didn't do that."
"Then how… did it… happen? How could I… use… Itachi's jutsu?"
"He implanted it into you," the voice came again. The two teens looked to the shadows again, surprised to hear it. That hadn't killed him? An arm reached out to grab the fallen mask. Apparently not. Sasuke could hear the mask snap back in place, and then the man stepped out of the darkness. Just who was this guy? Struggling, the young Uchiha pushed himself away from Mayu. But it was she who moved into a protective-like position. Even sitting, she could still attack or defend. "Itachi, Itachi, Itachi… Even from the grave, you don't cease to amaze me." He chuckled again. "To go as far as to plan this situation…"
"What are you saying?" Sasuke found himself becoming more annoyed. "What do you mean by implant?"
"He equipped you with his jutsu as a last ditch effort to kill me… or at least keep me away from you," the man answered. "I assume he had it set up that Amaterasu would be triggered once you saw my Sharingan. Too bad it didn't work out the way he planned."
"I… I've got no idea what you're talking about," the Uchiha stated.
"Look, Itachi must have done something to you before he died," the man grunted as if annoyed. Sasuke instinctively reached up and touched two fingers to his forehead. It was the same placed his older brother had touched him… right before the light faded from his eyes. "Somehow, at the last possible moment, Itachi transferred all his techniques into you." What the hell?! That didn't make any sense! Why in the world would Itachi give his power to him? He was the one who wanted more power. By taking his eyes, Itachi would gain more power. Uchiha Itachi hated his younger brother. There was no doubt about that…right? "You still don't know, huh?" The man must have read his expression. "It was… to protect you."
"Pro-Protect…?" Sasuke echoed. No… Uchiha Itachi threw away his humanity. Betraying his family, betraying his village—it was clear that he had lost all innocence. Anger and bitterness rose and churned within him. "What the fuck are you saying?!" The snarl didn't seem to disturb the man, but Mayu did flinch beside him. "Is that supposed to be funny?! Get the fuck out of my sight before I kill you."
"Haah…" The man sighed heavily as though burdened with a heavy weight. "I see it's going to be difficult talking to you. I understand, though. A weirdo suddenly takes you in and starts telling you shocking things… However, what I speak is the truth. You, yourself, have questioned it for years. The one who helped Itachi that night. It was me—Uchiha Madara."
"Don't fuck with me!"
His rage had completely taken over. Pretty soon, he would not be able to listen to reason. However, this guy could know. This guy could reveal the truth. If Itachi truly had intended to kill this person to stop the truth from being told, then Madara must have known. Uchiha Itachi—he really hadn't wanted either of them to find out, had he? Itachi was not an instinctive kind of guy. Each move he made was precise and calculated beforehand. One could never truly know what he was thinking because his mind did not live in the present. Itachi had always thought of the future, never past or present. Mayu hands clamped down on Sasuke's shoulders, forcing him to look her way. He had activated his Sharingan in both eyes, but she could see his inner turmoil. The news, the possible revelation, was causing mental pain. She moved her palms, sliding them against his cheeks again and pressed her forehead against his. "Calm down," she told him. "You need to calm down now!"
"There's no way you believe him, right?!" Sasuke did not calm down, though. In fact, he sounded near hysteria. Was he about to have a panic attack? She could understand his reaction, though. He had been vengeful for so long. Like her, he had been affected by these sudden doubts. His mountain, which had been solid earth, had turned to glass. And the unexpected reveal, like a rock, smashed into it. "He tried… He tried so hard to kill me! All he wanted were my eyes! He didn't care about me! He never did!" He was borderline hyperventilating now. "I tried… I tried so hard…! For you! For me!" He coughed out, but continued even though his voice had become ragged. "B-But he didn't fe-feel anything!"
"Sasuke! Sasuke, listen to me! Breathe!" Mayu commanded. "Breathe with me! Breathe!" She exaggerated her breath, blowing on his lips so that he could follow along. The vulnerable Uchiha lowered his eyelids until they completely shut. His breathing evened out and indeed mirrored hers. They inhaled and exhaled for several moments before Sasuke opened his eyes again. They had shifted back to the familiar onyx. Though his eyes were clouded, his body had calmed down.
Seeing Sasuke like this reminded her so much of when he used to have nightmares. Back when she shared a body with Hinata, she had slept over numerous times and had seen him so scared and so shaken. She had vowed to herself that she would help him get over his nightmares. So ignorant she had been. But not anymore. Sasuke needed to hear this. He needed so have the doubts and know the truth. Swallowing hard, Mayu let her hands fall. She found his hands and squeezed reassuringly. "Mayu…" Sasuke shook his head. "I-"
"For now," she interrupted. "Let's listen. I know you're not the type to live with doubts. You haven't reached catharsis. Not yet. This guy might know some truth. He might not. But it's up to us to decide that. As heirs, it our responsibility to gain knowledge-" Her eyes narrowed. She bit the inside of her mouth, hoping the snarl wouldn't come out in her voice. "-And act accordingly for the future of our clans."
"Oh…? Spoken like a true clan head," Madara remarked.
He was ignored for the most part. Sasuke lifted his head. "Fine, get on with it," he said. His eyes shifted to the masked Uchiha. Mayu's hands remained on his. "Like she said, I'll judge your words and decide if I believe you."
"Excellent." The man made himself comfortable on a nearby wooden crate next to the candle. He crossed his arms and began. "In order to talk about Itachi, I have to go back to when the Leaf was founded. It's a long story, but I assure you it's all true." Neither teenager spoke, but he did have their full attention. "It all started eighty years ago… The world was in a constant state of war. Back then, ninja were nothing but individual clans acting as militia. Countries hired clans to fight for them. Among the clans, two were considered the strongest. One was our clan—the Uchiha clan. The other was known as the Senju clan. The Uchiha clan had exceptional chakra and the Sharingan. We were well-versed in battle—a warrior clan. My chakra was especially strong. Living this long is proof of that…"
"I doubt that…" Sasuke thought, raising a skeptic eyebrow.
"Back then my life was just one long battle. I even killed my friend and brother to become more powerful," Madara continued. "Thanks to that, I gained the perfect Mangekyo and became the leader of the Uchiha clan."
Sasuke kept his expression as impassive as he could. However, inside he could help but feel the man in front of him was heartless. Killing his friend and brother for the sake of power? He could see himself doing the same. Itachi had been a different story, but Naruto… His best friend and rival—he wouldn't do that. Couldn't. This next of kin of his was extreme, but so close-minded. Two things, when mixed, only caused chaos.
"I used my powers time and time again against the Senju clan. It was inevitable that I would face the leader. Senju Hashirama, who would later become the First Hokage, was the leader. He was a man that I, myself, greatly admired. It wasn't just myself, however. All of the clans acknowledged his superiority. He was feared by most. The Uchiha and Senju clans were rivals. Whenever they moved, we moved. Whenever a country hired them, that country's enemies would hire us. The more we clashed, the more well-known I became."
"Wait…" Sasuke interrupted. "You took your brother's eyes for fame?!"
"Don't be naïve… I wanted the strength to protect the Uchiha clan. The more famous we became, the more enemies we had," Madara explained. "Sacrifices had to be more in order to defend against the Senju clan and any other clan that opposed us. My brother willingly offered his eyes to me." The older ninja visibly tensed. "But then… the Senju initiated a truce, and our clan agreed to it. Everyone, on both sides, was sick of the endless fighting. In the end, I was the only one who opposed the truce. My brother sacrificed himself for nothing! I couldn't help but think the Senju clan would eventually wipe out the Uchiha clan. However, I had no choice but to accept the truce as everyone in the clan had already agreed. Soon after, our ninja alliance made a pact with the Fire Country. This began the one village per country system you know today. Other countries began to emulate the same system. The fighting lessened quite a bit. For a time, there was peace. But then something happened that shook the world into chaos again."
"What happened?" Sasuke asked.
"There was a dispute over the one who would become the Hokage," Madara answered. "As you know, Hashirama became the First, but I realized that the Uchiha clan was quickly losing its supremacy. In order to protect Uchiha, I chose to oppose the Hokage. No one in the Uchiha clan went along with it. I was betrayed by my own people. They said that I was moved by my own desire for power, and that I have taken my brother's eyes to save my own life. What man would willingly harm his younger brother?! I only wanted to protect the Uchiha, that's all! And so I left the people who had betrayed me. I left the village. I became hell bent on revenge, so I challenged the Leaf… and was defeated at the place they now call The Valley of the End. I died there… or so everyone assumed—even the third person who was there believed me to be dead."
"Third…?" Sasuke repeated.
"Oh yes, there was a third person. He did not get involved with the fight. He only watched, waiting for the victor to rise," Madara went on. "He allied himself with the winner of our battle. He was, in fact, the leader of the Ishikari clan." Sasuke's eyes widened, and then shifted over to Mayu. She didn't seem too shocked at the news, though. Did she already know? Well, perhaps she did. The girl's memory had been tampered with, but she now knew of her clan. So it was possible that she knew the beginnings of her own clan. Hesitantly, the young Uchiha returned his attention to Madara. "This clan did not get involved in wars, which is why no one had ever heard of them before. Wanting to keep it that way, Hashirama snuck the small clan in the village and use their abilities for… backup, a last resort, if it came down to it. Only a select few knew of their existence. Their home was built from the powers of Hashirama, isolated from the village. The clan head agreed to such a position as it had been beneficial for them. The Hidden Leaf village knew peace, and all was good. The Second Hokage, as a sign of trust, gave the Uchiha a special position. The Leaf Military Police was formed, but this was only a ploy. This was so there would be a constant surveillance on the Uchiha and to keep them from the governing of the village. For added insurance, the Uchiha were moved, so the Ishikari clan could keep a watchful eye on them without being detected. The Uchiha clan became nothing more than the Senju's dogs, and the Ishikari became nothing more than guards. In the end, both clans were only following their Senju masters."
"Even dogs know when they're being watched," Sasuke commented, lip twitching in irritation. "The distance between the Uchiha clan and the Ishikari clan is not that wide."
"Ah… That is because, at the time, the Uchiha clan was still quite a distance away. Then the Nine-tailed beast came. The attack happened, and afterwards, the Uchiha clan was moved yet again, closer to the Ishikari clan, their guards," Madara stated. "But what does the Uchiha have to do with the Nine-tailed fox, you ask? Uchiha abilities are the only things capable of controlling the great beast. Knowing this, the leaders of the Leaf suspected that the clan was behind the attack sixteen years ago. Although it was really a natural disaster, the discrimination began. They had believed the Uchiha clan was plotting a rebellion. Because the Ishikari clan did not see it coming, the leaders believed that they had become useless with their observations, and so ANBU took the job of watching the Uchiha clan closely. In the aftermath of the attack, the Uchiha clan rebuilt, but was completely separated from the rest of the population. Only the Third voiced his dissent, yet his advisors and Danzo refused to listen to him."
"Danzo…" Sasuke murmured. He recalled his teammate, Sai, speaking of him, but it had only been once. The man was said to be the leader of a special team of ANBU, known as Root. Mayu tensed beside him, causing the younger Uchiha to take a glimpse. She had a look of fury on her. He hadn't seen that look since the last time Orochimaru had been mentioned in front of her. Danzo. The man had been responsible for the way Sai behaved, but that couldn't have warranted this reaction from her, could it?
"That discrimination birthed ill-will and… eventually the Uchiha clan planned a coup d'état. They planned to take over the village by force," Madara stated, triggering a reaction from Sasuke.
"What?!" he exclaimed.
Ignoring their outburst, Madara continued. "And so the higher-ups planted a spy within the Uchiha clan. That spy was your brother, Uchiha Itachi… and that is where his hell began." Sasuke could only stare in shock. "You were too young to know about the takeover, so you were kept in the dark. Your father, Fugaku, was the ringleader of the coup d'état."
Her last entry says that she must speak with the Hokage because she feels that Uchiha Fugaku has betrayed them all.
The memory of Mayu and himself discovering the Ishikari residence flooded in his mind. Mayu had read the diary of Ishikari Mayuka, the clan head, her mother. So then it was true… "On your father's orders, Itachi entered the Black Ops to obtain information. However, the opposite happened and Itachi became a double agent, giving information to the Leaf about the Uchiha." Madara suddenly paused. His gaze turned in Mayu's direction. He let out a small chuckle. The kunoichi glared, not liking the action. "That is when Itachi met you, little Mayu. A meeting that was never supposed to happen caused the fast approach of the overthrow. While Itachi had found water in his own personal hell, Fugaku found an opportunity to strike."
"What… What's that's supposed to mean?" Mayu asked. Her voice trembled as though she already knew the answer. Sasuke frowned and maneuvered his hand out of hers, only to hold her hand instead. She relaxed a bit because of the intimate contact.
"After becoming aware of the place Itachi constantly went to, Fugaku formed an alliance with your mother, Ishikari Mayuka, the clan leader. He persuaded her that the Ishikari clan had been in the dark for far too long. She, being the ambitious woman that she was, agreed to the alliance. However, in order to secure a prominent place in the coming regime, she proposed marriage to unite the clans and seal the deal." Mayu's cut her eyes, visibly becoming angry. She must be thinking something along the lines of how Madara knew what her mother had been like. The young shinobi narrowed his eyes as well, waiting for the rest of the story. "Uchiha and Ishikari—the alliance would shake and destroy everything the Senju hoped to achieve. The village wouldn't have seen it coming… if it weren't for the double agent."
"Why would he betray Uchiha?" Sasuke inquired. "Itachi-"
"Saw war," Madara cut in. "I don't expect you to understand. You don't know what war is like. Itachi saw so many people die all before his fifth birthday. Too young to experience something like that. He was traumatized at a young age. He hated conflict and the village elders knew that. Using that to their advantage, they gave him a secret mission. He was ordered to put an end to the alliance and kill every single member of both clans." Madara looked away for a moment. His Sharingan then became visible through the single hole in the mask. Sasuke squeezed his eyes shut and lowered his chin. "I can't even begin to imagine his mental state. Destroy family. Or destroy peace. In the end, the decision was made. Knowing it was coming, Uchiha Itachi approached me. Admittedly, I was bitter towards both Senju and Uchiha, and looking for an opportunity for war. Itachi figured out that I still lived and proposed that I could have my revenge on Uchiha. But I was to leave the villagers alone. I took it, that offer. But I had nothing to do with the destruction of the Ishikari clan. Since it was a small clan in the first place, it was easy for Itachi to end the clan in mere minutes. That day, he buried his future in-laws in their own backyard. Then he moved on to his own clan… with my help."
He paused, allowing the information to sink in.
"Itachi became the sacrifice and fulfilled his duty to the village, but… he made two mistakes. He couldn't kill his own little brother. Nor could he slay his lover. Sasuke, ignorant little Sasuke, had been spared and given the goal of revenge so that he could get stronger. He wanted you to continue to believe that the Uchiha clan was something to be proud of," Madara continued. "And Mayu… He couldn't kill you either. Not his source of water in his personal hell. With an incredible jutsu, you were sent away, memories wiped completely. You weren't supposed to return. And even if you did, you weren't meant to know any of this. And in order to protect you both, Itachi begged the Hokage to never reveal anything to you. He left the village a traitor, knowing that he would someday die for his deeds by your hands. It was all a part of his plan. Driving you into a corner, releasing you from Orochimaru's hold… he did it all for his brother. He played the deceiver until the very end. He only thought of your wellbeing. Wanting you to be viewed as a hero for killing the traitor of Leaf, Itachi planned your fight to the very end. What a great older brother he is, ne?"
Mayu's shoulders shook. She had begun to remember everything about Itachi in that single moment. The times they shared, his smile, that damn fan of his… She could only imagine that Sasuke was doing the same since he was so silent. Itachi have never stopped loving and protecting them. Tears streamed down her face, but she wouldn't allow herself to wail again. This was not the time. The truth, however distorted, had been put out there. Sasuke knew. "I… Itachi…" she whimpered. Her eyes shut, attempting to stop the flow of tears. It's not what he wanted, but now that Sasuke knew the gist of it, there would be no turning back.
"Lies… You're lying," he murmured. "You have to be… By him, I almost died more than once… Itachi was… Itachi was evil. You have to be lying!" Mayu turned towards him. He had such a blank look on his face, even his stare was aimless. Lightly, she touched his cheek. It brought him back to reality. "Ma-Mayu…?"
"It's the truth," she confessed. "Everything Itachi did, he did it to keep us safe."
"How do you know that? There's no proof! He has to be lying!"
"There is proof," Mayu stated. "Well, there was, and I found it." Sasuke's eyes expanded as the pieces fell into place. His jaw slackened, coming to the realization. "That's right. I got my memories back. Your spy did a hell of a good job." She licked her sudden dry lips. "On the mission to capture Itachi, Hinata said the trigger. Since then, I've known… This guy told the truth about Itachi's intentions. Not only that, but… before your fight, Itachi confirmed it with me. I made him tell me." Not with her ability, but in the end she had made him talk. He could never resist her for too long. Sasuke continued to stare at her, stunned silent. Finally, he reacted. First he blinked. Then he shuddered. With wide eyes, he shook his head and moved away. He continued to shake his head as he stood. "Sasuke…" Mayu reached for him, hoping to console him and explain a bit more, but the young Uchiha smacked her hand away.
"Don't touch me!" Mayu couldn't help the slight gasp that came forth. She couldn't recall a time where Sasuke had so harshly rejected her touch. Immediately, her arm lowered. "…! You… Yo-You let me… Knowing everything, yo-you…!" The shinobi reared back, and then left without another word.
"Damn it."
"Ah, it seems he couldn't handle the truth, but it seemed more shocked about you." The casual remark caused Mayu to glower. "I am interested on how you obtained the information, though."
"What does it matter to you now?" she asked, venom leaking in her voice. "You have what you wanted—Uchiha Sasuke. What business do you have with me?"
"Curiosity, I suppose. You see, your union with Uchiha Itachi was not the first time the two clans came together." Mayu remained quiet. She did raise a brow, though. This egged the masked man on. "The first time happened maybe two generations before you. They did not share the same friendship as you and Itachi, though. That Uchiha woman and the Ishikari head at the time fought each other every time they happened to meet. Their respective clans had no clue about their clashes. Their last clash ended with the two of them disappearing, without a trace, just like you. The Ishikari covered up the incident and a new clan head rose. The Uchiha paid no mind to the disappearance. The woman, though Uchiha, did not have the Sharingan. She had been of no concern. Many, if not all, believed she was just another unfortunate person."
"No one questioned it?" Mayu asked, humoring the man in front of her.
"Of course not. The Ishikari did not exist."
Mayu turned her gaze away from the man. The information he had just given her. She already knew. Her other father, Ishikari Chinotouri, told her of how he was the descendant of Ishikari Mitsuo. Whether it was an accident or not, both the clan head and the Uchiha woman—Asuka was her name—had been transported. They had forgotten everything, but eventually they married and began the Ishikari in the alternate world. Generations later, Asuka's advanced bloodline surfaced, which is why her other father, and his brothers, had the Sharingan. But this 'Madara' didn't know that. And he wouldn't know that.
"What I am so curious about is the place they were sent. You have traveled there, stayed for years, and then came back." He crossed his arms. "You know the answer, don't you?"
"I can't remember," Mayu lied. "And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you." She stood up then, frown on her face. "Why, you may ask. Because you seem like a person that will give knowledge to another person, twisting the truth and even lying. I don't trust you." His face, completely hidden, couldn't show a reaction, but his shoulders did. He tensed as though caught. "Oh? Well, look at that. You think you know everything? Big, bad Madara might. But you, Uchiha-san, don't know shit."
"What are you talking about?" He stood as well, but the action didn't bother the teen. Not in the least.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about," Mayu retorted. "You want to know how I know, right? See, us Ishikari, we love recording stuff, keeping track of our history, and educating future generations. Because of this, I know the identity of the third person that was there at the Valley of the End. That person wasn't a man. It was a woman. She wasn't a clan head, though. She was a disowned member of a family, looking for a way to return honorably. What better way to do that than to form an alliance with the strongest man in the world? So yeah, you were right about that part. But Uchiha Madara, the real Uchiha Madara, would have known my ancestor. Because even before the battle, Madara met her."
"You…"
"An outsider like you doesn't have the right to try to manipulate an Ishikari Master, especially with such twisted information." The man remained silent. "I don't mind if you try it with Sasuke. He'll make his own decisions in the end; he's always has. But me? With some insignificant information?" She lost her frown and took on an apathetic expression. "Don't play games with me, Uchiha-san. I don't play fair anymore."
The tense silence that follow did little to deter her. She may have revealed information that could later be used against her. But she had to show dominance over this man with a bit of her knowledge. He had to perceive her as a threat and an asset. Otherwise, she would be expendable. It was clear to her now that, whoever he may be, was the real leader of Akatsuki, pulling the strings from behind the curtain. Watching his puppets dance. Whoever he was, she despised him. But for now, she would let him carry out any plan he had of Sasuke. She had another goal in mind. Unfortunately, she might need this suspicious Uchiha in the future. Hopefully, he was thinking the same thing about her right now.
The masked Uchiha suddenly chuckled. It was as dark as night. "I see now," he said. "Itachi chose well, after all." Mayu narrowed her eyes. What did that mean? "I'm interested to how well you play the game." Was he trying to psych her out? Make her think he actually knew something else when he didn't? Or did he really know something that could affect her. Doubtful. She had already discovered the information that had struck her core and destroyed her dogma. It couldn't be done again. Still…
"Fuck this guy," Mayu thought, glaring.
0-0
She had felt the intensity of his eyes. Not even having to look, Mayu had been able to tell a hard stare had been aimed at her. His fierce stare—it had burned at her skin. It made her uneasy, and so she had left the room without checking his obvious injuries. Unfortunately, Sasuke had been doing this for a while now. On top of that, he wouldn't speak to her either. He and the other three—Karin, Suigetsu, and Juugo had taken on the name Taka, hawk, and joined Akatsuki. They had even gone out on a mission for the organization. The details of the mission had not been discussed, and so Mayu had been out of the loop. Whenever eye contact had been made, that had been his reaction. After several days of this, it was becoming annoying. She had wanted to give him time to sort out his feelings. But judging from his cold attitude towards her, he had not been doing that. "This is ridiculous!" Mayu thought. Not knowing what was going on with him was driving her insane. They had to settle things now. "Whether he wants to or not!"
"Hey, Mayu~!" The playful tone in Karin's voice was not lost to her ears. Internally, the dark-haired kunoichi scowled. She did not need this right now. The redhead had noticed the obvious tension between them, and made it her sworn duty to keep bringing it up in a haughty manner. Karin placed her hands on her hips, appearing smug. "He seems to be a lot grumpier than usual," she remarked. Mayu forced herself to keep her expression blank as she turned to face her. "Sasuke sending you away with just one look—I wonder what you did to piss him off…!"
"Karin, if you have something to say, then just say it," Mayu responded, eyebrow twitching. The redhead didn't bat an eyelash.
"As close as you were, he didn't even let you tend to his injuries," she continued. "You know he visits me by himself to see if I'm alright." Mayu forced a smile and slowly breathed through her nose. Karin didn't seem to notice the strain. "From what I hear, you two haven't spoken since Itachi died. Could he like me more than you now?"
"Karin, that is highly unlikely," Mayu retorted. "Even if Sasuke stopped liking me, you would never have his affections." The smug look finally vanished and in its place she wore a glower. "I suggest you shut your mouth about things you know nothing about. You look quite foolish." Karin sputtered out something, but Mayu had already moved past her. "Don't step to me with that bullshit again."
She left, barely understanding the hisses that were directed at her. Ooh, she must have really pissed Karin off. Mayu must have seemed confident. Really, she wasn't. Right now, she didn't know what Sasuke was thinking. He had closed himself off to her. She could only hope his feelings toward her remained relatively the same. Mayu's gaze lowered to the floor as she walked. On some level, Sasuke must blame her with how things turned out. Hell, she blamed herself. If she had ignored Itachi's wishes, maybe… he would still be here. And maybe Sasuke wouldn't be avoiding her like he was.
Mayu came to a stop. She stared at the entrance to Sasuke's designated room for a full minute. She clenched her fists at her sides, and then proceeded in. The other members of Akatsuki had left whilst Taka had been out on the mission. Yasmine, Kisame, Tobi, Hidan, and Zetsu had left, so she could speak freely with him. Expectedly, Sasuke was sitting, wrapping bandage around his torso. He must have known she stood there, but he made no move to greet her. Maybe she should wait until he finished. Maybe she should give him more time. Maybe it was best if she let him come to her. Nah.
Steeling herself, the kunoichi walked forward and dropped down next to him. Still he didn't acknowledge her presence. "How long are you planning on doing this?" Mayu asked. "Are you still not calm?"
"Calm…?" He scoffed. Well, it was something. "My brother's dead. Calm is not something I can reach." Mayu held in her wince. She had been afraid of this. He hadn't been thinking logically about any of this. His emotions had gotten the better of him, overriding everything else. The kunoichi swallowed hard. She then boldly grabbed his hand, forcing him to stop wrapping himself. Finally, he shifted his dark eyes to her. His glare caused inner shivers. Firmly, she squeezed his hand.
"I know you're mad at me for withholding crucial information about Itachi, but it had to be done."
He yanked his hand away from her grasp. "Why?" he asked. "Why did it have to be done?" Mayu pressed her lips into a thin line, but Sasuke did not end his questions. "Why did Itachi have to die? Why did you let me go on hating him? You had plenty of times to tell me, plenty of chances, but why did you keep it secret until the end?"
"… That is what he wanted," Mayu answered. "As much as I hated it, I promised him that I wouldn't tell you anything. Only confirm if the information ever came across you."
"So you were willing to keep it secret. What if Madara hadn't said anything? You would have continued to-"
"It was his last request of me," Mayu cut in. "As his fiancée, I had no choice. He knew that." Sasuke sucked in a shuddering breath. "You think I wanted him to die? I didn't. He was my brother, too! Why should you be the only one to mourn him?!" To her surprise, the Uchiha completely turned away from her. He stood up, facing away. Almost as if to distract, he began fiddling with a shirt that had been left on the crate. She watched him, confused by his behavior. Then it came to her. Mayu's jaw dropped. "You didn't… You haven't mourned him yet!" Of course! It made sense now. He was emotionally backed up. "Sasuke!" The kunoichi stood up. "Why haven't you cried?! You need to-"
"What's the fucking point?! In feeling anything at all?!" he snarled. His rage was further emphasized by the motion of him throwing his shirt down. "It's not going to bring him back! It's not going to change anything! I don't need mourn his death! I don't want to!"
"Sasuke," Mayu began, but then snapped her mouth close. He needed to do this. He needed to get out his words. If shouting was the only way then so be it.
"You don't get it! I hated him! Hated!" Sasuke continued. "I woke up hating him! I fell asleep hating him! I hated him in my nightmares. I saw his face every time I faced an opponent and I hated! Until you, my mind didn't know peace. Until you… All. I. Had… was hatred! Hatred for a man who apparently loved me to death. And I killed him. We killed him! So tell me…! What the fuck am I supposed to feel?! Because I honestly don't know!"
Itachi… His death and the truth was breaking Sasuke. Perhaps Itachi had been right to keep everything from his younger brother. If he foresaw this reaction, Mayu could understand his reasoning a bit more. "You're obviously upset and that's confusing you, Sasuke. So the question is… What's making you upset?" she prodded. "Is it me?" She braced herself for his answer, but he only shook his head. "Who then? Itachi?"
"No! I… I don't know!" Sasuke shook his head again. His fingers and thumb of his right hand pressed hard against his forehead. Mayu continued to fire suggestions at him, knowing that he would reach his breaking point soon and his feelings would burst out. Only then could he release. She brought up so many things. The massacre, the elders, herself and the fact that she basically lied to him, Itachi's intentions—nothing would be too sacred. Then she told him to answer her, switching from demanding and requesting at a rapid pace. "EVERYTHING!" Sasuke screamed out. Mayu bit her lip, willing herself not to step away. His chakra had flexed and lashed out. "Everything is just so fucked up! My whole life has been nothing but lies and hatred! I don't know what to do anymore! I… I don't know what to believe anymore…"
"I know one thing you can believe in," Mayu murmured. She moved, slipping her arms around him. He only stood there, and so she saw it as a sign she could continue. Her neck stretched, allowing her to rest her chin on his shoulder. "You don't have to believe me, but believe in Itachi's love for you." She breathed in deeply and closed her eyes, catching tears before they fell. She hadn't realized she had been on the brink of crying. But she couldn't cry now. She had to be strong. For Sasuke. This was his time. "Remember and believe in Itachi. He loved you more than anything. He sacrificed himself and died just for you. You are his brother, his precious little brother. Despite what anyone says, you know him. Past all the hatred, deep down, you loved him just as much. Believe in that. Mm?"
Sasuke suddenly went limp. Almost his entire weight came down on Mayu. Not expecting it, she dropped down, knees slamming against the ground. She clenched her teeth, forcing herself not to cringe. His hands pressed against her back before his fingers curled. He gripped her shirt and buried his face between her neck and shoulder. She could hear his teeth grinding. His breathing became awkward and jerky, and his body nearly convulsed with the strain. Mayu rubbed his back in a soothing manner, silently urging him to release his pent up emotion. He did. She felt the wetness on her skin first. Then she heard the whine vibrate in his throat before it came out as a long, choppy and muffled howl. Sasuke's embrace tightened just a bit more.
It came pouring out of him. The bitterness, the anger, the sadness, the hate and frustration—the negative emotions swelled and gushed out. A residue would surely be left behind, but what mattered is most of it could be released. The two stayed that way, just holding onto each other what seemed like hours. Though uncomfortable, Mayu would continue to hold this position for as long as Sasuke needed. Gradually, his weeping dwindled to whimpers; then his whimpers faded, leaving him only to sniffle. The tremors had left his body as well. Then the room became quiet. Not even their soft breathing disturbed the silence. A few more minutes passed before Sasuke's grip slackened.
"Mayu…" he whispered. Slowly he slid his hands away from her back, only to cup her cheeks. He stared into her eyes, expression unreadable. His thumbs swiped at her cheeks. "Where would I be… without you?" Mayu attempted to smile.
"Probably a whole lot better off," she joked. Sasuke snorted, but both corners of his lips lifted. It was something—a start. He kissed her then. Tender and lingering, it filled her with the hope that she was forgiven. Thank you, it said. He opened his eyes and his head moved back, locking his gaze with hers. "I'm… I'm sorry." Mayu felt the need to say it out loud. She reached up, fingers brushing against his wet cheeks. Suddenly, his gentle touch of his palms against her cheeks turned firm. Not painful, but it was obvious he wanted to get a point across.
"Don't you ever-" Sasuke croaked. Mayu pursed her lips together, awaiting harsh words. "-suffer without me." Stunned, she could only stare back. She had not been expecting him to- "Your burdens are mine. My burdens are yours. We share them. Don't you ever feel you have to hold back in front of me again." Before she knew it, tears welled again, and then spilled over. His right hand moved, fingers entangling in her dark hair. His left hand came around and held the small of her back. He pushed her head, letting her cry on his shoulder. Sasuke lowered himself to the ground, taking Mayu with him. This whole time she had been struggling, and he had noticed that. He continued to whisper in a soothing manner, but she couldn't hope to recognize words at the moment. Still, the low rumble of his voice had been more than enough to mollify her sobs. Side by side, arms around one another, and legs intertwined, the two eventually fell asleep.
It wasn't until much later, when the light had long since flickered out, did Sasuke rouse from slumber. Tiredly, he scanned the dark cavern. Nothing was amiss. Satisfied, he shifted his gaze down. Mayu slept soundly, snuggled so close. He watched her sleeping face, contemplating. Admittedly… He had been angry with her. So angry and so bitter towards her. After he had learned the truth, the very thought of her sent him spiraling down, crashing into fury. He hadn't been able to think straight. Hadn't been able to focus. It had been a wonder how he communicated with anyone. Thinking back, it had made several rash, and probably stupid, decisions in her absence. But what could he have done? Speaking with her so soon—he hadn't been sure if he could control his ire. He might have said something that would have completely severed ties. Even though he had been so furious, he subconsciously hadn't wanted that.
Luckily, Mayu had known to keep her distance. She always knew. Calming him down, pulling him up, bringing him back—regarding him, Ishikari Mayu always knew what to do and when to do it. When she had finally come to him, his reactions to her had been mild compared the first couple of days. The perfect time for a confrontation. She had provoked him and had gotten him to open up. In the back of his mind, Sasuke had realized her intention. It had been at that moment of release that he realized. He had missed her. He had needed her. He had fallen for her all over again. She had always been willing to hold onto him in his moments of vulnerability. She had always been the one to help him through whatever crap life decided to throw at him.
Could she say the same about him, though? Had he been the only selfish one this whole time? All those concerns had gone through his head as he let himself go on top of her. And only when she had crumbled against him did he realize that, yes, he had been selfish. Mayu had known this turmoil long before he had, and what's worse, felt she had to keep it within herself. Well, he meant what he had told her. She didn't have to hide anything from him anymore. She wouldn't be the only one to shoulder her—their—problems.
Sighing, Sasuke slid his hand up her back, fingers tickling her spine. The movement disturbed her sleep and pretty soon her eyes cracked open. She merely stared at him for a time before she sighed through her nose. "Morning already…?" Mayu mumbled.
"Don't know," he replied. A moment or two went by. "Mayu…"
"Sasuke…" she said at the same time. She bit her lip. "Your breath really stinks. Could you let me go?" Faster than necessary, Sasuke flicked the girl's forehead. "OW!" Her screech accompanied her hands flying up to nurse her abused skin. The Uchiha turned over on his back and crossed his arms, just a bit annoyed. He shut his eyes, letting a slight scowl replace his neutral expression. He heard her shift, yawn, and then stand. He also heard the wince, when her knee collided with the corner of the crate, no matter how much she tried to hide it. Suddenly, the room became just a bit warmer. Sasuke opened one eye, focusing on Mayu. She had lit a candle, and was in the middle of lighting the second. "I haven't slept like that well in ages," she remarked. Now that she mentioned it, he couldn't agree more. "So…" Facing him, she scratched at her cheek. "I have a lot of things to tell you. Like you said, we… should share…"
"Do it," Sasuke said, sitting up. He faced her as she crawled over to him. With her legs crossed, she sat opposite of him. He chose to mirror her position, so their knees nearly touched. "Tell me."
Mayu sucked in a breath, and then let it out. "Before that, I want to make some things clear," she whispered. Then she cleared her throat before speaking clearly. "First off, that Uchiha we met—not Madara." He had already figured that, but nodded anyway. "He told you the gist of the truth, but a couple of things were wrong." She then went through what 'Madara' had told them, correcting what needed to be. It made sense now. That man seemed too disassociated from the retelling of 'his' story.
"So he was given misinformation?" Sasuke wondered out loud.
"What I want to know is why he wants you to believe that he's Madara," Mayu muttered. "But for now, let's just agree not to trust him." He nodded his head in agreement. Even if the man did have the Sharingan, he had admitted to slaughtering his clansmen. He wouldn't forget that no matter what. "Anyway, back to the things I wanted to share… I told you, and had always believed, that your father gave the order to kill my family. Based on my mother's diary and the warped dreams I had when I didn't know any better, I just assumed it had been Uchiha Fugaku. Itachi later confirmed that the eradication of my family was just another part of his mission to end the coup before it started. So… your theory that it had been Ishikari that helped with the massacre was wrong." Sasuke nodded. He had already come to that conclusion. "You told me to be your spy to confirm your theory, but I ended up finding out about the order and the reason behind it." She shook her head. "I remember freaking out and stressing over how I was going to break the news to you. For months, I annoyed Hinata with my behavior."
"Did you… Did you tell her?" Sasuke questioned.
"No way! Telling her or Naruto—what would they have thought of the village if I did? The leaders of the village they love had condoned genocide, and then covered up the reason behind it with lies. I couldn't tell them that. Like I said, I didn't know how I was going to tell you… if I was going to." Mayu shrugged. "But… I had unknowingly used the Ishikari forbidden jutsu on myself."
"Putting you back in your real body, and wiping your mind of all the memories and information you gathered while you shared Hinata's body," Sasuke finished. Mayu nodded solemnly. To be honest, he still didn't know how to handle that information. He still didn't know what he actually intended to do with it. For now, it was best to not dwell. He had already royally screwed up in retaliation, and he was absolutely dreading when the time came to tell Mayu. "Okay… so that is my burden. What's yours? You found something out about your own clan during our time apart, didn't you?" The change, though subtle, Sasuke had recognized it. She had seemed more… hardened when they had unexpectedly crossed paths. She must have discovered something groundbreaking about her own clan.
"Yeah…" Her eyes averted to a corner of the room, and then returned to him. "There's a secret place where Ishikari go in order to hone their skills, become masters of their abilities, and learn the history—the origins of the family. There was so much to take in since Ishikari does record everything. Even the trivial details. That's where I was when I left the village. That is where I learned… what I am." Sasuke chose to remain silent. If he asked questions now, she would become distracted and maybe not tell him all she wanted to get off her chest. "I'm not the first to be the product of the atavism that runs in my family. It ranges back so far, but all of us were known as abominations. It was unnatural the things we could do without use of charka, and so once the indicator of the atavism surfaced in one of us, we were… killed."
"What?!" Sasuke had tried to remain impartial. Really, he did. But that had been too surprising. The exclamation had bubbled and burst from his lips before he could stop it. Mayu gave a cynical smile and nodded.
"Brutal, I know, but that's how things were. Besides, the percentage of a child having the atavism is less than five," she explained. How morbid… However, what had been strange had been the fact that Mayu seemed unconcerned with her predecessors. Especially since it could've been her. Sasuke chose not to comment, though. "It wasn't until Ishikari Noriko that things changed. Her parents, like so many others discovered the indicator of the atavism. But they were either too strong or too weak to kill their child. They, instead, broke away from the family and ran away with her. I won't bore you with the details, but Noriko eventually allied herself with the Leaf village. Because of this, the Ishikari was introduced to the Leaf, albeit discretely. Noriko had secured…" She stopped, searching for the right word. "Stable protection. Despite her status as an abomination, the rest of her family trickled into the village, becoming an official clan and celebrating her feat. Since Noriko, the atavism was something to silently hope for because it was through her powers the First saw value in her. They even named her head of the clan." A wry chuckle seemed to reverberate in her chest. "Secretly, Ishikari was used in the wars, Noriko especially. But she was pushed too hard and died young."
"Pushed too hard…?" Sasuke repeated.
"Yes. There was downside to using the abilities without chakra. The mind starts to deteriorate with prolonged use. Not knowing the effects until the end, Noriko used it haphazardly and continuously for the sake of the village and eventually had a hemorrhage in her brain."
"That could happen to you?"
"No… Well, not at a young age," Mayu murmured. "An ancestor of the Yamanaka clan found a way to slow the process, which benefited the both of them. The same had been happening to her. But it ended up being too late."
"The Yamanaka clan knew about yours? Wait… From what you told me, that means this ancestor of Yamanaka was an abomination as well."
"Correct. Only she didn't use her abilities as much. They were able to put a mental piece of themselves in each other. I was told this was to provide an impenetrable barrier against the Mind Transfer Jutsu—whether it be Ishikari or Yamanaka. That's true, but the original purpose is to keep the deteriorating process at bay." Mayu pressed a finger to her temple. "I've got a piece of Ino in me, so you don't have to worry." Sasuke eyebrows furrowed.
"Ino… has similar abilities to you. She's the abomination of her clan."
"Ino refers to call it a mental mutation, but yeah. We're safe for the time being." Sasuke still didn't like the sound of it, but kept quiet. "Anyway, Noriko did end up dying. Eventually, Mitsuo was born. He was the next abomination of our clan. I met him through Ino and he taught me control, but I didn't learn of his life until last month. His abilities… were abused. Mitsuo wanted nothing more than to serve his village at a very young age. The clan was a secret, though. He couldn't enlist in the Academy. Danzo-" Here, she spit the name like acid. "-took advantage of his need and took him under his wing. Noriko may have been pushed hard, but she chose to do it. Mitsuo had been molded into a tool, losing himself and only doing Danzo's dirty work. At the beginning of the Third's reign, Danzo began ROOT. It was Mitsuo's power that contributed to the secret organization. His methods were extreme and cruel. Mitsuo eventually became nothing more than an experiment because of his abilities. Danzo's the one that imposed restrictions on the Ishikari clan, because once he understood how the atavism worked, he wanted to keep track a close eye on the children of the clan. It would be easy if there were so few of us. I was to be his next tool. And I didn't have a clue."
"What do you mean?" Sasuke asked tentatively.
"I'm not sure about the Yamanaka clan, but with my clan, there's an indicator. When I was five or six, I used the Mind Transfer Jutsu on my father. Well, when I went back to my body, I took on his skin, hair, and eyes. You've seen it."
"With Sakura…" He could also remember her colors shifting back when they were kids. He had always wondered about that ability. Mayu nodded.
"Yeah… but that's something unique to me, and the other abominations. If you could do this, then eventually you would end up with the atavism. I didn't know that until recently. I thought it was something all Ishikari could do. But my mother knew better and hid it from me. And she made me believe that I was just like everyone else. She didn't want her baby to disappear. So when the time came, to Danzo, I was just a normal child. He could care less about me. Then I met Itachi, and everything changed. I used my unique ability on him and my mother realized that it was only a matter of time before Danzo found out. She agreed to the alliance with your father so that I would continue to be protected. There was no other reason behind it for her—just me. My mother sacrificed herself, her clan, just for me. The one responsible for the outcome of our tragedies—my mother, Itachi, maybe even the coup itself—I can't help but think it's because of Danzo."
Sasuke remained quiet, waiting for her to continue. However, she didn't speak again. Her gaze had shifted to her lap. Narrowing his eyes, the young Uchiha leaned closer to her. With his movement, their knees touched. Mayu lifted her chin, and spoke not a word. He realized that she was waiting for his response. Undoubtedly, it was a lot to take in. "Okay. So we both know the truth, but you've had more time to think about it," Sasuke began. "What do you want to do with this information?"
"What I want… is to see the world change so that there's no more Danzos. Not more Itachis. No more sacrifices. Either this world changes-" Her expression turned downright murderous. "-or I'll make sure it fucking burns!" Sasuke shivered. He hadn't known what to expect, but cold fury had not been an anticipated reaction. Not from her. Then again, she, too, had learned and clearly it had distorted everything she had ever believed in.
Was it strange he found her incredibly irresistible right now?
Pushing down his sudden aroused senses, Sasuke cleared his throat. "Then what's the next move?" he asked. Mayu immediately wanted to know what had transpired after he received the 'bastardized version of the truth' from 'the wannabe Madara.' And so he told her. Everything. From his emotionally driven declaration of crushing the Leaf village to attacking and delivering the host of the Eight-tailed beast to the masked man, how Itachi's jutsu had helped in the fight, how his eyes were already feeling the strain. Even his recalling of activating his Sharingan for the first time and seeing his older brother crying on that fateful night. Not to mention the last words Uchiha Itachi had said—he told her everything. Mayu had waited patiently and quietly, completely nonjudgmental. Once he had finished, she shut her eyes, thinking. Sasuke gave her a minute to gather her thoughts. "What are we going to do to change the world?"
And he would do it. Because Mayu had been absolutely right. He would not bring future Uchiha into a world like this. He refused to have any of his descendants have a stigma attached them either. He knew Mayu felt the same despite how she labeled herself as an abomination. She sucked in a breath, and then released it slowly through her nose. Upon opening her eyes, Sasuke found that his heart lurched. With her piercing blue eyes she had him pinned. She leaned forward and opened her mouth.
"This is what we're going to do…"
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