Upon the day of the final Chunin exams, I stood as part of the crowd in order to observe the proceedings, but under the orders of the Hokage to be prepared for anything suspicious. Of course, I already knew what was to happen, and it saddened me that today was to be the day of his death. It was an unfortunate eventuality, but I understood that Lord Hiruzen was willing to sacrifice himself and in fact was prepared for it, as he also knew that Orochimaru was not yet gone. I believe he woke up today knowing that he was going to die, but with the fortitude to continue on regardless with his decision made that he was going to ensure the survival of Konohagakure.
These battles of Genin against Genin were rather interesting and some of them even impressed me. The Nara boy for one was very intelligent, manipulating his opponents and using his surroundings to his advantage to win. Of course, Naruto also amazed me by the sudden leap in his chakra levels and his undying determination to defeat the Hyuga boy. Sasuke's battle was moved to last as he was late to arrive, which was unusual for him as tardiness was not one of his traits. Immediately I noticed how long his hair had grown in two months, the front portions brushing far past his jawline. I shall have to trim his hair when we eventually get a moment of time.
I observed in calm silence as Sasuke fought against the boy from Sunagakure, the Village Hidden in the Sand. He was very formidable and when I used the Sharingan to analyse his chakra, I recognised a similar energy as that to Naruto. So, this boy also carried a tailed beast inside him. The One Tail, Shikaku. I shall have to remember to turn my attention to his involvement in the future, when I get the chance, for unless he changes his outlook, he will become a great hindrance to us all.
As I had anticipated, Sasuke's fight was interrupted when the Suna boy began to lose control of his One Tailed beast but was then injured by Sasuke who used the Chidori of Kakashi to break past his sand barrier. It began with feathers falling from the sky, a genjutsu so I responded with Kai Release in order to keep myself from falling under. From there everything happened very quickly, such as a smoke bomb being released in the Kage box, a three headed snake being summoned outside the eastern gate of Konoha and the attack of enemy ninja bursting into life.
When the two villages collided with violent force, I stood still for a moment, looking out to the distance where my eyes were able to see even all the way to the western side of the wall, where two figures stood in observance. Itachi. Itachi had finally returned. An unbidden smile touched my lips, the slight tilt out of place among the havoc of the arena. "I am glad." I was glad to see him, even if it was only a distant shape. I will get my chance soon, however first I must assist against the Sand Ninja at the eastern gate.
Disappearing from sight after looking at Sasuke one last time, our eyes met just before I vanished, going to perform my duty as a Jonin ninja of Konoha. Once I was close enough I slowed to a walk, allowing my Sharingan to take in all the details before me. There were at least a hundred Sand Ninja present, all of them swarming into the village so I cast aside my coat to reveal my Jonin attire, the open sleeve flaring as I flexed my gloved fingers where my silk wire was poised ready to move. I relied on the delicate weapon at first, setting crosswire traps which cut those who entered into ribbons before I would then dismantle it and move forwards, always moving, never stopping.
My crimson gaze struck fear into the hearts of those who knew its dangers, staring at me with trembling limbs. "Uchiha, it's the Uchiha woman…" My fellow Konoha ninja whispered as I continued to walk forwards until I was in the thickest part of the fighting, standing in my own little circle until finally, I had formulated my attack strategy, having calculated and foreseen every possible outcome and learned each and every movement of those who will come to face me.
First, an attack from behind.
The projectiles rang with a clean metallic sound as they flew to my back but in the blink of an eye I was behind the attacker, rising above him in the air and struck him down with a single strike.
Next, a wind jutsu from below.
I filled my lungs with air and manipulated the chakra inside me, allowing it to rise and boil before extending the flames outwards from my mouth, the hand signs blurring so quickly that they were unreadable to the naked eye. "Fire Style – Demon Rain." Fist sized fireballs rushed downwards and exploded when they came into contact with anything solid, injuring a vast number of the Sand Ninja as their wind jutsu only fuelled my flames further.
After that, several would group together to attack me from all sides.
Moving with a flexible body and full dexterity, bending and moving at impossible speed in order to evade all of their physical attacks before then summersaulting away from another jutsu, opening the distance between myself and the danger before then answering with another fire jutsu of my own. It was my greatest affinity, fire nature, and I preferred it over any other jutsu I had learned, for I found a certain beauty in the power of fire. It matters not what they do, for this battle is already won.
Whirling around I hardened my gaze as my vision filled with red, using the Tsykuyomi of my left eye in order to place a powerful genjutsu upon the enemy who were within my visual line of sight. I trapped them in a nightmare, keeping them pinned in place so that others could finish them off. Hm. I have not even broken a sweat and more than half of their forces have been defeated. I am somewhat bored. Still, there was more yet to be done.
Leaping back to higher ground, I ensured that I located each and every one of the Sand Ninja who had slipped past the defensive line, directing others to catch them or subduing them myself. When one got further away than all the others, I elected to chase them down myself, as they were conveniently leading me towards the western side of the village. I captured them within moments, using my wire to bind their legs after throwing it at the ninja with a kunai attached to the end for weight.
He fell with a loud thud to the ground, yelling in pain for his sliced legs which he could no longer move as I had severed several important tendons. "Enough." Bidding him be quiet, I cut my hand down upon the back of his neck and he immediately fell silent, slumping down into the ground just as several other of my own fellow ninja caught up with me.
"Good work Uchiha-san. Leave the rest to us." They bowed to me politely so I gracefully indicated my head to them, allowing them to take possession of the unconscious Sand Ninja to spirit him away. Now was my chance. Perhaps my only chance to once and for all see Itachi and speak to him. I had even started to run towards him when I suddenly realised that now was not the right time, for if I revealed myself to both Itachi and his companion, then complicated questions would arise, questions that neither he nor I will be able to answer without compromising our positions.
I came to a halt, freezing in place and feeling the torment of trying to reach a decision. No, not yet. I cannot face him yet. But I want to, strangely, more than anything in the world I wanted nothing more than to see Itachi again. I missed him, it hurt like an everlasting agony to be separated from him in this way. We grew up together, were even promised to one another in marriage, but now we could not be further apart. All these feelings had been suppressed inside my body for so long that, if I were to release them now, I had no doubt that I could utterly destroy all of Konoha singlehandedly.
Shaking my head, I forced myself to turn away. Not yet. Not yet, Miyuki. Tomorrow. You must wait until they are at the teashop, that will be your opportunity. Between my Kamui and Tsykuyomi I knew I would be able to speak to Itachi privately for as long as I wished. Both allowed me control over time and dimensions, so perhaps he will allow himself to act freely if it were just the two of us. If I can persuade him to tell me his entire plan, then I may be able to help him more effectively. Should that work, then maybe…just maybe…I may be able to embrace Itachi once more.