Inabi, Yashiro, Tekka, Tajima Uchiha, Butsuma Uchiha, die. Some via crushed tree, and others by lightning and fire.
A\N: Inabi U., Tekka U., Yashiro U., Tajima U. are the Uchiha that went with Tobirama and Butsuma to find and rescue Itama Senju.
Chapter 31: The eye of the storm.
Itama lay huddled inside the hollow of the tree, the cold winds brushing against the rotting shelter. His cries were drowned out by the fierce, unforgiving rain as he wished and wished he had not wandered off alone. He wished that Tobirama was here to whisk him away back to the safety of the house, to the warmth of fire and food in his belly, but with all the confusion and chaos, Itama had ran farther into the woods seeking shelter. "Tobi-Nii!"
A pair of bright, vermillion eyes glowered down paired with damp, snowy skin. The once regular streaks of paint washed away. "Itama," He looked into the now, lit face of his older brother, lighting cracking across the sky, illuminating everything in sight. "Stand up, I'll get you out."
A sense of relief crossed the boys chakra as he did as he was told, Tobirama's strong arms easily lifted his weight and his feet were lifted off the ground as if he was a mere paperclip. "Are you okay? What were you thinking running off like that?" Being held by his brother filled him with a warmth of a raging fire, the security now being secured in his grasp. Tobirama's arms wrapped around his brother bringing him closer to his chest in an attempt to warm him with his body heat.
"Alright, so we found the kid." Inabi, one of the four Uchiha gathered to help looked quite annoyed. "Now what! Can we go now?" Inabi knew better than to get attitude with the master of water, but at this point being soaked and the possibility of pneumonia was what ticked him off. Almost as if he had a right, seeing as he couldn't do anything to the kid. Just as Tobirama was moving his feet back to the house, a booming crash sounded from the left. The tree burst into flames, though quickly doused by the rain, it crashed to the ground, startling all those around. Animals near the shelter of said tree dove away and scurried off to find a new place to take cover for the time being. Their chakra flaring with the sense of fear.
"Let's go!" Butsuma called dashing through the undergrowth with Tajima on his tail.
"Don't go through the trees, the lightning might strike there." Tajima called back to the group with his rival's son's running right beside him, of course, some of the Uchiha were just too hard headed. Inabi scoffed and started for the tree branch, his idea was 'it's faster to get home if I jump tree to tree. I am too fast for lightning, especially with my Sharingan.' Too bad he didn't know his sharingan couldn't save him from everything…
Lightning struck his body with tens of thousands of volts, the metal in his clothing, the button and zipper of his jeans, the kunai and shuriken in his pocket, only served as a lightning rod. His flesh burned off and even slipped off with pieces of meat. The smell of singed hair, and everything in between, was something even the storm couldn't wash away. And just like that one of them had fallen. Unlike him, however, the elder men and even the kid were dressed in normal civilian clothing. Their weapons were not on them at this time.
"Inabi's dead!" Yashiro grimaced falling behind his elder. His pale grey spikey hair now pressed flat against his head, some running in front of his eyes. This only blinded him from the heavy weight that soon crushed his bones. The ones ahead of him turned at the sound of the tree's crying as it fell on top of their comrade. Tekka watched with ruby eyes tearful with the rain going down his cheeks.
A strangled cry made its way from his throat as he seemed to fall to his knees. Tajima grabbed a hold of him and threw him over his shoulder, making a dash through the clearing. "Now's not the time to grieve."
"They won't be okay…" Lori's tearful eyes nearly broke Kushina's heart. The little girl only served to remind her of herself when Minato went on missions, especially when she was pregnant. Thought of 'What if's' always plagued her mind then. Even of her unborn child. The feeling of the fear of losing someone close to her.
"What makes you say that?" Kushina hugged her close. A sniffle were heard and then Lori's chilling response.
"Because my parents weren't okay, and they told me they would be…" Her blue eyes gazed at Kushina's violet ones. "Just like they did before they left." So this was why she was so upset when the cup broke, and when they left. Her parents told her the same thing before they too left. Was it during a storm as well? Mikoto looked just as remorseful as herself.
"Well we're still here," Jeri smiled at Lori through her own tearful eyes. She was worried about them too, but she was worried about everyone. "Aren't we?" That was one truth that could not be denied by the blonde. Jeri was here with her, was always there for her. Right from the beginning. And so was everyone else. The thought of her secret coming out brought her back to the same conclusion; They would all leave, if they knew. But until then, she would cherish every moment she had with them, now and until she breathed her last breath. When her eyes closed for the final time. And if they were still alive when that time came, she would not leave the earth until they did too. She would protect them even in death if she had to. She would see to it that they lived out their lives, even if she had to ground herself to them, let her spirit cling to their own flesh in order to watch them live happily, peacefully. Just as she had during her stay with the Uchiha and Senju.
"Promise me, you'll never leave."
"We're almost there." Tobirama felt joy in his chest, comforting and smooth against his skin. The thought of finally being out of the elements, and being able to get dry was a wishful thought as they made their way closer to the house. Lightning struck another tree, it fell in flames of fury around them, the rain seeming to disperse as if the gods themselves have proclaimed death for all of them. Using a water jutsu, Tobirama made the roaring fire disappear with a heavy steam appearing in its place.
"Lightning never strikes the same place twice." Tekka proclaimed looking up at the sky. "But why is it striking at us?" Tajima looked at everyone's clothing, noticing he had his kunai on him. He had metal on him, well, more than the others did, since they were wearing normal clothes for this realm.
"Abandon your weapons." The command was so simple, he could even come back the next morning and retrieve them. But people always had to do it the hard way. He looked to Tobirama giving him the nod to go on ahead. The kid was already bound to catch a cold.
"No way!" Tekka scowled at the heavens. Butsuma glared, "Now is not the time."
The argument ensued with heavy words being noted between the three of them. Until lightning struck the man. Startled both elder men left in a dash. Though they didn't like leaving their now dead comrade's bodies, they could always give them a proper burial when the weather cleared up.
A\N: Hey guys, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, this one was a little longer and I haven't been feeling too well this week so I will update as soon as I can but I will be working on this little at a time depending on how sick I get. I just hope that I get better soon so I can update more often with longer chapters. I am so tired it is unreal!
Please leave a review and goodnight!
