chapter four. strange man revealed. is it orochimaru?
Tanyu held the documents in his hands, bowing as he passed them on to the lord of the estate. "These are the documents you requested. Please review them to make sure they are satisfactory."
"No need. I'm sure they are fine. The estate extends you our deepest thanks. Quarters have been prepared for your team if you so wish to stay the night, but I trust that you will not overextend your welcome and leave by noon tomorrow."
Akihiro watched as Tanyu nodded, then followed him out of the grand hall. The mission had been uneventful. They had met up with a few thieves on the way, but they were easily dispatched. The documents were received and the destination reached in less than three days time. Akihiro was just tired of the whole mission and just wanted to go to sleep. Eriko and Itachi, on the other hand, were training again. He didn't know why Eriko bothered. Couldn't she see it was pointless to train? She would never reach the level that Itachi already had.
* * * * * *
"You're too slow. Try to predict where I'll attack, and base your movements from that."
Eriko nodded, preparing for Itachi's next attack. Even though he was going easy on her, she had trouble keeping up. Still, she felt the training with Itachi had helped her, and her skills in jutsu had improved greatly in their time together.
Now, a simple blink and Eriko had lost sight of Itachi, leaving her amazed that he could move so greatly. Was he waiting for her to blink in order to move away unseen? She turned around, analyzing her surroundings and seeing nothing. Suddenly a noise above her alerted her to Itachi's coming presence, and she realized she didn't have time to do anything but dodge. She quickly rolled out of the way as Itachi landed in the spot she was previously standing on.
"That was a little quicker, but not by much. If I was an enemy I could have attacked you from above with a weapon as soon as you noticed me. And if I had been going just a little bit faster I could have reached you in time."
Eriko nodded again. She was always careful to listen to Itachi.
"If you can't move more quickly, try using your chakra to block the attack somewhat. Try to focus it around your arms to create a shield."
"All right-" Eriko was about to ask to repeat the exercise again when she noticed that Itachi's eyes were red.
Itachi was using his sharingan.
"Eriko, listen carefully." Itachi spoke slowly and softly, barely loud enough for Eriko to hear. "You should walk towards the creek and hide there. It's ten yards to your right. I feel some one coming."
"No. If there's trouble I want to fight too. I may not be as talented as you, Itachi, but I can handle myself with most other ninja."
There was a laugh from behind her, and Eriko turned as she drew out her kunai, preparing for anything.
"I doubt you could handle yourself against me, genin. Step aside. It's the Uchiha that I want to fight."
"If you want him, you'll fight us both."
Itachi's eyes narrowed. "Who are you and why are you doing this?"
A ninja appeared out of the forest, laughing, his body concealed by a black cloak. His red hair was cut short, close to his head on the sides and long in the front. The headband he wore bore the mark of the Hidden Mist Village. "Since you asked so politely, I'll tell you. I'm a chuunin from Hidden Mist Village, as you no doubt have figured out already. My mission is to fight with and gather information on Uchiha Itachi. It seems as if some one is very interested in you, Uchiha."
"And if I refuse to fight you?"
The hidden mist ninja laughed again. "It doesn't matter. I think I'll kill you either way."
The ninja shot forward, his movement barely visible, but Eriko saw her opening. She poured her chakra into her kunai and threw them at the ninja as she raced toward him, instantly getting more kunai out to replace the ones she had used. He dodged the kunai, but they slowed him down enough so that she could aim correctly. Still, after she threw the next three kunai, he managed to dodge two. The third barely scraped his shoulder.
"I see," he said, smiling at Eriko. "I suppose I will have to deal with you first."
Eriko was upon him as soon as he said the words and started attacking with all the speed and strength her taijutsu could muster. Still, the chuunin dodged her attacks without seeming to move at all, and even smiled at her before raising his arms. She suddenly found herself thrown up and back into the air, and used her chakra to aim herself safely onto a tree branch.
"What's wrong?" she bluffed. "Are you afraid of close combat?"
Itachi watched as Eriko fought the chuunin, analyzing the mist ninja's abilities, ready to step in if Eriko found herself in real trouble. He watched as the chuunin leapt into the trees and began to spar with Eriko. After a few moments Itachi realized that the chunin was clearly more talented than Eriko. In fact, he could have ended the fight easily several times already. Itachi leapt towards the two ninja, landing on a nearby branch.
The chuunin grinned when he saw Itachi so close by. "So you've decided to fight. In that case, I'm done playing."
Eriko was completely unprepared for the chuunin's next move. Before she could even register the action, the chuunin had hit her in her stomach with a blast of chakra that sent her spiraling backwards. She had no time to prepare to land, and she was falling straight for the ground... the fall might break her neck and even kill her. At best, she would have a few broken bones. Eriko barely registered Itachi coming at her and hitting her chest with his arm. The move hurt, pushing all the air out of her lungs, but it changed her path so that she collided in a tree and landed in its branches. Her limbs were exhausted, and all she could do was watch now.
"Who hired you?" Itachi sped at the chuunin, and Eriko could see that he was holding back, being cautious.
"Is that all you have?" The ninja smirked. "You're slow for a prodigy."
The ninja made his move, rushing at Itachi, aiming his attack. He was sure he would hit when Itachi dodged at the last moment, appearing above him and attacking him from the top. The chuunin found himself plummeting to the ground, but quickly prepared himself to land properly.
"That was alright for a genin. But you're not the only one with a bloodline."
Itachi watched from the shadows as the chuunin performed several hand seals... it was a jutsu he hadn't seen before. It was... some kind of transformation? The chuunin's appearance was changing, his hair growing longer, his teeth sharpening into fangs. His chakra had also changed colors.
"You should feel flattered that you were able to see mine."
Itachi's eyes widened as the chuunin propelled toward him... the older ninja had managed to target him, even though he was so well hidden. He'd have to deal with the man now, and soon. He used some of his chakra to propel himself backwards, and gathered some more as he performed his own hand seals. When he finished four streams of fire shot out of his hands, and he guided them towards the chuunin. They wrapped themselves around the other ninja, setting his skin on fire wherever they touched.
"These flames!" The chuunsin was suddenly and effectively bound by the fire. It felt as though the flames were eating through him.
"These flames are special. They will not stop burning until their target is reduced to ashes. Your mission is over, chuunin. You have failed."
Itachi watched as the ninja was eaten alive in the fire. Eriko was awestruck in the branches, wondering when Itachi had mastered that move. She had never seen a fire jutsu like that. And the way he had read his opponent... he must have mastered the sharingan as well. The chuunin's movements were far too fast for her, and she estimated most ninjas, could see. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard clapping from below, and saw a figure approaching Itachi.
"That jutsu was most impressive. You were right to kill him before he reached you. Otherwise, he may have ripped you apart."
Itachi turned to the other man, recognizing his face. "You are the lord of this estate."
"Not exactly." The lord's diplomatic face and regal bearing shifted, and Itachi found himself staring at a pale man with long, black hair. "I'm afraid he is currently indisposed."
"You sent the chuunin after me."
"No." The strange man smiled. "I am only here to watch. My organization might have an interest in you, Uchiha Itachi."
"I am a ninja of Leaf Village. I have no interest in your organization." Itachi tried to step forward, tried to attack the man, but found that he couldn't move. He was somehow bound in his position.
The man started to walk away. "Really? It seems to me as though you have no interest in Leaf Village either. You are an automaton, Itachi. You fight because it is what you were taught to do."
Itachi made no move to fight, no attempt to answer.
"Is it not true? If it's not, then what do you fight for? As I said, my organization has an interest in you. But first, we'll see how you mature."
It was a moment after the strange man disappeared before Itachi could move again. He went to collect Eriko, picking up the bigger girl and closing his sharingan. "Eriko. Don't tell any one about what happened today."
Eriko nodded. It was the first order Itachi had ever given her.
