Chapter 2: Manifest Destiny
"...Sasuke... your destiny calls you... it's time..." His father called after him. The autumn wind picked up a
"Father?" Sasuke asked in bewilderment. No, it was impossible. His father was dead, murdered by Itachi years ago. He bit his lip, and tasted blood. "So I'm not dreaming." He thought, and cried joyfully. "You're... alive." He ran over to embrace the shadowy figure. "Father, it is so good to see you. So much has changed since you have gone. I have defeated Itachi, and I will bring honor to the family again."
"That is good, my son." His father smiled. "You are a true Uchiha." He praised Sasuke. "But why didn't you kill Itachi, like you were supposed to?" His voice adopted a cold steely tone as he berated his son.
"I didn't have time. He vanished before I had a chance to kill him." Sasuke murmured regrettably. "But, don't worry, father, the next time we meet, I will surely kill him and avenge my family."
"You're a disgrace to our clan, Sasuke. There will be no next time." His father sneered contemptuously. "Capture Itachi and kill the ninjas of the Leaf Village... together, you two shall rebuild the former glory of the Uchiha clan from the ashes of Konoha!" The apparition disappeared in a blinding flash of light.
Sasuke closed his eyes to avoid the painful flare of light, and pondered about what had just taken place. He calmed down as he thought pensively. "My father is dead..." He said quietly to himself. "I saw him murdered in front of my eyes, but is it possible?" He asked himself. "... that I was visited by my father's spirit? And does he want me to capture Itachi... and destroy Konoha with him?"
The cold breeze cut through his thin coat and chilled him to the bones, but Sasuke showed no signs of freezing. After all, he was an Uchiha, and he couldn't be bothered by such trivial things like the weather. No, he had more important things to worry about, like finding Itachi. "Father... I will not fail you, and I will honor your last request, I swear." Sasuke vowed. "Kuchiyose No-Jutsu!" Temichi, the armored plated tiger appeared in a swirl of smoke. "Temichi, use Tracking No-Jutsu to pinpoint Itachi. We're going to bring him back alive this time." The giant tiger nodded speechlessly and let his master ride on his back, as they bounded off in search of Sasuke's older brother.
After Sasuke left, a lone figure revealed himself in the overhanging tree branches. His streaming jet-black hair waved wildly in the wind, giving him a demonic look. "Kukukuku..." The mysterious figure cackled. His plan had worked. The complex genjutsu technique he had used finally wore off now. "Uchiha Sasuke... you have indeed grown much more powerful. To be able to summon Temichi..." He laughed triumphantly. "But, who would have known that after all these years, you would still be this easy to manipulate? Run, child. Find Itachi... and soon, Konoha will be mine once and for all! Destiny awaits!" He laughed again, his serpent-like eyes blinking away tears of joy and malice.
"...Sasuke... your destiny calls you... it's time..." His father called after him. The autumn wind picked up a
"Father?" Sasuke asked in bewilderment. No, it was impossible. His father was dead, murdered by Itachi years ago. He bit his lip, and tasted blood. "So I'm not dreaming." He thought, and cried joyfully. "You're... alive." He ran over to embrace the shadowy figure. "Father, it is so good to see you. So much has changed since you have gone. I have defeated Itachi, and I will bring honor to the family again."
"That is good, my son." His father smiled. "You are a true Uchiha." He praised Sasuke. "But why didn't you kill Itachi, like you were supposed to?" His voice adopted a cold steely tone as he berated his son.
"I didn't have time. He vanished before I had a chance to kill him." Sasuke murmured regrettably. "But, don't worry, father, the next time we meet, I will surely kill him and avenge my family."
"You're a disgrace to our clan, Sasuke. There will be no next time." His father sneered contemptuously. "Capture Itachi and kill the ninjas of the Leaf Village... together, you two shall rebuild the former glory of the Uchiha clan from the ashes of Konoha!" The apparition disappeared in a blinding flash of light.
Sasuke closed his eyes to avoid the painful flare of light, and pondered about what had just taken place. He calmed down as he thought pensively. "My father is dead..." He said quietly to himself. "I saw him murdered in front of my eyes, but is it possible?" He asked himself. "... that I was visited by my father's spirit? And does he want me to capture Itachi... and destroy Konoha with him?"
The cold breeze cut through his thin coat and chilled him to the bones, but Sasuke showed no signs of freezing. After all, he was an Uchiha, and he couldn't be bothered by such trivial things like the weather. No, he had more important things to worry about, like finding Itachi. "Father... I will not fail you, and I will honor your last request, I swear." Sasuke vowed. "Kuchiyose No-Jutsu!" Temichi, the armored plated tiger appeared in a swirl of smoke. "Temichi, use Tracking No-Jutsu to pinpoint Itachi. We're going to bring him back alive this time." The giant tiger nodded speechlessly and let his master ride on his back, as they bounded off in search of Sasuke's older brother.
After Sasuke left, a lone figure revealed himself in the overhanging tree branches. His streaming jet-black hair waved wildly in the wind, giving him a demonic look. "Kukukuku..." The mysterious figure cackled. His plan had worked. The complex genjutsu technique he had used finally wore off now. "Uchiha Sasuke... you have indeed grown much more powerful. To be able to summon Temichi..." He laughed triumphantly. "But, who would have known that after all these years, you would still be this easy to manipulate? Run, child. Find Itachi... and soon, Konoha will be mine once and for all! Destiny awaits!" He laughed again, his serpent-like eyes blinking away tears of joy and malice.