Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto Masashi, contents of the following text only serve entertainment purposes.
AN: My computer is okay now... faster than I expected too XD Here is part 24 to you... -right! I'll go start working on the next chapter now -grin-
Chapter: My Wounds Cry
"Yuki."
"Oi. Yuki."
"Wake up."
There was a dark silhouette against the wooden walls. It was moving... swaying from side to side as it danced with the pale orange glow that enveloped that corner of the room. She felt warm.
She was lying on something that was rather soft on some places... felt like hard muscles on the other places (which just seemed ludicrous but she did not feel like she had enough energy to even laugh) - and then there was that familiar scent she just... She felt some fondness for that scent. It was pulling her more and more in to the world of heat she was trapped in. But the heat... it was delicious.
If the baffling assortment of emotions that passed through her weren't surprising enough, she was introduced to a set of obsidian pearls that shimmered... glinted... glowed some thrilling shade of black and red. The pearls were probing deep in her own soul... continuously watching. It seemed impossible to run away from...
"Yuki?" said a deep resonating voice. But... how? How could such a lovely voice belong to those... demon-like jewels? Then again... the way the look those deep black circles were giving her made her feel as though stripping her soul naked was one of the safest things to do in the world.
Not too long later, her eyes started clearing up and she could finally realise that it was Sasuke's eyes that show as staring up at. His brows were fixed together showing an expression of such great sorry.
"Hey..." she whispered with difficulty.
"Yuki?" Those eyes widened and then squeezed shut. She felt herself being pulled closer... deeper into that oh-so-comfortable heat. It was lulling her back into a state of slumber.
"So what is it?" he asked as she awoke fully the next time. Yuki found herself still wrapped by his warmth - back facing his front, and they were inside some dark wooden room. She saw an exit on one end, but other than that, all she could see was the blanket that covered her and Sasuke as well as the glow of what were the remains of a small campfire.
"What do you mean?" she asked. Sasuke narrowed his eyes as he noticed that her voice was hoarse. Well... she probably hadn't eaten properly in some time. Trying not to move her so much he reached to his side where the water canteen was and offered it to her- which she gratefully accepted and drank with slow sips.
"I've had some time to think," he muttered. And indeed he did. After nursing both Yuki and himself, he had nearly three days to recuperate up till this moment. Three days. "The seal. What is it?" he prompted. In truth he wanted to lash out at someone. The seal. He kept replaying the scene from that day over and over in his mind and came to one conclusion- amongst those that he thought mattered it was only himself who seemed to have not known its existence. Tsunade, Kakashi, Gaara, Neji- heck even Naruto knew! But first- exactly what was it for in the first place?
"The Fuyu Seishin." Yes. Seishin. He'd recalled that Gaara mentioned that. That also explained why she turned icy cold that day. "I had it sealed in me when I was at the Hidden Sand."
"Why?" he asked sharply. Yuki winced.
"I needed its power."
"Power... huh." Yuki winced again as his grip tightened around her. "I was the only one that didn't know, wasn't I?"
"Sakura-chan-"
"Yuki!"
"Yes," she said immediately at the sound of the impatience in his voice. "You were the only one," she said. She squeezed her eyes shut as Sasuke made to turn her around. She knew that he was trying to stare her into opening her eyes, but she just couldn't. She knew this time would come. She knew she would be forced to bear witness to his anger once more. His pain.
"Am I so little in your eyes that you couldn't even-" At that point Yuki opened her eyes and reached up to his lips - locking them both in a slow lingering kiss.
"I'm really sorry," she said as they parted, blushing and then turning away. Sasuke was blushing and awkwardly turning away as well. "I just wasn't... really sure then."
"And now?" he asked. She became conscious of his breath tickling her neck and suddenly buried her head under his chin. "Will you be with me now?"
"For as long as you want me to."
"Where is everyone, Sasuke?" she asked, hours later.
"Safe," he answered. "We had to leave them at the tower and escape under Tsunade-sama's command."
"Why?"
"Itachi was approaching-"
"You mean they're fighting him? Now? What?"
"Relax. They're still safe. A messenger has already given me details of their situation now. They found us yesterday."
"We should get back to them-"
"Neither of us is in any state to... yet."
"But-"
"Yes, I know. Just one more day."
"But I-... okay. One more day," she consented grudgingly. "Itachi... won't do anything to them without us around anyway."
"Why do you say that?"
"It's a gut feeling."
"... Are you going to tell me what happened when you went after him?"
flashback
"The moment she said Sasuke's name in the man's face, his eyes turned the dreaded blood red colour.
"My little brother is becoming a nuisance."
"Do you regret not having killed him earlier?" she challenged - even though she knew she was the one that was worse off. His hand was still clutching her around her neck after all. A little tighter and he could completely cut off her air supply.
"What I regret," he said through clenched teeth as he shifted his fingers to an even more uncomfortable position. "Is none of your concern." There was a flash of red hot anger and desperation that mixed in his eyes as the wheels of the sharingan to spin her life away. "Taka's... daughter..." he growled as he smirked manically. "I am going to make you suffer."
At that moment he threw her to the side, ripped open the cloth over the Seishin's seal and punched all the fingers of one hand over it. It all happened in a matter of milliseconds - she couldn't keep up.
Whatever he did to her - caused her to fly back yet again - hitting yet another tree. God the pain was awful. And there was a newer kind of pain seeping in though the place Itachi just hit her. It wasn't the dull ache that usually followed any physical attack - but something sharper. More intense. She had to get out of there immediately - if this continued, she could die without even starting to form a plan to counterattack him.
"I'll be back another time," she said, glaring at the self-satisfied smirk that he had on his face, and then escaped.
end flashback
"It's been quiet," Kakashi commented. His team was on the first watch that night. It was quite some time since the fighting slowed down that day.
"Yes," Sakura agreed. "I wonder how Sasuke-kun and Yuki-chan are doing."
"They're alright! I'm sure of it!" exclaimed the blonde, hyperactive as always. "Anyway, we have to focus on holding our own defence until then." Kakashi and Sakura were nearly thrown off their perch because of the sudden sincere seriousness in his voice. "I'm going to kick that Uchiha's sorry as goodbye and then settle down with a nice cup of 3-minute ramen!" Without their noticing Sasuke and Yuki had already entered hearing distance.
"Watch it, Uzumaki," Sasuke grumpily shot back. Naruto turned around and glared at him.
"Shut up Sasuke! I wasn't talking about you! Even though that'd be the case after this war!"
"How reassuring," the dark-haired youth responded sarcastically. "But it's not like a dunce like you could beat me anyway." Naruto was about to make a retort when he finally realised it- they were there!
"Sasuke-kun! Yuki-chan!" Sakura cried out in her relief - but Yuki was already embracing her brother tightly.
"Aaa!" Naruto exclaimed loudly in surprise. "When did you guys come back?"
"Dunce."
"Take that back, Sasuke you jerk!"
"Really!" exclaimed an aggravated Tsunade as she appeared beside them. "I leave you guys alone for just one day-Well, I thought I recognised Naruto's yelling... Welcome back you two."
"So what's the plan?" Yuki asked.
"You'll have to listen to the information we obtained first. Kakashi- I'll be taking them with me." He nodded in affirmation and ushered them along. The two offered no protest as they were brought to the camp - to Shikamaru who was at that moment at the centre of all intelligence reports. Tsunade signalled that she would replace him and then pushed Sasuke and Yuki to his direction.
"Ah. I'd wondered if either of you were still alive."
"... That was such a warm welcome, Shikamaru-san." The youth smirked and shrugged it off.
"We had no doubt that you had survived. Even the Kazekage gave his guarantee."
"The Kazekage - where is Gaara?"
"With Jiraiya-sama on watch. We should ask them to regroup - now that everyone's here."
"Does this mean that you've made a plan?" Yuki asked.
"Of course," he said. "But we couldn't do anything without the two of you. In this plan... both of you will act as bait and our offensive front line." At the confused looks on their faces, Shikamaru first asked that they find a place to sit before starting his briefing. "I'm sure that you are both aware that the main reason why Akatsuki has attacked Konoha is because they want to conquer us."
"I don't think so," Sasuke replied shortly. Shikamaru nodded but did not ask what made him think so.
"I am of the same opinion," he continued. "But Konoha really is Akatsuki's true aim. Uchiha Itachi on the other hand... has another objective. Why that is so... even I don't know. But his true target is either one of you, or both."
"Us?" Yuki and Sasuke said in unison.
"Any reason as to why?" Shikamaru asked. He grumbled when he didn't receive any response. "I was hoping either of you could tell me. ...In any case, by now I believe Itachi will have known that you've both returned to us. Which is why... I will suggest to the Hokage, that instead of waiting for them to attack us, we'd do better to attack them first."
Not long later, all able-bodied ninjas were busy rushing around here and there to prepare for Shikamaru's plan of attack - now approved by the Hokage. The strategy planner was now at a corner of the open field talking to his father, the elder Nara who was, like his son, going to be one of the squad leaders for their attack.
The entire militia of Konoha were split into two, with half of them to carry out the plan, and the other half to protect the civilians.
According to the plan, they were to split up to 7 teams, headed by Shikamaru, Ibiki, Iruka, Kakashi, Kiba, Asuma and the elder Nara. Shikamaru grouped himself with Yuki, Sasuke, Neji, all the main players who had the highest possibility of surviving against Uchiha Itachi - which means that the four of them would be the ones at the centre of attack. Kiba and Hinata with Kakashi and Sakura formed joint teams as the secondary attack line. The rest were on defence.
"Hey, Sasuke," Yuki suddenly called, just as they were all preparing to depart. Yes. They were to carry out the plan immediately. At that moment Yuki and Sasuke were with the medic-nins checking their medi-pack inventory. "Would you wait for me?" Sasuke returned her smile with a puzzled look. Wait for her...?
"If you wish," he answered, when he couldn't think of anything else to say. Yuki returned her gaze to the pack she was holding with a sincerely grateful smile on her lips.
"Good," she said softly.
Not long later they were all flying through the forests at high speed. Tensions high and thick, Yuki was with Neji and they were to temporarily break away from Sasuke and Shikamaru who were to form the next unit a little away, but still within sight. It was all part of the plan.
"Don't forget... I'm taking your word that you'd wait for me," Yuki said, reaching up to him for a last kiss before they had to split up. Sasuke didn't even have a chance to say anything before she sped off away from them. He was only left with that oddly peaceful smile on her face and a foreboding twitch in his heart.
Somehow he knew that she was planning something dangerous.
"Just so you know, I am against what you are planning to do," Neji said as she caught to his pace. Yuki looked up at him in surprise. "If your own plan fails, we will be left with a limited number of options."
"I won't fail," she said determinedly. Neji frowned but did not offer any argument.
"I feel disturbed that the Uchiha recklessness in your blood is overcoming our clan's more calm, coolheaded nature."
"Don't be," Yuki said with a little laugh to release the tension. "Hey Neji, is there ever a chance where the sharingan and byakugan could be fused?"
"Fused? You mean... to create a new blood-limit?" Yuki nodded. "The fact that both skills can be used at the same time itself is amazing enough. There is no need to fuse it." Neji looked at her carefully - judging her expressions and body language. She was worried about something. True enough- she revealed it to him right away.
"... I... actually am a little worried about... the mangekkyou sharingan."
"Shikamaru and I have discussed this... and we came to the conclusion that, with your completed sharingan, in theory you can repel the mangekkyou."
"Is that a chance I can take?"
"I said, in theory," he reaffirmed. "But no. I would advise against it. However... if the situation allows you to repel it, that you will be the only one who can attack him without a handicap. But you must remember that this theory only applies to when you have both sharingan and byakugan activated. Whilst your sharingan can immunise the effects of the mangekkyou, it will only be for just a little while, or for just a little amount of damage. The byakugan will support the immunisation with its power. Only then can you repel it completely."
"How about you- Neji?"
"To try and repel it with the byakugan on its own? No... it doesn't have enough of the same style of power to repel it completely."
"So, basically, he's all mine when the mangekkyou is on?"
"Again, this is in theory."
"Perfect," she said good-naturedly as she rolled her eyes upward. Neji watched her silently as she ploughed forward taking a faster pace. He thought back to the conversation he and Shikamaru had just before they left site.
flashback
"Shikamaru-"
"Yeah, I know. It's risky."
"Even the previous two Kanzen Seishin could barely repel-"
"Yes they could," he interrupted him, but with a troubled look on his face.
"No they couldn't," Neji insisted.
"Well, she can make it," he said stubbornly.
"Why didn't you tell her?"
"Why didn't you?"
"Because!" Neji exclaimed uncharacteristically. "I know she's planning to sacrifice herself anyway. I just hope she doesn't go through the mangekkyou-"
"Haven't you seen her eyes when she talks about Itachi?" Shikamaru interrupted once more. "She's already seen her nightmare world. She knows what she'd be going through... anything we say won't make any difference."
end flashback
"There's our target," said Kakashi. It had been a while since the mission had started and he was sure that by now everyone would have reached their destinations... or at least most of them. They were still waiting for Shikamaru's team to give the go.
"He doesn't seem to be too concerned," Sakura hissed at him as she took a peek through the foliage. "Itachi I mean..." Kakashi frowned and looked away, making sure that the other half of his team - Kiba and Hinata who were a little away from them but he could still see them - were alright. Kiba caught his look and gave him a thumbs-up signal to show him that they were ready.
"Kakashi-sensei," said Sakura. "I think we should move back a little. The wind is picking up." Kakashi shook his head and gestured with his hands, an order to stay. At the same time, with the radio set pieces attached to their ears - standard equipment - they heard some radio static, signalling that someone was trying to transmit a message.
"Shikamaru. First and second point secure."
"They're ready!" Kakashi said under his breath and then brought his fingers up to get ready to push the button for his own transmission.
"Nara. Secure."
"Ibiki. Secure."
"Asuma. Secure."
"Iruka. Secure."
"Kiba. Secure."
"Kakashi. Ready."
"Sakura." Her sudden appearance over the channel caused him to swing his head over to her direction. She was crouched down very low on the ground, peering through the shrubs. "Main target is standing up. I suspect that he is aware that something's amiss."
"Shikamaru. Noted." There was a moment where everything in the forest became silent. Everything was still... it was as if even time stopped to accommodate the sudden inactivity. Then came the radio static once more.
"Yuki." His heart skipped a beat. "Target is aware. I repeat. Target is aware. Shikamaru, please advise!" Kakashi heard some remnants of a short argument before the next voice came online. Already his nerves were tingling.
"Defence teams go!" Suddenly, cutting the silence of the forest was a flurry of activity - soundless to the inexperienced ear - but Kakashi could hear cloth flapping in the air mixed with the soft thumps of people jumping on the tree branches. "Kakashi, Kiba - I need visual confirmation that the defence teams have reached their positions."
"Yuki!" Neji hissed. "It's not time to go yet!" Her eyes flashed a pleading disbelief at him.
"Are you kidding me! We have to-"
"Wait for Shikamaru," he urged forcibly. Yuki was about to protest when he glared at her. "What's gotten in to you?" he growled. "Where are the values you learnt from the Sandaime?" Yuki looked like she'd been punched. "You've forgotten yourself. Now sit still." Yuki fell to the forest floor silently - without any argument. Some colour left her face as their situation started making some sense in her mind again.
He was right. Where had her rational mind gone to? She closed her eyes and took in deep breaths. She had to calm down. She had to be calm to go through what she planned. Calm... and at peace.
Radio static. "We have visual confirmation. Please advice."
"Good. Second attack team assume your positions."
"Yuki- get ready to leave," Neji said. Yuki opened her eyes slowly, showing him the fierce grip she had on her senses right them. "You're calm. Good. Sasuke says that we'll be going around-"
"Let me go alone," she said, looking up at him. He frowned at her suspiciously. "You know what I'm going to do."
"No I don't. Don't jeopardise the plan Yuki. You, of all people, should know the consequences of disrupting a group plan."
"I won't."
"... It's not for me to decide. Besides. It won't matter if you go now, or if you go later. We'll all have a piece of this fight," he said, turning his attention back to where it was earlier.
"Neji. Yuki. Let's go." Their eyes snapped to each other at the same time. All of their previous conversation was forgotten as they jumped off and dashed to their final position.
Yuki could feel a strange whirl of feelings in her gut the closer they were to Itachi. She saw all her comrades fighting head to head with the other Akatsuki members, but the only one in her sight presently was Uchiha Itachi.
And surely enough, he was staring straight back at her.
She saw his lips move slightly to say, "You're slow." She'd never heard anything so much anger-inducing in her life.
