Grant Me Death

by: rheii

Chapter 1: For Death Is My Only Respite

A tall, well-built man, standing up to about 6 feet, came storming down the halls of the once bright Hokage Tower, his dark eyes flashing momentarily. Stopping at the dead-end of the hallway right where his office was located, he waited for the doors to open.

Scrutinizing his surroundings as he waited, he couldn't help but feel a wave of nostalgia fall over him. Memories of his former comrades, namely Naruto and Sakura, swept over him, and at the same time cursing him for betraying them. He growled to himself; those thoughts weren't supposed to resurface...at least not now. After all, he had to talk to him.

He sighed, reminiscing the past. Seventeen years have passed since his betrayal to Konoha, the devastating incident that was held in the Valley of End. Three years later, the grievous blow to Konoha was preceded by another one... the sudden dissapearances of two very promising shinobi, and the best of their generation. To top it all off, they were both apprenticed to two of the Legendary Sannin, which just made it worse.

He laughed bitterly; their reputations didn't matter to him no matter how illustrious they were... it was what they were to him that mattered.

Haruno Sakura, the only girl he had the heart to love.

Uzumaki Naruto, the brother he so wanted to have, and his dearest friend.

The news soon reached Sound in no time, and from there, things got bad to worse. According to his pleased master, the demon vessel of the Kyuubi was gone, halting all the movement of Akatsuki, and removing a possible threat from their midst. According to him, this alone marked their inevitable success.

True to his word, Orochimaru was able to conquer Konoha and most of its inhabitants two years later. At that time, the snake sannin had already given up on his quest for the sharingan, and instead found an immortality jutsu that required the user to be bodiless, so a new vessel would be created that would best suit the user. Orochimaru, not wishing all his efforts in acquiring the Sharingan lay into waste, changed his status from his next vessel to the snake's personal assassin and bodyguard.

It was ironic. In all his miserable life, he never wanted fame. He got it. He didn't care about getting himself a high status in Orochimaru's forces. He received that position without any effort at all. He looked down upon wealth. He had it in spades.

Yet, the one thing he had only ever wanted in his life, his revenge for his dead clan, would never come to pass.

The door finally opened, signalling him to come in. Slamming the doors using chakra, he strode arrogantly towards the desk, waiting for the chance to speak.

"Ah, Sasuke-kun...is it done?"

Sasuke nodded sharply, staring directly at the sannin without any trace of fear, yet had a hint of humility in his eyes that he learned to keep over the years with the sannin.

"Kukuku...let's begin with the formalities. Report?"

"Mission was successful and with few casualties. Jounin have already been dispatched to the outskirts of Sound. They are now destroying the rebels as we speak."

"As blunt as always, Sasuke-kun. Good, very good. I trust this will continue?"

"Of course."

Orochimaru smiled eerily, his unnerving yellow eyes boring down on his own. He flinched. "Good. Supervise them for me, will you, Sasuke-kun?"

As Sasuke started to exit the room, Orochimaru added, "Oh, and Sasuke-kun?" he stopped. "Try to find your former teacher there. Or perhaps one of your little friends? Shouldn't allow my pet to become rusty, should I?"(author's note: ewww! oro-chan, you sick bastard!)

Uchiha Sasuke, noticing the subtle command, smirked for the first time that day. His existence was only meant for fulfilling Orochimaru's bidding now, since he made a promise that was as unbreakable as the curse seal he possessed. He knew that the monster he had become would someday perish in the hand of another, and he hoped that day would soon come.

"It will be my pleasure."

For death was his only respite.

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5...

Her eyes shot open, crouching into a defensive position.

4...

Taking out her weapons from beneath her pillow, she posed herself for a chance to strike.

3...

She bit her lip. The footsteps were getting nearer.

2...

She tightened her hold on the kunai. Almost there...

1!

RING!

Her alarm clock acted.

SWOOSH!

The shuriken was thrown.

CREAK.

The door opened.

"FUCK!"

The trespasser was hit dead center. As expected, her victim reacted.

"Damn you, Rika! These clothes are brand new! Why'd you have to ruin them!"

She grinned. " You knew I was going to hit you if you thought harder, Yuri-chan. One would think someone with an IQ of 200 would use his brain more!"

Yuri rolled his eyes. "Pft. As if I would be able to avoid those damn weapons you have even if I knew. One would think you would have stopped your habit of trying to kill innocent people who so kindheartedly wake you up when they open the door! Only I dare enter your room now. You've been doing this since we were kids!

Rika yawned and sat on her bed. "Since we started our ninja lessons, you mean."

"Yeah." She rubbed her eyes sleepily. " What time is it, anyway?"

The blonde grinned."A little past eight."

"WHAT!" Jumping from her bed, she frantically ran to door adjacent to her bedroom, entering the bath." You mean I've overslept? Again?"

"Yup." He sat on her bed and took an orange book from his pocket and started reading it. "You know, you shouldn't worry about yourself, my dear ingenious friend. Besides, who needs to study when you can just lay back and relax like me? It's not as if we're going to fail or something. We're not in the Academy my mom always talks about."

"Oh, shut up, smart ass." Rika shouted from the shower. "Not everyone gets to inherit an IQ of 200 and cool mind jutsus from their parents. I still have to work hard like the others. And you know that I hate weakness."

"Ha. Says the one who always beats everyone in target practice and learning jutsu. You're not as dumb as you think you are, Rika. By your skill, I'm sure you have ultra-cool parents like I do."

As he said the last part, the shower stopped.

"Please don't talk about my family. It's a very touchy subject." Her voice was quiet.

He immediately regreted what he said."Uh... sorry, Rika. I didn't know."

"It's okay. No one knows anyway." She paused. "Ah, almost finished!"

"Anyway, what I said before is true. You know, if you keep workig harder, you may become a rival against the great and powerful Nara Yuri!"

"Very funny. Says the one who sleeps in the middle of history class and purposely fails his tests since he deems them troublesome. That IQ of yours wasn't the only thing you got from your dad."

A few minutes later, she came out, clad only in a towel and ebony locks.As Yuri looked up from his giggling and the bright orange book, he whistled.

"I can't believe it! You really do have a feminine body beneath that tomboyish exterior!"

She snorted. "Whatever. I am not rally that tomboyish! And besides- What are you looking at!"

"You...you really do look hot! Oh, I am so going to tell this to Kakashi-sensei!"

Rika blushed profusely. "DAMN YOU YURI! GET OUT! AND BRING THAT STUPID BOOK YOU HAVE ALONG WITH YOU!"

Rika dragged her friend downstairs, silently hoping that her sensei will not be there. She silently tiptoed away from the hallway, but before she was able to make a graceful exit, her teacher's stern voice rang across the room.

"Not so fast, Rika."

"Uhhhh…. Kakashi-sensei, what a pleasant surprise! How have you been at this wonderful time of day?"

Kakashi sighed. "Rika-chan, how many times do I have to tell you to always wake up on time?"

"Ummm… I don't think I know what you're talking about, Kakashi-sensei! I've always woken up on time!"

Kakashi shook his head. "Rika, I'm afraid I can't let this slide. You'll have to…"

"Leave the poor girl alone, my rival. Someone must not be punished severely because she has THE FLAMING POWER OF YOUTH!"

Kakashi glared. "You're too soft, Gai. You shouldn't let them be pampered."

"Look who's talking! Why, you were also BURNING WITH THE FLAMING PASSION OF YOUTH when we were kids! I remember the time when-" Before Gai was able to finish, Kakashi clamped his mouth shut

Kakashi glanced at the two troublemakers. "Gai, please don't poison their minds with that crap-WHERE ARE THEY!"

Gai scrutinized the place where the two was once standing before he striked his famous nice guy pose. " Why, Kakashi, even you have fallen prey to the FIERY PASSION within her!"

Kakashi shook his head, staring at the door amusedly. "That she does, Gai. That driving ambition she has is good for her, but the bad may outweigh the good. I just hope that she wouldn't turn out like his father. God knows what would happen if she knew the whole truth..."

Gai placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, my friend. I'm sure she's not going to turn to him, like he did. Even if she has his blood, she had a different upbringing. Besides, I know that she would never dream of betraying Yuri. She obviously loves him."

Kakashi gratefully looked at Gai. "Well, let's just hope that Yuri's still alive until we tell her the truth. I just hope that it won't be revealed before the right time. If that happens, the results would be drastic. Till then, let's hope she doesn't lose him."

While Kakashi was arguing with Gai, Rika nudged Yuri. "I'm going to use the Transposition Jutsu for the both of us, hold on tight. In the count of three… one, two, three… Earth Transposition Jutsu!"

The next thing, Yuri noticed they were in the woods. Rika made a noise of satisfaction beside him and sat down. Looking at his friend, he did the same.

Rika lied down on the tree behind her. "Thank God I was able to nick that scroll about transposition techniques from Kakashi-sensei's room! If it weren't for that, I would have been done for!"

At this, Yuri laughed. "I can't believe you're able to find time for reading every scroll you get your hands on and still can't find a decent time to sleep!"

Rika pouted. "Hey, that's not true. I just need more sleep, that's all. It's all part of puberty. Though...I don't think strange dreams are part of puberty...is it?"

In response, his friend laughed. "Of course not!"

"Then...why?" She placed her hand in her chest, right where her heart was located. " The thing is, I always hear those two voices, and have the same dream, over and over again...It was a man and a woman, fighting over something...and if my assumption is true, those were my parents. I'm sure of it."

Yuri looked at her curiously."Who are your parents, anyway? You've never mentioned them before."

Rika turned away. "I never knew them. Every time I ask Kakashi-sensei about them, he refuses to tell me anything, except that they were both killed by the same person. That is the only time I truly resented sensei, even though I know he has a good reason behind his actions."

"Who...who killed them?"

She stood abruptly, turning away from her friend. "He refuses to tell me. He said that if I knew, I would follow that person and kill him mercilessly just to avenge my parents, and will lose my humanity in the process. I don't know why he said that, but I couldn't bring myself to ask him about it. He always has this sad expression when I try to pry information from him. It's too much."

Yuri put a hand on her shoulder, as if to assure her. "You wouldn't do that, Rika-chan. I know you're too loving for that kind of attitude."

She laughed bitterly, pulling away from his touch. "Precisely. The innocent ones are always the ones who falls the easiest, Yuri. What Kakashi said was true. If I had known who the killer was, I would avenge my parents, even if I have destroy the very essence of my being."

Yuri hugged her, surprising her. "But you don't need to be alone. I swear that I will always be by your side."

"But...if you die...then..."

"Don't worry, Rika," Yuri said, hugging her tighter. "I'm not going to die. At least, not yet. Besides, couldn't leave you wreaking havoc in the base, should I?"

Rika laughed.

"You have a point there. What would I do without my trusty sidekick?" she said jokingly.

"Hey!" Yuri punched her gently in the arm. "Anyway, let's-"

With lightning-fast reflexes, she pushed Yuri away and immediately threw shuriken toward the bushes, forcing the intruders to come out.

"Yuri, call Kakashi. NOW!"

"I'm not going to leave you here all by yourself!"

"I can handle them by myself! Now GO!"

And next thing he knew, he was back in the base in the conference room right in the middle of a meeting.

"Huh?"

Kakashi was the first to react. "What happened?"

"We were ambushed in the forest. Rika transported me here to call you. She's fighting them now!"

Gai-sensei interrupted. "A chuunin level jutsu? You two alone in the woods? What were you thinking!" Yuri replied. "It doesnt matter, let's go! Her life's at stake!"

Kakashi cut in. "Wait. How many are there?"

Yuri tried to remember the scenery right before she disappeared.

"Let's see...four were hiding in the bushes..chuunins, I think...and another two in the trees, wearing masks..."

Kakashi slapped his head. " Four chuunin and Two ANBU being stalled by a mere kid? Let's go!"

He was about to disappear when Yuri halted him. "Wait...there was another one...red hair, green eyes, a gourd on his back..."

Only one thought ran on their minds. "Fuck!"

Oblivious to their dismayed expressions, a lightbulb popped on Yuri's head. "Wait! I know that guy! He's..."

Realization and horror dawned on him. "...Sabaku no Gaara..."

A pin dropped.

TBC

A/N:

I've finally finished re-editing this chapter. Hope you like it.

Here's a snippet for the next one...

Before she was able to see her opponent, she was slammed to the tree, coughing blood in the process. Looking up, everything was a blur. All she could hear was a voice in her head, and those paralyzing neon green eyes boring down on her...

So that's it.

R and R!