"Sad but true." Damen coos as his creepy smirk is back in place. "In our world power is everything. Without it, you will easily be killed and the wars will resume. It's a feeble peace that is more of a cease-fire. Kira, being next in line for the throne must have more power than the rest of us. Yet, she lacks the drive. Yes, the plan was if you failed our test to send you here and force your growth. However, as with all of us, the power you can obtain can take you over. You can regress into a mindless beast that has to be put down." With his words, my eyes widen remembering the times in battle that my body would act on its own. I had wanted to harness that power but it was too risky in my opinion. "I see you realized this already." Damen chuckles and shakes his head. I found my hands curling into fists with my growing irrationality. Why is it, that hearing this when I had already suspected... Makes me so angry? It hurts that even my favorite uncle had a hand in this. It pisses me off to know that all of this has been the doing of all the adults. First, they keep me in seclusion then decide to use my life with Light as a way to spur me to train. By sending Aphrodite to give me the first clues necessary. They were toying with my life, a life they didn't want anything to do with before that point. Sasuke's hand finds mine, as he forces my fist to uncurl and he laces our fingers together. This touch lessened my growing anger.
"So what's next? All of the ninja in this area have been evacuated leaving the Zetsu to roam freely. You cannot use them to get to me as you had planned. So does this mean we skip to the next phase?" My voice flows from me coldly, without any lingering emotion. Covering my growing hatred for my family. Damen actually shrugs before looking back at the three behind them. They give him a nod before moving further back from him. "Yes, we will begin the main phase of your test. Do not misunderstand cousin. You having the ninja recalled is only one of the several possibilities your mother thought of. You protected their lives. So it's not like we are skipping a step." He explains and I feel Sasuke give a gentle squeeze of my hand. "So the next?" I ask and this time he actually laughs. Not his creepy laugh but a lightweight one. "Have your boyfriends step back. It's time to test your strength, if you can beat me then all this was a success. I've been told not to hold back so you will have to fight me with everything you've learned." Huh? A spar? "Not a spar." A bored tone comes up from the trees further ahead. Lucas leans against the tree looking as if this was too much work. "Mother said if you fail there is a real chance you will die." Tilting my head I watch him. Can he really hear my... "Yes." He answers causing my eyes to widen. Well damn, good thing I'm not going against him, it would put me at a serious disadvantage. With these thoughts a lazy smile forms on his lips. Too bad I can't hear his thoughts. It'd give me some insight to not only what I can expect from Damen but also... I would like to get to know him. To see how his mind works things out, ya know? Shaking my head to free myself of those thoughts I release Sasuke's hand and turn to face them.
"Itachi." I speak bringing his eyes to me. "Sasuke." With his name, Sasuke glances at me. "Not a chance Kira." Sasuke's low tone seethed with his usual anger. "Sasuke, trust me. Right now the Zetsu are loose with no one to drive them back. We cannot risk Kakashi or the other Kage being forced to push their forces back this way. You and Itachi need to take up their battles so the alliance doesn't lose ground. Besides, this is a test of my skills right? I can't have my team jumping in to help. That would most likely piss off my mother." I found myself giggling lightly, reaching up I brush the hair from Sasuke's face. "Sasuke, I know you want to stay here and back me up if you need to. But it's a one on one fight so I'll be okay. Stay alive, I can't lose either one of you alright." I warn them and Itachi gives me a nod before he grabs onto Sasuke and pulls a pissed-off little brother away from the area. I guess it helps that Itachi and I share command of our team. I mostly give the orders but Itachi is technically the leader.
I turn to face Damen with a sigh. "If I beat you, you will unlock this world from ours and leave. Right?" I ask him only causing him to frown. "Plan is that you will come with us if you pass. Your mother wants to start your real training." So, that's why there is more than just Damen and Aphrodite. If I pass this test of his it means I can beat him. The others are here to force me to return if necessary. Damn it... I'm not ready to lose Sasuke... or Itachi. But, I could make this work to my advantage. I wanted to confront my mother and find out how to turn someone so I won't lose anyone else, right? "Fine, I win and you guys take me home. Once I complete my desired task I'll easily return." I shrug and raise my kunai again. First thing is first, test the waters. When facing an opponent that you know nothing about it's smart to not just charge in for an assault. Force them to show their hand then devise a strategy against it. Even though I know this. Damen can shoot light from his finger that can make someone a kid again. How the hell am I... I know.
Moving my energy into my kunai I throw it at Damen, automatically pulling another one as I watch him simply step out of the blade's trajectory. Smirking I throw the new kunai and knock my energy-coated one towards him. His eyes narrow as he leaps into the air, avoiding my kunai. Moving forward I run my energy into my hand pulling it tight as I shove myself into the air below him. However when I lunge my chakra blade in his direction A faint red light appears, coating his arm as he turns in mid-air and blocks my blade. A shield? I think as I flip and shove my feet into his side, forcing my legs through his block and sending him away from me. Withdrawing my blade I put my hands out and catch them on the ground. Throwing my body until I land on my feet. I watch as he winces when he lands. "Damn, you're not a weak chick like you look."
"Damen, I have trained with ninja for the past five years. Before that, I trained against Aphrodite for another six. Ninja focus on their bodies as well as their minds. That way if their jutsu should fail they can still fight. I began weight training when my body was only twelve years old. I wore those weights every single day on my arms and legs. In training or on missions. It didn't matter and when the weights became too light I would add in heavier ones." Turning away from Damen I walk to a tree and raise my fist. "Through intense training, I've hardened my body." I mutter just as I step into my punch splintering the large tree and causing it to topple over. "A feat like this is simple to most high-level ninja." I explain before turning to him. "To warn you, I can cause more damage than I just did. A kick at full force I could rupture your organs easily not just the bones I broke." His eyes look away from the tree to me as he keeps his right hand over his ribs as his eyebrows twitch fighting not to show his shock. "I am warning you now because close combat is my specialty. If you want to survive you will have to keep yourself at a distance."
"Do you warn everyone you fight?" Damen growls lowly and I simply smile. "No, just the ones I don't plan on killing. Accidents do happen though and as you have seen in the land of waterfalls my distance for an attack isn't limited to close range. I know you're strong. Just from what I've seen you are close to midrange in fighting. Damen, the force you had hit against my shield broke even my ribs from the fact I had pulled my shield so close to my form against you to repel any odd light like what you directed at me on the roof. A mistake I won't make again." Moving away from the tree I stop in the center of the clearing. Reaching inside me I pull my energy near the surface as I turn to face him again. "The ones you don't plan to kill huh." Damen smirks and I give him a nod. "I've killed more than my fair share even before coming here. There was a hurtle I found that I had to cross. Killing someone with my own hands was different than writing their names. But I cast that part of me aside to save Sasuke. Then again when Orochimaru attacked the village. I found it was a good way to release my pent-up anger after spending three weeks being tortured day in and day out due to your sister. It's actually kind of sad I'm not fighting her instead. I've been itching to kill her since she betrayed me and turned me over to be tortured. Then again to turn someone important to me against me. Using him like a puppet really pisses me off."
From the look in his eyes, it told me all I needed to know. He had no idea of what Aphrodite had done to me. The man that Aphrodite had tried almost desperately to make me hate, even fear was actually the opposite of her. "It's thanks to her though, I realized how much I really hate our family. But to kill without good reason. I would never be able to look Light in the eyes again if I stoop that low. So far you have done nothing to warrant my judgment. Prepare yourself and hopefully, I won't kill you." Yes, just in the short time before and even now, I have already noticed the difference in our strengths. If he continues fighting where my specialty is. He will die. So he really needs to keep me at a distance. I don't know if after all of my training to fight against the ninja of this world if I can pull my punch enough. Also if I really am on the verge of an awakening that means my power might lash out. Thinking like this, I need to keep my attacks low. I shouldn't compress another energy ball like in the land of waterfalls unless I have no other choice. "Damen!" Lucas's voice echos as he shouts causing me to pin him with a glare. Just shut up Lucas I am in control. My awakening hasn't shifted my energy yet. "She's awakening! This is too dangerous!" With Damen's eyes off of me as he turns to look at Lucas, I smile and push myself forward. Sending my flames from within me to my hand, elongating my fire, and pulling them tight to give them substance. With a sizzling crack of my whip, I sent it out towards the one who had dropped his guard.
Wrapping my flames around him I smile as I pull my hand back tightening them around him, pinning his arms to his sides as the scent of burning flesh wafts into the air. "My chakra nature is fire. I have learned to wield the flames that used to sear my throat." My voice flows from me without any emotion again as the feelings I had brewing inside of me dwindle down. Escaping my grasp. My gaze tints red nearly making me sigh knowing my eyes are swirling red now. I thought I had fed enough from Sasuke, but it seems I'm still damaged. Damen looks over his shoulder towards me as if realization was finally dawning on him. His eyes narrow as he runs his tongue over his lips. "I see Lucas. But we have to complete this." Tilting my head at his words I give him a shrug before sending my electricity through my whip causing him to call out in pain from the added damage. "You really should just call it quits Damen. You're outclassed." I warn him once I end my lightning energy. "All I have to do is pull on my whip and I can sever your arms from your body allowing the flames to cauterize your wounds so you don't bleed out. I actually tested that theory in my fight with Orochimaru."
His frown deepens as I release my whip. "You lost the moment I ensnared you." I elaborate for him with a sigh. "I expected you to be stronger so I trained my butt off." This time I shake my head before looking at the cloaked figure standing in the back. "Aphrodite, did I pass?" The figure then grunts as I watch the cloak jerk drawing the eyes of the others to her as well. She then sighs and pulls her hood from her head. "I think you did." I then shrug and look to Damen who shifts his gaze to me, his eyes narrowing as he growls. "Calm down, I beat Aphrodite myself a while ago. I had even drawn out the fight so I wouldn't kill her. Well, that and so I could gain the trust of the village for my plans to be successful. This whole time I've gauged my strength to hers. I may hate her and wish to kill her but I'll refrain from it unless she hurts Kakashi." With those words, I look back to Aphrodite and glare at her causing her to frown again. "What you did is really messed up. But as I told Kakashi, secrets are not a reason for me to kill you. It's just enough to piss me off a bit."
Stretching my arms above my head. I groan before dropping to my butt on the ground. Damn, I'm tired. I've lost a lot of sleep due to this farce. I inwardly pout thinking about all the fighting I've done against Zetsu, the race through different countries in order to continue tracking my family. The fact my spar with Itachi had only wore me out enough I was able to get a few hours of sleep. "Damn, has it really been since before the destruction of the village since I last had a full night's sleep?" I speak more to myself not caring that Damen was still looking around as if he couldn't believe what was happening. Krista and Lucas began to slowly walk towards me. "As I said I'll return home. But there is one stipulation I have." I pipe up as they sit next to me on the ground. I look up towards Damen seeing Aphrodite had moved forward and now had her hand on his shoulder to help calm him down. "Sasuke and Itachi come with me. Meaning, I can't go back until after the war." This however has Damen rolling his eyes and clicking his tongue but it seems he has calmed down enough I'm not looking at him jumping in to sucker punch me or something.
With this thought, Lucas smirks causing Krista to look at him curiously. "You already have his personality pegged." He informs me causing me to smirk this time as I bite back a laugh. "He wasn't hard to figure out. No one could be that over-the-top insane without faking it. Though it did give me goosebumps and the feel of his energy alone makes me want to puke."
Damen then groans and looks away from us. "I'll go ask if you can bring them back with you." He then reaches up and ruffles his hair as he drags the fingers of both hands over his scalp. "Man! I can't believe I got beat so easily!" He suddenly shouts causing my eyes to widen. For a moment his visage changes to a bright blond wearing an orange and black tracksuit. -Do I really have someone like the knucklehead in my family?- I couldn't help but question and for the first time since confronting them. I smile. "Sounds like you need more training." Sasuke grunts as Itachi and him leap back into the area drawing my eyes. Looking up at the two of them I notice how three out of the four around me stiffen with their arrival. "Cleared them out already?" I ask causing Sasuke to smirk. "Those monsters are too easy to kill." With that one statement, he places his right arm on his hip showing more than his fair share of pride. "Well don't get cocky, you're still an emo." I mutter playfully causing him to glare at me. "Well, you're still an Ice Queen." He snaps at me before we both smirk. Standing I walk up to him and slip my arms around him. "I'm glad you're safe. But the war isn't over. We need to put an end Obito and Madara."
"Hold it." Damen speaks up drawing my gaze back to him as Sasuke's arms slip around me holding me to him. "You aren't fighting." He practically orders before he clears his throat and moves forward. "You are on the verge of your awakening. At any moment you can unbalance your energy. If you cause the awakening to fail. You will die." He warns causing my eyes to widen. "Well, I didn't know that." I point out causing his eyes to widen as his body stiffens. "How much did they teach you?!" He suddenly shouts after he gets over his initial shock and points at me. "They kept her completely in the dark." Aphrodite speaks up as she moves up next to her little brother. "She's an idiot about anything Kin." She points out causing me to roll my eyes. Damen then growls in his irritation and turns away. "I'll be back with their answer to your request. No fighting."
"It wasn't a request. You want me to come back, they come with me." I state causing Sasuke to stiffen in my hold with a grunt as he realizes what we are talking about. I then look up at him. "What? I'm not leaving here without you guys." I then release him and turn towards the others as a loud crack echoes through the air. The dimensional portal opens forcefully just before Damen steps through as he continues cursing under his breath. "Alright. We have a war to win. Aphrodite, stop your act as Sasuke." I speak up causing her to look at me as she slips her left arm over her stomach to rest on her hip. "Thank you for making sure the events continued as they were meant to due to my meddling. However, that just got Sasuke in trouble with the kage. We'll figure out how to deal with that problem if we have to. But now... I need you to leap into the fight. Aid the ninja so they don't lose ground. Locate Madara and Obito then relay their position to the Kage. Kakashi will inform us of their location as well." I then turn to Sasuke and Itachi. "Sasuke, I've given you my shield to make up for not having susano'o, I've aided your eyes to make up for you not having the mangekyo. I've even told you how to use my energy blanket to make up for you never receiving the rinnegan. I've given you everything you need. It's you that will put an end to this war." I couldn't help but smile as he grunts looking down at me in shock.
"Itachi, you are alive and back up to full strength. You were once one of the most powerful Akatsuki members there were, you will be able to handle Obito and Kabuto. though I do suggest you grab Kakashi and have his help since Obito was his best friend." I couldn't help but smirk as he looks down at me. "Remember, I told you. I need you both. Both of you. Do not die on me."
"And you?" Itachi questions causing me to frown and look over my shoulder towards my siblings. "You heard Damen, I can't fight. So I will stay here with my siblings. We have a lot of catching up to do." I inform him before moving my attention back to him. "It's going to kill me staying out of it." I sigh causing his lips to tug at their corners with a smirk. "You'll survive." He informs me and I nearly roll my eyes. "Aphrodite." I pipe up before she leaves. "Remember, Kakashi is harmed in any way. You shouldn't even dare coming back or I will kill you." I warn her darkly as I glare at her.
