A/N I'm sorry for the lateness of this update. I actually wrote 4 chapters and a fifth one is on the way. I'm just struggling as an author with the 5th one morally. And you realize why in that chapter. But I have to remember these characters are placed in very traumatic situations and are in constant survival mode because Naruto is just really about military states and I am adding political elements and espionage and how that impacts the relationships around these characters. But I honestly love Priya in this chapter and she is probably going to have the purest storyline in this story. I should also note there is a hint of religion, but that serves as more of a representation of how people deal with Trauma and in the next chapter some of my OCs are based on a group of Middle Eastern Slave Trader/Fighters so I'm excited. As hinted before the Rui's are from land that is very far from the setting of Naruto. So think fertile crescent in our world. Although I do consider most of my OCs as black or Creole to be more exact.
Additional Note: I based the Land of Rain or Amegakure on Korea because Kishimoto hinted that each village represents a country and he is well versed in politics so I am trying to reflect that in the storyline. I also love K-Dramas so Suzume is very much a Korean Character hence her father/grandfather's name Daeshiem
Orochimaru sat in his lab which was slowly, but surely becoming an office where government affairs were discussed almost daily. Daeshim and Suzume could be seen entering and exiting his lair giving him an account of what was happening in his newly established country. Being an Agriculture region, establishing trade was easy. Additionally, the current land, being a former tourist destination, attracted many wealthy nobles outside of the Shinobi class. And wealth meant a certain amount of protection. Nevertheless, one thing his country lacked was manpower and defense.
Orochimaru did not doubt his skills as a ninja. But, he wasn't quite arrogant enough to believe that he could defend his new country by himself. Suzume was the first to point out this weakness. Daeshim agreed with her assessment. Orochimaru could tell he was still wary with him. And it entertained him. They were officially playing a game of wits and strategy. The game of politics Orochimaru was unfamiliar with, one of the many reasons he nor the Sanin were chosen as Hokage. He could tell that Daeshim had a plan if things went wrong. Orochimaru had a contingency plan if Daeshim did betray him. However, Suzume, because of her naivety was very Loyal.
Suzume was blossoming in the Land of Sound very well. He knew that she was intelligent. But it was unexpected that she would want to pass on her knowledge to others. Already starting an informal school for reading, writing, and basic arithmetic. In return, Sazmue was now beloved by the once skeptical villagers. Suzume made sure to mention that none of this would be possible without the Snake Sanin. Because of that, he too was beginning to get more of a following.
His thoughts were broken when Sazume ran into his office unexpectedly and bowed.
"Sorry, my Lord. But Itachi is soon approaching with a girl", Suzume reported urgently. She didn't know why they were here which made her quite anxious.
"Not to worry my Little Sparrow, I have known they were coming from some time." Orochimaru seemed to glide to where she was in the doorway.
"Is she going to be one of your experiments?", she asked.
Orochimaru paused before answering. To Suzume that already told her what she needed to know but, she always wanted to hear what he had to say or his opinion on things. "I have been paid handsomely to ensure that she survives whatever ordeal she has. Tsunade has sent me notes on her condition, for someone of my caliber, it would be simple. But the recovery is going to be tough for the girl at least three months", he explained. "Support from peer groups, especially in her age group will speed up her recovery"
"You want me to be friends with her to help in the healing process", It was more of a statement than a question. "If she survives. You are planning something aren't you"
"Her DNA is too good not to harvest alive or dead." Suzume didn't know what she was feeling but her heart quickened at his statement.
"Is my Little Sparrow Jealous?", Orochimaru tilted her head up
"Don't patronize me", she pouted and pushed his hand away.
"I can tell you that there is a special purpose for you as well"
"So I'm just a tool-"
"Everyone is a tool remember that even the ones you cherish most, can be used to your advantaged." He was so close to her that she could smell his spicy scent. His lips were only inches away from her's as he bent down to her eye level. His finger was underneath her chin lifting her head to meet his gaze. "Her DNA will be the key to unlock my immortality. I would never have to rely on another body to continue my research. I can make sure that our vision for our village will last for generations to come. Men, women, and children alike will have the opportunity for education, and people can be happy and not worry about class. Isn't that what you want?"
Suzume nodded as she was starting to get emotional. Their current world was full of class division. If it meant that another girl wouldn't be raped just because a man wanted her so be it. If it meant that the less fortunate could have a basic education, so be it. "Lord Orochimaru, do with me as you wish", she wanted Orochimaru to be her everything. And he knew the implication of her words.
"In time"
Itachi entered Orochimaru's domain with Soraya in his arms. Suzume greeted them and eyed the weak girl.
"She's the one that was causing trouble in Amegakure.", she gasped. "I didn't know she would be so beautiful", she said. Suzume guided the two to the hospital wing. Which was cleaned up of any trace of Orochimaru's past experiments. Everything was moved to the other side of the village which was hidden to the naked eye. Instead, it was slightly renovated to look like a personal hospital wing.
"There is my star patient", Orochimaru chided.
Soraya woke up at the sound of his voice. "Tsunade told me to give you this." Soraya handed him a note.
Orochimaru read it before calmly going into another room. Itachi and Soraya were puzzled when they heard things breaking and muffled sounds of Orochimaru screaming at the top of his lungs. Suzume was mortified at the recent behavior, not seeing this side of him before. "CURSE THAT WOMAN ALWAYS RUINING MY PLANS". The sound of breaking glass was heard at the closed door. Everyone stared at the door as more sounds of destruction were emitting from the room.
"Is he okay?", Soraya whispered still cradled in Itachi's arms. Itachi shrugged his shoulders in response.
He came back, taking a deep breath, and fixed his appearance. "Soraya-hime, you are in good hands, I can assure you that your illness will be healed"
Soraya nodded not knowing what just transpired and not sure how to respond after his closeted outburst. Itachi stood silently not showing any emotion and Sazume seemed frazzled. Nevertheless, they had the same question running through their mind.
"What was on that note?"
Itachi entered Orochimaru's domain with Soraya in his arms. Suzume greeted them and eyed the weak girl.
"She's the one that was causing trouble in Amegakure.", she gasped. "I didn't know she would be so beautiful", she said. Suzume guided the two to the hospital wing. Which was cleaned up of any trace of Orochimaru's past experiments. Everything was moved to the other side of the village which was hidden to the naked eye. Instead, it was slightly renovated to look like a personal hospital wing.
"There is my star patient", Orochimaru chided.
Soraya woke up at the sound of his voice. "Tsunade told me to give you this." Soraya handed him a note.
Orochimaru read it before calmly going into another room. Itachi and Soraya were puzzled when they heard things breaking and muffled sounds of Orochimaru screaming at the top of his lungs. Suzume was mortified at the recent behavior, not seeing this side of him before. "CURSE THAT WOMAN ALWAYS RUINING MY PLANS". The sound of breaking glass was heard at the closed door. Everyone stared at the door as more sounds of destruction were emitting from the room.
"Is he okay?", Soraya whispered still cradled in Itachi's arms. Itachi shrugged his shoulders in response.
He came back, taking a deep breath, and fixed his appearance. "Soraya-hime, you are in good hands, I can assure you that your illness will be healed"
Soraya nodded not knowing what just transpired and not sure how to respond after his closeted outburst. Itachi stood silently not showing any emotion and Sazume seemed frazzled. Nevertheless, they had the same question running through their mind.
"What was on that note?"
Eulalia took notice of the change of Priya's disposition these last few weeks. She was normally focused, always had a genuine cheery smile, and was social with the other children. Currently, she barely ate, her smile was forced and she tended to stay to herself studying. Eulalia was doing chores around the orphanage while she was watching Priya reading a very thick book. As she took a closer look she noticed it was a Bible. Eulalia was fairly surprised, because they were not a religious family at all, and thought they would abandon all of their past to adapt to this current reality. Priya threw the book and rubbed her head in frustration and ran away.
When she was out of eyesight Eulalia walked over and looked at the bookmark where Priya last read. Eulalia was surprised at the number of notes in the heavy book. Mainly Proverbs, but this scripture was different. It was then she realized that the Bible was one of the first gifts that were given to her by Soraya. Soraya's signature was on the first page. But what surprised her most was the paper with a whole list of scriptures about healing and faith. " Is someone sick?" , questioned herself. She wiped the mud and dust off and decided that Priya might want this later. Priya ran to the outskirts of Konoha; she wanted to be alone. Priya finally reached it and let out a sob. She could feel her cousins struggle to live, she saw them in her dreams and the worst she couldn't tell anybody about it. All the books and advice that she read from them just made her realize that she was helpless. There was nothing that she could do. She didn't realize how much she missed them until she knew that they were alive. Additionally, even if she wanted to there was something in her that stopped her from telling her sisters about the encounter with Itachi.
As Priya was contemplating her anguish she heard someone singing, rather off-key in the distance. But she could make out the melody and felt that she heard it before. Out of curiosity, she walked towards it.
And I hope that you'll know
That nature is so
The same rain that draws you near me
Falls on rivers and land
On forests and sand
Makes the beautiful world that you'll see
In the morning
Naruto was singing the lullaby jubilantly while fishing his drawings were next to him. But he was occupied catching his next piece of dinner. It had been a few weeks since Soraya was gone and he was sad, but he felt that she was too good not to return. And all the supplies that he had access to and he's going to school regularly kept his thoughts occupied. But, there were times he did truly miss her so he sang songs that made him think of her.
Priya's heart quickened when she saw the blond hair boy singing that song. No one knew that song here. No one. Soraya sang that to her sometimes in their past life before tragedy struck. But something couldn't help but join into the song.
" And someday you'll know
That nature is so
The same rain that draws you near me
Falls on rivers and land
On forests and sand
Makes the beautiful world that you'll see
In the morning "
Naruto turned around to see who was interrupting his peacetime. He noticed it was a girl that looked younger than him. However, he recognized the features instantly that gave away that she was related to Soraya.
" Everything's fine in the morning
The rain will be gone in the morning
But I'll still be here in the morning ",
They sang together the last part of the lullaby and smiled. But Priya couldn't help but start sobbing. Naruto gave her a hug in comfort. "Would you like some Ramen? It makes me feel better all the time,", Priya wiped away some of the tears and nodded. "What's your name?"
"Pri-Priya", she wailed.
"Well can you stop crying, I don't want anybody to think I hurt you", Priya nodded and Naruto grabbed his stuff while Priya pulled herself together. "Let's go to my apartment first to drop these off"
It didn't take long for them to reach his apartment, but when she went in there she noticed right away a picture on the table with Naruto and Soraya. She grabbed it and stared at it intently. She was more muscular than when she last saw her and looked a little taller and they seemed very happy.
"So you do know Soraya-chan", said Naruto. Priya nodded. "How do you know her", he probed.
"She's my cousin, more like a sister." Priya fidgeted before asking her next question. "Was she okay the last time you saw her?"
Naruto hesitated before speaking but somehow knew that she could probably tell if he lied. "She was very sick", he confessed. "A man took her to get help. But she said that she will be back and she's never lied to me before, so don't worry Pri-chan",
"I just don't think I can take another person dying", she started to cry again. "I'm just trying to be strong, but I can't handle it anymore", Naruto patted her shoulder in comfort.
"Well just count on me as your big brother, l won't let anyone in your family die, that's my nindo, my Ninja way. Now let's get some Ramen, that always makes me feel better", Naruto grabbed her hand and led her to the Ramen restaurant where they met the owner and his daughter Ayame.
"Hey, Naruto! Looks like you have a new friend", Ayame paused. "Hey, why are your eyes puffy? Did Naruto hurt your feelings? Naruto how could you? Order anything Naruto will pay for it"
"HEY, why do you think I gotta do something, she's the one who started crying I'm just trying to cheer her up"
"Maybe it's your loudmouth", another voice entered the Ramen bar. The black-haired child sat down next to Priya but didn't acknowledge her presence.
"Shut it Sasuke, you think you're perfect because all the girls like you and your grades", Naruto snarled.
"At least it beats being a dork.", Sasuke responded. Priya's head shifted to Naruto waiting for his response.
"Beats being a Know-it-all with no friends", Priya turned her back to Sasuke. She could tell Naruto hit a nerve with the way Sasuke bristled at the remark.
"Beats being stupid with no friends.", he retorted eating a bite of his ramen.
"I have friends, I have Hinata and Priya now, so there", Sasuke's face went red with jealousy
"So you're a playboy now?", he accused with the backhanded compliment.
"Don't underestimate me Sasuke, I will be Hokage someday and I will be able to boss you around", said Naruto pointing his chopsticks at him.
"Naruto it's impossible to underestimate you" Priya felt bad for wanting to laugh at the undertones of Sausake's statement.
"You think someone popular with the ladies would have more social etiquette", Naruto retorted
"You haven't been yourself lately. We've all noticed the improvement.", Sasuke glanced at Priya discreetly before returning to his food. Priya started eating, having a feeling that this could go on for quite some time but she was fairly intrigued with their spat.
"I envy people that haven't met you", Priya spit out her water and started coughing at Naruto's response.
"Hey", Ayame snapped her fingers into both of their faces. "Stop it, this is not an orphan roast battle, apologize NOW or both of you will go home hungry", Sasuke and Naruto folded their arm in defiance.
"I'm sorry for calling you stupid, I thought you already knew", mocked Sasuke.
"I'm sorry that your butthole is jealous for all the crap coming out of your mouth", replied Naruto
"I wish you were more fluent in silence", said Sasuke
"I wish you would apologize to the trees giving you oxygen", Naruto rebuffed
"I said Shut-It both of you", reprimanded Ayame. They both glared at each other before they began to eat.
"I'll be your friend to Sasuke", said Priya, wanting to change the subject and break the tension. Sasuke blushed at the statement. "I'm trying to get in the accelerated program. My grades are good, but I need help in taijutsu and ninjutsu and I can use the extra training and I will be your ambassador when you're Hokage Naruto", Priya smiled and started eating her Ramen. "And Naruto if you need help with schoolwork my sisters can help you". She took another bite of her Ramen. "Wow this is so good"
Eulalia was searching for Priya worried about her and her odd behavior. Eulalia was relieved when she caught a glimpse of her at the ramen shop and noticed that her smile was back talking to some boys that she recognized from the Academy.
"There you are, I've been looking for you everywhere", Priya turned around to see her oldest sister Eulalia. Naruto and Sasuke turned to the honeyed rhythmic voice. Naruto immediately noticed similarities between Soraya and the girl that entered the Ramen bar. The main difference was that Eulalia had a light honey glow for her skin tone while Soraya's was a deep golden color. Her hair had more of a wavy texture rather than Soraya's deep thick curls.
"Wow you are pretty", Naruto said admiring her. "Is all your family beautiful"
"Yes", she said with a smile.
"Wow, no hesitation", everyone thought.
"I see you made two new friends, I hope they are treating you like the fair maiden you are.", she said petting her head.
"Sasuke is going to help me train, and Naruto needs help with his grades", Priya stated happily.
"Are you sure you want to train with this boy, I'm afraid he will take you away from me" Eulalia's dainty voice had a hint of concern. "And what will I do without my dearest sister, First it starts with training then two hearts fall in love-
"Let me stop you right there, my main goal is to get stronger not to marry a girl", Sasuke responded. Eulalia paused for a moment contemplating.
"Then it will be up to you dear Priya to bring them together in their Forbidden Romance", her soft voice expressed enthusiasm with the prospect.
"Your wish is my command", Priya saluted her in jest, not understanding where she was going but putting up with her melodramatic antics.
"Not gonna happen", exclaimed Naruto at the insinuation of that statement.
"Then you agree."
"Agree to what?", asked Sasuke
"To watch over and protect her with your life", said Eulalia. "She is too precious to me, and look how innocent she looks wouldn't it be a shame for her to be hurt in any type of way, I know life is suffering, but I can't help but despair when I even think about her any type of pain, and since you are her friends, I will be the best sister you to will ever have"
"I think you are taking this way-", Sasuke's eyes twitched in irritation when he noticed Priya interrupting him.
Priya raised her hand to stop Sasuke. "It's too late. She has already decided this, and the fact that she is even talking just shows her resolve". Eulalia was clearly in her own world clasping her head in a smile daydreaming. Priya then cupped her hands near Sasuke's ear. "Sometimes when she gets like this it's best just to go with it or ignore her '', she whispered.
"Thank you, umm what's your names?"
"This is Sasuke and this is Naruto", Priya answering gesturing to them respectfully
Eulalia promptly started to leave and waved goodbye. "I will see you later! Don't have too much fun with Priya, she's still a young kid"
"Bye Eulalia", Priya waved back.
"She's weird, but I can't help but like her", everyone thought. Then everyone turned to her. Priya gave a smile and started eating
"Thanks, Sasuke and Naruto for making me feel better", both of them blushed and finished eating before going to train.
"Why does she have to be so adorable", thought Sasuke and Naruto.
Konan sat at Masaru's bedside; her growing belly was getting more noticeable by the day. But more importantly, Yahiko and Nagato were avoiding her. She didn't blame them, she needed space herself. She just received word from Itachi's crows that they had arrived at the Land of Sound and Soraya was to undergo treatment soon.
"Masaru...I", Konan thought about her next statement. She told him sorry multiple times. But now thinking about it she knew it wasn't him that she should be apologizing to. This situation was brought on by Hanzo's manipulation and she fell for it. She had to forgive herself for falling for such treachery. She was saddened that she had some part of all her children's danger. "Masaru, I never wanted you or your sister to experience pain as I did", a tear came from one of her eyes.
"I want to thank you for keeping them safe, and with a name like yours, I believe that you will be victorious.", She stood up, tired of pitying herself. "There is more work to be done, but I need you to beat Misaki, my love for her blinded me." Red started to lightly flow from his nose. Konan instinctively put her hand on his head. Masaru felt feverish, but she knew it was just part of what he had to go through. "Masaru come back to me", she whispered pleading for his safety as she wiped his bloody nose. She placed her forehead on his, praying that he would survive.
Soraya-chan I'm scared
Soraya rose from her bed. The last thing she heard was Masaru's voice in her head. Her breathing was heavy, but she couldn't exactly remember any terrifying dreams. Just her brother's voice. Itachi placed a hand on her shoulder for comfort. She turned towards him and noticed his eyes glowed red with his Sharingan. She was puzzled because she told him to avoid activating it for long periods of time and he agreed to do it only when necessary. She feared that he would go blind before his thirties if he kept the habit.
"Why do you have your Sharingan activated?", she asked weakly.
"I do not trust Orochimaru", he said simply. "And your Chakra surges are getting worse, and I need the Sharingan to keep it under control now", he added.
"He is not going to attack us, he is helping us", she replied sitting up and resting her back on her pillow. "And thank you." Soraya was constantly thinking of a how she could repay Itachi's kindness.
"He is helping you", he clarified. "Orochimaru is dangerous, he is going to want to make a deal with you, no matter the consequences don't do it", he demanded.
"Why would I make a deal with Orochimaru?", she asked
"He is a master manipulator, he will find your weakness. I'm asking you to put your faith in me instead"
Soraya fidgeted a little before her next statement. "I can't". She shyly looked up at him and to her surprise, he didn't react, just stoic. However, she could tell that he was waiting for a reason. "I know you are hiding something from me, something big, and I'm trying to trust you completely, but in Konoha, I learned that I didn't know you as I thought. I just have many questions and I don't know where to start"
Itachi crossed his arms and closed his eyes thinking over what she said. After what seemed a few awkward minutes Itachi finally responded. "Your instinct is not wrong" when he opened his eyes it was back to his shadow-colored eyes. "In time, I will tell you everything you need to know, but do not make a deal with Orochimaru it will only bring you heartbreak or worse killed."
"Tell me one thing you have been keeping from me", she demanded.
"Konoha plans to use you to revive the Uchiha and Hatake clans and possibly other powerful clans as well", he stated. Soraya was stunned at the revelation. "And Hanzo has demanded that I marry you, but your mother wants me to refuse, but I don't think that is the best option. She sends daily correspondence about the matter", he further disclosed.
Soraya laid back and stared at the ceiling, remaining silent. Itachi felt a major rush of relief. Nevertheless, he was awaiting her response. He could see her eyes go in a slight trance, processing
"That was two", she agonized. Those were two big things. The marriage didn't bother her. She preferred an arranged marriage because in her mind she could handle anything. Additionally, romance was a complete mystery to her and she deemed it unnecessary at times. And Itachi wasn't the worst of them. It was the aspect of the freedom to choose her partner that annoyed her. She wanted to at least have a discussion with her parents, but it seemed they didn't have a choice either.
Soraya didn't know how to feel about Konoha. She wanted to be a mother, but she didn't want that to be her only duty, being passed around like a horse or dog. At the end of the day, she didn't want to feel anything, so she started to put the things in the back of her mind that were causing her to feel negative emotions. Additionally, she had a nagging feeling that this was not the worst of what he was hiding.
"Do I displease you that badly?", he inquired. She glanced at him. Why did he have to ask her that? Her silence had nothing to do with not wanting to marry him. It had everything to do with trying to get rid of the emotions that were bubbling up inside her. Itachi could sense that she was denying her own emotions. Itachi took notice that her smile and extraversion were a defense mechanism. If she had any negative emotions she didn't show it for long. Kakashi even mentioned that something about her upbeat optimism was off, at times. He knew the price of repressing emotions very well and wanted her to avoid those consequences. "Talk to me", he said in a comforting manner.
"It's not that.", she stated. "My great-great-grandmother was forced to bare children for her on a breeding farm. I couldn't imagine what she felt. You know I said it in school reports, thinking that will never happen to me, I was going to be a singer or an actress, and I have been reduced to the same station in life it seems."
Itachi thought about her response. She had mentioned the chattel slavery of her people before but never thought about the impact it would still have on her.
"So in other words, you feel helpless" Itachi touched her hand in comfort. "You feel the cycle repeating and fear that you will be what your ancestors were " Itachi knew he was correct in his assumptions when she looked at him, with water in her eyes. He noticed how she never cried, and that worried him. He knew what bottling up your emotions could do to a person, and probably was the main reason she couldn't control her power, or even reach its true potential. But that was a conversation that he had to have with her another day. Tomorrow she would have surgery and they had to focus on the long recovery ahead.
"Yes", she said under her breath. She looked down in shame at the fact that she was about to cry and took deep breaths until the threat of tears escaped her.
"The Uchiha are known for a cycle as well called the cycle of hatred, and sometimes I feel powerless to that cycle as well." Soraya felt her heart flutter at the information that Itachi gave to her. "The Uchiha are devoted to our connections and our Sharingan is born of great loss", he closed his eyes thinking back to his past and how his power was unlocked because of the scars of war. "But I choose to have hope and put faith in the future, and all I can do is put things into motion that will make it better, will you do the same?", he questioned.
Soraya nodded in response, not being able to capture all the words she felt at that moment. But the most important thing is that he gave her a glimer of hope.
Itachi turned her head to meet his eyes. "Uchiha don't marry powerless women". If he could, he would send her into a genjutsu that would fill her with happy memories. But for once he was glad he couldn't do so to manipulate her fillings or do his bidding. Everything was of her free will.
Soraya stared back at him. The little things he said always had more hidden meaning. Did that mean that he didn't see her as weak? That he saw her as good spousal potential? There was so much that she could unpack with that simple powerful statement. It made her heart leap for joy, but there was something weighty about this statement that she knew she would remember for the rest of her life.
Priya came back during the evening with a satisfied look on her face. She was slightly disheveled, her arm had bruises from training, but she felt mostly good about the day. When she came back to her assigned bed, her Bible was there, with a note and a white rose. It still had mud stains on it, but it was cleaned by someone.
"Throwing away gifts equals throwing away the giver. Never give up hope", Priya placed the note down. She knew it was from Eulalia. That's why she was coming to check on her. White Roses were Priya's and Soraya's favorite flower, so she was touched by the thoughtfulness of her sister. Eulalia the majority of the time was very aloof and seemed to be in her own world. This was just a steady reminder that she would always be there.
Naruto held a picture of Soraya and smiled. "I found your sister, and there are four more of you!", he exclaimed. "I will protect them, I swear it, I promise as Future Hokage. Goodnight and hope you're safe", he blew out the candle and went to sleep.
Sasuke sat at his table eating his tomatoes as he heard a knock on the door. He was reading up on jutsus and anything he could find to improve himself. However, he couldn't focus. The day's events gave him a pang of happiness he hadn't felt in a long time. Even though Priya was four years younger than him, her skills superseded some of his classmates, especially Naruto. He looked at the time, which was past midnight. She gave him a challenge, but he did prevail in the end. She was one of the first girls that he knew that didn't fawn over him. And he was very grateful. He would have to explore her more to see if she was worth being a friend, but for once he was grateful for the idea of not being lonely.
He heard a knock at the door, and he groaned as he noticed the time of the clock. It was late and past the normal hour of decorum for visitors. As expected, there was a man at the door, with the same ominous smile the other men shared when they made visits with him late at night.
"Lord Danzo sent me to check on your progress" Sasuke just stared at him with an expressionless face. He learned over time the less emotion he saw the quicker the "task", he liked to call it, was over. "Well", the man said as his hand went to the seam of his pants. "Are you going to let me in, or do you want it here".
Sasuke clutched the doorknob, the only sign of anger that he had. "What do you want me to call you?", he asked. Some men didn't even like to be called by their birth names, preferring pet names or preferred for him to be quiet.
"You can call me Kenta-sama, loud and proud", he snickered.
"Hey Sasuke-kun!", Sasuke's eyes widened at the sound of Eulalia's voice. The man stilled at the voice behind him and slowly removed his hands from his crotch. The man turned around and noticed the girl and smiled. "I didn't know Sasuke had friends, and I don't believe I know you"
"I'm not his friend", she stated. "I rarely like people" She looked behind the man and saw Sasuke who had a look of shock on his face. "Who is this person, I thought your family died", she said in a confused tone.
"The name is Kenta Kurama", Eulalia looked between the man and Sasuke, knowing something was amiss. Sasake observed her scanning the man with a certain distaste. Eulalia put on a smile, but Sasuke noticed the intensity of her eyes, which didn't match her expression. He could almost sense that she was getting close to his secret. Sasuke looked embarrassed but before he could say anything.
"Well, I just came by to say thank you for Priya. She needed someone like you, like a brother, to look out for her", Sasuke was taken-aback by those words.
The man laughed and Eulalia gave him an annoyed look. "The Uchiha can barely protect themselves. Look at this place, he is the only one left, but I'm sure he will become a strong ninja, that's why do some extracurricular training. Why don't you join us". Sasuke noticed that she looked like she was planning his murder, no it was different, there was a sense of knowing. Sasuke felt that time slowed down, the man seemed to freeze in time. Eulalia's russet eyes seemed to glow and vengeance was in her eyes. She steadily walked toward him toward the frozen man that seemed still in time. Sasuke was terrified, never seeing this power. As she walked toward the doorstep, she touched him and closed her eyes.
"I'm not going to hurt you", she said. "But I can hurt him", she clarified. "I can kill him for you, that way you don't have to go through this, and everyone that raped you, made you call them all sorts of names. One by one",
Sasuke noticed the coldness in her face and knew that she would do it. He wanted to. He wanted the pain to stop, but these were powerful men, from powerful clans. That would also put her and her family in danger including Priya. "You can't", he said. "Ther-There"
"I understand", she said. "I can be too forward sometimes. I wish my cousin was here, she would handle this better. But she will be soon enough."
She walked back to the spot that she was before time was frozen. The man resumed speaking. 'So, will you join us?", the man had a wicked smile. Eulalia looked at Sasuke as if to ask him if he was sure of not killing him. Sasuke held back his tears as he shook his head slowly and said no.
Eulalia swallowed a lump in her throat and smiled at the man as if nothing was wrong. "No thank you, Eui needs some rest tonight", she feigned a yawn. "But I will see you around Sasuke. Remember we are not friends." Sasuke watched her walk away towards the direction of the orphanage.
"What a strange girl", the man said. "This era of ninja is getting weaker by the day", he shook his head in discontent.
Sasuke smiled and did his best not to let Kurama hear him chuckle. "Yes, she is a strange one."
That night while Sasuke's body was in pain, all he could think about was the good day he had and how looked forward to seeing Priya at school.