*It's really been long, considering that my last update had been mid-July. All I have to say to that is that I had writers' block from august to September, and then College is annoying. I apologize for my inconsistency with updates and I cannot promise to update on a certain schedule. I'm busy now and I probably will be until December.
*But regardless thank you for all the Reviews I appreciate every single one of you guys and this story is not going to die anytime soon. I've just recieved so much positive feedback from this storyand I just want to thank you again.
In His Own Right:
Chapter 22:
There were not many moments that Izumi could recall being embarrassed. As a matter of fact, she has never exactly felt embarrassed for any particular reason to her knowledge. However, having your shirt and bra off while your boyfriend who is also shirtless straddling you in front of your younger brother could definitely have that effect. There couldn't have been a worse time for his presence and here he was. Either Kami or whatever force controlled the world around them hated her or today wasn't so much her lucky day. So, yes she was embarrassed.
"WHAT THE FUCK?",
They were motionless, as solid as a statue. Caught in the act completely red handed and there was absolutely no chance of lying their ways out; it was unfortunate really.
"What is this?" his voice could strike a match with its intensity, he was furious his movement erratic, a vein popping out of his forehead as he clutched his hands into fists. She watched her brother, his eyes converting to the Sharingan as his fists tightened harder. His mouth was unevenly wide in surprise as Naruto removed himself from her persona. She could feel that the blond himself was actually pretty angry for a second-, before said emotions took a totally different turn, his face becoming notably guilty. The boy stared, his mouth speechless.
Finally, they removed themselves from each other as Izumi retrieved her bra and all respectable clothing.
Sasuke turned his head, keeping his eyes away from Izumi. Possibly because she was indecent. Instead, he kept them on Naruto. His eyes we completely red with the Sharingan, his hands balled.
"Am I going to get answer, or are you just going to stare at me like an idiot?!"
"Sasuke that's enough, leave!", She ordered, her tone was demanding and knowing.
"..."
"Leave?"
"Yes." she affirmed.
He stood disobediently. "After witnessing this, you expect me to leave? I want an answer! What the hell is this? Naruto, are you trying to defile my sister?" His hands clenched as electricity sprayed into the air in sparks taking place Between intervals of a few seconds. You could clearly see the infuriated expression on his face.
"Tell me what the fuck exactly is going on! Your words!"
Something told her that this was going to end badly, that no matter what attempt she made the outcome would be unfavorable. She could see the smothering rage forming within her brother's eyes, and as time passed it only seemed to get worse.
The blond was quiet up until this moment. "Sasuke, look. Izumi and I—",
"We're dating.", The girl answered for him, as she watched Naruto wince at her words.
"..."
At first, Sasuke didn't so much as move. Then like a balloon ready to burst the boy activated his Chidori, dashing at his teammate in a fit of anger. It all happening in one swift and precise movement. The intensity of the electricity itself indirectly ripping the futon they laid on. Naruto jumped backward, as he dodged the anger filled strike. Sasuke missed and his attack slammed into the window, not only destroying the window but also eradicating the wall it was placed in.
"Sasuke!" She yelled in a scolding manner. The boy took it much too far. That bang would without a doubt notify everyone in the clan of some sort of disturbance. Not only that Fugaku would not be pleased when she explained what happened to the window, and in addition to that why Sasuke went full on rage mode. But, she also knew there was nothing equal to the rage of her very own mother. "
"Really, my sister? YOU'RE DATING MY SISTER?! You've been fucking my sister while I've been away, haven't you?!", The Chidori remained activated as Naruto backed away though remaining on his feet in case another attack were to be sent his way.
"No, I haven't! It's wasn't even like that."
"Then what was it like, you fucking idiot!", he pointed his voice echoing loudly, practically the whole entire village could hear the drama. "Do you take me for a fool?",
"Sasuke stop this! You literally broke the window and the wall! Father will have your head!"
He turned giving his sister his undivided attention. "Forget him right now! You should have told me! Since when are you attracted to people?!",
"There is no law or moral code stating that I must inform you of such personal matters.", she explained to her younger brother.
"Shisui told me you were Asexual or some shit!"
-Note to self, hurt Shisui-
"Clearly he was wrong…" Sasuke mumbled viciously.
The seventeen-year-old Uchiha did a quick glance at the hole in the wall, before deactivating the Chidori. He attempted to calm himself, as he turned back to the two.
"Speak!", He ordered.
"Again, we are dating. It was something that occurred while we were on the mission to retrieve Jiraiya-sama and it blossomed from that point. I was fond of him before hand but recently came to terms with those feelings. Thus our relationship.", she let her words flow out calmly. She filled in noticing that Naruto had a long guilty expression.
"And you've been tainting my sister since?", He pointed judgmentally at the blond.
Naruto replied sporadically. "No, not at all!"
"We have not engaged in sexual intercourse as of yet.", she assured her brother.
"As of YET? Did you just say YET?!", he yelled. Izumi almost face-palmed realizing her choice of word. "He's my best friend. This shouldn't be a thing in the first place!"
"I'm free to date whom I ever so choose."
He shook his head, his eyes still holding a distaste for the situation. There was a hard silence that followed. Sasuke stood silent, though his eyes traced back and forth between the couple, and then finally towards the hole.
"We wanted to tell you—", there was a long pause, Naruto's sapphire and Izumi's obsidian intercepted each other. "Actually, no we really didn't."
Sasuke growled. And Izumi neatly placed her palm onto her face again.
"But, we never wanted you to find out like this!",
There was no pause instead, Sasuke burst out.
"Izumi, you've never shown an interest in anyone before, all those fanboys feening over you! What's the difference now?"
There was again another soft silence. A small wind blew into the living room through the hole. She looked at Sasuke and then her partner. "He is.", She stood keeping her face blank but allowing her emotions to fall through her eyes.
"Naruto is the difference. I've never found anyone as interesting or as aspiring as him. His dream of becoming Hokage in correlation with the tribulations he's been through is simply profound. He's struggled to reach the position he's at today, and in his own right, he was always a shinobi of great caliber. That's why I'm with him. My experience with him has been a pleasure."
She turned to him, giving him one of her rare yet true smiles. He stared before mouthing. "Izumi…"
Sasuke stood speechless, his Sharingan eyes still burning into his sister's though he didn't say anything. He gazed at the hole, before returning his attention back to the couple.
"I do not approve of this in the slightest!" he stated this bluntly, before walking towards his Katana and picking it up.
"I understand why you may feel betrayed, and Sasuke I would never intentionally make you have such feelings. I'm sorry that things played out this way, I am your elder sister and I could have executed this much more efficiently. From now on no more secrets or lies." She attempted to show him a small smile, but her smile quickly shifted into an almost disappointed frown. Her words didn't seem to relieve him. And his dark charcoal orbs fell to the floor that held fragments of wood and debris. She patiently watched her younger brother, knowing all too well how impulsive Sasuke could be.
"Alright.", the boy stated suddenly, his voice coming out much more calm than she expected. She watched as he picked up his katana placed it back in his sheath.
"Alright?" Both Izumi and Naruto questioned.
"That's what I said."
She rose an eyebrow, his actions seeming rather unusual. "Hm." She said watching him keenly as he moved closer towards Naruto.
"Oh, wait, just one more thing.", He said suddenly as he approached his friend. The blond watched him curiously. Suddenly, Sasuke slammed a hardened fist into the boy knocking him through the hole and outside. The boy then withdrew his Katana, igniting it with electricity before jumping outside.
Izumi blinked, Hard and rapidly. Before she forced herself to move and follow the two.
She now truly understood completely why lust was on of the seven deadly sins.
Naruto received a considerable electric burn from being deadly close to Sasuke's blade. His eyes were wide as he countered Sasuke's weapon with a Kunai. The electricity definitely gave him the advantage when it came to dueling, though he matched his hit with equal strength. Naruto found himself on the defensive for the majority of the fight, the two jumping around the Uchiha compound, their battle startling people. Sasuke was relentless with his strikes not holding back as he forced each out with anger.
"Sasuke!", he yelled as he side-stepped a lunge that would have been fatal. "We're ganna cause a panic. Stop! We can talk!"
"Shut up! I don't wanna hear words come from your mouth."
Naruto blocked one last strike, to which Sasuke's lightning enforced sword slit of the sharp tip. He threw the weapon away deeming it useless, as he continued moving around his friend.
"You've defiled my sister, and you think you're in any position to talk!?",
Naruto then found an opening, mid-way between his friend's attack Naruto aimed a daring kick into Sasuke's hand, disarming his friend and evening the playing ground a bit. They landed on a random roof, which meant they were still within the compound.
They stood silent for a moment, staring at each other. His Sharingan eyes glared at him with an anger he had never seen from his best friend. He watched as Sasuke's hand went downwards. He could feel the air around him swirl with electricity and he instantly knew of Sasuke's intentions. Suddenly, the Chidori formed within his palms, and from the looks of it, Sasuke was charging it much larger than the one from before.
Naruto narrowed his eyes. Not here. The results wouldn't be very good. He silently wondered if Sasuke was going to actually take it this far or was he bluffing. He quickly removed such possibilities from his head, assuming the worse. Sasuke was acting completely impulsive, and as such he was not thinking rationally. He needed to reason with him before things went south.
"I'm sorry. I can't say that what I've done is fair for you and I can't say I blame you for what you're feeling. I understand your sentiments—.",
Sasuke stared.
"I don't understand these feelings completely, but I know I want to be with her.", his voice was heavy, came out strong. "I'm sorry you discovered us at the worse moment.",
Sasuke's black eyes seemed to analyze the Naruto, his hand still holding the blue electricity. A mixture of emotion slashed over his eyes as he gave his friend a total gaze over. What he was thinking was a mystery. Sasuke, in general, was just a complete mystery. Naruto walked towards his friend slowly. He prayed silently that he wouldn't lash out.
Suddenly, Sasuke deactivated the Chidori. The blond was surprised yet relieved, a sigh that said: thank Kami came from his lips.
Naruto blinked a normal and subconscious blink; this was all the time It took for the Uchiha needed to be on him, his forearm smacking against Naruto's neck, as he brought the blond to the ground.
Naruto's body disappeared in a puff of smoke. He watched from a distance as the raven-haired ninja zoned in on him. An enraged Sasuke was truly a scary and unpredictable thing. He needed to hold out, without causing harm to his friend or the people around him. Sasuke charged, retrieving his sword and attacking Naruto. The blade zipped past his face, much closer than he'd expected. Was his friend really trying to cause fatal harm to him? The boy then went on the aggressive, moving with Sasuke's attacks in an attempt to maneuver. He calculated each of his friend's attacks, looking for a flaw in his movements. His blue eyes were keen, and although it was subtle, there was a small flaw that left him open when he attack. The blond jumped from the building rooftop and onto the ground floor, landing on his feet.
He jumped away just in time to dodge a spray of shuriken. Naruto slid backward a bit, as he intentionally allowed Sasuke to continue fighting. He waited, knowing that his friend would eventually slip up. Sasuke continued his attack until finally, he overextended himself, seeming to push more strength into an attack opposed to keeping his speed up to par. For that Naruto punished him. With aggression that seemed to come out of the blue, Naruto withdrew a Kunai and struck vertically at Sasuke's outer hand. The tip of the Kunai ripped through his hand, and Sasuke dropped his Katana as crimson leaked from his hand in rivers. This wasn't enough to stop Sasuke's rampage. The boy ignored his injury and speared Naruto into the ground. The blond rolled on the ground but was able to flip back to his feet. Sasuke appeared before him and launched his sandal into Naruto's rib, he could hear a cracking noise as he flew into a nearby fruit stand. Naruto's body destroyed the wooden stand, squishing fruit in the process. The Uchiha at the stand stared at him horrified, as the boy got to his feet. Sasuke continued recklessly, his injured hand not even seeming to be phased as a heavy fist pounding into the blond who'd just gotten to his feet. Naruto found himself on the ground again, as Sasuke continued his brutal onslaught. Naruto blocked with his arms, his body receiving the full blown strength of Sasuke barrage of punches. He felt Sasuke breaking his defenses, hell he felt his arms hurting. Sasuke was a high tier shinobi, after all, not one to be underestimated and Naruto was definitely aware of this. There was a crowd of onlookers, all Uchiha's who had been minding their own business and now were subjected to this battle. Naruto caught the glimpse of their faces. Awe, surprise fear, straight shock. He knew that they recognized Sasuke, and evenly they recognized him. The son of the current clan head and the hero of the village clashing. Naruto twisted from Sasuke's pinning attack, and with his leg strength, he kneed his friend straight through his jaw, successfully removing him from his persona. He got to his feet, while at the same time surveying the surrounding area.
"Do you see the crowd? These are your people, you're scaring them!"
Sasuke scoffed at his words, spitting a mixture of blood and saliva on the ground.
"This is none of their business. If they were smart they'd leave!" The Uchiha made sure to yell the last portion, an obvious warning for the crowd, who only halfheartedly listened.
"You're being an irrational little shit, you know that?" Naruto spat. "So what if I'm dating your sister? That means you have to go and try to beat me up while at the same time destroying what remains of your home?!"
Sasuke wiped his mouth dry of any crimson red liquid. His body language was still yet very at ease, his Sharingan burned with angry emotion, a spark of fire could clearly be seen within his red orbs. But no, this wasn't the fire, the blaze that seemed to sizzle within the heart and souls of any true shinobi. No, this was different and Naruto kept note of this. There was more to his.
"You think this is only about Izumi?"
Naruto sealed his mouth, his ears becoming curious.
"Do you truly believe that you and Izumi are the only catalyst to the way I'm feeling? Really, after all of this time you really don't know too much about me, do you?"
"I know more than enough–!"
"More than Enough?!" Sasuke cut him off his voicing coming out in a condescending while tone. "Tell me… What is my current vision?"
The question came out as a cold as a rock on a chilled day. His blue eyes held his friend's gaze confidently despite not knowing his answer.
"I–I have no idea. I don't even know what you're talking about!"
"Of course you don't and I didn't expect you to!" He shouted, those words reinitiating the battle as Sasuke swung a fast jab into Naruto's face, before following up with a roundhouse kick.
Naruto caught his thigh before jumping forward and pinning Sasuke to the ground in one swift motion. It was his turn to do the pounding. He swung, hitting his friend in the face with the strength of cold steel. He then grabbed Sasuke by the collar of his shirt and swung again. SMACK!
"This!"
SMACK!
He sent another fist, speaking in between words.
"Stops!"
SMACK!
He gave a fourth hit with his free hand. The crowd seemed to gasp with each hit, some calling his name asking the two to stop the nonsense but no one dared to venture towards them.
"NOW!" He said this with a commanding tone, sending much more force into this punch. The sound of the punch seemed to ring out throughout the village. Sasuke took the full force of the punch directly in his nose, his head hitting the ground from the pure power released from Naruto's attack. Sasuke grunted, and Naruto dropped to his knees, kneeling over his friend.
A calming silence fell upon the two. The crowd had increased in size since Naruto had last cared to notice. The Uchihas were in a sort of gaze, staring at Naruto and Sasuke and the aftermath of their battle. Naruto laid back for a moment, allowing himself to breathe and process his own thoughts. He inhaled and then exhaled, his breath heavy from the effort he put into their small skirmish.
He stood to his feet. Looking down at his friend as he too made his journey to his feet.
"We're done. We don't need to fight anymore, it's pointless. No more!"
"You don't get it, do you?" The Uchiha said this through gritted teeth.
"I. want. To. Fight. You!" He stood holding his hand outwards. The defying and heavy sound of the Chidori now burned through the atmosphere. The birds chirped in great intensity, this time, the chirping was louder and more frequent. Sasuke's face was stern, as he held the blue contorting ball of electricity. It swirled, sparked erratically and was only increasing in size. This was what caused the crowd to leave, even those who had shinobi backgrounds backed off at the mere presence of the power of his Chidori. The young Jounin found it hard to believe that Sasuke would go to such lengths.
Naruto stood tall, their bodies parallel and remaining on the same graphical plane.
"Trust me, you don't want to do this." He warned with a stern commanding voice. This had gone on long enough.
"I do."
"You'll regret it. I've trained so much in the past month."
"And that's what I want to see! I want you to go all out I want to see where I stand!"
There was a rush of wind that blew his spiky hair forward. The two rivals had their eyes locked.
"There's a time for everything, this isn't it."
"Shut. Up! Stop being pussy and fight!" The scene was still, the two motionless. Before Sasuke made one sudden move. With that Naruto went into action, activating his Rasengan within seconds in order to match Sasuke. The atmosphere was filled to the brim with ripe. They took to the air, jumping into the atmosphere and gaining so much hang time it looked as if they were flying. There was little thought put into this. But, in that moment Naruto realized that a collision of both their ninjutsu would undoubtedly bring about destruction. His mind churned as he realized he couldn't stop himself. Both their eyes made contact and Sasuke too must've realized the same thing as Naruto.
"Shit!" He muttered as space and time itself fell into slow motion.
There was no turning back!
That was his thoughts until he felt a hard object wrap around his leg. He felt his body being jolted backward as something long seemed to throw him to the ground. His hand came forward and the Rasengan dove into the ground.
Shit.
The ground exploded sending concrete and dirt into the sky. He coughed, his lungs filling with dust, as he found himself lying face first in a crater. The was a fucking crater in the middle of the Uchiha compound! Damn, he was in so much trouble. Damn it, today turned out to be rather bad.
He stood to his feet finding that his ankle had been wrapped in what seemed to wood.
Blue eyes stared at figures a close distance away.
"Yamato-sensei." He stated as the former Anbu operative landed beside. He turned to his right as the familiar hair of Kakashi caught his eye. "Kakashi-sensei."
"Thank Kami we made it in time." The wood style user stated.
"Naruto, did you truly intend on using the Rasengan on Sasuke?",
His head went down to Kakashi's sandals. "I hadn't at first. But, it progressed that way. I realized too late the consequences."
The gray-haired Jounin sighed heavily. Naruto just now realized the other figure hovering over Sasuke.
"Sasuke are you serious?" He could hear Shisui, the shinobi who on normal standards was an easygoing guy. But right now, he seemed utterly ticked.
"We literally are in the middle of a crisis and you two are only adding to the chaos that is currently our village. We have traumatized villagers, and you think it was smart to go ahead and try to fight in the middle of the compound!", Sasuke's eyes fell to Naruto before he brought them back to Shisui.
Izumi appeared next to him, her face blank but stern no words were exchanged between the two as they watched the rarity that was an enraged Shisui.
"You find something out about your sister and best friend and you totally lose your head. You're acting like a child. And you're a ninja, you look completely idiotic. What is Fugaku going to say?"
The crowd was forming again, along with both Sakura and Shizune. Naruto now realized the extent of their short battle. A crater in the middle of the street, a few damaged buildings, and a fruit stand all gone.
"He's right, the fight was childish. Naruto, that was reckless of you using your Rasengan, you could have killed each other or someone else." Kakashi commented. Naruto knew he was right and kept his lips sealed.
The duck haired Uchiha stood to his feet, both Male Uchihas nose lengths away from each other's face. A tense aura came from Sasuke, it seemed to make everyone a bit uneasy. Sasuke glared at his cousin, before letting out a small "Hm.",
Sasuke tried to walk away, only to find Shisui's hand falling on his shoulder.
"No, you can't just shrug this off like that. This is an extremely serious matter. You could have killed someone and you're acting so fucking nonchalant."
That was when Izumi approached, some concern seemed to present in the way she walked.
Sasuke removed Shisui's hand, the spiky-haired Uchiha gazing on in surprise.
"Anything you want to say too, elder sister?" Sasuke retorted aggressively. "What about you Kakashi? Yamato? Shizune?" He looked at Sakura but said nothing.
"I don't wanna hear shit right now." His voice stern and commanding but his voice not as loud. Maybe Naruto should have said something, but he remained quiet. Maybe, he should have stopped his friend, but he did nothing. He just watched silent, trying not to provoke him. But maybe that wasn't the best choice of action. For in the next instant, Sasuke disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving his friends and those that cared for him behind in his wake.
The shinobi stood, a crowd of Uchiha civilians coming forward, their eyes falling on the gash in the ground and the group of silent shinobi.
"I'll follow him.", Shisui stated robustly, and without anyone telling him otherwise he disappeared.
"Should we follow him?" The pinket her voice soft, though her eyes eager.
They all eyed Izumi, as both Kakashi and Yamato didn't answer out of respect for their situation. She stood, seeming to realize that all eyes were on her frame but not directly responding to their gazes. Finally, her eyes landed on all of theirs, her obsidian sparking with a mysterious emotion. They waited for a reaction, but instead she vanished, a mist of gray smoke being the only evidence of her presence. She was really worried about him, he deduced.
"I guess that's a yes.", Kakashi stated obviously.
"Maybe we should give them the decency of some privacy?" Shizune suggested.
"Agreed.", Yamato replied stepping beside Kakashi.
"I mean, that's why we're gonna eavesdrop." Their sensei said this like it were nothing.
Naruto narrowed his eyes at his sensei. "Eavesdrop? That's rather rude, Sensei."
"It's not letting them have privacy either." Shizune crossed her arms.
"Rude, privacy?" Kakashi let out a hard laugh. "We've been doing this the entire day. Why stop now? Oh and Naruto, since when did you care about being rude?"
Naruto folded his arms. "Right.", came the copy ninja's reply, and that was all the ninja needed to head off towards the Uchihas.
Shisui appeared in the small grass clearing, his eyes scanning the area for his younger cousin. He found himself shaking his head, Sasuke was just...Sasuke. He found him, sitting on a post middle two others. He sat quietly, his hands folded and his not even looking in Shisui's direction. He must've known he was there, but he refused to acknowledge his elder cousin.
"You gonna look at me, bro?"
He stated, trying to possibly lighten the mood. But, there was just an unsettling feeling coming off of Sasuke. "Listen, I feel like this is something that you and I have to talk about alone. And just you and I… Not IZUMI!" He said this as he felt her presence approaching from a distance away. He internally sighed relieved when she made a complete stop.
"Guy to guy, bro to bro." Sasuke finally looked at him, letting out a defiant "hm"
"Alright, so how are ya feeling?"
"Betrayed." Thankfully he said this in his normal
Monotonous voice.
"Yeah, I feel you on that one. It's the worst feeling in the world, to be betrayed by someone you trust. And I bet Naruto and Izumi took this to the next level, huh?"
Sasuke turned to him completely. "What do you want?"
"Just trynna give advice. And to help you keep your frustration in check. Today, you destroyed part of the Uchiha compound and a wall in your own house. And I know Fugaku and Aunt Mikoto are going to have your ass. This all could have been avoided if you would have kept your impulses in check."
"Shut up!" Sasuke stood. Shisui flinched not expecting such hostility. "I don't know who to listen to or what to believe anymore. My best friend and sister are dating. That's unbelievable. And it disgusts me in every way possible, and the worse part is that I was kept in the dark about it all!"
"And that's shitty on their part, but you kinda have to accept it."
Sasuke held his head high. "And why is that?"
"Because she is your sister and Naruto your best friend and you care about both of them!"
He placed his hands in his pockets getting closer to Sasuke, again placing his hand on his shoulder. Sasuke made no move to remove it.
"Izumi and Naruto are happy together, let them be. Bro, wouldn't you rather have someone you know dating your sister opposed to some stranger who might be a complete asshole?"
"..." Silence from the younger Uchiha. Finally, he replied with a simple. "Hm." Which meant, yes."
"So be happy for them, don't try to hurt Naruto and break shit."
Sasuke took in a deep breath. And Shisui did the same thing. The forest moved with the wind as, the trees dancing from the blowing of air. Shisui was aware of their presence, but at least Izumi was keeping them a decent distance away.
"You never told me about it….",
Shisui brought his forehead to his hairline. "What?"
Sasuke crossed his arms. "Tell me what you know about the mission that would have been the Uchiha massacre.",
Shisui stood still, he knew this was coming it was only about time. He had hoped that it would be Izumi to explain what happened to him. It was random, but Shisui deduced that it probably contributed to his little cousin's rage. The S-class mission that would have ended their clan by the hands of Izumi. Damn it Danzo!
"I guess it can no longer be avoided. What did Danzo tell you?"
He had a bad feeling about this.
"Tell me about her mission, what did it entail exactly?",
"..." Shisui sucked in a hard lung of air.
"You were much too young to understand, Sasuke. Also, bare in mind that this was a classified S-class mission and the only reason I'm confirming its existence to you is because Danzo already broke the secrecy. Back then, the village was sort of in a crisis, there were high tensions between the Uchiha clan and the village heads. Here's a quick Synopsis: Due to Izumi's status as Anbu captain, your Father chose her as a spy for the clan, in all honesty, Fugaku was planning a Coup. Accordingly, the leaf heads put Izumi as a spy for the Uchiha.",
He paused allowing Sasuke to absorb the information. He searched Sasuke's facial expression for information.
"Tell me about how Izumi was going to kill everyone in our clan."
Shisui nodded. "Well, as you can infer things didn't go so well. And eventually, it came close to Danzo almost ordering Izumi to eradicate everyone in the clan. Including myself and you."
"Danzo? I was told that it was the third who put out this order."
Shisui let air out his nose. "Who told you that, Danzo?" He knew the answer to that question.
Sasuke closed his eyes in understanding, before opening them slowly.
"The third was against it from the beginning, ultimately it was him who prevented an atrocity."
The wind picked up again, Shisui's spiky hair blowing furiously. Sasuke had his mouth sealed and again his eyes closed. The grass around him move in one direction, the fresh air smacking them both. Shisui attempted to deduce his expression, but atlas Sasuke was a complete enigma. He was unpredictable and Shisui knew this all too well.
"Izumi, would she really do it?" He crushed his fingers, his voice coming out in a saddened tone one he'd not heard since Sasuke's yonder days. Not since Sasuke's days of innocence, when the boy wanted nothing more than to train with his sister. But that day, that specific day Izumi had been busy despite her promise to teach him the shuriken Jutsu. It was on that day that he remembered Sasuke sounding so crestfallen, so un-Sasuke. It reminded him of that day and brought those memories. In the end, Shisui had decided to train him instead, and Sasuke had returned to his normal state. Now, it was different; he was older and much less eager to listen to his elder cousin.
"Would she have really killed Father, Mother?" His eyes closed and Shisui could feel the emotion coming with every word, despite how much he tried to hold it back. "Me?" He finally said softly, letting air drop through his nose.
What was he to say? Would he lie to keep the boy's fading emotional stake intact, or would he tell the truth? He moved turning away from Sasuke for a moment.
"You don't sound like Sasuke right now." He began.
"Tell me!" He yelled this.
"Hear me Sasuke, I believe Izumi would have done what she believed was for the greater good. So, me, Fugaku, and Aunt Mikoto would probably have been...terminated..."
Sasuke's eyes held his the boy just stared, not particularly moving or doing anything otherwise. He held his head a bit downwards.
"...but you… I don't think she would have been able to bring herself."
His facial expression changed. "She would have killed everyone, including your parents, my parents and me her best friend if need be. But, you, she would never."
"But, why would I be exempt?" He shouted.
"Because you were just an innocent child, she's always had a soft spot for you even now. I believe Izumi would have spared you. Whatever that may mean in this twisted world of the shinobi, she would have left you alone."
The area became quiet. Shisui was allowing the younger Uchiha to absorb the information. He knew Izumi and the others would be growing impatient and would want to come confront the boy themselves. Sasuke cracked his neck, in one sideways motion, before turning his back completely on his cousin.
Shisui felt his throat burn. "Where are you going?", he stated, the form slowly walking into the forest.
"It's none of your business." Shisui ran towards Sasuke.
"What do you mean none of my business; you're just gonna walk away like that?"
"Yes, no one asked you to follow me anyway.", Sasuke stated, his eyes turned a crimson red as his head turned backwards, the shadows of the tree branches above covering his face back before finally the darkness consumed him. He disappeared, Shisui didn't follow. No, he just watched silently. It was out of his control, the boy needed to be by himself.
There was just a lot of things going on in the boy's head, Shisui concluded. He just needed to get some air and breath this all off.
A rustle of leaves and wind blowing notified the Genjutsu master of Izumi's arrival. She landed on her feet, instantly turning to Shisui.
"I let him go." Another breeze of wind blew by. "He's old enough to make his own decisions and fix his own internal conflict. We can try to help, but only he can fix himself. I think he'll get over it." Shisui told her, catching a green leaf in his hand.
"I see." She answered though she didn't seem too convinced.
"Izumi, Sasuke will be fine. Let him go burn off some chakra and I bet he'll be home for dinner.",
She was silent and Shisui placed his hands behind his head. "So he found out, huh? What happened exactly."
She moved a strand of hair from her eye, facing Shisui.
"After discovering about the relationship, he destroyed one of the walls with his Chidori and then assaulted Naruto."
He let out a long whistle. "Aunt Mikoto won't be happy."
She shook her head. "The damages will come out of Sasuke's paycheck."
"I should probably apologize to Naruto for all this." She stated, he could hear guilt in her voice. He could feel the group from earlier a short distance away.
"But later, when everyone else isn't present." Shisui nodded in agreement. She stood silent, in thought. Something Izumi did quite a lot and even excelled in, thinking. He knew her all too well, she was thinking.
"He asked about that mission. I'm sure you heard that already."
She didn't answer with words but her eyes were the only response needed.
"Figured there was more to this; he had asked the same question while on our mission.", he stopped remembering the masked shinobi from the mission, and his strange ability to manipulate space-time.
"While out there, we fought an Akatsuki who claimed to be Madara Uchiha." Izumi's expression changed completely. She gave him a questioning gaze. "Madara Uchiha?"
He confirmed with a nod. "We were able to fight him off, but couldn't successfully eliminate him. His abilities were unusual, one of which included a space-time ninjutsu, where no physical attacks could injury him. They'd just go through him."
"His claim is hard to believe, however, I've had history with him."
"What type?"
"He killed my teammate." For the second time, Shisui whistled. "You never told me the full story about that."
"It was never necessary.",
"What about now?"
He watched her consider this. "The details aren't necessary. While on a mission Tenma my Genin squad mate and I encountered him on a lonesome road. He confronted us, and refused to let us pass. Tenma stood against him and for that, his throat was split open, while I watched." She stated this closing her eyes. Shisui could only imagine the trauma that such a young mind had to experience. Izumi was possibly the youngest genin in history, and shinobi or not the trauma for a child to experience such a loss and such an unfortunate event directly before her eyes it was heart-wrenching
"I was spared. He said that one day I'd serve him and we'd meet again. And we did, eight years ago, when I had made my mind about the entire clan dilemma and I was prepared to take on the life of a shinobi serving the village from the shadows.",
Shisui curled his figures, that wouldn't have happened with him around. "I would have stopped Danzo before it got to that point. I wouldn't let him do that to my family. I'd do everything humanly possibly to keep you guys from a life of suffering.",
She gave a half grin. "I know you wouldn't, that's your ninja way."
He would have never let things get to the boiling point. He would have died before allowing Danzo to have his sick way. Even if it meant he had to use the Kotoamatsukami he would have stopped Danzo. He was prepared to let the village go to war nor would he sit back and lightly let his family become a victim of extermination like they were pests.
"This place is depressing. And I'm sure the group would like to hear more from us." She explained. Shisui nodded, though before they could leave, two figures appeared before them, their Animal masks covered by the shadows and the dying light of the sun.
"Uchiha-san." One greeted, directing his words only towards Izumi though. "You are requested by the council."
The council.
Izumi nodded. "Tell them I'll be there immediately." They disappeared and Izumi gazed at Shisui. "I'll see you after this is dealt with."
Shisui sighed. "Give them hell."
Here she was again.
"Uchiha-san." Homura greeted, extending his hand signaling her to sit. She complied and sat at the meeting table. He held a blank yet knowing gaze and Koharu remained silent.
"Something has come up and the position of Hokage must be decided. We need your answer immediately."
"What is this something?"
He turned to Koharu who nodded acknowledging that he could confirm.
"The Five Kage have been summoned for an Update on Ending Dawn."
"Word about the attack on the village has made the rest uneasy, they want to make adjustments, conditions, and updates.", Koharu added.
"With that said, we need your answer.",
She looked at both of them, eyeing them carefully, before pondering over everything. She honestly did meet the requirements in her own opinion. She was acknowledged by everyone, she was prompt, punctual and completed all her work in a timely manner. She could even possibly make a huge change in the world of shinobi, make things better for the little guy and aid the destruction of the Akatsuki. Naruto had said he didn't mind, and she believed she would learn the job rather quickly. She sat quietly hands folded and eyes closing.
It wasn't her dream, though.
It wasn't what she wanted.
It was his.
She opened his eyes and met the elders with her charcoal ones.
"I decline."
It was apparent that someone had been following him. At first, he had thought that it was Izumi, but he quickly dismissed this. She would have revealed herself by now. He wasn't in the best of moods, his head actually hurt and he just simply wished to be alone. Sasuke walked, making sure to keep himself as inconspicuous as possible. He moved without any direction in mind, his eyes forward as he walked. He could feel the eyes leaning in on him, coming closer. He wanted to believe that it was Naruto, Kakashi, Izumi or even Kakashi, but unfortunately, he had a feeling it was someone or something else. He instinctively grabbed onto the hilt of his Katana. He waited, the figure getting closer no noise could be heard from within the dark forest. He tightened his muscles and the grip on his weapon.
Sasuke made his move. In a blind motion, he appeared behind the figure within the branches of a tree, his sword wrapping around him. He held the Katana, the darkness keeping the figure's face concealed.
"I don't wanna be bothered." He said threateningly.
The figure remained still, not saying anything. He stared hard, his Sharingan activated. He inched the blade closer, the metal almost touching the figure's neck. "Right now would be a smart time to explain why you've been following me."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed as a deep monotone voice began to laugh. Sasuke held the sword closer, the voice familiar and put the young Uchiha on the balls of his feet. The figure shifted suddenly, and Sasuke instantly pressed the blade into his neck. The weapon passed through the man as if he were air, Sasuke jumped back at this. So, it was who he thought. He stepped into the light, allowing his orange mask to be visible.
"Still wearing the mask I see, coward.", Sasuke pointed his sword at him. A shadow fell over Sasuke, a tall figure landed behind him, adorned in blue skin.
"So, what business does Akatsuki have here?" Sasuke inquired calmly.
Kisame laughed, Sasuke could feel his sword looming heavily over his shoulder.
The self-proclaimed Madara Uchiha stepped forward. "A proposition."
*What's up with me, fighting scenes right and cliffhangers? I don't know, I was honestly just allowing my fingers to take full control of this story as it went on, so if anything feels or seems out of place, do tell me. I intend on keeping this portion of the story mellow and a slice of life portion, this chapter is probably the only exception and honestly just setup for the future. Maybe, I'll even include something for Sasuke and Sakura, but I don't want the focus to shift from the main couple. I'll think more about this more for later.
*Naruto Vs Sasuke. I just wanted to have them fight, I wanted to show Sasuke's emotion and anger. I wanted to really portray Sasuke as a stubborn, whiny bitch in this chapter. Not that I think he is for the most part, but here I wanted to give off that impression. Are his actions justified? You guys decide.
*Sasuke, Tobi and Kisame. No comment. :P
*Izumi declining the position of Hokage. *Deep Inhale* Honestly, I thought about this for a few months and it just isn't the type of ninja that Itachi would be. Sure, I feel as if he could have no longer evaded taking the position he would have taken it, but if it was his choice I believe he would have declined. Thus Izumi's choice. Also, you guys voted on the poll for Kakashi to take the position, which speaks for itself. So, there.
*I'm not sure if you guys like Modern day Naruto fanfics or anything that is weird, but I have a story by the name of The Hero Game. It's a Fem!Sasuke/Naruto High school kinda story; so, if you seem interested in it, you can go ahead check it out, it's weird and will be short.
*Anything you guys would like to see in the next chapter, dislikes about this chapter and what you liked about this chapter, leave a review. Go ahead, tell me how terrible of a writer/human I am if you wish, but please give a brief and solid explanation to justify your claim.
DEDICATION TO MY REVIEWERS of Chapter 21 (Bold for consistency.):
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*(if I missed your name it's because I'm an idiot.) LOL