…..
Chapter 17: There are Always Shadows
…..
Konan was brilliant as a spokesperson for the Akatsuki.
It's just what Obito wanted. She wasn't too eager, nor too hard-edged. She was kind but reserved, and no matter how overbearing negotiations got she never bowed down or cracked. She was agile in the council room, give her an hour and she had danced her way into a solid deal. Her magic was already working on Sunagakure's council. They pelted her with quick-fire questions, then proceeded to lean forward as if every answer that came out of her mouth was like honey.
"We'll be able to give you access to Shinobi supply lines without a Damiyo's co-sign or the inflated prices. Instead of relying on the Land of Fire, you could instead cut the third man out and open an account with us instead. You'd get manpower, top-grade weaponry, and at half the price."
"Most mercenary services provide a resume and history of clientele of some sort to prove their qualifications, yet yours does not have that?" Pressed a member, arching his brow at them.
"The Akatsuki has several connections to other Hidden Villages, of course," She smiled coyly. "We wouldn't jeopardize those relationships. If you're skeptical, however, you should know that there's a reason Village Hidden in the Stone has had some success lately."
Several of their eyes bulged as if several months-long mysteries about their stony neighbor's whereabouts were just cracked.
"Frankly, we are not living in very peaceful times. It may seem like that but I'm sure you are well aware of the issues that plague us. How can we ensure this relationship won't be corrupted?" Asked another, an older man with a long white beard. "What policies do you have in place for that?
"That's the best thing about our organization-we leave no trace behind. For that reason, moving forward, you don't know us and we don't know you. Our methods of practice are built on absolute secrecy. It's as if we don't exist."
"And what of your members? Aren't they all defectors? Traitors?" Sniffed one of the council elders.
"Speaking of that, it's impertinent for us to know-do you have anyone from our Village?" Asked another. "I'm not sure we can trust an organization that might be hiding one of our fugitives."
The room went silent, tensions stressing as all eyes went to the lavender kunoichi, waiting for her reaction. She then caught the eyes of Lady Chiyo, whose brow was set firm, lips thinning over her teeth. An older man beside her gently laid his hand on her shoulder, looking concerned. Ah. The Commander of the Puppets, the old woman had to have been close to Sasori. It was personal for her.
Konan leaned back, folding her arms, utterly composed and unaffected by the question. "If you need to know then you can go back to the drawing board and forget this deal. Our members are the best of the best, point blank. They shed their politics and their loyalties once they join. If we had to comply with villages and their petty post-war quarrels it would complicate everything. Our only goal is to fulfill our client's requests as quickly and discreetly as possible. You won't get that no-strings attached with any other service out there right now."
"Very well. Those are all the questions we had." The old man said decidedly, shutting his book. Quiet murmurings filled the room. Konan held her breath, watching them all with her head held high.
The council board looked satisfied with her answers. They all turned to the Kazekage who looked as if ten years had been lifted off his shoulders. He stood and pressed his palms on the table, facing the Akatsuki across the room, and nodded firmly. "Sounds like we have reached a deal."
Koga beamed from next to Rasa, thumbs-upping her. Konan blushed and tried to not look at the nin beside her, knowing he was probably glaring daggers at the man.
Konan bit her lip. She pressed her fist into her knee to keep her leg from bouncing anxiously. She just scored Sunagakure but she could hardly register it. The entire time it felt like a smoldering comet of angst that landed right into the chair next to her. Obito's dark mood practically leaked off his shoulders, she could hardly stand it.
With signatures, stamps, and handshakes the meeting had come to an end. Council people spilled out of the room, hurriedly making their way to their next government appointments. Konan took advantage of the moment and without saying a word, slinked out of the conference room and walked briskly to the bathroom, needing a moment to breathe.
She looked at herself in the mirror. She was relieved that the makeup she put on to hide the redness of her eyes had held during the meeting. The kunoichi smoothed her long hair over her neck in a futile attempt to hide the marks on her skin.
She exited the bathroom, only to suddenly run into another human.
She stumbled back and blinked at the man who appeared in front of her. Linen robes and white hair. "Koga-san!"
He turned around, surprised. "Sorry! Hey, congrats on the deal! We did it!"
"Thanks." She muttered. She peered over his shoulder to see if a certain someone had left the meeting room yet.
He studied her for a moment and realization crossed his expression. "Ahh, I see now."
Her eyes snapped back to him. "See what?" She asked dumbly.
He gave her a knowing look. "Why you turned me down the other night."
She frowned, giving herself away by tugging her hair back over her shoulder. "I don't know what you mean."
He grinned, motioning to his neck area. "You're fucking that guy. That's why he's been following you around like a puppy."
She narrowed her eyes. "He does not follow me around. And we're just comrades."
"Is that why you kept the love bites all over your neck? Showing off some good camaraderie?"
She scowled, then admitted begrudgingly, "It's complicated."
He shrugged, giving her a lopsided smile. "I should've figured you've already been taken. But ignore me, I'm just jealous. C'mon, I'm pretty sure the Fourth is ready to pop a bottle of sake."
She was slightly surprised at how easily he brushed it off, if not, a little grateful. She fell into step with him, and he changed the subject-rattling on about how impressed the council advisors were.
As they turned the corner Konan felt dismayed and satisfied. Satisfaction because she noticed the subtle way Obito went rigid as he saw them side by side. Dismay that he stood there with their packs. It felt like an avalanche of emotion plummeting in her stomach. She had no idea what her journey home would look like since everything changed so instantaneously.
"Time to go," Obito said curtly.
"Already?!" Exclaimed Koga.
Kazekage Rasa stood next to Obito, shooting his right hand a look before he inclined his head to Obito and Konan. "We look forward to our next steps, Akatsuki. Have a safe journey."
Obito turned away, clearly not keen on entertaining the Sand more than he needed to. Konan threw Koga an apologetic look. "We'll keep in touch."
Konan ran after Obito, zipping up her cloak. He tossed her pack. She flinched, barely being able to catch it. He didn't even want to come near her. She could feel the burn in her eyes but she steeled her resolve and shoved that feeling down deep within her.
She followed him out of Suna. It was in moments like these that she wished they never met. She wished she listened to Yahiko. To Nagato. She was foolish to go on this mission, she should've fought tooth and nail to stay in the Tower. What felt worse is that she was so desperate to fix things between them, to go back to how they were before skeletons got involved. Her hands closed into fists, and Konan glared at Obito's back.
Konan wished with every ounce of her being that she still hated him.
That would make everything so much easier.
…..
The Night Prior
…..
As Konan predicted, after their government-issued babysitter departed, Obito only lasted about five minutes before showing up at her door and slipping in. They both were anxious and buzzed from sake after carefully dancing around the Kazekage and his right hand.
He locked the door and turned to look at her, moving his mask to the side. He looked pissed. "Koga Kaii. What did he want?"
Those were not the words Konan wanted out of his mouth. if it were up to her she'd prefer no words at all. Just hands and teeth. She squared her shoulders. "He asked me back to his place but you came just in time."
"Just in time?" He didn't sound convinced.
She squinted at him. "Yes. You think I wanted to go with him?"
He shrugged. "You seemed receptive to him the whole night."
Her lips curled into a smile. She shook her head. "Are you serious? How long have you known me? I simply was being polite. The guy wouldn't let up though."
"If I didn't show up would you have gone with him?" His expression was cold, hard, as he searched her face with sincerity.
Oh my. She took a step near him, amused. He doesn't want to share his toy.
"You think after what you did to me in the cave I would entertain some mediocre man who makes lazy passes at me just to seal the deal between the Sand and the Akatsuki?"
His expression eased slightly at that. She let out a laugh. "Is that the report you wanted from me?"
He drew her into his arms, clutching her as if Koga would pop out any second to take her from him.
"I'm tired of these men bothering you." He said into her neck. He took her by the elbows, walking her backward until she hit the wall, her back coming into contact with cool adobe clay. She looked up, electricity shooting through her chakra system as his hands pressed the wall above her head, caging her in.
"You're telling me." She muttered dryly, watching him with trepidation. "It's a hazard of the job."
She inhaled sharply as he pressed against her, his pelvis grinding into hers. His hand skirted up her bare leg. She inhaled sharply as his teeth sank into her neck like a vampire laying claim to the sweet blood of his beautiful victim.
She was surprised. She wanted to be devoured but not literally! She pushed against his chest in an attempt to pause him but it was futile as his mouth trailed up the column of her throat, lips pressing against her pulse. She squeezed her eyes shut hoping he wouldn't feel her quickening heartbeat. "Obito-kun!"
She felt him smile against her skin, his hips digging further into hers. "You're mine. I need to let them know you're mine."
She did not think he was a possessive type by how detached he was. "I thought we were doing reports." She quipped, rolling her head back to give him better access.
His hand drifted upwards, pressing against the softness of her chest. "I told you we were going to play later."
"You didn't tell me you were going to play-ah! Rough!" He nipped her again.
"I've been thinking about things I wanna do to you." His voice dropped to a low, raspy register.
The fabric of her shirt was pulled away, the cold air biting at her chest. His eyes greedily took in the fullness of her breasts as his hands explored the soft flesh.
"You are perfect." He said. She didn't miss the darkness under his eyes, and his deeply magnetic stare beckoning her into an abyss far from her troubles. Possessive, Was all she could think as her skirt followed her shirt to the floor. She shivered in anticipation. Calloused fingers on her smooth thighs, tracing up her rounded hips in fascination. Unlike the darkness of the cave, their expressions laid bare in the blue-cast light of her room.
His lips slanted against hers. The opening to his strategic attack. Those wicked hands poised on her hips, fingers hooking her underwear. Pulling them free.
The curious sensation, as if he were a bird of prey and caught her in his talons. She languished in his power. Fire in his hands, trailing across her naked body. Inhalations and soft sighs were the only things to be heard.
A quiet moan escaped her lips as his fingers stroked the apex of her legs. Her muscles tightened, knees pressing as if she would fall.
He clutched her tightly, relentlessly pushing into her, tongue and hand. Kissing him made her go light as a threadbare cloud against a black sky.
Her desire wound impossibly tight. Forcing a paper to fold over once more even though it was pressed too tightly. The warmth of his fingers left her legs and she almost protested until he scooped her up, sweeping her from her feet, carrying her to her bed.
She landed on the lightweight bedding. Not wanting to be the only one laid bare, her hands went to his shirt, silently commanding him to strip.
He heeded her request, quickly peeling off his clothing. She made a move to turn off the light as he pulled off his pants. His hand came down on her calf.
His eyes crimson, he looked down at her in a warning. "Keep the light on. I want to see all of you."
Heat bloomed in her face but she obliged him. A man on the mission, kneeled over her. He bit her lips. Pulled her hair. She welcomed the beautiful, stinging sensation of pleasure and pain on the planes of her body.
Any hesitancy he had in the caves had vanished without a trace. This was an Uchiha after all. A hand ghosted along her inner thighs then vanished. She held her breath. The arrogance bled through his movements as he did it again. He was teasing her.
She hooked a leg against his hip to encourage him to revisit the mouth of her river of desire. He, a mountain that her water cut through. Lean, hard-edged muscles somehow fit perfectly against her curves.
Like the mastermind he was, his attack on her senses continued. His mouth left her clavicle, over the mounds of her breasts, trailing down, and down, and down.
She swallowed and shut her eyes.
No one-not even Yahiko-she sharply inhaled as she felt his breath ghost over her.
His tongue dipped between her folds and thighs pressed against his hands in retaliation. He pressed her down into the bed, mouth on her sex, drinking from the river of her lust as if he found an oasis in this forsaken desert.
Konan gasped. How had she not known of this divine torture? He savored her slowly, expertly lapping against her clit, sucking gently, as if she was a delicacy grown at the height of the season. She was picked by a man who was eager for her rare flavor and fuck it all, her wish came true, she was being devoured.
"Obito!" She gasped. She was clawing at his shoulders and back, squirming as the sensitive feeling wound upwards to new heights.
She could feel him smile against her, but rather than stop, his fingers dipped into her. She let out a yelp. It was too much-all too much-but everything she wanted and more. She ran her hands over her face, trembling against him. "I'm going to-I'm going to-"
She cried as she broke. Heat rushed through her like a crashing waterfall. Her chakra fizzled in her veins and she buzzed like a shooting star.
"Beautiful." He said. She opened her eyes, panting, watching with wild eyes as he licked his fingers, eyes glittering with smugness.
She wanted him inside her. She sat up, in the glow of her orgasm, pushing him down onto the bed in confidence. He let her, flipping them over with ease.
He looked up, amused at the sudden movement. "It's your turn to lose control." She purred, positioning herself over him.
His Sharingan spun hazily, taking in the image of her on top of him. He flinched as she sunk into him, gasping at the sweet pressure of him slowly sliding inside her. "Only for you." He muttered, hands gripping her hip bones, jerking his hips upwards.
She melted into the movements, throwing her head back, succumbing to their passionate battle of body and minds. Her body and his-it made her forget. Made her want to reforge her memories. They fit together like sinner and sin. A forbidden place that is meant to be explored.
Romance laced with bloodlust. The careful touch of skilled-shinobi hands. The free flow of chakra as skin pressed against skin. A power threading through them that ebbed and flowed as the worlds between them became a thin veil in the Land of the Wind.
…..
They both awoke at sunrise.
They both laid there silently, sweat and other bodily fluids dried on their skin, and their actions settled into their bones. His sake-soaked memories had faded into a light headache. He rubbed his temples. It felt like he had used his Sharingan all night long. Damn, he drank more than he cared for.
Obito felt torn between joy and regret. His conscious was suffering at the hands of his greed. He was terrified. Terrified of what they have done. When he saw the way that smiley Sand nin-fuck-face breathed down Konan's neck he was overcome in a blatant jealous rage. So much so, that he tore Konan's clothes off, wolfishly bit her, and licked her raw. Worse yet, she loved it.
He looked over at Konan. He gently touched the bruisings against her neck and she flinched. After an exhilarating marathon of sex, he could sense something was wrong. Her amber eyes looked watery. He could see the sadness hollowed out on her face, but he wasn't the type of man who would willingly unpack that, not that she would ever broach the subject of her inner turmoils. So instead, he blurted, "I can't make you happy, you know that right?"
Her eyebrows drew downwards. "I don't think anyone could ever make me happy, after Yahiko." She said venomously. "Especially not you."
"Don't fucking forget that." He snapped, nettled by her mention of Yahiko.
So that's what's gotten her in a knot of despair. She was guilty. Because of him.
His memory of his dream came back to him at that moment.
Yahiko scowled. "All you're going to do is put her in danger. And for what?"
"She can take care of herself."
"Is that what you said about Rin?" Yahiko's eyes fell downwards. Obito followed, feeling his knees buckled at the sight of Rin's body, bloodied and crumpled in the snow.
"That's how Konan feels about me. Every day. And you selfishly exploit her." He snarled.
"I don't like the way I feel after we have sex." She whispered, eyes downcast, pulling him from his tormenting thoughts.
A kunai into his heart. "I don't know how to respond to that."
It was a good thing, he reminded himself. Yes, please get the fuck away from me.
"It's best if this secret is left in Suna." He continued, hammering in the nails to the coffin. "I fear we've lost sight of the true peace and happiness we seek after. This is just a pathetic distraction."
"Well then," She sat up, her eyes shining with rage. "Next time you get horny, just hire someone from the Red Light area as the others do. I'm not your sex toy."
He would never see her as a means to an orgasmic end. But he couldn't tell her that. His scars throbbed, reminding him of the consequence of caring about someone. It was best to end things sooner or later than see her feel hurt-get even more hurt if they were ever caught.
"Gladly." He leaped out of bed, pulling his clothes on. Something sinister came over his senses. He felt the pull of his cursed bond. His face went blank, devoid of all emotion. His eyes tilted red. "Remember I'm your superior. Do well to fulfill your duties to the Akatsuki and nothing else. You can continue crying over Yahiko and wiping Nagato's ass for all I care. I have a world to rebuild."
"Fuck you!" She snarled, clutching the sheets tightly to her body, tears welling in her eyes. "Get out!"
When the door closed behind him his legs nearly gave out.
Relief. Relief and pain. He didn't plan on breaking it off this soon, but perhaps he was doing himself a favor. The sex had been so good he didn't think he'd be able to return to Amegakure the same man, fucking the country's beloved Paper Angel with not a single morsel of sympathy. And that, he could not afford to do. He knew eventually it would end. It was easier for her to hate him than fall in love with a demon.
He could suffer. He could hold his feelings in if that meant protecting her.
…..
The pair's journey back to Amegakure was accompanied by a strained silence. Konan focused on the push of her heels hitting against sand, the steadiness of her breath, and the hot desert air in her lungs. Yes, it was easier to run. That meant there was no room to speak. It gave her time to think about their fight at dawn, and what it all meant.
She was frustrated and confused and worst of all sorry for herself… He seemed eager to suddenly break their pact. She supposed she had no right to feel a certain way, it was, after all, just sex. It meant nothing right? It was an unhealthy distraction. Whatever it was between them, it's a poison shrouded as sweet nothings in darkness.
She knew he had an inner conflict about her, she could see it in his eyes and the slightly panicked look on his face as he traced over her figure numerous times. He was making a choice. He was choosing her over his ninja way. Choosing her over his sacred bond to Madara. That bond, curse, or whatever the hell it was, was the very force that drives the Akatuski to its success and survival. They were selfish to take that away.
Yet, she wasn't ready to be selfless in a life that has effectively ripped her heart out. She didn't want to mindlessly follow Obito-Madara-Tobi knowing that she was so close to the truth now, closer than ever to figuring out who he was, and what happened to him. Her curiosity persisted to forget it all. She simply knew too much.
She could at least try to neutralize things between them. It was quite difficult to ignore the truth in her own heart, beating like a hummingbird in her chest. Perhaps that fortune teller was onto something. Obito was becoming someone important to her, as scary as it was, it was also the most enthralling feeling she had felt in her entire life. He was as beautiful as he was terrible.
She touched her neck.
"You're mine. I need to let them know you're mine."
Had he not really meant it when he said that? Because she was starting to truly believe she did belong to him. She felt guilty, and betrayed for thinking of Yahiko in the morning. She didn't know if happiness would ever be on the table, but she didn't want happiness, she wanted Obito Uchiha.
They crossed the threshold of land and Suna's sands turned into trees and bramble. As they darted through the forest Obito suddenly paused. She slid to a stop, nearly running into his broad back.
She stilled, listening. All she could hear was the rustle of leaves in the wind and birds. She couldn't pick up on any chakra signatures nearby. "What is it? Is someone on our trail?" She said lowly.
He spun around. He tilted his mask up. Okay, something was wrong if he was doing that in the open. His face looked ashen, enraged. "You are fucking mine." He growled grabbing her shoulders.
She eyed him in surprise and suspicion. Did she say her thoughts aloud? But then she realized she didn't, by the expression on his face. His eyes were glazed over like he was living somewhere in his head.
She gently pushed against his wrists to ease his grip on her. "What's wrong?"
He simply shook his head, snatching his hands back as if he just realized what he was doing. "This-this all a mistake."
She frowned. "You made that very clear this morning."
He looked annoyed by that. "It's not like you disagree." He hissed. He then rubbed at his temples, cursing himself.
"I can't-" He ran his hand through his dark hair. For a moment he looked like a stressed kid in his early twenties. Like he had a Jonin exam he wasn't sure he was going to pass. Or his Hokage put him on a mission he didn't like.
She tried to imagine him as just that, a young shinobi back in the Leaf Village. Perhaps that's how they would have met, both encountering each other on an Inter-Village exam. Before she could stop herself she asked. "When you said you could never make me happy…Did something happen...when you left Konoha?"
He visibly flinched at that name. "Things that I don't ever want to repeat."
She swallowed. "Are you repeating those things with me?"
"Yes and no." His eyes drilled into a nearby tree, she couldn't read his face but his knuckles were white at his sides.
"You know you can tell me." She dared to whisper.
"I-" He paused as his voice cracked like his facade. He shook his head again. She noticed a flash of red in his eyes. "That's not a good idea."
She was desperate to get into his head. She was so close to his secrets. So, she pressed on. "You remember that fortune teller back at that haunted house?"
He remained silent, his back now turned to her but she continued. She knew he was listening.
She wrung her hands wishing she had a paper to fold, to ease the nerves of confessing this memory to him. "She had told me how I feared to have someone precious to me because I lost all my loved ones, save for Nagato. But I couldn't bear the thought of being alone. But what surprised me was that she said what I truly desired was a powerful man, someone who wouldn't die easily. Someone who could protect me. It's rather silly the way I rejected that notion even though it's true, deep down I always knew it was true. I thought Yahiko was indestructible but I was wrong. I vowed there would never be anyone else who has my heart but Obito," Her heart was pounding fiercely in her chest. She paused, her voice going feathery soft but confident in her conviction, "after this past year or so, that all changed. Because you took your mask off. I don't know what this is between us, but…I care about you. Immensely."
The forest drowned out the space between them as Konan held her breath, eyes trained on his broad shoulders. They then shook, and she realized with a swift punch in the gut, that he was laughing.
He heaved in his dark chuckle and turned slightly so she could see his profile, the aristocratic lines of his face tainted by a harsh twist of his mouth and maddening red eyes. As if he was disgusted. She jumped back.
Madara's voice rolled off his tongue as he spat, "You think I can protect you? Why are you even trying to pretend like there's something between us beyond a convenient fuck? I told you time and time again that there's nothing in this life for me. Even if there was…It's clear all you care about is Yahiko and how great of a leader he was. How much you fucking loved him, following him around everywhere you went, praising him like a god so much that your friend turned him into a puppet. It's laughable that I'd play a romance with you as Yahiko did. I don't have time for feelings and hand holding. If you miss having a boyfriend so much why don't you just go fuck your dead boyfriend's corpse? It's what everyone thinks you do anyways!"
She stumbled backward. A rush of horror and anger washed through her but before she could even open her mouth he whirled around to meet her head one, his eyes finally meeting hers-
And nausea hit her as she fell. Deep into his obsidian, blood-stained world.
Her head spun, and she opened her eyes to an alternate nightmare. She tilted her head up to see an angry red moon against a black sky. As she looked around she began to discern the landscape she ended, it looked like a war zone. It was not the concrete world she fell into that night Obito crashed into her in a drunken stupor.
She was on the ground, she tried to stand up but her legs felt like lead, so instead, she twisted her body, and that's when three figures came into her periphery.
One noticed her and strolled over. It was a man in historical shinobi clothing. He had long jet black hair and a cold smile.
"You are as lovely as he thinks," The shinobi said. At that moment she recognized him by his deep voice. Madara Uchiha.
"Obito has a bad habit of getting distracted." He said biliously. His fake smile vanished. "He was doing so good until he met you."
"Who are you?!" She demanded.
"You already know." He clipped.
"Why did you bring me here?" She demanded. "Where are we?"
"Ah, that was Obito's doing." His tone was purely condescending. "He wanted to show you why he serves me."
"Then you're a figment of his memory?"
"Not quite. It's a jutsu formed by the Uchiha ancestral bond that keeps us connected. We made a deal, you see, and when things get out of hand, I appear."
Ancestral bond? She blinked, the edges of her vision blurring. Why was this place so hazy?
"No matter all of that. Like always, I have to clean up his messes for him. Let me make this clear, girl, he doesn't care about you. He cares about Rin."
"Rin?" Who is Rin?
"Konan! Don't listen to him!" A boy's voice came from her right.
Startled, she looked over in dread. It was a boy, no older than twelve or thirteen, clutching a body in blood-tinged water. He looked mangled and small, swallowed in a cloak and strange white spores exploding from his collar. His dark hair draped over his face but she could see the fear. His body shaking, the blood dripping from his red eyes onto the face of the girl in his arms, whose eyes were open, lifeless. She had a feeling that was who Rin was.
Besides them, another boy lay in blood, one with silver hair.
"Wherever light strikes, there are always shadows." Madara said, watching the boy scream in sudden pain.
She stilled. She had heard those words long ago.
"Is that-?" She croaked, looking over at the boy. The one she recognized from the photo. She recognized all the teenagers. His squad from the Leaf.
"You are clever." Madara grabbed her chin hard, forcing her to look away and into his ancient eyes. "Us Uchiha have a great weakness. We succumb to it too easily, like my offspring here. We are destined for hatred and pain. You see, when an Uchiha experiences immense trauma, their brain releases a special form of chakra that affects the optic nerves. Thus, transforming the eyes into Sharingan. It is known as the eyes that reflect the heart."
Her mind raced, it came together in a devastating click of memories. She thought of all the times he looked at her, his eyes shifting black to red. His comments about his eyes being cursed. The reasons behind them are now more apparent in Madara's explanation. Hatred. For her. Or for how he felt about her.
"Obito's is a Curse of Hatred, born out of loss. These emotions drive a selfish want for peace, selfishness that initiates wars. And now, well, you are getting in the way of our dream, our true peace. There's only the Eye of the Moon and that's the only way it will ever be. We cannot afford his weakness for you. So now, we're going to kill you."
She paled on the "We".
Her vision blurred again, shifting between the image of Madara and Obito. They looked so similar, it's as if they have been one all along.
"We eliminated Yahiko when he posed a threat, and now you will follow. Obito's loyalty has broken, but no matter, you are simply an obstacle as your friend once was. A test of faith."
Her eyes burned. "What do you mean by Yahiko?!" She had been there that dark day. She had witnessed the scene unfold, and watched as Nagato plunged the blade into their best friend.
A violent stab in her head. A knife ripping through her thoughts, her memories, cutting through her like thick water. Yahiko committing suicide with Nagato's hands. Touching Obito for the first time. Nagato vomiting and passing out after accomplishing his first Path. Akatsuki's first victory. The freedom of Amegakure-all memories happy and sad blended and faded away with the brandishing of a cold katana. Pain. She screamed. Her heart pounded trying to fight back, but she found herself paralyzed.
She was trapped in the hypnotic copy wheel eye. She felt the sickening sensation of the Uchiha Patriarch siphoning her chakra like it was nothing. Like life was being sucked right out of her.
And then the needles came. Like thousands of senbon embedding themselves into her skin, into her chakra network. She could not tell how much time passed. Suddenly the senbon shower would vanish, and as she caught her breath, momentarily relieved, the storm of silver needles would commence all over again. And again.
Punishment in its cruelest form. This is why the Uchiha were the most feared in the Shinobi world. They were masters of creating nightmares. They trapped you in their worlds and tortured you in ways unknown to mortal men. She was being stripped of her humanity and wrung out in Madara's hell.
This is what Obito warned her about. Why he had been fighting so hard to protect her. To protect her against himself.
Her voice died out as she fell to the ground. She couldn't take it anymore. Her body stilled. Despite the world blackening around her, she forced her eyes open.
The world shook around her. She could see Madara sway and flicker as if he was a ghost.
A roar tore through the air. "Get out! Get out of me!"
A soft chuckle from an old man. "Foolish boy. You will come back to me as you always do."
"Leave her alone!"
The earth shook once more. The needling vanished and the lead feeling dissipated. She could not see the red and black landscape or Madara looming over her. The world went dark and quiet.
She breathed relief. This was it. Her demise. She closed her eyes, embracing the fading light. She wondered if Yahiko would be on the other side and if Nagato would ever forgive her.
…..
Author's note: I'M BACK BB! Thank you to all who have been following this story! *Teary eyed emoji here* Writing Fire&Paper was a reprieve for me during the pandemic. A lot has changed in my life now that we are all somewhat out in the world (while still dodging Covid variants) so I had to step away for a bit. Crazy how much time has passed, but I'm happy to be back to finish what I started since we are SO close to the end!
Thank you for the likes & reviews 3
-LL
