This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Naruto, which is trademarked by Masashi Kishimoto. Everything aside from the original characters are created from the wonderful mind of Kishimoto.
Most of the following unrecognizable are original characters of mine.
Comments, suggestions, criticism, even just simple messages are welcomes, please feel free to message me anytime.
Thanks for reading!
Chapter 28:
Unfortunately, their long awaited reunions must come to a quick end as Akihiko, Misaki and Itachi all had to prepare to leave for the conceal the remaining jinchuriki mission.
However, Misaki knew she had to resolve one more thing before the wars starts. So on the eve of their departure, Misaki waited on top of her father's face on the hokage cliff.
"It's so calm and peaceful, sort of hard to believe that war has come upon us. Ironic isn't it the calm before the storm" Misaki said feeling Sai's presence.
"I am not an expert, but I've read that it is pretty bold of a young woman to ask a man of the same age so late at night" Sai approached Misaki who was dazing off, staring at the clear, star filled skies. Misaki looked back at him with a smile.
"That is so like you to say," Misaki laughed and scootch over so Sai can sit next to her.
"We're leaving tomorrow, and I thought I'd speak to you, before I left" Misaki began. She closed her eyes and took her time, breathing in everything, processing how exactly she's going to break it down to Sai, ever since the night of the wedding, they never really broached the subject and now she owe it so Sai to explain what she's really feeling.
"I guess it's no secret already that we encountered Sasuke back then. All this time, I thought I was confused on how I felt for Sasuke, but I realized, it wasn't me being confused, it was me denying my feelings. It was me burying the pain and hardships my feelings may bring so ran away from it. But the truth is, I can't run anymore, and I the less I ran the more I realized the reality of my feelings, that I love him, that despite everything that has happened, I can still see the beauty and the good in him, because I still love him, I don't think I ever stopped loving him" Misaki told Sai, all the while carrying this painful, sad nostalgic and at the same time sweet smile, a perfect reflection of her feelings.
After her revelation, Misaki waited patiently and anxiously for Sai's response. Truth be told, Sai had been one of the straight knotted minds she had ever had the chance of knowing, and Misaki already considers him a treasured friend, as selfish as it may seem, she didn't want to lose him and his friendship.
"I think I already know," Sai looked to Misaki with a sad smile, like a genuinely sad smile. In a way as much as it hurts, as much as he hates the pain it brought he understood perfectly. Though he did not understand how Misaki could love someone such as Sasuke, he understood Misaki's feelings quite well.
"I know I'm not the best at interpreting the feelings behind the actions, but I think I understand. I get it you love Sasuke, you wouldn't be this affected if you don't feel as much" Sai explained, after a moment of silence.
"You know, you're a pretty amazing," Misaki began, bursting into fits of laughter, yet her eyes spilled tears.
"It's funny how you who was deprived of emotions for most of his life would understand how I feel. It was actually because of you that I amassed the strength to face my feelings. Seeing you struggle to learn as much as you can, even though knowing that it can still hurt you. You're amazing Sai, and someday, you'll find someone who's going to love you the way you deserve to be loved" Misaki said and hugged Sai before standing up and kissing his forehead goodnight.
Sai waited for Misaki to be completely gone, he himself finding solace in staring at the stars who he found was just as equally lonely as him. Sai smiled to himself as trickles of tears rolled down on his face. Sai placed a hand on his chest, over where his heart lay. He didn't have any heart diseases, and was in optimal health. So why does it feel like the muscles of his heart is contracting?
"I guess this is what heartbreak feels like"
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Misaki was the first one to arrive at the gates before sunrise, she was anxious to leave, thinking about how Naruto would feel when he finds out people are laying their lives out for him.
"War huh, I heard a lot of stories from jiji, never thought I'd see one in my life" Kazuhiko said leaning next to Misaki.
"Well, I guess the third would probably telling you that he'd never thought of the day the five great nations would work together to defeat one common enemy" Misaki threw back.
"Yeah, you're probably right" Kazuhiko ruffled his own hair in frustration.
"I've been up all night for days since preparations began, jiji had always prepared us for situations like this, and when the announcement came in, I thought, 'I can handle this, we've been prepped for this kind of thing,' but then when preparations began I can't help but to feel…" Kazuhiko paused, he didn't know how to verbalize his feeling without looking like an absolute coward.
"Afraid?" Misaki finished for him. Kazuhiko snapped his gaze towards Misaki, but in her eyes, there was no judgement, the usual mischievous streak that she always carried was absent.
"I'm sure everyone feels the same way, I know I do, the truth is I'm terrified beyond my years, so much that sometime I can almost feel the taste of fear in my mouth. But that's just the thing, I'm also afraid for Kaede, for Kakashi, for Naruto and for every single person. I remind myself that this war is to fight for those who can't fight for themselves, for those people who are innocent of the sins in which the world is being judged upon" Misaki comforted Kazuhiko by revealing her own fears at the same time telling him of the things that keep her going.
"I guess you're right, those who can fight have the responsibility to fight for those who can." Kazuhiko realized.
"This war, it's no secret that some who leave might never return, so if there is any time to do something you have been waiting for, now is the best time," Misaki hinted with a smile.
"I don't know what you're talking about" Kazuhiko looked away blushing.
"I'm sure there's a certain weapon's specialist who feels the same way" Misaki said, Kazuhiko blushed harder but later sighed in defeat.
"I know that, it's just that what if I tell her now, and be unable to keep my promise then" Kazuhiko said.
"Then let it be something to add to the reasons you are fighting for" Misaki countered.
"Well, you're not off the hook either, what happened to you and Sai?" Kazuhiko threw the issue back to Misaki.
"I talked to him last night,"
"And?"
"And I rejected him. To be honest, Sai is not difficult to love, he is earnest and forward, innocent yet playful, but it would be unfair, for the both of us. To selfishly claim his love when I myself cannot return this love" Misaki shared.
"What I'd give to be young and carefree once more" Kazuhiko sighed, patting Misaki's head, the only comforting gesture he can muster.
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"You must rest for a whole, it takes some time to become accustomed to the mangekyou. Are you in pain?" Obito asked, the transplant of itachi's eyes into Sasuke's was a success, although he was quite disappointed to find that he was only able to salvage one as amaterasu had already taken most of Itachi's body by the time he got there.
"It feels right, I can feel Itachi's visual prowess, I can feel myself getting stronger" Sasuke felt his covered eye. Yet as the very essence of his brother now accompanied him as a part of him, Sasuke could not help but think back to Misaki and to Naruto. Their words, did they truly mean what they said, he was no fool, he could see the insanity of claiming to love a person, but standing against them and what they need to do, but their words, what idiot would tell the person the truth of stopping them, what fool would out right tell the person they love them and then tell them that they are going to stand in their way.
Tobi waited patiently, he has been waiting to do this for sometime now, and now just maybe the best possible time. Sasuke was weak and post operational, probably still adjusting with the transplant.
Sasuke began to stand, he needed to go to Konoha, he needed to finish his mission, to restore the name of the Uchiha will come first and foremost, he needs to….
Or those he? Sasuke might not admit it outright, but he cannot cipher his urge to return to Konoha, was it to destroy or was it to go back to it? All he knew is that he needed to go back to Konoha.
But as soon as Sasuke lifted his eyes, locking with Tobi's mangekyou sharingan, he knew there was something up this shady character's sleeve.
But by the time he realized it, he was already in too late.
"Rest" Tobi's deep voice echoed in his head until darkness consumed him.
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Inside Sasuke's tsukiyomi
"Sasuke, Sasuke, are you alright?" Sasuke groaned as someone nudged him awake.
"That damn Madara, using sharingan on me while I am weak" Sasuke cursed internally, raising his fist to attack before he even opened his eyes." he open his eyes, but he was quickly subdued, turned and shoved down into the ground.
"I heard from father you just came home from training, didn't expect you to be training the moment you return though" Itachi said offering his hand.
"What's the matter ototo, hit your head too much you're talking rubbish" Itachi flicked Sasuke's forehead, and with it were his memories, of Itachi and him, of his whole childhood.
"Let's go, we don't want to upset mother if we're late for dinner" Itachi began to walk away from a stunned Sasuke.
"It's but a simple test Sasuke, do what you know what you have to do, there's no other way, " Tobi's voice echoed around him, or was it in his head, in the end Sasuke decided to follow his brother against everything.
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'Damn it the longer I stay here, the more-' Sasuke's own thoughts were cut off when Fugaku chose this moment to speak his mind.
"I've already read Shisui's reports, you have grown quite outstandingly Sasuke," Fugaku began, then paused to take a bite out of his dinner.
"But training is one thing, I want you to prove yourself, I will put you as the new lieutenant of the Police force, do not disappoint" Fugaku finished and continued eating. Sasuke clenched his hands, if only he knew what he can do now, slowly the urge to leave this place began to turn to making his father see his strength.
"Excuse me" a female voice knocked on the door before opening it and in came the red headed girl their family was so intimate with.
"Misaki, it's wonderful of you to join us, did you come to visit Sasuke, wait let me set a place for you so you can join us for dinner" Mikoto began to stand but Misaki held up a hand and smiled.
"I'm sorry Mikoto-san, but I'm afraid I'm here on official business. I need to speak with Fugaku-taicho, but since I've interrupted you dinner, I'll go wait outside. It's nice to see you again Sasuke-kun" Misaki apologized with a smile. Sasuke looked up to Misaki, who just referred to him politely, too politely. The Misaki he knew had not used honorifics on his name since they were children.
"Nonsense, we'll talk as soon as we're done eating, join us for dinner," Fugaku invited.
"Well, if you insist, sorry for the intrusion" Misaki entered the room, sitting between Sasuke and Itachi, where Mikoto placed her utensils and food. Sasuke stared at Misaki from the moment she entered the room until she was sat down comfortably beside him.
"Is something wrong Sasuke-kun" Misaki asked, not this Misaki asked, because the Misaki he knew wouldn't even need to ask him what's wrong.
"Misaki, I heard you refused promotion as a anbu captain once again" Fugaku began asked.
"I knew I was going to be asked that, you always go straight to the point taichou" Misaki slumped her shoulders, trying to hide her embarrassment with a smile.
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rest he didn't as he spent his time all night thinking of ways to escape this place as soon as possible.
"Are you still mad?" Itachi's distant voice interrupted his thoughts but his words weren't meant for him at all. Sasuke looked out his window to find Itachi and Misaki in the garden, standing face to face, a little too close for friends.
"It's unfair you know I can't stay mad at you" Misaki crossed her arms and looked away, leaning against a tree.
"You know I'm only doing what's best for you" Itachi raised a hand to caress Misaki's cheek.
"I know that, but the missions are getting more and more dangerous, the akatsuki are going stronger each day. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you out there, i wouldn't be able to live with myself, i" Itachi took Misaki in his embrace, wrapping his hand around her tightly, comforting all her fears away.
Sasuke's knuckles turned white as his body began to shake with rage, white hot and still growing, he felt everything burst in him with what happened next.
Itachi broke their hug, but Misaki's arms remained in place albeit loosely. Itachi brought both his hands on Misaki's face, initially wiping the tears from her face, but it's as if the moment itself had taken control of their actions, they leaned in towards each other, like magnets who have no choice but gravitate towards the other.
itachi's lips caressed Misaki's lightly, innocently at first but the longer they stayed together the passion began to build and no longer was their kiss something an innocent mind should see. Misaki wrapped her arms around Itachi's neck as his arms found their way around her waist, caressing each other, wanting to be closer to each other, trying so hard to be as one.
The world around them began to melt and in that moment, they didn't give a care about anything else but their partner, not wanting it to end and not planning on ending anything, anytime soon.
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Just his luck when he found Itachi and Misaki in their anbu uniforms, they were just about to leave when the ruckus of men following him caught their attention.
"Oh, Sasuke, good morning how did you sleep on your first night home?" Misaki greeted, but before he can answer, not that he was planning to, Itachi leaned in and whispered something in her ear. That's when her face fell.
"What's going on here?" Fugaku asked his child who was being followed by a disorderly squadron.
"If you can't even handle this much men, how do you expect me to leave the police force to you" Fugaku scolded.
"Fugaku-taichou, I think he's just adjusting, please give it time, I'm sure Sasuke will excel just fine" Misaki calmed Fugaku who sighed giving in.
"I trust your judgement, but if he screws up, you and Itachi are obliged to clean after him" Fugaku ordered and the couple bowed their affirmations.
"Well, if that is the case, go on you still have an important mission to go to" Fugaku dismissed them and with that Misaki and Itachi wore their masks before leaving in a puff of smoke.
Fugaku gave one last look at Sasuke before leaving to cater to his own devices. Sasuke clenched his fists in anger.
"I'll show you" Sasuke muttered and faced his men.
One day whilst him and his squad were doing their rounds, he came across Itachi and Misaki in front of the closed dango stand, Itachi's favorite dango stand.
"Oh it's you Sasuke, how are things settling in?" Itachi's down ridden face perked up the moment he saw his little brother.
"It's been pretty great under Sasuke-san's leadership, konoha's crime rate dropped down" the squad leader bragged.
"I guess that's great Sasuke-kun" Misaki complimented with a smile.
"Didn't know you were already home" Sasuke snapped, the very first time he chose to spoke with these fakes.
"Yow, what are you guys doing here?" Kakashi with a blonde little boy on his shoulder together with Kaede carrying a white haired baby girl approached them, successfully cutting the tension.
"Kaede-baa, Kakashi-jii, we were just about to get dango, but the store is closed" Misaki answered.
"Oh, perfect timing, I just made too many dangos and I can't let little Haruto finish it all up" Kaede motioned for his eldest little boy on top of Kakashi's shoulders.
"I told you, it's alright for him to grow a little pudgy he is a growing child" Kakashi sighed.
"That's easy for you to say, what if he ends up like me and get bullied? I don't know what I'd do if someone made my precious little boy cry" Kaede whined.
"Seriously Kaede, you worry to much, that being said, you are going to come, Sasuke, why don't come too, you can even help Itachi and Misaki with -" Misaki didn't let Kakashi finish as she stepped on his foot.
"We haven't told him yet" Misaki whispered to a Kakashi's whose soul has left his body with the pain.
"Why not? I mean it's no secret almost everyone in the whole village knows already" Kaede asked.
"It's just that, we haven't had the chance to tell him" Itachi explained.
"Stop talking about me like I'm not even present" Sasuke stepped forth from his squad and towards their small group. Head high, like a hawk flying above everyone else.
"And whatever relationship Misaki may have with Itachi is none of my concern, I don't care about them" Sasuke told them all off before going on his merry way.
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The people sat their drove a chill through his body, his parents, Itachi, Misaki, the fourth hokage and his wife, together with Kakashi and Kaede all sat patiently waiting for him to do the same.
"Sasuke, sit down, we have much to discuss" Fuugaku ordered his son to sit next to his older brother.
"Thank you for coming on such a short notice Sasuke-kun" Minato greeted him with a gentle smile.
"Why have I been summoned?" Sasuke asked irritated that everyone is treating him like a fragile little porcelain child, ready to break at any given moment.
"Anata, don't you think it's best to just break the news?" Kushina whispered to Minato.
"Probably so, Fugaku-san" Minato looked to the clan elder who nodded his affirmation.
"Sasuke, we invited you in respect of being the member of your family, and also Itachi wanted his little brother to be present at such an important event in her life" Minato explained.
"What event?" Sasuke asked getting even more irritated by the minute.
"They are here to discuss Itachi's proposal to Misaki" Fugaku broke the news, leave it to him to just rip the kunai out of the wound.
"They are here to discuss the wedding preparations, also starting from now, Misaki will be living with us to learn the clan's ways from Mikoto" Fugaku continued, with Mikoto's hand to halt him, urging him to be more mindful of Sasuke's feelings.
"Hmm, this doesn't concern me" Sasuke said under his breath and left without another word.
"Sasuke" Itachi tried to follow him, but Kakashi stopped him.
"He's probably too angry at you right now, I'll go" Kakashi left everyone to their discussions.
"I wonder what's gotten into him" Misaki whispered, and Itachi comforted her, pulling her in his arms.
"You know, for someone who told everyone he doesn't care, you're pretty angry" Kakashi approached Sasuke, who had nearly turned the whole uneven area into a valley in his anger. Sasuke wasn't thinking, all he knew was he was boiling mad and a target had just approached him.
"Whoah" Kakashi dodged attack after blind attack, but he didn't do anything to stop Sasuke, after all, he'd probably be just as angry if he found out that Kaede is engaged to another man, let alone his own brother. Once Kakashi was confident Sasuke had tired himself, he grabbed him by the wrist and pulled his wrists behind his back, before slamming him front first on the ground.
"Sasuke,calm down," Kakashi subdued Sasuke, yet still the younger man squirmed.
Sasuke had experienced pain and rage, he was so well acquainted with the feeling that some might say he welcomes, no he revels in it. But this feeling, it was gnawing him, eating him from the inside, making him want to rip his heart out of his chest,
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"Were you followed?" A masked figure in the entrance of the hideout greeted a hooded figure.
"Don't make me laugh" the figure laughed
"Cocky as ever" the masked guard removed his mask, revealing himself as Sai.
"Misaki, you've arrived, fast as ever" Danzo approached his two agents.
"Danzo-sama, I came to report my progress" the hooded figure bowed before the elder of Konohagakure.
"I heard you were officially welcomed today inside the Uchiha household, impressive" Danzo congratulated.
"The mission did not prove to be difficult when their precious prodigy and future leader is in love with you" the figure shrugged, pulling down her hood to reveal her face.
"Yes, yes, I believe congratulations are in order"
"No need for it Danzo-sama I won't be staying married for that long"
"Good, remember to keep our objectives in mind, it will do no harm to be distracted at this point, speaking of distractions, I heard that the younger Uchiha has not taken the news so well" Danzo said.
"It's a welcome distraction Danzo-sama, with Sasuke going berserk, his family is too busy watching out for him to notice what I am up to" Misaki explained.
"Well, in that case, give him something to be very angry about"
"As you wish Danzo-sama" Misaki bowed and left, as Misaki vacated the area, she smiled.
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Misaki felt the presence before she even heard its approach, she smirked internally. Misaka almost knew it would come to this, that Sasuke's anger would bring him to her.
"Sasuke, what brings you here?" Misaki asked innocently, standing up to face him.
Sasuke drew his sword and without another word infused chidori on its blade and attacked Misaki. Misaki was able create a katana from her unique adamantine chakra to meet Sasuke's attack strike per strike.
"what's gotten into you?" Misaki asked as their battle took a pause.
"Stop acting like a fool, you may have made everyone fall into your charade, but you can't fool me" Sasuke gritted his teeth in anger.
"Sasuke what are you talking about" Misaki asked, Sasuke chose not to answer and began attacking Misaki once again.
"Enough with your charades, what were you doing with Danzo?" Sasuke interrogated, Misaki's face fell head beginning to hung low. Sasuke's frown deepened at the sight of a defeated Misaki.
"Are you plotting to kill the Uchihas?!" Sasuke pointed his katana towards Misaki, demanding for answers. Misaki looked at him, arms falling limp. Sasuke's frown deepened, he was supposed to feel victorious, he solved Tobi's puzzle, figured out the fraud and could be free at any moment now.
So why does his heart, instead of feeling victorious, feel sullen, like he didn't win at all.
"How did you find out?" Misaki asked, her voice barely above a whisper, but clear as day to Sasuke, who was fighting every urge to comfort her an ease her pain.
"Sasuke, I-I" Misaki stuttered.
"Save your apologies, it's over" it was only after he finished his sentence did Sasuke realize the audacity of what he was about to do. He was going to kill her before she could kill his family, then Tobi would release him from this prison.
Then a flash of Misaki's face, pale with blood running down her chin as she coughed out blood. Followed by the image of her motionless figure lying on a pool of her own blood, as her blood drenched hand reached out for him, eyes singing nothing but songs of forgiveness towards him.
Sasuke's grip on her sword began to falter, as his hand, no his body began to shake, something that he would not allow to happen in the real world, but that's just it, this isn't real, this world is fake, his family is fake, and this Misaki is fake.
So why couldn't he just kill her?
Sasuke sheathed his katana and turned his back to Misaki who was still standing with shoulder slumped and head hung low.
"I'll report this to my father, and the hokage, they'll deal with you" Sasuke could not believe his own words even as he had walked away a few paces.
That's when Misaki began to shake…
With laughter.
"I don't know where you get that idea, but you're not wrong. You really think they'd believe you? It's my word, the genius daughter of the noble hokage, happily engaged to your brother, against yours, a underdog sibling with anger issues, unable to get over to the reality that the person he loves is engaged to his brother" One moment Misaki was a good ten meters away from him, comparing their credibility, the next she was at Sasuke's throat, with him barely pulling out his sword.
But that's just the thing, he barely pulled out his sword, leaving Misaki to collide with his sword.
Deja Vu?
But the smirk on Misaki's face when she removed her body from his katana, told him it wasn't over yet.
"Now tell, how you supposed to convince the world now when you just stabbed your brother's fiance, the daughter of the village's beloved hokage?" Misaki challenged before passing out in his arms, making him drop his sword.
"SASUKE!" Itachi's voice urged him to turn around, and Itachi's eyes instantly turned into blood read the moment he saw Misaki's bloody and unconscious form in Sasuke's arms,
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"What have you done now Sasuke?" Fugaku approached his son who just woke up.
"We're lying on a political crisis here ever since the attack of the kyuubi, we were only lucky that Itachi and Misaki's relationship was enough to pacify the village's suspicions of an uprise, now you try to kill the hokage's daughter. Do you have any idea the grief we have received when people found out what happened to Misaki, just a few days after your arrival and moments away from announcing their engagement into the public" Fugaku growled at Sasuke, but Sasuke remained silent, looking to his eyes, albeit cleaned already still felt stained by blood.
He knew what he had to do, and what he didn't know is why he was waiting here for.
He knew what he had to do, he had to do it.
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When he got there, however, Sasuke hesitated to open the door and when he got it, his heart sank at the sight.
There lay Misaki, almost lifeless, if it wasn't for the monitor that indicated her heart beat, but without the mission protruding her body, she could have been as good as dead. Skin pale, chest barely moving to breath and her hair, her vibrant hair looked dull and lifeless.
Sasuke moved forward.
Chidori would be too noisy, Sasuke took out a kunai and pointed the kunai at he neck, his hands shaking, his eyes blinded by their memories together, her smilesh her touch, her kiss…
but before he can even plunge the blade through her neck, the Misaki before him disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Sasuke's eyes widened, horrified to realize the error in his movements.
Misaki didn't let herself be injured so he can get contained, she injured herself so the Uchihas would be distracted.
Giving her the window to finish her mission…
Sasuke broke through the window and out of the hospital, running as fast as he can towards home, dreading to find a familiar image in his mind, an image he can no longer forget, that night of his childhood. No he won't let it happen to him, not again and not in this fake world that Tobi created in his head.
Halfway through there, Sasuke witnessed an earth shattering explosion of lightning, a lightning that seemingly burst through from the ground, but before it can go any further, golden glass like sheets enveloped the area, concentrating the sheer destruction in just one place.
The very place he was headed to.
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The fall of Itachi's body on the ground happened so slowly and soundlessly. Yet his brother, even in his death smiled upon his beloved's face, a loving and forgiving smile of farewell.
Suddenly all that Sasuke can hear was the sound of his heartbeat quickening and the taunting voice of Tobi at the back of his mind, begging for his attention.
"You know what to do. Perhaps you're thinking of this being a fake world, making it easier to dispose of her. Yoh want to know something, this is exactly what could have happened if the hokage didn't die the night that he died. Misaki would have been their murderer instead of Itachi, if you had made sure to kill her in the first place, this would not have happened, think about it Sasuke" Tobi's voice repeated over and over in a form of echo reverberating in his ears.
His body acted on its own, his eyes, turning blood red, forming a unique pattern of mangekuyou, then chakra began to form in his hand and the familiar heat of lightning of his noisy chidori makes. Not waiting for another moment Sasuke burst forth from his place towards Misaki, who was able to turn just in time to meet Sasuke face on.
"Didn't think you had it in you, especially when you purposely missed everything important with your earlier attack" Misaki said as blood began to pour from her mouth, her eyes, her once bright blue eyes were now dull and lifeless.
"Congratulations Sasuke you finally did it this time." Misaki finished as she struggled to catch her breath in between her pants and blood.
Sasuke who had been in a trancelike state, realized the change of warmth in his hands. Not anymore did the heated wind of chidori grazed his hand, instead he felt his hand being blanketed in a warm thick substance. Only then did he come to realize his hand embedded deep into Misaki's chest, holding onto her beating heart.
"I told you then you'll always have my heart, funny how real it would be today, Goodbye Sasuke" Misaki finally took her last breath and weakly pushed herself out of his grasp, painfully leaving her heart in Sasuke's hands.
A screech behind him caught his attention and there behind him was the entirety of the village, headed by Minato, Kushina, Kakashi and Kaede.
"What have you done your own family!" Kaede accused, Sasuke looked around him and looked at his hand, wherein the heart of Misaki lay.
"Oh dear god Misaki" Kushina cried into Minato's arms.
"Kill him kill him kill the cursed boy" every single villager chanted and boxing him in. Slowly the blood on his hands began to thicken and expand at a very rapid rate, drowning the villagers, drowning him, until he was consumed in nothing but red.
Red, is the color of passion, it's the color of desire and love, yet at the same time, it's the color of despise, of rage, of anger…
...of HATE...
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"I didn't think this ship ride would be so eventful" Itachi, covered in his disguise as Ryoutaro commented as their ship sailed through the fog.
"Didn't think it would take this long" Akihiko dead panned beside Itachi.
"Then tell me straight in my face that you didn't enjoy, especially that special herb picking with Sakura that took a little too long" Misaki sat in on the rails right next to the other side of Itachi.
"I'm not getting your point Misaki, you're speaking vague" Akihiko snapped, facing the other way to hide his blush as he crossed his arms.
Misaki giggled lightly, hiding behind Itachi's back.
"We're here" one of their crewmates from Kumogakure announces. Poor Naruto, who was the only person what the destination looked like, expected the island paradise the the great toad sage described.
Leave it to him to forget about the fact that the great toad sage also mentioned for frogs at the end of his sentence.
"What is this place" Akihiko has paled at the sight of the spiked island that came into comparison to Konoha's forest of death.
Misaki and Itachi both raised and eyebrow at their companion.
"Weren't you listening during briefing" Itachi asked amused.
"No, all the while I was listening to Naruto and his rant about finding and octopus to help him in an island paradise" Akihiko complained rubbing his perfect hair.
"So this is what happens when two stubborn block heads together" Yamato sighed scratching his head leaning against the railing next to Misaki.
"How is Gai-san?" Itachi asked, which surprised Yamato, who was still adjusting to being in remotely civilized with a person who was on top of his bingo book for years. Both Itachi and Misaki looked at him expectantly making him sweat and blush.
"He's okay, still a little seasick, but he's getting by" Yamato stuttered.
"I see that's great, maybe I'll give him another shot of Kazumi's draught later, to help him" Misaki said, after that Yamato didn't take long by their side to check on his ward.
"Now come to think of it, now that the island is visible, it's quite rare that he hasn't appeared of yet" Misaki looked around, looking for something.
"Who hasn't appeared yet?" Itachi asked, but Misaki didn't find the need to answer since giant tentacles began protruding out of the water.
Everyone, including the men from Kumogakure began to panic, except for Misaki, who was already familiar with the creature, Itachi who was more amused than anything else and Naruto who was glad to welcome any creature that looks remotely like an octopus.
Unfortunately, this was a squid, a giant squid that was dead set on squishing their boat.
"Is it just me, or are we supposed to be doing something" Itachi leaned down to whisper to Misaki's ear, who was having the time of her life watching.
"Nah, he'll take care of it" Misaki waved off his worry.
"You know I kinda liked it better when I was the mysterious one" Itachi sighed.
"You had years of being mysterious ahead of me, I'm just returning the favor" Misaki stuck her out at him playfully.
Another set of tentacles emerged, only instead of anything remotely normal, the creature had a bull for a head, once again, Itachi was too much left for words to even feel afraid.
"TAKO!" Naruto exclaimed gleefully, counting the tails and realizing that this time, despite appearances, is an octopus.
The it slowly morphed, like it was being sucked into something that landed on the floor of their ship.
"Is that?" Itachi asked.
"The one and the same, the hachibi jinchuriki, Killer Bee" Misaki introduced approaching the old man as he took notes of Naruto's linguistic slur in his rhyme notebook.
"It's Misaki yow/Kunoichi from Konoha yow/It's nice to see yow" Bee rapped greeting Misaki, making her sweat drop.
"It's nice to see you too Bee-san" Misaki bumped fist with him with a smile.
"This my friend" Misaki introduced Itachi, who mimicked Misaki's greeting. For a quite some time Misaki waited with bated breath as the two interacted, it was only when Bee broke away, still carrying his usual happy demeanor did Misaki calmed down, at the same time making her wonder what he saw inside of Itachi.
"Why don't you guys go ahead and get some rest, we'll meet with the others" Misaki whispered to Yamato who nodded in response.
"Who I've been dying for a real bed! Being in this ship ruined my back, I know, maybe I'll take a nap before dinner" Akihiko stretched in glee, already beginning to follow after Motoi and the others, if he wasn't held back with Itachi keeping him in place by holding on to his collar.
"Aki, work begins for the three of us the moment we set foot on the island" Misaki reminded, resulting to a crestfallen look appearing on Akihiko's face.
"Don't worry, I'm sure once the barrier is erected you can eat as much food you want" Misaki cheered.
"That's because we both need our energy in check once the barriers are up" Akihiko deadpanned before sulking all the way to the barrier squad.
"Well, he does have a point, ones the barrier is erected, it would consume a lot of your chakra, you'd be vulnerable" Itachi worried over Misaki who only gave him a smile.
"You know these are things we have to do, for those we love" Misaki remarked before walking away, following after Akihiko.
"Hey, Aki, you do know you're going the wrong way right?" Misaki informed, earning a growl from the exasperated young man.
Itachi watched Misaki, ever since the proclamation of this war, she has been reserved and out of sorts, often times staring into blank spaces more so than usual, Itachi is familiar with this predicament all too well, as if he was seeing himself in Misaki back when he was going through probably the hardest thing he had to do.
"Hey dude, you coming or not?" Akihiko called out, snapping him out of his trance.
Once they arrived with at the destination, they werereceived welcomed with mixed emotions, but doubt, reigned as the dominant emotion, and that was well taken, after all, this was Kumogakure's elite barrier team that was hand picked by the kages to place the barrier around the island.
"Um, excuse me, we are the sealing and barrier team from Konohagakure" Misaki stepped forward, endorsing their team to the significantly larger one.
"Welcome, sealing team from Konohagakure, don't mind me asking, but isn't your team a little small, but no matter, we the elite barrier team of Kumogakure will handle it" the captain boastully brushed them off.
"Listen up old man-" Akihiko marched towards the captain, nerves popping on his forehead, but Misaki slapped her hand over his mouth to shut him up, an angelic smile plastered on her face.
"We would be honored to offer any kind of assistance to the elite barrier team of Kumogakure" Misaki smiled eerily, making Itachi chuckle.
"Sure, why don't you guys set up the outermost barrier, I'm sure it won't be needed as much since our team has already set up a pretty decent barricade" the captain said, in a tone that suggested he is going easy on the team.
"Please don't over exert yourself Misaki" Itachi fussed, he knew how Misaki's reaction to being underestimated.
She like proving them wrong.
"Don't worry, I don't think I need to" Misaki smirked, standing straight, as she focused on creating her hand seals.
"Fuin: Impenetrable Pillars" Misaki slammed her palms on the ground and from where she stood golden pillars burst from the ground surrounding the island. Everyone gasped and yelped as the earth quaked at the appearance of Misaki's pillars, the sheer power shaking the island from its grounds. Once the pillars stood at their fullest glory, Misaki finished her hand seals.
"Seal" Misaki said finishing her hand seals, the pillars releasing blankets and blankets of translucent golden chakra connecting themselves to one another.
"Oh please, check this out" Akihiko rolled his eyes and performed his own set of hand seals.
"Ninpou: Sacred Art of Illusion" Akihiko finished by slamming his palm on the ground, wrapping
Misaki's barrier in a shroud of illusionary trees and grass, as if the very place i an extension of the forest. If it wasn't for Itachi's amazement at seeing two powerful techniques from two nearly extinct clans, he'd have stopped them midway.
Wordlessly, the group of three bowed to their superiors and walked away.
"Tse, that'll show them, now let's go get something to it before I pass out" Akihiko fell flat on his face the moment he was out of range. Itachi sighed and wrapped Akihiko's arm on his shoulders to support him.
"Let's go Misaki," Itachi urged the red head only to find her sitting by a tree.
"Actually, that display also took a lot of toll on my body, so is it okay if we rest for a bit" Misaki smiled rubbing the back of her head, before falling in a soft slumber.
"I told you not to overexert yourself" Itachi sighed and placed Akihiko next to Misaki who immediately laid on the soft grass to take a nap.
"Seriously these guys" Itachi sat by them, waiting and watching.
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"Looks like I we were just in time" Misaki and Itachi just arrived, joining Killer Bee, Yamato and Motoi as they watched Naruto and his trial before the waterfall of truth.
"How's his training going?" Misaki asked Yamato.
"Not good, Naruto couldn't, it seems that Naruto couldn't finish the challenge of the waterfall" Yamato explained.
"Well, it's not really an easy feat, I remember how mine was" Misaki whispered, remembering the time wherein she faced the same adversaries.
"How long did it take you to finish the test?" Yamato asked.
"I didn't " Misaki answered, nonchalantly, Yamato's jaw fell in dread, wondering how Naruto will ever finish his task.
"Don't worry, I'm sure he'll be fine" Misaki assured the captain as she too waited in bathed breath for Naruto's results.
A few moments later, to everyone's surprise and relief, Naruto opened his eyes, smiling at his audience, his eyes clearer that it has ever been, making Misaki smile at her twin, her heart swelling with pride.
"It all went well huh?" Yamato asked in relief.
"It's too soon to celebrate, fool, ya fool" Killer Bee, warned, walking over to Naruto.
"So, shall we try to control the Kyuubi's power now? From this moment I'll be your instructor. Ya better prepare yourself or else you'll suffer death n' torture" Killer Bee began seriously followed by a series of rapping, making Misaki sweat drop, smiling.
'Just when i thought he was beginning to get serious' Misaki thought.
"Alright!" Naruto punched the air in glee.
"Follow me" Killer Bee instructed, urging Naruto, Misaki and by extension Itachi to follow him.
"Um, excuse me, will you mind if come with you?" Yamato asked, the group.
"Yeah, sure let's go" Killer Bee was first to go through the waterfall, others, such as Naruto, Misaki, Itachi and Yamato followed through example.
"Wow! So there is something on the other side, of the falls" Naruto wondered looking around the temple as soon as he came through the raging water.
"This temple was made by Kumogakure so that jinchuriki can train with their bijuu in a controlled environment" Misaki told him as she followed after him.
"We'll fight Kyuubi here" Killer Bee told him.
"Follow me"
"This statues look old, they must be preserved, they must have some sort of archeological importance" Yamato observed.
"No! Those stone statues were carved without heads to begin with, there's a reason for it" Killer Bee explained.
"How am I supposed to fight Kyuubi here? What more is how am I supposed to face him?" Naruto asked.
"I am rather curious about that too" Itachi chipped in.
"I hope you're not going to do anything excessive!" Yamato warned.
"Do you think it's something that can be controlled without doing something excessive, fool you fool" Killer Bee countered.
"Translation: He means that little efforts don't really do much justice when it comes to controling a large mass of pure and raw power" Misaki translated to the rest of the group.
"This is a sacred place where chosen Jinchurikis undergo the purification ceremony. It's set up here so you can talk to your bijuu in a special manner, it's right here in the building you see, " Killer Bee explained through his rap.
"Only chosen ones are allowed to enter, go and stick your head in the statue's mouth with like a good man with respect, if the statue deems you worthy, the doors would open, fully extended" Killer be continued his informational rapping.
"Um, can you explain it normally, I don't quite understand" Yamato admitted, scratching his head, confused at the kumogakure jinchuriki and his rapping.
"However, if you have darkness in your heart, the doors will not open, and the statue will bite your head and tear you apart, do you consent" Killer Bee, rapped menacingly, more specifically tried to rap it menacingly, but with the rapping its really hard to understand him, much less take him seriously. But his words delivered there meaning to Naruto, who gulped in nervousness, clutching his neck.
Itachi took notice that instead of worrying, Misaki remained still and silent by his side as the conversation before them continued.
"Yamato, this is important to me, I came here to control the kyuubi's power, I can't run away now" Naruto walked forwards and stuck himself inside the statue, whilst Yamato waited on his nerves' ends waiting anxiously
Imagine the horror on his face when Naruto began yelling and squirming within the statue's mouth.
"Naruto!" Yamato immediately pulled him out, only to recover a headless body.
"Naruto, this is bad" Yamato's body was instantly riddled with sweat, but not for long.
"Just kidding!" Naruto popped his head out from the collars of his jacket, Killer Bee, praising his prank.
"I thought you said this place was sacred fools, ya fool!" Yamato yelled at them.
"You knew there was a lever inside the statue's mouth didn't you?" Itachi asked Misaki as they went inside the innermost structure of the temple.
"Of course I did, Natsumi pranked me the first time I was here" Misaki sweat dropped recalling the experience, her face almost identical to Yamato's face, a mixture of dread, despair and a little constipation.
"Must have been quite a moment, I rarely see you out of your element" Itachi said and Misaki looked at him raising an eyebrow.
"Speak for yourself, I have never even seen you out of your sorts ever, though I think Kasumi had some interesting stories about you being out of sort" Misaki smirked playfully, Itachi's eyes growing a tiny bit wider.
"What did she say" Itachi asked.
"Don't worry, all good things" Misaki smirked walking ahead to avoid the next question.
"What kind of Sealing Jutsu was used on your Kyuubi?" Killer Bee asked as soon as all of them were inside the room.
"It's a tetragram seal" Yamato answered.
"A tetragram seal huh, that's impressive, it's even more solid than my steel shell seal. Do you have the key?" Killer Bee continued.
"I have it" Misaki stepped forward.
"You are going to unlock the seal after all, what if he can't control it properly? What are you going to do it the Kyuubi revives completely?" Yamato asked.
"It will be sealed here, in this room, until we can transfer it to it's new jinchuriki" Killer Bee said.
"New jinchuriki?" Itachi asked.
"Me" Misaki answered, everybody turning their attention to her.
"What?" Itachi asked.
"If the kyuubi fully revives, I'm the best one qualified to seal and host it" at her words, Misaki can see the doubt reflected on Naruto's eyes.
"But I am sure I won't be a need for me" Misaki stepped forward and pressed her forehead to Naruto.
'Naruto, between the two of us, our father placed the kyuubi inside of you, at first I thought it was by sheer luck, but now I realize our father must have known that you would be the strong determined, willful and stubborn person you are right now, and he placed his trust in you Naruto, our parent put their fate, their dreams their beliefs their future into us, our parents, I believe in you Naruto, you can do this' Misaki spoke to him through their minds.
"Alright, I'm going to do this" Naruto declared as soon as his twin parted from him.
"Okay! I'm going to shut the door, and I'll show you how to deal with the kyuubi" Killer Bee said closing the door and instructing Naruto to sit front of him.
"Misaki, sit behind Naruto, back to back, you need skinship to open his seal" Killer Bee rapped haphazardly, but Misaki did just as she was told, sitting cross legged behind Naruto, leaning against him.
"Let's do this" Killer Bee raised his fist and Naruto reciprocated by doing the same. Once they were deep in trance, Misaki took a deep breath, releasing her chakra of golden chain that wrapped around her and Naruto, like it was tying them up together before disappearing within Naruto's body.
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As Misaki expected, Naruto was already deep into his mind as Killer Bee's voice echoes throughout the dim dark wet prison.
Right in front of kyuubi who resided within his cage, peering inside, Misaki swallowed, nervous, she'd be stupid if she said that the powerful, hateful, massive presence of the equally daunting being didn't scare her. She had been training most of her life, and yet just the sight of the Kyuubi shakes her core.
"Yow, evil glare as usual" Naruto greeted casually as Misaki extended her hand, the formula of the key appearing on her right arm. The twins exchanged looks before nodding in unison, with his mind, Naruto lifted Misaki's conscious being up in the air, giving her access to remove the paper seal covering the lock, once Misaki was back on the ground, Naruto had already revealed his stomach, the seal's lock formula appearing being in close proximity of its key.
Without hesitation Misaki, pressed her right palm on Naruto's stomach, opening the gates.
And no amount of preparation could have prepared them for being thrown back meters away from the gate just with the Kyuubi roaring and pushing the door open.
"Grab the Kyuubi's chakra with your own chakra, only chakra can hold onto chakra, take the kyuubi's chakra and make it your own. Misaki will be able to assist you, but remember, her hold will be weaker because this is your consciousness, in your mind she is also vulnerable" Killer Bee warned, simultaneously appearing with Hachibi bursting through the walls, wrapping his tentacles around Kyuubi so that the twins can get an opening, but his hold on the kyuubi didn't really last long since he was quite literally a foreigner in Naruto's mind.
"Alright let's do this, are you ready Naruto?" Misaki summoned her chains who entered Naruto before she entered fully into his unconsciousness.
"Misaki, you saw what happened to Tako-no-san, it's too dangerous" Naruto yelled at her above Killer Bee's voice.
"Naruto, we do this together" Misaki smiled and used her chains, shielding them from the Kyuubi's attack.
"Don't underestimate us!" Misaki then wield her chains to dig underneath the ground, springing around the kyuubi like vines, holding on to his limbs in a vice grip.
"Senpu: Super Giant Rasengan" Naruto created a giant rasengan, but Kyubbi contained and reflected his attack using his strong nine tails, Misaki's hold loosening around him.
"Damn it, it's a lot weaker than I thought" Misaki wiped her sweat as the effort of keeping the kyuubi in place drove her to her knees.
"But not just yet" Misaki once again revived her vigor, holding on to they kyuubi with bigger stronger chains this time, just as Naruto was able to throw the beast on his back.
"NOW NARUTO" Misaki queued Naruto to pull the kyuubi's chakra with his own, however as soon as Naruto held on to the kyuubi's chakra, he was exposed to the pure unadulterated emotions of the kyuubi that came with it. Naruto's chakra was consumed by the kyuubi's angry ones, and began sucking Naruto back.
"Naruto, fight it, you're stronger than this!" Misaki stood on her shaky legs, her strength almost failing her, what kept her walking is the sheer determination to get to Naruto.
"I'm here Naruto, fight it, just keep fighting" Misaki pressed her forehead against Naruto wrapping her arms around his shoulders. At the contact of their foreheads, Misaki was suddenly overwhelmed by the surge of emotions, as if she was quickly drowning in Naruto and the Kyuubi's anger.
Soon one eye began to grow from blue to red, surrounded by black on each twin.
"What is this, anger" Misaki whispered, shaking with Naruto, trembling with fear, closing their eyes, like little children hoping the monsters in the dark would just go away.
"Go away disappear" Naruto wrapped his arms around his sister's small frame, holding on to her, in fear that if he didn't she might lose her in this darkness.
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Outside, Killer Bee backed up from his contact with Naruto, as the red cloak of the kyuubi began devouring not only Naruto but also Misaki, who was chained behind him.
"This is bad" Yamato immediately called for the suppression technique he was specifically assigned in this assignment for, wooden totems emerging from the ground to surround the unconscious twins.
Itachi tightened his fist, he believed in the twins, but he was prepared to do whatever it takes in case the two were taken down by the kyuubi together, activating his sharingan, Itachi waited patiently with Killer Bee and Yamato.
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Bing Chapter 28!
First off, I want to apologize about the unannounced hiatus, as always, but this time, I was mainly focused on developing the plot. Honestly, Sasuke's tsukiyomi was one of the things that wasn't in the original outline, so I had to make adjustments on the following events. It wasn't a small glitch of event so I had to review a lot of the story both past and the on going to the future plans. I have the outlines, but I change it as it fits the situation, because I feel like it wasn't giving the very essence of the story. I tried writing this chapter following strictly according to the outline, but I deleted every word, (aside from Sasuke's Tsukiyomi) because it just didn't feel right.
I know, I skipped a whole chunk of arc, but I chose not to include it as it would not have made a difference on the plot. It would be just as it is, a filler, and as entertaining and as funny as it was, i just wanted to get back on track with the story. Plus it gave me a window to insert how Sasuke was doing from the other side, so win-win.
Hope you liked Sasuke's limited tsukiyomi, I know most of the tsukiyomis are designed to be the best fantasy of the afflicted, but the tsukiyomi is still under the caster's control so I had fun in plotting what I think Tobi would brew to sway Sasuke even more into his cause. I actually had so much, maybe too much fun writing evil Misaki. I must admit though that I was inspired with Ron's horcrux nightmare/ hallucination.
Also if you want to know more about Sasuke's Tsukiyomi, you can check out the whole story on a oneshot I made called Uchiha Sasuke: The Test of the Limited Tsukiyomi.
Let me know what you thought of the chapter? As always I hoped you like it, but still your opinion matters to me, so please feel free to let me know on the review or even in the private messages.
Also before just to ease confusion, I would like to specify that Tobi only managed to get one eye from Itachi, cause technically in this fiction Itachi is still alive. So only one eye was transplanted, that is how Tobi was able to cast the limited tsukuyomi to one test Sasuke and to two, to force him to rest and refrain from doing anything unnecessary, stupid, and straining.
PS: I'm a little nervous and anxious and excited at the same time, I don't really know how I'll write the story during the war, with so many phases and emotions and all that, and it's pretty damn long too, I don't know if everything will play out the way I've revised the plan, but I will finish this story for sure, so thank you for being patient and I hope that I'd be able to give my best.