Disclaimer: I own any OCs in this, the rest is Masashi Kishimoto.
"Get up, we're just starting!" Yagura-sama spat at me, his arms crossed over his chest. Starting? I was already gasping for air! "How do you expect to become a chuunin next week with that pathetic level Uzumaki!?"
"I don't want to be a ninja! I've been a genin for six months and in the village for a year!" I yelled. I widened my eyes and covered my mouth with my hand when I realized what I've just done. Rule number one is to never, never talk back to Yagura-sama. No matter if he looks like a kid or not.
"Are you defying my orders?" he asked me calmly. But his eyes were dark, so dark and the cold fury in them made me shiver from head to toe.
"I'm...I'm sorry Yagura-sama..." I stuttered, frightened by the dark chakra he was emanating.
Oxygen left my lungs as a huge pain engulfed my torso. My mind didn't even register my back crashing into the wall or the blood dripping from the corner of my mouth. The only thing I knew was that I was gasping for air and the hand around my neck would kill me soon. Tears started to pour from my eyes and I started scratching his arm with my hands. Blood appeared quickly under my nails.
"Any person born in Kirigakure is the property of Kirigakure," he stated in an icy tone, "blame your pitiful parents, but you and your potential are my properties so stop complaining like a brat and wake up!"
Wake...up?
"Wake up nee-san!" he continued, tightening his grip on me.
"Nee-san?"
Am I...dreaming? The blurry sight of Yagura-sama started to fade away to be replace by black. Black...eyes?
"Nee-san!" The voice changed and I'm pretty sure someone was shaking me.
I opened my eyes and blinked a few times for my eyes to get used to the darkness around. I weakly grabbed one of the hands shaking me and it stopped. I quickly inspected Sasuke with my eyes and internally sighed from relief. He didn't seem to be hurt. I rolled on my side and pushed on my hands to sit up. Or I tried, but my upper body was blocked by some very thick fabric or something else but in any case, I couldn't use my arms and hands.
"Did they try to do something to you?"
"No, they just knocked me out and I woke up here. Where are we?" he asked me in a strangled voice, probably by fear. I swept the area and ground my teeth because I almost couldn't see a thing. But we were in a cell with stone walls and a metal door with a single window. "Are they going to kill us?"
"I don't think so. What happened to the dog?" I hope they didn't get Pakkun, otherwise our chances to get some help would be too thin.
"I told him to run away before they got me. It's a summon, right? So his master should help us."
I ruffled his hair with a wry smile. "Yep, nice one Sasuke. Did they restrain you?"
"No." Good.
I closed my eyes and let my chakra flow outside my body. Not much, but enough to check any possible seals they could have put. I found none, which made me frown. Were they in a hurry when they threw us in there? Or the lack of informations about my capacities is that big? Using my feet, I turned around so that I was facing the wall. I slammed my foot on it and let chakra slipped away. Black characters surrounded now my foot, that I put back on the cold stoned floor. Now I have to...focus and...
"Woah!" Sasuke exclaimed when the letters glowed in a bright blue. A black katana grip appeared in the center of the seal.
"Sasuke take it!" I hissed at the kid, startling him in the process, when the blade started to be seen. He complied immediately and pulled on the weapon, stumbling back in the process when it came out suddenly. A glance between the blade and what's hindering me and he grasped what I wanted him to do. So I ended up rubbing my wrists once I was free. "Have you heard anything when I was passed out?"
"Not really," he replied while I was trying to find a way out. I'd rather not use the door. "But I think no one is watching because I heard some foot steps leaving very fast and...yeah, they said something about someone being attacked."
"I see, do you have any idea how long we've been here?" I took the sword from his slightly shaking hands. He's good at hiding his fear. He's good at knowing at such a young age that right now it would be an hindrance to show fear. Anyway, he shook his head.
I tsk-ed in annoyance. Who knew what was happening outside while we were trapped. I walked to the door and inspected the gap between it and the wall. It would give me a hard time, but I probably could be able to maintain wind chakra in my blade to cut the lock if the gap is big enough. Which it was!
"Yosh, maybe it's my lucky day after all," I whispered to myself when I placed the tip of my katana in the gap. I lowered it slowly until it rested on something. I pushed it a little bit more and inhaled deeply, gathering chakra and slowly changing it to wind. Once I felt it was enough, I sliced down, right through the lock. "Dang it, next time someone tells me he wants to train me with wind nature chakra I accept!" I told myself while relaxing my shoulders a little bit. I tightened my hold on my weapon and carefully opened th door. I cast a quick glance around, to see no one. "Sasuke, we're going now and stay close to me unless I tell you otherwise."
He understood most of the situation and that I could fight, he's not stupid and he should follow my instructions. We left the first room with catlike stealth, all my senses in alarm, and I tried to sense anyone. Weird thing is I didn't find any.
Geez, what's going on outside!?
I looked down when I feel someone tugging on my pants. Sasuke was rubbing his eyes and I frowned, kneeling in front of him immediately. I forced him to stop and stared at his face. I couldn't spot any differences.
"I can feel them throbbing since I woke up but it started when we were attacked." he confessed, squinting as if he couldn't see very far. I nodded at that and stood up, my fist firmly clenched on my weapon.
As we carefully made our way through the place, I came to some conclusions. I don't think we are in Roots main HQ because there would be other people here. Maybe a secret hideout for uncooperative people. From the kunais Sasuke managed to gather, there were others here and they left rather abruptly.
"Nee-san..."
"What?"
"Don't you hear something...or someone?"
I mused over it and listened carefully. I was ready to dismiss his words when I heard one pretty familiar and cursed. Naruto is the only one saying 'dattebayo', I'm sure of it, but why would he be here!? Why would have Danzo taken him as well!?
I slided on the floor to turn when the voice became clearer and kicked the door. One of the last Root member remaining just had the time to get up he was knocked out against the wall because of my Fūton. I opened the door to be met by wide blue eyes.
"I'll beat you dattebayo!" he screamed, launching himself at me with a clenched fist.
I caught him with no effort, stopped his leg too and tackled him to the floor. "That's how you thank people who came to save your ass?"
"Sav..."
"Naruto?"
"Sasuke!?"
I told them to be quiet and went to the Root. I executed a series of hand seals and placed my hand on their abdomen.
"Fuijutsu: Immobility Seal!" I said and black lines appeared from under his collar. A faint grunt of pain came from them. I sweat dropped at myself, at least I didn't kill them with my last attack so he should be grateful.
"Ne, where are we?" Naruto asked Sasuke when I scanned this room. It's...more humid than where we were. I went to Naruto's cell and inspected it.
"How would I know that idiot!?" I heard Sasuke reply harshly while I was grazing the wall with my finger. Humid. A look to the ceiling confirmed my thoughts. Even if it's dark, I can see some wet spot.
We're underground and it's raining. But with the wall too, it means we're close to the exit. "Stop fighting and follow me!"
"What!?" Naruto exclaimed when Sasuke ran after me. "Hey wait for me!"
I sped up when the smell of rain met my nose. Light soon came to view and we were outside. The sky was covered by dark clouds and rain poured heavily in the night. The lights being just from the torches at the entrance, we were confronted to a dark and not so reassuring forest. I looked around and pushed the children in a certain direction, opposite to the persons approaching. I don't know if they're enemies or friends, but I won't take the risk.
"People are coming, go!"
They immediately started running, me behind them. If only I knew what they learned at school at this point I could try to use it but I'm alone, me, a jounin who were supposed to become an ANBU when I clearly don't have the level or the motivation, against an unknown number of people who are in training to become ANBU. The one I had wasn't a really trained one, but those who captured us earlier were and I couldn't do anything. I don't have any paper seals on me, but rain can be an advantage.
I widened my eyes when I felt someone close. Too close. I bite my thumb with the intent to summon Gaku but I blinked once, then twice, and fought the urge to go in a corner and pity my own stupidity.
You can't summon dummy, you signed when you were fifteen! You don't have any summons right now!
"Down!" I yelled, tackling the two in the wet grass. Shurikens whistled above us and I felt the boys tensed. Their whole bodies tensed. "Go and hide in those bushes and shut up!" I grumbled through my teeth as another attack was coming. "Suiton: Water Shield!"
I winced at the shock wave it made. But Sasuke and Naruto went into hiding, so that's good.
"So what's your thing to find us huh? You're the one who found us in the mist too, so what? Sense of smell, Byakugan, another secret jutsu I'm not aware of?"
He attacked instead of answering, but it was enough. I've seen enough Hyuuga fighting in my past life to recognize the Gentle Fist. I was dodging and blocking with my katana when kunais flew to him. He deflected them easily and made a move to attack where the boys were. Concentrating chakra in my feet, I ran in front of him and threw my leg in the air to kick him.
I blinked slowly and looked at my leg, where two of his fingers are. Pain shot through my limb as blood spurted from my mouth. As he went for another of my tenkentsu, I thrust my katana in the earth, leaned on it with my valid leg and jumped back to fall onto my stomach. Geez, it hurts so bad!
"Nee-chan!" Naruto said with wide eyes. I widened mine when they met Sasuke's. Sasuke's eyes which glowed in the dark. They were glowing a bright red. The thing with his eyes...was the Sharingan? At eight years old?
"Sasuke...fire..." he complied and started hand seals when I moved aside. So he knows that jutsu, good...
"Katon: Great Fireball Technique!" As Sasuke spat fire, I formed my own seals to cast my wind jutsu, strengthening the fire. It engulfed the whole area in front of us and I felt sweat on my skin because of the heat, but I couldn't care less.
"Go back to the village!"
"But..." Naruto started to argue but a glare from me shut him up. Sasuke seemed unsure himself but nodded anyway, grabbing Naruto's sleeve to make him move.
I got up as I could, the risk of falling pretty important as the single move was making me wince in pain. The Hyuuga was slightly burned, especially his mask.
"I'm going to kill you." he stated icily, running to me.
Come, come, I still have enough chakra for my seal. The one I practiced for Danzo, but it should work with the Byakugan. Hopefully, it's still raining heavily. Maybe I can...
I dodged once again and after several hand seals said. "Hyōton: Freezing Technique!"
The water on him started freezing quickly. So what did he do? Expelled chakra from his body. This lapse of attention on me enough to take that mask off and grab his face.
"Fuinjutsu: Pupil Seal!"
The famous whirl so common to the Uzumakis appeared on his face and he jumped back, his hands on his eyes. But as expected, this technique, to block a dojutsu, took almost all the rest of my chakra. I fell on my knees and watched the guy get his composure back. Now, even if he still could fight, he wouldn't find the boys.
They better get back to the village.
He attacked, the same one as the first time, where he throws chakra at me or something like that. I was exhausted, I could watch only. Watch it coming at me and wood blocking it out of sudden.
Wait, wood?
"You did a good job, Akane." a male voice said behind me when a hand landed on my head.
"Kakashi-san?" I asked quietly as I threw my head back to see his dog mask.
He nodded and looked the other. "Tenzo, I take care of him, his Byakugan has been sealed. Protect her."
"Understood." The Tenzo guy said as he scooped me up to get to safety. Tenzo? But...wasn't that Mokuton? Yamato isn't supposed to be the only one to...argh, too complicated for my tired brain.
"Naruto...Sasuke..." I mumbled weakly.
"Don't worry, Pakkun and Itachi are taking care of it."
Itachi...that's okay then...everything is going to be okay...
I faintly heard Tenzo telling me to stay awake while I let my eyes closing just for a second. But...it's so hard to open them... now...
"Sasuke, what are we going to do if..."
"Shut up dobe!" Sasuke snapped at him, kunai shaking in his hand. How...why did the situation turn that bad? How long would she last? How were they going to fight back if others got to them? Were they going to die? And why was he seeing things differently?
"Sasuke!" Naruto's voice got him out of his thoughts as he bumped into someone. Someone with a mask. He jumped back and held his kunai firmly in front of him, Naruto's shaking body sitting on the ground.
"It's okay Sasuke." the ninja in front of them said calmly. He bent down on one kneel and took his mask off. "It's over now."
"Nii-san!" the raven exclaimed, dropping his weapon to run to his brother. Said brother caught him with ease, keeping him close to his body. Itachi shot a glance at the other boy. Just like for Sasuke, except dirt one their clothes and exposed skin, they were fine and he felt relief washed over him.
"It's over now, my senpais went to help your friend."
"They're coming," Pakkun added next to Naruto. "We should go to the hospital."
Itachi nodded and created a clone who lifted the blond. Naruto squeaked and grasped tightly onto the clone's shirt when they started to move.
He didn't have the details, but he felt like he had a huge debt to that girl now, for putting her life on the line for the sake of his brother. As they made their way to the hospital, Itachi's thoughts drifted to his father. Discovering him and the Hokage used him behind his back to get to Danzo was surprising, but what was even more was how Shisui hid it from him. But he had a feeling for a while. Since he came back from his mission near the Land of Water two months prior, Shisui had been weird around him. Itachi trusted him, so if he was hiding something he must have had a good reason.
When they arrived at the hospital, he followed the two children in a room where they were examined. And if he knew that people were cautious around the Uchihas, that doctor was scared of the blond boy. Itachi held a sigh back. It was unfair of the villagers to discriminate Naruto, and it was even more unfair to think he knew nothing about Kushina and Minato. He never really thought about the Kyubi holder before, but knew his mother would occasionally give things to the Hokage for him to give them to Naruto. The child was his mother's late best friend's son after all.
"Please this way!" he heard a woman say in the hallway.
He opened the door and peeked at Kakashi and Tenzo following a nurse. The Uchiha widened his eyes when he spotted the face of the girl on the Hatake's back, partially covered by auburn locks. 'Brown red' his brother said because he did not know the exact word, but Itachi knew the girl and understood why Shisui was acting weirdly since his mission. A childish voice calling him a cute girl in the back of his mind reminded him of the girl he met when he was five, and that he would observe from afar to understand her way of thinking and why Shisui seemed so fond of her. Now, he knew it was basically stalking and that his pretext was good at the beginning only, not nine months after she arrived to Konoha.
But why did Akane come back?
"Nii-san?" he looked down at his brother, who was putting an hospital shirt on. "What are you looking at?"
"Nothing Sasuke."
He glanced at the silent blond boy on the bed. Could he be reason Akane was back? Weren't they...related?
Thanks for reading !