Chapter Eleven: Mikoto vs. Sasuke

Sasuke sat with his fellow Hebi members. They had made camp and were resting around a campfire. They had been taking it easy while Sasuke recovered from his fight with Deidara of the Akatasuki. That had been a challenging fight… he had almost died.

But they hadn't wavered from their goal. He would kill his brother. It was his sole purpose.

Suddenly he pulled out a kunai and threw it towards a bush.

"Woah! Sasuke! What was that for!" Suigetsu asked.

Karin also looked surprised, "Sasuke-kun, I don't sense anyone over there."

"Your wrong," He said simply, "Come out!" He demanded.

Mikoto climbed out of the bush with a small smile on her face. She was holding Sasuke's kunai. "That could've of really hurt."

Sasuke's eyes widened in recognition. "My name is Mikoto, It's nice to finally meet you… uncle." He remembered the shock and betrayal when he realized that Itachi had a daughter. A daughter that he had named after their mother. If he couldn't have family, than neither should Itachi.

"You!" He said angrily, "Why couldn't Karin sense you?"

Mikoto smiled and lifted up the sleeve of her short-sleeved purple shirt revealing a sealing tag. Sasuke's eyes widened.

"You see," She said, "These were made to suppress the nine-tails. So I figured that they would do a pretty good job suppressing me. It is kind of tiring though," she pulled the tag off, "Walking around incapable of moulding chakra." Mikoto held the tag in her hand and channeled some wind chakra through it, slicing it in half. Can't let him get ahold of that.

"Who is that Sasuke-kun?" Karin asked.

Sasuke ignored her completely and focused his eyes on Mikoto, "What do you want?" He asked her.

"Well…" Mikoto said hesitantly, "I came to politely ask if you could maybe not kill my papa?"

Sasuke's eyes widened in fury, "How dare you!" He snarled, "My life's goal had been to rid this world of that despicable man and nothing will get in my way."

Mikoto's eyes burned as anger flared in her, in one two three four five, out one two three four five. "He's not despicable," She said aloud.

"That man slaughtered his entire family!" He shouted, "How dare you claim that he is anything other than a monster!"

Mikoto shifted uncomfortably as Sasuke's killing intent filled the air, "Well you see, I know that. But…"

Sasuke growled, "There's no argument."

"I can't imagine that my kind and loving papa could've done that without any reason. There's something we don't know!" She insisted.

"You're nothing but a naive child! If he lives he will betray you to!" Sasuke growled.

"You're wrong!" Mikoto shouted firmly. She pulled out her necklace, "The man who made me this is not a monster!" She pressed her thumb to the middle and Itachi's voice filled the clearing.

"STOP IT!" Sasuke demanded, his eyes almost crazed with anger.

Without thinking Mikoto stopped the music immediately. She felt fear as heart pounded. Finally she realized, there was no talking to him.

"I NEVER want to hear that man's voice other than him begging for mercy." His voice was quieter when he said this, and somehow that was even more frightening.

Mikoto looked up at him with determined eyes, "I will stop you by force if I have to," she said.

Sasuke smirked, "I'd like to see you try."

"Dont!" Sasuke said as his teammates gathered around him, "She's a child, I can handle this."

They nodded and went back to the campfire.

"Whatever," Suigetsu said, "Less work for me."

"Your so lazy," Karin said in a disgusted voice.

Mikoto readied herself and made a cross with her fingers, "Kage Bushin no Jutsu!" She shouted and created five clones. She looked at them. Five was her limit.

Two of the clones and real her activated the Sharingan while the other three activated the Byakugan. The Sharingan users drew their swords. The Byakugan users took their stance. Ready.

Sasuke gave an overconfident smile. This should be easy.

"Chidori Stream," He said, releasing lightning chakra from his body in an attempt to dispel all the clones at once.

One of the Sharingan clones jumped in front and made hand signs, "Futon: Gale Storm!" A gust of wind blew hard and cancelled out the lightening.

"I see," Sasuke said.

Mikoto smiled, "You see Uncle, I'm the worst opponent for you."

Sasuke almost laughed at that despite himself. With her twin braids and childish face she didn't look even a little threatening. She looked like a puppy barking at a grizzly bear.

The three Byakugan clones charged in with the Gentle Fist. Sasuke dodged easily and took them out one by one, slicing them with his Kusanagi.

One of the Sharingan clones ran in and swung their own sword. The metal clanged together, ringing through the clearing. Sasuke's eyes widened, Why didn't it cut through? He wondered. Usually other swords were useless against his. He activated his Sharingan, "Wind chakra?"

Mikoto gave a self-satisfied smirk and she took advantage of his surprise. She continued to attack forcing Sasuke on the defense. A second Sharingan clone came in from behind, cutting through Sasuke with a clean sweep. Yes! I hit!

But Sasuke just disappeared into a cloud of smoke. Suddenly he was behind her and dispelled another clone.

Shit! She was down to just one Sharingan Clone and herself.

Sasuke smirked again and did some signs.

Mikoto recognized it and her eyes widened. She proceeded to make the same signs as quickly as she could.

"Katon: Grand Fireball Jutsu!" They yelled in unison.

Two huge fireballs swept through the clearing meeting in the center.

Suigetsu raised his eyebrows from the sidelines, "I can't believe she's keeping up with Sasuke."

Karin shook her head, "Sasuke-kun is still weak from his last fight," she said, "But even so… look!"

Sasuke's fireball was overcoming Mikoto's and the two attacks got closer and closer to her.

"She doesn't stand a chance," Karin said with a satisfied grin.

Mikoto's clone scowled, "Don't underestimate me!" She went threw some signs and shouted, "Futon: Great Outburst!"

The clones chest puffed up and a huge ball of wind met the fireball in the clearing. Mikoto's fireball grew larger, enhanced by the wind, and over took Sasuke.

"Sasuke-kun!" Karin screamed.

Before the smoke could clear, Mikoto and her clone both activate the Byakugan and charged in. She was intent on closing his chakra points before he recovered and she lost the advantage.

But before she could, she was thrown back and the smoke dispelled. Sasuke stood in the middle of the clearing, his clothes burned. He had activated half of his Curse Mark to defend himself from the firestorm.

Mikoto lay on the ground and struggled to get up. She had expended to much Chakra.

"You're weak," Sasuke said firmly. He held up his hand to reveal the necklace the Mikoto had showed him earlier.

"No." She whispered. She forced herself up and raced towards Sasuke in attempt to get it back but was immediately thrown.

Sasuke smirked and held the stone in his palm. He sent lightning charkra threw it and it shattered immediately.

"No" Mikoto said again, tears streaming down her face.

"Do you know why you're weak?" Sasuke said mockingly, "Because you have too many bonds. You must sever them to become strong."

Mikoto closed her eyes. Sever my bonds? She wondered to herself. Memories flowed through her.

Teaching Hanabi the Gentle Street Fighting Fist.

Sparring with Neiji.

Hinata walking her through the streets of Konaha, holding her hand.

Hiashi giving her the sword.

Naruto watching her leave the village with sad eyes.

Jiraiya teaching her the shadow clone technique.

Her father placing a bright pink bandage on a skinned knee.

Her mother…

"I will never sever my bonds!" She said firmly.

"Then you will always be weak." Sasuke said cruelly.

"No." Mikoto said her head snapping up, "I'll become stronger than you'll ever be!"

She charged forward and grabbed her sword. The two engaged in Kenjutsu, lightening versus wind.

Mikoto focused as she followed Sasuke's movements. I can see him!

Sasuke eyes widened slightly. Her movements are different from before. He thought. Then he got a glimpse of her eyes and he almost gasped. The third tomoe? When? I have to end this now! He summoned a lightning sword to his other hand and slipped under guard stabbing her through the chest.

Mikoto screamed in pain and dropped her sword.

Sasuke followed his first attacked as stabbed his Kusangi in the same place the lightning sword was previously.

Mikoto coughed up blood as she was held pierced at the end of her uncle's sword.

Sasuke tossed her to the ground.

The pain was delayed. It didn't start right away as Mikoto laid there, looking up at her uncle with shocked violet eyes. Then it hit. And it was excruciating.

"Don't you think that's a bit much?" She heard a voice said.

"He doesn't deserve a child," Sasuke said cruelly and he held his sword up for the finishing blow.

Mikoto closed her eyes waiting for the final strike but it never came. She opened her eyes slightly as darkness began to cloud her vision.

Papa?


Itachi looked in fury at his injured daughter. His eyes snapped to Sasuke, "To think you would stoop so low little brother," He said, his voice low.

"You created me you bastard!" Sasuke shouted.

Itachi sighed sadly and looked down at Mikoto. It was true. His anger turned inwards. This is my fault.

"Fight me!" Sasuke screamed. He still had a crazed look on his face, his Sharingan was glowing intensely.

"No." Itachi said calmly.

Sasuke charged forward with his sword but Itachi side-stepped it.

"She weakened you. Despite yourself," Itachi said, "And you are still weak from Deidara. Meet me at the Uchiha Hideout in one month. We will end this then."

Itachi quietly walked over and picked up Mikoto's sword. He inspected it. A nice blade. I wonder where she got it. He slung it in his belt and then picked up her pack that had been flung to the side. Finally he walked over to Mikoto and picked her up as gently as he could.

"How can I trust you?" Sasuke sneered.

"You can't," Itachi said, giving Sasuke a sidelong glance, "But as you are now you won't defeat me. I wish to fight you at full strength."

Suddenly Itachi disappeared.

Team Hebi stared with wide eyes as a voice filled the clearing.

Next time… Sasuke.