The third chapter of All By Myself!!! Hope you all enjoy it! Oh! And thankyou so much for all the reviews! cries
Disclaimer: The only person that owns Naruto is Masashi Kishimoto, no one else. (Well, if you count the copyright people, publication people, and all that junk, its another story...XD)
The Cold Truth
Sasuke POV
"BASTARD!" One of the Akatsuki members cussed from the side, a thin line of blood trailing from his dry, cracked lips.
"Die…" I eliminated my opponent, and instantly, scavenged for my brother; that I would soon eliminate.
...Where is that bastard... I thought silently, dodging a nearby smoke bomb. I stepped unceremoniously over the dead bodies that were now lain astrewn across the once beautiful streets of Konoha.
Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of light, and then could hear Sora's voice…
"Sora!" I shouted out instinctively, but once I wheeled around, I could see my brother facing her, fending off her onslaught of attacks. I mentally cheered for her success, but for some reason, couldn't let Sora fight my brother.
...No.. I will be the one to kill him...
But then suddenly... all attacks stopped, and although Itachi's back was to me, I realized in horror to what he was doing; Itachi was using his sharingan, and worse? He was using it on Sora.
(Third POV)
Sasuke sprinted forward and kicked Itachi's legs, almost knocking him to the ground, but instead, Itachi grabbed Sasuke by his neck and slammed him up against the wall, "... Little brother..."
"Bastard," Sasuke stated as calmly as he could with the current lack of oxygen.
"...You're still weak as ever... but that kick... you've never resorted to that... you've had someone other than that Hatake haven't you?"
"None of your business, you damn bastard!" Sasuke exclaimed, summoning a jutsu and sending Itachi wheeling backwards, giving Sasuke just enough to time to regroup, ... I'm fighting my brother.. after all this time..
Before Sasuke could think about anything else though, he glanced over to see if Sora was alright, but... she was gone!
"What the he--"
Sasuke turned around to face his brother, but… he too had vanished! "What the hell?!" Sasuke shouted, running forward to where his brother once faced him menacingly, and then started muttering under his breath, "...no… this isn't- where is - where did they-"
"Sasuke-kun! Watch out!" Sakura shouted from the side while helping up an injured person.
As if on cue, Sasuke kneeled down to the ground, allowing a star to narrowly miss his head, "... no..."
... This can't be happening...
Although all the chaos was erupting around Sora, she remained trapped in her mind, with scenes of Itachi replaying in her head:
(Flashback)
"Get up you lazy bum! Come on! You promised me we would train!"
A younger Itachi let out a soft chuckle, and stood up without really any cause, "... No I didn't... you've just made yourself think that since you train so often..."
A younger Sora pouted, and crossed her arms, "Well, I'm not going anywhere until you train me!" She paused in her sentence long enough to see an extremely young Sasuke (probably about 2 or 3?) sit and stare blankly at their argument.
A smirk suddenly found it's way onto Sora's rosy lips, "Well then, if you won't train me, I'll tell your parent's you didn't watch Sasuke!"
Itachi rolled his eyes, looking obviously exasperated, "… But if I trained you, I wouldn't be watching Sasuke still..."
"Nu uh, I'd be watching him!" She exclaimed as if it were the simplest thing to understand - that is until Sora realized what she had just said.
"...You do know that made absolutely no sense..."
"Whatever," Sora stated, her arms planted firmly on her hips, "So, you going to train me or what?"
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-- (Another one)
--
A slightly older looking Itachi stood at the edge of a lake, staring with anger radiating off his body, until Sora quietly entered behind him.
"Itachi, are you okay?"
He was silent and didn't reply, obviously ignoring her. "Itachi-chan, I heard your parents... It's not your fault! You're still a hero in my eyes..."
Again, she was met with silence, but this time, he lifted his eyes to meet her clear, innocent ones, "... you don't understand… you never will.."
"Yes I will!" Sora stated stubbornly, sitting down beside him, "Just tell me."
He gazed at her for a moment, and then shook his head, "You're too young to understand.."
"Yeah?! Well - well maybe you're just too old to remember!"
His thoughts seemingly paused as he smiled just a little bit at her, "... I don't even know your name..."
Sora shrugged, "No one really needs to know."
"... fine..." he mumbled, gazing out across the lake again, until Sora's smaller hand grasped his, with an innocent smile, "Itachi-chan, you're perfect the way you are. You're my best friend, please don't change, not for anyone, not even the Hokage!"
His eyes glazed with a distant look in them as he glanced away from you, but she stood in front of him, "I want you to promise me! I don't want to lose my only friend.."
He was silent for a moment yet again, but then whispered quietly, ".. I promise.."
(End of Flashback)
Sora's memories flew past her like a roll of film, until it all stopped, and she opened her eyes slowly. ... What the heck...
She was definitely not in Konoha anymore; definitely. It was strange, she'd never been under attack from the sharingan directly, but for some strange, strange, indescribable feeling...
It was soothing...
Sora shook her head out of it, and quickly stood up, ..that's strange.. no one bound me anywhere.. She shrugged it off and glanced up into the sky; it was dark already, and the perfect time for her to travel.
But, then, Kisame's cocky voice broke the silent night air, he was standing behind her, with a perverted grin twisted around his lips, "Finally decided to wake up, huh?"
Sora narrowed her eyes considerably and reached slowly down at her waist and - ... What the hell?! This isn't my yukata!... She glanced down at her lap, and alas, she wasn't in her bright, yellow yukata, no.. she was in a long delicate kimono, not fit for traveling at the speed she had in mind.
"Like it..? Stole it from one of those idiots in the village.." Sora glared darkly at him, and stood up, defiance written across her angry face.
He frowned with an almost playful mentality, "Don't tell me you're thinking of leaving already, Itachi hasn't returned.."
She let out a low and annoyed grunt, bending over to rip the kimono, but not breaking any eye contact with Kisame. Within a few short seconds, Sora had ripped the bottom part of her kimono, and the arm sleeves off.
"Come on," Kisame slowly stepped towards her, "a pretty girl like you shouldn't pretend to be a ninja.."
... wait... just wait for it... she told herself silently, as he took yet another step towards her, but then, right before he took another step, he stopped and frowned, "What're you staring at?"
Sora didn't reply, but simply stood there, gazing coldly at him, until at last, she launched at him, grabbing him by the shoulders and kneeing him in the crotch, sending him flying high above the trees.
.. Move.. Now.. she told yourself instinctively, knowing he would land soon. Sora wheeled around and leaped high into a nearby tree, going in the direction you hoped was Konoha; she was in no condition to fight them right now, and every good ninja knew, that if the battle was not meant to be fought, it simply should not be done.
She wheeled around and started sprinting in the opposite direction, until she saw Itachi, blocking her way, "Out of the way!" Sora shouted, malice lacing her words.
She summoned her wind blade and slashed at him while not stopping in her sprint, but he merely stepped to the side. Sora halted in her steps and didn't turn to face him, as she heard Kisame land swiftly somewhere near Itachi.
"God damn that bitch.." he muttered darkly, turning and leaving, ".. you can deal with that psycho-girl.."
"...I'm leaving," She stated coldly, without even turning to acknowledge their presence, as she wheeled around with anger, slamming her fists together and summoning a jutsu, "Annihilation no--"
Sora stopped, as Itachi appeared right behind her right shoulder, a grim expression on his face as he brought down his fist down onto her head. However, she dodged it instinctively and leaped into the air, coming back down to slam her legs down across his chest, but he caught them and held her in front of his face.
... Don't beg him for anything... Sora reminded herself slowly, glaring darkly at him.
Wordlessly, she twisted her body and smashed her right fist across his hands, causing him to let go for an instant, long enough for Sora to jump back with several back-hand springs.
"...What do you want.." she asked lowly, careful to avoid any eye contact, and to her surprise, he actually answered, "... why did you leave."
Sora rose her gaze slightly, staring at his face, but not his eyes, "You're the one who left - you're the traitor," she paused and gestured disgustedly at his head band, "and you wear the proof of it proudly on your head, it's disgusting., I should be asking you why you left. What did you see out there Itachi? Power? Fame? Greatness?"
He didn't answer, but merely stood there, the wind causing his robes to billow slightly, but he still didn't reply.
"Answer me!" Sora commanded, taking a threatening step forward, her blade wielded in front of her, and glowing mystically in the dark.
".. I don't need to answer you..." he paused slightly, ".. I don't even know your name."
Sora let out a harsh, low laugh, "That might have worked on a five year old, but if you really think that I'll fall for that this time, you're sadly mistaken." She readjusted her grip on the blade and glared straight into his eyes, not even afraid of the sharingan.
"... You remembered all that.." he stated lowly, his eyes not once leaving hers, "Why."
Sora turned her head and sheathed her sword, causing it to disappear, "I don't answer strangers," her expression unreadable, as she turned and started to walk away.
...The girl I used to know would have answered me... Itachi's thoughts rang through her mind, echoing emptily.
She stopped her steps and turned her head slightly, "That girl isn't here anymore," She shook her head slowly and started walking away again, almost hoping he would say something that would prove Sora's opinion on him wron. Praying almost, that he wasn't as horrible as he seemed...
But as she took the first step out of the forest clearing away from him, Sora felt her heart tug a little, knowing that the hope she had held onto for so long - that maybe, maybe Itachi wasn't evil... She had to hold back from laughing bitterly, for it was obvious, she were just fooling herself.
"Kakashi-san, I'm not sending you out there to go find Sora, you're in no shape to--"
"..Tsunade-sama.. I have every intention of going out there.. whether you approve or not.."
Tsunade regarded Kakashi coldly, "You are staying here in the infirmary with the rest of the unfit to travel. That is a command, and you will follow it."
Kakashi's left arm hung limply from the shoulder, and cuts and bruises were visible across his body; even his mask was halfway ripped. Iruka stood beside Kakashi, and with determine in his eyes quickly agreed, "I will go in Kakashi-san's place."
Tsunade shook her head again, "You're all trying to get yourselves killed aren't you? Don't you even realize what you're up against? You stand no chance out there, and Sora will be able to handle herself fine, is that understood?"
There was no reply from any of your friends that stood before her, and finally, Naruto spoke up, "Tsunade-sama, let us go after Sora-sensei!" he coughed out some blood, and wiped some dirt out of his eye, "you can't make us stay here!"
Tsunade sighed and scanned the crowd in front of her, even her own apprentice was standing before her, begging to go out and save Sora! ... Oh where did I go wrong..
"For the last time, no! Only the shinobi I see fit may help gather the survivors and deceased from Konoha, I am not letting you out to go after some wild suicidal goose-chase! Is that understood?!"
Tsunade's expression clearly stated she would not take no as an answer, and reluctantly, the majority of the crowd agreed.
She turned away from them and walked out of the infirmary house into the night, gazing sadly up at the moon, "Please take care, Sora..."
All Done! Hope you all enjoyed it! Remember to review!