Happy new year my dear readers! Hope your previous one was good. Mine sure was eventful (I left school and have to face the world of work instead T_T) But enough ranting! Let me give you some german blessings: "Frohes Neues!" ;P
P.S: If this chapter sounds crappy to you (because I know it does) please ignore it. I wanted to update in time, so yeah, I was kinda in a hurry ^^;
Disclaimer: I don't own anything from the Naruto world, it belongs all to Kishimoto. If not I would own my dear Itachi.
Chapter 20 Memories: The rising fighting spirit
-Presence, somewhere in an unknown place-
Obsidian eyes slowly opened, trying to adjust to the surrounding.
"Where the fuck am I?" Sasuke cursed as he awoke fully, now seeing where he was.
The room around him was big and empty, the walls blank and made of concrete, air cooler than outside. There weren't any light sources illuminating the place except for the sunbeams that shone through the window. The only thing that seemed to be of interest to the Uchiha was the door being right before his eyes about fifty feet away from him.
His head suddenly started to hurt, reminding him of how he got there in first place. He remembered an old lady, pointless babbling, his mind getting dizzy, a smirk, poisonous air and the next thing was black nothingness. To sum it up: he became unconscious and someone carried him to this room.
As the seconds went by Sasuke noticed that he was standing upright which was odd since he fell to the floor but that someone must have forced him into this position. His head ached more as he tried to remember something after his sight became black. Nothing. He lifted a hand to rub soothing circles on his temple but was met with resistence, his arm not able to move at all. His gaze traveled down then and black eyes widened: thin strings tied him to the wall he was leaned up.
"What the hell?"
"I see you're awake now. Your comrades didn't even stir yet."
Upon hearing this the Uchiha tilted his head to the side and saw Naruto and Sakura in the same position as him, both were tied up with the same material next to him. A groan left the blonde's lip and a mumble the kunoichi's as they slowly opened their eyes as well.
"Aren't you the bastard who trapped us in his Genjutsu?" Naruto yelled without any second thoughts.
The man shook his head at the outburst coming from the annoying Genin. "Genjutsu? Didn't your teammate already tell you that it was the air? It was a paralyzing air you inhaled which caused you to lose consciousness.
"The fortune-telling tent. So you were the one behind it." Sasuke pointed out, glaring into turquiose eyes. He struggled to get the strings to lose up more for him to grab a kunai but then a sting of pain rushed through him, causing him to gasp out in surprise.
"You shouldn't move kiddo but you can go ahead if want to bleed to death."
"Bleed to death? Why?" Sakura asked unsure, not daring to move after the man had explained the consequences of doing so.
"What the fuck is going here, 'tebayo?"
The smirk of their captor wasn't giving them the answer they wanted, so they let their gaze wander downwards and two pairs of eyes widened at the sight. Faint blue strings were wrapped around their whole body, trapping them like a helpless fly in a spider net.
"I wonder if those ones are chakra threads." Sasuke asked himself out loud and felt another sting from when he moved too much. It felt like something was cutting into him.
"No, but it comes close. Those are extremly sharp strings, cutting as deep as chakra but are not as indestructible as them. A kind of replacement or second class I'd say. And? Have you noticed it yet? Where are they tightly wrapped around? Around which dangerous part of your body?"
Two gasps and an expression of shock mixed with anger. The man licked his lips when he saw a trail of blood trickling down the raven Genin's neck to his collar bone.
"That's right. Those threads are completely wrapped around you but even tighter around your throat. One wrong move and it will cut into your delicious skin, causing you bleed to death within a minute. Wouldn't it be better not to struggle at all then?" He smirked, chuckling evilly at the display of fear in Naruto's and Sakura's eyes. Only crimson ones like the blood staining his neck glared with anger at him.
"What do you want from us? Why don't you go for the right person instead of mere Genin like us?"
"You are referring to Uchiha Itachi, right? Be patient kid. I'm already waiting for him to show up."
Sasuke gave a hiss, trying to get the strings to loose up without hurting himself. He thought he just had to be careful but it only resulted in cutting deeper into his pulsing vein. Thick red liquid poured out, dripping down his skin until it came to a stop. He winced quietly and immediately stopped his movements before the bleeding would turn into a serious problem.
"Why do you think he would do this? Itachi would never jump into a trap that is so obvious like this one."
Another smirk and both Naruto and Sasuke felt the overwhelming urge to wipe that smug grin out of his face. Sakura whimpered, she felt frightened being all tied up against a wall with a dangerous man standing in front of them.
"Because you are his students? Because you brat are also an Uchiha? Because you are... his younger brother?"
Blood red eyes narrowed in anger.
"The resemblence is easy to see, your gaze almost the same. Those Sharingan eyes, the same Bloodline Limitation. You are truly brothers and the last ones of the once strong clan."
"What do you want from us?" Naruto had to keep all his willpower together to not strain against the strings which would end up in a pretty bloody death.
Despair started to build within their bodies yet Sasuke could only feel the anger he had towards this man who really got on his nerves with this damned smirk of his! It reminded him of the blood lusting shinobi from back then when he was three.
"Can't you tell? Of course I want to use you three to lure the Uchiha prodigy into this trap. I want to kill him and it's all going according to plan so far."
"What plan?" Naruto asked, slowly getting a feeling about this whole thing, unseen shudders of discomfort ran down his spine.
"The one I made after meeting you on the bridge. Separating you from Uchiha Itachi, keeping him distracted with a pointless fight, taking you three hostage, waiting for him, torturing him a bit and then killing him along with you three. Any questions?"
The Genin's eyes widened in shock upon hearing their destiny. They were trapped, bound to a wall without any chance of escape only waiting for their death. It was like a nightmare. And in this moment of fear and helplessness Sakura started to cry, Naruto was for the first time too speechless to say anything and Sasuke growled in pure anger, his Sharingan shining.
The man smirked maliciously at their despair, licking his lips in anticipation. He was looking forward to see the oh so famous Uchiha Itachi's emotionless face turn into something similar to the ones of the three Genin. He wanted to see him suffer, to see him helpless as they were, to hear him begging for mercy either on him or his students. Yes, he was looking forward to this moment.
"Do you really think you can kill Itachi-Sensei that easily? He's strong and will kick your fucking ass before you even have the change of getting near him!" Naruto yelled loudly, enraged and at the same time trying to bring back some hope. The tears on Sakura's face was all he needed to burst out into shouting and regaining some hope back. For sanity's sake!
A mocking laugh filled the room after that, causing the blonde to shut his mouth but still glaring at the man. "But only if he has the space to actually kick my ass. He's falling into a trap he can't avoid. Your destiny has been sealed. You will die by my hands, all of you!"
Kuso! Itachi you fucking idiot, hurry up! Who knows how much longer he intends on letting us alive! But let's face it... all of this wouldn't have happened if you jerk had noticed earlier that all of this was a trap from the very beginning. Well, so much for being a genius.
My heart was pounding and I could feel sweat rolling down my forehead. I was afraid. But who could blame me? I was bound tightly to a wall where one wrong move will slice my throat open. Trying to rip the threads off was as useless as trying to loosen them up to take out a kunai. Everything was pointless in this situation. Our only hope was Itachi. Like back then when I was three everything depends on him - one wrong move and you are dead.
...
I can't feel it. Damn it, Sasuke what happened to your chakra? Usually I would be able to sense it but not right now as it seems. What happened to my team? What has this man done to them?
Itachi quickly jumped over the roofs, his heart pounding faster, his mind racing with bad images of his team being violated in this very moment. He shook his head to erase those thoughts. If you think too much about something it can turn into reality and he doesn't want that to happen. He wouldn't be able to forgive himself then.
I have to hurry for god's sake!
...
-Flashback-
Itachi's POV
Time slowed down, every single step the man took was in sync with my heart beat that seemed to be the only sound I could hear for now. Sweat trickled down my forehead, an emotion I haven't felt before rose within as one question flood my shaking mind.
...Is this what they call fear?
The distance closed in to ten feet away.
Seven.
Five.
Three.
One...
"Nii-san!"
A sound, a cough, blood leaving a human's mouth after he was struck, a loud gasp.
The moment Sasuke called out my 'name' was in time with the enemy being right in front of me. The dagger in his hand which was dashing forward rapidly was only five inches away from my heart.
My eyes caught his movement and it was then that my body reacted on his own. I ducked, diving below the attack just in time. I gave the man a forceful kick to his stomach and for once he was the one flying backwards against a tree. The fact that my strenght isn't full developed yet made the impact a bit minor. I panted slightly, gripping for a moment my ribs that were stinging from the effort I put into the kick.
My brother was on my side right after that, his obsidian eyes heavy with worry. "Nii-san, you really scared me. I thought he was going to hurt you seriously this time."
I only smiled at him and laid a hand on his head, feeling the black strands between my fingers. "But he didn't. Now stay back before he will hurt you."
He nodded and hid behind me then. I focused my stare back on my opponent seeing that he is already standing again.
"You were just lucky kid. Don't get conceited now. The fight is not over just because you managed to land a weak hit on me. Try to dodge this!" With the dagger still in his hands the Kumo ninja made a seal I was familar with. The result revealed itself in form of ten perfect replications that were now facing me.
"Kage bunshin. This is a forbidden Jutsu." I mumbled and saw him smirking. He gave his clones a signal and suddenly all of them were running up to me with their speed techinque.
Sasuke gasped in shock at the display, fear passing his now pale face. I took out a kunai for the soon upcoming counter attack. My blood red eyes whirled, delaying my enemy's movements to the point I was able to predict them. One after another lunged at me then. I stepped aside in perfect timing, using the change to stab my attacker. It turned out to be a clone that disappeared with a puff.
Nine more to go. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One.
I didn't need a guess to say that the last one is the real deal. All the while I was destroying the clones Sasuke watched the fight with his jaw slightly opened in fascination. He was fascinated by the way I was moving and the way my eyes were shining brightly with a strong fighting instinct. The instinct that triggered my precious adrenaline.
A deep growl of frustration came from the man's mouth.
"Damn you, you conceited brat!" He cursed and threw the dagger away, it landed with a metallic clank on the ground.
He must have realized that shadow clones and trying to pierce me has gotten pointless by now - now that I have those eyes. I will ponder later about this new power but first I need to make sure to get out of here save and alive. I have to wait for the right moment, the perfect opening when he lets his guard down.
I panted more visible due to the stinging pain in my ribs. It was getting worse as the time dragged on. At first it was barely there but now it has become really uncomfortable. The fight was making it worse with all my fighting movements I have to carry out. Another reason why I have to end this as soon as possible.
Snapping out of my thoughts I noticed the Cloud ninja giving another growl and then he laughed maniacally. "I never thought I'd have to waste my special techinque on someone like you. You really pissed me off kid. It's just too bad that you will never have the chance to tell anyone about this."
I narrowed my eyes at him but then they widened after he finished forming seals and announcing his technique.
"Lightening element: Thunderstorm of Death no Jutsu!"
"Thunderstorm of Death?" Sasuke repeated, whimpering at the name, fear written all over his face. The way he reacted to this was not only because the title itself was terrifying enough for a three years old boy but rather because my little brother was greatly afraid of thunderstorms.
The sky above us quickly became dark with thick black clouds. Rumbles hissed through the air and soon a loud growl in form of a thunder was being released. Our surrounding turned bright in time a lightening flashed up, illuminating everything around us for a moment. My brother jumped at the frightening loud sound, desperately clinging to my chest, fisting my shirt. He flinched everytime a thunder was being heard. Whimpering and scared to the point of being frozen on the spot he tightened his grip even more on the fabric he held between his clenching fists.
"I'm scared nii-san, please make it go away." He said in a weak and quiet voice that made feel really bad for him.
It must remind him of the nights he stayed awake and shaking with fear. He always went to our parent's bedroom then, longing for a safe embrace from mother. She would always held him warm and secure through the nights. But now being out in a forest with an insane enemy and a thunderstorm raging through the sky made him unbelievable scared. He began to sob and I could feel my shirt getting moist. When my eyes traveled down, wondering about the cause, they widened: Sasuke was crying.
I felt my heart clenching at the sight and instinctively ran a hand up and down his back. I tried my best in soothing him. Mother always did it because she was the first person he was running to when he felt uncomfortable. But she isn't here right now so I have to do it somehow. I rubbed him lovingly, tracing circles on his back and all other things I could come up with at the moment. He still sobbed but quieter than before, I must be getting to him.
I was so focused on comforting my little brother that it took a struck of lightening and a malicous sick laughter to remind me that I'm still in a fight.
I have to end it. I need a chance to knock this man out. If there is none then I have to create one on my own.
The next bolt raged and struck the ground twenty feet away from me. My eyes widened as another one treatened to hit us. I quickly gathered Sasuke into my arms and jumped together with him out of the way. The man made me back away from the high volt electricity until I felt a rough surface behind me. I turned around to find a large rock that was shaped like a sheltering cave. Sasuke's whimpers got louder again and when I put him down he looked at me with questioning eyes.
"Nii-san, what are you doing?"
"Wait here for me, I will finish this fight in between. Stay here so you won't get harmed and don't be afraid. It will be over soon, I promise." I whispered to him, tugging a strand behind his ear and then poked his forehead. He gave his usual pout at this.
"Wait for your big brother, okay?"
"Hai, nii-san."
I nodded and then stepped out, facing the Kumo nin again. He laughed evilly, sending another jolt my way. With the help of my eyes I could jump away in time. Soon more came to strike me but I managed to dodge everyone. The man growled for a moment in frustration and that's when I noticed something.
There! This is my chance!
Hearing those loud sounds of lightening hitting the ground harshly Sasuke peeked around the rock to catch a glimpse of what was going on. His eyes widened frantically at the sight: I was standing like glued on my spot as another dangerous bolt quickly flashed towards me.
"Die you brat!" The man exclaimed loudly.
I still wasn't moving and when the attack struck me Sasuke screamed a loud "NII-SAN!"
My opponent just laughed insanly. "What do you say now, cocky brat? Still laughing? Did you really think that someone like you would ever be able to beat someone like me?"
Before his eyes the person standing on the spot where I was supposed to be vanished with a puff of smoke. A large piece of wood lying on the forest ground now.
"This can't be..." The man whispered in disbelief.
"Nii-san? Where are y-?" My brother tried to ask but stopped when he heard a familar voice.
"I thought I had already told you..."
Two gasps of surprise.
"...don't judge a shinobi by appearance!"
Two pairs of eyes widened.
"Nii-san!"
I re-appeared behind my enemy who was trying to turn towards me but he was too late for that. My hand that was being pulled back to gain a good amount of force was brought down harshly on the back of his neck. He spit out salvia and collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud afterwards. It was the critical hit they tought us in the academy back then, the weak point that can knock out an enemy with just one precise attack. It was my only chance. I came up with this the moment I saw that the Kumo nin had let his guard down when he was busy with showering me with his lightenings.
The thunderstorm disappeared completely the moment our enemy was lost his consciousness. I felt myself falling to my knees after realization hit me that I finally did it - we survived. I gave a victorious grin to the sky above, thanking god for watching over us with his wings of securance. Then I heard someone moving and the next moment I found myself being hugged by my little brother.
"You did it nii-san. You really did it!" Sasuke said happily and smiled a very relieved smile.
I hugged him back tightly. "I promised it, didn't I?"
"Yes and you know what else you promised? That you'd help me with my shuriken technique tomorrow. Remember?"
"I remember. Of course, otouto."
Another smile grazed his features. "Thank you, aniki."
His embrace became tighter and due to the lack of energy and the pain in my ribs my brother managed to throw me back, causing me to hit the ground. At first I winced at the impact but then I forced a laugh out and poked his forehead once again.
"You did a great job on surprising me this time, you caught me off guard. You will become a strong shinobi someday." I praised him and he grinned the ever so cheeky grin of his, his absolutely adorable one.
"Itachi, Sasuke, is that you?" The sudden deep voice startled me, my first thought being that the enemy got back to his feet again but then I recognized the owner of the voice. When our eyes landed upon identical obsidian ones I felt myself sigh in relief.
"Tou-san!" My brother called and ran into our father's arms. "I'm glad that you are here. There was this mean man and he hurt Itachi-niisan but then nii-san suddenly got strange red eyes like you and he fought as strong as you and then he defeated that man with just one attack!" He explained and pointed to the Kumo ninja on the ground and then back at me, a grin on his face.
"You defeated that shinobi all by yourself and even gained your Sharingan during the fight? As expected of my son, Itachi." Fugaku said with pride. Sasuke's grin faded rapidly, his head lowering in disappointment.
"Yes, but that's not so important tou-san. I only knocked him out. Can you further take care of him?"
"I'll send him into prison after he gets out of interrogation." Father announced and signaled his three police comrades to carry that man to our headquarters. They nodded in unison and disappeared together with the Kumo nin out of our sight. Fugaku then turned towards me and when he noticed my still blood red eyes he smiled.
"You are truly my son and a true genius of our proud clan. You will become the greatest Uchiha member."
Those words that were nice to hear yet not so important to me but to my brother caused him to sink his head even lower, his lower lip being almost pierced as he bit down to keep his tears from falling. Oh how he wanted to be whole pride to our father instead of me - to be finally acknowledged. It hurt him to be younger and therefore being less stronger and praised than me. I noticed how his strands hid those sad eyes, eyes that were filled with tears now. I felt bad. What my father said he was so proud of was only because I tried so desperately to protect Sasuke and getting out alive. Speaking of the fight I just realized that I had another important reason to finish it off as soon as posssible.
"Tou-san, can we talk about that another time? We have to go home, kaa-san must be worried sick about us. We promised her to be back in time when the sun sets but I failed to notice how late it already was until that shinobi appeared."
Sasuke gasped in surprise at this, his eyes widened slightly. "But nii-san! The reason the enemy appeared was because I ran-!" Before my brother was able to admit anything I silenced him by putting a finger to his lips. I knelt down to his eye level, whispering into his ear so that father wouldn't hear.
"You don't need to tell him. It wasn't your fault but mine because I broke my promise. Let's keep it a secret between us okay?" He nodded hesitantly and I stayed like this a moment longer. After I made sure he won't say anything now I pulled my finger back.
We left the forest then and went back home. When we arrived the door was already open to reveal a beyond relief Mikoto standing in the doorframe. She immediately ran up to pull us into a tight hug. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she mumbled how happy she was that we are alright and back again. Our mother told us that she got worried after the sun was already down and we were still outside. Fugaku had arrived shortly after that and she immediately asked him to go into the forest to look for us. She had a very bad feeling about this and she was right.
"But now you two are back again. Sorry, the meal is cold by now but I'll cook something fresh for you. Now that we are all together at home." Sasuke happily accepted her offer, me and Fugaku agreed as well. I was about to excuse myself for a few minutes but my mother was faster and stopped me dead in my tracks with her next question.
"Itachi-chan, is that blood on your lips?" She asked with concern and came closer to inspect the dark color on my said part. I smiled a faint smile, brushing it off.
"Nothing serious kaa-san."
"Are you sure dear?"
"Hai, I'm fine."
"But if it starts to hurt then please let me treat it okay?"
"Hai kaa-san."
Mikoto smiled contently and then started her cooking. We ate in silence until she asked how all of this happened. I glanced over to Sasuke, his strands fell to veil his eyes as he lowered his head in guilt. It really hurt to see him sad like this. I snapped out of my thoughts and told her what I already said to father. I know I shouldn't lie about something as serious as this but I didn't want to get my brother into any trouble. They believed my story without any further questions and while my father just nodded along, my mother smiled. She was happy that nothing serious happened to us. She wouldn't forgive herself if something ever did and neither would I if something happens to my little brother.
"Don't ever do that again, nii-san." Sasuke mumbled as he hugged me tightly.
"What do you mean by 'that'?"
"Don't protect me, get hurt because of me and then lie to cover me up."
I sighed quietly and wrapped my arms around his middle, embracing him just as tightly as he did. "Sasuke, my foolish little brother. I would do it all over again if it means that nothing will ever happen to you."
"Why nii-san? Why are you doing this? Why... for me?"
"Isn't it obvious? Because... that's what big brothers are for."
He smiled at this. "Thank you, aniki."
And I couldn't help but to smile as well. "You're welcome, otouto."
I will always protect you Sasuke, no matter what. I promised and never will I break it, never.
AN: This chapter turned out longer and more boring than I expected. Sorry that it took me so long to update but I couldn't come up with a resonable fight! *rant* At first I planed to make Itachi just side-step the enemy and knock him out ninja style but, ugh, big fail... Now he did it after some fight scenes :D Crappy fight but I couldn't come up with something better (it took me three weeks to have at least one idea!) And yay for bondage. Why is every enemy in my story a sadist/pedophile? Hmm... *shrugs* who cares? Well, long talk is long. See ya next chapter. ~Blackbeta