Naruto: A Rift In Time
By: Arthemis N. Remison

CHAPTER 10 – LIGHTNING CRIES

Training Camp #5-

Sasuke and Itachi were running through the trees shooting kunais towards each other, but surprisingly they all met each other in the air canceling themselves out. After a while Itachi stopped and landed on the ground. Sasuke soon followed.

"Lets take a break, Sasuke. I need to talk to you" said Itachi.

"What do you need, nii-san?" asked an inquisitive Sasuke.

"I haven't said anything since before our battle with Haku and Zabuza, but I wanted to ask you now since you didn't use it…. What is that mark on your left arm?" said Itachi finding it odd, but strangely familiar.

"Damn… I wanted to surprise you but its too obvious I guess. Its…my oath"

"Oath? How can an oath give you that mark, Sasuke?"

"This is all because of you, Itachi. Its only thanks to you that I was able to do it. This happened back at Tazuna's house on our 72-hour training."

- Begin Flashback: Itachi's mind 36 hours into the training-

I was taking a break while Naruto was busy with Hinata and I saw something that looked like a door. I opened it and it took me to a labyrinth, but not an usual one with walls. This one was all stairs and doors. But the stairs were in every angle, some were sideways others had no end, and there were doors everywhere. All of it was black, and gray and the doors were as if made of mahogany wood. I ventured to see what it was and I opened a few doors. They looked as if past memories. Memories of the 3rd Great ninja war, memories of Shisui, and some had memories of your time in Akatsuki. Then I heard a noise. I did not know what it was at first but then it became clearer and clearer. It was like something was smashing against the door. Something wanted to get out. After a few minutes in the maze I finally found the source. It was different than the others. The door was painted red and had different markings. And the door knob was rattling like crazy. For a moment I hesitated to open it, since I didn't know what it could be, but I decided I would check it out. I got closer to the door, and I didn't notice but the maze was slowly fading as I walked closer to the knob. I stretched my hand to grab it and before my fingers felt the cold metal the door opened by itself and all I saw was two great yellow eyes looking right at mine and then a huge paw with powerful claws grabbed my whole body and yanked me to the inside. The door slammed itself behind me and the claw's grip was so powerful it made me pass out. When I regained consciousness I was on top of a great mountain, no other peak could be seen, only a sea of white clouds was at my feet. Before I could even ask myself where I was, thunder and lightning filled the air. A pillar of dark clouds rose in front of me. The same yellow eyes made their way through them. Then two powerful black wings sprung from the pillar. Then the tail, and then the powerful paw that grabbed me met the top of the mountain where I was. With a thunderous roar the lightning stopped and the clouds subsided revealing the massive dragon.

"At last. An Uchiha has found his way to me. Through out the ages, I have come to have many names. Apep, Apophis Isfet,. But you shall call me Rerek, as your predecessors have" said the mighty dragon as it neared its nostrils at me. [A/N: Read about Apophis here apep]

"I don't know why or where you have come from, Rerek, but I warn you: if you try to harm me or my brother I swear on my pride as an Uchiha, there will be no rest for you." I told the dragon.

The dragon began to laugh and his laughter sounded like thunder through the heavens.

"Why do you laugh, dragon?" I said getting a little angry.

"Protecting your family, selfless sacrifice, upholding your pride: this are the qualities that I have missed for so long. You are indeed an Uchiha. What is your name, boy?" said Rerek as he laughed at my words.

"Uchiha Sasuke"

"Sasuke, eh? Judging from your previous words, when you mentioned your brother, I guess this is not your mind, am I right?"

"That's right"

"Does your brother use any summons of crows by any chance?"

"How do you know?"

"Those infernal screeching don't let me sleep. But thanks to that I have good news for you, Sasuke. You are the last Uchiha capable of handling this power as your brother already has a contract with another summon clan. Congratulations Uchiha Sasuke, you are the new and only wielder of the summon of the Dragon of Chaos, Rerek"

The sky darkened once more, the dragon stood on his back legs and opened his wings letting out a roar. But the roar looked more like a cry of freedom rather than a roar of accomplishment. He would be useful once more. With an incredibly fast motion his fangs found its way to my arm, and I clenched myself to feel the pain, but it never came.

-End Flashback-

"I forgot I was still inside your mind. But there was no bite marks even though I saw its fangs ripping my flesh. Only this was left" said Sasuke as he showed his brother the mark once again.

"The Mark of Isfet. That's why it felt familiar. Almost every Uchiha is capable of unlocking him, but only after he or she achieves the complete sharingan, and finds him in his own mind, which is the hardest thing to do for us. Its easy to enter other's mind using genjutsu, but looking into yourself is not a feat easily achieved" said Itachi as the information flooded his mind.

"But that is not all that it gave you is it, Sasuke?"

"That's right nii-san. It gave me something else. Something, that made me change my whole training in there" answered the younger Uchiha.

Very few things surprised Itachi, so he wanted to know badly. "Can you show it to me?"

- O.0.o.0.O -