Title: Gold eyes
Chapter: 14
Word count: 2,046
Summary: Freedom, something we all take for granted, but what if suddenly all of that freedom was taken away, that happened to once such person. Her name is Ari this is her story. Deidaraxoc
Authors note: Hello everyone! Sorry for the long wait, I'm back from holidays and I have re-written the Prologue so go check it out and tell me what you think! Every review is greatly appreciated.
Itachi walked into Ari's hospital room. Deidara had long since left, having to run errands for Leader-Sama. Simple errands, letter delivery and whatnot. Itachi smirked to himself; he may or may not have had anything to do with those errands. He did need to talk to Ari. As he entered the room, he heard soft snoring. Looking to the bed, he saw Ari sleeping. She was covered in bandages, and her once long hair was cut short. It stood up in small spikes, like a kind of birds crest. Walking over to her bedside, he observed her for a short moment; she looked like she did all those years ago, when everything was perfect. Pushing the thoughts out of his head, he tapped Ari on her left cheek. In response she mumbled, groaned then her golden eyes fluttered open.
"Itachiii can't I sleep for a little longer?!" she groaned. "Tell Sensei I'm sick or something," she rolled over and attempted to return to her beloved slumber, Itachi's eyes widened at what Ari had said. It really was just like old times. Banishing that train of thought to the darkest corner of his mind, he pulled the covers off Ari abruptly.
"What... What was that for?" she mumbled, rubbing sleep from her eyes, completely un-aware of what had occurred moments ago.
"We need to talk," he replied monotonously.
Ari sat up, for a moment her eyes locked with Itachi's Sharingān lit eyes, before he looked away.
"What did I do?" she muttered.
Had she done something wrong? Displeased Leader-Sama? Was it during the fight? Had she messed up? Mentally she went over everything she had done in the fight with Leader-Sama.
"At the end of your fight with me you used some strange form of Jutsu, I believe it to be some form of gravity manipulation," a voice emanated from the door. Ari's head swivelled to see the orange haired Leader-Sama standing at the doorway ominously.
"Gravity manipulation?..."
"Shinra Tensei is a form of gravity manipulation, but what you used was far more advanced," he explained, as his ringed Rennigān eyes seemed to ripple with anger.
"When you are well you will be going on a mission with Kakuzu and Hidan. Do not attempt to use the gravity manipulation during said mission," he stated with a no nonsense tone, before abruptly turning and walking away.
"Hn"
VVVVVVVV
Standing at the entrance to the headquarters, Ari waited, her new team nowhere to be seen. Patiently waiting, she began to fiddle with the feathers on her wings. As minutes passed she began to become angry. Where were they? Hidan was usually late, often because of a ritual. Kakuzu, however, was always punctual, extremely punctual.
From the entrance suddenly emerged a bloody Kakuzu and Hidan with new stiches. Ari sighed, now it made sense, Kakuzu had gotten angry and cut Hidan's head off, so they were late because Kakuzu had to sew it back on.
"I apologise for our lateness, Hidan here was being a twat again," Kakuzu stated, whacking Hidan harshly over the head.
"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAY KAKUZU!?" Hidan roared angrily.
Kakuzu turned to glare at the silver haired zealot, then whacked him over the head once more.
"We best be heading off, we are late enough as it is," Kakuzu commanded, beginning to walk.
Hidan groaned and followed the older man, rubbing his neck where the new stiches had come loose. Ari took off after them, walking in the comfortable silence that followed.
"Hey Kakuzu, where are we headed?" Ari asked.
"To the rice country. There is a scroll we need to obtain," Kakuzu answered, not breaking his stride, or even turning to face Ari.
"As long as I get to fucking kill some arseholes I'm fine with this shit," Hidan yelled, grinning maniacally.
"Hidan," Ari whispered.
"What?" He retorted.
"What does Kakuzu's face look like?"
Lowering his voice, Hidan said:
"All stitchy and shit you know, like something outta some horror movie or some shit like that," He replied, still whispering.
Sighing, Kakuzu turned around and fixed the two oddities with a bored glare.
"You two are behaving like children," he stated, deadpan.
The rest of the trek was silent, disturbed only by the occasional whispers of Ari and Hidan, or the songs of birds.
Much to Ari's relief night finally fell, she was tired. Kakuzu had set an incredibly fast pace for her, night was a blessing, a chance for her to rest. Ari understood why Kakuzu had forbidden her to fly, it would attract too much attention to their small group.
"I will take first watch. At midnight, Ari, you will take over. Whenever you feel tired, awake Hidan to keep watch in your place," Kakuzu commanded, as the group set up their sleeping equipment.
A small two man tent was erected in the middle of the clearing. Ari stared at it. Was she meant to share a tent with Hidan? As in actually sleep next to him? She was fine with sleeping next to Itachi, she had done that many times. During her missions as a Jōnin, Ari and Itachi had known each other since kindergarten.
Much to Kakuzu's disdain Hidan had lit a small fire and was cooking some form of meat over it. Where Hidan had found said meat, she did not want to know. Sitting around the camp fire the small team was silent. The two original members of the pair were not used to another 'intruder' in their odd partnership .A cough broke the silence, it was Kakuzu. He stood up.
"You two best head off to sleep, we have another day of travel ahead," he said clearly.
Ari mirrored his command and scampered off to the tent hoping to get in ahead of Hidan, and secure her spot for the night. Far, far away from the silver haired man.
Laying down and snuggling into her sleeping bag, she tried to avoid seeing Hidan. it was awkward enough already. A chuckle emanated from the direction of Hidan, lifting her head Ari's eyes met with Hidan's striking violet ones.
"Don't worry Ari, I aint gonna any do stupid shit," he said as he lay down on the other side of the tent.
Relief poured off Ari in waves. Slowly sleep consumed her.
VVVVVVVV
A young Ari ran through the streets of Konohagakure, her long plated hair racing out behind her as she ran. Ducking through streets heading towards the Uchicha residence, toward her one and only friend Itachi Uchicha. As she entered the residence she was greeted by shouts of:
"Hey Ari!"
"What's the rush?"
Friendly smiles and other such gestures also followed. As she arrived at the main house, belonging to the head of the family, she slowed and removed her shoes before walking inside.
"Itachi-san!" she called.
"He's out in the forest training, dear," Mikoto Uchicha called.
She was Itachi's mother and a kind woman who thought of Ari as the daughter she never had.
"Thanks!" Ari called back before running out to the forest that both she and Itachi trained in.
As Ari had guessed, Itachi was there training himself into a state of exhaustion. Walking up to the puffing form of Itachi, Ari smiled and said:
"Hey 'tachi,"
He panted in response. Ari surveyed the training ground. There were targets everywhere, all with four or five kunai embedded in their centre. A giant rock was in the centre of all the targets. It was blackened on one side however, the effects of Itachi's Katon were catastrophic, and this damage was from a small one.
"Were you working on Katon: Ryūka no Jutsu again?" Ari asked,
Katon: Ryūka no Jutsu was much like the Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu, the favoured attack of many Uchicha clansmen. All Uchicha learnt the Jutsu, as once they learnt it they were allowed to wear the Uchicha crest. Until that Jutsu was mastered wearing the symbol was forbidden.
Katon: Ryūka no Jutsu was far more powerful than Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu. It was so powerful that it could melt rock. However, Itachi hadn't mastered it yet. He trained constantly trying to master the Jutsu.
Sighing, Ari handed her friend a flask of water. He took it gratefully, downing it in seconds. The Jutsu left his thought raw.
"Honestly Itachi, I wonder if you are actually sane sometimes. And people say I'm the odd one," Ari laughed, helping an exhausted Itachi to his feet.
And walked him along the dirt track that led back to the Uchicha residence. The short walk home was a silent one.
"WAHH! WAHH!" Sasuke wailed.
He was barely a month old. Ari cooed at the tiny baby, a mess of black hair adorned his perfectly round head. Itachi was lying on the couch, his eyes closed, sleeping. Smirking, Ari picked the still wailing Sasuke up and placed him gently on Itachi's lap. One onyx eye cracked open and saw his beloved younger brother nestled in his arms. Satisfied that there was no danger Itachi closed his eyes and drifted back into dreamland.
VVVVVVVV
Suddenly Ari awoke. Her whole world was shaking. Then she realised that it wasn't the world that was shaking, it was her. As her vision cleared she saw Kakuzu crouching in front of her, frowning.
"Get up," He commanded.
Yawning, Ari obeyed, stumbling out of the tent to be greeted by the silence of the night, an occasional owl hooting. Rubbing her eyes, she made her way to one of the trees that surrounded the camp and clambered up it, settling in one of the branches. She could see the whole camp and most of its surroundings. Taking out her Katana, she began to sharpen and polish it as the night wore on.
Ari heard them before long before she saw them, a quiet yet unmistakeable rustle of grass. Whipping her head around, the source of the rustling was revealed. It was a group of Taki ninja, Jōnin by the look of their vests. They were crouched in the trees, staring straight at the small tent and coal filled fire pit. Silently Ari drew her Katana from its sheath, holding it aloft, ready for attack. Her eyes assessed the small team. There were five of them, all seasoned Jōnin. However, there was one to the back who appeared to be nervous. An occasional tremble racked his body.
She watched as the leader signalled to the rest of his team. Ari knew that signal. It was generic for 'go'. The team were gone in the blink of an eye. They surrounded the camp site, keeping to the trees. The younger one, who still trembled, stopped beneath the tree Ari was situated in.
Pulling a senbon from a pouch on the inside of her newly acquired cloak she threw it expertly at the Taki nin below her. The poor sod never stood a chance. The small projectile went through the back of his neck, blood exploding from the wound. He fell to the forest floor with a soft thump. In an instant the rest of the team had surrounded the ninja's body. Before looking up towards the tree Ari sat in.
She wasn't there.
Suddenly one of the ninja's backs exploded in blood, covering her teammates in star shaped crimson splatters. One by one each ninja fell, they stood no chance. Short, powerful gusts of wind felled each shinobi, until only the captain remained. He stood on high alert, his body rigid, covered in the blood of his teammates. A black blur landed in front of the final remaining shinobi. His eyes widened as he recognized her from the bingo book. Then, with horrifying violence his neck exploded in a fountain of blood. Ari, her job done, sat in her tree, frowning. She did not like killing.