That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.
~Friedrich Nietzsche
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
It's silent. Not a natural silence though, not a serene silence. There are no birds chirping, no bubbling river, no wind blowing through the trees. Everything is still. It's silent.
Mitsuko stands as still as a statue in the center of a large clearing, surrounded by dozens of slain shinobi. Their blood paints the greenery a deep crimson. She hates the color.
One man rises. Mitsuko's eyes flit over to him, bored, uninterested. Seeing her complete lack of any emotion, her completely dismissive air, her 'killing your friends took nothing more than a flick of my wrist' attitude, he snaps.
His eyes take on a hint of insanity, of raw berserker fury. It's a look she's seen too many times to count. She doesn't allow herself to feel regret.
The shinobi only takes two steps before her shadow lashes out, almost too fast for even the trained eye to follow. Mitsuko sees the flash of panic in the man's eyes, fear overtaking the blind fury.
No regret.
The thin black shadow races up his body and wraps itself around his neck. One twitch of her finger and a sickening crack resonates through the once more silent clearing.
No. Regret.
"Once again your work never fails to impress Mitsuko-san."
"Thank you Leader-sama."
As a Nara, Mitsuko is intimately acquainted with the darkness. She lives in it, takes comfort in it. However, there's a line. Nara children are taught from a young age never to cross the line, never to give the darkness power over you, never push yourself too far, never lose yourself in your shadow. The darkness is a friend to the Nara's yes, but it is darkness nonetheless, one slip up could lead to damage beyond repair.
Not physical damage of course, mental damage, spiritual damage. Much, much more dangerous. There's a barely present line when one manipulates shadows. Shadows are tied to the spirit, and the spirit is a dangerous thing to mess with indeed. It's easy to lose one's self in the shadows.
It's why family and friends are so cherished in the Nara clan. Those are the people who help you when the darkness gets too much. When you get lost in your own shadow. They pull you back from its grasp, show you the light again.
Mitsuko no longer has anyone to show her the light. And being a member of the Akatsuki is continuously forcing her to push past her limits. Not a good combination in the slightest.
"I am one with my shadow, my shadow is not me. I am one with my shadow, my shadow is not me. I am one with my shadow, my shadow is not me." Mitsuko chants to herself, eyes staring straight ahead but seeing nothing but black. Cuts line her arms, legs, and torso; some have begun to scab over, but the majority are still dripping blood.
"I am one with my shadow, my shadow is not me." It's a chant that many Nara use to remind themselves that though they are one with their shadow, they are still their own individual person. It helps them focus, to come back from the darkness.
You killed them. It's her voice, yet not at the same time. It's more sinister, more bloodthirsty. All those children. Children just having started their life. One day he will be one of those children.
"I am one with my shadow, my shadow is not me." Mitsuko tries to block it out, to will the voice away but it's never that simple.
Ah but I am you, no matter how much you try and deny it.
"I am one with my shadow, my shadow is not me."
All that blood. Humans contain so much blood, it looks so delectable. Don't you just love the color?
"I am one with my shadow, my shadow is not me."
Mitsuko is in for a long night.
"It is rare to see you outside of your quarters Mitsuko-san." A deep voice comments thoughtfully as the woman enters the 'living room'. It's the center of the base and has one sofa and three chairs. Not very homely.
"The same can be said about you Sasori-san." She replies lazily, taking a seat in the chair farthest from the puppet master.
Excluding Konan and Leader, Sasori is the least likely to make an attempt on her life despite hos connection to Orochimaru. Well, she's not so sure about Itachi yet. He hasn't triggered any alarms thus far, he's quiet, keeps to himself, much like her.
Still, he did murder his entire family save his little brother. Just the thought of trying to figure out that mess gives Mitsuko a headache, the last thing she needs after her breakdown.
"Were you familiar with the Uchiha boy before you left the village?" Sasori questions. He wants information, anything useable to make his puppets defendable against Itachi. The puppet master is smart; Mitsuko gives him that. In another world the pair might have been friends.
"Everyone in my village was familiar with the infamous Uchiha prodigy." Mituko comments offhandedly, dragging out the word infamous sarcastically. "I never got the chance to work with him personally. A shame."
Mitsuko knew about Itachi the moment the extent of his abilities was discovered. Everyone did. He was a commonly discussed topic amongst the ANBU. From what the Nara gathered he too became an ANBU captain not long after she defected.
"Maybe Leader-sama will pair the two of you together, the two of you obviously have much in common." The puppet master suggests thoughtfully. It's something Mitsuko herself has considered and dismissed.
"I work better alone, Leader-sama knows that. Besides, Juzo is also in need of a partner. That pairing would no doubt be more advantageous." Mitsuko replies lazily.
"Kakazu is also in need of a partner." Sasori points out and Mistuko scoffs.
"Itachi is too valuable to be placed with Kakazu. I have no doubt of the boy's abilities but no one can really be a match to an immortal." Their immortal comrade is notorious for killing his partners. He's been through three so far.
"You make a valid point." Sasori concedes. "You don't think you could be a match for Kakazu?"
Mitsuko smirks. Trying to get her to openly admit her own weaknesses, he has guts.
"Let's hope I never have to find out." She replies, avoiding the question. "Well, it's been a delight talking to you as always Sasori-san, but I think I've had enough social interaction for one day."
"You should come out of your room more often Mitsuko-san, it's nice to have a logical conversation with someone once in a while."
More like he wants more opportunities to scope out weaknesses.
"I'll consider it."
Mitsuko feels the eyes on her as she lazily saunters back to her room. Not Sasori's eyes, no, the eyes of her new comrade. It seems the interest goes both ways then.
A/N: I have no excuse for me absence other than laziness and having no motivation to write. Hope you enjoyed, give me feedback!