Chapter Four
"Hikari…I can't deal with this right now."
Hikari's eyes went wide. "What?"
"I have…a previous engagement that must very soon be met."
"You've never just put me off before. What's the matter?"
"Nothing that concerns you."
Hikari glared. "If it concerns you and your clan then it does concern me. I'm going to marry you in two weeks, aren't I."
Itachi frowned and turned away. "That is currently up for debate."
"…Itachi…what's going on?"
"It is…complicated."
"I'll listen."
"I don't have time to explain."
"Can I come then?"
Itachi eyed his fiancée up and down judgingly. "Not like that. Come with me."
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The council room was buzzing with voices as the surviving members of the Council of Elders sat gathered around the short table. At the end of the table, opposite where the clan head would reside, sat Uchiha Kenta. The seventeen year old ninja smirked in triumph as he heard the buzz of the council leaning more and more in his favor.
Perfect.
Several more minutes of discussion passed before the shoji door at the head of the room slid open, revealing the commanding form of the clan leader, Uchiha Itachi. His tall frame sent a stern shadow across the table as the mid-morning sun streamed in behind him. To his left Hikari stood, just as regally, dressed in a simple navy kimono that many of the elders recognized as once belonging to Uchiha Meili, Itachi's mother and the late clan mistress.
"Itachi-sama!" Uchiha Godai, one of the senior members of the council, said. "What is the meaning of this? Only those of the Uchiha name are permitted to enter into the room while the council is held. That girl is not welcomed here."
"This girl," Itachi said. "Will soon be wedded into our clan as the Mistress of both the Uchiha and Haruno houses. It would be wise to include her in whatever plans you intend to make on her behalf. Haruno-san is not one to easily comply with the whims of those who believe that they hold power."
A ripple of unease spread through the members of the council as the words of their clan leader rang through out the room. He was indeed a powerful speaker.
Irritated by the delay Kenta decided that he would be the one to bring the council to order.
"Itachi," Kenta said. "I challenge you for leadership."
Or chaos…
Complete shock is what filled the large room. The disrespect that fell from Kenta's words was easily detected and the Elders were at a loss as to whether they should disarm the boy or support him. Either way, there was going to be bloodshed. Whether it was proverbial or physical was yet to be decided.
Itachi's cool black eyes slowly slid to the sneering face of his cousin. His boredom at the other boy's words radiating from his every move.
"And should I accept?"
"Then we shall contend in the manor that our tradition demands. Should I triumph you will be stripped of your title and I shall be granted leadership of the clan. This would include, of course, all of your…engagements as the current head."
The double meaning of Kenta's words did not escape Itachi, and his eyes narrowed darkly. "I believe that tradition demands a legitimate reason for the issue of a challenge, cousin. What is yours?"
Kenta's sneer widened to a smirk. "Your brother, Itachi. My reason is Sasuke."
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Ichigo stumbled back from the door in shock. She had, of course, heard of these challenges before but she never imagined that Itachi, of all people, would have his authority threatened. And over Sasuke no less.
Her mind raced a mile a minute but she knew that before anything else, she had to tell Kyo. He couldn't let this happen. Not to Hikari. She had never formally met Kenta but she had heard enough about him from Hikari, Yotaro, and Tenten to know that he was not a good person. And to have Hikari be forced to marry him? To pass the future of the Haruno clan to him?
Ichigo shuddered. It was unthinkable.
Quickly she turned to run down the hall, her foot steps light and silent as she raced for the entrance of the Main house to fetch her shoes. She was just rounding the last corner when she collided, rather abruptly, with another person, sending her petite frame crashing hard to the floor.
"Haruno?" Sasuke raised a brow. "Why are you here?"
"S-Sasuke-san," Ichigo said. "Itachi! He's been challenged! Kenta is trying to steal his leadership."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed and he dropped to one knee next to the girl. "What is his position of challenge based upon? What is his reason?"
"H-he said that his reason was you Sasuke-san. What does he mean by that? Does he mean what happened four years ago?"
Sasuke cursed and leapt to his feet. "Find your brother." Was all he said as he sprinted down the hall in the direction of the council room.
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"I don't believe a name is reason enough to issue a challenge Kenta-san." Itachi said. Stressing his cousin's inferior title.
"Quite the contrary, Itachi-sama," Godai said. "We are all very much in accordance with Kenta-san on this matter. Your brother is a very legitimate reason for challenge."
"That isn't fair!" Hikari said. "You can't blame Itachi, Sasuke! for something that they had no control over! You know as well as I do that Sasuke wasn't himself that night!"
"Silence!" Godai said. "You insolent child! How dare you presume to know the goings on of the House of Uchiha!"
"I 'presume' because I was there!" Hikari said. "You have no right to silence me! As future clan mistress it is my right and obligation to defend those who are not present to defend themselves!"
"Hikari." Itachi's voice was soft, but it easily calmed his future wife. Outwardly he showed no emotion but inside he was proud of Hikari for making such a valiant stand as the Lady Uchiha. For now though, her words would do nothing. Only action would satisfy the lust for vengeance that ran raw throughout the room.
Before anyone had a chance to speak further however, the pounding of feet reached their ears as the shoji screen slammed open revealing the bare chested, pajama clad, boy in question.
Sasuke's anger was nearly palpable as he lifted his chin and stepped into the room. His odd appearance was greatly muted by his commanding eyes and stern face. It was the presence of a man prepared for war.
"My brother, shall not be stepping down as head of the Uchiha Clan."
"Sasuke," Itachi said, but his brother paid him no mind.
"That has yet to be decided, Sasuke-sama," Godai said, his distain for the title dripping from the word like venom. "A legitimate challenge has been issued concerning his leadership and as such it shall be followed through."
"No." Sasuke said. "A challenge has been issued concerning my place within this clan."
The elders shifted uneasily and another, Uchiha Naido, spoke up. "That may be so, but it is your brother's position as leader that holds you bound to our clan."
"Is this the only objection you have to my brother's authority?"
A soft murmur ran through the gathered men and women before Naido nodded. "It is as you say."
"Then strike me."
Dead silence filled the room before Itachi spoke up.
"That is not an option Sasuke!" He said. "I accept the challenge elders!"
None of them paid him any mind.
"You wish us to strike you Sasuke-sama?" Uchiha Aiko said. "Do you fully understand what that entails?"
Sasuke's chin rose. "I do."
"Very well," Godai said. "As the council of elders we speak with one voice. Uchiha Sasuke-sama is here-by stricken from the records of the Uchiha Clan and shall no further be associated with us by that name. Uchiha Sasuke, you are now dead to us."
"No!" Itachi said. "Don't do this! I accepted Kenta's challenge!"
"It is too late Itachi-sama. The voice of the council has spoken."
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"Sasuke!" Itachi said as he angrily followed his brother down the hall. "Sasuke you will listen when I speak to you!"
Hikari sighed as her fiancé turned the corner and disappeared from sight. Her mind was in turmoil as she leaned heavily against the wall and crossed her arms across her chest. She longed for the last half an hour to be stricken from time but it was impossible. There was no way to re-install Sasuke as a part of the Uchiha clan with out the full and unanimous approval of every member of the clan. However the possibility of such an event taking place was impossible. To many of the survivors held animosity for the now clan-less young boy.
"I suppose that you're relieved aren't you."
Hikari started at the sudden venom filled voice and she quickly turned to find the source.
"Kenta. What do you want?"
"Rather weak a response for the woman who will soon become the Clan Mistress." Kenta sneered and followed a half circle around the girl until he stood right next to her. "How badly do you wish to over take my clan? Is it enough to subjugate yourself to me?"
Hikari nearly gagged as she jerked away from Kenta, her neck tingling in disgust from the brush of his breath.
"You rat. Leave me alone or—."
"Or what? You'll scream for your precious Itachi? Don't make me laugh. That fool is to far centered on his pathetic brother." His finger traced down Hikari's cheek. "It's just you and me."
A loud crack rang through the hall and Kenta let out a loud scream as he crumpled to the ground, clutching his bloody finger.
Hikari glared down her nose at the pathetic display. "Leave me alone or next time I will break your hand."
Once Hikari was gone from sight Kenta lifted his hand to gaze hatefully at his mangled finger.
"I'll get you for this Haruno." He hissed. "Mark my words. You will pay."
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Sasuke's door slammed as his now ex-older brother closed it angrily behind him.
"Is there something I can help you with Uchiha-sama?"
Something inside of Itachi snapped and his hand flew forward to slap his brother hard across his cheek.
"Don't be smart with me Sasuke!" He said, his voice ragged with emotion. "Why didn't you let me handle it? Why didn't you let me protect you?"
Sasuke kept his face turned away. His cheek was stinging from the slap and his eyes were burning with tears.
"This time it was my turn to protect you."
Itachi's shoulders shook but no tears escaped his eyes. No sobs fell from his lips.
"You aren't supposed to protect me Sasuke. I'm the oldest."
Sasuke glanced up at his brother before he turned away fully to wipe his tears. "Don't worry Itachi. Someday…someday I'll be good enough to be welcomed back. I'll be accepted again. I swear it."
With that said Sasuke collected his few belongings that were not associated with his former clan and he left.
No good-bye. Just a simple promise.
He chuckled brokenly as he slumped down onto his now 'dead' brother's bed. For the first time in his life, Uchiha Itachi felt the bitter taste of absolute defeat.
End Chapter Four
Kaliea: I know it's a lot shorter then the last one but a lot still happened, huh? Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed it. Until next time, ja ne!
Review Answers:
hot-ninja-babe : I'm glad you enjoy this story. It's fun to write.
grim reaper sakura: Sakura is Hikari's world now. Ever since her parents were killed she's worried over every instant where Sakura could be put in danger. She is very over protective. So much that it is to the point where it might do more harm then good.
Taeniaea: I'll do my best with the updates but I promise nothing.
Slstmaraudersjple: Thank you for your compliments! I love my stories a great deal but I assure you that there are a great many that are better. I'm still a novice writer; there are some out there that write like pros.
Dragon Man 180: She would under normal circumstances but Hikari is a bit preoccupied currently. I'm sure that she'll remember to tell Sakura off in a week or two.
Kaliea: Thanks so much for your support. I hope that you all continue to review. It really means a lot to me. Thanks again!
