Uchiha Mana

CHAPTER 13

The first time that Mana met Suigetsu was when Orochimaru was during one of her brother’s training and Orochimaru’s request for Shuuya’s presence. She had to admit that the man was impressive when it came to his technique, especially his anatomy. She remembered Shuuya trying to cut Suigetsu in half, but only had the shark-like-boy detach himself from the other half that was cut but still kept his mouth blabbering about anything.

“STAY f*****g STILL YOU –” Shuuya said, pissed as he tried to kill Suigetsu with Yatagarasu.

“You’re losing your cool, Natsukasa.” Suigetsu teased.

“SHUT UP!”

Suigetsu laughed as Shuuya continued to chop him up, but even in quarters, Suigetsu was still laughing and mocking Shuuya as he continued to try and chop the water-man.

To say that she was fond of Suigetsu was slightly true, that things that came out of his mouth wasn’t the most ideal thing for young girls to hear, but his humor would make Mana smile – a little – and she remembered Shuuya teasing him about his ability and his physic.

“Suigetsu. I’m here to get you out.”

With a fast s***h of Kusanagi, the glass had a clean cut and spilled out the water inside. From the puddle that was on the floor, a hand came out and pulled itself out. Before the two Uchihas, a man with purple eyes, white hair and shark-like teeth appeared. Sasuke took a step-in front of Mana, covering her sight of Suigetsu.

“With you freeing me from this prison.” Suigetsu began. “Means that you finally defeated Orochimaru.”

“Suigetsu, you’re the first, after you we’ll go to the southern and western hideout for Juugo and Karin.” Sasuke said.

“Them?” Suigetsu scoffed. “Not that I’m complaining, but I’ve never actually got along with those two…” his eyes went to the shadow that was behind Sasuke. “I see that someone else is here as well.”

“I’m taking a guess that this is the youngest Uchiha…” Suigetsu smirked. “Uchiha Mana.”

Mana took a step to the light, enough for Suigetsu to see her face, and enough for her to see Suigetsu’s eyes. She had an emotionless look on her face, bored mostly.

“I’ve heard some things about your Imouto, Sasuke…” Suigetsu grinned. “I heard that she killed Natsukasa Shuuya, about damn time that guy is permanently taken down, if you ask me, no matter how many tries I tried, he just won’t stay dead. So, is it true?”

“Who are you?” Mana questioned as she approached them. When the person refused to answer, she reached out her hand to grab their mask. “Fine, then I’ll see for myself –”

A burning pain was felt at abdomen. Looking down, Mana saw a katana stabbed right through her body. The blade coming out her stomach. She turned to the person that was captured by her centipedes, but found them missing.

Crap! They’re behind me!

The shinobi in black held their katana and was slowly pulling it out. Mana let out an agonizing grunt as they did it. And once it was out, Mana fell on her knees on the ground and clutched her wound. Behind her, the shinobi raised their katana, about to kill her --

It will heal, now move!

She turned to the person, her Sharingan glaring into their eyes. And everything was turning to flames – even he was burning!

Genjutsu! the shinobi thought. Just as they managed to get out of the Genjutsu, the shinobi felt a stabbing pain at the chest, right at their heart. Looking down, he saw a blade coming out of his chest. He turned and saw Mana standing behind him, with her ninjatō deep in his body.

“Now, I’m going to ask again, who are you?” Mana asked.

The shinobi let out a bloody chuckle.

“Straight to the heart, good one, Sukoshi…”

Everything stopped.

The shinobi reached up and took off his mask, and his hood, revealing a head full of white hair.

“Shu… Shuuya…”

Mana immediately pulled out her ninjatō and went to help Shuuya, but the boy fell on the ground, knees first, then his body. Mana helped Shuuya to lay on his back. Tears threatened to spill as she saw the damage she has done.

“Sukoshi…”

“I can fix this!” Mana said as she tried to think of something.

“Mana…”

“Don’t talk, I can fix this! I’ll bring you to Kabuto! He’ll know what to do –”

A hand on her face made her stop. Turning to look at Shuuya, she saw his eyes. It was the first time since she met him did, she saw him in peace.

“Mana, don’t.”

“What do you mean don’t? I can help you!”

“I’ve always wanted to die in the hands of a beautiful woman…” Shuuya said. “Just stay here…”

“Why?” Mana cried. “Why did you do this?”

“Training.” Shuuya let out a cynical chuckle.

“f**k training!” Mana swore. “This isn’t training!”

“Don’t worry about it, Sukoshi.” Shuuya said. “It was always supposed to end this way.”

“No… it wasn’t!”

First Oto-san and Oka-san, now you?! Mana thought.

“Please, let me help you…”

“Then come closer.” Shuuya said.

Complying, Mana leaned down to Shuuya, expected him to whisper something to her ear, a way to save him, but instead, Shuuya placed his lips on hers. In shock, Mana didn’t know what to do but stay in place; she could taste Shuuya’s blood in her mouth. After a while, Shuuya pulled away and rested his head on the grass.

“Shuuya…” She said.

“Always wanted to do that.” He panted as he tried to hold on for a little more time. Enough for him to memorize every inch of Mana and picture how she would look like once she’s grown.

So, this is it…

“Gomen, Mana…”

Shuuya died with his eyes open. His once gold and lively eyes turned gray and dead, and his smile fell. A loud scream of pain was heard in the quiet forest. It was loud enough for Sasuke to hear, who was still halfway to where Mana was.

Sasuke arrived to where he heard the yelling. When he came though, all he saw was the sight of his sister digging, and beside her was a covered body of a person.

“Mana…” He called.

Stopping from her actions, Mana turned to her brother. Sasuke’s breath hitched at the sight of her, and it wasn’t the sight of the blood that was stained on her clothes, but her eyes. Her Sharingan’s pattern were like of a flower. He’s seen that kind of Sharingan, but in a different pattern.

Mangekyou Sharingan… she… did she…

A sob pulled him out of his reverie. Mana was crying.

“Onii-san…” she began. “Gomen… gomen…”

Sasuke went to Mana’s side and pulled her to a hug.

“I killed him! I killed him!”

Sasuke said nothing but he let his sister cry on his shoulder.

“We’re not here to talk about rumors.” Mana spoke, boredom in her tone, and started to walk away.

“Get some clothes on.” Sasuke said, following after her sister.

“Why, afraid that your sister will see something she’s not meant to see?” Suigetsu teased.

“There’s nothing much to see anyway.” Mana mocked, knowing what strings to pull to piss people like Suigetsu.

“WHAT DID SHE SAY?!”

One their way out of the hideout, Suigetsu kept on rambling about what Mana said about him earlier, and the whole time Mana just kept quiet and lets the shark-like man to boost his pride. But after seeing that he was not going to get anything from the youngest Uchiha, Suigetsu finally went to business.

“You know, Sasuke, I was wondering what happened to my Zabuza-senpai’s sword.”

“It’s still in his grave.” Sasuke said, remembering facing the merciless man and his apprentice, but he then shook it away.

“If you want me to join, I’ll be needing that sword, Sasuke.” Suigetsu said.

~*~

They stood before the bridge of Kikigakure. They stopped before the entrance of the bridge, reading the name that was erected at the top.

“The Great Naruto Bridge.” Suigetsu read. “What a weird name.”

A smile crept to Mana’s lips at the name of the bridge.

“Naruto-kun.” She muttered to herself.

Sasuke glanced down at Mana. A frown on his face.

“You said something, chibi?” Suigetsu asked.

“None of your business.” Mana said, and once again took the lead. “and it’s Mana.”

~*~

“It’s not here.”

They stood before the graves of Zabuza and Haku. Two crosses were placed as a mark, and just as Suigetsu said, the sword – where it was said to be – was gone. Suigetsu turned to Sasuke, asking him about the sword.

“Oi, Sasuke, was it really here?” Suigetsu asked.

“Yeah.” Sasuke answered.

“But it’s gone. How could it have happened?”

“Does it look like we’re a grave-guardian?” Mana mused.

“What the hell is your problem, chibi?” Suigetsu asked.

“My name is ‘Mana’!”

“If it’s gone then someone must’ve taken it.” Sasuke said.

“I guess so, it’s not like it grew legs and ran away.” Suigetsu said, he turned back to the Uchiha siblings. “Gomen, Sasuke, but since that sword isn’t here, coming with you is postponed.”

They were walking along the streets, passing the houses and stalls. Mana looked around the place and noticed how different it was from Konoha. The whole time they were walking she kept her pace be a few steps ahead of Suigetsu.

“So, what are you going to do?” Sasuke asked.

“I’m going to look for it of course.”

“For generations, the Seven Great Shinobi Swordsmen had a system where they passed down their swords. I admired those seven and was trained by them. So, now that Zabuza-senpai is gone, that Throat Cleaver belongs to me – ”

A man came and bumped into Suigetsu.

“Where the hell are you looking while walking? You retarded asshole!” the person exclaimed at him.

Suigetsu was about tell off the man, but Sasuke stopped him. But the man noticed his actions.

“Hey, hey! You got a problem with me bed –” With Sasuke’s glare, the man stuttered and started to retreat, muttering his words earlier backwards. “Pay attention, will you!”

“You’re quite the kind guy, Sasuke.” Suigetsu said. “So, how are you gonna make up for hindering my revenge there?”

“How about we get the sword?” Mana mused.

“I have something else in mind.” Suigetsu grinned mischievously.

~*~

Blushing, hormonal women crowded the table where Sasuke, Mana and Suigetsu sat. As the shark-like man enjoyed his yogurt, and Sasuke having no care to what was happening, Mana was trying to enjoy her tea while women swoon over her brother. Some things just don’t change.

“This yogurt is the best!” Suigetsu moaned in delight. “It’s been a while since I had it! They don’t really serve yogurt at the tank menu!”

“You’re fine with goofing off here?” Sasuke asked.

“Like, aren’t you the one in a hurry?” Suigetsu pointed his spoon at him. “What’s the plan once our little adventure group is set?”

“I’ll let you know when all three of you are together.” Sasuke said.

“Alright, we’ll take that which is beneath the heavens or something like that!”

“You guys can go and take whatever you want. What we’ll be doing is something far greater.”

“And by ‘we’ you mean, you two.” Suigetsu pointed his spoon at Mana and Sasuke. “Had anyone else said something like that, I’d never believe them, but… you have quite the silver tongue, I could believe that, but it’d be a stretch.”

“We don’t really care if you believe us.” Mana spoke. “Just do as you’re told and you’ll get what you want.”

“You’re quite the talker, aren’t you, chibi?” Suigetsu smirked.

“It’s ‘Mana’!”

A waitress came with another of Suigetsu’s yogurts, she blushed when she approached the table, her eyes on Sasuke.

“Hey, sweetie, about the Great Naruto Bridge.” Suigetsu began. “Would you know anything about a big sword that was near it?”

“Um… when you mention it, there was something like that…” she said, her eyes shifting from Suigetsu and Sasuke. “Why?”

“My friend is searching for it.” Suigetsu pointed at Sasuke.

She shrieked a little, flustered. “M-Maybe someone else knows, I’ll go ask!”

Just as she fled to share to her friends, a squeal was heard, irritating Mana even more.

“You’re quite the player, eh?” Suigetsu said to Sasuke.

“No, just idiotic women.” Mana muttered.

Suigetsu smirked. “I guess you’re not a fan of your brother’s admirers, yes?”

Just before Mana could speak, a group of women crowded Sasuke and started to say something about the sword that involved a bridge builder named Tazuna. Mana sighed at the crowd, she grabbed Suigetsu’s yogurt and used her own spoon to eat it.

“Oi, that’s mine, chibi!” Suigetsu said.

“Don’t you think you had enough?”

“You know, you’re just as troublesome as Natsukasa.”

~*~

“Who is this Tazuna?” Suigetsu asked.

Walking down the familiar path to the bridge-builder’s home, Sasuke took the lead, letting Suigetsu and Mana follow behind him.

“He’s the chief carpenter who made that bridge.” Sasuke answered.

As they conversed, Mana couldn’t help but remember the name Tazuna. She was sure that the man was an old-alcoholic who had Team Kakashi escort him back to his village, she remembered his foul attitude, especially towards Naruto. She have not heard anything from him since Team Kakashi went on their mission, but she what she did know was when they came back, Sasuke was covered with wrappings.

When they reached the bridge-builder’s home, they were greeted by one of the contractors with the news that he was gone and won’t be back for a year. In a hurry, Sasuke asked about the sword near the Great Naruto Bridge.

“Daikoku Tenzen took it with him. The truth, he came here only to capture the ninja that used that sword. But when the ninja died, he took the sword instead.”

Leaving the place, Sasuke, Mana and Suigetsu were once again walking down the streets of Kirigakure.

“I’m beat. Daikoku Tenzen, huh?” Suigetsu said.

“This is troublesome.” Mana muttered.

“WATCH WHERE YOU’RE WALKING ASSHOLE!”

Turning, Mana saw the same man who bumped into Suigetsu.

“I’ve been looking for you!” Suigetsu said.

The man let out a shriek and ran, but was grabbed by his hoodie and was thrown to an alleyway on a pile of garbage by Suigetsu.

“What do you want?!” the man asked.

“Well, you’re going to give us some information.” Suigetsu said.

“I don’t know anything about Tenzen!”

“Why don’t you just tell us everything you do know about him?”

~*~

“So, this Tenzen is a crook living in a mansion, feeding money to this town’s leaders just to keep his ass out of trouble.” Mana said as she eyed the mansion that stood in the middle of the woodland.

She and Sasuke ventured to the night to see Tenzen’s home and to look for Zabuza’s sword. They stood on a tree branch, hidden from Tenzen’s men, but close enough to see its layout. She was left outside by Sasuke as he threatened Tenzen with a false ambush was led by man named Suigetsu. After a while, she heard the sound of orders being yelled across the mansion, and soon later she was joined by her brother once more.

“An army, really, Oniisan?” Mana said.

“Don’t you think he could do it?”

“I have no doubt that he could.” Mana smirked, remembering the times when Shuuya tried to chop off Suigetsu but failed each time.

“What do you think of him?” Sasuke asked.

“Suigetsu?”

“Yeah.”

“He’s funny.” Mana simply said.

“He’s a bad influence.” Sasuke turned to her.

“That’s what makes him amusing.”

~*~

Came morning, Sasuke, Mana and Suigetsu came to Tenzen’s mansion to retrieve the sword, but just as they arrived, Suigetsu was stopped when he saw the army that was coming to the mansion.

“What now?”

“It looks like another ruling family is sending tens of thousands of soldiers to attack and plunder Tenzen’s castle tomorrow.” Sasuke said.

“Oh well, by confusing the enemy, our chances will increase.” Suigetsu said. “And even if a thousand people became ten thousand, it doesn’t make a difference to a ninja like me. Tonight, I’ll get my hands on the Throat Cleaver.”

“Why bother tonight?” Mana mused. “You did say that even ten thousand soldiers won’t stand a chance against a ninja like you, why not get it now?”

“I’m not really in the mood to get my hands dirty, chibi.” Suigetsu said.

“Or maybe you’re just saying that because you know you can’t do it.” Mana mocked.

“OI, CHIBI, I CAN TAKE YOU DONW RIGHT NOW IF IT WEREN’T FOR SASUKE –”

“Why don’t we make a bet?” Sasuke spoke. “Let’s see who’ll be the first to get their hands on the sword”

“I didn’t think you had such a playful mind!” Suigetsu chuckled.

“Let’s do it, sound like fun.”

“Then it’ll start now. There’s a single rule. Don’t kill a single person.”

It was in the blink of an eye when Sasuke came in the middle of the battlefield, with swift movements, he was able to knock down the whole battalion that stood there. Mana and Suigetsu followed after him; Suigetsu was appalled at Sasuke’s actions.

“You really did mean now, huh?” Suigetsu said. “I’m not going to lose this bet!”

A rain of arrows came towards them, seeing that there was no escape, Mana stepped forward.

“KATON GOUKAKYUU NO JUTSU!”

And burned all the arrows that was in the way.

“AS EXPECTED FROM YOU, CHIBI – WAIT, YOU – YOU VANISHED?!”

The bodes that fell from Suigetsu’s attack were like raindrops, countless and never ending as they tried to attack him. Standing at the background, away from the battle, Mana and Sasuke watched as he made his way up to the top of the mansion.

Sasuke noticed his sister’s amused look as she watched the battle. It spiked his interest. Since the moment they brought Suigetsu with them, Mana was having this playful side that he rarely sees and only sees when she was with Konohamaru back at the Academy.

“You’re amused.” Sasuke said.

“He’s foul-mouthed-i***t, but I like him.” Mana said. “He’s funny.”

“And again, a bad influence to you.”

~*~

“So, you’re the one who killed Zabuza-senpai, huh?” Suigetsu said.

“I wasn’t! The one who killed Zabuza wasn’t me, it was…”

Climbing up the stairs, Sasuke and Mana heard the whole conversation that took place, and was just in time for Tenzen to put the blame on Sasuke.

“It was him! He’s the one that killed Zabuza! I just brought the sword here from his grave!”

“Nice try, lying and all to make him the villain!” Suigetsu laughed.

“Suigetsu!” Sasuke tossed the man’s water bottle.

“How thoughtful of you.” Suigetsu said as he caught it. “I was starting to get dehydrated… there seems to have been a small misunderstanding, though. Zabuza and I weren’t really that close, he was just my senpai from my hometown. But I think he could’ve been beaten by this lowly bunch. Some nasty rumors could come out of this.”

“Suigetsu.” Sasuke called him.

Smirking, Suigetsu cut the pillars of the center of the mansion and warned Tenzen to flee before it collapsed over him.

“I will only save lives in respect to Sasuke’s wishes.” Suigetsu said as he left with the two Uchihas.

“Sasuke?! No way! The Sasuke that killed Orochimaru?!”

“You’re quite the celebrity, to think that your name would be known all the way here.” Suigetsu said.

As they left, the mansion slowly collapsed behind them, and neither of the two Uchihas cared, whilst Suigetsu laughed.

“As long as I have this sword, I won’t lose to anyone, not even to you… I think.” Suigetsu said. “Oi, you knew that I was going to ask for the sword, didn’t you? And you knew from the beginning that the sword wouldn’t be at the grave! I get it! Also, the one that spread the information that made all those soldiers father at the castle was you. Tenzen even mentioned that he have seen you before… well, I bet that you did that so I would be put right with the enemy. Could it be that you were performing a test on me? What would you do if I was hurt or worse?! But now I know what kind of person you are. Well, that’s the Sasuke I imagined. Now that I’ve obtained the sword, I’ll lend you my strength, as promised.”

“You talk a lot, you know?” Mana spoke.

“Well someone has to. It’s not like you’re one to be the talkative of the group. Don’t tell me that’s a problem with you, chibi.”

“Iie, I like talkative… it makes the travel interesting.”