Uchiha Mana

CHAPTER 8

Mana was busy helping at the Academy when she received word about Sasuke’s state by Hikaru. She ran out of the classroom, not bothering to wait for Iruka’s word for her to leave. And when she got to the hospital room, she saw a man with bush brows, and wore a green suit. Her heart just dropped when she saw Sasuke.

“Onii-san!” Mana cried. “What happened?”

“It was Uchiha Itachi.”

Itachi?!

“Sasuke confronted Itachi… and lost.”

Why?

Mana’s hold on Sasuke’s hand tightened.

“Itachi will pay for this…” Mana said.

~*~

The day Naruto and Jiraya came back with Tsunade, Mana was at the hospital with Sakura looking after Sasuke. She’s been visiting Sasuke every day, and stays with him for as long as she could. She was doing the homework that Iruka left the class to do as she sat on the chair beside Sasuke’s bed; she was almost done with it when the door opened. A woman with blonde hair came with a another woman with short black hair, and behind them were Jiraya and Naruto.

“Naruto-kun!” Mana said.

“Mana-chan! Sakura-chan! Sasuke’ll be alright now!” Naruto said. “She’s a great doctor!”

So that’s the boy’s sister. Tsunade said as she observed Mana.

“I heard from Gai-Sensei.” Sakura said. “Please, help Sasuke-kun.”

“Alright, leave it all to me.” Tsunade said.

Tsunade went to Sasuke’s side and placed her hand on the boy’s forehead. She made it look so simply. It was the fastest healing that Mana have ever seen.

“He’ll wake up soon.” Tsunade said, smiling at the two girls.

~*~

The day Sasuke woke, Mana was in the Academy. After class, she went to buy flowers before she came to the hospital. When she came to the door though, Mana didn’t expect to see what was at the present.

“Sasuke-niisan.”

“Mana.” Sasuke said.

She’s alive! It was all just a nightmare!

Mana ran from where she stood to Sasuke. She climbed on his bed and hugged him tight, and he returned the same affection. He buried his face in Mana’s shoulder, hiding the tears he had, while Mana had no problem in showing her tears as she hugged him.

“I afraid that you won’t wake up!” Mana cried. “I thought you left me…”

“I didn’t… and I won’t. Ever.”

Days passed and Sasuke was still kept in the hospital. Mana made sure to visit him everyday and bring him homecooked meals. But she wasn’t alone in the visits, Sakura would be there as well. She knew that the girl would be there even when she wasn’t, she didn’t mind, but she just wished that Sakura would give her and Sasuke some space together.

Sasuke sat quietly on the bed. His mind replaying his battle with Itachi. His brother’s words. And the thought of Mana being his weakness… his only weakness…

NO!

Then his mind went to Naruto. Naruto who saved Sakura and stopped Gaara. Naruto, who displayed such incredible strength. Naruto whose been saving him since their mission in Kirigakure. Naruto, who was stronger than he was. Naruto, who saved his life countless times.

“Arigatou, Naruto-kun!” Mana hugged Naruto.

Naruto was started with Mana’s actions, but then smiled and placed his hand on Mana’s head, just like how Sasuke would whenever he showed his affection towards her.

“No problem, Mana-chan…”

“Arigatou, for saving my Onii-san…”

“Sasuke-kun, want some apples?” Sakura offered.

Sasuke snapped and slapped the apples away, startling Sakura.

When Naruto came to Sasuke’s room, he was surprised to see sliced apples on the floor. Before he could even say anything, he found Sasuke glaring at him.

“Hey, Sasuke, why are you staring at me?” Naruto asked.

“Naruto.” Sasuke began. “Fight me. Now!”

“Huh? What are you babbling about… you’re still recovering!” Naruto said.

“Shut up and fight me!” Sasuke demanded. His eyes have activated his Sharingan. “You thought you helped me? that fooling Fifth Hokage or whoever… butting into other people’s business…”

“What?!” Naruto exclaimed.

Mana was just about to enter the room when she heard the commotion from the inside. She stopped right before she could knock on the door when she heard Sakura’s worried voice.

“Sasuke-kun, what’s wrong with you?! Naruto, tell him to stop!”

“Well then… I was thinking about it too…” Naruto said.

“Come with me.” Sasuke commanded.

The door opened and Mana stepped back before she was hit by it. She saw her brother come out and called for him, but he ignored her call as if she wasn’t there and continued to walk down the hall, as Naruto followed after him.

“Sakura, what’s happening?” Mana asked when the girl came out of the room.

“Mana-chan!”

They all went to the roof. Sasuke and Naruto standing at each ends, while Sakura and Mana stood by the door.

“What’s so funny?!” Sasuke said.

“Funny? No. I’m over-joyed actually.” Naruto said. “To think, how I can finally beat you.”

“What did you say? Stop blabbering nonsense, Usuratonkachi!”

“I’m no longer the loser you once knew me as. I’ve changed!”

“You dimwit i***t, what are you so full of yourself for, huh?!”

“Eh, what are you losing your cool for? It’s so unlike you. What?! Are you afraid that you challenged me to a fight, Sasuke?”

“Shut up and fight!”

“Before we start, you better put on your headband.”

“I don’t need something like that…”

“Just do it!”

“You won’t even lay a finger on me, let alone my forehead!”

Sasuke-niisan, what’s going on with you? Mana thought.

“No! I’m saying this is a symbol that we fight as equal Leaf Ninjas!” Naruto exclaimed.

“That’s why I say you’re full of your-self! You think you’re par with me?!”

“Of course, I do! In fact, I’ve never thought of myself as inferior to you… not even once!”

“YOU’RE PISSING ME OFF!”

“THAT’S BECAUSE YOU’RE STILL WEAK, SASUKE-CHAN!”

The battle began. And the whole time, Mana watched in horror as her brother tried to kill Naruto. His lust to beat Naruto was seen that he didn’t care if he was destroying his surroundings.

“Stop it… please! Mana said.

Onii-san, please stop, this isn’t like you!

When Sasuke used his fire jutsu to burn the multiple Narutos and the real one, Mana had clutched on to Sakura and hid her face on the girl’s stomach.

“Mana-chan…” Sakura began.

“Please… just stop!” Mana said.

Just as Naruto and Sasuke have casted their ultimate jutsus, Sakura knew that they were really on with killing each other. She placed Mana behind her and ran towards the two.

Sakura!

Cr ap, I can’t stop!

But before they could hit Sakura, Kakashi came. He held them by their wrists and threw them at the water tanks. Sasuke’s hand was stuck inside the tank and was only able to get it out when he forcefully pulled it out, whilst Naruto’s Rasengan had created a small crater on the stone tank.

“We taught you those techniques to protect yourselves from enemies, not for killing your friends.” Kakashi said.

Sasuke simply glared at Kakashi –

“Onii-san.”

Mana!

Wide eyes, Sasuke turned his gaze and saw Mana standing by the door. Her eyes full of horror as they stared at him.

When did she…

Then realization came… his anger clouded mind made him forget about her. She was there when he opened the door. She was there begging them to stop.

“Mana…” Sasuke began as he tried to get up. But before he could even take a step, Mana have bolted and left. “MANA, WAIT!”

~*~

The white-haired boy watched from his spot as Uchiha Mana ran from the hospital. He was there when Sasuke and Naruto battled, and he was quite disappointed when their battle was stopped before he could see who would win between the two.

And there she goes…

He saw the raven-haired girl run through the streets as her brother went after her. But for some reason, Sasuke couldn’t find her. He tried sniffing the air for the girl’s chakra, but could not find her scent.

Impressive… she’s able to hide her chakra and herself… she does have potential… maybe you do have some use, Uchiha Mana.

~*~

Mana ran to the training grounds. She hid herself under the trees’ shadows and stayed there. She didn’t want to see Sasuke. After what she saw, she knew that wasn’t her brother –

Or maybe it was…

“My, my, what a poor little kitten.”

What?!

Looking up, Mana found a boy with white hair and was carrying a sword sitting lazily on the tree branch. He was no local of Konoha, if he was, she would have known, and he had no headband, so she didn’t know where he came from. But even if he did, Mana could sense that he was trouble.

Mana got up from her spot, her hand about to reach for her Ninjatō but found it missing.

I left it at home!

“Who are you?” Mana asked, trying to keep a brave face.

“I’m Natsukasa Shuuya of a village long gone…” The white-haired boy – Shuuya said. “And you’re Uchiha Mana…”

“How did you know my name?!” Mana asked. Her hand have already reached for the kunai she had in her pouch.

“Who wouldn’t?” Shuuya smirked. “You are one of the last members of the Uchiha clan.”

“What do you want?!”

“I think that question is the other way around, Sukoshi.”

What?

“Your brother wants power, and he’ll do what ever he can to get it… even if it means leaving his family…”

No!

“You’re wrong! My Onii-san would never leave me!”

“Oh really?” Shuuya jumped from the tree. “It is inevitable, Mana… Sasuke searches for power and he will find it from Orochimaru. His mind is damn set on revenge that he’s not thinking straight – I mean, he even forgot about you.”

No, that’s not true…

But it was… Mana remembered. Sasuke ignoring her for the past few days and earlier. And when he was about to reach out, she ran away…

Shuuya saw the girl troubled in her own mind and took this chance to pin her down. He grabbed her by her throat and had her on the ground. He simply stared at her as she panicked and tried to claw her nails on his hand that held her down.

Let’s see…

Shuuya lifted the girl’s shirt, exposing her stomach. He bit his thumb and drew blood. He drew a curved symbol on the girl’s stomach and on her forehead with his blood. And after, he reached for something in his pocket and hovered it above Mana’s open mouth.

It was a centipede.

“By my blood, I give you the power of the Gods…” He muttered and dropped the centipede in Mana’s mouth and forced her to swallow.

Mana felt the creature crawl down into her system and up to her nape where she felt a burning pain. A scream came from her as the burning was felt down to her bones.

“You will need my help, Mana…” Shuuya said as he got off the girl and left her on the ground limp. He sucked on his bloody thumb and simply watch her try to move.

Onii-san…