Uchiha Mana

CHAPTER 15

Hikaru stood before two familiar faces in the Hokage’s office. She smiled at the sight of the two, she remembered seeing them when they were still young ninjas in training, now they have grown and were stronger and were taking after their two mentors. Especially Sakura, who took after the fifth Hokage, when the two women had to put Naruto and Jiraya back in place.

“There is a reason why I called you two here.” Tsunade said.

“What is it?” Naruto asked.

“I believe you know who this is.” Tsunade gestured to Hikaru that stood beside Shizune. She wasn’t surprised when the two didn’t know who she was immediately since she wore an ANBU mask. So, to save them the confusion, Hikaru took off her mask.

“Ah, Hikaru!” Sakura said, remembering the woman. She was their classmate back in their Academy days . “It’s been a while, where have you been?”

“I’ve been taking on long missions, trying to find Sasuke-kun and Mana-chan.” Hikaru said.

“You are?!” Naruto said.

“Hikaru, this isn’t why I asked you three to meet.” Tsunade said.

“Hai. Gomen, Hokage-sama.” Hikaru said. “Naruto-kun, Sakura-chan, I have news about Sasuke.”

“Sasuke?!”

“Sasuke has killed Orochimaru.” Hikaru said.

“What?!” The two gasped.

“And he’s been setting the prisoners free…”

“Where is he now?! We have to get to him!” Naruto said.

“I don’t know, I asked them myself, but they didn’t know where he was headed, but they said that he wasn’t alone, he was accompanied by someone – people.”

“Is Mana-chan with him?” Naruto asked.

“Hai.” Hikaru said. “I have a feeling what he’s planning to do… and if I’m right, then getting to him first is our top priority if we want to get to Sasuke-kun and Mana-chan.”

~*~

A crowd of monstrous men in their Level Two Curse Seal stood before the Hideout. Mana have taken out Yatagarasu from its holder and readied for battle, while Suigetsu took out his sword.

“So, being careless with these guys is okay, right?” Suigetsu asked.

“Don’t hit any vital points.” Sasuke commanded.

Suigetsu smirked. “You can tell you’re from Konoha. It would’ve been fine to kill that guy earlier, too.”

“I wasn’t talking to you.” Sasuke said.

“Eh?” Suigetsu asked.

“Mana.” Sasuke called.

“Hai, Onii-san.” Mana took a step forward.

Stepping forward, Mana took a good look at the mass of escaped experiments and hid Yatagarasu in its sheath. Curious to what Mana was to do, Suigetsu watched with a keen eye, he was very confused as to why the child hid her katana and stood before the army.

“Oi, Sasuke, what do you plan on doing to chibi?” Suigetsu asked.

Sasuke didn’t reply, instead, he waited. Suigetsu followed Sasuke’s movements, and then it happened. The men were attacking each other, some were beaten down until they couldn’t move. Suigetsu and Karin watched in horror to what was happening confused as to why the army were now trying to kill each other when earlier they were set on attacking them.

“What’s going on?!” Karin gasped.

“They’ve turned against each other.” Sugietsu said.

Kotoamatsukami. Sasuke thought. One of the abilities of the Mangekyou Sharingan, to enter the mind of any individual within their field of view and manipulating them by giving them false experiences, making it seem as if they were doing things of their own free will.

“Kotoamatsukami.” Sasuke answered them. “A Genjutsu of the highest caliber… and the only ones who can do it are those who possess the Mangekyou Sharingan…” As time went by, the numbers of those of the army who were standing lessened. “Mana is manipulating them by giving them a false experience in their minds. They think they’re attack us, but in reality…”

“They’re attacking each other.” Karin said.

“Incredible.” Suigetsu muttered.

When the last man was brought down, Mana deactivated her Mangekyou Sharingan and turned to her brother.

“I doubt that that’s all of them, some might be inside…” Mana said.

Sasuke walked up to his sister and placed a hand on her head.

“Good job, Imouto.”

Just as Mana expected, there were still some prisoners in the Hideout that she was not able to take down with her Kotoamatsukami, but instead of making her take care of it, Sasuke and Suigetsu handled them, while Mana stood beside Karin.

They reached the numerous corridors of the hideout, it was a maze that could make anyone walk to their deaths if they didn’t know where to go.

“Karin, which way?” Sasuke asked when they reached an intersection that had three ways. “Lead the way.”

“Sasuke, who the hell put you in charge?!” Karin said.

“The moment you agreed to come along.” Mana spoke.

“I said I was just passing by!”

“Listen, why don’t you just hurry up and search for him?” Suigetsu said. “Isn’t that what your notorious ability is?”

“It’s that way!” Karin pointed at the right corridor. Following Karin’s directions, Mana and Suigetsu took the lead, the two walked side by side and Suigetsu took the time to ask Mana about what she did earlier.

“Nee, chibi.” Suigetsu began. “That power of yours is really cool, where’d you learn it?”

“It’s one of my Mangekyou Sharingan’s abilities.” Mana simply answered. “I was training my Genjutsu when I discovered it…”

“I gotta say, it’s really cool! But, if you had that kind of power, why does Sasuke need some like Juugo or me?”

“I don’t know, ask him.” Mana shrugged.

“Maybe I would.”

“But, if Sasuke-niisan didn’t need you then you would be still in that tank, right?”

“Hai… that’s a point.”

“And I believe you have a goal as well?”

“Hai, hai…”

“Which is?”

Suigetsu grinned. “The day I tell you, chibi is the day you tell me what you plan after this… have finally considered my suggestion about leaving Sasuke?”

Mana stopped.

“Something wrong, chibi?” Suigetsu asked.

Mana turned behind them, her eyes glaring at the empty corridor where Sasuke and Karin should be.

“They’re gone.” Mana said.

“That b***h!” Suigetsu said. “She gave us the wrong way and took Sasuke with her!”

“Don’t worry.” Mana muttered. She raised her hand to the wall. “I’ve found them.”

~*~

“I don’t want to fight. I just want to talk to you, Juugo.” Sasuke said.

Juugo sent another attack at Sasuke, which he dodged. Juugo’s attack went to the wall, causing it to crumble and the ceiling to finally be destroyed and come down, Karin watched as Sasuke jumped up to that hole and disappeared, with Juugo at his tail. From the cloud of dust, Suigetsu and Mana emerged and appeared beside Karin.

“You know, you’re really mean.” Suigetsu told Karin. “Tricking me and Chibi.”

“You got lost all on your own.” Karin said.

“I was following your directions!” Suigetsu said.

“Are you trying to say that I tricked you?! What would I get if I tricked you?”

“Maybe it’s so you can get a little ‘alone’ time with Sasuke.” Sugietsu smirked.

“Why the hell would I want that –”

“But do that again.” Mana began, her eyes changing to her Mangekyou Sharingan. “Don’t expect that I would let you off easily.” She threatened. Her eyes glaring at Karin.

This kid is even scarier than Juugo… Karin thought. I haven’t seen Sharingan like that… and her chakra, it’s very different from Sasuke, it’s like I’m smelling two scents from her… but the other one it’s…

“What happened there?” Suigetsu asked.

“Juugo’s gone crazy.” Karin answered.

“And Sasuke-niisan?” Mana asked.

“With Juugo.”

“Don’t worry, Chibi, this is Sasuke we’re talking about, so he won’t go down easily.” Suigetsu said.

It wasn’t long until Sasuke and Juugo came back. And from what Mana could see, they were still in battle. Suigetsu got out his sword, ready to fight Juugo if needed.

“You’re using a different technique now, aren’t you, Juugo?” Suigetsu said.

“Suigetsu, I remember you…”

“Suigetsu stop.” Sasuke said.

“Sasuke, Juugo is a dangerous man.” Suigetsu reminded him.

“We’re not here to fight. Let me speak with him.” Sasuke said.

But Suigetsu didn’t listen, he swung his sword at Juugo, and went into battle. But their exchanges were stopped when Sasuke came and had them wrapped with snakes that came out of him. The two men were trembling with what was happening, eyes were looking at Sasuke.

“Do you want me to kill you two?” Sasuke said.

After a while, Juugo’s transformation slowly retracted. And his eyes didn’t hold its bloodlust, and was now showing his fear. It gained Mana’s interest.

“What happened here?!” Juugo exclaimed. “Just lock me inside!”

The sound of Juugo slamming the door shut made Mana slightly jump. For some reason, she remembered the night she came back to Sasuke after her first mission with Shuuya.

“It won’t come off!” She cried as she tried to get the nonexistent blood on her hands. “Onii-san, why won’t it come off!”

“Juugo, I came here to free you. Join me.”

“He’s afraid.” Suigetsu said.

“That’s not it.” Karin said.

“I don’t want to kill anymore!” Juugo cried inside the cell. “Just leave me alone!”

“He’s got two personalities?” Suigetsu said.

“I already told you. Juugo helplessly succumbs to his urges to kill.” Karin said. “He’s unbale to control himself.”

Ignoring Suigetu’s and Karin’s comments about the man, Sasuke took a step forward and went to the door.

“Orochimaru’s dead. There’s nothing left for you here in the hideout, if you stay, you will die.” Sasuke said. “Let me be your cell…”

“So be it… the only one who can stop me is Kimimaro.” Juugo said. “I won’t leave without him.”

“Juugo, Kimimaro died for me. He’s no longer with us.” Sasuke said.

There was an earie silence.

“Died for you… then that would make you Uchiha… Sasuke?” Juugo said.

“That’s right.” Sasuke said.

The door opened, and Juugo came out. His eyes on Sasuke.

So, that’s how it is, Kimimaro. Juugo thought.

~*~

Standing outside of the hideout, Sasuke had his small team stand before him, even Mana stood with them. Knowing what was to happen.

“With this, all the members I wanted have been gathered.” Sasuke began. “Now I will tell you the reason… my goal is to kill Uchiha Itachi of Akatsuki.”

“As I expected.” Suigetsu said.

“In order to achieve this goal, I want you to lend me your power.” Sasuke said. “But I won’t force you… Karin, you said you had some other business to attend to, so what will you do?”

“Right, well… I’ve thought about it, and there’s no rush, so…” Karin said.

“What made you so obedient? You really want to be close to Sasuke, right?” Suigetsu said.

“WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THAT?! AS IF!”

“Even an i***t could see right through you, Bakarin.” Mana muttered.

Suigetsu laughed.

“I’ve known you for so long and I’ve always known that you were in lo—”

Karin punched Suigetsu at the head, his head turned to water, but materialized once again.

“Sugietsu, stopped pissing Karin off.” Sasuke said. “I thought I told you to cooperate.”

“Gomen, gomen.” Suigestu said.

“Also, I’m sorry, but I’m gonna stay very close to Sasuke myself.” Suigetsu said. “Hoshigaki Kisame is Uchiha Itachi’s partner…I want his sword, Samehada, for myself.”

“Another sword?” Karin said.

“Juugo, what about you?” Suigetsu asked.

“Kimimaro said that Sasuke was his reincarnation, then gave his life protecting him. So I decided for myself to see what kind of shinobi you are.”

“Then it’s settled.” Sasuke said. “We will travel as a group of five, our team will go under the name ‘Hebi’, and Hebi has one goal. Uchiha Itachi.”