Uchiha Mana

CHAPTER 6

It’s been a month since the Chunnin Exams started, everyone in the finals were training to get strong. But what bugged Mana was her brother’s disappearance. The last time she saw him was when she visited him at the hospital, he was still unconscious at that time, so she wasn’t able to ask him how his exams went, on her net visit, she found Sasuke missing, the whole hospital was looking for him. The only time she managed to calm down was when Sasuke left a letter for her, saying that he left to train with Kakashi.

After the long wait, the day of the final exam came, and almost everyone in the village came to watch the match – they were most excited for Sasuke’s match with Gaara.

Mana and Hikaru sat a good spot at the bleachers. The exam has not started when they came, and there were still a few people that were entering the arena, which gave them the opportunity to find good seats. Unfortunatley for Mana, they were soon accompanied by the last two persons she expected to see together.

“Hi, Mana-chan!” Sakura greeted.

“Here to watch Sasuke’s match?” Ino asked.

When Mana did not respond, Hikaru took initiative and greeted the girls.

“Hai.” Hikaru said. “Mana-chan’s very excited to see Sasuke in action.”

The exam began, and Mana have watched the battles of Naruto versus Neji, which Naruto won; Shikamaru versus Temari, which Temari won when Shikamaru forefitted; and the default of Kankuro with his match to Shino. The only match left was Sasuke’s, and he was still nowhere to be found.

“If he doesn’t come here in two mintues, he’ll be disqualified.” Chouji said.

The crowd was growing impatient at the news of the rumors of Sasuke being pulled out after his match at the match before. This was the match they have been waiting for. The match they all placed their bets on and took a day out of work.

“Onii-san, where are you?” Mana muttered.

“The crowds getting out of control.” Hikaru muttered.

Times up.

A leaf fell.

Leaves began circling the arena, and a tornado formed before the crowd. Surprising Hikaru, Sakura and Ino, Mana jumped up from her seat and ran down to the very front to where the Chunin Exam participants were.

“Mana-chan!” Hikaru called after, running after the girl.

“Onii-san!” Mana grinned at the sight of her brother with Kakashi.

Sasuke turned to the arena stands and saw Mana smiling his way. It has been a while since he saw his sister and Sasuke was glad to see her there, and it just made him want to win even more. His sister idolized him, and the last thing he wanted was to let her down by losing to Gaara of the Sand. Besides, he trained long and hard for this match, and he wasn’t going to let that training go to waste.

“Hey, Sasuke.” Naruto began. “Mana-chan came here to watch your match, so you better not lose.”

“I wasn’t planning to.” Sasuke smirked.

Don’t worry, Mana, I’ll win this.

When Genma had Gaara come down, and Naruto, Shikamaru and Kakashi to the stands for the match to start.

“Well, hello Mana.” Kakashi greeted as he stood beside the girl.

“Hello, Kakashi-san.” Mana greeted.

“Hello, Mana, why don’t we watch Sasuke with the others?”

“Hai!”

Following Kakashi back to her seat earlier, Mana watched the match unfold.

The match begun. And Sasuke has shown the fruit of his training, it surprised Mana when Sasuke showed his speed. And when –

Gaara’s sand have formed to some kind of dome, and when Sasuke tried to punch his way through, the sand let out some spikes, puncturing Sasuke at some parts of his body, a scratch on his head, and his fist was bleeding.

“Sasuke-niisan!” Mana cried in worry.

“Kakashi-sensei, you have to stop this match!” Naruto called out.

But just as they were to suspect the worse, when Sasuke’s attacks were no use and he was constantly getting caught by the spikes. The last thing she expected happened. The sound of “chi chi chi chi” was heard from the arena, and from Sasuke’s hand formed some kind of lightning jutsu.

“The reason why I wanted to train Sasuke myself is because… he’s just like me.” Kakashi said.

Wanting to know what her brother’s technique was, Mana activated her Sharingan to see it.

It’s amazing! His chakra’s visible!

“What’s this technique called?” Mana asked.

“Chidori: One Thousand Birds.” Hikaru answered. Remembering the tales her sensei told her about Hatake Kakashi.

A roar was heard.

Sasuke was in pain.

Mana saw everything. The monstrous arm that held his arm as he tried to escape. And when the sand dome was destroyed, Mana saw Gaara have a monstrous look on his face –

“Mana-chan?” Hikaru said as she saw the girl fall on the ground.

“Onii-san…”

Mana fell, but before she could touch the ground, Hikaru caught her.

Genjutsu. Hikaru thought. But before she could move, Hikaru was also put to sleep by the Genjutsu.

~*~

The battle has taken a lot of toll on everyone, and the casualties were greater than they expected. The death of Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, was the great loss that Konoha had to face. When the news came to the villagers, everyone was in despair, especially to Konohamaru.

Mana stood between Sakura and Sasuke at the funeral. Her eyes wandered to the other side where Konohamaru stood. The boy just lost his grandfather. She didn’t need to imagine what he was feeling, since she knew exactly how it felt. And even though the Third Hokage was not her blood, he too was like her grandfather. He was the village’s father. The man who took his time to see them all, to understand them, and Mana couldn’t help but remember the time she actually met the old man and felt his love.

“It’s a nice day.”

Turning, Mana found the Third Hokage standing not far from her, but she did not say anything to the old man, she just turned back to where she was looking at. The graves of the Uchiha Clan members. Though it happened about almost a year ago, Mana would still venture to the graves and just read at the names of each Uchiha that was killed.

“Why did this have to happen?” Mana asked in a whisper.

The Hokage went to her side. His eyes scanned the names of the Uchihas that were carved, and he couldn’t help but feel the girl’s pain beside him.

“Why did he…” Mana sobbed. “I don’t understand…”

The Hokage knelt down to the girl’s height and gently wrapped his arms around her, letting her cry on him.

“I understand that it is still painful…” the Hokage said. “Mana, this pain will never leave… this will always be a part of you. But,” he held her by her shoulders, and looked at her at the eye. “You will heal… you are not alone, Mana. Your brother, Sasuke, is here. I’m here. The village is here. And we will be here to help you go through this pain.”

“The rain, it stopped.” Sakura said.

By the end of the funeral, Mana separated herself from Sasuke and went to see the boy that was left before the altar. She carefully approached him, not making a sound until she was beside him.

“Konohamaru.”

Konohamaru did not respond.

“I know that it’s painful…” she spoke. “And this pain will always be a part of you. But,” Mana took a hold of Konohamaru’ hand, startling him. “You will heal…”

“Mana…” Konohamaru began.

“That was what the Lord Hokage told me when I lost my family…” Mana said. “And he was right… it still hurts when I remember them, but I’m not alone… and you’re not too.”