A Lethal Observer (Naruto) [ALW Series Book Two]

Chapter 19

The three Uchiha were surrounded by a large group of shinobi from the Hagoromo and Senju Clan. They had almost used all of their chakra but their opponents seemed to be infinite. Madara growled, realizing the ambush had been schemed a while back by the two clans. 

Even though everything seemed lost, Madara sensed the chakra of his brother and several high ranks from the clan. A huge grin formed on his face, alerting the enemy shinobi. 

Night had fallen over the fighting ninja. Hanako was panting heavily, and her muscles were trembling and cramping all over. She fell to her knees, unable to move anymore. Amane was looking at her, but four Senju had ganged up on her. One of them noticed the situation for the youngest Uchiha. With a smirk, he separated from the group and went to attack her. 

The Senju raised his sword and aimed for the girls neck. Hanako looked up just in time to get blinded by the moon’s reflection in the metal edge. 

“Hanako!” Amane screamed desperately. The man brought down his sword. 

Metal clashed against metal. Red eyes blazed in the darkness as blood ran down the metal sword. Izuna looked over his shoulder at the unmoving girl. “Tired already?” he asked her in a mocking tone. 

Hanako didn’t reply. Her body had already stopped responding, her chakra had been suddenly depleting after the constant usage of the hitsurugi. She overused it without measuring how much chakra it consumed, and now she had been rendered useless in the middle of a battlefield. 

Her vision darkened at the corners. So pathetic…

“Hey, are you okay?!” Izuna was becoming erratic after several seconds passed and Hanako didn’t reply. 

The high ranks were quickly taking care of the novices, while Madara—with a new-found charge of adrenaline—took care of all the Senju in the field. 

“Her chakra is dangerously low.” Amane appeared by Izuna’s side, eyeing the small Uchiha worriedly. Her eyes focused once again on the bracelet. Hanako’s chakra was focusing on the bright metal. “That thing is sucking all of her chakra reserves.” 

Izuna kneeled closer to the girl and ripped the bracelet off her wrist in a swift motion. The flames adorning the piece of jewelry shone a bright red and flames surrounded the metal. “Guess it wasn’t happy I took it off.” 

“Is that a ritual weapon?” one of the surviving Hagoromo asked. He had remained silently hidden while the Uchiha finished off the rest of his team in hopes of getting some information, but once he recognized the rare object in front of him he couldn’t miss the chance. 

Amane glared at him. “You mean that stupid bracelet. Yeah, the hitsurugi or whatever…” 

The man widened his eyes in surprise as his lips curled up into a confident grin. “How about we make a deal?”

Izuna checked Hanako for injuries, finding several cuts in her clothes. He picked up the girl in his arms and focused in the battlefield. After they arrived, they quickly took the upper hand. With a smirk he looked back at the Hagoromo with a grin. “I don’t think you’re in a position to deal with us.” 

However, the man didn’t flinch. “Yes, I am. We poisoned our weapons before the ambush. And I think all three of you were cut at least once.” He grinned. “Unless you get treated, you’ll get sick and die in a matter of days.” 

Izuna looked back at the girl, she was turning pale and her breathing was ragged. He cursed lowly and glared back at the man. “What kind of deal?”

The man pulled out and clear bottle with a yellow liquid inside. “This is the antidote. About a spoonful of this will be enough to neutralize the poison. I’ll give this bottle to you to treat anyone poisoned, and in exchange you’ll let me leave with that weapon.” He pointed at the metal bracelet. 

Amane picked it up and it turned its fire off. “This stupid spirit weapon is worth that much?” She smirked. 

This weapon is very selective of its owners.

The kunoichi waved the bracelet while eyeing the Hagoromo cautiously. “Do you think you’re worthy of this weapon? It’ll destroy you.”

Izuna glared at her. “We don’t care what that weapon is, Amane! She is dying! Give him that damned piece of jewelry, so we can have the antidote!” 

“How can we be sure you won’t flee right after you get it?” Amane raised an eyebrow. “I know everything about the Hagoromo Clan. You’re merciless and cunning. You’re probably lying about everything just to get the spirit weapon.”

“I’m not lying.”

His chakra didn’t flutter. He was telling the truth. “Fine, we’ll trust you, but hand over the antidote first. I’ll leave the bracelet right here so you can pick it up yourself after handing the antidote over.” 

Amane put down the bracelet and extended her hand to receive the bottle. The man handed it over easily and grinned when he picked up the hitsurugi. Izuna quickly snatched the antidote from Amane and approached it to Hanako’s lips. The girl was breathing slower but as soon as the first drops fell on her mouth, she swallowed. 

“This better work.” Izuna put away the rest of the bottle. There was still enough for all of them to take a sip in case of accidental poison. 

The Hagoromo laughed uncontrollably as his hands tightened around the bracelet. He opened it and wrapped it around his own wrist. The flames lighting up around the delicate design. “I feel it… the connection.” 

Suddenly, the design darkened to an obsidian color and the metal closed around his wrist tightly. The man widened his eyes and tried to rip off the metal. He felt his bone cracking and gasped in pain. “Take it off! Help me take it off, please!” The man pleaded. 

In a moment, the weapon lit up. Fire surrounded the man, burning him alive. Amane watched him as the skin separated from his body and turned into ashes. Izuna closed his eyes, refusing to witness the gruesome event in front of them. 

“Well, she wasn’t lying when she said it was very selective of its owners.” 

Izuna looked at Amane. “Why was Hanako wearing that thing?!”

Amane shrugged. “Neko-baa gave it to her. I mean, she was able to use it before but it probably depleted her chakra. She’ll need to learn to control it.” 

“She could use it?! It’s a bracelet, what could she use it like? Putting it on shinobi’s wrists?!”

The girl sighed. “It changes shape. She turned it into a spear and killed several shinobi.” 

Izuna looked at the girl with wide eyes. “She did that?”

“Yeah, she really seems to be shinobi herself. At first, I thought she was just a girl, but now I want to know about her.” 

Izuna stood with the girl still in his arms. The battle was almost over, and Madara killed the last few Senju. “Let’s go back to the compound.”

* * *

When Hanako opened her eyes, she found herself in the room the leader of the Clan had arranged for her and Amane. Her clothes had been changed for a white casual yukata and several bandages were tightly tied around her arms. She sat up slowly, closing her eyes after feeling the room around her spinning. 

“Took you long enough to wake up.” 

Izuna was sitting on a chair next to the window. He was looking at some people selling goods outside, and some selling their freshly harvested flowers. His eyes focused too much on a white rose. Hanako looked out the window at the merchants. 

“I never thought that the Uchiha weren’t only shinobi.” 

“Most of us are. At least all of us are trained on the basics from childhood.” Izuna looked at Hanako. “But were are not required to go to war unless our numbers are low. Most women stay behind and are forced to nourish children, but there are cases in which they really want to join the battlefield. Because of that, people like to regard us as a ruthless clan that forces even woman to the battlefield, but they don’t understand it’s their choice.” 

“So, men are also given the option to stay and nourish kids?” 

Izuna shrugged. “Not many do. We are, after all, very stubborn and proud. Most men refuse to acknowledge weakness and go to war even if they know they will get killed.”

Hanako smiled. Izuna looked away from and cleared his throat. “You were unconscious for three days. You should apologize to Amane. She was scared to death, so I had to kick her out until you recovered properly.” 

Hanako raised an eyebrow. “Oh really?”

“Yeah, I missed three days of training because of you. Now you have to make up for it.” 

Hanako’s vision darkened, her hands curled around the sheets of her futon. “Hey, don’t make this about yourself, I didn’t ask you to stay with me. If you were busy, you could have asked someone else to do it or let Amane stay.” 

Izuna smirked. “Amane would have been all over you if she had stayed. Are you going to keep pestering me? Just listen to me.”

“I don’t want anything from you.” Hanako closed her eyes. 

“My father allowed you two to stay after what happened. He acknowledged both of you as loyal members of the Uchiha Clan, which means you and I will be seeing each other quite frequently.” Hanako looked up at him. Izuna wasn’t staring at her, but his posture pointed that he didn’t think alike his father. He was still somewhat suspicious about them. “That’s why I thought we should get to know each other better.” 

Hanako smirked slightly, but suddenly her family invaded her mind. I need to go back. 

With a sigh, Hanako leaned back on the futon. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. You should ask Amane, maybe she’ll want to go eat some sweet dumplings with you or whatever. I’m not interested.” 

Izuna glowered at her. “Why are you so upset with me? You’ve been annoying towards me ever since you appeared at the compound, and now you even refuse a friendly invitation? Do you hate me or something?”

“I don’t hate you.”

Izuna huffed. “Sure, I feel better now.” He got up from the chair and approached the door. “Get well.” With that he left the room. Madara had been listening to them from outside and walked in once his brother was gone. 

“That was rude, even for you.” 

Hanako looked at him and sighed. “One brother isn’t enough, is it? What do you want?”

The older Uchiha smirked and leaned against the wall. “No one forced Izuna to stay here with you. He did on his own accord, and it’s true he kicked out Amane. Well, once we arrived to the compound, he wouldn’t even let her into the room. She slept somewhere else.” 

Hanako got up again and looked at the older brother. “He brought me here?”

“He saved you. You were about to get killed by a Senju when he and other high class Uchiha showed up. You do owe him, for he saved your life. Be a little more patient with him.”

Hanako looked at the ground. “He didn’t mention he did that. I’m sorry.”

Madara smiled. “I know what you’re thinking. You shouldn’t get close to any of us, or it will be more difficult to leave later. I understand your decision, but being cold will only make your stay here more difficult, and you’re going to be miserable.”

Hanako sucked in a deep breath. “Don’t tell me how to solve my own problems. I just want to find a way back to my hometown. Getting here was nothing but a mistake on my part. I don’t have time to pretend to be an Uchiha over here while my family is probably worrying about me in the future!”

Madara narrowed his eyes. No one had ever dared to raise their voice in his presence. 

Tears gathered around Hanako’s eyes. “I… I don’t want to be here. I’m sorry.”

Madara wasn’t familiar with watching someone else cry in front of him, so he didn’t know what would be the best approach, especially for a girl. He took slow steps towards Hanako, and kneeled in front of her. 

“Look at me.” Hanako raised her eyes to meet his. “I can’t imagine what you’re experiencing. No one here can understand what you’re going through. Right now, only you are responsible about your own problems, but you don’t have to shoulder everything by yourself or the weight will crush you. If you need help, swallow your pride and ask for it.” 

Hanako looked away. She felt lighter after hearing those words from Madara. “Thanks.” 

Madara sighed and pulled away. “You are a member of the Uchiha Clan. Rely on us, it’s your right. I don’t know what the clan is like in your time, but here were are all united and would protect our kin at all costs.” 

Hanako smiled. 

The sliding door was suddenly opened and Izuna walked in with clean clothes and a babbling Amane right behind him. “I brought you some clean clothes,” he said coldly. “And this woman here demanded to see you now that you woke up.” 

He fell silent once his eyes fell on his brother. “Oh, you’re here?” 

“I was just leaving.” Madara greeted Amane with a nod and left the room. Izuna frowned and glared at his brother’s back. 

Amane hurried to Hanako and asked if she was feeling okay, or if she needed more rest. In the end, she was happy to see Hanako was fine. 

Hanako stared at Izuna, letting Amane talk endlessly even if she wasn’t paying attention. Izuna wasn’t the same age as Madara, probably not even close. Madara was close to his mid-twenties, while Izuna seemed more like a teenager. She would guess that Izuna was closer to Shisui’s age at the time. 

He liked to keep his hair tied on a low pony-tail, like Itachi would. Hanako felt something tight in her chest. 

“What are you staring at?” Izuna spoke bluntly, not caring if his tone was rough. Amane shut up, and looked at the girl. She was still looking at Izuna, but realized she had zoned out. 

“Sorry, I was thinking about someone.” Hanako quickly looked away.

Izuna quirked an eyebrow. “I remind you of someone? Is it someone you hate? Is that why you’re so cold?”

Hanako smiled and looked at him. “Are you going to keep bringing that up?”

Izuna crossed his arms in front of his chest. “At least until you–”

“I’ll go.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll have some sweet dumplings with you and Amane. We can get to know each other better.” 

Izuna was baffled. He didn’t think it would be so easy to convince her. What did Madara say to her after he left? Did he listen to their conversation? 

“Really?!” Amane smiled brightly. “Yes! We’re having sweet dumplings!” In a moment she got up to leave the room. “I’ll let you change, we should ask Madara-san if he wants to come too.” 

Izuna put down the clothes next to the futon. “Thank you.” Hanako muttered. Izuna looked at her with confusion.

“It’s just some clothes, it’s nothing.”

“Not that. Madara said you saved me.” 

Izuna looked away. “I just happened to be there at the right time. Again, it’s nothing.”

Hanako shook her head. “If you say so.”

Izuna looked for something in his pocket, and pulled out Hanako’s bracelet. “Here, I think this belongs to you.” 

Hanako stared at the metal bracelet and took it. “Yes, thank you.” She clasped it on her wrist, admiring the red flaming design of the art. 

“It’s a nice bracelet,” Izuna commented. “Amane said it was very selective of its owners.”

Hanako smiled, looking down at it. “Yeah. According to Neko-baa, it has burned to death several people that tried to use it without its consent. It’s a spirit weapon, you need to form a pact with it before using it. It’s like asking for permission to borrow its power.”

Izuna looked up at Hanako’s face. It was glowing, like she really appreciated it for some reason. “And you have a pact with it.” 

Hanako let the flames envelop the bracelet, turning it into a small knife. “I won’t attack you, just wanted you to see it transform.” 

Izuna regarded the knife, unbothered. “I doubt you could hurt me with it.” 

With a roll of her eyes, Hanako transformed the knife back into her bracelet. “You’re such a punk.” 

* * *

In a castle, far away from the Uchiha compound, the servants of an emperor were running around, desperately looking for a way to save their master. He had tried to free the power of a stone they had guarded for years and its chakra had taken over his body. 

“Utah-sama!” The servants yelled, but their emperor wouldn’t listen to them. He continued to m******e every single person that approached them. 

One of the servants had managed to sneak out of the palace, and observed from a distance as the castle was mercilessly destroyed. With tears on his face, he turned his back on the castle and walked away. 

“Don’t worry, Utah-sama, I will find someone to save you.”