Naruto: Tango with Death

Chapter 34: Trauma



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As I landed back on the ground, I heard a voice resonate around me, "Interesting, I can't see through this mist. Your chakra mixed with mine to create an amalgamation that blocks my sight."

I appeared behind Itachi, soundless, and slash my sword at his legs. I'm not really sure how, but Itachi somehow knew where I was attacking, and he jumped above the strike.

I was already prepared to miss though as my sword suddenly made a sharp turn, and was now going for Itachi's arms.

Itachi, who was about to weave handsigns, suddenly clapped his hands around my sword, stopping it in place, and freezing me in shock. Before I knew it, I was hit in the chest by a strong kick, and I was punched in the guts.

Kneeling to the ground as I coughed and struggled to breath, the mist around us disappeared with a gust from Shisui, who said, "You were quite ruthless on poor Sukaina, Itachi." He wasn't sounding as funny as always, I could hear blame in his voice, and so could Itachi.

Itachi was looking down at me with a guilty face, and said as he extended his hand, "Sorry, I…"

I thought about slapping his hand away for that shit, but I decided to take it and said, "Why did you do that?"

Itachi scratched his head, blushing in shame as he said, "Sorry, it's just that you were going for the kill, and I lost in to my instincts. My deepest apologies."

Frowning, I asked, "What?"

Itachi replied, "Look around."

I did as I was told, and saw that many Uchiha clansmen were peering at us, some even had their Sharingans out.

Still frowning, I looked at Shisui, who had somehow appeared at my side, and patted my shoulder as he said, "Are you alright Sukaina?"

A little phased, I nodded slowly, before turning to Itachi and asking, "Did I let out my killing intent?"

Itachi nodded, and I bowed to him as I apologized, "Then I'm sorry, I didn't even notice. I… I think I'll go."

However, as I tried to walk away, Shisui's grip on my shoulder tightened as he stopped me in place and said, "Look, we heard about your mission, and we know what you are going through. Come, we'll show you a place."

I wanted to go home and dive into my cushions and scream as loud as I could, but I still nodded, and followed them using the Body Flicker.

We quickly moved deeper into the Uchiha Compound, until we reached an underground facility. A training facility, with walls of steel.

As I looked at my two friends, Itachi revealed, "This is a more private training room, away from people ears."

I nodded slightly, before looking at Shisui, and reeling back in shock as I saw his eyes. He had the Sharingan activated, but it wasn't the regular one. It was… the Mangekyou Sharingan.

Itachi somehow appeared behind me, stopping me, and Shisui explained, "What I am about to tell you is a secret, Sukaina, can you promise you won't talk of it with anyone else?"

I gulped and nodded as I felt Itachi disappear from behind me. I didn't look away from Shisui's eyes as he said, "This, is the next evolution of the Sharingan. The Mangekyou Sharingan. Do you have any idea of how it can appear?"

I nodded slightly, and said, "A great trauma?"

Both Shisui and Itachi looked stunned, so I quickly added, "The Sharingan is awakened when an Uchiha goes through strong emotions, so if it's an evolution of it, it seems logical for it to be awakened by a deeper trauma."

Shisui smiled lightly and said, "Well, you're right. Usually, it awakens when a loved one dies before our eyes, or if we kill them."

I looked at Itachi silently, before asking, "Then what happened to you?"

Shisui replied while he looked away, "Right after the Third Shinobi War, right after I became a Genin and barely awakened my Sharingan, my team was trapped by an enemy squad. To make sure the enemy wouldn't get any information out of us, we had to kill each other… I killed my best friend, and right before my Sensei could kill me, Lord Yondaime arrived and saved us."

I could feel deep respect for the Fourth Hokage in his voice, despite what happened to him. I said, "I'm sorry for you."

Shisui shook his head and looked at Itachi, prompting me to do the same, and thus allowing me to see Itachi had his Sharingan out as he said, "While I may not have awakened the Mangekyou, as I told you before one of my teammates died on a mission, one of my first ones. A strange man came and killed my teammates before my eyes, allowing me to awaken the Sharingan."

I nodded slightly, and we remained silent for a couple of seconds, before I asked, "I'm sorry for you two, but why tell me this?"

Shisui smiled sadly and said, "You may be good at fooling people, but I can see emotions I went through. You shouldn't feel guilt for what happened. You are not a monster for what you did, Sukaina."

Frowning, I defended myself, "I don't…"

But Itachi cut me off right away, "You did what you have to do to save your team, Sukaina, something both of us failed to do, and we lost a teammate because of it. So we are telling you, don't feel shame for the blood on your hands."

I wanted to refute what they said, but I found myself speechless. A lump in my throat. Both of them grabbed a shoulder of mine, and took me into a hug as Shisui whispered, "You'll always be our little demon."

I finally made a sound as I chocked in a chuckle, forcing my tears back before they could stream down my face, and I said with a cracked voice, "And I'll forever torment you."


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