Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Dead By Eclipse ❯ Chapter 4

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: nope, don't own Naruto.

A/N: I've been reading the Naruto shippuden manga online, so yeh, I know the "truth" about Itachi and the slaughter of the Uchiha clan... I won't say the truth here to prevent spoilers. But for those of you that know the truth, just know that this fanfic is written when Sasuke is still about thirteen long before Shippuden. I have not decided yet whether or not to acknowledge the "truth" in this fanfic, or whether I will just completely ignore the "truth" and make up another reason as to why he killed his clan... or whether or not I will even address the reason. This is a fanfic afterall, so it is not like I have to stay 100% loyal to the manga plotline.


Sasuke: Shut up and write the chapter. You'll never get it written at this rate!!
Sheol: grrrr....

Warning: chapter contains references to sexual content and possible obscene language.

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Prey.. .

I stared hard at the words, burning them into my mind. I ran my fingers over its crimson lettering, the partially dry blood lightly smearing beneath my fingertips. I watched entranced as the dark liquid slid over the smooth back of the photograph creating a slick texture over the rough edges of the dried part of the blood.

I brought my fingertips up to my face, the dark red liquid holding a contrast against the milk of my skin. I breathed in the liquid slowly, the sharp scent of iron assaulting my senses setting my nerves on fire. As the scent disrupted my senses, sending my mind on a plane up high as danger spun in my head screaming to me to keep running, I couldn't help but wonder... is this my brother's blood?

Surviving in such an unslightly manner as this...

I could not recall ever seeing him bleed... is this what it looks like? So red, so human... I breathed in again, the scent setting my mind on overload. Is this what my blood will feel like when it is spilled, such a high, and my heart began to pound harder at his begging, burning the muscles in my legs to just run.

By all means, flee, cling to your wretched life.

And with as hard as my nails tore at the photograph, the blood still remained stained on its back, marking me as prey.

Chapter 4- Prey

My eyes darted over the deserted street lined by empty shops. My legs still burned like a wild fire, entrapping my muscles just itching to run. I sucked in each breath, my chest burning hot coal beneath my ribs as I walked down the street. I felt my senses tingle as my eyes fluttered over the scene soaking in each shadow, each movement in the light breeze. And the silence drove the pressure deeper into my chest.

How fitting, how belittling, that my legs were shaking too badly to run any further. I could feel the weakness consuming them with each burn in the sore meat. I could run for hours in training, but the thought of those eyes set the nerves on fire, seemingly to burn them into his submission.

My head snapped to the right as a rattle broke the silence over the street. I felt the pressure release for a moment, as my muscles tensed ready for a seconds notice. I watched as a can jumped over the dirt street, rattling in the breeze. I sucked in a slow breath and released it, feeling the pressure return on my chest as my mind began to create new secret places of his hiding.

I need to get out of here... somewhere safe. I heard laughter echo out of a small building to my left. My eyes settled on its warm light with shadows moving through the window. Somewhere with people.

"How about now, Itachi." Kisame watched from the roof top Sasuke's retreating form into the building, as he ran a thick red tongue over his razor teeth. "Your brother seems scared enough. He's learned his lesson."

Itachi's deep crimson eyes closed slowly, as his head tilted to Kisame only for the eyes to reopen casting two red moons into Kisame's dark eyes.

"What lesson." Itachi spoke calmly, as he remained crouched close to the roof.

"Hn." Kisame chuckled, showing a row of shark-like teeth. "You mean this isn't for him disobeying you?"

Itachi returned his gaze to Sasuke, as he watched his brother's arm reach out to open the door, a deep hunger settled into his eyes setting the two orbs of blood on fire as they sucked in every movement, every slight sway of the boy's form. Kisame watched as Itachi's eyes seemed to overflow with blood,... and it was then Kisame trembled.

"He will want this." Came Itachi's even reply, voice unmoved by the blood in his eyes.

Kisame mentally steadied his body, but he could not tear his eyes from Itachi. He had only seen this look once before, when Itachi first mentioned his brother. But as he stared at his partner he couldn't help but want a bit more information, something more to drink in. The edge of Kisame's lips tucked upward a bit more, revealing ivory canines beneath. His eyes were wet eagerly on Itachi.

"How touching, Itachi. Playing with your little brother." Kisame edged on.

Kisame felt a pressure bear down on his chest as silence engulfed the air. The force of the chakra shortened his breaths considerably, and he began to pant sucking the air through his throat creating a harsh whistle. Itachi's eyes continued to burn on the building in the wake of Sasuke's absence, his form calmly bent over with eyes contemplating in the fire of his blood eyes.

Kisame felt his heart speed a bit, as he watched the deadly calm of his partner. He knew not to push Itachi in his silence, it was foolish to do so. And now his partner's chakra was bearing down on his body, with the silence ensuing like a somber pause at a funeral. And just as quickly as the pressure had begun, it was released, causing Kisame to greedily suck in the new found freedom in the air.

Itachi rose slowly, and dropped elegantly from the roof top, his Akatuski cape billowing in the air. Kisame watched his partner descend to the ground. As well as he knew Itachi, he couldn't help but feel he knew nothing of his partner. And as Itachi slowly crossed the street, his slim form gliding over the dirt like a ghost, Kisame could not help but chuckle. As frightening as Itachi was, Itachi was the highest thrill Kisame ever felt. It's what kept him as Itachi's partner.

"Right." Kisame hissed as he descended behind his partner.

I entered the building, the smell of cigarrettes and alcohol hitting me hard. My eyes squinted as the smoke burned them, and slowly adjusted to the smog in the building. I coughed hard, clearing my throat of the pollution. An old song was chiming noisily from a juke box in the corner of the room. Tables criss crossed the floor littered with slumped forms over bottles and mugs, and a bar sat at the opposite end of the door with more slumped forms and wobbly legs.

And I could just picture Itachi walking in here, laughing at me for thinking I could find safety in a place like this. I sucked in a deep breath, only to release another violent cough as the smoke burned my throat further, and I could feel my eyes burn deeper from the smoke. Slowly, I crossed the room and took a seat at the bar.

The tender lightly glanced up from a mug he had been wiping only to blink a few times at me in disbelief, and then his brows furrowed deep.

"Hey, kid, you gotta be twenty one to come in here." The tender spat at me.

"Mind your own business." I glared at him, as I rested my elbows on the bar and slumped my head into one of my hands. Just the act of sitting at the bar seemed to relax every fiber of my being. Itachi would never look for me in here, and a calm seemed to set in.

I heard some giggling from across the room, as I looked up to see a couple of girls sitting at a table whispering and pointing at me. I saw a glint of mischief in one of their eyes, while the other girl held me in disregard. Suddenly, a look of realization hit her eyes, as they deepened with intent.

"Get out of here, kid! You trying to get me fired!" The tender shouted into my face. He had since crossed the bar and was now directly in front of me.

My eyes shot up to meet his, glaring coldly at his sky blue eyes. My voice took on a low tone as venom laced every word that left my lips, screaming to leave me be.

"I could care less what happens to you. Now shut up."

The tender glared at me. "You little brat. Fine then, you want to play tough guy?" He looked across the room at met someone's eyes. "Bouncer! Throw this kid out!"

I held my glare on the tender who was now smirking, eyes staring knowingly at me dancing with satisfaction. I heard heavy footsteps approach me and stop directly behind my stool. I carefully shifted my weight until I was no longer leaning on my arm. My posture was straight holding myself high on the stool with pride.

"This the brat giving you probs." Came a gruff voice from behind me. I could see his shadow stretch across the counter towering over my small form, muscles of shadow engulfing me.

"Yea," came the tender's amused reply as he kept his self assured eyes locked with mine, "get rid of the kid."

"No prob." A deep barking laugh came from behind.

I kept my cold glare locked with the tender, a look of annoyance entering my eyes. I felt a warm hand encircle my upper arm grabbing it roughly. The hand squeezed tight as it began to lift me up a few centimeters from the bar stool. My eyes narrowed further at the tender. I was not going to leave her, not now that I found some sense of safety.

"Don't touch me." I growled.

And with one sharp snap I thrusted my arm straight upwards from my body catching the bouncer beneath the chin. I heard a satisfying click as his teeth knocked together followed by his grip loosening on my arm and then releasing. I kept my eyes locked with the tender, watching as his eyes widened in shock while his bouncer fell unconscious to the floor. I heard a crash followed by a moan, and then a slump to the floor. The tender's mouth slid open as he leaned over the counter staring in disbelief. I watched the tender carefully, as a small smirk formed on my mouth.

"As I said before, mind your own business."

The tender looked over to me, shot a glare as a sweat drop trickled down the side of his face, then turned and walked away, his discontent apparent. I let out a deep sigh, the smoke now only mildly burning my lungs as my body had adapted to it. I felt my muscles slip from mildly tense back to their relaxed state as the peace returned.

"Hey, you're pretty strong. What's your name, cutie?" A seductive voice to my left purred.

I glanced over my shoulder to see a girl with rich, dark red hair cut in a short bob, and darkly tanned skin. A yellow head band was worn in her hair, and she wore a light blue kimono with a high collar and long, wide arms with a yellow embroidery around the neck and tips of the sleeves. The kimono was cut high ending mid thigh, and a black net hose covered her legs down to her low cut combat boots which matched the low cut combat gloves she wore with missing fingers. Her yellow, cat-like eyes caught mine, and I shot her a look of distaste. Her kimono reminded me too much of the ones Itachi had bought for me, and it left a bad image in my mind.

"It's rude to ask for a name before introducing yourself." I said in disinterest.

She giggled as she blushed, and looped on of my fingers with hers which rested on the bar. "My name is Ryoko, now what's yours again?"

I swiftly moved my finger out of her grasp, as I looked away from her. "I don't give my name to annoying girls." My body shifted away from her signaling for her to leave.

I could feel Ryoko's glare into the side of my head, and it was then that a giggle came from my other side. I glanced over to see a dark brunette with her hair tied into a single french braid that ran in a thick trail down her back to her hips. Her skin was a ghostly pale that sharply contrasted her chocolate brown hair. She had deep violet eyes that matched the violet head band in her hair that tied in a knot at the base of her head in her braid, and then trailed in purple ribbons down her back with her hair. Her outfit seemed a bit out of place in the bar. She wore a sleeveless black leather button up shirt with a low V cut that revealed the tip of her cleaveledge, and black skin tight leather pants with high cut combat boots. A violet shash was tied loosely around her waist and purple arm bands lined her upper arm and mid lower arm. The purple band on her right upper thigh almost made her appear like a shinobi... almost.

"I don't think he likes you, Ryoko." She looked from Ryoko to me. "Isn't that right?"

I looked her over a second time. "So what are you suppose to be." I almost spat it. I come in here for safety and peace, and it seems like everyone in here is focused on me.

Her violet eyes flashed with excitement. "And what is that suppose to mean, 'what are you?' I'm a girl."

I looked down to the bar, hoping they would both just leave. My mind and body craved for the once safe, enticing peace that was found upon first sitting at this bar, and anger began to shift throughout my body at every second that passed in their presence.

The brunette leaned over and whispered into my ear, her breath brushing over my skin tingling my fine hairs. "Want to have some fun?"

My eyes shifted over the counter to where her left hand was resting near mine. A glint of light from her ring finger caught my eye, as my gaze fixed on a light blue ring with the kanji Kuu embedded into the ring in black. My mind shifted back to a similar scarlet ring on Itachi's right ring finger with the kanji Shu. I shifted my eyes up to her violet ones which were now dancing mere inches from mine.

"You don't seem like an ordinary town girl." I spoke calmly, flashing my eyes dangerously at her.

She pulled back some and smirked, eyeing me with regard. "Well, I'm not. In fact, I'm not even from this town, just like you, right?"

"You seem to know a lot about me." I felt my muscles tense under my calm demeanor, as my pulse quickened with adrenaline. I moved my arm closer into my body as my posture straightened.

"It's not everyday some town's kid decks a bouncer out cold." Came a musical giggle from behind me. Ryoko paced around front until she was standing next to her partner. "We knew you were something special, right." Said the red head as she looked to the brunette.

"I'll only ask one more time, what are you." I demanded, as the irritation set in hard. I fisted my hand against the bar and glared at the two girls. I could feel my hairs stand on end as a cold sense washed over my skin.

"We are bounty hunters. We could use someone strong on our next mission. Come join us... I promise it will be fun." The brunette whispered with a flash of adrenaline through her eyes.

I felt the chill creep farther along the back of my neck. Something was not right here. I could feel goosebumps crawl up the length of my arm as my hairs stood on end. And it was then that I felt it, eyes upon me swallowing me whole.

"Cold, cutie? Want me to warm you up?" Ryoko winked at me in a seductive manner. The brunette rolled her eyes at her partner's suggestion.

My eyes darted around the room until they rested on a dark figure standing in the smog of the shadows near the exit. I caught a flash of red clouds and blinked in surprise, and the moment my eyes reopened, the figure was gone. I felt my pulse quicken beneath my skin threading slowly throughout my entire body. My eyes darted over to the brunette's ring, then up to meet her deep violet eyes.

Kuu... void... Shu... scarlet...

"Where are the others." I demanded, trying desperately to retain my calm composure.

The void now threatened to engulf me, growing steadily deeper in the presence of the scarlet blood. I felt the pressure of blood beneath my pulses threaten to rip open and spill onto this floor. And the smog grew thicker blanketing me in a false sense of security. I glared into the brunette's eyes, my outer strong composure lying through my rattling bones.

The brunette looked questioningly at me. "What others."

The red head looked from her partner, then settled her almond eyes on me. "It's just use two, sweetie. We have no other partners."

"Don't play stupid with me! I saw the other partner already! And I saw your ring!" I shouted at her, the rage engulfing me.

My eyes burned into her demanding an answer. I could feel my breath quicken as I focused on steadying it. In and out, in and out. My body began to feel lighter, as the cold swept through my blood icing my muscles, setting them ablaze with fire from the previous run.

The brunette looked at me perplexed as she glanced down at the ring. Ryoko giggled lightly, her musical laughter floating through the building. "You don't like her ring?"

The brunette took a serious tone as her eyes held me in disposition. "My name is Kira. If you want to come with us, then come. I will not waste my time on you any longer."

With that, Kira turned and began to leave, her hand resting on her hip as it swayed with her body. Ryoko turned and winked at me as she giggled, following her friend out the door.

My eyes followed their retreating forms, as confusion began to wash over me. A spark of surprise set in as they both moved through the doors. If they were Itachi's partners... wouldn't they?...

I rose to follow them through the door as a firm grip held me back at the wrist. Before I could turn, a chilling breath grazed over my neck burning it with the cold, as a calm silky voice echoed through my head.

"Do not move."

I could feel my heart still in my chest, as my breath silenced growing deathly slow. My muscles froze as his ice cold lips rested on the shell of my ear as if gently kissing me with death.

"Well, aren't you going to take me back." I was proud with how confident my voice came out.

I felt his tongue slide out against my ear and trace the outer shell slowly, leaving a chill in its wake. My mind began screaming for me to run, but my muscles remained locked in his grasp. And every fiber of my being radiated an iced burn down to my core as the knowledge of what is impending beat down on me.

"No..." Itachi whispered into my ear.

My brow lightly furrowed in confusion. His breath tingled my skin as he rested his head against mine, his other arm now stretching over to the front of mine ghosting his fingers across my skin, the loose mesh of the shirt scratching across me. I felt my skin contract beneath his touch, responding in a sickly perversed manner.

"I am not done yet." Came the calm chilling reply.

"What do you want." I demanded, exasperated.

Itachi drew a small circle along my chest in a thoughtful manner. My mind began drawing conclusions of every possible response, and the terror grew like a crushing pressure in my chest as Itachi's finger encircled it like a predator.

"I want your innocence." The reply was even, precise. And a chill crawled up my spine at the memory of when he first spoke those words to me that fateful day.

"You already got my virginity, you bastard." I growled.

His hand slid up my chest, sending a pleasant chill through my body much to my displeasure, and cupped my face lightly. An image of Naruto dead flashed through my mind, his lifeless eyes staring into me as Itachi's hand cupped his head in an almost loving manner. A pang of jelousy shot through me, followed by a consumption of guilt... but I could not help but wonder... if Itachi was cupping my head in a similar manner.

"Not that innocence." Itachi calmly whispered, his cold voice flowing through my body. "I want you to kill the girls."

My body stilled, as the realization flowed through me, followed by anger washing through every inch of my body, an anger that nearly over threw my fear.

"I killed Naruto. I'm not innocent any more." I seethed the word innocent running it through my teeth harshly.

Itachi's cold finger came dangerously close to my eye and traced a thin line beneath it.

"Foolish brother. Naruto is still alive." I felt a small trickle of blood run down my cheek from the tip of Itachi's finger, as his perfect voice stung my ears. "How I long to see scarlet on your pale hands."

"Would if I refuse." My voice shook as Itachi's breath crossed over the shell of my ear, sending chills down my spine. I could still see his crimson eyes burning black flames into my dreams.

"Find out." Itachi's smooth voice tempted me, daring me to refuse.

I felt his grip loosen on me, as his cold body slid from mine allowing the heat to return to it. Quickly, I spun around only to find nothing behind me... and my body shook as his voice echoed in my head.

Ryoko tapped his foot impatiently. "Why don't I just go drag him out the bar? I don't think he's following us Kira."

"Be patient. He'll come." Kira said confidently as she remained leaning against the side of the bar.

"Really? And what bait did you leave for him to bite genius?" Ryoko said in a mocking manner.

It was then that the bar door opened and I slipped out. My eyes could not meet their gaze as I walked past them, and I could feel their eyes glued to me as they followed my every movement. I stopped, glancing over my shoulders to them.

"Well? Are you coming?" I questioned in a harsh tone.

Kira sent Ryoko a knowing smile, as a broad smile stretched over Ryoko's face.

"I knew you'd come!" She squeeled as she skipped after me. "You won't regret this!"

You have no idea... and the cold settled into my chest as the past began to repeat itself in its sickly rapturous cycle.

Kisame watched as Sasuke, Kira, and Ryoko disappeared down the street, an amused smirk stretching over his face.

"This is getting interesting, Itachi. Who would have imagined those two would be here in a place like this."

Itachi leaned into the shadows watching his brother's retreating form, amusement reigning in his eyes at the mere thought. Kisame glanced to his partner, eyeing his still form as he passively blended with the dark.

"You don't think your brother can kill Kira, do you?" Kisame chuckled. Itachi remained silent, his dark form molding perfectly with the shadows. "Right." Kisame replied, as he looked back to the now empty street where the three had been. "I guess we'll find out how strong Sasuke is."

Itachi's smooth voice blended with the cold wind of the night.

"He will be mine."

A/N: Kuu means void and Shu means scarlet.