Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Dead By Eclipse ❯ Chapter 10

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

Disclaimer: Nope, do not own Naruto.

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

Chapter 10- The Test

I feel the cold, steel fang rip through my flesh. It is vivid in my mind, the contrast between the hot blood that spills through ravashing its warmth on the cold metal.

Happiness is an illusion...

The pain screams in my mind as it sears my nerve endings setting my body on fire despite the blade's ice.

Just like pain is, Otouto...

I feel Ryoko and I fall towards the ground, my arms wrapping around her protectively, and it occurs to me how much lighter she is than I am. Her body feels so much warmer than mine, and panic strikes me that perhaps I am colder because of death. I land on top of her on the ground, the collision sending a million shots of electrifying pain up my spine, and it feels as if the ghost of the fang is still gnashing its teeth in my flesh.

Pain is an illusion Sa-

Static enters my mind voiding out my name, as the pain spins my head, and I try desperately to hear my name on Itachi's lips... and it vaguely occurs to me in a passing thought that I cannot recall how my name sounds with his voice. I can not even remember the last time he spoke it.

"I see you are eager to die, boy." Came a condescending hiss from behind.

I feel a gentle touch to my lower back, and wince at the sharp pain that shoots through me from the touch. It is then that the heat begins to cool. It feels as if cool water is flooding through my lower back washing the pain away, and then Ryoko's hands left my back as well as the pain.

I lift myself off of her to see her golden eyes brimming with tears and a light blush covering her cheeks. She bites her bottom lip lightly as she stands with me, watching me with the pained eyes.

"Don't die for me Sasuke. It would hurt too badly." She whispers.

"You're a medic." I state in light surprise.

Ryoko shakes her head no, tears lightly dusting from her eyes. "Medics are trained shinobi. I'm just a bounty hunter who has healing abilities."

My eyes widen at the sound of a blade slicing through air. I quickly dodge to the left just barely missing the thrust of the sword and throw a punch towards Kira's torso which she blocks by grabbing my hand.

"If you think I'm going to wait for your conversation to end, you're dead wrong." Kira spat at me with heated words.

Kira turns the blade on its side as she cuts it towards my torso holding me in place by my fist. I fall backwards as the blade slides just above me and I brought my foot up in a kick towards her from my new place on the ground, only to hit air.

I blink in surprise. She's gone. I gasp as I feel myself lifted up and become air bound as Ryoko jerks me off the ground in a mad dash. I only have a brief second to wonder why as an explosion rattles the air sending a gust of wind rushing past me from behind. Ryoko's grip releases from my shirt as I skip across the ground like a rag doll, the small stones in the ground ripping across my skin like knives.

I moan as I try to pull myself from the ground as quickly as possible standing on wobbly legs. I glance to my right to see Ryoko lying on the ground unmoving, and my throat tightens at the thought as I pray she is only unconscious while activating my sharingan.

"Pathetic little sister."

"What did you say..." I gasp, as I look to Kira who is glaring at Ryoko in distaste.

"Don't pity the weak Sasuke." Kira looks to me with cold eyes, and she speaks as if weilding a weapon with her words. "Ryoko knew I was working for Orochimaru. She allowed me to travel with her despite that knowledge. She just couldn't bear the thought... of living without her dear, older sister."

Kira laughs, and I am surprised by how light her laugh is. It sounds as if music is dancing in the air joyfully, and this only makes me grit my teeth in anger.

"Your lying. Ryoko said you lied to her." I spit at her.

Kira smiles knowingly. "But I did lie to her. I have always lied to her about the missions. Ryoko would never hurt others without cause,... but she would help her older sister."

I stare in shock at Kira, as an image of Itachi flashes into my mind, how he manipulated me to hurt Naruto. And I realize Ryoko is nothing like Naruto... she is like me. My body feels numb from the realization, and I turn my head slowly to face Ryoko again, how she lays limply on the ground, and in that instant I feel my back collide into a tree.

Kira grips the front of my thin, mesh shirt harshly burying her fist against my chest, and I turn my head to face her just in time to see her wicked smile and the sword slicing towards my throat. I gasp as I jerk my body downward to dodge it hard. My pulse pounds into my ears hard matching the pitch of the whistling of the blade in the air. I hear a dull ripping sound as I feel the bottom of my chin collide with the fist that was holding me to the tree. I hit the ground and quickly leap out from in front of Kira.

I glance back to see the sword driven into the tree deep and the fist that was holding me to the tree gripping the remains of my thin shirt dotted with bits of blood. I quickly realized that Kira didn't punch me, I drove my chin into her fist while dodging towards the ground, and I silently thanked whichever Akatsuki member chose such a flimsy material for the shirts.

Kira gives the sword a few jerks before accepting the fact that it is stuck. "Hmph." She turns to me with a sour look. "You shouldn't turn away from your opponent."

She's so fast. I think breathlessly, as I give the tree a thankful look for keeping the sword. I glance back to Kira only to see she has vanished again. What! I quickly leap from my place without even knowing where she was only to feel another explosion. The air gusts past me forcefully and throws me against the ground. I pull myself to a kneeling position desperately.

"I thought I said not to look away." Kira's voice seethes from behind me.

Before I can turn to look at her, I feel a harsh blow to my back as a tree greets my face. I fall back hard, dazed, as my face stings from the bark. My back radiates a dull burn throughout my body from the blow. I turn to see Kira standing several feet away glaring at me. It is then the dull burn turns into a sharp stab that rips throughout me, and I grip my front roughly, my muscles clenching from the hurt, as I force myself to my feet.

I have to do something... or I'm going to die here. But what?... There's no way I can keep up with her. She's too fast. A small smirk forms on my face. Perhaps I don't need to...

"Do I amuse you?..." Kira hisses angrily. "Then it's time to stop playing, ne?"

Playing? My sharingan barely picks up a shurikan flying towards me that I side step quickly. I feel the air rush by the side of my head as a sharp pain racks my skull. I grip the side of my head, wincing as the pain dulls to a soft roar just as a deep rumble erupts from behind me followed by soft crackles.

"Wha- But I dodged it." I gasp still gripping my head.

Sharp iron tingles my nose as I feel a warm liquid dribble from my nostrils. I hear Kira chuckles softly, the noise irritating my head as I wince.

"I condense chakra in the weapons I throw, and once released the chakra emits from the weapon in the form of sound ripping the opponent to shreds on impact... on the inside of course."

I feel my throat tighten as my eyes widen slightly, and my muscles tense at the implication. She has already hit me how many times?... If she uses that technique...

Kira smirks, motioning her head behind me. "Go ahead, look. I won't attack."

I narrow my eyes to her doubtfully, but the curiosity nags at me as I turn my head behind to see only ashes and bits of wood where the tree once stood. My mouth opens slightly as I stare in shock. My heart rate speeds instantly creating a dull thud of pain in my head as my pulse pounds in my ears.

"Still laughing?" She hisses from several feet behind.

What am I going to do?... Wait, she said she releases the chakra in weapons. Of course! If she released it from her own body, she'd rip apart her insides too. I click my tongue as I think a bit more. She must not use it in her bombs or I'd be dead right now... or....

'When I bring you to Orochimaru...'

I smirk. She cannot kill me,... she needs me alive.

I turn back to face her supressing the smile from my face, as she smiles wickedly at me from across the forest.

"You planning to fight me, or just talk me to death." I snap at her sarcastically.

Kira's smile broadens as she glares at me. "That's the spirit. Choose pride over life, just as a shinobi should."

And with those words Kira seems to vanish infront of me, and I once again leap blindly away from my place without any knowledge as to her position, while I swallow the lump in my throat that screams my weakness.

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"Now seems like a good time to attack Itachi." Kisame growls eagerly, gripping the hilt of his sword.

Itachi eyes Sasuke's every move closely, and blinks in light surprise as he humms softly in approval.

"No." Itachi answers smoothly, his face calm and body relaxed as he sits reclined against the tree. "Watch my brother."

Kisame reluctantly agrees as he kneels back down to a crouched position, watching the battle with every muscle ready for an ambush.

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I narrowly dodge another shuriken as another tree erupts with a loud rumble which quickly quiets to a soft popping noise. I huff, heart pounding, as my body shakes lightly from the adrenaline. Sweat trickles down my face drenching my my body in a reflective sheen.

"Are you going to attack, or just dodge me all day." Kira laughs, as she leaps towards me again, seemingly vanishing before my eyes from her raw speed.

Kisame growls impatiently. "You knowingly set your brother against someone even I would have difficulty defeating."

I barely dodge Kira again, blindly leaping out of the way as her fist explodes into the ground next to me creating a small crator from the force. I land to the side facing her, my breath ripping my insides from the raw force of my gasps for more oxygen.

Kisame glances to Itachi's calm face which shows no intensity despite the scene below them. "Kira has your brother outclassed. Are you going to let Kira take him?"

Kira reaches into her black, leather pockets and pulls out more kunai, holding them diligently between her slender fingers while she smirks menacinglly. I rasp out my breaths, my chest burning raw from the air, as my pulse threads lightly beneath my skin rapidly filling my body with more adrenaline. I watch her raise her hands, my muscles trembling lightly from the excitement.

"Kisame, watch my brother closer."

"Your dodging may save you for now, but you are growing tired fast. Soon, you will not be able to dodge me. I suggest you quit cowaring and attack!" Kira spits as she leaps forward while throwing the kunai.

I leap to the side quickly, blindly, as an explosion sounds from behind me followed by more soft popping sounds. My heart pounds harder from the near miss as my muscles tense harshly, their soreness screaming through my body. I turn to see Kira standing where I was, and smirk, as I land and quickly pull on the strings.

Itachi speaks calmly, fluidly. "He may be outclassed in strength and speed, but she is outclassed in skill."

A sharp hiss sounds through the air as the strings speed through their surroundings closing in on Kira, until they wrap around her tightly constricting her movements into a cacoon. Surprise washes over her face as she tries desperately to free her arms from her sides, and relief washes over me as I see she is not powerful enough to break through these. I silently thank Itachi for giving me these stronger strings during my short time with him in the cabin.

"I have been attacking... this entire time." I smirk, as I smugly respond to her.

"No... there is no way your eyes could have followed my movements!" I screams angrily, eyes flashing in rage and confusion.

"I didn't have to." I speak confidently, slowly, as if speaking to a child. "You always landed where I use to be."

Kira narrows her eyes at me as her jaw set into a scowl and her face becomes cold. My eyes trail down to her hand which had begun moving, and I recognize the hand sign immediately before she even finishes. As fast as I can, I leap backwards jerking her towards me while I move. I see the surprise consume her face as she becomes air bound, flying closer and closer to where I was standing.

I watch as fire erupts with the sound of the exploding bomb through the air as the gust of wind rips by me throwing me to the ground violently. I moan as the back of my head whips roughly, and I barely hear Kira's name being yelled over the explosion. White lights dance in my vision as I stare up at the night sky, as a dull buzz echos through my ears and my body momentarily goes limp falling into the dirt.

I groan, as I force my sore muscles to comply with sitting me up. The pain ripping through them like burning knives, and I see Ryoko sitting in front of me, concern written over her face. I look past her to see Kira lying motionless on the ground on the outer rings of the crator. So I didn't pull her fast enough to get her directly over the bomb. I look back to Ryoko to see a small tear roll down her cheek to the tip of her chin, her bottom lip quivering slightly.

Ryoko cups the side of my face gently, as she rubs my cheek lightly. "You're burned." She whispers.

I nod slightly as I stand, Ryoko following me quickly, a light blush on my cheek at her open affection. I pull a kunai out of my pocket.

"What are you doing!" Ryoko gasps, golden eyes flashing wide.

"I'm finishing her." I answer flatly.

"No! You can't! She's my sister!" Ryoko screeches as she grips my armed hand hard. "Please..." She whispers.

My eyes trail from Kira's limp body to Ryoko's pleading eyes, small amounts of tears glittering her skin in the moonlight. Her eyes seem like a glowing golden star with the tears littering, and it strikes me for a moment that she really is beautiful, and I have to look away as a light blush forms from the thought.

"Fine." I snap as I roll my eyes. "I can't believe you still care about her after that betrayal." I feel her grip on my arm loosen.

A groan echos from across the ground. My eyes dart quickly over to Kira to see her body move limply over the dirt as she struggles to a hands and knees position. The dirt which covered her slides off her body in bloody clumps, as her body stills for a moment, then convulses violently as blood is forced from her mouth which a ragged cough. I feel Ryoko's hand, which still lightly grips me, tremble as she whispers her sister's name in shock. I can only watch in shock, as Kira tries to push herself upward, only to return to the hands knees position as another convulsion takes hold of her body followed by more blood.

"How weak." My brother's breath brushes over the soft hairs of my neck. "You are failing, Otouto."

My whole body freezes as my eyes slowly blink, and in that moment Kisame appears standing over Kira, his sword perched on the ground next to him as the bandages unravel from it revealing the sword's scales.

"Who... who are you." Ryoko breathes as she glances from Kisame to Itachi then back to the other.

I feel my muscles freeze further, as Itachi's cold breath continues to blow over the back of my neck. His fingers rest lightly on my bare shoulders, my sweat intensifying the ice of his touch, as his fingers ghost down the front of my chest sliding over the slick skin until they rest flatly on my toned abdomen, the fingers fanning out over my skin. His body slowly molds to mine, until he is pressing firmly against me. His breath is more intense now, and I can feel his lips tickling the hairs on my neck from the closeness, as he envelopes me in his icy grip, the cold consuming me.

"You're not that smart. I'm not even allowed to play with Itachi's little brother." Kisame speaks in a condescending voice.

Kira coughs, as she stairs at the dirt from her hunched position. In the strongest voice she can muster, she speaks harshly, her voice rasping from the blood. "Sasuke belongs to my love, lord Orochimaru, and no one else."

"Your love?" Kisame chuckles.

Kira lifts her left hand shakily, still facing the ground, as she flashes her hand upwards to Kisame. My eyes rest on her left hand, on her ring finger, which bore the blue Akatsuki ring with the kanji for void. It is then that it dawns on me that is the wedding ring finger. My mind drifts back to the memory of the bar I met her in, and how she ignored my question about the ring.

'Don't play stupid with me! I saw you other partner already! I saw the ring!' My voice echos through my mind from the past.

The ring... is Orochimaru's. She's married to him? I think in confusion.

Kisame laughs loudly. "Orochimaru has brain washed you well, you sad pawn."

With a single sweep, Kisame easily raises the large Samehada and brings it down hard on Kira's back. I hear Ryoko shriek her sister's name as she begins to move towards her, and I quickly without even thinking grip her hand and jerk her back towards me. My eyes widen as Kira's back gives beneath the sword and bursts open, bending in a strange manner. A sickening crack echos through the forest, as her body begins to convulse while the sword rips through the flesh, and then it goes limp as the blood pools around her body. Kisame tears the sword from her lifting it back up easily, shreds of skin hanging loosely from the scales with clumps of red flesh shoved randomly under a few. Blood begins to ooze out from beneath the scales, trickling in a veiny pattern down the sword.

I feel Ryoko shake beside me in my grip, as I side glance to her. Ryoko's eyes are wide while she stares like stone at her sister's body in disbelief, soft tears falling freely down her face. And I find it strange that she makes no crying noises, not even the softest sob, almost like her body is too shocked to cry.

"Orochimaru is sicker than you, Itachi... making his daughter into a lover." Kisame chuckles. I see Ryoko's eyes flash in shock.

"Kira always was his favorite." Itachi breathes coldly against my neck.

I lightly shake my head as I look at Kira's ghostly skin and dark brown hair, such a dark brown it is almost black. It is then that the resemblance hits me... with her soft chin and almost sickly white face, she looks like a feminine version of Orochimaru with violet eyes.

"No." Ryoko speaks weakly, her voice trembling. "Father and mother died during a fire... and then Orochimaru found us. And Kira left with him, to survive, and I became a bounty hunter... to survive."

"Your mother left Orochimaru when you were an infant." Kisame chuckles in amusement.

"Enough." Itachi speaks calmly, in a low dangerous voice.

Kisame freezes, and the forest seems to grow a bit colder as I feel Itachi's chakra bear down on me as it feels the forest. The air becomes thick, hard to breathe, as silence feels the trees. I watch as Kisame's eyes widen, and he takes a step back. Itachi's skin feels like ice on mine, as he digs his nails into my hard abdomen, and his breath spills calmly over my hot neck like cold wind.

My heart speeds as my pulse begins pounding in my ears deafening the silence, and my breath becomes ragged. What is he thinking? My mind races from the sudden change of environment.

"Let go of her." Itachi calmly replies, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife.

I blink a few times in confusion, then realize I am still holding Ryoko's hand. I move my fingers forcefully as I release her, my joints stiff from the fear. Ryoko turns slowly until she is facing me, and I gasp from the paleness of her face. Her eyes are wide in shock, and dim from the absence of life, and all that is loving seems to have exitted with the life she once held. Her brow was screwed lightly in pain, as her features remained contorted from the disbelief. And the tears still streamed silently down her face, while the muscles remained tense around her throat silencing her screams.

"Now kill her." Itachi whispers coldly, his lips tickling the soft hairs of my neck.

"But she saved me." I choked in surprise.

"It's okay Sasuke..." Ryoko whispers dryly, voice dull and painstricken. I catch her eyes, tears shining over a dull, dark void. "My sister is dead and you are leaving me. I have no reason left to live."

I blink in confusion. Ryoko answers a bit dryer than before, a bitter hint to it, like a mouse who has been overplayed with by the cat. "You are wearing his clothes Sasuke. It's obvious you are lovers... you could have told me."

A strong heat entered my cheeks as Itachi's arms gripped me even more possessively at her words. I feel filthy now, my dirty secret thrown in front of everyone, and the sickness began churning my stomach.

"No, you're my friend-" I began, but Itachi cut me off.

"Otouto, kill her..."

His voice deadly low, laced with an air that dared me to test him, one that sent a cold chill down my spine as it smoothly, calmly, oh so painstakingly stroked the fine hairs of my skin.

"Before I kill you."

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A/N:

I dug around on the web and found two different translations for Orochimaru's ring which has the symbol Kuu (or kuchin if you do not abreviate it to the raw japanese word for void). I found it translated to void and to sky. I picked void cause it seemed like the more correct translation.

I will be blunt with this... Orochimaru and Kira were not married. They were just lovers, which is why Kisame does not say wife. Kisame was a bit amused when he realized Orochimaru never told them they were his children, which only confirmed his thoughts that Kira was just another pawn of his and nothing more despite the ring (in other words, Oro was manipulating her like everyone else).

If you are suspicious about this, and think Oro burned down the house killing his children's mother and stepfather... then you are right, even though I only hinted at it in the fanfic. Of course, neither of the kids knew it, which is why Kira agreed to go with him like all lost kids seem to in Naruto. Ryoko denied him though and became a bounty hunter to provide for herself.

And yeah, Itachi is really pissed over Sasuke not letting go of Ryoko's hand after pulling her back. He is a protective, jelous lover. lol.

Thank you to all who reviewed, and I hope you liked this chapter. It took forever to write that battle scene... and don't worry. I don't plan on ruining this with a ton of action. That was the ONLY battle scene, alright. :) This is an angst/ suspense, not an action story. I would not have included the battle, except for the fact that it became unavoidable. And it did take FOREVER to write.

So please review and let me know what you think. :)