Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Demons amoung the Akatsuki ❯ Chapter 12

Chapter 12

 

Akazaku wondered silently through the lonely halls. She sighed quietly to herself. `I wonder what's wrong with Keyo. I don't think she'd tell me now, even if I asked. Maybe it has something to do with tomorrow?' She was pulled from her thoughts as the sound of footsteps immediately reached her ears. Turning her head slightly, she spotted Itachi walking towards her; his gaze down in a moody fashion. He almost walked past her, but stopped and looked up. “Hello. What are you up to? Wandering?” His tone was extinguished of the previous rage he'd been feeling. Akazaku smiled nervously, but nodded. `He looks kinda angry. Maybe I should leave him alone.' She then took a small step to the side. As though reading her thoughts, he shook his head. “Don't be afraid, I'm not angry at you. I'm still steamed about an argument I just had with Zetsu.” She breathed a sigh of relief. `Figures.'

Silently, he stepped ahead, motioning for her to follow. “Walk with me.” She, not knowing what else to do, nodded and followed him down the hall. Once he knew she was right beside him, he began to speak again. “Just for the record, Zetsu and I argue. A lot. I don't approve of his cannibalism, and he retaliates with the fact that I killed my clan. He infuriates me at times. He just can't understand, because he's so weak.” Akazaku nodded. “I know what you mean. True power cannot be obtained without the killings of others.” Itachi smiled, slightly, but it was a true smile. “I am grateful that I am not the only one to grasp this concept. The bleeding hearts out there just don't get it.” Akazaku nodded again. `Power is easily obtainable through murder, but killing one's own clan? Is it THAT worth it? I mean, he WAS a prodigy to begin with.' They continued walking in silence; not wanting to share their current thoughts with one another.

About a minute later, Itachi stopped before a ladder propped against the wall. Wordlessly, Itachi took hold of the ladder and positioned it below a certain spot on the ceiling. He began to climb as Akazaku grew confused. “Where are you going?” Once he'd reached the top of the ladder, he reached up and touched the ceiling. Immediately, a square-ish latch swung down. Itachi motioned for her to follow once more. “Come. Let's see who can play with fire better.” A second later, he was gone. Curious, Akazaku climbed the ladder after him. Once she'd climbed through the hole in the ceiling, she found herself upon the roof. She quickly scanned the area; eyes resting upon Itachi's robed back. His inky eyes were upturned to the twilight sky. “One tends to forget of the beauty above at this hour.” Then, he turned back to his awaiting follower. “This is all of curiosity. So, show me what you've got.”

She barely had any time to get ready as his hands seemed to have minds of their own. A second later, an enormous billowing jet of flames was racing towards her. She leapt into the air, performing an aerial flip, and landed behind him. Her hands unconsciously became ablaze with her own fire as she landed a blow to his back. He immediately wheeled around; attempting to make eye contact for his trademark Genjutsu. She, sensing this, jumped to the left; avoiding his gaze. He responded with more hand seals, causing his hands to catch fire as well. He aimed several blazing punches to her face, but she managed to block each one. Then, he disappeared. She could sense a presence behind her, so she responded with a side roll. She'd just barely missed Itachi's attack; a long swooping blade of fire.

She was back on her feet in an instant, drawing a large shuriken from her back pouch. She threw it towards the left side of his face, purposely missing. He glanced at it only a second, but that was all the time she needed. She teleported behind him and stabbed his back with a fiery kunai. He let out an angered yell as he turned to face her again. But before he could make proper eye contact, a colossal wave of icy water fell from the sky; drenching both of them. The two fiery fighters turned to see a very pissed Kisame standing before the roof hatch. “Quit trying to kill each other. That's what tomorrow is for!” He crossed his arms in disappointment at his partner. Itachi responded with a deep scowl. “What does it matter to you if we wish for some practice? Who are you to stop us?” Kisame matched his scowl with one of his own. “I'm your partner, that's who! And you of all people should know better than to waste your energy. What if someone in the distance could see all the fire you two were using? Then we'd be found out! So stop. And besides, you two were making quite the racket.”

Itachi sighed as Kisame disappeared back down the hatch. He too stepped towards it; showing that he was going to listen to his partner's advice. He turned back to Akazaku, who hadn't moved and was panting. “I rather enjoyed our fight, for what it was. I'd like to finish it sometime.” He slightly smiled once more, rubbing his back. She nodded, and he was gone as well. But her eyes never left the hatch as she continued to pant. `Did I hear him right? He enjoyed it? A second ago he looked as though he'd love nothing better than to slaughter me!' She couldn't shake off her confusion as she walked back to the hatch. As she descended back into the hideout, she decided that it was probably normal not to understand the infamous Itachi Uchiha.