Uchiha’s Butterfly - Volume 3 Chapter 67 Curse Of Hatred
“I’m sorry Nee-san, I had to Nee-san?” Itachi felt Kaname’s body got rigid under her hug.
“Damnit! Itachi-kun can you tell me what happened?” the old man asked looking at the dazed kunoichi.
Kaname’s mind was occupied by thousands of different thoughts and questions, ‘How could Itachi do that? Why? When? Could she save Shisui’s life if she was at home yesterday?…’ Ten seconds later she noticed that her head was getting clouded by dark thoughts of rage and destruction, after a moment a single thought gave her an idea.
“Itachi-kun” she noticeably relaxed, hugging him a little tighter “It’s okay, we know you wouldn’t do that to your friend. Can you tell me, did Shisui-kun used his Kotoamatsukami on you?”
“No, yes I don’t know” the teen was still shaken.
“Anbu, leave us!” Hokage ordered aloud before the secret was known to everyone, “Kana-chan, are you alright? I know you cherished him”
“I’m not alright!” she snapped at the old man, after taking a deep breath, she spoke a little more calmly “I’m sorry Jiji, I just feel”, stopping to think about the nature of her emotions.
“Wistful?” he tried to help her.
‘More like hateful, where do those emotions come from?’
“I understand Kana-chan, I lived through my share of such events, and I’m sorry for both of you. Itachi-kun, can you tell us what happened? It could be important” Sarutobi continued in his grandfatherly voice.
“I-… He was on a run, and I I killed him”
“Jiji, let me take care of it” Kaname put her palm near Itachi’s forehead, chakra-powering her finger she flicked the black-haired teen.
“Ouch! Nee-san? Why?”
“Get a grip Itachi-kun, we need to know what happened, do it for him. We can still get our hands on his assailants. There is time for mourning later, now we should act.” she ordered him in a calm, resolute voice.
“*Breathe* Mourning later?” he asked.
“Yeah. Remember I will always believe in you, tell us what happened”
——-(Flashback no Jutsu)——-
“Shisui?! You’re bleeding!” Itachi ran up to his foster brother.
“Don’t worry about me, do you know where can I find Kaname-san? She is not home, and I need to urgently talk with her”
“You need her healing abilities or a hospital bed, not to chat with her”
“It’s more important than my life Itachi, I’m not sure who to trust anymore”
“Do you not believe me Shisui?” Itachi asked a little sadly.
“I do, but I do not believe the people you trust”
“I will get Nee-san here, just wait for a moment”
“*Sigh* There is not enough time, follow me Itachi”
Both teens ran towards the cliffs on the Naka River. [AN: Naruto ch. 590]
“You stubborn mule, you need to go to the hospital! If you want to I can ask Sachi-sama to help you” Itachi pleaded.
“Do not repeat my words to no one else you do not trust one hundred percent Itachi. I know you’re an Anbu… Don’t give me that face, it was hard not to notice. I was attacked by a Konoha’s squad wearing Anbu uniforms. *Sigh* I should listen to her in the academy, tunnel-vision allowed two other squads to catch me in a simple trap. They were after both of my eyes and Kotoamatsukami. Thanks to Kaname-san’s training, I was able to untie myself and run away with my left eye intact. I’m sure they are somewhere out there looking for me, I can’t allow someone to get their hands on it”
“… Are you sure it was an Anbu squad? Everyone knows Konoha’s dress code Shisui.”
“Truly, I have no idea” Shisui replied, turning his remaining eye directly at Itachi. There was a black four-point pinwheel in the middle boring into the younger teen, “I would like to ask you for some favors Itachi, protect Konoha even if it’s against your loved ones, do what is best for all of us”
“What are you talking about Shisui?!” unnoticed even for himself, Itachi pulled out a blade from the sheath on his back.
“Don’t let my remaining eye to fall into the wrong hands” with a sick *pop* sound Shisui pulled out his left eye and stretched out his left hand towards Itachi.
“No? Stop! I won’t!” Itachi suddenly recognized that his blade was aiming at his foster brother.
“It should help you achieve the Mangeky Sharingan as well, giving you. I left a will, it will assure everyone that I ordered you to kill me, destroy my eye, and throw me down the cliff. It should prevent the conflict in our clan from arising over my eye”
“No! I won’t do that!” Itachi yelled at him.
“Goodbye, little brother, I love you” Shisui walked towards the edge of the cliff and lightly thrown a single shuriken at the younger teen, making his body automatically move to counter the attack.
“STOOOP!!!” Itachi pleaded while his hand moved to strike Shisui down.
—————-
“I thought so, someone targetted Shisui-kun for his eyes”
With a single tear in her eye, that she quickly wiped off, she asked, “Do you know anyone that could order multiple squads of Anbu Jiji?”
“All requests are coming from this office, I’m more inclined into believing that they were impostors”
“Who knew, excluding three of us, of Shisui-kun’s eye powers?” she inquired.
“Not many, it was S-class secret Kana-chan. Anbu Commander; as T&I department head – Ibiki-kun; as Shinobi Commander Shikaku-kun, and”
“Yes?”
“Konoha Council Leaders, my two other teammates. I know you don’t think much of them. But they were my teammates, I own them my life, at least a couple of times.” Hokage admitted.
“Do you believe they wouldn’t pass the info further Jiji?”
“Do I trust them? Yes. But for some years they were much more supportive of Danzo’s voice than mine. As the leaders of the Council, they both had the clearance to check Konoha’s secrets out. I will speak to them myself Kana-chan”
“Speak? I will Sorry, Jiji, could it be Danzo’s work?.” she bit her tongue before she spoke what she felt was needed to be said, ‘Weird, I wanted to murder them without proof of guilt. Is this the so-called Uchiha’s Curse of Hatred I read about?’
“*Sigh* Maybe, I do not know. But we will need to get to the bottom of it.” Hokage answered truthfully.
“Itachi-kun, do you have Shisui-kun’s eye secured?” the young woman asked, ‘So much power. With just thought, you could make your biggest enemy into your friend, or make two countries wage war Ah, damnit. What am I thinking about?’
“Yes Nee-san, it’s with-”
“Stop. Keep it that way, for all of us the power of Kotoamatsukami is like catnip, the fewer people know it exists the better” Kaname answered.
“Hmm, that’s why Shisui-kun was looking for you Kana-chan. You are worthy enough to wield such responsibility”
“I’m not worthy Jiji. I’m worried that I would do much more bad in the name of a self-proclaimed good. I believe that if you want to change someone’s opinion on a subject, you should talk to him, not forcefully mind-r.a.p.e him”
“I still believe you should have it Kana-chan”
“Jiji Bite me, I’m not taking Shisui-kun’s eye, end of the discussion. Itachi-kun did you attain the second form of Sharingan?” Seeing the boy lightly nods his head, she continued, “Do you want to share it with us? I wouldn’t mind if you want to keep it a secret either”
“Nee-san, from what I understand, my first power provides me with a genjutsu that traps my target’s mind into an unbreakable illusory world, altering their perception of time. My right eye contains Amaterasu, black flames that can burn everything, even water, and other flames” the teen explained.
“There is no such thing as an unbreakable genjutsu Itachi-kun, still you received two very powerful abilities”
“Would you help me Nee-san?”
“I will, but not today. One last thing Jiji, where did you send Shisui-kun for a mission?”
“No, you won’t go Kana-chan. You need to rest, not hunt down an unknown number of enemies throughout the country. What will you do alone out there?”
“Me? I will hunt down and annihilate those motherf.u.c.kers. I owe him at least that” she replied with a l.u.s.t for blood in her voice.
“Kana-chan Are you sure? Revenge won’t make you feel better”
“I’m coming as well” Itachi announced emotionlessly.
“No, you are not Itachi-kun. Aunty would whack me if I let you join on this mission”
“*Sigh* I see. I will allow it under one condition Kana-chan. After you return, you are going to have a long talk with Inoichi-kun. And you Itachi-kun will go to meet him the moment you leave the office. Am. I. Understood?”
“Whatever you say, I don’t think I need a psychiatrist Jiji. Now, where did you send Shisui-kun?”
“I told you before Kana-chan, looking for help is not a sign of weakness. I will tell you everything you need to know in three hours Kana-chan, go say goodbye to your family, the hunt will probably take some time. I will find someone to substitute for you in Team 7, hmm the chnin exams are right around the corner you think your pupils should try out?”
“Sure, if they’re still in Konoha, they know Paku-chan, make her pass the invitation”
“I’m sorry, Pakura will have another assignment, I think that Inu should taste what is it like to take care of his team”
“Doofus-kun? Hmm, okay, just tell him if anything happens to my genins I will rip out his legs”
“I see. Now, both of you, from the bottom of my heart I’m sorry for your loss I will talk with Shisui-kun’s parents. *Sigh* Sometimes I hate this work”
“Thanks, Jiji. Itachi-kun follow me, I will introduce you to Inoichi-san”
Leaving her clanmate in Yamanaka district, she walked towards where she has left Naruto.
She noticed the blonde eating ice creams on a verandah, at the same table sat her mother, Shiori, and the boys conversation partner, the little Hyuuga princess.
“Hi everyone, sorry, I’m late” she calmly greeted.
“Hi, Little Butte-… What’s happened?” it took her mother less than a second to notice Kaname’s turbulent emotions.
“That easy? *Sigh* Nothing good mom, I will have to leave for a long mission” Kaname answered.
“Shiori-chan”
“Yes, sensei. Hina-chan, stay with Naru-chan, okay?” the Hyuuga matriarch stood up calling out, “Follow me please.”. She led them to the empty room, leaving the mother with her daughter alone.
Sachi instantly tightly embraced Kaname, “It’s okay, you don’t have to hold back with me”
“I’m not-”
“*Shh*” the woman shushed the girl. After ten seconds of the hug, the dam broke loose, Kaname was finally able to release all of her pent up sadness with tears freely flowing down her cheeks.
“Shisui-chan died?” Sachi asked.
“Yes, he was looking for me, but he ultimately sacrificed himself to protect Konoha” Kaname replied, “Why mom? Why whatever I do, I can’t protect the people I cherish?! I’m doing my hardest, but I always fail at the end!” she shouted out.
“Butterfly, all of us ninjas use jutsus that in the eye of civilians look like godly powers, but we’re just humans, not gods. You can’t be everywhere at the same time. Still, you became one of the best kunoichis Konoha had in its long history” her mother whispered back.
“How can you say that mom?! I’m just a failu-”
Her mother kissed her forehead, “You are my treasure, I always was and will be proud of you, Little Butterfly”
“*Sigh*… Thanks. I will have to think it through”
“Yeah, I will talk with Inoichi-kun, he should help you come to terms with all the loses you suffered”
“Don’t bother mom, I will go to meet him after my mission, we already talked about it”
“And why did Sarutobi-san send you on a mission? C-ranks could wait a week or two.”
“Ah, I requested it. I’m to hunt down Shisui-kun’s assailants, it’s most likely B or A-rank”
“Alone?!”
“Yeah, Jiji gave me three hours to pack up and say my goodbyes. Don’t worry this time I’m prepared, I talked with Jiraya-san about some interesting topics”
“A whole three hours, why should it take you-? Ah, I see Okay, just stay safe out there Butterfly”
“There is one more thing that’s worrying me. What do you know about the Uchiha’s Curse of Hatred?”
“Hmm, where did you hear that?”
“I read it in some book, and I think it got me as well, the first thing I tasted after the news wasn’t sadness mom. I felt rage, it was like a black hateful curtain covering my eyes and those thoughts of inflicting unearthly pain on my enemies”
“*Sigh* We Uchihas are known of our self-destructive behavior Butterfly, I know what are you talking about, I felt it as well on the day I received the news of your father passing. Listen to me, the books are wrong. It’s not Curse of Hatred, after long research, I observed that the fallen clanmate’s brains have their limbic system abnormally developed. This part of the brain supports a variety of functions, including emotions. The Uchihas have it much larger, what should be basically in the middle of the brain tissue, for us developed almost all the way to the cerebral cortex”
“The part responsible for sight?” her daughter asked.
“Yes, not counting very developed chakra coils near our eye sockets, I believe it’s the main reason for our Sharingan. Under a powerful dose of stress, we are able to activate the first form of Sharingan. Mangeky Sharingan, the ‘Cursed Eyes’ that three of us have, is attainable only by an intense surge of emotions. I only wish that the brain would read positive emotions as more powerful, instead, we’re shinobis, as such – most of our life will be traveled under sadness and grief. Do you understand now Butterfly? We the Uchihas feel all the emotions much more intensely than others, you may feel hatred, but it’s conjured by the loss of somebody very precious to you. Without you and Ryuichi I would most likely fall into this trap as well, as long as you have something to live for, you won’t have any problems”
“That’s a lot to think of. One more question, I thought that you would try to ground me in Konoha and forfeit the mission, why did-”
“Heh, those three hours were for Sarutobi-san, not for you Butterfly”
Three hours later after explaining everything to Naruto and her genin team, Kaname head out towards Hokage’s Office. ‘Ah, so that’s what is going on. Should have thought of it’ she thought entering the room.
“Hi, Kana-chan” Pakura greeted her.
“Hehehe, at last, we go for a mission together Kana-chan!” Anko jumped at her, catching her in a koala hug.
“*Sigh* Hi. Jiji, we had a deal”
“Yeah, you never said that you were going there alone, I wouldn’t let you do that either. It took me some time to find you some support”
“*Grumble*”
“Are you alright Kana-chan? We have heard what happened” Pakura delicately put her hand on Kaname’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry about me Paku-chan, I talked with my mom a little bit. I’m good enough for the mission. Now Jiji, where did you send Shisui-kun?”
“He was scouting the settlements north of Konoha, near our border with the Sound Country. I received many reports about the bandits flooding that area, he was there only to find everything he could and return with a report. It seems that there are enemy ninjas there as well.”
“Damnit! Of course, it happened there!” Anko shouted out.
“Why? What is this place?” Pakura asked worriedly.
“Kana-chan almost lost her life there on her first mission” the snake mistress admitted.
“Don’t worry Anko-chan, Paku-chan. This time we are the huntresses. Anything else Jiji?”
“Promise me that you will come back in one piece Kana-chan”
“I promise. Let’s go, girls. We have some blood to spill” Kaname replied jumping out the window with Anko hot on her trail.
“Pakura-kun, keep them safe and good luck”
“Hokage-sama, seeing Kana-chan’s face I’m more worried about what she will do to her enemies. I think there won’t be much of a fight going on. Bye”
Trio’s entire trip was spent in silence, five hours later they arrived at Tanzaku Quarters, a small town, known for its gambling opportunities and other ‘dubious’ luxuries.
“Kana-chan, stop mopping around, we’re here for you to talk with ‘ya know?”
“Yeah, thanks Anko-chan”
“I think we should stay here for the night, we won’t find anything better up north” Pakura led them inside the settlement.
“We should go look for our targets further north Paku-chan. We won’t find anything inter- the hell? Ugh!” Kaname was interrupted by a small piglet running between her feet, a second later a black-haired girl approximately twelve years old headbutted her in the stomach.
“Guh! Eh? I’m sorry Nee-san, I did not see you. I was running after Tonton” the girl pointed at the piglet hiding behind Kaname’s back,
“…No problem, what is your name?”
“I’m Shizune!”
“You said that piglet is called Tonton? Watch and learn Shizune-chan” Kaname turned her head towards the animal, activating her Sharingan, she effortlessly caught it by the scruff of its neck. Tonton wasn’t even able to react before it landed back in Shizune’s arms.
“Shizune! We need to go! Now!” A woman’s voice called out from the crowd.
“*Sigh* Again?” Shizune commented dropping her head.
“Go to your mom Shizune-chan. Don’t let your pet run away, many bad people could hurt it” Kaname patted the girl’s head.
“Thanks Nee-san. Bye-bye.” she disappeared in a crowd.
“What?” Kaname asked looking at her teammates.
“Nope, I won’t comment. I heard of what happened with your brother, that’s a no-no”
“I do not know what you’re talking about Anko-chan, my Aniki just got a new hairdo. Whatever, as I said, we should go further north, we’re still halfway till the Valley of the End. We don’t have time to lose.”
“A new hairdo?! He got bald!” Anko shouted out.
“Kana-chan, you understand that it will take us some time before we find our targets? I mean days or even weeks?” Pakura asked ignoring the talks about fashion.
“I know, it wouldn’t be the first time either of us is camping outside, is it? I want to find them as fast as possible.”
“Ahh Okay, Kana-chan, let’s go, but you’re not leaving my sight, today we will just put out a temporary camp”
“Only if you can catch me Paku-chan” Kaname flickered away.
“Anko-chan, wait. I have a plan” Pakura stopped the snake mistress before she jumped after Kaname.
“Hmm?”
Three minutes later the duo caught up with Kaname, she was waiting for them north of the town.
“What took you so long?” Kaname asked, noticing that Anko fought to not look in her eyes.
“Don’t worry about it, Kana-chan. Lead on, we will follow you” Pakura omitted the answer.
Six hours of sprint later, the silence was broken by the sound of a big waterfall somewhere behind the thicket. Leaving the forest the trio was looked down by the stony face of Madara Uchiha’s statue. Jumping on top of the First Hokage’s head, Kaname looked down below to a great waterfall.
“It’s getting late, where do you want to place our tents Kana-chan?” Anko called out to her.
“If I remember right the waterfall is the border between us and the Land of Sound. We should place down a camp somewhere in the forest, it should help us hunt down every bandit crossing the border.”
When the sun set down behind the horizon, Pakura prepared lunch for them. Trying to make Kaname talk with them, they sprang topic after topic in their conversation.
“Thanks for worrying for me girls, I’m really alright. You can go to sleep, I will take the first watch” Kaname stood up and tried to leave Pakura’s tent. In the next moment, she was caught in a spine lock, her back was squeezed by two rather huge assets hidden by chainmail.
“Anko-chan, the f.u.c.k are you doing?”
“I’m sorry Kana-chan, it was my plan” Pakura admitted, “We have enough of you mopping around, I found an approach for you to relax a little that no one else thought off” she licked her lips walking towards Kaname with her h.i.p.s sashaying from left to right, “I think you will like it as well as I do” and kissed her.
‘What is going on?’ Kaname was dazed by the unexpected kiss, ten seconds later Pakura let her breath again, “*Growl* Let me go Anko-chan!” pulled her arms free she turned back at her black-haired friend, only to be jumped upon and kissed by the snake-mistress.
Falling on the mattress with Kaname, Anko admitted “Hmm, it’s sweet. You’re not coming out of this tent this night Kana-chan~”
….
[AN: I said that Kaname will have a one-time Yuri action before she meets her partner 😛 I was planning only for Anko, but you made me save Pakura’s life… But it’s not R18 – I will not write anything explicit. You can find that in other stories on this site :-P]