Someone you loved

Chapter 32

Tobi stumbled into his hide out, angrily ripping the mask from his face and throwing it to the ground.

"What happened, Madara?" asked Zetsu.

Laughing bitterly, the shinobi turned into the direction of Konohagakure. Crossing his arms, a sinister smile graced his face, tearing at his scars.

"Itachi thought he could kill another threat to his beloved siblings by attacking me, but the fool didn't realise that with his death he made a crack in the iron walls of the Kyuubi's protector."

"What do you mean? Who's the Kyuubi protector?"

"His elder sister, Uchiha Chiasa. As long as she's near the Kyuubi it will be difficult to take him under normal circumstances. However, with his death he has made an opportunity for us instead. Zetsu, call Sasori, I need his memory-concealing manipulative sand technique and poisons. We will use that crack to shatter her completely, afterwards the Kyuubi will be easy to take."

Curiously, the plant-like being asked: "And how will you do that? Wouldn't her brothers' death make her even more protective of the container?"

"Zetsu," he turned to look at it, sharingan spinning in his eyes. "What would bring every Uchiha to their knee? ... Their Blessed One."

*

"NO!"

"Hey, hey, hey. Hime, what's wrong?"

Chiasa shuddered from the dream – startlingly vivid of fighting and faces and the icy clench of betrayal in her chest already fading in consciousness. And yet she couldn't stop crying. Shoulders shaking, uncontrollable sobbing. Kakashi gathered her close, tucking her head to his chest and making soft soothing sounds.

"Bad dream, huh? It's alright, love. Nothing will touch you while I have you."

"Catch me, Kakashi. Don't let go," whimpered Chiasa.

Pressing a gentle kiss on the top of her head, Kakashi promised: "I'm not going to leave you. You're never going to have to suffer by yourself again. I promise."

A knock on the door alerted the two of the appearance of the Gennin.

Pleading, Chiasa looked at Kakashi, fingers twisting in his shirt. She wasn't ready to face them yet. She needed more time before telling Sasuke the truth. But time was something she didn't have. It was only a matter of hours until she'd be called in front of the council to take responsibility for her actions.

"Stay," murmured Kakashi gently, touching her cheek. "I'll take care of everything."

"You know I can't," replied the kunoichi sorrowful, smiling sadly as she pulled away from his touch. "He needs to hear it from me."

Knowing that she was right but wanting to take the burden from her nevertheless, the Hatake got up too, quickly getting dressed and leading the Gennin into the bedroom while Chiasa prepared herself.

Worriedly, Team 7 piled into the room, curiosity rose when their sensei climbed behind the Uchiha and pulled her against his chest.

"Nee-san? What's going on?" asked Sasuke.

He had a bad feeling when tears gathered in his sister's eyes, and she grasped frantically for the Jounins' hand. The boy couldn't remember a single instance he had seen his sister cry.

"Sasu, listen to me closely." Somehow Chiasa managed to make her voice not break despite her soul being torn to pieces.

"You're scaring me, Nee-san."

"Chiasa-nee?"

"Kakashi-sensei?"

"Give her time, pups," instructed Kakashi firmly, eyeing the woman worriedly.