Scroll 4: The Third Uchiha [Naruto]

Chapter 32: Rin Uchiha [Shippuden]

Itachi

It was an impressive sight – one that any citizen of Konoha had heard the stories of. The legendary three-way deadlock. It would seem the students of the three Sanin had surpassed their masters. I went to suggest to Rin that we should decide on a strategy once Obito returned, or Madara decided to attack, but Rin was staring at the barrier. I noticed dark chakra swirling in her eyes, and when I followed her gaze, it met the ten-tails. 

"Rin?" I stepped in front of her, but her eyes still stared ahead.

"Rin, you need to focus. Remember what I told you? See through your own eyes. Regain control," I instructed.

"Control?" Rin whispered. Itachi grabbed her shoulders, trying to get her to look at him. A tear dropped down her cheek from the eye that was still clear.

"It's always been about control," She breathed, her voice slipping between her own and the voice of the Jubi.

"You...Sasuke...Dad...Obito...the Akatuski...the Kage...the Elders..." She listed off.

"Me...the Jubi...Just something else to control..."

"I'm sorry for this." Rin's Sharingan activated at the same moment mine did rendering my plan for genjutsu useless. I needed to snap her out of this, so I did the last thing I could think of. I slapped her hard enough to turn her head. Rin gasped, sucking in a sharp breath as she touched her cheek.

"Rin?" I called. She shoved me, and for a moment I thought it didn't work as lightning sprang to life in her hand. I readied to deflect, but the lightning shot down. It tore through something that resembled a vine, it extended from the ground and wrapped around her ankle. Rin jumped back once she was free. She clutched her head, her Sharingan deactivated as I approached.

"Are you alright?"

"I-I just didn't expect it to affect me from so far away. I wasn't ready," She stammered.

"It touched you, that thing around your ankle. It-"

"He's still recovering, inside me he-he's having trouble, but the body can still sense it. It sensed me the moment we arrived," Rin explained.

"We need to make a plan and consider creating more distance between you and the body," I advised.

"It already made contact; it-it doesn't matter where we go. It knows who-" Rin's body jerked, she stumbled forward grasping her side.

"What the-" I caught Rin when she lost her footing. She buckled to the ground as a scream ripped through her chest. Her hand caught mine, her grip so tight I could feel bones cracking.

"S-Somethings burning!" She managed, her body shuddering as she tried to breathe through the pain.

"What's going on?" I glanced at Shikamaru as he dropped at her other side.

"Hold her," I ordered, and his hand replaced mine as Rin released another chilling scream. I touched my fingers to her temples, focusing dark chakra to my fingertips as I connected to her network.

"It was a mistake...getting this close..." I strained to hear him, his voice struggling as if he shared the pain. I snapped up, looking back at the body and the black flames overwhelming it.

"Watch her, I need to speak with Sasuke." I didn't wait for him to reply as I created a sign. Crows took to the air as I sent forth my clone to Sasuke and Naruto. Sasuke looked up, watching my crows land and form. I closed my eyes to focus.

"You shouldn't be using your chakra like this. You're supposed to be protecting-"

"You need to stop."