Let It Burn: Life [Sasuke Uchiha]

Chapter 25

Mai screamed. A high pitch wail that even startled her at the sound. But she wasn't thinking rationally at this moment. The ninja ran, hurtling herself through the branches. She didn't care when they slapped at her arms when pushing through desperately. The teen wished to put as much distance between them as possible. Yet the Be Fong knew it was useless, hopeless to believe that the Uchiha wouldn't pursue her. That escape was possible. This was mere child's play for him.

The young man suddenly appeared from behind a tree in her path. Mai quickly used the strings to alter her course and go spiraling in another direction. For the first time since the death of the Uchiha Clan, the teen found herself wishing for someone to save her. She needed Naruto. She needed Kakashi. She needed Sasuke. Someone. Anyone! A cry for help was on the tip of her tongue–

Her back was roughly shoved against a tree and forced the air to rush from the lungs painfully. A wheeze escaped her lips as black spot danced in her vision before everything came back into focus. Itachi stood closer than she'd like. A hand had a tight grip on the front of her uniform. In reply, Mai clawed at the front of his Akatsuki robe in a desperate attempt to get away. She couldn't stop him when the young man pulled away the mask to expose herself completely.

"I knew it was you," Itachi spoke.

The sound of his monotone voice caused the fear to further grip at the Be Fong. She struggled now to breathe not only from the attack, but the panic that welled up inside her. It was suffocating. Her mind flashed back to that fateful night where her whole world had fallen apart.

"You were watching Sasuke. Protected him even when it was not your place after everything he's done to you."

"You know nothing," Mai snapped.

The fact that her voice didn't falter surprised herself. A small smile touched Itachi's lips, even if didn't reach his eyes.

"Determined and strong as ever. That is why you became a member of Phantom."

Her eyes widened.

"I know a lot more than you think."

He peered into her eyes watching for some sort of a reaction to the Sharingan that swirled in the pupils. He even activated his Mangekyou Sharingan for a brief moment. Nothing. The teen was indeed immune to Genjutsus. Intriguing. He had heard stories, read reports that after the night of the Uchiha Massacre the Be Fong had never fallen under to any sort of Dojutsu Kekkei Genkai since he had attacked her mind.

"Even though you haven't been around a Sharingan user for some time, I can tell your control against the technique has only grown to where you cannot be touched."

That night, the Mangekyou Sharingan must've broken that part of her brain that made opponents susceptible to bending at the will of the Uchiha. Either it had snapped or her mind had advanced. Built up a protection to ensure it never happened again. He should have known the mind of a child wouldn't have been able to handle such a thing. But then again, maybe what he had done had been for the better. After all, not many ninjas were capable of escaping a Genjutsu. Despite exhausted years of grueling training.

An emotionless chuckle escaped him. "You've truly surpassed all of my expectations. You've become a far better ninja than I could have ever dreamed."

Mai slapped him hard across the face. Slowly, this head turned back to face the teen before him in mild amazement that she had resorted to such a trivial attack.

"I didn't grow as a ninja for you, you selfish bastard!"

Itachi laughed, a true one that terrified Mai to the core, yet refused to show it.