Let It Burn: Death [Sasuke Uchiha]

Chapter 9

Mai barely slept that night, constantly thinking of her parents and the other members of the Be Fong Clan. They haunted her dreams and finally she gave up. The ninja got up to sit up against a fallen tree. She took note of the other ninja on watch duty over camp for any signs of the next wave. Nothing in particular stood out so just maybe they would actually get a few hours to recover.

"How much sleep have you had?"

The voice caused Mai to break out of her thoughts as Belva approached and sat down beside her.

"I don't know," was the honest truth.

The woman sighed. "Mai... I'm sorry..."

"It's not your fault. We were both affected by this damn puppeteer." Her eyes narrowed. "I want him dead."

"Well, that makes two of us." And they offered each other empty laughs. "There's something else that troubles you. I've noticed this before the encounter. Is it Madara?"

Her head shook.

"Sasuke then?"

When the silence dragged on Belva knew she hit a nerve.

"You do understand he is no longer a friend. He'll be involved in this war in some way that will get a lot of people killed."

"He'll come... But for which side I'm not sure..."

"Do you believe that he would actually come to help the Leaf? He wishes to destroy it."

"I know."

Still, one could hope. Itachi's plan and reason for pitting his brother against him was still in play. There was a sliver of hope that Sasuke would finally see reason. If corpses of long-lost comrades and enemies were coming alive then maybe the Akatsuki were being resurrected as well. If Itachi once more walked this earth there may still be time to alter Sasuke's course away from the darkness that threatened to consume his heart completely.

"But I will see him either way."

"And if you do?" Belva had to know if she'd hesitate. If the woman would have to step in and protect her pupil, she would stick close by. This kind of thinking would get someone killed.

"If Sasuke stands in my way I'll rip right through him," she spoke in a deadly manner. "Because I will not stand the sight of him killing off our own people. If that's the path he chooses... then there's nothing more I can do for him. Itachi's plan will have officially failed and I will take matters into my own hands." Her eyes flickered towards the woman for a moment. "And don't try and stop me, sensei. I refused to have my emotions played with by this puppeteer again."

She sighed. "It wasn't my intention to stop you, only aid you in any way I can."

"Thanks," she said.

"But you still need to sleep."

A hand appeared in front of the teen's face and with the snap of her fingers, Mai's body slumped to the side. Her head rested on Belva's shoulder and the woman smirked.

"Well, at least I still have one trick up my sleeve you don't know. I was beginning to wonder if I could still call myself your sensei. You're surpassing me."

Chuckling under her breath, her head rested against the top of the Be Fong's as both fell into a dreamless sleep.

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