Chasing After You || Itachi

Ch. 22 - Ravenette's Lament

Koji grunted in pain as his back slammed into a tree trunk. He knew how serious she was when it came to Itachi, but that didn't mean that she was right. He'd been trying all this time to change her point of view and see the entire story, but he always came up empty. There was nothing he could do to influence her anymore.

"Have you figured it out yet?" The silver-haired male asked. "What will it take to make you use some common sense?"

Tora stood a little ways away from him with her own set of injuries. Holding her side, she took in a deep breath before her body was shrouded with lightning once more. She couldn't let this last longer than necessary so she wasn't going to have a meaningless discussion with him.

"If you want to fight, let's just go ahead and get this over with." She cracked her neck impatiently.

"I've never wanted to fight you." Koji glared at her. "I have wanted you to grow up though. You keep claiming that you know the consequences of your actions, but you clearly don't."

"I promise you this is the last time." Tora walked up to him with a solemn gaze, her lightning shroud subsiding. "After this, I'll let you turn me in with any restraints necessary if that's what you want."

The male gritted his teeth and looked away from her. "You have to be in and out. There will be another team near where you are so you'll need to make sure you're concealed. Just know you're indebted to me for life now."

"You always give me too many chances."

"What are you going to tell Nigai?"

Tora frowned. "What is there to tell? After this, it will all be over."

Koji sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Your business, not mine. I called a reinforcement to meet us and they'll be here soon so let's get this over with."

The ravenette nodded and took a step back. They each had enough bruises to make it look like someone had ambushed them. For his sake, she was going to make it as quick and painless as possible. Digging the ball of her foot into the dirt, she focused on her target before bolting towards him. She landed a punch to his abdomen, but it wasn't as forceful as she wanted since Koji grabbed her wrist and threw her onto the ground behind him.

"Koji, what the fuck?" She coughed out as the air was knocked out of her chest.

"You thought I'd just let you get a hit in?" He raised an eyebrow. "I'm risking everything for you so you better prepare yourself for all of my frustration."

Narrowing her eyes, she acquired her lightning shroud once more. The two went at it without giving each other much of a break. What started out as a bout between two opposing sides turned into mutual understanding between two siblings. Each had their own reasons for doing things, but it was the reciprocated feelings that kept them so close.

"Time's running out, Tora." Koji heaved as he narrowly missed a critical attack to his left side. He had to admit that her speed had significantly improved since she'd been training with her father. If it wasn't for her slight lack of detail due to her wildness, he wouldn't have lasted as long.

She wasn't going to fall for his antics again. Her father had drilled into her the issues that would come with being antsy during battle. She had to keep a focused mind and finish this correctly. If she could take Koji down here, then that would show that she was ready for her life up ahead. Once Tora was able to get him in a good spot, she charged towards Koji and placed her hands on the ground, the inside of her knee flying up and coming into contact with his chest.

"The Lariat is a very dangerous move. Usually, it's reserved for me at the Raikage and my tag-team partner, but I wanted to see if you could be successful with a variation of it." A explained as he stood in front of his daughter. "But, before we start, you need to know that you should never use this move without the mindset of incapacitating your opponent."