Maybe your not so bad. Maybe. (Sasuke Uchiha) Book 2

Chapter 10

         Itachi noticed the change quickly as he got his own kunia out.  On the outside I seemed perfectly calm and collected.  On the inside however I felt as if I were about to puke.  I had heard the rumors about Itachi.  Heck I knew what he could do and I was terrified.  I wanted nothing more than to run from those penetrating eyes.

   However I knew running was not an option.  I was a ninja and if I wanted to convince myself that I could be better, I needed to start going against the best.  And Itachi was one of the best. 

     I jumped at him aiming for his stomach.  Of course with one swift movement he blocked and I felt his own kunia coming straight back at me.  I leaned back and he threw a swift punch.  I jumped back a few places but he kept coming at me.  It seemed with every punch he threw, he got faster.  Every time I blocked one it seemed like three more came.  I blocked one punch and gasped as I felt him throw his leg into my stomach.             Crack.

   I hit the tree hard and I felt my breathing become heavier.  I lifted my hand to my head and felt the sticky blood.  I knew he had broken atleast one rib with that kick.  I slowly got up and I winced in pain.  I then activated my kekkei genkai.  If he thought his move then I would be one step ahead of him. 

   The only problem was that his mind was blank.  It was like he kept himself in check.  I glared as I tried to activate my second stage.  That's when my stomach started burning.  I fell to the ground and screamed in agony.  I lifted my shirt up above my belly.  My mark was glowing.  I looked up at Itachi and noticed he was right beside me.  I reached to hit him and that's when I felt him punch me in the gut again.  I coughed up blood but that didn't stop him.  Each blow became stronger.  Almost unbearable.

   I then noticed everything stop.

                   "Ryoko!"   I whipped around and there stood each one of the people I loved.  Kakashi.  Tsunade.  Naruto.  Shikamaru.  Asuma.  Guy and plenty of others I had no idea who they were.  I then heard Naruto.  "Hey you!  Get off of Ryoko or I'll pummel you! 

Get up Ryoko!  Come on, you can totally take this guy!  Don't sit there like a wimp!"   I smiled at him, even though my muscles hurt I knew he was right.  I had to do something.  I whipped my leg around and he grabbed it and slammed my body down.

   I heard a few more cracks and I could feel more blood rushing from my head.  He reached down and whispered in my ear.   "I gave you the chance to come willingly.  Now the next time I'm back,  I'll have more, and you won't get off this easy."  I looked at his eyes.  I could see the seriousness in them. 

  I watched as he raised a kunia knife and I looked to see everyone coming at him.  I knew then, that I had to have faith they would help me.  I closed my eyes and relaxed. 

  And then I felt my back hit the ground.  I gasped for air. I then realized that Itachi had not drove the kunia into my stomach.  I watched as he retreated and I knew he would be back.  The question was.. when?

      I heard voices and felt myself being picked up.  "I'm proud of you Ryoko.  I couldn't ask for a better daughter."  I gave Kakashi a small smile as he whispered that into my ear.  I felt him set me down and when my eyes came to focus, Tsunade was standing over me.  I felt her check me and then she looked at my dad.

  "She's got three broken ribs which should take about 6 weeks to heal properly.  Her wrist is broken and she's got a minor concussion.  It's not life threatening and she should heal up very soon." I heard my dad breath a sigh of relief.  I felt my eyes start to close and I knew I needed sleep.  I then heard my dad whisper,"Go to sleep, Ryoko."  That was all of the encourament I needed because in seconds all I knew was darkness.

                                                                   Then I heard it.

    "You didn't listen Ryoko."

    "You didn't  come to me Ryoko."

    "I'm coming Ryoko."

    "Who should I kill first?  Your father or your friends?"

    "I'm going to make you listen to their screams of pain."

                            "Your going to watch them all DIE!"

       I winced and grabbed my head.  No!  I heard screams from my dad and every one of my friends.  I saw them being killed and one by one they were all gone.

  "Why didn't you help me Ryoko?  You could have saved me."  Tears were flowing down my face as I saw my mother standing before me, whispering those words.  Then Sasuke appeared.  His entire body was covered in stab wounds and he looked dead.  "Ryoko."

    I fell down to the ground and begged for it to stop.  I couldn't take it anymore!  I then felt arms wrap around me.  I was suffocating.  Then everything was gone and I was looking into my dad's eyes.

    "Ryoko!  Your fine!  I promise!  It's me."  I looked around and noticed I was in a hospital room.  I was laying on the bed and my dad was hovered over me.  Silent tears rolled down my face and I felt my dad hug me.  Everything hurt and I just laid there, crying.  Tears of anger.  Tears of sorrow.

            I don't know when I fell asleep but it didn't feel very long.  I awoke up early in the morning to a nurse checking up on me.  Dad was sitting right beside me and he ordered breakfast for me. 

                                                                 Later that day I was being released in a wheelchair.  Kakashi was aloud to keep me at home and when he would ahve missions, Shikamaru or Naruto could watch me.  I didn't like it but I had no say in it.  Apparently I was dumb for going out into the forest alone. 

       Kakashi wheeled me to my room and placed me in my bed.  He sat down right beside me and began talking.  "Ryoko, there's going to have to be some new rules.  Some are set up by myself and some the hokage."  I peered over at him and he looked nervous.  "I don't want you going out after sunset.  That's my only rule.  Now the Hokage has a few rules you might not be okay with, but you still have to follow them.  Her first rule is that your not allowed to go anywhere without somebody.  Her second rule was that she wants to have an Anbu on your tail constantly.  In case you decided to be the person I know you are and sneak off."  I glared.  "What makes her think she can..?"  Kakashi cut me off before I could finish. 

   "Your going to follow them Ryoko.  Please, just make this easier on me.  I don't want to constantly wonder if your okay."  My mouth shut quickly after he said that.  He kissed my forehead and said goodnight, then left.   I looked down as I realized how much this had hurt dad.

   He was constantly worrying about me.  Did he not want to take care of me?  Was I a burden to him?  As I asked these questions I realized how selfish I really was.  I was too caught up with the pain I was in, to realize that maybe I was putting that pain on other people.  Kakashi and Tsunade had to constantly worry about me.  They had to take time out of their day to come help me because I was too weak.

      I looked down and realized why I had wanted to go wtih Itachi in the first place.  What were friends if I couldn't protect them?  I sighed and then felt a stinging sensation.  I took a sharp intake of breath.  My ribs were beginning to hurt.  I tried to reach out but then my arm hit something.

                         I looked up to see Itachi.