Loyalty (Sasuke Uchiha)

XXXI: A Sacrificial Pawn

"If I were you, I wouldn't waste time on fighting myself any longer. Your friend, Sasuke Uchiha, seems to be in danger. I'll let you go and save him this one time... But the next time we meet, you will be mine."

I'd never ran faster in my life than I was right now.

I froze perched on a branch when I finally reached Sasuke, as he was staring in fear at a... black ball? in front of him.

But the second I heard it speak and a light illuminated from it, I knew this was trouble.

I shut my eyes and focused on my genjutsu, appearing in front of Sasuke before opening my eyes just as the bomb went off.

Time slowed in that instant as the explosion slowly but surely approached me, my vision darkening. My eyes burned instantly, as I felt a trickle of a warm liquid down my cheek.

I was the only one moving against time as I turned to face Sasuke, his eyes widened in surprise as I pressed my finger to his forehead.

All my chakra enveloped him at that moment.

This Akatsuki's explosion was lethal. I had to make sure Sasuke would live through this, and I'm not even sure my chakra was strong enough to withstand it.

Scratch that. I knew it wasn't strong enough.

So I did the unthinkable that I would most definitely regret later.

I summoned Manda. I made sure to apply a layer of whatever was left of my chakra around him, taking it from what I wrapped around Sasuke. I made sure to distribute my chakra equally so they would both survive, but I needed to be sure that Sasuke would live. And Manda would cope with a few major injuries.

I knew Sasuke would do something like that anyway. And probably transport himself to another dimension.

I pushed Sasuke slightly as I retracted my finger from his forehead. At this point, it had felt like someone had poured molten hot lava in my eyes, as more blood trailed down my cheeks.

My genjutsu against time took a toll on my body each time I used it.

And the only other time I used it was when I tried to kill Orochimaru for the first time; obviously resulting in failure.

Equipping this ability for longer than a few seconds would have drastic and permanent affects on my body. More than it already has.

And by this time I had it on for over thirty seconds.

Time resumed as I felt Sasuke's presence disappear from behind me, the explosion enveloping me in its light.

-

"Woah, you're a mess!" Suigetsu gasped out as Sasuke stumbled from behind Manda. He ran over to Sasuke, bending down before him.

"Who did you fight?"

"Miyako... That idiot.." Sasuke muttered out.

"Miyako you say?"

"You... Had the nerve... To use me.. You damned brat.. Those eyes.. You controlled me with those eyes... I, of all people.." And with that, Manda took his final breath.

"Uh oh. He's dead. Wasn't Manda Orochimaru's favorite? Now that I recall, he was Miyako's favorite too. You really should treat animals better. And the whole manipulation with the genjutsu.."