Two Loves, One Fate (Itachi & Sasuke Uchiha)

№.20 :: Serenity's Challenge

Chapter Twenty 

Kisame dropped his sword in defeat and I could almost hear a sigh of relief escape my lips. I quickly released the genjutsu as the darkness surrounding us faded away and brought us back into reality. I lowered the kunai from his neck and my eyes were carried up to where the rest were located. I felt disgusted with myself when I saw the look of satisfaction come across Rei-dono's face, knowing that my actions were quite amusing on his part. Exhaustion overcame me as I fell to my knees, the weight being placed on my legs excruciatingly painful. I never wasted so much chakra in my life and I soon was realizing the fear of losing my life over another's own enjoyment. I wasn't willing to die just so that Rei-dono could witness whatever abilities relied in my body. I wouldn't go that far to prove myself to others because my existence was important for an entire nation to survive in the future. My legs were going numb beneath my body and it was becoming extremely difficult for air to get into my lungs. I found myself gasping for air as if my windpipes were being crushed within my body. My heart was racing in panic, the fear of a sudden death beginning to overwhelm me and place a large amount of stress over me. I soon found an aiding hand being extended towards me, Kisame showing some form of respect as he waited patiently for me to grasp his hand. I couldn't help but stare up at him in surprise. I never expected this sort of treatment coming from Kisame, but I guess battle outcomes could change a person somehow.

"Good fight. Never will I underestimate you again," Kisame said as I placed my hand within his, his grasp tightening and pulling me back to my feet. I didn't respond since I had trouble finding my voice, but I couldn't help but smile up at the man who gave me one of the toughest battles I've ever taken part in. Just that thought brought me back into realization, knowing that within minutes I would have to fight Itachi. Kisame's grip on my hand loosened as he disappeared from the spot, leaving me alone in the middle of the arena and feeling very vulnerable. I felt as if the world had frozen in time, not giving me a chance to catch up with what was going on. I was still feeling exhausted from pushing my body farther than I've ever had, but my true fears of battling Itachi were going to come true within seconds. My gaze was fixated on the balcony above, watching every single member of the Akatsuki enjoy themselves. Kisame and Deidara were having a discussion between the two of them, probably conversing about the matches that they've just experienced. My eyes swept the balcony and it just took me mere seconds to realize that Itachi was missing from the group. Crap, where the hell was he? That thought kept repeating itself over and over again in my mind, my eyes quickly scanning the arena for any sign of the eldest Uchiha. I didn't like this at all; I was at an extreme disadvantage not knowing where Itachi was going to attack from.

I was standing right on the lake's edge, my eyes scanning the horizon. Itachi was out of sight and I was beginning to freak out, my breathing was becoming difficult once again as air entered my lungs in gasps. The unknown was something that I was never comfortable with and this was the very reason why that was one of my biggest fears. I couldn't stand still as I rotated on the spot, getting a good look at all of my surroundings. Nothing...nothing was all that my eyes were able to tell me and see. What good help that sense was...not. On the other hand, I could just be thinking these things up, just being paranoid with myself. I was psyching myself out, that's all. It was hard to persuade myself into thinking that because I knew that it wasn't true. Itachi was out there somewhere, waiting for the perfect opportunity to attack and win without any difficulty on my part. I was worried, not knowing what could happen if Itachi was able to catch me off guard. This was exactly what Itachi wanted from me, wanting me to overthink things to the extreme that I wouldn't be able to concentrate on the battle that laid ahead. I closed my eyes once more as I tried to find inner peace before I went insane from all these thoughts that were eating away at my mind. "I won't be making the same mistake of underestimating you like the others have done," Itachi whispered into my ear, my eyes snapping open and widening with surprise. A sense of panic soon followed as my body stiffened in fear, that rush overwhelming me.