Ashes (A Naruto Fanfic Book 6)

Chapter 16

My entire body hurt as I opened my eyes.  "Ow..."  A hand squeezed mine, and I looked at Itachi and smiled.  "Hey, Uchiha."

He frowned.  "You knew this would happen."

I sighed.  "As I was in the process... luckily, I haven't been using a lot of chakra lately. It could've been worse..."

I grimaced as I sat up and looked at my arms, angry welts looked back at me, and I knew my entire body was covered with them.  "Tsunade tried her best."

I rolled my shoulders, getting myself accustomed to the pain.  "I should thank her."

As though she knew we were talking about her, she burst through the door.  "How could you be so reckless?  You broke that seal without knowing the consequences."

I smiled at her.  "Chihiro requested it."

I stretched and frowned as she watched.  "So now there's nothing stopping..."

I smirked.  "There are no Uchiha to stop any longer... the ones that were in the village made their decision long ago."

I reached for my toes.  "What are you doing?"

I held in a breath and let it out slowly.  "Readjusting..."

She raised an eyebrow.  "The pain?"  I nodded, and she sighed.  "Still won't take meds."

I shook my head.  "Aya can help me with these. We learned a thing or two while we were away... quite interesting."

She thought a moment.  "I have a question for you..."

I felt I knew where she was going.  "Shisui..."

She nodded.  "What you did..."

I sighed.  "I'm aware... and no, I can't reverse it, even if I could, I wouldn't."

She blinked.  "Why can't you?"

I stood and held back a gasp.  "You know, as well as I do brain and nerve cells do not regenerate. However, the brain can redirect and relearn what it lost.  I wasn't strong enough to get his whole brain, soooo..."

She lowered her gaze.  "What about his mind?"

I looked at her.  "I'm sure you had Ibiki or Yamanaka look into that.  Even if I reverse his memories, he was driven to madness, I made sure of that before I left.  The only one that can save Shisui is himself."

She frowned.  "Why?"

"You saw what they did to her... and you treated her after, I'm sure."

"But you didn't know..."

I put a hand on her shoulder.  "I did... who do you think got the Sand Siblings involved?"

She bit her lip.  "I figured as much."

I nodded.  "Now, my question for you.  Why not restore his eyes?  Repairing the optic nerve soon after it's been severed can all but reverse the damage."

She averted her gaze.  "He has the power to bend another's will to his with the Sharingan... there was too much risk involved."

I sighed.  "Everyday that he regains strength of limb is a risk, Tsunade.  If he recovers enough, he will come for Itachi and I at the very least, but that would be the best case scenario."

She looked at me in disbelief.  "You're saying to kill him."

I shrugged.  "I met my goal concerning him, what you do with what's left... that's your choice.  I am just informing you of the risk."

She frowned.  "In his condition, it's impossible..."

I chuckled as I walked out the door.  "They said the same about Rock Lee if I recall correctly... look at him now.  You and Aya did a wonderful job with that, by the way."

Itachi lingered in the room as I went down the hall. Every step was excruciating.  "Dammit..."  Then, I felt myself being lifted and dropped my head, biting back a moan.  "What did you ask her?"

He shook his head.  "Let's get you to Aya."  We were in the apartment, and Ryo and Aya stood when they saw my condition.

She rushed over but didn't touch me as she looked me over, thankfully.  "What in the hell, Kunoichi?"  She led Itachi to what was Konan's bedroom.  "I'll take it from here."

I groaned when I was lowered to the bed.  "Fuck..."

Aya clicked her tongue.  "You act like you didn't know."  I heard the door close and she started to cut through my clothing.  The relief was instant after she finished, but I grimaced as she covered me with a thin sheet.  "What did you do?"

I heard running water.  "Broke the seal on the contract."

She gasped.  "Why?"

"Chihiro..."

She sighed and I heard her moving around, preparing.  "You know this hurts more than the wounds."

"But the wounds last longer."

She came and stood beside me.  "Ready?"  I slowly sat up and erected a barrier as she placed her hands on my back, there was a second of relief then fire filled my body.  I clenched my teeth and breathed as slow as I could.  "Now... to the bath..."

I stumbled when I stood and she caught me, making me yelp.  "Thanks..."  She helped me to the bathroom.  "I got it from here..."  She closed the door and I set up another barrier.

I frowned at the water, knowing what awaited me, but sighed.  As I slowly lowered myself to the water, I hissed the deeper I got until I was fully submerged.  It felt like I was being stabbed repeatedly all over my body.

I took deep breaths, centering myself and mentally preparing for what I was about to do.  "I really hate this part..."  I half wished that I had taken Tsunade's medicine before.  I took a breath and started forming the hand signs chanting as I went.  The water glowed red and I tried to maintain consciousness as excruciating pain filled my body.  I completed the jutsu and the water turned a deep blue, making me scream.