Crow's feathers - Naruto fanfiction

Chapter 17 Gone

It's easier to run - Linkin Park
Added video on the right. All credits to the creator D1G1T4Ldarkness.

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It was still early morning. Not many people were out on the street, but a little boy, seven years old, ran across the village with an excited expression on his face. He didn’t even look up when he passed two teenagers that were staring after him amused.
“Isn’t that your little brother?” Taryn asked curiously. She leaned against the wall and looked at Itachi.
He nodded at her. “Yes. That’s right.”
Taryn smiled. “Is this his first day at the Academy?”
”He started last week,” Itachi told her, “he’s quite the ambitious one.”
“I’m sure he’ll do well,” Taryn said.
“Yeah,” Itachi agreed, “I believe so too.”

 

She was going to be too late. Well, to be fair, she had already been too late at the Chuunin Exams. Did it really matter if she would make it now? But a promise was a promise, even if she knew she could never keep it.
Her spurt had slowed to a jog. She couldn’t give anymore. She would have to save her energy for later.
She saw them from a mile away.
Naruto and Sasuke.
Rivals.
And friends.
Charging at eachother as if they were enemies.
If they continued like this, eventually one would kill the other.
Taryn sped up again. She arrived the moment Sasuke threw Naruto against a rock. The boy fell into the water below and floated for a while. “Sasuke!” Taryn called out angry.
He turned around. The cursemark had already covered half of his face. He gave her a mocking grin. “You again? Are you here to stop me too? Or did you come to kill me?”
“Don’t do this,” Taryn said, “Orochimaru is not the way.”
“You’re one to talk,” Sasuke spat, “you have the same mark in your neck. You just didn’t appreciate the gift of power.”
“Power like that comes at a price,” she told him.
“Not that lecture again. I’ll tell you what I told Naruto. I don’t care if Orochimaru wants to use me as a vessel. As long as I get my revenge I’d do anything. Ah… but of course… you don’t want me to kill him, do you? My precious brother…” He grinned darkly. “Nothing you say will stop me.”
Taryn nodded. “I thought you might say that.” She lifted a hand and lightning formed around it. Sasuke chuckled. “So, you’re going to use that against me after all. Let’s bring it then.” He started his own Chidori and charged at her.
Taryn sighed and increased her lightning. Instead of  just around her arm, it evolved around her whole body now. She charged at Sasuke.
She knew she shouldn’t use Chidori in her current state. She hadn’t forgotten Kakashi’s warning. She knew she could die if she overused the jutsu. She knew she wouldn’t be able to stop Sasuke, but her pride didn’t give her a choice. She would die trying.

The impact of the blow slammed Sasuke backwards into the rocks. He fell to the ground and groaned. Slowly he gathered himself and crawled to his knees. He glared at Taryn.
He had to admit it. She was strong. A lot stronger than him, but he knew she was injured.
She had probably fought others to get here. And she almost used up her chakra. He on the other hand still had enough. And then there was this new power.
He smirked and stood up.
On the other end of the field, Taryn crawled up too.  The clash had thrown her back as well. Her head hurt. She was out of chakra, but she wasn’t giving up yet.
She readied herself for another attack when suddenly Naruto jumped back in. His chakra was that of the ninetails. “I told you,” he said to Sasuke, “I won’t let you go. You have to wake up. If you don’t, I’ll crush you. And when you’re mangled enough to stop, I’ll drag you home!” He slammed Sasuke to the wall.
“Heh,” Sasuke said, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, “you… who has no parents, no brothers… what can you possibly  know about me? You were alone to begin with! What can you know about me?! This pain is born from my family bonds! How could you ever know what it means to lose anything?!”
“You’re right,” Naruto said, “I don’t know a thing about having a brother or real parents, but whenever I’m with master Iruka, I kinda get the picture. He’s kinda like a father. And… whenever I’m with you… I imagine… maybe that‘s what it is like to have a brother.”
“Why?” Sasuke asked, “why do you waste so much effort on me?”
Naruto smiled. “Because for me… you were part of my family. So that‘s why. That’s why I have to stop you.” 
Sasuke smirked. “Bring it on then,” he said, “If that’s what you think, then all I have to do is severe  that bond.”
Naruto clenched a fist. “Nothing I say is gonna sway you, is it? Sasuke…”
“That’s right,” he answered, “all we have left… is the fight.”