IZUNA

29

She had to contain Izanami.

Disgust and horror crept through her at the sight of her left hand.

The flesh was——

It was rotting.

——no, no, no, no——

She was becoming Izanami.

Half-dead.

Half-living.

Izuna existed in a state of in between.

Izanami wasn't trying to possess her.

She was trying to devour her soul.

She sobbed.

"He—-lp... me—-niisan——"

Madara flinched.

There was fear in his eyes.

Something flashed through her.

Shame.

Hurt.

A memory—-not hers or her Original's—-surfaced.

His eyes were just like his.

(Izanagi fled in disgust when he saw the diseased form of his wife.)

(Izanagi abandoned her.)

(He. Abandoned. Her.)

Just like Madara would.

Izuna's heart shattered at the expression echoed on her brother's face.

She didn't want to know what she looked like.

She didn't want to see Madara staring at her with—-

Fear and disgust.

She fled.

::

"Come back," he whispered desperately. "Izuna... I—-please—"

He wanted to scream.

Why couldn't he scream?

His legs wouldn't move.

Izuna needed him.

Izuna. Needed. Him.

"Move." He ordered himself with a snarl. "Move. Damn it!"

"There's no use." Haruki said quietly. "The Killing Intent of Izanami is absolute. All living and non-living things know better than to disobey. We are paralyzed."

Madara screamed.

"IZUNA GET BACK HERE!"

::

Izuna staggered blindly with her sleeves covering her face.

"Don't—-look——at—-me..."

She stumbled over something and fell, scraping her arms.

"What was that?" A voice asked behind her.

She stood.

"Uchiha!" Another voice snarled.

She turned around and stared at them.

Both shinobi froze.

They looked at her.

And they saw Izanami.

At the sight of her, one screamed and plunged their blade into their stomach, gutting themselves to death.

The other shut his eyes in acceptance.