Hanabi's P.O.V
What happened?
My eyes were barely open, the entirety of my body was paralyzed. The first thing that came into view were my slightly wiggling fingertips, then the white butterflies that frantically floated around me.
What's going on?
I'm lying on the bridge where I trained Sasuke. Then Itachi came, then...
Itachi...
That's right! He hit a pressure point, rendering me unconscious.
I began breathing through my parted mouth slowly. Involuntary, I managed to part open my eyes and analyze my current view. My left arm has been extended out, resting on the wooden bridge. Butterflies had dispersed all around me. I look down at my body and my eyes had widened.
The white butterflies had took landing on different parts of my limbs. That wasn't anything new, however, they were glowing with a blue hue. That's when I realized what they're trying to do.
They're pouring their own chakra into my paralyzed body to reverse the impact of Itachi's hit. My eyes grew tear stained as I enforced movement upon my body. Nothing, but pain cascaded, which left me shrieking.
"Stay down"
A stern voice whispered into my ear, making me curse under my breath. I felt the surging chakra segregate throughout different parts of my body. Eventually, my body would siphon enough chakra that'll allow me to prop my head perfectly.
I stared down at these creatures of nature. Why stay around me my whole life and reveal yourselves now? Nevertheless, they are of help in this dire situation. Itachi's blow had disrupted my chakra flow which resulted in my immobility at the moment.
I roll back on my back and stare up at the sky. If I'm going to stop Itachi from doing what Danzo wants, then I might as well be at full strength. So I obliged and stayed down for my own sake. Currently, I wanted nothing more than to itch the spot on my forehead where the wind constantly uses my bangs as tickling feathers.
"The Hokage and Danzo are heading to the Uchiha district as means of proposing a final negotiation"
"What?!", I almost yell, then winced at the surging pain, "they are!?".
"Yes"
Danzo too? This can turn the other way around real quick...
A breeze passed by me, barely touching my bangs. I fell silent for a moment then I remained in a calm state as I let the butterflies help me recover. For the meantime, I focused on the starry night.
If what I've executed on spur of moment ends up being successful, then I might be able to prevent this calamity. Abruptly, my eyes wandered around endlessly when I felt like my legs have wiggled a bit. I began staring at the butterflies in awe.
What is the secret behind them?
They've been with me almost always and yet I am unable to wrap my head around the mystery behind them.
Deliberately, I take it easy and position my hands on the surface of the wood beneath me and brace myself for what's next. Inhaling in a deep breath, I pushed myself off of the bridge's surface.
Instantaneously, the surge of stamina was immediately dispersed in my body. Not only did the butterflies reverse the disrupted chakra network, but they made sure to give me more chakra than I already had.
"Thank you", I managed, still at loss of words.
"Save it for later"
"Right..."
I stared up ahead, my mind was skeptical as to what it should do first. Nevertheless, I whipped out Minato's kunai and hastened my feet. The magnitude of my speed was greater than usual. Stamina was radiating off of me as I ran like a flash.
However, no amount of speed or stamina could tame down my racing heart. The Uchiha clan isn't only a part of the Hidden Leaf. It is my clan as well not only Itachi's and these blue eyes that sparked crimson at the thought of its annihilation is my biggest alibi.
My grip on Minato's kunai tightened and my jaw clenched. This exceptional speed that I have won't be of any use if I arrive at the Uchiha district when it has turned into a crime scene. I hurry to the only place that my legs have carried me to which was the clearing where we first met. From my peripheral vision I spot mutual butterflies trying to catch up to me.
Once I see the familiar spot in view I don't waste any second and mark the location with Minato's kunai. That clearing will also be a last resort if things get out of hand.
Next destination, Uchiha district.
Only this time I have took a precaution, making me a step ahead. Feeling a bit triumphant I take a moment to gather my thoughts and tame down my racing heart. If I didn't do that I'd be overthinking everything right now.
Standing my ground, a bead of sweat dripped down my face. The memory of Itachi and I executed in my head when my eyes fell on the clearing. In memory of that moment, I became even more determined to stop Itachi from ruining his life.
Raising two fingers with my heart still racing I forced the words out of my mouth.
"Lightning Style: Flying Raijin Jutsu!"
Subsequently, I traveled into the dimension that'll take me to my desired destination. More specifically, it'll take me to Itachi's location.
My heart had felt like it had skipped several beats at once, no, my breath was taken away and the world around me had completely stopped. All when my eyes burned holes into Itachi's crimson ones, rendering him wide-eyed and perplexed.
That's right, earlier on the bridge, when I took his wrist I made sure to mark him with my own secret Technique Formula.
Still gazing into his eyes, I immediately snatched his wrist.
"Hanabi..", his voice was cut short at the sight of me. In this moment, he was most vulnerable , since his mind was still comprehending what had hit him. The feeling of stress that had overwhelmed me earlier had been channeled into the very glare that I direct at Itachi all the while making sure that he witnessed my blue eyes turning red.
"What...?", he immediately broke off eye contact and stared at my hand that was clutching his wrist. His eyes had widened then, more than any other time when his mind registered the fact that I've managed to mark him.
I couldn't afford to waste anymore time. His current location was familiar, it was the same route of the woods we took during Shisui's retrieval. But from the looks of it, he's planning to infiltrate the Uchiha district without entering through the main gate.
"I won't let you proceed any further Itachi", I growled dangerously.
With my remaining hand I raised my two fingers, making sure to pierce my nails in his his skin to hold him in place. If he refused to listen to reason I'll make sure to beat some into him.
"Lightning Style-''
My voice was cut short and I no longer felt my breath. Subsequently, Itachi had screamed out my name at the top of his lungs when I had overlooked the man in the orange mask. Who yanked me off of Itachi by delivering a punch with immense power. The magnitude of the strike send me flying where my body made a dent in a tree bark.
I had winced at the pain, but rose up to my feet anyways. Breathing erratically, I darted my gaze to the man in the orange mask.
That day...
"Hanabi!", the masked man restrained Itachi from rushing over to me by extending an arm in front of him.
"I should've gotten rid of the rabbit when I had the chance", the masked man growled.
I disregard him completely and turn my attention to Itachi. With a pacing heart I yelled out, "Itachi you can't do this! You'll be branded as a rouge ninja. Don't throw your life away because you're under pressure!".
I dart my eyes to the masked man.
Damn it! The orange masked man had intervened in my plans. I should've teleported him to the clearing which I marked earlier. There, I could've fought him out and brought some sense to him. Now it's all gotten complicated.
"Itachi", the masked man said, lowering his head, "we've talked about this before, it's either the village or the clan, more precisely, it's either the entire clan or Sasuke".
Right there, the masked man had pushed that very button to his advantage by bring up Sasuke.
At the mention of Sasuke I saw Itachi's eyes sparkled with emotion and a cold tear slipped down his face. He seemed out breath completely. The masked man had darted his gaze to Itachi, anticipating what will come next.
Unwillingly, I saw how Itachi had closed his eyes shut, clenching his jaw. I regained my composure and stepped closer.
Itachi stepped over the boundary that the masked man had created with his extended arm and halted in his tracks. I'd pulled up my guard on pure instinct.
Itachi hand lowered his head, the cold wind send his hair flying away. I'd stared at him pleadingly without even knowing it. I witnessed several tears eluding his bloodshot eyes, as he chinned up slightly.
He suddenly raised up his wrist, and inspected the Technique Formula I'd marked him with. His eyes widened momentarily as he read what my Technique Formula said.
The masked man had remained rooted in his place, observing the encounter between Itachi and I carefully.
I forced my pacing heart to remain calm as I clenched my jaw.
The wind blew away his tears before they even streamed down his face. Still brooding about everything, he chinned up and looked at me directly. The look in his crimson eyes gave me the very answer that I feared...
Nevertheless, I have already braced myself for this. It was inevitably manifested with everything that's happened that battle should take place for the village's sake.
"The Namikaze clan huh?", Itachi took a step closer, his eyes calm, but fixated.
I took a step further back as I kept reminding myself that this is no ordinary Uchiha. My face never gave away a glimpse of doubt as I smirked.
"I heard that the Namikaze clan has the potential to go up against the Senju and the Uchiha", he declares, the wind blowing his hair away from his murk eyes.
My hand snaked to the kunai bag strapped to my thigh, declaring battle when I raised my pointer and middle finger, he was unfazed as usual.
"Prove this battle worthwhile", he says as the wind died down and there was a split second before his eyes sparked in the dead of night and he hissed, "Mangeykō Sharingan"
When I whipped out an ordinary kunai, he'd responded back by wielding his sword. We hastened towards each other with determination our weapons clashing and clinging all the while the masked man stood aside and witnessed this battle.
"Don't look directly in his eyes!"
The butterfly's whisper took me by surprise and before I got the time to ask, the answer came immediately.
"You'll get caught in his Genjutsu!"
I muttered a quick thanks under my breath and proceeded to dodge his strikes. Taking the butterfly's advice, I keep a close eye on his torso alone. If I use the Teleportation Technique there's a good chance he'll take the advantage and catch me, ensnaring me in his Genjutsu.
I concluded that long distance combat is the best choice in this case.
"Itachi stop! The Hokage is on his way to propose a final negotiation", I yelled out while dodging his continues attacks.
"Hiruzen has failed! This supposed negotiation will change nothing!", he retorted back, wielding his word in my direction.
I was quick enough to wield my kunai and block his strike. In this current position I was trying my best not to look him in the eyes.
"I'm a part of the Uchiha clan as well remember that", I growl while clenching my jaw.
"Yeah I figured", he hissed back, wielding his sword again and disarming me in an instant. Unarmed, I remained rooted in my ground.
Despite my predicament I didn't change positions, instead, I remained rooted there a blocked his sharp blade with my bare palms.
The pain that pierced through me was instantaneous. Itachi's eyes widened in regret, his expression was sympathetic.
"The Uchiha clan is a part of the Leaf, it means so much to the both of us and if it comes down to it", I took the risky leap and made direct eye contact with him, the blood began dripping down from my wound, "I'll fight you to the death, till my blood starts to rain".
This time I was quicker with my counter attack, he was so taken aback by my gesture it'd rendered him wide-eyed when he realized that I'd ensnared him in my Genjutsu.
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A/N:- Sasuke's theme would slap if it played in the background of the this fight. The uplifting part is my favorite. Please tell me what you think, this is directed to all my silent readers. Oh and holy moly guacamole, so back in November when I first posted this story I was skeptical that I'd even get 500 reads by the end of the year, but I have exceeded my own expectations by hitting 1K! I am so thankful to each and every one of you. Sincerely!
~A