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Post by mint50 on Aug 22, 2010 12:59:26 GMT -5
Sasuke rolled out of bed and stared blankly at the wall. The mission from yesterday kept playing over and over in his head like a broken film. The squad had assembled at the edge of the border of the village, each equipped with a full supply of shuriken and kunai. Suddenly they were ambushed and Sasuke did the only thing he could, he sent his team to scatter and took on the enemy hoping his team could ambush them. Sadly it hadn't succeeded as the enemy saw through it and broke away from his attacks and didn't give the team enough chance to ambush.
Sasuke reported to his father about the casualty of just one team member while the enemy had been stopped by his windmill triple attack upon retreat. His father was proud, but he thought he had something else on his mind. Now out in the training grounds he stared absently at a trio of logs where he and Neji had become Genin. It seemed so long ago since then. Having his back to the rest of the forest he smiled weakly at the past.
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Post by Itachi Uchiha on Aug 22, 2010 16:00:49 GMT -5
Walking around the Village Itachi had decided to take a quick visit to where he and Ashurii had first met and where he took his first step into the world on the ninja. On his way he noticed someone was already there. Without even needing to get too close, it was his precious younger brother Sasuke. He had heard that Sasuke suffered a casualty on his last mission.
Itachi used the body flicker jutsu and appeared on a branch that was located directly above Sasuke. Itachi let loose a small chuckle, "Hello Sasuke. What brings you here? Off to do some more training?" With that said Itachi jumped of the branch and landed on the ground. He gave his younger brother a smile and had hoped that he would finally give Sasuke some training after all the years that he simply brushed him off.
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Post by mint50 on Aug 22, 2010 16:12:03 GMT -5
Sasuke was so lost in his thoughts he hadn't even noticed Itachi. Hearing the branch shake above him he lifted his head and looked past his black bangs with a smirk on his face. Itachi was so great, he had mastered most if not all of the Uchiha jutsu and he could appear and disappear without so much as disturbing a leaf on a branch. Sasuke looked up to his brother and wished to be just like him. Hearing his light hearted chuckle he couldn't help but join in. Itachi was sometimes busy, which he understood, after all; Itachi was an important member of this village.
"Hello brother," Sasuke said in return, his eyes going from the tree branch to the taller figure before him. Running a hand through his hair he knew he couldn't get anything past him. "Brother...do you think...you can help me? My last mission didn't go according to plan...and...I just keep playing it through my head. How do you deal with it?" Sasuke stared up at his older brother and yearned for his sagely advice, even any help provided could help him now.
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Post by Itachi Uchiha on Aug 22, 2010 16:28:36 GMT -5
Itachi lifted an eyebrow at his little brothers words. So Sasuke was taking that casualty pretty heavy. He was just like Itachi when he had lost a comrade on his first mission as captain. Itachi smiled as he placed his hand on Sasuke's head. "Listen Sasuke don't sweat it too much. Soon you'll start to learn that fate is a cruel thing, it tortures people and can even destroy them. But it's up to us to not allow it to toy with us. But trust me after a while you'll get used to losing comrades, it'll still hurt but not as much. I've lost a few comrades myself on missions. Why earlier this morning I lost someone, it was a very good friend and an important person in my squad.
Itachi figured that the only way to cheer up his little brother at the moment was to help train him a bit. "Well Sasuke how about I do a little training with you to help you out? Who knows it may just help you master your sharingan even more. I'm sure that as long as you work hard that some day you'll surpass father, heck you may even surpass me." Itachi gave his little brother another smile as he took his hand off of his head. Great what kind of mess did Itachi get himself into now? Well it was too late, he had no choice but to keep his promise and train Sasukea bit for now.
Itachi walked to his secret training spot in the training fields where targets had been lain in random locations. Itachi looked to Sasuke and spoke, "Watch carefully Sasuke." With that Itachi vanished and reappeared in the air. He had kunai in every hand and tossed them one by one. He even tossed some to hit the already flying kunai and change their course to hit the targets. When Itachi landed on the ground all Kunai had hit their target, even the ones located in the blind spots had been hit with a bullseye.
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Post by mint50 on Aug 22, 2010 16:45:04 GMT -5
Sasuke felt his eyes waver as Itachi gave him a brotherly speech. Normally he would poke his forehead and say perhaps another time, but, he was actually making time. To lose a comrade meant losing a part of one self and taking responsibility, he thought taking what his brother said. Do not let it take over you and learn to accept that fate is cruel and further down the line more will follow. It was the basics at the Academy, but, he didn't expect it to happen so soon. He was just 12 and already a chunin taking on missions for the village's safety. Itachi took the loss so well, in fact, he had never seen his brother cry...not once. Sometimes he wanted to ask him why he didn't cry, or show many emotions, but, he felt that prying was never a solution to getting answers.
When Itachi spoke of surpassing his father he felt his onyx color eyes go as big as the moon. To surpass a man like his father, that would be the day, he thought with a little more excitement. Then what he said next caught him off guard. To surpass his own brother...it would be the greatest accomplishment yet. Itachi always seemed to be two steps ahead of him, and not because he was taller and had long legs, it was because he had mastered the sharigan. Right now he was just getting the hang of it, and well, it often drained him at times. Watching Itachi head to his secret spot Sasuke tagged along eager to see his brother train.
Itachi was a legend, a master of the sharigan and a guy who could lead troops with exceptional skill. Standing back he noticed all the targets that Itachi had set up. Sometimes he would come out here and try his best to hit the targets, but, the blind spot always seemed to irk him. Now as Itachi took to the sky, kunai in both hands, he looked like he was ready to show him. The kunai flew with a flick of the wrist, not even a blink of the eye or tenseness in the body. The kunai hit their targets and Sasuke marveled at the accuracy. 'Wow Itachi...tell me...how did you get so good at that?" Sasuke managed to move his legs and walk over to his brother.
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Post by Itachi Uchiha on Aug 22, 2010 18:46:26 GMT -5
Itachi was praised by his younger brother. If only sasuke would realize his own talent, maybe he wouldn't want to be just like Itachi. Then again being the younger brother Sasuke had always had to stand in Itachi's shadow and was always compared to ITachi, no onder the boy couldn't see his own talent. "Well Sasuke if you truly want to know then it's all about practice.I practiced everyday until I was exhausted. If you work hard I'm sure you'll be able to do it in no time, just don't push yourself too hard."
Itachi then decided he would test Sasuke. Without any warning Sasuke launched a Kunai at the younger Uchiha. Itachi was positive that Sasuke could Dodge it, but would he notice the explosive tag on the end? Although Itachi rigged it to just cause a minor explosion, nothing fatal. After all he didn't want to hurt Sasuke. "Come Sasuke, show me the extent of your power. If you impress me then I may just teach you something." Itachi knew that once he activated his plan and fled the village that he would no longer be there to protect Sasuke, so he wanted Sasuke to get stronger and be able to protect himself against anyone.
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Post by mint50 on Aug 22, 2010 21:08:43 GMT -5
Sasuke nodded his head when he heard the sagely advice. So, in order to get as strong as Itachi, he had to practice till his body was exhausted? Well, then he would do so till he couldn't lift an arm or pick up a kunai knife. The art of a shinobi is in how well they perform and how many scratches remain invisible during a mission. Sasuke wanted to be near invisible just like his brother with his aerial display of Kunai accuracy. The kunai was a deadly weapon, used wisely, it could meet grounds with a sword and propel shuriken away with the simplest of ease. Though with little warning he noticed a kunai thrown deftly from his brother straight at him.
Without his sharigan he noticed the trail of a curled paper bomb near the handle of the weapon. If he used his kunai to block, well, the result would be nothing but explosive. Itachi was testing him, actually testing him...a chance to prove himself in his hero's eyes. Closing his eyes he counted the seconds before jumping. Landing on the kunai knife he used his chakra to steady the blade then as he turned around he sent the kunai back at his brother. The paper bomb had about 5 or more seconds till it detonated. Having acted quickly he shaved seconds off like they were his mom's pie. "Hmph...is that the best you got?" Sasuke grinned as he landed in a crouch.
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Post by Itachi Uchiha on Aug 23, 2010 19:08:37 GMT -5
Itachi watched as he brother had managed to cause the Kunai to go flying right back at Itachi. It was a very resourceful tactic that sasuke had used, one that would serve him well in battle, of course that would only be if it were only just one Kunai. Sasuke then pronged the question of if that was all Itachi had, but little did the young Uchiha know that it was only the beginning. This time Itachi tossed a few smoke bombs around his younger brother, then he summoned a few shadow clones and had them surround the area of the smoke and execute a lightning quick assult on Sasuke, one that the boy would definitely need to use his Sharingan if he was to even have a chance of evading the attack.
The only thing that Sasuke did not know is that Itachi had also rigged his clones to explode upon impact, of course Itachi reduced the power of the explosion as to not injure his little brother. This time Itachi would see Sasuke's true talent. If Sasuke could do well enough against this assult then the teaching would begin. Itachi kinda sort of hoped Sasuke would fail so he could get out of teaching Sasuke a new jutsu. "Show me what your capable of Sasuke!"
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Post by mint50 on Aug 23, 2010 19:23:14 GMT -5
Sasuke smiled as he launched the kunai not a moment too soon. The paper bomb was a vital ninja tool used to kick up smoke and send an opponent flying. Still, Itachi had something up his sleeve, that much was granted. The only question was what did his brother have in store for him? Sasuke calculated his next move when he saw the purple cloud of smoke hit the ground from the smoke bombs. A diversion? Sasuke mused as he held his hands up in front of his face. Now was the time to use his secret weapon, well not that secret, but still one only the Uchiha clan had. Closing his eyes he stilled his heart and opened his eyes to reveal the Sharigan.
The Sharigan was at a stage where he could copy a move by staring, but, his brother had hinted there were various degrees and levels of the Sharigan. The clones to his eyes alone revealed to be nothing but fakes. Though they dispelled the chakra evenly through the body, they in fact were nothing of the real person. Sasuke heard his brother's voice and could see the clones racing towards him. Each one was quick as his brother and more then capable of taking him down a notch. "I can see!" Sasuke threw a paper bomb at his spot, knowing the clones were homing in on that, then he propelled himself into the air. Forming the right signs he held in a breath and shot out a peppery flame. "Fire style: Phoneix flower jutsu!" Then he watched as the flames danced about and shot forth at his brother.
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Post by Itachi Uchiha on Aug 30, 2010 19:47:48 GMT -5
Itachi smirked as he was impessed with Sasuke's movements. Tossing a paper bomb to distract the clones and then launching his own attack at Itachi was something Itachi was glad his little brother did. "Good Sasuke, you've become quite impressive." Itachi seemingly dodged the mini fireballs with minimal effort and used his natural almost godly speed to appear in front of his little brother.
Itachi closed his eyes and in a split second he opened them to reveal his sharingan. Itachi had hoped to toss Sasuke into a genjuts in order to measure the power of Sasuke's eyes. Of course the genjutsu didn't do anything out of the ordinary. It mearly showed Itachi trying to land a punch into Sasuke's stomach. It was also set up to have Itachi turn into crows if he were stricken by Sasuke.
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Post by mint50 on Aug 30, 2010 20:01:39 GMT -5
Sasuke was proud to hear his brother say that. He had been practicing the phoenix flower jutsu for quite a long time now. The clones down below seemed to dissipate as the paper bomb exploded and he was still in the air when he noticed his brother dodge the flames. This isn't good, he thought, what is my brother up to now? Sasuke noticed his brother appear before him at his normal speed with his sharigan opened. This is it, he wore a defiant grin, this was the moment that he had waited for. Testing the prowess of the sharigan against his older brother.
"I cannot lose!" It was Sasuke's vow and he had to keep himself composed. With his own sharigan opened he felt the genjutsu swallow him. Calming his erratic nerves he could see the attack, noted that this was all not real. The real attack happened on the outside, this attack would merely keep him still like a animal cut off by a river encircling it. Curling his hand into a fist he sent it at where he thought his brother was.
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Post by Itachi Uchiha on Aug 30, 2010 20:17:22 GMT -5
Itachi knew that Sasuke would be able to recognize the genjutsu, but he was hoping he would just turn it back on Itachi, instead of staying in it and punching at what he believed to be the real Itachi. As the punch landed it sent that Itachi flying back wards, but only for it to seemingly freeze in mid air. The Itachi then began to split into black crows and from them came Itachi's voice. "Honestly Sasuke you were doing so well and now you've gone and disappointed me."
Some of the crows reformed back into Itachi and the remaining ones shot at Sasuke. As they came closer they seemingly transformed into shuriken and fell with great speed at Sasuke. Hopefully this time Sasuke would reverse the genjutsu or dispel it and make a counter attack. If not Itachi would just end it all one with jutsu, one that could stop even the legendary Sannin Orochimaru.
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Post by mint50 on Aug 30, 2010 20:35:01 GMT -5
Sasuke felt the back lash from Itachi's words and felt a swirl of anger form about him. All he wanted was for Itachi to recognize he had grown. Training hard as he did, he seeked his approval...had longed for him to teach him instead of poking at his head. The shuriken propelled forward as if on wire and crashed into him. Spitting up blood he backpeddaled and had his back to the fading wall. The next attack would be the last, as he knew his brother wouldn't waste time toying with him. It was now or never, and really, never was not an option. Opening his eyes wider the sharigan blazed and he sent the genjutsu back at his brother ten fold. Losing was not an option, and he meant to meet his brother head on.
"I...I did it," Sasuke felt he did it, rather then seeing if the genjutsu reversal worked or not. All shinobi had a feeling, a gut instinct when an attack landed...before it even did. Sasuke knew from his gut and heart that he would finally get his brother's full attention. Lately he had been yearning for training with him, as Kakashi was often busy focusing on Neji at times. This was going to work, or he would shame his ancestors for all eternity...even father.
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Post by Itachi Uchiha on Aug 31, 2010 17:05:01 GMT -5
Itachi smiled as he watched his brother attempt to reverse the genjutsu and send it right back at Itachi. It had worked, but only for a short while. As Sasuke passed out, the genjutsu wore off and disapated. Itachi continued to smile as his younger brother finally met Itachi's standards. Itachi walked over to his younger brother and patted him on the forehead.
"You've certainly gotten stronger Sasuke." With those words still lingering in the air, Itachi picked up Sasuke. He hoisted him on his back and slowly began to walk back to the village. Itachi's smile was still there but it was only about half the size it originally was. Mainly because he began to think about the events that would soon unfold. The time was drawing near for Ashurii's and Itachi's coup de tat against his father, and when Itachi would purify the tainted Uchiha clan.
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Post by mint50 on Aug 31, 2010 20:27:04 GMT -5
Sasuke hadn't realized he had lost his balance, nor, had he noticed Itachi walking towards him. Reversing the genjutsu was a little beyond him, as it took most of his energy out of him; that said, he vowed to practice more with his sharigan till he got better. Feeling Itachi pick him up he managed to wrap his arms around him as he saw the leaves begin to fall slowly. The pat on the head was nice, and his words were icing to this day. He had proven himself in his brother's eyes, and that, well, it was just the best feeling in the world.
Laughing he wore a smile on his tired face. "Yep, I wouldn't have made Chunin at a young age if I slacked off now brother. I vow to become stronger...and to make you and father proud of me yet." Sasuke continued to watch the leaves fall and was reminded of a time when he was at his home and had asked his brother to help him train. He had bekoned to him with his hand and as he walked forward he got poked in the head. Today was surely a momentous time for him...and for his brother, he was sure it meant something too...right?
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Post by Itachi Uchiha on Sept 4, 2010 13:48:42 GMT -5
Itachi couldn't help but release a small chuckle when Sasuke said he wouldn't have made Chuunin at such ayoung age if he slacked off. "Well I don't know about that Sasuke, your naturally talented like all members of our clan. The leaf's continually danced around the two young Uchiha brothers. Itachi then spoke once more in responce to Sasuke saying he wanted to prove himself in the eye's of Itachi and they're idiotic father.
"Sasuke, you shouldn't worry about the approval of me and father. As long as you continue to try hard you'll always have my approval. And as long as your happy with your strength then you don't need the approval of me and father."' Itachi really did not want Sasuke to become too attached to their father, or to Itachi. Mainly because he wanted to protect Sasuke from what was to happen in the future.
Itachi only wondered how his mission would effect Sasuke in the long run. Hopefully it wouldn't cripple Sasuke enough that he would become bent on revenge, or become an emotional wreck. Itachi truly wished that it wouldn't need to come to that, but he knew that if he talked to his father it would only fall on deaf ears. "So Sasuke, what do you want to do now?"
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Post by mint50 on Sept 4, 2010 19:09:38 GMT -5
Sasuke laughed and nodded his head. "Yeah, our clan is pretty special. The power within us allows us to tackle obstacles most Ninjas can't do or dream of. It is a rather unique gift, the Sharigan, able to master new jutsu just from seeing it once. To not have the Sharigan, we'd be as blind as bats and pretty useless too." Sasuke hoped there wasn't a jutsu out there that could render their eyes useless. It was because of these eyes that they survived in battle, so in the end, they were capable fighters who excelled far better then most.
Sasuke sighed and realized a lot of what Itachi said made sense. Fact of the matter was, as long as he believed in himself and tried his best, there was no need to constantly run to Itachi and his father for approval. He had made chunnin and that day was his proudest yet. The day he mastered the fire style jutsu of the Uchiha he shined like a beacon of hope for their kind. He was moving at a steady pace and should he reach that boundary of excellence, he would make Jonin...possibly become an Anbu after. It was still hard to shake at times; the knowledge that failure was always there...even for them. I can not fail, he thought, if I fail...I am not only letting myself down, but my brother and father as well. Failure is the equivalent of giving up...without trying or putting enough effort to get half way there. Sasuke knew...in the end it was his own approval he had to seek.
Still on Itachi's back he counted the trees and felt a leaf fall on his spiky hair. Hearing Itachi's question he thought back to their training. "Well...you still haven't taught me a new jutsu," he said with a smirk, "so...how about that? I mean, I did prove myself back there, but, if your too tired," he grinned at that. Itachi did ask, so, he gave him his honest answer. Plus, Kakashi hadn't been around lately to teach him anything new.
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Post by Itachi Uchiha on Sept 5, 2010 9:33:19 GMT -5
Itachi couldn't help but become a bit annoyed by Sasuke's words. He was basically sounding like the rest of their pathetic clan, he was becoming to reliant on the Sharingan and not his own power. "Sasuke! I never want to hear you say those things again!" Itachi stopped walking and sighed. He looked at his brother and spoke once more, but in a calmer tone. "Listen Sasuke, don't become too reliant on the Sharingan. Those who become too reliant on it become useless without it."
Itachi regreted yelling at Sasuke, but he just oculdn't hold in his annoyance at those words. It was solely because the Uchiha became too reliant on the Sharingan that they've become tained by it's power. At Itachi wanted Sasuke to be nothing like the rest of the clan. Itachi was then struck by Sasuke;s words about him still not having had taught Sasuke a new jutsu. Itachi had hoped Sasuke would actually have forgotten about that, but it looks like he was not so lucky. [collor=red]"I see...Don't worry Sasuke. I will teach you a jutsu, but only once you've rested. I'm sure you can tell how much partially turning back my genjutsu took out of you. So once you've rested up a bit more, I'll teach you one."
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Post by mint50 on Sept 5, 2010 20:48:48 GMT -5
Sasuke was stung by his brother's words and to deny it would be bad on his part. He was still young so he tried to fight back any tears. Perhaps relying on the sharigan was a bad thing, though, why else have it? He was well trained in taijutsu and could block most attacks aimed at him, plus, he could use substitution to the best of his ability, so, that had to count for something right? Still, he knew that his brother was right in the end. Only a fool relied on a gift and only a fool would use that gift till it wore them out...or killed them to an extent to where they couldn't defend properly.
Sasuke waited for his brother's response on the new jutsu and realized he would say something like this. At least he didn't poke my head, he thought with a relieved smirk. Washing away the pain from Itachi's words he instead focused on the place he called home. It was up ahead and he was quite thirsty after reversing the genjutsu his brother threw his way. "Alright brother, but, I'm a fast healer. I will only need a little rest before I'm capable of mastering whatever jutsu you teach me. By the way...why aren't you with Ashurii today anyway?" He usually saw his brother with his wife more then him at times, and yet, he was here today with him. Did they have a marrital spat like mother and father had?
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Post by Itachi Uchiha on Sept 6, 2010 9:30:06 GMT -5
Itachi could feel the sadness of his little brother. Maybe Itachi had been a bit too harsh with his choice of words. Itachi should definitely had pulled is punch on that one, but what's done is done. There's nothing left to do but apologize. "I'm Sorry Sasuke. I didn't mean to yell at you like that."
The boys continued to walk home until Sasuke spoke his reply to Itachi's second statement earlier. Itachi couldn't help but give a slight chuckle, "Hahaha, is that right?" Sasuke had also asked why Itachi wasn't with Ashurii today? "What? you make it seem like I'm always with her. Well I just decided I'd spend a little time with my younger brother since it's been so long since the two of us were together without anyone else." Itachi then decided to continue to mess with his little brother like in the old days.
"You know Sasuke, for someone worn out you seem to be rather talkative at the moment. Or could it be that your just being lazy and trying to get a free ride out of your big brother?"
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Post by mint50 on Sept 7, 2010 13:56:48 GMT -5
Sasuke smiled as his brother apologized. He knew his brother meant well by his words, and, that he would never do anything to hurt him really. As an older brother it was his job to look out for him; make sure that he was strong and not relying too much on his sharigan. Besides, his brother seemed to know more about the sharigan then his father did. Lately all his father did was work hard and when he did spend time with the family, he was often gruff and not that talkative. Sasuke often wondered what was so important in his father's life that he couldn't spend more time with them. But...it wasn't his place to say, so, he kept mum about it.
"Yeah it has been," Sasuke replied, "we used to do this a lot, well, not the whole fighting between you and I...but definetley you carrying me." Sasuke laughed as he remembered one time when they went to go see father, but, he waved them off as he had much to do. It was almost like how Itachi would poke him in the head and say something about another time. Itachi did love Ashurii...and for him, well, she gave him too many hugs. She was like a relative that would pinch one's cheeks or swing them about in the air without realizing how old they were. Sasuke was just glad his brother was happy; as, if he wasn't happy and alone...he wondered how things would be between him. In fact, he thought again, it might have been Ashurii that sent him here to begin with.
Listening to his brother as he continued to talk he shook his head in amusement. Focusing on what energy he had left he substituted off his brother and replaced himself with a log. Walking alongside his brother he chuckled. "Hey Brother...you think I've gained any pounds since you last carried me?" Sasuke grinned and placed his hands behind his head walking ahead.
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Post by Itachi Uchiha on Sept 11, 2010 20:36:47 GMT -5
As Sasuke spoke of the past when Itachi would always end up carrying Sasuke around. He was picturing those moments. Sasuke sure has grown a bit since those days, and it seems so sudden considering how rarely Itachi got to see Sasuke since his father kept him so busy. Itachi was soon released from his memories as Sasuke asked a dumb question. "Well of course you have. You've also gotten taller and stronger Sasuke."
The boys were nearing their parents home, but Itachi did not want the conversation to end. "So sasuke. How do you like being under Kakashi-sensei's tutelage? And how is it to have the new Genius with a kekkei genkai, Neji Hyuuga? I'm sure you two geniuses have sparked up quite a rivalry, have you not?" Itachi smiled at his brother as he remembered his younger days, and when he and Ashurii were known as the geniuses of Konoha.
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Post by mint50 on Sept 13, 2010 11:11:43 GMT -5
Sasuke hid his blush at his brother praising him and tried to act like he was swatting at a fly. His brother was complimenting him a lot more these days then usual. When he was part of the Anbu he usually was sent away by father for days and he often had to get by without any talking to a person he could just...talk to. Sasuke placed his hands behind his head and could see they were growing closer to their home. Man, he thought, I hope father isn't home. Everytime my brother and father lock eyes it is like some battle that I'm not a part of. Still, if mother was home, he second thought, then perhaps things will be better. Sasuke then heard his brother's question and shrugged.
"Things are arlight, I mean Kakashi Sensei is one of the best Jonin around, as he also has the sharigan and can help me with my training. He can be a bit...absent minded at times, but, I suspect that comes with age. He said he had this really killer technique he was going to teach me, though...it has been a few days since that happened. As for having Neji as a team mate, we tend to spar more with words then anything else. He thinks he is better then me, says that his Kekkei Genkai is far more powerful. Kakashi Sensei is always breaking up our feueds...and says that we are equal to each other and that we are the beacon of hope for the new generation of ninja." Sasuke stopped in his tracks as he noticed the front porch up ahead.
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