Through Heavens\\Uchiha Sasuke\\and Hells\\four

I met up with Takai, who had retired to my home, outside the gates of my compound. I lead him inside before questioning him, in fear that some bystander would overhear us. "what did you get from Tsunade's office?"

He pulled out a file and handed it to me, "The timeline of the events that are to be held during the festival, I think you'll get the best reaction during the fireworks show at the end, when people are settled and collected. Even the ANBU have weakened guards by this point."

I nodded in agreement, "Hai, we'll proceed with a genjutsu on all ninjas and begin the slaughter of the citizens. You'll have to keep up the genjutsu by yourself until I'm ready to attack the ninjas. I'll have to summon Yuki and even possibly her husband." Takai seemed started by the notion, "But, she barely listens to you as it is, what makes you think that her husband will?" I smirked knowingly, "Anger is such a blinding emotion."

A few hours later after all the plans had been revised for possible mistakes. I went outside for fresh air and ran into a somewhat frantic Naruto. "Naruto-kun, you seem flustered." He turned around quickly, "Tsukiko-chan! There you are!"

I stared at him sullenly, "I don't need protection Naruto-kun. I can take care of myself." Sasuke walked up beside him, "Then why does Tsunade think you do?" I did not give him the pleasure of my attention, "This mission is pointless, for if I am in such a situation I cannot handle, then I will most likely be sent to my death." Takai barked beside me, causing me to glance down at him.

"Then why not tell her that and save us the trouble?" I turned around, "That is not your business Uchiha, and I'd like it if you'd stay out of it." I heard him growl under his breath, "You're still angry about that stupid fight we had two days ago?"

I closed my eyes casually, "Iie. I am not angry." They were following me, closely, "Then why won't you call me Sasuke-kun anymore? You ignore me and give me the cold shoulder." I smirked lightly, "It's not in your nature to care about such things, Sasuke Uchiha."

I noticed his footsteps fall away so that there was only Naruto. "And why do you stay? What benefit is there in watching over me?" He thought about it for a moment before replying, "I guess there isn't any."

I closed my eyes again, "Then why Naruto-kun." I could tell he was stumped by the question, not sure of the correct answer, "Old granny Tsunade told me to, and since she's the Hokage I have to listen..." That wasn't true at all, he just didn't have an answer.

Nightfall came swiftly as the eventless day dragged on. I had sent Takai to gather some supplies inconspicuously so that I wouldn't appear suspicious. I eluded Naruto once more and went to my compound to try and get some much needed sleep. That damn Sasuke was there, I suppose taking over his shift. I took my pills and was knocked out before we could get into any unwanted discussions. I swear that boy can be so annoying some times.

Itachi-kun would never hurt me. He loves me.

My eyes slid open once again, and I took in my surroundings. The tea shop...how did I fall asleep here without my pills? I felt a tingling sensation in my ears and glanced over my shoulder to see a mirage of Itachi.

The better half of me was able to quickly figure that it wasn't him. I had come to know that he was the only one I could tell was not a mere image of my mind. My heart said it was our connection, but my brain told me that it was something irregular.

I mean why in hell's name would I fall asleep in a tea shop and have a dream about my personal reflection on Itachi-kun. It didn't make sense, but I decided not to prod that tender area of my mind. I was supposed to meet up with Kakashi-sensei.

Having realized this I walked at a steady pace with my hands in my pockets towards the KIA stone. Academy students, teams of genin, and even a few chuunin teams were already starting to decorate the town for the festival tomorrow.

"How nice of you to join us Tsukiko." I stared bluntly at the waiting four, "I fell asleep at the tea house." But their shock was something that was slightly unexpected. I guess that has something to do with myself not screaming at a nightmare or false imagery like I had during our mission.

"What happened." Honestly I hadn't taken much thought onto how it actually happened, "I was drinking a type of imported tea from Russia that makes me fall asleep." Kakashi took out his own copy of the new book of the 'come come' series- the one that Naruto actually co-authored which I found a little disturbing.

"No nightmares? No waking up flailing and running around in hysterics?" My eyes narrowed slightly at the kunoichi. "Iie. I will look into it later." But really, it wasn't a main concern. There were much more important things I should be worrying about then some damn sleeping anomaly.

"Tsunade has asked us to watch over one of the feudal Lord's daughters today to make sure no one gives her trouble. Her father is the one who provides all the funds for the sakura festival every year, and if anything happens to her then it will be canceled." Kakashi stood up straight from leaning against the memorial stone.

"You're late." Kakashi gave me an annoyed look as she put her hands on her hips,

"Team this is Takako Toshi," (first, last- noble child, alert) "Miss Toshi, I am Hatake Kakashi, and they are Haruno Sakura, Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, Sai, and Nekoraiku Tsukiko. We will be watching over you today." She looked very displeased at our appearance, as if we were too low on the social scale to be in her company. "I figured Lady Hokage would have the decency to put me with people with more nobility."

I suppose it should have bothered me, but it was just a petty insult- which Kakashi took care of, "Sasuke and Tsukiko are from two of the most prestigious clans in Konoha. Surely they reach your standards."

She eyed us up and down, returning to Sasuke several times. My eyes narrowed and I could feel Takai pawing at my leg to calm down. It helped some, since I knew that tomorrow I could kill the wretch. I smiled at the thought, causing odd stares. After realizing this I quickly put my blank expression back on. "Where to first?"

"I must get the best of accessories to adorn my very expensive kimono at the festival tomorrow." Sakura's eyes showed much jealousy as the boys (with the exception of Kakashi) gawked at her. I ignored them and walked out of the room, heading out towards the richer part of town.

They followed with a few rude comments from Takako. Around us people were putting up long strands of sakura blossoms across the street and on the top of buildings. Large advertisements for events and contests were hung everywhere adding to the growing spectacle. It's hard to believe that tomorrow- it'll all be covered in blood.

She entered the first shop which sold imported cosmetics. It was evident that someone had sprayed a vast about of perfume and Naruto began sneezing repeatedly. He has about to go on for sneeze five when I pinched his nostrils shut with my fingers. "Breathe through your mouth Naruto-kun."

He nodded slowly and I let go of his face. He sighed before sneezing one last time. Little Miss Perfect was walking around to store sampling products while talking to one of the cosmologist about different hues of makeup and other things of the sort.

This was becoming increasingly boring until Sakura mentioned something about wanting a make over. "Sakura, even if you needed one, you probably couldn't afford it." She let out a sad sigh before releasing that what I said was somewhat of a compliment. "Arigato, Tsukiko, you've never complimented me before!" I stared at her bluntly, not really caring whether the statement was true or not. After all, it wasn't intended to be so...nice.

I turned away and looked out the window, the sun showed that it was already noon. twenty-four hours. Waiting for the fireworks show isn't going to give me enough time. I need to check my supply of soldier pills. Takai is going to need one for him to be able to sustain the genjutsu on his own. Overriding the release jutsu trained ninjas use takes up a lot of chakra- even for me.

Which is why I should take one as well. But, that is dangerous with my already high levels of chakra. It risks death. Perhaps I can find a way around that. "Suki-chan, lets go!" I blinked, my eyes refocusing to see the others about to leave. I nodded and followed them out and to the next store. Which happened to be a clothing shop.

The day drug on, the plans of tomorrow's events drifted in my head- causing me to fade in and out of my surroundings. The team could tell I wasn't paying much attention to them or the mission, something they found very odd, since normally I was very formal and serious when it came to them. "Something wrong Tsukiko?" I shook my head no, as the lazy jounin stared down at me. In fact, nothing was wrong; as of now, everything is going according to plan.

Fillers are annoying. So I'm fast forwarding like you know you want me to.

I walked down the brightly colored streets, my face blank- emotionless. Inside my kimono sleeve was a katana, a sacred family heirloom. Takai trotted by my side, waiting for me to make my move. He had already taken a soldier pill, while I held off. My chakra supply wasn't my biggest concern right now. "Takai, it is time."

He nodded and sat down while I preformed hand seals inside the long sleeves of my dress to conceal my treachery. "Ninja seal: override release no jutsu." Every ninja in the Konoha area froze completely. I quickly transferred the sustaining jutsu chakra to Takai who had to remain still in order to keep the ninjas frozen. The villagers looked around frantically as I took my katana out of its hiding place. "Let the slaughter commence."

Seconds later dozens of dead bodies laid on the ground, mostly children or disabled. "Where's the Hokage? She should be here by now?" I snickered at the ban of regular working men, "Lady Hokage is a little...tied up right now."

With a wave of my katana half of them were on the ground wailing in pain at their slashed stomachs. The one yelling about the Hokage launched himself at me, making me stumble backwards. He picked up a hoe from the ground and swung it at me, I blocked it with my katana, however he being stronger, overpowered me. This made my blade swing back and collide into the chest of my nin dog.

In turn, my jutsu malfunctioned and ANBU began to swarm around me. Kuso baka! This can get out of hand fairly quickly if I don't do something. Village people sprinted away from me as ninjas crowded around me. I sighed heavily. The Nekoraiku way: better to die fighting then to live fleeing. "Nekoraiku Tsukiko, for the second time you have betrayed this village. This time however, you will die."

Before any bold move could be made Lady Hokage yelled from her perch (which was now conveniently placed on top of a local building), "Do not kill her. She may have vital information on the Akatsuki." I smirked up at her, "Tsunade. Konoha must be desperate to have you as a Hokage. You couldn't even see through my trick." Those who heard me gasped and looked upwards towards the scowling Tsunade. "Is that true Tsunade-sama?" Is that really hard to believe? I fooled a drunk. An unlucky drunk medical nin who is afraid of blood.

"And you can't even come down here, can you Tsunade?" The street was covered in blood by now, that and masses of bodies. I barely even made a dent in the population, and I was already soaked in blood. Only those who knew her fear understood, "Too much blood for a hematophobe." (hematophobia: fear of blood) She didn't move an inch, despite my taunting. "Don't just stand there, get her!"

I held my katana in front of me, an evil smile on my face. The ANBU captain in front of me ran forward, but I side stepped and stabbed him into the side, where he wasn't protected by his armor. The hilt of my blade glinted on the other side of him, as he grunted in pain. I ripped my weapon out, and he fell to the ground. "Tsukiko!" I looked up, to see my team standing beside Kakashi, "Ah Naruto-kun. You seem surprised."

My gaze shifted to Sasuke, who's face was blank. I laughed while slicing the throat of another nin that came at me, "Why would I just mysteriously come back to Konoha after two years seemingly unscathed?" I took out two more ANBU black ops. "Is it because my sad song brought so much pity to your hearts that none of you could even see how traitorous my heart was?"

I looked back up at them, my eyes on Kakashi this time, "How pathetic this village has become. You're strength lies solely in your numbers." I was once again surrounded, but not by pitiful commoners. I quickly formed hand seals before shouting, "Nami Kiin Toukai no Jutsu!" I spread the wave out to a half mile radius. My chakra supply can't be wasted now that Takai is out of the picture.

I looked around to see the dead dog laying on the ground. "Gomen ne, Takai-kun." Kakashi suddenly landed in front of me, "I knew there was something strange about your nindog. He came from the sound village, dd he not?" I smirked, "Well of course, if you want an illegal nindog that does the job, Otogakure the place to go."

He took out a kunai, "Now, now Kakashi-sensei. Do you really want to fight me? With your genjutsu trap record?" Sasuke landed behind me, his sharingan activated. In turn I activated my own kekkei genkai, "We cancel each other out Sasuke-kun. Unless, of course you have the mangekyou, but seeing as Naruto is still alive I take that as a no."

I put my hands together, as ANBU nins once again began to surround me, my jutsu had caused the body count to double. It was too fast for common people to escape from. I began to form hand seals in a string that Kakashi should recognize.

"Beast Mimicry: A Thousand Beasts Jutsu!" This time my demon cats attacked those around me, besides Kakashi and Sasuke. "Sasuke. You cannot beat me, for you rely on your sharingan too much. We are too matched." I closed my eyes sensing him nearby.

"I should have known you would do this." I smirked, before stepping out between them so I could face them both. "Yes you should have, but I take pleasure in the fact that you didn't." Naruto joined them, which only added to my annoyance. "Tsukiko, I don't understand...why are you doing this?"

I closed my eyes, sighing loudly, "Naruto. You are a saint in my eyes. All you want to do is prove yourself, while I just want to slaughter everything that has caused me pain. I would hope that you'd understand, but I will not ask that of you." I reopened my eyes and smiled sadly, "This is something I must do."

Picture (c) UdonNodu