::There Are Limitations To Our Hearts::A Sasuke Story::Chapter 15::

Chapter 15

“You guys are sure about this right?” I ask, for possibly the twelfth time that night. After agreeing to help me, we’d quickly devised a plan to corner the cloaked members of the Yakata clan. Which really isn’t much of a plan, seeing as it consisted of me openly confronting them and questioning their objectives. Not very original either, but we didn’t really have time to be as creative as Naruto. That’s why now we’re just outside the confines of Konoha, and in the surrounding forest, tracking the Yakatas.

“I guess it’s now or never,” I grumble under my breath, as I head into the clearing up ahead of us, where the Yakata members where sitting around a fire. It was obvious that they’d sensed us, luckily they hadn’t ran.

“Be careful Sayuri,” Kakashi warned me, concern clearly evident in his voice. I simply nodded my head, a slight smile on my face.

The second I walked into the clearing, six figures stood, forming a semi-circle in front of me. Tensions were rising high. “I’m not here to fight,” I clearly state, which is supported by the fact that the others came out of hiding, but still stood a little ways behind me.

“You wouldn’t stand a chance anyway,” One figure snarled, its gravelly voice allowing me to identify it as a male. And judging by the builds of the other members, all of them were too.

“Why are you in Konohakagure?” I question, skipping any idle threats and provocations.

“We’re here for you, young Akemi. You left in such a hurry so long ago, that n one thought of how troublesome you’d become later on. You do remember at least some of our culture do you not?” Questioned the tallest man on the right; I nod my head in acknowledgement.

“Then you do realise that you and Hitoshi are the only ones left to take over the clan? As disgusting as it is, our traditions still hold even for those who abandon their blood.”

“There are three eligible for head. What happened to Kazuna?” I ask, but the answer was already set as ice into my bones,

“Kazuna was eliminated; she challenged Hitoshi in a battle for leadership. And now, Hitoshi challenges you,” The ice quickly spread throughout me. Terror freezing every part of me; if I refused, I’d give up my right to be head, and be killed as consequence; but, if I accepted, I’d be forced to fight Hitoshi. The leader’s favourite, and so the one allowed the advantage in battle.

That’s how things are in the Yakata clan. When a leader comes to head the clan, they choose three children. They usually choose the child or relative of the leader before them as a sign of respect, their own child or relative and a child who shows potential. Kazuka, was the child of the former leader, Hitoshi is the son of the current leader, and I’m the child who showed great potential. It’s weird, but every clan has its traditions. Out of these three, the leader chooses a favourite. The favourite candidate is given the advantage in battle. Through the hidden technique of the Yakata clan, the reason every child is given a tattoo on their wrists. It allows them to share chakra with others who share the same symbol. An advantage in battle would mean that Hitoshi is given exactly half of the current leader’s chakra on top of his own; a very unfair advantage.

My thoughts seemed to suffocate me at that moment.

“Calm down Yuri. Right now, you have no other choice but to accept,”

“I accept. When will the battle take place?” I asked, my cool demeanour still in perfect condition.

“The first day of the next new moon,” My eyes shot towards the man who had spoken,

“But that is only a few days away,” I complained, I thought I’d have weeks, not days.

“Yes, but I am already in Konoha, I refuse to wait much longer, and my father arrives tomorrow.” I gasped, looking towards the central figure as he slowly drew back his hood. Before stood me Hitoshi, son of Sikon, leader of the Yakata clan. I felt my eyes widen slightly at the sight of him. He honestly wasn’t what I’d been expecting. I was expecting some huge man, who looked as though he’d killed thousands. But, Hitoshi looked like perfection. He had cool blue eyes, exact replicas of sapphires, with porcelain skin which contrasted to his black hair, which seemed to have a hint of blue to it. The smirk currently plastered onto his perfect face is what broke the spell.

“I must say, I wasn’t expecting you to look so beautiful. And yet, your very presence screams with power and control. You really are a Yakata after all.”

“Flattery won’t make me go easy on you,” I state, but he’d shocked me. He appeared only slightly older than me, and I’d admit that his compliment had shaken me slightly.

“I’m just acknowledging you as a fellow Yakata, my little Akemi.” His cool voice seemed to entrap me, this boy was something else. He took a step towards me, then another, until he was less than half a foot away, and his own presence smothered me. It seemed to demand for my submission, too bad my own screamed for his. The smirk became even more prominent on his face, the challenge burning in his eyes. “I don’t believe I belong to you, Hitoshi.” I told him evenly, even though my anger at his actions was starting to show in my eyes,

“Well, I doubt you belong to any of those,” I said quietly, and I knew that he was analysing the others behind me, less than ten feet away. “I don’t belong to anyone,” I state, the words almost ripping themselves from my lips, clearly, Heisei was also becoming agitated by the boy.

“I challenge you, Akemi Yakata, for the right to lead the Yakata clan!”