::There Are Limitations To Our Hearts::A Sasuke Story::Chapter 17::

Chapter 17

“Take a break Yuri, pushing yourself too much could end up doing more bad than good,” I frowned at Heisei, who was once again borrowing my appearance. We were training, as we had been doing for the past 48 hours. I needed rest more than anything in the world right now, but the thought of losing to Hitoshi proved to be more inspirational than I’d ever thought possible. Maybe inspirational isn’t the best way to put that. I collapsed happily to the ground where I stood, letting the full extent of my exhaustion take hold, and literally knock the air form my lungs.

“I still haven’t mastered it,” I complained, pressing my forehead into the ground and spreading my body over the cool grass. The sun was setting, and when it rose again, the Yakata clan would arrive. This time tomorrow, I’d be preparing to fight Hitoshi.

“It’s an extremely difficult move, and you’ve been learning it for little over two months. What do you expect, great things come with time,” She soothed, standing in the slight breeze. I couldn’t help but admire her, watching her long hair sway in the breeze, the sun reflecting golden hues into her near white hair, well my hair I guess, only longer. I pulled myself from my slumped position as I felt Team 7 approaching. I was hoping they’d arrive later, or not at all. I wasn’t at my best, my clothes torn and dirty, blood and sweat providing the proof of my hard work. I had just enough energy left to smile at them as they came into view. “Hey guys, how did the mission go?”

“It was boring, stupid work, we had to make sure everything was in order for the arrival of the Yakata clan tomorrow,” Naruto complained, dropping next to me.

“You look exhausted,” Sasuke noted, looking around the training ground. Most likely looking at all the deep holes in the ground, the scorch marks, the abandoned kunai, the blood, the excess clothing I’d thrown off myself while training. I was sitting in a sports bra and shorts, revealing the extent of damage on my body, cuts and bruises from sparring with clones and Heisei.

“Thanks for the moral support Sasuke, it’s greatly appreciated,” I told him, brushing my bangs away from my eyes. Kakashi stood observing the damage, then to looking at Heisei. I don’t think the others had quite gotten used to Heisei just yet. Naruto took this moment to take in what Sasuke had said, and actually look at me properly. But he didn’t quite notice the effects of training,

“Why are you in your umm, well I mean, why aren’t you dressed?”

“I am,” I told him, confused,

“Then why are you in a bra?” It was here that everyone seemed to realise how little I was wearing, and it confused me to no end, Kakashi even looked up from his book, Sakura looked as though she was blushing enough for the two of us, and even Sasuke’s eyes slowly scanned by body. I looked at myself, wondering why they all reacted so weirdly, and then looked to Heisei for an explanation,

“Yuri, most humans usually wear more concealing garments,”

“Oh,” I began, before grinning like a lunatic; the need to put others on edge provided me with enough energy to stand up, “But why?” I asked her, while looking at the others, “Is something wrong with my body?” I asked them, letting my hands trail slowly down my sides before resting on my hips. Messing with the boys was fun, in its own way. Oh well, never regret anything that once made you smile right? I watched as the boys’ gaze followed my hands, and their faces slowly became redder, heck, so did Sakura. Although I partially think her’s may have been because she was embarrassed for either my actions, or the boys’ reactions.

“Yuri, please don’t flaunt your body like that, otherwise you’ll be working as a geisha before the months is out,”

“How much money could I get like that?” I asked, now interested in what Heisei was saying, turning to face her,

“You’ll sell yourself over my dead body!” She told me, flicking my ear as hard as possible, causing me to yelp, “How can you be so abusive? Can you not tell that I’ve worked myself as hard as possible?” I complain, putting and rubbing my now throbbing ear, “It felt like a punch,” I continued, then allowing myself to drop to the floor. “Geez, I’m so tired,” I confessed, looking back at the others, who seemed more or less composed now.

“We came here to tell you, Sayuri, that Tsunade wants you to be at the front gates tomorrow morning at sunrise, to welcome the Yakata clan,”

“I know Kakashi, I’ll be there, don’t worry, I would never put Konoha in danger,”

“Well then, Team 7 is dismissed. I’ll see you all tomorrow,”

The genin stayed for a while longer than Kakashi, Naruto going into detail of what I’d missed over the past two days. Sasuke looked at me wearily, as though expecting me to collapse at any moment. I honestly didn’t think I looked too bad, but apparently what I thought was wrong. Sakura smiled a lot, wishing me good luck on tomorrows fight, and telling me that she’d be there, watching.

Watching as your enemy walks towards you is something that can put anyone on edge. Having to endure that for a full hour because they refused to walk any faster was infuriating. And it nearly killed me feeling the tension in the air for so long. I was standing patiently at the gates of Konohakagure, with an escort of Team 7 and three anbu guards; however they remained hidden in the trees. They were there as a precaution, no one fully trusted the Yakata clan right now. I was every feeling of cowardice at that moment. I wanted to run, and carry on running until I couldn’t even feel my legs. But that couldn’t happen, the only thing worse than fighting Hitoshi right now, would be to not fight him and have the guilt of knowing that I could have prevented a war between Konohakagure resting heavily upon my conscience. That’s the reason why when Hitoshi was standing not two feet in front of me, smirking as though he already knew the outcome of our battle.

“Good morning, Akemi, it’s good to know that you accept your fate. How honourable of you,” Hitoshi greeted me, his subtle mockery ringing loudly in the morning sun. I felt both Naruto and Sasuke tense behind me; obviously Hitoshi’s attitude didn’t only effect me. Hitoshi’s guard stood behind him, consisting of ten other ninja. He was either paranoid (although rightly so), or just wanted to flaunt the power at his disposal. “If I was you, I’d keep my mouth shut until the battle was over,” I told him, clenching my fists at my sides.

“Of course, I didn’t mean to offend you Akemi.”

“Of course you didn’t,” I said, almost growling. I knew that I shouldn’t let him get to me, but tensions were running high today, in me more than anyone. “The Hokage, sadly is unable to meet with you as she has other obligations to attend to. But she sends her regards, and says she will speak with the before our fight,” I explain to them. It was a political insult, and a clever one on Tsunade’s part. Refusing to meet with them was basically telling them to ‘get the hell out of my village’. Which is what she’d planned on having me say. I just have a way with words I guess.

“So what are we supposed to do for the rest of the day?” Asked Hitoshi, taking another step forwards,

“Explore the village, although I’ll remind you not to do anything that may draw suspicion,” I warned him,

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” He said, that same cocky smirk plastered onto his face,

I could feel the slowly simmering anger of Team 7, Kakashi being unusually quiet, well even more so than usual. Usually he would have taken control of the situation by now, and spared me, but no.

“Well, I suppose we’ll take our leave. I’ll see you at the arena, my little Akemi.” Hitoshi finally says, breaking the building tension as his presence leaves, along with his guard. I let out a breath I hadn’t realised I’d been holding, my heart was pounding painfully in my chest.

“I really don’t deal well with pressure,” I state quietly, resting a hand over my heart.

“Don’t worry Yuri, you can get everything out of your system when you’re beating the guy into next week!” Naruto exclaims, placing a hand on my shoulder and grinning, which I was forced to return.

“Ha, I hope you’re right Naruto,”

“Of course I’m right, I’m Naruto Uzumaki!” I rolled my eyes and gently nudged his hand from my shoulder,

“The rest of the Yakata clan will probably arrive throughout the day. We don’t need to wait for them,” I told everyone,

“Then I suggest we all go and get something to eat,” Naruto stated, before dashing off screaming something about ramen. I let out a light laugh, before falling into step with the others and walking towards Ichiraku.

“You know something’s wrong when you don’t want to eat ramen,” I mumble under my breath, eyeing the delicious bowl of beef ramen in front of me.

“It won’t be much longer. You shouldn’t be so nervous, you’re ready for this Yuri,” Heisei’s calming presence next to my own brought little comfort, no matter how hard she tried to help me. Team 7 and myself had been in Ichiraku for little over an hour, listening idly to Naruto talking about one thing or another, with comments thrown in every once in a while. Sakura kept on shooting me anxious glances, which made me silently cure the empathetic kunoichi. Or maybe I was just really easy to read. Sasuke ate calmly, and Naruto ate as though he hadn’t eaten in a week. And Kakashi was back to reading the stimulating words of Jiraiya in his adult book. It was then that something clicked in my mind, ‘why are they still here?’

“Umm, guys? You know that you don’t have to stick around right? It’s not like I’m going to run off, I don’t run from my responsibilities,” I tell them, poking at the contents of my bowl.

“What?” Naruto finally took a second away from his ramen to look at me,

“Don’t be an idiot Sayuri. We’re here because we want to show our support. You’d probably have a break-down if you were on your own right now,” Sasuke commented,

“Yeah, I mean, we’re friends now, we give each other encouragement,” Sakura added,

“Oh, um, thank you.” I stuttered, hiding a blush by lowering my head, but the others had seen that as well as the genuine smile that graced my face. It was a weird feeling, knowing that I was accepted, that people cared about me other than Heisei. It was like feeling the sun on the first day of summer, it’s unusual but long awaited warmth always managing to bring a smile to anyone’s face.

“You’re such an idiot, Sayuri,” Sasuke commented once again, noticing my reaction.

“Do you have everything you’ll need Sayuri?” Kakashi asked as we began to leave the balcony where team 7 would be watching my fight. “Um, yeah, I think so,” I told him, quickly checking that my katana was secured tightly. “Then I suggest we make our way down, you don’t want to be late,”

“Nope,” I choked out, nervous pooling in my stomach,

“Good luck Sayuri,” Sasuke said, turning towards me, his simple words somehow putting me slightly at ease, “I’ll try my best,” I say, grinning lightly

“Don’t get beaten too badly,” He finished, causing me to glare at him.

“I almost thought you’d became a nice person you know,” I told him,

“Good job I brought you back to reality then,” He said, smirking back at me. I shook my head my hair falling around my face.

“Yeah, good look Yuri. Show everyone how great a ninja you are!”

“Good luck,”

“DO YOUR BEST!”

The shouts of encouragement of the genin teams brought a smile to my face as I descended to stairs beside Kakashi; the nerves began to build again though as the fighting arena came into view. It was the same arena that had been used in the finals of the chuunin exams, newly repaired of course. Hitoshi was already there, watching me with a smug expression as I came into view. Beside him was a man, probably in his late forties, looking at me with an empty expression, refusing to acknowledge me, looking down on me. I almost jumped as Kakashi placed a hand on my shoulder as we entered the sun filled battle field. The weather was perfect, a few clouds, but not many, other than that, the skies where a dazzling blue and the sun shone majestically down upon the arena. “You’ll do great. Try not to concentrate on why you have to fight. Find a reason why you want to fight.” And with those last words of advice, Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving me to face Hitoshi and the clan head alone. There was no judge; this was an all out battle to the death as tradition commanded.

“Akemi Yakata, bow before me and beg for forgiveness and you shall not be required to die here today,” Sikon ordered loudly, making sure that the audience could hear us clearly. It was only then that I took notice the number of people who’d come to watch the fight. A great majority of Konoha had turned up, knowing that a fight between Yakata clan members was sure to be exciting. And then there were the Yakata clan members, together in one large group, watching intently, wanting bloodshed. Sikon was dressed in full white, as it to be expected of the head at special events.

“I refuse your offer. Bowing to those who have not earned my respect goes against everything I stand for.” I state, glaring coldly, letting myself force away unnecessary emotions.

“Disgusting, disrespectful child! How dare you still bare the name Yakata and not bow to those above you?”

“I refused to be acknowledged as a Yakata since childhood, you however, refuse to let me leave the clan. Therefore, I will fight for my freedom.”

“Be prepared to meet your end then, tainted blood does not belong in our clan,” At that, the shouts of the Yakata drowned the arena, ‘Tainted blood’ being chanted until Sikon raised his hand for silence. I clenched my fists at my side.

“I hope you remember the rules of this battle. Hitoshi, as my chosen heir is to gain my chakra in addition to his own. And, as this battle is between only you and him, you must dismiss that thing that resides within your body,”

“DO NOT ADRESS HER IN SUCH A WAY!” I shouted at him, glaring. I could feel the stunned expressions of those who knew me. I hardly ever shouted. Sikon held my glare, knwogin that I had to accept these terms. I let a growl rip from my through as I began performing hand signs,

“Creation technique; Host form!” I said, in a cloud of smoke, Heisei appeared beside me, looking regal and threatening. Her glare was mine amplified by ten, her matured features adding to it.

“I warn you, human, do not step out of line again if you do not wish to die,” I said coldly, yet calmly.

“Heisei, please do not intervene in this match in any way. I’m asking you to contain your chakra for this fight. I want no help what-so-ever,” I say, turning to her. Her reply was to lean forward and press her lips to my forehead, “Beat this kid to pulp for me, would you?” I asked me in a whisper, causing me to grin, and with that she retreated. When I looked back towards Hitoshi, I noticed the absence of Sikon.

The fight was about to begin.

Akemi Yakata/Sayuri Hinote against Hitoshi Yakata.

Let death bring an end.