Six • The Sharingan

"Chocho," A faint, small voice came from Sarada as they leaned over the kitchen counter.

"Hmm?" The tan female shared a brief glance at her.

Sarada blinked a few times; wondering if she should tell her friend about her problem. She wanted to, but never did she want to ruin her father's image as well. And what if her assumption was wrong? What if he wasn't isolating himself? It seemed like it, but maybe there was something more to it?

"Nothing." The Uchiha shook her head to brush it away. "Let's head to the living room." She suggested and turned the lights off in the kitchen.

Chocho nodded. "Are your parents always out?"

Sarada walked quietly beside her, pondering about her question for a moment. "Not really... well, I mean, Mom's working and Dad... he's usually in a mission. You know about that part, right?"

"How about recently? When your dad came back?"

Sarada pushed her glasses up. "Mom kept her schedule but she always have time for us. And as for my dad, he's usually home. He picks up Mom from work and frequently goes to meet the Seventh." She replied truthfully. "Why do you ask?"

Chocho looked around the living room, catching a family portrait of the Uchiha by the side table. "Hmm. Nothing. Not really related or anything but I asked my Dad about his early days."

Sarada suddenly got interested. For some reason, Sakura seemed to always avoid questions about the early days of Team Seven, and Sasuke wasn't such a talkative person. She even asked his love story with Sakura and she didn't really get a long reply from him.

"What did he say?"

"Well, Dad was with Shikamaru-san and Ino-san, I'm sure you know that. And, well, he didn't really get specific but he told me that your dad's team was the most complicated."

The young Uchiha raised an eyebrow. "I'm suddenly curious."

"Why don't you ask your parents?" Chocho asked. "But eh, it was probably the most complicated because I think they're the strongest. I mean, look! One became the hokage, your dad seems like a strong guy, and your mom is amazing!"

Now that she actually thought about it, it seemed like the team was hard to balance. Her curiosity leveled up upon knowing more about the history.

She was about to keep the conversation going until she heard a very faint tap from the door. The house was very quiet and she, for one, was very observant. A frown passed by her face.

"Sarada?"

"Shh," she shook her head. "I think we should go upstairs."

Chocho shot her a puzzled look. "Huh? Already? Why there?"

Sarada was about to reply until a new voice had joined the conversation, sending chills down her spine.

"Yeah, why there, Sarada?"

A loud gasp came from Chocho as she pulled Sarada to her side, away from the mysterious man behind her. When he walked out of the kitchen, they got a better view of his figure which made them tremble even more.

He was a man with light hair, almost like white, while his eyes were the exact contrast. They were dark, pitch black, brooding. It was as if he could kill with one cold look. There was a wide and terrifying smirk plastered on his face while he held his sword firmly with one hand, with a noticeable bruise by his arm.

Sarada's chest pounded hard. This was a new feeling. The previous time when she thought that someone was in the mystery room in their house, she wasn't as nervous and scared as this. In fact, she could barely put up a brave front. She could feel her knees getting wobbly all of a sudden.

"Don't be hasty, Kurui." The two kids were perplexed to hear another deep, strange voice. "This is why you get injured easily."

The light-haired man chuckled. "What? I was just caught off guard. That woman earlier was strong as hell."

The second one stepped out of the darkness. Unlike the first one, he seemed to be more reserved and silent. His physical aspect was a total contrast to Kurui as well - his hair was in a dark brown color, his eyes were bright ocean. However, Sarada saw the dishonest in his eyes. She didn't fail to see the frightening, fierce emotion in his eyes.

"It's not like these kids can pull off what that woman did." Kurui shook his head, stepping forward.

"Shut your mouth and get this done already. You have to get treated soon. Your wrist doesn't seem too well." The brown-haired male shook his head. "And hurry up. Somebody must've already found that woman. We'll be in trouble if we get caught."

"Such a killjoy, aren't you, Yasuda? I'm having fun here."

Yasuda glared at his subordinate before his eyes fell on the young Uchiha. His eyes grew colder and scarier and Sarada suddenly felt cold sweat trickling down her temple.

"What do you guys want?!" Chocho shouted in attempt to cover her fear.

Yasuda's eyebrows rose. In a blink of an eye, he was the one beside Sarada while landing a blow to Chocho, who flew to the opposite side of the room.

"You're not involved here, you fat chatterbox." He said causing his subordinate to laugh. Yasuda's eyes was peeled off of her and fell on Sarada once again, a strange emotion glowing in his eyes. "It is only you who we want, Uchiha Sarada."

. . .

Sasuke mentally cursed as he exited the hospital. Their house wasn't too far but he needed to get there faster than lightning, if that's even possible. He needed to. He can't risk being late this time. Not this time.

The night had become darker and each time he ran, his fists clenched more and more until he felt his nails digging into his palms painfully. Not Sarada. No. Not his family.

Sasuke had arrived at the Uchiha household in such a short time, in hopes that he could save his child but he was greeted with a house only with Chocho in it. Blood on the floor and an outcold tan-skinned female.

His system turned cold. He tried to catch his breath as he summoned a clone to help the poor little girl and return her back home. He was internally conflicted. He needed to find Sarada, wherever she is. Be it in another dimension, he would go there just to save her. But Sakura needed him too.

However, he knew what Sakura would have told her if she was beside him right now.

And that was to chase after their daughter.

. . .

"You didn't kill her, right, Yasuda?"

"The only stupid one here who had the intention to kill our bait is you." Yasuda replied, leading the way.

Kurui rolled his eyes, glancing at Sarada who layed by his shoulder. "This kid's kind of heavy, by the way."

"Why? Would you rather take the fat one earlier or that Uchiha?"

"I wasn't complaining though. Just stating fact."

"When will you shut the fuck up? We're gonna get caught because of you, Kurui." Yasuda glanced behind him and glared at the white-haired boy. "If we're going to get ambushed, I have to say that I'll take the kid and leave you here."

Kurui laughed. "Oh? Not if I escape first. Besides, nobody saw us earlier. And I doubt that Uchiha Sasuke can follow us."

Yasuda remained quiet after that, in hopes that his subordinate will stop speaking as well. When silence enveloped the two, Sarada opened her half-lidded eyes a bit. She was dizzy and her vision was spinning but she needed to hear their conversation. Were these men her father's enemies?

She needed to pretend that she was outcold. And thankfully, the man carrying her wasn't the most intelligent one and she was on his shoulder, which means he couldn't see her face. All she has to do is be cautious and alert.

Blood was dripping from her arms from earlier. Yasuda had attacked her in the same way he attacked Chocho and Kurui managed to hurt her shoulder with his sword. Now, her strategy was to make a trail for her parents - or anyone - to find her.

Sarada let her blood fall on the ground. It wasn't the best idea at all. She could silently treat herself since she knew basic medical techniques, but this was the only way she could think of at the moment. Because of this, there is a chance that she can die of blood loss.

Sarada frowned. She would never want Sasuke to get in trouble if ever he tries to save her, but she didn't really stand a chance against these men.

The young Uchiha's crimson blood fell on the ground instantly, leaving a convenient trail behind. When Kurui and Yasuda started to argue again, Sarada took the opportunity to release very faint chakra on her fingertips and clenched her fists tightly afterwards, drawing more blood.

When Kurui halted, Sarada immediately stopped and shut her eyes tightly like before.

"What is it?" Kurui asked, stopping after seeing his subordinate freeze in his tracks.

Kurui scanned the environment to check if there was reinforcements, but nothing came. Yasuda shook his head and shot the young girl on Kurui's shoulder a side glance. "Nothing. Let's hurry."

With raised eyebrows, Kurui continued to march. "That's what I intended to do from the start. Do you sense anyone?"

"No," Yasuda continued to run, with the white-haired male trailing behind him. "That kid shouldn't be given time to rest, nevertheless. After all, she is an Uchiha and we never know what those monsters can do."

Sarada's ears perked up at the harsh name-calling from the culprit but chose to stay quiet. Kurui rolled his eyes.

"They're only monsters because of those eyes. Pluck them out and they're powerless, much like the Seventh Hokage without the Nine Tails."

"The Nine Tails, huh?" Yasuda sighed and after a few seconds, replied, "I would have to agree. The Uchiha gets their power through Sharingan. Those stunts like Amaterasu, Susano'o, Tsukuyomi; it's the dojutsu."

Hearing those unfamiliar terms, Sarada mentally frowned. Although her clan name was being insulted by fools, it was the perfect time to stay logical and calm. If she assaults, this will only turn into a suicide mission.

She could no longer leave more traces of blood because of exhaustion and also due to the fact that Kurui was running faster than before. Sarada was only fully awakened when she heard Yasuda speak in a cold tone once again.

"We're here."

. . .

Sasuke Uchiha had trouble setting his emotions away from his battles. Even when he was younger, almost anything and everything about Itachi and their clan triggered him and brought out emotions that nobody else could.

Growing older, he also grew more logical but there were times that emotions still overruled his senses. And this was one of those times.

Frankly, he wasn't just scared, he was terrified. Not because of whoever the opponent is, but because this battle includes his family. He wouldn't risk Sarada's life nor Sakura's. He could never.

He wouldn't lose his family the second time around. No.

Sasuke was using his Rinnegan as well, in hopes to find his missing daughter in other dimensions. However, he was still being cautious about this jutsu, because extended usage will bring him too much exhaustion and may also render him powerless for some time. If he becomes reckless and use Space-Time Jutsu for too long, he might be unable to use even the Mangekyo Sharingan.

He had no idea where to find Sarada, so he continued to run forward, away from Konohagakure.

Sasuke was beginning to catch his breath until he had found something that made him nervous and wordless. Panting, he kneeled on the ground, rested a hand on the crimson liquid below and clenched his fist.

"Sarada."

. . .

"I know you're awake," Yasuda's voice rang in the female's ears. "Drop the act, Uchiha."

Sarada lifted her head up and breathed deeply, squinting her eyes a few times to adjust her vision. She was no longer surprised to see that she was now chained and positioned at the corner of a dark cave. There was fire and wood a few meters away from her which illuminated the dark place.

Sarada glared at Yasuda despite feeling the heaviness of her body. Kurui caught her gaze and laughed in amusement.

"You really have the same eyes as your father." The light-haired man commented.

"Don't speak about him," she hissed, eyes traveling up to see their forehead protectors with a large scratch across it, "you rogue ninjas."

Kurui's brows shot up as a smirk crept its way to his lips. "Rogue, eh? Why do you make it sound so bad?" He tilted his head, stepping closer to her and kneeled in front of her. In a blink of an eye, her head turned to the right as she felt a seering pain in her left cheek that Kurui had just hit. It wasn't an ordinary slap; instead it was an assault where he focused his chakra into his hands and attacked her in the face, even making her spit blood and cut her lips.

"Hey, be careful," Yasuda reprimanded. "You might kill the kid."

Shrugging, Kurui lifted himself up and stared down at the young Uchiha. "I'm beginning to think that leaving her half-dead here is a better choice," he declared. "In that way, we can get what we want faster."

Yasuda shot him a side glance, contemplating whether to acknowledge or turn down his 'suggestion'. However, his thoughts were interrupted when Sarada raised her head slowly and spoke.

"What... what do you want from him?"

The two criminals exchanged brief glances. Kurui's smirk widened while Yasuda's face twisted into a dark expression.

With blood dripping down her chin, she sent a glare at the two boys. Yasuda found this quite irritating, yes, but it amused him as well for some reason. He never knew that an Uchiha was this tough.

Kurui, on the other hand, was more transparent. He was amused by her murderous glare and adult-like tone, but the annoyance in his face was more evident. He was ticked off by how this girl could still act so brave instead of asking for mercy.

"I'll give you a brief explanation, then." Kurui sneered. "You are the bait. With you here, I'm sure your father will follow. And if he's here, we can carry on our plan."

Sarada felt the stinging pain in her lips and a trail of liquid flowing down her chin. "P-Plan?"

"Plan to steal his eyes," Yasuda continued. "To get the Sharingan. With you here, it will be in its strongest state and if that's the case, we can acquire it in its full power."

Sarada gaped at them in surprise. They were plotting to get the Sharingan - Sasuke's Sharingan, of course, because he's the strongest Uchiha. Her lips trembled in terror and worry. Although she knew Sasuke was powerful, these men seem like they have more cards hidden in their sleeves. They may also have reinforcements and Sasuke will surely be outnumbered.

Tears threatened to spill from her eyes. She had no cards to lay. She was exhausted. She was young. She was defenseless.

. . .

A/N;

heyy!! So it's a pretty chill weekend for me because periodicals are done so here's an update!

Hope it isn't too bad lol I haven't been writing much lately. Let me know in the comments what you think :-D