Moonlight Shadow

Wet footprints led across the floor toward the dresser where Izumi stood in just a towel, slowly drying her hair. She stared at the package from her older sister who had rested there since the day she woke up. Beside it lay her mother's wakizashi, which now belonged to her. How much time had passed... days? Years? She felt like a new person after last night with Sasuke. Feminine energy filled her and brought peace to her inner self, a peace she hadn't felt in so long. She placed her hand on the gift, closing her eyes, suddenly feeling a wave of nostalgia for home and her first family. The circle of women, strong warriors. She decided to open it.

The gift turned out to be her clan’s outfit, hitting her suddenly with a flood of memories. Her fingers traced the delicate gradient patterns of the fabric - turquoise fading into violet, then deepening into navy blue, just like the wings of the luna moth their clan held sacred. Each careful stitch seemed to carry whispers of her heritage, of the powerful women who came before her.

"Midori wore one like this when she came of age, starting her first serious missions, right after her first ritual," the Moth's voice echoed in Izumi's head. She didn't need to finish - Izumi scratched her neck in slight embarrassment.

"I think I'm... ready," she whispered, partly to herself, partly to the Moth. She felt the Moth smile as if embracing her tenderly. She agreed.

Moments later, she stood before the mirror, tying her incredibly long hair into a braid, which she wrapped into a loose low ponytail first with her red ribbon at the base of her head. She let it fall along her slender silhouette.
The boots, extending above her knees, hugged her legs. She could attach a kunai sheath to the right one, but she knew they wouldn't be needed. The outfit seemed new as if sewn based on what their warriors wore years ago. Akira had thought of every detail, Izumi smiled to herself.
Her hips were hugged by a skort with a slit on one side, topped with a belt featuring an engraved moth, the clan logo, on the buckle. The upper part was a carefully fitted top with sleeves hugging her biceps just below the armpits. Izumi stared long at her bust, which was largely exposed by the shirt's neckline that ran from the sternum itself, where both parts were fastened by a small clasp to the neck.
When she put on the wakizashi harness, the collar fastened at her neck, with one strap going down between her breasts, connecting to the clasp under her bust and the strap that wrapped around her ribs.

"I don't know who helped her sew this, but it fits perfectly," she said to herself, stretching and adjusting the straps. The outfit was certainly brand new.

In her reflection, she saw traces of Midori, her mother, in her own matured features. The same high cheekbones, the graceful curve of her neck, the way her long dark hair framed her face. Time had transformed the small, energetic girl who once chased butterflies in the compound gardens into a woman who bore striking resemblance to the fierce kunoichi who had given her life protecting their legacy.

The sudden memory of her wounded mother breathing her last breath when fighting off her clan sisters so Akira and Izumi could escape burned her like a fresh wound. Now, however, it fueled something deeper than pain - the determination to honour her sacrifice. Izumi was glad to remember again, feel grounded again.
The outfit embraced her evolved form perfectly, accentuating the strength in her shoulders from years of wielding the wakizashi, the lean muscle of her legs from countless missions and battles. Yet it also highlighted her femininity - a reminder that in their clan, beauty and power were never at odds, but rather two aspects of the same force. Her stigmata marks, the Moth's Tears, seemed to glow faintly against her skin, marking her as both warrior and keeper of their ancient powers.

"You look just like her," the Moth's voice whispered in her mind, gentle with understanding. "She would be proud to see you wearing this."

Izumi's throat tightened with emotion as she secured the wakizashi harness - her mother's blades now resting against her back, their weight both familiar and sacred. "I'll carry your strength, mother," she whispered, watching as a single tear tracked down her cheek, following the path of her stigmata. "I'll make our clan's name shine again."

The training session in the Abyss barely lasted minutes this time. Their usual intense sparring felt hollow, merely a pretence for what they both truly desired. Each clash of their weapons carried less force, each defensive stance held less conviction. Their eyes kept meeting across the training ground, charged with an energy that had nothing to do with combat.
When Sasuke finally disarmed Izumi, it was almost ceremonial - they both knew she hadn't really tried to maintain her grip on the wakizashi. The weapons fell to the ground, forgotten, as they gravitated toward each other beneath the massive oak tree whose branches twisted fantastically in all directions, creating endless winding paths to the stars in Izumi's magical Abyss. The girl laughed awkwardly, silenced momentarily by Sasuke's intense kiss. The anticipation that had been building between them finally found its release.

Once again they found themselves under the massive oak tree, its branches twisting fantastically in all directions, creating endless winding paths to the stars in Izumi's magical Abyss. The girl laughed awkwardly, silenced momentarily by Sasuke's intense kiss. The boy had won again. He wondered if Izumi deliberately neglected to work on her weak point during their sword fight to end up in this situation. Perhaps she waited for him to knock the weapons from her hands, preventing further manoeuvres. He was good at that, too good.

This time, his fingers moved upward to take Izumi's hand in a warm though uncertain grip. She felt the boy slowly opening up... maybe this time he would let her get closer... His right hand moved to her hip, and she trembled with anticipation.
She didn't know what to do, what he would want to do next. He moved his face away from her for a moment as they caught their breath. She felt him rest his forehead against the tree bark, lowering his first barriers with resignation. Too uncertain to meet her gaze, yet their cheeks touched. Izumi took a deeper breath, gently caressing his warm hand with her fingers. He didn't pull away or fight it - a sign she could continue, though she already felt more confident after the previous night. Still careful, she brought her lips to his cheek, testing Sasuke's boundaries with each tender kiss, but this time she felt no hostility in him. His body trembled, tense, but now from restraining himself from fleeing rather than stopping her from proceeding.

The violet moonlight bathed them as they explored their newfound closeness. Every touch carried the weight of years of longing, every breath mixed with the scent of almonds and earth from their long training session. When their eyes met, the magnetism of the moment was overwhelming. The moon cast a marble-like glow over their forms, making this moment seem almost otherworldly.

In the safety of their illusion, they could finally be their true selves, stripped of the masks they wore daily. Sasuke found himself lost in a peace that even his deepest meditation attempts had never achieved. All his usual thoughts of revenge and darkness faded away, replaced by an all-encompassing sense of belonging.
Izumi felt a newfound confidence, drawing strength from their mutual desire and trust. Gone was her earlier shyness, replaced by a surety in herself and their connection. For this moment, they weren't shinobi, weren't bound by their past traumas or future obligations - they were simply two souls finding solace in each other.
They moved together as if they'd done this dance a thousand times before, their chakras intertwining in perfect harmony. The crickets sang in the distance, the stars watched from above, and for these precious moments, the world beyond their illusion ceased to exist.

They made love among the grass, under the moonlight and cricket song, forgetting for a moment about the world that waited for them beyond the illusion. Their connection transcended the physical, each touch carrying years of unspoken feelings finally finding expression.
Throughout their intimate moments, Sasuke found himself overwhelmed by emotions he'd kept locked away for so long. Every barrier he'd built around his heart seemed to crumble in the face of their shared vulnerability. The eternal peace and silence in his mind was something he'd never experienced before, not even in his deepest meditations.
Izumi's intuitive understanding of his needs, her gentle guidance through his hesitation, created a safe space for both of them to explore this new dimension of their relationship. The violet moonlight continued to cast its ethereal glow over them, making every moment feel suspended in time, separate from the harsh realities that awaited them outside this pocket of shared intimacy.
When they finally came together completely, their shared gasp of pleasure echoed through the night air. It was more than physical satisfaction - it was a moment of true connection, of barriers finally falling away, of finding a home in each other's arms. Their synchronized breathing, the warmth of skin against skin, the gentle whisper of the night breeze - everything combined to create a perfect moment of unity and understanding.

In this magical space within the Abyss, under the watchful stars and embraced by the safety of darkness, they allowed themselves to forget about their duties, their pasts, and their uncertain futures. For these precious moments, they were simply two souls finding completion in each other's embrace.

They woke opening their eyes, still warm from desire that slowly evaporated after sweet fulfilment, feeling each other in the half-darkness of Sasuke's room, breathing heavily. The sounds of daily routines from the corridor seemed distant now, almost surreal against the weight of what lay ahead. Both knew this might be their last peaceful moment together within these walls. Now Kabuto was probably in his laboratory, preparing another concoction of medicines for his master.

"You talked lately about freedom, about breaking free from here," Sasuke began, still embracing his companion. Her warmth gave him confidence this time, though they both felt the shift in the air - the calm before the storm.

"Oh," she hadn't expected him to bring up this topic, though somehow she'd known this day would be different. The way he held her carried a finality that hadn't been there before.

"Changes will come now. It's time to end this chapter. It’s been dragging for too long anyway” he continued. The words hung between them, heavy with meaning. They both knew this wasn't just about leaving - it was about blood that would soon be shed, about paths that would diverge again, indefinitely… again.

"What's your plan?" she propped herself up on her elbow, tilting her head questioningly, gazing into his dark eyes.

"I never really planned to give myself to Orochimaru."

"I don't doubt that, I'd be shocked if it were otherwise," she began raising her eyebrows.

"Izumi." Sasuke grabbed her shoulders gently but confidently, stopping her humorous jab and bringing her back to earth. "Pack what you need, we leave at dawn tomorrow. And..."

"Are you sure? You know where I..."

"Yes, and I won't hold you back. Do what you need to, I'll resume pursuing my revenge. It's time." He sat up on the bed, gently moving the girl away. He adjusted the sides of his white shirt and began putting on his boots, unevenly thrown earlier under the bed.

"Thank you. For everything. I promise we'll meet again." Izumi replied warmly. She wanted to believe it was true.

"Mhm..."

"What about Orochimaru and Kabuto?"

"Leave that to me. Orochimaru won't be an obstacle for us anymore, surely you don't doubt that."

"Soon now… yes." She sighed, breathing with slight relief, resting her forehead on his shoulder. Sasuke allowed her warmth and closeness to give him strength before wiping his hands on his thighs and standing up with confident steps.

"I am more than ready to go now." And she knew what he meant. Their fingers intertwined one last time, a silent acknowledgement of the violence to come and the separate paths they would soon walk.

"Orochimaru, I'm stronger than you. So at this point, I really don't see a reason to hand over my body to you." The Snake’s blood was dripping from the wound Sasuke’s electric blade kept ripping through his forearms. He wasn’t expecting his pupil to grow strong so fast.

The Snake's dismissive response about him being a "nursling Uchiha" only fueled Sasuke's contempt. He let years of carefully contained disgust pour out, laying bare the truth of Orochimaru's desperate attempts to grasp at Uchiha's power - first through Izumi, then through him when Itachi proved unreachable.

"You're not even in the same league as Uchiha. And you know that, don't you," Sasuke's words cut deep, each one chosen to wound Orochimaru's pride. "Before Uchiha, mild brilliance such as yours becomes actually rather ordinary. Filling yourself up with medicines, leaping from body to body... it's revolting."

His final condemnation encompassed not just his own treatment, but years of watching Orochimaru's sick experiments, all in pursuit of what Sasuke saw as a hollow goal. "You keep toying with people, kept toying with Izumi for all those years... and for what? All for this vain and frankly stupid cause of yours.” Sasuke pushed the blade harder “You disgust me."

When Kabuto found them later, all that remained was an empty vessel - evidence of Orochimaru's final failure to possess the power he'd coveted for so long.

Warm candlelight from the corridor spilt through the door's crack into the room, partially illuminating the bed and two figures resting in each other's embrace. Izumi, leaning against the wall on pillows, held Sasuke in her arms as he lay curled on his side in her lap, holding her tightly, hiding his face in her thick hair, breathing in her scent. The girl was calm. She hummed a quiet melody, soothing him to sleep, slowly running her fingers through his hair, massaging his head, loosening his aching muscles, bringing sweet relief.

Whispering... morning keep the streets empty, for me…*

The girl's violet half-closed eyes glinted in the darkness as she gazed ahead with misty eyes. She felt the freezing darkness that had consumed Sasuke, trading another piece of himself for greater power. She felt it and it terrified her, this all-too-familiar returning sensation of fraternizing with sweet darkness... She felt sadness thinking that only days separated them from the tragic end that awaited Itachi... and perhaps soon enough Sasuke would finally learn the deepest truth.

They woke naturally, unable to sleep any longer, while the world still lay deep in slumber. Izumi could feel dawn approaching, though the darkness still claimed the sky. She rose quietly, beginning to pack her belongings, while Sasuke rubbed his eyes and watched her silently for a few moments.

"You could come with me," he finally muttered, turning over, "I'll be gathering a team to help with my mission." he wasn’t sure why he said that, as they both already knew their paths had been decided long ago. Some uncomfortable longing was pulling on his insides again now though, while he watched her pack, turning this new chapter into reality, more tangible than yesterday.
Izumi paused, her hand lingering on the Wakizashi harness. "I'd only be a distraction now. You need to focus, to be strong." She turned to face him, violet eyes meeting black. "Besides, I don't have time to lose. Konoha needs to be warned about Akatsuki's plans, as much as my curse will allow me to reveal." he felt she was also holding herself back, gathering strength in her resolve.

"I promise I won't try to bring you back," she added softly. They both knew his future in Konoha was likely buried forever. “We’ll find a way. After.”

Sasuke nodded, though the thought of losing her company weighed heavier than expected. Perhaps together they could have... but no. He needed to gather his team first.

Izumi approached him, placing her hand on his neck, bringing their markings together - his curse mark meeting her Ga Stigma. She pressed her forehead to his, smiling. "We'll find each other again when it's all over. I'll come back." Her promise hung in the air between them as she shouldered her swords and turned to leave.

Sasuke noticed something different in her demeanour, a seed of unfamiliar chakra, but dismissed it as their recent changes and likely her joy. Though yesterday he'd been certain about their separation to pursue separate goals, now he felt an overwhelming emptiness and ache of longing that was much harder to suppress. It had been so easy before, so simple and direct, before she reappeared in his life…

He sat up, stretching and running his hand through his hair looking down. Izumi’s eyes lingered on his bare chest hesitantly, reminding him of her burning desire each time they’d do it. She came closer, wrapping his arms around her waist standing between his thighs while he sat at the edge of the bed. He buried his face in her bosom, breathing her in one last time, not realising how his arms tightened desperately around her. Soon later, she was gone, like morning mist dissipating in sunlight, leaving only the lingering scent of her hair and the ghost of her warmth.
Sasuke stood alone in his room, the emptiness seeming to echo around him. His hand unconsciously touched the curse mark where her Ga Stigma had pressed moments before. The time for softness was over. He needed to focus, to channel this hollow feeling into something useful.

His mind turned to those he'd been quietly observing during his time with Orochimaru - the unique abilities that could serve his purpose. Suigetsu in his water prison. Karin managing the Southern Hideout. Juugo, locked away in the deepest cell right there, connected with Sasuke by the very same curse mark that now burned on Sasuke’s neck.
Yes. He knew exactly where to start.

Through the walls, he could hear the hideout stirring to life, unaware that their master lay defeated, that everything was about to change. Sasuke's eyes hardened, Sharingan flickering to life. By sunset, he would begin gathering his team. And then...

Then Itachi would finally face justice.