Surging Waves

It was late at night and the weather is grim, dark clouds drifting on top of the huge hills that surround the great Uchiha compound seemed like a harbinger that will send the clan to ruins in no time.

Inside the large traditional manor that the wind tried so hard to penetrate lies the great grandmaster wearing a dark blue robe accenting his fair skin and alluring face, Uchiha Sasuke. He is sitting on the couch lazily with his silky long hair untied and flowing through the floor while enjoying the warm and bitter taste of the chamomile tea personally brewed by his brother, Itachi.

There’s a soft knock on the door interrupting Sasuke’s rest. He took a sip from his tea and considered whether he should entertain them or not. In the end, he chose the first one.

“Come in,” he said gently.

Two young men entered without a sound. One has a large build and the other one is slim but they both carry the aura of an expert who kills without even flinching.

“Rumor said that the Uchiha grandmaster would never laze around and is always working his butt off. Who would’ve thought that you’re actually sitting here like a sleepy cat?” the man with a large build said teasingly as he propped himself on the couch’s arm.

“Rumor is nothing but trash. Simply believing them is a piece of bad news my dear cousin Shisui,” Sasuke simply uttered and drank the last drop of his tea. Then he looked at the man who came with his cousin and continued, “ I must say, your brewing skills are second to none, brother.”

The man who looked sickly and slim smiled and said nothing. He stood a couple of centimeters away from Sasuke.

“What made the two of you seek for me in the dead of the night? I dismissed all of you earlier as I was feeling a bit under the weather. I thought I made that clear?”

Shisui gave a flippant remark, “Aiya, we’re family! Of course, we wanted to check if you’re still breathing.”

“Shisui, even if we’re family where is your respect? Apologize now,” Itachi who never uttered a single thing from the beginning finally opened his mouth.

“It’s fine Itachi,” he raised his right hand to stop his brother from advancing toward their cousin and said, “ As you can see, I am still breathing. Needless to say Shisui, your worries are unnecessary. Instead of coming here, you should’ve focused on refining your skills until you can finally catch up to me,” he stated, jesting.

Shisui’s playful appearance vanished instantly and he clenched his fist hidden on his side. He sat up and left the room without saying anything. Sasuke is already used to his cousin’s attitude especially when he’s open about it. Unlike Itachi who is silent and aloof, Sasuke is unaffected by Shisui's unbridled hate towards him.

Itachi sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, “He never changes, that rascal.”

Sasuke can only laugh-cry. The Uchihas are a bunch of weird people, if you don’t have patience you’ll get old easily and die from a heart attack. Anyway, he was only teasing Shisui because he knew that his cousin’s concern is genuine and just masking it with disrespect as he was too shy to admit that he looked up to Sasuke who became a grandmaster in a young age, surpassing everyone from the clan.

He massaged his temple gently and cast a look at his brother with his onyx eyes revealing a calm temperament, “Brother, state the purpose of your visit,” he asked.

Itachi never disturbed his rest unless the situation calls for it. He took something inside his haori and passed it to Sasuke’s jade hand.

“The Emperor released an imperial edict stating that our clan will host the competition in two months and Akatsuki sent a letter that they will be attending the Ninja Tournament this year. We need to get ready as soon as possible.”

The situation isn’t grim but the tournament is a headache and with the demon clan Akatsuki there, it will be hard to handle. Sasuke understood the implications.

Countless experts will surely come to Konoha and hosting such an event will bring nothing but trouble to the host. As the number one clan, they should be able to accommodate those unruly and mighty ninja experts.

What a challenge.

“Send a letter to the emperor that we accept his order. Gather all the troops early in the morning and I shall brief them about the preparation. Make no haste,” he ordered and sat up to head inside his private study to make a plan for the upcoming tournament.

2 MONTHS LATER - NINJA TOURNAMENT

Outside the Uchiha compound, there is the Naka river and plaza where numerous ninjas from all over the world have gathered. There were about 153 selected experts from different ninja villages young and old and about 200 civilians who came there to watch the most awaited competition of the year.

At this time you can see some of the Uchiha ninjas scattered to maintain peace and orderliness as they instruct the people to register before entering the Uchiha arena where the competition will take place.

Sasuke, wearing a white robe, styled with blue lotus flowers was in front of the experts receiving them calmly. His sharp onyx eyes are like the galaxy twinkling, his eyelashes fluttering as he smiles at everyone who enters the compound, his lips red and thin, his face white as jade. Remarkably beautiful. People can’t help but stare at him as he stood there oblivious to their admiration.

Shisui can see it all so he glared and scolded those people so that they can stop pointing their lust-filled eyes at his cousin.

After receiving all the guest Sasuke noted that none of them even the Akatsuki demons were able to give him a sense of danger. Sasuke stood on the spot his face is tranquil and indifferent as usual then he looked at them for a moment, everyone suddenly tensed as they wait for him to open his mouth to speak.

He raised his voice, “First of all, as the Grandmaster of the Uchiha clan, I welcome you all here in Konoha and wish you luck for the said tournament. Secondly, I want to warn you that no matter how strong you are, you all must abide by the rules and if anyone dares to challenge my authority, death is the only way to settle the score.”

After pausing for a moment he continued to say, “ As you already know, this is a knockout game where loser of each match will be eliminated immediately while the winner will advance to the next round until the final match-up. The winner will be able to wish anything they want to his Majesty, the son of the heavens, the Emperor, and will receive additional compensation. Every player now is in the same boat, if you want to emerge victorious, give your all,” Sasuke emphasized the last three words then yelled, “Ninja over all!”

“Ninja over all!” Everyone roared after him.

The competition began and very quickly and the 153 participants became 100 until it reduced to 20 with 10 matches remaining. And with a beat, it started immediately.

The player for the first match of the semi-final round is the famous son of the Sand Village Hokage who has the one-tailed beast at his beck and call, Gaara of the Sand. Fighting him this round is the Konoha’s Taijutsu Master, second to his teacher, Rock Lee. Followed by Nara Shikamaru and Hidan of Akatsuki, Haruno Sakura and Yamanaka Ino, Kankuro and Misumi Tsurugi, Tenten and Temari, Inuzuka Kiba and Hyuga Hinata, Hyuga Neji and Zabusa, Akimichi Choji and Haku, Yoroi Akado and Zaka Abumi, Kabuto and Kurenai.

But before the semi-final even started, a huge gust of wind suddenly enveloped the arena and several explosions occur simultaneously, causing horror to the civilians inside.

The Uchiha grandmaster immediately summoned Susano and use him to create a barrier for the civilians as he gave a calm gaze to their unexpected visitors. Shisui by his side with his Sharingan open.

Some people are amazed by Sasuke’s Susano and yelled their admiration to him while some are curious about the people who came without notice.

“What may be the reason for the Akatsuki clan leader Pain to surprise us with your presence today?” Sasuke asked with his hand clasped together behind his back.

“They said that the Uchiha leader is a beauty that can be compared to the Goddesses. I see now that the rumors are true, you are indeed a beauty that can only be seen once in a lifetime,” Pain, the leader of Akatsuki said with a voice that is neither enthusiastic nor nonchalant. His eyes were utterly cold and indifferent.

The said Uchiha leader can only reveal an incredulous expression as he himself did not know that there were such rumors going around about him.

“Your praise will be greatly appreciated if you were to say that to a woman but Akatsuki leader, I am a man myself. Your words are too much,” he responded unconvinced.

Hidan, a member of Akatsuki laughed and emerged from the side where participants are gathered and said out loud, “Who cares if you are a man or a woman? Your fate is already decided, Oh Great Uchiha Grandmaster, today is the day you’ll die!”

Suddenly, he launched an attack to Sasuke using his triple-bladed scythe. Shisui’s Mangekyou Sharingan activated and rendered Hidan unable to move as he entered his mind and manipulated him. Sasuke unsheathed his straight blade katana and met head on the six tendou pain that are attacking him.

Some Uchiha ninjas tried to protect Sasuke by fighting the Akatsuki but they only died in vain. Blood began to spill inside the arena so Sasuke created another barrier for the participants and Uchiha troops so that they won’t be dragged into a fight that would only lead to their death.

The Susano barrier is strong enough anyway that even the Akatsuki leader can not break it.

“Send a message to the Emperor now!” Shisui amplified his voice using his chakra to inform Uchiha troops outside the arena and before his voice faded, he unsheathed his small katana charging toward Sasori with a speed that cannot be seen with the naked eye. He manipulated Hidan to charge towards Konan, a member of Akatsuki that specializes on paper ninja art.

The message will take a while before it reaches the emperor, they need to hold out until then.

Meanwhile, Sasuke already took down 5 tendou pain without so much as ten moves. The only one left now is the leader, Pain. However, Pain seemed to expect that Sasuke will crush his tendous in no time. Sasuke opened his Mangekyou Sharingan and used it to create an illusory of his katana and after image of his body. With a flick of his finger, the illusion blitzed its way towards the enemy but without even looking, Pain tapped on the ground and leaped right onto the air with his Rinnegan he repelled the onslaught and sent nonstop multiple barrages of nails that are powered with his Rinnegan on Sasuke’s way.

Sasuke raised his katana and tore into the attack. He tried to leap into the air, but he was too occupied with fighting Pain that he didn’t notice the hand that suddenly grabbed his side and flung him to the ground.

Next, he chest was kicked violently and the grip of his katana loosened. Sasuke summoned Susano’s hand to shield himself, very quickly without using a hand sign, a huge fire emerged from his mouth but it was met with another fire.

Sasuke became perplexed, as far as he know, there was no Akatsuki member who can produce such a powerful fire style, and the fire that parried his katon is similar to his brother Itachi’s Katon Housenka no Jutsu!

No this can’t be. Did Itachi actually betray him?

Sasuke tried to shake away his horrid thoughts and cast his chidori but when the man clad in an Akatsuki outfit with a mask on his face hoisted up his finger, Sasuke’s fear came true.

There’s a golden ring attached to the finger and it was the same ring that he gifted to Itachi when they celebrated his coming of age. Sasuke’s world suddenly crumbled, and his heart beat faster and louder. Pain stopped attacking him and settled to the side, watching the Uchiha brothers become enemies.

No one from the terrified audience was able to notice that Itachi is actually an Akatsuki member and is now fighting his brother no less.

Shisui was too preoccupied with fighting Sasori and Konan while controlling Hidan.

Outside the arena, a man wearing a green flak jacket vest and a long-sleeved dark blue shirt over his shirt and pants and a mask on can be seen combing his white hair with his fingers. Another white-haired man appears to be summoning something while a woman with blond hair and voluptuous breast size tries to break the Susano barrier.

The three of them share the same grim expressions.

Inside the arena, Kisame, another Akatsuki member finally moved. He was just observing the fight earlier but when Itachi attacked his brother, he immediately went to his side and helped him kill the grandmaster.

Itachi never uttered a single word and finally used his genjutsu to fight Sasuke. The plan is to distract him from fighting Pain and lure him into a genjutsu battle so that his outside body will be left unattended. If Kisame doesn’t succeed in killing him, he will just use the civilians to corner Sasuke.

Itachi knew how righteous, kind, and honest his brother is, he won’t let others be involved with his battles as it was too dangerous. He would rather sacrifice himself than let others sacrifice their lives for him.

That is the grand master's weakness.

The two brother’s engaged in a violent mind battle, no one moved and Kisame finally found his way closer to Sasuke. He swung his beloved Samehada with great force towards Sasuke’s neck, but it landed on the sturdy bones of the glowing Purple Susano.

Kisame frowned and then cursed as he tried to cut Sasuke but to no avail, he was met with failure.

Itachi knew, he will never win against his brother and that’s why he intentionally let himself lose against Sasuke. He opened Mangekyou and gazed at one civilian and trapped him inside his Tsukuyomi.

Sasuke promptly opened his eyes and was startled when he saw how the civilian’s bodies one after another writhed in pain and lost consciousness. Kisame chose this moment to catch him off guard and maneuvered Samehada behind Sasuke in a blink of an eye. There was a loud sound of flesh getting torn up and blood splashing everywhere.

“Sasuke!” Shisui cried as he stabbed Sasori’s core rendering the other one motionless. The puppet master is finally dead. He tried to jump toward his grandmaster but Pain suddenly intercepted his path.

“Why you-!”

Pain used Deva path to repel Shisui’s body away from Sasuke.

The Uchiha grandmaster forced himself to stand as he reached for his katana. He summoned five Susano, created several of his glowing purple illusory self wielding a katana, summon several clones, and made them cast chidori.

As he did all those jutsus’ he coughed blood nonstop. The grandmaster is draining his own chakra at an impossible rate and risking his all for this last attack.

When Sasuke, opened his eyes, another layer was added to his mangekyou making it more magnificent than ever.

“The day I die will never be decided by anyone. I, Uchiha Sasuke, the Grandmaster of the Uchiha clan will never be defeated in this battle!” he cried and charged forward to Itachi without restraint, he also launched several clones to Shisui’s side helping him fight Pain head-on.

Itachi surged forward too and met Sasuke’s multiple jutsus.

Uchiha vs Uchiha.

The spectators, trapped inside the Susano barrier can only gasp in awe. The battle is brutal and chaotic, the destructive yet elegant moves of the grandmaster can be considered a myth if they weren’t able to witness it today.

Truly a splendid yet vicious sight.

When the grandmaster and his enemy collided, it created a big explosion that reverberated through the arena and made people scream in shock. Shisui almost lost his footing and Pain can only brace himself as he met the overwhelming shock waves.

Konan and Hidan were thrown away to the side and their backs met the purple chakra of the Susano barrier.

Kisame, now with a mangled right hand, was rendered unconscious.

As the smoke began to vanish, the two main characters of this battle are yet to reveal themselves. Several minutes later, when the smoke clears up, there is no grandmaster in sight. Even his enemy was nowhere to be seen!

“What is happening?!” someone shouted.

“Where is the grandmaster?!” the civilians roared.

Shisui immediately advanced towards the middle of the arena where the fight took place and turned the place upside down as he screamed Sasuke’s name.

Pain took this opportunity to slip away with Kisame and Konan. The Susano barrier gradually dispersed, not leaving any trace of the grand master’s chakra.

Finally free from the barrier, the civilians promptly tried to flee the scene but the Uchiha troops barricaded the exit so they can only leave slowly after confirming their identity.

Some of the Konoha Ninjas, stayed behind and helped the crestfallen Shisui on searching for the Uchiha grand-master. Kakashi, Jiraiya, and Tsunade can finally go inside. Their face conveys disappointment as they weren’t able to help at all.

But that was Sasuke’s intention. He cannot get anyone be involved. When he saw those ninjas who tried to protect him die in the blink of an eye, his heart grieves for their families that will receive their cold and lifeless bodies.

He is by no means, a saint. But Sasuke understood, he understood that humans are naturally greedy and partial. He is no exception and with a soft heart he knew that he is incapable of staying in the apex for so long.  

But this heart that cannot bear to see people suffer is like a surging wave, slow, smooth and oblique, with a crest that barely exists, Sasuke’s a wave that you can never ever break.