Chapter 1
2 months after the events of volume 0-
Out in near the outskirts of the village Tomoe, Jericho would be standing at the edge of a large downward slope. As he looked down he'd see other ninjas, some from the hidden leaf.
"It was a tragedy what happened to Madara Uchiha." said Jericho, as he then turned around and would now be in a basement-like area. There he'd be sitting in a chair. His time on the slope being a memory from earlier today.
"He was only trying to do what was right for our clan you know? He saw what was happening, what Konaha really wanted for us. They fear us you know that? And why wouldn't they." Jericho said as he walked over and stood over Saku, who was laying on the ground, she was partially unconscious. Her eyes partially dilated as she followed Jericho's feet. "It must be hard, being nothing, in a crowd of people who are already nothing to everyone else." Jericho added.
"Tell me something Saku" he said before kicking Saku across the face waking her up, Saku coughed and groaned as she felt blood seeping down her nose. Her eyes then were hyper-focused on Jericho who stared into her eyes.
"Were you even listening?" He asked, "You....Yoooou! YO-" but as Saku got up and ready to attack Jericho, he'd quickly kick her in the stomach causing her to drop to her knees and vomit. Saku groaned heavily as she weakly looked up at Jericho.
"I'll ask again, were you listening?" Jericho asked. Saku let out a low guttural growl as she then noticed her hands were chained behind her back. She tried to break free, but the chains were too tight. She then looked to Jericho-
"You killed Sasa....you bastard, how could you!" she shouted. "No Saku, you killed her. Don't you get it? You have a natural attraction to this life, and from that attraction you involuntarily got Sasa killed. She could have lived.
But you choose otherwise." Jericho said, "You put a blade through her, not me." Saku replied.
"But my blade wouldn't have been there, had you also not been there." Jericho said, but Saku just growled and tried harder to get out of the chains again. Jericho rolled his eyes as he walked away a bit, sitting down in his usual chair.
"Did I ever tell you the story of Madara Uchiha? The great Ghost of the Uchiha." Jericho asked.
"Who doesn't know his story." Saku groaned as, "Yes, but many debate if Madara was right in his betrayal of Konoha, or if he was just power-hungry.
.
.
.
What if I told you, that he was right to judge and doubt the Leaf?" Jericho said.
"I don't care! I don't care about Madara and I don't care about you! I'm going to kill you...if its the last thing I do!" she roared out to him. "Clearly." Jericho said as he then sat up and looked at Saku.
"Your hatred is strong, but you'll have to come to realize that the loss you suffered months ago; was only a taste of the pain that comes later." Jericho added. "You have the chance to be fighting on the side of your people, not just yourself." Jericho said.
"FORGET IT! Every word out of your mouth is borrowed, once its up I'll-"
"Enough." Jericho said as he then placed Saku under a gentjutsu by using his left eye's abilities. Saku's pupils shrunk as she was once again back during the last moments of Sasa, Saku being forced to watch her die 100 times every mere second. Every time Saku watched Sasa's body fall, she'd scream out-
"WHY! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME!!!!" she'd scream, and every time she failed to best Jericho, she'd scream-
"THIS ISN'T FAIR!!!" she shouted. Saku would be left like this for hours, her will and mind tested to fight past these griefs and tragedies and grow to resists them.
5 months later
Saku would unshackled from her restraints by Jericho, "Now, lets see what it is you can do." Jericho said as he then looked towards Saku as he backed away; but she was quick to attack him. Throwing a punch to his gut, but it was too obvious, and Jericho would punish her by kneeing her in the gut. Saku once again would throw up as she collapsed on the ground. "Was that supposed to be some sort of attack?" Jericho asked.
Yet Saku was unable to answer, her eyes were getting heavy as she barley was able to stand up. Jericho just looked down at her, "This is what ninjas have to deal with it, it's what we as Uchiha have had to deal with.
Our people left behind in the dust, treated like dogs with a stick ready to beat us. You need to grab and break that stick Saku. Cause if you don't, you'll be beaten to death." Jericho said as Saku's head shakily looked up towards him with malice and hatred swirling in her eyes like a whirlpool.
"..."
"..."
"Do you hate me now? Is your hatred for me finally reaching a place where you can stand on your own? Or, is it still your crutch?" He asked. Saku wiped her mouth as she finally began to process what this was, it was training, but not just any kind. This was the kind of training that meant if you fail, you die and if you don't'; you've survived.
"Learn and understand this Saku, any man can endure any pain, so long as their is meaning behind it. So long as you hold close to your chest; your hatred. You will never die. That is my promise to you." Jericho said as Saku weakly raised her fists, her eyes meeting Jericho's.
"Don't worry....guh-...ugh! I have plenty....of reasons. And I won't let a THING get in my way. Not even your ghost." Saku frowned deeply, as she got ready to attack Jericho once more.
