He was the last person Orochimaru expected to see in his quarters in such a time at night. He smirked at the sight of the white-haired boy he has been wanting to take, but could not due to the boy's power. His curse marks could not attach to the boy even though he had bitten him numerous times at their first encounter.

"What an unexpected surprise, Natsukasa Shuuya." Orochimaru began.

"Don't worry, you're not the only one in shock with this visit." Shuuya said.

"For you to come to me – especially at this time of the night – must be something important."

"Orochimaru, there's something I want to ask you..."

~*~

It was in the middle of the night when Sasuke was called by Orochimaru. He had no idea what the man wanted, and he hated that he had to leave Mana in their room just for a mission that Orochimaru was to give him. He was about to enter the Sannin's quarters but stopped at the sound of Natsukasa Shuuya's voice inside, their voices were muffled, but Sasuke could hear a little of what they were talking about.

"— I was not expecting such a request." Orochimaru said.

"Neither was I." Shuuya replied. "So, we have a deal?"

"The seal for Immortality."

"It's not a curse that you can just put in a summoning seal, you know..."

"I'm sure you could find a way to make it happen, Shuuya."

"And when will I get it?"

What are you up to? Sasuke thought.

"Just as you found a way to seal your family curse for me to study it." Orochumaru said.

"Then that would be too long!"

Sasuke slightly jumped at Shuuya's sudden burst.

"Then I suggest you start searching for a way to seal your family curse for me to study, that is unless you could give me one of your students –"

"You're not going to lay a hand on them."

"It would have been fitting." Orochimaru sighed.

"I'll find a way." Shuuya said.

"It amazes me how a little girl such as Uchiha Mana had you begging me for my jutsus..." Orochumaru chuckled.

"No one must know."

"Do not worry, Shuuya. This stays between us... but I doubt Sasuke would not find out about this..."

"By that time, it would be too late."

When the room turned quiet, Sasuke guessed that Shuuya teleported away from the hideout and he took this time to finally knock on the door. As he entered the room, all Sasuke could think was what Shuuya's plan was, and why he needed Orochimaru's jutsus for immortality.

~*~

Mana woke at the sound of someone knocking at the door. Tossing her legs off the bed, she glanced at Sasuke, who slept on the space beside her, and then turned back to the door where the knocking continued and was getting louder every passing second. Muttering under her breath, Mana went to answer the door. She glared at person who stood before her with a cheeky grin.

"Ohayo, Mana."

"What are you doing here, Shuuya?" Mana asked.

"Did you forget?" Shuuya said. "It's been three days, time for training. Just because I let you stay with your Onii-san, doesn't mean your training stops."

"Fine, give me a minute." Mana said as she closed the door at his face.

Shuuya sighed.

She could've invited me inside... yet again, her brother would be there...

Just as Mana closed the door, Sasuke got up and watched as his sister went to get her things.

"It's Natsukasa, isn't it?" He said.

"Hai, we have training." Mana answered.

Sasuke turned away when he saw Mana about to change. He faced the wall the whole time and waited for her to finish.

"Are you going back to the Inn?" He asked.

"Iie, Shuuya said that we're training here." Mana answered as she finished wearing her short kimono-like dress, Mana had her brother turn around again, just as she was wearing her coat.

Sasuke watched his sister put her ninjato at its holder at her waist, and it only dawned to him how she dressed so much like Shuuya. A mix of traditional clothes and ninja clothes. From the color of her coat that reached her knees, which was black with red triangle patterns at the hem, to her short-kimono which was in a white, and her sandals that reached her knees. The only thing that said Uchiha in her was the symbol at the back of her coat and her kimono. It wasn't that he hated it, he just wasn't fond at the idea of Mana idolizing Shuuya. He knew that the Natsukasa had too many secrets, and he knew that one of those secrets involved Mana, and he didn't like it at all.

"I'm going now." Mana said as she approached the door.

"Be careful, Imouto." Sasuke said, just as she were to leave.

"I always am, Onii-san." Mana said and left.

That's not what I meant.

~*~

Mana threw a kick at Shuuya's way, but the white-haired boy blocked her leg with his arms, protecting his face. He smirked at Mana and grabbed her foot. She twisted and used her free foot to get her out of his hold. Stumbling back, Shuuya was able to release her, and Mana landed on the ground crouching. They're been doing Taijutsu training, which confused Mana when Shuuya told her that they were going to do Taijutsu.

"But I already know Taijutsu, shouldn't I be training my seal?" Mana said.

"Yes, but I'm in no mood for seals, besides, I believe you've mastered yours now."

Shuuya got out Yatagarasu and went to attack Mana. Mana got out her ninjatō and blocked his attack. The sound of their blades clashing was the only thing that was heard in the forest. Both using each of their own techniques to block and attack. Shuuya noticed how Mana would switch her hold on her ninjatō, depending on how she would use it. She would often hold it backwards, with the end at the back of her hand, and use it as an advantage to move freely with her body movement, especially when she used aerial attacks.

Mana was disarmed by Shuuya, but just before he thought he had her, Mana somehow grabbed her ninjatō and cut him right across his chest. Shuuya winced in pain and took a step back. Mana watched as Shuuya healed quickly, and once was an open wound that ran across his chest, was now a scar that would forever be a reminder of this day's training.

"I gotta say, you're improving with that ninjatō." Shuuya said.

Mana smirked, she got on her feet and ran towards Shuuya to attack. Shuuya watched as the young girl wielded her weapon like a natural. He remembered how she used her ninjatō to stop herself from falling off the cliff, and how she used it to block his attack at the first few months of her training. She has come a long way. Unknowing to him, Mana has used one of her summoning techniques and had a centipede wrap itself around his leg and pinned him down on the ground.

The hell – when did she summon all these centipedes?!

With Yatagarasu away from his hand, Shuuya could do nothing but watch as Mana landed on top of him, sitting on his chest as she held her ninjatō to his throat, panting.

"I win." Mana said, smirking.

Shuuya could not find the words to say. He was in the mix of awe and shock when Mana had him pinned down on the ground. He stared at her as she continued to hold him down with her weapon, and then he saw her eyes, they weren't her usual onyx ones, rather she had her Sharingan, another power she has mastered, but not fully. He knew that the Sharingan has more power, and he knew that there was only one way for her to obtain its full power. He could feel its cool blade touching his neck, and for some unknown reason he pressed closer to her blade, he didn't mind. He found comfort in it.

Maybe this would be best...

Felt Shuuya pressing on to her blade and pulled away her weapon from him, and had her centipedes disappear. She retracted her ninjatō to its holder and was about to get off of him to question his actions, but was stopped when she felt Shuuya grab her hand.

"Shuuya –"

"Mana."

He placed Mana's hand around his neck.

Better this than that... besides, she would never forgive me if I even considered doing what that snake-man's done to be immortal.

"Do it." Shuuya said.

Mana felt her breath hitch. She pulled her hand out of Shuuya's grip and jumped off of him. Shuuya got up and found Mana crouching just a few feet from him, her eyes showing a mix of confusion and fear.

"Gomen, Mana." Shuuya said.

"What the hell's wrong with you?" Mana asked in a whisper.

"Nothing." Shuuya muttered. "I think we had enough training for today."

"Shuuya –"

"We have a mission in three days." Shuuya said as he got up. "I expect you back at the Inny by then."

"Shuuya!"

"I'll see you around."

~*~

Not from where the white-haired boy and the black-haired girl were training, Suzuka hid in the trees and watched. She saw the whole exchange between Shuuya and Mana, she hated every time the two were left alone for training.

It's not fair!

Just as Mana had Shuuya pinned down, Suzuka felt a sudden threat from the girl. For only two and a half years, Mana was able to beat Shuuya in battle, while she has not even taken him down.

It's that damn Sharingan, I'm sure if she didn't have it, she would not have –

But her thoughts were broken when she saw Shuuya's next move was. She felt the pain when Shuuya took Mana's hand and had it around his neck. She was not able to hear what he said, but she could see it in his eyes how he looked at the girl. It was not right, but Shuuya didn't care, he never cared.

Why her?!

~*~

Sasuke saw everything. And he didn't like it. He waited in the shadows for the Natsukasa boy, in his mind, the scene of their training played over and over, fueling his hatred and anger towards Shuuya. He didn't have to worry about Mana finding out since she was back at the hideout and he believed that with the conversation he heard between Orochimaru and Shuuya, Mana would never forgive the Natsukasa and probably kill him herself.

He heard Shuuya's footsteps coming his way. Just as the Natsukasa was to cross from where he hid, Sasuke swung his sword, about to cut the boy's head, but Shuuya jumped back Sasuke's attack.

"I was kinda waiting for this day to come, Uchiha." Shuuya said. "And I'll be lying if I said that I was hoping for it."

Sasuke wasted no time in attacking Shuuya. Noticed how Shuuya dodged his attacks flawlessly, just like how Mana would he would never admit it, but Shuuya was a skilled ninja. Just before his blade could cut Shuuya, Shuuya held on to it, causing his hand to bleed.

"I don't want to kill you, Sasuke." Shuuya said.

"Too bad!"

Shuuya released the blade, knowing that Sasuke would not hesitate to cut off his hand. The seal could heal wounds, but it could not regenerate amputated limbs. But just as he was to attack to make his escape, Shuuya felt Sasuke's presence behind him. He had no time to react, and soon found Sasuke's katana at his neck.

"I vowed to kill you the moment you gave Mana that power! I vowed to kill you when you beat her up and broke every bone in her body!" Sasuke said. "I could never understand how she could find it in her heart to forgive you for all the shit you've given her, but I won't. I saw everything earlier, and I heard your talk with Orochimaru. I'll fucking kill you, Natsukasa, if you even lay a hand on my sister –"

"Don't." Shuuya said. "If you do, you will make the biggest mistake of your life."

"THE MISTAKE I DID WAS NOT KILLING YOU THE DAY YOU TOOK MY SISTER!"

"You and I both know that Mana needed me –"

"But not anymore."

"Hai..." Shuuya muttered. "But killing me will strain your relationship with Mana."

"She'll understand –"

"I doubt she will... Mana would never forgive you if you do this, so drop your weapon, Sasuke."

"Why do you care –"

"Because I don't want her to lose the only family she has left!" Shuuya said. "Mana loves you, Sasuke, with all her heart. She sees you as this good person, even with all the shit you've pulled, she still believes that you are good... that's the type of person she is... but killing me will change that."

"How do you know?"

"I think I know that you do." Shuuya said.

Anything that came out of Shuuya's mouth just fueled Sasuke's anger, but he put down his weapon. Shuuya was able to breathe when he felt the katana out of his neck, but then felt Sasuke grab him by his shirt and pinned him to the tree. He saw the Sasuke activate the Sharingan, and he could not help but be reminded of Mana's own Sharingan, but this one held so much hate and anger, while Mana's were different. Hers were more of power and determination.

"If you think I'll let you near her after what I heard with your talk with Orochimaru –"

"Don't even bother about that." Shuuya said. "I'm not going to let someone like Orochimaru control me. Now if you could please put me down."

Sasuke dropped Shuuya and glared down at the white-haired boy.

"Your training with Mana is over." Sasuke stated. "You'll not be taking her to places nor will you see her, and she won't see you."

"I doubt that's going to work." Shuuya said. "Mana is as stubborn as you, Uchiha... besides, I'm not done with her."

"But she is with you. She has mastered the seal, just as you said, so she does not need you anymore."

"But she does." Shuuya got up from the ground and looked at Sasuke at the eye, but unlike the other times when he would show his power and superiority at Sasuke, all Sasuke saw were sincerity and sadness. "I've done my little research about your clan, Sasuke... and she will need me to obtain your clan's power."