POV: Edara
A cloudy day—fitting, just like my future. Heh. I probably shouldn't have brought back the Uchiha's head. I glanced to both sides. Two ANBU from Iwagakure flanked me.
Why the hell would they send two ANBU to escort a cripple?
In hindsight, I get it. If someone managed to kill an Uchiha, especially during wartime, an emergency protocol had to kick in. Still, it felt like complete bullshit.
We finally arrived at the heart of the camp. A green tent, easily double—maybe triple—the size of the standard ones around it.
"Enter," one of the ANBU ordered.
The other opened the flap. I stepped inside. Soundproofing seals were all over the entrance.
Damn it... I'm saying goodbye to my fingers, aren't I?
There she was—Sehune. Elite jōnin of the Stone Village. Torture specialist. Master of genjutsu and shurikenjutsu. Rumor had it she once interrogated and tortured her own sensei for suspected treason. And that was just the official story. Everyone knew there was more—worse.
I stepped into the tent. The air felt thick. Too quiet. Too dark. There was nothing inside except a single chair positioned to face the entrance.
"Sit," she said. Her voice was ice.
A chill ran down my spine. I did as ordered.
"Let's begin," she said calmly, her gaze piercing. "Shikiro Edara. Age: 14. Clan: exterminated by the Yellow Flash, Namikaze Minato. You wasted your talent for two years after that, before being dragged to the front lines at age 12. Now tell me—how, with your mediocre abilities, did you manage to defeat a chūnin-level Uchiha with a one-tomoe Sharingan?"
Her eyes drilled into mine. Mediocre? Me? Never.
I opened my mouth to spin a convincing lie—but before a single word left my lips, she said, "Lie, and there will be consequences."
I paused.
What was the point in lying? I had nothing to gain and everything to lose. I exhaled slowly.
"The Uchiha lost his cool," I said. "He got emotional. Careless. Walked right into one of the oldest traps in the shinobi handbook. Wire—"
My right hand exploded.
Blood sprayed across my face, chest, the walls. I looked down. My entire arm was gone. Just a stump where it used to be.
It hurt.
It really hurt.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
I screamed until my throat burned. Sehune didn't flinch. She simply stepped forward and said, "I told you not to lie." She lifted me and shoved me back into the chair.
"Now tell me the truth."
"IT IS THE TRUTH!" I roared.
I looked around desperately. The exit. Body Flicker.
In a blink, I was by the flap.
In the next blink, my legs were gone.
Gone.
"I see," she said, chuckling softly. "So even you didn't notice the most basic of shinobi traps. Hahaha… Oh well. Looks like I'll have to extract it by force."
Across a wide plain, a chūnin from Iwagakure—barely fourteen—was sprinting for his life. His body was covered in kunai wounds. The worst of them all was buried deep in his abdomen. He was losing blood fast.
"There he is!" shouted a chūnin from the superpower village, Konohagakure.
Behind him, two genin sprinted after the Stone-nin, determined to take him down.
Shit, I thought. Fucking useless bastards… why'd you die so fast? It was supposed to be a two-on-one.
Wait a second. What the hell am I doing here?
I glanced around, disoriented. A genin's kunai flew through the air, striking me in the head.
I collapsed, motionless.
A massive fireball—ten meters wide—hurtled toward me.
I jumped back, desperate to soften the blow. It hit.
Pain.
So much pain.
I manipulated my chakra, trying to keep myself from being burned alive.
Wait. I've lived this moment before.
I stopped the chakra flow.
My body burned to ash.
Game over.
With the last of my strength, I set a steel wire between two trees.
The arrogant Uchiha charged in.
His head rolled seconds later.
Just like before.
"I win."
"You were telling the truth," Sehune said, deadpan.
Back in the tent, sitting legless in a chair, I managed to smile.
"You crazy bitch… now end the genjutsu. Now."
She frowned slightly.
The world began to unravel.
I was standing again—right in front of the tent's entrance. She was there, just a few steps in front of me.
She gave me the sweetest, most innocent smile.
"Well, that was a quick interrogation. Thank you for being so cooperative, Mr. Edara."
I smiled right back. "Of course, Commander. How could I possibly lie to you?"
My mouth kept spitting out crap, but in my head: You're dead. I don't care if I have to tear through all of Iwa. You're first.
Her smile didn't fade.
"Oh, Mr. Shikiro," she said with a sigh, "you'll be participating in the next battle against Konoha. You'll be placed in a squad that lost their sensor. You'll be replacing them."
She tilted her head. "If your performance is satisfactory, I'll consider promoting you to Special Jōnin."
My smile froze.
Sensors are usually the second priority in a fight.
First priority?
Ninjas with Kekkei Genkai.
"Thank you," I said, trying not to grit my teeth.
You're already dead, you smug witch…
Alternate Title: Torture
(Sorry Asta_roth, there was a publishing error with the chapter!)
:P