Before we start.... I'm so sorry it took me more than a month to write this one. Can't say I'm proud of this chapter either, but I tried my best in between my work schedules. Squeezing the time to write this down while thinking of tons of work I haven't finished yet is not easy lol.

Anyway, enjoy the story while it lasts.

Chapter 33

Sasuke watched intently as Karin infusing her chakra into Fumiko. The older girl slowly opened her eyes, looking directly to the ceiling half-lidded. She did not bother to recognize her surroundings when she lifted her right arm. She noticed the absence of her arm, making her chuckled bitterly.

"Fumiko." Sasuke decided to open his mouth.

When he thought Fumiko did not hear him, she finally responded by a hum.

"I know the truth now." He snarled. "Isn't that what you've been hinting me with? That the one behind all of this is Danzo—why can't you just tell me directly?! Do you know how hard it is for me to blame everything to my big brother because you decided to not tell me what had occurred?!"

Fumiko let out a weak scoff. After all this time, all Sasuke ever care was about himself.

Offended by the girl's reaction, Sasuke sprung forward and lunged at his sister. Fumiko did not fight him back, letting him throwing a hard punch on her face. The older Uchiha could feel her mouth ripped and blood flooded her chin. Her body froze in shock before she leaned over and throwing up more blood. Sasuke's eyes went wide seeing how much blood coming out of her face. It looked too gore even for him.

It was then Sasuke paid attention to his sister's complexion, not only glaring the hell out of her soul. Fumiko was on her left, crouching as her only hand gripped her stomach tightly, with the remaining of her right arm hanging around her chest. Her skin was pale, it looked greyish transparent. Sasuke also noticed how much smaller and bonier his sister was. Usually, her cheekbones were not that apparent, but now, it was almost like her whole face was her cheekbones only. Her eyebags were no longer dark—it was purplish black. Suddenly, Sasuke lost all of his anger.

"W-what is wrong with you?" He whispered, letting go of his sister's top.

"Sasuke-kun," Karin said sadly, "she doesn't have long. I'm sorry."

If Sasuke could describe what he felt, it felt like suddenly all of her muscles froze but at the same time it felt like they were jellies—ready to fall apart anytime. His breath hitched before he looked at Karin in disbelief.

"What the hell are you on about?"

"She's been sick for years." The orange mask man suddenly stood beside the operating bed below Fumiko. He gently took her hair into his fist, so it would not get even dirtier. "That's why she didn't bother to do anything about you. Just like how Itachi's focus was to let you gain the Mangekyo sharingan, Fumiko-sama's only focus is to ensure your brother's safety and cleared his name. The question is... why?"

Sasuke frowned for a second before widened his eyes. Suddenly, flashbacks on what Fumiko had told him appeared on his mind.

"Because that's what I've been taught." Fumiko replied harshly to Naruto when he yelled at her for killing. "While Sasuke was playing house with mother at home, my father would beat the shit out of me if I were not perfect in doing my trainings or missions."

"Sometimes," Fumiko flashed her sharingan towards her mother at their last dinnertime. "I wonder whether I'm even your child or not. You've never cared for me like you did Sasuke. And... I hate you for that."

"Was it... because of father?" Sasuke whispered as Karin tended Fumiko who lost consciousness again.

"Yes, practically." Madara hummed. "Your father made sure to train Fumiko hard so she can ensure your brother's safety as the only one capable enough is her. Unfortunately for your father, she was trained under Uchiha Shisui. Not only they grew up being more siblings than you—her real siblings are to her, Itachi prioritized you, you know. He wanted the best for you. Yet, Shisui did not see it that way. The lad told her to prioritize her happiness as he committed suicide in front of her."

Sasuke kept his silence as Madara continued. "Thus, that was the reason why she did not come to you after the massacre. All her life, she was put behind both of you and Itachi. Now, holding close to Shisui's last words, she chose herself. True, she might hate you, and thus your strained relationship now. However, Fumiko-sama never hates her older brother. She knew that the system in Konoha was wrong, so she corrected it bit by bit. She got to kill the man responsible in Uchiha massacre, cleared your brother's name, and still protects Konoha at the same time. She had done her job perfectly if you asked me."

"But?"

"But even so..." Madara's hand clenched, "Konoha is still at fault for making us suffering all these years. We don't deserve being treated this way. Even a public apology from the Hokage is not enough. Not at all."

They went silent for a second before Sasuke asked him, "So what's your plan?"

A sinister grin appeared on Madara's face behind his mask. "This is a project I call Tsuki no Me."

"What's Fumiko's role in this plan of yours?"

"To awaken your Mangekyo." Madara explained. "You need to kill her."

Sasuke once again froze as he looked down to his sister before shaking his head. "No. I've gained my Mangekyo already."

"You did?" Madara tilted his head and hummed. "Well, that simplify things actually. You still need to kill her though."

Sasuke hummed, "Tell me more about it."

So then Madara explained his project. He then walked out with Sasuke, leaving Karin forcing to infuse her chakra again to Fumiko. The red haired girl's eyes started to blur when a half arm stopped her. She looked down to the pale beauty that slowly opened her eyes.

"You'd.... kill yourself if you force to give more chakra than you've already given to me." Fumiko said with ragged breath. "Enough."

"B-but—"

Fumiko faced away and closed her eyes again. Noticing that the older female was done with her, Karin decided to leave her alone. It seemed like hours had passed when Fumiko was awoken by the feeling of being watched. The girl opened her eyes, and only with her blurry one functioning eye, she saw her little brother sat beside her bedside. His face was as cold as she remembered, just with more than his usual flick of hatred and anger in it.

They were stayed in silence for some tense moments, before Sasuke faced away. "Why didn''t you tell me that nii-san is not at fault?"

Fumiko did not reply. She just laid on her back and faced the ceiling. Instead, she asked, "Why didn't you kill me?"

Sasuke's head snapped toward her in such manner that she wondered how he did not break his neck. He frowned. "You want me to kill you?"

"Isn't that what you've always wanted?" Fumiko asked bitterly. "You've got the perfect chance to kill me, why didn't you?"

"And let you end your misery?" Her little brother snarled, offended by the tone she was giving. "Do you think I'd make it easier for you?"

Fumiko scoffed before looking at Sasuke with pure hatred, startling him immensely. "Leave."

"What makes you think I'd listen to you?" Sasuke growled.

On reflect, Fumiko activated her Mangekyo. The younger Uchiha would definitely answer to her challenge if it were not to the lack of her other eye's participation. It looked dead compared to her crimson one, which suddenly brought pity and guilt swirling in Sasuke's stomach.

Fumiko was then starting to cough blood again. Karin who was on standby outside the room ran back in and helped her out. Sasuke looked away and scoffed. He started to walk away, but made sure to make Fumiko heard him.

"Pathetic." He spatted.

On a brief glance, he could see her face hardened and her hand fisted. Once he slammed the door close, Sasuke breathed out shakily. An unknown feeling eating his heart out, making him extremely uncomfortable. It felt like his heart being squeezed hard, making him hard to breathe. To ease the pain, the boy slapped his chest several times. It did not work, though.

"Sasuke-kun, are you alright?" A shark-man stood a few feet away from him.

Bringing back his composure, Sasuke 'hn-ed' him and walked away as if nothing happened. An irked mark appeared on Kisame's head before coughing sounds attracted his attention.

"Itachi-san," He mumbled. "What am I supposed to do in this situation?"