A/N: I've been meaning to write this for some time now, before all of my other stories. But I just didn't know how to write it. I finally came to the decision to do this in a duo format, where each chapter swaps the perspective of both Sasuke and Izumi. So hopefully, it's done well.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

An angel to guide me

I

Izumi Uchiha doesn't know how to react to the news. She wasn't the only survivor. After finding herself in the Konoha hospital, the reinstated Hokage was already at her bedside to talk to her after the massacre. She could feel her eyes water as she listened to him speak of the event that had taken place.

Hiruzen Sarutobi saw the pain streak across the young girl's eyes, as he stopped talking. He cleared his throat awkwardly, tilting his clothed hat as if to avert his eyes from hers.

"How much do you remember of last night?" he asked.

Izumi stared at the ninja way past his prime, a solemn look staring back at her. How much did she remember? How peaceful it had been like any other night, only to be stolen in a second by Itachi. Someone she had known, trusted and loved.

The feeling of betrayal was the next thing she remembered, that he would harm her. She always believed they shared a connection, but from the events of last night it was evident to her that it wasn't on par to hers. Assuming he had felt any form of emotions to her.

But right now, confusion was at the back of her mind, silently gnawing away at her. She had thanked Itachi. He had the Mangekyo somehow, and placed Izumi in a genjutsu…but the more she tried to think of it, the more the memory escaped her grasp. She couldn't remember what he had shown her. And yet for some reason she thanked him.

"I-I…I don't know," Izumi forced out, her voice trembling slightly, but still remaining strong. "I honestly don't know Lord Third."

She looked away, a sudden interest in the vase of flowers by her bedside. Silence filled the room. The old Hokage took in a couple of breaths, his eyes closed as he thought of a response. After the third breath, he opened his mouth once more.

"I see," he said. "It was heartless of me to have asked."

"No. It is your duty," Izumi immediately countered. She fidgeted with the quilt, refusing to look into his eyes. "I would like to rest some more Lord Third. So if you are done with your questions, could I please be left alone?"

At first nothing happened, but Izumi heard the aged man rise from his seat.

"I thank you for your time Izumi Uchiha," he said. "Rest well."

And with that, he left the room without a sound. Upon watching him leave, Izumi immediately plopped back down on the hospital bed, staring at the blank ceiling. As much as she tried, she couldn't go to sleep.

II

It was only after a week after that Izumi was released from hospital. Upon standing outside her home in the Uchiha compound, it seemed to have aged as if it was here for centuries. It was deathly silent, complimented by the aftermath of the massacre.

Izumi felt her knees threaten to collapse under her weight, but she forced herself to continue into what was meant to be her home.

She was given a simple request by the Hokage after she had fully recovered. Meet with Sasuke, the only other survivor. Izumi bit her lip, as she knew that she didn't get along with the younger Uchiha, despite her countless attempts of conversation. This was not going to be her day.

She entered the main family's home, the obviously largest building of the compound.

Izumi could count on her fingers the number of times she entered the household, as she was not only a branch family member, but wasn't fully Uchiha.

She gulped as she explored the dark corridors, the only sound being her soft footsteps on the tatami mats. She gulped nervously as she recognized the sight of dry patches of blood here and there, obviously the clean up didn't do too well of a job.

One of the doors was opened slightly ajar, to which Izumi slid open.

It was a roughly empty room, a single shrine lay at the end, with the Uchiha fan symbol depicted proudly on the walls. Numerous candles lay surrounding the shrine, unlit and mostly finished, with lanterns obviously missing above.

"What are you doing here?"

Izumi gave a small eep, as she slammed the doors shut and turned around to address whoever snuck up on her. Looking down, she could see the eyes of a small child staring back at hers. They were lifeless, almost dead even.

"S-Sasuke?" Izumi asked, watching as the younger boy flinched slightly upon his name being said.

She could have sworn she was in a genjutsu. It was so different to see Sasuke without a smile. Itachi what have you done?

"It's me," Izumi continued. "Izumi-nee…do you remember me?"

"…No."

Izumi watched the expression on the younger Uchiha's face, watching as slight emotions twitched on his attempted poker face.

"You're lying," Izumi declared.

"And what if I was?" Sasuke retorted. "I don't know anyone that was friends with that murderer."

Izumi's eye twitched slightly as this younger child just delivered a cold harsh mental slap to the face. She felt her hands clench into fists as she desperately tried to keep her anger down.

"I may have been friends with him," she forced out. "but don't forget, you are his brother."

Izumi made sure to emphasis it to hone her point. She watched as Sasuke's eyes widened, as he grit his teeth. His eyes hardened as he dropped his emotionless façade.

"Shut up!" Sasuke shouted, tears threatening to sprout from his eyes now as he threw a punch. "Just shut up!"

Izumi easily caught the fist, twisting him around and pinning him quickly to the floor.

"You selfish brat!" Izumi yelled back. "Stop being a pain in the ass!"

Sasuke yelled as he flailed about, kicking wildly under Izumi's pin.

The two's yelling and fighting lasted the majority of the afternoon. It was safe to say that they didn't get along well.

III

Izumi was not in a good mood. The very next morning after the fight an Anbu shinobi was waiting in the kitchen to pass on a message that the Hokage needed to inform Izumi of certain decisions. Keep in mind she was still tired as hell from being unable to sleep. And Sasuke proved to be an early riser as well, as the two had this awkward tension between them. They still glared at each other, as they sat through an uncomfortable breakfast that Izumi had quickly cooked up.

So without even saying goodbye to the young Uchiha, Izumi now found herself in the office of the Sandaime Hokage, who had dropped a huge bombshell without warning.

"W-What?" Izumi asked.

Hiruzen sighed, massaging his scalp with his fingers as he breathed out another puff of smoke.

"You have been relieved of your duties as a shinobi, and are to focus your efforts on raising the Uchiha successor."

So Izumi hadn't been mishearing…her heart dropped from the news, as did her eyes. She felt useless, weak and most of all, betrayed.

"Why?" she asked hoarsely.

Hiruzen took in a deep breath, taking the pipe from his mouth, placing it on his desk. His gaze rested on the young girl, as his eyes obviously showed concern and worry.

"The council came to the decision yesterday after you had been released from hospital. I have no choice Izumi-"

"No, why must I quit being a shinobi. I'm as much an Uchiha as Sasuke, and I am older. I even have the sharingan. Not to mention that Sasuke is old enough to look after himself," Izumi argued.

"You are right that Sasuke is mature for his age-"

Izumi snorted at that comment, but didn't say anything.

"But," Hiruzen continued, ignoring the interruption. "Being the last full blooded Uchiha would pose a certain risk for him from the other villages. An incident like the Hyuuga affair might repeat itself, and who will stop them?"

"The Anbu, that's they're job."

"Then what off Sasuke's upbringing?" Hiruzen asked. "Do you really think that the other clans would treat Sasuke fairly? Or do you suggest that an Anbu raises him? You are asking me to let a young child who witnessed his brother kill his parents right in front of him, to grow up in an unknown environment."

Izumi stopped her retort, and closed her mouth. Itachi…killed his parents in front of Sasuke?

"I-I didn't know," Izumi stated.

"Didn't know that Itachi also forced his younger brother into an unbreakable illusion to watch him murder his parents over and over again for three days straight?"

If Izumi felt remorse before, she now felt like sinking into the floor. She remained silent, and Hiruzen's gazed softened.

Placing the pipe back into his mouth, the older shinobi sighed heavily.

"Once Sasuke graduates from the academy you may come back to the shinobi forces, he will be legally an adult and can work for his own salary," Hiruzen continued.

"That's four years."

"And it's the best I can offer you."

"Is there no other alternative?"

Hiruzen remained silent, as his gaze said everything to the young girl. Izumi felt trapped. What could she possibly do? Why was she forced to give up her dreams just for an obnoxious brat?

"I understand…my duty Lord Third," she forced out.

She wanted nothing more than to leave that stupid office. She needed fresh air, she needed to punch something, maybe someone. As she was about to leave the door, the Hokage called out to her.

"Izumi I cannot say that I know what you are feeling. But remember that he is the only family you have left. And that you are his as well."

Without another word, Izumi left the office.