Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the characters in it.
I.
Jakushi Katoka was born in a village with great history, a hometown of many of the legendary shinobi. That was one small, but extraordinary village that she grew to love as much as she loved her own family and friends - the famous Konohagakure, the heart of the Land of Fire.
Jakushi didn't see herself as one of the legendary characters Konoha took great pride in, but in time she acknowledged herself as a soldier and a defender. Other knew her to be a compassionate soul and a brave heart. A combination that was like a fire and ice. She was convinced that her mission was to help people, no matter what the problem was.
At the same time revolted against every small injustice. With all these traits, she was a dedicated protector of Konoha, which got her extremely close to a girl with the name Sakura Haruno. They met when Jakushi had started her training with Tsunade, the best medic in the world and one of the legendary sanin.
Sakura was a year older than her, but that didn't stop them from being like sisters. Together, they shared the same ideals and views for the world around them. They knew that one had to face his problems on his own in order to win against them. They were ready to sacrifice in the name of the people and things they loved.
That was the way they felt strong and, though only a bit, independent. Despite that Jakushi was part of a certain team, she has always been close to Sakura, admiring her fortitude. For the most part, they played the role of warriors, but they were girls nevertheless and it was comforting to have each other and share their thoughts and burdens.
Living through her seventeen and a half years in Konoha, Jakushi was a talented student and with time achieved a lot in the medical practice. In spite of being only seventeen, she experienced all the sorrows of life. The Fourth Shinobi War was over, but as to many others, it never actually ended, leaving a permanent scar upon her mind.
The war was something terrible and she, as a medic, saw that with her own eyes. She felt the whole weight of destruction the war carried when she lost her mother to it. Jakushi cursed and hated the war more than everything in her life and lived on, fighting to keep the peace.
The truth was that deep in her heart she wanted to punish the ones that started the war and caused all the suffering. She wanted them to taste the same pain she felt and, she was sure, everyone who had lost someone in that pointless conflict felt. But since the main antagonists were eliminated, all she was left was the void of hatred towards them.
Realizing that there was no way she or anyone else could receive justice and take revenge for all the lives that were taken away, her only purpose became the peace. And she was fully content with that.
Now she lived in the outskirts of Konoha, close to the forest, surrounding the west side of the village. Her home was a small, but cozy house, which she shared with her brother and father. She loved training in the silence of the wood or just walking through it, calming her thoughts among the tall, long-living trees.
There was a meadow, not far from her home, where she often visited for just sitting there and thinking. Sometimes she drew because it calmed her.
Ever since the war ended everything was really peaceful and the mission shinobi were sent, were far safer and not that complicated as before. Jakushi Katoka was part of Team 3, whose sensei was a woman, named Akemi. Akemi was a kind woman, always laughing. She was a good friend and advisor to Jakushi, being a part of the team in which her mother and father took part.
Akemi often said that in the moment her parents met, there had been an almost magnetic attraction between them and Akemi's been really happy for them. She'd been close to Jakushi's mother and was somehow sadder after her death. Anyway, Jakushi was honored to have her as a sensei.
In the meantime, Team 3 was a perfect... or rather a symmetrical nightmare for Jakushi. The worst possible combination of characters in one place, the Takahiro brothers were a great pain. Years had passed and she still couldn't get used to them, who constantly pushed her to the limits of her patience. Matter of fact they were quite useful, wresting her out of her deep thoughts, but mostly they were just annoying. The more the years, the annoying they became.
Takumi Takahiro was the noisier of them both and the magnet for girls. The usual picture around him was of at least five girls, trying to get his attention, a gift of his sea-blue eyes. That was, however, not the only thing he dragged with, he had a talent for making people laugh and amused with ease.
Jakushi knew him well, she had never seen him all alone, with his thoughts, but if that were to happen, things got dangerous. Luckily his hyperactivity made him to be quick and to prevail in battle. He used his chakra skillfully in the sphere of had mastered Chakura Kyūin Jutsu, which allowed him to absorb the chakra of his opponent only with a touch of his hand. Flying Thunder God Technique was his priority, allowing him to move with incredible speed.
Kioshi Takahiro was the absolute, although the identical, antipode. He was quiet and calm. Hard to talk with. He spoke only with his brother and sometimes with Jakushi. In the little and brief conversations with her, he was careful and listened with interest. She wasn't sure what was the cause of that introvert nature, but was sure in one thing - he was no way inferior to his brother in a fight.
Fighting was not as exciting for Kioshi as it was for his brother, but it was a surely pleasant activity. Kioshi was a passionate admirer of the elements of nature and the combinations between them. Most often he used them in battle, but his katana was a deadly part of his tactics too.
Despite all, Takahiro were fearsome opponents and when they fought together on one side, few could defeat them. Besides they were an incredible view. They needed no Cloning Technique. Once Jakushi even tried to draw them and it ended with arguments from Kioshi's side what kind of time-wasting activity that was and frantic laughter from Takumi, who teased his brother instead of staying still.
Life in Konoha was always interesting for Jakushi, but it seems that place was doomed to not find lasting peace. And just when everyone thought that things were fine once and for all, when the war ended, times changed again.
Although, as everyone, Jakushi was happy that the war was over and the peace between the clans was restored, she didn't find peace. There was some kind of a negative afterglow, anxiety that chained her and woke her in the nights. She often dreamt of her mother, battlefields, screams, ashes, death. These nightmarish images didn't leave her mind day and night.
But it wasn't death that worried Jakushi, no. It was actually a shadow in the periphery that was always there. It was some kind of an oppressive, possessive, living darkness that allured her eyes and she forgot everything else in the dream. Like a wound that always reminded of itself with pain.
The hundreds of times she had dreamt of it helped her to discern it. It was a bird. Ebony black bird. Everything was too blurry for her to see something more than contours. The feeling was so familiar, but every time she woke up, it sunk into her and she could neither forget it nor run away from it.
She woke up with the feeling once again. As always, she hastened to get up, get ready and go straight to the hospital of Konoha, still hoping that taking some actions would distract her from the unpleasant thoughts. Actually, the work at the hospital was her personal wish after Tsunade taught her all the healing techniques she needed to know, even the ones that could turn this knowledge into a destructive force.
Now everything she could do is to train with her team. And even that didn't happen as often as she wanted to so she made the decision to not waste her time and help in the hospital as much as she can. That was felicitous and meaningful.
When she finally arrived, Tsunade was nowhere to be found, but that was probably because it was too early. Jakushi left her things in one of the lockers and before even closing it, she heard the door to the room for the functionary open sharply.
"Jakushi! I found you!" It was Sakura that flew into the room and jumped on her neck, hugging her tightly.
"Who are you and what did you do with my Sakura?" Jakushi narrowed eyes. Hugging and screaming weren't typical for her friend. Not at all. Never. Only if it wasn't about something... more special.
"He's coming back!" Sakura retreated a little, still holding Jakushi's hands. Her bright green eyes sparkled, almost teared up with happiness. She had slight blue circles around them and her hair was a pink mess. Obviously, she hadn't slept the whole night.
She took out something that looked like a note, on which had been scribbled a quick message.
"Kakashi-sensei gave it to me today, said that a carrier bird had arrived very early in the morning.
Jakushi took the note and read it.
"We're heading back to Konoha.
No lead found.
S.U."
"That's wonderful. I'm glad." Jakushi took Sakura's hand and gave her the note back with a smile.
Sasuke Uchiha was a great example of what one shouldn't fall in love with. At least that was what Jakushi thought of him until a year when he decided to cease her friend's agony. Matter of fact nothing actually happened, since the war ended he was always gone and Jakushi felt awful, seeing Sakura in an almost ten-year fight for a bit of his attention. Everything that Sakura had was a promise from his side and Jakushi wasn't sure if he's not downright blind to not see her affection.
The truth was utmost clear and there wasn't a person who knew Sakura and not aware. She lived for him. Jakushi had studied and watched carefully that behavior and was certain that he was detrimental to her health. She would literally become ill if he wasn't in front of her eyes for a long time. But that was how things were and nobody could change them.
Jakushi knew that Naruto and Sasuke still hadn't found Kabuto Yakushi and also not every Akatsuki member was found and caught. Luckily for her, different teams took turns to search for any traces and one of these teams was hers, being extremely effective and reliable in such missions. Perhaps now there was a possibility for her team to go on a mission and that was one of the best things to ever happen.
"He never stays for long." Sakura was heart-broken.
"Sakura, there are patients in this hospital that might want to sleep." Tsunade's voice pierced the silence and the girls simultaneously turned to the door.
"Tsunade-sama." Both nodded and smiled.
"I'll wait for you in my office." She reminded with an imperative tone and shut the door.
Jakushi and Sakura looked at each other, almost laughing. Sakura left her bag in her locker and Jakushi looked at her watch, peering into the frame. No, it was actually the black second hand that her eyes followed. It hypnotized, reminding of itself intrusively second after second.
"Jakushi? Everything alright?" Sakura asked.
Jakushi startled as if awoken from a dream and smiled to Sakura.
"Yes, everything's fine." She lied, but when she met Sakura's doubtful eyes, didn't withstand. "Well... not really."
Sakura dragged her on the bench near them and almost with a brute force made her sit, she next to her.
"Tell me what's going on," Sakura demanded.
Jakushi smirked at her friend's authoritative character. Then sighed.
"I have these dreams, but in all of them, I see a bird. Terribly dark scenery with a black bird. I don't see it clearly but it's there. Always." Jakushi murmured quickly.
"Wait, wait, what dreams? Black bird?" Sakura repeated in confusion.
"Yes. Look, doesn't matter, it's best if we go now. Tsunade is waiting." Jakushi was just about to get up, but Sakura stopped her.
"Wait. Why haven't you told me about this before?"
"Because it's ridiculous. All of this could be a symbol. Death. Danger. Or just my brain acts insanely, repeating the war as a broken gramophone in my subconscious. Who knows?" Jakushi laughed, but Sakura remained serious.
"I don't like this. You know that everything can turn against you."
"Nobody is using a genjutsu on me if that's what you're worried about."
"But you suffer it mentally. Dreams are being dreamt and forgotten. Eventually, can repeat. Sometimes. That is not normal."
"Come on, it's not as what you're making it. You wanted to know what worries me. Now you know. Let's not waste any more time, can we?" Jakushi stood up and went to the door.
Sakura looked way too worried, but followed her friend through the door nevertheless.
A/N: Heya! Thanks for reading, glad to have you as a reader. So, I have a few things to say before I do this.
First, my OC is based on a friend of mine who wished me to write an ItachixOC for years and she has allowed me to steal her identity. There are a few more OCs, but I'd use a lot of the original characters too.
Second, that's like a main ItachixOC and a subtle SasuSaku story, just so you know.
Third I'd like to warn that I'm not a fast writer, but I try my best not to disappoint and ask for forgiveness every time I am late with an update. Perhaps the fact that I've written the first ten chapters is a comfort of some kind for you.
I really hope you'll like this one. I know there are hundreds of ItachixOC stories but I couldn't help it. I still feel like there are not enough stories about him. He's undoubtedly one of the most complicated characters ever created and I'd like to explore that.
That's all! Until next time.