All she could hear was the beating of her heart through the pounding in her ears. The pain was something so intense she had broken a couple of teeth from her clenching. There was no way of knowing what was happening to her since her eyes were closed shut. Voices around her felt so close but she couldn't depict the words. Everything was in a blur and all she could do was to keep pushing. She had been a shinobi all her life but this pain was the worst she had felt in years. She gripped the sheets of the bed she was lying on, her toes curled in pain. She knew it wouldn't be much longer before her body would rip under the pressure of this surge of pain. She was about to crack, her mind slowly giving in to despair when she heard a soft noise. It was so faint yet so strong at the same time. The pain slowly died down and she could finally open her eyes. Her vision was blurred but she could see what she had been striving for all along. She heard a little creature cry and she slowly focused her gaze on the baby she was now carrying in her arms. Her green eyes met the infant's black marbles. It smiled at her and she realized at that point that all of this that had happened to her until now was for this exact moment of happiness. (…)
Miyeko looked outside her window. It was still dark outside and the moon was almost gone in the horizon. She rose from her bed and walked to the bathroom where she bathed quickly. It was a typical morning where she had to attend Konoha's Ninja Academy. At 7 years old, Miyeko of the clan Nagaki of Konoha was about to graduate, something that was rare in this village. Her parents were so proud and the whole clan called her a prodigy. She brushed her long black locks and looked in the mirror. Her reflection showed how a seven-year-old girl could already be tired of life. She frowned. No, this is not how she should act. She wasn't tired of life. She was tired of her life. Already at such a young age she felt the pressure of her clan to triumph and to shine like the dawn. She exited the bathroom, put on the black kimono her mother had sown for her and walked down the stairs to join her parents in the kitchen where they had been waiting for her. "Miyeko, there you are. Have you made the necessary preparations for your graduation today?" asked her father.
"Yes Father. The paperwork has been signed." She replied, sitting down next to her big sister, serving herself breakfast. Unlike her, her big sister Kuri had flowing white hair and dark eyes, meaning she had inherited the clan's Gekkei Genkai or secret ability: the use of dark chakra. The Nagaki clan was renowned for using dark chakra nature techniques that terrified the shinobi world. This unnatural energy phenomenon was occurring rarely, in very special individuals and that is why Kuri was one of Konoha's most notable and respected shinobi. At the age of fifteen, she was part of the Hokage's personal guard and a Black Ops operations officer. She was everything Miyeko disliked about the shinobi life: unrealistic expectations and a life that wasn't truly her own. Unfortunately, Miyeko had decided at a younger age that the shinobi way was the sacrifice she had to make to protect the civilians and the people she cared about in this village. Miyeko ate her food silently while her Father smiled at Kuri. "My special girl. I hope your assignments weren't too hard this month."
"I find this time of year boring in the ANBU, nothing special happening." She said in between two bites. The sun was finally showing its beautiful pink colors in the sky, meaning it was time to go. Miyeko slowly got up and thanked her parents for the food. "We're sorry we can't make it today to your graduation sweetheart." Said her mother. "It's been a busy time at the hospital and Ibiki has had your father working on difficult cases lately. I hope you can forgive us." She continued.
"Of course, Mother. I will see you later." Miyeko wasn't surprised her parents couldn't make it to graduation. She walked towards the main door, put on her sandals and headed out. She quickly noticed that her sister was trying to catch up to her. "Miyeko, wait." She said to her. Miyeko stopped and smiled.
"Kuri, you'll be late yourself, what is it?" she asked. Miyeko had always adored her sister and almost pitied her for the way she was being pushed into a life that wasn't her choice. Kuri's long white braids brushed Miyeko's shoulders as they hugged.
"I am so proud of you, Miyeko. I can't believe you're already graduating. You're so young to go on this shinobi path… Are you sure this is what you want?" she asked her.
"I've always followed the path chosen for me. It's unfortunate that it has the be the path of shinobi. I know my destiny. Being a ninja of Konoha… it's what expected of me." She replied. Kuri smiled a fake smile, like she wanted her sister to know that she approved her choice even though it saddened her.
"Please, make sure you don't lose yourself in this shinobi business. Soon, with your amazing talent, you'll climb the shinobi ladder and you might get tempted to lose your spark as a human being. Do me a favor and don't. It would break my heart to see you succumb to darkness, Miyeko. You know of our clan's history, right Miyeko? Those who are born Nagaki are tempted by the shadows yet they see the light in the face of adversity. Never forget that. Here, I want you to have this." She handed her forehead protector to her younger sister, who suddenly bore wide eyes. Her silver and black forehead protector had been the only sentimental possession Kuri had ever kept to herself and Miyeko didn't understand why she was giving it to her.
"But, Kuri! I can't accept that! It was your very first forehead protector!" she was about to push it away but Kuri forced her hand on it.
"I want you to take it. I know I have been away for quite some time now due to work, but with this protector, I can stay close to you and protect you because I'm your sister and that's what big sisters do. Make me proud. Make your clan proud, Miyeko. Mother didn't sow the clan's crest, our rising sun, on your kimono's back for nothing. You may not have the darkness in your chakra like I do, but you can find light in your actions. That's your strength. Now, it's time for you to go, you'll be late. I'll see you soon, Miyeko." She kissed her sister on the forehead and disappeared in the morning shadows. Miyeko smiled. Kuri was her aspiration, her hero, her sister. Since they were little, Kuri had taken the blame for their father's expectations and dreams. After all, she would succeed him after his passing as head of the clan and the heir always shines brighter than the rest. As for Miyeko, she had to follow in her sister's steps and try to meet the heavy and unattainable expectations of her clan, of her family, just like her sister did so perfectly. It was clear to her that those exact expectations were just a distant clan dream and that her path would be drawn by her and her only. She looked at the rising sun and knew she'd be late if she didn't hurry to the Academy. She ran to her destination with a brighter idea of who she wanted to be and her smile gleamed in the dawn's light.
When she got to the Academy, the sun was higher in the sky and she saw the many parents waiting outside for their sons and daughters to graduate. Miyeko had made a few friends while she was at the Academy, but no one she could put her trust in sticky situations or confess her secrets to. After all, her parents, her clan wouldn't allow her to play with other children for the fear of her hurting somebody or getting hurt was too much to bear for her mother and would be a great disappointment to her father. Maybe that's why her bond with her big sister was so great: she had been her only friend for as long as she could remember. As she walked through the crowd of parents, Miyeko bumped into a strong, tall man with black hair. "Oh, I'm sorry, sir." This man looked at her with his onyx eyes. Miyeko felt threatened for a moment, but when she noticed the Uchiha crest on his kimono, she smiled. After all, the Nagaki and Uchiha had been allies for a while, her sister had told her.
"Aren't you the Nagaki girl that's graduating?" he asked. She smiled politely. Of course, the crest on her back gave her away.
"Yes. My name is-"
"I know who you are, Miyeko. My son talks to me about you all the time. He tells me you have exceptional talents, speed and stealth being your strong suits. He told me he enjoyed sparring with you and that you proved to be an 'interesting challenge'. Doesn't surprise me coming from the Nagaki." Miyeko blushed. He couldn't mean this son, could he? This boy who came in first in their class, outclassing her by just this little bit… Itachi Uchiha, the Uchiha clan's next prodigy, talked about her?
"I hope Itachi and I can continue to be an inspiration to each other to keep improving." She said politely. She noticed the Chunnin teachers were coming outside to greet the graduates and Miyeko bowed politely to Fugaku Uchiha while walking back to her group. Immediately she searched in the distance the boy who praised her to the Uchiha like she was his equal. "Miyeko, there you are! We were waiting for you!" said her teacher, inviting her to join the rest of the group inside. "Where are your parents, Miyeko? I was expecting to see your Father today." Miyeko's smile disappear.
"Father had to assist Ibiki-sensei today. Mother couldn't escape the hospital. I came alone." She said. The other kids started building around as they were ready for the ceremonies of graduation. Her Chunnin teacher frowned. "You have to be accompanied by a parent or a guardian to be able to graduate, Miyeko… I'm sorry." He said to her. That's when Miyeko realized that even though she had all of the tools to be a shinobi, the only weapon she was missing was support from her own family. She sighed and was ready to be removed from the ceremony when somebody tapped her shoulder from behind. Miyeko's intuitions were always correct and she could feel every single element in this room that held chakra but never sensed this person coming from behind her. She smiled and turned around. "Kuri!" she beamed at her sister and Kuri nodded at the teacher.
"I'll vouch for her today. Thank you, Adamei-sensei." Adamei-sensei nodded. "It's good to see Konoha's Shadow Dweller back in this school." The rest of the ceremony was a blur to Miyeko, who was only too happy to see her favorite person in the world walking with her to receive her forehead protector on this special day. When her name was called to meet the Third Hokage, she followed her big sister and bowed alongside her to the leader of the village of Konoha respectfully.
"Ah, Nagaki Miyeko. I had been waiting for you. I see Kuri will vouch for you today. Excellent. Here, come and receive the proof you're a true shinobi of this village. Here today I present to you your forehead protector. I hope you have a long and successful career as a shinobi, Miyeko." He presented her a standard forehead protector and Miyeko smiled politely, like she was so used to doing.
"I have a special request, my lord Hokage. I wish to become a ninja of this village wearing this particular forehead protector, please." She said, handing over the forehead protector that her sister gave her earlier today. The Third Hokage laughed and looked at her. "This one is old and used, my dear." He said to her.
"Yes, lord Hokage. This is exactly why I want this one to graduate with. My life as a shinobi of this village will also be bearing cuts, dents and will be dulled with time. It will give me inspiration to carry the heavy duties of my choice. It will be a difficult life with strides and hardships. This shiny and untouched forehead protector means nothing to me." She explained to him. Hokage smirked and laughed a little.
"Sometimes, I wonder if you really are seven years old, little girl. You and your parents must be proud, Shadow Dweller." He said to Kuri. "Yes, very, lord Hokage." She said, bowinf down in respect to the most powerful shinobi of this land. The Third Hokage blessed her forehead protector and handed it over to her.
"Congratulations, Miyeko. You are Genin now." He said, his old and raspy voice echoing in the room. Miyeko accepted his blessing and Kuri held her by her shoulders lovingly as they left the room. Miyeko looked at her used forehead protector and looked at Kuri. "Thank you, Big Sister."
"There's nothing to thank me for, Miyeko. It's a bitter sweet moment for me to see you graduate so young, actually. You see, it's not a life I would have chosen for myself and seeing you there, so compliant to your future as a ninja of this village, kind of breaks my heart a little. But it's your choice and it's a choice you made on your own. Now, come here." She said, grabbing her old forehead protector and tying it to her little sister's neck. Miyeko looked puzzled. "Why around my neck, Kuri?" she asked.
"The Nagaki never get hit anyway on the head. We're just too comfortable to melt and hide in the shadows." She said laughing. Miyeko also laughed and turned her gaze around to two walking figures heading to the ceremony room. Her eyes widen as she saw what she had been looking for on this day. This kid with long black hair and with porcelain skin was looking straight towards her while walking next to his father. Fugaku also nodded at her while a rare smile. The young boy with dark almond eyes looked straight in her direction and she blushed, surprised. She noticed how deep his dark gaze was. He smiled at her, making her heart stop a little. It was him. Itachi Uchiha.
"Hi." She said and waved back to him. He seemed taken aback by her sudden interest in his presence. Well, that was stupid, she thought. Kuri smirked as she saw her younger sister try to socialize with one of weirdest kids she's met. Itachi Uchiha was, as Kuri knew, an introverted and silent kid that had a lot of problems making friends. It was nice to see her little sister make the first step in them becoming friends. To her surprise, Itachi waved back as him and Fugaku entered the room to meet the Third Hokage. Fugaku Uchiha wasn't a person who commonly acknowledged children from other clans but had noticed her younger sister… That raised doubts in Kuri's mind right away.
"Well, are we going home, Kuri? You know you'll get in trouble by Mother and Father for ditching your mission today to come here, right?" she asked her big sister. Kuri was too preoccupied by the switch in attitude of the Uchiha boy and father towards her little sister to acknowledge Miyeko's question.
"Uh, sure. I'll figure it out. Don't worry about it." She said as they both walked out of the Academy, walking side by side. Miyeko was beaming and wearing her forehead protector proudly while Kuri frowned. She would have to have a talk with her parents soon about Miyeko, she feared. She wouldn't mention anything to Miyeko for now. It was her special day after all. They walked together in the sunlight back to the Nagaki compound, Kuri walking with her little sister on her shoulders, both of them smiling.
Two days had passed since the graduation ceremony and Miyeko woke up with the sun's rays shining on her face. It certainly had been a few interesting past days. Kuri declined all of her missions to train Miyeko and her parents were furious at her older sister for that. Kuri was the pride of the small Nagaki clan and her dismissing her duties to take care of her little sister seemed irresponsible and was even endangering the clan's reputation. But Kuri didn't seem to mind all this negative attention. She focused her energy on Miyeko mastering her shadow shuriken techniques before she was put in a Genin team. They had been training for the last forty-eight hours intensively for Miyeko to have mastered some of the kunai and shuriken techniques passed down from their Nagaki ancestors and Kuri knew this would help Miyeko blend into the shinobi world. Of course, Kuri couldn't teach all that she knew, all that self acquired knowledge of her own powers since Miyeko didn't possess her bloodline limit. She couldn't understand the use of dark chakra and how to manipulate it. Thus, Kuri limited herself to teach her the basics, which Miyeko mastered almost immediately. "I never knew you learned this fast, Miyeko. You'll catch up to me in no time!" said Kuri before tucking her sister into bed last night.
"I want to beat you one day, Kuri. Even if it takes one hundred years. I'll prove I can do it without our clan's powers and with only my wits and effort." She said, tired but still smiling. "One day, I will hand over the flame of my knowledge to you Miyeko. Until then, stay a kid and learn your way of ninja." That night, the moon was the witness to Kuri's promise.