Ch. 1: There's a certain Slant of light
AN: Testing this out, we'll see how it goes. Getting some fiction practice in.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Every inhabitant of the Ninja World knew of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, and everybody who knew the village knew of its kindness. Many envied the ninja of the village, for the village loved and protected its people, respected their differences and always seemed to have a solution to arising conflict. Blood purges were non-existent, children were fed and housed, people were free to marry who they loved and free to pursue a career of their choice.
Even with so much freedom the village didn't seem to have problems with low shinobi enrollment. The youth loved their lives and many were eager to follow in the footsteps of their shinobi parents. The shinobi on active duty were mostly competent, and they had several aces in their pockets. Civilians and ninja alike were content with their roles, yet, the village still somehow fostered healthy competition. All in all, the village put faith in her people and in teamwork.
At least, that's what most people saw. With the unrest stirring internationally the general masses were oblivious to the interworking of village politics. Shinobi life was not fulfilling, nor glamorous. Conflict among the Hokage and clans and council were rampant. The Uchiha clan had grown too powerful. Fugaku Uchiha had not planned on an additional genius in the clan. His own son, barely ten months' old was already being groomed to lead. There was no denying the boy was already a genius. The way the infant held himself, and always seemed to understand what his parents were saying, and the subtle curiosity that resided in his dark eyes, pure intelligence existed there.
He wasn't the only one who noticed, all the clan heads had heard of the overly mature child born into the clan. Tension grew, nobody wanted the clan to have any more natural advantages, the Sharingan eye was already a blessing. No, Fugaku didn't expect another one. She was born yesterday to a branch member, a bastard. Not fully an Uchiha, but treated as royalty among the clan. The current generation of ninja didn't know of the hidden techniques that lay deep within the clan's bloodline. Nobody had seen a child like her in generations. Female Sharingan was already a rarity, but hers had only every existed in two other women, according to the sparse records kept hundreds of years ago.
You see, it was actually quite simple if you think about it. The reason all the legends say that the Sharingan developed or derived from the Byakugan is because of this rarity. This eye the girl developed was clear like the Hyuuga's but a bit darker, more periwinkle in color. Though her eyes were not entirely like the Hyuuga's, in fact they had pupils, strong, dark large pupils, a characteristic of the Sharingan eye. It appears the genes remembered their Hyuuga roots, and somewhere along he way of her development in the womb, the eyes decided to be a little of both instead of entirely one or another.
The girl, Nanami, was born to her mother Nanako, an outstanding Uchiha woman. She was loved by all the members of her clan as well as many of the villagers. However, during the birth she suffered from severe hemorrhaging leaving the girl orphaned. That's how Fugaku came to be at this meeting with the clan heads, the council and the third Hokage. He silently fumed in his seat listening to the others discuss what should be done with the girl, as if they had any claim over a child from his clan, his blood line. Currently, he was listening to Hiashi Hyuuga explain that he should take the girl into his clan as a branch member seeing as the mother had died.
"Fugaku, do something! Nana-chan's daughter can't live with that teme!" Kushina Uzumaki said. Fugaku glanced towards Kushina's position next to him. It seemed like he would be getting two headaches today.
"What would you have me do Kushina? I'm in a no-win situation here." he said. It was true. Even though the Uchiha's held a lot of power in the village, that power was checked by the other clan heads, and the Hyuuga's had a bone to pick with his clan.
Kushina looked at him with a blank look on her face for a moment, then that signature mischievous look appeared on her face. "Well if you and the Hyuuga's can't agree on what to do with her," she paused and confidently turned toward the chattering group in from of her, "I'll take her then!" she said.
The chattering in the room immediately stopped and its inhabitants turned toward the young Uzumaki. "I mean, I am her godmother after all!" she said. "Nana-chan wrote it on the birth registry. I mean typically clan children stay in the clan, but the dispute would leave her with me, dattabane".
Hiashi Hyuuga turned toward the Uzumaki, eyebrows furrowed "You wouldn't properly cultivate her bloodline Uzumaki-san, it would be a disservice to the child." he said.
"I don't think so. When she's old enough I have plenty of friends in the Uchiha clan that would be willing to help her develop her Sharingan, right Fugaku-san?" she asked.
"Of course, and I am sure the Hyuuga may have access if her abilities demand it." Fugaku said.
The third Hokage observed the conversations, his pipe between his lips, and exhaled smoke from his mouth, "I think that is the best compromise we have heard thus far. Do any of the council members oppose this?" he asked.
Nobody spoke up, though most seemed too uncomfortable to disagree with the Hokage or infuriate the passionate jinchuuriki any further. "Alright then," he inhaled, "Nanami Uchiha will be placed in the care of Kushina Uzumaki for the time being, we will reevaluate the situation in a few years' time." the Hokage said.
Kushina's eyes widened and she felt hot tears prick at the corners of her eyes. She pulled her arm up to her face and wiped them quickly away before anyone could see. She looked across the room and saw Minato, staring back at her with a smile on his face. Yes, they would raise Nanami Uchiha together, for Nanako's sake.