Author´s note: So this first chapter is actually the preface, prologue, whatever you want to call it. I am afraid there is no Sasuke in this chapter, just a mention of him. I wanted to sort of "set the stage" for the whole fic.

I´ve had this idea in my head since I was twelve (yes, really) – I´m seventeen now, by the way – and I´ve never had the guts to really get it out. I love writing, even if I suck at it. And I am really in love with this story. So this is my hundredth attempt to write it. I hope it comes out well; it would be a shame to let it go again.

As for pronunciations, here they are…

Hitomi: He-toe-me

Ami: Ah-me

Nobu: Noe-boo

Fujigawa: Foo-gee-gah-wah

Kimori: Kee-moe-ree

So anyways, I hope you enjoy the read. I hope you understand it. And please, review!

-Luna

Preface: Bloodline

"I see." A man in his late twenties mumbled. His green eyes looked to the ground, deep in thought. He considered what the boy sitting in front of him had said.

Itachi Uchiha, the prodigy, knew exactly what the man was doing; he was searching for the lie. Of course, there was none. The boy wouldn´t have approached the Fijugawa clan otherwise.

He had spent some time learning the history of this diminutive clan. The story, he came to realize, sparked great interest in him. The more he learned of this family, the more tangled he became in the web. But the young Uchiha did not mind being tangled, for his head was clear; he knew exactly why he was here.

The Nentougan was a rare gift, only being seen in this particular clan. To encounter such a gift was something not many ninjas would be able to do, for this gift could only be possessed by one person at a time. There was but one blood line that carried on the Nentougan; and the man who would one day pass it on sat across the table from Itachi.

Nobu was the clan leader, and although he was young, he was wise. Itachi watched as the man looked up, green eyes meeting Itachi´s own dark orbs.

The older man smiled at the boy. "It seems you Uchiha´s will never seize to surprise me." The man reached over to the pot of tea sitting on the table and began serving the hot liquid. Steam rose up from both tea cups. "I trust you, young Itachi, I truly do: for as you may know, I am able to tell whether or not you are lying to me. Such is the power of my Nentougan." Nobu handed the tea cup to Itachi. "But you must understand one thing. Even if I know your words are true, I cannot be sure of your motives. Please, I would much appreciate to know your reasons for approaching my family for this particular matter. You must be aware that we are not a very powerful clan."

The young Uchiha simply nodded. With his eleven years of age, Itachi had seen more of the world than most adults. His skills had already reached a Jounin level. "I understand your doubt; I would react the same way if my enemy´s child were to approach me in such a manner."

"Oh, no, Itachi, you are not my enemy´s child. Your father is not my enemy." Nobu smiled warmly. "We were both simply at the wrong place, at the wrong time."

Itachi nodded. "Of course, Fujigawa-sama." The boy took a sip from his tea. "Then I shall explain myself." His dark eyes locked with the man's. "I have but one wish, one dream. And as simple as it may seem, it is not. I dream of maintaining the peace within our village. I have come to realize that is my sole purpose in life. And I find it quite ironic that my own father is the person who wants to destroy that peace." Itachi took another sip from his tea. "But nevertheless, blood relation or not, I will do what is necessary to keep the order."

Nobu´s expression turned hard. "Are you truly willing, young Itachi, to betray your family, your own flesh and blood, to spare other, insignificant lives?"

Itachi´s own boyish features darkened. "If the lives of our civilians are insignificant to you, Fujigawa-sama, then you are not the man I thought you were." He sighed. "But yes, I would be willing."

The Fujigawa leader could feel Itachi´s pulse, even if there was more than a few feet of distance between them. It was obvious to him immediately that the boy was honest. Nobu was testing him and his loyalty, so he continued questioning the boy. "I am aware that you have a brother, my friend. I heard he has recently turned five. A wonderful age, I´m sure you´ve noticed. Tell me, then, are you willing to sacrifice his life to maintain peace?"

Itachi stiffened.

Nobu simply stared at him with warm eyes as he continued. "What would happen if your brother came between you and your purpose, as you have put it?" The man took a drink from his cup. "Would you end his life?"

"I…" Itachi clenched his fists. "I am afraid I did not imagine that outcome, Fijugawa-sama. I apologize."

Nobu chuckled, immediately lightening the mood. "No need, my boy. I know how hard it is to choose between family and duty. In the end, though, you must do what is right." He finished his last drop of tea. "If you excuse me, young Uchiha, I have a prior engagement I desperately need to attend to." Itachi noticed the softness that melted into Nobu´s emerald eyes. Both males rose from their seats on the ground. Itachi bowed to the older man.

"Thank you for your time, Fujigawa-sama. I am sorry for disrupting." Itachi´s apology was sincere.

Nobu held up one hand, letting him know it was alright, and smiled. "My daughter will understand. Perhaps she will invite you to play with her someday." That was when Itachi realized that Nobu did trust him. If he hadn´t, he wouldn´t have mentioned his family so openly. He wouldn´t have thrown an invitation. Nobu wanted Itachi to come back. Nobu wanted his friendship.

The man began walking to the door. Once he reached to open it, though, he turned to Itachi. "Family is everything. Don´t let yours waste away. Do what you can to stop them, but if that fails, we will speak again, my friend." Nobu looked to the ground at his feet, deep in thought. "Just know that I am not fond of carnage. And I do not wish your family death."

Itachi nodded as the man opened the sliding door and disappeared into the house.

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"Itachi-kun! Itachi-kun!" The little girl skipped into the front door, where her mother, a pale beauty of only twenty-three with a round, pregnant belly, had opened the door for the Uchiha. Itachi´s face softened when he saw the child heading his way.

"Hitomi-chan, what have I told you about running around the house?" The young woman scolded her only child. Her azure eyes stared expectantly into Hitomi´s blue and green ones.

Little Hitomi crossed her arms and pouted. "I could slip and fall and get very, very, very hurt." She turned her different colored orbs to her mother, pleading. "But Itachi-kun is late!"

"I apologize, Hitomi-chan." Itachi kneeled down in front of her and ruffled her hair. "I had some things to do."

"You always have some things to do." The girl whined.

Her mother chuckled lightly, a sound similar to wind chimes in autumn air. "Leave Itachi-kun be, he did come, after all." The woman stepped to the side and smiled at the Uchiha. "Come on in."

Itachi bowed to the lady of the house and stepped inside. "Thank you, Ami-san." He felt a small tug at his hand and looked down to see Hitomi trying to pull him.

"I made tea for us! And lots and lots of sweets! Well, Mommy made the sweets, but I made the tea!" She exclaimed happily.

"Is that so?" Itachi allowed himself to be pulled along. Ami closed the door behind them and followed. "All by yourself?"

"Yep!" She beamed her toothy grin up at him.

It had been a year since Itachi had first approached the Fijugawa clan. Back then, he had come to them for aid, for their support. After all, it had been Nobu who had first discovered his father´s plans to rise against Konoha. Itachi had taken Nobu´s advice and had tried to make his father see sense, but of course, the Uchiha leader shook off his elder son, just as easily as he would swat off a fly. Itachi came to realize that his father would never come to his senses, so he returned to the Fujigawa compound.

Nobu understood immediately when he saw the Uchiha come up the steps of his home. The Fujigawa leader had been sitting on the porch along with his wife, looking at their only child with adoration as she chased a butterfly around the garden. Itachi had never seen so much love in a father´s eyes, although that wasn´t too shocking, seeing as Fugaku demanded his sons to be the best and only demonstrated pride, not love. Mikoto was a lot like Ami; both sweet and simple. Both young and beautiful. Both full of love for their children.

Before Itachi could get a word to Nobu, a flash of caramel locks had danced in front of him. The child that blocked his path was small, with a pair of different colored eyes; the right was blue, like Ami´s, while the left was green, like Nobu´s. Her skin was as pale as snow, but her smile was as warm as the sun. The little girl had bowed ungracefully to Itachi and introduced herself. "Fujigawa Hitomi, it´s a pleasure to meet you. Would you like to play with me?"

As the year progressed, Itachi had spent much time with the little girl. Nobu could tell that the Uchiha had grown soft for his daughter, and he didn´t mind, either. The Fujigawa leader knew that whatever outcome this silent battle between clans had, Itachi would protect his daughter. That was all he needed to know.

Hitomi skipped down the hallway, tugging on Itachi´s arm. She babbled about all the things they would play today, which Itachi could only smile at. Their tracks were stopped when another woman came into view at the end of the hall. Her hair was the Fujigawa´s signature caramel brown, her eyes green emeralds, and a few wrinkles were taking a hold of her once flawless features.

"There will be no playing today, Hitomi. Today you will study proper manners." The woman said. Itachi had come to know her as Kimori, Nobu´s older sister. She hadn´t made much of a secret of her distaste for Itachi or his family.

"But I want to-!" Hitomi began to complain.

"You have more than enough time to fool around later, today you study." Kimori interrupted.

"I wasn´t gonna fool around!" Hitomi challenged her aunt. "Itachi-kun promised to teach me a new ninja move!"

"Ninja move?" Kimori shook her head in disapproval. "You are a girl, Hitomi, do not disappoint me the way my own daughter has. Women are not meant to fight."

Ami stepped forward, smiling at the elder woman, ignoring the comments. "Kimori-san, would it be possible to skip lessons today. Hitomi-chan deserves-."

"No, you may not have been born into this family, Ami, but Hitomi carries the leaders' blood, and as such, she will learn to behave like a proper lady, not some dirty shinobi. I understand you´re bringing up was different, but I will not allow my niece to be raised as some peasant." The woman took Hitomi´s arm. "As for you, Uchiha, Nobu-sama wishes to speak to you."

Itachi´s onyx irises never left the little girl´s gaze as her aunt took her away. When the door shut, Ami sighed behind him. The Uchiha turned to look at the pale woman. Ami shook her head. "She can be so nasty sometimes," then a smile curled her full lips, "I hear her daughter isn´t speaking to her." As sweet as Ami could be, there was a part of her that darkened. Kimori had a way of bringing out the worst of her. "Should we go see my husband, then?"

Itachi nodded and followed her down the hall. He was surprised when he was led into the bedroom instead of the tea room, where he usually spoke the to Fujigawa leader. As Ami touched the door, she turned back and gave Itachi a sad glance. "He doesn´t want anyone to know about this," she whispered. "We trust you, Itachi-kun, but I have to beg you to keep this a secret."

"I promise." The Uchiha vowed.

The woman opened the door, leading him into the room. Everything was dark; curtains closed shut, keeping away any light. There was a rotting smell in the air. Itachi wrinkled his nose; something smelled like death. Once his eyes came upon the bed, he realized why. Nobu lay in his bed, limp; a strange liquid ran down his mouth. Ami hurried to his side, grabbing a cloth on the way to wipe his mouth.

"Nobu," she whispered as she stroked his brown hair, "Itachi is here."

The weak man made an attempt to rise, but his body would not allow it. He settled for lifting his hand just a few inches and signaling Itachi to approach. As the boy walked closer to the man, Ami rose, touched Itachi´s shoulder and mumbled, "I´ll leave you two alone."

The door shut behind her. The closer Itachi got, the stench got worse. He could make out the liquid´s color now: a strange yellow, almost golden. He heard a chuckle from the pillows. "I look that bad, huh?"

Itachi pulled up a chair and sat at the bedside. "Just a bit."

The next words hit like a giant boulder. "I´m dying." When Itachi didn´t answer, Nobu continued. His voice was rough, and the more he spoke, the faster the golden liquid fell. "My fate has been sealed, and I fear the worse. You probably already know, though, don´t you?"

Itachi nodded. "Word has been given to every Uchiha who is a shinobi. They await orders to bring Fujigawa down."

"Why is it you can never bring good news?" Nobu joked, a strained smile on his lips. "Kimori has been harsher than usual; she blames you for our fate. But it is not your fault, young Itachi. It is mine, for defying your father."

"You did the right thing."

"Sometimes the right thing isn´t the best thing." A cough made Nobu spit out more liquid. He reached for the cloth Ami had left and wiped his face. He saw dark eyes study the substance. "It´s not a disease, neither is it a sickness. I am not ill." Nobu put the cloth away. "My father had the same symptoms, as did my grandfather, on their death beds."

"What is it?" The boy was confused. If it wasn´t a sickness, then what kind of thing could do this?

"The Nentougan." Nobu frowned. "When it came to me, seven years ago, this disgusting substance fell from my mouth. It signals what the ability will perceive. I could tell when someone lied to me, because my ability had to do with that. As it fell from me, it did from my father; only for him, it was his ears. You see, my father was able to hear things no one else could: he could read minds." Nobu leaned into his pillows. "The Nentougan is a coward; it chooses a body where it could live in peace; not abused and with the most years of life. When my father was dying, both Kimori and I sat beside him, waiting for the ability to choose one of us. The chosen one would be the family leader, and it chose me." His frown deepened. "I know my ability may seem weak, but there are parts of it, dark parts, where it can be even more deadly than your Sharingan. If one tries to reach those parts, he could die in the attempt. If the Nentougan feels threatened by its host, it will kill the body where it lies and find a new one. Of course, the body can only be one that carries the bloodline." He looked at Itachi with strained emerald eyes. "I fear for my Hitomi. She is the next in line, but I can´t be certain it will choose her, it´s never chosen a woman before. Besides, it could pick my niece, Hisa, after all. Or even my baby, Koen, but I am still worried."

"I understand," Itachi looked at the man meaningfully. "Whoever inherits it is in grave danger; my father has left order to destroy the bloodline."

"Then I have sealed my family´s fate along with my own. I have been blind," Nobu began to cough again. "Promise me…" More coughs escaped his lips.

"I promise you, Nobu-sama, that I will keep Hitomi safe. No harm will be done to her, even if the Nentougan chooses another." The young Uchiha had never felt so sure of anything else. His heartbeat was racing; he could feel the pressure now.

Nobu smiled then. "Thank you, Itachi."