I'm just saying this well… I wanted this to be a one-shot, but obviously I wanted some ideas from you readers about how you want it to be… so… I'm posting this first to see your comments. It will take quite a long time for me to write this. It is highly possible I will write a sequel too. So now, enjoy this! I'm a very lazy writer.
Summary: A simple cursed seal from the snake sennin placed a full stop on the noble clan, the Uchiha and separated the two. ItachixOC
Disclaimer: The anime Naruto is not my property.
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Start of a Dream
"Senko-nee-chan, you're back!" A cheerful voice ringed into the ears of the young Uchiha. The long-haired female Uchiha wearing an ANBU mask who had just stepped through the gates turned and looked at the bright young boy running up to her. Even though the boy could not see the young ANBU's face, he was sure that she was smiling.
"My, Sasuke-kun, you had grown so much in these three months!" The female ANBU smiled and hugged the child tightly. Sasuke smiled brightly.
"Nee-chan, aniki seems to be unable to focus on anything ever since you were 'lent' to Kirigakure for those 3 months!" Sasuke smirked evilly as he revealed his aniki's 'dark' secret.
"Oh, no wonder I was sneezing the whole day," A male voice cut in and Sasuke suddenly found himself being lifted by his collar and facing an older, male Uchiha's face. "Didn't they teach you not to talk about other people behind their back in school?"
"Come on, Itachi. It's not like you didn't talk bad about Asuma-san when we went on a mission together," Senko laughed. Itachi muttered something under his breath.
"Aniki, can you put me down now?" Sasuke begged.
"Where's the magic word?" Itachi teased. Sasuke growled.
"Aniki, can you PLEASE put me down!?" Sasuke asked again. Itachi smirked and placed his little brother back on the floor.
"So, Senko how's your mission?"
"They made me clear a whole list of missing-nins consisting of about 30 names," Senko answered grumbling. "They were spread all over the country!"
"That should teach you how hard the job of hunter-nins is," Itachi smirked, "and how much you should appreciate the Hokage-sama for putting you as an ANBU and not hunter-nin." Senko's face saddened when Itachi mentioned the Hokage.
"Senko, don't you think you should take that mask down?" Itachi could feel how nervous Senko was when he asked.
"It's the rule of ANBU to keep their mask on."
"I'm familiar with the ANBU rules too. The rule is only applied while on mission." Without waiting for the female Uchiha's reply, Itachi swiftly pulled the mask down. Senko's face was as beautiful as ever, excluding a visible scar under her right eye.
"Who did that to you?" Itachi asked quietly. Senko did not reply.
"I repeat, who did, that to you?" Itachi lowered his voice to a dangerously low tone.
"A missing-nin slashed me with his katana when we were fighting." She could not tell Itachi who was the real culprit. Itachi was obviously too smart to buy that.
"I want nothing but the truth," Itachi said simply and sent Senko one of his looks.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not allowed to tell. The ANBU are well-trained in bearing with pain so I hope you know that it's no use to torture me."
Itachi saw the determination in her eyes and decided not to persuade her. 'It must be something horrifying.'
"Aniki, can you teach me some new shuriken techniques?" Sasuke asked innocently. Itachi beckoned to Sasuke who happily ran towards him.
"I'm sorry Sasuke, maybe another day," Itachi said while poking his forehead. Sasuke muttered something about his brother which he heard and frowned at.
"Where did you learn all those vulgarities?"
"Well, I overheard some of the chuunin scolding each other," Sasuke answered truthfully, even though he did not understand what did Itachi meant by vulgarities. 'Wow, nice job Konoha chuunins. You corrupted my brother,' Itachi thought with sarcasm.
"Erm, why don't we go and find Mikoto-san?" Itachi said nothing. Senko gave Sasuke a piggyback ride home.
"Nee-chan when are you marrying aniki?" Sasuke suddenly asked. The young fiancée of the Uchiha prodigy blushed and ignored Sasuke. 'I wish I can, but it shall never happen…'
"Sasuke, don't bother Senko," Itachi said coldly. Silently, Senko thanked Itachi. Sasuke sulked but he did not say anything. The three Uchiha reached a gigantic mansion with a low wall surrounding it. Itachi gave the door a light push and went into the estate. Senko followed with Sasuke beside her. They took off their ninja sandals and went to the main room of the household.
"Ah, Senko-chan, what a pleasant surprise visit from you," A beautiful lady with long navy hair and beautiful onyx eyes recognized the pretty young ANBU.
"Good day to you, Mikoto-san!" Senko said cheerfully.
"Seems like you got a pretty bad scar there, come here, I will make it disappear for you," Mikoto said with a frown (Note: I'm not sure if Itachi's mother is a medic-nin, but in my story, she is) when she saw the scar on her right cheek. Senko obediently walked over to Mikoto and Mikoto's hand glowed a faint blue light. Senko's scar did not disappear; it was still on her face.
"Hmm, that's strange. It won't disappear!" Mikoto frowned. 'A scar that doesn't disappear when Okaa-san tries to heal it is one caused by an extremely powerful Jutsu, but that scar is so small, how could it be?' Itachi thought. 'No, wait, a scar caused by weapons with chakra poured into it will never disappear…that means it can also be caused by someone who has great chakra control…that's it. Someone who has great chakra control poured his or her chakra into a sharp weapon; likely a kunai, sword, katana or even his or her nails and slashed Senko's face.'
"It's alright Mikoto-san, it doesn't matters whether I have the scar or not," Senko said politely.
"There's no need for such formalities, call me Okaa-san, you are Itachi's soon to be bride!" Mikoto exclaimed, putting a blush on the younger female Uchiha's face.
"Hai, Okaa-san."
"Now, I'm just about to prepare lunch for these two hungry boys, would you like to help me, Senko?" Mikoto asked with a big smile.
"Sure, Okaa-san," Senko replied happily; it had been a long time since she had been into the Uchiha's kitchen. Mikoto smiled as Senko followed her into the kitchen. When Senko and Mikoto disappeared into the kitchen and the sound of chopping, fridge being opened and laughter was heard, Sasuke smirked.
"Hey aniki, you really like Senko-nee-chan don't you?" Sasuke grinned. Itachi was startled by his little brother's question but he did not show it in his face.
"Hn, I'm not obliged to answer you," Itachi replied.
"I'm sorry, you don't like her. You love her!" Sasuke snickered.
"So young and you are already corrupted…" Itachi muttered. Sasuke heard it and was so angry that he tackled Itachi. Itachi smirked and grabbed his brother's small frame by his wrist and threw him down. Soon, they got into a brotherly fight.
"Just wait a moment more and- ITACHI! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Senko, who had just came in and saw Itachi and Sasuke in a fight shouted. Sasuke smirked evilly. 'So that's what he was actually planning, he wants Senko to get mad at me. Smart kid…' Itachi frowned.
"Senko-nee-chan, aniki bullied me!" Sasuke wailed and rushed to Senko. 'I will get you for it later, little brother…" Itachi thought.
"Look, Senko, he pounced on me first," Itachi explained. "I threw him down and he tried to scratch me, that's how we got into a BROTHERLY fight." Senko did not seem to buy that.
"Coo, Sasuke, coo," Senko comforted the crying boy. Sasuke turned back and smirked at his brother who frowned at him. 'My dear little brother, I'm so going to get you for it…'
"Sasuke, now be a good boy and say sorry to Itachi, will you?" Senko smiled and told Sasuke. Itachi's smirk came back to his face and he gave Sasuke a victorious look. Sasuke glared at Itachi and muttered.
"Sorry aniki."
'I'm so glad Senko is an intelligent girl. Thank you heaven for blessing me," Itachi thought. "I forgive you." After Senko turned and went back into the kitchen, Itachi's eyes landed on his little brother.
"Sasuke…" Itachi started, and Sasuke had already run into the kitchen in fear. Itachi smirked and lied down on the couch while waiting for lunch.
"Itachi, lunch time," Senko called half an hour later. Itachi was sleeping, but being a light sleeper, he woke up when he heard Senko calling him. 'Why is every single of his action so smooth? Why is he so perfect?' Senko sighed.
Unable to protest, Senko was forced by Mikoto to sit beside Itachi. Senko sighed. Mikoto sat across of Itachi while Sasuke sat beside her. Itachi gasped silently at the amount of food prepared for just 4 people; it was enough to feed a whole village. 'His every move is so elegant…' Senko thought as she moved her chopsticks toward a plate of steamed fish. Ops, Itachi and her chopsticks met each other on the plate. Senko moved her chopsticks away but Itachi's kept on following hers. 'Kuso,' Senko gritted her teeth and kicked Itachi very hard under the table. Itachi was startled but he smirked at Senko. Mikoto and Sasuke looked at the 'battle' and sweated.
Finally, lunch was passed. Senko ignored Itachi and walked to the Hokage tower to report her mission unwillingly. When she reached the Hokage tower, she hesitated to move towards the Hokage's office, but an external force pushed her towards it.
"Ah, welcome back Senko-chan. How was your mission?" The Sandaime smiled. Senko was glad to see the real Sandaime. The Sandaime had treated Senko like his own daughter.
"Hokage-sama… it went well…"
"That's good; you seem rather disturbed, what happened?"
"No, no, it's nothing…" Senko could not tell him.
"Very well then, but remember I will always lend you a listening ear when you need. You are dismissed."
"Thank you Hokage-sama."
Senko walked out of the Hokage tower with a tear-stained face. 'I'm sorry, my clan… I'm too weak.' Senko went back to her own home.
"Okaa-san, I'm back…" Senko called as her voice trailed off.
"My darling girl, welcome back!" Senko's mother smiled and looked at her beautiful child but frowned when she saw the tear stains on her face.
"Now, who's the one who dared to bully my daughter?" Senko's mother frowned. Uchiha Irito was a feared jounin in Konohagakure.
"No… it's… nothing…"
"Now, Senko, don't lie to me," Irito frowned again and said.
"It's nothing, really Okaa-san."
"I trust you." Irito sighed in defeat; she knew that when Senko decides not to tell someone something, she definitely will not. That is one of the reasons why the Hokage-sama trusts her so much.
"Okaa-san, I'm very tired and would like to rest, may I go to my room now?"
"Sure, my darling girl," Irito sighed and said.
"Thank you, Kaa-san." Senko climbed up the stairs and went into her room. Once in her room, she went to take a bath and change her clothes.
'Everything is not going the way I want…' Senko lowered herself into the hot water and thought. 'The world is against me…' Senko sank herself in the water and thought. Sighing, Senko climbed up from the bathtub and dried herself. After it, she slipped into a set of blue pajamas. Her mind was set on something else when she was lying on her bed. 'Sorry, my clan, a week from now I will be carrying out my final mission for Konohagakure.' Unknown to Senko, Irito was reading her mind. 'Whatever happened…?' Irito was bewildered.
Irito was disturbed by what she had read in her daughter's mind. Uchiha Irito is not a member of the Uchiha clan, but a member of the Shizuriki clan. Their kekkei genkai allowed the user to read people's mind without them knowing. Irito suddenly regretted allowing her daughter to join the ANBU. Ever since Senko joined the ANBU, she was stressed everyday. Not knowing what to do, she went to prepare dinner.
"Wake up, Senko," Senko heard a cold voice calling her name. She knew the voice too well and wondered why he is here.
"Itachi, why are you here?"
"Your mother came over to our house and asked my mother, Sasuke and me over for dinner." Senko groaned. It is true that she likes to spend time with Itachi, but with that mission lingering in her mind, she could not face Itachi.
"Itachi, care to go out? I want to change clothes."
"Hn, no."
"Out, I'm warning you."
"No."
"Okaa-san, Itachi refused to get out of my room!" Senko shouted at the top of her voice. Itachi frowned and disappeared, when he sensed the killing aura of Uchiha Irito coming upstairs. Senko heard the sound of kunai slicing through the air and the sound of the air being cut by the swift movement of several somersaults. After a while, Senko came down wearing a simple purple dress with her hair tied loosely into a ponytail with a lilac ribbon. She sat down beside Irito and the dinner began. After dinner, Itachi pulled Senko out to the garden, ignoring her struggles.
"You seem to be bothered even before you were lent to Kirigakure," Itachi stated coldly.
"…" No reply. Senko knew she can never hide anything from the genius Uchiha.
"Tell me, what happened?" Itachi asked with his eyes and voice softening.
"No, I cannot tell…"
'That old man definitely has something to do with this.' Itachi thought when Senko refused.
"You won't even tell me?" Senko suddenly found herself in a loose hug with Itachi, and Itachi's mouth was inches from her neck.
"Wow Itachi, I never knew you makes out with logs? This will be such an interesting piece of new for your fan girls," Senko smirked, standing inches away. Itachi growled gently and threw the log down. Senko felt Itachi's lips pressing against hers; she relaxed and deepened the kiss while wrapping her arms round Itachi's waist. After a while, Itachi broke the kiss and asked Senko again.
"Now, will you tell me?"
"I wish I can, but I can't, sorry Itachi."
"Hn… there is a way which you can make up for it…" Itachi smirked.
"Guess I better prepare for some 'mission impossible' from you…"
"No, it's really very easy. Just go and walk around in town for one round, disguising as Orochimaru." Senko's eyes hardened when Itachi mentioned Orochimaru.
"You are sending me to suicide."
"I was joking. What I really want is," Itachi paused for a while, "Is for you to go to the Celebration of The Festival of Flowers this weekend, with me." Itachi turned away. Senko looked up in surprise. 'I wonder what it is that she cannot tell me… usually she will even tell me the details of even secret assassinations…'
"Ok…"
Senko thought about what happened three months back.
"Hokage-sama, did you call for me?" Senko asked cheerfully.
"I have another beyond S-rank mission for you after you return from Kirigakure."
"Really…? What is it?" That caught Senko's attention. Senko had an interest in all S-ranks missions.
"The mission is called: 'Elimination of the Uchiha clan'." Senko nearly fainted.
"WHAT? YOU WANT TO ELIMINATE MY CLAN?" Senko shouted.
"I want YOU to do it." The Third smirked. Senko finally realized the Third is not as good and as kind as what the other people described him as. He was just another sinister character. Then, something hit Senko.
"You are afraid that the Uchiha clan will grow so powerful that they eventually overpower you, aren't you?" The Hokage had a look of shock on his face but the look disappeared in a second.
"You are very smart, Senko."
"Hokage-sama, I won't kill my clan. If you insist, I shall end my own life," Senko threatened. Suddenly, Senko was frozen on the spot. The Third stood up and bit his index finger. 'No… a cursed seal…!' Senko shouted in her heart. The Third wrote three lines of words on her left arm and they disappeared when the Third finished writing.
"I have marked you with an invisible cursed seal; it will only appear when you are fatally injured or going to die so doesn't think about telling anyone about it, all you Konoha fools know are those visible cursed seals. The cursed seal will force you to obey me and it won't allow you to suicide. It will automatically make you carry out the mission in one week time; so enjoy the one week period. The seal will only disappear after that night."
"Hokage-sama, you are far more sinister than Orochimaru himself…"
"Am I?" The Third smirked. Suddenly, the whole environment changed. Senko realized that this is all a Genjutsu she saw the face of Orochimaru, the snake Sennin. The white wall of the Hokage's office turned into the wall of a cave. Orochimaru sliced Senko's right cheek with a kunai glowing a pale purple and tasted the blood on the surface of the kunai. Blood started to flow freely from the fresh cut and Senko fainted there.
"Senko, are you awake?" Senko snapped back to reality when she heard Itachi's voice. 'But the cursed seal is real…'
"Hai…"
"Senko, it's getting late, I'm going home now. There's a special ANBU meeting tomorrow morning. I will wait for you at your doorsteps at 8am, don't be late," With that, Itachi disappeared. Senko sighed and stared at the place where Itachi stood just a few seconds ago. The wind picked up and started blowing stronger and stronger, twirling her hair.
"I'm sorry, Itachi…" Senko whispered with teardrops threatening to fall. The lilac ribbon holding her long navy blue hair in place was undid by the strong wind and was carried away by the wind, swirling in the air. Senko turned and went indoors, forgetting about her lilac ribbon. When Senko went indoors, the wind stopped and her lilac ribbon landed on the patch of glass where she stood just a second again. Senko walked up the stairs and went into her room. She picked up a kunai on her dresser and tried to press the kunai against her main blood vessel on her wrist but they repelled each other as though they are the like poles of two magnets facing each other.
"I don't want to…" Senko whispered to herself.
The Next Morning
Senko did not sleep that night. When her alarm clock ringed; signaling that it is 7am, Senko sat up on her bed. She slipped into her full ANBU uniform and picked up her mask which was lying on her dresser, beside the kunai which she had tried to kill herself with last night.
"Good morning, my dear girl," Uchiha Rai the proud father of Konoha's Weapon Mistress, Senko greeted his daughter with a smile on his handsome face. Senko smiled weakly.
"Morning, Father…"
"Good morning, nee-chan!" A bright voice exclaimed. Senko turned around and saw her little sister, Uchiha Haiko looking at her.
"Good morning my little princess," Irito smiled. 'Yes, what I read must be a result of her stress.'
"Good morning Okaa-san." Senko smiled and then turned to Haiko. "Haiko, why aren't you home last night?" Senko frowned and asked, remembering she did not see her seven years old sister last night.
"I was at my friend's house for a slumber party," Haiko giggled. "We were celebrating Kiri's birthday!"
"I see…" Senko closed her eyes.
"Nee-chan how was your mission at Kirigakure?"
"Thirty missing-nins died under my hands in three months." Haiko was shocked; she knew her sister was merciless when it came to missions but she did not expect her sister to end so many live in just a single mission.
"Rule Number 21 of shinobi, never let emotions gets into your way during missions." Senko said as she took a toast from the plate. Senko looked at the clock, 7.40.
"Father and Mother, I'm going for an ANBU meeting, I will see you later." Senko called out and Rai nodded. Irito smiled as she watched her daughter go out of the door. 'Senko, my dear girl, you are growing up…' Irito thought with a smile. Senko slipped on her mask.
"You're early." Senko was greeted by a male voice outside the gates.
"I don't want to be Kakashi Number 2," Senko replied, referring to how Kakashi never fails to be late. Itachi did not reply but started walking towards the direction where the ANBU meeting area is. Even with his ANBU mask on, Senko was sure that the male Uchiha's face was as stern as always. They reached there within half an hour. Senko looked at the building fondly; she had missed it when she was away in Kirigakure. Itachi and Senko walked in and almost immediately, they heard voices shouting.
"Welcome back, Senko!" A banner suddenly unfolded and the other members of ANBU appeared. Senko was surprised and turned to look at Itachi who looked away.
"Don't look at me, they forced me." Senko chuckled and removed her mask.
"Thank you, my fellow ANBU!" Senko smiled brightly. Senko looked at the banner; it read: "Welcoming Senko Back Party". 'They say we ANBU have no emotions, but I suppose they are wrong.'
"Welcome back Senko!" A male voice greeted her. Senko recognized the voice as Hyuuga Akito.
"Akito-san, it had been such a long time since I last saw you!" Senko shouted and hugged the male Hyuuga tightly. Akito silently thanked his mask which hid his blush.
"Uh Senko, could you please release me? I'm suffocating…" Akito croaked and removed his mask, revealing his pale lavender eyes on his handsome face.
"Ops, sorry Akito-san," Senko laughed and released the fifteen years old special ANBU member. Itachi was standing aside, with three female ANBU members surrounding him. Senko felt jealousy inside her.
"Akito, let's go and eat!" Senko dragged Akito towards the food, pressing her head against his arm. Akito blushed horribly.
"Senko… I don't think Itachi would like you pressing so hard on my arm…" Akito started politely.
"Who cares? He's surrounded by three girls and don't need me," Senko replied. Akito blushed again; he had a crush on Senko for a long time but he also knows that Senko is already engaged to the young Uchiha prodigy.
"I sense jealousy." Senko froze as a male voice tickled her left ear. The three girls who were surrounding Itachi found that their target is missing and saw him leaning very, very close to Senko.
"Are you talking about yourself?" Senko replied, turning to face Akito.
"Hn, we shall see," Itachi replied and walked away, and snaked his arm round a random female ANBU member's waist. 'Grrr… mental torture, damn Itachi!' Senko thought angrily.
"Listen up Itachi, I'm not going to bother about you so do as you please," Senko hissed at Itachi and walked away to rejoin Akito. 'Still won't admit she's jealous? What a hard nut she is…' Itachi smiled, 'but that is one of the points why I love her.'
"Akito, I'm feeling quite dizzy, will you support me?" Senko suddenly felt as if the world was spinning round her.
"Huh, oh, take a rest over there, Senko." Akito helped Senko over to the couch. Itachi felt himself flaring up, but as the good shinobi he is, he did not let it show in his face.
"Senko, are you and Itachi having a cold battle?" Akito asked curiously.
"Why would we?" Senko asked, rubbing her temples.
"You need not hide; I am one of the few who knows that you two are engaged." Senko looked up.
"Well… I'm… jealous that so many girls are attracted to him. I'm also quite fed up when we are in public. When we are alone or with his family he is always so warm and nice. But when we are in public he is just another person. So you get what I mean…" Senko turned away.
"Well, Itachi is the most popular guy in Konohagakure amongst the female. 99 percents of the girls in Konohagakure are after him so I think that you should be glad that you are that lucky 1 percent who's engaged to him!" Akito smiled.
"I guess you are right…" Senko turned away.
"Welcome back, Senko-chan!" Senko recognized the female voice as Aburame Hirju, the bug user.
"Hirju, I missed you when I was in Kirigakure!"
"Heh, you did? I missed you too, but the one who missed you the most was Akito-san!"
"Nay, he's your boyfriend!" Senko teased Hirju. The bug user blushed.
"Everyone knows he likes you!"
"That's what you think."
"Wait till I get some proofs!"
"Forget it, Hirju; care to cancel the Genjutsu?" Senko asked, brushing off a bug from her shoulder and smothering another two on her hand. "Even though it's an illusion, I feel very uncomfortable."
"I was just trying out my Genjutsu on you," Hirju laughed and apologized. Hirju suddenly pointed to the direction where Senko was standing. Senko turned around and had to stifle a laugh. Itachi was being buried by his fan girls who appeared out of nowhere and he had to hold back his killing intentions; he already had eight warnings from the Hokage for injuring his fan girls, even so, his fan girls had never lessened.
"Don't you think you should help your fiancé?" Hirju asked and choked back a laugh.
"No worries, he won't die!" Senko smirked. "He's too smart to be caught by surprise; I bet that's his Kage Bunshin."
"Anyway, if it's really him, he would have killed all those fan girls already. Itachi's patience is a totally pathetic zero. If not, negative!" Senko continued.
"I agree with you on that!"
"I finally know who's the one who taught my little brother to talk bad about people behind their back," Itachi, who had appeared out of the suddenly muttered with sarcasm soaked in his sentence.
"Erm… Hello Itachi?" Senko laughed nervously.
"I think we better get moving, Senko… Itachi's eyes are gleaming with malice…" Hirju gulped.
"If Itachi really plans on killing you, it's no use to run." Senko replied. Hirju realized Senko was stating a matter of fact. Hirju closed her eyes which were hidden behind her sunglasses and waited for the kunai which never came. She reopened her eyes minutes later to find Senko and Itachi talking normally, with no dangerous aura surrounding them. Hirju gave a sigh of relief.
"Hirju, are you going to the Celebration with anyone?" Senko asked, referring to the Celebration of the Festival of Flowers.
"Uh… no…"
"Akito-san didn't ask you?" Senko was surprised.
"Akito said he don't want to go."
"Oh, I see. Wait, give me a moment," Senko flashed a quick smile and walked over to Akito. After a few minutes of private conversation with the male Hyuuga, Senko returned smiling brightly. Akito had this grumpy look on his face.
"Hirju-chan, will you go to the Celebration of the Festival of Flowers with me?" Itachi seem quite surprised while Senko had a look of victorious on her face. Hirju was shocked and elated.
"Yes, I will!"
"Now, if you will excuse me, I would like to go and have a stroll in the park. Thanks everyone for the memorable party and enjoy it!" Senko smiled and walked towards the exit. Itachi followed behind her and glanced back at Akito again. Itachi found it obvious that Akito likes the young female Uchiha when he saw the look of jealousy. He smirked and walked off.
"I wonder; whatever did you tell Akito?" Itachi asked Senko when they were in the park.
"Oh, it's really simple. I know that Hirju-chan likes Akito-san so I made Akito-san play 'Rock-Paper-Stone' with me, after I swore to not use my Sharingan," Senko paused slightly and turned to look at Itachi with a smirk. "But of course I used my Sharingan and used a Genjutsu to cover over it, making it seem as if it's my normal black eyes." Senko smiled. "As a result of losing, Akito-san had to obey an order from me. I ordered him to take Hirju-chan to the Celebration."
"Who will like a bug container?" Itachi muttered to himself but Senko heard it. Senko laughed.
"Please, the Aburame clan doesn't actually use REAL bugs, they are Genjutsu users!" Itachi was surprised. He had fought with several Aburame clan members before but he did not notice that the bugs were Genjutsu. 'And I was deemed a Genjutsu master?'
"You see, Itachi. Their superior Genjutsu skills are so good that even Sharingan users cannot tell that it's all an illusion!" Senko laughed again. "They even spread the rumor that they offer all their newborn infants to bugs as nests."
"I didn't know until Hirju-chan explained it to me. By the way, Hirju-chan is really pretty!" Senko winked. "She has a great body too." Senko added.
"How did you know?" Itachi asked suspiciously.
"Well, I took a bath with her in the female ANBU bathroom one day before our mission," Senko shrugged. "Hirju-chan removed her clothes and sunglasses and I saw that she was really pretty." Senko turned and looked at the male Uchiha. Itachi was staring at the pavement. 'So the pavement is more interesting than me!?' Senko thought angrily. Suddenly, Senko picked up a familiar chakra.
"Hello Senko-nee-chan and aniki!" Sasuke, who had appeared on the pavement waved and ran up to Senko. Senko smiled and hugged the eight years old child.
"Sasuke, what are you doing here?" Senko asked, rubbing his head.
"Well, Kaa-san asked me to find aniki and somehow I figured out he will be here with you…" Sasuke grinned.
"What does Mikoto-san wants Itachi to do?" Senko was curious. Usually it was Fugaku who looks for Itachi; Mikoto usually pays her attention to Sasuke.
"A secret," Sasuke said happily. Senko pouted.
"Aw fine, I will go and find Naruto, I promised him I will visit him as soon as possible, see you two around," Senko disappeared after she completed her sentence.
A few moments later, Senko was outside Naruto's apartment. Senko knocked gently. No reply. Senko knocked again. No reply. Senko pressed her ear against the door and she could hear the soft snoring of someone. Senko laughed. She channeled chakra to her feet and gave the door a kick; knocking it off its hinges.
"Huh, what, who dared to wreck the wall of the Hokage's office!" A blonde-haired boy who had been woke up by the noise with a trail of saliva on his chin, wearing a set of blue pajamas leapt up. It was obvious that he was in dreamland, dreaming about being the Hokage.
"I'm so hurt, Naruto-kun, you don't remember me!" Senko faked a sob and laughed.
"Senko-nee-chan, I had been waiting for you!" Naruto shouted happily. Uchiha Senko was one of the very few people who knew about the Kyuubi sealed in him but viewed him as a normal child. To Naruto, Senko was like an elder sister, a mother to him. She gave him all the care he needed as a child.
"To me, you seem to be sleeping," Senko laughed. Naruto was so embarrassed.
"Nee-chan, did you bring any gift back from Kirigakure for me?" Naruto asked eagerly.
"Oh, now that you mentioned, here's a necklace," Senko smiled and held up a silver necklace with a miniature katana hanging on it.
"Thank you nee-chan it's beautiful!" Naruto shouted. Senko smiled and helped Naruto to wear it.
"Senko-nee-chan, can you please treat me to ramen?" Naruto asked with a huge grin. Senko checked her wallet, and when she gave a smile, Naruto knew the answer.
"Yay, let's go!"
With Itachi
"No," The male Uchiha said simply.
"My dear son, are you really so shy?" Mikoto asked.
"What does this have to do with being shy?"
"If you want to prove that you aren't shy, do it."
"No."
"I didn't know that my son is so shy," Mikoto smiled, knowing that this would get to her son's nerves. Itachi frowned; he hated people mocking him.
"Fine, I will do it."
Itachi strode out of the room and wondered if he had done the right thing. 'God, are you challenging me?' Itachi stepped out of the Uchiha estate and turned towards the direction of the Nakano River. Itachi looked at the calm water and sighed. When he reopened his eyes again, he saw a dark figure standing dangerously close to the edge of the river. By the help of the moonlight, he managed to identify the figure. 'That figure, those clothes, Shisui-san?'
"Shisui, what are you doing out alone so late?" Itachi asked the figure when he was close enough. Shisui turned to look at Itachi with cold, empty Sharingan eyes, but instead of replying, he leapt into the river. Itachi was startled on the first second but he immediately reacted when he recovered from his shock. Itachi leapt into the river without thinking twice. Itachi swam in the water looking for Shisui desperately. 'He had just jumped in… there's only two possibilities why I cannot find him. One, he had never jumped in at all but that's impossible, I saw it with my own eyes, two, he has already…' Itachi was shaking his head at the second possibility. 'No! It takes a human at least twenty second to sink to the bottom of a river as deep as this!'
"You fool, Itachi." Itachi turned to look at the figure still standing at the edge of the river, his Sharingan staring at Itachi. "There's a reason why I'm known as Shunshin no Shisui."
"I see… you used your high speed to flick yourself up and landed on the land, at the point when you touched the water using chakra," Itachi leapt from the water and landed beside Shisui.
"I see you aren't called the genius of the clan for no reasons."
"What good does it give you to trick me like that?" Itachi asked with a cold look. Shisui did not reply, instead, he delivered a blow to Itachi who dodged it easily.
"Are you out of your mind?" Itachi asked quietly.
"I guess I should explain it to you, before you die." Shisui said simply, while holding out a kunai. "I'm not satisfied with my rank in the clan. You are always the first in everyone's mind and the closest I had ever got to my goal was second, second to you. Sometimes I'm even third, with thanks to Senko but that doesn't matters." Shisui paused slightly. "I figured out that if I want to step out the first step of being a legendary ninja, I will have to eliminate you!" Shisui shouted and charged at Itachi with his kunai. Itachi was so shocked by Shisui's answer that he did not move until Shisui sliced his arm with the kunai. "What's more, as a bonus, I will activate the Mangekyo Sharingan."
"Katon: Hōsenka no Jutsu!" At this point, Itachi snapped to his sense and avoided the Jutsu. 'Wait, no… Hosenka no Jutsu is more of a distraction Jutsu which means…'
"Katon: Karyū Endan!" Itachi was hit by the long stream of fire. Shisui smirked and thought that he had won, but he realized that it was not the end yet when he felt that the Mangekyo Sharingan was not activated, even when the a pile of ash disappeared into the wind.
"Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu," Itachi formed forty four hand seals in inhuman speed, despite the cut on his arm and a water dragon rose from the river, heeding for Shisui. Shisui was so stunned that he could not react. Even though he saw the water dragon reaching for him with his Sharingan, he did not move. The water dragon crashed into Shisui and took him into the water. Itachi froze on the spot. He forgot that the water dragon will take its target back to where the water came from. Itachi leapt into the water and dived deep down into the river, trying to find Shisui. His search was in vain as he could not see the body of the older Uchiha anywhere. Itachi returned to the surface, not believing he had just killed his best friend. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his eyes. Itachi looked at his reflection in the water, and saw the three black raindrop shapes in his red eyes combine to form a shuriken shape. Itachi was not a prodigy for nothing. He knew what it was. The Mangekyo, Sharingan.
With Senko
Senko yawned again as she took Naruto home.
"Good bye, Nee-chan!" Naruto smiled happily when they reached his apartment.
"Good bye, Naruto." Senko smiled as she lowered herself to his height and kissed him lightly on his cheek before leaving. Naruto was startled and held his hand at his cheek, shocked and with a heavy blush on his face.
Senko strolled down quiet road and looked at her left arm. It was clean but Senko knew that it is where her cursed seal was written. 'Orochimaru… devil of the Shinobi world!' Senko turned down the road walking towards her house. Senko took out a key and unlocked the door. She went upstairs silently and took a quick shower before changing into a light green nightgown. 'Good night, Konohagakure.'
Senko dreaded the morning Sun. To her, it was a signal that another day is gone and she has just five days left.
"Well, might as well get up…" Senko sighed. She picked up a comb lying on her nightstand and combed her hair before changing her clothes. 'Hmms… let's see…I think I should go shopping. Tomorrow is the Festival of Flowers.' Senko smiled to herself.
Senko walked down the stairs and immediately, a small figure pounced on her.
"Nee-chan, I'm starting the academy today! Can you please accompany me to the academy?" Haiko asked excitedly.
"Didn't the enrolment into the academy end few months back?" Senko asked, surprised.
"Well… I wanted to be enrolled at the start of the year but Dad insisted my abilities are good enough to let me skip a couple of months in the academy and still be in the top grade so I'm only joining now…"
"I see… of course I will! I would love to be known as the proud elder sister of an academy champion!" Senko smiled. 'And I would love to be known as the proud little sister of the strongest female ANBU in this village!' Haiko thought happily.
An hour later
'Isn't that Akito's cousin, Hyuuga Hinata?' Senko thought to herself. 'What a miracle… the heiress of the Hyuuga clan doesn't have any guards around her.' Suddenly, three other Hyuuga appeared behind the shy female Hyuuga. 'Oh, I take my words back. Hmm… isn't that Akito there?'
"Akito, I see you are protecting your clan's heiress?" Senko greeted the handsome male Hyuuga.
"Oh, Senko-chan… yeah… Hiashi-sama of the main family got us to protect Hinata-sama wherever she goes," Akito blushed. This is one of the few times he had seen Senko not in her ANBU outfit.
"Good… good day… Sen…Senko-sensei… I've heard… heard a lot about… you… from Akito-nii-san…" Hinata blushed as she spoke. "He… he says that… you are the… the inspiration… of all of… the village's… female ninjas…"
"Good day Hinata-sama, you will make a fine heiress for your clan, I can see the potential within you!" Senko smiled. Hinata blushed again; nobody had ever complimented her like that before.
"Is that your little sister?" Akito asked.
"Oh, yeah, her name is Haiko. Otou-san always says she has lots of potential and I'm very proud to be her sister," Senko smiled.
"I see. She will grow up to be a lovely kunoichi."
"Kunoichi are supposed to be strong, not pretty," Senko replied sharply. "To be a ninja, one has to care for skills; not looks."
"But nee-chan, you are both pretty and strong!" Haiko exclaimed suddenly. Senko blushed slightly.
"So much word, now in you goes! Make friend with Hinata!" Senko scolded Haiko gently and pushed her towards Hinata.
"Hel…hello…" Hinata greeted Haiko shyly.
"Hello, you are Hyuuga Hinata right? I'm Uchiha Haiko!" Haiko smiled. The other two guards were slacking in a corner.
"Are… are you… related to… Sa…Sasuke-kun…?"
"Who's Sasuke?" Haiko asked.
"He's…he's… the best of…the…the academy…" Hinata stuttered.
"I mean, is he an Uchiha or something?"
"He…he's… Itachi-sensei's little…little brother…"
"Oh, that makes him my soon-to-be brother-in-law. My nee-chan is supposed to marry Itachi in five years time!" Haiko exclaimed cheerfully.
"Oh…" Hinata was surprised.
"Well, I heard a lot about your cousin. Nee-chan always says he's a talented Hyuuga!"
"O…O-tou -san… says… says so too…"
"Haiko, if you don't go in now I'm going to tell Kaa-san!" Senko warned.
"Ok, ok, Hinata-chan, where's the classroom?" Haiko grumbled.
"I…I can… lead…lead you to…the…the classroom…if… you… you like…"
"Pay attention during class and don't fool around! If, I receive complains from Iruka-sensei about YOU doing anything bad, I'm going to punish you!" Senko then turned to Akito. "Akito, can you please go to the shopping mall with me? I need someone to help me carry all the things I need to buy."
"Huh, oh, it will be my pleasure…" Akito could not believe that Kami-sama was so kind.
"Nee-chan, can you pick me up after school later?" Haiko asked brightly.
"Sure." 'Uh… isn't that Sasuke-kun and Itachi there?' Senko thought when she saw the two who had just came in through the gates.
"Hello Sasuke-kun and Itachi," Senko greeted the two.
"Hn," Itachi did not reply, instead he walked towards Senko. 'How can I ever tell her I accidentally killed Shisui?'
"Hello nee-chan!" Sasuke hugged the elder female Uchiha tightly. 'Kami-sama, you aren't so kind after all…'
"Sasuke, so your name is Sasuke! You're here too!?" Haiko nearly yelled when she turned her head back.
"Why, isn't it that little girl whom I won without so much of a flick of my hand…" Sasuke smirked smugly.
"You… you! I demand another duel!" Haiko shouted.
"Wait, Haiko, you two knows each other?" Senko asked, puzzled.
"Nee-chan, when you were away in Kirigakure, there's this particular day when I went to the lakeside." Haiko paused and sent Sasuke a death glare here. "And on that particular day I met that idiot there. He insulted me and we got into a fight, which I lost."
"Senko, I see it's not just me who's stronger than you; even my brother is better than your sister," Itachi smirked, obviously proud of his brother.
"Itachi, don't be so arrogant…" Senko growled.
"Winners have the right to be proud."
"Shut up, you prodigy."
"You admitted I'm a prodigy, Senko-chan."
"You idiot."
"Hn, my grades were far better than you in the academy that time."
"…" Silence. Senko was beaten.
"Hinata, I think we better go in now!" Haiko suddenly said and pulled the Hyuuga heiress into the academy.
"Sasuke, go in now. Be second to none, especially Senko's little sister." Itachi smirked when he saw how tensed Senko was.
"My sister will not lose to your brother."
"She lost to him in a fight."
"That's because she didn't use her Sharingan." Itachi's eyes twitched at the word 'Sharingan'.
"Sasuke didn't use his Sharingan either. True ninjas do not depend on their kekkei genkai; they are just as skilled as they are without their kekkei genkai. A kekkei genkai is just a bonus," Itachi replied calmly. "Those who depend on their kekkei genkai are weaklings." Senko was shocked. 'Is that why he doesn't like to use his Sharingan?' Senko suddenly felt so weak. 'I'm just a weakling… No wonder I couldn't fight against Orochimaru… I'm dependant on my Sharingan…' Senko, who was facing Itachi, turned 180 degrees. 'Kuso… I cannot cry now…' Senko sobbed softly. 'I must have hurt her feelings…' Itachi realized when he heard her sobbing.
"Don't cry," Itachi whispered, his soft voice tickling the female Uchiha's ear and shocking her. Itachi's arms snaked round her waist. 'He heard it…?'
"Sorry for hurting your feelings," Itachi would have slapped himself if he was not Itachi. Sorry? Does that word ever exist in the young Uchiha prodigy's dictionary?
"It's… alright…" The shocked Senko managed to choke a reply. Itachi nibbled at her neck gently before letting go of her. 'Whatever am I doing…? I swear the whole Konohagakure will be heels over laughing if they see me doing this…' Itachi thought. Akito was watching the whole thing and he felt… a sharp pain in his heart. 'How big is the possibility for an Uchiha genius, engaged to the best ninja of Konohagakure, to love me?' Akito thought sadly. 'Guess I should be contented to be just her friend.'
"Senko-san… I suddenly remembered that I have something on this afternoon… maybe you can ask Itachi-sama to help you with your shopping, good bye, and see you around…" Akito said politely and disappeared. The other two Hyuuga guards were puzzled. 'But Hiashi-sama left his schedule completely clean to escort Hinata-sama…'they thought. Score: 2 to Itachi, -1 to Akito.
"I guess I'm left with no choice… Itachi, will you kindly go to the shopping mall with me and help me to carry the shopping bags?" Senko looked at Itachi with pleading eyes.
"Hn," Itachi replied.
"I take it as you agreed. Alright, let's go." Senko smiled brightly.
At the mall
There were things of all kinds; all shapes, all colors, and all types, there were simply everything that you could have ever wanted in the Konohagakure's mall. Senko walked in and was glad when the cold air greeted her. Itachi, on the other hand, was trying to keep his hands to himself. Half of a group of about ten girls were gawking at him with heart-shaped eyes while the other half was glaring at Senko, they were getting on his nerves. Apparently, his so dearest fiancée has not noticed them yet. 'To think she's an ANBU captain, second genius of the clan.' Itachi sighed and sent a death glare at the group of girls who immediately turned away. Itachi turned and looked around for Senko, easily spotting her due to her chakra. She was looking at a beautiful kunai which was clean and untainted.
"A beautiful kunai is one that's used to kill people," Itachi said as he approached Senko.
"All the kunai that you own are beautiful then," Senko replied sharply, still gazing at the kunai dreamily.
"If you really like it so much, I will get it for you." Itachi himself froze on the spot. What exactly had he just said? Senko immediately attacked Itachi who dodged her attack gingerly.
"Senko, what are you doing?" Itachi asked in a low voice.
"Itachi will never offer to buy me anything," Senko replied calmly.
"Hn, there's one bad thing and one good thing, which one would you like to hear first?" Itachi asked dryly.
"The bad thing," Senko replied.
"It is Uchiha Itachi you are talking to now."
"…" Senko could not believe.
"The good thing; you are observant." Senko attacked Itachi again, and this time, Itachi caught her by her wrist.
"The more I talk to you the more I suspect you aren't Itachi. Like hell Itachi will compliment me! No matter how well I do things, he will never ever compliment me." Senko muttered. Itachi merely smirked.
"If I'm not Itachi then you should be worrying; an enemy can catch you so easily," Itachi lowered his head to her ears. "Can you imagine what they could do to a pretty girl like you?" Itachi was shocked by what he said. Pretty? Did he just say that she is pretty? 'What in hell am I doing? I'm doing everything out of my daily routine ever since Otou-san announced my engagement with Senko…' 'If he's a fake, he's a very skilled and powerful lecher, if he's Itachi, he's just plain retarded.' Senko thought.
"Hey you two don't perform circus tricks in the mall!" A security guard rushed up and yelled. When Senko broke free from Itachi's grip and glared at the guard, and with Itachi's cold look, the guard cowered. He knew those two. They were the scariest ninjas of the village. "I'm… I'm sorry Senko-sama and Itachi-sama… please continue with whatever you wanted to do…"
"Itachi… did you mean what you said?" Senko turned, and asked the male Uchiha.
"Mean what?" Itachi decided to play innocent.
"Don't play innocent."
"…"
"Itachi, reply me!"
"Forget it," Senko gave up. Itachi simply smirked.
"So, do you want the kunai or not?"
"It's your money, so why not?" Itachi did not reply but dragged Senko into the shop.
"If you would please, I want that kunai galleried in the window," Itachi told the female shop assistant calmly. Apparently, the shop assistant was a fan girl of Itachi.
"Oh yes, yes, I will get it for you!" The blonde haired shop assistant jumped and hurriedly took the kunai from the showcase.
"How much is it?"
"300, 000 yens, but for you, I will give you a 30 percents discount," the shop assistant winked seductively. "My name is Homuri Amaya." Senko was rather pissed off. Itachi smirked when he saw Senko's reaction and took out his wallet. He threw a stack of bills on the counter.
"There's no need for the discount, that's 500, 000 yens there, no need to give me the change," Itachi said and with a swift, elegant movement, he took the kunai. He threw the kunai at Senko.
"Here you go, Konoha's Weapon Mistress," Itachi smirked. Senko snorted lightly when he addressed her by her nickname. Amaya was too shocked to react.
"This isn't meant for me; it's supposed to be a birthday gift for my young apprentice, Tenten. She has the potential to be the next Weapon Mistress of Konoha," Senko sighed happily. Her apprentice, Tenten, was one of the best ninja she had ever trained. "I will tell her that Uchiha Itachi very kindly sponsored me to buy her birthday gift." Senko added.
"Hn," Itachi replied. Senko threw the kunai at Itachi.
"The only reason why you are here today is," Senko smirked, "is to carry all my purchases."
6 hours later
Itachi was carrying nearly 15 bags of items. 'No wonder they say that a man should never go shopping with a woman…' Itachi thought. He gave a sigh of relief when the gates of Senko's house came into view. Uchiha Irito and Uchiha Rai were both away on a mission. They went upstairs and dumped all the bags of items on the floor before going to the academy, to pick up their little siblings.
"Nee-chan, guess what! I won that spiked head in Genjutsu!" Haiko exclaimed happily when she saw Senko.
"Spiked head?" Senko was puzzled.
"Uchiha Sasuke!" Haiko shouted.
"You… are calling Sasuke-kun spiked head?" Senko laughed.
"Aniki, I won Haiko in taijutsu and ninjutsu but lost to her in Genjutsu…" Sasuke told Itachi with a slight hint of anger.
"It's alright. Haiko's Genjutsu level is up to par with ANBU standards," Itachi replied.
"Wait, Itachi, how did you know?" Senko asked. It was true Senko had been teaching Haiko high-standards Genjutsu. Haiko proves to be talented in Genjutsu but her Taijutsu and Ninjutsu totally sucked.
"I'm not a prodigy for nothing."
"What does being a prodigy has to do with knowing one's Genjutsu level?"
"I don't wish to explain."
"You…" Senko sighed. She could never win the young prodigy in an argument.
"I guess we better heed for home." Senko said when she saw Sasuke and Haiko about to start a fight. Senko appeared in between the two younger Uchiha and grabbed both of them by their wrist.
"Itachi, get here and hold onto your younger brother." Itachi did not reply but Senko found the load on her left hand missing in a split second. She looked at Itachi, who was standing a few feet away and waiting for her. Smiling, she moved towards him. Sasuke and Haiko were having a glaring contest.
"You know… Sasuke and Haiko…" The two younger Uchiha stopped glaring at each other for a moment and looked up at the older female Uchiha. "They say that opposites attracts." Senko ended her statement.
"They say that enemies will eventually become lovers too," Itachi added. Sasuke and Haiko looked at their older siblings with a killer look, and looked at each other again.
"Like hell I will fall in love with this stupid teme!" Haiko yelled. 'But frankly speaking… he's really quite handsome and powerful for his age…huh wait, what am I think!?' Haiko thought. 'Tch… I said the same thing 5 years back when Ryuko-sensei teased us about being so close…' Senko smiled. 'And look at me now? I'm the fiancée of the one whom I thought will be the last person I will ever fall in love with.'
"I must be blind if I ever fall in love with that biased arrogant idiot!" Sasuke said in sequence. 'But she's really pretty and talented… hey wait a moment… am I running a fever!?' Sasuke nearly slapped himself. 'Little brother, I said the same thing 5 years back but now I'm heels over in love with Senko…' Itachi thought. 'WAIT! Just what am I thinking?' Itachi could not believe himself.
"Sasuke and Haiko, watch your tongues. Especially you, Haiko, Otou-san and Okaa-san won't like you scolding anyone."
"They saw the wounds which were the works of that spiked head two months back and they were so angry that they swore to kill whoever that did it to me…" Haiko muttered. "Now I'm only scolding him." Senko sighed.
"My conclusion is that you two will fall in love and approximately twelve years later you will be the parents of proud little Uchiha!" Itachi suddenly said. "And you just know how accurate my predictions are, my little brother."
"I will prove you wrong!" Sasuke snorted. Haiko was horrified just by imagining being a mother. 'But being the mother of that teme's children shouldn't be so bad… HEY WAIT! WHAT AM I THINKING? BEARING THAT TEME'S CHILDREN!?' Haiko mentally slapped herself. 'Uchiha Haiko, you are just seven and thinking about bearing children already? What's up with you?' Haiko groaned mentally.
"Well, see you around Itachi and Sasuke," Senko smiled.
"Senko, I will pick you up at your doorsteps at 3pm tomorrow." Senko nodded and took her sister indoors.
"Aniki, can you please, please teach me some new shuriken techniques?" Sasuke looked at Itachi with pleading eyes. Itachi looked at the Sun. 2pm, plenty of time. He smirked.
"Alright," Itachi replied.
"Great, let's go to the training ground behind the academy!" Sasuke shouted happily.
4 hours later
Itachi was giving Sasuke a piggyback ride home. 'He just had to sprain his ankle, right?' Itachi sighed.
"Nii-san, why is the Uchiha clan symbol on the Konoha Military Police symbol?" Sasuke suddenly asked.
"You noticed it?" Itachi was taken by surprise. "It is said that the Uchiha founded the Konoha Military Police."
"The only shinobis who can enforce law," Itachi paused slightly, "are superior ones."
"Wow… that means Otou-san is great!" Sasuke exclaimed. Itachi did not reply. They reached their estate and went inside. Sasuke went to change his clothes and was about go to the living room when he heard Itachi talking to two people.
"We want to talk to you about the suicide drown in the Nakano River," One of the man said lazily.
"That of Uchiha Shisui," The other man added.
"He left a suicide note, but a Sharingan user can easily copy one's handwriting," the first man said, eying Itachi suspiciously. Itachi knew that they suspect it was him who murdered Shisui and he knew fully well that they would not believe he accidentally killed Shisui. 'I thought they are so stupid that they won't figure out that I forged the note.'
"Cut the crap, you suspect me, don't you?" Itachi said calmly. For someone guilty, he was very calm.
"Why, yes, we do suspect you. Half a year after you joined ANBU, you have been acting weirdly. Shisui was asked to spy on you…" The first man glanced at Itachi with his Sharingan.
"We know that you are in ANBU, but we don't plan on giving you special treatments." Suddenly, a kunai flied pass their shoulders and landed right in the middle of the Uchiha clan symbol on the wall.
"I have lost all hope for this pathetic clan…" Itachi spat. Of course he did not really mean it. "All of you are just weaklings; your emotions prevent all of you from reaching the limit of your capacity…" Itachi closed his eyes and when he reopened it, his Sharingan bled into view.
"Nii-san, stop it, Nii-san!" Sasuke shouted. He had seen enough. 'What, Sasuke saw it?' Itachi frowned. Itachi immediately knelt down.
"I'm sorry for what I said, I didn't mean it. You must understand that being an ANBU is stressful."
"Fugaku, issue an order to arrest your son!" The two adult Uchiha shouted when Fugaku appeared.
"Even us the Konoha Military Police force cannot arrest an ANBU without the consent of the Hokage…" Fugaku closed his eyes. "I'm very sorry for my son's words and actions; it shall never happen again. I will have my eyes on him. Now, please leave." The two lower-ranking police left grumbling. Fugaku gave his son a cold look and went in. 'Kuso… I can't control the Mangekyo Sharingan…!' Itachi was unable to hold back the Mangekyo Sharingan and it appeared for a moment. At that moment, Sasuke saw the shuriken-shaped pupils in his brother's Sharingan. 'Those aren't normal Sharingan…' Sasuke thought.
Later that day
"Otou-san… is there different kinds of Sharingan?" Sasuke asked Fugaku. Fugaku was surprised.
"So young and you are already interested in the Sharingan?" Fugaku mumbled. "There is a higher rank of Sharingan but to achieve it, you will have to do something inhuman." Fugaku replied.
"What… what does that higher-ranking Sharingan looks like?" Sasuke asked, praying the pupils would not be shuriken-shaped.
"The color of the Sharingan will still be red but the pupils will be shuriken-shaped," Fugaku replied, not knowing why his younger son was suddenly so interested in the Sharingan. Fugaku, of course was surprised when he saw that Sasuke seemed to be horrified. 'What did nii-san do…?' Sasuke thought.
The next day
The day of the Festival of Flowers is the Japanese day for Valentine's Day (I had to make this up to fit it into the story), a day when boys give flowers to the girls they like and girls give chocolates to the boys they like.
Itachi woke up to find his eyes aching. 'So there's a side effect for using Mangekyo Sharingan… excessive usage might lead to blindness…' Itachi thought. Itachi practically glided down the stairs and when Mikoto saw him, she smiled gaily.
"Remember what you are to do today, my son." Itachi remembered what he had promised. 'I'm just going to lose all of my dignities today.'
"At least tell me what kind of flowers she like." Itachi wanted to kill himself. What did he just say!?
"I believe she likes roses," Mikoto beamed. Itachi sighed and looked at the clock. He still had seven hours, plenty of time to go to the florist and get a bouquet of roses and get bombarded by questions from his fan girls about who the bouquet is for. 'What does she just have to like the flower which symbolizes love? Who cares, makes thing easier.' Itachi wanted to slap himself. He had not been himself recently.
Itachi was strolling down the street to the Yamanaka flower shop. He had ignored the girls who were gawking at him and stormed into the flower shop. Yamanaka Ino, an eight years old girl who was Sasuke's classmate, also a crazy fan girl of Sasuke was the only one in the shop. Ino was staring at a photo of Sasuke dreamily and she did not bother to look up to see who came into the shop when the bell ringed.
"How may I help you?" Ino asked, without looking up.
"I would like a bouquet of the freshest and finest roses," Itachi stated calmly. Ino jumped up. She recognized the voice.
"I…Itachi-sama, I'm sorry! I will immediately get what you want!" Ino rushed to get a bouquet of nine roses. Itachi counted the roses.
"Itachi-sama… I gave you nine roses because well, nine roses one missing, stands for the last rose is the girl who you wants to give the bouquet to," Ino explained to the inexperienced Uchiha. Uchiha Itachi was familiar with everything, except flowers. Itachi nodded and paid for the roses and left the shop.
"He's handsome and cool… but I still like Sasuke better." Ino smiled to herself. As Itachi predicted, he was bombed by questions from his fan girl when he stepped out of the shop.
"Itachi-sama who are you giving that bouquet of roses to? Is it for me? Oh you are so sweet!"
"Itachi-san, have you got a date for the Celebration yet? If not, can you please go with me?"
"Itachi-sama… can you please accept this box of chocolates from me?"
"Itachi-kun, oh, you have a bouquet of roses! I bet it's for me, right, right?"
Itachi had enough of it. He gave them all a cold glare and disappeared. A twirl of leaves took his place. Itachi was a good distance from where a crowd of his fan girls had gathered. He smirked smugly and walked down the road, back home.
With Senko
"Haiko, why are you still home? Aren't you supposed to be at the academy?" Senko shouted.
"But nee-chan, it's the Festival of Flowers today thus it's a holiday!" Haiko defended. Senko nearly forgot.
"Ops, sorry, I forgot."
"Nee-chan, you need an organizer!" Haiko teased. Senko knew her little sister was telling the truth.
"As much as you need a fiancé to keep you under control," Senko scoffed. Haiko wanted to attack Senko but decided against it.
"I just remembered, maybe you should give Sasuke a box of chocolates?" Senko winked and dodged her sister's kunai.
"Nee-chan, you are so dead!" Haiko shouted. Senko suddenly remember that Haiko developed her own version of Tsukuyomi few months back. 'She's a very talented Genjutsu user… developing her own version of the strongest Genjutsu ever at such a young age…' Senko smiled as she remembered when Haiko tried her new Genjutsu on her a few months back. Senko grabbed Haiko's arms before she could start the hand seals for her version of Tsukuyomi.
"Haiko, I told you not to use that Jutsu for fun. You're only allowed to use it when the situation threatens your life!" Senko told Haiko sternly. Haiko nodded sheepishly. 'Maybe I should give a box of chocolates to that teme… hey wait a moment, what am I thinking?' Haiko was horrified.
"I'm going out to the park now, care to come?" Senko asked Haiko. Haiko jumped up.
"Nee-chan, give me a second to change, I will be right out!" Haiko's eyes shimmered with excitement. True to her words, Haiko came out two seconds later completely dressed. Haiko wore a pair of white jade bracelets and a set of white ninja outfit with black ninja sandals. As she was not graduated yet, Haiko did not have her forehead protector; her hair was tied up in a plaid. Senko was wearing a sleeveless black shirt and a pair of white shorts. Her grey ninja sandals were very loose. Senko had her forehead protector hanging round her neck and her hair was down and straight. She wore a pair of white jade bracelets too.
"Are you ready to go?" Senko asked with a yawn. Haiko nodded. Senko unlocked the door and went out. Haiko followed jumpily. Haiko, who was walking beside Senko, suddenly cowered behind her elder sister.
"What's wrong, Haiko?" Senko asked gently, while kneeling down to Haiko's height. Haiko pointed with a trembling finger at trio of boys walking on the same road.
"They… they… harassed me in school yesterday… spiked head helped me with them and they swore to get me for it some other days…" Haiko said quietly. Senko thought about something five years ago.
"C'mon Senko-chan, Kiroko-sama isn't such a bad guy, go out with him!" A boy looking around twelve smirked. Eight years old Senko was a weakling back then.
"Please… leave me alone…" Senko tried, as the three boys came closer and closer to her. Suddenly, the one called Kiroko was hit in his head by a pebble.
"Who is the one who threw the pebble at me!?" Kiroko shouted.
"Leave her alone." A cold voice commanded. Kiroko glanced up and saw the person whom the voice belonged to.
"Itachi…" Kiroko muttered.
"Leave or the next thing which will be meeting with your head will be something sharp."
"Let's go…" Kiroko muttered. Itachi leapt down and looked at the terrified young girl.
"Are you alright?" Itachi did not know why he was concerned about her. Perhaps because she was an Uchiha and he did not want his Clan's reputation to be thwarted?
"Hai… thank you…" Senko blushed. She had heard a lot about the Uchiha prodigy in front of her.
"How long had they been harassing you?" Itachi asked the female Uchiha.
"Ever since I had been moved up to the top grade…" Senko managed to reply.
"Don't ruin the Uchiha clan's reputation," Itachi stated coldly.
"Hai…" Senko whispered. Itachi turned and was about to walk away. "Ano…Itachi-san…" Itachi turned back. "Can we… be friends?" Senko asked innocently.
"Hn," Itachi replied. Senko brightened up and ran after her new friend.
"Don't worry Haiko, Sasuke will protect you," Senko winked, putting a blush on the younger Uchiha face.
"Nee-chan!" Haiko shouted, gaining the attentions of the three boys. The three boys froze in horror when they heard the girl whom they harassed yesterday calling Konoha's Weapon Mistress, Uchiha Senko, the best female ninja in Konohagakure nee-chan. They scampered away as fast as their legs could carry. Haiko looked in amazement as they ran away.
"Wow… I thought they will beat me up…"
"Must be because of your loud voice and that scary face you made just now, you made even your admirers afraid!" Senko said jokingly, knowing fully well that she was the reason the boys are so afraid. Haiko stuck out her tongue and laughed.
"I'm nowhere as scary as you, Nee-chan!" Haiko smirked. 'Ok…I see that Itachi and Sasuke had influenced her with their smirking already…'
"Nee-chan…" Haiko had a sweet look on her face when they were outside the park. Senko knew her sister too well. When Haiko is acting all sugary, there are two possibilities. One is she wanted something, the other is it is the sunshine before a storm. "Can you please buy me a strawberry vanilla peach cone?" Haiko asked innocently. 'I guess all Uchiha, excluding me are talented in feigning innocence,' Senko thought, actually referring to Haiko and Itachi. 'Aha, I got it!'
"On with a deal; give a box of chocolates to Sasuke-kun!" Senko smirked. Haiko wanted to kill her sister, but she was totally ice-cream crazy and agreed.
"You know, nee-chan, shouldn't you give a box of chocolates to Itachi-san too?" Haiko asked as she licked her ice-cream.
"I'm bringing a box of chocolates along to the Festival of Flowers, it depends on whether he gives me flowers or not, if he does, I will give him the chocolates. If he doesn't, I will give the chocolates to Akito-san," Senko replied. 'Hee, I better tell Itachi-nii-san to give nee-chan flowers.'
"Nee-chan, Nee-chan, I err… what type of chocolates does spiked head likes?" Haiko asked shyly. Senko smirked.
"He likes the same kind of chocolates as you," Senko replied.
"He likes white chocolates too?"
"Yes."
"Ok…"
"Ano… nee-chan, can we please go to Sasuke-kun's house?" Haiko asked innocently. Senko noticed that something was wrong.
"I thought you called him spiked head and hate him so much that you never want to step into his house?"
"I decided I might as well be friends with him…"
"Fine, I want to have a small chat with Mikoto-san anyway." Senko and Haiko turned down the other route and after half an hour, they were outside Itachi's house. Senko knocked gently on the door and waited for it to be opened. Not long after it, Senko heard Mikoto's voice shouting and a grump male voice trying to protest. It appears that the owner of the male voice gave in and the door opened. Senko was greeted by the surprised face of Itachi.
"Hello Itachi-san, Haiko here wants to see Sasuke-kun," Senko smiled.
"Wait, I only said I want to go to his house; I didn't say I want to see him!" Haiko protested.
"Chill it, Haiko, you know you want to see him," Senko smirked. 'Her voice sounds so good…' Itachi thought.
"Itachi-nii-san, I have something to tell you, can you lend me your ears for a while?" Haiko asked innocently. Itachi knelt down and Haiko whispered something into his ears. A rare smile crossed the young prodigy's face a while and he nodded slightly. 'What did that so-not-innocent seven years old genius told Itachi?'
"Well, since you are here too Senko, why don't you come in too? Okaa-san was expecting you."
"Huh? Oh, sure, I want to have a small chat with her!" When Senko was gone, Haiko jumped up and down.
"So what flower do you plan to give nee-chan? She loves roses, oh, oh, oh!" Haiko exclaimed childishly.
"Nine roses," Itachi replied before going into the house. Nine roses, how familiar… Haiko suddenly remembered something that Yamanaka Ino said yesterday.
"Hey Haiko-chan, you know the meaning when a boy gives nine roses to a girl?" Ino winked.
"What does it mean?" Haiko asked, interested.
"It means that he loves her, silly! Nine roses one missing, the missing rose is the girl!" Ino exclaimed.
"Oh…!"
That is it, Uchiha Itachi the prodigy, really loves Uchiha Senko the Konoha's Weapon Mistress.
"And people say that it's all an arranged marriage, say that they don't have feelings for each other!?" Haiko laughed.
"What are you talking about?" Sasuke asked curiously. Itachi had told Sasuke that Haiko was looking for him and he came to meet Haiko.
"Oh nothing, spiked head," Haiko grinned.
"I told you not to call me spiked head… I regret telling those boys off for you!" Sasuke growled.
"I know you aren't regretting," Haiko smiled sweetly. 'She looks pretty when she smile…no…! Control… control…How can you ever beat your brother if you breaks rule 21 of Shinobi?' Sasuke thought.
"Are you going to stand there all day or invite me into the house?" Haiko asked sharply. Sasuke, who had just woke up glared at her and pulled her in before closing the door. The two children walked into the living room where they found Mikoto and Senko talking quietly, Itachi was nowhere to be seen. Senko was blushing so it was rather their topic was on Itachi.
"Ano… nee-chan," Haiko smiled brightly. Senko turned and looked at her devilish little sister.
"What now?" Senko sighed. Her job as an elder sister was never done.
"Can I borrow your kunai? I want to spar with spiked head…" Haiko smiled innocently. 'I didn't agree to spar with her…! I wonder what does she wants to do with the kunai…' Sasuke thought. Senko sighed and tossed a kunai carelessly to Haiko. Haiko caught the kunai expertly and smiled.
"Thank you, nee-chan." Haiko gave Sasuke a please-play-along-and-go-to-the-sparring-ground-with-me look. Sasuke gave up; he simply could not resist the cuteness! Sasuke beckoned to Haiko who followed him happily and jumpily.
"Thanks a lot, spiked head!" Haiko exclaimed when they were at the sparring ground.
"You can at least call me by my proper name since I helped you… what do you want to do with that kunai anyway?" Sasuke muttered.
"Well Sasuke-kun, I want to do something with it, and that something is none of your business!" Haiko replied and left. Sasuke blinked. Oh god, girls are so hard to understand. 'Wait… she called me Sasuke-kun…' that put a smile on the young Uchiha's face.
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I know I ended it lamely but I couldn't think of any other ways! Thanks to all of you readers who are reading this.
I will appreciate your comments. For flamers, please try to be polite thank you. I'm very fragile. The next chapter will come up when I feel like, bear with me for the time being. See you!