Obviously I do not own Naruto, only my OC(s).
Also, the ages are slightly different, Kakashi is older than he is in the anime and there is less of an age gap between Itachi and Sasuke.
No one expected Kakashi to ever marry. Despite how handsome he was, the closet pervert often denied most women who made advances on him.
But she wasn't like most women.
Kakashi looked slightly to his left to catch her eye, remembering warmly when they first met. More like crashed into each other. He wasn't going to lie, it wasn't the most romantic way to introduce yourself, but it did leave an impression.
She was a new ANBU member, one of the few females to actually make it to the elite group. Her ability card was incredible though, it was blank. Or rather nothing leaving an impression on anyone, a few C-ranked missions but mostly D-ranked. How could someone not accomplish anything especially notable and be allowed into the ANBUs? Was it a mistake? Kakashi trailed his thumb over his name, coming from a small no name clan with no notable abilities known that anyone remembered, from when he asked others.
She was to be assigned to his team for the first time before a mission was to be completed, one of her first. And highest ranked, S-class. An assignation on a rogue ninja.
To have a better understanding of his new teammates capabilities and teamwork, he decided to have a small training session.
Kakashi looked around the clearing surrounded by trees with three wooden dummies in the center but no one seemed to have been there. He sighed internally. Despite him being the late one, no one was actually there.
Brushing a hand through his silver locks he gracefully jumped into the trees scotting the area for making his way through the leaves as a quick warm-up. Was she really someone to be relied on? What was Lord Fourth Hokage thinking?
How could she simply not show up? Was she even ANBU material? Kakashi pondered over this thoughts, taking little notice of his surrounds before his shifty eyes caught a few leaves on his right move.
Stopping abruptly, Kakashi waited for a few moments, watching as the leaves stopped moving. No wind. Reaching out with his chakra, he felt no unusual signatures.
Something was out of place.
Picking up speed, he rushed through the trees, alert as ever as the only leaves to his right moved at nearly the same pace as him.
Stopping once more, Kakashi turned. Only, to his surprise, out of thin air appeared a woman. His first reaction was to her eyes. Blue as the afternoon sky it was a striking contrast against the red stains underneath her eyes that showed two lines that twisted pleasantly at the ends and her pitch black hair that flew in gentle waves.
Then she hit him. And hard. Landing on the ground was impossible as she fell on top of him, flattening both of them.
"I am so sorry," she moved to sit on her haunches, blushing from their close intimacy, "Are you okay?" Her eyes were larger than he expected when worried. It was kinda cute.
"Just watch where you're going," he commented with a easy smile, "Didn't even know you were behind me." He chuckled, before realization hit him. He, Kakashi Hatake, didn't notice another ninja's signature. The famous proclaimed Copy Ninja. He guessed he'd be fine with the genius part though as he noticed the leaves movement. "I didn't even know…" He faded as he thought. She sat in patience waiting for him to speak again.
"How'd you do that?"
"Do what?" She cocked her head slightly to the side.
"Disappear like that." He waved his heads as if in emphasis.
Raising an index finger to her lips, "A family secret," she winked before giggling at an untold joke, "Name's Aki ("Clear, crystal" ) Kieru." Kieru… Kieru… Kieru… Vanish. His thoughts clicked together all at once, attempting to remember the history books.
"An assignation clan," he murmured in realization. Too far back for others to remember but with depth into the pre-Konoha's history there was a Kieru clan. Known to appear suddenly and deadly. Often hired especially for their abilities to simply vanish.
"Only when you get on my bad side," she giggled again at her own joke. Definitely a new-be. Hopefully she won't lose that side of her.
"Nice to meet you."
And here he was, standing in front of her now, dressed in his usual clothing despite Guy's protests for a more 'youthful' appearance. She looked remarkable though. Her black hair was elaborately done on top of her head in loops that was pinned back by silver pins. Her blue eyes shone above her red markings, making them just as memorable as when he first met her. She dressed in a traditional light blue that matched her eyes with a contrasting red tie around the waist.
Everything after that was a blur. The drinks, the after party, the night.
Who knew he could feel this much happiness for such a small bundle? Kakashi held, rather awkwardly at first, his first child. A boy with black hair and a single white tuft of hair in the front of his face. He cried with his arms raised, face scrunched at his sudden eviction. Aki raised her arms to take him, sweat building upon her face, distorted in the now passing pain as he passed their child between them. She held him to her chest, seeming to curl her form around in a protective barrier from the world. "Akitoshi," she murmurer, gently brushing his still wet hair out of his face. Her breathing slowed as she held him tightly. A true mother already. Kakashi joined them both after admiring his newly formed family.
Not long after, nearly 3 years, a second child came. A girl with Kakashi's silver hair and Aki's blue eyes. A pair of grabby hands glanced over the bed that his mother laid on to only see silver hair and blue eyes staring back at Akitoshi's black ones.
"What's her name?" He questioned without breaking eye contact.
"Akirai," Kakashi answered, "Clear lightning," he smiled at his own ingeniousness. So clever.
"Nice to meet you Akirai," the small boy inching closer to the smaller form. Before a cry cut the peaceful silence.
"I don't think she likes me very well," Akitoshi glanced up at Kakashi with a wrinkled nose.
"She will, give her time," Kakashi ruffled his hair, making it go in opposite directions.
His attempts to smooth it over with his hands failed before he glanced over the bedside once more to a Akirai staring back at him once more. She squirmed against her mother's chest, "She's rather a strong one."
"Come on," Akitoshi tugged on a little girls hand, "We're gonna miss it!"
The sun was bringing to sink in the sky, washing the trees in a vibrant red. Akitoshi's wavy hair flew in various directions, unable to be contained in a single position. His single tuft of silver bounced in front of his eyes, much to his annoyment, but at the moment he didn't mind. At the corner of his eyes were sharp red markings pointing outwards, making his rather chubby face seem sharper and more attentive. Right now, however his youth shone through, excitement marking his features. As he ran his clothing moved freely. He wore a size too big dark blue jacket over a simple white shirt with brown pants and academy shoes.
The girl behind him wore her silver locks in a loose ponytail with long side bangs, framing her face. Definitely her mother's child with large vibrantly seafoam blue eyes adsorbing all the information around her, her natural curiosity about how the world around her worked that were contrasted by the red markings that copied her mothers underneath her eyes. She wore a simple blue dress with white undertones that hangs lower in the back and black shorts underneath paired with dark blue shinobi shoes.
Akitoshi picked up Akirai directly after school and without explaining grabbed her hand and started running. Their mother, with belly swollen, didn't ask many questions. The two of them were almost inseparable. Wherever one went, the other followed. She hummed at uneven tones, imagining how her newborn will fit in with the duo. The two of them shared everything together, forming their close bond at an early age. Maybe her newborn will fit right in, once they reach of age. Aki continued to wash the dishes, dreaming of the near future.
"Wh-where are we going?" Akirai questioned him, stammering over her words as he tugged still faster.
"You'll find out," He promised her.
They left the main village to find themselves behind the academy, she looked up at the structure in amazement. All the greatest ninja had graduated from there since the beginning of the village, where her mother and father went. Where she will enetably go as well. Akitoshi glanced around for a moment, checking if anyone was around before abruptly shoving her into the nearest bush, causing her to yelp unexpectedly.
"Shhh," He planted an index finger in front of his lips, "Here they come."
On cue, a trio of what seemed to be academy boys around Akitoshi's age turned around the corner with another boy following behind them at a slower pace. An Uchiha. Even at her young age Akirai couldn't ignore the symbol on his back that was a tell-tale sign about the clan, mostly known to police the village. And the fact that he seemed to Akitoshi's natural rival in just about everything, fighting to be on top. They were both beginning to be called geniuses, even at their young age they were prodigies. The only difference was that Akitoshi tried and practiced daily with father, while the Uchiha was naturally gifted. It annoyed Akitoshi more than anything, often going into elaborate talks with her about it.
Akirai turned towards her brother about to question him again for the hundredth time within the last hour before another group turned the corner, their leader glancing up to lock eyes with the older group. They seemed to be at least a few years older than her brother. A smirk playing on the leader's face.
"What?" The younger leader straightened his back to face the new arrivals. Tension hanged in the air.
"All the freshmen are stuck up," the large leader remarked before waving his hands at his friends. In a singular moment they swarmed the smaller group.
It only took a moment before chaos broke. The larger males immediately began punching and kicking three of the boys while the Uchiha dodged everything they threw at him. Weaving in between punches, predicting all the boys movements. It was amazing to witness, Akirai's eyes wide, absorbing everything.
Then it turned when she looked sideways to see the other boys struggling against their assailants. Akirai's neck hairs stood on end at seeing it, one of the only times she seen violence like this. Akirai stood slowly at first, ignoring the pain in her legs from the constant position of sitting.
Akitoshi was able to recover quicker, however, pushing out of the bushes. The movement shocked those fighting, to all stare at his actions momentarily. Then came Akirai as her limbs gained feeling once more. Standing only about to Akitoshi's hips, that must of shocked them the most, someone that small being there.
The shock faded as the Uchiha took the opportunity to gain the upperhand. Losing the attention of the assilatents, Akitoshi disappeared. Only shocking those that were watching as he quickly approached the boys on the ground, attacking their attackers first. Akirai was quick to use her ninjustsu in suit. At the ripe age of four, she had learned her own form of ninjutsu, much to the surprise of her family since Akitoshi was able to learn it at the same time as her, despite being the older child. What could she say? She hated to be left behind.
Akirai concentrated, focusing all her chakra to flow toward her hands, following a string of signs, "Nature Jutsu: Vine Entanglement!" Akirai yelled out louder than necessary.
Immediately various vines grew out from the ground, weaving around ankles and hands of the older boys that she focused her attention on, particularly the ones hovering over the boys on the ground, before snapping shut and becoming taut, dragging the limbs downwards, forcing them to bend in awkward positions. The boys on the ground, leaned backwards, staring at her in amazement. Even though she was able to perform ninjutsu, she wasn't yet able to expand her chakra to everywhere she wanted, only those within her eyesight. She wasn't perfect… yet.
The visibly struggled against the vines, attempting to push off the plants. "He-hey," one of them called out to the obvious leader, dragging his attention away from the Uchiha that he was about to sock in the face as the others held him down.
"What the-" he wasn't able to finish his sentence before Akitoshi, unnoticed threw a hard punch to his jawline, becoming visible once more, placing all his weight into the throw. Another form of him appeared behind one of other boys holding the Uchiha, grabbing him from behind and rolling onto his back to get him away.
Akirai looked at her brother in surprise, she knew he was basically stalking the Uchiha, attempting to gather information on him but she hadn't known that he was able to perform one of his ninjutsus that Akitoshi wouldn't stop gushing over.
The Uchiha the others were holding poofed into nothingness. Out of the corner of her eye, Akirai saw the events unfold but couldn't look away from her current opponents.
"Hey, stop!" An adult, presumably a teacher, approached with two other ninjas behind him before processing the events in front of him. A small child performing ninjutsu, able to contain several people, another child vanishing before reappearing and with another form of him, and another child able to perform shadow clones. What kind of alternate universe did he just walk into?
All three adults stood in position from shock before the vines retracted further into the ground. The silver haired girl staring at them with large eyes, a few tears forming in the corners of them.
"Am," the girl choked on her own words, "Am I in trouble?"
Kakashi pushed open the Hokage's office door, alongside of him was Aki with a worried look, holding her swollen belly with care. On the way there, she wouldn't stop questioning why they both were being summoned. Both being previous ANBU members before the children she was questioning how serious a situation was for them to be summoned together.
Her worry was replaced by confusion when she entered to see Fugaku Uchiha sitting next to, what she guessed was his son, and her two children on the opposite side of him.
Without question, the two parents settled down on the other side of the children before the Hokage began speaking.
"Uchiha, Hatake," he addressed both the parents, "There was a fight," both the Hokage was able to finish, Aki jumped out of her seat, taking a closer inspection of the children, gushing over them, "Where are you hurt?" Gripping Akitoshi's face she turned it side to side before doing the same to Akirai with no sign of injury.
"It's quite the opposite actually," Lord Hokage continued, "They stopped a fight."
Aki obviously beamed at her children before returning to her seat silently.
"So why were we called in?" Kakashi questioned.
"We believe Akitoshi should graduate. Along with Itachi." He replied simply.
"It's only been a year?" Fugaku asked what everyone was thinking.
"Yes, however, based on both of their grades, it is hard to argue that we'd simply be holding them back if the academy kept them any longer. And since they are both able to produce clones, they already passed the exam." Hokage responded, "Itachi was able to perform a forbidden ninjutsu: the shadow clone." Hokage glanced at Itachi before turning to Aki, "and Akitoshi was able to perform your family's abilities already, along with a singular shadow clone as well." Aki glanced down at Akitoshi in surprise, and joy. Nothing less from her blood.
"We have two fine ninja already. Nothing to improve with them going to the academy." He finished.
Aki looked at the older man she revered with respect, "So why is Akirai here?" Glancing down at said child she looked down, almost shamefully.
"Akirai would benefit from further guidance, by joining the academy early." Akirai looked up in surprise.
"So, I'm not in trouble?" She questioned.
"Of course not," he smiled down at her, as she allowed a breathe to release she hadn't realized she was holding.
Itachi and Akitoshi were not unexpectedly placed on the same team with a fangirl that gushed over Itachi more than Akitoshi. Must be an Uchiha thing. Mostly, they focused on each other, Itachi finally recognizing Akitoshi as a rival. This pushed Akitoshi to train harder than usual, often dragging Akirai along.
As promised, she joined the academy early. The next day actually.
She shuffled her feet to her homeroom nervously. It was already so different. Although her mother allowed her to hold her hand all the way to the academy she remarked that she was beginning a new chapter of her life and she wasn't allowed to follow her anymore. She was by herself for the first time in her life.
Glancing around the homeroom, she was obviously the youngest and smallest. Slouching, she attempted to blend in with her surroundings, wishing she was able to disappear entirely like her brother but hadn't developed that ability yet. Shuffling further into the room, she attempted to find an empty seat with no avail before the bell rang. Other children pushed their way past her, finding their seats easily, routinely. Several of the children she knew previously, from her brother, but mostly they looked unfamiliar.
The door opened harshly with a slam, making her jump. Turning around she looked up at one of the adults that had stopped the fighting entirely.
He ushered her to the front of the class by placing his hand on her back gently guiding her. Great. Public speaking. Yay me. There was a reason why her clan developed and perfected the art of disappearing. This is the reason she figured.
"Good morning class," the class echoed in kind, "We have a new student joining us from today on. I expect we all welcome her," Sensei gently pushed her in front of him as she clutched her bento box.
"Nice to meet you-u, my name's Akirai Hatake, pleased to make your acquaintance," she bowed respectfully before turning toward her sensei.
"Seems we have that empty seat there," he pointed to an empty location next to a boy with wild brown hair and a blackened eye. Her eyes widen in kind, recognizing him from the day before.
He seemed to refuse to look at her and instead pouted to the side. That was fine with her. The less attention right now, the better.
The school day passed with no notable changes, leading to an interesting lunch. The school bell rang, signifying the beginning of lunch. Students around her moved to exit, except the boy sitting next to her that was sleeping with his head positioned on his arm. She didn't mind the company as Akirai sat still, taking out her bento box.
Popping it out, the aroma swaffed around her. The meat and vegetables were cut in elaborate fashions, showing the time that her mother took. A small note took her attention first: Have a great day at school ~ Love you. Akirai smiled.
Snapping apart her chopsticks, she stuck them into the rice with a family sauce over them first. About to take a bite, she looked to the side noticing the boy awake for the first time. He stared at her chopsticks before looking away abruptly when she caught his eye. His belly rumbled.
A few squeaks echoed through the empty room, he looked up to his desk, seeing the colorful bento in front of him.
"You can have a few bites," the small girl next to him smiled warmly, "You don't seem to have a bento box."
Indeed, he didn't. He forgot. "It's at home," He mumbled into his arm.
The girl pushed the bento box a little further, tempting him.
He grimaced slightly before slowly unraveling from his position and taking her chopsticks, plunging them into the bento, taking a tentative bite.
His eyes widen slightly before digging into it more viciously. Must've been hungry. Akirai stared in horror, she only offered a few bites but he ended up eating the majority of it. Welp, guess kindness doesn't without a price.
In between his bites, he mumbled, through chews, "So how did you learn to use that ninjustu?"
Akirai shrugged, "My father showed me some of the ninjutsu he picked up on his missions."
"So your father is a shinboi?"
"Yep." Akirai beamed proudly.
"Explains a lot."
Urked, she turned slightly to him, noticing the tone he had used, "And what's that suppose to mean?"
He swallowed hard on the mouthful he had, "Shinboi families don't have to try as hard. It's just as natural as breathing to them to use jutsus."
Akirai dried laughed, "If only you knew how wrong you are," her voice was more threatening. But the boy hadn't picked up.
"How else would someone as young as you - or even your brother - get so far ahead of your class?"
A small hand slapped the desk, harder than she intended to since it stung, but having the same effect: his attention. "By training everyday. Harder than anyone else," she soaked in his blackened eye, "Maybe you should try it someday."
Sitting back into her seat she stared at the front. She wasn't born knowing everything. She tried. And hard. Having an older brother to catch up to constantly helped with her competitive nature. Everyday after school her brother would pick her up from their home and train together, the fantastic duo. They had their differences obviously, he was better at taijutsu and genjutsu and her at ninjutsu, but they were often evenly matched. And her ninjutsu didn't come automatically either. It took months to develop the ones she knew now. Lately it's been getting easier, but that didn't perfect them. She speculated the time would lessen the more she developed her chakra, taking more control of it. Akirai knew she had a large reserve, she just wasn't able to tap into it - yet. It shouldn't take much longer.
Hmmp. "Must be an Hatake thing," he turned to face her, "He said the same thing."
Obvious... Akirai thought. He was her brother after all.
The boy stuck out his hand, "Name's Mikito Kamano," he smiled, "Call me Kamano."
"Don't cry when I beat you," Kamano smirked.
Akirai lowered her fighting stance in response.
It had been almost a year since she began at the academy. Her friendship with Kamano grew, against her brother's wishes. Something she still never hears the end of. But she wasn't going to lose her only friend. Most of her classmates saw her as a foreigner, someone to be avoided. She couldn't tell if it was because of the circumstances of which she joined the class or because of her age but she didn't care either. Akirai hadn't tried to make friends, satisfied with Kamano, even though she confined in Akitoshi as well as Itachi, when given the chance. And more often than not, she found them with another Uchiha- Shisui. When around he would always cast curious glances at her, smiling sideways. Akirai hadn't had much chance to talk with him, but she supposed she could wait. Having almost no friends in the class created rumors around her, essentially cloaking her in a shroud of mystery. She was also OK with that.
Since Kamano's and Akirai's first meeting, he had trained daily. Even though he would never admit it, preferring for others to assume he was always like that, although when Akitoshi and Akirai got together in the afternoon to train, they found him on the grounds. They'd watch for a few moments each time, attempting to wait him out so they will be able to practice in their own time, but he never left while they waited. Going from one exercise to another, hardly taking a break. He improved dramatically. Her wide attentive eyes watched Kamano's every movement. She knew him. She understood her own powers and weaknesses, an advantage her mother told her, and his. He was more powerful but she was quicker. He wasn't the only one that approved though, she trained just as hard on her ninjutsu styles, and finally being able to tap into her chakra reserves entirely, with the help of her father, able to perfect most of the ninjutsus in her arsenal. And trying to conjure up more.
Technically, sparring partners were separated by gender. But since the middle of the year, she was able to spar with her male counterparts. None of the girls in her class posed much challenge, something her sensei noticed and changed immediately. Akirai was grateful. She had a chance to go against her friend.
Within that year, Akitoshi was promoted to Chuunin along with Itachi, unsurprisingly. Akirai was proud, of course she was, her brother was climbing up the ranks. She was just disappointed as well. She was falling behind her brother, someone she was always able to be equals to. Hmmp, wouldn't matter much longer as she was going to take the Genin test tomorrow and within the next 6 months graduate to Chuunin as well. I guess all wasn't lost. That was the plan at least.
Akirai's mother, Aki, also birthed her brother, Shimato. He favored Akirai over Akitoshi, making him try harder at entertaining him. Akirai sometimes caught Akitoshi dancing around in a circle with funny faces on- her favorite being when he crossed his eyes and pulled his mouth apart as he stuck out his tongue. Shimato giggled for a few moments before noticing her and demanding to be held. Shimato had the same features as their father, Kakashi, expect for the red markings on his face: two identical thin lines traveling from the corner of his eyes to his nose, making his face seem long. Lately he had taken to chewing on most of Akirai's things, teething to ease the teeth that had begun - late - to grow.
"Ready," Sensei raised his hand between the two. Akirai took a deep breath as Kamano smirked.
"Set," his hand reached it's climax, Akirai released her breath.
"Go!" Sensei shouted, swinging his hand downwards in an arch, momentarily blocking Akirai's view.
Taking advantage, Kamano leaped in time with the signal, raising one fist, using his momentum to advance.
Surprised, Akirai stepped to the side, pushing his hand inwards, throwing him off balance. Counteracting, Kamano kicked upwards with his opposite leg. Akirai ducked under the wild swing, smirking slightly, watching Kamano's face distort into a large smirk. Kamano raised up his other knee, knocking into Akirai's chin with her momentum going down and his going upwards.
Thrown backwards, Akirai back-bended awkwardly with her hands on the ground. Pushing up, she crouched just in time to avoid another kick towards her head. Not again, he's not even giving me time to recover, she thought. She stepped a few steps back, out of his reach, rubbing her chin. It was tender.
"Scared?" He sneered.
Time to get serious. She went back into her fighting stance, one leg slightly more forward, a more solid stance.
Kamano was the first to race forward, Akirai following his example, to meet him in the center. Clashing their forearms together, both attempting to overpower the other. With his other hand he threw a wild punch, aiming for her cheek. Meeting his fist, she redirected inwards before gripping onto his wrist and pulling him forward as she jumped, kneeing him in the stomach. Kamano hunched over, coughing to catch his breath. While he was bent over, Akirai raised her elbow, bringing it down just under his rib cage near his diaphragm, pushing him forward. Kamano choked on the air momentarily before crouching and whirling around with one leg out, tripping Akirai. He was on her in mere moments, overtaking her physically by placing both knees on her arms. Kamano choked again on the air.
Akirai glared angrily at him. From the corner of her eye she saw Sensei begin to raise his arm. No! She creamed internally.
Bucking her hips, she was able to flip him on his side. Arms flailing, both tried to overtake the other.
"Time!" Sensei raised his arm in an arch before bringing it down near them.
Untangling themselves from each other, Akirai panted from the struggle and Kamano coughed, taking in air.
"What," Akirai tried to catch her breath, "was that about crying?" A sideways smile playing upon her lips.
"Don't act so smug!" He growled before coughing again, "Not like you won either!"
Akirai opened her mouth to retort but the bell rang.
"Better luck next time," She stuck her tongue out at him before standing, wiping her hands on her slightly torn dress, and offering him her hand.
He took it with easy, both of them beginning to walk towards the exit of the academy as their classmates filed out.
Akirai breathed in the clean air, taking time to notice the things around her. A few kids hanging back, playing ball with each other. A few girls walking out to the gates, hand in hand. All seeming to belong. Kamano and Akirai reached the gate by the time he broke into her thoughts.
Kamano rubbed his side, "You really got me good," he murmured.
"At least I didn't hit you in the face," Akirai grumbled, "What's Akitoshi gonna say?" As she played with the pain beginning to bloom underneath her chin.
"About what?" Kamano and Akirai both whipped their heads to see Akitoshi standing by one of the gate pillars with Itachi leaning against the pillar, bored, and Shisui smiling warmly at the new arrivals. The trio made quite the group. Within the year, Akitoshi had lost his original chubby face and body, making his eyes appear sharper with the red markings underneath them. His headband was hardly visible with his silver tuft of hair covering it in waves while the rest of his black hair hung loosely. He had also grown noticeably. Nearly reaching Shisui's height, his senior by 2 years. Itachi matched his physically. His black hair being in a ponytail and his side bangs framing his sharp features.
Shisui smiled warmly as Akirai took in his appearance as well. His black hair hung slightly over his headband. Wearing the typical Uchiha uniform, a high collared dark blue shirt. He stood comfortably, glancing between Kamano and Akirai but his smile never faltering. She played with one of her side bangs, pushing it behind an ear. She couldn't tell why, but she always felt exposed in front of him.
Kamano paled momentarily. He opened his mouth before Akirai stepped forward, "What are you doing here Akitoshi?"
"After being gone for so long, this is the greeting I get from my beloved sister?" He smiled warmly, "Came to go train with you like usual." He turned towards Kamano, "Before a rat corrupts you." He added darkly, glaring at Kamano who openingly glared back.
Akirai could never understand why they always had a pissing contest when they saw each other, neither would tell her. It was more annoying than anything else.
A small yelp escaped her lips as Kamano cockily grabbed onto one of her shoulders, pulling her into his chest.
Akitoshi's mouth dropped open. Itachi showed no surprised actions, remaining to lean against the pillar still, but he seemed more interested than before. Shisui's smile dropped for a few moments before reappearing when Akirai looked at him long enough.
Before things could get out of hand as she could see Akitoshi's anger visibly rise, she escaped from Kamano's grasp moving towards the intimidating trio.
"Come on, Akitoshi, let's go," Akirai smiled warmly up at her brother, completely ignoring what had occurred.
Akitoshi glanced down at Akirai, giving into her adorable smile easily, instantly calming down. She was the only one that had that kind of effect on him.
Glancing back at her once more, Akitoshi noticed her torn dress. Only one person would attempt to do such a savage thing on his little sister- Kamano. He'd pay for that for sure.
Akitoshi placed his hand on her head, ruffling her silver hair before nodding. Her eyes shifted as usual, taking in all the information around her. She had matured more than he thought from the beginning of her school year. Her hair had grown to her waist, still styled in a loose ponytail with long side bangs framing her feminine features. Her red markings underneath her eyes had gotten brighter as she was growing. He already knew she was going to be as beautiful as their mother.
He smiled sadly at her. Lately he had been getting increasingly more missions with Itachi and Shisui, giving him less time with Akirai, one he considered his best friend. He guessed the only reason he saw Kamano as a threat was that he got to spend more time with her now. He sighed inwardly, she was going to become a shinobi soon. The more threats he took care of out there, the safer her missions will become.
Akirai turned towards Akitoshi, "So, where are we going?"
Akitoshi faced forward, eyeing the backs of the two Uchiha in front of them, "Training," He patted her back, "Like usual."
She pouted for a few moments, "Like usual would be you going on missions constantly." Akitoshi felt his heart break inwardly.
"To protect the village," He poorly explained.
"That's right, Akirai," Shisui was eavesdropping, taking on his unusually cheerful mood for an Uchiha, "We have to borrow your brother's skills so we can succeed." He nudged Itachi as he smiled at her warmly, making her look at the ground.
Akitoshi noticed the small movement.
"When we get to the training grounds," He paused for a moment, considering his next words carefully, "I want to train with Itachi."
Itachi made no reaction to his name as he lifted his arms above his head.
"Which means you," Akitoshi nudged Akirai, "Get to train with Shisui." At the sound of his name he glanced back, landing eyes on a blushing Akirai, the contrast of red cheeks against her pale skin made her eyes appear brighter than usual.
"But-But he has years of experience above me," Akirai attempted to argue, "And I'm used to sparring you." She reasoned.
"All the more reason to spar with someone else," Akitoshi pointed towards Shisui, "You'd be learning from the best too," He winked at her. He wasn't subtle at all. But in his mind, anyone was better than that Kamano.
"I wouldn't be going that far," Shisui, still eavesdropping, commented. "Both your brother and Itachi are exceptionally good shinobi. Kinda jealous they were able to become chuunin in less than a year." He commented light heartedly.
"But I'd love to spar with you, Akirai," he added quickly.
"You know," Akitoshi continued, knowing he was solving one issue, "Itachi has a brother your age."
"Really?"
"Yep. Don't you I-Ta-Chi?" Akitoshi pronounced all of the syllables, attempting to play with him.
Itachi looked over his shoulder, glancing down at me, nodding, "His name's Sasuke."
"When is he going to join the academy?" Akirai questioned out of curiosity. She knew she was still the only her age there.
"Next year."
"Oh," Akirai allowed her gaze to drift towards the ground once more.
A silence fell on them. It wasn't an awkward one, rather it was comfortable. Calming. Something Akirai wasn't used to but Akitoshi was. The trio more likely read each other's thoughts by the amount of time they spent with each other.
It wasn't long before they reached the clearing.
Like usual, it was empty. The tall yellow grass swayed in the little breeze that played in the leaves. Taking a deep breath, Akirai stood still. Taking in the peace, closing her vibrant blue eyes.
"Well, are we going to get started?" Akitoshi nudged her from behind.
Akirai, slightly irritated to be disturbed, nodded.
Akitoshi and Itachi were the first to first the center of the clearing, positioning themselves to face each other. Akitoshi bowed gracefully as Itachi stared at him with narrowed eyes. Seems they both were going to be serious, per usual.
"Ready?" Shisui asked, breaking her train of thought.
Turning slightly, Akirai saw that Shisui took a relaxed pose, facing her.
She nodded again.
"Alright, here I go!" Shisui raced forward in front of her, raising his short sword attached to his lower back before disappearing entirely.
Blinking, Akirai instinctively ran through a series of hand signals before shouting, "Nature Jutsu: Vine Capsule!" Several thick dark green vines instantly shot through the tall grass folding into itself to shield her.
Just in time too. Shisui's sword cut into vines, releasing a lighter green goo that oozed out from the cut onto his sword. It sizzled momentarily before seemingly melting before his eyes. Dang. And he liked that sword too.
Akirai released lightning from hands to explode in a boom of chakra that accidentally got released too quickly. Guess she still had trouble with complete control over her chakra. Still achieving her goal of destroying her capsule, she located Shisui easily, staring at the ground of molted steel. Whoops.
"I'm not so weak you can look away." Akirai called out as she swung one well-aimed shin towards Shisui's head. Without looking up, he raised one hand, catching her leg.
Grimacing, she twisted her body backwards, raising her elbow. She hit nothing.
Akirai's body fell.
Shisui was positioned across the clearing where he had stood earlier. How is he so fast?
"Not bad," Shisui commented, "Let's see what you truly have." Truly have?
Shisui chest rose in a deep breath. Uh oh...
Breathing out of his fingers, a bloom of fire shot towards her. Everything within reach caught on fire instantly, quickly racing towards the girl staring in amazement of the blaze.
Caught off guard when a single pebble hit her in the side of head she realized her situation.
"Nature Jutsu: Vine wall!" She called out before placing her hands on the ground, summoning the vines once more to tower over her.
The blaze's light was visible on the other side as it slowly ate away at the vines. The vines chard. Blackening before shriveling up to Akirai's horror.
"Water Jutsu: Sea Dragon!" She called out in time as the vines were eaten away at entirely. The Sea Dragon met the fire ball head on, creating a layer of mist to cover the clearing.
Hardly being able to see within a few feet in front of her, her heart quickened. If only she was able to use wind jutsu.
Wasn't as if she needed to, he found her first.
"Gotcha." Akirai looked up as Shisui fell down on top of her. She could hear the smile in his voice.
Brat. Gritting her teeth, she took off. Taking the mist as cover. At least she now knew where he was.
"Earth Jutsu: Swamp!" She planted her hands on the ground. The ground softened to a wet mud. Her chakra was essentially gone. Dammit. Switching between jutsu styles takes a lot more than she expected. Her shoulders relaxed as her breath quickened with her heart beat. Should be over now.
"Didn't get me." Or not. Shisui caught her in a grip from behind.
The mist faded away gradually, exposing Itachi and Akitoshi evenly matched... in tiredness. Both panted with their hands on their knees from the exertion. Simultaneously they looked up to see Shisui holding Akirai, almost hugging her from behind.
Akirai struggled slightly before giving up. He was on another level with his strength. She would've fought harder, but she was weakened and she knew it.
"Why'd you give up?" Shisui dropped her gently on her feet.
"What?"
"You struggled before you gave up."
"I knew I was going to lose."
Shisui seemed to contemplate the words before stating, "Would you give up in a real battle?"
"No." Akirai answered, slightly confused.
"Then why give up during training?" Akirai looked at his face.
His eyes were serious despite his gentle smile that always adorned his features.
"Should've used more taijutsu." Akitoshi broke their conversation as he statement in between pants.
"Too much chakra use leaves you exhausted," he observed, "You need the stamina."
Romance: This is probably gonna be a slow burn if anything. Also a reverse harem for my little Akirai. Eventually there will be someone for Akitoshi as well but they both have to go through some obstacles first.
Adventure: All of Naruto is... so obviously.
As always, please review!
Any questions?