A/N: HEYA GUYS! This story is a collab that myself and Bethy-Kins have created! In a sense, it's sort of like...well...I don't really know how to describe it ^^;; but yeah. I guess it's like a spinoff from Hikari's story...but I don't want to say it is, so let's call it a collab only.
This is kinda based off of some RP's that we do, but like, a lot more in depth. I hope that this will be successful. =_= Maybe it might not be. But it's okay.
Well let's make her feel like with will be successful everyone! If you're a reader of Hikari's story, than read this and follow it please! Also, the next chapter for Hikari's story should be done soon...so don't worry about it never being finished! Okay, I'm gonna shut-up now so ya'll can read! ENJOOYYY!
...Okay then...
WE DO NOT OWN NARUTO OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS. WE ONLY OWN OUR OC'S!
So don't sue us please ^_^!
It was just like any other summer night in Konohagakure, the cherry blossoms were losing their petals to become the delicious fruit almost everyone in the small village enjoyed. The normally cool nighttime air had a strange heat to it this particular night; the night that would change the fate of the village by one simple protect the village, or to let it burn.
A lone person stood on top of an electricity pole, a silhouette of their form revealing an ANBU mask and a short katana. The smell of blood was heavy in the small closed off area of the village. A young boy staring at the silhouette in shock, hearing the cries of his baby sister ring throughout the dead silence.
"Nii-san! Why?" the young raven haired boy cried angrily, tears continuing to stream down his cheeks. When his older sibling did not reply, he shouted up at him again in anger, "Please...don't kill me and ane."
Crimson eyes with a pinwheel design in each eye stared back at him emotionlessly, "You're not even worth killing. Foolish little brother...If you wish to kill me, hate me, detest me...And survive in an unsightly way. Run. Run and cling to life." Suddenly a loud cry came from the only lit room in the clan's complex.
The small ravenette looked up and started to run to the room, his expression panicked, hoping to get there before his older brother.
But by the time he got there, his brother had beaten him there already, holding their baby sister in his arms carefully. The young girl was small for her age; being born premature heavily affected growth. For being almost three years old, she was the size of a young two year old. Her raven locks feathering around her face as she started to calm down, and her dark obsidian orbs watching the eldest brother curiously. Giggling, as she wasn't much of a talker like him.
"Put her down!" the young boy ordered, only to be ignored by his older brother.
"I can't do that." He answered simply and calmly, turning towards the window. As he began to climb out, the little girl cried loudly.
"BLANKIE!"
Reaching over to her bed, he grabbed the blanket she so desperately loved to death, wrapping her up in it. He made his escape outside, heading towards the exit of the complex. He was stopped when a kunai knife flew past him, almost hitting the young child in his turned around and looked at his little brother in shock, his crimson eyes wide as tears slowly and silently formed, dripping down his pale cheeks.
He could only watch in sadness as his younger brother finally collapsed on the ground from the injuries he had given him earlier. Silently, he turned towards the exit of the complex once more and left, his baby sister in his arms.
The young girl started to become fussy, it was very much past the time she should have been asleep and the jostling around of her brother carrying her was not helping. "Sweep!" she shouted, having meant to say 'sleep' but her speech was impaired as much as her growth.
Tears began to form in her tired obsidian orbs, just wanting some sleep.
He smiled sadly, petting her raven locks gently, "If I give you a piggyback ride, will you be able to go to sleep?"
She fussed again, "No!"
He sighed and stopped walking, taking a seat underneath a large oak tree. "Sleep, ane.."
She yawned loudly, holding her blanket tightly, pressing it to her cheek and eventually falling asleep. Not even noticing her brother moving to start walking again.
He smiled and walked quietly, holding her close and gently to his chest. Her raven locks falling into her face as she slept, hugging the blanket tightly. He studied her face for a moment before looking straight ahead again, stopping when he saw someone waiting up ahead.
The man was of a normal Uchiha build, wearing all black he blended in with the night. If it hadn't been for the moon the boy wouldn't have even noticed that he was even there. His chakra was hidden even from him, formerly one of the most skilled shinobi of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. The man wore a mask over his face, one hole was cut out for an eye, more exactly a Sharingan eye.
"It's done."
The masked man nodded in approval, "Excellent."
"Remember our deal: you are not to touch Sasuke or Konoha."
"What about the child in your arms?" The man smirked under his mask, knowing full well she was part of the deal.
"You know the answer to that." He glared at him, holding his sister closer to him protectively.
"Yes, I do, you promised me when she was of age that she'd be my apprentice."
"That's all she's ever going to be. Am I clear?"
The man smirked softly, "And why do you say that?"
He growled slightly, his onyx orbs hard, "She is to be nothing more than a mere apprentice and comrade. If you so much as lay a single hand on her, I will not hesitate to kill you." The young girl fidgeted in his arms, as his voice got louder with each word, but luckily she was a sound sleeper.
The man laughed darkly, "Alright, don't keep your panties in a bind."
He glared and walked past him silently, holding his sister as though she were precious cargo.
-Five years later-
Hope puffed out her cheeks as she scavenged the area for her older brother, "Ita-nii~! Where are you~!" Her raven hair was in a ponytail that reached her mid-back, and wearing a large shirt, having just woken up.
"In the bathroom!" Itachi replied, his voice muffled by the closed door.
The young girl squealed and opened the door, running inside, not even bothering to ask if he was decent or not, "Ita-nii! Fishy-man is here!"
Itachi sighed, thankful he had finished getting dressed when his sister had thrown the door open and ran inside to hide behind him, shaking his head slightly as he exited the bathroom to the bedroom. "Kisame, must you scare her every time you come to my room?
Hope was terrified of the man, having watched him beat up her brother and other people on many occasions, she knew she should steer clear of him. Burying her face into the back of her brother's pants, her hands were shaking along with her entire body.
"Hope, it's alright..." Itachi soothed, running his fingers through her hair gently to calm her down while glaring at his partner. "Kisame won't hurt you, right Kisame?"
The blue man scoffed slightly, "Sure, sure, whatever."
Hope whimpered, "H-he bit me the other day, it hurt." Showing him the scar that defiled her perfect ivory skin.
Itachi sent a hard glare at the blue skinned man, his sharingan activated. "Oh did he now? May I ask why you bit my sister, Kisame? Or must I force it out of you the hard way?"
Kisame scoffed softly, "I didn't bite her, it was that damn dog that roams around the area."
"Nuh-uh! It was you!"
"Enough you little brat!" Kisame spat, annoyed she always blamed everything on him, even though he did bite her. It was an accident but he didn't want to say anything, she had caught him off guard while he was sparring with a clone.
Itachi began to grow annoyed, more so with Kisame than his younger sister. "Enough, both of you. Kisame is sorry, he's just too proud to say it to you, ane." He patted her on the head gently, giving her one of the rare smiles he only gave to her.
She giggled softly and hugged his leg, yawning softly, "Ita-nii...I had a bad dream..." Lowering her head so her bangs covered her eyes, never acting like this unless it was a serious nightmare, which had been occurring more and more often by the day.
Itachi frowned, kneeling down to her level, "What happened, ane?"
She shook her head, not wanting to talk about it, but knowing he'd persuade her otherwise.
"Please tell me?" He pleaded softly, concerned for her.
She shook her head again, quicker this time, her hair accidentally whipping him in the face.
"Hope." Itachi said, his tone a warning one.
The young girl's obsidian orbs filled with tears, "No!"
Itachi sighed softly, petting her hair gently, "All right."
She hugged his neck, letting the warm tears fall down her cheeks onto his shoulder. Traces of the smell of blood on her breath, having had a coughing fit the night before.
Itachi held her, gently rubbing her back soothingly. "Don't cry, Hope..."
She sobbed, her voice muffled, "E-everyone was dead...w-we were in a village...a-and there was a boy my age. H-he was crying, yelling at you...a-and he was calling me 'ane'..."
Itachi wanted to tell her nothing more that the dream she had had was actually something that had happened, and the boy in her dream was indeed her brother. But he knew that telling her could mess up the bond they had. And he feared that the most.
As soon as her tears resided and her breathing returned normal, she ran off to the bathroom. Turning on the bath water, she never had drawn her own bath before, but didn't really want to talk to anyone.
Itachi sighed softly and looked up at Kisame, "What's the mission for today?"
Kisame sighed softly also, "You're not gonna like it."
Itachi chuckled quietly, "I never like any of the missions, Kisame."
"It's to Konoha," his voice was dark, "To capture the Nine-Tails. And maybe even the Godaigon wielder."
He frowned, "The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki I can understand...but the last known wielder of the Godaigon has been dead for almost five years..." Itachi sighed, wondering what in the world their leader was planning to do now. "Fine..."
"The daughter. She possesses the Kekkei Genkai."
"Interesting..."
Kisame sighed, "But both of them are Genin on the same team as your...y'know who.."
Itachi felt his heart clench, his face remaining emotionless. "I see. Then this will be interesting, won't it?"
The shark man nodded, "You keeping Hope here or taking her with us?"
"It would be best if she stayed...she's too young to go on what could end up being a dangerous mission..." Itachi said, knowing if Hope even saw their brother that she had no memory of, she would most likely become angry with him.
"She probably would just be confused, Itachi, she's not old enough to hold onto hate. Hell, she's too kind."
"I know that..." Itachi muttered quietly, "And don't swear around her, Kisame."
He scoffed softly, "Not like she doesn't hear it enough from everyone else."
"Konan doesn't swear around her unlike the rest of you fools..."
"That's because Konan dotes on her."
"I only 'dote' on her because she's a child who needs a mother figure in a place such as this."
Kisame rolled his eyes, "She's perfectly fine with us."
"She's a little girl, Kisame. You two are assassins, not babysitters."
"You let her stay with Itachi, where there are perfectly fine other people here to keep an eye on her"
"That's because Itachi is her brother." Konan stated, her amber eyes gentle yet serious. "The ninja world...is not place for a little child who can barely fend for herself."
Kisame laughed bitterly, "Then explain why, his little brother, who was the same age, and at the same skill level was left abandoned at his village. The one that ordered you to kill him."
Itachi slammed his partner into the wall, holding him up by his neck, "I suggest you stop talking before I silence you forever." Itachi warned, his tone dangerous and low.
Hope had let out a loud scream when she heard and felt the impact on the wall she was leaning on. Stepping out of the warm bath and hiding under the cabinets, shivering from cold. Doing as she was always told to do whenever she heard fighting, "Find cover and hide, don't let anyone find you." her brother's voice rang in her mind.
Itachi put Kisame down and glared at him one last time before going into the bathroom to calm Hope. "Ane, it's okay. Kisame tripped and fell into the wall."
Hope held onto the door tightly, knowing perfectly well that the impact wasn't from tripping.
For her small physique and weak body, she was intelligent, like her older brothers.
Itachi sighed, "We have a mission to go on. Would you like to come with us? Or would you prefer to stay with Konan?"
She let out a small whimper, her raven locks dripping water onto the floor, "S-stay."
"All right...be a good girl, okay?"
"Y-yes s-sir..." her shivering had gotten worse, her teeth could be heard chattering against each other.
Itachi nodded and left, closing the door behind him and leaving with Kisame while Konan stayed in the room.
Hope didn't come out when she heard the door close, the impact startled her greatly.
"Hope?" Konan's gentle voice rang, while she rapped her knuckles against the door quietly. "May I come in?"
"N-no."
Konan sighed softly, knowing that she would catch a cold if she didn't dry off. But she respected the young girl's wishes, and didn't enter the bathroom.
Hope stayed inside the cabinet for over an hour, coming out finally when she had given up. She was hungry but she couldn't find anyone in the building to sate her needs. Her footsteps soft on the wooden floor, she walked to the kitchen and tried to reach the counter where there was leftover breakfast from earlier. But since the young girl was so short she couldn't, hearing her stomach growled, hugging it tightly. "No, no tummy. We can wait for lunch time."
Walking to the bay window in the front of the living area, she sat on the pillowed seat and leaned against the warm glass. As soon as she did that she had a severe coughing fit.
~Konoha~
"Interesting...nothing seems to have changed..." Itachi mumbled, silently looking around.
His partner shrugged, "Guess I wouldn't know. Never been here before."
Itachi nodded softly, noticing that there were several different groups of people entering the village that were from the different nations. "The Chunin exams are going on this year."
"Here?" the man was confused, forgetting that the exams took place in Konoha that year. "Shit man...this could either make things harder or easier."
"It might be best to wait it out so we don't get caught." Itachi said, his hat hiding most of his face.
The shark's was the same way, "Yeah. Should we go back then?"
"It would be best to stay. Otherwise this whole trip here would have been a complete waste of time. We'll wait it out until an opportunity to strike shows up."
"Yes sir," Kisame nodded, massaging his shoulder, "We should find an inn then."
Itachi nodded in agreement, "There was one in that town we just came through."
"Let's get going." He turned swiftly, wanting to leave as quickly as they came.
Itachi followed after him, silent as usual. Flinching as he heard a low growl behind him, the sound obviously not human, but more feline. Looking over towards the bushes, he saw blue eyes staring at him with what seemed to be a look of fear. Whimpering, the animal backed up, her stunning white and black fur seen through the leaves.
"A tiger." Itachi said suddenly, not moving from his place.
"She smelled me." Kisame noted.
The feline took a step to them, growling, her muzzle scarred from what looked like a trap.
Itachi stared at her blankly, wondering what the creature was thinking as it stared them down.
"Shiroi~ Where are you girl~?" a voice came from the forest, but the rare white tiger stayed put, growling dangerously at the two.
"Let's go, Kisame." Itachi said, disappearing up into the trees and taking off.
Kisame followed, and the tiger, obviously named Shiroi, whined and ran to her owner.
Itachi led them to the town they had passed through earlier on their way to Konoha, and found the inn that he had seen, getting them both a room.
Kisame sighed, putting his sword in the corner, and laying on a bed.
-Akatsuki Hideout-
Konan sighed as she pulled a thermometer from Hope's mouth, shaking her head, "You have a fever..."
The young girl pouted, "Again ane?" Her onyx orbs showing signs of exhaustion, her cheeks flushed pink from the fever.
Konan nodded, her eyes sympathetic as she ran her fingers through the young girl's hair. "I'm afraid so. You need lots of rest."
The pout still playing on her lips, "I'm always told to rest...I wanna train like nii-sama..."
"I know you do. But if you want to train like your big brother, you need to get over this fever first, okay?"
"I don't wanna rest!"
Konan sighed, knowing that the child was as stubborn as a mule when it came down to it. "But you'll get even sicker if you don't get over the fever."
"I don't wanna rest. I wanna play."
"Well...we can play still. But we can't play too much or you might not get better."
The little girl looked heartbroken. Her eyes sad.
"What would you like to play?"
"Hide and seek!"
"Okay." Konan smiled, "But we have to stay in the room, okay?"
"But why!" the girl whined, loving to play outside.
"Do you want to get better, Hope?"
The little girl nodded, her raven hair bouncing softly in its ponytail.
"Well, you might not get better very fast if we go outside." Konan explained, her voice gentle and calm.
The little girl looked up with upset eyes, "When is Nii-Sama coming home?"
"In a few days, a week at most. I promise," Konan said, smiling softly.
Hope nodded, attached to her brother as if he were her father.
"Would you like a cookie?" Konan asked, wanting to lift the young girl's spirits
She nodded happily, not having eaten all day, and it was almost past one in the afternoon. "Yes please, ane!"
Konan smiled and nodded, going to the kitchen and getting a few cookies before coming back.
The ravenette squealed and hugged her legs, "Thank you ane!"
Konan smiled and gently patted the top of her head, "You're welcome."
Hope yawned, taking a few of the cookies in her hands, as many as she could carry. Sitting down on the couch and curled up with her favorite blanket.
Konan watched her with gentle amber eyes, smiling lightly.
Eventually she fell asleep, her breathing soft but labored.
Konan walked over to her and fixed the blanket so it was covering her a little more before stepping away and sitting down, letting the child sleep.
-Konoha-
Sasuke let out a soft sigh, leaning back against a rock. Watching his sensei teach his teammate about her Kekkei Genkai.
"Sensei, this is really...really confusing..." Hikari sighed, trying to perform a new jutsu and watching as it failed. "Poo..."
Sasuke let out a soft chuckle, enjoying watching her and their teacher fight, glad that she wasn't letting her rage out on him anymore. "Keep trying Karasu."
Hikari felt her eye twitch as she heard the nickname that he had given her, sending a glare at him over shoulder, "I'm not a crow, duck-butt!"
He scoffed softly, "Keep working."
"Yeah yeah..." Hikari muttered, turning back around and stretching her arms above her head before trying the jutsu once more.
The young raven haired boy watched curiously, his face staying emotionless as always, but the curiosity sparkling in his eyes.
Kakashi noticed how the boy watched his teammate, but kept quiet, his attention going to the student who was once more trying to perform a jutsu that she had been trying to use for the past two hours. "Focus your chakra, Hikari."
"I am!" Hikari replied, closing her eyes and trying to keep her mind clear.
Sasuke let out a soft yawn, leaning back against the rock, putting his hands behind his head to use as a pillow.
"Wind style: Hurricane Gale!" Hikari cried, the wind picking up harshly, nearly knocking Kakashi back as he felt the impact of it.
"Wow.." Sasuke whispered
Hikari opened her eyes and laughed happily, doing a fist pump and dancing around joyfully when she noticed she had succeeded. "Oh yeah! I rock!"
Sasuke let out a soft chuckle.
Kakashi clapped, "Well done."
Hikari turned and grinned happily, "Thanks!"
The ravenette watched her do a little happy dance.
"Now then," Kakashi began, looking at both of his students. "It's time for you two to face off against each other."
Sasuke stood up quickly, "Wait, what!"
"But we're not fighting each other in the finals! Why do we have to fight?" Hikari screeched, looking up at her Sensei in confusion.
Sasuke's expression was as just as confused.
"It's true that you aren't fighting each other in the finals. The reason I picked you two for this training with me was because you two are the only ones that don't argue with each other. But whenever in battle, you may end up having to face one of more of your friends. Whether it be Genjutsu or reality, it never hurts to be prepared for it early."
Sasuke let out a soft scoff, knowing full well that they always fought, but probably less than Naruto and Sakura.
"But I don't want to fight Sasuke." Hikari argued, puffing her cheeks.
The raven haired heartthrob let a soft smirk play on his lips, "Why not? Afraid I'll beat you?"
"Not at all!" she yelled, smirking right back at him.
"Oh really now?" His voice was threatening yet playful.
She popped her knuckles, the leaf headband tied around her arm glinting in the sunlight, "Yeah really."
Sasuke smirked and got in a stance, activating his Sharingan as he did so.
Hikari did the same, closing her eyes for a moment before reopening them, her left orb green while her right one was blue. "Ready to lose, duck-butt?"
"I'm ready to win Karasu-Chan."
"Bring it on!"
"Let's do this!" Sasuke kept an eye on his sensei for the signal.
Kakashi raised a hand, "Begin!"
Sasuke dodged several kunai thrown at him, before jumping up and doing his signature Fireball Jutsu.
Hikari gracefully dodged it and smirked, "Not bad!"
Sasuke scoffed and appeared suddenly behind her, "What was that?"
She gasped and started to leap back.
His arms snaked around her waist, "I'm here behind you."
Hikari felt her face heat up, "I can see that."
He let out an amused chuckle, holding a training kunai to her neck. "I win this time Karasu."
She sighed softly, "Whatever."
"I didn't expect that the be over so fast." Kakashi mumbled.
"A rematch then?"
She smirked, "A rematch? This match isn't even over." she instantly disappeared in a cloud of smoke, the Hikari that he had caught having been a mere shadow clone.
"Dammit!" he shouted as he looked around for her chakra signature.
Kakashi couldn't help but chuckle, "She really fooled you..."
He glared darkly at his sensei, "Shaddup old fart."
Kakashi watched a cyclone of flower petals hit Sasuke and knocked him back. "Looks like your insult came back and bit you in the butt."
"Tch!" he groaned as he tried to sit up.
"Looks like I've won!"
Sasuke let out a harsh cough, wiping his mouth clean of the blood he had coughed up.
"Are you okay?" Hikari asked as she walked over to him, her eyes concerned.
He got up, pushing her away, his voice cold, "I'm fine."
Hikari stumbled slightly before catching her balance, frowning at him before walking off, "Sorry for asking..."
Sasuke walked off to the forested area and leaned against a tree, coughing harder.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes. For the final time I'm fin-" he froze as he recognized the voice that had spoken to him.
"Rude, aren't you?"
He let out another cough before wiping his mouth, and looking over at the familiar man. "What do you want?"
"I was just walking around when I heard you and your teammate fighting. I'm surprised that you lost." Itachi said, his tone emotionless.
"Only because I'm sick."
"Oh?"
"Tch."
"You should learn to let your teammates help you when you need it, little brother." Itachi scolded.
Sasuke glared at him, "I learned not to be in debt with people, because eventually they will become close to you then murder your family."
"..."
He scoffed, "Thought so," his expression became dark, "Where's Hope?"
"Somewhere safe."
"Where is she dammit?"
"Far from here." Itachi answered, before he disappeared.
He sat on the ground, not moving.
Kakashi walked over to him a few minutes later, crossing his arms over his chest. "So...are you mad because you lost to a girl? Or is there something else going on?"
"..."
"Start talking, Sasuke."
"There's nothing to talk about Sensei."
Kakashi sighed. "Fine. I guess I'll go look for Hikari then." He turned around and headed off to search for his other student that had run off after the fight.
Sasuke stared blankly at the spot where his older brother had stood. "Bastard."
A crow cawed in the tree above him, flapping its raven wings.
He threw a kunai at it, hoping to kill it.
The crow flew over to a different tree, evading the knife easily.
"A ninja, a jerk, and now an animal killer. Jack of all trades, aren't you?" Hikari muttered sarcastically.
Sasuke shouted at the crow, "I know it's you Itachi! Stop being a cowar-urk!" He was cut short by a sudden sharp cough.
She walked over to him and pulled a small pouch from her bag, several herbs inside of it. "Open your mouth."
He did so reluctantly, "What's it for?"
"That cough and whatever pain you're having right now." Hikari explained, popping the herbal remedy into his mouth.
He let out a small scoff, "It won't help with mental pain."
"I know. Nothing helps that kind of pain unless you have the ability to keep moving forward."
"Whatever..."
"Sorry..."
He pulled a small picture from his pocket, his eyes sad.
"Is that your family?"
Sasuke sighed sadly, "Just me and my baby sister.."
She smiled lightly, "She's cute."
"This was taken a few days before she was..."
Hikari's eyes became sympathetic as she reached into her bag and pulled out a picture. "I know how you feel.."
"She was kidnapped...when the massacre happened. My older brother has her, she was only three..."
"I'm sorry..." she apologized, patting his head.
He let out a sad chuckle, "Guess things just happen..."
"My little brother was only four when our parents died..."
"Him and Hope are around the same age then..."
Hikari nodded, hugging her knees to her chest, "Yeah..."
He looked off to the horizon, many emotions running through his eyes.