Authors note: I do not own the Naruto Universe, or any of its characters. Suggestions are welcome appreciated even, but that doesn't mean I will use them. I hope for feedback on this, as it's an on going work, and the first thing I've ever shared with others. Also I don't have a beta reader for better or worse that's the way it is right now. Thanks for reading, hope you like it.
Summery: A girl is raised in seclusion by her ex ANBU mother, who has taught her since the cradle how to be a kunoichi. Growing up, the visits from her father were seldom, and always joyous. It was even better when he brought his strange over tall friend with him, who she had taken to calling Uncle. Until one day, her perfect, beloved, simple world comes crashing down around her ears. She will have to teach herself how to be strong in a world of chaos. She will have to forge her own nindō.
The Girl Who Stands Amongst Titans
Chapter 1 The beginning
A little girl's infectious laughter filled the clearing, care free and innocent. She tottered around on new legs, just learning how to work. Looking at everything, charcoal eyes wide with wonder. A silly grin adorned her heart shaped face, still chubby with baby fat. Her wavy dark auburn hair tied loosely in a lop sided pony tail, wisps of it coming undone. She waved energetically at the couple sitting in the middle of the grassy clearing, amongst the brightly colored wild flowers stubbornly holding out, even as the weather chilled as fall approached. Her emerald kimono was wrinkled, the black obi holding it together was coming untied. Typical for this troublesome two year old. Couldn't stay out of trouble for a minuet, and couldn't keep a single thing clean for more then three steps. A walking disaster.
"Da! Da!" Her high pitched voice rang across the clearing, full of excitement and wonder. Her little arms waving, pointing to something that she had found. The dark haired man rose to his full five foot seven inches, his almost black eyes softening, lighting with love and tenderness for the little girl. He crossed to where she was, dropping to his knee in the dewy grass. One arm reaching out to grab her around the waist, drawing her close and setting her on his knee.
"Kiyoko?" The rich baritone of his voice vibrating against the child's back, making her giggle.
"Da!" She giggled, while she pointed to the little fuzzy creature that had caught her attention.
"What have you found?" He asked, while taking a closer look at it. His lip quirked, as he slowly blinked. His little girl had found a fuzzy caterpillar, it was banded black and a rusty brown, it's hairs sticking out in every direction.
"It's a wooly bear caterpillar. They say that they can predict the winters. If they have a large brown segment in the middle then it will be a mild winter, but if they are mostly black it will be harsh." He was surprised. Both with himself for remembering that bit of folklore, and for telling it to his daughter. He figured there couldn't be anything wrong with telling her, so he said nothing else. Merely content to bask in the presence of his daughter, who he saw even less then her beloved mother, Mizuki.
The women also stood, and softly made her way to where father and daughter were. Her long fiery hair tossed haphazardly over one shoulder, emerald eyes shinning with love and happiness. As she approached the man lifted his dark head, a rare but gentle, genuine smile gracing his lips. Chasing the shadows from his eyes, easing the worry from his beloved face, making him look younger, like his actual age of 16 years, instead of the 25 that was typical. His life had never been an easy one. She of all people would know, having knowing met him before the academy. As she neared, her little girl looked up.
"Ma!" was all that could be passed for an actual word, though it was obvious she was attempting to repeat the information her father had just given her.
"Is that so, Kiyoko?" The mother asked in a soft, lilting voice. The little girl nodded her head vigorously, while waving her arms around once more, as she wiggled in her fathers arms. She turned to plant a slobbery kiss on his cheek, while patting his other with her chubby little hand, and with another wiggle she was on her little feet once more, racing off to find some new mystery.
The parents shared a look, the woman's one of understanding, the man's one of longing. Rarely did he manage to escape long enough to visit them, and even more rare was it safe enough to bring Kiyoko. For all his evil reputation, and for as many lives that had fallen by his hand, he was nothing if not mush in the hands of his two year old daughter.
He stood, his pant leg darkened from the moisture on the ground. His dark eyes flashed with heat as he stepped closer to her, eye falling to her mouth. His arms sweeping around her, drawing her tight against his steely chest. As his head dipped, his lips closing the distance between them, she stood on the tips of her toes, and her eyes drifted shut. Just as there was but a hair separating them, his body jerked, and tensed. His head whipped up, dark eyes darkened further before bleeding to red. His face set into grim lines. She met his gaze levelly, showing no fear, having no fear as she gazed into one of the deadliest set of eyes that there has ever been.
"What is it? What's wrong? She asked, her voice clear and strong.
"Kiyoko, come here, now!" She reached behind her into the kunai pouch, her hand resting on one, hesitant to draw it in front of her daughter. The dark hair man flash stepped to the center of the clearing, where he had set his things. The little girl, eyes wide, and somber came toddling towards her mother.
"Mizuki, take her and go." His rich baritone had gone cold, hard with steel. She closed her eyes, as much as she wanted to stay by his side, she knew he was right. A fight was no place for a little girl. She scooped Kiyoko, moving in the opposite direction from the approaching ANBU squad.
"DA!" The little girl with dark auburn hair cried, her big charcoal eye welling with tears as she was rushed from the clearing. He turn slightly, cold eyes melting, as he watched his long time lover and wife slip though the trees clutching his daughter to her chest with one hand, the other holding a razor sharp kunai. He relaxed, the tension slipping from his frame. He knew that they both would get away safe and sound, and even if they didn't his Mizuki was a more then capable kunoichi, whose skills were above the average ANBU operative. He himself had seen to that when he finely realized that he couldn't lose her. That he loved her.
The man's eyes closed. His demeanor changed. No longer was he the gentle man from but moments ago, the caring father and loving husband. He scooped down to pick up his katana, strapping it back in place, next he picked up the cloak. The black and red cloak. The black, high collared cloak, with the red cloud design. He shrugged it on, as it fell over his shoulders, and swung closed over his chest, the magnetic snaps pulling closed his mask, fell into place. No longer was he the man from before it was as if that man had never existed. And to the squad of ANBU fast approaching, he never will. Now, standing tall in the clearing, wearing the black cloak with the red clouds, eyes blazing was a top member of the notorious Akatsuki. An S-Class criminal. A clan killer. An ex ANBU captain. Uchiha Itachi. He stood in the middle of the clearing, seemingly completely relaxed, without a care in the world. To someone who didn't know him, anyways. His shoulders were just a hair to high, his posture a smidgen to straight, his lips a fraction to tight, his brows furrowed ever so slightly. Anyone who knew him, would be running for cover. For the famed apathetic Uchiha was pissed. The ANBU unit wouldn't last long.
