The first chapter of Cold-
. .
The first 6 years of Uchiha Kizuna's life were peaceful.
When she was born the Uchiha compound was quiet, calm even. Kizuna was born on a particularly cold December night. All was still as the child was brought into the world. Expectant eyes on her as they cleaned the blood from the birth off of her.
Her mother, Uchiha Mikoto, showered her and her brother, Itachi—who was 4— with all the love she had. She coddled them and doted on them. Around right after Kizuna had started to walk and talk, the baby her mother had been carrying was born. They named him Sasuke.
Kizuna looked at the small baby with wary eyes. Itachi was five, she was one.
She had been the baby. She had been getting attention. A bubble of jealousy rose in her stomach.
But maybe the baby wasn't so bad?
Her mother was holding him out to her, asking if she wanted to hold her new brother. She huffed before accepting the baby into her arms. He was warm, his skin was too soft, he squirmed too much.
But he was her brother.
Her kaa-chan told her that she had to protect him, along with Itachi. The boy had nodded with a grin on his face, while Kizuna looking up to her big brother, nodded eagerly, ready to complete the task.
Her baby brother squirmed until he found a comfortable spot. He was turned into her stomach, face barely visible, swaddled in blankets. Kizuna stroked his back, but the motion was unfamiliar to her.
Mikoto smiled warmly at the pair from her bed.
Itachi quietly poked both of the small children's foreheads as they fell asleep. A silent mirth in his eyes.
. .
Uchiha Fugaku certainly wasn't expecting to have 3 children.
His first was a prodigy. He was Five and made him proud. He excelled in everything he did. Quite a child. Always had a rather mature air about him.
His second was a girl. He didn't really want a girl, they weren't as suited to be clan head if necessary. But his girl was different. She was rather goofy, he didn't like it at first but as he looked around the clan and the world around him and saw how bleak and dark it was, he wanted her to keep that goofiness, that careless mirth. He never wanted her to loose it.
His third was to be continued.
Sharingan activated, he smiled as he looked upon his family sleeping.
They looked so peaceful, and something like that was rare in the world they lived in.
. .
Three years have passed since Kizuna was brought into the world. Her father has taken it upon himself to train her early in the Uchiha taijustu style.
"Do that again Kizuna-chan, your foot was in the wrong place." Fugaku said sternly.
Kizuna huffed, "But Tou-sannn,"
Her father, Kizuna and Itachi were out practicing the Uchiha style katas. Well it was more Kizuna practicing and Itachi and Fugaku going through the moves with her, doing their best to show her what to do and how to do it.
Fugaku turned to look at his daughter with firm eyes. Itachi stepped in for his little sisters sake.
"Imoto," Kizuna turned to look at Itachi. "If you keep doing it eventually you'll get it right, eh?"
The dark haired girl nodded, "I guess," she said begrudgingly.
They went through the katas again, and this time she did them correctly. Every punch, kick, and stance shift coming to her with practiced precision, albeit a little wobbly.
"You did good, daughter." Said girl's eyes widened as she beamed.
"Really!?" Her father nodded once as he walked back to the house. Kizuna ran to catch up to him, distantly telling him how she wanted to learn a jutsu.
Itachi wasn't far behind, a smell wafting to his nose. "Smells like Kaa-san is cooking,"
"Yeah! Smells like Oyakodon!" The girl was practically drooling over the smell. "Lucky Sasuke probably got to taste some," A pout quickly settled on her face.
"Stop pouting," Fugaku said as he flicked her ear. Itachi quickly tried to stifle his laughs.
"Oww, Tou-san," Kizuna turned her eyes to Itachi. "Aniki you're supposed to be on my side!" A worried look crossed said boy's face. His sister had quite the temper.
"I think Kaa-san is calling, Imoto!" Itachi stammered hurriedly as he ran into the house. Kizuna ran after him but quickly forgot her anger as a delicious smell wafted in her nose.
She was drawn to the source.
Kizuna found herself in the kitchen watching her mother cook the food. She tried to sneak a bite but a slap on her hand quickly stamped the idea.
"Nee-chan!" Came Sasuke's voice as he slammed into his sister. "Tou-San said you guys were going to train, do you smell the food Kaa-san is cooking? It smells so good and," The rest of Sasuke's words died on his lips as Kizuna pushed a finger to her lips. Sasuke knew that meant quiet. Kizuna led Sasuke to the opening of the kitchen. Their small bodies hidden from their parents and Itachi's eyes.
"What Nee-chan?" Came the harsh whisper from the youngest Uchiha. His only answer was his sister's eyes focused heavily on the plates of food their mother was preparing.
"The food?" He whispered again, brow furrowed. Kizuna nodded once, "Hn," She pointed to the food.
"You distract Kaa-san, and I'll take a bowl and we can share it, eh?" She said with a mischievous grin. Sasuke nodded, mirroring his sister.
The second born held up her hand, remembering something her father had done, sending a signal to her younger brother. He responded, going still until his sisters wrist swiveled, making her palm face her.
He then went into action, rambling to his Kaa-san about a butterfly he saw, and a weird looking tree in the middle of the clan compound. While her brother handled his job, Kizuna went to work. She barely reached a bowl, let alone some chopsticks. When she got all she wanted she scurried back to their hideout behind the doorway, unaware of the pair of activated Sharingan watching her the whole time.
Sasuke eventually came back, grinning the whole way. His sister pulled him down next to her, laughing silently.
"I could only reach one set of chopsticks," Kizuna muttered absently. The youngest Uchiha just murmured something offhandedly as he grabbed some of the chicken with his fingers, careful to avoid the hot broth.
. .
Itachi loved his siblings.
They were the cutest, most adorable things he had ever seen. His little sister adored him, and his tiny brother adored her. Sasuke thought she could do no wrong and at times Itachi did too. It was fun to watch her temper flare, and pout when she couldn't do something.
His little brother, like his nee-chan was easily ruffled. He had big black pools for eyes, they all did. He was shorter than Kizuna, but always tried to match what she did. She always tried to match Itachi. A sibling rivalry you could say.
It had been a normal day. Otou-san had taken them out to train, minus Sasuke but that would soon change. As Itachi had been sitting in the kitchen with his father, waiting for his mother to finish the delicious smelling Oyakodon, his ears caught little whispers. At first Itachi thought nothing of it.
But then he saw a tiny hand peek out from the kitchen door frame. His brain chose then to notice that his siblings weren't in the room. He smirked, what were they up to?
Sasuke waddled into the kitchen, looking every bit of his age, and started talking to Kaa-san about a weird tree or something. Itachi's brow furrowed, this was obviously a distraction.
A messy head of black hair appeared from the door frame.
The little thing tried to sneak but failed to the counter. Itachi smiled, and kept quiet. Two chubby hands reached wildly onto the countertop, searching until they hit the sides of a bowl. The oldest looked to his father, did he not see this?
His father's Sharingan was activated, three tomoe spinning lazily as they stared at the scene before him. The Uchiha clan head's face was that of a stone slate.
His mother just listening to the ramblings of Sasuke, occasionally patting his head and smiling.
As Kizuna took her exit to their hideout behind the door frame Sasuke followed suit shorty after, little whispers sounding again.
"Those two are too sneaky for their own good," Huffed his Kaa-san, a fond smile gracing her face.
Fugaku's Sharingan flickered off as a ghost of a smile appeared on his face.
"In the ninja world that will do them good," He turned his eyes to Itachi.
"Fetch them," He said with a wave of his hand.
"Hai," Itachi responded.
Itachi rose from his chair and walked behind the doorframe that was his siblings' hideout. When he arrived two pairs of black eyes widened as they noticed they had been caught.
The firstborn hid his snickers behind his fist as he gathered himself.
"Otou-san wants to see you two," said Itachi.
Kizuna huffed and Sasuke cringed, both of their mouths covered in broth. Itachi melted as he patted both of their heads and walked back to the kitchen, his siblings on his heels.
Itachi went to sit and his siblings tried to follow him.
"No, you two stay standing right there." His Otou-san said with finality.
Sasuke cringed and looked to his sister, silently asking what to do. Kizuna's face steeled, a hint of a pout on her face.
Itachi melted again. How could his siblings be so cute?
"Now, why were you two stealing the Oyakodon," Otou-san said.
Sasuke seemed like he was about to say something but Kizuna quickly took a step forward, a panicked look on her face.
"It was an accident, Tou-san!" His little sister proclaimed, eyes flickering wildly in panic, a nervous smile on her face.
His Otou-san deadpanned, probably wondering if his daughter actually thought he'd believe that.
"And how was stealing food an accident when I can see broth on Sasuke's fingers and your mouths?"
"So Tou-san this is what happened-" she tried to explain but was quickly interrupted by her father. "No, no I know what happened, and the fact that you'd try and lie to me is incredulous, but since you displayed good skills for the ninja world I'll let you go. But if this happens again no training for a week." Otou-san said, eyes narrowed.
Kizuna's eyes widened at the punishment. She loves training, Itachi thought. Then her eyes went downcast as she pouted.
The cuteness hit Itachi again full force.
"Yes, Tou-san," she mumbled. Sasuke wrapped his little arms around her, "It's okay Nee-chan," he muttered into her shirt.
Itachi restrained a coo.
"The food is ready," Kaa-san said, smiling at Sasuke's actions.
"Sit at the table," he said to his two youngest.
They complied as the family ate in silence, occasional chatter filling the kitchen.