Suki, Child of the Snow: Uchiha Healer

I started writing this story two years ago and finished it last year. Now I'm revamping it a bit...well a LOT, actually, especially on the first few chapters. This particular chapter only had about 1000 words total, so now that it has over 3000, that's saying something. This is the first story in a series that was originally a trilogy, but is probably going to end up having four volumes total. Yes, Suki is an OC but she has a very interesting background that is revealed later on in the story, so if you like interesting things then please read.

Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine.

Chapter 1

It was an Uchiha legacy. They called her Suki, Child of the Snow. She was so pale she was almost white. Her hair was jet black, as were her eyes. She was beautiful silence, for she almost never spoke, and was often referred to as "Uchiha Healer," since she was so kind and warm-hearted.

Her older brothers were Sasuke and Itachi. Itachi thought nothing of her, but he did often wonder why she stared at him constantly with those endless dark eyes filled with mystery, love, and kindness. Even at a very young age, it was undoubted that she had a unique ability that was discovered none too soon…

…but it was soon enough.

--

Before she had turned four years old, her brother Sasuke had already started school and was working hard to catch up to his role model, Itachi. Suki's birthday was in a week, and she somehow knew this. But what was it to a three-year-old girl who was already reading scrolls and molding chakra? Her parents were convinced she would turn out like Itachi…early excelled and super-strong.

Good thing they didn't know the truth about Itachi…

One particular day, June 17 to be precise, Suki walked over to her mother, and asked her a question seemingly too strange for her age.

"Why is Itachi-sama so intelligently misunderstanding?"

Her mother's jaw dropped.

"Wh-what? Suki, how can you—where did you learn those words?"

"I read them in Konoha: A Legend."

"That book is too advanced for you, dear."

"Actually, I find it all rather fascinating. For example…" Suki pulled out said book and placed it on the counter. It was large and rather heavy, so it was astounding just to see her holding it with such ease, much less heaving it onto a counter. Suki, however, ignored her mother's astonishment and continued with what she was saying. "Did you know that in the Henshin X Period, the civilization of a land overseas sought to destroy the recently-established Leaf Village? Our Hokage back then signed a treaty of alliance, which afterwards the country used to send more ninja from the nether region over here. They became the Rain Village and the Grass Village. Mother, what's wrong?"

"Suki-chan…I just don't understand."

"Understand what I'm saying?"

"No, dear, it's not that. I just don't understand how you can be so gifted. Konoha: A Legend is a book for much…older…readers. And your vocabulary! It's so advanced!"

Suki huffed a bit. Why didn't her mother understand? No one understood, actually. Just because she was so young didn't mean she had to stoop to a lower level just to be accepted as normal. If she was hungry for knowledge, she should be allowed to search! But it seemed that no matter what she did, she was always looked down on for being such a genius. In fact, her own father was starting to shove her away! He had said she'd already surpassed him, but that wasn't the point. He was still her father; at least he could show her some respect—and out of a manner other than fear!

It was true. Pretty much her entire clan was afraid of her because she was such a genius. Everyone knew that she would probably end up stronger than the clan's current prodigy, her older brother Itachi, and quite frankly, no one was really very happy about it. Even Itachi himself was uneasy about the whole situation. Really, Suki knew, he just wanted to be left alone, but that wasn't going to happen, and that was a well-known fact as well.

What I don't understand is why they won't let me be who I am…and why THEY don't understand ME…

If she was older than three, it wouldn't be so bad. But being practically an infant and a genius wasn't really a very popular or accepted concept. In fact, Suki wasn't allowed to leave the Uchiha complex until she started school. When in reality, she could have started ages ago! Suki pouted to herself. This was just the Uchiha pride. Each member wanted to be the strongest—or at least they acted like it. And everything was always 'for the good of the clan' but all the motives behind those motions were always selfish. Suki was very glad that the Uchiha pride was more common in males, and that she hadn't inherited that unlucky trait. If she had, she knew that she would probably be much farther along on the path to becoming a shinobi, but she wouldn't have bothered to collect important information such as that within the pages of Konoha: A Legend.

"Well, if I'm going to be a decent shinobi I should gather as much information as possible beforehand, ne?" Suki finally said, breaking out of her thoughts by meeting her mother's gaze.

"W-well, yes, I suppose, but…"

It was then that Itachi walked by, pausing at the door to deliver his message but taking care not to look behind him, since he knew Suki would have that intent gaze of hers on him in an instant… In fact, she was probably staring at him now. "I'm leaving. I'll be back sometime after dark, so don't stay up late waiting for me."

"Itachi-niisan?" Hearing his younger sister's voice confirmed his suspicions—not only was she watching him, she wanted to talk to him too. Mentally, he sighed. To tell the truth, he didn't like Suki at all. It wasn't because she was already able to read advanced books and use highly-developed language. It wasn't even because she was already starting to learn jutsu at the age of three. No, he didn't like her because of that look in her eyes…it was always there whenever he was present, regardless of the situation. She would stare at him with those eyes, and he always got the feeling that she knew something, something that no one else knew. But what could it be? It just didn't make any sense. And then there was that saying she had taken to repeating to him daily…something about a rising moon and a dying name. She had told him once that it was a prophesy, and that it really did hold meaning, so he should pay attention to his dreams. Dreams? What dreams? He had no dreams. His nights were empty, so why pay attention to nonexistent dreams? He had been sure that he was safe from anything dream-related, since none ever came.

But the dreams did come. They started about a week after Suki had declared the phrase to be a prophecy, when he'd started having mixed feelings about his family…and they didn't stop. Now, instead of emptiness, his nights were one big dream. Most times, he couldn't even tell where one dream left off and another began. They all ran into each other and made him extremely confused. Of course, he hadn't told anyone about the dreams, but he somehow had a feeling that Suki knew. Why? Because she just seemed to know everything, no matter whether the information was spoken, implied, or even hidden; somehow, she just knew.

He didn't want to admit that she had been right about the dreams, but then again it really didn't matter, did it? Besides, lately, the dreams were becoming more like nightmares… So he had already decided to tell her in a few weeks, on her birthday. He was sure she would understand.

But for now, it was time to acknowledge said sister's existence.

"Hai, Suki-chan?"

"In sweet silence the water glistens and covers the rising moon with a hazy mist…and only then will the blood flow freely and the dying name be cast to greatness…"

There it was again. The prophesy. The blood will flow… He didn't really want to think about it.

Itachi then acted very unlike himself. He suddenly fled outside, leaving the door open behind him, and didn't look back. Suki glanced first at the open doorway, then at her mother, who had collapsed and fainted from the sheer power of the words Suki had spoken.

"The time will come," Suki whispered softly, "when snow will heal the wounds of the Village Hidden in the Leaves…"

She walked down a dark hallway and promptly disappeared…

--

June 24 was Suki's birthday, the day on which history would become eternally confused. The party in and of itself was a strange thing, considering how awkward everyone, even the children, felt towards young Suki. Perhaps it would have been better if Suki had not given away over half her presents, but since Suki felt that she didn't need most, if not all, of the ninja gear and other gifts she had received so far, she figured she could just be kind and give them to those who did. Unfortunately, her actions only made the others dislike her even more. Suki, however, pretended not to notice.

"Okaasan?"

"Hai, Suki-chan?"

"Where is Itachi-niisan?"

Itachi had returned the previous night, but so far he had not shown up at all. Suki wasn't worried, just a bit concerned. He had no reason not to come, did he? Could it be that he was afraid of her just like everyone else? Luckily, her mother's answer eased the doubt rising in her mind.

"He's in the other room. I believe he is preparing his gift for you," Mikoto said with a small smile.

"Ah, well, that's good," Suki replied nonchalantly, having already turned her attention back to the party. Everyone else had already given her a small gift, so she was anxious for her niisan to hurry up so she could get it over with. No one really knew it, but Suki disliked receiving presents from anyone, especially since she knew that the majority of her clan both despised and feared her for being stronger than their best, Itachi, and so whatever was given to her held no actual meaning; it was just another object to rest in her hand, just another customary action which she accepted but would not fall victim to, because she would not tolerate unfair treatment done unto her, or anyone else, for that matter.

Finally, almost without Suki even realizing it, the last present was placed in the palm of her left hand. She looked up from where she was sitting to see Itachi standing there with a rather blank look on his face. Suki inwardly smirked. So he was hiding his embarrassment, huh? She opened her mouth to say something but Sasuke beat her to it.

"It took you long enough, niisan," he said, crossing his arms over his chest. "We were waiting forever."

Itachi only considered him enough to give him a glance. Suki smiled and opened her gift. It was a kunai with a note attached to it. The note read: "Meet me at the lake later today. I'm sure you know the one. Your real present is there."

Suki looked up at Itachi with her wide, dark eyes, letting her small smile suffice to say she understood.

"Domo arigato, Itachi-niisan."

Itachi offered a vague smile in return. Suki blinked at this, trying to read into her brother's expression, but for once, her brief search turned up with nothing. Who knew what was really going through his mind? Never looking away until her sentence was complete, Suki let those mystical words speak for her:

"The time will come," she repeated as before, "when snow will heal the wounds of the Village Hidden in the Leaves… But until then… Itachi-niisan, iku yo."

--

The night was cold and dreary now, leaving the odd feelings present at the party to wander about unclaimed as Suki headed to the lake Itachi had known she would know. Of course, she also knew that the real reason he wanted her there in the first place was to talk to her in private, which meant that the time for disaster was approaching. The countdown had begun.

By the time she reached the lake, there he was, already waiting in the distance by the water's edge. Suki approached him somewhat cautiously, then joined him where the water lapped the surrounding shore.

"So…what is it you wish to talk about?" she asked, sitting down and gazing across the lake to the other side.

"You, actually. You always seem to know everything. How?"

"Oh…I don't know. I just do. Are you seeking my knowledge of a specific…thing?"

Itachi sighed, an amused smirk on his face. "Hai, see, you already know."

"You've been having a recurring dream, haven't you? And you want me to tell you what it means."

The smirk was already gone, having been replaced with a faraway look that was a combination of distaste and uneasiness. "I didn't want you to know. I didn't want to give you the satisfaction of being right. I hope you're not…"

Suki cut him off. "It doesn't matter whether I am right or not. These are your choices, and your dreams. Simply because I predicted them does not mean I am always going to be right."

Itachi looked away.

"And anyway," Suki continued, still watching the water ebb and flow, "all that really matters is what's right, ne?"

"I…I can't go on like this… And if…if things stay as they are, something worse could happen. I didn't want to do this at first, but then…"

"But there are things you can't remember, and you know it's someone's fault."

"Seikaku ni…someone's to blame, and it's not me, I know it. Sometimes I can see a flare of someone else's chakra, but when I look again it's gone, although I can still feel it. Someone made me forget, and I don't know who or why, but…" Suddenly he stopped talking, and Suki turned her head to look at him. "G-gomen ne, I've talked too much."

"Iie," Suki replied with a smile. "What you say is truth."

After a long pause, Itachi finally said, "…I just want to remember…"

There was more silence after that. Suki stared at her brother with a concerned expression on her face. If only he were allowed to know what she knew…

"Your dream, it goes with the prophesy," she said finally, causing him to break out of his thoughts to listen to her. "There is silence now, and we are by those waters which shine so brightly due to the moon's reflected light that you cannot see its reflection. It is your silhouette that will be against the moon on that night, when sacrificial blood is shed again."

That seemed to get his attention. "Again? Why again? Did this happen before?"

Suki shook her head. "No, but it will. You'll see. You will realize it after it happens."

"Oh. And the…dying name?"

"The dying name," Suki stated matter-of-factly, "is that of our clan. More specifically, you."

"But…"

"Niisan…are you afraid of me?"

"Somehow, yes…but I don't know what makes me afraid."

"That is a secret we shall share, ne? I will not tell anyone you fear me."

"Hn."

"I will refrain from asking about my gift, but in any case…"

"No, here it is…"

A small pendant lay in the palm of his outstretched hand. "This is your present. I'm sorry for not giving it to you at the party…but if the others had seen, they would've known."

Suki's eyes glittered at the sight of the pendant. It was a small, golden locket in the shape of a heart, with precise, scroll-like engraving and the Uchiha symbol etched into the surface. She knew this pendant's significance, both what was known by the clan and what was a secret kept to herself. But she made no mention of this; instead, she mused aloud the reasons for the clan's future demise.

"…to test your strength…"

"Hm?"

"…Do you plan to fight me?"

"You know very well I cannot fight you. As it stands I would be a good match, but I'd lose."

"What about Sasuke-kun? Will you bother with him?

"He is too weak and trusts too much. He needs to be taught that reality is not as glamorous as it's made out to be." It was an indirect response, which did not make it a true answer, but Suki ignored this and focused on the reply itself, rather than the context of the reply.

"While what you say is true, it is a cruel thing to traumatize him so. He loves you with all his heart and you will break him if you do such a thing."

"In that case," Itachi said, looking at Suki with a real smile this time, "you will be all he has left… Take care of that pendant, imouto-chan. To still be with me. Ja ne…"

Suki returned home, quiet, content…

…and alone.

--

Some time later, when it happened, it was late in the afternoon, just before dark. Suki stood on a rooftop and awaited the tragedy. She had prepared herself for this, severing all emotional ties she had with her family so as to be immune to the heartache that she knew would come. Sasuke would be unprotected from this pain, but she would be there for him, and that would be enough.

She heard one scream, just one, and then others followed suit. Some of the stronger clan members fought, but overall, none of them could compete with him.

With Itachi.

Suddenly Suki heard her mother and father calling for her, and teleported to them only because she wanted to see them at least one more time before their deaths, not because she wanted to save them. She had no intention of even trying. No, this was an inevitable and necessary fate that even she would not interfere with.

The last words her parents heard were out of Suki's mouth: "Perhaps things are not always just as they seem." Seconds later, they were no more.

"Suki-chan, that was unnecessary. If you don't watch it, I'll have to kill you too," Suki heard Itachi say.

But her eyes glowed white as her whole body transformed into a gleaming, white figure and rose in midair before speaking again. "You can't kill me, onii-sama. You know that. And if you do so much as to even think of killing Sasuke I will not hesitate to kill you."

There was a moment of silent understanding then, and in that moment of realization, Suki returned to her normal state, after which Sasuke burst through the doors…on the verge of tears.

"WHAT'S GOING ON?!" he all but screamed.

No one even offered a reply.

Itachi stepped into the light, dropped the sword coated thickly with blood, and then vanished. The silent drama was enough. Sasuke screamed and fell to the ground, overcome with a mixture of terror and sorrow.

"No...they're…they're all…"

Suki pulled him to his feet and practically dragged him out of the house. "Not me, Sasuke-kun. He left me alive."

Sasuke hugged her as tightly as he possibly could. "I promise…I'll avenge their deaths someday."

"It's okay. Niisan may have killed them all off, but you know you've still got me, Sasuke-kun."

They walked slowly away from the scene. Suki's words echoed in Sasuke's mind as they passed by limp bodies scattered all over the vicinity:

"You've still got me."