A/N: Just to clarify, even though this might look like an OC story, it technically isn't, since Uchiha Izumi is property of Masashi Kishimoto (and whoever else participated in her creation). Therefore, she can be considered canon. For those of you who are not aware of her existence, you can find Izumi both in the Naruto novels released last year in Japan encompassing Itachi's life pre-massacre, and as of now, in the Anime (Shippuden) as well (remember Tobi mentioning a former lover to Sasuke in the manga? Well we finally have a face and name.) This being said, since you can barely learn anything as far as character development goes from these sources, I have taken artistic liberties with her characterization and life events. Everyone else will be kept in character as strictly as possible.
Anyway, Itachi is always fun to play with. Hope you enjoy my attempt at making him seem a bit more, say, normal, before everything went to Hell.
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"Explore me,' you said and I collected my ropes, flasks and maps, expecting to be back home soon. I dropped into the mass of you and I cannot find the way out."
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Shisui isn't really sure how or why it happens, but Uchiha Itachi starts being tailed by a scrawny little dark-haired girl shortly after the Kyuubi is unleashed upon Konoha. He thinks it a funny sight, seeing as they never even talk at first, she just becomes a part of his daily activities, like the soundtrack to a movie or a blooming flower amidst the forest. She becomes his shadow. It's also surprising, since it is common knowledge that Itachi is a man of few words and even fewer friendships, yet he allows the girl to trail after him seemingly undisturbed. It takes Shisui two weeks to bring himself to ask Itachi what's the deal with the girl that keeps on following them as they stroll down the village, and sits on a tree branch for hours as they train.
"Is she like, your girlfriend?" Shisui whispers, sitting down while Itachi takes out a water flask from his bag. He doesn't even flinch at Shisui's comment.
"Of course not," he replies before taking a sip of water.
"You don't have to be embarrassed or any-
"I'm not."
"- thing, Itachi, but maybe you guys should actually talk to each other? It's fine if you want to go on a date-"
"What?"
"- now and then instead of training with me."
Itachi stares at Shisui in utter confusion. This conversation has gotten way out of hand.
"Shisui, this is nonsense." He glances over his shoulder at the girl, who is currently engrossed in reading a book, completely unaware of their exchanges. "There's nothing going on between her and me. I don't even know her."
Now it's Shisui's turn to stare at Itachi, eyebrows furrowed.
"Then why is she always with you?" He asks in wonder.
Itachi sighs. He's not really sure himself, so he's at a loss of words to explain to Shisui what exactly is going on.
"I might have saved her life."
He tries his best.
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It takes Shisui another full two weeks to learn the girl is actually of their kin. The familiar onyx eyes, slender frame and graceful poise, it all falls into place now. There's something else in her too, a silent chaos. It's like a crack on a teapot, still held together but unpredictable. She's a half blood, he hears his mother tell, Came practically begging for financial aid the other day, now that her father's dead. Shisui can't imagine the tiny quiet girl he knows standing in front of Fugaku and the elder's, much less begging.
The sun is at its brightest when Itachi and Shisui make it to the new training grounds, courtesy of Konoha's council now that the Uchiha have been relocated to the village's outskirts.
"Father says this is part of our property now", Shisui points out, "I guess the benefits of fear and suspicion aren't so bad", he teases, grabbing shuriken and kunai from his pouch. Itachi follows suit and pulls his hair in a loose ponytail.
"People are angry about it, Shisui. I heard them complaining to father at yesterday's meeting."
"People always complain about everything, they're never content with how things are", he flips several shuriken in the air, "but I get it. It is clear they do blame us for the attack after all."
They hear footsteps approach. They don't need to turn to know to whom they belong. Shisui lowers his voice.
"Do you ever wonder if it was one of us?"
Steel glimmers from hand to tree, whistling in the air. Itachi stares at the four kunai ebbed on the wooden target.
"If it was… then they clearly failed. We've gained nothing from it."
They've all hit bull's-eye.
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Itachi lives up to all expectations any Uchiha could have. He exceeds them. The Ninja Academy feels more like a playground than an institution for future assassins in training. So he strives for perfection and casts shadows to keep him out of trouble. Unfortunately for Itachi, the better he does, the more interested both his teachers and peers become in him. Boys scoff and taunt him, while girls swoon and sensei exhibit him as a role model. Itachi keeps his head down. And all along, the girl keeps an eye on him from her seat. She punches the dummy next to Itachi's, walks behind him from class to class, even fetches the extra homework sheets from his tutor for him, but she never talks, and Itachi says nothing. He realizes they've been attending school together for almost a month now, and still he hasn't heard her speak to anyone at the Academy. "That's so sad", Shisui says, "You guys are only six, you're supposed to be making friends, you know, complaining about classes together and all that." Itachi doesn't completely agree with Shisui, but then he's never had many friends either, so he's not in a position to say what kids are supposed to be and not be doing. Itachi has never been much of a kid anyway. So when he runs into three girls making fun of her, snatching away her backpack and dropping all of its contents on to the floor, he does the adult thing.
"You shouldn't let them do that", he says once the bullies are no longer in sight. "You have to stand up for yourself." She glances up at him, gripping one of the books. He sees something flash in her eyes.
"If I did something, it would be worse." She states matter-of-factly. There's tiredness and resignation in her voice. Itachi is a bit taken aback, more from hearing her voice at all than at its weariness. A small smile plays on her lips then, and Itachi forces himself to keep still at the unexpected display of emotion. "Would you?"
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Words come easily after that. Like a stone blocking the natural course of the river, thoughts and remarks spill from their mouths once silence is broken. Shisui is thrilled. He finally has a name to call her by. "It's Izumi, Shisui-san", and he can't get enough of it after being in the dark for so long. She explains why they'd never crossed paths before in the Uchiha compound. "When mother married father, my grandfather was furious. He was proud of our heritage and kept raving about how my father would dilute the Uchiha blood. Once they moved in together out of the Uchiha stronghold, mother was disowned." Neither of them could care less about her heritage or lack of it, and they're sure to make it clear every time she tries to shy away from accompanying them to the Uchiha district. By the time she's comfortable strolling down its streets, the first year at the Academy is over. Itachi has been offered to graduate early, seeing as he's far beyond having mastered the basics.
"If you become a genin, you'll start going on missions", Izumi marvels, "I'm actually kind of jealous."
"D missions mainly deal with recovery, guard-duty and small skirmishes. They can hardly be considered ninja work."
"Tell that to the one who has to stick to studying anatomy and Hanakotoba*", she rolls her eyes. Itachi smiles.
"Learning the language of flowers is an ancient art. All knowledge serves a purpose."
"Yeah, to charm men," she teases. Itachi shrugs. "Mother says that flowers are the language of the silent. Even when we speak in riddles, feelings betray us. Flowers don't lie."
Izumi stares at him dumbfounded, trying to stop herself from laughing. "How is it that you always sound so serious, even when we're talking about something as silly as flowers." It isn't really a question. Izumi dismisses his attempt to apologize.
"But since you think it's so great, I'll make use of my skill at this ancient art", she winks at him. Now Itachi really is sorry.
The next morning, Izumi stops by the head of the Uchiha's home on a quick detour before tending to the weekly shopping. "I think this one suits you", she tells Itachi as he takes the white-colored flower from her hand. "Please don't tell me it stands for something like smart-ass or success", he sighs as he observes his new-found gift. Izumi scrunches up her face. "No, you silly", she swings her shopping bag over her right shoulder. "It stands for 'waiting', she reveals, trying to adopt Itachi's default businesslike tone, "Because it's like you're always waiting for something to happen, Itachi, but it never does.
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*Hanakotoba: the secret language of flowers. I think it's such a neat Japanese concept.
- White camelia: symbolizes 'Waiting'.
You can look up "Itachi Shinden: Book of Bright Light" to find some of the translated excerpts that inspired this fic. Reviews are welcomed :)