Daughter of the Uchiha

Chapter 1

Rating: T (for language)

Hello~ I'm Starlit Paradise. I welcome you to the prologue of my story Daughter of the Uchiha. I have posted this story on Quotev as well under the name of Starlight. However, this version will be different than that one. Enjoy~

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, any of its characters, plot, etc. I only own Kei and Sayuri.

Itachi Uchiha never imagined that he would fall in love, that anyone that could love him after what he had done. He thought that everyone thought of him as a monster. He had hoped that, so his little brother Sasuke wouldn't find out the real reason for the massacre of their clan.

Itachi did find love, in Kei. She was a kind, gentle girl, only sixteen years old. She was from Konohagakure, the Village Hidden in the Leaves, Itachi's former home that he had left behind. Her very aura was so pure, so kind that Itachi found himself drawn to her one day during what was supposed to be a simple walk in the forest.

Kei's chakra was so warm and pleasant that Itachi couldn't help but investigate. He couldn't believe that anyone could possess such a warm chakra. He felt at peace when he was within yards of her, and the smallest of smiles tilted the corners of his lips as a strange feeling of happiness settled over him. Was it because of her? Possibly.

Itachi didn't know what came over him, but he called out to her when she was within earshot. She turned her gleaming violet eyes towards him, not even the slightest bit of fear consuming her calm demeanor as she locked eyes with him. He found himself stunned when her lips split into an inviting grin, and he knew it was too late to turn back.

Kei's mere presence in his life was like a remedy, soothing and peaceful and loving. Itachi couldn't believe that such a warmhearted, beautiful young girl had fallen for him, a murderer and her enemy. Yet, at the same time, he was glad they had met.

Unbeknownst to them at the time, they conceived a child. It became apparent when Kei visited him one day, the slightest bump to her belly and the happiest grin present on her face. Itachi was opposed to it when she told him she was expecting their child, fearful of what Konoha would do to Kei and the baby once they discovered it was his child.

Despite that, Kei had made her decision; she was going to keep her baby, whether Itachi wanted it or not. Itachi had learned by then that when she set her mind to something, she wouldn't be swayed. So, Itachi made the decision to raise their child along with Kei.

Kei left Konoha that next day, and never looked back. Itachi was there to receive her just out of sight of the gates, and they left for a small village where Kei would live and eventually give birth to their child. Itachi managed to keep Kei a secret from the rest of the Akatsuki, save for his partner Kisame who had sworn he wouldn't say a word.

Then tragedy struck the little family.

Kei died in childbirth, just barely seventeen years old. Itachi was devastated and could only watch as she passed on, her last words breathing to him the name she wanted for their child – a daughter. The young Uchiha was left a single father. He had lost the love of his life.

Itachi loved his daughter more than anything. She was his entire world, and the last reminder he had of Kei. She was the most precious little baby, so tiny and fragile that Itachi feared he would break her. He wanted nothing more to protect her and raise her, but he was met with a dilemma: Was it wise to raise his child, whose mother was so pure and kind, within the Akatsuki? Or would it be smarter to leave the child outside of Konoha and see to it that she was taken in by someone who could raise her properly and love her as much as Itachi did?

He decided on the riskier choice; he was going to raise his daughter himself. He didn't want to let her go, couldn't let her go. She was his tiny little piece of Kei, and he was going to do as Kei wished; raise her himself, rather than leave her to be raised by someone else. What kind of father would he be then?

And the name of his daughter…

Sayuri.

Itachi cradled his tiny infant daughter to his chest, keeping a sharp eye out for any dangers that were possibly nearby. It had been five days since Kei's death and Sayuri's birth. Itachi was finally on his way back to the Akatsuki, but he was nervous for his daughter's life. He didn't know what his leader's reaction would be to a baby being brought among them. However, Itachi knew Konan would be on his side; she would undoubtedly have a soft spot for babies.

Sayuri stirred in his arms and Itachi paused, glancing down at her. She merely turned in his gentle hold and rested her little head against his chest, her eyes still closed. Itachi smiled and lifted his daughter up to his face, pressing a light kiss to her forehead. It was a side of him unseen by most save for his family, who were all dead except for Sasuke. His usually stoic demeanor had melted in the presence of his little girl.

Itachi continued forward, determined to get to the base before nightfall. He didn't want to risk spending the night in the forest with his baby, fearful that something may happen to her despite his power. He would never be able to forgive himself if something happened to her. She meant the world to him.

It didn't take long for the father and daughter to reach the Akatsuki base. It was a little too quickly that they had arrived, in Itachi's opinion, but it was too late to turn back now. Zetsu would have reported to Leader that he had returned, so there was no leaving to come back another day, when had formed a plan in mind to explain his daughter's sudden appearance.

Shifting Sayuri in his arms so she was cradled in his left, he performed the hand seals with only his right hand to get into the hideout. The large boulder before him shifted out of the way, revealing the gaping black hole that was the entrance to the hideout. Itachi pulled his daughter even closer to his chest and jumped lightly down to land on the water separating the cave from the cliff. He pooled chakra into his feet just before he landed to stay atop the water. He easily walked across and reached the dry floor of the cave, stepping into the black. As soon as he was clear of the entrance, the boulder shifted and covered it up once more.

The low hum of voices reached Itachi's ears as he neared the living room area. He slowed down his pace slightly, hoping to have a few moments more of alone time with little Sayuri. Itachi leaned down and touched his lips to the top of his daughter's head, a feeling of foreboding settling over him, as he reached the door.

Itachi pushed the door open and entered.

Several heads turned in his direction. Some pairs of eyes glinted in mild interest, while others stared, dumbfounded. Itachi had been absent for six days, having departed from the base the day before Sayuri's birth to be with Kei.

The blue-haired woman standing in the corner let out a sudden, uncharacteristic, ear-piercing squeal. She darted to Itachi's side, her eyes fixated on the sleeping baby in his arms. Itachi smirked on the inside; he knew that his daughter was safe as long as Konan was attached to her.

"How cute, Itachi!" Konan cooed. Itachi smiled softly at Sayuri, brushing tiny strands of her brown hair from her forehead with a featherlike touch. She shifted in his arms again, but this time, her eyes blinked open, revealing the pools of onyx that had been hidden behind closed eyelids. Sayuri's eyes settled on her father and she smiled, reaching towards him with her tiny hands. Itachi smiled at her and held her up so she was directly in front of his face. Sayuri giggled happily.

Konan slapped her hands over her mouth to conceal another squeal. Itachi glanced around his daughter at the woman as she extended her hands towards him.

"May I hold her?" asked Konan. Itachi hesitated a moment. Was he really ready to let his daughter go, even if he trusted Konan and she was standing right in front of him? It seemed a little ridiculous that he was concerned so much, but then again it was his daughter, and he had promised to protect her. Itachi decided he was only scared that he would never hold her again. The look on Konan's face proved she wanted nothing more than to cuddle and love the baby girl.

Itachi nodded and gently handed Sayuri over to Konan. The blue-haired woman pulled Sayuri close to her chest and cradled her, rocking her slowly back and forth and cooing to her in such a motherly voice that Itachi briefly wondered if this was the same cold woman he had come to know. He watched closely, his eyes never leaving the pair. Everyone could see he was straining to contain that he was a nervous wreck without his daughter in his arms, even though no one else was aware that the baby was his except for Kisame.

"What's going on here?"

Itachi froze, and so did everyone else in the room except for Konan.

Leader had entered the room.

Well? What did you guys think? I hope Konan and Itachi didn't seem too out of character; I was writing them based on how I thought they would react to a child, and I had fun coming up with how Itachi would act towards his own baby.

Dun dun dun! Cliffhanger! I know, I hate them too! Review, follow, favorite! New chapter up soon!