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Journal V

-Uchiha Main House, Konoha-

How to describe life in a family with the size and influence of this one? It's not an easy task. There's constant activity. Conflict. And people say this peacetime is easier than the last war was. Ha! Then again, I was a newlywed back then and wasn't as good at multitasking.

Hm, I feel nostalgic. Since the kids are eating lunch and harassing your clone right now, I'll just page back through the archive. I don't really want to record the numerous times Taiki spit up this morning, or Mikoto's new talent of breaking chairs, or yet another disruptive behavior report from the academy about the twins.

It's been a while. Some days I forget what happened in the past. I was young then. Impulsive.

So much that I befriended the first missing-nin I met, and I nearly killed myself healing him. In my defence, though, it was healing Kisame that really exhausted me. You were so mad that I'd risk so much for strangers. Turns out it was a good investment.

Ah, Taiki's crying now. I guess I'll take pity on him. Shame.

Our relationship was such a secret, I don't know how I would have managed without these journals.

Journal II

-Park bench, west end, Konoha-

"So, come on, how did you nail him?"

I blinked. "Well, we saw each other a few times, exchanged letters. I don't know when he decided he liked me."

"I knew that!" Ino scoffed. "You blushed a lot, he saved your sorry butt, blah blah, very predictable and boring. What I want to know is, how did he propose?"

The girls all leaned in like vultures as I considered my choice of words. "It was the traditional Uchiha way," I explained. "The boy says 'hnn,' and if the girl happens to say 'yes,' they go to the nearest priest."

Ino bonked me over the head. "You liar, 'fess up."

Journal V

-Uchiha Main House, Konoha-

I went to the hospital today with Mikoto and Taiki. Tsunade thinks Taiki's chakra is developing more quickly than any of his siblings' did. He does still tend to fall asleep in my arms. It's not surprising that my chakra is boosting his this well. Apparently, my body has a mothering instinct that took until today to discover. None of this bothered me.

The problem came when one of the nurses offered to give Mikoto a tour while we waited on Taiki's test results. Mikoto wanted to go. I gave the nurse my permission and watched her cute little braids bounce around a doorway.

Before one minute had passed, they were in the break room, and Mikoto was trembling. I zipped over to rescue her.

A roomful of hospital staff paused their conversations as I opened the door, took my innocent daughter, and walked out.

"Mommy, what 'bree-ding'?"

I smiled at her and explained that good breeding was something all kind and polite people had.

I don't care if people speculate that Itachi and I are out to rebuild the clan's glory or fulfill a mission or anything, really. Talking in front of the impressionable kids I'm trying to raise with a semblance of manners? I was angry.

I'm still angry and I figured better to take it out here than on someone. It's frustrating! The rest of the village can vent and rant and get as annoyed as they want, but not me. Oh, no! I'm the one who has to be superhuman and never show a hint of my feelings in return. Always watched, always judged. Surely it's impossible to raise more than three kids without losing something!

The only thing I'm losing is respect toward people who think it's their right to be cruel.

That's it, I'm summoning Satoshi and going flying. I'll bring the kids. The younger crows need socializing anyway.

Ugh, life.

Okay, I'm done for now.

"What was it like, growing up with just one brother?"

Itachi rolled over to fix me with one of his how-do-you-come-up-with-these-things looks. "It was . . . pleasant. I loved him. He was adorable."

I waved a hand, but I smiled at my lounging husband. "All three of my baby brothers were adorable, too. It's not like Sasuke had a monopoly."

Itachi's face darkened. I snorted at the change of mood. "Yes, of course I miss them. I probably have another one by now. They're not babies anymore and they've grown. I miss them, but you know I chose you, and I don't regret it. I would have moved away to marry you anyway."

Insert kissing.

"Right. But back to my previous question, didn't you ever fight him for food?"

"No."

"No wonder he turned out that way."

Itachi snorted. "I'm not going to starve good manners into our children."

"Quiet! You know they wake up when we talk about them."

He laughed. "Is that a trait of being in a large family?"

"No, I think it's from their Uchiha side. Quit snorting, you ill-mannered Uchiha."

"That wasn't me. Naomi just knocked on our door."

He snickered when I jerked. "You liar. She's still in bed. They're all in bed. Another bad Uchiha trait. How am I going to train you all out of it?"

He smirked.

Insert more kissing.

"Kids, get off your father! Sanae, Minoru, Minako, Naomi, Mikoto, off." Okay, then.

I hauled them off with chakra strings and gave Itachi a Glance. "Go. The delegates are waiting!"

All six of the aforementioned children stared back at me sadly. "For the good of the village," I emphasized.

Itachi looked very pathetic, but at least there was still one thing that would tear him away from the kids, if only by a small margin. He flickered away.

I eyed the remaining kids sternly. "Now that he's gone, let's talk about the state of your bedrooms. . . ."

.

~Looks like this is gonna be a sort of "slices of life" story. Did you have a favorite? I've been noting the requests and they should all pop up at some point. I can address a lot of things with this diary-excerts format. Should I start a main plot with the Boruto stuff? Should I go back in time to the budding romance? Ah, so many possibilities.