Change, choice and principles

Chapter I

Old doesn't always mean wise

Keiji slowly held me up by my waist and turned me around, so that we were now standing face to face. His expression was priceless. A deep frown was etched on his features, mouth slightly agape, clearly annoyed. I think it was the first time I ever saw him look this way towards me. I wanted to laugh, hysterically. The situation on its own was utmost hilarious, if I weren't its protagonist, perhaps, it would have been better. I needed a way out, it was simple enough, and after all, by his knowledge, I was merely a two year old. So I decided I would play the cute, I have no idea what's going on card when he started rolling down questions.

"Where did you hear that?"

"Dada!" I exclaimed with a lopsided grin on my face, stretching out my arms and bringing them forward, clapping eagerly.

"Where did you hear that word?" he pressed, still glowering.

"Dada! Dada!" I chimed again, clapping my hands feverishly and laughing. Oh, come on. Just back down. See there's no resolve. Say it's a bad word and that I shouldn't use it and let's get done with it.

"No, not dada. Who said the bad word, Haru?" Well, if he wanted to play…how could I not indulge him?

"Why?" Hook.

"Because it's bad, Haru" he exhaled, his frown slightly falling.

"Why?"

"Because it is."

"Why?"

"Haru, where did you hear it?"

"Why?" Line.

"Haru…" he deeply sighed, resting me on his knees and closing his eyes. "It's a bad word. Not for kids. Don't say it again…promise dada, alright?" And sinker. It's after all the most torturous question a child can ask, it was surprising we made it to four, actually, he usually gave up after the first "Why".

I was a tad tempted to keep going, but decided against it. So, instead I raised my pinky finger in the air and waited for Keiji to grab it.

"Pinky promise!" I chided once he locked his finger with mine. Might as well keep with the cuteness. It proved, after all, useful, much more so than being a silent, scared of all, child. Trial and error was apparently, for me, the only way I could learn something.

"Don't forget, Haru, it's a promise…You remember what's important about promises, right?"

"You have to keep 'em. Always. Right?"

"Right…" and he smiled, genuinely smiled. "Thank God your mother isn't here…if she knew you said that, I wouldn't hear the end of it." He laughed somewhat relieved. He was after all right. Mothers can, and are, sometimes, scary. Izumi was no exception.

Keiji never kept to anger, I had never seen a more calm or easy-going person. Of course, he knew when the time was to put his foot down, but for the most part he was least serious person I've met. Izumi on the other hand, the complete opposite, impatient and quick tempered, she always sighed when her husband made some silly joke, her brow twitched when he kept at it, knowing she was getting annoyed but not stopping until he heard her threatening voice, only to burst out laughing a moment later. It got me to wonder if maybe opposites do attract, it was never something I pondered about. Never really thought about my "opposite", never really felt the need to…

The strangest thoughts come to mind when you have too much time to spare.

As promised, no mentions of the foul incident had been made. I believe Keiji also sorted it out with the brats. Although, the next time they came over they were less enthusiastic and there was no more touching or mentions of the word "cute". I was thankful.

The next months passed in a monotone and dull blur. The same routine every day, with the occasional attempts at having me try and write my name, play some new game, meet some kids or relatives, go to the park. Nothing interesting. Nothing out of the ordinary, until one day. Izumi was acting strange. She dressed me up in a blue dress that I had never seen before and she herself wore something strikingly different than usual, her hair was pinned in a tidy low bun, where as she normally didn't even bother with it. What's going on? I though perhaps it had something to do with Keiji, who had left on a mission earlier in the week. But that wouldn't had made sense. So, finally I asked.

"Mom, why are we dressed up?"

"We're visiting someone" she reveals and proceeds to drag me through the door, out the house and to the streets.

She kept on talking after that, but as my worry was laid to rest and I already assumed that we were on our way to some aunt or uncle, I did what only came natural to me in this sort of situations. I tuned out, also today was a day when I awoke with a need to have a long, insightful inner monologue about what to do concerning the very near future. Decisions, decisions. Keiji mentioned the Academy sometimes, saying I would attend when I was older, but he didn't mention when. Truth be told, I was tired of waiting.

Last time around I was five, two years before I started at the Academy, when I was first thought about the Ninja Arts, basic, general notions, nothing special or practical, that came later, later when I started showing some sense. Oh, yes, it was a very long process of trial and error, back then. Should I go all out or keep low-key? I asked myself. The first option was more appealing, it would mean I would be treated less like a scatty child, but it also meant I had to be more careful, sometimes being off the radar was better that shining like a beacon. Mostly now that I was right under Danzo's nose. Nasty fellow, that one. Met him once, nearly died. And it would be the crudest sort of irony to die because of my impulsiveness a third time. It was something I had to work on.

But back to the matter at hand. With all my former knowledge, I could become a prodigy, seeing as my physical body and chakra control were the only things I had to work on. Which wouldn't be so hard to do, as I already have all the theoretical and practical knowledge at hand. Yet, there were still many variables at play. I haven't even once tried to summon my chakra, to feel it properly in this body. Also, even in the past it took me a long while to specialize and achieve perfect chakra control, but that was mainly because my body wasn't really build to have an exact grip on energy. I needed pristine concentration over what I was doing, which was hard at times. Even after years there were moments when I, unintentionally, put too much chakra into attacks. It wouldn't have been necessarily bad if I weren't specialized in making things go boom. Oh, I had quite the fondness for explosive tags, basic ninja tools no doubt, but useful. Actually, it was what got me interested in Sealing Techniques. Simple to understand in principle, complicated in practice. In theory, if the base requirements are met and the rules of sealing not broken then you've got yourself a seal, in reality either nothing happens or it explodes in your face. It took a vast amount of time to get right, but it was worth it. Having specially engraved kunai and shuriken that would detonate on command once chakra is added, no tags needed, made for a perfect way of baffling your opponent. Those were the days…

"Haru…Haru are you listening?" my mother's voice suddenly pierced through my reverie. I forgot we were walking through the bustling streets of Konoha, where to? She didn't say. But it was a part of the village I had not seen before.

"Chiharu!" she sounded displeased, so I answered.

"Yes, mamma, I was." Even though I really wasn't.

"Then what did I say? "Which apparently she already knew.

"Uh…to behave?" I stammered. I hoped it was the right answer.

"Actually, I hadn't gotten there yet, but nice try." She replied with a smirk and a raised eyebrow. To which I deadpanned a "Thanks". She sighed.

"Just like your father, I swear…"

I was debating whether I should thank her again or not, but, my mind turned blank when I realized where we were going. In front of us was towering the Uchiha District, very much intact and from all appearances, very lively. On one part, I was much closer now to figuring out when I stood in the timeline, on the other, I really, really did not want to go in there. I won't lie; I was terrified at the prospect, mostly because I had made it a goal to stay as far away as possible from their clan. It's far simple to avoid a temptation if you don't acknowledge it. Knowing the future is truly a curse, one that I would not wish onto anyone. Because of what I knew, because of the things I have seen firsthand in the past, the death and horror and bloodshed, so much innocent blood lost, undeserved and unasked for, I wished to save lives. As many as I could. That is why now I stared temptation in the face, a temptation which I could not allow myself to fall for. For the sake of the path I knew. For the greater good.

"Why are we here, mamma?" I slowly asked when we passed through the gates, surprised at how shy and small my voice sounded.

"We're visiting a friend, sweetie" an answer so simple, that yet awoke even more questions. "Don't look so worried, she has a boy about your age you can play with while she and I talk." She continued. I didn't even know my emotions had somehow found their way on my usually disguised face.

A boy. A boy around my age I could play with. I mulled over her words and went reeling into a full blown round of denial. Which as we walked, became anger, then turned to bargaining, only for it to fall to depression, when none other than a visibly pregnant Mikoto Uchiha welcomed us into her house, complimenting my mother and I, saying the usual "It's been too long" and "We've much to talk" that are passed between friends. And finally, the whole fifteen minute emotional rollercoaster ended in implacable acceptance as I was ushered into a room that opened out to the backyard of the estate and put face to face to, probably, the only person I most dreaded to meet. The eldest son of Mikoto and Fugaku stood in the center of the room and looked at his mother. He was uncharacteristically unchildish like, with his back straight, eyes wide, with a pale face perfectly framed by black hair.

"Itachi, this is Chiharu. Chiharu, this is my son, Itachi. Play nice, you two. We'll be in the other room." Mikoto announces with a smile and turns to leave once her son nods in understanding.

The sliding doors close behind me with a dull sound, leaving us staring at one another. Me, out of pure shock. Itachi, I didn't dare guess. He said nothing, I said nothing. He didn't move, I didn't either. What now? I should say something…but what? It all feels so…awkward. Maybe he'll say something. He didn't. We just stood like that. Maybe he thinks I'm weird or that I don't like him. Should I just leave it as such? Temptation. Maybe I should.

"Why do you look scared?" he breaks the odd silence, tilting his head to the side, looking more curiously at me.

"I'm not!" I reply fast and without thinking, sounding defensive, my voice louder than it should have been.

"You look scared." He insists. And he is right, yet, I wasn't expecting it to show. I always kept my feelings guarded, always been sure to dissimulate when I had to, alas here, now, it seemed I couldn't.

"I'm not." This time it came out more decisive and to further prove my point, I advanced closer to him, crossing my arms at my chest, my lips pressed into thin line, my face etched with seriousness. I didn't know what I expected to happen, but he laughed, not loud, but it was genuine. He found my actions amusing.

I was dumbstruck.

I think he might have broken me and it didn't even take five minutes.

Why is it that whatever governing force sat up in the sky thought that it would be a good idea to put me in this place and time? To have me standing here face to face with someone I felt so much towards? Even if he was just a kid, he did it, in a mere moment made me reconsider even the vaguest idea of not interfering as little as I had planned to in this matter. Even if I could not save them all, I could help some. Was it a wise decision? Only time would tell. My mind though, was made up faster than a blink.

Sentiment. What a strange thing. What a dangerous pit to fall into.

Poke.

My head jerked up at the sudden action. He looked somewhat irritated. I got stuck in my own head again. Today was not one of my best.

"Do you want to play a game?" he spoke emphasizing every word and looking expectantly.

"What?" A game? Play a game? I was, to say the least, confused.

"A game" he exhaled. It seemed I had this effect on everyone I met. I really should start paying attention. "Here, I'll show you" he continued leading me out on the porch where there was box with neatly stacked different color cards. We sat down on opposite to one another.

"It's a memory game; it helps for when you go to the Academy. Did you play it before?"

"No" Yes. They still use these?

"I'll show you." He held up two of the cards for me to see. "There are twenty cards, each has a different color on one side" he continued and turned them around "then on the other a sign, you need to remember it and tell what it is when I show you the colored side." He finished holding one card on one side and one on the other. I wonder if he dumbed it down for me. Hell, he probably thinks I'm an air-head.

"So the one who remembers best wins?"

"Yes. Do you want to play, then?"

"Sure" I replied and he held out the deck to me so I looked through them.

"Take your time" Definitely dumbed it down. But as true as that was, he didn't sound either smug or condescending once.

I shifted through the cards five times, even if I already knew them by heart. Probably just as he did. He waited patiently until I finished and we started playing. He got every one of them right as I purposely got the more complex and intricate ones wrong. He was brilliant, at this young age, his descriptions were without fault. I wasn't surprised, but reading about it and seeing it with your own eyes were two different things. Still, something nagged at me, were his actions driven out of politeness or were they sincere?

We played two more rounds, Itachi wining them as well, even though I guessed more cards each time, before the door slid back open revealing the two mothers standing at the threshold of the room.

"It's time to go, Haru" Izumi announces signaling for me to come to her. "Did you have a good time?"

"I did" I responded whilst going by her side. Itachi following as well and stopping next to his mother.

"Good, good" she says with a smile towards me. "Thank you for having us, Mikoto"

We started to walk down the hallway, with Mikoto leading us towards the front door, she and Izumi continued exchanging words. I was about to wave good-bye at Itachi, when he suddenly called to his mother.

"Can Chiharu-chan come again?" It took a while for her to respond. My hand stood frozen midway in the air the whole time.

"If Chiharu wants to as well, we could arrange it." She answered after the slight pause, peering down at me. Her lips slightly curled upwards.

"Sure" I utter with slight amusement as I thought it hadn't been for certain only politeness on Itachi's part.

Next time we meet was a couple of days before Sasuke's birth. I couldn't stop thinking about what was to pass in just a little while.

He called me an air-head.