Chapter 3
Age 3
I was lost in the sea of the unknown. So many faces looking down at me with hostility and none with concern.
I had lost my way from home, from my brother.
I was scared.
I was terrified of the unknown so I kept to myself as I walked the best I could around the seemingly un-ending village streets.
I was going to be in a lot of trouble for wandering off when I found my way home as I looked at the setting sun. The only soothing thing I felt was the warm feelings from the scents of mine and my brother's favorite thing to eat.
Dango, the people at the stand knew us well because of how much we begged/asked mother or father if we could get some.
"What are you doing out so late hmm?" A voice called from the tree's.
When my little head turned to the voice I spotted a boy in his late teens with red hair and golden eyes sitting lazily on a branch. His tan skin seemed darker in the shade and his eyes seemed to glow brightly like a predator.
"I-I got wost." I had tried to speak clearly but speech was still difficult for me.
"Hm, your an Uchiha ne?" He hopped off his branch with a whoosh of his dark reddish purple cape and golden twin blades strapped to his back that was glinting in the receding sunlight.
"Hai, mistew Ninja."
"Your so cute!" He chirped, picking me up. "I'll take you back to your compound ne?"
"Hai mistew Ninja."
He put me up on his shoulder as he walked and I felt a sense of calm and comfort around him like I had felt around my brother. I could tell he was a good man so I happily sat on his shoulders, excitedly giggling at being so high.
He'd grin at me and speed up or jump up onto the roof tops, as if he enjoyed making a child laugh and squeal.
By the time we got home I grew sad that we had to part ways but one look from my father who had been looking for me squashed all the sadness and replaced them with a bit of fear for getting into trouble for wandering.
I hadn't known that the man I had met that day was on of the legendary Sannin. There are three known to the world and a secret fourth Sannin. There was the Frog Sannin Jiraiya who was a world wide known writer and pervert. As Naruto Called him Ero-sennin, The Slug Sannin. Then there was the legendary medic Tsunade who's medical powers were known by all along with her monstrous inhuman strength. Then, The snake Sannin and Scientist Orochimaru who conducted many experiments to gain the knowledge he has today. Many illegal and cruel experiments. The final Sannin was the Lion Sannin and one of the legendary Swordsman Masaru Fuijioka who used twin blades that shined like gold.
After the trouble I went through my parents didn't want me alone much anymore to which I did not have much trouble with. I was always with Itachi anyway, so to be stuck at home with him was fine, though after a while my explorative side peeked through. That was the first time I had been separated from my twin brother, being away from him was very uncomfortable and left me afraid, though I knew that in order to be a ninja I would have to get used to the separation that was inevitable.
So I enjoyed it while I could.
"Itachi-nii!" I ran through the hallways before finding my brother reading some boring book.
"Hm?" He looked up from the book before smiling when I ran at him in a hug.
Mother had just taken me shopping and showed me different kinds of things.
"Look what mommy got me!" I chirped before pulling out an adorable wolf doll.
"Heh." A voice caught my attention as my brother's best friend stepped in the room. His name was Shisui and he loved hanging around Itachi all the time but always seemed to pick on me.
"Your such a girl. I thought you wanted to be a ninja one day?" He teased.
I glared at him before picking up a book and tossing it his way leading to him crying out in shock.
"Ashei Uchiha!" Mother's voice called from the kitchen. "You apologize right now!"
"... Gomen Shisui..." I mumbled loud enough to be herd and when mother wasn't looking stuck my tongue out and whispered. "Dobe."
I never did get along with Shisui and felt jealous when Itachi would hang out with him, but I got over that quickly and eventually accepted Shisui into mine and Itachi's world. When father had come the next day to decide it was time for training I shouldn't have been to shocked as he decided to spend most of his time training Itachi over me seeing as he was the heir.
This left me feeling vulnerable and feeling alone... The Shisui I knew changed after that and his face would take on a softer look as he entered the house to look for Itachi.
"Oiiii Mikoto-sama!" Shisui called from the door, "Can Itachi come and play?"
"I'm sorry dear." Mother called out to him as she wiped my eyes with a tissue. "Fugaku took him for training. Would you be a dear and look after Ashei for a minute?"
With that Mother walked off to go get something and Shisui walked in with an odd expression. "Oi, why are you crying?"
"B-because Itachi left to go t-training and n-now I'm all a-alone."
"No your not, baka." He walked closer and patted my head as he looked away, cheeks reddening. "I'm here aren't I?"
I looked over to him with wide eyes and a blush on my cheek as well before stopping the tears that streamed down. "Hai."
"Lets go do something!" He declared before dragging me outside with him. "Mikoto-sama I'm gunna play with Ashei today instead ok?!"
Shisui changed when he saw me alone that day, alone and vulnerable looking. I didn't know if it was pity or something else... but when I was left alone Shisui would come over all the time.
Despite me being sad that Father spent most of his time with Itachi I wasn't upset with father himself. I was a daddy's little girl and the entire clan knew that well. Between me and Itachi I was closer to our parents then he was, detached from everyone but me.
As for me?
I was father's little Hime.
I wasn't worried at all that me and Itachi would grow apart. We were twins.
We could feel what the other felt. We could communicate with ought speaking any words out loud. Our greatest secret was that we could talk to each other with our minds despite how far we were and how our chakra system and abilities were one and the same.
We were equal.
So when father taught Itachi, Itachi would teach me at night.
When I grew tired and could no longer handle training Itachi would walk over and pat my head with a smile, kissing my forehead gently and telling me that I did a good job.
I cherished everything between us.
With Itachi being the Heir to the clan he had to go to a lot of meetings with our father and sometimes mother would hang out with a red haired women with a bad temper leaving me alone with someone guarding me named Junji Uchiha. Shisui began to get busy training as well so that left me rather bored.
When Itachi was home we'd train or talk about what he would do in the meetings and sometimes to keep me from being bored he'd play tag with me after I told him we could make it into training our stamina.
"Can't catch me!" I giggled as I ran from Itachi and Shisui who chased after me.
Tag was what we were playing right now and after that we would play hide and seek. What Shisui didn't know was that me and Itachi had a prank set up for him.
I ran as fast as possible but eventually they caught, a dog pile formed in the training grounds of three laughing kids.
This was one of the rare moments when Itachi let loose and acted like a kid.
"Okay Shisui! Your it! Me and Itachi will go hide!" I called as me and Itachi disappeared while he counted.
When it was far into the game and Itachi had been found they were both looking for me and Itachi smirked ever so slightly giving me the signal.
Once he did I shoved the paint bucket down and it splattered all over Shisui who screamed in horror as his vision turned pink.
"What the heck?!"
Me and Itachi were laughing hard and Shisui looked betrayed.
"Now who's the girl?" I laughed at him before running from his infuriated wrath.
Those were the bliss innocent days I cherished so much and soon the two were more busy then ever as the training increased.
I ended up sneaking out once more and that day was the day I had met the three sannin and the Hokage. I would never forget it.
"Ashei-hime!"
I giggled as I escaped my care taker, skillfully retreating from the compound and into the streets into Konoha.
With what Itachi had been teaching me was stealth and speed and I was speeding through the village, weaving in and out of alley ways, dodging pedestrians and jumping fences with the feeling of freedom.
Even though I had no idea where I was going.
I still wanted to keep that feeling of freedom. No worries of disappointing anyone with how I walked or talked.
I was happy.
I was un-stoppable!
Until of course when I jumped the gate and smacked right into some white haired man.
"Oomph!"
"What the heck?"
"Hm?"
I looked up to see a women with blonde hair, a man with black hair, another man with white hair, and another man with brown hair and the Hokage hat and robes.
"G-gomen H-Hokage-sama." I blushed as I stood up.
"Gomen Hokage?! You ran into me squirt!" The white haired man yelled, pointing a finger like children did when mad at another.
"Don't call me squirt if anything your the squirt. Pointing fingers like a child." I spoke coolly, folding my arms with a huff. "What, are you two?"
Father would kill me if he found me speaking so horrifically to someone older then me but the way he was acting made me angry. If the look he was showing was anything to go by, he was shocked and mad.
"I like her." The blonde women grinned kneeling down before me. "Whats you'r name little one?"
"Ashei Uchiha." I puffed up with pride at the name before peeking over at the other two men, the black haired one frightened me.
"What are you doing here." He spoke coldly as if I was a speck of dirt in his path.
"I ran away." I spoke honestly.
"Why would you do that?" Hokage-sama asked with a gentle smile.
"Because they left me alone and I got bored. So I left to explore."
"You could have gotten hurt." The white haired one seemed calmer now, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"No." I said simply causing all to look at me. "I'm safe here."
"Hmm." The black haired one almost laughed at me.
"It's not funny." I glared with all my might. "Hokage-sama makes it safe and I'm going to be a ninja! I can take care of myself you know."
"Really?"
"What are you doing Orochimaru?" The blonde glared at him.
"Don't worry Tsunade." He chuckled coldly before smirking at me. "Then show me what you got."
"Fine then! I'll show you I'm just as strong as any Uchiha!" I yelled at him and soon I found myself at the training grounds with a frowning Hokage, Tsunade and the white haired guy named Jiraiya.
"Well?"
"Take this!" I puffed my cheeks out eliciting an aww from Tsunade and Jiraiya.
"Fire style; Fire ball jutsu!" I shouted, poring every ounce of Chakra into the move as I could.
If this didn't impress anyone then I didn't know what would.
Unfortunately for me it DID impress someone.
Orochimaru.
He had seen the power of the Uchiha clan and started to obsess over us. Though I hadn't known back then, Orochimaru had seen Itachi training the night before and wanted to see if I was just as strong.
While Itachi always used tactics and thinking before acting, I acted on impulse by going with the most powerful move we knew.
Fire ball jutsu.
It was that fated day that he began obsessing more and more after seeing not one but TWO children from the compound with untold potential.
I would sneak out of the house when Itachi was gone and go visit the Sannin and Hokage in secret.
Even though Orochimaru was a cruel man, back then I thought Orochimau was a harmless man and was only cold on the outside and I had taken a liking to all three of them.
"Oro-sama!" I raced through to the training grounds to hang out with the three sanin, "Tsuna-sama! Jirai-sama!"
In my arms were three wrapped boxes, it was Christmas but father took Itachi again for special training so I used this time to give out my present's to everyone.
Since my 'baby sitter' was assigned to care for me when no one was home he had to listen to me since he was a lower member of the branch. So when I told him to never tell of my sneaking out of the house he agreed on the condition that he got to dress me up in... sparkly pink colors.
Damn bastard.
"Hey! What are you doing here?" Tsunade asked, bending down to my eye level.
I blushed as the attention was on me and shifted around. "Its Christmas!" I declared, waving some presents around. "This one's for you Tsuna-sama!"
Tsunade blinked at the gift before smiling and taking said gift. When she opened it she pulled out a Sake bottle and a Hand made Sake bottle holder that was in the shape of a curved slug who's tail was sharp enough to open the bottle.
"How'd you get this?" Tsunade asked with a scalding tone.
"I used a Hange-"
"-Henge." Orochimaru corrected.
"- Hai Henge and was able to get it. Junji-san said you liked Sake." I finished and made sure to use a cutesy grin that Junji had told me would let me get my way with a lot of people.
"That look doesn't work on me."
I blinked at her before laughing and then going over to Jiraiya who opened his gift with gusto. when he finished opening there was a frog pen, a very thick but light pad with paper for his books he said he writes, and a Kunai that's hilt looked like a frog spitting out the blade.
"Thanks squirt!"
"Don't call me squirt you old man!"
The last one was for Orochimaru that took the longest to get done. I was only four so I couldn't do much for it but I was able to have someone make it while I explained what I thought it should look like.
He gave me a funny look at the long stick like present before opening it and staring.
It was a Sheath and a Katana.
The entire Sheath looked like a metal snake with its mouth bared to strike with details so refined it almost looked real. The Katana's hilt was three white colored snakes slithering over the hilt and onto the base of the blade, the blade its self was scaly and also white.
He didn't say anything but I knew he liked it a lot by the way he pat my head and his eyes turning warm.
"Did you get Hokage-sama something too?" Jiraiya yawned as if bored.
"Hai!"
I had gotten the Hokage a very old antique pipe since I knew he liked to smoke. It was worth a lot of money apparently but I knew it was perfect when I had found it on one of my exploring days.
When Itachi came home he was colder then normal and distant from everything. He wouldn't say anything so I had dragged him off to talk to me.
He had seen death he told me in such a haunted voice that it had shaken my very being. I had looked him in the eyes to when I could see his memories over taking me, an ability we shared as twins was to see the other's memory.
I regretted ever looking into his mind. I regretted that I hadn't been with him and cried that night for hours and stayed in bed with him curled up.
The sight he had seen would haunt us...
Though when I turned five nothing would haunt me more... then when the beast attacked Konoha.
"The world's going to change."
I had told my brother that morning as the crisp night air still clung like dew to the grass.
"What do you mean?"
He had asked, curiosity and confusion raked over his face at the cryptic words that flew from my mouth. I turned to him, frowning as the feeling of dread filled my being.
"Something's going to happen. I can feel it in the air. I can feel it in the earth... I can sense it."
Hi's eyes had raked over me once more as a frown marred his face when the door to our home had opened and our father walked out.
"It is a boy."
He left after that, disappearing from site and senses before we made our way in. Our mother lay in a special room with nurse maids that helped her. In her arms a bundle lay wrapped in the softest blue cotton blanket and a tiny tuft of black hair peeked out.
"Meet your little brother."
Her voice was tired, exhausted from the procedure she had just gone through. Which had been understandable, After all child birth was not easy.
"His name is Sasuke."
Both me and my brother, my twin, looked down at the bundle as black little eyes stared up innocently, a coo escaping his lips.
"Our little brother."
We had spoke at the same time, smiling softly at the small bundle and warmth filling our hearts, the foreboding feeling placed on the back burner as we shared in the happy moment of our new addition to our family. To our Clan.
"My Otouto." My brother whispered.
"My little moon." I responded with a grin. " He reminds me of night time."
I had never been more happy before as I looked down into the precious eyes of the one I would come to cherish more then life it's self.
Itachi was no longer the only important one in my life.
Now I had two things that tied me to earth.
Itachi, and Sasuke.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Present~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sasuke stopped reading when he had gotten to his make shift home. The silence was deafening and cold.
He never felt more alone and his heart hurt like it had when he heard what happened in Itachi's past. Hurt like it had when he lost almost all his entire clan.
The pain was over whelming him and if it weren't for Ashei possibly coming back he didn't think he could pull through.
He meant so much to her and Itachi since the day he was born. This book would show more of Itachi and Ashei then he had ever known... He had to keep reading.
So he sat on the cot that the United Shinobi had in their tents as they discussed what to do now that the war was over, and read on.
Next chapter up xD Hope you like it so far!
