Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

"talking"

'thinking'

The Uchiha Secret

by chairomori

Chapter 4

A bird flew up and headed towards Ko.

"Hey, what's it doing?" Asked Naruto.

"This is Haruka. She's one of the birds from our village's bird house." explained Aoi.

"She's so pretty!" Sakura said as she examined Haruka. She was a pure white bird, about six inches tall. Ko petted her head. "Can I touch her?"

"Sure." He held his arm with the perched Haruka on it out. Sakura, Naruto, and even Sasuke crowded around it. He had never seen a bird like it before and was curious. It's tail seemed like it split into two, and the eyes were red.

Suddenly, Haruka flew up and left. Sakura cried in dismay. "Where is she going?"

"She's heading back to tell everyone we've arrived. Most everyone in our village understands the birds we take care of."

"Do you think we could learn?"

"Probably, you just need to spend a lot of time with them."

"Let's hurry." Aoi cut in, " I can't wait to get back home!"

They walked for a while longer when they saw Haruka return. Behind her ran a girl about a year older that the genins. She jumped up on Aoi and Ko when she saw them.

"Eh?" Naruto said in confusion. "Who's she? She looks like Aoi."

She had the same color hair and eyes and Aoi. Her hair was tied up in a crooked ponytail that reached her shoulder.

"Err...Chii-chan, could you get off please? You're kind of choking us," Aoi managed to squeeze out.

"Oh! Sorry!" Chii scratched her head before turning serious. "Why did you guys take so long anyway? Something happened yesterday, but I don't know what. Mother and father look angry too."

Aoi was surprised. "What? And you don't-"

"Hey!" Naruto shouted in Chii's ear. "You mind explaining who you are?"

"Oh! I didn't see you. Are you the shinobi we hired? to Aoi and Ko Wow! You managed to bring five of them! back to Naruto Please excuse my sudden intrudence. My name is Chii. I'm Aoi-niichan's sister. And soon I'll be Ko-kun's gi-"

"Chii-chan! For the last time, I'm not your you-know-what!" Ko's face turned red as a tomato.

Aoi sighed.

'Eh? Why does she like her brother?' Naruto thought.

"You can save your introductions for later. Mother and father are waiting! Let's go!" She ran off.

"Err..." Kakashi, Sakura and Sasuke sweatdropped at her hyperness.

'Hmmm, the ladies in this village aren't bad...I should collect some information for my books.'

"Please, don't mind Chii-chan, she's just excited. Our village hasn't had many guests lately." Aoi explained as they walked.

"Oh, really?" Jiraiya was interested. "Do you know why?"

"Well, you see, the...other villages are attracting most of the travelers with their...excellent...er, trade...yes! Trade!"

'What's up with the young these days? Do they really think we seasoned shinobi are stupid?' "What kind of trade?"

"Oh, uh, trade in...spices!" 'Are there even any spices around here?'

While Jiraiya was interrogating a now fidgeting Aoi, Kakashi started with Ko. "So, Chii-san seems to like you."

"Well, er, um." Ko's face, for the second time, became a red tomato.

"Strange, for a person to like their sibling in that way."

"W-well you see, I'm a-"

"Aoi! What are you doing?" Jime demanded angrily.

"F-father! Jiraiya-sama wanted to know about the village so-"

"That's enough!" Jime turned to Jiraiya. "I'm afraid my son doesn't know much about the village. I apologize for any inconveniences. I am Jime. Your team-"

"Actually, it's my team." Kakashi cut in, "he's just here to help."

"Right, you will be staying at my house. You will have to share your rooms though. After you get settled in, my wife, Maya, will show you around the village."

'Tch. He didn't even mention anything about the village. Trying to weasel your way out.'

"My wife is at home preparing your rooms, I will show you the way."

On their was, they passed a building with many large holes in it. It looked like a traditional house with a tier, and brown, polished walls, but the screen doors lacked...screens. Inside was the chirping of many birds.

'Sounds like chidori,' thought Kakashi.

Haruka flew off to join them. The purpose of the holes was made clear as she flew through it.

"This is my stop. I need to visit Hakuoh," Ko turned towards the building.

"You are not to enter the birdhouse," Jime declared. "While you were gone, the council passed a new law-no outsiders are allowed in the bird house- it is to protect any messages. I'm sorry," though he didn't sound sorry at all.

Ko was dumbstruck by the news. The birds were his closest friends. The house was a sanctuary from the world to him. What had happened while he was gone? Why did they do this? Questions swam in his head. But it wasn't his place to ask them. He looked at the ground. "Yes, Jime-sama," he said sadly.

"Wait, I don't understand! Isn't Ko-san your son?" Sakura asked unknowingly. "How can he be and outsider?"

"Who told you that?" Demanded Jime. "He is-"

"Father!" Aoi cut in. "W-we should go home quickly! Mother is waiting."

Jime nodded. "We're almost there. It's just ahead."

Aoi whispered quietly to Ko. "You know he didn't mean it. He's just a bit stressed from all the events."

Ko nodded and followed him. 'He still doesn't accept me.'


Jiraiya held Naruto's mouth to keep him from entering the scene. Naruto couldn't help it, he was angry. How could that guy be so mean to Ko-san? His respect for Ko had grown after the gift of ramen. He had learned that this person was now Itachi. Ko was a much better person.

"Mmm mmm!"

"Naruto, you need to learn to control your emotions. People have their reasons for doing things. Besides, these are our clients," Jiraiya explained. "Now I won't let go until you agree to keep silent, okay?"

Reluctantly, Naruto nodded his head, and Jiraiya lifted his hand. Naruto looked at Ko. His eyes carried sadness. They were eyes that longed for acceptance. 'Just like mine used to be.'

Jiraiya, meanwhile, was intrigued by the interaction. 'Obviously Ko is not from this village as he intended us to think. Then...could he be Itachi? Could he be faking?' He looked at Kakashi and saw he was equally confused. 'Who is Ko?'

Sasuke was also curious, though he didn't show it. He continued to walk silently behind everyone.

The rest of the walk was in silence. No one said anything. When they reached the house, Maya and Chii greeted them. Chii, noticing the tenseness, soon made herself scarce.

"Thank you for coming. It's a pleasure to have you here. I hope you will find the time to enjoy our village while you're here," Maya said pleasantly. "Oh, Ko-kun, you don't seem well, have you had enough rest?" She put her hand on his forehead to check his temperature. "You seem okay. Maybe you should go to your room and lie down a bit."

"I'm fine, kaa-san." Ko assured.

The five shinobi were shocked with the contrast of personalities that Jime and Maya had. 'How do they manage to live together?' Thought Sakura.

"Maya, why don't you show our guests the village. I'll show them the perimeters they'll be guarding afterwards, Aoi and Ko, I have to tell you something," Jime said.

"Alright then, come along, I'll show you the birdhouse too. You probably saw it on the way here, but I think You'll want to go inside and meet some of the birds."

"Wait!" Sakura chirped. "I thought outsiders aren't allowed in the birdhouse!"

"Hmm? What kind of silly rule is that? Where did you hear such a thing?"

Ko was shocked at the news. He didn't bother to hide it. 'He lied to me? Why?'

Jime shifted uncomfortably.

Sakura sensed something was wrong and stayed quiet. However, Naruto, who was eager to get Jime in trouble shouted, "Jime-san did!"

"What!" Maya's sweet calmness evaporated and was quickly replaced with another personality. "Jime! I cannot believe you said that! Why did I ever marry a heartless !#$& like you?"

"Maya, the law was passed this morning. I didn't just say it, it's true!"

"Why would anyone pass a silly law like that?"

"We needed to protect the birds."

"The birds are already protected!"

'Ah, now I see how they're able to, they both have a temper.' Sakura realized as they bickered.

"Please Kaa-san, the guests," Ko pleaded. "It doesn't matter if I can't go. Aoi of Chi-chan can always tend to them."

"That's not the point!"

"I'm sure Jime-sama had a good reason. Please calm down. You need to show the shinobi around."

"Alright," she gave in, "let's go," she said the shinobi. Then her eyes glared as she met her husband's . "And don't you think this is over." She said icily.

Jime sighed as they left. "Ko, go to your room. Aoi, stay, I need to tell you something." He waited for Ko to enter the house before he began. "Aoi, yesterday, someone who looked exactly like Ko arrived. He had the strangest eyes. That person killed about eleven villagers without hesitation. I think Ko may be connected to him. For your own safety, stay way from Ko."

Aoi rolled his eyes. He didn't believe that Ko would do such a thing. But he didn't voice his opinion. It would only cause him more trouble. Instead he agreed. 'He really is paranoid. I'll just pretend to play along when he's looking. When he's not, as they say, "anything goes."'


That night, Kakashi and Jiraiya(they share a room) discussed their facts.

"So Ko is not really from here. That creates a lot of possibilities." Kakashi said.

"Yes, and did you notice Jime and Maya as they talked about the birds? I think there is something more to this birdhouse that they are telling us."

"A section of the village looked like it exploded recently. There must have been an attack."

"This is strange," Jiraiya said. "I'm going out search the village and question the villagers tomorrow while you're on patrol."

Kakashi nodded. "And I'll be on the lookout for anything suspicious."


Ko sighed as he lay on his bed. What had he done wrong? It seemed that Jime-sama liked him less and less as time passed on. He thought back to as far as he could remember.

He opened his eyes slowly. Two pairs of worried eyes stared at him.

"Look! He's awake!" A female voice exclaimed.

Something was wrapped around his throat. It burned. As he tried to talk, a painful sensation filled it. "W-who are you?" It was strange hearing his own voice, cracked and hoarse. HE flinched at the pain of speaking.

"Shh, I'm Maya, and this it my husband Jime. Don't try t speak, your neck is still healing."

A male voice spoke this time. "With your injuries, you're lucky to be alive. When you get better, just know that you are always welcome in our village." End Flashback

'Always welcome in our village,' Ko thought. 'I guess always had a time limit. But where will I go when I can't stay here anymore? I don't have anyone.'

He tried to think back to a time, farther than when he met Maya-san and Jime-sama. He tried to remember the beginning, but all he that he saw was a blur that all ended with those eyes that haunted him. His usually calm face was distorted with frustration as he punched a pillow to release it. What did those eyes have to do with him? What were they? Questions filled his mind. 'Who was I? Why can't I remember?'


A/N:thanks 4the reviews! i feel rejuvinated!-chairomori.