I don't own anything except Tsukiko and random bad guys.

'Thoughts'
~Dreams~
'Other people's thoughts, when in Tsukiko's head'
Demonic Voice
Things that are written
"Normal Talking"
"Demon Talking"


Itachi woke up later that same day, but Tsukiko wouldn't go see him. After Shisui had brought both of them to the Hokage, she had spoken with the Third, while Itachi was tended to. The Third knew she wasn't the type to attack people, that as far as he was aware, were the only friends she had. But she was scarred. Her mind was reliving things that were traumatic, and through them, she was discovering a power that was potentially even more dangerous than the Sharingan. She had the makings of a Shinobi. That much he could tell. After Itachi woke up, he was questioned on the experience. The only ones who knew of her power, were Shisui, Itachi and the Hokage. They decided, that in order to protect her from those that would use her power against the village, she would be kept secret. No one else could know about her Kekkei Genkai.
Shisui was chosen as her teacher, and she would train with him and Itachi.


Tsukiko sat on her futon, staring out at the moon. She had all but cut herself off from the Uchiha brothers after the incident. Shisui frequently visited, and often brought Itachi, but when he did, she was simply never there. She was wracked with guilt, and was floundering. Shisui tried to teach her, but she was unresponsive, reluctant to learn.
"What do I do?" She whispered, a tear rolling down her cheek.
"Tsuki-neechan." A voice whispered, causing her to blink her tears away quickly.
"Naru-chan, why are you hiding outside my window?" She questioned, staring at Naruto, who was sort of hanging from her window sill.
"I- uh..." He fumbled for an answer. 'I was worried...you weren't yourself...' "You were acting weird, so I thought I'd ask, but then I got stuck."
Tsukiko blinked, then smiled. She helped the small boy through the window, and switched on the lights.
"Are you really training to be a ninja?" Naruto questioned, sitting cross legged on her futon, his small face bright with excitement.
She looked over at him, frowning. "I don't really want to. I don't want to hurt people."
"But ninjas are the best!" Naruto gushed, leaping to his feet from the futon. "They are strong and fast and awesome and they protect everyone!"

~'Something worth protecting.'~

Tsukiko blinked again, before turning to face Naruto, her expression thoughtful. "If I was a ninja, I could protect people I cared about? I wouldn't hurt them?"
Naruto looked at her as if the answer was obvious. "Duh."
She frowned, looking down at the floor, her hair falling into her eyes. 'I don't want to hurt people anymore. Not like I did to Itachi-kun.'
"But I will hurt people." She whispered.
"If I was a ninja," Naruto hadn't heard her, thankfully. "I would fight really hard to make people acknowledge me." He spoke softly, his head bowed and hands clenched.
"I acknowledge you, Naru-chan." Tsukiko said, putting a hand on his shoulder.
Naruto looked up, his eyes filled with tears that hadn't spilled yet. He smiled up at her. "And that's why when I'm a ninja, I will become stronger than everyone, so that Tsuki-nee won't ever cry again!"
Tsukiko blinked, shock evident on her face. "W-what do you mean?"
"Tsuki-nee was crying earlier." Naruto said, tilting his head to the side slightly. "I don't want you to cry like that ever again, believe it!"
Tsukiko smiled. "You know what? I think I will become a ninja."
Naruto gave her a slightly confused, but pleased look. "So that way, I can protect my little Ototo." She smiled, hugging Naruto warmly.


The change was almost immediately obvious. Shisui noticed her reluctance vanish, replaced with firm determination as she took on his challenges and worked hard.
"What changed?" He asked, visibly pleased with Tsukiko's new found determination, but altogether confused.
"I realized that I need to become stronger." She said simply, shrugging her shoulders. "That way I can make sure I don't hurt anyone like Itachi-kun, and I can keep my precious people safe."
Shisui smiled. "That's good. A good ninja has a goal. Preferably, an honorable one."
"Tsuki-neechan!" Tsukiko turned her head to see a little raven-haired boy running towards her eagerly, followed hesitantly by an older boy.
Tsukiko smiled to them both, the first sign of warmth she had shown them in weeks. Itachi seemed to visibly relax, a small smile on his face, while Sasuke simply glomped her, demanding she teach him whatever Shisui was teaching her.
"Maybe one day, Sasuke-chan." She said smiling. "But first, you have to get a little bigger."
"No fair!" He whined. They all laughed, as Tsukiko looked back towards the village. 'Thank you, Naru-chan. You helped me realize what's important.'


It had been a month, and Tsukiko was aware that her progress was not normal. Shisui said she was at least chunin level, despite only learning these techniques in under a month. Other jonin were interested too, coming to observe her progress, or to help teach her a technique or two when Shisui or Itachi were busy.
Today was her rest day though. Shisui was on a mission, Naruto and Sasuke were at the Academy, and a number of the regular jonin were also on missions. Tsukiko was busy staring up at the stone faces of the past Hokages. Her focus was on the Fourth. He had died protecting the village. He might not have known everyone, maybe he even disliked a lot of the villagers, but he had given his life to keep them safe.
"The epitome of all Shinobi." She mused softly. "What is a shinobi?" She questioned to herself.
"Someone who endures." Tsukiko looked around slowly. She had been so absorbed in her thoughts, she hadn't noticed Itachi approach her. "Self-sacrifice."
"A nameless shinobi protecting peace from the shadows." She chuckled. "Shisui told me that much."
Itachi raised a curious eyebrow, a small smile on his face.
"Its his favorite lecture." She smiled. "I know you know."
"True." He sat beside her. "What is your dream for the future then?"
She looked at him, an amused expression on her face. "You're awfully talkative today."
He smiled again. "All Academy students get asked that question. It makes them think about their reason for becoming a shinobi."
"I want to keep my little brothers safe." She said quietly, looking back up at the sky. "I want to protect my friends, from anyone who might hurt them. I want to be someone they can rely on."
"I rely on you." Itachi said casually. Tsukiko blinked and looked back at him. "I trust you with my life."
She blushed and turned away. "Don't just say stuff like that!"
"Why not?"
She frowned, her head still facing away. "Its weird."
"Is it?"
"Stop that."
"Stop what?"
"Itachi!" She turned around to see him laughing. "Its not funny!"
He clutched his stomach, wiping a tear from his eyes. "But you're just so cute when you get worked up."
She stuck her tongue out at him. "You and Shisui should go soak your heads."
He chuckled at that, shaking his head in amusement.
"Are you sure you two aren't really the same person?" She asked testily, standing up and dusting her shorts off. "You are both insufferable sometimes."
"Only sometimes?" She grunted in response. Itachi smiled gently up at her. "You're always staring off into space. Care to share your thoughts?"
She paused, looking down at him. "Just thinking about the Fourth today." She said shrugging. She looked back at his stone face. "He paid the ultimate price for peace."
"He did." Itachi said quietly, staring at the stone face with reverence.
"So, are we going to eat, or are you just going to think about asking all day?" She questioned suddenly. Itachi blinked, his face turning pink as he realized she could hear his thoughts.
"You shouldn't be in people's heads."
"And you shouldn't mess with people's heads." She retorted. Itachi chuckled before getting up and walking with her to find something to eat.
"You know, I meant every word." He said, suddenly serious.
"I know." She said, not looking at him, an embarrassed blush on her cheeks. "Feeling's mutual."
Itachi blushed in response, but smiled at her anyway.


3 months from the Incident, and she was brought before the Hokage again. This time, he was to judge her skill and decide whether to put her through the chunin exams or not. By the end of the demonstration, the Hokage, as well as the jonin present, all agreed. She was at least jonin level if not a bit stronger. This of course, did nothing for Shisui's ego, but it was agreed that she would have to go through the chunin exams regardless. They were in a week, and she would unfortunately have to go through on her own. This proved to be a good choice, when she came through the exam well, despite the handicap of being on her own, and she was promoted to jonin shortly after. She was placed onto a team with Shisui and Itachi, since her teamwork was best with them. By the end of 6 months, she was celebrating a year of being in the village. A year since she had appeared, but only six months since the Incident. Her fears for harming her friends waned by each day, as she gained confidence.


He and his clan mate were perched precariously on the roof, waiting for confirmation from the third member of their team that she had accomplished her task.
"Worried?" His friend whispered to him, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"This is her first A-rank mission." He responded, his eyes searching the dark for the familiar glint of gold that would reveal Tsukiko to him.
"True." Shisui responded, shifting to get a bit more comfortable. "But she's clever, strong and fast. She'll be fine."
'Its done, move in.' Tsukiko's thoughts reached their minds, giving them the signal for all clear.
Sighing in relief, Itachi moved quickly to move into his position, while Shisui went a different way. He spotted Tsukiko standing near the edge of the building they were infiltrating, unconscious ninja being moved carefully out of view. Itachi paused to investigate one of them, using a Transformation jutsu to make himself look like the ninja. Tsukiko did the same, taking on the appearance of the second ninja. She then linked her mind with his, feeding him the information she had gathered from the ninja that would be immediately important. With a nod, they took up positions, and waited a few minutes before the next shift arrived. Quickly moving in, they hurried to find their target.
'Stop worrying, this is a B-Rank at most and you know it.' She chastised him.
'A-Rank, never underestimate your enemy Tsukiko-chan.' He responded.
She gave him a look he recognized, even with this unfamiliar face. Sighing, he spoke out loud. "I know, I know."
"What are you two doing here?" A ninja approached them, watching them suspiciously.
"Just got off guard duty." Tsukiko responded. "The other shift is on."
"I see." The ninja shrugged and wandered back where he came from. Tsukiko shook her head and led the way. 'Shisui should be in place now.' She informed him.
'Let's complete the mission then.'


Tsukiko could feel her frustration growing with Itachi. He was fussing, even if he wouldn't show it, and she knew Shisui knew. 'Why doesn't Shisui do something? He won't listen to me...'
They stopped outside the door, where the target was currently hiding. Nodding to Itachi, she reached out and opened the door, revealing the target sitting in a chair, tied up. The two moved in quickly, Itachi untying the Target, while Tsukiko contacted Shisui and opened the window. Shisui appeared seconds later.
"The patrols have been dealt with. With luck, we should be half way to the village before they realize the girl is missing." Tsukiko nodded, and released the transformation jutsu. Shisui, looked back over his shoulder, turning back to Tsukiko. "Go take point, Itachi and I will take care of her. You know what to do."
She nodded. Slipping out the window, she quickly and quietly moved about the path they had decided, ensuring it was unobstructed. Before long, she sensed her team mates approaching. At the border of her senses, she sensed something else, that caught her attention. Ensuring the route was safe, she went to inspect the strange sense she had gotten. Approaching, she discovered a number of ninja with masks standing in a semi circle. As she came closer, she noticed them tense, and their thoughts suddenly focused on her. 'They know I'm here!' She quickly retreated, but then noticed that they had begun to follow her. She used her technique to incapacitate them from within their own minds, trying to get them to give up the chase, but they kept following. Eventually she realized she wouldn't be able to join up with the other two, since that would put the mission at risk.
'Shisui, get the girl somewhere safe, I can't meet up.' She quickly relayed her problem, when kunai began to fly at her. Dodging, she turned to repel the ones she wouldn't be able to dodge. 'Run!' She ordered. She changed her path, running in a different direction from where Shisui and Itachi would be.
"Crap!" She cursed, skidding to a halt as a cliff face loomed before her. She looked around, cursing as she realized she had run herself into a dead end. Turning she saw the shinobi appear from the forest, closing in on her slowly, dark chuckles emitting from the masks.
"Well, if it isn't the little Tsukiko brat." The leader leered, stepping out of the group. A symbol flashed on his chest, and Tsukiko froze.

~Men with a symbol like a dragon in the shape of a tear drop, the color of blood surrounded her. The leader stepped forward, a whip in hand.
Crack.
Pain shooting through her small frame, a cry escaping chapped lips.
Crack.
Blood trickled down her back, the metallic tang filling her nostrils and choking her.
Crack.
Spots appeared before her eyes, the edges of her vision tinted black.
"Enough." A voice rang. "We don't want to kill her. Yet."~


Itachi sprinted headlong through the forest, heading in the direction he had picked up. He knew something was off, he just knew it. And now, Tsukiko was being chased down by shinobi. As he got closer, he became aware of the overpowering feeling of Tsukiko's mind technique. He paused just outside her range, looking around for somewhere he could get a good vantage from. Climbing up a tree, he heard the agonized screams of men as Tsukiko's technique tore their minds apart. He despised the technique, but right now he was too concerned for her safety to care. But then he heard her blood curdling scream, and his blood ran cold. Leaping from the tree, he took off in the direction of her scream. Coming out into a clearing, he found a group of men, their mask torn off by their own hands, their faces void of all emotion, as they lay there drooling. A few yet stood, one of them with an unconscious Tsukiko thrown over his shoulder. Anger filled him as he watched the man turn slowly to face him.
"And you must be one of the two shinobi who were with her earlier." The man said slowly. "Walk away now. You needn't throw your life away for this brat."
"Release Tsukiko-chan, or I will kill you." Itachi said calmly, pulling out two kunai.
"Brat, we ain't giving you the girl." Another masked man snapped. "Boss would do much worse to us than you could possibly imagine if we don't bring her back."
Realization hit him. These people were probably to blame for the way Tsukiko was when she had arrived in the village. They were to blame for her mental state after her body had recovered. Fury filled him, and he activated his Sharingan.
"You hurt Tsukiko." He said softly. "Broke her, made her afraid." Fixing his gaze on them, he took an offensive posture. "I won't let you hurt her again. You will pay for what you've already done to her."
"Kill him." The leader ordered.


She woke up to the sound of combat. Her eyes cracked open, and she watched as bodies moved at the edge of her blurry vision. She lay there, unable to move, pain wracking her entire body. She could hear someone calling to her, but she felt like she was drowning, and slowly her vision darkened again.


'Where am I?'
She was surrounded on all sides by darkness, that seemed almost alive.
"You are a real pain, you know that?" A voice echoed all around her.
'Who are you!?' She called, trying to find the source of the voice. Everything felt muted, as if she was under water.
"None of your damn business." The voice snapped. "Stop messing around and wake up already."
A giant eye opened, blood red and slitted. It focused on her, fear coursing through her.

Tsukiko gasped, her eyes flying open. Reflexively she tightened her arms around the person carrying her. When she had established that she wasn't in any immediate trouble, her eyes were drawn to the back of a dark head.
"Itachi?" She croaked. Her throat felt dry and sore, as if she had been screaming. 'I did scream though, didn't I?'
"I'm glad you're OK." Came his almost cold response. 'How could you be so careless?! I was worried!' She could hear the thoughts he wanted to voice, but couldn't.
Resting her head on his shoulder, she sighed softly. "I'm sorry." She murmured, just loud enough for him to hear. He tensed momentarily, but then relaxed, remembering her abilities.
"It's alright." He said gently. "You're safe, that's all that matters."
Tears began to fall from her eyes, leaving a little wet patch on his neck. "I'm sorry." She sobbed. 'I'm always causing him trouble.'
He stopped walking, his arms tightening on her legs. "Tsukiko." His voice was sharp, causing Tsukiko to flinch. "I won't let anyone hurt you like they did."
Her eyes widened.
"I don't need mind reading powers to know they hurt you." He said calmly. "You're important to me. I never want to see you cry."
She wiped the tears from her eyes, then wrapped her arms securely around Itachi's neck. "Thank you." She whispered. "Thank you for coming for me."

"I promised didn't I?"


Author Note: Hello yall!
I'm actually surprised how quickly this one was done, which is a little concerning methinks. A rushed job is generally not a very good job... Let me know how i did, just so i know where to improve

...I know Itachi is a little OOC, but i reckon before the clan massacre, he was a funny guy. Well... until next time~