Chapter 4 is now up! Below are some points you might want to take note of before continuing the story~

Warning: Crude language and canon spoilers. This is a sadder chapter. I'm too stressed to think of something funny right now, so screw it.

Disclaimer: Naruto is still not mine even now.

A/N: Okay, so just to clarify some stuff: I'm gonna follow canon for now but since there are sooooo many unexplained stuff... well, I am the author of my own story after all~

In Japanese, or in most Asian cultures, people will write their family name first then their actual name, as a tradition to signify the importance of familial bonds. I'm following this as it feels more authentic that way.

So yes, as I have stated in the summary, this story is AU-ish, but not completely as of now. Things will start changing once I finish getting the background of Konoha ready and up!

Kay now, back to the actual story. Fleshing out Nozomi is rather headache inducing.


Chapter 4

Its kinda weird how time flies when you don't notice it.

Stepping lightly on my feet, I traversed the hallway making as little sound as possible. "Cat-foot" as some people might say. I agree.

Walking lightly truly is a skill. There are 2 types of "Cat-walking" here that I finally figured out after so many months. A shinobi's profession is truly dangerous. Either you sense the enemy or the enemy senses you first.

The first type, is walking on your heel - the one most Chūnin and below usually do. When you do so, you must be wearing some kind of shoe or sock for it to be most effective. This is what ninja's are trained to learn and do in the Academy, although it takes years of practise to be able to grasp the correct rhythm to prevent squeaking sounds when you walk. Luckily for me, I was bored enough last time plus the fact that I hated drain covers and huge puddles of water. So I actually had some basic theory on skirting over these surfaces as silently as possible.

Unluckily for me, ninja are completely combat-orientated. As such, being able to consciously walk silently is never going to be enough. In real time battle, veterans are well known to throw ambushes while SPRINTING in the middle of a taijutsu battle.

Walking silently must come to a ninja as easily as breathing. It is instinctive, done without thought and well-oiled to the point of pinpoint precision.

Which brings me to the next type - stepping on the ball of foot. This one is the hardest of all, and most shinobi use chakra to help stick their feet to the ground, for there is a high tendency for most people to slide. This one truly is a chore to learn, for the distance and type of flooring must be judged accurately before you even lift your feet off the ground.

The thing is, walking on the ball of foot is the mark of a trained veteran. You need the agility, coordination and the correct depth perception to pull it off properly - what someone who did martial arts usually has. This is something that I actually managed to see the high ranking well-oiled front line soldiers in my previous life actually pull off during combat drills.

Which proves that it can actually be done without chakra.

Cursing as I slipped yet again, I walked back to the end of the hallway for my 134th re-try.

Because most shinobi use chakra to augment the Cat-foot technique, it is pretty logical to deduce that sensors would have been trained to check for tracks using these chakra trails. Plus the fact that Taijutsu more than makes up for it in the martial arts department as something that shinobi live and die by.

And setting myself up to fall into enemy's hands because of that is just plain stupid, in my opinion.

Muffling another curse as I slipped, I returned to the starting point.

I really don't want to die. And since the Uchiha Clan is combat-oriented, me being Clan Heir means that I must be a high-ranking kunoichi to keep my position. Say all you want, but Itachi's still a genius - there is absolutely no fucking way I can overtake him in traditional shinobi practices and even in intellect.

I have no choice but to make up for all my shortcomings in skill. If Itachi becomes Clan Heir instead of me... my gut feeling warns that it will become pure Canon all over again. As the more experienced ninjas always say: Trust your gut feeling. It will save your life over and over again.

I'm Uchiha Nozomi, and I'm here to stay. If I can't prevent the massacre, I will still at least fucking do SOMETHING about it.

This is no longer just a story... this is my life now. I want my family - I don't want to lose them all over again!

~.~.~

As of 11 months old and still going strong, bedtime reading is getting... boring. Fugaku sometimes was too stressed out to think of new stories to tell us and Mikoto sometimes was too busy putting some of the Elders out of arms reach of us. Today was just one of those days.

Itachi had long fallen asleep at my side curling into himself, with Mikoto on the opposite end, absently stroking my hair. Fugaku yawned sleepily, all pretense of decorum gone, the eye-bags telling the entire story for itself.

Rapid knocks on the paper thin door drew our attention, which opened to a harrowed shinobi drenched with sweat and scented of panic. Fugaku strode across the room to address the flustered messenger, effectively blocking my view of the open doorway.

"Uchiha-sama. The Hokage has issued a draft for 3 squads of genjutsu specialists for the valley near Taki as per Uzushiogakure's request. He would like to know if you have anyone in mind." The messenger respectfully nodded to Mikoto. "Of course, it would be good if Mikoto-sama chooses to take part, but if..." Fugaku held up his hand.

The prized Sharingan is famous for its genjutsu casting abilities. The famed dojutsu of Konoha must be used when needed.

"I'm sure she'll decide for herself."

"Yes sir."

"You may leave." The messenger Chūnin leapt away silently, not looking back at the scene he caused.

Being a high ranking Clan kunoichi with barely year old kids - twins! , it was apparently optional for Mikoto to sign up for the draft, unlike most of the other genjutsu specialists.

I clenched my fist in Mikoto's sleeve, bowing my head in deep thought, causing her to glance at me in concern.

"Nozomi-chan? What's the matter?"

Uzushiogakure?... The Whirlpool village? The one where Uzumaki's were from! Kushina and Karin! My eyes widened in shock at the realisation.

Right now, the Whirlpool village is still alive and healthy if they are in contact with Konoha!

Lifting my head to look at Mikoto, I gave a toothy smile. "Kaa-chan go?"

Mikoto softened her eyes and gave an indulgent smile. "After all the trouble of having to raise you and Itachi? I'm afraid not this time. I would at least like to see my children's first birthday."

"...uh?" I tilted my head in incomprehension.

"Silly child," Mikoto cooed, drawing me into her lap, placing her chin on my head. "Fugaku, I'm not going. Send Kyo and Shuri in my place. Those two Chūnin specialists are good enough to make up for one less Jōnin going." Fugaku nodded, leaving the room to report to the Tower.

"Nozomi-chan, Itachi-chan, Kaa-chan loves you two. The Kyuubi that Uzushiogakure is trying to seal into another container is not going to be without casualties for sure. At least I would be able to celebrate with my family before I'm off to face Shinigami-sama."

"Now's peacetime, so this is one luxury the Clan born are afforded and orphans will never have. If you are good and you have offspring, chances are your child might be as good as you, or have the potential to be even better." Mikoto continued, unaware of my facial expression. "Then again, Konoha's a village that's all about teamwork among ninjas. If a mother dies, at least her clan can take care of her child, or pass them to the orphanage. But, being a ninja is a part of life and death once you sign up, and what they don't tell you until its too late."

Oh. But this is just...

My eyes started watering. Reality crashed back down onto me.

Ba-dump.

Even this may or may not be part of the canon Naruto world I once knew... you never know when will things go wrong and people never make it back.

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

I understood. I once stood on a war front, in the front lines medic tent. The corpses, fatally wounded soldiers and grieving comrades, all with blood-boiling agitation of the situation.

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

Pick a choice; between your duty or your family.

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

Hiccuping, I buried my face in Mikoto's sleeve, futilely blocking my small sobs.

That was a close call.

I don't want to lose her so soon!

~.~.~

"ngh... Huh?" I sleepily rubbed my eyes, rolling myself up into a siting position as careful as I can so as to not wake my sleeping twin up.

A shadow was swinging on the paper door of the nursery, illuminated by the moonlight. It is a rather curious shape that somehow looked like a human, yet not. Being the ever so curious person, I quickly crawled as quietly and silently as I can to the door, dragging it open just wide enough to see.

Shocked, my jaw dropped to the floor.

This...sucks.

And it is so, so humiliating.

I stared blankly at the intruder, willing myself not to twitch. This is so ridiculous beyond the point of being funny!

Namikaze Minato, the future Yondaime Hokage was currently being hanged just outside the doorway bound in ropes akin to what looks like bondage. I should know since I went to a co-ed school that had your wonderfully hormone driven neighbourhood kids.

And his... face.

For the love of god, that is just...

His face is purple from being hung up by his shins for too long, the blood having accumulated in his head. Not to mention the splotches of glitter and ...paint.

All I can say is that whoever came up with this paint job either has one hell of an imagination depicting a Nyan cat that did not exist here. Or just a nut job.

My left eye twitched.

And besides, isn't Minato a Jōnin or something right now? His promotion was rather celebrated by some of his louder friends. Not to mention the popularity he has among his ninja peers. Seeing as the Uchiha were a ninja oriented clan, we had one of the best information and gossip mills in the village, with the plus of the Military Police members to give the civilian side of the juicy bits.

Oh and did I mention something? The poor strung up guy is currently sleeping.

What. The. Hell.

Still crouched on the floor wrapped in my blue blanket cocoon, I stared at the beyond-hilarious scene in front of me.

What just happened here?!

I wish I had a camera. Blackmail, ya know?


tyog56 , lotrhpfan1234 - I'm sticking to the 'unexplained' parts of canon that I'll provide my own background for. Do ask if you have any further questions.

Samurai Z - :D Thanks~ I really hated the canon ending where Itachi had to die a martyr and with the entire clan decimated save one or two. Obviously there are some parts I will change, but for now, I'm sticking to canon and explaining the background.

Raven the Kitsune Bard84 - Yes she is, or rather, will be. Right now, I'm sticking to my stand of Kyuubi not being sealed yet, as I have addressed in my A/N in front. I will actually cover this and other parts of the plot soon so do continue reading!

10th Squad 3rd Seat - Haha yes, I'm planning to make this an AU in terms of events, but I am sticking to main canon dates that are set in stone at this point in time. In the future, due to Nozomi's inevitable meddling, there are definitely moments which may totally deviate from canon. Not gonna say too much now, but keep your eyes peeled out as the AU parts are in the later chapters. Let's just say Nozomi is VERY nosy and playful.

miaandB - Hehe thanks! I found it quite plain though, but didn't have enough filler to cover the main juicy parts yet.

1412 karasu - Yes, Nozomi really is a bit too much of an optimist at this point in time. On one hand she hates being pressurised to doing things she don't want to. On the other hand, she also knows that she cannot protect Itachi and the Uchiha in general if she seriously does nothing. It just hasn't sunk into her brain yet that it is an uphill climb to achieve that dream. The novelty of having a second life in a fictional world she likes hasn't worn out yet. That's all I can say for now without spoiling too much. ^^

LooksxxxFool - Thank you! Wish you good luck in whatever you do!

eirame - That... are some very valid and relevant questions I did think about, but yes, I will cover them as soon as possible. Some are partly answered in the future chapters *hint hint*, and I'll maybe put up an omake about meeting Madara just for you my dear! That hypothetical situation... I CAN'T PASS IT UP. EVER. RWAR!

animagirl - Hehe yes, and I also don't like Danzo. But I like keeping my story realistic enough otherwise my imagination goes totally haywire. The thing is, Nozomi sees Itachi as family. And her past... *hint* she underwent a trauma that causes her to really treasure family. Or anyone that she considers as one.

iluvfairytail - Thank you! Well, I stalked fanfiction for many years now, and I kept coming across stories of SI/OCs who are older than Itachi yet not selected as Clan Heir, which really irks me. In shinobi society, both male and female ninjas are given equal opportunities to rise to the same rank, only dependent on their own skill and effort. I just don't see why female OCs cannot be selected as Clan Heir in ninja society - especially not in a power hungry Clan like Uchiha where prestige earning is the norm.


A/N: I am a sadist. Yes people, you heard me. I'm extremely tempted to throw the optimistic Nozomi headlong into situations way out of control and try to drown her in the process. Cos that's plain funny and evil. Read Déjà vu no Jutsu by Vixen Tail, and you'll understand where I got the inspiration from. Apologies for the slow update, but this is gonna probably be the norm from now on - monthly updates.

In fact, I have already typed out some portions of future chapters that involve plenty of random things happening thanks to Nozomi's character. Be patient and you'll find out soon!

Spoiler update: I have already finished a comedy twin!fic chapter where Nozomi & Itachi are somewhere between 3-5 years old, before Sasuke is born. But I can't publish that yet since time can't fly that fast...

*Runs away to avoid bashing*