The fox and the weasel!
Chapter six
It was a bright day in konoha, with only a few clouds in the sky. The Streets were full of bustling children as they rushed around the village causing all sorts of mayhem. The ninja academy had just let out and the trainees had lots of spare energy from being cooped up in class, the day had been one of theory much to their displeasure.
" HEY! Watch it mister!"
yelled one said child as he whipped around a corner and bumped into a tall and intimidating man. His eyes were as dark as they could get and his black hair was slicked back. He sneered at the boy, who shrunk back in fear realising just who this was. It was the head of the Uchiha clan, practically royalty.
"GOMEN!" he screamed bowing low before he shot off again. The man just glared in the direction of the retreating boy. That was until he felt a hand placed on his shoulder to catch his attention.
" Calm down dear, it was only a child." it was an older woman who spoke to him, no emotion present on her face, as if she didn't really care what was happening.
"Yes dear." he replied identifying the lady as his wife.
There was silence for a while until the man, whose face was set in a permanent frown, spoke.
" today's standards for ninja are dropping, it is pitiful."
"hun", was his only response.
" The academy should train them better, all these brats are Itachi's age yet they still act like fools playing around whilst they should be training."
" Yes dear." she replied, it was a conversation that was common in their household.
" But you forget that he is an Uchiha, by blood alone he is superior and with his intellect he shall become the ideal shinobi with our help."
He nodded.
"Yes I have seen the improvement over the past week or so. He is taking his training more seriously, becoming less social. Looks like we finally beat it into him."
His wife finally showed the first sign of emotion for this outing, a small smile.
"Yes dear, we will train him to be perfect, a true shinobi and then we can restore this clans power to what it once was, with him as our sword."
Itachi walked silently out of the academy doors, avoiding as many other students as possible , they were laughing with their friends. He was jealous. He knew he could never have that kind of companionship, he was a shinobi and an Uchiha. All he needed was himself.
That is what he tried to tell himself, but unbidden, a figure popped up into his mind of a little girl. One who was lonely and in as much need for companionship as himself. He sighed, he couldn't just abandon her, he wouldn't. But his parents lesson last night played heavily in his mind. His hatred for his parents burned within in him, as did that of the clan. He hated their rules and the pressure they put on him. When he had said so his parents were less then pleased. They said they were disappointed in him, that he hadn't learnt yet. He should not feel anything nor have an opinion, he was just a weapon. They then proceeded to carry out his punishment. His hands and feet were bound and a gag placed around his mouth.
He hated that whip. His back would always be sore for ages afterwards and was now heavily scarred from the many sessions. He was never allowed to cry or show any indications that he was hurt.
His parents told him that they were doing it for his own good. They were removing his emotions and building up his tolerance to pain should he ever be captured by an enemy nin. He hated them for it. This time they had found a way to make him submit to their whims. They carried out his punishment in his younger brothers room whilst he was out back playing. The message they were sending was clear.
Conform or it will be your brother in your place.
He decided that he would obey, he would become everything his parents and the clan dreamed of. He would stop rebelling and lose his identity, if only for the sake of his little brother.
But he would not give up Naru. Though only knowing her for only the shortest of times, he decided that he would only be himself around her, no one else. She would help him keep his sanity.
Naru sat under the shade of a big oak tree playing with Itachi's bag where he dumped it next to her. She was currently sorting his stuff into piles, one for kuni, another for shurikan and another for senbon. Tachi was standing away from her rapidly throwing kuni into the target, harder then usual she noticed, as the two days previous he did not seem this vicious. Studying him more she noticed that he also seemed very tense.
"You ok Tachi?' she asked, concern lacing her tone.
"Fine." he replied sharply turning away once more. Naru scowled.
Yep, he's in a bad mood again
this occurred often, as he always seemed to be complaining about something, but today it seemed different. He was never usually so sharp with her. She decided that she needed to distract him.
"Do I look like a boy?" she asked out of the blue.
He stopped his practice to turn and stare incredulously at her.
"What?" he asked utterly perplexed. It was just so random, why would she even think that?
"Do I look like a boy!" she asked again slowly repeating it as if he was hard of hearing. He just laughed at the absurdity of the question.
"No of course not, I mean yeah you have short hair but you have no adam's apple, your eyes are too big and your too petite."
"Ohh." was her simple reply as she returned to what she was doing, starting to pull out his books now. He stood there bemused, was she just going to end the conversation like that?
"Is that it?" he asked
" Yeah."
he continued staring at her, his training forgotten.
"But why would you even ask that? Its so random" he asked. He proceeded to sit down, and Naru was grinning on the inside at his now relaxed posture, she had distracted him.
" well when I was attacked they talked about me as if I were a boy so I was just curious.
"oh." He wasn't really sure on how to reply to that.
Her mention of the attack drew his eyes to her bandages.
"I think we are ready to remove those bandages now." he commented.
Naru just nodded her head a little sadly.
"do you think that there are gonna scars?" she asked quietly.
He just nodded his head slowly. As Tachi moved to get up, Naru saw his face contort as if it were in pain but it disappeared so quickly she thought she simply imagined it. He slowly walked towards her before kneeling down and studying her face. As he bought his hands to her face he saw her flinch, still unsure of some fast movements.
"Ready Darlin?" he asked, she just stared at him and nodded.
"Okay, here we go..." He carefully unwound the bandages from around her face, showing no emotion when he did so. Naru was looking anywhere but at him. She couldn't help but feel ashamed at how she must now look.
" Can you take your shirt off now." he asked She didn't reply but simply turned around so that her back faced him and lifted her top over her head. He slowly unwound them and his eyes saddened as he stared at her mutilated back. He quickly lifted her arms and replaced her top before turning her around.
"How does it look Tachi?" she mumbled staring into his eyes trying to find out his thoughts.
" Not too bad." he said, not looking her in the eye.
"Liar," she said softly.
" I'm hideous aren't I."
"No." he said just as softly, pulling her into his arms as he did so.
"I don't think so. Your perfect, scars and all." he said smiling softly. She then looked up and grinned at him, truly happy.
"thanks Tachi! You always know what to say to cheer me up." she responded to him by enthusiastically returning his hug. She was stopped suddenly in surprise when she heard Tachi exhale a pained gasp and tensed up. She instantly removed her arms and backed away, worried that if she stayed near him she would cause him more pain.
"Tachi?" She asked panicking. He didn't reply, just sat there his face scrunched up trying to over come the pain.
A shinobi thinks nothing, feels nothing has no pain.
He repeated this mantra in his head till the pain subsided.
He returned to the realm of reality through Naru's quivering voice.
"I'm sorry! it was an accident! I didn't mean to, I..."
" Hush Darlin! It had nothing to do with you." He said trying to placate the sobbing girl.
"But..." she was about to continue when she was stopped again.
" It wasn't you. I promise! This was all my fault." he said to her his eyes down cast. Naru calmed her hysterics pleased that it was not her that hurt him.
"Then what's wrong? What did you do?"
"I didn't listen."
"I, I don't understand, how can that cause you physical pain?"
"My family..." he started but couldn't go on, Ashamed by his weakness.
" Explain." Naru demanded
He looked up startled at her authoritative voice, before he smiled ruefully.
"I am an Uchiha. A very important and old clan of this village. I also happen to be the first son of the clan leader." He looked at Naru, unsurprised by the look on her face, one of disbelief.
Someone so important and he is helping me?
"I am expected to be this perfect shinobi, ruthless and emotionless"
He heard a snort interrupt his story and saw Naru was trying to hold back laughter. "What's so funny?" He asked.
"You being silent and emotionless is never gonna happen, your way to opinionated and vocal." She said.
"And you complain about everything!" she muttered under her breath causing him to smile.
"I'm gonna have to." he said and the mood once more became heavy, all humour gone.
"I don't understand Tachi. I don't want that to happen either. I like you the way you are."
"Thanks, but I am the the Uchiha heir. I can let my brother do it, I'm not that cruel."
"Brother?"
" Yeah. He's the same age as you. His name is Sasuke."
"Ohh. And why cant you just give up your title, he can have it then?" she asked, as it seemed like the obvious idea.
" Because I have to protect him." She was even more confused now. Seeing the swirls in her eyes he turned around and lifted his shirt over his head. Naru's eyes opened in horror. His back was heavily scarred, and there were fresh welts on his back which glowed a painful red colour.
" I have to be perfect. Or this happens. That means no emotion, no friends and no individual thoughts. I have to become a tool or they will just do the same to him. And I cant let that happen. So I will do whatever it takes to protect him, even if I have to go through this." he finished to see Naru look at him with tears in her eyes.
"It is so unfair. You are innocent too! I Hate those bastards Tachi! You are perfect like you are, don't change, please don't change!" She sobbed.
He smiled at her and hugged her again. Naru softly bunched up the fabric of his shirt in her hands, careful of his back.
" I wont change for you Darlin, only you." he whispered clutching her tight afraid she would disappear if he were to let go.
"I will always be here for you Tachi. I will never leave. I will be the anchor that keeps your real self bound to this world, so don't change for me and be strong." he nodded into her shoulder.
"Thanks. I will need your strength to be able to do this without losing myself." She just nodded too.
Anything for him.
It was silent for a while as they just held on to one another.
" Hey Tachi."
"Hummmm?"
"we match. Our backs I mean."
And Itachi couldn't help but laugh. And Naru smiled happy that Tachi, her guardian angel, was smiling once again.