"Shikyo!" I heard my mother's voice from far away but I couldn't focus on it. The main character was about to go through a life or death trail! This was important.
"One more chapter mother," I mumbled not taking my eyes from the page.
"Kakashi," I could hear a commotion but didn't look. The ninja cat was coming to rescue the kunoichi from the enemy! "You had to get her those books? She never puts them down."
"She wants to read and I helped, you should be happy you say I don't pay enough attention to her," I could hear Kakashi say to her.
"Will you two shut up," I snapped closing the book. Mother's face looked annoyed. Kakashi was holding a side of his head. She must have smacked him trying to get his attention. We were both reading. This was the only time I spent time with Kakashi: when we read. Mother wasn't wearing her normal clothes she was wearing a yellow sundress.
"Shikyo, come with me," I gave a questioning look to Kakashi who shrugged at me and followed my mother to my room. She went to my closet and started going through my clothes.
"Mother what is going on?" I asked watching her.
"We have been invited to a dinner party for Itachi," she looked back at me and smiled.
"Why?" I asked. It wasn't his birthday. That was a few months ago what could be happening?
"He's been promoted to chunin. I ran into Mikoto in the market today and she invited us." Mother was still rummaging through my clothes.
"Oh…shouldn't this be a family dinner? Why invite us?" I asked. I hadn't seen Itachi much since becoming genin he never mentioned the chunin exams.
"I think he asked for you," my mother mumbled, when I was about to protest she continued, "Don't you have any nice clothes? Like one dress?"
"No," I said simply. "You know I like shorts."
My mother looked at me and rolled her eyes. "Well we're going to change that."
We were looking at clothes… so many clothes. She couldn't decide what she wanted me to wear. Blue, red, purple and pink, she could not make her mind up and it was getting annoying.
"You aren't helping Shikyo," she said showing me another dress.
I barely looked at it. "Because I don't care. Why can't I wear, like, pants? Can I make Itachi his favorite dessert?" I asked changing the subject abruptly.
"Do what you want, Shikyo, go find a shirt and nice pants if that's what you want." She sighed. She looked so tired. She was putting the dress back on the rack.
"Are you okay, mother?" I asked but she was walking away.
That was weird. Mother never acted like this. Was she stressed out? I was walking through the clothes barely looking at anything. Was it from the last mission? I told her nothing happened and I was okay but she's been acting weird.
"Shikyo!" I looked behind me to see Ruka and Rayne.
"What are you doing here?" I asked dumbly.
"Shopping, duh." Rayne said. Her brown hair was braided in pigtails. It framed her face and made her copper eyes even more startling.
"What are you looking for?" Ruka asked. Her blonde hair was braided too. I've learned over these past few months that Ruka and Rayne's mothers were best friends so they've known each other since they were born. They were more like sisters than friends. It was useful for our team they could communicate with just a look.
"Mother wants me to find something nice to wear for this dinner we're going to tonight," I said faking interest in yellow top.
Ruka's blue and green eyes widened. "Let me help you!"
"When it comes to shopping Ruka is the one to go to," Rayne said smacking my hand that was holding the yellow top. "Not your color."
"So, what kind a dinner is it? Are we thinking dress or like a nice shirt and some khakis maybe? What color would look best on you? Do you want me to do your hair?" Ruka spoke it all in one breath.
"Um, I was thinking a nice shirt and pants, and I guess blue?" I answered avoiding one subject but I saw Rayne's eye narrow at me.
"But what's the occasion Shikyo, Ruka needs to know." Rayne said while Ruka nodded at me with wide eyes.
I could feel my face getting bright. "Itachi got promoted to chunin and mother is making us go have dinner with his family." Both Ruka and Rayne broke out in the oohs and aaahhs and pinching my cheeks; calling me cute and adorable. "Stop stop stop," I hit their hands away. "We've been friends for years!"
"Friends," Rayne said. "He's cute and an amazing shinobi. We've seen how you guys talk to each other."
"I know exactly what you're wearing!" Ruka grabbed my hand and dragged me away.
I wasn't in a dress, not technically. Ruka picked out a long blue shirt. It was a soft powder blue that she knew would bring my eyes out. It was a long sleeve but the sleeves were cut open. It was pretty and I'd probably never wear it again. I was wearing plain black spandex shorts. Ruka said I actually looked my age instead of five. I chose to take that as a compliment.
Dinner was… pleasant. The adults talked a lot about what being a chunin meant and all the responsibilities coming Itachi's way. I felt bad for him. It was a lot of pressure for one kid to bear. I also think I finally convinced Sasuke to stop hating me. Before dinner I was entertaining him by forming water into animal shapes and having them chase him. Itachi was scared I was going to soak him but I flicked the water off him before our parents found out.
"Who picked that out by the way?" Itachi asked indicating my shirt.
We were walking after dinner. I had brought his favorite dessert for him and I think it was the first time I saw him smile since we arrived. He didn't let Sasuke come with us. He called it "Ninja talk" but we haven't talked much the entire walk.
"What you don't think I could choose this shirt, dress… thing?" I asked making my sleeves swish in the air.
"Well, since you called it a "thing" I'm going to say no," he laughed.
I think we were walking towards the docks. Itachi always liked to sit there.
"I ran into Ruka and Rayne while shopping," I said rolling my eyes. "They took over. I was more than happy to let them."
"From what your mother has been telling my parents, you're the leader of the three." Itachi said.
We reached the dock. The lake wasn't particularly big but it was pretty; especially at sunset. We sat down at the edge of the dock looking at the sky.
"On missions, I guess." I shrugged.
Itachi was silent for a moment. "My father told me what your missions are."
I looked at him startled. We weren't supposed to talk about our missions. I pulled my knees to my chest wrapping my arms around my legs. "We've all seen things, terrible things. I don't want to talk about it."
"But you do it for the village?" he asked.
"Itachi-kun?" he looked at me. "Do you think it's foolish of me to want to protect those who can't protect themselves?"
"No," he said slowly. "I think you're brave."
I smiled to myself. I felt my eyes flash as I shaped the water into the form of fish, dolphins, and seahorses. I made them dance in front of us. I felt the mist on my face.
"When did you learn that?" he asked.
"It makes people smile. We don't see many smiles when we're out." I smirked and jumped onto the surface of the water. Itachi looked at me curiously. I made the rest of the dancing creatures fall, splashing him in the process. I laughed at his face and ran the second I saw him twitch towards me.
Itachi appeared in front of me. He was always so fast. I dropped the water from beneath me and made an air pocket. Standing on water and letting it flow above me. It was like I was in a bubble.
I could see Itachi staring at me. I could see his Sharingan shining. I had never tried this but now was a good time. I moved the water from under him; he dropped, and landed in front of me. I smiled at him our dojutsu staring at each other.
"How are you doing this?" he asked looking around us. I tapped my cheek bone pointing at my eye. "No, I meant, I know you can control water and fire but isn't this also air?"
"I think," I said looking around us. "I can control wind. Don't tell anyone, not yet. I'm not sure."
"This would be your third chakra nature." Itachi said.
"I think I can control all the elements." I looked up and moved us like the water we were standing on was a platform for me to control. "At first I thought maybe it was just water and fire for me. I could see wind and earth but I couldn't figure out how to control them for awhile but," I closed my eyes and focused, wind blew through us. "That was me!"
"You've come far from the anxious little girl," he said looking amazed at me.
I laughed, "I'm glad we're friends, Itachi-kun."
He looked curiously at me, "Friends?"
I smiled bigger, "Best friends."
"Does silk wrinkle?" I asked Akari.
I was in her room and we were being kind of sisterly. Her room was a mess; clothes and weapons everywhere. I was sitting on her bed hugging one of her many pillows to my chest. She was admiring the silk dress in front of her full length mirror. One of the reasons I came to her was because I knew she was the only one with a mirror in her room.
"Of course it does," she said rolling her eyes. "Just steam it if it's not too bad."
I groaned, "It'll be in my backpack for like a week, it's going to wrinkle!"
"I can always just seal it in a scroll for you," she said not unkindly.
I smacked myself in the face. How did I forget about fuinjutsu?! A week and a half to two weeks was my estimate to how long we'd be gone. Alone. I groaned throwing myself back on the bed. Staring at the ceiling hoping this would calm me down.
"Try it on," Akari said.
I sat up. She was still admiring the dress in the reflection of the mirror but it was maybe a size too small. How did she grow to be an average height and I'm this short? "Why?"
She looked at me through her reflection and shrugged, "Make sure it fits." I got up. Taking the dress I was about to put it on over my clothes when Akari stopped me. "No, it'll look all lumpy with those shorts you have on!"
I rolled my eyes at her. I threw my shorts at her and took the fishnet shirt I was wearing off as well. Sliding the dress on felt foreign, I hadn't worn one in a few years. The silk was cool against my hot skin although I probably couldn't wear my sports bra with it. The neck line went way too down.
"You got curves hidden under all those baggy pants you wear," she laughed.
"I'll need a bigger chest, not hips." I said shaking my head.
"Shut up, seriously you look great. Maybe good enough to get the Uchiha's attention." And there it was. That's why she was being nice.
"Akari!" I groaned. I finally looked at myself. My hair was up in a messy bun and you could see some slight bruising on my shoulders from being thrown across the room by Sasori. I turned and the deep back this dress had made the phoenix on my back stand out. The bright blue against the black was startling. I spread my arms out keeping my gaze over my shoulder at my reflection. You could almost see the feathers move with my arms.
"It looks brighter than the last time I've seen it," Akari said.
"Third time's a charm," I mumbled putting my arms down. I turned back and faced my reflection. It did make me look curvier than I ever thought I was. I looked at Akari and then at myself. We both had dark hair and bright coloured eyes. Maybe our cheek bones were similar too. We did look like we could be sisters I suppose.
"What?" she asked seeing me stare at her.
"What did our parents look like?" I asked before I could stop myself. I could feel the aura in the room instantly change. Akari's whole body stiffened. Maybe I shouldn't have asked. The few times that I've seen her since she told me we were related I never once asked about our parents. I asked about the clan, yes, but never our parents. I felt like an insult to the woman who raised me, like she wasn't enough because she wasn't biologically my mother.
She went to her bedside table and rummaged around until she pulled out a photo. She handed it to me. It was a man, a woman and a little girl maybe four or five years old. The woman looked almost exactly like Akari now, only her hair was brown. Her green eyes were just as bright. The man had our black hair and my blue eyes. I could see my lips in the woman and my nose from the man. It was a little disorienting. 18 years and this was the first time seeing my birth parents.
"I didn't think you cared," she whispered.
"I…" I had to clear my throat. "I have always been curious. You just made me feel like I had no right to be." She was holding another photo in her hand. I nodded toward it. She was almost hesitant to give it to me.
"Your niece and nephew," she said. The girl looked so much like Akari at that age it was startling. Her hair was wavy and her green eyes shone just as brightly. She didn't look sickly at all. She looked strong and happy. The boy on the other hand was maybe 5 years younger his skin was almost translucent and his hair was such a sickly brown. "Sora, she's 13 now and Haru he's 8. She has fire eyes." She had so much pain in her smile. "He hasn't awakened his Soshigan but he's always practicing. He will be a strong warrior."
"Why aren't you with them, Akari?" I murmured.
I saw the change in Akari and she snatched the photos from my hand. "We do what we must in this world, dear sister."
Itachi and I set off at sunrise. When I finally got myself up and grabbed all my things Itachi was waiting for me by my door. Akari put all my stuff in scrolls. Apparently backpacks were looked down upon. I guess it would look lumpy underneath the cloak and that would kill the whole Akatsuki aesthetic. I twisted the ring Pain gave me. It had the kanji for moon on it in gray.
We had been walking for a couple hours. No hurry. We would probably arrive a day or two before the three day festival started if we don't run into any trouble. It took me awhile to wake up. I was up late with Akari. She and Kisame had a mission too but she didn't make it seem like it was a big deal.
The forest was bursting with life: birds, rabbits, and insects. When I had nothing to distract me sometimes it was hard to cancel their chakra out. When I was child it was overwhelming. The walk might have been quiet if not for nature. Every now and then a gust of wind would burst through. I would add my own chakra to it going as far as I could senses could reach.
"Itachi," I asked suddenly curious, "Are you a sensor?"
I could see his dark eyes look at me from the side. "No."
"I see," I mumbled. "So, you haven't noticed that we're being followed."
"What do you mean?" he asked. I wonder if he relied on Kisame's Samehada to sense faraway chakra when they were on missions. Or did they just never care?
"It's faint. They're right on the edge of my abilities but whenever the wind blows through I can sense them." I explained. We kept a steady pace and neither of our faces gave away the tone of the conversation.
"Plus their bird," Itachi looked above me.
"Huh," I said glancing at the hawk. "Missed that."
"How many?"
I used my chakra to make wind this time and focused on them. I could barely feel them. "More than three less than ten… I think."
"That narrows it down." Itachi chided. Was that a joke?
"I told you they're on the edge of my abilities. They're more than a kilometer away but no more than two. Their chakra is almost all the same. I'm guessing from a clan. We're probably in their territory; they might leave us alone when we leave." I speculated.
"We will ignore them for now, stay vigilant." It was an order. Who made him leader?
"Obviously," I muttered. "I could just incapacitate them, I'd make it fast."
Itachi stopped and stared at me. All that was visible of his face was his eyes. His Sharingan glowed. It almost felt like he was sizing me up for the first time since we fought a couple weeks ago. "Sometimes," he said slowly. "I see so much of the girl who protected the weak and then this side of you comes out."
"This is the world we live in," I said walking ahead of him. "Come along Itachi-kun, we can't let our followers know we are arguing."
"Is that what we are? Arguing?" he caught up to me so easily, he had what maybe seven or eight inches on me? I finally grew from fifteen to sixteen and just made it past to the five foot mark.
"No," I smiled at him. "We're having a pleasant conversation so that bird doesn't report back to our friends that we're on to them."
"You're very good at faking emotion." He observed.
"I've had years of practice," I said rolling my eyes. "You remember what I was originally groomed for."
"I recognized Ruka Sato and Rayne Hayashi," Itachi said. I guess we would have to keep talking now that we started. "Who was the male you were with?"
I would have to answer this. I had no ties to my teammates now. "His name is Kai, we met in the anbu."
"You were anbu," he said it like it explained everything.
"When I came back after meeting my sister I joined. I thought," I gave an exasperated laugh. "I thought I would actually be using my strengths, but it was the same as when I was a genin, being sent to men for information. It's like I told The Third they're worse than pimps; pimps admit what they are."
Itachi was quiet and I couldn't stop talking. It was almost a cathartic feeling finally getting it off my chest. "We put the needs of the village before our own."
I snorted. "Until we break. Ruka always wanted to be a veterinarian. She loves animals but now she only works with kids. She never joined the anbu I don't think she would have survived. Rayne joined after me and they used her like they used me. She got hooked on anything that would numb her mind, pills, booze, hunger."
"And you?" Itachi asked.
"You must understand, no one actually touched us. Sure, close calls, but we were never harmed physically. Rayne's genjutsu, until I was trapped in yours, was the best I've ever seen. I can control blood. It would take a lot more than force to take advantage of us."
The wind blew through us stronger than before. I could sense a storm coming. The strangers were the same length away. I wonder how much longer we'd be on their land. Did they see our cloaks and know who we are and that's why they're keeping their distance?
"Shikyo," Itachi said sternly.
I snapped my attention to him, was my being lost in thought suspicious? "What?"
"You were far away," his fingers came up and grazed my cheek.
I tried not to flinch away; it was always so startling when he touched me so kindly. "Sorry, strategizing."
"They're no threat." He said it so easy. He truly feared no one. "Tell me more about Kai."
He knew about Ruka and Rayne; I talked about them a lot when we were younger. Ruka was born being able to heal others. She mostly worked in the hospital now, she only came on the last mission because Rayne told her it involved a Jinchuriki and she was worried about us. Rayne could use genjutsu since she was a genin. Add in my mastery of two elements by the time I was seven and you had yourself quite a formidable squad.
"I met Kai in the anbu. He'd been in there already for a couple years. I joined his team and then Rayne. He was a captain by then. His strengths are weapons." I left out that even Gai thinks his taijutsu mastery is amazing. "All three of us left the anbu at the same time. Then we formed the team you saw."
I left out that I was the one that had the breakdown. Images flashed in the back of my mind: girls as young as three being used and abused. We stopped the selling of children for a while. Maybe we should have stayed more wary. We could slow it but it never stopped. And until I was fifteen I looked like I was ten, perfect bait to be whispered things to, important information that a child couldn't understand. I pushed the images down. It was too distracting getting sucked into that world again.
"You girls were trained for one thing and that's all you would be to the village," Itachi said reading my thoughts.
"You think I don't know that?" I asked.
"Three young pretty, girls, stronger than they look, and mentally strong enough to take the mission that would destroy a weaker person." Itachi acted like he was reading a report.
I looked at him shocked. I don't know why this never occurred to me.
"The anbu kept a close eye on you three; I read the reports when I joined." That's right he joined a year after I became a genin. "I guess they weren't done with you if they made you and Rayne join officially."
"Wait," this was becoming too much. "Did my mother know?"
"Who do you think wrote the reports?"
I stopped walking. She knew this was all we would be to the village. The nightmare we all had to endure. She didn't like it either. I saw how it affected her too but she never stopped it. We did what was expected of us. Demanded of us.
Itachi was in front of me His hand lightly grazing my cheek. I couldn't breathe couldn't hear what he was saying. This was not the time to be touching me.
Wind whipped around us. Was this me or the storm following us? I had to get my emotions under control. "Stop."
Itachi's hand flinched away as the wind immediately stopped. Something was wrong. I could sense them behind us but now there was more in front of us. We walked into their trap.
"Itachi there's more in front of us now. That's why they never attacked." I warned.
Itachi turned his Sharingan in front of us. He slowly kept walking. I activated my Soshigan, so this is how we were going to play it. This is how Kai liked to play it too: calmly walk toward the enemy like we had no problem. Like we wouldn't kill them before they knew what was happening. I followed him. The wind whipped our cloaks behind us. The ones behind us were picking up speed. I could finally count their numbers four behind us four in front of us.
"Eight all together," I murmured barely opening my mouth. Not that it mattered they were far enough away still that they couldn't hear me.
"You'd think they'd come more prepared." Itachi murmured back.
I glanced at him and smirked. What would it be like fighting with him? This wouldn't take long. I would make sure of it. I could feel the shinobi in me overcoming all other feelings. Was it the first rule that said no emotions?
They waited for us in the clearing. The storm that was following us whipped our cloaks and hair around us. They were definitely part of a clan their chakra tasted of Earth and something else. It wasn't an element, not entirely. They all had brown hair and brown eyes, similar facial features, round faces, small noses, and wide eyes. Their forehead protectors showed Kusagakure allegiance.
Itachi made to walk straight past them. It was like they didn't exist to him. I could sense their change in chakra. I don't think they expected us.
"Akatsuki," the one directly in front of us said.
The ones behind us were almost here but slowing waiting for some kind of signal. The one in front sent a kunai at Itachi's feet. He paused. I could imagine the look he gave me them. I kept my eyes ahead not looking at him.
"What is your business here?" their team captain asked, he was obviously in charge.
I stepped forward, I could handle this, and we didn't have to hurt them. "Just passing through." I said it coolly. No threat in my voice. Itachi to my left handled that. "You will not be harmed if you stand aside and let us pass."
They whispered amongst themselves. I heard them acknowledge who Itachi was but I was a mystery. Itachi and I locked eyes. What were they thinking? And then the ones behind us charged while the ones in front of us started their jutsu. I didn't even notice a signal.
I put my hand up and stopped the flow of elemental chakra. Four ninjas attacking at once add in the four coming quick this would drain my chakra. I barely had time to acknowledge their dumbfounded looks when the ones behind us attacked.
Itachi was just watching me. The new group started a different jutsu and I put my other hand up towards them. This was different than the ones in front of us. I heard them call to the first group and they started the same jutsu. I was trying to suppress it trying to stop their elemental chakra from forming but it was heavily earth based and they were forming it with something else. Something I couldn't sense properly. It changed the earth chakra.
"Shikyo?" Itachi asked.
"I can't stop it!" I groaned dropping my hands. I let go what little hold I had. Maybe if it was one or two I could stop it but eight all forming a chakra signature that I wasn't familiar with.
They slammed their hands on the ground. I looked at Itachi; his face as stoic as ever. Why wasn't he doing anything…was he a fucking clone? I'll kill him.
Walls came up from the ground around us. The earth chakra inside it was so faint so warped by whatever Kekkei Genkai it was they had. I looked up thinking about jumping out but they blocked out the sunlight; trapping us in the dark. I put my hand on the wall. We were trapped in a metal box?
I slammed my hand against the wall and turned toward Itachi. "You didn't do anything!"
"Neither did you," Itachi retorted.
"At least I did something," I growled into the dark. I formed a fire in my palm creating a little light in the darkness. Using my free hand I poked Itachi in the chest sending a light jolt through him. He didn't react I slit my eyes.
"What are you doing?" he asked looking at me strangely.
"I thought maybe you were clone… hoped actually." I was still poking his chest using a little more force each time.
Itachi grabbed my hand. "I'm real. How would it help this situation if I was a clone?"
I sighed. It wouldn't change anything him being here or outside. "Let go of my hand, Itachi."
He didn't. "What do your eyes see?"
"Nothing," I whispered. "This is earth chakra but not. You saw I couldn't stop it. I can't knock these walls down." My frustration was starting to form. I have gone against non-elemental users but never have I been trapped. Plus, I was with the Itachi Uchiha, how did they trap him too? "You let this happen," I hissed yanking my arm back.
I could see the smirk forming subtly on his face. The shadows danced around us casting shadows on us. "I wanted to see what you are capable of."
I wanted to hit him. I locked eyes with his Sharingan. "Okay Mr. Prodigy." I could see the smirk fade for a faint second. "Get us out of here. Show me what the great Clan Killer Itachi Uchiha is capable of." I spat the last words.
I expected him to retaliate. I could see the anger in his eyes though the Sharingan never showed much besides anger. He reached a hand out and grabbed a strand of my dark hair. "I think you forget I'm not the only one with the power to kill clans."
I froze. He can't be comparing the acts of an infant to what he did. "We are nothing alike."
He made a noise that almost sounded like a chuckle but he forgot how to laugh. I saw them change. His Sharingan. I could almost hear it so this is what the Mangekyo looked like. I could feel the power coming from them. Something in the back of my mind told me to be scared told me this was a not fight or flight. It was flight and I had to run. Run as fast as I could.
Itachi pushed him behind him. He turned and I heard him say "Amaterasu."
I saw the black flames attach to the wall of metal. They gave no light only the fire I still had in the palm of my hand showed what was happening. My Soshigan was spinning. It hurt. It was too high level of a jutsu and it almost felt like it was over powering my Kekkei Genkai. I saw a little bit of sunlight coming through.
"When I tell you, jump through." Itachi said. From what I could see from behind him his eyes were closed. How much power did it take to create this? I ignored the black flames slowly eating away the metal and focused on Itachi. This drained almost all his chakra. Why use this? He didn't have to we could have found another way.
"Itachi-." I wanted to say something. That he didn't need to use such an extreme jutsu. I could have focused maybe I could have found a way to bend their jutsu but he cut me off.
"Now, Snowflake."
I dived through the opening landing in a tumble pulling my kunai out. Snowflake. When did he start calling me that? Was it before I was even a genin? When he described my Soshigan to me he said it was like watching a snowflake fall against the night sky. It was beautiful and deadly. These ninjas were about to find out.
Eight in all. I slashed the one immediately to my left. Seven. I threw two shuriken into the chest of the shinobi behind me. Six. Two charged me. Using both my hands I sent pure lightning chakra through both their hearts. Four. I could see their scared faced. Half were left. I jumped at the next ninja. He moved unexpectedly so when I slashed his neck the blood splashed my face soaking my hair. Three. I turned. Two were directly behind me trying to use a jutsu. I stopped their chakra flow. Earth chakra. Luckily for me it wasn't their metal jutsu. I formed chidori in both my hands and moved as fast as I could. One. Panting I looked and sense for the last one. He was behind a tree. I could sense his scared chakra and I appeared in front of him.
He was just a kid. Maybe eleven. What was he doing out here. I froze. He looked at me straight in the eye ready to die. I stabbed the tree by the side of his head with a growl.
"Tell your people they brought this on themselves. I offered peace. Tell them not to meddle in our affairs again or this will be the fate of your entire clan. Do you understand?"
He nodded and ran. I watched him. He was quick but he was too young to be out here. I looked back at Itachi. His right eye had blood dripping down his cheek. I couldn't look much better. My hair was soaked in blood.
"Shi…" Itachi feel to the ground.
I ran to his side. Did he faint? My Soshigan showed me he had a minimal amount of chakra left. I felt something fall on my face. I looked up. The storm had started and rain was showering us.
"For fucks sake."