:::{A World Only We Know}:::
"We are all the pieces of what we remember. We hold in ourselves the hopes and fears of those who love us..." – Cassandra Clare
11 ~ Uchiha Massacre: Monsters
(Konoha) ...one month later
Itachi frowned.
The Uchiha, at Kaito's urging, were having a clan gathering. A celebration of sorts. Fugaku stood next to the elder, Kaito smiling politely next to the head of the clan.
Fugaku's signature emotionless stern face contrasted dramatically from Kaito's laughing one. Hizuki was with her niece, Mikoto laughing with Hizuki at something that had just been said between the two.
The two women just entered the house, their disappearance noticed only briefly by Itachi as he was still frowning at the scene before him.
Sasuke was with Ryuu, as always. But that wasn't what was bothering Itachi.
No.
What bothered the thirteen year old ANBU assassin double agent…was that the girl he has been keeping a secret was with them. More precise, Ryuu was introducing Minori to Sasuke.
Shisui nudged him.
"Don't look like that," Shisui whispered, smirking almost, "it's not so bad that they are finally meeting. Did you think you could keep her away from Sasuke forever?"
Itachi made no reply, only with a simple: "Hn."
Shisui, at his lack of response, shook his head, laughing inwardly at his best friend. He patted Itachi on the shoulder, leaving the younger boy as someone asked for him. Alone, Itachi continued to frown at the trio that was across from him, other Uchihas between them.
Uchiha Minori.
She was the daughter to an Uchiha who defected from the clan and married an outsider. When she was orphaned by the Kyuubi attack, Fugaku and the council of elders had decided to take her in, especially with the awakening of her sharingan. She had only been eight and he, six.
Itachi quickly lost the frown as Minori caught his eyes. He stared back at her emotionlessly, her eyes showing no emotion even as he caught the hesitance on her face. He looked away, straightening and headed towards them.
:::
Minori felt shaken as Itachi headed towards them. She had wanted to avoid meeting Sasuke. She knew how much Sasuke meant to Itachi and that he has explicitly told her that keeping their relationship a secret, meant exactly that. A secret.
Thus she had to be a secret.
However, when Ryuu suddenly appeared in front of her, demanding that she meet someone, she had innocently followed. When they had approached Sasuke, it was already too late. The boy had spotted her, surprising Minori at how tuned Sasuke was to Ryuu.
Ryuu and Sasuke, to Minori's surprise, were really close.
"Ne, Ryuu-nii," Sasuke asked innocently, seeming to hide behind Ryuu as he looked up at Minori. "Who is she?"
Minori blinked. The Uchiha was a small clan, everyone knew everyone. Except her. She was always kept in the background.
Ryuu nudged shoulders with Sasuke. "Hey, be polite. This is Minori-chan."
Sasuke nodded, bowing his head slightly towards her.
"Hajime mashite," Sasuke whispered. "Yoroshiku onegaishimasu, Minori-san."
Minori greeted him back, whispering the same words.
"Sasuke."
All three, Minori having already sensed his presence, turned to Itachi. Sasuke, at his brother's appearance seemed to brighten up even more, jumping from Ryuu to Itachi.
"Nii-san," Sasuke exclaimed. "You made it!"
"Yes. I finished the mission early."
Sasuke grabbed Itachi's hand, bringing him over to Ryuu and Minori. Itachi looked only at Sasuke, smiling at Ryuu.
"Hello, Ryuu," Itachi greeted.
Minori fought the urge to hide as Itachi finally turned to her.
"Minori-san," Itachi whispered, nodding towards her.
"Itachi-san," Minori replied in the same monotonic voice.
Sasuke looked between the two, confused. "You know Minori-san? I have never seen her before."
Itachi turned to Sasuke. "Sasuke, why don't you go find hahaue."
Sasuke frowned. "But—"
"Sasuke," Ryuu said softly, going up to his friend and taking him by the shoulder, "I think I saw Mikoto-san with haha earlier. Let's go!"
Sasuke, after frowning at Itachi, nodded. He turned to Minori.
"Ja ne, Minori-san."
"Ja ne," Minori whispered, her voice trailing off as the two seven year old suddenly left.
Itachi turned to her, Minori meeting his eyes. She glanced briefly at Fugaku, the head being distracted by Kaito. Slowly, Itachi walked off without saying anything and Minori, after a few seconds followed him.
Itachi made no acknowledgment as Minori followed him into Hizuki's and Kaito's home. Shisui, spotting the two, indicated towards the backroom. Itachi curtly nodded and slipped away. Minori, after looking around, followed.
When the door slid closed behind her, Itachi finally turned to her, his usually emotionless face, holding slight frustration.
"I thought you weren't coming."
Minori sighed. "And I thought you couldn't make it."
Itachi sighed too. "You should have avoided Sasuke."
"I was," Minori replied softly, "but if I had known that the person Ryuu-kun wanted me to meet had been Sasuke-kun, I wouldn't have followed him."
Itachi frowned, eyes furrowed. "You knew that the two were close."
"No," Minori stressed slowly as she studied her boyfriend, "I don't. I know nothing about your family and the only people I see Ryuu around with are Shisui and Haru-san. It never occurred to me that Sasuke-kun and Ryuu-kun would be so close."
Itachi closed his eyes, nodding. "What changed your mind in coming then?"
"Ryuu-kun."
Itachi's eyes snapped open, his frown deepening. "Ryuu?"
Minori nodded. There was a moment of silence as Itachi took this in.
Then without warning, he said, "You should stay away from Ryuu."
"What?" Minori finally frowned, her eyes sharpening. "Why?"
Itachi shook his head. "You know that Kaito does not want Ryuu to know about the coup d'état. It is better if he and Sasuke are left alone and in the dark."
"Don't you mean that I should stay away from Ryuu because it will lower my chances of meeting Sasuke? Like today?"
Itachi blinked at her, their eyes meeting. Unlike all the Uchiha, Minori's eyes were a light gray, eyes from her mother.
"Minori," Itachi began, but she shook her head.
"I want our relationship to continue being hidden also, but I do not think any interaction with your family will harm that secrecy. No one but Shisui knows, Itachi. Our relationship won't be exposed just because Sasuke knows my name."
Itachi made no reply, jaw clenching slightly. Minori slowly made her way to him, her fingers reaching up. Itachi closed his eyes as her fingers kissed his cheek. Even though she was two years older, he was a good four inches taller.
"Itachi, what is it that you are afraid of? You've been acting weird lately."
Itachi opened his eyes, the onyx meeting gray. "It is nothing."
She frowned. But before she could say anything else, there was a sudden loud cough from outside the sliding door. Itachi and Minori turned as one towards the noise. The two broke apart as Shisui's voice led a guest away from the room.
Itachi, without another glance at her, left. Used to the routine, Minori knew she had to wait five minutes before leaving also. But she couldn't help the way her heart clenched as Itachi left her behind without even looking back, the door sliding shut.
::: ::: ::: ::: ::: :::
(Suna)
Chiyo stared at the little girl in front of her. Ebizo's head was cocked to the side in confusion, his heavy lidded eyes studying at the scene before him.
"What," the retired kunoichi began warily, "are you doing?"
"Painting," came the chirpy reply.
Ebizo coughed into his hand. Turning to his sister, he saw the way she scowled at the youngest of the Kazekage's children.
"Nee-chan," he began, noticing the familiar irk in her eyes. He had to calm her down before she blew, but it was too late.
"Painting?!" Chiyo pointed her finger accusingly at Kinnara. "You are supposed to be meditating! How will you ever learn how to control your chakra if you cannot even control your body and mind?!"
Ebizo sighed as Chiyo fumed at the girl who, in return, only stared at his sister with blank confused eyes. It has been a while since anyone has been able to get on this side of his sister.
The girl, while strikingly identical to her gentle mother in looks, was vastly different from both her parents. The Kazekage himself was a quiet and stern man. Karura had been a quiet and gentle woman. Kinnara though…was an interesting child born from two soft spoken people.
"But, painting can be meditating," Kinnara explained as she set aside the paint brush. "It helps me relax."
Chiyo glared at her. "Kinnara-sama!"
"Nee-chan," Ebizo said calmly as he patted Chiyo on the shoulder, "if she finds the activity relaxing, let her do so."
"Painting is not going to help her control her chakra," Chiyo muttered as she sighed. "Kinnara-sama, please, try once more to meditate."
Kinnara sighed. "It's boring though. I'm too young to be meditating, it's an old person thing."
Ebizo sighed as Kinnara's comment only set Chiyo off again. He stepped aside as Chiyo tried to grab for the little girl who surprisingly evaded the old woman. Soon, Chiyo was chasing her out of the room. Ebizo quickly followed.
:::
Gaara watched as Kankuro and Temari worked together as they dodged their father's attack. Temari used her fan to create a whirlwind that sent the golden sand flying as Kankuro's puppet created a barrier to protect the two from the sand beneath them.
The Kazekage lowered the sand, turning to Gaara.
"Their teamwork works only because they understand the strengths and weaknesses of each other. Continue to observe them."
Gaara nodded, eyes going back to his older siblings, the two smiling at him. Kankuro nodded towards him as Temari winked. Gaara, at their attention, blushed nodding back at them.
The two went back into their fighting stance, Temari's fan out and ready as Kankuro's fingers raised high, strings on his puppets. Gaara held his breath, waiting to see how their father would attack this time.
But there was no next time.
Instead, when the Kazekage shifted forward to make his move, he froze. The three children paused as their father's concentrated and emotionless face suddenly transformed into one of frustration and annoyance. The three quickly turned towards where the Kazekage had been looking and all three deadpanned.
In the air above the village, was a single island of sand. Sadly, everyone knew who it was. And even more sadly, everyone knew the familiar old woman jumping from roof to roof trying to get the girl flying above Suna.
Gaara sighed.
...two hours Later
"The way she was using the sand signified strong control of chakura," Ebizo explained to the Kazekage. "But she has not been responding well to the techniques we have been trying to teach her."
"She hasn't been responding at all," Chiyo muttered as she crossed her arms, huffing. "If she could show the control she had two hours ago for every training we have given her, we wouldn't be needed!"
The Kazekage sighed. "I am truly sorry for the trouble Kinnara has caused the two of you."
"No trouble at all," Ebizo said even as Chiyo exclaimed, "She's a demon!"
Yashamaru fought the laugh, quickly clearing his throat when the Kazekage turned sharp eyes to him. Turning back to the two elders, the Kazekage looked at them apologetically.
"If you no longer wish to take Kinnara under your tutelage, I can understand. I will find a new—"
"You have already called us back to train her," Chiyo grumbled as she straightened, turning sharp eyes to the Kazekage. "Do you think we are too old to handle one little girl?"
"That is not my implication," the Kazekage tried to explain, but Chiyo interrupted him.
"Kazekage-sama," she began, "while Kinnara-sama is troublesome, she shows great potential to become a suitable medical kunoichi for Sunagakure. And," Chiyo's voice became serious, "have you any idea why Kinnara-sama has been keeping her abilities hidden?"
Yashamaru and the Kazekage paused, the two staring at Chiyo. Ebizo, having already had this discussion with her, simply nodded.
"Hidden? Kinnara has never shown any skills in ninjutsu," the Kazekage said impatiently. "It is why I have asked the two of you to return to assess if it was Shukaku or the seal that was limiting her abilities and chakra control."
Chiyo and Ebizo shared a glance before Ebizo turned back to the Kazekage.
"You told us your concerns in the beginning, but what we found after a month of observing the child is that she actually exceeds the abilities of even Gaara-sama in chakra manipulation and control."
"The very fact that she escaped me for two hours prove that she is quite well trained in controlling and manipulating her chakra and the sand," Chiyo said sharply. "Yet when we train, she shows no signs of these skills. It is obvious that she is hiding them and using them."
The Kazekage frowned. Yashamaru's eyes sharpened at their words, losing himself deep in thought. The Kazekage shook his head in disbelief, eyes stern.
"That cannot be. I have trained with her and Gaara for the past year. I have seen no such control from her."
"But she has it," Ebizo said softly. "And she is quite good with it. With enough training, she will rival that of nee-chan."
"You are telling me," the Kazekage said gruffly, "that my daughter has been keeping her abilities from me?"
Chiyo and Ebizo nodded, the old woman cackling.
"To think she can hide her skills even from you," she said, "maybe I am not the only senile one."
The Kazekage ignored her, turning sharply to Yashamaru. At his name, the young man snapped out of his thoughts and tuned back into the conversation.
"Kazekage-sama?"
"What do you know of this," the Kazekage snapped.
Yashamaru straightened as everyone turned to him.
"I do not know either," Yashamaru answered softly, head bowed. "But I will talk to her."
The Kazekage nodded, looking down at the papers on his desk. "Do so and report back to me tomorrow."
Yashamaru nodded, quickly leaving. Chiyo and Ebizo watched him leave before turning back to the Kazekage. The Kazekage turned back to them.
"Yashamaru-san has taken well to the twins," Chiyo mused. "How has he been without Karura-sama?"
Everyone in Suna knew of the two siblings. Karura doted on Yashamaru and Yashamaru adored his older sister. When Karura married the Kazekage, it had shocked everyone. The Kazekage was not known for his charms and Karura seemed to never have any interests in any men but her younger brother.
When Karura had died, Yashamaru was left devastated. Chiyo felt personally responsible for the death and as soon as she could, retired. Ebizo followed and the two left. They would have stayed away too if Yashamaru himself had not come to retrieve them.
Chiyo looked blankly down at the Kazekage's desk. She understood what it felt like to lose someone you dearly loved. If Kinnara had not been Karura's daughter, Chiyo would have ignored the Kazekage's request.
"He is healing," the Kazekage whispered, leaning back, "as is everyone. The twins…have been a good influence on him."
"That is good to hear," Ebizo said as he nodded slowly. "Yashamaru is a kind child. He deserves to be happy. It is just sad that Karura-sama is not here to see her children grow."
The Kazekage made no comment, eyes lowering and his stern face relaxing.
"Karura would be happy to know," he said softly, "that the twins are being taken care of by Yashamaru."
The two elders nodded, all lost in thought of those they had loved.
:::
(Kinnara)
I sighed as Gaara frowned at me. He was rarely ever mad at me. So having him frown at me was always bad.
"Kinnara."
Okay, even worse sign.
"Gaara," I said slowly, twisting my hands. "I'm sorry?"
He sighed, frown disappearing. "You promised me that you would try."
"I am," I exclaimed, arms lifting.
"Forcing Chiyo-baasama to chase you is trying," Kankuro muttered under his breath, chuckling. "Really, Kinnara?"
I grinned sheepishly at him.
"Oh give it break," Temari snapped at Kankuro as she turned to me. "It's amazing that you were able to avoid her for two hours though."
"I can't help that she wants me to do old people things."
"You said that to her," Kankuro and Temari both said at once, shocked.
"You called Chiyo-baasama old?"
"Old," Kankuro echoed Temari as the two shared a glance.
I sighed. "Okay, so maybe I shouldn't have. But I can't meditate. Sitting around without doing anything is so…boring."
"But Ki," Gaara pulled on my arm. "If you don't get better, otousama is going to send you away."
His bottom lips quivered.
Kankuro rubbed his eyes as Temari came to Gaara's other side, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. She gave me a look before looking down at Gaara.
"It's okay Gaara. Otousan won't send Kinnara away."
"Yea, no one would want her."
Temari and I glared at him, Kankuro ducking his head. I turned back to Gaara, frowning.
"Why do you think otousan will send me away?"
"He told me he would," Gaara mumbled as he hid his head in Temari's shoulder.
I blinked. Wha?!
"He said that? When did he say this?" Seriously, I said to myself after saying that out loud.
Temari sighed as she grabbed me with her other arm, pushing my face into her pre-teen adolescent chest.
"Okay, I'm sure Gaara just misunderstood otousan and Kinnara, you should stop fooling around. The fact that Chiyo-baasama and Ebizo-jiisama are willing to take time away from their retirement just to train you means a lot."
"Yea," Kankuro said as he came up to us, awkwardly patting Gaara's and my back, "you should be honored to be taught by them. I know you have issues with authority, Kinnara—" I stuck my tongue out at him, but he ignored it and continued on as if I hadn't done it–"but for once, can you just do this. For Gaara?"
"For us," Temari added gently as she looked down at me.
I looked away, hiding my head against Temari's arm.
How do I explain this to them?
That I did not want to fight. I was doing everything in my power to be discredited and thus kick out from being a shinobi. But so far, everyone has just been telling me to work harder.
When Chiyo and Ebizo started training me, I was scared. Scared of being found out. I knew that Chiyo and Ebizo would be harder to lie to. With the Kazekage, I simply used his frustration with my attachment to Gaara.
As good as my father has become, he still thinks that Gaara and I should stand on our own two feet without each other. That we should be strong without one another if need be. It was easy to get him riled up by simply acting like myself: protective of Gaara even if it meant putting myself at risk.
Chiyo and Ebizo though…Chiyo was easy to rile up. Ebizo, he was just a mystery.
I lifted my head.
"I'll try," I whispered.
Kankuro sighed, nodding. "Alright. Please, don't let us have another repeat of today. Otousan almost didn't let us go from training. He was that frustrated with you."
And that meant he or Yashamaru will be talking to me soon. Sighing, I nodded also. Temari let Gaara and I go, grabbing her fan. She went to Kankuro's side, looking back at us.
"You two take care. Kankuro and I have to continue with our training. If we have time, we'll come to dinner."
Kankuro nodded at us and left first, Temari followed after him.
Gaara looked at me. I sighed.
"I know."
"Will you behave better tomorrow?"
"Yes."
He frowned. "Promise?"
I sighed once more. "Yes, I promise. I, Kinnara of the Sand, promise you, Gaara—"
"Okay, okay," he giggled as he smiled gently at me. "If you promise, you promise. Let's go, Ki. Yashamaru must be waiting for us at home."
Home…for him to say that. For him to be so relaxed with our siblings and our father. My lips smiled widely, so much that it hurt.
"Yea, okay."
I took his outreached hand, warm fingers wrapping around mine, as he led me home. Looking after him, I felt happy. Even though everyone was disappointed in me for not taking my training seriously, Gaara never was. He was upset that I was causing everyone trouble, but he never asked me to learn better.
No, he just wanted me to behave better. I guess, he still has the fear that we could get separated or that he would lose me.
My fingers tightened around his. At the pressure, he turned to me in surprise, but I only smiled. Quickening my pace, I walked beside him, knocking out shoulders.
Gaara only smiled back, the two of us heading home together.
::: ::: ::: ::: ::: :::
(Ryuu)
I sighed as I slipped the mask off, looking towards the hokage monument and the hokage residence. Staring at the fire symbol, I looked down at the mask.
I bought the mask earlier when I realized I needed to interact with Naruto. Only, I didn't want Naruto to know me yet.
Not yet…
I've limited myself to interacting with Naruto for only twice a week for the past four months. At first, Naruto pestered me like crazy about who I was, but after threatening to never show up again if he didn't stop, Naruto finally relented.
Although it was a game of his to try and take my mask off. Good thing that Naruto is so weak and slow in his current state.
Slowly, I slipped the "damn" mask, as Naruto so fondly refer to it as, off along with the robe, hiding them under the floor board. There was a sudden knocking on my screen door. Silently lowering the board, I stood up.
Eyes glancing at the floorboard of my double life, I quickly straightened.
"Come in," I called out as I walked towards my draw, as if searching for something.
Shisui appeared as the screen opened, his eyes smiling at me. I returned the look, genuinely happy to see him.
"Shi-kun, is everyone gone?"
"Everyone's gone. Oji-san and Oba-san will clean up," Shisui came into my room, heading over to me. "You said you needed me for something?"
My eyes flashed, thoughts crossing my mind before I turned to him. "I do. Do you have time to train with Haru and I tonight?"
I could see the surprise on Shisui's face. I could understand why, but pretended I didn't.
Since last year, I've been training with Gai in the morning, getting into shape and practicing my taijutsu. Then I would spend my afternoons with Haru playing shogi or hanging out with Naruto when I could and Sasuke when I wasn't with Naruto. My evenings were spent at home with Hizuki. At night, I trained with Shisui, Itachi, and Sasuke.
However, I've been avoiding Itachi and Shisui of late. Tonight's gathering was an attempt by Kaito to get me to interact with Shisui and the other Uchiha more, having seen my sudden distance from the clan. I saw his concern for me, but ever since our last conversation about the Uchiha clan and Konoha, I have been avoiding him.
Actually, I've been avoiding everyone but Haru and Sasuke lately. My morning training with Gai continued and I threw in time for Sasuke and Naruto, but my time was spent mostly with Haru.
I've especially begun avoiding my parents. It was just…too hard. Just looking at my cousin was harder too.
Shisui blinked. "Sure. Same place?"
I nodded. "I'll meet you there."
As he left, I felt as my happy façade fell.
Fingers clenching tightly, I closed my eyes. I felt the chakra swirled inside of me, the once foreign object now so in tuned to me.
Ever since regaining my memories as Xen, I've been getting help from Haru on how to coexist with the chakra inside me and the chakra around us.
I may have been born with chakra as Uchiha Ryuu, but unlike the others in the Narutoverse, it has been confused with the memories of Xen.
Haru was the only one who could understand it. I couldn't risk letting Shisui and Itachi know about my sudden conscious alertness of chakra. I found that meditation helped with controlling it. Haru's Byakugan was also helpful in mastering chakra control and manipulation.
The one thing he couldn't help me though, was with the kekkei genkai of the Uchiha.
Reopening my eyes, I stared at my Mangekyo Sharingan.
The red eyes stared back at me. Taunting me…a representation of my pain, my loss of innocence, the loss of being just Uchiha Ryuu. It represented the day I became aware of Xen. Of the Narutoverse. The Uchiha massacre, the war, Obito, Madara.
The red eyes staring back at me represented the curse of hatred.
It was ironic really.
I've been living a protected life, especially for an Uchiha and shinobi. Loved and cherished by my family, adored by the clan. It was as if I have only been living on borrowed time, living the life I had always wanted to. But it was not meant to last.
I knew this.
I knew this, yet I continued returning to…to this. To a home. As if I belonged here. As Ryuu I did. But not as Xen.
I grabbed for my eyes, continuing to stare at the strange shape.
I must stick to my original plan. I must. I will not hesitate to stop anyone in my way in doing what is best for this world...the world she loved so much. I clenched my fists, leaning my head against the clenched fingers.
She loved this world dearly...even though it was fake. She loved it, believed in what Naruto believed, and constantly told me to watch it with her. She wanted me to find something to enjoy in life. She wanted...me to love this world as much as she did.
Then she was gone.
And by then it was too late, but I desperately clung to Naruto even after she died. I clung to her joy in the world Kishimoto created. I watched the episodes, read the manga, in hopes to see if I could find her within the pages, within the voices of those of the Naruto world.
It was not becoming of a man my age then to be so obsessed with a shounen manga. It was childish. It was fake...but at that time, I could not stand reality.
It was the only thing I had left to try and find her by, to understand why she insisted on me watching it. Why did she love it so much? Why did she love me?
I lifted my head to stare back into my eyes, the red continuing to mock me.
I have thought about it. At every angle. Then as Xen and now as Ryuu.
What would I do if I were an Uchiha? What would anyone do with this knowledge, this power? To change the past, change the future...save the ones you love even at the risk of destroying the future?
I smashed the mirror then, staring at it. Broken, useless. But the red continued staring up at me.
Uchiha Ryuu's life was falling to pieces right in front of me.
I was no different from Xen.
I was a monster.
:::{AWOWK}:::
A/N - We tend to be our own monsters, wouldn't you say?
