The light of the bright orange colors of the sky fell upon the green budding spring leaves on the branches over Itachi Uchiha's head as he walked towards the Uchiha compound. The young man was walking along the forest path leading to the recluse corner of the village where the Uchiha compound was located and he couldn't help but think about what he had just done. A signature smirk decorated his face, his senses still overwhelmed by the lingering sensation of Miyeko Nagaki's soft lips on his. A part of himself tore at his consciousness for even crossing that ever-thinning line that existed between the acceptable and unreasonable when it came to Miyeko, the Nagaki clan's sole survivor and Shinigami of the Hidden Leaf Village. But another part of himself had pushed him to commit what he thought was a revelation in their renewed friendship, something he had craved for so long, an urge that hid deep within him for years until he couldn't hold it in anymore. He knew he had chosen to listen to the fire in his heart instead of the rationale of his head when he decided to follow her from the village's market, staying at a distance to keep her from immediately detecting his presence and that he was shadowing her every move, studying her every action. How delicate she appeared when she handled the apples she bought with her ever so elegant fingers, meticulously inspecting their freshness at the market. How feminine she looked when she gently swayed her hips while walking to her home. How exquisite she looked as the wind brushed her long braided black hair, her simple strand of white hair brushing at her rosy cheekbone...
Itachi stopped walking, taken aback by a flow of images that plagued his mind. Pictures of her long legs, her slightly curvy thighs and the round shape of her bosom irrigated his already fertile imagination. He could envision the delicate curve of her spine that crept up to the nape of her neck and her strong shoulders, her long black hair cascading down her back like a cascade of glossy shadows. He closed his eyes to let his mind wander with thoughts of her as the trees cloaked him with rays of the dim light of dusk. The wind's caress was almost as silky as her touch. He had been enchanted by her and the taste of her lips. He sighed heavily, pushing his long black locks away from his face, desperately trying to quiet his mind, trying to ignore his body's need to walk back to her apartment and ravish more than just a kiss from her. Itachi groaned, irritated. He was frustrated with himself for not being strong enough to resist the pull of the vortex that was the longing for him he found in her emerald eyes.
'What are you doing, you fool…' he whispered to himself.
He had to stop himself. Kakashi was right, he thought. The rational part of his brain knew that Kakashi Hatake had spoken the truth, that her presence was but a distraction and that she would be his ultimate weakness, his downfall. His heart and brain entered in an internal conflict. He knew what he should do. He knew perfectly well he should give her up and lead an exemplary shinobi life, the life of a weapon, a life without love. But to Itachi, the life of a ninja was a half life, a doomed existence. If only he had been given another choice in another lifetime, he would not have chosen this profession for himself. Itachi knew that he would have been content with being an ordinary man with simple yet fulfilling dreams. He had always wanted to be able to live with the freedom to choose and to love like all the other normal, ordinary, lucky men on this land. But alas, he was born as the heir to a powerful ancestral clan, a natural successor to visual powers only ignorant fools would ever dream to possess and inheritor to a damned life that would someday tragically end. 'I live by the sword and will die by the sword', thought Itachi. He knew about his fate. His life was already one of pain and misery and his death would surely be as grim and abrupt. He had been solely existing for a while now, his days passing by like the grey clouds above in the sky. And it had been so until he saw the warm light in Miyeko Nagaki's eyes again. Then, everything changed.
All of these night terrors, all of this anxiety, all of this pain he felt vanished when she was with him, when she smiled at him, when she looked into his eyes. He opened his eyes, realizing that without her, he was nothing. Without her, he was a ghost, an empty shell devoid of purpose. She breathed life into him and filled his mind with vivid colors and echoes of laughter. She had done so from the moment she had first looked at him all these years ago. He felt so empty for so long and now he was living again. He was resolute. He wouldn't let her go, he simply refused. Itachi concluded that he had become a selfish man and that on judgment day, he'd be punished for it. But as of now, Itachi Uchiha was irrevocably and equivocally entranced by Miyeko Nagaki and nothing would erase the desire to taste her lips again. Nothing. As Itachi walked home, the sun set behind him. Only the early pale moon in a darkening purple sky was witness to Itachi Uchiha's growing grin on his lips as his mind was submerged with thoughts of the dark-haired girl of his dreams. He walked through the gates of the Uchiha compound in a relaxed stride. When he got home, Sasuke had been waiting for him on the porch, his arms crossed. Itachi sighed. He had forgotten his training session with his little brother and shuddered at the thought of Sasuke not forgiving him for it.
'Good evening, big brother.' said the younger Uchiha with a distinct attitude. 'I guess you forgot about me. Again.' he continued, his eyebrow raised. Itachi smiled sheepishly and sat down next to his younger brother and patted his head.
'I'm sorry, Sasuke. I got held up.' he stated simply while Sasuke pouted.
'You always say that. Do you think I wouldn't notice that you use the same excuse every single time?' he asked. For an eight-year-old, Sasuke was exceptionally smart and perceptive. He had the capacity of taking notice to the smallest of details and his memory and cognitive skills were beyond impressive for his age. He could remember almost anything. There was no fooling Sasuke Uchiha.
'You're right. I apologize, Sasuke. But I can make up for my negligence, I swear. Actually, I have a surprise for you.' said Itachi, suddenly making his younger brother more receptive to what he had to say.
'A surprise?' asked Sasuke, confused. He uncrossed his arms and frowned. 'What kind of surprise?' he continued. Itachi gave him a soft smile, the kind of smile Sasuke rarely saw anymore.
'This better be good big brother, or I'm telling Mother you're ignoring me all the time. Bet you she won't like that.' he continued. Itachi scoffed at his younger brother's empty threat. He really did love his younger brother very much and adored watching him grow up to be a quick-minded, funny and intelligent young man. To come back home to Sasuke was Itachi's favorite moment of the day. Since Sasuke started studying at the Ninja Academy, he saw less of his younger brother but whenever they did spend time together like this, Itachi could only cherish his time with him.
'I think you'll enjoy it, actually. I'm bringing someone special over for dinner tomorrow. Someone very special.' said Itachi. Sasuke couldn't have looked more shocked. He couldn't believe it.
'But Itachi… you never bring friends home. Who is it? Please tell me it's not Shisui. He stole my last rice ball the last time you invited him over.' grumbled Sasuke, still sour at the fact that Shisui Uchiha, their cousin, was always picking on him.
'No, it's not Shisui. But it is someone Mom, Dad and you know.' he continued, patting his younger brother's head. 'Remember I told you a couple of days ago that a friend of mine was back in town? You kept asking who it was. Well, it's Miyeko. She's back for good.' said Itachi, a growing smile appearing on his lips. Sasuke smirked and rolled his eyes boastfully.
'So that's why Mother fussed all day cleaning and cooking?' asked Sasuke. Itachi smiled and nodded.
'Yes. You know how she gets when we invite friends… well, anyone over. She was so excited to hear about her. She missed her very much. I think she really likes Miyeko, don't you think?' asked Itachi in return. Sasuke shook his head and smirked.
'I think she's not the only one who likes Miyeko, big brother. I think you do too.' Sasuke said in a sly, mischievous voice. That statement took Itachi by surprise. The older Uchiha blinked, looking at his younger sibling with confusion and dread.
'Who told you this, young man?' he asked. Sasuke playfully laughed.
'Shisui did. He said you had the 'hots' for her, whatever that means.' Itachi frowned and swore under his breath. 'That goddamn Shisui!' thought Itachi. 'What a sneaky, shameless, insidious bastard.' He was definitely going to have a very lengthy conversation with his cousin about keeping things of the sort from his prying, curious younger brother. His thoughts were interrupted by Sasuke nudging his arm in a playful manner.
'I'm glad she's coming over, big brother. You seem happy. Happier than before. It makes me happy when you're happy.' said his younger brother, grinning at Itachi. Itachi sighed pulled his younger brother in a fraternal hug, grateful that he had such a smart, understanding and loving brother. He was so young and yet so emotionally connected to the people around him. It gave Itachi hope that Sasuke was not going to turn into someone like himself, a cold and closed off person to most with very little friends and prominent difficulty to communicate with others. 'No.' Itachi thought. Sasuke was a ray of sunshine, a beacon of light for him and his clan. He was going to change his clan's image and the perception of others towards the Uchiha, he was sure of it. After the rumors running around in the village about his clan, a new upcoming generation of optimistic and loyal Uchiha citizens and shinobi like Sasuke was perhaps the best solution to avoid an internal war within the village…
Itachi closed his eyes and sighed heavily. He slightly shook his head, trying to rid himself of the recurring image of his father looking down on him with such pride and hope for him and his clan to one day be a distinct, powerful group once again and be freed from the village's grip. His father's voice resonated in his mind and he remembered his solemn tone during one of their most recent late night talks. Fugaku had placed a hand on his eldest's shoulder and had smiled to him like he had never done before. 'One day, the Uchiha clan will retake its rightful place as the leading and most powerful clan of Konoha. You will be an instrumental part of our success, I'm sure you are aware of that. A change in this village is bound to happen, my son. We will finally have justice and peace for our own. They'll never give it to us, so we'll take what's ours. But we'll need you for that. Because you are the hope of our clan, Itachi. You are the future of our family. Your family is what you will be loyal to. Your clan and your blood need you, Itachi. Never forget that. One day, you will understand why we're doing this. Your position in ANBU is crucial to us right now, I can't stress this enough. For now, open your eyes and listen carefully to what's going on and what's being said around you. Report to me always. I'm proud of you, son.'
Those words were carved in Itachi's memories. He had felt sick that night, after talking to his father. He was confused. He was lost in what his role was. The idea of reporting confidential intel about the village to his father made Itachi's stomach turn. He could feel tears forming in the corners of his eyes. The Village Hidden in the Leaf… How could he ever betray his home like this? How could he spy on the higher-ups of the village and disclose confidential and sensitive information about the village's political and armed movements without feeling shame? And yet how could he ever live with himself if he betrayed his clan, his family, his own blood? What was he supposed to do? His father's shadow loomed over his mind and thoughts, his red Sharingan eyes inked into his anxious internal scenarios of treachery and betrayal. He shook his head again.
Today was not a day to think about the sneaky, growing pressure he felt from his clan to become someone he never wanted to be. As Sasuke hugged him back, Itachi exhaled deeply. There was nothing more he cared for more than his younger brother in this world and Itachi vowed on that night that he would do anything to protect him, to ensure a successful future for him and to see Sasuke smile every day. He would and will do anything for him and make sure he knew that he cared for him, even when they would grow apart with time. When he let go of Sasuke, the younger Uchiha sprung up and ran to the courtyard and looked at Itachi, kunai in hand.
'Alright, big brother. Since you've been a real jerk to me lately and you always seem to conveniently forget about me, you will spar with me now.' Itachi smiled and chuckled. He rose to his feet, walked over to Sasuke and took a simple fighting stance, readying a kunai for himself.
'Come at me then, Sasuke. Show me what you've got.'
...
Nightmares filled her head. She was distraught.
Flames. The burning of her childhood.
Evil yellow eyes. White skin. Snake like pupils. An evil laughter.
Anger, screams.
Her sister's white hair stained red with her blood.
Pain. So much pain. And then revenge. Shadows. Hell.
Miyeko woke up from her night terror, sweating and panting, her heart savagely beating in her chest. Her long black hair had been tossed around in her sleep, her single white strand of hair stuck to her face from the sweat of the fright she had just experienced. She sighed. These were the recurring images she dreamt of so often, images of her past that haunted her consciousness when she was asleep and that would torment her when she daydreamed. For so long she had tried to block these flashes of her past that would sadden and terrify her. But alas, she couldn't shake them away, she couldn't escape them. She often felt like a prisoner to the unrelenting distress she felt whenever she experienced these episodes of terror. She exhaled deeply and let herself fall on her back, her heartbeat slowly steadying down to a normal rate. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She knew these tears very well. They were tears of powerlessness. She gently wiped them away from her face, sobs escaping her lips. There was no running away from her nightmares. There was no running away from the pain caused by evil strangers that ripped her family away from her. There was only a hollow spot in her chest waiting to be filled with anger and despair. She was stuck in a life she didn't choose. She fell into an uneasy sleep once again in the dead of the night, her mind racing with a growing need for answers.
...
Miyeko Nagaki had risen before dawn the next morning and fully dressed in her pristine black Jonin uniform which had been freshly washed and pressed the night prior right after she read the note that Danzo Shimura of ANBU had left in her apartment. At first, Miyeko had been angry that a complete stranger had come into her home unannounced to deliver what seemed like a fairly regular summons that could have been handed to her in person. But as she read the note, she then understood why this summons had to be delivered in person and with utmost secrecy. As Miyeko read the delicately handwritten words, her fingers trembled. 'I summon you to the ANBU Headquarters at dawn tomorrow. I have a mission for you. Bring nothing but the essential. Do not be seen and do not talk to anyone but my officers. You will understand in time.' Miyeko had read the summons many times but still failed to see why the highest-ranking ANBU officer and figurehead wanted to talk to her, of all people.
After the scene she had caused in the Hokage's office when she was awarded the position of Jonin, she thought Danzo Shimura, a proud and seemingly vindictive man at heart, wouldn't want to ever talk to her again. She could remember the heavy lines on his skin, his eye dark filled with suspicion and boiling anger as he had warned her to be wary of him before walking away from her, indignant and humiliated. What did he want with her and why summon her now? What could this man living in the shadows of the village want with her? She braided her hair silently, letting her mind fall into an abyss of mysterious and ciphered thoughts.
An uneasy feeling suddenly overcame her. She felt anxious. This man had a foul aura to him, a calm, quiet and dark energy that could only make Miyeko suspicious of his intentions. From the moment she had laid eyes on him, she knew he was a man with secrets. Deep, dark, bloody secrets that would send chills down the spine of any battle-hardened veteran shinobi or any experienced political leader. Secrets only the vile would appreciate. As she exited her apartment silently, Miyeko sighed. She just hoped her meeting with Danzo Shimura of ANBU would not cloud her otherwise perfect day.
Miyeko had walked away from the main streets of Konoha, silently making her way to ANBU Headquarters, staying out of sight of the civilians who were just waking up with the dawn's first light. She could smell the fresh bread from the bakery filling the air around her and the sweet scent of freshly brewed tea fill her senses. From a distant rooftop still plunged into the early morning darkness. Miyeko took her first real, genuine glance at the village she called home. The waking street shops and the cheerful shopkeepers were already instilling life into the otherwise quiet town. She smiled and sighed. How she missed this village, she thought. Distant memories filled her mind as she slowly made her way towards the appointed location of her summons.
She walked in the shadows of alleys of the center town, making sure no one followed her or even noticed her presence at all. Her black uniform made her body blend in the early morning shadows that danced around her. As she silently walked around town using Konoha's intricate system of alleyways, she couldn't help but feel like she was being watched. The feeling of foreign eyes on her persisted right until she reached the mentioned location, which looked like an entrance to a bunker, to an underground lair. Two ANBU officers were guarding the small entrance to the concrete structure. She approved them slowly and they quickly took notice of her. 'You must be Miyeko Nagaki.' the first one said.
'I am. What is this place?' she asked.
'The candy store.' the second one replied, sarcasm in his voice. The first guard then elbowed the second quite fiercely, a look of fear in his eyes.
'This is Konoha's Shinigami, you poor wretch! Watch your tongue or she'll rip it out.' The second guard bowed and apologized.
'Lord Danzo's been waiting for you. Follow us.'
Miyeko Nagaki executed herself. She followed the two ANBU agents down a narrow staircase that led to darkness.
In the far distance, hidden in a tree and with chakra well concealed, a man had indeed followed her to the ANBU's secret lair, studying her every movement. It was not in the general ANBU protocol to invite a regular Jonin to their most secret base. Only ANBU agents and the village's higher-ups knew of this place. And it could only mean one thing... Miyeko Nagaki had been summoned by Danzo Shimura. The man sighed and took one last glance at the secret lair's entrance in the hopes that Miyeko would come out and leave this forsaken place. Alas, he only saw darkness. He knew this summons wasn't an ordinary appeal for a regular, run of the mill mission. And considering Danzo Shimura has summoned her, it could only bring a bad omen for ANBU's next victims... The man sighed again. He needed to leave before he got spotted by the shinobi guards that surrounded the underground lair.
The only evidence of his presence on these grounds had been the crimson color of his eyes contrasting with the purple hues in the sky and the dawn's lingering shadows.
Itachi Uchiha vanished, leaving no trace behind.
…
Danzo Shimura looked at Miyeko Nagaki as her skin basked in a faint light of early morning that reached the depth of Konoha's foundations where the Headquarters of ANBU were located. The darkness of the purple shadows of the underground lair made her alabaster skin contrast with the dark fabric of the uniform that she was wearing, black in color. He slowly walked towards the lonesome standing figure that was before him and slowly took a step forward, moving his cane as he walked towards the Nagaki clan survivor, his pace slow but steady. She had arrived at dusk to the ANBU chambers, as instructed by the summons he had personally placed on her kitchen table the day prior. He inspected her closer, intrigued by her. He noticed the fairness of her skin as his eye ran down the lines of her body, down the length of her clothed arm to find himself looking at her delicate hands that were covered with metal-plated fingerless gloves. Her long black hair had been intricately braided into one elegant tress of hair with a single stray strand of snowy white hair that fell prettily on her cheekbone, brushing her thick black lashes.
As Danzo inspected his guest, he noticed the strength in her figure and in her expression as her deep green eyes warily followed his every movement, calculating his every step, discerning his every intention. He could see the intelligence in her eyes as he approached her, a sharp and distinct light glimmering in her emerald orbs. She wore a stone-cold look in her eyes, giving her a grave, almost severe-looking expression that clearly contrasted with the delicate lines of her face. Danzo stopped before her, his cane slightly grazing the hard concrete ground. A faint smile grew on his lips.
'I was beginning to think you wouldn't make it here.' he said, his voice raspy and quiet. She blinked, not losing track of his gaze.
'I'm not known to be late. Apologies for the delay. One can get lost around here.' she replied calmly, her breath steady as she faced the sinister minded man, his dark eye transfixed on her. 'Why did you ask me here? I do not answer to you.' she continued, her voice stern with suspicion. Danzo sighed and raised his hand, signaling to his officers to take their leave. As soon as he lowered his arm, the three men accompanying him had vanished in the shadows.
'Usually, when addressing me, my men kneel and bow their head out of respect.' he stated as he cleared his throat. Miyeko chuckled.
'I do not belong to you. I don't think this protocol applies to me.' she said with a tone of arrogance in her voice. Miyeko had waited for him to reprimand her for her behavior. He was her superior after all and he had all the rights to punish her for her disobedience. He was the Hokage's right-hand man, his private advisor and a village elder. These titles alone would make any man bow before him out of respect for his position, but Miyeko would take the risk and refuse him this honor. He had not earned her respect. Danzo opened his mouth and to Miyeko's surprise, he laughed. She wouldn't qualify his laughter as genuine and warm, but at the very least, it meant that she wasn't going to be immediately demoted of her Jonin rank.
'I don't remember the last time someone had the guts to talk to me that way. I'll admit little one, you have spunk. Just like your late sister.' he said as he regained his composure, his words stinging Miyeko's heart like sharp needles.
Her sister Kuri… She missed her. Her ghost still haunted her dreams at night and her daydreams too, her floating ghostly silhouette that followed her everywhere she went blinded Miyeko with tears on rainy days. Her memories of her were tainted with blood and a vision of a pale man's yellow eyes. Even until this day, she was tortured with the idea of destroying that mysterious man that stood tall before her crouched body, his vile yellow eyes glimmering with evil as the flames around them danced angrily, the sky clouded with thick smoke as her elder sister bled to death next to her. She could still see Kuri's blood on his man's hands. She could still see in her mind his disgusting, vile grin as he looked down on her with the same intention of hurting her just like he had hurt her family. These horrible memories were engraved in her mind for her to relive whenever she felt vulnerable and alone or too tired to fight them when she fell prey to despair on dark nights and in her nightmares. She frowned, trying desperately to hide her emotional discomfort.
'You see, Kuri Nagaki had a coveted place in my ranks, Miyeko.' he continued. 'She was so special, one of my best agents. A beacon of light and joy in the darkness of my work. ANBU truly benefited from her unique abilities and to this day, no one could equal her stealth and her sheer talent with chakra manipulation. A talent that you've also inherited from your clan… and from her.' he started, knowing this statement would make the young Nagaki shinobi uncomfortably curious.
Miyeko knew that Danzo knew about her abilities with natural release, but just how much did he know of what happened to her on that fateful day when she inherited her sister's abilities? He was the head of the secret forces of Konoha, after all. He must know more about her than she did herself. And she was curious. Her curiosity and desire to solve the riddles of her past itched at her skin. She had so many questions and very few answers, only speculations. What did he know that Miyeko didn't? She sighed, irritated.
'Said talent that you apparently wanted extinct all those years ago. I remember that day when you left me to die at the hands of the masked rogue ninja. Funny it is that my clan's abilities and my sister's bloodline limit are so important to you now, Lord Danzo. Thankfully, Kuri had more sense to her and disobeyed your orders. I also remember she ran her fist into your face as a reminder of your blatant mistake.' she said, smirking. Danzo's face remained stoic, his eyes narrowing, his lips growing thin with anger.
'But I am a magnanimous person, Lord Danzo.' she continued with a grin, knowing her tone of voice was irritating the older man. 'I'm willing to let bygones be bygones for the sake of the village. After all, that's why I came back, isn't it? To serve.' she said crossing her arms savoring her small victory against Danzo. The tension between the two shinobi was heavy. She could feel the anger boiling inside of the elderly shinobi, his uncovered dark eye looking directly into her with palpable frustration.
'Now, for the last time, why have you summoned me here?' she asked, her tone changing from severe to slightly aggravated, her teeth clenched together as her eyes narrowed on the elderly bandaged man. She wanted to intimidate him but Danzo is a man that could not be swayed by angry words. Darkness loomed over his features.
'The sole reason why I have let you in the village and granted you the rank of Jonin is that you will indeed play a major part in the village's safety. A very important, intimate part of it.' he said, Miyeko now feeling the prickling of anxiety running up her spine as she looked deep into his dark uncovered eye with a feeling of unease and foreboding. She frowned.
'What do you mean by that?' she demanded. He chuckled quietly and moved towards her again. Inches away from her now, his voice was but a quiet whisper and his face was darkened by the morning shadows and the sinister evil that clouded his mind.
'What do you know of the history of the Uchiha clan?' he asked. Miyeko stopped breathing. She couldn't comprehend why Danzo spoke of the Uchiha clan all of a sudden and feared the worst.
'I only know that it is a revered, ancestral founding clan of Konoha and that the members of this clan are good people who are loyal to the Village Hidden in the Leaf.' she replied defensively, unsure of Danzo's intentions. Danzo chuckled again but this time, he placed a firm hand on Miyeko's shoulder, his cane resting on the ground next to her. The smile on his thin lips sent shivers down her spine.
'Are they, now?' he asked. His cryptic dialogue was starting to make Miyeko feel sick, a knot growing in her stomach. She took a step back and frowned, her anger growing.
'What are you insinuating, Lord Danzo?' she asked, confused. Anger could be heard in her voice and uncertainty veiled her face. She was becoming agitated inside and images of Itachi started to float in her mind. Danzo knew he had played his cards right and was reeling his prey in. He could see the curiosity and fear in Miyeko Nagaki's eyes, that's all he needed for him to make his next move.
'What I'm trying to say, stupid little girl, is that the Uchiha clan is planning to overtake Konoha and if we don't act very soon, they will destroy this village, the place we call our home. Countless will die. Unless we play our cards right. They need to be annihilated. Every single one of them.'
She stopped breathing. Her heart skipped a beat. She could feel the sting of panic in her limbs. Her palms were sweaty. But fear quickly changed into unadulterated, pure rage.
She could feel her energy flare. Shadowy bubbles of chakra veiled her hands. She could feel everything. Everything but her hand against Danzo's throat, what she truly desired in that instant. She showed teeth, her eyes darting at his with a violent, palpably threatening intent.
'Lies! How dare you say such things!' she screamed at the ANBU leader, the dark veil of shadowy ectoplasm like chakra slowly covering her arms, reaching her chest. She could feel it completely absorb her own energy, trying to overtake her body. She inhaled sharply, focusing her chakra manipulation into her hand. All she needed to end him was a blade, she thought. A blade sharp enough to cut through flesh was all she needed to silence him forever for his treachery. But he laughed. He simply laughed at her anger. It enraged her. She could feel something forming in the palm of her hand, something sharp and heavy. She looked down, surprised at what she found. A blade. A dark, sinister-looking blade made out of her own chakra. She blinked. She blinked again, thinking she was imagining things.
'I see you're managing your abilities quite impressively, Miyeko, heir to Kuri Nagaki's powers. So eager to protect your adoptive family… How touching.' Miyeko's anger then turned into a deep, seething rage. Jiraiya had told her on their way to Mount Myoboku how Fugaku Uchiha was responsible for her protection after the incident. She was indebted to the Uchiha clan and right until she had left the village all these years ago, she had considered Itachi and his family to be her own. She would not take this shameless attack on the Uchiha clan's name and honor lightly.
'You're lying, snake! They would never do anything of the sort. Never.' she said quietly, trying to contain her rage, tightly holding on to the chakra blade in her hand. Danzo laughed again.
'You seem to be frankly ignorant of your little friends' intentions, it seems. Have you ever asked yourself why nobody ever fully trusts the Uchiha? Why their shinobi are never sent on solo missions? Why the only possible outcome of their shinobi career is either to be ANBU agents or officers of Konoha's Police Force? Why they were absent and guarded into strict confinement during the Nine Tailed Fox's attack on Konoha? Why they have been secluded from the rest of the village's society and their compound placed at a far distance, in a remote corner of the village?' he asked.
Miyeko was afraid to ask why. Her head felt so light and dizzy, deprived of strength. Her anger had turned her emotions into a physical and emotional malaise. Her head was spinning as she tried to decipher the elder's words, as she tried to discern the lies in what he was saying. But Danzo was steady in his breathing. He showed no sign of nervousness. He was standing tall and showed no sign of a deceiving body language. Danzo smiled and moved his lips to her ear, his tall body towering over hers. She could feel the sinister aura of the man that stood before as he whispered in her ear.
'Because they are and have always been cursed by an all-consuming evil. An evil you can see in their blood-red Sharingan. An evil that must be contained by all means necessary.'
Miyeko stood before him, motionless, her eyes staring into the distance but looking at nothing. She was frozen in time. Images of Itachi suddenly started to cloud her mind. His smile, his beautiful black hair, the crimson irises she so often looked into… How could such a wonderful, peaceful man be evil? She swallowed hard. She could taste bile on her tongue. Her knees trembled as small tears formed in her eyes.
'This is… it's impossible… They could never… How? How is this possible?' she whispered to herself. She exhaled and released the energy that had amassed in her hand, the shadowing cloak that surrounded her body disappearing. She fell to her knees, in shock. 'How do you know that this is true?' she asked, her voice shaking. Danzo sighed.
'We have known for quite some time that the Uchiha clan were plotting to take revenge on the village for the said abuse we have put them through. It might be abuse for some, but for me, they were necessary precautions to contain their treachery and uncontrollable powers. After all, who can rival a rampaging, Sharingan wielding war machine such as an Uchiha shinobi in battle? Measures had to be taken in the past in order for Konoha to have a peaceful future. Ambitious little things the Uchiha's are. Their ambitions have transformed as of late into a plot to overthrow the Hokage and the ANBU, a coup d'état that would leave the village open and vulnerable to nations that would want to destroy us. We need to put a stop to it.' he said simply, his voice echoing in the depth of the underground lair where they had been standing. She closed her eyes, desperately trying to regulate her breathing and the tears that flooded her eyes.
'Who knows about this?' she asked blankly, her voice trembling. She was in utter shock.
'The Hokage, the elders and the ANBU higher-ups. If the public knew of this… There would be a civil war and we cannot afford to look weak. And that's where you will prove to be detrimental to the safety of this village.' he stated, turning his back to her as he slowly took a couple of steps away from her. She looked at him with disgust.
'What is it that the Hokage is asking me to do?' she asked, her heart violently beating in her chest. There was a long moment of silence before she heard his voice again.
'Your mission is to infiltrate the Uchiha clan and report to us their filthy traitorous plans.' Miyeko's heart sank in her chest. Livid, she placed a hand to her mouth to prevent her from screaming. She wished in that instant that she never had left Mount Myoboku, that she never had left the comfort of the life she led with Jiraiya, that she never came back to this hell that was the world of a shinobi.
'As a double agent? I- I can't…' she started but couldn't finish her sentence. His deep voice echoed in the chambers.
'I know this must be hard for you. But to appease your worries and make this mission worth your time, I will give you what you've always wanted. Answers. Answers as to what happened on that day, when you got your extraordinary powers. If you complete this mission, I will tell you everything.' Miyeko silently gasped. Danzo was no fool. He knew that an avenger like Miyeko Nagaki craved for one thing and one thing only: answers to her questions. Answers needed to achieve their goals of revenge. Danzo had seen in her eyes, on the day of her promotion, the tamed but not invisible fire of vendetta that gleamed in her gaze.
'The fish has taken the bait.' thought Danzo as he saw the young Miyeko Nagaki crumble in front of him. Her blank stare was enough for him to know that deep down, he had won her over. She only needed to be steered in the right direction, thought Danzo, and with the idea of the truth of what had happened to her dangling in front of her nose, she would obey him. The thought of manipulating and utterly dominating the last of the Nagaki made Danzo salivate. This was going to be his vengeance on Kuri Nagaki, retribution he had waited three long years to finally grasp. And destroying Kuri's legacy by crushing Miyeko Nagaki, her beloved younger sister, felt nothing short of amazing for Danzo Shimura, Konoha's true shadow.
Miyeko could feel the weight of a thousand pounds crushing her shoulders. The thought of betraying her best friend's trust, his family's trust, his clan's trust… It was inconceivable to her and she seemed to have forgotten how to breathe. And then it happened again. Kuri's face appeared in her mind, her dead body haunting her. The smell of her blood that still filled her nostrils to this day was bringing Miyeko back to this horrible day, the day that sealed her fate, the day she was given a curse that would fill her days with misery. She knelt in front of Danzo, her knees were heavy on the damp concrete floor. Her heart was broken. Danzo clicked the foot of his cane on the hard ground, calling for her attention. His voice was now sharp, his intentions clear.
'Can we count on your loyalty?' he asked. Miyeko swallowed the bile that had amassed down her throat. She felt sick. She felt trapped, cornered. Konoha was her home but the Uchiha clan was her family now, the only family she had left in this world. She felt the weight of her decision ripping her apart. She closed her eyes and wiped the tears that were rolling down her pale cheeks. Kuri's voice echoed in her head. 'Being a shinobi of Konoha is not about being someone who can do it all, Miyeko. It's about being able to help others, to strengthen, to protect the big family that we are in this village. Some call if the Will of Fire. I call it a responsibility.' Miyeko Nagaki felt responsible to do what Kuri Nagaki, her beloved older sister, would choose to do in this situation. She was the bearer of her will. She exhaled slowly and raised her eyes to meet Danzo's. The emerald irises of the young Nagaki warrior never looked so dull, so sad. But her decision had been made. She needed answers. 'I'm sorry Itachi. I'm so sorry...' she thought.
'Yes.' Those words cut deep. Deeper than any blade. Deeper than the vilest of looks.
'Good. I knew you would make the right decision. The old fool Hiruzen has always said you held the Will of Fire within you, just like your sister did. Here, this should keep you motivated.' he said as he reached deep in his pocket. His hand resurfaced and what he held in his hand, he threw in the direction of Miyeko. The harsh noise of metal hitting the ground resonated in her ears as she looked down. A flow of tears rolled down her cheeks as she picked up an old forehead protector, the black fabric of the band resting in between her fingers. She recognized this forehead protector. It was the same that Kuri wore on the day she had died. Miyeko could see her faint reflection on the polish metal plate, a pair of sad green eyes staring back at her. Was this her life now? Was this the will of Kuri Nagaki? As Danzo walked away, Miyeko called out to him, her voice strained with emotions.
'Wait!' she said. 'How am I supposed to know what to do? What are my instructions? How am I supposed to know where to start?' she called out to him, desperate for direction.
She heard him laugh. 'From what I heard, you have always been close to the heir of Fugaku Uchiha. Itachi Uchiha seems to greatly value you… in many ways. You're a beautiful young creature, Miyeko. Surely you must be aware of your desirable allure, any man would be foolish to not want to experience your charms. Use the influence you may have over the boy to extract the information we need from him. Being the heir to the chieftain, he must be privy to the most confidential of their plans. Seduce him. Break him and report back to me. You are a tool, Miyeko, never forget it. Make good use of all your attributes and you will see, even great honorable men fall prey to a beautiful woman's will.' he said as he walked away, his body blending in the shadows of the underground lair until he could not be seen anymore.
Darkness surrounded her as she slowly walked away as well, clutching tightly to her sister's forehead protector. She held it so tight against the palm of her hand that the sharp metal edge of the metal plate cut through her hand, droplets of her blood falling on the ground. Miyeko disappeared into the early morning light with a terrible heaviness in her heart and tears rolling down her cheeks. She was nothing but a tool, she reminded herself. It was her duty to her village and a memento to her sister's legacy. But the memory of Itachi's beautiful crimson red Sharingan and soft lips danced in her mind like burning flames that consumed all her thoughts. They were then quickly replaced with Danzo's sinister stare and bloody memories of dangerous, snake-like yellow eyes.
...
Miyeko Nagaki had slept for most of the day, tormented by her talk with Danzo Shimura of the ANBU Black Ops. Her pillow was damp with tears. She turned around to face her window and noticed that the sun was setting. She had to get up. She had to get dressed and walk toward the Uchiha compound like nothing ever happened, like the terrible mission she was assigned to was naught but a sad dream. Every single scenario that ran through her mind lead to the same bitter end for her. She would be branded a traitor if she spied on the Uchiha clan, her adoptive family and would be called a turncoat if she renounced the mission she was assigned to, leaving Konoha to be destroyed by civil war. There was no winning outcome for her, there would never be after today. She could feel a Damocles sword hanging over her head, threatening her with the weight of the decisions she had made.
Her shoulders felt stiff and heavy and the pain she felt in her heart was unbearable. As she dressed in casual yet elegant black garments, she couldn't help but to reminisce in the memory of Itachi Uchiha's touch against the skin of her arm, against the sensitive skin of her throat as he had even so sensually traced his digits on her body. She groaned and sat on the edge of the bed, frustrated with her fate, frustrated with herself for not being able to control her thoughts. Miyeko sighed deeply. She knew that if she put a name on what she was feeling for Itachi Uchiha, the prodigy and hope of the Uchiha clan, she would lose all resolution to accomplish her mission. 'I am a tool, a weapon.' she reminded herself. But the memory of Itachi's soft gaze weakened her resolve. The anticipation of his body's proximity to hers made her sighed in exasperation. 'I shouldn't feel those things.'
She silently braided her hair and slowly made her way out with a look devoid of emotions in her eyes.
...
Miyeko stood before the Uchiha's clan chief house, silent and anxious. She hadn't set foot on the Uchiha compound's grounds in three years. The houses she passed by, the opened shops selling specialty items, even the small park had remained the same, frozen in time. As she walked towards Itachi Uchiha's house, she couldn't help but notice how her presence seemed to make the locals irritated. Some of them even gave her a look of disgust when she walked past them. She could feel they're prying, upset eyes on her. She was a stranger to them after all and if what Danzo said was correct, she was an oppressor to them, a symbol of hate for their clan as a shinobi serving under the Hokage. She had never felt so out of place, so small in her own little world. Even dressed plainly, people recognized her. They knew who she was, they had heard of her years ago. She swore she almost heard an old lady she passed by calling her by her surname, the Shinigami of Konoha. She ignored the old woman's whispers and walked along the winding road that led to the biggest house on the compound, the house she visited so often to spend time with her childhood friend.
When she reached the gates to Fugaku Uchiha's residence, Miyeko sighed heavily, trying to find the courage she needed to take another step forward, a step that would bring her closer to damnation. She looked at the sky, trying to prevent the tears forming in the corner of her eyes to roll down her cheeks. But she quickly had to regain her composure as she heard a budding voice in the distance calling her name.
'Miyeko! Is that you?' the young voice said. Miyeko blinked and looked at the Uchiha residence's porch. There had been standing Sasuke Uchiha, beaming and waving. She smiled widely. How he had grown. As he ran towards her, Miyeko knelt and grabbed him in his arms when he reached out to her. His raven black hair tickled her face as he buried his face in the nook of her neck, his arms wrapped around her in a fraternal hug.
'I knew you'd come back! I missed you so much.' he said to her.
'I missed you too, buddy. You've grown so tall and strong, Sasuke! Soon, you'll be taller than me.' she said as he released himself from her embrace. His dark eyes were full of sparkle and joy. He then scratched the back of his head timidly and giggled innocently.
'Shisui was right. You're so pretty, Miyeko.' he said, his smile warming Miyeko's heart. She was about to hug him again when she heard a high-pitched gasp. Miyeko looked up and saw Mikoto Uchiha, the clan's matriarch, with her eyes full of tears and hands over her mouth. Miyeko rose and walked towards the Uchiha clan's woman, a bright smile etched on her face. She quickly wiped her tears away and grabbed Miyeko in her arms, holding on to her tightly in a maternal accolade.
'It's nice to see you again Mikoto.' Miyeko whispered to her, a flood of happy emotions flowing through her. She had missed what it felt like to be embraced by a mother.
'Miyeko, I have been so worried for so long… No news from you. You just disappeared. I was so worried about you… I knew you were in safe hands but still… We tried to keep you in the village, Fugaku tried his hardest to bring you home…They wouldn't let us… But I'm so glad you're back. You've grown so beautiful and healthy...I'm so happy.' she said, silent sobs escaped her lips. It took all of Miyeko's strength to not burst into tears. Mikoto had always been so loving to her and the thought of her worrying the Uchiha matriarch made Miyeko ache with uneasiness. 'I'm sorry I've had you worried, Mikoto. Jiraiya kept me safe, I can assure.' she whispered back, holding on tight to the woman whom she had considered a second mother to her ever since she was a young child. Mikoto released the Nagaki survivor and smiled, her tears slowly drying on her cheeks.
'I hope he took good care of you. It doesn't matter to me if he's a legendary Sannin or not. If there were any news or sign that he didn't treat you well, I was ready to climb that damn frog mountain myself and give him a piece of my mind.' she started with a muted giggle. 'Look at you.' she continued, scanning Miyeko Nagaki from head to toe.
'What a pretty thing you've become.' she said. Miyeko blushed. Any more compliments like these and her ego would surely swell out of control, she thought. Mikoto grabbed her by the hand and they walked towards the house, Sasuke running past them excitedly. Miyeko heard Mikoto sigh in relief.
'You know, ever since Itachi told us you came back to the village, he hasn't been the same. My son smiled for the first time in years, Miyeko. Years. He started talking again. He's able to sleep again. I never thought this possible. We did everything we could for him. Nothing worked. I was afraid that we were going to lose him, Miyeko. He barely ate and hid away in his room to study, shutting himself from the world for so long... He went through so many nights of sorrow. I could always hear him cry in the night but unable to console him. He wouldn't let me in. He wouldn't let anyone in. As a mother, it broke my heart to see him so unhappy. But then, when Shisui and Itachi told us that you came back to the village for good, I saw a light in his eye. And ever since then, he's been… different. I'm so grateful to you. We can finally be a family now.' she said. Miyeko looked at her with sorrowful eyes. How much did Itachi suffer while she had been away? She looked at the ground, a tinge of sadness pinning at her heart. If only Mikoto knew just how similar she had felt for so long…And what she was about to do to her and her family… But Miyeko stayed silent as she was invited inside.
The smell of home was nostalgic for her. It smelled of wood, freshly prepared food and comfort. But nothing felt like home to her like the warm onyx eyes of Itachi Uchiha, who walked down the stairs to greet her in his home. Miyeko's heart beat faster when she saw his strong yet lean silhouette and a blush crept on her face when he gazed at her intensely, his onyx orbs meeting her emerald ones. She bit her lip, her heart skipping a beat when he gave her a small smile. 'Miyeko.' he called out to her, his deep voice sending shivers down her spine. She could almost feel him radiating his own special kind of heat. It gave her stomach butterflies. She tried to fight her feelings back, in vain.
'Itachi.' she replied breathlessly, her voice quiet and shy. Miyeko looked away nervously, fearing he might notice just how a simple mention of her name made her all the more infatuated with him. Mikoto raised an eyebrow, witnessing their reunion. She chuckled and smiled.
'I think I'll leave you guys to it. Fugaku shouldn't be left alone in the kitchen. Ever.' she said in a giggle. Mikoto quickly walked into another room, leaving the two youth to stand in the entry hall of the house, facing each other.
He then walked to her, suddenly grabbed her and pulled her aside to a hidden corner of his house's genkan. She was now so close to him he could have sworn he almost hear her heartbeat through her chest. He could feel the heat radiating from her now flushed cheeks. He was now the one who seemed to be struggling to catch his breath, stunned by the beauty of her rosy flesh. She had bat her thick black lashes and looked down to the ground, biting her lower lip timidly, avoiding his gaze. He walked up to her and grabbed her chin, pulling her gaze upwards again, her eyes meeting his once again. This time, he felt it. He felt it throughout his body.
That light in her eyes was most definitely what he had seen in her emerald orbs the day before, right as he had pulled her close to him, right before he had placed his lips on hers, right before he tasted the most sinful yet delicious delicacy the world could offer him. He noticed how delicate light brown freckles decorated the ridge of her nose to the rosy flesh tone that colored her lips. His lips formed a curved line and he inhaled her perfume. He was becoming addicted to her scent, to the sweet scent of the essential oils she put in her hair.
'Don't look away from me.' He said, bringing her face ever so slightly closer to hers, deepening the blush on her cheeks. Her emerald eyes pierced his very soul. She gently placed her hands on his chest, feeling his heartbeat at the tip of her fingers, anticipating what she feverishly craved ever since she last saw him.
'I can see you when you look at me. All of you.' he whispered again, slowly lowering his head towards hers, the need to taste her lips testing his willpower.
'Itachi…' She purred to him. Her hands slowly moving down his chest. The delicate touch of hers on him over his shirt sent a wave heatwave through Itachi's body. Her fingers ran down the soft lines of his stomach, making Itachi suddenly aware of his own body's arousal and just how dangerously close to the point of no return he was. She then slowly hooked his pants' waistband with her fingers, the flesh of her digits against the skin of his lower waist. She pulled him closer to him, their hips connecting ever so slightly, the warmth from their sudden proximity spreading like wildfire across their skin. Their lips were now brushing, the graze of their skin creating fiery anticipation of what was to come.
'Itachi… I don't just want you to see me. I want you to feel me.' she said, the innocence in her voice teasing at the last drops of self-imposed discipline he had. She reached for his hands, enlaced her fingers with hers and slowly brought them to her lower hips, pushing them downwards. Itachi inhaled deeply as his hands brushed the clothed skin of her lower back and slowly crawled down the soft lines of her bosom. Itachi's mouth opened slightly, his fingers gently squeezing the skin beneath them. Soft, plush, warm skin that made him drunk with a newborn lust. He could feel something stir inside of him, something that ran down his body to his lower half. He could hardly contain himself. Something inside him snapped. He bit her lower lip and his hands grabbed her hips and pushed them against his budding hardness below.
Miyeko moaned under him, out of breath from the intensity of the feeling of his lips crashing on hers. Miyeko returned the kiss impatiently, her tongue finding Itachi's. Never in her life had she ever been so hungry for his touch. Her body ignited into all-consuming flames and Miyeko pressed her chest against his, her arms wrapping around his neck. Itachi groaned in pleasure and pushed her against the wall, reaching down with his hands, grabbing the back of her thighs.
'Straddle me.' he commanded. She executed herself, sensually wrapping her legs around his waist, bridging the rest of the space between the both of them before she moaned again, her tongue twisting around his. He broke the kiss, out of breath and desperately holding on to his last strand of willpower. He had to blank his mind in order to remain in control of his lower body, his growing hardness making his pants feel tighter.
But the way she looked at him, the way her half-closed eyes stared at him, right through him… She trusted him completely, baring her soul to him. He knew in that instant that she was as ready as he was to discover more of their bond. He lowered his lips and bit into her neck, his teeth slowly sinking into her skin. She groaned in ecstasy.
'Oh, Itachi… Make me forget the pain...' Soft whines escaped her lips, driving his urge to please her forward. His soft mouth began to suck on her neck, his hands resting on her waist, his fingers gripping the fabric of her clothes with pure animalistic instinct. He wanted to taste more. He pushed the fabric of her shirt away and he let his warm tongue drift from her neck to her collarbone, his mouth kissing it gently.
'You're so beautiful.' he gently said to her, pulling a timid moan from her. 'And your skin is so soft...' he continued. She tightened her legs around him, wanting to feel every inch of him, wanting to feel the harness between his legs. She could feel a familiar wetness dampening her undergarments from arousal. He could feel it, smell it. His lustful onyx eyes had turned into crimson Sharingan looked down on her again, this time looking deep within her, in her very soul. And she let him. What he then saw made his heart stop, his blood freezing in his veins. Pain. Anger. Loss. Emptiness.
She gasped when she heard footsteps quickly coming their way from the other side of the house, Sasuke's energy rapidly approaching. She quickly removed herself away from him. When he heard his younger brother's voice call out to them, he pulled away from her, his chest heaving with a sudden rush of anxiety and sadness. Miyeko looked down and walked away from their position, meeting Sasuke halfway down the hall.
'Miyeko! Have you seen Itachi? Father is looking for him!' he exclaimed. Miyeko brushed the stray strands of hair that had escaped her braid out of her flushed face and smiled.
'He had a quick errand to run, Sasuke. He told me he'd be back in a few. Let's go help your mother set the table, alright?' she said, pulling Sasuke away and into the dining room, leaving Itachi alone with his raging thoughts. He frowned, realizing that Miyeko Nagaki, his childhood friend, was opening herself up to him in ways he never thought she would have. He knew that deep down she was never going to be able to hide a secret from him, she was never going to be able to hide what was on her mind from him. Not with his cursed eyes. He saw the dark clouds looming inside her mind. Unbeknownst to her, he saw something dark, and deep and painful within the depths of her psyche. Something that weighed on her conscience, something so vile it even disturbed him. And that hazy image revealed itself to be Danzo's shadowy face and the Uchiha crest symbol burning to the ground. Itachi sighed deeply, his fists clenched tightly.
She would not be alone in this. He could feel her pain. He could feel her confusion. He knew of the sacrifice they had asked her to make. He knew of the guilt and ugly secrets. He could feel her anger and despair. He knew of the weight of her responsibility. He knew instinctively what they had tasked her to do and how it killed her inside.
He knew because they asked the same sacrifice from him, too.