A/N:

.

.

.

The Sacrificed Disciple

-Chapter Twenty One-

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

-Annais Nin

Itachi arrived at the start of a new month. With his arrival came the excitement for the Chunin exams that were beginning in two weeks time. The Chunin exams were being hosted in Konoha after two years of it rotating to enemy-nin territory for the enemy-nin to attend. Invites to Sunagakure and Kumogakure had been revoked due to their indirect participation in supporting Iwagakure. All the big villages surrounding Konohagakure, now that I think about it, just wanted to see Konoha burn like Uzushio.

There was a caw near me.

Kagami the Crow was displeased that I was ending our training session too early.

My sharingan deactivated subconsciously when I felt Itachi's chakra. I was beginning to get a better hang of the sharingan now. My eyes no longer hurt when they bled crimson, and I wasn't wasting excess chakra anymore. As for it activating when my emotions were agitated was another concern.

"Are you going to greet Ita-chan, Asuya?" Kushina's serene voice came from the side. She must have detected Itachi's chakra entering the village as well.

I stood from my meditative stance. "He's heading to secure the Daimyo and his companions within his compound. I'll greet him after he reports in to Hokage-sama," I disclosed. He wasn't heading straight to the hospital, and his chakra wasn't flickering. He's okay, I thought in relief.

I turned to Kushina. She was sitting in a shaded area and currently brushing away several fallen leaves off her scrolls. She was studying. When I asked her what, it came as a pleasant surprise that she was looking for a way to make the kyubi's cell more comfortable. The kyubi, who she referred to as Kurama.

It was incredible that she had acknowledged the beast to be an intelligent entity. Not only that, she was looking for a way to make his permanent housing into a more comfortable place. It was all because I implied that he might have a name. She listened to me-

When I blinked, the image of her distorted.

Her flesh was rotting before me. No. It was peeling back, revealing red, ominous chakra underneath. She met my gaze and her eyes glowed. Her teeth sharpened. Her jaw cracked. Fumes escaped her feral grin in exhalation, and she. . . No. . . Kurama spoke: "Foolish boy. Do you think this will change the future events?"

I stepped back and blinked away the genjutsu, flaring my chakra a bit to dispel it. It was Kushina again. Her gaze narrowed. "I don't agree with these tactics Kagami's using," she stated for what felt like the millionth time.

Kagami the Crow cawed. He didn't sound sorry.

I rubbed at my head. "It's the best way for me to detect genjutsu," I reasoned. "In the long run. Without using hand seals to dispel it or cast it." Kagami the Crow chittered from his position on a branch above Kushina. I nodded to his own reasoning and translated to one annoyed looking Shishou: "Kagami said that I'm on a steady path to success and becoming one with him. . . Whatever that means, I guess." I shrugged.

"You guess?" She drawled out with a snort. She then sighed in resignation. "Well, then I guess I don't like not being able to do anything about it," she amended. "Summons in general are mysterious in their ways, but these crows are particularly elusive. Especially since its former summoner is dead and can't pass on the knowledge to you. None of us were able to break the genjutsu for you. . ." Kushina looked to her scrolls with a slight shake of her head. "It's just too risky."

I understood where she was coming from.

The past two weeks I was a feverish, sweaty mess filled with paranoia and confusion. I had to cancel training with Emino-sama and Nagomi-sama because of it, or more so, Minato did so in my place so Kushina could handle the rest of my training with the summons. The Uchiha elders. . . didn't take it well.

The mission to Okito's Farm lead to a backlash of consequences for harboring secrets. That being said, rumors from the shinobi—who witnessed several events— traveled to civilians, and from civilians, everyone was speaking about it. Most of them being about Minato and I. Minato, however, was busy in war meetings and designing a plan for after the Chunin exams, leaving the rumors to fester in a boiling pot. It left the Uchiha elders to wonder where exactly I was, or who, for the matter, I was training with. It didn't take the Uchiha elder's two and two to put together to realize that Minato was just a front for Kushina to train me without politics and the like interfering. They didn't seem too happy about it.

There was still a stigma on Jinchuriki after all.

Anyways, the confusion and terror started ever since I began my training with Kagami the Crow. When I activated my sharingan, it was like his obsidian, beady eyes became a reflection of my own. I was looking into my own sharingan. Two tomoe swirling, as Kagami the Crow cast a genjutsu on me, using my own sharingan against me, and now. . . I had to learn to break myself out of it. Kagami the Crow didn't even warn me. He just vaguely informed me that this was the first step to us becoming one.

It wasn't a smooth transition.

The genjutsu was more worse back then, then it is now. Sometimes, when I looked to the sky, I could still see the crimson around me and the black clouds that whirled above me as if time was passing by fast when it was merely a second. At first I didn't know how to get myself out of it. Which resulted in horrified worry from mom, father, Minato and Kushina.

Now, I barely blinked an eye. I realized that my heart had to be at a steady rate and that I had to be calm before I dispelled the genjutsu with a quick flare of chakra. It was only noticeable to Minato and Kushina, and since Minato was off busy planning for a way to end the war with the top dogs, Kushina would usually stick around when I trained. Not that she minded. My guess was that she liked sending the Uchiha elder's spies through a loop.

Seals were placed all around us, giving us the best privacy rivaling the Hokage's office. It stopped anyone from spying on us. Kushina was the only one who knew if there were people lurking around the perimeter. I had a feeling that Emino-sama or other third party members really tried. The privacy seals Kushina had not only prevented noise, but it seemed to also lure spies away to different parts of the forest. Kushina vaguely explained that her seals were like a genjutsu, but she didn't elaborate. All the same, it made me more grateful in having Kushina as my shishou. She told me that although they had deduced that I was training with her, they didn't know in what. They probably assumed it was in sensing at Minato's behest since it wasn't a secret that Kushina and Minato were in a romantic relationship, or that I could sense apparently.

Classified mission reports weren't really classified during war. I was sure Danzo or the other two warhead, council members read the file and shared the information. Not only that, with my sharingan active, sensing came as naturally as breathing. Uchiha Emino was perceptive enough to catch on. In all honesty, it was how I was able to defeat Shisui.

Anyways, the kind of leverage given to me by Minato and Kushina shouldn't be taken lightly. Kagami the Crow's capabilities were still a card I haven't dealt yet. I didn't wish to. Once Kagami and I became one, I imagined that Kagami's servants would be mine to use as well.

I passed a wary gaze to Kushina again to make sure I wasn't seeing a genjutsu of Kurama raging.

The kyubi wasn't present. Not that he was in the first place, but sometimes I would still feel the kyubi's distant rage, like from when I first felt Kushina's killing intent, and it would feel real. Not just that, people would be lying dead in the streets, reminding me of the decay in the rice paddy fields. Nothing but forgotten bodies. People who were a small casualty among thousands. The smell would be real. All my senses deeply affected. I referred to that genjutsu world as the Upside Down. Kagami the Crow stated that it was a befitting name. He also stated that what I saw was a reflection of his own realm of death and disease.

Ever since the Upside Down has become less frequent and I no longer lived in a genjutsu world where reality was merely a second and time moved fast within the Upside down, I was allowed to frequent the village. Back then, I was confined in the forest with Kushina or in my room. We wouldn't want me pulling kunai on civilians, after all.

I had better control of myself now, however. I was able to detect the remnants of the Upside Down genjutsu, like when I thought Kurama took over Kushina's body just a moment ago. I called it the Bleeding Affect. Kagami the Crow found that to be a fitting name as well.

He stated that the Bleeding Affect would become less and less subtle. To where the distinction would be a thin line between reality and illusion. Kagami the Crow warned me that this would be a lesson in perceiving the outward appearance and taking it in at face value. I didn't understand why Kagami the Crow chose to identify the lesson meant for me without actually having me experience it yet, but when I voiced my concern, Kagami the Crow became vague again and told me he sensed danger ahead.

I assumed that despite the sense of danger, he still meant to carry out his lesson. I knew the crows intentions were good and were for the benefit of my own interests, but I was beginning to wonder if their method lied in madness.

I shrugged it off.

There was no going back now.

I knelt next to Kushina. "How's your progress, shishou?"

She threw me a smile. "I'm getting there. I found that it's possible to change several components of Mito's seal. I just have to learn her language."

"Language?" I echoed.

Kushina nodded. "There are different language's in seals. Yours is matter of fact. It holds mathematical components, but also your own language of weird kanji."

I scratched my head with a small chuckle. She was referring to the English cursive in my seals. That was okay though. Despite learning another language, through a lot of studying, Kushina managed to understand every component of my own version of a chakra resistance seal. Only because I let her read my journal on fuinjutsu. It was a huge show of trust, and now that I think about it, it brought us closer in our bond as master and disciple. I was confident Kushina would be able to understand Mito's 'language' as well.

Kushina continued, "I have to adapt my style to Mito's language, so as not to disrupt the balance of the seal. We'd also have to be far away from Konoha in order to do so." She sighed and leaned back against the tree. I knew what she was thinking. Probably something along the lines of how risky it was to even tamper with the kyubi's seal just to fix his living conditions. How the hell was she, a Chunin, going to sell that to Hokage-sama and his warhead advisors as well as council members, who were the warhead advisors.

Kushina definitely had it tough. She'd be in Minato's league, or even surpassing it if she only knew the secret in wielding Kurama's chakra. She was in luck because I did. I just had to come up with a way to sell it to her from a prodigal five-year-old student's perspective.

I blinked. "Why not just do it in the realm of the summons?" I wondered innocently.

She looked to me. "What?"

"If you find it too risky," I drawled out with a quirked brow. "Why not just do it in a summon's realm. . . with their permission, of course?" Kagami the Crow responded with several caws. I gave a pleasant smile. "Kagami the Crow is happy to offer his realm up and reverse summon us! He said its already full of death and decay anyways. What's another added to the collection if we fail?" I happily asked, as if Kagami the Crow didn't just flippantly suggest that we'd might die in the process.

Kushina then launched up and wrapped her arms around me. I heaved out a breath of air as she cried out, "Asu-chan! You're a freaking genius!" She let go of me abruptly and planted a kiss on my cheek. "Now with this, maybe Kurama would consider letting me control his chakra."

My eyes widened. "Is that what you want?" I asked with sincerity.

She passed me a warm smile. "When you first suggested that Kurama might be something more then a mindless beast. . . I thought you were too forward thinking. . . even for me, but after so much time has passed, and I persisted. He finally gave me a name. . . with it, I learned so much. He may be scary sounding at first, and a complete grump, but he's actually. . . kind of sarcastic. His chakra may feel awful, but I realized it was a mere projection of those within this world and of my hatred for him. It was when I stopped fearing him and hating him that he gave me his name that the image I had of him changed." Her eyes shined. "Then I learned about Killer B. I heard he can control the Eight Tails. It says so in the bingo book, ttebane!"

I swallowed. "I think the tailed beasts are too proud to be controlled."

Kushina blinked. "Huh?"

I thought for a moment before explaining, "You're a jinchuriki. You should understand. . . more then anyone what it feels like to have people want to control you, your power, or the power within you." Kushina's gaze dimmed, and she looked at me with steel in her eyes. Uh oh. Shishou is looking at me seriously. "I don't like it when Itachi is pressured into his role as the future clan patriarch. The Uchiha elders influence him, so that in the future, he may parrot their interests, and tousan. . . He prevented them from doing the same to me when I was younger. . ." I wrinkled my nose. Itachi was too smart for that though. He knew when to look underneath the underneath. I didn't want to say it out loud because that would unintentionally imply that Kushina couldn't. Kushina was smart in her own creative way. She just needed a little push.

"I. . . see what you mean." Kushina closed her eyes. She looked ten years younger, like a lost child as she contemplated. "That would mean Killer Bee must have treated the eight tails as an equal; like a comrade who trusts one to make the right decisions. Who trusts someone with their life."

"Do you think Kurama and you are at that stage?" I asked.

Kushina shook her head and looked to me. Her lilac eyes warm as she pet my hair in a soft, motherly caress. I leaned against her hand with a smile. "We have a long way to go," she acknowledged. "Asu-chan. . . I thought I was the master and you were the student."

I felt the corner of my lips tilt up. "You are," I stated confidently. "But maybe teaching goes both ways?" My voice rose into a question.

"So it does." She kissed my forehead again. "You remind me so much of Minato when he was your age. I hope that one day, my child takes after you-"

I blanched. "You're pregnant!?"

Her pale cheeks turned rosy. "What! No!" she gave a nervous chuckle and scratched the back of her head in a very Minato-like gesture. "No way, dattebane! No yet anyways. . ."

"Oh." I quickly recovered myself. I was almost going to have a heart attack, thinking Naruto was going to have an older brother or something. "Sorry. Not that it's a bad thing. Shishou would make a wonderful mother," I quickly amended, feeling my own cheeks heat up.

Kushina laughed. "Why did you react like that? Were you jealous?" She teased.

I gave her my best deadpan expression and stood. "No."

Kushina's laugh turned to a cackle. She collapsed to the floor. "Oh my god. You're face!" She breathed out.

I pouted with narrowed eyes. "I'll see you later, shishou."

Her cackles echoed as I walked away, leaving the perimeter and towards the Hokage Headquarters when I felt Team 8's chakra signatures lingering. My walk was almost a leisurely stroll, but it soon became a hurry when I felt the full brunt of the gossip mill. It was about me having Minato's three pronged kunai, which allowed Minato to arrive before the reinforcement team. It was also about crows. I thought the rumors would have died down already, but they didn't. Minato's title, the Yellow Flash echoed all around me, and soon, it would reach Iwa's ears. Not that it hasn't already.

I could already see the Kanabi Bridge being an epic loss for a stubborn old fool, such as the Tsuchikage. If he had heard about the Yellow Flash from his defeat at the south border between Konoha and Suna, then he either just didn't care, underestimated Minato's abilities (pft. One man? Killing about hundred enemy-nin? Impossible), or overestimated them. . . which was why after the Chunin Exams, Iwagakure was going to be short about 1,000 ninja if I remembered correctly.

I couldn't even be happy about the war being over soon. Obito-nii, the boy I grew up with, who was a constant in my life, was going to be taken in by The freaking Uchiha Madara. Unless the timeline has messed up and Obito actually dies. . . What would happen then? What would that mean for the rest of us?

I avoided the stares and approaching people with tact, and soon arrived before the Hokage's Headquarters. I felt their chakra signatures travel downstairs. Their meeting was over. I leaned my shoulder against a nearby tree and crossed my arms. Itachi would be here any second now. I grinned when I felt his chakra flicker in front of me.

"Ototo-"

"Niisan!" I launched myself at Itachi with a huge grin on my face. He grew several inches taller from when I had last seen him, but then again, so have I. We were almost the same height. I was no longer the scrawny, tiny child from before. He exhaled a small breath as he held me, patting my head as I rubbed my cheek against his.

"You've gotten bigger," he noted once we pulled apart. Itachi's hair was still straight and parted on either side of his face down to his chin. My hair was longer and more disheveled from his. Kind of like Sasuke's but in a low ponytail. The similarities were there, however. My heart soared with happiness.

"I have, haven't I?" I smirked.

His eyes shined a bit as he observed me before they grew more solemn. "Asuya-"

"I feel better now," I quickly responded because the last time he saw me was with severe chakra exhaustion, bedridden, and producing little amounts of chakra. "And-"

I was cut off when a chakra signature appeared beside me. I didn't even stiffen when Shisui placed an arm on my head. He was about two years older then the both of us, so he was way taller. "And we're best friends now!" Shisui stated. Several leaves stirred from his shunshinning technique. He was becoming better at using it.

Itachi's lips turned downward. "Shisui-san," he greeted. "I was hoping your corruption of my baby brother wouldn't happen so soon, but I was wrong." Wow. That was a lot of words from Itachi.

"You baby brother has become much more interesting, Ita-chan." Shisui gave his signature, playful grin. His black eyes shinned with mischief. It reminded me of the crows. "He's training with Emino-sama and Nagomi-sama." I was currently training in taijutsu and kenjutsu, but that was something that became delayed because of the crow's genjutsu training.

Itachi's eyes slightly widened. It was so miniscule that no one would have caught it unless they knew how to read Uchiha body language in general. He turned to me. "You have two masters," he noted. "Then Emino-sama deemed you worthy to further your taijutsu training to perfect the one hit technique."

I shifted in my stance. "Hai," my voice was solemn. I felt something shift between us. I felt something shift in the distance. Shisui's presence was a warning that we were being spied on. In the distance, I could see Shinku-sensei shift his gaze to Shisui and I before he narrowed his eyes. Did he know? Did Itachi know? Could Itachi look underneath the underneath?

The crow's faint warning of danger ahead seemed more clearer now.

I turned my gaze to Itachi. I was on the receiving end of his perceptive gaze. With it, illusion became reality. He was bleeding. His flesh was melting like how it did in my dream. My eyes ached, wanting to activate at the sight of my dead brother standing before me, but I withheld the chakra wanting to flood to my eyes. I withheld subconsciously flaring my chakra so as not to have Itachi misunderstand. He spoke, or did he? "That technique leaves no room for mercy. Is that what you will grow to be Asuya? Someone who is merciless?" His voice void of emotion. That didn't sound like Itachi.

Did Itachi even speak?

I held Itachi's gaze and merely gave an uneasy smile. The illusion faded. Itachi's eyes were narrowed. He looked down right pissed. Did he even speak? Did he say something else? I didn't know. I couldn't answer for fear that I would look crazy.

And Itachi. . . His gaze made my heart ache. I understood why. He thought I was being influenced by the elders. The ones he appeased to keep their attention off of me. All that stress, all that effort and it was all for me to throw it down the drain. Did he realize that such a strategy couldn't be used anymore? Did he understand now that I will no longer allow myself to be protected and babied?

In traditional standards from an Uchiha's viewpoint, I was more advanced then Itachi and Shisui and any child within my age group now. All because of these eyes. All because I suffered more. That was how the Uchiha elder's minds worked. My sharingan had more potential then Shisui's and when Itachi would get his eyes, it would be a question of whose eyes would have the potential to know of the sharingan secrets first. I thought it was a loud of shit. In times like these, I understood what Tobirama-sama meant. Perhaps, from a different perspective, these eyes were the mark of a curse in war.

My gaze shifted to Hana and Kei.

I didn't want to see the confusion and disappointment in Itachi's gaze anymore. I parted from Shisui and walked up to them with a smile. The Haimaru Brothers were the first to greet me. I crouched down to give them their deserved pets. They yipped and tugged on my shorts with their paws. They've gotten frighteningly bigger. I straightened just in time for Hana to tackle me into a hug. "Is it true your first mission became a B-Rank!?" She asked, brown eyes wide with excitement.

"Hana, that's just not something you should ask a friend when the last time you saw them was in a hospital bed," Kei's voice was full of exasperation.

I pulled Kei into a one sided hug to complete the trio. His gaze widened as I did so. "It's okay, Kei," I dismissed with ease before turning to Hana. "The change in our mission parameters definitely called for a change in rank."

Hana stuck her tongue out at Kei before her gaze turned back to me. She gave a toothy grin and pulled me closer to her with a tug of her arm around my shoulders. "How about another trip up to the Hokage mountain? There's so much catching up to do!" She asked, eyes excited. She then waved at Itachi with her hand, and I felt my heart warm as Itachi took her hand with ease. There was something soft in his expression. Something I've only ever seen him do when he looked at me. . . before. . . I averted my gaze to look at Hana. Team 8 has been good for him.

"I'd love that-" I began.

Shinku-sensei tapped a hand on Hana's head in reprimand. She looked like a scorned puppy. The Haimaru Brothers lowered their ears, looking like they've been reprimanded as well. "You've been gone for about a month and a half. Go see your mother before making plans with friends," he reprimanded. "That'll be the same for you, Kei. Itachi."

Hana rolled her eyes, but Kei, Itachi, and her echoed, "Hai, sensei," in unison.

Shinku-sensei then turned to me and brushed his hand against my hair. "It's good to see you up on your feet and active, Asuya. Keep your head up. Understood?"

"Understood, Shinku-sensei."

"Now then. It's high-time I go see my daughter." His eyes shined with warmth. "Don't bother me for the rest of the day." He disappeared in a whirl of leaves.

Hana tsked. "Sensei always ditches us after missions." She began to move forward pulling all of us along with her. I moved with apprehension. We were heading straight towards the civilian marketplace that I just avoided. I felt Shisui's chakra trail behind us. He was snickering, and I could see Itachi frowning from my peripheral vision.

"Really?" I wondered, focusing on the plural word of 'missions'. "How many missions have you had already?"

"9. We had 8 D-Rank missions and escorting the Daimyo was our first Chunin mission." She was smirking, looking very pleased. "The Daimyo kept going on and on about the Will of Fire and something along those lines. He said he'd be betting on us during the Chunin exams!" I nodded along. It didn't surprise me that there were betting pools during the Chunin exams.

"That's great," my voice sounded distant again. A faint ringing sound began to echo. We were passing through the civilian marketplace. Eyes of bystanders began to shift towards us, towards me. 'There he is again,' I faintly heard from the side. I looked to the side to see melting flesh and sunken sockets. They reminded me of the bodies I had to pull out of the rice paddy fields. My heartbeat began to sound louder to me. The voices mere whispers in the back of my mind. Was it real? Could I actually hear them? I looked to Hana, Kei, and Itachi but they were shadows. 'Its the crow summoner,' someone stated. 'The one that saved my husband from a possible siege in the south border. An Uchiha boy, can you imagine?' Then another voice, 'Don't be so disrespectful. The Uchiha are co-founders of this village. They outlasted the Senju clan and are noble sentries of Konoha!'

Hana's voice was loud, as she was right next to me. Her voice brought me back to reality: "Not as great as yours." I met her doe-eyed gaze. "Too bad you lost your teammate, and it was your first mission too. . ."

I froze.

Hana's gaze widened and she placed a hand over her mouth. She looked to me, looked for my reaction. Time slowed and my own gaze grew wide in shock. The sky was bleeding, shadows were morphing, voices were distorted— switching from faint to loud. Tenma was looking at me. He expected me to help him. I reached for him and did nothing-

I couldn't breathe.

Kei's voice was reprimanding and harsh: "Hana!"

Her grip locked on me, but I pulled away with ease. She was saying something, but I couldn't hear her anymore. I stepped back. Itachi's gaze was as wide as my own, shocked and full of grief. He reached for me. "Asuya-"

I had to get away. My gaze switched to the sides, looking for escape routes. I couldn't focus. I had to-

I felt hands lock on my shoulder, and I looked behind me. It was Shisui. He spoke, "Well would ya look at the time! Places to do and things to be. Training awaits! Bye-" There was a pull. Buildings blurred until they became trees. We abruptly stopped and it felt somewhat like Minato's Hiraishin Jutsu except the landing was much more rough.

Shisui let go of my shoulders and I stumbled forward until I landed on my knees and threw up all of my stomach contents. Shisui's voice was faint in the background, "I thought you had better control of your sharingan?"

I coughed, wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, and stared at him. Shisui was leaning against a tree and eyeing a crow servant that probably came up to check on me. We were surrounded my nothing but trees and the soothing signatures of critters. I felt less overwhelmed. "I'm never taking that route again," I promised vehemently, moving away from the puddle of throw up. I was glad he took me out of there. I was getting tunnel vision. Whatever Hana said triggered something in me and the genjutsu became so overwhelmingly stronger. I had to get away before I gave myself away.

I never expected. . . I. . .

I had a better understanding of what dad meant about Uchiha Kagami seeming to be 'not all there' now.

"Strange to see the crows in person," Shisui's voice was wistful as he crossed his arms. I moved towards him, feeling so tired. He sent me a side glance as I placed my back against the tree and slid down next to him. More crows appeared around us.

"You've never seen them before," I acknowledged. I closed my eyes and deactivated my sharingan which I realized I subconsciously activated. Imagine that. Not being able to detect genjutsu with even my sharingan. It was at two tomoe. . . I couldn't imagine what Kagami the Crow's lesson entailed when I would have three tomoe. . . or even the mangekyo.

"My tousan died before I born," Shisui divulged. "But I like to imagine that he lives through you in a way."

"Because of the crows," I guessed.

"Maybe. Maybe not," he conceded with amusement.

I closed my eyes. "Whatever." Hanging out with Shisui more often then I wished to meant that I just took his vague weirdness in stride.

"I've heard stories, and I read his journals before I burned them." My gaze slowly opened. I looked to him with narrowed eyes. He was smirking. "Don't look at me like that. I had to. What he wrote was treason." I felt my brows pull together. . . What? "You remind me of him," he drawled. The corner of his lips were pulled up into a sly grin.

"From just his journals?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Sure," he dragged out. It almost felt as if he was entertaining me in the conversation and not the other way around. What puzzle are you putting in front of me now, Shisui, I thought with bitterness. "His paranoia. Feeling uneasy. Like someone would find him out and assassinate him. But my tousan had a lot of enemies," he paused. His gaze shinned. "So I wondered what some little kid, playing the innocent and weak card deliberately, had to be scared over."

Perceptive, my thoughts hiss in warning.

I gave out an incredulous laugh. Never mind. The puzzle was me. He was trying to figure me out, and he was fucking digging gold. I deflected with ease, "I guess Tenma's story will be a constant reminder of something to be afraid of-"

Shisui laughed. My eyes widened as I looked to him. Shisui was staring at me, but where I expected anger, I merely saw amusement. "Don't throw a pity party just cause that Inuzuka said something insensitive. She had 8 D-Rank's and 1 C-Rank. You had one B-Rank and experienced hell. That alone should explain the difference between you and Team 8."

I looked away. I felt the skin between my brows pinch. "I'm glad," I stated fiercely. "I hope they don't experience anything like that. . ."

"Of course they won't. They're a delegate team. The future that the Hokage is investing in," Shisui chuckled. I looked to him and realized what he meant. Shisui and I were the canon fodder in war who survived. The sacrifices from the Genin pool so that other Genin teams would have more time to train and work in teamwork safely in Konohagakure. The strategy made sense in war. Kakashi and Minato were the canon fodder who survived before they had shishou's take them on and help them survive longer. It didn't make sense during times of peace. That's why such a large graduate class like the Rookie Nine were nurtured more slowly.

Shisui broke me out of my contemplation. "Come on, Asu-chan. I wasn't lying when I said we have training by the way."

My gaze widened. "What?! Are we late?"

Shisui smiled. "Very."

Despite being late, our walk was at a leisure pace. Shisui was doing it on purpose, and I learned that Shisui does everything with purpose, so I didn't question. No matter how much I didn't enjoy it. "Don't be like that, Asu-chan. I just wanted to spend time with you. I haven't see you in days," he whined.

I gave him an exasperated side eye. "You saw me two days ago."

"Exactly!"

I was about to bicker with him some more if it wasn't for an Anbu appearing before us. He was a tall looking man, and. . . I couldn't feel his chakra at all. Not even to warn me that he was going to pop into existence before me. He was just there. I jumped back and looked to Shisui. We looked at each other for a moment, and the spark in Shisui's eyes had me looking closer to the Anbu, or more so, the holes within the Anbu's mask. They were dark and obscured. Bottomless pits I couldn't see into. Maybe the masks had seals on them to make it look like that?

"Uchiha Asuya?" The Anbu questioned. His voice was distorted through the mask.

"Yes?" I replied.

"Sandaime Hokage-sama requires your presence."

My gaze widened when I felt another chakra headed our way. The Anbu cocked his head to the side when an Uchiha, which I remembered to be one of Uchiha Emino's lackies appeared before us too. The Uchiha's gaze was narrowed. He looked displeased. "You two are summoned to the dojo and you are late."

Shisui stood at attention, but he said nothing.

The Anbu shifted and placed his hand on my shoulder. I stiffened. I would never forget the familiarity of this chakra. It was Yuki-sensei, but. . . How come I couldn't sense it before? Was it the mask maybe? Or was Yuki-sensei always this skilled in obscuring his chakra? "Negative. Uchiha Asuya's presence has been demanded by Sandaime Hokage-sama. Whatever you require of him will wait."

I felt the familiar sensation of being pulled. Trees and buildings blurred until I was standing before the closed doors that lead to Hokage-sama's office. I didn't avert my gaze as Yuki-sensei. . . No. . . The Anbu stepped back and merged with the wall. His chakra disappeared even from my own senses. I knocked on the door and waited.

"Enter," Hokage-sama's voice could be heard, loud and clear through the door.

I pushed the door open and immediately scanned the room. Shimura Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura sat on either side of the Hokage. I don't know how they managed to fit the U-table in the Hokage's office. My guess was fuinjutsu. "Young Asuya," the Hokage greeted. He had bags under his eyes from lack of sleep and was puffing at his pipe almost aggressively as his eyes scanned a file held in one hand. "How do you fare?"

I stepped closer before giving a hesitant bow. "Hokage-sama," I greeted, then looked to the council members and gave an individual bow to them as I said their name in a respectful greeting. They were well known among the shinobi and famous in their own rights, as they contributed to the First Shinobi War as Team Tobirama. It wasn't a surprise that I knew of them. What was a surprise was that they were here. I looked to Hokage-sama. "I've fully recovered, and I have been training."

"So I've heard," he mused vaguely. He interrupted me before I said anything more. My heart stuttered. It was a warning sign. Hokage-sama met my gaze. Could they read my chakra? Feel my heartbeat quake? My hands began to grow clammy, but I stood tall despite the 'what if's.' The message was clear. I would not divulge anything more then he would.

You're in the lion's den now, I thought with bemusement.

"You've showed great potential as an individual, young Asuya. It says here that your sensei, Minazuki Yuki, has denied Team 2 from participating in the Chunin exams. His reason being that Team 2 wasn't ready." Hokage-sama was apparently there. He should know. Why was he saying this? Where was he going with this? What was the underlying reason? "When you went to Uzushiogakure, you've single-handedly killed three Chunin, yes?"

"Hai," my voice didn't waver.

"You weren't even an official shinobi then," Hokage-sama confirmed. "Your first mission with Team 2, you killed an Iwagakure-nin of Jonin caliber, yes?" Hokage-sama asked.

"Hai," I answered.

Hokage-sama gave a low hum. "From a different perspective, one could say it was an act of revenge." This time, he looked at me closely. His gaze piercing. "What went through you mind during this time, young Asuya?" I didn't outwardly react as the room deteriorated and time slowed before me. The paint on the walls peeled back to reveal oozing black blood. Caws could be heard in the background of crimson sky behind the Hokage, whose chakra was wrapping around me, drowning me-

"That Tenma. . . was dead," my voice wavered a bit before I narrowed my eyes and calmed my heart. Stay calm. Stay calm. "And that Shinko and I would've been next if I didn't do something about it."

The image distorted, and Hokage-sama's gaze softened. He puffed on his pipe some more. "Do you know why you stand before us today, young Asuya?"

I swallowed. "You want to revoke Yuki-sensei's decision and have me participate in the Chunin exams, Hokage-sama." It wasn't hard to put two and two together. He just confirmed that I was more then ready to enter the Chunin exams despite Yuki-sensei's decision.

Hokage-sama chuckled and leaned back in his seat. His gaze never left mine. What was going through his mind right now?

Utatane-sama spoke, "A field promotion to Chunin would have already been given to the boy. Children his age have been given one for less accomplishments in the past," she spoke. "But you wish to waste such potential in the Chunin exams when he could be completing more missions for us?"

"His showcase of skills would bring a wider range of clients. The Uchiha have also been quite popular among client requests as of late," Homura-sama added. "Not only that, the mortality rate of children being given field promotions is drastically low. We need to see if the boy is strategical in his battles. It is why the boy must attend the Chunin exams."

Hokage-sama quirked a brow. "What say ye, Danzo?"

I hesitated before I looked to Shimura Danzo. He was leaning forward in his seat. One hand tucked in his yukata while the other was supporting his head— fist against temple. "You may not know Minazuki Yuki well, Hokage-sama," his voice was low timber. His chakra rough around the edges but slick like oil within the middle. "It is beneath you to know of all your shinobi's files down to the most miniscule details. Therefore, it is my duty to inform you that Minazuki-san does not have a history of withholding his students from participating in the Chunin exams. There is no pattern that states he has cared about his student's progression and growth into the rank of Chunin. One must wonder why the sudden interest in Team 2 where he may not think them ready? When clearly, the remainder of Team 2 are more then capable." He pushed a file to Hokage-sama. Hokage-sama pressed one finger against it to stop it from sliding further down the polished wooden table.

Shimura Danzo passed a lazy gaze towards Hokage-sama. "If you read this mission report, it shows his patterned distaste to his Uchiha comrades in the past. One in particular, that lead to a questionable death of Uchiha Naka."

"Uchiha Naka also had an unstable past that lead to many deaths of Konoha shinobi even his fellow clansmen despite Naori-san's false claims that he was a changed person," Utatane-sama retorted. Her gaze was firm. "We've all been in council when deciding Minazuki Yuki's fate, and we've all come to the agreement to let him live in redemption within the shadows."

Homura-sama scoffed. "It is unbecoming of you, Danzo, to not take all factors into consideration. Especially when one within your own ranks is in question."

My chest grew heavy in mortification, and I felt my mouth water with the bitter aftertaste of bile. I blinked several times to focus on Hokage-sama, who was watching every one of my reactions. He never took his eyes from me. He didn't even open the mission report of Yuki-sensei before him. He just looked at me. . .

"Nevertheless, Minazuki-san's own emotions got the best of him." Danzo's gaze shifted to me. "I've come to the conclusion that he wishes to hinder the progress of Uchiha Asuya for prejudiced reasons. It is a stain on my reputation, Hokage-sama," Danzo's voice resembled the hiss of a snake. "I will be sure to make changes within the corp. In good will, I wish to make amends and request that Uchiha Asuya enter the Chunin exams as an individual. The girl seems as if she has potential, but I've heard she wishes to take the route of a civilian life."

Hokage-sama hummed and tilted his head down. His large hat obscured his gaze as he puffed on his pipe. "Plans to end the war still need to be rectified, and here I am debating a child's future. . ." The Hokage sighed. "Just what are your intentions, Danzo?" I've never heard such a powerful shinobi sound so tired in that moment.

"Nothing more then seeing great potential in a child, Hokage-sama," Danzo appeased.

My breathing grew audible. My gaze hardened. There was no way-

"Trust in my decision, Hiruzen," Danzo drawled. He was sitting up straighter and looking to Hokage-sama. "Everything I do is for the good of Konohagakure."

Hokage-sama's gaze softened. He gave a dismissive wave. "Very well. Minazuki Yuki's rights and decisions as Team 2's sensei have been nullified. Team 2 has been disbanded. Homura, file the girl's papers early and have her made officially into a civilian. As for Uchiha Asuya, he will be the first Genin to participate in the Chunin exams as an indivdual-"

"I respectfully decline your offer."

My ears were ringing. My vision wide but unfocused. I was shaking, but I held my ground. Even as the room quieted, the air shifted and grew heavy, and tension filled the room. The intent was clear. Chakra hummed like a live wire. If my voice wasn't being taken into consideration before, it was now. No matter how quiet it was.

Utatane's gaze flashed. She no longer had the hunch in her back. Her gaze was hard and she looked decades younger. She was every bit the deadly looking kunoichi, who deserved a seat within Hokage-sama's council. "What did you say, boy?"

"I said," I began, voice steady despite the heaviness of her intent weighing me down. "I respectfully decline Hokage-sama's offer, Utatane-sama."

"Insolent boy!" Homura growled.

"You dare show insubordination before Hokage-sama?" Danzo inquired. His gaze hard as steel. His voice was perfectly calm and poised. It was the one I was most wary of. "No matter." He turned to Hokage-sama. "All the same that such potential must be taught discipline, Hokage-sama. I am more then capable-"

I played right into his hand. Fuck. Fuck. No. Fucking. Way. I refused to go down without a fight. My body gave up underneath me, moving before I could even comprehend. I was in a formal bow. Hands and forehead against the ground as a show of submission, as a show that I meant no disrespect, as a show of apology. . . "Please forgive me for my insolence, Hokage-sama." The sincerity in my voice carried despite how calm it was. "If wanting to have a voice in the decisions regarding my future is a crime, then I meant no disrespect." The room quieted again. Yuki-sensei's words from before rang in the back of my mind:

'As a word of advice to you, you should take the route of stepping out of the shadows, so as not to have it entangled around you in the future.'

Yuki-sensei's words were a warning.

"Please, Hokage-sama," I began. My voice calm and controlled. "With all due respect, may I have permission to speak before you finalize your decision?"

The room was quiet. I could hear the shifting of papers. The breathing of three offended veterans. The inhalation of tobacoo. "Permission granted," Hokage-sama's words carried weight to it. It held no emotion. Just strength. "Stand."

I did as I was told and stood at attention. My gaze was lowered. "Thank you, Hokage-sama." I willed my heart to calm itself and searched for my words before I began to speak, "It is true that I have killed. It is true that I am, perhaps, capable and worthy of Chunin rank. I understand Danzo-sama's reasoning in driving me to reach for my truest potential." My gaze shifted to meet Danzo's gaze. Perhaps, it was in defiance because his own narrowed. "In the shadows."

The tension in the room grew, but I forged through with my words, "But why are the past actions of Yuki-sensei being disreputable when his accomplishments in Shinko's and my survival are testimony to how much he has served Konohagakure and the Will of Fire we praise? Why is Shinko's accomplishments overlooked? Is it because I am an Uchiha, who obtained these eyes in the face of my comrade's death? Why does it matter? I am a shinobi of Konohagakure just like my fellow comrades!"

Hokage-sama lifted his head and our eyes connected. I refused to look down again. His eyes sparkled. He looked. . . amused.

"If you're so invested in my potential, then I assume you've read all of our reports. Shinko killed two shinobi of Jonin caliber. Yuki-sensei engaged with two shinobi of Jonin caliber and two of Chunin and lived. We are Team 2 and we have potential as a sabotage and assassination team. Please consider us, Hokage-sama!"

The silence was deafening. Then, Hokage-sama chuckled. "Consider Team 2, you say, as you've so eloquently put?" He seemed to be in deep thought.

Not one of his council members interrupted. They were looking at me with varying degrees of shock. Even I was feeling overwhelmed by my words. I not only culturally shocked them by showing how advanced I was in my cognitive development, but I also insulted the four top dogs of Konohagakure for speaking out of turn— For making my voice heard when I was nothing more then canon fodder. Shinobi did what they were told. They didn't have a voice. Much less a five year old child, who shouldn't have been able to understand half the words they were speaking.

"Inari Shinko came to me wanting to pursue the civilian life. Has her decision changed so quickly?" Hokage-sama mused.

"More so," I began. "She found the motivation to endure as a shinobi."

The Hokage hummed. "And will you hold prejudice to whoever will fill in your former teammates death?" Hokage-sama inquired.

"No," I stated vehemently. "You can choose to put whoever you want within our team." My gaze moved to Danzo before back to Hokage-sama. "They will be a shinobi of Konohagakure just like me." Then. . . because I felt like I needed to add that there was no hard feelings, I said, "These eyes hold no resentment, Hokage-sama. I'll use them to protect the rest of my precious people." I held no ill will or resentment to Hokage-sama. Although, I personally felt like Konohagakure was in dire need of revolution.

"I can so clearly tell." The corner of his lip quirked up. "I've changed my mind. Team 2 will remain."

Homura and Utatane-sama began to refuse: "After he spited you, Hokage-sama?" Utatane scoffed. "His behavior was foul and unbecoming. Uchiha are-"

"That is enough!" Hokage-sama glared at Utatane. She closed her mouth immediately.

"With all things considered, Minazuki-san should not be the designated sensei for Team 2. Someone of his caliber, despite his history, can be useful elsewhere," Homura reminded.

"Enough!" Hokage-sama commanded. "My decision is final. Team 2 will remain under Minazuki Yuki's leadership. Danzo. I put you in charge of finding a suitable teammate from the Genin Corp to be the fourth member. Uchiha Asuya." I met his gaze. There was a pregnant pause as he regarded me, then he gave his signature, grandfatherly smile. "I see the Will of Fire deeply set within you. . . Not many so often defy my decision within this office and to demand that I take others accomplishments into account no less," he mused. "Not only that, but to succeed in changing my mind." He chuckled. "I look forward to many more surprises from you, Uchiha Asuya."

I departed with Hokage-sama's words echoing within my head. Once I closed the door, I felt Yuki-sensei's chakra emerge out of the building. "I have been tasked to take you back to the Uchiha compound, Uchiha Asuya." His voice was void of emotion.

I couldn't help it. I ran up to him and wrapped my arms around his legs as best I could. I almost lost him too. He would've been put back in the ANBU ranks. . . back somewhere where the shadows were darker. . . and never see him again. I couldn't. I couldn't lose Yuki-sensei too. "Okay," I agreed. There was the same pull. I looked up to find us standing before the shoji doors to the dojo.

I felt the familiar carress of Yuki-sensei's hand against my hair before he vanished.

The simple touch spoke volumes.

I fought for us— for Team 2.

And I won.