11 - Reacclimate

For the first three seconds, Akemi didn't realize he was falling. He felt his center of gravity shift, saw the blue sky tilt and heard his clothes rippling in the wind. Yet Akemi only grasped he was falling when Shisui's blank face started getting farther and farther away.

His mouth opened, a silent scream catching in his throat, and he reached for his weapon pouch, but hot pain shot down his arm and halted the motion. Shisui must have struck a pressure point, locking up his limbs. Why he did, Akemi would have to figure out later as the ground drew closer and closer. Hurry, hurry, move!

Akemi went to weave signs, but his arms seized up before his hands could connect, and though he could move his wrists, no tree was close enough for him to grab onto. No, no, no! What should he do!? What could he do!?

Akemi's mind spun, heart fluttering like a mad bird in his chest, and as his emotions reached a boiling point, it hit him.

Bright colors flared around him while the world seemed to slow as his golden Sharingan blazed within his eyes. Akemi's glowing orbs darted back and forth, quickly recognizing the branch directly above him was fifteen feet away while the one to his left was about ten feet.

He turned over his shoulder and his eyes widened at seeing the ground seven meters below, a distance that was steadily shrinking. Akemi searched the ground, but the nearest shrub was over twenty feet away. He was doomed!

The boy swallowed his panic. He could still survive if he just dislodged the ninja wire from his pouch—

Akemi gasped. Wire wasn't the only thing he could use.

Chakra leapt to his fingertips and Akemi threw out several chakra strings towards the branch on his left. They looped around the bark and went taunt, jerking his arms up towards the side and making him grunt from the force as he flew through the air.

Akemi's chest heaved, legs hanging stiffly, while it took him a minute to recognize he was no longer seconds away from death. The boy inhaled deeply to steady himself and released the breath as a shrub came into view below.

Akemi retracted his strings once he was near enough and plummeted straight into the leafy bush, yelping as he bounced on it and was sent tumbling onto the dirt. He pushed himself up, still breathing much too quickly as the pain in his limbs faded perhaps due to the adrenaline increasing the blood flow in his muscles.

Soon he stood on shaky legs, sighing in relief. That had been close—too close.

"Akemi." Shisui emerged from the forest with a frown. "I know—"

The boy choked, hands flying to his neck while Akemi glared at him, fingers arched with chakra strings.

"Who are you?" Akemi demanded, golden Sharingan raking over the boy.

Yet Shisui's chakra was flowing normally, meaning he wasn't under a genjutsu. Also, Akemi didn't sense a foreign chakra signature, but simply felt Shisui's running off the boy like an ocean tide lapping against a sun-kissed beach.

"It's…me!" Shisui wheezed, face reddening from lack of oxygen, yet Akemi's eyes narrowed.

"Prove it." The seven-year old loosened the strings slightly and Shisui heaved in air, but quickly fell into a coughing fit from the sudden influx.

Akemi watched him impassively until the older boy gasped. "Itachi's…favorite color…is red!"

Akemi's eyes widened, recalling how he and Shisui had spent months trying to figure out Itachi's favorite color after his brother claimed he didn't have one. They had worked it out by gifting Itachi bundles of clothing accessories in various shades while keeping track of how often he would wear a certain color. It eventually became clear Itachi tended to wear red—specifically scarlet—more than any other shade.

Akemi frowned. He was pretty sure even Itachi hadn't realized his favorite color was red, so someone impersonating Shisui certainly wouldn't.

"I believe you," the younger Uchiha decided, then his face hardened. "But if you're really Shisui," his tone grew harsh, "Why did you try to kill me!?"

Frustration saturated his tone, the boy stung by the betrayal. Weren't they friends? He'd thought so, but perhaps the older boy only pretended to like Akemi for Itachi's sake, when really he thought Akemi was a freak…just like Fugaku…

Akemi's teeth clenched, golden eyes narrowing. Had all the times they shared been a lie?

"I can explain," Shisui held up his hands, gaze sincere. "I needed you to activate your Sharingan—"

"And you couldn't have just asked me to!?" Akemi's two tomoe swirled threateningly, fingers twitching.

Shisui flinched, both from Akemi's rage—which had never been directed at him till now—and the chakra strings rippling around his neck. It would be easy for the younger boy to choke him again, and though Shisui could probably subdue Akemi before he suffocated, he'd prefer not to fight the younger Uchiha.

"No," Shisui's eyes implored Akemi. "I couldn't ask." He shook his head. "I needed you to activate your Sharingan out of desperation."

"Why?" The seven-year old raised a brow, still wary but willing to hear him out.

Shisui hesitated, but soon said, "Because I figured out why your Sharingan is golden."

Akemi jolted, mouth falling open while Shisui continued. "But I had to test you to be sure." He gestured towards the forest. "I brought you here because this is the only place in Konoha where a rare species of tree called Genki can be found."

Akemi's forehead wrinkled. "Energy trees?"

Shisui nodded. "They're called that because they absorb far more natural energy than the typical tree, which is why they grow to be so big."

"Okay..." Akemi's eyes twitched, the Sharingan starting to burn them, and not wanting to suffer chakra exhaustion, he began pulling chakra away from his optic nerves. "And what do these trees have to do with my Sharingan?" He asked, golden orbs fading to black while the world seemed to dull as he lost sight of the chakra illuminating the forest.

"I have one question before I answer that."Shisui gave him a considering look. "Have you ever had Sage training?"

Akemi's brows jumped up. "What!? No, why—I don't even have summons!"

Shisui nodded. "I thought so, but I had to ask." He leveled a heavy stare on Akemi. "I'm certain why your Sharingan is golden now."

The younger boy tensed while Shisui took a deep breath and then said, "Your chakra is mixing with natural energy."

Akemi's fingers went limp, shock splaying over his face and chakra strings falling from Shisui's neck. "What?" He whispered.

Shisui's gaze turned steely as he said, "You used senjutsu."

Akemi shook his head. "No, I…I'm not a Sage!"

Shisui sighed. "I know, but your chakra is mixing with natural energy." He knocked on the massive tree beside him. "That's why I needed you to activate your Sharingan here without having time to think, so I could see what your body did instinctively." He frowned. "I was expecting your body to draw in natural energy from the Genki trees, but…"

He bit his lip and fear sprang into Akemi's heart. "What?"

Shisui twitched, looking away. "You…didn't absorb natural energy from the Genki…" He looked back at him, confusion in his eyes. "Your body produced it."

Akemi balked. "That…that isn't possible!" His hands curled into fists, shaking from his emotions. "Senjutsu is when you gather natural energy from the world around you—"

"I saw the chakra turn gold in your stomach."

The seven-year old paused as Shisui frowned. "Then the natural energy spread from there to the rest of your chakra system." Worry wove into his expression. "It's like you have a pocket of natural energy stored inside of you, and that's why using your Sharingan drains you so much and why your dōjutsu abilties are stronger than normal." He stared at him grimly. "Your body isn't just regulating chakra, but natural energy too."

Akemi's mouth went dry, the boy hardly able to breathe. He wanted to run and hide or grab Shisui by the shoulders and scream in his face. Yet he forced himself to stay still as he considered how him using senjutsu would explain some of his oddities like—

"I'm a sensor type." Akemi swallowed thickly. "Don't sages have an acute chakra sense?"

Shisui froze, haven't not even considered that. Neither had Akemi since he figured his sensor status was a result of him coming from a chakra-less world.

"Wait." Akemi looked up to see Shisui's forehead wrinkling. "People don't become sensors, they're born that way, so wouldn't that mean you've had natural energy inside you since you were born?"

Akemi gasped. If that was true, could the natural energy inside him be connected to how he woke up in the Naruto world?

He had sorta assumed him being brought here was a cosmic fluke, an accidental rebirth. However, if natural energy was stored inside of him, could that mean someone intentionally brought him here? And was the natural energy supposed to help him survive? Or was it a coicidence?

Akemi looked up to see Shisui staring at the ground, clearly thinking hard. Gradually, a smile grew on Akemi's face. "Shisui-san..." The older boy looked up. "Thank you for telling me." He bowed.

Shisui blinked, taken aback, but soon he grinned. "Hey, hey, no need to thank me." Akemi straightened up. "That's what friends are for!"

Guilt stung Akemi's heart, and he hid a grimace. He never should have doubted Shisui, even if the boy's actions had been harsh, he should have known better.

"Besides," Shisui scratched his cheek nervously. "I did kinda push you off a tree." He chuckled. "No hard feelings, right?"

Akemi's smile revealed his canines. "Of course not!" He spun on his feet and looked over his shoulder. "Now if you excuse me, I need to get home and tell Itachi what we learned, starting with how you pushed his precious little brother off a tree and almost let him fall to his death."

Shisui went stark white. "What!?" He waved his hands wildly. "You can't tell him that! He'll kill me!"

Akemi's grin sharpened. "Yes, yes he will. ¡Chao!" He turned and ran.

Shisui's eyes widened in horror. "H-hey! Akemi-kun, wait!" He threw back his arms and chased after the younger boy. "Can't we talk about this!?"

His voice rang throughout the forest as Akemi leaped over the chainlink fence, cackling all the way.

.

Akemi ripped open his front door and stepped into his house, chest heaving and face flushed as he slid the door close until it was only opened a crack. He peeked through the slit and giggled as he watched his shadow clone sprint down the street with Shisui hot on his heels. That should buy him time!

The boy tore off his sandals and hurried up the steps to the rest of his house, having sensed his twin upstairs in his room. However, he slowed in the middle of the hall as another chakra signature caught his attention.

"Akemi-kun."

The Uchiha swiveled left to see Biwako sitting at the living room table alongside his parents.

Akemi's mouth fell open. "Biwako-sama?" His eyes swung over to Fugaku who was seated across from the medic-nin, and trepidation seeped into his chest.

He hadn't told his father about his apprenticeship with Biwako, aware the man wouldn't approve. However, based on the way Fugaku was glowering at him, Akemi's secret wasn't much of a secret anymore.

"Have a seat, Akemi." His father nodded at the empty space adjacent to him.

The seven-year old silently gulped, but slid on a blank mask as he walked over and sat down. Fugaku's chakra fluctuated agitatedly beside him, raising his unease. However, his mother's chakra was steady, and this calmed him somewhat.

Akemi glanced between the three adults, and seeing none of them were about to speak, asked, "Is something wrong?"

Suddenly a terrible possibility gripped his heart. "Is it Hizashi?" he asked, heart skipping a beat. "Did something happen to him?"

The boy didn't dare ask if the Hyuga had died, not ready to accept such a reality when he'd already failed Rin, Minato, Obito, and the hundreds of others who perished during the Nine-Tails Attack.

Biwako shook her head. "No, Hizashi-san is fine, and I didn't come here to discuss him."

Akemi sensed she wasn't telling him the whole truth about Hizashi's condition, but she likely couldn't say more due to patient confidentiality, so he let it go as Biwako said, "I came here to give you your exam results."

The seven-year old stared blankly at her, though his thoughts were now spiraling faster than a whirlpool because his teacher had never visited his house before. Was his grade so terrible his teacher felt the need to inform his parents? Did his test results upset Biwako so much she wanted to formally end his apprenticeship in front of them?

"You got a perfect score."

Akemi snapped out of his thoughts to see his teacher smirking slightly. "What? Really?"

The woman nodded. "Yes, though you did have some grammer and spelling issues on the written portion, that's understandable for someone your age." Her smile grew. "Now you can officially become my student."

Akemi blinked. "Huh?" Confusion flitted over his face while slowly he asked, "But aren't I already your student?"

Biwako arched a brow. "Technically, no." Akemi's jaw hit the floor. "Didn't you read your job contract? It tells you in the third paragraph that the first six months of any hospital apprenticeship is considered a trial run, or in other words, a testing period."

She crossed her arms. "During that time, a medic-nin will decide whether their apprentice has what it takes to complete their training, or an apprentice may choose to quit."

Akemi paled and swayed slightly in his seat. "You…you mean everything…" He laid his hand flat on the table to steady himself. "All the homework, classes, studying, that time you almost killed me which I will not be letting go anytime soon, chores, secretary tasks, and 1000 hours of community service were just one long test!?"

Biwako smirked. "Yes." Akemi made a choking noise. "And due to all your hard work, I've decided to officially accept you as my student."

Akemi drew out of his shock as Biwako's face warmed. "From now on you'll get more hands-on-training and I will start teaching you genin level medical ninjutsu. Also—" She reached and dropped her hand on his head. "You may now call me sensei."

The boy's eyes glimmered like starlight, having never thought the woman would permit him to address her so familiarly. However, he tensed when Biwako retracted her hand and said, "Of course, I can't do any of that unless your parents sign this consent form."

She pulled out a short stack of documents from her pouch and laid them on the table, and Akemi instantly looked to Fugaku whose face grew sterner.

The seven-year old hadn't wanted his father to learn about his apprenticeship for at least another year, hoping he would have learned enough medical ninjutsu by then to impress the clan head. However, Akemi hadn't been taught any medical ninjutsu yet, so had nothing to show for his hard work except brain knowledge… He could kiss his medic-nin training goodbye, couldn't he?

Unsurprisingly, Fugaku scowled. "Allow an Uchiha to become a medic-nin?" He turned to the Sarutobi and his voice lightened a bit. "I mean no offense, Biwako-sama, but this clan cannot afford to have any of its able-bodied members become mere medic-nin."

Fugaku turned to Akemi and glared. "I don't even know how you got an apprenticeship without my approval." His eyes narrowed. "What did you do, forge my signature?"

"Actually," Fugaku turned to his wife as she said, "His apprenticeship only required one parental signature."

She didn't say more, but her husband understood and gaped. "You?" His face warped with anger. "And you didn't inform me?"

Mikoto stared impassively at him. "There was no need to." Fugaku's chakra flared, but she nodded towards the Sarutobi. "As Biwako-sama said, the first six months of a hospital apprenticeship are merely a trial run." She raised a delicate brow. "What would have been the point in bothering you about something that might have led to nothing?"

Fugaku faltered while Mikoto closed her eyes. "I wasn't sure Akemi would be able to meet Biwako-sama's expectations or that medical ninjutsu wasn't merely some passing interest of Akemi's." Her eyes opened. "But I thought having a little more responsibility would be good for Akemi regardless."

Fugaku frowned, yet saw his wife's point. If Akemi had told him about his apprenticeship only to give up on being a medic-nin a few months later, Fugaku would have gotten riled up for nothing.

"Now then," Mikoto beamed and put her hands together over her chest, "We would be honored to have our son study under you, Biwako-sama."

"What!?" Fugaku squawked. Yet as he was going to argue, something tapped his leg. He glanced down and saw nothing, but when he moved to look up, another tap struck his thigh.

His brow rose, realizing Mikoto was poking him with a chakra string. She only did that when she wanted to tell him something, but couldn't among present company.

Fugaku glanced at his wife, taking in her impassive expression, yet also the steel within her midnight-colored orbs. His face creased. He didn't understand what his wife was trying to tell him. However, Mikoto wasn't a fool nor prone to make hasty decisions, so if she wanted Akemi to become a medic-nin there must be a reason… And Fugaku trusted his wife, that wasn't the problem…

The man turned to Akemi who side-eyed him with those deep black eyes, so much like Mikoto's, while his tear troughs deepened just like Fugaku's when he felt weary. Yet he knew whatever was behind those dark irises wasn't a being of this world. Akemi himself had all but admitted that last night.

However, Akemi had also claimed his strange actions were born from a desire to protect his brothers and every other Konoha citizen. He was probably lying, and maybe getting an apprenticeship under Biwako was simply a means to get closer to the Hokage. In fact, saving Hiashi might have been part of a plot to earn the Hyuga's favor—

"When a man looks for evil, he will find evil."

Fugaku stopped, his gaze falling until his front bangs hid his expression. He didn't really believe Akemi was as innocent as he claimed, or that his intentions were completely pure. He also doubted the boy was human and therefore couldn't view him as his son—though Akemi didn't view him as his father so they were even in that regard.

However, Fugaku could admit, looking back on the past two years, he may have been too hasty declaring Akemi evil. With his indignation over the clan being moved to the edge of the Village and the resulting outcry from his fellow Uchiha, two years ago had been a very stressful time for Fugaku… And maybe all that tension and anger inside him had grown until he needed someone he could blame, someone who was within reach unlike the Hokage and his council…

Perhaps Akemi, with all his oddities, seemed to be the perfect enemy.

Fugaku quietly sighed, then looked up with sharp eyes. "Hand me a pen." Akemi inhaled sharply while he accepted a pen from Biwako who appeared a little too smug for his liking as he signed his name on the document.

Across from the table, Mikoto did the same, and once they were done, Biwako pointed to two boxes on the document's second page. "You have to check off which career path Akemi will be taking. Hospital doctor or field medic?"

"Field medic," Akemi said resolutely.

Fugaku nodded in agreement and checked the right box. It would dishonor the clan if Akemi didn't show off his talent on missions like every other Uchiha.

"Also," Biwako turned to Akemi, brows angling down sternly, "It's about time you graduated from the Academy, don't you think?" Her clipped tone made the boy flinch while Fugaku blinked, confused.

"Graduate?" he asked before shaking his head. "Akemi isn't ready to graduate."

"You're wrong," Biwako said coolly. "His ninjutsu and taijutsu were already genin level when I tested him, and that was months ago."

Fugaku was stunned and Mikoto, surprised. "But Akemi's teacher said his taijutsu and ninjutsu were only slightly above average." She turned to her husband. "And you said his shurikenjutsu was barely passable."

Biwako, dark eyes narrowing on Akemi who wouldn't meet her eyes, said, "Then it seems someone has been downplaying his abilities. Care to explain, Akemi-kun?"

They all turned to the boy who rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Well," Akemi looked up with a forced grin, "I don't really have any excuse." He frowned. "I mean, I wasn't faking it at first. I really did have trouble throwing shuriken and dodging."

He regarded Fugaku. "But after you gave up on me, I started training on my own or with Shisui, and I really improved." He shrugged. "You were just too busy to notice."

Fugaku straightened in surprise while Akemi looked to his teacher. "But you're right about school, I have been holding back..." He sighed, head bowing. "Because I don't want to leave my friends."

It wasn't entirely the truth, as he also didn't want to break the bonds he'd formed to those from other clans, such as with Hana.

Fugaku looked unimpressed, but Biwako's expression gentled, though her voice remained firm. "That's understandable, Akemi-kun." She scowled. "But if you truly wish to become a medic-nin, you must graduate."

The boy lowered his eyes, fists gripping his pants as she continued. "I need you to be available every day for lessons or you will never reach the level you need to achieve your dream."

Akemi gasped, eyes widening while he slowly raised his head.

"I want to fulfill my role as Itachi's brother."

His hands tightened on his pants as Itachi's wide, hopeful eyes while he stood among the windblown grass and raised his hand towards the sun flashed across his mind.

"And do everything I can to ensure Itachi succeeds in his dream so he can be happy."

Akemi exhaled a long breathe, slowly unclenching his hands while his dark orbs burned with determination.

"Maybe once I have then I can go back—"

"I'm taking the graduation exam." Akemi's diamond-hard gaze raked over the adults. "And I'm going to become the greatest medic-nin this Village has ever seen!"

His voice brooked no room for argument despite its childish sound, and all the adults were taken aback. However, his mother was the first to recover and smile. "I know you will."

Akemi blinked as his mother inadvertently repeated Itachi's words while Biwako huffed. "I expect nothing less from my student." She smirked.

Fugaku, expression neither encouraging nor disagreeing, nodded. "You will bring honor to our clan."

It sounded more like a warning than an encouragement coming from his father, but Akemi raised his fist and grinned anyway. "Hai!"

Though Akemi wasn't sure he could really reach his dream, he knew he had to try. His brothers needed him and… And maybe once his goals were accomplished, his role in this world would be fulfilled, and finally, he could go home.

.

Itachi stepped out of his room, ready to head to a training field, when he nearly walked straight into Akemi, his twin's eyes widening as he seemed to have been about to knock on his door.

"Oh, good, you're home!" Akemi grabbed his wrist and started pulling him down the hall. "Do you have a minute? I finished this new song and I want you to tell me what you think about it."

Akemi winked and Itachi realized his brother was talking in code, so nodded and allowed himself to be dragged into the music room. His twin locked the door and released him to close the window, shutting the curtains.

"Feel free to interrupt me whenever." Akemi chirped as he opened his piano lid and sat on the bench. Then his fingers splayed over the keys and he started to play, filling the room with a slow melody.

After ten seconds, he said, "Shisui found out why my Sharingan is golden."

Itachi's face lit with surprise while his twin continued. "It's because I have natural energy inside me."

Itachi gaped. "Senjutsu?"

"Yeah, crazy, huh?" Akemi exhaled with a forced chuckle, words drowned out by the high-pitched notes he was playing. "We don't have any idea how it got inside me, but we figure it's been there since I was born and it is the reason I'm a sensor type."

Itachi frowned thoughtfully while Akemi grew quiet. After a moment, Itachi recalled something and his eyes lit up. "Maybe the natural energy is why animal summons don't like you."

A jarring note rang from the piano as Akemi hit the wrong key in his shock, but he quickly picked up the beat as if nothing had happened. "I didn't even think about that." He turned to him. "Next time you're in Sora-ku, could you ask one of the ninja cats about it?"

Itachi nodded. "When my sensei goes to get mission assignments, I'll check if Nekobaa has put in any requests. If she has, I'll convince my team to take it and talk to a ninja cat while I'm there."

Akemi played a couple of chords back and forth before bringing the song to a close. "Sounds like a plan." He grinned at Itachi. "Thanks, Nii—"

"Tachi!"

The twins whipped around as the door flew open and Sasuke came barreling into the room, holding up a piece of paper. "Look, look, Itachi!"

The eldest blinked at the smiling toddler, but accepted the paper while Akemi peeked at it from behind him.

It was a childish drawing of a rainbow raining silver stars onto a stick figure in blue—Sasuke—who was holding hands with a taller figure whose face had two lines on it so long they resembled whiskers—himself undoubtedly.

"Are those shuriken?" Akemi asked, pointing at the silver stars, and Itachi suddenly noticed their resemblance to the shinohi weapon while Sasuke nodded.

"Tachi training me!" The toddler beamed, clearly waiting for Itachi's approval.

Itachi smiled and bent down, patting Sasuke's head who blushed with pleasure. "It's great, Sasuke."

He stood up, but the toddler caught his sleeve and tugged. Itachi looked down to see Sasuke wearing a serious expression before he whispered. "Shuriken come from rainbows."

Itachi stared, wide-eyed, while Akemi burst into laughter. "Yes," he said, bending down to kiss Sasuke's forehead. "Shuriken come from rainbows." He ruffled Sasuke's hair. "Oh, don't ever change, chamaco."

Sasuke hopped excitedly at the praise and Itachi smiled a little. He too never wanted Sasuke to change, though he knew his littlest brother couldn't stay a toddler forever.

Itachi glanced at Akemi, noticing the grin on his twin's face, but also the sadness pinching his eyes as he observed Sasuke. Itachi had a feeling Akemi understood all too well that their little brother was bound to change one day, and perhaps that was why Akemi loved taking so many pictures of them.

Maybe to a boy who could see the future every moment felt like water. Just as Akemi grabbed hold of it, the moment was already slipping though his fingers. Because for Itachi, life was a battlefield, yet for Akemi, life was a series of snapshots quickly stolen by the wind, and Itachi simply couldn't decide which of their outlooks was more mournful.

.

Hiashi stood on the snow-covered porch under the white sky. His eyes were closed as snowflakes sprinkled across his long dark hair while it moved gently in the breeze.

He took a deep breath, inhaling the chilly air and letting it fill his chest. After twenty seconds, he released it in a visible wisp.

Then he waited a minute before opening his eyes with a frown. The breathing technique hadn't worked, though it had taken the edge off his anxiety, worry still coursed through his veins like an infection, leaving him feverish despite the frigid weather.

Footsteps padded softly behind him, but the man didn't turn until his wife said, "Someone has come to see you."

Hiashi's expression didn't change, though his curiosity was perked because all of his clansmen had been avoiding him lately. Either because they themselves were fretting over the Kumo incident and the resulting political situation or they assumed Hiashi was stressed by recents events and needed some space. So this "someone" must be an outsider.

"It's Akemi-kun," his wife's voice warmed a little, though her blank expression didn't so much as twitch. "Do you wish to see him?"

Hiashi sighed, unsurprised by the boy's appearance, and after a moment of consideration, said, "Let him in."

His wife inclined her head and retreated back into their house while the man gave a parting glance to the outside world, taking in the snow piled over the shrubs and rooftops. Something about the untouched snow calmed him, but he soon turned away and reentered his home.

He left his sandals on a mat by the door and went to the bathroom to dry his hair and wash his face. Once he was satisfied not one strand was out of place and the water had lessened the puffiness around his eyes, he went out and walked until he reached a spacious room by the front door.

Akemi, wearing a black high-collar jacket and light green scarf, sat at the short table with a steaming cup of what smelled like coffee in his hand. He quickly put it down when he saw him and lowered his head in greeting. "Hello, Hiashi-san."

The Hyuga took a seat across from him. "Hello."

Akemi grinned despite Hiashi's monotone greeting and picked up a cardboard box from beside him. He set it on the table and slid it over. "I made you some shrimp tacos."

Hiashi didn't so much as blink at the foreign food name—for it was well known the boy was the reason the Akimichi clan started serving foreign dishes at their restaurants. Still, he glanced at the container to see some type of fried dough folded over shrimp, rice, and vegetables.

"I figured you'd like them since you like tempura, but I made you some fish tacos too in case you didn't, and I wasn't sure if you liked tomatoes so I put the salsa on the side—"

"Why are you here, Akemi-kun?" Hiashi interrupted the boy's rambling and looked up as the Uchiha froze mid-word.

Slowly the boy's mouth shut, lips pressing together. "Ah, well," he wrung his hands nervously, "I wanted to check on you, make sure you were okay."

Hiashi cocked a brow. "So you want to know about Hizashi's condition."

Shock flashed upon Akemi's face and Hiashi resisted the urge to smirk as the boy started chuckling nervously and scratching his head. "Uh, yeah, hearing about that would be nice too."

The boy sobered. "I mean, I get that it's a private Hyuga matter, but Biwako-sama couldn't even tell me if Hizashi-san was alive after you guys removed him from the hospital and—"

"He is alive."

Akemi stopped, but soon a smile split his face and he let out a relieved sigh. "Oh." He laid a hand over his heart, "That's good."

Hiashi though it a little strange how emotional the boy was over a man he'd only met once, but Akemi had seemed to blame himself for Hizashi's injuries so probably would take it hard if his brother died.

"Can…" The boy eyes shone with hope. "Can I see him?"

"No."

Akemi reared back in shock, but quickly grew crestfallen. However, Hiashi continued. "I understand that you're concerned, but what Hizashi needs most right now is rest."

The Uchiha's face filled with comprehension. "Oh, I thought Hizashi-san might be up for visitors by now."

Hiashi frowned. "His injuries were extensive, and we're not sure if he'll ever fully recover from them." He closed his eyes. "But he is alive, and that is what matters."

He opened his eyes as Akemi nodded. "Yes." A frown tilted his lips. "But there is one other thing I wanted to talk to you about." His expression turned serious. "Can you do me a favor?"

Hiashi's eyes narrowed slightly. "That depends on the favor."

Akemi smiled, likely picking up on his wariness since he was a sensor type. "Don't worry, it's not a big favor."

Some of Hiashi's suspicion faded as the boy reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a photograph, laying it on the table. "This is me and my big brother Itachi."

Hiashi glanced at the picture, which showed a younger, smiling Akemi jumping into the arms of a boy who looked identical to him—Itachi—who appeared shocked though his arms were already raised to catch him.

"I love him more than anything." Hiashi looked up to find Akemi staring intently at him. "That doesn't mean we always see eye-to-eye or that we don't argue." He smiled softly. "But we're family, and that's the only excuse we need to love each other."

Hiashi had an inkling of where the boy was going with this, but still asked, "What are you saying?"

Akemi's grin fell. "I'm saying not everyone gets a second chance, Hiashi-san."

The boy's grave tone surprised the man, but Akemi kept going. "I get that things work differently in your clan, but please," his ebony orbs bored into Hiashi's white ones, "Do me a favor and don't waste this chance."

Hiashi's eyes widened, body rocking from the impact of Akemi's words. Yet after a moment, the Hyuga composed himself. "Is that all?"

"Yes," Akemi inclined his head before picking up his coffee and rising. "And thanks for what you said to my father."

Hiashi nodded before the boy took his leave.

Once the door closed, Hiashi did the same, rising while his wife reentered the room and picked up the bento box Akemi had brought them. His wife tilted her head at the food before recognition brightened her eyes. "Oh, these must be tacos." Hiashi turned to her curiously. "Me and the girls had some the last time we went out," she explained.

The man made an understanding noise, but didn't say anything as he went to the hallway, sensing his wife's worried gaze following him until he rounded the corner. He went deeper into the house, stepping out onto the engawa dotted with snow and walking until he reached a seculded section of his house.

He slid open the door and stepped into the dimly-lit room, closing the doors behind him while the medic-nin kneeled by the figure lying in a futon raised his head. "Hiashi-sama," the young man bowed beneath his white medic cap.

"Has there been any change?" Hiashi questioned, coming to stand over Hizashi who was sleeping in the futon. He paused, however, at seeing the small bundle curled up under a comforter beside Hizashi.

"Do you want me to remove the boy?" The medic-nin asked, standing. "We thought it was okay, but—"

"It's fine," Hiashi waved him down, staring down at his three-year old nephew whose hair flowed around his head like rivers—when had the child grown his hair out? "Let him be."

The medic-nin nodded. "Yes, sir." He frowned. "And no, there hasn't been any change." The skin around his eyes tightened. "Though there's still a chance he may awaken from his coma any day now."

Hiashi's heart dropped, hearing the false cheer in the medic-nin's voice because it had already been ten days and Hizashi still hadn't so much as twitched. Yet, the clan head decided to play along and nodded. "I see. You may leave now."

"Hai, Hiashi-sama." The medic-nin bowed before leaving the room and shutting the door.

Hiashi waited for his footsteps to disappear around the corner, and then lowered himself to his knees while his face crumpled. "Oh, Hizashi," he grabbed his brother's hand, "Please wake up soon."

His eyes squeezed shut. "Whatever you want, I'll give it to you, I promise just…just wake up, otouto, wake up..."

The man's plea went unheard as the wind roared outside and snowflakes danced in the sky.

.

Itachi was excited when Minazuki-sensei told him his team was going on a mission to Sora-ku. Now he could track down a ninja cat and get some answers for Akemi!

Itachi walked in pace with his sensei as they entered the gray city full of boarded of buildings and dusty storefronts. They went down the underground passage, Shinko squealing when a hoard of cats came running up to them, and wailing when their teacher had to pull her away from them.

Though Shinko managed to hang on to a fluffy tabby cat while they met Nekobaa in the main room. The woman explained from her throne of pillows that six kittens had managed to escape through a hole in the wall and were now missing somewhere in the city. They were tasked with finding them ASAP because it could snow any minute and the young kittens would likely freeze in the snow.

They quickly split up into two teams, Shinko with Tenma while Itachi was with their sensei. It was a setup Itachi used to his advantage by suggesting to his teacher that they return to Nekobaa's place and examine the area where the kittens had escaped so they could track the felines from there.

As expected, his teacher didn't think that was a good idea and decided to instead allow Itachi to search on his own while he asked around the city if anybody had seen the kittens. Itachi was normally mildly annoyed when his teacher brushed over his suggestions since the man apparently thought he was too young to give valid advice despite Itachi having been top of his graduation class. However, today, Itachi was grateful for his teacher's dismissive nature and hurriedly returned to Nekobaa's place.

He did ask anybody he saw on the way there about the kittens, but nobody had seen them so he continued into the underground passage. Itachi was greeted by a mass of mewing cats, but ignored their rubbing against his legs and hurried back to the main room where Nekobaa still sat on her pillows.

The woman was smoking her pipe, but stopped when she saw him. "Itachi-kun, back so soon?" She cocked a brow.

Itachi nodded. "I want to examine the wall where the kittens escaped and track them from there. Also, having a ninneko who can describe their exact measurements to me would be helpful."

Nekobaa hummed. "I suppose that might work, but most of the ninneko are out searching for the kittens. The only one left is—" She gazed past Itachi and the seven-year old suddenly sensed a presence behind him. "Denka."

Itachi tensed, looking over his shoulder to see Denka standing tall among the rivers of cats. His expression was unreadable, but he didn't give off any killing intent when Nekobaa barked. "Show Itachi-kun the wall where the kittens escaped!"

Denka bobbed his head. "Of course," his tone was perfectly pleasant and he smiled as he turned to Itachi, "Follow me."

The feline quickly strutted towards a corridor on the left, leading to a part of the shop Itachi had never seen. His unfamiliarity with the area made him even more uncomfortable following the ninja cat who had tried to maim his brother, but Itachi steeled himself while they entered a circular room where a handful of felines lounged on beds and cat trees.

Denka raised his paw and pointed at a wall with a small crack in it right above a hole, saying, "This is the family room for breeding couples—"

"I want to talk to you about Akemi."

Denka froze, his long ears pointing straight up before they suddenly drooped while he lowered his paw. "Ah, you mean the serpent posing as a human."

Itachi's eyes narrowed as the ninja cat faced him, yet forced his tone to remain calm while he said, "I've recently learned Akemi has a pocket of natural energy inside him, and I was wondering if that had something to do with your reaction to him."

"Anything?" Denka's mouth stretched into a grin. "Try everything."

Itachi's skin crinkled under his headband. "So that is what you were referring to when you said Akemi's chakra had too much of something for a human to maintain. It was the natural energy." He frowned. "But why didn't you just explain that to us? Why attack him?"

Denka's smiled faded, expression going blank. After a minute, he exhaled. "You poor boy." Itachi was taken aback as the cat shook his head. "Weren't you listening? I already told you Akemi is a snake, a liar, a deceiver."

"No, he's not," Itachi snapped, anger bubbling up before he could stop it. "He's my brother."

Denka was unmoved. "You don't understand. There is no 'pocket' of natural energy inside Akemi."

Itachi's anger faded while confusion laced his expression. "What?"

Denka gave him a grave look. "Akemi's whole body is natural energy."

Itachi gasped while the cat said, "That imposter is using natural energy to maintain the form of your twin, or more accurately, the form of you." The Uchiha slowly shook his head in disbelief, but the cat continued. "And that's not even the worst part."

Denka's face darkened until his teeth peeked out of his mouth. "No, the worst part is I know what he really is. I recognize that scent."

Itachi's eyes were wide with fear as Denka's fur stood on its end. "His natural energy comes from Ryūchi Cave, that's why I attacked him." His mouth stretched into a feral grin. "For I hate snakes."

Itachi stared at the cat, chest heaving. Then he spun on his heels and ran. He burst into the shop room, ignored Nekobaa's calls, ran into passageway, and just kept running and running.

He didn't stop until he slammed out the passage doors and the weak sunlight fell upon him as he bent over, catching himself on his knees. His breathing was ragged while bile limped up his throat, and a part of him wanted to keep running, but he tamped down the urge.

Eventually, he caught his breath, but still felt lightheaded when he straightened up and gazed ahead to the desolate streets and broken pavement.

Itachi hadn't expected to hear such things from Denka and part of him wanted to claim the cat had been lying, but the feline had no reason to lie, so it was a mistake then, right?

Itachi released a shaky sigh, hands balling up. He wasn't sure the ninja cat was wrong, considering his crow Yuri had reacted similarly to Akemi… But Akemi was his brother, not some snake, Itachi was sure of it! So what was he missing…what was the truth?

Itachi's tear troughs deepened as a miserable expression came upon him. "What am I going to tell Akemi?" he whispered while the snow started to fall.

Kudos to RedHood001 for being the first reviewer to figure out Akemi's unusual Sharingan was caused by natural energy, as well as the fact that natural energy is why animal summons don't like him. You have a keen eye, pal ;)

Also props to everyone else who suspected Akemi was using natural energy/senjutsu. I just love it when readers catch my little hints :D

And sorry this update took so long but I've been very busy updating three other stories as well as updating Iluso del Alma's first chapter and reorganizing the events in the second chapter since a handful of you said its structure was confusing. I recommend everybody check out this fic's first chapter again as I've fleshed out some scenes and added details I'm sure you'll enjoy :)

Finally, if anyone wants to know the planned story structure from here on out, we are now in Part II of this fic, which will contain far less flashbacks than Part I since everything has been established now, and will follow Akemi's life from ages 7-10. Similarly, Part III will follow Akemi's life from ages 10-13 and conclude some months after the original timeline's Uchiha massacre.

Anyway, thanks for all the lovely reviews! They're all so encouraging and warm my heart every time I reread them :) And though it might take another couple of months or so for me to update this, I wish you all the best till then!