The past week had been stressful. From the mission, to the assassination attempt, to Hinata, to getting home only to be informed war was on the horizon. Six weeks. That was the timetable they were working with for when the Chunin Exams would begin. Six weeks before the village would be filled with foreign ninja, most of them waiting for the moment they would be given the order to start slitting throats. It was a significant delay for when the exams were usually arranged. Apparently a request from Hidden Cloud so they might have a little more time to deal with local issues, or so they said. Little did they know while they were likely preparing their own forces with that time, the Leaf would be doing the same.
As a clan head, Naruto was invited to strategy meetings. Not that he had much to contribute but with his clan holding a 'strategic weapon' as Danzo Shimura insisted on describing his mother, it was important he be present. Fair to say Naruto loathed the man based on that alone but the retired ninja made sure that wouldn't be the only reason. Suggesting the possibility of releasing the seal in dire circumstances; something that was considered guaranteed to kill her. When it was pointed out that the Nine Tails would likely move on to destroying the village after whatever they aimed it at, the veteran reminded them there was no concern. After all, they had a spare Uzumaki on the way.
It was a miracle the blond didn't attempt murder right there in the meeting room. Something Inoichi Yamanaka felt the need to comment on, asking whether the old friend of the Third Hokage was intentionally baiting the Uzumaki. To which the old man responded he was merely preparing the young ninja for the reality of decisions that must be made in war. That sacrifices must be made.
Naruto knew nothing of the old man. Nothing beyond the grudging respect all present had for him. But seeing the man who even then wore bandages over most of his head, certainly there to hide grievous injuries from past conflicts in the name of the Leaf, there were no words the young ninja could conjure. Even so... Danzo wasn't speaking of his own sacrifice. If the choice had to be made, he would rather sacrifice himself than those he loved. As much as he knew how much it would hurt them to lose him thanks to his previous mission, he would rather make that choice than give up their lives. He certainly wouldn't make the choice to sacrifice them for them.
The tension of those meetings was a stress on his mind. One he couldn't escape, knowing the threat that loomed over them all. Three major villages, all looking to tear the throat out of the Hidden Leaf, using an event intended to replace war as the vehicle for it. To attack under a flag of truce. Ninja were known for underhanded means but there were lows to which even they were never expected to sink. A sense of honour wasn't exclusive to samurai. And yet those other villages were willing to cast theirs aside. Was this how Kushina felt when she had first taken charge of the clan? It all weighed heavily on his mind, the responsibility he held in unexpectedly turbulent times.
"I said no! She is not coming into this house! No one from that clan is coming into this house! Not now, not ever! Never again!"
"I can't believe you're being like this! She's my friend! I can't believe you'd treat someone like this! She hasn't done anything to deserve this!"
"Karin, let's just go? This was a bad idea..."
"No! We're not in the wrong! She is!"
Naruto's eyes closed, wishing he hadn't seen or heard the commotion on the edge of the Uzumaki grounds. But no wish could save him from this. Ignoring it would only see this situation end catastrophically. Stressful meetings and then stress at home. This was a great day.
The young Uchiha girl looked entirely uncertain about what to do in this situation. A reaction the blond couldn't blame her for. Mount Kushina was visibly about to erupt and Naruto could say from his own experience, Karin, no matter how much Uzumaki bullheadedness she had, she wasn't ready for what could come to pass. He could see her red hair rising. Fury and malevolence filling the air. The look on the bespectacled redhead's face suggested she had begun to realise she may have made a mistake.
"You... How dare you...–!"
Suddenly, the blond interposed himself between the two redheads. Then before Kushina could react, grabbed her into a hug, making sure to keep his own face in her view. "Mom."
The fury subsided near instantly. The object of her ire hidden behind someone she would never consider directing such rage at. "Naruto... " Without the anger, all that was left was the fear. "She–!"
"I heard," he assured her, squeezing her just a little tighter. "It's going to be fine, I'll handle it."
"She's not coming inside."
"I said I'll handle it so I'll handle it, ya know?" He smiled at her, trying to be reassuring as he ushered her back inside the house. She gave one last look out, one last scowl at Karin, before Naruto shut the door. He closed his eyes again. Took a deep breath. Then turned around and returned to the two girls. "What in the hell were you thinking?" he asked Karin severely.
"You're taking her side?!"
Not an answer to his question or anything close to what he wanted to hear. He shook his head. "Quiet." Maybe his desire to be done with today was leaking through, because as he spoke the single word, his cousin suddenly went completely silent. He looked to the other girl. Pushed the exhausted irritation down as hard as he could as by all accounts the Uchiha had wanted nothing to do with this mess. "We haven't been introduced. I'm Naruto, Karin's cousin."
"My name is Miku," the girl reciprocated, only taking glances at him.
"Nice to meet you. I'm sorry about my mom. I wasn't here for it, but I guess she said some pretty unpleasant things."
"She said she comes from a clan full of murderers!" Karin supplied, more than happy to get their side out. Or rather her side, the only one of the two pushing the confrontation.
His head turned to regard her. That was about what he had expected. Still, "Karin, I thought I should let you know. The Chunin exams are coming up and I thought we'd host the Grass contingent for their stay. Make sure to be a good host, ya know?"
The redhead's face burned with anger, her teeth grit together, for the second it took to realise what he was doing. "This isn't the same as that!"
"No, it isn't. If what I just said was true I at least gave you warning." His attention returned to the dark haired girl, a gentler expression returning. "I'm not saying what she said was okay. What I'm saying is it came from a place of pain and fear, not hatred. She wasn't ready for something like this at all."
He looked at her, remembering Kakashi's words. About the Uchiha. About forgiveness and passing on hatred. Sasuke was an asshole. That was a quality all his own and there was no denying it made him far easier to hate. But on that mission... Naruto couldn't say they were friends. He would say they were barely even comrades. Sasuke got on his nerves and that made it easy to conflate that with the antipathy born of the history of their clans. But here... Miku was barely more than a stranger to him. And there was no way to miss her reaction to this situation. How she seemed to fear him. But more than that. He could see the surprise at how he was speaking to her. The uncertainty and confusion. And most confusing of all... Hope.
The last person, or he supposed second to last person, she would ever expect to treat her with any kind of kindness.
Kakashi had been right.
He smiled at the young Uchiha, much more genuine than before. "It was very nice to meet you, Miku. But you can't come in."
"This is bullshit!" Karin complained.
"This is how things are, ya know?" Naruto countered. "Miku, if the roles were reversed and you were trying to bring Karin into the Uchiha compound, what would happen?"
"Umm..." She hesitated, looking from her friend then to him. "I don't know? But it wouldn't be good."
The clan head nodded, agreeing. It wouldn't be bad in the same way, but it would still be bad. For one simple reason. "Our clans aren't friends, Karin. Might not be for a long time. That doesn't mean you two can't be but remember there's raw wounds all over. Think how other people feel in future, ya know?"
It was easy for Karin to dig her heels in against aggression, against something she felt was unjust and unfair. Less so for someone being reasonable. Or for someone pointing out just the kind of rotten she had been for the sake of defending someone else. Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment, sucking her teeth as she turned to walk away. "Come on, Miku."
"You're apologising to Kushina when you get home!" the blond called after her. The only sign his cousin heard was the way her shoulders seemed to shrink downward. At least she knew she had messed up.
"I'm sorry for the trouble," the young Uchiha apologised, yet to follow her friend, making sure to bow in respect to him first.
The blond grinned, ignored her flinch as he reached out and ruffled her hair. "You've got nothing to be sorry for. Just be sure to push back harder when Karin gets a wild idea in her head. She's kind of stubborn, ya know?"
"Yes," she agreed as she rose from her bow, a slight pink tint to her cheeks. "Thank you, Lord Naruto." She turned and chased after Karin, the two walking together into the village proper to whatever else they would do before evening.
Naruto watched them go, happy to have kept the situation from worsening. Miku was a cute kid. The thought surprised him. It was strange thinking of her as a kid when she was only a year or so younger than him. Maybe it was just how much he had been forced to grow since he graduated the academy. So many hard lessons learned. So many responsibilities laid upon his shoulders.
Or maybe it was because she was small and adorable.
He put the two girls out of his mind for the time being. His rest would need to be put on hold for the sake of helping Kushina calm down. He trusted Karin would apologise but it would be no use if Kushina weren't in a mind to receive an apology. He spent a good while with her. The time it took her to regain her composure also allowed her to remember exactly how she had responded to what had happened.
And so it was that both redheads were feeling regret by the time a contrite Karin returned to the house. Apologies were exchanged, which somehow led to another argument, which somehow led to burying the hatchet. A pretty standard end to conflict as far as the Uzumaki were concerned.
Finally, finally, Naruto was allowed to return to his room and collapse on his bed. His brow creased in discomfort, his jacket and pants irritably tossed aside to lay on the floor before he returned to what he hoped to be a nap in undershirt and boxers.
He heard his bedroom door open but couldn't bring himself to rise again for whoever it might be. "What is it?" he mumbled into his mattress.
"You shouldn't just toss your clothes on the floor, Naruto."
Sakura. "It'd probably look way better if I tidied up and stuff," Naruto continued to mumble into his bedding, "But could I just not and we pretend I did? Please?"
His girlfriend let out a humming laugh, scooping up the discarded clothing and tossing it into the laundry basket. She sat on the edge of the bed next to him. "Rough day?" she asked with sympathy. "Tayuya gave me an idea of what happened earlier."
He sighed heavily. "It seemed like everything was okay but I guess it's easy to forget Karin hasn't been here long, ya know? Doesn't really understa– Oh," he suddenly grunted as he felt slim yet strong fingers knead his shoulders, "She... Doesn't get what Mom went through... Oh gods, please don't stop," he begged. The stress seeming to be squeezed out of him via the firm massage.
"You looked like you could use a little care, too," the pinkette smiled as she continued to work. "The meetings with the Hokage, things at home, you need to remember to look after yourself. Ignoring mental fatigue can be dangerous just the same as physical. I know Ino isn't around, off with Anko-sensei for something or other. But you should know you can still rely on me to pick up some slack while she's gone."
"I know." The words came out as more of a sigh. His eyes had drifted closed. "Took way too long to fall for you."
The movements of her hands stuttered at the unexpected confession. The girl's eyes wide open on the realisation of what exactly he had said. "I think I'm ready to move in, if that's okay with you."
"Course," he answered dreamily, "We'll... Arrange..."
"Naruto?"
"..."
She looked down at him, her expression gentle as she realised he had fallen asleep right then and there. Perhaps even before he had said what she had longed to hear. Maybe it had been the endorphin rush saying those words and not Naruto himself. Even if it had been, that just made her anticipate more the moment he would finally say the words properly. She hoped that time would come soon.
She finished the massage, made certain he would have a peaceful rest. She leaned down and brushed her lips against his cheek. "I love you, Naruto," she whispered."
"I–"
She pressed a finger against his lips. Held the joy inside and pushed it away. She wouldn't hear those words now, the words he was unknowingly about to say in his sleep. When he finally said those words to her, he would be awake. Those words would be her dream, not his.
-(-)-
The Uchiha had a dark reputation. There was no contesting this. Never mind the two attempted coups. The Uchiha had always been seen as sinister even before the formation of the hidden villages. There were no true heroes in the clan war era except those of one's clan to one's clan. But even in those times of pointless and thankless bloodshed, the Uchiha were seen as sinister. As a people they had often been curt, less than personable, more willing to cause undue suffering in those around them and in themselves. The power that allowed them to become one of the most powerful clans in the land of Fire, the mighty Sharingan eye, it was powered by pain. Not physical pain. Emotional pain. The pain of fear. The pain of loss. The pain of soul-crushing regret.
This was not common knowledge. At least in those days. In the modern day it had become known in ninja circles that to awaken the Sharingan eye required the user to experience a moment of unquestionable clarity and despair. The unavoidable end of their own life, the grief of losing someone close to them. A feeling of utter helplessness. The requirement of awakening the Sharingan was a traumatic experience, and the fact of awakening the Sharingan in such an experience meant it would be imprinted on the user's mind for the rest of their life. The very thing that made them great also ensured they would carry pain and hardship with them, never able to set it aside. Never able to move on from it. It was little wonder then that among the general populace, the Uchiha were seen as cold, severe and dour.
But, that was among the general populace. And as Itachi Uchiha, head of the Uchiha clan, sat down to dinner with his family, he knew they had no such reputation among themselves. Outsiders couldn't understand what it was to live with the Sharingan eye, save perhaps the one man outside the clan who possessed one. But among themselves, their lives and their moods were brighter. Among those who could understand each other. And in times like these when the Uchiha were seen only as villains, such bonds of understanding were worth more than all the gold in the vaults of the Fire Lord.
There weren't many who dined in the main house. Itachi and his brother Sasuke of course. And with them Shisui and his daughter Miku. While Itachi had become head of the clan almost immediately after the execution of the traitors he was only young at the time. Not at all ready for the responsibility of leading his clan through the most turbulent times they would ever experience. And so Shisui, the newly oldest Uchiha, had taken on the role of advisor and trusted friend. Even through his own difficulties he had helped Itachi bring the remaining members of their clan together. Solidarity as they became the most hated clan of the Leaf.
Sasuke sat straighter, prouder than usual. Itachi knew well the reason. His younger brother's sudden and unexpected promotion even if it wasn't official yet. It was a good reason to be proud and Itachi was proud of him too. But more than that, Sasuke's general mood seemed to have brightened a little in a way that a promotion wouldn't explain. Itachi couldn't quite keep the small smile off his face for knowing the reason. There were very few things that could make an Uchiha smile without good cause. It seemed certain plans regarding the two youngest at the table might have to be shelved. A shame, but Itachi was a firm believer in protecting the happiness one could find. Especially in the ones they cared about.
So lost in his plans for the future, he lost track of the conversation going on around him. At least until he was brought back down to earth with a suddenness by the youngest at the table. "I met Lord Uzumaki today."
Tension at the table suddenly skyrocketed and judging by the way she had said it, Miku knew full well what effect her words would have. With the skill earned by extensive practice, Itachi kept the tension out of his voice as he asked, "How did that happen?"
"Karin wanted to bring me to the Uzumaki grounds to visit. She said it would be fine but... Well, Lady Kushina wasn't happy about it. She said some things..."
"What kind of things?" Sasuke asked in a low voice.
"Sasuke, please," Itachi silenced his younger brother who sucked his teeth and looked away. Both Itachi and Shisui could well imagine what the Uzumaki matriarch might have said. Probably things all of them had heard at one time or another, though usually from those with less grievance than that woman. "Did she hurt you at all?"
"No, nothing like that. Just words." She, like all of them, had grown used to 'just words'. "But then Lord Uzumaki came and sent her inside. He didn't yell but he was pretty mad at Karin. He was nice to me, though." She looked down at her food, picking at it with her chopsticks. "It was... Weird."
"Tch, him not being an asshole sounds weird alright."
"Sasuke, no language like that at the table."
"He wasn't," Miku continued, ignoring the byplay. "He... He apologised for Lady Kushina. Said... The things she said weren't from hatred but pain and fear." She blushed. And with three ninja at the table it was impossible for any of them to not notice. "I think he's a good person."
Sasuke rolled his eyes. But the two older Uchiha exchanged a look. A look that said words would be had following dinner.
And some time later they met up again for those words. "I know what you're thinking."
Itachi stayed as expressive as ever. Which is to say, not very expressive at all. "I don't know what I'm thinking so I don't know what you think I'm thinking."
"She's my daughter, Itachi."
"She is."
"And as her father I say no."
"Say no to what?"
"You know what!"
Itachi's lip curled slightly. It had been a game since he was much younger. Trying to get a rise out of Shisui. To see how quickly he could get the more expressive Uchiha to break his composure, raise his voice. Not long at all in this case, but that only made sense with the subject matter. Miku was the most precious thing in Shisui's whole world. He tried not to be the overprotective father but there was no way to avoid it. He had almost lost her twice. Twice was two times too many.
Shisui frowned, sniffed. "I thought we had a plan. Things seemed to be going well. Least, as well as these things usually go."
"They were," Itachi allowed, "Until Sasuke returned. It seems he has found someone who interests him."
That brought the elder Uchiha up short. "Really? Sasuke? I mean, no offense Itachi, but your brother's always been kind of..."
"Standoffish?"
"Yeah, a prick."
The clan head let the insult slide. "And yet he now walks with a lightness of spirit that I've never seen from him. I wouldn't quash that for the sake of a convenient arrangement. And it's a far less convenient arrangement with both parties looking elsewhere."
"Itachi. She literally met him today."
"And has displayed more interest and affection than she ever has for my brother. After all, Sasuke has always been..." He trailed off, smirked at his mentor. "Standoffish."
"You're getting ahead of yourself."
"Maybe I am," Itachi admitted easily. "I'm just suggesting we see how things develop."
Miku Uchiha. Named for being the future of the Uchiha. Named for the sake of the Uchiha even having a future after their dark past. Would then, that the future of the Uchiha be cooperation with the very people they had so terribly wronged. What might that say in the eyes of the village?