This chapter is quick although it's long because I have been trying to move past the anime events in order to develop my story. I am rushing through some well known scenes because well, we know what happens there. Next chapter will be more original though! Hope you enjoy, can't wait to read your comments on this! Stay healthy!
"When a man learns to love, he must bear the risk of hatred."
― Uchiha Madara
1.
Konoha was once again the proud host of the Chuunin Exams. That spring, the village hidden in the Grass was in full bloom and it appeared more peaceful and safe than ever; only a few were prepared for a potential crisis.
Hatake Kakashi was one of those special few. He watched from the Hokage building as her carriage stopped in front of the Hyuuga District. She stepped out of it, wearing a colorful yukata, her short black hair tidied neatly, revealing her porcelain neck and soft jawline. She appeared stoic and quiet as always. Before she disappeared behind the doors of her relative's house, she glimpsed towards him, aware of the fact that she was being watched. He frowned.
His eyes drifted from her and focused on the training grounds near the Uchiha District. One boy was sitting at the edge of the docks above the lake and like every man before him, he produced an impressive fireball that reflected above the calm water. Kakashi watched Sasuke as he trained on his clan's fire style techniques again and again and for a second his brother's image popped into mind. Itachi had been standing in the same exact spot, doing the exact same thing a few years ago, only difference was that Itachi did it better. Sasuke was very skilled but he wasn't his brother. Kakashi sighed beneath his mask.
Rushing his Team 7 to join the exams was a smart move; he had a feeling that this chance for them to create bonds with other shinobi wouldn't appear soon. As time passed by he noticed the darkness inside Sasuke growing, his hatred became deeper day by day. Sasuke wanted to kill Itachi and could think of nothing else. What worried Kakashi wasn't his student's ambition to take revenge but bis lack of attachment to everything else. That nothingness.
2.
"Again" Mirai instructed.
Neji nodded and attacked her with their Clan's gentle fist style once more only to be defeated instantly. He had been losing his patience, as it became clear that they were at completely different levels. His fiance was not a member of the branch house and she was older than him but at his age she was already a Jonin. She fought him without any kind of caution, her byakugan wasn't even activated. She was confident that he wouldn't land a hit on her and that enraged him to his core but he wouldn't show his emotions. Keeping his expression serious he just did as he was told and attacked her again and again.
"Enough" she finally said, hours later. Neji was out of breath however she was calm and casual.
"I can continue, Mirai-sama." He said as collected as he could.
"Then let's have some tea after you clean yourself up." she proposed politely.
He was covered in sweat and mud by that point. He nodded and bowed.
Mirai tilted her head and sighed. "Meet me in my private rooms."
She ordered and left him alone with a small bow.
He glared at her small figure. She was four years older than him but they were almost at the same height, his body was larger than hers already. He didn't want to marry her, a head of the Hyuuga House. She represented everything he hated; political power, nobility and fake superiority. She was a spoiled princess just like his younger cousin, Hinata. The only difference was that his fiance wasn't weak like Hinata. She was cruel and feared. He knew she had been the main weapon of her village and clan the latest years. She was a monster in power and heart.
Neji reached his room and as he removed the bandages around his forehead he stared at his reflection in the mirror, the curse mark of his clan forged on his skin. The proof that he wasn't and never would be the master of his own will, that she or anyone as privileged as her could easily melt his brain with one simple movement. They didn't want to marry him to a woman, they wanted to give Mirai a pet. A slave.
His muscles tensed as he restrained himself. He'd rather die. He'd rather burn alive than bow to her, to the Hyuuga Clan. They had stolen everything from him. His father died to protect Hiashi. He never met his mother. Whatever family he had he was supposed to serve and now, she would marry a woman that would leave him for dead without any second thoughts. He would have to go on missions that she would pick, speak to people that she approved and always representing her best interest even if it wasn't his own.
Neji showered quickly and put on his clothes carefully. He brushed his long hair slowly; this procedure always calmed him and that's why he wouldn't cut it.
He walked towards her room and sat in front of it, waiting for an invitation as the etiquette instructed.
"Come in" He heard her say quietly and he slid the paper door. He then stood up, entered the room and closed the door behind him.
She was seated in the middle of her private tea room that only had a low table, some cushions and the painting of a sakura tree above the veranda doors that were wide open and had a beautiful view in the interior garden of her minka. On the table she was preparing tea, using the traditional tools. He took a glimpse at her and felt uneasy as he noticed she had also changed and now wore a white kimono improperly. It was pulled away from her shoulders and it was also revealing her knees as she sat in seiza. She wore no ornaments and her sleeves hid her hands completely.
"Sit, Neji." She ordered and he did as he was asked, sitting across the small table. She poured tea into a small cup and presented it to him. He took it with a small bow. The room was filled with fragrance, part of it was tea and part of it something flowery but foreign.
'That's her scent' he thought.
Her eyes lifted to meet his and for one second he wondered if she could read his mind. She took a cup herself and they both tasted the tea. It was perfect, of course. Neji stayed quiet, looking at his knees and constantly reminding himself that he was in no position to misbehave.
"Why are you covering your forehead in your own house?" she asked after a long silence.
He responded without raising his gaze. "Propriety."
"Look at me." She ordered and he did.
Her eyes were soft and emotionless. Mirai saw the edge in his glare. She left a half smile appear on her face.
"You are going to be my husband in the future. Do you intend to keep the bandages on in every occasion?" she inquired.
"Yes, Mirai-sama." he responded simply, his blood boiling already. She had no idea what it felt to have disgrace painted on your forehead.
"That's not good. You will ruin your skin." She argued without any passion.
She moved on her knees and reached his side of the table. Mirai raised a delicate hand and attempted to touch his bandages but he caught her hand firmly and glared at her.
"Don't act like a beast, it doesn't suit you. Let me see." She reasoned with him, her expression still unfazed.
Neji felt completely uncomfortable.
"Let me see" she insisted.
He left her hand and felt her soft fingers undoing the fabric around his forehead and beneath his hair. She moved her hands close to him like they were familiar with each other and he couldn't stand it. Just because they were engaged, she didn't have any right to be close to him. He swallowed trying to hold back his disgust. She took a good look at his curse mark and then her eyes dropped to his.
"You are a rare child, Neji." She said simply.
"Not many of our family are born this full of rage."
"I don't understand, Mirai-sama." He replied as carefully as he could.
She smiled this time, showing her teeth. She put one hand beneath the fabric of her kimono and pulled out a kunai. Neji stayed still, although he was instantly intimidated. She took his palm and although he tried to resist her grasp he couldn't, as she placed the blade in his grip.
"What are you doing?" he demanded strictly.
"I can sense your hatred. I am giving you a way out." She explained, her eyes still on his.
"Kill myself?" He asked, his voice was now trebling with anger.
"Kill me." She corrected him, seriously.
Neji's eyes widened.
"I won't resist." She continued as she lifted her neck, exposing all the soft flesh there.
"No. Even if I wanted to, I will lose my life for treachery." He explained, leaving the kunai on his lap.
"Even though you hate me-"
"I don't hate you, Mirai-sama."
"Don't interrupt me. Even though you hate me, are you that weak that you cannot bring yourself to end my life? You are preparing for the chuunin exams and when you are finished with it, your family will give you to me. You will be mine and mine alone, can you live with that?" She mused, a small grin on her face.
Neji clenched his teeth at her cocky expression. "Yes, madam."
She narrowed her eyes.
She didn't pick up the blade but she retreated back on her seat. He felt like he could breathe again.
"I see that we are a good match, Neji." She said simply as she had another sip of her tea.
He didn't respond to her but something about her eyes caught him off guard. She was looking at the garden and she appeared like she wasn't of this world.
"Do you like flowers?" He asked her and he regretted instantly. He shouldn't befriend her, she was the enemy.
"I really like flowers, Neji. I like flowers more than people." She responded softly. "You can leave. I don't need anything more from you."
He winced at her words but he stood up immediately. He didn't want to spend another second in this room with her.
"Meet me tomorrow at the training grounds so we can continue your preparation."
"Yes, Mirai-sama." He agreed and left in a rush.
He couldn't stand her soft voice and her distant gaze, no matter what he did she treated him like a child. She pitied him. He wasn't even considered a threat by her and why would he? He was nothing in comparison to her. He was just another statement from Konoha's Hyuuga to Kusagakure's Hyuuga.
Something unworthy to someone unwanted.
3.
Mirai sneaked into the closed Arena to watch the preliminary one on one combats of the exam. She wanted to see Neji fight and maybe get a glimpse of Hinata-sama, since -conveniently enough- she didn't meet her anywhere in the district.
She missed the first battles but it appeared that Neji and Hinata-sama weren't matched with anyone yet.
Mirai looked at the little girl that should now be twelve years old. Her hair was shorter than her own, her body although appeared to be healthy was still soft. Hinata-sama was not a shinobi yet. She was a girl.
The screen that announced the matches lit up, revealing the eighth pair of participants.
Hyuuga Hinata versus Hyuuga Neji.
Mirai froze as she watched the two genin enter the battlegrounds. Neji's aura was intimidating while Hinata-sama appeared anxious.
They stood across from each other and Neji spoke.
"Withdraw." He warned his cousin. "You are not suited to being a shinobi".
Mirai examined his expression as his eyes changed in the presence of his byakugan.
'Extraordinary eyes.' she thought. She could feel his murderous intentions towards Hinata-sama and the little girl felt it, too. Mirai could see her every emotions on her face: Fear, panic and hurt. Suddenly a loud voice screamed from the crowd and Mirai's eyes spotted a blond boy with blue eyes that yelled at Hinata-sama.
"Give it to him, Hinata!" the boy said, his eyes flaming.
Mirai looked back at her and saw her clenching her teeth as she decided to fight.
'Interesting' Mirai thought as she took another glimpse at the boy.
The battle begun.
4.
The match as any Hyuuga battle wasn't spectacular to watch, unless one could see what happened with the chakra of the participants.
Mirai had no doubt that Neji would crush Hinata-sama; he fought to kill.
The result came fast and Neji was the winner.
Hinata-sama was transferred to the hospital and Mirai secretly followed her. Once she was in bed, no one came to visit her. The child sat there, crying hopelessly, alone. Mirai approached her and made her presence known.
Hinata tried to lift her upper body but Mirai held her down.
"I am here to return the favor, Hinata-sama" she said to the younger girl as she took a small jar out of her kimono.
"Mirai-san…" The girl managed to say weakly.
"Don't worry. You did great." Mirai tried to comfort her as she tended to her wounds with a special ointment that Ayuna-san had prepared for her.
Hinata bit her lower lip and tears kept pouring out of her eyes. "I'm sorry..."
"Why do you apologize?"
"I'm a failure, aren't I?" the girl asked. M
irai pressed her lips together. "I am a disappointment to our Clan. I know, Neji-nii-san knows, Father knows...Now my sister knows, too..."
"I don't think you are a failure, Hinata-sama." Mirai argued quietly.
"You might be the only one, Mirai-san..."
"I doubt it. This blond boy thinks you are worthy, too." Hinata blushed.
Mirai sighed, recognizing the face the younger heiress was making. "Is this the boy you love?" She asked.
"Wh-what? Naruto-kun? I-I…" Hinata stuttered.
Mirai smiled. "Hinata-sama, may I tell you a secret?"
"Y-yes, of course!" The girl replied quickly, shocked by the kindness that Mirai showed her. Hinata knew that Mirai should hate her, considering their family's past.
Mirai bit her thumb and pressed her fingers on the ground.
"Summoning Technique" she whispered as a the small bluish sea dragon appeared in front of the two girls.
Hinata gasped in awe; she had only heard legends of the Dragon race and she knew that they didn't made pacts with shinobi anymore. Bo, the tiny sea serpent, climbed up Mirai's kimono and examined the other girl.
"Mirai! Long time no "sea"...Get it? Get it?" The small dragon joked.
Mirai rolled her eyes and smiled at him. "I get it, Bo. Very funny."
Bo purred as she petted his sleek body. "How can I help?"
"Bo, this is Hyuuga Hinata. Her chakra vessels are damaged. Can you please heal her?"
"Nice to meet you, Hinata! I am Bo of the Distant Shores!"
"N-nice to m-meet you, Bo-san." Hinata mumbled, anxiously.
The small dragon giggled. "Just Bo for Mirai's friends!" He said as he jumped from her kimono and landed on the younger girl's chest. His entire body started glowing with chakra as he started to heal her internal wounds. Hinata thought she caught the scent of the ocean.
The two girls locked eyes and Hinata smiled at Mirai. Mirai nodded in understanding and left the room. She strolled into the hospital corridors and finally she left the building from the back door.
She wondered aimlessly around until she realized that her steps brought her in front of the Uchiha District. There were signs that wrote "Access Denied". Mirai took another step closer when she sensed someone approaching behind her.
"Can't you read?" Mirai turned around and saw him. He was still a boy but he resembled him so much…
Sasuke looked at her, surprised to find a Hyuuga there.
She raised an eyebrow. "You must be Uchiha Sasuke."
"Who are you?"
Mirai just kept staring at him.
He shook his shoulders and passed by her to enter the district.
"You look a lot like your brother." He heard her say. He instantly turned around to talk to her but the strange woman had already disappeared.
Was she even real?
5.
The Chuunin Exams were interrupted by Orochimaru, a former Jonin of the Leaf Village who made a surprised attack. He managed to destroy a big part of the village and also kill the Third Hokage. His goal was no one but Uchiha Sasuke.
Mirai didn't participate in the rescue missions that took place and was immediately rushed out of the war zone, as her mother ordered.
Itachi found out about the attack against his village and brother but he couldn't intervene, since many eyes were fixed on him, although he paid a visit. He was stopped by Hatake Kakashi.
Kakashi was left in the hospital with serious wounds but he stayed alive.
During that time, two very important events occurred.
6.
Itachi.
He looked at the small boy in front of him. He was blond and his blue eyes were the same color that his father had. Blue like the storm. Itachi was trying hard to stall time, in order for Jiraiya to appear and protect Naruto from him and Kisame.
Kakashi was already in the hospital after their fight so he could not be trusted.
Kisame was wondering who gave the Leaf Jonin so much information about the Akatsuki but Itachi knew ;Mirai. She had been tracking Akatsuki for sometime.
"You are coming with us." He said to the young boy. Naruto stared at him in fear, recognizing his Sharingan.
'Come on...Catch up…" Itachi kept thinking when another Konoha shinobi appeared in the corridor of the Inn that Naruto was staying.
Sasuke.
Itachi felt his racing heartbeat and knew what kind of expression he would face when he looked at him.
'Remember the plan' he thought to himself as he turned and look at his younger brother glaring at him, thunders glowing into his eyes and onto his hands. Chidori, Kakashi's thunder technique.
"Die!" Sasuke screamed and came for him.
Itachi steeled his will and blocked his attack; Sasuke had no chance to defeat him into battle.
"You are in the way." He said simply as he caught his little brother's hand and crashed it in his. Sasuke screamed and Itachi threw him on the ground.
'This is wrong' the small voice in him whispered.
Naruto also attacked in order to protect Sasuke but Kisame playfully stopped his attempt.
Itachi felt an immense amount of chakra filling the room; thankfully Jiraiya had arrived to save the boys from him.
Unfortunately, Sasuke attacked again in the meantime.
Itachi did what he had to do and beat him, hard.
"You are weak. You don't have enough hatred in you." Itachi said and while he looked inside Sasuke's eyes he forced him into genjutsu. The boy screamed in agony as he was trapped inside an illusion that tormented him with images of the past and seconds later -that Itachi knew that felt like days to Sasuke- he passed out.
Itachi took a last glimpse of his beloved sibling and quickly escaped with Kisame.
They both knew that Jiraya could end them.
"You were very cruel to your own little brother, Itachi! Why didn't you just end his misery?" Kisame joked as they were fleeing.
"He doesn't worth death." Itachi said, his expression cold and his words sharp. He meant that last part. Sasuke had to survive.
7.
Mirai.
She passed the guards of the Village's Security without any problems. The rain was heavy and it concealed her presence but she could sense chakra in many water drops.
She knew that the Rain Village used the natural phenomenon as an alarm, she just didn't know who was in charge of it.
She avoided all of the chakra infused rain drops and searched for his house.
Ichirou was there.
She felt excited for the first time in years.
Redemption was here and he would be forced to accept his fate.
She stalked the house for a few minutes, it was a simple new age apartment on the eleventh floor of a skyscraper. It appeared pretty normal.
She felt his presence in the house but she knew he would not sense her until it was too late. She drew a big breath and leaped, stepping between shorter buildings to gain height and reach the balcony of his apartment.
She made it there, invisible however she also hid behind some of the plants. She wouldn't risk to be noticed sooner than she had planned.
She saw him after twelve long years and she recognized him immediately.
His long, black hair were all messy around him as he lay on the couch of his living room. He wore no shirt and she could tell that he never stopped training; his body had the distinct form of taijutsu practitioners.
On his chest he wore the same pedant she did.
At the sight of the small token, Mirai's vision blurred and rage overtook her.
She would kill him. She would cut him into pieces and bury him in her herbal garden. She would take her family's pride into her own hands, at last!
Then the unexpected happened. A small child landed on his chest from behind the couch.
Mirai almost gasped; she was so fixated on him that she didn't notice the kid's presence.
"Daddy!" The child yelled and immediately pulled his hair, as Ichirou opened his eyes and smiled at the boy.
"You rascal, I asked you to allow me to sleep for an hour!" He scolded the boy and hugged him tight.
"But I'm bored." The boy replied.
He couldn't be more than four years old. His hair was black and short and his eyes were blue. He wasn't a Hyuuga but Mirai knew that he was Ichirou's son. His features resembled her brother's.
"I think you are trying to kill me!" He said jokingly to the child but then his eyes fell on the exact spot that Mirai was hidden. He noticed her.
"Ren, will you go to your room? Daddy wants to have a smoke." The child frowned and Mirai felt her heart break. He was so beautiful, his face was perfect.
"Fine. But the moment you finish you will come in with me, okay?" the boy demanded.
"I promise." Ichirou agreed as he stood up. The boy left in a hurry and Mirai followed him with her eyes.
Her brother put a simple white cotton shirt on his naked upper body and opened the glass door to the balcony. Mirai left her hiding place and disabled the jutsu that kept her invisible.
"Hey little sister." He said with a smile.
His hair still messed up and so long that almost reached his waist. His eyes still sharp as his features. He looked...good. Mirai felt her sense abandoning her.
"How dare you smile at me?" she hissed quietly.
"I'm happy to see you, at last. I knew you would come." He explained, pulling a cigarette out of his pocket.
His white eyes lit up reflecting the flame as he started to smoke. He looked at her and offered her one. She widened her eyes and shook her head. He was insane, acting so casual. He lifted his shoulders.
"I'm glad that you don't smoke, it's a bad habit."
"I'm here to kill you."
"I figured." She glared at his eyes that were examining her face.
"You grew up beautifully, Mirai." He said again, a warm expression on his distant gaze.
"Shut up."
"Why do you want to kill me?"
"To clean up your mess. You dishonored our family." She whispered roughly.
"Ah, I see. Noble cause." He replied and leaned on the wall.
"Are you mocking me?" She inquired furiously.
"Well, no. In the little world you live in, your cause seems reasonable. Whenever you are ready, let me know. I just wish you won't hurt Ren. He has nothing to do with this shitty Clan of ours." He explained, his expression cold again.
"I am ready." She mused.
"Oh, okay." He replied and put his smoke out. He put his hands in his pockets and looked straight at her. "Kill me then, I'm ready too."
Mirai blinked. "You aren't even going to resist?"
"That would be pointless." He said and Mirai flinched at the word.
"You just promised your son that you would go to him and you are not even going to try?"
"I will not hurt you. You are my baby sister." He explained simply.
Mirai glared at him, enraged. "That didn't stop you in the past. You left me for dead!"
She shouted, pulling a kunai out of her uniform.
"I wanted you to be safe. I'm sorry."
He whispered seriously.
"Safe? Safe?! I am seventeen years old and more than forty different assassins have been sent to kill me!" She snapped.
Why hadn't she moved already? She should end it, now.
"So you have killed more than forty assassins? Good girl!" He said with a smile.
Mirai activated her byakugan. His chakra was impressive, exceeding her own. He could probably take her.
His smile became wider. "Ah, it's been a long time since I last saw the Byakugan. Your eyes are wonderful." "
Shut up!"
"Sorry." He said, biting his lower lip.
"Do you want to have dinner with us?"
"Are you insane?"
"Just the normal amount, don't worry. I would like you to meet Ren and my wife. She should be home in a few minutes. If you insist on killing me though, I would suggest you did it now; she can be really scary. She is also a shinobi, you know."
"SHUT UP!" She yelled. Her voice although loud, didn't disrupt the deafening sound of the rain.
"Mirai. I'm sorry you felt alone. I really resisted my urge to take you with me that night. However I knew you would miss mother and father and you were to small to move around. I honestly wanted you to be safe-"
"Why did you do it? Why did you kill those officials?" she interrupted him.
"Because they were horrible human beings."
"Many people are horrible."
"I killed many of them and I keep doing that." He said calmly.
She looked at him in disbelief.
"So you threw our entire family in the gutter to play superhero?"
"You don't know what they did, Mirai." He insisted with dark eyes.
"Then tell me! Tell me what they did!"
"I can't, it's over now."
"You owe me an explanation!"
"I think my blood will erase my dept. It's what you want after all." He reminded her.
Mirai was confused. She felt her heartbeats racing and she couldn't control it. Her eyes had been stinging her since she saw him. He took a few steps and approached her. She raised her kunai between them. He moved around it and hugged her. Mirai realized she didn't hold her weapon anymore when she heard it falling on the floor.
"I'm sorry." He whispered.
Mirai closed her eyes in his embrace.
8.
(Two weeks later)
Kakashi woke up in the middle of the night, sensing he wasn't alone. The hospital room was dark but warm. There was someone sitting on the feet of his bed. She was in shinobi attire.
"What are you doing here?" He demanded, fixing his posture.
She didn't reply.
"Did you kill him?" He pressed again. Mirai looked at him.
"He has a son." She replied.
"I know."
"You didn't mention that."
"You asked me to track him, not profile him." He argued coldly.
She chuckled. "You're right."
"What are you doing here, Mirai?"
"I don't know where to go, Kakashi-san." She mused absentmindedly, looking out of the window the entire time.
Kakashi examined her body carefully to make sure it was indeed her.
"So you decided to pay a visit to me?" He mocked her. She gazed upon him.
"Something like that." She moved smoothly and sat on top of him. Kakashi was still healing from his fight with Itachi but he wasn't incapacitated. He quickly grabbed both of her arms and glared at her.
"What do you think you are doing?" He hissed at her. She had officially crossed the line.
She didn't reply but he felt her body building up chakra. A small invisible blast occurred and all of her weapons were tossed around in the room, most of them hitting the room's walls. His eyes remained on hers.
"I'm unarmed." She explained.
Kakashi looked at her, her slim arms were not resisting his grapple. She leaned closer, still sitting on his lap.
"Get out while I'm still polite." He warned her, pushing her away by her arms.
She gave him a half smile. "I know you don't like me." She explained as she took off her protective vest and mesh armor. He kept his eyes on her face but he didn't ignore the fact that she was half naked. He was taken aback by her boldness.
"Did you kill him?"
"No."
"Are you that depressed that you would sleep with me?" He asked sarcastically. The room started to feel suffocating.
"I don't want to sleep with you." She hinted as she leaned in again, this time close to his left ear.
Mirai whispered her idea of how to spend the night hours and Kakashi listened. A few seconds later she looked back at his eyes.
"That's what I want to do with you." "
And if I refuse?" He asked, halfheartedly.
"Will you?" She asked him, tilting her head. Her short hair danced around her face and her fingers ran on his torso and belly, reaching for his pants.
He sighed.
"No"