A.N: Small update. I hate everything that I will write from this point on but you...you, I love. I swear I am going to finish this but give me some time, I'm sensitive :3 Stay safe and enjoy!

"Do not be afraid; our fate
Cannot be taken from us; it is a gift."
― Dante Alighieri, Inferno

1.

Neji woke up in the middle of the night, only to see the fire growing smaller and his comrades sleeping around it. No one was keeping watch and the dawn was at least two hours away. He sighed and picked himself up, stretching quietly.

"Byakugan" he whispered and the usual pressure around his eyes gave him clarity in darkness and in distance. After a few meticulous moments he concluded that everything was normal and he deactivated his powers. He inspected the area around their small camp, walking silently until he found a private spot, squeezed between a large rock and a big tree trunk. He sat on the ground and removed his shirt, threw some rainwater that they had gathered the night before on his hair, face, shoulders and arms while still being cautious of his surroundings. He was never able to rest while he wasn't at home. It didn't matter that he slept on the hard ground, it didn't matter that the nights were either chilly or extremely warm. His own bed was the only place he could just let go of all his worries and anxiety.

He flinched and stayed topless for a few minutes in order to dry up before wearing his shirt. He sat on the old trunk and dared a glimpse on the night sky only to fix his gaze there with intensity. He imagined that one day he would be strong enough to maybe see the stars in detail, maybe even see some of them that would otherwise remain unknown. Thinking about his home, Kusagakure wasn't it. Only Konoha felt like home, like safety.

His marriage wasn't that long ago but so far his wife never came to bed at night. Honestly, he felt relieved that she didn't. It was obvious to Neji that Mirai married him out of tradition and politics and although none of these were bad reasons they weren't reasons enough. He didn't know how to feel either. He had always admired her, no doubt. She was very beautiful and at the same time so powerful that he believed she could have any man she ever wanted. He also knew that he wasn't that man. How could he be? She was so much older and experienced, so irreversibly self-sufficient; she had no need for him. To her, he was nothing but a technicality, one that wasn't extremely uncomfortable with and could provide her with the essentials of a lineage:a good image and an heir.

Neji never felt that he was bothering her or burdening her. He felt like he was as unknown as those stars he couldn't yet spot in the night sky.

Unseen. Unfelt. Unimportant.

Did he love her? He wanted her approval, her praise, her acceptance. He wanted his own wife to see him, feel for him and show him that he was important to her. Did he love her though? How could he tell? His heart would indeed race when she was close or when their eyes would meet. He was curious about her thoughts and preferences, he was anxious every night when he would go to bed, waiting for her. He often found his mind wondering towards her, her face, her scent. However he didn't feel like he loved her.

Neji stood up and put his shirt on, tidied his attire and hair and returned to the camp.

After all love should be mutual to be real, otherwise it's nothing but a wish and as he took his gaze away from the night sky Neji failed to see the falling star that quickly disappeared into blackness.

2.

"My father was the Head of the Clan and I, his firstborn son, having exhibited such talent was considered immediately part of the plan." Itachi continued his narration, staring ominously at the surface of the tea. "Are you going to poison me, woman?" he teased her, raising an eyebrow.

"If you wish" she replied softly, sipping some of her own tea.

He smiled halfheartedly as he carried on with his story.

"At the same time, I realized something that you have told me many times and which I knew already. We were weapons. I was a weapon. And I promise you that this would not bother me in a world that everyone was as dangerous as you and me. However, that wasn't the case. Every morning I witnessed my baby brother learning new words and new games and every night I would kill another man, another woman. You might think that this is normal, we are trained shinobi after all but is it?" He paused and looked at her face, mysterious as the moon. "Is our upbringing, our philosophy "normal"? We are trained to be glorified murderers, to bring war, to bring death, presumably in hope that one day peace will conquer our land. Personally, I believe that this is bullshit. We do not fight for peace; we fight for power over others, for greed, for pride. I realized that my brother and thousands of children his age were next. In my clan, things are even darker indeed. Our children become more powerful after every trauma they experience and there are two types of Uchiha: Those who sacrifice everything in the altar of power and those who break midway, scarred enough to rip their own eyes out and jump off a cliff…"

His expression was unclear to Mirai, a mixture of past agony and cruelty.

"Which type are you?" she inquired softly as she opened a small jade box and took a cigarette out of it.

"I decided to create my own type. My own path." He mused, observing her as she brought the cigarette to her soft lips. His black eyes reflected the fire for only a moment as the small flame lit it. She looked at him intensely.

"Thank you." She commented, leaving the box on the table in case he would like one too. He nodded.

"It was already late for me, war and bloodshed had taken their toll on my body and my power. I was growing invincible, Mirai. You know this feeling right? Being able to fight yourself out of every impossible situation, fearing no one. I wasn't afraid and I am still not afraid of anything, not when it comes to me. However…my brother, I-…I would never risk him. The higher ups in Konoha grew even more suspicious of our Clan. They planted spies in our ranks and teams just to make sure we weren't up to trouble and they did everything in their power to reduce our numbers and control us. Sending us in impossible missions or trapping us. Our people, already oppressed, were now eager to be liberated. Mistakes occurred and the village was now certain that we would strike back but they had no proof. That's when I came in."

"You told them." She whispered with wide eyes.

"I am endlessly fascinated by the amount of respect and faith I receive from you, Hyuuga-dono." He replied sarcastically. "No, flower, I didn't. They announced to me what was going to happen and they did so wisely because they knew I would never betray my Clan or my village. I am to this day trying not to."

Mirai pressed her lips together before blowing smoke out of her nostrils. The smoke then turned to pretty patterns as it dissolved.

"I asked them not to act and give me a chance to do it myself" he explained, piercing her gaze with his. Her eyes narrowed as she considered the reasons behind his decision.

"Can you guess?" He asked her as if he was reading her thoughts.

"You are withholding information. Guessing would probably cause you to make another heartfelt speech about my idea of you therefore I will refrain from openly doing so" she sneered with a serious face.

"Ah… Well, my trail of thought was very simple. Very political." He said in a mocking tone. "First of all, honestly, the Uchiha was a big bad Clan but as I told you we were weakened and had lost many warriors due to the events that took place after the attack of the Nine-Tailed. A coup would probably not succeed, considering the amount of shinobi that Konoha possessed. We were already outnumbered so not only would we lose that battle and die anyway but a Civil War would decrease the Village's defense at enemy forces. Konoha has and always will be a place of high interest in matters of location, jutsu and information. It would be much easier for anyone to take advantage of the chaos and cause damage in our Village. Then, it was about pride. Even when the leaders of Konoha knew about our betrayal, no one else did. By doing this myself, you do not know today that we were planning a coup. My people didn't die as traitors, they died as victims. Which brings us to the final reason –mind you, I could go on and on about the details but they aren't really important right now- and that reason is Sasuke. My brother whom I managed to spare with the blessing of the Hokage and the council. My brother is now given the chance to become a hero."

Mirai stared into his eyes, motionless. "You are going to die".

"Yes." He agreed grimly, impressed by how quickly she caught up with him. "And Sasuke is going to kill me".

3.

Sasuke didn't get much of sleep as he was inspecting the freshly purchased weapons he had accumulated the night before. His companions were in deep slumber, leaving him in his quiet restlessness. As he indifferently twisted a small kunai blade in his hand, the weapon got a glimpse of the dawn, blinding him for only a second. He hissed and threw it with the others, turning his annoyed eyes towards the rising sun.

His gaze slowly softened as he got carried away by the peaceful scenery. During the night he didn't notice the colors of the countless flowers that covered the land in front of their camp, nor their harmonious yet overwhelming scent. Like a dream walker, he found himself strolling amidst the flowers, careful not to make any sound as a soft breeze carried their fragrance to him and he felt like it was wrapped around him. The sunlight warmed his skin as his steps brought him in the middle of the meadow where he stood aimlessly.

He sat down in front of a wildflower that he was pretty sure that had only but a few medical uses however he remembered the name "musk mallow". It was usually made into essential oils maybe? He couldn't recall. Still, he took one in his hand and observed it closely. It did smell good and had a happy color.

Suddenly he felt like he had been watched, he turned around as fast as he could, his sword already in his hand. His companions were still asleep. Nothing had changed. He searched and searched and looked around again. No one was there.

The small, pale pink flower was smashed on the hilt of his sword. He threw it away and returned to his inspection.

It was not the time for anyone to stop and smell the flowers.