AUTHOR NOTE: I'd try to stick my fic as close to the original plot as possible. There's no official data about their age difference so I will make my assumptions based on Naruto novels and data book, sometimes twist the timeline a little bit so it will fit my story better.
Current timeline: Shisui:7; Naori:5; Itachi: 3
CHAPTER 3: AN UNUSUAL GIRL
"Who would ever think that so much went on in the soul of a young girl?" - Anne Frank
At the age of 37, Uchiha Naoko has already given up on her dream of becoming a mother. She couldn't remember how many hospitals across the country she has visited for fertility test, as well as the absurd amount of medication she has taken in hope of bearing a child.
Unfortunately, after her fourth miscarriage, Naoko's health has deteriorated quickly and the couple finally abandoned their dream of parenthood.
That's why Naoko has failed to notice all the obvious symptoms that come together with pregnancy. It was not until her pregnancy passed its 10th week that she discovered the news while visiting local clinic for a regular check-up. Needless to say, Naoko was beyond ecstatic that she'd spend months shopping for babies' clothes as well as writing up boy and girl names and splattering her notes everywhere in the kitchen.
When the nurse came in holding a little bundle wrapped carefully in a pink blanket, despite all the exhaustion and pain came together with childbirth, it took all of Naoko's will power to not squeal and jump out of bed to hug and smoother her precious baby with kisses.
"Have you decided on the name yet?"
Her husband – Rei, asked as he gently held his daughter. The baby's tiny hands wrapped around his finger,while she was looking at him curiously with her big dove eyes. For an infant, her gaze was unexpectedly untroubled and thoughtful.
"Naori. Her name is Uchiha Naori!"
The new name sounded strangely right when it rolled out of her tongue, as if her baby was born with it. Naoko didn't miss how her daughter immediately perked up at the mention of her name, her eyelashes fluttered and a sound so close to small giggle escaped her tiny lips. The mother breathed out a sign of content as she caressed her baby smooth cheeks.
Naori. Her daughter loves it.
A hint of amusement was clearly evident in Rei's voice. "Naori as 治 - Recovery. You name her after her Great-aunt - The user of Izanami?"
Her eyes brightened and she gently replied. "Yes. She's my mother's biggest inspiration and role model. A strong and gentle person who was the light of many others. I wish Naori would one day grow up to be as strong and kind as her."
"I'm sure she will" Rei smiled reassuringly at his wife while carefully laying his baby down. Soon, the infant quickly fell asleep in her cradle.
At first glance, there's no doubt that Uchiha Naori is a very normal child. To elaborate, she is the perfect child that any parent could wish for. The girl is incredibly polite and well-behaved. She doesn't cry, doesn't yell, doesn't vomit her food everywhere nor throw a tantrum whenever she's upset.
In fact, she would listen and comply to all of her parents' request without fail.
Plus, Naori is blessed with an astonishingly angelic face. Wavy short purple hair, almond shaped eyes together with a cute nose and small prominent lips. Uchiha Naori could melt even the stoniest heart with her adorable smile and bubbly voice.
Yet Naoko knows very well her daughter is not your average usual child. Naori has shown many signs of maturity and high intelligence since she was an infant. She has found her child reading quietly in her husband's office with books and scrolls spattered everywhere on the floor, more times than she could count. Naoko was sure the books her daughter read were not children picture books either, but books about jutsu, medicine, chakra and Kohoha reputable clans' history.
What agitated her even more is that Naori has made extreme precaution to not get caught reading any of those. As if the little girl doesn't want her mother to find out what a genius she has been. In one rare occasion that Naori was caught red-handed, her baby had pretended that she was using her father's books for doodling, not actual reading. Her lies were so convincing that the little girl almost had Naoko fooled. But Kami, she is her mother, she sure as hell knows when there's something wrong with her daughter.
Another unusual trait of her that Naoko soon finds out is her daughter strong dislike to kids. She doesn't like playing with them, doesn't like talking to them. Heck, she doesn't even like being in a proximity of 5 meters around her peers. While the Uchiha clan children are more than happy to welcome her into their small circle, Naori would sneak out right after her mother dropped her off in order to head to wherever place she found fascinating at the moment.
Her mother wouldn't give her strange behavior a second thought as she believed her child is just a bit of an introvert. Until there was one occasion Naoko'd found her daughter sleeping soundly in the Uchiha's graveyard that she almost fainted right on the spot. To her utter horror, her baby daughter has even brought a bouquet of daisies to the cemetery, whose grave Naori intended to give flowers to, Naoko doesn't dare to know.
To say Uchiha Naori was reincarnated with her memories fully intact was incorrect.
Indra has hidden many fragments of memories in the corner of her brain which could only be revived at certain point in life. It was a wise decision actually, if not, she would have awoken all of her Sharingan forms the moment she was born.
Plus, it helps her to have a relatively normal childhood.
Naori might not remember all of her past life, but she certainly recalls a few parts. Such as the fact that she's not a baby, but already a full- grown woman in her past life. This also explained many of her abnormal behaviors.
However, despite her knowledge of the past, Naori couldn't understand the reasons why she's reincarnated as an Uchiha again. Plus, her new body and her past appearance also look exactly the same. You can blame it all on hereditary, but the uncanny resemblance always makes her feel uneasy whenever she looks at her reflection in the mirror.
It was not until she reached the certain age of 5 that Naori remembers everything. Her 40 long years wandering as a lonely ghost, including her encounters with Obito and Shisui, the real reason behind her reincarnation, and the Uchiha massacre.
On that fateful day, her mother has decided to take her for a walk around Kohoha. They have been crossing streets and alleys and shops until Naoko stops to point at one particular building.
"Look at that huge building, Naori! That's the Konoha's Academy. It's where people teach children how to become a shinobi."
Naori stares at the Academy with a thoughtful gaze. In her past life, this Academy wasn't built yet. Kids were often homeschooled, by either their parents or clan elders, since many clans wish to protect their secret techniques against the prying eyes of others. Thus, the chance for a child who was not from a clan to become a shinobi is pretty slim.
The new Academy stood in front of Naori in this timeline is quite large and comprised of several blocks with the big kanji "fire" (火) on its roof. There are many children, around age 6-10, running and participating in different activities, which mostly include basic taijutsu or kunai throwing practice. Naori could see a few parents waiting for their kids near the school's gate. One of them, a Uchiha woman with her clan signature dark hair and eye, is sitting on a swing and waving at her mother.
"Naoko-san, Naori-chan! What are you doing? Come here!"
Naoko walks up to greet the woman cheerily. "Good afternoon, Kawa-san! You're here to pick up Shisui?"
The Uchiha named Kawa grins cheekily as she shakes her head. "Not really! He can walk home alone just fine. I just want to check on how my boy's doing, since he's the youngest boy to enroll the Advanced class in the academy after all."
Realizing the boastful tone Kawa was using, Naoko snickers. "Yes yes of course! Anyone knows that Shisui is once-in-a lifetime genius. How lucky of you to have such a wonderful son! But wait till my beautiful Naori starts the enrollment and the world will be at her feet."
When it comes to boasting about which child is better, Naoko is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Kawa glares at her friend, ready for a comeback when Naori interrupts the conversation.
"What makes you think that I'm going to become a shinobi, mother?"
Both women stop their argument to stare at the girl in shock.
"What're you saying, Naori? You don't want to become a shinobi?"
Naori regards them with a calm but fascinated gaze, as if she's testing their reactions, then replied with an awfully mature answer for a 5 year-old.
"I still don't know yet. Perhaps I want to try a few more jobs before making the final decision. Life as a civilian seems nice! And I think enrolling in different schools would be a wonderful way to experience it first-hand. Isn't that right, mother?"
Kawa's eyes immediately sparkle and she squeals. "Oh my! Look at how mature and intelligent Naori-chan already is! She's sooo cute!"
As the woman proceeds to tackle her with hugs and laments about how adorable she's, Naori remains her placid expression. Truth to be told, she didn't ask her mother just to tease her, but she's also serious about her future occupation. Naori has spent all of her life fighting as a shinobi. Her past life's purpose was either kill or be killed, with an endless routine of training and taking missions. It was an exciting, but sad and painful life! In this new life, perhaps she could make a new choice, to be happy, or at least be happier than she was before.
The new idea is so appealing that Naori completely loose herself in thought, ignoring the worried glance from her mother. Not until the loud voice of Kawa calling for someone that snaps her out of the imagination.
"Hey, isn't it Obito? Long time no see, kid!"
At Kawa's sudden call, the young boy named Obito stops on his track to greet the women. Flashing them a toothy grin, a pair of dark eyes shines brightly under the googles of his. The boy is around 10, with short spiky black hair and a pair of goggles with orange lens connected to ear protectors. Obito is the epitome of sunshine and rainbow, clearly shown by the way the older woman doted on him.
The moment Naori lays eyes on him, her brain instantly clicks.
Like a slow-motion film, pictures of black and white, of tears and blood, of pain and madness replay one after another in her head. Her memories come flooding back like a rushing river. All of them suffocates, engulfs and envelopes her with unexplained fury.
Naori remembers the boy. She remembers them all.
The very sight of Obito has triggered the memories buried deep inside her brain.
Hot steam like fire runs violently through her body, focuses on the pulse area then pours it all into her eyeballs. Eyes burn and vision blurs. Her mind suddenly becomes hazy, as if there's thick fog clouded over it. Then suddenly, like a raging beast, her immense hatred busted out of its cell, baring its fang at anyone responsible for her pain and madness.
"Hello, Kawa-san! Are you here to.."
Obito stops dead on his track to stare at the little girl standing in front of him. It doesn't take a shinobi to feel it, as clear as the day, the extreme killing intent's radiating from the girl.
A flow of chakra convulses violently through her tiny form, entangling itself into silken thread to fan out and wrap around him like a spider web. She raises her head and look at him.
Her eyes bleed.
The usual dark color of the Uchiha is replaced by the burning red, with three tomoes spinning rapidly at the center.
Obito gasps, as he knows too well what those tomoes means. The girl has awoken her Sharingan. Not a one-tomoe, like any usual Uchiha does, but a three-tomoes instead.
His natural reflex kicks in, Obito jumps back several steps to get away from the murderous little girl. He's going to turn around for a quick escape when thousands of butterflies emerge from nowhere and swamp him in a dense cloud of iridescent colors.
In a swift of moment, the aggressive butterflies cling to his body like hungry leeches. While Obito's trying desperately to shake them off, dust of their wings flapping gets into his hair and eyes. His eyes widen in horror as he tastes the bitter flavor and feels his tongue gone numb. Does this go into his mouth as well?
Is this poison?
The thought alone paralyzes him in fear. The young genin tries to scream out loud, but the insects have already found their way to crawl themselves into his mouth, slowly suffocated the googled boy to death.
Then without warning, as sudden as it appears, all the butterflies are gone. Obito is back at the school's gate. This time, his knees already gave out as he lies head down on the ground gasping for breath.
The Uchiha patriarch – Fugaku is standing behind him, wearing his usual grim expression. This time even more stern, as he's regarding the small culprit with such intense and inquisitive look. To Obito's utter horror, the girl has already fainted. Her mother's holding her tightly while her eyes still bleed.
The blood smeared on her face, leaving two red stains extended right till her neck.
"What's the meaning of this, Naoko-san?"
Fugaku starts his interrogation immediately, while one of his hands grabs Obito's shoulder to steady and urge him to stand on his feet.
The older woman doesn't answer him right away as she's busy checking on her daughter's condition. After making sure she's alright, Naoko finally raises her eyes to meet his. Her face remains unfazed when she replied.
"As you can see, Fugaku-sama, my little girl just awoke her Sharingan for the first time. Her sudden spike of chakra must have exhausted her body so please pardon me as I will be taking my daughter back to rest!"
Knowing how fierce the woman would be once discussing issue involved her kid, especially over such a sensitive topic like this one, Fugaku decides to let her lack of respect slide. He would get her back later, but not until he makes sure of something first.
"When did your daughter learn how to cast a genjutsu, especially such an advanced form like that?"
Naoko flinches and stares at him incredulously.
"Genjutsu? No! Naori has never learnt any ninja arts before? Did she previously use a genjutsu on Obito?"
It's when realization hits her. Her daughter not only awoke a three-tomoes sharingan at the age of 5, but also casted a genjutsu on advanced level without any instruction. Uchiha Naori is another prodigy, and a very rare one at that. Fugaku smirks inwardly.
The new generation of the Uchiha is really, really promising.
"Very well! Her name is Naori, isn't it? I'd like to schedule an appointment with her after she recovers, Naoko-san."
Despite looking horrified over her clan head's request, Naoko decided to focus more on her daughter as she ignores him and hurriedly walks away from them.
Her heart clenches tightly at the hidden meaning behind Fugaku's words.
Fugaku has taken notice of her little girl.
This can only mean one thing: Naori's not going to be her own anymore, but the valuable asset of the Uchiha clan. A perfect pawn for upcoming war. A child soldier who's going to be feared by others.
Naoko didn't recognize till she got home that tears have already fallen down her cheeks, wetting the pillow Naori's laying. Naoko tries to bite down a sob as she watches her daughter sleeping peacefully.
Kami, what has she done?
The day was done, and the long twilight mixing the crimson of the darkling west, already lits up her room the moment Naori awakes. Her eyes twitches painfully while a familiar sensation of chakra overuse kicks in, rushing her nerves and reminding her of what just happened.
Naori gasps, bringing her hands to cover her head in an attempt to relieve the throbbing pain.
Sixty years of lifetime is too much information to process for a five-year old brain.
"Have fun playing the innocent?" said a deep voice in the corner of her room, and there entered the legendary Sharingan creator - Indra Otsutsuki, in all of his glory and cockiness.
Naori arches an eyebrow at the God's sarcastic greetings, obvious skeptical about how he could thoughtlessly invade her privacy but decides to keep her mouth shut. She's currently not in the condition to argue, as her small brain's still working to connect all the dots together.
This is a tiring process, considering that she's just reclaimed her memories a few hours earlier.
Her ancestor seems to on the impatient side, as he took her silence with great displeasure, the man continues to grunt and offer his own remark.
"You're very lucky! If Fugaku didn't intervene on time, you'd have killed Obito and failed your mission the moment you awaken your Sharingan! Didn't I make it clear to you last time that no Uchiha's killing is allowed?"
The young girl hangs her head in shame. The attack she'd placed on Obito was completely out of her character. No matter how bitter Naori felt towards him, killing the boy is never her intention. Yet the moment her memories came flooding back, the urge to kill was so overwhelming that she'd lost control of her power and cast it on the first person she'd thought of.
Naori weakly mutters, with a bubbly voice that doesn't quite fit her hardening look. "I deeply apologize, Indra-sama. I promise that such incident would never happen again."
Indra snorts, not at all pleased with her response. "You'd better be. I don't want to waste 40 more years to find another Uchiha for the job."
Sensing the girl's uneasiness over the topic, the Uchiha progenitor decides to change to more practical issue.
"On the bright side, Fugaku has recognized your potential. The man's probably waiting for a chance to fish you out of your civilian family. No more house playing from now on. Kami! I can't believe you once considered any other occupations rather than being a shinobi. "
Naori stops her racing thoughts to chuckle. "Isn't it all the better?" she adds, with a little amusement in her voice. "Save me the trouble of seeking him out myself!"
Indra assesses her with an inquisitive look. "Seems like you already have a plan sorted out."
"Not really. But I'm going to make full use of the gift you've bestowed me, Indra-sama. Fugaku's only the first step to…greatness!"
Her latter statement meets with Indra's hearty approval as the God finally adds, with a faint but pleasant smile. His words sound incredibly kinder than she'd expected.
"I'd expect nothing less from you. But remember, keep your heart and mind pure and free of wrath. For the Curse of the hatred is a strong one, the more powerful you become, the less likely that you could stay on the right path."