The winter evening was brisk and chilling, a cold white sky hanging over our heads like a canopy as I sat upon one of the heads of Hokage Cliff with my arms draped over Itachi who was resting against me, the two of us sitting in a comfortable silence as the first flakes of snow began to fall. It had been some years since the Nine Tails attack and still it slept within my Kamui, perfectly at peace. Sasuke was now all grown up and attending the academy as myself and Itachi had done before him, and I was there for him each and every day in order to walk him to and from school.
Naruto had also grown a great deal, no longer the sad, lonely little boy I had known before. He was as mischievous and full of energy as of old, and the villagers still ostracised him on account of the fact that Danzo had secretly spread the word that Naruto was the new Jinchuriki of the Fox Demon, but his loneliness was not as strong as before, as he still had his mother and his father. Kushina never truly recovered from that day, needing assistance in order to walk and used a wheelchair most of the time, but she devoted every waking moment to Naruto.
His father Minato was kept away for long periods of time on account of his duties as Hokage, but he always found the time to make little shortcuts or excuses to come home early just to be with his family. I was pleased that Naruto still held a strong desire to be Hokage, though his reasoning was slightly altered. Once I had overheard him declaring that he would be a greater Hokage than his father, stating that the village would have to recognise him once he was Hokage, and because he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps.
All in all, everything was going smoothly, and Itachi was only just twelve years old at this moment, so there was still a little time left before the inevitable event of the Uchiha Clan downfall. Sometimes I struggled to keep my sadness in check, finding myself looking at Itachi with knowing. Still, he will not be in pain for long, as I have already set out my own plan to counteract the intentions of Danzo. Quite honestly I wished I could simply kill that old Sharingan thief, but were I to kill him I would then be labelled as a criminal, and there would be nothing Lord Fourth could do to help me.
"Yuki." Itachi's soft and mellowing voice awoke me from my thoughts, bringing my head down to look at him. His head was now resting fully on my lap, looking up at me with deep, hypnotic eyes. "You're dreaming again, aren't you?"
"Hm."
"Was it a bad dream? You looked so sad." If only he knew. I wanted nothing more than to protect Itachi from everything, to take the blame for him and carry out the duties he would be forced to do, but I could not. For one, Danzo does not trust my loyalty as he does Itachi's. Secondly, in order for Sasuke to have an unyielding desire to grow stronger, he needs to be betrayed by the person he loves most, and although he loves me, he loves Itachi more. Were I to destroy the Uchiha in Itachi's place, then nothing would go correctly thereafter.
"It is simply…troubling." Closing my eyes for a moment to calm my thoughts, I started slightly when I felt Itachi's hand rise up to gently rub against my cheek. He was looking at me with an expression I had begun to see a lot recently. It was difficult to describe, and one I was not certain I could accurately translate. It was soft and pleasant, his gaze relaxed beyond the point of comfortableness, a tender communication which I could not help but feel warmed each time I saw it. "Tachi, Sasuke is upset you did not train with him like you promised." Instantly his hand pulled away from me and Itachi sat up, now guarded and a little forlorn as he exhaled.
"I do not have the time, I have many missions I must prepare for." I knew this was a lie but I said nothing of it, merely reached out to touch his shoulder delicately and with understanding.
"At least say goodbye this time." You will wish for more moments with Sasuke after you are gone, this much I knew. You told me often all of your regrets after you had left Konoha, and I had done all I could to provide you with a lifetime with Sasuke as you wished for. "Itachi-kun, you will soon be a captain in ANBU. Be careful on your next mission, when you see a rock with a crack shaped like a diamond, beware your surroundings." Itachi frowned at me a little but I gave no further warning. I always took care to view his future missions and sometimes gave him hints or warnings to either avoid ambushes or complete his task more swiftly so that he could return sooner.
"How is it that you always seem to know what to look for, Yuki? I can almost believe that you are a seer of some kind." Smiling with a soft chuckle, I held out my hand as the snow began to fall more thickly now, allowing the delicate flakes to rest upon my palm. I became a little distracted by their surreal beauty, how silent and fragile they were as they covered the entire village in a pure blanket of white. "Miyuki – beautiful snow." With the way in which my name was written, this was what my name translated to, as Itachi had correctly murmured.
"Hm." My breath came in hot clouds as I lifted my head to look up into the greying clouds, watching as the more distant snowflakes appeared like flecks of ash before their sharp whiteness became more apparent. Sasuke will be finishing school soon, and after that I will have my duties to attend to. Like my father before me, I had entered the Konoha Police Force and had already been elevated to a high rank, just below my father and Clan Chief Fugaka. Wherever I went, the Uchiha always demonstrated absolute respect, knowing my abilities, history and lineage. They had taken to addressing me with the honorifics of 'sama' or even 'hime', dubbing me the princess of their clan.
I was not one for titles but I was a little too embarrassed to ask anyone to stop, as I was still uneasy conversing with strangers, even if they were members of my clan. Of course, I knew everyone by name and face as I had memorised them a very long time ago, but that did not change the fact that I had no confidence speaking to them without the worry I might accidentally insult them with my bluntness.
Realising that Itachi was still looking at me, my gaze flickered across to him, registering that same look as before. My cheeks coloured a little, going a light shade of pink which I blamed upon the cold. "I must go now, Yuki."
"Hm." Opening up my arms, I gave Itachi an inviting smile to indicate that he should come to me. He took my offer immediately, stepping into my arms whereby I wrapped my arms completely around him, the top of his head nestling neatly under my chin. He still has some growing to do, but one day he'll be taller than me. Although a tall child, I would not grow much more than the height I am now. Perhaps my body simply grew quickly in order to provide for the excess amount of chakra in my body. "I love you, Tachi."
"I know." He was yet to say it back to me, but I was rather proud that I had become rather adept at telling the people that I care about my true feelings for them. It was a vast improvement from before. When Itachi pulled back I kissed him on his forehead on his forehead protector, nudging him a little before then stepping away.
"Come home soon." With a final wave, Itachi pulled the mask of his ANBU uniform down over his face then disappeared with a flicker. A soft breeze followed, cooling my face until with a sigh, I lifted my head. "Shisui. You may reveal yourself now." Shisui laughed quietly, appearing beside me with his Body-Flicker technique.
"As perceptive as always, Miyuki-chan." Of all of our clan outside my immediate family as well as Itachi and Sasuke, Shisui was the only one who I felt comfortable with. He had understood very quickly that I had been uncomfortable with formal address and, although younger than me by a year, was a very compassionate person. I admired his ability to read people and their natures so effortlessly, easily making him a very approachable young man. "If you carry on that way, soon Itachi is going to be starry eyed every time you merely look at him."
"What do you mean?" I frowned in confusion, not understanding his meaning which prompted Shisui to laugh again.
"I mean, that if you carry on looking so beautiful and doting on Itachi the way you do, he'll end up falling in love no matter what your parents plan for you both. Betrothal or not, Itachi won't be able to look away from you." Pausing for a moment to consider his words, I wondered if this meant I should distance myself from Itachi. It is true, perhaps I have been forcing my own feelings onto him a little too much, forgetting myself in the past. "Don't worry about it, Miyuki-chan, he's clever and bright. I doubt a pretty face will sway his mind too easily, even if it is yours."
"You are confusing, Shisui." He smiled at me in response. At the earliest opportunity some five years ago, I had made a point to get to know Shisui and did my best to befriend him, though my efforts had been rather awkward and often misinterpreted by others. I had never before tried to make a friend of my own accord, so I had been a little lost at first. I had attempted speaking to Shisui but got myself tongue-tied in the process before simply walking away. After that I had followed him around in an attempt to learn his interests, hoping that some opportunity may present itself, but I had been discovered.
Eventually, it was Itachi himself who had introduced me, and once Shisui had learned that I was a very reserved and socially incapable person, he had seemed to become invested in a friendly relationship of his own accord. My purpose in this was to secure his support closer to the time of the Uchiha Massacre, but for the most part I kept all my planning to myself. Shisui only knew a little, but when he had discovered that I too possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan, he had been rather relieved that he was not alone. Quite often I trained with him, sometimes with Itachi as well, and the three of us banded together to form a rather comfortable and fruitful friendship. When I was with them all, I felt very happy indeed.
"You have that look on your face again. Are you having another one of your visions?"
"No, I need no more future glimpses for now. I know what I must do." I responded, gesturing with my head for Shisui to follow me. We flickered out of sight and dropped down from the Hokage Cliff, dropping down into the village in order to walk our way back to the Uchiha compound. "You know that the Uchiha are stirring in resentment, do you not Shisui?" Shifting uncomfortably, Shisui merely nodded his head, carefully glancing around to ensure that no one was listening to our conversation. "It will grow worse."
"Worse?" Glancing across to Shisui, the image of his death played in my mind as I walked beside him in my Konoha Police Force uniform.
"Hm."
"And you've already seen what will happen?"
"Hm."
"Is there a way to prevent it?"
"I am not certain. There are many branches in the tree of fate, we must select carefully which one we choose to climb." Exhaling deeply as the snow continued to fall, Shisui took a moment to gather himself up before patting me on the head and grinning.
"Well then, you have my full support, Miyuki-chan." I smiled gratefully in return, glad that I had made the effort to befriend Shisui, even though my attempts had ended in disaster.
"Yuki onee-chan! Onee-chan!" Hearing Sasuke call my name, I looked forward to see him running towards me, waving his hands at me with a bright grin. Sasuke? He should be in school. "Class finished early because of the snowstorm that's coming, so I came looking for you!"
"Sasuke, you will catch cold out here." I fussed softly over him, dusting the snow off his head and made a point to wrap the scarf I had knitted for him more securely around his neck, looping it over itself in order to secure it before I then crouched down before him. "We shall go home, and I will make hotpot whilst you sit under the kotatsu. Okay?"
"Yeah!" Nodding his head eagerly, I allowed Sasuke to jump up onto my back so that I could carry him home, Shisui laughing and ruffling his hair as he continued alongside us.
"You sure are growing big Sasuke. I hope you're training hard and listening to your sensei."
"You bet I am!" Listening as Sasuke energetically began to list off everything he had learned in school that day, as well as what he was expecting to learn, I carried him back towards the Uchiha compound, however as we approached the main gates I noticed a crowd had gathered there. Immediately I sensed the wrought tension and angst of the crowd, their shouts angrily directed towards my clan's homes.
"Sasuke, stay with Shisui." I ordered, putting him down on the ground then moved forwards without hesitation, appearing between the two crowds of Konoha civilians and the Uchiha. "Please, calm yourselves. Anger and violence will achieve nothing." Lifting up both hands I held them outwards, standing between the hoards to keep them from clashing against one another. The Uchiha immediately stopped their shouting and bowed their heads, stepping back reverently once I had appeared.
"Forgive us, Miyuki-hime, but these people are harassing us!" One of the Uchiha shop owners informed me, pointing to one of the Konoha civilians who carried a rock in his hand. "That one threw rocks at my shop!"
"And those kids have been bullying my child!" In response, the civilians gave their own excuses.
"You Uchiha have been causing trouble of your own! Somebody has been vandalising my produce, and the only ones benefitting are you Uchiha! By forcing my customers to look elsewhere, they've been turning to you for second rate produce!"
"Lies!"
"You are all suspicious, you should just leave Konoha!"
"We are one of the founding clans, we're not going anywhere!" Sighing with slight irritation, I wondered what had triggered all of this. Still, I wasn't about to get anywhere with all this commotion. I had better deal with this.
"By order of the Konoha Police Force, I order all present to cease and desist." Giving a pointed glare towards my fellow Uchiha, I had them all leave the area completely, allowing me to deal with the Konoha civilians, warning them that unless they filed proper damage reports and submitted evidence, they should not go about blaming others without proper proof."
"Trust an Uchiha to stick up for their own. We don't trust you, you demon freak!" A stone came flying towards me at that point, the object having been flung with considerable force and speed right for my head. My hand immediately jumped to stop it, however before I could do so a shape of bright orange came leaping out of nowhere with a yell, flying forwards and with a firm kick, knocked the stone to the ground.
"Ha! Naruto Namikaze-Uzumaki to the rescue!" Naruto? I had sensed him nearby of course, but I thought he was merely observing what was going on. I did not expect him to actually involve himself. The boy landed on his feet with a skid then grinned as he turned to face the Konoha civilians, grinning at them goofily before turning to face me as I blinked at him in utter astonishment. "Don't worry lady, I'll protect ya!"
"It's that kid!" Murmuring with one another, the villagers now retreated to place a little more distance between them and Naruto, who was now facing them with his hands on his hips and his chin lifted proudly.
"You shouldn't be picking fights with people just because some things got broken. I was the one who did all those things, because you guys were being mean and not letting me anywhere near your stupid shops, ya know! So go ahead, if you wanna fight somebody, give me your best shot." Oh dear, this was not going to end well. I need to get Naruto out of here quickly before he gets hurt, but I can't touch him…if ever I came into contact with him as a child, just his presence was enough for the two separated halves of the Nine Tails to stir and awaken in recognition. I was struggling even now, gritting my teeth and struggling to breathe as my eyes began to burn from the power of the Fox Demon as it attempted to break through my Tsykuyomi and wake up fully.
"It was you? Argh, you little brat, you're always up to your stupid pranks and tricks, nobody wants you here!" Now the anger was turned on Naruto, so when fists started to rise and stones began to fly through the air as the villagers picked them up off the ground, I held my breath and closed my eyes as I flickered in front of Naruto and simply took the battering on his behalf, using my body as his shield without ever touching him. If I touched him, I feared the Nine Tails might break through my genjutsu and Kamui altogether now that his was more alert and awake than before.
The stones grazed against my skin but for the most part were harmless, so I simply stood there calmly as Shisui appeared behind me. "Shisui, take Naruto away from here." I requested quietly, my Sharingan swirling into life and, with a snatch at the air, I grasped a stone and flung it outwards, my practiced hand guiding it to strike down one rock and then bound off each of the others until they returned fire, scattering upon the villagers who all yelled. The smarter ones ran for cover or back to their homes, those who stayed were promptly placed under arrest when my father and reinforcements arrived.
"Yuki! Yuki you're hurt, my poor precious little princess!" Wailing in alarm, my father immediately crushed me into his arms to embrace me, snivelling as tears streamed down his face in exaggerated emotion. "Don't worry Yuki, papa will make sure these horrible people get swift punishment for daring to scratch your beautiful face!"
"It does not hurt, papa." I murmured softly, brushing my hand against his arm and giving him a smile. "Papa, you are not wearing your scarf. You should whilst it is still cold out." Taking off my own scarf I wrapped it around his neck, making him bawl all the more as he flung his arms around my waist and hugged me in the snow, saying how lucky he was to have me for a daughter and so on. The usual suspects, to be honest. Still, I enjoyed seeing how much he cared, and after eventually peeling him away from my body, I left him in the care of his subordinates who merely rolled their eyes and shook their heads at my father's antics.
Knowing I would have to write up a report later, I quickly went to where Shisui was waiting, holding back Naruto who was kicking and trying to escape. "Let me go! I'm gonna teach them a lesson they won't forget! Who throws rocks at a girl anyway?"
"Perhaps if you had not started this mess, it would not have yielded such results." Naruto practically screamed when I appeared next to him from the thin air, materialising as if from the very snow which fell from the sky. I blinked. Had I frightened him that much? Hm. I shall have to remember to speak more quietly next time.
"Yuki onee-chan!" Sasuke immediately hurried to me, looking at my injuries with worry. "Does it hurt onee-chan?"
"Onee-chan! Since when did you have a sister like that Sasuke?!"
"None of your business Naruto! Miyuki is my onee-chan so you can't have her!" Sasuke then rather possessively hugged my leg, pouting at Naruto pointedly who only yelled back.
"Who said I wanted your big sister? I couldn't care less." Stubborn as ever, Naruto folded his arms and finally settled, lifting his chin proudly away from Sasuke.
"Now, now, let's all be friends here." Shisui suggested, smiling easily as he patted Naruto on the head. "Naruto-kun, you caused a lot of trouble for Miyuki-chan who also protected you from getting hurt. Shouldn't you say something nice to her?" He encouraged and a flicker of guilt crossed Naruto's face, his body going a little more lax and he glanced my way before bashfully rubbing his head and scuffing his foot on the snow covered ground.
"Well, I'm guess I'm sorry I caused you problems, and that you got hurt because of me. But those guys were asking for it!" Knowing exactly the kind of rejection Naruto always faced concerning the villagers, and even his own peers, I was not angry with him at all.
"It is alright. Please be more careful in future." Looking upwards, I could feel the wind beginning to shift and the air had suddenly plummeted into a frigid gloom. "The storm is almost upon us. Shisui, please take Sasuke home, I will take Naruto."
"Right. See you later then Miyuki-chan, Naruto-kun." Saluting us both with a grin, I ushered Sasuke over to Shisui, promising that I would return soon to make him the hotpot and that we would sit under the kotatsu together. I wasted no time, grasping Naruto carefully by his large coat and flickered out of sight, carrying him with me. So long as I did not come into direct contact with his skin, then we should be alright.
"Hey lady! Wait! What're you…?" Coming to a halt whilst high over Konoha, I gave Naruto a brief glimpse of the village from high up with the snow covering everywhere in white. "Wow!" Catching sight of his frost nipped face, I could not help but smile to see the wonder and brightness of his eyes, gazing at everything around and below before I landed upon another rooftop and leaped even higher into the air. I continued in that manner until I had landed at his front door, bending my knees and crouching down to absorb the shock and also let Naruto slide down off my back. "That was awesome ya know! When I'm bigger and better at ninjutsu, I'm going to be able to jump even higher than you lady!"
"I do not doubt it. You will become a fine ninja one day." Smiling softly to him, I knocked on the door to alert Kushina that we were there, however Naruto simply walked in and yelled out that he was home.
"Naruto! I warned you to be back before the snow started to fall, what've you been up to?!" Shouting with a redheaded rage, Kushina was a rather terrifying presence to hold, however Naruto just grinned up at her.
"I was just out with my friends ma, see?" Flipping his hand out to the door, I quickly stepped inside and closed it in order to preserve the warmth, bowing respectfully.
"The fault is mine, Lady Kushina, forgive me for not returning him home on time." I apologised, however the moment she saw me Kushina relaxed.
"Oh, Miyuki-chan, it's been a while. I'm so glad you're here." Wheeling herself forwards, Kushina settled her chair neatly against the wall then gradually began to lift herself up and out of it. Although I worried for her delicate strength, I did not wish to appear insulting by going to assist her. I noted how Naruto lingered closely, watching his mother even as he raided the cookie jar, so I simply assured myself that I would be able to catch her should she stumble. Determined as she was, Kushina forced herself onto her feet and, once she was balanced, took slow and careful steps towards me, limping ever so slightly. "You've grown again, how old are you now? You must be the apple of your parents' eye, are there any boys who've taken interest in you? If you like, I could introduce you to a few."
"That is kind, Kushina-sama, but I am focused on my work at this moment in time. Romantic relationships will have to wait." Giggling at the severity of my tone, Kushina took my hands in hers and I marvelled at how soft and warm they were. A true mother's hands.
"Well, if you change your mind then let me know. Will you stay for dinner? Minato should be home soon, I'm sure he would love to see you too." I was about to politely decline and explain that I had already promised Sasuke that I would make him dinner because both his parents and Itachi were not at home, but Naruto spoke before me.
"She can't stay ma. The lady already promised Sasuke she would have dinner with him." I do not know what it was, but something in the way Naruto spoke made me pause and look towards him. For a brief moment, I saw the same loneliness I had witnessed in his face when I had been trapped within my own Tsykuyomi of the future. Even though he had his parents, Naruto still had no real friends who interacted with him or played with him as children should. He was an outcast, an oddity within his own village because everyone knew that he was the Jinchuriki of the Nine Tails. Suddenly, I felt a little pity well up inside me but I quickly crushed it.
Naruto would not want my pity. All he wants is company, not only for himself, but for Kushina too, I think. From when I had observed this family of my own accord, protecting them when it was necessary, I very rarely saw visitors come to their house, less so when Minato was not at home. It struck me that Kushina did not have many friends either, and any superficial friends she had had before Naruto had been born were long gone, abandoning her due to fear.
"It is alright, I can stay." My words came out of my mouth before I had even registered what I had said. Suddenly Naruto brightened, looking at me with a winsome hope.
"Really?! That's great! You sure Sasuke won't mind?"
"I'll…explain to him." Thinking quickly, I decided that a shadow clone would do the trick. My clone will look after Sasuke, as it had done many times before when I had needed to work or patrol when there was no one else to look after Sasuke, so at least I will be able to keep my promise to him also. Still, I always hated being dishonest with him.
"You're very kind, Miyuki-chan, but if you've already made a promise then you should keep it." Kushina said to me, patting me on the head as her legs began to tremble a little. I noticed how she was beginning to shake, losing her strength the longer she stood up.
"But ma! The lady said she'd explain to Sasuke!"
"Naruto!" Turning on her son with a fiery temper, Kushina lifted a fist. "A promise is a promise, and ninja always keep their promises, it's their shinobi way, ya know! Do you even know her name?! Quit calling her 'lady' and speak properly!" In her energetic outburst, Kushina had started towards Naruto in order to snap him out of his sulking, but as she did so her leg had buckled underneath her and she dropped.
"Ma!" Moving swiftly I was by her side instantaneously, catching her before she could strike the ground and allowing Kushina to use me for support.
"Ugh…dammit…"
"Kushina-sama, please do not overexert yourself in anger. I apologise for causing disruption in your home." Once she had recovered, Kushina relaxed as she looked at me, even lifting her hand to brush her fingers through my hair which had become damp with melted snow.
"You are so well mannered, Miyuki-chan. Naruto, you should learn from Miyuki-chan. This is how children ought to behave instead of running rampant around the village!" The two of them argued further, the panic from Naruto's eyes now gone until Kushina finally thumped him on the head to settle things, warning him that he'd go to bed hungry unless he surrendered his argument. "Now Miyuki-chan, we've kept you here long enough. You head on home now, and make sure to stay warm."
"Hm." Nodding my head, I helped Kushina over to the table so that she could sit upon it for the moment, then turned to Naruto. I regarded his sulking expression for a moment, considering what I should say before I bent forwards, lowering myself to his eye level and caught his attention. "Naruto-kun. Tomorrow, I shall treat you to ramen."
"Really?!" His excitement completely overshadowed all previous brightness as he grinned at me, stomach already rumbling with the promise. "Alright! Ramen! Ramen! Ramen!" Giggling a little at his cute nature and boyish anticipation, I patted him on the head then bowed to Kushina, bidding them both farewell before I then disappeared from their home, returning to my own where Sasuke was waiting patiently for me under the veranda, gazing upwards. The moment he saw me, his eyes also lit up just like Naruto's had, mouth stretching into a smile and as I walked up towards him, he jumped out into the snow and into my arms, beaming from ear to ear as I then carried him back inside and into the warmth.
