A/N: And so, how did Shinju survive.

Chapter 7: Schrödinger's girl

Shinju woke up in her own bed in her own room in her own home. It wasn't an abrupt wake up but it wasn't a slow one either. She slowly sat up and looked at the alarm clock on her bedside table. It was a bit past six in the morning.

The girl slid out of the bed. She was feeling… disoriented. She was here but she was certain she had been meant to stay at grandfather's house. She had been eating dinner but now it was morning. Shinju tiptoed into the hallway and towards the kitchen. Mitsuru was already up and making breakfast.

"Good morning, Shin-chan!" The woman called over her shoulder when the floor right by the threshold snirked when Shinju stepped on it. It was a polite thing to do. Mitsuru was a kunoichi, Shinju was one in training. They were quiet by practice and nature. Shinju had even been learning some stealth things from Shisui and Itachi.

She froze.

Shisui.

Itachi.

Last night.

Last night was the Massacre. Shinju had been right there when Itachi came for Hatori. Shinju should be dead by now. Hatori most likely had been dead for hours.

But why… Why was Mitsuru acting like Shinju's presence was normal if she had meant to stay at Hatori's?

In that moment an impression of memories slammed into Shinju. Of time spent last night at home. Of Hatori declining Shinju's visit based on clan matters. Of Mitsuru supervising Shinju practice her kanji in preparation for the sealing lessons.

Of a box Hatori left Shinju which she had tucked under her bed.

The moment was over soon. Shinju looked at Mitsuru and tried to force back tears.

"G-Good morning, okaasan." She swallowed with a hitch. Mitsuru noticed immediately and she turned off the stove in order to rush to Shinju.

"Shin-chan what is it? Are you hurt? Was there a scary dream?"

"I… It was scary." Shinju whispered. She didn't even need to lie. Her head was full of thoughts but the knowledge that she almost died and that her grandfather was definitely dead. Tears came unbidden and Mitsuru didn't waste time folding her into a hug.

"You are safe now. You're here. I'm here. We're at home and inside the walls of Konoha. It's alright."

Mitsuru might mean them all, but for Shinju they were hollow.

"Mn…" The girl just nodded against her mother's shirt.

"Feel better now? Go wash your face and change your clothes, the breakfast will be soon."

"Yes."

In her room, Shinju took out the box, she'd showed under. It was a flat but large box. On top of it was a letter. Inside was dozens of scrolls. She didn't touch those yet. Instead, she opened the letter, penned with the familiar hand of her grandfather.

Sakuya-hime, it began. Shinju had to take a deep breath. This was just another precaution. In the case someone got their hands on the letter. Hatori – and by extension Shinju – was of the Oyamatsumi lineage. In the various lessons on traditions, gods and general mythology that at least somewhat mirrored that of the Japan in the Before World, Shinju had learnt much. Enough to recognize the reference as it was. Oyamatsumi was the god of the mountains, sea and war. He was also the elder brother to Amaterasu and Susanoo. Sakuya-hime was the shortened name of one of his daughters – Konohanasakuya-hime, the goddess of mount Fuji in the previous world, here the goddess of volcanoes in general. Symbolized by cherry blossom – renewal.

Sakuya-hime,

I apologize for your abrupt relocation but it was the only way to keep you safe. The box has things I had intended to give you soon anyways regardless of the outcome of this conflict and had thus been preparing for months by now. But even I did not expect things to turn out this way, this quickly. Some of them have techniques, some are storage for things left behind by your grandmother and now, myself. Keep yourself safe and take your time graduating. Hopefully a friend of mine will contact Mitsuru soon and is of sound mind to offer whatever help she requires. I wish there had been more time for us to be a family. I wish we hadn't needed to rush you so much these past years.

Despite all the lessons we had, I never talked about the stages of Sharingan, too confident that yours would be sealed before it awoke. Fugaku-sama accepting to have you swear the Uchiha oath surprised me and made me reconsider the sealing. But then there never was an opportunity to teach you what I must. Even this letter will be insufficient and I can only hope that the rest of the scrolls will be of use to you when the time comes.

Sharingan has several stages. The common knowledge is the first three which feature different amount of tomoe. One, two and three. First stage allows you to predict opponent, the second copy the techniques you see and the third guides you to use those techniques. Outsiders think those one and same even if they see the different count of tomoe between our clansmen's eyes. Then there is the fourth stage. Or the proper second stage depending on how you count. The Mangekyou Sharingan. Awakened in the moment of loss and deep grief. It grants a special power dependent on the lineage. Ours is that of Oyamatsumi-no-Mikoto. The power itself allows us to reject a certain fact in reality. In this case, I rejected the fact you were at my house that night and sent a message to the past for myself. The created scenario overwrote the last few hours and had my past self writing and delivering these to your home. The only ones affected by the technique are the ones present when it is cast. It means that Itachi knows you still live. But despite the oath you gave, there never was an Uchiha Katsuki in any records. If he has any honour and respect towards Shisui-kun left, he will not pursue you.

You are safe, Sakuya-hime and I wish you the best life no matter what the future may bring. Keep your fire burning in your heart, never forget the past but don't let it chain you down either.

The letter was folded away and hidden inside the box. Shinju's mind was completely blank when she changed clothes and then headed downstairs. She didn't know what to think. She was alive. She was not alive. She was Katsuki. She was not Katsuki.

Who was she?

The wind chime by the window let out faint notes. It was decorated with gingko leaves, the symbol of the Kinoshita family. Her kimono had been embroidered with maple leaves which were as close to the Nara as she dared to claim. Hatori had called her Sakuya-hime who was symbolized by cherry blossoms… the Japanese Police Force had the cherry blossom as their symbol too and Uchiha had been in charge of Konoha's Military Police.

Distantly, Shinju was also worrying what Mitsuru would think when seeing her face. Would she worry more? But what could Shinju tell her? About her close brush with death. About secrets Hatori gave her. About Hatori's sacrifice…

The doorbell rang.

Shinju flinched at the sound and heard Mitsuru going to open the door. Terror seized her. Her breath and words were stuck in her throat.

No! Don't go! What if it is Itachi? What if it is his accomplice? What if someone in Konoha figured things out and Root was coming to get them? Pleasedontopenthedoor…

"Aoba-kun? This is quite early for you to visit. Has something come up at the office?" Mitsuru was asking whomever was at the door.

A-o-ba?

Shinju blinked. She swallowed hard and approached the genkan slowly. She peered around the corner to see the doorway. Aoba was there indeed, grim. Mitsuru had her hand covering her mouth and her shoulders quivering in suppressed sobs.

"Okaasan?" Shinju called out. Mitsuru started and she twisted to look over her shoulder. Tears were pouring down her face but hastily wiped away.

"Ah, Shin-chan… Sorry, kaa-chan needs to step out a bit. The breakfast is at the table… If I'm not back when it's time for you to go to school, walk with Hanada-san, alright?"

Hanada Kama lived next door and had a son who'd just begun in the Academy. Technically, Shinju could walk to school alone but… Given the news Aoba just gave to Mitsuru, it was understandable that the woman worried.

"Okay."

The door clicked shut behind her mother.

Shinju went to school. The atmosphere was… confused. Some of the students didn't know anything, some knew that something had happened. And few had already gotten the news before going to school.

(And then there was Shinju who knew exactly what had happened but had to pretend ignorance.)

But everyone equally knew something was amiss at the very least when they saw all the empty seats where the Uchiha students used to sit.

Shinju sat in her own seat and stared at the empty spots. Only in their own class there were three Uchiha. Youko, Noa, Taiko… If not for Hatori, Shinju would've been among them. And if she'd died, someone probably would've gone after Mitsuru and maybe even Aoba.

Now there were black square cloths on the desks and a single white chrysanthemum in a small vase in the middle of them.

Fusae stood in front of the class, grim. There was no need to ask for attention for everyone was already quiet.

"Last night, the entire Uchiha clan was killed." She began. "They were killed by one of their own, Uchiha Itachi, whom was hailed a prodigy. He has now fled the village and declared traitor and a missing nin."

Fusae took a breath.

"There are things that I need to tell you and things I want to tell but I'm not allowed to. At least at this point of time."

Shinju pondered what those things could be. It was a distant thought.

"There was one survivor, your underclassman, Uchiha Sasuke, Itachi's younger brother. He is your kouhai and has gone through a traumatic experience. For now, he is recovering in hospital but once he returns to school, you will not harass him with questions or speculations. If I hear about you questioning him of last night, there will be consequences."

Some of the girls were weeping. Ogawa Anmin and Nohara Ringo were among them. Shinju's cheeks were wet as well. Some of the boys kept stoic facade, some better than others. Yuuhi Zakuro seemed more focused on comforting Ringo.

"And in the light of… Itachi's background, it has been decided that all early graduations will be postponed." Fusae then stated. There were some protests but those were silenced by the hand she raised. "Uchiha Itachi graduated at seven years old, he became chuunin at ten and an Anbu soon after. This is all public information. One part for this decree is to prevent anyone else going the way he did. Burning bright and fast and then burning everyone around himself. The other part is to keep you here until the situation in-village stabilizes considering we just lost entirety of our Military Police and great chunk of active forces, not to mention all the civilian businesses that the Uchiha had run."

There were still some mutinous mutterings from the back. Shinju was surprised that Fusae told them as much as she did. But then again, they were nine – almost ten – already. It wasn't that unusual early graduation age. Oh well… it wasn't like she would be trying for the early graduation anyways.

The day was quickly over and Shinju headed home. She didn't remember anything of the subjects taught. She had marked down the homework though so maybe she could figure it out on her own. It shouldn't be too hard given how much Hatori… had… pushed… her…

A bowl of miso soup she'd made from the pre-packaged stuff slipped through her fingers and shattered on impact against the floor. Shinju remained motionless as tears began pouring down her face again. There was warm soup all over the floor and her bare feet. There were shards of the bowl scattered about.

Hatori was dead.

Shisui was dead.

Uzume – whom Shinju only recently got to know – was dead too.

Noa and Youko and Kukuri and Taiko from Academy. Tenjin from the orphanage. Akiko and Izumi who graduated a few years ago. Kisaru who competed against Itachi in everything. Ayame who was meant to start in Academy next year.

All the other children whose names Shinju never learnt. All the elderly who were too old to defend themselves. All the civilians who'd never picked a weapon in their lives.

All of them dead because of two mad men and a boy too distraught to say no. Despite everything Shinju could not find it in her heart to hate Itachi. Oh, she absolutely condemned his actions and she'd never side with him when the time of confrontation came. But she didn't hate him. Not even when she sobbed her heart out over the fate of her clansmen. Over Sasuke who had been tortured with Tsukuyomi. Little Sasuke who had been all smiles and determination when Shinju met him. Who now had only one goal in mind, given to him by Itachi himself.

Goal which was completely unacceptable but if it drove Sasuke to become strong enough not to be controlled by Danzou? Shinju could accept it. But she would absolutely interfere if Sasuke planned to leave to join Orochimaru. Not only because of the awfulness of the cursed seal but also for all the potential bonds Sasuke could forge in village and thus keep him from the Curse of Hatred.

And of course, not have that awful sense of fashion inflicted on him.

Shinju hiccupped at the random thought. It also snapped her back to present enough to take note of the mess by her feet and go to look for a rag and dustpan.

What to do about Sasuke though? Sasuke had met Katsuki. He right now assumed she was dead with everyone else. But if they met, he would absolutely recognize her and ask questions. At this point of time, it was last thing Shinju wanted. Sasuke would be under tight surveillance from here on out. He was the last Uchiha. He was the heir, the legacy. He was a flight risk.

Simply said, Shinju could not risk him seeing her. At least not until the boy graduated. Because at the very least then Shinju needed have him at the Naka Shrine and as the only other recognized Uchiha receive and accept Sasuke's oath.

It would be very long next five years.

Mitsuru came home late that night. She made dinner, showered and collapsed in her bed. Shinju ate in silence and left it be.

Next morning Mitsuru was gone early, with only breakfast and bento left to wait for Shinju. There were leftovers in the fridge waiting once Shinju came home from Academy. Mitsuru did not come home that night.

Pattern like that continued the next few weeks. Shinju went to school and then wandered home. She did homework. She trained. Mitsuru was sometimes home but mostly not. One night the woman sat down with Shinju to talk but that ended in tears on their part and they turned in early.

There were funerals. They attended those with Aoba. There were many other people as well. Shinju only recognized Amano and Sasuke.

Then one week Mitsuru did not come home for several days. Shinju went to look for Aoba in the Intelligence department after school.

"Where is okaasan?"

"She got a mission. Should be over in few days. Did she not tell you?"

"No."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Shin-chan."

That night Shinju wandered around the village. She did not want to go home. She could not go to the Uchiha district. Instead, after passing the memorial at training grounds, her feet led her to a forest and fell asleep there. She was exhausted.

Fusae was worried. Shinju had not come to school that morning. It was very unlike her. There had been a few occasions when the girl had fallen ill and had to skip school, but there always was at the very least a message about it, if not the girl's mother appearing at the Academy to inform Fusae about Shinju's absence. But the past week Shinju seemed to get progressively worse. She was quiet and didn't pay attention to much anything. Not even her friends. Fusae was probably one of the few people who knew it was due Mitsuru's mentor having been Uchiha Hatori who had been teaching Shinju as well. There was a note in Shinju's files about extracurricular lessons she was getting despite not being a clan child.

And now Shinju was not at school.

"Does anyone know about Kinoshita-san?" Fusae asked when she finished the rollcall. The list had been adjusted with the loss of their many students. Some had dropped out in the wake of the Massacre.

"No. She has seemed really tired though." Momiji frowned.

"Maybe she remained home in order to sleep." Aina guessed.

"I'd rather sleep until next school year, too." Akarou muttered, with Shiroki giving an empathetic noise.

"Alright, I see to it after school. Now, take out your history books and turn on the page…"

Shinju was not home. From the look of things – a calendar with a day too few ripped off – she hadn't come back last night. And apparently Mitsuru was not home either.

Fusae headed for the mission desk. Once there she heard that Kinoshita Mitsuru had been assigned a mission a few days ago with very little warning. That the other woman had left directly from the tower.

"Shin-chan came to ask after Mitsu-senpai yesterday." Yamashiro Aoba who'd come down from the Intelligence relayed to Fusae. "I told her about the mission."

"How was she?"

"Tired."

Weren't they all?

"Thank you, Yamashiro-kun."

"Do you need my help in searching?"

Fusae had to actually pause at the offer. There were not much clues available. And in the end Shinju was only an Academy student from a dwindling shinobi family at least in the eyes of the rest of the village. Would anyone bother? Would Shinju and Mitsuru appreciate the effort put into finding the girl after the pains they went to conceal their connection to Nara clan? Especially still so close to the Massacre?

Something was nudging Shinju's face. She woke up groggily and came face full of deer. She did not yelp, thank you very much, but she did startle.

"Oh… good morning?" She slowly raised her hand petted the deer's snout carefully. What time was it actually? Shinju felt like she'd been sleeping very long time. And where was she?

The deer snorted. Its breath smelled weird.

The deer. In a forest. Probably still within the compound.

"Am I in the Nara forest?" She asked aloud. She guessed she received an affirmative answer.

Huh…

"Sorry for intruding but thank you for waking me up. I probably should go home though…" Shinju made to get on her feet but another deer appeared and pushed its face against her stomach, causing the girl to fall back on the forest floor.

That deer huffed in satisfaction and laid down next to her. The first one – it appeared to be smaller than the other – laid down as well. The message was clear, they wanted Shinju to stay put.

"Okay, but I do have to go home eventually." Shinju agreed. Her school bag was nearby and the girl reached for it. She had some granola bars still stocked inside in the case she didn't have time to make bento lately. Shinju ate a couple of those and tucked the wrapped back inside her bag. (Littering was bad no matter what sort of world you liked in.) Her water bottle was empty though…

"How did that trick go again?" Shinju muttered and made two hand seals, bird and dog. It was something Shisui had taught her. A trick to condense usable water from the moisture in the air. It would not work everywhere but in Fire Country's temperate climate it was quite successful. And thus Shinju had a ball of fresh water floating on her palm. With her other hand she plucked a smaller ball from it and swallowed it. And another. It was almost like snacking grapes or something.

She did not drink it all but poured the rest into her empty bottle and the deposed the bottle into her bag. When doing so, the bottle hit some obstruction…

It was her ocarina. The same one Itachi had given her a few years ago.

Shinju let out an amused huff and settled against the tree behind her back. Despite what had happened, she would still cherish the moments that had been prior to that. They were no less true after all. She lifted the instrument onto her lips and began to play. Luigia's theme sounded good.

A/N: No worries, Mitsuru will shape up soon. And Shinju will eventually play more than just pokemon songs.

OCs that get mentioned to be either on Shinju's class or exist otherwise but I didn't name in chapter 5 because I was being awkward. Most of these are nods to other authors in DoS recursive community with me having no idea what to do with them aside from namedrops:

- Uchiha Kukuri, Noa, Youko, Tenjin: BoPeepWithNoSleep

- Ogawa Anmin: Frolic/wafflelate

- Yuuhi Zakuro, Nohara Ringo: jacksgreyson

Other characters OC and not:

- Uchiha Akiko: a placeholder name for a One Piece SI who keeps reincarnating but rarely reaches double digits. She was 11 when dying in Massacre. the fic is in AO3, named Ground Zero.

- Uchiha Kisaru and Ayame: from Tanigakure no Sato, a fic of mine where they survived by Kisaru kidnapping her sister and fleeing to Tani. That obviously didn't happen here.

- Uchiha Taiko: anime filler character. A massive jerk.

Replies to Reviews:

- Asian95:
Yeah, things happened too fast for Shinju to keep up with. Now things are a bit calmer for a while... And next chapter will have Nara stuff! Oyamatsumi is my own creation. In Narutopedia I found no evidence of a technique of that name. I did find the Ohoyamatsumi you mentioned but in Narutofanonpedia with an associated Uchiha OC.

- Acetroyz:
Thank you!