Author's Note: So, originally was writing using honorifics, then I dropped the honorifics, and I've finally decided to use them. Itachi-kun, Akina-chan, Akina-sama, etc. When you read subtitles or listen to dub, sama is translated to Lord or Lady, sensei is sensei or teacher, san is Miss or Mister, chan and kun just get lost in translation.

I just decided to write with honorifics because I found myself having no translation for kun and chan, and then code switching, sometimes writing Akina-sama, sometimes writing Lady Akina. Oh, and Mr. Itachi just sounds awkward lol. I just want to keep it consistent.

Citations: Naruto Shippuden Episode #451

Chapter's Song:
"Child of Snow" by per se


Chapter 3
Cowardice

December

"Yasuo-sama," Benjiro addressed to Yasuo, who sat in his office with a bottle of sake.

"Yes, Benjiro?" He looked to the young boy.

"I'm going to see Shisui…" His eyes were filled with worry.

"Tell your mother." Yasuo ordered with a nod to insist.

"I have. She said it's okay." Benjiro murmured.

"So why are you informing me?" Yasuo placed his cheek to his knuckles, reading Benjiro. "Ah. It's been three months already, he should be ready."

"He's blaming himself more then I was blaming myself." Benjiro hung his head.

"Then let me go with you. I want to pay a visit to Fugaku, anyway. And I'm sure Akina wants to play with Itachi."

Uchiha Compound

Yasuo, Akina, and Benjiro stood outside on the porch of Shisui's small home. Shisui's mother standing in the doorway, she was a petite woman, her pale features and bobbed hair tucked in the high collar of her dress, white leggings under the purple dress. She replied, "I'm sorry, Shisui isn't up to company yet."

"How about your husband?" Yasuo smiled, peeking over her to the man that came into view.

"Well…" The meek woman thought out loud.

"Let them in, Yuasa." An Uchiha man firmly said from behind her, using his crutches to get to the dining chair. Akina noticed he only had one leg.

"Hinote-san," Yasuo greeted and sat down, accepting the sake he poured.

"Can I try knocking at Shisui's door, Yuasa-san?" Benjiro asked, his eyes pleading more then his words as he came into the home with Akina.

The Uchiha mother contemplated and sighed. "You can try."

"Shisui is a kind boy, he'll get through it." Hinote said out loud as Benjiro and Akina passed by. Yasuo's eyes softened. "He blames himself because he was afraid."

"That's understandable," Akina said with her empathic heart aching for Shisui.

"It's stupid!" Hinote spat. "Do you think I was afraid on the frontline?"

Akina shook her head 'no' sheepishly. Yasuo watching with a light smirk.

"No?" Hinote laughed. "I was afraid when I lost my leg! If you're not afraid, you're not alive."

"Then what is a coward?" Akina asked blankly.

"A coward is someone who can fight, but quits. Not those who are afraid. If we define a coward as someone who gets afraid, then we're all cowards! Everyone gets afraid, even the strongest of ninja get afraid, especially with those with something to lose."

Akina nodded. Catching up with Benjiro a few steps down the hall to Shisui's door.

"Shisui," Benjiro spoke up. Bracing himself for rejection.

"Go away, Benjiro." Shisui murmured as he was slumped in his bed on his belly.

Benjiro turned away to re-join the adults. Akina stayed put.

"Who's still standing there?" Shisui picked up his head from the other side of the door.

Akina remained quiet. "I'm not going to ask you to talk… I've heard you're blaming yourself for being afraid to go back for Kenji-san… You can't blame yourself for normal emotions."

Shisui opened his door. "I could have saved him, but I chose not to."

"That desire is enough reason not to blame yourself." Her words hit Shisui's heart, enough for him to get up and go to his door.

Shisui peaked open his door. "I let him die because of my rivalry with him. I live with that regret."

"Your regret is reason not to blame yourself any longer. Kenji-san wouldn't want you holding yourself back because of him."

Shisui came out to the dining table with Akina. "Hi, everyone."

"Shisui," Yuasa beamed.

"Well, we'll leave you to your dinner." Yasuo announced, standing.

"But won't you stay?" Hinote offered with a hand's gesture.

"I'll stay…" Benjiro raised his one finger, Shisui smirking.

"We're headed over to Fugaku's." Yasuo smiled.

"Send the captain my regards." Hinote nodded.

"I will." Yasuo bowed, headed for the door. "Come along, Akina."

Leaf Hospital

Itachi watched as the hospital door opened, his mother coming out and bowing to the nurse. "Please take care."

"Thank you very much!" Mikoto said with a slight bow, and smiled as she approached Itachi to take his hand to lead him out of the hospital.

"Mom…" His small monotone voice spoke up.

"What is it?" She glanced.

"Are you sick?" His concern was evident in his voice, despite his blank expression.

"Oh, it's nothing like that." She said with a soft giggle. Taking a few steps in front of Itachi to turn back to face him. Looking down to his curious face. "You see… You're going to have a little brother or sister."

She stepped closer to him, taking the back of his head and his cheek in her hands, to pull his ear to her stomach. "Yes. You're going to be a big brother."

Itachi's face shifted to listen. "Mom, I want a little brother."

Mikoto grinned, tilting her head to defend, "But a sister will be cute too, wouldn't it?"

Itachi continue to listen as he focused on the baby in his mother's womb. He replied in all seriousness. "I have a feeling it's going to be a little brother."

Mikoto's eyes softened, seeing the love her son already had for his younger sibling. It then began to snow. "Oh! It's snowing!" She noticed and informed, "It will be born in the summer."


"Oh, Yasuo…" Fugaku addressed once he opened the door fully.

"Akina wanted to play with Itachi." Yasuo smiled.

"He's out with his mother right now. She's at a prenatal appointment."

"Oh, I guess another time then." Yasuo smiled awkwardly, and went to leave. "See you—"

"Yasuo… Let's talk." Fugaku demanded numbly.

Yasuo let out a tiresome sigh. "You're still mad at me for not speaking up?"

"Akina," Fugaku smiled. "There's hot chocolate in the kitchen, go have some while I talk with your father."

"Yes, sir." Akina nodded. "Thank you."

Fugaku sternly stared at Yasuo and the Mochizuki man whipped his palm upwards to wave as he spoke. "I told you already. Everyone was already largely in favor of Minato… Besides, you're going to be a dad."

"So is Minato." Fugaku informed with a shrug.

"Huh?" Yasuo asked shocked.

"He hasn't told you?" Fugaku smirked.

"But he told you?!" Yasuo got flustered.

"No. Kushina told Mikoto." Fugaku closed his eyes, not noticing the doomed expression come over Yasuo.

"My wife is gone," Yasuo depressingly murmured. "I'm out of the loop."

Fugaku sighed and then deeply laughed, patting Yasuo's shoulder. "Come on in. Mikoto will be back soon."


"I heard that your mom is going to have a baby?" Akina asked, as the two children built a snowman together.

"Yeah, she is." Itachi stated, putting the head up on the two balls of snow.

"Are you excited?" Akina blankly asked.

"I think so…" He nodded.

"I'm excited!" Akina leaned in close to Itachi's face. It flustered him. "I'm so curious if it's a boy or a girl!"

"I think it's going to be a boy." Itachi smiled, stepping back.

"What you're hoping for, you mean." Akina blankly insisted.

"Are you hoping it's a girl so you can come over and dress her up like a doll?" Itachi asked.

"No!" She threw a snowball at him. "As long as he or she is healthy, I'm excited to meet your sister or brother."

Itachi was surprised, but smiled, and rolled a snowball in his hand to throw at Akina. The adults talked and watched in joy as the children played.

"Hey, you two!" Yasuo said, "Does Ichiraku sound good for dinner?"

"Yeah!" Akina smiled. Itachi smiled, as well.

Yasuo turned to Fugaku and Mikoto. "I'll take Itachi off your hands. Get some rest with that baby."

"Thank you, friend." Fugaku smirked.

"I owe you." Yasuo nodded.

"I understand, Yasuo. Don't give it a second thought." Fugaku crossed his arms as he closed his eyes.


"Akina!" Ayame cheered as said girl, her father, and her friend came into Ichiraku. "And Itachi-kun! Hi!"

"Well, if it isn't my teammate." Teuchi smiled.

"Hello, friend." Yasuo smiled.


"I'm craving ramen, Minato." Kushina announced as she spun in front of him.

"We have instant ramen at home. Why come out in this cold?" He sheepishly grinned.

"Because Ichiraku is best!" She defended.

"You heard the lady," Teuchi smirked from inside the shop.

"Well," Yasuo casually smirked, as Minato and Kushina came into the ramen shop. "Team Jiraiya together again."

"Oh, Yasuo-san…" Minato addressed. "How're you?"

"Well. Treating the kids to ramen." He looked to Kushina. "Congratulations, by the way."

"Oh… You've heard." Kushina grinned.

"I hope you have a daughter, Minato." Yasuo sneered.

"Stop picking on him," Teuchi waved. "Us all having girls would be fun, though."

"Ayame and I are the same age," Akina said. "Lord Fourth, your baby will be a friend with Itachi's sibling."

Minato was surprised, but smiled.

"Yes!" Kushina nodded, then taking Akina's cheeks. "And you and Ayame will be like big sisters. So cute!"

"I'm so excited." Akina awkwardly grinned, and then stared into her ramen to then take a slurp of noodles. She could hear the adults discussing, but she wasn't really listening. Itachi then noticed as she turned her head to him.

"What is it?" He asked.

"I understood now why you weren't as excited as me earlier," She stared into her ramen once again. "The responsibility is a weight, I still feel excited, but it's not fully expressed because of my nerves."

"Yeah, exactly." He nodded, taking a bite of fish cake. "She always explains things better then me. She understands me."