Trigger warning:

-child abuse/training

I don't own Naruto


Ch4: The weak are meat


If it wasn't commonly known around ROOT about Danzo's multiple experiments and schemes Shisui would have been more shocked to see his leader holding a baby. Shisui was more curious as to why Danzo brought the baby into ROOT headquarters. His experiments usually stay in Orochimaru's lab until they all inevitably fail, there has never been a reason to introduce said experiments to ROOT members.

After Danzo has everyone's full attention he waves his hand towards Kakashi and Tenzo, notifying them their shift as guards is done and to join the rest of the members. Danzo looks over the crowd below him, taking the time to look every member in the eyes. Scanning the room showing his unwavering authority. Danzo doesn't waste time with mundane and unnecessary pleasantries and starts to discuss the questions everyone has, "This is our newest recruit. I expect no retaliation from any of you to make sure it doesn't die."

Shisui reads the underlying message that Danzo doesn't care what happens to the child as long as it doesn't die. Shisui looks down from behind Danzo at the baby, she has green eyes. The Haruno family he had just massacred all had the same green eyes. Shisui's eyes grow wide with realization.

Danzo continues after adjusting his arm to better show the baby to the room, "It is to be trained as the rest of you were, without hesitation and full force. Once it is older I will take control of it's training regiment. Until then do whatever is necessary."

Shisui can't take his eyes off the baby, he can't believe his own thoughts. The puzzle pieces fall together and he realizes why Danzo gave him his initiation mission. He was the one who killed this baby's family. He made her an orphan. He was the one who brainwashed the baby's grandma and led the hokage to close the case of her fathers death. He was the one who inevitably led the hokage to assume she was dead, meaning no one would ever go looking for her. It felt like Shisui had really killed her, led her into a lions den. He was the reason she was alone.

Shisui finally looked up, his eyes scanning the room. He knows none of the members will care enough to keep the child alive considering Danzo gets a new orphan every week. They respect Danzo and complete every mission successfully, but none of them will act as a babysitter. They were too emotionless, shells of who they once were. Child soldiers were raised for one thing only, to kill.

Shisui knows he owes this child his life, it's only fair considering he killed any chance of her having one. He's already made his decision. He acts before his brain can comprehend his actions, he clears his throat to get Danzo's attention. Before he walks in front of Danzo and kneels on one knee.

"Danzo sama, if it pleases you, I would like to prove my undying loyalty and ability by taking this on as a long term solo mission," Shisui says looking into Danzo's eyes to show his respect.

Danzo raises his chin, impressed by his willingness of accountability and ownership for something Danzo finds most important. Satisfied by his request Danzo looks down at the young ROOT agent. "It will not affect your training or missions," Danzo states without room for question.

Shisui lowers his head with submission, hiding the gleam of satisfaction in his eyes. Repeating Danzo's words to prove he fully understands what is being expected of him, "It will not interfere with my missions or training."

With Shisui still kneeling in front of him, Danzo raises his eyes to the rest of the ROOT members, "You will accompany Shisui when needed, while he is away on missions. As well as preparing the child with future training. I will not accept weakness of any kind."

Shisui internally whinces, knowing Danzo just implied that the ROOT agents can still do whatever they please without repercussions, going against Shisui's personal intention of trying to keep the child away from the rest of the ROOT members.

Tenzo clears his throat hinting he wishes for permission to speak.

Danzo without turning his head to regard the agent says, "Tiger san, speak."

Tenzo comes to kneel in front of Danzo next to Shisui and asks, "The baby doesn't have a mask yet, how will we address it as it gets older?"

Danzo can't meet Tenzo's eyes in disappointment of being asked such a useless question, "I have no time to entertain such nugatory thoughts and ideas. Until the child is old enough to participate in conversation I have no need to address it. If you find the need to address such pointless pleasantries you may discuss it amongst yourselves."

Shisui bites his tongue to stop himself from speaking up, Danzo is making the child seem more like a weapon to possess than an actual person with an identity. Shisui distracts himself by finally taking a moment to truly analyze and looks over the baby in Danzo's arm. The baby is squirming lightly in discomfort from Danzo's less than supportive hold of her, which Danzo is ignoring.

The pink peach fuzz of hair and green eyes remind Shisui of spring, a glimpse of light in the shadows. Since the war Shisui hasn't taken the time to appreciate the beauty in the change of seasons, and hasn't had the time with the inner turmoil the war caused the Uchiha clan. He owes it to the baby to do anything to keep that inner light from being dulled. It's partly his fault that this baby was taken into the shadows, the least he can do to repay the baby's family hes killed is watch over her and protect her.

Shisui hopes he can help this little spring bloom, and that it's not too late. That her destiny hasn't already been tied to the shadows, that her heart won't be full of dead flowers that never bloom.


Kakashi walks into the bunker to see the other teenage ROOT agents are acting too calm and quiet. He sees Tenzo meditating on his cot, a few sharpening kunai, a couple practicing their shuriken on a target drawn on the wall, and the rest of the members snickering in hushed voices to each other. Kakashi notices a shoe box on the floor by one of the cots moving and shifting lightly, a whining emits from the box.

"Do you have nothing more productive to do? Leave the bunker if you aren't sleeping or training," Kakashi states.

"We're babysitting…" a snotty voice replies.

Kakashi looks down at the box, "Leaving a baby isolated and trapped in a box is not babysitting."

The ROOT member scoffs, "How would you know, friend killer Kakashi?"

Kakashi shrugs off the familiar insulting nickname and sits on his cot, pulling icha icha out of his vest pocket to read.

The rest of the ROOT agents roll their eyes and continue to ignore Kakashi as well.

The baby inside the box begins whining softly. Kakashi thinks of the baby deer in the Nara forest that make the same noise when calling to their mother when lost. One of the teenage ROOT agents opens the box and punches the baby continuously until she gets the hint to stop making any noise.

The ROOT agent stands over the box and watches to see if she will begin whining again, and only when he hears silence in return does he huff, "Finally, that was getting annoying." And puts the lid back on the box, continuing to talk with the other members.

Shisui opens the door to the bunker walking in, his eyes instantly landing on Tenzo, "Tenzo it's your shift for person guard rotation."

Tenzo doesn't waste a second before exiting the room. Shisui looks around, "Where's the baby?"

None of the members respond to him, Kakashi doesn't look up from his book. Shisui looks around again and notices the small box on the floor. He walks up to it feeling the familiar chakra signature and discards the box's lid. His blood runs cold through his veins when he sees the baby inside slightly shivering. He gives every member in the room a grim glare as he picks up the baby.

"She's your responsibility, don't expect us to do anything," the same teenage agent from before runs his fingers over his slightly bruised knuckles, "Danzo instructed us to train her young, this is training. We all went through it, just because she is Danzo's chosen doesn't mean she gets special treatment."

Shisui bites his tongue. He knows better than to try to reason with the rest of ROOT members, they have become so brainwashed by Danzo they can't comprehend compassion or empathy. Shisui goes to his cot and drags his sheet off of the bed, wrapping it around himself and the baby to form ghanaian wrap. Once it is secure and he knows the baby is fully supported wrapped against his chest he walks to the door.

Kakashi finally looks up from his book, "Headed out?"

Shisui doesn't respond as he exits the room.


With the baby wrapped tightly to his chest Shisui walks out of the base and takes a deep breath of fresh air, relishing in the feeling of the afternoon sun on his skin. Shisui feels the baby wriggle against him and looks down to see her viridescent eyes narrow then squeeze tightly shut.

Shisui watches her for a moment before understanding that the baby has probably never been brought outside during the day, has never seen the sun and her eyes aren't adjusted to the natural light. She had been born as a bird in a cage of shadows. The grim reaper himself had tattooed his chains onto her the day she came to this word and promised her a life of darkness, she had never imagined the sun existed. Never knew the difference between night and day.

A feeling of deep care and unsettlement crashed against each other in the waves of Shisui's heart as he put his hand against the baby's head, bringing her closer to his chest. As if to reassure her with the sound of his own heartbeat.

As he continued walking Shisui started to reassure her, "I know you won't understand this for years to come, but I played a part in your misery. I took your family."

Shisui paused and ran his fingers lightly through the pink peach fuzz on her head, " I don't know if there is such a thing as justice in the shinobi world, but I will try to bring you a piece of it. I promise to be your big brother and protect you from the curse of hatred. I'll be your new family now. All we've got in the shadows is each other."

Shisui continues walking and thinks aloud, "What are big brothers supposed to do?"

He takes a moment to think of how Itachi protects Sasuke, "I guess walking around town can become a normal thing we do together. You'll need to learn about life anyways, who else to teach you then your best big brother?"

As he says this Shisui realizes he doesn't know if life will allow him to keep his promise, there are too many things outside of his control. He'll just have to work harder and become stronger, for Itachi, Sasuke and now for this baby's sake.

"I'll have to teach you how to read and write, ne?" Shisui looks down at the baby to see questioning eyes glance back at him. "Hn."

He taps his chin in thought, "Hopefully if I talk to you enough you'll get used to my voice and start to understand more." He pokes the baby's forehead as he asks, "I don't think that will be a problem, do you?" The baby wrinkles her nose at him before trying to smile in return.

"I wouldn't be surprised if your first words are 'Yes Danzo sama'" Shisui chuckles humorlessly to himself at his choice of dark humor.

By the end of Shisui's discussion with himself and the baby he is at the gates of the Uchiha compound. He steps inside to see women buying groceries from the market, children running as they play, and young adults rushing back to their jobs after a lunch break. Outside of the Uchiha walls the rest of Konoha has a perception that the Uchiha compound is orderly, not a person out of place. To any Uchiha inside the gates, it's spirited and full of life. Personal and secluded, but vibrant. This has been his home for his whole life, he couldn't help but wonder, for how much longer?

Shisui walks up to his favorite Uchiha Senbei shop and waves at the familiar older couple working there. They had his favorite homemade sweetened rice crackers, the shop itself has been established since the rise of Konoha.

Teyaki Uchiha smiles down at Shisui from behind the counter, "What a good big brother taking care of his younger sibling, how adorable."

Shisui blushes as he looks down at the baby then back up at the owner of the shop, "It's the least I can do for my little sister."

Teyaki's wife turns towards the baby and cooes, "A baby girl, how precious. Just like her brother."

Teyaki shares a look with his wife Uruchi, then Uruchi turns surprised as she looks down at the obvious physical differences between the baby and Shisui. Shisui innocently looks up at the woman, "Adopted."

"Ever since my guardian, my obaachan, passed away a year ago I couldn't help but keep her in the family. Obaachan Uchiha loved her and now we relate to more things than one," Shisui lied easily.

"I'm the best big brother around and all she has left, it's my duty." Shisui added sweetly.

Teyaki smiles and asks, "Well then. The usual order, Shisui?"

"Do you still use your closely guarded secret recipe that is passed down through your family generations?" Shisui teases.

Uruchi nods and she laughs behind her hand.

"Yes please then, make it two orders this time." Shisui says with a smile far too charming for his age.

"A new girlfriend perhaps?" Uruchi asks as she pretends to look around for said girl.

Teyaki comes back with Shisui's order and puts his arm around his wife, "He's far too young to worry about women. Give it a few years. As long as you come here for your first date." Teyaki raises his eyebrow at Shisui.

Shisui nods and pays, "Of course, I wouldn't want to eat anywhere else." He says truthfully.

Shisui looks up at cherry blossom trees that are starting to bloom that fill the park as he walks. He finds the designated cherry tree that Itachi and him always meet under and sits down in the shade that the tree provides. Shisui unties the baby and sets her in his lap as he starts to eat his sweetened rice cracker. The baby reaches for his snack with her small fingers.

"I don't know a lot about babies, but I don't think you're allowed to eat senbei at your age."

The baby pouts and Shisui can't help but give into her cute expression as he smiles down at her. "Hn. I can't resist that face. Just don't tell anyone," Shisui says as he winks at her.

He picks off a piece of cracker and hands it to her, watching her attempts to fit it into her mouth before she finally finds a way to chew and swallow. She instantly smiles and raises her hands for more. Shisui can't help but smile at her fondly as he breaks off another piece, he giggles when she misses her mouth but eventually eats it.

Shisui breaks off a bigger piece for himself but before he can eat it her small fingers grab the piece and swallow it without chewing. Shisui pats her back to help her digest as she begins coughing.

Shisui is interrupted by someone clearing their throat next to him.

"Babies aren't supposed to eat such a big piece of senbei, Shisui."

Shisui looks up from his sitting position to see Itachi and rubs the back of his neck awkwardly, "I'm just learning how to be a big brother."

Itachi gestures to his baby brother, Sasuke, who is wrapped in a cloth to his chest. "I just became a big brother too, we can learn together."

Shisui responds with a genuine smile. "Hn." Then pats the grass next to him, gesturing for Itachi to sit down.

Once Itachi readjusts Sasuke in his lap as he sits he turns his attention to the baby in Shisui's lap, "The baby is a surprising new addition."

Shisui looks down at the baby with endearment and wipes the crumbs of cracker off of her cheeks, "Black ops newest recruit."

"They're starting young," Itachi's brows furrow.

Shisui nods, "That has never stopped them before. Manipulation for child soldiers is becoming more favorable the younger they are."

Itachi's scowl deepens as he then looks at his own baby brother in his arms. "Will this change anything?"

Shisui sighs heavily, feeling the world on his young shoulders. "I want to protect her, like you protect Sasuke Kun."

Sasuke babbles in Itachi's arms, displeased he isn't receiving all of his brother's attention. To which Itachi pokes his brother's forehead fondly and allows Sasuke's petite hand to wrap around his finger.

"They don't deserve this."

Itachi nods in agreement, "Shisui, the big brother. It has a ring to it."

"I may not be as good of a big brother as you, But I am going to do my best," Shisui smiles and looks at Itachi.

A small smile graces Itachi's lips, "You're going to be a great big brother, you have been for me. You were there when I needed you."

"I am still here." Shisui pokes Itachi's forehead with his fore and middle finger.

"Hn."

There is a doubtful look in Shisui's eyes as he looks down at the baby in his arms. After a moment of sitting in silence Itachi turns back to Shisui, "What's the baby's name?"

Shisui's eyes widened in realization, he hadn't thought about that since the ROOT meeting when the baby was introduced. Shisui looks at Itachi worriedly, then off into the distance with a blank stare. Itachi's face hardened in an astonishing act of discernment, this baby was going to be raised as a child soldier, it didn't have a need for a name.

Shisui shakes his head and Itachi says, "Being her big brother, you should have the honor of picking a name."

Shisui looks up at the cherry blossom tree they are sitting under then back down at the baby. Her eyes fluoresce when their gaze locks. A stray cherry blossom floats down landing on the baby's nose. She picks up the blossom and inspects it closely. Shisui picks the blossom from her grasp before she can put it in her mouth and rolls the stem between his fingers, making the flower spin.

"Sakura," Shisui smiles.

Itachi nods as he smiles down at baby Sakura, "Nice to meet you Sakura chan. My name is Itachi and this is my baby brother Sasuke." Sasuke looks away pouting and puts one of Itachi's fingers in his mouth.

Sakura responds by reaching out and grabbing Itachi's spare hand and copies Sasuke by putting another one of Itachi's fingers in her mouth. Itachi smiles again before retracting his hand and wiping his wet finger onto his shirt, as baby Sasuke scowls at baby Sakura for touching his brother.

Shisui chuckles lightly, "Don't mind Sasuke kun, Sakura chan, he's very protective and possessive of his older brother." Shisui pats Sakura's head.

A protectiveness and possessiveness Shisui is now beginning to understand. He picks up Sakura and hugs her tightly. The Uchiha have always been known to obsess over love or hate.

"I better head back before I'm missed. We can meet up later, as always." Shisui says kindly. He doesn't have to share his thanks with Itachi, they both know without needing to put it into words. His eyes show more tenderness than words could ever share.

Itachi nods, "Hn." The same warmth showed in his expression as well.

They both stand wrapping the babies back to their chests and begin to walk in separate directions. One deeper into the Uchiha compound and the other to the outer gates.

Itachi calls out to Shisui, "Sakura chan is lucky to have you, you're a great big brother Shisui."

Shisui tries to smile in return, but the guilt overpowers him. He tries to let it flow out of him with every exhale of breath, allowing the wind to displace his sin with the rest of the fallen cherry blossoms.


Kakashi walks out of the hokage's office with instructions to confirm the Haruno baby is indeed buried in the Konoha cemetery. With his heightened sense of smell as good as a hounds he'll be able to smell the remnants of chakra signature 6 feet under the earth. On his way to the cemetery Kakashi stops in front of the KIA monument and stares blankly at the hundreds of names engraved before him.

Kakashi's eyes fall instantly on his sensei's names on the cool stone. He has to put his hands in his pockets to stop from running his fingers over the name 'Minato Namikaze'. His eyes then wander to another familiar name of the woman he guarded for 9 months. "Kushina Uzumaki," Kakashi mutters to himself. His thoughts are instantly drawn to the baby Minato and Kushina left behind.

Kakashi's hands twitch in his pockets, still raw from him scrubbing them clean for an hour. Kakashi continues to walk until he stops in front of Mebuki Haruno's gravestone. He scoffs as he reads the words imprinted on the headstone 'Loved wife and mother'. You wouldn't be able to tell from those words that this woman had been abused by her husband for years and died during childbirth, leaving her daughter to take her place as the victim of abuse.

Kakashi squats low to the ground and runs his fingers through the blades of grass, inhaling deeply, his eyes narrow. He looks down at the earth below him, there was no fresh dirt, the earth hadn't been touched recently at all. This tells him nothing was buried here recently either. He can only smell one corpse below him, an adult one too. There was no premature corpse of a baby, obaachan Haruno had lied.

Kakashi stands as the puzzle pieces fall together in his mind. The baby Danzo had just introduced to ROOT the night before falls to the forefront of his thoughts. The overlapping similarities, the timing, all the factors correlate perfectly. Kakashi knows it's not a coincidence. He knows Danzo has done this to many civilian babies before and has alway covered his tracks. Danzo's actions left many missing child reports, too many reports hidden in the hokage's secret archive buried deep and covered with dust from being untouched and abandoned.

The hokage knew Danzo was responsible for all the missing children reports. The hokage also knows that Danzo was an elder on the council and has the rest of the council members blackmailed and manipulated into doing his bidding. The hokage was powerless against the man, as well as too cowardly to test fate by bringing light to the subject. Kakashi scoffs at the irony, the hokage had abandoned every orphan in Konoha, including Naruto Uzumaki.

Because of all these factors Kakashi knows there's no point in bringing the truth to the hokage and chooses to allow Danzo to get away with his plans a little longer. He'd lie and write a report saying he did discover the baby's corpse lying with her mother and turn it in by the end of the day, concluding the investigation would be closed. Not to be opened again during this decade.

Before Kakashi leaves to write his report he visits the gravestone that has permanent indentations of his feet from him visiting it every morning. He reads the familiar characters 'Rin Nohara'. His hands twitch, again.

"Hello Rin, it's me again. This place makes me think about the mistakes I've made in the past...and I've made a lot," Kakashi says looking around at the many headstones surrounding him.

"I know you'd be disappointed in me now. I may seem..heartless to you. My heart died with you and Obito. I'd visit his grave to tell him, if he had one. He'd just tell me I'm scum if he could reply. He'd be right. No matter how many times I visit you, nothing can fill the void," Kakshi continues pouring his heart out.

He can't control himself in the presence of Rin. It's the only place he's able to let go and be truthful.

"I can't forget your face. I dont think I'll ever find peace of mind. I've learned without you both here that there is no such thing as peace in this world, that is reality now. I don't believe in the kindness in this world either. But every night I dream about how you always showed me kindness, more than anyone else. Look at me now... " Kakashi sighed deeply, "There is nothing in my heart. I don't feel pain anymore, just a void where my heart used to be. I get it now, I'm in hell. But you understand that now don't you. I'll be there with you soon. Will you watch over me like always? And tell Obito I say hello, I'll bring flowers tomorrow morning."

Kakashi's next words get stuck in his throat. He can't quite force them past his lips, so he simply bows slightly to show his respect and leaves.


Shisui shows Sakura how to grip his kunai properly, even though her hands are so small she has to use both of them to be able to hold up the kunai. Once she finally has a good grip onto the weapon she smiles with satisfaction. She looks up at Shisui before flicking her wrist and throwing the kunai, it misses his foot by a few inches and falls to the ground.

Shisui stares at Sakura wide eyed in surprise and grips his foot to protect the toes that almost got cut off. Baby Sakura starts giggling uncontrollably at Shisui's shocked expression and Shisui finds her little laugh contagious as he laughs with her. As they are laughing Danzo walks into the room.

Shisui instantly stands up and bows toward his ROOT leader, "Danzo sama, my apologies I was not expecting you."

Danzo's face is filled with disgust as he looks towards the baby who has stopped laughing, "She's old enough to sit up which means she is old enough to start training."

Shisui holds himself back from verbally disagreeing, the logical part of him reminds himself that he is not in control. Shisui keeps his expression blank and nods. Danzo walks up to Sakura and picks her up forcibly without a single care of being gentle. When Sakura squirms slightly to get out of his uncomfortable grasp he slaps her and firmly states, "There will be none of that. You are my tool to do with as I please."

Sakura responds to his strict tone by staying still as Danzo turns and leaves the room with Shisui close behind him. They enter one of the many training rooms, empty with nothing but old blood staining the concrete floors. Shisui turns to see a handful of ROOT members lined against the wall.

Danzo speaks up as he stands in the middle of the room, his voice bouncing off the windowless walls, "The baby needs to perfect her reflexes and awareness before anything. I need her to be able to dodge anything that comes at her subconsciously and efficiently. I want her to be hyper aware of anything and everything in her vicinity."

Danzo moves to walk back and forth in front of the members lined against the wall, looking into each of their eyes as he passes them, "Until I can build up her stamina this is our first goal in training. This will be achieved by throwing kunai at the baby. Without missing your target, pain will make her remember the lesson. When she is able to dodge every kunai thrown at her to your standards, move onto blind folding her and continue throwing kunai."

"Great target practice, a baby who can't even walk yet," A ROOT member whispers sarcastically under their breath when Danzo looks away.

"When she is able to dodge all kunai while blind folded, then give her a kunai and teach her to deflect the kunai you throw with one of her own. I don't care what it takes, but she better have reflexes and awareness on par with your own by the time you are finished. She must be able to instinctively evade all defenses. Dying is not an option, she must be perfect," Danzo continues.

Danzo steps back to the middle of the room and clears his throat, "I will come back in a week's time for the next lesson, if she has not perfected this by then I will consider it your failure."

Once Danzo has set the baby down sitting in the middle of the room and leaves the ROOT agents circle around the baby and palm their weapons. Sadistic minds find the game even more fun when the other player doesn't know the rules. Shisui's first instinct is to jump in front of baby Sakura, especially when her pleading green eyes find his, silently screaming for help.

Shisui knows if he does defend the baby it will only make it worse when he is forcibly removed from the room, at least this way he can stay and make sure they don't kill her. Shisui breaks eye contact with Sakura as the first kunai is thrown. He hears a high pitch scream coming from her but forces his eyes to continue looking away. Shisui knows Sakura's instincts to evade the flying weapons take effect when he hears a few kunai miss and hit the floor. Shisui only breathes when he hears more of the kunai miss and hit the concrete floor.

After an hour Shisui doesn't hear Sakura crying anymore, doesn't hear her clothes russell as she rolls and dodges. Shisui looks up to see the baby is lying in a puddle of her own blood and refuses to look at him. No matter how many more kunai are thrown she is too weak to move out of the way and is also too weak to cry. As Sakura stares at the ceiling and allows herself to be hit again and again, no tears escape her lifeless green eyes.

As Shisui steps forward planning to interrupt them fearing Sakura might die or pass out from blood loss, a ROOT medic walks up in front of him to heal the baby. Shisui takes in a big breath of relief but it gets caught in his throat as the training continues, without a single cry of help coming from baby Sakura, just the sound of metal soaring through the air. And casual clangs of metal hitting the concrete when Sakura is able to evade the trajectory of the weapons even as they come at her faster and faster.

Shisui looks away when he feels a familiar burning on his biceps. Shisui's ANBU tattoo flares, alerting him the hokage is calling him. Shisui takes one last look at baby Sakura before leaving the room, only to see her lifeless eyes no longer searching out to him.


Kakashi was writing his report in the hokage's office when he felt a familiar chakra flare at the hokage's door, alerting them of their presence. The hokage looks up from his paperwork and calls out, "Come in."

Shisui opens the door to the hokage's office and looks around before walking in, "You called for me?"

"Yes, I've been receiving very good reports from your ANBU captain and I wanted to discuss where you wanted your career in ANBU to lead to." The hokage pushes his paperwork on his desk aside to give Shisui his full attention.

Shisui looks at the hokage sparingly to read what the hokage is really asking.

"I know you're young, but it is never too early to discuss your future in Konoha," The hokage explains.

Shisui nods, showing he understands and gesturing for the hokage to continue.

The hokage sighs, "I won't waste time speaking in code when I know you're fully capable of understanding how dire this situation is in the Uchiha clan."

Shisui instantly stiffens and masks his expression, but the gesture is not lost to the hokage. "Clan business is of no concern to the hokage."

The hokage hums considering Shisui's words, "I'm pleased with your loyalty, with all due respect when a clan's business bleeds into the village it does become my concern."

Kakashi finally looks up from writing his report, "I will excuse myself."

"Shisui and I are going to have a little discussion, please return when you see him leave my office," the hokage agrees.

Kakashi nods and shushin's away leaving a puff of smoke after leaving his finished report on the hokage's desk. The hokage turns his attention back to Shisui, he finds it hard to believe he is having this conversation with a 6 year old. Even at 6 Shisui is able to understand and communicate better and more efficiently than most of the Uchiha elders.

"I know this conversation isn't pleasant for you, but for the safety of those you care about it is important that we have an open discussion." The hokage says to ease into the conversation.

"Those important to me?" Shisui asks, the threat disguised in the hokages words are obvious to the young boy.

"Itachi is 5 and is going to turn 6 soon, correct?" The hokage asks.

Shisui doesn't reply and narrows his eyes at the hokage.

The hokage adds, "You and Itachi seem young enough where you aren't brainwashed by the Uchiha's obsession of power and greed yet."

Shisui can't help but think, old enough not to be manipulated by our clan, but old enough to be manipulated by you?

The hokage takes Shisui's silence as a sign to continue, "I know this won't be easy for you, we've talked about this before. We've come to an agreement that with your cooperation, I will not involve Itachi. It seems your clan is starting to discuss a coup d'etat that will lead to a civil war against the village."

Shisui can't stop his thoughts from defending his clan, he knows his clan's aggressive plan of action is a result of Danzo's manipulating of the hokage after the kyuubi attack on the village. The hokage's words and actions against the Uchiha clan had driven a divider between them and the rest of the village. "There must be another way to handle this," Shisui thinks aloud.

"I'm afraid it is no longer something I can try to ignore and hope will dissipate. I am wondering how far you will go for your village and if that will include acting against your clan to protect the village?" the hokage asks.

You are wondering or Danzo? Shisui knew his clan was talking in the shadows but didn't know it had gotten this far, with Danzo also whispering to them. Shisui wonders how a man appointed as hokage can be so weak and can't see Danzo is using him as a puppet to cause this civil war himself.

Shisui decides to speak his mind, "I had hoped it wouldn't come to this. Once Itachi is the clan head he can change the old ways of the Uchiha. He can change and save the clan from itself."

The hokage shakes his head in regret, "This isn't something I take lightly. I'm afraid there is not enough time for Itachi to grow older and take control of the elders. Even if he could, the Uchiha ways are being taught to the next generation everyday, not everyone will agree with Itachi's way of ruling. This would only magnify their need for a civil war. It is of utmost importance for me to get control of this situation before it leads to innocent deaths. May I assume you agree?"

Shisui feels caught between two brick walls, unable to see past the tunnel in front of him he is being forced into, "I've told this to Itachi many times, that I don't know if there is such a thing as justice in this shinobi world. We fight believing in our own justice, but if the other side is doing the same, who can know who is right? I don't want more unnecessary deaths, that I know."

The hokage ponders Shisui's statement before opening his mouth to reply, "An observant perspective…" "As you get older you will have more of an influence in your clan. I'm sorry I have to ask this of you," the hokage says truthfully.

"I'll do anything for my clan and Itachi, even if that means saving them from themselves," Shisui speaks up.

The hokage nods understandingly, "We will have more to discuss as we move forward, please start to keep a closer eye on your clan elders and take note of how they operate and what they discuss. Depending on what you come back with we will move from there and my instructions will change."

Shisui nods stiffly, "Yes hokage sama."

"This is a top secret mission and gather of information. Although I trust your loyalty, I understand it may want to waver, but your village needs you. No matter where your emotions lie." The hokage states.

Shisui replies without a waver in his voice, "As you said earlier, Itachi is still young. I will do everything in my power to make sure he is not involved and actually has a childhood, as much as he can."

The hokage hesitates but nods, "You are dismissed, I will call you back in a week's time."

Once Shisui leaves the hokage leans his chin in his palm. The hokage knows Shisui's loyalties may lie with the bigger picture of keeping the majority of the village's civilians safe and alive. But his heart will always lie with Itachi. The hokage doubts Shisui's loyalty to him and the village mean anything compared to Itachi. Shisui would do anything for Itachi, including going against the hokage and Konoha. The hokage knows he needs Itachi involved, whether Shisui accepts it or not, He doesn't have a choice.

Itachi is closer to the clan elders, he is even present during their meetings, being the Uchiha heir. Itachi will have a more vital role gathering the information the hokage needs living in the clan heads household. He is also the prodigy and the Uchiha clan's pride and joy. The hokage knows if he wants Itachi involved without suspicion he needs Itachi to graduate as soon as possible. The hokage needs Itachi to join the academy early and immediately.

Kakashi shushin's into the hokage's office, interrupting the hokage's thoughts.

"Kakashi, I need you to personally go to Fugaku Uchiha and tell him I request his presence as soon as he is available," The hokage orders.

Kakashi nods before leaving the hokage's office.


As Kakashi walks up the Uchiha compound he sees Shisui waiting for him.

As Kakashi walks up to Shisui to pass the gates Shisui asks, "Who's your loyalty to?"

Kakashi attempts to walk around Shisui but Shisui steps in front of him, blocking his path. "Who's your loyalty to?" Shisui asks again, more firmly.

Kakashi puts his hands in his pockets as he shrugs his shoulders.

"Obito wouldn't have wanted you to do this," Shisui points out.

Kakashi instantly narrows his eyes, "Don't speak about what you don't know about."

"He was a Uchiha, I saw him around the compound. Obito would help my grandma with things, he was different then every other Uchiha. He was good." Shisui explains.

Kakashi attempts to pass Shisui again, But Shisui stops him by grabbing onto his arm. Kakashi shrugs from Shisui's grip, "You may be too young to understand, but you can't stop me."

Shisui laughs humorlessly, "Too young understand, maybe so. But I'm not too young to be forced into the middle of this." Shisui takes a breath before continuing, "I don't want Itachi being a part of this. I know that's why the hokage sent you here."

"It's not in your control anymore. Itachi's been a part of this ever since he was born the Uchiha heir. I don't have time for this," Kakashi responds.

Shisui finally lets Kakashi walk past him, but before he gets out of earshot Shisui calls out to him, "What would Obito say to this?"

Kakashi moves faster than Shisui has ever seen and grabs Shisui by the front of his shirt. Shisui has to stand on his toes so that he isn't being strangled by the grip on his shirt.

"I told you don't speak about things you don't know about," Kakashi snarls.

Shisui looks up into Kakashi's lifeless eyes, "I won't ask you again, where do your loyalties lie?"

Kakashi drops Shisui as if burned and Shisui has to take a couple steps back to stabilize himself.

Kakashi mutters under his breath so low Shisui can barely make out the words, "Those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum."

Kakashi swallows the acidic memories that force themselves up his throat, his nails dig into his palms before he shoves his hands back into pockets. Kakashi doesn't spare Shisui a second glance as he continues to walk deeper into the Uchiha compound. Shisui thinks about following after Kakashi, but he remembers Sakura is alone with the rest of his sadistic ROOT members being 'trained'. He gives Kakashi's receding form one last glance before rushing back to ROOT headquarters.


End Notes*

-tenzo's ANBU/ROOT mask is a tiger

-they address each others names without wearing masks, because obviously they can see whos who, but when the masks are on to keep anonymity they refer to each other as the masks name i know this is a little confusing sorry it makes sense in my head

-ghanaian baby wrap is a way of using fabric to wrap/sling the baby to your body to carry it without using your hands, look it up if your curious

-chan: suffix used for girls, or close friends. Not used for superior

-kun: same type of suffix but usually used for boys