Like the Glow of Light-Green Emeralds

by Yazziyou's Daydreamer

Itachi has been given a mission, to answer the plea for assistance from the Black clan, a clan the Uchiha are closely related to but too different from them to get along with. His father wants their precious 'demon blood gifted' males to join with his clan. Death follows and the only one left is a toddler, Harry, Itachi insists he raises the sweet demon child himself. MPreg, slash

14. Chapter 14

So here is chapter 14 with 10,010 words not including Author's notes! I hope everyone ends up liking it! I wasn't expecting to be getting this done so fast or to even be updating this story again for at least another month or two!

Chapter 14

"Don't take that! That pile's Harri's! You're the one that wanted the chicken, eat the chicken! Harri can't eat any of that!" Choji insisted snatching a piece of beef from Ino and placed it back on the plate.

Harri smiled, "It's okay Choji! I really don't mind." He said, taking another bite of nearly raw beef, he hummed in pleasure as the taste of fresh blood filled his mouth.

Ino looked a little green at the sight of Harrison eating practically raw, still bloody meat. "That's super gross!" She groaned, holding her hand over her mouth. She had always had a hard time eating around the Uchiha princess, ever since they were little kids.

Shikamaru rolled his eyes and flipped his meat on the grill sitting in the middle of the table, "Yeah, well maybe the smell of our meat cooking doesn't smell that appetizing to Harri either but it doesn't mean she's rude about it." He said giving the girl a pointed look.

"It still doesn't even make any sense! I'm sorry but I have never even heard of someone being on a diet like that let alone wanting to be on it!" Ino huffed, crossing her arms.

"It's not like Harri has a choice or anything." Choji said between bites.

Harri fidgeted.

"Yeah, it's like a quirk from her bloodline or something." Shikamaru said with a shrug. "Cooked meat tastes and smells disgusting to her. Though," Shikamaru turned to Harri, "I feel like it kind of goes with the whole canine traits thing I guess. I mean… I remember when we were little kids and you would pounce on frogs and things and you would proudly bring them to your family and your cousin all the time, my dad to! You'd look so proud of yourself and everyone would just look so pained!" Shikamaru chuckled and grinned. He made sure to leave Harri's father from the conversation… not really wanting to open that can of worms again… especially with his teacher and Ino.

Harri sputtered good naturedly. "I have strong instincts! I didn't know that was weird back then!" Harri defended. And embarrassed smile on his own face.

"Wait, but aren't you an Uchiha?" The three's bulky dark-haired sensei pointed out.

"My mom wasn't though." Harri said. "And I apparently really take after my mom... so yeah... It makes me a bit odd." Harri explained, running a hand through a few lose strands of hair, subconsciously.

The man laughed, reaching over to ruffle Harri's hair. "I wouldn't say that. From the impression I've got your pretty great! Unique would be a better way of describing you. You're different, nothing wrong with that. You're a sweet person, don't let this life beat that out of you." Asuma said with a smile. Laughing when Harri's cheeks turned beet red at his praise. Such a bashful child!

"So, before I forget to ask.. You still planning on stay at my house tonight? Mom's managed to snag another vacation with some shmuck so we'll have the place to ourselves most of the time. I know how you have been trying to avoid that crazy sensei of yours." Shikamaru said, tone bored as he took another bite of his pork.

"Yeah... I mean.. If you don't mind... that is." Was Harri's reply. Getting a, 'are you kidding?' look from his dark-haired friend.

"Wait... staying over because?..." Asuma asked, brow furrowed in concern.

Shikamaru rolled his eyes hoping his teacher didn't think that it was inappropriate as Harri was a 'girl' or whatever. "Harri and I have been having sleep overs since we were practically toddlers still. It's no big deal. Hi-her Sensei has just been absolutely troublesome. He's her because he thinks she's dying or something, so he won't leave her alone when Harri is just sensitive to the cold and didn't react well to it... and got... injured during training and it caused a capillary or something to break in her eyelid and made her eyes look like they were…. bleeding. It stopped fast and was fine but now he thinks that Harrison could hemorrhage out at any moment or something. He is frankly out of his mind. Our clan healer nin checked Harri out and everything and he still keeps trying to drag Harrison to the hospital. It is literally to the point of ridiculous, it's a total drag!" Shikamaru grumbled.

"Huh... is there... something wrong?" The man asked, eyeing the pair.

"Of course not!" Shikamaru insisted, not even giving Harrison a chance to think on it.

The dark-haired man was suddenly far too serious looking. His eyes only focusing on Harrison. "Are you actually alright? Your Sensei is… Kakashi, right? He wouldn't demand you to go to the hospital without justification... So... I'm not saying that your judgment is clouded but she's your childhood friend... are... are you not trying to hide an illness? You can tell me. I understand not liking doctors." The man almost crooned, tone gentle.

Harri went pale. "I-I'm fine! There's n-nothing wrong! I promise!" He vehemently insisted.

"Harri, come on, come with us! We're going to definitely sneak up on the boss today! You'll be a huge help!" Konohamaru begged, running over to the patio seating after catching sight of the Genin.

"Konohamuru can't you see that we are having an important conversation?" Asuma said, his tone disapproving.

"But uncle Asuma, I need her! She'll definitely be able to help me! The boss won't even notice us sneaking up on him with Harri distracting him! Please! Just this one little favor Harri? For me." The boy begged going full out with the trembling lip and watery puppy eyes.

"No.. We're having dinner and a conversation right now. Anyways, it's getting late. You both can play... tomorrow... Okay?" Asuma said patiently, easily picking up on the distress radiating from Harrison.

"We're not playin'! We're ninjas! Ninjas don't play, we're going to beat my rival!" The spunky brat guffed indignantly.

"Well... Harri can help you... uh... beat your rival tomorrow. Okay?" Asuma negotiated.

"Fiiine. I'm holding you to it though! Tomorrow will be the day that I finally beat my rival!" Konohamaru told himself excitedly.

Harri decided that it was about time to head back to the Nara compound for the night once he realized Asuma wasn't going to be letting up. Harri did his best to wolf down as much as he could as the man argued with his nephew, getting concerned looks from both of his friends, even Ino looked a bit worried.

"You really shouldn't… be eating that fast you're going to end up choking!" The girl said after he had to take a large gulp of water to prevent a piece of meat from lodging in his throat.

Oh great, how did Kakashi find him? He hoped that it was a coincidence when the man's scent hit Harri's nose... but he kind of was doubting it. "I'll.. See you guys later, tell Asuma sensei... that something... came up." Harri said spur of the moment. He tossed down a hand full of bills, not even looking to see what they were before he hopped to his feet and darted out from under the open roof structure.

"Hey! Fancy seeing you here!" Kakashi exclaimed, giving the table a little hand wave and eye smile like he hadn't just appeared out of nowhere.

"Kakashi! Just the man we were talking about, isn't that right Harri?" Asuma laughed, frowning and turning his head when he was met with silence. "Oh, she must have gone to the bathroom, sorry about that!"

"Actually she left... kind of in a hurry..?" Ino said, yelping when she received a sharp kick from under the table. Choji's eyes met her's, clear disapproval in them.

"Oh really? Well I needed to go home anyway! I'm sure we'll met up on the way."

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Harri smiled as the familiar scent of the Nara compound began to fill his nose. It didn't matter if the Jounin wanted to talk to him or take him to the hospital or whatever, he couldn't touch him once he was on Nara property! Harry smiled to himself at the thought.

"Your… avoiding me is starting to get really tiresome... That and you are really not making me feel any less like there is something you are doing your best to hid from me. Your frankly really terrible at it to be honest." Kakashi said, casually sitting in the tree right ahead of Harrison.

Harri squawk in alarm, barely managing to avoid being grabbed by the man.

"Can you just…. I don't know, stop that already? I'm trying to help you!" The man said, tone becoming more agitated.

"Well it sure doesn't seem like it!" Harri snipped back, trying his best to outrun the Jounin. Even as he did so a small smile light his face as the compound came into view.

"You stop right now young lady!"

Harri blinked in confusion, one moment he was speeding towards the Nara compounds arch the next he was feeling like he had whiplash and was dead still… dangling.

"What were you thinking? Neglecting your health like that? Is it true you have been bleeding from-from your eyes?!" An indigent motherly voice hissed, sounding positively livid.

"That's right just like I had to cuddle her up to me out of fear she would freeze to death in Wave country. I am very worried about my poor student's heath I'm afraid!... Though she has been alone a lot... so it does sadly... make sense I suppose." Kakashi said, making sure to lay it on pretty thick.

"That is true! You poor child! You didn't have to hide anything from me! You can come to me about anything Harri, honestly, I can't believe that you have been hiding something like this from me for so long!" Iruka said, sounding nearly tearful as he squashed Harrison against him in a hug. "I'm sorry I didn't do a better job of assuring you that it was okay to talk to me about personal things! I promise I will now though. You many no longer be in the academy but you are still one of my precious students and I really do care about you, okay?" The man lectured, sniffling a little at the end of his little speech. "I'm sure Kakashi and I can convince the council to let you live with us!" The man was so occupied with fawning that he didn't even notice as Harrison glared daggers at his Sensei. In return the man simply gave him a devious looking eye smile.

Oh, Harri was so going to convince Naruto to prank that man to kingdom come! He had just fallen off of his good list, even with his calm, safe, comfort scent. He didn't want anything to do with the man anymore! Why couldn't he just leave things be? Didn't he understand that he could get Harri placed in a horrific situation if he didn't... just stop? Well... of course he didn't but Harri felt that it should be pretty obvious that if he was avoiding doing something with his personality... well that it was for a good reason. If there was one thing everyone knew about him it was that he wasn't one to be uncooperative.

"Well we better get going! We only have 15 minutes before it's our turn." Kakashi said, looking at a stop watch he pulled from his vest.

"Oh! Yeah, we better go then!" Iruka agreed.

"What?" Harri squeaked in confusion as the brunet grabbed his hand and began walking. "Wait! I'm supposed to be going to Shika's!"

"Well you can go after your appointment! I had to give the hospital staff a firm talking to get an actual appointment this late in the evening! At first, I thought it was a little silly but I guess Kakashi was right about how hard it would be to track you down! Thankfully when he suggested to Asuma to take his team out to dinner he thought that was a good idea. Especially as you and Shikamaru go most places together and the man said he was already planning to invite you the next time he took his team out to eat!" Iruka chuckled. "Tomorrow we'll go talk to the council. I don't feel comfortable leaving you in a home without an adult in your condition."

Harri went almost grey at the realization that they had been played the whole time. All day long he, Shika, and Choji had been looking forward to the meal and spending time together and it had all been an elaborate trap the entire time. They had just had to wait until he came out of hiding to snatch him up in a misguided attempt at helping him. Nope this wasn't going to be happening. Did his teacher think just because it was Iruka that he wouldn't do his best to get away? Though it still made him feel a little bad about what he was going to do... he just hoped that the two didn't push him to the point that he had to use his electricity on them.

"Don't look so freaked out, we'll be with you the whole time! I promise." Kakashi exclaimed, trying to sooth his petrified looking student. The man was almost giddy at the thought of essentially adopting a child… particularly this one, though already 10, with his beloved motherly dolphin.

"No! You don't understand!" Harri hissed, yanking with all his might. He bared his teeth when Iruka held fast.

"Harri, that's enough!" The man barked.

Fine if it was going to be that way then Harri was going to just have to give the man a shock... though he really didn't want to. Frankly the thought made the boy uncomfortable. He didn't want to cause anyone pain but he rather that then something from one of his father's horrible stories happening to him! Harri didn't care what anyone thought, his dad wasn't a bad one... and even his grandfather wasn't so bad. Neither would have warned him about what could happen at such a young age unless they had a good reason for it.

Both were obviously afraid of what could happen to him if people found out that-that he was a boy! That and worse, what if they somehow figured out that he wasn't a human? The very idea terrified Harri. The knowledge that Hyuugas could pick up on that very fact was the reason why he avoided the entire clan like they were some sort of plague. Who knew what they would all do to him if they found out that-that he wasn't actually like them? Such a thought solidified Harri's resolve.

"I'm not going, and you can't make me." Harri insisted, freezing mid-forced-step. In the spark of green light Iruka went down like a sack of potatoes.

"W-what?"

"I-I can't go there, I can't! You-you don't understand anything at all! They'll do horrible things to me if they find out what I am! Why couldn't you just listen to me?" Harri shouted hysterically at the man. His eyes on fire as a heavy stream of dark red began dripping from his eyes, straining the nice Kimono he had on an ugly dirty brown.

Kakashi was quick to try and lunge forward when Harri began backing away. "What, I-I can't move!" He said, startled. His eyes darted to the ground and in that moment, he realized there really wasn't anyway of him getting out of it. What was going on here? What did Harri mean?

"Why does everyone always have to be so troublesome and not listen?" The man sighed. "I... Think we all... need to have a little bit of a talk... Well... more like a major one..." Shikaku said in an agitated grumble, even as his aura screamed dangerous. Seeing Harri trembling and sniffling with what was essentially a river of blood running down his face was more heartbreaking at that point to the man then terrifying. It absolutely tore at Shikaku's heartstrings. He was practically his nephew at that point if not his second kid in his mind. "Come here Harri, it's okay I won't let anything happen to you." He couldn't help but croon.

"Shikaku? What is going on here? What happened?"

The man flinched at the sound of his old friend's voice. Choza had already learned of Harri's secret... or at least enough to know that he was well.. A he. Completely on accident really. But... well he had been avoiding telling their other friend Inoichi. He wasn't sure what the man would think of everything and well he was a mind reading interrogator for a living.

Shikaku was frankly positive that Harrison wasn't telling them all of it. He was certain that the other man would pick up on that as well... Shikaku wished that the child would tell him the truth about everything, but he was also certain that there had to be a good reason for the secretive behavior. He wasn't going to push it, but he couldn't say the same for his old friend.

"Great." The man grumbled, apparently, they were going to have to trust a party worth of people with the secret. Like that wasn't going to turn out bad... but really what could they do? The hospital was Kohona's gossip machine. It would surely get out before the hour was out that Harri was a boy if they succeeded in dragging Harri there... well that and some unsavory people may discover whatever powerful bloodline he had. He was curious himself to almost the point of mentally in pain, but it still wasn't worth the risk to learn what he was in his opinion. Such a thing was never worth risking that sweet boy. Frankly he more wanted to know to try and figure out what exactly strange illnesses and genetic defects/ diseases Harri was most likely to get or already had because as much as he denied that there was anything wrong…. Shikaku wasn't blind and he most definitely wasn't an idiot. There was most definitely something off with him he just wasn't sure exactly what was the real serious problems.

"Dad?" Shikamaru finally spoke up looking just as nervous as he felt.

"Inoichi, please pick up the academy teacher... We are all going to need to have…. a talk... at my home…. This… is going to be such a drag." Shikaku said, eyes darting around suspiciously. His brain doing it's best to try and reboot and comprehend what he was actually about to do. He really couldn't chicken out…. He would really have to tell them the truth.. And… well he really wasn't sure how to feel about it even slightly.

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After sitting around the table, tea in hand, though not really being drank, Shikaku finally spoke. Deciding that it would be best to be blunt. "Harri is actually a boy..." He said.

"WHAT?" Iruka squawked, accidently spitting his tea all over Kakashi who gave him looked less than happy about it even as he patted the hacking brunet's back.

"Be truthful for once!" Kakashi growled.

"I am!... for once…. I'm-I'm being totally up front with what I know….. And suspect.." Shikaku took a deep, shaky breath looking back up after a few minutes of steeling his nerves again.

"Harri's not a girl at least... not anywhere near completely." The man explained, nibbling his lip. Thinking back to the files that he had found quite on accident while helping Harri with his yearly cleaning of the compound buildings years and years back… he hadn't brought it up with Harri as he wasn't even sure if he knew about such… a thing himself but it could have explained the crypticness of the other Uchiha's when it came to talking about Harri and his mother. There hadn't been much in the file but it was about when Harri was in the hospital after nearly being killed. About him being a functioning hermaphrodite. He… Harri would never be able to get a girl pregnant… but… well.. Shikaku flushed a little at the thought.

"What do you mean not anywhere completely?" Kakashi pressed after at least a few minutes of contemplative silence from Shikaku and the others trying to recover from the shock.

"Oh! Yeah…. Well Harri's… a-a…. Hermaphrodite…. Actually. One with.. functioning parts… well.. he likely will not be able to have children with a women… but a man could have children with-with him if he wanted to when he's older that is.." Shikaku awkwardly explained.

"Wait, so... she's actually... a-a he? I-I wasn't expecting that... why hadn't you told me sooner though? Why does it really even matter? It is quite rare for a clan to carry such a trait… it isn't something that most village's clan's have the ability to do other than a few that use to in Mist, Snow, and I believe cloud but that shouldn't be that big of a secret to be kept." Inoichi said, clearly shocked but not freaking out. He was upset that they hadn't thought that he was worth telling such a thing to though, especially as he had watched Harri and Shikamaru more than a hand full of times when they were small.

"I just... I didn't want the information getting out. But... I feel like we kind of have no choice but to let the three of you know now... You because you stumbled onto what was going on and you two because you both were putting him in danger. There was a reason why the Uchiha avoided letting him be around anyone without someone around." Shikaku explained running a hand over his face. Clearly stressed.

"I... Harri has an unusually powerful Kekai Genkai... like ridiculously powerful. But... it's very difficult for him to control... and I really don't know a lot about it. When he was younger... and... well... it was the first time Shikamaru had another friend. Harri was heartbroken... because of the twisted way he was taught... he thought that he was being replaced... Harri was hysterical." Shikaku explained with a grimace. Not enjoying going back to that dark time at all.

"He got himself so worked up and exhausted.. He ended up… falling asleep. Mai apparently…. understood something was wrong and came to get me. When I got there the place was flooded, the air was charged with electricity and the sky was darkening. It was…. It was the first time I had ever seen Harri cry. It... terrified me. Blood running down his face, blackened water past his ankles while green electricity jumped off of him... looking almost alive.." The man explained, nearly shuddering at the memory.

"He looked….. possessed by some twisted water demon….. possibly the Shikagumi himself!" Shikaku almost whispered, looking a little haunted by the memory. He was glad he had waited to talk until after Harri fell asleep. A sickening guilt at his thoughts at the time reared its ugly head yet again.

"Once I had explained that he could have more than one friend he calmed down... but... the raw Chakra I felt... I'm certain he could have easily killed me even at that age... Not on purpose, never on purpose... but... Harri... he's emotionally fragile... I think mentally to... to be honest... he's been pulled every which way since the day he was born and told all of these conflicting things... and well been through so much guilt and trauma... He bottles it all up until he freaks out. He... Harri also seems to have little to no control of his abilities and emotions when he isn't wearing his mother's family heirloom. I think it is some sort of Chakra suppressant..." The man continued, flushing red.

"It's actually the reason I had to go to the hospital that one time... when I went into shock from Chakra depletion... I decided to try the necklace on to try to figure out exactly how it works... I couldn't last more than 10 minutes with it on... I'm sure I would have died if Shikamaru hadn't managed to unclasp it as quickly as he had... and… well Harri wears it nearly constantly now. I think he is afraid of losing total control again like he did when he was small." Shikaku muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Wait, then how is Harri able to wear it all the time? At her-I-I mean his age his Chakra coils aren't even fully developed yet! If that-that thing managed to do that to you then how hasn't it killed her-him yet? Even if it was okay isn't that an unhealthy strain on his body?" Iruka babbled. Nearly hysterical looking at that point.

"I'm getting to that part... From a few things I managed to pick up when Itachi would every once in a while... either slip up or possibly just tried reeling me in by giving me tidbits of information I've learned quite a bit... a lot of it I would rather not know but... all important clues none the less... His family apparently forced him into having a child practically... practically the very moment he... could um.. Do the deed… He was made to do it with someone that was years older." Shikaku explained in a grave tone of voice as the other's went pale.

"T-that does make more sense." Iruka said, voice small, disturbed.

"Yes... it does I suppose." Inoichi agreed, looking ready to be ill himself.

"Yes, but that doesn't explain how Harrison's still alive." Kakashi pointed out. Still unsure if he even believed a word the other man was even saying.

"Harri was with his mother for the first year or so... I strongly suspect them to be like him to be honest... as in a hermaphrodite... Harri used to accidently say he when referring to his mother when he was younger... and less secretive... I… to be honest I have also looked around the house a bit when Harri wasn't home… I have come over enough that the place has enough of my smell to it that he doesn't really seem to think anything of it….. I just tell him that I came over to avoid my wife or to hang out with Mai or something and he believes me…. I once found a few small paintings of a man with Black hair and gray eyes holding a baby that looks just like Harri to be honest…" The man reluctantly admitted.. Unsure at that point why he was saying some of the things that he was.

"Also, according to Itachi… The bloodlines apparently always produced attractive individuals with extremely powerful abilities... though they had a tendency to be unstable. The clan had at one time been closely associated with the Uchiha clan from what I picked up on and then after some sort of disagreement, the Hyuuga... but some main family Hyuuga became so obsessed with one of the clan members that he tried forcing himself on them…. After that they left this area and sort of hid themselves away somewhere..." The man paused for a moment to catch his breath before continuing.

"Harri does anything to avoid that clan... According to what his father told me in passing, his mother's clan's chakra coils develop very differently than others because of some odd mutation in the clan. " Shikaku grimaced. "Apparently the difference is enough that if a Hyuuga sees his, then they will immediately know what clan he mother was from... and the Hyuuga covet such bloodlines for some reason. I also believe that is the reason the necklace affects him differently or... maybe just has far less of an effect. I think that it possibly affected me so badly because I don't have the mutation in my bloodline that Harri does to his own Chakra coils."

"That would make more sense. I still can't believe Harri is... is a boy though. It's just so weird!" Inojin exclaimed, thinking about all of the times he had teased his friend about the two children. Insisting that Harri and the man's son would end up married in the future as much Harri clung to and gushed over Shikamaru and as much as Shikamaru fawned and fussed over Harri. It didn't help that Harri just came off not... really boyish at all. Gentle, patient, kind, beautiful and delicate. Truthfully Harrison had always come off as more... girlish and proper than his own lovely... though... brash daughter. Was Harri really considered a boy? Or both or something in between now? He felt like he was having a total brain overload.

"I know right? Really a lot of things make so much more sense now!" Iruka agreed. Thinking back to Choji, Shikamaru, and Sasuke's odd secretive behavior anytime it came to Harri... Who hadn't always been so forthcoming... himself. That... and the fact that he absolutely refused to clean up after particularly grueling classes in front of anyone. Iruka had always chalked it up to his almost painful shyness before...

Kakashi sat with an odd intense look in his eyes. His eyes burning Shikaku. "I'm sure there is more to tell... What's the whole story.. I can see it in your eyes.. your leaving something out. Tell us if we are going to hear part of it then we should hear all of it." The man demanded. Tense looking.

Shikaku flinched, letting out a sigh. He had already told them far-far more then he planned to or ever wanted to. But that look Kakashi kept glaring him down with. He almost felt compelled to speak at that point. "When... When Itachi went to visit Harri's mother's clan everyone was burned to death. Harri's mother was dead in his bed, throat slit. They... whoever killed them, hadn't realized that Harri was laying in the same bed though... soaked head to foot in-in blood. It was horrific." Shikaku said, swallowing hard at the thought of such a horrifying slaughter... of Poor Harri being left to die soaked in his own mother's blood at such an age.

"Itachi managed to gather a few remaining remnants from the clan and took Harri, then ran as the compound burned to the ground. I think that it really damaged the both of them... Itachi and Harri. Itachi couldn't stand either of his parents and even I had seen them argue on more than one occasion. Itachi refused to let them watch Harri. They became far too reliant on each other. Harri because he was conditioned to it and... Itachi because... I think he was desperate to keep him safe and wanted so bad for someone to love him unconditionally for him... I also think he saw Harri as 'his' almost possession or something. He loved him, but... it was a bit twisted. He was incredibly possessive of him and would tell him terrible things to keep him as attached to him as possible. I also know he was angry when his mother began feeding Harri nearly raw meat he flipped out and convinced Harri that the woman was practically a monster. Truthfully... I don't really think Harri felt much of anything for his family except for Itachi and Shusui... It... Itachi made sure of it." Shikaku explained, looking pensive.

"Itachi's parents also were constantly trying to convince him to let them betroth Harrison to his younger brother. Insisting that Harri's bloodlines were exceptional. Itachi was always insistent that Harrison wasn't going to be raised an Uchiha. It was pretty awful to watch to be honest! I felt like I was watching them all fall apart... and then... when Harri nearly got killed... I saw how they had begun to relent and even though his mother still refused to stop... Fugaku did... he actually you know.. Was being a pretty good guy and a decent grandparent... or at at least as decent as a guy that forced his son to... you know. I thought that things were improving but when everyone began to accuse Itachi of murdering his best friend... He began getting even more distant acting... I never thought he would end up doing what he did though... I-I never even suspected that he was capable." Shikaku said, babbling at that point.

The man couldn't help but to continue telling them as much as possible as relief absolutely drowned his system. The knowledge that he finally had others to share his horrible secret with. It was truly unbearable! Yet it didn't feel so until the choice... well more like until he was pressed to tell the others about the truth that was Harri's life. At least from what he had learned from watching, inferred from given information, and had been told. Which with that he wasn't sure how truthful the young parent had been but he also couldn't see a reason why Itachi would have lied to him about such things. He wouldn't have gained anything from it... and even seemed reluctant to even speak about such things.

Had Itachi been telling him because he was desperate for help? Could he feel his own mind falling apart and slipping away from him gradually more and more every day and didn't know how to stop it? Such thoughts absolutely haunted Shikaku. The what ifs. His thoughts had spiraled so many times over such thoughts. He had disappeared from the house to think more than once over such thoughts late at night when he knew no one else was awake just so he could be alone in his thoughts.

If Shikaku had just followed his gut how many could he have saved? Could he have even saved Itachi from himself? No, he needed to just stop. Stop with that train of thought again. It wasn't his fault! He wasn't a mind reader damn it and he was sure that as difficult as it was to get through to the youth that it would have even been difficult for his friend Inoichi to have been able to pick up more than surface thoughts. No one could have predicted what would happen, no one! Itachi had obviously just finally lost his mind completely after his cousin died. Shikaku didn't think that he ever did it for a minute, but most didn't know the pair like he did.

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Harri was unsure what was wrong or what had happened, but he hadn't expected Iruka to cry and hug him first thing in the morning, apologizing to him... Nor his sensei to be there to pull him aside and insist, dead serious, that he wouldn't allow anything to happen to him and that he would keep him safe. Harri wasn't sure if he liked it... not one bit. It was frankly... unsettling. What were they even talking about?

Harri shook his head and decided that he didn't want to be around them any longer. Had the pair spent the night? Why wasn't Iruka saying anything about the fact that Harri had literally zapped him into unconsciousness? Harri was certain that man would flip out on him for doing such a thing, but he hadn't… In fact, the man didn't bring such a thing up at all. No one did.

After getting ready Harri left the home without a word. He was sure it wouldn't matter. He had heard that the team was supposed to go on some sort of mission that day but the last time it had been mostly things like rescuing cats from trees, stuff of that nature. Harri couldn't even be used for such a mission so it wasn't like he would really even need to show up or anything. He could just go and practice some family Jutsu... maybe Harri could even go and hang out with Konohamaru for a bit? He remembered him insisting that he wanted to play with him the night before. He felt kind of bad neglecting the other boy.

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Harri practiced his Lightening palms techniques for a few hours, surprised when he actually managed to channel his chakra a little better though much to his horror he ended accidently obliterating all 3 dummies he had been practicing on. All three using the same newly learning technique... It apparently wasn't something meant to be able to be recovered from... ever. He really should read the small print that his relatives so loved to put down, more often. He sighed after eying the absolute destruction that he had wrought on the training grounds.. At least no one was around to see it. He ran his hands through his unruly mop of curls brought on by the sudden humidity fueled heat wave that had hit. That was just great, another super horrifying death blow added to his arsenal of almost only death or severe unrecoverable maiming blows. At least he was definitely getting better at the Taijutsu side of things. That was good! He was glad that he could feel... sort of positive about that. He definitely felt that he was beginning to gain the ability to really hold his own at least well enough to wait for an opening to run away in an emergency situation. He was pretty sure there wasn't a single Genin that could anywhere near keep up with him if he were to run... He was pretty sure most Chunnin would even be struggling to do so at that point.

Harri grimaced at the realization that he would have to take a shower before heading into town. It wasn't like he really stunk or anything... he never really did with as little as he could even sweat but the feeling of the sticky heated air clinging to him was almost disgusting in its unpleasant dampness. He tied up his hair, trying his best not to have it clump against the back of his neck. Maybe afterwards he would wait a while to go out. He himself loved the heat, for once not feeling the least bit chilled. The temperature was perfect for someone like him. The humidity on the other hand wasn't. That was what he had problems with. He wished they lived in a drier climate. The deserts of Wind country truly sounded heavenly.

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A little past mid-afternoon Harri forced himself to get up from his little impromptu nap. Still cold and weak feeling from the awful shower that he had to endure. Mai grumbled grouchily as he slid out from under her sprawled body, giving her a loving pat on her head. He pouted as he realized there was quite literally practically nothing left in the entire house to eat. Harri grabbed a few of his fabric grocery bags. It would be nice if he could get Naruto to led him a few of those solid clones to help carry somethings. Then he wouldn't have to spend the rest of his day and likely most of the next restocking their home. That would be nice. He would of course make him plenty of delicious sweets as a thank you in return! Maybe he would even try his hand at making Raman or something as well? He was sure the other boy would love that... and Harri really did feel bad that he hadn't tried harder to become friends with the other boy. They just... didn't see eye to eye most of the time and they were... just so different but that didn't mean that he shouldn't at least try to get to know his own team mate a little better and well.. Naruto was really such a nice guy he just... was a bit too... boisterous and hyperactive for him to deal with for very long.

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Harri yelped after nearly being barreled over... What the? Was that... Naruto being c-chased by Sakura? Hearing a screech, Harri sighed, unable to help himself he rolled his eyes. Yup, that was him alright! He was tempted to follow... but decided against it. He really just didn't want to be involved in whatever petty thing that was happening... again. He was sure that Naruto accidently egged something on, Sakara being her rage monster self flipped out and completely over reacted and Naruto had caused the temperamental girl to lose it. Harri was near certain as much as she hated him that him getting involved would just make her even angrier. Surely, she wouldn't actually hurt him though. If she did do anything he would definitely be having more than words with her that was for sure.

He decided to continue on his way to the market hoping that the street venders would still have some decent meat and produce for him to pick through. He still wasn't feeling 100% and really craved as much meat as he possibly could get his hands on. He was glad that by then, everyone was quite use to his odd bulk requests for beef. Though his mind still clearly remembered the delicious taste of the squealing rabbit in his mouth. He wasn't sure if he would be able to control himself if he saw another one of the creatures. He hardly even noticed when he ran his tongue over his teeth and top of his mouth in phantom remembrance of the delicious sticky iron taste.

"Princess! I was wondering when you would get back! I was getting worried. I made sure to sit some things aside for you every weekend though, just in case you got back!" An older middle-aged man exclaimed smiling in his usual friendly manner. Harri's smile back at the man came easily. Ikuyo had been one of the few constants in his life since he could remember. Sometimes when he would have one of his odd... attacks the man's kind smiling face would even fill his mind the words the man said were but a wisp, almost like a ghost but still stuck... at least some of it did. Telling him that he was kind hearted and that he would make a wonderful future Lady Uchiha someday. Just thinking about it hallucination or not, nearly had Harri in tears every time.

Ikuyo eagerly pulled open the refrigerator to his little permanent stand and pulled out two full bags that smelled of fresh meat. "Here you are, I saved some of my best cuts for you!" The man said, sitting the two bags on his counter.

Harri like always, had to argue about even paying the man for the meat. They both agreed once Harri managed to force him to take his money that Harri would come back after he was done with the rest of his shopping to pick up the bags to make sure that it didn't go bad on such a hot day.

Harri yawned, after shopping for nearly 4 hours straight he was ready for bed. He had stopped at the local Dango shop for a quick snack before heading back to the Uchiha compound. He enjoyed the peace and quiet that he was experienced, sitting at the little bench. He did such things so rarely now. About the only time he did anything like that anymore was with Choji or Shika and both were usually too busy. He really wished that they were both on the same team as him.

"Harri! Guess who gets to go into the Chunin exams! Kakashi sensei recommended us and everything!" Naruto exuberantly exclaimed, pride clear as day in his tone of voice used. He thrust a piece of paper into Harri's hand. "That one's yours. It says the old man recommended you instead of Kakashi sensai though. He stopped me to give it to me actually since Kakashi sensei told him he refused to give it to you. Isn't this awesome? All ya' have to do is sign the paper then we can do it!" Naruto babbled, a delighted grin on his face. "This so calls for Ichiraku's!"

Harri's eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean? We have to do this?" Harri asked, feeling more than a little horrified.

Seeing the absolute disinterest on Harri's face had Naruto panicking a bit. He was pretty sure that even though there were 4 of them that they all had to be in the team to be allowed to participate. Without Harri there was a strong possibility that they wouldn't be allowed to even attempt to become Chunin... "Nah, it's required by all of us since we've taken enough missions to be entered. You just have to sign that little form thingy to show that you understand what their making you do or something." Naruto said with a shrug, trying to not raise suspicion. His stomach felt like a bunch of angry ants were chewing on it at the moment Harri let out a stressed, rescind groan and signed the form with a pen that he had tucked in his side pack. Before practically tossing the paper at the other boy.

"Here I am sure the council will want that back right away. I'm preoccupied and too tired to deal with them right now... and well... to be honest I don't really want anything to do with this, so you can turn it in if you want." Harri said with a shrug. It was typical after all. People pulling him about like a puppet on strings. That was practically his whole life, being puppeteered by everyone and expected to be happy and grateful because people did such things when all it did was make him more and more resentful and depressed. He would be so much happier if people would so kindly stop jerking him this way and that like a marionette without his own aspirations and feelings.

Wow... Harri... didn't seem so happy. That dead tired look on her face... Guilt flared up again even stronger after seeing that look in her eyes almost like she didn't have the will to care about anything. Was she sad about something? Was this his doing? He gritted his teeth and gave Harri a friendly goodbye before hurrying off.

Naruto's stomach was absolutely on fire. He couldn't help but feel bad that was a rotten thing to do... Selfish even for him. It wasn't right. Harri wasn't even healthy. He remembered hardly even a month before hand Kakashi desperately doing what he could to keep his teammate alive. How gray and cold Harri's skin had become. Remembering the sad smile on her face as she told them that she really just wanted a bunch of dogs and kids and liked cooking and gardening. He knew that Harri didn't want to be a ninja, yet everyone pushed and pushed... Really he had been no better. He had tricked one of the nicest people he ever met into participating in a life threatening competition even though... now that he thought about it... he was certain Harri didn't want anything to do with it. Maybe… Sakura was right…. Maybe he was a horrible teammate?

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Naruto yelped as the delicate paper fluttered from his laxing grasp, trying the best he could to ignore the stomach cramps he sprinted after it. Yowling in distress when it ended up colliding with the Hokage's face. No, no, no! Right as he was planning on just tearing the paper up and throwing it away! Why him? Why did he always have such rotten luck?!

The hyperactive blond groaned as the old man smiled and thanked him. For him and Harri doing their paperwork so quickly then scolded him for not being more careful with such important documents for their futures. After that, even with Naruto's almost begging protests to return the papers, the elderly man took them himself to assure that such a thing didn't happen again. He was such a bad person! Karma was so going to kick his ass for doing such an underhand thing to such a nice person, Naruto was sure of that! He groaned in pain as he quite literally was made ill by his own all-consuming guilt.

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Where was she? Where was SHE!? He felt like he was losing his mind trying to find her, the only other thing than the slick warmth of blood raining from his prey that made him feel alive. Gave him a reason of being. Harri. His sweet Angel. He carefully ran a hand over the worn teddy bear given to him when just a small child. His greatest gift. Mother was angry. Demanding that he found his princess. The boy's brain feeling like soup in his head. Why couldn't he find her? He had picked up a unique non-human scent on the cocky brat and ever so slightly on the blond he figured was Harri but he STILL couldn't find her... him? He shook his head trying to get his mind back on track. Maybe he just wasn't... looking in the right places. She didn't like crowded places... and that had been more of the areas he had been looking to be honest. Harri was a princess... The man had said she was an Uchiha all those year ago. His mind suddenly so readily supplied. The red head grinned so not so sanely as things fell into place in his mind.

He could wait a few days.

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Harri sighed, feeling more despondent than he could remember feeling in a long time. Like before, he was expertly avoiding pretty much everyone, even his friends this time around. He just... for once wanted to be alone. He just needed a little time for him for once without any expectations of anything from him. A little me time. At least until he was forced to participate in yet again another thing he wanted nothing to do with. Harri wasn't really sure how he decided that skulking around the woods nearby, belonging to the Uchiha compound, would be his answer but he did feel calmer. He... wasn't actually sure if he had wandered out there more than a hand full of times in his whole life though... It was strange. It was like an itch under his skin ever since he had returned. It was... beginning to worry him. Even with his necklace on his instincts were most definitely becoming stronger.

The urge to hunt was just as strong if not stronger. An almost feralness or wildness was writhing just under Harri's skin. He knew that he shouldn't let himself distance himself from others, he was making it worse, but he-he just didn't know how to deal with it. Any of it. It wasn't like anyone could understand his animalistic needs, his desire to taste fresh blood in his mouth when hungry. It-it was horrible and disgusting, but he couldn't help it. He was sure that he would terrify them. They-they would become afraid of him and he couldn't let that happen. He adored them all too much. He was becoming older and-and the monster in him-his inhumanity... he was afraid that his true nature would change him into something that everyone would hate... no fear. He had always felt it a bit. Even as a small child but... ever since they had returned.. Anytime he became hungry that feeling... that need came back stronger than ever.

Harri forced his mind off of such things. Focusing on his fears and stresses only made them worse. He had learned that while on the very same mission in Wave country. He was making some of his symptoms worse by dwelling on them. He needed to learn control. But... he didn't know how. It wasn't... like he could ask anyone for help. How could a human help a demon god get a grip on himself? They were such different things!

Harri made himself breath through his mouth in an attempt to force down some of his hunting instincts as the need wasn't completely out of control yet. He had to make himself leave the forested area before he did something that he regretted. Even as his brain insisted that he was an idiot and that there would be nothing worth regretting, his team already knew that he had brutally killed a rabbit when goaded into it by Zabuza. He ignored that voice. He was a normal civilized person.

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A strange distantly familiar scent filled Harri's nose as he approached his home. Comforting and painful. Harri shuddered, subconsciously holding his side as a vague memory of red hair filled his mind. Demon. Harri's pupils turned to pinpricks. His free hand shook. Why would a demon come to his home?

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"I'm so pumped!" Naruto happily exclaimed. "I wish I could have found you though Harri! Then we could have trained together!"

"Yeah... where have you been? At that loser's place again?" Sasuke questioned, eyeing his oddly neutral looking cousin.

"Training." Was Harri's strangely clipped answer as the boy didn't even take the time to look at him. Instead was more interested in the scuffle that was happening ahead.

"There's a lot more where that came from! If you think a little punch from me was bad, then you have no right even thinking about joining the exams!" A teen said, grinning cruelly.

Harri nearly let out a startled laugh as the pair's scents hit him. It was obvious enough that they were using a Henge but they hadn't even tried changing their scents! They were obviously the gate guards. How hadn't anyone else picked up on that? Probably trying to weed out the weaklings. He didn't understand why anyone was even trying to go through that particular doorway. They weren't on the 3rd floor like they had been told the exam was on. It was the 2nd. Even the sign confirmed it... Wait... it had a bit of a watery look around it... Were they using some sort of jutsu on it that he just couldn't see?

Harri immediately went for the stares confusing more than one student.

"Harri what are you doing?" Naruto barked.

"We're only on the second floor. We need to go to the third, right?" Harri asked. "I'll meet you guys up there. You can... do….. whatever it is that you plan on doing." Harri explained. He frankly didn't care what they did as long as they didn't get hurt and he didn't have to get involved in a fight or something... which it was quite obvious that Sasuke and Naruto were itching for one. He was too tired to deal with such things. Nightmares he hadn't experienced since he was a child burned through his body for the last three days straight. The weird phantom pains created from them in his side made him absolutely ache and all he really wanted to do was sit down. Possibly see if after this dumb test Shika would like to go take a nap. Harri sighed and froze in his walking for a second, feeling guilty. "Please... just-just try to not cause a fight." He said, before he made his way up the stairs to a long hallway and rolled his eyes when he saw a watery shimmer completely overlaying the doors along it. He grabbed the handle to the door at the end of the hallway, startling at least half a dozen Genin who were sitting by it, one actually fell into the hallway as Harri swung the door open. Oh, Kiba... "Sorry about that! I didn't realize no one could see the door on the other side as well! It's a Genjutsu!" He couldn't help but squeak. His face bright red after the boy screeched about falling through a wall. "I should have been more careful regardless though!" Harri insisted helping the other boy up.

"How were you able to detect that? Even my insects were barely able to pick up on it the Chakra strings were so delicately woven." Shino said, sounding ever so slightly impressed.

"You knew that a door was there, and you didn't tell me?" Kiba complained.

"Of course, I did. I didn't think that anyone would actually enter through there though. One would have to have fantastic sensory skills to be able to pick up on it. I am sure even some seasoned Jounin would have trouble with that door without insects or incredible senses to assist them like I do."

Harri blushed again, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah... I have always had a knack for picking up on Genjutsus!" Harri agreed, careful not to elaborate on his actual abilities. He was barely able to control the cringe that wanted to jerk through his body at the knowing look he could feel the Aburame scrutinizing him with.

Harri was quick to get away from the little group, always fearful around Hyuugas. He barely managed to let out a sigh of relief before he felt someone staring at him. The very same scent as before took root in his nose. He shuddered as a twinge of pain flashed through his side.

"I've been looking for you all week Harri." A deep gravelly voice growled.

Harri turned and was met with intense seafoam green eyes and hair like blood. He couldn't help but to stare at the other boy only inches from him and blush for at least the 4th time that day. Harri's throat felt ready to close up as the boy's scent sent more heavily into his nose.

Harri was far more beautiful then he even remembered. It was like a cloud had lifted from Gaara. Everything was once again right in the world. The need to keep and protect was overwhelming and the bloodlust was pushed aside. Even mother no longer pushed him to kill in the presence of his princess. His chest swelled with a strange foreign emotion as he gazed into dazed looking green orbs. Mother had told him that Harri was going to be his mate when he was little. Over and over again even when he was too young to understand what that even meant. Feeling that calm almost happiness. Feeling alive without having to kill just to feel something. Gaara sighed almost blissfully. The only person that ever even bothered to try and show him kindness just to be kind. He was pretty sure he had just fallen in love all over again. He would protect her- (him) mother corrected yet again. He would protect him with everything he was. He would repay the kindness with everything he was. He was Harri's prince charming after all and Harri was his princess he wouldn't let anything make him unhappy nor would he let anyone get in his way of them becoming mates! Harri was the only thing he loved, and no one would take that away from him, ever! His only friend in the whole world. The only one that didn't treat him like some abomination.

It was like one of those books he used to read once uncle died. They waited to reunite for years and now they finally had... Then they would declare undying love to each other and then kiss and get married... and live happily ever after, right? Gaara's eyes gleamed in deranged excitement. He had been waiting years to finally confess. From the moment he had laid eyes on the other he had been completely smitten. Gaara had been in love for as long as he could remember really. Just like one of the books that his uncle use to read to him... Love at first sight.. That's what it had been called. He was sure that Harri felt just the same way! They were soul mates!

"Harri! I've been so worried about you!"

Gaara's pale eyes darted over to memorize who had so rudely disrupted this momentous occasion. He clenched his teeth. So, this…. This must be his rival in love for his princess… Not much to look at…. Though he wasn't half bad looking…. He would rip him apart, Gaara decided. There was no way that this other boy would stand in his way. Gaara narrowed his eyes at the other boy with a growl. There was only room for one prince charming in this story and that was him!

End Chapter 14

So, I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter!

If you are looking for some other good stories of mine to read I would suggest two others. Not the Place I was Hoping for, which is a Yuyu Hakusho/ Harry Potter crossover. It is to the point already that Harry is pregnant and has a mate. Which I am working on the next chapter for slowly but surely and then the one I update pretty often, Setting a Hurricane of Feelings Ablaze. It is a My Hero Academia/Harry Potter Crossover that at this point Harry is in a relationship.

By the way I have started up a Youtube channel if anyone wants to check it out! Ideas and suggestions welcome!

Please review! It really motivates me and gives me great ideas! I also would really love to know what you guys/gals are thinking and if you guys/gals have any ideas to add to this story or others! I use suggested ideas pretty often! I will also soon have a few more stories up, short ones, that I have been working on!

Next Chapter hint: First test and misunderstandings.