I do not own Naruto. I own only the plot and any original characters.
two
.
there are times when ignorance is indeed bliss
.
I was born in a rather unforgiving world, but I can't really complain about my life so far.
My name is Chiasa, and with a name like 'a thousand mornings', I was told to live longer than my mother, who died shortly after she gave birth to me. Having parents is a conception that is slightly familiar to me but not at the same time. I have the feeling I know how it's supposed to be like, but I've never had anyone like that, and it confuses me.
"How old are you?"
"I turned four last summer."
The man sitting in front of me doesn't reply, merely continues to observe me as I eat. It's slightly unnerving, yes, but it's nothing like the stare of the other men, so I ignore it and continue to eat the rice with egg rolls placed not long ago on the table. The man hasn't touched his food, and I wonder if he'll let me eat his portion.
He feels familiar in a strange way. It tickles the back of my mind the same way some knowledge does, in the way I learn faster than other kids my age, in the way sometimes the answers are right in front of me. In the same way I know the feeling of having a parent despite never having one.
(It's a feeling that goes beyond instinct. Something that's saved me a couple of times already, and I don't dare question it.)
I meet a flurry of people after breakfast. Some are more friendly than others, but not one of them doesn't glance at the way I grip on the man's sleeve the entire time. I didn't have a last name, because the district had been as close to family as it could get, but here they call me Uchiha.
The man says my name is Uchiha Chiasa, and it does have a nice ring to it.
As it turns out, I've got much more to do here than simple chores. No one here expects me to wipe the floors or wash the dishes, because the man has a caretaker for all the household chores, and I wonder how it is that the woman can keep such a big house clean all by herself.
"You know how to write?"
"I do, but I don't know many kanji."
The man - Madara - doesn't comment on it. Doesn't judge. Doesn't ask why. Instead, he gives me books and scrolls and ink to practice, and sometimes sits next to me after dinner to check my work. He never speaks much and never shows blatant signs of emotion, but it's somewhat refreshing. He doesn't beat around the bush, he doesn't use pretty words, and he doesn't waste time with unnecessary things.
Even though I like Madara a lot, I can't say I feel the same for the rest of my family.
No one treats me badly, because Madara is clan head, and that's apparently a Big Thing™, but I can tell there are people who don't like me, although I don't really understand why.
"You cannot be a burden to Madara-sama, you hear child? He's decided to take you under his wing for some reason but you must do your utmost best to honor him and the clan. What is he thinking, bringing in a strange one and claiming her to be clan heir-"
"Oh, but she is the clan heir."
Madara picks me up in one swift motion, towering over the clan elder that had been talking both to me and to herself. The clan head holds me easily using only his left arm, leaving his right - and dominant - arm to do the silent threatening. It works like a charm, and the elder instantly lowers her head, a tense feeling in the air.
We're not indoors, and people keep glancing. Madara knows he's making a scene, but he either doesn't care or he's doing it on purpose. Even though I've only known him for a few weeks, it's probably the latter.
"Madara-sama." The elder greets, a slight tremor in her voice. This situation is extremely uncomfortable and the last place I want to be is here even though I've only got a vague idea of what the issue is about. Yet, I don't dare show weakness, because Madara had told me people would take advantage of it like starving hyenas. I say nothing and keep a light grip on his dark clothes.
"Elder Sachie. Was I wrong to think this issue had seen its end already?"
Madara reminds me of a big cat most of the time, like a tiger or a panther. He's holding me so close I can feel he's completely relaxed, as if we're talking about the weather. It's similar to the way a dangerous feline would loosen up all its muscles before tensing them up at once and pouncing on its prey.
"No, Madara-sama. I was merely advising the child on how-"
"Chiasa-hime."
"I- pardon?"
More and more people stop to look at the commotion. I only know about it because I can feel the stares burning into my skin, but I keep my eyes on the elderly woman in front of me, no matter how big the urge to fidget becomes. Madara is the clan head and if he decides a public dress down is in order, it's probably not my place to say anything about it.
"Chiasa is to be treated with the respect befitting of her position. She is the heir, the first female to ever inherit the Uchiha clan head's seat, and you will consider her to be on the same standing as myself. Am I clear?"
It's so quiet no one even dares to breathe loudly. Much of it is new information to me, and although Madara was probably going to tell me sooner or later, I'd have appreciated a heads up at least.
He hasn't raised his voice a single time, but I suppose he's never been the type to assert his dominance with his voice. It's in the way he speaks, the way he stands, and the snarl at the tip of his lips. It's something he's most likely been doing since he became clan head, and although I do feel it's a bit too much, I keep my mouth shut.
If I were to say something now, it'd reflect poorly on Madara and it'd make people think he'd made a mistake in bringing me here, after all. Acts are something I'm familiar with, because the girls back at the district used to do this all the time - even the Landlady encouraged it, and this is very much an act. He's both the main actor and the director, and we're all just following his cues.
"O-of course, Madara-sama. Do forgive me, Chiasa-hime."
Instantly, all eyes are on me. In a second, I've become the main actress, and I do my best to act out my part.
"That's quite alright, Elder Sachie. Please continue to guide me along."
I put on a small, benevolent smile in a last minute improvisation. We might as well have gone out with a standing ovation, because that little show was the talk of the clan - and the village, apparently - for days.
"Are you my birth father?"
"No."
"But you are my father."
"...yes. The day I took you in I became legally responsible for you, as a guardian and as a parent. It is one of the conditions for adoption by clan law."
"And because you're clan head, I became the clan heir."
"Yes."
"And what exactly does that entail?"
"...we'll need tea for this conversation."
We did indeed have tea, and talked long into the night. I learned that being Uchiha Chiasa was more than gaining a parent and numerous relatives; I'm the clan heir, the first female in the entire clan's history, and that's a Big Deal. It means things are going to change for the clan, and it means Madara is going to take a more active role in managing the clan. It means I have a say in things, almost as much as he does.
It means he's become my parent, and as a clan heir, I have numerous duties to fulfill. Madara talks about the clan and the village, but mostly the clan, and I keep quiet even as ideas sprout in my mind like weeds.
"Does that mean I have to call you Madara-sama?"
"You can call me whatever you like, within reason."
"...then, can I call you dad?"
"...yes."
I smile brightly from the bottom of my heart ever since I came to live here, and feel delighted when the corners of his lips turn upwards as well.
.
.
If you can't tell this is self indulgent as all heck and/or don't like it then I suggest you click away now cause this is only the tip of the iceberg. Freaking fight me.