That night, Izumi had nightmares.

In her dreams, she saw Shisui falling instead of his friend. There was blood in his eyes and a sad smile on his face. She saw Itachi's eyes losing everything that made him human. She saw Minato's and Kushina's grave.

It made her scream. But Shisui never came - she imagined his dreams weren't any better than hers.

-'-

In the morning, I went to the market and bought a lot of food. Afterward, I knocked at the main house. Itachi opened the door and tilted his head in front of me like he was asking what I was doing there.

— Shisui needs help.

I saw Itachi's face grew tense, and without uttering a single word he put on his shoes and followed me towards our cousin's apartment. Itachi knocked and when the older boy didn't answer I put my key on the lock and went in, the clan heir right beside me.

Shisui was on the couch, his eyes closed.

— It's not polite to enter someone else's house without invitation, Izumi-chan.

I just rolled my eyes at him and went straight for the kitchen to make some breakfast.

Meanwhile, Itachi asked what had happened.

Izumi cursed the boy's lack of social skills. She should have seen it coming, really.

— My mission went bad. One of the members of my genin team is dead.

— I'm sorry.

— Me too.

An awkward silence begins. I continue to cook, feeling hollow.

Why had that boy died for? Why did this world have so much fighting? Was it worth, dying for the village? Why can't we leave in peace?

— I have a dream.

This statement came from Itachi and made me turn around immediately.

— I want to end all the fights in the world. This way… no one will die like this again.

Peace.

Almost as if he was reading my mind, Itachi expressed my feelings exactly.

I didn't know how if I would ever be able to achieve it.

I was too selfish. I just wanted the people I cared about to be happy, not the entire world.

But as soon as he proclaimed, I believed in him.

Because if somebody would be able to achieve peace between all nations, it would be Itachi.

— That's a beautiful dream — the first one to speak was Shisui. I nodded, agreeing to his words.

The younger boy, looking slightly surprised answered with a quiet "Hm".

-'-

We spend the rest of the morning in silence, but together. I try to talk, but it doesn't last. In the afternoon, I leave for the fuuinjustu lesson with Kushina, while the boys stay behind.

I knock at the door, and the Uzumaki opens it with a smile plastered in her face.

— Come on in, Izu-chan!

I enter and follow her to the dining room. Minato is sitting at the table, with a pile of books beside him.

— Hello, Izumi. How is Shisui?— The blond asks with a kind smile but worried eyes.

— He… he is dealing with it, I guess. Itachi is with him — I answer, not managing to hide my own concerns — He will be fine, I think.

Kushina's eyes reflect our worry, but she forces a smile on her face anyway.

— Well, then, it is time to learn! So, Izumi, first we will start with basic symbols.

Minato opens the book and slides it to me. I flip through the pages — there are a lot of symbols.

Like hundreds of them. Minato picks up from where his wife started:

— Every line, every detail can affect the way the seal will work, and an incorrect symbol can cause an enormous backlash, that can go from a cut to maiming or even killing, so until one of us give you explicit permission you will not be making seals on your own, is that clear?

— Yes, Minato-sensei — I answer with an even tone. I understood how they could be dangerous, for me and for others, and I wasn't going to take any chances.

Minato smiles at his new title but doesn't comment on it.

— Good. With that settled, this book is yours to take. It may seem like a lot, but soon you will start to see the patterns and will be able to identify what a symbol does without ever seen it before.

— Each seal maker adapts his or her seals to gis style, but there are always some common factors — Continues Kushina — A seal is only limited by your knowledge. It is the most flexible form you can use chakra that it is not tied to a genetic lineage.

— But first things first: in a seal, there are always four components: the neutralizer, that will incapacitate the seal, the stabilizer, that will prevent the chakra from backlashing, the main component that is basically the purpose of the seal, and the activation symbol, that includes that parameters within which the seal will work. — Minato pauses and looks at me.

— Makes sense. But… I would paper and pen, please.

Kushina laughs hard while the Hokage smiles. He grabs the pen and the paper for me and I write everything down.

— So, in order to make a seal…

-'-

After three hours the couple finally ends the first class and my head is hurting. Fuuinjutsu was hard as much as it was useful.

And I wanted to learn.

Even though I knew it would take a damn long time before I could actually do something with it.

I go straight to Shisui's house, and this time I knock. Itachi is the one who opens the door and wordlessly lets me in. Shisui is kneeling in front of a chessboard, the game set up. He smiles at me, but his heart clearly isn't into it.

— Drop that fake smile, Shisui.

He looks caught off guard, but he does it anyway. I sit by his side and Itachi reclaims his previous place across the table.

They continue to play and silence and I don't say anything either. I just pull the book Minato and Kushina gave to me and start to study the seal components. If Shisui didn't want to talk about it it was fine, as long as he knew he still had people he could turn to.

For now, that was enough.

After the game, she made dinner. In the same silence, they ate. After doing the dishes Shisui finally said something.

—Do... can you two sleep here?

My eyes connect with Itachi and even without a word I know we are thinking the same thing.

—Of course.

— I will let my mother know — says the heir, already opening the door.

I focus my gaze once again on the older boy and really look at him.

His curly hair is messy, his lips are in a thin line, and his eyes are hazed like he wasn't really seeing. His shoulders are tense and his jaw pressed. Everything was about him was off and I didn't know how to help because there was on single thought on my head: what had happened to mom.

If Shisui died, I wouldn't be able to handle it. Seeing him like this put me on edge, and made me feel completely useless. All I could do was be here and hope it was enough.

Itachi came back and we set up three futons.

— Good night, Shisui, Itachi.

No one answered me.

-'-

In the morning, Shisui was the first one up. By the time I felt really awaken, he had set up the table and Itachi was already seated.

— Training? — I ask, not being able to keep the silence any longer.

— Sure — Says Shisui, shrugging.

I smile and sit at his side.

— Itadakimasu!

We eat and this time I talk about my training yesterday. Itachi makes a few questions here and there while Shisui remains quiet, but I don't really mind. After eating I make a quick stop at my house and we leave for training.

We arrive at Uchiha train ground three and start stretching. When we are warmed up, the genin makes a suggestion:

— Itachi, I will start with a taijutsu-only spar with Izumi, since she has less stamina.

— I will train ninjutsu than.

Without another word, Shisui turns towards me and makes the conciliation seal, that I copy. I take a defensive position but he does the same, startling me — I was always in defense when sparring with them, mostly because I had to be able to at least dodge if I had any hope in managing to actually land an attack.

After an entire minute of waiting, I finally relent. I take a deep breath, forcing my body to relax, like the Uchiha Taijutsu style demanded, and activate my Sharingan in his normal three-tome, state. The world around me gets slower, more colorful, more beautiful.

And then, I run straight at him. He prepares to strike a punch in my belly since he knows that while running there is no way I would be fast enough to block his fist, but I dodge going down, already expecting that kind of reaction. With my hands supporting me on the floor, I try to use my momentum to kick his legs and make him fall, but he jumps. Shisui was always fast, in everything he does, from attacking to defending, and his Sharingan was well developed, so he definitely saw it coming. Quickly, I to stand again, but I can see him preparing for the next attack so I kneel and avoid the punch he aims at my face by inclining my head to the right. I got him exactly where I want him: I grip the hand by my side and push it, making him lose his balance and fall beside me. Quickly, I try to immobilize him, but he pushes me. He is stronger, which makes him hard to overpower. I roll away from him and quickly go back to my feet while he does the same.

Shisui is being violent, almost vicious. Normally, he would be slowing down and correcting my every move, trying to not only make the fight longer but more informative. When we would do something like this, it was normally with him attacking, letting me focus only on defense.

I am a little bit scared and very, very worried.

My only comfort is that in case he goes too far, Itachi will stop him.

We stare at each other, breathing hard. I am covered with sweat and my hands shake slightly but I keep my stance. This time, he acts first: he lunges at me, his hand aiming for my throat. Again I grab his hand, but I immediately notice the mistake: there is no way Shisui Uchiha would fall twice in the same mistake. I can see his knee coming at me, but I can't dodge fast enough. It connects with my chest, and suddenly, there is no more air in my lungs.

The pain is sharp and it hits me hard. I fall into my hands and knees, choking and panting. My chest hurts so much that I feel like I am about to die.

— Get up — Shisui's voice is cold and harsh making me flinch when I hear it. It sounds almost unnatural in the cheery boy and makes my heart feel hollow.

My cousin is the opposite of every other Uchiha. Where most are cold he is warm, where they are silent he is loud, where they are moody and introspective, he is easy-going and extrovert. Seeing him like this is not something I ever expected to see, much like seeing Minato's cold side.

— I said get up, Izumi! The enemy won't wait for you to be ready. They are going to hurt you, and when you fall, they will kill you. You-

Itachi stands between us. His eyes are deadly serious and I almost expect to see the Sharingan, even though I know he hasn't awakened it yet. His lips are pressed together and he looks… sad.

— What are you doing, Shisui? — His voice sounds tired and worried — Izumi isn't even at the Academy. You can't expect her to fight you as an enemy would, especially since she doesn't know how to fight, that's why we are teaching her. So I will ask again: What are you doing?

—They won't have mercy, Itachi — Now the genin sounds desperate — They won't care that she is a girl or a child, or that she is kind. They will kill her nevertheless and if we can't stop her from being a ninja we have to get her ready to face the world. We…

A tear stream down his face and his hands are trembling. Itachi furrows his brows. I can see that he understands where Shisui is coming from but he doesn't know what to do.

I do, though.

So with a pained breath, my limbs trembling, I stand. Each step is painful, and the closer that I get more desperate Shisui becomes. Itachi runs to my side, putting his arm around my waist and helping me overcome the last few steps. I don't cry even if it hurts. I keep everything inside because, right now, he needs me and I will be damned if I can't be there for him. My older cousin looks scared and guilty, he is crying and looking like a mess.

I put my hand in his shoulders, and he looks at me. He opens his mouth, trying to say something, but I raise my hand, making him lips close.

— Being a shinobi… it's dangerous. I know. And someday, I will have to face the enemy, and they will hurt me, maybe even kill me. I understand the risks, okay? But… if there is no one to fight them… they can hurt civilians. Or newborns, or elders. When we choose to be shinobi, we choose to be a wall who stands between them and the innocents. Shisui, one day, I will have to face the harsh truth of the world. And when that day comes, I will do my duty. But.. right now… there is no enemy. Just us. Just family. And neither I or Itachi are heading to the field now. So you don't have to be scared to lose us, yeah? We are not going anywhere.

He bites his lips and nods. And then, he hugs me. I immediately retribute, holding him with all the strength I have, even though it hurts like hell.

— I am sorry; I'm sorry. I'm sorry...

— Shhh, it's fine.

-'-

We are at the Uchiha nursery. Ume-baa was pissed when we got here and has been grumbling and complaining the entire time. Shisui looks guilty while Itachi looks worried. That mean kick had cracked my ribs, but it was nothing a medic-nin couldn't fix.

— Izu-chan I am really-

— I know, Shisui — I smile when I hear the honorific. He is back— You already apologized a thousand times. I forgive you. It was worth it if helped you to come back to us, ok?

He opens his mouth and furrows his brows, looking lost, until he finally gives up saying whatever he was about to and sighs, a smile plastered in his face.

— Ok, Izu-chan.

Someone knocks on the door. When I look up I see a familiar face smiling at us.

— So here is where you have been hiding, Izumi!

I feel my face getting warmer — I had totally forgotten about today's lesson! Kushina-nee was smiling almost evilly and I start to feel really nervous.

— I am so sorry, Kushina-sensei. I completely forgot!

— I can see that since you left me waiting for an entire hour 'ttebane! What I am…

— Kushina-san, please don't go too hard on her. She was keeping me company — Shisui mutters with a pleading face. I can't stop myself from thinking how utterly adorable he looks like this. The Uzumaki must be thinking the same because her face softens.

— Well, then I can't blame her, can I? But, since we already lost training time… let's get some ramen!

Without waiting for an answer, she left. I quickly get up and follow her, trusting the boys to do the same. When I look back and see Shisui's grin back, my heart gets warm. This is what he should always look like, and I would make sure that he keeps the smile on. I would protect it like I should have protected my mother's.

-'-

After the ramen, the boys go back to the Uchiha district and I follow Kushina back to her home.

— Thank you for that, Kushina-nee. And for understanding. He really needed help, and I just… I couldn't just leave.

—Of course you couldn't, Izu-chan. He is family, and when your family needs help, it's natural to forget about everything else. And I am happy to help! If you or any of your friends and family need support, you know you can always come to me and Minato, right?

— Hm!

— Don't you 'hm' me little lady! There are already too many people with monosyllabic answers in the Uchiha Clan'ttebane! You don't have to join!

I can't stop myself from snickering at that. It was quite true — Itachi being an example. I remembered never understanding why children in our clan didn't seem to talk as much as the other kids. It was weird to me since my mother took me out of the district a lot, but I got used to it.

— Hai, hai, Kushina-sensei!

The woman smiles at me and opens the door. We enter and go straight to the table we had used yesterday. She gives me a paper with a few questions in it, all about the previous lesson.

— Now Izu-chan, let's see how much you actually learned 'ttebane!

— I will do my best!

— That is what I like to hear from my cute little student — she says while pets my head — Now begin!

I look at the first question and see it's about the components. Easy peasy. I begin to write.

After the test (that I aced), Kushina starts to explain how to harmonize the seal. It was a lot harder to understand than the first part and by the end, my head was spinning. I finally muster the courage to interrupt her:

— Kushina-sensei, you lost me ten minutes ago.

She blinks at me and giggles.

— I am sorry, Izu-chan. Explain to me everything you understood-

The apartment door opens and Minato strands trough it, with a white-haired boy trailing him. His face is covered with a mask, which makes it hard for me to guess his age, but he was short so I knew he couldn't be too old. He was wearing a jounin vest.

— Minato-sensei I said…

The blond ignores him, smiling at us instead.

— Kushina, Izumi-chan, tadaima! How was training today?

— I may have rushed a little too much 'tebanne, but Izumi aced the test about the last lesson! — She says smiling and giving him a peck on the lips and then turned towards the boy — Kakashi-kun, you came! It has been some time since you last came for dinner, hasn't?

Before the boy could say anything the Uzumaki tackled him into a bear hug. He huffed but didn't push her. When she finally let him go, I could see that the tip of his ears were red and I couldn't help the giggle, which made the teenager narrow his eyes at me.

— Kakashi-kun, this is Uchiha Izumi, our new fuuinjutsu student. Izu-chan, this is Hatake Kakashi, Minato's student.

I bow before him.

— It is nice to meet you, Kakashi-senpai.

— Nice to meet you too, Izumi-san — I recognize his voice immediately from that day.

The day my dad died. He was the Anbu that was in the house, I just knew it.

I would never be able to forget.

I don't say anything. Anbu was a secret organization, and the members weren't public. And if it was… what did it matter? What would I say: "did you tell my mom my dad died?"

It would awkward and pointless so I try to let it go.

Even though it hurt.

— So, Minato, how was your day? — Kushina asked while she went to the kitchen, the blond following her inside. Kakashi blinked with his only visible eye and then turned towards me, looking slightly annoyed.

— Great, I am in babysitting duty — he mutters under his breath, making me wince. I can't exactly dispute his claim since I was, in fact, a child, barely six years old. What I could do was something productive, and if he was Minato-nii's student, well...

— Kakashi sempai, can you help me with fuuinjutsu theory? — I ask with my best grin in place and the most adorable look I could muster — Kushina-sensei was explaining what I had to do to harmonize a seal, but and didn't understand what she meant with the bridge thing. I draw it like this, but she said it had to be a more compatible type, and I am not sure what is wrong...

The teenager blinks and looks at me surprised. He proceeds to look at my seal sketch and grabs a brush from the table.

— I can understand why you are confused. You see, even if this symbol is similar, the correct one would have one more line, see?

He proceeds to explain again all of the parameters necessary to combine symbols, but he is more clinical than Kushina-sensei. I take notes, now getting a better grasp about the theory the red-head was trying to explain to me. By the time the couple comes back to the living room, Kakashi has already reviewed both lessons and is helping me to place the correct meaning to each component of different seals. He was no fuuinjutsu expert, that much is clear, but he knows the basics really well.

As expected of the Hokage's student.

It was also clear that he was really smart. The way he acted and spoke, sounding ages older than he actually was, reminded me of Itachi. It did make me feel frustrated — I knew if the clan heir was the one getting this lesson, he ould already be much further than I was. I just couldn't grasp things as fast as he could.

I knew I was smart for my age — most of the Uchiha were since we had eidetic memories and our brains developed faster in order to actually accommodate the information input the Sharingan provided. We were also raised to behave like an adult as soon as possible, being though complex words from a young age. When the Sharingan actually awakened the difference was even more accentuated since it triggers our yang chakra into accelerating the already fast brain development. Fugaku had explained that to me in one of our lessons. But even if all of this would make me a genius if compared to civilians, amid my own clan and others I was just slightly over-average. It didn't make me anything like Itachi who would lear jutsus just by observing onetime even if he didn't hee the Sharingan.

— Good to see you two getting along, but dinner is ready! — the blond man announces looking amused and making me come back from my inner-ramblings. We proceed to get the sealing material away and set the table for dinner. They all site and after a chorus of 'itadakimasu' they eat.

— Kakashi-kun, what were you teaching Izumi? — asks the ginger curiously.

— I was basically reviewing what she should already have learned —he said in a bland tone and I felt my temper flare. I knew I wasn't a genius and fuuinjutsu was hard but I didn't like his condescending attitude.

—Well, not all of us were born with a head as big as yours, Kakashi-senpai. Some of us have to actually make an effort to learn something — I snap at him.

— I know that. That wasn't what I meant — he says with an annoyed look — I just meant to say that I didn't try to teach anything you weren't already familiar with.

I shut my mouth, feeling my cheeks getting warm. I can't believe I let my on inferiority complex get the better of me like that.

— You don't have to have your guard up, Izu-chan. No one here is going to criticize you. Besides, you are not even in the academy yet — says Minato in his soothing voice.

— I know. I am sorry for overreacting, Kakashi-senpai.

The boy acknowledges me with a nod, but he doesn't say anything else. For the rest of the dinner, Minato and Kushina are the only ones who talk. After helping with the dishes I leave, still cursing myself for acting so childish.

I go straight home, trusting that Itachi is keeping company to Shisui and deciding to visit in the morning.

-'-

Four months go by fast. Between taking care of my own apartment, having ninjutsu, taijutsu and genjutsu lessons, training my Sharingan with Fugaku-sama, studying Fuuinjutsu with Kushina and Minato and practicing basically everything with the boys, I barely have time to anything else. Itachi's birthday had been last month, but the party was extremely boring. I got him a book — the one about the gutsy shinobi — and he had loved it. We discussed it so much that Shisui ended up reading too. It was nice, talking about books, playing and relaxing, even if we did that a lot less frequently than training.

Shisui had already mastered the Mangekyo — or at least as close to master as he could get without using his exclusive jutsus. He manages to conjure the Susano'o and keep it for a few minutes. It wasn't too much, but Fugaku said that that was as much as his reservers would allow for no. I had barely managed to keep my normal Sharingan activated for an entire hour, but well, baby steps. Mentally, Shisui was as well as could be expected. Sometimes he would get a distant look in his eyes, but usually, he was his cheery self. And after everything that is all we could have expected.

The monthly meetings had been the same as the first one. Though most of the time, I was pushed out of the room after narrating all the visions I got. In the beginning, there hadn't been any difference in them so far, which worried me: shouldn't they have changed the moment I told them to Minato? But as time moved on, I start to perceive little differences. The dialogue between Minato and the masked man changed. The midwife didn't die anymore. Kushina's seal took longer to break. On the last one, she even survived and I got to see her and Minato's funeral.

He always died in the end. And I couldn't figure out how. That's what I have been trying to do, but no luck so far.

And we only had three months left.

Today there would be the July meeting. I was already heading towards the council room, but I was worried. I had to figure out what happened to Minato so they could make a plan that would actually save him.

And for that, the most helpful way would be for my visions to be from his eyes. Or from someone who was close to them at the moment he died. I needed to understand what was the pattern. I saw through other people's eyes, not only for my own. I had o identify whose eyes, why them and if I could choose to watch from specific people. That was what Fugaku was trying to teach me — to no avail, so far. Since I couldn't always tell who I was at the visions, figuring out the conditions to the Mangekyo was hard. But I had a breakthrough last week that would probably help me to at least see how Minato would die, even if probably it wouldn't have the details.

I shake my head. Now was not the time for this.

I open the council room. Kushina and Minato were already there, but no one else was. They smile at me and I sit across from the red-head.

— So, Izumi-chan, did you figure out more about your visions? — Asks the Hokage

— The longest vision I can have without switching the point of view is ten minutes. Every time we plan something, the visions change at least a little bit. I can force myself into alternative visions of the same thing, like a simulation, if I think bout something specific that should be different but that is all.

— I see. That simulation will be incredibly useful, Izu-chan — says the Uzumaki while petting my hair — You did well.

I beam at her feeling my chest getting lighter. Kushina had the ability to make everything seem brighter with her fierce optimism and energy. She always knew what to say even if she was overbearing sometimes.

She was my sensei, and at the same time, she was the best big sister I could ask for. That made her family in a way that a lot of the Uchihas weren't.

Before I could say anything else the doors open, and the Clan Heads walk in and sit. I straighten my spine and tale a deep breath. Staying at those meetings had become almost routine so I didn't feel so nervous anymore, but it wasn't exactly a comfortable place to be either.

— Good morning. Today we are here to discuss the attack that will happen in the tenth of October as you all know. And like usual, we will begin with the visions. Izumi, Inoichi, if you would —says the Hokage gesturing towards me.

I close my eyes and activate the Mangekyo. Inoichi puts a hand on my shoulder and uses the Yamanaka jutsu too transmit all the visions to everyone in the room. I try to focus on the specif memory — the only vision I see trough my own eyes — but searching for a different outcome. One I try to follow Minato, who I know it's close to the fox.

" I am running through the village. Looking down I see a purple dress and a child's body. I was myself. I keep running, Itchi pulling me by the hand and carrying a baby. We are close to the shelter localized by the forest. I stop on my tracks.

— Itachi you have to go in. Sasuke is too little and you have to protect him!

— I know, Izumi! that's why we should be going in — his voice is uncharacteristically desperate — So let's-

—There-there is something I need to do. I am sorry — I turn around and run towards the forest. as fast as I can. I search the fox with my chakra sense — it is too big and too powerful that even I would be able to find it — and I run towards it.

Finally, I arrive at a red barrier and try to go through it but I can't. I see Minato there, the fox claw through his body. Kushina is passed out on the floor and in front of him, their child is some kind of ritual table. And then a Ghost appears behind him, some kind of blade in hand. It uses it in the Kyuubi and seals it, first inside the baby and them inside the passed out redhead. Minato's body falls and I scream."

We all come back from the vision. I am crying and so is Kushina. Minato's hand trembles slightly and a lot of the others show discomfort and sadness. The Hokage's eyes are closed and with a calm sigh, he opens them.

All the eyes are on him. Kushina takes his hand and squeezes it. Even though she looks slightly haunted, there is a smirk in her face.

— I can't believe you used that seal, Hokage-sama — The Uzumaki states with her hair going up almost like the Kyuubi's tails. She looks pissed and it makes me giggle.

— I needed to separate the Kyuubi in order to be able to seal it. And by sealing it in you I gave you chances of surviving, but sealed the order half in naruto in case… in case you died — the blond man affirms this with a calculating glint into his eyes — Well, then, it seems we have to find another seal to split the Kyuubi.

— You are damn right we do I am not letting you get yourself killed with an Uzumaki seal. I am pissed you didi in any reality, really.

— So it was the seal that killed you — the on who states this is Shikaku Nara — What seal was that?

— The Dead Demon Consuming Seal. The cost of activating it is the soul of the user. It has been used by the Uzumaki clan for generations to separate a human's soul to its body. In this case, it split the yin from the yang chakra of the Kyuubi — answers Kushina.

— I see. If it has this high of a cost, are you certain you can reproduce this seal without the backtrackings in three months' time? — questions the Nara Clan Head.

— Yes — Minato is the one who states this —But.. we should bring them back to the Village. We could use the help.

— Them? — Questions Hiashi Hyuuga.

— Jiraya and Tsunade of the Sannin.