Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
POV: Obito
Minato-sensei had missed Rins' funeral and had not returned to Konoha. We only received news a month later that Minato-sensei had turned the tide around for the village it was due to his Hiraishin did things start to settle down. On Minato-senseis' return news of a truce between the other hidden villages came about. He received a hero's welcome from the military force of the village.
When I had gone to the Uchiha twins' home for training, Mikoto-san shared wonderful news that she's pregnant meaning Iruna and Itachi will be an older sister and brother. I had congratulated the two of them. Itachi had smiled at my congratulations, and as for Iruna she looked happy but troubled. I wondered if she was conflicted about having a younger sibling to look out for to which I found out isn't.
"Oh" She shook her head. "I'm not in any way conflicted about having a baby brother. I'm glad to have a baby brother aside from Itachi." I didn't realize she saw Itachi as a baby brother instead of just a sibling. "I was just thinking about a seal. I have my head filled with seals. I just get ideas every now and then." Was her reply, but I don't think that was the only thing in her mind.
With Mikoto-san pregnant, she wouldn't be able to help me train, but her medic that served as Itachis' teacher on medical ninjutsu helped with me learning about my sharingan. Iruna-chan was there to assist me, even Shisui. I was surprised the little munchkin had activated his sharingan. It was from that munchkin though that I found out that he and Itachi will be entering the academy on the start of term. Itachi was following in Rins' steps to be a medic-nin, and it wasn't a noble reason as Rin wanting to save as much lives as she wanted.
"I'm going to be a medic-nin to make sure that Neesama is always in shape and healthy. She is often injured upon returning from a mission outside of the village or when she's testing her seals. If possible I would try to be on the same team as her to be her support."
It seems like Iruna-chan will be having her own personal medic-nin looking out for her. Like Rin-chan was for everyone in Team Minato extending to the Uchiha twins and Kushina-san.
POV: Iruna
Every day after the announcement of Itachi becoming a medic-nin and entering the academy, that also included Shisui later on in that week the two had started to join me in my morning runs. Guy had been more pumped up to know that my twin would be joining us from then on.
"I will add fifty more laps to my runs!" Guy had shouted then and ran ahead of us to finish his laps around the village.
"Is he always like that?" Shisui had asked me as Guy disappeared leaving a trail of dust behind.
"Yes. He's always energetic." I replied amused.
Upon returning to our houses though and eating breakfast, our paths would diverge from there. I would head out to meet with Kushina-sensei and the two remaining members of Team Minato for sparring sessions or for missions that's only with my sensei alone. I don't know what Obito-nii or Kaka-nii do these days. Minato-san is busy being elected as one of the candidates to be the fourth Hokage. Itachi together with Shisui would head to the library, and when the academy starts they would start going there from now on.
As for the upcoming events of Kurama if it were even to happen which I am not completely sure of. I had looked in the library on information of the Shiki Fuujin already. Stupid seal, it's under the list of forbidden jutsus. It was under restricted information only reserved for the Hokage or Fuinjutsu masters. The only Fuinjutsu masters I know are Jiraiya-san, Minato-san and Kushina-sensei. At a point I thought on borrowing it for a while, but the chances that I would get caught is quite high.
I should focus on passing the chuunin exam for now. Hmmm… maybe, I can make use of the agreement I have with Minato-san teaching me about his seal. I already have a seal that's almost like his. I wonder if he would agree on changing what we agreed on, if he can even remember it. There is also that chance on confronting Minato-san when he becomes Hokage. The Shiki Fuujin is a double—
"I did it!" I heard from outside the window of my room.
My new room was near the garden and the window faced in the direction of it where our pond can be found with koi fishes in it. I opened the window and looked out to see Itachi smiling widely. That's a first. I've never seen Itachi that happy before. Even for a genius like him, learning medical ninjutsu is difficult. He had been working on the mystic palm technique for weeks already, and that's with supervision from the Uchiha working at the hospital as a medic.
"Congratulations, Itachi-san." The medic named Uchiha Sen said to Itachi smiling politely. "That is just the beginning, from here—"
Uchiha Sen is the one who Mother goes to at the hospital for her check-ups and served as Itachis' instructor for medical ninjutsu.
I watched as Itachi continued with practicing the mystic palm technique with the fish placed on top of a scroll with a designation seal written across the scroll. The designation scroll from what I know, Rin-san mentioned that they use that scroll to help in directing the healing chakra to a specific area of the body. Thinking about it, the seal helped in directing the healing chakra. I stared down at them from my window thinking within seconds I left the house and went to my senseis house.
POV: Kakashi
"Sensei!" Iruna said shouted as she appeared in Minato-sensei and Kushina-sans' house without disturbing the seals they placed that allowed on specified persons into the house. She rushed towards her sensei by the stove. "The seal they use in learning the mystic palm technique, what does it really do and are there other seals like it?" The way she spoke was rushed and her eyes were glinting. "Also can you teach me how Minato-san can make seals without using a brush and—"
Iruna was muffled by her sensei as she covered her mouth with her hand. Kushina-san looked amused with her student, but there was also a certain glint in Kushina-sans' eyes.
"Iruna-chan, how did you get in here?" Kushina-san asked. "I did mention about the seals we have here didn't I?"
When Kushina-san removed her hand from covering her students' mouth, Iruna gave her sensei a sheepish smile.
"Remember the seal I mistakenly made?" She started, and Kushina-san had folded her arms as she listened. "I, well, I placed one of the receptive seals here."
I stayed by the sofa as I watched Iruna swallow from the blank face Kushina-san had.
"Anything else you should mention right now?" Kushina-san asked.
"Erhm, the receptive seals can only be used once and has to be replaced."
It was almost like Minato-senseis' hiraishin. It doesn't go both ways, but only one way. While it had been made because of a mistake, something like that doesn't happen often.
"And you mention this only now, why?"
"Ah, I just made the modification weeks ago."
"You didn't have it tested with me."
"I tried it three times, it worked fine."
Kushina-san stared at Iruna before she left the room moments later she returned and had her unsheathed katana with her. The one she used on missions, and the look on her face made me recall her nickname, the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero.
"I'm giving you half a minu—" Kushina-san didn't even finish as Iruna disappeared, then did she turn to me. "Kakashi, you continue cooking for me, don't mess it up." She said sharply. "If Minato comes back tell him I'm in the middle of teaching. You can eat without me."
I nodded in reply before Kushina-san left. I envied Iruna before for having Kushina-san as her sensei, as she's on the same level as Minato-sensei, but right now I don't. Kushina-san had warned Iruna before about testing her seals without her sensei and adding another feature to the seal. There were a number of times that Iruna had gone against her senseis' warning, but it never went to the point that Kushina-san chased her student down.
Kushina-san returned later in the evening around quarter to ten. Kushina-san looked winded, but over-all looked fine.
"How did it go?" Sensei asked from the sofa opposite to the one I occupied.
"That brat used her banishment seal on me when I thought I had her. She sent me right in the middle of the Forest of Death first." Kushina-san said as she sat on the sofa. "I used Shunshin to get back to the village proper, and had to look for her. When I did she was waiting for me at one of the training grounds, she had her seals set-up. I recalled her E-trigger and R-trigger seals, I forgot about her using genjutsu. She cloaked her seals with genjutsu and made them look like the other seal. She even placed beacon seals."
"Beacon seals?" I said.
"It's a seal she made for those who are sensitive to chakras. It serves as a distraction for those using their chakra to track someone while those trackers need to be in range to find them. The beacon seal gives off chakra noticeable chakra to throw them off. She's used them during one of our reconnaissance mission. It worked spectacularly but she placed a time limit to it and an explosive nature at the expiration of the seal. It's a useful seal she made along with her banishment seal. She used them to distract me, but as her sensei I know most of her seals. She didn't use any of her destructive seals, but she seems to like the banishment seal she modified. She keeps sending me to the far side of the village."
Minato-sensei must have noticed my confused face because he chuckled and explained the banishment seal Iruna made.
"Her banishment seal is almost like the summoning seal, only it's the opposite, when an item or person is within the area of the seal they are sent to the designated point the user had made. Where Iruna places the receptive seals are her designated points. It's almost like Hiraishin, but I made the Hiraishin in tune to my chakra, while hers can be used by anyone."
"She said it can only be used once."
"Did she?" Minato-sensei held his chin as he looked thoughtful. "A good idea if she plans to share it with everyone else, but the chakra input to the seal…" Sensei turned to Kushina-san "How much chakra does she use for the seal?"
"She's banished three trees before, and those were thrice her size. Comparing it to the Great Fireball jutsu, her maximum usage for that jutsu is five times. She banished me of almost ten or so times but those were her successful attempts. She's used the seal more than just ten, and she didn't show any signs of chakra fatigue earlier."
"Even shunshin has its limits when you use it, sometimes a shorter distance would be preferred for it." Minato-sensei said a pensive look on him. "Does her seal make use of other chakra?"
"Other chakra?" Kushina-san said her brows meeting. "Like elemental chakra?"
"What about Nature chakra?" Minato-sensei said.
"Nature chakra to activate a seal? Nature chakra is the most volatile of all chakra, Minato. Using it for seals is far advance, and is a lost technique. I remember my ancestors' maybe utilizing that but it's not done anymore. Her seal would be more difficult for usage if that was the case."
"It's possible that her seal is a combination of using nature and raw chakra."
"How is that even possible?" Kushina-san frowned. "She made the seal by mistake."
"Maybe, Kushina, but her seal might be far better than the one I created basing it from the Niidaimes. The chakra usage for mine is minimal, but like shunshin the challenge of it is distance. How far can her banishment seal go?"
"I wouldn't know." Kushina-san shook her head. "Testing it for distance especially if it can send someone miles away from you is time consuming Minato."
"Not if we make use of summons." Minato-sensei suggested. "We can ask Jiraiya-sensei for help. He's asked about Iruna-chan before."
I don't know whether to think Iruna is a genius in making seals or has great luck.
"Why did you go after Iruna-chan?" Minato-sensei asked.
"She placed one of her receptive seals in our house."
"And what happened?"
"I taught her a lesson."
"And?"
"She's fine. After knocking her out, I dropped her off at their house."
"You didn't hurt her too much did you? I heard Mikoto-san is pregnant."
"Just some scrapes and small cuts, but nothing serious. Don't worry Itachi is learning medical ninjutsu. He'll heal her." Kushina-san said stretching her arms upward, like hurting her student is normal. I can guess that it is, but Iruna I wonder if she's fine.
POV: Itachi
Before Shisui and I started at the academy the next Hokage was chosen, and Minato-san had been chosen to be the fourth Hokage. Iruna-neesama along with her sensei and the rest of Team Minato were thrilled for him.
The first day at the academy was merely an overview of what we were going to learn. We only spent half the day there, before being sent home. Neesama had walked with us to the academy that morning, and it was a surprise to see her outside as well. She had done that for two days, and for the next days she wasn't there. I understood that Neesama had training and missions to accomplish. It was just like when she went to meet her sensei or leave the village for a mission. In those times I spent my time at home, in the library or with Shisui.
Shisui had been my constant companion, and we ate together during breaks even with Shisui getting along with those in his class. I was the opposite of him. He got along with his classmates, while I had my attention on reading medical books and scrolls. That didn't mean I didn't know my classmates, I knew them by name and face. I just didn't try to get to know them beyond being acquaintances.
"Are you entering the chuunin exams?" I asked Neesama.
I heard that the chuunin exams would be starting two weeks from one of the patrolling shinobi. I was busy with my assignments, readings and training. I don't recall when the last I spoke to Neesama was.
"I am." Neesama nodded. "Mother knows, she's agreed to my entry. I'm teaming up with Guy-san, and Hyuuga Haru-san."
The former name she said a bit with disdain.
"Do you not like Hyuuga Haru-san?" I asked.
"He's a stuck up Hyuuga is what he is. He said that it's because of my small and young stature that I didn't become a chuunin last time!"
"But Neesama—"
"Sure, he's right, but does he have to shove it in my face?" Neesama huffed. "I know that more than anyone else. I hope he's the one I get to pummel on the third part, it would be my pleasure to ki—"
"Neesama!" I said aloud to stop her ranting. She was surprised of my sudden outburst, but I did get her attention. "Neesama should make sure that she isn't depleted of chakra, and is in good condition to show Hyuuga Haru-san that you are good enough to be a chuunin."
A wide smile came on Neesamas' face then and she had tackled me crushing me in a hug.
"Thanks, Itachi." She whispered.
I returned her hug then. I'm not going to stop Neesama anymore from being a shinobi. I decided that when I said I would be a medic-nin. I disappointed Neesama before, not anymore. She made the choice to be a shinobi, to protect what's important to her. I'm doing the same. I'm going to be a shinobi to protect Neesama, our younger sibling and our family. I won't be just any medic-nin. I am going to be the medic-nin in Neesamas' team. I am going to find a way to break the rules of a medic-nin.
POV: Minato
Iruna-chans' team progressed quickly during the chuunin exams. They were the first to arrive at the tower on the second part. She had won against Might Guy without a scratch on her against him who uses only taijutsu. She had used her sharingan infused genjutsu for the match, and made Guy fall into a deep slumber. It took a day before Guy woke up, even with the medics cancelling the genjutsu. Her actions were enough to show me that she deserves to be a chuunin even in her young age. While Guy didn't win against Iruna-chan on the third part, their progress during the second match showed the efficiency of handling their enemy and taking the needed item. Iruna-chan had been the brain of the entire team, even with the reluctant Hyuuga with them.
The chuunin exam had been a week ago. Now, she stood in my office requesting to change our agreement on me teaching her about the seal I made.
"And what would you prefer from me? Kushina has more knowledge of seals than I do."
"That is a given, Hokage-sama." She said addressing me by my position. "Yet I know that asking of this would worry sensei, and that would only stress her. That is not good for someone carrying a child."
I stared at Iruna-chan, Kushinas' beloved student. How the girl in front of me knows that worries me. What else does she truly know?
"Can you explain to me about the Shiki Fuujin?"
"I don't thi—"
"It is the knowledge I asked in place of learning about your Hiraishin seal, Minato-san. I am not asking how to use the technique, as I need only the explanation of it."
"Why would you ask for information on that particular seal, Iruna?" I asked meeting her blank gaze.
She flinched, but she quickly covered it up.
"To see if a theory I have is plausible." She replied.
"What is this theory?"
"Knowledge in exchange for knowledge."
"If I disagree to give that knowledge?"
"It will still be a theory even without it."
"I'm sorry Iruna, but I cannot give what you ask."
Iruna-chan nodded. "Then, your offer to teach me—"
"Still remains, Iruna-chan, I have agreed to teach you."
"Then, I shall request of it when I have decided what I wish to learn." She said before she bowed. "Thank you for allowing me your time, Minato-san."
Iruna-chan made to leave the room, when I recalled something I meant to tell her alone.
"Iruna, wait for a moment. I have news to tell you."
POV: Itachi
It was around lunch was Father called in by Sen-san into the delivery room, while Neesama and I remained outside.
"Congratulations you two, you have a healthy baby brother." She said before she left. "You won't be able to see your mother and baby brother for now. How about some lunch? You two must be hungry from waiting."
We nodded and went to a nearby restaurant. I have heard from the staff at the hospital that they preferred outside of the hospital, as it had more flavor than the cafeteria inside. While we were eating, Gekko Hayate-san entered the restaurant with a hitaite on his head and was with two other persons his age and a jonin.
"Ah, Hayate!" Iruna-neesama waved at their group.
Hayate-sans' features lit when he saw neesama and approached our table.
"Iruna-chan! Good to see you." Hayate-san grinned He turned to me. "You too Itachi, how are you two?"
"Great!" Neesama smiled smugly. "I'm finally a chuunin."
"Just like Kakashi from what I heard." He said. "I'm going to catch up with you soon enough, and you Itachi?"
"I'm attending the academy." I replied.
"And he's training to be a medic-nin." Neesama added smiling back.
"That's *cough* great, Itachi." Hayate-san smiled. "It's difficult to be a medic-nin. Don't follow your *cough* twin here with her study habits. She had good grades *cough* in the academy, but didn't bother getting perfect scores."
"Scores don't dictate how well you'll do in the long run. Those are just numbers." Neesama said. I agreed with her as I nodded.
"You're twin is your fan." Hayate-san said shaking his head. "I bet he'll agree to everything you say."
Even if I didn't agree with Neesama like how I didn't agree with her being a shinobi, even though I burned her sealing tools she was still a shinobi. I couldn't stop Neesama, so I decided to be a medic-nin instead. A medic-nin serves mostly as support for the team, and I'll support Neesama no matter what.
ooo
After eating lunch we returned to the Hospital and were lead to a room, where Mother had our baby brother in her arms and Father was on the chair next to the bed.
Mother smiled as we entered and beckoned us over so we could meet Sasuke. We climbed onto the bed to see Sasuke better. Our baby brother was asleep in Mothers arms. Neesama held out her hand and poked Sasukes' pudgy cheeks. Sasuke continued sleeping undisturbed. Looking at him, he was so small. Neesama and I were like Sasuke before, but now that were older. We have a responsibility to watch over him and protect him as older siblings.
I glanced at Neesama to see her eyes were bright with glee and resolution as she looked at Sasuke. I too shared the same feelings in regards to the birth of Sasuke. While we had new responsibilities placed on our shoulders, it was a joyous moment to have a new addition to the family. Father and Mother mirrored the emotions in Neesamas' eyes, and there was no doubt that it was the same with me.
After an hour in the room Neesama mentioned about reporting to the Hokage. I watched as Neesama left. I thought I saw her glance warily at father before she was out of sight. Maybe I was just imagining it? Neesama has no reason to be cautious of father.
Ever since Sasuke had been born, the house has been a bit more noisy, but in a good way. Neesama had been returning to the house earlier, Shisui comes with me to the house with me to play with our baby brother, and there was also Obito-san. While Obito-san resumed training with Father, he stayed at the house longer to help Mother with chores or watch Sasuke while Father would go to the Police station. There were times I, and even Neesama with the thuds I hear from her room next to mine, would wake up from his cries late in the night or early in the morning. His cries didn't last long as Mother or Father would calm him down.
Hoping for Neesama to return early everyday was a short lived wish. On the last week of September Neesama had been returning late in the night, past nine in the evening. When I would leave the house with her in the mornings to go to the academy Neesama seemed to always be in a stormy mood. It was worrying, what is Neesama thinking?
It was late in the evening, and Sasukes' cries woke me up again. After moments of waiting, his cries subsided and a knock came on my door. I opened the door to find Neesama there. I stepped out of the way and she entered as she closed the door behind her. She activated the seals she placed on the walls of my room, when she did that I had no idea. I didn't question it as I recognized the seal. Those were her silencing seals, seals to contain the sounds within a room.
"Itachi" She said staring at me directly in the eyes. "Protect Sasuke and Mother. Trust no one except Mother. Trust your instincts."
She didn't have to tell me that, like her I promised to protect our family. I stared at Neesama, and my stomach twisted, there was turmoil in her eyes. I didn't like it, but I didn't tell her that.
"I will."
She nodded cancelling the seals and it melted back onto the walls disappearing from view. I stood there as she left my room and listened to the sound of her door closing.
The following day when I walked with Neesama out of the house, there was tension in the air, and I felt queasy the entire day. Shisui wasn't, he acted the same, like it was any other day. It was seven in the evening. Father had yet to return. At nine, there was a knock on the door. I had been with Sasuke then. Mother told me to watch the house and Sasuke as she had something important to do. I had been outside at the back patio with Sasuke in my arms. I looked at the full moon in the sky before I returned my gaze to Sasuke. Sasuke then started to cry and a cradled him in my arms to calm him down.
"Don't cry, Sasuke. Oniisan is here. I'll protect you." I said.
I thought of Neesama then and wondered where she is. It was very late in the night. I felt nervous for her, and Sasuke started to cry again. I hushed him to sleep. The night passed, and morning came. Shisui came to the house.
"Where's your mom?" He had asked. "Isn't she already cooking around this time?"
"She had to leave the house last night." I replied.
"My father had to leave too." Shisui replied. "Mother said when I woke up that the academy is closed. We don't have class today. Want to come to my house for breakfast?"
"Thanks, but I have to stay Mother may return. She'll be worried if she doesn't find me and Sasuke."
"Alright." Shisui nodded. "I'll come back in a bit. I'll ask my mom to pack some of our breakfast to give you guys."
Shisui stayed at the house with me watching over Sasuke. It was late in the afternoon did Mother return and she asked Shisui to return to his house. There was grim look on Mother as she had me in the kitchen with her.
"You're Father is dead, Itachi."
I stared at mother. Dead? Did something happen? Was it last night? Mother had been called. Then there was Neesama, she didn't return that night. Were all shinobis called by the Hokage? What about Neesama?
"You're sister. She's been hospitalized—"
I stood up right then when she mentioned Neesama was in the hospital and made to leave, but Mother grabbed my wrist and there was hard look in her red eyes.
"I have to see Neesama." I said. I have to see the extent of her injury.
"No." Mother said holding my wrist in an iron grip. "You will not go to see your sister. We are not allowed to see her as said by the Hokage. She is under watch by the anbu."
A chill went down my spine and settled in my stomach. The anxiety I felt returned from yesterday. I sat back down in surprise. Why is Neesama under watch? She—She didn't do anything! Was that the reason Mother had been called, but Shisuis' father had also been called. Father is dead. How did this happen?
"Why is Neesama under the watch of the anbu?" I asked.
"Last night the village center was destroyed by a monster it was announced earlier that your sister was the reason the monster appeared."
"What?" I stared in disbelief. There's no— "No. Neesama—she—it can't. How can she possibly make that monster suddenly appear? It mu—" I stopped dead recalling mothers' words. "Announced?" I asked dread crept into me.
Mother nodded with a grimace. "Everyone in the village knows."
AN: Another chapter finished and uploaded! I hope you like this one, if not there's the next. Not much action, I know, but there's always the next chapter. As usual THANK YOU for waiting and reading this one! I love you my dear readers! ;) ~burst-enna