"Nii-san, why do the flowers die?" A breeze sailed through the sea of summer grass and created shimmering ripples as the stalks bent along with its sway. It rustled and carried their minds away from village politics as the twins lay on the warm ground.
"Why do you ask?" Itachi was cautious.
It hadn't been long since Chizu found out she would never make it past the age of twenty-four. They weren't supposed to have heard that conversation between their parents and the physicians, but they were curious children. It was nothing that the prodigious genin couldn't handle, even with a civilian by his side. Breaking into the medical records room of the hospital was child's play. Hiding what the seven-year-olds knew from their parents was the difficult part. Hiding from their jinchuuriki of a godmother was even harder. For more than two years, they used every cent of their pocket money to buy ramen to ensure Kushina's silence and cooperation. Or so they thought.
"The flowers are only here for a short time. You would think they would last as long as the trees, but they don't. They grow for two months, bloom for two weeks and then wither away until the next year. Sometimes, they don't come back at all unless someone intervenes and plants them."
The young genin was silent for a time before taking hold of his sister's hand. "If they were around all the time, we wouldn't appreciate the beauty that they bring."
Shisui blurred through the trees the moment he registered Itachi's chakra.
"Take her to Konoha. Keep the seal active." Itachi said tersely. He shoved Chizu into his friend's arms and watched as they seemed to vanish out of sight. His legs collapsed underneath him the moment that his feet hit the deck of the ANBU hideout. His heart felt like it was being ripped out of his chest and his lungs were filled with cement. "Please live…" his desperate plea carried with the wind out of earshot of his subordinates.
"...why do the flowers die?" the wind seemed to answer.
"Okay, Chizu, you just hang on tight. We'll get to Konoha in no time." Shisui moved with the wind. It would take less than five minutes to reach the hospital. Itachi would have taken seven. Even then, he wasn't sure that he'd make it in time.
I fell flat on my rear as a gust of wind assaulted me. Someone picked me up and began brushing the dust off of my clothes before I registered who it was. It was my brother's best friend. Of course, it was… Uchiha Shisui. Child of a permanently disabled second war veteran and an outsider, veteran of the third war himself and child prodigy. His current age is twelve… something else? Ah. Known for his speed and genjutsu. 'Shisui the teleporter'.
"Shisui-san, what can I do for you?"
He ran his hand through his hair nervously. "Ah well, I was wondering, Chizu-chan-san-uh-hime… if you could help me pick out a present for Itachi's birthday? Although… I guess it would be your birthday too." Shisui chuckled nervously. I nodded and we began to walk together.
"Chizu is fine. Itachi's very easy to shop for. He likes dango, plushies and scrolls. But he normally just gives the plushies to Sasuke. You know, Shisui-san, you don't have to be a stranger around me. I don't bite."
His step faltered slightly. "Okay, Chizu. Call me Shisui, then."
"Done. This is the shop." It was a lower-end mochi shop in between the red light district and the hokage tower. Shisui raised an eyebrow at the peeling paint and dilapidated tables. "Seriously. He likes their mochi best. They're refugees from the Land of Rain. They import all of their vanilla and rice flour from family members that still live there. We came here a lot when we were younger… before he joined… well, you know. He's just so tired all the time." The boy beside me nodded solemnly. He knew all too well the pressures of ANBU.
"Anyway. He likes their dango best. And they're cheap so you can get a ton of them. As for scrolls, there's a bunch of old scrolls at Neko-obaa's place. She has the best stuff. Not that I've ever been, of course." I gave him a wink, hoping he'd understand and let that tidbit slide. He rolled his eyes slightly.
My grandmother's voice, once so clear, receded as I chased it through my mind. A grand hall opened before me, filled with mirrors reflecting each precious memory. I ran and stopped before one, darker than the others. Reds and oranges overwhelmed it as potent chakra leaked around the edges. As I touched the glass, I watched the scene unfold. A small girl with long ebony hair walked merrily alongside my father. Her skirt swayed slightly along the tops of knobbly knees. It took several moments before I recognized the girl as myself. We were walking along the winding alleys and roads of Konoha. The door to the mochi shop opened as they went inside.
I remembered this day… I willed them to stay inside the shop. To hide, run, anything from what happened next. The glass door opened and a piercing scream filled the air as the kyuubi appeared in the street.
The kyuubi easily smashed a building to the ground as though it were no more than a toy. The debris landed around us. When I looked back at my father, something curious happened. As suddenly as I was walking alongside him, I was now in his protective hold. As I watched the scene unfold from the outside, all I saw on his face was fear. I didn't know this man. But the fear wasn't for himself, it was a father's fear for his child. He looked at the small girl and then at the creature towering over us as face changed and hardened with resolve. A golden glowing form engulfed us. The smell of burning cedars tickled the back of my nose as the chakra construct consumed us. My father's eye began to bleed as I hugged his neck tightly.
"This is the susanoo. I pray that this will be the only time you will ever witness one, musume," He whispered and stroked my hair.
"Tou-chan… I'm scared…"
"It's okay to be afraid. It's not okay to cower on the sidelines because of that fear. We will end this madness shortly. Sleep." I remember nothing more.
Beep. Beep. Beep…
"You're home now, Zu-zu. You're home…" a voice drifted through my mind as I tried to hold to every syllable.
Beep. Beep. Beep…
AN: Thank you so much for reading! If you have time, please leave a comment. :)
Guest Reviewer: Thank you so much!
