Summary: "AnBu Owl, your mission as stated annihilate the uprising Hyuuga clan, leave none alive. Any left alive aside from afore mentioned Hyuuga heiress, will be seen as disloyalty and you will be immediately dispatched as a Nuke Nin. Do not disappoint us.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto

Chapter Three

Hyuuga and Uchiha

"What did Itachi-Nii promise?" Sasuke whispered to Shisui, whose own eyes had narrowed significantly upon hearing his younger cousin's words.

"Nothing you should concern yourself with." He whispered back, although not so softly as Itachi turned towards him with a deadpanned expression as if to say 'I know what I'm doing.'

With the young Heiress unconscious the three Uchiha left the hospital, entering the compound that bordered on the outside of the village. Shisui curiosity unsatisfied with just Itachi's whispered promise to the Heiress followed both brothers inside.

Once Sasuke was tucked away into his room Shisui motioned for Itachi to follow him outside, the crickets already sticking to the trees.

"Is there something wrong?" Itachi asked although it held no true want for answer.

"No, not something but someone." Itachi raised a brow, face held in a neutral expression.

"That someone would be?" Shisui shot him a rather irate look, which in turn annoyed Itachi.

"Damn it Itachi you know what I'm talking about! Why did you promise her something like that? You can't protect her, why bother trying such an idiotic stunt? You're supposed to be smarter than this!" Shisui hissed, eyes narrow.

"Tell me Shisui why CAN'T I protect her? I can, my capabilities are above average after all." Itachi silently retorted, Shisui cursed.

"Don't you get it Itachi? We are Uchiha! The Hyuuga and Uchiha have NEVER had a balanced or stable ground, when have we had a Clan meeting with them and it not erupt into not so subtle remarks about the other Clan's abilities?"

"You are too proud."

"That's what we are Itachi, why shouldn't we be proud? We are part of the Uchiha Clan!" Shisui didn't want to sound so insistent on the matter but really now that (almost) all the Hyuuga are dead who can compete with them? The Senju Clan were their equals before they dwindled into nothing and now the Hyuuga had diminished also.

"This arrogance will mark our very deaths." Shisui flinched; Itachi's voice was abnormally cold. What was even worse though was how Itachi was only eleven, Shisui had acted foolishly and treaded into a VERY touchy subject for his dear younger cousin.

He had breached the subject of Uchiha and although he never said it aloud, war.

Something that Itachi despised to his very core, Shisui studied his cousin silently noticing the very pronounced features of a mentally wounded ninja.

Dark narrow eyes were in the place of where wide expressive ones should have been, instead of an innocent smile all he saw was a tired frown. No matter how young he was, Shisui knew he was beyond his years.

"Just promise me this, you won't make promises you can't keep." Shisui asked the pleading in his voice was soundless but was easily caught by Itachi.

"I will keep what has been promised." Shisui would have sighed but refrained from doing so as Itachi entered his home the door sliding shut behind him.

Shoving his hands into his pockets Shisui began walking down the streets, already darkening as the sun went down. He furrowed his eyebrows; there was no way itachi would be able to watch out for the young Heiress.

Not only that but even if he could, it would only attract unwanted attention. Shisui couldn't let that happen, smirking he walked away from the compound one place in mind.

'Sorry Itachi, but I can't let you walk down such an unknown and twisted path.'

Large lavender eyes studied him, childlike features carefully tracking his every movement. He raised his arm and she flinched although not so noticeable to any outsider, he saw. She was expecting something, Shisui always knew Hiashi was a jackass.

But never did he once think he had so willingly struck down his own child, for the sake of his Clan. That strength came from training, not harsh words and actions.

"Do you wish to live with us?" the words tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop them, internally he cursed. This was far from the original idea.

"I-I is I-it o-okay?" all hopes of assassinating the girl were drained; her soft voice and large eyes quickly left him cold and numb. An icy feeling swept over him at the thought of seeing her in fear.

Shisui could easily picture it the way her eyes would widen with fear and hopelessness, her tiny body shaking like that of a prey in the gaze of a predator. Mouth open in a silent scream that longed to be ripped away from her.

He clicked his teeth over his cheek, the pain quickly making him realize she was still waiting for his answer.

"There will be no trouble." After all even a Hyuuga could believe an Uchiha, so without any second thoughts he swooped the tiny girl into his arms.

She stared at him eyes wide and shiny with tears, Shisui smiled softly at her. She was happy; someone was finally treating her as if she wasn't some sort of disease!

Hinata hid her face against him, hoping she wouldn't have to hear those angry whispers any longer. From her dreams, from the nurses and the other patients.

"Thank you." Shisui almost stopped walking, she hadn't stuttered. Perhaps….perhaps she would be fine after all. Laying her down on the couch he gently placed an old blanket over her sleeping form.

Shisui then got up ready to return to his own bed when her tiny face scrunched up in fear, pain.

"Nii-san?" he stopped why would she fear her big brother?

"Nii-san!" Shisui frowned and picked her up once again, she gripped his shirt tightly as if it was all she had.

For all he knew, maybe it was.

Author's note: Special thanks to anonymous reviewer DeidaraXHinataFANP for motivating me to get off my lazy ass and finish this chapter!