Hey hey~ Bethy-Kins here, I'm posting this during school so...Twilight doesn't really have access to a computer in her class currently...so I think she'll be scared when this is in her email. Haha...WELP
WE DON'T OWN NARUTO MAHASHI KISHIMOTO DOES
HIKARI AND YORU BELONG TO TWILIGHT
HOPE, LIZ, AND SHIROI BELONG TO BETHY-KINS
Coughing filled the Akatsuki lair, it was around midnight and the young Uchiha lass woke up screaming from a nightmare that invaded her dreams. The screams soon turned into coughing as she was currently ill with a cold, missing her brother's warmth in the bed; she snuggled up to her favorite baby blanket as tears silently started to fall down her cheeks.
"Hope?" Konan's gentle voice rang through the room, poking her head inside to check on the young girl. "Are you okay?"
No sound escaped the child's body except for her ragged breathing.
Konan walked inside and sat down next to her, pulling her close and petting her hair soothingly. "Did you have a bad dream?"
The ravenette nodded, burying her face in the woman's stomach, warm tears soaking her clothes. Konan held her close, humming softly to soothe her while continuing to gently stroke her raven locks.
Hope had been having these nightmares for a year now, but with each passing night, the nightmares were becoming more vivid and grotesque. The girl was only seven, and having nightmares of death every night.
Konan sighed, knowing that the nightmares were traumatizing her at an alarming rate. "Would you like some water?"
The little girl's voice was rough and weak from coughing so much, her eyelids drooping a bit as she wanted to sleep, but was scared to. "Y-yes, mama..."
Konan smiled softly at the name, getting up and grabbing the small cup from the girls bedside, going into the bathroom and turning the sink, filling it up with water before bring it back, "Here you go sweetie."
Hope was already asleep by the time she got back, her favorite blanket wrapped around her torso. Konan sighed and sat the cup down on the nightstand, laying down next to her so she could calm her should she wake up again. Little did the young Uchiha know she was constantly under watch by a masked figure, who had the key to why she was having such severe night terrors. Konan sighed softly, petting the child's hair soothing, closing her eyes and falling asleep shortly afterwards.
-Konoha-
Itachi frowned, sitting up suddenly and staring into the fire. "Hope.."
His partner, Kisame, was sound asleep, having supposed to been on watch the entire time.
Itachi scoffed, "How lazy..."
The man snored loudly, proving the Uchiha's point.
Itachi lightly kicked the mans side, "Oi. Wake up."
The man grabbed his sword and pointed it at the younger man.
"Idiot. You're supposed to be on watch."
"I was, just resting my eyes dumbass."
"Of course you were. I need to go back to base."
"Why? We can't just abort the mission."
"My sister needs me."
The blue skinned man scoffed, "She probably just had another nightmare."
"..."
"Caused by your clan's kekkei genkai." he sneered.
"Shut-up, Kisame."
"Just stating facts dumbass."
"Well don't." he glared dangerously at him.
He shrugged and laid back down.
Itachi sighed, knowing Kisame was right about the mission. They couldn't abort it. A soft feline growl of sorts was heard from the bushes near the two. Itachi looked over, his eyes narrowing.
In a flash, a young white tiger jumped out and pounced on him, growling dangerously. Itachi grunted in surprise, hitting the ground hard. The tiger almost seemed to smirk with her semi-scarred muzzle, a bright red collar with a golden tag was around her neck, showing she was domesticated.
"Can I help you?" Itachi asked in annoyance, glaring at the tiger. The tiger's icy eyes stared into his, the glance not wavering in the slightest.
"Get off." Itachi ordered, pushing at the animal to try and get her off of him.
A young woman with fiery red hair and a strange cut, also appearing around the same age of him ran into the clearing. "SHIORI! GET OFF OF HIM THIS INSTANT!" The tiger let out a whimper and did as her master had asked. Itachi stood up and dusted himself off as the young girl started apologizing profusely, feeling genuinely sorry for what her pet tiger did to the man.
"It's all right." Itachi said, watching as a larger bengal tiger walked out of the clearing and growled at the smaller white one, as if it were scolding her.
The young woman giggled softly, "Now now, you two can have your lover's spat at home."
The tiger growled in annoyance at her word choice, turning and walking back into the bushes.
The woman held her hand out to let Itachi shake it, only to let it fall to her side as he didn't take it. "I'm Elizabeth. You can call me Liz. I'm a former leaf shinobi that lives in these woods."
Itachi nodded, "Itachi."
She rolled her icy eyes that matched the albino tiger's and ran off with the two felines. Itachi only sighed and sat back down, hoping that sleep would take over so he wouldn't have to think anymore for the rest of the night. As he had laid there, he wondered what his younger brother was doing. Another spike in his sister's chakra could be felt, but not as prominent as the first. As much as he wanted to rush home and take his sister into his arms and tell her everything would be okay, he stayed put, falling into a deep sleep.
-Next day-
Hikari groaned as someone poked at her, rolling over. "Get lost..."
The young tiger whined and continued to nuzzle her side, his deep orange fur glistening brighter in the sunlight. The teenage brunette let one eye slip open sleepily, her chocolate orb meeting the tigers deep green ones. She reached up and hugged his neck, burying her face in his fur. "Yoru, it's too early to be up..."
Yoru growled and flicked her alarm clock with his tail. Hikari glanced at it and blinked, "What's today?"
"The chunin exams, m'lady."
"Gah! I-I forgot!" Hikari screeched, surprised her brother hadn't come in and jumped on her earlier. She shot up out of bed and grabbed a pair of clean clothes, stripping out of her pajamas and slipping into the day clothes quickly.
The tiger purred at his master.
Hikari nearly fell as she tried to put her shorts on, catching her balance and finishing dressing. She ran over to the dresser, brushing her hair quickly, her eyes locking onto the picture of her parents that rested on it. This day had to go well, not just for the sake of making chunin. She had to make her parents proud.
She was a Sarutobi. And a Sarutobi had to live up to the family name.
-Akatsuki Lair-
Hope had stayed up most of the night due to fear of her recurring nightmares and the cold she had gotten. Dark circles were under her eyes, and her skin was paler than normal.
"Are you hungry, Hope?" Konan asked, her amber orbs gentle and warm.
"No, mama. I'm fine."
"All right, if you say so."
"..."
Konan sighed, concerned. 'Itachi needs to come home soon...'
Hope looked much older than she was, the dull look in her normally bright eyes terrifying, like the life had been drained out of them. Konan wasn't sure what she could do now. She had tried everything and nothing helped.
"I wanna go find Ita-Nii."
Konan sighed and picked her up, smiling lightly. "Okay!"
She hugged her neck, her pale arms cold, so the older mother figure wrapped her up in her blanket and packed a small backpack for her before leaving with her, carrying her in her arms. She rested her head on her shoulder, falling asleep right then and there.
Konan left with her quietly.
-Konoha: The Arena-
"Man, where is he? If he doesn't hurry, he'll be disqualified!"
Hikari giggled, "Patience, Naruto."
The blonde sighed, scratching his nose as they watched Shikarmaru Nara go up against one of the ninja from the Sand Village.
The blue skinned ninja, using a genjutsu to hide his appearance. Itachi was seated next to him, his eyes watching the match with bored eyes. A small giggle could be heard as a young ravenette ran past Hikari to Itachi, hugging him tightly. Itachi jumped slightly. "Ane? What are you doing here?"
"Mama brought me!" the young girl squeaked as he readjusted her in his lap, doing much better than she was mere minutes ago.
Konan walked over and sat with them, watching as the match going on ended, the Nara boy having surrendered, everyone booing loudly.
"Shikamaru, you blockhead!"
"Tch. It was too troublesome." Shikamaru muttered as the blonde ran over to him with Hikari by his side.
"Lazy as ever!" Hikari sighed, smiling.
Hope watched with curious eyes, coughing softly, never been to a village this large. It scared her.
Itachi kissed the top of her head to calm her down, watching as the gates opened and two figures walked in.
"Sasuke!" Hikari grinned, waving at him.
Sasuke walked up to Hikari, "Sorry I'm late."
"We had to practically beg the Hokage to delay the time so you could get here. You made it exactly on the deadline." Hikari explained, full of energy due to her match having been withdrawn since her opponent had been killed several days earlier.
The raven haired boy let out a soft chuckle.
"Naruto here went first. And he beat the crap out of Neji!" Hikari exclaimed, hugging Naruto who grinned.
Naruto nodded, smiling proudly. "It was a piece of cake!"
The raven just rolled his eyes, "He probably just gave up, no one wants to fight a knucklehead." Smirking slightly as he talks.
"Shut-up!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes and started rubbing his shoulder unconsciously.
Hikari noticed, frowning. She walked over to him and pressed her hand to it lightly, her fingers cold.
He hissed in pain and jerked away from her grasp, the area warm and feverish.
"Sorry..."
"..."
She handed him an herbal remedy. "This should help."
"Thanks."
She smiled, her hair in a messy bun. "Anytime."
He frowned, sensing an old familiar chakra. "Hikari. I have a favor for you."
"Hm? What is it?"
He reached into one of his pockets and pulls out an old photo of him holding hope when she was around two years old, "Find the girl in this photo, she's in the stands."
She nodded, memorizing the picture. "All right."
"You can keep a hold of that," he stated as he walked to his spot in the arena.
"Sasuke?"
"Hm?"
She smiled brightly, "Good luck!"
He nodded and left, so she turned and headed back to the crowd, searching for the little girl.
Hope was with her oldest brother, searching for the bathroom, seriously needing to go 'pee-pee'.
"Here's the bathroom!" Itachi exclaimed, pointing to it.
"Arigato!" The young ravenette smiled brightly and ran inside.
Hikari followed, yawning. She walked to the sink and washed her hands.
Hope was humming as she relieved herself, yawning as she fixed her clothes and flushes the toilet. Running to the sink to wash her hands, but finding she was too short. "Poo!"
Hikari smiled. "Need help?"
She nodded, "Mhm!"
She knelt down and lifted her, turning the sink on, holding her as she washed her hands. Hope looked a lot like her older brother, Sasuke, her hair even wanting to spike out in the back like his. Even her eyes were the same tone of onyx.
She smiled, waiting for her to finish washing her hands before setting her back on her feet.
"Thanks miss!" She said brightly.
Hikari grinned. "My name is Hikari!"
The little girl smiled proudly, "I'm Hope~"
"Nice too meet you!"
The little girl smiled before running to the door.
Hikari sighed. "Darn..."
"Hm?" The little girl looked over with a curious look.
"Oh nothing! But would you mind sitting with me?" she smiled politely.
"But I have to go back to mama!"
"Oh! Okay..."
"You can sit with us!" She said with a childish smile.
She smiled, "Okay!"
Hope smiled and led her to the area Konan was sitting, her raven hair bouncing in its hair tie.
"Hm? Who's this?" Konan asked, looking up at Hikari.
Hope replied with her usual childish answer, "Dunno! She helped me in the bathroom!"
Konan smiled, "Oh, how nice!"
She giggled and sat in Konan's lap. "Who's up mama!?"
Konan pointed out to the arena's center. "Gaara of the Sand, and Sasuke Uchiha."
"Ooh!"
Konan smiled, kissing the the top of her head, holding her close. Causing the young girl to squeal in delight, and hugging onto her favorite blanket her 'mama' had been holding onto for her. The Uchiha crest could be distinguished from the tag on the old faded blanket.
Hikari watched, remember when she was that age, and how she loved it when her mother would let her sit in her lap, a small pang in her chest.
The ravenette looked up, feeling the shift in the older girl's chakra, her eyes full of curiosity. Hikari's eyes were sad, fixated on the match.
"Why are you so sad?"
"I think of my mom when I see you sitting in your moms lap."
Hope giggled softly, "She isn't my mama! I just call her mama because she's like one!"
Hikari smiled and nodded, saying nothing more.
That Night In Konoha
Kakashi Hatake wore a solemn look on his face, his one visible eye full of some hints of sadness.
Hope was wandering around the village by herself, as Itachi, Kisame, and Konan had a 'meeting' to go to. She was wearing a simple black coat with white fluff on the edges, using the hood to hide her face, but couldn't do anything to hide her chakra. She was too young to learn chakra control, and her teacher, Itachi, was usually out on missions.
The village was quiet, distant sounds of rebuilding echoing throughout the village, people repairing from the earlier attacks that Orochimaru and the Sound Village had caused. Hope and her older brother Sasuke had been the ones the Snake Sannin was after, but the youngest Uchiha in all her naivety didn't understand anything about the attack. The Third Hokage had lost his life as he protected his people, most of the village streets empty because of the incident.
"Excuse me, Mr? Why is everyone gone?" The young lass asked the Copy Ninja.
Kakashi looked down at her, kneeling to her level. "Most of them are in their houses. Others are grieving for the people that died today."
"D-died?" her onyx orbs widening in fear.
Kakashi nodded, patting her head. "Orochimaru's attack did it."
"O-ru-ro-chi-maaru?"
"Hai."
"Who's dat?"
"A very bad man."
"Is he bad like my nii-sama?"
Kakashi nodded, "He is...but not as bad."
"Ne!? How do you know my nii-sama!?" She yelped as her hood fell off her head
Kakashi chuckled and ruffled her hair. "I don't."
She didn't believe him, "You just said you did!"
"I know who he is, but I don't know him personally."
"Do you know who I am~?" she sing-songed.
"You're Uchiha Hope."
She squeaked, "Yes! How'd you know?!"
Kakashi chuckled, ruffling her hair and walking off. "I'll tell you one day."
She pouted and left.
Kakashi stopped by the hospital to check on Naruto and Sasuke on his way home, knocking on the open door lightly.
Sasuke was talking with Hikari, his eyes solemn. Kakashi watched, already knowing why the brunette's shoulders were slumped and her head was hanging down.
"I hate him."
".."
She shook, refusing to cry anymore, knowing it meant weakness.
He put a hand on her shoulder, "It's okay to cry."
"I don't want to cry...anymore."
"If you say so."
She laid her hand on the side of the bed, staring at the wall dully as Kakashi walked over. "How do you feel, Sasuke?"
"Fine. Did you find her?"
Kakashi nodded, pulling a chair up. "Yeah, I found her."
"How...Is she...?"
"She's fine. A happy little kid."
"Does she even remember me?"
Kakashi sighed, "I don't think she does..."
"Guessed as much"
Kakashi gave his shoulder a pat. "I'm sorry..."
"..."
Hikari sat up, standing up slowly, she turned on her heel and headed for the door.