A God's Chessboard

III. The Angel Creates a Purpose

Disclaimer: All characters, laws of the universe, and original plot lines belong to Masashi Kishimoto. Of course, Chiyoko is mine.

Fugaku briefly wonders if he is dreaming when Minato announces to the entire Council that he is handing custody of the Kyuubi jinchūriki to the Uchiha Clan. Honestly, he wouldn't be surprised if he was.

Oh, he knows what game Minato is playing. The "equal" balance of power. But it is a game Uchihas have been playing for their entire lives, so he just watches amusedly as the other clan heads squabble over the matter. Funny, because if he remembered correctly, none of them so much as lifted a finger for the jinchūriki.

Chiyoko Idachi turns into Chiyoko Uchiha. She knows she is the Kyuubi jinchūriki, Minato warns him after showing the recently revealed files of prejudice. Fugaku is mildly disgusted at the shows of immaturity. My wife tells me she abhors Konoha, the Yondaime admits. Can't exactly blame her, but I hope you'll be able to change your mind.

Mikoto is delighted at the prospect of having a daughter, so no worries there. Itachi will adjust. Sasuke, however, is completely unpredictable, so they inform him of the news earlier than expected.

She comes four days after the announcement, and after somewhat elegantly bowing to Fugaku and Mikoto, says stiffly, "Thank you for having me, Uchiha-san and Uchiha-san." They both know it was an order, but Mikoto ushers her in one of the emptied rooms of the main compound anyway.

Then Sasuke bursts in the house on Itachi's shoulders demanding to see his new sibling, so Mikoto bustles around making onigiri for lunch while Chiyoko enters wearing a plain dark kimono. His wife tells him later, with no small amount of apprehension, that she had burned the former clothes because the girl was forced to search the dumpsters as no shopkeepers would let her in.

So while the jinchūriki maintains small talk with Itachi while simultaneously listening to Sasuke's tale of "stupid Naruto's nickname for him", Mikoto asks kindly what her day was like at the Academy. She replies, almost dismissively, "They don't let me in, so I don't bother them."

As Itachi subtly chokes on his tea and Mikoto's hand almost slips under the dishes, Fugaku is smoldering inside. They refused a jinchūriki of a shinobi career? Blasphemy. He wonders, with annoyance, where the hell has Kushina Uzumaki been in the past 5 years.

"But that's OK," she adds, almost as an afterthought. "I already learned the stuff they teach there."

Fugaku inwardly perks up at this mention. "You have already completed the Academy curriculum?" he asks casually. She nods, disinterested, seemingly unaware of Fugaku's thoughts that fly around.

"I will have a clansman test you next week," he decides. Mikoto visibly brightens and resumes gently prodding the heavily malnourished girl into refills, while Sasuke eagerly fills Chiyoko in of his Academy day, with Itachi hovering over both children watchfully.

And Fugaku just has to sigh and wonder how on Earth did Chiyoko Idachi fit into his family so quickly.

It has been a month since I have arrived at the Uchiha compound, and Sasuke has been named my favorite Aniki and Itachi my favorite sparring partner.

I decide to not-so-tactfully hint at being finished with Academy work, if only to speed things up. Naoki, the instructor, sang praises (as much as a Uchiha can, anyway) by the first hour of teaching me. Fugaku simply switches me to sparring with Itachi after seeing me skating across the Sado river.

Tachi-chan (me and cousin Shisui's official nickname for him) is now straddled with his new jounin duties and training me and Sasuke. It's fun seeing how far he can go, even if he can already sense me deliberately holding back. This bothers him to no end, and I sometimes have to remind myself that in the end, Itachi is still a curious eleven year old boy, no matter what he grows up to be in the future.

Much to Mikoto-san's delight and Sasuke's horror, Naruto and Sai come over daily now for lunch. It's hard to play mediator all the time, but it's worth it when I receive a thank you! at the end of the day.

"Why aren't you a ninja?" Naruto whines, flopping on the couch, exhausted after a rigorous training night. I glance up from the algebra worksheet I began devising for Itachi a week ago, smirking at the memory of the "friendly" game of tag.

"Because I have absolutely no desire to protect a village that loathes me," I answer bluntly. Sai agrees with a nod of his head. "Plus, Konoha's hypocritical."

"But Konoha's nice! And-" Naruto cuts himself off after seeing Sasuke's prepared glare and rant. I grimace.

"Naruto, they're nice to you because you're the Hokage's son," I emphasized before Sasuke made a smart-ass remark. "I think that's a given. I, on the other hand, is the demon whore of Konohagakure."

"You're not-" Naruto begins protesting hotly.

"-a demon whore-" Sai cuts in smoothly, frowning Frown No. 8.

"-of Konohagakure." Sasuke finishes dryly, evidently already heard this statement a thousand times.

"Thank you, but I'm quite sure of what I just said." I scribble an equation down on paper.

"Wash up, dears," Mikoto calls from the kitchen. "We're eating in five minutes."

And as Sasuke scrambles with Naruto to be the first at the table, both torn from responding to Sai's insults of Dickless and Asexual and eating Mikoto's fantastic cooking, I think dimly, This isn't quite so bad.

Kurama isn't as insane as the earlier books make him out to be. He's just grouchier than a normal person (and who wouldn't be in his case?) and has a twisted sense of humor. And, I realize with delight, is possibly the only person in the world that can somewhat understand my situation.

"Why are you here again?" Kurama grumbles. "Honestly, you mortals are so clingy. It's a wonder how we manage to stick to you so long without going insane."

I grin. "Going insane isn't that bad. You just completely lose conscious of what you're doing. Plus," and here I waggle my finger at him. "-even you admit that my company is better than most people. For example, I'm not biased like the rest."

"True," Kurama acknowledges. "You're definitely more annoying than the rest, though." he adds, after seeing me perk up.

I pout sullenly, then search the sewers, frowning. "Where's Yami me?"

"Right here, Queen." An adult version of me smiles disarmingly, her shock white hair the only difference we shared besides age. "I hope you're ready for another spar."

I had long learned about my "dark" self. She's actually quite nice, until she goes absolutely bloodthirsty. Kurama, the king of youkai himself, made me swear to Kami that I would never try to push her, because she'll always be able to sense it. Turns out, Yami Chiyoko is stronger than me by miles (and how unfair is that?).

Of course, I think Kurama was mostly miffed because we almost blasted my mindscape to pieces and he didn't get to join in.

"I've got to name you something else besides Yami," I say. She smirks, twirling a lock of her hair coyly. "Kurei? That means dark...but it's depressing. Shiro? You have white hair. No? Uh...I'm kind of out of it."

"Just name her Kyōki and be done with it," Kurama growls. "No need to name her for her hair if she can go berserk in the middle of battle." He casts an approving nod to said berserker, who accepts the praise in grace.

I blink. "...Wow. I didn't think you guys would get along so famously. But, uh, yeah. The name's fine. I can't believe I didn't think of it. Madness, right?"

Kurama sniffs disdainfully. "I have unfortunately had the experience of your so-called...calligraphy."

I snort, before widening my eyes in mock horror. "My, Kurama-san! Such a poor thing!" I coo, grinning gleefully at his bristled fur. "Enjoying our brushwork, are we?"

"Do not mock me, human!" he roars. "I can crush you under one of my tails easily! Once I break out of this miserable cage, I shall dance on your grave!"

I giggle softly. "But we're a good influence on you!" I chirp happily. "A month before, you didn't even understand what that phrase meant!"

Kurama's eyes widen in realization before yowling, unceremoniously throwing himself forward.

"Bye bye!" I wave to Kyōki, who is staring at Kurama with a twitch on her lips. "I'll spar with you later, 'kay?"

My mindscape twists and warps, and the next second I am laying on my bed, panting.

"Imouto, what am I doing wrong?" Sasuke asks me, plopping next to me on the grass. I hand him a bento, noting his sweat drenched shirt and Itachi following closely behind.

"Easy. Tachi-chan simply has more experience," I inform him, chewing on a mouthful of rice. "He's faster, stronger, has more chakra...you know the deal."

"But you always beat Itachi with no problem!" Sasuke pouts, and I wonder for the fiftieth time that day if this really is the ice cube Sasuke I've known in the manga.

That's because I'm centuries older than you, I add in my head. "Well, if it makes you feel any better," I say, wordlessly giving another bento to Itachi as he sits down. "I'm not exactly teacher material. Tachi-chan is one of the best in the entire Clan."

Itachi twitches at the nickname, but otherwise stays silent at the compliment. "However," I add sharply to Sasuke. "Your fighting moves are way too predictable. One of the reasons Itachi can smack you to the ground with no problem is that you are an Uchiha. Obviously, he's going to know what you're doing next. Throw some variation."

"...what Chiyoko-san says is true, otouto," Itachi admits. "She does not use the standard Uchiha taijutsu. It is more of a...mixture of styles."

"See? Even Tachi-chan here agrees."

"But we always learn the Uchiha way in the compound." Sasuke mutters, a frown creasing his brow. "Otou-san won't be happy if I suddenly start doing something else."

"Then don't," I say dryly. "Just—My God, why are you looking at me like I've grown two heads?"

"What you say are the complete opposites," Itachi says blankly.

I throw my hands up in exasperation. "Have you people ever thought of, well, improving your taijutsu?"

They both stare at me, shocked. "B-but our taijutsu has been used since the first Shinobi World War," Sasuke says, sounding a bit strangled.

"Exactly! Someone is going to have information on that! And besides, you people have been doing it for years! And—don't look at me like that, Tachi-chan. Most members, by the time they're seventeen, have some sort of individual style. Say, Otou-san." I draw a rather sloppy person on the ground with a stick. "See, the Uchiha taijutsu relies on strength and speed. Otou-san favors strength and always strikes with his right hand. For him, his left side is mostly defense." I grin, seeing the confusion on the two boys' faces.

"Our father is a very smart man. He knows that there are barely any left-handed people in the world. Naturally, most people favor their right hand in battle. You shouldn't do that, though." I tack on hurriedly as realization dawns on Itachi. "Anyway, they'll always strike at the left side of their opponent first. Of course, this won't work if they're behind you or sideways, but it's an easy problem to fix. So..." I clap my hands in triumph. "In other words, Otou-san has a very nice, solid defense. Of course, I'm sure he has another solution if the person is left handed, right, Otou-san?"

A voice rumbles above us in the tree we sit under. "Very nice, Chiyoko. I must ask, though, if you have gotten more information about our other members as well?"

Sasuke and Itachi jump. I can see out of the corner of my eye Itachi surveying me with slightly more respect, both at the former explanation and the fact that I managed to contact his father's chakra signature before him.

"What kind of person would I be if I didn't know every single one of our clan members?" I ask nonchalantly.

Fugaku jumps down easily. "For someone who has stayed a month and a half at most, it is impressive. Itachi, Sasuke," he orders. "I want you to observe what Chiyoko has told you. It will become most useful in future battles. On the other hand," he glances sharply at me, his eyes narrowing. "How long do you have to watch a person's style to grasp it?"

"Um..." I frown, debating whether to lie or not. "Really depends. I've spent so much time around the compound that it becomes obvious in the first thirty seconds or so for a Uchiha. And it's honestly not that hard to bypass the other clans' security, so..." I almost smack myself for mentioning that when a pleased smile crosses Otou-san's face. "Well, anyway, the reason I have a weird taijutsu stance is that I try to alternate a lot of styles at once. I don't suggest it, by the way," I grimace. "It's horribly confusing, but by the time I finished my original katas I had to stick with it because nothing else worked."

A lie. I mastered my own taijutsu, Sen Sutāiru, nine lives ago and have been perfecting it ever since. It's a work of art, if I do say so myself. But it's mine and mine alone, so damn anyone who tries to steal it.

"Ah." Itachi says. "That would explain how I can't copy it with the Sharingan."

Fugaku's gaze sharpens even more after that. "Very well," he nods. "I trust you shall teach this on to the next generation, then?"

"Perhaps, sir." An apologetic smile. "I'd like to teach it to my line."

Fugaku nods in understanding. As a child of the Uchiha Clan, my worth is lessened of the fact that I do not have the Sharingan, but is slightly higher in rank as the daughter of the Clan Head. But teaching it to my line (if I even have any children, which I highly doubt), no doubt benefits the Clan as a whole.

"Very well." He inclines his head to his sons before walking away. "Keep working, Sasuke. Itachi, I want you to have daily spars with your sister now. There is a chance that you will fight against an opponent who cannot be copied."

I can barely hear him as he says "sister." It's silly, but it fills me with a happy glow inside. I have had siblings before, in my previous lives, but it's more...special with Itachi and Sasuke, who in canon both have wracked lives full of broken glass.

When I reach the compound, saying good nights to both of them, I open the drawer in my nightstand and pull out a familiar piece of paper. The words bore into me, and suddenly I am full of doubts.

You have to do this, if only for Sasuke and Itachi, I tell myself firmly, and bring out a ink bottle. I cross out the only moral I've ever had in the past millenium, and write.

What was once 'Do not get involved' is now utterly changed. Instead, more characters are written as I loop my letters, writing in cursive.

Do whatever you can for Itachi and Sasuke. No matter what happens, even if it means following them to the ends of the earth, you will help them. If it means being reborn and helping the Uchiha Clan, you will help them. And, even if it means sacrificing your own life for them...

You will help them.

It's a shorter chapter today, but it got my point across. Special thanks to SmileRen, who reviewed for both chapters! And thanks to everyone who reviewed as well. You guys brightened up my day! Oh, and in answer to your question, SmileRen, no, I don't have a beta. But thank you for flattering me.:)

At any rate, thank you so much for reviewing!

Questions:

- Why does Sasuke supposedly immediately like Chiyoko?

OK, so you might think that this is sort of Mary-Sueish, but it's not. Sasuke, as far as I can tell, is pretty much a cheerful child until the Massacre. I think, coupled with the fact that he wants to be an elder brother like Itachi, makes him enjoy Chiyoko's company.

- Why is Kurama...different?

Ha ha. If I somehow managed to screw Kurama's personality over, then I'm sorry. I truly am. But I don't like it when there are fanfiction ultimately assuming that he's a mindless beast. Because someone's going to have to be fairly smart when they've lived for millenniums.

- Why is Chiyoko devoting herself to helping her brothers?

Well, let's think about it. She died protecting her sister, and that's gotta mean she has some maternal feelings left, no? And I've always thought, no matter how heartless Sasuke was in Shippuden, he still had a fucked up life. The guy sees his entire family killed by his own brother, then finds out that his brother was a double agent for Konoha, the village he formally fought for, and is recruited and used and yada yada. Itachi even more so. Chiyoko sympathizes with that. And she wants to change the world, just for them.

Thanks so much to everybody!

Please leave a review on your way out.