I own nothing but my Oc and any jutsu I may create in the future
The next day after Sasuke was released from the hospital we went back to the Uchiha compound, but split up as soon as we got there, though I suspect Sasuke didn't really notice me sneaking off.
I knew Itachi the best out of everyone, even Shisui, I knew that if he had to do something unspeakable, something that would separate him from me and Sasuke, in long term, would mean that Itachi would leave us something. Someway of leaving a part of himself behind for us, to teach and comfort us.
Whatever it was it had to be small and hidden and someplace no one else would ever look, it had to be something that even on the off chance of being found no one would think twice about it. I knew Itachi the best. I knew I could find it.
Once when I was three I woke up with a horrible nightmare, I had been left alone in the dark and from that darkness they came, horribly disfigured humanoid figures with red sharingan eyes. It was only then that I realized they were my clan members, the negative feelings, the dark deep hatred, I felt from them were invading my dreams turning them into monsters. Instead of crying out or going to my parents or Sasuke I got out of bed and wobbled down the hall to Itachi's room, it was one of the rare nights where he was not on a mission. He was sitting up in bed writing in a small black unassuming looking book, but looked up at the sound of his door opening slightly.
"Kaya what are you doing up so late?" Itachi asked me softly his eyes gentle
I shook my head the fear of my dream, and my natural silence, keeping me from speaking.
"Did you have a bad dream?" Itachi asked his body turning towards me as he set the book down closed
I nodded my head and Itachi lifted his blanket, needing no other form of invitation I scurried unsteadily towards him and with his help climbed onto the bed and into his lap. That night I spent it with Itachi comforting me, stroking my hair and back even after I had fallen back to sleep, he never once told me my dreams weren't real or that it would be okay because he couldn't know that.
It was this memory of the book that made me believe that it might have been an explanation or training manual or something and I knew exactly where to look.
When I was little it was realized that I was not a normal Uchiha, I didn't have the brutality, and although I was good at fighting like them I didn't like it...I didn't like hurting people. Itachi became my everything when it was realized that I was 'next to useless' to the clan as they saw it...father rejected me as subtly as he could. Itachi took care of me from then on whenever he could, he taught me how to walk and talk, how to eat, then he taught me other things like about plants, herbs, he told me about ninja techniques and different types of healing. Although Itachi had appointed himself as my parent, teacher, and protector that didn't stop others from tormenting me when he wasn't around. This lead to me getting creative with where I hid, eventually I singled out a spot that could be accessed from anywhere in the compound through a network of small tunnels that emptied out into a large cave beneath the hill in the hidden training field that Itachi often used. I knew if Itachi had left us anything it would be for us to find it would be there where I would find it, because he knew no matter what he did he was still my brother and I could never hate him.
I did my best to ignore the blood stains that may never come out of the ground where my clansmen had fallen and I knew I wouldn't want to use any of the entrances that were in the buildings for fear that the scenes would become more gruesome so I went to one of only three that were already outside, but still hidden. The one I used was chakra sealed, a small boulder not much bigger than my five year old self that was next to a tree. Place a surge of chakra into the rock made it lift for a few minutes allowed me to carefully drop into the dark tunnel. For now I could walk in the tunnel, but I knew as I got older and grew taller I would eventually have to crouch and then crawl if I ever wanted to come back here. After only a few minutes the tunnel emptied out into a large dome cave that had a few simple furnishings, a old table, some cushions, an ancient desk, and a chair. I suspect that it had once been a clubhouse for all the Uchiha children and when they were old enough for the academy it was a quiet place to study away from the other clan members. It was the kind of place Itachi would come to for solitude and the perfect place to hide something seeing as no one used or remembered it anymore, except for me and Itachi, it was our secret place.
I searched the table and cushions first not really expecting it to be in such obvious places and came up with nothing. I then turned to the desk, but the draws were all empty. I then stepped back and thought this was Itachi he wouldn't keep it out in the open or in an obvious place even down here where few knew to look. Looking around it came to me there was multiple edges, seams, and rough rocky patches on the walls and ceiling and if you didn't know Itachi you might think that it was because this was made out of stone and was too difficult or not important enough to smooth over with chakra, but I did know Itachi and I knew if I or Sasuke was going to be playing here at anytime, or any age, Itachi would have done everything he could to make it safe for us to be here with no chance of harming ourselves accidentally on rough stone it had to be on purpose and then I saw it. The cracks and crevasses made a pattern from the ceiling to the floor and across the walls, only one stone stood out to me and I approached it and placed my hand on it and put a surge of chakra into it.
Immediately the room gave a slight rumble and then a square of stone outlined and moved to the side with a soft scrapping of stone on stone a little above my head. It was a small space, but inside was several books and scrolls and at the front two letters one with mine and Sasuke's names each. I had to stretch a little to reach, but managed it without having to move the chair over, I grabbed the letter with my name first and opened it to find Itachi's neat handwriting.
It said:
Little sister,
Kaya,
If you are reading this then you have come searching for answers. To protect you and Sasuke I can give you none, though I suspect that you at least have worked out some of the truth. I know you are most likely confused, hurt, betrayed even, but know that what I have done has been for you and Sasuke. Hidden here are books on all the things I have yet been unable to teach you, theories and techniques that will help you further your goals to protect your loved ones and the village, elemental jutus that will suit you and hopefully your future fighting style, different strategies, types of taijutsu and genjutsu that will again hopefully fit your future style, as well as different healing techniques, jutsu, and herbs that we had yet to be able to cover. Though I know the life of a ninja is not one you would choose the pressure of expectation will be on you more now than ever. This is where I must ask too much of you, always throughout your life you have been put down for your soft heart, for your compassion, for the empathic abilities that you were forced to hide, now I am asking you to hide it all away when necessary. I am asking you to become the ninja you are naturally able to be, to raise to Sasuke's level, to stay by his side when I cannot. I need you to watch after his well being. I once told you that our clan was cursed with a raw anger and hatred that was difficult, but not impossible to overcome. Sasuke is now at risk to falling to this darkness that has possessed our clan since it's beginning. I need you to teach Sasuke how to overcome his rage and hatred. I want you to instill the Will of Fire in him. Give him something to fight for, a light to guide him out of the darkness.
Now my concern falls solely on you on the day you were born mother and father had no name for you, arrogantly our father believed he would only sire sons and so never thought of having a girl, that was the first strike he held against you. I was the one who named you, after holding you in my arms and looking into your eyes I saw what father and even mother were too blind to see. I saw a pure being and a heart that would remain caring and strong, a heart that would remain open and welcome to all who you would meet, a heart that would not let the darkness of our world change or taint it. You are the true strength and pride of the Uchiha, you are our light and redemption, and you will go on to do great things.
In the darkest of times remember your Will of Fire to love and protect your family, friends, allies, comrades, and village with everything you have and to keep your open and gentle heart no matter what may happen to you.
Remember I love you...you and Sasuke and no matter what may happen or change, no matter how much you may now hate and despise me, no matter how far away we may be from each other I will always be your brother.
- Itachi
Sometime while I was reading the letter tears had gathered and fallen from my eyes and I had sat down on the ground my back to the wall. I looked up from the letter to stare blankly at the wall trying to process all I had read. Itachi really had killed our family, confirmed, he had done it to protect me and Sasuke, something I had only guest at, he expected me to hate him, but I knew I never could, he had left behind everything I could ever need for my future ninja career, he wanted me to look after Sasuke in his stead, something I would have done without him having to ask, he wanted me to keep my abilities a secret, I had kept it thus far and hadn't thought about telling yet, most importantly he wanted me to keep and protect the core of my being things that would make becoming a ninja difficult, difficult ,but not possible, and he wanted me to continue with my Will of Fire a dream I had only hinted at in the few talks we had covered on the morals of right and wrong.
I stood up using the wall behind me as support to find that it had been a good idea, my legs were stiff meaning I had been sitting here reading and thinking for a long time and I needed to get back before Sasuke could worry too much. Turning I refolded the letter and put it back, I couldn't take any of this with me it would cause to many questions from Sasuke that I couldn't answer without upsetting him.
I returned to the surface and closed the entrance just in time for Sasuke to come around the corner calling my name. He raced up to me and squeezed me in a tight hug telling me to never do it again. Weeks later we re-entered the academy, but it was never the same between us again.