"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin." ― Mother Theresa.

It had been a couple weeks since Shisui had left for his escort mission, and Uchiha Itachi found himself in a strange sense of calm. Perhaps it was because his cousin used the term chaotic in human form. So bright and loud. Cheerful and so very kind. Yet ruthless, calculative, and sly.

It was times like these that Itachi realized how deep Shisui had buried himself in his life. Itachi's eyes flicker upwards when he hears a familiar caw. It was Asuga, one of his crows from the summons he shared with Shisui. 'Shisui wouldn't take no for an answer in not sharing, anyways.'

Giving a soft thanks, he took the scroll and opened it. Ebony-gray eyes darting eagerly from line to line. Slowly, however, the gentle smile he had been wearing faded into a grimace of annoyance.

Dear Itachi-chan,

Hey, itoko. It's been awhile since we last chatted via Asuga. She was rather put out that I didn't have any hazelnuts for her. …you probably should give her some before she "accidentally" bites you.

Itachi paused to give a weary glance at Asuga, who was viciously snapping her sharp beak against a hazelnut shell. She had already gone through four somehow.

By all the kami's above, you won't believe it, but I finally have found another version of you. Only it's a girl. She's delicate and soft looking, much like those fancy porcelain dolls those young noble girls in the capital play with. Oh and her hair is a beautiful shaded color of meadowsweet flowers, and her eyes are the color of those coral hued jade gemstones you can sometimes find in the sea. Every time I see her do something that reminds me of you, it has me picturing you with her hair color.

Itachi felt insulted that Shisui would think of something as disturbing as that. Not that Itachi had anything against the color pink or think anyone looked ugly with it. It's just for him, it was too bright for his taste. To his paranoid self, it was like he was putting a loud target on his back.

If he indeed had that hair color, he couldn't imagine how much money he would spend on hair dyeing products. Itachi paused in his reading to squint at the rough-looking drawing in the corner. 'WAS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE HIM WITH PINK HAIR!?'

Do you like my drawing?

Itachi was going to assassinate his cousin in the most embarrassing way! The clan didn't really need Shisui at all! There were plenty of cousins and Sasuke!

Another thing I have noted since accepting this mission is that the Haruno Clan are more than what they appear on their informational citizenship papers, and the sparse clan information I could read that was visible to the public.

Itachi narrowed his eyes at his cousin's words. While the Haruno's held a seat on both the Civilian Council and the Clan Council since the founding of the village, they never sent anyone to sit. The assigned chair had been gathering dust for decades. 'Metaphorically.' In the gathering thoughts of his own clan, they considered them a boring melting-pot.

Do not let the belief of them being a melting pot fool you cousin. Their talents.

Well, their talents are not truly accredited properly. Their bloodlines are heavily enriched. That clan's blood flowed from someone high up, like the Fire Daimyo in the Capital, and down low, like the popular courtesan down in Grass Country.

It has been whispered about and all but silently confirmed that Haruno Kizashi could give the Jounin Commander a run for his money. He's currently the leader of the Merchant's Guild. You understand my meaning?

Itachi knew what his cousin was trying to explain without breaching the s-ranked mission he was given. Nara Shikaku was a smart and formidable ninja and led a clan known to pop out lazy geniuses. The Uchiha Elders loathed the Nara Clan as much as they once did the Senju. They had to struggle to produce geniuses, while the Nara just had to nap underneath a tree for theirs. Itachi thinks it irritates them more because of the laziness. They knew the Nara Clan could dominate the world, but wouldn't learn nor care to do so.

Itachi thinks privately it's a good thing, but then again Itachi was a contradiction. He was a pacifist, yet also a shinobi. If he had a choice, he would rather be a medic than part of ANBU. Anyway, Itachi was weary because the man was not only smart, but also rich. Smarts and money are two powerful things when put together.

Though the blood is partially diluted, someone here in the village actually has family. I wonder if they know the Haruno's know about their connection to them. That they had the legal sway to adopt him and end his suffering, we are unable to stop. I also learned that the honorable Senju Tobirama-sama was indeed human, much like us. The Haruno's too many great's to label grandmother was his bastard.

I feel sorry for anyone who suffers them in the future. Itachi, their blood runs and connects through many walks of life. Haruno Sakura is the first cousin of Aburame Shino, the heir to the Aburame Clan. Another one of Haruno-san's sisters married an Inuzuka who was high up on the hierarchy. Then another sister and the youngest of his married into our clan, but I was unable to find out who as it was marked out.

Mebuki-sama is one woman to be afraid of. She makes Mikoto-oba appear as an angel. Morino-san would be terrified of her if he ever met her.

Well, I have to go. Hopefully, I'll see you and Sasu-chan soon. We have been delayed due to the unrest here and what appears to be a civil war starting on the horizon.

-Uchiha Shisui

P.s

Rumors are floating about. One whisper is Kumo will use this peace treaty signing to steal the Hyuga bloodline. Tell Fugaku-oji to place guards around their complex for an extra measure of protection. As Sakura-chan said when we overheard the conversation. "Drunks have loose lips."

P.s.s

Ah,

I really want to poke or pinch her cheeks. Is this how you feel around Sasuke-chan all the time?

Itachi could feel a severe headache emerging as he took in his cousin's letter. In conclusion, the Haruno clan was not what they appeared to be. The Hyuga Clan was in danger, the Yondaime's child could be adopted, and Shisui might end up seriously hurt if the civil war really does break out.

Itachi gave out a soft sigh as he got to his knees, before calmly picking up his sleeping brother and headed towards his tou-san's office.

No matter how many times he did it. No matter how hard he hit her, she got up from the ground without fail. Her eyes glinted brightly, with sheer desperation and determination to win. They swirled a brewing storm of if she didn't win, then everything she loved would die. A look only veteran ninjas carried.

A girl her age should not, and it didn't make any sense to him why she did.

Her once unmarked lily-white skin now had bruises and cuts that sprawled across it. She was also deeply sunburned. In fact, Kisame was sure her sunburn had sunburn, much like how her bruises had bruises.

Nevertheless, he still ruthlessly shoved her back to the ground, uncaring of the panic teen on the side witnessing it all.

Uchiha Shisui swore he was going to die early, damn it! Shisui was going to die not only at thirteen, but also as a virgin. Shisui was not going to be able to pass on his amazing genetics if he had to keep watching these sparring matches. "DUCK BRAT!" Kisame roared out as he swung his blade down, nicking the side of Sakura's left cheek as she dodged at the last minute.

Shisui stood terrified at the sideline with Zabuza, who was stuck there being monitored. "He's going to kill her." He moans as his fingers dig into his scalp, pulling ebony hair out by the roots. "Then her mother will murder me."

Zabuza lazily waved his hand dismissively. "Kisame won't admit it, but he has become soft since he took on Sakura as his student."

"Dodge!" Kisame snarled as he kicked Sakura so hard in the stomach it sent her flying into a tree.

"Soft my ass." Shisui muttered underneath his breath as he watched Sakura get back on her little feet and run at Kisame. Even watching a toddler repeatedly get beaten made him feel unsettled. "You would think she would be exhausted by now, they've been fighting since a little past dawn, and now the sun has nearly set." Shisui grumbled with worried disbelief.

"It's that Uzumaki and Senju stamina." Momochi Zabuza bluntly uttered as he took a large chucky bite out of a meat bun he had been holding.

Shisui nearly choked on his spit as his head snapped to stare at Zabuza with wide eyes filled with disbelief. "Uh no? What?" 'He was pretty sure he would have known there was another Uzumaki running around. Hell, even the thought of it being Senju would have had the whole village talking about it. Shisui can be dumb sometimes, but he's not blind.'

Zabuza tilted his head towards the pink hair child's feet. "Watch the grass when she steps," he noted calmly. "I thought you Uchiha's had some fancy eye thing to help your vision."

Shisui had tuned the other man out as he turned on his sharingan to examine her. Shisui's breath caught when he witnessed it.

The roots pulling from the ground and towards the sky, searching for the sun.

Haruno Sakura had the Mokuton.