By the time I was one, Sasuke was teetering around as he should be at his age. Using the walls and other furnishings to stand and move around. Itachi and I, however, were always together. Running around the yard as his laughter would echo out around us. Bolting through the house without a care in the world. Even playing with toy shuriken and kunai as a game. He is now two years away from joining the academy and his psychological beliefs have already taken root. He is now more than simply interested in the information he can gather from books as well as lingering just out of sight whenever his dad and mom would talk. His philosophy was building and I couldn't help but smile.
I was interested in all of those things as well. I wanted to know everything I don't already. And just as his use of chakra was presenting itself, I no longer saw a reason to hide my own. To his parents, as Itachi was figuring things out he was sharing them with me. When in reality, I was aiding him as much as he was helping me. He wants to become a ninja with everything he is so he can protect the village. Especially if the nine-tails attacks again which I found happened shortly before I was born myself. Meaning, that Sasuke is older than me by a few short months.
This does explain why the Uchiha compound was already here when I was born. Just as with how busy Fugaku is with the police force. All of it is still new, so there are bound to be a few kinks in the way things are run yet. My parents were never seen again. Or at least that is what I was led to believe. I am betting they were found and killed or locked up in the police station. I have been in the head of the clan's household since I arrived. Just as Sasuke and I now have separate rooms, which is a good thing. I was actually starting to wake him up with my nighttime rituals whenever I couldn't sleep. Until Mikoto would catch me and use her superpowers to make me fall into my unconsciousness.
Sasuke can say a few words now as well. He calls Mikoto mother, and Fugaku father. But that's about it. When Itachi and I weren't playing together we found ourselves with Sasuke. Playing childish games that he could join in on to aid his development. Much like patty-cake or seek and find. I thought it was rather rude at first that Itachi would hide Sasuke's favorite toy but eventually, I figured out why he did. It was helping Sasuke learn how to find things along with building his problem-solving.
So, I began helping. There was one rule Itachi would give me. Don't use chakra. That rule came up when I had actually hidden Sasuke's toy in the light fixture on the sealing. Itachi had to ask me why I put it there and I shrugged before answering him. Sasuke had been sneaking into my room at night. I didn't appreciate the intrusion very much. That is when he lectured me, saying Sasuke isn't like me and I need to remember that.
But, it did pique his interest a bit to figure out how Sasuke has been accomplishing this feat. That led us to hide inside Sasuke's room in ways he wouldn't be able to find us. There we found Sasuke can move a lot better than he made everyone believe. He was climbing out of his crib and meandering to the door. From there he waddled down the hall and straight to my room. This had Itachi laughing even as I couldn't help but frown. Sasuke had not only misled their parents but he had also fooled both of us. Itachi wanted to go tell his parents what we found out but it was me that pushed for him not to. Sasuke was hiding it. Let him hide it until he is ready to reveal it. We should just make sure he doesn't get hurt in the meantime.
Watching over Sasuke's excursions became another game for us to play. Building on our skills to sneak about without one or both of us being caught by his parents. Some nights were more fun than others. Especially when we were able to watch over him together. We had even begun to bring snacks with us so we wouldn't have to leave because we got hungry. There were nights Sasuke wouldn't leave his room, but on others when he quickly learned I wasn't in my room. He began moving around the house as if he was looking for me or Itachi. This only enhanced our game. Keep out of Sasuke's sight so not to be found, while making him follow clues to try and find us.
By the time Mikoto figured out what was happening at night, we had become pretty crafty with our abilities. She then switched Sasuke to a toddler bed so he wouldn't hurt himself climbing in and out of his crib. As well she placed a child latch on the paper door to keep him in. Successfully ending our nighttime game. However, this led us to take Sasuke outside with us during the daytime to further his skills as well as our own, and thus hide and seek was born into our daily play. Though we did take a none-too-happy Sasuke back inside before we would play ninja. Just to make sure he wouldn't get hurt.
Before I knew it, my plans to survive fell into the background. Training to be a ninja and playing with the two brothers became the new priority. Sasuke was advancing quickly for his age, his speech picked up fast, and he was now running around to chase us. We were no longer able to put him in the house to do our own thing. So we began having to build around Sasuke. At night, I would either sneak into Itachi's room or he would come into mine so we could study and work on more of our physical conditioning. During the day, we were playing with Sasuke along with newfound studies his mom began placing on us. Homeschooling was boring. Basically since Itachi and I had already perfected reading but we truly focused on our writing. She led us through different types of studies in order to prepare Itachi for the academy. This automatically included me since we were never apart and Itachi had argued that I could understand her teaching as well.
It was actually Itachi that had spilled my secret that I could talk. It was also his playfulness that drew me out to be caught playing with him in ways I shouldn't have been able to do at the time. He had also told them I was already potty trained so I didn't need diapers. Itachi guided his parents with me. Helping me with them so I would gain what I needed without hiding everything from them. This led his mother to bring him with us shopping. So I could pick out clothes when I was only two months old. Since at the time, I would only speak to Itachi and not very often.
Itachi was a blessing for me in his family. Just as he would always push me to get better. However, there was one argument he couldn't win with his parents. The time came when I was about to turn three and Itachi was entering the Academy. He wanted me to come with him. Even pointed out the fact that I am more than ready to join the Academy as well even though I am only two. But, Fugaku and Mikoto wouldn't budge. We were forced to separate. Itachi is four years older than me. You would think our relationship by now would have bred a familial bond between us. But it didn't.
We were friends. A friendship that hadn't been split up for years at this time. Until now. I was forced to watch Itachi leave for school with Sasuke standing at my side. I was left to wonder again, how much of the anime was completely accurate. If this part was the same as well, Itachi will graduate before the year is through. He will be a ninja by the time I turn four, leaving me further behind. With his absence, pain began to settle into my heart for the first time in this life. I actually thought about crying.
Sasuke however, had other ideas. He began trying to take Itachi's place at my side. I couldn't tell him that he is so far behind that he wasn't even in the same running as his brother. So this redirected my painful thoughts and emotions. I began trying to get Sasuke up to par. To better the skills Itachi and I had already laid the foundations for. I used similar games that Itachi and I used to use to build up our own abilities. Only, I had to switch them up a bit. Not only for Sasuke's level physically but also for his mentality.
By the time we began playing ninja, we both had fabric around our heads that he had asked Mikoto for. We were running around the entirety of the Uchiha compound as I, once again was playing the bad guy. Sasuke never wanted to be the one in the wrong so he was always on the leaf side. I didn't mind. It meant he had to chase me. And in order to catch me, he had to get better. So during the day Sasuke and I would play. In the evening, Itachi would come home and we could play with him. At night, Itachi and I's cram sessions began ending earlier than they used to due to him having school in the morning.
Unlike what I had thought would happen. Itachi wasn't pulling ahead of me quickly. In fact, he was taking the time at night to help me keep up. He showed me jutsu as he learned them himself. Which, I didn't want to tell him that I had already known about them and was training myself to use them when he wasn't with me. He was just happy to share with me what he learned and I wasn't going to be the one to take that from him. I have found, that I look forward to his smiles and his laughter. He had even begun showing me the taijutsu he was learning as well. Eventually, we incorporated the jutsu he would -teach- me into our play with Sasuke after he got home from school.
At least until Sasuke told on us. Informing his mom and asking his dad if it was cheating to use the clone jutsu when playing hide and seek. His father had complimented Itachi for getting the hang of this illusion technique so quickly. But he waited until after dinner when Sasuke was taking a bath. To lecture us about training me in the academy studies before I reach the appropriate age. That night, Fugaku laid out ground rules for us to follow and obey. Anything to do with actual ninja training, Itachi was not supposed to let me join him in. Be it with weapons or jutsu. He was banned from teaching me it.
So, at first. We listened. Fugaku had given Itachi many good reasons as to why children wait for the academy to learn such things and Itachi had realized that maybe his father was right. A short time after that, Itachi graduated from the academy and became a genin. Leaving Sasuke and me more time together than ever before. It's not like being around Sasuke wasn't fun nor did I not enjoy my time with him. But, the story was unfolding before my eyes. Showing me exactly how much of what I knew is indeed true. There are subtle differences, like Itachi being four years older than us rather than five for example. But in reality, everything was following the story. Meaning, that when I turn seven, the downfall of the Uchiha clan will be imminent.
I needed to get myself back on track. So during the day, I played with Sasuke. At night, I went out to the outlying trees to train. I began to push myself harder than ever before. First focusing on my balance then my movement. Keeping up on my chakra control and eventually. Adding in Shadow clones to train against in taijutsu. So I could refine my fighting and boost my reaction times.
I trained alone for months until Itachi figured out what I was doing. Only when we were hidden within the trees away from his family, would he aid me again in my training. Pushing me to catch back up to him so he no longer had to hold back. Then one day, he wanted to train with something new he had learned and he decided to use me to hone his skills. On the last mission he had gone on, Itachi had unlocked his Sharingan. This boosted his speed and skills considerably. He was out of my league to keep up with. But we continued to fight, pushing me to get better or continue being knocked around like I'm nothing.
Halfway through my fourth year though. Itachi stopped showing up. He had found someone new to train with. Someone who could further his capabilities whereas I, without the Sharingan myself could no longer do so. It was during this time, I was able to meet. Shisui Uchiha. The other legendary Uchiha. He had actually come around to pick Itachi up for training when Sasuke and I got to meet him. I really wanted to join them but Itachi had informed me that until I, myself unlock my Sharingan I wouldn't be able to keep up. Itachi chose to leave me behind willingly this time.
I couldn't complain. I expected this to happen after he made genin. This was unavoidable. The moment I was not allowed to join the academy with him, he would continue to push further ahead of me. Just as being made genin, I knew he was being reintroduced to the horrors of this world. He probably only wanted to begin protecting me in the only way he could think of. By stunting my abilities and trying to push me down where I should be at my age. In his mind, he no longer wishes to help me become a ninja in order to keep me away from battle. Itachi wants me safe.
I know this, just as I understand this, but it did confuse me to a degree. In the anime, he only ever wanted to protect Sasuke to this degree. To preserve his innocence for as long as possible. As with Shisui and Itachi being together now, it led me to reach a conclusion of my own. The Uchiha coup is beginning to be planned. So I continued training in the trees, pushing myself farther than ever with and without my shadow clones. Training myself to wield the jutsu I had long since memorized both with hand signs and attempting to figure out the jutsu that the information I had once researched wouldn't name the signs for. This training drained me far faster than anything else I or Itachi had done before. My chakra reservoir though still growing every day, is far beyond most of the jutsu as of now.
My reason to push myself like this. Changed. My mind settled on one thing. The pain in Itachi's gaze within the anime when he had to turn away from his brother the night the Uchiha had to fall. I want to keep that from happening. I want to preserve his smiles and laughter. His innocence that is dwindling by the day. I want to save him. These thoughts built up inside of me so intensely that I would tend to cry at times and be kicked down by my shadow clones. It is now that I realize, I've never felt so deeply about anything before. Not in this world nor my last. I never wanted anything more than to save Itachi from this fate.
In these thoughts, my vision blurs drawing me to stop my training and rub the tears from my eyes. My shoulders rise and fall with each panting breath as I fight to regain control of my body. These feelings confuse me. I have known for years, that the only way I could truly feel something was in my writing. Living through my characters and feeling their emotions unfold is how I could explain their feelings through the written word. So then, why am I feeling this way for another person that isn't in my writing? Why do I want to give anything including my life to change a fate that is destined to happen?
A twig snaps bringing my attention away from my own overflowing emotions. Allowing me to feel that I am no longer alone in my treed getaway. Turning around I move to face the ones that had stumbled upon me here. My eyes shift between the two with a frown even as Itachi's eyes widen before his shock is replaced with pain. A profound sadness fills his gaze as he looks down at me. "You managed to unlock your Sharingan." He points out quietly even as Shisui frowns. "How in the world can someone do that without meeting the conditions?" Shisui questions mournfully ever before Itachi closes the distance between us and kneels down so as my gaze falls he is still in my line of sight.
Itachi then reaches up and brushes his thumbs beneath my eyes to wipe away the tears that were still trying to flow heavily from my gaze. "It seems, she may not have been through battle but the pain in her heart was enough to make up for it." Itachi utters out quietly as his onyx hues waver in the moonlight. "A powerful emotional response considering someone they love." Shisui utters out in disbelief only causing Itachi's frown to deepen. "And here I had thought more than once that you were emotionally lacking." He exhales a breath before showing me a painful smile. "It was my distance, wasn't it?" He realizes causing me to sigh and look away from him. Of course, his first thought would be to blame himself. It is he that caused the profound emotions but it's not his fault. It's never his fault.
"Itachi." I manage to utter out as I look back to him, seeing he has yet to move. His eyes widen a moment before he catches himself. I reach my right hand up and set the palm of my hand against his cheek. Taking in the unfamiliar feeling that I've never truly allowed myself to experience before. "You are pushing me away to keep me safe. But, I have always wanted to keep you safe. We are friends, a team, a single unit with the same thoughts and feelings. We are bound together. It is not your distance that hurt. But the fact you are in pain and I cannot help." As I speak the memory of seeing his animated figure crying as he peers over his shoulder toward Sasuke runs through my mind.
"Say Itachi, if you want to protect her so much. Why not let her join us?" Shisui comments as he chuckles drawing Itachi's gaze to him from over his shoulder. "Besides, we can't have her so upset she hurts herself training alone, now can we?!" He chuckles again causing Itachi to sigh. "Shisui, you.." He begins before he thinks better of it and looks back to me. "If you want. You can begin training with us. I'll just tell mother I am taking you into town so you can play." He offers making me frown. I hate lying. Like, really hate it. But, there is no way she would allow me to train with them either. "Alright. If you think you can convince Mikoto." I add in causing him to chuckle slightly. "It will be worth a try." He admits as his shoulders hang a bit, realizing who he was going to have to convince of this farce.
*So no one is confused, at this time Sasuke and Akari are 4 Itachi is 8, and Shisui is 10. I know at Sasuke's age Itachi in the anime would actually be nine and Shisui would be like 17. If you guys want at any time I could do one of those information chapters to keep the ages straight.*