Prologue

WITH EACH CONTRACTION came a pain that dominated Mikoto's entire being. In those moments, for those seconds that stretched into infinity, there was nothing else. She could hear screaming from other rooms, yet she made no sound at all. When the pain passed, it was only for a minute or so, and she breathed with closed eyes, unwilling to re-engage with life outside of her own body. The room might as well have been empty for all the awareness she had, and when the doctors did speak or touch to gain her attention, she found it hard to do so. To respond, Mikoto had to find herself from the deepest recess of her mind and drag herself forward to use her voice and open her eyes as the nurses encouraged her to push.

"Just one more child, Uchiha-san!" And with a guttural grunt she heaved one last time before being told to stop, one was enough. Mikoto could feel the baby crowning, the hot stretching of her flesh had her holding her breath. Then without any further effort, the baby slid into the hands of the awaiting nurse as the doctors and nurses alike cheered with excitement. "Congratulations, Uchiha-san! You've given birth to a healthy baby boy and a healthy baby girl."

With the sudden elation, and a moment of relief, Mikoto laid back into the hospital bed; tired, soaked to the bone in her sweat, and happy. A boy and a girl, she thought, slowly drifting off to sleep as the nurses took her children to their incubators. Meanwhile in the waiting room, Fugaku and Itachi, Mikoto's husband and their firstborn, anxiously anticipated the news but it wasn't long before one of the doctors came to inform them of Mikoto's successful labour and the new arrivals. Once they were given the "okay" to enter Mikoto's room, the father and son duo watched as the nurses left the room with the children before giving their full attention to the exhausted matriarch of their family.

"You've done well, Mikoto." Itachi spared his father a glance as he spoke before turning to his mother with a small frown. An enormous sense of dread filled his body when he caught the sullen looks of both his parents.

"I assume you've already named the girl?" His father carried on, taking by Mikoto's feet before encouraging Itachi to do the same. In response to the question, Mikoto nodded her head, lips pulled down into an even deeper frown as her daughter was mentioned before she opened her mouth to speak.

"Soifon Uchiha."

Fugaku nodded his head in silence, lowering his gaze toward his relaxed hands before he clenched them. The air was tense, almost suffocating if it weren't for the confusion set on Itachi's face. The young boy wondered why his parents seemed so sullen and he was curious to know if there was something wrong with his little sister, but he didn't speak his thoughts and chose to sit silently as his parents exchanged similar, pained looks before aiming their attention to him. He watched as his mother's lips pulled back to form the familiar kind smile she'd give to anyone before she spoke once more.

"Itachi-kun? How'd you like to meet your little brother?"

Once again, Itachi frowned when she only mentioned his baby brother, but it disappeared as soon as it came when the nurse came back with the sleeping, little infant. The young boy couldn't help but beam up a bit when he caught sight of his sibling, peering up at his mother when she took her son from the caregiver and placed him comfortably in her arms.

"Have you decided on a name?" The matriarch asked her husband, studying her child with a loving, yet saddened look in her eyes as the baby boy squirmed a bit in the wrapped blanket before passing him on to Fugaku. Itachi too studied his little brother, but with a curious look when the baby's face scrunched up in discomfort. "Yes," Fugaku responded, sparing his wife and firstborn child with a small grin. "Sasuke. Sasuke Uchiha." Mikoto and Itachi gave the patriarch wondrous looks in return when Mikoto tilted her head. "Oh, it's a fine name, but isn't that . . ." "Yes, it's Lord Third's father's name. I've already asked for approval."

When Fugaku handed his youngest son to his eldest one, he couldn't help but stare when he witnessed the instant bond the two had, wondering if the same would occur if his daughter was in the room with them. But it didn't take long for him to break out from his inner monologue when he took hold of Itachi's shoulders, crouching down to reach the young boy's height as did, capturing the child prodigy's attention. "There are some things we cannot discuss about anyone of what happened on this day, Itachi. So I need you to listen carefully because I will not repeat myself, understood?"

Itachi frowned a bit, losing all composure from before to gain a more collected one when he caught the tone of voice his father spoke in. He wasn't sure what was happening, or what his father had to share, but he was willing to listen and do as he was told if his father was this sincere. "Under no circumstances are you to mention to anyone, including the clan and your brother about Soifon." Itachi swallowed the harsh lump down his throat, taking a couple of steps back to get away from his father's grasp as he tried to comprehend the situation at hand. Why? He wanted to question but instead stood shocked as Fugaku continued.

"No one can know of her existence. No one." Dread, again overwhelmed his senses as he thought over his father's words. Was his little sister in danger? And if so, by whom? Millions of questions ran through Itachi's mind while his parents awaited his reply, every one of them going unanswered as he finally looked into his father's eyes with uncertainty. If his sister was in danger, and his father thought this was the way to keep her protected, then he had no choice or say in the matter.

The young boy solemnly nodded his head, lips pursed as Fugaku let out a heaved sigh before he gave his curt nod in return. However, while this was happening, the family hadn't been aware of the presence in the room, watching quietly with a small frown before they took off.

To The Soul Society*

"Unohana-heichou? What brings you he-- is that a baby?" The said captain spared the young woman a kind smile before glancing down at the child in her arms. Peace overlooked the babe's face as it slept comfortably in the white blanket wrapped around its small form. Shortly after giving the infant a look, Unohana gave the black-haired woman another kind smile before speaking. "Good evening, Ayame. I found the poor thing left alone and unclaimed, so I took her up and with me." The woman, Ayame as she was identified, gave the captain a pointed look, sweat dropping at how nonchalant the Shinigami was as she carried on. "I can't exactly take her with me to the Seireitei, it's no place for as of now, so I came to you in hopes that you'd watch over her for me?"

Ayame felt her brow twitch at the sudden request, finding the randomness in the captain's actions a bit odd before giving the infant a look over. The child was quite the cutie, she'd admit, already at such a young age tuffs of black hair sat atop its head, giving the child's skin complexion a nice touch to it. And if you were to look closely, you could see a tiny hint of pinky hue added to her chubby cheeks, building onto the amount of enchanting look the baby girl sported. Ayame softened up at the child, unconsciously admitting defeat while Unohana gave the young woman a knowing smile. It wasn't long after analyzing the baby that Ayame sighed under her breath, cursing herself out in the head for falling for Unohana's tricks before she held her arms out for the child. "What's her name?"

Unohana chuckled and passed the little girl into the black-haired woman's arms before answering. "Her name is Soifon. Please, treat her well.

(I had help from someone a while back for this prologue I only remember that her username was called November and I appreciate your help )