Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto but do own the Gushikans.
Chapter 4: The Uchiha Arc - Part One
Burning, burning all over.
It feels as though I may explode! Oh, the pain, it's like someone's pouring acid into my veins.
"Dear! Dear! Stop! She's bitten her lip again!"
The pain subsides, but it is still burning deep inside me.
Stretching my veins is more painful than anything I have ever experienced in my short life. I slowly opened my eyes to see my parents peer over me. My Mom with a nervous look, and my Father with a stoic one, but his eyebrows furrowed. Mom pulls out a warm washcloth to wipe the blood from my bottom lip.
This has been a regular occurrence for the past year, and the pain has not changed. Neither has my veins. The Doctor says it's a matter of time, but Mom is pushing him for a better option.
Dad too.
The longest Dad can leave the village is a week at most, since he has to be my chakra donor. Although I do have a doner at the doctors when Dad is not around, my parents are not comfortable with a stranger injecting me.
Other than the regular pain, my life had not changed much at age seven.
Naruto, Kiba, Shikamaru, and Choji are still my best friends. For my birthday, my parents let me have my first sleepover! Dad never left my side, though, he can be so silly. We ate good food, played tag, and hide n' seek. Mom and Dad even took us to the park to play on the equipment. We had a bonfire with s' mores, and finally, we all slept in a tent in my backyard, right next to the family stone. It was the bestest day I've ever had.
My friends also know about my condition, even though I wasn't supposed to tell anyone, but I trust them. Sadly, I still have no female friends, although yesterday I said hi to Hinata... I'm so adventurous.
I've also talked to Sasuke a bit, our parents know each other, so we have trained and spared twice after school with our parents watching. I won once, and he won the other.
Dad calls us rivals, but I don't feel that way yet. Sasuke is... weird, but who is not? He's a little quiet, but it's also obvious he is infatuated with his older brother and Father. Although he is nice enough, I don't mind him.
Naruto hates him, though, and the feeling seems to be mutual, so I don't talk to him often. He's at the top of our class along with me; we are currently tied, but I did better than him the previous year, so I'm calling myself better.
"Takara! Are you okay?" Mom yells, setting a hand on my shoulder.
I snap out of my monologue and look up to her, blinking before smiling, "I'm fine, Mama, just daydreaming."
She sighs but smiles back, "It's almost time for bed, let's go read," She said softly. I nodded as I followed Mama like a duckling.
We began to walk into the living room with me clinging to her arm when a thunderous pounding at the door made Mom body flicker out of my grasp.
To which I quietly grasped at the air for a Moment before losing my balance and face planting on the ground. She appeared next to my Dad at the door, both in alert mode. I slowly walked behind them and quietly rubbed my painfully numb arm from the injection, listening.
They glance at each other before Mother asks who it is.
"Chirping Hound, High Anbu rank" answers back, the voice was masculine but sounded strained.
My Father freezes entirely before turning to look at Mama and I. "Takara, turn away from the door, so he can't see your face, Ume, you ready?" He whispers.
My Mom summoned her mask out from when she was an Anbu. It has a pointed face with tiny holes as eyes. It has an oddly sizable red smile and is decorated in black swirls with two large triangle ears on the sides.
My Dad pulls out his bear mask. His is large and rectangular in shape with a protruding nose and an unsmiling face. It has upside-down black triangles lining the sides of it, with rounded ears perched on top. When Dad turned away and opened the door, I slowly covered my face with my hands and turned a little to look at the guy at the door.
He has a dog mask with a long smile and side-ways red triangles. He is young and tall but has very pale hair.
"What is the meaning of this. The Anbu is not allowed to come to anyone's house for the sake of secrecy, you imbecile." My Father hissed in anger. "My family could be in danger if anyone saw you!" My Dad's voice raised. My Mom silently nodded at his side.
"I ask for your forgiveness head of Anbu division number one: Tacit Bear and ex-member rank medium-low: Echoing Bat. You know I wouldn't be here if it was not urgent." His voice wasn't very genuine but instead sounded broken and sad.
My parents both nodded, my Mom gently rubbed her hand to her left shoulder where her tattoo was before it was sealed away, as it is with all ex-members.
"The Uchiha clan has been demolished, and it appears the only survivor is the youngest main house boy. The main person of interest is Itachi." The man mumbled.
"WHAT!" My Dad roared, summoning his swords and strapping them to his waist. "Why was I not informed sooner! Where was Itachi last seen? What did Sasuke see?" He badgered the man.
The hound stood silent, and before responding Itachi got away, and the boy is traumatized and won't speak.
My Father turns to my Mom, "Echo," he says to her quietly.
My Mom, silently watching up to that point, says, "Should I summon Kōmori?"
My Dad nods, so Mom bites her thumb and summons a few average-sized bats that immediately land and hang on her outstretched arm. "Go look for a murderer named Itachi," she hums.
The bats quickly fly off into the night, becoming swiftly invisible.
Dad pushed the man out of the door frame and disappeared into the night after them. My Mom reaches out as if she desired to stop him but slowly lowers it and thanks the man for the information before slowly closing the door. She doesn't turn to face me.
Her body is shaking.
"Mikoto...Fugaku..." She shakily breathes out.
"Mama?" I whisper. She twitches and clears her throat. "Not now baby, it's past your bedtime, please go to sleep." Her voice grows higher in pitch as she talks and finally cracks on sleep. Her body heaves, and she leaned her head on the door. "Please go to bed."
Crying, Mama's crying.
She takes a long deep breath before standing up straight and wiping her face from under the mask. She turns and walks past me, and goes up the stairs where I hear her door click shut.
'Sasuke' I thought numbly as it sank in. My eyes felt watery, and my head began to hurt when Mom was suddenly standing back in front of me in her jōnin uniform, her long hair up, and mask tightly secured.
"Takara, I have to go help try to find Itachi, and I have some talking to do. I'll be back tomorrow, and I don't know when your Father will be back. Just go to bed, and if we aren't here in the morning, just go to school like normal and don't talk about anything that's happened tonight." She spoke sternly.
I stare in disbelief. "Mama, you're retired from the Anbu! And there's no one to interrogate since Itachi is gone!" I exclaimed.
Her head tilted down, and she pulled me into a hug. "I know, baby, but this is a national tragedy, it's my duty to help solve it. And there is one person to interrogate... Think about it, and try not to hate your Mama. She is just doing her job" she ruffled my hair and then disappeared out the door.
'Oh'
"Sasuke"
I walk backwards and go upstairs to my room. But I laid awake, listening in fear.
Fear that Itachi might come, fear that Mama might be tough on Sasuke, fear that Daddy might fight Itachi and lose. But then the fear disappeared as the hours trickled by.
Itachi doesn't know me so he wouldn't come. Mama loves Sasuke and would be nothing but gentle when talking to him. And Daddy is stronger than any man in the village except the Hokage.
And I finally fell asleep with a few nightmares.
I didn't get much sleep, but when I woke up, Mama was still gone. Dad had to make my breakfast and lunch before walking me to school. He was primarily quiet and stiff.
"Where is Mama?" I asked. He flinches but squats down to my level and rests his hands on my shoulders.
"She is safe and is still with Sasuke still," He said quietly.
"What happened last night, Daddy? I want to know the truth." I asked, matching his tone.
My Father looked reluctant to talk and glanced around himself before continuing. "If I tell you, you must not talk about it at all. Not even to Naruto, Takara, this is serious, quiet stuff. Most importantly, don't talk to Sasuke about it. Do you promise?"
His eyes bore into me. No hint of play in it. Could I keep a secret from Naruto? I'm not sure I could. Dad saw the internal struggle I was having.
He sighed disappointedly. "Takara, this is not a game. I'm head of the Anbu, and if you leak, info things could get very bad. When you get older, you'll be told things that you can't talk about either. You need to realize that as well. In this world, telling could mean death."
I looked back up to him. "Daddy, Naruto and I are best friends, but I understand. No means no."
He smiled and glanced around one last time and then leaned close to my ear and whispered. "Last night Sasuke witnessed Itachi murder their clan. But the kicker is, Itachi was ordered to do it."
The world froze.
I could feel my heart sped up, and I felt feverish. "W-what? Why?" I stumbled. I'll be honest, this is not what I was expecting him to say.
"The Uchiha's were planning a coup. It was the only way to stop a war. Although a council member went behind the Hokage's back to command Itachi to do it. It's wrong and cowardly. A complete disrespect to our leader and the Uchiha clan." My Father grunted, pissed, but paused to analyze my face and sighed. "Maybe I shouldn't have told you."
My eyes focused on him. "No, I understand. It's just unfortunate. Poor Sasuke." I muttered. I looked back up. "Why did you tell me?"
Dad sighed again and flicked my forehead. "Well, I trust you. I trust you more than any of my associates. However, what I have told you is so secret that most ninjas don't know, so it's straightforward, my darling daughter. Don't ever tell anyone. I'm trusting you."
My eyes lit up like the sun. "You can count on me, Dad!"
He smiled, took my hand, and we continued to school. I feel like maybe he was drowning under the guilt of what he knew, and desperately needed to tell someone.
That's fine with me, I can keep his secrets and I always will.
The talk with Dad took longer than expected, so I was about 10 minutes late, but so was Sensei apparently. I bet that all the Senseis' are having a meeting on what happened last night.
"Takara, you're late!" Naruto yelled at me as I tip-toed into the room of chattering students.
"Shh! Naruto, I'm only late if the teacher notices!" We both smile and giggle as I take my seat next to him.
"Speaking of late, where's that dumb Sasuke?" Naruto asked, eyeing the empty seat next to me.
I bit my lip.
"You know something!" Naruto instantly says, and judging from my look of horror, he had his confirmation.
"I'll tell you after school, during ramen," I say.
He nods enthusiastically, as he does whenever ramen is mentioned.
Mentally I was freaking out, trying to decide what I should tell him. There's no way I could disobey my Dad, so I'd have to dance around the important stuff because Naruto apparently knows me way too well.
We sat at our favorite ramen stand and slurped our noodles as I carefully danced around the Itachi stuff.
"Wow, so he's an orphan now. That's horrible. I hate him, but that's bad. Where is he going to go now?" Naruto said softly as I finished gulping down my broth.
"I don't know. He'll probably get an apartment and be supported by the government like you." I shrugged at him. "Or maybe he'll get the entire Uchiha Compound for himself. But that sounds lonely." I said softly and frowned.
Naruto orders another bowl before turning back to me. " I guess. Hey, weren't your parents friends?"
My mind flashes to my Mom, crying. "Yea, they went to school together."
Naruto clicks his tongue sadly and looks down at his empty bowl.
"Oh, here you two are." I hear a soft and familiar voice.
I turned around to see Mama. She looks worn out. There are dried tear trails down her face, and a wet spot on her shoulder.
"Hi, Mama, are you ok?" I asked softly, my heart aching at the sight of her.
"Yea, I am, but we need to be going home now. We have a lot to talk about." Her eyes were dull, but she kept turning to look behind herself. I glanced at her feet and saw a smaller pair behind them.
"Oh"
I turn to Naruto to give him a quick hug and pay my bill before sliding off my stool. I waved goodbye to Naruto as I walked away, with my Mom and Sasuke.
I sat awkwardly at the dinner table across from a sullen but glaring Sasuke.
"He will only be staying with us until he has recovered mentally. Which could be any sort of time." Mom said to Dad in the kitchen, but the two of us could still hear her.
"I guess he'll take the guest room. I'll also go back to his house to grab some clothes for him tonight." Dad commented, and Mom agreed as they both walked into the dining room.
Dad had Sasuke explain what he needed, and he disappeared into the night. Mom quietly went into the kitchen to make Sasuke and me a snack.
I examined Sasuke from my seat. Approximately 22 hours ago, his entire family was killed or became a killer. His hair was disheveled, and he had large dark circles around his eyes. His eyes were watery and bloodshot.
"So, uh-" what do you say to someone who recently was orphaned by their older brother? "-how do you feel today?"
His face turned red, and he stood up dramatically from the table and walked into the living room in anger.
Well, you apparently don't ask how they feel.
Mom walked in, holding a plate of apples cut like bunnies but paused, seeing it was just me.
"He's not much for small talk." I grumbled.
Mom sighed, setting the plate down and sat next to me. "I know this will be hard, but you need to respect his wishes and be extra kind to him. We are just helping him get on his feet. He's gone through a horrible tragedy, honey. He is still going through a tragedy."
I averted my gaze to the living room door before quietly standing up, grabbing the plate, and walking through it. He sat quietly at the end of our couch with his feet pulled up and his head resting on his knees. I sat on the other end and put the plate on the coffee table.
"I'm sorry if I offended you."
Nothing, not even a twitch.
"Mom made apple bunnies to eat if you like, they are pretty sweet apples too if you like that sort of thing."
I'm rambling. He's kind of freaking me out. He remains unmoved except for the occasional heave from... Breathing? Crying? "
"If you don't like sweet things, Mom can always make something different or I could. I'm not the best chief, but I'm learning."
Rambling again. He slowly tilts his head up to look at the plate.
"Oh and don't worry about school, I'll just give you my notes when you're ready." He glances at me with a look of disgust on his face.
"Shut up."
I twitch, "Would you like me to leave you be?" I asked, trying to be chipper.
"Yes," he sternly responds with venom.
"Ok, well If you need me, my room is across from yours." I quickly left my room and sat exhausted from the lack of conversation.
Later, Dad came in to do my injection, and I cried in pain and bit my lip really bad again. I walked downstairs for an ice pack for my swollen lip.
"What's wrong with you?" His voice was monotone and he looked like a corpse.
I froze, I forgot he didn't know. I guess we all did. I turn and smile at him.
"My chakra veins are super tiny, so I have to go through physical therapy. It can be kinda intense."
He stared emotionless, pale, and with tear tracks down his face. "Freak" he muttered and walked upstairs.
I furrowed my brow angrily and followed in suit to my room.
Breakfast was uneventful, but I did learn that the mass Uchiha memorial ceremony is supposed to be in a few days. But Sasuke has the right to push it back if he wants.
Unfortunately, I have to go too.
Sasuke didn't go to school today, and I chose not to tell anyone Sasuke lives with me now, except Naruto. He mostly just exclaimed that he felt sorry for me and that I should just hide until he leaves.
I said I'd consider it.
It has been two weeks since Sasuke started staying with us. He keeps putting off the memorial, and I think the Hokage is gonna throw a fit soon.
When I got home after school, it was just Sasuke and me everyday.
He always ignores me as he wastes away on our couch. Eating only a little food, that of which Mom shoves into him. This whole, keeping him alive, thing has been stressing her out.
I handed him his notes for the day and then attempted small talk, which he ignored.
"Are you hungry? You didn't eat this morning."
"No, leave me alone." He mumbles.
"Are you sure? I could make rice balls." I offer, since Mom had told me he seems to really like them.
He pauses but continues to refuse. "Leave me alone, you're annoying."
My face turns red as I stand from my seat quickly, surprising him.
I opened my mouth and closed it like a fish trying to force the hateful words I want to spew, away. And I finally manage to turn and walk out the door.
He knows I'm not allowed to be mean to him, and sometimes I think he's using it against me.
I made my way to the training field and then unloaded on a post in complete anger.
'Who is he to say such mean things to the people who took him in!' I think to myself as I finally punch the post so hard it makes a cracking sound.
"Tough day Curly Top?" I turn, red-faced, to my Dad towering over me.
"Sasuke may be in a horrible situation, but he is a giant, rude, ignorant, meanie!" I exclaimed.
My Dad sighs and pats my shoulder. "Yea, I get that vibe too. Your Mom has always been a more caring person. And unfortunately, it seems you take after me."
I scoff, "No, I like people, like my friends, my Sensei, you, and Mama. Sasuke is just begging for me to hit him, though." My Dad gets an intrigued look on his face.
"You know your Mom's coddling the boy does not seem to help him, and the Uchihas are tough, so I doubt they did a lot of coddling when he grew up." He runs a hand through his own curls in thought, a smirk on his face.
I look up and tilt my head in thought. "What are you implying, Dad?"
He smiled at me, "I'm just saying. If personal thoughts and hugs aren't helping him, perhaps you should give him what he's been asking for, but tomorrow."
I smiled, "I think you're right, Daddy."
Boy Mom is gonna kill the both of us, but I have a feeling this is gonna be worth it.
In the morning, Sasuke didn't eat again and wouldn't go to school, so I left alone again. The day went by quickly, and when it was done, I ran home. I had been scheming all day long, like the villain I am.
BANG
-went the door as I kicked it open, scaring Sasuke, who was casually sitting on the couch brooding.
"What the hell are you doing!? Never mind, just leave me alone, and no, I don't need anything." He replied snootily, and he turned away from me instantly.
I genuinely smiled at him and replied, "Who said I was offering anything? Get off your butt, you moocher! If you're gonna not eat and will sit there all day being rude, then I'll give you a reason to cry!"
He looked shocked for a Moment. "You do realize my family's dead? I have a reason to mope." He spits at me, pissed.
"Sure," I said calmly, "You have all the right in the world to mope and cry and grieve. You do not have the right to be rude to my family and be hostile all the time, though! If my parents don't say anything, then I will, with my fist! So get off your butt! We are going to the training field to spar!" I ran to him and grabbed his wrist, yanking him off the couch.
He froze and then smiled, "Fine, I'll teach you a lesson, and then my brother!" He followed my lead.
I quirked my eyebrow at his comment but ignored it. We began a fast walk to the training ground where I talked to Dad yesterday. When we got there, we stood about 4 yards away and got into fighting positions.
"A one on one battle? Weapons and jutsu are allowed, just no killing each other?" I offered.
He nodded, a shining excitement in his eyes.
I pulled out a kunai. "When the kunai hits the ground, we start." I took a deep breath and hurled the kunai straight into the air. I bent my knees and got my adrenaline racing. Sasuke copied but had his hands close together for signs.
The kunai started coming down.
I slowed my breath and narrowed my eyes.
It sinks into the ground.
Sasuke's hands move at an incredible speed, but I quickly deciphered the jutsu, so I brought out throwing stars and launched them at him. He moves to the side and completes the jutsu.
"Fire Ball Jutsu!" A giant flame erupts from his mouth.
'This would be a great time to be able to use jutsu,' I thought angrily as I action rolled to the side, although I could smell burned hair. I ignored it, pulling a kunai out and aiming for his abdomen, catching him off guard.
He stumbles and ducks, but falls on his butt, and before he could pull himself up, I sped up and tackled him. He was lying flat on the ground stunned, and I sat on his torso. I landed a hefty firm punch to his jaw, and he grabbed my arm and bucked his legs flipping me over him and landing with a dull, painful thud.
He flipped onto me and started to pull a kunai on me, but when he leaned forward to pull it from his holder, I slammed my forehead into his making him slide off me, holding his head.
I leapt onto him, pinning him with one of my knees on his chest, the other pinning his left arm. I grabbed his hand with the kunai and painfully twisted it, so the blade was resting on his own jugular.
He froze, and we made eye contact, purple against black.
"I could slit your throat, I win," I stated. His eyes widened, and his nostrils flared in anger.
But I cut him off before he began.
"You could not get out of this without me silting your throat, I won. I hope this taught you something, like, don't disrespect my family, who selflessly took you in. And, if you want to fight someone, then back it up with strength. To get that strength, you need to eat, so this diet you've been on definitely played a part in your loss." I angrily stated, standing up.
I held out my hand which he glared at.
"Come on, let's go home," I said softly, and I gave him a reassuring smile.
His glare softened as he looked back at my face. He took my hand and scoffed. "I could have gotten out of that hold."
"Really? Oh, do tell you oh-so-sore loser." I retorted with a smile.
He opened his mouth, but his stomach grumbled, and I laughed. "What do you want for dinner? Mom and Dad will be late, so I'll make it." I asked as we continued the short walk home.
His face got red out of embarrassment and grumbled, "rice balls." I give him an incredible look.
"Just rice balls? That's not nutritious! Well, fine, I'll make that, but miso soup too!" I sang, smiling.
I love miso soup.
He rolled his eyes as we got home.
He started to ice his already bruising jaw, and I made the food. Finally, we sat down to eat.
"Itadakimasu!" we chant and dig in.
"I think this is some of my best work!" I brag. Sasuke just rolls his eyes again but doesn't stop eating. We are there for a long time considering Sasuke's starvation and I'm a bottomless pit. As it slowed, I looked up and became shocked to see Sasuke silently crying.
Into his soup.
He glanced up to see what I saw, but I quickly played it off. "Hey, I know I'm not a great chief but tears? I must have accidentally put spice into it." I rationalize for him.
He froze to glance up but didn't speak at first. I just stood up to put my bowl away when...
"I miss them."
I paused and sat back down.
"Look, you don't have to talk about it. I understand that I'll never be able to relate, so I can't give you any answers. But if you wanna talk, I'm here to listen." I said to him with a nod.
He just stared at me before beginning. "It's hard to describe, but I feel meaningless. And alone. I hate my brother with all my being, but I can't help but remember how much I loved him too. Everything hurts and is so confusing."
I stared back and nodded softly, "Thank you for telling me. Don't worry I'm gonna be here to listen for as long as you wanna talk. No matter the day."
He sighed and muttered a small thank you.
He glanced back up but let out a snicker.
I tilt my head, "What's so funny?"
He had a huge smile as he started to laugh and laugh.
"What? I don't understand, what's so funny?" I demand.
The door then opened. "We're home! Takara, Sasuke!" Mom and Dad both walk into the dining room and freeze.
"Sasuke, where did that giant bruise come from!" Mom exclaimed, horrified. Dropping her bag to examine it and then- "TAKARA! YOUR HAIR!" Mom screeches.
My Dad leans back and laughs like an insane man.
I run to the mirror in the hallway and in a shocked gasp, I stare at my hair.
Originally my hair was long, to the middle of my back, and it was wavy since it was so weighed down. However, that fireball jutsu did not just singe my hair a little, nope, the right side of it was burned to about an inch past my shoulder. Half my hair was in bouncy ringlets since the weight was gone.
I have no idea how I didn't notice. I must have been too focused on trying to help Sasuke.
I slowly walked back to the kitchen and sat back down with everyone watching.
"I shall kill you in your sleep Sasuke Uchiha," I said with hate in every word, but he just continued to laugh and laugh like he's never laughed before.
Itadakimasu means let's eat in Japanese
I hope you enjoyed it, ya you, you specifically out of all the people reading... you know who you are.
Anyway comment if you can, though I won't hate ya if you don't, and all types of comments are enjoyed.
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Thank you and have a nice day,
~ToL
P.s
This chapter is updated! Wooooooo! Slowly making my way through