Hey guys, thanks for following and favoriting! You have no idea how happy that makes me! As always please comment so I can grow as a writer, Thank you!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, just the Gushikans are mine.

Chapter 5: The Uchiha Arc - Part 2

In the morning I stared at my new hairdo that Mom had to emergency give me last night, with dull kitchen scissors.

My hair is hugely puffy from the weight loss and only goes down to my shoulders, making me look like a poodle.

I sighed, there is nothing more I could do about it, so I'll just have to deal with my poodle hair.

I walked down the stairs and landed in a huff at the kitchen table. Sasuke averted his eyes but eventually glanced up to see my angry stare.

He burst into laughter again.

"You laugh now, but you have a bruise the size of your ego covering your jawline." I retorted with a blush. He rolled his eyes and smirked, but it quickly faded to melancholy.

It makes sense, today's the mass memorial. Sasuke reasoned that he'd start going to school tomorrow, which my parents agreed to. It looks like our fight really did help him.

I went to school alone and was immediately tackled by Naruto and Kiba when I stepped into the classroom.

"Takara! What happened to your hair!" Naruto yelled in my ear as he ruffled my short locks.

"Ya, you look like one of my dogs!" Kiba blurted, and Akamaru barked.

"Oh, get over it you dinguses!" I yell back, pushing them off me.

"Did you get into another fight yesterday?" Shikamaru asked in a bored voice, observing our dumb friends ruffling my hair.

I sigh, "Sharp as ever. Yeah, I got into another fight, but I won this one! I got my hair burnt, but the other guy walked away with a giant bruise on his jaw." I pumped up the excitement of my story. Then I told them of my grand heroics, all the while skipping Sasuke's name.

"Woah! You're so tough, Takara!" said Naruto, his eyes shining. Shikamaru rolled his eyes as he commented that Naruto is only inflating my ego.

I smirk. "Sure am, mwahahaha!" I puffed out my chest and put my hands on my hips.

They all sweatdrop, "You're acting like a villain Takara-chan," Choji muttered, but I ignored it.

The day went by normally enough, I walked home in good time and made Sasuke some rice balls. But the night was passing by quickly, so I had to get ready. I went upstairs and got dressed for the memorial. I wore a black dress with my hair down and a black hairband.

After I was dressed, there was a knock at my door, and Sasuke entered. I invited him to sit on my bed while I sat on my desk chair.

"I'm sorry, I've been rude." He said, not meeting my eyes.

Wow, he apologized. That's actually really shocking. I felt a little touched.

"It's okay, you went through something bad." I told him, "But I really appreciate the apology."

He stared at me and covered his face.

"Sasuke, you're strong. If something happened to my family, I'd shut down. You are super brave." I told him, being completely honest.

He froze and looked up. "Them dying... Gave me a new dream. I will kill my brother to avenge them."

I froze.

He's crazy, completely loony. Undeniably bonkers. Mad.

I forced a neutral look and nodded. "I understand where you are coming from, but do you honestly believe this to be the best option?"

He gave me a disgusted and annoyed look. "Only I can kill him! It's my destiny!"

I looked at him in shock but dissolved it quickly. "Alright, I support your decision. Family takes care of its own."

He nodded and finally looked more at peace, like saying it out loud made it official.

"Go get dressed, you need to be presentable for the memorial," I commanded. He gave me another look but calmly walked out of my room.

The door closes, and I sigh, relaxing my shoulders, but immediately the door is thrown back open, and Dad looms in the doorway. "So, you guys are friends now, huh?" He grumbles.

I slowly nod.

He grunts and glances at the door across the hall.

"Dad?" I question.

He mutters under his breath before slowly closing the door. Not a minute later, I hear another door bang open somewhere.

"Mr. Gushikan? What are you doing with that sword?! Stay away! Getaway!"

"Tenchi! Get away from him and put away Yang!"

"I'll tell you this once! Hands-off or it gets cut off, you hooligan!"

"Tenchi! The katana!"

"HELP!"

I sigh, my Dad is so weird.

We left for the memorial an hour before it started so that Sasuke could pay his respects first. It was a massive ceremony with what seemed to be most of the village at the Uchiha compound.

It was a little drizzly, so we carried around large black umbrellas, and there was a constant sense of dread and crying. The respects were given, and talks were given in the Uchiha meeting house.

I felt bad for my parents and Sasuke, but mostly I felt out of place given no one I was close with died. Sitting in a crowd of mourning people makes you feel like a fraud if you're not as sad as they are.

Sasuke stood alone at the door for people to walk past and pay their respects to. Momma, Dad, and I sat in the front row, where Sasuke would sit later. The seats filled quickly, and there was the soft sound of crying and chatter around.

Finally, Sasuke came in and sat with us. One by one, people went up to tell stories about the Uchiha clan and their friends. It was all very depressing, and I gripped my hands together, trying to mourn in my own way. I have no stories to tell.

Eventually, it got silent as we waited for someone else to go up to the podium.

"Mr. Gushikan, could you say a few words? You worked so closely with many Uchihas." Some random person seemed to lean forward and ask. Mom, Dad, and I all froze at once.

Dad is reserved and an emotionless slate, so having him do a speech here is a no-no. He may be a great leader in the Anbu, squads, and army, but Dad is super uncharismatic. He gives orders and comes up with strategies, not emotional speeches.

My Dad turned to the person who asked and held a hand to stop the man, "I'm sorry, I'm afraid that's not my sort of-"

"Please," Sasuke said suddenly, making Dad twitch before quietly standing up.

"Oh no," Mom muttered, and she reached out to grasp my own sweaty hand.

Dad walked to the podium and cleared his throat. Then with his calm, robotic, and void of all sadness voice, he started:

"As a squad leader for many years, I did work with many Uchihas. They were simply good ninjas with great skill. They were all unique, and... Proud of who they were."

So far so good, he's been saying nice things, although he still is emotionless.

Dad cleared his throat, and seemed to look off into the distance, "However"

'oh no,' I thought.

"Oh no," Mom vocalized.

"Pride can be a dangerous thing that leads to other downfalls and death. In all, some of them were bad, and some were good people, but I'd be just as torn up if any of my colleagues died in such a way. This is a horrible tragedy that will never be forgotten, and Itachi will pay for his crime."

I stared at my Dad before turning to my Mom. "Mommy, did Dad just diss an almost entirely destroyed clan at their memorial in front of most of the village?"

Mom sighed as Dad sat next to her, and she put her hand on his before looking back to me, "Yes, yes, he did Takara."

Of course I know why Dad said that, it all has to do with the coup, but that is not public knowledge. Only a couple of people in the whole crowd might fully grasp Dad's words. The rest… well, the rest-

I could feel the intensely hateful stares at my family.

"Did you hear that? He practically doesn't care!"

"Did he just say they were the cause of their own death!? Irrefutably rude!"

I swung my head to Sasuke for his reaction.

He looked utterly confused like he wasn't sure what Dad just said.

The rest of the memorial was somber with a lot of tears and a final walk to the mass grave. But, the entire way, I could hear people bad mouth my Dad.

When we got home it was late, and Sasuke immediately went to bed. I watched Dad kiss Mom and leave for midnight training, which is slightly out of the ordinary.

"Mom-" I started, but she cut me off while rubbing her forehead.

"Let's just go to bed tonight, I'm not up to reading," Mom muttered, her eyes were red-rimmed from crying, it was a tough day for her. I nodded and hugged her goodnight.

She holds me a little longer than usual and then goes to sleep herself.

So I lay in bed, listening for Dad to come home.

In the morning, Dad walked Sasuke and me to school, since Mom had to leave at 2 am for a sudden criminal breakthrough.

When we were about two blocks away Sasuke stopped, and Dad and I stopped a little farther up and turned to look at him. He had slightly watery eyes and looked a little sick.

"Mr. Gushikan I-" he pauses and then looks up again, his face red and embarrassed, "I don't want people to know I live with you."

Dad's face tightens, "I understand. Takara walk at least 3 yards away from him at all times and don't speak to him. I'll leave now."

Dad gave me a look and sat his hand on my head before body flickering away. I stood frozen and looked at Sasuke, anger rising. But, he just walked past me, like I don't exist.

I raised my fist to clock him when I got kicked from behind. I fumble for a second before crashing to the ground.

"I don't know what you're doing, but I know it's stupid and will get you in trouble."

I turn and scoff. "Whatever, Shikamaru, he deserves it!"

He sighs and holds out a hand with the intention of helping me up. Instead, I grip his hand and then yank back dramatically, making him fall towards me. Then I flip him over me and onto his back. He makes an oof-ing sound as the air is pushed out of him.

"What you do that for?" He groans.

"Revenge," I breathe, looking at the sky.

"Takara-chan! Shikamaru!" Choji shouted, appearing over us. "Come on! We'll be late if you don't hurry!"

So we climb to our feet and book it to the school, crashing through the sliding door a second before it rings.

"Yes! Nailed it!" I shout, pointing at the sky with one hand and the other on my hip.

Iruka glared at us and told us to sit down, so the three of us snagged a desk at the back. I snuck a glance over to Sasuke, who was quietly looking at the notes I gave him, despite the numerous female girls now making goo-goo eyes at him. His bruise looks horrible.

I catch a glance of something being thrown at me and fling my hand up to catch it before it hits my face. I looked down at my palm to see a stick of chalk and realized everyone's staring at me.

"Takara, now that you're with us, can you please answer how the Second Hokage died?" Iruka asked, looking tired and annoyed with me.

I blink "Tobirama, the second Hokage, died in the first shinobi world war against the Kinkaku force, a group of 20 elites from Kumogakure, acting as a decoy to save his comrades."

Iruka sighed. "Just once I wish you wouldn't know the answer so I can punish you for not paying attention.

I grinned at him, "Nah, I got to keep you on your toes, Iruka!"

He grimaced, "That's sensei to you!"

"When you ask me a question I don't know, then I'll address you as sensei!" I smirk.

He groans angrily, throwing up his arms.

I slowly walked home while biting into an ice cream, Naruto, Shikamaru, Choji, and Kiba trailing behind me with their own frozen treats.

"What department do you guys want to work for?" I questioned while engrossed in my ice cream.

"The Sensory Division," Kiba answered straight away, "Like my Mom and Sis."

"I wish I had a sibling!" I exclaimed, thinking of a baby sister to dress up.

"No, you don't! My sister annoys me." Kiba groans.

"Well, that's because she loves yo-" I begin to tease before I'm cut off.

"Gushikan-chan," an unfamiliar masculine voice calls out.

I turned around to see a boy from the class above us. I'd never talked to him before, but he seemed nice. His face was flushed and his hair disheveled. He took several more steps closer. I take in his appearance and backtrack past my friends until I'm only standing a foot from the boy.

"Yes?" I asked, cocking my head. Given how red his face is and how hard he is huffing, I wonder if someone chased him. Does he need help?

"I-I need to tell you something! I know you don't know me well, but I need to tell you about my feelings…" His quivering hand clutches his shirt. My eyes followed his hand before I quickly surveyed the rest of him, and I determined he wasn't a threat. I gave him a half-hearted confused smile.

The boy took a deep breath and made intense eye contact with me, "Gushikan-chan I've fallen in-" He froze and seemed to be looking past me. His bottom lip quivered, and his eyes found mine again.

I frown softly, taking in his anxiety, "You've fallen in?" I questioned.

The boy looked distressed as he took a step back and shook his head, "Uh-uh, never mind!" He muttered before running away.

I turned to look at my friends who had annoyed looks on their faces. "What just happened?"

"Don't know, maybe he decided to live," Naruto muttered.

"What?" I question, confused by the cold atmosphere.

Naruto smiled, "Ah, it's nothing, as for the siblings' things, I've never needed a sibling since I have you!"

I laugh, "You sure do!"

Shikamaru groaned loudly, catching us all off guard, "Oh my Kami, you both are so clueless! If it weren't entertaining, it would be too frustrating."

"Hah?" I said tilting my head, but Choji tried to move the conversation along.

"Hey Takara-chan, didn't you say you hit the guy, who burnt your hair, in the face?" Choji questioned.

"Sure did! Left a bruise too! Oh, and Choji, we have known each other for more than a year now! No need for the suffix, I consider all of you my closest friends, don't you Choji?" I exclaimed.

He grinned and looked away, embarrassed, "Yes, of course, I do! Takara-cha- Takara!"

I smiled happily; I was finally losing that suffix with him. Choji can be way too polite.

"What were you talking about the dude who burnt Takara for, Choji?" Kiba reminded him.

Choji's eyes lit up in remembrance and continued, "Sasuke came to class today with a giant bruise on his jaw, and he knows some fire jutsu, was he the one you fought?"

I freeze and quickly decide to tell the truth, I can't lie to them if I wanted to. "Yup sure was," I said, turning around to look at them.

They each looked surprised, Naruto less since he knew Sasuke lived with me.

"Why were you fighting? Didn't his… whole family just die?" Shikamaru questioned, looking very interested.

"He had been rude to my parents as of late, so I decided to teach him a lesson!" I pouted in anger. They looked like they wanted to object to my actions, but then Naruto was Naruto.

"Woah! Takara, you're so cool! You managed to avoid Sasuke's fire and beat him up? You gotta teach me how to punch like that!" He exclaimed. The other took a moment before giving in and smiling too.

"You have to give us all the details this time! Did he cry like a baby?" Kiba laughed. Shikamaru and Choji both just smiled and gave me a thumbs up. I felt my shoulders relax, and I laughed.

"Okay, this is how it went! We were standing in the training field, you know the one, and then…"

I walked through the front door alone and quickly realized Dad must be home early due to the dirty bandages left on the kitchen table. I flinched in disgust and walked upstairs to his and mom's room, putting my ear to the door. I heard the sound of paper moving, so I knocked.

"Come in," my Dad gruffly yelled.

I opened the door and walked next to his desk, where he sat, doing paperwork. "How was your day?" He offhandedly asked while his hand flew across the page, making neat marks.

"Dad, some ladies today... they said bad things about the Gushikans at the ice cream place," I muttered, looking at the floor.

He paused for a moment before continuing. "Oh? Like what?"

"Well," I started, "they said we are like rocks, stone in the face and heart. That we didn't care if others died as long as we thrived." My mouth involuntarily turned into a large frown.

He stopped to turn to face me. "And what did you do? When you heard them, that is." His eyes were analyzing me, and I couldn't gauge his feelings. Not that I could ever do that, Moms the only one who knows what he is thinking.

I looked up at his eyes, and then away ashamed. "I… I," my eyes became blank as I desperately held back any misting of tears. "I walked away." I breathed.

"What did you want to do?" Dad asked, gently pulling me onto his lap.

"I wanted to tell them that they were wrong and that we have been hurting too! Especially you, Dad! I wanted to sock 'em and run away!" I cried out, burying my face in my Dad's chest.

He was stiff but relaxed into a hug and put a hand on my head. "You noticed, huh? I'm sorry to worry you curly top."

Dad stopped eating as much and was almost always training. That is the way of the Gushikan.

"We don't use our emotions. Instead, we train our bodies so that no one ever has to be hurt again. So that we are strong enough to protect them all." I recited our clans saying. Dad nodded and turned to grab a book out from under his papers. He opened it to page one, rubbing the thick paper.

"I've never shown you this before because it's so sad, but you're ready." He said quietly.

The first page was a picture of a man who looked exactly like Dad, but his skin tone was darker, and he had darker eyes. He was with a woman with blonde wavy hair, sparkly hazel eyes, and tawny skin. They were both wearing black Anbu outfits and had swords strapped to them. Small smiles graced their faces, and they were young, maybe mid-twenties.

"These are my parents, Koyuki and Tekeshi Gushikan. As you know, they both died by the Gushikan Code in the second great ninja war." My Dad said, his voice was neutral as he stared at the photo.

I nodded engrossed in the picture.

"This book is a compilation of everyone I've lost in my life. The people who I was close to and how their deaths changed me." Dad said softly, "But it is also those who I wish to protect."

He turned the page to a picture of an older man with the signature curly hair and a stern look. "My grandfather died by the Gushikan Code," Dad said before continuing to flip the pages, eventually reaching Kota.

He had some outrageously blue hair that stuck up and a massive smile on his face. His silver eyes shined with happiness. He was sitting on a bench with a younger version of my Mom and Dad. In fact, Mom's stomach was a little swollen.

Dad paused to stare at his picture before smiling and laughing.

"Now Kota is no sad story. We had been rivals from the first interaction we had. He was strong, but I was stronger, I was smart, but he was smarter. We'd fight all day if we could." His laugh boomed before diminishing. "I guess in the end, I beat him in the most important battles. Who became an Anbu first. Who won your mother's heart. Who lived." He was silent before squeezing me like a doll.

"I have a lot of regrets, the biggest one being that he never met you," Dad whispered.

"How did he die?" I asked and then realized how horrible it was for me to ask such a thing.

Dad shook it off and then started. "It was the day the nine tails attacked. He died protecting some citizens." He answered simply.

"Oh," I mumble.

Dad flipped the pages a bit more before reaching page after page of Uchiha. "They are all here in this book. I didn't know all of them, but they all deserve justice." Dad said sternly. "I won't rest until they do." His tone was fierce. "Coup or not, genocide is never the answer. Obviously."

He flipped the page. It was mom, sitting in a poofy chair reading with her hair in a bun and looking extremely happy.

"The second half of the book is the people I hold dear and will protect until I'm in a grave."

Flip.

There's me, a year ago, with all my friends. We were standing on a fallen tree trying to balance. Shikamaru and I were having no trouble, but Kiba was on all fours to avoid falling off, Choji was holding onto Shikamaru's shoulders, and Naruto was mid-falling off in the picture.

I smiled.

"For clarification sake, that picture stands for you and your friends," Dad said.

He flipped through his squad, friends, and then there was a picture of the Konoha gate.

"I will protect everyone if I can, everyone in this village. I must remember the dead so that I can protect the living."

I look up to him and smile. He smiled back before gently pushing me off his lap.

"As you can see, us Gushikans are deep, we just don't act like it." He concluded. "Go, do your homework." He then commanded.

I walked out of the room to find Sasuke sitting by the door, but I just walked past him before stopping at the stairs.

"You know, there was a picture of you in his book, too," I stated curtly before running down the stairs.

A few weeks later, Sasuke announced at dinner that he was moving out. Mom was distressed and refused, saying he needed more time. But Dad agreed with Sasuke, so Mom eventually complied.

A few days later, he left, and for some reason, the house seemed quiet and boring. So there I was sitting at home, alone in the kitchen, just generally angry that nothing was going on.

Naruto had a meeting with the Hokage, and the rest of my supposed friends were busy too! I couldn't train either because it was raining cats and dogs.

I pouted

Then I stood and angrily made rice balls. When they were finished I put them in a plastic basket and sealed it up carefully. Then I put on a plastic cloak and got an umbrella, venturing into the storm.

I walked for quite a while before I started to rap on his door.

Sasuke opened it and looked shocked to see me but then turned pissed when I pushed past him into his house.

"Yikes, it's cold and wet out there!" I yell, setting the basket down and immediately opening it.

"What the hell are you-" He began to shout, but I stuffed a rice ball into his mouth. And then I ate one myself.

"I was bored, and Naruto's busy! Be happy, I'm here! Come on, let's play a game! You must be bored too!" I cheered.

He groaned at me but ate anyway.

I was in a patient's outfit, and my parents were on either of my sides, eagerly waiting for the report on my current status. My mom wrapped her arm around my waist, and my Dad's hand rested on my shoulder, squeezing it tight. I could feel the sweat forming on my forehead.

I'm nervous

The doctor flung open the door with his clipboard clutched tightly in his hands. He looked tense as he stared down his clipboard like he was rereading it over and over.

And then he started to speak.

Author's Note:

Oh don't mind me, just trying my hand at a cliffhanger. Anyway, thank you for reading!

Thank you and have a nice day,

~ToL

:)

Ah, this one is finally updated! I am so sorry for those who read it before it was updated lol. I warn all who read the original chapters :P