I got to see the main cast.

Well, some of them. I saw Ino and Sakura there, playing in the sand pit, but no one else. It honestly startled me to see any of them at all. Outside of the Hokage Monument, I had never seen any surreal things from the anime.

To see two of the characters living and breathing was trippy. I didn't approach them for numerous confusing reasons that I didn't even understand. I just played by myself on the swings and under the shade of a tree.

Don't get me wrong. I'm an adult in mind, but playing like a child made me feel so carefree. It took a lot of stress out of my small body.

It was a couple hours later though that I got my biggest surprise yet. I thought about Naruto before leaving my home. Speak of the devil and he shall arrive.

Perhaps he already lived alone, but Naruto was at Ichiraku, which is where my mom took me to eat. Something about her old friend loving the place.

I sat at the stool with my mother, waiting for the ramen to arrive (I ordered tonkatsu, which is the best). It wasn't long before it did. But the moment my bowl touched the counter, an exuberant voice called from the outside of the small establishment.

"Hey old man, one miso please!"

An equally jolly voice countered a moment later. "Ah, my favorite little customer! How are you on this fine day, Naruto?"

I saw the tall man behind the counter, Teuchi, begin plating the miso ramen with his most fresh ingredients. Naruto sat in a stool in the corner after giving me a sideways glance, and turned back to Teuchi.

"I'm a'right, jiji gave me more allowance so I can get more ramen. He's coming with tomorrow too!"

Teuchi brought the bowl to Naruto, setting it down with a clink. "Well it'll be a pleasure to serve you tomorrow then," he gave a kind smile, "now eat up. I can hear your stomach begging."

An uncharacteristically loud grumble came from the small blondes stomach. It was practically inhuman.

My mother didn't acknowledge the boy, but that didn't surprise me. She could be acting stoic, or perhaps she was prejudiced as well. The only way to tell would be to see her interact with him, or to talk to me about interacting with him later.

I was most of the way through my ramen as I noticed Naruto start on his second bowl. He got here after us, yet managed to eat his ramen like a greedy parasite.

I quickly finished, not desiring to stay any longer than I had to. Okaasan kept her stoic facade the entirety of the meal, keeping any conversation from occuring. The atmosphere was efficiently awkward.

Naruto didn't seem to notice. Whether it was from a lack of social understanding, or his love for the ramen in front of him, it's anyone's guess. He seemed preoccupied.

There was always the chance that okaasan was testing me, to see if I'd interact with him in an attempt to ease the tension. Whether it was to scold me for doing so, or to be proud that I socialized with him, I didn't care to find out.

I was perfectly happy with being more of an outcast. My perfect Uchiha genes would make it hard enough to avoid attention in school, I didn't need to start socializing too soon to the main cast.

Since it's difficult to see myself as who I am, I can look at myself very objectively. If I were the old me, I'd consider the current me to be the most adorable child to have crossed the face of this earth. God damnit, it's weird to see a kawaii girly face in the mirror. Very weird.

I shook my head of my thoughts as I placed my chopsticks on the bowl. My mother had finished moments prior, and had left a tip on the counter for the old ramen chef.

"It was very good Ji-san, arigato." I bowed slightly to the man. He stopped washing the bowl he was scrubbing at to thank me for coming, my mother quirking her lips at me in pride. Having pride over a disciplined and well mannered child was more normal than being proud of your luck in elemental affinities I supposed.

"Come on Akemi-chan, your otousan will be home soon, we should greet him."

I nodded and fell into step beside her as we departed the small ramen stand. I glanced over my shoulder to see Naruto loosen his shoulders. He was tense throughout that entire meal it seemed. Poor kid.

The walk home was uneventful, as expected. Though as ninja that kind of thought is probably dangerous. To expect the unexpected is what I should be practicing. Regardless, the likelihood of an occurrence happening before the massacre is very minimal.

We were just getting to our house when we noticed otousan standing in the doorway. "There you two are."

Okaasan rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "Ah, sorry, I figured I'd reward Akemi-chan tonight. She has a strong affinity!"

The Nara quirked an eyebrow, stopping his scolding before it could begin. "What is it?"

"I'll tell you inside, and about the rest of the day," she said, grabbing my hand. We meandered into the house, dad in tow. The next two years of peace would be nice.

oOoOo

Birthdays were special around my house. My okaasan hadn't celebrated her birthday much as a kid, and shoved her desire for them on me. That's why every year she makes a giant extravagant cake.

Otousan takes a more quiet approach to celebrate, slipping me a gift with small smiles. He can't fool me though, the amount of love in that small gesture is just as much as okaasan's if not more so.

Turning seven doesn't seem like a huge milestone, and by no means is it all that special. Regardless, I was allowed to leave the house for the third time ever since that time I was five.

We didn't do much since my heart wasn't in it. We had gone home a couple of hours after we left. The best part of it was that otousan finally came with us. I got to ride on his shoulders. I hate to admit it but I loved that.

But I still couldn't put my heart into it. My nerves were clashing with my everyday self, and I felt like I was going insane. It didn't hit me how hard this would be until it came to pass.

I had learned so much. My okaasan even taught me the fireball jutsu as a right of passage last year for my birthday. I got it in two days, to her extreme pleasure. I got way better at taijutsu too, and my otousan gifted me a sword. It was a short, anbu-style blade. He said I could start using it once I entered the Academy, but only outside of it since the school didn't teach any kenjutsu.

My reserves and chakra control increased by a significant amount for my age as well. Would it be for nothing? I might die soon. My parents were probably going to die. There was nothing I could do to help them, I didn't have the power.

I didn't tell them, but I snuck out once. I wanted to see Itachi before his massacre. I wanted one glimpse.

"Why are you following me?" A monotone voice rang out from ahead.

I cursed to myself, but didn't otherwise feel surprised. He was a prodigy, and feeling an uncovered signature wasn't a difficult task. Hell, I could feel signatures near me to a small extent, though not to the scale that Itachi or other veterans are capable.

To think he's only thirteen and barely in the Anbu. It's scary to think someone of his calibre exists. What am I compared to him? How strong was he at my age? Am I following in his footsteps? Was he stronger than me or near my equal at my current age?

"I grew curious, nothing more."

He never turned around. He didn't feel the need to. "I see." He kept walking.

I didn't follow him beyond that. I saw what I needed. Just the way he walked revealed how talented and strong he was. I couldn't hold a candle to the teen. He was out of my league.

I turned to go home.

Yea, it had gone better than planned. My worst case scenario would be him never even showing himself since he'd know full well I was there. Any Anbu-level shinobi is capable of feeling for signatures as naturally as breathing. There was no way he didn't let me do it. He probably didn't care.

I knew one thing for sure though, and that's Itachi is too strong, especially for his age. He is capable of killing my parents and I couldn't stop it. I'm not even stronger than my parents let alone capable of stopping someone that can take both of them on.

I came to the conclusion that I could only wait and bide my time. I'd try my hardest to save them. If I couldn't I would cry, beat myself up, hate myself, and get over it. I didn't want to die again, the thought scared me. I couldn't allow myself to wallow and get weak or this world would destroy me.

I couldn't be like Sasuke, especially since I know Itachi's reasoning for doing what he did. But it didn't mean I'd have to like it. I loved my parents, that much was true. Losing them would tear me apart but I couldn't let it keep me down forever.

That's what I've decided. I will survive.

oOoOo

I woke up to light streaming in through the window. My blinds were cracked just enough so the light shined in my eyes. It was a rather annoying way to awaken.

I slowly pushed the blanket off of me, feeling the soreness from the intense training the previous day. Okaasan had been a slave driver, even running me through some kenjutsu kata in secret. Otousan could never find out, else we'd be lazily reprimanded.

I began to dress, going with casual clothes for my day off training. A red, fluffy turtleneck, since red is my favorite color, and black capris. Shinobi sandals were some of my only shoes, as I didn't see the point of buying new shoes when I grew so often. I would buy some more permanent ones when I was twelve or thirteen.

I slipped out of room and made my way to the kitchen. I massaged chakra through my eyes repeatedly. It was surreal to witness your own eyesight sharpen and memorize what you see.

No one knew that I unlocked the Sharingan. I got it fairly recently, nearly two months prior. That would make me the earliest obtainer of the Sharingan, even faster than Itachi. If anyone knew, I'd be broadcasted to the whole village.

It would be smarter to lay low with the information, so I never told my parents. Knowing them, they'd brag about it and eventually every Uchiha would know, even our shitty clanhead. Hiding it would be one important aspect to my survival of the massacre.

It was due any day now. It was three months since my birthday, so Sasuke is six months into being seven. That would mean it could happen anywhere between now and six months. That's a relatively short time frame.

That's why I hatched a plan. On the day of, the moment anything felt off, I'd run away and leave a note. I had heard my mother talking with my father about a friend that had their kid do this.

My okaasan was adamant about explaining she'd search the ends of the earth to find me if I did that, to scold me and bring me home. If I did so, I could guarantee she'd be out of the house to find me the moment she read it. Knowing her she'd drag otousan along as well.

I could save them both with the contingency plan. My excuse for running would be bullshit, since I'm happy with my life as it is, but I didn't want to lose my parents. I couldn't think of anything else.

Every other plan was flawed. I needed to play on their emotions to keep them away from the massacre. The chances of catching wind of it happening before we died would be decent since we're at the edge of the compound.

The problem lied in that Itachi was an Anbu. He was quiet, secretive, and powerful. Knowing about it before it actually happens is virtually impossible and the numerical likelihood of figuring it out as it's happening is astronomically low. Especially with his speed. My parents would need time to find the note and then begin finding me. Still a decent chance considering many shinobi related chances are near zero.

Like facing a kage at my level would be a zero percent chance of living, at least there's a remote chance of knowing the massacre is occuring. 0.1% is better than 0.0%.

Okaasan smiled at me as I walked into the kitchen. She set out a plate of pancakes, easily the best breakfast I could ask for.

"What's the occasion?"

My mother looked at me with a solemn expression that caught me off guard. She took a seat at the table, across from my favorite spot.

I took my seat, giving her a calculated gaze. Her shoulders were tense, her eyes were worried, and her jaw had a minute twitch. I thanked my otousan for the lessons on body language.

She was definitely stressed and worried. Was she knowledgeable of the coup, and worried about what it would do? Was it about school in a year?

"You've been growing up so fast."

I tilted my head slightly to the side. I tried reading her more intently, but she began her stoicism again, though toned down. She wasn't purely stoic, just hiding her stress and anxiety.

"What's wrong?"

Okaasan sank at my words. "You're far too bright, I can't hide anything from you. Your fathers brains indeed."

If I wasn't conscious for my own birth I would not have gotten the reference, though I didn't let it show. I just set a measured look on my mother, waiting for a response.

"I just have a feeling," she answered honestly.

"A feeling?"

"Hai, a feeling that those might be the last pancakes I ever give you."

I gripped the table before I sprang out of my seat. It seemed to have caught my mother off guard as her eyes widened marginally. "What do you mean?" I asked through gritted teeth.

She waved her hand at me with the same embarrassed air about her as usual. "A-Ah, it's nothing. Just a feeling, nothing more."

I could feel tears prick at my eyes. That caught my okaasan even more off guard. I suppose I had never cried before, even as a baby. Perhaps that worried them at one point in time?

"You'll be fine, right? There's nothing that can take you down. What even would?"

The solemn smile returned to my mothers face in full force. "Mm, there's nothing to worry about, I promise. I shouldn't have said that, I just forget you're a child sometimes," she laughed.

I didn't find it funny. She lied about her promise, and that hurt. There was too much to worry about.

I didn't respond, opting to eat my pancakes. Regardless of how much that put me off, they were good.

It almost made me forget about the incident moments ago. To think that the people in this world could say that to children and not be mortified, it's amazing. Though I'm not even childish the vast majority of the time.

I quickly finished my pancakes and bid my mother good day as I went to my room. I would do some chakra control exercises and read. Days off were relaxing, but it felt hard to relax on that day.

oOoOo

I woke up slowly, the book in my lap slipping off of me and onto the futon. I had fallen asleep midway through a chapter.

I went to pick up the book, intending to continue to read through the rest of the chapter before I went to sleep. I picked up the book and immediately dropped it.

A slight sting from the paper cut woke me up rather quickly. I felt alert. Besides sucking on my bleeding finger to quell the bleeding, I took a glance around my dark bedroom.

Something felt off. Chills went down my spine at the eery quiet. It was around this time, maybe ten o'clock by the look of the outside and when I had taken my nap, that people would be going to bed.

Regardless, one look out my window and it was apparent that every light was out in the neighboring homes. Not one light was on, the street lamps casting an eery glow.

It felt wrong, and my heart began to pick up pace. Only one event could cause this kind of feeling. My heart beat even faster as I took off, bursting through my door.

I rounded the corner into the hall. I sprinted into the kitchen, nearly crashing into the wall from my speed and lack of all reason.

I whipped out the note I had on my person at all times, intending to leave it on the table. My parents would see it and my plan would initiate. I couldn't let them die. The very thought of it had tears in my eyes.

I thought after the death of my original parents in my original world, that I wouldn't take it like this. The sheer panic had my blood rushing through my body at an incredible pace. Adrenaline coursed through me as I slammed the note on the table.

Hopefully the sound would awaken my mother, whom was most likely in her room. My father would either already be home, and with okaasan, or on his way back.

I had to check. The feeling wouldn't go away. My heart felt like it was beating beyond human limits.

I quickly ran to the master bedroom of our small home. I could smell it. It was so distinct. Fear gripped me more than it ever had before.

I almost wanted to give up before it even began. I could feel myself reaching for the sliding door. I willed myself to stop but I continued. It was the opposite of the reaction I would have guessed I'd have.

You always hear about people freezing up in crisis and wanting to move forward. That wasn't me I suppose. I kept moving even when I didn't want to.

I gripped the door and it began to slide open. The first thing I saw was the beige floors. The next was red. So much red. Too much red.

When the door was fully opened, I spied the swirl leaving the room. The swirl that I recognized far easier than I thought I would. If my parents fought Itachi, I figured they might be able to cut him even if they didn't win.

I couldn't have that kind of pride I guess. My parents never had a chance after all. They fought Obito. It wasn't even fair. How unfair could life be? I didn't account for Obito helping with the general populace. I thought he'd only kill the police department. I thought I'd have more time.

The swirl left, leaving the two bloodied bodies leaning against the wall. Kunai were strewn around the room, and even burn marks from some fire jutsu littered the walls and ceiling.

I could see ninja wire attached to some of the kunai, and there was a broken ninjato at my mother's feet. It was surreal.

They were side to side. My otousan had a serene look on his face. Acceptance of what was inevitable. He was always like that. Okaasan was similar, but with an underlying defiance on her visage. She was like that too.

I stood there for a moment, taking in the scene. The fact that Obito didn't know I was here was either a testament to their ability as ninja to lie and deceive, or perhaps it was poor intel. Perhaps they had a method of throwing off any sensing he could have done to check for me?

Either way it didn't change things. I lived while my parents didn't. I let myself get my hopes up when I should have known otherwise. It was the way of the world for nothing to ever go your way. And if it did, the world was merely tricking you into a false sense of hope.

I hoped beyond all hope. I couldn't even begin my plan. It was my only chance, but I was too late. I managed to sleep through a fight between an S ranked nin and two jounin. It would be later that I would assume the obvious in that one of my parents used a genjutsu on me in preparation for their raging instincts. If the day felt off for me, they must have felt it too and prepped for it.

My mother had a good intuition, and for her not to act on it would be peculiar. She was accurate that morning, and she knew it. She probably did the casting.

I didn't really know what to do now? I felt something drop off my face and I tentatively touched my cheek. I pulled my hand away and stared at the tears on my fingers.

Ah, I was crying. Of course I was crying, what else could I do?

I always thought of Obito as redeemable, but now I just felt searing anger and sadness. I wanted to kill him. I'd never wanted to murder someone so much before. To see the light drain from his eyes.

My vision became more clear than I had ever imagined was possible. This emotion must be what Sasuke felt when he witnessed Itachi kill their parents. It might even be happening right at that moment. Maybe it already happened. If I went to the main house, would I see a sprawled out Sasuke in his parents room?

I didn't know. I didn't know what to do. I cried silently for a few moments until it felt wrong.

I took a few steps towards my parents until my feet felt warm from the puddles of blood. It pooled around them, there bodies looking oddly clean save for the blood gushing from the slices in their throats.

They looked oddly peaceful, sitting side by side in death. I couldn't look at them. I hated this.

My vision went from beyond clear to dark in the blink of an eye. It was as I was falling unconscious that it registered in my head. The audible clarity finally clicked. I hadn't been silent at all. I had been screaming since I entered the room.

oOoOo