I wish I did not have to sugarcoat my sadness but if you swallowed it raw, naked, and uncouth, it would curdle your insides and shrivel up your tongue.
And I cannot do that to you.
Not yet.
...
"You can't be serious."
Somewhere next to them, Naruto is desperately trying to stifle his laughter at Akari's deadpan. His laugh – light and wavering in octaves, a reminder that they are all growing up – is infectious and Akari feels her lips quirking up at the bright sound. Sasuke from his spot glowers slightly as he tends to do whenever Shikamaru's name comes up since their engagement.
Hers.
The moment, though a confrontation – but not truly one per se for no one is yelling, nothing is broken out of anger, – is fragile, full of warmth and affection.
Akari wishes she could pause time and capture what her team has.
Warmth swells in her chest.
They are her boys.
Hers before the world's.
Because unlike it, they haven't turned against her yet.
Team Seven is a team untouched by the scorn others had worn like a school uniform, loving when so many had hated and loathed her.
And Sasuke's perfect tool to improve.
Kakashi-sensei presses a gloved hand to the chest. "Mah, Akari-chan, I don't know what you mean," he drawls with an eye crinkle, batting his pretty silver eyelashes innocently. His wide-eyed, innocent demeanor, however, falls short next to his smug expression.
Akari's jaw twitches at his amused, smug voice.
She knows her sensei well.
Has gotten close to him as planned, drew him in, and fooled him to care for them.
And though Kakashi-sensei is capable of many horrible, unspeakable things in the name of the Leaf (Akari too is capable of horrifying things in the name of love), he does possess trolling tendencies that make Team Seven want to tear their hair out.
Cue his lateness and porn addiction.
But it's fine, they still love him for it.
How could they not?
Kakashi-sensei acknowledges and cares for Naruto, Konoha's pariah.
He nurtures and cares for Uchiha Sasuke and not the newly cemented Clan Head.
He dotes on and cares for Uchiha Akari (his chakra didn't flinch away from hers even as it grazed it).
Now, if only he kept Shikamaru out of his little trolling games.
It would spare all of them some grief and Akari, some complaining.
Alas, who is she to stop her sensei from enjoying simple pleasures when he always looks a foot inside the grave with the weight of the world on his shoulders?
"So, you didn't decide to dump your pack on Shikamaru out of nowhere and told him to impress you and give them a bath?" she asks, tilting her head.
Kakashi-sensei's pack is sweet and normally well-behaved, that is till bath time. Then, all bets are off.
Team Seven has learned that lesson the wrong way under the delighted eyes of their trolling sensei.
Naruto has lost at least two jumpsuits to the dogs' vehement protests. And Akari didn't notice that her twin brother knows so many curses, he spit them out so spitefully it would have made a sailor blush.
So yes, Kakashi-sensei's pack adores Team Seven – no, Akari did not bribe them with dog sweets, not at all – but even then, caring for them is sometimes a riot.
Poor Shikamaru.
"You're making me sound awful when you put it like that. How can my favorite genin do that?" the older man fake cries.
"No, sensei. It just makes you sound lazy and petty." Sasuke interjects, leaning on a tree and sharpening his kunai. He throws a glance at Akari who smiles cheekily back at him, then to Naruto. "And I thought Naruto was your favorite genin."
As if on cue, Naruto pipes in, a pout on his lips. "Yeah sensei! Whadya betray me like that?"
Kakashi-sensei waves off the blonde's comment. "Don't worry Naruto, you can still be my favorite genin if you buy me the newest Icha Icha Paradise book."
Naruto grimaces at the older man's suggestion. "I'm broke, sensei. Ask the teme, he's the one rolling in money."
Before, Naruto had never been so confident in teasing her brother, had never been so open with Sasuke, preferring taunting him and challenging him. A one-sided rivalry to up him. But now, the two are friendlier, more prone to help each other than tearing each other down.
It is great that Sasuke will never know of a friend's betrayal. Naruto has no one else than them; thus, the blonde will always put her twin brother first.
Something in Akari twinges.
Stella had never been as lucky.
Vivian had always said so.
"As if I would want to waste it on such filth." Sasuke retorts, stealing a small giggle from Akari and a sad frown from Kakashi-sensei.
"Is that so?" the Hatake's dark eye glints. That is never a good sign. "Well, my cute little genins," Kashi-sensei sounds positively gleeful, "why don't you guys go running around Konoha? Eight rounds"
Are you kidding her?
"Eight?" Akari repeats.
"Eight," Kakashi-sensei confirms, eyes crinkling in face of his team's growing horror. "And the last one done has to pay for my book. And go run with Gai every morning for a month."
With Gai-sensei?
Running every morning?
There are few things Akari truly loathes as training.
That includes fitness training with Gai-sensei for that man knows no limit and physical limits.
Plus, Akari hates running. She has always hated it – be it as Stella or even as Akari. There is no way she will do that. She sends a disgruntled glance to her twin, who purses his lips in irritation.
"Naruto," Sasuke says with a scolding scowl.
"It's not my fault!" the blonde immediately protests. "You're the one who called his books filth!"
"You're the one who didn't want to pay!"
Akari gives them a small slap on the back, her fingers clutching at paper. "And you guys are the ones who are going to lose," she says, smiling cheekily before jogging away.
A bright laughter bubbles from her lips when her teammates' legs lock themselves together, frozen, stealing startled exclamations as the two boys fall to the ground. How easy it would be to place an exploding seal on them.
And just –
Blow them up.
But they are Sasuke and Naruto, two people the Uchiha heiress would never dare turn her weapons on them. Not when they are hers.
Besides, Akari – smart but not the smartest, strong but not the strongest, an inventor but not a genius – cannot write a proper exploding seal, not like what she used against the monster.
Another failure.
Thank God Kashi-sensei wants her to be a medic and not a seal master.
But even as a medic, Akari is unable to be the best.
After all, as gossip so kindly remind her after her shifts in the hospital, her Uchiha blood is perhaps not suited for a Senju speciality.
Patheti-
"AKARI!" Sasuke and Naruto yell in perfect unison.
The sun and the moon glare, and the star twinkles in delight.
"Don't worry!" she calls out with a laugh. "The seals will wear off in ten minutes!"
Though apparently, her words don't seem to relieve them as their protests grow louder.
"AKARI, COME BACK HERE."
"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT TEME!"
"MINE?!"
"SHE'S YOUR TWIN!"
"SHE'S YOUR TEAMMATE!"
"AKA-CHAN!"
…
Sasuke sneers, opening his wallet under Kakashi-sensei's delighted eye and Naruto's snickers. "It shouldn't count," her twin grunts as he shoves a wad of cash in their teacher's hands in front of the bookstore. "We tied."
"No way!" Naruto protests. Though his voice is still loud, it isn't as loud as usual, the blond almost wilting under the civilians' stares. Though Akari has intervened on his behalf and most of Konoha has backed off their vicious discrimination towards her sunshine, some are too stubborn or too hateful to truly stop.
You cannot force someone to accept something they hate so much and there are few things that people in this village hate more than Naruto.
The next option would be to slaughter some of them, to set an example yet Akari's persona wouldn't allow it.
But if it had been Sasuke in Naruto's place, God, Akariwouldhave butchered them all.
One by one.
They wouldn't have died easily nor painlessly.
After all, sacrifices must be made in the name of the Greater Good. But Akari will never allow Sasuke – the other half of her soul – to be one.
If she can do one thing right, let it be her protecting Sasuke.
"Dobe, you were barely half a second before me."
"That means I win."
"It means we tied!" her brother practically snarls.
(That is not true, Sasuke keeps his perfectly handsome face neutral, but the occasional twitch from his eye betrays him. Or maybe Akari simply knows him that well, she can read his snarl from his stance.)
"Well, sensei doesn't agree with you!"
"Mellow down boys," Akari pipes in with a kind laugh. "You guys shouldn't be that proud to tie for last place, you know."
Sasuke gives her a small scoff, eyes playful. "We wouldn't have tied for last place if someone didn't place a paralyzing seal on us."
Akari sticks out her tongue at her twin's slight teasing. "Well, that someone won't need to wake up at dawn to go run with Gai-sensei, now, will she? And it's called strategizing, I'm sure you've heard of it."
"Strate- strategizing? What's that? I haven't heard of it." Naruto chimes from their side, a finger scratching his scalp with a shy smile.
Sometimes, Akari wonders how on earth could Naruto – clueless, naïve little Naruto – be the hero protagonist of a best-selling manga. Hell, how on earth could he have survived this cruel, merciless world?
But then, they work on battle formations.
And the blond surprises her once more. Though clueless and uneducated, Naruto's battle instincts are a sight to behold, much to Sasuke's satisfaction of not having the blonde burden them.
"Dobe," Sasuke tells Naruto, earning a growled 'teme' back at him. The Uchiha heir then smirks. "I'm not even surprised you don't know what it means."
"Because the perfect little Sasuke knows?"
"Of course, I'm not incompetent like –"
Akari doesn't mind her teammates' small fights – mere quips and punches thrown at each other – but when words turn almost mean, when sparring becomes a beating down, she puts her foot down.
So many times, people had destroyed Stella, piece by piece, in the name of 'friendly' banter.
The world is against them already as it is. Already so eager to hurt them.
"Guys." Akari's voice cuts in between their bickering, chastising.
"Sorry," the two teammates automatically say, dropping their argument in favor of judging their sensei who came back to them, a new porn novel in hand, practically glowing.
"Happy, Kashi-sensei?" Akari asks, her cheeks warm and her chest filled with contentment as the older man nods, a hand patting her head.
Sasuke, hands in his pockets, shifts slightly, and Akari, recognizing his silent inquiry, tucks her arm in the crook of his elbow, smiling up at her twin who smiles back before throwing a glance at their blonde teammate.
"Ramen?" the Uchiha heir offers quietly, almost like a piece offering.
Naruto perks up happily, snatching Akari's other hand and dragging them towards the ramen stall, a peal of laughter bubbling from his throat as Kakashi-sensei nonchantly trails after them.
Naruto's hand is warm, like the sun.
…
Since her engagement to Shikamaru, time with Sasuke has made itself scarce. As the future Nara matriarch, elders do not want her involved in the Uchiha clan matters much to Sasuke's ire. It's not like her brother won't update her as soon as his meeting finish.
However, the thing is that the twins are not used to not spending every second of their lives together. And as elders start talking about the future, one that does not allow the two of them to be joined to the hip, something in Akari snarls. Because there is no life, no future without Sasuke in it.
She only exists for her twin brother.
He's all that she has.
And this world can take anything and everything from her – from her body, soul, skills – but they cannot take Sasuke from her.
Sasuke, too snarls at the mere idea of her not being with him. And surely that means that for once, there is something right within her if he can not imagine a future without her in the center, right?
The more everyone tries to keep them apart, the more Sasuke clings to her.
Because it's us against the world.
"What are you doing tomorrow?" Sasuke asks from the closet as he throws her one of his shirts for her to use as pajamas. Akari, seated at the edge of their bed, catches the shirt in midair with a grateful smile.
"I have bridal lessons from Yoshino till noon and have to visit some shops the Nara clan are affiliated with."
"Sounds like a chore," Sasuke remarks wittingly tugging up his night pants as he steps closer to her.
"Could be worse. How about you?" Akari smiles up to him as he faces her, fingers expertly tying the string of Sasuke's pants around his waist, finishing it up with a small bow. She doesn't even have to think, the movement is natural to her, muscle memories ringing true. Sasuke gives it an experimental tug and smiles fondly at her as the material doesn't move down.
He then sighs.
"I have meetings with some merchants, and then I have to start doing the inventory of the Uchiha vault." He moves to sit down on Akari's opposite, back turned to her to give her privacy as she changes.
"umm," the Uchiha heiress hums, pulling her training shirt up and replacing it with Sasuke's. The shirt – soft to the touch and smelling of her twin – pools around her, covering almost half of her thighs with its red cotton as she stands up, untucking the silk blanket to crawl into bed.
Sasuke joins her almost immediately, arms wrapping themselves around her waist.
There is a small pause, light with love and filled with the moonlight that trickles from their window.
Akari closes her eyes, tired and eyelids already heavy with sleep.
It's odd to feel safe enough to dare and dream, not to exhaust herself, praying that the nightmares won't come and find her in the middle of the night.
Stella had lost countless hours, has watched the sunrise, too afraid of the monsters that plague her dreams. Those memories that cut and burn at her already shattered heart. But not anymore.
For Akari knows her demons and nightmares won't find her, not when Sasuke holds her as if he had the universe in his arms. When Sasuke is with her, as long as she still has his love, nothing can truly harm her.
"Are you truly alright with what the Nara did?" Sasuke asks her, breath fanning and warming the back of her neck.
"I am. Even if the way he did it was shitty."
Sasuke shifts from behind her, huffing in agreement. "He doesn't deserve you."
Akari chuckles softly in the silk pillow. "You think no one deserves me."
"Because they don't. No one does except me."
Of course. But does Akari deserves Sasuke? She wants to think so.
No, she doesn't deserve him.
Akari deserves nothing.
But she so wishes she did.
"I wish I didn't have to lose you to him," he then whispers. "Can he even protect you?"
Sasuke always breathes his worries to her in the middle of the night when there are only him and her in the world. Sometimes she envies him for being able to drop his mask and simply breathe without any pretense. But it is a privilege that Akari has never earned and thus, should not yearn for.
"I don't need Shikamaru to, not when I have you." Akari shifts, turning around in her brother's arms as she faces him. She is immediately swallowed whole by a wildfire of onyx and love. "And you won't lose me, you'll never lose me."
She will sooner die than let him go after all.
Sasuke smiles at her words – a smile fond and loving that is for her eyes only – before his eyes flash as fingers drift to her neck, holding the silver chain that has found a home there. The Nara crest hangs like a teardrop from it.
A betrothal gift, the Nara had called it.
In Stella's world, rings were used in holy matrimony. Within the Nara Clan, the future matriarch wore a pendant with the clan's crest. A reminder of her future loyalties.
One that Sasuke loathes.
"You shouldn't have to wear that." Her twin brother sniffs.
"It's tradition."
And as Uchiha, as children who had a front row to their Clan Head's endless lectures on duty, they both know how well-loved traditions are. How important duty is.
"It's a collar," Sasuke snarls, indignation twisting his beautiful features that mirror her own. "It's like that damn Nara leashed you."
Akari had never thought of it that way, she who had worn jewelry her entire life as Stella for the Family's heir should always be adorned with precious jewels. It had always been a symbol of power and wealth, never holding a negative connotation.
They whisper as Stella waltzes and spins in her escort's arms.
"Look at that necklace, it's beautiful. Did you know that it's a 14k gold chain?"
"I didn't know. It's a new one, isn't it?"
"Only the best for the Family's new heir, I guess."
But she supposes it makes sense for Sasuke to see it that way.
The pendant is a physical representation of her betrothal – sprung on her unexpectedly as it might be – to the Nara heir.
It is a collar to hinder her freedom, her independence – the one that starts and ends with Sasuke.
A leash to tie her – like a dog – to the clan she will belong to.
Father wouldn't have been happy, he who preached of the Uchiha purity, of the Main Line's pure-blooded pedigree.
However, Akari doesn't care. Even Shikamaru knows her loyalty will always be to her brother.
"Hmm," she hums in thought, and Sasuke's brows furrow slightly, concerned at her not-really answer. He lets go of the chain and bends forward, pressing his forehead to Akari's.
Their eyes meet, two mirrors of ebony.
Her heart sings.
She can't look anywhere else – Sasuke is all she sees.
"Akari," he breathes, staring at her soul that is bare to him, two halves reuniting. "You're mine, right? Shikamaru might be your fiancé, but –" he intertwines their fingers together, cuffing them with warmth and love, "you love me, right? Only me."
Sasuke's gaze is loving, burning and though his sharingan is not activated, Akari can feel herself fall in his spell – free falling in his soul and finding her home in it.
"Only you Sasuke," Akari repeats, drunk on his love and heart swelling at her brother's devotion. "My past, present, future – " She gives him an adoring smile, a hand cupping his cheek, caressing his cheekbone tenderly. "You have them all."
… And even a sea of whiskey could never intoxicate her as much as a drop of him did.
For he – and only he – held her everything in his hands.
…
Akari knows many people, it is a natural thing when you present yourself as an open, kind little girl who interacts with everyone, be it shinobis or civilians.
Though it is exhaustive to keep the charade ongoing, the advantages it gives Sasuke make all of it bearable to live through.
Thus, she is a bit taken aback when an Elder approaches her, one that had never seen fit to give her the time of the day before. But, she supposes it makes sense.
She is Uchiha Akari, sister of Uchiha Sasuke and the bride of Nara Shikamaru. In Konoha, names hold power and clans even more so.
It is a well-known fact that Uchiha Sasuke adores his precious twin sister and that the Nara heir is smitten with his betrothed. (It helps to be at the head of the gossip chain within Konoha. Rumors are quite useful after all. Stella had learned it the hard way.)
To have Akari's favor means to have two future Clan Heads' as well.
It's not the first time she has been approached by snakes, all so eager to manipulate an inexperienced girl, not yet a woman but capable of killing them all the same.
It is the way of the world.
To be loved is to be used.
You can either be the tool or the one holding it.
Stella had always wished to help everyone she could, even if it meant that she – the second daughter of her Family, the prized golden child – was relegated to a tool.
What a fucking fool. It's not as if people hated her any less even as she broke herself for them.
But what does Danzo – who cares not for civilians nor their politics which is Akari's current domain – possibly want from her?
"Akari-hime," the old man says in greeting, giving her a small dip of the head, more she would have expected from such an ancient figure.
What does he want?
"Danzo-sama," she bows, eyes cast downwards in respect. "How are you?"
"I am quite well," he responds, his sole eye sharp and considering. He does not deign to ask the question back. A breach of propriety, but Akari supposes the Hokage's right-hand man does not need such formalities, not when he basically rules the village already. "I have heard many things about you."
Akari forces herself to blush lightly, allowing a demure smile to paint itself on her lips. "All in good, I hope."
Smile.
"Be polite, Stella."
"Don't you dare ruin our reputation."
What was the elder's angle?
No elder, no one in any position of power, approaches a young, seemingly powerless teenager without a motive.
Stella had learned it through trials and errors. And has seen Coral slowly and painfully lose the Family's elders' interest. You have to give them what they want.
"Of course," the elder answers softly. "And it gladdens me to see such a young soul blossom for Konoha."
Konoha.
Ah, the typical military propaganda. Funnily enough, Akari has never thought Danzo one to use such flowery words. The Hokage maybe, because he has to inspire loyalty somehow, but the War Hawk needs no loyalty.
He only needs pawns.
And his newest it seems will be Akari.
It is not surprising though Akari had thought it would be the female Elder who would reach out in the name of fake solidarity between women. Not that it would endear her to the village any more.
Akari never did quite understand why their esteemed government disguised their ruthless tyranny and brainwash through history lessons and endless speeches over their precious Will of Fire.
Devote your heart, body, and soul to your village.
Well, Akari had spent an entire life raised to bullshit her way through many things, courtesy of Stella's academy, she can adjust to Danzo's preferred mentality.
"Thank you, Danzo-sama," the Uchiha heiress smiles brightly. "This is the highest compliment I received, I really appreciate it."
"The highest compliment?"
"Of course! To blossom and grow in the name of Konoha is all one would want in their life. It gladdens me you see my efforts to help the village in any way I can."
God, what is she even saying? Akari doesn't know, just spews what the elder wants to hear and hopes for the best.
It is a vying and wise strategy, one that gave Stella an almost perfect score in her etiquette classes.
Though her performance in it hadn't been perfect, now had it?
And in this world, any mistake can be fatal.
Akari can't mess up. Not when it is Sasuke that could suffer from her failings, as many as they are.
The bandaged old man's lips tug slightly up. "And I am glad to see such a dutiful shinobi of the Leaf." He then starts limping away, his cane clicking on the road. "We shall see each other again, Akari-hime."
Akari bows, her waist almost folded onto itself, and a curtain of black silk falls in front of her. "Of course, honored Elder."
She waits till he is far enough to straighten from her bow, tilting her head.
As the Uchiha heiress – a young, orphaned noble lady by blood – Akari has always made sure to make full use of her education in the 21st century to make up for Mother's death before she could teach Akari everything about clan nobility. It is something many have praised her for, Sasuke even more so.
Though a kunoichi, to make herself appear a bit more harmless to the civilians' eyes, she has long since used Stella as a model for her public mask. To keep herself soft, pliant, and vulnerable as any civilian noble lady would.
That mask had been forcibly sewn into her face since she was born. It is not one that falls easily.
So why?
Why did her fingers twitch, as useless as it was, towards her weapon pouch?
Why had her shoulders tense under Danzo's scrutiny?
…
"What are you doing?"
Akari looks up from her curtsy, lifting a brow at her friend who is watching her through half-lidded eyes. "A curtsy, obviously. Shika, is your brain all right?"
Her friend turned betrothed sighs, pinching his nose. "I can see that, Akari, and yes my brain is all right, thank you very much. But why are you curtsying?"
Akari straightens, cocking her head to the side as she grimaces. "One of your elders," she says, giving a small shudder at the mere thought of that old man. "He – he had interesting views on a woman's place and a wife's duty."
"Ah. Him."
"Yeah, him." Akari pokes Shikamaru on his cheek with a small smirk. "You didn't tell me that some of your elders were such sexists. Or had views older than the freaking Elemental Nations ."
"All elders are like that, you troublesome woman." Shikamaru snatches her hand with a gentle move, interlacing their fingers together. "But you don't need to listen to them."
She snorts. "Shouldn't I be a dutiful wife and bow to the esteemed elders' opinions?"
"You should be yourself, and the esteemed elders can go rot in their little council hall."
The Nara heir's answer steals snickers from Akari. But unlike the other times, her laugh does not make Shikamaru's tense frame loosen. She tugs lightly at Shikamaru's hand, upsetting his balance, and if he were any other genin rookie, he might have stumbled. But he is Shika, and thus, only pouts out a troublesome.
"Something's wrong?" the pineapple-haired boy asks, throwing her a questioning glance.
"I don't know Shika, you tell me. You seem pretty nervous."
Shikamaru smiles sheepishly, his feet dragging themselves in the dirt. "Ah, you noticed it?" his gaze locks into her own, and his hand tightens.
"Of course, I did," Akari sniffs. "I'm your best friend."
Something in the shadow user's eyes flashes at her words, too quickly for her to recognize it. It had been sharp, disappointed? – a streak of light that sparked Shikamaru's eyes in a newly lit fire.
"What's wrong? Anything I can help with?" Akari continues, rubbing a soothing thumb on his knuckles.
"Ah, not really, well, it's kinda embarrassing, but-" he takes a deep breath, weight shifting from one foot to the other. "I just wanted to give you this."
The dark-haired boy fishes a dark velvet box from his weapon pouch. Deftly, as if he had practiced the movement a thousand times, he lifts the lid, averting his eyes shyly as Akari takes in the gift.
On a silk cushion lies a pair of earrings, white gold studded in form of stars.
Ah.
Her breath hitches as her cheeks burn.
They are…
"They're beautiful," Akari breathes, a finger delicately touching the craftsmanship. She looks up from the box, eyes quickly glancing at Shikamaru's pink ears. "What are they for?"
Shikamaru clears his throat, though his voice remains low and a bit deeper, his hand still holding hers tightening slightly. "Well, it's a Nara tradition to give earrings when something important happens to a member." He explains. "Like a promotion or a life-changing event."
"That's a nice tradition," Akari remarks as Shikamaru hums in agreement. She purses her lips in thought. "However, I am an Uchiha."
Bred, raised, and molded into a proper Uchiha. Perhaps not the perfect one her parents had longed for, but even Itachi, as kin slayer as he is, had acknowledged how dutiful Akari was to their clan.
"But you'll be a Nara soon enough," Shikamaru points out. He then turns his head to the side, a blush dusting his cheeks. "And I- well…"
Akari first notices Shikamaru's usual earrings, those passed down from clan heir to clan heir, studded and silver with the Nara mon engraved into the right one. She had seen them before, her betrothed having shown his new heirlooms to her with an enthusiasm as endearing as Naruto's laughs. But then, something else catches her eye.
A single star, pierced on the shell of the Nara heir's ear, white gold, and matching her gift.
"You got another one pierced?"
The question escapes her, breathless and awed. Shikamaru's blush darkens.
"So, we could have something that always links us two even when we're both on different missions." He explains with soft, soft eyes.
That's adorable.
A smile blossoms on her lips. Affection and overwhelming happiness hasten her actions as she steps forward, arms wrapping themselves around Shikamaru, face nuzzled in his chest.
"Akari?" Shikamaru asks hesitantly, arms resting around her as if unsure what to do.
"You're too sweet, Shika," Akari sniffles in his jacket, pressing her cheek to him and closing her eyes. "Thank you. I don't deserve you."
His actions are sweet, adorable, and heartwarming.
Enough that perhaps Akari could fall in love with him.
But Jean's sweet gestures had been as well. Just as butterfly-inducing, just as sugary sweet. It didn't stop Stella's friend (an almost lover for they have loved each other fiercely) from leaving her behind.
Shikamaru…
If he knew what was in her head, how twisted and irredeemable her soul was, he would take everything back.
Just like everyone else.
He would be disgusted.
Akari doesn't want that to happen, though.
"You're welcome, love." Akari's breath hitches at her newfound nickname, how Shikamaru's voice caresses it so softly, so lovingly. "And you deserve the world."
She cannot help her next quip to disturb that peaceful moment in which her heart flutters at Shikamaru's words. "Someone read a few romance novels, didn't he?" she asks with a teasing glint.
Akari feels Shikamaru jutting his chin on the crown of her head as he snorts. "Only you, Akari, only you."
(Only her would still doubt everyone's love.)
…
The dead will never be forgotten.
Kakashi-sensei lives by that motto, barely scraping by with ghosts of his past following his every step. It is the Hatake's burden, one he has chosen for himself even as if broke him time and time again. But Akari cannot begrudge that coping mechanism, even as it taints some of his interactions with Team Seven, because truly, she isn't better.
She has a lifetime's worth of memories, of pain, and cannot love anything except her brother.
Akari did resent her sensei at first. For molding her to a ghost, a name she does not know. That was until the wave mission, till their team closed their ranks closer and closer till it did not matter if there wasn't any blood tying them together.
Kakashi-sensei's interest in their team grows away from simply catering to some ghosts' whims. He encourages Sasuke and Naruto, builds them up never tearing them down as he passes down strategies and jutsus to them. He hoards any medical material to gift her, lets her borrow his sensei's (the Yondaime apparently, a legend among legends) old sealing books.
Though as reluctant as he is when training her in battle formations, he is a better father figure than what Stella and Akari ever had. Less violent and abusive than her dad, less prone to emotional neglect and expectant than Father.
Kakashi-sensei is, Akari thinks, the sole adult she can trust with Sasuke.
After all, Kakashi-sensei loves them.
And that love has become her guarantee that he will not turn against them.
(Sometimes, the raven-haired girl hates the fact that she even needs that guarantee. But then she remembers poor, forever alone Stella and thinks 'never again will she go back to that.')
Comrade Killer Kakashi went against his beloved Konoha – as small as his defiance had been – for Akari's sake. Sasuke had been impressed, if slightly resentful that their jounin sensei had more sway in protecting her freedom than him, her very own twin brother.
Akari had let him rest at the crook of her neck, hands playing with his ebony hair as he mumbled, bitter.
"For who that council thinks they are? To just decide on your future like that! They don't even care about your well-being, your fucking safety! I'm your brother, you're mine to decide!"
"A bunch of geezers, I bet," Akari responds with a sigh. She brings one of his hands to her lips, kissing it softly.
Sasuke hums in agreement, caressing her lips lightly with his index. He smiles a small, shy thing that makes her heart swell. "We won't let them destroy us." He whispers to her, treason slipping from his lips because it is the Village's pejorative to destroy them in the name of the greater good of the Leaf if they ever stray from it.
Akari smiles back. "No, we won't because we have each other." She presses a kiss to his finger. "You're the only thing that stands between me and this rotten place, Sasuke. You're the only important thing here."
But Akari digresses.
It is not rare to find Team Seven, if not in their usual training grounds or in the Uchiha compound, close to the memorial as Kakashi-sensei often likes to bring them there. Thus, only the dead hear Naruto's loud exclamation at their sensei's announcement.
"EHHHH?!" the blond screams, whiskered cheeks twisting in disbelief. "The Chuunin Exams?"
"Yup," the silver-haired chirps, shaking the three forms in front of them like he would show off dog treats to his pack. "And I nominated all of you!"
"Yessss, Team Seven's going to kick everyone's asses, dattebayo!"
Sasuke smirks. "Hn, of course, we will. We're us."
Her brother has always been sure, confident in himself and his power. She admires it.
Akari, grabbing her form, throws a questioning glance at Kakashi-sensei. "But Kashi-sensei, isn't it too early? We've only been genin for what, months?"
"Mah, mah Aka-chan, don't worry about that. I have faith in you guys to make me proud!" he ruffles her hair with an eye crinkle, a gesture that, well despite herself, makes her preen in contentment.
That doesn't quite answer her worries, but well, she knows her sensei wouldn't voluntarily put them in danger.
Akari has twisted strings after strings around her jounin teacher till the man cannot move against them, cannot leave them before strangling himself.
Not that she needs to, for Kakashi-sensei cares far too much to allow Sasuke to be threatened, and that is all she needs.
"Yeah, Aka-chan. Have some confidence." Naruto pipes in, throwing her a brilliant smile, brighter than the ones he wears in the middle of the village. "Since you have me in the team, we're going to absolutely dominate the exams!"
"You mean, despite having you in the team," Sasuke corrects, lazily throwing a kunai next to Naruto, who catches it, sticking his tongue out at the Uchiha heir.
Kakashi-sensei snorts, a hand to his hip. "Now, now boys, I'm sure you guys have something better to do than listen to your poor sensei's rambles –" he skillfully ignores the answering 'yes' and 'obviously' from Akari's precious teammates, "so I'll let you have the day off to talk about certain strong points to consider before strategizing for the exams." The silver-haired man sends a pointed glance to Naruto, who casts his eyes down.
Akari quirks an eyebrow at the blonde's reaction.
Strong points?
Akari knows that Naruto is his story's protagonist and that his character has been well beloved in her previous world. The underdog, the child hero.
Strong points suggest that Naruto, as a shounen anime protagonist, has a cheat code hidden carefully in his sleeves and Akari purses her lips at the mere thought that hersunshine, who loves her so much, would hide something from her.
Then again, she would be a hypocrite.
Akari lies to Sasuke everyday.
Ten years old Akari startles awake, a hand grasping at her shirt. Sasuke looks up from his desk, eyes snapping to her, relieved. His desk, situated right next to her own, is filled with books, some aged by time and others still retaining the bloodshed they saw on that dreadful night.
Something flashes in the corner of her right eye. Despite her, despite knowing of the scarlet that is waiting for her, she glances at it.
Cousin Kenji, the one who would read to the twins at night when they were a bit younger, is still crawling on the floor, coughing blood as the blade in his back twists, a pained 'why' echoing around him.
To her left are Obaa-san from the dango place and Obba-san that tailors the Main family's clothes. Their faces are agonized, mouths opened in a horrified, silent scream.
Akari's eyes squeeze themselves shut.
"Akari?"
Oh, right. She's awake. She looks at Sasuke, ignoring with ease Mother's corpse that lingers on the floor, a mere inch away from Ella's.
Did Akari disturb him?
She always is though, isn't she?
Burden.
Useless.
Akari's breath stutters at the mere word whispered viciously to her. That vicious poison that is for her ears alone. Useless. That is one of her greatest fear. Because being useless means being abandoned.
"Sorry," she breathes shakily. The apology tumbles clumsily from her lips before she can swallow it back, and her jaw clenches itself at Sasuke's small frown.
Her beloved twin brother has never liked when she apologized so easily. 'What are you apologizing for?' he would ask with sad, sad eyes. 'For everything,' Akari would respond.
Sorry for being alive is another answer though Akari has never dared to utter it in front of Sasuke. His heart would break if he ever heard it – her beloved twin brother that cares only for her – and he already suffers enough with her in his life.
Shikamaru also never understood how a noble heiress could so easily apologize.
Even he, heir to the most laid-back clan that ever existed, does not tend to acknowledge any wrongdoings. Their place within the village has well been ingrained into them since birth, and as he puts it, it's troublesome to say sorry.
But that is all AkariStella can say as the blame is put on her again and again and again.
Sorry for being so weak.
Sorry for not being enough.
Sorry for being a mistake.
Sasuke pushes his chair back, standing up quickly before rushing to her side. He crouches down till they are eye to eye, his warm hands on her knees and reminding her that he is still here. Sasuke hasn't left. Though he will if Akari cannot be better.
"Are you all right?" he asks.
She cannot bring herself to say yes. "What time is it?"
Understanding flashes in his eyes. "It's still morning."
Akari sighs softly in relief.
Good. Then Akari hasn't had another one of her episodes. She is glad. She never likes them and waking up to see Sasuke so panicked at her limp, almost lifeless form will always break her heart.
"Did you have another nightmare?" the other half of her soul asks her gently as he reaches forward to cup her cheek. She smiles at his gesture, nuzzling in his palm.
Akari thinks of her night, plagued by red and kaleidoscope and her dad's voice, yelling and tearing Stella apart. "Yeah," she breathes even as Sasuke frowns because it only shows that her twin brother cares about her, cares when no one else ever will.
He tugs her forward into his arms, his entire frame swallowing her as if it could protect her from this rotten world. But he cannot, it is a lifetime too late, but Akari will protect him in turn too. "Do you remember what it was about?" His voice is a bit fearful and worried.
Don't you dare become a burden again.
The lie escapes her as easily as breathing is though it doesn't make the whispers any less vicious for her failings. But her answer always lightens something in her twin's eyes, and so, she never regrets it. "No."
Akari steals a glance at Sasuke, who, like her, has pursed his lips in thought, contemplating their other teammate.
What is Naruto hiding?
"Well, you guys already know that I might awaken the Sharingan during the exams." She folds her legs neatly under her as she sits down, updating her teammates on her ongoing progress as a kunoichi. "And I wrote new seals for us to use."
"As for me, we all know that I have the Sharingan. I also mastered a new level of shurikenjutsu. I also recently signed the Hawk summoning contract." Sasuke adds, following her lead.
Naruto bites his lips. "I-" he stutters. It is not like him. "I have the clone jutsu and a lot of traps. And I-" the blonde is trembling. Hesitant.
Naruto is many things. An idiot. A childish, ramen-obsessed teenager. Someone that cares too much and is far too kind for this world. But he is never hesitant. Not even in face of his home's scorn. Not even in face of Death.
So, who?
Who did this? Who made Naruto so fearful, so hesitant even among Team Seven?
Who fucking dared to ruin her sunshine?
Sasuke throws her a glance, eyebrows creased almost as if sensing the tension that coils deep in her muscles. It is just like him, her beloved twin brother, so in tune with her own emotions. Akari is grateful though he has never shown an inkling at knowing of those horrible thoughts that plague her every breath.
Because would he still be able to look at her so lovingly?
He wouldn't. Sasuke would give up on her, without a second thought. Then Akari needs to become useful enough that even if he hates her, Sasuke won't leave her behind, right?
If she can.
Naruto shuffles his feet almost shyly, unable to meet either of the twins' eyes as he speaks.
"Teme, Akari-chan… I have to tell you guys something…" he starts, voice faltering and then dying in his throat.
Something in Akari's chest aches at the very sound and her hand reaches to gently take the blonde's, squeezing it softly before letting it go. Naruto throws her a grateful, frail smile.
"That much was obvious, dobe," Sasuke snorts, trying to ease Naruto by slipping in their usual bicker. It used to work, even when Naruto hunches with Konoha's hatred, but not this time and it makes her twin's frown worsen.
"Shut it teme," Naruto snaps back automatically, before catching himself. "I- sorry" he breathes, a mirror of Stella. "It's about..."
"Is it about that weird chakra?" Sasuke interrupts impatiently as he folds his arms onto his chest, cocking his head to the side as Naruto splutters, limbs flying around. Sasuke has never been patient when it came to other things than her.
"You- you saw?"
"Hn."
"Then you know how horrifying it is."
Akari looks between both her brother and her teammate, head tilted. "Well, I don't," she remarks pointedly. "What weird chakra?"
"The red one." Sasuke answers, though he doesn't elaborate, rather, he just stares at Naruto waiting.
"The one that almost made me kill Haku." Naruto clarifies.
"I thought you didn't want to kill Haku," the Uchiha heiress questions.
"I didn't. That- that chakra though, it made it so easy, so right to try."
"But you didn't kill him, Naruto," Sasuke reminds him. "You stopped. Just like how you wanted to."
Haku had first been a sore subject for Sasuke, that stranger whom Naruto had tried to help even if it had come to the cost of Sasuke. Or perhaps not, but the mere fact that Naruto had tried to talk to that stranger, that murder that had known her name, had been enough to send Sasuke to the training grounds for hours on end.
"Yeah, but it might happen again. That chakra might happen again, and I'll end up like a savage beast."
"So, what if it happens again?" Sasuke asks, quirking an eyebrow. "You will never hurt us, that's for sure. You didn't even glance my way, even with that chakra. If it makes you powerful, what's the harm? Sure, you were a bit feral, but you clearly haven't seen Akari when someone truly pisses her off. Besides, who cares if your chakra is a bit weird? You're still a member of Team Seven, even with it." His voice trails off as Sasuke notices Naruto sniffling.
The blonde's sapphire eyes glisten in the natural light. Sasuke glances at her, panicked, as his hands hover in front of Naruto, frantic yet unsure what to do.
"Oi, dobe," her twin brother snaps, frazzled. "Why are you crying?" a tear rolls down Naruto's cheek, followed by another one, and Sasuke moves to his knees in alarm with Akari following. "No, no whatever I said to make you cry, I take it back!" he exclaims. "I take it back, so stop crying dumbass, Akari, make him stop crying what the fuck- "
"You-" Naruto cries out. "You won't say that after you know the truth!"
"Watch us!" Sasuke snarls right back, fire and indignation hot on his tongue.
Typical Sasuke and Naruto, managing to bicker in every situation.
Akari pats her brother's thigh, suggesting that he calms down through simple eye contact. Sasuke mellows down as soon as he locks his gaze with hers.
"Naru, hey sunshine, look at me." Akari says softly. He looks up, tears pricking his eyes, and she gives him a gentle, loving smile. "Whatever it is, whatever your truth is, we will still love you."
Because no one else ever will.
Because Naruto deserves it.
Her sunshine almost flinches. His desperation – fervent and wild – melts in front of her eyes. But he remains afraid. "You know of the Kyuubi attack fourteen years ago, right?" he asks her.
Of course, she does, Akari is not the top kunoichi of the year for nothing, even managing to trounce little know-it-all Haruno Sakura in the theory exams.
(Haruno reminds her of Marie, only good with books and exams, obsessed over her looks and how thin she is. And the pink-haired girl reminds Akari of how easily Marie had turned on Stella Ino had come and cried to Akari when Haruno had abandoned her for something as dumb as fighting over her twin. Though Ino is no friend of hers, Akari tolerates her at best as she can for she is the Yamanaka heiress and Shikamaru's precious childhood friend. And the fact that Haruno dares to abandon Ino when the little civilian is an insecure, friendless, controlling brat twinges at her hatred.)
(It had been Marie's betrayal that hurt the most. For Stellareally thought Marie was her friend)
Sasuke, who has slightly calmed down, sneers at her side. "Of course, she does. Akari's brilliant."
"Course she is," Naruto retorts. "But she doesn't know what happened to the demon."
Akari frowns slightly at that. "I heard that the Lord Fourth had killed it," she says.
Her sunshine shakes his head. "He didn't." the blond whispers. "He sealed it in a newborn." His hand unconsciously drifts to his stomach.
Ah.
"The Kyuubi attacked on October 10th," Sasuke observes neutrally. His eyes flicker to hers.
"And you were born on that same day," Akari finishes his observation.
Naruto gives the tiniest nod.
Sasuke's index taps on his knee as he ponders. "Konoha hates you," he starts, and Akari continues with "the villagers call you a demon."
"You're the newborn, aren't you?"
"Yeah, I'm the jinchuriki of the Nine-tails. The demon is sealed in me." Naruto confirms. Sasuke makes a brief move to distance her from Naruto, ever so Akari's precious protector, the sole person that ever cared about her. The jinchuriki notes the abrupt movement and something in his eyes breaks.
Perhaps his heart.
The warm summer sky in his eyes harden.
"So," Naruto sneers, opening his arms in a grand gesture and baring at them fangs that Akari had never quite realized her sunshine had. "Can the two perfect Uchiha heirs still stand the sight of their demon of a teammate?"
Bitterness storms in Naruto's eyes, but it is not enough to entirely hide the blond's shame and fear. The fear of being rejected.
Akari knows that fear well.
After all, even after a lifetime, it still plagues her.
And that rage, that hatred that is slowly brewing in his chest, she knows it well too. Anger to be rejected once more. Hatred for a world that no matter what will always scorn you.
Sasuke doesn't glance at her, he doesn't need to. Akari knows that he is waiting for her. Because as funny as Naruto is, as much a friend he has become to Sasuke, if Akari decides to leave their teammate, he will follow.
It's us against the world.
Naruto's hands fist his orange jumpsuit tightly, his knuckles turning white.
If Akari leaves, Naruto will break just like how Stella did. Losing Team Seven will destroy Naruto. It will make him embrace the darkness that Konoha's abuse has planted in his mind, as small as the seed might be right now.
Hurt him like how Stella got hurt.
Naruto doesn't deserve that.
Neither did Stella, the voice remarks, scorn in its echoes.
Why does he get to be happy?
Why does Naruto get true friends when all that Stella ever had was nothing?
How is that fair?
But Naruto is her sunshine. That boy who gives her extra pork skin though he loves it too, the one that smiles at her so lovingly he only does that because there is no one else to smile for, wait and he will find someone else soon enough.
Naruto protects Sasuke.
And- and he is too good, too precious to be ruined.
N O.
Whywhywhywhywhy does he get to be happy?
Why Naruto? Why does Naruto get to be happy when he is as soft and as naïve and as dumb as Stella?!
WHY COULDN'T I BE HAPPY TOO?!
But as angry as Akari feels – not at Naruto, but at this cruel, wretched world – she cannot betray her sunshine like that.
Akari cannot become the same monster that has torn her apart. Not to him.
The two Uchiha remain silent; one waiting and watching, the other lost in thoughts.
Naruto laughs coldly at their silence, a short, brittle laugh that sounds out of place from their precious sunshine. He then gives them a feral smile. "It's fine," he tells them, standing up with his fists shoved in his pockets when clearly, it is not fine at all. "I already knew Konoha's precious, wonderful heirs wouldn't accept a monster like me. Don't worry, I'll ask Jiji to transfer me out of the team, and maybe you'll finally have someone normal, and competent, and you guys will be happy to be rid of me-"
Akari too stands up, as quick as lightning, and a resounding slap echoes in the training ground.
Naruto, his head turned to the side, brings a trembling hand to his already reddening cheek. He turns to her, eyes blown wide.
"did- Did you just slap me?!" he asks.
"I did," Akari says firmly, lifting her hand once more. "And I'll do it again."
"WHAT THE FUCK AKARI"
"Oi," Sasuke snaps, standing too and sauntering towards them. "I get you're mad Uzumaki, but don't you dare raise your voice against my sister."
"She just slapped the shit out of me!" Naruto protests loudly, pointing an accusing finger at her. Akari wiggles her fingers at him as he splutters.
"So?" Sasuke retorts, swatting at Naruto's pointed finger. "Akari could blow your legs up, and you still wouldn't be allowed to yell at her."
"Of course," the blond jeers. "I almost forgot. Always the overprotective brother, aren't you Uchiha? Always the perfect shinobi, always the perfect twin. What fucking perfect love-"
The Uchiha heiress takes a small breath, trying to calm herself. She does not appreciate Naruto's vicious words, not when their venom is aimed at Sasuke, but she tries to ignore it. Because by keeping silent, by listening to those dark whispers instead of answering Naruto, she hurt him.
It's the way of the world.
But Akari promises that she won't join it in its pursuit to ruin her sunshine.
"Naruto," she interrupts. At her voice, Naruto flinches, his eyes avoiding her own. "Sit down."
Instead of listening to her, the teenager juts out his fangs in defiance, his glare challenging her. Akari bares her own fangs, slightly pointed teeth that are a sign of her deep bond with her panthers. "Don't you dare bare your fangs at me, Uzumaki," she growls. "I'm not scared of them, and I'm not scared of you. Now sit down before Sasuke smacks your ass to the ground."
Petulantly, he sits down.
Deep breath.
"Naru," the raven-haired girl starts. "You're our teammate. We don't want another one. We want you." As he opens his mouth to answer, probably to protest, Akari shushes him with her index. "Hell, sunshine, we love you. Nothing's going to change that. You're Team Seven, you're Uzumaki Naruto, and you love us. We're with you."
"Hn." Sasuke adds. "You might be a dumbass, but you're our dumbass. You and no one else. It's us against the world, Naruto. You're part of us."
At their words, drops of salt drip down on Naruto's jumpsuit, darkening its orange color.
"Even if you have the Kyuubi sealed into you." Akari continues. "Even if you were the demon himself. Even if you are a nukenin, we will stand with you as long as you stand with us."
All of Naruto's anger, hatred, and bitterness disappear at her words, and all that remains behind is their precious teammate, eyes drowning in tears and his lip trembling slightly.
"R-really?" he asks, voice hitching as he roughly rubs away a stray tear.
Sasuke looks away, unable to stand the sight of their teammate, the third of their team, so hopeful yet broken. It's Akari that smiles at Naruto and repeats a "really" softly.
Naruto practically collapses on her as soon as she opens her arms to him, sinking into her embrace as he stifles his sobs.
"Everyone hates me. No matter what I do, I'll always be the demon to them." He confides to her, her high-collared shirt already wet with his tears. "I hate it, it's so lonely. Am I really a monster?"
"You're not. Really, Naru, you're not a monster." Akari answers, and Naruto shakes his head.
"But then why does everyone hate me?"
That question steals Akari's breath, her heart splutters in her chest with its familiarity.
"Why?" Stella asks trembling, her hands clenched into fists by her side, and tears pricking her eyes. "Why does everyone hate me?"
Her mother tucks a strand of golden locks behind her ears before tilting Stella's chin up with a manicured finger. "Because you are everything they are not. And nothing like how you should have been."
(tell me mother, what did you hate most?
My flaws? Or the fact I could never become perfect like what father wanted?)
"Because that's all they can do. Hate. It's not your fault, Naruto, you can't make everyone love you. They just don't understand" Akari whispers soothingly, a hand gently threading her fingers through his hair.
"Or it's because I am a monster."
"No," Akari says sternly, jaw clenching because she knows how untrue that statement is, how good Naruto is. Her sunshine is good, pure in a way that Stella never was.
Naruto is many things, an idiot, a naïve child, but he is no monster.
How ironic that it is humans that are worse, so much worse monsters than a literal demon sealed in an innocent?
Naruto is not a monster. She tells him so. "You're not a monster."
But Naruto shakes his head, like Stella refusing to acknowledge any of Vivian's compliments, because if she had meant them, then why would Vivian leave? "I have the demon inside of me, they're right to hate me."
"It's not like you asked for it to be sealed into you," Sasuke argues. "If anyone's at fault, it's Lord Fourth. Who the hell said it was all right for him to seal the Kyuubi in an innocent newborn?" He then stares right into Naruto's eyes. His voice softens. "Of everyone, you deserved that fate the least, dobe."
"Teme," Naruto tears up. The jinchuriki makes a grabbing motion towards her twin brother. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry I was so mean, I didn't mean it!"
"Already forgotten," Sasuke sighs. He then looks warily at Naruto's still-moving hands. "If you try to hug me Naruto, I'm kicking your ass ten ways into the grave."
Naruto, still huddled in her arms, snorts. "As if you can do that."
Akari gives them a mischievous smile though only Sasuke notices it. As quick as a snake, she takes a hold of Naruto's arms. "Quick," she cries out dramatically. "Go ahead, Sasuke, I'll hold him down!"
"Ehhhh?!" Naruto cries, looking up at her with wide eyes and a wider grin. "No fair, Aka-chan!"
Sasuke smirks. "All's fair in love and war."
…
And first, we feel.
Then, we fall.
…
"You."
Akari turns her head back, quirking an inquiring brow at the rude interpellation.
She already knows that it is a foreigner that has called out to her, after all, no one in Konoha would ever dare address her so rudely. But Akari does not expect to lock eyes with a red-haired demon, so feral and bloodthirsty that she worries that his every step is already stained red with the blood of his victims.
Ebony meets teal; madness meets its kin.
"You," the stranger repeats with a voice ill-suited for his teenage body. His back is straight despite the heavy gourd strapped to it. "What's your name?"
Akari gives him a tight smile, even as her weight shifts slightly in response to his unsettling aura, the one that yearns to slaughter them all.
She can feel it. Almost hear it even.
Those whispers.
He's a threat.
The stranger is staring right at her, distant yet his glare pierces her all the same.
"It's rude to ask for a lady's name before giving your own first."
The boy only stares at her. Unflinching, searching. He then blinks. "Sabaku no Garaa."
Gaara of the Sand.
Something twinges in her memory but she does not remember anything from him.
"Charmed," Akari says prettily. Her eyes lock with his and it is like watching a mirror of madness and bloodlust reflecting her own. She smiles, a smile with too many teeth to be anything like what Mother taught her, but Mother has taught Akari to serve the clan and be a porcelain doll.
Because otherwise, no one will ever love her.
How can one remain a doll in face of a demon?
You can't.
She does not need the love of a demon.
Her smile dies into a straight line.
"Uchiha Akari," she introduces herself, waiting for the awed respect and pity that comes with her last name.
With the expectations that are synonymous with her clan.
"Be perfect."
"Never falter."
"Never be a failure again."
But Akari finds nothing of the sort in Sabaku no Gaara's eyes.
How… peculiar.
He doesn't say anything else and the silence stretches itself long and heavily between the two of them. The red-haired teen crosses his arms on his chest, not quite like how her dad would when anger boiled beneath his skin, but her frame tenses all the same.
Akari absently notices how the civilians flee the two of them, all paler than usual and back hunched by the chakra oppressing the air around them.
Then, the boy-monster speaks.
"Mother asks what you are."
Mother?
"Please understand that your Father loves you, Akari-chan." Mother pleads softly, holding little Akari's hands in her own. "If he is so harsh, it is because he loves you."
Akari tilts her head.
What is she?
Even she cannot even say. Not truly.
"Human," Akari answers easily. "And you?"
"A monster," Gaara says with a crazed smile as if trying to scare her off. "A slaughterer."
His smile, well, it is a horrifying sight, Akari has to admit it. Gaara's eyes, heavily lined in black, are blazing with a bloodlust she has only glimpsed with Ami, raw and unhinged as if all moral or social convention has long since deserted him. Gaara's hands at his side curl as if capable of forming claws.
Akari feels the inside of her palms heat up in response, and her eyes flash.
The air becomes drier. A leaf crumbled to ashes.
A wry chuckle escapes her and only a slight widening of the other boy's eyes betrays his surprise at her undisturbed position for Akari neither flinches nor averts her gaze.
The Uchiha heiress twirls on her heel, putting her back to him and only turning her head slightly to give him an equally dark smile. "Oh, darling," she says. "We all are."
…
And among the monsters, I am well hidden; who looks for a leaf in a forest?
…
AUTHOR NOTE: So, I kinda lied. This isn't truly the Chuunin Exams. Sorry! I swear, the Chuunin Arc is on its way, but I felt like I had to introduce a few more things before I could truly jump into it, thus this chapter happened. I actually cut that one in two, because I felt the other half was too different to be considered as part of this chapter.
Also, the fox's out of the bag! Yay, Naruto finally has people who accept him even with the Kyuubi. (Did you notice how conditional it was though?)
And two other characters are introduced: Danzo and Gaara. Both provoked some interesting reactions from Akari, wouldn't you say?
Thank you so much for reading and for your support, it means the world to me. I'll see you guys soon for another chapter!
Daphne Ackerman
PS: don't be shy to drop a review, I love to read your opinions! It makes all the writing drafts worth it
PPS: I also recommend to one day reread the previous chapters as if you guys didn't notice, I edited them to add more details and foreshadowing ^^