Chapter 20: Promises

'Inner thoughts'

Writing/Tsukiyomi

°telepathy°

・

Yukino's POV

After hearing repeatedly the sound of something hitting wood I finally chose to look for the source. Nearing a clearing I saw small rocks hitting a wooden target that was placed high up in the tree. Emerging from the trees to investigate who was the one throwing the rocks I spotted Naruto with small rocks in his hand aiming at the target. "Yukino-chan!" He waved from where he was when be spotted me.

I waved back and walked up to him noticing how high the target was it was almost halfway up the tall tree "What are you doing?"

"Training like you." He grinned placing the rocks in his pockets.

"Have you begun training using your chakra? I heard that we will begin learning jutsu this year."

"Agh. That's true, I forgot all about it!" The boy exclaimed scratching his head.

I sighed and motioned for him to follow. After a while of walking in silence, I reached the watering hole when I remembered that he wouldn't have been able to enter because of the barrier and was probably still outside it. Turning around I was about to go back when I came face to face with the blond haired boy. Immediately stepping back I blinked owlishly at him for a couple of moments. "S-so here!" I stuttered showing him the watering hole. "Chakra control and…" I was able to say still confused as to how he passed the barrier.

"I remember this place…" the boy said in awe.

"You've been here before?" I asked even more confused than before.

"Yeah. Once I got lost and found this place." He said extending his arms when he suddenly remembered something and ran to the watering hole. "The was also this huge fish in it too." He leaned over the water staring into it as if something would appear in the clear waters.

'Huge fish? Wait that was me.' I realized that this is where I practiced on my koi form when I had time. "Well, I don't see it. Show me what you can do."

・・・

Try after try I watched him fail at balancing on the water for even five seconds. When that failed we moved on to the tree but even that didn't work it was almost as if something was preventing him from using his chakra properly. Sitting on a rock between the water and ground I had my hand on my chin and thought as to what to do next when something popped into my head. "Stop. Stand there." I pointed to the watering hole. He did as told and stood knee deep in the water. "Now try to use your chakra to move the water around you away," I told him hoping that it would work or else I wouldn't have anything else to teach him.

He closed his eyes and did the ram sign as I told him earlier. I watched how the water began to ripple slightly before it became more noticeable. He stopped and sighed heavily. "Did it work?" He asked.

"It did!" I genuinely smiled for the first time in months. "Look" I pointed to the rippling water.

He looked astonished as did the sign again. "Once more!" He exclaimed with that big smile of his.

"Once more," I repeated noticing the sky losing its blue color for a more orangish one.

Once he had finished his second try he stepped out of the water and shook his legs to get the water out of his shoes. As we headed back into the village he stopped and ran into the bush noticing something. He lifted the thing he saw when his eyes sparkled as if something incredible popped into his head. Noticing this odd behavior I tried to see what he saw but he hid it underneath his shirt before I could see it.

"Thank you, Yukino-chan for today. I just remembered something." He ran back to the forest path when he turned around when I noticed something a book, no magazine like item in hidden underneath his shirt. "Bye!" he yelled looking back while holding onto the something in his shirt. Laughing quietly to myself and his odd behavior I began making my way back to the village.

・・・

Walking through the village I made my way to the cemetery with a small smile on my lips. Standing in front of my friend's grave I noticed the wilting flowers, looking around me for anyone around I placed my hands on either side of the flowers and began focusing my chakra to my eyes I opened them to reveal pale grayish eyes giving off a soft glow like the moon. Focusing on the flowers I began reversing their time. Slowly the wilting flowers began to stand up and bloom beautifully as they once did. Closing my eyes I deactivated my eyes and began to talk to the grave. "I will stop sulking so don't watch over me I heard that's something the dead could do," I said as a matter of factly before going silent and being serious. "I want to be the one to tell you everything once my time comes. Alright?" I opened my eyes and somewhat lighter. Looking up at the stars appearing in the sky I stood up to leave. "Goodbye."

Exiting the cemetery I was met with the silent black fox. "Oh. Misa-san." I walked towards her making a mind link. I've always wondered why she never spoke when I remembered that Hina (right, girl twin) told me that she kept so many secrets even opening her mouth will let one escape. But now that I thought of it I should stop listening to those two since they were always playing around.

°Yukino-san.° she nodded staying silent as she did the flower on her hair moved gently on her hair.

"Is there anything wrong?" I asked snapping out of my thoughts when I noticed that it was later than our usual meeting time.

°No.° she shook her head gently and put her hand in the pocket of her dress, °Kuzunoha-hime gave me this to deliver.° she took out a paper folded in two and handed it over. °She said that it was from Tsukiyomi-san.°

Curious about the contents of the letter I began unfolding it and tried to read the contents. The barrier grants access of passage for those who reside in Inari-mountain, are of Uzumaki descent, as well as myself. I also wish to inform you that you have permission to go beyond your studies. Turning the paper around I realized that that was it. 'After a year of no communication that's it?!' I was shocked hoping that there would be more.

°She suggested you burn it afterward.° Misa-san told me cutting the connection herself. She fixed the flower on her head and nodded silently in the usual way she did to say goodbye. Looking at the note in my hand I held it tightly and headed home to carry out the task.

・Days later・

Walking to the Uchiha home earlier than I usually did I touched my satchel to make sure I still had the object I was to return in it. Arriving at the Uchiha residence I knocked on the door and waited. The door slid open and I saw Mikoto-san with a bento in her hands. "Morning. Sasuke forgot his notebook." I was about to dive in for it when she stopped me with a gentle hand.

"Sasuke already left." she informed when she saw me glance at the bento she had in her hand, "Yukino, can you please give him his bento, he forgot it." I nodded and she handed me the bento which I placed on top of the other two I already had inside my satchel.

Walking to school with the extra weight I sighed remembering that I didn't have much to do today. Shaking my head I stopped and slapped my cheeks before pulling my lips up in the form of a smile, removing my hands I kept the smile and tried thinking positively.

Entering the empty school I looked around and noticed that there were barely any students around. Upon reaching the classroom I noticed that the door was open a slightly, reaching for the handle I was about to open the door when I heard voices from inside. I really wanted to enter and deliver the bento but the nosy part of me told me to stay and listen "Sasuke-kun. I… I really like you." The girl said quietly. Hearing footsteps approaching from behind me I turned around and spotted Naruto yawning and looking more tired than usual. 'Weird.' I placed a finger on my lips and turned around in time to hear Sasuke's response.

"I don't like you," Somehow Naruto was able to hear and was now fully awake and at the door listening as well.

"B-but why?!" The girl exclaimed as I could hear the tears threatening to fall.

"I like girls with long hair." Assuming that he just said it as a way to get her to stop talking, I shook my head in disapproval. 'He could have said it some other way.' Hearing her footsteps approaching the door quickly I moved from the door and pulled the other boy back, covering his mouth as we were staying close to the wall. Watching the short haired girl run in the other direction with tears in her eyes I looked at her and felt sort of bad.

"Hey." I heard Naruto's small whisper. Turning around I saw him point to my hair. "Now that I think about it. Your hair is really long." Looking at my hair I realized that it was true since it has already reached my waist. "It's like you didn't cut it at all the whole year." At this, his face lit up, "Hey if you need someone to cut it I could."

"I do cut it and no I trim my hair," I said patting my hair, looking closer at it I began considering to maybe cut as he said. 'I could get in the way of training.' I thought to myself but at the same time, I didn't since it felt comforting.

"Ah." Hearing his slight realization I looked up and saw him reach for my bangs as if noticing something for the first time. "I just realized that you have red hair, it looks pretty." He said letting go and smiling with that dumb grin of his.

Blushing at the compliment I remembered his bento. "Here." I dug into my satchel and took out the orange and black bento that was it between the white and blue one with the Uzumaki clan crest on it and the dark blue one with the Uchiha crest on it.

"Yum. Thank you." He was about to eagerly take it when I pulled it away from his grasp.

"You know how embarrassing it is when someone compliments my appearance."

"I know, but it is true." he snatched the bento from my hand and ran inside before I could stop him. Feeling my face go red for the second time that I day I started to organize my stuff before heading inside.

Noticing Sasuke sitting in the usual seat looking outside with that conflicted and thoughtful gaze I placed satchel down next to him and opened it to take out the notebook and bento. "You forgot this," I told the boy handing it over to him.

"Yuki-chan?" he asked his eyes went wide and his face slowly went red. Laughing lightly when an image of a tomato popped into my head I sat down and began taking out my notebook. "Did something good happen?" He mumbled sitting up.

"I talked to Shisui and… I made a promise," I told him with a smile. "One that I will have to wait to complete." he looked at me confused but I ignored it and kept smiling. 'Just wait.'

・・・

The moment the bell rung I got up and left the classroom. Walking into the bathroom I checked the stalls to make sure it was clear before making the sign for the shadow clone technique. Poof. The clone looked around confused. "Again?" My most honest clone responded.

"You know I need to look for a loophole," I explained to her as I began to take off my satchel. After the note that Tsukiyomi sent me I made up my mind to become a shinobi for Konoha.

Taking the bag she put it on herself and nodded. "I know…" she began walking to the door before stopping. "Don't get caught."

"I won't," I told her as I opened the window to leave.

Looking around for any wandering adults or kids I jumped out and latched onto the wall as I made my way to the teachers' office. Reaching it I looked inside before closing my eyes and scanning the office. Opening my eyes I opened the window and climbed in. Stepping quietly inside I looked for the important files I needed. Finding the teachers' manual in the desk of one of the teachers I flipped through it for the rules regarding students graduating and their qualifications. Finding the page I stopped and began to read. Times of war… I skimmed through it more 'Here.' A student is allowed to take the examination even if it is not their time and as such be allowed to graduate early. Flipping through more pages I found when and where the exams would take place before closing it quietly. 'There is no need for me to stay here,' I told myself as I tried to convince myself that early graduation was a good thing for me. Finding what I needed I placed the manual back where I found it and quickly left the room where I came from before anyone else came into the room.

Kamen's POV

Sitting in the teacher's office I saw the man with a scar over his nose stare at me with a shocked expression on his face. "Are you sure about this? If you do that you will be separating your child from her closest friends." The man tried to rationalize.

・

Flashback

Yukino came into the living room and sighed giving me her report card. Looking at it I saw a slight decrease in grades which placed her in second out of her whole class by one point. "Can I see the one from the year before?" She plopped herself on the couch and handed me the previous report card that she pulled out from one of her portals. 'She's become really good at that.' Looking at the date and grades I suspected at first that it was due to the loss of her friend but then noticed that her grades had been dropping since before then.

"Oh, well seems that I will have to transfer to another class since the one I'm in is so distracting." The girl leaned back on the couch dramatically.

"What's going on?" I asked knowing that it wasn't the case by her obvious display of distress.

The girl sat up and started explaining her worries for the youngest Uchiha friend struggling to get his father's attention. "So... I thought that by transferring then he will be the only one with the top grades. I don't know what else to do if my grades drop to low then the old man will start putting people to watch me." She sat up and placed her hands together. "Can you help?" As she did she slipped me a plan of my role, opening it and looking it over I smiled proudly, 'I taught her well.'

Flashback end

・

Placing my hands on my knees I nodded. "Yes, even she seems to agree."

The man sighed and nodded, "It's been a pleasure to teach such a great student." Seeing this made it hard for me to accept the transfer since he seemed like such a caring guy. 'If this is her wish then I have to allow it.'

I was about to say something to compliment him and his teaching but then I realized that it wouldn't have aligned with what I was doing. "Thank you," I said instead hesitantly.

・・・

Walking into her home I found her leaning over the kitchen table in deep thought with a sheet of paper and many markers around her. "You are officially in a new class," I told her as I leaned over the paper to see what she was so focused on. Her hair draped over the paper as she flipped it over her shoulder to get it out of the way. 'How come I just realized how long her hair has gotten…'

"Really?!" She exclaimed happily breaking through my thoughts. "Thank you so much!" She ran up to me and gave me a quick hug before running back to her paper.

"What are you working on?" I asked intrigued at this point. While doing so I held her hair began braiding it so it wouldn't bother her.

The girl looked immediately up delighted that someone finally asked messing what I did by a bit. "You see Naruto has been leaving school earlier recently." She tapped a red box. "When I visited the village I saw him at a bookstore," she pointed at another box, "then at the hot springs," she pointed to another area in her map as she did I tied her hair with a string I had on me. "He's hiding something and I know it." She finished placing her hand under her chin in deep thought "and I will find out." Placing my hand on her shoulder I bent down and explained to her that he will tell her when he felt ready. She closed her eyes and crossed her arms, "I understand."

Small time skip brought to you by Hinata and Yukino sparing at the Hyūga household. Along with each other them sharing pointers as to how to fight.

Extra scene. Naruto showing Yukino special technique he has been working on.

3rd POV

Passing by a huge lake a little girl spotted a raven-haired boy with his father standing at the edge of a dock, curious as to what was happening she walked down to the lake and stood near the edge to watch what was happening. Recognizing the signs of the fireball jutsu that the brown-haired man was making she moved a couple of steps back and saw the area around her suddenly become illuminated in a red glow, the heat of the flame reached her from where she was as she saw the huge ball of fire above the lake. After a while, the flames disappeared leaving only the vapor as a sign that the technique was used. She watched Sasuke go up the edge of the dock as well and tried the technique only to create a small weak flame compared to the one she just saw. From where she was she was able to see that once again Fugaku-san said something to upset Sasuke as the young boy lowered his head slightly. Standing up she hoped that with her transfer things would be better for him.

Already halfway to her home, she decided to head to the training grounds since she still had a couple of hours before the sun will set completely. Making her way to training grounds 3 she began to practice on her shuriken throwing. Holding a couple of shuriken in hand she tried to do the same thing she saw Itachi do once, aiming for a target by deflecting it with another shuriken. "Yuki-chan!" She heard a cheerful voice call out to her. As she looked back she saw her brown-haired friend waving at her with a smile, collecting her shuriken quickly the little girl made her way to her to see what her friend wanted. "I see you're training as well." She said noticing the shuriken she had in her small hands.

"I am," She said looking down at the shuriken before placing them back in her satchel. "Hey, is it fine if we spar together?" She asked realizing that she hasn't really trained much for actual combat or genjutsu in the last few weeks.

"Are you sure?"

"With everything you got," She told her hoping that she would agree to it.

She smiled, "Just so you know I'm really strong." she winked. Placing her satchel on the ground the little girl stood across from her friend and readied herself. "Just so you know I won't be using my Sharingan." The girl shook her head and disagreed with her knowing that if she ever entered real combat her opponent wouldn't have the courtesy to go easy. Something popped in the girl's as she began laughing quietly. "Hey… What's funny?" The other girl asked confused.

"This." The girl smirked as she did the ram sign. Poof! A puff of smoke enveloped her and the other girl looked at her confused. When the smoke cleared the girl's face went red and she screamed looking away from the thing in front of her. As she was doing this the smoke began to clear and the fit form of a man appeared in all its naked totality. The black-eyed and raven-haired young male bowed before her and held her hand gently, "Izumi-chan~" he whispered seductively. The little girl had worked on the technique that her blond-haired friend had taught her, by using the technique she came up with an idea as to what her friend may be attracted to for it to work perfectly.

With eyes tightly closed the girl shook her head furiously. "No! That's perverted Yuki-chan!" She said swinging her arm around trying to create space between her and the transformed girl. Backing away quickly the jutsu became undone the moment she lost focus.

The little girl watched her friend's flushed face began to laugh quietly. Hearing this her friend opened her eyes and ran to the little girl and swooped her up in a tight hug. "No…" the little girl whined trying to squirm away knowing what she was going to do.

"This is for doing that!" Her friend began to tickle her as the younger one tried to squirm away laughter and tears.

・・・

After about an hour of exchanging blows and dodging each other they both stopped gasping for a small break, the little girl placed her hands on my knees as her hair become a wild mess covering almost her whole face, with one hand she brushed it back while still keeping her eyes on her weakening opponent. All this time her friend hadn't activated her eyes which is what she wanted. "How much stamina do you have?" Her friend asked through her shallow breaths. Watching her friend carefully she waited for the moment that she blinked for her to teleport on top of her.

As she was thinking this her friend blinked and she activated her eyes to slow down time for an extra second so she could ready herself to deliver a kick to the brown haired girl. The moment she undid the technique she kept her eyes activated in case she needed to use it again when the brown-eyed girl looked up with her Sharingan activated. A click occurred within the young girl as her activated eyes connected with her friend's crimson red ones. At that moment her body went limp and she began falling down. "Yuki-chan!" her friend screamed as she ran towards her to catch the falling girl.

After a while of being caught the girl snapped out of it and sat up confused as to what happened. Her worried friend was watching her confused as to what happened since she didn't use a genjutsu against her. "What happened?" She asked.

"What happened?" The little girl asked looking around. "I don't know," she said confused herself.

Tsukiyomi's POV

Seven years and six months that's how long it has been since she created her. She had to do this if she wanted to see results, she had to become stronger she just had to if there was to be a chance for the future she sought. Looking up from the ruins of a forgotten village she teleported away to the village where she knew her experiment was growing in. Standing in front of the home she was informed that the girl was currently staying at and entered and waited for the return of the girl.

"Tsukiyomi-san?" she heard a small voice ask, stiffening she tugged on the hem of her sleeve slightly before having the strength to look at her.

"Yukino…" I said looking at the girl who looked the same way the day I left her just slightly taller. The girl rubbed her eyes and looked up once again to be sure of who she was seeing. Noticing something different about her I asked, "Is something wrong?" The girl squinted and rubbed her eyes again.

"Something happened while I was sparing," she said rubbing her eyes once again.

"Was your dōjutsu activated?" I asked hoping that it was what I was hoping for. The girl nodded and rubbed her eyes once again. "Did they use their dōjutsu?" The girl nodded and stood still trying to open her eyes. A smile tugged on lips as I realized that it might be what I was hoping for. Standing up from the couch I walked up to the girl and sat her down on the couch. 'It's time I told her…' I thought to myself happily, "close your eyes and listen."

The girl nodded and kept her eyes shut. "You are not like everyone else… you are special." I told her while holding on to her shoulders as the girl was hearing this she furrowed her eyebrows confused. "Because I made you this way." The girl tried opening her eyes but I placed my hands over them.

"Made me?" she asked.

"Yes, made you by now you should have suspected that you were different from your peers." The girl stayed silent slowly realizing what I said was true. "You seem to be my first successful creation, your eyes, your memory, even your growing abilities. They were part of my plan for you."

"Successful? That means that there were failures," she asked as I noticed her hands that were placed neatly on her lap began shaking.

"There was one. Unfortunately, her body couldn't handle it and she passed away at an early age." I explained to her as I began smoothing out her hair. "You, however, made it this long… it makes me so happy." I placed my head on hers watching how her hands stopped shaking. "The process to make you was hard it required the use of someone with Uzumaki blood and the edited sample I already had to create your eyes." 'It had to be an Uzumaki,' I left out as I closed my eyes. "I was hoping to use a full-blooded one but the sample was mixed with another which is where your blonde hair comes from. So technically you do have biological parents. Four to be exact, when I discovered a rather interesting one hidden away." Noticing a strand of red hair I twirled it around with my finger. "The red comes from the edited sample, so as you grow your genetic makeup will change and as proof, your hair will as well." Tilting her head up I touched slightly her nose. "As you grow up these changes will become more visible, your looks, abilities and even your eyes will change in power depending on which genes become more prevalent." I continued patting her hair and noticed for the first time how hopeful I had become. "Maybe someday you will meet someone with your eyes and you will see just how different yours are. For now, we will have to wait and see if your eyes really work and whether or not you can recreate your opponents dōjutsu." Standing up I let go of her hair and patted her head. "Your eyes may hurt for a while so rest until it is gone."

Yukino's POV

Hearing this revelation I sat in the living room quietly even after she left I stayed there thinking about all this. Sighing I held my arms close and came to the realization why I was told to keep the anklets on at all times. Hearing the clink of them as I moved my feet closer to myself I remembered the engravings within, 'Are these what's keeping me alive?' I asked myself, a part of me was relieved to have actually listened and kept them on for this long. 'So that's what I am…' I asked myself clutching my head feeling how my eyes began to burn.

・1 week later・

Looking at my reflection I touched my face slightly in disbelief of what I was seeing. My usual azure eyes were glowing in a crimson red with a single black tomoe in each. "No…" I repeated for the third time that day. After the pain had disappeared I thought that I might've dreamt the whole interaction with Tsukiyomi-san since I passed out from the pain afterward. How I ended up in my room the day after, I had no idea.

Focusing on deactivating it, the red eyes slowly dimmed until it became black, focusing even more in returning my eyes to normal I waited for a couple of more seconds as my now black eyes began to regain their blue coloring. Relieved that it wasn't permanent I felt calm knowing that I wouldn't have to explain how it happened. 'I need to hide this.' I thought as I grabbed my cloak pulling the hood up and then headed out my room to sort through everything I've been told.

Crossing the bridge into the village a person came to mind to who I could somewhat confine in the changes that had occurred within me. Reaching the building of the one I was looking for I hesitated before going in. Standing in front of the wooden door I once crossed through I knocked a couple of times hoping that the resident would be inside. Quietly waiting I heard shuffling from within and looked impatiently at the door.

The door creaked open and a sleepy boy opened the door with a huge yawn. "Yuki-chan?" He was able to mumble as he rubbed his eyes.

"Can I come in?" I asked.

"Sure." He mumbled moving aside.

After taking off my shoes I went into his room and saw how messy it had become once more. Noticing the clothes thrown on the floor I grabbed a few and began folding nervously. Looking around the room I saw the boy plant himself once again on his bed with a large sigh. "Hey. Naruto if I was a wolf, demon or monster would you still be my friend?" I hesitantly asked.

Looking up from his pillow he sat up and tipped his head to the side confused as to what I was asking. "Yes. Why?" he asked still half asleep.

"If I wasn't really human?" I asked him while looking away. Waiting for his answer I began to pick up a couple of things on the floor nervously not really knowing why I was asking this instead.

"Of course." He responded now more awake. "What's wrong is someone calling you names? Tell me who and I will fight them!" He stood up immediately from his bed.

Shaking my head I exhaled. "Do you promise?"

"Of course we will always be friends!" He walked towards me and placed a hand on my shoulder. "What's wrong?" He asked once again.

Slumping my forward I sighed relieved, "you better promise." I told him while wrapping my pinky around his. Hugging him tightly I made a silent promise, 'No matter what I find you a place to call home.' Pulling away I looked around, "Now help me clean your room."

・・・

Waiting until nighttime I snuck out of my house in my sleeping clothes and headed to the edge of the village, looking back I turned and ran to my destination. The old broken shrine.

Finding it I sat on one of the steps and waited. I had left a note for Itachi to find to meet me here past midnight since it was the only place I knew wasn't being watched by the Anbu. With the silent sounds of the night to keep me company I waited.

"Is something wrong?" Looking at the person coming out of the trees I saw Itachi with the note I left in his hand.

"It's about something I found out recently…" I said glancing down at my anklets peeking from the edge of my white dress.

"Tell me." He sat down on the step next to me. Glancing at him I sighed and began explaining to him the purpose of my anklets with the engravings on them as well as my knowledge of knowing their curiosity about them. After telling him this I hesitated for a while before explaining everything about my eyes knowing that it wasn't allowed. Reaching the end I exhaled relieved to have that off my chest. "So that's the reason why you never took them off." He finally said after everything I told him.

"Yes…" I sighed leaning back on the step behind me. "Do you think Sasuke will still be my friend if I wasn't human like he thought," I asked him thinking that he may look at me with the same eyes that the village used when looking at Naruto.

"... I'm sure he will," he told me.

Sitting back up I smiled slightly, "thank you." Standing up I stretched and stood in front of him. "Can I help you with anything?" I asked him hoping to be able to help him with Shisui's last request.

He sat there and looked around when he noticed the broken clan symbol on the roof of the shrine. "May I borrow your library?" he asked.

"Tell me when," I told him before heading up the stairs. "I'll be here for a while…" I turned around and gave him a sheepish grin before disappearing into the shadows of the shrine.

Stepping over the broken boards I roamed deeper into the shrine in the area I saw Tsukiyomi wander into once long ago. Coming to a stop I looked down into the dark stairway leading into pitch blackness. Remembering that my eyes emitted a glow I choose to activate them to have some light but instead I was able to see everything clearly. Hearing one of the floorboards creak I turned around and saw Itachi looking at the dark stairwell as well as my eyes. "Did Shisui know about your eyes?"

"No. I don't think I ever told him everything about what they can do." I looked down feeling ashamed. "I wanted to show you two what they could do but I've been told not to." I laughed it off looking down at the darkness looming below.

"I've never heard of your dōjutsu before," he told me after a while of silence looking at him surprised I saw him looking carefully at my eyes. "I wonder why?"

"I don't know," I told him now realizing this huge fact. "Usually dōjutsu are mentioned along with the clan information." Looking down into the stairway I made up my mind. "Wanna explore with me."

"I'll make a torch," he said as he was about to turn around.

Stopping him I began pulling him down with me. "There are fourteen steps then a platform turning right and a couple of more steps." As we walked down in silence I tripped on my own but was caught by my arm.

"Are you okay?" I heard Itachi ask as he was making sure I was steady. Deactivating my eyes after being startled I stared into the darkness and was stunned for a moment at how close the voice sounded.

"Mhm," I said embarrassed by how close we were so in an attempt to make space between us I stumbled to the side and hit the wall with my back. Stepping back I noticed how there was a glowing symbol on the wall I was going to point it out when it began to dim and the rest of the way down became illuminated by small flames that rested on the small ledges poking out from the wall. "Light," I whispered as I walked down and looked around seeing a total of five rooms the hallway. One door was at the end of the hallway and the others were across each other.

Looking back at Itachi I saw him touching the engraving in the wall. "It must have reacted when you bumped into it." He said coming down while glancing at the doors. "What are you going to do now?"

"Look around," I told him as I headed to the nearest room. Looking thoroughly through each of the four rooms facing each other I finally reached the last door at the end of the hallway. I didn't know what I expected to find when I searched the rooms but I just wanted to know a bit more from the clan I've been told I belonged to.

Opening the door I saw how it was just like all of them with the difference being in the size. The room was smaller only capable of fitting one person. Dropping to the ground my hand grazed the edge of the bed and I dragged myself underneath feeling for anything odd.

"Find anything?" I asked as I was dragging myself out.

"Nothing. What are you trying to find?"

I heard him ask but didn't answer as I brushed myself off and sighed dropping myself onto the bed. "Information about this great old clan that I rarely know about other than that it was destroyed before I was born," I told him as I sat up immediately brushing off the dust that I just threw myself onto.

"Then why are you interested?" He asked genuinely curious.

"There is barely any information in the village and it is the only place that I could think of joining and be considered normal," I told him when I realized something. "Why do you believe me?" I told him seeing how he was taking all that I told him without trying to ask or pry further.

"When you lie your eyes begin to wander." He began chuckling as I looked at him wide-eyed before going red. 'I failed you, Kamen-san.'

Seeing how I wasn't able to get away with lying I felt defeated. "I didn't know… I guess I just have to improve in that." I sighed as I noticed one of the wall lights were off. Standing on the bed I touched it for anything when it shifted down suddenly. The sound of stone sliding again stone could be heard somewhere in the shrine as I turned around to see Itachi hearing the sound as well. Jumping off the bed I opened the door and saw a hole at the end of the hallway.

Reaching the hole by the staircase I looked inside without passing the line where the wall once was. "It could have traps." I heard Itachi say as he looked inside as well. Nodding I took out a kunai from my dress and threw it in front of me. Nothing. Taking a deep breath I stepped into the room to see the room light up like before. Glancing at the wall I held my hand up noticing something. "There is some kind of marking…" I told him inspecting the symbols. Nodding at what I read I went to the door and stepped back into the hallway, looking at Itachi I held out my hand. "Only those of the clan may enter. All who aren't shall never leave but those guided may," I told him. "Do you still want to?" He nodded and looked inside.

After guiding him in we split up and began looking around. "There are so many techniques I never heard off before." I heard Itachi say from one part of the room. "These have no names."

"I know there is so much to seー" cutting myself off I gasped amazed at a beautiful naginata propped up on the wall.

"Are you okay?" I heard from across the room.

"Yes," I responded as I looked around for something to stand on. Taking the naginata down I placed it right next to me and saw how it was too big for me. 'That's too bad. I wanted my own weapon.' Placing the weapon back I looked around the room and began looking at the scrolls. Most of them were covered in seals but a few were just left sitting there mixed with the sealed ones. Picking one up I read its name. Mind's Eye of the Divine Entertainment. Opening the scroll I saw how it could be extremely useful for me.

"I've been thinking for a while." I heard suddenly. Looking up I saw Itachi place down another scroll. "What kind of shinobi are going to be? Your abilities vary so much."

"Mostly a sensor. But I will still learn how to defend myself so I don't end up vulnerable." I told him by handing him the scroll. "I think Shisui would have agreed." Looking at the black-eyed boy next to me I saw him nod with a small smile. Smiling in response I let out a sigh and began to concentrate on the size and shape of the room. Activating my eyes I made sure to create a private space just like it in my realm. "There are a couple of hours till sunrise, you should head back," I told Itachi as I made a portal to a room just like the one I was standing in.

"What are you going to do?"

"I can't leave this here, so I will put it away somewhere safe," I told him as I began to gather the scrolls from one shelf.

"There is still time so let me help you." He said grabbing the scrolls I was holding.

"Thanks. Make sure to put it in the exact shelf." I told him as he passed to the other side and I saw him place a scroll in the wrong place.

・・・

"Thank you. I will finish up." I told Itachi as we stood outside the shrine.

"You have a family here so why do you want to leave?" He asked remembering what I said earlier.

"Kamen-san isn't my father like both of you thought he is my guardian for the time being. He might be the first person I actually think as a parent though…" I told him as I realized this.

"Then what is the real reason for finding your clan members?" Itachi asked looking at me.

Stunned for a moment I laughed quietly the moment it went away. "Oh, that." I stopped laughing and looked in the direction of the village. "Everyone in the village hates him and he doesn't have anyone to welcome him home."

"Is it Naruto?"

Nodding I looked at him and at the ground. "I thought that if he had someone who shared his blood that he would have somewhere he would be accepted without being looked at like a monster." Sighing I continued. "Just like in the Uchiha, you all stand up for each other if anything feels wrong. If I could find such a place then I could take him there and he will be happy. But I know he won't he loves this place, this is where his dream is." Looking at him I smiled. "But I won't stop looking just in case."

Next day

After finding Sasuke alone training by the lake I sat by the edge and watched as he tried to do the fireball jutsu as his father did. Standing up once I knew he was about done I began walking towards him at the end of the dock. "Sasuke," I said to grab his attention.

He turned around immediately and looked at me as if he was looking at a ghost. Which would have been true due to my transfer recently. "Y-yuki-chan," he said trying to cover the bandages on his face.

"Can I ask you something?" I told him as I sat down by the end of the dock with my feet hanging off the edge. He nodded and did the same as I did. Looking at the lake I exhaled, "Would you still be my friend if I turned out to be a monster or not really a human?" I asked him looking him in the eye.

He looked confused at the question but nodded. "Of course you are my friend."

"Do you promise?" I asked him once again.

"Yes because… I… you're my close friend." He said as if he tried to say something else but couldn't.

Extending my hand I showed him my pinky and he shook it with his. "It's a promise. Now," I patted my lap, "so I could heal your face before it scars."

・