Chapter 6: A part of

The Uchiha clan is one of the largest and most influential clans in Konohagakure. Their kekkei genkai, the Sharingan is, together with the Byakugan of the Hyuuga, the most potent visual power to be ever inherited through blood. But not all who are born in the Uchiha clan possess the famed Sharingan. While the genes for it could be present in every member of the clan, one needs to awaken it; through pain, trauma and suffering the members of the Uchiha clan become powerful. 

You can imagine that in times of war and strife, such moments come in abundance. And this is why, after two great wars the Uchiha's are one of the most powerful clans in the history of ninja. 

-Extract from 'The History of Nations'-

– A part of –

-Yahizui-

As the sun was setting over Konoha, bathing it in hues of gold and orange, Yahizui walked down a road she knew by heart. It all started two years ago, after the horrifying dream about the sand demon. The helplessness of that day haunted her still. The pain of seeing everything she loved being crushed before her, gave birth to a firm resolve. Strength, power, all for the sake of never having to lose a loved one again. This was what drove her, what pushed her past her limits and made her grow.

Yet beyond her quest to grow in strength and skill, Yahizui missed her life in the desert the most. The mornings where she'd gather dew, the hours spent hunting lizards under the scorching sun, the village, her parents. She needed a place to call her own, something to connect her to her past. At first, she didn't want to tell Riruka, didn't want to bother the woman with something so… personal, but her guardian had gotten under her skin, so one late evening, between tears of loneliness and sighs, she made her request.

The next week, in a sunny corner of the Konoha cemetery, stood a slab of stone with two names engraved on it: Shourai Amaya and Saito – loving parents.

Yahizui knelt in front of the grave, arranging the potted cacti to make sure that they got enough sunshine.

"Hello Mama, hello Papa! I got an A on my taijutsu class today, pretty cool, eh?" She grinned, imagining how her father would smile and how her mother's eyes would twinkle in delight.

"I think the sensei wasn't really happy about giving me that grade though," she continued with a thoughtful frown. "He looked like he'd swallowed something really nasty when he wrote my grade." The idea bothered her for a moment, as it always did before she brushed it away. Who cared what they thought - as long as she did well, there was nothing they could do about it. 

"You know… sometimes I still miss Itachi, and hanging out with him during lunchtime. He's a genin now, out on all kinds of missions…we rarely get to meet up and train anymore." Her voice quieted; the thought of the distance between herself and her first friend was depressing. Sure, she had Tojiro and a few other civilian friends whom she visited every couple of days, but she missed Itachi and his social clumsiness. He was happy though; she could see that. The rivalry he had with Tenma and Shinko's gentle mothering, did him good. He had friends now, and because of that, she didn't want to be sad that they spent less time together. Yahizui looked at the gravestone, forcing a smile. There was no need to get all sappy in front of them, or they would never believe she's grown up at all!

"Well, I still have Tojiro, and we continue to bravely defend the rights of all civilian-born ninjas out there! Although, it's just him and me now, so not much to defend…"

Out of the six members of their 'civilian ninja group' – as they dubbed themselves, the two of them were the only ones left. The pressure of the classes had taken its toll. Instructors operated on the premise that children got extra tips from their parents; most did. Yet civilian kids had no knowledgeable parents to turn to, no one to explain how chakra circulated in one's body, or how to channel it. Their parents couldn't help them with their shuriken technique, or their taijutsu katas. It soon became clear that civilian kids had to work more to breach the knowledge and skill gap. Not all were prepared for this. On the plus side, once the others had dropped out, the kids that bullied them got bored of attacking them and now merely ignored them. After all, what was the fun of attacking someone who fought back all the time?

"I guess that's about all…oh! I almost forgot!" She pulled out a scroll from her hip pouch, her small fingers gently moving over the faded paper. "I found this in the library, totally by chance! I was there looking for material about chakra control – since Sensei said it will be a big topic next year, and I want to be prepared – when I found this next to it!" She gently opened the scroll and read the title.

"Fundamentals of Sealing – by Uzumaki Mito. It's amazing! Mito-sama says that you can do anything with seals and that real seal masters can make the impossible possible just by using seals! Here's what it says: The nature of fuininjutsu is a delicate braid between coding and chakra. To create a seal one requires precision, creativity, and a strong, steady intent…."

Yahizui spent the next hour reading them the words of a woman she already admired above all others, careful to enunciate every word and peppering each explanation with her own interpretations. She loved coming here. It made her feel closer to them in a way she knew was no longer possible. So, she came here with her joys and her sorrows, looking for clarity in the ever-patient, silent stone of an empty grave.

On her way back, Yahizui stopped, as always, at the Inari tea shop to get a cup of matcha. She had almost reached the shop when the sitting figure of Shinko got her attention. She was at the teahouse's doorstep, hugging her knees as her shoulders shook with sobs.

"Shinko-san, what happened? Why are you crying?" Yahizui knelt next to the older girl, placing a hand on her trembling shoulder.

Shinko's skin was cold through the thin material of her top. How long had she been here? How come no one saw her? Yahizui's green eyes softened with worry, her hand moving in circular, soothing motions over the girl's back.

Shinko lifted her head, her brown eyes filled with tears. "T-tenma … Tenma is dead!" were the only words she managed to utter before tears overcame her once more.

What? The news hit Yahizui like a punch to the gut. Dead… he'd been a genin for a year, these were peaceful times; how could he have died?

"What…-what happened?" Yahizui asked, her voice strained with shock.

Shinko shook her head as another sob escaped her. "W-we were on a mission… guarding the daimyo's guests a-at an important meeting. A-an assassin came out of nowhere, trying to kill them… Itachi… he intervened, but the assassin was too strong. T-tenma… he pushed Itachi away…he took the blow meant for him…" At the end, there was a lost look in Shinko's eyes before tears fell once more down her pale cheeks.

Dead, killed in action.

Yahizui watched the girl in shock. Her heart was beating erratically, and even as she held a hand on Shinko's shoulder to calm her down, she could feel her own panic starting to rise. This was their destiny; this was what academy instructors were hinting at every week during tactical class. Even during peace, they could die at any time. In their stupid, childish minds they thought they were ready for it. They all thought they would be heroes, that they would gladly lay down their lives for what's right, but most had no idea what that meant. Most had no idea how much it hurt to lose someone.

What about Itachi? Her heart skipped a beat. How was he dealing with this? A desperate need overtook her. She needed to see him, she needed to make sure he was okay. With one last squeeze of Shinko's trembling shoulder and a quick worried look in her direction, the redhead stepped away, intending to reach the Uchiha district as soon as possible.

She was panting by the time she reached the compound gate, crimson bangs sticking to her sweaty forehead.

"Where…w-here?"

The Uchiha standing guard just stared at her, looking unimpressed, so she took a few seconds to catch her breath. When she had recovered enough, she tried again.

"Where's Itachi? I have to see him!"

"Not possible," answered the police guard in a bored voice. "Today is a special day for Itachi-sama, and upon special instruction from Fugaku-sama, no one is to disturb him."

He was giving her the condescending look that adults usually reserved for troublesome children – a mixture of annoyance and a particular brand of superiority Yahizui had come to associate with those who came from large or powerful clans. Clearly, the man thought a girl like her had no business looking for their Uchiha heir.

"Look, old man," she sneered. "I have to see Itachi, and I have to see him right now. So let me pass!"

"Such insolence coming from someone so low," he all but spat the words at her, his face contorting into a mask of disgust. "How dare you speak so before your betters, you dirty little rat?"

His eyes shone with malice as he reached out to grab her, his fingers gripping her thin wrist before she could run away.

Yahizui immediately pushed back, struggling to free herself from the vice-like grip. I-I can't get loose! Panic followed soon after, eyes widening at the nasty smirk the man was sporting. 

"Kofu-san, what are you doing?"

Kofu stopped, his body freezing. There was an ominous aura in the air, hurtling toward them like an icy winter wind. Yahizui froze as well, suddenly afraid. Was this killing intent? Her eyes darted left and right, trying in vain to locate the voice that seemed so familiar, yet so alien.

Shisui flashed before them, his mouth set in an unforgiving line, slanted eyes narrowed to mere slits. Yahizui gulped, goose bumps rising on her arms. It was like staring into the eyes of a predator, one that would have no qualms crushing you with their strength. This was the power of a true shinobi, what she strove to become.

"Shisui-san… this little runt is disrupting the public order!" Kofu shook Yahizui's arm with a disgusted sneer carved on his face. "Maybe a night at the police station will make you rethink your words!" He said to her.

Shisui took slow steps toward the pair, his aura seeping into the ground like the morning frost of a winter morning. "Kofu-san, release the girl. She's with me."

Yahizui relaxed. The threat was not heading her way. For a moment, she had actually been afraid of him; of his eyes, of his coldness. This person was not the silly Shisui that she knew. He was not even the severe or thoughtful Shisui she saw from time to time. This was the deadly shinobi, the Shisui that was jumping through the ranks as others through trees - a deadly weapon: Shisui of the Body Flicker.

The guard released her as though burnt. Shisui gave him a final cold stare before placing a hand on Yahizui's shoulder and flash-stepped them to the lake at the outskirts of the Uchiha compound.

Before Yahizui had time to realize what was happening, Shisui's slanted eyes were right in front of her nose, giving her an admonishing look.

"Don't ever go to the district without Itachi or me!" he said in a sharp voice. He moved back, his hands further messing up his already chaotic hair. "Geez, what were you thinking? Yahizui, most Uchiha don't mingle much with others, and coming here acting like you own the place will give you nothing but trouble. Itachi and I appreciate your spunk and all, but you gotta be careful!"

Yahizui bowed her head, her shoes digging into the grass below her feet. Be careful, know your place… the words haunted her. What was it about these clans that was so special? What was it that got them thinking that they were better than anyone else? Her fists tightened as ire bubbled just beneath the surface. She'd just about had enough of it! The whispers from those stuck-up classmates, the glances some instructors still sent her way, the superiority of the Uchiha…

"What's wrong with you people?" she demanded, tears gathering in her eyes as she glared angrily at Shisui. "Know your place, behave! Y'all act like anyone who's not from a shinobi family has no place among you! I don't wanna behave, and I don't wanna know my place! I just want to go and see my friend! What's wrong with that?"

Shisui watched with wide eyes as Yahizui poured her heart out with teary eyes and red cheeks. "There's nothing wrong with that, Hizui… " he answered softly.

Yahizui's breath hitched at the defeated tone in his voice. "So then?" she asked with renewed hope. "Can you take me to him?"

"No."

"What? Why?"

Shisui couldn't find the heart to look her in the eyes. "His Sharingan awakened…"

Yahizui blinked, staring at him in silence and trying to understand why the Sharingan was so important right now. Couldn't it wait for him to grieve the loss of a friend?

"I don't care about his damn Sharingan! His friend… his friend is dead, and everyone seems to care more about a stupid jutsu!" "What is wrong with you people?" She didn't understand how he could just stand there and do nothing. Was he not his friend? Was he not like a brother to him?

"Hizui… you don't understand… pain and suffering is part of being a Uchiha. And now that Itachi has experienced it, his power has awakened." Shisui's voice was quiet, monotone – like a speech that had been said too many times, losing its meaning. "This day is a day of great pride for the clan."

Her breath hitched. How can you say that? Yahizui thought with wide eyes as her heartbeat seemed to swallow the sounds around her. He didn't mean it; she knew for sure that he couldn't feel this way! This was not Shisui… Shisui didn't care about clan rules, norms, or any other crap that the adults seem to give so much meaning to.

"Snap out of it!" Yahizui shouted, her voice rising with the desperation she felt inside. "You say you're his friend, his brother, but when he needs you the most, you leave him alone? What kind o' sick family is this?"

Shisui said nothing as he stood before her, head bowed low in a strange sort of penitence. There was nothing he could say, or so he told himself as Yahizui stepped toward him, her tiny hands fisting in his shirt and pulling his unresponsive body to her level.

"Say something!" she cried, anger and sorrow battling in her green eyes.

"It's when one loves that they get filled with strength, and it's the loss of something you love that fills you with power. Power to fight back, power for revenge, the power to protect, the power to never let it happen again…. And there is no person in this world that loves as much as a Uchiha. When a Uchiha loves, their love has the strength of a thousand suns, it lasts forever, and it's unyielding. And when the inevitable moment comes when they lose that which they love, that sorrow fills them with power, and the Sharingan activates. It's through deep loss that we find our power to fight." Shisui pulled back, gently forcing her hands to release their grip, before turning away from her as if suddenly ashamed of himself. "This is our curse… our burden to bear…"

Yahizui stood there, trying to make sense of his words. You've gotta be kiddin' me! – She wanted to say. How stuck up, how utterly selfish of him to think that only the Uchiha could feel that pain. Everyone suffered when someone dear to them died, anyone with a heartfelt sorrow at the loss of a friend, a relative, or a parent. She had felt that pain. It stung her every day as she came upon the empty grave of her parents, as she thought of how it would have been to have them by her side. She'd felt that pain, and knew the power it could bring.

"It's..."

"I'm sorry kiddo, I really am," said Shisui in a soft voice, interrupting her. "But you can't do anything for him. This is something Itachi has to deal with on his own."

"That's not true," she said, her fists tightening as she remembered the countless days and nights when she'd had someone by her side.

A cup of hot tea, a gentle word, and a warm embrace. Those were the things that got her through her sorrow and kept the nightmares away.

"I know the pain he feels." Yahizui's eyes were shining as she looked at Shisui. "I know what he feels because I've felt it too. But I wasn't alone. I had Riruka, and she was kind to me and took me in. Itachi doesn't seem to have the rest of his clan, but how cruel can you be to leave him alone as well?"

Yahizui gritted her teeth at Shisui's continued silence. She didn't understand why he was acting like that, and she had no intention of trying. "Even if you leave him… I won't!" she said, determination taking the place of tears.

"You're a tough one to shake, kiddo!" he said with a sigh. He grinned at the surprise in her eyes, his larger hand ruffling her hair. "I like that!"

"So… you'll help me?"

He stopped for a moment, thinking it through. "There's a clan meeting this evening; that should give you a few hours alone."

"So, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

"Not so fast! The meeting is this evening, and it's not even lunchtime." A smirk appeared on his lips, at the brilliant idea he'd had. "Until then you'll stay with me. I live with my grandma. She's as blind as a bat, lost her sight years ago, but she's a tough one! I'm sure you'll like her!"

Yahizui was suddenly filled with dread. "I have the feeling I'll hate this."

-Shisui-

As evening fell over Konoha, the members of the Uchiha clan busily put on their formal clothes settled their affairs for the day, and stepped out of their homes, heading toward the sacred shrine. Shisui was among them, as was required of every member who was chuunin and above. He'd left Yahizui to her own devices, casually pointing her in the direction of Itachi's house while he carefully guided his blind grandmother down the house steps.

"She's not one of us, that one," his grandmother said in her usual wheezy voice.

Shisui wasn't the least bit surprised. Uchiha Akou was as sharp without her eyes as she had been with them. She had been a fearsome kunoichi during her youth in the First Shinobi War, dominating the battlefield with the highest, most dangerous form of their kekkei genkai: the Mangekyo Sharingan. But as per their tradition, the career of a Uchiha kunoichi was usually short-lived. Once the war ended, and her eyesight began to deteriorate, Akou was set to marry his grandfather Kagami and bare Uchiha children. Akou had had three boys, all healthy and strong, only to lose her sight a few years later, an irreversible side effect of the Mangekyo. Her husband had died protecting the second Hokage, and her children shared the same fate in Konoha's service. Now, forty-five years later, Akou was old and weathered, though her mind was as sharp as ever. This only made her being denied a place on the council of elders all the more despicable. Though Akou couldn't seem to care less… Shisui doubted it was true.

"No, she's not," replied Shisui.

"Good. This clan is a cesspool of inbred fools. We need some fresh blood."

Shisui shook his head, already knowing what his grandmother was insinuating. "Grandma, it's not fifty years ago... nowadays boys and girls can be friends without having a marriage contract between them."

"Keh, how times change…eh Shisui? Tell me, when will you give me a great-grandson?" she asked airily.

He made a face at her, thankful for once that she couldn't see. "Grandma… I'm thirteen."

"Well, maybe you snatch some high-ranked girl," continued Akou, completely ignoring his comment. "Maybe that will pull us out of this cursed exile!"

Shisui frowned. The topic of exile had been mentioned on and off during clan meetings ever since he first joined. Three and a half years ago, after the Kyuubi's terrible attack, the former Uchiha residence had been all but destroyed. They'd been right in the center of the village, and the sudden appearance of the demon had been devastating. Repairs had been made, but all at the cost of relocating them. In the span of a few weeks, the Uchiha went from being in the center of the village to being clustered in the outer rim. The shame of it still stung them, blinding them to any advantage they might have in their new location. In their minds, they saw no advantage in the abundant space, bigger houses, and proximity to their holy shrine. Neither did they care about the picturesque lake, the private training fields and the lack of constant noise at night. The clan fixated on how they had been pushed aside like a toy that was no longer wanted. It was a disgrace to the proud, old Uchiha name, and it festered in their minds. Ever since that day, the clan had slowly started cutting themselves from the village, repaying Konoha's coldness with their own. 

I wonder what's on today's meeting schedule… 

-Itachi-

Today he was alone. Itachi sat on the porch, watching the sunset over the Uchiha district as the footsteps of his parents and neighbors moved further and further away. His head felt heavy, the burden of his headband finally sinking in.

What did it mean to be a shinobi? He'd asked himself that countless times before, yet the answer kept evading him. His father once said that a shinobi is one that endures.

Had Tenma endured?

No. His life had been cut short. Tenma had sacrificed everything to save him. Did that make him less of a shinobi… Itachi didn't know – he didn't care. Dead was dead no matter how you looked at it.

There was a slight rustle in the bushes that surrounded the edge of the garden. Itachi froze, his hand silently traveling to the shuriken in his pocket. If needed, the hidden weapon compartment by the door was also within reach.

Another rustle.

There!

His wrist snapped up, deft fingers releasing the projectile with deadly accuracy. It met the tree with a thud, followed by a half panicked: "Stop, it's me!"

Itachi's eyebrows disappeared under his headband's edge. "Yahizui?" 

"Hey!" She jumped into the garden, then turned around to look at the shuriken she had barely evaded. "That was a close one."

"What are you doing here? How did you get here?"

"Shisui smuggled me inside," Yahizui said in a casual voice, looking almost smug.

Itachi didn't let himself be fooled. The shuffling of her feet and her shifty eyes told him that she was definitely nervous. Did she know? He wanted to turn around and tell her he wanted to be alone, but he didn't have the heart to say that.

"Would you like some tea?" Itachi asked instead, and at the brightening of her eyes, he nodded and invited her inside.

"Wow, your house is huge!" said Yahizui behind him. She was taking her shoes off and looking around in wonder at the expanse of the mansion.

Indeed, compared to the house they'd had before the clan moved, this was huge. The kitchen alone could comfortably fit six people, and his room was so large that it looked positively empty with the sparse furniture he had in there. But his favorite part was the large, traditional garden in the back. The beautiful green space was filled with a variety of niwaki trees, and in its center stood a pond full of koi that swam languorously through the crystal clear water. Watching them brought him a sense of peace that he rarely found elsewhere. The black pine trees were groomed to perfection, their branches made to twist, spreading horizontally like clouds in the sky above, as spotted laurel shrubs filled the empty spots between the tree trunks with their golden-green leaves. Among the calming sea of green, one tree was the center of attention: a single red maple tree, its round crown of crimson leaves rising past all others.

It was this particular tree that now had a shuriken deeply embedded in its trunk.

Itachi led Yahizui to the large kitchen, then placed a kettle on the stove and prepared the tray for tea. She still seemed nervous, her hands tugging at her sleeves, almost as if she was afraid to accidentally break something. Usually, he'd be bothered by Yahizui's strange behavior, but right now he didn't have the energy to question her about it.

Standing in the middle of a kitchen that was as big as half of Riruka's house, Yahizui fidgeted. She was here to make him feel better, to talk to him and show him that he was not alone, that there was someone who understood. So then why couldn't she bring herself to say anything? With a deep breath, she gathered her courage. 

"So..." Yahizui began, but the words died at her lips. She didn't know what to say. She was about to try again when suddenly a small figure stepped into the room, his large eyes curious.

"Nii-san?"

"Hello, Sasuke!" said Yahizui with a wave.

Sasuke froze, staring at her with wide eyes. He looked between her and Itachi, suddenly unsure of himself. "H-hello…" he finally managed to say, before running to Itachi to hide behind his legs.

"He's a shy one," said Yahizui with a smile. Little kids were so cute and with his button nose and large eyes, Sasuke was by far the cutest she'd seen so far.

Itachi looked down at the iron grip his brother had on his pants with curiosity. He was about to say something when a growl-like sound resonated from Sasuke's stomach, making him turn crimson in shame. Itachi smiled, his gaze softening; his little brother really was the cutest.

"Let's make something to eat, eh?"

-Mikoto-

Inside the Naka Shrine, the Uchiha clan gathered in silence. As the official matriarch of the clan, Uchiha Mikoto stood in silence behind her husband. The placement of each member was based on their status within the clan. In front of them all stood Fugaku, flanked by the council of elders. Behind them sat Mikoto and the wives of the elders. It was a well-known saying that the wife was the silent support who helped their ruling husband. Mikoto had always scoffed at that, and yet there she was, her head bowed in submission.

The crowd in front of them was also arranged on status. The first row had the police lieutenants and those Uchiha of jounin rank. Her brother, with his shrewd eyes and sly smile, was also there. Behind them were the chuunin and the rest of the police members, followed by those few who held civilian status.

Every single person seemed to hold their breath, waiting for the news. Finally, with one look at the elders, Fugaku began.

"Elder Asumo is dead." There was a somber note in his voice, and all bowed in respect at the news.

"He was a valuable member of this clan, a man of true strength and honor, whose counsel I valued dearly. Yet the Kamis decided it was time for him to join their heavens, where he will watch over us, together with all the spirits of our fallen brethren."

There was a collective - "May he forever guide us." – Throughout the room, followed by silence.

In the second row of the gathering, Shisui wondered what would happen next. The clan had always operated with four Elders so that when it came to crucial decisions if two were for and two were against, it would be the clan head that broke the tie. The only problem he could see was that there were no others that qualified for the job! His grandmother was the only other 'elder,' and he was sure they weren't going to take her; not only was she blind and considered useless in the clan's eyes, but she was also older than any of them and likely to not live much longer. Would they take her as a puppet figure? No… the clan wouldn't do that. But then, who else could it be?

"…would put it to the vote." Shisui cursed his wandering mind as he caught the end of Fugaku's announcement.

There was a murmur throughout the hall, and then Elder Enui spoke, gathering everyone's attention. "There is no reason to vote, Fugaku-dono. Once we've heard the news of Asumo-dono's passing, the Council conveyed and chose a suitable replacement."

A muscle twitched in Fugaku's jaw.

Behind him, Mikoto could see the tension in his shoulders and turned her gaze to the triumphant look on her brother's face. Brother, what have you done? Shuko's good connection with Elder Enui was no secret. They were old shoji partners after all. That broke the tie. When Shuko had displayed a strategic mind, Enui had started teaching him how to play shogi, later coming by specifically to visit her promising older brother.

The smile on Shuko's face and the way his eyes twinkled with barely contained glee told Mikoto all there is to know. She knew her brother better than anyone, and right now she was the only one who knew what games he played.

"Who would that replacement be, Enui-dono?" asked Fugaku in a tensely polite tone.

Enui, Izumo, and Oguro nodded, and from the end of the first row, Shuko stood.

"I am humbled by this decision," he said in a voice as smooth as silk.

 "This is unheard of! Never has there been an Elder with so little experience! This position requires wisdom, and that is something this man lacks!" roared Fugaku.

"Contain yourself, Fugaku-dono," said Enui in a sharp voice.

Mikoto could clearly see the amount of willpower her husband required to swallow his words. She watched with interest how his eyes scanned the crowd, the color draining from his face. Tonight he had managed to embarrass himself. Mikoto's eyes slid to the barely contained glee dancing in Shuko's eyes. Did her brother calculate that as well?

"With all due respect," said Fugaku with barely leashed rage, "I believe that such a decision is out of the council's hands."

Enui's eyes narrowed. "The choices that the council makes regarding the clan require the clan head's approval, but we are free to choose our members, Fugaku-dono."

It looked like Fugaku wanted to further protest, but Shuko rose to the occasion, intercepting him with fluidity.

"We live in troubling times Fugaku-dono," he said gravely. "Such situations call for novel approaches. I am of course honored by the position that has been given to me, and I will gladly carry this burden."

Fugaku wanted to protest, Mikoto could see that. In the eyes of her husband, Shuko was a failure. He would undoubtedly call out Shuko's lack of experience, the fact that he was younger than anyone else on the council of Elders, and that he had barely achieved the title of special jounin before formally retiring from active duty. But Mikoto knew better. Her brother had what her husband lacked: a brilliant mind that would stop at nothing to achieve its desires. What Fugaku had in raw power, Shuko had in mental fortitude. The only problem was, what did Shuko want to accomplish?

Before Fugaku could say something, Shuko swept up toward the front of the gathering, grabbing everyone's attention with ease.

"Fellow clansmen, we live in troubling times. You might think that the war is over, and peace rules in Konoha." He paused, gazing into the eyes of the front and second-row members intently. His voice quieted, like a murmur that spoke of terrible secrets.

"Not for the Uchiha, not for us." Another pause, longer this time, allowing his words to sink in.

"For the past couple of years, members of our clan have gone missing, declared dead." A whisper of acknowledgment passed through the crowd.

"Brothers, sons, husbands… taken from our midst. Normally, I would give no attention to such things. The path of the ninja is filled with perils, and death stalks every corner. Normally, such occurrences are taken care of by our police force," he turned to look at Fugaku and the crowd followed his lead.

"Yet this time," there was a tone of sadness in his voice. "The Police Force could do nothing."

A grave-like silence followed his statement.

"How dare you?" roared Fugaku. "Matters such as these do not concern you, Shuko-san."

Shuko turned to him with an insipid smile on his lips. "As a member of the Council, it is exactly such matters that concern me. All I wish for is the welfare and prosperity of our clan. Unfortunately, the case of the missing members has not been solved, although there have been more such cases. Konoha is brushing this aside, but we have a duty to our kin! Such a thing cannot be forgiven!"

"You speak as if Konoha is making these men disappear, Shuko-dono," said a voice from the back. It was wheezy and old, belonging to a blind war veteran who had given her all in exchange for sneers from her clansmen. "Such words are dangerous."

Shuko recognized the old woman immediately, but he was not about to brush her aside. "You speak wisely, Akou-san, but dangerous words are what we need." He turned back to the rest of the crowd, his silk-like voice rising in a crescendo of emotion.

"Konoha is hiding something from us, and our Police chief is unable to solve a two-year-old case. Fugaku-dono, it is time to act. How long are we going to be pushed aside and placed at the bottom of everyone's priorities? Exiled, forced to limit our number of active duty jounin, confined at the edge of the village where it's easy to keep an eye on us… and now our pleas for help are being ignored as our brothers are picked off one by one."

"This is going too far, Shuko," said Fugaku. His eyes were closed, fists clenched tightly in his lap. "To accuse our village of actively targeting and eliminating the Uchiha… this is treason."

At this, the tall, fair-faced man smirked. From behind her husband, Mikoto sighed. Fugaku had played right into his trap, entranced and enraged like all others by Shuko's intense charisma and scandalous words.

And now the trap springs closed…

"Then prove it, Fugaku-dono. The Hokage should be happy to help one of the founding clans of Konoha… if he had nothing to hide."

Mikoto could see Fugaku's back stiffen, shoulders squaring. He had without a doubt realized that there was now a noose around his neck. If Konoha refused to help, then it was a clear sign that they were against the Uchiha. Fugaku would seem an incompetent leader, and the unrest within the clan would escalate. Shuko would be the visionary who dared defy common logic, securing his power within the clan and a possible higher position. Yet something… something did not fit. Mikoto's eyes narrowed in suspicion. If Fugaku did manage to gain the Hokage's full cooperation and support while dealing with the missing members, then he would regain his credibility in the eyes of the clan, and his power would remain secure. Then… what was Shuko really planning? A subvert plan was apparently on his mind, that was basically how her brother worked – but it was not this. This was just a front, something that got him the attention of the public.

Her eyes narrowed. Fugaku could clearly not see this coming. She tensed, and Shuko's eyes immediately swiveled to her.

"Mikoto, your sharp mind has always been a distinguishing feature," he said with a smile, making her freeze. "What do you think of this situation?"

Should she give voice to her thoughts? She'd never been asked for her opinion in a meeting before. Mikoto's hands trembled in her lap as she carefully took a calming breath. "I…"

"The opinion of my wife is unnecessary and uncalled for, Shuko-san," Fugaku's voice cut through her.

The color drained from Mikoto's face, her eyes widening at the shame she felt.

"I shall deal with the matter at hand." Fugaku continued, but the words were lost on Mikoto. After a few heartbeats, her wide eyes narrowed, filling with contempt.

She will keep her thoughts to herself. After all, no one asked for her opinion...no one but Shuko.

-Itachi-

They ended up making a whole feast, both Yahizui and Itachi working diligently to satisfy any craving that the little three-year-old might have. By the end of it, Yahizui felt more relaxed, and Sasuke was sleepy; so they gathered together blankets and hot tea, before huddling outside to look at the bright stars.

Snuggled under a blanket, Yahizui could see that Sasuke was trying his very best to fight the sleepiness that wanted to pull his eyes closed, so she began to hum. Her mother's words and gentle voice rushed back to the forefront of her memories as if it were yesterday.

Yahizui's voice was hushed, eyes closed as she sang of dunes, cold nights, and the promise of rain; she sang of love, of families and communities, and customs as old as time.

When she opened her eyes, Sasuke was sleeping, and Itachi was watching her intently.

"You're crying," he said, and as Yahizui touched her cheek, she realized it was wet with tears.

She looked at her moist fingers, willing herself to remember the feel of her mother's embrace, the smell of her skin. "My mother used to sing to me every night."

Dark green eyes met black. When she spoke again, her voice was oddly detached, as if her mind resided someplace else.

"I lost her almost three years ago, together with my father and the rest of my village."

Itachi's eyes widened. Lost – what a strange word for death. He wanted to say something, but his words were lacking. He tried to picture how she must have felt, how she still felt, even after all this time and wondered if it felt anything like the sharp pain in his chest that came with the friend he had – lost.

"I'm sorry…" he said, yet the words felt empty.

Yahizui nodded, her eyes lowered. "I'll never forgive myself for being so helpless back then, but I promised that I'll get stronger so I can protect what I love next time." She turned to look at him, a serious look shadowing her face. "You should do the same."

Get strong; guard what he held dear… such a simple answer to the question that had been plaguing him. Tenma hadn't sacrificed, he had protected. He'd given his life to keep him safe, so that he, Itachi, could live.

Itachi looked down at Sasuke and knew that he would without a doubt do anything to protect him. A shinobi didn't only endure. A shinobi lived to protect - their village, their Kage, their family, their friends, their clients.

To protect what he loved, he will also endure anything. 

-O-

In the darkness of a room, a single candle flickered. Two men sat at a table, a set of teacups steaming before them. There was a tension in the air that spoke of displeasure, yet neither seemed willing to address it.

A cup clinked as the delicate porcelain touched the tray.

"I never took you for a lover of such… frivolous things," said one of them, a smirk stretching his lips.

"There is nothing nobler than a cup of well-brewed tea." The man's scarred fingers turned the cup over, admiring the crane design on it. "There is unrest within that clan."

"I'd be surprised if there weren't," answered the smirking man.

"The Hokage is being pressured… he will soon start looking into things, and I'm sure he will find something. Lay low for a while."

"I almost believe that you're looking out for me," said the other, leaning over in his chair until his eyes were level with his teacup. "Sure… I can lay low, but there will be consequences. You see, I don't have nearly enough material to work with."

The scarred hand moved toward the cup once more, lifting it toward thin lips. "Focus on the other project and leave the rest to me." His tone left no room for argument

"As you wish."