Chapter 12: Kidnapping.

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The leaves of Konoha rustled a gentle tone outside the Uchiha compound, their shadows playing on the tatami floor as I knelt by the shoji, lost in thought. Three months had passed since Mito's first cry cut through the silence of this world, a world that should have known another fate—a brother for Itachi, not a sister. My presence here, it seemed, had tipped the scales in unforeseen ways.

Even now, I didn't know what to do with this change.

I watched Itachi cradle the infant, his fingers delicate and sure. The touch of the prodigy ninja, feared and revered by some, now reduced to the softest caress against Mito's cheek. He hummed a tune, more felt than heard, a lullaby, to his little sister. His eyes, usually calm and collected, softened at the sight of her toothless smile.

"Ne, Mito," he whispered, and the baby kicked her legs in response, wrapped in swathes of cloth that bore the Uchiha crest.

A sigh escaped me, an exhale of all the tension I didn't realize I'd been holding. It didn't matter whether or not this world was like the one I knew in the anime. I couldn't base my expectations on fragmented memories of an anime. This was my life now, a life that wasn't dictated by such a simplistic, stone-carved path.

"She sure has you whipped, huh?" I chuckled, watching the scene in front of me with a smile. "And it only took her three months."

Itachi looked up at my words, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Perhaps," he replied quietly, returning his full attention back to the little princess.

Mito gurgled, reaching up to grasp Itachi's hair, her small fists curling around the strands as if they were her lifeline. She cooed in delight at the sensation, her eyes twinkling in obvious fascination.

"It seems she likes your hair," I commented.

"Would you like to hold her?" Itachi's question caught me off guard. I blinked, unsure if I'd heard him correctly.

"Hold Mito?" I repeated dumbly, my gaze shifting from Itachi to the infant and back, before shrugging. "Why not."

Itachi carefully stood up, cradling Mito with practiced ease. He approached me, his movements deliberate and gentle, as if he were handling the most precious treasure in the world, which for him, she might as well be.

Itachi extended Mito towards me, and I reached out, my hands steady but my heart racing. As her tiny body settled into my arms, I felt an unexpected warmth spread through me. Mito looked up at me with wide, curious eyes, her little fingers flexing and grabbing at the air, or trying to reach for my hair, one of the two, though my hair was shorter than Itachi's.

"Hey there, little princess," I said softly, smiling down at her. "Nice to meet you."

Mito blinked, her eyes focusing on my face. Then, she let out a delighted giggle, her tiny hands reaching up to touch my nose. The innocent, joyful sound was infectious, and I found myself chuckling along with her.

"You're quite the charmer, aren't you?" I murmured, as she continued to explore my face with her little hands. "It seems like your brother will have to fight the suitors off you. Won't he?"

Itachi frowned slightly at my words, his onyx eyes glancing towards me with a touch of concern. "That's not exactly a future I look forward to," he admitted, a hint of protectiveness seeping into his voice.

"Don't worry, if you need help intimidating them, you can always count on me," I replied, tilting my head a little. "Though to be honest, your father will do just fine at the job without any help."

Itachi snorted.

"So, little princess, what do you say? Do you like me better than your older brother?" I asked the baby, throwing Itachi a smile, receiving only a mild glare in response.

Mito's fingers brushed against my cheek, and she let out another gurgle of delight. She grabbed onto a strand of my hair, much like she had done with Itachi, and tugged gently. The sensation was strange but oddly comforting.

"You've got quite a grip," I said, smiling down at her. "I'm honestly surprised she managed to reach my hair. I have it quite short compared to you."

Just as I was enjoying the moment with Mito, the shoji door slid open, and Mikoto entered the room. Her presence, as always, brought a sense of calm and warmth. She walked over to us, her eyes softening at the sight of Itachi and me with Mito.

"Itachi," she began gently, "your father is waiting for you in his office. It's time for today's lesson about clan politics."

Itachi's expression shifted to one of mild disappointment, but he nodded obediently. "Yes, Mother," he said, carefully taking Mito from my arms and handing her back to Mikoto.

As Mikoto adjusted Mito in her arms, she turned to me with a smile. "Takeshi, would you mind babysitting Mito for a few minutes while I take Itachi to his father?"

Babysitting? Me? The thought was both daunting and amusing. I nodded. "Of course, Lady Mikoto. I'd be happy to." If the little princess needed a diaper change, I would find someone else faster than Minato's famed speed.

"Thank you," she said, her smile widening. She gently placed Mito back into my arms, ensuring the infant was comfortably nestled. "I'll be back soon."

"Is it okay if I walk around the compound with her?" I asked.

Mikoto's smile turned thoughtful. "Of course, as long as you stay within the Uchiha district."

"Understood," I replied, clutching Mito a bit closer. Mito gurgled happily, seemingly content with the arrangement.

Mikoto gave me a grateful look before turning to Itachi. "Come, Itachi. Let's not keep your father waiting."

As Mikoto and Itachi left the room, I looked down at Mito, who was now grabbing at my hair again with her tiny fingers. "Well, Mito, it's just you and me for a while," I said softly, adjusting my hold on her.

She responded with a delighted coo, her bright eyes focused intently on my face. As I watched her, I couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility and warmth. Babies were quite adorable, so much so that I kind of wanted to hit something. Is this what they call cute aggression?

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Walking through the Uchiha district with Mito cradled in my arms felt surprisingly natural. The district was quiet, with the occasional shinobi passing by, offering respectful nods and baby sounds adults make when faced with an adorable baby.

"See that, Mito?" I murmured softly, pointing to a training ground where a few young Uchiha were practicing their taijutsu. "That's where your big brother and I train. You'll be joining us in no time, I bet."

Mito gurgled in response, her tiny fingers clutching at the fabric of my shirt. Her eyes were wide and curious, taking in the sights around her. We passed by several houses, each with the Uchiha crest proudly displayed. The cherry blossom trees lining the streets were in full bloom, their pink petals drifting lazily to the ground. I stopped for a moment under one of the trees, letting Mito reach out to touch a low-hanging branch.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" I said, smiling down at her. "This place has seen so much, and you'll get to be a part of it all."

As we continued our walk, I spotted a small group of children playing near a pond. They waved at me, their faces lighting up with excitement at the sight of the baby. I approached them, allowing them to get a closer look at Mito.

"Who's this?" one of the children asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.

"This is Mito," I replied, smiling. "She's the newest member of the Uchiha clan."

The children cooed and made funny faces, trying to get a reaction out of Mito. She responded with delighted giggles, her little hands reaching out towards them. It was a heartwarming scene, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for moments like these.

After a while, I decided to head back towards the main house to see if Lady Mikoto was done with whatever she was doing. However, just as I started my way back to the main house, I felt a sudden, sharp pain at the back of my head. The world spun around me, and darkness quickly swallowed my consciousness.