Chapter Four: Izuna I

A/N: Soft reminder that this story is set in an AU.

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December 6th, Year 63, Uchiha Compound

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I stood on the side of the street, surrounded by a somber crowd as injured and deceased ninjas were brought into the village from the gates. The sight was a haunting reminder of the horrors of war, and I couldn't help but clench my fists in frustration.

Some of the ninjas struggled for breath, their life force slipping away, while others lay motionless, forever still.

Tears flowed freely from the women and children, their cries of anguish piercing the air as they recognized familiar faces among the casualties. The men, their expressions filled with a mix of sorrow and resignation, could only offer prayers and pay their respects to those who had given everything to protect our village.

I turned my gaze to the right, where my father stood tall and strong, his face cold yet resolute. Sensing my eyes upon him, he cast a sidelong glance in my direction and spoke with a firm tone, "Izuna, this is the reality of war. The weak perish while the strong survive. As the strongest clan in the village, it is our duty as Uchiha to protect the weak. You must become strong to do your duty."

I didn't entirely agree with my father's perspective, but I nodded in acknowledgement nonetheless. Deep within me, a question lingered: Did all this pain and destruction truly serve a purpose? Couldn't we find a way to achieve peace and live together in harmony instead?

I wondered if there was a path to peace that I could discover. Would becoming stronger truly allow me to put an end to wars?

The answers eluded me, but one thing was certain—I needed to dedicate myself to rigorous practice and honing my skills. Only by becoming stronger and learning more could I hope to make a difference...

…

...

It had been a week since that fateful day, and despite my best efforts, I found it difficult to immerse myself in training.

Every time I attempted to throw a kunai, a wave of hesitation washed over me, and the haunting images of the pained faces of the ninjas flashed through my mind. It felt as though by throwing the kunai, I would somehow be responsible for their deaths.

The weight of these thoughts was suffocating, so I sought solace and guidance from my mother. She was always a source of comfort and wisdom in times of turmoil. As I poured my heart out to her, she listened attentively and then offered her simple yet profound advice.

"Izuna-chan, you are just a little girl, too young to carry the weight of such burdens. If these thoughts trouble you, perhaps it would be best to take a break from your training. Explore the village, find a quiet spot where you can relax and clear your mind. You shouldn't be so serious at such a tender age, or else your cute face might become stiff."

I couldn't quite grasp the connection between the seriousness of my thoughts and the stiffness of my face, but I trusted my mother's words nonetheless.

Taking her advice to heart, I decided to take a day off from my rigorous training and embark on a journey to explore the village.

…

I could sense the tense atmosphere permeating the village, yet amidst the hardships of war, there were still smiles adorning people's faces. I couldn't help but wonder at the resilience of the human spirit, how they could find solace and moments of happiness even in the midst of chaos.

What was the true reason behind the smiles I had observed on the faces of the villagers?

Was it the belief that they would be safe as long as they were protected by the ninjas?

Or were they simply making the best of their situation, finding solace in small moments of joy amidst the chaos of war?

Lost in my contemplation, I wandered aimlessly until I stumbled upon a clearing with a weathered sign that read "Training Ground 23." Normally off-limits, it seemed that during these turbulent times, some children sought refuge here, making this their own playing ground. Though they were keeping to the entry point of the grounds, not daring to venture further into the woods that covered the other side of the grounds.

Intrigued by the empty training ground, I decided to heed my mother's advice and take a moment to relax and delve deeper into my thoughts. I paced around the open space, my mind consumed with thoughts of peace and the intricate path it entailed.

Unknown to myself, I had walked quite a distance until I came in front of a massive tree with vines falling from its branches.

Suddenly, my eyes fixated on a peculiar sight. A boy of similar age laid on the ground, seemingly in a deep slumber. He was wearing a one colored black Jinbei, and had medium length black hair adorning his head. he seemed to have pale skin as if he rarely went into the sun.

Yet, what captivated my attention were the animated shadows swirling around him, forming a protective cocoon. As if they were sentient beings, they reacted to my presence, intensifying their activity, and I couldn't shake off the eerie sensation of being hunted by an apex predator.

Fear enveloped me, freezing my body in place. In that moment, I questioned whether my life would truly meet its end here.

I tried hard, internally shouted for my body to move, but it simply didn't listen. I had no control over my movements.

With resignation, I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the impending fate, only to be startled by a groan emanating from the boy. His awakening was accompanied by a wide yawn, as if he had been roused from a deep slumber.

Miraculously, the shadows around him instantly settled, their energy tamed, although I couldn't ignore the underlying sense that they remained ever watchful, lurking in the depths of his being.

I couldn't help but gulp audibly as I observed the mysterious boy stretching his body, attempting to shake off the remnants of sleep. His groggy gaze eventually landed on me, and with a click of his tongue, he muttered something under his breath, seemingly irritated by my presence. I wondered what could have caused his annoyance.

Gradually regaining my composure, no longer paralyzed by fear, I took a deep breath and faced the boy. His demeanor exuded a sense of annoyance, as if my presence was an inconvenience to him. I couldn't help but wonder what had stirred such irritation within him.

I wanted to ask him about the shadows, but decided not to mention it for now, as I saw him getting up.

He approached me with a question, his tone laced with a hint of condescension, "Why are you here? This isn't a place for kids, you know. There are big, scary monsters in the forest behind." He attempted to scare me. But it only fueled my curiousity.

Undeterred, I retorted, determined to stand my ground, "You seem to be around the same age as me. So why are you here?"

He looked at me incredulously, as if my question was utterly foolish. "To take a nap, of course!" he replied, his tone implying the obviousness of his answer. He then cast a pitying gaze in my direction, leaving me perplexed as to why.

Deciding not to dwell on his peculiar reaction, I recalled the etiquette lessons instilled by my mother and believed that it was best to get acquainted with this boy, as he seemed to be someone from a good background if the state of his clothes was any indication.

So I introduced myself with grace. "My name is Uchiha Izuna. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

His initial surprise morphed into a more attentive scrutiny as he took a better look at me. With a sigh, he rubbed the back of his head before reluctantly introducing himself. "Sigh... Well, I am Kuro. (he seems to wait a few seconds before seemingly deciding something) And this big guy," he said, pointing towards the tree, "is Benny. This spot here belongs to me. You should go and play elsewhere," he motioned dismissively, as if shooing me away.

Intrigued by his naming of the tree, I couldn't help but ask with genuine curiosity, "Why did you name a tree and why Benny?"

Letting out yet another sigh, he responded, "Troublesome Uchihas... Well, Benny provides me shade from the scorching sun when I take my nap here, and I spend a lot of time with it. It has become like a friend to me. Calling it 'tree' would just feel wrong now."

His explanation fascinated me. Could this be how friendships were formed? I had never experienced such a connection before, not having any friends of my own.

My previous fear was already forgotten as curiosity got the better of me, I asked in all earnestness, "Is that how you make friends?"

He gave me a deadpan look, clearly unamused by my sincerity. Ignoring his mocking stare, I maintained my seriousness, eager to learn the art of friendship.

With a hint of mirth in his voice, he snorted and remarked, "What are you? An Itachi imitation? Why do you always look so serious? It's not cute at all."

I wasn't familiar with this "Itachi" he referred to, but I didn't appreciate his comment. In a quick retort, I defended myself, "I beg to disagree. My mother has assured me that I am indeed cute."

To my surprise, he burst into laughter. I hadn't intended for my response to be humorous, but his amusement seemed to lighten the atmosphere. His laughter continued until tears formed in his eyes.

"Damn... I can't believe you said that with a straight face," he managed to say amidst his laughter. "But I digress. Yes, that's usually how you make friends."

Upon hearing his explanation, I nodded and expressed my gratitude, "I see, so spending time together and sleeping together is how friendships are formed."

His reaction was unexpected as he seemed to choke on his own saliva, vigorously shaking his head in disbelief. "PFFFT! *Cough* What the HELL are you even thinking! God!..... *Cough* Sigh!... I guess I should be more careful with what I say to you... You act just like that Itachi. So troublesome..."

Once again, the name Itachi was mentioned, and I couldn't help but wonder if there was an Itachi-san in our Uchiha clan. I should ask mother later.

He continued, clearly flustered, "Never mention 'sleeping together' again... It has a second meaning that you aren't ready to know. And don't ask me how I know, I just do! When you enjoy someone's company and spend time doing things you both like, that's how friendships form. I think..."

Though he struggled to explain, I accepted his words without further questioning. I nodded in understanding and thanked him once more. He responded with a sigh, settling near a large root of the tree named Benny, muttering something about being troublesome.

Eager to put his theory into practice, I promptly sat down beside him. However, he looked at me with irritation evident on his face.

"Why are you sitting here?" he asked, clearly agitated.

I replied in all seriousness, "I am trying to make a friend."

"Huh? Benny is my friend. You should find another tree," he insisted with a pout, clearly protective of his connection with the tree.

Feeling slightly perplexed, I realized that perhaps my intentions weren't clear enough. I needed to state my purpose more explicitly.

"I want to be your friend, Kuro-san," I said, bowing slightly to emphasize my sincerity.

He looked utterly baffled, as if confronted with a perplexing puzzle that he couldn't solve. After a moment of deep contemplation, his face went through a range of expressions: surprise, intrigue, annoyance, understanding, acceptance, and finally annoyance again.

"FINE!... you troublesome Uchiha... I will be your friend…." He assented.

"You have my gratitude, Kuro-san." I thanked him.

"Why are you always so serious? You aren't cute at all," he grumbled, reluctantly accepting gratitude.

Despite his reluctant response, I felt a warmth spread inside me. Was this what it meant to be accepted as a friend? My lips curved upwards into a smile as I felt genuinely happy.

However, I couldn't help but retort. "But my mother said-"

"I don't care what your mother said!" he interjected; his voice laced with annoyance. With that, he closed his eyes and leaned against Benny's trunk.

Following his lead, I imitated his posture and leaned against the tree as well. I could feel the gentle breeze caress my face, and the dappled light shining through the leaves above created a soothing ambiance.

It was undeniably peaceful.

Was this the reason why Kuro sought solace in this place and befriended Benny the tree? I made a mental note to ask him about it later. But for now, I simply wanted to savor the tranquility of the moment.

As I closed my eyes and let my thoughts settle, I made a silent promise to myself: I would tell my mother that I had made my first friend.…

…

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Lumi- Hey friends, yeah I know, big shocker *sarcasm*

The writing might feel a bit stiff and formal, but that's cause I am writing from Izuna's point of view and at this point she is a serious and formal child.

And as for the name, Honestly I wanted to keep it Itachi, but then again didn't want to keep it Itachi as it would get confusing, for people and for me. As for Izuna. I know many might say that this is a male name and what not, but I picked this for a reason. It also means weasel, and on top of that would show that Fugaku wanted a male heir. And remember this is AU. And honestly I like the sound of Uchiha Izuna, Idk how Izuna is considered a male name, sounds girly to me. -\_(:/)_/-

Discord and P@treon links are on the synopsis. Come join us!

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