Chapter Text
You never truly understand terror. Young you are, there are few things you consider fearsome. Even when you first experience loss, when you first see the apprehension in others’ eyes when they speak of death, there's more of an itching sense of familiarity in your mind as opposed to fear. Fear, and terror, remain a mystery to you. In the least… you know of them. You can easily identify them in your mother's eyes each day like clockwork. Ever present when she looks at you. No, she has never been afraid of you, but she will never stop being afraid for you. For her only daughter.
It's most noticeable today, however. She makes sure your arms from shoulder to wrist as well as the nape of your neck are fully covered, adjusting the turtleneck gently below your chin. Smoothing down any flyaway hairs, she presses a kiss to the crown of your head, and you pretend not to notice the way her fingers tremble. Reluctantly, she pulls away, “Please… just.. be careful.”
Frustration blooms in your gut, a flame of petals unfurling, but still, you smother it with a bright grin just like you were taught. She will likely never tell you why the large marking on your body needs to remain covered at all costs. Why it is so important that the clan, your family, can never know of it? Even when none of them are shinobi. You know better than to inquire, so turning away you head for the door, keeping your tone lively. “Alright. I’ll be back before you know it!”
As you leave her sight, your smile briefly wavers but never falls. Exhaling gently, you wipe any hesitance from your face and greet those you pass cheerfully through the clan's grounds. Everywhere you look is full of smiling faces and upbeat voices. None of these people would dare express anger or sorrow amongst each other. You pick up the pace, and your scenery changes from small bright buildings to trees and foliage. Breathing in the crisp air, you let the jubilant beam fade from your lips. A gentle sigh escapes. Spotting for the tallest tree, you get to work climbing, only stopping when you feel the weight ease in your chest.
The sun rises higher in the sky and the air steadily warms. With the approach of early afternoon, comes two faint new voices approaching from the ground. Each voice contrasts, one carefree while the other is gently stern. Squinting past the leaves, you see two figures both equally clad in dark-shaded attire with raven hair. They come to a stop in a clearing not too far from the tree you are perched in, and the one with the shorter, more unruly hair keeps speaking of his recent accomplishment to the other. He starts forming hand signs and you are entirely confused as to why you are positive it will end with a Body Flicker Technique. It will become his specialty you are sure, how, you do not know.
You feel a sudden pressure behind your eyes, and as you hear the name, “... Shisui,” the pain bursts. By reflex, you cry out, lifting both hands to cover the source of the discomfort, and before you know it you lose the texture of coarse bark behind your back as the air rushes against you. It is barely a second or two before arms catch you and a frantic voice is resonating in the background.
“Hey… You… They are… Wonder… Alright…?!” Ears ring. You can feel your heartbeat racing from the ends of your toes to your temples, steadily thumping. You know this voice just as you know this village. More than from the uneven streets you skinned your knees on when you tripped as a child, you know this village from an outside perspective. You know these people, you know these characters. Throughout this epiphany, gentle hands ease your own away from where they are pressed, revealing gleaming, gold irises.
Your newly brilliant topaz gaze meets the deep, dark ones of Shisui and Itachi Uchiha.