Chapter 2: Chapter 2
"Itachi, you have a new cousin coming to this world today," Uchiha Mikoto said to her one-year-old son who stood next to her.
She was in the kitchen washing dishes and some water splashed out of the sink right onto her son's face.
Itachi just blinked at the water. "How?"
"Hmm?"
"How's he coming to this world?"
She looked down at him and chuckled. She used her apron to quickly dry the water drops on his face.
"Itachi, do you remember your Hana-obasan?"
Itachi's face, like the full moon, filled with light.
"I love Hana-oba!" he stated.
"Very good Itachi." she gave a closed eye smile. Itachi copied her.
"Well, her sister, your Chifuyu-obasan, is having a baby."
"Really?"
"Mhm." she nodded. "And, we are going to visit them tomorrow morning."
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Itachi lay on his futon that night. Blanket draped over the lower half of his body. His sight stuck on the ceiling above him.
He then rolled to one side.
Rolled to the other side. Grinned.
Rolled back again. Giggled.
Then rolled onto his back and kicked off his blanket.
He was excited. He was going to see Hana again.
Though, he was slightly curious about his new cousin.
Will Hana-oba love my new cousin more than she loves me?
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The next morning, Itachi sat in front of his breakfast. A single, tiny, rice ball remained in the middle of his plate.
He quickly put the rice ball in his mouth and started chewing. Just then, he heard the front door open.
"Hana-chan," he heard his mother greet. He jumped up onto his feet. "We were getting ready to come over to you guys's house,"
Itachi started walking. His mother continued. "How was Chifuyu-san's birthing?"
"Mikoto-san ... about that—"
When Itachi heard Hana's voice, he couldn't walk slowly anymore. His excitement clear, he broke into a run. When he saw Hana standing in the doorway with his mother, he called out. "Hana-oba!"
"Itachi?" his mother spoke, her voice wavered, as she turned to him.
He ran and jumped into a hug with Hana. "Did you come over to play?"
Hana chuckled, but there was something strange about it. She returned the hug before setting him on the ground. She bent over so they were closer in height.
He noticed a look in her eyes that he didn't understand. She looked like she might have been crying.
"Forgive me, Itachi..." Hana reached two fingers out and lightly poked his forehead. "Maybe another time."
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"Kaa-san , why does tou-san look sad?"
They were wearing black like all the other people. Itachi's father was in front of the room, while his mother and him were in the back.
"Itachi," his mother whispered to him. "Your Chifuyu-obasan died four days ago, after giving birth to your new cousin."
Itachi's eyes widened. A light hand was then placed on his shoulders and he looked back. It was Hana. She was wearing a sling and there was a small lump in it. "Come Itachi, let's go outside."
"Are you sure, Hana?" his mother asked.
"Please Mikoto-san, I can't stay in here."
His mother just nodded.
Hana took Itachi's hand and they went outside. The birds were chirping, the early spring trees bloomed.
She let go of his hand and turned to look at him.
"Itachi," she smiled, closing her eyes slightly.
He knew deep down she was faking it, but he did not really understand.
She sat on the dirty ground. Her face in line with his. "Do you want to see your cousin?"
She opened the sling she had on. A small sleeping face could be seen. "His name is Haru,"
Itachi looked back at her. She still had the same expression on. "Hana-oba, are you sad?"
The expression vanished. Her eyes widening. Then Itachi surprised her by, careful of Haru, putting his arms around her neck.
They stayed there for a while. Itachi soon notices his shirt becoming increasingly wet at the shoulders.
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One Year Later
"Good job Itachi," his father spoke to his two-year-old son. "we'll continue your training tomorrow,"
They went inside the house and were greeted with the smell for cooking.
"Itachi," he heard his name whispered from Hana's room. She had moved in with them a couple months ago. He saw her beckoning him to come.
When he entered her room, she guided him to the futon Haru was sleeping on. "Do you mind watching him while I go speak with your parents?"
Itachi nodded.
She closed the door and left Haru and him alone. He watched the supine form. After a few minutes, his cousin opened his eyes and looked at him.
Itachi watched as Haru sat up and turned his small form to fully face the older boy. They sat there for a while just staring at each other. Then, Haru smiled. He stood up, stretched out an arm, and patted Itachi's head.
Itachi blinked.
Haru is strange.
Time moved on. Haru eventually joined Itachi in his training sessions.
"Good job Haru, Itachi. You two have made leaps and bounds." Fugaku complemented.
Later that day, both boys found themselves watching the sunset. "Itachi,"
"Hm?" Itachi looked over at his cousin.
"Do you ever wonder how long it takes for sunlight to reach this world?"
Itachi just blinks.
Haru is strange.
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A few months after Itachi turned three, he joined his father on a trip to the front-lines of the Third Shinobi war.
It was horrible.
So, much blood. Itachi tried to save someone who had been dying, but they chose to attack instead.
As a result— "I killed the Shinobi to save myself," Itachi recounted.
"You didn't want to, I take it," Haru said.
Itachi nodded. "Father says that because this is war, Shinobi kill each other senselessly."
"That is only natural."
"But why, why must there be war Haru?"
"Life is nothing but a test, war is but an extension of that."
Itachi furrowed his eyebrows. "Haru, you make no sense."
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Current Time
Itachi held tightly onto Sasuke as everyone ran. A great roar filled the night.
"Tou-san!"
"Itachi, I knew you would be alright," his father stated.
"B-but Haru!"
"Where is he?"
"I saw him get caught in an explosion."
Fugaku closed his eyes. "I see."
"But he survived, tou-san,"
Fugaku's eyes snapped open. "What?"
"He survived, but instead of coming with me ran that way," he pointed behind him.
Fugaku's eyes changed into crimson. "Itachi, get your brother to the shelter."
"The rest of you with me!" he barked out. They disappeared in a flash.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone