Petals of a Sunflower that Shouldn't Bloom

Sorry for the long wait for the chapter but I have no internet and my computer crashed losing all my stories and I was stuck. But I have once again managed to pull a chapter out that is longer than the usual to make up for the long wait. Another thing I want to mention is that I will be slightly altering from the cannon. That’s what makes writing fan fiction fun don’t you think. There will be alternate timeline for some events and I am not sure about the ages so they will go as follows in present time Sasuke is13, Sakura is13, and Naruto is12. By the way I am still looking for a beta more like begging (but what’s the difference) so if you are interested then please email me at ladyronin4hire@gmail.com and I will definitely get back in touch.


I do not own Naruto or any of the characters they are owned by some rich person and I live in a one bedroom apartment down on skid row (I don’t own Little Shop of Horrors either but I do live it) I wish someone would give me a plant like that (in my hood anything green will sell).


This is the continuation chapter 6 “Someone to Die For” + A Little Something Something


Sasuke had misgivings about placing the information back where he got from because he did not wish to leave any evidence of there being a secret compartment there. He also did not wish to keep going in his parent’s room. It was a distraction that he did not need at the moment. That also meant that most of the other places in the house were not suitable due to the same reasons. While he was methodically thinking and just as quickly eliminating places to hide the evidence, he uttered the words which had him hunched over in a dark depressing emo moment that even his mother’s homemade sun-dried tomato shortbread cookies couldn’t fix.


“Where would the dobe hide this if he was in my situation”, and the world as Sasuke Uchiha had known it became black. Opening and closing his mouth like a fish until he got the rest of himself under control for even voicing the thought let alone allowing his own mouth to say those words.


After taking a breathe he then started to think that this was the reason that he and Naruto always got into altercations. It was because even if he respected Naruto and his abilities it was still hard to not think of him as the worst ninja around and the one who needed protecting. Father always said he wasn’t meant for the ranks and I can’t get the notion out of my head. A ninja is supposed to be deadly and silent but to me everything about him just screams “Look at me Naruto Uzumaki has entered your presence”, even when his mouth is closed. I can’t help but think that it is an accomplishment that not only is Naruto the loudest ninja ever, but to be able to make even his clothes loud. That is a noteworthy skill but not one which will make you take the person who is doing it seriously.

“What kind of ninja wears orange it blends in with nothing except the sun and since Naruto can’t fly that what’s the point of wearing it.” If I was the Dobe I would probably do something stupid like hide it in plain sight, since he thinks simply like a monkey. No he doesn’t. I am not thinking instead of just seeing one thing he seems to see things on many different perspectives. I wonder if that is the difference in him because he thinks on many levels. But it’s usually on the surface that his plans seem so simple like that. I have to give it to the idiot he plans are always a little bit more complex then what they first appear. I have stop thinking about him so negatively or we will never get past this and repair our relationship and I really wish for us to become close again. So that means even if at this point in time that Naruto doesn’t know what going on I will still use his advice even though he doesn’t know he‘s helping yet.


“I guess it’s time to get dobersized, and think like a dobe. I just hope it’s not permanent and makes me want to eat huge amounts of ramen and ask Sakura out because both of those options would make me sick.”


First since I’m thinking like Naruto I guess I would want to place the evidence in plain sight since he would definitely do something similar. Then I thought again and came to the realization that yes Naruto would probably hide something in plain sight but he would also be hiding it right in your face so that even if you were looking for it you wouldn’t see it. Glancing around my room I decided that this was to obvious a place to place anything seeing how this was my personal domain and the first place that would be searched. Passing the upstairs dojo then making a left past the first meditation room I headed downstairs through the living room and headed straight to the kitchen.


I had made cooking a hobby of mine that not many knew of except for Kakashi-sensei and Naruto. For which I am grateful I could just imagine the chaos that would ensue if my fangirls found out. They would probably start to camp out at the grocery and food stands like they do the training grounds and the weapons stalls; wanting to have cooking sessions together, and I abhor people in the kitchen when I’m cooking. And Kami help me if the fanboys found out they’d have me in an apron and nothing else before my head could spin. A gayboys dream a strong man who can cook and clean.


At least Naruto doesn’t try and be obnoxious by teasing me for liking to cook but instead he will bring me a cookbook and demand I make that for him; the same can’t be said for Kakashi-sensei. That pervert teacher caught me one time and then tried to make fun of me for it. “I bet he didn’t know I could do that with food, but to an Uchiha anything can become a weapon even a vegetable.” At least Naruto seems appreciative enough to use table manners I had to beat into him literally. I am the only one besides Iruka-sensei who can get the idiot to eat something healthy and I don’t mean deluxe ramen with extra vegetables either. For some strange reason he won’t eat at other restaurants besides Ichiraku’s so if I want to eat something different then ramen we end up eating at my house, although I still refuse to make ramen. The dobe gave me a five volume set of,” The Wonderful World of Ramen Making from A to Z”** for my birthday and then had the audacity to tell me that for his birthday I should just do ramens flavor a to m and then for Christmas he would take ramens flavors n to z.


Speaking of those idiotic books I think I just thought of the perfect place to put everything maybe thinking like a dobe isn’t so stupid after all. Taking the senbon needles I placed them within their protective coverings and wrapped them in my sushi rolling mat and placed it back on the counter. Then taking the scrolls I went to the drawer where I kept the seaweed for wrapping and pulled it all out. I then placed the scrolls on the bottom and layered all the seaweed on top of it.


I then took all four of the journals and one by one replaced them with the ramen cook book covers. Even if I do not make ramen I do treasure these books because the idiot gave them to me and I valued them even more when I found out that they were special editions only available in certain areas and he spent his first big mission pay to buy them for me while we where at the Wave. Although most of the time we were arguing secretly he was going around buying me a present to show that there was no hard feelings, but then again that’s the kind of guy he is. Replacing the ramen flavored diaries on the bookshelf I then hid away the real ones since I didn’t want them to be found and then draw attention to the book shelves.


I then had to think about what to do with the unseen photos. Since my mind was a little on overload I decided to wait and view the photos after I had the chance to read the report. Looking at them now would only bring more confusion that I didn’t need. I decided to keep the photos for now in my favorite cookbook. This was not only a favorite because of the dobe but also because it was the omnipotent most awesome tasting organic or my all time favorite “TOMATO” for short. There was over 1500 different recipes for tomatoes, so that as the dobe said, “even if I have the bad taste to want to eat a disgusting healthy fruit all the time at least I wouldn’t have to keep eating it the same way.” It is currently the one I use most often and since it is a big book will hide the photos perfectly.


Looking around the kitchen once more and completely satisfied with the way things were looking I decided it was time to suck up my courage and pride and go on a dobe hunt. I was more nervous than I thought after all the things I said and what I had almost done earlier. But I am an Uchiha damn it and I won’t lose my most precious person over something like this. With these thoughts pushing me out the door I left. Not wishing to be suspicious but acting as I normally would my hands quickly moved through the seals to activate the traps that were laid around my home.

Having tried “The Dobe Way to Doing Things”, and found that so far it hadn’t been a bad method. “Now to try and use my newfound ability and try and figure out where Naruto might be.” Roaming through the village seemed to be my best option not only for finding Naruto but allowing myself time to get an idea about what I was going to say to him.


On my way off of the property I just happened to have glanced at the pond where my father first showed me the hand signs for our family jutsu. If I remember correctly father was showing me the hand signs again when he seemed to peer in the direction behind me and see something. Then he told me had to go and check something out and would be back momentarily then strode off. That was the day my life changed and for the first time I found out what being an Uchiha really meant to my father and what his true priorities were and it wasn’t our clan, my big brother or even the village but a lonely little princess.

FLASHBACK---7yearsago-----------FLASHBACK---7yearsago-------------FLASHBACK

I had been practicing for several hours and had just gotten the jutsu right and waited for father to return. After another half an hour of waiting I decided I had to chase father into the forest so that I could show him that I had finally mastered it since he never came out. I know I was not even supposed to go in there but I was so excited that I didn’t want to wait.


Except for father and Itachi no one was supposed to go to the area of the forest at the edge of the property it was strictly forbidden. It was going around the village that our clan was the guards to a monster. The other kids at school were always asking me if it was true that we were the guardians of a monster that was chained up in a temple in the woods at the border of our property. Sometimes older kids would even try and trespass on dares and to test their skills trying to sneak on our land. Father would always severely scold them and then give them a couple thumps with the cane and send them home. His face always had a sterner expression after these times then any other. He would complain about the intelligence of the younger shinobi generation and despaired on what that meant for the future of our village and more importantly our clan.


One time after such an episode he said,” Sasuke never be a man who blindly follows popular opinion, usually it is a road paved with half truths, resentment, and controversy. It is your duty as an Uchiha to defend the fragile and precious things that you call your own. To always be above the common herd never to mingle with them, but show them an example of what they should aspire to be. To always overcome the limits that have been placed before you by your predecessors or others. An Uchiha eyes are superior not only because we have the sharringan, but because even without it ever being activated we have always been able to tell the difference between the truth and a lie. That is why we run the police force. A person who would listen to the tales told by thankless and bitter villagers; supported by the jealous, simple-minded fools who should not have been allowed to leave the academy let alone consider themselves as ninjas. They are prideful and weak. After all it is one thing to have confidence in your talent and abilities but another if it can be so easily beaten like a popped balloon waiting on the sidelines for others step in and handle things. People like that are beneath our notice, so never listen or repeat the stories they tell you. Since all they can ever tell you is tales of shame and regret. They who are too weak to fight till death or to cowardly to abandon everything and die in battle are a blasphemy to their ancestors and a disgrace to our village.”


Trying to calm him down by shifting the focus on something else I asked, “Father, is it a forbidden jutsu or maybe it’s a treasure we’re guarding”, staring up at him. As if just the mention of the treasure had calmed him he reached out his hand towards me and began stroking my hair. It was the first time I ever remember my father ruffling my hair with gentle fingers. It was surprising because he was never that touchy feely with me or my brother. He was doing something different but it was a nice feeling that made me think of my mother or my big brother.


Feeling happy and excited at father’s touch I asked him what the thing was. Then his features hardened as if angered and looked to the sky as if he wanted to glare it into submission and said with a firm and cold voice that it was not his place to tell me because he gave his word. Even I could tell that he wished he hadn’t. Never taking his eyes off of the beautiful skyline he told me “maybe when you’re older you’ll get the chance to see for yourself. After all it all depends on the person and how they view what they see. So only you can tell me what it is to you”.


After that I practiced even harder wanting to be the kind of person who could be trusted and admired like father and big brother so I didn’t even think when I entered the forbidden part of the property restricted except for the head of the clan and the heir as the next head. I was so excited that I couldn’t wait any longer for him and so I followed him deep into the woods. I remember the feeling of being watched the whole time I was in this section of forest and just as I was about to walk further in something grabbed my shoulder and surprised me. Turning quickly with a kunai in my hand to defend myself but I was not faced with a monster (not at that time anyway) or my rampaging father but my big brother.


“Sasuke, what are you doing here? You know this area is forbidden and if you had been caught by anyone else you would be in serious trouble.” Itachi was always covering for me and this time was no different because if my father had been the one to find me I would more than likely be punished.

“Big Brother, I wasn’t trying to disobey or anything it’s just that father was teaching me a jutsu, but he went to check something out and he’s been gone for a long time now. What if the forest monster has him? Shouldn’t we go and rescue him he could be hurt or something.”


Itachi squatted down staring me in the eyes and poked me in the forehead likes he always does and tells me, “foolish little brother if there was a monster in these woods what makes you think that you can handle him if father couldn’t. Besides you have nothing to fear it is not a monster but a one of a kind treasure.”


So big brother saw what was in the woods as a treasure too like father, filing that bit of information away to be examined later, I began to ponder the mystery of what kind of treasure it was. Sasuke tilted his head to the side large black pools filling with wonder. What kind of treasure could big brother possibly be talking about be talking about? Their mother took care of all the important heirlooms except for the things that his father got from the fourth so what could be out here that they didn’t trust her with.


Even more curious then before Sasuke asked, “Big Brother what kind of treasure would we hide in the woods that we couldn’t hide in the house. Is the treasure so big that it can’t fit in the house? Is the reason that mother doesn’t take care of it is because she’s a girl. Someone in class said that if girls touch you or your things that you can get cooties. I have been on the lookout and mother has never given me cooties but perhaps that doesn’t apply to treasure.”


Itachi poked me in the forehead again and said,” Foolish little brother this treasure is the last thing that the village got from the Fourth Hokage and his most precious thing. The Uchiha Clan is its guardians and protectors for now but that may not always be so and that is what father fears, because the treasure is supposed to belong to everyone in the village.”


What big brother said made sense after all it reflected on our clan and our reputation as the best could be damaged if anything happened to it while under our care. Drifting off imaging the weapon it possibly could be or a forbidden jutsu which must be hidden and the untold power it must contain.


Pulling me from my daydream with another annoying poke on the forehead, Big Brother said in all your wildest imaging you will never be able to figure out what it is so you should stop trying little brother.” As much as I wanted to do my new and improved Uchiha patented glare of doom and disintegrate him on the spot, I could feel the pout that showed up instead and was embarrassed.


Changing the subject because I had lost that round I asked something that had been bothering me, “Big Brother since you are on duty and nothing seems wrong do you know where father is at and why he has left me waiting so long.”


“Sasuke as you would expect from an Uchiha, even when he is not on duty he is always very diligent in making sure that the treasure is kept safe. So that means constant checking and rechecking of security. Since this is such a small guard detail it also relies on a lot of traps and seals which also have to be tested and reexamined occasionally for usefulness and effectiveness.


With a startled yelp and furtive glances around Sasuke stated with a disappointed depressed air,”but Big Brother does that mean that you are guarding the treasure from right here. Looking around again all I saw was trees and more trees. Maybe there was some type of illusion involved as well. Hoping to get a hint in which direction the treasure might be in I looked around again and saw no undisturbed ground except for where we stood.


“If you keep looking with your eyes foolish little brother the only thing you are going to see is me and the trees but if you want to see the treasure you will have to look with something else.”


So the treasure was something from the fourth that explained why father took care of it and not mother. Mother had told me that father was very protective about the things he got from the villages’ savior so that part wasn’t surprising. What was surprising was the fact that it was in the woods instead of in our house. Even if father believed no else could see it wouldn’t it be better protected in the house rather than in the woods where anyone could stumble across it?


I looked up at big brother and asked him, “why would father leave something so precious and valuable in the woods instead of in the house where it would be more secure, that makes no sense”, and then he looked at me and sadly shook his head and told me “that it was one of the conditions of father being able to get to keep possession of this treasure.”


Itachi leaned back looking at the trees which hung overhead and stated that the treasure was not allowed to become a part of our traditions. Many clans had fought to be allowed to have possession of the treasure for different reasons and because of this even though we have possession of it now we may not in the future if we are not vigilant we could lose it, since even now there are still heated words between the clans about it even though it was so long ago.”


When I asked him why he said,” to our father it is a treasure beyond price, while others see it as a symbol of unlimited power, and to others it is an abomination, the definition all depends on who you ask. As for security there are special seals and barriers that have to be gotten through in order to get to the treasure that only father and the Hokage know. So believe me when I say that it is more protected out here then it could ever be at out house.”


I asked Itachi, “Since it is something that depends on the opinion of the individual what do you think of father’s treasure big brother.” He just looked down sadly at me again never answering my question but instead told me, “It’s time for you to be heading home because if father should be finishing up soon and if he catches you you’ll be in big trouble. I’ll see you later when I finish my shift.”


I told Itachi that I would see him later and made my way towards the direction of the main house deciding to take a short cut through the woods. As I turned away knowing that big brother wouldn’t tell me anything else about the mysterious mystical treasure of the Fourth Hokage. I got the feeling that he would never probably bring up the subject again, especially if father didn’t want anyone going near it. Itachi seemed as if he felt sad about it as well, as if he felt it shouldn’t be hidden away.


I had to admit at least to myself that I was curious but not enough to have my father angry at me. I then shook off my questions and instead thought about when I next saw my father again and would demonstrate the jutsu for him when I noticed a white blur dash across the corner of my left eye. But when I looked there was nothing there but the bushes behind beginning to move due to the wind. Remembering Itachi’s warning about father finding me I decided to lower my chakra and dive under the bushes and hope that I wouldn’t get caught.


Then to his surprise he was blinded by the sun and then drowned in the ocean. Sasuke’s first thought was that he had set off one of the traps and was trapped in a gengitsu until he realized that he could still see the leaves on his other side. Then looking around he again noticed the bright blue sky from under the bush, wait a minute I’m not supposed to be seeing blue that’s a color for the middle of the day or early afternoon and it is near dinner time. What in the heck is going on? Wisps of long blonde hair smelling of the wind and the trees blew across my face and for a moment I thought I was looking at one of those wood sprites that mother used to tell me tales of when I was younger.


I was about to speak out loud when two little hands covered up my mouth ending my very vocal surprise. A tinkling voice whispered into my ear and told me to be quiet or we would be caught. It then occurred to me what must be happening. This person must have intruded on our property to see the treasure that big brother was talking about. Why else would she be hiding and be afraid to be seen.

I was about to call her out when the person who I had heard and made me go into the bushes in the first place came into view and it was my father. Both me and the girl stopped all movement and surprisingly so did my father. He began to slowly scan the area and I became scared. Even if that girl was an outsider and I am not we will both be in big trouble so I will distract my father so that she can get away.


I don’t know what made me want to keep her from harm’s way maybe it was because she looked so small and defenseless on the outside but at the same time the defiant look in her eye intrigued me. I was about to move and let myself be known to my father when she grabbed my arm holding me down and looked me straight in the eye again and smiled.


I don’t think I’ve ever seen a smile so bright and beautiful before not even on my mother. Whispering in my ear again she told me don’t get caught because she wanted to see me again and then pressed me down to the ground and quick as a flash she was gone and standing in front of father.


I was trying to think of some kind of distraction to help her out when father bent down as if to strike her and instead began to brush the girl’s white and blue flowered kimono of the dirt. Then he picked the leaves and twigs from her hair and fixed the long blonde length with ribbons he pulled from his side pouch. It was weird he was doing stuff to her like my mother does to me. It was so bizarre I thought for sure this must be a figment of my imagination. Maybe this wasn’t my father but an alien clone sent to take his place and take over the world. A picture of my father with a large head and big brother bouncing around him for a moment flashed through my head before I shook it off. I would believe that before my eyes at the moment because my father just spit on a handkerchief and wiped dirt smudges off of the girl cheek. All with the gentlest expression I have ever seen on his face.


Then he frowned down at the girl and asked,” Mina-chan why are you so stubborn. You are just like your mother always trying to do too much and handle everything on your own. What if you had an attack, you know that you are sickly and shouldn’t try to overexert yourself. I would never be able to face your mother if something were to happen to you while in my charge.”


Having said nothing since appearing before my father but her eyes looked more and more downcast and sad as father spoke and at the mention of her mother, Mina-chan bowed and mumbled to father that she was sorry.


Then after staring at the ground a moment she looked at father with trembling eyes and clenched fists and told him forcefully, “I won’t get stronger by doing nothing. If I never push myself how can I train to be a great ninja like you, Kaa-san and Ji-san.


That is when father began to act like the one I knew his face hardened and he said, “There is no way that you will ever be an active ninja, you are …………..”

A sniffle could be heard while he was talking causing father to stop what he was about to say next. I would have been crying to if father told me I couldn’t be a ninja in that tone. It wouldn’t be pretty like hers either I would have snot dripping red nose and eyes or maybe even a little drool mixed in.

But she surprised me yet again instead of the tears I expected when she raised her head there was that determined look again and this time it was directed at father. Then father begin looking her up and down before staring intently in her eyes for a moment. It was like a standoff at the Valley of the End and one of them was just waiting to draw their kunai. Then father seemed to have surrendered because he started shaking his head from side to side as if to not look in the challenging girl’s eyes anymore.

Then she boldly stated, “What’s so wrong about me wanting to be able to protect the people I care for the way they protect me.

Bending down to hug her tight as if not wanting to let her go he said, “You are so much like that person that it makes me want to laugh and cry. And just like that person I can never beat you. We all have roles that we must play in our lives and duties we must perform whether we like them or not. Mine is to be the leader of the Uchiha Clan and to look after my most cute and precious Mina-chan. Yours is a more burdensome and difficult even if you do not realize it. Your mission is never-ending thankless task but it is so important because only you can do it. In addition there is that the fact that you are sickly and have a weak constitution for this most difficult task. Even the strongest of ninjas would buckle under the physical and mental strain. And even though it might not seem important by doing what you do or even if it feels like you are doing nothing at all. You are helping to protect the village just by being yourself. Sometimes even though we have things we do not like in our lives we muddle through because of the people we have beside us.”


Then he looked her in the eye and did something that he never had done for me or my brother, he began to sing. In a voice soothingly low and deep he sang. “You are my sunshine”, he then poked her on the forehead; followed by a little giggle. “My only sunshine”, another poke on the nose; followed by a louder giggle this time. “You make me happy when skies are grey”, then father grabbed her cheeks and pinched until they were rosy; then he sighed dramatically and frowned. Mina-chan started laughing a little like she was trying to hold it in. “You never know dear how much I love you please don’t take my sunshine away”. While saying that he took his hands and covered his face and slowly opened them up to blow on her nose.


Unable to hold in her laughter anymore Mina-chan burst out laughing and then she did something that my mother rarely did and argued back. She told my father with a cute little pout on her face and rosy red cheeks, “Sunshine is not a strong enough name”, with a wrinkle between her brows and a sniff of disdain, ” so don’t call me sunshine.”


Laughing father told her that he would try and would she try to stay in bed but if not then at least near the cabin so that if you have a relapse then help will be able to find you better. He told her, “I know that you want to explore but please do this for me so that I won’t worry. You are worth more than this whole village of ninjas and should always be protected and cared for.”


Even though outwardly she smiled and said that she would I could tell that she was not happy about it, because her eyes weren’t smiling anymore. Father then picked her up and carried her off back in the direction in which he came. Mina-chan looked right back down at me from my father’s arms and mouthed the words please come and see me again, before turning to my father distracting him by demanding that before he left to go home, she wanted him to read to her. Looking at her then the sky he agreed but to only one as they went back towards the way father had come talking quietly between them.


I could not believe what I had just seen. It was like my father had another personality all together. And that girl Mina-Chan was a big mystery as was her connection to my father. Who was she and why was she so precious to father. I had never seen him act like that before as if he was doting on her.

Emotions something he always told me an Uchiha tried to always control, all easily seen on his face. Allowing someone who was obviously weak to be around him when he abhorred weakness and didn’t like it to be in his presence be it his family or subordinates. There had to be a reason that this unknown girl warranted so much time and attention from my father. I mean he was in the middle of teaching me when he must have seen her and he never came back, like he forgot what he was doing once he was with her.


Was one or both of her parents’ guards for the Fourth’s treasure, and father felt sorry for her? Father did mention something about her being sickly could that be it. That would explain why she seemed so lonely since her parents lived out here for guard duty in a restricted area and with her supposedly being bedridden that could be the reason.


But the way my father was acting was more of a mystery then anything. He is known as a strict but fair leader, but he does not mingle with his subordinates because he believes that as an Uchiha it is beneath him. So why was he so nice to Mina-chan, it was truly puzzling. I decided to try and find out all I could about this girl. Hopefully I could find out what father found so fascinating about her and could emulate it. I knew I couldn’t ask father or big brother. If they found out what I was doing I would get in trouble so I decided to wait until the next day and ask around the village. Feeling much better with solid plans in mind I headed home and was just in time to wash up and prepare for dinner.


We were in the middle of our meal when father showed up, stating that something important had come up and just sat down waiting to be served. Even though I should have been upset I thought it funny that Mina-chan must have gotten him to read her more then one story and that’s why he so late. My mother who had been serving me a second helping looked off, as if she was upset but when I went to thank her she was looking the exact same as always so I brushed it off as me being sensitive because of fathers’ dual personality.


I observed my father as he ate his meal and began a low quiet conversation with Itachi as he always did. Nothing seemed amiss with him everything was exactly as it always is and after he finished his conversation with Itachi he turned to me and asked if I had finished learning the family fireball technique.


I was about to ask what had happened to him earlier during our lesson when Itachi shook his head at me and gave me a look that said” if you value you hide don’t say anything”, taking the hint I didn’t ask father where he disappeared to, but just instead agreed with father about testing my ability on the morrow and the rest of the meal was silent. I wanted to talk with big brother but mother pulled me up and told me to take a bath and get ready for bed since I had a hard day of training ahead of me. Kissing mother and mumbling goodnight I headed to my room.


Going to the small bathroom attached to my room I ran the water really hot. I wanted to spend as much time as I could soaking my aches and pains away. Also I wanted to think about all the weird things that was going on around me without my notice and hopped in. I began to wonder if this little mystery was worth the potential trouble it might cause if I’m caught especially with it having to do with the fourth and how maniacal father can get about that guy.


But then I remembered that this did not just have anything to do with father but a lonely little princess. Then after I was in there for who knows how long I got out with a purpose. Tomorrow was going to be hard and the only thing I could do was move forward from there.


When I got up the next morning I ran to the kitchen greeted mother and sat down. Itachi followed not long after and as usual father was already gone. Mother told me that he would meet me after lunch at the pond. She asked me why I was in such a rush and I told her that I wanted everything perfect for when father came to test me and that I wanted to get some more training done. She shook her head at me and said that I was definitely an Uchiha male laughing a little and smiled. But I noticed something it didn’t reach her eyes. It was all because of that girl that I even looked at them and now I wish that I hadn’t. Which made finding out more about her was imperative. Telling mother and big brother goodbye I headed towards the public training grounds.


For the next four hours instead of training I asked every one I came in contact with about a girl named Mina with long blonde hair. During the search I thought I might have found her family because there are not that many blondes in the village and someone pointed me in the direction of the flower shop but that blonde turned out to be a girl named Ino.


She had blonde hair but it was short and smelled all girly like artificial flowers. As soon as I saw her I wanted to go back to the training grounds and keep looking but that would be rude and so I tried talking to her. I had to speak with Ino for a long time after that because she talked about everything, her favorite flower and song, her best friend, and even her family; but I did get some useful information.


She said that her cousin and his wife were on a mission and because it was long term their daughter went with them. I began to get really excited because I think I may have found her and then I asked Ino questions about her. She was real excited at first telling me how jealous she was that her cousin was gone and how much fun she must be having fun and meeting people in another country.


Ino exclaimed in an excited huff, “That girl is such a people person that that even though she has a respiratory problems that cause her to stay indoors a lot she will definitely make a whole lot of friends. That’s the kind of person she is even though her parents mission is for the village, her personal mission has always been to meet and make as friends as possible.”


She started talking about the shopping she must be doing and then I tuned her out. This was the lead I had been looking for. Because missions are confidential even if the mission was in the village no one would be aware of it except the ones involved. That would be the reason why her own cousin didn’t know she was still in the village and thought she was in another country.


Then Ino stopped talking and began to give me a suspicious look as she looked at me from head to toe as if trying to see inside my head, which worried me a little since I knew that her clan could do stuff like that and I didn’t want that so I began thinking about tomatoes.


But she asked me something totally unrelated which threw me off and told me, “I am such an idiot why am I talking about my cousin when you obviously must be in love with me and can’t possibly be interested in anything to do with my cousin. I know you want to know more about me so ask me anything my heart and mind are open to you.”


But before I could say anything Itachi appeared behind her and I loss my train of thought wondering why big brother was here. Never taking my eyes off big brother I told Ino that I would have to be leaving now and she turned trying to see what had caught my attention and then looked startled at Itachi before her entire body turned red and then she ran off without another word. Which to me was surprising including her color change, but girls were weird anyway so I didn’t dwell anymore on it after that turning back to big brother once again.


Usually I would have been chattering at Itachi a mile a minute about what he or I had been doing throughout the day but when motioned for me to follow him I did so without saying anything because the air around Itachi was so serious. I wondered if he had gotten wind of what I had been up to but then immediately vetoed the idea because he would have been giving me a disappointed look.

Instead he was walking beside me faced forward but his gaze never stopped peering at me the whole time as if he was trying to figure something out. We silently walked side by side until we reached the Uchiha lands but then big brother turned towards the south side of the pond and I had to walk fast to catch up.


It was surprising because we usually used the north side of the pond which was closest to the main house but Itachi was taking me the opposite side which was further away from home and more secluded. This definitely meant that either he knew what I was up to or at least suspected something. Damn! Sometimes having a genius older brother is the worst. You can’t surprise and scare him or pull any pranks on him because he always, always knows. Turning pranks against the person who played them on him is always a humiliating, horrifying, or both depending on the crime. For me he has what he likes to call, “putting my foolish little brother in his place lessons”, a study of twelve easy steps like an alcoholics anonymous guide.


I should have known he was going to catch on and prepared a couple of excuses a head of time and now I am going to have to play it by ear and I don’t like that. My only option was to play innocent and see if he fell for it.


Pulling out the face I used when I stole cookies from the kitchen after mother baked I asked Itachi,” what’s was going on?” I could just imagine the flowered background and stars behind me as my widened eyes just oozed innocent youth. I knew he was surprised because even if his facial expression hadn’t changed his body language had a big question mark over his head.


But all too soon the question mark turned into a light bulb and he faced me again this time with a flick to the forehead. Itachi stated in that no nonsense way of his, “nice try foolish little brother but it will take more than puppy eye distraction of this caliber to defeat me. I have been up against a real expert and although it was a nice try it was not good enough.”


“Who’s that Big Brother”, I asked trying to stall. When a fist pounded me on the top of my head making me dizzy I saw little weasels dancing around my head. Looking blurrily up at him I screeched “what did you hit me for I haven’t done anything”.


Sternly looking down at me with the face my father had perfected called The Iceman Cometh where you can’t help but freeze in place and not be able to move or think. “Don’t try and change the subject and you know what you’ve been up to and if you’re not careful you are going to get yourself in trouble especially if you continue the way you have. Don’t forget that because we are part of Uchiha Clan the eyes of all the other clans and villagers are always on us. Do you think that you all you have been doing would not be noticed or remarked upon? After all most of the villagers are talking about you and how you’ve been seen more around the village today then in the last six months combined.


That comment did make me pause for a moment. When I thought I had been covertly going about the village trying to find out more about that girl, people had been noticing. Which was not a problem if I cared what they thought about what I was doing, but if they make to much fuss then eventually it will come to my father’s attention and that would be a very big problem. I knew that the next thing that was going to come out my mouth was a lie a big fat lie, but really I wanted my brother to tell me what to do because everything was way over my head and more complicated then I first thought but I really wanted to see her again.


Just like I thought my big mouth said, “Big Brother I was just training, but my eyes the reason our clan was so great and our pride; had totally lost it’s Uchihaness by having two tears at their corners. They seemed to be saying save me big brother you are my only hope like that chick in the movie we went to see with the big buns on her head. I was ten seconds from saying it. But like the genius big brother he is he totally understood everything I said without me having to say another word. Saving me from the embarrassment of not only asking for help but stopping me from risking opening my mouth and saying something that would make look as dumb as he would definitely think I am.

Bowing my head and starring at the ground, as I squeeze my eyes tightly waiting for big Brother to begin the 12 step program. But like the cool big Brother he is surprisingly as he always does he pokes me in my fully not like usual it was kind of soft and begin to tussle my hair.

He said, “foolish little brother it’s okay I understand, I think it is our families destiny to always lose it a little the first time we see them.”

Sasuke began to slowly raise his head and quietly asked so as to retain some his pride back; “what are you talking about big Brother see what? Then Itachi smiled that little smile at me like when we are sneaking and doing something that they shouldn’t and said just as calmly, “ Eyes that seem to look straight into your soul and then steals apiece. And since it’s too late to save you little brother I have no choice but to help you no matter what happens down the road.”


Flashback End--------------- Flashback End--------------------- Flashback End-----------------

All the crazy things I’d do just to be with that person and the funny thing is I would do them all over again even knowing what I know now. Even though I didn’t know that that person was so important to me I feel the loss more than I ever thought I would and I now understand what it was my father was trying to teach me. Sometimes when you lose your most precious thing it makes you even more determined not to lose anything like that again. Father will do whatever is necessary to keep his treasure safe and more importantly to himself. I guess I was more resentful of him then I thought. I resent the fact that he was so important to my father. That in my father’s eyes the world began and ended with him and our family came a distant second. I resent the fact that everything changed once he was hurt. I resent the fact that in the back of my mind there is this smidgeon of doubt that makes me believe that Itachi killed our clan because of our failure at keeping guardianship of Naruto. Plus the fact that Itachi showed up obviously to try and take Naruto and acted like I was the invisible man just like father did when we were younger. I resent the fact that he can’t remember anything. Not my father who treasured him or Mina-Chan. I resent the fact that he’s not the demure princess I was going to protect but a little mischievous loudmouth troublemaking imp that I can’t help but like. I resent the fact that I can’t make fun of him for having been dressed up as a girl for most of his childhood, although he did always look cute in his kimono. I don’t even have any pictures because father sealed them away in a hidden shrine that I can’t even to this day find. That dobe better hope I never do find it either, he’ll never do that damn sexy no jujitsu again. How dare he show so much naked skin of the princess to others so wantonly and shamelessly. I know father is turning over in his grave every time he sees that particular skill. I bet if he had the power to rise from the grave he would just to pummel all of the perverted men who have seen his precious little treasure’s body. I resent him for the fact that they started a rumor about me liking girls with long hair because of him and I got a large flock of long haired girls following behind me for weeks after looking for Mina-Chan, I got so many locks of hair that I could have made a dozen life sized replicas of Hokage Mountain. I resented him promising me his first kiss—wait a minute hold up I did get his first kiss so I’m good as far as that complaint goes, but I guess I’m getting off track. I’ve been blaming him since they took him from us and it’s not his fault. Leaving the barrier just so he could give me a present, then the attack, his memory loss, his removal from father’s care, Itachi killing the clan, and more importantly it’s not his fault that father never loved me best. Now that I’ve said it I feel a little better. It’s like saying it out loud showed me not only how childish I was being but also that I was forgetting something very important, while my father may not have loved me best he did care for me and have pride in me and it’s time I own up as an Uchiha male and start to keep some of the promises I made. It doesn’t matter whether the person I made the promise with remembers or not because once the promise was made it was set in stone. A ninja who can’t keep his word is garbage, especially one who has technically been paid. Even though it was late, I guess with that guy it is better late then never.

Taking that little trip down memory lane did help though because I knew just where to start looking; going to the training grounds I then made a left heading towards the forest just beyond. No matter how everything has changed some still remain the same. Whether it was my princess or is that dobe, when you are upset head for the hills or in his case run for the forest. Moving further away from the sounds of the other ninja training and deeper into the woods, I looked for signs of Naruto having come this way but found none. But some instinct just kept telling me to go forward; almost like a dompass1. Then I noticed that I seemed to have walked into an orange groove. Wait we don’t have any orange trees in the fire country. But upon closer inspection the oranges turned out to be the dobe’s pants all 200 of him hanging upside down using chakra with their eyes closed.
I know he sensed me and yet he move or say anything that acknowledged my presence at all. That so much as a muscle didn’t twitch or a word come out of that usually verbose mouth showed how truly angry he was with me. I looked at him for the first time in a long time I realized. When we are usually around each other so much other things are going on like fighting, training, distracting noisy people always surrounding and silent dark ones in the shadows always watching us. With so many different emotions swirling around it’s no wonder that I haven’t really “seen” him since we were young. I guess I wanted to see the younger him I knew then and the person that he is today as two separate people, but their not. Except for getting a little taller and cutting his hair he still looks like my little princess and in a lot of ways he still acts like her too. They both have a curious nature ready to face any new adventure, an almost reckless determination to do the impossible, and the blind faith and innocence to believe in a brighter future. And standing there in an orange groove in the fire country that shouldn’t exist I began to feel something I hadn’t felt in a long time hope. The Uchiha smirk firmly in place I called out to him, “Hey Dobe, let’s go get some ramen.”

Please don’t kill me for this ending I am not a cliffhanger junkie it just seemed a good place to stop. A prequel one shot called, “The Mina-Chan Chronicles” is already written and will be put up sometime in the future after editing (part of my penance). And yes it is from Naruto’s point of view. As for the childhood nickname Fugaku called Naruto it was because to him Naruto was his little Minnie Minato which shortened down to Mina-chan. And the reason that Naruto pictures was put in a shrine is because sickly boys are made to wear kimonos until a certain age and then all things from the period of their ailment is sealed in a shrine including pictures. I must say that I got that piece of inspiration from Xxxoholic a blazing manga and show by Clamp (even though they are dead wrong for not putting out the fourth volume of Legal Drug).


.” I want to be someone worthy of protecting something priceless and irreplaceable.”

1 I and my cousins say Naruto’ innate Sasuke finding abilities are called the Tempass (also matching Sasuke personality) and of course Sasuke would be the Dompass. It was a toss up between that and The Stalkulator 3000 (in store soon to stalk the ninja of your dreams). Friends shouldn’t let friends drink while watching Naruto.
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