She Who Knows Death

AN:I'm back! Here is an extra long chapter as an apology for the wait. I have officially graduated, but I'll probably be going to grad school and work pretty soon, so…br / Anyways, thank you guys so much for all the support on this. It really means a lot. In other news, I also have a Discord that I will be linking here, so feel free to drop by / /uaBZk2M32Pbr / I've also gone ahead and linked a sketch of what Akari's eyes would look / Her eye is silver and black rather than the traditional red with seven back to back crescent moons cradling seven pointed stars, and one in the middle. Please excuse my halfhearted / Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy it, Lord knows I struggled writing it, but I hope its length makes up for that. As always, please feel free to check out the rest of the series even though each Fic can be read individually, and please leave your thoughts down below. ? ﾟﾒﾙ? ﾟﾒﾙ see you guys soon!

XXXXXXXXXX

"Sakumo-ojisama?"

"Yes, my dear?"

"Love you!"

The soon to be Hokage barks a laugh, chakra blazing with happy affection. "I love you, too, sweetheart."

"Ojisama?" I ask again.

"Yes?" Sakumo grins back at me as I ride Katsuki, his giant wolf summon , my body flopped forward as I sleepily rest my head between the black wolf's ears.

"I love you," I sing-song again for the seventh or eighth time as a yawn splits my words. Sakumo and I were headed to pick Kakashi up from the academy. My typically low chakra state is exasperated today by the amount of auras that were focused on us as we walked the streets of Konoha, some of which included an ANBU team that's been tailing the future Hokage for the last two weeks. There were also numerous civilians wondering about the blindfolded baby Uchiha riding their future Hokage's summon and countless ninja invested in the betting pool that was apparently running on me. I overheard some Uchiha jonin talking about it, and that they would be putting a substantial amount of money on the idea that I was going to be disinherited due to my disability, the unloyal shits apparently having no shame betting against their own clan heir.

I hide my bloodthirsty smile in black fur. Whatever. They will learn. I'd been preparing for months, planning everything down to every breath and blink, everything I could see, at least, which is admittedly limited. Tonight, I was going to change my clan irrevocably, their fates, their ideals, and everything they thought they knew, and no one was going to stop me.

Sakumo laughs again, deep and gentle, dropping back to scoop me off his summon's head. "Tell me, kid, are you trying to obtain the title of most affectionate person in the world? I think you already have the status of most affectionate Uchiha."

I grunt, tucking my face into the man's scarf, shivering slightly. Konoha rarely got cold enough to snow, and although my chakra and fire nature kept me warmer in general, the breeze was still cutting today. Sakumo wraps the end of his long, black scarf around my neck, sharing more warmth with me. "Sometimes, people just need to hear that they are loved."

The lightness in his aura seems to dim, his chakra slowing to something more somber. His voice lowers, and I sense him checking our surroundings, chakra going to his ears as he heightens his already incredible hearing, one of his hands cupping the back of my head. "That's true, but you know… I'm not going anywhere. I'm not going to do that."

I stiffen, horror creeping in as I realize why he made sure no one could hear us. He knows. They told him? My fingers clench on his shoulders, genuine anger bubbling up. I know my face has gone blank, the resting face of all Uchiha, and yet Sakumo notices my ire anyway. "Don't fret, little one. I forced the details of the… incident out of Fugaku-kun and Sandaime-sama using the hat as leverage."

I stay still, completely unsure what to say. I never would have wanted him to know about his potential suicide. The truth was, I constantly dealt with the darkest futures, the worst case scenarios, endless, horrific what-ifs. I tug and pull apart the weave of fate, rearrange the board, carving out the rot and making room for new growth. I choose to dwell in the darkest versions of people so that I can find whatever light there is to bring to them. I'm never happy when someone else has to experience that, though. Why unnecessarily burden someone with knowing?

"You should have left it be. It doesn't matter now. You said it yourself, you aren't going anywhere, not anymore." I mutter, scowling into the scarf we were sharing.

"Yes," he agrees, steps steady, but chakra deeply saddened. "But, I'm sorry you had to see it."

I flinch, taken off guard again. The fact that I have to experience terrible things on my own is often overlooked, even by my own parents as much as they love me. After a moment, I make a decision, letting this person I have come to love as family in just a bit more, even if the words shouldn't be coming from a young child. "Don't apologize. You are not responsible for the way people hurt you." For the first time, Sakumo's steps stutter, just for a moment. "But, I need you to always remember how much hurting yourself will hurt the ones that love you."

"…I'll remember." Sakumo hugs me tightly, dropping a kiss to my head, chakra nearly overflowing with pain and fondness as he tugs gently on my black and silver hair. "My wife and I had always wanted to have a daughter after Kakashi. We would have loved one like you."

I'm deeply touched. Loving something as absurd as me isn't easy, especially for those who don't know about my previous lives. It's one reason why I straight up told my parents what I am; It is difficult to lie and keep up a front with those you love. The hidden, hurt part of me that always expects rejection is soothed just a bit by the affection Sakumo gives anyway. "Anyone would be honored to have you, Ojisama."

He squeezes me tight again, his signature fangy grin back on his face as he coos, calling me an "adorable brat" and "sweet puppy" under his breath. I roll my eyes beneath my blindfold, but smile back. I feel better to have spoken to him about it, even if I would have preferred he never know, less like if I turn away he'll vanish, leaving my best friend devastated. Hell, leaving me devastated, too.

I decide it's time to change the subject. "Hey, you ready for Hokagedom?"

He winces. "… The paperwork…."

I snicker, patting his cheek with a mittened hand, my clan symbol embroidered on its back. "You'll be great! Also, shadow clones. "

He freezes once more, eyes and mouth going wide. "…I owe you a lifetime worth of dango."

I giggle as we turn the corner, the Academy and Hokage Tower coming into sight. Katsuki, having been silently trailing behind his summoner this entire, sidles up, his muzzle briefly pressing into our sides. "Sakumo, your other pup approaches."

Sakumo huffs, his warm hand smoothing damn my back, my muscles instantly relaxing at the sensation. Soon enough, I pick up Kakashi's chakra signature in the crowd, curiously accompanied by two others.

"Tou-chan. Riri. Katsuki." I wiggle, and Sakumo sets me down, removing the rest of the scarf from his neck and wrapping it around me, too. Kakashi is already there, pressing into his father's legs and I get tugged close, too, my hand enclosed in my friend's.

"Hey, Kashi," I greet cheerfully, bumping his shoulder with my head. Kakashi smiles behind his own scarf, eyes crinkled close.

"Is this your dad and sister, Kakashi?" An energetic voice asks. Oh, I think, my eyes going big as I figure out who Kakashi's tagalongs are. I didn't see this coming.

"Obito, you idiot. Can't you recognize your own clan heir?" Kashi replies, his voice amused.

"Eh?" The older boy leans forward into my space, and I look up at him, taking in the energetic sunshine and bonfire chakra that was distinctly Uchiha, the way it lingers behind his eyes, and the… goggles? around his head. "Wha- heir? As in Akari-hime?! The one that-" Obito is apparently not stupid enough to blurt the rest of that sentence out, to my disappointment. No one besides Kakashi, who's own information gathering is limited, will feed me info, afraid to hurt my feelings, I suppose. If anyone was even foolish enough to whisper something disrespectful in their vicinity in the first place. My meager information network was yet another problem to be fixed.

I tilt my head, examining the boy in front of me, who seems around 7 or 8. Hm, I wasn't expecting to meet him so soon. I don't need him going psycho with those OP Peepers. Luckily, I already have a strategy for Obito. Since I'm in a Naruto dimension, I'll take a cue from him and fix it with friendship. It's actually one of my I prefered methods to deal with a lot of issues. Easier than getting away with murder.

Truthfully, Obito was someone I had conflicted feelings about. Yes, he was traumatized and manipulated, but he also did some seriously fucked up shit. He was young, and only really had his team by the time Madara and Zetsu got to him, and thinking Kakashi betrayed him and killed one of his precious people broke him. But, to turn around and attack kindhearted Minato? Konoha? For what, not scorning Kakashi? Even under the assumption that he would create a new peaceful world where none of it would matter, it doesn't excuse the pain he caused.

It wasn't that I didn't understand the desire for revenge. No, that I empathize with wholeheartedly. In fact, Obito's deep and profound love was what I admire most about him, and one reason I wanted to save him outside of sparing Kakashi that mountain of trauma. I just couldn't understand his actions. Maybe he was simply insane. Maybe Madara and Zetsu got to him after his traumatic experiences. Either way, I get the feeling I'm missing something, and it's extremely disconcerting.

Shaking the thoughts away, I step forward, beckoning Obito to lean down. Sartled, he does so hesitantly. Smiling, I wrap my arms around his neck, hugging him softly. "Hello, Cousin. It's nice to meet you."

Obito stills for all of five seconds before promptly exploding. "Oh, kami, you're so cuuuuuuuutttteee!" I blink, bewildered at suddenly finding myself squished in a tight embrace, my feet no longer touching the ground as Obito rambles about how sweet his clan heir is and how surely there isn't a cuter and sweeter kid anywhere. Instinctively, l go as limp as a doll against him, like someone trying to survive a tornado, as the exuberant boy begins to wildly twirl me around, squealing. I'm a little miffed since this kid is only a few years older than me, but then I take in the warm flow of his chakra, the way it bubbles and vibrates with genuine happiness.

"My adorable clan heir called me cousin!" Obito bellows. Oh, I realize, he's happy because I acknowledged him?

Before I can think more on it, Obito receives a flying kick to the face, sending me falling into a pair of hands that grip me under the arms, setting me gently on the floor.

A raging Kashi tucks me protectively into his side, and this time, the insult holds more weight. "You crazy moron, she's not a toy! Stop flinging her around!"

"You pretentious bastard! She's my cousin! I wasn't going to hurt her!" Obito snaps back, jumping to his feet.

"Idiot, do you even know what pretentious means?"

I stare incredulously as the two dissolve into bickering, completely unused to this side of my friend. Behind me, Sakumo howls with laughter, and Rin, who had been shyly watching the interaction with growing embarrassment, finally approaches.

"I'm so sorry about this, Hokage-sama, Uchiha-Hime!" She bows low, utterly mortified by her friend's antics. "They fight sometimes but Kakashi doesn't normally get this heated!"

Sakumo grins. "I'm not Hokage yet, kid. And it's fine, my kid is making just as much of a scene. Kakashi, Akari is fine. Take it easy and play nice with your little rival."

"Rival?" Kakashi asks scornfully, tuning into the conversation from where he sat pinning Obito to the ground as the older boy flails helplessly. "My rival has to be better than this."

"Hey! What's with the stick up your-" The two erupt into another fight, Kakashi dismissively batting Obito aside as the older boy charges him. Repeatedly. What the hell? Is their dynamic just fated?

Sakumo just laughs more. I flinch at a sudden chakra flare, and then an ANBU is shushining next to us. "Sakumo-sama, Sandaime is requesting your presence."

Sakumo hesitates, but Kakashi comes over, leaving a semi beat up and exhausted Obito on the ground behind him. "It's fine, Tou-chan. Riri and I can go home with Katsuki."

"Yes, the pups will be safe with me," Katsuki rumbles, a fierceness coming forth from the giant summon's chakra. Like all summons, his chakra felt more like nature then humans, yet also distinctly otherworldly.

"Alright," Sakumo agrees reluctantly. "Be safe. And it was good meeting Kakashi's friends."

"Friends?" Kakashi mutters incredulously, and I snort at his obliviousness, elbowing him in a silent command to be nice.

"Goodbye, Hatake-sama! And congratulations on becoming Hokage!" Rin bows as Sakumo and the ANBU vanish in a swirl of leaves and a snap of chakra that makes me twitch.

"Becoming…Hokage? Wait, your dad is the White Fang, Sakumo Hatake?!" Obito shrieks.

"You just put that together? Idiot," Kakashi smirks.

"I thought Sakumo Hatake was just your clan mate! Why the hell would I think someone that cool was your dad?"

Rin sighs, and I pat her arm consolingly, pitying the girl who will likely spend a lot of time playing mediator between her future teammates. Turning around, I head to Katsuki who kindly lays down so that I can settle myself on his back again. As we start to head to the Hatake compound, I look over my shoulder, waving at the older girl. "It was nice meeting you, Rin-sempai. You too, cousin!"

With one last insult, Kakashi dashes over, quickly leaping onto Katsuki, head resting on top of mine as he shoots a final glare at a seething Obito before he turns his attention back to me. "Hey, were you just gonna leave me behind?"

"It was the only way to get you moving," I intone, amused, before I feel the lightness fade away. "The clan meeting is today."

Kakashi stiffens, true anger seeping into his chakra, nothing like the playful irritation he was displaying with Obito. This was something far more vicious. My best friend hugs me. "Those crotchety old carcasses. Don't worry, you'll do fine. They'd have to be morons to not recognize you as a prodigy."

I smile, feeling myself relax with relief I hadn't realized I'd needed, the staunch support of my best friend soothing. "Thanks. Do you think you could do me a favor?"

My friend doesn't hesitate. "What do you need?"

XXXXXXXXXX

"Are you sure? You don't have to do this," my father murmurs, a helpless kind of furry resonating in his chakra, matching the grief in my mother's.

"I do," I disagree, gently, sensing the way my parents tense further, and I smirk up at them, my hand holding one of each of theirs. "But, that's fine. It's been a while since I've gotten to play like this."

I'm excited. The part of my soul that spent lifetimes conquering and ruling is aching to be set free for a bit. It left my chakra vibrating under my skin and in my fingertips and my smile just a touch too maniacal. After all, tonight I would be conquering the Uchiha Clan.

My father raises his eyebrows, and mother giggles softly in something between trepidation and amusement. "Little Star, has anyone told you how unnerving you can be?"

I beam. "Thank you! It's not easy when I'm this small."

"One day, I would like to know more of …Before, if you would share it with us," Mother says, affectionately brushing the hair out of my eyes despite the blindfold I was once more wearing.

"One day," I agree easily.

My parents lead me down a semi secluded path in the compound to the Clan Hall, where all clan meetings are held. As we approach the stairs, an Uchiha guard bows, face impassive, but chakra disdainfully aimed at me. He opens the door for us, with a flat, "Fugaku-sama, Mikoto-sama,…Akari-Hime."

Mother and Father give him serious side eye and choose not to acknowledge the guard as we enter, and I internally hope I can fix the very obvious cracks forming within my clan. At the rate we were going, my parents wouldn't have the authority to command the clan, and if I am unable to stop the discontent from growing, we could end up with another potential coup d'etat like cannon, regardless of if the Kyuubi attacks, since the Uchiha have apparently been facing stigmatization since Madara turned traitor. Troublesome. I'll have to put the fear of the kami into these stubborn Uchiha now. I sigh, carefully flexing my fingers and checking my chakra reserves, before discretely letting it flow, watching the chakra signatures around me for fluctuations as I start laying my trap. I take note of the eyes focusing on me and the way the soft murmurs die down to heavy silence as my parents guide me to a raised dais.

While I'm eager to put some people in their place, I'm also a bit sad that it has to be done at all. But, unfortunately, sometimes the only way to bring peace is to make war. So be it. If strength is all they will listen to, I'll show them mine.

"So, this is Akari-Hime, then." A cold voice slices through the air, the atmosphere turning frigid. "A war is on our doorstep and our heir is a cripple-" My eyes are wide behind dark cloth, but I manage to not lose my concentration. I had expected hostility, but not the boldness. I'm not alone in my shock either, as I take in the spikes of energy and the sharp inhales that are equivalent to screams of horror in Uchiha Speak. Both my parents start leaking killing intent in their rage, further infusing the room with tumultuous energy, before a new voice rings out, calming them.

"Watch your filthy tongue before I remove it from your fool head." A dangerous voice states, barely at talking volume, yet so viciously biting that it cuts through the shock caused by the previous comment. "That's my granddaughter you speak of."

I blink, flabbergasted. Um, excuse me? Granddaughter? Why am I only now hearing of this? My visions are incredibly hard to control, even though I was able to see many of them at once. It was especially complicated because of how little I could use the Mangekyo at this age. My body simply couldn't handle it. I was, however, able to see the meeting coming, and a few variations of the end and consequences of it, but this is the first time I am experiencing this part of this event, so the fact I am meeting my extended family was entirely new information.

The first man scoffs, but there is something distinctly wary in his chakra now, much to my interest. In fact, many had begun to shift uncomfortably. "That… child isn't even your blood, Ryōsuke."

"Mikoto is the daughter of my wife, therefore she is mine as is her child, Osamu. It seems you've become senile in your old age to think otherwise." Ryōsuke, my apparent grandfather, states, lifting a cup of tea to his mouth with icy poise.

The whole room is comprised of long tables in rows with the clan seated all along them on cushions in seiza, posture perfect and disciplined with few exceptions. Each table has various snacks and tea sets provided so that the clan could be vicious assholes to one another in comfort and style. There is also a table for the head family on the dais, but my parents had remained standing, clutching my hands tightly, shoulder to shoulder with their chins raised in defiance. Ryōsuke and Osamu were seated in the middle row directly across from each other in the edge seats closest to the dais, and every eye was intensely focused on them, allowing me to cautiously continue ensnaring my clan. My new found grandfather had unintentionally provided me with the perfect distraction.

Osamu's hand slams onto the table, rattling the glass as he snarls. "Regardless, the girl is unfit to be clan heir with those useless eyes of hers. An Uchiha Clan Head without Sharingan? Ha!"

I am almost amused by how brutal this dusty fucker is willing to be in front of a literal toddler, but while I certainly couldn't care less, the idea that this might be what Itatchi and even Sasuke had to endure sincerely pisses me off, and any lingering doubt I had about my slightly excessive plan vanishes like dandelion fluff in the breeze as Osamu Uchiha lands himself firmly on my shit list. For the first time since this dramatic showdown started my father speaks, sounding emptier than I've ever heard him, and my anger grows as I recall the amount of pressure my kind father has been under because of these moldy crones. "There is no precedent to remove a clan heir on the basis of Sharingan this early-"

"But," Osamu interrupts smugly, "there is a precedent. Nori Uchiha was forced to concede his position as clan heir to his cousin at the age of seven after he lost in a challenge duel."

Murmurs rose up all around us, the air growing denser with agitation as my mother cries out. "That was centuries ago, before Konoha was even founded!"

Osamu sneers, "And yet, it is our history. Do you dare dismiss it, Mikoto-sama?" My mother's title is said mockingly as he twists her words, and it's painfully obvious which clansmen support my parents, which are undecided, and which stand behind the majority of the elders I can feel agreeing with Osamu, each seated similarly to him and Ryōsuke at the top of the tables closest to the head family's dais, a position of honor no doubt.

"How dare you! You wish to usurp the rightful heir without cause. The girl is being hailed as a prodigy for her sensing abilities and a genius for her intelligence and you wish to cast her aside? No doubt for your own grandson, you scheming, old sack of bones! Know your place." Grandfather roars, finally losing the last shred of his patience, his stone mask wavering, and with a flare of killing intent and chakra, two flickering stars are born and as Grandfather Ryōsuke's eyes shift.

Oh fuck, I think, a wicked glee tugging at the corners of my mouth as I pull my hands free of my parents and hop off the dais, heading over to Grandfather. That's why Osamu and the others are scared of him.

Immediately, Ryōsuke's eyes, Mangekyō blazing, focus on me, shock and incredulity flickering through him as he examines me head to toe before he glances lightning quick all around us. I smirk openly, stopping in front of him, to give him a slight bow, knowing I'm busted, but not particularly concerned. My trap is almost done, after all. "Hello, Grandfather."

My fellow Mangekyō user actually gapes for a moment before he huffs in disbelief. "Hn, looks like I'll finally get some entertainment. I'll leave it to you, then, Child."

I smile wider, touched by his support. "Come have dinner with us soon. Please, Grandfather?"

"Hn. Yes, it seems I missed quite a bit while on my mission to the capital." His eyes flicker about once more, his blank mask reappearing on his face, but his dark anticipation remains, mingled with a hint of pride and amusement.

I giggle, snatching a biscuit from his plate and leisurely heading to the end of the table as I chew, the opposite side of the room where my sweet Akane-obachan sits in the very back of the hall, my chakra subtly spooling and spreading about. I stop, pressing a kiss to her cheek as well, relieved that shisui and the other children aren't allowed in clan meetings. It is only about now that I've officially entered the portion of the clan meeting I managed to see with my Mangekyō. Unperturbed, I stroll along, dusting my hands free of crumbs, letting them scoff and smirk as the shadow of the guillotine looms above them, only one pair of Mangekyō aware.

I round the table, the whispers filling my ears, and for the first time, I address my clan, staring straight ahead as I unhurriedly make the long walk across the room back to my stiff parents, my voice ringing out as strongly and clearly as I can. "I understand all of your concerns. You worry for the future of our clan, especially with the war coming. You worry about what will happen if the Uchiha look weak with a cripple for a clan heir. …You worry what will happen if our status continues to decline in Konoha, that we might lose our place here, in our home. These concerns come from your best intentions and are valid. I understand."

I give them a moment to hear the sincerity in those words even as I continue to herd them into my trap, amused by how they have allowed themselves to be distracted. How careless to miss the danger bearing down on them. I reach the dais, but don't bother to climb it as I reach up and tug my blindfold loose, letting it pool on the ground as I blink cloudy gray eyes, head tilted. "But," I state blandly even as the corners of my lips curl up, feeling the last piece slip into place. "That doesn't mean I'm giving up my birthright."

And with that, my web has been spun, the bear trap closes, the noose tightens, and the Uchiha are mine.

Like a dam breaking, I flood the room with my killing intent, watching bemusedly as my many cry out, slumping and trembling under the weight of it, their breaths stuttering in their lungs. These people were seasoned shinobi, some no doubt veterans of war and torture and tragedy. They were no strangers to death. But, none of them had ever truly died. None of them have felt the kami hold their souls in their palms and smiled. None of them have met Death and taken solace in him, returning to him over and over. None of them could call the Shinigami their constant companion and dear friend.

After all, what was death to a reincarnator?

I feel about, taking in the way my clansmen freeze under the onslaught, alarm blooming in their chakra, and yet, for a moment, all I can feel is vague disdain. These silly little mortals, they dare? So insignificant, yet they challenge me? I frown, brushing away the intrusive thoughts that don't sound quite like me to be examined later. Pushing away the uneasiness they cause, I smile as Sharingans spin to life all across the hall, stars coming to life like a galaxy into creation, people reacting instinctively. And with that, they finally catch sight of what Ryōsuke saw when his Mangekyō turned on; All across the room, my chara strings curl across the ground, draped across limbs and high collared necks, only visible to our dojutsu's ability to see chakra. My smile grows unhinged as the fear sets in around me when my fingers flex and my trap pulls just that much tighter around them.

I'd been creating these strings for a few months, pouring my chakra into them and then wrapping them around myself day after day. I never released or dispelled them, not even in my sleep, (and damn if that hadn't been the real hurdle to overcome). It means that my chakra reserves didn't matter since the only chakra I needed to expend was in the initial creation, after which I could reuse them infinitely unless I broke them or lost control. I'd created enough strings that my whole body was coiled in them in preparation for this meeting, enough that I could cover the whole Clan Hall. I've been winding them around the room since I walked in, very, very careful to never touch skin as they slithered around the ground and tables, unfelt my any in the turmoil. When I released my killing intent, something my parents had assured me was uniquely overpowered, my chakra strings carried the sensation, amplifying it around the room, allowing me to conserve enough chakra for my final act.

After a few moments, I allow my killing intent to ease, if only for my poor shaking obachan whom I would definitely have to apologize to later, the stunned Uchiha now able to breathe a bit freer. I continue, knowing I can't drag this out much longer, that my control is starting to slip, and that if any looked past their own surprise, they'd see the cracks in my facade, the sloppiness of my strings. "You question my competence? So be it. Nori Uchiha fought for his title at seven. So will I. If I lose, I'll pass on my status as clan heir." I raise my hand, cutting off the protests that were, surprisingly, not just coming from my parents and new Grandpa. "Until then," I bare my teeth in a mockery of a smile as my eyes shift into Sharingan, and then into Mangekyo, delighting in the astonishment, terror, and even awe my clansmen felt at the sight of my silver dojutsu, even as it rapidly sucks my chakra dry. "Know. Your. Place."

With a lazy blink, I turn them off, gathering up the scraps of chakra I had left, and rapidly recalling the chakra strings back to wrap around my body once more, killing intent vanishing. I let my face relax into indifference as I retrieve my blindfold, glancing up at my parents despite my inability to see once more. "Okasama, Otousama. I'm leaving to visit Kashi-kun, okay?"

My parents, managing to recover from my display easier than the rest due to their familiarity with my antics, nod in silent agreement, somehow managing to radiate pride and love despite the trembling of their hands. My mother steps forward, and with a blur of hand signs and a bite to her finger, she calls forth her summons. "Chiaki, could you please take Akari-chan to the Hatake Compound?"

The giant feline who emerges from the smoak, a glorious coat of reds and oranges and golds, hisses in distaste. "Those mutts? Must I?"

"Chiaki," my mother warns in the same tone she says my own name when she finds me eating sweets at 3 am. I shiver at the sound, and clearly the cat also understands the danger, as she huffs, rolling bright gold eyes.

"Fine. The kitten is always safe with me. I'll take the time to teach her the difference between our gloriousness and those flea bitten brutes. Come, Kitten."

In a swift move, the big cat grabs me by the collar with her mouth and carries me easily out of the room, once more rendering me unintimidating asI dangle freely. I take unholy glee in the whiplash the display gives my clan. My body droops as soon as we pass the door and the now frozen guard from earlier. I feel myself drifting, numb and floaty as I slip in and out of consciousness, my peepers having drained me almost to exhaustion. Eventually, I find myself passing through our compound gates wherein Kakashi appears in front of me where I still hang from Chiaki's mouth.

"Akari!"

"Yo," I wheeze weakly. My friend gathers me up, and Chiaki kindly allows us both on her warm back as she begins to prowl towards the Hatake compound, the snowy streets quiet.

"Are you ok?" He asks, forcing an energy bar down my throat. I was too young for a chakra pill, but this was the next best thing.

"Hn."

"….You did it? The chakra strings, killing intent, and eyes were enough?"

"Hn."

"Well done. I knew you could. Rest now, I'll get us home."

"Hn." I relax into my friend, slumber coming both easily and peacefully.

XXXXXXXXXX

"-The Yondaime Hokage, the White Fang of Konoha, Sakumo Hatake!" The huge crowd erupts around us as Sakumo is inaugurated as the Fourth Hokage. I give a small "whoo" from where I lay against my father's chest, still tired from the clan meeting the night before last. Kakashi stands next to us, a clear demonstration of the strong alliance between our clans, as his father receives the hat.

As Sakumo gives his speech, speaking of unity, and the Will of Fire, and shinobi enduring in the face of adversity, yada, yada, I can't quite focus because even now, people were fucking staring. Admittedly, Sakumo had put us on display as a clear statement, but this much gawking was starting to get on my damn nerves. The explanation for this came from an unexpected source, one Asuma Sarutobi before the ceremony started; Some of the attention was because of my relationship with Kakashi, a great many people assuming we were betrothed. Some of it was the rumors around me. Most of it was the fact that the betting pools had officially escalated, a wave of Uchiha having placed their bets on me retaining my position as clan heir, starting a wild fire in the rumor mill and chaos in the jonin lounge.

As for my clan, well, the difference was stark. Apparently, the way to the hearts of Uchiha was through displays of strength and dominance, and maybe a few threats. I knew my clan had a hard on for power trips, but this was ridiculous. Where before, I had very few interactions with my clan mates, they seem to be coming out of the woodwork. Somehow, in the single day since the clan meeting, I'd run into several straight up revenant Uchiha, all of which had addressed me as their heir with awe.

Masochists, the lot of them, and no one would convince me otherwise.

Regardless, I wasn't going to complain since I'd gained the authority I wanted. "Father is calling us over," Kakashi says, tugging on my mother's hand, and my parents head over to where Sakumo stands with Lord Third and someone else.

Not bothering to lift my head from my father's chest, finding relief from the crowd's vibrant and overwhelming energy in the steady beat of his heart, I curiously turn my attention to the stranger sensing an off vibe. It's an act I nearly regret when I'm slapped with a deep sense of depression, aching loneliness, and a painful sort of helplessness. I could practically hear it, a soul screaming. A soul about to break. They left, they are all gone, it hurts, I'm scared, why does no one help me?, PleasepleasepleasesomeonehelpmeIcan'ttake thismuchlonger-

I yank myself back before my eyes act up, once more focusing on the steady heart under my cheek. "Akari-Chan?"

"Fine, Papa-sama," I mutter, words a bit choked as I try to calm my racing heart and slow my breathing. My father runs a soothing hand down my back, but kindly doesn't draw any more attention to me, instead continuing forward and addressing the three powerful men in front of us. "Sandaime-sama, Yondaime-sama, Orochimaru-sama."

Motherfucker. I hiss quietly, utterly frustrated. That chakra is the fucking snake bastard? Kami damn it all, I was actually looking forward to killing this one! I couldn't do so now, not with what emotions I could sense. Not with the vicious seal on his tongue emanating disgustingly dark chakra. Not when the very same chakra signature aproaches, my skin crawling and teeth gritting as I watch fucking Orochimaru the sanin's chakra do the equivalent of a child crawling into a dark corner and going into the fetal position, all the while, the man himself didn't twitch a muscle.

"Danzo-sama, it's good to see you," Sakumo calls out cheerfully, and I can't hear the reply past the hate and rage churning beneath Danzo's skin. If I wasn't so worried for my uncle's future well being with that much malice aimed at him, I might have been impressed at the fact that Danzo was able to keep from leaking killing intent, his chakra tightly bound even as it rages inside him.

I scowl into my father's haori, displeased at losing the opportunity to have a badass death match in the future, something I'd caught glances of with my Mangekyo, mentally trying to convince myself that even if I can't fight Orochimaru anymore, there will be other fun and dangerous opponents to fight. With great disappointment, I resign myself to spending several more weeks in a perpetual state of low chakra as I try to figure out if Orochimaru is salvageable, or at least worth the effort. The thought makes me want to bash my head into a wall.

A hand tugs on my hanging foot. "Riri? More scheming?" Kakashi asks under his breath, the adults sufficiently distracted.

I sigh morosely. "Always."

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