Amaya Uzumaki POV
I had gone to meet Shisui early in the morning. As an Anbu, he got a mission to take part in a supervised training session led by other jounins to instruct genins in simulations.
He didn't go into detail about what we'd be doing, only that he wanted me with him to apply that training to a genin who I soon found out was Itachi.
I already knew him, but we weren't as close as Shisui was with him. Besides, as the son of Fugaku, the head of the Uchiha clan, the kid didn't usually move around the village much.
But, just as my name came up in some conversations, Itachi's did too, so I always ended up hearing about what was going on with him when my brother didn't tell me himself.
And in one of those comments from the villagers, I learned that Itachi's team had been killed along with their clients. The Uchiha was the only survivor. There weren't any more repercussions about the case after the first few days, but I couldn't help worrying about the kid in a way, I understood the pain he was possibly feeling.
I followed Shisui through the Uchiha clan district and couldn't help but notice the looks from the residents toward me. They weren't like the fearful ones from the few who still avoided me, but rather of irritation, annoyance.
And I understood well why.
Even though I was blood-related to the clan, I was outside the Uchiha clan itself and possessed the eyes that many of them desired. And I had even received permission from their leader to use the sharingan even though I knew that approval wasn't given with his full agreement.
Mikoto was the one who greeted us at the door. She was a young woman with black hair and eyes, practically the same height as Kushina. She was also a longtime friend of my mother, as well as Fugaku's wife.
— Shisui, what a surprise to see you arriving earlier than scheduled — the brunette said casually to my brother, and he laughed.
— I'm being influenced by Amaya in that — he pointed at me, and Mikoto turned her gaze to me.
— How are you, Amaya-chan? — she asked with a sweet smile.
— Well, Mikoto-san — I replied — Kushina asked me to give you her regards — the brunette gave a soft laugh.
— And I bet she did it in the most excited way possible — I smiled faintly and agreed with her words — Very well, come in.
As soon as we left our shoes at the entrance of the house, Shisui and I followed Mikoto. The Uchiha asked us to wait in the sitting room, saying Itachi would join us shortly.
The room led straight to a veranda, but the sliding door was closed. Even so, I could make out the silhouette of a person out there. A man, Fugaku, I deduced.
— Shisui, I know this is asking a lot, but can you help me for a moment? — Mikoto called from another room to my brother shortly after leaving us there.
— No problem! — And the next instant, Shisui left the room.
I remained seated on my legs, in complete silence, observing the space. There really wasn't anything there to admire it was a room without decorations, just a few cushions scattered around to sit on.
And since nothing in the room was holding my attention, I noticed soft footsteps outside on the floorboards though for a moment I thought they seemed hurried.
— Are you leaving for your mission already? — I heard Fugaku speak up, and the second person out there stopped.
— Yes — Itachi's voice followed.
I raised an eyebrow, confused. We're not necessarily going on a mission, I thought. Why didn't Itachi explain that to his father?
— I see... — Even with the sliding door between us at that moment, I could sense Fugaku turning his face forward — You awakened your sharingan at eleven. I suppose the village wants to observe your abilities. That just shows how much power and influence the sharingan holds. I want you to know that.
He awakened his sharingan?, I wondered. So his teammates' deaths ended up being the trigger for it...
— Our clan is happy when one of us succeeds — Fugaku continued — Of course, I'm also very proud of you. But don't get lazy just because you have the sharingan. To increase the power of your eyes, you must keep pushing yourself — I noticed the older Uchiha briefly turn his head toward Itachi — Well, I don't need to lecture you. You're my son.
I clenched my hands in my lap and bit my lower lip to hold back the words that wanted to escape right then.
How can he...?, I wondered angrily. Itachi's friends died, and his father says he should be happy about it?!
How can the leader of a clan, where the strongest feelings for others serve as a conduit for their unique power, treat his own son's pain so carelessly?
Just as my thoughts lasted about two seconds, Itachi's response took just as long.
— Yes, otousan — the boy replied.
— Good.
— I'll be going now — Itachi finally said.
And the next instant, he slid the door open, entering the room where I had been. His expression might have been calm, but his eyes... They seemed to simmer with anger and sorrow.
However, when he noticed my presence and possibly realized I had overheard the brief exchange with his father, Itachi parted his lips slightly in surprise.
But neither of us could actually speak since Shisui returned to the room right after, and both Itachi and I let that moment slip into temporary forgetfulness.
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We headed to one of the village's training grounds. At first, the place reminded me of the Forest of Death, but I soon realized the dangerous wildlife was much less present though a minority was still there.
Shisui gave just one instruction to each of us Itachi would guide us that day with my brother's help, while I was to be his escort.
And our first stop was near the center of the training field, at a marked tree where my brother said Itachi should retrieve a scroll stored there.
— "First, acquire a genin and someone to accompany them, and retrieve the scroll in question" — Shisui narrated his first instruction, and Itachi handed him the scroll — Even though my training needed a genin, it didn't have to be you — my brother opened the document and kept his eyes on it — So why did you lie to your parents?
Seems like Itachi also told Mikoto he was going on a mission, I pondered. And she must have mentioned something to Shisui when she asked for his help in the house...
— Don't say that! — Itachi protested quickly — Even if it's not a real mission, it was a request from Shisui, the great jounin! I'm not lying when I say it's a mission, right? — the boy turned his eyes to me, seeking support.
He's young, but he's good with logic and words..., I thought and smiled faintly. Shisui looked at me too, waiting for my take.
— He's kinda right — I said casually, and Shisui gave a soft laugh.
— Alright then — he put away the scroll he still had — Let's go — We nodded.
The younger Uchiha and I climbed to the higher branches of the nearby trees, following Shisui to begin the exercise.
— What exactly are the details of this training? — I asked shortly after we started running.
— There are three parts — the first is to find the traces left by a fugitive and then locate him — Shisui explained.
A simulation for a tracking mission, I thought. Normally this type of mission is solo or in pairs, to avoid detection. But sometimes it requires an extra person to accompany the tracker if their skills aren't combat-oriented...
— Let's start from here — Shisui said suddenly, dropping to the ground, and we followed.
I quickly scanned our surroundings so no animal could sneak up on us. My brother and Itachi were closer to each other.
Soon Shisui crouched near the exposed root of a tree, where some moss seemed to have been scraped away. I smiled faintly at his sharp observation, and Itachi kept his full attention on what my brother was doing.
The younger Uchiha then scanned the area, looking for another clue to guide us. A patch of undergrowth further away caught his attention, and he went over.
Itachi picked up a broken twig, and Shisui and I stopped beside him.
— Our target stepped on a branch — my brother said and rested his hand on the younger one's shoulder — You're very observant — Itachi smiled slightly — But this is just a decoy — they both looked at the twig — Wood like this would break if stepped on, but this piece is too damp. And see how it's cut straight? — he pointed to the end of the branch — It's obvious he was in a hurry to set a decoy. Sloppy work...
Itachi dropped the twig and stood up, following Shisui, and for a moment I noticed frustration in his impassive expression at himself for not figuring it out alone.
— Don't feel bad — I said as we walked, and the boy turned his attention to me — An animal could have made that mark on the moss, but only humans set decoys.
— She's right — Shisui said next, and we looked at the younger one — And if he placed it in that direction...
My brother stopped and motioned for Itachi to come over and look at something on the ground.
— A rock? — the younger one asked, slightly confused.
— Yes — Shisui turned the small stone over — The bottom is dry and the top is damp.
— Is this a decoy too? — Itachi asked him.
— Well, that's possible — he stood up again — But the dampness of the rock can tell us how long ago he passed through here.
— I see!
— And judging by how dry it is, it was recently.
Once again, Itachi scanned the surroundings, but what caught his attention first was through his sense of smell.
— This smell... — he went over to some flowers there and crouched in front of them.
Some petals had been torn from the blooms, but it didn't seem done by hand. Seems the fugitive really was in a hurry..., I thought.
— Perfect! — Shisui said cheerfully beside Itachi — Let's go!
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The sun had already begun to set on the horizon, and we were still following the fugitive's trail. Actually, it was Shisui and Itachi who discussed the clues, whether they were decoys or not. I just watched their interaction while staying aware of our surroundings.
We had reached a small stream, and it seemed our target's trail was lost there. Escaping through water gives an advantage against tracking..., I thought. Itachi was on some rocks, analyzing a water mark on the stone.
— I think a fish made this mark — my brother said casually from the bank near him, and Itachi sighed heavily.
— So it's not a decoy? — the younger one asked.
— No. That's the main reason for leaving decoys — Shisui said — Everything starts to look like one. Confusing your pursuers gives the fugitive more options.
— If it keeps going like this, there's no way I can find the fugitive alone... — Itachi spoke lower, but in a more serious tone — I need to develop better tracking skills.
Besides being pressured by his family and clan, he puts a lot of pressure on himself..., I thought. He reminds me of myself at times... Right after, Shisui laughed and sat on one of the rocks by the stream, casually.
— You're kinda right — my brother agreed, then looked at me with his hands together, pleading — You'd share one of the canteens you've stored in your scrolls with your beloved brother, right? — I crossed my arms and looked at him more sternly.
— Where's your canteen, Shisui? — I asked, my eyes on him.
— It's here — he pointed to the small equipment pouch he had — But let's just say I... already drank it all — I shook my head and smiled faintly.
— I don't deserve this... — I muttered and took one of the scrolls from my pouch, releasing the seal and making the canteens appear — Here — I then tossed one to Shisui, and he caught it mid-air, smiling.
— Thanks! — He drank quickly and chuckled softly, making me turn my eyes to Itachi.
— Here, drink — I said to the younger Uchiha, and his eyes met mine, seeing a canteen extended toward him.
For a moment, Itachi seemed hesitant, but then he made his way over the short path of stream stones to the bank where I was.
— Thank you... — he said in a lower tone and settled beside Shisui shortly after.
— It's because you're exceptional, Itachi... — my brother commented after a moment and ruffled the younger Uchiha's tied hair, making him cough a bit — That's why I bet you've never tried to understand the feelings of someone who isn't like that.
Itachi looked slightly surprised at Shisui, but still seemed confused. And I had to hold back a laugh — not because of the younger Uchiha, but thinking of Kakashi. He's like that too, I thought, though he's slowly changing...
— Having the skill to track a fugitive is important, but understanding how they think is too — my brother explained — If you can understand how they think, sometimes you can prevent an escape even without advanced tracking skills — the younger one smiled faintly.
— I see! — Shisui smiled too.
— So... — my brother stood up — Let's move on to the second part of the training exercise.