Symphony of The Fallen Crow {Itachi's daughter Story}

Act 1: Part 2

(A.N: Sometime in between this time, Sasuke went back to protect the Hidden Leaf from the meteor in The Last: Naruto the Movie. Minako was left at Orochimaru's hideout with Karin. This information does not affect the next part in any way.)

The two-year-old girl woke up before her father, deciding to wake him instead of the other way around as usual. The small black-haired girl jumped onto her nineteen-year-old father, who woke with a gasp, resisting the urge to grab a kunai as a defensive measure.

"Mina, why did you feel the need to do that?" Sasuke grumbled, rubbing his tired eyes. The girl, Minako, giggled happily.

"Because Birdy-chan is waiting for you outside, Papa!" Minako was very good with her speech and was highly intelligent for a two-year-old. She very rarely had trouble with words and usually sounded out the harder ones. If she messed them up, Sasuke would correct her, making it easier for her to learn. Sasuke dragged himself out of the Inn's bed and over to the window where he let his hawk summoning inside. He frowned as he read the letter that was attached to the bird's leg. Sasuke re-read the letter before turning to Minako who was looking up at him with wide and innocent eyes.

"Mina, do you remember me telling you about Naruto?" Minako nodded her head enthusiastically.

"Uncle Naru? Yes! I do re- remb- remember, achi." She quickly answered with minimal struggle, though Sasuke sweatdropped at her verbal tic. It started when she heard him say Usuratonkachi. She could only pronounce the end of it and it became a habit. The male shook his head, getting back to the topic.

"Well, he's getting married and while I can't attend, I can let you stay with one of my old comrades. I'm sure they won't mind. Would you like that?" The girl grinned and nodded. "Then let's get dressed and we'll leave for Konohagakure." Sasuke helped Mina get dressed into a sleeveless dark purple dress that had the Uchiha crest on the back, a pair of grey leggings, and dark purple ninja sandals. The male would never admit it, but he had to ask Karin what he should get for his adopted daughter in terms of clothes, after all, he never grew up around any females and refused to have her look like a fangirl.

He brushed her black hair that laid a little above her shoulders to get rid of any knots. Sasuke dressed in his regular clothes that consisted of black pants and a black shirt with a black cloak on top. The pair packed up their things after eating some fruit and left the Inn. Minako held onto the back of Sasuke's cloak, her teddy bear was in between the girl and the man, arms trapping the plush. Mina didn't want to lose her fuzzy bear as her papa ran fast, hopping from tree to tree.

The Hidden Leaf's gates came into Uchiha Sasuke's view and, before he came up to them, he glanced over his shoulder to see little Minako fast asleep. The male Uchiha smiled softly before coming up to where the gate guards slept. He sweatdropped and shunshined into the Hokage tower. The sixth Hokage, Hatake Kakashi, jumped in shock and a couple of Anbu surrounded the two. Minako was now awake and was rubbing her tired eyes before noticing the Anbu. When she did, she gasped in fright and buried her face in Sasuke's back. Kakashi sighed and dismissed the special ops.

"It's good to see you again, Sasuke." Kakashi said with his signature closed-eye smile. Sasuke nodded in response and set Minako down on the ground.

"Why don't you wait for me outside, Mina?" The girl shyly nodded and sat outside the Hokage's office, mumbling to her bear.

*******

"Is that little girl your daughter?" Sasuke sighed at the question and shook his head.

"She was my brother's daughter. Her name is Uchiha Minako. I'm raising her like my own daughter to repay Itachi and [ERROR]-nee for giving up their happiness for me. That's why she may call me 'papa'." The white-haired male nodded his head slowly thinking over what had been said.