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

Act 3: Part 1

(A/N: Pretty Long Chapter this week :D)

"Your hair is so soft, sweetie." Sakura complimented, gently brushing Minako's straight ebony locks that fell to her lower back. The older woman pulled her hair into a half up half down style and tied some white ribbon into a bow around the hairband, leaving out the bangs that framed the child's face. The six year old let out a "humpf" and pouted, crossing her arms.

"I was gonna have a playdate with Mirai and we were gonna play ninja! Instead I have to go to this formal thingy, achi." The annoyance and exasperation was easy to hear in her tone, causing Sakura to let out a sigh.

"I was going to surprise you, but this 'formal thingy' is us going to Naruto's house. Don't you want to see Uncle Naruto?" she questioned, placing the hair brush on the top of the six-year-old's dresser. A grin grew on Mina's face as she hopped off her bed. Sakura placed a hand on the girl's shoulder before she could run off to Sarada's room and disturb Sasuke who was finishing dressing the two year old. 

She bent down and straightened Mina's long sleeved lavender dress that was matched with white leggings, smoothing out any wrinkles. Sakura glanced out the window at the snow that flurried down, before her attention shifted to the door that had opened. Sasuke stood in the doorway in a pair of black trousers, a blue shirt and grey vest. Sarada was leaning against his chest as he held her with his arm. She wore a matching colour scheme dress to Mina, but obviously smaller. A small white bow hair clip was placed delicately in her short black hair.

"Are you both ready to go?" Sasuke asked.

"Yah! Go now, mama? Nee-chan?" Sarada added, her wide onyx eyes glowing with excitement. Sakura stood up and nodded.

"Come on! I want to see Uncle Naru, Aunt Hina, and Boruuu-chan!" Mina exclaimed with her fist in the air. The two-year-old clapped her hands with joy.

"Uncle Naru! Booooruuuu! Hina!" Sarada mimicked happily.

********

Uzumaki Hinata pulled open the front door, holding it for the Uchiha's that had just arrived. She was quick to close it to keep out the cold. As the family took off their shoes, the six-year-old Uchiha helping her sister, a loud voice rang out.

"Oi! Sasuke, Sakura-chan! You guys are here, 'ttebayo!" Uzumaki Naruto walked into the front entrance area with a miniature version of himself in his arms. He set the doppelgänger on the floor and the kid immediately ran over to Mina and Sarada.

"Hi, Uncle Naru, Aunt Hina!" Mina greeted with sister mimicking her, but slightly differently. Naruto led the Uchiha couple to the living room after greeting the two girls, while Hinata turned to the children.

"Hello, Sweetie. Why don't you, Sarada-chan, and Boruto-kun go to the playroom? Dinner will be ready in a little bit." The two young Uchihas nodded while Boruto shook his head, his blonde hair flopping around.

"But, Maaa'! I wa- wanna watch the box (television), 'basa!" he pouted. His mother shook her head with a soft smile, locks of navy flowing with her movements. She reached out and lightly patted and ruffled his blonde locks.

"Don't you want to show Sarada-chan and Mina-chan your new toys, sweetie." A bright grin spread across his face that was almost identical to his fathers. The blonde haired boy grabbed the two girl's hands and rushed off to his playroom.

*******

"I've been teaching her some things," was the first thing Hinata heard as she entered the kitchen. She glanced over to the attached living room to see her husband, Sasuke, and Sakura all seated on the couch, a glass of sake in their hands.

"Who have you been teaching things too?" Hinata questioned softly, alerting the three of her presence while she stirred the noodles on the stove. She already had a hunch of who the black haired male was talking about, but wanted to make sure she was assuming correctly.

"Mina. She'll be entering the academy next month along with her friend Mirai. Sakura already discussed it with Kurenai-san." Sasuke informed, his wife nodding in confirmation.

"Mi-chan kept begging me to have Mirai join with her and even laid on the floor saying that she refused to move until she knew her friend would absolutely join. She wouldn't even take my word for it until I had Kurenai confirm it for her through the phone. Good thing the cord was long enough to reach." The adults all shared a laugh. The navy haired woman made her way to the couch and sat next to her blonde husband as the homemade ramen cooked.

"That girl is a prodigy. I showed her how to perform the fireball jutsu upon her request at the pond in the Uchiha district, that's where I learned it as a kid, and she made a pretty large fireball within two days. It took me two weeks when I learned it and I was a year older than her." Naruto gaped at this information.

"Did you teach her any other jutsus?" Hinata questioned, seeing as her husband still had his jaw on the floor. Sasuke shook his head much to the Uzumaki couple's relief. They wanted their niece to be able to experience being a child, though in the end, it would be the Uchiha's decision.

"No. I just taught her some taijutsu. She even learned how to throw a kunai at the center of a target at just three years old." They were silent for a few moments, the only noise being muffled laughter from the playroom.

"We aren't going to have her graduate early though." Sakura clarified for them, seeing their unsure and nervous expression disappear as soon as that was stated.

******

"Itadakimasu." the Uzumaki and Uchiha family spoke before digging into their meal. They were all seated around a short rectangle shaped table. The seating arrangement was Naruto at the head of the table, Hinata on his right with Sakura sitting beside her. Sasuke sat across from Naruto at the other end of the table with Sarada on his right, Mina beside her and then Boruto. After Boruto, it went back to Naruto. The silence that enveloped them was one of calmness and serenity with the occasional tapping of chopsticks against bowls.

"So, I hear that you're going to be starting the academy next month, Mina-chan. Are you excited?" Hinata asked softly, glancing at the small girl. The child swallowed some noodles and took a drink of water before replying.

"Yeah, 'chi! I am excited! I'm going to learn a lot of cool ninja stuff, achi!" The mention of going to this "academy" confused the two younger children.

"What's the acme-acame, 'basa?" The little blonde boy asked with his mouth full of noodles.

"Don't chew with your mouth full, Boruto." Hinata gently scolded her son, sending him a disapproving look. "The academy is where children go to learn to be a ninja and protect the village." Sarada had sat her chopsticks down and was listening intently, trying to understand what was being said.

"What if we no wanna be ni-ja?" she questioned, quietly holding onto the rim of her dress under the table.

"Well, there is also a civilian school. You can choose to go there instead when the time comes. You'll probably start at a later year than Mi-chan." Sakura answered her daughter , sending her a soft smile. "She wanted to start as soon as possible." The adults all turned their attention to the black haired girl. Mina had pushed her empty bowl forward and was staring off into space while practicing her hand signs.

"Mina?" She didn't answer, seeming to be in deep thought. Sasuke reached over Sarada and placed a hand on her head, snapping her from her thoughts. She smiled apologetically. 'She will be strong in the future...just like nii-san,' The male Uchiha thought fondly to himself.

Author-chan's Fun Fact: Author-chan wanted Mina to have a verbal tic because she loves the "dattebane" and "dattebayo" ones and decided to make Mina's humourous. 

Hello All and happy almost Friday! I decided to share I dream I had while napping today...I was riding a goat, that is all. LOL Anyways! please favorite, share, and add this story to your library! Also, thank you all so much for your support! It means a lot! 🥰

-Lily :)

Published: 02/08/2023

Word Count: 1,382