Shizuka Uchiha

Chapter 2- Boy on the swing

"Morning Shizuka, all ready for the academy?" A soft woman's voice greeted her as she walked through the door.  Shizuka could see the resemblance almost instantly, her new body was  practically the spitting image of its mother but then again, all those in the Uchiha clan shared the same attributes. 

Shizuka nodded her head, sitting down next to Sasuke under the table. Her new brother bounced in his seat, humming to himself as he scoffed down a bowl of rice, his excitement only growing by the minute. Itachi sat quietly in front of her, eating his own bowl elegantly. 

"Hey hey, Shizuka, do you think they'll teach us how to use shuriken today? I wanna catch up to Itachi!" Sasuke asks after finishing his food, while her own remains untouched. Shizuka glances at him and shrugs, returning her gaze back onto the table's surface, her hands fiddling with the fabric of her pants underneath the table. The way she was acting probably wasn't preferable but she couldn't help it. Shizuka felt out of place, with good cause too and with knowing the outcome of the Uchiha clan, she couldn't cope with getting attached. Sasuke lets out a small puff, moving towards their mother and starting up a conversation with her instead. Her eye's flicked around the room, searching for something that could ease the growing tightness in her chest, to quell the swirling in her stomach but instead, she only found Itachi's eyes looking into her own. Shizuka froze, her own eyes shooting back down. Did he already figure it out? Did he know that she wasn't supposed to exist?

"Shizuka" His soothing voice drifting into her ears, her rapid heartbeat slowing with just a simple word. She looks up hesitantly, unsure what his expression might reveal. Itachi smiled warmly, kneeling up from the table and reaching out, ruffling her hair. Her lips parted slightly in surprise, right before a small huff of laughter escaped her lips. 

"There's no need to be nervous, I have no doubt in my mind that you'll make a great shinobi." Shizuka hadn't realised she was smiling until it faltered, a pang ringing in her chest. Sasuke ran back over, draping himself over Itachi's shoulders. "Im going to become a shinobi just like Nii-san!" He declares, smiling ear to ear. Shizuka forces herself to smile, ignoring the growing pain in her chest. There would be no happy story for this family, Shizuka knew this, was saddened when she learnt of Itachi's story and Sasuke's lack of knowledge about it but then why did knowing this hurt her so much? It was impossible to feel attached when she had only been around them for less than an hour. Mikoto Uchiha turns, wiping her wet hands on her apron. "Alighty Kids, it's time for you all to go otherwise you'll be late. Itachi, make sure to stay with them until they get there" 

Itachi smiles, nodding his head. Shizuka hadn't noticed it before, but Itachi was already dressed in his anbu uniform. No doubt he would be reporting to his unit once her and Sasuke had reached the academy. Getting up from the table, Shizuka followed Sasuke and Itachi down the hall, reaching the genkan. She reaches out to her shoes, the same open-toed shoes that everyone in this world seemed to wear. With a side glance at Sasuke, Shizuka copied his motions, successfully putting on the shoes without error. Once done, the three siblings head out the door. 

                                                                                                🌿

"Look! There it is" Sasuke exclaims, shaking Shizuoka's arm in excitement. Her stomach filled with anxiety, a lump forming in her throat. How was she going to do this? A crowd of children with their parents surrounded the academy's entrance, the sound of excitement filled the air. Shizuka grips Itachi's hand, too afraid to let go. She couldn't do this. She knew nothing about ninjas, had only watched them on a screen. They were going to discover that she didn't belong, that she was an imposter. She could feel the pounding in her chest, her stomach squeezing tightly. Her throat tightened and she suddenly had the urge to vomit. Shizuka froze, pulling Itachi back with her. By now her breathing had become erratic, coming out in wheezes. 

Sasuke sent her a confused look, unsure what was wrong but Itachi squeezed her hand, lowering himself to her level. His dark  eyes reflected her own, a kind warmth within them. He gave her a reassuring  smile, raising his free hand and ruffling her straight black hair. 

"There there, it's okay. No need to be afraid. I was terrified on my first day too and now look at me." He says reassuringly. Shizuka takes a deep breath, wrapping herself into his embrace, his woodsy sent calming her down. Itachi waited patiently until all her nerves had disappeared. When she let go, Sasuke ran up to her and gave her a hug of his own. Once calm, Shizuka grabbed onto Sasuke's hand and the two joined the group in front of the academy. 

Shizuka and Sasuke walked hand in hand, watching the faces of both adults and children alike while Itachi walked a few steps behind them, not wanting to leave until he knew that his younger siblings would be okay. As they walked, Shizuka could feel Sasuke getting nervous as he stuck closer to her, his hand gripping her own tightly. While it wasn't as extreme as her, Shizuka felt somewhat relieved that she wasn't the only one feeling scared. She spotted a few familiar faces in the crowd. Shikamaru, Choji, Sakura, Ino, hinata and so on. She also spotted a bunch of extras that never made it into the anime. 

"Hey look, its that boy" 

Her head shot up to one of the mothers in the crowd, a hand covering her mouth and her eyes glaring just outside the crowd. Shizuka let her gaze fall just outside the cluster to the boy in the swing with bright blonde hair. Naruto sat on the swing, his gaze resting upon the green grass flowing in the soft wind. It was the spitting image of what she'd seen in the anime, a sad young boy without anyone at his side. It's a wonder how he hadn't ended up being the villain in the story. If it had been her then.... No, she wouldn't think of that now. Shizuka sent the group of mothers a small glare before dragging Sasuke straight towards Naruto. 

"Why are you sitting here alone?" She asks him, stopping right in front of the swing. Naruto lifts his head, staring at the two twins in shock. The crowd around them quietens, the air growing stiff. Itachi watches them from a distance, his fist tightening ever so slightly. The parents held their breathes, the last time a Uchiha had interacted with the jinchuriki of nine tales left tragedy in its wake. Ignoring the hateful gaze of the crowd, Shizuka grabbed onto Naruto's hand, dragging him of the swing before he had the chance to reply. 

"You can stay with us if you're alone. Hey Nii-chan, meet my new friend" She yells out, dragging Naruto and Sasuke towards her older brother. The two younger boys look at each other from the side, both as stunned as the other. Itachi lets out a small chuckle. "Does this friend have a name?" He questions, as if he didn't already know who Naruto was. Opening her mouth, Shizuka went to answer but then she froze, realising that she shouldn't be aware of who he was, especially when he has yet to speak a word. Smiley shyly, Shizuka looks over at Naruto. By then, Naruto seemed to have gotten over his shock by grinning ear to ear, his blue eyes sparkling. "My names Uzumaki Naruto ya know, but ah, who are you guys?" he questions, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. Sasuke pouts next to her, yanking Shizuka away from Naruto. 

"Uchiha Sasuke! Now let go of my sister!" he yells. 

Shizuka stumbles into Sasuke's arms, her right hand still connected to Naruto's. "Come now Sasuke, be nice to your new friend. I'm Uchiha Itachi, I hope you'll look after my younger siblings" Itachi smiles. Sasuke grumbles under his breath but lets go of Shizuka. Naruto puffs out his chest, "You can count on me!" he declares, his cheeks glowing a cute pink. Itachi ruffles his blonde spiky hair, nodding at his declaration.

"Then I shall leave them to you. I must be off now but I do hope the three of you enjoy your first class, I cannot wait to hear all about it" 

And with that, Itachi walks off, heading to his next mission. Shizuka  finally introduces herself to Naruto and the three enter their first class hand in hand, ready to start down a new path.