Tortured Uchiha [CURRENTLY EDITING]

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T H E    F L A M I N G    D R A G O N E S S 

      I yawned and rolled out of bed when Karasu's kaws grew too loud to ignore. 

      Despite being on the opposite side of the share-house, the crow was still able to act as an alarm. Rubbing my eyes, I walked towards Shisui's portion of the home, separated by a reinforced plaster wall. Though, Karasu had chosen to perch outside my front door rather than staying in its cage. 

     As I reached for the door to kick Shisui's down, it slid open. 

     "Shut that chicken up, Shisui!" I raised my fists mockingly for a fight. 

     However, to my discontent, Shisui wasn't there to greet me. My parents stood in the rectangle of light, sharing an odd look. Immediately, I let out a scream and ran back towards my annex. 

     "Etsuko," Sabako pouted, stepping over the threshold. "I know this is probably all too late, but the internal politics hasn't allowed us to visit frequently. I want to congratulate you!" 

     As predicted, they used my triumph against Itachi as a way to elevate their own status within the clan. 

     "That's not much of an excuse," I took refuge in the kitchen and separated myself from them by the countertop. "Need I remind you that you kicked me out of your house the first chance you got―if it weren't for the Uchiha Trials you'd still be getting drunk in the city. . .get out. . ." 

       My father, Kirudoshi, sighed heavily and scratched his greying beard. While he'd been a shit excuse for a father figure, he appealed to me more as a person. We seemed to have a similar personality time consisting of snide humour and sarcasm. Though, as I stood there in merely my underwear, his eyes darted around the home awkwardly. As expected, he didn't really know how to act around his own daughter. Ironically, Sabako was the same as I was practically forced to raise myself once I escaped the womb. 

      My eyes narrowed. 

     They were dressed for a function due to the quality of their robes; from memory, the Uchiha banquet was still a few days away. Kirudoshi's hands were hidden behind the sleeves of the lime-green robe but I could tell he was fidgeting. Sabako, on the other hand, held a basket of goodies and made sure to wear the loudest shade of fuchsia to bring attention to herself.   

     From her attire, she seemed to impersonate Senju royalty. Her black hair was spiralled into two buns and fastened with chop sticks. From those pins, two paper tags dangled almost in warning. I wondered if I triggered the seals, whether she would explode or not. 

     "Our intentions are genuine, Etsuko. Due to clan tradition it has caused us to be unreasonable, but times are changing," she tried for a warm smile but it twitched away when I cracked my knuckles. "Your name means joy, yet you're anything but. What's happened to you, my child?" 

        "Sabako," Kirudoshi chastised with crossed arms. 

       I chuckled slightly, "When you didn't produce a son, there was no interest from the start. I had to live off my friends' kindness for sixteen years―not once did you care that I graduated from the Academy nor at any promotion. Even now as an ANBU, your concern can't make up for the years of neglect. . .hm?"

      Sabako pressed her palm to her forehead as if I gave her a headache. From her oversized sleeve, she conjured a fan and started to cool herself, choosing to remain silent. Though, the nudge she gave Kirudoshi didn't go unnoticed. 

      "She has your temper," he commented with a smirk. 

     "She's definitely your daughter," she hissed.