A/N: In the last chapter, I edited "few months" to "few weeks" because I was half-asleep and later realized that the month after May (which is Iruka's birthday month) is June (which is Kama's and Itachi's birthday month). That's it, enjoy lol

~*~*~

        True to Inoichi-sensei's words, you did receive some interesting news after a few weeks, and it's on the day after your and Itachi's birthday.

        You and Itachi are eleven when the Hokage extends an invitation for the both of you to join ANBU.

        Typically, this calls for a private meeting that involves you, Itachi, Fugaku, and the Uchiha dinosaurs. You admittedly never made an effort to remember any of the elders' names; not that you feel bad about it. They're just not important enough for you to try. Maybe once upon a time, you did think they have value, but in the grand scheme of things, you've grown to learn that they weren't even pawns in this game you're playing.

        Despite their non-importance, they do still have some minor uses.

        That's why you resist the temptation to leave the meeting, as you would first like to set something straight with them.

        Ugh, the things I do for them, you internally groan, feeling your legs numb from your seiza position, as you watch the five elders converse to Fugaku about the benefits and opportunities of having two Uchihas in ANBU.

        (You suspect that they don't know anything about Shisui being part of ANBU.)

        Eventually, their discussion slowly dies down and it won't be long before they lay down their decision for your and your brother's futures; however, before they could, you time it right to speak up.

        "I'll go," you casually say, but there is a tone underneath your words that discourages any objections.

        "Naturally," Triassic-san scoffs. "You and Itachi-sama are to–"

        "Ah, you misunderstand," you cut in with your usual smile. "I'll go to ANBU. Itachi will not."

        Silence permeates within the Naka Shrine's main hall, as all of its current occupants look at you with mixed expressions of indignation, shock and disbelief.

        "Having two Uchiha representatives in the black ops would boost the clan's reputation within the shinobi ranks," Jurassic-san argues, as you raise a brow challengingly, your lips quirked up. "Besides, even if we were to send only one of you, what makes you think that you're better suited for the job? You haven't even awakened your sharingan."

        "Would I have to if I could do what you witnessed me do?" He clicks his tongue at your rebuttal.

        And thus, a debate begins.

        It starts off civil enough, with your affable smiles and polite explanations, and their not-so friendly scowls and irritatingly repetitive defenses.

        They claim that it's to showcase the Uchiha's strength; to prove that the Uchiha can be trusted with the responsibility to serve closely to the Hokage. You refute them and say that it's not the clan's strength that the village doubts, but the clan's loyalty; that others may even feel threatened by the clan's strength because of the suspicion– of Konoha's history, its first traitor. Having to watch over only one Uchiha ANBU would ease the forces you would be joining in.

        Round and round the argument goes.

        Fortunately, you're difficult (and annoying), so you settle with your 'agree to disagree' tactic (which is really just you saying, "yes but no" to all their rebuttals).

        Unfortunately, these old hags can be equally difficult (and annoying).

        Fortunately, you're patient with them, so you can do this all day.

        Unfortunately, the elders ran out of patience first. The debate lasted too shortly.

        "Your words don't hold as much weight as you think they do," Cretaceous-san sneers in a way only Uchiha elderly can– his wrinkly face looking like a smug raisin. "You're only a spare."

        "Only a spare," you echo with a thoughtful hum, before shamelessly offering, "If that's your argument, step forward and challenge me to a spar."

        9 out of 10, you can definitely body them. It could've been a 10, but you took off one point because you consider your guilt of beating up the elderly a difficulty. Though, you took off only one point because you wouldn't feel that guilty.

        Whether they heard your thoughts or not, the elders openly balk at your audacity, their moldy brains processing what you just proposed. You just want to get this over and done with, and luckily for you, they recover soon enough from their shock to have the same sentiments. Unsurprisingly, they are livid.

        "We're no longer in our primes–" your smile grows wider, "--you violent brat! You think–"

        "That's just it, isn't it? You're no longer in your primes," you interrupt, your pretense of respect no longer present, but your smile remains; it is predatory and impatient to bite. "Your only contribution to the clan is your wisdom for as long as we have yet to deem you senile. Or maybe you already are, as you're all so insistent on endangering our clan heir's neck in a high-risk occupation for the sake of the clan's image. Unlike you, I'm considering all possible futures, and this is not even considering the fact that none of you are the clan head to finalize this decision.

        "Has it ever occurred to any of you that Sasuke may not be able to reach our caliber? That my twin and I are two of a kind? If you put me and Itachi in ANBU and something happens to us both, you have no guarantee that there will ever be another Uchiha prodigy like us."

        Admittedly, you're enjoying the elders' seething faces far more than you should because you know they know that you're right. Maybe, if you're lucky enough, one of them would die from high blood pressure right on the spot.

        With how quick they are to gamble your and Itachi's lives, you just might enjoy the day they pass.

        "I believe it would be in your best interests to avoid stretching us too thin." You shrug your shoulders, before ominously adding, "Who knows what could make either of us snap?"

        After having said your piece, you disappear from the Naka Shrine with a body flicker.

        You relish the short glimpse of the gobsmacked faces of the stoic father and son during your escape.

~*~*~

        "Why did you do that?" Itachi asks you suddenly, his tone and body language lacking the indignance you expected from him for deciding his future for him.

        Because you're a little shit, you jokingly reply, "For the vine."

        Itachi pouts, but he is not angry. If anything, he's just impatient with how he diligently searched for you in your usual haunts just to ask you that. You briefly wonder if he visited every training ground you frequent in, but immediately discard the thought as you remember that he has crow summons to do that for him.

        Eventually, you relent and answer him honestly with a small smile, "Because I don't want you to end up as a bigger foolish hypocrite."

        You see the exact moment Itachi recalls a conversation from a long time ago.

        Your eyes widen when he unexpectedly keels over and uncharacteristically laughs; it is a light, boyish sound that persists through nature's white noise– as if you hear nothing else. While Shisui's laughter sounds like summer, Itachi's sounds like calming birdsongs, melting icicles, and buzzing bees.

        Spring, you think. He sounds like spring.

        Your brother suddenly seems so young.

        He's just a kid, a part of you laments.

        (You ignore the voice that weeps that you're a kid too.)

        You find yourself unable to react, even when Itachi finally collects himself; even when he looks at you as if he finally solved the lifelong puzzle that is his elusive older brother.

        He thinks he understands you now.

        (Foolish, foolish, younger brother.)

        "Thank you," Itachi says, reflecting your earlier smile.

        His light gratitude adds weight on your already-heavy heart.

        "Anytime." You smile back (crinkling eyes, no teeth).

        Later that day, Fugaku scolds you for your disrespectful attitude towards the clan elders, but you think he knows that his disappointment means nothing to you.

        You like to think that he secretly commends you for it.

~*~*~

        Soon enough, you accept your ANBU invitation. Itachi, on the other hand, is promoted to elite jounin– the clan wouldn't accept any less.

        (One change at a time that changes something yet nothing at all. You will make it so.)

        Entering your designated training ground with your usual gear, you face the shinobi who would be assessing your performance.

       You're not entirely surprised that it's Kakashi who will handle your assessment.

        "Oh no," Kakashi mourns miserably, his visible eye drooping further than usual.

        "It's been a while,TuggerNuts," you grin widely, a certain memory already playing at the forefront of your mind. While you rarely interact with Kakashi, the few instances you do are very memorable.

        (Somehow, he's a lot blither than he should be at this time, as he has yet to quit ANBU. You wonder what mellowed him out this early on. What changed?)

        "You're really never letting that go," Kakashi sighs– it's closer to a whine, really– resigned.

        "It's not your fault that Shisui was a bit faster," you tell him cheerily. "Too bad he dodged wrong, and I happened to be a witness to your... hehe, nut picking."

        Kakashi's masked face cringes at your too-gleeful expression, no doubt remembering the time he accidentally decimated Shisui's future generations. Truly a core memory.

        You pass his tests with flying colors.

~*~*~

        You avoid Shisui with every excuse you can think of.

        The tattoo on your left shoulder burns.

~*~*~

        "You can't just top ANBU armor over your white clothes," Kakashi looks scandalized at your usual attire, which definitely isn't an ANBU agent's typical dark clothing, because god forbid shinobi like them wear anything other than black.

        "Sure, I can!" You chirp unabashedly. "Watch."

        Kakashi exasperatedly watches you do exactly just that.

        Technically, Konoha's ANBU uniform involves only the vest, the armguards and the mask, much like how the jounin's uniform consists of only the green vest and the Konoha forehead protector (e.g. Gai). The clothes underneath them are fair game (most shinobi just happen to be boringly generic to have the same style), so you can wear ANBU armor over your white clothes.

        If others insist it's a problem, it's nothing a little genjutsu can't fix.

        Though, when you both exit the locker room, you say, "Besides, this way, they know exactly which ANBU agent to watch out for."

        His chakra subtly flinches.

        Kakashi coolly pretends to be outwardly unaffected by your underhanded jab, knowing that with the village's current political climate, the 'they' you're pertaining to aren't Konoha's enemies.

~*~*~

        "Team Ro, this is our new recruit, Uchiha Kama. His code name is Owl," Kakashi introduces you, your owl mask (you picked it, yourself) currently clipped on your hip with your face bare for your new team to see. This custom is apparently exclusive only to Kakashi's ANBU team, which you note is opposed to the usual anonymity ANBU provides. While it's technically not illegal to know each other's identity, it is somewhat of a taboo as it is discouraged.

        (You have a feeling that Kakashi encourages attachment beyond professionalism amongst all of you. How else can he further incorporate the principle he now lives by to the team he's currently leading?)

        It doesn't take long for each member to introduce themselves to you. With you already knowing Hound as Hatake Kakashi, that leaves Otter as Uzuki Yugao, Cat as Tenzo, Panther as Hyuuga Ko, and... Beetle as Aburame Yoji.

        Hm... It's a good thing you have great self-discipline. Otherwise, Kakashi may just have to kill you on the spot for murdering a fellow ANBU agent.

        At the very least, you're relieved that Shisui is not part of this team.

~*~*~

        While your past excuses have been sensible, you're running out of it. You know that you can't avoid Shisui forever without arousing suspicion from him; not when your schedule is so entwined with his. Though, even when you eventually met up with him and pretended nothing was wrong, he still managed to discern that something was up.

        Once again, this friendship thing is proving to be a double-edged sword. You hate being read– while it's not easy for others, it's no longer an impossibility.

        "Did I do something wrong?" Shisui asks you, and for once, neither of you are training; just choosing to lie down on the grass clearing and just... cloud watching.

        Despite the supposedly relaxing activity, you still feel your muscles instinctively tense.

        "Not really," you say nonchalantly, pointedly not looking at him. "Just didn't know how you'd react to me entering ANBU."

        After the realization of your feelings, you backtracked on your interactions with Shisui, looking for hints and clues of when the seeds of your stupid infatuation were planted; that perhaps it's not yet too late to uproot them.

        It's only a crush; there's no commitment, and as long as it remains that way, you won't get too... attached.

        Even still, you can't help but pay extra attention. The gestures, the conversations– you start noticing little things then, like how the word 'liar' is not an accurate term for him as he has never lied to you. Omitted truths, yes, but never technically lied.

        In fact, you're the one who constantly lies. You know this; Shisui knows this.

        And yet, the idiot still trusts you.

        The amount of faith he has in you is disgusting.

        (Why trust you, still? It'd be easier for the both of you if he would just not.)

        Though, you notice that you don't tell Shisui much lies lately (until recently)... but that's only because you find it redundant when he can see right through them.

        (But never through you. You won't let him; won't let anyone–)

        "You shouldn't have to worry about what I think." From the corner of your eye, you watch him shift to slightly tilt his head towards your direction. "You can do whatever you want with your career, but I'm... kinda curious..."

        At this, he pauses, and you resist the urge to fidget from the short silence.

        Man, fuck these feelings; you're better off not discovering them in the first place. You're not usually this awkward... Were you?

        Fuck.

        Whoever made romance mainstream is a bitchass motherfucker.

        Those ROOT guys might be onto something.

        "I don't get you," Shisui starts, and you're amused with how confused he genuinely sounds. "You told me you hide what you can do so that Sasuke won't feel too small between you and Itachi. Then, it resulted in you being disinherited and Itachi being the new heir, which you said you didn't expect. After all that, you suddenly start openly improving leaps and bounds, then show off at the chuunin exams with an ability no one can imitate, and now you're one of the youngest ANBU recruits in Konoha history, which contradicts your reason for holding back in the first place. What is it you're trying to accomplish, really?"

         Ah, he was bound to spot that contradiction. Despite Shisui's trusting nature towards you, he's the most critical observer of your actions.

        "Between me and Itachi, one of us was always meant to end up in ANBU," you tell him cryptically. "Just had to be sure that it's not the heir."

        Silence permeates within the clearing once again, as Shisui mulls over your answer.

        Suddenly, Shisui sits upright and you almost flinch from the unexpected action.

        "I get it..." He breathes out with awe. Curious, you turn to face him, and you're caught off-guard with how Shisui looks at you like he has reached an epiphany. "Before everything started– you planned– hah, all this time, I thought–"

        Shisui rambles incoherent phrases, probably completing his sentences in his thoughts, as he brushes a hand through his hair in disbelief, until finally–

        "You're amazing," he abruptly tells you, which makes you stare at him like a flustered moron. Because you don't know what to say, you blurt out,

        "Thanks, you too."

        Fucking superb, you funky gay disaster.

        "No, I mean–" Shisui snorts, before lightly laughing at how you visibly look out of your depth. 

        He's laughing. Your common sense is fighting for its life, and he's laughing.

        Huffing indignantly, you face the sky again to continue cloud watching.

        Finally, Shisui calms himself, then shyly looks away. With an especially soft voice, he murmurs, "You're... really wonderful, y'know that?"

        Hnghh, he has to be doing this on purpose, you scowl, feeling heat rush to your face at how sincere he sounds. Covering up your embarrassment, you let the familiar layer of genjutsu wash over you, hiding the bright red color of your cheeks and ears, as you glare determinedly at the sky. This is so annoying.

        The forest is quiet again, and you feel vindictive satisfaction that Shisui also appears to be awkward.

        Neither of you choose to speak, but instead of letting yourself relax to the tranquility, your mind continues to be conscious of the other boy's company.

        With you being more aware of Shisui's presence than usual, you often discover subtle details that you never noticed before– like how he picks on his hands' calluses when bored, how his hair turns into a dark brown color when hit by the sunlight on the right angle, and how after this conversation, Shisui can no longer look you in the eyes.

~*~*~

       There's something jarring about seeing Itachi wear a jounin vest over his usual black high-collared shirt, instead of the ANBU armor you remember. Your heart says it looks right, but your memories beg to differ.

        I did that, a part of you preens at the change.

        You resist the urge to do more.

~*~*~

        Your weary face reflects from the bathroom mirror, eyebags prominent from your absent illusion. You're tired; you don't think you know how to live any other way.

        After a brief sigh, your lips automatically move to recite your daily mantra with half-hearted conviction.

        "My name is Uchiha Kama. I'm eleven. I like the color green. I dislike hospitals. My hobby is drawing, and my dream for the future is to just keep dreaming."

        You pause for a while, searching for something on your reflection. As usual, you find nothing.

        I continue.

        Closing my eyes, I inhale a shaky breath, before reciting my daily reminder in a language I don't want to forget.

        "Dati, ako'y si–"

~*~*~

        Time moves fast, and suddenly, it's July.

        Sasuke turns six.

        You ponder over how much time you're left with.

~*~*~

        "Would you like to go to the Fireworks Festival with me?" Shisui suddenly asks you, while distractedly setting up his hammock in your scheduled Forest of Death camping.

        "Sure," you shrug nonchalantly.

        You don't know why he has to ask you that when you're both going regardless.

~*~*~

        Meeting up at the village plaza, Sasuke, Itachi and Shisui formally meet Team 4 for the first time on the night of the Fireworks Festival. You introduce Hana and Sasuke to each other first to ease both parties. While it's true that Itachi and Hana had been classmates, you think that the gap of relatability between them is too wide, hence you resorted to your baby brother as Hana has a little brother of her own.

        You miscalculated.

        "You're such an adorable lil' pipsqueak!" Hana gushes, squatting down to Sasuke's height, while her ninken flock over the boy.

        "Not a pipsqueak!" Sasuke cutely pouts, which of course, only further spurs your teammate into teasing him more.

        "Sure, you are!" Hana says good-naturedly, and knowing your baby brother, he won't stand anyone patronizing him without pecking back like an affronted peacock.

        "Well, y'know what?" The six-year-old tries to imitate Fugaku's Don't Fuck With Me face. "You're a lesbian."

        Everyone in your group stares at him, while Hana's eyes awkwardly glance at the side, unsure of how to react.

        "... And?" She prompts, dumbfounded, and at this, Sasuke's serious front falters, not expecting her hesitant reaction.

        "... That's all," he says, equally hesitant.

        Skeptical, you ask, "Sasuke, what do you think 'lesbian' means?"

        "You said it means something like 'commoner'." Your baby brother tilts his head at you innocently, and a realization dawns to you.

        "... I think you meant 'plebeian'."

        "Oh..."

        Hana heartily guffaws, while Sasuke's face flushes at his mistake.

        Well, not the way how you want this interaction to go, but it is what it is.

        Next, you introduce Iruka, Itachi, and Shisui.

        Because Iruka is slowly being (badly) influenced by the team's Inuzuka, the first thing he says to Itachi is, "Wow, Hana's right, you are the prettier twin."

        Fellow bastard, indeed.

        "Thank... you?" Itachi says, unsure but is amused nonetheless.

        "Ah, but I'm cuter," you quickly quip, but your teammates only snicker at your claim. "Oi, what are those reactions? I really am."

        Shisui, the ever-loyal friend who has good intentions but makes bad decisions, joins in to defend your honor.

        "You are," he says, humoring you with a grin, and being the smitten idiot that you are, you reply a bit too genuinely,

        "Thanks, you too."

        A pause.

        Okay, so this is how I die, you despair to yourself, automatically masking your burning face with a genjutsu. You know you're making this a bigger deal than it actually is, but a god out there must hate you for you to be so obvious about it.

        Unsurprisingly, Hana snorts at your awkward blunder, her waggling eyebrows reflecting future mischief. You retaliate back with a very deliberate stomp on her toes.

        "Gyak!" She yelps gracelessly, before snarling at you. "Bastard!"

        Too familiar with her habits, you easily dodge her fist with a side-step.

        "Ah, ah, no roughhousing. You might ruin Iruka's belated birthday gift," you half-heartedly scold her, and before she can rant about unfairness, you add, "Speaking of which..."

        Unrolling a sealing scroll from your pouch, you summon an unassuming black notebook before handing it over to Iruka.

        "Belated happy birthday, Iruka."

        Easily tempted by his curiosity, Iruka opens it on the spot, and you pleasantly watch the appropriate reaction he is giving to your present– total, utter shock and disbelief.

        "What is it?" Sasuke asks, interested with Iruka's current facial expression

        "This is... This is a fuuinjutsu guide," Iruka says with evident awe. As if curiosity is a contagious disease, the group leans over Iruka's shoulder to watch him scan through the notebook's pages. "Kama, did you steal this from your clan library?"

        "No, I wrote it," you correct him, easily letting his accusation slide, because well, it's kinda on brand for you. "The clan doesn't have any books in fuuinjutsu, but I used to have a fuuinjutsu teacher."

        "Is..." Itachi starts, reluctant and for some reason, embarrassed. "Are you planning to court Umino-san?"

        "Ew!" Sasuke squeaks, face scrunching.

        Both Hana and Iruka sputter, the latter's face turning red, while you look at your twin brother with furrowed brows.

        "What the fuck?" Itachi narrows his eyes at your uncouth language in front of your baby brother, before explaining.

        "Written fuuinjutsu guides are scarce, because the practice of teaching that branch of technique is traditionally through master to apprentice. There's a reason why fuuinjutsu users are rare, and it's more than because of lack of skilled shinobi. At this point, it's considered a hiden jutsu."

        At your continuous clueless stare, Itachi expounds, "Hiden jutsus are typically a clan secret, passed from one clan member to another. You gifting a hand-written guide of the technique to a non-clan member gives the impression that you..." He trails off.

        "Oh," you say, finally understanding. "Well, it really is just a gift, and I'm not interested in courting him, sooo..."

        You honestly don't know what to say, but you can always count on Hana to break the awkwardness at your expense.

        "I'm sorry Kama had to traumatize you like that." She pats Iruka's shoulder consolingly, as he snorts good-naturedly.

        "Kama-niisan is too good for him anyway," Sasuke huffs to your defense, because he's a good baby brother like that.

        "He's really not," Hana says, her way to prove how undoubtedly mature she is by goading a fight out of a six-year-old.

        "Is too!"

        "Is not."

        "Is too!"

        "I'd rather not have my love life debated like I'm some maiden, thank you," you cut in, appreciatively ruffling Sasuke's hair, as Hana instantly swivels her head at you.

        "Oi, what's wrong with being some maiden?"

        "I don't mind being some maiden, except for the fact that you're attracted to them," you smile, as Iruka muffles his laughter.

        "Ah, because you're attracted to S–" you cut Hana off.

        "I literally wish you'd shut the fuck up."

        "And I wish you could cook rice."

        Affronted, you stomp on her toes again.

        "Gahk!" She squawks, before glaring at you. "That's it, you stupid fruit, I'll turn you into a vegetable!"

        With you no longer holding onto Iruka's gift, Hana sees it as fair game to tackle you to the ground, and it turns into a brawl in no time.

        Just the typical Team 4 antics.

        On the bright side, conversations between your brothers and teammates become more natural afterwards.

        Much to your disappointment, Shisui didn't really engage much with your team that you're comfortable enough to call family.

~*~*~

        You don't know whether you want to thank Hana or kick her ass.

        On one hand, she set you up to be alone with Shisui. On the other hand, she set you up to be alone with Shisui.

        Her suggestion was innocent enough, saying that you all should split up in pairs to enjoy the festival and not crowd over stalls as a group– with Hana taking Iruka, Itachi taking Sasuke, and well, you taking Shisui.

        Of course, you wouldn't be Uchiha "Self-Saboteur" Kama if you didn't try to distance yourself from him, claiming that you only attended the festival for the food and that you have no intention of participating in any game stalls. In fact, you even urged Shisui to go on his own– like how he usually does the years prior.

        But for whatever reason, he insists on sticking by your side.

        Sure, you can always straight-up tell him to leave you alone, but you don't want to just send him away. At least, not openly. That would be considered as running away from your problems, and you're not that much of a wuss.

        Instead, you jog away from your problems– the difference? It's subtler.

        Unfortunately, this particular problem of yours is fucking sprinting.

        So, here you are, on top of the Hokage Mountain, leaning on the cliff's railing, staring at the stars while waiting for the group to arrive to watch the scheduled fireworks. With Shisui literally right next to you.

        Your brothers and teammates won't join you until another one hour and thirty minutes, which should be enough time for all of them to try all the stalls they want to try... and enough time for you to mess something up.

        Except, it's Shisui who decides to mess something up by suddenly confessing,

        "I think I like you."

        Wow, I am literally cursed. No other explanation.

        The one time you don't want your feelings to be requited...

        Where did this even come from? Most especially: why the fuck would he be attracted to you of all people?

        You tamp down the urge to instinctively react with an 'ayo what the fuck' to his feelings, choosing to accept the fact that you can no longer avoid this conversation. Instead, you think that this could be an opportunity to finally put this predicament of yours to rest by seeking closure from this confrontation.

        "No, you don't," you gently tell him, your eyes not straying from the sky. "I don't think you know me well enough for you to feel that way about me."

        Shisui hums, feigning thoughtfulness.

        "Don't I?"

        "No," you say, resigned. "You don't."

        The silence is stifling, but with every willpower you possess, you stay rooted on your spot and resist the urge to leave.

        Shisui is going to contemplate what you said, accept it, move on, then both of you will pretend this never happened to avoid the awkwardness. That's how you expected for this to go, except you forgot to factor in that Uchihas don't half-ass their feelings, and should've known that Shisui is not the type to just let something like this go.

        "Then that's what dates are for, aren't they?" He says, optimistic, but you can feel his chakra flicker with nervousness. "Would you like to try?"

        Human lives are short; shinobi's are shorter.

        Martyrs even more so. It's only natural to savor whatever time you all have left.

       Would it be so wrong to give him this? You ponder.

        Yes, your conscience chides, because while his affections are requited, his commitment isn't.

        It's not like he's that committed either, your logic defends, and you know it to be true.

        Otherwise, you would've let him live.

        (You already know his answer, long before you could even ask him the question that would decide his and your brothers' fates.)

        You are a stupid motherfucker, so you face Shisui with a small, sincere smile and say, "Okay."

        Your answer is rewarded with a wide grin, his dark eyes shining brighter than you've ever seen before, despite the dim lighting provided by the moon, and the distant village lights below the mountain. It was just a blink, but you could've sworn you saw Shisui activate his sharingan, and for some reason, you feel your eyes instinctively do the same.

        The sudden fluctuation of chakra in your eyes surprised you, which is followed by the sharingan's tell-tale photographic memory of Shisui's detailed rapture– how his smile has dimples on both cheeks, how his face is flushed with the color pink, and how he can finally make eye contact with you.

        Huh...

        Well, you now know when his infatuation started. Considering how it wasn't that long ago, you suppose he's quick to act on it as his shinobi moniker suggests.

        ... You still don't know whether you want to thank Hana or kick her ass.

        By the time your brothers and teammates arrive, they find you and Shisui holding hands, the both of you choosing to casually pretend that it's always been a normal occurrence.

        When Hana passes you a knowing, smug look, you decide that you can thank her and kick her ass.

~*~*~

        Kneeling in front of the Hokage, your usual smile is absent from your face as you report to him the current state of the Uchiha clan.

        You don't tell him of the whispers of an up-coming coup.

        Not yet.

        You need more time.

~*~*~

OMAKE: A Mother's Intuition

        Kushina had a lot of favorites.

        Like how her favorite ramen was salt ramen, how her favorite color was yellow, and how her favorite Uchiha twin, no matter how much she denied this to Mikoto, was Uchiha Kama.

        Mikoto remembered the times Kama would often trail after Kushina whenever she's present in the clan compound, vying for her attention because kids love bright-colored people like me 'ttebane! While Kushina's claim seemed far-fetched, it's not really far from the truth as Mikoto's eldest son always had an artist's eye that's attracted to intricate patterns and colorful palettes.

        Despite her estranged relationship with her son, Mikoto still watched over him, trying to know him even from a distance.

        She knew that Kama was not just childishly curious with Kushina drawing squiggly lines; knew that he was paying rapt attention to Kushina's rambling as if attempting to study fuuinjutsu.

        She knew that, once upon a time, Kama used to dislike Itachi– pretending like his twin brother didn't exist; knew that one day, out of nowhere, Kama chose to accept Itachi's presence and even become fond of him.

        She knew that Kama was an art prodigy, able to draw with accurate realism; knew how he determinedly kept that particular talent of his a secret, like how he kept the rest of his shinobi talents a secret.

        Mikoto knew a lot about her eldest son, and yet her information was still lacking, because her son Kama is so afraid. Afraid of attachment, afraid of loss, afraid of grief.

        Kama will look at members of the clan, and Mikoto will see how aware he is of their mortality, as if he's just waiting for an imaginary timer to go off. She even saw that look when he stared after Kushina's retreating back whenever she leaves the compound.

        She didn't know where or when Kama's fear started. Maybe it's the many funerals the clan had to hold during the Third Shinobi War; maybe it's the fact her husband brought the impressionable twins to a fucking battlefield to witness death and bloodshed.

        (Maybe it's an impactful encounter with a clan member who he never saw again.)

        But even with his fear, Kama still loves.

        She saw it in the way how Kama encouraged Sasuke to pick up his art hobby; how he would still look for her and Fugaku's approval when he proceeded to unsubtly takeover the chuunin exams alongside his brother; how he made himself bleed to attract the sharks hunting for talented blood, stealing the greedy attention away from Itachi.

        During the pre-finals, when Mikoto watched Kama's hands perform two sets of hand signs with each hand executing a different jutsu– the Gale Palm and the Great Fireball jutsu, she recognized– she knew that Kama was done playing average, and this was his way to announce it.

        He told the world to look at me, and look, they all did.

        And like that, Itachi's burdens became Kama's.

        At the very least, Mikoto was relieved that Kama has people he can rely on, can confide in– even when she's not part of them. His teammates, his brothers, and even that boy, Shisui.

        Unlike Mikoto, they're stubborn enough to worm themselves into his life with bull-headedness that's no stranger to children; persevering even with the risk of his ire.

        (Isn't it cowardly of her that she would rather choose Kama's indifference than his disdain?)

        It's just so unfortunate that Kama is desperate to break his own heart just so others wouldn't get a chance to.

        "Mother, how do you overcome heartbreak?"

~*~*~

BONUS:

Kama (to the Uchiha elders): My hands have no age restrictions because they're rated E for Everyone.

...

Shisui/Itachi (about Kama): I've connected the dots!

Kama: You didn't connect shit.

Shisui/Itachi: I've connected them!

...

Kakashi: Oh? You're in love with someone? Who?

Shisui (looks at Kama): uhhh...

Kakashi: Good joke, but seriously, who?

Shisui:

Kakashi:

Shisui:

Kakashi: Your taste in men is embarrassing.

Genma (in the bg, awkwardly trying to be supportive): Your taste is, uh, exotic. Very unique...

...

Kakashi (gesturing at Kama): I don't understand what you see in him.

Shisui: To be honest, neither do I, but I think that's because of my Mangekyou.

...

(Modern Kama will definitely introduce people to the weird side of the internet just to fuck with them)

(Modern AU; an alternative reason why Kakashi avoids Kama):

Kama (opening his laptop): You really don't know what a/b/o is?

Kakashi: No, what is that?

Kama (typing): Lol ok hold on.

Kakashi:

Kama:

Kakashi: Why are you going to incognito?

...

Kama: It costs 13,000 ryo to see a therapist. But it's free to just tell yourself, "It be just like that sometimes".

Inoichi (worried): What? No–

...

Shisui: I think I like you.

Kama: God has forsaken me.

(Alternate take:)

Shisui: *enters Kama's life*

Kama: You're here to destroy me, aren't you?

...

Kama: I shouldn't enter any romantic relationships to avoid unnecessary pain.

Shisui: Hi!

Also Kama: No question about it. I am ready to get hurt again.

...

Kama: Deep inside, we are all homos...

Kama: Homo Sapiens.

...

Kakashi: The doctor said if I can't find a new way to relate more positively to my environment, I'm going to die.

Kama (enters the same work environment as Kakashi):

Kakashi: I'm going to die.

...

Kama: Outing my boyfriend as a secret ANBU agent at family dinner so that my father forgets that we're both men.

...

For pride month, I present to you: Kama's gay panic.

That aside, you can't tell me that there haven't been accidental nut shots during shinobi training. With lots of shit moving in the field, it's bound to happen and dare I say it, even to professionals.

Also, there's a lot to unpack in this chapter, but I'll let you guys speculate what some paragraphs imply.

One thing I'll admit, however, is that Kama did and will create some ripple effects. A lot of things are happening behind the scenes– small changes, yes, but they're unintentional on Kama's part. Will they be detrimental in the long run? God I wish I knew. I have yet to decide if I should create another fic that features outtakes and bonuses that I can't fit in this fic, or just let you guys interpret how it went.