The last six weeks have been horrible to me.

During my sleep I am constantly plagued by children screams, Yuki calling me a liar and Nejis promise of eternal hatred. I had occasionally taken a long into the book and found out that he is still alive.

During the day I am reminded of my a well-proven theory. Killing is the way to gain levels and increasing my levels means hastening the transformation of my Byakugan, increasing the pain on my forehead and accelerating the speed at which my horns grow.

But that is by far not the worst result of my 'Initation'.

Every Hyuga knows. Even children that can't yet fully form sentences.

They gave me titles like 'Cruel Princess', 'Blood Demon', 'Blue-eyed Devil' and many more.

Children are told to never look into my eyes and under no circumstance start talking to me. Seeing my eyes will have their souls sucked out of them and talking with me is useless as I would only speak lies anyway. The 'branded' youth fears the demon princess, who will them killed in the most agonizing ways, should they ever cross her way.

Never speak to her unless told to.

Never look at her unless you have to.

Never disobey her unless you like leaking blood everywhere.And never ever show her how much you fear and hate her or you will suffer for eternity.

Perfect obedience.

Even the adults don't dare go against those rules.

The best part? I found out just why I was made to kill them and I am not the only one. Hiashi probably had to do the same, but I see no one running away from him. So what exactly is going on?

First, the 'initiation' has an important reason. As part of the main family it is my duty to use the seal, if it is ever required of me. The cage-bird seal does not only protect the bloodline from thieves, but also from internal struggles. You cannot disobey the one that holds your life in his hands and more important the one that can instantly kill you, needs the correct mindset. I learned to not hesitate.

Second, I learned what it feels like to murder people, helpless people that you kill without hesitation. The process teaches you how fragile life is and especially how power feels like. You learn to not lose yourself in it and instead have to recognize the importance the power, you wield, holds for other people. I learned what it means to be a shinobi.

And at last the reason why everyone avoids me now. Every clan heir probably learns the earlier mentioned points through the initiation, but what the elders did is forcing onto their own side. By loudly proclaiming and approving of my murder, they accept me into their ranks. As a result I am not a sworn enemy of the branch family. The main family probably even ordered the branch family to spread rumours about me. I would even say that they forbid them to never mention the truth about the 'clan heir initiation'.

This is so fucked up. I killed and crippled children! And only for me to seen as one of 'them'.

What would have happened, if I didn't do as told? The worst case-scenario would be to put the cage-bird seal on me and instead proclaim Hanabi the rightful heir.

After all they don't need a stubborn and powerful heiress, the elders want a loyal tool that will follow their every whims. A 'branded' monster that could potentially massacre whole clans and might even turn into a good-looking sex slave? Hell yeah, perfect tool.

No. I will fucking kill 'them'. Just wait for me.

Give me ten years at most and I will figure out how to fucking kill you all.

I should thank 'them' actually as I finally have a reason to drive myself to my limit.

My years outside of Konoha were supposed to be relaxed. Learning new techniques everyday, cooking myself delicious food and slowly increasing my power.

I know that I have a very high potential. Tenseigan, eyes that let me create fucking laser swords. Rinne Sharingan, eyes with powers that can only be described as godlike. Then there is my Qi, which is several level superior to normal chakra.

I should have the highest potential, unless this world is so fucked up and made Naruto a descendant  of Senju and Uchiha. He would gain access to a potential Rinne Sharingan and an endless chakra battery, but that will probably not happen.

----------------------------------------

December 26

Black Zetsu contacted me this morning with our connection and briefly explained the plan.

The Kumo delegation will arrive tomorrow and many people will drop hints how the Hyuga compound is celebrating the Heiress third birthday. Smitten by the idea to gain another bloodline for Kumo, by bringing a female Hyuga without a cage-bird seal back, he will infiltrate the compound and kidnap me.

With the current internal affairs in the clan, it will be easy for him gain the help of a resentful branch member to enter and leave undetected.

Zetsu will track the Kumo-nin and kill him once we are far enough from Konoha and immediately bring me to the hideout in Wave.

I am sure the main family will want to see blood for losing their 'precious' heir and Danzo will also not back down for that blatant insult to Konoha.

The Kumo delegation arrives in Konoha to talk about peace and later on kidnap the heiress of one of the largest and most influental families in Konoha. Perfect reason for another war between Kumo and Konoha.

Anyway I already filled all the storage seals with my stuff and put them back into my new scarf.

My new scarf is the item that Ko brought me. It has pockets inside of it in which I can hide weapons and seals and the actual reason why he chose that specific scarf is the rabbit motif on it. No one will expect a cute scarf for a small child to be filled with kunai and shuriken.

Ko is like the only Hyuga that still likes me in here and I already know that I will miss having him by my side.

'Kaguya are you there?'

'Yes? My 'Cruel Mistress'~'

'Do you really have to call me these stupid titles."

'Oh yes and it cracks me up everytime I see your reaction. That slight pouting face is also sooo cute on you~"

'*sigh* Anyway do you know of a way for me to transfer memories from a painting to another person? Genjutsu or maybe even fuuinjutsu?'

'I do, but I am not sure if you are able to do so. Fuuinjutsu will be impossible for as you are not trained in it, but genjutsu might be possible. Why are you asking, 'Blue-eyed Devil'?'

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

'I plan to leave behind one of my paintings for my sister.'

'Your sister that you never bothered to talk to?'

'...yes.'

'Hm~ The process is similar to how you faked killing intent the other day. While painting you fill every stroke with spiritual energy and leave behind an intent or will. If you are a master in it then you can even leave behind memories, illusions and in the rarest cases even create a sentient being. Of course the last one will be impossible with your small spiritual pool.'

That sounds very close to what I would expect from a martial artist story; the whole sword intent and stuff.

Anyway I start painting a portrait of Hitomi and fill every stroke of my brush with spiritual energy.

I try to create a portrait full of my memories of her.

The time she spent teaching me how to read and write.

The time she spent teaching me to cook, sing, dance, practically anything I can come up with.

And the times I saw her smile.

I put everything into to picture and I am, after 3 hours of complete concentration, snapped out of  my trance.

You created a Masterwork. Please name it!

"A Mother's Smile"

'A Mother's Smile' was created!

A painting of a mother, who would give eveything for her children.

Her smiling face would warm anyones heart and remind them of their own mother.

For creating a Masterwork your drawing proficiency increases!

Your charisma increases by 5!

"Ko! Are you there!?"

Ko enters my room only a second later.

"What do you need of me Hinata?"

"Please take this picture and keep it safe. I want you to give it to Hanabi on her third birthday and tell her stories about mother."

"I will do as you told me but... why are you not doing it yourself?"

"*sigh* Just keep the picture safe please. I may not be able to create a portrait like this one ever again."

"...Indeed. It is really good."

I could swear that I could see his eyes tearing up.

"I will be going out for now."

"Very well."

No questions where I am going. He probably already expects me to go to the Uchiha compound.

----------------------------------------

"Why are you here?"

"You know why I would bother coming to the Uchiha compound, Sasuke."

"Big bro is not here."

"Oh~ Are you jelous that I am taking away your 'big bro'?"

"Tsk. As if! Itachi likes me more than you!"

Kid Sasuke is not a cute kid. His brother-complex is too annoying for that.

"Sasuke. What did I say about behaving properly around others."

"...ye- no I meant. HN"

"Perfect."

"Do you seriously have to teach him that? You do know that he will hide behind that weird grunting like almost all Uchihas. It is practially already in your genes."

"Hn."

"...I wanted to talk with you."

"Sasuke go back inside. Let's take a walk Hinata."

"I heard rumours about a certain bloody demon who will suck out the souls of her victim with her shining, blue eyes. That wouldn't refer to you, would it?"

"Seriously. They are so annoying."

"I also heard about how the Hyuga Heiress killed and crippled 8 children, torturing another and letting the last one alone to spread the tale. What. Happened?"

I have never seen Itachi getting angry. At least that is what I think is happening right now.

"...I did my duties as clan heiress. Apparently killing children to learn about my position, is an essential part of the Hyugas."

"...Hn. Just like the Uchiha."

"What do you mean?"

"I guess you killed the children with the cage-bird seal?"

"Yes."

"The Uchiha Heirs are doing something similar. We catch cripples, retards and hunt bandits. The heirs are usually around 10 years old, but I had to do my initiation when I was 6. My father would bring me cripples from Uchiha clan and other such cases to an area close to the Naka Shrine. As the heir it is your task to bind everyone to wooden logs and set them on fire. If you don't manage to awaken your Sharingan by sacrifying family members, then you are forced to fight bandits to the death."

Holy shit.

"It is a tradition that we slightly changed over time. The original initiation forced every heir at 6 years to test their aptitude for the Sharingan. The Uchiha clan has always been trying to find ways to awaken their Sharingan and apparently sacrifying your own members seems to be fastest way."

"Sick."

"Yeah. But you didn't even get to the best part. Everyone of these 'cripples' are willing to die your the heir. It is one of their greatest honor to always be remembered and the reason for the heirs power. When your Sharingan activates for the first time, you will never forget the images that forced the activation. I can still see them all screaming, but not in agony but bliss. They were all happy to accompany me on my path to glory."

"I am not sure if you had it harder or me."

"Well. I am just happy that Sasuke won't have to do the same thing. The tradition is mostly used on 'prodigies' like us. Should a 'normal' child not activate their Sharingan before 16, then they are forced into a genjutsu and see all their loved ones die; sometimes even by their own hands. Shinobi clans are mad, when it comes to their survival. Many of the old traditions, which forced heirs to learn about their 'duties' and 'responsibilites', were slowly removed with the arrival of shinobi villages. Nevertheless old clans like the Uchiha and Hyuga still use them to create 'superior' heir. Even the Senju heir was supposedly left behind in the wilderness for weeks and then heard of the clans imminent destruction. He would then try to arrive at the compound as fast as possible. There is so much stuff that is happening in between, it is just mad."

The Naruto World is super happy world. I expected it to be a little harsher than others, but this is just insane.

"This is the longest speech you have ever given me."

"Hn."

"I can see you trying to supress that smile, you know~"

"Hn."

"Thanks by the way for sharing that with me."

"No problem."

We come to a frozen lake. I just take in the scenery.

"This is where Uchiha children are tested for their coming-of-age ceremony."

"I see."

"They would lea-"

"Itachi, I am leaving Konoha."

Silence. He must have expected something like that as he constantly tried to have a conversation with me.

"I knew it. When?"

"Tomorrow."

"The Kumo delegation."

"Yes."

"Am I the only one who knows?"

"Yes."

"Your disappearance might start a war."

"I know."

Again silence. I don't know why I am doing this, but I don't want Itachi to be saddened by my supposed kidnapping or even death.

"I have been thinking over what you told me at your mother's funeral."

"And?"

"You are right. I am too kind."

Should I hint at the Uchiha massacre?

"I could tell your father or even the Hokage. I could track the Kumo-nin and destroy your escape plan."

"You could."

"Do you know that the Uchiha clans relation to the village is deteriorating at a rapid rate? If the Hokage would do something, my clan might start to rebel against the Hokage. I have seen the signs. Shisui has seen the signs and I am sure others did too."

Where are you going with this Itachi?

"Do you still remember what you told me? 'You will have to face agonizing decisions.' Did you predict the possible rebellion?"

"Yes." No point hesitating. I am sure Itachi would spot me lying everytime.

"Do you know how I feel about the whole situation?"

"No."

"I never had a decision."

I wrap my scarf closer to myself as it is starting to get cold with the long time we spent outside.

"Should I foil your escape, then it is likely that you either try again in my absence or be forever trapped as the Hyugas pet with a fresh caged-bird seal. No matter if I stand on Konohas or the Uchihas side in the conflict, I will be treated as a traitor anyway. Konoha can not keep someone that murdered his whole clan and the Uchiha will very likely not even be able to fight against Konoha anyway. I am 9 years old now and all I can see ahead of me is a perfectly laid out path. Chunin at 10 and important role like Anbu a year or two later and then finally the moment when the Uchiha get in trouble, because of my intel."

Did he really feel like this in the original story? Did you already know his own fate?

"It is funny how you talk about my decisions, but I never feel like having any."

"You know that you do have a choice. You don't have to wait for the inevitable. Yes you will be treating as a traitor to either the Uchiha or Konoha, but people close to you will know the truth about you. Is that not the most important?"

Why am I even bothering with this? I shouldn't give Itachi into any funny ideas.

"People close to me? People like you?"

"Yeah. We are friends after all!"

"Heh."

"I saw you trying to smile over there~"

"Hn. You know."

"Hm?"

"There is just a small problem with me revealing the Uchiha plot. Around 80% already support ideas of a rebellion. Many did even before the Kyuubi attack, when the relations started worsening."

"Crap."

"Hn."

Silence. Could this potentially be my last time talking with Itachi?

"Itachi, did you already decide what you would do?"

"...No."

"We should start heading back. My clan will possibly kill me, if I stay out for too long~"

"Hn."

The walk back is really uncomfortable.

"Itachi, whatever you decide on, you should know that I will support you. I might not be in Konoha, but I will find you in a few years and meet again."

"Hn."

"I hope that by then you lost that annoying grunting."

Before Itachi can react to me, I start hugging him.

"Don't you fucking die on me before that."

"Of course, 'Blue-eyed Devil'"

That was the first time I saw Itachi smile and might possibly be the last time.