"If you could...would you have lied to me that day? Would you have ignored your heart and told the truth? Because if you would go back, if you would tell the truth. I would do anything for you to stay, right here, with me; in the shadows."  -Tomomi Uzumaki.

~~~~~

Part One

Ever since I was a little girl, I had a mischievous personality. Wondering out of the clans compound, talking to strangers, to name a few.

"Tomomi Uzumaki. What have I told you about staying out late with Isamu?" The irritated tone of my mother, Manami Uzumaki reached my ears as I entered through our front door.

"Mother, it's only moments past sunset!" I complained softly as I bowed my head and removed my sandals.

"I was about to send Tomoko to search for you." She mumbled. I looked up to see her kneeling at a small table, a freshly brewed tea in her palms.

She looked of that of a painting. My mother had always been quite beautiful with her ruby hair for as long as I could remember. No wonder my father chose to marry her.

"How is Isamu I ask." She continued, sliding her gaze to me as I walked over to her. My eyes tiredly closed when I stood above the small gathering.

"How else." I muttered kneeling to the ground and leaned onto my thighs. "Rebellious and a tease." Mother nodded her head with a smile of amusement as I sighed deeply.

"Tomomi." Came a strong voice behind me. I opened my eyes and turned around to see my sister Tomoko standing in all her graceful glory.

"Yes?" I replied getting to my feet quickly. She let out a small sigh and inspected her drooping sleeves before she spoke.

"Father wants you."

"Ok, thank you." I answered giving a small smile and rushing toward where she was.

This is troubling. I thought as I approached the blue decorated door of my fathers office.

"Father." I spoke as I bowed my head at its surface. I waited staring at my bare toes sticking out from under my dress until he answered.

"You may come in, Tomomi." I quickly but quietly obeyed sliding the panel open and entering nervously. When I looked at him he flung his hand to tell me to shut it behind me. I did so watching as my sister disappeared from view, a frown on her face.

Strange...

"You understand our clans position do you not?" He said staring straight at me with seriousness.

"I do Father." My brain melted through all possibilities of this conversation.

"I do have my thoughts of our alliance with the Senju." This made me go to say something but he held a palm up.

"Do not fret my dear, no others but you, your sister and mother know of my views." I nodded in response and lowered my head slightly. After all these years in this compound he's finally confessed my very thoughts.

"Tell me...this Uchiha Isamu, does his family despise you?" This question actually slightly startled me as I became stuck in my fathers eye contact.

"I...well they are always kind to me and welcome me freely into their home."

"The Uchiha compound?" His voice held surprise as did his gaping mouth.

"Yes Sir." I replied modestly hiding my nervousness.

"They just, allow you there with no complaints? The young daughter of a Uzumaki high member?"

"Uh-huh. That's correct. Many do not know who I am."

He slouched in disbelief and layed one palm flat onto his table. "Unbelievable" Father muttered.

My father, Atsushi Uzumaki was the youngest brother of Ashina Uzumaki; the clan leader. Despite his age he held a high position in the clan and a lot of people respected him in Uzushiogakure. But we lived in a small compound, almost in a triangle position from the Uchiha and Senju compounds.

Between our small family, my sister Tomoko and I looked so similar if you didn't know us well. But Tomoko is harder to read than me, she keeps her emotions well hidden, I on the other hand not so well.

But this is how everything started in this compound, in my secret little life.

When I was a learning and growing seven year old, I met a boy with dark hair and even darker eyes. It had been a month since we moved to this small settlement and I had been climbing a small sakura tree. And then I fell and landed with a thud onto my back. My eyes automatically screwed close in pain as I groaned quietly.

"I bet if you did that again you could break something." That's when I opened my eyes and faced a spiky haired figure looming over me with a smirk. I pouted rolling up to a sitting position on the grass, slight embarrassment claiming my chest.

"I stepped on the wrong branch..." I mumbled looking away from the boy.

"That's because you need more experience with climbing trees." He announced smartly and I turned back to look at him.

"Oh?" I said. He had blue clothing on him, hair that spiked almost past his shoulders and faint lines under his eyes. He was...weird.

"So...what'sya name?" The stranger asked and sat in front of me cross-legged. I giggled lightly bowing my head. I hope Tomoko doesn't kill me if I tell him.

"Tomomi! What's yours?"

"Ma-...my names Isamu Uchiha." He replied quickly and so I raised an eyebrow.

"Uchiha? So you live over there?" I asked pointing my hand in the direction left to the sakura tree that was behind me.

"Yep!" He replied.

The thing is...I lie to my father a lot. And it's to protect everything about Isamu and myself. But I think my mother has just about worked it out, since whenever she mentions Isamu, a little smile works its way to her lips. Tomoko also knows, shes always warning me before I go and talk to our father.

My father...has never met Isamu, I hope. My life revolves around confidentiality. I'm afraid. I'm afraid that if my father learns the truth, he will create terrible events and end our friendship.

"You are dismissed." Atsushi mumbled and lowered his head as his mind once again went to work.

When I left my fathers office I headed to my bedroom. On the way I passed my sister and mother who sat having what seemed an intense conversation. I decided not to bother them and swiftly glided down the soft padded hallways. My door was the furthest away, and that's how I liked it. It would mean my bedroom was the most private and unnoticed room in the house.

My eyes brows creased and eyes closed as I entered the room and sighed.

"I think your father suspects something." A familiar voice muttered beside me. My eyes snapped open and I glared to the side to see the source sitting smugly. In panic I quickly peered outside of my room, but saw no one so I quietly closed the door behind me.

"Why would you say that?" I whispered turning away from him and walking to my small dresser. I sat on a small cushion and plucked the many clips holding my plum hair up.

"He's asking about my family isn't he?"

"Spying, again were we?" I retorted unimpressed as I looked up to see his smirking figure in the mirror. I raised an eyebrow at him but then sighed lowering my head.

"Actually...I think he's as clueless as ever." I felt his presence next to me and looked up to see him sitting cross-legged with a tiny, shy smile.

"Then there's nothing to worry about." He answered, lifting his hand and running his fingers through the curly locks beside my head.

"I'll see you soon, Sakura-girl." He exclaimed standing to his feet once again. I nodded in return and went to look at him, but he had already disappeared.

Just like always. I sighed.

"See you soon...Pin-head."

~~~~~

I enjoyed my home. From its sakura trees that lined the perimeter, to the clear river that flowed across the back. Behind that river was the path to the Uchiha compound, and to the right of it was the route to the Senju compound.

Right now I was wasting my time sitting a top one of the tallest trees in our compound. Well, to anyone else that was what I was doing. But in fact, I had the one and only pin cushion haired Uchiha in my eyesight. And me in his.

I watched him as he grabbed something from behind him and held it in his palm. He stared at it for a moment and then began to line it up with his eyes.

A message huh? I thought, shifting in case his target was a little off course. I waited as he threw it and it soared above the Uchiha compound, over the small forest, river and straight into my palm.

I hissed quietly from the pain and glared at him which received a mischievous grin. Plotting to get him back later I sighed and ripped a small scroll from the rock.

Your father and the Uchiha clan are having a meeting today. The Uchiha already know what Astushi plans to announce. Do be ready for any unexpected arrangements.

So he's not telling me what my father plans to do huh? I growled in annoyance and went to glare at the Uchiha boy.

Unexpected arrangements? This message confused me greatly. What could my father, possibly want to announce with the Uzumaki and Senju enemy.

The Uzumaki clan and Senju are distant relatives, any enemy of the Senju has to be an enemy of the Uzumaki, but my father is a special case and doesn't believe such antics. He wouldn't always admit it, but I worked him out a while ago. 17 years around someone does that to you.

I sighed rolling the scroll back up and placing it inside a square hole in the branch. It was a fake panel and could only be accessed if you removed the bark on the outside. Not the best secret stash, but it had been safe like this for years, and I'm the only one who climbs the trees that I know of.

I was about to whistle to signal for him to meet me in the forest, but my fathers voice resonated outside.

"Tomomi! I need your presence." He yelled authoritatively, nearly causing me to fall out of the stupid tree in surprise. I think I heard the idiot a mile away laughing as my eyes bulged out of my head.

"Y-Yes Father!" I yelled back and jumped from my spot, grabbed ahold of the middle branch and landed onto both feet. I rushed over to him as he led  me inside the house.

"Go and change into this and then meet me at the front gate. Be quick!" He ordered with a passive expression. Was that his Uzumaki robes? I quizzically wandered into my room and stripped my current dress. Perhaps this is what that idiot was talking about.

The dress Atsushi had given me was a deep red with long sleeves and a white, wide sash around the waist. It seems almost...royal. I frowned as I inspected the outfit on me.

My hair looked fine in its normal do-up of clips and ribbons. I don't like this feeling...at all. I huffed exiting my room and walked through the remaining house. No one was present inside which confused me.
But the matter at hand was more important making me shake my head and walk out of the house.

In front of me stood my whole family. My mother and sister stood awkwardly dressed the same as me, next to my father as he frowned.

"Father where are we going?" I asked joining them.

"The Uchiha compound." He answered and began to walk. My eyes widened as I bowed my head and stared at the ground. Soon enough we were all walking in a straight line, me at the end.

The Uchiha compound. So this is when father will announce his...whatever it is. But the Uchiha know already! What if they attack us, or take our land?

I blinked when an object fell out of my sisters sleeve. A scroll...she purposely did that. I slyly bent down and grabbed it and quickly opened it checking if father had looked back at us.

Do not seem surprised when Isamu is there. Do not fear the Uchiha dear sister. I know what you also know...don't ask me how. But father must handle this not us.

Still with these no explanations! I got slightly frustrated that this was being hidden from my knowledge. But Pin-head would  be there so...I must act neutral and unknowing. Or I'm pretty much screwed.

I closed my eyes, sticking my hand between the thick layer of my dress. Once the scroll had been securely placed inside I started to fix it back up. 

The walk to the Uchiha compound took no more than 20 minutes. It was around midday, but the sky was cloudy and no spot of blue was in sight.

"I am Atsushi Uzumaki." My father spoke as we all stopped in front of a large building and two Uchiha men.

"I believe Master Tajima is inside waiting." They replied respectfully motioning for us to pass. They don't bow...so its true they believe they are superior.

I have been in this compound before...but never have I witnessed this side of the compound. I had met Isamu's parents...well that's not exactly true either. I had met his aunt and uncle. I would never want to cross paths with his father, and that is why our secret must never get out to my father. I had met his mother Airi, who seemed to be the nicest creature on earth, apart from my own mother.

But even after all the warnings from my sister and all my courage from the moment I learned of this meeting. Nothing could have prepare me for when we entered that room. Half the space was filled with Uchiha officials, the clan leader and...his sons.

"Welcome...Atsushi Uzumaki and your family." The clan leader, Tajima Uchiha greeted with a small, sly smirk. My heart beat went irregular as his eyes went from my father, to my mother, to my sister...and then finally to me.

When his eyes left mine after a tiring stare, I moved my gaze to his right where his most treasured piece sat. A comfortable expression sat upon his face as he gazed directly at me. I did nothing but stare back with anxiousness, hoping my father decided to not look back at me.

Because I was holding an eye contact battle with the eldest son of our ancestors most hated enemy. Madara Uchiha.

~~~~~

HEY

So this is another fanfic I am writing

PLEASE dont hate me if I change events, etc. Because this is a Fanfiction and I am very informed of what can and cant happen, but still, I am writing this and can do what I wish.

But other than that, please comment and vote.

I love comments because it makes me feel you really love the story and are involved with it in some way.

<3 until next time.

Disclaimer:

I do NOT own naruto. Only this story and any added characters or plotlines.