Chapter Text
Twelve years ago, a demon fox with nine tails existed. When that tail was swung, it would destroy a mountain and cause a tsunami. To counter it, the people gathered ninjas.
"Hold it here until the Fourth arrives!" A wounded ninja shouted as blood dripped from the side of his face.
"Don't let it get any closer to our village!" Another had shouted just as a giant toad appeared on the battlefield with a lone ninja standing on top of his head. This one man faced the nine-tailed fox in mortal combat in a life or death battle. The battle was won but the man had died in the process. That ninja was known as the Fourth Hokage.
Everyone knew the story and the history of that battle. It's been two years after all. Many lives were lost in the battle but with loss comes a new day, a new life, a new beginning. Nearing the end of July and Autumn just around the corner, in the blistering heat, there was a hospital room that was nowhere near quiet. Three different noises surrounded the room; one was a scream of unbearable pain, another was words of encouragement, and finally, a soft cry that came from a baby, The voices in the room toned down and was brought to a silent hum. Just then, there was a soft knock at the door and everyone in the room turned their attention to the sound.
The door opened and a young boy with long black hair tied into a low ponytail stood there but made no move to enter the room. In his arms was a child. no older than two, who gazed around curiously around the room, enjoying the surrounding colors and pictures. "May we come in?" He asked. He had a blank expression on his face, but on the inside, he was shaking with excitement. A new member of the Uchiha clan was born. A new sibling. Another life. The older man in the smiled softly, but it was barely noticeable.
"Come right in, Itachi." Fugaku stood in the center of the room with his arms crossed and his head held up high. Being the head of the Uchiha clan and captain of the Konoha Military Police Force he couldn't show of any weaknesses, and he had no intention of doing so with his sons and newborn child. He turned his stern onyx eyes toward the small bundle resting in his wife's arms. "They're resting now, so stay quiet."
Itachi hesitantly took a step inside, then another, and another until he was standing beside his father. The first thing Itachi noticed was the pink clothing and pure white blanket wrapped around the newborn. When Sasuke was born he wore blue clothing with a yellow blanket wrapped around him. Sensing her son's confusion, Mikoto softly beckoned him to her side. "Come here, Itachi, Sasuke." Seeing his mother's gentle smile, Itachi made his way to her side, adjusting his hold on Sasuke, who was squealing at the sight of his mother after what felt like an eternity. When the two were close enough, Mikoto pulled the blankets to the side, revealing the pale, sleeping face of the child. "Say hi to your little sister."
A little sister. Itachi's eyes widened and he leaned in closer to get a proper look at his little sister. She had pale skin and tufts of black hair framing her face perfectly. Sensing that people were around, the baby squirmed softly in her mother's arms and slowly opened her eyes, eliciting a small gasp from Itachi and a small squeal from Sasuke. Instead of the dark color of onyx-like the rest of the Uchiha, what stood in place was a bright color of forest green, expressing such innocence it could make any frozen heart melt. Mikoto looked at her son's and explained the reason for her odd eye color.
"Remember grandma Noriko? Our little baby got her green eyes." Mikoto told her child, her eyes not leaving the little bundle of joy in her arms. Itachi nodded, understanding what she meant now. He remembered his grandmother very clearly, her long black hair and unique green eyes that made her different from the rest of the Uchiha. Unfortunately, she died only a year after Sasuke was born, so Sasuke won't be able to remember her when he gets older.
Sasuke didn't pay attention to the conversation going around him and instead held his hands out towards the newborn. The baby cooed and giggled happily reaching out to her big brothers. Mikoto smiled gently, seeing all her children looking so happy. Itachi, afraid of dropping Sasuke from how much he was squirming in his arms, gently placed Sasuke on the bed next to his mother. Sasuke quickly crawled onto his mother's lap to get a closer look at the baby. The two stared at each other without making a sound, green eyes meeting onyx black. She blinked at him once, then twice with curious eyes before splurges of tiny giggles escaped her lips as she stared at her brothers, a smile so bright and adorable that it could melt any frozen heart. She squirmed in the blanket to pull out her hands before using them to reach for her brothers. Sasuke cheered and giggled happily, taking her small hand into his slightly bigger hand.
Mikoto's smile grew as she held her two babies close to her heart. Itachi couldn't help but feel a bit jealous of how affectionate his little sister was to Sasuke, he wanted that smile to be for him also. He only met this child for merely a couple of minutes but already he was willing to devote his life to ensure her safety and protect her with his life. A small whine interrupted his thoughts and he saw his little sister holding a hand out to him, tears in the corner of her eyes as if she would cry if he didn't hold her hand. Smiling softly, Itachi gently took her hand in his and felt a spark of joy seeing the bright smile on her face. "She already loves her big brothers," Mikoto said with a small laugh. She watched all three of her children hold hands and exchange bright smiles. Though it was silent except for the occasional giggle from the newborn, it was a calming atmosphere. "Itachi, have you thought of a name?" The sudden question made Itachi turn his attention away from the baby to his mother.
"Me?" Itachi asked, pointing at himself. Mikoto laughed softly and nodded her head in confirmation.
"That's right. Your father had the honors of naming Sasuke and you, so I thought it would be best if you named her instead." While it was true she would like it if her first-born son named her, there was also the silent issue that Fugaku had no girl names prepared, strongly believing their next child would be a boy as well.
Itachi stared at his mother for a moment before looking at his younger siblings, Sasuke staring at the youngest, who stared at Itachi with curious eyes. What name would be good for her? Hayami{1}? No, it sounds too grand. Maybe Shinobu{2}. But that sounds too boyish. Natsumi{3}? It's almost autumn though. Itachi kept on thinking about the name after name that would be perfect for the child but none of them seemed right. Mikoto and Fugaku watched and waited patiently for Itachi's answer but could sense his struggle. Mikoto had thought about giving Itachi a few suggestions but was interrupted by a high pitched voice, "Midori!"
All eyes turned their attention to the source of the voice and it was none other than the second Uchiha child, Sasuke. Sasuke saw his parents and his older brother looking at him in confusion. He vaguely remembered that when they were teaching him colors, Midori meant green. Believing they hadn't heard him the first time, he pointed to his sister's eyes and repeated, "Midori!"
"Sasuke, don't point at your sister." Makoto scolded and held her child's finger down. She had told Sasuke many times before that it wasn't polite to point at other people but because he was only two years old, it still didn't seem to sink in completely.
"Midori... I like it." Itachi mumbled softly, but it was loud enough for Makoto and Fugaku to hear.
"What was that, dear?" Makoto asked. Itachi faced his parents, a bright smile replacing the emotionless mask he held before.
"Midori. I want to name her Midori." The name was perfect. It was simple yet beautiful. Midori Uchiha. Makoto smiled just as bright as her son hearing the name he had chosen.
"Midori. A beautiful name for a beautiful baby." Makoto smiled gently and pulled Midori in closer, rubbing her cheek against her small chubby one. "It's perfect."
Fugaku stayed silent the whole time, watching his family gather around the newborn. Not once did his eyes stray away from the baby or her eyes. "The name is fine." He agreed, bringing all the attention to him. He uncrossed his arm and started walking towards the bed, standing beside Makoto, barely giving Itachi enough time to pick up Sasuke and take a step back from the bed. Fugaku stood beside Makoto and the newborn Midori, staring down at her green eyes. "That just leaves one problem to solve..." He lifted his hands and started to do hand seals: Dog, boar, and finally the ram. He gently placed his fingers on her eyes shutting them closed. The room was silent and the comfortable atmosphere had grown tense. Fugaku pulled his fingers away and when Midori opened her eyes, her forest green eyes were replaced with the same black onyx color the rest of the clan held.
"This information is to not leave this room. No one is to bring up or mention the color of her eyes. Is that clear." No one uttered a word of defiance but Itachi desperately wanted to ask why was this to be a secret. Why couldn't Midori anyone know about Midori's eyes? Would he ever see that bright color again? He didn't say anything though, for fear of his father's answer and actions. They had no choice but to accept if Midori was to be a part of the clan.
"With that said, we have a new addition to the family and the clan. Welcome to the Uchiha Clan, Midori Uchiha."
Itachi stared down at his baby sister and her onyx eyes. Even with this change, he would now and forever love and care for her and Sasuke."Welcome to the clan, Midori..."I swear, for as long as I live, I'll protect you and Sasuke from all harm...
{1}Hayami is a female name meaning "Rare and unusual beauty"
{2}Shinobu is a unisex name meaning "Recall" or "Stealth/Endure"
{3}Natsumi is a female name meaning "Summer child"