Chapter 1: Shadow, He's Here.

Three years later, in Shadow's point of view. Shadow has forced herself to make a choice that affects her and her family.

On a normal day, my three year-old would wake me up by bouncing on my bed so she can tell me something that Itachi, her uncle and my partner, said, or show me what her best friend, my recon partner, Deidara made her. But today I wake up to her throwing the door open and collapsing just inside the room, crying as though she just watched someone close to her get killed. I get hit with a flashback of Sasuke on the day I left the Hidden Leaf, and how his eyes were full of tears as I left him after giving him the surprise of being pregnant with his child.

I go over to my daughter, pick her up, and murmur softly, "Hush now, Amara. Tell me what's wrong, and I'll make it better. Mommy promises, baby girl."

Amara sniffs. "Mommy, Lord wants you. But I don't want you to go!"

I push the door closed and hug her close until someone knocks on the door. I set her onto the bed and pull on a shirt as Konan opens the door, Itachi standing still behind her, and walks over to Amara while I wave bye before walking away with Itachi. I pray to Jashin that we aren't preparing to defend our base, fearing for my daughter's life.

*

"No! Pein, I-I can't! I don't care about her power, she's a child! I won't-no. I can't let you do this!"

"Shadow, it's either we use her or we break your curse. Jordan helps Marie keep her seal strong, and she can strengthen yours once she removes your curse."

"So then have her do it! Just leave my daughter out of it! Better yet, use me as your Fox vessel! Put the other spirits in with mine!"

Itachi puts his hand on my shoulder. "Shadow's right. To do this to a child would be only start us over. Not to mention using an untrained child could very well kill her."

Hidan comes into the room and I look at him, desperate for a distraction before I get sick. I get one. "Shadow, Itachi, head to the Sand. Dress as Sand ninja. See if the reports of an attack are true. If it is, you need to find the person responsible and recruit him."

Itachi squeezes my arm lightly and goes to get ready, but Pein stops me before I can follow. "Shadow, go see Jordan before you go. Tell her to remove the curse and to await further instructions from me. Dismissed."

I walk out and sigh, thinking once more about grabbing Itachi and Amara and running away with them. And, once again, I dismiss the idea, reminding myself that they took me in when I had nowhere else to go, being both withchild and a hated Jinjuriki. So, instead, I push myself away from my spot against the wall and head to the infirmary.

*

"The trees end up ahead!" I shout, and we stop. I go over to Itachi and he pulls me against his chest. I bury my face into his shoulder and ask, "What if it's him?"

He says nothing and I start shaking. Two years ago, an informant in the Hidden Leaf Village sent the message saying Sasuke joined up with Orochimaru. Now, every time I go out for any reason, I fear my life.

Itachi tilts my head up only enough for me to look at him. "Shadow, I won't let him hurt you. I swear," He sounds so confident, so I pull him against me and kiss him. I forget my fears of death, Orochimaru, and losing my daughter and lose myself in the kiss. It's harder than it used to be with Sasuke, but I don't care.

He pulls away and chuckles lowly. I'm panting slightly, and I have to force myself to move away from him so I can pull out a kunai when I hear a slithering sound. Itachi slams into my side, and I barely manage to wrap my arm around him and jump before a fireball explodes where we were.

"Shadow," Itachi pants. "He's here."