"She would be an interesting addition to Root," Danzo added, standing up from his place. "If she eventually becomes an ANBU at some point, she will be my apprentice."
"Danzo..."
"It's the only way I'll agree to this," replied the elder. "It's my only condition, Hiruzen. Is this or death. We don't need another Amane Uchiha, and I will make sure of that."
* * *
Clouds were menacing to cover the moon, high in the night sky. It was quite peaceful, regardless of the current war going on outside the Leaf Village. Yusuke Uchiha looked up at the stars covering the blue sky like glitter over a dark mantle. His mind was absent, hovering around the thoughts of his current situation. The elders wanted his daughter dead, his baby...dead.
"Yusuke..." The man heard his name being called and turned towards the owner of the voice. Fugaku, the Uchiha leader, stood at the foot of the house he was on top of, looking up at him. Yusuke stared back at him indifferently, moving into a more comfortable position on the roof.
"What do you want, Fugaku?" he asked. Fugaku, with a soft sigh, jumped to stand beside him on the roof and sat next to him.
"I know what the elders said about your daughter," Fugaku commented serenely. Yusuke remained silent as he returned his gaze towards the moon. The clouds finally covered its light, submerging them in darkness. "What are you going to do about it?" Yusuke frowned at Fugaku's remark.
"I have no idea," Yusuke looked back at Fugaku with a crease forming between his eyebrows. "Do I even have a choice in the matter?"
Fugaku didn't know how to respond. Instead, he looked away at the road beneath them. "There is another possibility," he mumbled. This managed to gain Yusuke's attention with that sole phrase, a single glint of hope, but hope nonetheless. "The Hokage wants Hanako to join the ANBU when she comes of age, Danzo agreed to it." Yusuke took a deep breath and looked away.
"Which one is better, then?" he wondered out loud. "Death or ANBU?"
"I would say, Yusuke, let's give her a try," Fugaku said.
"But what if she's not a fighter?" Yusuke's voice broke as he felt the tears gathering in his throat. "What if she gets killed on duty? Isn't it just the same as an execution? How is that even an option?" Yusuke clenched his fists tightly.
"You're probably right..." Yusuke pressed his lips into a thin line.
"Why Hanako?" Yusuke raged. "Why she of all children?!"
"We'll see what to do about it when the time comes..." Fugaku said softly. "In the meantime, I will make sure Hanako reaches their standards. Nothing will happen to her, Yusuke. I promise." The Leader managed a smile for his friend, who looked at him with wide eyes.
"Please Fugaku, help her. She's just so innocent... She doesn't deserve this." Yusuke scrunched his eyes closed and covered his face with his palms.
Fugaku's smile instantly faded when Yusuke wasn't looking at him. He was also curious as to why Hanako, what did she have that caught the interest of Danzo from their first meeting? It wasn't even a formal meeting, he was just passing by on the road, and he looked at her- seating on her father's shoulders--, and then continued walking. A week later, an announcement reached Fugaku's door asking for the child's execution. Of course, he didn't have a valid reason, Hanako was just a kid. What was Danzo hiding, then? Or was it just an excuse to provoke the Uchiha once again?
The relationship between the Uchiha and the Leaf Village was slowly deteriorating, and actions like such would only worsen it even more. Danzo was aware of it, so why would he continue to ignite the fire of hatred between both? Fugaku wanted an answer, and he was going to research to find it.
* * *
When Yusuke entered his home, his wife was waiting for him, sitting down on the sofa. She was knitting a small wool sweater for her youngest daughter.
"I'm glad you came back," Akira said without glancing his way. "I don't think the reunion extended until this late. Where were you?"
"I had to think about something..." Yusuke sat beside her.
"Did something bad happen?" She now looked at him worried. Yusuke pondered on how to tell his wife about the news he just received.
"Not something bad, but not something good, either," Yusuke said sadly.
"What did they say?" she asked him.
"Fugaku had a meeting with the elders, apparently they are giving Hanako a chance to live." Akira looked at her husband with hopeful eyes.
"Isn't that something good?" she asked. "Why are you so gloomy about it?"
Yusuke looked at his wife with serious eyes. "They will let her live, under the condition that she will join the ANBU when she comes of age." As fast as Akira became hopeful, she lost it suddenly when Yusuke finished his words.
"Just...what is his damn problem?!" Akira tightened her hold on the sweater she was knitting. "Why would he dare..." Akira let the sweater on the couch as she stood up. "Are you hungry, I'm sorry I didn't get to cook you anything."
"I'm okay, honey, I don't feel like eating..." Yusuke mumbled.
"I'll just make you a sandwich then..." Akira continued her way to the kitchen. Noises of plates and the fridge opening and closing multiple times could be heard from the living. Yusuke sighed and looked at the wooden floor. Akira could only cook when she was feeling stressed, it was like her own therapy session that seemed to work for her. He could only wish it also worked on him because he didn't know what to do now.
CHAPTER ONE: Another Option
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