The Path of a Shinobi (Reader x various)

"Is that...really you?"

She nodded her head and extended her hand out to me. I gently grabbed ahold of her hand and was pulled up on my feet. We stood at about the same height now and she looked the same as ever. I released my hand from hers and threw myself onto her. I wrapped my arms around her waist and tightly squeezed her, longing to embrace her and feel a parent's love again after for so long.

After ten years, I finally get to do this again.

"I've missed you...so much," my voice got caught in my throat as I nuzzled my face into her shoulder. She wrapped her arms around me and tightly held me as she shed a tear, content with finally having the chance to see me.

The scenery around us had started to change. Rather than being trapped with the Eleven Tails, we were now standing in a serene, quiet place. The whole place was sky blue and there was nothing surrounding us. It was an empty place.

"I've missed you too dear. And I'm sorry you can't see your father." I was hoping that I could and it pained me not being able to see him, but being able to see at least one of them again, was enough for me.

I pulled away from her and asked the one thing that was on my mind. "But how...h-how are you here?"

"Well, lets just say I knew someone who helped me embed a small amount of my chakra into the seal after your birth since it was one of her specialties. However, I won't have much time with you."

I mentally thanked whoever that person was for granting us this opportunity. But my face dropped as I heard the last sentence. I felt a pair of hands cup my cheeks before I felt a pinch.

"You've grown up so much (Y/n)! Just look at you!" She gawked at me and proceeded to pinch my cheeks even harder and examine my facial features. "You sure did inherit a combination of our looks but you got your father's (e/c) eyes and from what I've seen his personality as well. If you had turned out more like me, you'd be more sociable unlike your father."

"Stop." I complained as I felt somewhat flustered and awkward with the attention I was receiving from her. I removed her hands from my now red cheeks and that's when she noticed the awful state I was in.

"God you look terrible!" Her grey eyes looked over the dry blood that stained my clothes and body.

"Gee thanks, I thought blood would suit me," I sarcastically said but she smacked the side of my head.

"Hey!" I was about to throw a remark, but stopped once I saw her saddened expression. "What?"

"I...I'm sorry you had to go through so much. I'm sorry you had to suffer so much from being burdened with a tailed beast to seeing the death of so many you loved." She stared at me in pity but this is the life that I chose. All that training at a young age was simply to prepare me for what was to come in the future except...handling so many losses.

"It was tough but I've somehow managed to survive up until now. And as for those I've lost..well-I...I guess I'll get my revenge soon," I said with a small forced smile. I really didn't want to be reminded of what happened.

"Revenge isn't a good look on you honey especially if you want to attract any boys," she chided and I puffed my cheeks and turned my head away from her with my head held high.

"Haha like I care about that. Avenging you all and becoming stronger have been my goals. The one who killed you is just out there!" I exclaimed as I pointed a finger at nothing in particular.

She opened her mouth and quickly closed it shut as she contemplated her words in her head. She lowered my hand down and firmly shook her head.

"The one who killed me is already dead. But the one who killed your father will soon to meet his end."

"What do you mean? Is Pain dead already?" I asked but she quietly shook her head.

"The Akatsuki were the ones who destroyed us and were the cause of our clan's downfall, but...Pain didn't kill me. He only killed your father."

"What? But I saw you come into the room bleeding to death with Pain coming in right after! You and dad were there together!"

"Yes, but it wasn't him. There was someone else who you didn't see. Or more like he didn't want you to see."

"Then...who?" I hesitantly asked. I wanted to know who it was, but at the same time...I was anxious to hear who did it.

She closed her eyes for a second and took in a deep breath before staring into my eyes. The name that left her lips, wasn't who I expected it to be.

"It was...Itachi."

"What?" My heart dropped and I used my hand to cover my mouth as a wave of shock spread throughout my body. "A-are you sure?" There was no reason to doubt her but I didn't want to believe that it actually could've been him.

She placed a hand on my shoulder and calmly said, "Do you remember the slash on my body?"

My mind started to recall that horrible day and a vivid memory flashed through my head.

"Okaasan!" I cried out as I pulled her into my arms and clutched her body as I watched the blood seep from the gash on her body. And ultimately covering me in her blood.

I backed away from her with eyes wide as I tried to process everything and put the pieces together. "But that could've been done by anyone! Pain or someone else could've done it with a blade or a kunai for all I know!"

"I wanted to warn you but he got to me first. I know it's hard to believe, but if Pain really did do it, he would've used a rod. Not a kunai or blade to cut me down."

And that's when all the pieces started to come together.

I was deceived by him all this time.

"That bastard!" I venomously spatted. I clenched my hands into a fist to the point where my knuckles turned white.

"(Y/n), calm down!" She placed her hands on my shoulders but her hands and body started to glow white. My anger dissipated in an instant and I was now frantically worrying about my mother.

"Wait what's happening to you?!"

She removed her hands from my shoulder and sadly stared at her hands which were slowly disappearing.

"It seems like my time is up. Five minutes was the limit I had."

"B-but, theres still so much I want to know and ask!" I tugged at my (h/l) (h/c) hair in desperation at wanting to have more time with her. This was our final moment. The last time I would get to see her.

Despite her body fading away, she pulled me in for one last hug. "In due time, you'll get answer. But for now...goodbye."

Her body completely vanished in my arms and I fell to my knees as I was left holding onto nothing but air.

And that was the last that I'd see of her.