All Naruto characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto and Viz Media. I'm just futzing with the world and characters for a bit.

Thank you guys for all your support. Here's another long one.

*Note: The "Hyuga Affair" a.k.a. Hinata's kidnapping is supposed to happen when she is three. For the sake of the story, she's about four or five. Just a little tweak.

oOo

Title: Paradise Under Their Feet, Keep Walking

Summary: The Uchiha Clan have adopted a little sparrow who was cast out of her nest. But Itachi is starting to suspect that Hinata is not as defenseless as she is pretending to be.

Rating: K+

oOo

Itachi is dirty, tired and so hungry he's nauseous when a small body slams into his knees. He stops and bemusedly stares down at the child clutching at his canvas pants. His clothes are caked with brown, dried filth but the child wipes their face on them anyway.

The Uchiha stares.

He's in Konoha proper, hardly a couple of meters from the compound wall. So it is most likely the stranger is not a threat.

But what kind of child accosts a dirty nin? He left his armor and mask at Headquarters, but he has clearly come back from a mission.

Oh spirits, he's so tired and his home is right there. His Sharingan digs hotly into the top of the child's head.

Let go, he mentally commands.

Muffled sobs reach his ears. Instead of complying, the kid tightens their grip and shakes so hard that Itachi starts to feel unstable. One particularly strong tremor and the child turns their face up.

He knows her. Even covered in tears and transferred filth from his pants, her puffy eyes and short hair identify her.

"Hyuga-sama." He murmurs and places a hand on her shoulder. "What are you-"

She screws her eyes shut and shouts in a whisper. "My clan tried to kill me!"

Even as an ANBU, he freezes. His hand reflexively tightens on her shoulder.

"What?" His voice has deepened an octave and it rasps against his throat.

She sniffles and gives another whole body shiver. Itachi tries to think. She's Sasuke's age. Barely five. Who would try to kill a child? What clan would try to kill their own heiress?

Itachi decides she must be bluffing. He pushes her back despite her attempts to regain ahold of his pants.

"Hyuga-sama," he starts firmly. "Go home."

"No!" She wails. "Uchiha-sama you-y-you h-have to help me! They'll kill me!"

Itachi winces at her volume. A clan member who has guard duty tonight appears next to them. Itachi resists the urge to hiss and gathers the small girl into his arms. He launches himself up and lands in the Uchiha compound.

He stares down at her trembling body and realizes she has gone into shock. In the dim lantern-light he can also make something out. Blood coats her entire front and sluggishly seeps from wicked-looking scratches around her eyes.

The Uchiha guard hisses.

"Go get a clan healer." Itachi orders.

The guard inclines his head and disappears into the shadows. Itachi crouches and leaps onto a nearby roof. The Hyuga curls around her wounds and presses herself into his abdomen. She tries to say "Thank you" but she cries so hard she chokes on her own tears.

oOo

Itachi stands in front of the door that leads into their guest room. The door slides open and his father emerges, sucking his lips into a deep frown.

Itachi's gaze meets his.

"She'll live. Our healer was able to stabilize her." Fugaku inclines his head to the side and Itachi falls into step with his father as they walk towards the stairs. "She had a kunai still buried in her clothing. It looks like something from Kumogakure."

Itachi's brows furrow slightly. "A Lightning nin?" Then what of the assertion that it was her clan? There was that Head Ninja that was staying in the village to sign the peace treaty.

Fugaku wipes a hand over his face. He appears to be tired but a strange light gleams behind his eyes. Itachi watches it warily.

"There's also a rumor from the Hyuga compound. Hyuga Hizashi is dead."

Itachi's brain stutters. He blinks once. "What does that mean?" He asks slowly.

Fugaku laughs once. He is used to long nights but the one before had been particularly harrowing. "Nothing's been confirmed."

Yet. Itachi understands the subtext. He analyzes all the possible options. Either the Lightning nin killed Hizashi, or Hizashi had been attempting to kill his niece in the guise of a Lightning nin. If that was the case… Hizashi could have been killed by his clan leader. The other option was absurd.

"She's a pre-genin." Itachi says. "How did she escape?"

That light in Fugaku's eyes gets even brighter. "How indeed?" He intones, his tone conveying volumes. "The healer said the chakra pathways around her hands displayed signs of overuse."

Itachi stares into his father's eyes until the older man finally slips his gaze away and turns. "I'll see you at breakfast, Itachi."

He stares at his father's back as his mind whirls like an activating Sharingan.

Hizashi could have also been killed by his niece.

oOo

Hinata kneels in front of Fugaku and Itachi. They're in the formal receiving room in the Main House. This is where Fugaku meets with his clan and guests.

She focuses her milky eyes on the tatami in front of her and she has not looked up once. For once she is not shaking, but Itachi can see how her eyes are wide in fear and her eyelashes are clumped from moisture.

"Why did you come to us?" Fugaku asks.

Hinata's gaze flies in a panicked arc over the floor. She hunches her back like she expects a blow to land at any time. It has been over a week but there are still bandages on her face and abdomen. Itachi idly wonders if her frantic breathing is making her wounds hurt.

"I-I…" She tries.

She reminds Itachi of the tiny swallows that have a nest in the tree next to his bedroom window. Her voice is much like theirs. Airy and chirpy and completely unthreatening.

"Father-no… H-H-Hyuga-sama hates me. B-But he hates t-the Uchi… the Uchiha more. He can't ki-… hurt me when-when I-I'm here."

Fugaku's eyes narrow in amusement. "Would you like shelter, Hyuga Hinata?"

She finally looks up. "Please, Uchiha-sama." She whispers and bows until her forehead touches the ground.

They accept.

oOo

The resulting political mess is a coursing river that the Uchiha clan barely manages to maneuver through. Their clan makes up a significant part of the police force. Plus, their clan is a mighty and numerous one. The Hyuga are small but their roots and influence run deep.

A tribunal is called. An investigation is waged. Well, as much as an investigation can be waged without offending Kumogakure and with the Hyuga refusing to allow the village to autopsy Hizashi. The official word that comes out is convoluted and fools no one. The story: someone impersonating a Lightning Nin snuck in to steal the Hyuga heiress' eyes. Hyuga Hizashi bravely gave up his life to save his niece. The impersonator escaped and might possibly return. For Hinata's safety, she will be put in the custody of the Military Police Force.

It does not explain why the Hyuga disowns Hinata. It does not explain why Hinata is permanently in the care of the Police Force instead of her family. It does not explain who this impersonator is.

It does not really explain what happened that night.

Not even Itachi or Fugaku are truly sure. In the beginning, Sarutobi requests to see Hinata alone. When the Uchiha agree, Hinata disappears for a week, deep in the bowels of the Village. Itachi becomes nervous. Nin who disappear from their own village go to T&I.

But Hinata is not a nin.

At least, not officially.

When Sarutobi presents Hinata to the Uchiha clan, Itachi is not surprised to see all her bandages gone. Unfortunately, the scratches around her eyes scar. Even if most are not extremely noticeable, he wonders if she will be disfigured for life.

Itachi bristles and before he knows it, he has claimed responsibility for this little life. He and his father escort the little child to her new clan compound. She keeps her head down and her hands tightly clasped in front of her. When they pass the Hyuga clan compound, she hunches her shoulders and starts shaking like an autumn leaf.

Itachi cannot feel any killing intent emanating from the compound walls. But he can feel all the eyes.

"Hnn…" Fugaku remarks casually. "It will be interesting to not have them as neighbors anymore."

Hinata's eyes shoot up to him.

"Ah, you haven't heard?" Fugaku continues. "Our clan will be moving inwards, closer to our Police Headquarters."

Her hands spasm and she lets out a long blast of air. "W-why?" She asks so quietly, the sound is almost swallowed by their sandals crunching on the pathway gravel.

Fugaku does not comment until they have entered the Uchiha compound and the massive gate closes behind them. "The Hyuga will be taking this land from us."

Tears form in Hinata's eyes. Itachi knows she is confused as to why Fugaku seems so pleased about this. His eyes widen in shock as she falls to her knees and bows. Even Fugaku blinks.

"I-I'm sorry! I-I h-h-have in-I have d-d-done this!"

Fugaku squats and with more tenderness than Itachi expected, the Clan Head places a hand on her back. "We are returning to our original lands. For that, I have to thank you."

She trembles but does not get up. Her small hands clench at the dirt and her breathing is coming heavy. She is sniffling and coughing with the dust she is inhaling.

Itachi feels sick looking at her panic. He meets his father's eyes and they exchange a bewildered look. What did the Hyuga do to their heiress? She is too young to have panic attacks.

Itachi leans down and picks up the girl into his arms. Sasuke still likes being carried, even in secret, and he hopes it will calm the little girl just enough for her to stop crying. He awkwardly pats her back as she sobs into her hands.

His hands are thin and he had been teased on more on one occasion for it. But his fingers span almost the entire width of her back.

It would not take that much to crush her. Perhaps that was the problem.

The two men hurry to their house. At the doorway, Mikoto waits. She croons and without any prompting, takes the small bundle from Itachi's arms. This only makes Hinata cry harder. The men back away in surprise and just a bit of fear.

What did they do? Fugaku just wants to celebrate. While the Hyuga are getting more land, the Uchiha are getting something even better. The public opinion is swaying to favor the Uchiha. The civilian population suspects the worst- as is their wont -of the Hyuga. It appears more that their tiny little daughter is being taken from the irresponsible Hyuga. When the Uchiha eventually adopt her, Fugaku is sure that the public will have nothing but absolute trust in the Uchiha.

But Hinata is wailing.

Mikoto smiles and rests her cheek on Hinata's head. Mikoto rocks side to side while shooing the men away. They leave. Quickly.

oOo

Itachi sits on the back porch of Shisui's. The two cousins lounge in the shade with a half-empty plate of dango and mostly-full teacups between them.

"How are you fairing?" Itachi asks as he watches two children with heavy lidded eyes.

Shisui smiles widely. "I've always wanted a little sister."

Itachi reaches for his tea. "And is she adjusting well?"

Itachi first thought Hinata would stay with his family. But he was sure that the Hyuga would wage a coup if that happened and Sarutobi was fighting with the reigns against the council as it was. So Hinata went with Shisui's family.

Shisui frowns, his eyes turning introspective. "She's still a bit jumpy. She doesn't like anyone touching her. The nightmares are getting somewhat better. She's not scared every time she wakes up anymore."

Itachi sips his tea. Sasuke is currently elbows deep in the mud of his aunt's garden. He is spreading out the compost, which is the only task his aunt will let him undertake while she is not there. Hinata sits next to him, listening to his chatter. She never contributes. But once Shisui realized Hinata likes sitting in the garden, he tries to have her spend time in it as much as possible. It is early spring and soon, flowers will bloom.

"She is still nervous to overstep her bounds." Itachi muses.

Shisui sighs. "Mother hates that Hinata is so nervous around us."

Itachi suspects that Shisui hated it too, but says nothing. Itachi sends Shisui a sidelong glance, only to see him frown. Itachi follows his cousin's gaze to see Sasuke stand and take Hinata's wrist with a dirty hand.

It would almost appear that Sasuke is pulling her against her will, if not for the fact that she is not looking at the ground. Her head is raised, boldly facing the two older boys.

"Aniki! Shisui!" Sasuke cries, bounding forward. "Hinata has something she wants to tell you!"

The older boys turn their gaze to her. For a moment she quails, but she raises her head back to its previous position.

"I-" She tries but Sasuke cuts her off.

"She wants-"

"Sasuke!" Shisui scolds. "Let her speak."

Sasuke frowns bitterly. He has taken to his new playmate fast. His mission to win her over and monopolize her attention makes Itachi feel a little unsteady. It does not help that his mother and aunt will trade speaking smiles whenever the two children are in the same room.

Hinata's chin dips a bit. She never wants to be a bother. A bit of her confidence gone, she boldly grasps the calf of Shisui's pant leg. Sasuke looks mutinous but both Itachi and Shisui are stunned.

"Sasuke-kun says he will g-go to the Academy to-to be a shinobi." She breathes. "He says he will learn how to protect…" She trails off and visibly has to take a breath.

Itachi knows what is going to come next but he does not believe it himself. The little sparrow cannot possibly be interested in more violence.

Sasuke now takes her free hand between both of his. His excitement is palpable. She keeps her eyes on the dango plate. Until she does not. She meets Shisui's gaze and then Itachi's. Slowly, as she speaks carefully.

"I want to learn how to protect myself. And the Uchiha."

Shisui coughs out a laugh and rubs the back of his head nervously. Hinata's gaze falls back to the floor.

"We're going to have to wait until Father comes home to talk about it." He sooths.

Sasuke whines something but Itachi is not listening. He cannot get the look in her eyes out of his mind. Hinata may be a little sparrow, but her eyes…

They are as cold as ice.

Itachi wants to know what happened that night so bad that he has to bite his inner lip until it bleeds to keep from asking.

oOo

Danzo is still the wolf at the door. His breath smells like blood as he impatiently for the Uchiha to make their first move.

But when their little sparrow lands in their compound, something changes.

The Village feels sorry for the fragile bird. And Fugaku is a slippery predator. If he can keep from going to war and destroy another clan while lifting up his own… Well, he would be a fool if he does not take the chance.

He instructs Shisui to accompany Hinata every time she ventures out in public. It was in the name of protection, but Shisui has no problem trailing his mother to the market, usually holding on to Hinata's hand.

Everything about her appearance helps. She is small and delicate looking and just a touch pretty. She is timid and hides behind Shisui's leg every time someone directs their gaze at her. When she does lift her eyes, people realize that her scars do not disfigure her face, but enhance how fragile she appears to be.

While all of these traits seem to be nothing but weakness for a future shinobi, it is the civilians who like her. The civilians are the ones who distrust the Uchiha after the Fox's attack. It is the civilians who start murmuring about the secretive Hyuga clan. What kind of people would disown such a child?

Then the same people start seeing Shisui in a different light. It is obvious he dotes on his new sister. Instead of the intimidating genius, they see him in a new light. A big brother.

When Itachi and Sasuke join them one day, the whispers get even louder. Especially when the daughter of a merchant sees Itachi carefully tuck a pretty comb in Hinata's dark hair. Perhaps he does lean in and whisper something that makes her blush. Perhaps he tells her she is pretty. Perhaps not. But the merchant's daughter is sure that Itachi, the beautiful but cold Uchiha, is thawing.

Which is promising for her romantic prospects. She tells her friend, the apprentice seamstress. The apprentice seamstress tells her sister in the shop and the wife of the baker overhears. The wife of the baker takes it to her friends over lunch. And the information flows through the civilian network of women. Before any of the shinobi realize, the women are whispering to their husbands at night about how nice the new generation of Uchiha seem.

The men, interpreting it in their own way, begin to see the Uchiha in a bit of a better light. That Fugaku might be a bastard but his son is due to inherit. And he's a genius, right? He has an excellent mission record and he's quiet. Which might be better than the brash personality his father has, anyway. Hopefully, the clan head will die soon, as most shinobi do and Itachi will keep the Military Police in line.

So they slowly forget to tell their children to stay away from the Uchiha. The first generation pre-genin feel braver about befriending their Uchiha cohorts. The other children notice and take stories home to their ninja parents about their new friends. The shinobi are baffled. To them, nothing has changed. Both the Uchiha and the Hyuga need to get those sticks out of their asses, in their not-so-humble opinion. Hinata is irrelevant by this point.

Speaking of the Hyuga, more insidious rumors thread through the village. Who are the Hyuga? They are too private and the incident with Hinata makes the civilians realize that they know next to nothing about their oldest clan. Why did they force the Uchiha to move? Why are the Hyuga crouched on the outskirts of the village like a snake ready to strike?

When these rumors reach Fugaku, he is pleased. Itachi is concerned. What will happen to Hinata when she is on her own in the Academy?

oOo

The Uchiha postpone their rebellion. Of course, there are protests and one zealot tries to assassinate a sleeping Hokage. The ANBU capture him alive but it is the Uchiha who execute him. Someone has caught wind of the council scheming against the Uchiha and the clan cannot afford to appear like traitors. Not now.

Itachi still remembers that day. His tanto is free of blood, but a small chip on the blade is a reminder of that day.

Never before has a kill made Itachi feel like he is the one who died.

A small voice in his head whispers the possibility that the traitor might not be the only family member he will have to kill.

His whole body aches. He is tired.

oOo

*Note: I plan to make this longer. But I do want to watch the Itachi Shinden to get a better grip on Shisui's character. Let me know what you think. Thanks for reading.

Title comes from the translated of one of my all time favorite songs "Chaiyya Chaiyya." According to our dear friend Wikipedia it was composed by A.R. Rahman, written by Gulzar, and sung by Sukhwinder Singh and Sapna Awasthi.