Raishi Uchiha Chronicles: The Adoption

Summary: The younger brother of Shisui Uchiha definitely took after his elder. How will having a bright personality around all the time effect Sasuke - and can Raishi actually keep such an outlook considering all the outside forces trying to manipulate him and the last of his family - Especially when the shadows within Konoha itself were closing in.

Warnings: Cannon typical violence, homosexual relationships, language, and sexual content.

Authour Note: This is very uncouth and unedited to be completely honest. I wanted to post something because it has been awhile... this is the story I choose though I honestly just kind of closed my eyes and randomly picked one. I've been super distracted by tons of stuff lately... I don't know yet if I'm going to write the next chapter right after this or even in a few months. I guess we'll just see how it goes.

Some potential issues I see are Zabuza being too OOC, as I've never really written him before... Not enough dialogue between the characters? Especially Asuma and Chouji. It's been awhile so I'm even a little bit scared of Raishi coming off as OOC.

Mostly I'm afraid that I've repeated things throughout the chapter...

In other words, I'm very paranoid about this chapter, so please, if you do notice any mistakes, let me known via a review or something. You don't have to of course, but I'd really appreciate it. I just have this weird itching feeling that I've missed something in regards to this chapter. I do hope you enjoy and I'll try my best to update again as soon as possible.

...

..

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The walk back to the village was rather awkward, to put it lightly.

I was pretty relaxed about the whole situation, and apparently, Shika-chan trusted me enough to be the same, but the same couldn't be said about the rest of our teams. Zabuza was also tensed, although that made the most sense. Technically, he was trying to kill everyone around him not all that long ago, I certainly would have been tense in such a situation. So the walk was pretty quiet after I had woken up, though Naru couldn't help the few outbursts of random whistling. I smiled every time Naru-chan did so because that was so like my little brother -

Wait, when had I started to consider Naruto a brother?

Naru-chan was freakishly like Shisui in so many ways, and I was being constantly teased by Shika-chan about my big brother complex in regards to Naruto and Sasuke, but to actually internally think of Naruto Uzumaki as my brother was a completely new level of attachment. I promised myself in that moment that I wouldn't outwardly express this, the last thing I wanted was to create friction of any sort in the team. I didn't reason it would happen, but Uke-chan and Naru-chan were rather unpredictable at times.

Those thoughts apparently kept my mind more busy than I had thought, because the next time my eyes came into focus, we could see the Leaf in the distance.

"Zabu-chan, no that's not a good nickname... Zabu Zabu then~ When we get to the front gates, they are going to take you into custody. You have to let them. Don't cause any trouble, and within a few hours I'll have you released and in your new home at the Uchiha compound." I suddenly informed, starting to ready myself for the likely overdramatic little showdown this was going to end up being.

The Nukenin in question gave a stiff nod of agreement, although he looked like he'd rather do anything but give himself over to the potential danger. I must have given off some sort of trustworthy aura, for such a man to actually listen to me. Then again, as far as I was concerned, we were family now. Maybe Zabu Zabu knew how seriously I took that. Whatever the reason, he seemed as though he would be agreeable. We got to the gate, and the guards who looked rather bored quickly jumped to attention at seeing Zabuza, seems he was well known as he had claimed. I was still barely healed, my muscles still having injuries and my chakra barely having recovered at all, but I was still ready to attack the guards should they think about treating a member of my clan the wrong way.

"This is Zabu Uchiha, he needs to be detained until I can talk to the Hokage, but I know you'll treat him with the utmost care and hospitality that you would give any member of my clan... right~?" I sang out, but I presume my narrowed eyes gave me away, as the two men gulped slightly, and nodded.

"My precious student is scary, look at the adorable Chunin jumping around at your orders." Kakashi drawled out once we walked passed them, one of the two guards taking Zabu Zabu to what was most likely a cell in the interrogation section.

Shika shook his head lightly, "I thought it was just a big brother complex, but it seems that it's more of a momma bear complex."

"I knew you would acknowledge my feminine charms, Maru-kun, it was only a matter of time~." I hugged myself so close to his neck that it was borderline choking him.

Although I couldn't see it, I could feel Shikamaru rolling his eyes at my overdramatic actions. Yet, I didn't take offense to that, after all, he liked me, so the exasperation must have been the fond sort.

...

The trek to the Hokage's office was far more of an ordeal than you would guess. Once Zabu Zabu was no longer around to keep the mood tense, Naruto abruptly had to let that well of energy that had been mounting out. The number of dirty looks we got on the way from the civilians probably would have hurt Naruto's spirits, had he not been so used to it. The glares that I gave the plebeians for their troubles, even injured and being carried by Shikamaru, still stuck a deep chord with them. At least, if they knew what was good for themselves.

"Hey Rai, do you think that the old man will really be okay with Zabuza staying here?" Naruto suddenly asked as we walked into the building.

Having already weighed the potential reactions the Hokage could give, I didn't have a clear answer to give Naru-chan. The Hokage wasn't unpredictable per say, but he did have a variety of options available to him. Usually, there were some he wouldn't use because of the clan being powerful enough to make him not want to anger, but that wasn't currently the case with the Uchiha. "It's most likely that he will put Zabuza on some sort of probation, though I doubt he will actually attempt to hurt Zabuza, as he is already adopted into the clan. Should other clans see that, they might take exception, which the Hokage will want to avoid. That's the hard part of being Hokage, really. Putting your village first, but still keeping the people happy isn't an easy balance to achieve. I absolutely admire all the Hokage for being able to manage it, that's for sure."

Naru-chan looked up to be with that innocent sort of awe that had me melting, "Wow Raishi, you really do know a lot of stuff."

"Well, I have to help little blonde idiots reach their goals~" I sang out, ignoring the way Shika-chan's snort shook his body.

"Perhaps my precious students should wait before planning to take over Konoha, and instead focus on surviving this debrief," Kakashi suggested, Asuma seemed rather resigned himself. They had allowed Genin on a high-level mission where a clan head had gotten injured, which surely would be a large black mark on their record.

"I was just planning on blaming everything on you, Kaka-sensei." I declared, giving my sensei a little smile, not even bothering to put on an innocent front.

Kakashi merely tilted his head in thought, "Well, I guess that during our punishment D-Ranks I could have you guys wear weights in order to maximize physical conditioning. Might be a good training idea."

Naru-chan and Uke-chan looked happy at the prospect, but Kaka-sensei wasn't fooling me, I knew that he was downright threatening me with more work should I not step up the plate and stop them from getting in trouble. I plainly gave a wide grin to him, however, all the while internally moping, kill yourself sensei. My darker feelings were increased by the shaking I could feel erupting from Shika-chan, something I knew was laughter. So, if I inadvertently dug my elbow into his collarbone in vengeance, well, it was something that he deserved. Which is exactly why I ignored the grunted out 'troublesome' that came after.

"God, you guys are weird," Ino commented, giving Team Seven a raised eyebrow.

I turned toward Ino and blinked innocently, "Weird? That's the best Ino-kun's ape brain could come up with? I guess I shouldn't have expected more from him... Yet I'm still disappointed."

The blonde fumed silently, her eyes darkening as she looked upon the Uchiha, but didn't bother to reply now, as we walked into the Hokage officer. That didn't mean Ino was going to let it go, however, instead Ino started to slowly plan her revenge. She would prove that Uchiha wrong and become strong enough to gain his acknowledgment, both as a woman and as his comrade.

The room was empty save the Hokage himself, already smoking and in his typical attire. Though you could barely see him behind the piles of paperwork that seemed to be building up in front of him. I almost couldn't wait for the day that Naruto had to do that much paperwork. The laugh that I would get from that would last me a few years at least. He didn't seem particularly angry, neither did he seem happy, just the textbook picture of neutral, "I hear that you had quite the eventful first C-Rank mission."

Before any of us could speak up, Naruto jumped in with a great deal too much excitement, "Have I got a story for you, old man!"

Before any of us could stop him, Naruto blurted out the entire mission in all its details. Sure, Asuma and Kakashi weren't planning on lying to the Hokage, of that I was positive, but they would have been less... blunt about the entire thing. Naru-chan, on the other hand, had no idea that some of the things he was suggesting were really painting the teams in a bad light. I was almost sure that I could feel the weight of the punishment Kakashi had planned, but instead, the Hokage gave a chuckle.

I would never understand that old man.

"Seems like you've had a busy time. Everyone is dismissed over than Kakashi, Asuma, and Raishi." The Hokage suddenly announced.

Shikamaru tensed for a moment, before carrying me over to one of the seats in front of the Hokage's desk and carefully depositing me there. He shot me a look that was full of deeper things, far too many to pick apart at the moment, but I just returned it with a smile, "See you soon, Maru-kun."

"Come on guys! Let's celebrate a job well done by getting some ramen!" I heard Naruto exclaim, just as all the Genin other than myself finally left the room.

The Hokage was quiet for a moment, and the room was rather still. I could feel some awkwardness creeping up on me, but I forced myself not to show weakness in front of this man. At least, no exceeding weakness than I was currently displaying. He seemed rather kindly, but I knew that such things could change at the drop of a hat. This was a powerful man after all... and powerful men were all the same.

"It's an interesting game you're playing here, Raishi-kun." The Hokage commented, looking at me with an almost dry look.

I just smiled, "Game? I have no idea what you are talking about. I just know that I need more members for my clan, and they need to be strong as well~ Wouldn't want Itachi to come back and slaughter everyone, would we?"

"So you brought in a Nukenin that was made thus by his choice to overthrow his Kage? Interesting." The old man commented once again, before turning toward Kakashi and Asuma, "I'll ignore the fact you endangered so many of your students and jump right into a far more important question, how much of a threat do you think that Zabuza Momochi presents toward the village?"

Before either of them could answer, I needed to make sure the Hokage fully understood the situation, "He's Zabuza Uchiha, not Momochi."

All three men turned to stare at me for a moment, but I just kept a smile painted on my face, "What? You wouldn't want to get his name wrong, would you? Lest you forget that you are now dealing with a member of my clan, who has all the rites of my family and therefore deserves the treatment that all over clan members would deserve. I think the precedent that was set for this situation is already outlined in the laws anyway, really there isn't much more need for discussion on the matter. Sorry if this seems rather abrupt, and I don't want to see rude Hokage-sama, but I really do need to go to the hospital and get my newest relative situated..."

I could feel the heavy gazes of those around me, but this wasn't some power play and I wasn't trying to disrespect the Hokage. Simply enough, I knew the rites that I had, and I wasn't about to let them short sell me because they thought I wasn't cognizant of it.

"Very well Raishi-kun, then you know it's three years of careful monitoring and should he decide to become a shinobi, no missions above C-Rank for that duration. He must swear to not place the village in harm's way, and if he in any way does so, he immediately gets executed, no questions asked, no waiting period, it's immediate. Even if something looks the slightest bit suspicious, we won't take the chance." The Hokage explained, almost gently, as if I didn't already know what it was I was asking for. Despite showing my 'intelligence' card, clearly, I was still underestimated. Annoying, but something that was reasonably easy to deal with.

"Should he step out of line, I'll cut his head off myself." I declared, serious in a way that none in the room had seen me before, "It's my responsibility if my clan steps out of place, I know this. Now, if you could settle his release up for me and have him sent to me, I would be grateful, especially since I remarkably enough need to get some rest now."

Wait... Responsibility for my clan...

No, it couldn't be, but it makes sense but...

Is that what happened that night?

There wasn't even anything to substantiate the claim at all, just the weird feeling that the idea fits perfectly with the things I did know. I knew that the clan, in general, was getting 'stiffer' during the months leading up to the massacre, I knew that Shisui had been expecting something to happen, to the point where he asked me to watch out for Sasuke... Did he think Itachi wouldn't be around to do it? If so, then why? The whole clan getting stiffer could be a sign of plenty of things, but something that would make Itachi kill them, I'm not sure of anything that would push it that far but... Yes, it definitely seemed like it could be a possibility.

Did Itachi take up responsibility for his clan having gotten out of line?

Still, it was such a jump conclusion to come to, really there was no way of proving whether I was right or not without plainly coming out and asking, which I couldn't do with Kakashi and Asuma in the room. Something I didn't even want to ask the Hokage because really, did I even want to know if I was right? What would I do with that information, what could I even do with the information were I to turn out right? Nothing, that was the simple answer, and besides, I had suspicions before which I just threw aside and didn't bother with. Protecting Sasuke and Naruto was more important than the past. Whatever happened the night of the massacre, whatever the reasons, it happened and it was over with. Digging up a past like this would only bring about more pain.

"Dismissed - Asuma, Kakashi, I expect a full written report by tomorrow morning."

Kakashi picked me up and jumped out the window without warning, though it barely tousled my injuries.

"You were rather impertinent in there, Raishi-kun," Kakashi spoke as he jumped along the rooftops toward the hospital.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Kaka-sensei~ I simply demanded the things I was owed, and that's exactly why I got what I did. The Hokage was about to attempt to shortchange me, and I will protect my family, even from wrinkly, white, old men such as yourself and the Hokage~" Raishi teased out, especially placing emphasis on the word old, making it so that despite the seriousness of the words, it was hard to actually take them seriously.

"Raishi-kun thinks I'm old...? Clearly, he needs more Taijutsu practice so he can learn just how energetic I am." Kakashi uttered, dropping the more serious subject as it seemed what he wanted to say wouldn't be getting through.

...

When I got out of the hospital Zabu-chan was waiting for me. I could only assume that meant there were several ANBU around as well, though I couldn't actually detect them. They wouldn't be good at their job if I could, after all. He looked heavily uncomfortable, his face was unmasked and his previous forehead protector was gone. I mused over the idea of making him wear a forehead protector with the Uchiha Clan symbol instead, should he choose to not become a shinobi of the leaf, but discarded the idea, as it would give people the wrong impression of what I was trying to do.

"How are you liking your new village Zabu Zabu?" I asked, even as the man scowled at me for the nickname.

"Do the people here even know what a true shinobi is?" He growled out, looking around with a vague sense of annoyance and unease, "The civilians even seem to like the shinobi here... All the other villages I've been too the shinobi were hated. Konoha actually is full of soft-hearted people."

"Oh I wouldn't let them fool you~ the naughty stuff goes on behind closed doors. The sort of manipulation they like to throw out there is damning and there are a lot of politicians in this village who really know how to play The Game." I explained, gesturing for Zabuza to follow me as I started to make the walk home. My muscles were fairly healed, though I was required to take a full day off of training to fully recover, "I suppose I should certainly explain myself..."

"No shit," Zabuza stated blankly, though there were some underlying emotions anger and frustration.

Forgivable anger and frustration at that, considering I basically dragged him into a clan via blackmail and then proceeded to pass out without explaining myself.

"Which I will after we get back to the Compound and grab my darling cousin. Then we can talk all sorts of fluffy and fun politics~" I twittered out rather sarcastically but ended up turning toward Zabuza with a small smile, "Regardless of everything else though... Welcome to the family Zabu Zabu. It's totally official now, by the way, Hokage approved and everything, reluctantly though it was."

"Yes, because this family seems like it's going to be a load of fun, between the massacres and politics and the blackmail, don't forget the blackmail." He sounded angry, but there was a weird softening to his eyes that was not there before.

...

All three of us gathered in the place where the meetings of the family used to take place. It was awkward, really, because this place was clearly made to hold so much more people, instead, it was just the three. Still, I found that easy enough to ignore. The past was the past, I just needed to focus on my plans to make it better again, and maybe if the clan eventually came together again in some form, Sasuke wouldn't feel the need to go after Itachi. It was a long-term plan, but anything to protect my cousin.

"Why did you adopt him?" Sasuke asked, his displeasure clear in his voice, "He's not an Uchiha, I don't understand the reasoning behind adding him to our clan."

Was that a bit of elitism I heard in his voice? Regardless, I needed to set my darling Uke-chan straight, "He is an Uchiha now, Zabu Zabu Uchiha, or legally Zabuza Uchiha, if you will. Listen Uke-chan, if this clan is to survive, we need to let go of the old and outdated ideas of elitism and attachment to the bloodline. We need to focus more on strength and loyalty. I don't think it needs saying that the old ideas didn't work, because, well, all of those that believed in them are now dead. To make matters worse, I'm attracted to someone who, last time I checked, isn't capable of making little monsters... and despite your denial, as are you Uke-chan. We would have needed to adopt for those reasons eventually anyway."

"Why me?" Zabu Zabu spoke, his growling voice breaking through any other sound around the original Uchiha relatives.

I actually took a second to really think the answer over, "Because I noticed you were sad about that 'tool' of yours... and I thought that someone who was strong, could care, and was unlikely to end up getting killed should Itachi come back to finish the job, was a good idea. You bring a lot to the table and you've significantly raised our power as a clan. To be perfectly clear, we used to be the top of the totem pole, now we are literally on our dying gasps as a clan. We will need to start making a lot of concessions that would make our ancestors rise from the dead just to stop us if they could."

Zabu Zabu actually reached for his sword with his good arm, pointing it at my neck, but I didn't so much as flinch, "You killed Haku... and what, you expect me to play house with you?"

"You know Zabu Zabu, when I met with the Hokage I told him that should you do anything that goes against the rules of your probation, I would take your head off myself." I turned toward him with a wide smile, "Before it was either become my family member or die, now it's either stay loyal to the village or die. I know, I know~ I really am a hard person to like sometimes... but I would do anything for my family, and you are included in that Zabu Zabu if you want to be.~"

The man didn't even flinch, just stared at my smiling face with a sort of wistful look.

Zabuza couldn't help but think of Haku's smile as he looked at Raishi's face. The brat was downright evil in his manipulations, that was for sure, but he was doing it to protect the people he considered to be his. Haku was much the same, willing to do anything to protect Zabuza, even twist his own heart... Maybe others couldn't see it, maybe Raishi didn't want it to be seen, but in this moment, Zabuza could see Raishi's bright heart twisting. The teasing that Raishi gave, so genuine, was the true Raishi... This slyness was also him, but the more mean-spirited blackmail, that was him being forced to be something else entirely...

And Zabuza didn't want to be the person who forced another pure-hearted person to go down that sort of path. He had learned his lesson with his now dead apprentice.

So Zabu lowered his sword, and as he did so, I went over to him and laid a hand on his injured shoulder, forcing my still low chakra to scan his injuries. They weren't as extensive as they looked, a small miracle, and a few minutes of silence later, he was almost entirely healed.

Uke-chan didn't look entirely happy with the circumstances.

"Don't point a sword at him again, or I'll be the one to take your head off." I heard Uke-chan hiss out, clearly pissed.

Honestly, I was surprised and warm-hearted to notice just how much Uke-chan really cared about me. I thought I was losing ground for the last few days, but really it seemed that I was still net positive, and I think the grin I gave was the purest that I had given since Shisui was still alive.

I had Uke-chan, a slowly rebuilding clan, Naru-chan, an okay sensei, and Shikamaru as well... Really everything was starting to come together rather well. Even with that bright smile though, I couldn't help but remember some of Shisui's words.

There will be moments of pain quickly followed by moments of happiness. Take these as they came, but don't forget to also shield yourself, more pain will come soon after if you aren't careful. Remember to walk that line between careful and open, and always know that even when I'm gone, I still love you and want you to be happy, no matter what little brother. Remembering that someone loves you, allowing those moments of happiness, but guarding against the pain, that, I think, is one of the most important things to avoid when it comes to being a stiffy. The clan feels emotions strongly, love and hate, and most of them are a stiffy because they lost that love and only have the hate left. Maybe I'm rambling a bit, this is meant to be an informational textbook and hear I am talking more about feelings...

Next time I promise technical stuff, alright Rai-chan?

"Look at us, truly bonding as a family, even making death threats toward each other. Must be a sign of how close we are~" I teased out, reaching over to Uke-chan to give him a flick on the forehead before I continued on, "Alright, so the current situation with the clan is thus..."

I spent the next hour explaining what was happening and some different ideas on how to help it out. Sasuke wasn't very engaged, clearly wanting to go and train more, though he stayed and supported me, Zabu Zabu, on the other hand, surprised me. He had a vast amount of political knowledge and was great at giving out tips. He seemed to eventually start to genuinely end up interested in the current state of things. All and all it was a surprisingly productive night, which was something I really hadn't been planning at all. Zabu Zabu must have noticed my surprise because he gained a more arrogant look on his face, "You didn't think I know politics, what, I just planned the assassination of my Kage for fun?"

"I mean as long as you didn't try it here I was okay with the idea." I shrugged, but there was a joking glint to my eye, and a true sort of fascination with the information I was gaining out of Zabu Zabu.

"Pfft, you're a good kid, extraordinarily good, but you've got a lot to learn about this stuff," Zabuza commented, though it wasn't malicious. It didn't even sound like he thought I was unprepared or childish, just that I had more to learn and it was a fact which needed accepting.

So, I accepted it, and asked him, "Teach us?"

"No."

Well, that request could have gone better.