Chapter Text
I didn't realize how dire the situation was until I stood before the recruits trying to figure out when exactly people stopped wanting to fight for their country. Looking at the recruits standing on the fighting grounds, they didn't seem too excited. I'm sure the scowl on my face didn't help much with that anxiety.
There was one young man who looked happy to be there, Lee was his name I believe. His bushy eyebrows and awkward haircut didn't make him seem too approachable, his expression however seems to contradicted that. He was wearing an almost goofy smile. Well, its better than looking as miserable as the rest, I suppose.
"Good Morning, Soldiers. I am General Uchiha and you will refer to me as that and only that. As you can see, theres not too many of you this year, which means we have no space for mistakes nor laziness. I will not catch you slacking, or you're out of the program. I think you realize what it means to be dishonourly removed from the army. Do you understand?"
I scanned their faces as they shouted 'Yes, General Uchiha!' in unison, and a head of golden blonde hair stood out. His blue eyes were glued to the floor, contrary to his comrades who looked straight ahead. I suppose we didn't have enough recruits to be able to afford rejecting someone. Before I realized what I was doing, I stood before the blonde-haired Beta.
"Do you think your pretty face makes you special, Soldier?"
"No, General Uchiha." He speaks, not raising his head.
"Then why are you avoiding looking ahead, like your peers. Is the ground more interesting, Soldier?"
He raises his head and the words immediately get caught in my throat. His clear blue eyes and light hair, make such a stark contrast with his smooth, tan skin. His lean body opposes his soft, delicate features making him look androgynous and indistinctive. Even I can tell that he's beautiful, and I am not one to care for ones looks.
"I'm sorry, General Uchiha, it won't happen again." he bears a slight smile and meets my eyes. 'Whats so funny?', I want to ask him, but the words wont leave my mouth.
I stare at him in silence for a moment too long, before realizing how this might seem and walking away, "Don't let it happen again."
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"How was the first day? Did anyone stand out to you?" Kakashi leaned against the door frame of my office, while I was reviewing Shikamarus notes on today's training.
"Not necessarily, just a few overachievers who were too optimistic to be in the military. Nothing but average people with average skills.", I say without looking up.
"You know you're allowed to take a break? Especially today. No ones going to hold it against you.", he walks up to my side and takes a look at Shikamarus notes.
"Well, I wont be needing a break. Not today, not anytime soon. Especially not today."
Kakashi doesn't look too convinced nor surprised, but he sighs and takes off toward the door.
"Well, if you know best. But you can't keep going on like this forever, you know? Nothing good will come for it, and I'd hate to have to report a decrease in your work efficiency due to 'emotional issues'."
"Are you threatening to report me, Kakashi?" I still refuse to look up.
"What if I am? Are you going to listen to me then?", he turns around momentarily and I finally meet his eyes. No words are exchanged, but somehow we're still communicating.
Without waiting for an answer, he turns back around again and walks away, leaving me by myself again.
Since there was no way I could keep working after that bothersome interaction, I left my quarters and made my way toward the dining hall to check on the recruits and see what they're up to, but more importantly to get my mind off things.
Walking down the seemingly endless corridor, I found myself reminiscing of the last happy days I spent in this castle. The days I spent with my brother.
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15 Years Ago
"How's the training going, son? Are you going regularly?", my father asked, while cutting up his steak. I froze, the fork halfway to my mouth hanging in the air awkwardly.
"Yes, Father. We recently started working on poison immunity. It's been going well.", I answered, hoping he wouldn't call my bluff. Truth is, I have not been going to the training at all. Itachi has been taking me to see the night market, instead. He told me to keep it a secret, or else I'd get into trouble, which is true. Father once berated Itachi for almost two hours for not taking his training seriously.
"Is that so? Then how come the General asked me today why you stopped attending the training? And how come I'm hearing from other people that they spotted you in the night market? After I repeatedly told you not to?", he stopped cutting his steak and met my eyes, interlocking his fingers and resting his elbows on the table. I felt his cold gaze and immediately lowered my head to mumble an apology.
"Fugaku dear, don't be so hard on him. He's still young and has more than enough time.", my mother spoke gently as she rested a hand on his shoulder.
"You're too lenient with them. I told him to take this seriously if he wants to become General one day. He cannot get distracted by meaningless matters."
"I apologize, Father. Don't blame Sasuke please, I persuaded him to join me. It wasn't my intention to distract him.", Itachi, who stayed quiet all evening, suddenly spoke up.
"Don't defend him. He doesn't need excuses, he needs to focus on his studies and training. I don't need him end up like his brother.", I flinched at his harsh tone and instinctively looked at my brother.
"Fugaku!", my Mothers shocked voice faded into the background as I stared at my brother, trying to figure out what hes thinking. All I was met with were his empty eyes, glued to the table.
I immediately got up and excused my brother and myself, before walking out, leaving behind the arguing of my parents.
We sat on my bed in a suffocating atmosphere, neither of us daring to break the silence. I hesitated before speaking, "I'm sorry for…what Father said. I'm sure he didn't mean any of that. It's just because he was so mad and-" "It's alright, Sasuke.",he cut me off. "He knows what he said. I already know he's disappointing, you know that too.", he patted my head with a reassuring smile.
"But still! He can't just…say something like that.", I felt my voice get quieter at the end of the sentence. Itachi quietly leaned against me and put his hand around my shoulder.
"It's okay, Sasuke. It'll all be over soon.", he said calmly. I looked up, trying to figure out what that could mean, but his face was wearing his usual smile.
I didn't know it then, but that would be one of the last conversations I had with my brother.
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I snapped out of my trance, and quickened my pace to the dining hall, trying to forget these unfortunate memories. As brother always said, there's no use crying over spilled milk. This is why I didn't want Kakashi meddling in my business, he's only going to bring up these feelings that I'm trying to suppress.
It didn't take long until I reached the enormous door, leading to the dining hall. I could already hear the laughing , talking and what-not from inside. I don't remember the military being this fun when I first enrolled. It was just monotone conversations with people who were unfortunate enough to start their military training during the coldest winter we experienced.
As I braced myself to assert fear and respect among the recruits a figure suddenly appeared beside me. I dint register their presence nor when they appeared beside me. I immediately turned around already having drawn my sword and holding it up the the neck of the figure.
Only then did I realize who was standing beside me. I met the clear blue eyes of the blonde haired recruit, who already had raised his hands and was wearing a grin on his face.
"Careful there, General.", I dropped the sword and put it back into its sheath.
"Why did you sneak up on me?"
"Did I? I didn't notice. Did I scare you?", he smirked and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Watch your tone. I'm still your General.", I turned around and entered the dining hall. I was met with the deafening laugh of multiple young men who had too much to drink.
"How could I forget. I apologize, General.", I could feel the sarcasm dripping from him, but decided to ignore him.
I kept walking and looked around trying to analyze and get a grasp of how these young men operate. I couldn't focus of them however, my attention was only on the recruit who somehow managed to stay quiet enough for me, a General, not to notice his presence.
I froze in my steps and turned around, wanting to ask him how he managed to do that, only to realize he wasn't following me anymore. I looked around the room and spotted him sitting at a table with the other ones, laughing at something that Lee said.
I smiled to myself, finding this situation quite amusing. An inexperienced recruit managed to 'scare' the General enough to draw his sword. I might need to keep an eye on that one, he could be useful later on.
I turned my back after assessing the room for some more, and walked out the dining hall. I didn't miss the blue eyes that curiously followed my figure until I fully left the hall.