Chapter Text
My parents always told me that I should be careful when walking around the village late at night. They said I was a "special prodigy" in the making and I had this deep power inside of me that once trained to my full potential would make me a target when I'm older but even more of a target now even though I'm just a child.
My father explained that I not only have the natural talents of the Uchiha Clan but I also have several traits of the Akashiya Clan from my mother. It explained the reason my hair was so unnaturally long that it went to my ankles and my eyes being purple.
I thought my mom was Mika Hinode but really she is Mika Akashiya, Akashiya meaning 'monster'. However, our clan kept our Kekkei Genkai a secret by the few who were left and split up throughout the land to keep from being found.
Even though they waited until I was in the academy to tell me they also told me I couldn't tell anyone and that the only people who knew that my mother was an Akashiya was the Third and Fourth Hokage. I always begged my mom to tell me about our Kekkei Genkai but she always said I was still too young and my body could not handle that power yet. Instead, I learned fire style ninjutsu from my father and earth style ninjutsu from my mother.
Therefore, I sucked it up and decided to be the obedient child and stop asking questions, but I secretly went to the library after the academy to research the Akashiya Clan but could never find anything.
"I guess our clan likes their secrecy" I mumbled to myself. I stood and returned my books to the shelf and walked out the library doors and as I started walking towards the Uchiha Clan I saw Sasuke up ahead. "Hey, Sasuke wait for me!" I ran up to him and grabbed his right hand as soon as I caught up and we continued walking home.
"Hey, Kentai, where did you go? You disappeared after we got dismissed from the academy."
"I went straight to the library to keep looking up more about my clan but still came up with nothing." I know I'm supposed to keep my Clan a secret from everyone but my family has always been close with Sasuke's family and I and Sasuke have been friends since we were three. So he is an exception as being my closes friend.
"So did you ask your brother or father if they ever heard of the clan?"
"I did but my father thinks the Akashiya Clan is a myth since nobody has ever encountered someone of the clan decades ago, but Itachi thinks that the clan is real. He's heard that they have an abnormal Kekkei Genkai that is very rare which is probably why they went into hiding but it would be rare for anyone around here to be from such a clan."
"Well little does he know... I wonder what the Kekkei Genkai is? There is so much to discover." As we enter the Uchiha Clan Sasuke stops walking and faces me. "I know you're excited to learn about these..." he looked around and lowers his voice, "strange abilities and all but don't forget that your Genin exam is coming soon, it's not often that you become a genin at our age."
"I know, I know and I'm ready for it, I didn't enter the academy early just to fail. It would crush my parents."
I almost forgot about my exam my parents made me enter the academy as soon as I turned 5 cause they just knew I was ready and they told me if I passed the exam my mother would try to teach me wind style ninjutsu next. At first, I was excited to join the academy so early but I never knew my parents wanted to excel so fast so soon.
"Hey!" Sasuke said as he poked my forehead as Itachi does to him and even me sometimes "I know you'll pass but you can't keep skipping training to research what most people think is a myth, just wait until your mom decides to tell you."
Sasuke and I hug as we both say goodbye and go home. I never took what my parents said to heart about being a target as a child until before I even realized it I was being blindfolded and knocked unconscious and fell into someone's arms.
I woke up with a pounding in my head and to the voices of three men talking and what sounds like a fire. One of the men I think to my left were walking closer towards me and as he takes the gag off my mouth and hold up a cup to my lips and says "drink."
I keep my mouth close and shake my head no. "Fine. Have it your way miss Akashiya." the man says as he replaces my gag and walks away. I start to panic and wonder how does he know who I am, I thought I was being careful. I start to struggle with my tied hands but then hear the three men cry out and their bodies hit the ground and then feel someone untie me from the tree I was bound to and then untie my gag and blindfold.
As I blink and wait for my eyes to adjust and make eye contact with my mysterious savior who had long black hair, white skin, and snake-like eyes. As he tries to untie my hands I slide my body backward but he grabs my shoulders to hold me still and says "calm down child is that any way to treat someone who just saved your life? I'm here to help." I calm down slightly and let him untie my hands and as he does I ask "who are you?"
"Now, Now a thank you would be nice who knew the Akashiya Clan were so rude." My eyes widen and I start to get up and try to run but he once again stops me by grabbing my shoulder.
"Calm down now dear Kentai-"
"How do you know my name?" I yell as I start to resist his hold. "Listen now, I came to save you I know how sacred your clan's power is and these men were trying to use you to learn those secrets." I look between the three men dead on the ground and him for a moment and say "They were?"
"Yes they were, now we don't have much time before your villages Anbu get here so listen carefully." Although I still had many doubts and questions I sit up straight to listen.
"This won't be our last meeting I promise, when the time is right we will meet again and I'll help you learn your clans Kekkei Genkai."
"What do you even know about my clan?" I cross my arms as I look at him. "I know enough to help you hone the abnormal chakra nature you possess." At that, he had my full attention and maybe even a little of my trust. "Now when the Anbu get here you must lie about ever being saved by me and that the men were already dead when you woke up. Now I'm gonna retie your hands and blindfold but trust me we will meet again."
While he reties my hand and is about to put on my blindfold I said "Wait! What's your name?" He just laughs in response and in a whisper he says " Patient now you'll learn soon enough."
I jolt awake and see the sun shining through my curtains. I let out a sigh and get out of bed that happened almost two months ago but I still have nightmares about it, after that night my parents always walked me home as soon as I left the academy or after my training. As I start to get ready I keep having this bad feeling that something just feels off today or maybe it just nerves for my genin exam today.
"Kentai! Sasuke's here hurry down and don't keep him waiting" my mother yells. I shook off the odd feeling and went downstairs and told my parents goodbye as I walked out the front door and started walking to the academy. "You ready to officially become a ninja?" "Definitely I can't wait to start going on missions and improving my skills."
However, deep down I knew wasn't ready to graduate from the academy I still wanted to be a kid with little responsibility for a little bit longer. Before I knew it we were at the academy and as we walk inside the classroom to find a seat I hear "Hey Kentai over here." I look towards the sound of the voice and see Naruto waving towards me so I walk over and sit down next to him and Shikamaru.
"Thanks for saving me a seat Naruto even though this will be the last time I'll sit here."
"Please don't remind me. Who am I gonna have to skip class with now?" I laugh at Naruto as a sweatdrop forms on my head and say as I pat his shoulder" Well maybe you should just show up and you wouldn't have that problem don't you think?"
I could never explain it but for some reason, there was something about Naruto that always drew me towards him and I could never explain what drew me towards him and pushed everyone else away from him. I asked my mom about it and she said.
"One day you'll understand but just enjoy making friends." Whatever that was supposed to mean. While Naruto, Shikamaru, and I were talking I felt like I was being watched and realized that some guys that 'admired' me were staring at me. Well better them than Sasuke's 'fanclub' glaring at me just cause I'm close with him. This is the only thing I won't miss about the academy once I graduate.
I was called out from the class for my exam and entered the exam room and was standing in front of Iruka and Mizuki Sensei.
"Alright, Kentai when your ready perform the clone Jutsu producing at least 3 clones." I let out a deep sigh and focus I got this, I got this " Shadow Clone Jutsu." I say and open my eyes and see that I was able to create five clones. I dismissed the clone as Iruka sensei says
"Excellent you passed hears your headband, congratulations your officially a genin." As I take my headband he continues saying, "For now you'll be the first member of team 7 and you'll meet your team leader in classroom 3C."
"Yes, Sensei." I say as I leave the room and walk to the classroom and take a seat while deciding where to tie my headband. After a while, I tied it around my upper right thigh. After waiting for what felt like hours a man with white hair and a mask covering his face walks through the door and introduces himself "Hello, I am Kakashi Hatake and you are?"
"I'm Kentai Uchiha but I prefer the surname Hinode." "I see Kentai Hinode it is, I guess your nervous about graduating at such a young age but don't worry because I too became Genin around your age."
"Really?"
"Mhm now tomorrow morning let's meet at the training fields so that I can see what you are capable of alright?"
"Okay Sensei."
"Well, then your dismissed." Before I knew it he disappeared and I let out a sigh I didn't know I was holding and walked out of the classroom to the front of the academy to have a quick nap before my parents arrive to walk me home.
"Kentai wake up!" I hear as I feel someone shaking my arm and I open my eyes to see Sasuke kneeling over me. "Why are you still here don't your parents pick up by now?"
I look around and realize how late it is "Yeah they usually are. Let's just walk home together maybe there was an emergency."
We started running home as it was really late at night but as we entered the neighborhood we soon realized how quiet it was and an ominous feeling in the area. Then my stomach dropped as we found dead bodies of our neighbors and friends.
"What.. what happened?" "I don't know" Sasuke responded just as confused and shocked as I was.
Seeing the streets littered with bodies made me realize something " My parents!" I yelled as I ran towards my house. This is why they never showed up but where are they?
As I reach my house I saw that the lights were out and I threw the door open in fear of what I was about to find. As I walk into the eerily quiet house and peer around the corner into the kitchen I found my parent's dead bodies on the floor. I stood there and stared at their bodies in shock and began to feel tears fall down my face.
I couldn't keep looking at their bodies and it felt as if my body moved on its own and I ran outside and continued running until I collided with another person. I look up and see Sasuke who just like me was crying in despair. "I guess your family is dead too?" I said in a whisper.
"Why did this happen? Who did this? I said as I collapsed onto the ground on my knees. "It was Itachi.." I raise my head at his voice. "What did you say?"
Sasuke's face went into shock as he looked into my eyes "Kentai.. your eyes. I think you've awoken your Shar!" but before Sasuke could finish his sentence Itachi appears "Look at both of you weak" he says as he shifts his eyes from Sasuke then to me but his eyes pause on me in brief shock but then goes back to Sasuke.
"Neither of you is worth killing and Sasuke until you obtain these eyes of the Mangekyo Sharingan come stand before me!"
All of a sudden a burst of power and anger I feel my Chakra going out of control as I yell "Shut up!" over and over and slam my hand into the ground while glaring at Itachi wood branches appeared out of the ground attacking Itachi.
Itachi jumps out of the way of the branches looking just as shocked as me and as the wood branches continued attacking him in every direction. I'm so confused how am I doing this? How can I stop? Is this the abnormal chakra nature that my mom and I possess?
I got pulled out of my thoughts by Sasuke wrapping his arms around me yelling "Calm down Kentai, you gotta control yourself!"
Somehow I got my body to listen and calm down and finally stop producing the wood coming from the ground. I felt so exhausted I could barely keep my eyes open the last thing I saw was Itachi standing over me and Sasuke then us both collapsing with me in Sasuke's arms.
As I stir awake I realize I'm in a bed in the hospital and look out the window and see that it's the middle of the night. I struggle to sit up until I hear a voice say "Sit still my child your body is still very weak." I look across the room and see the same eyes of the man who saved me two months ago but also another man standing over me with silver hair and glasses with his hand hovering over my head healing me.
"It's you again.."
"I told you I'd return but as you see we had to speed up your recovery time as you've been asleep for a week now." My eyes widen at his words I guess what happened wasn't a dream everyone really is gone. "So everyone really is dead?"
"Yes, you and Sasuke are the only survivors. That's why I'm here now that your mother is gone I am the only one who can help train you to use your clans Kekkeai Genkai of wood-style that you just discovered and even how to use your own hair as a weapon. All you have to do is leave with me and I can guarantee you'll be the most powerful genin of your peers and the power to avenge your family." All of this was too much to take in I was still overwhelmed by the Uchiha clan massacre, Itachi's betrayal, my trust in Sasuke, and my mysterious power.
However, the more I thought about it the more I realized that nothing is keeping me here at the Leaf Village right now and I'm not ready to face Sasuke or my friends yet maybe leaving for now is the best. Even if my reasoning for leaving is selfish.
The man with glasses moves his hand from my head and I sit up and ask "I'll go with you but how long will I be gone for? Can I come back?"
"Of course you'll return all I need is one year and I can teach you everything you want to know about your clan." I stood up though I was still wobbly on my feet and had little strength I said "Okay but won't the village know I'm gone?"
"Leave that to us." he said and told me to make a clone of myself and as I did what I was told, I felt like I was going to collapse again, where has all my strength gone?
I watch as my clone takes my place in the hospital bed and the man with glasses does something to my clone that puts her immediately to sleep. The man with long black hair places his hand on my shoulder and says "Kabuto is skilled in medical ninjutsu and can make it appear as though your in a coma and no one will ever know that you are gone."
Though I still had doubts I trusted their plan and was already set on leaving even if the village found out I was gone I would deal with the consequences. I was pulled out of my thoughts by clothes being tossed towards me and him telling me "Get dressed and join us outside." "Wait." I said before they stepped outside the window. "What's your name?" After a moment of silence, he says " Orochimaru." They both go out the window and I get dressed and join them outside.
Goodbye for now Konoha...
1 Year Later
When I first left the village I dreaded the day I would have to return that misery and sorrow waiting for me but my tune completely changed after about 8 months of being with Orochimaru and Kabuto. All the strenuous training with Orochimaru and him 'studying' my body and chakra but I'm not stupid after a couple of months I realized he was experimenting on me by infusing different chakra natures into my body to make me hone all ninjutsu styles.
While we both do not know if it worked but it better have with all the pain and torture it was to withstand it all. When I wasn't with Orochimaru he made me study and learn medical ninjutsu with Kabuto which at first started horribly as we bickered back and forth but after a lecture from Orochimaru setting us straight we eventually got along. Ever since then I've been counting the days I could come back home which was today.
Right before dawn, we enter the window of my hospital room Orochimaru begins drilling all the lies I have to tell about my growth in strength and abilities and to keep certain jutsus hidden especially my wood-style and medical ninjutsu.
"Yeah, yeah I got it I won't let anyone find out." I say as I dismiss my clone and look at the flowers and cards left next to my bed by everyone from the academy.
"Remember Kentai, you must be careful around Kakashi he's more observant than you think, and remember it will be a long time before we meet again but I'll still keep in contact occasionally so be on the lookout for snakes. For now, this is goodbye." and just like that he disappeared and I changed into my hospital gown and noticed a vase filled with white roses on my bedside.
I looked at the card left next to it that read 'Please wake up soon, I need you' - Sasuke
Without realizing I picked up the vase of white roses and threw it across the room straight into the wall watching as it shattered into pieces. ".......Oh crap" I hear footsteps coming from down the hall and rush towards my bed to appear as though I was struggling to stand up as a nurse rushes in and says "Your awake please lay back down and don't try to stand I'll clean up the glass and go get the doctor alright" I nod my head and lay back down and stare at the ceiling and prepare myself for the long day ahead of me. As a rotating door of nurses and doctors come in and run several tests on me and ask me questions.
While staring out the window I hear the door open and see Naruto rush in yelling "Kentai I can't believe you're awake I missed you so much Believe it!" He then crushes me in a tight hug but as soon as me and him come into physical contact I hear a voice in my head say 'You're one of them, I've thought you've all become extinct but at last, there is one that still exists.' 'Who are you? and how are you in my head?' 'In due time you'll understand but keep close to Naruto and others will need you and your abilities in the future Bijuu Tamer.'
Bijuu tamer? Bijuu as in beast, I'm a beast tamer? "Uh, Kentai you alright you zoned out there for a while?" Naruto said as he looked at me confused and worried. "Sorry I'm alright.. so what have I missed?" I pretend to listen to Naruto's story as I continued to think about the random voice in my head.
Soon Naruto left for the academy and I was alone again for a while before Kakashi Sensei entered my room. Nervous doesn't begin to describe how I feel when he walks towards me. I gulp as I wait for his first words which feel like forever before they come and he finally says "Well you look healthier than I thought you would be when you first woke up. Something seems different about you too like you grew stronger in your sleep." I shrug "Well I don't feel as weak as I did when I woke up but I feel like brand new." "Well, when you're released we have a meeting with the Third Hokage to discuss your future as a ninja since the massacre of your clan and family." I look down as I think back on that day and even though I moved on a part of me still blamed Sasuke for that night.
I look up and smile at Kakashi and say " Okay. When will I be released?" "You'll be released s-" Kakashi sensei was interrupted by a nurse opening the door saying I have another visitor named Sasuke Uchiha. I said "I don't want to see him."
" are you sure he-" I cut her off and said again " I don't want to see him!" " Alright I'll tell him.." the nurse said then closed the door and after a moment of stiff silence, Kakashi Sensei says "You know you can't blame him for what you think he didn't do he had no knowledge of Itachi's plan he was just as hurt as you. I can't tell you to forgive him but you should you both must need each other right now more than ever after everything." I nodded my head and took in what Kakashi Sensei said and knew he was right but even if I saw Sasuke I wouldn't know what to say.
In my, silence Kakashi said goodbye and left and for the rest of the day, the doctors ran the last of my test and released me from the hospital. As I walked out of the hospital I saw Sasuke across the road leaning against a building staring at me and as I walked up to him he said "You don't have to talk to me if you're not ready but I wanna return these to you." He holds out my leaf headband and my choker with the Uchiha clan crest carved in the center of it.
"Thank you... I'm sorry for earlier when you came to visit I was blaming you for what 'he' did and that was wrong of me but I never hated you or anything." As I finished I let out a deep sigh and waited for his response.
"It's okay Kentai I could never hate you either... So you ready to go home?"
"Not yet I have a meeting with the Hok-.. Wait home? Where are we staying now?"
"The Hokage provided with an apartment to live in since then but while you were in the hospital most of your stuff was moved into it." "Oh okay. Thank you, Sasuke.
"No big deal. So I'll see you after your meeting." He said as he turned around and walked away. I began walking to the Hokage's office and think about how cold and distant Sasuke seems now and how much he's changed too since that night. Once I arrive I see Kakashi Sensei and we both walk up to the office and he knocks on the door and we walk inside and stand before the Third Hokage.
"I'm glad to see you are okay Kentai" the Hokage says. "Thank you sir I bet I've missed a lot since I've been in the hospital." I said while fumbling with the headband in my hand.
"True you have so let's cut right to the chase the day you passed your genin exam and were set to begin your ninja career your clan suffered a great tragedy that night but when we found you and Sasuke you were in critical condition and your chakra was dangerously low you were practically drained. Do you remember what happened that caused that?" I stared down at the ground and remembered how I discovered my wood-style ninjutsu but I wasn't ready to tell the Hokage that yet even though he knew of my mother's original origin.
So I lied and said, "The last thing I remember was Sasuke telling me that I had awoken my Sharingan, and then I passed out." The Hokage looked at me, shocked and said. "You've already obtained your Sharingan? Well then this makes this harder to say but Kakashi and I both agree that even though you are a genin and have passed the academy training that after the tragedy you and Sasuke suffered that you should wait until Sasuke and the rest of your peers graduate from the academy. We're doing this so that you're surrounded by friends and don't feel isolated being a genin by yourself at such a young age."
I tighten my hand around my headband and look between Kakashi Sensei and the Hokage. "I don't wanna wait for them to graduate I wanna go out and do missions and continue my career not be stuck at the academy doing nothing."
"You won't be stuck at the academy you'll still be assigned to Team 7 with Kakashi occasionally going on missions and maintaining your training but you won't be able to advance past genin for a while that's all." I bounce my leg up and down out of frustration and finally say "Yes sir I'll wait until everyone graduates, but I have one condition since the entire Uchiha clan is wiped out. I don't wanna go by Kentai Uchiha anymore I wanna go under my mother's true surname I wanna go by Kentai Akashiya."
"Akashiya? Isn't that clan a myth and even if they did exists are all dead?" Kakashi Sensei asked shocked. "Well we're not my mother surname wasn't Hinode it's actually Akashiya, we do exist, and since she's gone I wanna do what she and everyone else in our clan was scared to do; carry our name and not hide it out of fear." I said confidently while staring the Third Hokage right in the eyes. "Fine, as long as you're aware of the target you're gonna put on yourself in the future, I'll let you do it, Miss Kentai Akashiya."
"Thank you, and trust me I understand the consequences." This is gonna be a long couple of years...