Chapter Text
He started his studies when he was four. It was expected of him as the Jiang Sect heir. There was no childhood to speak of, just hours and hours of study, practice, and meditation. But he enjoyed every minute of it. In Lotus Pier, his teacher taught him to think for himself, as a future leader of Yunmeng Jiang, not to swallow down any objection and obey like a good soldier. Only after three years in his education did he understand why his brother did it, why he turned his blade on their clan people and killed everyone in cold blood. Itachi could dress that senseless slaughter up as an act for the greater good, for the peace and prosperity of Konoha, but now Jiang Cheng knew better.
His brother was brainwashed as a child. The Will of Fire was nothing but pretty and hollow words for young and easily impressionable minds to hold onto as they shredded away their individuality, their humanity, and made them become what the village wanted them to be: a ninja, a mindless puppet in the hands of their Hokage.
Jiang Cheng touched his eyes and channeled his qi into them. Fire burned in his veins as he watched red make its way through them, overriding the gentle blue. The last survivor of Uchiha lived on in a different world, far from home. No, Jiang Cheng closed his eyes, and the color returned. This was his new home. From the moment he resigned his life to Naruto and used the last of his power to leave everything behind - his hate, his revenge, his bonds - and woke up here, he had accepted his fate. Uchiha Sasuke had died. The Uchiha clan was no more. There was only the sect heir of Yunmeng Jiang, a disciple in cultivation.
The boy standing in the middle of a lotus pond, staring at his reflection, for the first time in seven years truly felt at ease in his own skin.
He was home.