1 (i) - The awakening
Age : 5
"Isn't there anything that can be done?", Mikoto Uchiha asked, sighing in regret.
"This is war. Of course there will be casualties.", the kunoichi tending to the two wounded people by her said.
"But they have a daughter."
"We all have loved ones, Mikoto. It's not enough."
"Atleast try to save one of them. I don't want her to lead the life of an orphan.", she pleaded.
Just then, a monstrous sound was heard. The two turned around in alarm to see the mountain before them crumbling to bits.
"It's the hidden stone ninja! Everyone retreat! We're not enough to take them on!", the sound of their captain boomed through the atmosphere.
"You heard him.", the kunoichi said.
"Come on Mikoto, we don't have time!"
The woman took one last look at the two lifeless bodies before joining the rest of the troops.
- - - - -
[ Meanwhile in the Leaf village ]
"ITACHI!", the young girl ran behind the raven haired boy, determined to chase him.
"I WILL CATCH UP TO YOU!"
"Pfft as if I'd let you.", the boy teased, running with incredible speed.
"Both of you, continue with shuriken practice.", the ninja in charge of the academy yelled.
Itachi : Hey Hazuna, can you do this?
Itachi asked the girl as he sent three shurikens flying, all three hitting the target in a straight line.
Hazuna : Why not?
She replied, she sent three shurikens flying, but only two hit the target accurately.
Both her and Itachi were the youngest children in the academy. They had enrolled when they were 5, a remarkable feat. They were both Uchiha's, displayed immense talent and came from respectable families. But everyone would agree that she was always two steps behind him. She was always 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 as strong as him.
The two were best of friends and sworn rivals since the day they joined the academy.
Suddenly an academy guard came running and whispered something to the sensei. His face paled at the news, watching the girl laughing with Itachi. Wondering how blissfully unaware she was at that moment.
"Should I break the news to her?", he whispered quietly to the guard that had just arrived.
"I think you should."
He sighed.
"Okay..."
"Hazuna, come up here for a moment.", he called out to the Uchiha girl.
"Yes, sensei?", she asked, walking upto him.
"I have just received some news."
She instantly sensed that something was horribly wrong.
"You see, it's about-", he continued only to be cut off.
"My parents?", she predicted and finished his sentence.
"yeah, how did you know?", he asked amazed.
"Just a feeling. So are they wounded? Or coming back home? What happened?", she asked hopefully.
"Actually..", he took a deep breath, "They have 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥 in a battle. An honourable way to die for a shinobi."
A few seconds of silence followed. Silence that could deafen the people hearing it. And suddenly, a blood curtling scream was heard.
She collapsed, putting her face in her hands as she stared at the floor beneath her.
Itachi : HAZUNA!
Itachi yelled through the scream, terrified of what might have triggered it.
Itachi : HEY HAZUNA! WHAT HAPPENED?!
He rushed to her, sitting down in front of her.
Her body shook as he put his hands on her shoulders.
Hazuna : They are- They are gone.
She said, still not looking up, the frustration dripping from her voice.
Itachi : Who?
Hazuna : My.. mom and dad.
She whispered.
Itachi : Hazu-
Hazuna : WHY?!
She yelled, now finally looking up at him.
He took two steps back as he looked at her eyes. Their usual pitch black colour had been replaced by blood red. The other children on the training ground gathered around, watching in horror and awe.
"Did she just awaken her 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘯, sensei?", a kid from the academy asked, trembling at the sight.
"Yes and to awaken it at 5, incredible."
He replied.
"Truly incredible."
- - - - -
[ A few days later ]
Mikoto Uchiha : Lord third, I would like your permission to take Hazuna in and raise her like my own child.
Mikoto Uchiha firmly proclaimed in the office of the Hokage.
Third Hokage : Permission granted. This girl will be a great shinobi one day. Rumour has it she awakened her sharingan when she heard the news. Have you asked Fugaku?
Mikoto Uchiha : Yes, he agrees. She is our responsibility now.
She assured.
[ Back at the Uchiha household ]
Itachi : So this means, Hazuna gets to come stay with us?
Itachi asked, excited.
Mikoto Uchiha : Yes, it does.
His mother smiled.
Hazuna walked quietly into the house as Mikoto showed her to the room she would be living in.
Itachi : It's next to mine!
Itachi told her excitedly.
She didn't return his enthusiasm, which was understandable. But it hurt his feelings, they were both kids after all.
Fugaku Uchiha : Give her some time.
Fugaku said, putting a hand on Itachi's shoulder.
He nodded, a hint of sadness in his eyes.
- - - - -
[ Three years later ]
Age : 8
It was officially that time of the year in the hidden leaf village. Chunin exams were in full swing and it was time for the last stage.
The third Hokage stood in front of a gathering of ANBU members.
Third Hokage : I want guards at every entrance and exit. Make sure the exam ends smoothly!
Guards : Yes, sir!
He left the room, leaving the members to discuss amongst themselves.
"This year's exams are going to be exciting."
"I have heard that Uchiha's three prodigies are taking part and have already reached the final stage. They really are something."
"Who three?"
"Well, there is Itachi, Shisui and Hazuna Uchiha."
A silver haired boy had been listening to this conversation with interest, not that he would tell anyone.
"Kakashi! It's time to go.", one of the members called out.
Nodding, he headed out of the room.
Some two hours later, the exams began.
The three Uchiha's walked into the stadium together, attracting glances as they did.
In the past three years, Itachi and Hazuna had grown stronger, Itachi's younger brother Sasuke was born and the nine tailed fox had attacked the village, resulting in the death of the fourth Hokage Minato. Shisui, who had met Itachi before they joined the academy, became her friend.
The three grew very close, despite the unspoken efforts by each of them to surpass the others. One would probably say that Shisui was stronger, because he had already awakened the mangekyou sharingan upon the death of his teammates in the third shinobi war. And besides, he was three years elder than the other two.
Hazuna : They are staring at you.
Hazuna teased Shisui.
Shisui : Oh come on, it's all three of us.
He replied.
Hazuna : I will beat you today, Itachi.
She told him.
Itachi : Pfft as if I'd let you.
He challenged.
Shisui : She's strong enough you know.
Shisui sided with her, she blushed lightly.
Itachi : Whatever you say.
Itachi replied playfully rolling his eyes while smiling.
Itachi : Let's walk out of here as chunin.
"Hai!", the other two synced.
Meanwhile the ANBU members had arrived at the venue and were standing at each entrance.
The exams began. The crowd roared at Itachi's effortless win against a sand ninja.
A thunderous applause was heard when Shisui defeated his opponent from the stone village.
"NEXT UP : Uchiha Hazuna VS Darui of the hidden cloud village!"
On-lookers began to watch as Hazuna walked out into the arena, looking calm and composed. Her opponent, older than her, walked out as well.
"Do you think she will win?", a man sitting in the stands asked.
"Her opponent is three years older than her.", the other replied.
"There's no debate, she is definitely losing the match."
"It doesn't matter though, two Uchiha's have already made it to the next round. Good enough."
The match began. Darui attacked first, running towards her, throwing a shuriken. But using minimal effort, she dodged the attack, throwing two kunai knives in the process. They didn't work of course, as he blocked them out.
She stood still for a few seconds, her black orbs quickly turning to red ones. And she copied his next attack with ease. Darui hadn't expected an 8 year old to have already awakened her sharingan so he faltered in his lightning style attack, taken aback.
Hazuna, who had just copied the same attack stood unfazed. She took the opportunity to weave hand signs for a wind style attack.
Hazuna : Wind style : snapping air bullet.
She firmly said, sending the attack his way.
The attack landed and he let out a cry, falling to the ground. He got back up, clutching his arm where the wind bullet had passed through, and attacked again with lightning style, sending a single ray of laser her way.
Seeing the attack coming, Hazuna jumped into the air, gathering all her chakra into one hand and releasing it in a punch. Darui collapsed on impact, instantly unable to continue.
"The battle has ended! Uchiha Hazuna wins!", the referee said.
The crowd gasped in shock. Their shock intensified when Hazuna walked upto her opponent, holding out a hand to help him get up. The dark skinned boy accepted the gesture, commending her skills.
In a ninja world that had just undergone a war, and where uneasiness and mistrust grew rampant among shinobi of different villages, her simple gesture certainly made the onlookers stop and stare.
ANBU members looked at each other, as if to convey their surprise to one another.
"I can't believe it! She actually did that AND beat him!", the man from earlier said.
"That's what you get for making assumptions about people.", a voice behind them said quietly.
They turned around to see a boy in an ANBU mask. He was significantly shorter than the other black OPs, sporting the signature silver hair he inherited from his father.
He had watched the match with interest and was impressed by how far she had gone, being so young.
The fights went on, with the three Uchiha's winning two matches each. Hazuna faced off against Shisui in the semi finals and lost, leaving the both of the others to fight each other in the finals.
Shisui won against Itachi who conceded on account of having insufficient chakra left. All three of them were promoted to the rank of chunin.
Kakashi, for some reason couldn't stop thinking about the young shinobi he'd seen on the field.
- - - - -
I hoped you enjoyed this chapter, will continue..
;)
