Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters.
Before I begin, a little intro. This is a story based on the old tale of Mulan - Uchiha style. You'll understand as you read. Another thing to point out, the names are important: Karasu (main protagonist) means Crow. Izuna typically means fox. Further explanation is explained later in the text. This is only chapter one and will be on-going.
Like always, feedback is appreciated and encouraged! Thanks, and enjoy!
...
I shift my position. The chimes on the porch sing their lulling tune as the spring wind blows. I wonder where it's going. I wish I were wind... I could go wherever my life led me. I wouldn't be stuck here.
My lungs fill with the spring air. It smells of blossoms and rebirth. Too bad I feel like I'm dying... I am slowly being crushed. By boredom. The rest of the world – reality, how exciting was it right now? I've heard stories but...
My eyes shift out the window. Out there. A war.
I let my mind wander. I can see the clashing of the swords, the forming of the hands. Blood. Splattering onto the ground, spilling the guts and secrets of my kin.
A soft grunt escapes my grandmother's mouth. I snap back to attention.
"Karasu! How do you expect to make a good wife, if all you do is fantasize?" The old woman stares at me with her small black eyes. Her thick, spiky, black hair, tied into a tight bun. I don't know how she does it, my mother always complains my hair is untamable. Beautiful. But untamable.
I bite my lip thinking about my grandmother's comment. I want to argue her, point out that at this point there probably aren't even any Uchiha men left to marry... but I know I'm not allowed to. All she sees me as, all I am is a wife. All I am is a woman. But I know there's more. I have something special. Something that boys have too.
I place my hand over my heart. Chakra was it? That's what my cousin had taught me. I have that ability. I wonder if I can make that fire come out of my mouth once more and burn my obnoxious grandmother. To be a wife, how drawl. But this power...
My eyes flash the images of last fall before me. Both my cousins were there, we ran off for a small break from sharpening the swords. Well, I wasn't allowed to sharpen the swords... but I was allowed to watch for once. We left our fathers in the tea room so they could talk about the war.
"Izuna!" My eldest cousin yelled, looking at his brother. His spiky black hair, sticking up at odd ends like it always had. It was like he had slept on it the wrong way every night.
His brother looked back up and smiled a mischievous grin. I let the expression follow onto my face, as my cousin revealed the two large sharp swords he had managed to sneak away with. He speedily flashes one in Madara's face.
My cousin shows a look of disapproval, "I'll tell dad, Izuna. We aren't supposed to be practicing today. And especially not around," he looks my way and lowers his gaze, "a woman."
I scrunch my nose, "Oh come on Maddi! Don't be so afraid of me," I jokingly pick a sword up, finding its weight much heavier then I expected. It twists in my hands and I fall to the ground with it, Madara rushes over to help me.
"Are you alright Karasu?" His eyes frantically search my body for signs of damage, "My dad would kill me if I let anything happen to you."
I pout my lip and brush off my sleeves, "I'm fine, I'm not a porcelain doll! I don't need anyone to look out after me." He never used to be like this. When we were children, it was totally fine if we all got dirty and tackled each other. But now, apparently, I'm only a woman. Even to my favorite cousins. I sulk a bit as I try to tame my hair back into the carefully gelled bun my mother had made this morning. It isn't going well, the hair continues to stick back out and wrap around itself.
"Gah! Dad's coming!" Izuna yells frantically as he throws the swords into the bushes and attempts to cover them with leaves. He tries to calm his breath and looks worriedly to Madara.
His brother offers a look that reads, "It's your problem, not mine."
I giggle at the brothers' odd communication method. I quickly close my legs, into a more lady like position. Madara stealthily pulls the twig from my hair. Both boys stand to attention. We need to act proper for our elders.
"Madara. Come with me. We'd like to have you in, on this war meeting."
I watch my cousin's eyes grow wide, Izuna and mine follow suit. A kid like us, being asked to a war meeting? I can feel the excitement seeping from Madara. Izuna and I silently cheer him on. It would be weakness to show our true feelings. And that would be un-Uchiha of us.
Madara nods obediently and stands up a bit taller as he follows his father away. Izuna offers a wink to his departing brother, he plops into the grass next to me and we watch them walk away. His mouth curves in a gentle way. I find his love for his brother adorable. Before my brother got ill, we acted like that way too.
After some time, I turn to my cousin, "Why do you think they're letting him join?"
Izuna grins, "He just unlocked his Sharingan."
I gasp in excitement. I wasn't completely sure what a Sharingan was, I only know it is our clan's specialty. Nonetheless, I felt happiness for my cousin. He had always kept us together. Always looked out for Izuna. When times were simpler, we had lots of fun together.
Slowly our bodies recline into the soft cushion of ground beneath us. We stare into the sky. Watching the little clouds float above us.
"I wish I could fly," I hear Izuna's voice reach out. It's such a childish thought, but we were children weren't we? I was only eleven and he was the same age as me. We were just kids.
I nod, "Me too."
"If I could, I would end this war! I could become a bird, and fly over the Senju... finding all of them and then swooping in for the kill!" He makes outrageous motions with his hands as he explains his feats. Slowly he quiets down a bit, but his voice still breathes heavily with a sound of adventure.
"I want to do that too!" I join, in with the moment.
He chuckles and turns to his side the grass sticking up and tickling his face.
I scrunch my nose again and turn to face him, "What's so funny?"
"You're a girl. You can't fight."
I roll my eyes, trying to keep my feelings at bay, "I could take you on Izuna, you're no match for me!"
His eyes light up. I've always loved my cousin's eyes. So full of warmth. We all have deep black eyes in the family, but something about his, are just different. It's like he sees the world in another color then the rest of us do. Sometimes Madara's eyes look like that too, but recently they've gone dark.
Izuna rustles in the bushes, looking for something. I watch a sharp object fly past my face and duck quickly before it hits me. My heart pounds and I have to grasp my chest, hoping I don't die from panic. A perky face smiles widely at me as it pops throw the bushes and I remember it was just the sword from earlier. And Izuna would never actually hit me.
"You jerk! Don't scare me!"
He picks himself up and walks towards me, revealing the second sword, "Hah, if you want to be on a real battlefield, just you wait! Go pick up your sword!"
My mouth almost drops. Were we going to spar? I hurriedly run and reach for the blade in the grass. I make sure to grasp it firmly on its black handle. The shiny metal stares back at me. I remember practicing with my brother, but only when we were younger. It's been a while.
I turn and face my opponent, his cheeky grin taunting me on like always. I lift my foot up and kick off the sandals, they hurt my feet anyways. I lower the weapon for a moment and take off my kimono top too, it'll only slow me down.
"Geez, girls take forever. Are you ready yet?"
"Oh just hush up!"
"Make me!"
I give him a smile as I rush towards him, sword cocked on my shoulder, it's much to heavy for me but I can't show weakness.
"Try two hands Kusura!" Izuna calls out from behind me. How did he? I turn and find him in another position.
"You're fast!" I call out, but I take his advice. I wrap my second hand around the grip and rest it on top of my first hand. He was right, this position was easier. I sweep in off my shoulder and try whipping the sword around in a quick manner. Izuna easily counters.
The swords make a loud noise, I blink a bit in retaliation from the 'clink.' It was louder then I had thought. Izuna swings his blade underneath, near my abdomen. I tilt my body a bit and dodge as I wrap around the top for an overhead hit on Izuna.
He counters again with ease. I watch his shoulders carefully. They should tell me what he's planning. I see the shoulder wind up in the back, I know he'll throw a low swing. As it comes I quickly jump higher and try to swing the sword from my right, almost getting Izuna's collar.
He jumps back with surprised eyes, "Wow! You're fast!"
I smirk, "Of course I am! You're pretty slow for a fox!" I poke fun at his name.
"Yea, well I don't see you flying very much, Miss Crow!"
The sword almost feels weightless now, we quickly exchange blows as the metal glides off each other. I feel my feet moving quicker as I skate around the dirt. I manage to keep my balance too.
"Are you sure you haven't fought before?"
I giggle, "Nope, just wrestling with you two!"
He curves his eyes upward as a smile accompanies his face, "You're a natural ninja then!"
My body freezes. I drop my grip a bit and the sword starts to fall. I feel my chest swell up with emotion. Izuna drops his sword and runs over to me. My mother had warned me about this, as women grow they find more things... intense.
"What's wrong?" He asks.
"You think I'm a ninja?" My voice is so soft. I stare at the ground, looking at my bare feet. Staring at the dirt.
"No, I'm sorry! You're a great woman! You'll be a great wife, Karasu!"
I jab him in the shoulder, a bit more then I meant. I slowly catch his eyes, "No. Thank you."
Izuna scratches his head, "I'm confused now."
I smile, "Thank you for seeing me as a ninja. There's more to me then just a girl. There's a lot more."
He places his hand on my shoulder, "I know that."
And he did. He does. He knows me.
My cousin grips my hand and runs me down one of the paths into the woods. The ground is wet, and the mud squishes between my toes. Izuna pulls me down several long paths, and we scale down by some tree roots. There's a large, but shallow pond in a small clearing.
He stops abruptly and I almost fly into the water, "Chakra."
"Chak what?" I ask, not following.
He laughs, "Chakra. It's easy. We all have it, even the girls."
My eyes grow wide with excitement, "I have it too? What can I do?"
Izuna puts his finger up to his lip, "Easy. In each and everyone of us we have special cells... like in our blood." He stares up at the sky trying to think, "And we can form these special cells and make energy..."
I scratch my head, "That makes no sense..."
He nods, "Just watch." I watch him move his hands and take a large breath. My heart pounds faster as I see a large burst of flames roll out from his mouth. I yell, afraid I will be burned, I accidentally trip into the mud. Izuna makes a motion with his hands by his mouth and stops the flames.
The red and orange color disappears from the area, leaving everything normal once more. He helps me back up, "That was my chakra. All Uchiha can do that."
I tsk in disbelief, "Yea right!"
He folds his arms, "Hey! My dad said so! You can too!"
My disbelief has turned to shock, "I don't..." I look at the ground again. Could it be true? Could a woman do something like that?
Izuna takes my waist, "Here, first try breathing in really deeply."
I roll my eyes but take his lead. I fill my lungs deep with air. My eyes shut and I let my breathing consume my being.
"Great, now try and feel your lungs. Whenever I make the flames I feel my lungs fill with hot air. Try and move all your energy to that point."
Though I wouldn't admit it to him, I have some doubt I can actually do this. But some part of me is praying that I can manage. I shut my thoughts out and focus all my strength on my chest. Trying to summon this odd magic into it.
Izuna's hands take mine into his. He slowly places my fingers ontop of each other. It feels odd.
"This will help you manipulate your chakra... look," he directs me and I stare at my hands, "Snake," he moves them around once more, "dragon." He holds my hands tightly and waits for me to memorize the position. "Rabbit." He slides my index finger and presses it against my other. "Tiger."
I feel a small jolt in my body. Like something was summoning from inside of me. I shake the thought, it was probably only coincidence.
"That's it?" I ask Izuna, still staring at my formed hands.
He nods, "Try it."
I turn towards the pond and try to remember everything he had taught me. Breath deeply. Check. Focus odd magic to your lungs. Check. Snake. Dragon. Rabbit. Ti-
"Ahhh!" I feel a fierce rush of fire in my chest and it burns. The pain is unbearable. It pushes its way up, like I am going to regurgitate flames. My mouth automatically opens and the flames spew out before. There aren't nearly as many as Izuna had summoned. It continues for a moment, and I quickly recall the motion Izuna had made to stop his.
I blink a few times, and then fall to the ground, my head spinning. Izuna rushes over to me.
"Karasu! That was fantastic! Your first try too!" He looks at me with those eyes, "You really are a ninja."
"Izuna, Karasu!" A voice booms from over us. We both turned frighteningly to face the punishment behind us. My heart races fast. Not only had I just spit up flames today, I also was in huge trouble.
My brother towers over the two of us, offering his pained face.
"What were you two doing?" He asks.
As if he doesn't know, I ask myself sarcastically.
"Sorry, Niisan. We were only... playing a game..."
"You were practicing Ninjutsu with a woman. Izuna, go to your father. You and your brother are returning to the battlefield later," he tosses a sword towards my cousin. Our eyes share a sheepish look, we had left the blades in the wide open... some ninja we were. I give a forlorn gaze to my cousin as he departs without words.
My brother turns to deal with me, his face growing with that same pained expression, "As for you -" He turns his head reluctantly and goes into a long coughing fit. Holding onto me tightly for support. I am afraid he's going to cough up his heart.
"Nii-san, are you okay?" I ask, trying to be as sweet as possible. My brother put up with a lot. I wasn't always the best little sister.
He whips his mouth, forcing himself to finish, he turns to me and nods. I can tell there's something still inside his throat, since he isn't talking to me, but I follow behind him back to the house. We wrap through the small forest and find the cottage once more. My confine. There is dread in my step.
We enter through the door and my mother's smile quickly turns into a frown as she notices my messy state.
"Karasu! Your kimono! And your hair!" She rushes over to me and tries smoothing it out, while noticing all the dirt under my fingernails. I watch my brother walk off to his room, clutching his stomach. He's gotten worse.
"You'll never get a man like that! When I was your age -"
I tune out grandmother's voice automatically. My mother must see the disdain written on my face. She takes my hand. My mother's grip grows tighter as she pulls me into the bathroom. My breathing quickens as my grandmother continues spewing her hate.
"I told you! You should have kept her quiet as a baby, a woman with too much voice will never make a good wife."
"Which is why your husband died!" I yell in fury. She has no right to talk to me like that. One day, I'll be a warrior. One day she'll see.
A large burning and stinging sensation begins leaking from the back of my head. I fall to the ground in pain and look back up at my mother, with a torn expression. She takes the grip on my hand once more and throws me into the bathroom. She carefully shuts the door.
"You ungrateful little shrew! How dare you talk to your grandmother that way!" Her face seldom takes this form, usually only when I am at my most l. Her eyes are narrowed and the wrinkles by her mouth seem deeper then normal. Overall she looks old... much older then she actually is, if I remember she can't be more then twenty-seven.
She grabs a basin from the corner. It's not my place to talk right now. She dunks my head in and violently scrubs my face.
"The matchmaker is coming tonight, you better be on your best behavior young lady!"
"Match-" She scrubs over my mouth before I can complain. I look down at the murky water, so much dirt in so little time. I am supposed to keep quiet, that's what it reads. But I don't want to keep quiet.
My mother takes a break from swishing my hair in the water to go grab her tools. A matchmaker, to interview me for a future husband. How barbaric, and during a war too. For all I know my future husband could be dead the next day.
I stay obedient as my mother returns to apply the white powder to my face. I stare into the mirror across from me. My skin already was a pure white, giving an outstanding contrast to my dark black eyes. My mother carefully paints my lips a deep ruby red. Nipping it at the sides of my mouth, so it looks like lips of a doll's.
She paints my eyelids with a black. Then she starts combing my hair back, and massaging it with the disgusting pig gel. Scooping all the loose strands into large lumps on the sides. Her hand-work is amazing, though I would never tell her. I'm too stubborn.
She places an old jade clip at the top, again, the contrast from my slick black hair is beautiful. But I look in the mirror again. I miss the dirt. The adventure. The freedom. I watch my mother toss the basin out the window. That's what my freedom was, a topic that just gets thrown out the window.
The woman massages my neck a bit, looking in the mirror with me, "You're a beautiful young lady. When you keep your composure, you're perfect. You understand? The men will love you." She smiles warmly and I look at the two of us. Mother and daughter. We looked so much a like... but my eyes are different. They're not like Izuna's, but there's something in them. They are always searching.
She wraps me in my kimono top, placing two large clips on my ears that dangle with jewels. I look royal. She helps me stand as she walks me back towards the living room. We are trying a different matchmaker this time. The last one, didn't go too well..
"The matchmaker is here!" I snap my mind back to the present. The trees are just starting to bud, the soft spring music in the air. My mind had been in that memory for so long, I want to go back even. But not much has changed. I look down, the same kimono, the same earrings, the same face. Ironic that I was meeting a matchmaker in my memories and am now forced with the familiar situation once more.
"Hello Miss Karasu," the small woman sits down across from me. Her eyes are like peas, and her mouth is tiny. Everything about her is small. She might blow away with the wind.
I put on my best smile, "Hello." I bow in respect as we sit down at the tea table. I carefully pour the tea for both of us, boy how many times had I done this. The dark green liquid swishes in the cup and the steam creates a little pattern in the air.
I sip it gently, waiting for the woman to speak, "As you know, your parents have picked out your man. It took a while to find a good Uchiha, but they insisted on you staying in the bloodline. He's a captain in the army, dashing, and noble. I am here to secure the wedding night."
My mother sits down next to me, nodding excitedly. I've never met this man, and I don't care to. My mother told me he was in his twenties. I'm only twelve.
"You will need to offer up a suitable -"
I tune her out, she's only talking to my mother now. We need to give something to the other family. I'm sure he's a cousin or at least somewhat related to me, he is an Uchiha after all. My family will probably give him some of our money and animals. We were doing well for wartime... my brother's medicine being the only big thing we have to pay for.
The picture on the table shows the man I will marry. Pure white face. Onyx eyes. Deep black spiky hair. As an Uchiha he is already what one would call handsome, but he has very stark features. He seems stressed in the picture almost, there are several deep lines and bags underneath his eyelids. He doesn't seem particularly happy either. In the picture his is wearing traditional armor, it's very stunning.
There's a knock on the door. Everyone turns their attention to a large man entering, he bows to us women, "I must share an announcement from the front lines, tell the men of your household to join me."
My mother nods and rises to fetch my brother. As soon as the door opens, my brother's coughing pours out. My poor brother. I can hear his sticky footsteps as he forces himself down the hall. My eyes grow wide. He looks worse then usual. His skin is a sickly yellow, his lips practically blue. My lip quivers as I assess his health.
His hand shakes as he offers it to the man. Usually by now the men would take their leave, but he stays put, "As decreed by our head... all Uchiha households will now offer up one more man in their household to join the lines. Report tomorrow."
My heart stops and I stand. My brother was the only man left in our household. Emotion comes over me and I forget my place, "You can't do that! He's sick! He can't go!"
My mother shoots daggers at me with her eyes. But I won't let this happen. I won't let them send my niisan to his death. My emotions start to consume and I feel every part of my body breaking. My brother will die, along with everyone else in my family. Everyone else that I love. A tear slips and rolls down my face.
The man takes one look at me and labels me as a hormonal woman, meaning he must not do anything to stop me. My mother takes me and drags me back to the table. My brother nods, staring at nothing in particular. The man shares a bow and then leaves. My entire body is still shaking. The tears roll freely as I try to shake them.
I hear a book close and look up. The small woman is shaking her head, "I thought you said your daughter was mature. Apparently this was an unforeseen issue. I will have to report this outburst of emotion to the other family. The marriage date is postponed."
My chest heaves in and out. I want to tackle this woman. My mother furrows her brow and bows goodbye to the matchmaker. As soon as the door closes I throw myself at my mother's feet.
"I'm so sorry! I am! Mother!" The emotions are still corrupting me, my eyes are lined with tears... most likely smearing my makeup to a hideous state. My mother shakes her head and leaves me. She had just lost her children. I was hopeless, and now my brother was going to march off to his death. She loved him so much. Her son.
I pick myself off the ground as I whimper through the hallway. I peer into my brother's room. He sits on the bed staring at a collection of armor on the floor. A large sword above the wall. I lean in the door frame. The doctor had said that heart complications run in our family's blood, it's a sickness that follows us to our graves.
Without noticing I take in a sniff from my runny nose and my brother turns to find me looking at him. I back away but his hands call to me. I run into the room as he takes me into his arms.
"Niisan! I'm so sorry, for everything. Don't go!" I bite my lip to keep myself from crying again today. My brother slowly undoes my hair and smooths it out.
"Your hair is beautiful, Karasu." His eyes glaze over a bit as he stares at me. My heart is breaking as I force myself to keep calm in his presence. He grunts and shuts his eyes closed as he grabs his chest. I place my hand over his heart, I wish I could heal him.
We don't need anymore words. I shovel my head into his chest as he plants his chin on top. He holds me closely and I embrace his warmth. I love you niisan. I love you.
After some time of peace there's a knock on the door, interrupting it. My mother enters with a tray of dinner. Her eyes meet mine, surprised I am here. I know the meal is only for my brother. I kiss him on the forehead and rub it thoughtfully. I smooth his hair back and he smiles up at me. He felt so warm. I plant another kiss, and he strokes my cheek.
"Everything will be okay," he gives me that half smile once more. How can he be so happy, knowing death meets him tomorrow? Or was he trying to be happy for me?
I eat dinner half-heartedly. I can't even eat all of the rice on my plate. My hands drop my chopsticks on the plate and I look up to my grandmother and mother. I fold my hands together and ask in as sweet of voice as I can, if I am permitted to leave. They nod and I gratefully accept this.
I run into my room and throw myself onto my bed. Feeling the emotions of today. It all feels so heavy. Me being rejected again, my brother being sent off... I would stand a better chance then he would.
My eyes light up. I would stand a better chance then he would! I bite my lip, but I am a woman... I turn my gaze to the small hand mirror on my dresser. I walk over to it quietly. My face was plain, not too feminine but not really ugly, just plain. Something overtakes me.
My body screams out as I grab the scissors out of the drawer. My arms shake in retaliation, nothing wants me to do this. My body is even against me. But my heart thinks otherwise. I had heard about the Uchiha heart. We love and care, more then anyone. And I love my brother more then anyone.
I tie my hair back, my gorgeous thick hair that he had complimented today. I slice through the bun and watch it flutter to the ground. My chest starts to heave as I look at all of it scattered around me. My hair, my wonderful hair. I want to take it all back and glue it back onto my head. But this is for niisan. I check my face once more.
It was a close cut I predict, and in wartime it doesn't have to look fashionable. I attempt to cut my bangs a bit framing them down my face. I look again and am shocked at my resemblance to my brother. My eyebrows are a bit more trimmed then a man's, but I am only a child anyways. I grab the tape off the desk, I quickly wrap it around my forming chest. Uchiha's are quick-developers, I don't want anything popping up when I'm out.
The tape cuts at my sides and almost chokes me. I look once more in the mirror, this time about to cry. I looked nothing like a woman anymore. Just this morning I was beautiful. Just this morning I was going to be a bride. But isn't that what I had wanted? To be a warrior? I crawl into the bed once more, waiting for the deep of night that only comes with time.
My stomach growls from the lack of food during dinner, but even now I can't eat. If I did, it would just come right back up. Night comes, reluctantly. I force myself to leave my head. I will not have second thoughts this far into everything. The moon seems to be against my decision too, as it shines brightly in through my window killing my stealth. I tip toe into my brother's room. He is sound asleep, I know he can't hear me, but I take extra precaution.
I slip the large breastplate on top of me, sashing it with the belt. It is heavy, but I let it weigh me down. I quickly tie the knee plates and add the shoulder pads. I apply the rest and look down at my body. I look like a man.
I take the sword off the wall and stare into it, affirming my observation.
A tear slips my eye as I look at my brother one last time. Niisan, I'm sorry I couldn't have been a better sister. I know I added to your stress. I grab the helmet and leave the room. I tiptoe through the rest of the still, quiet house and exit the door.
The moment I do, an odd energy forms in my eyes. My decision to run away caused some sort of power to form there. For the time being, I ignore it and run quickly, off down the street of the village. I find the entrance. I had never made it this far without a parent.
I take a deep breath as I exit the confines of the village. Not as a little girl. But as a man.
I continue down the road, luckily the moon lights the way for me, perhaps it did believe in me. The path seems never-ending, and I'm not sure where I'm going. But I don't waver. I continue. I continue for Niisan. I am Niisan.
A wagon of men pass by, I expect them to continue but they stop. One jumps out and stares at me. My heart beats faster. Did I look like a woman, was he going to find out?
"You an Uchiha?" He asks with a suspicious voice.
I nod my head rapidly, and try to calm my beating heart. The boys in the wagon nod to me with a friendly, but deadly glare. Were they planning on killing me?
"Heading to the battlefield?" The man asks.
I again nod sheepishly. It's only then that I remember men talk freely to one another. I had always been told to keep a closed mouth, I wasn't acting my part.
"Yes! Heading to destroy some Senjuju!" I try to deepen my voice and puff out my chest. I mentally clasp myself on the back, proud I remembered the name of the men we were fighting.
He grunts, "Senjuju, that's a good name for them. Makes it sound like a bunch of women are running their troops. Hop in."
I obey and crawl into the wagon. The straw is laden on the floor and makes me itch. How uncomfortable. I look up to the stars and the heavens, I don't know who is up there... but if there is a higher being – thank you.
I turn to look at the men in the cart. There was no doubt they were Uchiha. The trademark black hair and eyes. These men were my family. My eyes grow wide, a small boy sharpening his sword with a rock.
I know that boy.
I want to scream his name in happiness. Izuna! I have to get his attention. I suppose my intense eye contact is enough, he looks up at me. Studying my face like he doesn't quite remember me. I want to laugh, but then stop. I am a boy. My heart freezes. Oh no. Please don't recognize me, Izuna!
He stands up in the wagon and moves over to me. Shit. He offers his hand, "Hey, I'm Izuna! Finally another young boy in our ranks!"
I shake the hand, relieved, "I am... Ka-" I waver a bit trying to make up a name, "Ka-ryuu!" What a horrible name, who names their kid 'fire dragon'. I know how the military works though. All I have to say is I am a volunteer, a younger brother of my older brother and say I am fighting for our household. I know my father is so high up, he won't even see the name or think twice. Of course, I can't say this around Izuna, he'll see right through me.
"Izuna, try to keep it down, some of us are trying to sleep," Madara walks over to us with a confident frown. His brother nods and throws his hands on the back of his head.
"That's my brother, Madara, he's a sour-puss but, it's no problem, you'll get used to him. I do need to get some sleep though. We can talk in the morning, okay?" He turns onto the hay and buries his head inside.
I look down in disgust, how revolting. How many bugs were infested down there? I try to lean on the wood, but find it too hard. Be a man. I take a deep breath and join Izuna in the hay. I did need to sleep a bit tonight. I wait for my hair to fall onto my face. Then I remember it's not there anymore. I put my hand on my chest and feel the breastplate. I'm not there anymore.
"Ka-ryuu! Wake up! You're new so you need to register," I feel a kick to my chest. I look up to find Izuna giggling to himself. Did he just kick me?
I grudgingly shift my body and stand up, looking around. Madara comes over and picks a piece of straw out of my hair, giving me a suspicious glance. I shake my head violently and throw the rest of the pieces out. Act like a man.
I hop down out of the cart and head to the registration table. I make sure Madara and Izuna don't follow me. I stand before the man at the front.
"Name?" He asks in an inpatient manner.
"Ka-ryuu Uchiha... I am the younger brother of Yashiro Uchiha. I am here in place of him, for he is unable for duty."
The man grunts, "Send a kid instead of yourself... I didn't know your father had two sons..."
"He does, but I'm... I'm not my brother, he doesn't like to talk about me," I try to look down and come off as sad, in an attempt to make it look like my brother and I were rivals.
"Very well, report to training then." The man waves me off, and checks my family's name off the list. I sigh in relief. They were safe. A sword flies past me, practically nipping my cheek. Apparently I was not.
...
Tell me what you're thinking! There will be more to come! Thanks for reading.