Author's Note: Hey guys! Here is chapter 2 for you. This time we get a little bit more of Esu's memories and him meeting the Hokage again. Let me know what you guys think so far and I will make sure to post chapter 3 and 4 together.

Disclaimer: I own nothing from the Naruto Series since Masashi Kishimoto created it and I own only the OC's I created.

Anyways enjoy!

(Esu Age 7, Morning of Team Formations)

The next morning, we find our young Uchiha waking up with dull eyes and the lacking the energy to move. The information he read from the Nidaime's journal still shook him to his core. Was the Sharingan really a curse? Why are emotions so powerful in his clan? Did his clan even know about this? These were the questions that were flooding his mind at the moment and he wanted his questions answered but feared that they all might be true. Esu briefly read over the notes that the Nidaime left and he planned to read the rest of it later that week. He planned on speaking to Sandaime-sama if his sensei left anymore notes but would not mention the knowledge he learned of his clan. He was determined to solve this theory on his own and prove the Nidaime wrong. While he respected the man he wanted to prove that his clan was not full of hatred and that they could become better. Still, that would take time and he knew that he needed to focus on bettering himself and learning more about what the Nidaime knew. With all the thinking out of the way, he looked at his clock.

'Great, it's 7 and team formations start at 8. Guess no time for training.', Esu thought lazily. While he was excited deep down, he was too conflicted with himself. All he wanted to do was to keep researching but it was best to stop for awhile. Any way he looked at it, he hoped that his teammates would not be such a burden. Finally resolving himself he did what he had to do to get ready.

Once he showered and fed himself it was time to put on his shinobi attire. While he liked wearing shorts, he needed to protect his shins. He wrapped his shins and forearms with the typical shinobi wrap. Next his put gray shorts with a black short sleeve high collared clan shirt. The shirt had a zipper that ran down from the collar to his abdomen then to the left side of his body. With that done, he put his black shinobi sandals on and holstered his kunai pouch to his left leg and shuriken pouch above his right hip. Last but not least, he grabbed his headband and tied it around his head. Finally, he felt ready to take on the world.

Then with a determined face he declared, "I, Esu Uchiha, shinobi of Konoha, vow to protect Konoha and her people with my life. I will not falter to no enemy shinobi and will prove to the Nidaime Hokage that my clan is good." The young Uchiha felt more energetic than ever before to get his shinobi career started. With that done, he shunshined to the academy ready to be with his team.

(Academy)

Arriving in a swirl of leaves, Esu walked into his classroom with the majority of his classmates present. Yumi-sensei still had 5 minutes before she would begin the roll call for the teams. Esu waved at her and she returned that gesture with a smile and a wave of her own. Then he saw Shiru and Shisui in the back row and sat with them.

Seeing that Esu arrived, Shiru raised his head, disappointed that his nap ended so soon. He looked at his Uchiha friend and put his hand out. Esu saw this and put his own hand out to slap their hands together. The duo was happy to see each other and get started on their career.

Shisui pouted, "What about me?! Don't I get a handshake as well? You're a lousy friend Esu." Esu knew Shisui was just being annoying but ended up slapping his hand also. Last thing he needs is someone bugging him nonstop. He decided to sit on Shisui's left and see what the guys have been up.

"So guys you finally ready to be fully fledged shinobi? Hopefully we end up all on the same squad." Esu wanted to be optimistic but he knew there was a high chance they would be separated. Still, a guy could dream right. He notices Shiru about to speak but is interrupted by their teacher.

Yumi-sensei coughed and spoke, "Okay little children, is what I would like to say. From now on you are all shinobi and kunoichi of Konoha so please make sure you do what is needed to protect her and her people." Yumi was indeed proud of her little genin but she had to drop some harsh news for them as well. "However, recently we have gotten reports of conflict between Iwa shinobi and Konoha shinobi in Kusagakure. That means more than likely we will be going to war." Once that was said she had to let that statement settle in for the fresh new genin. Around the room the genin started to look horrified of the idea of having to fight so soon. Yumi knew this would happen but it was what they agreed to when they became shinobi. Esu himself was in deep though as he finally connected the pieces.

'I knew something was up! No way they would graduate so many of us for no reason. To think we are going to war so soon? I don't know if I am ready for this.' Esu was conflicted but then he remembered all the people he has to prove wrong and protect. He stood up and spoke, "Today, I woke up vowing that I'd protect Konoha and her people. I'm not gonna let some foreign shinobi scare me! I have too much to prove and so much to do. Just know guys you won't be fighting alone. Let's end this war for Konoha guys!" Esu shouted. He could already see the other genin with determined faces and Yumi-sensei with a smile on her face.

'Well, looks like Esu-kun might become a good leader one day.' Yumi thought to herself. She had seen Esu develop over the past years and knew that he'd become someone special one day. He wasn't like his other fellow clan members and always grunting about how powerful their clan was. Yumi couldn't believe out of all his clan members that Esu did not care about his pride. Now she wanted to continue to make sure that Esu remained the same. After that proclamation from Esu, the jounin started to come in one by one.

Yumi waited for all of jounin to enter and continued, "Now that all jounin are present, I will announce the teams. Team 1…" This would continue on for the next hour or so until there was only one Jonin left.

"Last but not least Team 11, you're Jounin sensei will be Daizo Sarutobi." Said Sarutobi smiled at the last 3 genin in the room. He wore the typical jounin outfit but carried a tanto on his back. Daizo had light brown hair and black eyes that made me him seem older than he looked. Esu looked to right and was happy to hear that one of his friends was able to be on his team which ended up being the lazy Nara. Hisaya was one of the few genin who left early and it saddened him that she was going to be alone with people she didn't know. Both the Uchiha and Nara looked at their third team member who was sitting in the front row with the Uchiha crest on their back. Her name was Mika Uchiha and she looked familiar to Esu.

Her attire consisted of a high dark grey shorts, dark blue turtleneck with the Uchiha fan on the back. On top of her head she wore her headband to hold back some of her long dark brown hair. She turned around and nodded to the boys in the back. Then a grunt from their sensei got their attention.

"Alright Team 11, since war is inevitable I plan on running you guys on the ground with getting better control of your chakra and teamwork." Daizo gave them a clear order and he wanted to make them ready for war. He grunted again and continued, "Right now we are going to Training Ground 11 to get you guys acquainted with one another and to find your weaknesses and improve upon them." After he finished he motioned for them to follow him and so they did. Before Esu left the room he looked at Yumi-sensei one more time before catching up with his team. For all he knew this would be the last time he sees her. Then he turns around and keeps walking. He had a war to get ready for and wasn't gonna let his village down.

(A Week Later)

True to his word, Daizo-sensei did indeed run them to the ground. He was able to learn that all three of his Genin were already excellent at tree walking and so he made them water walk. At the same time he presented battle scenarios where the Genin had to come up with a plan to come out alive. The first few days the kids were almost good at getting the scenarios correct but at times they argued, well most of the arguing came from the two Uchiha and not the Nara. Both Genin had trouble agreeing with one another and it was because Mika would make a big fuss about it. Mika had issues with Esu because since he was a year younger than her so he had to listen to her. Another point the female Uchiha had was that since she possessed the Sharingan he was inferior to her. All of this nonsense had irritated Esu to no end. Mika was the perfect example of an arrogant Uchiha who shouted out how they were always superior.

On the other hand, Esu and Shiru always came up with the perfect plan together since their chemistry was already strong. Daizo was happy to hear that at least one of the Uchiha didn't have a stick up their ass and got along well with others. In the end of every argument, Mika would eventually agree with their plan and turn away with a small embarrassed blush on her face. She just hated losing to other people younger than her!

The night before Team 11 and the rest of Konoha's forces departed for war, Daizo thought it was a good idea to hangout with his team at Yakiniku Q. He wanted to congratulate them for learning how to work with one another and adapting to real life battle scenarios. He knew it was going to get ugly the next few months so he wanted some last minute peace. He smiled at his team as they arrived at his table.

Esu was thrilled to get some barbeque! Training the entire week was tough and he practiced some fireball jutsu at home that he knew would eventually increase his chakra pools. He knew fighting was going to be rough and that he might have to partake in long battles that required him to preserve his charka. With all that done he just wanted to be with his friends for now.

Esu fist pumped his sensei and spoke, "Thanks for inviting Sensei! I really hope we make you proud at there." Esu knew his sensei was going to be with them but he wanted to make sure his sensei didn't have to always watch them. His fellow teammates nodded at their sensei as well letting him know they felt the same.

Daizo just grunted and then smiled as they sat down with him. Once the food came and as they cooked it, Daizo told them plans that he had on making them stronger as they traveled. They all agreed that they had to get stronger if they wanted to win the war. Tomorrow their lives were forever going to be changed.

(Present Day)

Esu had traveled for a day now and finally reached the familiar gates. He smiled as he saw the ghost of his team at the gates smiling at each as they left for battle for the first time. He kept walking and thought of the times he spent with them. 'I miss them so much. One day I'll see them again.', he sadly told himself as he reached the gate. He was taken out his thoughts when two chunin ordered him to stop. He was confused as to why they were stopping him. Didn't the Hokage let them know that he was returning? Before he could speak an ANBU appeared telling the Chunin to hold. The purple haired ANBU walked up to him and greeted him. "Welcome back, Esu. Hokage-sama is waiting for you in his office. Please, follow me." Esu greeted the female ANBU back with a nod. He did as he was told and followed her. He did not want any reason in pissing her off.

Once they reached the Hokage Tower, Esu entered the office and saw two familiar men. Of course, he expected the Hokage there, looking a lot older. Then he saw a tall man with long white spikey hair and instantly knew that was Jiraiya. He got closer to the men and bowed deeply to them. "Greetings, Hokage-sama and Jiraiya-sama. I have returned from my 6 year mission." Esu stood back up and waited for the Hokage's next order. Hiruzen could only look at Esu and seen how much he had grown...and changed. Gone was the happy and determined boy he knew years ago and what stood before him was a strong man. He stood up and walked to Esu and spoke, "Please Esu-kun, you can relax now that you have returned. Go ahead and remove your cloak and take a sit. We have much to discuss between the three of us." Esu did as he was told and removed his cloak. His clans symbol on his back was ripped a bit but still he showed respect to his fallen clan members. He sat down and waited for the other two men to begin the discussion. The Hokages voice was heard from the two as he started, "So what can you tell me of the Akatsuki, Esu-kun?" Esu looked into the eyes of the Hokage as he tried to remember all that he learned over the past six years. So much had happened as he traveled and all the knowledge he learned needed to be shared. He spoke, "Where to begin Hokage-sama?"

It was going to be a long afternoon for sure.

End of Chapter 2!

JANNIII!