"Congratulations, Sasuke. You're now an official Konoha Shinobi!" Iruka tells me. Obviously I'm a Konoha shinobi. I aced the exam. Why did everyone want to waste my time? "Now, as a genin, you hold many more responsibilities than an Academy student. Your actions will directly affect Konoha's reputation so you have to…" Iruka blabs on and on like he usually does. Such a waste of my time. Why can't Iruka just be more like Mizuki?
After deciding I had wasted enough time humoring Iruka, I grab my headband from Iruka's hands and leave the room. After all, Iruka isn't my teacher anymore, so why should I waste time making him happy? I can hear Iruka floundering around like he usually does when someone interrupts him, but I don't care enough to look back. After all, listening to Iruka's chatter about loyalty to Konoha isn't going to make me stronger. Wasting my time isn't going to help me kill... him.
Before I can continue my thoughts, a pink blur races towards me and I can feel my face harden in frustration. One of my fangirls had found me. I quickly darted my eyes around, but thankfully only one had found me so far.
"Sasuke!" She loudly exclaims, out of breath. Pathetic. The headband she wears shouldn't be there. No real ninja would be out of breath after a short jog. No real ninja would be so weak. No real ninja would be a fangirl like she is.
I see her eyes dart to my forehead and she seems surprised. A moment passes and even I can tell she's feeling some hesitation. Her voice is quieter this time "...did you pass?" How patronizing. Does she assume that she could pass when I couldn't? Anger bubbles up within me but I hold it down.
"Get out of my way," I push past her with ease, making sure to use my metal headband to reflect the sun on her eyes. What kind of ninja can't see a metal headband in someone's hands?
After I'm a couple of paces away, she somehow regains her energy and I begin to hear not one set of footsteps but a whole horde of them. My fangirl horde had arrived.
"Sasuke!" A cacophony of screeches breaks my eardrums as I run away. Thankfully, fangirl and competent were antonyms, so taking a couple of quick turns could give me a chance to escape their sights.
The Uchiha district always reminded me of Father and Mother. They always told me to take pride in that I am one of the Uchiha. Now, I am the only Uchiha. Father always told me to take pride in our symbol. He's not here to tell me any longer, so I tell myself every day. Mother always told me to keep my room clean and organized. She's not here to tell me that either but I wish she was.
Walking past empty homes that used to be bustling with life and energy always made me feel morose. But if I didn't remember how many he killed, who would? Remembering how many were brutally murdered always steeled my resolve. I'm not just an Uchiha; I'm an avenger. The Uchiha district always reminds me why I'm an avenger.
My heart clenches for my parents, my cousins, my aunts and uncles that never lived full lives, but I don't let it show in my face. Father always said Uchiha shouldn't show their emotions openly. I've perfected my mask of indifference––anything else would go against his memory. I don't let the tears fall at their memory, but I let the fury in my heart race out when I'm alone.
Why?
Why am I so weak?
Why am I so much weaker than him?
I just graduated. I'm not a prodigy. Father was never proud of my accomplishments.
I'm not an Anbu Captain.
Why?
Why was he given such strength?
WHY?
WHY DIDN'T I PROTECT THEM?
WHY AM I SO WEAK?
WHY? WHY? WHY?
WHY CAN'T I STAND UP TO HIM?
WHY?
WHY AM I SO WEAK?
…
I wish I could be stronger.
I wish I wasn't so pathetic.
Darkness overcame me and I knew no more. I had no more thoughts. My entire being was calling. My entire being wished I wasn't so weak. My entire being wanted the ability to be stronger.
The multiverse is a very big place. Some even believe in infinite realities. With so many dimensions and so many universes, the impossible can become possible.
Usually, dreams by themselves mean nothing. Desire is meaningless without action, or at least that's usually the case.
Usually, no one listens when you think. No one listens when you yearn. But sometimes, just sometimes, there's someone out there that's listening in to your desires. And sometimes, just sometimes, that someone decides to do something about it.