I couldn't memorize the legal stuff, so here's all the stuff I know

Naruto and all the characters, and stuff involved in it all belong to Kishimoto Masashi.

The original jutsus in the story are my pitiful attempts at using my not even basic Japanese. Please criticize me al you want, I am still trying to learn.

Tears of Blood

By: depressedinsomniac

They arrived at training area #9, the only one where clothes imbued with metals were required for training. Few generations before, some apparently strong Uchiha succeeded in manipulating the very magnetism of the soil, causing an extremely magnetic environment. Combined with the training clothes, It was comparable to at least 3 times the regular force of gravity.

Now, at this very place, Itachi was facing his teacher, bracing himself for any training this ex-ANBU had to offer.

"Well, it seems we've been introduced by our names only. I'm Yuugure, as your father informed you. Nice to meet you, Uchiha Itachi."

He offered his hand out.

This was something Itachi had never expected, a friendly gesture. He felt his body tensed up, not being accustomed to something such as this.

"I... do not know why you are stretching your hand out to me, instead of giving me a training schedule... sensei."

At this remark, Yuugure reached up, and put on a konoha hitai-ate on his forehead. He then slowly undid the wrappings around his face. Once he was done, he revealed a scarred face with a gentle smile.

"I would prefer it if you introduced yourself to me, such as your likes, dislikes, goals, etcetera." (1)

"..."

"I see that you are unaccustomed to socializing... Very well, I'll start by measuring your abilities. Come at me with everything you have."

"..."

Itachi quickly drew out 3 kunai and threw them, intending to see his teacher's speed. He waited, only to blink and find his teacher gone. He was about to jump into the trees when he felt something against his throat.

"Slash, you're gone. If my two fingers were a kunai, you would've been dead in an instant. Shinobi do not linger around, waiting to watch the results of their attacks. They observe as they find a better position."

Itachi turned around to see his teacher smiling, and holding his 3 kunai in his left hand. The demonstration of speed shocked him. When he had sparred with his teachers back at the main compound, he had been able to see his former teachers' moves. This made him start thinking. Could it be... that they had been holding back? At this point in life, his significance to the clan was all he had been thinking about. He began to question whether his former teachers had truly given him their all, or had been afraid of his father's wrath if he would have been injured.

"I see that you are unfocused, so let's go on a quick run. Try to clear your mind by the time we finish. When you are unfocused, you'll find it harder to be efficient and easier to be distracted. We are shinobi, tools for others. An inefficient tool is useless."

"hai,... sensei..."

After their short conversation, they began a series of follow-the-leader-through-the-forest exercises, followed by a simple taijutsu spar.

"Hmm... you do seem to have more stamina and speed than other kids around your age, but your physical strength itself is lacking. I guess you'll have to use this specially weighted clothing."

He tossed a one-piece suit to Itachi, which seemed light, but once he put the suit on, he felt an instant change. All of a sudden, his movements felt restricted. He gave his tutor a questioning glance, which was answered by a shrug.

"We will now spar for about 4 hours. Feel free to use any techniques, forms, and strategies. If you can manage to take my hitai-ate, I'll teach you something new."

Itachi lunged at Yuugure, drawing out shuriken this time. He threw them then quickly then swiftly changed directions, running into the foliage. Yuugure was surprised at the sudden change in tactics, but caught the shuriken easily.

'He adapted quickly, taking my advice... He may develop into a good shinobi... But at this point, he is incapable of taking my hitai-ate...'

Yuugure was surprised when Itachi didn't attack him in any way for about 30 minutes. He decided to go after him, knowing that Itachi had the advantage in being the hunted. He decided to proceed with caution, especially because children had the most creative imaginations, even exceeding some ANBU in trap making.

Itachi finished preparing his 5th trap, then quickly made his way towards a clearing, intending to draw out his tutor's attention. He prepared another trap, then walked into the middle, intending to draw his tutor's attention. He didn't have to wait very long, as his teacher strolled nonchalantly into the clearing, tossing him the shuriken he had thrown at him earlier.

"You may need to use these, you do have traps ready for me right? I look forward to seeing your abilities."

Itachi didn't let the words affect him, instead charging at his teacher. He threw the shuriken, flipping into the air. Yuugure watched as Itachi started falling towards him, feet first. He noticed that the shuriken were scattered, and he would need the use of both hands to grab them. He smiled, and caught the shuriken with both hands.

"Sensei, I will try my best, I do not expect you to hold back, so please don't."

"Very well..."

Yuugure suddenly flickered, making Itachi instantly suspect something. He instantly drew out a kunai in one hand, throwing it at his teacher. The resulting explosion of smoke proved his suspicion correct. When the smoke cleared, he saw that his tutor had switched places with a log. He landed, then quickly took a glance around.

"Nice, nice, you seem to be doing well, even with the training suit on."

Itachi saw Yuugure sitting on a branch, tossing the shuriken he had thrown up and down in his hand. Suddenly, Yuugure's hand flickered, except, to Itachi's eye, it seemed much slower than before. He quickly flipped backwards, dodging the shuriken thrown at him. He started running towards the other end of the clearing, drawing out a kunai in each hand.

"Running now? I guess the logical choice in this matter would be to follow you."

Itachi watched as Yuugure flickered again, except this time, he could see him actually moving. He threw a kunai to the side, which cut through a vine, activating his first trap.

Yuugure jumped over the suspicious looking patch of grass, only to find 20 big logs dropping from above. He quickly used kawarimi to switch places with a log lying on the ground.

"Pretty good trap for a little kid. Come on, make me enjoy this."

For the next 30 minutes, Yuugure followed Itachi, purposely getting caught in his traps to judge his abilities. After the 5th one, he followed Itachi into the clearing where they had first sparred. He noticed that Itachi's speed had slowed down; he could see Itachi moving more sluggishly.

'So the weights are starting to affect him...'

"Itachi, come at me with all you've got. I am impressed by your creative usage of traps, but I still need to see your taijutsu capabilities."

Itachi responded with another flurry of kunai and shuriken thrown at Yuugure. He quickly followed up with a seemingly desperate charge at Yuugure, jumping high into the air. He threw even more kunai and shuriken at Yuugure, As he was falling, he pulled back one fist, then attempted to punch Yuugure.

"The same tactics won't work as easily on me..."

Yuugure caught the fist. He was surprised to see that Itachi's foot was headed straight for his face. He caught it also, but then noticed that Itachi's other foot was going for his face also.

'Damn, he's a lot better than I give him credit for. However...'

Yuugure just vanished without leaving any cloud of smoke. Itachi fell down onto the ground. He looked around, to see that there were Yuugure's surrounding him.

"Itachi, this is your final evaluation. I will not tell you what I am evaluating, but I expect you to overcome this challenge, other wise, my training you would be in vain."

Then all the Yuugure's drew out senbon, then started throwing them at Itachi. Itachi grimaced as he felt the small needles cut into his skin from all sides.

'How is he throwing the needles from all sides? I can see that they are constantly flickering, but how is he doing it? Speed?'

Yuugure stopped throwing the needles to observe Itachi.

'He is catching up to me... He might be able to activate 'it' at this age... What a genius...'

He started throwing the needles at Itachi again, noticing that he was dodging more and more of them.

'I can see them... I can see them!'

At that moment, Itachi's eyes flickered red for an instant. He quickly picked up 2 needles then used them to deflect all of the incoming needles. He then threw the needles at one of the flickering Yuugure's who caught them. They changed back to the normal black color as quickly as they had become red for an instant.

'So he does have the ability... And at such a young age also... He may surpass all of the Uchiha...'

"We will stop now Itachi, I have seen enough of your capabilities. I am disappointed that the Uchiha heir is this weak. However, there is still much potential we can pull up from you. If you work hard enough, you may even make jounin. Come on, we need to find shelter, it looks like it's going to rain."

Itachi followed, silently going over Yuugure's words.

I am disappointed that the Uchiha heir is this weak.

The words played over and over in his head.

'weak...'

"Itachi! You listening?"

"Sorry sensei..."

"Lighten up! Kids your age shouldn't be this gloomy. You didn't hit me, but you did a good job."

"Sensei... I did hit you..."

Yuugure then noticed that his forehead protector had been nicked.

'Amazing, if he was an enemy, I might've gotten hit...'

"Well, I guess you may even make ANBU. Who knows? Maybe even senin!"

Yuugure stopped to give Itachi a smile then started walking again.

'He... said I may make ANBU... Even senin...'

"Sensei..."

"hm?"

"Thank you..."

(1): I just couldn't resist... T.T....

Well, I managed to finish this chapter, I really wish ppl would R&R...