Leaving the Nest

Karasu had grown well after his father set out to join the Akatsuki, training constantly with his uncle and mother in the year and a half since he turned four. Sasuke and his team had just signed up for the Chunin exams, and would soon be setting out to do special training with his sensei, Kakashi. He was now at Shirohime's house, sharing the good news and celebrating with his nephew and "big sister", as he had begun calling Shirohime after Itachi left. Karasu was begging Sasuke to train with him, reminding the young Uchiha of himself when he was growing up. Sasuke finally had to agree to train with Karasu for a while, the young boy refusing to accept no as an answer.

They went out into the yard to practice their Taijutsu, as Karasu was still learning to harness his chakra for jutsus. Sasuke was surprised by Karasu's speed, far exceeding what a boy his age should be capable of as he dashed towards his uncle. Karasu was a blur to Sasuke, forcing him to activate his Sharingan to track the younger boy's movement as he dashed around the clearing before closing in. Sasuke was beginning to notice a new level in Karasu's speed and strength, certain that his nephew had not been so fast or strong when they last sparred only a few weeks before. Karasu managed to catch Sasuke off guard as he dove for his right, his speed allowing him to pass Sasuke's guard and attack him from the left after looping around. They continued for several tense minutes, Sasuke quickly adapting to Karasu's quickly growing talents.

Shirohime had to stop them by calling them in to eat, as neither seemed able to gain ground over the other. Sasuke and Shirohime praised Karasu's abilities, much to the young boy's delight. Sasuke returned to the village after dining with them, saying he had to report bright and early for a mission. Shirohime washed up and got Karasu ready for bed, the young boy falling asleep quickly after sparring with Sasuke.

Karasu opened his eyes to find himself within an immense cavern cloaked in darkness. He could sense a presence within the shadows, but his eyes couldn't make anything out. A waft of hot air across his neck made Karasu spin around, freezing as he saw a giant eye. It was like a large Sharingan, but the tomoe were completely white. He tried to back away but quickly felt a smooth surface behind him. He ran his fingers over it, realizing that it felt like the skin of a massive reptile. The cavern was filled with faint light as the moon appeared through an opening in the ceiling, revealing a massive black dragon surrounding Karasu with its body. As the creature continued to hold him in its gaze, Karasu felt as though he were falling into its eyes.

Karasu awoke to the sound of a woman screaming and the smell of smoke, coughing as he rolled out of bed. He blinked as he found his house on fire and saw a man in an Anbu mask dragging his mother out. Before he could give chase, something hit him from behind and dropped him to his knees. He turned to see another man in Anbu garb. His heart dropped as he realized that the men were most likely from the Foundation, the order ruled over by the man who had once schemed to destroy his father and uncle's clan. He felt like his chest was burning as the man dragged him outside, his rage threatening to obliterate his reason.

Karasu's rage rose even higher as they emerged into the smoke filled night to find the other Anbu member raping his mother while she cried. He felt like his body would burst into flames as he was forced to watch by the man who had brought him out, feeling his pulse pounding in his eyes. He knew they were trying to break his mind, but he refused to give them the satisfaction. The Anbu men switched places when the first one was done with Shirohime, a third appearing from the trees as the second finished.

The third man severed Shirohime's head when he was done with her, tossing it to the ground by Karasu's feet. The men swore and leapt away from him as black flames began slowly spreading out from his body, covering him like a shell. The hardened Anbu shinobi began to sweat and tremble as the flames took shape around the small boy, coalescing to take the form of a dragon around him. As his head rose, his Sharingan awakened. Unlike his father or uncle, Karasu's Sharingan had white tomoe. Karasu let loose a growl that froze the Anbu shinobis' hearts with fear before disappearing from their sight, reappearing before the man that had first raped his mother.

Karasu grabbed the man's arm as he lashed out with a kunai, severing the limb with the flaming claws extending from his fingers. Black flames spread out from the wound, consuming the man in a matter of seconds. In the brief lapse as the other members of the Anbu team watched in horror as their teammate met his gruesome end, Karasu killed the other two in a torrent of black fire. He stood breathing heavily as more Foundation operatives appeared from the trees, a twisted smile gracing his lips as they rushed him in a single wave. Karasu got down on all fours like an animal, a sphere of black fire forming between the open jaws of the flames that covered him as wings and a tail emerged from the fires surrounding him. He let loose the blast of fire, incinerating everything in its conical trajectory; even the ground had been burned away, the exposed stones glowing white hot. Karasu barely caught himself as he fell forward, utterly exhausted.

You have much to learn about controlling my power, though you did well for a human so young. He heard a deep voice say within his mind. It sounded ancient and terrifying, full of malice and the need for destruction.

Karasu was too stunned to form a response. He heard the voice chuckle within him at his reaction. Karasu looked around, trying to be certain that he was alone as the flames around him dispersed.

"Hello?" He called nervously.

Hello, Karasu. The voice said with another chuckle. Karasu again scanned his surroundings, but found himself completely alone.

"Who's there?" He asked the voice.

I am not a who. The voice said.

"Then what are you?" Karasu asked, becoming frustrated with the roundabout answers he was getting.

I am the source of the black flames your father's people called the Amaterasu. You have been blessed with a stronger connection to me than any of the Uchiha, Karasu.

Karasu vaguely remembered his uncle telling him about the abilities of the Uchiha, more specifically the abilities they gained when awakening the Sharingan's second form.

"Have I awakened the Mangekyo?" Karasu asked, more to himself than the voice within him.

No, you have awakened my eyes, the Kokuryutei Sharingan, the Sharingan of the Black Dragon Emperor.

"Quite the lofty title," Karasu said, rolling his eyes.

It was only right that the early Uchiha would name me as such when they first glimpsed me, before their blood became weakened through the generations. The voice replied proudly.

"What now?" Karasu asked, looking at his mother's remains.

It is no longer safe for you here, your enemies now know where you sleep. We must leave this place. The Black Dragon Emperor responded.

"But this is my home, I don't know anything beyond it," Karasu protested.

Though you proved tonight that you are capable of using my power, you have much to learn if you are to have any hope of victory in the future. Look at how tired you are after tapping into my power for no more than a few seconds, Karasu. If you do not learn to better control my power, you are going to end up killing yourself with it.

Karasu had to admit that he was more exhausted than he ever had been; he was struggling to remain conscious. He looked to the South-West with a heavy heart, towards where Konohanagakure and his uncle lay. He knew he couldn't go into the village to say goodbye, a five year old child entering the gate and wandering the streets alone would raise too much suspicion.

"Where will we go?" Karasu asked the entity within him.

Deep into the mountains, where they are less likely to find us. The dragon replied.

"So be it," Karasu said as he dragged himself to his feet and began walking towards the mountains that lay near the edge of his view, many miles away.