HEY! It's TheRagFromTheCrag and he's got a message for your eyes alone! Check out my profile for the forum link where the Polls for this story are located! If you don't vote you can't bitch about my choices!
Special thanks to Novrier for his help as always!
Kitani always felt different after that night, his training was now tended to by his Godfathers, Asuma Sarutobi and Kakashi Hatake. From Asuma he learned much about Shurikenjutsu, Kenjutsu, and Bukijutsu, he learned the basics of Nature Transformation from Asuma, and learned he had a Dual-Affinity. Because of his father's unique gene sequence, he was capable of using Four of the Five Basic Chakra Nature's; Fire-Style, Wind-Style, Lightning-Style, and Earth-Style, yet he found Earth-Style Chakra was especially difficult, not too surprising given his Affinities were Fire and Lightning-Style. Still it never ceased to confuse him, granted he was the great-grandson of Hashirama Senju, one of the Few to have access to all Five Basic Chakra Nature's, but that alone couldn't account for his Dual-Affinity, moreover was the fact that Lightning and Fire were naturally incompatible, since according to the Laws of nature, Lightning and Fire had little if any effect against each other, though Fire-Style could be used to theoretically summon natural Lightning. He learned various Sharingan related abilities from Kakashi, and his Godmother's taught him about Genjutsu and interrogation techniques.
Kurotana was in many ways a fanatic when it came to Kekkei Genkai, he was obsessed to learn and cultivate such abilities, but when Kitani's father died, he lost all interest. Kitani liked to think that when Kuroka saw how effortlessly such abilities were defied during the Nine-Tailed Fox Attack, that Kurotana lost the value he placed on such things. Kitani came to this conclusion because his grandfather taught him differently after that.
In any event Kitani had far more important matters at hand, there he was, sitting against the wall near the window, and Kitani was idly flipping a Kunai in his hand. Kitani often sat their with his head held like Sasuke while he flicked his wrist up and sent a kunai up, before catching the end and repeating it. Kitani had matured, Itachi's Massacre caused him to seriously reevaluate his priorities. He pushed himself Constantly, trained and trained but no amount of Mental training could help him find the blasted comb of his!
The classroom was as always humming with activity, students moving around laughing, discussing something. Kitani on the other hand found himself to often be unable to share the excitement.
"Well, you are as gloomy as ever." Naruto laughed appearing next to Kitani, with his usual wide grin, earning a somewhat annoyed look from the Uchiha.
"I am not gloomy, I am bored."
"Yeah, I can understand that. The thoughts of another history lecture from Iruka-sensei makes me feel sleepy."
Kitani sighed. This was not exactly what he meant, though history lessons were indeed quite dull. It was just that he found it more rewarding to trying with his father's friend and one of his godfathers, Kakashi Hatake. The one eyed Jonnin wasn't often around, but he had some past story with the Uchiha's he didn't like to share. Still, his tips at times were quite helpful and he did explain things in a manner that was easy to understand, even when reading that pervy little book of his. Sometimes Asuma Sarutobi, his other godfather also popped up to offer some tips, though he seemed to be around even less than Kakashi, which given the latter's notorious poor sense of time was saying lot.
"Hey, want to go practice shuriken jutsu after classes are over? You are quite good, though we both know who is better."
"Tsk, fine, I'll show you who is better ... again." Kitani smirked. If anything, Naruto's boisterous attitude always improved his mood for whatever reason.
It was at this point that Iruka-Sensei showed up in a puff of smoke. Kitani doesn't bother relaunching the Kunai, since it got on Sensei's nerves, and Kitani watches with threadbare interest. ''As of today, you are all Ninja's, to get here you faced difficult trials and hardships, but that's nothing, what comes next will be far more difficult. Now you are only first level Genin; low level Ninja's. All the Genin will be grouped into three man teams, with the exception of one. Each squad will be lead by a Jonnin, an elite Ninja.'' Says Iruka-Sensei to everyone's surprise save Kitani's. ''We want each squad to have a fair and equal balance of abilities, so that's how we decide.'' Iruka-Sensei explains. ''Now I'll announce the Squads; Squad 7! Naruto Uzumaki! Sakura Haruno! ...'' Says Iruka-Sensei causing one to shout in happiness and another to almost cry, before their moods are reversed. ''And Kitani and Sasuke Uchiha's.'' Says Iruka-Sensei causing both Kitani and Sasuke to exchange confused looks.
''Iruka-Sensei? You are aware of our differences in opinion? Not to mention his one-sided rivalry with me?'' Kitani asks. ''Yes, however, your both the Pride of the Uchiha Clan and the Hidden Leaf, Furthermore, your both Prodigies. We hope some of that will rub off on Naruto and Sakura.'' Says Iruka. ''I don't disagree, but I'd rather kiss dirt than be on Sakura's Team.'' Says Kitani, having an extremely low opinion of her as a Shinobi. ''He's not wrong.'' Says Sasuke, in agreement. ''You and me good for tonight?'''' Kitani asks. ''Wouldn't miss it.'' Says Sasuke. ''Can I come watch?'' Asks Sakura. ''No/Absolutely not!'' Sasuke and Kitani both say with finality.
Kitani turns his attentions to Ino briefly.
"Ino, a few words."
"Kitani? Of course, you have my full attention. Now, what is it that you want?" Ino flipped back her hair in a flirty manner, even though that earned her little more than an irritated eye twitch from Kitani. She was always like this and whenever he had to talk to her, his mood always shifter between the of irritation and irrational terror, as the girl seemed really determined with her affections at times.
"Will your family flower-shop be open after the academy is over?"
"Ooh, you want to by flowers. Finally decided to make a move on a certain someone?" Ino leaned closer moving her eyebrows in a suggestive manners.
"No." Kitani tried to keep his face neutral.
"Oh well, you don't know what you are missing. The usual then?" Ino sighed.
"Yes." Kitani cursed the fact that Ino's family owned the best place to buy flowers in the whole village. Every time he wanted to visit the graves of his relatives it meant talking with this annoying blonde. And no matter what Sasuke said, Naruto had nothing on Ino when it came to being annoying. At the very least Kitani never ran away from Naruto.
The teams fly past, and Kitani begins to suck on a lollipop. When everyone else has left, Kitani breathes in relief. ''Hey, Kitani?'' A voice asks. ''Hmm?'' He asks, before looking up and seeing Ino looking at him nervously. ''Why do you turn me down so quick?'' She asks in a soft tone. The vulnerability she is showing forces down whatever snapping remark he had ready.
''You have to understand, I'm still haunted, damaged goods if you will. Every time I go to sleep I relive that night, every time I wake I'm in a cold sweat. If I am ever going to seek a relationship, it must be with someone who is at least a rival to me. I need the challenge Ino, granted you've the spirit, but I haven't seen the signs you can go the distance.'' Says Kitani.
''So it's not because you don't like me?'' She asks hopefully. ''Sasuke trains for half the reason I do, but I will only ever consider dating if the woman is able to impress me. Only one girl has proven her commitment, and that's not you.'' Says Kitani, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, before departing.
Kitani leaves the academy and heads first to Yamanaka flowers. He walks in to find Inoichi Yamanaka and his wife. ''Kitani? Trust your here for the usual?'' Asks Inoichi, with a sad smile.
''Yeah, a bouquet of Black roses with one red in the centre.'' Says Kitani, trying not to let Ino's vulnerability interrupt his mood, but fails.''I'll just be a moment.'' Says Inoichi's wife.
''Hey Yamanaka Sensei? Do you think you could maybe start training Ino? It's not really my business, but if she wants the chance, she has to get stronger, she has to prove her will is as great. Then I won't dismiss her so outright.'' Says Kitani as he is handed The flowers when Lady Yamanaka reentered.
''Here you go sweetling.'' Says Lady Yamanaka, in her motherly tone. With a sad smile, Kitani leaves, flowers in hand.
30 Minutes Later
Kitani had spent the better part of the last hour walking towards the Uchiha Clan district cemetery. ''Hey dad, uncle, grandmother, grandfather, so, Ino tried flirting again. I turned her down of course, but oddly enough, I didn't leave her empty handed. I don't know why I told her what I did, or why I told her father how to help her, but I did.'' Kitani says as he lays Two roses at his families graves. Kitani takes the Red Rose and walks to Naruko's grave. She'd been buried here, and Kitani always left a Bowl of Ramen and a Red Rose as an offering. ''My sweet Naruko...'' Kitani says in whisper, his voice cracking, and his eyes tearing up. ''I wish you were here, it would make this so much more tolerable.'' He finishes leaning against her gravestone. ''I wouldn't have minded dying if I knew I would be with you.'' Says Kitani, his eyes streaming.
When Itachi had butchered the Clan, he'd killed Naruko for some unknown reason. He'd buried it for so long, but the gravestone was an eternal reminder. Kitani Found his unresolved grief in regards to her had caused him to fully mature his Sharingan in both eyes. Something else had happened, but the Jonnin were tight-lipped about it. Kitani always resented their lack of truthfulness in what else had happened, but otherwise didn't pay it any mind.
Feeling the pre-sunset rays on his back, Kitani heads home and plans to sleep for an hour before he goes to Shurikenjutsu practice with Naruto.
'Your thinking about her aren't you?' Son says.
"Hard not to, I still don't know why Itachi did it, but believe me, he will answer for it more than anything else." Says Kitani, as tears stain his cheeks, as he remembers the sight he'd found when he went in search fo Naruko. His tears quickly turn to steam.
It isn't long before Kitani gets home, unlike Sasuke, he'd never left the Uchiha Compound, how could he? This was his only real home? He'd only ever felt at peace here, strange as it may sound. Kitani entered, and went upstairs. But when he saw his Comb on his desk, he was immediately on edge. 'It's never that easy!' He says mentally, before he turns around, Kunai in hand. Unfortunately he's thrown against a wall.
"Hello, Kitani, long time no see." Says an all too sinister voice that defies how friendly it is.
"Am I supposed to know you?" Kitani asks as he clenches his teeth in pain. "No, but I shouldn't expect you two, the last we met, you were a babe, but my have you grown strong." Says the voice.
"So?" Kitani asks, but instantly regrets it, because whomever has him pinned bites his neck hard.
Kitani hisses in pain. "What...did...you...do?" Kitani says out of breath.
"Consider that a gift, I will have your power one day." His marker says.
The pain is unbearable, it burns with an intensity that hurts so bad Kitani passes out. "Oh? Did I kill him by accident?" Asks the voice, before checking him. "Huh, he's alive, that's good to know. wait, where's the Seal," Says the voice, stepping out of the shadows, to reveal Orochimaru...who is confused by the lack of the Cursed seal.
2 Hours, Ten Minutes, and 11 Seconds Later
Kitani awoke, his neck still hurt, but he didn't know why, he could barely remember what had happened. Kitani decided to try and figure it out later, picking up what had been broken and setting it aside, he realised that he had to prepare for his Jonnin instructor to show up. Kitani walks towards is family homes armory.
Kitani walks in and begins to run his hands along on the various bladed weapons present. "I miss you dad." Kitani says, running his hands across the hilt of the family sword. They'd had since the Warring States Period, a blade of pure black hue, with crimson streaks along it's blade, a Katana of supreme strength. Kitani had never took it up, never feeling worthy. "Thought I'd find you here!" Says a voice.
"Where else?" Kitani replies, turning to see his father's incorporeal figure.
"You'll need to take it up eventually, you'll never be complete without it." Says his father.
"I know, but I can't." Kitani replies.
"Can't or won't?" Kuroki replies.
"There's much of a difference?" Kitani replies sadly.
"It was not your fault son, it was mine, but never yours." Kuroki replies.
"How would I know? She never bothered to explain." Kitani replies with tears in his eyes.
"You'll see her again, someday." Kuroki Replies.
"But will she see me?" Kitani asks, turning his back, and when he turns around, there's no body there. "Great, more ghosts." He moans, before looking out and realising he'd missed Shurikenjutsu practice with Naruto.
Next Day, Classroom Seven, Leaf Ninja Academy
Kitani had arrived earlier than the rest of his team, sat at the desk, sleeping a little, having not gotten much sleep last night, for obvious reasons...