Summary: When both Mikoto and Kushina have twins, the world is drastically altered. Sasuke is not the only one consumed with revenge when the Massacre comes and Naruto knows the love of a sibling. Just how will this change things on top of the fact the Sharingan isn't the only Kekkei Genkai the Uchiha have?

Chapter 6: Midnight

It really hadn't been easy with both Jounin trapped in a large ball of water. Naruto had to be an idiot and come up with a convoluted plan that was almost, well, genius. On the walk to Tazuna's house with each team of Genin carrying their respective Jounin sensei, Hinata noticed that her friend and her brother were in pain.

Hinata had noticed, also, that their eyes were red, blood red. She wasn't exactly sure when this change had happened. While Kakashi and Kurenai were fighting Zabuza, a large amount of assassins came out of the trees and nearly overwhelmed the lone Genin. Tazuna had almost lost his head numerous times. Hinata was glad that the Uchiha were there to help but what scared her was the amount of bloodlust they emitted and how they were going at their enemies with the true intent to kill. And for some unlucky assassins, that was their fate.

Yet another intangible wall went up around the Uchiha as they walked to Tazuna's house. Hinata wondered just how many walls they'd put up and if she'd ever be able to reconnect with her friend. She bit her lip. If they were still even close enough to be called friends.

"Hinata-chan," Mei started, her grey eyes taking on a glint of suspicion.

"Y-yes?" Hinata asked.

"You're worried about Noriko, aren't you? Her and Sasuke used to actually smile and laugh before their clan got wiped out. They're just bitter. Don't let it get to you. If you're really worried if Noriko's going to go crazy, I'll make sure she doesn't. That's a promise," Mei smiled.

"This is the first step," Sasuke said, activating his Sharingan with a smirk.

"When we get to Konoha, we're going to the Naka Shrine," Noriko said. Sasuke nodded knowingly and the two fell into a comfortable silence, staring at the stars that were beginning to glow.

When Sasuke and Noriko had unlocked their Sharingan, it was in the heat of battle when they'd only just departed from Konoha. It felt exhilarating to have the vision to see chakra and read lips and eventually, copy jutsu.

Noriko still had a wound on her side, a rather nasty gash that hurt if she moved the wrong way. Sasuke had blamed Naruto fully for being frozen like that. Sasuke, of course, knew that Noriko had turned around to get him to focus and help since Kakashi had played his sadistic card, came back, and was still overwhelmed, and the other Genin were barely keeping up.

Naruto had disagreed violently, saying how he was looking for an opening. Sasuke exploded at that, saying how he was the reason that Noriko got hurt and that she wouldn't still be in pain if it weren't for his negligence and cowardice.

The two turned to Noriko, who was deep in thought. Sasuke shook her shoulder lightly to get her attention and she turned around, a confused look on her face.

"What?" Noriko asked.

"The reason you got hurt was because Naruto was being a coward and you had to cover for him when he should've helped fight off the attackers, right?" Sasuke asked.

"No, I was looking for an opening! I wasn't a coward," Naruto said.

"You two act like I'm already dead. Nice to know my own brother can't see my heart still beats," Noriko snorted. Sasuke glared dangerously, tempted to activate his Sharingan. She smirked at his anger and turned to Naruto.

"Naruto, I'm not suffering any life-threatening effects from it so don't worry about it, ne?" Noriko said, trying to smile but in the end had forgotten how to. She frowned and went back to thinking. Naruto sent Sasuke another nasty glare before walking away.

"What were you thinking about?" Sasuke asked.

"When Kakashi-sensei was fighting Zabuza, they stood on water. If you think about it, it seems like a rather essential fighting tactic. I wonder how they did that," Noriko said. "And, how does Kakashi-sensei have the Sharingan? He's not an Uchiha."

"You two are sharp," a voice behind them said. The Uchiha turned around and saw Kurenai.

"Kurenai-sensei," they addressed. She sat down on the dock, watching the sunset next to the Uchiha.

"I overheard your conversation about water-walking and Kakashi's Sharingan. Noriko, right?" Kurenai asked. The girl nodded. "You're right; it's essential. Well, the theory behind it is. It's focusing chakra to your feet making it stick to a surface. I'm sure you can imagine the possibilities of sticking to things."

Noriko's mind began to race. Kurenai was right. There was walking up walls, walking on ceilings, and many more possibilities. She nodded again, wondering if Kurenai would enlighten them with Kakashi's Sharingan backstory. The Jounin simply elaborated on water-walking and some other simple chakra theories. What made Noriko's attention switch from the lack of Kakashi's backstory was the mention of chakra natures. Kurenai was simply going on about chakra at this point and Noriko was about to start silent talking to Sasuke but the mention of chakra natures piqued her interest.

"Kurenai-sensei, what do you mean, chakra natures?" Noriko asked.

"Well, every shinobi is born with the affinity towards a certain type of elemental jutsu, whether that be Earth, Fire, Water, Lightning, or Wind. Many Chuunin and most Jounin end up with at least one more affinity in another type of jutsu. Having two affinities is common, having three is less common, having four is practically unheard of, and having all five is something only the Sage of Six Paths could do. Most clans have an affinity among its members. For your clan, it's fire," Kurenai said.

"What about Kakashi-sensei's Sharingan?" Sasuke asked.

"It's not my place to tell you about his life in the past. I'll just say he's a bit touchy when it comes to being close to others; he's lost a lot," Kurenai said, remembering the day Minato and Kushina died. He'd lost it.

That didn't sit well with either Uchiha. As a result, the two got up and left without another word.

Ice mirrors surrounded the two Uchiha. Of course, they could see the senbon moving in slow motion and Haku's movements clearly, but that it wasn't as if their bodies could move quickly enough to dodge it.

They'd been arrogant. Just because Kurenai gave them the idea to channel chakra to their feet and water walking and then, a few days ago, Kakashi's tree walking, and their new Sharingan, they'd thought they were invincible. Every senbon that stabbed their bodies was a painful reminder of their idiotic arrogance.

Then, a group of ten senbon, closely packed, was aimed for her vital points. Noriko was nearly out of chakra after using Katon jutsu with Sasuke. The ice was reinforced with wind chakra as well so it wouldn't melt like regular ice would. Her eyes had already faded to black as they widened and panic flooded her mind.

There was no way she could die.

She had to stay alive.

She had to be with Sasuke!

To kill Itachi!

They were avengers!

Every passing second, the senbon got closer and closer, going at all directions now towards the Uchiha. Sasuke knew he couldn't cover for both of them without being killed and he was not about to die here. Not after all the hard work he'd put into training with Noriko. Hell, he hated the idea of leaving her alone to deal with Itachi because he knew that neither of them could take them on alone; they needed each other to even have a chance.

Noriko felt her body warp and a bright light and a large amount of raw chakra were released and she felt that she was epicenter. She tried to look around but when she looked behind her, it was like and endless hallway with doors leading to anywhere and everywhere.

Her mind flooded suddenly with images of things she hadn't experienced, things she couldn't possibly know. She dropped to her knees, wherever she was now, and held her head in pain. She heard Sasuke's groan in pain as well but then she looked in front of her, she saw Sasuke's form, but without senbon sticking out of him.

Sasuke looked at his right hand and saw he held a sleek dark-metal colored sword half his height. He looked at it strangely and saw that it glinted with his sister's image, her face in it. He almost jumped, but his new memories told him that she was simply in another form, in a form not achieved in millennia.

"Kyouzou…" Noriko said, somehow recalling memories of another Uchiha. Another burst of light, this time less bright, like a spark, came as she reappeared in her human form, wearing her original clothes. She looked at Sasuke's arms and saw that on both of their arms, but just their arms, they had no senbon. It still hurt on their backs and legs, though.

Something in their minds told them that it was the initial burst of raw chakra from Noriko's change in form that had eliminated the senbon, which now lay on the ground. Noriko almost feared this new power but Sasuke gave her a glance that she easily read: It's okay.

Then, she changed back into her sword form, seeing how Haku was beginning to formulate a plan to counter a thinner and lighter blade. He'd only worked with Zabuza's heavy Executioner's Blade.

All that was needed to change back was the combination of imagining changing back and a tug at her chakra. When she changed back, there was no burst of chakra or light. Sasuke took a stance that he somehow felt comfortable in, and then realized it was the starting position for one of the Uchiha taijutsu counters. He smirked as his single-tomoe spun and he charged for Haku's mirror. It managed to leave a scratch, a deep one. He felt the smooth texture of the blade running through the mirror like butter and with movements that Haku simply couldn't predict; the Uchiha boy was destroying his mirrors.

Then, the Uchiha's concentration was lost when he saw that the mirrors were reforming with a vengeance. Sasuke let go of the sword on accident and the blade was stuck parallel in the ground, making a few cracks. Noriko didn't dare try to change back; she'd end up with a hand in the ground or something and then that would be crushed immediately with her bones broken and her hand unsalvageable. She knew she could change back into her human form a few feet away from where she was now, but she knew she needed more chakra for that, chakra she'd spent mostly on changing back and forth into her human and sword forms. She cursed silently, wishing she hadn't used up precious chakra she needed to change back and not get her hand crushed.

"Hot!"

Noriko turned her attention to the person who had tried to pick up her sword, well, her. It was Naruto, who along with Sasuke again, was impaled with senbon. Noriko watched helplessly as her brother was impaled by so many senbon again he collapsed, his final words left in Noriko's Sharingan. He couldn't speak so he only mouthed the words and Noriko was about to scream when Naruto emitted a huge amount of corrosive-feeling chakra. Noriko watched as the mirrors all broke and Naruto's punch stopped just short of Haku's face as his mask fell. Noriko shut her eyes and began to focus her chakra as much as she could to change back.

Haku and Naruto exchanged words, oblivious to Noriko's struggle with chakra.

It wasn't as if using the Kyouzou was taking up huge amounts of chakra, but it did take up considerable amounts. What really took a heavy blow on the Uchiha was keeping their Sharingan active while trying to evade senbon that would cause pain, small amounts per senbon but when there's perhaps fifty sticking out, the pain is nearly unbearable. To try to ease the pain, they had to focus their chakra in small amounts everywhere in a continuous flow evenly and that caused a strain on their chakra coils.

Because of all these factors, changing back and the receiving of memories of past Uchiha, it had taken a toll on both of their chakra reserves. Noriko gritted her teeth as she focused her chakra more and more, feeling chakra being slowly replenished. When she finally had enough, she changed back immediately to see that the fog was lifting. She paid that no attention and knelt by Sasuke's side, tears beginning to form.

She blinked them away and a dark, cold, distant look began to etch its way onto her face. She stared at the senbon that dared strike him and began to take them out of his body. A few minutes passed and she had a neat pile of senbon next to her and Sasuke still not moving.

"Sasuke-kun!"

Noriko didn't even hear the voice over the overwhelming white noise in her mind. She stared at Sasuke's lifeless body for a long while until Kakashi walked over and saw that Noriko didn't have the chakra to shock Sasuke's system with. He also could see that she was in no position for rational thinking and even if she had thought of shocking his chakra coils, she wouldn't have the chakra to do so.

More agonizing minutes passed and Noriko was in the middle of questioning her existence (which consisted of: A sword is useless without a wielder and a wielder is defenseless without his sword. So why…?) when Sasuke's eyes slowly opened.

Noriko felt tears roll down her cheeks, her dark eyes wide in disbelief as she stared at Sasuke. His dark eyes met hers and he let out a small smirk. At this point, Mei threw herself on him, crying her eyes out as the female Uchiha wiped her tears away before Sasuke saw them.

He blinked and felt Mei's weight on him. He looked at her blonde hair and wondered why the girls who all called him 'Sasuke-kun' wore their hair long. He didn't even like long hair. Something short and difficult to get you killed in battle, like Noriko's short hair, was ideal.

"Mei, you're heavy," Sasuke wheezed. She sat up abruptly, spilling out an apology but trailed off midsentence seeing that Sasuke wasn't even paying attention to her. She followed his eyes and saw that he was looking at his sister, who was still sitting in shock. Sasuke sat up and noticed that there were no senbon to make him cringe as he sat up. He looked at his sister's form and saw a huge amount of senbon sticking out of her back and a few on her face.

"You're being stupid," Sasuke stated to Noriko, who was trying to regain her bearings.

"You're stupid for making me think you were dead," Noriko muttered. "Idiot."

"Then we're even," Sasuke said as he began to pull out the senbon on her back and face.

"…" Noriko glared at him and stood once all the senbon lay on the ground, each end colored red with her blood. Kakashi helped Kurenai wake Shino and Hinata up, leaving the other five Genin to make a small huddle.

"Kakashi-sensei," Noriko started, seeing how everyone else was asleep finally. They were taking a small break before they headed back to Konoha. Above Tazuna's roof, the two Sharingan bearers sat in silence until Noriko broke it.

"Hm?" Kakashi looked at her, his bright orange book in his pocket.

"During Sasuke and I's fight with Haku, something strange happened. I turned into a sword and when I did so, I reappeared into Sasuke's hand. Normal kunai couldn't break the ice mirrors but when Sasuke used me, it cut cleanly, like something really different," Noriko said, looking at her hands.

Kakashi was silent for a moment. He had a feeling, despite the low chance, that they'd unlock their Kyouzou but he hadn't anticipated it to be so soon after unlocking their Sharingan. He sighed. When did they unlock it?

"It's called the 'Kyouzou'. The Uchiha clan carried two Kekkei Genkai, but this one was not applicable to all Uchiha. It only occurs with twins and even then, there's a low chance it will work. I'm surprised you and Sasuke are still alive," Kakashi said, earning a shocked look from the girl.

"What do you mean, you're surprised we're alive? Of course we'd be alive. Wait, you knew about the Kyouzou?" Noriko narrowed her eyes at her Jounin sensei.

Kakashi looked at the girl with a calm eye before responding. "Yes."

"Then…" Noriko fell silent. "Why did you doubt that Sasuke and I would be alive?"

"Because the overwhelming amount of information being recalled into your mind from past Uchiha could have very well 'melted' your mind. However, the Tsukuyomi you received five years ago could attest to your mental strength. Also, both you and Sasuke have to have been in a situation where death was a real possibility. As you saw from Sasuke's condition after your fight with him and Haku, your brother could've died. I'm not sure of what the other consequences that could've killed you and Sasuke, but I suppose it doesn't matter since you and Sasuke are alive," Kakashi said.

Noriko looked at the moon, shining brightly, before giving Kakashi a brief nod before jumping down to the house and it took another hour for her to fall asleep. Kakashi could tell from the way her chakra was fluctuating without an even pattern, like a heartbeat.

Back in Konoha, both teams reported to the Hokage that, despite meeting many assassins and nearly being killed several times (Kakashi smoothly glossed over this little 'detail'), the mission was a success. Kurenai's team left along with the two blondes. Kakashi was about to follow when he remembered something important.

"Hokage-sama, Sasuke-kun and Noriko-chan would like to tell you something," Kakashi eye-smiled at the scowl the Uchiha sent him and quickly bounced out, the book in his back pocket itching to be read.

"Yes?" Hiruzen asked.

After seeing the two of them fumble with their fingers and send each other sharp glances as to who would talk, Sasuke sighed in defeat. Hiruzen noted how rather un-Uchiha like they were acting. Perhaps if he told Kakashi he'd be able to use that as some sort of blackmail for later in case the two Uchiha needed to be reminded who was their Jounin sensei was.

"During our fight with the Ice Release user, Haku, something strange happened. In a burst of light and raw chakra, Noriko turned into a blade. She reappeared in my hand and so many memories of past Uchiha filled our minds and when I used her, well, the blade, against the ice mirrors from Haku's jutsu, it cut deeply into the mirrors, unlike kunai that didn't even leave a scratch," Sasuke said.

Hiruzen blew a smoke ring before he commented. "I see. Please do not push yourselves. And, when you've both made Chuunin, Kakashi has information on your Kekkei Genkai."

The two Uchiha nodded quickly and left, as if the Hokage's office was the last place they wanted to be. Hiruzen sighed as he heard another knock on the door.

"Come in," Hiruzen said.

An old woman with deep red hair stepped in, her wrinkles deeper than Hiruzen's. She resembled someone he'd seen once but he couldn't recall who it was. Behind her came Jiraiya. Now, if Hiruzen didn't care about whom this old woman was, now he cared. The mere fact that Jiraiya was here either meant that the world was about to crash down, a new book was coming (which would raise questions as to the woman's presence), or something else had happened. Jiraiya was never one for small talk unless it was over sake.

"Sarutobi-sensei, this is Uzumaki Maki. She's here regarding Uzumaki Naruto and Mei," Jiraiya said. Hiruzen raised a brow in interest. "She's Kushina-chan's mother."

Now Hiruzen was highly intrigued.

"I'd like to speak with you over tea," Maki said, not fazed by the slight droop in Hiruzen's face, as if a streak of grief. He nodded and led the woman to a teashop.

"Unfortunately, your sensei doesn't care or get paid enough to care," Kakashi eye-smiled once more at his cute Genin. The two Uchiha looked revolted at the idea of eating something sweet as they sat down at a table. Sasuke couldn't help but notice how there were no other customers other than their table and the Hokage's. He saw an old woman, perhaps older than the Hokage sitting with him and having a hushed conversation with the woman.

When the dango came, Kakashi suddenly got up and sat at the table with the Hokage. None of the four Genin thought much of it and the two Uzumaki ate the dango with mild discomfort and the Uchiha didn't dare touch the sweet. They drank the darkest tea the shop offered.

"Ne, Noriko," Mei started.

"What?" Noriko asked, masking her surprise at the fact the girl started a conversation without any malice or hint at making fun of her pale complexion.

"Who is this guy you want to kill anyway? And, I sensed some really weird chakra from you and Sasuke before Naruto's chakra spiked strangely. So, what happened with you two when Haku attacked?" Mei asked, chewing the dango.

Naruto looked at the Uchiha boy with interest as well. He swallowed and seconded his want to know what had happened. Noriko looked uncomfortably at Sasuke, who shot back the same look. She put down her teacup and looked at the two Uzumaki.

"For the sake of teamwork, I'll tell you," Noriko said. "Nearly a millennia ago, the Uchiha unlocked a second Kekkei Genkai. It was called the 'Kyouzou'. This grants a special kind of kenjutsu, a powerful kind of kenjutsu. It can't be blocked or predicted, the latter mainly because no one has seen this for ages. This isn't like the Sharingan; it can only be unlocked with twins, and even then the chance of unlocking it is low and dangerous," Noriko paused and took a sip of tea, unaware she was being watched by her sensei, Hokage, and old woman.

"We have to be in sync and in life-threatening danger to unlock it. Also, we have to unlock our Sharingan before we unlock the Kyouzou. During our fight with Haku, death was a high possibility, even with our Sharingan. Even when we unlock the Kyouzou, the fact that memories of past Uchiha who have unlocked this are burned into our brains may kill is. We're already…mentally strong so we didn't necessarily suffer in that respect," Sasuke said, looking away.

"What do you mean, mentally strong?" Naruto asked.

"We've been through more horrible things to have more memories being in our minds kill us. Anyway, the Kyouzou, as I said, was a special kenjutsu. It's special because one twin is the wielder and one is the blade. When we fought Haku, I cut through the ice like it was nothing, whereas a kunai didn't even leave a mark," Noriko said, rushing her words in the beginning, not wanting to delve into the topic of just what and how she and Sasuke were mentally strong.

Knowing Naruto and Mei, they'd ask anyway.

"Like, what did you do that made you mentally strong?" Naruto asked. "Oh, oh, and can you demonstrate turning into a blade?" A dumb grin weaved its way onto his face.

Sasuke and Noriko stood to demonstrate.

"Come, Hoki!" Sasuke said, much to his confusion. Why had he said another name?

In the glint of the sword, Noriko gave him a strange look. Naruto and Mei were shocked and then jealousy set in as they chewed dango with a glare on their faces.

"So what you have some fancy jutsu or whatever! We're not going to be one-upped by you! Me and Mei are going to be the greatest ninja Konoha has seen and kick your ass!" Naruto thrust a stick at Sasuke, who glared in response.

Naruto smirked at the Uchiha boy while Mei reached for Noriko. Sasuke had a feeling a rather interesting thing would happen if that happened so he didn't block her. When she grabbed hold of the sword, Mei's face drained in color and she withdrew her hold in a panic she held her head in pain, letting out a scream.

"Mei!" Kakashi said in alarm and caught her before she fell. She was out cold before the Copy Ninja caught her body.

"Sasuke, what did you do?" Kakashi glared harshly at the Uchiha boy. Noriko reappeared next to him after Sasuke muttered the strange name he'd said earlier. Noriko was trying to hide her shock at seeing her fellow female teammate so pale and unconscious after simply touching the hilt.

"They're truly…" Maki said in awe.

"What're you talking about?" Noriko asked. "What…what happened to Mei?"

"Hokage, what I'd foreseen is turning out in the worst possible manner. Precautionary measures must be taken," Maki said seriously.

"Hey! What did I do to Mei?!" Noriko got face to face with the old woman, who frowned at her and sent her flying onto the street, hitting the ground painfully. Sasuke heard a sickening crack and his Sharingan was spinning angrily.

"I don't care who you are, but no one hurts my sister! She asked you a simple question, you old hag!" Sasuke snarled.

"Sasuke," Hiruzen said sharply. "Please take your sister to the hospital. Now."

"Not until this lady answers Noriko's question. Just what happened?" Sasuke glared at the wrinkly woman. She snorted.

"Your eyes don't scare me. Your sister's Kekkei Genkai and Mei's Kekkei Genkai reacted badly when your sister was in her sword form. From what I can tell, those two are polar opposites and when they touched, much like fire does to water, it didn't go over so well. I'm being vague but that's because it's a bit difficult to explain. However, those two are like two sides of the same coin. They're awfully similar but they're also extremely different. The difference in their personalities, background, etc, caused such a bad reaction for Mei. Does that make sense?" Maki asked.

Sasuke was confused. He really didn't understand. He glared once more before picking up his sister's form, much to her flustering, and dropped her at the hospital. He stayed with her as they healed her bone, telling her what he'd heard and wondering if it made any sense.

"So…Mei got hurt because we're so different, but similar in many ways? Like the earth and sky in the sense they can never come together. Perhaps it was like defying nature, or some history thing that this lady was talking about, if the sky touches the ground or if Mei tries to wield me in my sword form. The fact that Mei and I are so different along with something that happened between the Uchiha and her clan in the past is the reason that she got hurt. I think I understand; if Mei and I come together to fight, we'd be powerful, but if we fight as enemies, we might even end up killing each other," Noriko said.

Sasuke glared at his hands.

"Let's go find that woman. She said something about Mei having a Kekkei Genkai. Do you think this has anything to do with the Kyouzou?" Sasuke asked as they wrapped up Noriko's arm and was discharged.

Noriko shook her head in dismay. "Anyway, why did you say 'Hoki'?"

"I don't know. When I thought of your name, instead of 'Noriko' I said another name. Hokage-sama said something about Kakashi knowing stuff about the Kyouzou, so we should ask him about it later," Sasuke said.

Noriko nodded slowly, going back into her thoughts.

A/N I'd like to thank all of you who have followed and favorited! I hope you're enjoying the story so far and the twist at the end!
If you have questions about what I wrote, feel free to ask!