Well, it really has been a long time. I apologize for not writing sooner but I lost my passion for writing. I just couldn't write anything. University has been a hassle as well. Along with life in general. Life is hectic.
Anyway, enjoy the newest chapter!
Here is a list of the ages of the characters:
- Hashirama/Madara: 12 years old
- Tobirama/Izuna: 10 years old
- Naruto: 9 years old
- Itama: 7 years old
Asura's Will
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By Angelbloodlover
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~ "I'm not afraid of death; I just don't want to be there when it happens."
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Woody Allen
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Chapter 5: Stubborn Minds
"Don't apologize for being human."
- Namikaze Naruto
After the heartbreaking brotherly scene Naruto started explaining the event that brought her to Itama. She started explaining the situation; the beginning of a quiet and eerie silence followed by utter chaos and bloodshed. Naruto had never in her entire life felt so much remorse and anguish at the sight of children barely reaching their teenage years fight other children to death. Bile rose to her throat and she almost threw up the contents of her stomach but contained it on time.
"Children Hashirama, they were goddamned children!" Naruto cried in horrified desperation, "How can this be just? How can the world accept such heinous deeds?! It's an abomination!" She clenched her tiny fists, unblemished with no single scar thanks to Kurama. Her eyes took in the size and she thought about all those innocent lives that had been forced to fight their way through life. Her eyes became blurry and she let the tears stream down her face. What good was it to hide her true feelings?
Hashirama's eyes widened as saucers at the beautiful creature called Naruto-she was mesmerizing. Words left her rosy lips, words that no other person ever dared to voice out loud for fear of retribution but here, in this exact moment, Naruto was saying the same words that he had said after Kawarama's death.
Itama could only watch, eyes wide in fright at the sight of his mentor crying. Something in him snapped and he scrambled nervously towards Naruto, engulfing her in a tight embrace. "Sensei, don't cry. Please." He begged her in a hoarse voice, his voice barely a whisper that reached the ears of the experienced ninjas.
Few seconds later and Hashirama joined the emotional-tinted embrace. No one dared to utter a single word. No one dared to shatter the illusion of the peace they had.
For now the three tried to forget everything that occurred around them-Naruto vowed to protect this peaceful feeling. With her life.
After the emotional breakdown, Naruto watched the back of the two brothers. Something in her heart seemed to lighten up. She didn't think she had ever felt this light. The only thing she had craved was a shoulder to cry on and some comforting words.
Without another word, she turned towards her hut, plans shifting and changing within her mind. Kurama kept silent, watching as determination and sheer protectiveness stewed in his jailer. Naruto had altered the entire timeline by befriending Hashirama and Madara and rescuing the younger brother of Hashirama. Would it backlash or would it make everything for the better?
Kurama hoped that his ball of sunshine would change everything for the better. He believed in her.
'Kurama, there's been a change of plans.'
'Kit, whatever you do, I follow.' Kurama spoke softly, putting his entire belief on his little gaki. He knew that whatever choice she would make, he would be standing beside her, not behind her. 'Tell me.'
'I'm going to infiltrate the Uchihas and prove my Uchiha blood.'
Kurama snorted in disgust but complied with her plan. 'Great, more Uchihas to sneer at.'
Naruto chuckled softly, gratitude and fondness lacing her voice. She would be forever thankful of her best friend. 'Thank you, Kurama. I owe you my life for everything.'
The mighty Bijuu said nothing but Naruto didn't need any more words. She had enough confirmation that Kurama would stand forever by her side and that was all that she needed.
It took her a few more hours to store everything in a storage scroll. Meanwhile her clones were getting as much training as possible. There was no need to waste time when she had so much possibilities with her Shadow Clones. Combined with Kurama's chakra it was an unlimited possibility, one that she would use fully to her advantage. It would be a shame not to use everything in her disposal- she didn't become a kunoichi by playing fair, she intended to cheat her way through everything.
Being tricky was the best course of action, just like a certain fox she knew.
Giggling softly, she ignored the indignant shout of her furry friend and jumped down the tree. She had to tread carefully with this mission, lying was not affordable. The Sharingan would pick up on this. With a deep sigh, she activated her gifted eyes and followed the faint trail of Madara's chakra. The closer she got, the more nervous she became. What if they would discover her treacherous lies? What if they killed her because she wasn't worthy of having the Sharingan? What if they wanted to get rid of her because she was a damn bastard? So many what-ifs and so less time.
'Kit, there's no need to second-guess your decision. The Naruto I knew never doubted herself.'
Kurama snorted in amusement when Naruto bristled inwardly- 'I'm not second-guessing myself, I will achieve this mission! Just you see furball!'
Frowning, the giant beast snarled. 'You dare calling me a furball, you blasted monkey! I'm the almighty-'
'Be quiet, you furry fox! We're almost there! I need to concentrate and your shrieking isn't helping.' She grinned inwardly when the fox cussed out her existence. After a while, she spoke softly within the confines of her mind. 'Thank you.'
Neither spoke further. Bonds as strong as what they had was rarely found within the earthly realm. The two were lucky that they had found each other, so damn lucky.
Cursing her luck, she ignored Kurama's laughter and kicked another shinobi away from her. She ran towards a tree and backflipped to where her attacker's back was open and vulnerable. Enough was enough. Time was flowing away. She could be saving lives instead of fighting these idiots.
With a growl, she dashed towards the alarmed shinobi and punched him with all her might. He coughed blood and flew through three trees. She didn't flinch at the pained scream that tore through his lips. Two more shinobis were left, watching her warily with hawk-eyes. Her eyes shimmered a demonic-red, smirking, "Had enough?"
"Why you little brat! We'll kill you!" The brown-haired shinobi shouted and ran towards her, his intent to kill flashing in his emerald orbs. His friend joined him and together they tried to flank her from both side. It seemed that they were underestimating Namikaze Naruto. Smirking in cocky amusement, she leaped in the air and surged chakra through her legs. With a forward flip she descended towards the two shinobis with impeccable speed. Not wasting a second of her precious time, she listened to the sound of flesh hitting flesh and then bones crunching and snapping echoed through the meadow.
Naruto suppressed flinching at the morbid sound and the painful shrieking of a dying animal. To be a ninja one had to endure, especially during the war-torn era. Her shoulders stiffened when she felt the approaching chakra signatures coming her way.
'Will you be able to handle them?' Kurama asked worriedly, knowing full well that her chakra reserves were starting to dwindle down. She wouldn't be able to handle all those shinobis without using his chakra. Her young fragile body was still too young to handle all this stress and his chakra.
The blonde-haired Namikaze closed her eyes and pinched her nose, "It seems that I'm left with no other choice. Kurama, lend me your strength." When those words left her lips, Naruto felt the demonic chakra enter her chakra pathways and she glowed as bright as the sun, a golden cloak draped over her tiny body. Seconds later, she was surrounded by black-haired shinobis covered with metal armors. They were eyeing her cautiously with ruby-red eyes blazing over her entire being.
She shivered from the unpleasant feeling and closed her eyes. "I come in peace." Her voice echoed throughout the meadow and she cursed inwardly when one of her attackers was moaning in pain. One of the Uchiha shinobis raised his eyebrow at her statement, disbelief coloring his eyes. Such a contradiction.
"This is not what it looks like. I was attacked first. I was only acting in self-defense." Naruto stated tiredly, rubbing her temple and deactivating her Kurama Mode to convince them that she wasn't lying. "I want to speak to the clan head of the Uchiha clan," Eyes shifting from onyx black to ruby-red, she continued, "Tell him that a lost member of the Uchiha clan wants to join the clan."
She could see them all go rigid at the sight of her Sharingan, fighting stance ready, muscles flexing and twitching at the mere movement of their enemy.
"How do we know you didn't gouge out the eyes of one of our clan members?" One of the Uchiha demanded brusquely, eyes never leaving hers.
Sighing softly, she touched her eyes, "Does this look like I gouged out someone's eyes and transplanted it into my eye sockets? You don't even see a single scar on my skin."
Distrustful eyes followed her every move. Still, some were starting to believe her. She knew for a fact that Medical Ninjutsu was less developed during this era instead of hers. It was a good thing that this body had accepted her transplanted eyes as its own. It must have been a fluke from being sent back to the past.
"Ichigo, you have some knowledge on Medical Ninjutsu- scan her eyes." Narrowed slits, fury behind those rubies, "We will know if you're lying." He addressed her coldly, his tomoes spinning eerily calm.
Said shinobi nodded calmly and jumped down, walking towards his possible lost clan member. He couldn't recognize any form of eye transplantation on her face. When one did such a surgery, marks would be visible. A scarred face was the outcome for those who dared to steal and violate their special ocular power. No one was good enough to do a perfect transplantation, especially for those who didn't know a thing of their Sharingan. Hands encased in a soft ethereal green, he locked eyes with the tiny child. He didn't believe that she would be able to do such a grand feat but then again, he had never seen such a strong-willed child before. And from the looks of the gruesome battlefield, it seemed she was really advanced for a ninja. If she did join their ranks his clan would only benefit from it. Pity her hair was a sun-kissed yellow instead of their trademark black locks. It must be from the non-Uchiha parent, he scoffed inwardly. Which idiotic Uchiha violated their pact of not staying inside the compound?
"This won't take long." He murmured quietly, hands scanning her eyes. He found nothing amiss, it was like he was scanning the eyes of his clan members.
Naruto eyed him curiously- he had the standard Uchiha looks; black locks tied in a ponytail, onyx black eyes identical to hers, pale complexion, aristocratic jawline with a small nose. She wondered which one of these Uchiha would be the great-great-great-grandfather of Sasuke. Eyes moving to the other Uchihas, she inhaled sharply when she felt a tingle up her neck. Genjutsu. Without further ado, she turned around and apprehended the offending appendix. "What's the meaning of this?!"
No one answered her.
Her eyes widened considerably. They were- 'testing you,' Kurama finished for her, smirking in a predatory manner. She didn't blame them but still. Such sneaky Uchihas. It was no wonder they were one of the two strongest clans during the warring states. Turning her sickly-sweet smile towards Ichigo, "Do you have enough proof of me now?"
Ichigo almost flinched at that look but suppressed it on time. With one unnoticeable look from his team leader, he spoke loud and clear, "With my skills I found nothing amiss with her eyes. As far as I can see she's a half-blooded Uchiha where the Uchiha blood flows strongly in her veins." His eyes glowered at her and he couldn't help but sneer at her, "Except for her blonde hair, such a shame." He jumped back to his spot, back straight and ready for any form of action.
The tense atmosphere was troubling Naruto, she opened her mouth to say something but the team leader beat her to it. "You can speak to our clan head after we've interrogated you." His red eyes glinted menacingly, "After all, we wouldn't want a spy in the midst of us all." He jumped down the tree branch and walked towards her, each step causing her to shiver inwardly. This man wasn't to be taken lightly, Naruto concluded with calculating eyes.
She narrowed her eyes and almost scoffed at him when he regarded her like one would view an insect. Another slight ripple and she was in another Genjutsu.
"This will be your last test. If you lie, I will personally cut that tongue of yours." The team leader started, "Are you affiliated to any clans?"
Too easy, Naruto thought inwardly. Lips curling upwards, "Yes, to the dead Namikaze clan and the Uchiha clan."
Frowning in distaste, the man continued, "How did you acquire the Sharingan?"
"I received this power during a fight where I was in need of it."
Technically she wasn't lying. She did receive it when she was desperate.
"Who taught you the use of the Sharingan?" Her interrogator demanded fiercely.
She laughed openly- it sounded so hollow in her ears, "I taught myself. There was no one to teach me." Through books and scrolls, there were no living Uchihas to guide her. Well, Kakashi had a vast knowledge on the ocular power but he only gave her some pointers. Ever the lazy teacher. But who could blame him when he had once again lost so any precious people.
The questions continued relentlessly, no ounce of pity nor compassion showed through their visage. They were heartless creatures during these times. In front of them wasn't a tiny child but a could-be spy who might tarnish their Uchiha name.
In the end, they didn't find anything suspicious and Naruto was cleared safe. That didn't mean they weren't cautious of her.
She scoffed at them, eyes blindfolded while her hands were tied up. As if things weren't ridiculous they had to drag her like a sack of potatoes. "Is this really necessary?" She spoke through gritted teeth, irritation rolling off her in waves.
Ichigo answered her unneeded question, amusement clear for those who knew him, "Just in case."
"Paranoid bunch," was her reply that earned her raised eyebrows and scowls from her guides. She hoped that she made the right decision by joining the Uchiha clan. Sighing softly, she closed her eyes and let herself drift away to a place where dreams engulfed her.
Madara yawned loudly and scratched his head as he walked back home. His little brother Izuna was walking beside him and he couldn't stop the smile from appearing on his face. At times it was adorable to see his brother act like an adult.
"Aniki, what's happening over there?" Izuna pointed out towards a group of Uchihas who came back recently, his father being one of them.
Madara's eyes widened considerably when he recognized the familiar chakra signature. "No way." He couldn't believe that idiot! What kind of moron was she? How much could one drown in stupidity? "That baka!"
Izuna raised his elegant eyebrow, "Do you know her?"
"No!"
"Aniki, you seem to know her," came Izuna's reply.
Madara sighed tiredly, pinching his nose, "I know that baka. She's the one I was training with recently."
"Nani, a girl?!"
Madara had a feeling things would never remain the same. He groaned when his little brother couldn't believe that he would associate himself with girls. How was he supposed to explain this to his little brother, let alone his father who brought the girl back with him?
