Chapter 5: Curse of Hatred

Tsunade was finishing paperwork on the "Sasuke Retrieval" mission. It was deemed an A-rank mission, and all participants would be paid the appropriate amount. She needed to organize the casualties, fatalities, enemy combatants, their skill sets, and other information into a folder, where it would be stored in mission archives for the remainder of Konoha's existence.

Other than the gruesome casualties that were miraculously healed, the mission went exceptionally well. All the genin (with the exception of Shikamaru, who was a green Chuunin) fought against, and defeated, shinobi with jounin comparable abilities.

Akimichi Chouji fought against Jiroubou, a mêlée based shinobi with the ability to absorb chakra from his opponents. Although Chouji was forced to eat the Red Chili Pill, he was able to subdue his opponent, preventing him from resuming the chase for the others.

Hyuuga Neji was pitted with Kidoumaru, a long-range based shinobi with six arms. Kidoumaru was able to secrete a unique adhesive substance imbued with chakra, making any combatant caught with it unable to escape. Neji was the ideal person to fight against Kidoumaru, since he was able to release chakra from any and all of his tenketsu points.

Inuzuka Kiba rumbled with the leader of the Sound Four, Sakon. Sakon was a Siamese twin with the ability to call forth his brother, Ukon, to battle with him. Essentially, fighting Sakon equated to fighting a double battle. Kiba and Akamaru were the best combination to fight against Sakon, since their teamwork was unrivaled in the group of genin. Yet, despite that, they had difficulty holding Sakon off on their own. If Kankuro did not arrive in time, Kiba would have been killed in action.

Nara Shikamaru faced off against Tayuya, who held the casket holding Sasuke's body. She was a genjutsu user who manipulated the senses of her opponents using sound. She also could control her summons, three unique Doki, with her flute. In the end, it was a stalemate, where Shikamaru struggled against a Stage Two Tayuya over control from his Kage-Kubishibari no Jutsu. Like Kiba, Shikamaru was saved from death's door with Temari's intervention.

Finally, Uzumaki Naruto had confronted Kimimaro over the casket containing Uchiha Sasuke's body. Kimimaro had the Shikotsumyaku kekkei genkai, allowing him versatile usage of all of his bones as weapons. Kimimaro's unique taijutsu style also flowed with his kekkei genkai, making him a difficult opponent for Naruto to fight alone. It took the teamwork of Naruto, Rock Lee, and Sasuke to defeat the final member of Orochimaru's former Sound Five.

Tsunade leaned on her chair. She was grateful that the genin was able to deal a crippling blow to Orochimaru's schemes. Not only did they rescue Sasuke from his clutches, they also killed some of his most competent commanding officers. Orochimaru just cannot simply operate after such a failed attempt. Tsunade realized that he will be inactive for the next couple of years, and will most likely not move until the end of 3 years, when he is preparing to enter a new body. Orochimaru is not going to be the only person building arms for the next 3 years. When the time comes for Orochimaru to strike back, Konoha will be ready.

"Hokage-sama, the genin of Sunagakure are ready to meet with you," Shizune told Tsunade.

"Alright, let them in." Tsunade replied.

The three genin walked into Tsunade's office. Gaara was front in center, his vibrant red tattoo the second most distinctive feature of his face. People will most likely notice the bags around his eyes before his tattoo of the kanji "Love." Even though Gaara has managed to control and subdue Shukaku (with a little help from Jiraiya, the seal master), the bags were a sign of chronic insomnia that will last him his entire life.

To his left was his older brother, Kankuro. Kankuro wore a black hoody with two spikes at the top of his head. He had purple face paint marking his entire face, typical of Suna puppeteers. On his back, he was carrying his signature puppet, Karasu, which was covered around combat wraps.

To Gaara's right was Temari, the eldest of the Sand siblings. She was a blonde that had her hair tied in 4 spiky ponytails. She wore a lavender blouse with a breast guard, and a matching lavender miniskirt with fishnet shorts underneath. On her back (apparently all of the Sand siblings carried something on their backs) was her massive Tessen, her primary weapon of choice.

"Ah, welcome. Hope you enjoyed your stay in Konoha so far." Tsunade said to the three children.

"It's been most fruitful, Hokage-sama." Gaara said. The siblings have chosen Gaara to be the designated speaker of the group, since both Kankuro and Temari were nervous around authority.

"Once again, on behalf of Konoha, I would like to thank you for your assistance in retrieving Sasuke from Orochimaru." Tsunade said. She was genuinely grateful that Gaara and his siblings chose to help rescue Sasuke from Orochimaru. She was uncertain that Suna would still hold grudges for their botched attack several months ago. But Gaara seemingly jumped at the opportunity of saving Sasuke's life.

"Think nothing of it, Hokage-sama." Gaara replied. "I owed a debt of gratitude to Uzumaki Naruto, so when I heard that Uchiha Sasuke was kidnapped, I did not think twice about my response."

"Naruto's really that special to you?" Tsunade asked.

"Uzumaki Naruto was the person who saved me from myself." Gaara responded. Both Kankuro and Temari nodded in agreement. Gaara was not the same bloodthirsty maniac that he was in the Chuunin Exams. He had undergone a dramatic change of heart. "Uzumaki Naruto was the person who showed me the true value of love and companionship. He showed me that his desire to protect his friends and comrades was indeed true strength, unlike what I previously believed."

"Naruto definitely has that effect on people." Tsunade said, reminiscing when Naruto had saved her from her depression. The kid truly was an enigma.

"I had also hoped to save Uchiha Sasuke from the path of hatred." Gaara continued. "When we fought months ago, all I could see in his eyes were animosity. He was the same as me, and I felt that it was only proper that I helped him overcome his darkness." Gaara closed his eyes and smiled. "…But it would appear that I was too late in that. Uzumaki Naruto was the one to save Sasuke from himself."

Tsunade turned her chair to look out the window. The Hokage Monument was visible from where Hokage Tower was at. The faces of her grandfather, grand uncle, her sensei, and her predecessor, all stared towards the horizon. She was still unused to her sculpted face on the Monument, but it was truly a welcome sight for the citizens of Konoha.

Yet, she was not looking particularly at any of the faces. She was looking at the blank area to the left of her face. That area would soon be the site of a sculpting project, designed to immortalize the Rokudaime Hokage. It was not a stretch to say that Naruto has what it takes to get his whiskered face on that monument someday. Just like his father before him.

"You know, Naruto is going to go places in the future." Tsunade said. "He has the charisma and insight of a true leader. His ideals are just and benevolent, and his character is lovable. Not only that, he just never gives up, even when the odds are against his favor, and he always seems to make it to the top despite insurmountable opposition." She turned her chair around to face the sand siblings. "I hope that he is the one that will lead our two villages towards continued peace and friendly relations."

"I, too, hope that as well." Gaara replied. "In fact, I hope that he and I are the ones to negotiate the futures of our two homes."

"Wait…does that mean…?" Tsunade said, surprised at the possible revelation that Gaara is about to speak of.

"Yes it does, Hokage-sama. I plan to lead my village to prosperity as the Godaime Kazekage." As if on cue, both Temari and Kankuro straightened themselves out and looked sternly at Tsunade. "I know that people in my village used to look at me as a monster, a weapon of mass destruction. Yet, in spite of all the bigotry that surrounds my person, I will lead my people to a brighter future. Uzumaki Naruto's dream will be my dream also; his source of power will be my source of power. With the help of my siblings, I'm positive that I can make my village recognize my abilities as a leader. I only ask for your support in my endeavor."

"After what you've done for our village today, you have my utmost support and approval." Tsunade said with a smile on her face. "I look forward to the day I can call you Kazekage-sama."

"One last thing. Please do not mention my intentions to Uzumaki Naruto. I hope that I can surprise him with my ascension. I am certain that he will be annoyed from the beginning, but he will ease up to idea of me being Kazekage. I also hope that my ascension will positively motivate him to work harder at achieving his dreams." Gaara told Tsunade.

"My lips are shut tight." Tsunade said. The siblings all took a respective bow and exited Tsunade's office. Once again, she turned to face the window. This time she looked towards the direction of Sunagakure. The future was looking bright for that village.

Unknown Location

Naruto opened his eyes. What he saw was not exactly what he expected. The last time he visited his mindscape, he was in a decrepit old sewer, filled knee-high in water. Yet, he was not in a sewer; he was in forest.

Naruto was walking on a creek of fresh flowing water. It was knee-high, just like in the sewer. But unlike in the sewer, there were actual fish swimming in the water. Naruto questioned how exactly other creatures besides him and the Kyuubi can exactly live in his mindscape. He heard the chirping of birds and the buzzing of various insects. He saw toads near the creek that were trying to catch flies with their tongues. He even saw some foxes hunting after small rabbits.

In his peripheral, the edges were abundant in large trees. These trees were lush with green leaves and vines surrounding the trunks. Birds often flew out of those trees as they searched for food or other mates.

This all seemed very weird to Naruto. His mindscape was now an entire ecosystem, with living animals participating in the struggle of life. It was even sunny outside. He did not think light could enter his subconscious mind.

Everything was too…serene. Peaceful. If he closed his eyes, the sounds of nature would entice him into a tranquil state of mind. The water flowing between his legs made him feel at ease with the world he was in. He could get used to this.

After walking some time, feeling the current of water through his legs, he managed to come across a massive barred gate. Instead of being made out of cold steel, this gate was created from overlapping trees and shrubbery. The bars themselves were wooden and asymmetrical, but they seemed far sturdier than the former iron bars of the sewers. The only thing that did not change was the large kanji for "Seal" plastered on the front of the gate.

While walking to his tenant, he noted that a group of foxes were also following his every move. He, at first, thought that the foxes marked him as their next prey. But that was not the case as they did nothing but follow him as he reached the gate. Upon the arrival of Naruto and the group of foxes, they all sat from where they stood and faced the gate. It was like the foxes were expecting a message from their exalted leader, the Kyuubi no Kitsune.

The Kyuubi was rather fond of the attention of his new fox subordinates. Naruto could not recognize it, but the Kyuubi was smiling at the sight of his little cubs. When he turned to face Naruto, the facial expression transformed into deep scorn and hatred. He stared into Naruto's cerulean eyes with his cold, dark, slit crimson eyes.

"What the hell did you do to this place?" Naruto asked, surprising the Kyuubi. The Kyuubi was baffled at the fact that Naruto had no idea about the inner workings of his own subconscious.

"What the hell did I do to this place?" the Kyuubi retorted in a sarcastic tone. "I have no control over what you think and your personal state of being, as much as I would like to."

"You mean to say that this forest is not your doing?" Naruto asked.

The Kyuubi sighed. It appears that would have to explain a few things before the real topic can be discussed.

"My prison is a reflection of your deepest desires and thoughts." The Kyuubi said, stunning Naruto. "The reason why it was a cesspool was because in your subconscious mind, you've always hated everyone and everything."

"Me…H-hate?" Naruto said stuttering. He took a few steps back before tripping and falling on his back in the water. "No, you're lying! I would never hate anyone!"

Just then, the serenity of the forest transformed into a dinky, cold, dark sewer. All of the wildlife had disappeared, leaving a lifeless, mundane sewer system in its wake. Naruto looked everywhere to see what happened to his serenity and tranquility, but the sewer he hated so much had returned.

"This..this can't be…" Naruto said.

"But it is so." The Kyuubi responded. Shortly afterward, the sewers transformed back into the peaceful, beautiful forest that Naruto (and even the Kyuubi) had come to appreciate. "WHERE IS YOUR HATRED!" the Kyuubi demanded to know. He slammed his left paw onto the creek, causing it to ripple violently at the force.

Naruto was terrified at the displayed might of the Kyuubi. But he knew that, so long as the seal remained intact, the Kyuubi could do nothing to harm him. He stood straight and proud, and stared the Kyuubi back into his eyes.

"I don't know what you're talking about, you stupid fox!" The foxes, fully comprehending the conversation, took offense at their leader being called stupid. They began to snarl at Naruto, much to his flinching displeasure. The Kyuubi laughed at the sight, which surprised Naruto; the Kyuubi never laughed. Soon, the Kyuubi got back to his serious demeanor and spoke.

"Don't you understand, you foolish mortal?" The Kyuubi asked Naruto in a mocking fashion. "All of your life, you have been harboring hatred. You've been holding all of your hatred back, and it culminated into the form of my former cell, when we first met. All of your hate, grief, isolation. All of the negative emotions you've felt gave rise to the sewers that you know so well." The Kyuubi's face got very aggravated after making that statement. "But now it's all gone! What did you do? Where is all of your hatred?!"

Naruto thought about what the Kyuubi had just told him. Maybe he was secretly fostering all of his disdain. He loathed when the villagers glared at him darkly. He detested when they scorned and ridiculed him, calling him a "Demon Brat," or "murderer." At first, he did not know why he was ostracized so cruelly by his villagers. He had done nothing to hurt them in the slightest, yet they did not accept him. They hated him, wanted to see him dead beneath their feet. They always formed lynch mobs on his birthday and persecuted him; beat him until the very edge of his life. If it wasn't for ANBU intervention, he surely would have died 6 times over.

Maybe he was harboring hatred towards the villagers. If that was the case, then why did he feel so…at ease? Why could he not find a single strand of hatred within himself?

"I…I…don't know…" Naruto hesitantly said. "I never thought of myself as the hateful type. I used to shrug those glares aside. I never thought I would let them get to me."

"But you did." The Kyuubi grinned. "You allowed their hurtful comments to dissuade you. You let their glares consume your soul. Hate them, runt. They don't deserve your mercy or your pity."

The background was once again changing into the dysfunctional sewers. Naruto grabbed his head trying to tune out the demonic whisperings of the detestable fox. But everything that the fox had said was true. The villagers had hated him. They mocked him, ridiculed him, ostracized him, stigmatized him, and attacked him. Anything they could do to demean him in the place of killing him was fair game for these ungrateful bastards. Why shouldn't he despise them for what they have done to him?

I…er…kinda sorta…maybe think of you as…uh…a best friend…a little…er…

As he was thinking about the treatment he had received from the villagers, Sasuke's announcement nonchalantly brought itself into his thoughts. Naruto had sought the recognition of his greatest rival throughout the time they were in Team 7. It meant more to him than anything the villagers could muster. Now that he had earned that recognition, nothing that the villagers could possibly say can deter him in the slightest. He will keep getting stronger, and no one is going to stop him from realizing his dreams.

The mindscape changed back into the calm forest. The ambiance of wildlife echoed throughout his subconscious, as the Kyuubi and Naruto stood silent. Finally, Naruto clenched his fists tightly and stared deep into the crimson eyes of the demonic fox.

"I know why I no longer feel any hatred." Naruto said. "You're right, baka-fox. It's not fair that the villagers treated me the way they did. I was unsure what caused them to be the way they were to me. I tried to seek their attention by doing silly pranks. Anything, really, to get people to recognize me. But nothing worked."

He released the grip he had on his fists, and his gaze softened a little. "It took Mizuki's pummeling to finally get Iruka-sensei's recognition. My team had to fight Kakashi-sensei to get him to acknowledge our potential. I had to beat Haku to earn his and Zabuza's respect. I defeated Neji, the genius of the Hyuuga clan, to finally earn the acknowledgment of him and some people of the village."

He took a deep breath. He was nearing the point of his rant. "All of those people, I needed to prove my worth in order to gain their recognition. But there was only one person I sought after the most. The person that truly inspired me to grow stronger."

Flashbacks of Sasuke and Naruto played rapidly within the mindscape. The Kyuubi was startled at this sudden change in atmosphere. He saw Naruto and Sasuke as they met each other on that hill days after the Uchiha massacre. He saw Naruto's growing jealousy over Sasuke's skills and talents. He saw how Naruto struggled to match up to Sasuke's level. He saw them facing opposite directions, back to back. And he saw them looking into each other's eyes. Not with malice or spite but with admiration and respect. Their hands gripped tightly, symbolizing the deep bond they have forged through the fires of combat.

"The people who hate me can never take away the bonds that I have created!" Naruto shouted, slamming his fist on the gate. "They can never take away the acknowledgement that I've gained through my sweat and blood!" He looked at his left hand, and then swung it in a 90 degree arc to emphasize his point. "Sasuke's recognition made me realize all this. I worked my entire life to finally mean something to someone, and I won't let anyone take it away! I won't submit to anything as petty as hatred and spite anymore!" He looked at the fox one last time, his eyes glowing with a vibrant determination. "I won't let your hatred consume me either. You know, while we live together, I'll do something about your hatred too."

Naruto's final statement had a visible effect on the Kyuubi. His eyes were twitching at the sheer amount of fortitude that Naruto's words carried with it. The Kyuubi knew that, at this point, he could do nothing to persuade him to give into his darkest thoughts.

"I don't think I can become Hokage yet." Naruto said, surprising the Kyuubi. What happened to the resolve he had just earlier displayed? "I won't become Hokage until I make you admire my abilities."

The Kyuubi laughed. "That's a lot of bold talk, coming from a mortal welp. I am the living incarnation of hatred. Your words won't compel me, and your ideals strike me as feeble and weak. You are nothing but a frail little child that runs to me to get the power he needs to defeat his enemies. Admit it, you are nothing without me."

"I'll admit it." Naruto said, once again shocking the Kyuubi. "I could not have possibly come this far without your help. Whether I like it or not, you have saved my ass more times than I can bargain for. That doesn't mean that I'm weak. I'm plenty strong myself. But together, we can surpass our individual limits. Recognize me, Kyuubi, and give me your strength!"

The Kyuubi actually took some time to think about Naruto's words. It was not like the Kyuubi was not observing Naruto's actions. In fact, the Kyuubi was a little impress by the feats the runt had accomplished on his own, through absolute grit and determination. The Kyuubi could not argue against Naruto; the kid is plenty strong on his own, and he's proven it on numerous occasions.

"Bah, humans such as yourself are petty and insignificant." The Kyuubi said after some contemplation. "There is no need for me to be frighten off by the pathetic, idealistic dreams of a child whose head is stuck in the clouds. Still, your words do boast some strength in itself…very well then. I will give you a minor fraction of my power. Prove to me you have the ability to make your dreams a reality. Then, and only then will I…remotely consider…recognizing your worth, rat."

A stream of red chakra flowed from the Kyuubi's massive body through the seal and was absorbed by Naruto. Naruto subsequently began to change into more feral and bestial features. His canines lengthened and sharpened, and the whisker marks on his cheeks became bold and enlarged. His cerulean eyes turned crimson, and his round pupils narrowed. His fingernails began to extend and curve and started to look like claws.

Naruto exerted pressure via his chakra in large pulses. Waves of vermilion chakra extended from a center point at Naruto's navel area and physically disrupted the environment surrounding him. Feeling the power radiating from within, he released a chakra enhanced roar, fluttering some birds perched on the trees. His voice was deepened and enhanced, matching the untamed aspects of the Kyuubi's chakra influence.

Konoha General Hospital, Konohagakure no Sato

From the hospital bed, Naruto observed and tested his own body. He was not seriously injured during the Kimimaro fight, so he was free to be discharged the following morning. Jumping out of his bed, Naruto began to do a series of stretches to unwind his body from a week of lackadaisical activities.

After warming his body up, Naruto decided to check and see what effects the Kyuubi's chakra had granted him. The Kyuubi allotted a finite reservoir of chakra for Naruto to use. Although this reservoir was about one-one thousandth of the amount of chakra the Kyuubi himself contained, it was still a staggering amount for any normal person.

Naruto tapped into this reservoir slightly. Watching his hands, he saw his fingernails enlarge once again, similarly to his transformation in the mindscape. He focused his mind. Soon, the claws shrunk back to his normal nails. Focusing his mind once more, he was able to expand and contract his nails at will.

"Thank you, Kyuubi." Naruto said in a silent whisper. "I won't let you down."

Naka Shrine, Konohagakure no Sato

After a week in the hospital, Sasuke was finally discharged to his home in the abandoned Uchiha Clan Compound. His left arm was in a cast and the medic ninja told him that he would need 6 weeks to fully recover his arm. Although it aggravated him a great deal (as he could not efficiently train during that time), he had no choice but to resign to his unfortunate fate. Of course, this minor setback would not deter him from getting any training done.

For now, Sasuke travelled to the Naka Shrine, located on top of the highest hill in the Uchiha Estate. Years ago, the Naka Shrine used to be the gathering place for all of the Uchiha for festivals and worship. It was a peaceful locale, and the priests were very kind and considerate. Sasuke and Itachi would often climb the hill to play together at Naka Shrine.

No. Sasuke needed to erase all the happy memories he had of Itachi. Itachi was a ruthless, cold-blooded murderer who annihilated his entire clan. He killed men, women, children and the elderly. Priests and pregnant mothers were not spared his mercy as he brutally slaughtered everyone he had ever held dear. Itachi was thoroughly indiscriminate. Infants and toddlers were not even spared. Only Sasuke. All for "testing his own abilities."

Sasuke was not here to recollect the past. He was here to gather more information on the Mangekyō Sharingan. The next level of the Sharingan's evolution was an enigma; Kakashi claims to have activated it in pitch battle, but hesitated when Sasuke asked about his closest friends. He honestly did not want to kill Naruto. His newfound appreciation of Naruto's friendship was budding, and he did not want to lose it for a selfish pursuit of power. He needed to verify the true path to the Mangekyō; otherwise he will stand no chance against Itachi.

After some time climbing the hill, he arrived at the Naka Shrine. The shrine was filled with religious idols and figurines, including magatamas and other ornaments. Due to lack of usage, small critters and rodents found a nice shelter from the rain and snow of Konohagakure. Spider webs were abundant in crevices and corners of walls, and chewed holes in Tatami mats were everywhere.

The only Tatami mat that was spared the fate of gradual decay was the seventh mat located in the far right of the small shrine. After staring at that mat for a few seconds, Sasuke remembered the words that Itachi told him years back.

"At the Temple of the Naka Shrine, on the far right side, under the seventh Tatami mat is the clan's secret meeting place." Itachi told Sasuke in cold indifference. "There, you will find what purpose the dōjutsu of the Uchiha clan originally served. The real secret is written there."

It was fitting that the seventh mat was untouched. It seemed to be radiating a unique chakra pulse. Sasuke removed the Tatami mat to uncover some stairs that lead to an undisclosed basement area of the Shrine. Sasuke had travelled to this area before, when he was 8 years old. Inside the basement was a large, ancient stone tablet. The tablet was unreadable at the beginning, since Sasuke did not have his Sharingan. Now, Sasuke has a fully matured, three tomoe Sharingan and can decipher the tablet.

He activated the Sharingan. Just like he thought, the tablet now contained a message. The tablet was unreadable to all those who did not have Sharingan. That meant that only Uchiha (and Kakashi) could actually read the full contents of this primordial memento. Sasuke began to read, curious of what information the tablet contained.

To all those reading this stone tablet,

My name is Uchiha Madara.

Sasuke's eyes widened at the mention of the name. Madara was the ancestor of the Uchiha and one of the co-founders of Konohagakure no Sato. He was a revered idol among the Uchiha, and his name brought fear and terror to the eyes of opponents. What kind of message did he leave for future Uchiha?

If you are reading this tablet, then you must have awakened your Sharingan. I must commend you on awakening your Sharingan. I also wish to express my deepest sympathies.

Express his deepest sympathies? Sasuke thought the Sharingan was activated under the stress of combat. There is no need to warrant sympathy if one had managed to survive the heat of battle.

We of the Uchiha clan are bound by the Curse of Hatred. It all began with the Rikudō Sennin.

Rikudō Sennin? The Sage of the Six Paths? Sasuke always thought that was myth. It was a fairy tale his mother use to recite during the evenings to lull Sasuke into slumber.

The Uchiha and the Senju are direct descendants of the Rikudō Sennin. Our hatred stems from the Rikudō Sennin's decision to choose the younger of his two sons as the successor to his power. We the Uchiha are descendants of the older of the two sons, and we inherited the "eyes" of the Rikudō Sennin, while the Senju inherited the "body." The Rikudō Sennin "eyes" eventually molded itself into the Sharingan, the Uchiha clan's prominent kekkei genkai.

Well, that certainly was an interesting origins story. Yet, it did not describe how one can awaken the Sharingan.

The method to gaining the Sharingan is ironic, considering the ideals of the eldest son. The eldest son believed that power was the key to obtaining true peace. In a sense, I too believe that is the right course of action. Humans are foolish, arrogant, ungrateful, and destructive. Only by forcibly submitting to the whims of a more powerful figure, can we truly suppress the violent urges of man.

Yet, despite our views of power, in order to awaken our Sharingan, an Uchiha must feel emotions relating to the loss of a close companion.

Sasuke could not believe this. No, it had to be a lie. Sasuke awakened his Sharingan during the middle of his bout against Haku. There was no possible way he was feeling any negative emotion concerning the loss of a comrade. He and Naruto were fighting to survive!

It's a widely held misconception that one must be battle-tried to awaken the Sharingan. I've fought and killed many Senju in my time before I managed to awaken the Sharingan. It was only when I broke the bonds with my closest friend, Senju Hashirama, that I was able to actually awaken my Sharingan.

Sasuke still could not believe it. Breaking bonds? Losing loved ones? Why does the method for gaining true power have to be so dark? Why must the Uchiha be burdened with such fate? Sasuke then thought about Kakashi. How much did he have to lose before he fully matured his Sharingan?

Once the Sharingan is awakened, then and only then can you boost the power and fully mature it through experience. But to first obtain the Sharingan, one must experience loss that is overwhelming. That is why I feel the need to sympathize with you. Hashirama was a true friend to me. We both desired peace immensely, but we simply did not see eye to eye. Hashirama feeble-mindedly believed that love and trust was the true recourse towards peace. He cannot see that human beings are all unique and individual. People cannot share opinions without first exerting their own. Our individuality is the primary reason for our conflict, and Hashirama simply does not see this blatant fact.

His brother Senju Tobirama is the ideal example. Although Hashirama desired peace talks with the Uchiha, Tobirama was firmly against negotiating with those he saw "undesirable" and "bastardly." He did not truly believe that the Uchiha and the Senju can get along. I fear that, if history continues to move along the path it is currently moving through, Tobirama will eventually become the Nidaime Hokage, and he will ostracize us further.

This sounds all too familiar to Sasuke. Yes, this was indeed the history of the Uchiha clan. Tobirama did become the Nidaime Hokage and he did isolate the Uchiha into a separate estate away from the busiest districts of Konoha. He also limited the Uchiha to merely joining the Konoha Military Police. They were not able to pursue other governmental related jobs outside of their own estate. This prophecy was highly accurate for someone that abandoned Konoha far before Tobirama ascended to his position.

I digress. The Sharingan is linked to the Uchiha's Curse of Hatred. We are bound to feel intense, negative emotions against those who harmed our loved ones.

There is an evolution of the Sharingan. Unfortunately, that evolution is also connected with the Curse of Hatred.

Finally, the information that Sasuke was seeking. The key to obtaining the Mangekyō Sharingan.

It is called the Mangekyō Sharingan. My brother and I were the first to unlock the Mangekyō Sharingan in the history of the Uchiha clan. The Mangekyō is unique to the beholder, granting the user exclusive powers and abilities. My left Mangekyō, for instance, granted me the power to use Tsukuyomi, the most powerful genjutsu in the world, able to manipulate time for the target. The target may feel like he was in Tsukuyomi for several days, weeks, months, or even years. But in reality, only a couple of seconds have passed for the target.

Alright, that makes a lot of sense. If Madara had awakened Tsukuyomi with his Mangekyō, Sasuke may learn a little about Itachi's own Mangekyō Sharingan. Know your enemy and know yourself, and you need not fear the results of one thousand battles, after all.

My right Mangekyō granted me the power of Amaterasu, the unquenchable black flames. Amaterasu burns anything on sight and the flames continue to burn for days on end, or unless I command the flames to halt. The flames can even burn in conditions were fire cannot be created. It can burn on top of pools of water, and in oxygen-deprived areas.

That was some power right there. Itachi actually has this ability? Amaterasu seems like an extraordinary offensive based ninjutsu. Can Sasuke really beat Itachi when he has the ability to burn anything on sight?

By awakening Tsukuyomi on my left eye and Amaterasu on my right, I gained access to the most powerful ability that the Mangekyō could offer. Susanoo. Susanoo is an ethereal warrior summoned in order to protect the wielder of the Mangekyō. It is the ultimate defense. Nothing short of the most powerful ninjutsu or taijutsu can get passed the ultimate defense of Susanoo. If Susanoo has a more complete form, it can be used offensively as well. Susanoo is the definitive trump card of the Mangekyō.

Now that thought was utterly terrifying. Itachi has possession of Susanoo? Just how much power does Itachi truly have because of his Mangekyō?

Of course, wielding the Mangekyō comes with a price. The more you use it, the faster you will deteriorate your eyesight. Eventually, you will lose all sight, unable to even use even the basic form of Sharingan. This price can be offset. I will not explain it here, however.

So the Mangekyō has a weakness? That's very fortunate to know. At least Sasuke knows now that Itachi is not some nigh invincible mega fortress. On the other hand, there is a counterbalance to this weakness. Itachi must know how to get it, though. He came to the Naka Shrine far before Sasuke did. How can you eliminate the weakness of the Mangekyō?

Now that you know a taste of the power of the Mangekyō, it's time to explain how to obtain it. Because the Mangekyō is linked with the Curse of Hatred, in order to gain that power, one must feel intense emotions towards the loss of a loved one. The requirements are specific, however. An Uchiha must truly feel the emotions of losing their most precious person. Their closest friend or family. Only then does one awaken the Mangekyō.

Feel the emotions of losing your closest companion? Sasuke was slightly relieved that he did not have necessarily kill his best friend. But it is still such a heavy requirement. Did Shisui's death affect Itachi in such a way? This revelation almost makes Itachi seem…human. If Itachi had to feel sorrow and grief to obtain the Mangekyō, why did he have to kill everyone in the Uchiha clan? Something was not adding up right now. Suddenly, Itachi's excuse for the massacre seemed vague and incomplete. Sasuke is going to have to ask Itachi for clarity before he kills him.

As I mentioned before, my brother and I awakened the Mangekyō at the same time. We did indeed lose someone that was precious to the both of us. Our father. While trying to protect my younger brother, Izuna, from a fatal blow, we witnessed him being slashed down in two by none other than…Tobirama himself. It was too much to handle. Our father, the one who taught us everything we knew. The one who entrusted the future of our clan to us. Being killed right before our very eyes while trying to save us.

We of the Uchiha are burdened with such a heavy fate. Our power lies within the very emotions that make us human. In order to become more powerful, we must lose more of the things we hold precious to us.

Once you obtain the Mangekyō, I offer my sincerest sympathies at your loss. I know what it feels like to lose the closest people in your lives. It's a horrendous feeling, and the hatred that comes from it can be seen as a comfort. There is more to be taught, as the Mangekyō can be further improved upon. However, you need the Mangekyō Sharingan in order to view the next passage of this tablet.

My Uchiha brethren, I apologize that I must leave in haste from the village I helped found. But my clan does not have the foresight to see the damage Tobirama will cause as the Nidaime Hokage. I hope that, those who have awakened the Mangekyō can view the future in the same way as I have, and can follow me towards the future that I have envisioned: A peace through dominance, not a peace through ideals.

Sasuke took a moment to gather all the thoughts he currently had on the information he just gained. This information was very enlightening for Sasuke. It provided him an in-depth analysis of the potential power Itachi had acquired. It gave him the method for procuring the Mangekyō Sharingan, as well as the method for beating it. It also provided insight on the true history of his clan, as never before told by his parents or textbooks.

He honestly could not believe that his clan was distantly related to the Rikudō Sennin. It seemed too farfetched for Sasuke to grasp. But Madara was serious about his revelation. Why would his ancient ancestor have any reason to lie? An even better question was how did he even know this information? The Rikudō Sennin was thousands of years old, and almost all traces of his being vanished with the stream of time. Yet, Madara is suddenly an expert in the life of the Rikudō Sennin.

He wanted to reveal this newfound information to Kakashi. But he felt that nobody should learn about the history of his clan. He felt that nobody should be armed with the knowledge that he had recently attained. After all, only he will be the one to confront Itachi in his final life-or-death battle.

Sasuke was about ready to return to his home. He had everything he needed. As he turned to walk back to the stairs, he noticed that something was etched on the wall opposite of the tablet. It was a gunbai uchiwa, a war fan that was the symbol for the Uchiha clan. It was about 3 feet long, and the handle was about 1 foot. The fan itself was shaped like the number 8, contrary to the circular design of the Uchiha emblem. On the top edges of the uchiwa, there were three tomoe molded in a circular pattern, similar to his Curse Seal of Heaven.

Sasuke closely examined the memorabilia. The edges of the uchiwa were steel-laced. Upon further inspection, Sasuke accidently cut his own finger. The uchiwa was still sharp, despite years of apparent disuse. It was nothing like a shinobigatana, which was short and straight, but the uchiwa would still be a useful battle weapon. It was massive, with the top half being about 2 feet in width and the bottom half about 1 and a half feet. It could be used for flails and slashes, but it is even more effective if the wielder had mastery over Fuuton.

Sasuke removed the uchiwa from its place on the wall. He decided to learn how to use the legendary weapon of the Uchiha. It would only be fitting if the last Uchiha could use his own emblem in battle.

Exotic Waterfall, Outskirts of Konoha

Jiraiya was gather "research" data for his next best seller. On the outskirts of Konoha, there existed a waterfall gathering area for some of the hottest, exotic babes from all over Konoha. Their impossibly large busts and firm, round rumps were every pervert's paradise. The girls played with each other, splashing water and giggling, their large breasts jiggling from their movements. Some of the girls, jealous of their companions huge chests, playfully groped them, moving them around with their hands and teasing them seductively. These girls thought that they were safe from the eyes of perverted voyeurs. But no beautiful woman was secure from the research gathering of the gallant Jiraiya-sama (with the exception of Tsunade).

Jiraiya was fervently jotting down notes on the behaviors of these playful girls. He was taking estimates of the bra sizes of the largest busts in the area. He noted how some of the girls expertly groped their friends, from the rotation of the breasts to how hard or soft they would squeeze. He listened closely to the quiet moans of some of the girls, and heard the playful teasing phrases of others. He fought the urge to nosebleed, as it would compromise his position. Girls most definitely can smell the blood of a pervert. It seemed like a genetic trait.

After a few more minutes of gathering data, he noticed the presence of somebody approaching. He quickly hid himself in the bushes and waited for the interloper to reveal himself.

Naruto walked into the area where he and Jiraiya often met to train. And by train, Naruto meant him doing exercises that Jiraiya gave him while he walked off to find some buxom beauty to grace with his presence. Today was a bit different, however.

Naruto was formally discharged from the hospital. He was told to find Jiraiya the following day, and they would have a bout to determine whether or not Naruto would stay for the upcoming Chuunin Exams in Suna. This was a very serious arrangement for Naruto, so Jiraiya better take it earnestly too.

He was surprised to see that Sasuke was discharged before him. He wanted to talk to Sasuke a bit about his dilemma, hoping that he would get some friendly words of good luck. It bothered Naruto a little, but Naruto knew that he was going to win no matter what. Naruto has an ace up his sleeve, one that would force Jiraiya to recognize him.

Jiraiya removed himself from his hiding spot. "Hey gaki!" He greeted Naruto with a smile on his face. "Ready to get pulverized?"

Naruto spat on the ground close to Jiraiya's right foot. "Tough words, Ero Sennin. But I'm gonna kick your ass. Ya already know I never go back on my word, believe it!"

"This is the real world kiddo." Jiraiya said, taking his stance. He was not going to go easy on the runt. The looming threat of Akatsuki was too much to postpone any training. "I'm gonna have to teach you that not every Nindo could be followed perfectly."

"Heh." Naruto merely responded. "Just cuz you're a Sannin doesn't mean ya the best. Reality check Ero Sennin: I'm gonna be the Hokage. I'll surpass all other Hokage before me. So don't underestimate me!" He formed his favorite hand seal and three clones poofed into existence. All of them tightened their hitai-ate, getting ready for the intense clash looming on the battlefield. After a brief stare down between Master and Student, Naruto charged at Jiraiya, fist clenched and ready for the opening haymaker.

Hey y'all!

Welcome to the fifth released chapter of True Paths to Power. This officially marks the first completed month I have actually worked on this fan fiction. Let's take a look at Week 4 stats (and by extension Month 1 stats) and see how True Paths to Power fared, eh? 17 Favorites, 20 Followers, 28 Reviews and 1,193 total views! WOW! Thank you all sooo much for taking your time to read my humble fan fiction! To commemorate breaking 1000 views, I would like to release my first special for this fan fiction. What could it be about? Well, you'll just have to wait until next week to find out!

That being said, I'll be taking a break from writing this fan fiction for the next week. Specials are going to be short (about 5000 to 6000 words) with emphasis on character development. I'm bad at humor, so don't expect any hilarity filled omake. I occasionally attempt to please you guys with my poor humor, to remove the entirely serious tone of this fan fiction. After all, not many people like a largely solemn story.

Now, exciting as my first broken milestone is, I must say that I'm not too confidant about this chapter. I don't feel like it was well written, even if I did proofread it. I feel like descriptions were more bland than I originally anticipated, and I feel like I may have repeated some things. Please tell me what you guys think. I look very much forward to constructive criticism.

Speaking of constructive criticism, I've finally got my first critical review! I was advised against using too much "purple prose." Now, me being the non-English major that I am (I'm History, for Pete's sake), I had to use good ol' Wikipedia to search that phrase up. It meant flowery language. Yeah, I tend to go a little overboard with the flowery language. I can't help it!

This chapter focused a lot about Hatred. I originally called this chapter "Inner Demon," but decided ultimately against it. "Curse of Hatred" is a far more suitable title for this chapter, as it incorporates the entire theme.

Naruto confronts the Kyuubi about using its power. I felt as thought Naruto's subconscious was a reflection of his deepest thoughts and desires, so it had to be a sewer from the beginning. I could not find anything to dispute my ideas, so from here on in, Naruto's subconscious will fluctuate depending on his thoughts. Just like it did multiple times in this chapter.

The Kyuubi realizes that it cannot use Naruto's darkest thoughts against him any more. Naruto is more composed and serene, no longer allowing anyone or anything to disrupt his serenity. In canon, Kyuubi uses Naruto's adamant desire to fuel his darkest thoughts, tempting Naruto to use more and more of the Kyuubi's power to kill his enemies. Naruto maintains a semblance of control for up to 3 tails worth of chakra, but after 4 he falls for the demonic desires of the demon fox. He definitely becomes a chibi Kyuubi, lost in his own rage and hatred.

The Kyuubi gives Naruto a pool of his chakra to use as he sees fit. It's a little test to see how Naruto would use the Kyuubi's chakra without the temptation of falling for the fox's hatred and scorn. This does not mean he will go into Nine Tails Chakra Mode automatically. Firstly, that would be overpowered overkill, and it would totally ruin the whole point of having Naruto fight against stronger and stronger enemies. Secondly, the Nine Tails Chakra Mode can only be achieve when Naruto seals the Kyuubi form his own chakra, providing him unlimited access to the Kyuubi's full reservoir of chakra. The Kyuubi gave him one-one thousandth of his chakra (which is still a lot of chakra) that Naruto can use freely. As a result, he cannot truly enter the Nine Tails Chakra Mode. However, he will have access to his Jinchuuriki transformations, which will be vital for some fights later in the story.

Sasuke now learned the secrets of the Uchiha clan. I was kinda hesitant on releasing too much information, but I felt the information I gave was adequate. There is no mention of the Rinnegan or how to obtain its power, since I believe that would require the sight of the Eternal Mangekyou. I also believe that the tablet was originally supposed to be readable only by the Rinnegan, but Madara made modifications to the tablet so that potential Uchiha can learn the steps to obtaining the Mangekyou. A contingency should he actually die in the battle against Hashirama.

I also added a little depth into Madara's backstory. It's unknown how he and Izuna obtained their Mangekyou. So I had a lot of leeway in creating the premise behind their Mangekyou: the death of their father by Tobirama. This also further his own hatred against Tobirama and prompts him to leaving Konoha, the village he helped found after mending relations with Hashirama. I am in no way bashing Tobirama. However, its essential to see characters from the perspective of others. Tobirama made mistakes, as did Madara and Hashirama. Nobody is perfect. We are all human after all.

In canon, there was no possible way for Sasuke to actually know much about the Uchiha. He left Konoha to train under Orochimaru, blinded by his hatred and desire for revenge. In this story, he never leaves Konoha and searches for information to beat Itachi. What he learns starts to shift his own opinions, as he starts to get an understanding of how Itachi has gained his power. Itachi generally wanted Sasuke to hate him, despise him, as a form of punishment for his actions against the Uchiha. How he obtained the Mangekyou was out of his control. He never did want to kill Shisui. I should probably stop before I spoil all of canon (like I haven't already).

I hope this chapter was an interesting read for you guys. As always, if you are interested in editing my works, PM me and I'll test your skills out.

Now for this week's questions.

Q: Is Sasuke going to meet the the other members of Team Hebi/Taka?

A: I may have plans to incorporate the members of Team Hebi/Taka into the new Sound Five. I am most likely not going to use Anime characters (as I have not watched most of the anime and have not seen many of the character exclusive to that form of media), and I want to limit the amount of OCs I plan to include in the story. I definitely would like to have the new leader of the Sound Five be an OC, but Karin, Juugo and Suigetsu may be able to see the light of day as members of Orochimaru's Elite Guard.

Thank you all so much for helping me achieve this milestone today! I hope you guys will be with me next Monday for True Paths to Power's first ever special! Also, Next Wednesday is the release of Finding Conviction and Redemption so see ya all soon!

-Blackrazgriz 5/13/2013 11:20AM EST