Colliding Constellations

Chapter 5: Who am I?

The Academy began in the fall.

Himawari, who Kara had spent a lot of her time with growing up, had been placed in the same class as Kara, but they had grown apart with time and neither really spent too much time together. She was kind and popular, the Hokage's daughter on top of it all. She was both a celebrity and someone deserving of that respect. In many ways, Himawari was like Sarada, smart, caring, and always someone to rely on.

Kara couldn't be more different. Where Himawari was consistent and achieving, Kara was ambiguous and defined only by her own motives. She stood alone and was unattached to the others. In many ways, it was a matter of cunning, where the other students brushed on the edges, Kara engulfed in mouthfuls. Because when someone seizes to think as others, see as others, or be like others, they become an outsider.

Kara hated the Academy.

And that is where the chaos began.

"I just don't understand," Sakura murmured to Ino, "It was never a problem with Sarada."

"Sarada has many previous friends in her class, all Kara needs is to spend a little more time with the others," Ino comforted, curling a stem in her hands.

"Sasuke-kun was a high achieving student, Kara takes after him, and yet every day it gets worse," Sakura raddled on.

"Sasuke was riddled by his ambitions, Kara is a very different person than he was," Ino said wisely, "Inojin wasn't the easiest child to raise either, forehead."

"I know," Sakura sighed, "It's just- ditching? Where does she even get that from."

"Naruto ditched all the time as a kid, and he ended up just fine," Ino chuckled, "And the way I see it you should be asking the company you leave her with. Kakashi is just about as responsibility allergic as you get."

Sakura rolled her eyes, and Ino's eyes curved upwards.

"What she needs is ambition," Ino said, "Have you ever asked her why she wants to become a shinobi?"

"Sarada."

"Sarada?" Sakura looked at Kara in surprise.

"Sarada wants to become a shinobi, so I have to follow her," Kara stated, it plainly made sense to her, and yet her mother seemed surprised by her conviction. Her eyes widened, and she bowed down to Kara's level.

"Kara," she said, "Being a shinobi for Sarada is a noble and brave thing. But if you are going to be a shinobi, you must be fueled by your motives, not others. When I was a young girl I made the mistake of becoming a shinobi for someone else. In the end, I was left in the dust, and it took me to find my own aspirations to make me become stronger.

Being a shinobi means having an iron will so create your own ambition."

Kara looked at her mother's eyes, shining a green hue, and slowly nodded.

"Ok."

Kara could remember the night, darkness and shadows hugging corners, moonlight embroidering the sheets in light. She could remember the night the ways her sister could not. When she would listen to the sobs of her mother alone in bed. What does sit mean to be lonely? What does it mean to sacrifice?

What does it mean to be a shinobi?

"Konoha was founded on the fundamental truce between the Uchiha and Senju clan," Shino-sensei lectured, "Hashirama-sama, our founder, united many other clans thereafter. Would someone like to give me some examples?"

His eyes wandered through the sea of raised hands, "Taichi, why don't you tell us."

"The original four noble clans were the Aburame, Akimichi, Hyuga, and Uchiha," Taichi said proudly, a smart Aburame kid, "But there are many more."

"Well done," Shino praised, and he started to write down the clan logos on the board, "Anyone else wants to tell me other clan names?"

"Sarutobi!" A kid yelled, many more following afterward. But Kara's eyes were focused on the board.

Uchiha.

Upon recognizing the emblem that Sakura had commonly designed their clothes with, a fan split between red and white, Kara's eyes furrowed together.

Wait, I have a clan?

Kara fingered the spines of the library books.

Uchiha, Uchiha, Uchiha. Ah, here we go, Noble Clan of Konohagakure.

Kara pulled out to book, and flipped through the pages, searching for information on her supposed clan. She reached the page and started to softly read the pages aloud.

"The Uchiha clan is among the most venerable clans. Their Sharingan is considered their greatest trait. Even more exceptional is the Mangekyo Sharingan, which has a different pattern. When it awakens, a special pattern appears in the eyes, enabling one to see through taijutsu, genjutsu, and ninjutsu."

Kara's eyes widened, why didn't anyone say anything? Shouldn't kekkei Genkai clan knowledge be passed down?

"The Sharingan awakens when there is deep emotional trauma."

Kara reread the line, emotional trauma? What type of kekkei Genkai awakens on trauma?

"The Uchiha clan due to a grave misfortune nearly lost its entire lineage. At present time, the only ones known to be living to carry on the bloodline are Sasuke Uchiha and his daughters."

They're dead?

All of them are just gone?