𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 | 𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙤

¹³; ᶜᵘʳˢᵉ

𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐋𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐁𝐄 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐃—Terrified, by any intruders in their household.

Especially when they werent detectable by chakra.

Yet, the only reaction that came from the boy was a face of indifference,

"Do you have some kind of business with me....?"

In all honesty, the mysterious man was surprised at the lack of interest shown by the young Uchiha.

Most other people in the village would be wary, and defensive.

Yet, Kenjiro simply showed zero interest.

"My name... is Madara Uchiha."

Confusion wrote itself across the face of Kenjiro.

Madara Uchiha was his direct ancestor, meaning there should be zero chance this is actually him.

Though, the crimson eye the shined through the mask suggested otherwise.

"The answers for the questions that plague you will come with time."

"You speak of time yet here you are wasting mine."

A slight chuckle escapes the mouth of the mysterious man who claimed to be Madara Uchiha, a sigh following soon after.

"My intentions are nothing short of pure. I believe we can help one another."

"How so?"

"Your latent ability and potential are greater than even that of your esteemed brother, Shisui Uchiha; and your cousin, Itachi Uchiha," he took a slight pause, seeing if Kenjiro was still with him, before continuing, "I can help you achieve that potential."

"I should trust you, why?"

"I can guide you to the answers you so dearly seek."

He gave an offer Kenjiro couldn't refuse.

Another Uchiha, possibly the greatest one of all time, was asking to train him.

In return, he gains strength, and Knowledge.

Trust, however, could not be bought.

"I urge you to accep-"

The masked man was then interrupted before he could finish his words, both Uchiha's heads' snapping towards the door.

Kenjiro found himself scowling towards the door, resent forming against whomever interrupted his conversation.

Reluctantly, he cracks the door open, enough for the sunlight to beam through the door, shining into the particularly dark room.

Kenjiro found his mood worsened once he realized of all people it was his sensei at the door.

"I interrupt something?"

Kenjiro looks back into the apartment, only to find the masked man had dissapeared, seemingly into the darkness, much like he had appeared.

He releases a heavy sigh before stepping back and opening the door fully for his sensei.

"Have you come to berate me as well?"

She only sighs before stepping into the establishment, cursing herself for what she was about to do

Kenjiro continues watching as his sensei holds her hand out, his hitai-ate sitting on top of it, beckoning for him to grab it.

"This belongs to you?"

Kenjiro simply looks at the item in her outstretched palm, not reacting in any sort of way

"...was she telling the truth?"

His Sensei simply retracts her hand, another sigh escaping her lips as she spoke,

"Yes. She was. I simply cannot have spontaneous situations like that putting my team in danger."

"So why return the headband."

"Because you're still part of this team."

Kenjiro only scoffs, casting his eyes downward towards the floor, as his hands clench into a fist.

"Not by your own choice."

"What would make you assume that."

"How dumb do you perceive me to be?"

Kenjiro raises his head, his expressionless demeanor returning once again as he looked his teacher in her confused, yet shocked eyes.

"Believe what you want. However, the Chunin exams are coming up, i've nominated all three of you," she pauses, crossing her arms as she continues, "I'm not giving you any choice but to attend."

"I'm sure that isn't allowed."

"It's not. However, you need to prove yourself to your squad. If they don't rely on you, that's how you'll all end up dead."

"Hn."

"Seven days from now, on July 1st, the exams will commence. Until then, train." She turns on her heel, walking back out the front door before saying one more thing, "Whatever happened, forget about it. Just don't let it happen again."

Kenjiro watched as his sensei jumped away, seething with anger at everything he was just told.

One circumstance that was out of his control would cause all this?

Thoughts plauged his mind, the idea of his team being considered stronger than him even though they all knew the truth was driving him insane.

The quiet footsteps of someone, who he could only assume to be the masked man reappeared, his now detectable chakra placed behind the young Uchiha.

"I'll do it."

He knew this was a bad idea, but any man who could infiltrate the village with no difficulty and the eyes of his deceased family, paired with his thoughts, clouded by rage, was enough for Kenjiro to accept the mysterious offer.

"We begin tomorrow."

—

Published 7/14/23

742 words.

they love you then they hate you thats the curse.