uzumaki shira | naruto

Act 17: "I hate you, nee-san!"

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When he first met her that day, Sasuke knew she was different and it was not just about her odd appearance. Even now, as he stared at her sleeping face, Sasuke still felt that there was something that separated Shira from the rest of the girls he knew.

The invasion ended not too long ago and he had regained consciousness not long after they were put into a tent.

All of team Seven and Haku were there and he wondered when did that feminine boy arrived in the fight. His obsidian orbs then landed on Naruto, the one that he hated the most and yet, deep down inside, considered him a friend. He and his sister were so different yet he didn't mind it all that much.

After hearing news of what happened to the Hokage, he couldn't help but feel a tiny bit guilty for not feeling anything upon hearing his death. Sasuke frowned. Why was that anyway? Why didn't he feel sad about the Sandaime's death? Maybe it was something he wouldn't understand for a very long time.

He stood on his feet and took one last look at Shira before leaving the tent to take a walk. Kakashi had already left as soon as Sasuke woke up from his slumber. The Uchiha's hand shot up to his neck and caressed the curse mark on his neck. Shira had resealed it in the last minute.

He felt grateful.

He remembered that time when he had lost everything and he didn't have the heart to push the redhead Uzumaki away and in addition, her twin. That time, Shira became his light and Naruto was the noise. Yes, he was still going to exact revenge but he wouldn't do it at the cause of his friends.

Somehow, over the months of being with them— with Team Seven— and Shira most of the time, he couldn't help but have a change of heart bit by bit. Thoughts of leaving the village to have power left his mind. There was no need to leave when his strength was here to begin with.

The thought of losing them, this second family he found for himself, was enough to make him desperate for power. Orochimaru's offer tempted him but at the same time, he didn't want to lose what he had now.

There was no need to leave behind what he had in this village. I can protect them with my own power.

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Hatake Kakashi stood in front of the memorial stone. Eyes dull, so lifeless that it could have belonged to a doll. He found his deceased sensei's name carved into the stone. He traced it with his bare fingers and the silver-haired man heaved a sigh.

The invasion flooded his mind. He was so stupid. Naruto and Shira could have died... Sasuke and Sakura could have died... Heck, even Haku could have died...

He was so stupid, an imbecile, so incompetent. Why was he even labeled a prodigy when all of the people he held close kept getting in danger?

His father...

Obito...

Rin...

Minato-sensei...

Kushina-san...

People he held dear died. Sakura. Sasuke. Naruto. Haku. Shira. People he treasured could have died again. He shouldn't have left his students alone. He should have been there. What kind of sensei was he if he couldn't even protect his students?

His comrades?

He was pathetic. Useless. He was weak. Obito was right. He was right about everything. What was the use of his existence if he couldn't even use his abilities to defend his village and comrades?