「 Second Time Around」

「 chapter three」

Izuna faced death and laughed. He watched his teammates die in front of him. He fought beside his brother to reclaim glory. He died a hateful man, with hundreds of grudges.

But what scared him the most?

Social interaction.

There was a reason why he only hung out with his brother.

Greeting people? A nightmare. Talking to acquaintances? Horrifying. Making new friends? A living hell. Comforting people? Would rather face death.

And here's what he was doing.

Izuna walked in a circle, debating whether he should just leave or be a good teammate and comfort his friend. What are you even supposed to say in this situation?

Izuna grimaced and walked up, shuffling his feet as he approached Kakashi. "Hey..."

Kakashi jumped up, a kunai in hand. He relaxed when he saw it was only Izuna. He huffed slightly before turning back around and sitting down, his back to Izuna.

Izuna stood around for a moment more, rubbing the back of his head while hyping himself up in his mind. "Izuna, you experienced a lot more than him! You saw the creation of Konoha, for god's sake! Stop being a-"

"...Are you gonna sit?" Izuna snapped out of his mental chirade when Kakashi finally spoke, his back still to him.

Izuna nodded before realizing that Kakashi couldn't see him. He scratched his cheek before sitting a few feet, far enough not to be pushy but still close enough to feel comfortabe.

They sat in a somewhat tense silence as Kakashi quietly ate the rest of his dinner. Actually, Kakahi seemed fine, it was mostly Izuna fidgeting as he thought of what to say. Kakashi didn't seem like the type to start a conversation, and it would be a cold day in hell before he would open up about his past to the team.

Izuna sighed before deciding to open up about his past first.

"Ne, Kakashi-san. You don't know much about the Uchiha clan, do you?"

Kakashi looked up for the first time, a faint notion of offense on his face. "The Uchiha clan, along with the Senju clan, founded Konoha back during the Warring States Period. They are most famously known for their dojutsu kekkei genkai, the Sharingan. It allows the wielder to-"

"No, not the scrolls." Izuna waved his hand impatiently. "I'm sure you know all that already. I'm talking about the Curse of Hatred."

Kakashi sat in silence for a moment, thinking. "...I'm not aware of it, no."

He figured. The Uchiha clan had never been open about their weaknesses. Hell, he didn't know why he was opening up to some kid he met a week ago. But something urged him that this was the right decision; maybe Kami-sama telling him that this was what he was sent back to do. Fix the world one at a time, contrary to how he had messed it up in the past. While he still had a burning hatred for the Senju for what they did to his clan, it had calmed down. Like a flickering flame.

Forgiveness. His brother had forgiven and allowed Konoha to be built. Maybe...he could do the same.

"The Curse of Hatred...It's something most Uchiha fall victim to. The Uchiha clan are as proud as they are powerful. They have a very strong sense of partnership and family. Almost to the point where it's...suffocating."

"Uchiha tend to hide their emotions. I suppose, I'm the anomoly." Izuna grimaced, remembering how hyperactive Obito had been before he had taken over. "But they are filled with love. And when the object of that love is lost..."