A Few Days After Indra's Awakening…
Indra panted heavily, his breath ragged as he glanced around the training ground. His brother was nowhere to be seen.
'Perfect! ' he thought, sneaking into the woods with quick, silent steps. He darted forward, swift as a shadow, until he reached the end of the training ground's gate—
Only to be stopped dead in his tracks by a figure standing in his way.
Renji.
"Where are you going? Did you unlock your chakra yet?" Renji's voice was sharp, his eyes narrowed.
"You're on leave from the Academy, and the teachers are helping the other students unlock theirs. But you—" Renji's gaze hardened. "You're from the proud Uchiha clan. You don't need their support."
Indra scowled.
"Go and unlock your chakra. If you don't succeed before dawn, no dinner for you!"
Indra glared back, his eyes burning with defiance. "Hmph! I can unlock it!"
"Then unlock it. Now."
The two brothers locked eyes, a silent storm of wills crashing between them. Without another word, Renji grabbed Indra by the collar and dragged him back into the forest, dropping him unceremoniously on the ground.
This time, Indra sat cross-legged, his back straight, determination burning in his chest.
Minutes crawled by. Sweat trickled down his brow. His body sagged, lifeless, like a dead fish.
How does this damn heat even move?
He collapsed backward, staring at the sky. The sun was dipping low, the horizon glowing orange. Panic tightened in his chest.
Calm down… locate it… His hands trembled as he focused inward. The heat source… in the stomach…
There. A flicker.
He caught it, guiding the warmth carefully through his meridians.
Now… flow normally.
A faint surge rippled through him—his body glowed faintly as chakra pulsed outward, fragile but alive. Beads of sweat rolled down his face.
Then it stopped. His eyes flew open, his chest heaving.
Renji stepped forward, a proud smile breaking across his face. "Good… Indra, you've finally awakened your chakra."
The two brothers walked home together, the night air cool against their skin.
"Brother… how did you awaken your chakra?" Indra asked.
Renji's gaze darkened. "Our father and mother died in the First War. I awakened my chakra through a program the Uchiha clan created to strengthen orphans."
Indra's brows knit. "And… the Second War?"
"The ongoing war?" Renji forced a small smile. "I'm already ten, and I've graduated. Soon… I'll march into its flames."
"When you go to war," Indra whispered, his fists clenched, "I'll pray for your safe return."
Renji's warm smile eased the tension. "Thank you, Indra."
That night, the two shared a futon, Indra pressed against his brother's chest as Renji gently patted his back until sleep took him.
---
The Next Morning
Sunlight spilled into their home. After a hearty breakfast, the brothers set out together. Indra grinned as he held Renji's hand, the warmth steady and reassuring.
Having a loving big brother is so cool…
At the Academy gates, Renji knelt and ruffled Indra's hair. "I've got a mission. See you later, little brother." He pressed a kiss to Indra's cheek before vanishing into the bustle of shinobi.
Indra lingered on the warmth of that touch as he slid open the classroom door.
The room fell quiet for a moment. His sharp gaze swept across the students—
Uchiha Mikoto. Minato Namikaze. And the trio of ino-shika-cho
Familiar names. Familiar faces. But…
Kushina hasn't come yet.
Indra walked with calm steps to Minato's row, stopping by his desk.
"Is this seat taken?"
Minato shook his head.
Indra sat, narrowing his eyes slightly before speaking. "My name is Indra Uchiha. What's yours?"
"Minato Namikaze."
"Minato…" Indra repeated slowly, savoring the name. He leaned back, lips quirking into a confident smirk.
"Well, we'll be friends from now on."
Minato blinked, a little startled, before letting out an awkward laugh.
Beside Minato, a civilian boy leaned forward, eyes bright.
"Can I join your friends' pact?"
"Yeah, sure!" Indra said without hesitation.
"My name's Hayashi Noboru," the boy introduced himself.
Indra stayed quiet, measuring him with a glance, but Minato offered warmly, "Oh… Noboru. Nice name."
"Nice name indeed," Indra finally added.
The three chatted animatedly, laughter bubbling between them—until the classroom door slid open with a sharp tshhh!
Thud!
The teacher strode in, his presence instantly silencing the room.
"My name is Hoshino Daiki," he announced, his tone calm but firm. "I'll be your teacher until the day you graduate."
"Today," he added with a pause that made the class lean forward, "we have a new student."
The students immediately broke into whispers.
Noboru leaned toward Minato and Indra. "Why's the Academy accepting someone so late?"
"Who knows…" Minato shrugged.
Indra smirked, folding his arms. "I'll tell you. It's probably some genius from a famous clan."
Noboru grinned. "Smart guy, huh? Then guess—boy or girl?"
Indra chuckled, low and amused. "Would minato like it if it were a girl?"
Minato blinked, raising a brow. "I'm a ninja."
Indra's face twisted like he was about to burst out laughing. He stuttered out between smirks, "So—you won't… date her?"
"No," Minato said firmly, shaking his head. "I'll become strong enough so—"
The door opened again, cutting his words short.
Indra pointed dramatically. "I hereby declare Noboru as my witness—because this girl, Minato, you can't date."
"I bear witness," Noboru said solemnly, before high-fiving Indra.
And then—silence.
A girl stepped into the room, her hair a striking crimson that blazed against the dull colors of the Academy.
'What a dazzling hair color…' Minato whispered to himself.
The classroom, however, erupted in laughter.
"Ha! Look at that hair!"
"What kind of ninja looks like that?"
Minato started to rise, but Indra's hand shot out, gripping his arm.
"Protecting the girl goes against the rul—"
"Shut up!" the girl's voice cracked like a whip.
The room froze. Even Indra felt his spine straighten at the tone, a flicker of his mother flashing in his mind. His eyes sharpened, quietly studying her.
"What an embarrassing moment…" he thought, as the girl introduced herself.
"My name is Kushina Uzumaki—dattebane!"
The silence that followed was broken by a mocking echo from the middle rows. "Dattebane…"
Indra's lips curled into a grin. He leaned toward Minato. "Watch how I seize the girl."
"Something feels… off about this," Minato muttered.
Indra stood, his voice cutting across the room.
"Silence! You call yourselves future ninja, yet you bully a girl? You shame the very name."
"And who the hell are you?" one boy sneered.
Indra's gaze burned like a blade. "Uchiha."
The room fell deathly quiet. The tension snapped instantly—few dared to jeer after that. Kushina's shoulders stiffened, but her eyes softened ever so slightly.
Indra returned to his seat.
"Being an Uchiha is fascinating, isn't it?" Noboru whispered, eyes wide.
"No," Indra muttered. "People hate us because we seem cold. But in truth…" He glanced at Minato, then back at Noboru. "…we're a people who cherish bonds more than anything."
"Wow. That's a cool mindset," Noboru whispered back. "Minato should be more like you."
The two chuckled, while Minato frowned. "Why's she coming here?"
A sharp hmph! sounded from above them.
Kushina stood there, arms crossed.
Indra looked up, unfazed. "I'm Indra Uchiha. How may I help you, Kushina Uzumaki?"
Minato leaned toward Noboru, whispering, "This Indra has strong guts…"
"I feel like death itself is glaring at him," Noboru replied, wide-eyed. "And yet… i feel it's shockwaves...."
Indra and Kushina locked eyes.
"There was no need to help me," Kushina said firmly. "I can protect myself."
"Sure thing." Indra's voice was calm, steady. His gaze never wavered.