Amaya Uzumaki POV
The days flew by, and our first Academy exam was here. Most of the students seemed nervous, but Kakashi was completely indifferent. He's confident he'll do well, I thought. And he probably will.
I was pretty calm about the test since it was all based on what we had covered in class. Because of the intel I got from the lab, I already knew everything we'd studied, so I wasn't too worried.
We had two hours for the exam, but I finished it quickly. In less than 20 minutes, I was done and handed it to our sensei. He, along with some of the students, looked suspicious that I had finished so fast.
I guess it's not very common for a student to finish an exam that quickly, I noted. But the sensei didn't say anything and let me leave the classroom. I walked quietly through the Academy halls. All the classes are having exams today...
When I got outside, I sat on one of the benches at the Academy entrance. I'll wait for Kakashi here. I don't know if we have class afterwards or if we can just go home.
That's when I saw a small group of genins passing by the Academy. They were talking about something random, probably about the missions they'd been on.
Suddenly, I felt someone quickly approaching me from behind, and before I could turn around, they covered my eyes with their hands.
– Bet you can't guess who it is – He spoke in a forced voice.
I didn't even need to sense his chakra to know who it was. I gave a soft laugh.
– Shisui, you need to work on your voice if you want to fool anyone – I said calmly.
– Shisui? I don't know who you're talking about... – He kept insisting with his fake voice.
– Really? – I asked – That's a shame, just when I had some candy for him... – The instant I said that, Shisui removed his hands from my face and came around to stand in front of me.
– Candy? You said candy? – I laughed at his reaction.
– That's your weak spot – I pointed out, and he laughed.
– Definitely – Shisui looked at me for a moment – So what are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be in class? – He put a hand over his mouth, pretending to be shocked – Don't tell me you're... ditching class? – I shook my head.
– We had our first exam. Since I finished early, the sensei let me leave.
– Oh, is that it? – He sounded relieved – So how do you think you did?
– I think I did well. There was nothing that left me unsure or that I couldn't answer – Shisui gave a small smile.
– I can't wait to see your grade, because I'm sure you aced it – I gave a small smile back – But I still don't get something – I looked at him – Why are you waiting out here?
– I'm waiting for Kakashi to find out if we have class later or if we can just go home.
– You could have just left. After written exams, students are always dismissed.
– Really? – He nodded, and his expression changed for a second, like he remembered something.
– You're not doing anything now, are you?
– No, why? – He smiled.
– I want to do something, and you can help me – He took my hand and pulled me along with him.
– Nii-san, I think I'd better let Kakashi know I'll be with you – Shisui stopped and looked at me.
– That idiot with the silver hair doesn't need to know where you are 24/7.
– It's not about him knowing where I am all the time – I explained quickly – It's because he's already noticed there's something strange about us – The brunet's smile widened.
– So he asked about me? And what was his reaction? – His tone was eager.
– He asked about you, but anyone would have done the same. I'm new to the village, and most people seem to avoid me. Of course they'll find it weird that I'm so comfortable with you – I looked at him – And why did you tell me not to tell anyone we're siblings?
– You didn't want to use Uchiha as your last name because of me – He said quietly – So I thought you weren't going to tell anyone.
– But Kakashi is different from the others – Shisui looked at me with a silly grin.
– Different? – He leaned closer and asked in a lower voice – So, you're interested in him?
– He's different because, just like you, he doesn't treat me coldly because of my past – Shisui seemed surprised by my answer, then gave a weak smile – But... – He looked at me and I chuckled softly – I have to admit, the look on his face was pretty funny when I told him you and I were just friends – Shisui laughed.
– I can imagine. So how about we keep it our little secret? – I stared at him.
– So Kakashi keeps thinking we're just friends?
– And everyone else, too – He smiled mischievously.
That smile of his makes me a little worried..., I admitted silently.
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I followed Shisui through the village, and we went to an area I'd never been to before. There weren't any houses around, just a dense forest. What does nii-san need my help with that's so far out here?, I wondered.
– We're almost there – He announced, and I gave a weak nod.
As soon as we pushed through a particularly thick part of the vegetation, I saw a vast open field ahead of us. There was a waterfall and a small lake formed by it.
– This place is amazing... – I commented, looking at the whole landscape around us.
– This was otousan's training ground – Shisui explained, and I looked at him – Haha told me about this place many times and said I should bring you here when you were ready.
– When I was ready...? – I asked, confused.
– You've probably looked into the Uzumaki and Uchiha clans by now, right? – I nodded – And what do you know about kekkei genkais?
– They're abilities passed down genetically in specific clans. Some can be unique jutsus, where the user is born with a predisposition to combine chakra natures, or doujutsus.
– Exactly. And the Uchiha clan has its own kekkei genkai.
Shisui closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them, they had that same appearance as on the night of Akemi's death – and from my memories.
– Is that a doujutsu of the Uchiha clan? – He nodded.
– This is the Sharingan, our kekkei genkai.
– What? – I stared at him, confused – "Our"? – Shisui gave a weak laugh and his eyes returned to normal.
– Just as I thought, you still haven't realized – He looked at me – Although the Sharingan is exclusive to the Uchiha clan, only a few of its members actually awaken it. And those who do, usually do so because of some experience involving very strong emotions.
Very strong emotions?, I thought. So Shisui awakened his Sharingan because of Akemi's death. But why does he say it's our kekkei genkai? I don't...
I stopped that thought as I remembered something I had overlooked a while ago.
Before Minato and Sakumo arrived at the lab, when I was watching the children die without being able to do anything and I started to drown, I remember seeing my eyes with a reddish color [03].
– You awakened your Sharingan too – Shisui clarified, and I stared at him – And I'd say you just remembered when it happened – I gave a weak nod.
– How did you know I had awakened it? – I asked.
– One of the properties the Sharingan gives the user is the ability to see a person's chakra flow and its color. I tested it on other clan members who had awakened the Sharingan, and they have different chakra colors in their eyes – He looked at me – Your eyes have a concentration of white chakra, different from the rest of the chakra flowing through your body.
– So when you said you had something to do and that I could help you... – Shisui nodded – But how can I help if I don't even know how to activate my Sharingan? – He smiled.
– I'll teach you everything you need to know – His smile faded slowly – But maybe you won't want to do this... – I looked at him, confused.
– Why wouldn't I want to? – He looked back at me.
– When a clan member who has awakened the Sharingan can't use it, it's suggested that they relive the situation that made them activate it so they can use it again.
Relive the situation?, I pondered. It would be very complicated to relive it exactly the same way. After all, I'd need to feel the same way I did at that moment, and I doubt that just nearly drowning again would be enough for me to use my Sharingan...
– Nii-san... – I called out to him after a few moments – The Sharingan is awakened by very strong emotions, right? – He nodded – So it wouldn't necessarily require reliving the exact situation, but rather reliving the feelings I had in that moment – He rested his hand under his chin.
– Thinking about it that way, it makes sense – The Uchiha looked at me – I guess something like that could work.
– Then I want to relive what made me awaken my Sharingan, but I'll need your help with it.
Shisui Uchiha POV
Amaya told me how she had awakened her Sharingan, and I agreed that trying to repeat that exact situation probably wouldn't work. So she explained her idea about "re-awakening" her Sharingan based solely on the emotions.
I already knew about her nightmares and her memories from that lab. I also knew about her blocked memories because of the jutsu they used on her, about the boy she had fought.
And it was that specific memory we were going to use.
That seemed to be the only memory she couldn't face again, which made it so she couldn't imagine herself fighting someone her own age or using wakizashis.
Her idea was to relive that situation which still caused her pain and try to use her Sharingan again, and hopefully, also get the name the boy from the lab had given her.
Amaya explained everything that happened in their fight in detail. I would have to try and recreate that situation with her as best as I could.
But I was worried if this would be good for the redhead.
I hadn't really explained much about the Sharingan, or even the Curse of Hatred that came with it. If she re-awakened her Sharingan and the curse affected her, it would radically change her personality. And I'm afraid of what might happen to her if that occurs..., I admitted with concern.
But I was trying to think positively. After all, just like our father, I hadn't changed my personality or my ideals after awakening my Sharingan. Thanks to Amaya being by my side, I noted.
So I would do everything to protect her from that curse that haunted the members of our clan.
We had to go to my house to get wakizashis and a katana for us to use. Even though I was worried about helping her relive that situation, part of me was eager to see what she could do.
She's on a higher level than a normal Academy student, and probably above a genin too, I thought, smiling weakly. I can't wait to see her in action.
We went back to the training field and got set up the same way Amaya had told me it happened with her: both of us kneeling on the ground, our weapons to our right.
Even though the space was much larger than the lab, we marked the boundary around us to limit the space we could use. We stayed near some trees, since we'd need them later in place of actual walls.
Amaya had her eyes closed and was silent. Her expression was completely serene and her breathing was calm. I still wonder how she can be such a calm and kind person after everything she went through in that hellish place..., I mused for a moment.
Well, she reminds me of something my mother always told me: "Don't become what hurt you." Now I truly understand the meaning of that. She knows pain, in many ways, and doesn't wish it on others. I smiled weakly. It's admirable.
– Ready? – Amaya asked suddenly, and I looked at her.
– Whenever you are – She opened her eyes and looked at me.
– Then let's begin.