Amaya Uzumaki POV
Two weeks had passed since the incident with my team's mission. A lot had happened in that time.
Meeting Yumi at the Stone Memorial brought some relief to me and Shisui. The young Uchiha insisted multiple times that she didn't blame us at all for what happened. And she fervently thanked us for giving her her son's necklace.
Still involving the Uchiha clan, a few days after the meeting with the Sandaime, I was summoned to the clan district with Shisui to talk to the leader, Fugaku. As I expected, the reason was my Sharingan.
The clan leader didn't spend much time talking. He just said he wanted to see my eyes. As requested, I activated my Sharingan without any effort. The Uchiha analyzed it quickly and in total silence.
When he finished his observation, he stressed that if I decided to use that power like any other member of the Uchiha clan, I should keep two things in mind:
First, never try to use those eyes against any member of the village, especially the Uchiha clan, because I would be immediately considered a threat and they wouldn't hesitate to kill me.
And second, if I ever fell into enemy hands and knew there was no escape, I should destroy my eyes so they wouldn't have access to the Sharingan.
They were terms I agreed with and had already thought about even before Fugaku discussed them with me.
I also learned from Minato that what happened on my mission remained only between those directly involved, their families, and very few members of the Uchiha clan. Because of that, I chose not to tell Kakashi or even my former Academy classmates.
I didn't want to have to explain that situation again, at least not so soon. Besides, I didn't want to worry them especially Kakashi.
I had noticed the last few times I went to help him study for his graduation exam that Sakumo wasn't in his best state. And I knew Kakashi noticed it and was as worried as I was. So I didn't want to add another unnecessary worry to him.
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As the Sandaime had decreed, Shisui and I were forbidden from returning to our duties as genin. And trying to go against Kushina so I could at least train was out of the question.
Like my brother joked, if I wanted to live a little longer and valued my own safety, I'd better obey her. So my routine was limited to staying at home or at Shisui's place, taking care of him since his cold was persistent.
At that moment, we were both returning from the village center. Kushina had taught me some recipes, given all the time I was now spending at home, and I decided to prepare some things to help with Shisui's recovery.
We were walking in silence through the Uchiha clan district, and as we passed a less busy street, I saw someone approaching quickly from my brother's side.
I noticed immediately, in a glance, that it was one of the boys who hung out with Ichiro. He threw a punch at Shisui's side, where most of his injuries were.
At the same moment, before I could do anything for my brother, I felt someone pull me back roughly. Shisui fell to his knees on the ground from the pain he must have been feeling.
– Shisui! – I called out to him – Let me go! – I snapped at the one holding me.
I tried to break free from whoever was holding me, but the boy who had hit Shisui, before joining the one holding me, struck me in the ribs, making me hold back a grunt of pain.
Although my more serious injuries were already healing, my body was still covered in bruises that, with the lightest touch, felt like dozens of needles hitting me all at once.
The boy who had hit Shisui joined the one holding me, and they kept holding my arms behind my back, preventing me from moving.
I looked at my brother on his knees on the ground. His hands were holding his sides. My worry shot through the roof. These boys are here because of me, I thought. And Shisui got caught in the middle...
Ichiro approached us with slow steps. I turned my eyes to him, still trying to endure the pain I was feeling myself.
– It's the first time I've seen you so angry – he commented with a mocking little smile on his face.
– You walk around the village with that neutral expression, looking superior to others – one of the boys holding me said.
– You're scary! – the third one said, making the others laugh.
– Now... – Ichiro spoke again and I stared at him – Cry... Cry and beg for forgiveness for what you did to my brother, otherwise... – He glanced at Shisui – We'll have to hurt him instead of you.
I didn't try to hide my worry at that moment. I didn't mind taking all the anger they felt towards me, but involving an innocent person, especially Shisui...
Ichiro got close to me and without thinking twice, I kneed him in the stomach, making him stagger back a few steps from the impact.
– You...! – he spat out angrily.
With firm steps, he approached Shisui and kicked him backwards, making my brother fall onto his back.
– Stop! – I shouted desperately.
– Instead of hitting you, this seems much more effective – the Uchiha commented cruelly.
– Ichiro, you said you wanted to take it out on her because of Takafumi... – one of the boys said with some concern – He's one of us and doesn't have...
– Shut up! – Ichiro yelled – He was with her on the mission and still hangs around this freak! – He looked at me with visible disgust.
Ichiro picked up a piece of wood that was nearby in the alley to our right and smiled sadistically. He looked in the direction of my brother and I understood he would take out the hatred he had for me on someone important to me if he had to.
I clenched my jaw and tried to control the overwhelming anger that was starting to overpower my sense of reason. It was the same kind of anger that had hit me moments before I killed the smugglers and Masao himself.
I controlled my body as much as I could and felt my expression become impassive. I also stopped trying to break free from the boys holding me.
– I'm only going to say this once – I warned them, and I noticed even my voice tone was deeper – Don't try to touch my brother again. If you hurt him, I will end all of you. I swear I will end every single one of you.
I felt the hands of the boys on my arms tremble slightly. They could tell I was more than serious at that moment. Ichiro stared at me, forcing a mocking smile and then laughing.
– You swear, huh? You can't even break free, freak – And he turned to go towards Shisui.
I gave him a chance..., I thought, and let out my breath slowly.
I clenched my hands and tensed my arms, using the grip of the boys holding me to jump in place. I hit their feet when I landed back on the ground and they shouted from the sudden blow, instinctively letting go of my arms.
I turned towards them, aiming first for the boy who had been holding my right arm. I hit my hand under his chin, hearing his teeth clashing together from the impact.
Without wasting a second, I hit one of the other boy's supporting feet, making him lose his balance. My punch landed with my open hand on his chest, sending him to the ground immediately.
Then I turned towards Ichiro.
From his startled expression, I could imagine my look was frightening – but that didn't stop me. I approached him with slow steps and the Uchiha dropped the piece of wood while backing away.
– You... Y-You're a monster! – He accused me, completely terrified.
I picked up that piece of wood he had dropped on the ground and held it in my right hand. Ichiro noticed he was against a wall and had no way out. I concentrated chakra in my arm, energizing the wood in my hand.
– S-Stay away from me! – The boy shouted desperately.
I aimed to throw the piece of wood towards Ichiro. My anger was out of control at that moment, and honestly, I didn't want to try to stop it. As I prepared to hit him, a voice brought me back to reality.
– Amaya!
I stopped at the same moment. It was as if my brother's voice had pulled me out from inside myself in that moment of uncontrollable rage. I looked at Ichiro in front of me. The boy had his eyes closed and a terrified expression.
I tightened my grip on the piece of wood in my hand and threw it towards him, but unlike before, I slammed it into the ground in front of his feet, with my chakra impregnated in it. The Uchiha looked at me, still scared, but not understanding why I hadn't hit him.
– You can hate me as much as you want – I warned him, slowly returning to my usual calm – You can wish the worst on me. But never again try to hurt someone important to me to get to me – I looked at him seriously – You should understand better than anyone right now what it's like not to be able to do anything to protect a brother – And for the first time, I noticed Ichiro's expression soften in my presence.
I could understand that his hatred for me at that moment went beyond the fact that I had attacked Yumi when I arrived in the village and that I hadn't done anything to prevent Takafumi's death. He hated himself because he also couldn't do anything for his family.
Ichiro fell sitting on the ground, with a distant expression. Without waiting for any other reaction from him, I turned towards Shisui, who was trying to get to his feet with difficulty. I quickly went to him and helped him up, supporting him against me. Only then did we continue on to Shisui's house.
– Thank you – I thanked my brother a little later – If you hadn't called me at that moment, I can't even imagine what I would have done...
– You experienced one of the negative aspects of our clan – Shisui explained – The affection we have for a person is transformed into hatred in the blink of an eye if we see them under external threat – He looked at me – That is the Curse of Hatred.
– It's dangerous if not measured – I said – Good thing you were there to help me.
– You have something even more important to suppress this curse – He looked at me without understanding – It's called the "Will of Fire".
– The village's life philosophy – I said – It embodies that Konoha's ninja should love, believe, value, and fight for the sake of the village, as past generations did before them.
– And beyond that, it's what gives us the strength to keep fighting against all adversity, building our willpower and strong character – I gave a weak smile.
– You sound like the Academy teachers talking like that – I commented, and Shisui laughed.
– You talk as if I were an old man – He complained as if he were really offended and gave a weak laugh.
– And you're not? – He looked at me with a smile.
– We could solve this dilemma in a fight, but I don't think either of us is in condition for that now – I ended up laughing and agreed.
– We definitely are not – Shisui laughed too.
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After taking Shisui home and making him rest early to recover, I went back to my own house. I didn't comment on what had happened earlier with Kushina and Minato, not wanting to worry them about something that was already over.
After helping Kushina prepare dinner, I went to my room to take a quick shower. In the bathroom, I stopped in front of the mirror for a moment. I removed the bandages covering my body, revealing the purple bruises and scratches that covered a good part of my body. They'll take a while to fade..., I noted.
I subtly passed my hand over those marks and a slight shiver ran through my body. The pain was still present.
I took my shower and returned to my room wrapped in a towel, since I hadn't picked up a change of clothes. I opted for light clothes to wear at home, and when I went to sleep, I would change into my pajamas.
– Amaya, can you come here a minute? – I heard Kushina call me, probably from the living room.
– Coming! – I announced.
I finished getting dressed quickly, without rewrapping the bandages on my body, and left my hair down since it was still wet. I left my room and went to the living room, where the Uzumaki probably was.
– Do you need help or...? – I started to ask but stopped the next moment.
I had an unexpected surprise when I looked at who was in the living room: Yumi was standing near Kushina and Minato talking, and Ichiro was quietly beside his mother. The three adults turned their eyes to me, but the younger Uchiha didn't move.
– Yumi-san... – I said, a little disconcerted.
– Amaya-chan, sorry to bother you at this hour – the young Uchiha apologized quickly – But I needed to come here as soon as possible to clarify some things.
Clarify some things?, I wondered. Did Ichiro talk about what happened today?
– Yumi-san, I... – I started to speak, and she immediately refused.
– Please, don't say anything. Could you lift part of your shirt for a moment? – I looked at her without understanding.
I looked at Minato and Kushina; from their expressions, it seemed they already knew exactly what Yumi wanted by asking for that. I weakly nodded in agreement, even without understanding the point.
I lifted the bottom part of my shirt, and given that I hadn't put the bandages back on, I revealed part of the purple bruises that covered my body since the mission involving the smugglers.
Yumi kept her icy gaze, and when I looked at Ichiro, I noticed the shock on his face. I lowered my shirt, and the boy averted his eyes from me.
– You don't need to say anything, because it's me and my son who need to talk to you – the young Uchiha announced next.
She lowered her head slightly and looked at her son, placing her hand on the back of his head, making him imitate her posture.
– Please forgive my son for what he did to you – Yumi asked with her head bowed.
– No, it wasn't him who did this, it was... – But she interrupted me again.
– I know these marks weren't because of him. But I made him tell me everything he did to you, from the first time he and his friends found you at the village center library until today's problem – The woman looked at her son – Ichiro...
– P-Please, f-forgive me! – The boy asked with his eyes closed and his voice slightly choked.
He seems really... Sorry?, I pondered. His expression indicated genuine regret.
– If I had known about his behavior before... – Yumi said and sighed heavily – I don't even know how to apologize for everything he did to you – She looked angrily at Ichiro beside her.
– You don't need to do anything – I said quickly. After all, what was directed at me didn't really bother me, and what he had tried against Shisui had received the warning earlier – Don't worry...
– There has to be something – Yumi insisted – This idiot here isn't good with words and seems to believe everything needs to be solved with fists – She sighed heavily – Imagine if everyone resolved their conflicts like that.
– Well, in that case... – I said, thinking of something with Yumi's comment – I think I know what we can do.
I approached Ichiro, and the boy looked at me, visibly worried. His mother, as well as Minato and Kushina, had their eyes on us, but they didn't try to interfere or stop me.
I raised my arm towards Ichiro, extending my hand to him. He automatically looked at me, confused by my gesture.
– If you can wait for me to recover, we can talk in your way – I explained calmly – If you can only resolve things with your fists, we can fight someday. What do you say?
The boy didn't try to hide his surprise mixed with disbelief at what I had said. But even though hesitant, he extended his hand towards me, shaking my hand lightly in agreement.
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After Yumi and Ichiro left, we finally had dinner.
– Your action was admirable, Amaya – Minato suddenly praised me, and I noticed a subtle smile on his face.
– I thought it was reckless – Kushina said, and we saw she had an irritated expression – If I were in your place, I would have given him a good beating, 'ttebane!
– You always want to hit people who make you angry – The blond reminded the redhead, and she shot him a deadly look, making me laugh.
– I just wanted to end this conflict in the most peaceful way possible – Minato smiled at my words, and Kushina pointed her chopsticks at me.
– You better give him a beating when you fight, understand? – Minato and I laughed, but I agreed.