Chapter 17: The Sharingan's Awakening
With Minato Namikaze escorting the injured genin and the terrified boy away, only Kagenori, Uzumaki Kushina, Jiraiya, and Tsunade remained. The look Kushina gave the two Sannin brimmed with wariness and distrust. To her, anyone opposing Kagenori became an enemy.
Jiraiya appeared unbothered, but Tsunade felt a headache forming. Uzumaki Kushina belonged to her grandmother Mito's clan—practically the only Uzumaki relative Mito had left in Konoha. With Uzumaki blood flowing through her own veins, Tsunade considered Kushina family.
More importantly, Tsunade understood why Kushina had come to Konoha. The village couldn't afford to be overprotective, yet that genin had dared to throw a real kunai at her!
Though furious about the genin's actions, Tsunade had intervened because he remained a Konoha shinobi. And then there was Kagenori.
Tsunade knew something of his background—the incident years ago had caused quite a stir. Uzumaki Mito had confided her frustrations. With both Senju and Uchiha heritage, yet rejected by the Uchiha clan, Kagenori had become their victim, hated by all Konoha.
What surprised Tsunade was his close bond with Kushina. He'd been willing to cripple two boys for her sake. Had they known each other longer than Kushina's brief time in Konoha?
As Tsunade pondered, her gaze accidentally caught the bloodstains on the ground. Her pupils contracted, body trembling slightly. Hemophobia gripped her.
Jiraiya noticed immediately, positioning himself to block her view. "I'll take these two to see the old man. You should rest, Tsunade."
Taking several deep breaths, Tsunade fought to calm her racing heart. "I'm fine. I'll accompany you."
Knowing both children's identities now, she decided to join them. Had Kagenori not attempted to maim the boys, this would've been minor. But his actions warranted Sarutobi's attention—and likely punishment.
Seeing her determination, Jiraiya nodded, turning to the children. "Come with us to see the old man."
Kagenori spoke suddenly. "This doesn't concern Kushina. I'll accompany you alone."
Before Jiraiya responded, Kushina gripped Kagenori's hand anxiously. "No! I'm coming with you!" She glared defensively at the Sannin. "Someone might misrepresent what happened! This wasn't Kagenori's fault! I need to explain to the Hokage—"
Kagenori sighed softly. If Sarutobi decided to punish him, no amount of explanation would matter. Still, he wasn't overly concerned about punishment. So long as he demonstrated value, consequences would remain manageable.
As Kushina continued protesting, she suddenly stared at his face. "Kagenori! Your eyes!"
"My eyes?"
Picking up his broken blade, he examined his reflection. To his astonishment, both eyes now bore single tomoe Sharingan.
After Tsunade deflected his broken sword, he'd known the confrontation was over. Relaxing his chakra, sharp pain had struck his eyes, forcing them shut. Upon reopening them, his vision had sharpened dramatically, everything appearing in slow motion.
Amid the tension of the Sannin's appearance, he hadn't immediately recognized the Sharingan's awakening.
Jiraiya and Tsunade stared at his crimson eyes, jaws slightly agape.
"How old are you, kid?"
"Nine."
"Only nine?!" Both Sannin appeared stunned.
Kagenori briefly wondered at their shock before realizing: the earliest recorded Uchiha awakening belonged to Uchiha Sasuke at seven, though unnoticed at the time. Uchiha Itachi awakened at eight after his friend's death. Uchiha Shisui likely around the same age. Uchiha Obito awakened two tomoe at twelve. Uchiha Madara at fifteen.
Since Sasuke, Itachi, Shisui, and Obito weren't born yet, he might be the earliest recorded awakening—though some Uchiha might have awakened earlier secretly. Still, awakening at nine placed him among the earliest.
Now he felt even less concerned about meeting Sarutobi. The Sharingan increased his value significantly.
Testing his new eyes, he noted the constant chakra drain. Thanks to his Senju heritage, his reserves proved adequate for now. Though the system rated his chakra at one-fifth of Kakashi's Sharingan-state level, Kakashi was an elite jōnin while he remained an academy student. Even one-fifth likely reached chūnin level. Moreover, as his natural bloodline limit, the Sharingan wouldn't drain him like Kakashi's borrowed eye. His reserves would grow.
Ceasing chakra flow, his eyes returned to black.
Jiraiya and Tsunade exchanged glances, their shock lingering. "Let's go," Jiraiya said finally.
Kagenori considered asking Kushina to stay behind—he could handle Sarutobi alone. Annoying one Sannin sufficed; no need to provoke both.
But Kushina clung to his hand stubbornly.
Sighing in resignation, he conceded. "Then we'll go together."