Another Uchiha

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the characters. I make no money from this story.

Chapter Two: The Invitation
Again, No Sex in This Chapter.
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Stirring in bed, Shotam slowly opened his eyes and gave a low groan. Morning already? He thought to himself. Moving his bedcovers to one side he slowly forced himself to get out of bed. Heading out of his spacious bedroom he made his way to the bathroom. Catching a glimpse of himself in the mirror he smiled. “I don’t half look like shit this morning.” Throwing off his sleeping attire, Shotam stepped into the shower and pressed the on button. Water coursing over his well muscled chest, he squeezed some shower gel from it’s tube and rubbed it over his chest to form a thick lather.

*Thirty minutes later*

Exiting the bathroom wearing nothing but his pride, the young Uchiha strode back into his bedroom and emerged a few minutes later wearing his outfit of choice, a black top with an oversized V cut down the middle, a pendant of the Uchiha clan symbol dangling from his neck, black three quarter length leg wear and standard navy blue ninja footwear. His hair, long, black and pulled back into a loose ponytail. Stopping for a second, he picked up his forehead protector from his desk. Looking at it, he glimpsed his reflection. I’m not going to mess today up he said silently to himself. All these years of hard work, his thoughts continued. I can’t allow that. My clan must be revived. Bringing the protector to his head, he tied it at the back firmly before striding into the living area of the Uchiha compound.

Taking a moment to pause halfway to where the armoury was located his eyes wandered off into the large pond that was in the middle of the compound. He remembered how it was when everyone would be here walking past on their way to receive a mission or to open up a stall that they owned. People fishing at the pond for their supper, the conversations that you heard in this compound, the smiles that you saw, the laughter, and the children running around without a care in the world. It was peaceful and warming. All to be shattered one evening by Sasuke’s brother, the supposed future of the clan, Itachi.

Shotam vowed that such an incident would not be allowed to happen again. Today was just a step towards restoring the Uchiha clan to their former status as a clan to be both revered and feared. Squeezing his palm into a fist, he brought it down against a nearby handrail. Clenching his face together, he realised how much he hated Itachi for taking his own family away from him. His parents and older sister. They had done nothing wrong and had served clan and village admirably. Their reward? Death by the blade of Itachi.

Breaking himself out of his trail of thought, he remembered he had something to do, somewhere to be. Jogging off towards the armoury, he bumped into Sasuke.

“Hey slacker. I already brought your kunai and shuriken. Your way too slow.” Came the voice of his smug cousin.

“Thanks” Shotam murmured, strapping the kunai and shuriken containers to his favoured left leg. “Come on then, we have to meet our new sensei in half an hour”

“You have the guts to lecture me on timekeeping? Sasuke appeared shocked. I could swear you fit in more with the Nara than the Uchiha.”

Resisting the urge to tackle him, Shotam turns to face the compound exit. “Last one there is an Akimichi!” he yells before running off.

Not wanting to be labelled as such, Sasuke screws his face up and begins running after his cousin.

Shortly afterwards, two out of breath Uchihas, both jostling for position are seen at the other end of the street running towards their meeting place, outside of a training area. The other two members of the group, Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno are already there and waiting for the Uchihas and their sensei. Sakura, being mentally faster than Naruto susses out what’s happening in the distance and starts shouting.

“GO SASUKE! GO!! BEAT HIM SASUKE!”

The racing clansmen soon near the dumbfounded Naruto and the cheering Sakura. Putting on more speed, Sasuke edges in front. However, Sakura, already thinking that he has won, runs out to congratulate him…Sasuke notices too late and runs head on into the pink haired girl. The result; both of them fall flat on the floor whilst Shotam goes on to claim victory.

“Haha! You are now an Akimichi” exclaims a triumphant Shotam.

Sasuke stands up, not impressed with the ditzy behaviour of the team’s kunoichi.

“Why can’t you stay out of things that don’t concern you, Sakura. I didn’t ask to be cheered, so don’t indulge in supporting me. I’m fine without your help.”

Sakura stood dumbfounded at her team mates outburst at her. All she had tried to do was show him some encouragement, but he brushed her off and even scolded her like she was a small child. Screwing up her face she turned defiantly, her contorted face masking the feeling of a dagger going through her heart as her mind replayed Sasukes outburst to her over and over.

Shotam walked up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t mind Sasuke…he didn’t mean it. I think he spoke without thinking.”

Sakura looked at Shotam, her eyes still wide in shock, nodded in acknowledgement. Why couldn’t Sasuke have some of Shotam’s personality? Then he’d be perfect.

*One hour later*

“Where is this sensei of ours? We haven’t even met him and he’s fashionably late” moaned Sasuke

Naruto looked up from the comic he was reading and agreed with Sasuke. “I think we should plan a surprise for him”

“A surprise? For me?”

In a puff of smoke, a taller man appeared behind the blonde teenager who jumped into the air screaming.

“Are you our sensei?” asked Sakura

“Yes, I am Kakashi, your new sensei.”

Sasuke, without batting an eyelid enquired “Can we get on with today then? I have plenty of other things I could be doing.”

“In good time” came the monotonous reply. “Since all four of you came from the same class, there shouldn’t be a need for any introduction and as everyone seems to be ready, I’ll just skip that part and we’ll get right to the test.”

“T..test? What test would that be, Kakashi-sensei?” asked Sakura confusedly.

“Come with me and I’ll explain all on the way.” Came the nonchalant reply from the man clad in unusual garb.

Kakashi walked past them all silently and they followed in single file. Taking his time, Kakashi pulled a book out of his ninja pouch, flicked to the page marked by a bookmark and started to read. As he did, he started to speak to the young Genin squad.

“The test” Kakashi began “Will be to take a bell from my belt.” With his spare hand, he produced three bells. “One of you will be sent straight back to the academy if you don’t manage to get a bell. You have four hours to get one. Oh and if none of you get a bell, all four of you will be sent back to the academy. Is that clear?”

All four Genin confirmed their understanding of the rules in one way or another and readied themselves.

Kakashi looked up from the book and gave the Genin one more instruction. “Oh…you see..to take one of these, you are authorised to use any means necessary. Trick me, use killing force, whatever may be needed. Everyone ready? Then START!”

In a puff of smoke, a second Kakashi appeared. Each Kakashi turned and ran in different directions. Shotam and Sasuke instantly pursued one whilst Sakura and Naruto chased the second. Making a hand seal, a second, third and fourth Naruto appeared and assisted the original in tracking down Kakashi. Coming up to a clearing, the Narutos and Sakura stopped cold. They had lost him. Looking around dumbfounded, each of the clones ran a separate with the intent on covering more ground in the search for Kakashi.

Meanwhile, Sasuke and Shotam were sat behind some rocks. The Kakashi they had chased after turned out to be a shadow clone. Sasuke came up with an idea and drew a crude diagram in the dust on the floor.

“Okay, I’ll go and find him; you shadow me in the trees. When he’s located, I’ll go in and take him head on whilst you circumvent to behind him. We’ll trap him in between the two of us and force him to fight two at once from two sides.”

Shotam nodded in agreement and jumped for the trees. Sasuke ran out from behind the rock and started scanning everything in his immediate view with the utmost urgency. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, he started to run around searching for the elusive Jonin.

Sakura and Naruto were faring no better. In an attempt to find Kakashi, Naruto had fallen into a trap. Thinking he spied Kakashi looking the wrong way, he charged straight in, only to be caught in a net, not unlike a fish caught by a fisherman. Sakura meanwhile, in her attempt to free Naruto had slipped and twisted her ankle badly. Lying on the floor writhing in pain, there was nothing she could do to avoid being captured with an Earth Jutsu, taking her out of commission.

Kakashi, hid amongst some branches admires his handiwork. With the brash, orange clad ninja struggling against the ropes, and the pink haired kunoichi ensnared in an Earth Jutsu, all he had to do was find the Uchihas and capture them, the test would be over and he could get an early night. Even though they were only Genin, Kakashi was surprised at how easily and quickly he had trapped Naruto and Sakura and hoped deep down that the Uchihas would be somewhat more of a challenge.

Back with the two Uchiha, Sasuke was starting to get frustrated. They had been swooning over the training area for the past half an hour and hadn’t had so much as a sniff of their sensei. Unbeknownst to them, their sensei was indeed near them, crouched between undergrowth and shrubbery Kakashi silently observed. They have a good concept of teamwork. These two may be slightly tougher to bring down than the other two he mused to himself. But first, I’ll let them find me. It won’t be much of a test otherwise. Easing himself gently into a sitting position so as not to be heard by the roaming Uchiha, he slips his hand into his ninja pouch. Fishing around the contents yielded Kakashi his item of choice, Icha Icha Paradise. Opening to where he left off earlier, he eagerly delved into his book and began reading. Not paying attention to his surroundings, he only just managed to dodge a fireball that was sent his way. Realising at the last second, he threw himself into the air and performd a somersault to get away from the ensuing fireball.

Landing on his feet, Kakashi surveyed what was in front of him. Sasuke stood some sixty feet away from him grinning, his one hand still at his mouth. Stealing a glance downwards he noticed that his beloved Icha Icha book had been singed, a few pages burned slightly away. Having just purchased that book only yesterday Kakashi marvelled at what had happened. That’s what happens when you let your guard down he reasoned. Even against newly promoted Genin, it appeared you can’t relax or they’ll punish you.

“Okay, you’ve got my attention.” Kakashi stated. “Let’s get serious with this.”

Running forward, he tossed some shuriken at Sasuke. Blocking them with a hastily drawn kunai, Sasuke was ill prepared to dodge the flurry of attacks from Kakashi. The said Jonin was likewise unprepared for the entry of Shotam into the fray. Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu! Kakashi turned his head around and spotted the incoming fireball. Too late to move the fireball struck him on his back.

“I got him!” exclaimed an excited Shotam.

His excitement soon turned to dismay as the flailing Kakashi, in a puff of smoke turned out to be a rock which promptly dropped itself to the floor. Damn! Substitution Jutsu cursed a deflated Shotam. Quickly moving his head from left to right, he couldn’t see their sensei. Where is he!? Shotams mind shouted to itself. He must still be in the area. Sasuke stood up and began looking in the opposite direction to his cousin. Seeing what was possibly a half chance, he threw some shuriken at a tree. His guess turned out to be correct and Kakashi threw himself out of the tree. Pausing barely a moment he came at Sasuke with full speed.

Hell….he’s fast Shotam screamed inside his head. Looks like I’ll have to use it. I’ve been saving it for sparring with Sasuke, but the present situation warrants it’s use. Running towards Kakashi, Shotam threw himself in front of Kakashi’s attack, kunai drawn menacingly. Kakashi reacted almost immediately by drawing his own kunai and meeting Shotam, kunai to kunai. Staring directly at each other, eye to eyes Kakashi was taken completely aback at what was to come next. Shotams eyes, dark brown in colour lit up a bright red, two tomoe in each. Breaking the kunai struggle, Kakashi jumped backwards. He has activated the Sharingan, at still a relatively young age? Kakashi wondered. The only other person younger than Shotam to have activated the Sharingan is Itachi. This Genin is something.

“So, you’ve managed to activate your kekkei genkai I see. Not bad at all” Kakashi praised. “You may well become a strong Ninja one day but unless you make one of these bells yours within the next hour, I’m afraid it won’t be any time soon.”

Agitated, Shotam raised both hands and made the appropriate hand seals. Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Jutsu! Shotam began spitting fireballs at Kakashi, who was at a loss to explain how a Genin could perform such an advanced technique. Not wanting to be outdone by his cousin, Sasuke formed some hand seals of his own. Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu! The combination of both Jutsu resulted in Kakashi hurriedly, yet calmly flipping out of harms way, much to the chagrin of the two boys casting at him. Wasting no time, Kakashi began to come at Shotam, intending to counterattack. His Sharingan however allowed him to see Kakashi at a slower speed and dodge. Throwing himself to the left of Kakashi, he reached out and managed to grab two of the bells hanging from Kakashi’s belt. Tossing one to Sasuke he stands up proudly with a huge grin plastered on his face. Both Uchiha look at their sensei and smirk.

A bemused Kakashi looked at the two overjoyed Genin with a half closed eye.

“Sasuke, Shotam will pass this because he not only managed to get a bell by himself, he demonstrated an ability to think fast, display a Jutsu that he by all means shouldn’t be able to pull off until he became a Chunin and finally, he displayed a knowledge of how to utilise his Sharingan.”

Sasuke looked at Kakashi dumbfounded. “So sensei, does that mean I don’t pass the test?” his face contorted in a rage.

Kakashi, without displaying any emotion allayed his worst fear. “I didn’t say that. For your teamwork and also displaying a fairly powerful Jutsu, you also pass. The same can however not be said of your two team mates. Follow me.”

Following their sensei, it wasn’t long until they found Naruto struggling to free himself from a net suspended from a tree and Sakura restrained by an Earth Jutsu. Tears streamed down Sakura’s cute, mud encrusted face as she realised that she’d more than likely be sent back to the academy for her ineffectiveness. Desperately she looked at Sasuke who was leaning backwards on a conveniently placed tree with his arms folded and one leg crossed over the other. In her head, she was wishing that Sasuke had also failed, and that they could go back to the academy together, but something about his smarmy look told her otherwise. Finally summoning the courage, she asked the question she both wanted to and did not want the answer to.

“Sasuke! Did you pass?!” she called out whilst attempting to choke back tears.

Sasukes grin grew wider as he held up a bell and jingled it, almost as if rubbing her failure in.

“Yeah, I passed. I knew that loser would fail” stealing a glance at Naruto. “It also looks like you can’t cut it at this level. You should go right back to the academy and try again next year, and in the case of that idiot, he should just give up and see if Teuchi has a job for him at Ichiraku because he’s just wasting his time trying to prove something he doesn’t have the capabilities of doing.”

Kakashi stood silently watching the scene unfold before him. It looks like out of the two that passed, that Sasuke seems to have a superiority complex about him. I’ll have to keep him in check, should he still be assigned to me in the morning.

“Alright. Sasuke, Shotam. You’ve both passed. You can leave now. Report back to the academy at 9AM tomorrow. You’ll be assigned to your final teams then.”

Nodding, they delivering parting farewells to their sensei, with only Shotam acknowledging the still trapped pair, Kakashi still having to release them.

“Since when did you activate the Sharingan?” Sasuke queried.

“Well….about a month back…I got on the wrong side of some kunoichi who had a fetish for weapons. You name it, she used it, everything from shuriken to scythes.” Answered Shotam.

“You didn’t tell me about your newly awakened ability?” shot Sasuke

“No, it was my trump card to use against you whilst we spar.” Replied Shotam.

“We’ve sparred plenty of times since then and you’ve not revealed it? Are you sure that it was meant to be used against me?” huffed Sasuke

“I haven’t needed to” teased Shotam.

“Ha! Next time we do spar, I’ll put you under so much pressure, I’ll force you to both activate and evolve it” Sasuke confidently retorted.

“Don’t hold your breath you still haven’t activated yours yet.” Laughed Shotam

“….what was the name of that kunoichi….” Sasuke quietly asked.

“Bugger if I know” mused Shotam. “She’s usually training with that one boy who doesn’t have any pupils, over in Training Area 47 was where I encountered her.”

“Well, I’m going to go and see if I can find her.” Sasuke mentioned.

Shotam laughed “Going for the quick fix?”

“Your one to talk” Sasuke sneered.

“Mine wasn’t intentional!” Shotam half-heartedly defended

“Well you did it nonetheless. I’ll be home later.”

With that, Sasuke took off in a light jog towards the aforementioned training area in the hopes of finding the weapon using kunoichi. Shotam decided that he’d head home, have a bath and rest. Using those Jutsu earlier had taken quite a lot of chakra to pull off. Still, it was worth it. Both him and Sasuke had passed and were one step closer to reviving the clan. Someday, they’d both be revered as much as the original founder of the Uchiha clan, Madara Uchiha. Deciding to take a shortcut to lessen the distance between his resent location and the Uchiha compound. Taking a left near the Yamanaka flower shop, he entered an alleyway. When he got to around the halfway point of the backstreet, Shotam started to hear faint sobs. He ran through his head what the possibilities of the sound being and whether it was worth following up. His curious nature however ensured that he'd go and take a look. Expertly following the path his ears had set for him he arrived at the point where the sobbing seemed to be strongest, a derelict shed at the bottom of a garden long since overgrown with weeds and another assortment of overgrown garden foliage. Using all of the shinobi skills he had learned at the academy he cautiously turned his head to peek through the crack in the door. Sat on the floor with her head in her hands sobbing for dear life was none other than Hinata Hyuga.

Head instantly tearing back to its original position, his heart pounded in his chest. Hinata. The one girl he had lusted after for as long as he could remember was sat inside a dingy shed crying her eyes out. He had to do something, he just had to. There was no way he could forgive himself if he washed his hands of her now, or ever. How to approach her was the difficult thing, he wanted to be able to help her, and not seem to be nosy. Damn…he usually knew what to do in most of the situations he had been in before now, but…to have the girl he had cherished for years in the shadows be this upset and not knowing how to deal with it was annoyingly vexing. Suddenly realising eh had been holding his breath for over two minutes. Exhaling quickly produced a quite audible sound, enough for Hinata to hear.

Head sharply rising from her hands, she became aware someone was within the vicinity and had probably heard her sobbing like a baby.

“W..whos there?” she called in a timidly voice.

Shotam just stood there, frozen. He didn’t know what to do, in all of his days he had never imagined that it'd be Hinata. Hoping she’d give up, he continued to stand there, doing a good impression of a statue. Forgetting she also possessed a kekkei genkai, he was rather dismayed when he heard her activating her Byakugan. Immediately discovering that someone was there, she jumped up and assumed a Gentle Fist stance.

“S…show yourself!” she meekly commanded.

Gulping, he prised his form from the wall and turned around. Opening the door, he nervously looked in to see the girl of his dreams in a fighting stance, Byakugan activated with tears streaming down her face.

“H…Hinata…sorry if I startled you..” he started

“Oh, it’s you. F..forgive me, I didn’t realise who it was” she mentioned

“I umm….was just passing and I heard crying…so I came to investigate. Are you sure you’re all right?” he inquired.

“I…I guess. Don’t worry about me..i..i…I’m ok. She stammered.

Deactivating her Byakugan, she turned around and faced the opposite way.

“I’m sorry, Shotam. You must think I’m weak and useless. Coming here to cry by myself…” tears welling up in her eyes once more

“Hinata…”

“I’m sorry…I try to be stronger, less emotional but It just doesn’t work!. I don’t feel as though I’m good enough at anything. Everything I so usually goes up in my face.” She concluded.

Tears started streaming down her face with renewed strength; she brought the sleeve of her oversized jacket up to wipe the tears away from her eyes. His heart pounding in his chest, Shotam decided to throw caution to the wind. He started to move himself forwards, but his legs felt like stone. Forcing himself forwards, step by step, he gingerly wrapped his arms around her waist.

“Hinata. Tell me what’s really bothering you.”

Startled by his unexpected intrusion into her personal space, she froze. Sensing her apprehension, Shotam moved quickly to dispel any qualms or fears she had.

“It’s okay, Hinata. I’m not going to laugh or tell anyone. You can tell me, talking always helps, besides its never good to keep problems pent up”

Relaxing slightly against his form, she realised that he was right. But why would he want to help her? Sure, they were friends, but they weren’t in any way intimate or close friends. In the end she just decided to tell him straight up about her problems.

“To keep it short, Shotam….I’m having problems at home… my father thinks of me as being weak and useless. Unworthy of being a Hyuga, let alone being worthy of being heiress to my clan. He values my sister more than I. no matter what I do, I can’t seem to change it. He’s looked down on me for years. My sister is now seen by everyone as the future of the clan. Finally….he said that this shinobi test today was my last chance to prove myself. If I didn’t pass the sensei’s test today, then he would disown me and leave me to fend for myself.”

Her eyes started to form into tears again as she contemplated a future living away from her family, even though Hiashi was strict, she never thought he could be so cold to anyone, never mind his own daughter.

The realisation of what Hinata had gone through had hit him square in the heart. How could anyone treat someone so gentle and kind the way she had been? It almost beggared belief. Searching his mind for words of comfort…hew came up with nothing. All he could do was stand here and hold onto her.

“Hinata…are you trying to tell me that…you didn’t pass your sensei’s test?”

“K..Kurenai-sensei told us we’d get her final decision tomorrow, right when all the Genin assemble. I don’t think I can go and face my father tonight, Shotam…I just can’t! All he'd do is lecture me about being unfit to be of the house because I didn’t get Kurenai-sensei’s seal of approval there and then..”

“If that’s the case, Hinata…where are you going to stay tonight?” enquired the by now very concerned Uchiha

“I couldn’t say. This place looks a good a place as any, I guess.” She lowered her head in shame. “I did think about asking Sakura for a place to sleep for the night, but she wasn’t home.”

Shotam’s eyes opened wider in disbelief. Hinata…planned to spend the night here?! Of all places? Who knows what could happen to her. On impulse his lips started to move.

“Hinata…if you want…you can…umm…stay at mine tonight..that is..i..if you want to and…yeah you know what I mean”

Squeezing his eyes shut, he realised that he’d probably made a big mistake. She’d think he was some kind of pervert for sure. But he couldn’t go back on his statement now! What kind of person would do that? Not a very decent one, he reasoned. His trail of thought was broken, by Hinata shuffling. Loosening his grip, she turned around, tears almost disappeared from her eyes.

“Yes…I’d like that. That is…if you don’t mind putting me up for the night.”

She blushed a deep shade of red and hugged him, causing Shotam himself to turn beet red.

“It..its no problem, Hinata. In fact, you’re welcome…anytime” he managed to choke out.

“You’re so kind” she smiled. “Why can more people not be like you?”

“Okay then, Hinata. Shall we go? It’s starting to get dark out and the Uchiha compound is still a fair walk away.”

“Okay then” she smiled and blushed once more.

Leading her out of the abandoned shed, he picked his path past all the undergrowth that had become so overgrown, he wondered if Hinata needed her Byakugan to navigate her way through it. Coming to the exit of the overgrown plants, Shotam turned left and beckoned her to follow him. Walking down the path side by side, he wondered what Hinata liked to eat. All thoughts of his were silenced by her once more as sle slipped her palm into his and squeezed. Her hand was soft..and small. Smooth as silk…you wouldn’t guess this girl was a ninja at all.

“H..Hinata…w..why…”

“Shh…don’t say nothing” she silenced him. “Let us talk when we get back to your place.”

Squeezing her hand back he looked at her, smiled and blushed himself, which served to pump more blood into her own head, to the degree he thought she’d pop. Looking back in front of him, he concentrated on just getting back home for now.

Okay, Chapter Two up and sorted. I'll post Chapter Three as soon as i am able.

Again, reviews are much appriciated, your views and advice will be noted and taken aboard.

Thanks
Yondaime