Naruto: Chronicles of A Fire Ninja

(A.N: If you like the novel, how about some powerstones?")

***

"As the Sharingan evolves, it enhances the user's body so they can wield its power. But usually, an Uchiha's body isn't adaptable enough to handle too much change. However, you also have Senju blood, which gives you not only high physical capability but also high adaptability. As a result, your body is a perfect vessel for the Sharingan. But there's a downside to it as well. If you awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan, it will be a very huge problem.

Normally, the Sharingan strengthens the emotions due to which we awaken it. Until the 3-tomoe stage, it's still manageable. Since you awakened your Sharingan because of anger and grief, those two emotions were strengthened and further amplified when it upgraded to 3 tomoe. But since it's still within a normal range, you may or may not have felt that. But… once you awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan, these emotions leave the realm of normal.

Your anger will go through the roof, and you'll do anything to stay away from grief because it will also be many times stronger. And since your body is adapting quite well to the Sharingan, maybe, just maybe, your other emotions may also get strengthened after that," Shisui explained.

"But brother, I still don't understand why this is such a big problem. If it's just anger, I just have to manage it well, and everything will be alright, right?" Kaida asked.

"You are underestimating it quite a lot. Let me give you a scenario: your friend went to a village to deliver a package, a simple D-rank mission, right?" Shisui asked. Kaida nodded.

"But later you find out that the sender of that package was an enemy spy who was sending Konoha ninjas to their deaths. Your friend is now dead because some people in the village were also collaborating with the enemies and poisoned your friend. But we can't find them among the many people in the village. What will you do now?" Shisui asked.

'Is this some kind of interview question to check my personality?' Kaida thought but kept those thoughts to himself and simply gave the answer he thought was appropriate.

"I will kill that spy first. Because of him, my friend died. His death won't be painless. Then I'll go to the village, read the memories of those who are already suspects, and eliminate all the enemies," Kaida replied, feeling that this was the most logical course of action.

"There is nothing 'natural' about that. Now I'll tell you what a normal, non-Uchiha ninja would do. They would raise a formal complaint to the Hokage's office if they knew about the spy. Then it would be the village's job to handle it.

Regarding the villager, reading memories with the Sharingan damages the brain, so that would be the job of someone from the Yamanaka clan. And, obviously, the spy would die, but through a procedure. What you're saying is the result of many deaths by your hands, combined with the effect of the Sharingan. Alone, both are manageable, but together, they change a person's mindset," Shisui explained.

Kaida went silent, deep in thought.

'Was the first time I killed someone influenced by the Sharingan? No, at that time, it had just awakened. I couldn't have instantly switched some flip inside me… So I was already a killer from the inside, and the Sharingan just amplified that part of me?'

"Am I becoming a monster, brother?" Kaida asked.

"Why would you think that?" Shisui asked, amused by Kaida's conclusion.

"As soon as I got power, I started killing those weaker than me. Isn't that something only a monster would do?" Kaida asked, his eyes downcast.

"Well, if that's the case, recite the list of names of the people you've killed, who you think were innocent," Shisui challenged.

"… … …"

"See, there's not a single person. Kaida, as a ninja, I've done many atrocious things. Why? Because that was my mission. I still feel the guilt of doing those things, but I know they were important.

So, what makes me different from the monster you're speaking of?" Shisui asked.

"The guilt?" Kaida asked, unsure.

"Yes, but not completely. It's the values I hold in my life. There was a time I had to kill civilians to avoid a war between two small villages. Those innocent people didn't do anything wrong, but to save many lives, their sacrifice was necessary. So, I completed the mission. When I was about to kill the mother and daughter sleeping peacefully, my hand shook.

Those same hands never shook when I killed tens of enemy ninjas during the war. And that shaking makes me different from a monster. There are many people in this world who have already let go of their values of right and wrong, and they may have become the monster you're speaking of. But you haven't, and I'm sure you won't either," Shisui said with a smile.

"But brother, who decides what's right and wrong? Who decides whether it's right to kill someone or not?" Kaida asked, getting more confused.

"No one. No one can decide that. But you can think of the consequences of your actions. What would happen when you kill that person? If you kill a bandit, it'll save many lives. If you kill a doctor, you won't just kill that person, but also hundreds of others that doctor would have saved in his life. There's no right killing, just the right intention," Shisui said, rubbing Kaida's hair.

"Don't push yourself too hard. Think about it carefully; there's no need to rush."

"Okay, brother," Kaida replied.

"Now go take a bath. You're stinking," Shisui said, pinching his nose.

"No, I'm not," Kaida protested.

"Maybe your nose suffered along with your eyes," Shisui teased.

"Fine, I'm going," Kaida said, heading to his room to bathe and freshen up. Shisui looked at a letter placed on the table in the hall.

"Your life is about to get interesting, brother," he said to no one in particular.

…

Kaida emerged after half an hour.

"Oh man, I'm super hungry now."

"Mom kept food in the fridge for you. Warm it up and eat. Also, here's a letter for you," Shisui said.

"A letter?" Kaida took the letter and opened it, surprised to see it was from the Hokage's office.

***

"Why does Lord Third want to meet me?" Kaida wondered aloud after reading the letter.

Shisui pointed his finger at Kaida's forehead.

"Because I learned an S-rank Jutsu? But he agreed to it!" Kaida said.

"Why are you thinking negatively? Maybe he wants to congratulate you. You're almost at elite Jonin level, and that too before reaching the age of ten," Shisui said.

"I'm not that strong, brother. The effect of this seal is temporary, and without it, I'm not that strong," Kaida said.

"Do you know who you're talking to? I'm much more experienced than you, have the Mangekyo Sharingan—which increases chakra reserves by five times—and still, you, cheater, have nearly the same chakra reserve as me! And you think you're not strong? Just think, if by any chance you awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan, you'll be among the top-level ninjas—not just in the village but in the world," Shisui said.

"Well, if you put it that way, maybe I am just too awesome," Kaida said, placing his hand on his chin.

"Still not as awesome as me," Shisui retorted.

"You're petty, brother," Kaida pointed out.

"So, when do you have to go to the Hokage's office?" Shisui asked, ignoring Kaida's comment.

"At 4 PM."

"Then what are you waiting for? Go eat your food," Shisui said.

"Yes, brother," Kaida said, once again reminded of his aching stomach.

***

Hiruzen, as usual, was looking at reports sent by spies, sensors, and scouting teams, thinking about the various undercurrents in the ninja world and how they might affect Konoha. With Danzo now dead, he also had to think of ways to alter events in Konoha's favor.

Suddenly, four Anbu ninjas appeared around Hiruzen, protecting him from the sudden intruder sitting at the window, face hidden by a hat.

"How many times do I have to tell you to use the gates instead of the windows?" Hiruzen sighed.