Naruto: Threads of Crimson

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the field behind our house. My father, Kaito Uchiha, and I were out here again, just like we'd been doing for months in between his missions. Today was different, though. Today marked a significant step toward my future in the clan.

"Alright, Shiro," my father said, his voice calm but filled with purpose. "You're starting at the academy soon, so it's time you learn what it means to be a true Uchiha." He smiled down at me, the kind of smile that made me feel both excited and a little nervous. "To be recognized as a true member of our clan, you need to master our signature technique—the Great Fireball Jutsu."

I nodded, my thoughts already racing. 'So I need to master this jutsu, huh?' It didn't seem impossible, especially with my Sharingan already awakened. But I knew what was at stake. Mastering the Great Fireball Jutsu was more than just a test of skill; it was a rite of passage for an Uchiha, a symbol of acceptance within the clan. 'I can't fail this.'

"Come on," my father continued, turning toward the edge of our property. "We'll head to the pond so you can practice. Don't worry if it doesn't come right away. We've got the whole day to work on it."

He gave my head a reassuring pat, and we walked in comfortable silence toward the familiar pond.

"Oh, looks like we've got company," my father remarked, eyes scanning the pond's far side. There, near the dock, stood a woman and a boy about my age. The boy was in the middle of spitting out a large fireball, about six feet across. The flames flickered in the light, casting shadows on the water's surface.

Curiosity sparked in me. I hadn't seen many kids my age around the compound, and certainly not practicing jutsu like that. Tugging on my father's sleeve, I whispered, "Can we go meet them? It looks like they're doing something similar to us."

My father glanced down at me, then back at the duo by the water. His lips curled into a soft smile, and he chuckled lightly. "Alright, Shiro, but remember—mind your manners. Be respectful, as always. I know you don't usually forget, but it doesn't hurt to remind you."

I nodded eagerly, a bubbling excitement rising in my chest as we made our way toward the pair. The woman by the water had her back to us, her dark hair catching the sunlight, but she turned as we approached. Her expression flickered with a hint of surprise before she smiled warmly.

"Oh! Hello there," she greeted, her voice light and friendly. "Can I help you with something?"

My father returned her smile, his hand resting gently on my shoulder. "Not at all," he replied kindly. "Shiro here just wanted to say hello. We don't see many kids his age around these parts, and he was curious about you two."

Taking that as my cue, I stepped forward and gave a small, respectful bow, just as my father had taught me. "Sorry if I'm bothering you," I said with an earnest grin. "I just wanted to meet some new people."

The woman's expression softened, her gaze kind as she studied me. "Oh, it's no bother at all," she assured me. "We just moved here a few days ago. We used to live on the outskirts of the compound, but… well, things happened, and now we're here." Her voice wavered slightly, and for a moment, there was a hint of sadness in her smile.

My father nodded, his expression turning more serious. The two of them began talking in hushed tones about things that didn't interest me in the slightest—adult stuff about the compound, the clan, and things I didn't really understand yet. My attention drifted almost immediately to the boy by the water. He was standing at the edge of the pond, his hands moving in a blur as he practiced what looked like jutsu.

"Excuse me," I mumbled quickly to the grown-ups, already inching away. Then, before either of them could respond, I was off, sprinting toward the boy with a grin stretched across my face.

"Hey! Mind if I join you?" I called out, waving my hand as I ran up.

The boy turned, startled at first, but his expression quickly melted into a bright, welcoming smile. "Sure! I'm just practicing my Great Fireball Jutsu," he replied, his tone brimming with enthusiasm.

As I reached his side, I raised my hand for a high-five, which he returned with a solid smack. "No way!" I said, practically bouncing with excitement. "That's what I came here to practice too. You cool if we train together?"

The boy shrugged, his grin widening. "Yeah, totally. It's way better with someone else. Makes it more fun."

He turned back to the water, his hands moving with practiced ease as he formed a series of hand signs. His movements were smooth, confident—like he'd been doing this forever. After inhaling deeply, he exhaled, releasing a massive fireball that roared out over the water before dissipating into steam.

I stood there, completely mesmerized. "Whoa…" I breathed, my eyes wide. "That's amazing. You actually made a real fireball!"

The boy laughed, his hand going to the back of his head. "Yeah, it's pretty cool," he said casually. Then he turned to me, his grin turning slightly teasing. "Your turn!"

I froze, scratching the back of my neck awkwardly. "Uh… could you maybe… show me again?" I asked, my voice sheepish.

He raised an eyebrow, and for a split second, I thought he might tease me. But instead, he burst out laughing—a warm, genuine laugh that made me relax immediately. "Man, you talk like you're a grown-up, but you don't even know how to do this yet?" he said, still chuckling.

I laughed along with him, the tension melting away. "Guess I fooled you," I said with a grin. "I'm kind of new to this whole jutsu thing."

"No big deal," he said with a shrug, still smiling. "I'll teach you. First time, huh?"

"Yeah," I admitted, letting out a small laugh. "My dad's been having me do conditioning drills ever since I unlocked my chakra. This is the first actual jutsu I'm trying."

He nodded knowingly, as if that explained everything. "Alright, listen up. The hand signs are: Horse → Tiger → Ram → Monkey → Boar → Horse → Tiger. Got it? While you're doing the signs, you need to gather your chakra in your chest and mouth. Then, when you're done with the signs, you let it all out. Oh, and if you want better control, you can form your fingers into a ring shape."

As he spoke, he moved through the hand signs again, his movements slow and deliberate this time so I could follow. Then he inhaled deeply and exhaled, another fireball roaring out over the pond. The flames danced above the water before fading into steam.

What he didn't notice was that my eyes had changed. My Sharingan activated without me realizing it, and as he demonstrated the jutsu, I felt the technique imprint itself into my mind. The single tomoe in each eye spun lazily as I took it all in.

When he turned back to me, his grin froze, his eyes going wide. "Wait—what?! You've already awakened your Sharingan?"

I blinked, startled at his reaction, then grinned proudly. "Pretty cool, huh?"

"Cool? That's awesome!" he exclaimed, practically bouncing on his toes. "You're my age, and you've already awakened it? Some people never awaken theirs at all!"

I shrugged, trying to play it cool. "It's not that special," I said. "There are still two more stages to unlock, you know. Besides, I'm sure you'll awaken yours soon. Then this won't seem like such a big deal."

His expression turned serious, his brow furrowing in determination. "Yeah," he said, nodding. "I'll unlock mine too, and then I'll catch up to you. Just wait and see."

I smiled, liking his attitude. "Alright, my turn," I said, turning back to the pond. I formed the hand signs carefully, gathering my chakra just like he'd explained. Then I inhaled deeply and exhaled. A massive ten-foot fireball roared out of my mouth, soaring across the water and sending ripples through the pond as it sizzled and evaporated the surface.

The boy stared, his jaw dropping. "Whoa! Not bad!" he said, clearly impressed. "I think you're the only kid my age who's ever kept up with me."

Before I could respond, we heard footsteps behind us. His mom was walking over, a gentle smile on her face. "Alright, honey," she called. "It's time to go. Maybe you two can train together again tomorrow?"

The boy turned to me, nodding enthusiastically. "Yeah, let's do that! Oh, by the way, what's your name?"

"Shiro," I said, raising my hand for another high-five. "I'm glad I met you."

"Shisui," he replied, slapping my hand with a grin. "I'm glad too. See you tomorrow?"

"Definitely," I said, watching as he ran off with his mom. A grin spread across my face.

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(A/N: More plot, but now you know which generation he is in. The next couple of chapters will be a speed run through the academy and squad placement because, let's be real, we've all read through the academy plot plenty of times now, and we don't need to read another one.)