Naruto: Threads of Crimson

"Shiro, you're gonna be late if you don't get down here!" my dad called from downstairs. I quickly threw on my shirt and stretched out my back, loosening up for the day ahead.

And what a day it was going to be! My first day at the Ninja Academy. I could barely contain my excitement. After what felt like endless rounds of training with my dad, solo training, and sparring with Shisui, I was finally going to join the academy and meet other kids like me. I couldn't wait to make new friends, learn new techniques, and maybe even show off a little.

"I know, Dad! I'm coming!" I half-shouted as I bounded down the stairs. Truthfully, my parents weren't entirely convinced the academy had much to offer me. I had been able to perform the Great Fireball Jutsu for about a year already, my dad had drilled me in chakra control and physical conditioning, and I'd recently mastered a basic transformation technique. They worried I wouldn't learn anything at the academy I hadn't picked up at home.

There was also a deeper concern, though my parents didn't talk about it in front of me, I did catch snippets of conversation here and there: that the academy would teach loyalty to the village over the Uchiha clan. I never understood why that was such a big deal—we lived in the village, after all. But I didn't dwell on it too much.

As I stepped into the kitchen, I was greeted by the irresistible smell of bacon and eggs sizzling on the stove. My stomach growled so loudly that my mom let out a soft laugh from where she sat at the table.

"Good morning, sweetheart," she said with a smile. "It's a good thing you're hungry because we made plenty of food. A growing shinobi needs a full stomach if he's going to live up to the Uchiha name." She slid a plate of food toward me.

I grinned and sat down, practically inhaling my breakfast as my mind raced ahead to the day. 'How many friends will I make? What will the other kids be like? Will Shisui and I be in the same class? I wonder if I'm already ahead of everyone else and by how much?' The questions swirled in my mind as I devoured the last piece of bacon, hardly tasting it in my excitement.

Standing up, I straightened my clothes and spun around, looking at my parents with a big smile. "How do I look?" I asked, doing a quick pirouette and letting my shoulder-length hair fly around me.

I was dressed in a charcoal-gray jumper with our Uchiha clan crest stitched proudly onto the back, matching pants, and black shinobi sandals. My outfit might not have been flashy, but it carried the pride of my clan.

My father smiled, leaning back in his chair. "Like you're going to make us proud, Shiro."

I beamed at the praise, feeling a surge of confidence as I dashed out the door, eager to begin my adventure.

Busting through the front door, I took a deep breath, savoring the crisp morning air. The sun bathed the village in warmth, and a gentle summer breeze rustled through my hair. It felt like the perfect start to the most important day of my life so far.

"Are you gonna stand there all day, or are we starting a new chapter?" came a familiar voice beside me.

"Shisui!" I jumped at the sound and turned to see my best friend standing with a grin on his face. I threw an arm around him in excitement. "Aren't you as excited as I am? Today we finally start our journey to becoming real shinobi! We get to uphold the Uchiha name together."

Shisui laughed and slung an arm around my shoulders, returning the gesture. "Of course I'm excited! We're going to make the Uchiha proud and bring even more glory to the clan. What could be better than that?"

We untangled ourselves and began walking down the street toward the academy. As we passed through the compound, we exchanged greetings with some of our clansmen, who all seemed to be rooting for us.

"Good luck on your first day, you two!" called Maki, the elderly lady who ran the dango stand on the corner. She waved cheerfully as we passed by, and we waved back with big smiles.

After leaving the compound, we followed the main street, watching in awe as shinobi leapt from rooftop to rooftop, their expressions serious and focused. Seeing them move with such purpose made my heart race. 'That'll be us soon.'

The academy was only a short walk from the Uchiha district, as our compund was right in the middle of the village, and as we neared it, the excitement bubbling inside me grew stronger. This was it—the start of something big. A new chapter, just like Shisui had said. I glanced at my friend, who was just as eager as I was, and smiled. Whatever was ahead, we were in it together.

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Stepping into the classroom, I immediately started to regret looking forward to the academy. The moment Shisui and I entered, we were swarmed by a group of excited girls.

"You're from the Uchiha clan, right?"

"You can sit by me if you want!"

"They look so cool."

"Back off, I wanted them to sit next to me!"

"They must be talented!"

Voices overlapped as we tried to make our way through the crowd, shaking off the overly enthusiastic girls. I glanced over at Shisui, and it was clear from his strained expression that he felt just as uncomfortable as I did.

"Maybe the boys will be different," I whispered to Shisui as we navigated toward the back of the room. Unfortunately, I couldn't have been more wrong.

The boys, though quieter, were just as hostile as the girls were welcoming, shooting glares at us that felt like daggers. It seemed we'd attracted attention just by being Uchiha, and not all of it was positive.

Shisui and I exchanged small, uncomfortable smiles before spotting a couple of our fellow clansmen sitting by the windows. We decided to settle in next to them, receiving nods and smiles in return.

Suddenly, the door slammed open, and a bald man with a long scar across his throat walked in with heavy footsteps. His presence alone was enough to make the whole class fall silent. He strode to the blackboard and, with one swift motion, wrote his name in bold letters.

"Alright, class, settle down! I'll be your teacher for the year, and you will address me as such. Is that clear?" His deep, commanding voice left no room for argument.

"Yes, Hibiki-sensei!" we all shouted back in unison.

He nodded, clearly satisfied. "Good. Today, we'll be heading to the battle arena to gauge your current skill levels. Any objections?" His tone made it clear that objections weren't an option. Every year, the academy students were eager to prove themselves and establish their place in the pecking order. This year was no different.

Shisui and I exchanged smiles and fist-bumped, both of us ready to take on the challenge. "Let's do this," we said together, sharing the same excitement.

We followed the class outside to the open training field behind the academy, where white circles were painted on the ground—clearly designated fighting areas. Hibiki-sensei stood at the front, arms crossed, waiting for everyone to settle.

"The goal is simple," he began. "Win the fight by knockout, forfeit, or forcing your opponent out of the circle. No ninjutsu is allowed—if you use it, you'll be disqualified." His eyes scanned the class, lingering on the Uchiha students, as if expecting us to push the boundaries. "Other than that, you're free to do anything short of killing your opponent. Any questions?"

The class stayed silent, and Hibiki-sensei nodded approvingly before calling the first match. "Shiro Uchiha and Ryo, step into the circle."

I smiled at Shisui before standing up and looking for my opponent. 'First up? Guess that's lucky… or not.' My eyes landed on a civilian boy with messy brown hair making his way to the circle. The moment he saw me, his face twisted into a scowl, and I could sense the resentment rolling off him.

"This is great!" Ryo spat, eyes burning with determination. "I get to beat up an Uchiha right from the start. Once I do, I'll be the strongest in the class!"

His words made me frown slightly. "What makes you think you can win against a 'stupid Uchiha'?" I asked, genuinely curious. His reaction was immediate—his face turned beet red, clearly interpreting my question as an insult.

"Don't mock me, Uchiha!" he growled, pulling his fist back, ready to launch himself at me.

"Hold on, give me a second," I said, holding up my hand with a single finger raised, smirking slightly. His eyes instinctively followed the motion for just a moment, and that was all I needed.

With a subtle flick of chakra, I cast a small genjutsu. Ryo's eyes glazed over as he stumbled on his own feet, tumbling out of the circle and landing flat on his back.

"Winner: Shiro Uchiha," Hibiki-sensei called out, a hint of surprise flashing across his face.

'How is a six-year-old able to cast a genjutsu that subtle with just a hand motion?' Hibiki wondered as he made a note. 'His chakra control must be incredibly advanced for someone his age.'

Ryo staggered to his feet, face red with anger and confusion. "I tripped! That wasn't fair!" he yelled, but Hibiki-sensei shut him down with a sharp look.

"No, you didn't trip. Shiro used a genjutsu on you, causing you to stumble. That's why you lost. And, might I add, using such a subtle genjutsu at your age, Shiro, is impressive." Hibiki's words were laced with approval.

I gave a small, proud smile and thanked him as I returned to my seat, feeling satisfied. Meanwhile, Ryo furrowed his brow and asked, "What's a genjutsu, sensei?"

Hibiki sighed. "You'll learn about it in the next couple of years, Ryo. Now please take your seat."

As I sat back down, a group of students, including Shisui, gathered around me, eager to ask questions. "I still don't get how you're able to cast a genjutsu with just your hand and without using your Sharingan," Shisui said once the chatter had died down.

I shrugged, feeling a little bashful. "Honestly, I'm not sure either. My dad has two theories. One is that I have naturally good chakra control, and the other is that I might have potent yin chakra or something like that. I don't fully understand the second part, but those are his guesses."

Before Shisui could ask more questions, Hibiki called out again. "Next match: Shisui Uchiha vs. Raito. Step into the circle."

Shisui gave me a confident smile and got up, ready for his turn. I had no doubt he'd win. As soon as the match started, Shisui became a blur of motion, his speed overwhelming Raito before the poor kid even knew what hit him. One quick punch later, and Raito was out of the circle.

"Winner: Shisui Uchiha," Hibiki-sensei announced, impressed.

Shisui made his way back to me, weaving through the crowd with a satisfied smile on his face. "And I still don't know how you're so fast," I teased as he sat down beside me.

He shrugged with a grin. "Maybe we were just born with different strengths right now."

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(A/N: This is the only academy chapter. Sorry for anyone wanting more, but I don't want to waste too much time here.)