"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique."
In a grove behind the Uchiha Compound, Chen was practicing ninjutsu. After swiftly forming a series of hand seals, he exhaled a mass of flames into a clearing.
This was the Fire Release Ninjutsu from the Original Story: the Great Fireball Technique. Chakra was gathered in the throat and then expelled as a huge fireball, making it highly destructive.
It was the first ninjutsu Chen had learned. Two years earlier, Sasuke had pestered Itachi into teaching him the Great Fireball Technique, and Chen had learned along with them. At school, they only taught the most basic Three Basic Ninjutsu Techniques.
Chen had learned his chakra affinities long ago. Like Sasuke in the Original Story, he had both Lightning and Fire Style chakra. It seemed that every Uchiha clan member possessed Fire Style chakra.
"That's enough for today!" Chen said, panting slightly. He had clearly been practicing for a long time. Then he walked over to a tree and sat down.
"System, check my Points," Chen said after resting for a while.
"Your total Points are: 2739. Would you like to open the Exchange Page?"
"No need!" Chen replied.
I've saved these up over the past two years. I'll keep them in case I need them. The system had awarded him all these Points as a new-player benefit, and Chen hadn't received a single mission during those two years. It was worth mentioning that, besides the Points, he had also received two chances to draw a prize.
His first draw had given him Moon Step, one of the Six Powers of the Navy. It allowed him to step on the air and remain suspended in the sky.
His second draw had given him a contract with a Summoned Beast from the Pomeranian race. They were a warrior race, and every Summoned Beast in it shared one trait: they loved to fight. From newborn puppies to adults dozens of meters tall, they all enjoyed battle. The strongest Pomeranian Chen could summon at present stood just over ten meters tall. This Pomeranian was named "Six Paths Dog." Despite having "Six Paths" in its name, Six Paths Dog had absolutely nothing to do with the legendary Sage of Six Paths. Chen called him "Erha" instead. It was simply Chen indulging his mischievous sense of humor.
Six Paths Dog, however, was a tough character. He was notorious for his ferocity among his race. True to his breed's nature, he had loved picking fights with his clanmates from the time he was small. Even if someone defeated him, he would keep challenging them until he finally won. Gradually, Six Paths Dog earned great respect among the Pomeranians of his generation. Then, after an incident, his position was firmly secured and he became the leader of his generation. During one battle, Six Paths Dog faced a creature stronger than himself and fought it anyway. In the end, he managed to kill it, though not before it blinded one of his eyes. Then, despite his severe injuries, he knocked out all of the creature's teeth, strung them into a Bone Tooth Necklace, and hung it around his neck. After that, Six Paths Dog was missing one eye and could only wear an eyepatch. (Search "The Proud Hunter" online to see the original.)
Over the past two years, Chen's strength had continued to improve, and his Sharingan had advanced to Two Tomoe. He had reached the level of an Elite Genin.
"It's almost dinnertime. I'd better head back." Chen stood up and started home.
When he got back, he found that Fugaku Uchiha wasn't home. Itachi, who rarely came back, was there, and Sasuke was clinging to him. Seeing Chen return, Uchiha Itachi called out, "You're back, Chen. Come over here."
"Hm?" Chen walked over, puzzled. "What is it, big brother?"
"Nothing much. I just realized that the three of us have never really sat down and talked together." Itachi smiled at Chen.
"Oh, really?" Chen was a little surprised by the smile on Uchiha Itachi's face. Itachi was famous for being expressionless, after all.
"Yeah. Let's have a good chat today." Then he turned to Sasuke. "Sasuke, you and Chen haven't gotten along since you were little. That won't do. We're brothers, and since you two are twins born on the same day, you shouldn't let anything come between you."
Hearing Itachi say that, Sasuke and Chen looked at each other. They both saw the same confusion in the other's eyes.
"Dinner's ready! What are you boys talking about?" Mikoto had finished preparing the meal and called to the three of them.
"Hehe, just take care of yourselves from now on. Don't overthink things. Let's eat first." Chen smiled at Sasuke and Chen, then stood and walked to the table.
After dinner, Chen returned to his room and lay in bed, thinking about what Itachi had said. Itachi's acting strange today. Why would he say something like that? Could it be... A sudden sense of unease welled up inside Chen.
"Who is it?" Mikoto had just been about to fall asleep when she heard someone knock on her bedroom door. She got up and went to open it.
When she opened the door and saw Chen, she smiled and asked, "Oh, it's you, Chen. What's wrong?"
"Mother, I suddenly feel like sleeping with you tonight. Is that okay?" Chen asked Mikoto.
"Hehe, of course! I'd be happy to have you. Come on in." Mikoto smiled at Chen.
"Why did you suddenly decide to sleep with Mom tonight, Chen?" Mikoto asked as she tucked him in. "Nothing. I just suddenly wanted to, so I came over." Mikoto paused, then smiled at Chen. "Oh? This is the first time you've called me Mom." Her eyes brimmed with affection. "Go to sleep. You and Sasuke have school tomorrow. I heard you have a little test, is that right?" "Yeah. I'm going to sleep now. Good night, Mom." Mikoto turned off the light and closed her eyes.
Though Chen had said good night, he didn't sleep. He just kept looking at Mikoto, his eyes full of attachment.
Chen got up very early the next day because he hadn't slept at all.
Mikoto got up afterward and went to make breakfast. After Sasuke and Chen ate, they headed to school together. Chen was distracted the entire way there, and he remained dazed at school. He didn't even notice when people greeted him.
Damn it, why do I feel so uneasy? Is it about to happen? Chen's mind was in turmoil, and he couldn't calm himself down. He felt that way all day.
"Now we'll begin a little test. Line up and take it one at a time. You'll be tested on one of the Three Basic Ninjutsu Techniques: Transformation Jutsu. Let's begin." Iruka held a notebook and addressed the class. He couldn't understand why the Third Hokage had asked him to give them a test today.
"Kiba Inuzuka, you're first." Iruka called to Kiba, who stood at the front of the line. "Heh! Watch this!" Kiba stepped forward and formed hand seals. "Poof!" A cloud of smoke appeared beside him, and when it cleared, he had transformed into Iruka.
"Pass. Next." Iruka recorded the result and called for the next student.
"Damn it, hurry up, hurry up." Chen clenched his fists, growing more and more uneasy. He could already guess what was happening.
"All right, that's the end of today's test. You're dismissed." At long last, the test was over. The sky had already begun to darken.
"Man, why'd we have to take a test? It got so late! Geez, Chen! Let's go get ramen together!" Naruto called to Chen.
"Sorry, I have something urgent to do." Chen didn't even look at Naruto. He answered offhandedly, then hurried home, his face full of worry.
Seeing Chen's expression, Sasuke also felt inexplicably uneasy. He unconsciously ran after Chen, though even he didn't know why.
The two of them ran to the entrance of the Clan Compound. The entire compound was eerily quiet. There was none of the usual bustle, and not a single person was in sight. Silence stretched all around them, as if they were the only two people left in the world.
Both of them felt uneasy. Chen already knew what had happened.
They walked toward home, tense and apprehensive. Suddenly, they saw two people lying on the ground, their clothes stained red with blood. Chen and Sasuke ran over and recognized the man and woman who had greeted them that morning.
"Sir! Sir!" Sasuke shook the man's body, trembling, but received no answer.
"How could this happen? What happened?" Sasuke asked Chen anxiously. Chen didn't answer. He just stood there in a daze, murmuring, "Mom, Mom." Then, as if suddenly coming to his senses, he took off toward home like a madman. "Mom!" Sasuke suddenly remembered and ran after Chen.
As they ran, they saw more and more people lying motionless on the ground. The usually lively streets were now utterly silent.
At last, they reached home, but Mikoto wasn't there as usual. Even the lights inside were off.
"Dad, Mom, are you here?" Sasuke asked quietly, his voice full of fear. The two of them searched the bedrooms one by one.
Suddenly, they heard a noise from the living room, and Chen and Sasuke ran toward it. They reached the door and stood there panting, their legs trembling. Neither dared to push it open. They could see the fear in each other's eyes.
At last, Chen pushed the door open with trembling hands. The sight inside left him and Sasuke horrified. Fugaku Uchiha and Mikoto Uchiha lay side by side in a pool of blood, lifeless. "Dad! Mom!" Sasuke started to run to them, but footsteps came from the shadows, making him stop and turn toward the darkness in terror. Chen paid no attention to anything else. He ran straight to Mikoto, and without a word, gathered her cold body into his arms. Tears glimmered in his eyes, and his heart was broken with grief.
Itachi, dressed in an Anbu Outfit, emerged from the shadows and looked coldly at Sasuke and Chen.
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