Legacy of Hatred
Member
***P.O.V. changes to First Person: Sage***
"How can I possibly choose between them?" I thought pondering the most important decision of my life, a decision that could change the world, leading it to peace, or destruction. I sipped more tea as I weighed the possibilities.
"On one hand, I have Uchiha, my eldest and more experienced son who seeks power as a means to gain peace. He is calm and calculating and he is very responsible. He believes he needs the ability carry out a task before attempting it. Logic persuades him over emotion. Unfortunately, one such as him can be cold and unfeeling. How far is he willing to go to attain power?"
I poured another cup of tea. "And then there's Senju. He believes love is the way to peace. He is creative, open and understanding, and very stubborn. He simply thinks that by believing there is a way to achieve peace, peace can be achieved. It's an understandable ideal, but childish and naive. Unfortunately, love for something and the desire to protect it can become hatred and consume people. If Uchiha were to fall in front of him, how would he respond?”
“I know what I have to do.” I said coughing violently. I called my sons back in the room and with a heavy heart, I made my decision.
“Father!” Uchiha said, “Are you alright?” I shook my head, “Not really. I don’t have much time left.” My sons were quiet. They would let me speak. “I believe you both are necessary. You both need to work together to achieve peace in this world. However, I have made the decision that the next Sage of the Six Paths…will be Senju.”
As I gazed upon my two beloved sons I observed their reactions. Senju was shocked. His eyes were wide and his spiky hair stood on end. Uchiha, on the other hand seemed calm. His facial expression was blank. His long hair sat beside his face, with his bands just barely covering his eyes.
“But father”, Senju protested, “I’m not strong enough! I’m not like strong and smart like Uchiha! He should be the next Sage of Six Paths! Not me!” I almost shed a tear, but I knew I had not made a mistake. Love is the way. Power is necessary, but love must govern the people. As Senju continued to express his doubts, I felt my life slipping away. “Senju”, I said softly, “I believe in you.” The two ran towards me. Senju held me in his arms. Uchiha stood behind him, looking on in despair.
“Uchiha”, I said reaching out to my eldest son. He took my hand in his hand, “Protect Senju. Use your wisdom and keep him on the right path.” My eyes began to close. As darkness slowly took my vision and fatigue rested control of my body, I saw a change in Uchiha’s eyes. They weren't the eyes I gave him.
***P.O.V. switches to Third Person***
The Sage's body became cold as his sons wept over his death. Senju shook violently and cried uncontrollably holding his father in his arms. Senju's body became illuminated with a peculiar aura. Uchiha looked on with his strange crimson eyes. Uchiha observed his younger brother, noticing the energy flowing through his body, "So this is what our father left him." Uchiha continued to watch his brother weep.
***P.O.V. switches to First Person: Uchiha***
I stood up and exited our father's room. I went in the bathroom and stared in the mirror. "These aren't my father's eyes." I noticed. My eyes weren't light purple, spiraling outwards. They were crimson, like blood, with a dot in the middle, surrounded by three symbols resembling the tomoe on my father's cloak. I can't show my emotion, though I feel the pain Senju does. "Why?" I thought, "My father is gone! He's not coming back!" It's as if the feelings in those words wouldn't surface. My eyes began morphing the more I tried to feel the fledgling, yet fleeting emotions.
First the black tomoe span rapidly until they morphed into a connected pattern. My eyes began to bleed as despair and disdain enveloped my heart. I screamed in agony. I thought I was going blind or crazy. Maybe some combination of the two. I fell to the wood floor and grasped the sink. I turned the faucet on and tried to wash the blood from eyes, to no avail.
When the blood finally stopped gushing out of my eyes, I stared at myself in the mirror and began to understand. "Senju isn't strong enough in body or mind for this task. I'm supposed to be the next sage. The rite was mine!" I gritted my teeth as rage changed my eyes once more. I heard my brother burst into the room, "Uchiha, are you okay? I heard screaming!" I calmed myself and walked outside and faced my brother. Senju looked at me with concern, tears still falling down his face, snot running from his nose. "Senju..." "Y--yes, Uchiha?" "You don't have what it takes to be the Sage of the Six Paths." He eyes widened as I approached him, "What are you saying?" "I'm saying...you're going to forfeit father's rites to me."
He began backing away, "How am I going to do that? Father gave it to me on his deathbed! I don't even know how to use it!" "All the more reason it should be mine." I said grimly. Senju began spazzing his arms, running his hands through his short hair. I held my hand out, "Come here, brother." Senju suddenly calmed down. He had a look of suspicion in his eyes and he stood straight and came to understand, "Brother...why?" "Why?" I said returning my hand to my side. "Because I've lived my whole life trying to follow in father's footsteps! All this time, I've been preparing to shoulder the burden he would pass on at his death and somehow, someway it ended up with YOU!!!"
I pointed at him. My hand was shaking with rage. Senju began to cry again. I dashed at him with my sword in hand, "No more tears!" He dodged my sword stroke, I turned around and prepared to strike again. "Brother! We have our own families to take care of, we have followers looking to us to continue father's work! We shouldn't be fighting!" "Shut up!" I slashed again, barely slicing a strand of his spiky hair. We met each other's gaze. "Brother, what happened to the eyes father gave you?" "That's not important right now!"
I was holding back. These eyes showed me all the subtle shifts in my brother's movements. I didn't truly wish to harm Senju, but I couldn't stop myself, I was consumed...lost. Senju got on his knees, "Why...brother...I love you, why does it have to end like this?" I pointed my sword at him, "This isn't the end." I attacked him once more, I made direct contact, "It's the beginning..." I looked at my brother, "What?"
I drew back. He blocked my sword with his arms. His wound closed up within seconds. "So this is the power he gave to you?" He quickly approached me with a flying kick. I guarded and countered with two swift punches. My brother's speed increased greatly, which was no great feat to overcome considering I could the image of his next movement about 3 seconds before he even made it. "Yeah, he can't beat me. My father left with his vision, a resourceful gift."
We clashed for the longest minutes. Eventually the battle moved to the roof. The wind blew through my hair. I was very tired, I could see my brother beginning to wear down as well. We hadn't even used any ninjutsu yet. It had become clear to me: my brother's new strength made us equal, what I had in knowledge and tactical prowess, he matched me in strength and stamina. I sheathed my sword.
"What's this?" He said. I chuckled, "There's no need to burn out now. There will be time to settle this." I looked around the house. "Look around brother." Senju did the same. Our followers were watching us in shock and awe. "There is no need to kill ourselves in front of our subordinates." He scoffed, "What's your deal? Let's end this, let's be a team!" I shook my head, "It's too late. You see the limitations in the light, I see the secrets in the darkness. Thus, we will never understand each other my brother. Take your people, and I will take mine." I jumped off the rood, as did he. I looked back at him with my eyes activated, "We will do battle again."
Before I set off, I used my eyes to see into the house, our father's presence was gone. I think as soon as we began using the power he left to us, he began fading away. That, I believed, was symbolic of us receiving his "body" and "eyes" respectively. Our people began to speak all at once. I calmed them, "Friends! Friends! My brother and I are simply walking separate roads to the same goal. We will meet again. Choose your master and follow him." My brother's people followed him, and my followers came with me.
That day, I felt as if a curse had been placed on me. A curse I felt wouldn't be lifted until I gained what was rightfully mine.
Thanks again for reading guys! I hope you enjoyed it! =D
