Awakening

A/N: Powerstones and Good reviews is what keeps me uploading. All the support I can get is appreciated. You guys have done well with the powerstone side of things, but lets get the reviews up. More powerstones doesn't hurt!! BTW a few more chapters until the academy starts! Anyway enjoy the chapter!

Intending to get his mind off his father's death, Eiji decided to go to the training grounds for the second time that day. He still hadn't cried or mourned his father. He believed if he were to cry, it would make his father's death a reality, but Eiji wasn't ready to accept it.

To escape the haunting thoughts, he spent time in the training grounds striving to improve his chakra control proficiency. But it was futile. The Leaf Concentration exercise required focus, but Eiji didn't have that important component.

Realizing he was unable to make any progress with his mind clouded, Eiji lay back on the grass, staring blankly at the evening sky. It was in the stillness that the thoughts became louder. Too tired to fight against them, tears began building up in the corners of his eyes, spilling over onto his temples.

'I didn't even get to show him anything I accomplished...'

The regret became tangible, restricting Eiji's chest, making it hard to breathe. In an effort to alleviate the pressure, Eiji grabbed his chest, digging his fingers in. His breaths had become quicker and more shallow. What was previously only tears developed into a stream, flowing endlessly. Accepting that his father was gone, Eiji rubbed his eyes with his sleeve.

'I can't lose anyone else!'

"Hey loser, what're you crying about? Did you get lost in the forest? Aww!" a familiar voice mocked.

Turning his head, Eiji noticed it was none other than Kenta, the boy who had previously attacked him with two other friends. Not in the mood to exchange words, Eiji retorted, "Now's not the time for this, brat. I'll face you some other time, but not now." Eiji's words were firm and didn't have an inkling of fear in them. The unbothered tone of Eiji's voice bothered Kenta.

"So you're scared, huh? Well, I guess your father must've taught you to be a coward. I don't blame you though. Like father, like son, they say!" Kenta laughed.

Eiji felt a sensation he had never experienced before. Goosebumps covered his body, making the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. Rage. Adrenaline surged through his body, his chakra pulsing behind his retinas. The heat enveloped his eyes once more, painting Eiji's vision red.

Startled by the sudden change in Eiji's eyes, Kenta stumbled back in confusion. Quickly recomposing himself, Kenta began to feel anger well up inside him. "Those damn eyes look just like Shisui's! It's like they're looking down on me!" Kenta mumbled.

Taking advantage of Kenta's shock, Eiji lunged into range and delivered a heavy punch to Kenta's face, sending him a few meters back. "How's he gotten so strong in such little time?!" Kenta thought, brushing his cheek. Having stunned Kenta, Eiji rushed in to throw a high kick, but Kenta had already recovered and grabbed onto Eiji's leg.

Slightly off balance, Eiji attempted to send another kick toward Kenta's head; however, his other foot was caught as well. Kenta started grinning from ear to ear as he watched Eiji flail his legs around, trying to get out of his grip.

'Although I'm in a bad position, it feels as if I can see his next movements. I'm not in trouble at all! I can even see the flow of his chakra!'

Satisfied at the sight before him, Kenta lifted Eiji up by his legs and swung the boy down, sending him crashing into the ground. Eiji was unfazed; he'd predicted Kenta's next move, enabling him to swiftly roll on impact with the ground, minimizing damage.

"Is that all you've got? For someone who talks so big, I thought you'd be stronger! How embarrassing!" Eiji taunted.

As Eiji had expected, the taunt was successful. Kenta, who was in a highly emotional state, rushed in with no game plan and threw a low kick. Eiji effortlessly evaded by jumping over the kick and maneuvered into a position where he was now able to dropkick Kenta.

'Critical hit!'

Eiji had mercilessly executed the kick, pushing his feet into Kenta's chest with incredible power.

"This is the power acquired by following my father's teachings. I dare you to call him a coward again!" Eiji yelled.

Kenta crashed into a nearby tree, his back slamming against it. Dazed, he struggled to stand back up but was pinned to the wall by shuriken. Eiji had thrown two shuriken through either side of Kenta's shirt, warning him not to make another move.

'Throwing shuriken is even easier with this Sharingan! I feel powerful...'

Eiji began to stumble, losing strength in his body.

'Huh... What's going on? It can't be because my chakra has already run out!'

The color began to fade from both Eiji's eyes and vision.

'The Sharingan is incredibly straining. It's hard to keep up with my vision, so I'm overcompensating with chakra.. Shisui did say some individuals struggle when they first use the Sharingan. I just thought I was above that. Damn it!' 

Having noticed the obvious fatigue on Eiji's face, Kenta pulled the shuriken that was pinning him to the tree off and stood up smirking.

"You got too cocky. I will admit you surprised me. I can tell your improvement isn't only due to the Sharingan, but that isn't enough to defeat an academy student like me! You're unlucky! Maybe if you were only a little older!" Kenta laughed.

'I'll have to admit he has a lot more endurance than me... If it was a foe my age, they'd have lost by now. I'll have to move with caution from here. What I need now is little movement with heavy impact. I'll have to use the Beginner's Fist!'

Smelling victory, Kenta rushed in throwing shuriken at Eiji, aiming to distract him from the oncoming blow.

Clocking the shuriken coming in his direction, Eiji barely avoided them, his tired body moving slower than he had wished.

'Damn it! At this rate, the brat will manage to hit me! I can't risk evading anymore. My only option is to block!'

Not a moment later, a kick cut through the air targeting Eiji's temple. Pulling his arm back above his shoulder, Eiji blocked the oncoming attack with his elbow. The sheer force of the kick rattled Eiji, making his arm go numb and blurring his vision.

'Argh... I am too exhausted. His attacks hurt more than they usually woul—'

Another kick of the same nature came at Eiji from the other side. Unable to fully recover from the first kick, the other sent him reeling into the ground.

'Ugh... I've got to escape... This situation is all too familiar. I took too long taking him out!'

Kenta approached Eiji with a malicious smile.

'This brat has got a crazy look in his eye... What did Shisui do to make him hate the Uchiha this much?!'

Eiji could feel his heart thumping with each step Kenta took closer. Before long, Kenta stood above Eiji, looking down on him.

"Who's the one being looked down on now? Huh?!" Kenta laughed, hysterically.

'Shisui... You're really an evil bastard. How much did you torment the kid...?'

As Kenta attempted to stomp on the fallen boy, Eiji rolled to the side, frantically getting on his feet and doing his best to do what could barely be called a sprint.

Rushing out of the training ground, Eiji made his way to the busy streets downtown, trying to lose Kenta who was on his tail.

'This stamina training really paid off. Although I am out of chakra, I clearly can run for much longer than he can!'

A few minutes passed, and Eiji finally lost his pursuer. Eiji took some time making sure he wasn't still being chased. After confirming he was not being tailed any longer, the adrenaline wore off, making Eiji feel hungry.

'I've got to get some food...'