Chapter 28 : A Heavy Burden

Yerrr. I thought a lot about how I want to handle Kenji's character in the future, and I can now confirm that he may or may not become a stone cold killer. I know that cleared some stuff up. lol. All I can say is Kenji will be forced between two sides. Aya, Rei, and Kakashi will be the good and everything he used to stand for. Sasuke doesn't really care, he'll follow Kenji regardless. And the evil side trying to tempt Kenji will be revealed, hehe, I have a good plan for that. Esketit.

-------------

Kenji released his sickened teammate despite her impulse to hang onto him. When he stood from the embrace, he caught movement from the corner. He missed one. The Mist genin flicked his head toward Kenji. The fear set in from Kenji's gaze. The white stare swirled into a three pronged wheel. Kenji's left eye tensed up. Feeling the power overflow from his pupil. Rei felt the devilish chakra from her....friend. She grabbed his arm from the ground.

"Wait!" She said.

"Why." Kenji whispered. Rei heard the deepest voice Kenji had ever used.

"Be..because he's the same age as us. We're just kids." She looked downward. Kenji heaved through his nose. Why was he hesitating? Was it Rei? Blood oozed from his socket. With every inch covered by the trail of blood, Rei's grip became harder on his arm. The kid yelled and ran into a hole on the side of his dead comrade.

Kenji's eyes closed. Partly with anger and some annoyance.

A few seconds went by. "Do you still want to keep that arm?" Kenji's remark glossed Rei's eyes. She looked at her hand. It was shaking with as much power as she could muster, clamping down on the boy's purple turning arm. "Sorry."

She released herself. Nothing was said for minutes. Both just looked around at the damage that had been done. Rei turned backwards. She felt a tug of urgency. She leaned and coughed. Puke mixed with the blood river, rushing across the ground. She looked tired. Kenji never batted an eye.

"Let me tell you something." Kenji said.

Rei slightly tilted her head, her red hair fell from the side of her ear. Kenji lowered his eyebrows and grabbed her cheeks with force. Her face scrunched up from the pressure. She yelped as Kenji's hand gripped her face.

"We may be the same age as that kid, but now he's going back to the Mist to tell everyone we were here and not the situation is worse. Look around you." Kenji angled her head upon the bodies and blood. "THIS.......THIS IS WHAT THE NINJA WORLD LOOKS LIKE. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU WANT IT TO BE. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW OLD YOU ARE! GROW UP!!!"

He released her face, cracking his concern. Kenji didn't mean to sound so hateful, but Rei knew he was right. "I'm sorry." She said.

"Don't be. Just realize what this world really is." Kenji coldly watched her fumble around. "Let's go." Kenji grabbed Rei's arm with little carefulness and rapped her around his shoulders. Rei's heartbeat increased, but she still felt sick, so it was tolerable. Kenji walked towards the man Rei had killed and lowered her to the ground.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

Kenji didn't say. He proceeded to pickpocket the dead body. He found some parchment and read. The letter was from an adviser to the Mizukage explaining 'War plans' against the Leaf. There was little detail, but it was good enough for the taking. Kenji honestly could care less about the mission. He cared more about the eradication of that village, but the letter eluded to something more, something bigger than a hassle between two villages.

Kenji picked up Rei in time to witness a hole barraged through the ceiling of the room. Out of the hole popped Sasuke and Kakashi along with three other adults Kenji had never seen before.

"OHHHH!" Kenji saw a sparkle from the teeth of the man. "THE SPRINGTIME OF YOUTH IS UPON US." The man saw Kenji and said "MIGHT GUY NICE TO MEET YOU YOUNG MAN." Kenji really hated this mans vibe. Kenji stared at him with white eyes, but only turned and handed the letter to Kakashi. Kakashi didn't grab it right away. He still stared at the carnage, hoping what he thought, didn't actually happen. If it did, he figured the Mizukage was just playing a game with Kenji, like a lab rat or something. The two other jonin, one smoking a cigarette and the other flexing her red eyes, helped Rei from Kenji's shoulder. Kakashi assured Rei, then took the note from Kenji. Before he took it, Kakashi grabbed Kenji's hand.

He lowered his eye. "Did you know them?"

Kenji stared into his sensei's eye for a moment. He turned and walked to the hole used by the escapee. Kakashi saddened. He saw this as another huge trial, one that would affect Kenji just as bad, and he needed to help him with. The rest of the mine was fiddle through. Nothing of importance was found, except the note Kenji found.

--------------------

Upon the return to the village, Rei was escorted to the hospital by the two jonin who introduced themselves as Asuma and Kurenai. Kenji appreciated them more than Guy at least. Kakashi ushered Sasuke along for the report to the Hokage, but stopped. He turned around and saw Kenji walking away with his head lowered. The white haired jonin struggled to make a choice. Should he follow? Or wait? He decided to find Kenji right after the report. "Sasuke, Let's hurry." Sasuke caught Kakashi's drift. Kenji didn't look ok at all. He nodded and they sped towards Minato.

Kenji walked along the deserted streets of Konoha. Nighttime was near, so people were beginning to clear out. He had no desire to see Aya, or anyone who'd try an make him feel better. Part of him resented the way he treated Rei in the mine, which is why he deserved to be alone. To struggle. He felt the burden of all his classmates and friends lay heavy on his heart. If he didn't carry their memory along, no one would. He gripped his necklace in silence, standing in the middle of the street.

Kenji heard a voice. A voice calling to him. A deep, demanding voice, begging him to listen. He looked around, no one was there. A sharp pain flooded his vision, causing his eyes to react and turn white. At that moment, his surroundings changed. A dark room, with a foot of water in every direction. He splashed along and turned around. A red gate as tall as a mountain stood before him. Behind the bars, two red eyed slits floated in the darkness.

The deepest voice Kenji had ever heard spoke. "So. I finally get to meet another Uchiha." A roaring, angry growl seeped through the words. "Maybe we can help each other."

----------------------

In the hospital, Rei was being bombarded with hugs and sorrys from Minato. He rushed over as soon as he heard. Kenji's words echoed through her head. She wasn't that social, but for some reason she could tell he was lost in more ways than one. Her ankle was cased in wrapping. It looked like a club she could use for combat. She welcomed her father's grasp until she felt hungry. A burning sensation in her stomach started itching at her. She pushed her dad away. Before he could object, Rei pulled her shirt up. A black seal upon her stomach raged and danced along her skin.

Rei was frightened. "D..dad. What is this?"

-------------------

Note: Ok Ok calm down. Sorry for no chapter yesterday. This week has been stressful. I understand if this story is too dark for some people, but this is a rise from the ashes story, and Kenji is still in the process of burning. He'll rise at some point though. Thank you for all the support and if anyone is confused or has questions about anything, which I wouldn't be surprised, just let me know. I'm out. YERRR!