Uchiha Training Regimen

[Kuroda Uchiha]

    Kuroda stood before a small stone shrine in a room lit by standing torches. There was much written, or rather carved, into the surface of the stone slab that the Nakano Shrine was built to house. Unfortunately, Kuroda couldn't read any of it. He had heard that in order to do so required the Sharingan - but even that was only sufficient enough to translate part of the writings.

    After his grandfather's death only weeks ago, Kuroda had been raised up as the successor - an honor that would have fallen to Kuroda's father, had he not died ambushing the Senju leader. The Uchiha Elders, Nana and Hotaro Uchiha, had brought Kuroda here the day after it was found that Kuroda's grandfather and his guards had been killed on the road to Otafuka Gai - and explained the significance of the Nakano Shrine. He had asked why the Sharingan could not read all of the text, and recieved a shocking answer.

    Because the Sharingan was only the beginning. There was another level, another form entirely of the Sharingan that was far more powerful; and only that, as far as could be guessed, was sufficient to read the stone slab's writings.

    The Mangekyo Sharingan.

    Kuroda had not even awakened his Sharingan yet - so to be told that there was another level to the Sharingan beyond the fully realized three tomoe Sharingan was distressing. But it was real - the Mangekyo had manifested during the Hundred Year War - and supposedly the one who awakened it had used its power to claim rule of the Uchiha Clan. But the name of that Uchiha was either forgotten, or intentionally removed from records. According to the Elders, this was done to ensure that other Uchiha would not seek the Mangekyo Sharingan in a bid to claim rule over the Clan.

    But Kuroda knew then and there, that awakening the Sharingan would only be the beginning. If the Mangekyo was real, then its power could be used to ensure the safety of the Uchiha. A deterrent against would be attackers.

    Today, however, the Elders were not with Kuroda. He had come here of his own volition. He stared at the shrine for over an hour, silent and contemplative. But no matter how he tried, he just couldn't make sense of the writings scrawled on the stone. He closes his eyes and turns away, heading for the shrine's short staircase. He enters the ground floor, and closes the entrance, covering it with a tatami mat, and leaves the Nakano Shrine.

    It was time to meet up with Yagura for today's training.

---

Uchiha Village - Center of the Lake

    "You're late, Kuroda." Yagura grunts as Kuroda nears their chosen training location. Quite literally the middle of the lake - this was to protect the village once the flames started being thrown around.

    "Is that any way to talk to the Clan Head?" Kuroda replies, grinning.

    "It's how I talk to my oh so dear, can't tell the time of day, distant cousin." Yagura says, narrowing his eyes but also grinning. "Are you ready?"

    "As I'm going to be." Kuroda replies, settling into a fighting stance.

    "Keep track of your chakra, Kuroda. If you run out, you'll plunge into the water. If you do, you lose." Yagura warns. He slaps his hands together, and the two Uchiha begin to size each other up.

    "Right... Here goes..!" Kuroda mutters. He weaves the necessary hand signs, and leans forward, spewing out his breath into a large fireball!

    The fireball races towards Yagura - and is cut in two! Yagura grins, holding a long blade of stone like a buster sword. He bolts forth, bringing the stone weapon up overhead, and swinging hard down! Kuroda leaps to the left, narrowly avoiding the blow. The stone blade smacks against the water's surface, shattering but also sending up a swell of water to the left and right of the point of impact.

    Kuroda moves in, engaging Yagura in a fast paced melee. The clap of their hands and fists colliding at high speeds joins the noise of disturbed water as it settles back down. Kuroda was fast, slightly faster than Yagura - but Yagura was stronger, and more skilled in Taijutsu than Kuroda. Yagura ducks a kick, and brings his palm heel up into Kuroda's chin with a loud SMACK and clatter as Kuroda's teeth clacked together. Yagura follows up fast with a one-two punch to Kuroda's left cheek and right shoulder, and ends the combo with a hard straight kick to Kuroda's chest.

    Kuroda flies back, but manages to flip over and land on his feet.

    "Better." Yagura grins. "Last time, you fell straight into the water. Progress."

    Kuroda spits a bit of blood out, and settles back into his combat stance - and grimaces when he sees Yagura's Sharingan active.

    "Remember, the Sharingan can track your opponent's movements even before they make them. You're going to have to be more cleaver than a head on attack, Kuroda." Yagura advises.

    "Right... well, when my own Sharingan awakens, we'll see how long you hold onto this advantage, eh?" Kuroda replies.

    "Heh, yeah - if you awaken the Sharingan." Yagura teases back, settling into his own combat stance. "Well, don't keep me waiting, Lord Uchiha Kuroda."

---

WC: 871 1st post.

[Kuroda Uchiha]

    Kuroda slows his breathing, and refocuses - waiver too much, and he would lose focus on channeling chakra to his feet. That was part of the ploy Yagura was playing at - speaking to try and break Kuroda's focus. Even the use of the Sharingan was for that purpose. When Kuroda chose to reengage, Yagura was well prepared.

    Kuroda's Taijutsu was nothing special, but still decent. But decent didn't matter up against the Sharingan - Yagura's timing with ducking and blocking were practically perfect; each movement requiring the minimum amount of effort on Yagura's part, as the Sharingan tracked and predicted Kuroda's every move. For now, Yagura was content to let Kuroda throw the attacks, even getting to the point where he was starting to just style on Kuroda for the sake of it.

    Yagura's left hand suddenly lashes out, chopping towards Kuroda's throat! Gritting his teeth, Kuroda leaned back to avoid the blow - only to realize a split second too late that he had left himself wide open. Yagura spun with his chop, bringing his left leg up and high - and then bringing the heel crashing down into Kuroda's exposed stomach!

    Kuroda's breath is knocked clean out of him, and he is sent plunging into the water in a spectacular splash. Yagura grins in amusement, and dives in after a moment. The two return above water a moment later, Kuroda gasping for breath. Yagura uses his chakra to rise back to stand atop the churning surface of the water, and pulls Kuroda's right arm over his shoulder.

    "That's four and oh." Yagura brags. "But you're making some progress."

    Kuroda only groans, coughing out water and trying to get breath back in his lungs...

    Once the two got back to the shore, Yagura had let Kuroda lay on the sand, wheezing and exhausted while he stood over the Uchiha Clan's Head with his hands on hips.

    "You sure you want to keep training out on the water like this?" Yagura asks. "You will drown if this keeps up, you know?"

    "...I need... to learn better chakra... control..." Kuroda huffs breathily. "I exhaust... it too quickly... when I use my... Paralysis Jutsu..."

    Yagura nods.

    "Aye, that you do, cousin." he agrees. Yagura blinks, and then seems to remember something. "Hey, let's call it a day. You should get back home to Hana."

    Kuroda groans and sits up. Yagura was right - his grandfather's remains had finally arrived in the village, and was being prepared for burial services. Later that same day, he was going to be declared the new Uchiha Clan Leader after the burial ceremony.

    It was surely going to be a long day.

---

WC: 440

[Kuroda Uchiha]

    Two hours after the premature end to the daily training, Kuroda would be found kneeling before two paintings - one depicting his father, and the other depicting his grandfather. Incense sticks burn dimly, spilling their gentle streams of smoke into the air as Kuroda prays before the small shrine. His eyes are closed, and so while he doesn't see the young woman kneeling at his side, he knew her.

    Hana Uchiha - a several times removed member of the Uchiha Clan, and daughter of a marriage that was generally looked sideways upon by some of the more purist Uchiha. Her mother had come from the Land of Lightning, and had become fast friends with a man named Kai Uchiha. The rest of their story was well known within the tight knit community, and needn't be repeated often.

    Kuroda and Hana had grown close during the war, and married soon after its end - an end that was still not at all that long ago. Kuroda and Hana take a deep breath, and clap their hands once before opening their eyes. Kuroda sighs, and stands, offering his hand to Hana to help her stand as well. The two walk out of the shrine, and are greeted by an older woman with kind features; Kuroda's mother.

    "They would be proud of you, you know." she says, smiling meekly.

    "I'm not so sure. After all, I openly spoke against... all of that." Kuroda replies, keeping his voice even.

    "They'd be proud nonetheless." his mother chides. She turns to Hana. "Good luck beating some self confidence into this one."

    Hana smiles a glowing smile in return.

    "It wont be difficult." Hana replies, amusement touching her tone. Her expression becomes more somber. "When will the services be held tomorrow?"

    "My husband's service will be held in the noon time." Kuroda's mother replies. "And later that night before sun down, Kuroda... you will be sworn into leadership of the Uchiha. ...Will you be alright, son?"

    Kuroda considers his mother's question. ...Would he be?

---

WC: 334

[Kuroda Uchiha]

    Night was beginning to loom over the Uchiha village, bringing with it the stilling of song birds, and the awakening of lightning bugs and crickets. The day had gone by so quickly, and the people of the village were sharing in their dinners and stories. Children were being put to bed, and homes began to put out their lanterns one by one. Soon, the only lantern glow came from behind the Uchiha Estate - Kuroda's home.

    It was the only structure in the village two floors tall. The building had been constructed some three generations ago, and had served as the residence of the Uchiha Clan Heads ever since. Behind the building, the full bloom of three Sakura Trees was hidden by the night, and only partially illuminated by the lit lanterns. Kuroda sat out on the flat wood deck that stood only barely taller then the cut grass, gazing up at the sky. His eyes are drawn to the mountains in the distance, and he grimaces.

    The stars in that direction were unable to be seen, and muted flashes tell Kuroda that a rain storm was moving in.

    "Just in time to the burial..." Kuroda muses.

    A light tapping of feet across wood sounds behind Kuroda, and Hana walks out from the home and behind Kuroda. She wears a simple green yukata, held together with a sim blue sash. Her silver hair had been let down, allowed to hang over her shoulders.

    "Kuroda, it's getting late." she says, placing a hand on his shoulder.

    "It's going to rain tonight. ...Probably tomorrow too." Kuroda says by way of reply. He reaches up and presses his finger tips against Hana's hand as it rests on his shoulder. "I keep thinking that I'm not ready for this. Leading the Uchiha Clan."

    Hana says nothing, instead kneeling next to Kuroda and listening.

    "I don't know what to do. I hear the whispers for revenge; in my head, and behind the hands of those who demand retribution for my grandfather's killing." Kuroda continues. "They call for the blood of the Senju - but we don't know that the Senju were or weren't involved. If we went looking for Senju blood, we would find it, and our own spilling beside it."

    Hana frowns, and gazes out at the distant thunderclouds.

    "What do you want to do?" she asks after a few moments.

    "...I just want the Uchiha and the people that live here to be safe and happy." Kuroda replies, hesitating only a moment. "I want to protect them."

    "Then let's do that." Hana replies in a simple-as-that tone.

    Kuroda snorts a short laugh.

    "That simple, is it?" he asks.

    "I think so." Hana answers, her tone sounding quite convinced. "The war is over. Your father and grandfather couldn't let go of the past. If we follow their example, however well meaning, then we will inevitably share in their fate."

    Hana looks at Kuroda, and takes his head in her hands.

    "How we choose to set an example is how others will choose to act. If we choose revenge, then so will more. And more again." Hana says, her eyes locking firmly with Kuroda's own. "We do only what is within our power to do."

    Kuroda's mind flashes to earlier in the day, back to the Nakano Shrine and what the Elders had revealed to him.

    "...What if the power we have could grow?" Kuroda asks tentatively.

    "What would that power do for you?" Hana counters. "If the power only serves towards revenge, then it will create more power to oppose it in turn. No matter how great power becomes, if it is not used in the defense and protection of those who look to you for guidance, then it will only lead to the same pain you feel now over and again."

    Kuroda closes his eyes, and nods. Hana hugs Kuroda's head, resting her chin of it, and waits a few moments before speaking again.

    "Now, come back inside. It's getting cold, and the rain will reach us soon." she says, her tone both playful and admonishing. "Our dinner is almost ready. You will need your strength for tomorrow."

    As Hana leads Kuroda back inside the estate by the hand, Kuroda's mind echoes.

    What if the Mangekyo Sharingan was real? Could that power protect the Uchiha, or would it see to the destruction of them?

---

WC: 729

[Kuroda Uchiha]

    For Kuroda Uchiha, the night proved quite restless. The storm finally reached the village after two or so hours, beginning with a light rain, and worked into a somewhat heavy rainfall. Kuroda lay in bed next to Hana, gazing with half lidded eyes at the ceiling. Subconsciously hoping that he had managed to properly fix a leak that had appeared before the previous rain a few months earlier, but actively thinking about the day to come.

    There was little point to wishing things had gone differently - events had happened. His father and grandfather had chosen to act dishonorably, plotting an ambush of the Senju Clan Head under the false pretenses of a peaceful negotiation for an alliance between the Senju and Uchiha. He had tried to speak out against it, but it was not his place at the time. And the war hawks of the Uchiha wanted to spill Senju blood in vengeance for those they had lost during the war.

    Eight Uchiha, all of them among the best of the Clan, were dead. Killed during the ambush, or slain as they attempted to flee after the successful killing of the Senju leader. His father had died in that way. Kuroda had prayed at his father's shrine almost every day, hoping for him to have a peaceful rest, and for his soul to be cleansed of the hate it had once housed. And only a few months after that, now the Uchiha leader, his grandfather, lay dead in a preservation box awaiting the ceremonial burial.

    And once the ceremony was over, another would happen that same day, naming Kuroda the new leader in place of what should have been his father. Hana rolls onto her side, prompting Kuroda out of his thoughts. It was going to be a difficult day; and being exhausted would not help. Kuroda turned onto his side, and finally let himself drift off to sleep...

---

    The morning was a solemn one. The storm had not abated, as Kuroda had been concerned would be the case, casting the world around them in a color muting grey, and assaulted the land with a chilling rainfall. The entire village had attended the burial of Kuroda's grandfather, all wearing the mourning black attire. Kuroda, as was customary, was the first to lay something upon the closed casket - a metal molding of the Uchiha crest. It was a little heavy, and made a light THUNK as he placed it over where he knew his grandfather's head should be beneath.

    "...I won't fail the Uchiha." Kuroda mutters, barely audible. He turns away, and glances at the long line of Uchiha, Fuma, and others who had come to pay their respects. The second in line was Kuroda's mother, and then Hana, leading into extended family. The Uchiha Clan would pay first respects.

    As he steps away, the Elders, Nana and Hotaru, approach Kuroda.

    "Your grandfather will be at peace." Nana said in a neutral tone. "But you must come with us. We must prepare for the next ceremony. You must be fitted with the traditional garb, and we must go over what is to be said."

    Wordlessly, Kuroda nods. He casts a glance back at the casket and long line of people who had come, and starts off beside the two Uchiha Elders.

---

WC: 550

[Kuroda Uchiha]

    The ceremony to pay respects to Daichi Uchiha spent the entire morning and most of the afternoon before his remains were finally lowered into the resting place. To Daichi's left was his wife's long time resting place, and to his right lay his son, Makuro Uchiha - Kuroda's father. Makuro's plot still showed signs of the fairly recent burial, with grass only now starting to grow in over the top.

    The ceremony to see Kuroda taking up leadership of the Uchiha Clan would begin in less than two hours. Kuroda stood with his arms out as Hana helped the two Elders with wrapping him in the yukata that was traditionally worn for this ceremony only, and had been worn by the last ten previous Clan Heads. The first layer was a light blue hakama, the pant legs flaring wide and covering down to his ankles. The long sleeved shirt was folded smoothly at the front, and bound tightly with the pants by a light tan sash that was wide enough to cover the top of his hips and up to cover his navel.

    The sleeves, like the pants, flared wide, leaving plenty of room for his arms to breathe. Hana helped Kuroda slip his arms through the sleeves of the second layer of the yukata, dark grey in color and left open at the front. The Uchiha crest is emblazoned just below both shoulders, as well as a larger crest situated between his shoulders on the back.

    Kuroda's long hair, which was so long that it reached his waist, was tied back in a long ponytail, and his forelocks that reached down to his shoulders were likewise secured by red string. Some of his hair was unruly, refusing to be combed down, so the curls were eventually left alone. In his left hand was held a fan that was a replica of the Uchiha crest, and in his right was a set of red prayer beads that had been wrapped up his forearm and twisted around his palm, and secured to a ring set upon his middle finger.

    When it was all finished, Hana stepped back and the Elders stepped forward to observe the results. They both nod in approval.

    "You wear it well, Kuroda. Though sooner than we would have liked." Nana says. Kuroda knows it wasn't meant as a slight, so his nods solemnly. "That said, you have no need to believe that this was only a matter of line of succession."

    Hotaro nods in agreement.

    "Your contributions to the war, your leadership in adversity, and your unwavering love for your kin is what weighed into our decision." he explains. "Leadership of the Clan can be seen as hereditary, but this is not always so. There have been a number of times where a possible passing of leadership was deemed poor for the Clan, and a different leader was chosen by the Elders."

    "We have chosen to place our trust in you." Nana finishes.

    "I thank you for your trust." Kuroda says, bowing deeply. "I'll give my life to protect the Uchiha. This, I swear."

    "You will have your chance to proclaim such." Nana replies, "That's what the ceremony is for, after all. Come to the Nakano Shrine in one hour."

    Again, Kuroda bows, this time joined by Hana. Hotaro and Nana nod approvingly, and return with bows of their own. The two Elders turn and leave the large home, leaving Hana and Kuroda alone. Once they do, Kuroda sighs, and takes Hana's hand in his.

    "...This is nerve wracking..." he says, sounding tired.

    "Well, at least you only have to do it once, right?" Hana asks, smiling at him. "If we had to do this every day, I'd tell you to dress yourself."

    Kuroda snorts a laugh appreciatively. He looks around the estate, memories flooding his mind.

---

WC:639

    

[Kuroda Uchiha]

    That hour passed faster than Kuroda would have liked, but he had spent at least half of the time talking with Hana. Her cheerfulness in spite of the solemn start to the day was a very helpful thing for Kuroda, and for that he loved her all the more. Kuroda stands inside of the Nakano Shrine, kneeling and his head bowed before the artistic renditions of Clan Heads that came before.

    "...Please, watch over me as I lead the Uchiha through this new era." Kuroda prays humbly. "Guide my hand, so that I may lead fairly, that I may lead true."

    Hotaro and Nana's voices could be heard, though muffled through the thin doors. Hana, he knew, was kneeling on a tatami mat just outside the door, dressed in a brightly colored kimono. Her kimono bore the Uchiha crest upon its back, as so much of their clothing tended to do, though the cloth was a landscape of bright pinks and yellows, green trimming and held together with a blue sash with a large bow tied around the base of her back.

    He had helped her out of her mourning gown, and into this celebratory kimono. She needed no makeup - to him, her beauty needed no masking or products made to supposedly make her more beautiful than she already was. He had told her so once - which only received a snarky remark and laugh. She made him happy, and he hoped he did the same for her.

    Kuroda opens his eyes and gazes at the image of his grandfather.

    "...Help me to not make the mistakes of the past." he implores of their spirits. He bows his head once more, and hears a light tapping on the door.

    Kuroda pushes off the floor and stands straight. He turns to the door as practiced, and pulls the door aside. The sky was a bright orange as the sun had begun to set, making the clouds above glow. Before Kuroda knelt the Uchiha Clan in its entirety - some two or three hundred. But it was only them. The folk of other clans were not permitted to attend this ceremony, though why that was, Kuroda wasn't aware. Perhaps there simply wasn't enough room for them all before the small Nakano Shrine.

    Kuroda takes four practiced steps, and kneels down onto the tatami mat - also emblazoned with the design of the Uchiha Crest - next to Hana, and placing him at the center between Nana and Hotaro, who stood two paces in front of Kuroda, very close to the three stairs high drop.

    The rest of the Uchiha Elders - a council of seven in all - are seated at the very front of the neatly rowed lines of kneeling Uchiha of all ages.

    "Today marks the passing of leadership - it is the will of the Elders that Kuroda Uchiha take up this role, of which was taken by his Grandfather, and his father before." the Nana announces. She and Hotaru turn to Kuroda, and conduct a well practiced prostrating bow. It was similar to the prayer bow, but its meaning was different. This was to show acceptance of the Elders' decision, not to pray. The lines of Uchiha, young and old, follow their example.

    Kuroda bows his head, but does not prostrate himself, as Hotaru and Nana had instructed. Once heads were raised, Kuroda holds the fan designed in the image of the Uchiha Crest to his chest.

    "I accept this place of leadership of the Uchiha Clan." Kuroda says, having practiced these words multiple times. His heart pounded in his chest so hard that he thought it may be trying to break through. "I vow to lead towards the prosperity we wish, towards a future we shall be proud of. I shall protect the Uchiha Clan with all that I am, all of my blood, and all of my will. I vow not to fail my kin, and that I shall not lead us astray."

    With that Kuroda taps the fan against his chest once, and bows his head once more.

    An hour later, it was over. Kuroda stands on the front porch of the estate his great grandfather had helped build, and gazes down the hill at the village. So many were looking to him for leadership and prosperity now, not just the Uchiha. It was an overwhelming feeling, but one he was told would pass as he grew into the role.

    Hana stepped up beside Kuroda, and lays her head on his shoulder. Kuroda responds by tilting his head to rest against hers.

    "You're going to do good," Hana tells him, taking his hand in hers. "But you need to believe in yourself, believe that you can and that you will."

    Kuroda smiles and turns his face into her hair.

    "Thank you Hana." he says. "I'm glad to have you at my side in this."

    "In all things." she replies. "Now, let's get something to eat. You and Yagura still have your training regimen in the morning. And We both know he won't let you skip out just because you lead us now."

    Kuroda groans - she was right, after all. She laughs, and the two turn away from the village below.

---

WC: 868

[Kuroda Uchiha]

    [[FIRE RELEASE: STRONG FIREBALL!!]]

    A searing curl of flames erupts forth, instantly evaporating water as it impacts against the spot where Yagura had just been standing on top of the lake. The water boils and sprays upwards at the sudden intensity of the impacting fireball, threatening to scald Yagura if he were caught by the spray.

    Yagura grunts, exerting himself to avoid the spray, even with his Sharingan active. Kuroda had already moved, drawing a blunted short sword from its sheath. He swung at the side of Yagura's head - but the Sharingan had already shown Yagura its path, and he begins to drop forward to duck under it.

    "NGH!!" Yagura grunts as he suddenly jerks his head to the right, narrowly avoiding Kuroda's swift straight kick that had been aimed for Yagura's left temple. He spins with the turning momentum, bringing his own foot to bear at Kuroda's exposed back.

    Despite not having the Sharingan, Kuroda was ready this time - Yagura's reflexes were heightened by the Sharingan's predictive ability, but he was still slightly slower than Kuroda. Kuroda twirls his body, moving into a horizontal spin that took him out of Yagura's reach, and lands deftly on the water's surface. Both Uchiha turn at the same time, and burst forth.

    They engage in a series of fluid movements that those not familiar with the marital arts would find to be dizzying - and when learning it as a youth, Kuroda had smacked himself more than a few times, usually across the nose. Hands were curled into half-fists, aiming the second knuckles as strikes at joints or the face. In defending, the hands were open palmed, to better push or redirect each other's blows.

    Rising knees or low kicks aimed at the ankles and lower legs were summarily intercepted by the bottoms of the other's feet, or moved into the path of the kick sooner to lessen the strength of each blow. As the two fought, water was constantly being splashed around, soaking their long coats, which had already become heavy with absorbed water as it is.

    The added weight made them just so slightly more sluggish, making combat more taxing. But so far, Kuroda had managed to avoid giving Yagura the same easy advantages he had the last five times they sparred since Kuroda became the new Clan Head a week ago.

    "You're getting better!" Yagura says, grinning. His Sharingan snap left and right, up and down, as it catches every movement Kuroda goes to make before he can even commit to the movements.

    "We can chat when we're done!" Kuroda responds, also grinning.

    The two Uchiha suddenly part, each weaving fast hand signs. Both slide to a halt, taking in deep breaths as they lean back.

    [[FIRE RELEASE: STRONG FIREBALL!!]]

    Both Uchiha lean forward and unleash equally large flames at the other. The flames meet dead center between the two, crashing together and creating a chaotic wall of flames as each try to overtake the other. Kuroda, still breathing out and now hidden by the wall of flames, weaves new handsigns.

    [[FIRE RELEASE: GREAT FLAME DESTRUCTION!!]]

    The flames spewing forth from Kuroda suddenly intensify, and the blaze from him almost doubles in size! It overtakes Yagura's flames, who yelps and dives into the water by reflex! By the time Yagura came back to the surface, Kuroda was pumping his fists and laughing with a triumphant glee. Yagura leers at him, bubbles churning under his nose.

---

WC: 575