Awakening (IO)

The morning sun had just risen over the sandy horizon of Hoshigakure. The tall, tan-colored buildings towered over it, appearing a silhouettes and obstructing pieces of the fiery orange glow that the sun gave off. Yurei Uchiha fluttered his eyes open as the sun peered through his window, beckoning his consciousness. The pale Uchiha covered his eyes and rubbed them, forcing them to adjust to the bright light after hours of being hidden away in darkness. Yurei yawned, massaging his eyes to ease the pain that soared through the back of his pale eyes. He slowly rose out of bed, leveling his back and legs into a ninety degree angle. He twisted his torso, popping his back with a loud sound similar to that of an old tree snapping under the force of a tornado.
The Uchiha rubbed his back muscles as he tried to get out of the small bed, relieving the pent-up tension within them. I really need a new bed… He took a deep breath, stretching out his lungs, and then he stood. The pale genin touched his toes, igniting the burning fire in his calves. Albeit groggy, Yurei was eager to set out. The past few days had been eventful, and the lanky boy was eager to see what the day would present to him. His feet paired with the chilling floor as he made his way to his clothing rack, grasping his kimono. The Uchiha pushed his arms through the slick silk sleeves and folded his kimono around his body, tying it with his cyan belt.
Yurei yawned as he walked outside his room, sliding open the wooden door. He covered his mouth as he descended through the hall, finally coming to a stop in the kitchen. His mother seemed to still be asleep. Good. She’s had been working too hard as of late. The Uchiha reached within his cabinets and withdrew a glass. He drew water from the sink and quickly filled it, drinking from the cup to quench his thirsty and rejuvenating him. The Uchiha found it easier to start the morning after drinking a class of water.
The pale boy quickly set the glass of water aside and reached for the spare change his mother had left on the counter for him. The Uchiha quickly placed the coins inside his robe and walked to the sliding door where he kept his bag. He opened it, revealing his headband and weapon pouches, and he swiftly put them on his person. Yurei reached for his door before turning to face his mother’s. He hadn’t been spending much time with her. Maybe I should stay. I’ll go get some breakfast stuff for tomorrow and surprise her.
Yurei, proud of the idea, went on about his day, eager to make the next a success without wasting today’s potential. So, on he went. The genin marched through the sidewalks, passing each of the small homes in the housing districts swiftly in order to avoid the growing, unforgivable heat of Hoshigakure’s day.

WC: 504

Yurei looked up at the sound of the familiar voice. It was Damon Uchiha. Ecstatic, Yurei smiled vividly, providing a nice contrast to the somber day when the two had gone to collect flowers for his father’s grave. That was a dark time, but now, after lamenting, Yurei was on the path to healing and forgiving. Now his father served as a reminder of both his biggest mistake and his greatest goal and aspiration: achieving peace between the shinobi and the villagers. That was his mission, now, and he more devoted than ever to find success.
“Damon!” Yurei shouted, brightly smiling and lightly laughing. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you. I’m doing much better than before. A little time was all I needed, and, now, I’m focused on a new goal. How are you? Are you well? What have you been up to? Anything interesting?”
These questions filled Yurei’s head, but he could not help but ask them as soon as they popped into his brain. He hadn’t seen Damon in weeks, maybe a month. Time was flying by too quickly for Yurei to tell. Every day was filled with a new adventure, a new goal to set, and, thus far, Yurei had accomplished every one of them, growing in power and in influence.
The pale Uchiha could not help but smile. Akio was funny and kind, as was Komon, and Sakana meant well, but he and Damon shared a special bond. Be it from their Uchiha bloodline or the shared tragedies, Yurei always felt a deeper connection to the dark-haired boy, although why, he did not know.
The sun, now higher in the sky, showered them in a warm, welcoming light despite the heat.

WC: 792

Yurei smiled brightly as Damon answered his barrage of excited questions, but one answer stood out to him? “Chuunin?” Yurei asked in amazement. “Congratulations! You must be so proud. I’m waiting to take my second exam, myself,” Yurei said with a smile. The two walked on, catching up, when Damon had asked if he wanted to do a higher rank mission. Yurei had done them before, but, now that Damon was a chuunin, it could be much more regular. “I’d love to go,” Yurei replied, thinking of Akio. “I’ll have to see when Akio and Esu are available. Should be fun!”


The pale Uchiha continued walking as Damon offered a spar. The two hadn’t exactly fought one another, save for the instance Yurei used a genjutsu on him, but that didn’t really count. The Uchiha was however, fully prepared to fight Damon. Yurei had learned a lot since last they met, and the Uchiha jumped at the opportunity. “Sure! I’d be happy to spar with you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen what you’re able to do exactly. Just watch out, I’ve been doing a lot since we last met.”


Yurei’s words did not emanate with arrogance or a rivalry, but rather a genuine remark. “I think I can learn a lot from fighting you, especially with the second exam coming up.”


The genin took a deep breath, following Damon as he lead him along. The boy then recalled a remark Damon had gave. Chakra signature? “Hey, Damon,” Yurei asked inquisitively, “what’s a chakra signature? I haven’t read anything about that.”


WC: 1053

Yurei watched Damon as they walked, the dark-haired Uchiha explaining everything. With his Sharingan, Yurei could see chakra mass, but identifying people based on their chakras seemed more difficult. It required keen observation, no doubt, but that was something Yurei was good at. And, if his plethora of jutsu were any example, he possessed a sharp memory. “So, it’s kinda like a fingerprint, right?” Yurei would say.
The Uchiha tried to refrain from using his sharingan to observe Damon’s chakra, instead attempting to feel it on his own. Yurei stretched out, focusing on Damon in what was probably and uncomfortable, yet unintentional stare, as if he were perhaps constipated or losing oxygen.
The Uchiha focused on him deeply, until he felt something. Yurei could detect the Uchiha’s chakra signature, at least feel it. It wasn’t the same as his Sharingan visually, but he could see Damon’s greyish chakra signature. The pale boys rose his index finger and thumb to his mouth, eyeing Damon’s wild chakra. It emanated with chakra greater than anyone he had seen thus far, even with his Sharingan.
The Uchiha squinted his eyes. “I think I’ve got it,” he said. “I can kinda make it out. Your chakra feels calmer. At least to me. Hm.”
Yurei maintained this as the two walked, slowly becoming familiar with the boy’s chakra signature. “So this helps me to identify people? How far does it go exactly? What do you use it for?”
The albino Uchiha wasn’t particularly fond of asking all these questions, but furthering his knowledge was essential.

WC: 1312

“I don’t need any prune juice,” Yurei said, smiling. “I’m trying to focus. Don’t make me laugh.” The boy nodded as Damon finished answering his questions. 100 meters seemed to be the extent of it. A reasonably large range, indeed, but Yurei could not help but wonder if it could be extended to any degree, or if possibilities existed outside of just identification.
Yurei’s visual of Damon’s chakra suddenly disappeared after the boy had brought up chakra suppression. That must be what shinobi use on recon missions. Sensory shinobi would be able to detect chakra signatures. This was their counter. But at what cost?
Yurei nodded, carefully processing the information Damon had presented him with. “I see,” he said. “Let’s go test out how well I do with this. You lead the way, ok? Then we can spar.”
Yurei wasn’t much for talking during this. At least not as much as Damon was. Chuunin had definitely gone to his head, but being flashy and, at least, somewhat arrogant was always a part of him.

WC: 1486