Akira POV

Upon meeting up with Madara-nii, we made a hasty retreat back to the Uchiha compound, which was situated on the far east in the land of fire.

Madara-nii, Izuna-nii and I returned to our house, which was situated in the center of the compound. It was considerably bigger than everyone else's too, seeing as it was where the leader of the Uchiha clan – my father, resided.

"We have returned, father," Madara announced our arrival as we stepped inside our father's office, meeting the stern glance of our father – Uchiha Tajima, who was sitting cross-legged behind his low table.

"The outcome?" he questioned curtly as I felt Izuna-nii fidget uncomfortably beside me.

".......we had to issue a retreat." Madara muttered as Tajima's face visibly darkened. He stood up before approaching us, activating his Sharingan as he stopped and glared at all of us.

"Another retreat? Have you no shame? That damned Butsuma Senju will be thinking of us as cowards now!" he hissed as he gave all of us a once over before continuing on his rant.

I made sure to remain expressionless whilst my inner me raged at this pathetic being that was practically hollering at us. I had stopped seeing his as my father long ago – when I saw that he was willing to beat his children should they fail to live up to his expectations.

My kind, loving brothers never deserved any of his lashings. However, what I hated the most was when they'd always protect me from Tajima, despite my insistence that I'd be able to handle myself just fine.

A faint memory surfaced as Tajima continued with his tirade, his words mixing together as the memory played in my mind.

- *flashback* -

*SLAP*

Madara-nii's face whipped painfully to the side as I screamed, thrashing against Izu-nii's hold on me as my tears threatened to fall, seeing my eldest brother get hurt because of me.

"Stop it father!!!!" I yelled, wanting so much to attack the man that was hurting my brother.

It angered me to think that his anger stemmed from me being unable to perform the fireball jutsu, which was said to be the most renowned jutsu of the Uchiha, and was taking it out on Madara-nii, who volunteered to take my lashings for me.

"I-it's ok Kira-chan, I'll be o-"

*SLAP*

Madara-nii's head cracked painfully on the floor as the man punched him on the head, forcing Madara-nii to collapse. My breathing hitched as I watched Madara-nii trying to push himself up, his small arms trembling violently before it gave out and he fell back onto the wooden floor.

The man grabbed a fistful of Madara-nii's hair, screeching at him to get up and to 'take it like a man' as I felt something snap within me at the sight.

"Stop it stop it STOP IT!!!! GET AWAY FROM MY NII-SAN!!!!"

I finally broke free from Izu-nii's hold, running towards Madara-nii and standing protectively in front of his unmoving form as I glared daggers at the man in front of us. The hatred I harbored for my supposed father felt unreal, as I imagined slamming his head down on a sharp wooden pike, over and over, as many times as it would take for it to get through his unused brain that children were allowed to make mistakes; that we aren't just tools meant to be broken and fixed at his own will.

"We never asked to fight your war for you!" I seethed as the man's eyes narrowed. "Do we have to die for you to see reason?! Do you take pleasure in beating a child just to prove how strong y-!!!"

I let out a strangled cry as the man suddenly moved and put me in a chokehold before either of my brothers could do anything. His grip tightened around my neck, the only barrier being my high-collared shirt as I wrapped my fingers around his arm, trying to pry it off me.

"Insolent wench!! What do you know of war when you are but a mere child!"

"Father please! You're hurting her!!" Izu-nii ran over and began pulling on father's haori, trying to get him to release me before he was harshly kicked away. Mada-nii was still struggling to stand as Izu-nii clutched where he'd been kicked, his face scrunched in pain.

The hand around my throat tightened as I tried kicking my legs out, despite knowing it was futile seeing as it barely reached half of his arm.

I hated how powerless I felt in that moment. Hated how such a cruel man had been blessed with such power when he never deserved even a pinch of it. Hated that I shared the same blood as the man who didn't even care about his children. Hated that I was born as his daughter. But most of all, I hated myself for letting my brothers, who have always looked out for me, get hurt again on my behalf.

I glared with all my might at the asshole in front of me despite the spots that were beginning to cloud my vision whilst a burning pain began surfacing in my eyes. However, I refused to black out, I refused to give him the upper hand!

My eyes twitched as I blinked rapidly to overcome the hot pain that suddenly encompassed my eyes as I squeezed them shut, trying to dissolve the pain.

When I slowly opened them again, something felt different.

Everything I saw suddenly became so much clearer as possibilities raced in my head of how I'd be able to crush the man in front of me.

I settled for casting a quick genjutsu, simply to try and distract him as his hands slackened slightly when his eyes glazed over. I took this chance to force his hands off me before pushing chakra into my left foot and kicking him with everything I had away from me and my brothers.

His body crashed into the far side of the room as I snatched the kunai that was resting on a table nearby before rushing towards the man as he got up.

He raised his head just as the tip of my kunai came to rest in the middle of his forehead.

I continued to glare at him, silently challenging him to even try and pull another stunt like that again as his eyes widened a fraction when they met mine. He let out a scoff as he raised his hands, signaling his surrender whilst I slowly lowered my kunai, my eyes never leaving him as he slowly got up.

He sent a scoff of disbelief my way before walking past all of us and exiting the tent.

I didn't even realize how taut with tension my body was in as I suddenly collapsed onto my knees, my hand loosening on the kunai as it dropped uselessly to the ground whilst my brothers crowded me.

"Kira!! Are you ok? How's your neck?" Izu-nii grabbed hold of my shoulders as he gave me a once over, worrying over me like a mother hen as my eyes slowly met his.

"!!! Aniki, her eyes!!" Izu-nii exclaimed as Mada-nii kneeled down in front of me, a placid expression present upon his face as he stared into my eyes.

"Kira-chan, does it hurt?" he asked softly as his hand reached out to stroke my cheek. I leaned into the warmth of his hand, cherishing his concern for me. "What are you talking about Mada-nii? Does what hurt?"

Mada-nii let out a soft sigh as he gently patted my head, his eyes conveying the different emotions playing through his mind of which he'd never voice out.

Pain. Sadness. Anger. Pride.

"You've awakened your Sharingan, imouto."