Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. It belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.
{Kazan age 7}
Timeline: before Naruto part 1
~~~November 15~~~
(Kazan POV)
Upon hearing that Zabuza was the reason that the Mizukage was losing power over Kiri, Aniki being his impulsive self as usual wanted to kill the swordsman.
Ojiisan did as well, but with his motive being that he wanted to purposefully foil the Black Fox's plan. Another act of provoking him to prove to the Rinnegan user that he wasn't an enemy to underestimate.
Your usual egotistical Uchiha consumed by his desire for revenge.
At least I was able to talk some sense into Aniki with Onee-chan's help, but Ojiisan wasn't exactly the type to listen to reason when his ego was on the line. As a result, he went to the Mist Village, captured Zabuza and according to a report from Swirly, was torturing the assassin to the point of death.
Knowing him, he was definitely going to kill Zabuza regardless of the fact that he had nothing to do with the previous situation between him and the Black fox.
And with what little I know about the Black Fox and his personality, his first act after losing an asset like Zabuza would be to kill Ojiisan and then the Akatsuki.
After some thought I decided that the small and temporary benefit Ojiisan would get from the situation was not worth the trouble and I immediately used Indra's Mangekyou to teleport to their location.
In other words, I was going to risk my life to stop Ojiisan from signing the death warrant for us all.
If the Black Fox was the kind of person to only target Ojiisan then in all honesty would have left him to face the consequences of his actions. But I wasn't about to let him drag the rest of us into this mess because of his desire to feed his ego.
When I arrived at the place where I sensed Ojiisan's chakra I found him choking the remaining life out of a half dead Zabuza.
I then used Indra's advanced Raiton jutsu to strike Ojiisan's right arm causing him to let go of Zabuza's neck before deactivating the Doujutsu and summoning Adamantine Chains to restrain him.
Sensing my chakra he glanced at me and demanded an explanation.
"Ojiisan, remind me. Who is more advanced in the category of sensory skills between the two of us?"
His formerly stern gaze turned into a sharp glare.
"And the point you are trying to make?" he asked sternly in a voice that held rage and killer intent behind it.
"That I can sense the amount of power an individual is suppressing better than you can.
And what I can tell from just a sliver of his chakra is that this Black Fox person is not human. His chakra is too massive for even the strongest of human bodies to contain.
I know you don't want to hear it, but he is well above your level. Possibly equal to or even higher than that of the Rikudo Sennin.
And you don't want someone of that level to have it out for you."
His onyx orbs glowed red as the all too familiar pattern of a 3 tomoe Sharingan appeared, proof that my Adamantine Chains weren't enough to suppress his power.
But despite his flaming glare burning a hole straight through me I continued.
"You may be an apex predator surrounded by prey, Ojiisan, but don't think that just because you're a lion in a world of sheep and jackals that you can go poking at an already aggravated bear.
I know you want to get back at the Black Fox, but killing Zabuza is not the way.
Do you want to defend your ego?
Then don't provoke someone who can shatter it."
"And exactly what entitlement do you have telling me what to do?" he asked in the same threatening voice.
Seeing that reasoning still wasn't going to work, I decided to use the very risky tactic of attacking his ego myself.
Draining all former emotion from my expression, I looked him dead in the eyes with a poker face and continued.
"Not entitlement. But the advantage of common sense over egotistical impulsivity.
Which would you rather have?
Your dignity, the respect of your underlings, and a feared status with no downsides but a grazed ego?
Or no dignity, no remaining respect from your underlings and a status that is no longer feared, all with the extra downside of living with a shattered ego for the rest of your life?
Is your desire to have the legend of the Ghost of the Uchiha to live on and continue to strike fear in the hearts of Shinobi for generations to come or for it to become past tense because of a single foolish mistake that cost you everything?"
Silence.
"And is saving the life of a traitorous scumbag like him really worth the price of your life, Kazan?" he asked as killer intent leaked from his figure.
I stayed silent for a while before answering.
"I don't care if you provoke the Black Fox. And I don't care if you die as a result.
BUT.
I certainly do care if your naivety results in me and the others being lugged into a situation that we want nothing to do with.
Do you want to fight the Black Fox? Do you want to kill him?
Then go ahead and do it the same way you teach us to face our opponents.
Head on and no provoking him from a distance like a coward.
Although it doesn't matter either way, because you'll lose. And when you die, remember that I won't so much as bat an eye.
I have no sympathy for fools who challenge those far above their league without good reason.
After all...that is what you taught me."
No words in existence could describe the intense negative emotions burning behind his gaze. And with each word I spoke they multiplied and his glare grew sharper, as if the world's sharpest rigged blade was set ablaze and repeatedly slicing through every part of my body at once.
The atmosphere was cold as ice, the only thing emitting some sort of heat in the room being the fiery red hue of his Mangekyou Sharingan which I countered with my own (or rather Indra's) Mangekyou Sharingan stunning him for a moment before all trace of emotion drained from his features.
"Release me." He ordered in a stern voice void of all emotion but the rage and seriousness hidden behind the unspoken threat in his message.
I exhale before dispersing the Adamantine Chains around him and walks right passed me without sparing me so much as a word or a glance.
After he exits the room I inhale deeply before sighing, relieved that it was over.
"What an interesting development.
Though I knew you'd make use of it for your own benefit sooner or later I never thought you'd use the Daikokutenjin on Madara of all people.
Did the impending fear of your actions' consequences creeping closer and closer actually get to you?"
He laughed thereafter.
"It appears that even someone as seemingly collected and nonchalant as you can crack under pressure."
I didn't grace him with the privilege of a reply nor an argument despite how badly I wanted to and thankfully he left me alone afterward.
(A/n: I know that I said I'd post more but unfortunately I was not able to because one of my puppies suddenly became very sick and my schedule was full since I had to take care of him these passed 5 days.
He sadly passed away a few hours ago and I am in a very depressed state at the moment so I will not be updating for a while until I feel better.)