While Shisui was taking action, Itachi was in the training field, accompanying Sasuke in his ninja training.
Watching his younger brother launch an attack at him, Itachi absentmindedly defended and sighed quietly in his heart.
Ever since Shisui's death, he had taken on Shisui's role as the bridge between the Uchiha clan and the village. On the surface, both sides seemed to be trying to win him over, but in reality, they both harbored suspicion and never fully accepted him as one of their own.
In the village, he couldn't trust Danzō, nor the Hokage, or even his former superior Kakashi.
Within the clan, he couldn't trust his fellow clansmen or his father — not even his mother. The only person he could truly rely on was Sasuke, who had always idolized him. But Sasuke was still too young and couldn't actually help him in any way.
His only comfort was hearing Sasuke call him "big brother" with the same cheerful excitement as always.
As Sasuke attacked again, Itachi sidestepped the kunai thrown at him, casually picked up a stone and threw it back — only to hit one of Sasuke's Shadow Clones.
He's already learned the Shadow Clone Jutsu at this age?
Itachi was a little surprised, but he still effortlessly dodged the sneak attack from behind and flipped Sasuke onto the ground, pinning him.
It wasn't that Sasuke was too weak — it was simply that Itachi was far too strong.
At Sasuke's age, Itachi was already a full-fledged ninja with blood on his hands. Sasuke, on the other hand, had never killed anyone and always hesitated during his attacks.
But it was exactly that hesitation that solidified Itachi's determination to protect him.
Just the night before, the head of the Root organization had come to him, demanding he choose between the clan and the village: either stand by and watch both sides destroy each other, or strike first against the Uchiha and preserve their dignity and legacy.
If he took action against his own clan, Danzō promised Sasuke would be allowed to live in peace.
The same cruel choice Shisui had faced was now in front of him, just half a year later. Itachi hadn't given Danzō a definite answer — he didn't know what to choose. Every option felt like a betrayal of someone.
Noticing Itachi was distracted, Sasuke took the opportunity to prepare the Fireball Jutsu. But sensing his brother's inattentiveness, he stopped his hand seals and said with a pout:
"Big brother, are you thinking about your mission again? Didn't you promise to spend the whole day with me?"
Snapping back to the moment, Itachi smiled and resumed training with Sasuke. They continued until Sasuke was panting and exhausted. The two of them finally sat down under a large tree to rest.
Sasuke took a bottle of cold water from a wooden box and handed it to Itachi, then asked:
"Big brother, you said before that my strength is enough to graduate early. Does that mean I'm almost Chūnin-level now? I really want to graduate soon and take the Chūnin Exams!"
Itachi asked curiously, "Why do you want to become a Chūnin?"
Without hesitation, Sasuke replied, "Because I want to surpass Naruto! He beat me so easily — he must already be at Chūnin level. I have to become a Chūnin if I want to beat him!"
"Becoming a Chūnin is easy," Itachi said, "but to win the Chūnin Exams, you'll need strength on par with a Jōnin…"
He recalled his own Chūnin Exams, where he had to defeat several powerful opponents before claiming first place.
"Why?" Sasuke asked in confusion.
Itachi didn't explain. Instead, he changed the subject. "It's not important. But you've been mentioning Naruto a lot — sounds like you two are close?"
Sasuke looked a bit down. "Not really. He only came over to our house once. After that, he never came again."
Itachi chuckled softly. "It's not your fault. It's because of the tension between the clan and the village. Naruto's identity is a bit sensitive, so he's not allowed in the Uchiha compound."
"What exactly is his identity? Isn't he the Nine-Tails' host? With so many Jōnin in the clan, are they really afraid of the Nine-Tails?"
"I'm sorry — that's a village secret. Unless I get permission from the higher-ups, I can't tell you. In fact, Naruto himself probably doesn't even know the truth."
"Why? Why is even his identity a secret?"
The more Itachi kept it confidential, the more curious Sasuke became. He started pestering his brother persistently.
But Itachi wouldn't budge. Growing a bit annoyed, he finally said helplessly, "Pick a different wish. This one really is classified. I can't tell you."
Sasuke let go of his hand and said, "Fine… then come home for dinner today, okay? It's been a long time since we ate together as a family."
Hearing that, Itachi was taken aback for a moment, then nodded. It really had been a while since he came home.
He figured he could take the opportunity at dinner to make one final plea to his father — to give up the idea of a coup. The chances of a successful Uchiha rebellion were slim. Even if they did take power, they wouldn't be able to fend off threats from other nations.
That evening, Sasuke and Itachi walked hand in hand down the streets of the Uchiha district.
Itachi had said more than once that it was childish, but Sasuke insisted on holding hands — just like when he was four. Except now, Sasuke was already eight.
During wartime, children could graduate and become Genin by the age of nine, and be sent straight to the front lines.
Still, Itachi secretly cherished this warmth. Just holding Sasuke's small hand reminded him that he could give up anything to protect his brother's future.
They chatted and laughed as they walked — until Itachi suddenly felt a chill down his spine, like someone was watching him from the shadows.
He scanned the area, but the feeling vanished instantly, leaving him frowning in suspicion.
It wasn't Izumi — she would've run straight up to greet him. Root couldn't have infiltrated the Uchiha compound. That only left one possibility: the masked man.
The man with the Mangekyō Sharingan and space-time abilities — someone the village and clan barriers couldn't stop.
A lunatic, disillusioned with both the village and the Uchiha, who only wanted to take Itachi and escape. The Nine-Tails attack and the deaths of the Fourth Hokage and his wife were all closely tied to him.
But what truly puzzled Itachi was that… the gaze he'd felt just now seemed strangely familiar.
When they got home, Mikoto was surprised to see Itachi. Her eyes held a complex expression, and all she said was, "Itachi, are you eating with us tonight?"
Itachi nodded. "Yeah, I'm not too busy today. I thought I'd have dinner at home."
A smile returned to Mikoto's face. "Good. We're all family, after all. You and Fugaku shouldn't bring your work stress home. Have you ever thought about how Sasuke feels?"
Fugaku, sitting in the living room, said nothing. He simply glanced at Itachi, his eyes saying everything.
Itachi met his gaze in return. Yes, they definitely needed to talk. Judging by the current situation, this might be their last chance.
(End of Chapter)
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