Time flew by.
In the blink of an eye, **Haruki** was already three years old.
Haruki had grown up within the Uchiha clan's territory. Perhaps due to his rare double-pupiled eyes, he spent most of his early life confined at home or occasionally accompanying his father on business trips. Most people, however, steered clear the moment they saw his unusual eyes.
Over the past three years, Haruki had gradually come to understand this world more clearly.
As he had suspected the day he was born, this was the world of **Naruto**. He had been born in **Year 51 of the Konoha calendar**—the exact same year as Naruto Uzumaki.
He was even a few months older than Naruto.
> "Another day closer to the Uchiha massacre… just a bit over four years now!"
Haruki muttered to himself while sitting on a plush cushion in a luxurious room. With his tiny hands, he clutched a steaming pig trotter and stuffed it into his mouth. One was devoured, then another, and he continued muttering.
> "In another two years, I'll convince Dad to leave this mess behind... I don't want to be here when things fall apart."
Food kept disappearing into his small mouth as if he had a bottomless stomach.
> "Eat slowly, Haruki! Don't choke!"
A gentle voice came from nearby, filled with warmth and indulgence.
It was his mother, **Senju Sayaka**.
> "Haha, no worries, Sayaka! My son has been an eater since day one. At one year old, he could finish three roast chickens. Now, ten is nothing!"
**Uchiha Daigo**, Haruki's chubby father, beamed with pride. To him, eating well was a sign of great fortune. Not even the Akimichi could compete with Haruki's appetite!
> "Hmmph, you're just spoiling him," Sayaka pouted slightly, though a hint of a smile played at her lips.
After breakfast, Sayaka gently handed Haruki a slightly overstuffed backpack.
> "Haruki, today's your first day at the Uchiha training ground. There's food inside—make sure to eat if you get hungry!"
Her voice was tenderer than even Daigo's boastful pride just now.
As she watched Haruki's small figure toddle off slowly, her eyes filled with worry. Haruki stepped carefully but steadily—but still, to a mother, even one trip might be too much.
> "Sayaka, our little Haruki is growing up. Don't worry so much," Daigo said, offering comfort.
But Sayaka still couldn't hide her concern.
> "He's only three..."
> "What's wrong with being three? Fugaku's son, **Itachi**, graduated from the Academy at seven and awakened the Sharingan by eight. And don't forget **Shisui**..."
Uchiha Daigo's gaze sharpened, full of conviction.
> "My Haruki will never lose to either of them!"
Sayaka's long lashes fluttered as she lowered her gaze.
> "But I don't want him to be a genius. I just want him to grow up safe and happy... to have a home and a family..."
That was a mother's truest wish—for her child to live peacefully, freely, and happily.
> "But…"
Daigo sighed. He wanted to say more but stopped himself. Watching his son's small back growing smaller in the distance, his voice rose:
> "Son! If you get tired of training, rest—your dad can take care of you for life!"
Sure, he wanted Haruki to rise high in the ninja world and prove his worth to all the doubters. But more than anything, Daigo prayed for his child's safety.
Even if Haruki turned out to be ordinary, Daigo would gladly support him forever.
And with Daigo's wealth—no matter how much Haruki ate or how lazy he became—he'd still be able to provide for him.
> "Okay."
Haruki nodded, his tiny frame walking steadily toward the Uchiha training grounds.
### **Uchiha Clan Training Grounds**
This was the place where the clan's younger members came to hone their abilities. Here, children between the ages of 3 and 10 trained under the guidance of elite instructors.
Some practiced basic ninjutsu, others worked with kunai and shuriken, and a few quietly sat, attempting to awaken their Sharingan.
There were over thirty children present today. Most were average. But among them—one stood out.
A boy around eight or nine threw shuriken with incredible accuracy, each one landing precisely on the target logs ahead of him.
> "Wow! Big bro, you're amazing! When I grow up, I want to be like you!"
A child of around four, standing nearby, looked on with sparkling eyes.
Two instructors observed this scene from nearby and nodded in satisfaction.
> "Young Itachi's truly gifted. His future will be extraordinary," said **Uchiha Masaru**, one of their instructors.
Itachi was the creme of the Uchiha crop.
> "He might even surpass Shisui someday. Graduated at seven. Sharingan awakened at eight. A real prodigy," his fellow instructor added.
They both nodded in serious agreement.
As always in the Uchiha clan, power meant everything. The stronger you were, the more respect you gained.
> "I heard his little brother—**Sasuke**, right?—has been showing some talent too."
Masaru watched Sasuke quietly practicing his throws. Though his aim was far from Itachi's, he had only just started training days ago. With proper guidance, his future seemed promising.
Glancing around, Masaru evaluated the rest. While the other children had potential, most were still well below Itachi.
Then suddenly, he frowned.
> "Wait... something doesn't feel right."
Masaru glanced at the assembled students again.
> "Oh no—we completely forgot!"
> "Forget what?" his partner asked.
> "**Uchiha Haruki**! Today's his first day!"
> "Oh! Crap—you're right!" Masaru's eyes widened.
Though they hadn't seen Haruki before, technically, both instructors had been hired by **Uchiha Daigo himself**. That made Haruki their boss's son.
They quickly wrapped up lessons before turning toward the path leading to the grounds.
There, walking slowly into view—
A tiny figure… short, but steady.
His face was soft and childlike, but his eyes—those eerie **double pupils**—shone with an oddly calm brilliance.
> "Haruki, you're here!" Masaru called out, stepping forward.
From Haruki's point of view, Masaru was a towering giant. But Haruki wasn't fazed.
He simply met his gaze—those strange, mesmerizing eyes calm and unblinking.
Masaru stared into them.
For a moment, the world felt... vast. Endless. Like a sea of stars. He couldn't make sense of what he saw in those eyes.
And yet, it wasn't a feeling of terror—just of something beyond his understanding.
> (Is that... really an Uchiha's gaze?)
> "You…"
**(End of Chapter 2)**