Walking along the road back home, Sasuke noticed how lively the village was. There were shops everywhere, people everywhere, and the gentle rays of the sunset bathed everything in a warm light. The villagers' faces were full of happiness and smiles. This was Konoha, at peace—a pure, unspoiled place.
But Sasuke knew all too well how dark the upper echelons of Konoha truly were. Only these innocent villagers still believed that the village was just as prosperous as ever. As Sasuke watched the vibrant Hidden Leaf Village, he felt as though he was seeing an aging elder slowly approaching death's door. He grew increasingly fond of this feeling—knowing everything while everyone else remained in the dark. Gradually, he developed a kind of arrogance, a sense of standing above the masses. But sometimes, knowing too much could be a curse. For example, knowing that three years from now the Uchiha clan would be massacred, and being powerless to stop it. He could only watch as it unfolded, helpless to change fate. The thought filled Sasuke with dissatisfaction about his own weakness.
Today, Itachi should be returning. It was the right time to have Itachi help train him. Sasuke tore his gaze from the street and turned to jog toward the Uchiha compound.
In this life, Sasuke felt no particular affection for the Uchiha clan or Fugaku Uchiha. He hadn't wanted to form any deep attachments with anyone in the clan. But Mikoto Uchiha—his own mother—her selfless, ever-present love and care had slowly melted the ice in Sasuke's heart. Deep down, he quietly made a decision... Sasuke returned home... Finally, after a long while, Itachi appeared at last, dragging his utterly exhausted body. "Looks like Itachi's recent mission wasn't easy," Sasuke thought as soon as he saw his brother.
"Sasuke, you're home. Where'd you go to play today?" Although completely drained physically and mentally, Itachi still greeted his beloved brother with a beaming smile, waving to him.
"Brother, I just went out for a walk." Sasuke replied casually. No one knew he had actually been refining his chakra—as far as everyone else was concerned, anytime Sasuke went to 'train,' he was just using it as an excuse to play. The two brothers headed inside together, with Sasuke casting a glance at Itachi, who had returned to his usual poker-faced look. Sigh! After joining the Anbu three months ago, Itachi's face was growing more and more like the cold, expressionless look from the original story. Sasuke thought to himself (Itachi was now thirteen).
"Brother, I'm already three years old. Can you train me to be a ninja?" Sasuke turned his head, asking with eager hope as he followed behind Itachi.
"Oh, didn't expect you to get motivated, Sasuke!" Itachi replied, smiling widely. Hearing this answer, Sasuke was instantly covered with imaginary black lines. He never thought that, just because he always used the excuse of 'playing,' his big brother now assumed he was just a carefree kid. Sasuke nearly broke down in frustration. "Bro, will you help or not?"
Sasuke asked again.
"If Sasuke wants to become a ninja, how could I—your brother—not support you? The real question is whether Sasuke can endure it. I'm going to be very strict with you," Itachi teased.
"Yeah!"
Hearing Itachi agree, Sasuke couldn't hide his excitement and cheered inwardly. Then, at the same time, he felt a wave of exasperation. He was being underestimated! Itachi saw Sasuke's joyful grin and couldn't help but smile just a little himself, as if Sasuke's happiness truly made him happy, too.
"Itachi, Sasuke, come wash your hands and get ready to eat!"
Their mother's voice came from inside the house.
"Okay, mother."
"Yes, Mother!"
Two different responses rang out at the same time from both Sasuke and Itachi.
Ding-ding-ding-ding... Sasuke was jolted awake by a noisy alarm clock. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked out the window, where the sky was just starting to brighten. Sasuke jumped out of bed right away and hurried through his morning routine. Today was the day he would learn powerful ninjutsu. He absolutely didn't want to be looked down on by Itachi.
Sasuke stepped out of his bedroom and into the living room, where he saw his mother making breakfast in the kitchen. Itachi was sitting on the sofa, earnestly reading a scroll. Clearly, Itachi's strength was no accident.
"Well, Sasuke, didn't think you'd be up this early," Itachi teased.
Sasuke's face gave away nothing; he'd grown numb to teasing.
"Since we've got time before breakfast, let me explain what chakra is." Itachi glanced over at their mother to confirm there was still time, then beckoned Sasuke to sit beside him.
"Brother, I already know what chakra is. No need to explain it again."
"In that case, tell me what it is," Itachi challenged, turning to Sasuke. Inside, Itachi was still quite skeptical.
"Chakra is..." Sasuke recited everything he knew about chakra.
"Wow! You actually know all that. That makes it easier for me—I'll teach you directly how to refine chakra. Chakra refining actually—"
Itachi was about to start explaining when Sasuke interrupted.
"Brother, I already know how to refine chakra," Sasuke said honestly. To prove it, he channeled chakra to his hand to show Itachi.
"What? That's real chakra!"
Itachi was shocked inwardly, but still maintained a smiling face. "Then I'll teach you the Three Body Techniques. The three techniques are—"
Once again, Itachi was interrupted.
"Brother, I already know the Three Body Techniques!" Sasuke promptly demonstrated each technique in turn.
"Then I'll—" Itachi tried to continue.
"Brother, I also know how to climb trees and walk on water, and my chakra affinities are Fire and Lightning..." Sasuke quickly rattled off everything he could do. At last, Itachi couldn't keep up his smiling façade—an expression of real shock crossed his face.
"Sasuke, tell me honestly—who taught you all this?"
Itachi pressed. Sasuke finally poured everything out. The memory of Itachi's expression—mouth wide, face frozen in astonishment—was so hilarious to Sasuke that he could barely suppress a smile thinking about it.
"In that case, since you've mastered the basics, I'll teach you ninjutsu directly." Itachi stood in the clan's private training field, facing Sasuke across the way. After speaking, he took two scrolls out from his ninja gear pouch. Sasuke's eyes sparkled as he stared at the scrolls in Itachi's hands. This was what he had always dreamed of—ninjutsu. Just thinking about those powerful and dazzling techniques made Sasuke's heart race with excitement.
Itachi pointed at the scrolls and spoke to Sasuke, "Since you possess both Fire and Lightning chakra natures, I'll teach you one ninjutsu for each. They are: Fire Style—Great Fireball Jutsu, and Lightning Release: Ground Stream."