Obito was about to leave.
The boy stood up to say his goodbyes, and Itachi rose to see him out. Mikoto opened the door, allowing a beam of sunlight to spill into the entryway.
Roy remained seated on the tatami mat, his back to everyone as he sipped his after-meal tea. At a certain point, he spoke up. "Obito-nii."
Obito, who had just put on his shoes, suddenly looked back.
Roy turned his head slightly toward him. "Please use those eyes to properly protect the things you want to protect."
Obito's body trembled as he recalled everything he had experienced in the genjutsu. He pumped his right fist downward and replied with utmost solemnity, "I will!"
Yes, definitely!
The door opened with a creak.
"Goodbye, Jin."
"Goodbye, Itachi."
The boy bowed to Mikoto once more, offering a bright smile. "I'll come visit again."
He turned and left.
Uchiha Mikoto leaned against the doorframe and waved at the boy's retreating back. "Next time you come, remember to take off your jacket. I'll give it a wash for you."
A warmth spread through Obito's chest. He nodded and resumed his pace, heading toward a training ground in the northern forest. Today was no different from any other; he was to undergo special training with his teacher.
However... today was unlike any other day. Obito's expression was grave as his right hand brushed against the corner of his eye, where a faint trace of blood seemed to flow. His pace unknowingly quickened, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished
from the Uchiha clan compound.
"He's a pitiful child."
"But he's a strong one, too."
The door clicked shut.
From the inner bedroom, Fugaku emerged wearing a black tight-fitting combat suit and a green Jonin flak jacket. He paced over and sat on the same cushion Obito had just occupied.
He took a few quick bites of the breakfast Mikoto brought over and said in a low voice, "If his teacher weren't Minato Namikaze, the clan would allocate more resources to training
him."
Minato Namikaze—the Yellow Flash, disciple of the Sannin, grand-disciple of the Hokage, lover of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki... and the man Hiruzen Sarutobi placed his highest hopes in.
With so many 'debuffs' stacked against him, it was only natural for the clan to treat him differently based on political stance for having such a teacher.
"Do you think I shouldn't have helped him awaken his eyes, Father?" Roy asked as he leisurely sipped his tea. He feigned a hand sign and summoned a Shadow Clone, which prepared to head to the academy
for school as usual.
Fugaku finished his breakfast and pulled Itachi into his arms, gently ruffling his hair. "You don't need to send a clone to school anymore. The Hokage has already permitted your early
graduation."
"He can permit whatever he wants, but I haven't agreed to it."
"You blew up the school," Fugaku said, glaring at him.
Roy corrected him righteously. "That wasn't blowing it up... the Hokage wanted to test me."
"So, if anyone is to blame... it's the Hokage."
Fugaku: "..."
For a moment, he couldn't find any words to refute him. After all, what Roy stated was the truth—it was just that his 'Fireball Jutsu' was so powerful it didn't look like a D-rank technique
at all.
"Forget it," the man sighed softly after a pause, looking at Roy. "I have no objection to you helping Obito awaken his eyes. He's also a child Lord Sakumo took an interest in."
"Sakumo?"
"That..."
"Lord Sakumo Hatake, Konoha's White Fang?"
Itachi, nestled in Fugaku's arms, poked his little head out. "Lord Sakumo Hatake mentioned last time that he wanted to be Big Brother's instructor."
"Yes, that's him." Fugaku gently smoothed Itachi's hair and looked at Roy. "He said that of the younger generation, he thinks most highly of three children."
"Obito is one."
"Might Dai's son, Might Guy, is the second. And the last one..."
"Is you."
Might Dai, the Eight Inner Gates. Roy didn't care much about being recognized by Sakumo Hatake. After all, the man naturally possessed keen insight and a strength that surpassed the
Sannin; there was nothing more to say about that. However... the secret technique of the Eight Inner Gates was something else entirely. Its upper limit was a kick that nearly killed Madara Uchiha, even snapping a staff made of
Truth-Seeking Orbs. That power was plain for anyone to see.
At the very least, Roy felt that the [Eight Inner Gates] was much more powerful than the 'Mark' or even the defense of an active Susanoo!
"Lord White Fang overpraises me," Roy replied indifferently, snapping back to reality. Calculating the time, there weren't many days left before that man's death. Perhaps
it would happen during the next mission!
Fugaku gave a non-committal hum and stood up to head to work. Before leaving, he suddenly said, "Jin, I don't ask for you to be incredibly strong. I only hope
you'll be safe. Do you understand?"
Roy was slightly stunned. Looking at Fugaku, he momentarily saw Silva. For a split second, the two figures seemed to overlap and intertwine, making his eyes
feel slightly warm. He lowered his gaze and whispered, "Yeah."
"Alright, off you go. Jin is older now, isn't he more sensible than you?" Mikoto was at the entryway, ushering Fugaku out the door.
Beside Roy, Itachi watched this scene quietly. His gaze shifted from Mikoto to Fugaku, and finally rested on Roy, lingering
as if he couldn't see them enough.
After a while, the little boy pulled away from Fugaku's embrace, stood up by supporting himself against the table, and shook Roy's arm. "Big
Brother, let's go practice our swordsmanship, too."
"I bet Shisui is already waiting for us at the training ground."
Roy reached out and pinched Itachi's slightly chubby cheek, downed the rest of his tea, and gave the boy a mischievous smile. "Then you'd better hurry up."
With a poof, he transformed into a cloud of white smoke and vanished instantly.
'This was a Shadow Clone? So the one who left earlier was... Big Brother?' Itachi stood stunned for a long moment before suddenly realizing. He bolted out the door,
grabbing his sword as he left. This time... the boy secretly vowed that he would not be inferior to Shisui.
However, a year's difference meant a difference in strength. A year's difference meant a difference in experience. It was still the ten thousand practice swings.
Shisui was older than Itachi by more than just a year, after all. Even with a basket full of stones hanging from his blade, he swung it with more ease and stability than
Itachi.
"One thousand... one thousand one... one thousand two..."
In a secluded training ground within the southern forest.
While the two little ones were swinging their swords with effort, Roy manifested his staff-sword and held Solar Eclipse, lost in silent contemplation.
Ever since achieving Bankai, he hadn't seriously swung his sword for quite some time. Watching Shisui and Itachi, he couldn't help but recall the days he spent learning
swordsmanship under Sakonji Urokodaki. Back then, he had fellow disciples like Sabito and Makomo by his side. Now... he had his little brothers instead.
It really was like they say—time flies, and though the places remain, the people change.
Just then, a beam of sunlight struck him.
The boy looked up at the sky. The bright sun seemed to be looking back at him. Filled with emotion, he assumed his stance, set his feet, and gripped Solar Eclipse with both hands.
He raised his blade and closed his eyes to focus his spirit...
Holding onto his original intent, it felt as if he had returned to that fog-shrouded Mount Sagiri where the sun never reached, practicing his first swings under Sakonji Urokodaki. At a
certain moment...
His eyes snapped open.
The sword struck.
A snow-white arc, carrying unparalleled momentum, crossed a distance of nearly several hundred meters. It formed a beautiful crescent slash and struck a massive tree!
With a sharp crack, the tree split.
It was severed clean in half...
Revealing a man behind it with fluttering white hair. He bore a striking resemblance to Kakashi, but was a significantly larger version of him!