Late at night, the Hokage Building.
The helmet-loving, veteran chain-smoker finally wrapped up his day's work.
He stretched lazily—and noticed a tuft of white hair by the window.
"Welcome back, Kakashi."
His weary eyes relaxed a little as he spoke softly. "You… saw that child?"
With Kakashi back, Konoha's strength had grown once more.
The pressure on him eased slightly.
"Mm…"
Kakashi waved a hand, saying nothing about Naruto. Instead, he brought up someone else.
"Does the Third Hokage know about that kid from the Uchiha clan head's family?"
"Oh? You mean Itachi?"
The Third Hokage tapped his pipe, rare admiration appearing in his eyes.
"He's a clever child. His understanding of the Will of Fire surpasses everyone in the village."
He truly liked Itachi from the bottom of his heart.
Even though he was an Uchiha, he lacked that usual fanaticism and obsession.
Instead, he was wise and steady.
Seeing this, Kakashi shook his head.
"No. I'm not talking about Itachi."
"Oh? Then you mean Sasuke?"
The Third pondered. "He's still young, but his talent does seem decent."
"It's Jin."
"Jin?"
The Third paused slightly. "That name sounds familiar…"
His mind turned, trying to conjure an image of Jin, but failed again and again.
It felt like an old scrap shoved into a corner—unused for too long, impossible to recall clearly.
After several tries, an image from four years ago finally surfaced in his mind.
Subconsciously, he asked,
"That child… is there something wrong with him?"
"No."
Kakashi hesitated, then said,
"He's just… very talkative."
He took out a notebook he had been keeping.
Its pages were filled with dense notes—everything Jin had said.
But the very first page was torn out.
That page had recorded Jin's interactions with Naruto.
Originally, Kakashi had planned to report it to the Third.
But Jin had mentioned the Fourth Hokage and his wife again and again.
Those words kept triggering memories of Minato-sensei's guidance—and Kushina-sama's warmth.
"Actually… it might be good for Naruto to have an older brother figure looking out for him."
With that thought, Kakashi concealed their connection.
He gave only a few perfunctory remarks before leaving.
Behind him, the Third Hokage stared at the torn edge of the notebook.
Once again, his thoughts drifted back to that child from four years ago.
Rustle—
The morning mist had yet to disperse when faint scraping sounds came from the wall of the Uchiha compound.
Like a puppy digging at a wall.
In reality, it was Sasuke, tiptoeing as he spread out a blanket he'd secretly stolen.
"Can… sunbathing really make you stronger?"
"It should… that guy said sunlight is a natural energy. It combines with the body and produces chakra…"
He muttered to himself, then sneakily glanced toward the house.
Seeing no one come out, he sprawled out flat, imitating Jin perfectly.
To make it more authentic, he even stuck a piece of foxtail grass in his mouth.
Humming in a lazy, drawling tone.
Clatter—
The wooden door opened. Early-rising Fugaku lifted his head and saw his second son sitting at the entrance, apparently watching something.
He asked in confusion,
"Jin, what are you doing here?"
"Oh, watching a puppy dig at the wall."
"A puppy digging at the wall?"
Fugaku froze, suddenly tense. "Which wall?!"
"Sasuke said it's the third one on the left of the door—the one with the cherry tree planted next to it."
Thunk.
Thunk thunk.
"My secret stash…"
Fugaku's face went pale.
Over the years, the amount of his hidden money never added up, so he'd started looking outward.
That's when he'd buried it under the courtyard wall.
But he never expected—
"Damn it! That brat Sasuke is really asking for a beating!"
Snorting angrily, Fugaku stomped off in his wooden clogs.
Moments later, Sasuke's tragic screams echoed from the courtyard wall.
Heartwarming screams. Truly pleasing to the soul.
Beneath the wall—was where the hardworking father had hidden his private funds.
At the same time, the wooden door inside opened again.
Hearing the screams, Itachi sighed.
"Jin, why did you steal Father's money again? What did you use it for this time?"
In the household, aside from Fugaku himself, everyone knew Jin was the one taking the money.
Almost every time.
Of course, the reasons varied.
Sometimes it was to buy snacks—three-color dango, which Itachi had eaten before.
Sometimes it was to pay people just to chat with him…
All kinds of excuses.
So this time?
Itachi sat down beside him, studying his brother with a curious gaze.
"Oh, nothing much. Just bought some fruit and milk, delivered them to war orphans."
"War orphans… Jin, you've grown up."
Hearing this, Itachi's expression softened.
Instinctively, he reached out to pinch Jin's cheek.
But—he pinched nothing.
Jin slipped aside and grinned.
"Ichida—"
Before he could finish, Itachi reflexively blurted out,
"Don't worry. I'll protect you and Sasuke."
"I'll stand from the village's perspective and do my best to stop this conflict."
"If anyone tries to take Shisui's eyes—I'll kill them!"
Halfway through, he paused, then frowned in confusion.
"But… why would someone want to take Shisui's eyes?"
He truly didn't understand.
Shisui had made a name for himself on the battlefield.
A hero, by all accounts!
Who would covet a hero's Sharingan?
Unless…
"…Did Shisui just awaken his Mangekyō recently?"
Tap.
At that moment, Shisui suddenly flipped in from the neighboring courtyard.
Dew still clung to his hair, dark circles under his eyes betraying a sleepless night.
"Itachi, Jin! You're both here!"
"I've got great news! I developed a new dōjutsu!"
His voice wasn't loud, but his grin stretched ear to ear.
Meanwhile, Jin—who had been propping his chin with one hand—froze.
In Shisui's excited pupils, Jin seemed to see the image of a one-eyed old man grinning sinisterly in the darkness.
"I named it Kotoamatsukami!"
Shisui was completely oblivious to the sudden shift in atmosphere and continued enthusiastically,
"This dōjutsu can alter a person's will without them even realizing it!
The only downside is that the recovery time for the eye is a bit long!"
"This morning I discussed it with the Hokage for a full hour.
Elder Danzō even praised me as the hope of the Uchiha clan!"
As he spoke, the young man planted his hands on his hips, clearly on the verge of laughing out loud—
Only to be abruptly cut off.
"How many people did you tell?"
Itachi finally sensed something was terribly wrong.
He suddenly understood why Shisui would have his eyes taken.
Explaining this ability in such detail—
He might as well have stapled the user manual to his forehead!
If they didn't go after your eyes, whose would they go after?!
"Not that many…"
Shisui counted on his fingers.
"Just the Third Hokage, the advisors, Elder Danzō, the ANBU advisory division, and the Root sealing team…"
This…
This this this…
In the end, Jin looked at the copy-failed notification in front of him.
He patted the shoulder of this sunny, cheerful, hopelessly self-confident guy.
Then turned around and walked away.
Someone might ask: Where's the "self-confidence" in him?
Simple.
He believed in every man he met.
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