My Foolish Little Brother

"Thud..."

"Thud..."

Two dull impacts rang out, and the two Anbu Ninja felt themselves being sent flying, the scenery around them constantly retreating.

At the same time, a piercing pain shot through their chests.

How did this little brat have such powerful fists?

As they flew through the air, the two Anbu Ninja thought blankly.

After casually knocking the two away, Naruto sprang forward. His figure moved like a swimming dragon, landing lightly on the branches as his voice drifted over from afar. "Kurama, I'll leave these two Anbu Ninja to you. Remember, just like last time—use the physical memory-erasure method. Once you're done, hang them back on their original tree."

"Understood, hehehe..."

The Nine-Tails hopped along, holding a brick in its hand as it ran toward the Anbu Ninja lying on the ground.

"Hmph..."

The two men lay on the ground, feeling the intense pain in their chests, but they had no regard for that little fox. If they had not underestimated Naruto at the beginning, Naruto would never have caught them off guard.

However, the next second—

Their pupils suddenly contracted, and their bodies began trembling uncontrollably.

The orange fox holding the brick grew larger and larger as it ran. By the time it reached them, it was already as massive as a small mountain, especially with its nine long tails swaying behind it.

"Ch-ch-ch..."

Their teeth chattered as they clung to each other, trembling in fear.

"Hehehe..."

A smile spread across the Nine-Tails' face.

"Thud, thud, thud, thud..."

After several bricks, the two men fainted on the ground with stars in their eyes. To be safe, the Nine-Tails gave them a few more whacks.

After confirming that the two had lost their memories, the Nine-Tails picked them up and hung them back on the tree.

Elsewhere...

Time rewound to half an hour earlier, just as the Ninja Academy had let out...

After saying goodbye to Naruto at the school gates, Sasuke slung his backpack over his shoulder and hurried home.

He had been learning the Shadow Clone Jutsu from his brother Itachi for more than ten days and had more or less mastered it. He planned to spend one more day learning it from his brother, then stop troubling him.

After all, his brother's work was exhausting enough every day, yet he still had to come home and teach Sasuke Ninjutsu.

Whenever Sasuke saw the faint fatigue on his brother's face, his heart ached.

Even though he truly wanted to stay by his brother's side.

Before he knew it, he reached a familiar spot. Sasuke habitually said, "Brother, I'm back. Come down, will you?"

Silence.

No one answered.

Sasuke looked up. His brother Itachi was not standing atop the streetlamp.

What's going on today? Doesn't Brother wait for me on the streetlamp every day? Could he be working overtime today?

With that doubt in mind, Sasuke slowly made his way toward the clan compound.

The farther he walked, the more something felt wrong.

Quiet.

Far too quiet!

Quiet as death!

Normally, when he approached the clan compound, he could vaguely hear the voices of his clansmen talking, as well as children playing and fighting.

But today, he heard nothing.

Strange!

Today was an ordinary day, not one of those days when the clan held a major gathering. Why was it so quiet?!

For some reason, unease flashed through Sasuke's heart.

He could not help quickening his pace.

Suppressing his unease, Sasuke ran into the clan compound. The moment he entered the residential area, his pupils shrank...

He saw ruins everywhere, blackened scorch marks left by fire, and scattered corpses lying on the ground—old people, children...

"Dad, Mom, Brother..."

Sasuke cried out instinctively. Suddenly, he was terrified—terrified that his beloved father, mother, and brother had also met with disaster. He ran home with all his strength, yet he did not see a single living person along the way.

"Dad, Mom, Brother!"

The moment he reached the entrance of his home, Sasuke shouted loudly. But no one answered. He shoved open the door—

A shocking, unbelievable sight appeared before him. His father, Uchiha Fugaku, and mother, Uchiha Mikoto, lay leaning against one another in a pool of blood, while his brother stood nearby, wiping the Shuriken in his hand.

A thick, choking stench of blood filled the entire space.

"Dad is dead. Mom is dead too..."

"This is... fake, right..."

His scarlet eyes widened as he looked at his brother, Itachi Uchiha, standing beside the corpses of Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto. Every sign pointed to one conclusion: the murderer was Itachi, the brother he loved most.

"Brother, tell me it wasn't you who killed Dad and Mom?" Sasuke still clung to a trace of hope.

Brother loved Mom too. How could he do something like this?

Scenes of his brother replayed in his mind like a movie. When they were little, his brother had held his hand and carried him on his back as they went out to play.

No matter how tired his brother was, he would still cook for him.

Not long ago, he and his brother had chased each other across Dandelion Meadow.

How could such a wonderful brother commit something so utterly inhuman?

Unfortunately, Sasuke was disappointed. Itachi turned to look at him, stuck out his tongue, and licked the blood from his lips—his father's and mother's blood. Then he grinned, revealing a mouthful of stark white teeth, and said with a smile, "Oh, my foolish little brother, you weren't wrong. I did kill Dad and Mom."

Hearing Itachi admit it with his own mouth, the last trace of hope in Sasuke's heart shattered instantly. His eyes widened as he screamed hysterically, "Why? Why? Why did you kill Dad and Mom?"

In contrast to Sasuke's hysteria, Itachi remained perfectly calm.

He wiped the blood-dripping Shuriken, a trace of mockery curling at the corner of his mouth. "Heh, why? Because they were weak. Weakness is the original sin. And you are even weaker..."

As he spoke, Itachi flicked the Shuriken in his hand.

"Whoosh..."

The Shuriken flew past Sasuke's cheek with a howling wind, embedding itself straight into the door behind him. It trembled a few times, buried deep in the wood.

"Ah..."

Sasuke's heart was consumed by rage, and he completely lost control. His already blood-red eyes grew even redder, and something slowly emerged within his pupils.

One Tomoe.

"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu."

In an instant, Sasuke completed the hand seals. Countless flames streamed from his mouth with long tails, attacking Itachi.

"Is that all?" Itachi shook his head. With a flash, he appeared before Sasuke and struck with one palm.

Sasuke was sent flying, smashing through the front door and crashing into the street, unable even to stand.

"Too poor. Too weak."

Itachi shook his head and sighed as he walked over to Sasuke. Reaching out, he grabbed Sasuke by the throat and lifted him into the air.

"Why?"

Blood seeped from the corner of Sasuke's mouth. That palm strike from Itachi had already gravely wounded him.

"Why? My foolish little brother, you really are pathetic. You're still asking why?"

Itachi chuckled softly.

Bonus chapter for 2,000 votes. The bonus chapter for 2,000 recommendation votes is complete, so please keep sending recommendation votes.

The readers and Patrons were really supportive today. I hope you'll keep it up tomorrow too. Break 3,000, and I'll add another chapter.

Thanks to Book Friend 20180101062429561 and My Little Bird Is Lost for the 100 Qidian Coin tips. Muah!

I haven't received tips in a long time. This humble author doesn't dare ask for them, because even if I do, I won't get any.

I can only survive by envying other people's Alliance Leaders and Hall Masters.

Now, let's talk about a few things regarding the writing.

Some Patrons said Naruto even beats Hinata, and that's a bit much, considering girls are so cute...

But don't forget what our theme is: making friends with iron fists. Beneath iron fists, all beings are equal. I'm not some master of male chauvinism—I never discriminate against women.

Also,

This story may not be written well enough, but the fact that everyone has followed it this far shows your tolerance, your excellent character, that you're handsome, and that you're tall even while lying down.

So all I can do is try my best to write and innovate. I can't just show you the original story, right? Otherwise, you might as well reread it.

As long as there is even one part in this story that makes you laugh, I feel that I have succeeded.

That's all.

Please recommend it, please tip me. Although I can't get tips by asking, a person still needs dreams, sob sob sob...