The next morning, sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows. Two figures, one tall and one small, walked hand in hand, drawing particular attention. They were the two young masters of the Uchiha Clan.
I'll take a look at the Ninja Academy and find out what's going on. If someone really is targeting Sasuke on purpose, they can't blame me for being ruthless.
Itachi Uchiha rarely had time to take his little brother to school himself, but today he made an exception. He knew all too well the important mission and responsibilities he bore. He was the bridge between the village and his clan, an inheritor of the Will of Fire.
Yet when it came to his little brother Sasuke, his affection knew no bounds. Besides, dropping him off before meeting his teammates for their mission wouldn't take much extra time.
"Wow! Is that Itachi Uchiha, the one they call a genius? He's so handsome!" An admiring cry rose from the crowd.
"He's so good to his little brother. He even went out of his way to take him to school," another person agreed.
"I'm so jealous!" someone sighed.
Hearing all this praise, Sasuke swelled with pride. He strode along with his head held high, as though announcing to the entire world, Look! My big brother brought me here himself!
"Phew..." Watching Sasuke's innocent, childish expression, Itachi couldn't help letting out a soft breath.
Looks like Sasuke has already put yesterday's unpleasantness behind him. Itachi had been worried that something might have upset his little brother. Seeing him so happy at last put his mind at ease.
Who would have thought the usually serious Itachi...
Had this side to him, too?
"Morning..." Sasuke's clear, slightly languid voice rang out as he greeted the familiar men and women.
The brothers soon arrived at school.
"Good morning, Sasuke-kun..." A girl's soft, sweet greeting followed.
"Wow, two cool guys! Aaaah!" A sudden chorus of excited cries erupted nearby. A group of girls had spotted Sasuke and Itachi beside him.
"Morning." Faced with all those enthusiastic greetings, Sasuke merely gave a cool reply.
Girls kept approaching them to strike up conversations and say hello along the way, but Sasuke maintained his aloof demeanor throughout. It happened every day, so he was used to it.
Ah, this irresistible charm of mine!
Ahem... That was me talking.
Sasuke wasn't like that.
He was just a proud little boy.
"Hello." In contrast, Itachi displayed excellent manners and poise, smiling and giving each person a small nod.
As the Uchiha Clan's Young Clan Head, Itachi understood the importance of courtesy. He didn't want any lapse on his part to embarrass his younger brother, nor did he want arrogance to create a divide between them and the villagers.
Every word and gesture...
Was an effort to bring the clan and village together.
That was Itachi.
Despite his young age...
He already carried so much.
"Hey, hey..." Sasuke looked up at Itachi Uchiha with expectant eyes and asked softly, "Big brother, can you pick me up after school?" A trace of longing and dependence colored his voice.
"Uh..."
A flicker of guilt crossed Itachi's face at his brother's request, but he quickly regained his composure.
He slowly shook his head, his voice gentle but firm. "Sorry, Sasuke. I have a mission. I may be away for a few days."
He gave a quiet sigh, seemingly helpless at being unable to grant his brother's wish.
"Forgive me. Next time, all right?" As he spoke, Itachi extended his right index and middle fingers and gently tapped Sasuke's forehead. Simple as the gesture was, it held boundless affection and apology.
It was the brothers' most intimate gesture.
"Ow! That again..."
Sasuke frowned slightly and rubbed the spot his brother had touched, feeling a little disgruntled.
But he knew his brother carried important responsibilities, so he didn't complain any further. Pressing his lips together, he obediently nodded. "Big brother, make sure you come back safely." A resolute light shone in his eyes.
Itachi gazed into Sasuke's eyes and answered solemnly, "Yes. I promise." Then he turned and left, his retreating figure lonely yet determined.
Sasuke, for your sake, I'll come back safely.
No one will stop me.
A glint of murderous resolve flashed through Itachi's eyes.
"Big brother..."
Sasuke stood quietly where he was, watching his brother leave until he disappeared from sight.
"Oh! Perfect timing beats getting here early. Hehe..."
Qingwu saw the scene and quietly took out the Camera to capture it. An iconic moment!
In fact, Itachi Uchiha hadn't gone far.
He also wanted to find out what had happened yesterday and why Sasuke had come home crying. He would eliminate any potential threat.
No one was allowed to lay a hand on his little brother.
The grandson of the Hyuga Great Elder, Hyuga Seigo?!
Seeing the Byakugan, recognition flashed through Itachi's eyes as he recalled the information on Sasuke's classmates.
For some reason, he felt he couldn't see through this boy. He decided to pay closer attention to Qingwu in the future.
I hope you don't threaten Konoha's stability. Otherwise... A cold glint flashed through Itachi Uchiha's eyes.
He had heard about Qingwu's background, as well as the Hyuga Great Elder's uproar at the Hokage Building. In his eyes, this grandfather and grandson were destabilizing factors who might upset the village's balance.
Qingwu would never have expected a little prank-like bit of horseplay to attract Itachi Uchiha's attention.
Even if he had known, he wouldn't have cared.
At eleven years old, Itachi was still nowhere near his peak. Qingwu didn't consider him a threat.
(Qingwu: So what if I'm a destabilizing factor? Come fucking fight me, bastard... I'll refine you into slag. Just try me...)
"So that's what happened. No wonder..."
After spending a little time asking around, Itachi Uchiha learned what had happened yesterday, leaving him unsure whether to laugh or cry.
Seeing Sasuke bawling his eyes out...
Had made him nervous, thinking someone had targeted him.
"To think that was all it was."
"Hehe... A boy kissed him. No wonder he was so embarrassed and wouldn't say much. I'd have been too embarrassed to talk about it myself." Itachi could already imagine Sasuke's mortified expression, and the corners of his mouth curved upward.
"Too bad... I didn't get to see it myself." The thought left him feeling rather disappointed. What kind of brother got this excited over another boy picking on his little brother? Sasuke would have been heartbroken if he knew.
Who would have thought the aloof Itachi Uchiha had this side to him?
No one had witnessed Qingwu and Sasuke's fight, though, and neither boy would talk about it. One didn't want to invite hostility; the other was too ashamed to mention it. That delayed Qingwu's exposure a little.
So Itachi Uchiha never found out. Otherwise, if he learned someone had hurt his little brother's little bird and back door, his brother complex might have made him awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan in a rage and unleash Susanoo on Qingwu.
"Hehe... Has Sasuke found a bond of his own, too?"
From his inquiries, Itachi learned that Sasuke and this boy named Uzumaki Naruto were sworn rivals, constantly competing with each other. He considered that a good thing. It meant Sasuke had already become part of the village.
Uzumaki? Could he be... the Fourth Hokage's orphan...?
Looking at that blond hair and smile, along with that distinctive surname, Itachi Uchiha arrived at a guess after a little thought.
Never mind. I'll have Sasuke look after him. The Fourth Hokage was the village's hero... At least I can do something for him...
He couldn't stop the villagers' malice toward Naruto, but he would certainly be happy to see his brother make this friend. After all, the Uchiha Clan had aligned itself with the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, back then. Looking after the orphan he had left behind would take little effort.
Whoosh!
Having seen enough, Itachi left with the Body Flicker Technique. He still had a mission. I can't delay the village's business.
I can't disappoint the Third.
A born workhorse.
Qingwu said, "What was that feeling of being watched just now? There was even a fleeting trace of malice. The Third? Or...?!"
"Whatever. I doubt any of you would dare act right now. As long as my grandfather's still standing, no one will dare touch me."
"As for his condition, if certain people want to test him, he'll smash their damned heads in."
Meanwhile...
Hyuga Hoze, who was practicing his forms in the Hyuga Clan Compound, inexplicably sneezed. "Achoo! What little bastard's talking about me?"
"Never mind. The Taijiquan my dear grandson taught me really is wonderful. Over these past few years, it's cleared up most of my old hidden injuries, and my physical condition has improved considerably. At this rate, this old man could live to a hundred!"
"Heaven smiles upon the Hyuga Clan! Hahaha!"
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