I Touched Weasel's Little Face!

Konoha Hospital, third floor.

I sat quietly on a chair, watching the people before me walk and converse, some pacing anxiously, others feigning composure.

Uchiha Fugaku sat calmly beside me, lost in thought, his mind wandering for a time.

My gaze drifted toward the illuminated delivery room—it seems that in the ninja world, giving birth is also a perilous affair.

"Father," I tugged at Fugaku's clothes and said softly, "Mother will be fine."

Fugaku's body stiffened. It took a moment for him to process my words; he glanced at me with a hint of surprise before turning back and responding with a low grunt.

In that moment, he finally felt a little more like a real father.

Mikoto's labor lasted a long time, and as I sat in the chair, my entire body grew cold bit by bit.

I wondered if Konoha had any pain-relief technology, or if it would cause any damage to the mother—

If not, she would have to endure the agony of childbirth all on her own.

—It must hurt so much, just like when Mother gave birth to me.

The night was agonizingly long. I entered the delivery room once; Mikoto was already drenched in sweat from the pain, her face a sickly, unhealthy pale, and every movement was a struggle. Seeing me approach, she fumbled to grab my hand and pulled me into her embrace. The damp, cold sweat smeared onto my face and hair, reminding me of my own mother.

For a moment, my pity for her reached its peak. I didn't know how to comfort people, so I simply stayed by the bedside, holding her hand to give her strength.

Itachi was born near noon, when the sunlight outside was at its most brilliant. When the first cry echoed from the delivery room, my heart tightened abruptly, then slowly relaxed. I felt no exhaustion at all, only extreme mental agitation, my palms slick with sweat.

I entered the delivery room with Fugaku. The doctor had already cleaned Itachi and placed him in Mikoto's arms. My gaze remained locked tightly on that bundle of swaddling clothes.

What should I call you?

Uchiha Itachi? The traitor who wiped out his clan? The ultimate brother-complex? The creator of peace? Itachi-god? That man?

Or—my younger brother?

In that moment, he was a stranger to me.

"Itachi, let's call him Itachi!" Lord Fugaku was clearly overjoyed; having a biological son of his own naturally meant he cared far more than he did for an impostor like me.

Mikoto, however, noticed me. She called me to her side, her voice hoarse and weak yet infinitely gentle, like a lingering bird as she whispered to me, "Akatsuki, hold Itachi. He is your little brother."

My throat tightened. Obediently yet stiffly, I reached out and carefully took the little ball of flesh that felt as soft as a cloud.

"Itachi... is it?"

In an instant, countless scenes flashed through my mind, the clearest being the final battle between the brothers, Itachi and Sasuke. Itachi smiling with great effort as he walked step by step, finally injecting his ocular power into Sasuke's eyes before collapsing heavily.

Then came the gloom, the heavy rain, the body hitting the ground... the rain washing away the blood until everything vanished without a trace.

Despair—nothing but utter despair.

With just one look, he had already moved from new life toward destruction.

"...Mm..." A childish whimper pulled me back, and I looked down at my arms again.

He was so small, his features all scrunched together, his entire body curled tightly in the swaddling clothes. He hadn't even opened his eyes yet, but he could already move and cry.

I felt a sudden sense of disorientation; I couldn't connect this infant to that man.

It was so miraculous. How did such a tiny ball of flesh grow up to become the Uchiha Itachi of the future?

"Akatsuki, you are the older brother. You must set an example for your brother and never let the crest on your back be shamed, do you understand?" This was Lord Fugaku's voice, resonant and powerful, his words sounding like a command.

Here we go again, here we go again!

"Yes." I nodded repeatedly, suddenly catching a faint scent of blood in the air. It was the scent of the separation from the mother, the scent of a new life being brought into the world...

The place where I held him began to warm up bit by bit. I started to feel his weight, to feel his existence. My heart churned, and my breathing grew slightly rapid.

This is life, a brand-new life.

Instinctively, my finger gently brushed against Itachi's soft cheek, earning a few milky coos in response, and I couldn't help but smile.

I think I like him.

But as I smiled, I suddenly thought of something unpleasant and my face stiffened again. Yet, he was simply too adorable, and I couldn't help but smile once more. For a moment, I felt as if I were having a mental breakdown, my mouth corners twitching from the repeated, forceful shifts in expression.

Don't get seduced, Uchiha Akatsuki!

After spending a wonderful, happy moment as a family of four, I handed Itachi back to Mikoto and left the hospital alone.

I wandered aimlessly along the road, walking and stopping, not knowing where to go.

By the time I regained consciousness, I was already standing in front of a house.

I had returned to my home, my true home.

I hesitated for a long time, standing blankly at the doorway, trying to catch a glimpse of Mother through the window, but after staring for a while, I saw nothing.

It was nearly dusk when a hand gently rested on my shoulder. I turned around to see Mother standing behind me, the setting sun slanting across her face and casting a soft, dim, golden glow upon her.

I turned and hugged her without hesitation, burying myself in that familiar warmth, and only then did my suspended heart finally settle.

This is what I love most about this world; I am grateful that I am still a child, able to express my love for her in the most authentic way whenever I wish.

Because I am deeply loved by her, I am able to love her without restraint.

"You child..." Mother's vegetable basket was knocked aside by me, spilling vegetables and all sorts of things, leaving her in a flurry of confusion.

I refused to let go, and since she couldn't do anything about me, she could only drag me into the house.

I walked the whole way with a triumphant smile, clinging to her, strolling together along the long gravel path in front of the house.

"Mother..." At home, my voice came muffled from outside the kitchen, "Lady Mikoto has given birth to a child. It's a boy, named Uchiha Itachi."

Mother's chopping paused, and she said softly, "That's wonderful. Akatsuki has a little brother now."

"But I don't know how to... treat him."

"Do you not like him?"

"It's not that I don't like him..." I furrowed my brows into a knot and fell silent.

"Since you don't dislike him, you can try getting along with him first, right?" Mother wiped her wet hands clean and placed the clay pot on the table, "Come, let's eat first."

Seeing the delicious food, the gloom in my heart was swept away, and my eyes sparkled—

"Okay!"

By the time I returned to the clan head's mansion from Mother's house, it was already dark, and I unexpectedly ran into Uchiha Aoi at the gate.

Meeting her fiery gaze, I instantly sobered up, feeling a wave of guilt... Oh no, I completely forgot about school!

"Where have you been all day!!!" She stepped forward and grabbed me tightly, as if afraid I would run away. Her face was full of anxiety, yet her eyes seemed ready to spit fire!

"I looked for you all afternoon!"

I gave an apologetic smile: "It's a long story..."

She was even angrier: "Tell me now!"

"Aoi, I... have a little brother." I raised my head and looked her straight in the eyes, "His name is Uchiha Itachi."

"Eh—?!!!"

Because my status as the eldest son was already firmly established, the birth of Uchiha Itachi did not cause much discussion. His status was behind mine, earning him the title of Second Young Master, which made me want to laugh.

Lord Fugaku's schedule was a bit more complex. Every day, he would first go to the hospital to spend some time with Mikoto, who was still in her sickbed, before rushing to the Konoha Military Police Force to handle work. Amidst his busyness, he still found time to warn me not to let my studies at school slide because of my brother, and that my training must not slacken for even a moment.

With the little guy Itachi around, everyone seemed much busier, and much happier.

I would only go to school after delivering fruit to Mikoto at the hospital in the morning and checking on Itachi.

When Shisui heard that I had a little brother, he naturally offered his congratulations, along with the expected teasing—

"I really want to see what Akatsuki looks like when gently coaxing a child~"

I thought about that scenario, and goosebumps broke out all over my body.

A few days later, Mikoto was discharged from the hospital. Returning with her was a freshly minted little milk-baby.

That day, when I returned home and entered the master bedroom as usual, I saw a crib. I walked up cautiously, knelt down halfway, and held my breath as I watched the little thing sleeping soundly.

He looked much better than he had a few days ago; his wrinkled red skin had smoothed out into fair, tender baby skin, pinkish-white. He only had a tiny tuft of hair, and his eyebrows were faint and thin, twitching slightly in his sleep as if he had something on his mind.

Looking down, his eyelashes were thick and dark, and his tiny nose and mouth were exquisitely delicate, as pretty as a girl's.

I raised an eyebrow, thinking that he was truly worthy of being the god of beauty in Konoha, Uchiha Itachi.

Seeing that no one was around, I carefully reached out and brushed Itachi's cheek ever so lightly. The smooth, soft sensation of his skin made me feel both happy and nervous—Hehe, I touched that man's face! Hahahaha!

After the laugh, my expression dimmed again.

Uchiha Itachi, who began exploring the meaning of life at four, possessed the mindset of a Hokage at seven, awakened his eyes at eight, joined the Anbu at eleven, unlocked the Mangekyo at twelve, and slaughtered his clan and defected to the Akatsuki at thirteen. By then, he already possessed strength approaching the Kage level, enough to make even Uchiha Obito deeply wary.

The most terrifying thing was that he even calculated himself into the plan, designing for Sasuke to kill him while sealing Orochimaru, then using Amaterasu to trap Uchiha Obito, and even after being reanimated by the Impure World Reincarnation, using Kotoamatsukami to rewrite the outcome of the Fourth Shinobi World War...

My breathing grew rapid, and my finger stopped.

Such experiences, such a life. It was truly walking on the edge of a blade, using blood and tears as chess pieces... Beyond his talent as a ninja, his vision, strategy, and temperament were all top-tier in the world of Naruto.

Uchiha Itachi is truly worthy of the title "God."

"You really are a formidable figure, my little brother."

I wonder if, once you grow up, I will still be qualified to be your older brother.