I Touched Itachi's Little Face!

Konoha Hospital, third floor.

I sat quietly in a chair, watching the people in front of me walk and talk, pace anxiously, or pretend to be calm.

Uchiha Fugaku sat silently beside me, lost in thought. For a while, he seemed completely elsewhere.

My gaze drifted toward the brightly lit delivery room. So giving birth was dangerous even in the world of ninjas.

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

Fugaku's body stiffened. It took a moment for my words to register. He glanced at me in surprise, then turned away and murmured a quiet response.

For once, he seemed almost like a real father.

Mikoto's labor went on for a long time. Sitting in my chair, I felt myself growing colder by the minute.

I wondered if Konoha had any painless birthing techniques, and whether they caused any harm to the mother.

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

It must be terribly painful, just like when Mother gave birth to me.

The night was agonizingly long. I went into the delivery room once. Mikoto was already drenched in sweat, her face unnaturally pale, and even moving seemed to take a great effort. When she saw me, she reached out blindly and caught my hand, then drew me into her arms. Her clammy, cold sweat smeared across my face and hair, making me think of my own mother.

In that moment, my pity for her reached its peak. I wasn't good at comforting people, so I simply stayed by her bedside, holding her hand and giving her strength.

Itachi was born just before noon. Outside, the sunlight was dazzlingly bright. When I heard his first cry from the delivery room, my heart clenched, then slowly relaxed. I didn't feel tired at all. I was so worked up that my palms were covered in sweat.

Fugaku and I entered the delivery room together. The doctor had already washed Itachi and placed him in Mikoto's arms. My eyes were fixed on the little bundle.

What should I call you?

Uchiha Itachi? The traitor who slaughtered his clan? The ultimate brother-con? The architect of peace? Itachi the God? That man?

Or... my little brother?

At that moment, he was a stranger to me.

"Itachi. We'll call him Itachi!" Lord Fugaku was clearly delighted. Naturally, his own son meant far more to him than an adopted child like me.

But Mikoto noticed me. She called me to her side, her voice hoarse and weak, yet incredibly gentle. Like a bird nestled close, she whispered, "Akatsuki, hold Itachi. He's your little brother."

My throat tightened. Obediently, though stiffly, I held out my arms and carefully took the tiny bundle of softness.

"Itachi...?"

In an instant, countless scenes flashed through my mind. The clearest was the battle between the Itachi and Sasuke brothers. Itachi came toward him step by step, smiling with difficulty. In the end, he transferred his ocular powers into Sasuke's eyes, then collapsed heavily to the ground.

After that came gloom, pouring rain, and his fallen body... The rain washed away the blood, and everything disappeared without a trace.

Despair—utter despair.

With just one glance, I had watched him go from birth to death.

"...Mmm..." A tiny, delicate whimper brought me back. I looked down at the baby in my arms.

He was so small, his features all scrunched together and his body curled tightly in his swaddling. His eyes weren't even open yet, but he could already move and cry.

I felt utterly disoriented. I couldn't connect this baby with that man.

It was incredible. How could this tiny little bundle grow up to become Uchiha Itachi?

"Akatsuki, you're the older brother. You have to set a good example for your younger brother. You must never bring shame to the clan crest on your back. Understand?" Lord Fugaku's voice rang out, firm and commanding. His words sounded like an order.

There he goes again!

"Yes." I nodded repeatedly, and suddenly caught the faint scent of blood. It was the scent of separation from the mother, the scent of new life being born...

Where we touched, warmth slowly spread. I began to feel his weight, to sense his presence. My emotions stirred, and my breathing grew slightly uneven.

This was life. A brand-new life.

Acting on instinct, I gently brushed my finger against Itachi's soft cheek. He answered with a few adorable little coos, and I couldn't help laughing.

I thought I liked him.

But as I laughed, I suddenly remembered something awful and stopped smiling. Then he was just so cute that I couldn't help laughing again. For a moment, I felt as if I were losing my mind, the corners of my mouth twitching from smiling too hard.

Don't let him win you over, Uchiha Akatsuki!

After enjoying a wonderful moment of family happiness with all four of us together, I handed Itachi back to Mikoto and left the hospital alone.

I wandered aimlessly along the road, stopping and starting, with nowhere in particular to go.

By the time I came to my senses, I was standing in front of a house.

I had returned to my home. My real home.

I hesitated for a long time, standing blankly at the entrance, trying to catch a glimpse of Mother through the window. But I stared for ages and saw nothing.

It was nearly dusk when a hand gently came to rest on my shoulder. I turned around and saw Mother standing behind me. The slanting sunset fell across her face, casting its hazy, golden glow over her.

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

This was what I loved most about this world. I was glad I was still a child, able to show her how much I loved her in the most genuine way whenever I wanted.

Because she loved me so deeply, I could love her without restraint.

"You little rascal..." Mother's basket was jostled by my embrace, spilling vegetables and all sorts of other things. For a moment, she was flustered, not knowing what to do.

I refused to let go. She couldn't do anything about me, so she could only drag me inside.

I grinned triumphantly the whole way, clinging to her as we walked together along the long stone path in front of the house.

"Mom..." My voice came muffled from outside the kitchen. "Lady Mikoto gave birth. It's a boy, and his name is Uchiha Itachi."

Mother paused in the middle of chopping vegetables and said gently, "That's wonderful. Akatsuki has a little brother now."

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

"Do you dislike him?"

"It's not that I dislike him..." My brow furrowed into a knot, and I fell silent.

"If you don't hate him, you can try spending some time with him first, right?" Mother dried her wet hands and carried the clay pot to the table. "Come on, let's eat first."

The sight of the delicious food swept away my gloom. My eyes sparkled.

"Okay!"

By the time I returned to the Clan Head Mansion, night had fallen. To my surprise, I ran into Uchiha Kuixing at the entrance.

The moment I met her blazing eyes, I came to my senses, a pang of guilt rising in my heart... Oh no, I'd completely forgotten about school!

"Where have you been all day?!" She rushed over and grabbed me tightly, as if afraid I'd run away. Her face was full of worry, but her eyes were practically shooting flames!

"I spent the whole afternoon looking for you!"

I smiled apologetically. "It's a long story..."

She grew even angrier. "Then tell me!"

"Kuixing, I... have a little brother now." I looked up and met her eyes. "His name is Uchiha Itachi."

"Huh—?!"

Since my status as the eldest son was already established, Itachi's birth didn't cause much of a stir. His place was behind me, and he was given the title of Second Young Master. I couldn't help finding it funny.

Lord Fugaku's schedule grew more complicated. Every day, he first went to the hospital to spend some time with Mikoto, who was still bedridden, before heading to Konoha's Military Police Force to take care of work. Even in the middle of his busy schedule, he found time to warn me not to let my little brother interfere with my schoolwork, and that I must never slack off in my training.

With little Itachi around, everyone seemed busier—and happier.

In the mornings, I went to the hospital to bring fruit to Mikoto and visit Itachi before heading to school.

When Shisui heard I had a little brother, he naturally congratulated me, then teased me as a matter of course.

"I'd love to see Akatsuki gently soothing a baby~"

I imagined it for a moment, and got goosebumps all over.

A few days later, Mikoto was discharged from the hospital. She returned with a brand-new little baby in tow.

I had just gotten home that day. As usual, I went into the master bedroom, only to find a crib there. I approached it cautiously, then knelt down and held my breath as I watched the tiny little thing sleeping soundly.

He looked much better than he had a few days earlier. His wrinkled red skin had smoothed out, revealing delicate, fair baby skin with a rosy glow. He had only a little tuft of hair, and his eyebrows were faint and fine. They occasionally furrowed in his sleep, as if he had something on his mind.

Looking lower, I saw that his eyelashes were thick and dark, and his little nose and mouth were exquisitely formed. He was so pretty he looked like a girl.

I raised an eyebrow, thinking that Itachi really was Konoha's number-one pretty boy.

Seeing that no one was around, I carefully reached out and ever so gently brushed Itachi's cheek. The silky feel beneath my fingertip filled me with both excitement and nervousness. Hehe, I'd touched that man's face! Hahahaha!

After laughing, my expression darkened again.

Uchiha Itachi began searching for the meaning of life at age four, had the mindset of a Hokage at seven, awakened his Sharingan at eight, joined Anbu at eleven, awakened his Mangekyo at twelve, and defected after slaughtering his clan to join the Akatsuki at thirteen. By then, he was already close to Kage Level in strength, and even Obito Uchiha had been deeply wary of him.

The most terrifying thing was that he'd even plotted against himself: he arranged for Sasuke to kill him, sealed Orochimaru, then used Amaterasu to harm Obito Uchiha. Even after being brought back with Impure World Reincarnation, he used Kotoamatsukami to change the outcome of the Fourth Shinobi World War...

My breathing grew rapid, and my finger stopped moving.

What an experience, what a life. He'd walked the blade's edge, using blood and tears as pieces on a board... Beyond his talent as a ninja, his insight, cunning, and resolve were all among the best in Naruto.

Uchiha Itachi truly deserved to be called a god.

"You really are an incredible person, little brother."

I wonder if I'll still deserve to be your big brother once you grow up.