Training Itachi

"Asura?!"

Uchiha Itachi was stunned. Was he the person he knew—the legendary ninja from the Uchiha Clan, their ancestor who had once stood alongside the First at the height of the Ninja World and helped establish Konoha?

Itachi couldn't believe that this person was descended from the legendary figure. But the other man had no reason to lie to him. After all, that night he'd also seen the golden giant that had fought the Nine-Tails. From his father and the clan elders' conversation, he'd learned that it was the power of the Sharingan, a power that could only be wielded by someone whose Sharingan had evolved to the Mangekyō level.

So what would someone with that kind of power gain by lying to him? Well, if he told his father and the others, they should be able to verify what he'd said.

"Okay. I'll tell my father and the others... Can I ask why you chose to reveal your identity to me?"

"I just happened to run into you. Besides, I don't want a bunch of people tailing me everywhere I go every day. Anyway, enough about that. Do you want some sweets? My treat. Consider it a welcome for you juniors."

Itachi wrestled with the decision for a while, but in the end, his appetite won out over his pride. "Thank you... Senior."

Izumi: "Th-thank you, Senior."

"Hahahaha, don't mention it. Boss! Four more bowls!"

"Coming right up!"

At noon, in the Uchiha district.

Uchiha Itachi told his father, Uchiha Fugaku, about his conversation with Fei Shi.

"So that's how it is?" Uchiha Fugaku was surprised after hearing Itachi's account. He hadn't expected the Mangekyō Sharingan user to have such an identity. Awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan at that age was astonishing. He'd assumed the other man had obtained the Sharingan through some other means, but it turned out he was wrong.

With that identity, though, Fugaku couldn't recruit him. He was a descendant of the legendary ninja Madara Uchiha. Back when Madara was clan head, he'd proposed that the Uchiha Clan leave Konoha with him. But the clan members had already grown accustomed to life in Konoha and didn't want to give up their peaceful days. Not a single person had agreed, so Madara had left alone. To him, that was no different from being betrayed.

Could Fugaku really convince Madara's descendant to join his side now? Besides, the other man had made his position clear: he wouldn't join the Uchiha Clan. Ow, my head.

Such a valuable ally, gone just like that. It pained him. If someone with that kind of strength sided with the Konoha High Command, their side would be at an even greater disadvantage... Wait!

"Itachi, you said he told you some strange things?"

"Yes. He said not to be too greedy and to be careful in what I do. He said I'd deal with even greedier and more devious people in the future, and that one careless mistake could leave me with nowhere to bury my body."

"Hahahahahaha! So he's heard of you, too. Is he trying to nurture you? Of course! My son may not be as monstrous a prodigy as he is, but he's still undeniably a genius! He may not have much affection for the clan, but he clearly thinks highly of you."

Fei Shi: Yeah, where else could I find such a great tool?

"But Father, if I wanted to learn, couldn't I just ask you? He's only eleven, too."

Uchiha Fugaku looked at his son, his face full of pride. His son had never let him down. wωw.ξＷΧs9.Org

"Everyone has their own way of fighting and their own understanding of combat. And he has the Sharingan, too. At such a young age, he's already awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, so he must have his own understanding of how to use it. If he really does admire you and wants to help you grow, that could benefit you a great deal. Learn all you can, son. Go on. I'm going to have a meeting with the elders."

"Okay. I'll go spend time with Sasuke."

The next day.

"What! You want to learn from me?!"

"Yes."

"..."

"All right. Come by two hours before dinner."

"Thank you, Senior Fei Shi."

"Ahahaha, no need to thank me."

Child, I'm the one who should be thanking you for taking the bait.

(ಡωಡ)

"Today, I'll teach you Fire Release Ninjutsu. Fire Release is the Uchiha Clan's specialty, after all."

"From now on, come three times a week. One day for sparring, the next to reflect on what you've learned, and the last day off. You need to balance work and rest. You can't let your body wear down."

"Yes. You're good at ninjutsu, but you need to practice more until you can cast it without Hand Seals, or with just one. That'll take your strength to another level and give you an unexpected advantage in a fight."

"Today, we're working on physical conditioning. The stronger your body, the more chakra you can draw from it. Awakening the Sharingan also requires sufficient physical strength and chakra. Otherwise, even if the chance to awaken it comes, your body might not be up to it, and you could lose that opportunity."

"Keep up your training every day. A strong body is the foundation of your strength."

Year 51 of Konoha.

Three years passed just like that.

Uchiha Itachi came by every other day. Fei Shi taught him his experience and training methods, and trained alongside him. The rest of the time, Fei Shi lounged around at home, playing games to pass the time.

By the time Naruto was nearly two, he was already living with Fei Shi.

Before Naruto had been weaned, Sarutobi Biwako had taken care of him, while Fei Shi visited him every day.

But now that Fei Shi had brought Naruto home, he was almost at his wit's end every day.

Because Sasuke had grown up, too.

Whenever Itachi came over, he brought Sasuke along. The moment the two boys met, they started arguing, and every time they nearly came to blows. Itachi didn't know why and could only sigh in exasperation. If he left Sasuke behind, he'd cry and throw a fit; if he brought him along, he'd argue with Naruto as soon as they met, as if the two had a deep-seated grudge against each other.

Fei Shi, who knew the reason, could only marvel at it.

The bond between Indra and Ashura really was something else. Even after being reincarnated, they still couldn't get along.

"I heard you awakened your Sharingan?"

"Yes."

Uchiha Itachi gave a brief reply. One of his teammates had died, and he was feeling down.

Seeing how dispirited he was, Fei Shi couldn't help trying to comfort him.

"Don't be so down. Live on for their sake, too. You've awakened the Sharingan, so keep working hard and growing stronger. Avenge them, and make sure this kind of tragedy never happens again. Come on, let's get some dango. My treat. When we get back, I'll teach you a new skill."

"..."

"Thank you, Senior Fei Shi."

"Ha, you've known me this long, and you're still so formal. You're only eight, but you act like you're sixty or seventy. Don't push yourself so hard. I told you, you need to balance work and rest. You don't act like a child at all. Keep this up, and you'll exhaust yourself."

Uchiha Itachi just smiled. "If I live a little more painfully, then the people I protect can live a little more peacefully."

He's really been poisoned by the Will of Fire.

The Will of Fire was a good ideal. But after the Fourth Hokage died, it gradually became corrupted. The Third Hokage returned to power, and the village began to rot. From then on, the Council of Elders became a cancer. Root had practically no casualties during the Nine-Tails Incident, while the losses among Anbu and civilian ninja were rather high.

Root also had many elite shinobi. They were the force that allowed Danzo to maintain his influence in Konoha. As long as something wasn't too outrageous, the others could only pretend not to see it. There was no helping it: Root was absolutely loyal to Danzo. He couldn't be taken down easily.

One who could only endure and take things as they came. Two who were fence-sitters, always running toward whichever side offered them an advantage. And one who was set on becoming Hokage and would stop at nothing.