Born This Way

As for Shisui's Sharingan, Chuan Yu stored it in the system.

After all, even a close blood relative could only receive the transplant once his own eyes had reached the Mangekyo stage.

That was how he could reach the limits of the Eternal Mangekyo...

Night had fallen, but Chuan Yu's keen senses made him open his eyes and glance out the window.

A long-haired man wearing a tiger-striped mask stood beneath a cherry tree, seemingly waiting for someone.

Suddenly, a door opened in the neighboring house, and someone stepped outside.

It was Itachi.

Itachi left the house and walked up to the masked man.

Chuan Yu knew exactly who the man behind the mask was.

Uchiha Obito.

His appearance at this time meant Itachi had already sensed that Konoha might make a move. But he had only sensed it; Danzo had yet to negotiate with Itachi over Sasuke's safety.

"How do you want me to help you?"

Obito's voice drifted from beneath the mask.

"Your ability is unusual. I want you to keep an eye on Konoha during this time. I need to know everything they do."

Itachi's expression was serious, and the Mangekyo in his eyes turned faintly in the darkness.

"You're still struggling. The Uchiha's fate was settled long ago. Believe it or not, the moment the coup began, you were bound to face this situation. But about what you promised me..."

Obito paused and looked at Itachi intently.

"Don't worry. If that day really comes..."

"I won't hold back. And neither will you..."

After speaking, Itachi turned and went back inside.

Chuan Yu had heard their entire conversation.

What Obito meant by Itachi's promise was probably that he would join Akatsuki.

Knowing the Uchiha's predicament, Itachi had to make a choice.

He also had to protect Sasuke. His stubborn refusal to back down came from believing he was strong enough to turn things around.

Why had he given in to Danzo?

Was it just because Danzo had transplanted one of Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan?

But things were different now. Chuan Yu's arrival would break this stalemate.

Obito vanished from beneath the tree. Just as Itachi was about to go back inside, he suddenly noticed Chuan Yu standing outside the door.

They looked at each other for a few seconds, then Itachi smiled.

A pristine full moon hung over the endless grassland.

Itachi and Chuan Yu sat on a rock, gazing into the distance.

"You're different from other children."

Itachi gazed at the moon and spoke softly.

"Maybe it's because I have two kinds of eyes. In my world, everything is usually either red or gray. Those two colors let me see the true nature of this world."

A breeze stirred Chuan Yu's short hair. Clear tears slipped from his eyes.

Waves of wheat rolled through layer upon layer of rice fields. A solitary figure desperately swung a short blade.

White hair, a black mask, and, like Chuan Yu, only one Sharingan.

Hatake Kakashi had been hailed as a genius, yet loneliness had become his defining trait.

Watching Kakashi swing his blade without rest made Chuan Yu's heart ache.

Itachi stood and took off his jacket, wrapping it around Chuan Yu. "Someday, Sasuke will be there for you. At least you won't end up like him..."

Itachi's jacket was so warm.

Sleepiness washed over Chuan Yu.

But as he watched Kakashi, drenched in sweat, Chuan Yu could clearly understand how despairing Kakashi must have felt when Rin ran into his Raikiri.

Obito's heart had been broken, but Kakashi had suffered too.

Their team had had three members. Before Kakashi even knew Obito was alive, two were dead, and one was worse than dead.

The laws of the Ninja World forced them to grow up fast. Even the colorful memories of yesterday would be marked with gray.

The more vivid those gray-marked memories were, the more they hurt.

Until the day you destroyed them with your own hands, killing everyone in them.

Because there was no going back...

Rin hadn't wanted to die, but she had died anyway...

The law of the Ninja World was to survive cruelly, forcing yourself to keep living...

What about me...

Fireflies flitted before Chuan Yu. He opened his bleary eyes, but couldn't make out the colors of this peaceful moment.

He fell asleep quietly in Itachi's arms. With the breeze for company, Chuan Yu felt at ease.

[Ding! The host comprehends the laws of the ninja world! So fired up! Wisdom +1]

[Ding! Ninjutsu +1]

[Ding! The host gained inspiration from Kakashi! Obtained an S-rank ninjutsu: Chidori!]

Itachi carried Chuan Yu inside and carefully laid him beside Sasuke.

After tucking them in, he looked at Chuan Yu and Sasuke with affection.

Sasuke was so adorable when he slept, sprawled on his stomach with his butt in the air.

After checking that everything was secure, Itachi went back to his room to sleep.

The night passed peacefully, and bright morning sunlight streamed in.

After breakfast, Itachi put on his gear and prepared to head to Anbu.

"Take me with you."

Chuan Yu suddenly grabbed Itachi's sleeve and spoke earnestly.

"Don't be ridiculous. You're so young, and you haven't even mastered ninjutsu. You can't just go somewhere like Anbu!"

Hearing Chuan Yu's request, Mikoto hurried over and grabbed him.

Itachi said nothing, merely gazing at Chuan Yu with an unusually calm expression.

"You really want to go?"

Chuan Yu nodded firmly. If he wanted to achieve the highest level of success within a year, Anbu was the only way.

"You little... Fugaku! Tell him!"

Mikoto anxiously pulled Fugaku over.

To her surprise, Fugaku's expression was exactly like Itachi's.

"Chuan Yu isn't like other children. If he wants to become strong, he has to walk this road himself."

Fugaku took a deep breath and spoke seriously.

"Besides, Itachi will be with him, so I'm not worried. All right, I have things to do today. I need to get going."

Fugaku went to the entrance to put on his shoes.

Seeing that she couldn't persuade them, Mikoto's eyes reddened again. She crouched down to look Chuan Yu in the eye. "Wouldn't it be nice to live a quiet, ordinary life?"

Chuan Yu smiled faintly and raised a small hand to wipe her tears. "From the day I was born, I was marked. An ordinary life is too far out of reach for me..."

"Nii-san! I want to go to Anbu too!"

Sasuke came bouncing over, ready to throw himself into Itachi's arms, but Mikoto intercepted him and caught him in her embrace.

"Sorry, Sasuke. Maybe next time."

Itachi touched Sasuke's forehead with two fingers. The scene flickered through Chuan Yu's mind.

In the original story, Itachi kept putting off that "next time" between himself and Sasuke.

The meaning behind it struck Chuan Yu hard.

It was heartbreaking...

The two of them hurried off to Anbu.

When they reached the entrance, Kakashi suddenly blocked their way.

"Itachi, you know the rules of Anbu, don't you?"

At this time, Kakashi was Itachi's captain in Anbu.

Anbu had strict rules: outsiders couldn't enter, much less take part in its missions.

Everything they did involved highly classified arrangements.

Joining Anbu required a brutal selection process, with candidates specially chosen.

"Of course. That's why I was looking for you."

As he spoke, Itachi pushed Chuan Yu forward. Kakashi's brow furrowed.

"You realize this kid isn't even a Genin. He might not even know how to use ninja tools. Why are you doing this?"

Itachi didn't answer. He simply drew a Kunai from his waist and tossed it to Chuan Yu.

After catching it, Chuan Yu defiantly made a gesture at Kakashi.

Kakashi flew into a rage. "Itachi, are you trying my patience?"

"No, Kakashi-senpai. He's just a child."

That was shameless. Itachi's reply sent Kakashi's blood pressure soaring.

But what happened next was so unbelievable that Kakashi could hardly trust his eyes.

"Uchiha Chuanyu. Please teach me."

Gripping the Kunai, Chuan Yu looked utterly defiant. The six-year-old brat in front of him had some nerve.

"Damn it, getting looked down on by a kid like this..."

"Itachi! Whose kid is this? Can't you keep him under control?"

Kakashi turned away, no longer paying attention to the two of them, and started to leave.

"Kakashi-senpai, please go easy on him."

Itachi smiled faintly. Chuan Yu beside him suddenly shot forward and appeared behind Kakashi.

"You'll pay for underestimating me..."

The instant Chuan Yu swung his Kunai, Kakashi jerked his head up and grabbed his arm.

"At your age, you should be hiding in your parents' arms and listening to fun fairy tales, not—"

Before Kakashi could finish, Chuan Yu's body suddenly turned into a surge of electricity and passed through him.

"Ah!!!"

"A Lightning Clone... The electric current temporarily numbs the body. So the one I've been seeing all along was a clone? Damn it! I let my guard down!"

Kakashi spun around. Chuan Yu was already holding a Kunai to his throat.

The fight was over.

The Anbu Ninjas who had gathered to watch were all stunned.

In truth, Chuan Yu's technique had been basic. It had only worked because Kakashi hadn't taken him seriously from the start.

He'd thought a six-year-old couldn't cause much trouble, so he hadn't even revealed the Sharingan beneath his Forehead Protector.

"If this had happened on a battlefield, you'd be dead..."

"Don't treat age as the deciding factor. Talent is something you're born with."

Chuan Yu smiled faintly, spun the Kunai, and slipped it back into his belt.

Itachi nodded to himself. He, too, suddenly wanted to know just how much potential Chuan Yu had...

[Ding! The host was just so imposing! Shocked opponent Kakashi! Reward: a copy of the Konoha White Fang's swordsmanship!]

[Ding! The host's Sharingan is stirring, on the verge of breaking through!]

[Sharingan: Two-Tomoe (cultivation bottleneck); a little stimulation will allow it to break through to Three-Tomoe!]