"Konoha belonged to everyone. The Uchiha Clan was still one of its founders. Why couldn't one of them become the Fifth Hokage?"
"What's more, the Hokage's office didn't belong to any one organization. As long as someone genuinely wanted what was best for Konoha and worked to build it up, why couldn't they become Hokage?"
The more Uchiha Kei spoke, the more excited he became. A path entirely different from the original story opened up before him.
"But..."
Itachi glanced around. Seeing Sasuke and Naruto still bickering, he lowered his voice. "Our Uchiha reputation..."
Kei gave a snort, pulled the newly issued book from his pocket, and set it on Itachi's desk.
Unsure what he meant, Itachi opened the book and flipped through it.
It was a basic textbook from the Ninja Academy, recording every event in Konoha's history since its founding.
From Senju Hashirama earning the title God of Shinobi to Sarutobi Hiruzen becoming the Professor of Shinobi, it focused on the lives of the Hokages.
"Wherever the leaves dance, the fire will continue to burn."
"It was the village's precious people who made Konoha what it was."
"..."
A glint flashed in Itachi's eyes. He looked up at Kei, his gaze full of meaning.
"Get it now?"
Kei grinned at Itachi.
"I do."
Itachi took a deep breath. "Kei, you're only eight, right?"
"Yeah. I'll be nine in another month."
Kei understood what Itachi meant, but didn't bother explaining himself.
There were plenty of geniuses in the Shinobi World, like Itachi and Shisui. It was only natural for him to be a little freakishly gifted, too.
"Only eight..."
Itachi said it with a calm expression.
Ding! You received 99 Shock Value from Uchiha Itachi.
Huh, who'd have thought Itachi was two-faced, too?
Smiling on the outside, cursing on the inside!
"You know where I live."
Kei tapped the desk lightly three times.
By then, Naruto and his ramen were ready, too. A younger Uncle Teuchi beamed as he brought over two bowls.
"Right, let's eat!"
"Right, let's eat!"
Naruto and Kei pressed their hands together and launched into their ramen with gusto.
"Hmph. You're eating like you've been starved!"
Sasuke turned away haughtily, though his eyes kept drifting toward the two of them as they ate with relish.
Itachi gave Kei a long, thoughtful look, set down the money, and led Sasuke away.
He was desperate to learn more about Kei—to understand this poor little guy and his past.
After finishing his ramen, Naruto let out a burp and rubbed his round belly.
"Uncle Teuchi's ramen is so good!"
Kei nodded in agreement.
The anime had only ever shown that Ichiraku Ramen had stood the test of time, remaining open no matter what major events shook the Shinobi World.
You had to taste it for yourself to understand just how delicious Ichiraku Ramen was.
"Kei, it's still early. Let's go practice shuriken in the woods!"
Full of food and energy, Naruto grabbed Kei and dragged him toward the woods.
Kei had planned to go home, but Naruto kept pestering him until he finally gave in and went along.
"Ding."
In the woods, Naruto stared glumly at the shuriken stuck in the dirt.
"Kei, why can Sasuke hit the target so easily?"
Kei stroked his smooth chin. "Maybe it's because he's so tsundere?"
"Tsundere?" Naruto blinked, then burst out laughing. "You're right! Maybe it's because he's so tsundere!"
Naruto mimicked Sasuke's expression. "Hmph. What a boring practice!"
As he spoke, the shuriken slipped from his hand and stuck in the dirt again.
"Ah! I missed again!" Naruto slapped the ground in frustration.
Kei knew that, at this point, the Nine-Tails' influence made Naruto's Taijutsu and ninjutsu chaotic and uncontrolled.
Taijutsu called for split-second instincts, while ninjutsu required calm, steady chakra. That was what had made Naruto's childhood a nightmare of being the dead-last in class.
"Whoosh!"
Kei tossed a shuriken casually. It spun through the air as if it had eyes, striking the bull's-eye.
"Holy shit!"
Ding! You received 99 Shock Value from Uzumaki Naruto.
Kei watched Naruto stare at him, dumbfounded, and curled his lips into a mischievous grin.
Naruto, I'm sorry!
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
Kei's fingers blurred as one shuriken after another flew from his hand. Before Naruto could keep up, they all struck the target.
"Ho... holy shit!"
Ding! You received 99 Shock Value from Uzumaki Naruto. Ding! You received 99 Shock Value from Uzumaki Naruto. Ding! You received...
In an instant, nearly six hundred Shock Value poured in.
Naruto looked utterly devastated. "Kei! How did you do that?"
"You just pick one up, take aim, and throw. Whoosh, smack—bull's-eye."
Kei's gaze toward Naruto turned golden.
This was a living, breathing Shock Value vending machine!
"Heh..." Naruto forced an awkward smile. "That explanation of yours... sure was great..."
"Oh, it was nothing. Just okay."
Kei waved modestly.
If there were a ranking for masterful explanations, you and your dad, the name-giving king, would be at the very top.
After practicing for a while longer, Naruto gradually got used to it and stopped being shocked by Kei's skills.
Bored, Kei said goodbye to Naruto and wandered home.
Calling it a home was generous. It was more like a run-down hut.
Four old wooden boards made up the walls, topped with thatch. Inside, there was nothing but a bed covered in patches.
It was hard to imagine such a dilapidated house standing on Uchiha Clan land.
After tidying up a little, Kei lay on the bed with his legs crossed, thinking about the events that were soon to unfold.
The Konoha Rookies were all still growing up, and the two main characters were just little kids who hadn't even lost their baby teeth.
The Shinobi World looked peaceful, but under the surface, undercurrents were swirling.
Black Zetsu, the schemer who had lived for a thousand years; Uchiha Obito, stuck in his edgy phase; Uchiha Madara, sleeping while nursing his ambitions; Nagato, led astray...
Kei couldn't stand up to any one of them right now. Getting caught up in a fight with them would mean certain death.
Sitting around waiting to die was no option, so Kei decided to take a wild gamble.
He would start by changing the Uchiha Clan's fate!
"Knock, knock, knock."
A crisp knock sounded at the door.
"Coming."
Kei sat up and looked toward his visitor.
"Coming."
The visitor wasn't particularly tall and had a thin, frail build, but his eyes were a deep crimson.
The Three-Tomoe Sharingan!
The two sat across from each other in perfect silence, waiting for the other to speak.
"Today, when I said an Uchiha could become the Fifth Hokage, you seemed pretty surprised."
After a long while, Kei was the first to speak.
"Anyone in this village could become the Fifth Hokage. Anyone but an Uchiha."
Itachi said it coolly, though his expression was a little uneasy.
"Why?" Kei smiled. "Because the Third Hokage told you..."
"That the Uchiha Clan was planning a coup?"
Ding! You received 99 Shock Value from Uchiha Itachi.
Itachi's expression didn't change, but inside, his thoughts were in turmoil.
He...
How could he know what the Third Hokage had said?!
Before you continue