Brothers

Bang!

With a muffled thud, the Hokage Office Building's doors were violently shoved open, the panels slamming hard against the wall.

Hiruzen Sarutobi held a pipe in one hand and a document in the other. Without even looking up, he asked, "What is it this time?"

"Hiruzen! I heard all about it. That Uchiha brat actually killed even an elite jonin, yet you're doing nothing about it! He's only ten years old now. You should hand him over to me. Root will forge the evil Uchiha into the Hidden Leaf's blade!"

"Hand him over to you?" Hiruzen Sarutobi lifted his eyes to glance at his old comrade, then snorted coldly. "Handing him to you would be the real waste! I've already asked Mo to join the ANBU. Give up on that idea."

"Hiruzen, you—" Danzo angrily pointed at the Third Hokage, who sat calmly in his chair, his tone filled with displeasure. But after a moment, he flung his arm aside and abruptly changed tack. "Fine! I can give up on that brat, but you have to give his younger brother to Root!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned slightly. A young face with a bulbous red nose flashed through his mind, and he decisively said, "No! You may choose someone else, but I won't hand either of those brothers over to you!"

"Hiruzen!" Danzo fiercely struck the floor with his cane. "I was one of Kagami's teammates too. I have the right to take one of them. You can't treat me like this!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly exhaled a thick cloud of smoke. His aged face flickered in and out of view behind the haze, while a sharp glint suddenly flashed through his cloudy old eyes.

"Danzo, I wasn't there when Kagami died, but don't think I know nothing!"

As soon as those words fell, Danzo's breath caught, and he instantly fell silent.

"You monkey..."

"Leave. Don't harbor any improper thoughts toward those two brothers—at least, not for now!"

"..."

Danzo turned away expressionlessly, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the cane in his hand.

"I understand."

With that, Danzo once again headed toward the door.

After leaving the Hokage Office Building, Uchiha Mo headed straight for the Uchiha Clan District. The district had not yet been moved away from the village center, so it did not take long before a torii bearing the Uchiha clan crest came into view.

"Mo's back! Must've been tough out there on your mission. Want a freshly baked flatbread? It's on the house." The rosy-cheeked middle-aged man wore a kindly smile.

The corners of Mo's lips rose slightly as he replied, "Uncle Shoushao, stop doing charity. If Aunt Geng finds out, you'll get scolded again."

Uchiha Shoushao waved a hand, looking utterly unconcerned. "Ah, it's just a free flatbread for our Uchiha genius. Even if Geng finds out, she won't do anything to me."

Uchiha Mo shook his head and helplessly accepted the flatbread before passing through the torii and entering the clan district. Every few steps he took, greetings rose from nearby in succession.

"Oh? Our little genius is back? Did the mission go smoothly?"

"It's Mo! This old lady made a whole table of delicious food today. Want to come over?"

"Mo, that brat of mine has been going on again these past few days about not wanting to attend the Ninja Academy. I'll have to trouble you to drop by when you have time."

"Sure."

Uchiha Mo nodded in response as he continued toward home without slowing down. He was not walking particularly fast, and it took him roughly twenty minutes to reach his destination.

Knock, knock, knock!

After he gently knocked three times, hurried, heavy footsteps immediately sounded from inside, drawing closer and closer until the door was flung open with a smack.

"Big brother! You're finally back!"

Shisui, still only tall enough to reach Uchiha Mo's waist, was bursting with excitement. The moment he opened the door, he threw himself toward Mo.

Uchiha Mo held Shisui's head in place with one hand, foiling his plan, then stuffed the ninja sword at his waist, his ninja tool pouch, and the flatbread in his other hand into Shisui's arms.

"Put these away, then go make dinner."

"Huh?" Shisui froze for a moment, then broke into a brilliant smile. "Okay!"

Only after watching Shisui's hurrying figure disappear from sight did Uchiha Mo slowly enter the house. He turned, took off his robe and hung it up, then retrieved a writing brush from the study.

Seated at the dining table, Mo deftly unwound the bandages around his wrist, revealing a small scroll inscribed with the rune for "sword."

He removed the scroll, spread it across the table, and carefully examined it.

Standing on a small stool, Shisui glanced back at the focused Mo and curiously asked, "Big brother, what is that? You take care of it every day, but I've never seen you use that scroll."

Mo stared at the runes on the scroll and casually replied:

"Lightning Flash Sword Transformation, a B-rank summoning-type ninjutsu. It quickly summons ninja tools sealed inside a scroll. It's faster than a ninja tool pouch and has greater storage capacity."

Shisui nodded, then asked eagerly, "Can I learn it too?"

"You can."

"That's great! Then teach me during training today, big brother!" Shisui's face lit up with excitement.

"Make dinner first."

Mo lowered his head and gave the scroll one final inspection. Only after confirming there were no issues did he wrap it around his wrist again and bind it with white bandages.

Shisui moved deftly. Even though he had to stand on a small stool to reach the stove, he did not take long to prepare a lavish spread of dishes.

The two brothers sat around the round table, enjoying a pleasant meal together.

"Big brother, the clan head's child was born not long ago. I heard it's a boy."

Mo glanced at Shisui. "Stay away from that child. Also, no talking while eating."

"Why?" Shisui set down his bowl and chopsticks, his face full of curiosity. Mo was usually quite indulgent toward him and had no objections to anything he did, yet today, after just one mention, Mo told him to avoid the child. It made Shisui especially curious.

Mo did not answer. He simply reached out and knocked Shisui on the head. "No talking while eating."

"That hurts! I get it..." Shisui grimaced as he clutched his head.

Once the table fell silent, the two quickly finished their food.

Shisui swiftly cleared the table, then impatiently dragged Mo outside.

"Big brother, you said before you left that you'd help train me when you came back! You can't go back on your word now!"

Mo looked down at him and let Shisui pull him along.

The two stopped in a small forest beside the Naka River, a place where Mo often trained as well. Because he knew the Third Hokage possessed a crystal ball capable of observing almost the entirety of the Hidden Leaf, he was unwilling to practice at the training grounds.

Mo glanced at Shisui beside him, lost in thought.

Shisui was undeniably a genuine genius. Without the Seven-Colored Lotus, even Mo's own talent would have fallen far short of Shisui's. But Shisui was only five years old now, making him unsuited to learning any powerful ninjutsu.