Big Brother

Three years later

"Big Brother~ You're back?"

The sound of the door opening came from outside, and our adorable little Sasuke came bounding toward the entrance.

"Sasuke." Itachi gazed at his little brother warmly and patted his head.

He asked curiously, "Where's Josuke?"

Sasuke pointed toward the backyard. "Big Brother Josuke's practicing throwing shuriken."

Itachi's eyes flickered slightly. "What about you, little brother Sasuke? Why aren't you practicing with him?"

Sasuke's cheeks flushed. Embarrassed, he said, "I... I want you to teach me, Big Brother."

Itachi smiled and said gently, "All right. Make sure you study hard. You told Big Brother you were going to become Hokage, after all."

Sasuke waved his fists, looking fierce despite his baby face. "I'm definitely going to become Hokage!"

Itachi said nothing. He took Sasuke by the hand and led him to the backyard.

As soon as he opened the door, he saw a child who looked almost exactly like Sasuke practicing shuriken throws.

He had the hang of it, too. Five out of ten shuriken hit their targets dead on.

Itachi immediately spotted what he was doing wrong, but didn't point it out. Instead, he slowly walked over to Josuke. "Little brother."

Josuke turned around, saw Itachi, and said happily, "You're back, Big Brother?"

Itachi nodded. "Would you like me to give you some pointers?"

Josuke felt a little embarrassed, but could only ask Big Brother for help. Itachi didn't waste time with a lot of talk and simply adjusted Josuke's stance.

With the new stance, Josuke found it much easier to throw.

"Big Brother, didn't you say you'd teach me?" Sasuke said, puffing out his cheeks.

Hearing his other little brother call to him, Itachi gave Josuke a few more instructions before heading over to Sasuke.

Over the past three years, Josuke had gradually grown up. He'd gone from a little round dumpling to an adorable young boy, the kind everyone loved at first sight.

But Josuke and Sasuke had been so well protected that they'd never left the clan compound. They had no idea how cruel people could be out in the world.

Josuke lightly wiped the sweat from his face and continued throwing shuriken. Itachi really was amazing. Just changing Josuke's stance had improved his accuracy so much.

Even after three years, Josuke was still a total novice.

But he'd already reconstructed most of the events of Naruto in his mind.

Emmmm.

While Josuke was spacing out, Sasuke had already gotten tired and wandered off to play with a butterfly.

Itachi could only sigh. Well, Sasuke was his little brother, after all.

Josuke stopped, too. He'd already thrown two hundred shuriken today. That was enough; doing more wouldn't be good for him.

If I were strong enough, maybe the tragedy of the Night of the Massacre wouldn't happen.

Never mind. I'll just let things take their course. As the thought crossed his mind, Josuke suddenly remembered something and walked over to Itachi.

Josuke tugged at his brother and said in a sweet, childish voice,

"Big Brother, could you take me out to play?"

Itachi looked down at the little boy who barely reached his knee and smiled. "Why do you want to go out, little brother?"

Josuke wasn't about to reveal his little secret, so he answered, "I just want to go out and play. I want to make more friends."

Itachi nodded.

"Sasuke, do you want to come?"

Hearing the voice of his favorite Big Brother, Sasuke stopped chasing the butterfly. "Sure! Let's go play together."

And so Itachi took the two little ones out of the clan compound. Shops gradually filled the streets, and although Josuke was holding Itachi's hand, his ears were still sharp enough to catch the whispers around them.

"Are those the detestable Uchiha brats?"

"Hey, do you see the oldest Uchiha brat? He's in the same class as my son. I heard he's already a Chunin."

"Hey, keep your voices down. What if they hear us?"

As a ninja, Itachi heard the villagers gossiping. The Uchiha crest was on the back of their clothes, so anyone could tell who they were.

Itachi couldn't change the villagers' opinion of the Uchiha. During the Nine-Tails Rebellion, Fugaku had forbidden him from leaving the clan compound, but he'd still counted every member of the clan.

Aside from those who had died or gone missing, every Uchiha clan member had been inside the compound. Years of investigation had made Itachi realize that a hidden hand had to be manipulating everything.

But with his current abilities, Itachi had no way of knowing who that hidden hand belonged to.

While Itachi was lost in thought,

Josuke gently tugged at his trouser leg. "Big Brother, look! Ramen up ahead!"

Itachi looked ahead. After walking for so long, they'd actually reached Ichiraku Ramen.

Itachi looked at the two little ones. "Do you want ramen?"

This was Sasuke's first time outside the clan compound, so everything excited him. Naturally, he shouted, "Yes!"

Seeing Ichiraku Ramen, Josuke couldn't stop himself from drooling. Ichiraku Ramen! The delicious ramen made by the legendary Otsutsuki Ichiraku.

Everyone in Naruto loved Ichiraku Ramen.

Especially our Number One, Most Unpredictable, Hyperactive Knucklehead Ninja.

So Josuke answered, too. "Yes!!!!"

Itachi nodded.

He took the two little ones into the ramen shop.

Inside, a man and a child were busy at work.

The owner spotted Itachi and greeted him cheerfully. "You're here, Itachi! You've brought your little brothers out today. They're so cute."

A faint smile spread across Itachi's face. "Yeah."

Looking over the original, soy sauce, pork bone, salt, and miso flavors, Itachi thought for a moment. "Two bowls of pork bone ramen, please. And two small bowls, too. Thank you."

Josuke asked in a childish voice, "Big Brother, can you teach me ninjutsu?"

Itachi couldn't help wondering why.

He asked curiously,

"What's wrong? You're still so young. Why do you want to learn ninjutsu already?"

Josuke suddenly grew serious.

"Because I want to become as strong as Grandpa Third Hokage and become Hokage. I want to protect you and my little brother."

Itachi's heart stirred. He had no idea that inside Josuke's three-year-old body lived the soul of an adult. He just thought it was something a child would say.

So Itachi gently patted Josuke on the head.

"You're still too young, little brother. But I can teach you how to throw kunai."

At Itachi's answer, Josuke happily raised his little hand.

Hmph. (￣ヘ￣o＃)

All of this was just for the old Third Hokage and the Anbu Ninja hiding nearby to see. Though, Josuke did mean some of it.

But who'd want to be Hokage? Not me.

In the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage watched the scene through his crystal ball, deeply moved. This was the Will of Fire!

Protecting our beloved Konoha!

Just look—even the detestable Uchiha brats—no, Uchiha children—had such lofty ideals. It seemed that I, the Third Hokage, really was the greatest Hokage of all.

So the Third Hokage summoned an Anbu member and said slowly, "The Anbu watching over Josuke and Sasuke can stand down. Also, approve Itachi's entry into the Anbu."