My little brother!??

Was he imagining things?

Orochimaru took another careful look at the four-year-old Madara Uchiha. Though Madara's face was still full of childish innocence, the boy gave off the air of a ruler who held everything in his grasp.

"That's not something you need to know."

He had no idea where this child's innate nobility came from, but Orochimaru had no intention of sharing his dreams with a strange little boy. His earlier musings had merely been a momentary outpouring of emotion.

Before leaving, Orochimaru took a long look at the names of those in the cemetery who had died in the Third Shinobi World War. Although he said mourning was meaningless, remembering some of them as they had been in life still sent waves of pain through the heart he believed had long since grown numb and cold.

Why did people have to die?

With that "question" weighing on him, Orochimaru quietly left.

Having a four-year-old body really is inconvenient.

Meeting Orochimaru had stirred Madara Uchiha's appreciation for talent. Had he possessed his original body, he really would have considered bringing Orochimaru under his command. But now, no matter what he said, Orochimaru would probably dismiss it as childish nonsense.

He smiled helplessly. Fortunately, Madara Uchiha was in no hurry. In this life, time was on his side. If he could not seize the opportunity today, he would wait until another day, another year, or even ten years later. Sooner or later, Madara Uchiha would make Orochimaru remember their first meeting in this life.

After the fierce war, everyone began rebuilding. Although many had died in the fighting, time was a wondrous thing. With its quiet, imperceptible care, the wounds left by the loss of loved ones healed little by little, until people forgot them. Only when they suddenly remembered the departed would the pain buried in their hearts surface again and stab at them. But most of the time, most people still looked ahead.

Although he had taken part in the war, Madara Uchiha's life remained unchanged before and after it. He still trained alone, turning down the occasional invitations from children his age to play with them. The only event that broke his peaceful routine was a visit to the hospital with his mother.

"Itachi, Mommy's pregnant. You're going to have a little brother or sister!"

What could bring more change to life than the birth of a new one? Even Madara Uchiha froze for a moment when Uchiha Mikoto told him the news.

From his distant memories, the voice and smiling face of the younger brother who had fought and grown alongside him became a blade that pierced Madara Uchiha's heart.

"What's wrong, Itachi? Aren't you happy? Don't worry. Even with a little brother or sister, Mommy and Daddy will love you just as much. So, Itachi, would you rather have a brother or a sister?"

Although Madara Uchiha had always kept his emotions hidden, Uchiha Mikoto, as his mother, keenly sensed his low spirits. She gently reached out and drew his head against her still-flat belly. As a mother, she promised her eldest son that she would never play favorites.

"A brother."

Madara Uchiha's muffled voice came from within Uchiha Mikoto's embrace. Although she was not the true mother of the soul that was Madara Uchiha, he had to admit that, in his sadness, he found himself reluctant to leave the warmth of her arms.

He had lost Uchiha Izuna in his previous life. This time, whether the child in Mikoto's womb was a boy or a girl, Madara Uchiha would protect his new sibling.

Ten months passed in the blink of an eye. Amid Madara Uchiha's monotonous training, the child in Uchiha Mikoto's womb came safely into the world. As chance would have it, this child was a boy too.

Unlike ordinary newborns, who looked wrinkled and rather ugly, Madara Uchiha's little brother had perfectly inherited his mother's beauty despite having only just been born. Even Madara could not help silently admiring how adorable his newborn brother was. His little brother in this life even bore some resemblance to Izuna as a child.

Madara Uchiha extended a finger and gently touched his little brother's cheek. The newborn's skin felt so delicate that the slightest touch seemed enough to damage it. Unfamiliar with such a sensation, Madara carefully controlled his strength, afraid he might hurt this adorable child.

Before Madara Uchiha could react, Uchiha Fugaku, now a father for the second time, happily took his second child from Mikoto's arms. He studied the baby's face closely. Judging by the smile at the corners of his mouth, he was clearly delighted by the child's resemblance to his wife.

"Have you decided on a name?"

Uchiha Mikoto was not upset by her husband's eagerness. Smiling, she asked him what he intended to name their child.

"Sasuke. Sasuke Uchiha."

"Ah, that's a good name, but..."

"Yes, it's the name of the Third's father..."

Uchiha Mikoto and Uchiha Fugaku continued discussing the child's name, completely unaware that their eldest son, whose expression was usually as calm as still water, could no longer maintain his composure after hearing the name his father had chosen for his little brother. Madara Uchiha's eyes widened. Had he not brought his chakra under control in time, his Sharingan might have appeared before his parents in his excitement.

Sasuke Uchiha!

Wasn't that the younger member of the Uchiha Clan who had ultimately stood in my way and saved the world in my previous life? Come to think of it, this child really does look exactly like Izuna.

Madara Uchiha carefully studied the infant Sasuke Uchiha's face again. As though sensing Madara's gaze, little Sasuke grinned goofily at him, even while held in Fugaku's arms.

Madara Uchiha had already anticipated that Sasuke Uchiha would be born into the Uchiha Clan. What he had not expected was that Sasuke would be so closely related to the body he now inhabited. This Uchiha Itachi was actually Sasuke Uchiha's older brother. Even Madara could not help marveling at how fate toyed with people.

No, heaven is on my side!

Sasuke Uchiha is unquestionably a genius who can stand on equal footing with me. Since he's my own little brother in this life, all I need to do is train him well and keep him under my control, and I'll have the greatest possible ally. With that, why should I worry about failing to achieve my goals?