Brothers

Uchiha Itachi was very reluctant to speak to this "uncle" of his. He had always felt that the man looked at him strangely, as though he were some rare animal. On top of that, Uchiha Hui had a poor reputation.

But as a well-mannered child, he could hardly remain silent.

"Father plans to have me enter the Ninja Academy next year."

Uchiha Itachi answered softly.

His voice had the gentle sweetness unique to children his age, making it pleasant to listen to.

Hearing that, Uchiha Hui fell into thought. Naruto's timeline was a mess, but since Uchiha Itachi had yet to enter the Ninja Academy, he had not mastered the Sharingan's power either. Only after he graduated early would his reputation as a "genius" truly spread throughout Konoha!

"It sounds like you're full of hope for the future, Itachi?"

Uchiha Hui lifted his teacup and took a sip. A delicate fragrance instantly bloomed in his mouth. The Uchiha Clan Head's household certainly had good things. Then his gaze shifted to Uchiha Itachi. "As the clan head's son, do you feel any pressure?"

For a moment, he considered ending things once and for all—nipping the so-called "clan massacre crisis" in the bud by killing Itachi before he truly came into his own.

But the thought vanished almost as soon as it appeared.

Without Itachi, there could always be another just like him. The Uchiha Clan's fate had already begun to take shape when Konoha was founded, and the spark that would set everything off was the Nine-Tails' Rampage that had struck Konoha just yesterday.

The seeds of suspicion had already taken root and sprouted. It was only a matter of time before they flowered and bore fruit, unless...

Unless the Uchiha could turn their standing in the village around!

Put simply, they needed to take full control of the power that should have belonged to the Uchiha Clan in the first place and make everyone understand that the Uchiha were not a threat.

But that would be tremendously difficult. Even setting aside the fact that the village's core authority always circulated among the same few people, the Uchiha Clan's current state made one thing clear: no one could shoulder the weight of that power!

Uchiha Itachi's heart tightened.

He looked at Uchiha Hui, a flicker of alarm and doubt passing through his clear eyes. Having been on a battlefield, he was keenly sensitive to killing intent. Just now, this seemingly "amiable" uncle, who appeared so different from the rumors, seemed to have felt malice toward him.

Even if that malice had vanished in an instant.

So the rumors weren't just idle talk. This uncle of mine really is unpredictable!

Uchiha Itachi suppressed the tremor in his heart and quietly reassured himself. Then he said slowly, "I'm just an ordinary member of the Uchiha Clan. I'll work hard to become a ninja, and I definitely won't disappoint Father!"

As the clan head's son.

Uchiha Itachi had been exposed to different things from an early age. Naturally, it would be a lie to say he felt no pressure. Otherwise, he would not have begun training as a ninja before even enrolling in school.

"What a good boy!"

Uchiha Hui smiled. As he watched Uchiha Itachi's earnest expression, he seemed able to glimpse the boy's truest feelings.

And just like that.

The two fell silent again.

Uchiha Hui was not much of a conversationalist, much less someone who had transmigrated less than a day ago and was meeting the nephew before him for the "first time."

The atmosphere grew somewhat quiet.

Just then, a clear cry rang out from inside the house.

"It's Sasuke!"

Uchiha Itachi instinctively started to rise, but the moment he moved, he remembered that he still had a "guest" before him. He paused, looking a little hesitant.

"That's your little brother, isn't it? Go on, bring Sasuke over. I don't think I've met him yet, even though I'm his uncle. Today's a good chance to get to know him!"

Uchiha Hui casually gestured for Uchiha Itachi to go.

He had been a little "nervous" when he first met the boy. After all, if the story followed its original course, this "great humanitarian" would eventually send the entire Uchiha Clan to its grave. But his current identity was the boy's uncle.

Uchiha Itachi quickly rushed into the next room. Soon, the sound of him soothing a child drifted out, and the crying stopped. Before long, he emerged carrying Sasuke Uchiha, who was still wrapped in swaddling clothes.

"Be good, Sasuke!"

Uchiha Itachi's voice was extraordinarily gentle. Combined with the youthful quality of his voice at this age, it was unmistakably that of a sweet little boy.

Uchiha Hui finally got his wish and met Indra's reincarnation, Uchiha Sasuke—only in "baby form," the sort who might cry for ages after a single flick to the forehead.

"He really is surprisingly... cute!"

Compared with the perpetually cool Sasuke Uchiha in his memories, the boy before him was still a baby who understood nothing, with innocent eyes and chubby cheeks...

Looking at Sasuke Uchiha in Uchiha Itachi's arms, Uchiha Hui could not help marveling.

His words also brought a happy smile to Uchiha Itachi's face.

He lowered his head to play with Sasuke Uchiha, who kept looking around with wide eyes. As he gazed at the baby's rosy cheeks, his eyes brimmed with tenderness.

"As his big brother, you'll be sure to protect him, won't you, Itachi?"

Watching the two brothers together so peacefully, Uchiha Hui could not help asking.

"Of course!"

Uchiha Itachi answered without hesitation, his little face full of determination.

Oh, yes!

According to the story, you certainly "protected" him well. The Uchiha Clan was wiped out, and Sasuke was still fine...

An odd expression appeared on Uchiha Hui's face as he thought to himself. But the next second, his gaze shifted toward the gate.

Creak!

The courtyard gate swung open.

A figure strode swiftly inside.

Uchiha Fugaku!

Uchiha Hui narrowed his eyes, his expression remaining calm. He did not speak first, merely meeting the other man's gaze.

"Hui!"

Uchiha Fugaku had not expected Uchiha Hui to arrive so early, and a hint of surprise crossed his face. He soon walked over but said nothing more, simply staring at Hui as though scrutinizing him.

He noticed that Uchiha Hui was different.

Compared with the clan meeting that morning, Uchiha Hui seemed somewhat more muscular now. His entire bearing had changed.

Of course, he had already vaguely noticed a change in Uchiha Hui during the clan meeting. But he had had a great deal on his mind then. Besides, the village had just suffered the Nine-Tails Incident, and as captain of the Konoha Military Police Force, he had far too many matters to handle.

Naturally, he had not observed him closely enough to notice more.

Now, however, he could fully perceive the change in Uchiha Hui.

What caused this?!

Uchiha Fugaku was puzzled.

"Itachi, take Sasuke out back to play. Your uncle and I have a few things to discuss."

Uchiha Fugaku sent Uchiha Itachi away. He wanted to sit down and talk with Uchiha Hui, something the two brothers had not done in years!

"Yes, Father!"

Itachi looked delighted. Getting away from this rather "strange" uncle while also having Sasuke all to himself was more than he could have wished for!

"Clan head!"

Uchiha Hui acknowledged Uchiha Fugaku.

He did not call him "big brother."

Not only would it have been out of character for the original owner of his body, but as a transmigrator who had absorbed only some of his memories, he also found it difficult to say.

However, Uchiha Fugaku was clearly dissatisfied with that form of address. He stared at Uchiha Hui with a displeased expression, then said indignantly, "There's no clan head here. I'm your older brother, and you, Uchiha Hui, are my younger brother!"

Uchiha Hui was somewhat surprised.

But he did not change how he addressed him. He simply continued meeting his gaze.

A long while passed.

Uchiha Fugaku seemed to recognize Uchiha Hui's resistance and stopped pressing him. He lowered his head toward the low table, his gaze settling on the pastries. "I was just getting hungry. I didn't expect Mikoto to make my favorite pastries today! I remember you used to love them too..."

As he spoke, he plopped down, crossed his legs, and casually picked up a pastry and stuffed it into his mouth. While eating, he glanced at Uchiha Hui, signaling with his eyes.

Uchiha Hui followed suit and picked up a pastry.

In his memories, he had indeed held Uchiha Mikoto's cooking in high regard, and the pastry in his hand was one of her specialties.

Unfortunately, since his falling-out with Uchiha Fugaku, he had not eaten anything like this again.

"Delicious!"

Uchiha Hui took a small bite. Instantly, the aroma of red beans and the creamy filling inside spilled out. His eyes lit up, and he voiced his praise.

"You still haven't changed, Hui!"