Whoosh.
After a ripple of spatial distortion, Shinichi landed in Fugaku's courtyard.
He had to admit, Kamui really was handy!
"You again!"
Sasuke, who had been playing alone in the courtyard, jumped at Shinichi's sudden appearance.
Once he recognized Shinichi, Sasuke ran straight into the house without looking back and shouted, "Mom, that annoying freeloader is here again!"
Shinichi: "???"
What did he mean, annoying freeloader?
Apparently, little Sasuke still had no idea how cruel the world could be.
As everyone knew, Hatake Washing Machine never held a grudge.
"Be good, Sasuke. You mustn't be so rude."
The gentle Mikoto came outside and smiled. "You're just in time, Shinichi. I was planning to make a few new dishes today, ones you've never tried before. You can look forward to them."
Well, damn!
Was he never going to shake his reputation as a freeloader?
"Uh, Mikoto, I really didn't come here to mooch a meal today!"
Shinichi explained earnestly.
He felt there was still a chance to salvage his noble, radiant image.
Mikoto merely smiled without a word, her eyes seeming to see right through him.
"Forget it."
Feeling utterly drained, Shinichi waved a hand. "Just call Itachi and Sasuke out here. I've come to formally take them on as my students."
"All right, give me a moment."
Mikoto's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected him to actually come on serious business today.
Fugaku had certainly told Mikoto about having Shinichi take their two children as his students. Naturally, she wholeheartedly supported the proposal. After all, this was an incredible opportunity falling right into their laps.
At the family's private training ground.
Itachi stood respectfully in place, his posture impeccable and precise. Sasuke, by contrast, looked thoroughly unwilling. Even a blind man could tell he didn't want to become that annoying Shinichi's student.
"Becoming my students won't be easy. You have to prepare yourselves for some hardship."
Shinichi regarded the two young boys with an amused expression.
"Yes, Teacher."
Itachi was a textbook prodigy, and he took his training very seriously.
As for Sasuke, he was clearly already developing a prickly streak at his young age. Judging by that reluctant expression, he wouldn't have wanted to see Shinichi at all if his family hadn't forced him to come.
"Very good."
Shinichi nodded in satisfaction. "So, before you formally become my students, give me a few strands of your hair."
"???"
Itachi and Sasuke were both dumbfounded.
What kind of bizarre rule required them to hand over their hair before becoming someone's students?
"What? You don't want to?"
Shinichi feigned displeasure. "If you're unwilling to listen to me, you might as well go home. I don't have to take either of you as my students."
With him putting it that way...
What could the Uchiha brothers say, accustomed as they were to obeying their father's orders?
Itachi decisively sliced off a few strands of hair with a kunai. Ever the doting older brother, he also wanted to help Sasuke.
But Shinichi stopped him at once, smiling. "Itachi, your hair is fine. But Sasuke has to pull his out himself."
"Teacher, may I ask why?"
Itachi looked puzzled.
"No."
Shinichi shook his head. "All you need to know is that I'm doing this for Sasuke's own good."
Hearing that, Itachi stopped insisting.
"Big brother, I..."
Little Sasuke looked utterly bewildered and instinctively turned to Itachi for help.
"Be good, Sasuke. Father said we have to listen to our teacher. He won't hurt you."
Itachi spoke gently.
Revenge!
This was blatant revenge!
Young as Sasuke was, he could still feel Shinichi's overwhelming malice!
But with even his beloved older brother saying so, Sasuke could only endure the pain and yank out a tuft of hair. He handed it to Shinichi and said miserably, "Here, the hair you wanted!"
"Very good, very good..."
Shinichi accepted the brothers' hair with satisfaction and chuckled. "As for today's training, it's actually very simple! Start by running a hundred laps around Konoha to warm up. Then I'll teach you."
He already had Sasuke's biological information. Itachi was his main objective this time.
As for why he'd insisted that Sasuke pull out his own hair, he merely wanted to toughen up the boy's fragile heart. It would be enormously beneficial to his future!
It absolutely wasn't some deliberate act of revenge. Besides, how could Hatake Washing Machine possibly be the sort of person who bullied children?
"Teacher, I don't have a problem with it, but Sasuke is still young..."
Itachi sounded hesitant.
Clearly, he was worried whether Sasuke's body could withstand that degree of physical exertion.
A doting brother through and through, he couldn't help worrying about his little brother, no matter the time or place. It really was admirable.
"Relax, he won't die. I know what I'm doing."
Shinichi waved a hand.
Even if he really did intend to target Sasuke, he wouldn't be that cruel.
He would send a Shadow Clone to follow the brothers at all times. If anything happened to Sasuke, the clone would naturally step in.
[System has detected Uchiha Itachi's biological information. Extract immediately?]
"Extract!"
[Biological information successfully extracted! Congratulations, host! You have obtained the talent trait: darkness that yearns for light (purple)!] [Darkness that yearns for light (purple): You are a shadow living in darkness, yet deep in your heart, you yearn for light more than anyone. No one understands your heart. World peace is your greatest wish. Dōjutsu power +800%! Genjutsu power +800%! Additional abilities: divine artifacts, the Totsuka Blade and Yata Mirror!] [Divine artifacts, the Totsuka Blade and Yata Mirror: Your Susanoo will gain its complete form and weapons, excelling in both offense and defense. You are the Uchiha's coolest Susanoo kid!]
"The Totsuka Blade and Yata Mirror!"
Shinichi perked up. He hadn't expected such a ridiculously overpowered ability.
Every Naruto fan knew these were the two divine artifacts Itachi manifested when using Susanoo, both possessing immensely powerful abilities.
The Yata Mirror could reflect all physical attacks, while the Totsuka Blade could not only inflict damage but also trap someone forever in a genjutsu world like a drunken dream.
In a word: invincible!
"I've hit the jackpot again!"
After obtaining this powerful purple talent trait, Shinichi was in such a good mood that he almost started humming.
In an instant, he couldn't even be bothered to dwell on Sasuke badmouthing him earlier.
After some time, Itachi and Sasuke finally returned from their laps.
Itachi naturally looked perfectly at ease. Poor Sasuke, however, was exhausted enough to look half-dead, and Shinichi's Shadow Clone had carried him back.
There wasn't much to say about the training that followed. Feeling lazy again, Shinichi dumped it all on his Shadow Clone, having the clone put the brothers through combat training.
Kakashi wasn't here, so naturally, his Shadow Clone had to take the fall for this kind of troublesome work.
Shadow Clone: Oh, you're so noble! So great!
While handling business in the ANBU, Kakashi suddenly felt a chill down his back and sneezed.
"Senior Kakashi, what's wrong?"
A pretty female ninja with long purple hair asked curiously.
"It's nothing, Yugao."
Kakashi smiled wryly. "I just feel like my older brother is talking about me. It's terrifying!"
"Huh?"
The girl he called Yugao covered her little mouth in surprise. "Your older brother? Do you mean Konoha's Hero, the one who supposedly defeated the Fourth Raikage?"
The girl was none other than Uzuki Yugao, who had recently joined the ANBU and happened to become Kakashi's subordinate.
"Wait, Senior Kakashi!"
Realizing something, Yugao gave him a strange look. "Even if your older brother really is thinking about you, what's so frightening about that? I heard you two have always been very close..."
"Being close is one thing, but my older brother is..."
Kakashi rolled his eyes at her and instinctively wanted to complain about Shinichi.
"Forget it. It's nothing. You'll understand once you actually meet him."
After thinking it over, Kakashi promptly shut his mouth.
Was he kidding?
If Shinichi learned that he dared badmouth him behind his back, how could he possibly get away with it?
"Huh?"
Seeing Kakashi acting so mysterious, Yugao, still a young girl at heart, couldn't help growing intensely curious about Hatake Shinichi.
Everyone knew Hatake Shinichi was Konoha's hero. He had single-handedly driven back the Fourth Raikage at the Land of Fire Border, snuffing out a war before it could begin. It was also because he stood guard in Konoha that the other ninja villages no longer dared harbor any ill intentions toward it.
Yet strangely, despite being a hero worthy of everyone's respect and admiration, he still drew plenty of criticism in the village. The merchants in particular gritted their teeth whenever his name came up.
Yugao simply couldn't understand how anyone in the world could be so inscrutable.
"Senior Kakashi, why don't you invite your older brother out when you have time? Lots of us in the ANBU would like to meet him!"
Yugao's eyes darted around as she made the suggestion, looking a little playful.
"Well... that shouldn't be a problem."
Kakashi thought for a moment, then cautioned her. "But watch what you say when the time comes. Make sure you don't say anything that might offend him. My older brother is petty and really holds grudges. If he sets his sights on you, you're in serious trouble... and whatever you do, don't tell him I said that!"
As a dependable superior, he felt that even if it meant taking a little risk, he had to protect his subordinates.
Yugao: "???"
Wait, weren't you brothers supposed to be really close?
Why were you deliberately badmouthing your own older brother behind his back?
Was this the Hatake Clan's unique way of bonding as brothers?
You city folks really knew how to play!
Before you continue