Itachi had rather complicated feelings about Uchiha Makoto.
He had met Shisui first and was immediately won over by his older clansman's strength, gentleness, and wisdom.
His father, Fugaku, also spoke highly of Shisui.
Itachi was happy to be friends with such a genius.
But later, he discovered that Shisui, whom he admired so much, seemed to hold another Uchiha genius-Uchiha Makoto-in almost blind admiration and respect.
That left Itachi rather puzzled.
Of course he had heard of this "Makoto." The "Konoha Black Crow," the legend who had survived an encounter with the A-B Combo on the Kumogakure battlefield.
But what about after that?
Whether in the war against Iwagakure or last year's decisive battle against Kirigakure, which had made Shisui famous overnight, Makoto's record was practically blank. He might as well have been invisible on the battlefield.
In Itachi's eyes, Shisui was the genius who had truly proved himself on the battlefield and won glory for their clan.
Perhaps Makoto had once been impressive, too, but now he seemed rather ordinary. Why did Shisui still admire him so much?
Naturally, Uchiha Makoto had no idea how many tangled thoughts were running through the six-year-old brat's head.
He nodded casually and swept his gaze over the training ground without offering any comments or suggestions on their training.
As he looked at Shisui, his knowledge of the original story told him that the boy must have awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan on the Kirigakure battlefield last year.
By now, Uchiha Makoto had a clear understanding of his own strength and circumstances.
Danzo was dead, Minato had passed away, and Madara Uchiha had been cold in his grave for ages.
Neither Nagato nor Obito, the threats still active outside the village, would come after a low-profile Uchiha like him for the time being.