"Sasuke!"
The sudden call drew the attention of many students just leaving the Ninja Academy. Standing at the gate was a boy around fourteen or fifteen, his face lit with a gentle smile as he waved.
Sasuke, who had been brooding moments earlier, instantly lit up with joy.
"Nii-san!"
He ran over quickly and came to a stop in front of the older boy.
"Why did you come to pick me up?"
"I just got back from a mission and happened to have some free time. It lined up with the end of your school day," Itachi replied with a soft smile, reaching out to ruffle Sasuke's hair. When he smiled, the faint creases on his face relaxed, radiating a warmth that made people feel at ease.
"Let's go."
Sasuke nodded quickly and walked beside him toward home.
"Was that Sasuke-kun's brother just now?"
"He's so gentle... and handsome too."
"Sasuke-kun even smiled just now."
Their departing figures sparked a flurry of whispered comments from onlookers, surprised by Sasuke's uncharacteristic behavior.
"Don't you have a mission today, Nii-san?"
As they walked, Sasuke turned to Itachi with curiosity.
"No. Why do you ask, Sasuke?"
"Hmph, you promised to train with me," Sasuke grumbled, sounding genuinely aggrieved.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Things have been so hectic lately, I completely forgot," Itachi said apologetically.
"It's fine. You're free today, so it works out," Sasuke replied, shaking his head as if it wasn't a big deal.
"What's been keeping you so busy lately, Nii-san? Is the ANBU always this demanding?" Sasuke asked curiously. "And why didn't you join the Police Force instead?"
Itachi fell silent for a moment at the question.
"Nii-san?"
Sasuke looked at him in surprise, not used to Itachi being at a loss for words.
The two walked on quietly, enveloped by silence.
"…Do you want to join the Police Force, Sasuke?" Itachi asked suddenly.
"Huh? Oh," Sasuke blinked, then nodded excitedly.
"Of course I do! If I join the Police Force, I can help Father. Then he won't have to work so hard all the time, right?"
And maybe then, Father would finally acknowledge me... maybe things with Nii-san would go back to how they used to be...
"The Konoha Police Force is the pride of the Uchiha, isn't it?" Sasuke said with admiration.
"Is that so..." Itachi murmured.
If only every Uchiha thought of it so simply. Honor isn't the same as entitlement, he thought to himself.
"Nii-san?" Sasuke called, seeing his brother lost in thought again.
"Hmm? Sorry, Sasuke. I spaced out," Itachi replied with his usual gentle smile.
Sasuke shook his head. His brother was always this kind.
"So, we're training taijutsu today, right?" Itachi asked with a grin.
"Yeah. Nii-san, is there a way to counter someone who's good at kicking?"
"Oh? Are they especially good with their legs?"
"Yeah, their kicks are fast. They can launch a second kick almost instantly using the same leg."
"I lost to them because of that," Sasuke admitted with frustration.
"I'm not a taijutsu expert, but I can give you some tips," Itachi offered. "But it sounds like this Takane Shin is quite the opponent."
"Huh? You know him?" Sasuke looked up in surprise.
"Word gets around. They're calling him the top student of your year. A lot of people are paying attention. After all, the top student each year is seen as a future pillar of the village."
"Takane Shin... top student..." Sasuke murmured.
"…Sasuke," Itachi said, suddenly stopping and turning to face him. "The title of top student doesn't matter. You should be grateful to have someone like Shin as your rival. He'll push you to grow."
"But... I'm an Uchiha," Sasuke replied hesitantly.
Uchiha...
Hearing that, Itachi's expression grew a little weary, but then he smiled again.
"Does being an Uchiha mean you have to be the best?"
"How many of Konoha's renowned geniuses have actually come from the Uchiha?"
"And the top student a year above you is from the Hyuga clan, isn't he?"
"But you, Nii-san..." Sasuke murmured, staring at his brother.
"I'm your little brother..."
That made Itachi pause. He pressed his lips together, his expression turning complicated.
"Sasuke, I shouldn't be your goal. Don't model yourself after me."
But Father only cares about you...
Sasuke stared blankly at his brother, lost in thought.
In the western forest of Konoha...
"Well, if it isn't the top student. You sure are hardworking."
Shin was in the middle of practicing his shuriken throws when he heard the familiar voice, tinged with amusement, coming from behind him.
Turning around, he saw the same man who had taught him the finer points of shurikenjutsu. The man was lounging on a tree branch, dressed differently from last time this time in a sleek black ninja outfit, a short sword strapped to his back. He looked like ANBU, though he wasn't wearing a mask.
"You-" Shin started, but the man cut him off.
"Word is you took first place in today's shuriken assessment."
"How did you know that?" Shin asked in surprise. The news had spread fast.
"I have my sources," the man said with a lazy smile. He leapt down from the tree branch with effortless grace, towering over Shin, who barely reached his waist.
"Are you ANBU? Are you on a mission right now?" Shin fired off the questions he'd been holding in.
"ANBU? You could say that," the man replied vaguely, still smiling.
What does that even mean? Shin thought, puzzled.
"I haven't thanked you for teaching me the other day."
"Thank me?" The man's fox-like eyes curved in amusement. "And how exactly would you thank me?"
"I remember your file said you're an orphan, right? Probably don't have much to offer," he said bluntly, showing no sensitivity to Shin's background.
Shin didn't know how to respond.
"Relax. I don't need your thanks," the man waved it off carelessly.
"Can you at least tell me your name?" Shin asked.
"Oh?" The man looked at him, his gaze dancing with interest, that same smile still on his face.
"You really want to know?"
Shin hesitated but nodded.
"Shisui."
Huh? Shin blinked in confusion.
"Uchiha Shisui," the man said, smiling.
"Uchiha... Shisui?" Shin repeated.
"What, never heard of me?"
"Of course I have. 'Shisui of the Body Flicker.' You were famous," Shin replied.
"Is that so." Shisui's eyes curved again with that unreadable smile.
"But... why would someone like you pay attention to someone like me?" Shin asked, still puzzled.
"Someone like you? Tch, what kind of eight-year-old talks like that?" Shisui's eyes scanned Shin's face closely.
Shin: "…"
"Do you know what it really means to be the top student of the Academy?" Shisui asked, changing the subject.
"Other than having the best grades?" Shin asked back.
"You're not wrong. But if someone shows exceptional skills and qualities in the Academy, do you think they'll fade into obscurity after graduation?"
"Every year's top student is seen as a future cornerstone of the village. You think I'm the only one keeping an eye on you?"
"Can you guess how many people are watching you right now?"
"Do you think your profile might be sitting on the Hokage's desk?"
"Do you even realize all that?"
Shin's eyes widened. A chill ran down his spine as the full weight of Shisui's words sank in.
But after a moment of reflection, he calmed himself.
It's fine. My background, my behavior everything's clean. The village will only see me as a promising talent to be nurtured.
"You really are more mature than most kids your age," Shisui said, his tone laced with teasing again.
Shin looked up and met his eyes.
"You approached me on purpose, didn't you?"
"No, you've got it wrong," Shisui shook his head.
"That day I really was just passing by. I thought your technique was interesting, that's all."
"But the shuriken technique you taught me wasn't it a Uchiha clan secret? Would your family even approve of that?" Shin pressed, his suspicion growing.
"So what if it was?" Shisui smiled again.
"You're overthinking it."
Shin frowned slightly, clearly unconvinced.
Shisui leaned down suddenly, bringing his mouth close to Shin's ear.
"All this suspicion... is it really healthy?"
"Kid, do you realize you're only eight?"
"You're going to blow your cover…"
A cold shiver ran up Shin's spine, as if ice water had been poured straight through him.
…