At his tender age, Itachi's physical body and meridians were still developing, leaving him unable to fully condense chakra. The combination of physical and spiritual energy required for chakra formation was a feat beyond most children, yet Itachi had already begun the process, showing signs of exceptional talent.
"Itachi, long time no see."
Minato appeared before him in a flicker of yellow light, his warm smile softening the moment.
Startled, Itachi opened his eyes and, upon recognizing the voice, allowed a smile to spread across his young, delicate face.
"Uncle Minato, it's you?"
Even at his age, Itachi had heard the growing tales of Minato's exploits on the battlefield.
"Kushina sent me to pick you up. She's missed you a lot," Minato said, reaching out to gently ruffle Itachi's hair.
Itachi nodded, his gaze thoughtful. "If Uncle Minato is back in the village, that must mean the other ninja nations have retreated for now, right?"
Minato's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Did someone from the clan tell you that?"
Shaking his head, Itachi replied, "No, I haven't seen many clan members recently. But if you've returned to the village, it must mean the fighting has slowed down."
His matter-of-fact tone left Minato momentarily speechless. For a boy so young, Itachi's understanding of war and strategy was astonishing. Most children his age barely comprehended the basics of the ninja world, yet Itachi had already deduced battlefield movements with ease.
After a pause, Minato smiled gently. "Let's go. Kushina is waiting for us."
But as he led Itachi away, Minato couldn't shake his amazement at the boy's keen insight and intelligence.
At Minato's house, laughter filled the air as Minato, Kushina, and Itachi sat around the dining table.
"What do the One-Tail and Eight-Tails look like?" Kushina asked, her curiosity piqued. Having once glimpsed the Nine-Tails within her, she wondered how the other tailed beasts compared.
Minato chuckled as he twirled his chopsticks, thinking. "The One-Tail looks like a raccoon, with purple markings all over its body. As for the Eight-Tails, I've only seen parts of it during battle, but it seems like a cross between a bull and an octopus."
"A raccoon and an octopus?" Kushina's eyes widened as she tried to imagine the strange creatures.
Itachi, unfamiliar with the concept of tailed beasts, watched them both in silence, his small hands gesturing as he tried to piece together the descriptions.
Suddenly, Kushina's lips curled in a slight pout. "Why can the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki fight on the battlefield, but I can't?"
Minato cast a quick glance at Itachi, a hint of concern in his eyes. The fact that Kushina was a Jinchūriki was a carefully guarded secret, and she had let it slip.
"Jinchūriki?" Itachi repeated, tilting his head in confusion. Despite his intelligence, he was still too young to grasp the concept.
Realizing her mistake, Kushina covered her mouth, her wide eyes darting between Minato and Itachi.
Minato quickly stepped in. "The Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki has learned to control the power of the tailed beast within him. He's turned it into an ally, which is completely different from most Jinchūriki."
Kushina's hand unconsciously rested on her abdomen, her thoughts swirling. The idea of the Nine-Tails as an ally was so far removed from her reality.
The Nine-Tails, sealed within her, was a swirling mass of hatred and rage. Even with the strongest seals, its malevolence often seeped into her consciousness, a constant reminder of its presence.
"Why can he do it?" she murmured softly, her expression distant.
Minato reached out, placing a reassuring hand over hers. "Not everyone can reach that level of control, but it's not impossible. It takes time, understanding, and trust."
Meanwhile, at Root Headquarters, Danzo sat in his dimly lit chamber, listening to the report from his subordinates.
"Minato Namikaze went to the Uchiha compound," the Root operative reported, his voice trembling slightly.
Danzo's lips curled into a faint smile. "Did he discover you?"
The operative bowed his head. "Yes. I couldn't avoid his detection."
Chuckling, Danzo leaned back in his chair. "Even 800 Iwagakure ninjas couldn't escape his perception. Did you think you could fare better?"
The operative remained silent, accepting the rebuke.
"Minato's presence in the village is a blessing in times of war," Danzo mused. "But his connection to the Uchiha... That could become a problem."
In the barren expanse of the Desert, an old man with flaming red hair approached the gates of Iwagakure.
The guards stationed at the entrance eyed him warily, their hands gripping their weapons.
"Who are you?" one demanded.
The old man smirked, his gaze sharp. "Tell that old man Onoki that Roshi is back."
The guards stiffened, their eyes narrowing. "How dare you address the Tsuchikage-sama like that!"
But one of them hurriedly ran into the village to deliver the message.
In Iwagakure's meeting room, Onoki floated above the ground, addressing the gathered council. Suddenly, the doors burst open, and the red-haired man strode in.
"Old man, you're still alive?" Roshi sneered, his tone dripping with disdain.
The room erupted into murmurs, the council members aghast at the blatant disrespect.
But Onoki merely chuckled. "I could say the same to you. After all these years, I thought you'd finally died."
The tension in the room thickened as Roshi shrugged nonchalantly. "I said I'd never return while you were still Tsuchikage. But with the state of this village, I had no choice. If I didn't, how many more of our youth would die under your leadership?"
Onoki's smile faded slightly, but he nodded. "You're right. The Rock Ninja need you... and the power you wield."
Roshi's expression softened, though only slightly. "I haven't mastered it entirely, but I can control enough."
As he spoke, his eyes glowed faintly, a fiery hue reminiscent of molten lava.
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