"Tatsuya,"
A single name was called out in the darkness of Konohagakure.
"Reporting," A pair of Sharingan emerged from the shadows, gleaming crimson and primed for battle. The mitsudomoe pattern was an uncanny sight for a child of his age.
Eleven years old.
A mere eleven years old.
And yet... he already had a fully-matured Sharingan. Although unimpressive compared to geniuses like Shisui getting the Mangekyou Sharingan at six and Itachi mastering his when he was a mere eight years old, Tatsuya also had an uncanny presence.
—And a growing reputation.
Wolf-like, matte-black hair cascaded down his shoulders in a messy waterfall. His eyes, which scanned their surroundings, were narrowed and sharp. With a prickly expression, it looked as if he was ready to strike at a moment's notice.
"A clash occurred on the outskirts of the village between a few Blanks. I was finally able to capture a captain, and it seems like our suspicions are correct." Tatsuya spoke, "The Blank Masks are the remnants of Root."
Shikaku nodded as he fell into thought.
Konohagakure wasn't the only village reporting on the growing presence of shinobi with blank headbands and blank masks. Kusagakure, Tanigakure, Tsukigakure, and other minor villages had seen the involvement of the Blank Masks. Sunagakure, for one, seemed to be plagued by them.
It seemed like Danzo's plans had seeped deep into the earth even before his annihilation. Shikaku even had a sneaking suspicion that Danzo's own death was also another stepping stone to advance these plans.
Had Hiruzen failed to procure Fugaku's eyes, Shikaku would have suspected that Danzo was still walking the earth somewhere in the shadows.
"..." Shikaku's thoughts fell silent at that suspicion.
'Perhaps a few preparations would need to be set up soon.' He shook his head upon recalling a certain Kinjutsu created by the Second Hokage.
Looking back at Tatsuya, Shikaku took a deep breath.
"Well done." He started, before handing the boy another scroll. "Your next task is an A-rank mission that will last a few weeks. I'm pretty sure you're already familiar with the details, given that we worked together to create this problem in the first place."
Tatsuya chuckled upon hearing Shikaku's words.
"Yes, Uncle Shikaku. I've been training diligently for this day. Luckily, I haven't felt anything off with regard to the mission you've given me."
"That's good," Shikaku sighed in relief, quite trusting of the boy's instincts. "Crow will be joining you on this task. You've met him before, so I trust that you'll be amenable to his existence."
Suddenly, Tatsuya's lips were closed shut.
'Uchiha Itachi... Code name: Crow.'
Tatsuya had only recently learned of the crow-masked individual who had once saved him from Danzo's schemes.
The man who massacred his entire clan — a terror who had traumatized his younger brother into a path of vengeance.
Such was the man named Uchiha Itachi.
'For him to be accompanying me...'
Tatsuya's gaze narrowed.
'That means Jiraiya and the Kyuubi's jinchuriki have returned.'
Hiruzen had long informed them of their estimated time of arrival and it coincided with the date. Having visited the terrifying amalgamation of flesh in the depths of Konoha, Tatsuya wondered what kind of monster the Nine-Tailed Fox was.
Being born two years after the attack, he had not experienced its overwhelming presence.
'I wonder how Sasuke's doing,'
Suddenly recalling the thought of the other Uchiha living in Konoha, Tatsuya thought about how the boy would react to his brother's return.
At least, if Sasuke was even made aware of such a thing.
'Luckily, Itachi's identity is well-hidden.'
Thinking up to this point, Tatsuya finally recovered from his initial surprise and nodded.
"I don't mind working with Crow, Uncle Shikaku. I've grown familiar enough with Root to recognize as much."
Having been assigned to hunting down Root and tearing apart what malice kept blooming from their scattered existence, Tatsuya was well-versed in its history.
'To think that it was all Danzo's fault...'
Tatsuya clicked his tongue at the depth of the Shinob of Darkness's schemes.
"I actually hope to ask him a few questions. I want to learn a few things from an older ninja like him." Tatsuya flashed a sly smile.
"If it's tutoring, then that should be fine. I'll leave it to Crow to decide how much he will teach you." Shikaku handed Tatsuya another scroll. "This should tell him that he's allowed to do as he wishes."
"Thank you, Uncle!"
Tatsuya then bowed and disappeared.
***
Arriving at the location of his mission, Tatsuya appeared before a pair of shinobi who were long expecting his arrival.
"Tatsuya," Hyuga Ko was the first to greet him. "Good to see you again."
With his Byakugan in full use, Ko had detected Tatsuya the earliest. Without even looking in Tatsuya's direction, Ko continued to do the job he was told to do — monitoring the cocoon where the Ichibi's jinchuriki was sealed.
The other person, standing beside Ko yet gazing straight into Tatsuya's eyes, was a man of few words. A pair of Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, with a whirling pattern of a hurricane, was instantly reflected by his own Sharingan.
For a moment, the two merely stared.
Ko, who was nearby, felt the fluctuations in the pair's chakra. From his point of view, nothing was happening. However, as he perceived the rate at which both shinobi used their chakra, it was clear that they were interacting via Genjutsu.
And this interaction went on for a few minutes.
"..."
It was clear that he was being left out.
***
"Your eyes can see much farther than they used to."
Itachi regarded Tatsuya, who stood before him, with a calm gaze. Scanning the younger boy from head to toe and noticing a few scars, it was clear that he had gone through quite a few battles since the last time they met.
"I've mastered my Sharingan." Tatsuya spoke in a dull tone, "Why does it matter to you?"
"How much do you know?"
Itachi had noticed the shift in Tatsuya's demeanor. It was clear that the hunt had given Tatsuya more than just experience in battle.
"...Does Sasuke know?"
Concern was laced deeply within Itachi's predominantly uncaring tone. Perhaps only Suguru and Hiruzen, who were aware of Itachi's care for his younger brother, would've sensed this diluted emotion.
Tatsuya found himself facing Itachi's scrutiny the moment he arrived.
"Well..."
[]=[]=[]=[]
I appreciate your support on P@treon! Hehe~
Link: pa treon.com/ubemantou
(No space.)
You can read up to 50 chapters ahead!
[]=[]=[]=[]