Kiyosuke brought Anko back to Konoha and resumed doing missions.
Time flew by quickly.
Before long, Itachi was recommended for early graduation due to his outstanding performance at the Academy—becoming a prodigy who graduated after just one year, just like Kakashi.
One day, while Kiyosuke was looking after the kids, Itachi suddenly ran over, his eyes glowing red as he looked up at him.
"When did you awaken your Sharingan?" Kiyosuke blinked in surprise.
Itachi said,
"My comrade… was killed."
The shock of witnessing his comrade's death had triggered the awakening of his Sharingan.
And it wasn't just a single tomoe—it was a two-tomoe Sharingan from the very start.
"My condolences."
Kiyosuke picked up Naruto. The boy was no longer living with the Uchiha clan—he had been placed in Kiyosuke's care.
Well, technically, Naruto was being raised in turns by Kiyosuke, Rin, and Kakashi. Kiyosuke and Kakashi didn't spend as much time with him since they were often away on missions, so Rin ended up caring for him the most.
Under the joint care of the three, Naruto had grown up healthy and strong.
"Kiyosuke-san, you don't truly understand the pain of losing someone until you've experienced it yourself. No… only then are you forced to understand just how painful it is."
"Is that so? The Sharingan of your clan works that way—it amplifies pain and emotion, twists your thinking. That pain… is part of the price of awakening it."
"Itachi-nii… isn't smiling anymore…"
Naruto waved his little hands, clearly unhappy.
He was already two years old and had learned how to speak.
"It's something… I have to endure? But I don't want Sasuke to go through this too."
Itachi didn't want his younger brother to face the same pain—didn't want him to suffer the trauma of watching someone close to him die.
Kiyosuke sighed.
"I'm afraid that's not possible. Sasuke's future pain won't end with just this."
"What do you mean?" Itachi's heart tightened.
Holding Naruto in his arms, Kiyosuke said,
"Those two boys are bound by fate. Their lives will be forever intertwined. They'll shake the entire shinobi world. Naruto is the Child of Destiny… and Sasuke's fate is not far behind."
"The Child of Destiny… shaping the shinobi world?!"
My brother's only two years old… and his future is already…
Clenching his fists, he asked with frustration,
"Isn't there any way? Some path where Sasuke can just grow up safely and happily?"
"What are you talking about? Sasuke's going to be a ninja, isn't he? Do you really think the Uchiha clan's second son won't become a ninja? Do you think your father would allow that? And Sasuke himself won't agree either."
"As a ninja, he'll have to accept this reality. A peaceful life of happiness? That's impossible. But… there is a way to make the pain more bearable."
Itachi perked up.
"There is? What is it?"
"Here."
Kiyosuke lifted Naruto in front of him.
Naruto burst into laughter, his chubby hands clapping together, kicking his feet with glee.
"He's the answer."
"As the Child of Destiny, Naruto's life is going to be entangled with Sasuke's. If they become enemies, only one will survive. But if they become close friends, they can change the world together."
"That's why I let Naruto grow up in your household from the start. If even one of them had been a girl, this would've been so much simpler."
Kiyosuke chuckled as he started working his usual magic.
"Just let them grow naturally together. As long as nothing goes wrong, Sasuke's fate will be much better."
At least he wouldn't get beaten up so badly all the time…
"But Kiyosuke-san, how did you see their fates?" That was what confused Itachi the most.
"Oh, that? Of course it's the White Snake Sage."
"There are three great sanctuaries: Ryūchi Cave, the Shikkotsu Forest, and Mount Myōboku. I trained in Ryūchi Cave and learned Sage Mode there."
"Both the Toad Sage and the White Snake Sage have the ability to peer into fate. I got some glimpses of the future from the White Snake Sage."
Blaming everything on the White Snake Sage was always the best option.
After all, besides Orochimaru, no one could enter Ryūchi Cave. And Orochimaru rarely went there or met the White Snake Sage, so Kiyosuke didn't have to worry about being exposed.
"Sages… can see fate?"
"Only parts of it. Not everything. That's why it's so important Sasuke doesn't lose his way. With a genius brother like you, he's going to be under a lot of pressure."
"Huh?"
"You're a genius. Graduated at six, became a Chūnin at seven, and now awakened the Sharingan. People are going to compare you to him whether you like it or not."
"Think about your dad—he'll definitely be using you as the benchmark."
And let's be real, Sasuke's going to grow up prideful and stubborn—classic tsundere. Over time, that's bound to twist his personality.
"I understand."
Itachi nodded, equally helpless.
"Yeah… Father's personality is probably…"
"It's fine. That's all minor stuff. As long as we protect the bond between those two, everything will be alright. Isn't that right, Naruto?"
"Hee hee hee!"
Naruto didn't understand what the two were talking about, but he laughed happily all the same.
"Granny once told me—children are the world's greatest treasure. It's our duty as adults to make sure the next generation grows up safe and healthy."
"You're still a kid yourself, Itachi. Stop overthinking it. Come on, let's get some ramen—my treat."
Itachi really was far too mature for his age. Talking to him felt more like speaking to a grown man than a child.
"Ah, thank you."
Although, truthfully, he was more in the mood for dango.
"Ah, Kiyosuke and Naruto! Welcome, welcome."
Teuchi was as cheerful as ever, smiling with his eyes nearly shut.
"One miso ramen for me. What about you, Itachi?"
"Tonkotsu, I guess."
"Men! Ramen!"
Kiyosuke often brought Naruto here for ramen, and the boy had already developed a deep bond with it at such a young age.
"Hahaha! Naruto still loves ramen, huh? Alright! Today, Uncle's making you a special deluxe kids' version!"
Teuchi got to work.
"I remember you like sweets, right?"
"Mhm."
"That dango place sells out quick in the morning. Next time, use a shadow clone to go buy some for you."
That shop always had a line. Kiyosuke had tried it himself—the dango was delicious.
Itachi covered his face.
"I tried… but he eats them."
"…"
Seriously? Even your shadow clone is a sweet tooth?
"You should learn to make them yourself," Kiyosuke said earnestly. "If you can't buy them often, then just make them."
"That's actually a good idea."
Itachi nodded in agreement.
"Here you go—two bowls of ramen!"
Teuchi placed the steaming bowls before them. Naruto's eyes lit up at the sight of ramen.
Sitting on the table, he reached out, clearly desperate to eat.
"I'll feed you after I finish mine."
Kiyosuke said, starting to eat under Naruto's hungry, resentful gaze.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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