After listening to Kei's words, Itachi and Shisui exchanged glances, both filled with irrepressible curiosity.
After bidding farewell to Kei, the two left Shisui's home. Itachi couldn't help asking curiously:
"Big Brother Shisui, that aunt of yours named Kuugetsu — are you close to her?
I think I've heard my father mention her before."
Shisui thought for a moment before replying:
"Aunt Kuugetsu visits my dad every once in a while, but honestly, I'm not that close to her.
She's kind of a quiet person.
Every time she comes, she just says a few words to my father, then leaves in a hurry.
But she always brings a lot of gifts, and she's even guided me in training before.
She said my body type was suited to speed, that I could try to follow in Lord Minato Namikaze's footsteps and master the art of the Body Flicker."
"Wow! Then she must be really strong!"
Hearing that, Shisui's expression grew even more animated:
"I've heard Aunt Kuugetsu is a very powerful person. They say she has developed her Sharingan to the same level as the legendary brothers Madara and Izuna, meaning she has awakened the legendary Mangekyō Sharingan."
Even though Itachi was unusually mature for his age, he was still only three years old.
Hearing Shisui describe Kuugetsu like some mythical figure made his curiosity burn all the stronger.
He tugged at Shisui's sleeve eagerly:
"Then, Shisui, can you take me to meet your aunt? Please?"
Seeing the usually serious, old-soul Itachi act so childishly for once, Shisui couldn't help but laugh.
He lightly tapped Itachi on the forehead and said:
"Alright, alright — I can't say no when you ask like that.
Since you insist, and since my dad said she might inspire us, I'll take you to meet Aunt Kuugetsu.
Actually, this will be my first time visiting her home too."
With that, Shisui took Itachi along toward Kuugetsu's residence.
Normally, if the clan leader's son were to visit someone like Kuugetsu, word would quickly reach Fugaku and Yamashiro's ears.
But because Fugaku had ordered nearly all the adult men to attend a secret meeting at the shrine that day, no one noticed the two little boys sneaking off.
After several twists and turns through the compound, they finally arrived near Kuugetsu's — or rather, the late Uchiha Hokushin's — old home.
Out in the open training yard, Obito was practicing under Kuugetsu's supervision.
Although Kuugetsu wasn't his official teacher, she had long since taken on that role in all but name.
Every day before she left, she would give Obito a set of training assignments, and when she returned, she would check his progress.
Under her guidance, Obito's strength had grown by leaps and bounds.
At just twelve years old, he had already reached elite chūnin level, and had awakened his Sharingan — a single tomoe.
Unlike in the original story, where his two-tomoe Sharingan awakened under the trauma of saving Kakashi,
this time his eye had opened through Kuugetsu's genjutsu-based mental training.
Lacking that life-or-death stimulus, his Sharingan had only developed one tomoe so far.
Still, Obito was living quite the dream life.
With Kakashi recruited early into the ANBU by his father, Obito had been enjoying his days as a top student.
His relationship with Rin was also blossoming — with some subtle "help" from Hoshiyomi, the two were now officially a couple.
Obito was daydreaming mid-training, wondering when he'd get to ask Rin out on a proper date, when he suddenly sensed unfamiliar chakra nearby.
Instantly on alert, he tensed up.
No one usually came to this area — Kuugetsu's reputation as a "witch" kept most of the kids far away.
If someone was here now, they were probably up to no good.
Without hesitation, Obito pulled out a kunai and hurled it toward the source of the disturbance.
The sharp whistle of steel slicing air startled Itachi — he froze, too young and too slow to dodge.
At the critical moment, Shisui leapt into action.
With lightning reflexes, he drew the short blade strapped to his back and sliced the incoming kunai clean in half.
His expression hardened as he shouted coldly:
"Who's there? Come out — now!"
In his mind, there was no way Aunt Kuugetsu would attack him by mistake;
if a kunai had suddenly come flying, then someone must be lying in ambush nearby.
On the Other Side…
Hearing the childish voice, Obito froze for a moment.
Then, with a swift movement, he leapt up into a nearby tree. From his elevated perch, he looked down at Shisui and Itachi, curling his lip in disdain.
"What the—? Turns out it's just a couple of brats.
I thought it was someone sneaking around up to no good."
Seeing Obito, Shisui was also startled, then said with some annoyance:
"That's what I should be saying.
Why are you hiding around my aunt's house?"
"Huh? Your aunt?"
Hearing Shisui's words, Obito was momentarily stunned, then rubbed the back of his head and laughed with an idiotic expression:
"Ahaha… So that's what this is — looks like I just attacked my own people.
My bad!"
Saying this, Obito calmly jumped down from the tree, striking a pose he thought was cool but was, in fact, utterly lame:
"Let me just give you a hint, and you'll surely know who I am. Your aunt must have told you about the exceptionally talented, genius boy she took on, the one who's practically the future of the Uchiha clan, right?"
Three black lines practically popped onto Shisui's forehead.
He sighed helplessly and replied:
"Sorry to disappoint you, but my aunt never mentioned anything like that."
Obito's smug grin froze mid-face. He muttered in disbelief:
"What? You mean Kuugetsu-sensei never talks about me?
But I'm her only talented disciple!"
Still, being the carefree optimist he was, Obito quickly shrugged it off and smiled again.
"Ah well, no big deal.
Since you're Kuugetsu-sensei's relatives, I guess that makes us kind of connected.
Anyway, I'm Obito — nice to meet you."
At that, little Itachi suddenly let out a surprised "Ah!"
Obito raised an eyebrow and grinned.
"Oh? Sounds like you've heard of me before."
Itachi looked up at him seriously and said honestly:
"I've heard the other kids talking.
They said there was a dead-last at the Ninja Academy — people even called him the 'Shame of the Uchiha.'
But then he somehow got really strong all of a sudden.
I think… they said that person's name was Obito."
Obito's smile froze again. His eye twitched.
"Yeah... you don't need to mention that part next time."
Shisui quickly stepped in, introducing himself to ease the tension:
"I'm Shisui. And this is Itachi.
We came here to find my aunt Kuugetsu. Is she not back yet?"
Obito blinked in surprise.
"So you're the Shisui everyone talks about — the one who's supposedly on par with Kakashi at the Academy!
I heard you're about to graduate already?"
When Shisui nodded, Obito muttered to himself for a bit before finally answering their question:
"You two came a bit early.
Kuugetsu-sensei's still at the Hokage's office right now, but she should be back soon.
You can wait here if you want — she won't be long."
(Timeline note: This takes place in Konoha Year 45.
The Third Great Ninja War ended about half a year to a year earlier than in the original story.
At this point, Obito is 12, Kakashi is 11, Shisui is around 7 (estimated, since his exact age isn't recorded), and Itachi is 3.)
...
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