He was a prodigy.
A true, undeniable monster prodigy.
Another year had passed in the blink of an eye, and Shiro's growth was nothing short of terrifying. His physical and mental development progressed at a rate that defied all logic. Listening to the three-year-old's fluent, articulate speech, the three powerful figures who had become his "fathers" "guardians" "His family" were left utterly speechless.
It wasn't just that he could speak; that would have been normal enough. But Shiro didn't just speak—he conversed. His answers were clear, his pronunciation was flawless, and the logic underpinning his thoughts was frighteningly strong. The word 'genius' was no longer sufficient to describe him. He was something else entirely.
And now that he could speak, he was doted on more than ever.
"Godfather! Teach me ninjutsu!"
"Oh? You wish to learn the arts of the shinobi?"
"Mhm!" Shiro, perched happily on White Zetsu's shoulders, nodded with a vigor that made his large, innocent eyes sparkle.
"I eat so much, and eating takes up far too much of my day. I want to learn the Shadow Clone Technique. That way, I can create clones to eat with me. If I make fourteen clones, and we have fifteen wet nurses, then all fifteen of us can eat at the same time!"
"Hahahaha…" Uchiha Madara let out a deep, rumbling laugh. "Only a child could concoct such a ridiculously practical scheme."
Shiro giggled. "But I am a child!"
Madara's expression softened. "You speak with such maturity, I sometimes forget that. Listen to me, you are still far too young. Training now could be detrimental to your body's development. Wait a few more years until you have grown stronger, and then I will teach you everything I know."
Shiro's face fell, his expression shifting into an earnest plea. "Godfather, please, just now. I know I can do it!"
Uchiha Madara, the legendary Ghost of the Uchiha, found himself completely unable to resist the pouting of his beloved child. "Alright, alright," he conceded with a sigh. "Then your godfather will teach you now. White Zetsu, put him down."
Once Shiro was on the ground, Madara led him to an open space in the cavern and explained with a patience he never knew he possessed.
"Before I teach you the Shadow Clone Technique, you must first master the fundamentals: the basic Clone Jutsu, the Transformation Jutsu, and the Substitution Jutsu. It is pointless to learn more difficult techniques until you have perfected the Three Body Technique. They cover the basics of jutsus- the signs and chakra control.."
As he spoke, Madara brought his hands together, weaving them through a slow, deliberate sequence of seals.
With a soft poof, a cloud of white smoke erupted, and where Madara had stood, there was now a perfect replica of White Zetsu.
"This is the Transformation Jutsu. With it, you can take on the appearance of anyone you wish."
A moment later, the smoke cleared, and Madara stood in his original form. He formed another hand seal, and instantly, an identical copy of himself shimmered into existence beside him.
"This is the Clone Jutsu. The clone itself is an illusion without substance, but it can have surprising applications in battle, primarily to distract an enemy's attention."
Bang!
Suddenly, both Madara and his clone dissolved into puffs of smoke. Where he had stood, a small, unremarkable stone clattered to the floor.
At the same time, Madara's voice came from directly behind Shiro. "And that is the Substitution Jutsu, used to evade an attack."
Madara walked to Shiro's side and affectionately ruffled his white hair.
"My son, you will learn these three jutsu first. Once you have mastered them, I will teach you others. I am going to rest nearby. White Zetsu and Obito will remain here with you. Do not, under any circumstances, overexert yourself. Your health is more important than any training."
"Mhm!"
Shiro nodded seriously, spreading his small, chubby hands and beginning to slowly imitate the hand seals Madara had demonstrated.
Looking at Shiro's adorable, focused expression, Madara smiled with deep satisfaction. He turned to Obito and White Zetsu and whispered a final, stern reminder.
"You two will train with him. He is permitted to practice for a maximum of thirty minutes at a time. You are absolutely forbidden from letting him harm himself!"
White Zetsu responded with a cheerful grin.
"Do not worry, Lord Madara. Little Shiro is only three; he cannot even refine chakra yet. He is just mimicking the hand signs and playing. He will not tire himself out."
Obito chimed in, "He will probably grow bored and move on to something else in a few minutes. A child's attention span is fleeting, you need not worry… Hm??"
Before he could finish his sentence, another little Shiro suddenly appeared, standing right next to the original.
"It worked!" Shiro chirped happily.
"!!!"
Uchiha Madara, Obito, and White Zetsu all froze, their eyes wide with disbelief as they stared at the perfect, solid-looking clone. An ordinary person would be completely unable to tell which was the real one.
He had performed a flawless Clone Jutsu after seeing it performed only once.
And he was a child who had just turned three.
Uchiha Madara's heart swelled with a fierce, possessive pride. "My son not only possesses the power to heal, but his affinity for the ninja arts is truly astonishing. I never imagined his talent would be the greatest of any age! Hahahaha… I have truly found a priceless treasure. With him by my side, how can my grand design for this world possibly fail?!"
White Zetsu nodded eagerly. "Tsk tsk… Indeed, it will be realized without fail!"
Obito stared at Shiro, a flicker of hope in his single eye. Grow strong quickly, little Shiro. I hope you and Madara can finally take me to that world where Rin is waiting…
From the shadows, Black Zetsu mumbled to itself, its ancient voice filled with awe. "In this world, there truly exists a being even more outrageous than Mother…"