"Fugaku-sensei"
Amamiya Rei greeted Fugaku.
He glanced at Fugaku before him, then turned his gaze toward Uchiha Itachi, who was standing not far away, quietly watching Fugaku's back.
At a time like this, instead of saying farewell to his wife and children, why had Fugaku come to him?
Amamiya Rei's heart carried a hint of doubt.
"Fugaku-sensei, I wish you a safe journey."
Seeing that Fugaku still had the expression of someone who would not utter even half a word more than necessary, Rei braced himself and forced out a blessing.
Looking at Fugaku before him, a sudden idea flickered across Rei's mind.
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
So, Fugaku had delivered himself right to his door, hadn't he?
If he had gone so far as to prepare a bento for Kakashi, then how could he not also prepare a gift for his own teacher, Fugaku?
Yes, he would give Fugaku something truly unique—his spores!
That was settled, just like that!
Fugaku gave a slight nod. He fixed his gaze on Amamiya Rei, watching him for so long that Rei's scalp tingled.
What was this about?
Rei sneaked another glance at Fugaku.
If he didn't know it was impossible, he would have thought Fugaku had overheard his inner thoughts!
Although Fugaku's expression did not change much, his eyes grew unusually solemn and heavy. He said to Rei, "While I am away from the village, I ask you to look after Itachi and Sasuke."
This startled Rei so much that his eyes widened.
Entrusting them to him?
Rei stared at Fugaku, and in a flash of insight, instantly understood what Fugaku meant.
It all traced back to the Nine-Tails' Rebellion.
Obito's scheme had brought calamity upon the Uchiha clan.
Everyone knew that only the Sharingan could control the Nine-Tails, and during the incident, the reflection of the Sharingan in the beast's eyes had been the most damning proof.
Both the ninja of the village and the common villagers alike had since rejected and distrusted the Uchiha clan.
Fugaku had not attempted to explain. He knew clearly that explanations were meaningless. The evidence was overwhelming, and nothing could dispel the village's suspicion.
The mistrust of the Konoha leadership toward the Uchiha clan was now completely unmasked.
On top of that, the Sharingan was a coveted treasure that everyone in the ninja world desired.
What worried Fugaku most was that once he and the majority of the clan's shinobi departed for the battlefield, something unpredictable might occur within the village.
Although it was wartime and the likelihood of internal unrest was small, if such unrest did erupt, it would directly endanger his wife, his children, and even the clan's very survival.
Fugaku knew Amamiya Rei's abilities were limited, which was why he only asked Rei to keep watch.
If something truly catastrophic happened, Rei would be powerless.
Yet, as the inheritor of the First Hokage's Wood Release—in Konoha, at least, she was completely safe. Even if someone harbored sinister intent, they would not dare lay a hand on her inside the village, or they would instantly become the target of all.
Entrusting Rei was nothing more than a strategy born of Fugaku's helplessness.
But even more than that, Fugaku had a certain intuition.
His instincts told him that Amamiya Rei could protect the Uchiha.
"I will definitely look after Itachi and Sasuke."
Rei nodded firmly, making his promise.
His expression was even more serious and solemn than Fugaku's.
Of course!
To Rei, Itachi and Sasuke were invaluable resources.
How could he possibly allow harm to come to them?
Whoever dared to injure their bodies—Amamiya Rei would utterly shatter their paradise.
System: "..."
Fugaku trusted Rei's character.
From the moment Rei had been forced to become a shinobi in the Hokage's office for Naruto's sake, Fugaku had known—Amamiya Rei was someone who kept her word and always repaid kindness.
Rei extended his hand, deliberately creating physical contact to give his spores an opportunity to enter Fugaku's body. "Fugaku-sensei, return safely."
Fugaku was momentarily stunned. He looked into the girl's earnest eyes, his feelings complicated, then firmly clasped her hand. "Rest assured."
The spores silently fused into Fugaku's palm.
Fugaku did not sense a thing. His heart was filled only with a surge of emotion stirred by Rei's sincerity.
The evidence that the Uchiha had controlled the Nine-Tails, caused internal chaos, and brought about the deaths of the Fourth Hokage and his wife was overwhelming. Yet from beginning to end, Rei had never once doubted or shunned any member of the Uchiha clan.
Not only that—on the very night when Rei had been cornered by Elder Danzō in the Hokage's office, Fugaku himself had kept silent and offered no words in Rei's defense. And now, Rei bore no grudge, but chose to help him instead, with no trace of resentment.
In that moment, Fugaku saw in Rei a familiar shadow.
Amamiya Rei was becoming more and more like Minato.
Rei gently withdrew his hand, his lips curving into a smile, and watched as the figures of Kakashi, Fugaku, and the others disappear down the broad road that led from Konoha's gates.
Only when their silhouettes had completely vanished did Rei withdraw his gaze and meet Uchiha Itachi's eyes from across the way.
Itachi, cradling his younger brother in his arms, stood beside Mikoto. He looked up, saying something to his mother. Mikoto turned her gentle gaze toward Rei and offered him a soft smile before departing.
Then, holding Sasuke, Itachi came forward to stand before Rei.
"Will you go to the battlefield?"
Itachi suddenly asked.
He raised his face, his eyes and expression as calm as still water, nothing like a child's.
Hearing Itachi's question, Rei showed just the right trace of confusion on his face. Shaking his head, he answered, "I don't know."
Itachi looked at the now-empty Konoha road and asked with genuine curiosity, "Why must there be war?"
Little brother, you've asked the wrong person!
"I don't know either."
Rei's character setting was not that of someone especially intelligent.
He reminded himself never to speak words that were too deep.
"But I don't like war."
"I don't like hurting people."
"I hope the war will end quickly."
Rei reached out and patted Itachi's head, his eyes soft with gentle light. "I hope all children like you and Sasuke can grow up safe and happy."
Preferably plump and well-fed—easier for him to take a bite.
Itachi gazed at Rei's face, bathed in the golden glow of sunset, and felt a warmth yet powerful force well up in his heart, nearly soothing all of his restlessness and unease.
"In order to protect more children like you and Sasuke, I will work hard to train in ninjutsu, and I will strive to eliminate hatred, to bring the war to an end as soon as possible."
Rei clenched his fist, determination burning in his eyes.
He needed a reasonable excuse for his relentless ninjutsu training.
Otherwise, his previous character setting of rejecting the shinobi world would be completely out of character.
"…Nee-san."
Rei thought he was hallucinating.
He froze in place, as though thunder had struck him, leaving him charred outside and raw within.
His eyes locked onto Uchiha Itachi, the culprit who had uttered that sinful title, and he caught the faint blush of shyness blooming at Itachi's ears.
Rei's vision went black.
"I want to be like you as well."
Itachi said, his tone firm with unwavering resolve.
Rei could hear nothing else.
His mind echoed with only that one word—nee-san(sister).
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Sorry for the late update, everyone! I had an assignment I needed to finish up first. Thank you for your patience 💕