Clang, clang, clang!
Several kunai were thrown at once. Immediately, an equal number followed, colliding in midair and altering their original trajectories before striking dead center into their respective targets.
After showing off this technique, Itachi turned back to Shion."Didn't you say you looked down on tricks like these? Why do you want to learn now?"
Shion glanced at his own target, full of embarrassing misses, then at the kunai in his hand. This isn't something I want to learn. But my shadow clone Sora needs it.
Back at the orphanage, when he fought against Danzō and Orochimaru, he could use Flying Thunder God, but his aim with multiple kunai wasn't good enough. Otherwise, killing Danzō that day wouldn't have been impossible.
"Don't talk so much. Just teach me. At worst, I'll buy you dango later."
Itachi frowned. That three-colored dango skewer was something he could never get over.
Once again, he carefully explained how to calculate a shuriken's trajectory, then put on another little display of pinpoint accuracy.
But when Shion listened, it all boiled down to this: My brain understands the principle, my hand says I'm ready to throw, and then…
Miss!
"Hahaha… Shion, this is the first time I've seen you fail at something," Shisui said, clearly enjoying himself. But then he offered a suggestion:"Itachi's calculation skills are extraordinary. If you can't manage the trajectory change, why not focus on perfecting multiple simultaneous hits?
"I think even that much would be enough for you. After all, everyone has their own rhythm in battle. You can't be flawless in every area."
Shion considered it and nodded. After some practice, he turned to Shisui."You seem pretty free after this mission. Didn't Uchiha Yashiro call you in for a council meeting?"
Shisui glanced at Itachi to make sure he couldn't hear before replying quietly."Ever since Captain Fugaku passed away, Yashiro has been in charge of the Police Force. He actually sees the clan's relationship with the village quite clearly."
Shion gave a short laugh."So the real problem lies with his father—Elder Uchiha Setsuna's old follower, right?"
Shisui sighed and nodded."Yes. As a long-time hawk within the clan, Elder Uchiha Nanami always believed the Uchiha founded Konoha alongside the Senju. The Senju produced two Hokage, yet the Uchiha have never had one. Worse still…"
Shion finished the thought for him."…Worse still, they've been excluded from the village's core power structure, kept at the margins all this time. Partly because of the Second Hokage's legacy, and partly because of the Uchiha themselves."
The two spoke quietly for a while before falling silent when Itachi walked back over.
By noon, the three were about to grab food when suddenly both Shion and Itachi froze.
They exchanged a glance. Shisui frowned."What's wrong?"
Itachi replied, "Looks like I need to head home. My shadow clone was dispelled."
Shion chuckled."Same here. But mine didn't get beaten into smoke. My clone beat a bunch of upperclassmen half to death and popped itself to call me back to clean up the mess…"
That caught Itachi's attention."You have that much chakra?"
Shion's tone was flat."Not really. Just a little more than you. Maybe a few billion times more…"
What a joke. The First Hokage's chakra reserves aren't something to laugh at. Once I fully awaken the Sage Body, I could snatch two Tailed Beasts for pets if I wanted.
At the Academy infirmary, Shion stared at the bruised, swollen upperclassmen laid out on beds. His head throbbed.
Sure, the memories his clone sent back didn't show anything wrong—this was a fight he'd have picked anyway. But why in the world had the clone gone and picked a fight with the entire upper grade?
What is this, kindergarten domination by fist?
Shion rubbed his wallet. I wonder if my poor wallet can handle this hit…
He glanced at Itachi beside him. As the son of the former clan head, he shouldn't be strapped for cash, right?
Itachi read his look instantly and whispered,"Don't even think about it. I wasn't the one who beat up all the seniors. And I don't have money."
BAM!
The infirmary door flew open as a group of jōnin and chūnin rushed in, comforting their injured kids before turning furious eyes on the two Uchihas.
So now the clone's mess is mine to pay for? Am I really that much of a tyrant? This is absurd!
With a sigh, Shion reluctantly pulled out his wallet.
Beside him, Itachi muttered under his breath,"If you cover this, I'll teach you the kunai technique with a simpler formula."
You sly little bastard…
Only after paying compensation and enduring a storm of teacher scolding were Shion and Itachi finally released.
But when they reached the last two beds, Shion froze at the familiar faces.
Iruka Umino. Mizuki.
Both had apparently been thrashed by his shadow clone as well.
Iruka laughed it off, asking how Shion trained and why he was so strong. Mizuki, on the other hand, forced a smile, but his eyes barely concealed his hatred.
Leaving the Academy, Shion glanced at Itachi."Today's mess started because they wanted payback against you. If I didn't also carry the Uchiha name, they wouldn't have dragged me into it. So…"
Itachi nodded."Don't worry. I promise I'll make sure you master my technique."
After a long silence, Shion suddenly asked,"Itachi… are you poor?"
Itachi looked at him, then turned away, speaking quietly."The Police Force's funding comes directly from the village. Back when my father was alive, he had to account for every coin. The clan compound is large, but because it sits on the edge of the village, ordinary clansmen's businesses don't do well."
He hadn't spelled it out, but Shion understood.
No wonder, in the original timeline, the Uchiha were always in debt to Cat Granny. No wonder Shisui had to gift Itachi a set of ninja tools recently.
Funding and financial authority weren't in the Fourth Hokage's hands. Could it be Danzō? No—that scapegoat belonged to him for ROOT. This must be the work of the two old fossils, Koharu and Homura.
At the Uchiha compound, a small boy tottered outside the doorway, clinging to the frame and peeking out.
"Well, well. So this is your little brother, Sasuke?"
The smile on Itachi's face froze instantly. He turned sharply to Shion."Why are you still here?"
Shion pointed at the toddler."He wet his pants. Shouldn't you change him?"
Itachi spun back in horror. Sure enough, Sasuke's crotch was soaked, with a couple of drops still dripping down.
"You watch him. I'll grab clean clothes."
He hurried inside.
He didn't see Shion, who had been smiling, now slowly approach the little "Second Pillar."
"Waaah, waaah, waaah!"
At just over a year old, Sasuke couldn't speak yet. He only wailed loudly, drawing attention.
Before long, Itachi returned with his mother, Mikoto, carrying clean pants. But the scene before them nearly made Itachi draw his blade.
"You—what are you doing?!"
Shion looked back casually at the furious Itachi."What? I just flicked him, that's all."
Itachi's eyes burned with killing intent, his hand twitching toward his sword.
"Itachi, that's rude," Mikoto said firmly, stopping him. But her eyes clearly warned: This isn't over. Tomorrow, we settle this.
Shion politely declined Mikoto's invitation to stay for dinner. Before leaving, he gave baby Sasuke a final teasing smile, making the child burst into tears again. Only then did Shion leave satisfied.
Back home, Shion placed a glass vial on the table. Inside it was a tuft of hair.
I wonder if hair will work. Maybe I should've given him a little shove, gotten some blood instead…