"Congratulations, Amane."
Outside the Uchiha compound, near the abandoned Uchiha shrine by the Nanga River.
Amane leaned against a tree.
Beside him stood Uchiha Itachi, newly released from confinement.
An academy quiz would not shake Konoha on its own.
Yet the rumor spread that an Uchiha prodigy had pressed the Third Hokage's son, Sarutobi Asuma, in pure taijutsu.
That rumor drew eyes to what should have been nothing.
A six-year-old still in training showed such strength. What height would he reach after graduation?
Everyone knew the Uchiha as a dōjutsu clan, their Sharingan boosting body and mind, with genjutsu especially feared.
Their pride after that was ninjutsu.
Their taijutsu was not weak, but since the monster named Uchiha Madara, there had not been a taijutsu talent like Amane.
He even used a style Konoha had never seen.
That mattered most.
In him they saw the outline of an Uchiha-ryu taijutsu.
The attack lines and effects surpassed Konoha-ryu.
So of course he drew notice.
Itachi was surprised as well.
A younger brother in glasses was bound to be limited in eye arts. He had poured himself into the body.
A genius?
His little brother was a genius. As an older brother, Itachi was quietly proud.
But that was not why he came.
Inside the shrine stood an ancient stone tablet.
Since opening his Mangekyō, Itachi often came to read it.
He was not the only one.
Another man visited, and Itachi waited here to speak with him about things no one else would hear.
The man called himself Uchiha Madara.
He was merciless.
On a mission, he had killed Itachi's teammates before his eyes.
His given purpose filled Itachi with sorrow.
Sorrow for the clan.
Because of the eyes.
Only violent shocks and heavy grief could push the Sharingan higher.
How far could a clan like that go?
With his plan fixed, Itachi had come to ask that man's help.
He had not expected Amane to be here, either waiting for him under the tree or simply whiling away time.
For this brother, Itachi believed the former.
"No need."
"Being first in the year never satisfies me."
"You, on the other hand, deserve praise for leaving lockup."
Amane shrugged, stepped from the tree, and faced him.
"Were you waiting for me?"
Itachi asked, puzzled.
"Yes. Who else would come here?"
Amane did not hide it. He was waiting for Itachi.
Or rather for the one Itachi wanted to meet.
Fortunately they arrived together. Facing that man alone would be risky.
With Itachi nearby and alive, the man would not make a move against him.
It did not stop Amane from wanting to disgust him a little.
The watcher hid in the dark. For Amane, this was the perfect moment.
"Here is the thing."
He nudged his glasses, eyes bright with childlike wisdom and hungry curiosity.
"For certain reasons, Sasuke and I have been studying how to get stronger."
"You know Father only gives us basics in Fire Release. He has no fresh ideas."
"So we are working on a new ninjutsu, self-made."
At that, a hot gaze fell on Amane's back.
Clearly, the words self-made ninjutsu hooked the man in the shadows.
"Let's hear it."
Itachi was interested too.
Rumor in Konoha said his brother was a prodigy in taijutsu. Now he was turning to ninjutsu research.
Good.
A brother being asked for help meant trust and respect.
No older brother disliked that.
With change looming, he treasured this time.
Next they met, they would be enemies.
"The jutsu is called..."
"Ride Rin."
CREAK.
A faint sound came from not far away.
Amane glanced over, finding no one.
"Someone there?"
He turned back, all innocence.
"Probably a stray cat."
Itachi narrowed his eyes.
He was here.
With that man's skill, he should not make such a clumsy mistake.
"Go on."
Itachi took a slow breath.
"Right."
"The problem Sasuke and I hit is not the structure."
"We are studying which posture is best during the ride, how much force to use, and how to ride in the most scientific, longest lasting way."
Amane's face reddened, eyes still burning.
Ride Rin.
The jutsu was called Ride Rin.
And my little brother wants to know how to ride in comfort, how to ride for bliss.
Was that the meaning?
Itachi rubbed his chin.
How should he answer?
He had no experience.
What kind of jutsu was this?
"So even you cannot give me an answer?"
Amane sighed with disappointment, then tugged Itachi's sleeve. "When you figure it out, tell me. I am heading back."
He turned and left, a small back receding.
Behind him, a voice slid through the air.
"What did he just say."
"Ride who."
"Rin. Do you know her."
…