"Mikoto."
After returning home, Uchiha Fugaku could not wait to share the good news with Uchiha Mikoto.
"What happened? You look so happy."
"It is Itama."
Uchiha Fugaku said, "Itama is truly a genius."
"An even greater genius than Itachi."
Uchiha Mikoto's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
Because of Uchiha Itama's temperament, both Fugaku and Mikoto had been worried about his future.
There was little need to fuss over Itachi, so their attention had mostly gone to Itama.
Only after Sasuke was born did that begin to change.
"It is true."
Uchiha Fugaku nodded emphatically. "Today I first taught Itama how to extract chakra. He listened once and did it on the spot. That was even faster than Itachi back then."
Fugaku could not help recalling his own clumsy first attempts at chakra extraction.
Compared to his two sons, he was far inferior.
"After that, I taught him Fire Release, Great Fireball Technique."
"He learned it in an instant all the same."
"And the Clone Technique, the Transformation Technique, the Substitution Technique."
"He learned all of them after a single demonstration."
"I did not dare keep going. Having him learn too much too fast might be bad. But if I continued, I am certain he would learn it all."
"Let him get familiar with what he has already grasped first."
Uchiha Mikoto nodded.
"He should get familiar."
Fugaku calmed a little.
"To think our sons are geniuses one after another. When they grow up, our Uchiha name as the Leaf's foremost shinobi clan will be even more deserved."
"In the future, the two of them will surely shine across the ninja world."
Uchiha Mikoto smiled.
"If Itachi hears this, he will be happy too."
"Yes, he is very fond of his two little brothers. But Itama does not seem to like Itachi very much. I do not know why. Our Uchiha are not like the Hyuga with those kinds of rules."
"There will never be a scene of brothers turning on each other."
Fugaku frowned.
"It is not dislike. That is just Itama's personality. He has been different from others since he was small, and after Itama turned three or four, Itachi was rarely at home. It probably makes Itama feel distant."
"But no matter what, Itama is our son and part of our family."
"He is Itachi's younger brother."
"He is Sasuke's older brother."
Uchiha Mikoto spoke gently.
"Mm."
Fugaku nodded.
But when the word personality came up, he could not help remembering Itama asking if he was an illegitimate child.
A trace of grievance rose in his heart.
Fugaku felt that only Itama could ask such a question.
And he had asked with a straight face.
"This kid thinks too wildly. He actually suspected he was my child from outside."
"Did Itama ask you that too?"
Fugaku's brow lifted.
Hearing Mikoto's words, he realized Itama had asked her the same question.
Involuntarily, Fugaku pictured that scene.
His grievance grew even stronger.
"But speaking of it, Itama's hair is indeed strange. Because we used the name of Senju Itama, even the color turned out like Senju Itama's."
"Maybe long ago, our Uchiha and the Senju shared the same ancestors."
The next day.
Uchiha Fugaku brought Uchiha Itama back to the lakeside.
"Itama, do you remember what I taught you yesterday?"
"I remember."
"Good. I will test you now. Begin. First, extract chakra."
Itama nodded.
A mass of chakra gathered in his palm.
"Not bad."
Fugaku smiled with satisfaction.
"Second, use Fire Release, Great Fireball Technique."
"All right."
As soon as Itama spoke, a fireball bloomed before him.
It was exactly the same as yesterday's.
The fireball streaked toward the middle of the lake.
"Good."
Fugaku nodded, pleased.
Then something felt off.
He could not say what it was.
"Continue. Use the Clone Technique."
"All right."
Two clones appeared at Itama's sides. A perfect Clone Technique. The clones looked no different from Itama, as if they were real people.
Fugaku's pupils shrank sharply.
It was not because Itama executed the technique well.
It was because Fugaku finally realized what felt wrong.
When Itama used ninjutsu, he never formed seals.
Ninjutsu without seals.
Whether it was the Great Fireball Technique or the Clone Technique, Itama had not formed a single sign.
He simply lifted a hand and the jutsu came out.
It was terrifying.