Uchiha Itama led the two into the back garden.
Hinata looked around with curious eyes.
Sasuke, however, felt displeased with her, as if someone were stealing his brother.
So Sasuke's eyes turned, and he picked a topic Hinata could not join.
"Brother, big brother seems busier and busier. When you become a full ninja, will you be that busy too?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I will not be like him, always doing extra things."
"What extra things?"
Itama smiled and rubbed Sasuke's head.
"Who knows. But that is Itachi's nature, is it not."
"If you are not in the position, do not meddle in the affairs of that position."
"A person should do what he ought to do."
"There is no need to do extra things."
Itama disliked one thing about Itachi very much.
Even as a mere genin he brooded over life and death, village and greater good. He did not even need the elders to brainwash him, he had done it to himself.
Which matters more, village or clan?
Was it not obvious that clans came first, long before the village?
Did the Uchiha and Senju not exist before the Leaf?
Sasuke nodded, half understanding.
"I get it. You mean we only need to eat and do not need to wash the dishes, right?"
"Yes, that is right. So smart."
Before long, Uchiha Fugaku and Hyuga Hiashi entered.
"Hinata, time to go home."
"Yes, Father."
Hinata ran lightly to Hiashi.
"Goodbye, Uncle Fugaku. Goodbye, big brother."
She waved to Fugaku and Itama.
"Goodbye."
Watching them leave, Fugaku turned to Itama.
"Itama, come to the study with me."
"All right."
Sasuke tried to follow, but Mikoto stopped him. He pouted in frustration.
"It is always like this."
"Big brother and Father go to the study, and I cannot go."
"Now Brother and Father are going, and I still cannot go."
"What secret is in there?"
"Are they secretly eating something good?"
Mikoto laughed.
"Maybe. When you grow up you will know. I do not know either."
Fugaku closed the door behind them.
"Itama, tell me exactly how you met Hinata."
Itama did not hide anything.
"On my way home. A few boys had her cornered, so I stepped in."
"Were there others present?"
"No. Wait, there was a little blond."
"A little blond?"
"Yes," Itama said. "About Sasuke's age. Clothes in tatters, hair dirty, golden. Looked like an orphan without parents."
Fugaku thought of someone.
"You did not clash with him, did you?"
"No."
"Good."
Fugaku smiled, then changed the subject.
"Itama, you have been at the Academy three or four months. How does it feel?"
"Very boring."
Itama shrugged. "The teachers are weaker than I am. I doubt I will learn anything from them. Father, the jutsu you mentioned last time, I think I am ready."
"Have you mastered the previous ones perfectly?"
Fugaku had barely asked when he realized it was a foolish question.
This son was far more gifted than he was.
Those jutsu he learned after one look.
And he used them without seals.
A clap and the technique appeared.
If that did not count as mastery, what would?
"Sorry. I have been too busy lately."
Fugaku looked at Itama.
Suddenly his pupils tightened sharply.
He had seen it.
In Itama's eyes, two tomoe were turning slowly.
"Two tomoe?"
Fugaku was shocked.
Opening the eyes at six was already exceptional in clan history.
Now, only three or four months later, Itama had reached two tomoe.
It was terrifying.
Even knowing his son's talent surpassed Itachi's, this was still too fast.
"Father, is it enough now?"
"Enough, enough."
Joy filled Fugaku's chest, tinged with a small bite of envy.
Itama's talent was enough to make even him jealous.
"Then tomorrow, all right? Tomorrow happens to be a school holiday."
"Fine."
That night.
Fugaku returned to his room.
"Mikoto, Itama's talent surprised me again."
"What happened?"
"Itama has already awakened two tomoe."
"Two tomoe?"
Mikoto's voice rose.
"It has only been a few months."
"Yes."
Fugaku sighed. "At this pace, Itama might truly rival the First Hokage of old. It is a pity the time is a bit short."
"If only Itama and Itachi had been born at different times."