"Brother."
At the door, Sasuke spotted Uchiha Itama and ran over at once.
"Izumi-nee."
Uchiha Izumi flushed and quickly slipped her hand from Itama's.
This time he let go.
He had heard Mikoto inside and knew she would peek out.
If he kept holding on, Izumi would get mad.
"Good evening, little Sasuke."
Izumi reached to ruffle his hair, but Sasuke dodged.
"Do not touch my head. Only my brother and big brother can. Even if you become my sister-in-law one day, you cannot."
Mikoto stepped out.
"Itama, you are back. Izumi, come in and sit. Now that Itama has started school, you are the older one, so please look after him there."
"Izumi is not my older sister."
Itama looked at Mikoto. "Mother, Izumi will be my wife. Did you forget?"
"Wife..."
Mikoto blinked, then smiled.
"I did not forget. I remember. When you are an adult, I will have your father bring the proposal."
Izumi flushed again.
"Aunt Mikoto, my mother is waiting for me. I will not come in today. Next time. I should go or she will worry. Goodbye, Auntie."
She jogged off.
Mikoto tapped Itama lightly on the head.
"Do not tease your Izumi-nee all the time."
"I am not teasing. I am serious."
"Truly?"
"Truly."
Mikoto's smile faded as she studied him. "Itama, marriage is not a game. Do you know what it means?"
She had thought he was joking.
He often said strange things, and over time she had stopped taking them to heart.
But this time, she felt he meant it.
"You are still too young. It is too early to talk about this. Master your ninja path first."
"I already have."
Itama said, "Mother, Father himself admitted I am even more gifted than Itachi. You do not need to worry about my ninja training."
"Even so, do not slack off."
Mikoto rubbed his hair.
"I know."
He lowered his head. His eyes flushed crimson. In each, two tomoe turned slowly.
He had never slacked on training.
Once he realized he was a genius who, with enough effort, might surpass Itachi, he had worked harder than anyone his age.
Only then could he hope to change the Uchiha's fate.
He had noticed a change in Fugaku.
Compared to the original path, Fugaku now harbored suspicions about Itachi earlier. But Itama knew he could not pin his hopes on his father alone.
Because of his talent, Fugaku valued him more, yet still treated him mostly as a child.
He could rely only on himself.
The next day.
He ran into Yamabuki Yuki again. More precisely, she waited on the road for him.
She did not speak, just followed quietly.
Itama glanced back and let it be.
After class.
A student blocked his way.
Itama looked up.
A pair of pale eyes filled his view.
A member of the Hyuga branch family. The name, Itama had forgotten.
"What is it?"
"Uchiha Itama, spar with me."
Arms crossed, Hyuga Hikaru said, "Let us see if the Uchiha or the Hyuga are stronger. In this class, only you are worthy to be my opponent. Everyone wants to see it."
"Come to the training field and settle it."
Itama waved a hand.
"No. You win."
Hikaru's face darkened.
"I win? Wait, are you looking down on me? You will not even come? Does the name Hyuga mean nothing to you? Are you Uchiha always this arrogant?"
Itama shook his head.
"The name Hyuga carries weight for me. But you are branch family. Strictly speaking, branch family is not the true Hyuga."
"You..."
Those two words, branch family, were like a blade driven into Hikaru's chest.
His breathing turned ragged.
Fury flared without end.
SPLURT!
Blood sprayed from his mouth.
He felt himself falling backward.
A student stood behind him, but when Hikaru toppled, the boy flinched aside.
Hikaru crashed to the floor.
"So there is no need to spar with me. A main family member might be worth my time."
Itama finished and walked out the school gate.
Izumi's class was still in session. Upper grades had heavier lessons.
Suddenly.
A commotion rose.
Itama looked over.
A little girl was curled up in a corner by the wall.
A few delinquent brats loomed over her, cocky and loud.
"White eyes... a Hyuga?"
"At this age, that must be Hinata."