The Uchiha house was quiet that morning. Not an absolute silence, but the kind that exists when everything moves at its own pace: the soft creak of wood beneath small footsteps, the distant sound of wind passing through the trees in the yard, the gentle clatter of utensils being organized in the kitchen.
Ren was sitting on the bedroom floor, his legs folded awkwardly, small fingers touching the smooth surface of a wooden toy that had been forgotten there for days. He wasn't really playing. He simply turned the object slowly in his hands, feeling its weight, watching how the light from the window reflected differently with each movement.
The world felt too big sometimes.
Not frightening. Just… vast.
On the other side of the room, Sasuke was making enough noise for both of them. He crawled from one side to the other, slapping his hands against the floor, producing sounds that were still uncoordinated, but full of intent. Whenever something caught his attention, he reacted immediately—stretching out an arm, trying to stand, falling, then trying again.
Ren watched.
Not with intense curiosity. Not with judgment. He simply observed, as if he were learning something he didn't yet know how to name.
Sasuke fell once more, landing on the floor with a frustrated grunt.
Ren blinked.
Then, slowly, he pushed the wooden toy in his brother's direction. The object rolled unevenly until it stopped near Sasuke.
The cry that had been about to form was interrupted.
Sasuke grabbed the toy tightly, dark eyes lighting up for an instant, and began banging it against the floor, pleased with the sound.
Ren looked away soon after, as if the gesture had been too small to deserve attention.
"Ren?"
Mikoto's voice came from the doorway.
She had been watching the scene for several seconds.
The way Sasuke tested the toy with enthusiasm. The way Ren remained quiet, but alert, his eyes following every movement his brother made.
Mikoto entered the room with soft steps and crouched beside them.
"You gave him the toy," she said. There was no reproach in her tone. Just observation.
Ren slowly lifted his eyes.
They were far too calm for someone so small. Not empty. Not distant. Simply attentive.
He didn't answer. He only leaned slightly in her direction.
That was enough.
Mikoto smiled and gently ran her hand through her son's dark hair.
"Thank you," she murmured.
Ren closed his eyes briefly at the touch.
The world felt less vast that way.
She sat on the floor with them, pulling Sasuke a little closer when he tried to stand again and nearly fell. Sasuke complained, but quickly became distracted by his own reflection in a forgotten metallic object nearby.
"You two are so different," she said softly, almost to herself.
Sasuke responded with a loud sound, as if disagreeing.
Ren simply listened.
He liked hearing his mother's voice. Not because of the sound itself, but because of its rhythm. There was something about it that organized the world, as if it placed everything where it belonged.
Mikoto gently rested her forehead against his.
"Are you cold?"
Ren shook his head just a little.
Even so, she adjusted his clothes more carefully, her movements attentive to every detail, as if nothing were too small to deserve care.
Ren watched her hands.
Always present. Always close.
He didn't fully understand what that meant. But he knew that when Mikoto was there, everything felt less scattered.
Later, she took them both out into the yard.
The air was cool, and sunlight filtered unevenly through the leaves of the trees.
Sasuke reacted immediately to the open space, trying to move away as soon as his feet touched the ground. He stumbled, fell, then got back up with minimal help.
Ren remained still for a moment.
The wind brushed against his face.
He closed his eyes.
There were many sounds. Many scents. Many movements.
But little by little, everything began to organize itself.
Mikoto stayed beside him, not rushing him.
"You don't have to go yet," she said softly.
Ren opened his eyes and took a short step forward. Then another.
Slow. Careful.
Sasuke was already far ahead, trying to reach something only he seemed to see.
Mikoto watched the two of them, feeling her heart tighten in a strangely sweet way.
A short while later, footsteps approached.
Lighter. More controlled.
Itachi stopped before entering the yard.
He observed first.
Sasuke moving too far away. Mikoto ready to intervene. Ren standing still, attentive, as if measuring the space around him before moving.
"Good morning," Itachi said.
"Good morning," Mikoto replied. "Up early again."
"It's becoming a habit."
Itachi stepped closer when Sasuke tried to climb a small uneven patch and nearly fell. He caught him before he could get hurt.
"You really have no patience," he murmured, with a faint smile.
Sasuke responded with an indignant sound, then laughed.
Itachi then turned his gaze to Ren.
The boy was watching him.
Not with childish admiration. Not with expectation.
It was an attentive look, as if he were trying to understand something.
"Does he always do that?" Itachi asked.
"Do what?"
"Observe everything before acting."
Ren tilted his head slightly, as if recognizing that they were talking about him.
Itachi felt something tighten softly in his chest.
"He notices much more than it seems," Mikoto said.
"I don't think he seems distant," Itachi replied. "He seems focused."
Mikoto smiled.
Ren looked away, clearly uncomfortable with prolonged attention.
Itachi crouched in front of him, keeping a respectful distance.
"You don't rush," he said, his tone calm, almost curious.
Ren placed his hands on the ground and tried to stand.
The movement was slow. Calculated.
He nearly fell.
Mikoto extended her hand, but didn't hold him. She only stayed close.
Ren sat back down.
He didn't cry. He didn't complain.
He simply stayed silent, absorbing the experience.
Itachi watched closely.
"You learn before you act," he murmured, more to himself than to anyone else.
Ren lifted his gaze and met his eyes for a brief moment.
There was something there. A silent understanding that didn't need words.
Later, when Sasuke was already tired and Mikoto carried him in her arms, Ren walked beside her, holding onto the edge of her clothing with small fingers.
Mikoto looked down.
"Tired?"
Ren tilted his head slightly, leaning into her more.
She smiled.
"Then let's go inside."
As they went back in, Itachi watched them from a distance.
Two brothers. Two rhythms. Two paths beginning to take shape.
And between them, an attentive silence that seemed to grow alongside time.