"The wind sure is... rowdy today."
Uchiha Itachi had just stepped into the park when he heard that line. He paused mid-step and seriously contemplated whether he should turn around and leave.
"Good morning, Itachi."
Hyuga Yuzuru greeted him with a warm, gentle smile, the kind that made Itachi instinctively take a step back. His cold, expressionless face remained composed, but his sharp eyes were locked onto Yuzuru like a hawk.
Keep looking at me like that, and I really will leave.
"Come on. Morning training," Yuzuru said as his smile faded. He removed his black-rimmed glasses, and just that simple act subtly shifted his entire presence.
His features bore a passing resemblance to what Neji would grow into one day, but compared to Neji's delicate refinement, Yuzuru's gaze was undeniably sharper. And this was before he had even fully grown. If he hit age seven or eight, the difference would likely become even more striking—possibly even hard to ignore.
Well, at least he wouldn't end up like this guy—Itachi—who looked like he was already sprouting wrinkles by that age.
...Wait, were those actual frown lines?
Itachi finally walked over at a leisurely pace. "I still don't understand why you think wearing glasses makes you look... friendlier."
"Well, studies show that first impressions are everything," Yuzuru replied casually as he placed his glasses aside. "Just like you, for example."
Itachi fell silent, deep in thought. Come to think of it, that actually made a lot of sense.
From their very first meeting, he'd instinctively branded Yuzuru as dangerously abnormal—a total monster in the skin of a four-year-old.
"So if something as simple as wearing glasses can make me seem more harmless," Yuzuru continued with a shrug, rolling his shoulders, "why not?"
He walked toward Itachi step by step.
Itachi sighed, already used to this strange rhythm of conversation between them. With no further complaint, he rushed forward to start their spar.
And, predictably, within thirty seconds, Hyuga Yuzuru had already struck his chakra points with pinpoint precision using Gentle Fist. The resulting chakra disruption made Itachi's movements sluggish, and the rapid follow-up strikes left him sprawled on the ground with no room to retaliate.
Yuzuru's eyes lingered briefly on the air before him.
Taijutsu – Gentle Fist Proficiency +32
Free EXP +17
"Hyuga Gentle Fist... no joke," Itachi said, dusting himself off without a trace of disappointment.
He was used to this.
Right now, without his Sharingan, Itachi's capabilities were limited to basic techniques—Clone Jutsu, Transformation Jutsu, Body Flicker, some taijutsu, and kunai throwing. Compared to Yuzuru, he still had a long way to go.
As Yuzuru leisurely retrieved his glasses and slid them back on, he spoke with a soft voice that pierced deeper than it sounded.
"Itachi, have you considered... maybe you're just too weak right now?"
Itachi remained silent for a moment. But in the end, his lack of maturity betrayed him. He looked up with a cold glare. "Should I leave then?"
"I'll treat you to some dango," Yuzuru offered immediately, dialing it back. He greatly enjoyed teasing Itachi (specifically the childhood version), but he also knew where to draw the line.
Itachi puffed out his cheeks in frustration—something he didn't realize only made Yuzuru find him more amusing. Most of the joy he got from teasing the boy probably came from these rare, unguarded expressions.
"You're really cute, you know."
Yuzuru was too honest to hide what he thought.
Itachi's face froze into an immediate ice wall expression—as if he only ever reserved this much tension for Yuzuru.
Damn him and those four infuriating words.
"Let's go," Yuzuru said, his tone shifting back to business. "Resources in the village have been tight lately. Dango's easiest to get first thing in the morning—wait too long, and it's all gone."
As soon as he said that, Itachi huffed and pulled out a densely scribbled sheet of paper from behind him like it was a precious treasure.
"The scroll was too long, so I copied it down by hand."
"My father said that with sealing techniques, it's enough to understand the theory. They take talent and time to master anyway."
Yuzuru accepted the paper as if receiving a priceless heirloom. He devoured every word with hunger in his eyes, while casually muttering, "You know, Itachi... you should work on your handwriting."
"I copied it in the dark, in secret!" he protested, flustered.
"Sure, sure."
Yuzuru's pupils scanned the page rapidly.
You have learned a new Sealing Technique: Engraved Seal of the Finger
Engraved Seal of the Finger (C): Level 1 (0/400)
A brilliant smile broke across Yuzuru's face. As the system notification appeared, he handed the page back to Itachi.
Itachi blinked. "You don't need it? Well, I guess it's not that useful…"
The Engraved Seal of the Finger was an obscure and niche jutsu. It had only appeared once in the anime—used by Jiraiya to scratch a message into Fukasaku's back before his death.
Basically, it was a sealing jutsu that allowed the user to engrave symbols or words with their fingers—on surfaces or even skin. And that was it.
"No, I was just curious what sealing jutsu really looked like. A quick glance was enough," Yuzuru said, making a face like it was all just a joke.
"…Huh?" Itachi's mask slipped a bit.
He glared at Yuzuru, flustered. "You—!"
"I'm a branch family Hyuga, Itachi. Learning sealing jutsu isn't exactly encouraged," Yuzuru explained, his tone light, his smile never fading.
Itachi frowned slightly. "Why not?"
"There's no explicit law against it," Yuzuru replied, tapping the blue-green Caged Bird Seal on his forehead. "But… it's one of those things you just aren't supposed to do. Kinda like how your father doesn't want you getting too close to me."
Itachi fell silent.
He frowned deeper, his mood visibly darkening. "I don't understand."
"Itachi," Yuzuru said gently, placing a hand on the other boy's head. Though the same age, Yuzuru had grown just a little taller.
Itachi turned, meeting Yuzuru's gaze.
Behind the black frames, Yuzuru's pale eyes gave nothing away.
"All living things instinctively trust those stronger than them," he said softly.
"Humans are no different."
"When someone reliable appears, people naturally want to follow them. That's how 'clans' were born."
"But those who are trusted often find the pressure too much. So they seek higher authority to shoulder the burden."
"And that's how the 'village' came to be."
"A village is like a larger version of a family. And within it, each clan should treat the others like family too—worthy of trust, worthy of sharing burdens."
He looked at Itachi. "What do you think?"
"I think… that's how it should be," Itachi answered honestly.
Yuzuru gave him a soft smile and said nothing more.
The topic ended there. Itachi clearly fell into deep thought. As a precocious child, he was far more introspective than his peers.
Before long, he realized what Yuzuru had said didn't quite align with the reality of Konoha.
The Senju Clan had faded from prominence. Following Hashirama's ideal, they had abandoned their surname and blended into the village—no clan, only unity.
The Hyuga Clan, though respected, was split between the main and branch families. Itachi still didn't fully grasp what that division meant, but he knew Yuzuru hated the mark on his forehead.
And the Uchiha Clan? Though part of Konoha, they were kept at arm's length. His relatives discouraged him from playing with outsiders, and outsiders didn't welcome Uchiha much either.
Even the smaller clans didn't get along perfectly.
So why was it like this?
"Four skewers of dango," Yuzuru said to the vendor.
"Coming right up!"
As Yuzuru held out a bright and colorful skewer to Itachi, the boy snapped back to the present.
He glanced left and right like a thief, embarrassed to be seen eating such a sweet treat.
Yuzuru took a bite of the sugar-coated snack—it looked like candied fruit but was chewy and soft, a little too sweet for his liking.
"Thanks," Itachi said with his mouth half full.
Maybe it was the sugar rush, but the worries from earlier were temporarily forgotten.
They walked to the end of the street. Uchiha Clan territory was to the left, Hyuga to the right.
"I should get going," Itachi said, hesitating slightly.
Yuzuru adjusted his glasses and casually tossed the skewer stick aside.
"Something on your mind?"
He saw right through Itachi's hesitation.
Itachi stopped pretending and nervously glanced around. Then, in a quiet voice, he said, "My father... said he's taking me to the battlefield."
"…Classic Uchiha," Yuzuru muttered. Itachi couldn't tell whether it was admiration or sarcasm.
Head lowered, Itachi asked, "Should I refuse?"
"If you don't mind disappointing your father," Yuzuru said flatly. Then he added, without expression, "Still, I think it's fine if you just go and observe. I doubt Lord Fugaku would fail to protect his own son."
"You don't like him," Itachi finally caught the edge in his tone.
"The purpose of a clan is to protect its family."
"And the purpose of a village is to protect everyone in it."
"If even the children have to step onto the battlefield… what are they really protecting?"
Yuzuru looked at him, unusually serious. "I don't dislike your father. In fact, as a clan leader, he's competent."
"I just think... at the root of it all... something is deeply wrong."
He fell silent. Then, after a moment, he adjusted his glasses and looked up, his expression gentle again.
"Anyway, just go. Nothing bad will happen. Don't overthink it. None of this is something the current you needs to solve or carry."
Itachi watched as Yuzuru walked away. His questions remained unanswered—if anything, they only grew heavier.
I'll ask Shisui later.
Meanwhile, Hyuga Yuzuru, though aware that he'd said too much, couldn't shake the deep disgust he felt toward the system surrounding them.
He looked up at the blinding sun, eyes narrowed.
I really want to destroy all of this. Or escape. Or rebuild it from scratch.
"Yuzuru!"
A sudden voice made him pause.
He turned around and saw a girl running toward him, beaming with joy.
He let out a near-instinctive sigh.
Uchiha Izumi. Or rather, a beautiful girl who hadn't yet taken on that surname.
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Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 200, 400 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch!