Itachi, who was standing behind Mikoto, hadn't had a chance to clearly see the man's face before he saw his mother suddenly tremble and stumble backward. The kunai she had been holding slipped from her hand.
Clink~!
The sound of metal hitting the ground rang out. Itachi immediately caught Mikoto's shaking body.
"Mom!"
In that moment, Itachi dropped all pretense of composure. He was no longer the young head of the Uchiha clan, nor the captain of the Konoha Police Force—just a child, deeply worried about his mother.
"Mom, what's wrong!?"
Sasuke dropped the two kunai he had been gripping and ran to Mikoto's side.
Mikoto, now openly crying, covered her mouth with one hand while pointing at the man before her with the other, her arm trembling.
Itachi and young Sasuke followed the direction she was pointing.
And then they froze.
This man... Why does he look so much like Sasuke!?
This man... Why does he look exactly like me!?
Boruto, still standing awkwardly nearby with his hands raised in surrender, suddenly felt like the world's most unnecessary extra. He instinctively took two steps back, trying to disappear into the background.
Sasuke, the grown one, stood facing his childhood self, his brother, and his mother. In that moment, all his walls, all his defenses, seemed to fall away. He even forgot the purpose of his time-travel mission.
A warm, sincere smile broke across his face.
"...Long time no see, Mom."
Mikoto's tears flowed freely now. Itachi looked down at his mother with conflicted eyes, then turned to Sasuke and noticed something—his brother's left arm was gone.
Little Sasuke, meanwhile, felt like the whole world had become a joke.
Why is this guy calling my mom "Mom"!?
Only I get to call her that!
Even though something inside him was beginning to understand, he just wasn't ready to accept it.
Why was his once-beloved hairstyle now drooping like a wilted leaf? Why was one eye hidden by those ridiculous bangs? Why were his clothes so outdated and lame!?
He couldn't take it anymore.
Little Sasuke dropped to his knees and pounded the ground with both fists.
"Ugly! So ugly! How could anyone dress this horribly!?"
"Is this what they call... non-mainstream style!?"
Sasuke was suddenly reminded of the "Shamatte" hairstyle that had trended through Konoha three years ago—a fleeting fashion that had swept the streets before people realized how abstract and ridiculous it looked. Maybe it was just too avant-garde... or maybe just plain awful.
Only a rare few could pull it off.
Itachi's complex emotions were shattered instantly by his younger brother's childish outburst. Staring at the grown-up Sasuke, he couldn't help it—he burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha~!"
Even Mikoto, amidst her tears, cracked a smile at little Sasuke's rant. The tension eased.
Boruto, watching the whole thing, was baffled.
Wait, really? That's ugly? But... I always thought Master's look was pretty cool...
Meanwhile, Sasuke felt like he wanted to vanish. Standing there in front of his younger self, he had no idea what to say. The tips of his exposed toes curled inward in shame.
What do I do now? Can I beat up my childhood self?
Wait... if I punch myself, will I disappear because of a time paradox!?
Itachi walked over, bent down, and picked up the kunai and Sasuke's fallen hat. He placed the hat gently back on his older brother's head.
Then, studying him a little longer, he couldn't stop another laugh.
"He doesn't look like a threat, but let's bring him to the Police Department anyway."
"Let's go see Father... and Deputy Clan Leader Hikaru."
Mikoto waved cheerfully from a distance.
"You boys go ahead. I'm going to buy more vegetables and make some extra katsuobushi rice balls and tomatoes for lunch."
"After all, there'll be two little ones fighting over food."
She turned and jogged away, humming to herself.
There were now two Sasukes. The older one blushed and lowered his head.
Little Sasuke shouted after his mother, red-faced.
"Who would fight for food with this non-mainstream freak!?"
Itachi looked at the two Sasukes and felt a strange sensation stir in his chest.
Could this be... double happiness?
"Alright, enough out of you two."
"Sasuke," he said to the younger, "this is what you look like when you grow up. You're just insulting yourself."
"And you," he turned to the older, "no need to argue with him—you know you were just like this as a kid."
Sasuke sighed. "I just... feel secondhand embarrassment knowing I was like that."
Little Sasuke muttered, "Ugh, what was I thinking? Is my future self an idiot? Why would I wear such hideous stuff? Is this some kind of performance art!?"
"Hmph!" they both huffed at each other.
Turning their backs, they looked in opposite directions like sulking cats.
Boruto watched it all unfold and couldn't help but admire the contrast between his master's childhood and adulthood.
"Even if your style changed, Master... you've always been kind of aggressive~"
"What do you mean aggressive!?" they both shouted in unison.
Boruto quickly backpedaled. "Ah, no no, I meant strong, not aggressive... very not aggressive...!"
Little Sasuke squinted at Boruto, arms crossed.
"Why would I ever take someone like you as an apprentice? You're just like that idiot Naruto!"
Big Sasuke: Please stop talking. Please stop. I really didn't know how the world worked back then...
Boruto nodded... then paused and shook his head.
"You're right, Dad. Naruto is a big idiot—but I'm not like him."
Little Sasuke perked up and slung an arm around Boruto's shoulders.
"Since you agree that Naruto's a dumbass—a super dumbass—you're barely worthy of my future self's approval."
"I'll reluctantly allow you to be his apprentice."
Sasuke felt an internal explosion of shame.
That's why I accepted him!? Because he insulted Naruto!?
Why are you exposing everything, kid! You're ruining my reputation!
Ironically, the one feeling most disillusioned was Boruto.
Wait, THAT'S how I became Master's apprentice?
But Master gave me a whole lecture on philosophy... told me about pain, power, choice... and then taught me Rasengan.
So all I had to do... was insult my dad!?
Boruto gave Sasuke a betrayed look. Sasuke's composure cracked; his pride was rapidly evaporating.
Turning away from the chaos, Sasuke looked to Itachi.
"One tower and a few... Let's just go to the Police Department first."
Itachi nodded. "Even if I don't understand how you came back from the future... I trust there's a reason. Let's report to Deputy Clan Leader Hikaru."
What a day… Itachi thought.
Two little brothers. One from the past, one from the future. Both bickering like brats.
Is this what it means to be too blessed?
…
…
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