"Brother."
When Uchiha Gen returned home, a soft and adorable voice called out to him. His younger sister, Uchiha Izumi, wearing a sweet smile, threw herself into his arms.
Seeing her, Gen's expression softened into a doting smile as he caught her easily.
"Izumi, don't run so fast. Be careful not to fall."
"I'm not afraid," Izumi giggled, clinging to his neck. "Because I know Brother will always catch me."
As the siblings teased each other, their mother, Uchiha Rei, emerged from the kitchen, carrying dinner.
The three of them gathered around the table, sharing a warm meal. Gen carefully deboned a piece of fish and placed it in Izumi's bowl.
Izumi beamed as she began chattering about her day. "Brother, Itachi-kun's younger brother, little Sasuke, is so cute! He's such a crybaby—if I tease him just a little, he starts bawling. But the moment Itachi-kun comforts him, he stops right away and makes this pouty face like he's angry at me."
She laughed at the memory, then added shyly, "Itachi-kun is so gentle when he takes care of Sasuke…"
Izumi's cheeks flushed pink, her smile turning bashful.
Noticing, Uchiha Rei teased, "Oh? Is our Izumi imagining whether Itachi would be just as gentle when comforting his own children one day?"
"Mom!" Izumi yelped, her face burning crimson. "You're making fun of me! I won't talk to you anymore!"
Rei chuckled softly, patting her daughter's head. "Don't tell me Izumi doesn't like Itachi?"
"Mom, I said I'm angry!" Izumi pouted, turning away dramatically.
Rei only smiled knowingly. "If Itachi became part of our family, I'd be very happy. That child is clearly gentle and sincere."
Gen listened quietly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. His mother and sister—these were his bonds in this life. The thought of losing them was unbearable. He would never allow the Uchiha massacre to happen, never permit even the slightest cruelty to touch them.
But what troubled him now was Izumi's growing attachment to Uchiha Itachi. She clearly admired him—and that bond would only deepen. Gen knew how Itachi's path would end. To protect Izumi, he had to distance her from him.
Placing another piece of fish into his mother's bowl, Gen's expression hardened.
"Izumi," he said firmly, "I think you should stay away from Itachi. It's better if you don't see him anymore."
Both Rei and Izumi froze, stunned by his words.
"Brother… why?" Izumi asked softly.
Rei frowned. "Gen, what's gotten into you? Itachi is a kind, respectable child. You've always spoken well of him. Are you… jealous? Izumi used to cling only to you."
Izumi's eyes grew misty, her voice trembling. "Brother, I don't understand. Itachi isn't a bad person."
Gen sighed, his gaze softening. "Izumi, I don't want to control your friendships. But Itachi… he's hard to read. There's more to him than what you see."
"Hmph! Brother, you're the worst!" Izumi cried, running off in tears.
Rei gave her son a reproachful look. "Gen, don't speak so harshly. Itachi is a good child. You're too suspicious."
Gen said nothing, but deep inside, he remained resolute. He had seen the tragedy of the Uchiha's future. He wouldn't allow Izumi to be dragged into it.
---
In his room, Uchiha Gen sat cross-legged, palms open as natural energy swirled around him. His mental energy guided the flow, his senses expanding outward until it felt as though he was drifting through a starry sky.
He felt everything: the wind stirring, water flowing, the quiet breath of plants and trees, even the faint pulse of the earth itself.
To a sensory ninja, his chakra signature would have vanished entirely—present, yet undetectable.
After an unknown time, Gen opened his eyes, ending his Sage Art training.
---
When Gen stepped outside, he spotted Uchiha Daishi peeking nervously from around a corner.
"Big Brother!" Daishi called, hurrying over. "Uchiha Eiji is here—he's waiting for you at the training grounds."
Together, they arrived at the clearing where Uchiha Eiji stood with his companions, Uchiha Hayabusa and Uchiha Torataro, watching a few guards spar.
Eiji turned at the sound of footsteps, tossing a scroll toward Gen.
"This is my father's record on chakra training," he said.
Gen caught the scroll, unrolling it. Inside were insights on chakra refinement, exercises, and mental discipline. His expression shifted from intrigue to a slight frown as his eyes lingered on several passages.
After a moment, he handed it back. "Your father must be a skilled shinobi. His notes are valuable. I've learned much from this."
Torataro puffed his chest proudly. "Of course! Big Brother Eiji's father, Lord Morigou, is a squad leader in the Military Police Force. His strength is unmatched!"
Eiji pocketed the scroll and turned to leave, but after a few steps, he stopped, looking back over his shoulder.
"Uchiha Gen," he challenged, "do you dare face me again?"
Gen arched an eyebrow. "I don't mind. But if you lose, the wager remains the same—you'll bring me another ninjutsu scroll."
Hayabusa burst out laughing. "You'll lose for sure this time, Gen! Big Brother Eiji has already awakened the Sharingan!"
Daishi's face paled. "Big Brother… it's true. Eiji has awakened his Sharingan."
Among the Uchiha, the Sharingan was a source of pride and fear—the clan's greatest weapon.
But Gen only chuckled, his sharp gaze locking on Eiji. "Good. I look forward to seeing what your Sharingan can do."
Something in Gen's eyes made Eiji's heart tighten, a flicker of unease creeping in.
The two faced each other in the center of the training ground.
"Begin!" someone shouted.
Eiji's figure blurred with the Body Flicker Technique, appearing at Gen's side with a swift punch.
At the same instant, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes—one black tomoe spun in his Sharingan.
Sharingan, activated.
'I see it,' Eiji thought confidently. Every movement, every trajectory of Gen's body was clear to him now.
This time, he would expose Uchiha Gen's limits.
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