Time Passes. The Training Grounds.
Time moved forward without ceremony.
Three years slipped by.
Kuroha turned three.
He grew up in the Uchiha district, surrounded by stone walls and unspoken distance. The abnormal structure of his eyes ensured that most people kept their space. Children avoided him. Adults pretended not to notice him at all.
Sometimes, he followed his father to work.Most of the time, he stayed home.
That distance had its uses.
Over those three years, Kuroha pieced together the world he'd been reborn into. There was no doubt anymore. This was the Naruto world, and the year was now 51. The year he was born lined up precisely with Naruto Uzumaki's.
They were the same age.Kuroha was a few months older.
Four years, he calculated quietly. A little more than four years left.
Inside an extravagant dining room, Kuroha muttered the thought under his breath while grabbing another piece of food with both hands. He ate quickly, efficiently, as if his body refused to slow down.
"In two years," he mumbled, chewing, "I'll start convincing Father to leave Konoha."
His metabolism showed no mercy. Food disappeared at an alarming pace.
"Slow down," a gentle voice said beside him. "You'll choke."
Senju Akari smiled as she watched him eat, her tone soft with indulgence.
Jōan laughed openly. "Leave him be. He's been like this since he was one. At this rate, even the Akimichi would be impressed."
Akari shot him a sideways glance. "You spoil him."
After breakfast, she handed Kuroha a small, overstuffed backpack.
"Today's your first day at the clan training grounds," she said. "There's food inside. If you get hungry, eat."
Her concern was obvious.
Kuroha took the bag and turned toward the road ahead. His steps were steady, but Akari didn't relax until he was fully out of sight.
"He's fine," Jōan said gently. "He's growing up."
"He's three," Akari replied flatly.
Jōan chuckled. "So was Itachi when his talent started showing. And look at him now."
He paused, then added with conviction, "Kuroha won't be any less capable."
Akari's expression softened, but her voice dropped. "I don't want him to be exceptional. I just want him to grow up safely. With a family."
Jōan said nothing for a moment.
Finally, he called out, "If training gets tiring, rest. Your father can support you for life."
Kuroha turned back and nodded once.
"Okay."
The Uchiha training grounds lay ahead.
The grounds were filled with movement.
Children between the ages of three and early teens trained across the field. Some practiced basic forms. Others threw kunai and shuriken. A few focused quietly on chakra control.
Among them, one boy stood out.
Around eight or nine years old, his form was precise, his movements sharp. Each shuriken struck the wooden target dead center. No hesitation. No wasted motion.
"Big brother is amazing," a younger child said nearby, eyes shining. "I want to be that strong too."
Two instructors observed from a short distance, nodding in approval.
"Itachi's talent is exceptional," said one of them, Uchiha Shin, his tone sincere. "His progress is clean. Controlled."
"He might even rival Shisui at this rate," another instructor replied. "Graduated early. Awakened his eyes at eight. He's the clan's hope."
The third instructor nodded in agreement.
Strength was currency among the Uchiha. It earned respect faster than blood ever could.
"His brother's not bad either," Shin added, watching a younger child mimic Itachi's throwing form. "Sasuke's still rough, but he's learning fast."
They continued observing the rest of the children. Most showed promise. A few showed discipline. None reached the same level.
Then Shin frowned slightly.
"Something's missing."
The realization struck him all at once. "The merchant's son. He should be here today."
"Right," the other instructor said, tapping his forehead. "Kuroha."
Shin exhaled and shook his head. "That makes him our employer's child, doesn't it."
They exchanged a look, then moved toward the entrance path.
A small figure approached from the distance.
The child walked carefully, but without hesitation. His posture was steady. His expression calm beyond his years.
"Kuroha," Shin said, stepping forward. "You made it."
They stopped a short distance apart.
To Kuroha, the instructor looked massive. To Shin, the child's gaze was unsettlingly composed.
Their eyes met.
For the first time, Shin saw it clearly. The abnormal structure. The subtle imbalance. Two pupils within each eye, reflecting light in a way he couldn't read.
His breath caught.
I can't see through him.
The thought came unbidden. The gaze didn't feel threatening. It felt… unreadable.
Shin hesitated.
Is he really just a defect?
"Kuroha," Shin began—