"Finally awake, One-Strike-Seven!"
Uchiha Ren licked the corner of his mouth, dry from standing around too long, a faintly strange light flickering in his eyes.
The man hailed as the author's "biological son" of the story—he was finally seeing him.
Of course, it wasn't out of admiration.
Ren's feelings toward Itachi were complicated.
On one hand, this guy had personally wiped out his entire clan—a textbook fanatic.
On the other hand, he'd done it all to protect his younger brother, even going so far as to threaten the village itself.
So many tangled, contradictory emotions… it really made you both love and hate him.
But right now, Ren was here mainly for one thing—
Traits!
"I wonder what traits Itachi has at this age…"
"Please don't let me copy Amaterasu later…"
He muttered inwardly, a little expectant.
As long as there were plenty of traits, anything was fine—just not that one.
Yes, that one: Amaterasu.
Sure, it sounded awesome and looked flashy.
But!
In Naruto, it committed the same fatal flaw as ninety-nine percent of Fire Release techniques—
It doesn't kill people!
Strong, but somehow never actually burns anyone to death.
So what's it for?
Putting on a fireworks show for the enemy?
Or performing iron-flower sparks at night?
Ren cleared his throat and said, "One-Strike-Seven, let me ask you something!"
"One-Strike-Seven?"
Itachi repeated it, immediately catching the pun.
So his little brother had actually given him a nickname?
His brows knit slightly.
But when his gaze fell on Ren's soft, tender little face, his expression relaxed again.
"As expected of Ren, coming up with such an interesting nickname."
"Go ahead. Ask whatever you want."
As he spoke, he reached out, wanting to rub Ren's little cheek.
Smooth and soft—very tempting to pinch.
"Hey, be serious."
Ren dodged his head, straightened his face like a little adult, and asked,
"If one day the village and the clan end up on opposite sides… who would you help?"
Snap.
Itachi's hand froze in midair.
He was momentarily stunned.
Though still a child, his eyes revealed shock and melancholy far beyond his age.
"So Ren has already sensed this too?"
"No—wait."
"Could it be… right, it must be something he overheard when Father was talking."
"Father's getting careless lately, not even guarding against this kind of thing…"
"Looks like there are even more restless elements inside the clan…"
His brows tightened.
On that young, childish face, faint tear tracks and nasolabial lines were already visible—
A clear sign of someone who'd grown up constantly frowning and worrying.
Seeing this, Ren shook his head and sighed.
As expected, even at this age, Itachi had already sensed something was wrong.
And yet, despite sensing it so early, he still ended up walking straight toward the path of clan annihilation.
He shouldn't have.
He really shouldn't have, One-Strike-Seven.
Seven years was more than enough time to change many things.
Of course, the Uchiha clan's obsessive streak of manic laughter… that probably couldn't be changed.
"Ren, why would you even ask something like that?"
"Do you really think the clan and the village will end up opposing each other?"
After hesitating, Itachi didn't answer directly. He lowered his arm and asked softly.
He didn't know what he himself should do.
But he also wanted to hear his little brother's thoughts.
"You just need to answer me."
"I… I don't know…"
"Then—let me put it another way."
Ren shook his head. The current One-Strike-Seven was lost.
In fact, even the One-Strike-Seven during the massacre had been lost.
Only a sharper question could truly wake up this foolish oniisan!
"What if the village wanted to kill me and Sasuke? Which side would you stand on, One-Strike-Seven?"
Snap!
Itachi's small face instantly tightened, his posture straightening.
Did that even need to be asked?
There wasn't the slightest hesitation.
Clenching his fists, he said firmly,
"Don't worry. I won't let that day ever come."
Still avoiding it.
Refusing to face it head-on was itself a form of escape.
Ren shook his head and didn't press further.
To pad out the time, he could only bring up something else.
"Oh right, One-Strike-Seven—didn't you say before that Father's stash is hidden in the third room, bottom-right corner of the cabinet?"
Itachi: ???
Fugaku, eavesdropping next door: ???
Damn you, Itachi! How could you tell Ren something like that?!
You exposed my private stash!
So that's why little Ren knows so much!
In an instant, Fugaku even dumped last night's blame onto Itachi.
His face darkened. He grabbed a rope, ready to fling open the door and charge out—
When suddenly, a chilly presence brushed his back.
"My dear clan head… where exactly are you planning to go?"
Drip.
Drip.
Even though it was a cool morning, the chill in the air felt heavy.
Sweat slowly seeped from Fugaku's forehead.
It slid down onto his eyelids, stinging sharply.
He turned around and saw Mikoto smiling sweetly at him.
He was finished.
Gritting his teeth, he could only force an awkward smile.
"I… I'm going to prepare breakfast for everyone."
"Oh~ alright then, Fugaku."
Uchiha Mikoto smiled and didn't expose his embarrassment.
She simply looked toward the two small figures outside, her entire being radiating warmth and happiness.
These were her precious children.
Living room.
Whoosh.
Just as their voices faded, a side door suddenly slid open.
A dark-faced Uchiha Fugaku walked out in full view.
"Ah, Father!"
Both brothers jumped in surprise.
Especially Ren.
He'd been asking some extremely sensitive questions just now.
Fortunately, Fugaku seemed to have only heard the latter part.
After glaring at the two of them, he didn't say a word and headed straight for the third room.
Time to move the stash.
"Hm? Father's look just now… felt a bit complicated?"
Itachi was still startled, but also puzzled.
He felt there was something more hidden in that gaze.
On the other side, once Fugaku left—
Ren's eyes suddenly lit up.
The prompt was here!
[Conversation target: Uchiha Itachi.]
[Analyzing copyable traits.]
[Fire Release Affinity (Green), Chakra Refinement (White), Brother Complex (Black), Excessive Wisdom Leads to Early Death (Black), Chronic Illness (Black)…]
But when Ren saw Itachi's current traits, his expression immediately collapsed.
The first few were fine.
The last three, though, were so black they were practically glowing purple!
It was like both of Itachi's eyes were being smeared pitch-black.
Thinking about it, though, it made sense.
Itachi was still young and didn't yet possess many of his later traits.
And because he'd awakened the Mangekyō too early in the future, his body had always been sickly…
Ren couldn't help re-evaluating this so-called older brother.
Then he shook his head slightly and tried hard to tiptoe and pat Itachi's shoulder.
But because of the height difference, he could only pat his chest.
Seeing this, Itachi squatted down in confusion.
"Ren… are you trying to… hug me?"
"No. I just wanted to say—One-Strike-Seven, you going dark really isn't a problem at all."
Ren sighed.
[Conversation with Uchiha Itachi has exceeded ten minutes. Attempting to copy trait.]
[Copy failed.]
Failed.
That was normal. The chance of copying traits through conversation wasn't high to begin with.
Ren waved his hand a little listlessly and turned to walk away.
Only Itachi remained behind, staring at his back, falling into confusion.
What did Ren really mean just now?
And Father's gaze earlier…
Ah—wait, didn't I forget something?
Meanwhile, in the forest behind the Uchiha clan grounds…
A short-haired boy stood shivering in the cold wind.
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