Fugaku couldn't strike Jin.
But that didn't mean he would accept the claim that his son would die young.
Scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan spinning slowly, Fugaku fixed Jin with a hard stare.
"Are you cursing Itachi?"
Jin shook his head calmly.
"I don't have that kind of hobby. I'm stating a fact."
"Extracting chakra too early affects a child's growth and development. That's basic shinobi knowledge."
"Chakra is life energy. The more you burn it, the faster you burn out. Shinobi don't live long for a reason."
Chakra is formed by combining spiritual energy and physical energy.
Using chakra means consuming both.
When chakra is exhausted completely, the body and mind are drained dry.
Death follows.
Even in canon, this principle is clear—when Kakashi overextended his chakra during Pain's invasion of Konoha, it cost him his life.
Fugaku immediately countered:
"There's a condition to that—overuse. Like physical strength. As long as it isn't excessive and there's proper rest, there won't be permanent damage."
"I started training at his age."
Jin glanced at him.
"You're right."
"But here's the problem."
"Children don't understand what 'excessive' means."
Silence.
"Other than checking results, do you monitor his training process?"
"Have you explained limits to him?"
Fugaku froze.
As clan head. As Chief of the Konoha Military Police Force. As a commander during wartime.
He was busy.
And Itachi's maturity made it easy to forget—
He was five.
Jin sighed quietly.
No wonder, in canon, Itachi would later develop a terminal illness so young.
Cause and effect.
The seeds were planted early.
Jin continued:
"There's a saying—extreme brilliance invites harm."
"A mind that matures too quickly sees too much. Thinks too deeply. Carries too much."
"Just like physical stamina, mental stamina is limited."
"When mental energy is overdrawn, the spirit weakens."
"Anger harms the liver. Grief harms the lungs. Worry harms the spleen. Fear harms the kidneys."
"The mind and body are one."
"Damage the spirit long enough, and the body will follow."
"He's five."
"And he's already overworking both body and mind."
"So yes."
"He won't live long if this continues."
Fugaku's expression shifted between pale and dark.
Just moments ago, he had been proud watching Itachi spar Shisui.
Now—
Everything felt wrong.
"Enough! Stop!"
His shout halted the sparring.
Shisui blinked.
Itachi stepped back calmly, eyes unreadable.
"Father?"
Fugaku steadied himself.
"Itachi. That's enough for today."
"Understood."
Itachi glanced briefly at Jin.
No complaint.
No confusion voiced.
Too composed.
As Fugaku turned toward the house, he suddenly paused.
"Itachi."
"Yes?"
"Go find your mother. Have her take you to the hospital for a full examination."
"…?"
"It's just to assess your condition and adjust your training accordingly."
"Make sure it's thorough."
Itachi nodded.
Shisui smiled gently. "It won't hurt to check."
Jin added casually—
"And have your mother get checked too. There might be… good news."
Itachi frowned slightly.
He didn't understand.
Jin didn't elaborate.
He had just remembered something—
Sasuke is older than Naruto by several months.
Timeline-wise, this was around when Mikoto would have conceived him.
Fugaku wasn't permanently stationed at the Mist front. He returned periodically to handle clan affairs.
And to see his wife.
Perfectly normal.
Which meant—
There was a decent chance Sasuke already existed.
As Jin and Shisui entered the house, something shifted in Itachi's eyes.
Mikoto.
Hospital.
Surprise.
Connections formed instantly.
Expectation flickered.
For all his maturity—
He was still a child.
And the idea of a younger sibling—
That was pure joy.
Itachi's steps quickened toward the main hall.
His own health?
Irrelevant.
What mattered was—
A brother.
Or a sister.
And for once—
The prodigy looked exactly his age.
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