[Uchiha Shisui: "Looks like they're going to do a double comparison!"]
[Uzumaki Nagato: "Itachi is way too mature for a five-year-old…"]
[Senju Tobirama: "If five-year-old Itachi was that outstanding, then five-year-old Sasuke must be…"]
[Uchiha Sasuke: "Heh. As long as I feel like it…"]
Sasuke looked at the sky screen, a smile curling on his lips, excitement written all over his face.
If his older brother was already that excellent at five—
then that must mean…
he was even more amazing at five, right?
Sasuke was already looking forward
to his own highlight moment!
The Nine-Tails was soon subdued.
Konoha paid a heavy price.
The Fourth Hokage and his wife sacrificed themselves to protect the village.
"Lord Hokage, the number of people in the shelters doesn't add up…" an ANBU said anxiously to Hiruzen.
Hiruzen's eyes were filled with grief.
In an instant, he seemed to age over a decade…
He stared at Minato's body, unable to recover for a long time, until an ANBU reminded him.
Only then did Hiruzen snap back.
"What did you say… the numbers don't match?"
After an investigation, the Uchiha Police Force discovered—
none of the ordinary Uchiha civilians had gone to the shelters.
As ANBU continued investigating,
the entire village gathered at the Naka Shrine.
When everyone learned that five-year-old Itachi had protected the clan,
keeping them safe from the Nine-Tails' destruction,
they were shocked.
Hiruzen couldn't help praising Itachi for having Hokage-level thinking.
The route from the Uchiha district to the shelters was simply too far.
They were just ordinary civilians—some even pregnant women.
They wouldn't have made it to the shelters in time.
So Itachi decided to bring everyone to Naka Shrine—the Uchiha clan's secret meeting place.
[Uchiha Madara: "Not bad. This Uchiha Itachi truly is talented."]
[Uchiha Izuna: "To accomplish that at five years old… especially growing up in peacetime!"]
[Uchiha Hikari: "Mr. Itachi is different from the other Uchiha…"]
[Uchiha Fugaku: "You flatter him… My son isn't that outstanding."]
Fugaku walked through the streets.
Wherever he went, people stared at him in amazement—
some even asked him for parenting advice!
He couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from lifting.
His eldest son was truly exceptional!
If the older son was this amazing…
then the younger one must be impressive too!
With such expectations,
everyone continued watching the sky screen.
Because of Itachi,
the people of Konoha began suspecting that the Nine-Tails incident was the Uchiha clan's doing…
The timing was just too coincidental!
The Nine-Tails had been controlled by the Sharingan to attack Konoha.
The Uchiha clan didn't show up to assist.
And even more absurd—
a five-year-old child led the entire clan to Naka Shrine!
No matter how you looked at it, it seemed suspicious.
Newspapers began spreading rumors that the Uchiha were secretly manipulating everything…
that Clan Head Fugaku was trying to seize power!
The rumors grew more outrageous by the day,
plunging the entire village into panic.
[Uzumaki Boruto: "How did it turn out like this…"]
[Uchiha Sarada: "Now I understand why the clan was labeled rebels…"]
[Mitsuki: "Whoever spread these rumors is going too far!"]
[Fourth Raikage A: "Ahem… I think you all know what I'm implying."]
[Mei Terumi: "Oh my, who could've done such a thing? So hard to guess!"]
[Onoki: "It definitely wasn't Danzo, right?"]
[Danzo Shimura: "Why does everything get blamed on me… Give me a break!"]
[Uchiha Izuna: "Damn it, weren't you the one who spread the rumors?!"]
[Uchiha Madara: "Otōto, block this guy!"]
Because of the Nine-Tails' destruction,
the village entered urgent reconstruction.
Itachi was strolling through the clan district carrying Sasuke.
Soon,
he ran into Izuna Uchiha.
Izuna wanted to hold Sasuke, and Itachi nodded in agreement…
But the moment Izuna held him,
Sasuke burst into loud crying,
pushing her face away repeatedly with a disgusted look.
Izuna stared at him in confusion.
Then Itachi picked Sasuke back up—
and Sasuke immediately burst into laughter, waving his arms happily.
Seeing this,
everyone watching fell silent.
[Uzumaki Boruto: "Mr. Sasuke single-handedly made Uncle Itachi stay single!"]
[Uchiha Sarada: "Looks like Dad only liked Uncle Itachi when he was little…"]
[Mitsuki: "Is this the 'Make Your Big Brother Stay Single' Technique?"]
[Senju Hashirama: "Hahaha, this Sasuke is hilarious!"]
[Senju Tobirama: "No wonder Itachi stayed single…"]
[Kisame Hoshigaki: "Now I understand why Mr. Itachi couldn't find a girlfriend…"]
[Uchiha Itachi: "… "]
At one year old, Sasuke's entire world revolved around his big brother.
He crawled up and down the hallway.
Itachi stood on a stool cooking.
At just six years old,
Itachi was already raising a child—
warming milk bottles for Sasuke
and carefully changing his diapers.
[Kushina Uzumaki: "They were both so adorable as children! I want a baby too!"]
[Minato Namikaze: "Kushina, then let's work harder tonight!"]
[Naruto Uzumaki: "???"]
[Jiraiya: "That escalated quickly…"]
["Minato Namikaze withdrew a message!"]
[Himawari Uzumaki: "Grandpa, what does 'work harder' mean?"]
[Naruto Uzumaki (Adult): "Ahem… Dad, couldn't you have sent that privately to Mom?"]
[Minato Namikaze: "Ahem… My hand slipped!"]
At three years old, Sasuke dug out a pair of cat ears from Itachi's box.
Excitedly, he put them on his head,
then rolled around on the floor like a little kitten.
He lay snugly in Itachi's arms playing—
completely unaware that Itachi's expression was filled with sorrow.
By this time, Itachi had already understood the terror of death.
He had failed to save his teammate,
watching helplessly as Obito killed him.
"Big brother… what's wrong with your eyes?" Sasuke's startled voice rang out.
Itachi's pupils contracted.
Looking at his reflection in the water,
he fell into deep thought…
Would Sasuke one day awaken these cursed eyes as well?
At that age, Sasuke was carefree.
He didn't understand anxiety,
nor why his brother suddenly looked that way.
[Uzumaki Nagato: "Why are these two brothers so different?"]
[Uchiha Sasuke: "… Heh. As long as I feel like it!"]
[Uchiha Itachi: "My foolish little brother, stop acting cool!"]
Soon Sasuke turned four.
At that age, he often played alone,
because his brother was constantly away on missions.
It was all that Shisui guy's fault!
He stole his big brother!
Sasuke puffed out his cheeks,
jealously staring at Shisui's back.
Seeing this,
everyone watching was completely melted by his cuteness.
[Rin Nohara: "Little Sasuke is way too cute!"]
[Sakura Haruno: "I never imagined Sasuke had such a side…"]
[Uchiha Sarada: "So this was Dad as a child…"]
---
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