Chapter 2: Brothers
Until the figures of Tsunade and Shizune disappeared from sight, the boy retracted his gaze, turned his head to the side, and smirked, "My dear brother, we truly are siblings; our interests are so alike."
"Interests? What exactly do you mean by interests?"
"Bang!"
White smoke rose.
A young ninja appeared before the boy, silently watching him.
He wore a dark high-collared short-sleeved shirt with triangular guards, matching pants, and shin guards. On his back was the Uchiha clan emblem and a small katana.
Uchiha Shisui!
Notably, he had the rare Uchiha trait of a button nose.
Just from this, his identity was clear.
"Peeping? I have no interest in such things," Shisui said.
"Brother Shisui, you should have more confidence in yourself," the boy sighed. "You are a talented ninja. If you wish, I can recommend you to Jiraiya-sensei. I believe with your Body Flicker Technique, you can certainly elevate his 'Icha Icha' series and my 'Kawaii' series to new heights..."
"Stop, stop, stop!" Shisui hurriedly interrupted, helplessly saying, "I have no need for any talent in that area, and I certainly don't need a mentor for it."
Besides, did he think Jiraiya could be apprenticed just like that? It wasn't just about strength; his identity was highly sensitive. At least, for an Uchiha to become his student was a dream!
Thinking of this, Shisui gave the boy a peculiar look. This younger brother was openly recognized as a disciple by Jiraiya. Even if what Jiraiya taught was somewhat off track... he was still a disciple.
The boy wore a regretful expression.
"Sigh!" Shisui suddenly sighed, "Speaking of talent, my brother, you are a genius of the Uchiha clan, stronger than both Itachi and me. I hope you can help me."
"Help you?" The boy rolled up his sleeves, and with a fierce expression, he said, "Who bullied you? Leave it to me. If I don't beat him until he craps his pants, I'll count it as his lucky day!"
"...Do I look like I'm joking?" Shisui's expression turned serious, and his eyes became sharp, making the surrounding atmosphere tense.
"No more nonsense, I have serious business with you," he said gravely. "Itsuki..."
"Iku!" the boy immediately interrupted. "Call me Iku! Uchiha Iku!"
Shisui: "..."
As a native of Konohagakure, Shisui didn't understand the meaning of "Iku," but he felt the boy was thinking of something inappropriate.
"Don't you think it's a great name? It naturally carries the word 'cool' in it!" The boy's expression became odd, and his smile strange.
Was he thinking about something delicious?
Hmm, it must be that; it's lunchtime now!
Shisui thought.
"Itsuki! I'm serious!" Shisui furrowed his brows deeply, speaking sternly, "The relationship between the village and our clan is becoming increasingly tense. This can't go on; it will end badly... we need to change our clan. I hope you can join us."
"You, Uchiha Itsuki, are a clan elite, a new-generation genius, and acknowledged as a disciple by one of the Legendary Sannin. If you stand with us, we'll have a greater chance. You will become a bridge between the village and our clan."
At the end of his speech, Shisui's expression became excited, almost fanatical, and he tightly grasped Itsuki's shoulders.
Itsuki's face showed a shy expression, and he said bashfully, "Brother Shisui, you're hurting me."
"..." An inexplicable chill ran down Shisui's spine.
He quickly withdrew his hands as if electrocuted, wearing an expression of pain. "Itsuki, can you be serious?"
No wonder so many Uchiha... no, no wonder so many people in the village avoided Itsuki like the plague, as if he were a scorpion.
Even that person in the shadows of the ninja world had veins popping on his forehead and bloodshot eyes just hearing about him!
Could such an Itsuki really be of help?
Looking at the bewildered Itsuki, Shisui felt equally lost.
Already exhausted physically and mentally due to the strained relationship between the village and the clan, at this moment, he was even more speechless and choked up.
What karma am I paying for from a past life?! Is this really my blood brother?! A debt collector!
Even Shisui, with his normally calm nature, wanted to curse: "Bastard!"
The complex situation was making him weary, and Itsuki was directly torturing his soul.
The two faced each other, one with a tender, seemingly electrified gaze, the other with a hollow look, as if struck by eighteen strong men.
In the end, Shisui could only leave with a parting remark, "Itsuki, you are a smart person; you understand what I mean. Think about it."
He turned and left somewhat embarrassedly.
Watching Shisui's lonely, desolate figure, Itsuki sighed. "Brother Shisui, you're so hardworking... I almost want to hit you with a Fire Release."
Consider it?
If it weren't for having the same parents, making it difficult to take action, Uchiha Shisui, I'd be pointing at your unique nose in Konoha and cursing your entire lineage right now.
You have grand ambitions, willing to sacrifice everything for the village. And in the end, what did you get?
Your eyes gouged out, dying tragically!
By the time you died, you were probably already bloated from soaking in the water!
Your little friend, the greatest filial son in the ninja world, Itachi!
With the same broad-mindedness and fiery will, all through his being.
And the final result?
Even worse!
Parents, wife, and the entire clan, all killed by his own hands, dying with a cursed name.
For what?
And to top it off, he died with a smile.
Damn it!
Itsuki clutched his face in agony.
He's truly been brainwashed to the bone!
Itachi, your parents must have accumulated fortunes over several lifetimes to have a filial son like you!
And yet, you want me to follow in your footsteps.
Uchiha Shisui, you really are my true brother!
Our relationship is truly brotherly in the ninja world!
Ridiculous!
Itsuki sighed again and turned to leave. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a young boy of about eight or nine years old, with a timid expression, head lowered, quietly walking past.
He had short blond hair and blue eyes.
There were distinct six whisker-like marks on his face.
Uzumaki Naruto!
At the ninja academy stage, Uzumaki Naruto!
Jinchuriki of the Nine Tails.
Itsuki sighed deeply in his heart, showing a worried expression for the first time.
He was a transmigrant!
He had been in this Naruto world for fifteen years.
He was also fifteen years old this year.
Although he didn't fully understand that famous anime, he knew some plotlines.
So, when he found out he was an Uchiha, he wasn't in a hurry.
As long as he avoided those key events, he could survive.
Maybe even gain some benefits.
But who knew!
Damn it.
The timeline here is completely different from the original story.
Probably because of his involvement and participation in the Third Shinobi World War, some changes were made to the ninja world through his memories.
It's now Konoha Year 51!
The night of the Nine Tails has passed; the next big event is the Uchiha massacre night.
Uchiha Itachi is also twelve years old.
If nothing goes wrong, it should be this year!
However!
Naruto, Sasuke, and the other twelve rookies are three or four years older than in the original story.
Itsuki was in disarray.
Will the massacre night still happen as scheduled?
Won't my accumulated knowledge be useless?
"Sigh!"
The timeline was the most mysterious thing in the Naruto world.
Looking at history, who could untangle it?
In Itsuki's world, many online experts dared to challenge it, only to be defeated!
Now it's even more mysterious!
No way to survive!
"Whatever!"
Itsuki made a decision.
Start implementing Plan A!
Once my power increases, taking down the one-eyed dragon and the monkey combined is just a single slash.
He looked again in the direction Shisui left, muttering, "Dear brother, don't blame me. I'm also fulfilling your wish. Don't worry, I'll definitely make Konoha and the Uchiha coexist."
As he spoke, his eyes showed three tomoe, then...
They slowly connected, forming a strange pattern.
Mangekyo Sharingan!
"Brother Shisui, I already have the Mangekyo. Do you? You must!"
"Because we are brothers!"
"Blood brothers of the Uchiha!"
Itsuki's lips curled into a sinister smile.
(Chapter End)