The academy grounds buzzed with life even after hours. The afternoon sun hung lazily in the sky, casting warm hues across the training field where Kaito was busy striking at a wooden dummy with precise chakra-enhanced blows. His progress had been steady, carefully calibrated to never raise suspicion. He was strong—far stronger than a normal civilian-born academy student—but not so much that it would make the higher-ups paranoid.
Kaito was about to practice his tree climbing exercises when he noticed someone standing quietly at the edge of the training field. A boy, barely ten, with sharp eyes and a calm aura that masked something deeper. Uchiha Itachi.
Kaito turned, wiping his forehead with a towel. "Didn't expect to see a prodigy like you around this late."
Itachi looked at him, not unkindly. "I could say the same about you."
There was a pause, not uncomfortable. The two studied each other.
Kaito smirked. "I heard you're graduating early. Probably already ready for the jonin test knowing you Uchihas."
Itachi shook his head modestly. "I'm just doing what's expected of me. Nothing more."
Kaito sensed the weight behind those words. Despite his young age, Itachi carried himself like a man burdened by something far greater than school. His eyes, even without the Sharingan, were deep and observant.
"Don't let them work you to the bone. You're still a kid, you know," Kaito said with a shrug.
Itachi gave a ghost of a smile. "I try. But it's hard when everyone expects you to be more."
Kaito nodded. "Believe me, I get it. Just… don't burn out too early. The Will of Fire isn't about throwing yourself into the flames, even if Hiruzen makes it sound that way."
Itachi's gaze sharpened slightly at that. He wasn't used to hearing such words spoken so openly.
"You're different," he said.
"I'd like to think so," Kaito replied. "Want to spar?"
Itachi nodded.
---
Meanwhile, deep within the Hokage Tower, an emergency council meeting was underway.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat silently as Homura Mitokado slammed his hand on the desk. "We can't continue to ignore the possibility. The Uchiha clan! They've been suspicious ever since the Nine-Tails incident."
Koharu Utatane nodded in agreement. "They were the only clan with dojutsu capable of controlling the beast. There's no proof they were behind it, but the signs are there."
Hiruzen folded his hands, thoughtful. "They've lost people too. We can't accuse them based on fear."
"Fear keeps us alive," came a rasping voice from the shadows.
Danzo Shimura stepped into the room, arms tucked into his robes.
"We must act, Hiruzen. The Uchiha have always been prideful. Their history of rebellion is long. If we allow them to fester within the village center, we risk another disaster."
Hiruzen's jaw tightened. "You would have me punish an entire clan without evidence? This is not the way of the Will of Fire."
Danzo's eye narrowed. "Then your fire will blind you."
Tension filled the room.
Homura stepped in again. "Then what do you propose? A compromise? A precaution?"
Danzo nodded. "We isolate them—relocate them to the outskirts of the village. Near the Naka River. It won't appear as punishment, but it will allow us to monitor them."
Koharu sighed. "It may be the only way to maintain peace without provoking open conflict."
Hiruzen looked out the window at the village.
Peace at the cost of trust. The Will of Fire was supposed to unite the village. But now, it was being twisted into justification for suspicion.
He reluctantly gave a slow nod. "Fine. Begin the preparations. But do it quietly. No provocations."
Danzo's face was unreadable. "As you wish… Hokage-sama."
---
Later that evening, Kaito and Itachi sat in the shade, both breathing hard after their spar. It had ended in a draw.
"You're strong," Itachi said simply.
Kaito smiled. "Just a civilian, remember?"
Itachi gave him a sidelong glance. "Civilian or not, you'll make a good shinobi. Maybe even better."
Kaito didn't reply. But inside, he knew his real journey was just beginning.
And in a village built on secrets, he intended to become the one who always stayed ten steps ahead.
---
The day Itachi graduated early from the academy arrived quietly, with none of the usual fanfare. No speeches. No ceremonies. Just a silent acknowledgement from the instructors and a small nod from the Hokage himself.
Kaito watched from a shaded corner of the training field as Itachi received his forehead protector. It was a weighty moment, but Itachi carried it with his usual unreadable calm.
Afterward, as Kaito gathered his gear to continue his private training, a new presence entered the academy grounds.
A boy older than them, with spiky dark hair and sharp eyes filled with both mischief and perceptiveness, walked directly toward Itachi. He wore the Uchiha crest proudly on his back.
"So you really did it, huh? Graduated early. You're too damn fast, Itachi," the teen said with a wide grin.
Itachi nodded. "Shisui. Thank you for coming."
Shisui of the Body Flicker.
Kaito had read about him in the shadows of the shinobi library. A prodigy, said to be one of the fastest ninja of his generation. Dangerous, loyal, and clever.
Shisui turned toward Kaito with a curious glance. "And who's this? Another genius hiding in plain sight?"
"This is Kaito. A friend," Itachi said simply.
"Friend, huh? That's rare for you," Shisui said with an amused chuckle before extending a hand. "Nice to meet you, Kaito. Say, ever trained in the Uchiha clan grounds before?"
Kaito raised a brow, cautious. "I'm not Uchiha."
"Doesn't matter. I'm inviting you. Come by sometime. We don't bite… usually," he joked. "Itachi vouches for you. That's good enough."
Itachi added, "There's a section near the Naka River that's sparsely used. You'll be undisturbed."
Kaito slowly accepted the handshake. "I might take you up on that."
---
Later that day, Kaito followed Itachi to the Uchiha district. The buildings bore elegance and history, proud but restrained. He didn't miss the side-eyes from older clan members—he was an outsider after all.
They reached a traditional home where Itachi introduced him to his mother, Mikoto, and his stern, authoritative father, Fugaku.
Mikoto gave a warm smile. "So you're the one Itachi talks about. I've never seen him bring anyone home before. Welcome."
Fugaku scrutinized him for a moment. "You are a civilian. Yet my son respects you. That says much. Do not disappoint him."
"I won't, sir," Kaito said with a polite bow.
After a brief tea, Kaito excused himself, returning to his part of the village as the moon rose high.
---
The night was quiet, perfect for grinding.
Kaito sat on the floor of his room, a thick rubber ball in hand. He'd already mastered the first step of the Rasengan—rotation, demonstrated by popping the water balloon. Now came the second: power and density.
Chakra spun wildly in his palm as he concentrated. The rubber resisted, trembling in his grip.
More power.
Sweat beaded down his neck as he focused.
More control.
He growled as the ball strained—
POP.
The rubber shredded with a loud snap.
Kaito collapsed back, panting but triumphant. Progress. He wasn't far from the Rasengan now.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
New Long-Term Mission: Prevent the Uchiha Massacre from claiming the lives of innocent children and elderly.
Objective: Interfere during the Uchiha Purge and stop Itachi from killing non-combatants.
Reward: Three-Tomoe Sharingan (genetic compatibility bypassed via system reward authority)
Note: Mission failure will result in system lockout of future ocular-related rewards.
Kaito's breath stilled.
So it was coming. The night of blood.
He would have to prepare—not just with strength, but timing. Allies. A plan.
He respected Itachi, even liked him. But he would not let children die. That was the line.
A quiet fire lit in his eyes.
He would walk the knife's edge between survival and legacy.
He would become a shinobi worth remembering—not by blood, but by choice.
---
To be continued...
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