Fugaku couldn't help feeling a trace of regret. Such a fine member of the Uchiha clan… if only his talent weren't so poor.
"Yes, Clan Head. I'll go back and have a talk with Shisui, make sure he's here on time tomorrow to start his training."
Ryosuke stood, ready to leave.
"Wait a moment, Ryosuke."
Mikoto emerged from the inner room just in time to hear him about to take his leave.
She packed up some uneaten sushi from the kitchen and handed it to him.
"It's still early. Remember to eat tonight."
Ryosuke accepted it with a proper, respectful air.
"Thank you, Clan Head. Thank you, Lady."
Just a while ago, he'd been calling her Mikoto-neesan, and now it was "Lady"?
Mikoto understood. Since Fugaku had returned, Ryosuke had switched back to formal address. She didn't call him out on it, simply smiling and nodding.
As Ryosuke's figure disappeared out the door, Fugaku rose and walked into Itachi's room, opening the door just a crack to glance at the boy sleeping on the bed.
"Itachi's asleep?"
"Yes, he just went down."
Fugaku carefully shut the door again.
"You gave that kid a little too much in his lunch box."
"Just now, Ryosuke gave Itachi a practice kunai as a gift."
Fugaku understood immediately.
"That child does have a good heart. A pity, though."
"A pity?"
"A pity his aptitude is far too poor."
With that, Fugaku turned and headed toward the courtyard.
"Oh, and Shisui will be coming tomorrow. Make a bit more food for dinner. That boy's talent is extraordinary—if trained well, he could…"
Fugaku paused, thinking back to Ryosuke earlier. A faint smile appeared on his face.
"…make the Uchiha clan shine again."
Ryosuke returned home, finally letting the excitement and tension fade, his expression settling into calm.
With his newfound strength, he could now sense the chakra fluctuations around his house.
Uchiha clan shinobi.
Shisui was still out somewhere, but clearly someone was here to watch him.
"Didn't think someone as useless as me was worth their time to keep an eye on," Ryosuke thought with a hint of self-mockery.
He set the lunch box in the kitchen, then went out into the courtyard and lay down on a clean patch of ground.
Gazing at the clear blue sky, he slowly closed his eyes.
An hour later, the door creaked open.
"Big brother, why are you sleeping out here?"
The childish voice drew his gaze to a cute black-haired boy.
It was his younger brother—Uchiha Shisui.
"Where'd you go today, Shisui?"
Ryosuke ruffled Shisui's hair calmly, aware of the ninja eavesdropping at the doorway, and spoke as if nothing were unusual.
"Big brother, I went to help some villagers on the west side today."
"Our Shisui is such a good kid."
That wasn't just flattery.
While other children his age were playing ninja make-believe or getting into mischief, Shisui was helping old ladies cross the street, doing chores for free, and even cooking for Ryosuke when he got home.
"Shisui, what do you think a ninja is?"
Knowing they'd be separated starting tomorrow, and that it might be a long time before they saw each other again, Ryosuke figured it was worth asking.
After all, Shisui already had the maturity of a little adult.
"A ninja?"
Shisui's eyes grew thoughtful.
"A ninja is an unsung one who supports peace from the shadows."
He looked at Ryosuke seriously.
"Big brother, did you ask me this because something's on your mind?"
Ryosuke shook his head.
"No, just… feeling a little reluctant."
"Reluctant?"
"Clan Head called me in today. Starting tomorrow, the clan will be focusing on training you. After that, I doubt I'll get to see you much."
"…What?"
Shisui froze.
"Shisui, let me ask you—are you part of the Uchiha clan?"
"Yes!"
"Then since you know you're Uchiha, from tomorrow on you should train well under the Clan Head and the other elders. When you achieve success, repay the clan."
Shisui was puzzled.
Usually, Ryosuke had a few complaints about the clan, so why today…?
But seeing his brother's earnest expression, he didn't want to worry him.
"Yes."
Ryosuke patted him on the shoulder.
"When I came back from the clan today, Lady Mikoto sent us a lunch box. We'll eat that tonight—no need to cook."
The two went inside.
They'd barely eaten a few bites when Ryosuke sensed the watching ninja leave. Only then did he lean close to Shisui and whisper:
"Forget everything I just said outside."
"Huh?"
"It's all meaningless. Tomorrow, when you go to the clan, remember only this—protect yourself. Do you know why they're so eager to train you?"
Shisui thought for a moment.
"My Sharingan?"
"That's part of it. The real reason is you stand out too much."
"Too much?"
"At your age, kids are supposed to be playing in the dirt. But you? You've already awakened your Sharingan, your shuriken skills are so flashy they put some older clan ninja to shame. If that's not drawing attention, I don't know what is."
"I…"
"No 'I.' I'm telling you this because talent and skill are great, but sometimes you need to hide them. Otherwise, you might end up getting yourself killed."
"You mean… keep some of my strength hidden?"
Ryosuke's hand rested firmly on his shoulder, his tone serious.
"Exactly. Hide as much as you can. Surviving until the final chapter—that's the real goal."
Shisui didn't know what a "final chapter" was, but he could hear the concern in his brother's voice.
He stood and gave a firm promise.
"Big brother, I'll remember."
"That's better. In this world, being alive is the foundation for everything."
Seeing that Shisui had taken his words to heart, Ryosuke finally looked away.
[End of Chapter]