Chapter 71 – A Brother's Promise
That night, the Uchiha household felt different. The air seemed warmer, filled with the gentle lull of a newborn's breath. Mikoto rested peacefully after the long struggle, Fugaku stood guard quietly, but Akira couldn't take his eyes away from the tiny bundle beside him.
Itachi was so small, so fragile, yet radiated a strange kind of strength. His tiny hand occasionally twitched, his lips moved like he was already trying to speak in his sleep. Akira leaned closer, eyes soft, whispering:
"Welcome to the world, little brother."
He stayed by the crib until sleep took him.
In his dream, Akira found himself standing in an endless white space. Before him stretched two roads — one drenched in shadows, littered with blood and sorrow, and the other glowing faintly with golden light.
A gentle voice echoed:
"Which path will you choose, Akira? The burden of pain… or the courage to protect?"
Akira's heart pounded. Images flashed — the broken Itachi from the future he remembered, the massacre, the hatred. His throat tightened. He wanted to scream, to deny it.
Then, from the brightness, a small figure appeared — Itachi, still an infant, reaching out to him. His tiny hand opened and closed, as if asking Akira to carry him forward.
Tears welled in Akira's eyes. He dropped to one knee and held the little hand, whispering:
"I'll never let you walk alone. I'll be your brother, your shield… your sun."
The dream dissolved.
When Akira awoke, he was back in the dimly lit room. But the dream felt real, so real. His eyes fell on Itachi, sleeping soundly, his tiny hand reaching out of the blanket. Almost instinctively, Itachi's fingers curled around Akira's chest as if anchoring him.
Akira froze, then smiled softly, brushing his brother's hair.
"…You're already protecting me, huh?"
The heaviness in his chest eased. With quiet determination, Akira placed his hand over Itachi's.
No matter what the future holds, I'll protect this bond. Even if the world falls apart, I won't let history repeat.
And as the night deepened, Akira drifted back to sleep with a small, peaceful smile — the kind only a big brother could wear.
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