"Finally awake, One-Hits-Seven!"
Uchiha Arata licked the corner of his mouth, dry from standing too long, a faintly strange glint flashing in his eyes.
This man—praised by many as a true chosen child—he had finally met him.
Of course, it wasn't out of admiration.
His feelings toward Itachi were complicated.
On one hand, this guy had personally wiped out his entire clan—an out-and-out fanatic.
On the other hand, he had done it all to protect his younger brother, even threatening the village itself.
Such tangled and contradictory emotions could only be described as—
Love and hate intertwined.
That said, right now…
Jin was mainly here for one thing—
Entries.
"I wonder what kind of entries Itachi has at this age."
"Please don't copy Amaterasu later…"
He muttered inwardly, anticipation mixed with caution.
He didn't need too many entries—just don't give him that one.
Yes.
That one.
Amaterasu.
It sounded awesome, and it was pretty flashy—
But!
In the Naruto world, it committed the same mistake as 99% of Fire Release techniques:
It can't burn people to death!
High damage, sure.
But it never finishes the job!
So what's it for?
Putting on a fireworks show?
Or performing iron-flower sparks at night?
Uchiha Arata cleared his throat and said seriously,
"One-Hits-Seven, I've got a question for you."
"One-Hits-Seven?"
Itachi repeated it, immediately catching the pun.
This brat actually gave his older brother a nickname?
He frowned—
But when his gaze fell on Jin's soft, tender little face, the frown smoothed out again.
"As expected of Jin. To think you'd come up with such an interesting nickname."
"Go ahead. Ask whatever you want."
As he spoke, he reached out, wanting to rub Jin's little cheeks.
Smooth and soft—
Very tempting to rua.
"Hey. Be serious."
Jin dodged his head and put on an adult-like expression.
"If one day the village and the clan stand on opposite sides… who would you help?"
Crack.
Itachi's outstretched hand froze midair.
He was stunned.
Though still a child, his eyes revealed shock and melancholy far beyond his years.
"So even Jin has already sensed this…?"
"No—wait."
"Don't tell me… that's it. He must have overheard Father talking."
"Father's getting more careless by the day—how could he not notice something like this?"
"It seems… there are even more restless elements within the clan now…"
His brows knit together tightly.
On his small, youthful face, tear marks and nasolabial lines were already faintly visible—
Clearly the result of a lifetime habit of frowning.
Seeing this, Jin shook his head and sighed inwardly.
As expected—Itachi had already sensed something was wrong at this stage.
Yet even after sensing it so early, things still ended in total annihilation.
It shouldn't have been that way.
It really shouldn't have, One-Hits-Seven!
Seven years—
More than enough time to change many things.
Of course, the Uchiha clan's maniacal laughter…
That was probably incurable.
"Jin, why would you ask something like that?"
"Do you really think the clan and the village will come to oppose each other?"
After hesitating, Itachi didn't answer directly. He lowered his arm and asked softly.
He didn't know what he himself should do—
But he wanted to hear his little brother's thoughts.
"You just need to answer me."
"I… I don't know…"
"Then—let me rephrase it."
Jin shook his head. The current One-Hits-Seven was lost.
Even the One-Hits-Seven at the time of the massacre was lost.
Only a sharper question could wake up this foolish oniisan!
"If the village wanted to kill me and Sasuke—"
"One-Hits-Seven, whose side would you stand on?"
Crack!
Itachi's small face instantly tensed, his posture straightening.
Did this even need to be asked?
There was zero hesitation.
Clenching his fists, he said firmly,
"Don't worry. I won't let that day come."
Still avoiding it.
Refusing to face it head-on was, itself, avoidance.
Jin shook his head and didn't press further.
But to pad the conversation time, he changed topics.
"Oh right—One-Hits-Seven, didn't you say before that Father's private stash is hidden in the lower-right corner of the cabinet in the third room?"
Itachi: ???
Fugaku, listening next door: ???
Damn it, Itachi!
How could you tell Jin something like that?!
You exposed my secret money stash!
So that's how little Jin knew so much!
In an instant, Fugaku even pinned last night's blame on Itachi.
His face darkened as he grabbed a rope, about to yank open the door and charge out—
When suddenly, a chilling gaze landed on his back.
"Dear Clan Head…"
"Where exactly are you planning to go?"
Tick.
Tick.
It was a cool morning—
Yet the chill in the air was bone-deep.
Sweat slowly beaded on Fugaku's forehead.
Sliding down into his eyelids, stinging painfully.
He turned around—
And saw Uchiha Mikoto, smiling gently.
I'm finished.
Grinding his teeth, Fugaku could only force a dry laugh.
"I—I'm going to make breakfast."
"Oh~ alright then, Fugaku."
Mikoto smiled, not exposing his embarrassment.
She simply looked toward the two small figures outside the door.
Warm happiness radiated from her whole being.
These—
Were her precious children.
Living room.
Whoosh.
Just as the brothers finished speaking, a side door was suddenly yanked open.
The next moment, a dark-faced Uchiha Fugaku walked out—very much alive and present.
"Ah—Father!"
Both brothers jumped in surprise.
Especially Jin.
He'd just been asking extremely sensitive questions.
Thankfully, it seemed Fugaku had only heard the latter part.
After glaring at both of them, he turned and marched straight toward the third room.
The stash had to be moved.
"Hm? Father's expression… seems kind of complicated?"
Itachi was startled, but also confused.
He felt there was something more hidden in that look.
Meanwhile—
Once Fugaku left—
Jin's eyes suddenly lit up.
The prompt was here!
[Conversation target: Uchiha Itachi]
[Analyzing copyable entries…]
[Fire Release Affinity (Green), Chakra Refinement (White), Brother-Complex (Black), Too Wise, Dies Young (Black), Disease-Ridden (Black)…]
The moment Jin saw Itachi's current entries—
His face completely fell.
The first few were fine.
But the last three were so black they were practically purple!
They might as well have smeared both of Itachi's eyes pitch-black.
Still, thinking about it—
It made sense.
Itachi was still young. He didn't yet possess many of his later abilities.
And because he awakened the Mangekyō too early, he'd been sickly all along…
Jin couldn't help but look at this nominal older brother again.
Then he shook his head slightly, standing on tiptoe, trying to pat Itachi's shoulder—
But due to the height difference, he could only pat his chest.
Seeing this, Itachi squatted down in confusion.
"Jin… are you trying to… hug me?"
"No. I just want to say—One-Hits-Seven, you're blackened to the core. Completely."
Jin sighed.
[Conversation with Uchiha Itachi exceeded ten minutes. Attempting to copy entry…]
[Copy failed.]
Failed.
That was normal—the chance to copy entries through conversation wasn't high.
Feeling a bit bored, Jin waved his hand and turned to walk away.
Leaving Itachi behind, staring at his back, deeply conflicted.
What exactly does Jin mean…?
And Father's look earlier…
Wait—did I forget something?
At the same time—
In the woods behind the Uchiha clan compound.
A short-haired boy stood trembling in the cold wind…