Naruto: Mixed Heritage(Rewrite)

Renjiro froze, his eyes widening. "Mikoto… gave birth?"

The realization hit him like a lightning bolt. He had been training on the floating islands for the past two weeks, completely detached from the goings-on of the clan. He'd missed the birth of Fugaku and Mikoto's second child, a momentous occasion for the Uchiha.

"It seems things are moving fast," Renjiro mused, shaking his head. He followed the crowd, the cheerful atmosphere infectious despite his initial disorientation.

Lanterns strung across the rooftops glowed warmly, their light casting soft, flickering shadows. The hum of laughter and chatter rose in waves, punctuated by the excited squeals of children darting between clusters of adults.

Renjiro's steps slowed as he approached the heart of the gathering. The scene before him was a vivid tableau of familial pride and tradition. At the entrance to Fugaku and Mikoto's home, a low table had been set, adorned with ceremonial dishes and small offerings. The aroma of grilled fish mingled with the scent of blooming night flowers, creating an ambience that was both festive and serene.

Fugaku stood tall near the table, his usually stern features softened into a rare expression of contentment. Dressed in traditional robes, he exuded an air of pride and calm authority.

Mikoto, seated gracefully beside him, cradled a swaddled bundle in her arms. Her expression was radiant, a quiet joy emanating from her as she glanced down at the tiny form of her newborn son.

Renjiro blended into the crowd, watching as Mikoto raised a pair of delicate chopsticks. Held between them was a small piece of fish, which she gently brought to the baby's lips. The sight made Renjiro's brows furrow in bemusement.

"Do newborns eat fish?" Renjiro wondered aloud, his scepticism apparent. He knew that babies had to be weaned off and start teething before they could handle solid food, let alone meat.

But the sight before him defied logic. Mikoto delicately held the chopsticks to Itachi's tiny lips, and though the baby could only nibble ineffectively, the crowd erupted in cheers each time.

"This doesn't make sense," Renjiro thought, yet he couldn't deny the warmth of the moment. It wasn't about practicality—it was about tradition, about the collective hopes of the Uchiha clan resting on this small child.

Tradition dictated that the Okuizome marked a symbolic first meal for the child, a wish for a life free of hunger. Logic, however, told Renjiro that the ritual seemed absurd.

Babies this young weren't even capable of eating solids, let alone something as specific as fish. Yet, the moment the piece of fish touched Itachi's lips, the infant stirred, his tiny mouth making an almost instinctive motion to nibble.

The crowd erupted into cheers, clapping and laughing with delight. Renjiro blinked, taken aback. 'All logic from Earth blown apart,' he mused wryly, shaking his head. He couldn't deny the warmth of the moment. Despite the absurdity, there was something deeply moving about seeing the Uchiha clan united in celebration.

Every time Itachi made even the slightest motion, the gathered clansmen cheered anew. Some called out blessings for the child's future, while others marvelled at his tiny movements as though they were the actions of a prodigy. The joyous atmosphere was infectious. Children darted through the crowd, their laughter ringing like bells, while elders reminisced about Okuizome ceremonies of years past.

Renjiro lingered at the edges of the gathering, taking it all in. The Uchiha clan, so often consumed by ambition and internal strife, seemed almost unrecognizable in this moment of unity. The pride and joy on everyone's faces reminded him of what it meant to belong to a family, however complex and flawed.

A familiar voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Renjiro, what do you think of the little prince?" It was Asa, an acquaintance Renjiro had worked with in the force who had always been quick to tease.

He grinned, gesturing toward the centre of the gathering. "Quite a moment for the clan, isn't it?"

Renjiro nodded, his lips curving into a faint smile. "It is. Itachi's already got everyone wrapped around his finger."

Asa laughed heartily. "He's going to be something special, mark my words. Named after the founder himself, no less. You missed quite the announcement while you were off training."

'Special? You have no idea!'

Renjiro's smile faltered for a moment. "I suppose I did," he said softly. His gaze shifted back to Mikoto, who was now holding Itachi up for everyone to see. The baby's small form seemed almost fragile, yet the weight of the expectations placed upon him was already palpable.

The festivities grew livelier as the night deepened. Musicians appeared, their melodies adding a rhythmic heartbeat to the gathering. Plates of food circulated, the air filling with the savory scent of roasted meats and the sweetness of rice cakes. Renjiro accepted a small plate from a passing server but found himself more interested in observing the people around him.

Everywhere he looked, there was joy. Children danced in the open space near the musicians, their movements uninhibited and full of life. Elders sat in small groups, their conversations punctuated by bursts of laughter as they recounted stories of their own youths. Younger clan members moved between the groups, ensuring everyone was well-fed and comfortable.

Renjiro's attention returned to the heart of the gathering. Fugaku stood beside Mikoto, his arm resting protectively on her shoulder as they accepted congratulations from their relatives. The sight of them together, so strong and unified, stirred something in Renjiro.

'Well, the future would be cruel to them. Unless I meddle in it.' Renjiro thought.

He was always going back and forth regarding the issue, sometime deciding to change the clan's future, other times deciding to be a spectator and save his own skin. So he decided to leave the decision when he crossed the bridge.

The crowd erupted into cheers again as Itachi let out a small sound, somewhere between a gurgle and a laugh. Renjiro chuckled despite himself.

"There he goes," he thought, his gaze lingering on the baby. There was no denying the hope and pride the clan was investing in him.

For all the joy surrounding Itachi's birth, Renjiro still couldn't shake the thought of what the future might hold.

"The whole clan is in high spirits… because their future destroyer has been born," he mused grimly, the thought a shadow amidst the light.

As the festivities began to wind down, Renjiro slipped away from the crowd. The sounds of laughter and music faded as he made his way back to his home, the quiet streets of the Uchiha compound feeling almost serene in contrast to the celebration.

Closing the door behind him, he sat down heavily, his mind still spinning with the events of the evening.

Time seemed to be moving faster than ever. One moment he was training in isolation, and the next, the clan's future was cradled in Mikoto's arms. Staring at the ceiling, he let out a slow breath. "Things are changing," he murmured. "And not all of it for the better."

Yet, despite his unease, he couldn't deny the warmth he had felt tonight. For now, the Uchiha clan was united in joy, and that was something worth holding onto, however fleeting it might be.

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