Return of the Uchiha Prodigy

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"How can I remember so clearly?"

The name that suddenly popped into Itachi's mind made him pause, a flicker of surprise in his usually calm demeanor. Uchiha Obito.

Since his rebirth, Itachi had noticed something unusual—memories that should have been hazy or distant had become remarkably clear. He could recall details that even the sharp mind of a ninja might have forgotten over time.

For instance, he distinctly remembered where his parents had gone the day he was reborn, a memory that should have been a blur given his young age. Even for someone trained in the art of observation, such clarity felt unnatural.

Itachi chose not to dwell on it for now. But when the memory of Obito resurfaced, it stirred something within him.

Obito...

Although Obito hadn't been regarded as one of the strongest Uchiha, he had died a hero, sacrificing himself to protect his comrades. Even in death, he left behind his Sharingan for Kakashi, ensuring his power would continue to protect his friends—and Konoha.

Kakashi didn't let Obito down, Itachi thought. Over the years, Kakashi's reputation had grown, his moniker "Copy Ninja" becoming well-known throughout the shinobi world. He had become a pillar of the new generation in Konoha.

When Itachi first joined the ANBU, Kakashi's reputation had left a lasting impression on him.

If I have time... Itachi mused, I should pay my respects to them.

It wasn't just Obito that Itachi respected, but all the Konoha shinobi who had sacrificed their lives to protect the village during the wars.

He regained his composure and glanced across the table. Izumi was still focused on the skewer of three-colored dango in her hand, her eyes bright with delight.

"Let's hurry, Izumi," Itachi said, beginning to eat his dango more quickly.

"Oh, right," Izumi replied, snapping out of her thoughts. She ate with surprising speed, finishing her dango before Itachi had taken his second bite.

"I'll pay this time," Itachi said, stopping her as she reached for her pocket. "I haven't used the pocket money my mother gave me yet."

Standing up, Itachi pulled out a few coins.

Unlike most children his age, Itachi rarely spent his pocket money on himself. When Mikoto started giving him pocket money at five years old, he often saved it to buy necessities for the elderly Uchiha who had lost loved ones during the wars.

Izumi looked slightly embarrassed, but before she could protest, Itachi had already paid and was walking out of the shop.

"Wait for me!" she called, hurrying after him.

As they left, Yuhi Kurenai, sitting at a nearby table, glanced their way. "Those two are from the Uchiha clan, right?"

Shiranui Genma smirked, having noticed them earlier. "That boy's got manners—offering to pay like that."

He looked at Sarutobi Asuma, who sat across from him, and teased, "Maybe someone could take notes."

"I agree," Hagane Kotetsu chimed in, earning a round of chuckles from the group.

Kurenai blushed slightly, a soft redness creeping onto her cheeks as she avoided Asuma's gaze.

"I can't believe you guys are the Hokage's bodyguards," Asuma groaned, rubbing his temples. "I'll treat you all to dinner tonight, happy?"

Genma and Kotetsu exchanged triumphant grins, giving Asuma a playful salute.

---

Izumi and Itachi soon arrived at the entrance to the Uchiha district.

Standing at the gate, Itachi gave a small wave. "See you tomorrow, Izumi."

"Yeah," Izumi nodded, watching him for a moment before he turned and walked away. Itachi disappeared into the distance, and Izumi lingered briefly before heading home.

By the time Itachi reached his house, the sun had fully set, leaving the sky a deep black.

"I'm home," Itachi announced as he entered.

His father, Fugaku, was seated at the table, reading the evening newspaper. He glanced up at Itachi.

"Why are you back so late?" Fugaku asked, his tone stern.

Itachi, unused to explaining his actions, hesitated. Before he could respond, his mother, Mikoto, appeared from the kitchen, her voice warm and reassuring.

"Itachi made friends at school today, didn't you?" she said, smiling as she removed her apron.

"Friends?" Fugaku raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued.

"Yes," Itachi answered quickly, unsure how to elaborate.

"I'm going to check on Sasuke," he added, swiftly retreating toward his brother's room.

Fugaku watched him go, his brow furrowed slightly. "That child... He's been acting different lately."

Mikoto smiled, pleased. "Yes, but it's a good change, don't you think?"

Fugaku gave a noncommittal shrug. "If you think it's a good thing, I won't argue."

Mikoto chuckled softly. "But you agree with me, don't you?"

Fugaku didn't respond, but Mikoto knew her husband well enough to sense his quiet approval.

---

The next day...

"I'm heading out!" Itachi called as he waved to his mother, who was holding Sasuke in her arms.

Mikoto smiled warmly, and even Sasuke waved his tiny hand at his older brother.

Leaving the house, Itachi walked to the end of the street where Izumi stood waiting, leaning against a lamppost. She had been there for a while.

When she saw him approach, she smiled.

"Good morning," Itachi greeted her.

"Good morning," Izumi replied softly.

"Let's go," Itachi said, walking ahead. Izumi fell into step beside him, her smile never fading.

---

It became their routine—meeting every morning before school and walking home together at the end of the day.

On Saturday, the sixth day after they'd started at the Academy, Itachi woke up early. Grabbing a bouquet of white lilies, he decided to visit the Konoha Cemetery, where the fallen heroes of the village were memorialized. The sun was barely rising as he made his way through the village.

Entering the cemetery, rows of stone monuments greeted him, each a solemn tribute to a life sacrificed in the defense of Konoha.

So many gave their lives to protect this village... Itachi thought, feeling a deep sense of respect.

Though many of these monuments were for shinobi whose bodies had never been recovered, their names lived on in stone. Itachi walked among the graves, his heart heavy with gratitude for their sacrifices.

Suddenly, a figure appeared at one of the tombstones, moving with such speed that Itachi barely registered their presence until they had already stopped.

"Kakashi...?" Itachi whispered, recognizing the silver-haired man standing in front of one of the graves.

---

Konoha Cemetery

Kakashi stood in front of the tombstone, his usual stoic demeanor overshadowed by a deep sadness. The silver-haired shinobi, clad in his ANBU attire, gently placed a bouquet of flowers at the base of the grave.

"I'm sorry, Rin. It's been a while since I last visited..." His voice was quiet, barely audible through the black mask that covered his face. His headband, tilted over his left eye, concealed the Sharingan beneath it.

Normally, Kakashi's sharp senses would alert him to any presence nearby, but today was different. Lost in his memories, he hadn't noticed the young figure standing at the entrance of the cemetery.

Itachi Uchiha observed in silence. He had worked with Kakashi on several missions, but seeing him like this—vulnerable and weighed down by grief—felt unfamiliar.

"That must be Kakashi's teammate... Rin," Itachi thought, his sharp eyes catching the name etched into the stone.

Kakashi remained silent for a long time, lost in thought. When he finally spoke again, it was barely a whisper. "Rin... there's something I wanted to tell you, but I suppose it can wait."

A sudden gust of wind swept through the cemetery, rustling the flowers and leaves. Kakashi, ever vigilant, suddenly sensed Itachi's presence. He turned, his visible eye settling on the young Uchiha standing a short distance away.

Itachi nodded in acknowledgment, walking slowly toward him. Kakashi returned the nod but remained silent, turning back to Rin's gravestone for a final moment. "I'll visit again soon," he whispered, bowing slightly before stepping away.

As the two ANBU passed one another, Kakashi moved toward another grave. Itachi approached Rin's tombstone, standing in front of the inscription. The name Nohara Rin was clearly engraved on the stone, accompanied by a photograph of a young girl with a warm, gentle smile.

Itachi's expression softened as he studied the image. The photograph captured her youthful innocence, a reminder of how many lives had been lost to war—children, like Rin, who had sacrificed everything for the village.

"It's tragic..." Itachi thought. "So many lives lost, so many like Rin. How many more will have to die for this village?"

He bowed his head in silent respect. The weight of life and death was something he understood all too well. It was this understanding that shaped him, driving the decisions he made and the burdens he carried alone.

His thoughts drifted to the mission—an impossible task entrusted to him by the village elders. A mission that would force him to choose between his clan and Konoha.

As Itachi turned to leave, he suddenly felt a presence—a faint yet unmistakable sensation of being watched. His instincts sharpened immediately.

He slowly turned, his eyes scanning the area. Everything appeared normal at first—trees swaying gently in the wind—but his intuition told him otherwise.

Hidden in the shadows atop a nearby tree stood a man. His face was concealed behind a distinctive orange mask, with a single eyehole, the eye beneath it glowing red.

"Uchiha Madara... or whoever you really are," Itachi thought, recognizing the figure. The masked man, known to most as the leader of the Akatsuki, but to Itachi, a dangerous enigma, was observing him.

The masked man's single eye narrowed slightly, seemingly amused that such a young boy had detected him.

"How did he sense me?" the man mused, before chuckling softly to himself. His gaze shifted briefly to Rin's grave before hardening.

"Soon, this village will fall. Everything you cherish will turn to dust."

Without another word, the space around the masked man's eye began to distort. In a swirl of Kamui, his body disappeared into the dimensional rift.

By the time Itachi fully turned, the masked man was gone. The eerie sensation in the air had dissipated.

Itachi gaze fell upon another tombstone—the one Kakashi had visited earlier. The name Uchiha Obito was carved into the stone, along with a photograph of a young boy with messy black hair, grinning confidently behind a pair of goggles.

A faint smile tugged at Itachi's lips. "This one... reminds me of someone..."

His thoughts turned to the Fourth Hokage. The Yondaime's son, Naruto, would soon be born. Only a month remained until that fateful night.

"I hope... things will be different this time. I've done everything I can. Now, it's up to the Fourth Hokage to protect the village."

Yet doubt crept into his mind. "Madara... Even after all these years, I still don't know what his true goals are. If he moves... can the Fourth Hokage stop him?"

Itachi placed the white lilies he had brought in front of Obito's grave. After a respectful bow, he left the cemetery quietly, leaping onto the rooftops of Konoha, heading home.

---

Konoha Onsen

Itachi's sharp eyes caught sight of the sign: Konoha Onsen.

For a moment, he paused, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

"Peeping?"

He hadn't expected to stumble upon such a scene, especially one involving someone he knew. Though he wasn't the type to interfere, the partially hidden figure behind the tree looked oddly familiar.

Swish!

With a graceful leap, Itachi landed silently on a nearby rooftop, moving closer to the scene. He crouched behind the tree, observing the white-haired man, who was so absorbed in peeping through the window that he hadn't noticed Itachi's approach.

At this distance, Itachi confirmed the identity of the culprit: Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin.

"Lord Jiraiya?" Itachi called out instinctively.

Jiraiya, startled, whipped around to face the voice. His eyes widened as he recognized Itachi.

"Who... called my name?" Jiraiya stammered, his voice louder than he intended. Unfortunately, someone inside the onsen heard him.

"Ahh! There's a pervert spying on us!" a woman screamed from within.

Panic ensued among the women in the hot spring, their voices rising in alarm. Passersby on the street began to gather, drawn by the commotion.

"What's happening?" a woman inquired as she rushed toward the building, suspicion flashing in her sharp eyes.

This is bad! Jiraiya cursed silently, realizing the situation had escalated. He glanced at Itachi, his expression torn between guilt and panic. In a flash, Jiraiya leaped onto the roof of the hot spring.

Swish!

A new figure entered the scene—a woman carrying a gray travel bag over her shoulder. She moved with speed and purpose, her eyes narrowing as she approached the bathhouse.

"What's going on here?" she demanded, her voice sharp as she scanned the panicked crowd.

One of the women pointed to the window. "There was a pervert spying on us from outside!"

The woman's frown deepened as she glanced at the window, her keen eyes catching a glimpse of the fleeing figure. Though she could only see a leg, she instantly recognized who it belonged to.

"Jiraiya!" she roared, her voice filled with fury as she charged after him.

"Oh no!" Jiraiya panicked, casting a quick glance behind him. Just then, the bathhouse wall exploded as a fist smashed through it with terrifying force.

"Tsunade!?" Jiraiya gasped, recognizing the figure amidst the debris.

With clenched fists and a furious expression, Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, glared at her former teammate.

"Lady Tsunade..." Itachi murmured, watching the destruction with wide eyes.

The women in the onsen screamed louder, realizing their privacy was now even more compromised. Jiraiya, however, wasn't focused on them anymore—his attention was solely on Tsunade.

"T-Tsunade, long time no see... haha," Jiraiya stammered nervously, rubbing the back of his head. Despite his attempt at humor, his voice trembled with fear.

Tsunade's glare only intensified as she cracked her knuckles. "You still haven't changed, you pervert!"

Before Jiraiya could react, Tsunade lunged forward, her fists flying. Jiraiya, sensing imminent danger, turned and sprinted away, pushing his speed to the limit.

"She's faster than I remember!" Jiraiya thought, sweat beading on his forehead.

Itachi stood in silent amazement, unable to keep up with their pace. Before Jiraiya could get far, Tsunade grabbed her travel bag and hurled it at him with tremendous force.

Whoosh!

The bag rocketed through the air. Jiraiya barely managed to dodge it, but the slight hesitation allowed Tsunade to close the gap.

"Wait, Tsunade, listen—" Jiraiya raised his hands defensively, but it was too late.

Tsunade's punch landed squarely in Jiraiya's chest, sending him flying through the air like a ragdoll. He soared in an arc, crashing down on a distant street.

"What monstrous strength…" Itachi muttered, stunned by the sheer power Tsunade displayed.

*Boom!*

Jiraiya's body embedded itself into the ground, knocking over a passerby in the process. The impact left a crater where he landed, sending dirt and debris flying everywhere.

Tsunade and Itachi quickly followed, both landing on the street. As they approached the scene, Jiraiya lay in the crater, coughing up blood.

*Swish!*

A figure appeared suddenly between Jiraiya and Tsunade, preventing her from landing another blow.

"Tsunade!" The newcomer called out, his voice calm but firm.

Tsunade paused, surprised by the sudden appearance.

Itachi's eyes widened as he recognized the man standing in front of Jiraiya.

"Lord Fourth?" he whispered.

**Minato Namikaze**, the Fourth Hokage, stood before them, concern evident on his face as he looked at his injured teacher.

"Tsunade, what's going on?" Minato asked, glancing between her and Jiraiya.

"Minato..." Jiraiya groaned from the crater. "I... might've overdone it..."

Minato looked down at his mentor, sighing. "Teacher, you've done it again…"

"Move aside if you don't want him to die," she said curtly. Minato nodded and stepped back, trusting Tsunade's medical skills.

Tsunade knelt by Jiraiya, forming a seal with her hands, her palms glowing green with healing chakra.

As Tsunade worked on healing Jiraiya, Minato noticed Itachi standing nearby. "Itachi, why are you here?"

Itachi smiled sheepishly. "Just… a coincidence, Lord Hokage. A complete coincidence."

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