One Month Later – Konoha, Uchiha Training Ground (Near the Death Forest)
The morning mist clung to the trees like a thin white sheet, and the echo of explosive chakra tore through the quiet forest.
Akira stood in the open clearing, hands raised, lungs steady.
" Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu (Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu)
Water Release: Water Wall (Suiton: Suijinheki)
Water Release: Water Bullet (Suiton: Mizurappa advanced)
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough (Fūton: Daitoppa)
Earth Release: Earth Wall (Doton: Doryūheki)
Earth Release: Earth Spear (Doton: Domu)
Lightning Release: Lightning Clone (Raiton Bunshin)
One after another, ninjutsu erupted from him—blades of wind, pillars of earth, crackling arcs of lightning.
The clearing looked like it was being bullied by all five elements at once.
It had been exactly one month since Akira chose the Five-Element Elite Genin Ninjutsu Memory Pack.
And for the last thirty days, he had done nothing but drill those techniques until his hands felt like they were stitched to hand-signs.
His muscles ached.
His chakra pathways throbbed.
His heart, though?
It was thrilled.
He'd also written the same letter to Kakashi he had sent in the simulation—
the clues about Obito, Rin, and the impossible circumstances around her death.
As for Itachi…
No contact as Chronarch.
Danzo was crippled.
Root was on lockdown.
There was no need to disturb the mystery persona unnecessarily.
Akira exhaled.
"That's enough for today."
Just then—
crack
A branch snapped behind him.
Akira didn't react immediately.
He slid a senbon into his hand—one marked with Dust Release infusion.
If the newcomer was hostile, he could erase them in a single breath.
He turned slowly.
And saw—
Sasuke Uchiha.
But not the calm, confident Sasuke he knew.
This Sasuke was frozen mid-step, mouth open wide enough to swallow a kunai.
"...A-Akira," Sasuke stammered, eyes trembling, "y-you… know ninjutsu!?"
Akira blinked.
"Don't you also know ninjutsu?"
For a moment, Sasuke nodded slowly.
Then realization hit him.
Sasuke was seven years old.
Akira was five.
Seven-year-old Sasuke: knows one Great Fireball.
Five-year-old Akira: performed 6-7 ninjutsu in a row .
Sasuke: Where does he get this much chakra from!?
Finally, Sasuke pointed a trembling finger at him.
"A-Akira! If you know so many ninjutsu, why didn't you tell me before!
Let's fight! I want to see who's stronger!"
His eyes burned with competitive instinct—like an alpha wolf discovering a rival alpha in his territory.
Akira shrugged.
"I can't fight today. My chakra is almost empty."
Sasuke looked disappointed but steadied himself.
"Fine. Tomorrow, then."
Akira nodded.
A real fight.
With ninjutsu.
His heart stirred with excitement.
---
The Next Day
The same clearing.
Same mist.
Same quiet tension.
Akira faced Sasuke across the field.
They moved at the same time.
Three shuriken flew from Akira's fingers.
Three from Sasuke.
The weapons collided mid-air—sharp metallic sparks showering the ground.
Both drew kunai.
They clashed.
Sasuke thrust.
Akira blocked.
Akira swung.
Sasuke parried.
Speed grew.
Intensity rose.
Finally—
Akira kicked Sasuke's wrist, sending the kunai spinning away.
Then he pivoted, jumped slightly, and delivered a clean heel kick to Sasuke's back.
Sasuke flew several meters, skidding on the dirt.
Panting.
Excited.
Eyes blazing.
He formed hand seals—three per second.
Akira matched his pace but limited himself, keeping his real speed hidden.
Both shouted:
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Two fireballs—both nearly four meters—collided in the center.
BOOM!
Dust exploded outward.
Sasuke staggered.
His chakra was empty.
He was barely standing.
Akira?
He pretended to pant but still had plenty left.
Sasuke marched up to him.
"Akira… You're almost as strong as me!
If I hadn't held back at the end, you would've been injured."
Akira nodded respectfully.
"You're really strong, Sasuke-niisama."
Sasuke blinked—then puffed with pride.
"No, no… you're stronger.
When I was your age, I didn't even know Fire Style."
Then it hit him.
Yesterday Akira used dozens of ninjutsu.
Sasuke had assumed Akira exhausted all his chakra as he dad exhausted all his chakra in this ninjutsu.
But seeing him now—still composed—Sasuke realized:
Akira went easy on him.
Sasuke gritted his teeth.
Glared at him.
Vowed silently:
I'll surpass you.
Akira tilted his head.
Did I accidentally insult his mother or something?
---
Eight Months Later
Time passed peacefully.
Training with his father.
Training with Sasuke.
Exploring Konoha and identifying NPC-level characters.
Comparing canon differences in a timeline six years early.
A strange hobby.
But genuinely amusing.
And so—
Eight months drifted by.
---
Akira's House
Warm sunlight filled the Uchiha household.
Laughter. Footsteps. Plates clinking.
Today wasn't a grand festival, but it was the happiest celebration he'd had since arriving in this world.
Akira stood surrounded by children his age—friends from the district, acquaintances from training, and a very smug Sasuke Uchiha.
Sasuke crossed his arms with the dignity of a clan heir and declared:
"Akira, happy birthday. Now you're six years old too.
You can no longer be considered a child."
Akira blinked.
"…Sasuke, we are literally both children."
But he still smiled and accepted the neatly wrapped gift Sasuke pushed toward him with exaggerated seriousness.
"Thank you, Sasuke," Akira said warmly.
One by one, the other children came forward with their own gifts, congratulations, and awkward little bows.
On the adult side of the room—
Fugaku approached Akira's father, hands behind his back like always, and the two began their quiet conversation about training, discipline, and clan prospects.
Mikoto chatted with Akira's mother and another Uchiha kunoichi—soft laughter, soft expressions, the comfortable warmth of a peaceful day.
And Itachi?
Not present.
He was still deep within Root, wearing the mask of an emotionless prodigy.
The celebration wasn't grand.
But it was one of the happiest moments of Akira's new life.
---
Ten Days Later
Akira stood in front of the Academy gates.
Back straight.
Eyes calm.
Future uncertain.
But one thing was clear—
Today marked the true beginning of his shinobi path.
_____