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A boy of about six stood outside the door. Faint tear tracks marked his face, and he wore the Uchiha clan's fan-emblem outfit.
Uchiha Itachi.
Right now, he looked nothing like the calm, all-knowing genius he'd become later. He still had that childish edge to him.
And just a little bit… smug.
Itachi glanced at Ken and said flatly, "Father told me to call you over for dinner."
Ken's father had been a jonin, a close friend of Uchiha Fugaku. The two had fought side by side on the battlefield, through life and death.
After Ken's parents died, Fugaku took extra care of him. Because of that bond between the older generation, Ken and Itachi naturally became friends.
"Oh."
Bang!
The door slammed shut, leaving Itachi standing there, completely dumbfounded.
…?
Less than a minute later, the wooden door opened again. Ken stepped out with a bright smile.
Itachi's eye twitched when he saw the oversized lunchbox in Ken's hands.
"You coming over to eat is one thing," he said, irritation creeping into his voice. "But why do you pack food to take home every single time?"
Ken shot back without missing a beat, his tone laced with mockery.
"You don't even know that thriftiness is one of Konoha's finest virtues?"
"What a spoiled rich kid."
The truth was, every time Ken came over, Mikoto would intentionally cook extra so he could take some back for dinner. She treated him very well.
Over time, Itachi—who already had a habit of overthinking life—started to feel a bit jealous. He'd occasionally throw in a sarcastic remark or two, only to get completely shut down by Ken's sharp tongue every single time.
"Doesn't that make sense?" Ken grinned.
Itachi responded with nothing but a cold snort.
Ken didn't care. He just laughed it off.
The two walked side by side through the streets of the Uchiha district.
Ken glanced at Itachi from time to time.
Seven years from now…
For the so-called peace of the ninja world, Itachi would join forces with Obito and carry out the brutal massacre of the Uchiha clan.
Friends, childhood companions, even his own parents—directly or indirectly, all would fall by his hand.
Honestly… the guy had something seriously wrong with his head.
Fugaku and Mikoto had been incredibly kind to Ken. Without them, his life would've been miserable.
He might not have even survived the harsh winters.
No. He couldn't let the massacre happen again.
For their sake—
And for himself, as an Uchiha—
He had to change everything.
While Itachi was still young, he had to slowly reshape his thinking.
Ken let out a long sigh.
"Itachi… ever since the Nine-Tails incident, a lot of people in the village suspect the Uchiha were behind it. Some even blame us for the Fourth Hokage's death. The tension between the clan and the village is only going to get worse."
Itachi thought for a moment before replying,
"The Hokage is someone who can tell right from wrong. He won't listen to baseless rumors. You don't need to worry."
At this point, Itachi had already begun to admire the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and believed firmly in the Will of Fire.
Ken let out a small "oh," then asked, pretending to be curious,
"Then why would someone so fair and just move the entire Uchiha clan to the outskirts of the village and isolate us?"
"This…" Itachi stopped walking, his thoughts stalling.
During that disaster, the Uchiha hadn't done anything wrong. So why were they pushed to the edge of the village?
They were all part of Konoha. Why couldn't they just coexist peacefully?
Ken continued, his voice heavy.
"I can clearly feel it. Ever since our ancestor Madara left the village, Konoha hasn't truly seen us as one of its own. No matter how much we sacrificed in the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars, all we get in return is suspicion and distrust."
"Every time I walk down the street, I can feel the villagers' hostility. Some people even insult the Uchiha right in public."
"Maybe just being born an Uchiha is already a sin."
There was a hint of manipulation in his words—but it was also the honest truth of what he'd experienced over the past year.
And he believed Itachi felt it too.
Brainwashing didn't need fancy rhetoric.
Sincerity was the ultimate weapon.
Sure enough, Itachi fell silent, his expression growing heavy as the realization sank in.
"Things will get better. Don't think too much about it," Ken said, patting his shoulder, stopping while he was ahead.
There was still plenty of time.
He could slowly reshape Itachi, step by step.
Ten minutes later, they arrived.
As the residence of the Uchiha clan head, it wasn't overly luxurious, but it was far larger than Ken's small courtyard. The decor was tasteful, refined.
"Big brother! Big brother!"
Little Sasuke spotted Itachi and immediately ran out of the house, calling excitedly, arms open, asking to be picked up. He was just over a year old, still a tiny, babbling kid.
"I'm here," Itachi said, his face lighting up with a warm smile as he picked Sasuke up and gently tapped his forehead.
Only in front of Sasuke did Itachi completely drop his guard and show his most genuine self.
"Hey there, little Sasuke," Ken greeted with a smile.
"Hello, big brother Ken!" Sasuke chirped happily. Since Itachi was often busy training, it was Ken who played with him most of the time, so the kid was quite attached to him.
"The food's ready! Come in and wash your hands," Mikoto's voice called from inside.
"Okay, Aunt Mikoto!"
Inside, Ken saw a woman around thirty. She had a graceful figure, fair skin, and a gentle, elegant face. Wearing an apron, she smiled warmly, her presence instantly comforting.
Uchiha Mikoto.
"Sit down and eat," Fugaku said from the table. Though he was smiling, there was a trace of worry between his brows.
"Mm." Ken took his seat, subtly observing him.
Fugaku was the clan head of the Uchiha.
He was also the captain of Konoha's Military Police Force.
During the Third Great Ninja War, he had earned the title "Wicked Eye."
Recently, conflicts between Konoha and the Uchiha had been increasing. Radical voices within the clan were growing louder. As a moderate leader, Fugaku was stuck in the middle—trying to calm his people while also answering to the village leadership.
It wasn't an easy position.
"Let's eat," Fugaku said.
The table was filled with grilled fish, fried chicken, steak, eggs, and natto—a rich spread.
"Eat more," Mikoto said gracefully, placing a piece of steak into Ken's bowl.
"Mother, I want some too," little Sasuke protested, pouting.
"Alright, alright, you too," Mikoto laughed softly, pinching his cheek before giving him a piece as well.
She also added some food to Itachi's bowl.
The meal was quiet. No one spoke.
Ken didn't mind at all.
He focused on eating like a man possessed.
He even snatched some of Sasuke's favorite dishes, making Itachi roll his eyes repeatedly.
Has this guy not eaten in days or something…?
Fugaku took a sip of tea, then spoke seriously,
"Ken, Itachi—tomorrow, you'll be starting at the Ninja Academy. Work hard. One day, you'll help strengthen the Uchiha."
As he said this, a hint of sadness flickered in his eyes.
Under his leadership, the Uchiha had been steadily declining. He felt he had let down their ancestors.
Ken and Itachi both nodded.
They had already passed the entrance tests. After tomorrow's ceremony, they would officially begin classes.
After the meal, Mikoto packed Ken's oversized lunchbox to the brim with untouched dishes.
Thanks to awakening the Sage Body, his energy consumption was huge. He could easily finish all of it by night.
On the way home, Ken kept thinking.
Fugaku and Mikoto had shown him immense kindness.
There was no way he'd just stand by and let the massacre happen again.
That wasn't who he was.
Besides—
He had the system.
As long as he kept upgrading his Sage Body, Sharingan, and Wood Release, he'd have the power to change everything.
First, a small goal:
Help Fugaku as much as he could.
Then, a bigger one:
Become the strongest in the ninja world.
"....."