Izumi Uchiha's eyes lit up like someone sprinkled stars in them. She nodded hard, hair brushing her shoulders and kicking up a faint whiff of gardenia. "Got it!"
Her fingers twisted the hem of her purple crop top; fabric damp with nervous sweat, but her chest felt warm, like she'd swallowed a sun-baked stone.
She'd already noticed the shift in the clan's stares. The old cold shoulders and side-eyes? Softened. All because of Makoto's two claps and the way he was cozying up to her in front of everyone.
If he wanted, the whole clan would probably line up to teach him taijutsu and brag about it.
Sunlight sliced between them, Makoto's shadow draping over Izumi's tiny feet.
She suddenly remembered baby Makoto, tucked in Itachi's arms, trying to climb her chest like a koala. She bit back a grin.
That little gremlin had grown into someone who could stand up for her.
---
Sasuke watched from the sidelines, rolled his eyes so hard they nearly stuck, brows knotting into a pretzel. A tiny hmph slipped out.
"Ugh. Always glued to girls. So lame."
"And if you wanna learn taijutsu, why not ask Nii-san? Makoto's totally slacking!"
He still remembered Makoto's old mantra: No girls in the heart, sword comes out god-tier! Guess someone forgot.
The sun baked him like a hot towel. Sasuke sneaked another glare at the pair; Izumi leaning in, moon-crescent smile, ears pink.
"Nope. Gotta snap him out of it!"
"Can't let him keep sliding! No girls = elite ninja!"
Mission accepted. Sasuke felt power surging; sun overhead like his personal hype man.
He cracked his knuckles; pop-pop; eyes blazing brighter than the noon glare.
These past six months, he'd busted his butt on taijutsu behind Makoto's back; just for this moment. He felt unstoppable.
Pumping himself up with a few silent let's go!s, Sasuke shot to his feet, little boots thud-thud on the stone. Like a fluffy lion cub charging the field.
He spun, chest heaving, and yelled: "I challenge you!"
"?"
Makoto tilted his head, pointed at his own nose, brain full of question marks. "You wanna spar me?"
"Yup!" Sasuke nodded like a bobblehead, bangs bouncing, chest puffed like a billboard.
Makoto eyed sunshine-soaked Sasuke. Kid's already turning into Optimus Prime?
The crowd perked up, scooting closer, eyes sparkling with oh-this'll-be-good.
They'd seen Makoto around the training grounds but never throw a punch. Popcorn time.
Big-bro mode activated; no way Makoto was saying no to determined little Sasuke.
He reached over, ruffled Izumi's hair; soft, like cotton candy fresh from the jar.
She squeaked and leaned away, shooting him a fake glare; zero heat behind it. Used to be me ruffling his head. Tables turned fast.
Makoto stepped onto the field, cocked his head at confident Sasuke. "You sure?"
"Fair warning: hurts, no crying."
"I don't cry!" Sasuke stuck his nose in the air. "Even without Sharingan, even with noodle arms, my taijutsu owns our age group!"
Fists clenched, face dead serious; time to save you, bro.
"Makoto, you're slipping. I'm waking you up. No girls in the heart, sword comes out god-tier; your words!"
Makoto's eyebrow twitched; almost laughed. He'd spouted that gem pre-memory-reboot. Kid logic.
If a sugar mama saw through my tough-guy act right now, I'd be all over that opportunity.
He smirked, gentle warning: "Brace yourself. Stay calm."
Then, right in front of the whole clan; boom. Crimson exploded in his pupils. Two tomoe spun slow and lazy, like ink drops on red silk; flashy, demonic, extra.
Sun hit his face, painting the red even sharper, even his lashes tinted pink.
Brand-new two-tomoe Sharingan; saved up half a year. Bought it to flex, not to collect dust.
If he had Mangekyō? He'd never turn it off.
"Hssss—"
The whole field sucked in a collective breath. Temperature spiked like someone cranked the heat.
"Two-tomoe?!"
"How old is he?!"
"Lord Makoto's got Hokage vibes!!"
Murmurs crashed like waves, air buzzing with hype.
Sasuke blinked. Sharingan? Pfft, I'll get mine soon. Not jealous.
Then he saw the two spinning tomoe. Eyes bugged. Mouth fell open.
One?
No; two!
Two-tomoe Sharingan?!
"Are you KIDDING ME;?!?"
Voice cracked, teetering on tears. He hadn't even unlocked one, and Makoto jumped straight to two?
The shock hit harder than a million beatdowns.
World spun. Pond rippled. Sasuke's legs gave out; thump. Flat on his back, tiny dust cloud puffing up.
Silence. You could hear leaves hit the ground. Wind held its breath. The whole clan just… froze.