"So you're finally awake, One-Hit-Seven."
Uchiha Kai licked his lips, dry from standing there too long, a faintly strange gleam flickering in his eyes.
The man hailed as Kishimoto's "biological son" was finally standing in front of him.
Of course, this wasn't admiration.
His feelings toward Itachi were… complicated.
On one hand, this guy had personally wiped out the entire clan—an undeniable extremist.
On the other hand, he had done it all to protect his younger brother, even going so far as to threaten the village itself.
Love and hate, tangled together in a mess that was hard to untangle.
But right now?
Kai was here for one thing only—
Traits.
"I wonder what kind of traits Itachi has at this age…"
"Please don't be Amaterasu…"
He muttered internally, full of anticipation.
Anything was fine, as long as it wasn't that one.
Yes. That one.
Amaterasu.
It sounded overpowered. It looked impressive. It even felt strong.
But!
In Naruto, it committed the same sin as ninety-nine percent of Fire Release techniques—
It didn't kill anyone.
Good visuals. No confirmed kills.
What was it for, then?
Fireworks?
A live iron-flower performance at night?
Kai cleared his throat and asked, "Hey, One-Hit-Seven, let me ask you something."
"One-Hit-Seven?"
Itachi repeated it once, immediately catching the pun.
A nickname… for his own older brother?
His brows furrowed.
But when his eyes landed on his little brother's soft, tender face, they relaxed again.
"As expected of Kai," Itachi said gently. "To come up with such an interesting nickname."
"Go ahead. Ask."
As he spoke, he reached out, intending to rub Kai's cheeks.
They looked irresistibly soft.
"Hey—be serious."
Kai dodged his head, straightened his face like a little adult, and asked solemnly,
"If one day, the village and the clan stand on opposite sides… who would you help?"
Crack.
Itachi's hand froze in midair.
He was stunned.
Despite his young age, his eyes showed shock and a trace of melancholy far beyond his years.
"Has Kai already sensed this too…?"
"No—wait."
"Did he overhear Father talking?"
"Father's getting careless… even matters like this…"
"It seems the unrest within the clan is growing."
His brows knitted tightly.
On that young, delicate face, the beginnings of habitual worry lines were already visible.
He had always been the type to frown first and smile later.
Seeing this, Kai shook his head and sighed.
As expected—Itachi had already sensed something was wrong at this age.
And yet, even sensing it so early, he still walked down the path of annihilation.
He shouldn't have.
He really shouldn't have, One-Hit-Seven.
Seven years was more than enough time to change everything.
Of course—
The Uchiha's trademark obsessive tendencies weren't so easy to fix.
"Kai… why would you ask something like that?"
"Do you really think the clan and the village will end up opposing each other?"
After a moment's hesitation, Itachi didn't answer directly.
Instead, he lowered his arm and spoke softly.
He didn't know what choice he would make.
But he wanted to hear his little brother's thoughts.
"You just need to answer me."
"I… I don't know…"
"Then—let me put it another way."
Kai shook his head.
The current Itachi was lost.
Even the Itachi who carried out the massacre had been lost.
He needed a sharper question to wake this foolish oniisan up.
"If the village wanted to kill me and Sasuke—"
"One-Hit-Seven, whose side would you stand on?"
Crack!
Itachi's small face stiffened instantly, his posture snapping straight.
Did this even need asking?
Without the slightest hesitation, he clenched his fists and said firmly,
"Don't worry. I won't let that day come."
Still avoiding it.
Refusing to face the question head-on was, in itself, avoidance.
Kai shook his head and didn't press further.
To pad out the time, he changed the topic.
"Oh right—One-Hit-Seven, didn't you say before that Father's stash is in the third room, bottom-right corner of the cabinet?"
Itachi: ???
Fugaku, listening from next door: ???
Damn it, Itachi!
How could you tell Kai something like that?!
So that's why this kid knows so much?!
In an instant, Fugaku even dumped last night's blame squarely onto Itachi.
His face darkened as he grabbed a rope, ready to fling open the door—
When a chilling presence suddenly crept up behind him.
"Dear Clan Head…"
"What exactly are you planning to do?"
Drip.
Drip.
It was a cool morning, yet the chill was bone-deep.
Sweat seeped from Fugaku's forehead, sliding into his eyes and stinging painfully.
He turned around to see Mikoto smiling warmly.
It was over.
Grinding his teeth, Fugaku finally forced a stiff smile.
"I—I'm going to prepare breakfast."
"Oh~ alright, Fugaku."
Mikoto smiled, not exposing his embarrassment.
Her gaze drifted toward the two small figures outside the door, her entire being radiating warmth.
These were her precious children.
The living room.
Slide.
Just as their conversation ended, a side door was yanked open.
A dark-faced Uchiha Fugaku walked out, very much alive.
"Ah—Father!"
Both boys jumped in surprise.
Especially Kai.
He'd just been asking some extremely sensitive questions.
Fortunately, it seemed Fugaku had only heard the latter part.
He shot both of them a glare, then strode straight toward the third room without a word.
Time to move the stash.
"Hm? Father's look just now… seemed complicated."
Itachi was startled and puzzled.
There was something else in that look—something he couldn't quite grasp.
Meanwhile, after Fugaku left—
Kai's eyes suddenly lit up.
The prompt appeared.
[Conversation Target: Uchiha Itachi]
[Analyzing Copyable Traits…]
[Fire Release Affinity (Green), Chakra Refinement (White), Brother Complex (Black), Excessive Wisdom, Short Lifespan (Black), Chronic Illness (Black)…]
The moment Kai saw the list, his expression collapsed.
The first two were fine.
The last three were so black they were practically glowing purple.
Might as well smear black paint directly over both eyes.
But thinking about it, it made sense.
Itachi was still young.
He didn't yet possess the later-stage traits.
And because he awakened the Mangekyō too early, his body had always been frail…
Kai looked at his so-called older brother again, then shook his head slightly.
He tiptoed up, trying to pat Itachi's shoulder—
But due to the height difference, only managed to tap his chest.
Seeing this, Itachi crouched down in confusion.
"Kai… do you want a hug?"
"No," Kai sighed. "I just wanted to say—you turning evil later really wasn't without reason."
[Conversation with Uchiha Itachi exceeded ten minutes. Attempting to copy trait…]
[Copy failed.]
Failed.
Which was normal.
The chance of copying traits through conversation was low to begin with.
Feeling a bit deflated, Kai waved his hand and turned to leave.
Behind him, Itachi stared at his back, deeply conflicted.
What exactly did Kai mean?
And Father's look just now…
Something felt off.
Also—
He felt like he'd forgotten something important…
Meanwhile, in the forest behind the Uchiha district—
A short-haired boy stood trembling in the cold wind.