The sky was beginning to take on shades of orange and purple when Ren left his room.
The Uchiha household was silent, wrapped in a kind of stillness that brought no comfort—only expectation. The distant noise of the village faded as night approached, replaced by the chirping of insects and the gentle wind passing through the open windows.
He walked down the hallway with light, almost automatic steps. During the day, he had accompanied Mikoto to the kitchen, watched her routine, helped however he could. Everything had seemed normal—dishes, pans, restrained smiles. But Ren knew. He knew that nothing there was truly normal.
At that moment, something pulled him outside.
As he slid open the back door, the cool night air brushed against his face. The backyard was partially lit by stone lanterns, shadows stretching across the packed earth. Near the fence, almost blended into the darkness, someone stood still.
Itachi.
Ren didn't need to call out to him. His older brother always seemed to know when he was approaching.
"Itachi."
His voice came out low, respectful.
Itachi slowly turned his head. His black eyes reflected the twilight sky, far too deep for someone so young. He wasn't smiling.
"Ren… you're still awake."
"I couldn't sleep."
Itachi nodded, as if he had already expected that answer.
"Neither could I."
Silence stretched between them. It wasn't awkward—but it was heavy, filled with things left unsaid.
Ren stepped closer, stopping beside his brother. Both of them watched the sky as the first stars began to appear.
"It was a long day," Ren commented.
Itachi let out a quiet sigh.
"Days have been long for quite some time now."
Ren pressed his lips together. He could feel it—not as someone merely observing, but as someone living inside that tension. Even as a child, there was something in his mind that wouldn't let him ignore what was happening around him.
"Mom looked tired," Ren said.
Itachi closed his eyes for a brief moment.
"She always tries to hide it."
"But you notice," Ren said.
Itachi opened his eyes and glanced at Ren from the side.
"I have to notice."
There was a pause.
"You notice too, don't you?" Itachi asked.
Ren nodded slowly.
"The house… the village… the clan. Everything feels… stuck."
Itachi let out a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
"You speak like someone much older than you are."
Ren looked away.
"Maybe I just listen too much."
Itachi didn't respond right away. He rested one hand on the fence, his fingers gripping the wood with restrained strength.
"Ren… if one day everything becomes different…"
He stopped.
Ren felt his heart race.
"If the house becomes too quiet… if Mom isn't around for a while…"
"Itachi," Ren interrupted, his voice firmer than he expected. "Why are you talking like this?"
Itachi swallowed.
"Because… some things need to be said before it's too late."
The wind picked up, making the lanterns flicker.
Ren turned fully toward him.
"You're scared."
Itachi didn't deny it.
"I'm… tired."
That word carried enormous weight.
"Tired of choosing," he continued. "Tired of thinking about paths where none of them lead to a good ending."
A knot formed in Ren's throat.
"You always protect everyone," he said. "Mom… Dad… Sasuke…"
"It's my duty."
"And what about you?" Ren asked. "Who protects you?"
Itachi remained silent.
Ren took a step forward and grabbed the sleeve of his brother's kimono—a simple, almost childish gesture.
"You don't have to carry everything alone."
Itachi looked down at the small hand gripping his clothes. His eyes trembled for a moment before he turned his face away.
"If I don't carry it… someone else will suffer."
"Maybe," Ren replied. "But if you carry it alone… you'll break too."
Silence returned, heavier than before.
Itachi took a deep breath. For the first time that night, his rigid posture eased slightly. He knelt down, bringing himself to Ren's height.
"Ren… you know that I love our family, don't you?"
Ren nodded without hesitation.
"Then listen carefully," Itachi said, gently holding his shoulders.
"No matter what happens… you have to keep living. Don't let hatred guide you. Don't let pain decide who you'll become."
Ren's eyes widened slightly.
"Why are you talking like you're saying goodbye?"
Itachi closed his eyes.
"Because… sometimes, goodbye begins long before the end."
Something burned behind Ren's eyes.
"I don't want you to go."
Itachi opened his eyes, and for a brief moment, Ren saw something that rarely appeared—fragility.
"I don't want to either," he murmured. "But wanting isn't always enough."
He pulled Ren into a hug. It wasn't tight or dramatic. It was quiet—necessary.
Ren rested his face against his brother's chest, feeling the rhythm of his heart—far too fast for someone who always seemed so controlled.
"Promise me something," Itachi said.
"What?"
"Protect Sasuke."
Ren took a deep breath.
"I promise."
"Even if he doesn't understand," Itachi added.
"Even then."
Itachi nodded slowly.
"Then you should promise you'll stay," Ren said.
Itachi let out a small, humorless laugh.
"I promise… that I'll do the best I can."
It wasn't a true promise. They both knew it.
Soft footsteps echoed inside the house. The sliding door opened slightly.
"Itachi? Ren?" Mikoto's voice sounded worried.
"We're here, Mom," Ren replied.
She appeared in the doorway, her face softly lit by the light from inside.
"It's getting cold. You should come in."
"We will," Itachi said.
Mikoto watched them for a moment longer than necessary, as if she sensed something wrong but didn't know what.
"Don't stay up too late," she asked.
"We won't," Itachi answered.
When the door slid shut again, silence returned.
Itachi stood up and placed a hand on Ren's head, gently ruffling his hair.
"You're stronger than you think."
"And you are too," Ren replied.
Itachi said nothing. He simply looked up at the sky once more, where the stars now shone with painful clarity.
Ren followed his brother's gaze and felt, for the first time, that this night wasn't just the end of a day.
It was the omen of something that would change everything.
And deep down, they both knew that when the sun rose again, the world would no longer be the same.
(Early access chapters: see the bio.)