A single thought, once rooted, can change the future.
A boy of about six stood outside the door.
Faint tear lines marked his face, and he wore the Uchiha clan's attire, emblazoned with the fan crest.
Uchiha Itachi.
At this moment, he lacked the composed wisdom he would carry in adulthood—the sense that everything was under control.
Now, he still looked young.
And just a little… smug.
Itachi glanced at Kai and said flatly, "Father asked me to call you over for dinner."
Kai's father had been a Jonin and a close friend of Uchiha Fugaku. The two had fought side by side on the battlefield.
After Kai's parents died in the war, Fugaku took special care of him. Because of that bond between their elders, Kai and Itachi had naturally become friends.
"Oh."
Bang!
The door slammed shut, leaving Itachi standing there, stunned.
…?
Less than a minute later, the wooden door opened again.
Kai stepped out with a bright smile—
and an oversized food container in hand.
A vein throbbed on Itachi's forehead as he said irritably, "It's one thing that you come over to eat every time. But why are you always packing food to take back with you?"
Kai shot back without hesitation, his tone laced with mockery.
"You don't even know that thrift is one of Konoha's finest virtues?"
"Typical rich kid behavior."
In truth, every time Kai went to Fugaku's house, Uchiha Mikoto would deliberately prepare extra food for him to take home for dinner. She had always been kind to him.
Over time, Itachi—who already tended to brood over the meaning of life—would occasionally feel a twinge of jealousy.
He would throw out the occasional jab.
And every single time, Kai would shut him down effortlessly.
"Don't you think that makes perfect sense?"
Itachi's only response was a cold snort.
Kai just grinned, completely unfazed.
The two walked side by side through the streets of the Uchiha compound.
Kai's gaze drifted toward Itachi.
Seven years from now…
This boy would slaughter his own clan alongside Obito, all in the name of so-called peace.
Friends.
Childhood companions.
Parents.
All would fall, directly or indirectly, beneath his blade.
Honestly…
That kind of thinking was twisted.
Fugaku and Mikoto had shown Kai immense kindness.
Without them, his life would have been bleak—he might not have even survived a harsh winter.
No.
He wouldn't allow the Uchiha massacre to happen again.
For their sake.
And for his own.
Everything had to change.
And right now—
while Itachi was still young—
was the perfect time.
Kai let out a soft 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."
He paused.
"I'm worried the tension between the Uchiha and Konoha will only get worse."
Itachi thought for a moment before replying calmly,
"Lord Hokage is a wise leader. He won't be swayed by baseless rumors. You don't need to worry."
At this age, Itachi had already begun to admire the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and believe in the Will of Fire.
Kai nodded lightly.
"Oh… I see."
Then, as if struck by curiosity, he asked,
"But if the Hokage is so fair and wise… why were the Uchiha relocated to the outskirts of the village? Why isolate us?"
"…?"
Itachi stopped walking.
For the first time, he hesitated.
During that disaster, the Uchiha had done nothing wrong.
So why had they been pushed to the edge of the village?
They were all part of Konoha.
So why couldn't they coexist?
Kai let out another quiet sigh.
"Ever since our ancestor, Madara Uchiha, defected… it feels like the village stopped treating us as one of their own."
"Even after all the sacrifices we made in the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars…"
"All we get in return is suspicion."
"Every time I walk through the village, I can feel it—the hostility, the exclusion. Some people even insult the Uchiha openly."
He paused, his voice lowering slightly.
"Maybe… being born an Uchiha is the original sin."
There was intent behind his words.
But it wasn't empty manipulation.
This was how he truly felt after living here for over a year.
And he knew—
Itachi would understand.
You didn't need elaborate lies to change someone.
Sincerity was the sharpest weapon.
Sure enough, Itachi fell silent.
His expression dimmed, his thoughts turning heavy.
Kai didn't press further.
He simply patted Itachi on the shoulder.
"Things will get better. Don't overthink it."
There was still plenty of time.
He could guide him… slowly.
About ten minutes later, they arrived.
As the residence of the Uchiha clan head, it wasn't extravagant, but it was far larger than Kai's small courtyard. The decor was tasteful, refined.
"Big brother! Big brother!"
A small figure ran out of the house.
Sasuke.
Just over a year old, he toddled forward with excitement, arms raised. "Hug!"
"I'm here."
A warm smile spread across Itachi's face as he lifted Sasuke into his arms, gently tapping his forehead.
Only in front of Sasuke did Itachi completely let his guard down.
"Hey there, Sasuke," Kai said with a smile.
"Big Brother Kai!" Sasuke chirped happily.
Itachi was often busy training, so Kai frequently played with him. Naturally, Sasuke had grown close to him as well.
"The food's ready. Come wash your hands and eat!" Mikoto's voice called from inside.
"Coming, Aunt Mikoto!"
Inside, Kai saw her—
A graceful woman in her thirties, with fair skin and gentle features. Wearing an apron, she carried herself with warmth and elegance.
Uchiha Mikoto.
"Take a seat," Fugaku said with a faint smile.
Though he smiled, there was a trace of worry in his eyes.
"Mm."
As Kai sat down, he subtly observed him.
Uchiha Fugaku—
Clan head of the Uchiha.
Captain of the Konoha Military Police Force.
A veteran of the Third Great Ninja War, known for his fearsome "Wicked Eye."
Recently, tensions between Konoha and the Uchiha had been escalating.
Within the clan, radicals were growing restless.
As a moderate, Fugaku was caught in the middle—trying to calm his clan while answering to the village leadership.
It was no wonder he looked so burdened.
"Let's eat," Fugaku said.
The table was filled with dishes—grilled fish, fried chicken, steak, eggs, and natto.
A feast.
"Eat more," Mikoto said warmly, placing a piece of steak into Kai's bowl.
"Mom, I want some too…" Sasuke pouted.
"Of course, of course." She smiled gently, pinching his cheek before serving him as well.
She didn't forget Itachi either.
The meal was quiet.
No one spoke.
Kai, on the other hand, was more than happy to focus on eating.
And eating.
And eating.
He even stole some of Sasuke's favorite dishes, earning several eye-rolls from Itachi.
Just how many days has this guy gone without food?
Fugaku took a sip of tea before speaking seriously.
"Kai, Itachi—starting tomorrow, you'll be attending the Ninja Academy."
"Work hard. One day, you'll help strengthen the Uchiha."
As he said this, a flicker of sorrow passed through his eyes.
Under his leadership, the Uchiha had only grown weaker.
It weighed on him.
Kai and Itachi both nodded.
They had already passed the entrance assessment.
Tomorrow marked their official enrollment.
After dinner, Mikoto filled Kai's oversized food container to the brim—all untouched, neatly packed.
With the Asura's Chakra, his appetite was enormous.
He could easily finish everything tonight.
On the way back—
Kai's thoughts deepened.
Fugaku and Mikoto had treated him like family.
He couldn't just stand by and let the massacre happen.
That wasn't who he was.
And he had the system.
As long as he kept upgrading—
Asura's Chakra.
Sharingan.
Wood Release—
He would gain the power to change everything.
A small goal:
Help Fugaku, within his limits.
A greater goal:
Become the strongest in the shinobi world.
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