---
Early the next morning, Itachi was already awake, as usual. This wasn't due to any recent changes in his life but rather a habit ingrained in him since childhood. From the moment he could understand, Itachi had been committed to mastering the fundamentals of shinobi life.
Quietly, he made his way into Sasuke's room. His little brother was fast asleep in his cradle, the gentle rise and fall of his chest a comforting sight. In the short time Itachi had been away, Sasuke had grown a little—his features becoming more defined, resembling their mother, Mikoto, more each day.
A faint smile crossed Itachi's lips. As he turned to leave, Sasuke stirred, his dark eyes fluttering open.
"Ya...yah!" Sasuke's soft cry echoed in the room, and the moment he spotted his older brother, his eyes brightened with recognition. The infant stretched his arms toward Itachi.
With a chuckle, Itachi picked him up gently. "I'm sorry, Sasuke. I didn't mean to wake you," he whispered.
Just then, the door creaked open, and Mikoto and Fugaku stepped inside. It seemed Itachi had risen earlier than his parents.
"It's time to go," Fugaku said, his tone firm and authoritative.
"Yes, Father," Itachi replied with a respectful nod. He recalled the conversation from the previous night—Fugaku had told him about the test scheduled for this morning, which he would personally oversee.
Mikoto approached and reached for Sasuke. "I'll take care of Sasuke, Itachi," she said, her voice soft and warm.
Itachi glanced down at Sasuke, who blinked sleepily at him. "Be good, Sasuke. I have something important to do, but I'll be back soon," he murmured. As he handed Sasuke over, the baby seemed content in their mother's arms.
"Let's go," Fugaku said, already heading toward the door.
"We'll be back soon, Mother," Itachi assured her with a respectful bow before following his father outside.
---
The streets of the Uchiha compound were quiet in the early morning, with only a few shopkeepers starting to set up their stalls. As father and son walked through the familiar streets, they received polite greetings from those they passed. Many glanced at the pair with curiosity—Fugaku and Itachi rarely walked together like this.
Fugaku led the way to the clan's private training ground near the forest where Itachi had been practicing over the past few weeks. Itachi had a good idea of what his father was planning. Fugaku had chosen this secluded area so that no one would witness the test, and word of Itachi's progress would remain confined to those present.
As they neared the forest, Fugaku glanced at his son. "You understand the stakes here, Itachi. Whether you win or lose today, no one outside this circle can know the details of the test," he said, his voice stern.
"I understand, Father," Itachi replied, fully aware of the importance of secrecy.
"Good," Fugaku replied, his gaze softening slightly at his son's calm composure. As they reached the training ground, another young Uchiha, around twelve years old, was already waiting under the shade of a tree.
The boy was Uchiha Nai, a recent graduate of the Ninja Academy, wearing his Konoha forehead protector with the Uchiha clan emblem proudly displayed on his back. Upon seeing Fugaku and Itachi approach, he stepped forward and bowed.
"Lord Fugaku. Itachi," Nai greeted them with respect.
"Hello, Nai-senpai," Itachi responded politely, having learned about Nai's background the previous night.
Fugaku gave a curt nod before leaping back several meters, putting distance between the combatants. "Begin."
Itachi immediately focused, preparing himself. Nai, on the other hand, smiled slightly. "Don't worry, Itachi. I'll go easy on you. I won't hurt you," he said casually, clearly underestimating the five-year-old in front of him.
Itachi narrowed his eyes. "Nai-senpai, my father has declared the start of the test. If you leave yourself open, I won't hesitate to strike."
Nai blinked, surprised by Itachi's confidence. He hadn't expected the young boy to speak so decisively.
"Don't hold back. I want you to take this seriously," Itachi said firmly. He wasn't here to play games—his goal was to prove himself, especially to his father.
Nai's expression hardened. He wasn't about to be shown up by a child, no matter how talented. "Very well, Itachi. Let's see what you've got!"
With a burst of speed, Nai darted toward Itachi, his hand outstretched in a classic palm strike aimed at the boy's chest. For a recent graduate of the Uchiha clan, such speed was expected, and to a typical five-year-old, the attack would have been overwhelming.
But Itachi was no ordinary five-year-old.
As Nai's strike came close, Itachi's body moved instinctively. He leaned back, letting the blow pass just above his torso, and flipped backward, his hands hitting the ground in a fluid motion. Fugaku, watching from a distance, was quietly impressed.
Before Nai could react, Itachi's legs shot forward, striking Nai's arm and sending him staggering back. Using the momentum, Itachi followed up with a punch to Nai's chest, causing him to reel from the impact.
---
Nai's expression shifted from confidence to alarm. His arm, struck by Itachi's earlier kick, had gone numb, making it difficult to move properly.
Itachi's counter had not only injured Nai but also disrupted his movements. He barely managed to block the next punch, crossing his left arm over his chest.
Boom!
Itachi's fist landed on Nai's arm, the force sending him skidding back several steps. However, Itachi's momentum was spent, and he landed on the ground a short distance away.
At five years old, Itachi's small frame allowed him to dodge swiftly, but it limited his ability to sustain an offensive. Nai, meanwhile, retreated instinctively, his disbelief evident in his eyes.
"How could a five-year-old force me back?" Nai thought, struggling to reconcile what had just happened.
"Itachi's movements are so precise..." Fugaku observed from the sidelines. Though Itachi's speed and strength were inferior to Nai's, he had exploited his opponent's weaknesses with impeccable timing.
These instincts were rare, especially for someone so young. Most ninja, let alone children, would never be able to capitalize on such fleeting opportunities.
Nai shook his numb arm, trying to regain his composure. His pride stung from underestimating Itachi, but even in a serious fight, defending against the boy's relentless counterattacks had proven difficult.
The spar continued, Fugaku's eyes never leaving the two combatants. Under his father's watchful gaze, Nai felt a surge of frustration.
"Itachi, I told you not to hold back," Nai said, trying to regain his footing. "You don't need to worry about hurting me."
Itachi's voice was calm. "I'm not holding back, Nai-senpai. Please take this seriously."
Fugaku, watching closely, gave a nod. "Go on, Nai. Itachi knows the risks. If he gets hurt, it's his fault for being careless."
Reluctantly, Nai gritted his teeth and charged forward. This time, he pulled several shuriken from his pouch, opting for a ranged attack.
Itachi's sharp eyes followed Nai's movements. He could easily anticipate the next move, and with practiced ease, his own hands reached for his shuriken pouch.
As Nai hurled his shuriken in a wide arc, attempting to pin Itachi down, the younger Uchiha countered. His shuriken flew in curved paths, precise and deliberate.
Clang!
The shuriken collided, their trajectories shifting. Itachi's shuriken knocked Nai's off-course, causing them to ricochet into each other.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
One by one, Nai's projectiles were neutralized, and Itachi's remaining shuriken continued their attack, closing in on him from different angles.
Panicked, Nai started forming hand signs. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" he roared, exhaling a massive ball of fire that swallowed the space between him and Itachi, incinerating the oncoming shuriken.
Itachi, anticipating the jutsu, moved swiftly to the edge of the flames, avoiding the brunt of the attack.
---
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