Return of the Uchiha Prodigy

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Itachi Uchiha stood in the quiet courtyard of the Uchiha compound, the faint hum of the evening breeze rustling the leaves above. His younger brother Sasuke had been pestering him with questions earlier, but now the boy stood by his side, gazing up expectantly.

"My brother must be number one again!" Sasuke blurted out suddenly, his voice filled with pride.

Itachi arched an eyebrow, slightly amused by Sasuke's conviction.

"What?" he murmured, his calm demeanor unshaken.

Before Sasuke could respond, a sudden rustling caught their attention. Naruto Uzumaki appeared on the eaves of a nearby rooftop, his bright grin unmistakable in the fading sunlight.

"Brother Itachi!" Naruto greeted enthusiastically, his voice cutting through the stillness.

Itachi turned toward him, his sharp eyes studying the boy. "Naruto. How did you get here?"

Sasuke, meanwhile, crossed his arms and scowled. "Hmph."

Naruto noticed instantly. "What's with that look? Want to fight again? Looking for a beating?" he challenged, puffing out his chest.

Sasuke stepped forward, his scowl deepening. "Try it, and I'll sew your mouth shut!"

Without hesitation, Sasuke leapt into the yard, landing with a graceful thud. Naruto grinned and followed, the competitive fire in his eyes unmistakable.

Itachi watched the exchange silently. He knew better than to step in. These two didn't need provocation—they thrived on their rivalry.

"Shhhh!"

Before Naruto could act, Sasuke bent down and scooped up a handful of pebbles. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled them toward Naruto like shuriken, his movements sharp and precise.

Naruto reacted instantly, dodging the projectiles with practiced ease.

"He's using Uchiha throwing techniques," Itachi observed quietly, noting Sasuke's natural aptitude. Though Sasuke hadn't been formally taught yet, the boy had already begun mimicking the Uchiha clan's signature moves.

Naruto countered by closing the distance between them, his fists clenched as he prepared to strike. But Itachi noticed something unusual in Naruto's movements.

"Is he forming a hand seal?"

Naruto's fingers came together in a familiar cross-hand sign. Itachi's eyes narrowed.

The Shadow Clone Jutsu.

A puff of smoke burst around Naruto, and two identical clones emerged, standing at his sides.

Sasuke faltered for a split second, caught off guard.

"You're done for now!" Naruto declared, charging forward with his clones.

Sasuke hesitated, his instincts warning him to be cautious. Itachi's sharp eyes, however, picked up on the flaw in Naruto's execution.

"The clones split his chakra evenly," Itachi thought, activating his Sharingan to study the chakra distribution. "He's weakened himself."

Naruto and his clones attacked in unison, their fists flying. Sasuke narrowly dodged the strikes, his reflexes sharp from training.

"Naruto's movements are sluggish," Itachi noted, watching the scuffle.

Sasuke took advantage of the opening. His fist connected with one of Naruto's clones, dispelling it in a puff of smoke. The second clone followed a moment later.

Naruto stumbled back, startled. "What just happened?!"

Sasuke smirked, his confidence swelling. "You can't beat me, dobe."

Before Naruto could retort, Itachi approached, his expression calm but thoughtful. He helped Naruto to his feet, brushing dust off the boy's shoulders.

"Did Aunt Kushina teach you the Shadow Clone Jutsu?" Itachi asked, his voice even.

Naruto avoided his gaze, rubbing the back of his head. "Not exactly…"

Understanding Naruto's reluctance, Itachi smiled faintly. "Even if you learned it on your own, you've inherited her talent. But this jutsu—without proper training—will only put you at a disadvantage."

Naruto frowned. "Why? I thought clones made me stronger!"

Itachi crouched slightly to meet Naruto's eyes. "Ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu—they're tools, Naruto. Tools don't make you strong. Understanding and control do. Without them, even powerful techniques can fail you."

Naruto's eyes widened slightly, and though he didn't fully grasp the lesson, he nodded.

Sasuke, standing nearby, absorbed his brother's words in silence.

Itachi straightened, his gaze shifting between the two boys. "You'll both be at the Academy soon. Remember this: strength isn't about showing off. It's about discipline."

Sasuke nodded solemnly, while Naruto looked thoughtful, if still a bit confused.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the courtyard fell quiet again. Itachi walked away, leaving the two boys to ponder his words.

The next day would mark the start of a new chapter.

The Academy graduation awaited—Itachi's final step before stepping into the life of a full-fledged shinobi.

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Graduation Day at the Academy

The classroom buzzed with excitement as students lined up to receive their forehead protectors, each engraved with Konoha's iconic leaf symbol. At the front of the line stood Yamashita Takashi, their academy teacher, his hands steady as he handed out the protectors with a warm smile.

"Here you go, Itachi," Yamashita said, pride evident in his tone as he handed the forehead protector to the young prodigy.

Itachi accepted it with both hands, bowing respectfully. "Thank you, sensei."

Yamashita Takashi couldn't help but feel a swell of pride. Of all the students he had taught over the years, Itachi Uchiha was undoubtedly the most remarkable. The boy's quiet determination and innate talent had made him the pride of the academy.

While Itachi could have bypassed much of the curriculum, he never displayed arrogance. He treated every lesson with respect, recognizing the value of Yamashita's guidance. For a fleeting moment, Yamashita saw not just a student but the promise of Konoha's future.

Standing in line behind Itachi, Izumi Uchiha adjusted her long black hair, glancing at the forehead protector in his hands. Itachi's expression was unreadable, his gaze fixed on the protector.

Itachi's thoughts lingered on his past. Once, he had been forced to carve a deep line through a similar protector—a mark of shame and rebellion. This time, he vowed to uphold its symbol with pride. Clenching the metal plate in his hand, he silently swore to honor the Will of Fire, to protect Konoha from the shadows, and to never repeat the mistakes of his past life.

The students filed back to their seats, their chatter giving way to an air of solemnity. They all knew this moment marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

At the podium, Yamashita Takashi looked out at the young faces before him, emotion heavy in his chest. He bowed deeply, his voice steady but tinged with nostalgia.

"Thank you for letting me teach you all these years," he said, sincerity shining in his words. "You're all exceptional, and I have no doubt you'll grow into shinobi Konoha can be proud of."

The entire class stood as one, bowing deeply in return. "Thank you, sensei!"

Yamashita straightened, his eyes sweeping the room. Some students smiled, others blinked back tears, and a few exchanged quiet words with their friends. Every one of them felt the weight of the moment.

At the front of the room, Manashita Hideaki, a boy known for his stubbornness, scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Sensei, I… I'm sorry for how I acted on my first day. I didn't treat you with the respect you deserved."

Yamashita chuckled, waving the apology away. "It's fine, Hideaki. What matters is how far you've come."

Izumi caught her teacher's gaze and offered a warm smile. Yamashita returned it, remembering how she had always been the one to smooth over moments like that, her kindness a constant in the classroom.

As the graduation ceremony drew to a close, Yamashita began announcing team assignments.

"Team 1: Izumi Uchiha, Mitsumi Ai, Ken Ishida."

Izumi adjusted the forehead protector tied snugly around her head and turned to Itachi. "How does it look?"

"It suits you," Itachi said, his voice calm.

Izumi smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in her expression. "Once we're split into teams, we won't see each other every day like we used to."

Itachi nodded, his face unreadable. "Duty comes first. This is part of being a shinobi."

Izumi looked down, her fingers brushing against the metal of her protector. "I know. But it's still hard."

Itachi softened his tone. "It's temporary. We'll have missions together someday."

Her smile returned, more genuine this time.

The team assignments continued, the atmosphere in the classroom shifting as students listened intently.

Finally, Yamashita called the last team. "Team 7: Itachi Uchiha, Shinichi Hattori, Daisuke Kido."

A murmur rippled through the class. It was no surprise that Itachi was paired with Shinichi Hattori, a senior from the previous year who had barely passed after a second attempt. Pairings like this were common—a way to balance teams with strong and weaker students.

Itachi glanced toward Shinichi, who sat quietly at the back of the room. Though the boy's glasses hid most of his expression, his calm demeanor didn't waver. Unlike the others, Itachi didn't see Shinichi as weak. He sensed potential buried beneath the surface.

Noticing Itachi's gaze, Shinichi met it with a slight nod, his silent acknowledgment speaking volumes.

Once all the teams were assigned, Yamashita announced their jōnin mentors.

"Team 1: Yūhi Shinku."

Izumi blinked in surprise, murmurs breaking out among the students.

Itachi smirked faintly. "The Hokage chose Shinku Yūhi for a reason," he thought, amused by the unconventional pairing.

As the classroom emptied, the students carried with them a mixture of excitement and apprehension. For many, this was their first step into a larger world—one filled with both promise and danger.

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