Naruto: Uchiha's Intelligence Dealer

"Uchiha Itachi, let's have a showdown!"

The voice of a student rang out across the academy training grounds, echoing with misplaced confidence and naivety. Uchiha Itachi, however, showed no reaction, continuing his silent shuriken practice with unerring precision.

When Kamano shouted his challenge again, more forcefully this time, it was as if an entire flock of crows passed overhead in awkward silence.

"Didn't you hear me? Uchiha Itachi!"

The challenger and his two followers blocked the path ahead. With a quiet sigh, Itachi finally lowered his arm, the last shuriken sinking into the target with a soft thud. "If this is about the earlier training match, I don't think it's worth pursuing. I didn't intend to humiliate you."

Kamano jabbed a finger toward Itachi. "Are you scared? Coward!"

Without another word, Itachi turned and began to walk away. "There's no value in fighting you. In other words, I have no interest in you."

Kamano stood frozen for a beat, then burst into loud laughter as if he'd just won a grand victory. He began bragging loudly to his companions, mocking Itachi's supposed cowardice.

Off to the side, Uchiha Yun was reclining beneath a tree, casually playing with a few leaves. He chuckled at the exchange. "Itachi is still the same. Always looking like the whole village owes him tens of thousands of ryo."

Beside him, Hyuga Tokuma leaned forward, interested. "Honestly, I've always wondered… who's stronger? You or Itachi?"

Yun didn't answer immediately. He glanced at Inuzuka Hana, who was also watching him expectantly, and then stretched with a yawn. "What's the point in figuring that out? It's just the ninja academy. Being at the top only paints a bigger target on your back."

Just as he finished, Kamano and his entourage began strutting back across the training field.

"Itachi-sama is coming through, make way!"

"Our Lord Itachi defeated senior Fat Tiger—clear the path!"

"Step aside, Lord Itachi is here!"

…

Yun raised a brow as the shouting continued. Amid the self-made procession, Itachi followed silently behind, his fists clenched. If anything, he looked more like someone approaching social execution than a triumphant warrior.

Yun gestured lazily toward the scene. "See what I mean? You take the number one spot, and every idiot in a ten-mile radius flocks to you."

Tokuma and Hana exchanged amused glances, both nodding in full agreement.

If this kept up, Itachi might not survive his own fan club.

Yun returned to his leaf-cutting. With a slow, deliberate motion, he sliced the leaf in half using nothing but focused chakra. The challenge of wind-style chakra manipulation was far more difficult than the textbooks suggested.

'Naruto and Konohamaru were definitely freaks…'

To shape chakra into a sphere, then overlay wind-nature transformation, and finally add form manipulation to create the low-cost and prototype of Rasenshuriken— the Wind-style ∙ Rasengan that process was nothing short of a miracle. Every step was a precise balance of power, control, and affinity.

'And they pulled it off without exploding… impressive.'

He shook his head and reached for another leaf. While he focused on wind-nature, his clone Sora was currently experimenting with earth and water transformation, with the goal of eventually fusing them into Wood-style.

'Once we get to the level of Deep Forest Emergence, I'll start experimenting with tossing a Rasengan between tree slaps. Just for fun.'

With Danzo and Uchiha Obito both biding their time in the shadows, Sora couldn't afford to waste opportunities. Aburame Tatsuma was small fry in comparison.

…

Later, at the three-color dango shop, Yun picked up a skewer and eyed it skeptically.

"Shisui, you've been a Jōnin for how many years now? And this is your treat?"

Across the table, Itachi nibbled at his skewer with uncharacteristic enthusiasm. His normally deadpan expression softened ever so slightly as he tasted the sweet glaze.

Yun smirked. "Never expected the genius of the Uchiha clan to be a sweets addict. If the girls at school knew this, your mysterious persona would fall apart."

Itachi paused mid-bite, blinking slowly like a deer caught in a genjutsu.

Shisui chuckled. "He's seven years old, Yun. Give him a break. And you're not in any position to mock him when you've already downed three skewers."

Yun shrugged. "Sweets are fine, but give me meat and fire. Barbecue is my true love."

Itachi put down his dango suddenly. "I want to apply for early graduation."

Both Shisui and Yun blinked.

Shisui looked stunned. "So suddenly?"

Yun just laughed. "He's probably tired of hearing 'Itachi-sama' ten times before lunch. Can't say I blame him."

Shisui turned back to Itachi, concerned. "Something happen?"

Itachi remained quiet, so Yun explained: "Every day, someone escorts him around like he's royalty. All that bowing and scraping, I'd rather dig a hole and live in it."

Itachi finally responded. "I feel like there's nothing more to learn at the academy. If I'm not improving, I should move forward."

Silence followed. Shisui seemed lost in thought. Yun sighed deeply.

"The academy teaches more than just ninjutsu. It's the only time in your life you'll get to grow bonds without missions or politics getting in the way."

He glanced at both of them and continued. "Once you graduate, your time won't be your own. These years? They're the calm before the storm."

"The connections you make here, the stupid nicknames, the dumb rivalries—they matter. You think the Uchiha are alienated just because of politics? It's 'cause they never stick around long enough to make friends."

He turned to Itachi. "You're always serious. Always calculating. You're seven, and your brain's already stuck thinking about war, your clan, your father's death, and the village's future. That's not healthy."

He leaned closer, eyes serious. "If you ever snap one day, become some emotionally-dead sociopath, I'll kill you myself."

The air turned icy in an instant.

Shisui's eyes widened slightly, but he said nothing. Itachi simply studied Yun with thoughtful eyes, searching for mockery or exaggeration—and finding none.

After a pause, Itachi asked quietly, "You haven't awakened your Sharingan… but every time we spar, you fight like you already see through everything. Why?"

Shisui also turned to him, interested in the answer.

But Yun ignored Itachi's question and instead addressed Shisui. "If you're waiting for overwhelming power—real, undeniable strength—you'll have to wait a little longer."

Shisui's gaze turned contemplative. 'Overwhelming power, huh…? If Yun really pulls it off, he might be the one who can change things.'

Itachi, meanwhile, was already deep in thought. The vague exchange between the two made it clear—they were keeping secrets from him.

Secrets that probably involved the clan, the village, and whatever dangerous line they were walking.

…

That night, Yun returned home, stretching his shoulders. He stopped short when he saw Izumi standing at the front gate, arms folded and lips puffed out in a pout.

"You're waiting for me? What's with the serious face today?"

He reached out and poked her inflated cheek. Pffft! The puff deflated, and Izumi's fake anger crumbled instantly.

"You ran off with Itachi after class and left me behind. I wanted to come too!"

Yun handed her a small box wrapped in paper. "Shisui treated us. I brought this back for you."

She lit up like a firework and immediately started nibbling on the sweet skewers.

"Don't eat them all. Leave some for Mom."

"Fine." she said between bites, though her mouth was already half full.

Yun smiled slightly. Another day in the village passed. Calm on the surface—but storm clouds were always gathering behind the smiles.

*****

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