Reincarnated as Itachi Uchiha at the Start

"This... is the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's pupils shrank as he looked at the Narutos swarming the academy courtyard and even the trees. His pipe slipped from his mouth and clattered to the ground.

Even Itachi Uchiha was stunned. Though he'd learned the truth about Kushina through Edo Tensei last night, seeing hundreds of Narutos in person was something else entirely.

No wonder they call him a chakra monster.

Damn. He felt a little sour just watching it.

Just splitting off a few solid clones would usually drain him dry—yet Naruto, using just a tiny bit of chakra, had summoned an entire army.

There was no comparison.

"We've got to accelerate the Tailed Beast battery plan," Itachi muttered enviously.

"W-Wow... Naruto-kun's amazing." Hinata, clutching the hem of her shirt, stared in awe at the countless Narutos flooding the school grounds.

"Holy crap… That's Naruto?!"

"Didn't they say he couldn't even do a basic clone jutsu?"

"He was faking it this whole time?!"

"I heard he's the Fourth Hokage's kid. Maybe Naruto's just been hiding his power?"

"Like father, like son!"

"Go Naruto! Beat the crap out of Sasuke!"

"Ahhh, so cool!!"

"His hair, that pose, even his face—he looks just like the Fourth! I'm in love!!"

The girls in class screamed themselves hoarse, blushing and cheering wildly for Naruto.

Naruto could practically feel himself floating.

For the first time in his life, he wasn't being ridiculed or sneered at—he was being cheered.

So this is what power and legacy feel like?

Is this what Sasuke gets to feel every day?

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! This was supposed to be a one-on-one! You're seriously bringing an army?!" Sasuke shouted, clearly rattled by the sheer number of clones—but trying hard to keep a straight face.

"You were the one who told me to fight," Naruto replied innocently.

"Don't talk back to me! If I hadn't been holding back out of pity for you, I would've crushed you a long time ago!" Sasuke snapped. "There's a rule in the shinobi world—duels are one-on-one. No cheating."

"But... since you broke the rules first, I'm canceling the duel! Go back and train harder. We'll fight next time!"

For all I know, this idiot's hiding even more jutsu. Better safe than sorry.

Then, Sasuke turned toward the crowd of students.

Time for a new target.

He looked around and pointed dramatically at a certain pink-haired girl.

"SAKURA! GET OUT HERE!"

"Eeep! Sasuke-kun, you called me?" Sakura clutched her hands over her heart and rushed out, eyes sparkling with hearts.

"Don't give me that lovestruck look," Sasuke growled. "I, Uchiha Sasuke, only admire the strong. I only associate with people stronger than me! If you're weak—don't follow me around anymore!"

"Wha...?" Sakura froze, heartbroken. "But... I'm no good at ninjutsu..."

"So what? You've still got taijutsu, don't you?" Sasuke snapped.

"Taijutsu?" Sakura blinked. She did have some physical strength...

"That's right—taijutsu. But don't think you can beat me with just that," Sasuke taunted. "I'll even give you a free hit, since you're a girl. Come on. One punch—make it count."

"R-Really?" Sakura asked hesitantly.

"Really! Just one hit."

Before Sasuke could even finish his sentence—

WHAM!

Sakura's fist landed square in his gut.

Sasuke's eyes bulged. His body folded forward. Blood burst from his mouth.

"Ah! Sasuke-kun, are you okay?!" Sakura panicked and rushed to help him.

"I-I'm fine! Just… just stay back!" Sasuke wheezed, clutching his stomach with one hand while holding his other out to stop her.

Despite the pain etched all over his pale face, he tried to look unfazed.

"Sakura... you said you didn't know any taijutsu…"

"I was born with freakish strength, I guess?" Sakura said, blinking innocently.

Sasuke: "…"

He had no words.

Everyone's hiding something. This is too much.

—

Duang! Duang!

The class bell rang—break was over.

"Alright, Sasuke, back to class," Hiruzen finally stepped in. "Go home later and have Itachi help you train."

The Third Hokage had seen enough. How could the Uchiha clan go from Shisui and Itachi to… this?

Nothing highlights failure like a good comparison.

"Nii-san…" Seeing Itachi enter with the Hokage, Sasuke felt both joy and shame.

He was happy his brother had come—but embarrassed he'd witnessed all of it.

Not only had he failed to beat the three people on the "can't win" list—he'd just been KO'd by Sakura.

He felt like he'd brought disgrace to the Uchiha name.

"Don't worry about it," Itachi said gently. "Victory and defeat are a normal part of any shinobi's journey. Losing today just means you'll win tomorrow. Get back to class."

He reached out and flicked Sasuke's forehead with his index and middle fingers—a softer version of his usual two-finger knock.

He'd been tempted to launch his brother out of the yard with a full-strength flick, but too many people were watching.

I'll give him the full treatment tonight.

"Mm!" Sasuke closed his eyes, smiling as he held his forehead.

It hurts… but it feels good too. With the Hokage's approval, Nii-san will definitely train me harder tonight!

He clenched his fists, swearing silently to himself:

One day—I'll make up for this humiliation!

Just as Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura were about to return to class, Hiruzen Sarutobi called out:

"Hold on. Naruto, stay behind. Grandpa has a question for you."

"Huh?" Naruto frowned, clearly reluctant, but stayed behind nonetheless.

Hiruzen's tone turned serious. "Who taught you the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu?"

Teaching a forbidden technique to the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki without the Hokage's permission was no small matter—it was a major breach.

"My mom and dad," Naruto answered honestly.

"Kushina... and Minato?" Hiruzen's expression faltered.

"Come with me," he said.

Hiruzen led the way, with Naruto and Itachi following close behind. When they reached a sealed-off room, two masked Anbu appeared.

Itachi immediately recognized them—it was Kakashi and Yamato (codename: Tenzo).

"Tenzo, come inside with me," Hiruzen instructed. "Kakashi, Itachi—stand guard outside. No one enters unless I say so. No exceptions."

"Yes, sir!" Kakashi and Itachi replied, bowing respectfully.

Once the door closed, Kakashi and Itachi stood at their posts.

"Itachi, it's been a while since we've stood guard like this," Kakashi said with a rare hint of sentimentality.

Back when Itachi was newly inducted into the Anbu, the two of them had often guarded Hiruzen together. That changed once Itachi was transferred to Danzo's Root. Since then, their paths had diverged.

Now, the young shinobi who had once stood beside him was head of the Uchiha clan.

So much has changed.

"Yes, Captain Kakashi," Itachi replied formally.

"Don't call me 'captain' or 'senpai' anymore. Just Kakashi is fine," he said bluntly.

"Yes." Itachi nodded again.

Kakashi shook his head, half-smiling. The guy's acting skills are next level. So calm, so composed—anyone watching would've thought this was a long-awaited reunion.

But the two of them had just seen each other last night... and again that morning.

They hadn't said a word about it—but they both knew what had happened.

—

Back inside the room, the moment the door closed, Hiruzen struck Naruto on the neck with a swift karate chop, knocking him out cold.

Much easier this way. No screaming, no resistance.

"Tenzo, be ready," Hiruzen said, his tone grave. "I need to inspect the Nine-Tails' seal. If anything's wrong, you activate Wood Release immediately."

"Yes, Lord Third," Tenzo replied, his face deadly serious.