One week later, under the warm glow of the morning sun, Arashi rested beneath a sprawling tree within the Uchiha compound. His eyes were closed, hands clasped behind his head, as he basked in a rare moment of tranquility.
'Our first semester at the academy ended yesterday,' he reflected. 'I was first in all subjects and lessons, followed by Sasuke, then Naruto. In theory, he still can't catch up with us, but he's almost on par with us in physical studies.'
A faint smile touched his lips. 'Seeing all our lessons and training pay off was good, especially after what happened with Danzo and his men.'
His smile faded as a shadow crossed his thoughts. 'Since then, I've been feeling a lot of animosity from the clan. Even more than before... I can't walk alone without feeling icy glares from everyone. And it's not my fault.'
A pang of loneliness pierced his heart. 'Sometimes I feel like a burden to them. To everyone around me.'
'I haven't been sleeping lately,' he admitted to himself. 'I've been thinking about the Nine-Tails a lot. All that hate, animosity, and rage. It must be so lonely being the Nine-Tails... All that chakra... The power. It's all to be used by someone else.'
A chilling thought crossed his mind. 'Am I like that? Being used by the village... The Hokage...?'
Arashi's introspection was interrupted by the gentle touch of a hand on his face.
"Haha, I know it's you, Shisui-Nii-san!" he said with a smile, his eyes still closed.
Shisui chuckled, removing his hand and revealing his warm smile.
"You're back!" Arashi exclaimed, his face lighting up. He jumped to his feet, embracing Shisui tightly.
"Hey, I wasn't gone that long," Shisui laughed, returning the hug. He helped Arashi up, and together they walked into the house, a sense of homecoming settling over them.
Shisui headed to the kitchen, leaving Arashi to settle into a comfortable seat. The aroma of sizzling steak soon filled the air, mingling with the warmth of the setting sun that filtered through the windows.
"You know, earlier, you reminded me of Itachi," Shisui remarked, a hint of nostalgia in his voice as he expertly flipped the steak.
Arashi's curiosity was piqued. "Itachi? How so?"
"Well, he's often lost in his thoughts," Shisui explained, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "Like he's spacing out or something. But don't tell him I said that about him, he'd probably overthink it."
Just then, a sneeze echoed from another room. Itachi, preoccupied with cleaning his kunai, paused, a shiver running down his spine. 'Someone must be talking about me,' he thought, a fleeting sense of unease washing over him.
Shisui finished cooking and placed a steaming plate of steak and rice before Arashi.
"Thanks for the food!" Arashi exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with gratitude. He dug into the meal with gusto, his hunger a testament to his rigorous training. Shisui couldn't help but smile at his little brother's enthusiasm.
As they ate, Shisui's thoughts drifted to an important upcoming event. "By the way, your birthday is in three days," he announced, his gaze meeting Arashi's.
Arashi paused, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Yeah, soon enough I'll be old enough to go on missions with you, Nii-san."
Shisui's smile widened at the prospect. "That's right. We'll go on missions together when you're old enough. Who knows, maybe even Naruto can join us. It's his birthday too, right?"
Arashi nodded eagerly. "Yeah! And your birthday is only a few days after ours. Isn't that amazing, Shisui-Nii-san?"
Shisui chuckled. "That's right. I'm growing older and wiser, too."
Arashi's grin turned mischievous. "Well, you're certainly growing older, not sure about the wiser part."
Shisui lunged at Arashi, who dodged with a laugh, darting outside. Shisui gave chase, their laughter echoing through the compound as they engaged in a lighthearted game of tag.
"Hahaha!" Arashi giggled as Shisui finally caught him mid-climb on a sturdy oak tree.
They shared a moment of breathless laughter, the warmth of their bond filling the cool evening air. As their laughter subsided, Shisui suggested a walk.
"Huh? Right now?" Arashi glanced at the sky, noting the fading light.
"Yeah," Shisui confirmed, jumping down from the tree. "I'll buy you some roast squid for dinner when we get back."
Arashi's eyes lit up. "Okay!"
Side-by-side, they strolled through the Uchiha compound, the familiar streets bathed in the soft glow of twilight.
"So what's got you so lost in thought lately?" Shisui inquired gently, his keen eyes noticing the subtle shift in Arashi's demeanor. He could sense a weight on his little brother's shoulders.
"It's nothing, really," Arashi replied, attempting to deflect the concern.
Shisui's gaze remained steady. "Come on, you can't tell me? I can see that something is bothering you."
Arashi hesitated, unsure of how to articulate the turmoil within him. He felt a sense of isolation, as if no one could truly grasp the complexity of his emotions.
But Shisui wasn't about to give up. "Then what is it? You can tell me anything, Arashi."
Feeling the warmth of his brother's support, Arashi took a deep breath and began to explain. "Well, I... Last week, I woke up because of the Nine-Tails."
"The Nine-Tails?" Shisui's eyebrows rose in surprise.
"Yeah, he saved my life. His chakra must've entered me, and that's how I met him. It's a little weird, though. Even though he killed all those people, including our mother, I... I felt a little sorry for him," Arashi confessed, his gaze meeting Shisui's.
Shisui listened intently, his expression thoughtful. "Being used like that, solely for your power... In a way, I can relate to that," he admitted, a hint of sadness in his voice.
Shisui couldn't hide his concern any longer. He frowned, realizing the weight of the emotions Arashi had been carrying. "That's what he wanted to do, right? That old man, Danzo. He wanted to use me and Naruto as weapons. I understand why people hate the Nine-Tails, but still... I don't hate him either," Arashi continued, his voice filled with empathy.
He paused, wrestling with his own thoughts. "I..." He stopped himself before he said anything he might regret. 'I want to help him,' he finished in his mind.
"You truly are a kind person, Arashi," Shisui said, his voice filled with warmth and admiration.
Arashi's eyes widened, a flicker of hope sparking within him. He had hoped his brother would understand his complex feelings.
They continued their walk in comfortable silence, the setting sun casting long shadows as they entered the village.
As expected, Arashi's distinctive Rinnegan drew the attention of everyone they passed. The rumors and misunderstandings that surrounded him had taken root in the villagers' minds, painting him as a cursed child. People averted their gazes, shot him icy glares, and whispered harsh words behind his back.
The recent events involving Arashi were shrouded in mystery, but that didn't stop the villagers from weaving their own narratives. Some believed the forest had been tainted by his presence, that he had taken lives and controlled the Nine-Tails, drawing comparisons to the infamous Madara Uchiha.
Arashi couldn't help but feel the weight of their animosity. His mood darkened, his gaze hardening as he noticed the hostile stares. 'I've never liked coming into the village,' he thought bitterly. 'That's because of how badly they all look at me. Sometimes I wish I had it in me to become what they despise so much... a monster.'
'Maybe then they'd be grateful.'
'But now, every corner I pass, all I hear is his name... Madara Uchiha.'
Shisui, ever perceptive, noticed the shift in Arashi's demeanor. He ruffled his brother's hair affectionately, a silent gesture of comfort. "Let's take a break and enjoy some grilled squid, Arashi," he suggested, leading him towards a nearby shop.
They entered the small eatery, its warm, inviting atmosphere a stark contrast to the cold reception they'd received outside. Shisui placed their order while Arashi found a seat, his gaze still distant.
"That'll be 20 Ryō," the vendor said, handing Shisui a steaming plate of grilled squid.
"Sure, thanks." Shisui paid and joined Arashi at the table.
"Arashi," he said, his voice gentle, "I have to run a quick errand. I won't be long, don't eat without me."
Arashi's face fell. "Aw man, you're leaving me?" He pouted, folding his arms in a childish display of disappointment.
Shisui chuckled, shaking his head fondly. "I won't take long." With a quick hand seal, he flickered away, leaving Arashi alone with the tempting aroma of grilled squid.
'Great, now what should I do?' Arashi sighed, his appetite momentarily forgotten. He rested his head on the table, closing his eyes as he waited for Shisui's return.
After what felt like an eternity, the shopkeeper returned, carrying two plates laden with deliciousness: grilled squid, fragrant fried rice, and sizzling pork steak.
"Enjoy your food!" he said with a friendly smile, setting the plates down before Arashi.
Arashi's stomach growled in response, but he resisted the temptation. He was determined to wait for Shisui before indulging.
Twenty minutes later...
"Grrrr!" His stomach protested even louder, the enticing aromas teasing his senses. He couldn't hold out much longer.
'Man, what's taking him so long? I'm starving.'
Arashi glanced around, noting the dwindling crowd in the shop. 'Maybe if I just taste a bit before he comes back... He won't know if I did, will he? Plus, the food is getting cold.'
He picked up his chopsticks, hesitantly taking a small bite of the pork steak.
"Mhm, that hits the spot."
Before he could stop himself, he sampled the fried rice and squid as well.
"Aah... Much better." He rubbed his stomach, a contented sigh escaping his lips.
Just then, Shisui reappeared, a mysterious black case clutched in his hand. Arashi's eyes lit up with curiosity.
"Oooh, what's in the case, Shisui-Nii-san?" he asked eagerly.
Shisui smirked. "Oh, this? Nothing much, just an early present for my very patient and very obedient kid brother."
"Really?! What is it?" Arashi's excitement grew.
"Let's eat first, I'm starving," Shisui replied, cunningly deflecting the question. He sat down, placing the case on the table beside him.
"You're the one who's starving?" Arashi mumbled under his breath, a hint of disappointment in his voice. But his hunger quickly returned, and he clasped his hands together. "Thanks for the food!"
They enjoyed their meal, the delicious flavors momentarily overshadowing the mystery of the case.
After dinner, they walked back home, Arashi's gaze constantly drawn to the briefcase.
"Can I carry it?" he asked, his curiosity reaching its peak.
"No," Shisui chuckled, enjoying the anticipation. "Just wait till we get home."
"Aww, how unfair," Arashi pouted, crossing his arms.
After a few more minutes of eager anticipation, they finally arrived home. Arashi practically flew out of his shoes, rushing over to Shisui, who had placed the mysterious case on the table.
"Let me see what's inside, come on!" Arashi's excitement was palpable, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Haha haha! I haven't seen you this excited in a long time, Arashi," Shisui chuckled, enjoying his brother's infectious enthusiasm.
"Well, you haven't done anything that exciting in a while," Arashi muttered under his breath, a sly grin tugging at his lips.
Shisui shook his head, smiling, and ruffled Arashi's hair. "Can't help it, you're my little brother."
However, instead of opening the case, Shisui picked it up and stood, much to Arashi's surprise.
"Aren't we going to open it?" Arashi asked, his voice tinged with disappointment.
"Nope," Shisui replied firmly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You'll receive this present on the day you graduate from the academy. Until then, it will serve as a way to motivate you."
"What?! That's so unfair, Shisui-Nii-san!" Arashi protested, a mix of frustration and anticipation swirling within him.
"That's life, Arashi," Shisui responded with a gentle smile. He carried the case to his room, leaving Arashi to ponder the contents of the enigmatic gift.