The young Uchiha was making his way through the compound, his baby brother securely fastened to his back. Kagami focused, and the threads connecting Itachi to others became visible.
Each thread linking Itachi to an Uchiha clan member had two colors. The primary color varied, but underneath ran a constant, ominous dark crimson.
A group of Uchiha children played nearby. Their ball flew towards Itachi, who caught it smoothly and kicked it back.
"Join us, Itachi!" a boy called out, waving enthusiastically.
Itachi smiled faintly. "Not today. I'm taking Sasuke to the lake."
"Aw, come on!" another child chimed in. "Just for a little while?"
"Maybe next time," Itachi replied, his voice gentle but firm.
The threads connecting Itachi to the children were bright yellow, symbolizing innocence. But that dark crimson lurked beneath, unsettling Kagami.
As Itachi walked on, an elderly woman struggled with her groceries. Just as the bag slipped, he steadied it.
"Allow me," he said, taking the bag.
The old woman beamed. "Such a good boy. Your parents must be proud."
His expression flickered. "Thank you. Where should I take these?"
"Oh, just to my house there," she pointed. "You're so kind, Itachi."
Their thread was soft gray tinged with fondness, but that same crimson underlay remained. Kagami frowned, puzzled by this pattern.
Why is that crimson always there?
What could it mean?
He shifted his focus to another spider, this one perched near the lake. From this new vantage point, he watched Itachi approach, passing some teens practicing fire jutsu. They paused, nodding respectfully.
"Itachi-san," one of them called out. "Your Fireball technique is impressive. Any tips?"
Itachi paused, considering. "Focus on your breath control. The jutsu starts in your lungs, not your hands."
The teens nodded, their threads to Itachi mixing gold admiration and blue respect, yet the crimson persisted underneath.
Strange.
It's like Itachi's future holds conflict with the entire clan, regardless of age or relationship.
At the lakeside, Itachi glanced at Sasuke. "Hold tight, little brother. Let's have some fun."
He broke into a sprint, moving so smoothly that Sasuke wasn't jostled. The baby's laughter rang out, and a genuine smile spread across Itachi's face.
"Whee!" Sasuke squealed, his tiny hands gripping Itachi's shirt.
Kagami leaned in, curious about the brothers' thread. To his surprise, it glowed pure, vibrant gold, pulsing with love and protection. He had never seen a thread so bright or so strong. It lacked the dark crimson undertone present in all of Itachi's other Uchiha connections.
He really would do anything for his little brother.
Itachi slowed, carefully setting Sasuke on the grass. "Did you like that? When you're bigger, I'll teach you to run even faster. For now, how about skipping stones?"
He picked up a smooth, flat stone and sent it bouncing across the lake's surface. "See, Sasuke? The trick is in the wrist. You have to—"
Suddenly, Itachi doubled over in a violent coughing fit.
Hack! Hack! Hack!
Kagami watched in alarm as the golden thread to Sasuke flickered, briefly overshadowed by sickly, dark threads emanating from within Itachi himself.
As the fit subsided, he straightened, breathing hard. He looked at Sasuke, relief washing over him as he saw the baby was unharmed and oblivious.
"Sorry, Sasuke," he whispered hoarsely. "Didn't mean to scare you."
Kagami frowned at what he saw.
So even the prodigy Itachi isn't immune to illness.
Just like Hayate... and me, if I'm not careful.
The realization was oddly comforting.
Then, Kagami's consciousness jumped to a spider on the Uchiha main house, just as Itachi approached with Sasuke. Mikoto emerged, smiling warmly.
"There are my boys," she called. "Enjoyed your walk?"
Kagami observed their thread: soft pink for maternal love, but even here, that dark crimson was present, albeit fainter.
Itachi managed a small smile. "Yes, Mother. I showed Sasuke the lake."
As he handed Sasuke over, Mikoto's eyes widened in alarm. "Itachi, is that... blood on your shirt?"
Kagami zoomed in, noticing small red stains on Itachi's collar. Mikoto's thread vibrated with worry, shot through with anxious yellow. The underlying crimson intensified.
Itachi glanced down, then quickly looked away. Guilt flashed in his eyes. "It's nothing. I bit my tongue earlier."
Mikoto frowned. "Itachi, please. Don't pretend. This isn't the first time, is it?"
Itachi remained silent, eyes fixed on the ground. The threads around him darkened, a complex web of duty, love, and something else...
Mikoto shifted Sasuke to one arm and gently tilted Itachi's chin-up. "You're pushing too hard. The clan expectations, your training... it's too much, especially with your condition."
"I can handle it, Mother. I have to. For the clan, for the village... for Sasuke." Itachi said calmly.
"But at what cost, Itachi?" Mikoto's voice was soft, filled with concern.
"Whatever it takes," Itachi whispered.
The surrounding threads shifted dramatically. Primary colors intensified, nearly eclipsing the dark crimson underlay. But Kagami could still see it there, a constant reminder of some future conflict or tragedy.
He pulled back from the spider network.
What does it all mean? Kagami wondered, still trying to process what he'd seen. And those dark red threads, connecting him to every Uchiha except Sasuke...
He stood up slowly, feeling a bit dizzy from the prolonged use of his ability. Suddenly, the world spun around him, colors blurring together.
That's strange, Kagami thought, blinking rapidly. My vision's never been this affected before.
He rubbed his eyes, trying to clear them. When he pulled his hands away, he noticed they were wet. At first, he assumed it was just tears from fatigue, but as he looked closer, his heart skipped a beat.
Is that... blood?
A sharp pain lanced through his head, causing him to wince. It felt like someone was driving a hot needle into his skull, right behind his eyes.
"Argh!" Kagami groaned, pressing his palms against his temples. The pain intensified, spreading like wildfire through his head.
What's happening to me?
Is this because of the ability?
Have I pushed it too far?
He staggered, leaning against the nearby wall for support. For a moment, he thought he could still see the threads connecting people, but they were distorted.
No, no, no, squeezing his eyes shut. It won't stop!
Slowly, agonizingly, the pain began to subside. The world stopped spinning, and when Kagami opened his eyes, his vision had mostly returned to normal. A few spots of color danced at the edges of his sight, but they were fading quickly.
He took a deep, shaky breath. That was... intense.
As the last vestiges of pain faded, he found himself grappling with a new fear.
What if this happens again? What if it gets worse? Am I damaging my eyes... or my mind?
He wiped the blood from his face, trying to compose himself. I need to be more careful, he realized. This ability... it's powerful, but it comes at a cost. I can't let my curiosity overwhelm my common sense.
Kagami pushed himself off the wall, testing his balance. He felt weak, but the dizziness had passed.
I need to watch this closely.
One step at a time.
I'll get stronger. I'll learn to control this.
With a final deep breath, Kagami gathered his things and headed out.
---
As he walked through the quiet morning streets, Kagami reflected on his friendship with the young Inuzuka.
She's a good training partner.
And it's nice to have someone who doesn't ask too many questions.
He'd been watching Deidara and Akatsuchi closely in Iwa, and the earth-style jutsu he'd gleaned from them could prove invaluable - if he mastered it. And with Hana's help, his taijutsu was improving steadily.
I may not be a prodigy, but I've my spiders.
Lost in thought, Kagami almost missed the commotion ahead. A baby was wailing, its cries filling the street. The mother, a young woman with tired eyes, bounced the infant gently, trying to soothe it.
"Shh, shh," she cooed. "It's okay, sweetie. Mommy's here."
Kagami paused, watching the scene unfold. The baby's face was scrunched up, red with effort as it screamed.
Why is it crying?
It doesn't even know what real suffering is yet.
He blinked, startled by his own thoughts. Where had that come from?
The child cries because it knows nothing els, his mind continued. Ignorance is bliss, they say. But knowledge... knowledge is a curse.
Kagami shook his head, trying to dispel the dark musings. This wasn't like him. He'd never thought this way before.
Is this... because of what I saw?
The threads?
Am I changing?
Becoming something... else?
Fear gripped him. He'd always wanted to be stronger, to know more. But at what cost?
I need to be careful, Kagami realized. The color vision... I can't use it too often.
He hurried past the mother and child, trying to focus on his upcoming training session with Hana.
As he neared the Inuzuka compound, Kagami took a deep breath, centering himself.
Focus on the present.
One step at a time. That's how I'll get stronger.
He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice the figure emerging from a nearby bar until it was too late. Kagami collided with a tall man, the impact sending him to the ground.
"Ow," Kagami muttered, looking up at the man. The morning sun silhouetted him, making it hard to see his face, but the red cloak and tea-colored kimono were unmistakable.
His eyes widened in recognition. "Toad Sage..."
The man turned, seeming to notice Kagami for the first time. A grin spread across his face, and he struck a dramatic pose.
"Toad Sage is just a title I use to conceal my identity," he declared, his voice booming in the quiet street. "Want to know the truth? I am the white-haired shinobi of Mount Myoboku, undefeated across the land—Jiraiya!"