Shadows before the storm
"Come on, this chicken drumstick is for you." Mikoto Uchiha placed a juicy drumstick into Tatsumi's bowl with a warm smile.
"Thank you, mother," Tatsumi replied calmly. A flicker of emotion crossed his eyes, quickly masked by his usual detached expression.
"Mother! I want one too!" young Sasuke exclaimed, tugging at Mikoto's sleeve with a pout. "Why does he always get the best part?"
Mikoto chuckled gently. "There's more, Sasuke. No need to be jealous."
"But Itachi-niisan! Tatsumi never wants to play with me," Sasuke whined, turning to his elder brother, who had just returned from training. "You'll play hide-and-seek with me after dinner, right?"
Itachi smiled softly. "Of course, Sasuke. We'll play together."
He turned his calm gaze toward Tatsumi. "Do you want to join us too?"
Tatsumi shook his head. "No, I'm done eating. I'll go rest in my room."
As he left the room quietly, Sasuke huffed. "He's boring. Let's play, nii-san!"
Itachi crouched to let Sasuke jump onto his back. "Alright, hold on tight."
Once the boys were gone, Mikoto turned to her husband, concern creasing her brow. "Fugaku… does it seem to you that Tatsumi is... distant?"
Fugaku exhaled slowly, his stern features unreadable. "He's different, yes. He rarely speaks, and he doesn't seek attention like Sasuke or other children. He's introspective… almost as if he's carrying something far too heavy for his age."
Back in his room, Tatsumi lay on his back, staring at the ceiling.
"I told myself not to get attached to this family…" he muttered under his breath. "Because I know what's coming."
Tatsumi, the reincarnated soul of a modern man with knowledge of the Naruto storyline, knew all too well about the fate of the Uchiha clan. In just a few short years, the clan would fall—massacred by Itachi under orders from Konoha's elders to prevent a coup.
Tatsumi's heart ached at the thought. As much as he tried to remain indifferent, the warmth of Mikoto's smile, the weight of Fugaku's quiet attention, and Itachi's gentle strength... they chipped away at his resolve.
"I don't want to lose them… not again."
Suddenly, he sat up. "Ah, right. I forgot to tell them about the Ninja Academy. The system gave me that task yesterday."
He slapped his forehead lightly. "Too late now. I'll just tell them in the morning."
---
The Next Day
Itachi was already gone on an ANBU mission when Tatsumi woke up. Sasuke was still curled up in bed, hugging his blanket.
After breakfast, Tatsumi approached Fugaku, who was finishing his tea.
"Father," he said calmly, "I'd like to enroll in the Ninja Academy."
Fugaku's eyes narrowed in surprise. Mikoto paused mid-motion while clearing dishes, looking at her son with wide eyes.
"Why now?" Fugaku asked.
"I've reached the age, and… staying at home is dull," Tatsumi answered.
Fugaku nodded. "The Academy begins new admissions in two days. I'll take you and Sasuke."
"Thank you." Tatsumi bowed politely before heading out.
Mikoto watched him go, her voice soft. "That's the first time he's ever asked for something."
Fugaku remained quiet, but there was the slightest upward curve to his lips. "He's growing."
Outside, Tatsumi's lips twitched upward.
"I'll finally see them—Naruto, Shikamaru, Sakura, Ino, Kiba, Hinata... the Konoha 11. Heh. The real story is about to begin."
He made his way to a secluded forest patch behind the Uchiha compound, a spot he'd found shortly after arriving in this world—a place perfect for solo training.