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Both Fugaku and Mikoto froze at the sight of Itachi's expression, concern deepening on their faces.
"Mikoto, Itachi, what happened? Why are you—"
"Itachi, enough," Fugaku interrupted gently, though firmly. His gaze softened as he glanced between his wife and eldest son. "Mikoto, why don't you check on Sasuke? I'll speak with Itachi."
Mikoto hesitated, her eyes flicking between them. After a moment, she sighed and nodded, moving to the cradle where Sasuke continued to cry. She gently lifted him, whispering soothing words as she rocked him in her arms.
"Come," Fugaku said, motioning for Itachi to follow him out into the courtyard.
Outside, the cool air felt sharp, punctuated by the soft chirping of birds. Itachi stood before his father, his gaze locked on the ground, guilt weighing heavily on his shoulders.
"I'm sorry..." Itachi's voice was barely audible, but it carried years of suppressed emotion.
"Look at me," Fugaku commanded, his tone firm but not unkind.
Slowly, Itachi raised his head, his dark eyes clouded with confusion and regret.
"Are you going to explain to me what's going on?" Fugaku's gaze remained steady.
"I... I can't," Itachi's voice cracked, a reflection of the internal struggle he faced.
Fugaku's brow furrowed in thought. He studied Itachi closely before responding. "Very well. I won't push you for answers."
Without warning, Fugaku stepped forward. Slap!
The sound of Fugaku's palm connecting with Itachi's face echoed in the stillness. It wasn't a strike of anger, but a jolt to awaken his son from the emotional fog.
"You think this is how we handle things?" Fugaku asked, his arms crossed. "Do you intend to keep worrying your mother and brother with this behavior?"
Itachi instinctively touched his cheek, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the emotional storm inside him.
"My son will not be someone who apologizes without acting!" Fugaku's voice grew sharper, his posture unyielding. "The Uchiha clan does not raise cowards. You are Itachi Uchiha, my son."
Itachi met his father's gaze, the guilt and sorrow that had consumed him beginning to fade, slowly replaced by something stronger.
"As a shinobi, and as a man, you don't run from mistakes. You don't wallow in regret," Fugaku continued, his voice cutting through the emotional haze. "You learn from them. You ensure they don't happen again."
Each word hit Itachi like a blade. His father was right—he had been so consumed by the guilt of the past that he had forgotten his purpose. This was his second chance.
"You have the power to prevent the tragedies that haunt you," Fugaku said, his gaze softening. "Don't let history repeat itself."
Itachi took a deep breath, the weight of his father's words grounding him. The guilt still lingered, but now it was tempered by a newfound resolve.
"I understand now, Father," Itachi replied, his voice firmer. "I won't let it happen again. I'll protect the village, Sasuke, and... you and Mother. No matter what."
Fugaku nodded approvingly, his usual stern expression easing into a rare, small smile. "That's more like it."
Itachi looked up at the sky, feeling the weight of his new resolve settle over him. He had been given another chance, and this time, he wouldn't fail.
As resolve took root in Itachi's heart, a surge of chakra stirred within him. His dark pupils trembled briefly before morphing into a vivid crimson.
Unaware of the transformation, Itachi raised his head to face his father. With newfound clarity, he said firmly, "Father, I was wrong. What I did earlier was reckless, and it won't happen again."
Fugaku's sharp gaze caught the shift in his son's eyes. "Sharingan...?" he muttered, his expression betraying rare surprise.
Itachi's Sharingan, fully awakened at just five years old, was an extraordinary achievement, even for an Uchiha prodigy. In the depths of his blood-red eyes, a single black tomoe spun.
Itachi blinked, only now noticing the enhanced clarity of his vision. As the realization hit him, a small, proud smile tugged at his lips. The Sharingan—symbol of the Uchiha clan's power—had awakened. Though strength wasn't everything, Itachi knew he needed power to protect the ones he loved.
"As expected of my son!" Fugaku's voice rang with rare pride, his laughter breaking the quiet tension of the courtyard. For a moment, the stoic head of the Uchiha clan became a father, overwhelmed with joy at his son's potential.
Itachi's heart warmed at the sight of his father's elation. "Father..."
Hearing Fugaku's approval, Itachi's previously tense expression softened. His father's pride, always so difficult to earn, now filled him with a sense of accomplishment.
A sudden wave of dizziness hit him, and Itachi instinctively deactivated his Sharingan. "Not enough chakra yet," he thought. He was still a child and hadn't yet undergone formal training in chakra control, so it wasn't surprising that his reserves were insufficient to maintain the dojutsu.
Fugaku's laughter drew Mikoto from inside the house, carrying Sasuke in her arms. "What's going on, Fugaku?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. It was rare to see her husband so openly expressive.
Fugaku quickly composed himself, clearing his throat with an embarrassed cough. "Itachi has awakened his Sharingan," he said, pride still evident in his tone.
Mikoto's eyes widened. "At five years old?" She glanced at Itachi, shock and pride swirling in her gaze. "That's remarkable. No wonder your father is so excited."
Itachi approached her, bowing respectfully. "Mother, I'm sorry for worrying you earlier. I acted foolishly."
Mikoto's gaze softened. "As long as you're all right, that's what matters. But... does it hurt?" She touched the faint red mark on Itachi's cheek where Fugaku had slapped him earlier, as well as the small bump from his previous actions.
"I'm fine," Itachi reassured her. Compared to the relief and clarity he now felt, the physical discomfort was trivial.
In Mikoto's arms, Sasuke cooed, his wide eyes focused intently on Itachi's face. Itachi smiled softly, reaching out to gently touch his brother's cheek. "Did I scare you, Sasuke? I'm sorry. I promise I won't act that way again."
The tension that had filled the house earlier seemed to dissipate, replaced by a calming sense of familial warmth.
---
After some time, Fugaku left to attend to his duties as the head of the Uchiha clan and captain of the Konoha Military Police Force. Sasuke's birth had temporarily excused his absence, but pressing matters awaited him.
Shortly after Fugaku's departure, lunch arrived, brought by a member of the Uchiha clan. Itachi, mindful of Mikoto's recent recovery from childbirth, helped her feed Sasuke before the infant drifted to sleep.
As they sat down to eat, Mikoto looked at Itachi and asked gently, "Itachi, is it true that your Sharingan has awakened?"
Although gentle in nature, Mikoto was still a shinobi of the Uchiha clan and fully understood the significance of her son's achievement. Unlocking the Sharingan at such a young age was unheard of, even among the clan's most gifted members.
However, only Itachi knew the full truth. He had once unlocked the Mangekyō Sharingan in his previous life. Though his current body was that of a five-year-old, his soul carried the weight of a lifetime of experiences. Reawakening the Sharingan felt natural to him, even if it was still an extraordinary feat.
This reawakening also confirmed something crucial: this wasn't an illusion or genjutsu. It was real. With the activation of his Sharingan, he could feel his chakra and sense the presence of the spiritual weapons housed within his eyes—the Totsuka Blade and Yata Mirror, remnants of his former self.
If this were simply a genjutsu, none of this would be possible.
The realization filled Itachi with a profound sense of relief. He had been given a second chance. He could change everything. He could stop the tragedies before they happened.
"chi-chan?" Mikoto's gentle voice broke through his thoughts, using the nickname she had given him as a child. "You seem happy."
Itachi nodded, smiling softly. "I am, Mother. I'm just... grateful."
Mikoto's gaze warmed. "I'm glad to see you smiling again. I was so worried earlier..."
"You won't have to worry about me again," Itachi promised, his voice resolute.
Mikoto smiled, trust shining in her eyes. "I believe you."
The atmosphere lightened as they continued their meal. The tension that had weighed on the household earlier was replaced with a renewed sense of warmth and harmony.
After they finished eating, Itachi insisted on helping with the dishes, much to Mikoto's amusement.
"Please, Mother, you should rest," Itachi said, gathering the dishes. "Let me take care of this."
Mikoto chuckled softly, watching her son with a sense of pride. "Thank you, Itachi."
As Itachi moved toward the kitchen with a contented smile, he felt an overwhelming sense of purpose. He had been given a second chance at life, and this time, he would not fail.
"I won't let those tragedies happen again. I'll protect everyone... the village, my friends, my brother, and most of all, you and Father."
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