"Taichi Shabi, what nonsense are you spouting? I'm not your bride!" Sakura Haruno snapped, glaring at the boisterous boy. She turned to Sasuke. "Ignore him, Sasuke-kun. He's just looking for trouble. Let's go."
From across the academy courtyard, loud, mocking laughter erupted.
"Oh? Is Konoha's Uchiha prodigy hiding behind a girl now? How shameful!" a smug voice rang out.
It was Kiba Inuzuka and Naruto Uzumaki, always eager for chaos, egging the situation on.
"Yeah! Let's see that Uchiha pride in action!" Naruto laughed, ever the instigator.
"What's the matter? Scared? I thought the Uchiha were supposed to be geniuses. Come on, fight me!" Taichi Shabi, a brash and arrogant academy student, jeered at Sasuke.
"How dare you insult the Uchiha!" Sasuke's eyes narrowed with fury. He had been training under the watchful eye of Itachi, and while he hadn't fully mastered chakra control yet, his taijutsu was sharp for his age. He lunged at Taichi, ready to shut him up.
But before he could reach Taichi, another hand shot out, stopping him. It was Uchiha Tatsumi—Sasuke's twin brother.
"Stay out of it, Chen—I mean, Tatsumi," Sasuke growled, annoyed.
"This is my business," Tatsumi said coldly, brushing Sasuke aside.
Taichi sneered. "Two Uchihas? Great, I don't mind a handicap."
"I don't need backup to take out trash like you," Tatsumi said flatly.
"You're dead!" Taichi yelled and charged, throwing a punch aimed straight at Tatsumi's face.
"Chen-kun, look out!" Sakura shouted from the sidelines. Even Ino, standing with her friends, gasped.
But Tatsumi didn't flinch. Calmly, he caught Taichi's fist in his palm mid-swing. No matter how hard Taichi tried, he couldn't break free.
Over the past three years, Tatsumi had trained relentlessly in secret, aware that the world he now lived in was the dangerous world of Naruto. He was no ordinary academy student—his physical conditioning far surpassed his peers.
"Pathetic," he muttered, and with a pull, dragged Taichi toward him before slamming his knee into Taichi's gut. The bully doubled over in pain. Tatsumi didn't stop—he turned, stepped to the side, and landed a precise kick to Taichi's chest, sending him sprawling to the ground.
The entire courtyard fell silent.
Taichi groaned, trying to stand up again, but Tatsumi was already there. He caught him by the collar, lifted him, and slammed him back down. Then, with a swift motion, he drove his chakra-coated finger into the floor beside Taichi's head, cracking the tile with a resounding thud.
Gasps erupted around them.
"He... cracked the floor..." Kiba muttered, stunned.
"If that had hit his head…" Naruto's usual grin vanished.
Sasuke's fists clenched. Why? Why is he so strong? I've trained with Itachi... this guy just goofs off… so why?!
"Tatsumi-kun is amazing!" some of the girls squealed.
"So cool!"
"I want to give him a monkey—"
"Sakura, what did you say?!" Ino barked.
"Tch. Typical fangirls," Shikamaru sighed, rubbing his temples.
Tatsumi stood up and turned toward the classroom. As he walked away, everyone stared at his back in silence.
"A genius..." someone whispered.
Genius? Tatsumi scoffed internally. There's no such thing as a natural genius. What they call genius is just the result of effort that no one sees.
He knew the truth of this world. In the Uchiha clan, those born into power began far ahead of others, trained and honed by their elders. But that also made them complacent. Tatsumi wasn't going to fall into that trap.
He returned home later that day. Uchiha Mikoto greeted him at the door.
"Tatsumi, welcome home. Hm? Where's Sasuke? Didn't you two come home together?"
"He's right behind me," Tatsumi replied, his voice softer than usual.
Mikoto always looked at him with the warmth and care of a real mother. Even if he tried to remain distant—knowing the tragedy that would eventually befall the Uchiha—he couldn't deny the comfort of her presence.
Even a dog raised for six years would develop attachment. Tatsumi wasn't heartless.
But he also knew the future. The Uchiha clan was doomed.
He had no delusions—he couldn't stop the coup, couldn't convince Fugaku or the elders. If Itachi and the Third Hokage couldn't do it, how could he?
That's why he trained. Not to save the clan—but to survive what was coming.
"I'm home," Sasuke said, stepping in.
Mikoto turned to him with a smile. "How was school today?"
"Fine," Sasuke muttered, shooting a bitter glance at Tatsumi. "Nothing special. Where's Itachi?"
"He's on a mission and won't be back until tomorrow," Mikoto replied, ruffling Sasuke's hair.
Sasuke pouted. "Why's he always gone?"
Mikoto chuckled. "He's a ninja, remember? And someday, you'll be one too."
She turned to the kitchen. "Go play for a bit. I'll start dinner."
Tatsumi glanced outside. Still early... I haven't explored Konoha much. Might as well take a walk.
"Hey, where are you going?" Sasuke called, but Tatsumi was already gone