Return of the Uchiha Prodigy

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"You want to train crows as summoning beasts and use them as a medium for ninjutsu?" Shisui asked, his tone tinged with surprise. Summoning creatures like crows weren't known for their combat prowess, but their utility in creating diversions and supporting techniques was undeniable.

"Yes," Itachi replied simply, his calm demeanor hiding the storm of ambition brewing inside. His chakra control was already refined enough to perform B- and C-rank jutsu, and he knew his talent would allow him to quickly relearn even the more advanced techniques he had mastered before his coma.

Shisui studied him carefully. He'd watched Itachi's remarkable shuriken skills from afar, enough to know Itachi could graduate from the Ninja Academy without breaking a sweat. But he also understood why his cousin held back. Itachi was too smart to invite the scrutiny of the higher-ups in the village.

"Have you managed to regain full control of your chakra?" Shisui asked, raising an eyebrow.

Itachi nodded.

"Of course you have," Shisui muttered under his breath, a grin tugging at his lips. For someone like Itachi, mastering such fundamentals came as naturally as breathing.

---

As Itachi returned home, the faint sound of labored breaths and rustling leaves caught his attention. He paused at the edge of the backyard and spotted Sasuke practicing tirelessly, his small hands forming hand seals with unwavering determination.

Itachi landed softly on the roof of the house, watching his younger brother from the shadows. Sasuke's brows furrowed in frustration as he attempted to mold his chakra into something tangible. His movements, while imperfect, showed promise.

A faint smile crossed Itachi's lips. Sasuke's drive was admirable, even at his young age. The bond their family had developed with the Fourth Hokage during Itachi's coma had given Sasuke someone to measure himself against—Naruto Uzumaki.

It wasn't that Sasuke lacked talent. If anything, he possessed raw potential rivaling anyone in the Uchiha clan. But with Naruto's inherent Uzumaki chakra reserves, Sasuke had found himself constantly playing catch-up. Itachi knew that such rivalry would only sharpen his younger brother's resolve.

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The next morning, Itachi and Izumi wandered through the bustling village market, their mission clear. Among the many vendors, Itachi's sharp eyes found what he was looking for—a stall selling crow hatchlings.

"These are rare," the seller said, showcasing the small birds with pride.

Itachi inspected them carefully before arranging to pick them up later.

Meanwhile, Izumi's attention was drawn to a tiny white kitten, its soft fur gleaming in the sunlight. Her eyes sparkled with delight.

"If you want a ninja cat, our clan already has some well-trained ones under contract," Itachi remarked, glancing at her.

Izumi shook her head, cradling the kitten in her hands. "I don't want a summoning beast. I just want a companion."

Itachi sighed but didn't argue further. He understood. Her parents were often busy with their duties, leaving her plenty of time alone. The kitten would undoubtedly bring her comfort.

---

Later that day, Itachi ventured to the forest, his instincts drawing him toward the sound of clashing metal. He moved silently through the trees, arriving at the edge of a training ground where Shisui and Kakashi Hatake sparred.

"Clang!"

Their kunai collided with precision, both shinobi moving faster than most eyes could track. Kakashi's Sharingan gleamed, following Shisui's every movement, while Shisui's fluid agility allowed him to evade most strikes with ease.

Sensing a presence, both shinobi halted their match and turned toward the newcomer.

"Itachi," Shisui called out, a welcoming smile spreading across his face.

"It's been a long time, Kakashi-senpai," Itachi said respectfully, his eyes briefly lingering on Kakashi's exposed Sharingan.

Kakashi nodded, his usual calm demeanor intact. "The Fourth Hokage speaks highly of you."

Itachi's gaze drifted to Kakashi's left eye, the scarred Sharingan spinning with deliberate intensity. "So, it's true…" he thought. Even among the Uchiha, few possessed the fully developed three-tomoe Sharingan. Seeing Kakashi, a non-Uchiha, wield it with such mastery was both impressive and poignant.

He knew the price of such power. For Kakashi, who bore the Sharingan without Uchiha blood, the burden would be even heavier.

"I didn't mean to interrupt," Itachi said, stepping closer.

Shisui chuckled. "You're always welcome, Itachi. What brings you here?"

---

Kakashi glanced at Itachi, his lone visible eye narrowing slightly before giving a brief nod. His reserved demeanor was no different from his days in the ANBU—words were rare, and his presence always carried a quiet intensity.

"If it's inconvenient to spar today, I'll be taking my leave," Kakashi said, his tone neutral. He raised his hand, preparing to form a hand seal.

Before anyone could respond, a booming, cheerful voice erupted from the surrounding forest, startling all three shinobi.

"Your battle might be over, but now it's my turn to join the fray!"

A figure leaped into view with startling energy, landing directly between Kakashi, Shisui, and Itachi. The sheer exuberance of his entrance caused even Shisui to blink in mild surprise—a rare feat.

But the moment they heard the voice, all three shinobi instantly recognized the newcomer.

The man before them stood proudly in a green jumpsuit, his bowl-cut hairstyle gleaming in the sunlight. A wide grin spread across his face as he struck a confident pose, raising his thumb in the air as his teeth caught the light with an audible ding.

"Guy…" Kakashi muttered, dragging a hand down his masked face in exasperation.

Shisui's eyebrows twitched in amusement, though he managed to keep his expression neutral.

"Greetings, youthful warriors!" Guy declared, spinning toward Shisui and Itachi. "I am Might Guy, the epitome of hard work and passion!"

Itachi inclined his head politely. "Hello."

Seizing the opportunity, Kakashi attempted to step away. "I'll leave this to you, Shisui. Another time—"

Before he could finish, Guy darted in front of him, arms crossed dramatically.

"As rivals, we must always test our limits, Kakashi! Only through fierce competition do we ignite the flames of youth and grow stronger!" Guy proclaimed, his eyes blazing with determination.

Kakashi's laziness evaporated, replaced by a quiet determination. "You're not going to let me leave, are you?"

Shisui's lips curved into a slight smile. "Guy has a point. Growth comes from pushing each other to new heights. Besides," he said, drawing his sword, "we never finished our earlier spar, Kakashi-senpai."

Guy's grin widened. "Excellent! Then it's decided—a three-way battle of youthful energy!"

The atmosphere shifted instantly. Kakashi, Shisui, and Guy exchanged sharp, challenging glances.

Recognizing what was about to unfold, Itachi stepped back, his gaze steady and analytical. He leaned against a tree trunk, arms crossed, his three-tomoe Sharingan spinning lazily. Watching three elite shinobi spar wasn't an opportunity he wanted to miss.

"Let's see how much they've improved," Itachi murmured.

Shisui's Sharingan ignited, the three tomoe whirling in his crimson eyes. He raised his blade, the sunlight glinting off its polished steel. Kakashi's left eye followed suit, the Sharingan embedded there spinning with practiced ease.

Guy, meanwhile, took a deep breath. The air around him shifted, a faint green aura rippling around his form.

"The Third Gate: Open!" Guy shouted, his energy surging as the ground beneath him cracked slightly.

Itachi's eyes narrowed as he felt the intensity of Guy's chakra. "The Eight Gates…"

He recalled stories of Guy's father, Might Duy, who had opened all Eight Gates during the Third Great Ninja War to fend off the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. The sheer destructive power of the technique was legendary, though it came at a great cost.

The three shinobi moved simultaneously, blurring into motion.

Klang! Klang!

Shisui's blade clashed with Kakashi's, sparks flying as their weapons connected. Guy darted in with raw speed, his fists meeting their strikes head-on.

Shisui was forced to retreat, his Sharingan analyzing Guy's movements with astonishing clarity. "His taijutsu… it's unlike anything I've encountered."

"Don't underestimate him," Kakashi warned, weaving hand seals at lightning speed. "Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

A fierce gust of wind roared through the training ground, kicking up leaves and dirt. Shisui leaped aside, while Guy planted his feet firmly, his chakra anchoring him against the onslaught.

Guy's grin widened. "Impressive, but you'll need more than that!"

He surged forward, targeting Shisui with a ferocious spinning kick. Shisui countered, his blade glowing with chakra.

"Fire Release: Blazing Blade!"

Flames erupted along the length of Shisui's sword as he slashed at Guy. The attack was precise, but Guy twisted his body mid-air, evading the flames with a combination of speed and flexibility.

Watching from the sidelines, Itachi observed every movement with keen interest. His Sharingan picked up the minute details—the ripple of Guy's muscles as he dodged, the precision of Kakashi's seals, the faint tremor in Shisui's strikes as he adjusted to Guy's unpredictable taijutsu.

"This is the level I need to surpass," Itachi thought, his gaze steady.

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