Stuck in Ryuu's shadow

"Congratulations on your acceptance into the academy.

From this day forward, you must do your best and reach your goal to become a shinobi."

After Sakumo gave them their speech, Ryuu and Kakashi escorted him back to his office while Itachi began his lessons.

"Now then, please introduce yourself and tell everyone your dream for the future,"

The instructor said.

Everyone in the classroom looked at each other nervously.

Itachi looked around, somewhat confused as well. No one wanted to go around saying their dreams to strangers.

"Alright then, maybe we'll go by student numbers." The teacher said.

After a few turns, it was finally Itachi's turn.

He walked to the center of the classroom.

'I've had the same dream ever since I can remember, but recently it has changed a little.' Itachi stood in front of the class.

"I'm Itachi Uchiha, my dream is…" He faltered.

The students and teacher wanted to know what was wrong, they thought he was just being nervous, but Itachi wasn't sure he should've talked about his dreams in front of these people, all their dreams were just like Ryuu said they would be.

Some wanted to become great shinobi like their fathers, others wanted to become cute ninjas but him…

"I want to be the greatest ninja ever, great enough that I can erase all fighting from this world." He heard someone laugh in a corner of the classroom.

Immediately after that came the pre-established harmony of applause. "Well done," the teacher said and patted Itachi's head.

"If I'm not mistaken, you're Ryuu-sama's cousin, right?" Itachi nodded.

Itachi could hear whispers and murmur in the background.

"He too shared a similar dream as a kid. Does he still want to become the greatest shinobi in history?"

"He's closer to that dream than anyone thinks he is, and yes, he still has the same dream."

"Well, then you're more alike than I thought.

Maybe even you will graduate from the academy in a day."

'That's highly unlikely, no one can surpass big brother's record. It will take some serious genius to do that, but at least I can try to do my best. That's what he would do.'

Itachi wanted to say this out loud, but he didn't because then he'd stand out too much. Ryuu warned him not to stray too far from his peers until later.

Itachi went back to his seat and sat down.

Whether or not he knew it, the teacher had put the spotlight on Itachi.

Being cousins with the most powerful shinobi alive had its pros, such as learning from the best and always being safe.

However, it also had its cons, whatever Itachi did no matter how incredible, would be overshadowed by Ryuu's accomplishments, and it didn't help when Ryuu would accomplish even more.

The Day went by and Itachi finished his first day in the academy.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Someone was knocking at the Hokage's office.

"Come in!" Sakumo said.

It was the academy instructor.

"Hokage-sama, I came here to tell you about the children at the academy this year."

"I'm going to give you a guess.

You've come here to tell me about Itachi Uchiha, haven't you?" He nodded.

"I thought a genius like Ryuu-sama wouldn't come in the next decades, but his cousin Itachi is the closest thing we've ever had to him.

Today on the tests we usually run, Itachi got 100% on everything.

On the shuriken jutsu test, he completed it within 10 seconds, that's even better than I can do.

I assume he receives training and lessons from Ryuu-sama."

Sakumo nodded.

Ryuu was listening, and a small smile appeared on his face, hearing how well Itachi was doing.

Sakumo read the files on Itachi compared to Ryuu and the other prodigies.

"At this rate, he could graduate within a year.

Just like Ryuu predicted."

He closed the files and handed them back to the teacher.

"Thank you for this, I'll think about this some other time." He bowed his head before leaving.

"Ryuu, Kakashi, come in." Ryuu and Kakashi appeared in front of Sakumo.

"I told you so."

"The year's not over yet, don't get too cocky," Kakashi replied.

"I'm afraid Kakashi is right. We stopped handing out early graduations because we're in a time of peace."

Kakashi nodded and then looked at Ryuu.

"I'm not finished, however, Itachi Uchiha might become an exception, seeing his results today, Itachi might be the first to have an early graduation in this new age."

Ryuu nodded.

"Ryuu, you have a mission tomorrow, I'm dismissing you earlier today." Ryuu nodded.

6 months had passed, and barely a year into the academy, Itachi had impressed everyone with his grades at school, he would continue getting 100% the whole time, and eventually, Sakumo allowed him to graduate early.

On the day he left school for the last time, four people greeted Itachi in front of him.

Fugaku, Mikoto, Sasuke, and Ryuu.

They were all waiting eagerly for him.

His classmates watched from the windows above as Ryuu congratulated his cousin.

"So it's true."

"Yeah, Itachi is Ryuu Uchihas's cousin! That's so cool…" they all said.

Ryuu didn't pay any attention to them instead he was smiling at Itachi.

Sasuke's round eyes widened after seeing his brother.

"Itaaa!" he cried in a clear voice.

Their mother told him to call his big brother "Itachi," but he still couldn't talk properly, so that turned into "Ita."

And seeing his little brother calling out so happily and tottering toward him, Itachi felt something overwhelming.

"Congratulations, Itachi." Ryuu knelt and gave him something wrapped up.

"Open this when you're at home."

Itachi nodded.

Itachi was following Sasuke, who was tottering around.

Suddenly, Sasuke disappeared from Itachi's field of view.

Someone stood between them.

A man who emitted a dark aura.

"Are you Itachi Uchiha?" He asked as he looked down at him.

The right side of his face was covered in bandages. He was clad in black, but the arm from his left shoulder was exposed, revealing the white robe he wore underneath. His left eye alone glared at Itachi.

"I see …"

Ryuu frowned. Seeing this man, he subconsciously let out a dark aura from his own body.

Sensing the killing intent, Danzo looked beside him only to meet the deadly glare let out by Ryuu.

Foolishly, Danzo didn't back down and continued talking to Itachi.

"I have a question for your cousin.

Being the genius of the new generation and all."

Danzo flinched after feeling Ryuu's hand on his shoulder.

"Stay away from my cousin." He said before taking Itachi's hand and walking away.

"Danzo, surely you couldn't have expected this to go another way.

You're a leader of an organization.

To become a leader means you have to have at least some form of intelligence, isn't that right?"

Danzo looked away.

"So instead of you asking the questions, how about, I ask you one?"

Danzo grit his teeth.

"Fine," Ryuu smirked.

"The day they chose my father to be Hokage, I gave lord third files exposing your misdeeds, and then I secretly gave you your role back.

If I can collect that much information on you without your knowledge, think about this from a tactical perspective.

What, or who is stopping me from killing you?"

Danzo clenched his fist.

He muttered the answer under his breath.

"This isn't a rhetorical question, answer and speak louder, you aren't old enough to claim you didn't hear me."

"I said nothing, and no one is stopping you from killing me, only sheer will!"

Ryuu nodded.

"This is your last chance Danzo, I will kill you if you ever get close to anyone I love again, and never think of getting in our way again." Ryuu and Itachi walked away.

Itachi looked up at Ryuu, who had calmed down.

"Big brother, who was that?" Itachi curiously asked.

"His name is Danzo, and he's the leader of an organization called the root, or the foundation, it operates in the shadows, it's supposed to be an organization that helps protect the leaf but Danzo uses it for his own selfish needs.

Anyway, today isn't about him, do you want to stop and get some Dango?" Itachi nodded.

'I've never seen big brother like that, he was so intense.

Is that what people see when they fight him on the battlefield?

And he didn't even have his Sharingan on, but a simple glare from him was enough…'

After buying Dango for Itachi, Ryuu said goodbye to Itachi and left.

Meanwhile, Itachi was opening his gift at home.

He unwrapped the gifts and his eyes widened in awe.

A Katana, a set of kunai and shurikens plus smoke bombs and other shinobi gear.

Attached to the Katana was a card, written.

"A starter kit to your career as a shinobi."

'The Katana had a red and black pattern on the cover, it was sharp and shiny, enough for me to see my reflection.

Big brother Rikuto must've made this.' Itachi said to himself while inspecting the gear.

Meanwhile, Ryuu, Obito, and Kakashi were wearing their uniform.

"Team 7 is back at it again," Ryuu stated.

"Yeah, we haven't gone on a mission together for a while," Obito added.

"This'll be a straightforward mission, just as long as you two don't mess it up like last time," Kakashi added.

Ryuu stood in the middle with both Kakashi and Obito beside him.

He unsealed a dark Katana and sheathed it.

They used Kamui to teleport to Sakumo's office.

"Remember, be cautious, the Mizukage has asked for Ryuu specifically and only him, you two are his backup."

They nodded.

"Yes, sir!" Obito and Ryuu used Kamui to teleport into Kirigakure.