Arashi's condition

Together, Itachi and Fugaku took Shisui to go check on Arashi in the hospital.

"Nurse, there was a boy who was brought in here.

He had difficulties breathing and fainted.

Do you know which room he's in?" Shisui asked.

"He should wake up soon, but he's in bad condition.

He's suffering from respiratory disease and severe damage to his nervous system.

Besides that, he's also suffering from the damage done to his chakra network, a Hyuga confirmed this."

The nurse looks at Shisui and continues,

"Look, in his state, most would be dead by now, he's showing signs of regeneration we've never seen.

However, I'm afraid if this boy wanted to become a shinobi…

It's impossible.

As it stands, he can't be able to do a basic clone."

Shisui's eyes widened.

"What?! Are you sure?" She nods.

"If he uses ninjutsu, it won't be nearly as effective as before.

His chakra is permanently disturbed, and not just that, even simple actions such as running and jumping will cause him severe pain, he won't be able to talk as loud as he used to, and even his laugh won't be loud.

The doctor prescribed him the medicine.

This is to slow down the effects and numb the pain a little, but we didn't get a name.

Are you the child's guardian?"

"Yes, Shisui Uchiha."

"What's his name?"

"His name is Arashi Uchiha. He's my brother."

She nodded.

"He's in room 219.

Pick up his medicine as you leave." Shisui nodded.

Fugaku was about to follow Shisui before Itachi put his hand on his shoulder and said,

"Father, this will be best if Shisui goes alone, we should go."

Fugaku nods.

"Shisui, we'll talk later.

I wish him the best recovery." He says.

Shisui nods and replies,

"Thank you, captain." Shisui bows his head.

Itachi and Fugaku leave and head back home.

Shisui walks to room 219.

'Arashi's dream is to become a shinobi, just like me.

But now they're saying he won't even become a shinobi?

That's just so unfair.

I have an additional duty now…

Arashi's my kid brother, and I won't allow his dreams to go to waste this soon.

They haven't even begun.

But I'll make sure he achieves his goals even if I have to sacrifice my own.'

Before he realized it, Shisui was right in front of the door.

He takes a deep breath and knocks.

Knock knock knock.

"I'm coming in!"

Shisui enters.

"Shisui…"

'My voice…

It hurts…'

Shisui kneels in front of me.

"Please.

Don't speak a lot.

The doctor said you're still sick and recovering.

But you're safe, the village won't bother us anymore, and you can live together with me, we'll even go see father together."

Shisui moved closer so he couldn't hear me well.

"A lot will change from today.

You'll have a family. A clan too!

We'll be a family… you and I.

I got the Hokage to back off.

You'll finally be who you were supposed to be."

"Who I was supposed to be?"

Shisui smiles.

"Arashi of the Uchiha clan, that was the name our mother gave you."

"I see…" I slowly get up.

"Ah… It aches…"

Shisui holds me.

"What aches?"

"Everything…"

I got up from my bed. Everything hurt, my whole body was in pain, and I could barely move…

Shisui held me and helped me to my feet.

"Let's go home, Arashi."

I look at Shisui and smiled as he held me up.

We reached the counter and found a clinic, Shisui gave them the prescription papers and then paid for the medicine.

"Keep the cold drinks at a minimum and if possible, no more cold drinks, or else you'll risk damaging him further.

Also, no more straining activities and-"

"I spoke with the other nurse already, but thank you for the reminder." Shisui quickly interrupted her.

"Well alright, remember, one of the medicine is three times a day for the next five months, and when you're done, come back for a check-up.

The other medicine is permanent.

Unfortunately, he suffered a rare, and serious disease, no one knows the cure for it, but I'd count myself lucky that it isn't too fatal." Shisui nods.

"Thank you."

After taking my meds, Shisui took me to Ichiraku Ramen.

"Tsuki? It's been a while, hasn't it?"

I responded, but he probably can't hear me.

"What was that?" Old man Teuchi moved closer.

"He says his name is Arashi, not Tsuki It's a long story."

"Oh, Arashi, huh? Not a bad name."

I nod.

"Anyway, what can I get ya? I can hear you're struggling to speak there, so I'll add in some more Miso soup for you."

"Thanks."

"What was that?"

"He said thanks," Shisui spoke for me again.

"Any time." Teuchi left to make the ramen.

"Hey! Tsuki! You're already out of the hospital?!"

A loud and joyful voice shouted from across the street.

"Huh? Shisui? What are you doing here?"

"Naruto, come sit with us, he could use your company."

Naruto smiled and joined us.

"Hey, you alright? You haven't talked much, you know?"

"Yes, I'm fine, thanks for asking Naruto."

"You sound sick, is it the medicine they gave you at the hospital or something?"

I tried responding, but I didn't have enough strength to get my voice to speak.

"Cough! Cough! Cough!"

It felt like my lungs were exploding.

"Naruto, that's enough, he got sick recently, he has a disease that won't allow him to be the same.

He's forced himself to speak only for you, but he can't do it anymore."

"A disease?"

"Here, let's get going, will you help us?"

"Help you? But Tsuki lives with me, you know?"

"It's Arashi Uchiha, that's his real name.

Someone else gave the other one."

"His family?"

Shisui nodded.

"Arashi is my brother."

"Hey, that's not fair! What about me?!"

"Relax, that doesn't mean you'll never see him again, come on, help us move."

Naruto stubbornly nodded while folding his hands.

We left with Naruto and went to the Uchiha compounds.

"Hey, Arashi, go on ahead, I want to tell Naruto something.

I won't take long, alright?" I nod and continue walking toward Shisui's house.

Shisui pulled Naruto to the side.

"Hey, I need you to do something for me."

"Something? Like what?"

"Well, I don't want to say it to him, but… Arashi suffers from an untreatable disease.

He won't be able to become a shinobi with this disease."

"What? Are you serious?!" Naruto yells.

"Shhh, keep it down.

Few people know this.

Only Itachi and his father know.

I want to keep it that way, if he finds out the truth, it'll hinder his progress as a shinobi.

I'm telling you this because you're his best friend. You can push him into recovering from this sickness.

I just want him to be successful, that's all.

That's all I want for him, but I need you to push him.

I want to train Arashi, and get him back into shape. If he knows about the possibility of him not being able to become a ninja he'll live under the illusion that whatever he does will never work.

That's where you come in.

You'll train with him every day, right?"

Naruto clenches his fist and yells,

"Of course!

I'll help him out, believe it!"

Shisui smiles.

"Great, thanks a lot, Naruto.

You know, you can stay with us for the night, I have a mattress you can sleep on."

"Really? You want me to come to your house?!" Shisui nods with a smile.

"Arashi could use a close friend, come on, follow me, I'll show you to our house so you can swing by anytime."

Naruto excitedly smiles.

"Man, I've never been invited to someone else's house."

He runs ahead.

"Hey, Arashi, stop walking so fast."

Naruto said with a slight giggle as he makes fun of me for walking so slowly.

We walked to Shisui's house and Shisui showed me my room.

"You'll be sleeping here from now on.

My room is the door directly in front of yours and to the left, our parent's room. It's locked because there's no one sleeping there.

To your right and then, another right is the door to the bathroom.

Ahead is the living room, the left side is the dining room which is also close to the kitchen, so yeah, that's it, that's my house.

Our house…" Shisui ruffles my hair.

"I need to go, I'll be back later."

Shisui left us to explore and hang out while he went to meet with Fugaku Uchiha at the Naka shrine.

Fugaku sat in front of the Uchiha stone tablet as Shisui entered, unsure of what he wanted to speak with him about.

But he had a good idea.

"I'm sorry for making you wait," Shisui says as he bows respectfully to Fugaku.

"Is he safe?

…

Arashi isn't it?"

"Yes. It is Arashi, and he's fine now, he's resting at home as we speak He's accompanied by his friend."

"His friend?"

"Yes, Naruto Uzumaki, they have a strong bond. He needs such a friend to help him recover."

"I see…"

Fugaku opens his eyes, and his Sharingan shines.

"I'll be straightforward with you.

I want to know what you spoke of with the Hokage."

Shisui nods.

"Truth is, the village only found out about Arashi. We believe either my enemy or my father's enemies attempted to kidnap him as an infant but were caught.

Arashi was returned, but the person who saved him likely died.

To keep him safe, that person changed his name."

"What?"

"Yeah.

Hokage-sama believes the kidnapper was let in by someone from inside, but he requests we do not investigate further."

"Tch!" Fugaku clicked and looked away.

"I accepted this.

And in exchange, he'll drop all charges against us and will even keep his Anbu out of the clan's business."

Fugaku nods.

"Fugaku-dono, please, give me and Itachi more time. We can mend our relationship with the village using this."

Fugaku shook his head and stands up.

"I can't hold the clan back for too long, but this is the first time I've seen progress.

If you and Itachi continue like this, I'll do my best to delay the coup d'état.

But if things get worse…"

"I understand, I can't thank you enough."

Shisui bows respectfully.

'That could've gone a lot worse.

I'm glad it didn't.'