Chapter 6: Two Years Later.

Author Note: Nothing of importance, just enjoy the chapter, and if you have any questions, make sure to comment!

Due remember that due to me numbering these chapters in pattttreon from 0 to above this chapter would be chapter 5 in Patreeeeon.

And like always, remember if you want to read up to 10 chapters ahead go to https://www.patreón.com/cornbringer

I'm currently updating the novel 2-3 chapters a day in patreeeeon.

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Enjoy you sexy bastards.

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The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the Uchiha compound. Itachi and I stood in the training yard, our breaths coming in steady puffs of exertion. It had been two years since our first meeting, and much had changed in that time.

"Focus, Takeshi," Itachi's calm voice broke through my thoughts. "Your stance is slipping."

I nodded, adjusting my footing and tightening my grip on the wooden practice sword. We sparred every day, pushing each other to new limits. Though, if I had to say, I would say I was stronger than Itachi. While our overall skills were roughly on the same level, I had a few advantages over him.

For one, my stamina was immense. I was built like a warhorse, bred for battle, able to withstand grueling hours of vicious training without tiring. Itachi, on the other hand, was more akin to a falcon—agile, swift, precise, but not built for long battles. That being said, his strikes were deadly accurate, compensating for his lack of stamina. Everything balanced out in the end.

"Better," he said, nodding in approval. "Now, let's go again."

As we clashed, the familiar sound of wood meeting wood echoed through the Uchiha yard. I couldn't help but reflect on how much my life had changed in the past two years. The village was no longer the peaceful place I had known as a child, not that I was ever foolish enough to believe it would last, considering the past.

The Third Shinobi War had worsened, and Konoha was deeply embroiled in the conflict. Two years ago, the war barely affected the village or its surrounding lands. But now, even here in the heart of the Leaf Village, signs of war were everywhere. Shinobi ran through the streets in battle armor, civilians grew thin and tired from rationing, and a general scent of unease hung in the air.

It was hard to believe that just two years ago, the village's biggest concern was trading routes. Now, those concerns seemed trivial compared to the looming threat of battle. Reports of skirmishes and losses were common. One could almost smell the scent of death in the air.

Itachi's training had become even more intense as the war raged on. His father, Uchiha Fugaku, who was often outside the village fighting, had impressed upon Itachi the importance of being prepared for anything. And Itachi, in turn, had passed that urgency on to me.

Despite the turmoil outside the village, our training sessions provided a semblance of stability.

"Your movements are smoother now," Itachi remarked as he parried one of my strikes and countered with a swift, controlled thrust. I deflected it with ease, kicking him back.

"Thanks," I replied, a small smile tugging at my lips. "You've improved a lot too."

He offered a brief nod. "We both have. But we can't afford to stop pushing ourselves."

That much was true. The only reason we weren't fighting in the war was because we hadn't entered the academy. The council had some vested interests in the two geniuses residing within its heart. By now, the elders of Konoha knew that Itachi was a prodigy, which wasn't hard to discern, considering the Uchiha flaunted their young genius at any given opportunity.

Everyone knew that Itachi held great potential, and those in power in the village desired to mold him into the perfect weapon for Konoha. As for me, my potential had caught their attention as well, mostly due to my association with Itachi and the Uchiha as a whole.

So, all in all, the reason we hadn't enrolled in the academy was simple. They wanted to ensure our skills were honed in the best possible way before throwing us into the chaos of battle. In layman's terms, they could afford to lose a few shinobi here and there, but prodigies were far too precious to gamble with. Not until they had squeezed every drop of potential from us and crafted us into their perfect warriors.

Things were changing, and fast. Based on how things were moving, I gave this war a year, maybe less, before it came to an end.

"Itachi," I said, dodging one of his strikes before taking a few steps back. "Do you ever think about the future? What will happen after the war?"

He lowered his practice sword, his expression thoughtful. "All the time. I think about what kind of world we can create when the fighting stops."

Despite his age, Itachi always seemed to have a clear vision of what he wanted to achieve. It was one of the things I honestly admired most about him.

I still couldn't understand how he was destined to kill his entire clan. The Itachi I knew from the anime was cold, cruel, and distant, a shadow that moved in the night. But the Itachi that stood before me now was different. His heart was too gentle, his spirit too kind.

Could this boy really grow into the man I knew he would become? If I had to be honest, I didn't see a path where he would, which baffled me more than I cared to admit.

"I want the fighting to stop," Itachi continued, his voice softer than usual. "I want to create a world where children can grow and learn without fear. A world where shinobi exist not as tools of war, but as protectors."

There was no way someone like him could end up as the monster they painted him to be in the anime.

"That's a good goal," I replied, lifting my sword again. "Let's make sure we survive long enough to see it happen."

Itachi nodded, his grip tightening around his weapon. "We will," he vowed, readying himself for the next round of our training session.

However, before we could continue fighting, our training session was interrupted by a gentle yet firm voice. "Boys, it's time to eat," Uchiha Mikoto called out from the entrance of the training yard.