Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Flashy Team
Itachi sat cross-legged by the fire, his small form illuminated by the flickering flames. Despite his childlike appearance, there was an undeniable maturity in the way he carried himself. Even though his body was only five years old, his mind was that of someone far older—someone who had seen the horrors of war, carried the weight of an entire clan’s destruction, and had now been thrust into this twisted version of his past.
Being "adopted" into Team Minato had been a weird turn of events. Itachi had always been a lone wolf, but after saving Obito during that mission, it seemed like his fate had been rewritten. Minato, the future Fourth Hokage, had taken a keen interest in him, perhaps even more so than his original timeline.
Obito, on the other hand, had been endlessly grateful. The young Uchiha had awakened his Sharingan for the first time when he had been trapped under the boulder. Itachi, unsurprisingly, was more skilled in the use of the Sharingan, even at his age. And because of that, Obito had begged him to teach him everything he knew. Itachi had agreed, though the request felt strange. Obito had always been the one to seek strength, while Itachi had been the one burdened with it.
“You’re so cool, Itachi! It’s like you’ve been here before!” Obito exclaimed, his voice full of awe. His wide eyes sparkled as he looked at Itachi with admiration, the firelight dancing across his face.
Itachi looked at his “student,” his gaze soft but slightly melancholic. Obito was so innocent, so hopeful. He didn’t know what was coming for him. He didn’t know how much the future would change, how much pain awaited them all. But for now, Itachi would do his best to protect him. Maybe this time, he could save him from the fate he’d known before.
Rin was preparing their dinner, the soft clinking of utensils the only sound in the quiet night air. Kakashi sat with his nose buried in a book, as usual, his ever-present mask hiding his expression. Minato, the leader of their team, was off at the frontlines again, engaging with enemy Iwa forces. Itachi hadn’t seen much of him since their first mission together, but there was a familiarity to his absence that made Itachi’s chest tighten. In the back of his mind, he knew what was coming for the man who would one day become the Hokage, but for now, he pushed that thought aside.
"You're so amazing, Itachi," Obito said again, a grin spreading across his face. "You make it look so easy when you use your Sharingan. I wish I could do that."
Itachi sighed quietly. He wasn’t sure how to explain to Obito that he didn’t want to be so skilled, that he never wanted to awaken the Sharingan in the first place. He hadn’t asked for this burden, and yet here he was—teaching Obito, guiding him down the same path that would lead to his death.
If only Obito knew how right he was. Itachi was like he’d been here before, because in a way, he had. He’d lived this life, this twisted version of fate, and he wasn’t sure how much of it he could change.
With a small, nonchalant shrug of his tiny shoulders, Itachi gave a quiet, almost playful response, trying to mask the weariness in his voice:
“I’m just good at adapting.”
Obito’s eyes lit up. “That’s awesome! You’re like... a ninja genius or something! Teach me everything! I want to be as cool as you!”
Itachi’s lips twitched slightly in what could almost be called a smile. If only you knew, Obito, he thought. He wouldn’t call himself a genius, not really. The world wasn’t kind to geniuses. The world didn’t care about how much one could adapt. It simply demanded results.
Still, he couldn’t bring himself to shatter Obito’s enthusiasm. Not yet. For now, he would play the role of the teacher—the one who showed the path ahead with gentle hands and calm eyes, even if the road led them all to a place far darker than they could imagine.
The campfire crackled, and Rin set down their food, casting a warm smile as she joined them at the fire. Kakashi briefly glanced up from his book, offering a half-hearted wave. Itachi could see the bonds forming between them, the camaraderie that had once felt so distant in his previous life.
In some ways, this felt like a dream.
But it was one he couldn’t escape from.
As the fire burned brightly in front of him, Itachi stared into the flames, the thoughts swirling in his head. He was part of something now, something bigger than himself. Team Minato was becoming his family, whether he wanted it or not.
And for the first time since he’d come back in time, he wondered if it was possible to save them all—if he could stop the spiral of tragedy from pulling them down, if he could rewrite the fates of those he cared about.
But it wasn’t going to be easy. And even with the best of intentions, Itachi knew better than most that nothing ever stayed perfect for long.