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Naruto: Faint Smile - CH 18
🕑 Added 2024-07-19 07:22:49 +0000 UTCThe day Sasuke was born, July 23, was a momentous one for the Uchiha clan. A welcoming party had been arranged for those close to the main family, meaning a group of ten, maybe twelve, people were invited to attend. I had been pleased to know the third child of the Uchiha main family had been named Sasuke, because it meant my limited knowledge wasn’t as useless as I had started to believe.
Though Mito’s birth had shown me not to trust too much in said events, leaving them as nothing but very loose guidelines of what could or could not happen.
Today, it’s been a little over a month since little Sasuke was born, and the weather was warm, typical for a summer evening in Konoha. Lanterns hung around the compound, casting a soft, golden glow. The fragrance of blooming flowers mingled with the aroma of the feast prepared for the occasion. It was a celebration of new life, of hope, and of the future.
A celebration just as big as the one they had thrown for the little princess.
I stood near the entrance, watching as guests arrived, each bringing gifts and congratulations. Among them was Kushina Uzumaki, her presence impossible to miss. She moved with an energy that belied her heavily pregnant state, her vibrant red hair flowing behind her like a fiery banner. Kushina was seven, maybe eight, months along, her belly pronounced beneath her flowing dress.
"Kushina!" Mikoto called out, her face lighting up with a smile as she approached her friend. "I'm so glad you could make it."
Kushina grinned, placing a hand on her round belly. "Like I would miss the chance to meet little Sasuke, you know!" she replied, her voice full of warmth. "Besides, this one," she patted her belly gently, "needs to get used to all the noise and excitement."
Mikoto chuckled, her eyes softening as she looked at Kushina. "How are you feeling? You look radiant."
"Oh, you know, the usual," Kushina said with a wink. "Kicking, cravings, and all that fun stuff. But I'm good. Minato's been fussing over me like a mother hen, you know!" At this, Kushina leaned forward, whispering, "Does it hurt as much as people say?"
Mikoto smiled mischievously at that. "I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise for you."
"Well now, that's just mean!" Kushina pouted, playfully swatting Mikoto's arm.
"Kushina!" my mother called from within the house, having noticed her loud friend had arrived. "Please come inside. We have a special seat for you!"
"Come, let's get you settled," Mikoto said, guiding Kushina towards a comfortable seat. "You shouldn't be standing too much."
I couldn't help but smile at the scene, the genuine affection between them. It was heartwarming to see.
Things had changed a lot during these past few months. For one, I was finally six and so was Itachi. Two, I had started my training with Teresa, which usually took place right after my training with Itachi. At first, the entire ordeal had been somewhat complicated, seeing she didn’t really have a body, and I had to learn by following instructions, which sometimes was hard considering most of the things we did were physical. But after a while, Teresa and I found a rhythm, making the learning experience altogether easier.
Not only that, but the village now had a new Hokage.
Namikaze Minato, Konoha's Yellow Flash.
I had seen that coming from a mile away, and it had nothing to do with my meta-knowledge, but more with the fact that Minato was extremely popular in the village, while his contender for the position, Orochimaru, was the opposite.
I will be honest, I was surprised to learn that Orochimaru was still in the village. People didn’t talk about him, and he’s not one to make public appearances, so it took me by surprise that he was still part of Konoha when my father told me he was Minato’s competition for the role of Fourth Hokage.
My only knowledge of the guy, meta-wise, was that he was a villain, so… it was a bit of a surprise.
That begs the question… does Orochimaru betray the village because he didn’t get the Hokage position, or was he already a traitor and the outcome of who became the Fourth Hokage changed nothing at all?
I sighed, pushing my questions aside for the time being. I mean, it’s not like I would be able to answer my own questions, considering how limited my information, at the end of the day, is. Smiling, I made my way to the center of the gathering, where Itachi stood beside his father, Fugaku. Both wore expressions of pride for the occasion, though Itachi's was more subdued compared to his father's usual stoic demeanor.
"Itachi," I called out, approaching my friend. "Congratulations on becoming a big brother, again."
Itachi turned to me, a small smile touching his lips. "Thanks, again."
"Any reason why he was named after the Third Hokage’s father?" I replied, glancing towards the cradle where Sasuke lay.
Perhaps I was reading too much between the lines, but the fact that the two newest members of the main family had been named after shinobi from other clans seemed… rather strange to me. My leading theory was that Fugaku was trying to win some favor in doing so, though why exactly, I wasn’t sure.
At first, I hadn’t looked too much into the situation, seeing Kushina was an Uzumaki and one of the best friends of Mikoto. So at the time, I simply assumed the naming of the little princess was nothing more than a show of friendship between Kushina and Mikoto. However… that theory went out the window the moment Sasuke was born.
"It’s a good name," Fugaku interjected from Itachi's side, his gaze fixed on the tiny form of Sasuke swaddled in the cradle, a small frown on his face. "Sarutobi Sasuke was a renowned shinobi, known for his bravery and power. A name carries a lot of weight and expectations. It also shows the Uchiha’s dedication to the village."
The words hung in the air, a tangible affirmation of my leading theory. Meaning there were some problems between the clan and the village, I wonder what exactly?
I suppose there was no point in worrying. Politics was a complicated affair, one that I had faith Lord Fugaku and Lady Mikoto were more than equipped to handle. Besides, even if I wanted to help, there wasn’t much I could do. I had as much political pull as the next civilian; all I could do is hope for the best and be ready for the worst.
"How is your training with your new strange blade going?" Itachi asked, tilting his head. "Claymore, is it?"
I nodded, smiling at him. "It’s going well."
I still remember the day that I asked my father to make me the Claymore under Teresa’s instructions.
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[Flashback.]
[Five Months Ago.]
Five months ago, I found my father in his workshop, a small but well-equipped space where he spent most of his time crafting various tools and weapons for the shinobi of the village. The rhythmic sound of hammer on metal greeted me as I stepped inside, a familiar and comforting noise.
"Father," I called out, walking towards him.
He looked up from his work, wiping sweat from his brow. "Champ, what brings you here? Did you miss your old man or something?"
I smiled, gathering my thoughts before stepping forward. "I have a request."
His eyebrows raised in curiosity. "Oh? And what might that be?"
"I want you to make me a weapon," I said, my voice firm with resolve. "A specific kind of sword that… I created."
His expression shifted to one of mild surprise and intrigue. "An original design?"
I pulled out a carefully drawn design from my pocket and handed it to him, one that I had painstakingly made following Teresa’s instructions. He studied the paper, his eyes narrowing in concentration. The design was for a Claymore, a large double-edged sword that seemed out of place in this world of kunai and katanas.
"This is... quite an unusual design," he remarked, glancing up at me. "Where did you come up with this?"
"I've been thinking about it for a while," I replied, lying through my teeth. "I feel it’s a weapon that would suit my style and abilities. I know it seems strange, but I believe it's what I need."
"Based on the design alone, I can tell you this… Claymore of yours is going to be extremely heavy compared to any sword you have used so far," he said methodically, tracing the drawing with his calloused fingers. "You understand that, right?"
Teresa had said that much, so I nodded.
"The measurements of the design also seem to imply you want to use the blade from now until you’re an adult," he continued, his fingers gliding over the two-dimensional sword. "The length, the weight distribution... it's all built for a grown man, not a child."
I nodded again. "I understand."
He watched me for a moment, his brows furrowed. "I’m going to need a lot of chakra steel of the highest quality, alongside other materials."
"So that means you’re going to make it?" I asked, unable to hide my excitement.
He studied me for a moment, his gaze penetrating as if trying to read my thoughts. Then, with a nod, he said, "You've never asked for anything before
, Takeshi. If this is what you want, I'll make it for you, but you will learn with me how to make it, in case your old man isn’t around. Consider it a father-son bonding activity."
I nodded, smiling at him. "I would be honored to learn by your side, old man."
He returned my smile with a nod of understanding. "It will take some time, but I'll make sure it's done right. My son’s first custom weapon deserves to be crafted with care and with the best materials at my disposal."
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[Back to the Present.]
The sword was still bigger than me, being around 170 cm long, but I was getting used to using my Claymore, despite how big it was. The sword in question had taken my father months to finish, mostly because he was teaching me how to do so along the way.
"Do you want to carry Sasuke?" Itachi asked, snapping me out of my thoughts. It seemed he had taken Sasuke from his cradle while I was reminiscing about things.
"No thanks," I replied, shaking my head. Unlike Mito, Sasuke seemed to hate me, always squirming and scowling whenever I tried to hold him or interact with him. His entire body language screamed he didn’t like me that much, from his sharp, hesitant glances to the scrunched-up look of distaste on his face every time I crossed his line of sight. It was clear as the day that baby Sasuke was thrilled by my presence.
Maybe that would change in time, but until that happened, I would keep my distance from him.
"He likes me more than you," Itachi commented with a smug smirk, cradling the infant with practiced ease. Sasuke gurgled happily in his brother's arms, far from the scowls he seemed to reserve only for me.
"I’m aware," I replied. "It seems that unlike your sister, he just has terrible taste."
