Naruto: I Am Uzumaki Naruto!?

"Hah!?"

Itachi stared at Sasuke, wondering if he had misheard.

Sasuke, eyes red and teary, clung to his brother's leg and wailed, "Nii-san, I lost! And now… now you're Uzumaki Naruto's big brother!"

Itachi's eyebrow twitched.

...What?

What the actual hell?

He looked down at his younger brother, who was sobbing like the world had ended.

"You… what did you just say?"

Sasuke sniffled. "I bet you, Nii-san! And I lost! So now… now Naruto gets to be your little brother!"

The corner of Itachi's mouth twitched.

This… this absolute idiot.

Itachi prided himself on his patience, but right now, he was seriously reconsidering his life choices. He took a deep breath, reminding himself— this is my brother, my real, biological brother…

"Sasuke," he said slowly, "how. Exactly. Did this happen?"

Sasuke wiped his tears and whispered, "It was… kunai throwing."

Itachi went completely still.

His Sharingan blinked into existence out of pure instinct, as if his brain couldn't process the sheer stupidity of what he'd just heard.

Kunai throwing.

The thing the Uchiha clan was most known for. The technique their family had mastered for generations.

His little brother—the supposed prodigy of his generation—had bet his own big brother... and lost… in kunai throwing.

For a long moment, Itachi just stared at Sasuke, his expression completely blank.

Then, finally, he spoke.

"We're getting our money back," he said flatly. "And my dignity."

Sasuke brightened immediately. "So you'll help me win!?"

Itachi folded his arms, sighing. "Of course. The Uchiha clan does not lose to some random—"

Sasuke fidgeted awkwardly.

"...I also lost 81.92 million ryo."

Itachi blinked.

"...What?"

Sasuke coughed. "Eighty-one point nine-two million ryo."

Silence.

Pure, suffocating silence.

"...Sasuke," Itachi said slowly, in a dangerously calm voice, "my current bounty at the Gold Exchange is 18 million ryo."

Sasuke's expression turned hopeful. "So… it's not that bad?"

Itachi clenched his fists. "You could have sold me five times over for that amount!"

Sasuke flinched.

"Y-you'll still help me win it back, right?"

Itachi took a deep, steadying breath. "...Of course."

Because if he didn't, he might actually kill his own brother.

The Next Day

Naruto strolled into the classroom just as the bell rang, hands in his pockets.

The moment he stepped inside, his gaze landed on the podium—where a familiar Uchiha stood, dressed in the clan's signature high-collared attire, his Sharingan lazily activated.

Uchiha Itachi.

Next to him, Sasuke stood with a smug, almost triumphant look.

Naruto grinned.

"Itachi-nii-san, did you come to give me money?"

Itachi twitched.

Sasuke choked. Damn it! He's already calling him Nii-san!?

Itachi took a slow breath, his composure barely holding. "...Here."

He handed over five million ryo, his expression dark.

Naruto accepted the money with a bright, innocent smile.

"So," Itachi said, jaw tight, "I hear your kunai throwing is impressive. Care for a wager?"

Naruto's smile widened. "Sure, why not?"

Itachi nodded, pleased.

Yes. Good.

This would be an honorable, fair contest. A way to reclaim his lost pride, and—

—Naruto suddenly paused.

"Ah, I need to use the bathroom first."

Itachi, seeing nothing suspicious, waved him off. "Go ahead."

As Naruto walked away, Itachi couldn't help but think— Such a polite kid. And that warm smile… really, he's nothing like the demon people say he is. He's just a gentle, kind-hearted boy.

In the Bathroom

Naruto, cracking his knuckles:

"BUY WEAPON MODE!!!"

"BUY WEAPON MODE!!!"

"BUY WEAPON MODE!!!"

Later, at the Training Ground

Itachi stood in the middle of the field, his expression unreadable.

His Sharingan spun as he surveyed the devastation before him.

Kunai.

Kunai everywhere.

Each one thrown with terrifying speed and accuracy, hitting dead center with inhuman precision.

Itachi turned slowly to look at Naruto, who stood off to the side with an innocent smile.

"Well, Itachi-nii-san, that was fun! Want to go again?"

Itachi's face darkened.

"Gentle, my ass," he muttered.

This kid was a monster.