big brother shina: reborn in the Uchiha clan

The successful completion of the mission spread through the Uchiha compound like wildfire. Clan members who had once dismissed Shina as unreliable began to see him in a new light. Conversations that once ended in eye-rolls or whispers now included nods of respect and approval.

Shina, however, brushed it off in his typical fashion. "What can I say? I'm just that good," he would joke whenever someone complimented him. But deep down, he felt something shift—not just in the clan's perception of him but in his own confidence.

However, the person most affected by Shina's success was Itachi.

---

One evening, after dinner, Itachi approached Shina, who was lounging on the roof of their house, staring up at the stars.

"Shina-nii," Itachi called softly, climbing up to join him.

"What's up, kiddo?" Shina asked, glancing over.

Itachi hesitated, then sat down beside him. "You've changed a lot recently. Everyone in the clan is talking about you."

Shina smirked. "All good things, I hope."

Itachi nodded. "They respect you now. I respect you, too."

Shina blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in his brother's voice. "You've always respected me, haven't you?"

"I have," Itachi admitted, "but now I understand why. You're not just strong, Shina-nii. You're smart, and you care about everyone—even if you don't always show it the way Father does."

Shina chuckled, reaching out to ruffle Itachi's hair. "Well, you're not so bad yourself, squirt. I've always known you'd surpass me one day, you know."

Itachi looked up, his dark eyes thoughtful. "But I don't want to surpass you. I want us to be strong together—to protect the clan and each other."

Shina's grin softened, and he pulled Itachi into a one-armed hug. "You've got a good heart, Itachi. Don't ever lose that."

---

The bond between the brothers only grew stronger in the following days. Shina took it upon himself to train with Itachi more often, offering his own brand of unorthodox but effective guidance.

One afternoon, during a sparring session, Itachi managed to land a perfectly timed counterstrike, knocking Shina off balance.

"Not bad," Shina said, grinning as he picked himself up. "You're getting scary good, you know that?"

Itachi smiled, the faintest hint of pride on his usually stoic face. "Thanks to your help, Shina-nii."

Shisui, who had been watching from the sidelines, clapped his hands dramatically. "Bravo! The dynamic duo is unstoppable!"

"Quiet, Shisui," Shina called over, though he was laughing.

---

As the days passed, the clan elders began to take notice of the bond between Shina and Itachi. One evening, during a clan meeting, an elder turned to Fugaku.

"Your sons are growing into fine shinobi," the elder said. "Shina has matured greatly, and Itachi… well, he is clearly destined for greatness."

Fugaku nodded, his expression proud but reserved. "They have both exceeded my expectations."

"Perhaps it's time to involve them in more critical clan matters," another elder suggested.

Fugaku considered this, his gaze flickering to Shina and Itachi, who stood together at the edge of the room. "Perhaps."