big brother shina: reborn in the Uchiha clan

The Uchiha compound was unusually quiet the next morning, a stark contrast to the usual bustle of clan affairs. Shina had barely finished his breakfast when he was summoned to the clan leader's office. The messenger's tone was serious, and Shina immediately knew this wouldn't be a pleasant conversation.

As he entered the room, he found Fugaku seated behind his desk, his arms crossed and his sharp gaze fixed on Shina. The air was thick with tension.

"You wanted to see me, Father?" Shina asked, leaning casually against the doorframe.

"Sit," Fugaku said curtly, gesturing to the chair in front of him.

Shina raised an eyebrow but complied, plopping down into the chair with his usual slouch.

Fugaku's eyes narrowed. "I've heard about your little adventure yesterday."

Shina blinked. "Adventure? Oh, you mean the boar thing? That was nothing. Just a bit of wildlife management."

"Don't be flippant," Fugaku said, his tone icy. "You left the compound without permission, endangered yourself and your brother, and—"

"Endangered?" Shina interrupted, sitting up straighter. "Come on, Dad. It was a boar, not a rogue ninja. And for the record, Itachi and Shisui handled it fine. I was just there for… moral support."

Fugaku's jaw tightened. "This isn't a joke, Shina. You're the elder brother. It's your responsibility to set an example for Itachi, to prepare him for the role he'll one day take on."

Shina sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Look, I get it. You want him to be the perfect heir, the perfect Uchiha. But he's a kid, Dad. He deserves to have some fun, to make mistakes, to live a little."

"And what about you?" Fugaku shot back. "When will you stop hiding behind this mask of carelessness and start taking your role seriously?"

The question hung in the air like a heavy weight.

Shina met his father's gaze, his usual smirk replaced by a rare expression of seriousness. "I may not act like it, but I take my role seriously in my own way. My job is to protect this family, and that includes protecting Itachi from being crushed by all these expectations."

Fugaku's eyes softened ever so slightly, but his voice remained firm. "Your way isn't enough, Shina. The world won't wait for you to take things seriously. You need to be ready for what's coming."

"And what exactly is coming, Dad?" Shina asked, leaning forward. "You keep talking about responsibility and preparation, but you won't even tell us what we're up against. How am I supposed to take anything seriously if I don't know the full story?"

Fugaku stood abruptly, his hands clenched into fists. "That's enough, Shina."

Shina sighed, standing as well. "Fine. I'll drop it—for now. But don't expect me to stop looking out for Itachi. You might not like my methods, but they work."

With that, Shina turned and walked out of the room, leaving Fugaku alone in the silence.

---

Outside, Shina found Itachi waiting for him. The younger boy looked up at his brother with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

"What did Father say?" Itachi asked softly.

Shina ruffled his hair, his grin returning. "Oh, the usual. Something about responsibility and setting a good example. Nothing I haven't heard before."

Itachi frowned. "Shina-nii, you don't have to defend me all the time. I can handle Father's expectations."

"I know you can, Itachi," Shina said, his tone gentle. "But that doesn't mean you have to do it alone. We're a team, remember?"

Itachi's frown eased into a small smile. "Thanks, Shina-nii."

"Anytime, little brother," Shina said, throwing an arm around Itachi's shoulders. "Now, how about we find Shisui and see what kind of trouble he's gotten into?"

As the two brothers walked off together, the tension from the conversation with Fugaku slowly melted away, replaced by the comforting bond they shared.