Return of the Uchiha Prodigy

---

Izumi gazed softly at Itachi before lowering her eyes to Sasuke, who had fallen asleep in her arms. His tiny face bore the telltale signs of exhaustion.

"Aunt Mikoto," Izumi said gently, releasing Itachi's hand and turning to carefully pass Sasuke over to Mikoto.

"Thank you," Mikoto replied, her warm smile radiating a quiet joy as she cradled her younger son. Her gaze lingered on Izumi, noticing the girl's genuine concern.

Perhaps Itachi's recent change has something to do with her, Mikoto mused. She knew her son well; Itachi wasn't the type to let anyone in easily.

Izumi took a deep breath, her expression turning serious as she addressed Mikoto. "There's something I'd like to ask."

"What is it?" Mikoto asked, her tone welcoming. "Feel free to speak your mind."

Izumi hesitated briefly, glancing at Itachi, who lay unconscious on the hospital bed. Her voice softened. "May I stay and take care of him tonight?"

Mikoto's brow furrowed slightly in concern. "There's no need for that. I'm here, and you should rest. You've had a long day."

Izumi shook her head, her sincerity evident. "I'm not tired. I'd feel better staying by his side."

Before Mikoto could respond, Kushina stepped forward, her voice firm yet understanding. "Let her stay," she said, placing a reassuring hand on Mikoto's shoulder. "It's been a long night for all of us. I doubt anyone in the village can truly rest tonight."

Her gaze shifted to Shisui, who stood near the door. "You probably have other duties to handle, Shisui. We'll manage things here."

Shisui gave a short nod, his eyes briefly flickering to Itachi. "Thank you, Kushina-san," he said, his voice tinged with relief. "I'll check in later." He glanced once more at Itachi, then left swiftly, his footsteps fading down the corridor.

In the quiet room, Mikoto and Kushina turned their attention back to the children. Naruto, wide-eyed and alert, squirmed in Kushina's arms, his tiny fingers grasping at her hair. Despite the chaos of the night, the newborn seemed unaffected, his curiosity unbroken.

Izumi sat by Itachi's bedside, her bright eyes unwavering as she studied his face. Itachi... whether or not the village knows the full extent of what you did tonight, I'll never forget. You saved me. I'll stay with you until you wake.

---

Meanwhile, in a remote part of the Land of Fire, near the base of a jagged mountain...

Buzz!

The air shimmered, rippling like disturbed water, before a figure emerged from a spiraling distortion.

Cough, cough!

The masked man stumbled, bracing himself against a nearby rock. He slid down to the ground, gasping for air. His left arm was severed, yet strangely, there was no blood.

His single visible eye darted around anxiously, still alight with fear. If Tobi hadn't intervened, he would've been finished. The Fourth Hokage had come terrifyingly close to ending him.

Minato Namikaze... That man is far too dangerous, he thought bitterly. Despite his youth, the masked man understood he was outclassed—not just in raw power but in experience.

The air rippled again, and a massive pitcher-plant-like form emerged from the ground. The entity opened slowly, revealing a figure with a half-black, half-white body.

"You're back," Zetsu said in his deep, measured tone. "What happened?"

The boy beneath the mask frowned. "The plan failed," he muttered, his voice tight with frustration. "Konoha was prepared. Jiraiya was guarding Kushina, and Minato responded faster than I anticipated."

He clenched his fists. "They broke my control over the wood golam and forced me into retreat. If it weren't for Tobi, I wouldn't have escaped alive."

Zetsu's expression darkened. "Breaking your control over it... that would require ocular power equal to your own."

The boy stiffened, his voice low and dangerous. "Someone overpowered my Sharingan."

"What?!" Zetsu's voice faltered. "But no one in the Uchiha clan possesses the Mangekyō Sharingan right now."

The boy's eye narrowed. "Then explain how it happened. This is your job, Zetsu—gathering intelligence. Could it have been Fugaku? Or is someone else hiding their true abilities?"

Zetsu fell silent, considering the possibilities. If Fugaku had the Mangekyō, why would he conceal it? A revelation like that would bolster the Uchiha clan's standing within Konoha, especially in these tumultuous times.

Still, the implications of their failure loomed heavy.

"The only explanation," Zetsu finally said, his voice grim, "is that Konoha knows about us."

"Are you so sure?"

The final words fell, but the voice that followed was distinctly different—lighter, almost whimsical compared to the earlier deep and calculating tone.

"There's no other possibility," came the response, dripping with skepticism.

It wasn't just his body that was split into black and white; his very existence seemed to embody duality. Black Zetsu, ever analytical, had been evaluating the situation earlier, while the more capricious White Zetsu now voiced his doubts.

"Is that so?"

The young man standing before them lowered his gaze, contemplative. Despite White Zetsu's playful tone, he trusted Black Zetsu's judgment implicitly. Among all the individuals he had encountered, none matched Black Zetsu's cunning and experience.

Not even the Third Tsuchikage or the Third Hokage, both celebrated as the oldest and most seasoned shinobi in the world, could rival him.

"So, how do you plan to trace the source of the leak? When and how it began?" the young man asked, his tone edged with impatience.

"I'll handle that personally," Black Zetsu replied smoothly. "For now, you need to remain in the shadows. Tonight's attack may have unsettled Konoha, but the damage was superficial—some ruined buildings, a handful of inconsequential casualties."

His indifference was chilling, his focus purely on the larger plan. The devastation inflicted on Konoha was, in his view, trivial.

"But the Fourth Hokage and his forces won't take this lying down," Black Zetsu continued.

"You and I both know that."

His gaze shifted toward the young man beside him, a sly grin playing on his darkened features. The failure to bring Konoha to its knees with the Nine-Tails was merely a hiccup—a minor setback.

"Boring."

The young man's retort was curt as he reached for his mask and secured it over his face.

"I've said it before. I'll sever all ties to this world... no matter the cost."

Beneath the mask, the crimson glow of his Sharingan pierced the darkness, burning with a resolve forged from pain and loss.

---

The Aftermath in Konoha:

That night marked one of the darkest chapters in Konoha's history. The village lay in ruins, a large portion reduced to rubble, and the scent of blood hung heavy in the air, refusing to dissipate.

But no matter how harrowing the night, dawn inevitably arrived.

Konoha's ninja worked tirelessly through the night, evacuating survivors to the hospital and clearing debris from the streets. The devastation was so profound that the higher-ups prohibited civilians from leaving their shelters.

Some areas of the village presented horrors even hardened shinobi struggled to confront—scenes ordinary villagers couldn't bear.

The cleanup efforts stretched into the following evening.

---

At the heart of the village, the Hokage Tower had suffered severe damage. Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, now conducted official duties from a temporary tent.

"The fact that Itachi is unconscious in the hospital must remain classified," Minato instructed Shisui, his tone grave.

Despite Itachi's current state, Minato had deduced that he had used his Mangekyō Sharingan to break the masked man's control over the wood golam. Itachi's intervention had likely saved the village from total annihilation.

Still, Minato knew the masked man would not let this failure go uninvestigated. Should he discover Itachi's role, the Uchiha clan would undoubtedly face heightened scrutiny.

"Understood," Shisui replied, his resolve unwavering.

Among Minato's trusted circle, Shisui stood out as a beacon of loyalty. Though Minato had established his own Anbu, only a handful earned his full trust.

---

After Shisui departed, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, arrived, his expression unreadable.

"Minato, you called for me?"

Minato handed Hiruzen a scroll without preamble.

As Hiruzen's eyes scanned the document, his expression darkened. It detailed the movements of Danzo's Root operatives during the assault on Konoha. Despite their considerable strength, Root had contributed little to the village's defense.

"With their capabilities, they could have significantly reduced the casualties..."

The report didn't stop at the operatives. It also highlighted the questionable actions of Danzo and Orochimaru. While their efforts to evacuate civilians weren't outright wrong, their reluctance to engage in the battle was glaringly obvious.

"This is troubling," Hiruzen admitted, his frown deepening.

"I have great respect for both Elder Danzo and Orochimaru, but their behavior during the attack is unacceptable," Minato said, his voice steady but firm. "I believe you agree this cannot continue."

Hiruzen sighed, his gaze distant. Minato's position as Hokage was inherently challenging. Unlike his predecessors, Minato lacked the influence of a powerful clan, making his authority easier to question.

The older generation's actions, while calculated, were undermining the unity Konoha desperately needed.

"I understand your concerns," Hiruzen finally said. "But the village is still reeling. Stabilizing Konoha must take precedence for now. We'll address this matter later."

Minato watched as the Third Hokage left the tent, his frustration evident. The older generation's adherence to outdated methods hindered Konoha's progress.

With the Third Great Ninja War behind them, complacency posed the greatest threat to Konoha's future.

---

As Minato completed the day's work, his thoughts turned to Itachi. Visiting him openly as Hokage would attract unwanted attention, but he hoped the young Uchiha would understand his restraint.

"I'm sorry, Itachi," Minato murmured. "For now, I can only hope you recover in peace."

---