Return of the Uchiha Prodigy

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The news of the attack on Konoha spread across the ninja world like wildfire.

The initial reaction from the Four Great Nations was one of utter disbelief. Such a devastating strike, in their understanding, could only have been carried out by another major village. Yet, the Third Great Ninja War had ended less than a year ago, and none of the nations had recovered enough to launch such a bold move.

The realization that Konoha had been targeted so soon after the war sent shockwaves throughout the shinobi world.

When it was revealed that the attackers did not belong to any of the Great Nations, the defeated countries of the war felt a bitter sense of satisfaction. Konoha, which had triumphed in the conflict through sheer strength, was now forced to taste vulnerability.

Still, their schadenfreude was tempered by a shared concern: the emergence of a force powerful enough to challenge a Great Nation raised unsettling questions. For decades, the shinobi world had been dominated by the Five Great Nations, but this attack hinted at the existence of threats beyond their control.

In response, each country began discreetly bolstering its defenses, preparing for the possibility of an enemy they didn't yet understand.

Meanwhile, Konoha began the arduous task of rebuilding.

Craftsmen from every corner of the Land of Fire arrived to assist with reconstruction, determined to restore the village to its former glory. For Konoha, the strength of its shinobi was not only its military might but also the foundation of its people's sense of security.

Civilians and shinobi mourned the lives lost during the attack, but even as grief hung over the village, there was a renewed determination to move forward. Heroes emerged from the chaos, their names celebrated by those they had saved.

Among these heroes were the Uchiha clan. Thanks to Minato's foresight, Uchiha Fugaku and his clan had safeguarded many civilians during the attack. Fugaku's leadership on that fateful night was witnessed by many, and for the first time in years, the Uchiha were regarded with admiration rather than suspicion.

But even amid the praise, one young Uchiha remained largely unknown.

Itachi Uchiha, who had risked his life to defend the village, lay comatose in a hospital bed, his fate uncertain.

---

Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, had spent the past several days immersed in paperwork.

The aftermath of the attack had left the village's leadership scrambling to address urgent issues. Meanwhile, Kushina Uzumaki visited the hospital daily, offering comfort and assistance to Mikoto Uchiha and her sons. Through her, Minato learned of Itachi's condition.

Tsunade Senju, one of Konoha's legendary Sannin, had explained that Itachi's coma was caused by the strain of awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan under such extreme circumstances. Though Tsunade had managed to save his life, she warned there was no guarantee Itachi would wake.

Still, Minato held onto hope. He also saw an opportunity: the heroics of the Uchiha during the attack could serve as a bridge to mend the long-standing rift between the clan and the village leadership.

To ensure Konoha's safety, Minato proposed strengthening the ANBU Black Ops. The masked man who had summoned the monstrous wooden figure during the attack had exposed significant gaps in the village's defenses. After much deliberation, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, agreed to Minato's reforms.

By the time Minato had addressed the village's immediate needs, two weeks had passed.

---

On a crisp morning, Minato and Kushina made their way to Konoha's hospital.

When they entered Itachi's ward, they found Mikoto seated beside her son, gently wiping his face with a damp cloth. Sasuke lay asleep in a nearby bed, his small chest rising and falling with each breath.

Hearing the door open, Mikoto turned to see the couple.

"Minato-sama?" she said, her voice tinged with surprise.

Minato smiled warmly. "I'm sorry we couldn't visit sooner, Mikoto."

"You don't need to apologize," Mikoto replied, bowing her head slightly. "We're deeply grateful for everything you've already done for Itachi."

"Please, no formalities," Minato said, waving a hand. "We're friends, aren't we?"

Kushina approached the bed, her eyes softening as she looked at the unconscious boy. "Has Tsunade-sama come by today?"

"Not yet," Mikoto said, her expression clouded with worry. "She's been so dedicated, but Itachi's condition hasn't improved."

"Don't lose hope," Minato reassured her. "If anyone can help him, it's Tsunade-sama."

As if on cue, Tsunade entered the room, her presence commanding attention. "So, the great Fourth Hokage finally found time to visit?" she teased, raising an eyebrow.

Minato chuckled sheepishly. "Guilty as charged."

Tsunade moved to Itachi's side, her hands glowing with the soft light of healing chakra. As she began her treatment, the room fell silent, everyone watching with bated breath.

Moments later, the door burst open, and Izumi Uchiha rushed in, panting. "Sorry I'm late!"

Mikoto gave her a reassuring smile. "It's all right, Izumi. You've been a great help."

Izumi's gaze darted to Itachi, her worry evident. "How is he?"

Before Mikoto could answer, Sasuke stirred awake, his sleepy eyes searching for his brother. Upon seeing Itachi still unconscious, tears welled in his eyes, and he began to cry.

Izumi knelt beside Sasuke, gently patting his head. "It's okay, Sasuke-kun. Itachi-niisan will wake up soon."

Minato and Kushina exchanged a somber glance. The weight of the moment was not lost on either of them.

---

Deep within his mind, Itachi stirred.

For two weeks, his consciousness had been trapped in a void, drifting through fragmented memories.

This time, however, Sasuke's cries pierced through the haze, reaching him. Desperately, Itachi willed himself to respond, to awaken.

His eyelids fluttered, but his body refused to obey.

Tsunade froze mid-treatment, her eyes widening. "Wait... he's waking up!"

---

As Tsunade concluded her initial explanation, Mikoto and Izumi, who had been soothing Sasuke, snapped their heads up in unison.

Minato and Kushina leaned forward, their attention glued to Tsunade.

Kushina broke the tense silence, skepticism evident in her tone. "Lady Tsunade, are you certain? It doesn't seem like Itachi has moved even a little."

Kushina's sharp intuition as a kunoichi made her attuned to any subtle changes in the boy's condition.

Tsunade shook her head slightly, her hands glowing with medical chakra as she rested them on Itachi's forehead. "He's not able to move yet. But..." Her tone trailed off as the glow in her hands intensified, flickering with renewed vigor.

The room fell into a heavy silence, no one daring to interrupt as Tsunade focused on her work. Minutes stretched into what felt like hours. Finally, the light in her palms faded, and Tsunade's brow furrowed deeply.

"Strange... very strange," she muttered under her breath, her expression unreadable.

Mikoto's worry spilled over. "Lady Tsunade, what's wrong?" she asked urgently, momentarily forgetting to comfort Sasuke.

Tsunade straightened, her arms crossing over her chest. "My treatments aren't having the usual effect. His mental energy... it's repairing itself."

Gasps filled the room, followed by a stunned silence.

"Self-healing?" Minato echoed, his analytical mind already dissecting her words.

Tsunade nodded. "The human body has an innate ability to heal wounds. Similarly, mental energy can regenerate naturally—though much more slowly. What's happening with Itachi is unprecedented. His mental recovery is not only happening on its own but at a speed that defies logic."

Kushina frowned. "But if your healing isn't effective, and his mind is doing all the work, doesn't that mean..."

Minato's eyes narrowed in understanding. "Itachi's recovery could take years."

Tsunade met his gaze evenly. "Precisely. If left entirely to natural processes, it could take anywhere from one to five years before he wakes."

"Five years?" Kushina murmured, concern flashing across her face.

Mikoto, however, visibly relaxed. "Even if it takes five years, as long as he wakes up, that's all that matters."

Minato remained pensive. "But his physical condition... can his body endure for that long?"

Tsunade smirked, placing a hand on her hip. "Don't underestimate me, Minato. I'll be here to ensure his body remains in peak condition. I won't let anything happen to him."

Her confidence brought a wave of relief.

"Thank you, Lady Tsunade," Mikoto and Izumi said in unison, bowing deeply.

Suddenly, a loud cry interrupted the moment.

"Yeah!"

All eyes turned to Naruto, who had shouted garbled baby words while glaring at Sasuke. His small fists waved in indignation.

Startled by the sudden noise, Sasuke stopped crying and glared back, his cheeks puffing in defiance.

The two toddlers locked eyes, their silent battle amusing the adults in the room.

Minato chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Well, that's one way to calm Sasuke down."

Kushina raised an eyebrow. "These two... they're barely out of diapers and already arguing. Are we sure they'll grow up to be best friends?"

Mikoto laughed softly, relief lightening the atmosphere. "If this is how they start, maybe there's hope after all."

---

Internal Reflections:

Unbeknownst to them, Itachi could hear every word. His body remained paralyzed, but his mind was alert.

"So, my mental energy is self-healing..." Itachi mused. "Could this be tied to the Mangekyō Sharingan?"

Memories of the night of the attack flashed in his mind. Despite his physical exhaustion, his Mangekyō had not deactivated, though its powers seemed dormant, locked away to prevent further strain on his body.

"It doesn't make sense," he thought. "A five-year-old body shouldn't be able to sustain the Mangekyō, let alone its activation."

The anomaly gnawed at him. His mental strength should have been enough, but the damage he sustained was undeniable. Was it a side effect of the Mangekyō? Or was there something more—something deeper at play?

Itachi's thoughts grew hazy as his mind dipped into a forced state of rest, the healing process continuing in the quiet darkness.

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