Naruto: Rebirth Of The Child Of Prophecy

The forest was quiet, with only the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze. Naruto and Uchiha Itachi stood face-to-face, the tension palpable in the air.

"A thousand cups of wine are less than a confidant," Itachi murmured, a rare smile gracing his usually stoic face. "Now that things have come to this, there's no need to hide anything anymore."

Naruto tilted his head, curious but cautious.

"I have a terminal illness," Itachi admitted, his voice calm, almost resigned. "I was supposed to die a long time ago. The only reason I'm alive today is because of medication. But even that won't hold out much longer."

Naruto's eyes widened. He hadn't known this in his previous life. Sasuke had rarely spoken about his brother, and most of what Naruto learned came from Kakashi or Obito's cryptic words when he still wore the mask of Tobi.

It made sense now—Itachi's urgency, his carefully timed plans, and his determination to die at Sasuke's hands. Life waits for no one, Naruto realized.

"Itachi," Naruto said quietly, "if that's the case, I won't hide anything either."

Itachi raised an eyebrow but said nothing, waiting for Naruto to continue.

"I know you're curious about how I know so much about you," Naruto said, taking a deep breath. "The truth is... I traveled back from the future."

Itachi's expression didn't shift much, but his narrowed eyes and slight frown betrayed his skepticism.

Naruto pressed on. "I can prove it. You were planning to pull me into your Tsukuyomi later, weren't you? Inside that illusion world, you'd shove a crow with Shisui's eye down my throat. Then you'd use another genjutsu to make me forget the memory of it happening, right?"

Itachi's eyes widened slightly in shock, though his face remained composed.

"And your goal," Naruto continued, "was to implant Shisui's Mangekyō ability, Kotoamatsukami, in me. You wanted it to activate if Sasuke ever tried to destroy Konoha. The genjutsu would rewrite his will and make him protect the village instead."

Itachi's Sharingan flared, his gaze sharp and probing. Was this some illusion? Did Naruto somehow enter his mind? No, he quickly dismissed the thought. Even Shisui, the most gifted illusionist, couldn't manage such a feat now that he was gone.

"Are you truly from the future?" Itachi asked, his voice low and measured.

Naruto nodded solemnly.

Itachi's next question came carefully. "Then... what of Sasuke in this future?"

Naruto's face softened into a smile. "Sasuke returned to Konoha. He's my brother, my comrade, and my greatest ally. I'm Hokage, and he's my right hand. He even married Sakura, and they have a daughter named Sarada. She's smart, strong, and very cute—perfect for my son, Boruto."

Itachi's lips twitched, the faintest hint of a smile appearing. But then Naruto's expression darkened.

"But... you weren't there," Naruto admitted, his voice heavy with regret. "You didn't live to see it."

For a moment, Itachi allowed himself to smile fully, a rare, genuine expression of happiness. But Naruto wasn't ready to accept this fate.

"Is there really no way to cure your illness?" Naruto asked, his voice almost pleading.

Itachi shook his head. "No. My time is short, and I've accepted that."

Naruto clenched his fists, determination flashing in his eyes. "Then I need your help, Itachi. There's something only you can do."

Itachi's gaze sharpened. "What is it?"

Naruto met his eyes directly. "Please engrave Kotoamatsukami into Shisui's eye for me. But not to use it on Sasuke—I'll never use any jutsu to manipulate him. Sasuke is my brother, and I'll bring him back through my own strength. I need this for something else, something only I can handle."

Itachi was silent, his expression unreadable. Naruto's words struck a chord deep within him. Sasuke is my brother. I'll never use any jutsu on him.

It felt as if Naruto were speaking not just to him, but as him—a younger, purer version of his own resolve.

After a long pause, Itachi spoke. "Naruto, I choose to believe you. And I choose to believe in my foolish little brother, Sasuke."

With those words, Itachi summoned the crow containing Shisui's transplanted eye. The crow landed gracefully on his hand, its sharp gaze matching Itachi's.

Activating his Mangekyō Sharingan, Itachi stared directly into the crow's eye. The strain was evident, his chakra draining rapidly as he carved the genjutsu into Shisui's eye.

When it was done, Itachi staggered slightly, his body trembling from the exertion. Blood trickled from the corners of his eyes, a stark reminder of his deteriorating health.

He handed Naruto a summoning scroll. "I've done as you asked. The genjutsu is now embedded in Shisui's eye. It only has enough power for one activation. How you use it is up to you."

Naruto accepted the scroll with reverence, bowing his head. "Thank you, Itachi."

As the crow flew to perch on Naruto's shoulder, Itachi opened his bloodshot eyes and looked at him. "Is the future you described really true?"

Naruto nodded, his voice steady. "It's true."

Itachi smiled faintly, his expression filled with a quiet satisfaction. "Then that's enough for me."

He turned and began to walk away, his steps slow and deliberate. Blood dripped from his eyes as he went, but his heart felt lighter than it had in years.