After seeing off the immensely satisfied Anko Mitarashi, the ramen shop finally quieted down.
"Ruichi."
The usually taciturn man suddenly spoke. Teuchi wiped his hands and looked at him seriously.
"You really won't reconsider what Anko-sensei mentioned earlier? I also think staying safe is best, but… you are a shinobi, after all."
"Dad, don't worry about me."
Ruichi waved his hand casually. "I know what I'm doing. But I do have something I want to discuss with you."
He gestured toward Qin, who was quietly clearing dishes nearby.
"She's nine already. She's sensible and helps out at the shop, but she can't just stay here forever. I'm thinking of sending her to the Ninja Academy."
Qin froze mid-motion and looked up, panic flashing across her clear eyes.
"Brother Ruichi… did I do something wrong? I don't want to go to school. I want to stay here and help everyone…"
"Silly girl."
Ruichi walked over and gently ruffled her long hair.
"I'm not sending you away. The Ninja Academy is so you can learn skills. This world isn't safe, and I can't keep you protected all the time. If you have your own abilities, you'll at least be able to run faster if danger comes, right?"
He left out one thing.
Ever since he returned from the border, the way Qin looked at him had subtly changed—adoration, dependence, and the faint, dangerous budding of a young girl's first crush.
If he kept her by his side like this, what if something really happened while he was away on a mission? Regret would come too late.
And honestly, he was terrible at raising kids. Better leave that to professionals.
"But… the tuition…" Qin lowered her head, nervously twisting her sleeves.
"I'll handle the money."
Ruichi waved it off.
"You just focus on learning some practical skills. Don't overwork yourself. Passing exams is fine, but the most important thing is getting along with your classmates, okay?"
Qin bit her lip, then nodded hard.
"I'll listen to you, Brother Ruichi!"
"Good. I'll take you to register tomorrow."
Ruichi nodded in satisfaction, completely unaware that his advice to lie low had already been filtered by Qin into work hard, become capable, and expand Brother Ruichi's connections.
---
Late at night.
After the last group of slightly drunk customers left, Teuchi and Ayame began cleaning up, preparing to close.
Just as Ruichi reached for the shop curtain, a dark figure appeared soundlessly at the entrance.
No footsteps. No breath.
As if he had simply materialized.
Ruichi paused for a split second, then resumed his movements.
"…Itachi?"
The visitor was Itachi Uchiha.
But something was clearly wrong.
The back that was usually ramrod-straight was slightly hunched. His face was deathly pale, the shadows beneath his eyes deeper than ever. He radiated a hollow stillness—as if something essential had been carved out of him.
Itachi said nothing. He walked in silently and sat down in his usual corner.
"The usual?" Ruichi asked tentatively.
Itachi shook his head.
"I won't eat."
Ruichi frowned.
As someone who'd lived another life, he recognized that look all too well.
It was the look of a world collapsing.
He didn't press for details. Instead, he poured a cup of hot tea, placed it in front of Itachi, then gestured for Teuchi and Ayame to leave first.
He pulled over a chair and sat opposite Itachi without speaking.
At moments like this, comfort was useless. If Itachi wanted to talk, he would.
The wall clock ticked softly.
After who knew how long, the steam in the teacup had completely vanished.
Finally, Itachi moved.
He gripped the cold cup with both hands, knuckles white, as if it were the only thing anchoring him to reality.
"Ruichi."
He lowered his head, staring into the murky tea.
"Shisui… is dead."
"…Dead?"
Ruichi's eyes widened slightly. He took a slow breath in—and let it out.
So it really happened.
He and Shisui Uchiha hadn't been especially close. Shisui gave him occasional guidance; Ruichi offered a few outside perspectives in return.
But knowing the future didn't make fate any less heavy.
Itachi sat there like an empty shell, breathing but lifeless.
Ruichi wanted nothing more than to kick him out and stay far away from the Uchiha mess—but he couldn't.
He's unstable right now. If he really snaps… I'm not confident I can handle multiple Mangekyō Sharingan users.
When exactly did it happen?
Itachi didn't answer.
Instead, he raised his head slightly. A flash of red passed through his Sharingan.
Genjutsu?!
Ruichi's instincts screamed at him to resist—but he instantly understood what Itachi intended. He relaxed his mind and let himself be pulled in.
---
The cliff above the Naka River.
Shisui stood at the edge, giving Itachi his final advice.
Unlike the original timeline, his words carried clearer suspicion toward Danzo Shimura, but the overall message remained the same.
Until—
Just before leaping, Shisui added one final sentence:
"If you're lost… go talk to Ruichi. As an outsider, he sees more clearly than those of us trapped inside."
The illusionary Shisui smiled bitterly, then fell backward into the abyss.
The image froze.
Only then did Ruichi fully understand the seemingly illogical border assignment.
So that's why they dumped me—and Inuzuka Hana—out on that miserable border. It was never a test.
Hana Inuzuka had been Itachi's Academy classmate. Ruichi was close to Itachi, even if only as a familiar face at a ramen shop. That alone was enough to get them placed on a list.
The isolation only ended after Shisui's death, when the Uchiha clan temporarily quieted down.
"Ruichi…"
Itachi's trembling voice pulled him back to reality.
"Shisui entrusted everything to me. But I… I can't see the path forward. If it were you—what would you do?"
Ruichi's lips twitched.
Brother Shisui, you really had to drag me in right before you died, didn't you?
This wasn't a final message—it was a deliberate shove, forcing this lazy guy who just wanted to lie flat straight into deep water.
I shouldn't have talked about the Uchiha situation with him at the border. The outcome didn't change—and now I'm caught up in it.
Ruichi sighed and pointed at the nonexistent cliff.
"Shisui was a good man. But he chose the easiest path. Now you want to follow him—and have me take responsibility for it?"
Itachi flinched, squeezing his eyes shut.
"I don't want to… I just want to hear your opinion."
Yeah, right. Hear my opinion—then later claim everything was 'Ruichi's idea.'
Ruichi cursed inwardly. Burned once was enough.
"Itachi," he said calmly,
"don't ask me what I think yet."
"First ask yourself—who are you willing to stand with?"
"And what kind of ending do you want?"