The underground cavern was silent.
The only sounds were the slow drip of water from the ceiling and the rhythmic pulse of the Demonic Statue sustaining the old man before it.
Madara Uchiha remained motionless, his single visible eye half-closed.
From the stone floor, Black Zetsu slowly emerged.
“Something unexpected has happened within the Uchiha Clan.” Madara didn’t move.
“Speak.” “Two children awakened the Sharingan yesterday.” That caught the old Uchiha’s attention.
“Two?” “Brother and sister.
The elder is Shizuku Uchiha, six years old.
The younger is Obito Uchiha, five.” Madara rested his chin on his hand.
“Impressive.” “The girl awakened a single tomoe.
The boy awakened two.” Silence filled the cavern.
Awakening the Sharingan was common.
But awakening it before the age of seven was unheard of.
“Tell me about them.” Black Zetsu nodded.
“The elder sister possesses talent.
She has larger chakra reserves than any child her age I have observed in recent years.
She learns quickly, wastes little movement, and has far better combat sense.
She also conceals her emotions well.” Madara’s eye opened slightly.
“And the boy?” “Obito is talented, though not to the same degree.
He trains because he wishes to catch up to his sister.
He seeks acknowledgment.
He forms attachments easily.
He dreams of becoming Hokage.” Madara let out a quiet hum.
“A childish dream.” Madara remained silent for several moments.
“Which child will become the stronger shinobi?” “The girl.” The answer came immediately.
Madara smiled faintly.
“I expected as much.” Black Zetsu continued.
“She will likely surpass the boy in combat.
Her instincts are sharper.
If given enough time…
perhaps even her eyes.” Madara closed his eye again.
“But she would never become what I require.” Black Zetsu remained silent.
“The Sharingan is born from love,” Madara said quietly.
“The Mangekyō is born from unbearable loss.” He looked into the darkness.
“The girl is too stable.
I need someone whose world will collapse when the person they love the most dies.” Black Zetsu inclined his head.
“Indeed.” Madara’s gaze shifted.
“The boy is different.
He still believes everyone can be saved.” A dry chuckle escaped the old man.
“Those beliefs will shatter.
And when they do…
his despair will be far greater.” Black Zetsu nodded.
“His emotional nature greatly increases the likelihood of awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan.” “Exactly.” Madara rested one hand on the arm of his chair.
“I don’t need the strongest person, I need the person who will lose themselves in grief.” “Another important thing,” Black Zetsu said.
“Fugaku Uchiha has already taken notice of both children.
He observed the Academy entrance examination personally.
The instructors reported that the siblings possess exceptional chakra reserves and have already mastered several Fire Release techniques.” Madara considered the information.
“So they have already attracted the clan head’s attention.” “Yes.” “Then they will likely improve fast enough under Fugaku’s influence.” He closed his eye once more.
“Continue watching them.
Time and war will shape them far better than we ever could.” Black Zetsu slowly disappeared beneath the stone floor.
“As you wish.” — The following morning, the Academy grounds were once again filled with children and their families.
This time there were no examinations.
Instead, everyone had gathered to learn their class assignments.
Large notice boards stood throughout the courtyard, each covered with neatly written lists of names.
Excited children hurried toward them while parents searched over their shoulders.
Grandma smiled gently.
“Go see where you’ve been placed.” Obito nodded and hurried forward.
Shizuku followed along at his side.
A crowd had gathered around one board in particular.
Class 1-A.
“The top class.” “I heard they grouped together the students with the highest overall evaluations.” Shizuku stepped closer and read the list.
Academy Class 1-A: Shizuku Uchiha, Obito Uchiha, Kakashi Hatake, Yachi Uchiha, Haruto, Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma Sarutobi, Kaito Hyūga, Ayame Hyūga, Sora Yamanaka, Ren Nara, Daichi Akimichi, Riku Inuzuka, Shin Aburame, Shimura Kenta, Sarutobi Tochi.
Obito blinked.
“We’re…
both in Class 1-A.” Shizuku’s eyes slowly moved down the list.
Kakashi Hatake.
Obito Uchiha.
Yachi Uchiha.
Haruto.
Kurenai Yuhi.
Asuma Sarutobi.
…
She reached the final name.
Her mind froze.
Rin…
She read through the list again.
Then a third time.
She wasn’t there.
A knot formed in Shizuku’s stomach.
Why isn’t she here?
She had expected history to change.
After all, she had already changed it herself.
Her parents surviving longer.
Obito awakening the Sharingan years ahead of schedule.
Blinky.
None of those had surprised her.
They had all been direct consequences of her own actions.
This was different.
This had happened without her.
Her pulse quickened.
If Rin isn’t in Class 1-A…
then where is she?
Maybe she’d been placed into another class.
Maybe she’d failed the entrance examination.
Maybe…
Shizuku cut the thought off.
She didn’t know.
And that was exactly what scared her.
Until now, she’d believed that Obito and Rin were destined to become close.
Now she wasn’t so sure.
Her eyes drifted back across the names until one settled in her thoughts.
Yachi Uchiha.
She quietly searched the courtyard until she spotted the girl.
About Obito’s age.
Laughing with another Uchiha child.
A realization settled over Shizuku.
If Obito spent years beside Yachi instead…
if she became the person he trusted most…
Shizuku swallowed.
That…
that might work.
She forced herself to think.
The answer wasn’t to push Obito away from herself.
It was to make sure she was not the most important person in his world.
Her gaze lingered on Yachi for another moment.
She is the granddaughter of the moderate faction elder.
If Obito truly fell for her…
my chances of becoming the sacrifice would be much lower.