The next day Pop-Pop freakin kidnapped me at 4 in the morning.

Now. I like to think of myself having been able to throw a decent punch, even at my diminutive age. So as I scrambled out of my blankets and threw a properly performed right hook towards my grandad's junk, Pop Pop proved that old age and treachery are always gonna beat youth and exuberance because my tiny fist crashed into a solid wood cane.

"FUCK!"

THWACK!

"Sonofa-"

"It would behoove you not to insult your own great grandmother, Isshin." Ryunosuke spoke, tapping the cane onto the ground. I let out a growl, scrambling back up to my feet.

We were somewhere in the forests surrounding Konoha. Had to be, I couldn't imagine Pop Pop having permission to use a proper training ground. I glared up at him, earning a raised eyebrow.

"Due to the limitations imposed on me, I will not be able to teach you in a traditional manner. That does not mean that I will be lenient." Ryunosuke Sekitangara spoke, accentuating his final word with a tap of his cane into the dirt.

"I will teach you the ways of the Shinobi, how to move, fight, and harness your chakra."

"Pop Pop…I'm going to make you regret this course of action." I swore, staring daggers at the man who upended my sleep schedule. Five year old and twenty-five year old me both liked our sleep. Pop Pop simply smiled.

"Pay attention and maybe you'll learn enough to do so. Now, I only have until midday, your parents still wish for you to learn the forge, so I have to shove as much training into half of the time that the other students have in the Academy." Pop Pop spoke, before gesturing to a stump. "Take a seat."

I complied with a grumble but shut up as my grandfather began to speak.

"I was taught by the Second Tsuchikage, Mu. Whilst my colleague, Onoki, took to our mentor's lessons in leadership and ninjutsu, I specialized in espionage and assassination. Hence why I was sent to the Leaf."

"Then you fell in love with your mark."

"And if I hadn't you wouldn't be alive, boy. Quit the snark and pay attention!" He tapped his cane into the earth once more.

I shut up.

"You're very intelligent, Isshin. But you're also a little asshole." HA, got his composure to break. He brought his hand up to his forehead and let out a sigh. "I need you to work with me if you're going to learn the shinobi arts, so please, to save me the aneurism, keep your snark controlled."

I gave a nod and straightened my back. He wasn't wrong, being a little menace would do no one any good. For now.

"Yes, Grandpa. What are you going to teach me today?" I asked, composing myself finally.

"Normally the academy would test your physical capabilities and begin teaching you the history and propaganda that all academy children go through. We don't have the time for that, and from what your father tells me, you already have a grasp of Shinobi history."

I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly. I'm fairly certain he was suspicious of exactly how I knew what I did, but still he seemed more focused on his next aspect of today's training.

"So, today we will focus on making you aware of your chakra. Ideally, I would force my chakra into your coils, and you would use that sensation to seek out your own. Unfortunately, my chakra has been sealed. As such, we'll be reliant on the Old Ways. Close your eyes, Isshin."

I did so.

"Chakra, as you're probably aware, is the combination of physical and spiritual energy of your body. Everything which has a soul, also has chakra. At your age it tends to be easier for most to visualize it as a candle flame. Focus on your core, not your belly. Direct your focus inward. Visualize a flame behind your heart." My grandfather spoke, a wistful tone entering his voice.

"The Shinobi is a Stone in the Path. Unnoticed, until one stumbles over it to their death. The Shinobi must facilitate this. Arming himself with every advantage available. Chief among them: Chakra."

I felt him place a finger on my chest on my sternum, behind which I was focusing,

"You should feel it, a heat, burning like an oil lantern in your core."

I could feel a slight heat, yeah, but it felt…restrained somehow. It was comforting knowing it was there, but I was having difficulty getting it to…move.

"I feel it, Pop Pop. It's a little…underwhelming." I admitted, earning a laugh.

"You're five years old, Boy! Did you expect to be launching fireballs right away? We all start somewhere, grandson. Our family does have a history of slightly lower chakra reserves, but your grandmother was a powerhouse. You more than likely fall right in the middle. As you grow, and with proper training, your reserves will grow with you."

Makes sense, I suppose. Still, I intended to do what I could to increase my reserves. Lots of pushups in my future, I foresee.

The rest of my lesson was more of that kind of estimation. I managed to force a bit more 'oomph' out of that little spark of chakra inside of me, but overall I was determined to be at the solid point of 'average' for a five year old.

I returned home in the mid afternoon and was quickly shuffled over to help Pa in the smithy. My responsibility was to observe the store when dad was doing the actual blacksmithing.

Awful lot of responsibility for a five year old, but both Mom and Dad simply gave me this 'uh huh' look when I spoke up about it.

They've adapted to having a smart-ass as a kid fairly well, I'd say.

Anyways, today was the first day I encountered our best patrons, according to my Dad. A tall gentleman entered the store , black hair and black eyes in a yukata emblazoned with the red and white fan. He stared at me for a second as I watched him enter.

"Am I to assume this is your son, Yoroi-san?" The man spoke, calling towards the back, to which I heard my dad scramble away from the forge back towards the front.

"Aye, Yoroi-sama, that's my boy, Isshin." My dad spoke, patting the forge scale from his hands as he walked into the shop to smile at his client. "Son, meet Uchiha Yoroi, an old friend of mine, and our liaison with the Uchiha clan. Here for this month's shipment, Yoroi-Sama?"

The Uchiha gave an easygoing grin.

"That I am indeed, Yoroi-san." He spoke, and both men gave a chuckle.

"You're both dorks, Papa." I deadpanned from my position behind the register, but couldn't hide my grin at their antics. It's always fun when you can mess with someone who has the same name.

Pops ruffled my hair earning a pout as he turned to address the Uchiha.

"How are things going in the Military Police these days, Uchiha-sama?" He asks, before darting into the forge and returning with a large wooden crate filled with Kunai over one shoulder, and another filled to the brim with shuriken over the other.

"It's been a quiet year so far, with the war ending it seems even the shadier elements are allowing us some rest for once." Uchiha Yoroi was an older man, maybe in his late 50s early 60s, he had a shinobi's build but I could see smile lines on his face. He rolled out two sealing scrolls that my father gently placed the crates onto. A puff of smoke and the crates vanished into the seals.

Storage seals always interested me, what were the limits of what they could hold? Was it just physical objects they could seal? Or other more abstract things? Uchiha-san must've noticed my interest in the seals because he started teasing my dad.

"Uh oh, I've seen that look before. You've got a sealing nerd in your house. Your wallet is about to hate you, Sekitangara-san." Y'know, I thought I had seen my dad's face go white when I told Mom that I learned my words from him.

"The thrice-damned ink." He muttered, leaning on the wall of the forge.

Ah…that makes sense.

"I will…try not to bankrupt us, Papa." I spoke, my own face paling at the memories of exorbitantly priced calligraphy ink back home.

"Thank you, Son."

—

Three weeks later, I met my first chibified big name. Well two chibified big names and one normal big name.

I know I shouldn't be saying anything, with my own status as a chibi, but seeing a five year old Itachi Uchiha and a newborn Sasuke being held by who I could only assume was Mikoto Uchiha in my Dad's shop was certainly a surprise.

Pa had to step out due to forgetting something he had to do for Mom, leaving me alone to futz around in the store. I had taken this opportunity to work on my first soiree into gunsmithing in this world. Which is what the good Lady Uchiha and her children walked in on, me mixing a certain setup of charcoal, sulfur, and saltpeter together next to a pipe set in a rough wooden chassis.

"...Do you have a license for fireworks, young man?" The Lady Uchiha spoke, earning a sheepish chuckle from me. I placed the mixture a safe distance away from any fire sources and gave a small bow.

"Sorry, Lady Uchiha, My name is Sekitangara Isshin, I'm the son of Sekitangara Yoroi. Pa had to step out, how may I help you?" I asked, putting as much of that chibi charm I could into getting her attention away from my project. Her expression was amused, if slightly concerned.

"Is your father aware that you're experimenting with explosives without a license?"

"Konoha legislature only requires licensure for purchasing black powder, Lady Uchiha. I'm following the rules, I asked Sarutobi-Ooji and everything!" Which was true, Grunkle Sarutobi was a blue-moon appearance during training, and occasionally at dinner. He got a glint in his eye when he realized I was interested in pyrotechnics, and helped me find some loopholes.

"Already thinking like a shinobi, it looks like you have a Rival, Itachi." Lady Uchiha spoke, turning to her older son with a smile, he simply raised an eyebrow.

"Sekitangara-san is not participating in the Academy, Mother." Itachi finally spoke.

"Politics suck, Uchiha-san. I can't go to the Academy. Although, I'm fairly certain you were already aware of that, Lady Uchiha, what other reason could there be to patronize a shop like my Dad's when there's more institutionalized shops like say, the Higurashis." I counter, earning a smirk.

"Wise beyond your years, Sekitangara-chan. Now, I'm here to pick up our monthly order, Yoroi-kun is feeling his age, unfortunately. But I did want to pick up a new set of kit for Itachi, as well as something for my husband." She spoke, and I went into full business mode, hopping down from my chair and approaching Itachi.

"Do you want stuff sized for you now, or something you'll grow into?" I asked, the young prodigy taking a step back and reassessing me. He thought for a while before speaking.

"I would prefer mostly things I can make use of now, but having a specific item I can use long-term would be useful." He replied, and I gave a nod. A 'why not both' response.

"Alright, I can get you squared away for your immediate kit right now, do you have any ideas what you might want to set up for your long term? A Tanto maybe?" This was when his mother stepped in.

"A Tanto will do." Is Itachi Uchiha…pouting? Oh god he is. HA! "And you will be the one to make it for him."

"Excuse me, Uchiha-Sama?" Please clarify, I'm not the smithy. I don't know how to smith shit that doesn't go boom. Please tell me you're joking.

"I believe I spoke quite clearly, Sekitangara-san. You will make my son's Tanto. I'm certain having a project that doesn't involve black powder will calm Sakura-san's heart." Ah…

"...My mother put you up to this, didn't she." I deadpanned, keeping my eyes locked with the smiling visage of the Uchiha Matriarch.

"Yes, yes she did." Mikoto Uchiha, whom I finally realized was much closer to my family than I expected, wore a devious grin. "Now, would you mind assisting me in finding a gift for my good husband? He's been in need of a new set of kunai."

—

Three more weeks, and the big day arrived. October 10th. I had tried to convince my folks to take a trip, head up to Kanzaku Gai or something, just to get out of the Village for a while.

Unfortunately, Politics. Grandpa couldn't leave the village. Ever. Pa could technically leave, but it'd have to be under shinobi escort, to and from. We didn't have that kind of money nor the inclination.

So here I was, in the woods with Pop Pop. Working on sticking a bunch of rocks to my skin.

"You seem distracted, Isshin." Pop Pop spoke. Understatement of the century, Old Timer.

"A bad feeling, Pop Pop. Real bad." I muttered, opening my eyes and letting the two river stones fall from the undersides of my arms. I had grown more capable in six weeks, whilst my chakra still seemed a bit diminutive to my preferences, I was now incredibly more aware of it. I could feel it bristling beneath my skin like electricity. I could even sense Pop Pop's sealed chakra, for a certain distance anyway.

"And you trust your instincts in this issue, Isshin?" Ryunosuke asked, rising to his feet. I nodded.

"I wanna be with my folks, Pop Pop…something bad is gonna-"

It happened.

A burning nuke lighting up my senses. I instinctively turned towards it and was practically blinded by it.

So much pure chakra, and so much malice. It was like a physical wave that hit me.

Literally hit me with enough force to slam me into a tree.

"ISSHIN!" I heard Grandpa shout, but I couldn't focus. No, all I could focus on was the bright light pulsing from the giant Nine-Tailed Fox howling in rage.

He let out a horrendous roar that coalesced a massive amount of chakra.

Do you know what that amount of chakra does to a burgeoning sensor?

Have you ever stared too long at the sun? Or been flashed by a bright white light when playing a game in dark room? Imagine that, but right behind your eyes.

The last thing I remember is whispering prayers of salvation for my new family and hitting the dirt hard.

The world went dark, and I hit the ground with blood leaking from my tear ducts.