Naruto: Blazing Eyes in the Eternal Night

Rengoku Kyojuro was momentarily stunned but quickly regained his composure. After all, in battle against demons, being distracted even for a second meant death. 

If this was reincarnation, then starting over as a newborn made sense, right? 

But he wasn't a newborn. He kicked his legs and realized he could control his body. He was at least eight or nine months old. 

Rengoku Kyojuro was confused. Did all babies only gain a soul at this stage? 

Was it because they needed to learn how to talk? 

Slowly, he grabbed onto a low cabinet and struggled to stand up. His infant body was too clumsy—just the simple act of standing took him several minutes. 

Once he was up, he was slightly out of breath. 

His fingers, gripping the cabinet tightly, had turned a little red. 

Uchiha Madara had just been dragged home from the training grounds by his younger brother. As soon as he stepped inside, he saw this scene. 

A chubby little toddler, standing with both hands on a low cabinet, presenting a short and sturdy back. 

…Kind of cute. 

The next person to enter, Izuna, was startled. He quickly kicked off his shoes and rushed over, holding his hands near the child's back as if afraid he'd lose strength and fall backward. 

"Why did you suddenly stand up? I was only gone for a few minutes! That's way too energetic!" 

It was the boy from earlier! 

Rengoku Kyojuro looked at the young man protecting him with both hands. 

Such a careful and gentle child! 

Madara went to wash his hands. When he came back, he slipped his hands under the child's armpits and lifted him into his arms. 

…? 

Rengoku Kyojuro struggled to look up but could only see a sharp chin and the spiky hair at the nape of Madara's neck. 

The child's bewildered expression after suddenly being picked up amused Madara, lightening the frustration he had been feeling for the past month. 

"A one-year-old should be able to stand already. I don't know where Koichi got this kid from, but we don't even know his mother." 

Having taken care of Izuna since childhood, Madara was more familiar with a child's growth rate. He casually grabbed a dull kunai and handed it to the baby as a toy while continuing to chat with Izuna. 

Rengoku Kyojuro fiddled with the kunai. He had seen Uzui Tengen use one before. 

Wait… Had he been reborn into a ninja clan? 

He didn't know the details, but from what Uzui Tengen had mentioned, a ninja's life didn't seem easy. 

Could he still become a swordsman? 

"The bloodline test confirmed it—he's an Uchiha," Izuna muttered before complaining about their unreliable cousin. "Koichi refused to take on missions for a whole year just to raise his kid, and now, all of a sudden, he decides he needs money and dumps Kyojuro on us before running off. When will he ever grow up?" 

Madara watched his six-year-old brother sigh like an old man and had to suppress a smile. 

If Izuna realized he was laughing, he'd get embarrassed again. 

"Kyojuro? Who's that?" 

Hearing his own name, Rengoku Kyojuro, who had been clutching the kunai while contemplating his future, immediately looked up. 

Noticing the child in his arms staring at him, Madara lifted him slightly and weighed him in his hands. "Oh? So your name is Kyojuro? Koichi must want you to live a long life." 

That's right! 

Rengoku Kyojuro nodded enthusiastically. He liked the name Kyojuro. It was great that he didn't have to change his name in this life. 

"But why 'Kyojuro'? Wouldn't 'Nagajuro' (long life) make more sense?" Izuna tilted his head in thought. "Koichi said his mother really liked apricots. Apparently, her name had 'apricot' in it too." 

"Apricot…" 

Madara froze for a moment. He held the child closer, resting his chin gently on top of his head. 

The name "Apricot" was uncommon in the Uchiha clan. 

Maybe the child's mother was an ordinary person. 

As long as she wasn't from the Senju, that was fine. 

Thinking about the Senju made Madara's mood sour again. 

Being forced to see the insurmountable gap between himself and his friend, nearly dragging his brother into danger—his dream was nothing more than the reflection of the moon in water. 

Annoying. 

Madara buried his face in the child's small body, listening to his tiny heartbeat as he tried to calm himself down. 

Rengoku Kyojuro was a little bewildered by the sudden weight pressing against him, but the boy seemed sad. He struggled to wrap his tiny arms around the teen's head and patted it a few times in an attempt to comfort him. 

Strangely, Madara did feel a lot better. 

He simply assumed it was the steady heartbeat of the baby in his arms that reignited his determination to protect his family. 

…But this kid sure was soft. 

"Alright, Izuna, did Koichi at least leave us food for Kyojuro?" 

"No, but he did write a list of what he can eat." 

Recovering his energy, Madara quickly recalled how children should eat—small portions, frequent meals. It was probably mealtime now. 

Izuna? 

Rengoku Kyojuro had learned the small-braided boy's name. He was also starting to feel hungry, so he tried to imitate Madara's pronunciation. 

"…Chu…na" 

"What?" 

"…Chu…na" 

A baby's underdeveloped mouth couldn't handle "Izuna" properly. After several attempts, he could only manage a garbled "Chu…na…Chu…na…" 

"Hahaha! Izuna, Kyojuro is trying to say your name!" 

"Try saying 'Madara' next! Ma…da…ra!" 

"Ma…ma…dara!" 

Success on the first try. 

Izuna puffed up his cheeks. "Not fair! He said my name first, so why did he learn to say 'Madara' first?" 

Madara ruffled his brother's newly grown braid. "Can't help it. My name is just easier to say. 'Izuna' is a tough one for babies." 

"Fine, then! New goal—teach Kyojuro to say my full name properly!" 

"Usually, babies say 'Papa' and 'Mama' first, though." 

"Hmph! If Koichi left Kyojuro with us, he should've been prepared for this!" 

"Ni!" 

Hearing the sound, Izuna poked Kyojuro's cheek. "Trying to say 'Nii-san' (big brother)? Madara is my big brother, not yours! You should call us 'Little Uncle.'" 

While saying this, Izuna quickly prepared a bowl of soft noodles with finely chopped vegetables, adding only a pinch of salt. 

Rengoku Kyojuro was still trying to figure out the family hierarchy. 

The troubles of being born into a big family, huh? 

After the noodles were done, Izuna tried to add sugar, but Madara swiftly stopped him. 

"Can Kyojuro use a spoon?" 

In response to Izuna's question, Kyojuro gripped the spoon tightly, his eyes full of determination. 

Slowly, he scooped up a spoonful of noodles and shakily brought it toward his mouth. 

And then… 

He successfully smeared it all over his face. 

"Hahaha!" Izuna laughed as he wiped Kyojuro's messy face with a damp cloth. "I knew it, little messy cat!" 

Madara couldn't hold back a chuckle either. "Kids have clumsy hands. I'll feed him instead." 

Rengoku Kyojuro obediently let his face be wiped, but deep inside, he sighed heavily. 

If he couldn't even hold a spoon properly… 

When would he be able to wield a sword?