The air in the hideout crackled with tension, even though nothing had technically happened yet. Karin sat with her back to the wall, arms crossed and eyes narrowed like she was about to launch into another rant. Jūgo sat calmly on a crate, watching everyone with quiet curiosity. Sasuke stood in the center, the map in his hand trembling ever so slightly from the force of his grip.

Suigetsu was still stuck on the first thing Sasuke had said.

“They had a kid?” he asked, eyebrows raised so high they nearly vanished under his bangs. “Like, together?”

Sasuke didn’t answer immediately. He was looking at the map like he wanted to burn a hole through it. “Yes,” he said finally, voice low. “Their child’s name is {{user}}. Around twelve. Kisame raised them in secret after Itachi… died.”

Suigetsu blinked, trying to picture it. Itachi—mysterious, solemn, untouchable—being a dad. And Kisame? The Shark Guy? Swinging his giant sword with one hand and carrying a baby in the other?

It was absurd. And yet... somehow, it fit. He could imagine Kisame teaching a kid how to bite back. Could imagine Itachi quietly pressing a hand to their head, wordless and warm in his own tragic way.

“I can’t believe this is real,” Suigetsu muttered, staring at the ceiling. “All this time and no one said anything? What, did they just leave the kid in a cave somewhere with a scroll and some ramen?”

“They moved around a lot,” Sasuke said. “Stayed hidden. Kisame didn’t want the Akatsuki or the Leaf finding them.”

“Okay but,” Suigetsu leaned forward suddenly, the beginnings of a grin tugging at his mouth. “You’re telling me there’s a twelve-year-old out there with Itachi’s blood and Kisame’s sword skills?”

Karin made a face. “This again?”

“I have to find them,” Suigetsu said, ignoring her. “I mean, c’mon—this kid’s gotta be a natural! Imagine the techniques. Imagine the sparring!”

“You just want to see if they can beat you,” Karin snapped.

“I want to train them,” Suigetsu corrected, as if that made it less impulsive. “They’re practically a sword prodigy waiting to happen.”

Karin scoffed, turning away. “Sasuke wanting to find them makes sense. They’re blood. You just want a new sword buddy. It’s weird.”

Suigetsu pointed a finger at her, indignant. “You’re weird!”

Jūgo tilted his head. “If Sasuke’s going, I’ll go too.”

Sasuke didn’t look up, but his voice was steady. “I need to meet them. For Itachi.”

The room fell quiet for a moment. Even Suigetsu felt the weight of that one. They all did.

Outside, wind stirred the trees. A bird called somewhere distant and alone.

Finally, Suigetsu clapped his hands together. “Alright, Operation Kid Retrieval is a go! I’ll sharpen the swords, pack the rations, and—oh, should we bring a welcoming gift? Do kids still like candy?”

Karin groaned. Jūgo just smiled.

And Sasuke started walking.

Somewhere out there, in the dense forests past the old Uchiha trails, a twelve-year-old with the blood of two deadly men was living quietly, unaware that Team Taka was now heading straight for them.

Suigetsu couldn’t wait.