Chapter 21：Does it count as reincarnation?

----------Timeskip------------

16 years have passed since I first met Esdeath. Our daughter has grown up and should stop aging soon. As a father, it's my duty to find a worthy candidate for her and yet each and every one I can think of are useless.

Esdeath: "You worry too much."

Zero: "You think so?"

Esdeath: "When has she ever let you down?"

Esdeath: "I think you should worry more about our other problem…"

Zero: "… is there even anything worth worrying about with them? "

Esdeath: "They are eager to prove themselves, you should send both of them on an assignment as soon as possible to remove that eagerness. That is their only weakness. On the other side they basically worship you, are devoted, focused, intelligent, calculating and cold towards anyone outside the family. They are your pocket version.���

The one situation I couldn't handle… when my 2 sons came out as famous Uchiha characters. Madara and Itachi Uchiha… a mess landed right in my front door

-------- (Flashback) 14 years ago------

As my son had his 1st birthday I could see the light representing knowledge far ahead of his years filling those eyes. I detected the slow realization and surprise he felt. I was pretty surprised too and for the moment I didn't know who he actually was.

Zero: "Itachi, Madara, my sons, happy birthday!"

As I said that they opened their eyes slightly wider, Itachi turning to look at Madara, allowing me to realize he recognized the name of the famous Uchiha,

Esdeath: "Happy birthday, my boys!"

Eri: "Happy birthday, Itachi, Madara!"

Alfred: "Happy birthday, young master Madara, young master Itachi!"

Guards: "Happy birthday to the young masters!"

-------POV CHANGE (Itachi, Madara)---------

(Itachi)

I lived a life full of regrets and died having at least extinguishing one of them and leaving the rest behind. What I didn't expect was to be given a second chance at life.

Looking at the people around me celebrating my first birthday gave me a warm feeling. Apparently my mother was a blue haired beauty, I was the little brother of the 3 this time around with my older brother looking like your typical Uchiha. But when I heard his name everything changed. My big brother was apparently named after the legendary Uchiha. Though looking at his eyes it seems that maybe the name wasn't the only thing that didn't change. Those weren't the eyes of an innocent child.

'What is he looking at with such fascination?' – and then I saw them…

'Those eyes…' – it was those 'cursed' eyes looking at both of us with warmth and wishing us a happy birthday.

'Maybe this isn't such a bad place to spend my new life.'

(Madara)

Perhaps Hashirama was right. As I died I didn't plan to return to life�� at least not this time. It seemed I now have a little brother named Itachi, a big sister named Eri. My mother seemed to be the white haired one… Esdeath if I'm not wrong. As for my father… he seemed to be a monster. While not a master of senjutsu anymore, at least with no way to pinpoint anything or anyone at this time I could still feel the power oozing of him. The servant called Alfred seems to call my father Zero. Does it stand for anything or is it his actual name? Either way it wasn't chakra that I felt coming out of him, it was something much more powerful… more powerful than the Juubi and much more powerful than what I had achieved at my peak… Then I saw his eyes.

'Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, no something much more powerful than even the Rinnegan.'

As much as I didn't want to admit it, I was fascinated… no I was speechless, I couldn't take my eyes of his and he just smiled a little and picked me up.

As he looked at me carefully I kept staring at his eyes.

Zero: "Do you like your father's eyes? You have quite the eye for power don't you? When you get older I'll show you something even more amazing."

'Something more amazing than his eyes? Does he mean the Rinnegan? There are too many things I don't know for now. Well at least he has the basic qualifications to be my father.' – I thought as I nodded my head.

--------(4 years later)--------

-Training ground-

It seemed that both me and my brother were born with amazing energy reserves, as my father calls it. This energy required less hand signs and was more powerful. We already had kage level energy levels at 5 years old. Right now I was training with my father.

Madara: "Father, are we going to practice hand to hand combat again?"

Zero: "No we are going to train you on using your heritage."

Madara: "But you said I wasn't ready for Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan."

Zero: "Oh the Sharingan is but a small piece of your heritage."

'The Sharingan is a small piece of it?'

Zero: "Your true heritage is your body."

Madara: "My body?" – Are we Senju?

Without answering father smiled, took a sword out of the sheath and stabbed himself in the heart.

Madara: "No!" – but nothing happened. He didn't fell over or stumble. He just looked at me smiling.

Zero: "Our body is made of compressed biomass… we don't have vital points in our bodies. Cutting my head is the same as cutting my foot, it will regenerate in seconds. But this is also but a side benefit of what our bodies can do."

'Having an almost immortal body is just a side benefit?'

Zero: "Our bodies continuously evolve, we do not tire nor do we need food, water or air. The more enemies we defeat and consume the stronger we become. If you consume your enemies you will gain all their strength, memories, skills and knowledge. Even abilities related to their bloodlines can't be hidden and will be assimilated to fit our bodies. As you gain all the strengths all the weaknesses are left behind. This is the gift I give you my son… a body with unlimited potential. How far you take it… that's up to you."

'… This is truly the best I could ever ask for. But to fight and fight and fight… what do I fight for anymore?' – as I said that I heard a shout in the distance.

Itachi: "Father, Nii-san. Nee-san and mother are waiting for you. We have pizza for dinner." – Itachi said appearing nearby.

'…I lost everything once. I can't afford to let it happen again.' – As I said that I got into combat stance.

Madara: "Father, lets train again."

As soon as I said that I got hit in the head by father.

Zero: "Do you really want to make your mother and sister wait longer?" – as he said that he picked me up over his shoulder and started heading home with Itachi following.

Madara: "Tch…" – as I said that I averted my eyes. Mother can be very scary sometimes.