At Naruto's invitation, the four of them actually sat at the same table to eat.
Besides Naruto, the other three looked very awkward.
The oblivious Naruto naturally didn't think in that direction.
He patted his wallet and said, "Don't worry, I can afford it."
After speaking, he got up to find the boss to pay the bill. However, judging from his expression, he seemed a bit embarrassed.
"Oh, what a foolish guy."
Sasuke put down his potato chips and slowly walked over.
"How much is it? I'll pay."
Naruto was stunned, then smiled happily. "Sasuke, you're such a good person."
Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"Sasuke, where do you live?"
"I won't tell you."
"Sasuke, do you want to go fishing with me?"
"No, I want to practice shuriken with nii-san."
"Sasuke…"
Sasuke's head was buzzing, why was there such a talkative brat?
Itachi saw everything, and the corner of his lips unconsciously curved into an arc.
His cute little brother.
Satoshi casually remarked, "Your relationship with your family seems very good."
Hearing this, Itachi turned to look at Satoshi. "For my brother, I can give up everything."
Satoshi raised an eyebrow. "For Konoha, I can also give up everything."
The atmosphere became tense.
As they spoke, the giggling Naruto and the outwardly disdainful but actually happy Sasuke returned.
Satoshi patted Naruto's blonde hair and said, "Let's go."
Naruto asked, "Satoshi-sensei, aren't you going with them?"
"No, we are not walking the same path."
"Got it."
Naruto clearly didn't understand what Satoshi was saying.
However, Itachi's expression was a bit troubled.
He stroked Sasuke's head and said, "Sasuke, no matter what happens, I will protect you."
Sasuke was a little confused, why would he say that out of nowhere?
In the evening, after their training, Sasuke and Naruto each returned home.
Itachi coaxed Sasuke to sleep, then quietly walked into the living room and sat in front of his father, Fugaku.
Fugaku asked in a low voice, "Itachi, what movements have Konoha's higher-ups made recently?"
He gently placed a teacup in front of Itachi.
Itachi took the teacup with both hands and said, "Danzo is at home resting due to injury. Root is secretly recruiting members, but it's not going smoothly."
"The two Advisors and Hokage-sama are together, formulating a cooperation plan with Kirigakure."
"Also, Hokage-sama has sent letters to several villages, proposing a plan to cooperate in capturing the masked man and Orochimaru."
When mentioning the masked man, a trace of unnaturalness appeared on Itachi's face. Fortunately for him, Fugaku was busy brewing tea and didn't notice.
Fugaku's gaze finally lifted. "Most importantly, do they have any new actions against the Uchiha?"
This was what he truly cared about, the Sword of Damocles hanging over the clan's head.
"No."
Itachi's answer was decisive, as if loosening a taut string.
"Hokage-sama has clearly stated that this is a critical period of internal and external troubles, and any action that consumes internal combat power or causes turmoil must be avoided."
Hearing this, the stone in Fugaku's heart fell. Regardless of what the future holds, at least for this period, he could relax a little.
Since becoming the clan head, Fugaku felt immense pressure every day.
Fortunately, Itachi had successfully joined Anbu, becoming his spy planted by the Hokage's side. This was almost the only light in the darkness.
Fugaku's voice carried a rare hint of relaxation, "I understand. Go back and rest early."
After speaking, Fugaku got up to leave, but was called back by Itachi.
"Father." Itachi's voice sounded from behind him.
"Hmm?" Fugaku stopped.
Itachi's mind flashed with all the sights he had seen in the village today.
He wanted to ask his father if he knew. But in the end, he swallowed his words.
His father, as the clan head, naturally knew. Since he chose to remain silent, he must have his own thoughts. And his questioning at this moment might only add to the trouble.
"It's nothing." Itachi lowered his head. "Please also rest early."
Fugaku looked deeply at his son, but ultimately said nothing.
Watching his father disappear, Itachi rubbed his temples and let out a long sigh.
He went alone to the back mountain and quietly gazed at the moon in the sky.
He suddenly recalled that when he was four years old, he was taken to the battlefield by Fugaku for the first time.
Seeing the ground covered with corpses had a huge impact on his young mind. It was also from that time that Itachi began to try to ponder the meaning of life. Of course, he couldn't figure it out at all.
"What will Konoha and the clan ultimately become…"
The glory of the clan, the safety of the village, the vision of peace…
Behind Itachi, a rustling sound suddenly came. He didn't need to turn around to know that Shisui had arrived.
"Shisui, you're still awake."
Shisui sat beside Itachi. "I heard you were back, so I thought I'd talk to you. The clan members said they saw you go out alone, so I knew you'd be here."
Shisui looked at Itachi and asked, "Something on your mind?"
Itachi nodded.
Shisui was not only his friend but also his teacher. In front of Shisui, Itachi could say many things he usually couldn't.
"Shisui, is there truly a possibility of reconciliation between the clan and the village?"
Hearing this, Shisui's expression became serious.
Under Shisui's questioning, Itachi recounted what he had seen and heard in the village today.
"If the villagers are so afraid, even disgusted by the clan members, how can we integrate among them?"
"Shisui, you once said that Satoshi, like us, harbors the will of fire, but why did he turn the Konoha Military Police Force into this?"
Shisui countered, "Into this?"
"I believe the Konoha Military Police Force should not solve problems with force. Although I haven't thought of a suitable method, there must be a way in the end."
Shisui was silent for a while. "I will find a way. Give me some time. Trust me."
Itachi nodded heavily. "Of course. I trust you."
The two young Uchiha talked all night in the back mountain.
In the minds of the two prodigy youths, they seemed to have already seen a bright future for the Uchiha.
A week passed in a flash.
Nothing strange happened in Konoha anymore. Everyone performed their duties.
The masked man and Orochimaru made no moves, and the investigation reached a stalemate.
Unexpectedly, one morning, Yagura knocked violently on the door.
"Is anyone there? I have something important to discuss with the Hokage."
"Mizukage-sama, do you need anything?"
The door was quickly pulled open.
"I remember now!"
Yagura said urgently, "Something very important about the masked man who controlled me."
Itachi's eyes narrowed, and he immediately led Yagura to the Hokage's office.
Yagura quickly said, "Hokage, I remembered. The masked man is not alone, he has companions."
"I remember two people in black robes once came. The black robes had red cloud patterns."
Hiruzen pressed, "Do you have more information? Their appearance, characteristics."
"I can't clearly remember their faces, only that one had orange hair and the other had blue or purple hair."
Yagura painfully knocked his head and said, "I'm really sorry, Hokage, these memories are too chaotic."
Hiruzen nodded, signaling Yagura to sit and wait.
"These are all crucial clues. Please sit, Mizukage." Hiruzen said in a deep voice, motioning Yagura to calm down.
He then quickly got up and walked towards the huge filing cabinet behind him, deftly searching through it.
Scrolls were quickly unrolled, and intelligence documents spread across the large desk. His gaze, like a hawk's, swept over lines of text, finally settling on several top-secret reports regarding the rogue ninja Kakuzu from Takigakure.
"Black robes, red clouds."
(End of Chapter)
[New FF]
Bleach: Template Gacha System
Mc can use points (gained from system missions or killing Hollows) to spin for anime character templates. He can also get items or weapons from missions.