Uchiha Itachi slid open the shoji screen of his home, stepped inside, and changed into slippers. He then habitually called out, "I'm home."
"Itachi, why are you back so late?"
Uchiha Mikoto looked at the darkening sky, a little surprised. Itachi was usually so punctual. She asked out of concern, wondering what had happened.
"I'm very sorry, Mother. I encountered some issues during training today, and I got too focused…"
Itachi lied without batting an eye. But he had no choice. He couldn't very well say he'd been spying on a little girl and lost track of time.
Thinking of that girl, her delicate and beautiful profile surfaced in his mind, along with her earnest and hardworking expression.
At the time, he'd only thought she was talented. Now, looking back, he realized she was also incredibly cute.
If she, a girl, could work so hard, he, as a boy, had to work even harder.
"So that's how it is. The food is ready, come on in and eat," Uchiha Mikoto said.
Unsuspecting, Mikoto led Uchiha Itachi into the inner room. Exquisite Japanese dishes filled the table. The family ate happily together, with his mother and Itachi amusing the infant Sasuke.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Fugaku on the side was deep in thought, his expression serious.
After a moment, Uchiha Fugaku sighed and said to Itachi,
"How has your training been recently? It's less than a month until the ninja academy opens, right?
Don't forget, you are the eldest son of the Uchiha Clan's leader. You carry the Uchiha name and honor. For the clan, you must work even harder."
For the clan, huh?
His father often said that ninjas existed solely for the purpose of killing.
But is that really the case? Are ninjas only meant to kill?
Why do so many people die on the battlefield? Are people born into this world just to die in battle?
Then, what is the purpose of the village?
"I understand, Father."
Uchiha Itachi felt the complexity of the world and the brutality of war. Recently, he felt that his father's ideals might not be entirely correct.
However, he showed nothing on the surface. He lowered his head and replied. Uchiha Fugaku couldn't see his expression, only thinking that his son was well-behaved, sensible, and diligent. He never imagined that his son, who was barely seven years old, could think so deeply and far ahead.
"You're doing very well now. I'm always proud of you."
"Father, I will work even harder. Then, I will take my leave."
Uchiha Itachi walked out of his room, looked at the stars in the sky, and sighed.
"The Clan… the Uchiha?"
Itachi gazed at the Uchiha Clan's flaming Uchiha Fan emblem, lost in thought.
Early the next morning.
At the training grounds specifically for the Uchiha Clan, rhythmic thuds echoed as the towering tree vibrated, its emerald leaves fluttering down.
In front of it, a girl in a short skirt was unleashing a flurry of blows, punching the poor tree again and again.
If the tree could speak, it would surely be weeping and wailing:
"Damn it, can't you find a different tree to... rub? You're rubbing the leaves off a socialist tree! Aren't you afraid of being criticized and wearing a tall hat?"
The girl furiously rubbing the tree was, of course, our protagonist—Miss Uchiha Naraka.
Even though she had sworn never to wear a skirt again, the original owner of her body was a skirt fanatic and didn't even own a pair of pants.
What could she do? She couldn't very well walk around in just her underwear, could she?
Uchiha Naraka comforted herself and put on the prettiest little skirt she could find.
That was basically what happened. And just like that, Naraka was back at the training grounds.
Her goal for today was very clear: to improve her proficiency with the newly acquired skill, Battlefield Valor.
In this ninja world, most ninjas couldn't take a hit, although there were exceptions like Gaara and Orochimaru.
But under normal circumstances, Uchiha Naraka felt that one set of her Sett skills would probably cripple most opponents.
Thinking of this, Naraka felt her body surge with power. She needed to practice immediately; she couldn't wait to deliver an awe-inspiring haymaker that would leave her enemies' eyes wide open.
Uchiha Naraka practiced while pondering the path to future strength.
As it stood, there were only two ways to get stronger.
The first was to complete missions, and the second was through card draws.
Completing missions wasn't an option for now. Neither the main nor side quests were something she could accomplish immediately.
However, she could acquire the currency needed for card draws. She'd already obtained 10 currency points by chance at one point.
But how exactly did one earn this currency?
Uchiha Naraka kept reminiscing, but still couldn't put her finger on anything.
Just as Uchiha Naraka's thoughts drifted, a slight "rustling" sound came from the bushes behind her.
"Who's there?"
Uchiha Naraka frowned. She just wanted to practice her skill proficiency. Why couldn't she ever get a moment's peace? Someone was always interrupting her.
Just when Naraka was about to charge forward and give the person a dose of Battlefield Valor, drawing her bow left and right...
A figure walked out from the bushes.
Seeing that Uchiha Naraka was already prepared to attack, the person quickly raised their hands, signaling that they had no ill intentions.
"Hello, my name is Uchiha Itachi. I was just training nearby, so..."
Uchiha Itachi, of course, wasn't just coincidentally training nearby; the world doesn't work that way.
He'd already searched the training grounds thoroughly before finally catching Uchiha Naraka, who had moved her training location.
He'd prepared himself. As the eldest son of the Uchiha Clan's leader, he felt he should apologize after yesterday's awkward situation. But when he actually saw Uchiha Naraka...
He didn't know what to say.
After thinking for a long time, Uchiha Itachi couldn't exactly say he wasn't a pervert, right?
"So? …So, you're saying I disturbed your training? My apologies, I'll just…"
Just as Itachi stammered, unsure of what to say, Naraka spoke first.
"No, that's not it. I came to apologize for yesterday,"
Uchiha Itachi saw that Naraka was about to leave and quickly said,
Just as Uchiha Itachi finished speaking, a system prompt suddenly appeared in Naraka's ear.
[Uchiha Itachi's favorability towards you has increased. Congratulations, you have obtained 20 currency.]
Uchiha Naraka blinked, realizing that this was how the currency was obtained.
This was rather interesting. The one who had developed favorability towards her was Uchiha Itachi. Who was he?
He was one of the two major BOSSes in her main quest.
And now, the situation was that the BOSS in the main quest could actually develop favorability towards her. Not only that, but she would also receive currency as a result.
In this way, she could use this to quickly strengthen herself.
"I'm truly sorry for disturbing your training that day, and I'm even more embarrassed to visit again. I apologize," Uchiha Itachi said, bowing sincerely to Naraka.
Although currying favor with Uchiha Itachi could earn her currency, the thought of actually "seducing" another man, as a woman, filled Naraka with shame. However, for the sake of the reward, for the sake of survival, Naraka decided to endure the humiliation.
But only this once. Once she had drawn a prize, she would definitely not give him the time of day again.
(I swear on my honor.)
Uchiha Naraka vowed in her heart.
Thinking of this, Uchiha Naraka racked her brains, searching for stories about "green tea bitches" and "white lotus flowers" to find inspiration for flirting with the handsome guy.
"You haven't disturbed me at all. If anything, I'm the one who chose the wrong training ground and disturbed the Uchiha's most famous genius. My apologies."
Uchiha Itachi couldn't be considered the most famous genius yet, not with Uchiha Shisui still around.
As the only two from the Uchiha Clan to make a name for themselves during the Third Shinobi World War, Shisui of the Body Flicker's reputation was extremely well-known throughout the ninja world at this time.
(PS: Does anyone know who the other Uchiha was who made a name for themselves during the Third Shinobi World War? Please include both their name and title.)
However, it's not like Uchiha Naraka was wrong to exaggerate a bit to praise Itachi, right?
............
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(End of Chapter)